Storm Mountain Villa.
In the middle of the night, Mary woke up.
bang! bang!
In the silence, only the long pendant of the big mahogany clock was still shaking from side to side, and there was a slight sound.
She grew up in this estate since she was a child, knowing that her parents liked mechanical items such as clocks and watches.
In the halls of the manor, on the aisles of the corridors, and in the owner's treasure room, what are displayed are not precious antiques, but pieces of mechanical items.
And all kinds of mechanical clocks are the couple's favorite.
Dangdang!
The bell rang at 12 o'clock.
"Mammy! Mammy!"
Mary called several times, but no one answered.
She got up, put on her pajamas, and rubbed her eyes.
Outside the crack of the door, the light of orange candles shone in.
The little girl sneaked out of the bedroom with her teddy bear in her arms, maybe she just wanted to have a novel adventure, or maybe it was just a subconscious stroll.
"Nams, maids, servants, butlers in the manor...I always feel a little strange recently..."
Mary thought, walking around a corner.
She saw the butler Bob was sitting there slumped, his face expressionless, his eyes wide open, like a puppet.
The little girl was frightened for a moment.
After a long time, she gritted her teeth and stepped forward to push Bob's shoulder.
Click!
Just at this moment, Bob's head fell off, and gear bearings and spring parts popped out from the joint of the neck.
"ah!"
Terrified, Mary ran quickly down the long hallway, trying to find her parents.
"Miss… "
On the way, she saw a maid.
The opponent's actions were abnormally mechanical, as if they were just a wind-up doll, and there was a creaking sound in the movement of the joints: "Night travel is not what a lady should do."
She reached out her hand as if to catch Mary.
"No!"
Mary deftly walked around her and sprang up the stairs.
"Go to Mom and Dad..."
With tears in the corners of her eyes, she ran outside her parents' bedroom.
The door wasn't locked, it swung open.
Mary stared blankly at the scene inside, and the teddy bear in her hand fell to the ground.
Her father, wrench in hand, was repairing a gigantic mechanical doll.
The puppet is completely made of metal bars and gear nuts, and it is the proportion of an adult. There is also an old woman's head on the table next to it.
"Oh? Mary, did you come to see your nanny? Sorry...she'll be right now."
Mary's father turned his head and greeted stiffly.
His expression was numb, and the expression on his face seemed to be frozen, and he made a mechanical sound.
"No!!!"
The little girl's shrill voice echoed in the manor.
…
Bang clang... clang clang...
The steam train skimmed the rails, making a unique sound of steel clashing, occasionally accompanied by a few long whistles.
Jenny trembled all over, as if she had just woken up from a nightmare.
The dim lights, the dim night outside the window, and the drowsy passengers around all clearly indicate that this is a steam train running at night—a new thing that has just emerged in recent years.
Storm Mountain Villa is located in a rural area, six or seven hours away from Sealand by train.
After arriving at the place, you must transfer to a horse-drawn carriage.
Jenny is on the way there.
'I fell asleep... Am I too tired recently? '
She laughed at herself, rubbed her forehead again, her expression calmed down: "I am already a saint of the fourth order... Is the sudden awakening just now a spiritual warning?" '
'I obtained a lot of ancient documents through adventures, and added my own understanding and experience, and deduced the fifth-level integration plan...Why do I still feel uneasy? '
Originally, according to the orthodox thinking of the Federation of Free Cities, after perfecting the spider stigmata, the eight-eyed demon spider's bloodline should be further promoted to become a more powerful ancient monster.
But Jenny, who has already mixed her own weird blood, can't take this path.
As time passed, she felt more and more the influence of that eye on her.
It was growing madness and confusion, with the danger of a split personality.
Only continuous advancement can be slightly suppressed. Even so, there have been rumors circulating in the academic circles that the inventor of the Jenny steam engine is a woman full of eccentricities and moody.
'This time... must be successful, get a suitable monster blood! '
Jenny made up her mind.
What she didn't know was that just now, two white men in their thirties in windbreakers walked past her and came to another section of the carriage.
"The Forrest Kingdom has changed a lot... However, the most advanced steam train is still our Tallinn Kingdom, and there are railways!"
Fitch said proudly.
"It doesn't make sense..."
Varen said disapprovingly: "Don't forget our purpose this time."
Unlike Fitch, who was originally a foreigner, he is considered a 'traitor', and his behavior is very low-key: "This time... there is news of mechanical wonders, we must not let it go!"
"It's a pity that it's not in our country, otherwise it would be much easier to move people... Even if it's in the Free Cities Alliance, you don't need a big scientist like you to come out and take risks."
Fitch assured: "However, when we arrive at the local area, a small team of 'combat scholars' will come to support us."
"I requested this on my own initiative. After all...the material is very precious and worth studying."
Varun said indifferently: "Besides... I am not weak."
On his chest, an owl spreads its wings and is clearly complete.
"But...you promise me you've given up on that crazy idea!"
Fei Qi suddenly said solemnly: "After completing the stigmata, isn't it good to go the orthodox route? Merging the blood of ancient monsters is already very crazy, don't think about evil things!"
"But... the abilities of some evil things are indeed very tempting, um... well, I assure you, I have given up on that idea..."
Varen raised his hands helplessly.
…
When the morning fog gradually dissipated, the steam train also faced the rising sun and stopped on a small town platform.
"Welcome to Stormwind Town!"
Above the platform, a huge slogan was posted.
Scattered passengers got off the train.
Jenny was carrying her suitcase and was about to get out of the train station to call a public carriage. Suddenly, she caught sight of Warren.
Although the other party was a little disguised, she was still recognized by her. After all, the person the teacher specially reminded was the inventor of the steam train, so he was naturally impressed.
'Why is he here? '
Jenny looked away naturally.
At this time, Varen also looked over, but of course he didn't notice Jenny wearing the 'Pretender', and followed Fitch into the carriage.