Chapter 9
The train moved through the open sky, gliding smoothly over the glowing tracks of light. Ark sat quietly by the window, watching the world pass by. He saw floating islands far below, mountains and forests spread across their surfaces like patches of green on dark stone.
A large island came into view, its center holding the remains of an ancient castle. The walls were broken, but the towers still reached toward the clouds. Birds circled the ruins, their wings shining in the sunlight.
Then, something larger appeared in the distance — a group of dragons flying beside the train. Their long wings cut through the air with slow, powerful movements. The passengers leaned close to the windows to watch them.
Ark smiled faintly. "Dragons that don't want to eat me. That's new."
The dragons turned their long necks to look at the train, then drifted away, disappearing into the mist.
Moments later, the train passed something even stranger — a giant metal figure floating in the open sky. It was a broken robot, its body cracked and rusted, its single eye dark. One arm was missing, the other stretched out as if reaching for something long lost.
The sight left the passengers silent. The train moved on, its hum filling the air again.
Ark stood up from his seat. "Might as well stretch a bit," he muttered. He stepped out of the compartment and walked down the hallway. The soft lights flickered as the train shook slightly.
He reached the bathroom door and entered. The air inside smelled faintly of cleaning powder. But something felt off.
When he opened one of the stalls, he froze.
A man lay on the floor — well-dressed, his coat pressed, shoes polished, and a silver ring on his finger. His eyes were open, glassy, and lifeless. Blood covered the floor. His throat had been cut cleanly.
Ark's stomach turned. "You've got to be kidding me."
He looked around the small space. No weapon. No sound. The scene was silent, with only the faint hum of the train in the background.
There was no system message, no quest notification, no sound effect. Just reality.
Ark backed away and called out, "Hey! Someone get over here!"
An attendant rushed in, saw the body, and screamed. Passengers gathered at the door, whispering in shock.
Minutes later, a tall man in a conductor's coat arrived with two guards. "Everyone stay back!" he ordered. He turned to Ark. "You found him?"
Ark nodded. "Yeah. Just came in and found him like this."
The conductor knelt beside the body. "Name's Councilman Valerius," he said after checking the man's identification. "From MetroCenter."
Someone in the crowd gasped. "The Councilman? He's part of the Orion Syndicate!"
A heavy silence fell. Ark could feel the eyes of everyone turning toward him.
The conductor stood and looked at Ark carefully. "Until we arrive at MetroCenter, you stay where we can see you."
"Yeah," Ark said flatly. "Because clearly, I have nothing better to do."
The guards escorted him back to his compartment. Tina, the tiger-eared woman sitting across from him, raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Ark sighed. "Dead guy in the bathroom. His throat was cut, and I'm apparently the prime suspect now."
Tina tilted her head. "You don't look like a killer."
"Thanks," he said dryly. "I'll put that on my résumé."
She leaned forward, her golden eyes sharp. "Want help?"
Ark blinked. "Help?"
"I like solving puzzles," she said with a small grin. "Besides, if you get blamed, they might shut down the train. I don't want to be late."
Ark couldn't help but smirk. "Fair enough."
Together, they started asking questions.
The first witness was an elf businessman. "I saw Councilman Valerius go into the men's bathroom," he said. "He looked angry. Said he was late for a meeting."
The second was a harpy woman with silver feathers. "I saw a lady in a red dress," she said. "Black lace veil. She went into the women's bathroom a few minutes after the Councilman passed by."
The third was a dwarf with a rough beard. "There was a man in a tuxedo," he said. "Came out of the men's bathroom right after the Councilman went in. Pale fellow looked nervous. He had a small black briefcase."
The last witness was a young cat beast-kin girl. "I saw another lady come out later," she said. "She looked plain. Brown hair. She was frowning but not scared."
Tina folded her arms. "So four people: the Councilman, a man with a briefcase, a woman in red, and a second woman with brown hair."
Ark nodded. "And I'm the unlucky one who walked in last."
They sat in silence for a moment, both thinking.
"Whoever did it," Tina said finally, "knew what they were doing. No mess except the cut. No sound. Fast and clean."
Ark leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "A professional hit, then. And we're locked in here with them."
Tina smiled faintly. "Good thing I like challenges."