Xingtetsu: Why is the captain on the train?

Seven hundred years ago, monsters from outer space set the planet on fire, and the earth turned into scorched earth. At that time, the world was full of burning lava and boiling black smoke.

At the critical moment of life and death, a cold wave suddenly came, and the invading monsters were buried by the wind and snow. The only one who survived was Beloberg.

The city was built by determined builders. Under the protection of Creper, although Beroberg was attacked by wind and snow, it was always warm.

"This is the history that is generally recorded in our ordinary history textbooks." Xiluwa held the coffee and looked at the captain, "But as a scholar, I can tell you that before the time period described in this history textbook, our civilization had records of the fall of the star core."

"So, where is it?" the captain asked quietly.

Shiluwa's fingers fumbled with the coffee cup and she fell silent.

"Is this question difficult to answer?" Yuexia, who was sitting next to the captain, frowned slightly, with a hint of doubt towards Shiluwa in her voice.

The previous smooth communication, coupled with the sudden freeze at this moment, made all the people on the train scattered in the machinery room turn their attention to the reception area in the corner of the machinery room. The five of them were waiting for Shiluwa to respond.

"It's difficult." Xiluwa sighed, "Because this is a question without an answer. No one knows where the star core is on this planet."

“.......”Everyone was silent.

The captain also sighed, "The worst case scenario."

It's bad enough. A planet is so vast, and without clear clues pointing to the core, the people on the train are no longer the last hope for this planet. The wind and snow have buried too many things, and if they can't find the core, everything is meaningless.

"Captain, you should be able to feel the fluctuations of the star core?" Yuexia turned her gaze to the captain. "In the elevator of the space station, didn't you feel the fluctuations of the star core in the containment room?"

Then, everyone's eyes turned to the captain.

"According to what Ms. Black Tower said, what I felt was the wave generated by the disturbance of the imaginary energy by the star core, rather than the star core itself." The captain smiled bitterly, "Do you know what, in my perception, is releasing this wave?"

"It's the entire planet beneath our feet." The captain sighed. "Without restraint, the disturbance range of the star core will expand indefinitely. Obviously, we are too late. Almost the entire planet has been contaminated by the star core."

"It's a boundary rift." Dan Heng suddenly spoke.

So the illiterate people turned their attention to Danheng.

"[Breakdown] is a companion phenomenon of [Star Core]. The calm imaginary energy can be disturbed, folded, and torn apart, and the disordered space will continuously spew out Breakdown creations." Dan Heng calmly recounted the knowledge that everyone had never deeply understood. "What the captain felt was most likely the fluctuation of the expansion of the Breakdown."

"Brother, I want to ask you something." Xiluwa turned to look at Danheng, "Is there any way to eliminate this rift you mentioned?"

"Yes." Dan Heng nodded.

"What is..."

"As long as the star cores are dealt with and cannot infect reality, time will naturally allow the imaginary energy to heal its own 'wounds'. Once the 'wounds' disappear, the rift will close." Dan Heng glanced at the choking Xiluwa, "The reason why the captain can always feel the fluctuations is that the imaginary energy is wrestling with the rift."

"How come we are back to this unsolvable problem after all this tangling?" Sanyueqi sighed sadly, "We don't have any mapping methods. Can we locate the position of the star core?"

The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it seriously. Shiluwa's expression fluctuated for a moment, but soon her expression dimmed.

The captain noticed Xiluwa's abnormality, but he did not point it out. Instead, he sighed after a brief silence, "If there really is such a method, Ji Zi and Lao Yang would not hide it."

March 7th also fell silent.

"But we can't just sit here and wait for a miracle, right?" Xing suddenly spoke, clearing away the depressing atmosphere.

Everyone's eyes turned to the pure white 'newborn'.

"【Explore】【Understand】【Establish】【Connection】, we are now just stuck at the step of 【Explore】 and 【Understand】, and I ask myself, how much have I 【explored】 this world, and how much have I 【understood】, the answer my heart gives me is obviously not satisfactory to me." The Star Core Spirit looked around at his companions, "We are too focused on the [Star Core], and perhaps it will obscure our vision."

Innocent and immature, but full of vigor and enthusiasm.

San Yueqi pondered for a moment, and the depressed thoughts in his heart were swept away. Dan Heng slightly raised the corners of his mouth, turned his head under the moonlight and looked at the captain, and they both saw the smile in each other's eyes.

"That's true." The captain smiled softly and turned his gaze to Shiluwa. "Seven hundred years have passed, and the current situation is not so urgent that we need to save the world for the Beloberg people."

"Ms. Silva, do you mind if my companions go out and walk around the city?"

"Of course not." Xiluwa was also affected by the words of the Star Core Spirit, and there was a little more relaxed smile in her voice, "But don't disappear."

"Don't worry, I'll stay here. The four of you can just go out and walk around the city. What Xing just said is right. [Explore] [Understand], we are still far from understanding this city. It would be arrogant and conceited to think about saving the world for them now."

"If we're going to group them, I'll be in the same group with Xing." March Seven turned to look at the Star Core Spirit, and after receiving the latter's serious nod in response, March smiled widely.

"Then, I'll go with Miss Yuexia." Dan Heng didn't say much. After looking at Yuexia, they both nodded.

The captain's eyes turned to the clock on the display case, "I'll give you four hours. Meet up in the machinery room at 6pm."

"Then let's go." Sanyue and Xing pushed the door open and left first.

Afterwards, Yuexia and Danheng also left the machinery house together.

After the four people left the machinery room, the atmosphere in the room became silent for a moment, with only the slight ticking sound of the clock echoing in the room.

"Miss Shiluwa." The captain raised his head and met Shiluwa's eyes.

"Mr. Captain."

"Would you mind talking about your Great Guardian?" The captain leaned forward with his hands on the counter, interlaced his fingers, and said, "Your sister, Ling Ke, has made no secret of her doubts and vigilance towards the ruler of your city during her time with us, and she has also instilled this idea in me."

"Ling Ke mentioned that you and the Great Guardian were classmates and friends, but eventually parted ways. You should know the Great Guardian better than Ling Ke."

"I want to hear your opinion on the Great Guardian."

Chapter 20: Captain, please stop for a moment

"I want to hear your opinion on the Great Guardian."

The captain stared at Shiluwa calmly.

Now that his train companions had temporarily left the machinery room, the captain felt that it was time to discuss some more adult topics with Shiluwa.

"Why?" Xiluwa did not refuse at the first time. The first thing she asked was to question the captain's motives.

"Because of the Interstellar Peace Treaty." The captain chuckled, "We, [Nameless Guest], are a force. The star god [Pioneer] Akivali, whom we once followed, also signed his name on the Interstellar Peace Treaty."

"And you, Beloberg, even though you are imprisoned, the power of [Protector] protects the city. We also need to acknowledge that you are a member of the [Protector] faction. Under the terms of the Interstellar Peace Treaty, we should help each other." The captain did not hesitate or hide anything, "But, the attitude that Ling Ke conveyed to me has made me a little wary of your Great Guardian. Be careful."

"So, I want to learn more about your ruler, the leader who can speak for [Beloberg], from you who know the Great Guardian better. What kind of person is he? I have seen too much darkness in human nature in post-wasteland worlds like Beloberg."

"And your point of view will make me understand whether my vigilance is unnecessary... or necessary." The captain stared at Shiluwa, his black pupils calm and deep, without any emotion visible.

Shiluwa also seemed to realize something.

If before, when his companions were still present, the captain was a gentle and calm pool of lake water, then now, the giant beast lurking under the water quietly raised its neck and poked its head out, it was ferocious and cold, maintaining calm restraint and a sense of distance.

"To avoid any misunderstandings in your understanding, Miss Shiluwa." The captain added before Shiluwa could speak, "I can tell you that we really have no ill intentions, because if we want to... destroy your city, it only takes a few minutes, so you can put down some unnecessary vigilance and suspicion towards me and us."

Shiluwa's mind was confused for a while, but the captain remained silent, waiting for Shiluwa to sort out his thoughts.

"The Great Guardian..." After a while, Xiluwa spoke, "I don't know her."

The captain was stunned for a moment and felt a little disillusioned. I have prepared so much and laid so much groundwork, and you tell me you know nothing?

"I only know Cocolia Rand." Shiluwa added the second half of the sentence.

Cocolia?! Huh?!

"Wait, you mean..." The captain frowned slightly.

"I only know the Great Guardian before she became the Great Guardian. After she became the Great Guardian, I parted ways with her. Her changes make me feel unfamiliar. The enthusiasm and warmth she once had seem to be frozen by the snowstorm of Beloberg. So, I'm afraid I can't help you." Xiluwa looked at the captain steadily, "I don't know the Great Guardian."

"But your sister is wary of her." The captain frowned.

"Lingbao just admires me more. She loves me and hates me too." Xiluwa smiled bitterly and shook her head.

"Is that so..." The captain fell into a brief silence. In his mind, he recalled the girl who said she didn't trust him and his group on the snowy plains but led him and his group into the city. Thinking of her tense face and the sentence "My ideas are unorthodox", the captain did not comment on Shiluwa's answer, "Maybe she just has her own thoughts and ideas."

Shiluwa shrugged.

"Then, we can only hope that they can find some clues and bring them back."

The captain's eyes turned to the door of the machinery room.

I waited until the sky outside gradually darkened.

The door of the perpetual motion machine house was pushed open, and the howling wind poured into the warm house, but it only brought a refreshing coolness, not a biting cold.

The first to walk into the house were Dan Heng and Yue Xia, both of whom looked a little gloomy. Then came San Yue Qi, who looked tired, and Xing, who looked very aggrieved.

"Looking at you guys, it seems like the process of gathering information is not going smoothly?" The captain raised the coffee in his hand and gestured to the four people.

"Miss Shiluwa, could you please give us some water?" Yuexia looked at Shiluwa with a forced smile, "I've been running all day, and my mouth is dry."

"Okay, I'll help you prepare it." Xiluwa nodded, pushed open the side door of the machinery house, and disappeared from everyone's sight.

While Xiluwa was gone, Danheng turned his gaze to the captain and said in a deep voice, "Our investigation was not unsuccessful. On the contrary, it was very smooth, too smooth. However, too much information led to a bad conclusion. This city is about to be destroyed."

The captain nodded slightly, but did not go into the issue further. Instead, he turned his gaze to Sanyueqi and Xinghejing, "How are you guys doing? Is everything going well?"

"I don't know whether to say it went smoothly or not..." Sanyueqi glanced at Xing tiredly, "In short, there are too many fragmented information, and I don't know if it will be useful."

"It will definitely work." The Star Core Spirit vowed, with his hands on his waist and chest puffed out. He seemed to feel that his momentum was not enough and snorted twice through his nose.

"What kind of information could be in a trash can!" Sanyueqi scratched his pink hair angrily and glared at the Star Core Spirit.

"Trash can?" Xiluwa walked out of the side door carrying a kettle and a cup and looked at the trash can at the captain's feet in confusion. "Isn't it right at your captain's feet?"

San Yue Qi smiled awkwardly, but after a few laughs, he couldn't hold back his sad face anymore and turned to look at the captain, "Captain, please take care of her! This girl almost searched through all the public trash cans in the Central Administrative District this afternoon."

The captain looked at the gray-haired girl with an indignant expression in astonishment.

Digging through the trash can...what useful information can you find?

"Huh?" Xiluwa raised an eyebrow and looked at the Star Core Spirit, "I heard that there is a very good author in the city who likes to crawl into the trash can all day long..." "I have seen it." The Star Core Spirit blinked, "He also invited me to join the Trash Can Lovers Association."

"You are not allowed to go!" San Yue Qi stared at the excited Star Core Spirit fiercely.

"If you don't want to go, then don't go." The Star Core Spirit muttered, "But I really found some useful information in the trash can!"

In order to convince everyone, she deliberately emphasized her tone.

"Then tell me, what information?" The captain also looked at Xing curiously.

"Prices!" The Star Core Spirit looked around at everyone, "Prices in Beloberg!"

This... is really useful information.

The captain nodded with a helpless smile, giving the Star Core Spirit a thumbs-up in recognition.

Chapter 21: The City of Preservation is on the verge of collapse

"Are our prices useful information for you?" Shiluwa poured water for the four people who had been busy on the train for the whole afternoon at the cashier counter and brought it to the rest area in the machinery room.

"If it's just ordinary prices, of course it's useless."

The one who answered Shiluwa's question was the star core spirit who claimed to have found useful information.

"Hey, isn't what you said contradictory?" After taking two sips of water, San Yue Qi held the cup and stared at Xing in confusion.

The Star Core Spirit turned his head and looked at Sanyue seriously, "So, the prices I found must be unusual."

"Tell me about it?" Dan Heng also turned his gaze to the Star Core Spirit with curiosity. After all, the way this guy stood with his hands on his hips with a proud look on his face just now was really a bit impolite.

"Earth marrow, this thing is very expensive, frighteningly expensive."

"Earth's marrow?" The captain raised his eyebrows and turned his gaze to the only local person present.

"Earth marrow? How much?" Xiluwa frowned and turned to the Star Core Essence with a serious expression. "How is this possible? The earth marrow is a survival material supplied by Klipperburg on demand. It is impossible for it to be circulated outside."

"Ten grams of earth marrow costs 800 shields." The Star Core Spirit also responded to Xiluwa seriously, "That's what it says on the handwritten bill."

"What about other things? You said they were terribly expensive, so there should be some comparative prices, right?"

"Food is 70 shields, clothing is 110 shields, fuel is 90 shields, and snacks are 35 shields." The star core spirit turned his gaze to the captain who asked the question, "Add the cost of the earth marrow, that is, all the records on the bill, even if the other things are doubled, they are more expensive than the earth marrow."

"So..." The captain turned his gaze to Shiluwa, whose expression suddenly darkened. "What is Earth Marrow? You just mentioned that it is a survival material?"

"It's warmer in the machinery room than outside, right?" Xiluwa said, turning her eyes to the small metal barrel placed at the door of the machinery room, "That's the function of the earth's marrow."

"Is it the heat source of the heating facility?" The captain's eyelids twitched slightly.

No one noticed that the moment the captain asked the question, Dan Heng and Yue Xia looked at each other. They both saw each other's seriousness. It was obvious that their discovery was probably related to the earth's marrow.

"Yes, the heat source..." Xiluwa was obviously immersed in her own thoughts, and her answer was a little careless, even...she seemed a little restless at the moment.

"Shiluwa, are you... okay?" The captain looked at Shiluwa in confusion.

"I'm fine... fine." Xiluwa put down the kettle she had been holding, raised her head and looked at the captain, "By the way, you still don't have a place to stay tonight, right?"

The captain was stunned for a moment, but nodded in agreement with what Xiluwa said, "Indeed, there is no place to stay yet."

"Let me make arrangements for you. Let's stay at the Goethe Hotel, is that okay?" Shiluwa smiled at everyone.

"Okay." The captain also nodded, put down the coffee cup in his hand and stood up.