The azure sea spread out all around, its color rging with the sky above.
Off in the distance, seagulls could be seen soaring, and occasionally passengers bustled about on the deck, discussing their travel experiences.
Sitting on the public seats of the passenger ship, Ronald took in everything before him.
It must be said, from the very start, the journey exceeded his expectations.
He had planned to travel by train to Springs like any ordinary person, but unexpectedly, upon checking out of his lodgings, Mrs. Hudson sohow produced a boat ticket and presented it to him.
Moreover, when she handed it to him, the landlady had the look of soone certain he would be going to Springs. Ronald had tried to refuse politely and courteously, but in the end, the victory belonged to Mrs. Hudson.
And so, half-hearted yet compelled, Ronald found himself aboard this passenger steamship.
As it was a ti transitioning from the Steam Era to the electric era, this passenger steamship was built with distinct features of the tis.
Sturdy, massive, and sowhat crude...
Although definitely slower than the trains on the tracks, as a dedicated passenger steamship, it promised a rather pleasant journey along the way.
Speaking from Ronald’s own experience,
Lying on the deck and basking in the sun when there’s nothing to do was also quite a delightful way to relax.
Just then, sounds from other people rang out nearby:
"Hurry up!"
"Ah!"
"Ugh—"
Ronald reflexively lifted his body to look over.
Then...
On the deck, a young man was rushing his companion towards the edge of the deck, an old bucket in their hands.
As soon as they reached the edge, the companion the young man was supporting leaned there and vomited.
"..."
In the silence, Ronald slowly settled his body back down.
Of course, it would be better if there were no passengers with seasickness, heaving over the side of the deck during the journey.
That would be a real vacation.
A leisure ti that truly allowed one to relax.
...
—January 14th, morning.
—9:27:45.
Punctual to the minute, Ronald stepped onto the dock at Springs.
Truth be told, he was still sowhat in disbelief.
It began with ti-traveling, suffering a world anomaly collision in the Black Mountain while with the traveling rchants; and later, boarding a tailwind train with Alyda and encountering an assassination.
So when preparing to go to Springs, Ronald also made so ntal preparations.
Back on Earth, he’d often spend his spare ti watching films and shows like "Ghost Ship," "Star Trek," "The Thing," "JOJO’s Bizarre Adventure"...
He had seen plenty of those films where transport goes awry.
Having lived through the tense atmosphere of Biberonwich, Ronald naturally had confidence in handling any issues!
However, as he contemplated with a hint of sentintality,
A strange voice suddenly rose from behind Ronald:
"Excuse , could you please step aside?"
"..."
Turning around, it was the passengers disembarking behind him.
There he stood, mulling over his own experiences, but he was effectively blocking the path for other passengers trying to leave the dock.
His face broke into an apologetic, sheepish grin.
Ronald imdiately stepped aside:
"I’m sorry, really sorry."
He nodded at Ronald, and without much else to say, the passenger soon headed toward the exit of the docks.
"..."
He made way for a while, and only when the flow of people disembarking the ship grew sparse did Ronald begin to drag his suitcase outside.
The heavy travel case was made of substantial material, heavy enough that lifting it could be used as a weapon. Now, aside from his original possessions, Ronald’s entire belongings were essentially stored within it.
With slow steps, he walked along the path at the docks.
Observing the surrounding scenery, Ronald pondered his plans for the day.
The accounts of Biberonwich were not fabricated in the slightest.
The city of Springs, in both size and actual facilities, was incomparable to Biberonwich, located on the border.
Well-constructed roads, a rational and orderly layout of docks, the constant flow of people.
And of course, there was the grey and murky sky due to air pollution...
Compared to his previous impressions of Springs, the city’s first impression was one of heaviness and stability, everything so thodical.
Taking into account the issues of the era.
If these aspects were not managed well, intending to accommodate a population of millions in this city would undoubtedly lead to a huge disaster.
Especially since this was another world...
A population in the millions ant staff in the mystical sector numbering more than ten thousand.
In such a place.
The workload and the operational thods of the Gred Mysterious Event Investigation Bureau headquarters must be absolutely different from those in Biberonwich.
On his first day in this city, Ronald’s plan was to first head over to the Springs branch of the investigation bureau to register his identity, and then find the apartnt he would reside in from within the urban district.
After passing the dock inspection and smoothly leaving,
standing at the edge of a road wide enough to accommodate eight lanes of traffic, surveying the bustling road, Ronald experienced a brief lapse in his mind.
This was not like Biberonwich.
Back then, it was with Arlida’s help that he wasn’t completely in the dark.
Although in the past due to work, Ronald often had to travel to unfamiliar places...
But at that ti, he had a smartphone!
Having lost the convenience of the "XX Map," he had to think back to how he used to find his way in unfamiliar cities before smartphones were invented.
To purchase a local map and then...
Wait, that’s not right!
Didn’t he have the original book...
Now was the ti to test it...
Suddenly realizing his identity as a holder of the original book, Ronald imdiately used the ability granted by Bradshaw’s Railway Guide.
——9:41 a.m. and twelve seconds.
——Location: Springs, White Star Dockyard Area.
That’s all.
...
Seems like it wasn’t exactly helpful, was it?
After mulling it over for a while, Ronald realized he probably still needed to buy a map.
Smiling wryly, he shook his head and began to look around.
According to Ronald’s travel experience, at any major transportation hub, there are always people selling such things.
Just didn’t know if the aunts and uncles of another world would wave a little flag and sell so rather useless trinkets.
"Yo~~"
"Sir, is this your first ti in Springs?"
Just then, a young boy’s voice ca from behind Ronald.
He turned his head to see a young boy in overalls, a brown shirt on his upper body, looking about fifteen or sixteen years old.
At this mont, the boy was looking at Ronald with his bright steel-blue eyes, then asked with a smile,
"If you need it, I can show you the way——"
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