Chapter 153: Torrential Rain |
Levi sat inside the carriage, watching the weather outside.
After a full day, the weather had not improved at all; instead, it grew progressively worse.
Accompanied by the low rumble of thunder, raindrops as large as beans clattered loudly against the carriage body and glass windows, creating an unsettling rhythm that bred anxiety.
"The back carriages are an absolute mess, Boss."
Anthony had slipped into the Salon Car once again, though this time his face was clouded with misery.
"Is it really that unbearable?"
"It certainly cannot compare to first class. Can you imagine it? A crowd of filthy men crammed into a tight space, smelling sour and rancid enough to make one gag. On top of that, they are shouting at the top of their lungs, spitting everywhere..."
Anthony made a face of pure disgust.
"What a miserable assignment."
"It is much better here. Quiet, leisurely, and there is music playing..."
At this point, Anthony lowered his voice significantly.
"But Boss, there is something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I overheard some of the passengers saying that they believe the train stopping here is an ill omen."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Levi set down his teacup.
"What do you mean?"
"They say that when this railway was being constructed, a significant number of laborers vanished in this forest. Because of that, it became known as the Death Forest. Legend has it that these woods swallow any ignorant souls who trespass, causing them to disappear entirely."
"Then how was the railway eventually finished?"
"Word is that the military was deployed to blast a pathway through with explosives, which allowed the tracks to be laid. But they also say that even now, track maintenance workers and patrols still vanish occasionally... Of course, it is just a rumor."
Anthony emphasized the last part, but both he and Levi knew that so-called rumors were often the most lethal truths in disguise.
Moreover, of all times for the train to break down, it chose to stall right inside this particular forest... If one were to call it a coincidence, it was certainly a bit too convenient.
"Go back out and listen around. Ask for more details."
"Eh?"
"Unless you want to disappear without a trace yourself."
"Well, when you put it that way... Sigh, alright..."
With a thoroughly dejected face, Anthony left the Salon Car. After finishing his tea, Levi sought out the train conductor and offered a suggestion.
"Can we reverse the train to the previous station and rest there temporarily? We are stranded in the middle of nowhere, which is not particularly safe for the passengers."
"Uh..."
Hearing Levi's proposal, a troubled expression surfaced on the conductor's face.
"Is there a problem?"
Levi remained calm outwardly and at peace internally. After all, what else could he do? This was hardly the first time he had encountered such a miserable turn of events.
"Yes. We actually had the exact same idea, but..."
"But?"
"A landslide blocked the tracks behind us as well. We cannot leave, at least not anytime soon."
"I see."
Levi nodded silently.
"However, please do not worry, sir. The train is stocked with enough food and supplies to sustain everyone aboard for a full week. I am certain that this sudden torrential rain will pass by then, and the tracks will be cleared."
"Mm... Let us hope so."
In other words, they only had one week of comfort left.
Levi walked into the corridor and glanced outside. Under the sheets of driving rain, only the blurred, dark silhouettes of the forest were visible. The trees swayed violently against the gale, resembling the bristling fur of an agitated animal.
"What?! How can this be!"
Suddenly, another sharp cry rang out, drawing Levi's attention. He turned to look and saw a stooped man clutching a Document Box to his chest, his eyes wide as he stared at the conductor.
"Did you not say we would arrive on time?! Why... why is there a delay?"
"This is completely out of our control, sir."
The conductor was forced to explain the situation yet again.
"No one could have predicted this kind of emergency. Furthermore, the downpour is severe, and staying in motion risks causing a disaster elsewhere. The only thing we can do right now is wait."
"But, but, but..."
The man was clearly not articulate. He scratched his messy hair, his face a mask of utter frustration.
"But this will make me late!"
"We can only offer our deepest apologies for the inconvenience."
"..."
Faced with the conductor's standard response, the man paced in circles on the spot, anxious as a cornered beast. Then, noticing Levi watching him, he froze for a moment before turning on his heel and hurrying back toward his private cabin without a backward glance.
However, just as the man rushed down the narrow corridor, one of the cabin doors suddenly swung open. Olivia stepped out, and before either of them could dodge, they collided violently. The small handbag Olivia was holding was knocked to the floor, and the box tightly held in the man's arms slipped from his grasp, opening with a loud bang as it hit the ground.
Immediately, a mountain of items erupted from within.
Had anyone ever witnessed the chaotic explosion of a heavily compressed suitcase bursting open, sending its contents flying everywhere? The Document Box before them achieved an effect worthy of a theatrical comedy. As the latches failed, the sheer variety of items inside seemed to burst forth with desperate enthusiasm. Out flew water cups, a toothbrush, a massive stack of books, clothing, shoes, maps, sausages, tea sets...
and a veritable cascade of coins that scattered across the floor with a loud, ringing jangle.
Are you traveling, or are you moving your entire household?
Witnessing this spectacle, Levi was left utterly dumbfounded. It reminded him of migrant workers returning home for the holidays, carrying massive sacks stuffed with a bizarre assortment of goods...
But you are clearly not heading home for New Year's, are you? And for that matter, if you are carrying this many things, why not use a proper travel trunk instead of forcing everything into a document briefcase? Furthermore, why on earth are you carrying so much loose cash in it?
Even Olivia stood frozen in place, staring at the debris that practically buried her ankles. Clearly, the young lady could not comprehend how such a compact Document Box could possibly hold such an immense volume of items.
"Ah! I am sorry! I am so sorry..."
The man was thrown into an absolute panic. Apologizing profusely, he dropped to his knees and began scrambling to gather the scattered mess. He grabbed handfuls of items, desperately stuffing them back into the Document Box. Helplessly, Olivia sighed and knelt down as well, joining her maid to help the frantic man organize his scattered belongings.
With a flushed face, the man swept everything from the carpet back into the Document Box, then hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply to Olivia.
"Thank you, thank you, young lady."
"You should be more careful in the future, and also..."
Before Olivia could finish her sentence, the man clutched his still-unlatched Document Box tightly to his chest, rushed past them down the carriage, and vanished from sight.
"What a reckless individual."
Watching the man's retreating figure, Olivia complained softly as she took her handbag back from her maid.
At that moment, Levi walked over.
"Perhaps he is simply terrible at speaking to beautiful young ladies."
"Even if that is true, he should not have run off like that. I wanted him to check if he had recovered everything..."
As she spoke, Olivia glanced down at the carpeted floor. It appeared completely empty; everything seemed to have been retrieved.
"By the way, what happened?"
"It is nothing too serious."
Levi explained the update he had received from the conductor, causing Olivia to frown.
"Which means we will likely be delayed."
"Yes. If it is just a delay, that is fine, but..."
"But what?"
"It is better to be cautious."
As he spoke, Levi reached out and gently patted the head of the small puppy that had poked its snout out from Olivia's coat. "Keep an eye out. If there is any abnormality... beware of danger."
"...Understood. I will be careful."
Although the maid was standing right next to them, preventing Levi from speaking too plainly, Olivia immediately understood his underlying meaning from his actions.
Following that encounter, Levi and Olivia shared lunch together before returning to their respective cabins to rest.
However, the peace did not last long...
"Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock!"
In the midst of his sleep, a series of urgent, heavy raps on the door woke Levi. He opened his eyes, stretched his arms as he stood up, and pulled the door open.
"What is the matter?"
"I am terribly sorry to disturb you, Mr. Levi."
Standing outside was a train conductor, his face deathly pale and drenched in sweat.
"We need your assistance."
"..."
Seeing the sheer terror on the man's face, Levi did not even need to ask to guess what had occurred. And the reality was precisely as he predicted.
When Levi followed the conductor into the adjacent carriage, a large crowd of passengers had already gathered. They stood around anxiously, whispering to one another with lowered heads. Upon seeing Levi arrive, they hastily parted to create a path. Levi stepped through the crowd, walked down the corridor, and entered the crime scene.
It was a first-class cabin. The room was currently in complete disarray, and a man lay sprawled on the floor, his eyes wide and staring, entirely devoid of life.
The deceased was none other than the frantic man who always insisted on clutching that Document Box.
Well, well. This really is quite something.
Levi stood at the threshold, remaining entirely silent.
Did Inspector Lestrade's jinx actually come true?
"Sigh..."
"Mr. Levi?"
Hearing Levi heave a heavy sigh, the conductor beside him looked up in confusion. Levi merely waved his hand dismissively.
"It is nothing. I am just feeling a bit tired... Tell me what happened."
"Ah, yes."
The conductor nodded and began his explanation.
"Since it was nearly time for afternoon tea, I came by to ask if the guest required service... Previously, he always demanded that I deliver his morning tea, afternoon tea, and all three meals directly to his room. He never left. So, I came to inquire exactly as instructed, but no matter how much I knocked, there was no response. I felt something was amiss—this gentleman virtually never left his cabin, so I worried he might have suffered a sudden medical emergency. I used the train's master key to open the door to check on him, and then..."
"And then?"
"And then I found him lying on the floor, already... deceased."
"Mm..."
Levi examined the scene, then cast his gaze toward the periphery. Unsurprisingly, he spotted Anthony hovering among the onlookers. He extended a hand and signaled to him. Spotting the gesture, Anthony immediately trotted over with eager compliance.
"Boss, you need me for something?"
"Yes."
Levi pulled Anthony to a deserted corner on the opposite side, stared intently into his eyes, and demanded in a low voice:
"Tell me the truth. Was this your doing?"