Chapter 1702: Chapter 18: Bloody Station 1

The teleportation ended, and before her vision fully recovered, Pang Meiqin was already drenched by raindrops the size of beans, turning her into a soaked chicken. She looked around, raised her hands above her head, and ran toward a shop by the street, taking shelter under the eaves from the rain.

This was a long street brimming with European style. Under the blanket of violent storm clouds in the sky, it appeared somewhat dim.

Pang Meiqin took a deep breath and gazed at the hurried passersby moving through the pouring heavy rain. She furrowed her brows.

This seemed to be late 19th or early 20th century Britain, in the midst of the Industrial Era. In the distance, towering smokestacks spewed black smoke into the sky, and the clatter of looms could be heard even from several streets away.

A carriage sped past, its horse hooves and tires splashing up pooled water, eliciting a flurry of curses from pedestrians.

“This is going to be awful. Industrial-era Europe… transportation options are limited to carriages, coal-fired trains, and steamships. The Wright brothers are probably still tinkering with their airplane in some remote corner, risking broken legs!” Lu Fan wiped his forehead and counted the challenges on his fingers.

“Eighty days… that’s too tight. Even if we travel non-stop, there’s a high likelihood of running late. Besides being unfamiliar with the land, there are also language barriers, psychological challenges, budget issues, ticket availability, and the punctuality of different modes of transport to consider!”

In modern times, even trains and airplanes are frequently delayed, let alone in the Industrial Era. In the novel, Mr. Fogg managed to complete the feat of an 80-day trip around the world only because he had the protagonist’s halo on his side. For an ordinary person, merely surviving the grueling rush and avoiding illness or death due to being unaccustomed to the local environment would be a success.

“Having abilities would make things much easier!” Yu Deye rubbed his chin with a troubled expression. He wasn’t entirely useless, knowing at least how to strategize.

“Having abilities wouldn’t slow down time, unless you could fly there instantly,” Mu Nianqi remarked quickly while staring at the screen in deep thought. “This round is favorable for Meiqin!”

“True, because most of the Conquerors have become accustomed to solving problems by relying on their strengths. Now they’ll actually find things harder to manage,” Dantai let out a long sigh. “If we could ambush an opponent in London, we might gain some time advantage.”

Pang Meiqin tapped on her wristwatch, only to find the screen completely dark, with no data accessible.

“If it were Tang Zheng, what would he do?” The Beautiful Leg Stewardess didn’t panic or act rashly like a headless chicken. Instead, she stared into the rain curtain, her mind operating at full speed.

“First, get a detailed map so I won’t get lost. Then money, weapons for self-defense, followed by a few sets of outfits to blend into this era. Otherwise, I’ll be the most conspicuous target. I also need to gather as much intel as possible on other Conquerors.”

While piecing together an action plan in her mind, Pang Meiqin’s wristwatch suddenly buzzed, instantly lifting her spirits.

“Attention, contestants. The first stage route is now announced: London to Brindisi, Italy. Estimated duration is approximately seven days. Please act promptly. Best of luck to all!”

The Trojan’s tone was gentle, clearly indicating a change in hosts for the second round. It was no longer the Silver Trojan with its twisted sense of humor.

“Can I choose my own route?” Pang Meiqin questioned, but the Trojan offered no response.

“Never mind, first things first—money and a map!” Pang Meiqin scanned the hurried pedestrians in the heavy rain, settling her sights on a man dressed in a pristine suit and carrying a black umbrella.

“Look, Meiqin is on the move!” Bai Guo closely watched the screen. Seeing that Pang Meiqin had spent less than ten minutes under the eaves before darting into the rain, his attention was captured.

Everyone else kept their eyes peeled, watching Meiqin intently.

With her head bowed and hands shielding her forehead, Pang Meiqin continually observed her approaching target through the narrow gaps of her fingers.

Just as she was about to cross paths with the man, she suddenly picked up speed.

“Hey, miss!” The man with the umbrella saw a woman charging toward him and, about to collide, shouted a warning.

Pang Meiqin paid him no heed, running even faster.

The suited man instinctively tried to dodge but found his gaze glued to Pang Meiqin.

After surviving the first round of slaughter, the Beautiful Leg Stewardess was now clad only in tight protective clothing that hugged her body, accentuating her perfect curves. Drenched by the rain, her appearance exuded a sensual allure.

The man’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. This was the 19th century, where women’s attire was far more conservative. If a reporter caught sight of her, Meiqin would undoubtedly land on the front page of the London Daily.

“Watch out!” The suited man, eager to showcase his gentlemanly demeanor—and perhaps invite her home to deepen their acquaintance—raised his umbrella to shield the charging lady.

Hearing the man’s enthusiastic tone, Pang Meiqin instantly changed her plan.

The suited man held up his umbrella, attempting to shield her from the rain. However, in a blur, he felt a sharp pain at his neck before collapsing to the ground, water splashing everywhere.

“Darling, are you okay? Is it your heart acting up again?” Pang Meiqin swiftly seized the umbrella, using it to obscure her face.

Seeing someone fall suddenly—even in the downpour—several people paused to look on, some stopping entirely. But hearing Meiqin’s anxious tone, none suspected foul play.

“Don’t move! I’ll fetch a doctor right away!” Meiqin exclaimed in fluent English while discreetly lifting the man’s wallet, gold-plated pocket watch, and a jeweled ring from his finger before disappearing into the alleys in an instant.

The bystanders assumed she was simply concerned for her husband’s welfare, which explained her urgent departure. Only gradually did they begin to realize something was amiss.

By then, there was no trace of Meiqin on the main street, and because she had kept her umbrella low and head bowed, the witnesses shockingly realized none of them had actually seen her face.

“Hmph, definitely loaded!” Pang Meiqin hid under an eave, pulling a full 300-pound stack of bills from the leather wallet and stashing it deep in her cleavage.

Initially, Meiqin had planned to fake a fall and snatch some cash discreetly. But realizing this approach might leave her entangled with the man and unable to escape easily, she opted for outright robbery instead, saving herself the trouble of drawn-out negotiations.

Stepping out of the alley, Meiqin casually tossed the emptied wallet into a nearby trash bin. Heading toward a boutique, she noticed through its floor-to-ceiling window that it was free of customers.

Pushing open the shop door, the wind chime set off a crisp jingle of “ding-dong.”

“Ma’am, please leave your umbrella by the door!” The shopkeeper frowned at the trail of water droplets left behind by the umbrella.

Clatter—a penny dropped to the floor.

“Oh no, my money!” Meiqin let out a deliberate squeal.

The shopkeeper’s gaze instinctively shifted to the ground. In the next second, he felt a sharp pain at his neck as a figure darted toward him.

With a quick hand strike, Meiqin subdued the shopkeeper, then grabbed a garment to wipe off the rainwater on her body while browsing through the store’s range of clothing. Throughout the sequence, she ensured her face remained unseen.

“Better go for the socialite look. That kind of identity is much more useful in a pinch!” Meiqin ignored the plain attire, instead selecting a noblewoman’s gown.

Three minutes later, clad in full Industrial Era fashion, Meiqin emerged from the boutique carrying a leather suitcase that fit perfectly with the era. Of course, she hadn’t forgotten to help herself to the store’s stash of gold coins on her way out.

“Carriage!” Meiqin stood at the street corner, raised her arm, and elegantly flagged down a carriage, climbing in with poise.

This seamless chain of actions left Chu Baichuan and his group gaping in astonishment. Even several nearby teams couldn’t help but keep glancing at the display screens.

“Meiqin is in the lead!” Lu Fan clenched a fist, visibly excited.

Each team had selected different tactics. Most opted to send mid-tier members for cautious probes, with fewer than five teams deploying heavy hitters to establish an early advantage by eliminating competitors.

The disparity in competence among the mid-tier participants was apparent within minutes of arriving in London. Some hadn’t moved due to indecision or a lack of plans, while others dashed around aimlessly, evidently without a coherent strategy.

Of course, a few bold individuals jumped straight into robbery, though a larger proportion resorted to theft since encountering the police would make escape difficult.

“Being the first to forge ahead doesn’t guarantee safety!” Tang Zheng expressed concern. Taking the lead on the route also meant being the first to encounter potential dangers.

He couldn’t believe that this Death Rally was merely about rushing to destinations. Surely, more challenges lay ahead.

“Why has she gone into an inn?”

A member from a nearby team came over, sat at the Warhammer team’s table, and watched Meiqin’s actions, unable to help but ask questions.

“What’s she trying to do?” With someone taking the lead, several other teams sent members to gather around as well.

“Hey, who invited you over? Scram!” Chu Baichuan clenched his fists, glaring menacingly at the intruders.

“Haha, looks like they’ve truly marked us as a Seed Team now,” Yu Deye said with visible delight, noticing that only about twenty team screens had gathered a full audience.

Though irritated, the Conquerors didn’t leave. Intelligence gathering took precedence over everything else.

“Trojan, aren’t you going to handle this?” Xu Biyun shouted.

“In this round, survivors are permitted to watch freely. You may also choose to observe characters of interest,” the Trojan responded in its usual impassive tone.

“Sir, could you please purchase for me a detailed map of the UK, one of France, and one of Europe? Thank you!” Pang Meiqin tossed down ten pounds after taking the room key from the innkeeper and set it on the counter. “Anything left is your tip!”

“No problem!” The prospect of extra cash made the innkeeper readily agree.

“I’ll come down to pick it up in an hour.” Meiqin lifted her skirt as she ascended the staircase. After a few steps, she paused. “By the way, where’s the nearest casino from here?”

“Wood Street, very easy to find!”

After entering her third-floor room, the Beautiful Leg Stewardess immediately locked the door, stripped off the gown, and changed into a plain outfit. Then she opened the window, leaping out like an agile feline.

During her carriage ride, Meiqin had already confirmed the location of the casino with the driver. Now that she had the same answer, she didn’t hesitate for a moment and headed straight there.

Due to the heavy rain, business at the casino was relatively slow, perfectly easing Meiqin’s movements. Wearing a veiled lady’s hat, she stepped inside. (To be continued. If you like this story, please vote for it at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation! Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)