Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 656 - Milestone Train Station
Chapter 656: Chapter 656 Milestone Train Station
Chapter 656: Chapter 656 Milestone Train Station
Early on Wednesday morning, Shard received a briefcase delivered by a stranger knocking at the door.
After having breakfast, leaving Mia in the care of Luviya who had stayed up late stargazing last night and thus was sleeping on the first floor, Shard set off once again for Midshire Fort City.
However, he didn’t head straight for Milestone Train Station; instead, he went to the Cassandra Auction House to seek help from Granny Cassandra, the Grand Witch:
“Is there a way to completely change one’s appearance in a short amount of time?”
Shard asked, conversing in the auction house’s top-floor reception room with the silver-haired, elderly witch who seemed quite pleased with his visit.
“I have a box of eyeshadow given to me by Miss Galina, but that can only slightly change my appearance. In a while, I need to do something where it is absolutely imperative that my identity remains concealed, so is there a method to completely alter my appearance?”
“How long does it need to last?”
The old woman asked with a chuckle, Shard thought for a moment:
“About two hours, I guess.”
“Is the other party a Circle Sorcerer?”
“Most likely not.”
Shard felt it was best to be cautious; it was possible that the person coming to collect the goods, like himself, was compelled to complete this job for various reasons.
“It’s simple.”
Granny Cassandra then called over a nearby maid, the middle-aged woman with an approximate level of 5 rings, who immediately went to fetch something from the auction house’s warehouse:
“Also, bring the keys.”
Granny Cassandra instructed again, and so, a few dozen minutes later, two boxes imbued with Whisper elements appeared on the coffee table, indicating that they contained relics.
“The Time Key from the Year 3024 of the Fifth Era, I know Galina has been helping you look for a key from this period; fortunate that you came, so I need not pass it on to her anymore.”
Granny Cassandra gestured for Shard to open the first box, and indeed, inside its red lining lay the familiar wooden key.
The key to the Vampire God’s soirée from the Year 3014 of the Fifth Era had already been used all three of its allotted times, and he could embark on a new adventure as of Sunday morning. He had planned to apply for a new key at the Academy during the meeting on Saturday afternoon to visit some other time period, but to his surprise, Granny Cassandra could actually provide one.
“The other item is on loan to you, open it and have a look.”
Shard opened the other box and saw before him a metallic plate connected to a rusted clip.
One side of the metal plate was blank, while the other side listed identity information:
[Second Era History Research Institute, Typist, ****]
The area where a name should have been was scratched out.
Below this identity information was an emblem occupying the center of the metal card, depicting an open book, presumably the emblem of the so-called “Second Era History Research Institute.”
Further below, there was a line of tiny letters, which translated meant:
[“Without names, we are all one.”]
“What is this?”
“The Keeper of Secrets Level Relic [Identity Card of the Nameless], this relic has a long pedigree, supposedly originating from the ancient Third Era. Just clip the small clip of this identity card to the pocket at the front of your shirt, and it will make you appear as a completely different image to others, and each use will result in a different appearance.”
Granny Cassandra introduced as Shard curiously examined the item in his hands:
“This is indeed convenient, but why is it Keeper of Secrets Level? Is it because of a special containment method, or is it due to its powerful Negative Traits?”
“Containment is simple, as long as no more than five sapient beings touch this card within a day. It’s because of its powerful Negative Traits, Mr. Hamilton. Do you know about the Faceless Man?”
The elderly man asked, cradling his teacup.
Shard thought for a moment:
“It seems like they were terrifying creatures living in the early Fifth Era, surviving by stealing people’s faces and identities. They later offended a Witch they shouldn’t have and were wiped out.”
This knowledge he gained from the writings of Miss Feliana.
“Yes, and the Negative Trait of this Relic is that if it is held for too long or used too frequently, the user’s face will peel off, and they must flay someone else’s face to survive. Once the Negative Trait is triggered, the user will be transformed into a Faceless Man, gradually losing their sanity and falling into madness. At the same time, the more skins they flay, the stronger they become, until they ultimately degenerate into an indescribable being made up of thousands of faces.”
Although she spoke of terrible things, the Old Witch with silver-white hair still had a smile on her face:
“If you use it for just two hours, especially since it’s your first time, you won’t encounter any issues. Should you be unlucky and feel something wrong with your own skin, immediately remove the Relic, and then continuously chant your name to reinforce the recognition of oneself.”
“Alright, this is very helpful. Then, what compensation do I owe you for lending me this key and the Relic?”
Shard asked.
“No, no, no, there’s no need for compensation.”
Granny Cassandra shook her head, then before Shard could say anything, continued:
“But there is one thing I need you to do. Remember last week I mentioned my teacher is preparing a ritual that occurs once every 22 years?”
Granny Cassandra’s teacher is not a member of the Witch Council, but she is still respected by the Council.
“I remember.”
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Shard nodded his head but muttered in his heart:
“Hmm? 22 years?”
“I would like to invite you to observe that ritual. The exact time hasn’t been determined yet, but it will definitely be held before the end of this month, amidst the mountains of Sicarl. If you have time, please come and observe it with me.”
“Just let me know the time and the place when it’s decided.”
Shard nodded in agreement, but he didn’t promise he would go, not knowing what kind of ritual it might be.
After saying goodbye to Granny Cassandra, Shard placed the Identity Card inside the inner pocket of his outer coat within the Cassandra Auction House. He himself had not transformed; instead, to others, he now appeared to be someone else entirely.
This could be confirmed with a mirror; in the reflection, Shard now had sparsely haired and heavily dark-circled middle-aged man, almost as if broadcasting “midlife crisis” across his face.
Then, he bought some red roses near the Milestone Train Station, turned a pair of gray gloves inside out over his hands, and pinned a golden fountain pen to his pocket front. Carrying the suitcase, Shard entered the bustling train station.
After purchasing a platform ticket, he glanced at the train timetable.
Professor Higgins’ last words had instructed Shard to deliver goods at nine-thirty in the morning. Shard was uncertain whether the person picking up the package was local and would be leaving by train at that time, or if they were coming from elsewhere to receive it.
And remarkably, there were seven or eight steam trains leaving for and arriving from Carsonrick around nine-thirty, apparently one of the busiest moments of the day at the station.
With no particular clues worth analyzing, Shard decided to pose as a passenger waiting for a train on a platform clogged with steam, slowly biding his time with the suitcase in hand.
