Upon boarding the Dongfeng train, Ronald and his companions naturally took their seats in a private compartment.
And coincidentally, or perhaps not so coincidentally,
The place they were now seated was exactly where Ronald and Heloise had ridden before.
"Sir, do you have any orders?"
Ronald's subtle expression greatly intrigued Costate, and the maid immediately asked in a low voice:
"Costate awaits your command."
Ronald waved his hand:
"It's nothing, just feeling a bit nostalgic."
Afterward, the four of them sat down in the cabin.
The space in this compartment was not small, and accommodating four people was no problem at all. Thus, R'lyeh 'looked after' Xiesta on one side, and Ronald and his servant were seated opposite them.
Soon, the wailing of the train engine came from the front.
The Dongfeng didn't stop for too long at the Black Mountain station; after half an hour of replenishing supplies according to the schedule, it then continued towards the direction of Yizi Forest.
Operating normally, the Dongfeng swiftly entered the forests of the North.
Ronald even chose to sit by the window.
The train's speed as it traversed through Yizi Forest was not slow, but he could clearly make out the spells set up along the tracks on both sides for defensive purposes. Fınd the newest release on novel※fire.net
Among them, a few bore the marks of weathering from exposure to wind and sun over the years.
Many more were recently placed, brand-new arrangements.
Just as R'lyeh had said, this track was indeed very well-protected. Entelod and Griedt were capable of ensuring there were no issues with transportation.
The Dongfeng's track passed straight through Yizi Forest.
Moreover, it had chosen the most optimal and shortest route.
They had left Black Mountain before dawn, and by noon, they arrived at the next stop—Wolfman.
This was the last border of Griedt.
It also bordered directly with Entelod.
Once the Dongfeng arrived here, Ronald, his group, or rather, all the passengers on the train, needed to disembark for inspection and then transfer onto a train that directly serviced Entelod.
However, Ronald and his party were somewhat special.
They didn't even need to reveal their identities; the staff at Wolfman recognized the now well-known Ronald and the particularly unique R'lyeh.
Therefore, a team composed of soldiers, investigators, and local government officials was in charge of receiving Ronald's party. If it weren't for the fact that the transfer train was departing that afternoon, even the mayor of Wolfman might have personally come to offer their hospitality.
Experiencing such a reception for the first time, Ronald felt it to be quite peculiar.
It was only when they reached the waiting point for the transfer train that he got a moment to ask R'lyeh:
"R'lyeh, when you usually pass through here."
"Do you always encounter such treatment?"
The spy leader showed Ronald a pure and innocent smile:
"Usually, apart from officially endorsed activities, I spend all my time dealing with affairs in Entelod and rarely enter into other countries' territories."
I'll believe that when pigs fly.
Seeing the way R'lyeh responded, Ronald could guess the actual situation. Just like Heloise before, the entire spy agency of Entelod was probably adept at altering appearances and infiltrating everywhere.
Giving up on probing that topic further,
Ronald then inquired about their current itinerary:
"After we change trains, we should be heading straight to the capital of Entelod, right?"
R'lyeh responded with a smile and a nod, ready to answer Ronald's question.
However, before he could continue, the station attendant tasked with serving them preemptively spoke up:
"Sir, you might not have been clear about the situation just now."
"Due to the recent anomalies in the heavens and the earth, the railway track that used to run directly to the capital of Entrode has been severed. Now, to travel by train, one must first go to North Quik, and then transfer again to reach your destination."
"North Quik?" Ronald's expression changed.
Among Ronald's group, only this Entrode national reacted somewhat peculiarly.
Noticing the stares of the others, Ronald immediately furrowed his brows and explained, "You probably don't know, but North Quik is the northernmost city in all of Entrode. If we have to go there first, the journey back would increase by more than double!"
The station attendant immediately took over the conversation:
"Mr. Ronald is right."
"Although it's frustrating, this is a problem that the entire world is faced with. I've heard that the Entrode railway department is also looking for suitable new routes."
"Madam, thank you for your explanation."
Ronald nodded slightly to the attendant, then sat back in his seat with a tight frown.
It wasn't too bad encountering the same issue in Greed.
Now that such problems were occurring within his own country's borders, Ronald, as a member of the leadership class, naturally found it vexing.
Considering the situation,
Ronald couldn't help but glance into his chest.
The map that Catherine had left for him now definitely held significant strategic importance.
Considering this world's communication capabilities and speed of movement,
It would take at least a year and a half for these major powers to obtain the latest maps of the surrounding areas, while some smaller nations simply could not estimate.
Ronald was making his own estimates about the actual situation.
Sitting beside him, Ronald had reorganized his thoughts and then proactively apologized to Ronald:
"Mr. Ronald, this was my oversight."
"Our journey this time will probably take longer than expected."
Ronald waved his hand nonchalantly:
"That's not a problem, after all, it's an issue the whole world is facing."
As Ronald and Ronald were conversing,
A man pushed open the moving railing and entered from the waiting room to the platform.
The man in uniform scanned the waiting room with a sharp gaze.
After seeing Ronald, he reined in his serious look and then called out to everyone in a loud voice:
"Five minutes to the Entrode train boarding!"
"Gentlemen, pay attention to your personal belongings, we are not responsible for addressing the problems left by Wolfman once on board!"
"Now, line up in pairs in front of me, no breaking the order!"
"The train has arrived…"
"Mummy, do they have wizards who cast spells there too?"
After the military announcement, people in the station began to bustle, getting up to line up, with Ronald and his companions following suit.
As they followed the line onto the platform,
A train, distinct from the aesthetics of Entrode yet reflecting a unique design sensibility, was ready at the platform.
Before boarding, Ronald pointed at the train in front of them, which was painted in black and white, and took the initiative to introduce it to his companions:
"This is one of the first batch of new-era trains built by Entrode, specially designed for long-haul transportation."