When the Whistle Weeps

Excuse me, friends, a moment of your time, if you please.

I can tell at a glance you two aren't the sort to settle for cheap tat. Why not have a look at what I've got here? As it happens, I've access to some of the finest goods Bloomfield Station can offer.

...Right. Had me fooled, those clothes. And with a Lunarian like that at your side, I took you for someone with money. Turns out you work here after all.

My mistake. Sorry for wasting your time.

Oh... oh? And what might this be, then?

Good lord. I've never seen a chequebook that thick.

Mhm! Come on, then, let's see what you've got. We've money to burn. If we felt like it, we could buy the Emperor's crown itself!

Now that's more like it. For customers like you, I'd best bring out the finest piece I've got.

Duh! Do you even know who you're talking to? We're the best Pho...

(...Not here. If he finds out we're Phoxhunters, that'll only complicate things.)

Mmph...!?

Fortune hunters. Big fortunes, little fortunes, we're after the lot.

Ha! Deep pockets and a sense of humour, now those are customers I like dealing with.

Now then, if there's one name everyone at Bloomfield Station knows, it's our very own Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Once you hear how this place rose to prominence, it's hard not to admire the man.

Visitors to Icelake waste their money on posters of opera stars. But people who truly know a thing of value? They know the pieces worth collecting are the ones with Stationmaster Eisenbahn's face on them.

Eisenbahn... yes, I've heard of him.

Have you, now? Even better. Then there are some things here you definitely won't want to miss. It's just... these pieces are rare, and there's always someone after them. So if you don't mind, please follow me, somewhere quieter to talk.

That's tiny. What kind of treasure could even fit in something that small? Let me see.

...Huh? It's empty. Where's the treasure, then?

Whoa! Hey! Give that back!

Yeah, yeah. Here. If this dinky little box is all you've got, whatever was in it was probably nicked ages ago.

Easy there... let me have a look. No bends, no creases... thank goodness. You've no eye for quality, have you? If you'd damaged it, there's no way you could've paid me back for it!

I see. So it's not about what was in it. The pack itself is the collectable. Looks like an old cigarette pack to me, though.

If you're asking collector's prices, you'd best tell us what makes it worth that much. Without a proper explanation, milady won't be interested.

That's right.

Ooh, I know this one! I heard a story like it in Huaxu. Ahem! It goes like this: there was a merchant selling pearls, and one day a buyer came along who liked the box far more than what was inside.

So he bought the whole thing... then handed the pearls back and kept only the box as his precious treasure.

Don't tell me you did the same thing, tossed out the treasure and kept the box?

No, no, nothing of the kind. I know the story too. Fine little tale, that, but this is different. What gives this pack its value isn't what was inside. It's the pack itself.

Yes, it's empty. But look closely at the portrait printed on it, that's Bloomfield Station's own stationmaster, Mr Eisenbahn!

So what? What's so special about a stationmaster? Does driving trains make him better than everyone else?

A stationmaster is not the same as a train driver! Mr Eisenbahn doesn't drive the trains himself, but his name is what keeps this whole station running. If not for him, this railway would never have become Cocytus's lifeline so quickly.

Ten years ago, he came here after leaving frontline service. Back then, he wasn't yet the Stationmaster Eisenbahn everyone knows today.

He may have been a seasoned soldier, but at the station he was a complete nobody. Any railway guard could order him about. "You, go clean the front hall. Now." That was his life back then.

And Bloomfield Station wasn't much to look at back then either, all dusty, train parts strewn all over the place, a proper mess. But Mr Eisenbahn turned it around.

Under his management, the station flourished day by day, and before long everyone was calling him Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Soldiers, merchants, passengers, every last one of them has something to thank him for.

Me included. If this station hadn't prospered under him, I'd never have become a travelling merchant.

We owe him everything, everything! Bloomfield Station is what it is today because of Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Honestly, I just...

All right, mate. No need to get all misty-eyed on us. It's getting weird. Just answer the question, what's any of that got to do with the cigarette pack?

Ah, sorry, got a little carried away. But that's exactly what I was about to explain.

Take a look. This is a commemorative cigarette pack released when Stationmaster Eisenbahn first took up the post here at Bloomfield Station ten years ago. There are only twenty left in all Hyperborea. The Steamwhistle Salon has been fighting tooth and nail to get hold of them.

So it's a limited commemorative piece. No wonder it costs so much. The older it is, the more people will pay.

Exactly! So now you see what sort of trouble your little Luno friend nearly caused.

If this pack had been damaged, it wouldn't just have been my loss, it would've been a loss to the whole Steamwhistle Salon, a loss to all Hyperborea!

(He keeps bringing up the Steamwhistle Salon... Sounds like some sort of club.)

Two hundred silver. What do you say? I usually let these go for two hundred and eighty-eight. If my train weren't about to leave, and I wasn't in a rush to clear my stock, I'd never part with one this cheap. At this price, I'm practically giving it away.

...

(You exchange a glance with Outsider. He seems to have realised something.)

Sounds like a bargain to me. Milady, with a cheque like ours, what's a couple of hundred silver? We may as well buy it.

That's the spirit! A chance like this won't come round twice, I wouldn't let it slip by if I were you.

I'll take it.

Why'd you buy some useless old pack like that...? And you, Outsider, why were you egging her on?

Pipe down, little Luno. Milady must have a good reason for buying it.

Pleasure doing business with you! And since you've been so generous, I'll throw in a few little extras as well.

Nah. I think I'll...

Now, now, my dear patron, no need to be hasty. The price is negotiable. Tell you what, I'll knock off another twelve per cent.

(Hold on... this might have something to do with what I'm here to investigate.)

I'll take it.

Yikes. I can't believe people at Bloomfield Station actually collect cigarette packs with some middle-aged bloke's face on them...

That's not it. Unlike you Lunos, Solarians and Charons aren't all cut from the same cloth. Everyone's got their own tastes. As for why he's so popular... call it star appeal, I suppose.

Still, when something gets priced that high, there's usually someone with real clout and real name recognition behind it. So I'd say Eisenbahn really is a big deal around here, big enough to make people pay extra for ordinary things with his face on them, at least.

Wait... that pedlar said this pack was released ten years ago, when Eisenbahn had only just arrived here as stationmaster?

But ten years ago, he couldn't have had this kind of following yet... Would a tobacco company really have put him on the pack?

Good question. So which is wrong, the date, or the man himself?

Either the pedlar lied, and this pack isn't really from ten years ago... or there was something unusual about Eisenbahn that made a tobacco company push him that hard.

...Then again, maybe it has something to do with the station itself. A place with that much foot traffic has advantages of its own.

I've been to other stations. None of them were this busy. At the end of the day, a stationmaster's only some local official. It's strange for someone like that to have this much of a public profile.

Anyone who goes out of their way to make a name bigger than the place they run is usually after one of two things: vanity or profit. Which do you reckon it is?

Mm... from the way that pedlar talked about him, plenty of people here really do idolise the man. So whatever he's doing, it's working. At this point, it's not just vanity, he's turned it into real influence.

Mm... that pedlar said Eisenbahn's been here ten years. Once people know he's the one running the place, they'll line up soon enough to put money in his pocket.

Either way, we should be careful. Whether he's vain to the bone or the calculating sort, he won't be easy to deal with.

Aw... we spent all that money on a useless bit of cardboard...

It's all right. We're not exactly hard up any more, so you can stop clutching your purse strings. Besides, that two hundred was only a drop in the bucket, we've the cheques, and Vita brought back a tidy sum from Huaxu too, remember?

Well... true. But still! If it sold for that much, there has to be some other secret hidden in it, right? What if it's a treasure map? Maybe if you soak it in water, or hold it over a flame, the real picture will appear!

Or maybe there's a key hidden in some secret compartment? Or if you fold it just right and look at it from another angle, maybe something else will show up?

The moment treasure's involved, you suddenly get twice as clever.

That's it, let's take it apart and find out...

Stop! Don't do that!

Sorry to interrupt. I couldn't help overhearing you discussing what to do with that cigarette pack. Since you don't seem especially attached to it... would you consider selling it to me?

...For how much?

Fifty silver. What do you say?

...

It's not as though this is some mint-condition rarity. Fifty's a fair price. I wouldn't be offering that much if I didn't need it to complete a set.

Fifty silver? I could buy a hundred ice creams with all the toppings for that! ...But hang on. I think we paid more than that. If we sell it for fifty, wouldn't that mean we're losing money?

We paid him two hundred silver... hang on, let me work it out... one fifty, two fifties, three fifties, four fifties...!

Which means we're down three hundred fully loaded ice creams. We got ripped off.

Aaaah! I knew it! I told you from the start that man was a fraud! I knew I was right!

We can't just let this go, Outsider, get him!!

...What am I, your golden retriever?

Still, this may work in our favour. If we catch up with that pedlar, we might be able to squeeze a little more information out of him. I'll be right back.

That tells you plenty. They obviously didn't want anyone seeing what was in that picture.

...Phoxichor is one of Hyperborea's lifelines. The Empire keeps a tight grip on its exports. A shipment that large would need the Imperial Minister of Finance's authorisation. Unless...

...You think Eisenbahn's smuggling Phoxichor?

The Steamwhistle Salon isn't just some harmless little club for bored nobles. And that chairman's up to more than he lets on... As for Toran, I've no idea how much he knows.

If we want to know what Eisenbahn is really up to, we'll have to keep digging.

Snow and I are fine. Nobody's paying us any special attention. You're the one who still has to stay on their good side... Vita, be careful.

If you need anything from me, just say the word.

I've been playing your servant long enough now! Little Minion, you'd better make it up to me later!

H, How could you do this to me? I've always been good to you, Little Minion...

I knew it! My Little Minion's the sweetest!

Need your photo developed? No problem. Just give me a moment.

It's ready. Want to take a look?

Hand the photo to me. I'm the one in charge of this photography event... I'll make sure it gets entered straight into the judging round.

Come back to the Salon tomorrow. They'll announce the winning photograph then, along with the prize.

(Once he'd settled on writing those complaint letters, he seemed to steady himself a little. He was still pale, but less shaken than before... Perhaps that was how he calmed himself down.)

Right here will do. Now, everyone, take a look. This is the treasure I wanted to show you...

Excuse me, friends, a moment of your time, if you please.

I can tell at a glance you two aren't the sort to settle for cheap tat. Why not have a look at what I've got here? As it happens, I've access to some of the finest goods Bloomfield Station can offer.

...Right. Had me fooled, those clothes. And with a Lunarian like that at your side, I took you for someone with money. Turns out you work here after all.

My mistake. Sorry for wasting your time.

Oh... oh? And what might this be, then?

Good lord. I've never seen a chequebook that thick.

Mhm! Come on, then, let's see what you've got. We've money to burn. If we felt like it, we could buy the Emperor's crown itself!

Now that's more like it. For customers like you, I'd best bring out the finest piece I've got.

Duh! Do you even know who you're talking to? We're the best Pho...

(...Not here. If he finds out we're Phoxhunters, that'll only complicate things.)

Mmph...!?

Fortune hunters. Big fortunes, little fortunes, we're after the lot.

Ha! Deep pockets and a sense of humour, now those are customers I like dealing with.

Now then, if there's one name everyone at Bloomfield Station knows, it's our very own Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Once you hear how this place rose to prominence, it's hard not to admire the man.

Visitors to Icelake waste their money on posters of opera stars. But people who truly know a thing of value? They know the pieces worth collecting are the ones with Stationmaster Eisenbahn's face on them.

Eisenbahn... yes, I've heard of him.

Have you, now? Even better. Then there are some things here you definitely won't want to miss. It's just... these pieces are rare, and there's always someone after them. So if you don't mind, please follow me, somewhere quieter to talk.

That's tiny. What kind of treasure could even fit in something that small? Let me see.

...Huh? It's empty. Where's the treasure, then?

Whoa! Hey! Give that back!

Yeah, yeah. Here. If this dinky little box is all you've got, whatever was in it was probably nicked ages ago.

Easy there... let me have a look. No bends, no creases... thank goodness. You've no eye for quality, have you? If you'd damaged it, there's no way you could've paid me back for it!

I see. So it's not about what was in it. The pack itself is the collectable. Looks like an old cigarette pack to me, though.

If you're asking collector's prices, you'd best tell us what makes it worth that much. Without a proper explanation, milady won't be interested.

That's right.

Ooh, I know this one! I heard a story like it in Huaxu. Ahem! It goes like this: there was a merchant selling pearls, and one day a buyer came along who liked the box far more than what was inside.

So he bought the whole thing... then handed the pearls back and kept only the box as his precious treasure.

Don't tell me you did the same thing, tossed out the treasure and kept the box?

No, no, nothing of the kind. I know the story too. Fine little tale, that, but this is different. What gives this pack its value isn't what was inside. It's the pack itself.

Yes, it's empty. But look closely at the portrait printed on it, that's Bloomfield Station's own stationmaster, Mr Eisenbahn!

So what? What's so special about a stationmaster? Does driving trains make him better than everyone else?

A stationmaster is not the same as a train driver! Mr Eisenbahn doesn't drive the trains himself, but his name is what keeps this whole station running. If not for him, this railway would never have become Cocytus's lifeline so quickly.

Ten years ago, he came here after leaving frontline service. Back then, he wasn't yet the Stationmaster Eisenbahn everyone knows today.

He may have been a seasoned soldier, but at the station he was a complete nobody. Any railway guard could order him about. "You, go clean the front hall. Now." That was his life back then.

And Bloomfield Station wasn't much to look at back then either, all dusty, train parts strewn all over the place, a proper mess. But Mr Eisenbahn turned it around.

Under his management, the station flourished day by day, and before long everyone was calling him Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Soldiers, merchants, passengers, every last one of them has something to thank him for.

Me included. If this station hadn't prospered under him, I'd never have become a travelling merchant.

We owe him everything, everything! Bloomfield Station is what it is today because of Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Honestly, I just...

All right, mate. No need to get all misty-eyed on us. It's getting weird. Just answer the question, what's any of that got to do with the cigarette pack?

Ah, sorry, got a little carried away. But that's exactly what I was about to explain.

Take a look. This is a commemorative cigarette pack released when Stationmaster Eisenbahn first took up the post here at Bloomfield Station ten years ago. There are only twenty left in all Hyperborea. The Steamwhistle Salon has been fighting tooth and nail to get hold of them.

So it's a limited commemorative piece. No wonder it costs so much. The older it is, the more people will pay.

Exactly! So now you see what sort of trouble your little Luno friend nearly caused.

If this pack had been damaged, it wouldn't just have been my loss, it would've been a loss to the whole Steamwhistle Salon, a loss to all Hyperborea!

(He keeps bringing up the Steamwhistle Salon... Sounds like some sort of club.)

Two hundred silver. What do you say? I usually let these go for two hundred and eighty-eight. If my train weren't about to leave, and I wasn't in a rush to clear my stock, I'd never part with one this cheap. At this price, I'm practically giving it away.

...

(You exchange a glance with Outsider. He seems to have realised something.)

Sounds like a bargain to me. Milady, with a cheque like ours, what's a couple of hundred silver? We may as well buy it.

That's the spirit! A chance like this won't come round twice, I wouldn't let it slip by if I were you.

I'll take it.

Why'd you buy some useless old pack like that...? And you, Outsider, why were you egging her on?

Pipe down, little Luno. Milady must have a good reason for buying it.

Pleasure doing business with you! And since you've been so generous, I'll throw in a few little extras as well.

Nah. I think I'll...

Now, now, my dear patron, no need to be hasty. The price is negotiable. Tell you what, I'll knock off another twelve per cent.

(Hold on... this might have something to do with what I'm here to investigate.)

I'll take it.

Yikes. I can't believe people at Bloomfield Station actually collect cigarette packs with some middle-aged bloke's face on them...

That's not it. Unlike you Lunos, Solarians and Charons aren't all cut from the same cloth. Everyone's got their own tastes. As for why he's so popular... call it star appeal, I suppose.

Still, when something gets priced that high, there's usually someone with real clout and real name recognition behind it. So I'd say Eisenbahn really is a big deal around here, big enough to make people pay extra for ordinary things with his face on them, at least.

Wait... that pedlar said this pack was released ten years ago, when Eisenbahn had only just arrived here as stationmaster?

But ten years ago, he couldn't have had this kind of following yet... Would a tobacco company really have put him on the pack?

Good question. So which is wrong, the date, or the man himself?

Either the pedlar lied, and this pack isn't really from ten years ago... or there was something unusual about Eisenbahn that made a tobacco company push him that hard.

...Then again, maybe it has something to do with the station itself. A place with that much foot traffic has advantages of its own.

I've been to other stations. None of them were this busy. At the end of the day, a stationmaster's only some local official. It's strange for someone like that to have this much of a public profile.

Anyone who goes out of their way to make a name bigger than the place they run is usually after one of two things: vanity or profit. Which do you reckon it is?

Mm... from the way that pedlar talked about him, plenty of people here really do idolise the man. So whatever he's doing, it's working. At this point, it's not just vanity, he's turned it into real influence.

Mm... that pedlar said Eisenbahn's been here ten years. Once people know he's the one running the place, they'll line up soon enough to put money in his pocket.

Either way, we should be careful. Whether he's vain to the bone or the calculating sort, he won't be easy to deal with.

Aw... we spent all that money on a useless bit of cardboard...

It's all right. We're not exactly hard up any more, so you can stop clutching your purse strings. Besides, that two hundred was only a drop in the bucket, we've the cheques, and Vita brought back a tidy sum from Huaxu too, remember?

Well... true. But still! If it sold for that much, there has to be some other secret hidden in it, right? What if it's a treasure map? Maybe if you soak it in water, or hold it over a flame, the real picture will appear!

Or maybe there's a key hidden in some secret compartment? Or if you fold it just right and look at it from another angle, maybe something else will show up?

The moment treasure's involved, you suddenly get twice as clever.

That's it, let's take it apart and find out...

Stop! Don't do that!

Sorry to interrupt. I couldn't help overhearing you discussing what to do with that cigarette pack. Since you don't seem especially attached to it... would you consider selling it to me?

...For how much?

Fifty silver. What do you say?

...

It's not as though this is some mint-condition rarity. Fifty's a fair price. I wouldn't be offering that much if I didn't need it to complete a set.

Fifty silver? I could buy a hundred ice creams with all the toppings for that! ...But hang on. I think we paid more than that. If we sell it for fifty, wouldn't that mean we're losing money?

We paid him two hundred silver... hang on, let me work it out... one fifty, two fifties, three fifties, four fifties...!

Which means we're down three hundred fully loaded ice creams. We got ripped off.

Aaaah! I knew it! I told you from the start that man was a fraud! I knew I was right!

We can't just let this go, Outsider, get him!!

...What am I, your golden retriever?

Still, this may work in our favour. If we catch up with that pedlar, we might be able to squeeze a little more information out of him. I'll be right back.

Excuse me, friends, a moment of your time, if you please.

I can tell at a glance you two aren't the sort to settle for cheap tat. Why not have a look at what I've got here? As it happens, I've access to some of the finest goods Bloomfield Station can offer.

...Right. Had me fooled, those clothes. And with a Lunarian like that at your side, I took you for someone with money. Turns out you work here after all.

My mistake. Sorry for wasting your time.

Oh... oh? And what might this be, then?

Good lord. I've never seen a chequebook that thick.

Mhm! Come on, then, let's see what you've got. We've money to burn. If we felt like it, we could buy the Emperor's crown itself!

Now that's more like it. For customers like you, I'd best bring out the finest piece I've got.

Duh! Do you even know who you're talking to? We're the best Pho...

(...Not here. If he finds out we're Phoxhunters, that'll only complicate things.)

Mmph...!?

Fortune hunters. Big fortunes, little fortunes, we're after the lot.

Ha! Deep pockets and a sense of humour, now those are customers I like dealing with.

Now then, if there's one name everyone at Bloomfield Station knows, it's our very own Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Once you hear how this place rose to prominence, it's hard not to admire the man.

Visitors to Icelake waste their money on posters of opera stars. But people who truly know a thing of value? They know the pieces worth collecting are the ones with Stationmaster Eisenbahn's face on them.

Eisenbahn... yes, I've heard of him.

Have you, now? Even better. Then there are some things here you definitely won't want to miss. It's just... these pieces are rare, and there's always someone after them. So if you don't mind, please follow me, somewhere quieter to talk.

That's tiny. What kind of treasure could even fit in something that small? Let me see.

...Huh? It's empty. Where's the treasure, then?

Whoa! Hey! Give that back!

Yeah, yeah. Here. If this dinky little box is all you've got, whatever was in it was probably nicked ages ago.

Easy there... let me have a look. No bends, no creases... thank goodness. You've no eye for quality, have you? If you'd damaged it, there's no way you could've paid me back for it!

I see. So it's not about what was in it. The pack itself is the collectable. Looks like an old cigarette pack to me, though.

If you're asking collector's prices, you'd best tell us what makes it worth that much. Without a proper explanation, milady won't be interested.

That's right.

Ooh, I know this one! I heard a story like it in Huaxu. Ahem! It goes like this: there was a merchant selling pearls, and one day a buyer came along who liked the box far more than what was inside.

So he bought the whole thing... then handed the pearls back and kept only the box as his precious treasure.

Don't tell me you did the same thing, tossed out the treasure and kept the box?

No, no, nothing of the kind. I know the story too. Fine little tale, that, but this is different. What gives this pack its value isn't what was inside. It's the pack itself.

Yes, it's empty. But look closely at the portrait printed on it, that's Bloomfield Station's own stationmaster, Mr Eisenbahn!

So what? What's so special about a stationmaster? Does driving trains make him better than everyone else?

A stationmaster is not the same as a train driver! Mr Eisenbahn doesn't drive the trains himself, but his name is what keeps this whole station running. If not for him, this railway would never have become Cocytus's lifeline so quickly.

Ten years ago, he came here after leaving frontline service. Back then, he wasn't yet the Stationmaster Eisenbahn everyone knows today.

He may have been a seasoned soldier, but at the station he was a complete nobody. Any railway guard could order him about. "You, go clean the front hall. Now." That was his life back then.

And Bloomfield Station wasn't much to look at back then either, all dusty, train parts strewn all over the place, a proper mess. But Mr Eisenbahn turned it around.

Under his management, the station flourished day by day, and before long everyone was calling him Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Soldiers, merchants, passengers, every last one of them has something to thank him for.

Me included. If this station hadn't prospered under him, I'd never have become a travelling merchant.

We owe him everything, everything! Bloomfield Station is what it is today because of Stationmaster Eisenbahn. Honestly, I just...

All right, mate. No need to get all misty-eyed on us. It's getting weird. Just answer the question, what's any of that got to do with the cigarette pack?

Ah, sorry, got a little carried away. But that's exactly what I was about to explain.

Take a look. This is a commemorative cigarette pack released when Stationmaster Eisenbahn first took up the post here at Bloomfield Station ten years ago. There are only twenty left in all Hyperborea. The Steamwhistle Salon has been fighting tooth and nail to get hold of them.

So it's a limited commemorative piece. No wonder it costs so much. The older it is, the more people will pay.

Exactly! So now you see what sort of trouble your little Luno friend nearly caused.

If this pack had been damaged, it wouldn't just have been my loss, it would've been a loss to the whole Steamwhistle Salon, a loss to all Hyperborea!

(He keeps bringing up the Steamwhistle Salon... Sounds like some sort of club.)

Two hundred silver. What do you say? I usually let these go for two hundred and eighty-eight. If my train weren't about to leave, and I wasn't in a rush to clear my stock, I'd never part with one this cheap. At this price, I'm practically giving it away.

...

(You exchange a glance with Outsider. He seems to have realised something.)

Sounds like a bargain to me. Milady, with a cheque like ours, what's a couple of hundred silver? We may as well buy it.

That's the spirit! A chance like this won't come round twice, I wouldn't let it slip by if I were you.

I'll take it.

Why'd you buy some useless old pack like that...? And you, Outsider, why were you egging her on?

Pipe down, little Luno. Milady must have a good reason for buying it.

Pleasure doing business with you! And since you've been so generous, I'll throw in a few little extras as well.

Nah. I think I'll...

Now, now, my dear patron, no need to be hasty. The price is negotiable. Tell you what, I'll knock off another twelve per cent.

(Hold on... this might have something to do with what I'm here to investigate.)

I'll take it.

Yikes. I can't believe people at Bloomfield Station actually collect cigarette packs with some middle-aged bloke's face on them...

That's not it. Unlike you Lunos, Solarians and Charons aren't all cut from the same cloth. Everyone's got their own tastes. As for why he's so popular... call it star appeal, I suppose.

Still, when something gets priced that high, there's usually someone with real clout and real name recognition behind it. So I'd say Eisenbahn really is a big deal around here, big enough to make people pay extra for ordinary things with his face on them, at least.

Wait... that pedlar said this pack was released ten years ago, when Eisenbahn had only just arrived here as stationmaster?

But ten years ago, he couldn't have had this kind of following yet... Would a tobacco company really have put him on the pack?

Good question. So which is wrong, the date, or the man himself?

Either the pedlar lied, and this pack isn't really from ten years ago... or there was something unusual about Eisenbahn that made a tobacco company push him that hard.

...Then again, maybe it has something to do with the station itself. A place with that much foot traffic has advantages of its own.

I've been to other stations. None of them were this busy. At the end of the day, a stationmaster's only some local official. It's strange for someone like that to have this much of a public profile.

Anyone who goes out of their way to make a name bigger than the place they run is usually after one of two things: vanity or profit. Which do you reckon it is?

Mm... from the way that pedlar talked about him, plenty of people here really do idolise the man. So whatever he's doing, it's working. At this point, it's not just vanity, he's turned it into real influence.

Mm... that pedlar said Eisenbahn's been here ten years. Once people know he's the one running the place, they'll line up soon enough to put money in his pocket.

Either way, we should be careful. Whether he's vain to the bone or the calculating sort, he won't be easy to deal with.

Aw... we spent all that money on a useless bit of cardboard...

It's all right. We're not exactly hard up any more, so you can stop clutching your purse strings. Besides, that two hundred was only a drop in the bucket, we've the cheques, and Vita brought back a tidy sum from Huaxu too, remember?

Well... true. But still! If it sold for that much, there has to be some other secret hidden in it, right? What if it's a treasure map? Maybe if you soak it in water, or hold it over a flame, the real picture will appear!

Or maybe there's a key hidden in some secret compartment? Or if you fold it just right and look at it from another angle, maybe something else will show up?

The moment treasure's involved, you suddenly get twice as clever.

That's it, let's take it apart and find out...

Stop! Don't do that!

Sorry to interrupt. I couldn't help overhearing you discussing what to do with that cigarette pack. Since you don't seem especially attached to it... would you consider selling it to me?

...For how much?

Fifty silver. What do you say?

...

It's not as though this is some mint-condition rarity. Fifty's a fair price. I wouldn't be offering that much if I didn't need it to complete a set.

Fifty silver? I could buy a hundred ice creams with all the toppings for that! ...But hang on. I think we paid more than that. If we sell it for fifty, wouldn't that mean we're losing money?

We paid him two hundred silver... hang on, let me work it out... one fifty, two fifties, three fifties, four fifties...!

Which means we're down three hundred fully loaded ice creams. We got ripped off.

Aaaah! I knew it! I told you from the start that man was a fraud! I knew I was right!

We can't just let this go, Outsider, get him!!

...What am I, your golden retriever?

Still, this may work in our favour. If we catch up with that pedlar, we might be able to squeeze a little more information out of him. I'll be right back.

Er... what was that all about?

My entourage only just realised I'd paid well over the odds for this pack and was probably taken for a ride. They've gone after the pedlar on my behalf, they can be a little impulsive. If they're quick, they may still catch him.

Honestly, you really ought to keep them in check, or they'll be making a spectacle of themselves wherever they go... Anyway, how much did you pay?

Two hundred silver. The pedlar told me it was a limited release from ten years ago.

Ten years ago? This one isn't from ten years ago, it's from last week. The ones from ten years ago are the truly priceless ones. The entire Steamwhistle Salon had to pool 2,500 silver just to get hold of a single pack.

That's my holy grail. If I ever came across one, I'd pay whatever it took. I'd keep it by my bedside, look at it every day, pray for a little luck... Ah, Stationmaster Eisenbahn, light of my life... would you smile on me?

(...And now he doesn't seem to care that he's making a spectacle of himself.)

...You really do admire Stationmaster Eisenbahn.

Of course I do! We've all come here today for the same reason, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn's appointment... Wait. You're not with the Steamwhistle Salon?

Never heard of it. I'm not a local. This is my first time at Bloomfield Station.

You're from out of town and still paid that kind of price without a second thought? I took you for a fellow collector with money to spare.

You've been had by a flipper. With the tenth anniversary coming up, prices have gone up, yes, but not by that much.

A design like this isn't especially rare, and packs like this are easy enough to find. Usually they go for ten to thirty silver. I'm only willing to offer that much because I need this one to complete a set.

And there'd be no point reporting it to the constables. No one's going to lift a finger over something like this... I'm afraid you'll just have to take the loss.

But he didn't look like a grifter...

I know, I know. These flippers understand Stationmaster Eisenbahn almost as well as we devoted admirers do, otherwise they'd never be able to sell to us. I was duped more than once myself when I first began collecting. Luckily, that stopped once I joined the Steamwhistle Salon.

Which reminds me... would you care to join us as well? The Steamwhistle Salon, that is.

Oh, it's exactly what it sounds like. The Steamwhistle Salon is where Stationmaster Eisenbahn's more refined admirers gather for tea, conversation, and reading.

And the steam whistle, what could be more exquisite? It is the very soul of the railway. Only ladies and gentlemen of taste, breeding, and proper standing are worthy of membership.

Naturally, each of us has our own way of expressing our admiration for Mr Eisenbahn. Some collect his cigarette packs and posters and arrange them in elaborate displays, spread out in radiant lines, like sunbeams from a single source.

Done properly, they can fill an entire room. Walls, floor, ceiling, every surface covered in Mr Eisenbahn's likeness... Ah. The very thought of it makes my heart flutter.

And of course, the numbers matter. We favour certain meaningful totals, 99, 999, and so on.

That's why I wanted your pack. I was putting together one of my own displays. I already had 98 of the same design, and needed just one more. That's why I was willing to pay over the odds to complete it.

If I'd had to go without it, it would have haunted me forever. How fortunate that I ran into you. Mr Eisenbahn must have been watching over me.

...Does the Steamwhistle Salon actually serve any practical purpose?

What do you mean? Showing reverence and admiration for Mr Eisenbahn is the most meaningful purpose there is. What's with that look? I'm serious! There's nothing embarrassing about it.

Anyone willing to pay handsomely for one of Mr Eisenbahn's cigarette packs clearly has excellent taste. The Steamwhistle Salon would be delighted to welcome someone of your discernment.

Stationmaster Eisenbahn? I could talk about him for days and still not be done.

If you're interested, you should join the Steamwhistle Salon. The tenth anniversary of Mr Eisenbahn's appointment is almost here, we simply must do something truly worthy of the occasion... something that might earn us a smile from him!

It's Stationmaster Eisenbahn's kingdom. Without him, it would never have become what it is today.

Before he arrived, it was just a humble station. He came in, took charge, and turned it into somewhere people actually wanted to be, lively, thriving... the sort of place people would gladly give their hearts and souls to!

My entourage hasn't returned yet. I'll think about it once they do.

Of course. Here, this is the Salon's card. The address of our meeting place is on it.

We're bound together by a shared devotion. Once you join the family, you'll find brothers and sisters everywhere...

Oh, and if anyone asks who referred you, do be sure to tell them it was Toran.

...Do you get something for that?

Uh... you're very perceptive. Yes, there is a referral reward. I really, really want that limited-edition poster, so please, do me a favour and tell them I sent you.

My name is Toran. Do keep that in mind!

Aw... we lost him. This is all your fault, Outsider! You were too slow. You really need to work on your stamina!

You're one to talk. Who was it that ran out of steam halfway through, flopped onto the ground, and refused to move? I had to come back for you. That's why we lost him.

Didn't catch the bloke, but don't worry. Judging by his footprints and the way he was breathing, he's just an ordinary flipper. Nothing else worth digging into. What about you? Find anything out?

So... Outsider and I have to pretend to be your entourage? Uh-uh. As the great Demon King, I refuse to sell my dignity for a bit of pocket change!

What about two bits?

Still not enough... no, that's not the point! I mean... in my boundless generosity, I have graciously decided to humour your little scheme. So be honoured, and be grateful!

The Sage of the Pallid Tree, the Phantom Thief of Moon and Stars, the First Sovereign of the Brass Whistle... onward!

(Snow's titles are getting more ridiculous by the minute...)

Let's pay a visit to the Steamwhistle Salon.

Works for me. We leave when you say so.

Waaah... all that money, gone. I'm going to have nightmares about it all night.

Serves you right. And I hope you've learned your lesson, Snow. I heard another house's Luno got dragged off by the Legion for flipping matchboxes. Don't go ending up like her, all right?

What!? I, I'm the great Demon King! I, I'm not scared of the Legion!

Not scared, eh? Bang! Rrraagh!

Aaaagh! Anyone would've screamed if you'd lunged at them like that!

Hahaha!

All set? Then let's move. Snow looks ready too.

Try scaring me again and I'll, I'll... I'll have your title stripped away! Then I'll set my Little Minion on you!

Beg pardon. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Viscount Cavendish of Dismania.

Forgive the interruption, but I happened to overhear the Lunarian mention that this young Charon friend of yours also holds a title. Might I ask, are you one of the Laurelled Charons, or perhaps nobility from elsewhere on the continent?

Um... yes! That's right! I'm Lunowarden, an Incense Warden from Huaxu, and this is my liege. By Hyperborean standards, he'd be... mm... an earl, probably?

Ah, I see. Welcome to the Steamwhistle Salon, honoured guests from a foreign land. Please, make yourselves at ease.

Phew... that was close. He nearly ruined everything. Good thing I'm quick on my feet!

So there really are bluebloods all over this place. We came to the right spot. Trouble is, that also makes it easier to slip up. We'd better watch ourselves.

There you are! Come on, get in. I've been waiting ages.

Oh, one more thing... ahem. About that cigarette pack. Are you still willing to sell it? I only need one more... I must've bought up nearly every loose one left at Bloomfield Station, and the few people who still have one flatly refuse to part with it. So you're my only hope. Please?

If you really want it, then...

That'll be 200 silver.

What? But you said... Fine. Two hundred it is.

Fifty silver, like you said.

Thank you! That's very generous of you. May Mr Eisenbahn watch over every traveller far from home...

Let's not get carried away. And I don't think he's up there just yet.

Right... Yes. Let's get in, then... Though you have brought rather a crowd with you. Are they joining as well? Do they understand the Stationmaster? The Steamwhistle Salon isn't for just anyone.

Milady travels with attendants, naturally. Someone has to see to the little discomforts of the road. What, do you think everyone's as hard up as you, without so much as a servant to their name? For your information, I make 200 silver a month.

...Do you happen to need more attendants? I could be useful. I'd do it for 150.

Oi! No undercutting.

Right. Ever since Stationmaster Eisenbahn took charge of Bloomfield Station, this place has been getting busier and grander by the day. And still, the moment people have a bit of money to spend, off they go chasing opera stars. No taste at all.

Take Violetta. She can sing, certainly, but she can't hold a candle to Mr Eisenbahn. And yet her tickets cost more than his cigarette packs? There are still far too many barbarians in this world who wouldn't know the real treasure if it was right in front of them.

Thank goodness there are still people like you and me. People with real taste. The Steamwhistle Salon will show the world that Mr Eisenbahn deserves to be treasured by everyone. Especially now, with the tenth anniversary celebrations almost here...

Celebrations? That pedlar mentioned the tenth anniversary too...

Yes. It's the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn taking office. A moment like that comes only once in a man's life, doesn't it? Everyone in the Steamwhistle Salon is determined to make it something he'll never forget.

It's the perfect chance to show Mr Eisenbahn what he means to us. If you truly admire someone, you don't hold back. You give him everything you've got!

We're putting on a grand performance in his honour, something the whole city can be part of, onstage and off. According to the script, Mr Eisenbahn himself will appear in the grand finale. And between you and me... it's already begun.

...Already?

Ah... I may have said too much. The chairman told us to keep it quiet for now. Once you've joined properly, you'll understand.

What's the chairman like?

Well, they say he and Mr Eisenbahn go way back. He's been quietly supporting the Stationmaster's work for years.

It was only three years ago that he decided to bring more people into the cause, people willing to support Stationmaster Eisenbahn.

I only joined last year, so I can't speak for the very beginning. But even then, the Salon already had more than a dozen members.

The chairman's never let the Salon's growth go to his head. He's always coming up with new events, always finding ways to keep us supplied with the latest news about Mr Eisenbahn... He's the person I admire second most.

Er... what was that all about?

My entourage only just realised I'd paid well over the odds for this pack and was probably taken for a ride. They've gone after the pedlar on my behalf, they can be a little impulsive. If they're quick, they may still catch him.

Honestly, you really ought to keep them in check, or they'll be making a spectacle of themselves wherever they go... Anyway, how much did you pay?

Two hundred silver. The pedlar told me it was a limited release from ten years ago.

Ten years ago? This one isn't from ten years ago, it's from last week. The ones from ten years ago are the truly priceless ones. The entire Steamwhistle Salon had to pool 2,500 silver just to get hold of a single pack.

That's my holy grail. If I ever came across one, I'd pay whatever it took. I'd keep it by my bedside, look at it every day, pray for a little luck... Ah, Stationmaster Eisenbahn, light of my life... would you smile on me?

(...And now he doesn't seem to care that he's making a spectacle of himself.)

...You really do admire Stationmaster Eisenbahn.

Of course I do! We've all come here today for the same reason, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn's appointment... Wait. You're not with the Steamwhistle Salon?

Never heard of it. I'm not a local. This is my first time at Bloomfield Station.

You're from out of town and still paid that kind of price without a second thought? I took you for a fellow collector with money to spare.

You've been had by a flipper. With the tenth anniversary coming up, prices have gone up, yes, but not by that much.

A design like this isn't especially rare, and packs like this are easy enough to find. Usually they go for ten to thirty silver. I'm only willing to offer that much because I need this one to complete a set.

And there'd be no point reporting it to the constables. No one's going to lift a finger over something like this... I'm afraid you'll just have to take the loss.

But he didn't look like a grifter...

I know, I know. These flippers understand Stationmaster Eisenbahn almost as well as we devoted admirers do, otherwise they'd never be able to sell to us. I was duped more than once myself when I first began collecting. Luckily, that stopped once I joined the Steamwhistle Salon.

Which reminds me... would you care to join us as well? The Steamwhistle Salon, that is.

Oh, it's exactly what it sounds like. The Steamwhistle Salon is where Stationmaster Eisenbahn's more refined admirers gather for tea, conversation, and reading.

And the steam whistle, what could be more exquisite? It is the very soul of the railway. Only ladies and gentlemen of taste, breeding, and proper standing are worthy of membership.

Naturally, each of us has our own way of expressing our admiration for Mr Eisenbahn. Some collect his cigarette packs and posters and arrange them in elaborate displays, spread out in radiant lines, like sunbeams from a single source.

Done properly, they can fill an entire room. Walls, floor, ceiling, every surface covered in Mr Eisenbahn's likeness... Ah. The very thought of it makes my heart flutter.

And of course, the numbers matter. We favour certain meaningful totals, 99, 999, and so on.

That's why I wanted your pack. I was putting together one of my own displays. I already had 98 of the same design, and needed just one more. That's why I was willing to pay over the odds to complete it.

If I'd had to go without it, it would have haunted me forever. How fortunate that I ran into you. Mr Eisenbahn must have been watching over me.

...Does the Steamwhistle Salon actually serve any practical purpose?

What do you mean? Showing reverence and admiration for Mr Eisenbahn is the most meaningful purpose there is. What's with that look? I'm serious! There's nothing embarrassing about it.

Anyone willing to pay handsomely for one of Mr Eisenbahn's cigarette packs clearly has excellent taste. The Steamwhistle Salon would be delighted to welcome someone of your discernment.

Stationmaster Eisenbahn? I could talk about him for days and still not be done.

If you're interested, you should join the Steamwhistle Salon. The tenth anniversary of Mr Eisenbahn's appointment is almost here, we simply must do something truly worthy of the occasion... something that might earn us a smile from him!

It's Stationmaster Eisenbahn's kingdom. Without him, it would never have become what it is today.

Before he arrived, it was just a humble station. He came in, took charge, and turned it into somewhere people actually wanted to be, lively, thriving... the sort of place people would gladly give their hearts and souls to!

My entourage hasn't returned yet. I'll think about it once they do.

Of course. Here, this is the Salon's card. The address of our meeting place is on it.

We're bound together by a shared devotion. Once you join the family, you'll find brothers and sisters everywhere...

Oh, and if anyone asks who referred you, do be sure to tell them it was Toran.

...Do you get something for that?

Uh... you're very perceptive. Yes, there is a referral reward. I really, really want that limited-edition poster, so please, do me a favour and tell them I sent you.

My name is Toran. Do keep that in mind!

Aw... we lost him. This is all your fault, Outsider! You were too slow. You really need to work on your stamina!

You're one to talk. Who was it that ran out of steam halfway through, flopped onto the ground, and refused to move? I had to come back for you. That's why we lost him.

Didn't catch the bloke, but don't worry. Judging by his footprints and the way he was breathing, he's just an ordinary flipper. Nothing else worth digging into. What about you? Find anything out?

So... Outsider and I have to pretend to be your entourage? Uh-uh. As the great Demon King, I refuse to sell my dignity for a bit of pocket change!

What about two bits?

Still not enough... no, that's not the point! I mean... in my boundless generosity, I have graciously decided to humour your little scheme. So be honoured, and be grateful!

The Sage of the Pallid Tree, the Phantom Thief of Moon and Stars, the First Sovereign of the Brass Whistle... onward!

(Snow's titles are getting more ridiculous by the minute...)

Let's pay a visit to the Steamwhistle Salon.

Works for me. We leave when you say so.

Waaah... all that money, gone. I'm going to have nightmares about it all night.

Serves you right. And I hope you've learned your lesson, Snow. I heard another house's Luno got dragged off by the Legion for flipping matchboxes. Don't go ending up like her, all right?

What!? I, I'm the great Demon King! I, I'm not scared of the Legion!

Not scared, eh? Bang! Rrraagh!

Aaaagh! Anyone would've screamed if you'd lunged at them like that!

Hahaha!

All set? Then let's move. Snow looks ready too.

Try scaring me again and I'll, I'll... I'll have your title stripped away! Then I'll set my Little Minion on you!

Beg pardon. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Viscount Cavendish of Dismania.

Forgive the interruption, but I happened to overhear the Lunarian mention that this young Charon friend of yours also holds a title. Might I ask, are you one of the Laurelled Charons, or perhaps nobility from elsewhere on the continent?

Um... yes! That's right! I'm Lunowarden, an Incense Warden from Huaxu, and this is my liege. By Hyperborean standards, he'd be... mm... an earl, probably?

Ah, I see. Welcome to the Steamwhistle Salon, honoured guests from a foreign land. Please, make yourselves at ease.

Phew... that was close. He nearly ruined everything. Good thing I'm quick on my feet!

So there really are bluebloods all over this place. We came to the right spot. Trouble is, that also makes it easier to slip up. We'd better watch ourselves.

There you are! Come on, get in. I've been waiting ages.

Oh, one more thing... ahem. About that cigarette pack. Are you still willing to sell it? I only need one more... I must've bought up nearly every loose one left at Bloomfield Station, and the few people who still have one flatly refuse to part with it. So you're my only hope. Please?

If you really want it, then...

That'll be 200 silver.

What? But you said... Fine. Two hundred it is.

Fifty silver, like you said.

Thank you! That's very generous of you. May Mr Eisenbahn watch over every traveller far from home...

Let's not get carried away. And I don't think he's up there just yet.

Right... Yes. Let's get in, then... Though you have brought rather a crowd with you. Are they joining as well? Do they understand the Stationmaster? The Steamwhistle Salon isn't for just anyone.

Milady travels with attendants, naturally. Someone has to see to the little discomforts of the road. What, do you think everyone's as hard up as you, without so much as a servant to their name? For your information, I make 200 silver a month.

...Do you happen to need more attendants? I could be useful. I'd do it for 150.

Oi! No undercutting.

Right. Ever since Stationmaster Eisenbahn took charge of Bloomfield Station, this place has been getting busier and grander by the day. And still, the moment people have a bit of money to spend, off they go chasing opera stars. No taste at all.

Take Violetta. She can sing, certainly, but she can't hold a candle to Mr Eisenbahn. And yet her tickets cost more than his cigarette packs? There are still far too many barbarians in this world who wouldn't know the real treasure if it was right in front of them.

Thank goodness there are still people like you and me. People with real taste. The Steamwhistle Salon will show the world that Mr Eisenbahn deserves to be treasured by everyone. Especially now, with the tenth anniversary celebrations almost here...

Celebrations? That pedlar mentioned the tenth anniversary too...

Yes. It's the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn taking office. A moment like that comes only once in a man's life, doesn't it? Everyone in the Steamwhistle Salon is determined to make it something he'll never forget.

It's the perfect chance to show Mr Eisenbahn what he means to us. If you truly admire someone, you don't hold back. You give him everything you've got!

We're putting on a grand performance in his honour, something the whole city can be part of, onstage and off. According to the script, Mr Eisenbahn himself will appear in the grand finale. And between you and me... it's already begun.

...Already?

Ah... I may have said too much. The chairman told us to keep it quiet for now. Once you've joined properly, you'll understand.

What's the chairman like?

Well, they say he and Mr Eisenbahn go way back. He's been quietly supporting the Stationmaster's work for years.

It was only three years ago that he decided to bring more people into the cause, people willing to support Stationmaster Eisenbahn.

I only joined last year, so I can't speak for the very beginning. But even then, the Salon already had more than a dozen members.

The chairman's never let the Salon's growth go to his head. He's always coming up with new events, always finding ways to keep us supplied with the latest news about Mr Eisenbahn... He's the person I admire second most.

Er... what was that all about?

My entourage only just realised I'd paid well over the odds for this pack and was probably taken for a ride. They've gone after the pedlar on my behalf, they can be a little impulsive. If they're quick, they may still catch him.

Honestly, you really ought to keep them in check, or they'll be making a spectacle of themselves wherever they go... Anyway, how much did you pay?

Two hundred silver. The pedlar told me it was a limited release from ten years ago.

Ten years ago? This one isn't from ten years ago, it's from last week. The ones from ten years ago are the truly priceless ones. The entire Steamwhistle Salon had to pool 2,500 silver just to get hold of a single pack.

That's my holy grail. If I ever came across one, I'd pay whatever it took. I'd keep it by my bedside, look at it every day, pray for a little luck... Ah, Stationmaster Eisenbahn, light of my life... would you smile on me?

(...And now he doesn't seem to care that he's making a spectacle of himself.)

...You really do admire Stationmaster Eisenbahn.

Of course I do! We've all come here today for the same reason, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn's appointment... Wait. You're not with the Steamwhistle Salon?

Never heard of it. I'm not a local. This is my first time at Bloomfield Station.

You're from out of town and still paid that kind of price without a second thought? I took you for a fellow collector with money to spare.

You've been had by a flipper. With the tenth anniversary coming up, prices have gone up, yes, but not by that much.

A design like this isn't especially rare, and packs like this are easy enough to find. Usually they go for ten to thirty silver. I'm only willing to offer that much because I need this one to complete a set.

And there'd be no point reporting it to the constables. No one's going to lift a finger over something like this... I'm afraid you'll just have to take the loss.

But he didn't look like a grifter...

I know, I know. These flippers understand Stationmaster Eisenbahn almost as well as we devoted admirers do, otherwise they'd never be able to sell to us. I was duped more than once myself when I first began collecting. Luckily, that stopped once I joined the Steamwhistle Salon.

Which reminds me... would you care to join us as well? The Steamwhistle Salon, that is.

Oh, it's exactly what it sounds like. The Steamwhistle Salon is where Stationmaster Eisenbahn's more refined admirers gather for tea, conversation, and reading.

And the steam whistle, what could be more exquisite? It is the very soul of the railway. Only ladies and gentlemen of taste, breeding, and proper standing are worthy of membership.

Naturally, each of us has our own way of expressing our admiration for Mr Eisenbahn. Some collect his cigarette packs and posters and arrange them in elaborate displays, spread out in radiant lines, like sunbeams from a single source.

Done properly, they can fill an entire room. Walls, floor, ceiling, every surface covered in Mr Eisenbahn's likeness... Ah. The very thought of it makes my heart flutter.

And of course, the numbers matter. We favour certain meaningful totals, 99, 999, and so on.

That's why I wanted your pack. I was putting together one of my own displays. I already had 98 of the same design, and needed just one more. That's why I was willing to pay over the odds to complete it.

If I'd had to go without it, it would have haunted me forever. How fortunate that I ran into you. Mr Eisenbahn must have been watching over me.

...Does the Steamwhistle Salon actually serve any practical purpose?

What do you mean? Showing reverence and admiration for Mr Eisenbahn is the most meaningful purpose there is. What's with that look? I'm serious! There's nothing embarrassing about it.

Anyone willing to pay handsomely for one of Mr Eisenbahn's cigarette packs clearly has excellent taste. The Steamwhistle Salon would be delighted to welcome someone of your discernment.

Stationmaster Eisenbahn? I could talk about him for days and still not be done.

If you're interested, you should join the Steamwhistle Salon. The tenth anniversary of Mr Eisenbahn's appointment is almost here, we simply must do something truly worthy of the occasion... something that might earn us a smile from him!

It's Stationmaster Eisenbahn's kingdom. Without him, it would never have become what it is today.

Before he arrived, it was just a humble station. He came in, took charge, and turned it into somewhere people actually wanted to be, lively, thriving... the sort of place people would gladly give their hearts and souls to!

My entourage hasn't returned yet. I'll think about it once they do.

Of course. Here, this is the Salon's card. The address of our meeting place is on it.

We're bound together by a shared devotion. Once you join the family, you'll find brothers and sisters everywhere...

Oh, and if anyone asks who referred you, do be sure to tell them it was Toran.

...Do you get something for that?

Uh... you're very perceptive. Yes, there is a referral reward. I really, really want that limited-edition poster, so please, do me a favour and tell them I sent you.

My name is Toran. Do keep that in mind!

Aw... we lost him. This is all your fault, Outsider! You were too slow. You really need to work on your stamina!

You're one to talk. Who was it that ran out of steam halfway through, flopped onto the ground, and refused to move? I had to come back for you. That's why we lost him.

Didn't catch the bloke, but don't worry. Judging by his footprints and the way he was breathing, he's just an ordinary flipper. Nothing else worth digging into. What about you? Find anything out?

So... Outsider and I have to pretend to be your entourage? Uh-uh. As the great Demon King, I refuse to sell my dignity for a bit of pocket change!

What about two bits?

Still not enough... no, that's not the point! I mean... in my boundless generosity, I have graciously decided to humour your little scheme. So be honoured, and be grateful!

The Sage of the Pallid Tree, the Phantom Thief of Moon and Stars, the First Sovereign of the Brass Whistle... onward!

(Snow's titles are getting more ridiculous by the minute...)

Let's pay a visit to the Steamwhistle Salon.

Works for me. We leave when you say so.

Waaah... all that money, gone. I'm going to have nightmares about it all night.

Serves you right. And I hope you've learned your lesson, Snow. I heard another house's Luno got dragged off by the Legion for flipping matchboxes. Don't go ending up like her, all right?

What!? I, I'm the great Demon King! I, I'm not scared of the Legion!

Not scared, eh? Bang! Rrraagh!

Aaaagh! Anyone would've screamed if you'd lunged at them like that!

Hahaha!

All set? Then let's move. Snow looks ready too.

Try scaring me again and I'll, I'll... I'll have your title stripped away! Then I'll set my Little Minion on you!

Beg pardon. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Viscount Cavendish of Dismania.

Forgive the interruption, but I happened to overhear the Lunarian mention that this young Charon friend of yours also holds a title. Might I ask, are you one of the Laurelled Charons, or perhaps nobility from elsewhere on the continent?

Um... yes! That's right! I'm Lunowarden, an Incense Warden from Huaxu, and this is my liege. By Hyperborean standards, he'd be... mm... an earl, probably?

Ah, I see. Welcome to the Steamwhistle Salon, honoured guests from a foreign land. Please, make yourselves at ease.

Phew... that was close. He nearly ruined everything. Good thing I'm quick on my feet!

So there really are bluebloods all over this place. We came to the right spot. Trouble is, that also makes it easier to slip up. We'd better watch ourselves.

There you are! Come on, get in. I've been waiting ages.

Oh, one more thing... ahem. About that cigarette pack. Are you still willing to sell it? I only need one more... I must've bought up nearly every loose one left at Bloomfield Station, and the few people who still have one flatly refuse to part with it. So you're my only hope. Please?

If you really want it, then...

That'll be 200 silver.

What? But you said... Fine. Two hundred it is.

Fifty silver, like you said.

Thank you! That's very generous of you. May Mr Eisenbahn watch over every traveller far from home...

Let's not get carried away. And I don't think he's up there just yet.

Right... Yes. Let's get in, then... Though you have brought rather a crowd with you. Are they joining as well? Do they understand the Stationmaster? The Steamwhistle Salon isn't for just anyone.

Milady travels with attendants, naturally. Someone has to see to the little discomforts of the road. What, do you think everyone's as hard up as you, without so much as a servant to their name? For your information, I make 200 silver a month.

...Do you happen to need more attendants? I could be useful. I'd do it for 150.

Oi! No undercutting.

Right. Ever since Stationmaster Eisenbahn took charge of Bloomfield Station, this place has been getting busier and grander by the day. And still, the moment people have a bit of money to spend, off they go chasing opera stars. No taste at all.

Take Violetta. She can sing, certainly, but she can't hold a candle to Mr Eisenbahn. And yet her tickets cost more than his cigarette packs? There are still far too many barbarians in this world who wouldn't know the real treasure if it was right in front of them.

Thank goodness there are still people like you and me. People with real taste. The Steamwhistle Salon will show the world that Mr Eisenbahn deserves to be treasured by everyone. Especially now, with the tenth anniversary celebrations almost here...

Celebrations? That pedlar mentioned the tenth anniversary too...

Yes. It's the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn taking office. A moment like that comes only once in a man's life, doesn't it? Everyone in the Steamwhistle Salon is determined to make it something he'll never forget.

It's the perfect chance to show Mr Eisenbahn what he means to us. If you truly admire someone, you don't hold back. You give him everything you've got!

We're putting on a grand performance in his honour, something the whole city can be part of, onstage and off. According to the script, Mr Eisenbahn himself will appear in the grand finale. And between you and me... it's already begun.

...Already?

Ah... I may have said too much. The chairman told us to keep it quiet for now. Once you've joined properly, you'll understand.

What's the chairman like?

Well, they say he and Mr Eisenbahn go way back. He's been quietly supporting the Stationmaster's work for years.

It was only three years ago that he decided to bring more people into the cause, people willing to support Stationmaster Eisenbahn.

I only joined last year, so I can't speak for the very beginning. But even then, the Salon already had more than a dozen members.

The chairman's never let the Salon's growth go to his head. He's always coming up with new events, always finding ways to keep us supplied with the latest news about Mr Eisenbahn... He's the person I admire second most.

Needless to say, the person I admire most is Mr Eisenbahn himself...

The chairman's usually terribly busy, so he's not often at the Salon... Let me see... oh! He actually is here today.

Sir!

Toran. Quite a few new faces with you today, I see. You must really have your eye on that referral reward.

I didn't realise she would be bringing servants too...

Now, now, let's not put it like that. Anyone who sincerely admires Stationmaster Eisenbahn is welcome here. Race, rank, background... none of that matters in this Salon. Once you step through those doors, you're one of us. Even attendants are welcome here.

Y, You're right, sir. Of course.

My name is Seaton. I founded the Steamwhistle Salon, and for the time being I serve as its chairman. And you are?

I'm Vita. These two are Outsider and Snow.

This young Charon gentleman with the unusual horns looks quite capable. The sort who'd be good to have around. And this Lunarian... now that is rare. I don't believe I've ever seen one with horns before.

In any case, welcome. We have a few gifts for new members. Toran can take you to collect them later, since he was the one who brought you in.

There are gifts for us? What kind of gifts?

Hand mirrors, writing paper, and a small collection of photographs of Mr Eisenbahn put together by our members. There's tea and a few refreshments as well, so do help yourselves.

We don't often see Lunarians among the Stationmaster's admirers, so... you may take two.

Really? Thank you so much! All hail Stationmaster Eisenbahn~

Well, that's generous.

We're currently busy preparing for the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn's appointment, and we're also running a photograph collection for the occasion. If you'd like to contribute, speak to Toran. He's handling it.

I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you in Toran's hands.

Yes, sir!

I'll be damned. This place gives me the creeps. A bunch of grown men mooning over another bloke like this... it makes my skin crawl.

Even Violetta's fans aren't this far gone. What exactly are they playing at?

Don't you worry, Little Minion! With me on your side, first prize is practically ours!

Why? Because I'm amazing, obviously!

Any questions? Do you need me to explain how the event works?

The chairman's already chosen the spot. It's only about a ten-minute walk from here. Just remember to bring your camera.

In a few days, it'll be the tenth anniversary of the Stationmaster's appointment. The chosen photograph will be used on the posters and handbills for the celebrations. There's a small cash prize too... though I doubt that would mean much to someone as wealthy as you.

Stationmaster Eisenbahn, obviously! The one and only star of the whole affair, the heart of it all, the pride and glory of Bloomfield Station! Our eyes, and our cameras, are meant for him, and him alone!

The chairman told me this event will count as your initiation. If you pass, you and your two attendants may all join the Salon.

If you're ready, we can set off.

Good. Then let's go. The chairman's already chosen the location. All we need to do is get there and take the picture.

This is the place... whew. How are none of you even out of breath? Isn't your gear heavy?

Our camera's fairly small.

Ah... a fancy one, then. That figures. The pricier models are usually the smaller ones, aren't they? Must be nice. Give me a moment to set mine up, then I'll show you what to do.

Pick a spot and get set up in the meantime. It's a bit cramped here, so mind your framing.

Sneaking around like this makes me feel like some tabloid photographer... And it's hardly a scenic spot. Why choose this place?

The chairman tipped us off personally. The Stationmaster's expected to pass through here today. It's exactly the sort of information only people in the Salon get access to. People outside would give anything for a lead like this, so I'd say we're lucky. Besides, the scenery doesn't matter. The man does.

This is the only place you'll catch him in the thick of it, hard at work. That's what matters. If I could capture even a glimpse of the Stationmaster in all his glory, I wouldn't care if I had to lie in the mud to do it.

...This place is awfully tucked away. Are we really going to get a decent shot from here?

A slightly blurred shot has its charm too, don't you think? It gives the picture a sense of movement. Makes it feel alive, as if the Stationmaster might step right out of it!

(He really is fanatical... Though I suppose there's something admirable about that.)

Milady's film doesn't come cheap, mind you. So this had better be worth it.

The winning photograph will be used for the tenth-anniversary posters, and the photographer will be credited. There'll be copyright fees, and a few other perks besides. Don't worry. The Steamwhistle Salon knows how to look after people who do good work.

You haven't done much photography before, have you? Just remember the Sunny 16 rule and you'll do well enough. Go on, then. Give it a try.

Like this?

Your settings are fine, but the composition's... well. Never mind. Watch me take one and you'll see.

Look. Your shot doesn't know what it's trying to be. The balance is off, the frame feels cluttered, and your focus is all wrong. That train on the left is stealing attention from the real subject.

What you want is to use the lines in the frame to lead the eye towards the subject. And here, with the tracks, the carriages, and all those lovely straight lines, half the work's already done for you.

Once everything's in the right place, the eye goes exactly where you want it to, and the point of the photograph becomes obvious. For instance, the one I just took is...

Is... wait...!!

Stationmaster Eisenbahn!?

Good heavens... it's really him! I've waited here many times before and never once caught sight of him, and now... of all times, he's here... Quick, quick, take the picture! Damn these shaking hands of mine! Not now!

Hand it over.

H, Hand what over...?

The camera.

Oh... oh. Right. Here.

S, Sir... what are you doing?

Can't you tell? I'm destroying the evidence for your own good. Count yourself lucky. On another day, it wouldn't have been the camera getting smashed. It would've been you.

Don't take pictures of things you're not supposed to see. Understand? Unless you've got a death wish, learn when to mind your own business.

Now beat it. This area is off-limits to travellers.

...What am I supposed to do now...?

I'm terribly sorry. I'm afraid our tutorial will have to end here. Is your camera all right?

Mine's fine. I hid it before they came. But I'm done. I can't risk losing my camera over this. I hope you understand.

That's a pity... Still, have your photographs developed and bring them to me, all right?

But how could Stationmaster Eisenbahn's own guards behave like that? To serve a man so gracious, so refined, and still act so coarse, so brutish... Wait. Could they have been following his orders?

No... no, that's impossible. Mr Eisenbahn is the very image of grace and good breeding. He'd never give an order like that. I must have looked so suspicious that I brought it on myself. I only hope I didn't frighten him...

Yes, that must be it. That soldier must have acted on his own. He's going to drag the Stationmaster's good name through the mud... How dare he! If I'd been the one serving under him, I'd never have behaved so disgracefully. I'll file a complaint, ten complaints, twenty if I must. I'll report him for dereliction of duty!

(Toran stood there muttering over the shattered remains of his camera. This wasn't just admiration any more. There was something deeply unsettling about it.)

(And it wasn't just him. Most of the people in the Steamwhistle Salon were gripped by the same disturbing mania. That chairman... what exactly had he been leading them towards? And why?)

Right... I'll pass these on to the judging panel. Come back to the Salon tomorrow. They'll announce the winning photograph then, along with the prize.

(Once he'd settled on writing those complaint letters, he seemed to steady himself a little. He was still pale, but less shaken than before... Perhaps that was how he calmed himself down.)

There you are! I never thought your photograph would win first place...

You really kept quiet about that, didn't you? I'd no idea you had it in you.

Wow!!! Did I hear that right? Little Minion, we won! Come on, where's the prize?

...I won?

Yes. I know I said before that the subject didn't read clearly enough in your frame, that it wasn't much of a shot. But the chairman said it "had a story to tell", and chose it himself.

Go and look. He liked it so much he said he wanted a word with you in private afterwards... Ah, I'm so jealous.

Where is he now?

Not here at the moment. The second he saw the photograph, he grabbed a duplicate and rushed off to have posters printed.

You can wait for him here, though. He should be back soon. The photo display's over there, go and have a look.

(So it really was the photograph I took that day... I'd better take a closer look.)

(It looks like someone's touched it up. The image is clearer now, and you can just make out the side of Eisenbahn's face.)

(In the photograph, a freight train is pulling in... The doors aren't fully shut. There's something stacked inside, giving off a faint blue glow...)

(Those look like... blue canisters.)

You can see what's wrong here too, can't you? There's no way that photo should've won first prize.

Those blue canisters... ring any bells? We've seen that sort of thing before, back in Icelake.

...Phoxichor?

And the man standing opposite Eisenbahn... he doesn't look Hyperborean.

You said the guards smashed Toran's camera, right?

That's right.

Needless to say, the person I admire most is Mr Eisenbahn himself...

The chairman's usually terribly busy, so he's not often at the Salon... Let me see... oh! He actually is here today.

Sir!

Toran. Quite a few new faces with you today, I see. You must really have your eye on that referral reward.

I didn't realise she would be bringing servants too...

Now, now, let's not put it like that. Anyone who sincerely admires Stationmaster Eisenbahn is welcome here. Race, rank, background... none of that matters in this Salon. Once you step through those doors, you're one of us. Even attendants are welcome here.

Y, You're right, sir. Of course.

My name is Seaton. I founded the Steamwhistle Salon, and for the time being I serve as its chairman. And you are?

I'm Vita. These two are Outsider and Snow.

This young Charon gentleman with the unusual horns looks quite capable. The sort who'd be good to have around. And this Lunarian... now that is rare. I don't believe I've ever seen one with horns before.

In any case, welcome. We have a few gifts for new members. Toran can take you to collect them later, since he was the one who brought you in.

There are gifts for us? What kind of gifts?

Hand mirrors, writing paper, and a small collection of photographs of Mr Eisenbahn put together by our members. There's tea and a few refreshments as well, so do help yourselves.

We don't often see Lunarians among the Stationmaster's admirers, so... you may take two.

Really? Thank you so much! All hail Stationmaster Eisenbahn~

Well, that's generous.

We're currently busy preparing for the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn's appointment, and we're also running a photograph collection for the occasion. If you'd like to contribute, speak to Toran. He's handling it.

I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you in Toran's hands.

Yes, sir!

I'll be damned. This place gives me the creeps. A bunch of grown men mooning over another bloke like this... it makes my skin crawl.

Even Violetta's fans aren't this far gone. What exactly are they playing at?

Don't you worry, Little Minion! With me on your side, first prize is practically ours!

Why? Because I'm amazing, obviously!

Any questions? Do you need me to explain how the event works?

The chairman's already chosen the spot. It's only about a ten-minute walk from here. Just remember to bring your camera.

In a few days, it'll be the tenth anniversary of the Stationmaster's appointment. The chosen photograph will be used on the posters and handbills for the celebrations. There's a small cash prize too... though I doubt that would mean much to someone as wealthy as you.

Stationmaster Eisenbahn, obviously! The one and only star of the whole affair, the heart of it all, the pride and glory of Bloomfield Station! Our eyes, and our cameras, are meant for him, and him alone!

The chairman told me this event will count as your initiation. If you pass, you and your two attendants may all join the Salon.

If you're ready, we can set off.

Good. Then let's go. The chairman's already chosen the location. All we need to do is get there and take the picture.

This is the place... whew. How are none of you even out of breath? Isn't your gear heavy?

Our camera's fairly small.

Ah... a fancy one, then. That figures. The pricier models are usually the smaller ones, aren't they? Must be nice. Give me a moment to set mine up, then I'll show you what to do.

Pick a spot and get set up in the meantime. It's a bit cramped here, so mind your framing.

Sneaking around like this makes me feel like some tabloid photographer... And it's hardly a scenic spot. Why choose this place?

The chairman tipped us off personally. The Stationmaster's expected to pass through here today. It's exactly the sort of information only people in the Salon get access to. People outside would give anything for a lead like this, so I'd say we're lucky. Besides, the scenery doesn't matter. The man does.

This is the only place you'll catch him in the thick of it, hard at work. That's what matters. If I could capture even a glimpse of the Stationmaster in all his glory, I wouldn't care if I had to lie in the mud to do it.

...This place is awfully tucked away. Are we really going to get a decent shot from here?

A slightly blurred shot has its charm too, don't you think? It gives the picture a sense of movement. Makes it feel alive, as if the Stationmaster might step right out of it!

(He really is fanatical... Though I suppose there's something admirable about that.)

Milady's film doesn't come cheap, mind you. So this had better be worth it.

The winning photograph will be used for the tenth-anniversary posters, and the photographer will be credited. There'll be copyright fees, and a few other perks besides. Don't worry. The Steamwhistle Salon knows how to look after people who do good work.

You haven't done much photography before, have you? Just remember the Sunny 16 rule and you'll do well enough. Go on, then. Give it a try.

Like this?

Your settings are fine, but the composition's... well. Never mind. Watch me take one and you'll see.

Look. Your shot doesn't know what it's trying to be. The balance is off, the frame feels cluttered, and your focus is all wrong. That train on the left is stealing attention from the real subject.

What you want is to use the lines in the frame to lead the eye towards the subject. And here, with the tracks, the carriages, and all those lovely straight lines, half the work's already done for you.

Once everything's in the right place, the eye goes exactly where you want it to, and the point of the photograph becomes obvious. For instance, the one I just took is...

Is... wait...!!

Stationmaster Eisenbahn!?

Good heavens... it's really him! I've waited here many times before and never once caught sight of him, and now... of all times, he's here... Quick, quick, take the picture! Damn these shaking hands of mine! Not now!

Hand it over.

H, Hand what over...?

The camera.

Oh... oh. Right. Here.

S, Sir... what are you doing?

Can't you tell? I'm destroying the evidence for your own good. Count yourself lucky. On another day, it wouldn't have been the camera getting smashed. It would've been you.

Don't take pictures of things you're not supposed to see. Understand? Unless you've got a death wish, learn when to mind your own business.

Now beat it. This area is off-limits to travellers.

...What am I supposed to do now...?

I'm terribly sorry. I'm afraid our tutorial will have to end here. Is your camera all right?

Mine's fine. I hid it before they came. But I'm done. I can't risk losing my camera over this. I hope you understand.

That's a pity... Still, have your photographs developed and bring them to me, all right?

But how could Stationmaster Eisenbahn's own guards behave like that? To serve a man so gracious, so refined, and still act so coarse, so brutish... Wait. Could they have been following his orders?

No... no, that's impossible. Mr Eisenbahn is the very image of grace and good breeding. He'd never give an order like that. I must have looked so suspicious that I brought it on myself. I only hope I didn't frighten him...

Yes, that must be it. That soldier must have acted on his own. He's going to drag the Stationmaster's good name through the mud... How dare he! If I'd been the one serving under him, I'd never have behaved so disgracefully. I'll file a complaint, ten complaints, twenty if I must. I'll report him for dereliction of duty!

(Toran stood there muttering over the shattered remains of his camera. This wasn't just admiration any more. There was something deeply unsettling about it.)

(And it wasn't just him. Most of the people in the Steamwhistle Salon were gripped by the same disturbing mania. That chairman... what exactly had he been leading them towards? And why?)

Right... I'll pass these on to the judging panel. Come back to the Salon tomorrow. They'll announce the winning photograph then, along with the prize.

(Once he'd settled on writing those complaint letters, he seemed to steady himself a little. He was still pale, but less shaken than before... Perhaps that was how he calmed himself down.)

There you are! I never thought your photograph would win first place...

You really kept quiet about that, didn't you? I'd no idea you had it in you.

Wow!!! Did I hear that right? Little Minion, we won! Come on, where's the prize?

...I won?

Yes. I know I said before that the subject didn't read clearly enough in your frame, that it wasn't much of a shot. But the chairman said it "had a story to tell", and chose it himself.

Go and look. He liked it so much he said he wanted a word with you in private afterwards... Ah, I'm so jealous.

Where is he now?

Not here at the moment. The second he saw the photograph, he grabbed a duplicate and rushed off to have posters printed.

You can wait for him here, though. He should be back soon. The photo display's over there, go and have a look.

(So it really was the photograph I took that day... I'd better take a closer look.)

(It looks like someone's touched it up. The image is clearer now, and you can just make out the side of Eisenbahn's face.)

(In the photograph, a freight train is pulling in... The doors aren't fully shut. There's something stacked inside, giving off a faint blue glow...)

(Those look like... blue canisters.)

You can see what's wrong here too, can't you? There's no way that photo should've won first prize.

Those blue canisters... ring any bells? We've seen that sort of thing before, back in Icelake.

...Phoxichor?

And the man standing opposite Eisenbahn... he doesn't look Hyperborean.

You said the guards smashed Toran's camera, right?

That's right.

Needless to say, the person I admire most is Mr Eisenbahn himself...

The chairman's usually terribly busy, so he's not often at the Salon... Let me see... oh! He actually is here today.

Sir!

Toran. Quite a few new faces with you today, I see. You must really have your eye on that referral reward.

I didn't realise she would be bringing servants too...

Now, now, let's not put it like that. Anyone who sincerely admires Stationmaster Eisenbahn is welcome here. Race, rank, background... none of that matters in this Salon. Once you step through those doors, you're one of us. Even attendants are welcome here.

Y, You're right, sir. Of course.

My name is Seaton. I founded the Steamwhistle Salon, and for the time being I serve as its chairman. And you are?

I'm Vita. These two are Outsider and Snow.

This young Charon gentleman with the unusual horns looks quite capable. The sort who'd be good to have around. And this Lunarian... now that is rare. I don't believe I've ever seen one with horns before.

In any case, welcome. We have a few gifts for new members. Toran can take you to collect them later, since he was the one who brought you in.

There are gifts for us? What kind of gifts?

Hand mirrors, writing paper, and a small collection of photographs of Mr Eisenbahn put together by our members. There's tea and a few refreshments as well, so do help yourselves.

We don't often see Lunarians among the Stationmaster's admirers, so... you may take two.

Really? Thank you so much! All hail Stationmaster Eisenbahn~

Well, that's generous.

We're currently busy preparing for the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn's appointment, and we're also running a photograph collection for the occasion. If you'd like to contribute, speak to Toran. He's handling it.

I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you in Toran's hands.

Yes, sir!

I'll be damned. This place gives me the creeps. A bunch of grown men mooning over another bloke like this... it makes my skin crawl.

Even Violetta's fans aren't this far gone. What exactly are they playing at?

Don't you worry, Little Minion! With me on your side, first prize is practically ours!

Why? Because I'm amazing, obviously!

Any questions? Do you need me to explain how the event works?

The chairman's already chosen the spot. It's only about a ten-minute walk from here. Just remember to bring your camera.

In a few days, it'll be the tenth anniversary of the Stationmaster's appointment. The chosen photograph will be used on the posters and handbills for the celebrations. There's a small cash prize too... though I doubt that would mean much to someone as wealthy as you.

Stationmaster Eisenbahn, obviously! The one and only star of the whole affair, the heart of it all, the pride and glory of Bloomfield Station! Our eyes, and our cameras, are meant for him, and him alone!

The chairman told me this event will count as your initiation. If you pass, you and your two attendants may all join the Salon.

If you're ready, we can set off.

Good. Then let's go. The chairman's already chosen the location. All we need to do is get there and take the picture.

This is the place... whew. How are none of you even out of breath? Isn't your gear heavy?

Our camera's fairly small.

Ah... a fancy one, then. That figures. The pricier models are usually the smaller ones, aren't they? Must be nice. Give me a moment to set mine up, then I'll show you what to do.

Pick a spot and get set up in the meantime. It's a bit cramped here, so mind your framing.

Sneaking around like this makes me feel like some tabloid photographer... And it's hardly a scenic spot. Why choose this place?

The chairman tipped us off personally. The Stationmaster's expected to pass through here today. It's exactly the sort of information only people in the Salon get access to. People outside would give anything for a lead like this, so I'd say we're lucky. Besides, the scenery doesn't matter. The man does.

This is the only place you'll catch him in the thick of it, hard at work. That's what matters. If I could capture even a glimpse of the Stationmaster in all his glory, I wouldn't care if I had to lie in the mud to do it.

...This place is awfully tucked away. Are we really going to get a decent shot from here?

A slightly blurred shot has its charm too, don't you think? It gives the picture a sense of movement. Makes it feel alive, as if the Stationmaster might step right out of it!

(He really is fanatical... Though I suppose there's something admirable about that.)

Milady's film doesn't come cheap, mind you. So this had better be worth it.

The winning photograph will be used for the tenth-anniversary posters, and the photographer will be credited. There'll be copyright fees, and a few other perks besides. Don't worry. The Steamwhistle Salon knows how to look after people who do good work.

You haven't done much photography before, have you? Just remember the Sunny 16 rule and you'll do well enough. Go on, then. Give it a try.

Like this?

Your settings are fine, but the composition's... well. Never mind. Watch me take one and you'll see.

Look. Your shot doesn't know what it's trying to be. The balance is off, the frame feels cluttered, and your focus is all wrong. That train on the left is stealing attention from the real subject.

What you want is to use the lines in the frame to lead the eye towards the subject. And here, with the tracks, the carriages, and all those lovely straight lines, half the work's already done for you.

Once everything's in the right place, the eye goes exactly where you want it to, and the point of the photograph becomes obvious. For instance, the one I just took is...

Is... wait...!!

Stationmaster Eisenbahn!?

Good heavens... it's really him! I've waited here many times before and never once caught sight of him, and now... of all times, he's here... Quick, quick, take the picture! Damn these shaking hands of mine! Not now!

Hand it over.

H, Hand what over...?

The camera.

Oh... oh. Right. Here.

S, Sir... what are you doing?

Can't you tell? I'm destroying the evidence for your own good. Count yourself lucky. On another day, it wouldn't have been the camera getting smashed. It would've been you.

Don't take pictures of things you're not supposed to see. Understand? Unless you've got a death wish, learn when to mind your own business.

Now beat it. This area is off-limits to travellers.

...What am I supposed to do now...?

I'm terribly sorry. I'm afraid our tutorial will have to end here. Is your camera all right?

Mine's fine. I hid it before they came. But I'm done. I can't risk losing my camera over this. I hope you understand.

That's a pity... Still, have your photographs developed and bring them to me, all right?

But how could Stationmaster Eisenbahn's own guards behave like that? To serve a man so gracious, so refined, and still act so coarse, so brutish... Wait. Could they have been following his orders?

No... no, that's impossible. Mr Eisenbahn is the very image of grace and good breeding. He'd never give an order like that. I must have looked so suspicious that I brought it on myself. I only hope I didn't frighten him...

Yes, that must be it. That soldier must have acted on his own. He's going to drag the Stationmaster's good name through the mud... How dare he! If I'd been the one serving under him, I'd never have behaved so disgracefully. I'll file a complaint, ten complaints, twenty if I must. I'll report him for dereliction of duty!

(Toran stood there muttering over the shattered remains of his camera. This wasn't just admiration any more. There was something deeply unsettling about it.)

(And it wasn't just him. Most of the people in the Steamwhistle Salon were gripped by the same disturbing mania. That chairman... what exactly had he been leading them towards? And why?)

Right... I'll pass these on to the judging panel. Come back to the Salon tomorrow. They'll announce the winning photograph then, along with the prize.

(Once he'd settled on writing those complaint letters, he seemed to steady himself a little. He was still pale, but less shaken than before... Perhaps that was how he calmed himself down.)

There you are! I never thought your photograph would win first place...

You really kept quiet about that, didn't you? I'd no idea you had it in you.

Wow!!! Did I hear that right? Little Minion, we won! Come on, where's the prize?

...I won?

Yes. I know I said before that the subject didn't read clearly enough in your frame, that it wasn't much of a shot. But the chairman said it "had a story to tell", and chose it himself.

Go and look. He liked it so much he said he wanted a word with you in private afterwards... Ah, I'm so jealous.

Where is he now?

Not here at the moment. The second he saw the photograph, he grabbed a duplicate and rushed off to have posters printed.

You can wait for him here, though. He should be back soon. The photo display's over there, go and have a look.

(So it really was the photograph I took that day... I'd better take a closer look.)

(It looks like someone's touched it up. The image is clearer now, and you can just make out the side of Eisenbahn's face.)

(In the photograph, a freight train is pulling in... The doors aren't fully shut. There's something stacked inside, giving off a faint blue glow...)

(Those look like... blue canisters.)

You can see what's wrong here too, can't you? There's no way that photo should've won first prize.

Those blue canisters... ring any bells? We've seen that sort of thing before, back in Icelake.

...Phoxichor?

And the man standing opposite Eisenbahn... he doesn't look Hyperborean.

You said the guards smashed Toran's camera, right?

That's right.

That tells you plenty. They obviously didn't want anyone seeing what was in that picture.

...Phoxichor is one of Hyperborea's lifelines. The Empire keeps a tight grip on its exports. A shipment that large would need the Imperial Minister of Finance's authorisation. Unless...

...You think Eisenbahn's smuggling Phoxichor?

The Steamwhistle Salon isn't just some harmless little club for bored nobles. And that chairman's up to more than he lets on... As for Toran, I've no idea how much he knows.

If we want to know what Eisenbahn is really up to, we'll have to keep digging.

Snow and I are fine. Nobody's paying us any special attention. You're the one who still has to stay on their good side... Vita, be careful.

If you need anything from me, just say the word.

I've been playing your servant long enough now! Little Minion, you'd better make it up to me later!

H, How could you do this to me? I've always been good to you, Little Minion...

I knew it! My Little Minion's the sweetest!

Need your photo developed? No problem. Just give me a moment.

It's ready. Want to take a look?

Hand the photo to me. I'm the one in charge of this photography event... I'll make sure it gets entered straight into the judging round.

Come back to the Salon tomorrow. They'll announce the winning photograph then, along with the prize.

(Once he'd settled on writing those complaint letters, he seemed to steady himself a little. He was still pale, but less shaken than before... Perhaps that was how he calmed himself down.)

Right here will do. Now, everyone, take a look. This is the treasure I wanted to show you...

Needless to say, the person I admire most is Mr Eisenbahn himself...

The chairman's usually terribly busy, so he's not often at the Salon... Let me see... oh! He actually is here today.

Sir!

Toran. Quite a few new faces with you today, I see. You must really have your eye on that referral reward.

I didn't realise she would be bringing servants too...

Now, now, let's not put it like that. Anyone who sincerely admires Stationmaster Eisenbahn is welcome here. Race, rank, background... none of that matters in this Salon. Once you step through those doors, you're one of us. Even attendants are welcome here.

Y, You're right, sir. Of course.

My name is Seaton. I founded the Steamwhistle Salon, and for the time being I serve as its chairman. And you are?

I'm Vita. These two are Outsider and Snow.

This young Charon gentleman with the unusual horns looks quite capable. The sort who'd be good to have around. And this Lunarian... now that is rare. I don't believe I've ever seen one with horns before.

In any case, welcome. We have a few gifts for new members. Toran can take you to collect them later, since he was the one who brought you in.

There are gifts for us? What kind of gifts?

Hand mirrors, writing paper, and a small collection of photographs of Mr Eisenbahn put together by our members. There's tea and a few refreshments as well, so do help yourselves.

We don't often see Lunarians among the Stationmaster's admirers, so... you may take two.

Really? Thank you so much! All hail Stationmaster Eisenbahn~

Well, that's generous.

We're currently busy preparing for the tenth anniversary of Stationmaster Eisenbahn's appointment, and we're also running a photograph collection for the occasion. If you'd like to contribute, speak to Toran. He's handling it.

I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you in Toran's hands.

Yes, sir!

I'll be damned. This place gives me the creeps. A bunch of grown men mooning over another bloke like this... it makes my skin crawl.

Even Violetta's fans aren't this far gone. What exactly are they playing at?

Don't you worry, Little Minion! With me on your side, first prize is practically ours!

Why? Because I'm amazing, obviously!

Any questions? Do you need me to explain how the event works?

The chairman's already chosen the spot. It's only about a ten-minute walk from here. Just remember to bring your camera.

In a few days, it'll be the tenth anniversary of the Stationmaster's appointment. The chosen photograph will be used on the posters and handbills for the celebrations. There's a small cash prize too... though I doubt that would mean much to someone as wealthy as you.

Stationmaster Eisenbahn, obviously! The one and only star of the whole affair, the heart of it all, the pride and glory of Bloomfield Station! Our eyes, and our cameras, are meant for him, and him alone!

The chairman told me this event will count as your initiation. If you pass, you and your two attendants may all join the Salon.

If you're ready, we can set off.

Good. Then let's go. The chairman's already chosen the location. All we need to do is get there and take the picture.

This is the place... whew. How are none of you even out of breath? Isn't your gear heavy?

Our camera's fairly small.

Ah... a fancy one, then. That figures. The pricier models are usually the smaller ones, aren't they? Must be nice. Give me a moment to set mine up, then I'll show you what to do.

Pick a spot and get set up in the meantime. It's a bit cramped here, so mind your framing.

Sneaking around like this makes me feel like some tabloid photographer... And it's hardly a scenic spot. Why choose this place?

The chairman tipped us off personally. The Stationmaster's expected to pass through here today. It's exactly the sort of information only people in the Salon get access to. People outside would give anything for a lead like this, so I'd say we're lucky. Besides, the scenery doesn't matter. The man does.

This is the only place you'll catch him in the thick of it, hard at work. That's what matters. If I could capture even a glimpse of the Stationmaster in all his glory, I wouldn't care if I had to lie in the mud to do it.

...This place is awfully tucked away. Are we really going to get a decent shot from here?

A slightly blurred shot has its charm too, don't you think? It gives the picture a sense of movement. Makes it feel alive, as if the Stationmaster might step right out of it!

(He really is fanatical... Though I suppose there's something admirable about that.)

Milady's film doesn't come cheap, mind you. So this had better be worth it.

The winning photograph will be used for the tenth-anniversary posters, and the photographer will be credited. There'll be copyright fees, and a few other perks besides. Don't worry. The Steamwhistle Salon knows how to look after people who do good work.

You haven't done much photography before, have you? Just remember the Sunny 16 rule and you'll do well enough. Go on, then. Give it a try.

Like this?

Your settings are fine, but the composition's... well. Never mind. Watch me take one and you'll see.

Look. Your shot doesn't know what it's trying to be. The balance is off, the frame feels cluttered, and your focus is all wrong. That train on the left is stealing attention from the real subject.

What you want is to use the lines in the frame to lead the eye towards the subject. And here, with the tracks, the carriages, and all those lovely straight lines, half the work's already done for you.

Once everything's in the right place, the eye goes exactly where you want it to, and the point of the photograph becomes obvious. For instance, the one I just took is...

Is... wait...!!

Stationmaster Eisenbahn!?

Good heavens... it's really him! I've waited here many times before and never once caught sight of him, and now... of all times, he's here... Quick, quick, take the picture! Damn these shaking hands of mine! Not now!

Hand it over.

H, Hand what over...?

The camera.

Oh... oh. Right. Here.

S, Sir... what are you doing?

Can't you tell? I'm destroying the evidence for your own good. Count yourself lucky. On another day, it wouldn't have been the camera getting smashed. It would've been you.

Don't take pictures of things you're not supposed to see. Understand? Unless you've got a death wish, learn when to mind your own business.

Now beat it. This area is off-limits to travellers.

...What am I supposed to do now...?

I'm terribly sorry. I'm afraid our tutorial will have to end here. Is your camera all right?

Mine's fine. I hid it before they came. But I'm done. I can't risk losing my camera over this. I hope you understand.

That's a pity... Still, have your photographs developed and bring them to me, all right?

But how could Stationmaster Eisenbahn's own guards behave like that? To serve a man so gracious, so refined, and still act so coarse, so brutish... Wait. Could they have been following his orders?

No... no, that's impossible. Mr Eisenbahn is the very image of grace and good breeding. He'd never give an order like that. I must have looked so suspicious that I brought it on myself. I only hope I didn't frighten him...

Yes, that must be it. That soldier must have acted on his own. He's going to drag the Stationmaster's good name through the mud... How dare he! If I'd been the one serving under him, I'd never have behaved so disgracefully. I'll file a complaint, ten complaints, twenty if I must. I'll report him for dereliction of duty!

(Toran stood there muttering over the shattered remains of his camera. This wasn't just admiration any more. There was something deeply unsettling about it.)

(And it wasn't just him. Most of the people in the Steamwhistle Salon were gripped by the same disturbing mania. That chairman... what exactly had he been leading them towards? And why?)

Right... I'll pass these on to the judging panel. Come back to the Salon tomorrow. They'll announce the winning photograph then, along with the prize.

(Once he'd settled on writing those complaint letters, he seemed to steady himself a little. He was still pale, but less shaken than before... Perhaps that was how he calmed himself down.)

There you are! I never thought your photograph would win first place...

You really kept quiet about that, didn't you? I'd no idea you had it in you.

Wow!!! Did I hear that right? Little Minion, we won! Come on, where's the prize?

...I won?

Yes. I know I said before that the subject didn't read clearly enough in your frame, that it wasn't much of a shot. But the chairman said it "had a story to tell", and chose it himself.

Go and look. He liked it so much he said he wanted a word with you in private afterwards... Ah, I'm so jealous.

Where is he now?

Not here at the moment. The second he saw the photograph, he grabbed a duplicate and rushed off to have posters printed.

You can wait for him here, though. He should be back soon. The photo display's over there, go and have a look.

(So it really was the photograph I took that day... I'd better take a closer look.)

(It looks like someone's touched it up. The image is clearer now, and you can just make out the side of Eisenbahn's face.)

(In the photograph, a freight train is pulling in... The doors aren't fully shut. There's something stacked inside, giving off a faint blue glow...)

(Those look like... blue canisters.)

You can see what's wrong here too, can't you? There's no way that photo should've won first prize.

Those blue canisters... ring any bells? We've seen that sort of thing before, back in Icelake.

...Phoxichor?

And the man standing opposite Eisenbahn... he doesn't look Hyperborean.

You said the guards smashed Toran's camera, right?

That's right.

That tells you plenty. They obviously didn't want anyone seeing what was in that picture.

...Phoxichor is one of Hyperborea's lifelines. The Empire keeps a tight grip on its exports. A shipment that large would need the Imperial Minister of Finance's authorisation. Unless...

...You think Eisenbahn's smuggling Phoxichor?

The Steamwhistle Salon isn't just some harmless little club for bored nobles. And that chairman's up to more than he lets on... As for Toran, I've no idea how much he knows.

If we want to know what Eisenbahn is really up to, we'll have to keep digging.

Snow and I are fine. Nobody's paying us any special attention. You're the one who still has to stay on their good side... Vita, be careful.

If you need anything from me, just say the word.

I've been playing your servant long enough now! Little Minion, you'd better make it up to me later!

H, How could you do this to me? I've always been good to you, Little Minion...

I knew it! My Little Minion's the sweetest!

Need your photo developed? No problem. Just give me a moment.

It's ready. Want to take a look?

Hand the photo to me. I'm the one in charge of this photography event... I'll make sure it gets entered straight into the judging round.

Come back to the Salon tomorrow. They'll announce the winning photograph then, along with the prize.

(Once he'd settled on writing those complaint letters, he seemed to steady himself a little. He was still pale, but less shaken than before... Perhaps that was how he calmed himself down.)

Right here will do. Now, everyone, take a look. This is the treasure I wanted to show you...