Chapter 84 - Lullin
Chapter 84 – Lullin
The train ride was rather uneventful. It was basically a sleeping session along the way. However, now they finally arrived at Lullin, a rather quiet town in the middle of Ilbistirum. Not much could be said about that place. It was a small town with grassland surrounding it after all. There might not be a lot of attractions in that town. However, three major locations on the sides of the city caught his attention from the platform of the train station.
The first one was located on the east side of the city. It looked like a palace, or a castle, well, Del had no idea that it was neither. It was surrounded by a bunch of similar-looking buildings albeit smaller. A bunch of people was roaming around the entire complex either carrying books or wearing lab coats.
"What's that building on the east? It looks so majestic," Del commented.
"That's Lullin State University, my campus, it's still holiday though, the students that were there would be most likely last-year students doing their research, or structuring their data like my brother," Alina commented.
"That seems to be a pretty good university, what are the other buildings though?" Del asked.
"They're the intelligence buildings, the DEAFI and IBISDA. The one on the south is DEAFI and the one on the north is IBISDA. Both of those organizations keep this country safe from foreign threats before the threat exists," Alina said.
"And they recruit from nearby university?" Del asked.
"Sometimes, but the high hierarchy of the organization usually recruits their agents with, let's say, unconventional ways. You don't look for them, they look for you," Alina explained.
"I see," Del nodded.
They walked out of the small train station. The first thing that caught his attention was the park in front of the train station. It was so large with many people in it. Some of them were sitting down on the benches while reading newspapers. Kids were playing while some adults were having a date under the trees.
"Beautiful, isn't it? Lillun Central Park, the place where most university students find their first love," Aline commented.
Surrounding the parks were multiple small buildings ranging from pharmaceutical stores to hardware stores. There was also a gun store and a weapon store located right next to each other. There was also a blacksmith, oddly enough. Police with black uniforms were patrolling around the station.
One of them approached Del, "Excuse me, young man, could I see your ID?"
"ID?" Del grabbed his refugee document from his back and gave it to the police officer, "Here you go, sir."
The policeman read Del's ID and gave it back to him, "Welcome to Ilbistirum, Mr. Moore."
They eventually walked away from Del. Looking at it, the policeman was armed with a gun and a book. This was the country where a book was one of the strongest weapons after all. Still, how the gun works were still something that Del couldn't figure.
Alina sighed, "Since the bombing accident, the police is rather tense."
"Bombing accident?"
"Yeah, a bomber exploded a massive amount of magical stones right below the national monument in the capital. Thousands of people died and it all could be blamed on the separatists," Alina said.
"Ah, I see," Del said.
"That's one of the reasons the western part of the country is hard to access. It's simply because of those damn separatists," Alina said.
"I see," Del nodded.
They were on the streets of the town. People were filling up the stores to buy groceries ranging from meat. Some of them were buying furniture from the store and put it in their carriage. Overall, it was quite a lively town for what it was. It seemed that the street was way cleaner than the street of Alder. The public service must be working very hard to keep the street clean.
They further walked in the north direction. They arrived at Cole's house. It was no different from a regular modern house in the suburban area. There was something in the garage, a car. That's goddamn right, a car, right in Cole's garage. Del dropped his jaw.
"Seriously, Cole, what do I know is wrong and what do I know is right?" Del asked.
"Huh, what are you even asking?" Cole asked.
"You said that you don't know how to use a gun, but it turned out that your country also used guns as its weaponry. You said that you can't drive, but there's a goddamn car in your garage, Cole, what the hell?" Del asked.
"Military-wise, I was told to act as if I know nothing about Ilbistirum's technological advancement," Cole replied.
"So, everything was an act?" Del asked.
"Yeah, we were prohibited to bring guns and all to Elbanian, do you really think that I use swords that often?" Cole asked.
"Yes?" Del asked.
"Well, nope, I use a machete and I use a rifle," Cole said.
"Machete???" Del asked.
"Yeah, I often use a machete," Cole said.
"I see, is a car that common in this world?" Del nodded.
"Yes and no, the car itself was something that I got from helping someone in their research a long time ago. Medium-income people and the military are the main users of a car. Did you notice that several military trucks were roaming around the base?" Cole asked.
"Nah, I was amazed by other things," Del said.
"Hahahahaha, I see," Cole laughed.
Aline opened the door of the house and let Del come inside. The house was comfy, there was no doubt about it. There was a couch in the living room. There was something that looked like a radio in the living room. It was big. There was a vase on top of that radio that was as big as a regular table.
"Is that a radio?" Del asked.
Alina interrupted, "Did you tell them about our technology, Cole?"
"No, I didn't do that, well, it's complicated, sis," Cole answered.
Anna, on the other hand, turned on the radio with her own hands. Immediately, a sound that seemed to be so jazzy came out of the radio. Del, without any doubt, set the stone of what tech age of this world. The tech of this world would be between post-WW1 and pre-WW2. It would be safe to say that this world was probably in around the 1930s or early 1940s.
"Damn, this is some nostalgic music," Anna commented as she turned on the radio.
"She can turn on the radio???" Alina scratched her head.
"Alina, I'm not a caveman," Anna replied.
"Oh, sorry, I'm just too surprised at how tech-savvy you are," Alina said.
"I see," Del nodded.
"You three, treat this as your own home, alright? Just don't forget to help my sister with her housekeeping," Del said.
Del put his backpack near the couch. Alina went for the kitchen and started cooking foods for all of them. The sky outside had turned orange. It was time for dinner after all. Del sat down on the couch while listening to the smooth jazz. It really reminded Del of what live would be if all of that he had been through never happened.
Live would be just between him and her sister enjoying live and education on Earth. Maybe, they would get separated eventually, but it was way better than shooting your way through just to get some cash.
"Alina, I have to ask, I'm not exactly fond of entering high-school, and I heard that this country provides money for those who want to do their, let's say, wet work," Del said.
Alina gasped, "Oh my, how was your life in Elbanian? Why are you resorting to killing people for money?"
"Because I have no alternatives, that's all," Del said.
"No alternatives? How about now? I meant, you're in the age to enter high-school, why don't you join high-school, I meant, it's not that profitable, but I'm sure that you'll be less likely to get killed when you enter high-school," Alina said.
"I can't. School doesn't really suit my purpose right now," Del said.
"What's your purpose right now, to be honest?" Alina asked.
"Kill Eric."
Alina gasped, but Cole immediately whispered at her ears. She then nodded and nodded. It looked like Cole understood what he should do at that situation. Alina looked shock, but she understood what Cole had told him since she gazed strongly at Anna.
"I understand," Alina said, "but, Del, don't get killed, alright? Tomorrow, I'll be free, do you need an introduction to the guild? I think I can get you there."
"Thanks, Alina."