Age of Mysticism

  Chapter 369 Darikova

   Half a month has passed, and it has been two months since Luke came to Dongdu. Most of the secret rituals have been completed, and his footprints are all over the underground of Dongdu.

  At this time, the deep winter in the north has reached the coldest season, and the eaves are covered with icicles with a length of more than one meter. The hard-to-clear ice layer on the road has forced many rail cars to stop running. People who go to work can only wrap themselves tightly and go out. Slipping and rolling a few times is the most common sight on the street.

  Luke was on his way to the editor-in-chief's house in the car assigned to him by the company. The tires of the car were tied with snow chains, so it was a bit bumpy.

   This time I went to the house of editor-in-chief Molson to attend a gathering of steam engineers. The purpose is to communicate on steam technology. Everyone will discuss the project they are working on, and brainstorming will help speed up the research and development progress.

   Therefore, steam engineers who are eligible to participate in such gatherings have their own exclusive steam technology laboratories, which are the backbone of the Association of Steam Engineers.

  Three days ago, when Luke visited the editor-in-chief of Molson, he received an invitation letter. Molson also specially told him to prepare well and strive to have an outstanding performance at the party.

   Luke, who was sitting in the car, read the newspaper he had just bought on the side of the road.

   In the war with the empire, the army of the Art County United won another big victory, eliminating more than 10,000 imperial troops.

   Snow City was under siege and ran out of ammunition and food, the morale of the army was extremely low, and it was only a matter of time before the imperial queen was captured alive...

   Every day, the content of the war in the newspapers is the same, and Snow City is still fighting.

  According to the news Luke received, the fight in Snow City was indeed extremely difficult.

   After receiving reinforcements, the Yate County United launched a new round of offensive and pressed the imperial army on the third line of defense. The empire lost contact with Snow City for ten days. The recent information from Snow City shows that the defenders in the city not only have to resist the continuous attack of the Yate County United, but also resist the sudden severe cold.

   Non-combat attrition due to frostbite and freezing to death is very serious.

   But Snow City was still held. This was a miracle for the empire, and no one expected it before the war. Now the Northern Legion of the Empire is preparing to launch a partial counterattack, trying to create a passage into Snow City, and try to transport some soldiers and supplies inside.

  The war is still going on, and I don't know when it will end.

  Yate County United is not only recruiting troops for a protracted war, but the entire technology development system is also turning to war. All technologies being developed must make way for the development of new weapons, and the Society of Steam Engineers is under great pressure.

  When Luke's thoughts were a little wandering, Rebecca, who was sitting next to her, said, "Miss Dalikova I saw last time, I don't know how it is now. Have you successfully resigned from the ice cave?"

  Now Rebecca is the captain of the security team responsible for protecting Luke, and since she was rescued by Luke from the ice cave, her attitude towards Luke has changed a lot.

  Luke didn't expect Rebecca to suddenly mention Darikova at this time.

   Indeed, since the last time I saw her, I haven't seen her again. As for resignation... She is the ace agent of the ice cave, how could she resign!

   "She didn't ask me for help, she should have resigned smoothly. Why did you suddenly mention her?"

  Rebecca said: "I heard that the invited guests usually bring their female companions when attending such high-class gatherings. If Mr. Darikova still has contact with Miss Darikova, she is a good female companion candidate."

  It was only then that Luke remembered the rules of this kind of gathering, but he had been busy with "work" since winter, so he really didn't know a suitable female partner to bring to the party.

   So Luke patted the driver's seat: "Go to the ice cave headquarters."

   "Yes, Mr. Luke." The driver turned the steering wheel, and the car turned around and drove towards the ice cave headquarters.

   Arrived at the ice cave, reported his name, and Luke met the head of the ice cave, Helkkin, very smoothly.

   As a loyal reader of "Steam Weekly", this hobby makes Helkkin have a keen sense of the flow of upper-level figures.

  In the last two issues of "Steam Weekly", there are more articles on the concept of new weapons, and these new weapons all need a very efficient steam engine as a drive.

  The heart needed by these new weapons is undoubtedly the water molecule two-phase steam engine.

  Excellent steam engineers generally have extraordinary personal strength. They have mastered the most cutting-edge technology of Art County United, and they are the targets of various consortiums and oligarchs.

  In the Yate County Union, many politicians with real power have the identity of steam engineers.

  Now Luke is simply a rising superstar. All people and industries related to steam in the entire Arthur County Union are looking forward to the water molecule two-phase steam engine he is responsible for research and development.

   Such a character, early friends and early benefits!

   Seeing Luke for the second time, Hulking instantly turned into a star-chaser fan regardless of his identity.

  He did not ask Luke the purpose of his visit this time, but took out his treasured "Dual Phase of Water Molecules and Internal Cycle of Thermal Energy" and two issues of "Steam Weekly" written by Molson for Luke.

"Mr. Luke, Master Luke... Please sign these two issues of "Steam Weekly". These are definitely the two most valuable issues of "Steam Weekly" in all my collections. I will definitely make them As a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation. Let my descendants know that their ancestors have seen the legendary Master Luke and left their signatures."

   Ice Cave doesn't make trouble, and Luke is willing to have a good relationship with them.

Luke wrote his name on two issues of "Steam Weekly" respectively, and then asked Darikova: "It's the beautiful female clerk I saw here last time. She has a marriage contract with the dead Enoch. Father was a factory owner.

  The chief executive should have an impression of her. "

   "Don't call me my lord, just call me Helkkin." Helkkin narrowed his relationship with Luke, and asked curiously, "What business do you want with Dalikova?"

  Luke stated his purpose: "Editor Molson invited me to a meeting of steam engineers. I haven't attended a similar meeting before, and I heard that it is best to bring a female companion to...

  I haven't been here for long, I've been busy with work, and I don't know the right lady. After much deliberation, I could only take the liberty of coming to Miss Dalikova, wondering if she had time. "

  Helkkin asked: "Is there a meeting of steam engineers organized by editor-in-chief Molson? I heard that several heavyweights will also attend, and the ice cave has also specially strengthened the control there.

  You can be invited to this party, editor-in-chief Molson really appreciates you! "

  Luke saw that Helkkin changed the subject for himself, so he reminded him: "The party is about to start, is Miss Darikova here?"

   "Darikova... she, she has left."

"has resigned?"

   Luke didn't know if Dalikova really left her job, or if Hulkkin was using an excuse to prevaricate herself.

  Helke King is very grateful that he drove Darikova away in time, and it has nothing to do with him if she pokes a hornet's nest in the future. Helkkin said with emotion: "Enoch's death hit Dalikova very hard, and she often made mistakes at work every day, and she dared to embarrass you last time.

  Since she wanted to leave, I agreed, anyway, she is an insignificant clerk.

   If you want to find her, sir, I will give you an address. "

  Helkekin wrote down Darikova's current address on the paper.

  As the ace agent of the Ice Cave, even if she resigns, she will be within the monitoring range of the Ice Cave. Dalikova cannot leave the Winter Capital.

  Holding the paper with the address on it, Luke couldn't figure out which role these two were playing?

   Luke's interest in Darikova grew stronger.

   "Thank you, Chief... No, it's Chief Helkkin. Fortunately, Dalikova lives not far away, so it won't delay the time to reach the party.

goodbye! "

   "Have a nice party! Goodbye, Master Luke."

  Darikova now lives in a cheap apartment building, most of the people living here are migrant workers at the bottom of the city. The building is old, with mottled walls, garbage everywhere, and white smoke from leaking heating pipes.

Rebecca followed Luke along the corridor and looked at the house numbers one by one, and asked suspiciously: "How can Miss Dalikova live in such a place? Her father is a factory owner. Since she left the ice cave smoothly, she should return Home is right."

  Luke was also very puzzled.

  If Dalikova’s resignation is a further fishing for herself, why should Helking arrange for her a factory owner’s father to wait in the mansion for her to take the bait.

  How can you live in this kind of place?

   "I don't know either. I can only find her first and then ask her."

  Luke and Rebecca found Darikova's apartment, the door was ajar and unlocked.

   "Miss Darikova, this is Luke... are you there?"

  Luke slowly opened the door, facing the smell of alcohol. Looking at the room again, all the empty wine bottles are lying around.

   "This is how much wine I drank!"

  Rebecca was expressing her emotions when she saw so many empty wine bottles, but Luke pulled her back.

   Then a cold light swept across her neck, making Rebecca think that her neck had been sliced ​​open.

  Rebecca covered her neck, pulled out a long knife from her back with one hand, and swung the knife to slash at the attacker.

   "Mr. Luke, step back!" Rebecca stood in front of Luke, but after seeing the attacker, she couldn't help but exclaimed: "Miss Darikova!"

   It was Dalikova who attacked Rebecca.

  At this time, she was holding a dagger in one hand and a wine bottle in the other, standing unsteadily and staggering, drunk like mud.

   Fortunately, Dalikova recognized Rebecca and Luke, she did not continue to attack, and fell back on the messy sofa.

   "So it's you guys? How did you find this place? Are you here to see my joke?"

  Rebecca checked her neck and let go of her worries when she found that she was not injured.

   "Thank you, Mr. Luke, you saved my life again!"

  Luke said to Rebecca: "Even if Miss Darikova is a civil servant in the ice cave, she has received professional spy training. Don't make this mistake again in the future."

   "Yes, Mr. Luke. I didn't expect Miss Darikova to be so drunk and still have such good skills!"

  Luke nodded, then drew out his magic wand and approached Darikova.

   "Your address was given to me by Chief Helkkin. Now I release magic to sober you up, don't get me wrong..."

   Luke recites a spell.

  Darikova struggled to stand up: "I finally got drunk, I don't want to wake up. Leave me alone, anyway, I am a person no one wants."

  Luke's magic wand has been tapped between Darikova's eyebrows.

  A human-shaped mist evaporated from Dalikova's body, and the smell of alcohol in the room became stronger.

  Luke waved his hand, the closed window opened, and the generated airflow blew out all the air in the room. The cold air from outside came in, and Darikova, who was dressed slightly thinly, shivered involuntarily.

  Darikova hugged her shoulders and curled up on the sofa, her eyes clear.

   "What are you doing here?"

  Luke took out his pocket watch and looked at it: "I don't have time to explain to you. I need you to clean yourself up as quickly as possible, change into a decent dress, and accompany me to a meeting of steam engineers.

   In order to find you, I wasted a lot of time. "

  Darikova asked vigilantly: "Why should I accompany you to the party?"

  Luke looked at the time: "I only give you five minutes, and I will leave when the time is up."

  Darikova jumped up from the sofa, rushed into the bedroom in an instant, and then saw her get into the bathroom with a bunch of clothes and shoes.

  The water was rushing, and the pointer on the pocket watch in Luke's hand was rattling.

   In just four and a half minutes, Darikova walked out of the bathroom.

  Now she is completely different from the drunkard just now.

  She was wearing a sky-blue gown that matched her eyes, and a pendant with a steam pattern hung on her neck as white as cream. The chestnut hair has been dried and is pulled into a chignon under a decorative bowler hat, a lock of it is combed separately and falls over the right shoulder.

  Wearing crystal high-heeled shoes and carrying a lady's bag on her arm, she is simply a city lady who is at the forefront of fashion.

  Darikova walked in front of Luke, her smile was full of coquettishness: "Mr. Luke, it's time for the party, can we go?"

  Luke stretched out his arms: "You can go! Get in the car, and you have to explain to me why you have fallen into this situation."

   "Of course I will explain it clearly to you, Mr. Luke!" Dalikova stretched out his arm to hold Luke, and the two walked out of the apartment together.

  Rebecca exclaimed in the back: "This is Ice Cave Agent! A civil servant is so powerful, how powerful are those who really go out to work."

  Seeing that Luke and Darikova had gone away, Rebecca scanned the messy room, closed the door and chased them out.

  The car was driving again on the way to editor-in-chief Molson's house.

  In the car, Dalikova showed up to Luke, telling Luke her true identity and the process of leaving the job.

   "That's how it is... Chief Helkkin asked me to investigate you, and I forged an identity for myself. As a result, we didn't expect you to have such a deep background and great future.

   Chief Helkkin was afraid that you would gain power in the future, so he blamed him for this matter, and he drove me out of the ice cave.

  It happened so suddenly, I never thought about saving money before, and it ended up like this..."

  Luke was dumbfounded.

  Helke Jin's bald head is really beyond recognition!

  (end of this chapter)