bookpower Chapter 303 – Ass
Chapter 303 – Ass
Chapter 303 – Ass
The rhythmic clatter of the train’s wheels on the newly built track was both soothing and unnerving to Lyria. She felt like that since it left Avalon. It was her first time riding anything like this thing—a steel and iron behemoth that hissed and roared with power, yet she could see no signs of any magic propelling it forward. No... That is not true. There was one clue. In the front, where it blew out the big plume of white smoke, there was something, a flicker she knew was a result of a formation. So there WAS magic within it... she knew it wasn’t just something men could make. It had to be the work of a mage.
While in Avalon, she learned through word of mouth that there were mages within. She already knew that would be the case... but she didn't think it would be more than one. Three? It was no wonder Lord Otto lost his life. She even realized she had heard two of them speak: the so-called Lady Sasha and Lady Mikan. It suddenly made sense why they were in the bed of this... Sovereign! Smart. Seducing witches was a sure way to power; she couldn’t fault him for that.
Still... she questioned if this Sovereign was real or just a puppet used by the mages. Her own idea was the latter, feeling that they were merely the subordinates of Mirian Ishillia. That was the only logical conclusion. As for the third? It was this region's Prime Minister, a young boy. It further reinforced her idea that these mages were here to create new weapons for Mirian to stand up against the Eternal Emperor. That made more sense than any other explanation.
While thinking about it, she sat in the passenger car, right behind the main engine, gazing out the window at the rolling hills and occasional building sites that dotted the landscape while they were passing by. As for what they were building? It seemed like these were either small future stops or service stations if anything would go wrong with the train... Or military sentry posts. She couldn’t really tell. Drawing her eyes from the rolling scenery, she looked around the inside of the cabin.
She had to acknowledge the train itself was a masterpiece, something they had to get to themselves. Lyria’s eyes occasionally flicked over the interior’s more nuanced points: polished wood paneling, brass fixtures, and seats that, while utilitarian, spoke to a level of craftsmanship absent in most Ishillian designs. It was a world apart from any of the other rudimentary modes of travel, not just in Ishillia but anywhere on the continent. She’d already overheard the other passengers, members of her, and other caravans, marveling at the smoothness of the ride and the speed with which they were covering the ground. They were making calculations of how much profit they could gain just by using it, even though they were not the ones owning it. She couldn’t help but smirk because, realizing that there was magic involved, a weak entity like Atuvia had no chance of understanding it. Magic was unknowable to regular people... only mages could comprehend and wield it. That was a fact.
She leaned back in her seat, allowing her posture to remain relaxed, but her mind began to race. Her mission in Avalon had been carefully planned, but she had to make sure she didn’t make mistakes. Not big ones, at least. Asking questions about their artifacts, particularly the radio, had been bold—perhaps too bold—but it had yielded insights into how they used magic nonetheless. Plus, she wasn’t detained, not once.
The Avalonians were cautious, their answers carefully measured, but the very act of withholding information told Lyria what she needed to know. Their secrets were worth protecting, and even the civilians were wary of outsiders, maybe taught from an early age not to divulge their secrets.
Her inquiries had raised some suspicion; she had seen it in the eyes of that young officer, too. Yet she remained confident. Her story—that of an ambitious merchant looking to climb higher on the ranks—was plausible enough, and her decision to redirect conversations when she sensed discomfort had likely staved off deeper scrutiny for now. The key to a successful mission was patience, and Lyria had it in abundance. She would return to Avalon in time, armed with more plausible reasons and deeper pockets to gain additional connections. She had time... and she would use it to her fullest.
The train lurched slightly as it began a gentle curve, and Lyria shifted her gaze to the other passengers. Besides the others she originally came with, there were laborers and a few minor officials from Avalon coming to inspect their investment, their chatter blending together with the noise of the train. She’d already made a note of the other, dangerous Avalonian escort riding in a separate car—elite soldiers who were ostensibly there to oversee the labor force traveling to Atuvia. They were directly sent by the Sovereign to help with finishing the final railway station. Yet she couldn’t help but feel their presence was as much about showing Avalon's strength as it was about overseeing the construction.
Her fingers brushed the edge of her notebook, a well-worn ledger-like book she used to maintain her cover. Inside, innocuous notes about trade prospects and market trends masked coded observations about Avalonian technology and infrastructure, everything she had memorized during her stay. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. After a calming breath, her focus was on observation again—the train’s layout, its mechanisms, and the interactions of its crew. Every detail mattered.
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In the adjoining car, Kiwi, a codename chosen by one of Yuri’s agents, now ranked as an intelligence operative, adjusted the collar of her laborer’s uniform and cast a subtle glance toward the door leading to Lyria’s compartment. She had been briefed extensively on her sharp mind, quick wit, and dangerous interest. Her inquiries about the radio had set off alarms within Avalon’s top branch, aiming their intelligence network's top agents on her. Kiwi had been tasked with shadowing her during this journey, and she wasn’t alone, bringing her sisters and even elite soldiers along this trip.
“She’s calm,” Kiwi murmured to her partner, a sister disguised as a railway mechanic. “Too calm for someone leaving empty-handed. She buys only knick-knacks and mostly brings home money, while her partners bring along a hoard of sellable goods. She is an odd one out, alright!”
“She’s playing her role of someone who can do much more with money at the start of her career than with material goods.” her partner replied, adjusting her cap. “Which means we need to do the same. If there are any obvious moves, she’ll bolt, so we need to be extra careful. For now, we watch. Gather intel on her contacts once we’re in Atuvia.”
“Her smile is cute,” she murmured to her partner. “But my gut tells me the Sovereign is right. She is a whore, just like us.”
“She’ll slip,” the other operative replied confidently. “They always do.”
“Let’s hope it’s done sooner rather than later. The sooner we identify her network, the better.” Kiwi’s gaze then shifted to the Avalonian laborers—letting out a chuckle.
“What?” Melon asked.
“Ass.” She whispered, making her chortle.
“I still can’t believe Boss managed to push it through.”
“You know her.” Kiwi winked at Melon, “Boss Yuri knows how to play her cards.”
There was no arguing about that. Not that long ago, the new Secret Service was officially established, turning their Black Ops group into a proper branch of the military directly under Yuri and their Sovereign’s control. Avalonian Secret Service. A perfect name.
Infiltrating Atuvia’s intelligence networks was their first big mission. Sent for mapping the two Guilds’ vulnerabilities and laying the groundwork for future Avalonian information gathering. It was a game of shadows, and Lyria was just one piece on the board, the first to be taken out. If she indeed was an enemy of Avalon.
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As the train passed the Avalonian border inspections and began its descent into the foothills leading toward Atuvia’s heartland, Lyria allowed herself a small smile in her seat. She wasn’t dragged off the cart... which was good. Her first visit to Avalon had been a successful reconnaissance mission, a chance to test the waters and establish herself. What remained was her preparations to send the information back home... but she wasn’t going to be sloppy just because it looked safe at the moment. It also needed careful preparations.
And she had a nagging feeling that she was being watched. The Avalonians were too careful, too organized, to let someone like her come and go without scrutiny, even if they only had nothing but mild suspicion. Paranoia was the best safeguard for someone like her.
As the train rolled into the final station, still being worked on by hundreds of people, Lyria gathered her belongings, her demeanor poised and unhurried. She would return to Avalon soon enough, armed with more questions and better strategies. Kiwi and her team also disembarked in the shadows of the platform, their eyes never leaving her. Their starting game of chess just got interesting, with each move calculated and each player seeking the upper hand.
The question was, whose king would fall first?