464 New World (1/2)

At the parcel collection point of Hexagram Station, Rentato.

A fine-featured lass smiled politely. ”Hello, how may I be of service?”

”I have a luggage bag that needs to be stored here until my return from Allyn,” Ramiro replied with a minty, relaxed smile.

The minty smell came from a specialty from the Kingdom of Brianne known as ”Mint Fragrance”, which was a kind of tobacco, though it was not to be smoked but rather chewed on after a secret drying process and provided a mind-refreshing cigarette-like intoxicating effect.

The lass asked with a smile, ”how many days would that be? Are you a sorcerer?” Despite being an average female in Rentato, she managed to find a leisure job with decent pay all thanks to ”Arcana Voice”, which made her got rid of her bias against sorcerers and dared to apply for the job. She successfully stood out from the few applicants and secured the job. As a result, she became very fond of sorcerers.

”I'm just an ordinary sorcerer. Let's make it three days. Nah, can I pay for seven days upfront and make adjustments later?” Ramiro asked calmly. It didn't look like he was pressed for time in any way.

The lass replied, ”no problem, please pass me the baggage for inspection.”

After listening to ”Arcana Voice” and working at Hexagram Station, she realized that sorcerers weren't as wealthy as she had imagined. There were many who, in the pursuit of power and arcana research, were left with barely enough to live by.

Like any normal traveler, Ramiro handed over the black luggage bag in his hand.

The female worker did not cut any corners. Abiding by the training protocols, she placed the luggage inside a magic circle within a piece of large alchemy equipment. Then she pressed the switch and turned it on.

The company ”Gift from Elements” had developed this simplified alchemical item for exactly this kind of purpose. They could be powered by electricity, thus allowing ordinary people to use them. As a result, it had been widely implemented at locations including the Magic Steam Train Company, Nekso Palace, the villas and orchards of nobles, music halls, opera theatres, and the town hall.

The inspection had confirmed that there weren't any cursed or dangerous items in the luggage. It was only after this confirmation that the lass opened the luggage to screen the items with her naked eyes. She found that the majority of the items were normal clothes, with a small portion being tobacco from Brianne. There was also a light-dark colored piece of meat wrapped in gray cloth.

”Specialty steak?” she asked out of curiosity.

Ramiro's mouth twitched. ”Ya”

”A silver a day, for a total of seven.” The lass closed the luggage and attached an identification tag on it. She then took it to the warehouse behind and placed it on the corresponding shelf.

After she returned, Ramiro took out seven shiny silver pieces. He let the pieces fall through his fingers one after another onto the counter while listening to the crisp sounds with slanted eyes.

”This is your receipt, please keep it with you for the final tally.” The female worker respectfully passed Ramiro a receipt that had been stamped with a special magical ink paste. Only official magicians — who wouldn't do it for such a little money — could forge the ink paste.

Ramiro picked up the receipt. Still chewing on the tobacco, he nodded. ”Thank you.”

Then, with hands tucked into the pockets of his tuxedo, he headed off towards the Magic Steam Train station. When he came near to a silvery-black trash bin, he pulled out his right hand and threw a carbonated piece of paper into the bin.

The black paper fell slowly, breaking into a countless number of butterflies at the slightest touch of wind. Not a trace remained.

Afterward, Ramiro went inside a restroom. He surveyed the surroundings carefully while wearing a carefree expression. After confirming that there was no one else around, he faced the mirror and pinched his face. His entire body suddenly wriggled erratically like a slime.

Seconds later, he had transformed into a beautiful young lady with a voluptuous figure. His tuxedo has also transformed into a lilac-tiered dress. The collar and cuffs had transformed into ruffles.

Looking into the enchanting deep blue eyes in the mirror, Ramiro smiled at ”her”. ”Long time no see, Avelina. Sometimes I find that being a girl is much more interesting than being a man.”

Naturally, ”Avelina” didn't respond.

After tidying up her clothes and donning a broad-brim hat with a beautiful long ribbon which she had seemingly conjured from thin air, Ramiro left the restroom elegantly and boarded the magic steam train that had just arrived.

”Avelina, so you've returned from Brianne?” A young man stood up from his seat in joyous surprise.

Ramiro smiled sweetly. ”Yes, the magic development in Allyn is faster than I had anticipated. If I were to remain in Brianne, I would not be able to keep up with the times. So I'm back.”

”That's marvelous. Where is your boyfriend Lavrov?” The young man eagerly invited ”Avelina” to sit down.

Ramiro's expression turned sorrowful. ”We've broken up.”

”What?” The young man fought to suppress his happiness. Feigning sadness, he consoled her. ”Cheer up, the best is yet to come.”

Ramiro watched ”with grief” as the platform faded from view. Listening to the sound of the train horn and the clickety-clack of the wheels against the track, Ramiro thought angrily.

”Who on earth was that?”

Avelina had not spoken of this man after she had been controlled…