CHAPTER 186: NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Arc 3, Chapter 186—No Place Like Home

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They smiled bitterly. Well, that bastard disappeared on them again.

They were referring to Winhest. How come they can’t even see his shadow anymore? Since when did he leave?

With Winhest gone, the staff who showed a more cordial expression earlier, now grew 100 times colder, as though looking at shit.

"To head out, follow the path on the left."

What did she look like? A babysitter or something?

It should take them to another space with several staff who can direct them back to the Grand Entrance Hall.

The staff who was walking away in heels, soon paused, leaving them with a few parting words. "The trains leave from the South gates in an hour and 45 minutes."

If she were them... she would start moving now....

Heh.

The words to the wise are enough. If not for Winhest’s orders, she wouldn’t even bother staying with them longer than she already did. Don’t you know that just being in their presence felt like being in a contaminated room.

As Head Staff, when was the last time she has ever spoken to a mere Bloodren 10? Only those below her... the bottom of the bottoms, were meant to deal with Bloodren 10s.

With that, the Head staff walked away, leaving the stunned Bloodrens behind. The change in her attitude was too shocking. How can someone’s face change so fast?

Some stood in place, shock still written all over their faces. But the Levon and a handful out of the 377, had already begun walking in the direction pointed.

Didn’t you hear her? The Train leaves in 1 hour, 47 minutes. And something told them that if they missed it, their entire night would be RUINED!

Levon’s eyes drooped, his tone low enough just for his team to hear. "Let’s go."

"Right."

With that, they picked up the pace.

The streets were engaging with activity everywhere they looked. Some stopped, feeling that an hour and 47 minutes was enough time for them to stroll around a bit before officially leaving.

They strolled and gathered information across the vast labyrinth of space, so much so that they got lost and completely forgot their way back to their starting points.

What should they do now? Several people were sweating buckets, stopping people on the way and asking for directions. Sadly they were ignored and left hanging by the masses.

On Levon’s side, they managed to make it barely on time. Everyone had been running nonstop, recalling the brief instructions left by the Head Staff. Fortunately their guesses were right, allowing them to step through a more regular sized gate on the walls, compared to the main Gates they entered through.

The gates they stared out were more ordinary looking, having the same height as a regular door. So if one’s intention was to find these gates by looking into the distance at the towering city walls, that would be too impossible to do... Afterall, the many buildings were taller than these gates.

The skies were now dark and it was clear that the darkness was here to stay—especially now that they stepped out of the safe haven called District 57. Still, Levon knew that the surrounding areas with open lands and no trees, must be also safe.

If one will recall, before stepping through the district’s turf, they passed through a tunnel that cleaned the train, ensuring no enemy gets in. So if they liked, they could walk on foot till they got past that point. But after that—heh.

They would be all on their own.

"I see it!" Someone on another team yelled, looking at the team approaching from a distance. There was obvious relief on the youths’ faces.

For a moment, he feared they had already missed it.

.....

Drmmmmmmm~

The melodies of metal grinding was all many could hear.

There it was—the Train the staff spoke of.

They had to admit that this one looked more elegant and sturdier than anything they rode on earlier.

It was much sturdier too. On closer inspection, Levon felt it must be good enough to withstand attacks from all Ghoul levels. However... whether it can withstand an attack from a Lesser Noble or other high ranking vampire, was still debatable.

"Hahahahahahahaha~... My Liver is about to pop! For a second., I thought we weren’t gonna make it!"

"Damn. I’m a strong man, but I feel like crying. Finally, we can go Home."

"Bah! You weakling! Why the hell would you feel like crying?... Disgusting!"

"Bastard! Come on, why don’t you fucking say that to my face instead? Don’t think I’m afraid of you because you have a lot of chest hair. Hmph! If you’re not careful, you’ll wake up and see that glorious chest hair of yours all shaved off with the way you’re going!!!"

The group of gathered 10s were bantered and argued, but there was obvious glee in their tones. They were just too happy to be officially recognized and over with, involving any Phase 1, or 2 competitions.

All Aboard~

Choo-Choo~

The train took off right on time, whether they got on board or not.

This fact shocked them greatly. The train hadn’t even stopped for 3 minutes and it was already ready to leave...

Blame them for waiting humbly for those on board to get out.

Dammit.

"Next time, no Mr. Nice guy!!!"

Several people quickly activated their shards and hopped on just on time, while others were still too slow, missing it completely.

Butterflies churned in their guts as they stared at the departing trains that moved too fast for them to catch up with. They stood there in a daze for a full minute, still in disbelief by what just happened.

This... This... This...

"What now?"

Several people looked at each other, but no one had any straight answers.

"The Head Staff did say the train that left was the last one for the day. Then does that mean they’ll have to wait until tomorrow?"

"Who said there’ll even be another train tomorrow? And if so... what time does it arrive? Mind you... will the train even head towards the direction we’re going? Or will it go to some other fucked up place in this enormous Blood Line?"

"This is bad..."

Everyone had a million questions to ask, but no one was around to answer them.

Heading back into District 57, they headed to a few locations they spotted earlier. They swore they spotted a few structures that had the word: Inn, written in them.

Upon arrival, the staff asked them to touch the small white clear orb the size of a baseball. They could use a finger or their whole palm initiate contact. However, they must hold it for 2 seconds.

There was no pain, only a slight sensation to the Order’s Tattoo imprinted on their bodies.

The staff looked at the orb expressionlessly. There was no reaction.

"My apologies, dear guests... I’m afraid I cannot agree to your request. For you see, you have no points to convert for payment!"

With that they were kicked out and thrown back on the streets. Several people were speechless, helpless and a little irritated. But what else could they do? They found corners on the streets like beggars.

They were hungry, tired and in need of a good bath and soft sheets. Yet they were now hurled in street corners, closing their eyes and listening to the flood of insults from the passersby that never ceased.

Their eyes were closed, yet one thing was certain—Never again will they be ridiculed and insulted like they were now.

’Cold...’ They shivered, feeling that the night’s here were far chillier and a stark contrast to the boiling heat in the daytime.

Well, that was how the fate that laid in store for those who missed the train.

As for Levon’s bunch, they were comfy on the train, finding that the speed of this train was also faster than the ones they took earlier. Instead of having a 4 day trip, they completed the entire journey in 3 days, arriving in the late afternoon of day 3.

Levon felt that was possibly the best trip he has ever had. It was relaxing and battle-free.

Yes, the many ghouls did their best to attack the train endlessly. But just as Levon and many others suspected... unless they open the doors and windows, these ghouls can’t break down the sturdy materials from which the trains were made of.

Thus, when the darkness came, all doors and windows were sealed. And during the day, they could move about on the rooftops if they wanted to.

Upon arrival at the Train station, a voice from the speakers told them to f=go underground to Platform 36.

There, they sat in rail karts that took them through another trip that lasted for 4 whole hours. They maneuvered through the underground space till they emerged from a cave not too far from the Cafeteria building they were used to.

Phew~

Many let out collectrive sighs of relief after finally seeing a familiar structure... Now, it wouldn’t be difficult getting home.

As for those who were even older Bloodrens who emerged during the Phase 2 competitions, they too knew the way.

After all, they once lived in that same mansion, no?