Chapter 482: Chapter 172: Time is a Perception Illusion
Elder Clinton was taken aback by the intense gazes of Leonard Churchill and the other two.
It was clear that the old man was not aware that he had not been affected by the bizarre Time Domain on the train.
Having seen a hunter disintegrate before his eyes, he didn’t want to take the risk.
Looking guarded with a pair of calculating eyes, he deflected, “Hey, hey, hey… Young man, Leonard, don’t think of using me. This old body of mine can’t handle too much stress…”
Leonard Churchill shook his head and chuckled. He had become used to the old man’s cautious rhetoric and interrupted him, “Elder, we don’t need you to take any risk. When the conductor comes, just help us ask how to get off the train.” His tone was incredibly calm.
It was as if the white hair sprouting on his head didn’t remind him of the pressing urgency of his life seeping away.
But to mark the urgency of their situation to Elder Clinton, he added, “Of course, that is if we haven’t died by then.”
Hearing this, Catherine Carter understood.
In order to escape a Rule-based Catastrophe’s domain, usually, one needs to break the corresponding rule.
However, the domain formed by a high-level law like the “Time Rule” left them stumped for a solution.
Luckily, they had a special individual on their team.
Elder Clinton seemed unaffected by the Time Domain and could directly speak to the conductor.
They had a potential shortcut to end their foreseeable crisis.
As Leonard Churchill said, they could get Elder Clinton to directly ask the conductor for a way to get off the train.
Upon realizing this, Catherine Carter secretly praised her luck for running into the elder fellow traveler. Otherwise, they might have been trapped here indefinitely.
However, the solution relied heavily on one factor.
As long as Elder Clinton complied, the plan was likely to work.
However,
Upon hearing the proposal, Elder Clinton’s gaze darted around as he seemed to be weighing the risk. But it seemed as though he had thought of something, resulting in a troubled expression appearing on his face.
Colin chimed in, “Grandpa?”
Not wanting to hide anything, Elder Clinton pulled a face, and admitted truthfully, “I can ask. But… what should I say? I don’t understand what he said anyway.”
His words were followed by a pulse-pounding pause.
The faces of the three passengers froze.
But soon after, Leonard Churchill let out a self-deprecating chuckle. He had almost forgotten that unless this old man was stranded in a life-or-death situation, he wouldn’t be able to remember his skills.
Even though he unconsciously understood the Tarling language earlier, asking him to speak it now was impossible.
Elder Clinton also realized that he couldn’t be of more help, and looked embarrassed. Turning to Leonard Churchill, he asked, “So… what should we do now?”
Despite their seemingly fail-safe plan falling apart, Leonard Churchill didn’t show any signs of disappointment.
After all, they weren’t in a do-or-die situation yet. He could figure out how to use this method later.
Instead, he simply smiled, “Well…if we can’t then we can’t. Initially, I thought that it would seem a bit strange if we just got off the train like this.”
Upon hearing this, Catherine Carter frowned slightly, growing increasingly puzzled.
How could he still maintain his jovial demeanor under such circumstances?
But her confusion dissolved as she repeated his words to herself, “What’s missing?”
Leonard Churchill responded, “I’ve always been thinking about a question. What’s the meaning behind the existence of the Underworld Train?”
He continued, “It’s a means of transport that ferries people to Summer Shepherd City. It is neutral, yet it harbors the lethal Time Domain. So it seems like the train’s existence is meant to act as a selection process—only those who meet certain criteria can finally reach their destination.”
“Hmm.”
Catherine Carter nodded in agreement as she found his idea coherent.
But what does this have to do with their current predicament?
Leonard Churchill was not stuck on the predicament on the train but was thinking about that place called Summer Shepherd City. He said, “So, I think if we can’t crack the domain on this train, even if we reach the final stop, we might encounter more challenging issues. The Mysterious Realm is no Alternate Dimension, but it seems to be left intentionally by someone with great power from ancient times.”
If it was merely a seal, then one could simply set a lethal trap.
But there must be deeper meanings behind the creation of this special, yet not a death trap, Underworld Train.
However, he was still unable to figure it out yet.
Catherine Carter, intrigued, asked, “Do you have a plan?”
Leonard Churchill shook his head, nonchalantly responding, “No.”
II II
Catherine Carter gave him a side-eye.
No plan?
Then how is he still managing to smile?
It was only when she looked at him closely did she realize that she had never seen any signs of panic or despair on Leonard Churchill’s face even in the face of the most dire situations.
This gave her an odd feeling: is this man really not afraid of anything?
Leonard Churchill seemed to understand her confusion and teased her, “Have you ever felt… that it’s because you are about to die that you cherish time even more? Aren’t your thoughts becoming clearer?”
“I don’t feel that.”
Catherine Carter couldn’t understand the thrill of dancing on the edge of the Grim Reaper’s blade.
She made a speechless expression and fell into thought again.
From what she could see, they were in a deadlock.
There is another backup option, which is to let Elder Clinton explore the other compartments.
While others might die, he probably wouldn’t.
However, Leonard Churchill knew Elder Clinton wouldn’t be willing to take the risk and didn’t mention it.
Or perhaps, the right time to propose it hadn’t come yet.
Catherine Carter also thought of this idea, but she knew she didn’t have the right to bring it up either..