Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength
Chapter 42: Chance Encounter in the Dining Car

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Chance Encounter in the Dining Car

Clang clang clang—

As expected.

A quarter of an hour after Detective Swift had left, the door to the compartment was knocked upon once again.

However, unlike the previous two searches, this time, there were only two young soldiers standing in front of Ronald.

The two glanced around the dimly lit room.

Ronald, whose face could not be made out, sat upright in the corner of the compartment, with the silvery white starlight spilling through the window and casting a radiant glow before him.

At just a first glance, a vague sense of pressure lingered in one’s heart.

The two soldiers looked at each other, and the taller one stepped forward:

"Is this... Mr. Ronald?"

Ronald nodded:

"Yes, it’s me."

Seeing that the man before them had acknowledged his identity, the soldier continued in a polite tone:

"Excuse the trouble."

"Mr. Swift would like you to come with us."

Meanwhile, the shorter of the two soldiers added:

"By the way, do you plan to get off at Greenwich?"

Ronald nodded again:

"That was indeed my plan."

The soldier suggested:

"Then I would advise you to take your luggage with you, as the train is about to depart."

"..."

Following the soldier’s suggestion, Ronald glanced down at himself.

Apart from the clothes he had changed into at Black Mountain, all he had left were a few coins and Ronald Adler’s diary in his pocket.

If one had to say, the wash kit given to him by Nade, placed in the corner, could also be considered among his belongings.

And then...

There was nothing else.

The term "alone and destitute" perfectly matched his current situation.

"Sigh—"

He sighed internally at his own poverty and sprang up from his chair decisively:

"Let’s go."

"I have nothing to take."

"Alright."

Responding to Ronald, the two soldiers immediately switched positions, one covering the rear and the other leading the way to another carriage.

At night, the bright yellow lanterns illuminated the train corridor.

On one side of the corridor, the passengers of the luxury compartments had mostly chosen to lock their doors.

It seemed that the stoppage of more than three hours had taught them to some extent the current method of self-preservation.

—Do nothing superfluous.

"We’re off then—"

Upon leaving the carriage for the last time, Ronald turned his head for a look back.

He smiled at the place that had granted him a brief respite.

————

The destination for this trip was not too distant, so much so that Ronald had even visited it during the day.

That was the dining car.

However, unlike his visit during the day for a meal, the dining car was now guarded by quite a few people.

Be it the windows or the carriage doors.

Any place that could be an exit from the carriage was guarded by at least one person.

The dining car of the Orient Express had become a prison in the real sense, with the soldiers strictly overseeing everyone inside.

Following that, the soldier sitting by Ronald spoke up:

"Mr. Ronald, please take a seat here."

"If you’re thirsty, we can provide you with water."

"Thank you, that won’t be necessary."

He nodded toward the leading soldier.

Ronald obediently sat down in the chair arranged for him and began to survey the situation inside the dining car.

The tables, where people dined during the day, were neatly arranged in two rows, each spot having at least two chairs for resting.

However, aside from the soldiers standing guard,

There weren’t many people in the sizable dining car.

Excluding Ronald himself, there were only seven tables occupied at the moment.

The ages of those seated spanned various life stages, with some tables seating one or two people quietly, while others had three or four.

At the same time, their attire varied greatly.

One could see everyone from well-dressed merchants to commoners whose clothes were merely for warmth.

Overall, the people here encompassed passengers from every carriage on the train.

"..."

So where are they?

In silence, Ronald Adler rested his chin in his hands and began to ponder.

The middle-aged military officer who was present earlier and the detective Swift who followed were both currently absent from the dining car.

This hardly seemed like the attitude of someone gathering everyone to investigate a case.

Even if some situation had arisen, there should still be someone of sufficient importance here to keep watch.

What could it be for...

Wait a minute!

Suddenly, an answer that could explain the current situation flashed through his mind.

If there was a suspect on the train with a status so special that both an officer and a detective would need to personally attend to the matter.

Then the current situation could be explained.

The name of Alyda Boycombe naturally came to Ronald’s mind.

The woman Nasos had suggested they "star-chase" before boarding the train.

According to the "traveling merchant’s" introduction.

And the discussions of other passengers during the ride.

Ronald was sure she was a candidate who matched his speculation.

Alyda, orphaned at a young age and born in Gried, wound up in Entrode and fell into a war-torn childhood, yet during Entrode’s chaotic times, this young lady miraculously grew up and gradually became known to the world.

Presently, she is one of the most famous actresses and singers on earth.

Even revered as an ’Angel Diamond’ by her admirers.

Not long ago, it was said that this lady had scheduled a trip to the capital of Gried, Springs.

On one hand, she intended to revisit the scenery of her childhood home.

At the same time, she had received an invitation from the Gried Royal Family and would, in the fall of next year, be attending an event of unprecedented grandeur.

Such a person was now on the Orient Express!

If she were suspected to be the ’perpetrator’...

Wait a minute!

At the same time, another thought popped up.

If it was this actress who had been victimized on the train, it would definitely provide the military with a motive to stop the train.

After all, she was an honored guest of the Gried Royal Family.

The significance was immense!

"..."

"I warn you, you’re shaming the young lady!"

"Lily, stop making a fuss."

"But Miss..."

Suddenly, a commotion behind Ronald interrupted his analysis.

As voices of two girls, one older and one younger, were heard, the dining car door was pulled open from the outside.

And in that instant—

The already quiet carriage became even more silent.

It seemed as though even the sound of breathing had disappeared completely from this place.

The unexpected development was not because of the middle-aged officer and detective Swift entering the dining car.

But because of the girl who walked in under their protection.

Without anyone having to introduce her, every single person in the dining car knew without saying a word.

—This was Alyda.

The girl’s visage possessed a charm that mere mortals couldn’t capture in their art.

Even Hephaestus, who had crafted Pandora’s beauty, wouldn’t dare rearrange a single feature on this face.

Currently, the girl was dressed in a large robe.

But it did little to hide the intoxicating drowsiness in her eyes that drew people in.

Her shiny black hair, dark as ebony, spilled over her robe, and every stray tendril that flowed from her graceful figure played with the heartstrings of onlookers.

This was the ’Angel Diamond’.

Without a doubt!

The only pity was—

Ronald was not feeling well.

Not at all.

Extremely uncomfortable!

Because in that moment when Alyda, with her flawless face, entered the dining car,

Her mesmerizing steel-blue pupils locked directly onto him!

The following second, amidst the envy of the surrounding men,

Mixed with the girl’s delight, a voice as pleasant as a lark’s song echoed in the Orient Express’ dining car:

"Ronald!"

"Long time no see~~"