A Core Ship From The Start Chapter 683

Chapter 683: Chapter 507: Abandoned Station (A new month is here, seeking monthly tickets meow)_2 Chapter 683: Chapter 507: Abandoned Station (A new month is here, seeking monthly tickets meow)_2 Next, Duanmu Huai found a wallet and lighter among other items in the clothes, and yes, based on the identification found inside, it was indeed the pitiful woman's missing teacher.

But the problem was… the timeline didn't match up!

According to the woman, her teacher had only been missing since last night, less than twenty-four hours ago. But based on the condition of the corpse, it had been at least twenty-four years.

So the most likely possibility was that someone had stripped off the teacher's clothes and put them on this corpse. The story must trace back to the woman's teacher who made a mistake and killed the victim many years ago. Then the victim's family, seeking revenge, hid in the train and set up this string of events…

Okay, that was a storyline out of Detective Conan.

Unfortunately, cultists were not interested in reasoning or science.

Neither was Conan's logic.

The only credible evidence was the entries in the diary found in the corpse's hand.

According to the diary, the journalist did wake up in the middle of the night, but the train was not moving, it was stopped at a station. A smoking craving hit the journalist, so he went outside to have a cigarette. Upon finishing his smoke and turning around, he found that the train that had been behind him was gone.

Consequently, the journalist was bewildered; he searched every corner of the station, but found nothing and no one. He didn't give up though; he decided to leave the station on foot along the railroad track first thing in the morning, headed for the next station.

And then…

“I don't know how long I've been walking along the railway track, but I still ended up here. I just can't leave this place. I know I'm cursed, this is all Phillip's doing! I will never let him off the hook…!”

“What do we do next?”

After going through the diary, Duanmu Huai didn't say much. It was a piece of evidence, as for the corpse…

“Take it to the train for now, we'll report it to the police for identification when we reach our destination.”

Exactly, a DNA test by the police would verify the identify of the body. Hopefully, this was better than those unfortunate fools who were devoured by the Void Ghost in the museum; at least they could claim the body, and find somewhere to bury it in the future. Those devoured by the Void Ghost were forever lost, with no bodies to be found.

Reluctantly, the conductor complied with Duanmu Huai's request and placed the corpse into a wooden box, then placed it in the cargo hold. With everyone hurrying away from the station, the train departed shortly after.

“I never expected the reporter to meet such a horrible end…”
Back in the cabin, Lorena couldn't help exclaiming.

“Was that Phillip's doing too?”

“Perhaps. At least, his being missing without a trace gives him a larger suspicion than the unfortunate journalist whose body we found.”

Duanmu Huai took a sip of his red tea and spoke lightly. He had wanted to call Anthony from the station to investigate Phillip's whereabouts but… well, having a working phone in a station abandoned for decades would have been truly bizarre.

But where could Phillip be?

Duanmu Huai felt that this couldn't be that simple. The killer had made so much effort to silence his victims on this train, it was obviously premeditated. But to run away because of this was highly illogical. Assuming that Phillip indeed used dark magic to kill, the police could do nothing to him without tangible evidence. But by running away, wouldn't he be dumping all the suspicion on himself?

It was the same as a hit-and-run accident. If you stop obediently by the side of the road to accept your punishment, it might turn out better. If you flee the scene, whether you're at fault or not, you become the prime suspect, right?

“————–”
However, as Duanmu Huai was deep in thought, suddenly, a shadow swept by the window. He lifted his gaze, took a quick glance, and then fell into surprise.

What?

“What is it, Mister Knight?”

Seeing Duanmu Huai's reaction, Lorena asked curiously, but Duanmu Huai just shook his head without responding, silently watching out the window. The view outside was a barren desert engulfed by a dense fog; nothing was visible. Duanmu Huai just stared outside the window, motionless.

After a long while, suddenly another shadow whisked past him!

Upon seeing that shadow, Duanmu Huai hurriedly stood up. If he was not mistaken, that was the station where they had been earlier!

“Knock, knock, knock!”

At this instant, a sudden knock on the door resounded, followed by the train conductor's voice.

“Detective, something terrible has happened!!”

Upon arriving at the driver's compartment, Duanmu Huai quickly understood the conductor's concerns.

Just as he had perceived.

According to the driver, after pulling away from the station, the train continued to move forward and it was supposed to enter a tunnel, and then come out from it to the other side. However, after leaving the station, they have been traveling for four to five hours non-stop and there was no sign of any tunnel. On top of that, they found themselves seemingly back at the front of that station again!

The first time around, they thought their eyes were deceiving them, but during the second time… they were at their wits end.

“Could, could there be some sort of problem………”
At this moment, the driver, his face pale, was staring out of the window, his lips turning blue. The conductor nodded anxiously and looked troubledly at Duanmu Huai.

“Could it be because of the cadaver, should we return it……”
“Return it? Return where?”

Duanmu Huai glared coldly at the conductor, almost scaring him off his feet, then turned his gaze to the window.

“Keep going! I will find a solution!”

“Yes…………”
Logically speaking, the conductor and the driver didn't have to listen to Duanmu Huai, a stranger. But now with the bizarre situation and Duanmu Huai's assertive demeanor, they had no choice but to follow his instructions.

“Clunk, clunk, clunk………”
The train continued to move forward. In the thick fog, everyone was blind to everything beyond the train. Even the headlights could only illuminate the railway tracks protruding out from the mist and the parched land on either side………
“Phew———-!”

Finally, the dilapidated station reappeared out from the dense fog!

Witnessing this, Duanmu Huai raised his eyebrow, his face sank, and he let out a cold huff! Following this, a fearsome aura abruptly emanated from him!

“Move away!!”

“Ah————–!!”

Just as Duanmu Huai's reprimand was uttered, suddenly, a beast-like scream came in from outside, immediately followed by a light “thud,” as if the train had collided with something. The experienced driver immediately pulled the brakes. Accompanied by the harsh sound of friction, the train gradually came to a halt after moving forward a bit.

“……………”
At this moment, everyone in the driver's compartment looked at each other in silence, and finally, it was Duanmu Huai who broke the silence.

“What's going on, let's go down and check.”

Stepping off the train, the scene before their eyes was unbelievable. From the train wheels at the front to the tracks at the back, everywhere were crushed, torn-off limbs and vague fragments of flesh and blood. Witnessing this, everyone turned as pale as a sheet, and the conductor immediately turned his head to vomit violently on one side.

But Duanmu Huai obviously wasn't bothered by this minor issue. He walked to the side of the wheel, pulled out a shred of clothing from amidst the mess. Although all that was left was a piece of clothing, the feel and texture of it suggested that the material was meticulously selected. Furthermore, Duanmu Huai found a business card in the pocket of the coat remains.

“Sir Detective, what did you find?”

Curious, Lorena came closer. Duanmu Huai turned around and flashed the card in his hand at her.

“It appears that we have located the second missing person.”

Chapter end

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