Free Web NovelChapter 21: Railguard Division
Vincent was thoroughly confused by the system profile of his mother.
It was right in front of his eyes but still felt unbelievable.
’Why are there so many ??? in her profile? And what do you mean by high-order?’
[The entity’s authority is above the system’s and cannot be read further. A high-order means someone quite powerful.]
’How powerful?’
[Cannot answer.]
’Seriously?’
The system stayed silent and didn’t respond further.
Vincent sighed. He then saw the relationship. It was non-blood like his sister.
’Even my mother is not my actual mother?’
[Affirmative.]
’Well... I might’ve thought it’s sad but then...’
Vincent raised an eyebrow and then coughed lightly, not wanting to think in the direction he was going.
[At least the host can now achieve perfect entanglement without moral complications.]
’What did you say?’
The line of text disappeared just as fast as it appeared.
’Must’ve been the wind...’ Vincent thought and focused on other parts.
’She has an affinity for death and can detect necrotic energies. Does this mean... she can feel that I’ve died once?’
[The system is unsure.]
Vincent raised his eyebrows. ’Forget me. Our dear regressor is in her fifth iteration, meaning she must’ve died four times. Will mom be able to detect that?’
[The system is unsure.]
Vincent shivered slightly. The thought of his mother finding out he was a transmigrator and Anastasia being a regressor did not sit well.
He continued to stare at her profile and thought of many oddities, asking the system multiple questions.
The system could not answer for most parts.
At last, Vincent asked, ’Are my sister and mother also unrelated?’
[By blood? Yes.]
’Wow. So my mother adopted not only me but also my sister. How did she find two children of around the same age?’
[Not ’around’ the same age, but the same age—down to the day and hour with the difference of only a few minutes.]
’Are you kidding me?’ The sudden information almost made Vincent dizzy.
The system did not respond in clarification. It was as if it said an information and it was up to Vincent whether he wanted to believe it or not. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Given how he was as a person, the next thought in his mind was,
’Who’s the older one? Certainly—’
[Vanessa D’Arc.]
’—not me. Of course.’
Vincent snorted and shifted in his seat, getting comfortable and covering himself with a blanket.
There was no point thinking for longer.
The more he interacted with the system, the more miserable he felt. It was better if he just slept.
’Anastasia said it’s an eight hour journey by train and a three day journey by a carriage. When I wake up, it’ll officially be twenty four hours in this world for me.’
Vincent looked forward to his second day and eventually succumbed to slumber.
...
Morning rays seeped through the glass ceiling and fell upon Vincent as he boarded off.
The county’s station was filled with chattering noise of the workers loading and unloading cargo.
Officials administering the D’Arc County’s Northern Region had lined up on the platform, holding bouquets to welcome the Young Count.
With Vincent setting foot on the platform, many bowed and greeted him with obvious flattery.
"We are pleased to have your presence, My Lord."
"The County feels complete with His Lordship’s presence!"
"My Lord, we humbly welcome you to the Northern Territories."
Leona and Anastasia boarded off and stood behind Vincent.
Their faces were veiled and none of the officials could figure out their identities. Though, with Leona’s intricate dress and Anastasia’s simpler one, they thought of them as the Young Count’s lady and mistress.
Vincent stared at the crowd of men in suits spewing polite nothings.
He gave them a nod out of courtesy and asked, "Who’s the one in-charge?"
"It would be this humble one, My Lord." A fat man in a gray suit stepped forward and said.
"The carriage is ready for His Lordship’s return to the estate."
Vincent shook his hand and said, "We are not going to the estate."
"Pardon?" The fat man felt he heard something wrong.
The crowd of cheerful nobles also stopped cheering, wondering whether they had also just heard something wrong.
Vincent internally sneered at their reactions and thought, ’Seriously, when are they going to stop acting like that? I’m tired of it already...’
Everyone thought of him as a wastrel so saying anything out of the norm was surprising for everyone.
Vincent’s reputation was too bad in the kingdom, and especially so in his own territories.
"Where’s the carriage?" Vincent didn’t indulge them further and asked. frёewebηovel.cѳm
"It’s this way." The fat man said and hurried to show Vincent the way.
Other officials gave way and followed behind Vincent and the ladies.
As Vincent reached the carriage, he looked at the carriage driver and said, "Take me to the collapsed mine sites."
The chatter behind Vincent abruptly died.
Several officials visibly stopped in their tracks.
The fat man took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"My Lord... the mine sites... you’ve only just arrived. You must be tired so please rest for a day or two first."
Vincent ignored him and boarded the carriage.
Leona and Anastasia silently followed.
From outside the carriage, the fat man continued, "My Lord, the mine sites are filled with filthy peasants. You mustn’t—"
"Can you shut up?" Vincent said in an annoyed tone.
It was one thing to think of his well being and another to actually take control of his itinerary and make him do what they wanted him to.
Vincent wasn’t a puppet of these officials. They were the ones beneath him, and it was them who should be following his command, not the other way round.
Plus, the collapse of the mines was the first domino leading to dire consequences.
If he delayed any further, the situation would spiral out of control and become beyond salvageable.
The sharp comment from Vincent made the fat man’s flattering smile stiffen.
The crowd of officials standing close to him felt as if their ears were ringing.
Did the Young Count actually just say what they heard?
Did he just shut down the District Magistrate?
"Make way." The officials heard a thunderous shout and turned around, only to see figures in long dark trench coats in gas masks coming their way.
They all wore utility belts and had a reflective metal tag with a train symbol and number on it.
’Why are these guys here...’ the officials were slightly flustered and gave way.
The leader of the group took off his mask as he neared Vincent’s carriage and kneeled down.
The other men followed suit and did the same.
"The First Unit of the Railguard Division greets His Lordship."
"Greetings, My Lord!" The uniformed men in gas masks shouted.
Vincent looked at them and was slightly flustered.
The vibe they gave was cold and ruthless, unlike the administration officials who felt like flattering snobs.
Still, he kept his demeanor from changing and said from the carriage, "Is your unit supposed to escort me to the estate?"
"No, My Lord." The leader of the group answered. "If it’s the estate, the stationed guards would be the one escorting."
Vincent didn’t understand what they were saying and tilted his head.
If it’s the stationed guards’ job for escorting, then why were these guys here?
Seated beside him, Leona leaned close to his ear and whispered, "You’re headed to a turbulent zone, My Lord. The station guards are weak and cannot handle such escort missions."
’Oh...’ Vincent finally understood.
As he looked at them carefully, he could see sweat on their foreheads and their chests rising and falling in rapid succession.
Due to his sudden announcement, they seemed to have rushed as fast as they could to this place.
Vincent respected the dedication.
He nodded at them and said, "Let’s leave for the mines."
"At once!" The leader shouted and the unit dispersed, forming a tight formation around Vincent’s carriage, not letting any official become a hurdle in his path.
The District Magistrate and rest of the officials could only watch the situation escalate with open mouths.
Was this Countess’s son really a wastrel as the rumors suggested?
It certainly did not seem so.
The moment he arrived, he took control and refused to go to the estate, departing straight for the mines with the First Unit of the Railguard Division.
What was the Railguard Division?
It was a military group second only to the Knight Order!
Heads turned along Vincent’s carriage’s direction as it rolled away from the train station.
Most of the officials dispersed after the carriage’s silhouette could no longer be visible in the distance.
The fat District Magistrate was the last one to leave.
Instead of the city, he turned to the station and adjusted his hat, moving towards its telegraph office.
