Yan Zheng set down his teacup, his expression solemn. He hadn't expected this NPC to deliver such critical information.
In a steady voice, he proposed, “Miss Lora, the rear carriages are crowded and chaotic. If any unexpected situation arises, it would be difficult for you to handle it alone.”
“How about this: I will go inspect the rear carriages while you and the Young Lady stay here and wait for my report? That would be much safer.”
Hearing this, Bai Ci felt a stir in her heart. Yan Zheng's words were exactly what she wanted.
This was precisely the opportunity she needed—she could naturally participate in their investigation without exposing her identity as a player. Once they obtained any results, they would surely inform her right away.
“Then I will trouble you with that,” Bai Ci agreed.
Yan Zheng nodded and stood up to leave, leaving Bai Ci and Arbiter to continue drinking tea and eating pastries.
After a brief silence, an embarrassed look appeared on Bai Ci's face as she murmured, “Actually... perhaps I am just overthinking it.”
“I went through some bizarre events before, which made me highly sensitive. Now, I start jumping at shadows at the slightest sign of trouble.”
“Maybe those wisteria vines really were just accidentally caught while the train was moving, and the correlation between the number of passengers and the density of the vines is just a coincidence.”
These words served two purposes: they explained why her intuition was so sharp while subtly laying the groundwork for Lora's background.
This way, when she actively followed up on the investigation or even offered to help later, it wouldn't seem out of place.
Sitting opposite her, Arbiter propped her chin on one hand, her crimson eyes turning slightly.
She shook her head, her tone carrying a touch of genuine concern. “My soulbound ally, there is no need to bind yourself in the shackles of self-reproach, nor should you doubt the guidance of your true heart. When facing chaotic anomalies, vigilance is but the soul's instinctive echo to danger.”
“Furthermore, you mentioned earlier that you had encountered mystical events beyond common sense. Why not lay them all bare? What dark portents and ominous trials did you face that left your mind so restless and guarded at every turn?”
Bai Ci focused her attention to translate what Arbiter was actually saying. Fortunately, given the context, it wasn't hard to decipher.
A trace of sorrow appeared on her face, and her voice grew low and soft. “I previously survived a bizarre plague and witnessed existences that defied all logic. The world is not entirely as we see it...”
“I'm sorry. Please forgive me, but I would rather not speak of the details again.”
She didn't elaborate, stopping right there.
For players who knew about the Withered Wood Post Office instance, she didn't need to say more; they would naturally fill in the blanks of her experience themselves.
For those who didn't, saying too much would only lead their thoughts astray.
Of course, Bai Ci leaned toward Arbiter and her companion belonging to the former category.
Hearing this, Arbiter's face softened with sympathy. She awkwardly reached out and gently patted the back of Bai Ci's hand, looking like someone unaccustomed to such gestures.
“My soulbound ally, lay aside the sorrow and dread in your heart for now. That bizarre plague was never a mere coincidence of a capricious world. In the name of the Abyss, I, the Arbiter, declare that some foul and wicked entity must have been pulling the strings from the shadows.”
“Rest easy. Once my subordinate, Yan Zheng, has thoroughly investigated the rifts around us, if even a single clue is found, I shall use our covenant of destiny as a guide to bring the truth to your ears at once.”
“On the road ahead, I will never let you bear this unease alone or face the darkness by yourself again.”
“Thank you, Arbiter.” With a perfectly timed glint of tears in her eyes, Bai Ci's voice carried a touch of gratitude. “Hearing you say that makes me feel so much more at ease.”
“No thanks are necessary. Protecting my fated ally is my sole purpose.” Arbiter smiled, her tone returning to its usual theatrical bravado.
After a while, Yan Zheng's figure appeared at the entrance of the dining car.
He walked over quickly and sat down next to Arbiter, speaking in a low voice. “Young Lady, Miss Lora, I've checked. The rear carriages are exactly as Miss Lora suspected.”
“The more crowded the carriage, the more lush the wisteria vines and green leaves along the window frames.”
“Such anomalies are by no means accidental!” Arbiter proclaimed. “They must share a myriad of tangled bonds with the core secrets of this train traversing the rifts of destiny!”
“This is the trial that fate has laid upon our shoulders, a mission bestowed by the laws of the realms! We shall utterly crush this hidden evil and shatter this plight, never dishonoring our ordained duty!”
Arbiter's speech was full of fiery passion, though she fortunately remembered their current surroundings and kept her volume down.
“However, our current clues are limited, and we cannot determine the true function or purpose of these vines,” Yan Zheng resumed his analysis.
“The Young Lady and I still have some useful channels of contact. We can first try to gather relevant information, and once we have some initial results, we will formulate our next plan of investigation.”
“For now, Miss Lora, you should return to Carriage One to rest and recover your strength. The moment we have any news, we will head straight to Carriage One to update you on our progress.”
Arbiter nodded, agreeing with Yan Zheng's suggestion. “My soulbound ally, Yan Zheng's judgment aligns perfectly with the revelations of the Abyss. You should temporarily withdraw to your place of rest.”
“Leave the heavy burden of seeking forbidden secrets and tracing the path of destiny entirely to me and my vassal. Once I have torn through the illusions and grasped the scattered threads of fate, we shall cleave through the shadows ahead together.”
Bai Ci knew that the information she currently possessed was indeed too scarce, and Yan Zheng and Arbiter's suggestion was the safest course of action.
She stood up and gave them a slight nod. “Alright, then I will head back first. Please stay safe as well.”
Bai Ci stepped out of the dining car and walked along the corridor toward Carriage One.
The carriages along the way were incredibly quiet, devoid of the previous clamor during boarding. Most passengers were leaning back in their seats resting, or engrossed in their own affairs.
An occasional low murmur of conversation was kept extremely soft, as if they were afraid of disturbing others.
The journey was uneventful, and Bai Ci made it back to Carriage One without a hitch.
Inside the carriage, Violita sat in his wheelchair with his head tilted slightly to the side. His breathing was even and soft; he had clearly fallen asleep.
His face remained pale, but his expression was peaceful, and he slept very soundly.
Marg stood guard by his side, maintaining his usual respectful demeanor. Leaning against the wall with his eyes closed to rest, he merely opened them a fraction upon hearing her approach.
Seeing it was Bai Ci, he gave a slight nod and closed his eyes again without saying a word.
Bai Ci quieted her steps and walked over to her seat to sit down.
The carriage was very quiet, filled only with the soft breathing of the few occupants and the rhythmic, monotonous clattering of the train.
Leaning back in her seat, she watched the mountain forests fly past the window. Her previously taut nerves gradually began to unwind, and she actually found herself feeling a bit bored as sleepiness slowly washed over her.
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