The black steel beast sped through the flying snow.
In the only passenger car, the eight Law Enforcers sat in their respective seats, perfectly recreating the scene from when everyone had just boarded the K18 train.
"We are almost at Winter Harbor." Number 8 glanced out the window and spoke calmly. "The first phase of the plan has been perfectly completed. Next is the most critical link..."
This Fire-Stealers Number 8, who had replaced Jiang Qin, seemed to be the leader among the eight. As soon as he spoke, the crowd chatting and cracking Sunflower Seeds immediately quieted down.
Chen Ling, who had been pretending to doze all along, also slowly opened his eyes.
"At Winter Harbor, we will convene with the other rookie Law Enforcers from the other great districts, and the three escorting Enforcers from Aurora City. According to intelligence, among these three Enforcers, one is a Five-Stripe and two are Four-Stripe.
The disparity in strength between us and them is too great; we absolutely cannot clash head-on. We must hide our identities well. Before coming, I already distributed to all of you the brief introductions of the personalities and experiences of the roles you are replacing. You absolutely must disguise yourselves according to that and don't cause trouble, understand?"
"And what if the other Law Enforcers take the initiative to provoke us?"
Chen Ling suddenly spoke up.
Hearing this, the other Fire-Stealers were clearly somewhat displeased, but ultimately still nodded...
"Number 8, do we need to be so careful?" Zhong Yaoguang asked in puzzlement. "Didn't they say a Thief Saint would come this time to escort us?
A Thief Saint is a Seventh-Tier super powerhouse; there are only five in the entire Fire-Stealers organization... With him around, what do those few Enforcers count for?"
Chen Ling's heart sank.
'Thief Saint? Seventh-Tier?'
Although Chen Ling didn't understand what the title of 'Thief Saint' represented, he still understood the words 'Seventh-Tier'... The world said that on the Paths to Divinity, one ascends to godhood at the Tenth Rank. Then this so-called 'Thief Saint' was only three steps away from the Divine Rank?
So far, the strongest Divine Path Possessor Chen Ling had met was Han Meng, and he was only at the Fourth Order.
"Thief Saint?? Really?!" Another Fire-Stealer's eyes lit up. "Red, Yellow, Blue, White, Black. Which one is coming?"
"【White】." Number 8 replied calmly. "Thief Saint, Bai Ye."
Chen Ling clearly felt everyone's breathing grow heavy. Upon hearing this name, their eyes all began to shine!
Chen Ling didn't understand, but immediately followed suit, a look of yearning surfacing in his eyes.
"With that person around! What the hell are we afraid of! Why don't we just directly cause a huge uproar at the Ancient Vault of the Military Path??" someone among the crowd spoke up.
"Cause an uproar at the Ancient Vault of the Military Path? What do you think the Way of the Soldier God is?" Number 8 glanced at him. "Among the Fourteen Divine Paths in the world, the Ancient Vault representing extreme slaughter... you think you can force your way in relying on a single Thief Saint?"
Everyone fell silent.
"No one in the world can force their way into the Ancient Vault of the Military Path. If you want the Dao Base Shards of the Way of the Soldier God, you can only exploit the loopholes in the Divine Path Trials... Otherwise, what do they need us for?
If a mishap occurs before entering the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, such as something happening to the three leading Enforcers, then Aurora City will immediately close the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, and none of us will be able to enter!
Therefore, before entering the Ancient Vault, everyone must keep their tails tucked between their legs and behave."
"...Understood."
"Usurp Heaven's Dao, Seize the Cosmos, in the Name of the Thief God of Finality, the Silver King... May everything go smoothly on this journey." Number 8 stood in the middle of the train car, his right index fingertip touching his brow, and spoke devoutly.
At this moment, everyone's expressions turned serious, as if completing some religious ritual, similarly touching their right index fingers to their brows.
"In the Name of the Thief God of Finality, the Silver King... May everything go smoothly on this journey."
'Thief God of Finality, the Silver King?'
Chen Ling imitated everyone while memorizing this title in his heart.
This sounded like the Divine Being pointed to by the Path of the Thief, and also like the Faith of the Fire-Stealers.
Chen Ling sat in his seat, his gaze fixed on the gradually approaching port outside the window, falling into deep thought...
First Aurora City Enforcers, then a Fire-Stealer Thief Saint.
He wondered if the member dispatched by the Dusk Society to receive him was reliable or not?
...
The K18 train slowly came to a halt in the Wilderness over ten kilometers away from Winter Harbor.
This train was unrecorded, so it definitely couldn't stop at the station. Number 8 found an abandoned Factory Warehouse to hide it in, and then they walked over on foot.
As everyone continuously neared Winter Harbor, the surrounding shops and pedestrians grew more numerous, and there was finally some worldly bustle on the road.
"Hot deep-fried dough sticks, tea eggs, roasted sweet potatoes~"
"Tofu brains, fresh tofu brains!"
"Extra, extra! The latest news from the Aurora Daily: District Five and District Six suffered heavy casualties after the disaster. The two districts might merge; will the Seven Great Districts of Aurora become the Six Great Districts?
Also, Headline Gossip! The Third Young Master of the Stars Chamber of Commerce in Aurora City marries a famous courtesan, only to discover after sleeping together that the other party is actually his long-lost older aunt!"
"Little brother, give me a copy of that newspaper about the Third Young Master sleeping with his older aunt."
"Alrighty!"
"..."
The boy's clear voice echoed on the street side, immediately attracting a large batch of pedestrians to buy newspapers. Chen Ling saw the ears of the other Fire-Stealers perk up, seemingly unable to resist wanting to buy a copy as well.
"Don't create side issues." Number 8 shot them a glance.
Everyone shrugged their shoulders with waning interest.
"Newspapers, magazines, toys, Poker, care to take a look?" a lazy voice called out from the side.
Chen Ling turned his head and saw a dilapidated sundry booth where a woman was sitting lazily inside, shouting while casually playing with a box of playing cards.
On the cover of the box, a 【Six of Hearts】 card was clearly visible.
Chen Ling's heart stirred. He then glanced at the crowd walking in a cluster toward the port, didn't stop his footsteps, but rather shifted his gaze lightly and continued forward following the crowd.
The eight people crossed the street and arrived straight at the port. Numerous figures dressed in Law Enforcer uniforms were already gathered together, surrounding three Enforcers wearing windbreakers in the center.
Just as Number 8 had said, on the hems of their windbreakers, one Five-Stripe and two Four-Stripe were clearly visible.
"Hello, I am Jiang Qin, the leading Law Enforcer from District Three."
Number 8 stepped forward, speaking respectfully to the three Enforcers while handing over several documents. "The Law Enforcers participating in the Ancient Vault of the Military Path trial from District Three, District Five, and District Six, totaling 8 people, are all present."
A Four-Stripe Enforcer's gaze swept over the crowd. He picked up the documents and carefully checked them one by one.
When joining the Law Enforcers, they had all left images at the headquarters. At this moment, the Enforcer was comparing the photos, inquiring and verifying them one by one. His sharp gaze scraped across everyone's faces like a knife.
Finally, he nodded slightly and checked off everyone's names on the list.
"By the way, how did you guys get here? The people from District 4 who took the train haven't arrived yet. How did you get here first?" that Enforcer suddenly asked.
"We took yesterday's train here." Number 8 smiled slightly. "They said they hadn't been to Winter Harbor before, so we came a day early to take a look. We didn't expect to run into our friends from District Five and District Six on the way."
"Yes, very coincidental." Another Law Enforcer from District Five nodded.
"Alright, then you guys just do some simple activities around here for now. Once the people from District 4 are all present, we can board the ship... Don't stray too far, just within two hundred meters of here."
"Okay."
Hearing this, the other few Fire-Stealers exchanged glances and asked cautiously:
"Officer Jiang Qin, can we... go buy some newspapers now?"
"...Go ahead."
The few turned around and left.
Chen Ling stuffed his hands in his pockets and silently followed behind them.