Far East, Nagazora.
[ Outdoor Temperature: -3°C ]
As everyone knows, Earth's overall geographical environment is diverse and complex.
So, even if the temperature in coastal areas like this has dropped below freezing, the surrounding seawater won't immediately start freezing over large areas.
Unless...
Unless it is an extreme cold wave, far below the freezing point, sweeping through everything, just like when Sakura swung her Spirit Blade · Frozen Hell Sky recently... That kind of situation is obviously an exception.
Of course, by now, the frozen tsunami spectacle has already ceased to exist.
Because recently, Fire-type Superhumans who signed The Act specifically came here to solve the problem.
Of course, that is the "fact" seen by ordinary people who are unaware of the internal situation.
The true situation, of course, is that the Newborn World Serpent, which is now practically a one-man show, sent people to handle it.
Unfortunately, even a Superhuman cannot single-handedly alter the global deterioration of the natural environment.
Today...
"Whoosh~"
In the sky, a brand new, unconventional spectacle abruptly appeared.
Below, many Far Easterners who were staying at home habitually took out their phones and started snapping photos frantically.
Leaving behind frame after frame of the supernatural image: "a train traveling in the sky."
Clearly, this grand gesture was the work of Ling Ke, who was using the Trailblazer Model.
Right now...
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"
The train in the sky circled Nagazora once before finally landing smoothly at the Moths Who Chase the Flames branch base located within the city.
At this moment, on the vast tarmac...
Clack, clack~
The side doors of each train carriage opened one after another.
More than a thousand people emerged from the train in waves.
Many people had already been waiting here for a long time, ready to assist.
Among them, some worked in small groups of two or three, moving precision instruments.
A few dozen others did nothing at all, dressed in suits and leather shoes as if they were on an outing.
They had just stepped off the train, still complaining about why they hadn't been assigned a comfortable cabin.
"Thank you for your hard work, Caelus."
At the front of the train, in the second carriage right next to the locomotive, a red-haired woman who had just stepped out of the door turned and smiled at the gray-haired youth. "Your Path Ability is indeed worth its price."
"It's worth more than its price," Ling Ke corrected. "And Captain Himeko, no matter how much you flatter me, I won't accept a single cent less than the payment I'm owed."
"..."
Himeko was speechless.
However, on second thought...
"Alright, alright. It's not like I'm the one paying."
She waved her hand. "I'm just a minor character responsible for delivering messages."
Honestly, ten million euros for a private contact method... This money was really easy to earn.
But...
"In the future, will money still be useful?"
Himeko had thought about this question.
However, considering the various matters involved, it really touched upon too many secrets. She didn't discuss this with him much, as he had not yet joined the Newborn World Serpent.
Perhaps in her view, if one day the money on this planet really became useless, then this gray-haired youth who mastered the Special Path Power would probably have already stood on the same front as her and the others.
She wasn't being self-righteous, nor did she want to do things she herself disliked... like coercion and inducement.
Rather, the future prospects would slowly force everyone to band together.
Unlike now...
"Now that this mission is complete and I've received the payment, I'll be heading off."
Ling Ke mentioned this casually after confirming that there were no other passengers left on the Stellaron Train he had summoned.
Then, he prepared to leave alone.
Clearly, as merely a special advisor to the Fifth Squad, he had no intention of staying in this branch base for long.
In any case, all he needed to do next was maintain contact with the Moths Who Chase the Flames.
This kind of position, lingering in the gray area, made it easier to avoid certain troublesome matters.
For example...
"Mr. Qiong, please wait a moment."
In the distance, several unfamiliar faces rushed over.
They stood near the train door where Ling Ke was and said loudly, "There is something we would like to trouble you with. I wonder if we could discuss it?"
"Oh?"
Ling Ke didn't even turn his head. "What is it?"
"Can we go inside to talk?"
The group pointed to the Observation Car in the second section and asked tentatively.
"No."
Ling Ke answered bluntly. "Say what you have to say quickly, don't waste my time."
"..."
The faces of the people who had rushed over turned a bit ugly.
Among the group who had approached, some had good manners and knew to keep their cool during a negotiation.
But there were also a few useless fools who were...
They were obviously the ones asking for a favor, so their leader still patiently said, "Mr. Qiong, as you know, the world has been unstable lately. Those Alien Monsters can disguise themselves as anything..."
"Get to the point."
"...Our superiors hope you can spare some time to escort some high-profile individuals to this branch base for protection."
"Oh~"
Ling Ke turned around for the first time. "I'll need ten million... euros."
"Pfft~"
Himeko, who had stayed nearby the whole time and witnessed this all too familiar scene, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Seeing everyone else looking at her, she waved her hand and said, "Sorry, just pretend I'm not here. Please continue."
Ling Ke's expression didn't change.
He was in a good mood right now and didn't mind giving anyone an "equal" opportunity to pay him.
Unfortunately...
"Ten million euros? That's way too..."
"This is daylight robbery!"
"This young man is just..."
Some of the men who came showed good manners, knowing to keep their cool during a negotiation.
But there were also a few useless fools who were... Let's just say, I wondered how they ever got into the Moths Who Chase the Flames.
Probably because a quick check would reveal they were someone's uncle or nephew.
As for these...
"Idiots!"
Ling Ke didn't want to waste any more time. He slammed the door shut, and the Stellaron Train immediately took off.
The massive steel beast shot straight into the sky.
When it moved, no one dared to block its path.
Those wheels, each the size of a millstone, could truly crush a person to death.
Even Brother Zhou Tian, who had singlehandedly shaped the Dream of Taixu, couldn't withstand a few hits from it.
If ordinary people tried to stand in its way, they would be foolishly trying to stop a wheel with a mantis's arms.
Fortunately, though furious, these people weren't stupid enough to risk their lives over such a trivial matter.
They could only stand there, venting their negative emotions in a fit of impotent rage.
Inside the Observation Car...
"I didn't expect to encounter such a textbook situation so soon."
Ling Ke sat on the circular sofa, crossing his legs. "Hah~ It makes me feel like some cocky, arrogant movie character."
Honestly, even glancing at such low-level lackeys a few more times would be beneath him.
So...
"They can't be allowed to show their faces in front of me again."
Ling Ke casually decided the future of certain people.
However, to avoid compromising his identity as the "Perspective," those lackeys had to disappear naturally enough.
Just then...
Beep beep~
His phone buzzed.
He pulled it out to check...
[ Himeko: Sorry about just now. Please don't take it to heart. ]
The message was from the red-haired older sister.
A slight smile touched Ling Ke's lips.
At this moment, not far from him, a mysterious creature in a Train Conductor's uniform was waddling around with a broom, sweeping the floor until it shone.
Yes, since Ling Ke had summoned the Stellaron Train, how could Pamu be missing?
"Too bad this Pamu can't give out rewards."
His thoughts drifted a bit.
Then, with a casual smile, he turned his gaze back to the phone screen in his hand, his thumb flying as he typed.
[ Trailblazer is me: It's fine. There aren't many people or things that can make me take them to heart. ]
[ At the very least, those useless scrubs couldn't possibly be in that category. ]
[ Himeko: You're still as relentless as ever... Fine, I think you're right. ]
[ Do you want to take a mission? ]
[ It's for ten million... Euros, right? ]
"..."
Ling Ke's finger hung in midair, his lips twitching.
Fine, she even learned to jump the gun.
But this person was actually a bit interesting.
[ Trailblazer is me: Tell me about it. ]
[ Himeko: Several key figures from the Mu Continent need to travel to North Africa for some business. During the transfer, we'll need to use your Path Ability. ]
[ Right now, the only solution I can think of is for you to provide the vehicle, as that would be the safest option. ]
After reading the messages...
"Mu Continent? Key figures? Going to North Africa?"
Ling Ke had already summarized and deduced a general outline of the event in his mind.
"It should be escorting Dr. Einstein to the headquarters base of the Newborn World Serpent!"
"After all, compared to other places, that is undoubtedly the safest."
"And her importance right now goes without saying."
Thinking of this, Ling Ke frowned slightly, lost in thought.
In his view, it was precisely because of Dr. Einstein's importance... Why would such an important person be assigned to be escorted by a Pathstrider like him, whom they had just met and couldn't possibly trust completely?
"Obviously, there are other inside details."
As his thoughts reached this point, Ling Ke actually became interested.
To put it bluntly, if the event wasn't unknown enough, he wouldn't even do it.
"Let's have a more interesting development."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "At least, let me kill some boring time."
So...
[ Trailblazer is me: I'll take this job. ]
[ Himeko: The payment has been sent to the new account opened for you previously. Please set off as soon as possible. Thank you. ]
[ Trailblazer is me: OK! ]
Ling Ke directly replied with a short and clear message.
Then...
"Pom-Pom, divert to the Mu Continent."
He looked at the Replica Mysterious Train Conductor not far away and smiled, "Also..."
"The rest of the journey probably won't be peaceful."
"Don't worry, even if this Astral Express is blown to smithereens, I'll restore it to its original state."
Pom-Pom: "..."
Sigh~ This generation's Trailblazer is really hard to manage.
But who told him he was the big boss?
At this moment, this Replica Pom-Pom couldn't help but sigh in its heart, "The Stelle from the same-dimensional space next door is still better!"
"At least she doesn't go looking for trouble..."
"Uh~ probably!"
Image: "The Train Master is so cute"