There was no doubt that the man in the tank before them was the most prestigious "Baron" aboard this "Despair Train."
When he revealed half of his face, Pang Kedo, who had stepped forward in two or three strides, confirmed that he was indeed "Coleman."
"My heavens, Jerry Coleman, it's really you—you've matured so much compared to my memories."
"You can just say I've aged," Baron Coleman in the tank turned slightly to look at Pang Kedo. "Do you think you're still young? Oh, right—you're lucid now but with incomplete memories, so you probably do think you're young."
The chaotic static noise once again transmitted through the carriage's broadcast system.
Listening to Coleman's words, Lin Yu immediately drew a conclusion.
The relationship between Baron Coleman and Pang Kedo was undoubtedly close.
Although Pang Kedo had lost those memories now and treated Coleman merely like a familiar colleague, the teasing tone in Coleman's words made Lin Yu feel that his attitude toward Pang Kedo was at least fundamentally affectionate.
"Alright, old friend, you haven't remembered anything, so catching up is pointless, and this isn't the right occasion for reminiscing anyway... Let me chat more with this lady instead."
Baron Coleman spoke as he turned his gaze back to Lin Yu."Now then, miss... how should I address you?"
"You can call me Zhu Ming," Lin Yu said calmly.
"Miss Zhu Ming," Baron Coleman said, "I'd like to know why you've come."
"Train Ticket," Lin Yu stated concisely. "I need to know how to obtain a 'Train Ticket'—a fast, effective method that will actually get results."
Baron Coleman chuckled softly upon hearing this: "You really are clever, realizing that the 'Ticket Fragments' everyone on this train is scrambling for are the least efficient method."
"After all, it's about collecting 'despair'-type emotions. If they could obtain it through effort alone, wouldn't that be too unfortunate?" Lin Yu said calmly. "And I'm not that clever either."
"Why do you say that?" Coleman asked, looking at Lin Yu.
Lin Yu gave his reply: "Because I thought the 'Ticket Fragments' method was a complete scam."
Coleman, immersed in fluid within the tank, visibly paused for a moment before laughter echoed through the carriage.
"Ha, ha, ha... What an amusing thought."
"Good thing you're not part of Truth Corporation's upper management."
Then, Coleman looked Lin Yu up and down and spoke again.
"No wonder I can't see through your soul. I thought it might be some divine concealment or something... But now it seems it's simply because you yourself cannot be seen through."
"However, business is business."
"You want answers about the 'Train Ticket'—what can you offer me in exchange?"
Lin Yu looked at Baron Coleman and pointed to Pang Kedo beside him.
"Isn't rescuing your friend from madness enough?"
Baron Coleman's gaze in the tank turned profound: "This wasn't something I commissioned."
Lin Yu hadn't really expected to get the answer for free anyway; he was just testing the waters.
So when Baron Coleman refused, he remained composed.
"Very well, Your Lordship. Since you think I'm clever... and you've witnessed my companion's strength, why not commission me?"
"I want the Train Ticket to leave this train—you know how to leave but have never done so, which means you cannot leave here."
"But you must still have things you want to accomplish, right? At the very least, that matter which caused you and Pang Kedo to end up here—you never finished it yourself."
When Lin Yu reached this point, Baron Coleman understood his meaning.
"That matter's value far exceeds the method of obtaining a 'Train Ticket'," Baron Coleman replied.
"Then you can add something else to balance it," Lin Yu said easily. "I certainly don't mind making the transaction more fair."
"I think you've misunderstood me, or perhaps you're deliberately making me spell it out," Coleman said. "You should know what I attempted back then... I wanted to kill the current CEO of Truth Corporation, that monster 'Paris'."
"During my ten years trapped on this train, he has become even more terrifying."
"If you can casually make such a promise, I can only suspect... you have no idea how fearsome he truly is."
As Coleman spoke, Lin Yu stared at him.
"Yes, I don't know much about that CEO Paris. Honestly, although I'm aware of some things about Truth Corporation, my knowledge is limited..."
"But, dear Baron, I don't think you know enough about me either."
Saying this, Lin Yu used his left hand to pull out the identity card belonging to "Vale Valetti."
Coleman glanced at it and then sighed: "No wonder, no wonder... No wonder you could temporarily restore Pang Kedo to normal."
"You actually have that person's identity card... Did you inherit his legacy?"
"In a sense, yes," Lin Yu said calmly. "And I cleaned up the mess that even he couldn't handle."
Coleman exhaled: "Alright, I admit you have some skills. But even so, Paris is still..."
"Look more carefully."
Lin Yu brought the card closer, almost pressing it against the tank's exterior, his sleeve sliding down slightly to reveal his currently slender, pale arm.
Coleman glanced at the identity card but noticed nothing unusual.
However, soon enough, this undoubtedly intelligent baron noticed what Lin Yu truly wanted him to see.
The gray mark slowly revealing itself on the other's wrist.
His pupils contracted sharply, and a stream of bubbles emerged beneath his mask.
The next moment, the baron pressed his index finger against his temple, and a muffled sound came from beneath the tank.
Then, the transparent liquid began to drain at an incredible speed!
In mere moments, the fluid in the tank was completely emptied.
After draining, Baron Coleman landed on the floor and steadied himself as the transparent barrier before him slowly lowered.
The drenched baron removed his mask and lowered his voice.
He spoke in his natural voice for the first time—somewhat hoarse from disuse.
"Miss Zhu Ming, I now believe in your capabilities."
He understood Lin Yu's intention—this mark couldn't even be shown to the companion behind him.
Lin Yu also breathed a sigh of relief.
This guy really knew his stuff.
From the beginning, he hadn't thought that using the "Vale Valetti" connection would impress the baron.
Although as "Pang Kedo's" past gradually surfaced, Lin Yu vaguely felt that "Vale Valetti," despite perhaps only having B-level privileges, might hold a surprisingly high position within Truth Corporation for some reason.
But ultimately, it was still B-level!
While 'Chate's' strength was considerable, that was ultimately an accident caused by perfect circumstances.
To persuade the baron who likely had A-level privileges, he needed a more convincing identity.
So, Lin Yu remembered Vale Valetti from the Snow Mountain dungeon who had recognized his identity.
Therefore, Lin Yu speculated...
Perhaps Baron Coleman could do the same.
And as it turned out, his speculation was correct.
Coleman indeed recognized that the mark on his hand was bestowed by a god.
However...
There was also some bad news—Coleman was a bit too knowledgeable.
"While I no longer doubt your capabilities, I now have some doubts about whether you will truly fulfill your agreement?"