Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: A Special Meeting at Association Headquarters (1)
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In the early 20th century, there was once a profession called elevator operator.
To us now, it might sound like a completely baffling story.
But back then, elevators were manual, requiring direct operation for everything from opening the doors to stopping at the right floor.
They didn't even have features like beeping warning sounds when overloaded.
And if one broke down and stopped mid-journey, there was no reliable way to contact the outside.
It was only natural that someone specializing in the delicate control of elevators was needed.
However, as technology advanced and elevators became automated, the elevator operator naturally faded into the annals of history.
When anyone could use an elevator with ease, there was no longer a need to pay someone a salary to operate it.
Of course, some hotels, department stores, and theme parks still have attendants, a derivative of these operators, making a rare appearance…
But compared to the days when every elevator had an operator, they have certainly become a rare and uncommon sight.
*The advance of technology inevitably leads to cultural change. Someday, if humanity develops to the point of freely traveling to space, perhaps the familiar jobs of today will disappear too.*
Well, I had no idea if such a day would come in my lifetime.
Lying sprawled on the fluffy bed and staring at the ceiling, I found my mind wandering to such thoughts.
Now, one might wonder at this point.
Why was I, lying in bed, suddenly entertaining such useless thoughts?
The reason was simple. As a hopelessly old-fashioned person who had lived decades before the standards of this era…
I was once again awestruck by the technology of this world.
*Lying in bed like this… It’s so quiet, so calm… It feels like I’m in a luxury hotel. But does this even make sense? This is a high-speed train…*
That was it. That was the source of my shock.
To be experiencing such utter comfort on a high-speed train moving at hundreds of kilometers per hour!
There was none of the characteristic rattling or humming noise of a high-speed train.
If it weren't for the scenery flashing by the window, I would have thought I was in the middle of a city.
Is this truly the technological prowess of this era…!
Unable to contain my overwhelming emotions, I rolled around restlessly on the bed.
It felt as though I couldn't possibly keep my body still.
Though it might seem a trivial matter, my heart was soaring without end.
“Stop being so restless, you.”
“…Ngh.”
But perhaps my enthusiastic rolling was getting on the nerves of Raven, who occupied the other half of the bed.
As I tumbled across the mattress, he shot out a hand, grabbed the back of my head, and held me firmly in place.
A sharp movement, like a terrifying hawk snatching its prey!
All I could do was lie face down on the bed, flailing my arms helplessly.
Perhaps it was because I kept my legs still even as I struggled in place.
Raven soon let go of my head and shook his, a look of disbelief on his face.
“We’ve still got another hour to go, so just be still.”
“…”
Hmm, he was right.
Our destination, the Association Headquarters, was quite a distance from here.
Wasting my energy like this probably wasn't a good idea. Besides, the novelty would wear off soon enough.
I nodded my head in acknowledgment of his words.
This time, I lay still on the bed with my arms spread out to the sides, quietly picturing our destination in my mind.
*The Association Headquarters… I never thought the day would come when I’d see it with my own two eyes.*
The Association Headquarters.
It was the main base of the Fixer Association, an organization with global influence.
A place one could call the very heart of the Association, where the Director and various other Fixers resided.
Naturally, as the protagonist and a Fixer himself, Raven would inevitably rely on it from time to time.
Considering the future developments of the story, it was a place I had always wanted to see at least once.
To think I would be visiting it with Raven.
Perhaps my current excitement wasn't just because I was on a luxury train.
*If I had passed the Fixer exam, I would have been here long ago… If only the exam hadn’t been interrupted…!*
A sudden sense of injustice made me puff out my cheeks.
But getting upset over something that was already over wouldn't change anything.
I pressed my toes into the sheets as if to vent my frustration.
My gaze drifted over to Raven, who was leaning against the headboard.
He seemed busy with work, exchanging messages with someone on his terminal.
Was he perhaps talking to the person who got us tickets for this luxury cabin?
But no matter how many times I glanced his way, he showed no reaction.
I soon turned to watch the rapidly changing scenery outside the window, delving into my memories.
*So, who exactly are we going to meet…?*
Last night, Raven had suddenly announced that we were going to meet someone.
We had left Alice and David behind in Nighthaven and even boarded this train…
But I still had no clue who this person he mentioned was.
Considering our destination was the Association Headquarters, it had to be one of the Fixers.
But there were so many Fixers at the headquarters, which ironically made it harder to narrow down the possibilities.
*If we have to meet someone, I hope it’s a familiar face.*
I inwardly hoped for that as I wriggled on the bed.
After a long while of fiddling with his terminal, Raven finally seemed to be done with his business.
He straightened up and spoke to me as I gazed out the window.
“First time on a train?”
“…!”
“Ah, right. Your second.”
V.
I proudly held up two fingers toward Raven.
Once when we returned to Nighthaven from Belmond, and this was the second time.
I wiggled my index and middle fingers like a pair of scissors to make my point.
Raven wore a somewhat complicated expression before muttering to himself as if it all made sense.
“…Come to think of it, we did take a train back from Belmond. In that case, this must be your first time on a luxury train like this.”
“Mhm.”
Including my past life, this was indeed a first.
I sat up halfway in bed and nodded my head vigorously.
Such luxury on a high-speed train hurtling down the tracks.
For someone like me, whose sense of adventure was stirred, I couldn't help but feel like I was flying.
Perhaps Raven understood this feeling all too well.
Watching me, unable to calm my excitement, he suddenly stood up and said.
“Alright. So this is your first time on this train… Want to see something interesting? Come here for a second.”
“Huh?”
Something interesting? What could it be?
Raven's words were completely unexpected, and I tilted my head in confusion.
But what was the point of pondering when it was my first time?
After a moment's thought, I walked over to the corner of the cabin with him, not a shred of suspicion in my mind.
There, embedded in the wall, was a device that looked like a high-end water purifier.
Raven told me to place my hand underneath it, then started tapping the screen with his finger.
*He wants me to put my hand here? Why?*
I had no idea what this device was…
Feeling puzzled, I obediently did as he said and placed my hand under it.
Considering the trust we had built up so far, I knew it wouldn't be anything dangerous.
He did say he would show me something interesting, so I figured I would just wait and see.
“Alright, here it comes…!”
“…!”
What, what was coming?!
I furrowed my brow slightly, focusing all my attention on my palm.
I didn't know what Raven was planning, but I thought I'd be fine if I was mentally prepared. Such was my naive thinking.
But are there things that are pointless to brace for, no matter how much you try?
The moment something wet suddenly dropped into my palm, my body froze solid.
*Huh, wha… This is.*
Like the entrails of an animal, it was a creature with a sickeningly smooth, wet, and squishy texture.
To make matters worse, its color was a flesh-like peach, just like human skin. I knew what it was.
This… was a spoon worm, an incredibly grotesque sea creature!
“…Hyegh!”
A chill, as if a block of ice had been shoved into my chest, ran through me, and goosebumps erupted all over my body.
I found even earthworms unsettling and could barely touch them, but to suddenly have a spoon worm in my palm!
For someone like me, who wasn't good with creepy things, spoon worms were physiologically unbearable.
They were horrific creatures I didn't even want to look at, let alone touch.
The moment the spoon worm landed in my hand, I flung it somewhere into the cabin.
Then I scrambled to a corner, wrapped my arms tightly around my shoulders, and shivered.
But perhaps this whole sequence of events was utterly hilarious to Raven.
He looked at me, frozen stiff, and burst out laughing.
“Pwahahaha! Did that surprise you? You never imagined a spoon worm would pop out, did you?”
“…”
“Ah, this thing is called a Vending Loop. It’s like a vending machine that can dispense whatever you want. It even has toys like this spoon worm slime… Hehehe, I knew you’d be surprised.”
…I’d been had by Raven again.
Seriously, why did this man enjoy teasing me so much?
I glared at him, my eyes sharp and venomous, to let him know I was genuinely angry this time.
But it seemed my fearsome glare had little effect.
Raven just shrugged, fiddled with the Vending Loop, and pulled out an ice cream.
“It was just a joke. Stop it and have some ice cream. The vanilla here is seriously delicious, you know? You’ll regret it if you don’t eat it.”
“…Hmph.”
“Heh, I said I’m sorry. I’ll buy you something tasty later. Forgive me.”
Ha, if it’s just something ordinarily tasty, I won’t forgive you.
Growling as I glared at Raven, I walked over and snatched the vanilla ice cream from him.
Was he exaggerating when he said I'd regret not eating it? It seemed not.
That vanilla ice cream boasted the richest flavor of any vanilla I had ever tasted.
An ultimate sweetness that could even quell the fiery anger within me!
Against my will, the corners of my mouth twitched into a smile.
H-Hmph… Don’t think I’ll forgive you completely just for this.
My mood slightly improved, I devoured the ice cream, calming my boiling heart.
*I’ll get my revenge someday!*
But that fiery resolve, upon meeting the cold ice cream, slowly cooled without me even realizing it.