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"I _really_cannot thank you enough for your help, Mr. Cross... I am forever in your debt."

Leon Cross waved his mechanical paw dismissively at the black panther who was dressed up to the neck in stiff, military coat. "Really, it was nothing, Colonel. The worst is behind us, and I think you can sleep well now without anything burdening your mind."

Colonel Achilles Graves nodded, a puff of air appearing as he exhaled. Leon had never seen the colonel looking so relieved and elated during his one week stay in the panther's seaside villa. The colonel certainly looked ten years younger compared to when the detective first met him.

"I wouldn't know what to do without your help, Mr. Cross," said the colonel. "It is most fortunate that you came quickly. If not... well, I would never have known what was going to happen to me. All those plans being made behind my back...."

Leon smiled tiredly, twirling the loose thread of his scarf with his paw fingers. "Your letter itself suggested something was afoot, and so I found myself the need to come here in haste." He said.

It was a stroke of luck that Leon had managed to get to the city of Hieropolis within the week. Travelling by train would take longer, especially with the cold wave that was coming down from the north. Snow would cause ungodly amount of delays. Travelling by air would be the most sensible one, since it was much faster than train, if not the most expensive.

He was lucky that he got ahold of a berth in an airship with a flight path directly from Hesperica to Anatolia before the airfields closed down all flights due to heavy snowfall in the north. However, despite the finely appointed cabins, wide windows that gave impressive view of the sky and the land passing below them, the smooth, uneventful two days of flying was an absolute bore to the detective.

Thankfully, once he arrived at Hieropolis International Airfield, things begun to look interesting. The colonel had already been waiting for him with his chauffeur, and Leon was personally brought to the colonel's seaside estate, which was located right by the western coast of Anatolia, all with the splendid view of the Inner Sea and the beautiful beaches. Along the way, Colonel Graves explained his peculiar case in detail while Leon listened attentively.

After hearing the colonel's explanation first hand, Leon quickly set to work by doing a series of interviews to the household staff and the guests whom the colonel was entertaining. That very week, Leon unveiled an assassination plot involving the colonel's valet, a coded Rosvenian manuscript, and a small, antique blade belonging to the colonel's vast collection of ancient swords and daggers.

The colonel had been immensely relieved and grateful that he gave the detective a rather large sum of money, far more than what was promised in his telegram beforehand. It was certainly more than enough to make Leon able to live very comfortably well into the next year. After all, it wasn't like he could refuse the payment. Especially not from an old friend.

With the matter resolved, Leon decided to spend a few days in the city to get some relaxation and a bit of sightseeing in before he left for Hesperica. As the capital city of Anatolia, Hieropolis was renowned for its allure. A perfect mix of the intrigue of the orient and the fine tastes of the ancient west.

Colonel Graves was only too happy to take him sightseeing the city's famous landmarks and historical sites. Leon couldn't really blame the colonel's enthusiasm. He really enjoyed the panther's good company and also his exuberance. After all, he did save the colonel's life.

On his last day playing the tourist, Graves brought him to see the famous Pearl Temple. It had been an interesting experience for the detective. Leon hadn't thought so many pearls could be used and fitted into one grand place. It had been a rewarding excursion, even if it was a tiring one. Touring the entire temple took the better part of the day, and Leon was ready for a good bath and some sleep when he and the colonel made their way into the hotel where Leon had opted to stay for the past few days.

"Excuse me, Mr. Cross!"

Leon, who was making his way across the hall into the elevator foyer stopped in his tracks and regarded the uniformed bear who had approached him. "Yes? What is it?"

"There's a telegram for you, sir. Just came in." The bear said in his usual polite manner, handing Leon the said letter, pausing a split second to stare in surprise at the paw shaped mechanism that was in place of the cougar's right paw. The bear quickly composed himself and went away with a parting bow the next second.

Used to that kind of reaction by numerous people, Leon ignored the bear and looked at the grey-green envelope. It was addressed to him, sent just a few hours ago. The cougar tore it open and unfolded the letter inside. He blinked and chuckled with a shake of his head as he read the short message.

DEAD END FOR CASE IN BRETONIA = NEED YOUR HELP = MEET YOU TOMORROW ON THE AERION-MERCURIUS EXPRESS = 5 PM AT CENTRAL SAFIRA STATION = YOUR BROTHER GIDEON

"Something the matter?" asked the colonel.

"It's just my brother." Leon answered, folding the telegram back into his pocket. "He's been looking after my office while I'm here. It sounds like he's picked up a case only to run into a dead end, so now he needs my assistance. He's currently on the Mercurius Express to take me back tomorrow."

"Right, your twin brother." Graves nodded. "I remember you telling me that he's terribly impatient."

Leon chuckled. "That he is. And he prefers to do the physical work rather than the thinking. Usually he leaves the solving the puzzles to me while he went of and chase the perpetrators."

"So he's the muscle and you're the brains." The corners of Graves' muzzle quirked.

"Well, I guess so,yes."

"Well, I suppose meeting your brother tomorrow on the train will be most interesting." The panther said with a small smile. "Speaking of which, have you booked a ticket for the train?"

The detective went to nod before he paused. "I guess I'll have to cancel my berth and book a new one." He uttered and quickly headed for the hotel desk, with the colonel following the detective at a slower pace.

"Good evening, sir." Said the uniformed weasel concierge.

"Evening. I would like to ask, what time does the Aerion-Mercurius Express depart tomorrow?"

The concierge hummed thoughtfully. "Usually around five in the afternoon, sir. Would you like to book a compartment on-board?"

"Yes please. Oh, and if you could cancel a berth on the Continental Express, reserved under my name, Leon Cross."

"Very well sir." The concierge nodded, writing it down on a paper. "There should be no problem. How far are you going on the Mercurius Express, sir?"

"To Valmagne-sur-Mer, Gallia."

"First class or second?"

"Second, please." Leon answered, but was suddenly interrupted by the colonel.

"Nonsense!" The black panther exclaimed, startling the weasel. "Put this gentleman into the first class compartment if you please." The panther told the concierge, who opened his mouth, closed it, and nodded.

"Very well sir."

"And the expenses will be borne by me."

"Of course, sir. Wait just a moment," said the weasel before he went to the telephone.

Leon was quickly turned to the colonel. "You know, you really didn't need to do that Graves."

"It's the least I can do for you, my friend." The panther replied with a fond smile. "After all you've done to save my life."

"But I can't--"

The colonel was having none of it.

The feline detective could only concede with a small sigh, sensing that it was an argument which he wouldn't prevail. "Ah well." He said, shaking his head with a smile. "At the very least, let me thank you for your generous hospitality, colonel." The cougar smiled meaningfully.

A small smile grazed Graves' lips. "I would appreciate that." He nodded.

The concierge returned soon after, informing that he had successfully booked a First Class berth on the Mercurius Express, departing at 5 pm sharp tomorrow. Graves then paid the fares with his cheque, and Leon went back to his room briefly to place the souvenirs he had bought today, and then went back down to the lobby, joining the colonel for a dinner in the hotel's restaurant.

"Well then, it would seem I will keep you company until Ansburg." Graves mentioned while they were going through a particularly delicious steak.

Leon blinked in surprise, the fork halfway to his mouth. "Sorry?"

"Oh, right. I never told you." The colonel said apologetically. "As you have deduced when you first arrived at my estate, I was on an extended leave. I will be resuming my duties in Arlemany starting in a few days."

The detective nodded with a hum. "Ah, right. You'll be overseeing that joint military exercise between Arlemany and Bretonia, I take it?"

"Yes, that's correct." Colonel Graves affirmed, sipping his wine. "You will be continuing on the train with your brother to Valmagne, I take?"

Leon nodded in confirmation. "Yes, and then we will board a liner to Bretonia to settle Gideon's case." He said before he sipped his own wine, swirling the glass and then putting it down. "Travelling on a ship in the middle of winter is always such a chore."

It took a moment for the panther to digest what Leon was implying. "Ah, then why not take the air route? Airships are faster and you won't be able to get any seasickness of any kind." He chuckled good-naturedly.

Leon returned the smile somewhat wanly. "I do not have sea sickness, Colonel, and airships tickets are quite expensive." He said, conveniently not mentioning how he had spent two months' worth of savings to get to Anatolia in the first place. "Also, all flights to Bretonia are currently suspended due to constant snowfall." He explained. "You see, my arm doesn't do well in the cold. It tends to creak and the oil will always clog the joints when the temperature drops significantly." He flexed his mechanical arm for emphasize.

Colonel Graves hummed thoughtfully.

"Hmm, was it made by Graystone Biomechanics?"

"Why, yes."

"I highly recommend bionics designed and constructed by Daedalus & Sons. They are simply the best in the field of mechanical prosthetics, even if their prices are quite above the general budget. I guarantee they will be the most satisfactory." Graves said with an air of sincerity that Leon sensed he was speaking from a personal history, so he nodded and replied that he will check their products sometime and they resumed eating.

They continued to talk through dinner, mostly about the colonel's history in the Bretonian military and Leon's work in his private detective agency along with the cases he and his twin brother had solved together. The two felines then made their way back to Leon's room, where the topic of their conversation shifted into something more... intimate.

"So, do you spend the night with your clients often?" Colonel Graves asked with a quirk of his muzzle. The panther was already taking off his jacket.

"Only if they happen to catch my eye and receptive enough." Leon replied with a coy smile as he locked the door behind him. The detective then closed the distance between him and the panther, his paws slowly working on the buttons of Graves' vest.

The panther guided Leon's paw down to his backside once his vest was now unbuttoned. "I guess I'm one of the lucky ones hmm?" He rumbled, looking directly into the cougar's eyes.

"I'd say so, yes."

Graves brushed his muzzle against Leon's. The cougar reciprocated by nuzzling against the panther. Their lips soon met and Leon threw himself into the euphoria of the pleasure, kissing Graves passionately before pulling back, grinning slyly as he wormed his hands down to the panther's groin, undoing the belt.

He could feel the colonel's paws on his body as he pushed the jacket off Leon's shoulders and began to unbutton his shirt. Leon was barely aware that Graves was tugging on his tie, pulling it loose.

Soft moans were exchanged as the two felines nuzzled and feverently released each other from their clothing, which fell into a heap around their ankles. Their malehoods, alert and throbbing for attention, straining in the confinement of their underclothes, were pressed against each other as Graves held Leon close, locking their lips once again in a passionate kiss.

Breathless from the intense making out, Leon ran his paws through Graves' muscular chest, feeling the hard musculature underneath the soft fur.

"It's been awhile since I'm this close with a client." Leon murmured, letting out a soft purr as Graves nuzzled his neck.

"If you're worried, then let me do the work." Graves gave him a small smirk. "Now... I think it's better if we get more comfortable, hmm?"

Leon gestured for the colonel to go ahead, and he quickly found himself being pushed to the bed, with Graves clambering above him. The cougar moaned softly as Graves trailed his tongue over his chest, before he went further down and took a long sniff of Leon's musky privates. He leaned in and carefully lapped at the erect member, now poking out of the soft, furry sheath between Leon's legs.

"G-gods... Graves..." Leon panted as Graves went to suckle his sacks.

"Mmm... still sensitive down there, Cross?" The panther rumbled, dragging his tongue from the base of Leon's length to the barbed tip.

"Mhrmmph..."

The cougar was in bliss as Graves proceeded to engulf his manhood inside his maw. He had forgotten how good the panther was with his tongue. His entire body shuddered from the pleasure alone, moaning as Graves lapped and squeezed his shaft almost lovingly with his maw. Leon let out a breath he hadn't known he had held back when the panther released his shaft.

Graves chuckled, clasping his paw around Leon's throbbing rod. "Got you all excited, hmm?"

"H-heh... just like old times, huh?" Leon gave the panther a breathless smile.

"Old times indeed. Now, do you have something I could use to ease us in?"

"Yes... in my briefcase. It's there along the rubber."

Leon shuffled on the bed, getting himself into a more comfortable position while Graves got himself primed and ready. It didn't take long for the panther to get back on the bed. Leon shuddered when Graves applied the oils to his backside, his deft fingers working their way inside. The way Graves loosened him up was quite sensuous that Leon couldn't help but moan.

"Mmm... I think we're good to go."

"You think?"

Graves flashed the prone detective a toothy grin. "Why don't we find out?" He murmured, lifting the cougar's legs and holding them above his shoulders.

The second Graves pushed into him, Leon hissed and yowled, mainly in pain, as his rear end stretched to accommodate the colonel's girth. The cougar was soon moaning once again as the pain gave away to pleasure while the panther slowly gyrated his hips.

There was naught but deep moans and sounds of labored breath as the two felines consummated their passions. Graves was effectively pinning Leon on the bed with his powerful arms and legs. His fangs grazed against the soft flesh underneath the fur of Leon's neck as he continued to breed the male underneath him.

Leon was utterly lost on the euphoria of the pleasure as Graves drilled deep into him with an almost primal drive. After a few thrusts, the cougar finally adjusted once again with Graves' size and girth which was familiar to him. Leon began to move his hips in tandem with the panther on top of him, driving the feline's shaft deeper into him, eliciting a long, languid and breathless moan from the cougar.

A low rumble rolled from Graves' throat as he increased his own pace, pressing his muzzle against Leon, his tongue lashing out aggressively into the cougar's oral cavity. Leon wasn't remotely aware that Graves' paw had snaked between their bodies and had grab hold of his throbbing manhood until the panther started rubbing it up and down, stimulating him further and further into release.

The moment came not long after, which was marked by the increased intensity of Graves' thrusting and humping. Leon felt as if he was going to be torn as the panther's moans became growls. A loud, whimpering yowl escaped Leon's own lips when Graves clamped his muzzle on his neck with a final thrust. The cougar did not need to see to know that Graves had reached his climax and was pumping his rear end with his seed. The pain of the mating bite and the amount of pleasure drove Leon into his limits as well. With a roar, ropes of his semen were expelled from his erect shaft, soiling both of his and Graves' bodies as they fell into mass of sweaty, musky bodies on top of each other.

Leon blinked when he felt Graves pulling him into another kiss. It was slower and less forceful this time, and for a moment, the cougar was not lying on his bed at the hotel but instead in the Sergeant quarters of Fort Nero in Southern Bretonia decades earlier.

"Oh... I really needed that."

Leon smiled tiredly as he caressed Graves' cheeks with his paw. "You said the same thing last time."

"You'd remember that wouldn't you?" Graves chuckled. "You're still the sharp eyed Private I remember."

"I beg to differ... Sergeant." Leon grinned cheekily, only to yelp when Graves gyrated his hips sharply.

"Be nice, _Private_Cross." The panther chided with a matching grin as he pulled himself out.

Leon moaned softly as Graves went to embrace him and trailed his tongue over the sore, slightly bloody patch on his neck that came from the love bite. He purred as he nuzzled into the panther and slowly drifted off to sleep, feeling a strange sort of satisfaction that he could rekindle a relationship with an old friend, even if it won't be a permanent one.

***** ***** *****

The cougar woke the next morning alone, and feeling particularly sleep deprived. The spot next to him on the bed was empty and warm, and still smelled of Graves. With a hint of disappointment, he thought that the colonel must have left early before he noticed the water running from the adjacent bathroom... and that Graves' clothes was still hung on the hook.

Shaking his head, the cougar pushed himself from the bed, still in the bare and noticed that it was half past nine. He heard the shower dying down, and soon enough, Graves walked out from the door, drying his head with a towel. A bathrobe was tied loosely around his muscular frame.

"Morning," greeted the panther. His green eyes roamed up and down Leon's bare form and smiled. "Sleep well?"

Leon chuckled. "I had a really nice night." He nodded. "All thanks to you.

"Glad you found it enjoyable."

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Who is it?" Leon asked, looking towards the door before he turned back to Graves with a questioning look.

_ _

"Room service, sir!" Came a polite voice from the door.

"Oh, I told them to bring the breakfast up here." Graves said somewhat apologetically. "You might want to wear something." The panther added with a chuckle, nodding at Leon who was still in the buff.

Leon quickly threw on his dressing gown which was discarded haphazardly on the floor from their activities last night. He was just finished tying the sash around his waist when the colonel opened the door.

The waiter gave his usual greetings as he placed the breakfast tray by the table, which sent waves of delectable scent into the room, and quickly left after Leon gave him a small amount of tip.

Graves had opened the lid when Leon joined him by the table. There was two servings of Bretonian breakfast and an envelope addressed to "M. Leon Cross". It was his ticket to the Mercurius Express: a double sleeper first class compartment on the Hieropolis-Valmagne coach.

Leon noted that Graves appeared positively sunny as they ate through their breakfast. The detective could only wonder how his old friend showed no signs of fatigue from their escapade last night. Military men and their unending stamina perhaps, he concluded with amusement.

Around noon, Graves left the hotel to attend to his last duties in his estate, and Leon spent the next hour packing his belongings. He didn't bring much when he came here, but it would appear he would need extra valises to pack the extra merchandise he had happened to buy during his free time.

Half past four in the afternoon, Graves arrived at the hotel to pick Leon, who had just finished checking out with the receptionist, to the train station, much to the cougar's surprise, The panther had even brought his personal jeep, driven by the chauffeur of his estate.

"You really don't have to do all this for me, Colonel." He said somewhat exasperatedly.

"Nonsense! Just think of this as my way to repay you for what you did." Said Graves with a small smile.

Leon thought Graves had done more than enough for him, but didn't voice it out.

The chauffeur drove them directly to Central Safira Station; the largest train station in Anatolia which was also the hub for every single railway that crossed from the corners of the country and beyond. It was a grand building, at least six storeys tall with heavily decorative facade in oriental tastes. Grand arches of the portico welcomed visitors right into the cavernous, marble tiled concourse. Sunlight shone from the intricate leaded glass windows and the expansive glass dome on top of the concourse, filling the entire hall with a shower of colorful lights.

Leon quickly hailed for a porter as Graves and his chauffeur were busy loading down their luggage. After telling the porters which train they would be boarding, he and the colonel made their way through the bustling hall, teeming with travellers from various nations. A huge brass framed board which hung from the ceiling listed the which trains will be arriving and departing, periodically changing with a complicated mechanism of cogs and wires behind the frame. It took no time for Leon to find his train's schedule, as it was the second row from the top.

---

Aerion-Mercurius Express | Destination: Valmagne-sur-Mer | Platform: 12 | Status: ARRIVED | Gate: OPEN | Departing: 17.00 |

"We have ten minutes." Colonel Graves announced as he looked at his pocketwatch. "Come on. The platform's this way." He said, and gestured for the porters to follow them.

The platform was a hubbub of activity, just like the concourse. It was made even noisier with the whistles of various trains coming and going, conductors shouting above the din of the crowd, and the announcements which echoed from the PA systems set on every corner.

"Your attention please. The Aerion-Mercurius Express will be departing at 1600 hours for Agrapolis, Pallas, Laconium, Romus, Milos, Obersthaven, Ansburg, Luciere, and Valmagne-sur-Mer. Passengers with Aerion-Mercurius Express tickets please proceed to platform twelve."

"Ah, there it is!" Colonel Graves declared with a whistle. Leon quickly followed the panther's line of sight and hummed appreciatively.

The Mercurius Express was quite a remarkable sight. It was certainly the largest train Leon had ever seen. The large, black locomotive itself was very imposing, towering far above the crowd, dwarfing other trains berthed on the neighboring platforms.

Several carriages were linked together with the engine. Leon counted there were at least eight as he walked down the length of Platform 12. The cougar still couldn't take his eyes away from the enormous train, which was painted handsomely in black, white and grey.

"Magnificent isn't she?"

"That she is." Leon replied with a nod, taking in the appearance of the sabertooth that had appeared beside him. Looking around, he realized that Graves had went off to the baggage van, giving instructions to the porters as they loaded his enormous luggage into the van.

The sabertooth smiled proudly when Leon turned back to the man. "Armand Förstner. I work

with the Silberfalke Railways."

"Leon Cross." Leon was quick to shake hands with the feline, taking the name card from the sabertooth. "Ah, you're the director I see."

Armand Förstner was a middle aged saber-toothed tiger with twinkling brown eyes, one false saber teeth (made from gold), and generally friendly disposition. He was wrapped in layers of coats and scarves up to the neck in the coldness of the platform.

"Yes." Mr. Förstner nodded. "I usually supervise our trains for each trip. How about you, Mr. Cross."

"Ah, I'm a private investigator."

Förstner's brow rose. "A private investigator!" He exclaimed and laughed. "Well, I dare say it's not everyday I got to meet one."

"Well, it's not everyday I got to meet a director of the line boarding his own train." Leon replied as he glanced to the clock. "Ah, best I go and find my compartment, good day, Mr. Förstner." He added after looking at the time.

"I'm sure we'll meet again on board." Said the sabertooth with a wave before he went to join the small crowd of passengers around the entrance of the sleeper carriages.

"Now where is my coach..." Leon wondered as he looked between the two sleeper carriages before looking down to his ticket and tried to make sense of the small print on his ticket. The only words large enough he could read was his name, his destination, and his class type (First Class).

It was then that Graves came along. A different porter was right at his tail, carrying the luggage which would then be brought to their compartment.

"You know where our carriage is?" The detective asked.

Graves pointed to the conductor who was manning the carriage near the end of the train. "Why don't we ask him first?" He said, making his way to the officer.

The conductor was a uniformed ram with a pair of impressive curled horns. He was currently occupied with a male bull with a thick coat of brown fur when Leon approached. The bull's strong physique was framed in a loose tweed suit.

"Monsieur Kyle Bradford, compartment 9" said the conductor to the bull.

"Thank you." The bull said as a young equine in a more simplified version of the conductor's uniform--the coach attendant--came down from the train and immediately heaved the large trunk which the bull had been carrying. "Hey, careful! I just got that camera equipment fixed!" He called after the horse, who had stumbled as he lifted the trunk into the carriage.

The conductor shook his head and muttered his breath as he watched the bull going after the horse. He looked up when he saw Leon and Graves approaching him, and gave them a polite smile. "Bonsoir messieurs." He said, tipping his hat.

"Bonsoir." Leon said, showing his ticket to the ram. "Can you tell us which sleeping car is ours?"

"Ah, your sleeping car is the Azuré coach, monsieur," said the ram after he inspected Leon and Graves' tickets. "This is the Argenté coach, as you can see." He gestured to the brass plaque spelling out the carriage's name which was located right above the window by the doorway. "The Azuré coach is the first sleeper car on the front, monsieur. Just after the restaurant car."

"Ah, merci." Leon said as the conductor handed them their tickets back.

"Je vous en prie, monsieur."

Weaving back through the crowd, Leon made his way back to the front, stopping just as he was in the right carriage. The conductor of the Azuré coach was a tall, middle aged Malinois, showing polite smiles to every passenger as he directed them to their assigned compartments.

"Welcome, Signor di Firenzi." The conductor said with a small bow to the finely dressed Doberman who had handed him his ticket. "Your compartment is number 10, signore." He added before turning to Leon and the black panther standing close to him.

"Good afternoon, sir. May I see your tickets?"

The conductor looked at Leon's ticket first. "Welcome aboard Mr. Cross." He said amicably. "Your compartment will be number 8. Please enter from the back of the carriage." He gestured to the entrance on the other end of the sleeping car.

Leon nodded at the canine. "Thank you. Ah, right. Did you see anyone named Gideon Cross coming in? He looks just like me." He said, gesturing to himself.

The conductor blinked, tilting his head to the side as he thought. "I'm sorry sir, but I don't think I've seen anyone with the name boarding this coach." He replied with a slight shake of his head. "Perhaps you could ask the other conductors on the other sleeper cars, sir."

"Well, alright. Thank you, er..."

"Dupont, sir." Replied the Malinois with a polite nod. "Pleased to be of service." He said.

Leon nodded but did not head to the other end of the carriage. Instead, he waited for Graves, whose ticket was being inspected by Dupont.

"Colonel Achilles Graves... Let's see..." The conductor consulted his passenger manifest. "Your compartment will be in number 9, colonel. Please enter from the back, sir, and welcome aboard." He replied, still smiling, with a respectful bow to the colonel.

Graves tipped his hat at the Malinois. "Thank you."

"You're welcome sir," said Dupont as he turned to another passenger behind them. "Ah, Herr Adler! Willkommen im Mercurius Express..."

Leon and Graves made their way to the rear of the Azuré coach and climbed on-board. Leon thought that he could make sure that his belongings were secure before he went to find his twin brother's compartment, as quickly as possible

The corridor inside was quite crowded, Leon soon found out. The passengers of the coach were standing in the narrow passageway, looking out of the window to say their goodbyes or simply watching the proceedings. The attendant of the car, a harried looking caracal, was heaving suitcases and trunks from the corridor windows, hauled by the porters on the platform outside.

This hampered Leon somewhat as he tried to get across the corridor and find his compartment. Colonel Graves, with his tall and solid build, was also having quite the trouble navigating through the corridor. Both of them kept bumping and stumbling into other passengers' foot and tail, earning annoyed looks and grunts from others.

The detective breathed a sigh of relieve when he finally arrived at his compartment. It was really spacious, with tasteful lacquered wooden panels, decorated with beautiful marquetry, and fitted with brass fixtures and plush furniture. A large window provided ample natural light into the compartment, making the whole room feel bright.

"This is really nice." He mused to himself, before he turned to the doorway where the coach attendant, a harried looking caracal, had knocked.

"_Herr_Cross... your luggage." The attendant puffed, quickly wiping his brow with a handkerchief before he lugged Leon's carry-ons into the compartment, and were soon hauled up to the luggage rack overhead.

Feeling pity for the young feline, Leon decided to give him a generous tip. He could only chuckle at how the attendant's face brightened and thanked him. Leon had just closed the door behind him when a knock came from the connecting door. Curious, Leon went to open it and came to face Graves' bright grin.

"Now if this is your main reason to insist me travelling on first class, you are far more perverse than I originally thought, Colonel." He shook his head in amusement, folding his arms.

"Well now. You getting the compartment next to mine is nothing but a coincidence." The colonel replied. "But... this does make things much easier." He hummed, stepping closer to the cougar, grinning widely.

"That is, until I, or even you, gets a roommate." Leon said, quirking an eyebrow with a playful grin.

"Now, don't say that. You'll just jinx it."

"Mmm... I think not." Leon replied, pulling the colonel's tie so the panther was forced to look down at him. Their muzzles are almost brushing against each other.

Just as those words left the his mouth however, there was a light thump as a passenger slid the door open. He stopped short and looked at Leon and Graves in surprise.

The newcomer was an arctic fox, quite young for his species, looking like he was in his early twenties. Fresh out of university perhaps, he was dressed loosely in woolen jacket and suit beneath a thick coat. His ivycap was lying somewhat askew on his head, stark white fur poking out from the brim of his hat and shirt, almost as if he had been running all the way into the train. Judging from his shortness of breath, it might as well he had been.

"Oh, pardon me." The canine uttered apologetically, lifting his hat at Leon and the colonel by the connecting door, looking quite unsure of the situation.

Leon quickly pulled himself away from Graves waved his paw in a friendly manner as he turned to face the fox. "Not to worry, you didn't interrupt anything." He lied. "I'm guessing you're my roommate?"

The uncertainty on the newcomer's face lingered for a few seconds. "Er, yes, I think so." He said, studying the two felines before him, before he chuckled. "Roderick Erichsen." He said finally, giving his paw to Leon.

Leon shook the fox's paw, searching the fox's clear blue eyes. Somehow, he felt that the name was quite familiar. "Leon Cross."

Erichsen smiled. "Nice to meet you, sir."

"Likewise." Leon returned the smile and gestured to the panther by the doorway. "This is Colonel Achilles Graves, my friend."

"I see, pleased to meet you Colonel." The fox made to move towards the tall feline, extending his paw.

"Pleased to meet you too." The panther replied amicably, accepting his handshake.

The attendant came into the compartment again a moment later, this time carrying Erichsen's suitcases, which wasn't much compared to Leon's own luggage. The fox traveled pretty light.

Just as the attendant left to attend to other passengers, there was a whistle coming from outside, followed by a long shout from the direction of the engine.

"Sounds like we're off." Erichsen said as he rounded to the window.

There was a another ear-splitting blare of the train's whistle before the carriage gave a sudden jerk as it was pulled forward with the engine. Leon had to grab the doorsill as not to lose his balance, nearly falling into the colonel.

Just as he was looking at the the long, lamp-lit platform which was moving away as the Mercurius Express slowly slid out of the station, Leon finally remembered that his twin brother was waiting for him somewhere within the train.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll go and look for my brother." He said, nodding to Graves who was still standing by the connecting door.

"Very well. I'll keep your roommate company for the time being." The panther said with a small nod.

The detective walked down the length of the corridor and stepped into the second sleeper coach (which he would later learn was named 'Vermeil'). It took him a moment to realize that the carriages were basically color coded. He hadn't realized it until now, but the Azuré carriage had window blinds, carpeting, and seating in various shades of blue and teal, while the Vermeil had entirely crimson and brown hues.

Shaking his head in amusement, he went to approach the conductor who was sitting by his little chair. The uniformed otter introduced himself as Faber and Leon proceeded to inquire about his brother's whereabouts.

Conductor Faber told him that there was indeed a Gideon Cross listed on the passenger manifest, and he went to say that Gideon had boarded the train a few minutes just before they had departed, and that he was occupying compartment 3.

Thanking the conductor, Leon made his way to the compartment, passing several passengers who were out on the corridor or were inside their own compartments.

Leon stopped at the door when he arrived at the compartment marked with a red '3' on a brass plaque. "Gideon? It's me, Leon." He said, knocking on the door.

No reply came.

The cougar knocked on the door again, this time, louder. "Gideon, can I come in?" His brow knitted when he head nothing from inside the compartment, and also when he knocked for the third time, louder. He got a weird look from a Wolverine who had just exited his compartment a few doors down as he practically banged on the door. Leon ignored him and knocked again. Where was his brother?

'Oh, well.' He thought. "Gideon, I'm coming in." He said somewhat louder and turned the handle. It wasn't locked to his confusion, so he could easily open the door. It swung into the compartment instead of sliding into the wall as the First Class compartments.

Leon quickly stepped inside, one paw on the handle, before he stopped short. His brother's face was staring lifelessly back to him from the floor, blood pouring from his mouth and his chest, staining his clothes.

"Gideon!" Leon exclaimed quietly, glancing about the corridor over his shoulder and stepped inside. After locking the door behind him, he took off his jacket and knelt beside his brother's body, taking a long good look. Shaking his head with a sigh, he pressed his finger to the crook of his brother's neck, hummed thoughtfully, and leaned over the body to sniff just right above his brother's open mouth.

Silently, the cougar stood and glanced about the room. Everything seemed to be in order, except perhaps the open window. He leaned his head out and felt cold, dry wind buffeting his face. The train was picking up speed, heading towards the mountains just outside the city.

"Hmm..."

Leon drew back in went to inspect the glass of unfinished champagne and the glass bottle sitting in a basket filled with ice. He sniffed the glass, raised an eyebrow, and turned to look at the body on the floor. With a slow shake of his head, he turned around back to the window, cupping his chin with his mechanical paw, seemingly mulling over the unexpected situation.

He looked so deep in his thoughts that he didn't even bat an eye when there was a heavy thump from behind him, followed by a puff of breath on his neck. Leon did not even flinch even when a bloody paw grasped his neck. Instead, he let out an amused sigh and said, "If you are going to play dead next time Gideon, never move your eyes. They always give it away."

The cougar who was lying dead on the floor not a couple of minutes ago let out a disappointed groan. "Damn... and I thought I could have tricked you this time." He said forlornly.

Leon turned to his not quite dead brother with an amused grin. "Not a chance, dear brother." He said, sitting down by the armchair. It had been an odd sort of game they tend to play, usually when Gideon was feeling impatient waiting for him, or just wanted to prank him on a whim. He had to admit, his twin brother's skills were getting better and better. "Still, it was a great improvement from your last attempt."

Gideon Cross was the younger twin of the Cross brothers. He shared the same basic physical similarities with Leon; identical shade of blue eyes, dark golden fur, and similar markings on their faces. The only difference was their build. Where Leon had a fast, agile swimmer's build, Gideon's participation in the university wrestling team gave him more muscle mass. He was also slightly taller than his older twin brother. The colonel's observation of Gideon being the muscle while Leon being the brains was certainly not quite off the mark.

"So, what else gave me away?" Gideon went to ask.

"Your champagne." Leon answered, watching his brother as he removed his shirt and vest, opening the door to the adjacent washing room to clean the artificial blood from his fur. Although quite identical with the First Class compartment in terms of furnishing, the Second Class compartments were built with a much simpler decor, and was equipped with a small washroom which was shared between the two compartments, instead of a washbasin cabinet for private use.

"Good thinking of making me think it was poisoning by applying a sharp chemical scent on your mouth by the way." He added, moving to stand by the doorway of the washroom. "Unfortunately, it was absent from your drink."

"I could have not been drinking the champagne with I took the 'poison'." Gideon suggested with a small playful grin, turning the tap and began to wash his face.

Leon smiled. "Yes, but the distinctive smell of your Faucon Vintage was quite apparent." He nodded to the bottle by the ice bucket.

Gideon made a noncommittal gesture as he dried his paws. "Ah well." He said, drying his fur with a towel. "I take the case with the colonel went well?" The cougar asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yes. It was quite simple truth to be told." Leon replied with a dismissive wave of his paw, turning his attention back to the compartment and spotted the small, dark, unassuming bottle by a small shelf. He popped off the lid and took a small sniff.

"I see you have perfected that artificial blood solution." He pointed out. "The odor is just right."

"You think so?" Gideon voiced, sounding quite happy as he opened the small wardrobe and took out a fresh pair of vest. "I still think it's too runny."

"Hmm." Leon placed the bottle back onto the shelf. "Anyhow, how was the office while I was away?"

His twin shrugged. "Nothing out of the ordinary. Solved a theft and an insurance scam that turned out to be connected."

"And the situation that you mentioned in your telegram?"

"Ah that." Gideon buttoned up his vest and reached for the thin leather briefcase that was resting by the armrest of the seat and pulled out several papers. "I have the details written down here. As you can see, the client is..."

The two brothers ended up discussing over Gideon's documents and notes for several hours, sharing their thoughts and correcting each other's deductions on the case. None of them even realized that several hours had passed until a melodic ting came from the speakers in the corridor, followed by an announcement which was repeated at least twice.

"Premier service! Le dîner est servi sur la voiture-restaurant!--First service! Dinner is served in the restaurant car!--Erster Service! Das Abendessen wird im Speisewagen serviert!"

"That time already?" Gideon remarked as he turned to look at the window. The sun had already set and the overcast sky looked even darker without the light. "Well, time sure flies. We should get ready."

Leon nodded as he stood up and gathered up the papers and handed the documents back to his twin brother "We should. I'll see you around dinner." He said as he and threw his jacket over his shoulder.

"I'll see you at the restaurant." Gideon answered as Leon left his compartment.

A couple of passengers were already making their way to the dining car up front as Leon made his way back through the corridor and into his own coach. Upon reaching his compartment, Leon found it locked and so he knocked on the door, which was soon opened a few seconds later by Erichsen.

"Oh hello!" The arctic fox looked pleasantly surprised to see him again, Leon noticed as he entered into the room. Graves seemed to have returned to his compartment, judging by how the connecting door was now closed.

"Was your talk with the colonel entertaining?" Asked Leon while he took off his jacket and sat down on the enormous, plush seat.

Erichsen nodded with a smile. "Yes, we talked of a number of things. He just left about an hour ago." He said before he paused, looking at Leon with something akin to a startled look.

"Is that... blood?"

"What?" Surprised, Leon turned to look down on his clothes. His shirt was stained with dark crimson, and he immediately caught a whiff of a faint iron-like scent.

"Oh. It's not blood." He said with a small laugh. It must have caught on his shirt when he checked his brother's 'body'. "It's just a coloring solution my brother had accidentally spilled on me." He replied, waving his paw dismissively. "I guess I have to change now... this won't wash off easily." He added with a small sigh.

Erichsen's expression was something akin of relieve. "Ah, that's an unfortunate accident."

Leon's mouth twitched. "Yes, yes it was." He uttered as he pulled down his suitcase and took a fresh pair of shirt and vest and took off his stained ones. He could feel Erichsen's eyes on his back as he changed, but the fox was quick to look away, a hint of a flush marring his cheeks when he turned to look at his roommate.

Shaking his head in amusement, Leon busied himself to make himself to look presentable. "Well then, let's have dinner." He said, mostly to himself.

Graves was already waiting by the vestibule of the dining car, talking animatedly with Gideon on the latest rugby league tournament. He seemed to be most interested to what Gideon was saying about some underdog team that had made recent headlines. Being an avid fan of the sport, Leon joined in the conversation as the four headed into the dining car.

The dining car was handsomely appointed, with panels of dark mahogany and oak, plush red leather chairs and white silk draped tables. A feathered dragon waiter in a stiff, stark white jacket welcomed them in a thickly accented Breton, directing the four passengers to a large table somewhere in the middle of the dining area. It would seem that most of the tables had been filled with other passengers.

However, instead of joining them, Erichsen excused himself and went over to a white rabbit who had been waving for the fox's attention a few tables down. They must have been friends as Erichsen and the rabbit was quick to exchange pleasantries and was soon exchanging stories and laughing on a joke the rabbit was telling.

Leon found himself sitting beside the colonel while his twin brother took the seat opposite him. After looking at the menu card, Leon told the waiter of his choice of one of the five course meals, which was shared by the colonel, to the waiter while Gideon opted for separate meals.

"I never noticed you took first class accommodation." The other cougar remarked as the waiter left with their orders.

Graves smiled. "I insisted. Your brother saved my life after all."

An eyebrow was raised, and Leon knew Gideon would want to drill him for details when they were alone. Leon waved his paw dismissively at his twin brother and went to observe the passengers who was dining with them.

Two passengers occupied the table on the far end of the dining car. Sitting quite stiffly on his seat was a grey wolf. Well groomed and certainly knowledgeable of how to dress well, the wolf had a certain aristocratic air about him as he spoke to the waiter in a polite and refined manner, if not demanding.

Sitting opposite the wolf with his back to Leon was a great white feathered bird. Only when he turned his head to the waiter Leon identified the bird as a snowy owl. The wolf and the owl were mostly silent, conversing lowly only among themselves. Leon's eyes caught the gold and silver firebird pin on the wolf's tie. Similar shapes appeared on the cufflinks worn by the wolf and the owl.

_ _

'Rosvenian nobility then.' Leon concluded, sipping the red wine which had just been poured by their waiter.

Seated on the larger table across the two Rosvenians sat three gentlemen. A drake was sitting by the window, tall and well made with smooth dark blue scales, polished jet black horns, and a silvery white hair. He was wearing a deceivingly plain looking suit, probably to hide that he was a wealthy man, Leon thought. He could easily see the subtle, intricate patterns on the plain black jacket, and it was certainly tailor made for the drake. Tailor-made suits with subtle patterns weren't exactly cheap, and there were only a few places in the continent who could tailor those. Leon suspected a special tailor shop in Arlemany, as the dragon's jacket was distinctively Arleman in style.

A sparrowhawk was sitting across him, clad in a three piece tweed suit and tie, the kind you won't ever find in cheap clothing stores. Although, he looked almost casually dressed compared to the drake. Probably a businessman or a wealthy trader.

The third occupant was Armand Förstner himself, and he seemed to be really enjoying his dining companions for tonight.

"...and you can't really appreciate good wine until you've been conned with a watered down one." Said the drake in Arleman.

"Indeed." Replied the sparrowhawk. "Now tell me you didn't go along with it? God knows I've had my share of bad deals and con-men..."

Förstner was quick to voice his thoughts. "Con-men are the worst." He said. "To water down a perfectly good liquor is a crime on its own." He added with a laugh.

"Can't disagree with that." The drake replied with a nod.

Moving from the table, Leon's gaze fell on a lone mountain hare with grey-brown fur, and he was dressed practically. Charming, was the first thing that came to Leon's mind as he watched the hare. His mannerisms were certainly smooth, almost like the kind of men who would hunt for pretty ladies in clubs... but something about the hare was quite peculiar. Leon couldn't put his paw on it.

Erichsen and the white rabbit were talking in a more spirited manner while enjoying their food. They spoke of their common friend and their latest excursions. The rabbit seemed to be doing most of the talking, however making animated gestures with his paw as he spoke, occasionally slipping into Gallian.

Erichsen works in journalism, Leon quickly guessed, watching as the fox talked about the article he had been working on about ancient Anatolian and Misaryan temples and ruins. Their conversation slowly shifted to Gallian, too fast for Leon to catch. He did catch a few sentences, however. It would seem that Erichsen had made frequent visits the pyramidal tombs of the ancient Misaryan kings, investigating a shipment of an unknown brand of cigars, and attending the Anatolian Sultan's banquet while interviewing the crown prince.

Leon's observation was momentarily interrupted when Graves nudged his arm.

"Enjoy playing the detective?" Asked the colonel with a hint of a smile.

"It's something I can't help." The cougar replied with a small shrug and focused his attention on his food. It was really delicious, more so than the food in the hotel. "And I'm not 'playing' the detective. It's my job." He added, nodding to Gideon whose sharp green eyes lazily shifted from one point to another. "And I'm not the only one."

Graves shook his head in amusement. "So tell me who've you seen." He said as the waiter came to their table, rolling a tray of delectable soups and fish. The feathered dragon handed Leon his cream of potato soup first before he served Graves' grilled fish and another cream soup for Gideon.

"Two Rosvenian nobles sitting by the far end; an Arleman gentleman, a Bretonian businessman, and the director of the train are sitting opposite them... also we seem to have a Rosvenian who's a frequent traveller." Leon listed once the waiter left. "Then, there is Erichsen and his friend, both seemed to be journalists."

"Ah, interesting." The colonel voiced, slowly cutting his fish.

"I've got two Columbian businessmen... of sorts." Gideon uttered idly. "Seemed to be close friends. Two young women were sitting across them, gossiping about the Columbians' dashing good looks... and also, we have a group of Crezovkians. "

Graves pulled a face. "I see them. I wonder what are those gypsies doing on board this train."

Leon turned around on his chair. Indeed, there were four canines who looked quite out of place. Despite their fine clothing, they looked uncomfortable in their suits--except for the coyote, who was the only one of the group that didn't look uneasy. Leon noted how the other three heads kept glancing around occasionally, giving everyone suspicious looks.

"Well, just ignore them. I think they don't mean any harm." He said to Graves. "After all, anyone who could make enough money could board on any luxury express trains like the Mercurius Express."

The colonel made a sound of assent and drank his wine.

As the dinner went on, a cheerful, young voice fell to Leon's ears when he was just finishing his soup. Glancing over his shoulder, the cougar saw a couple of Norvdallian Forest cats. One was pretty young, could be no more than ten years old. She was talking in animatedly to who could only be her mother, who nodded and smiled patiently while she guided her daughter to the small table right behind Erichsen and his friend.

"...and then Onkel_Hans brought me to see the Baserian river, _mama! It was so cold, but cousin Dedrick and Ramond went swimming! They caught cold the next day though." The girl said.

The mother looked amused as she folded the napkin neatly on her daughter's lap. "Oh? And did Tante Hilda threw a fuss?"

"Very." Her daughter said with a grave nod. "It was quite scary to see her angry and worried at the same time."

"She can be quite scary." The mother agreed with a laugh. "Now don't slouch Adalie, it's bad for you." She added somewhat sternly.

"And we have a strict but caring mother who was picking up her daughter from her relatives in Hieropolis." Graves remarked, watching the mother picking the menu and sharply told her daughter that no, she couldn't have puddings, ice creams, and cakes solely as her dinner. "She highly disliked Anatolian food and was worried about what little Adalie eats while on her sister's care."

Gideon stared. "How on earth did you know that?"

The colonel smiled impishly. "You detectives have your ways, I have mine."

The cougar brothers looked at each other for a split second, before turning back to the colonel. "You overheard them somewhere, didn't you?"

"Ah, take the fun out, will you." Graves made a face.

Gideon chuckled. "Don't feel too bad, Colonel. At least she's a lovely lady. If not a bit too efficient."

"That is true, but I find the company of men much more entertaining." He said with a grin.

"Oh, of course." Gideon said, giving his twin brother a knowing look and a small smirk. "I trust my brother had been a good company?"

The colonel chuckled and eyed Leon. "Oh, indeed he has."

Leon simply gave the panther a meaningful smile before he decided to observe the lone doberman who had came right after the mother and daughter, sitting on the table right next to them. He was the same passenger who boarded right before him and the colonel... Signor di Firenzi, was his name if he recalled correctly.

From his suit and the way he addressed the waiter, Leon quickly concluded that the canine was an Inotrian nobleman, or perhaps a very successful businessman that had rubbed shoulders with the upper circles. After all, there were only a handful of people who could afford an elaborate prosthetic eye piece, which was plated with the finest bronze and glass, like an elaborate art of metal and gears itself. The glowing amber oculus inside the eye piece was a startling contrast to the doberman's natural right eye, which was a shade of a warm brown.

His gaze passed Leon's as he was attended by the feathered dragon waiter, lingering for a few seconds before he focused his attention to the menu card.

As the evening wore on, the plates were quickly cleared and waiters brought out desserts were brought out for the passengers. Just right then, the Mercurius Express began to slow down.

"Le train entre en gare de Hadrinar! Gare de Hadrinar! Quinze minutes d'arrêt!" came the announcement.

The darkness was soon replaced by the dim lights of Hadrinar train station, passing by the windows slowly, before the whole train came to a full stop. Leon couldn't see much of the dimly lit station outside, but he could make out a small crowd gathered on the platform, slowly making their way to the front. Must be the regular coach passengers, he thought.

"Don't lick your spoon like that Adalie." Said the feline mother gently. "It's unbecoming. Come on, let's get you cleaned and ready for the night."

Young Adalie was reluctant to leave, but with her wide yawning and her mother's insistence, she followed her mother but not before hastily scarfing down several slices of apple from her plate.

After the pair of felines was the Rosvenian nobles. Quiet and dignified as they walked past Leon's table. The two of them didn't talk much once their food was served.

Seeing that the passengers had begun to leave, Colonel Graves then stood up and straightened his jacket. "Care to join me in the saloon car? Perhaps a cigar and brandy?" He offered.

"Sure thing." Gideon nodded as he stood and turned to his twin brother.

Leon waved his paw. "I'll catch up with you both later." He said. "Don't wait for me."

With a nod, Graves and Gideon left the dining, and Leon waved for the waiter, whose name was Matteo as he would later learn, and ordered a cup of iced latte.

As the waiter left, the cougar's attention was drawn back to the three gentlemen, who were preparing to leave their table. It sounded like they were now deep in their discussion of their own country's politics as they passed by Leon's table.

A series of light pitter-patter from the window drew Leon's attention away. It would seem that a light drizzle had begun to fall, obscuring most of the view outside. The crowd on the station outside was almost completely gone.

"Here's your caffè latte, sir." Said Matteo, handing him a glass of the iced, caffeinated drink.

"Thank you, Matteo." Leon turned to the dragon with a smile, and began to stir the contents of his drink slowly.

"My pleasure, sir."

Erichsen and his friend decided to depart the restaurant car right then. However, as the arctic fox went straight back to the sleeper carriage, the white rabbit went towards the table Leon was sitting instead.

"Evening. May I join you?"

Leon nodded at the rabbit, gesturing to the chair opposite him. "Be my guest."

The rabbit grinned and sat down. "Thank you." He did not waste with pleasantries it would seem. "Are you really Leon Cross? Private investigator?"

A hacking cough came from Signore di Firenzi's table. Evidently the doberman had choked on his fresh fruit salad.

Leon looked at the canine, who was quickly attended by Matteo, before he turned back to the rabbit with his brows knit. "Yes..." He said slowly. "And, you are?"

The rabbit had a wide, impish smile on his face as he reached into his jacket and pulled out a name card. "Lucien Casseaux. Reporter." He said. Leon glanced down on the card, which read:

LUCIEN SYLVAIN CASSEAUX

La Tribune Métropolitaine

Journaliste d'investigation

Photographe

"Ah, from the Tribune Métropolitaine." Leon nodded with a nod, having read the newspaper during his stay in Gallia. It was pretty informative, although it tends to have the penchance of the dramatics. "To what I owe the pleasure?" He looked back to the rabbit with a slight air of weariness. Investigative journalists tend to not bode well with him.

Casseaux continued to smile. "I was surprised when my friend, Erichsen, told me he's roommates with Hesperica's most famous detective--"

"Well, I wouldn't say famous--" The cougar interjected.

"--the thing is, you are quite well known on these days." Casseaux continued with a laugh. "So, what brought you on the Mercurius Express? Are you in one of your cases? Chasser un criminel à travers le continent?" His grin widened, brown eyes boring down on the cougar with unnerving level interest.

Leon cleared his throat. "...Not exactly." He replied. "I'm simply on my way to Capitolium with my brother."

"Ah, from the scorching hot Anatolian desert and hills to the cold shores of Bretonia." Casseaux said, chuckling, before he stole a glance at his watch. "Eh bien, as much as I'd love to chat, I better get back to my compartment. I hope my roommate hasn't been too bored waiting for me." He said, standing up, before he turned to Leon once again. "He's been quite ill you see."

"Hope he gets well soon." Leon nodded.

"My car's attendant and conductor has been most helpful," said Casseaux. "Ah, right. I think I will be interested in your latest case with the colonel, monsieur_Cross. You do seem particularly close." He added with his impish grin as he gave Leon a parting nod. "_Bonsoir, détective."

Leon merely raised an eyebrow as the rabbit left the restaurant car. He got a feeling that Casseaux is the kind who likes to gather as much as information as possible. Perhaps he should be more careful around the rabbit.

He was jolted out from his musings as a long, loud whistle came from the engine. The entire restaurant car jerked as the train began moving. Glasses, utensils, and china rattled as the Mercurius Express continued it journey northward.

Author's Notes:

This story is a bit of an experiment of me, to see if I can pull off a mystery story set in an alternate steampunk-ish universe. I do love that setting. Anyways, thanks for my friends who had helped me proofread this.

Hope you guys also enjoy your cameos haha!

Looking forward to your feedback! All votes, faves and watches will be hugely appreciated, and it will help others to find these stories to enjoy as well!