I'm a proper student; I only take nine kinds of potions every day.

His face was devout, and his eyes were brimming with joy.

"The church has been kind to me when I was suffering."

"Their medication helped me get through the toughest week."

"I suddenly saw this sacred object today, and I couldn't help but shed tears."

These words were spoken with utmost sincerity, every word coming from the bottom of their hearts.

Karp looked at the almost innocent gratitude in his eyes, paused for a second, and then reached out and patted him hard on the shoulder.

"He is a child who knows how to be grateful."

Ivan wiped away his tears and asked casually.

"Sir, what happened?"

Garp snorted and glanced at the other side of the corridor.

“A few frivolous and dirty members of the Phoenix Brotherhood used their connections at the station to get in early, hoping to make an impression.”

His tone was clearly one of disgust.

"I sent him back."

Upon hearing this, Ivan immediately patted his chest, revealing an enthusiastic expression that said, "This is my chance."

"Sir! Add some money. I guarantee none of those guys will dare come near!"

With Hearst as their backer, this is an excellent opportunity to take the initiative and test the waters.

Upon hearing this, Garp quickly recalled the information he had previously reviewed.

This kid had clashed with members of the Phoenix Brotherhood back in school and even beat up several of them.

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"I'll give you an extra dollar today."

"I don't want to hear those guys yelling in the corridor of this carriage."

Ivan straightened his back and answered crisply.

"Yes, sir!"

He immediately turned around and strode to the other end of the carriage.

As they walked, they discreetly glanced at the other private room doors, using the corridor lights as a guide.

On the inner wall of each door, there is an identical brass incense burner.

The spread of the copper epidemic continues to climb steadily.

He felt a sudden itch in his heart.

I really want to use the Demon Hunter's Vision to scan the other private rooms again, so that Copper Plague can increase its curse progress a bit more.

But he forcefully suppressed the impulse.

"Let's digest this wave first."

He told himself this in his heart.

"We've seen too much of the Copper Curse; what if we can't defeat the Copper Plague..."

"At that time, I really became the male bronze in the priest's room."

"However, this also shows that..."

"The Healing Church is indeed secretly protecting the Hearst family."

Each private room is equipped with an incense burner containing a cursed artifact, which directly activates a benevolent copper effect on any unauthorized intruders.

This defense system is neither cheap nor simple.

"Since the carriages have this level of protective measures."

Ivan walked along, pondering the situation.

"Then Eldin probably carries some kind of protective amulet or something similar."

"When I scanned her with my Demon Hunter vision just now, I couldn't find a single trace of her."

"It seems that there are limits to the demon hunter's vision, senior brother. Certain levels of magical artifacts can be hidden quite well."

While he was thinking, he had already reached the connecting area between the carriages.

The passageways between the carriages were separated by heavy red velvet curtains.

Two flight attendants in dark green uniforms stood on either side of the curtain, ready to greet passengers.

It was at this moment that...

A large number of passengers began to board the train.

Erdin and several other young female students walked in through the red velvet curtain with happy expressions.

Behind them followed several dignified governesses and diligent maids.

The group was chatting happily, and the topic was about a pianist from a salon the previous night.

Ivan stood at the carriage door, and the girls didn't even notice him as they rushed past him and entered the carriage.

Followed by.

Another group of noble children followed.

Leading the way was a young man wearing a dark blue bespoke suit.

Her blonde hair was combed perfectly, with a precise parting.

He was of medium build, and his features were so perfectly proportioned that they made him appear somewhat plain.

If you left him alone on the street, probably no one would give him a second glance.

But he was surrounded by a whole circle of glamorous noblemen and young women in the center, like an ordinary yet radiant sun at the core.

Botte Alcott.

Miss Hearst!

Alcott's voice was gentle and clear, with a sunny, kind, and approachable quality, like that of a friendly older brother next door.

Erdin had just stepped inside the carriage when he heard the sound and instinctively wanted to turn around.

But the governess with pince-nez glasses next to her reacted very quickly, immediately taking Eltin's hand and half-pushing, half-leading her and several other girls into the carriage.

Their figures disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Standing at the carriage door, Evan never made eye contact with Eltin.

This is one of the basic logics of how the world works.

Alcott didn't seem to care.

He smiled and continued walking forward with a large circle of followers behind him, seemingly ready to step directly into the Hearst carriage.

Without making a sound, Ivan took half a step forward, blocking their way.

"Where did this stray dog ​​come from?"

His voice was calm and clear, but his tone carried a deliberate contempt and arrogance.

Is this a place you're allowed to come to?

He diligently played his role as the "fierce gatekeeper."

He wanted to take advantage of this opportune moment to provoke Alcott.

Let's see if this guy is a cunning schemer or just a spoiled brat with no real strategy.

Upon hearing this, the faces of the group of people behind Alcott instantly darkened.

Dennis, who was walking at the front, stepped forward and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"You lowly thing. Do you even know who's standing in front of you?"

He raised his chin.

"Go away!"

Ivan crossed his arms and slowly leaned against the carriage door frame.

"Who?"

He tilted his head and looked Alcott up and down.

“Hey, why are you in such a hurry? Is he your daddy?” (Note 1)

A flush of color appeared on Dennis's face.

"presumptuous!"

He raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

The speed of that slap, within Ivan's vision, which had already broken through to 5.4 physique, seemed as slow as a 0.3x slow-motion playback.

He didn't hide.

He simply raised his left hand, palm up, and caught Dennis's forearm.

Then, following the force of the opponent's swing, gently push that elbow forward.

Snapped.

That perfectly round slap didn't hit Evan.

Dennis's entire body was carried by his own inertia, turning in place in a 90-degree arc.

Then his palm, the one that should have landed on Ivan's face, instead slapped him squarely...

On Alcott's left cheek.

The entire corridor fell silent for half a second.

"Hahaha!"

Ivan slapped his knee and burst into unrestrained laughter.