Gathering Wives

Kein sat on a wooden bench at the train station, his black cane resting beside him. The morning air was crisp, biting at his skin, but his mind was consumed by one thing—his body's weakness.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the frailty in his muscles, the lack of strength.

"Damn… this body is completely unreliable."

Once, he had been used to fighting for survival, his body strong and well-trained. But now, this new body felt far too weak.

"Great Master, it would be wise for you to begin physical training," the AQCC System advised.

Kein let out a small scoff. "Is that so?"

His hand slipped into the pocket of his coat, fingers brushing against cold metal. When he pulled them out, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Several gold coins gleamed in his palm.

"In this timeline, people haven't started using paper money yet?"

"No, Great Master. The financial system here is different. With the existence of magic, concerns such as security and money storage have already been addressed. Inventory magic, for example, has made paper currency unnecessary."

Kein examined the gold coins for a moment before slipping them back into his pocket.

"This world is strange… but interesting."

He stood up, stretched his body, then clenched his fists.

"Alright. If I want to survive here, the first thing I need to do is rebuild my strength."

Taking a deep breath, he turned his gaze toward the streets of London, which were slowly coming to life.

Kein rose from his seat, adjusted his coat, and walked toward the ticket counter inside the station. The station itself was built in a classical architectural style, with sturdy stone pillars and a glass ceiling that allowed the morning sunlight to filter in, casting beautiful shadows on the marble floor.

At the counter, a middle-aged man in a station attendant's uniform stood behind a small glass window. His neutral expression shifted slightly as he took in the sight of a young man dressed in fine attire, alone at this hour.

Kein tapped lightly on the glass. "One ticket to Roselund."

The attendant raised an eyebrow. "The journey to Roselund takes twelve hours, sir. Would you like a standard seat or a private cabin?"

Kein retrieved a few gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter. "Private cabin."

The man inspected the coins before nodding in satisfaction. He reached into a drawer, pulled out a ticket, and handed it to Kein.

"Your ticket, sir. The private cabins are located at the rear of the train. The entrance is secured with a lock for extra privacy. Use this key to access it."

Kein accepted the ticket and the small key. "Understood."

As he walked toward the platform, he glanced at the ticket.

Destination: Roselund City

Departure Time: 09:30

Carriage Number: 7 - Private Cabin

At the platform, a grand black train with silver accents stood ready for departure. Passengers bustled about—some carrying large suitcases, others chatting with their families.

Kein made his way toward Carriage 7, where a small bronze lock secured the door. He inserted the key, turning it with a soft click. The lock released, and he stepped inside his cabin.

A long twelve-hour journey had just begun.

In the cold, silent night, two women stood in front of an old apartment building on the outskirts of the city. The dim streetlights cast long shadows across the cobblestone pavement.

Cassandra Moretti crossed her arms, her sharp gaze fixed on the worn-down building. "So, this is the place?"

Beside her, Selene Moretti adjusted her black gloves before nodding. "The magical traces lead here. The fake Kein was living in this apartment before he disappeared."

They climbed the stairs to the second floor, where faint remnants of magic still lingered. Selene raised her hand, activating a tracking spell that made the space around them glow with a faint blue light.

"He used body-enhancing magic and several disguise spells," she murmured. "It seems he was preparing to escape from the beginning."

Cassandra pushed open the unlocked door and stepped inside first. The room was a mess—empty bottles littered the table, and piles of unkempt clothing were shoved into a corner.

"What a disgusting excuse for a living space," Cassandra muttered in disdain.

Selene approached the table, her eyes scanning a piece of paper that appeared to be a financial ledger. She narrowed her gaze, quickly reading its contents.

"He spent a lot of money on gambling and nightlife," Selene noted. "No wonder this body is so weak. Whoever was using it never cared about its health."

Cassandra kicked over a fallen chair, frustration evident in her expression. "That bastard truly disgraced the Moretti family name."

Selene moved toward the wall, where traces of magical energy still lingered. With a careful motion, she activated a spell that restored the remnants of past events, revealing a faint spectral vision before them.

In the illusion, they saw a young man with Kein's face—but his eyes gleamed with cunning and greed. He moved with urgency, hastily packing his belongings before tracing a magical symbol in the air. Moments later, his figure vanished in a flash of light.

Cassandra clenched her fists. "He used a teleportation ritual. Where did he go?"

Selene shook her head. "It's hard to say. But I'm certain… this isn't the end of our search."

Exchanging a determined

glance, they turned and left the apartment, their footsteps steady and resolute.