I have a long-lived pawn shop.

Wei Xi took out his pocket watch and took a look. It was only one minute to three o'clock in the afternoon.

They were now in an abandoned train station, which was very small and crude, constructed purely of steel with a few random wooden planks as a roof, and looked shaky.

The Monti family's limousine and guards were sent away by Wei Xi using a mechanical bird to deliver a message. She followed Gabia to an abandoned area of ​​Sebo University, and followed a messy bush path until she saw a railway track covered with wild flowers and weeds and a platform.

"Don't worry, the three o'clock train is the latest, but it will come." Gabiyya shrugged. "This railway is a dedicated line, there will be no delays. Even the director of the institute, like me, has to rely on this train to get in and out."

In fact, only the two top bosses of the Perpetual Motion Institute can run out like this. The other senior mechanics have to report half a month in advance before going out, and they are accompanied by special personnel. The rules are more strict than those of the army... They are the secret weapons of the empire, the backbone of technological innovation, and the founders of the Black Cross Legion - but they are also prisoners of the empire. Fortunately, their wives and children are all well protected, and they have no worries about food and clothing. Most of the top mechanics have the attribute of otakus, so their mentality is still pretty good.

As if to prove her words, the ground shook slightly. A train was approaching the platform at a very high speed. It was an unscheduled train. It came into the station with a strong wind, and the hem of Wei Xi's military uniform and Gabiya's long skirt flew up, making a whirring sound.

At exactly three o'clock, the train stopped at the platform, the steam engine spewed out thick white smoke, and the precision machinery made a velvety and delicate friction sound.

"The work of the Perpetual Motion Institute, 'The Black Snake of Aragon', is the fastest existing steam locomotive in the Kafa Empire. It is the pinnacle of mechanical craftsmanship and our masterpiece." Gabia smiled and made an inviting gesture. A figure of a black-clad soldier appeared in a crystal-like window.

This train had no passenger cars, but instead had twelve fully enclosed freight cars. Ordinary trains had a metal frame covered with iron sheets, but these cars seemed to be cast entirely out of black iron, with a seamless shape and no places to hang on to. Anyone who tried to follow the car from the outside would probably be blown away by the huge kinetic energy, like a hurricane sweeping away a scarecrow in a field or a tsunami pushing a fishing boat into a cliff by the sea.

During the short two minutes that the train stopped, Gabia and Wei Xi respectively showed their documents and certificates to prove their identities, and the front door of the train opened with a bang. Cold air spread out of the carriage, like an ice cellar.

"This car is actually used to transport food and some precious samples that need to be preserved at low temperatures. It will only stop at a station along the way for two minutes. The location of this station changes every day without any regularity. Only the director and deputy director of the Perpetual Motion Institute and some senior military officials know the exact location. If you don't have a high enough status, you absolutely cannot get on this car." Gabia explained.

The soldier who checked their IDs quickly took them to a compartment of moderate size with dim gas lights. Fortunately, there were two benches for them to rest.

Before going in, Wei Xi ran his finger across the wall of the rear carriage, wiping off a layer of white frost. The temperature in those carriages was below freezing, and the walls of the carriages were covered with brass pipes, which were usually used to transport precious food ingredients. However, it was obvious that Perpetual Motion did not just create this "Black Snake of Aragon" to satisfy its appetite. Judging from the materials used in the carriages and the tight structure, this thing could be used as a military weapon to penetrate certain defense lines.

"It's an amazingly perfect work, but I remember that this railway was built during the gold rush twenty years ago and has been abandoned for a long time. The end of the railway is the extinct volcano 'Snowden'. At that time, it was rumored that a large amount of gold with commercial value was discovered at the foot of Mount Snowden. A large number of gold diggers poured in, and some companies also invested in building a more advanced transportation network. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. After the gold rush cooled down, the settlement at the foot of Snowden was abandoned, and even scavengers would not go up the mountain. Only ruins were left there." Wei Xi said softly.

"You know it very well!" Gabia praised. "The Empire did take advantage of the gold rush to do something in Snowden. Even the gold rush leaflets came from a shadowy intelligence department. For so many years, we have been committed to restoring the vegetation on and off the mountain, hiding the things that should be hidden deeper - and by the way, providing a good place for the employees of the Perpetual Motion Institute to play and rest. There is no way to go back to Yalai Inner City, so let's relax and enjoy the scenery."

The train began to speed up. The "Black Snake of Aragon" was indeed a magical work of mechanical science. Its speed was amazing, far beyond the power of steam engines and internal combustion engines of this era. Twenty minutes later, Wei Xi and Gabia left the city of Yalai and plunged into the forest outside the city.

Looking out through the crystal-like windows, one is surrounded by giant trees that block out the sun, with drooping vines swaying between branches. The upper forests on the distant foothills are dyed by the sunlight, presenting changes like oil paint.

They even passed by a lake. A thin layer of silver mist was floating on the surface of the lake. The water was as blue as a shining gem. The light shone through the valley onto the lake, making it look beautiful.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? We call it 'Hope', not only because it's beautiful and full of vitality, but also because seeing it means we have reached the edge of the Perpetual Motion Center. From here on, inspections and guarding will be very strict, and even the Pope himself has to follow the rules." Gabia was also admiring the scenery of the lake and mountains. She had seen this kind of scenery for many years and found it pleasing to the eye every time.

"How long will it take?" Wei Xi asked softly, as if afraid of disturbing the elves in the lake in the forest.

"Almost there, just two more checkpoints to go," Gabia replied.

The black train sped through the forest, reminding Wei Xi of a myth from her original world: a giant snake that snaked through the mountains, its scales interlocking, making a sound like iron, pulling its huge body forward, its eyes like golden fire, its body like red steel. The sky was insufficient in the northwest, and there was no news of yin and yang, so a dragon held a fire essence to illuminate the gate of the sky.

Or maybe it was the giant sea serpent that encircled the human world in Norse mythology, Jörmungandr, the Serpent of Midgard. Wei Xi thought aimlessly.

Ten minutes later, the train gradually slowed down and they encountered the first checkpoint. The steam engine at the entrance of the tunnel was making a low roar and lifting the heavy iron gate.

A team of fully armed cavalrymen slowly walked out of the darkness and approached. Each cavalryman was equipped with a well-made steam gun, and a spare gun was inserted on the saddle. Their faces looked particularly cold and indifferent under the gas lamp. These cavalrymen were the last people people wanted to meet on the battlefield, because such people were not afraid of life and death, but also kept their mouths shut.

Wei Xi and Gabi Ya went through a new round of interrogation. These cavalrymen seemed to be from a different system from the escorts and never communicated with each other. They were divided into two teams, one to check the carriages and the other to surround the perimeter. When Gabi Ya handed over to them, her smile was perfect, but it was no longer as lively as before, like a cold mask hanging on her face.

After this hurdle, Gabiyya took a deep breath of the cold air in the carriage. "I've been a leader in the Perpetual Motion Institute for ten years. Every time I come back, this is the part I hate the most. They basically treat every person who comes and goes as an imaginary enemy. They are so sullen and stiff, without any vitality at all."

This gold mining site, which was world-famous twenty years ago, has now completely fallen into the control of this army and turned into a heavily guarded military fortress.

"This is the first level, what about the other level?" Wei Xi stood up, leaned against the steel wall of the carriage, and looked out at the scenery. Outside the window, there were often dilapidated buildings flashing by, which were once settlements for workers. Occasionally, large mining machines could be seen, rusty and covered with flowers and green grass, like the skeleton of a dead giant.

This question actually made Gabia very interested. She kept it a secret, "After all, the second level has a lot to do with you. I'm really looking forward to seeing you two meet."

Wei Xi raised her eyebrows, but ultimately did not use her "ability" to see.

Soon, she understood what Gabia meant.

A tower appeared in the field of vision. There were no giant trees around the tower. A large area of ​​land was cleared and covered with fine mineral crystals. Wei Xi squinted his eyes and recognized the identity of the crystals - Nauais crystals.

In fact, it was not the material for the ceremony. Its main function was probably to "expand the influence". The real main material had been ground into powder and fixed under the ground. Judging from the patterns on the ground,

——This is the [Pressure of Silence], a ritual used to restrict the target from keeping specific secrets. It is restrictive in nature, meaning "no speaking, no writing, and no hinting." So along the way, Gabia only introduced her to superficial surface intelligence, and she did not mention anything about the real internal secrets of the Perpetual Motion Institute.

The man in black robes stood on the top of the tower, overlooking the steel train moving as fast as thunder below. With Wei Xi's eyesight, he could barely catch a glimpse of the man.

The priest was very young and serious, with brows like eagle wings, sharp steel-blue eyes, and a brass cross hanging on the chest of his black cassock... Although he was dressed as a priest, he exuded a coldness, like a poisonous snake lingering in the dark.

——Nowadays, people rarely associate clergy with swords, and the Holy See does not allow clergy to join the military. However, if we look into it in detail, as early as three hundred years ago, the Pope tried his best to promote the "Holy See Army".

At that time, the church believed that it was permitted by doctrine for clergy to form armed forces for the purpose of preaching. Many armies affiliated with monasteries were formed one after another. Among them, the knightly orders were the most outstanding. Unfortunately, those diehards had been killed by Emperor Odin on the banks of the Neckar River at that time, and the knightly orders existed in name only.

But it is undeniable that the military force formed by the ascetics gathered together, supported by the religious spirit, can often demonstrate combat effectiveness that is no less than that of the private army of the nobles.

Suddenly, Wei Xi remembered a rumor that some bishops and priests who once believed in God not only betrayed their faith, but also degenerated into a group of intelligence black crows who were associated with conspiracy - that was probably referring to people like them.

The priests who are willing to do whatever it takes for their "salvation" are much more terrifying than the pious and rigid church loyalists, because no one knows what they will do for the justice they believe in.

But Emperor Odin didn't care.

As long as it can achieve the goal, he will drive them to serve the empire, whether they are gods or demons.

After passing these two checkpoints, the Snowden extinct volcano finally seemed to be within reach, but that was only in appearance. It took a full ten minutes of running at the speed of "Aragon Black Snake" to reach the actual foot of the mountain. Wei Xi saw some railroad tracks hidden in the mountains, and some abandoned mine carts were still parked on them.

But this train did not go up the mountain. The seemingly rusty iron doors opened one by one, and they actually drove directly into the underground mine!

As they entered the mine, Gabia slowly straightened her body and sat upright. Her eyes became noticeably sharper, her emerald green pupils glowing with a cold light, as sharp as a broken mirror. In this state, she was worthy of the identity of the director of the Perpetual Motion Research Institute, a genius in the absolute sense, and the chief mechanic who dominated the entire empire.

"Hold my hand. There is a small test ahead. People who come here for the first time usually find it difficult to adapt." Gabia said softly.

Darkness surged in like a river. Wei Xi took a deep breath. Although she was in a dry compartment, she felt as if she had plunged into water. The cold river water submerged her head. It seemed that her only connection with the world was Gabia's hand. That hand led her to the river bank step by step. The air accepted her again. After Wei Xi escaped from the darkness, a huge rose-colored space slowly came into view.

Wei Xi's pupils suddenly dilated... No wonder the railway tracks in the mountains were abandoned, because the perpetual motion center was not built on the mountain, they simply hollowed out the entire dormant volcano!

The entire space seems to be immersed in the glow of the sunset, or like a Wes Anderson movie, it is beautiful like a flowing feast. Buildings are scattered from top to bottom, and the largest building is like an organ in a church, with a faint dark gold flowing on its surface.