In that case, the Torlask Steam Train will sense the large number of Transcendents at the station and make a stop.

Even if this doesn’t stop the Torlask Steam Train from advancing...

...at the very least, they would know when the Torlask Steam Train would arrive.

The plan to evacuate the Ogrande City steam train station was also put into motion.

For the time being, residents needing to travel long distances were advised to use steamships or long-distance carriages.

Residents living near the station also had to be relocated.

The plan to extend the railway was also approved.

Further north, the tracks would reach Ogrande City’s vital Mist Mine District.

The place was shrouded in mist, and it was easy to get lost there.

But a steam train advancing on its tracks surely couldn’t get lost in the mist as well.

Beyond Ogrande City, further to the north, lay the City of Mines—the very source of Ogrande City’s heavy industrial output.

The passenger station tracks were connected to the freight railway.

If the Torlask Steam Train were to bypass Ogrande City, it could travel directly to the mines in the north.

If it was going to continue onward, reaching the mines was far better than having it stop in Ogrande City.

As various proposals and plans were finalized, a series of important documents were signed and issued.

The Transcendents of Ogrande City, along with the newly recruited workers, began their large-scale operations.

When the meeting of Ogrande City’s top powerhouses concluded, just as Zorn thought he could finally go home...

...Madam Mable stopped him again.

"Marquis Albert wants to see you."

Madam Mable had one arm crossed over her chest, while the other held up a filter-tipped cigarette.

She looked Zorn up and down, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Duke Albert must have a reason for seeing you. You were already exceptional back at Level 3. Now that you’re Level 4, with an unusually stable Sequence, your strength must be even greater than before."

"Whatever Albert asks of you, make sure you do it well!"

"Yes, I understand."

Zorn nodded.

...

Inside a spacious and bright office.

When Zorn entered,

The Level 8 Soul Shepherd, Marquis Albert Wilde,

had his back to Zorn, looking out the window at Ogrande City.

And in the window’s reflection, Zorn saw a host of powerful Evil Spirits staring coldly at him.

The Evil Spirits weren’t just in the window’s reflection.

They were in the patch of swirling Black Mist on the ceiling.

They were in the corridor by the doorway.

And inside a nearby cabinet.

Several powerful, Middle Rank Level Evil Spirits were all staring at Zorn with malicious intent.

The Soul Shepherd Sequence allowed one to capture and herd numerous powerful, soul-based Evil Spirits.

It even required special methods to capture powerful Evil Spirits from Purgatory and the Abyss.

For Marquis Albert to be commanding so many powerful Evil Spirits,

...meant he was, without a doubt, an extremely powerful Soul Shepherd.

"How effective was your training in the Ancient Mage Ruins?"

An old, slightly hoarse voice slowly sounded out.

"It was very effective. I completed my advancement to Level 4 there, sparred with the Undead Tutor many times, and learned a great deal."

Zorn’s voice was calm and natural.

Zorn knew Marquis Albert’s personality very well.

The man had spent a lifetime scheming and battling wits with cunning Evil Spirits.

On several occasions, he had nearly been cornered and killed by allied Evil Spirits.

He didn’t even trust the Evil Spirits he had enslaved, let alone other people.

Judging from how he had previously used Evil Spirits to monitor Zorn in Split Mist Town,

it was clear he didn’t fully trust Zorn’s account of his confrontation with Duke Mu Huo, even though Zorn had won.

It wasn’t until this most recent time, when Zorn advanced in the Ancient Ruins using the methods of a Fighting Master,

that the Marquis finally lessened his surveillance on Zorn.

Of course,

for Zorn, the fact that Marquis Albert held no ill will toward him was enough.

If they could also cooperate for mutual benefit, that would be even better.

"You possessed extraordinary strength back when you were Level 3. Now that you’re Level 4, your power must be even greater than before."

With that, Marquis Albert changed the subject.

"Some intelligence I’ve recently acquired is quite interesting."

"You can sit down and take a look."

As he spoke, Marquis Albert handed Zorn a file folder.

After taking it, Zorn began to examine its contents in detail.

The contents of the file were a report on Alvin, also known as "Poisonous Horse"—one of the Sanma of the Old Town District—and the information related to the Mafia he controlled.

The report showed that in the last month or two, Poisonous Horse Alvin

had rapidly pivoted away from his original business of cultivating illegal, addictive plants.

He had since switched to running legal, compliant plantations.

He then entered into a partnership with Zorn’s pharmaceutical factory.

He had gone from a drug lord Mafioso to a legitimate supplier of medicinal ingredients, rapidly cleaning up his operation.

Zorn’s steam-powered pharmaceutical factory was the key to this transformation.

And Zorn Corick himself was, without a doubt, a primary person of interest.

As he read on,

the file, which should have contained earth-shattering revelations, was merely being flipped through casually by Zorn.

Throughout the process, Zorn’s expression remained unnervingly calm, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

He was well aware that Ogrande City’s top powerhouses had numerous subordinates and no shortage of informants.

Some of them even had their hands in various gray-market industries.

It was only a matter of time before these traceable business activities were discovered.

Besides, Ogrande City itself had long since taken notice of these more powerful Mafia families.

Since the Marquis had already investigated to this extent,

there was no point in denying it.

Finishing his quick review, Zorn snapped the investigation file shut.

"That’s right."

"I was the one who subdued Poisonous Horse Alvin. What’s more, I plan on subduing Silver Horse and Red Horse, too!"

He looked at Marquis Albert as if he were stating a simple fact.

’So what if he found out?’

’This course of action is extremely beneficial to Ogrande City.’

’If one were to be strict about it, this should count as another great meritorious service.’

The same went for Zorn’s stated intention to subdue Silver Horse and Red Horse.

Hearing this, Marquis Albert’s eyes narrowed slightly. He looked Zorn up and down before speaking slowly.

"The Sanma Mafia in the Old Town District is no small force."

"That Silver Horse and Red Horse are not easy to deal with. Even if you defeat them, they won’t necessarily obey your commands or swear allegiance to you."

Zorn knew exactly what Marquis Albert wanted to hear.

He paused for a moment in thought before speaking.

"I have, of course, certain special ritualistic methods to ensure their obedience."

"Once the ritual contract is signed, they will no longer have a choice."

"Oh?"

As expected, Marquis Albert raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You’re proficient in all sorts of unbelievable rituals. Did you learn them from the Twilight and Ancient Temple, or the Hidden Wilderness Sect?"

"I’ve heard the Hidden Wilderness Sect has appeared in the Icefield Realm, and there have been traces of them on High Mountain as well."

"You couldn’t be from the Jade Realm, could you?"

Marquis Albert studied Zorn, hoping to catch some subtle clue.

Zorn, however, replied very seriously.

"That is something I cannot say."

Hearing this, Marquis Albert actually smiled.

"That you can’t speak of it is quite normal. After all, you are merely borrowing that hidden knowledge, not possessing it. The moment you try to explain it, that knowledge—and perhaps even the memories themselves—would be taken away."

"Your control over the Sanma is beneficial to Ogrande City, not harmful."

"Of course, I didn’t call you here just to discuss that matter. That was secondary. The main issue is that the Harvester Temple from Saintisman has followed the trail of the Torlask Steam Train and is heading north."

Hearing this, Zorn’s heart skipped a beat.

"The upheaval... Is it coming so soon?"

Marquis Albert turned back around, continuing to look out at the seemingly peaceful Ogrande City.

"Saintisman wants to use the chaos surrounding the Torlask Steam Train to launch a war of extermination against us at the Transcendent level!"

"A war between Transcendents... is coming!"

"As a celebrity in Ogrande City, the ender of the Rat Plague, and a prodigy among the youth,"

"you will undoubtedly be one of their targets."

"Therefore, you must be prepared to defend yourself."