Chapter 48: Giaris City

"Get in," Elizabeth spoke as she opened the carriage door.

Meanwhile, Raven nodded quietly and stepped into the carriage.

As soon as he sat down on the leather seat, Elizabeth raised her hand and muttered.

"Shadow Conceal." Once she spoke, Raven's shadow twisted and covered his entire body creepily.

"Don't freak out. You won't be able to see anything for the next two hours. The same goes for anyone who tries to check inside the carriage."

Raven tried to open his mouth but soon found himself enveloped in complete darkness. What shocked him was that even he couldn't hear his voice!

He thought of using the 'Iron Resilience' spell, but Zera stopped him.

[Stay still. If you activate your bloodline ability, this 'Shadow Conceal' spell will disperse on its own.]

'Okay!' Raven nodded and closed his eyes.

On the other hand, Elizabeth drove the carriage to the Eastern gate and soon exited the town after showing her identity. However, the patrol officers double-checked the carriage but found nothing inside.

The carriage quietly traveled through the agricultural lands for more than an hour and soon stopped in the middle of a vast plain.

At that moment, the 'Shadow Conceal' spell effect also wore down, allowing Raven to see outside finally.

Even though it was completely dark outside, Raven, thanks to his' Night Vision' skill, was able to see the vast plain on the sides and even the faraway mountain range.

But what surprised him was that he also saw a railway track near the carriage.

While he was in deep thought, Elizabeth opened the carriage door and spoke.

"The last cargo train to Giaris City will arrive in 30 minutes. Sneak onto the train and reach there safely. This is all I can do now, Raven."

"Yes, Teacher." Raven stepped down from the carriage and bowed his head.

"I'll not forget this help. I'll repay it one day." He said in a solemn tone.

A smile appeared on Elizabeth's face.

She quietly touched his head and patted him.

"Don't try to act tough, kiddo. Make some good allies and rely on them during the difficult times. Not everyone in this world is bad people."

"At the same time, don't trust your allies blindly, including me. People change over time, so watch out for the backstabbers." Saying so, she moved towards the driver's seat, hopped on it, and whipped the horses to turn the carriage.

After giving him one last look, she whipped the horses again and drove the carriage towards the direction of Darkcross Town.

Meanwhile, Raven looked at the slowly disappearing carriage and let out a deep sigh. Although his strength had recovered, he still felt a little difficulty breathing.

[What is your next plan, lad?] Zera asked.

"I'll think about it after reaching Giaris City," he said, gazing at the northern sky.

For the next few minutes, he remained in the same spot and patiently waited for the cargo train to come.

Precisely thirty minutes later, a loud noise came from the southern direction, and soon, an orb of light started approaching closer.

The train approached with a steady rumble, its engine belching smoke and steam into the night air. Raven stood by the tracks, his heart raced. At the same time, he noticed that the train was slowed down due to the turn ahead.

As the train passed by, he glanced around, making sure no one was nearby to witness his clandestine boarding.

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Then, he took a deep breath and started running alongside the train. Thanks to his upgraded agility, his movement became three times faster than that of an average mortal.

Even still, he barely managed to match the speed of the train.

With a quick, agile leap, Raven boarded the train, finding a concealed spot between two cargo containers. The rhythmic chugging of the engine reverberated through the metal beneath him as the train began to pick up speed once more.

…

28th August, Rune Era, Year 1420.

Azmar Railway Station, Southern Borough, Giaris City, Spade County.

Giaris City, with a population of 1 million, was one of the largest cities in the Southeastern region. It was also the capital of Spade County, which was under the governance of Count Andres Spade.

Around 6. A.M,

A cargo train came from the Territory of Whitbard, entered through the southern gate, and quietly arrived at the Azmar Railway Station.

A slim figure suddenly jumped from the gondola that was attached to the end of the train and quietly looked around.

Although he saw some steam locomotives, tenders, boxcars, and even trains with gondolas, no human appeared in his sight.

'I should leave the railway station quietly and look for a place to stay.'

Raven removed the black hooded robe and revealed his handsome face.

Due to the snow cascading down the sky, his face looked pale white.

“This is the first time I’ve seen snow!” His gaze wandered to the snow on the train containers, tracks, and everywhere else.

“Haa, I should change my clothes first.”

He hurriedly removed his school uniform and wore a formal white shirt, black waistcoat, black pants, and a jacket of the same color.

After that, he took out a top hat and bowtie from the inventory and wore them.

In a matter of minutes, he completely looked like a teenage boy from a privileged family. If he were to wear poor attire, he would either be looked down on by the common masses or even suspected of being a boy from the slum region.

'And as far as I heard from my sisters, patrol officers mostly target people from poor backgrounds. Thanks to the Viper Syndicate members becoming active all over the Empire, security becomes strict in all major cities. I must avoid encountering any police.'

Although he managed to enter the city without going through any inspection, he must be wary of the patrol officers.

He first looked at the surroundings and noticed tall buildings with chimneys appeared on the eastern side. Far north seemed to be covered in smoke, while the west side sky looked clear.

After a swift scan, Raven chose the east direction and walked alongside the railway track. Before long, he came across a two-meter-tall wall separating the Railway station region from the city and quietly jumped across it.

…

Tudor Terrace, Goldencrest Borough.

A few minutes later, a young teenage boy stood on the roadside and thoughtfully looked at the opposite three-story building. Horse-ridden carriages passed constantly while hundreds of people moved here and there.

Raven adjusted his hat and straightened his posture, blending into the flow of pedestrians.

The building across the street seemed to be an inn, its wooden sign swinging gently in the morning breeze.

Raven thought it might be an excellent place to gather information and possibly find temporary lodging. He took a deep breath and began to cross the bustling street.

As he reached the other side, Raven's eyes scanned the area for any signs of danger or patrol officers. The streets were crowded with merchants setting up their stalls, workers heading to their jobs, and citizens going about their daily routines. It seemed like just another busy morning in Giaris City.

Approaching the inn, Raven pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside. The interior was dimly lit by flickering oil lamps, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor. A few customers sat at tables scattered around the room, their voices murmuring in hushed tones.

Raven made his way to the front desk, where a middle-aged man with a tired expression stood behind the counter.

Raven cleared his throat before speaking. "Excuse me, sir. Do you have any rooms available for rent?"

The innkeeper glanced up from his ledger, eyeing Raven with mild curiosity. "Aye, we've got a few rooms left. How many nights will you be staying?"

Raven hesitated for a moment and spoke.

"Just for two nights, if that's all right."

The innkeeper nodded, scribbling something down in his ledger: "That'll be ten silver coins for two nights. Payment is upfront."

Raven reached into his pocket and took out ten silver coins from his inventory. He then slid them across the counter.

The innkeeper took the coins and handed Raven a tarnished brass key in return. "Room six, up the stairs and to the left. Enjoy your stay."

"Thank you," Raven replied with a polite nod, tucking the key into his pocket. He turned and headed for the staircase, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

As he ascended the stairs, Raven found himself on a narrow landing lined with doors. He located room six and inserted the key into the lock, turning it with a soft click. Pushing open the door, he stepped inside and closed it behind him.

The room was small and sparsely furnished, but it was clean and quiet. A narrow bed covered with a threadbare blanket occupied one corner. A small table and chair sat against the opposite wall, and a dusty window looked out onto the bustling street below. He also saw a bundle of newspapers placed on the table and thought of checking it out later.

"I should wash up first."

Raven said as he looked at the attached bathroom in the left corner of the room and breathed out a sigh of relief.

He then removed the formal clothes, took out a white towel from the inventory, and walked half-naked toward the bathroom.

Soon, he entered the bathroom and took a bath in the cold water.

A few minutes later, he walked out of the bath with a trembling body and hurriedly put on casual clothes. Then, he also put on a sweater, moved towards the bed, and lay on it.

Raven breathed out a sigh, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over him. It had been a long journey, both physically and emotionally, and he was grateful for the chance to rest. He slowly closed his eyes as sleep claimed him.

…