Chapter 60
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Chapter 60: Heading For the Foggy Region
“And me too!” Zhu Di quickly chimed in.
Chaoyang studied them for a moment, then smiled with a hint of resignation. “Just remember, this is your choice.”
“Yes!” Their eyes lit up, eager and determined.
“This time, we’re planning to hijack a train.”
“A train hijacking—wait, what?” Zhu Di exclaimed, clearly caught off guard.
“The Yeni Cathedral’s predicament lies with its lack of funds, and robbing the wealthy is the fastest way to get money. Of course, we won’t target hard nuts like banks; the transport trains of the Sky Mining Corporation are our most ideal choice at the moment. After all, their involvement has contributed significantly to the current situation of the Cathedral.” Chaoyang quickly summed up the discussion from the night before. “Considering that mining companies often have their own armed forces, this mission will undoubtedly carry some risk. If you don’t want to be involved, it’s not too late to back out now.”
“I’m not backing out!” Zhu Di responded without hesitation. “The Northern City Police Department must have been under their influence, and we haven’t settled the score with them yet!”
“I’m in too,” Dunn nodded. “However… Are you certain about hitting them between the smelting factory and the mine? That area is known as the Foggy Region.”
“The Foggy Region?” Chaoyang raised an eyebrow.
“I believe you must have noticed the lingering fog far from the city?”
Chaoyang nodded. Since he had been in Glorious Fortress for quite some time now, he had basically explored its various corners. Whenever he went near the northeastern edge, he always noticed a patch of fog. At first, he thought it was just low-hanging clouds, a phenomenon unique to coastal areas. But over those many days, whether it was sunny or rainy, the fog never seemed to dissipate or move.
“That’s the closest part of the Foggy Region to the city, which is why you can see it. In reality, this type of fog pervades throughout the entire New Continent. As soon as you venture slightly away from the city, you’ll find yourself enveloped in a thick fog that makes movement nearly impossible.”
“Isn’t fog just a weather condition?” Chaoyang asked, confused. The book “History of the Glorious Fortress” didn’t seem to mention anything about this phenomenon.
“Why don’t we let Lord Chao experience it first hand?” Zhu Di suggested. “After all, there are sightseeing tours!”
“Indeed, what do you think, lord?” Dunn inquired.
“Well then, please lead the way, gentlemen.”
***
Half an hour later, Chaoyang realized that Zhu Di wasn’t kidding —there really were sightseeing tours available near the northern edge of the city! And it wasn’t just a gimmick; plenty of people were there.
The merchant who ran these tours showed great attention to detail. For example, the horse-drawn carriages used to transport the passengers were pulled by four horses, providing ample space inside. Each carriage could comfortably hold about twelve people. To ensure an unobstructed view, the carriages had only one roof with no side walls, allowing for a clear panorama of the surrounding landscape at a glance.
“I didn’t expect… Glorious Fortress to be a tourist destination,” Chaoyang couldn’t help but remark after purchasing their tickets and boarding the carriage.
“Of course not,” Dunn smiled. “Only the wealthy from the old continent would consider watching the fog up close as a form of leisure. After all, they live far away from the wilderness, accustomed to the comfort and prosperity of big cities, having long forgotten the taste of danger.”
Chaoyang observed the other passengers in the carriage and found that Dunn’s words were entirely accurate.
These people were clearly not residents of Glorious Fortress. They were impeccably dressed, the men wearing patterned shirts or sheepskin waistcoats, their leather shoes polished to a shine. The women mostly wore long skirts and cloaks, donning sun hats, and adorned with glittering jewelry around their necks and ears.
Observing the coachman driving the horses and the workers nearby washing carriages or feeding horses… it seemed as if they belonged to completely different worlds.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. We’re about to depart!” With the guide’s whistle, the carriage began to move slowly, heading north along the paved cement road below.
In this direction, Glorious Fortress lacked a city wall, and the surrounding houses quickly became sparse and low, giving way to vast farmlands. Not far from the cement road, Chaoyang noticed four parallel railroad tracks running across the ground, connecting to the industrial area to the east.
“Where does this road lead?” he curiously asked Dunn.
“Nowhere in particular. It was built solely for tourists wanting to observe the fog; it ends at a small hilltop,” Dunn replied. “Transportation here relies entirely on trains, of course… though most people wouldn’t want to venture out anyway.”
“Glorious Fortress isn’t the only city on the New Continent, is it?”
“Certainly not. It’s a bridgehead fortress, and there are five more like it on the New Continent, mostly near the coast. Further inland you’ll find sentry cities. The nearest one to us is called Dulei Ring.”
“Quick, look over there!”
“My goodness, what is that?”
“It’s practically like a giant wall!”
The conversations among the passengers suddenly intensified with excitement.
Chaoyang’s attention was drawn to a colossal foggy barrier that had suddenly appeared amidst the hazy countryside. It seemed to rise from the ground all the way to the sky, its sheer size both overwhelming and awe-inspiring. He could make out intricate details on this fog wall—layered surfaces that resembled a thousand-layer cake, each layer towering three or four stories high.
Given the solid appearance of this fog wall, it should have been equally clear within the city. Why had he not seen its full extent until now?
“Ladies and gentlemen, behold the most peculiar aspect of the fog! It appears and disappears without warning!” the guide called out, his voice full of drama. “From a distance, it appears nothing more than a thin haze. But once you cross the boundary, it instantly turns into a mountainous ridge!”
As the carriage moved forward, Chaoyang saw a second and then a third fog wall come into view—each one massive, as if they had always been there but were only now revealing themselves, only becoming visible due to change in perspective.
A strong sense of unease settled over him.
The previously vague wilderness had vanished, replaced by these towering fog walls, stretching in all directions and forming a complex, zigzagging maze.
“What happens if we charge into the mist?” one passenger asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
“You’d be lost forever, never finding your way back!” the guide replied, deliberately adding a touch of menace. “But that’s not the worst part. Within the fog lurk ferocious beasts, creatures that defy the laws of nature… and evil followers of the Church of Hidden Mist. Encountering them might lead to fates worse than death!”
Fear rippled through the passengers, their earlier excitement replaced by anxiety.
“Is any of this true?” Chaoyang quietly asked Dunn.
“Partly true, partly exaggerated. The fog mainly hinders your visibility. As long as you don’t venture too deep and keep moving in a straight line, you can eventually find your way out. However, all navigation tools fail within the mist, making it nearly impossible to correct course once disoriented.”
“How then do people explore deeper into the mainland?”
“I know this one,” Zhu Di jumped in eagerly, “They rely on spirit lamps. Despite the name, they’re powered by a special type of coral stone found only in the sea.”
“Coral?” Chaoyang was puzzled. “How can coral work as a lamp in the fog?”
“I heard it from others too,” Zhu Di continued. “Rumor has it that these coral stones can dispel the fog and emit a faint blue glow within it, which is why they’re also called Moonshine Stones. They’re a significant selling point for tourist merchants.” Zhu Di grinned, clearly enjoying his role as the tour guide. “You’ll see them soon enough, and who knows, you might even want to buy one as a souvenir!”
