Chapter 127: Deception

A line of text popped up.

【Train announcement:
"The train will soon pass through the Abyss of White Mist. Expect some turbulence; passengers, please watch your step."】

The Abyss of White Mist...
Chen Qi remembered seeing this place on the Disaster Messenger's map. It was located near Mist City and was shrouded in dense white fog.
However, despite its intimidating name, it was actually less dangerous than Mist City itself.
Once this area was cleared, the train would reach the plains, making it much easier to access the other districts of the New Capital.

As Chen Qi arrived at the Forging Carriage, the mini-map for the carriage appeared.
Inside this carriage were professional blacksmiths and mechanics selling mechanical artifacts.
Chen Qi found a relatively idle "Furnace Smith."

【You step into the Forging Carriage. There are fewer people here than in the Trading Carriage, but still quite a few.】
【Too many people yearn to have their weapons repaired.】
【The Furnace Smith sees you, stops his hammer, and asks:
"Respected guest, is there something this old man can help you with?"】

Chen Qi clicked the text, choosing to pull out the "Bow of Lamps" and ask if it could be repaired.

【You hand the Bow of Lamps to him and ask if it can be repaired.】
【The Furnace Smith strokes the weapon carefully and says:
"This is quite a fine bow! Truly, truly fine...
Let me take a look.
It is a pity that the damage to the weapon is quite severe. It requires a stone with powerful and dense Lamp-aspect essence, as well as a genius craftsman. My own skill is not quite enough, though I might be able to manage a makeshift repair."】

A stone of dense Lamp-aspect?
Chen Qi pondered; he did not have such a stone, but he should be able to acquire one on this train.
However, the next moment, an unexpected line of text appeared.

【The Furnace Smith returns the Bow of Lamps to you.】
【You take the bow, but having played the game with the Right-Eye Detective, the moment you receive it...】

A highlighted line of text popped up!

【You can clearly feel that the weight of the bow has changed; it has become lighter!】

Lighter...
Chen Qi decisively checked the panel for the Bow of Lamps, and a notification appeared there as well!

【Warning: This does not seem to be the bow you recognize!】

This Furnace Smith had swapped it for a fake in the brief moment he held it!?
What kind of sleight-of-hand was that?
Was the technical skill of these craftsmen really that high? To be able to produce a fake so quickly!
Chen Qi was surprised and looked at the following text.

【You realize this is a fake Bow of Lamps and look at the seemingly tall Furnace Smith.】
【The Furnace Smith seems confident that his ruse will not be discovered:
"What is wrong, guest? If you do not have a Lamp-aspect stone, you can try going to the Trading Carriage to buy one. I have a friend who sells them."】
【The man is very tall, his whole body resembling a massive furnace. Do you demand he return the real bow?】

Chen Qi glanced at the Furnace Smith's panel. The opponent was not weak; based on the stats, he was even stronger than Chen Qi.
He might be able to win, but he shouldn't need to fight himself...
According to the investigators' guides, the train conductors handled these matters.

Yes!

【A flash of cold light flickers in your eyes. You reach out your hand and say in a gentle tone:
"You have taken something that does not belong to you."】
【The Furnace Smith's muscles tense:
"Guest, what are you..."
BOOM!
Before the Furnace Smith can finish his sentence, a figure flashes past you and delivers an uppercut!】
【Zhi, the train conductor at the end of the carriage, looks at the fake bow in your hand and confirms it is a forgery...】
【"Guest, my apologies. I will handle this matter for you."
Conductor Zhi clenches her fist, the knuckles cracking as she speaks.】
【The Furnace Smith looks at Conductor Zhi, the smile on his face freezing instantly, his muscles going limp.
He has been on the Weaving Train before; he knows full well how terrifying these conductors are!】
【BOOM!
Conductor Zhi delivers a fierce uppercut, slamming the deceitful smith against the ceiling of the carriage.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Conductor Zhi uses silk threads to hoist the Furnace Smith up.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
You step back slightly. The massive Furnace Smith is being hoisted and beaten by Conductor Zhi! It looks just like someone hammering iron!】

The scene seems quite brutal.
Chen Qi is stunned. Through the text, he can feel the ruthlessness of Conductor Zhi in action.

【You try your best not to disturb Conductor Zhi as you retrieve your bow.】
【You take back your Bow of Lamps.】

Chen Qi checks the panel and confirms that this bow appears to be the real one.
At this moment, a line of text appears.

【You carefully stroke the fake Bow of Lamps and can feel some magic-conducting circuits on it. Do you wish to inject spiritual energy?】

Inject spiritual energy?
Chen Qi thinks for a moment and chooses yes.

【You attempt to inject spiritual energy into the circuits on the bow.】
【As the energy flows in, the bow melts like a candle, eventually coalescing into a small, waxy ball.】

A line of text appears.

【You have obtained a Transformation Orb!】

Transformation Orb?
What is this?
Examine.

【Transformation Orb:
Aspects: Die, Hammer, Void
Description: A disposable artifact born for the sake of deception.
Function: Inject spiritual energy to change the appearance of an object for a short time (the size cannot be too large or too small, and the weight remains unchanged). For one hour, it generates a special aura that makes it difficult for others to discern the true nature of the object.
Remaining uses: One.
Value: An item highly favored by deceivers. One Transformation Orb can sell for approximately 5 Day Coins.】

Transformation Orb?
Five Day Coins!
This orb can transform into other items and imitate their aura; it has its uses and is quite good.
Chen Qi thinks to himself: since the guy used a five-Day-Coin item to pull a switch, his Bow of Lamps must indeed be a high-quality weapon.

【Under the brutal beating of Conductor Zhi, the Furnace Smith kneels to beg for your forgiveness before collapsing in agony.】
【Conductor Zhi claps her hands and says to you:
"Apologies, guest. We are merely a train carrying passengers, and we cannot guarantee the fairness of every trade, but we will do our best to maintain it. If you encounter such things again, feel free to call us conductors at any time, and we will handle it for you."】

Chen Qi has to admit that on this train, having the help of these conductors truly saves a lot of trouble.

【After thanking Conductor Zhi, you stow your items and look at the others in the Forging Carriage.】
【You look at Conductor Zhi and catch a faint hint of worry on her face.】
【Conductor Zhi leaves the area.】

Chen Qi continues to look for other craftsmen, confirming again that repairing the Bow of Lamps requires an item rich in Lamp-aspect power.
As he questions other craftsmen, text suddenly pops up in the game.

【Inside the carriage, you vaguely hear a tolling bell.】

A bell?
In the New Sun world, the tolling of a bell is very likely a warning before the sun rises or sets.
Chen Qi is startled. Is the day about to end?
He hasn't been wandering the train for very long.
Just in case, he clicks on the map, preparing to return to his safety carriage from the train.

【You hear sounds of battle on the train.】
【You sense that the day is about to fade, so you hurry to open the carriage hatch, preparing to return to your safety carriage from the train's exterior.】
【You find the hatch leading to the train's roof, open it, and emerge onto the top of the train.】
【On the train, many conductors stand atop the speeding locomotive, staring blankly into the distance.
These conductors bear many wounds; it is evident they have just been through a great battle.
Their gazes drift past the white mist, looking into the distance.
You follow their gaze and look out. It is a vast expanse of dense white mist, within which the sun appears incredibly dim.
Beside the train lies a bottomless abyss.】

Chen Qi grits his teeth. What is happening?

【You look around and see Conductor Zhi in the distance.】
【For the first time, you see fear on Conductor Zhi's face.】
【Conductor Zhi looks into the distance, unable to believe what she sees, and speaks instinctively:
"Why are there so many spiders? The messengers clearly scouted the road ahead."】
【You look out following Zhi’s line of sight. Beneath the dense white mist, countless scarlet eyes light up like red lanterns.】
【You step back.】

A line of exceptionally scarlet text appears, and terrifying silk threads manifest across the game interface.

【Conductor Zhi mutters to herself once more:
"Why... why?"】
【You grip your long blade, realizing that in the dense white mist, every pair of those countless scarlet eyes belongs to a giant Furnace Spider.】

This text...
It was scouted, yet monsters still appeared on the scheduled route.
Chen Qi's heart races. It seems this train has encountered a massive problem that is difficult to handle.
The next moment, text begins to pour out!

【Those red, lantern-like eyes are swarming towards the train!】
【At the same time, you hear the train's announcement! It is an emergency broadcast from the conductor!】