Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Jerome and Evan sat across from each other, but in the gloom, neither could clearly see the other's face. The sound of the patrolman's footsteps outside the small compartment rang out with particular clarity at this moment, a stark reminder to all aboard that the danger of the Black Mist Forest was close at hand.

"Don't worry, we'll be out of the Black Mist Forest in just half an hour." Jerome tried to comfort Evan, but his own tone betrayed a hint of tension and unease.

Evan forced a smile, yet his heart was filled with worry because he felt the gold coin in his pocket was growing warm! This abnormal phenomenon made him uneasy. He didn't know what it meant, but he instinctively sensed that some mysterious power was hidden within the Black Mist Forest.

"In that case, I'll go back to sleep for another half hour." Evan found a very casual excuse and climbed back into his iron cabinet. After closing the cabinet door and half-lying down, Evan took out the gold coin from his pocket. Sure enough, it was glowing! And it was faintly hot! The weak glow pierced the darkness, as if telling some mysterious story.

Looking at the glowing gold coin in his hand, Evan felt his consciousness blur. The next moment, he felt his spirit detach from his body, flying out of the train compartment, and then he saw the scene outside the train!

Dense black fog shrouded everything, like a heavy curtain blocking out all sunlight. Within this black mist, however, specks of golden light danced and drifted. Upon closer inspection, one would find they were thumb-sized little people with transparent wings, flying around like sprites. Evan stared in disbelief; he had never seen such a magical sight. These little beings seemed to come from another world, full of mystery and fantasy.

Then, he heard a metallic scraping sound. Evan looked down and immediately gasped in shock.

Below him, a massive, blue-glowing serpent was crawling parallel to the train. Its enormous body occasionally collided with the lower part of the train, producing a harsh metallic scraping sound. Evan immediately thought of the origin of those fine scratches on the train's undercarriage. Could this be the secret of the Black Mist Forest? His heart was filled with shock and confusion.

Suddenly, the glowing little beings scattered in alarm, and the giant blue snake immediately abandoned the train, slithering into the black mist.

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling.

Starlight flowed within the black mist, like a river of stars. And within this starlight stood a being whose upper half, a stunning silver-haired beauty, rose four meters tall, but whose lower half was a ten-meter-long golden snake tail. This snake-tailed beauty wore a bell on her hand, from which the ringing sound emanated. The clear ringing echoed in the black mist, like a call from ancient times.

Floating in mid-air, Evan stared blankly at the supernatural being before him, his mind completely blank. He had never imagined he would encounter such a miraculous existence under these circumstances. Just then, the snake-tailed beauty's enormous eyes looked at Evan, and the next moment, an ethereal voice sounded in Evan's mind.

"Human child, you have brought the Sea God's faith coin. What do you wish to exchange for from me? I abide by the principle of equivalent exchange and will give you an item of equal value."

Evan couldn't help but swallow, his heart filled with tension and excitement. What was this? A stroke of luck? How should he make use of this chance? Ask for supernatural abilities directly? No, that wouldn't do. If supernatural powers were so easily obtained, Evan wouldn't have gone fifteen years without discovering any trace of Supernaturals.

Various thoughts flashed through Evan's mind as he pondered his choices. In the end, he decided to exchange for what he considered the safest and most valuable thing.

"I ask that you grant me complete and safe knowledge that will allow me to enter the supernatural world." Though not in physical form, Evan still took out the gold coin emitting white light. His eyes were full of expectation and longing, hoping this mysterious snake-tailed beauty could fulfill his wish.

"Clever and self-aware, human child. You shall receive what you desire." The snake-tailed beauty smiled slightly, and the gold coin in Evan's hand flew into her grasp on its own. In an instant, some miraculous knowledge was injected into Evan's mind, flooding in like a tide, making him feel dizzy. Soon, he lost consciousness.

When Evan opened his eyes again, he found himself back in his body, and the gold coin was no longer in his hand. Opening the cabinet door, the small compartment's window was already open, but the sunlight outside indicated it was morning!

Evan touched his empty stomach, feeling somewhat incredulous. He had only spoken one sentence to that supernatural being, yet so much time had passed in reality!

Taking out his pocket watch to check the time—good, seven-thirty. Time for breakfast. His heart was filled with emotion; this experience had given him a completely new understanding of the world.

June 23rd, Beckland.

As Evan slowly walked out of the train station carrying a small leather suitcase, the magnificent and grand architecture instantly came into view. This station was even more imposing than Sheffield's, with its tall arches, exquisite carvings, and broad platforms, all showcasing the capital's majesty and prosperity.

Every day, a large number of people arrived in Beckland by train, this city full of opportunities and challenges. Therefore, in a wide area at the station exit, numerous carriages were neatly lined up, as if waiting for guests from afar. On the back of each carriage hung an iron plaque engraved with "Wellington Carriage Company" and a string of numbers. This clearly indicated that these carriages were affiliated with the Sala Empire's public transportation system, representing safety and regulation. The carriages nearby without plaques were privately operated. While these private carriages had certain advantages in flexibility, their safety was somewhat concerning.

Public carriages had obvious advantages. First, they were very safe; the drivers underwent strict screening and training to ensure a smooth journey for passengers. Second, the fares for public carriages were uniform and did not vary based on the passenger, giving people certainty when riding. However, public carriages also had their drawbacks—they were relatively expensive. For those with limited financial means, the cost might feel a bit high. Private carriages had different characteristics. Their advantage lay in being able to take some smaller roads, offering more flexibility and convenience, and passengers could bargain with the driver to get a more suitable price. However, the safety of private carriages could not be fully guaranteed, which made many people hesitate when choosing.

Author's Note:

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