《Mechanical Alchemist》


 Chapter 1: Kidnapped

    Chapter 1: Kidnapped


    "This is a bit troublesome. The danger level of this cursed space is likely to reach ''A-level''. Without this kid, we might have to exin ourselves here..."


    "Boss, it''s one thing for there to be an unrecorded relic under the ''D33 Wastnd'', but this broken manor is actually a rare ''A-level cursed space''. Who is this kid and why did hee here?"


    "For the big shots in the inner city to exile him and offer a reward topletely silence him, his identity must not be simple. It''s a pity, I wanted to kill him before and ask for some secrets from his mouth. I didn''t expect to get into trouble..."


    "Huh... looks like he''s not dead yet."


    ........


    "Hoo... Heh..."


    His chest heaved violently, as if awakening from a drowning nightmare, Su''en suddenly opened his eyes.


    He gasped for breath, and the intense suffocation gradually dissipated.


    His gaze gradually focused, and he found himself in an unfamiliar room.


    "Where am I..."


    Su''en tried to struggle to sit up, but he realized that he was firmly tied to a wooden chair and couldn''t move.


    The strong smell of blood filled his nostrils, and when he looked at his condition, it was terrible.


    There were blood stains and wounds on his white linen shirt. Even more terrifyingly, each of his hands was pinned to the chair handle by a sharp dagger, and crimson blood was flowing out.


    The intense pain from struggling was like a tide, stinging his nerves...


    "I''ve been kidnapped?"


    Without time to think about why he woke up to this scene, Su''en''s gaze fell on the two unfriendly guys in the room.


    One was a bald muscr man with purple lips and dark circles under his eyes, and the other was a skinny man with a nose ring and ear studs.


    Their attire was full of iron studs on their ck leather jackets and worn-out leather pants. From their appearance, they looked like two punk enthusiasts.


    Of course, the most eye-catching thing about them was the weapons they carried.


    "Guns... Are they gangsters?"


    Su''en frowned slightly.


    Both of them had holsters withrge revolvers around their waists, and the gun barrels hadplex inscriptions that looked ancient and mysterious.


    But what surprised him even more was the strange... mechanical arm on the right arm of the bald muscr man.


    This mechanical arm had a strong dark industrial style, with almost all the parts exposed in the air. The white paint on the shoulder was already blurry, with the words "DH-031" written on it. There were brass gears, power transmission bearings, mechanical joints, air valves with gauges, high-pressure pipes... and the joints were smeared with ck lubricating oil.


    At the front end of the mechanical arm, there was a fist-sized spiral muzzle and a crosshair sight. It seemed that this mechanical arm was also a handheld individual artillery.


    Of course, these metal parts were also engraved with someplex symbols.


    What puzzled Su''en the most was that there were white steaming out of the exhaust pipe of the mechanical arm, as if it was a power device.


    "This... is a steam-powered machine?"


    Su''en''s eyebrows slightly furrowed, feeling that he had seen something incredible.


    In this era, are there still people ying with steam-powered machines like antiques?


    He wasn''t very shocked, but more confused.


    Making a movie?


    No!


    The intense pain from his palms reminded Su''en that he had indeed been kidnapped!


    .......


    "I remember that I received a strange email before, and then everything went ck... and I woke up here?"


    Su''en, who woke up in an unfamiliar ce, couldn''t make sense of anything.


    No matter how hard he tried to recall, his brain had no memory of the "kidnapping" process.


    Su''en felt that something was off.


    He wanted to find more clues and his gaze returned to the room.


    The dazzling crystal chandelier, exquisitely carved wooden furniture, gold-ted metal handles... a row of gold-stamped books neatly arranged on the bookshelf, and a ck and white family portrait on the wall...


    Every detail was filled with a strong aristocratic style.


    "It looks like a study. From this, I deduce that the house is not small. The retro style of the decoration is very detailed. The owner of the house should be a very particr fan of British retro style, or maybe this is a European castle. But in any case... very wealthy."


    Su''en quickly spected in his mind.


    But if they are so wealthy, why would they kidnap me?


    The two sharp daggers nailed into his hands reminded him that these two guys were definitely ruthless kidnappers.


    "What do these two guys want by kidnapping me?"


    Su''en focused his gaze on the two people in the room again.


    Whether it was their European faces, the retro equipment on their bodies, or the steam-powered mechanical arm... everything seemed strange.


    Of course, what was even stranger was that when Su''en looked up from the mirror-like ceiling, he saw his own reflection - the appearance of a handsome brown-haired young man, even if his face was covered in blood stains!


    "What the hell, how did I be a foreigner?!"


    Su''en vaguely guessed that something strange had happened to him.


    And when he woke up and opened his eyes earlier, he also noticed some strange characters on his retina.


    He blinked, confirming that it was not an illusion.


    ......


    In a sh of thought, just at that moment, a fierce shout brought Su''en''s thoughts back to reality.


    "Hey! Kid, I know you''re awake, don''t pretend!"


    The skinny man with the nose ring stared at him with a ferocious look and shouted, "This is yourst chance. Confess how you knew about this relic, why you came here, or..."


    As he spoke, this guy grabbed the handle of the dagger piercing Su''en''s left hand and twisted it warningly.


    "Sss~"


    The excruciating pain surged through his forehead like grinding meat, and cold sweat instantly covered Su''en''s forehead as he took a deep breath.


    He immediately understood that these two guys were "interrogating" him, seemingly wanting to know something from his mouth.


    Interrogation?


    Intelligence?


    The characters on his retina...


    In an instant, a sh of insight connected the clues in Su''en''s mind.


    "These guys didn''t kidnap me, they kidnapped the ''original host''!"


    Su''en suddenly realized and roughly guessed his situation.


    And at this moment, a bold idea emerged in his mind: "It seems like... I''ve crossed over?"


    Although this idea was absurd, it was the most reasonable exnation.


    Whether it was his blond-haired young body or the two punk-like "kidnappers" in front of him, or the fact that he could understand but didn''t know whatnguage they were speaking, it all proved that this was no longer the original world.


    As a seasoned fan of online novels, crossing over was not something difficult to ept.


    After a moment of shock, Su''en became even calmer.


    If he had crossed over, he might be doomed. What kind of strange start was this?


    .......


    "Last chance? Heh..."


    The original host had already been killed by these two guys once, so Su''en didn''t hold any hope.


    The two kidnappers in front of him could resort to disabling methods during interrogation, and he had no doubt that once they obtained the information they wanted, they would kill him as easily as squashing a cockroach.


    He looked at the two men with a mocking expression, and his gaze gradually became sinister. He muttered to himself, "Looks like I have to... kill you guys!"


    In the next instant, a crazy curve appeared at the corners of his mouth, and there was no longer any fear of death on his face.


    Instead... a hint of excitement emerged.


    As if he had changed personalities!

 Chapter 2: Killing fails and brings trouble to oneself

    Chapter 2: Killing fails and brings trouble to oneself


    The rooster-headed man stood on one leg on the chair where Su''en was tied, shouting with a fierce look on his face: "Hey, kid, my patience is limited..."


    The two were very close, and this guy didn''t seem to consider the injured prey as a threat at all,pletely unguarded.


    Su''en was tied to the chair, his palms pinned by a dagger, unable to move.


    But no one noticed that the ropes tied to Su''en''s arms had loosened due to his previous struggles, leaving enough space for him to pull out his hand.


    "Hey, kid, say something!"


    The rooster-headed man pped Su''en hard across the face.


    A "smack" sound, and blood dripped from the corner of Su''en''s mouth.


    But despite being hit, there was no trace of anger on his face. Instead, a sinister and ruthless smile appeared in the corner of his eyes.


    In his eyes, the demon that had been suppressed deep in his heart finally broke free.


    "Hehe..."


    A coldugh in his heart.


    And at this moment, without any hesitation, Su''en suddenly pulled his right hand back.


    The dagger nailed to his right hand happened to pierce the gap between his middle finger and ring finger, and with a pull, a chilling "tearing" sound was heard as the soft tissue was torn apart.


    The sharp dagger directly cut through the flesh between the bones, and blood spurted out like a fountain.


    "???"


    This action stunned the rooster-headed man beside him.


    Looking at the blood spattered on his own pants, his eyes widened in shock, as if he hadn''t recovered from the astonishment.


    But his eyes realized what had happened: this kid had forcibly broken his own hand to free himself from the dagger?


    In the next instant, the rooster-headed man immediately realized the danger and eximed in his heart, "Not good!"


    But it was already toote.


    With a sinister smile, Su''en paid no attention to the pain in his hand. With one hand free, he didn''t give the enemy any chance to react.


    He stretched out his freed hand and swiftly snatched the silver revolver attached to the rooster-headed man''s waist, then without hesitation, aimed it at the man''s chest and pulled the trigger.


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    Two thunderous gunshots echoed throughout the room.


    The bullets pierced through the rooster-headed man''s chest, and then "plop plop" two fist-sized holes burst out on his back, instantly killing him.


    .......


    Warm blood sprayed onto Su''en''s face, adding a touch of ferocity to his appearance.


    The power of the silver revolver was unexpectedly strong, and due to the huge recoil, Su''en, along with the chair, fell backwards.


    Hearing the gunshots, the bald muscr man with smoky makeup on the other side was also stunned by this sudden turn of events.


    The kid who was easily caught earlier had suddenly revealed such a ferocious side?


    Looking at the two fist-sized holes pierced through hispanion''s back, the bald man finally realized that the prey that had been trapped by the hunter had suddenly turned into a bloodthirsty wolf.


    "Damn it!"


    The bald man shouted in his heart, his reaction was not slow either.


    Seeing the muzzle of Su''en''s gun pointing at him again, he instinctively raised his steam-powered mechanical arm, and the muzzle fired towards the front.


    With a loud bang, the whole study trembled.


    Instead of a burning me, the muzzle fired a "high-pressure air bullet".


    And Su''en, who was lying not far away, seemed to have anticipated this attack long ago. He cleverly used the momentum to twist his falling angle, avoiding the fatal aim of this shot.


    The sound of breaking wind passed in an instant, and the high-pressure air bullet rapidly pierced a corner of Su''en''s chair, then "crack" prated the ground, leaving a bowl-sized ck hole on the wooden floor, disappearing without a trace.


    Even though he avoided the direct hit, the airflow from the "high-pressure air bullet" grazed his body, crushing the ropes and a piece of flesh on Su''en''s leg.


    It felt like countless sharp wind des cutting through, burning and stinging the wound.


    However, Su''en didn''t show any pain on his face, but rather a bloodthirsty excitement.


    In the moment the chair fell, he moved again.


    ......


    From the moment Su''en woke up to deciding to take action, it took less than half a minute. Although it seemed rushed, his considerations were already mature.


    Before taking action, he had already anticipated the current attack.


    The unconscious movement of the bald man''s mechanical arm made Su''en realize that the steam-powered mechanical arm joints with rough bearings and gear transmissions were not very flexible. The aiming reaction time was likely much slower than a human''s neural reaction.


    And Su''en could predict that once he killed the rooster-headed man, the bald muscr man would immediately retaliate under the threat of the gun. The trajectory of the muzzle would definitely be aimed at the original position of the chair, and the chance of avoiding it was not small.


    And if the bald man spent too much time aiming urately, then Su''en would have enough time to fire another shot.


    The oue was fifty-fifty.


    So, there was a risk, but it was worth the gamble.


    This was the only chance to escape.


    This was also the most important reason why Su''en decided to ruthlessly kill even if it meant self-muttion of his hand!


    .......


    Thoughts raced through his mind, but reality onlysted for an instant.


    Just as Su''en had anticipated, the bald man hurriedly fired back, but missed.


    The jet pierced the floor, but the expected explosion of the bullet did not ur.


    Su''en narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint shed in them.


    Now is the time!


    He instantly adjusted his defensive posture, and in the moment of falling, he raised the silver revolver again, decisively aimed at the bald man, and pulled the trigger.


    "Bang!"


    A familiar gunshot, as if the space had frozen.


    The bullet pierced through, leaving a long trajectory in the air, and urately hit the bald man''s eye.


    The blue light from the muzzle illuminated his terrified face. The bald man didn''t have time to react, and the bullet had already shot towards his right eye socket.


    "It''s done!"


    Su''en licked his lips, seemingly satisfied with this shot.


    Unlike the opportunity to fire two shots at close range earlier, after this shot, the huge recoil caused the muzzle to rise significantly. Even if he fired another shot, it would be impossible to hit the bald man''s head again.


    Moreover, the wound on his palm was torn by the recoil of the gunshot, causing his finger flexor muscles to tremble, almost unable to hold the gun.


    However, it was enough.


    Su''en was confident that this shot would hit 100%, enough to blow the guy''s head off.


    But...


    Su''en never expected that this seemingly foolproof shot would encounter an ident.


    ......


    "How is this possible!"


    Su''en''s pupils suddenly contracted, looking at the scene in front of him in disbelief.


    The bullet was aimed at the bald man''s eye socket, and that guy''s crisis response was not weak. In the instant the muzzle shed, he instinctively tried to dodge.


    Slightly tilting his head, the bullet hit his forehead.


    Under normal circumstances, the power of thisrge-caliber revolver would cause the head to explode like a watermelon, no matter where it hit.


    But in this case... it didn''t!


    Looking at the strange scene in front of him, Su''en''s expression froze.


    He actually watched as the bullet hit the bald man''s forehead and... got embedded in his skull?


    "What''s going on? Why is his skull so hard?!"


    In that instant, Su''en immediately realized that he had probablye to a world that was beyond imagination.


    Steam-powered mechanical arms, humans who didn''t die from a gunshot to the head...


    After a moment of shock, Su''en''s gaze regained rity, and the madness and frenzy in his eyespletely dissipated.


    And at this moment, the bald man, who had been shot in the head but was almost unharmed, looked at him with a sinister look.

 Chapter 3: [C079-Steel Reinforced Bones]

    Chapter 3: [C079-Steel Reinforced Bones]


    "''He'' hasn''t been released yet, and the situation is getting worse... Su''en sighed inwardly as he met the murderous gaze in the bald man''s eyes.


    He had nned to shoot the bald man in the head and then take advantage of the opportunity to shoot him again. The n was already well thought out, and luck was on his side. Everything was going ording to n, and even the artillery fire hadn''t caused much damage.


    Unfortunately, the final shot didn''t kill the bald man.


    After pulling the trigger, Su''enpletely lost the advantage. The bald man removed the bullet embedded in his forehead with his fingers and smirked. Instead of using the high-pressure cannon on his mechanical arm, he stomped his foot and a wave of energy exploded, causing his figure to disappear from the spot.


    When Su''en focused his gaze again, the bald man had already appeared in front of him like a ghost, having rapidly advanced several meters. The giant iron hand grabbed Su''en''s neck and, with the force of the collision, smashed both Su''en and the chair he was tied to against the wall.


    A loud crash echoed as the wooden chair shattered into pieces, and the broken wood chips fell like rain. Su''en didn''t have time to react and felt as if he had been hit by an elephant. His vision went ck, and he couldn''t hold back the surge of blood mixed with internal organs as it sprayed out of his mouth.


    The silver revolver in his hand also fell to the ground, and he lost his only weapon to resist.


    And now it seemed that the gun was useless anyway.


    The bald man''s speed was astonishing, surpassing that of an ordinary human. He had burst forth from close range, too fast for the eyes to follow. It was another ability that surpassed that of an ordinary human...


    However, Su''en wasn''t surprised by this either.


    Even a headshot couldn''t kill him, so it wasn''t surprising that he was fast.


    ...


    The bald man stared fiercely at Su''en, who was suspended by his feet against the wall, and gritted his teeth. "Kid, you didn''t expect it, did you? My awakened talent is [C079-Steel Reinforced Bones]. If it weren''t for this ability, I''m afraid I would have fallen into your hands today..."


    As he spoke, the bald man nced at the corpse of hispanion in the pool of blood on the ground, his eyes growing colder. He remembered the close call from earlier. If he hadn''t dodged the fatal blow, he might have been the one lying dead on the ground.


    The bald man exerted force in his hand, wanting to strangle the boy in front of him.


    But for some reason, he hesitated for a moment.


    Su''en silently said to himself, "Talent, Steel Reinforced Bones? Transcendent ability..."


    Then he weakly closed his eyelids...


    The mechanical arm of the bald man mped tightly around his neck like a pair of iron pliers, and the suffocating feeling made it clear that the guy could easily snap someone''s neck.


    But instead of being killed immediately, Su''en didn''t panic at all.


    Because he could see the bald man''s hesitation.


    He knew very well that this guy didn''t kill him immediately because he coveted the "secret" of the original owner.


    However, at this moment, the bald man''s patience had probably been exhausted due to the death of hispanion.


    Su''en understood that if he said one more word at this moment, this guy might kill him in a fit of rage.


    So he exhaled hisst breath from his chest and struggled to spit out five words, "I have a treasure map."


    As expected!


    With these words, the killing intent in the air remained chilling, but Su''en could clearly feel the suffocation weakening.


    The iron hand that was gripping his neck quietly loosened, allowing him to breathe.


    "Heh..."


    A disdainful sneer.


    The bald man wasn''t as foolish as he appeared. He knew that Su''en was trying to save his own life.


    But he still gave him a chance and coldly said, "Kid, you only have one chance. Tell me the information that interests me, and I''ll let you die quickly."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the iron hand tightened with force, and a clear sound of bones cracking could be heard.


    Su''en winced in pain, appearing weak as he squinted his eyes. In reality, he was quickly reading the information on his retina.


    To die a quick death by telling the truth?


    He didn''t pay any attention to that statement and directly said, "In the corridor to the left of the main hall of this mansion, there is a secret door. The wall sconce is a mechanism that leads to the underground, where there is a maze..."


    These words were not made up on the spot but obtained from the information on his retina.


    In such a short time and in an unfamiliar world, it would be easy for a wless lie to be exposed.


    And the consequence of being exposed was death.


    Although he didn''t know the method used to leave this information on his retina, as long as he closed his eyes, Su''en could see that information.


    The content was as follows:


    "My dear Fick, by the time you see this information, your memories should have been erased. Although fate is cruel, the deed is done. As for the truth of the matter, it no longer matters to you now. I know you may be unwilling, so I have left you something aspensation. If fate hasn''t abandoned you and you gain enough power in the future to seek the truth, you will naturallye into contact with the exiled truth; if not, living in the darkness may be a good thing for you. Remember, do not trust anyone, especially those upper-level guys in the ck Tower..."


    In addition to this passage, there were some obscure texts that Su''en didn''t have time to read, seemingly exining the magical power called "alchemy" in this world.


    There was also a strange diagram.


    It wasn''t a t map but a three-dimensional, winding fluorescent line, marked from top to bottom. It looked like a mine or some kind of abyssal cave.


    After scanning it quickly, Su''en understood the reason behind the situation.


    The previous owner''s name was "Fick," and for some reason, he was "exiled."


    But all of this had nothing to do with him as a transmigrator.


    Since he had no memories, he had no interest in the previous owner''s past.


    Su''en was more concerned about the current situation.


    From the way he was addressed, someone rted to the previous owner had left these words on his retina.


    And because of this information, the previous owner hade to this mansion in search of the ancient ruins marked on the map...


    Without further examination, it was probably rted to the miraculous "transcendent talent" that could withstand bullets like the bald man''s hard skull.


    ...


    Su''en selectively revealed some information while ignoring some key details.


    For example, he didn''t mention the details of the maze''s path or that there were many wall sconces in the room, and only the correct one could open the underground passage, while the others would trigger traps...


    To survive under the hands of the bald man who had murderous intentions, he had to show his value.


    And to continue living, he couldn''t reveal his entire value at once.


    As long as the enemy wasn''t stupid, they wouldn''t kill him right now.


    As expected!


    Hearing this, a sh of astonishment crossed the bald man''s eyes.


    He had already guessed that the kid in front of him, who was targeted for assassination by someone important in the inner city, had a secret.


    But after losing a brother, the bald man had be more cautious. He asked, "What treasure is hidden in this mansion?"


    Su''en pretended to be weak, closed his eyes, and looked at the information on his retina, then said, "It is said... that there are relics left by ''Sir Isaac''."


    As soon as the words fell, the bald man''s expression changed dramatically, as if he had heard something incredible. "What!"


    "..."


    His tone suddenly became heavy, and Su''en nced at him.


    Although he didn''t know what "Sir Isaac" meant, judging from the bald man''s expression, it was probably an incredible treasure.


    But for Su''en, it was good news.


    Now he had more confidence that he couldn''t be killed temporarily.

 Chapter 4: Phantom seed

    Chapter 4: Phantom seed


    Su''en''s words stirred up waves in the bald man''s heart.


    He immediately asked in response, "Is there really a relic left by Sir Isaac in this mansion?"


    Su''en, with blood foaming at his mouth, responded in detail, "Yes. At least, that''s what the treasure map I obtained records."


    ...


    Upon hearing the confirmation, the bald man''s eyes flickered as if he was contemting something.


    Excitement, anticipation, hesitation, and a few traces of concern.


    He nced at Su''en, a hint of doubt shing in his eyes, but he suppressed his killing intent.


    If he didn''t know the secret of this mansion, killing Su''en would be meaningless.


    But now that he knew there was such a huge treasure in this mansion, how could he just give up?


    As the senior leader of the "Old Lingdun" hunting team, how could he not know the value of Sir Isaac''s relics?


    That legendary alchemist, who was renowned for his mastery of ancient alchemy and was hailed as a "demigod." He had researched countless new alchemy forms, countless unique potions, and had countless invention patents. Each of his alchemy manuscripts could be sold for a sky-high price in the ck market of Lingdun.


    The bald man had witnessed it himself. At an auction in the inner city, someone bought a useless page of Sir Isaac''s personal notes for three hundred gold krona, just because it was a relic left by Sir Isaac.


    But you should know that his "DH-031 excellent modified version" mechanical arm, including the materials and modification costs, is only worth a few tens of gold krona.


    Although the bald man knew that Su''en might be hiding something, as long as it involved Sir Isaac, it was worth risking his life!


    In case they really found any relics left by Sir Isaac, it would definitely make them instantly rich. Why would they need to risk their lives for hunting in the second half of their lives?


    ......


    Thinking of this, the bald man squinted his eyes and coldly asked, "Kid, who are you exactly?"


    "I don''t know either."


    Su''en pretended to be puzzled for a moment and added, "My memories have been erased."


    The information on the retina mentioned that the original owner had "memory erased," so this answer was eptable.


    ...


    Upon hearing this, the bald man fell into deep thought for a moment.


    He didn''t seem to doubt it, nor did he pursue it further.


    Being exiled from the inner city and being wanted for assassination, Su''en''s identity was definitely not simple, and the exnation of memory erasure was usible.


    He didn''t delve further into Su''en''s identity, but instead asked, "How did you get the treasure map you mentioned?"


    Su''en answered, "I don''t know who left it for me."


    After a pause, he added, "I once stumbled upon it in an old book, and then I burned it."


    ...


    The bald man frowned and remained silent.


    They had already searched Su''en during the interrogation and didn''t find anything that could be the treasure map.


    So, killing him now would be even more pointless.


    He also guessed that Su''en must be withholding something. Things that could save his life would definitely not be foolishly revealed all at once.


    The iron mp-like hand around Su''en''s neck loosened, and Su''en knew that he had temporarily saved his life.


    Although he looked a bit disheveled, he remained calm in his heart.


    If he really wanted to survive, he would have to find another way.


    The bald man was obviously still wary of him and kept asking for details about the "treasure map." But at this moment, a desperate cry came from outside the door, like a ghost''s wail.


    "Squad leader, where are you... help!"


    The sudden cry made the atmosphere in the room instantly eerie.


    The bald man''s expression immediately turned serious upon hearing it.


    He realized that they were still in a curse space with a suspected "A-level" danger!


    This mansion still held unknown dangers.


    Su''en didn''t know what terrifying things had happened to the person outside, but from the desperate tone, he could guess that something extremely horrifying had urred outside the door.


    The bald man furrowed his brow and used Su''en''s neck as a shield as he walked over to open the door.


    The door creaked open.


    At this moment, a bloodied figure rushed in, looking panicked.


    The bald man obviously recognized the person dressed as an assassin in leather armor and said with a frown, "Marcus?"


    The man looked at the bald man, and his pale face suddenly turned rosy. He eximed in joy, "Captain Ivan!"


    After a pause, his terrified expression turned into a relieved one, and he gasped for breath as he said, "Oh my god... Captain, I finally found you!"


    On the side, Su''en silently observed this scene and finally learned their names.


    Captain?


    It sounded like some kind of organization.


    Su''en examined the wounds and bloodstains on Marcus''s body and looked at the smoking gun in his hand. He felt a little puzzled. "Injuries caused by a sharp weapon... someone who uses a gun was actually cut by a knife?"


    Perhaps, it wasn''t a human?


    Obviously, things were not as simple as they seemed.


    At this moment, the bald man, Captain Ivan, looked at Marcus, who was alone, and looked outside, but he didn''t notice anything unusual.


    After closing the door, he asked solemnly, "Where''s Vice Captain Mark, Daniel, and the others?"


    "Captain... they''re dead, all dead!"


    Marcus''s eyes were filled with fear as if he recalled something. He said with a trembling voice, "Just now... just now, we entered this cursed space and got lost. Then we discovered that there were many terrifying dolls in this house! It seems like there''s a ''phantom seed'' in this house, controlling those dolls. It''s everywhere, and it wants us to y games with them... hide-and-seek... if we''re found, we''ll be killed..."


    "Phantom seed?"


    After listening to his subordinate''s stuttering ount, Captain Ivan''s face became grave.


    ......


    Phantom seed?


    Eerie?


    Su''en caught a few words that he understood but were beyond his original knowledge.


    However, after experiencing the supernatural abilities in this world, he easily understood that this term should refer to some kind of "transcendent creature."


    "It" had just killed more than ten members of this bald man''s team.


    Before his transmigration, Su''en was a video blogger who specialized in horror games and supernatural movies. So, although Marcus''s story was bizarre, it wasn''t too unbelievable for him.


    He didn''t feel much shock, but rather a sense of familiarity. "A horror plot? It seems like this is the correct way to unfold."


    Vaguely, he could even specte on some of the quirks of the "phantom seed" from the process, such as liking to kill humans, liking childish games...


    Now it seemed that the deadly threat was not just this bald man, but there was another "phantom seed."


    ......


    Captain Ivan was still carefully inquiring about the situation of his subordinates. At this moment, Su''en, lost in thought, suddenly noticed something and raised his eyebrows.


    "Huh..."


    His gaze shifted away from Marcus and fell onto the red, ck, and green soldier doll in the corner of the study, which looked like a "nutcracker."


    Initially, he thought it was just a decoration in the study.


    But whether it was an illusion or not, Su''en saw the doll''s eyeballs tremble slightly.


    And at this moment, the doll''s pitch-ck eyes were staring directly at the three of them.


    As if it were like this _!


    So, the person moved, but the doll didn''t, yet its eyeball direction did.


    This was a habit he had developed from ying horror escape games. In a confined environment, his gaze would instinctively gather all the "clues" around him to solve the puzzle.


    This was how he noticed the difference in the nutcracker doll.


    "So, it''s being monitored by ''someone''..."


    Su''en noticed the anomaly and had a sudden realization.


    He had initially thought he was mistaken, but now that he heard about the killer puppets in the house, Su''en immediately confirmed that everything in the room was being secretly monitored by someone.


    Perhaps, it was that so-called "phantom seed."


    However, even if he discovered this, Su''en didn''t show any abnormality on his face.


    For him, although he was not sure what the "eerie" in the room meant, judging from the expressions of the bald man and the other man, it was definitely a dangerous presence.


    But this didn''t mean that the "eerie" would be more deadly to Su''en than the bald man and the other man.


    It might even be good news.


    If he wanted to survive in the hands of the bald man, this "eerie" might be one of the conditions he could use.

 Chapter 5: alchemical implantation Adamantite Scales

    Chapter 5: alchemical imntation Adamantite Scales


    After listening to the report from his subordinate, Ivan, the bald man, asked, "How strong are those puppet people?"


    "Not very strong. They use cold weapons, and their bodies can easily be destroyed by firearms..."


    Marcus, obviously still frightened, swallowed and continued, "But there are too many puppets, and we can''t kill them! Even if they are sted by firearms and only have a severed arm left, they can still chase and attack people. And the puppets are everywhere in the house, they can appear in any corner, in the cabs, behind the doors, in the basement..."


    "They can be destroyed by firearms? I see..."


    After carefully listening to his subordinate''s description, Ivan also gained some confidence.


    He analyzed, "It seems that the ability of the ''ghost breed'' is to control the puppets and kill people. It should only be a first-order strangeness. Otherwise, if it had second-order strength, it wouldn''t be so troublesome to kill you all... The previous estimation of the curse space was overrated, at most it''s a B-level."


    "..."


    Su''en, who was on the side, heard the bald man''s analysis and didn''t quite agree with it.


    ording to his experience of watching over a thousand horror movies, the actions of the "ghost breed" gave him the feeling of "Hey, I won''t kill you, I''m just ying with you."


    Killing people seemed more like a game.


    ...


    Obviously, there were only two choices in front of the bald man now.


    Either leave the creepy mansion immediately, or continue to search for "Sir Isaac''s relic."


    But no matter which choice, they would most likely directly face the strangeness of the "ghost breed" in the house.


    If the strange ability of the "ghost breed" is only to control puppets, it wouldn''t pose much threat to Ivan.


    At least, in his eyes, those puppets of that level were not deadly.


    The best oue would be to obtain the treasure and eliminate the strangeness.


    But if the ability of the "ghost breed" goes beyond that, even if they didn''t search for the treasure and just tried to escape, they would still have to face it.


    As the leader of a hunting squad who had been through countless life-and-death situations, Ivan had almost no hesitation and said directly, "Let''s go! Let''s see what''s strange about this mansion!"


    And as the "living map," Su''en naturally had to go with them. The bald man turned his head to look at his subordinate and said, "Marcus, keep an eye on this kid. If he makes any suspicious moves, kill him immediately!"


    Marcus nced at Su''en beside him and replied, "Yes, leader!"


    ...


    Su''en wasn''t surprised by the bald man''s decision to continue forcefully, he would have done the same if he were in his shoes.


    But what surprised him was that before they left, the bald man unexpectedly disyed another extraordinary ability that was unimaginable.


    Su''en originally thought that the bald man possessing a steam-powered mechanical arm was already quite astonishing, but at this moment, the bald man shouted, "Seal Imntation - Release!"


    He then made several hand gestures at a rapid pace and chanted several indistinct incantations.


    This strange and bizarre action caused a miraculous transformation.


    As soon as the incantation ended, the room suddenly emitted a bright golden light.


    Upon closer inspection, a hexagram magic array with a brilliant golden glow appeared under the bald man''s feet. The patterns on the array were mysterious andplex, as if possessing a magical power that made people feel as if they were looking into the depths of an endless void, exuding a strong sense of mystery.


    "Magic?"


    Su''en blinked his eyes in astonishment at this scene.


    But the even more bizarre thing happened afterwards!


    After the light from the magic array disappeared, the bald man''s exposed skin, which Su''en originally thought was a tattoo, slowly solidified into a tangible substance.


    Upon closer inspection, it had turned into ayer of shining metallic scales!


    After the ritual, the entire body was covered in the metallic scales, and the bald man''s whole demeanor suddenly changed, bing a majestic armored giant.


    Marcus, who was beside him, seemed to gain some confidence and spoke with a hint of ttery, "No matter how many times I see it, the leader''s alchemical imntation, ''Adamantite Scales,'' is still so awe-inspiring..."


    "Hmm."


    The bald man nodded without saying much, and said in a deep voice, "Follow me!"


    With that, he opened the door and walked out fearlessly.


    Seeing this scene in front of him, Su''en''s interest grew stronger.


    He observed carefully, and it seemed that after the appearance of the magic array, the metallic scales on the bald man''s body solidified from the tattoos.


    Obviously, this was another extraordinary power that Su''en couldn''tprehend.


    Without much time to think, the pulling of the rope made him stumble forward, almost falling.


    In the instant before he stepped out of the door, Su''en suddenly thought of something.


    Instead of avoiding it, he turned his head and looked directly at the "Nutcracker Puppet" in the corner, then smiled at it.


    The meaning was: I''ve found you.


    Since it was discovered, let''s "trigger" it.


    Based on his experience of ying horror games for many years, triggering certain specific conditions might lead to unexpected plot developments, although most of the time, such behavior would be considered "suicidal." But...


    Anyway, the situation couldn''t get any worse now, right?


    In an instant, Su''en and the other two had already walked out of the door.


    At this moment, no one saw that the lower jaw of the "Nutcracker Puppet" in the corner actually trembled, making a creepy "click-ck" sound, as if it wasughing happily...


    ...


    "Kid, you go in front!"


    Compared to the caution of the bald man, Marcus''s footsteps were much lighter, and Su''en appeared much calmer.


    He was also self-aware that although hisbat and marksmanship were decent in his previous life, in this fantasy world where the body could withstand bullets, he was just a "trash" level.


    To survive, using his brain was definitely more practical than using force.


    He was tied with a rope and served as a shield, walking at the front.


    But this was also good, Su''en could carefully observe everything in the corridor.


    As he had anticipated, it was a luxurious mansion.


    The corridor was brightly lit, but not with electric lights or gasmps. Instead, there were gemstones glowing inside ssmpshades. There were many closed doors on both sides of the corridor, soft cashmere carpets covered the floor, and there were exquisite oil paintings on the walls at intervals...


    But the corridor seemed a bit too long.


    After walking for a while without seeing the end, Marcus asked with a trembling voice, "Leader, where are we going? We... seem to be trapped."


    After a moment of contemtion, Ivan seemed to have also noticed the abnormality of the mansion and asked, "Kid, where is the room you mentioned?"


    Su''en looked around and said directly, "I haven''t been here before either. But if we want to find the room on the treasure map, we must first find the banquet hall..."


    In fact, he had already noticed that even in arge mansion, this corridor was unusually long.


    But before he could say more, a creepyughter of an olddy echoed in their ears, "Hehe... ording to the rules of the game, if you are found, you will be killed..."


    This didn''t sound like a voice that could be produced by a human, it was a low and demonic whisper that made the soul tremble.


    Upon hearing this, Marcus turned pale with fear, as if he had received a great shock, and anxiously said, "It''sing... It''sing!"


    Every time they heard this voice, one of theirpanions would be killed. At this moment, Marcus was on the verge of copse, trembling all over.


    Su''en scanned everything in the corridor with his eyes, quietly leaning against the wall, bing extra cautious.


    Ivan, on the other hand, snorted disdainfully, "Humph, ying tricks!"


    Just at this moment, several figures suddenly floated in from the distance.


    Upon closer inspection, they were several eerie puppets floating in the air. Their appearance was simple, like sections of lotus roots pieced together. However, each one held a slender and sharp knife, and their jaws were rapidly clenching and unclenching, making a dense "click-ck" sound that sent shivers down one''s spine.


    "So these are the killer puppets in the mansion that that guy mentioned? And they can fly too?"


    Su''en looked at these puppets that were surging towards them from both sides of the corridor, and his eyelids twitched.


    But just at this moment, a loud bang resounded from a distance.


    Without needing to look, just by hearing the airwaves that almost knocked people off their feet, they knew that Ivan had fired a shot.


    The shot directly hit the group of puppets dozens of meters away, causing them to be blown into pieces.


    However, this did not stop the puppets from continuing their onught like a tide.


    Those puppets with severed limbs still carried a pile of "parts" and continued to charge.


    "Hmph!"


    Ivan snorted, fearless, and charged into the group of puppets.


    His metallic scales yed a huge role at this moment. When the puppets'' knives and swords struck, they produced a burst of sparks, but they couldn''t harm him at all.


    "This bald man is indeed strong... But those puppets can''t be killed. If we don''t break the situation, we will eventually be worn down here."


    Su''en, with his hands tied, had little room to move. Under the attack of the puppet tide, his chances of survival were very low.


    However, he didn''t n to give up without a fight.


    At this moment, Marcus had been frightened to the point where his hands holding the gun were trembling, and he had already let go of the rope that bound Su''en.


    And most of the puppets were being restrained by Ivan, the opportunity couldn''t be missed.


    "Now!"


    Su''en looked around at the environment and without hesitation, kicked off with one leg and forcefully crashed into the ss window on one side of the corridor.


    He had observed earlier that there was fog outside the window. Although he didn''t know which floor the corridor was on, judging from the structure, it definitely wasn''t a high floor.


    The probability of falling to death was low.


    But...


    Just as he jumped, something went wrong again!


    ...


    With a loud crash, Su''en easily shattered the ss window and flew out,nding on the thick fog.


    He thought he would fall into a garden or something, and prepared for the impact of a high-altitude fall.


    But unexpectedly, as soon as hended, he stepped on a soft carpet again.


    Looking around at the familiar surroundings, Su''en was stunned.


    "F*ck... I''m back again?"

 Chapter 6: Bloody banquet

    Chapter 6: Bloody banquet


    The brightly lit corridor gave Su''en a familiar feeling.


    The sound of fighting in his ears was incessant, and when he looked again, he saw the bald man with a body covered in metallic scales. Wasn''t this the same corridor as before?


    "I''m back again?"


    Su''en felt his eyelids twitch.


    Did I crash through the ss and then crash back through another window?


    When he turned around again, he found that the ss that had been shattered earlier had miraculously restored to its original state. If it weren''t for the ss shards on the ground, he would have thought he had experienced an illusion.


    There was something wrong with the space in this mansion!


    "Illusion space? Or is it the ability of the ''phantom species''?"


    Su''en felt that this world was getting stranger, but he quickly realized, "Indeed... if one can easily escape by jumping out of the window, those guys wouldn''t have been killed by these eerie puppets."


    With this jump, Su''en fell back into the corridor and crashed into a pile of puppets.


    Now he''s in a dangerous situation.


    Although the puppets didn''t pose much harm to the bald man, they were definitely lethal to Su''en, an ordinary person.


    Su''en had already given up struggling and was about to lie down, but to his surprise... these puppets seemed to ignore himpletely and floated past him, rushing towards the bald man.


    "Huh... they didn''t attack me?"


    Su''en watched the puppets floating past him and felt a sense of relief, specting secretly, "Could it be because they noticed the ''surveince'' earlier?"


    He vaguely guessed that these puppets didn''t kill him because the "phantom species" felt... that they had gained a new toy and didn''t want to kill him so soon.


    This was really frustrating.


    ......


    And at this moment, without warning, there was suddenly a creepy sound of bones breaking, "crack, crack."


    When he looked closely, he saw that Marcus''s joints were breaking in the opposite direction.


    Like a marite, he was suspended in the air by invisible threads, his head hanging weakly.


    Marcus was dead!


    After he died, the knife-wielding puppets that were attacking Ivan also suddenly disappeared, as if they were receding like a tide, and disappeared at the end of the corridor.


    Not far away, Ivan, the bald man, looked at his subordinate''s sudden and unexpected death, obviously confused and angrily cursed, "Damn it!"


    How did Marcus die without any puppets around him?


    He suddenly realized that the abilities of this "phantom species" were not just about controlling puppets.


    Ivan naturally noticed Su''en, who had been spared by the puppets earlier, and guessed that he might know something.


    But before he could ask, at this moment, a closed door not far away suddenly opened.


    And at this moment, a kind old man in a tailcoat walked out from the door, speaking in an emotionless tone, "My master invites you both to the banquet hall for dinner."


    Master, dinner?


    Su''en raised an eyebrow as he listened, feeling that it didn''t seem like a good thing.


    As he heard these words, his gaze also fell on the butler-like old man.


    He noticed that this guy''s eyes didn''t move at all while speaking, and upon closer inspection, his skin had a wax-like sheen.


    Obviously, this butler was not a living person.


    Su''en remained calm.


    The key was that even if he wanted to do something, he wouldn''t be able to win.


    But Ivan couldn''t control his temper.


    He had just killed one of my brothers in front of me, and now he''s inviting us to dinner?


    "Go to hell!"


    Ivan cursed angrily and raised his hand to attack.


    The butler was shattered by the attack.


    And at this moment, the low voice suddenly sounded again, ominously saying, "If you don''t follow the rules of the game, you will be killed..."


    "Hmph!"


    Ivan sneered, not taking it seriously.


    But suddenly, without warning, his whole body stiffened in ce.


    Just like when Marcus died.


    Su''en, who was not far away, saw it clearly this time. Transparent threads, like fishing lines, bound Ivan, making him unable to move.


    And as the threads tightened, the metallic scales on Ivan''s skin cracked, and the threads cut into his flesh, oozing out crimson blood.


    Su''en watched with wide eyes, "What a strange technique..."


    Clearly, this mysterious power was far beyond his imagination.


    In the next second, it seemed like Ivan was about to be dismembered into several pieces, but just before his body was torn apart, the bald man, who had been defiant just a moment ago, shouted, "Wait, I''m willing to go!"


    .......


    In this way, Su''en and Ivan, both with half of their bodies blown away, were invited into the banquet hall by the butler.


    The decoration here was also extremely luxurious, and soothing music yed from the phonograph.


    There were already many people seated at the dining table, and it looked lively, with a harmonious dining atmosphere.


    A maid puppet guided Su''en to an empty seat.


    He nced at the people at the table and had a rough idea in his mind.


    Although these "people" were sitting in their respective positions, they had no expressions and stiff bodies...


    Clearly, none of them were living beings.


    They were either puppets or corpses fixed to their seats with threads, giving off a creepy and eerie feeling.


    But Su''en wasn''t surprised. He naturally didn''t think that this "phantom species" would be so kind as to invite them to dinner.


    Judging from the disgusted expression on Ivan''s face, he probably recognized these corpses.


    The two of them took their seats, and the maid puppet behind them ced napkins on them and uncovered the silver covers in front of them.


    When Su''en sat down, he smelled a strong smell of blood and vaguely guessed what it was.


    When the cover was lifted, the smell of blood became even stronger.


    In front of him was a reddish-brown liver, still slightly oozing blood, looking like it had just been taken from a living creature.


    There were probably no live animals in this mansion, so it was easy to guess what kind of liver it was...


    Su''en raised an eyebrow, not surprised.


    In this eerie mansion, it would be strange if it was normal food.


    He had yed many twisted horror games, and this kind of plot... wasn''t too out of the ordinary.


    With a nce, he realized that his dish was rtively tame.


    In front of Ivan, there was a peeled human head. The eyeballs, still attached to the optic nerves, were ced in a small dish, seemingly a "dessert" after the meal.


    Looking at the green hair beside it, this head seemed to belong to the cockade-haired guy that Su''en had killed in the study earlier.


    And at this moment, that lingering voice sounded again, "The rule of the game is: you must finish your meal. Otherwise... you will die."


    And at this moment, all the "people," whether puppets or corpses, turned their heads and stared at the two living people on the table with hollow eyes.


    The butler on the side also urged with a warning tone, "So, esteemed guests, is the food not to your liking?"


    .......


    Su''en and Ivan definitely had no intention of voluntarily eating what was on the te.


    But obviously, whether they wanted to eat or not, it was not up to them.


    At this moment, transparent threads silently dropped from the ceiling and bound their limbs.


    Su''en noticed something, but he didn''t feel any abnormalities in his body.


    On the other hand, Ivan realized what was happening and his face turned ugly. He murmured in despair, "Mind control of the ''body,'' at least a ''gold-level'' phantom species. We''re done for..."


    He had already experienced the power of these threads earlier and thought that it was simply physical control. He thought that he might have a chance if he found an opportunity.


    But he didn''t expect that sitting in this chair would confirm that the "phantom species" was also adept at mental control.


    This was an ability that could easily kill him.


    "..."


    Su''en listened carefully and heard what Ivan was muttering.


    Soon, he also understood what "body control" meant.


    At this moment, he found that his hands were involuntarily lifting up and picking up the knife and fork next to the te, elegantly and gentlemanly cutting the liver on the te...


    This feeling was strange. It wasn''t just a simple marite, it was as if his brain had lost control of his body, and he could only watch as his hands cut the meat on the te without his control.


    One cut, another cut... the te was filled with blood.


    Meanwhile, Ivan, not far away, had already swallowed a burst eyeball with a crunch.


    The sound of chewing in the quiet banquet hall was particrly eerie.

 Chapter 7: Rune Puppetry

    Chapter 7: Rune Puppetry


    Su''en''s gaze gradually became serious.


    Because he also picked up a fork and skewered arge piece of bloody meat, bringing it to his mouth.


    If he didn''t find a solution, he would probably taste the vor of human organs for the first time.


    He knew that if he didn''t find a breakthrough, he would eventually be yed to death by the "ghost species".


    .......


    A terrifying manor, eerie dolls, a ghost species that enjoys killing humans...


    Su''en''s thoughts raced.


    Suddenly, he thought of something, a sh of inspiration: "Since the weirdness in this room has the ability to easily kill us, but it doesn''t... it means that this ''weirdness'' has some intelligence, and it''s not low."


    It''s a good thing that the monster has intelligence.


    He was afraid that the monster only knew instinctual killing, which would be a desperate situation.


    Fighting was definitely not an option.


    But based on his experience from thousands of horror games and movies, as long as an NPC has intelligence, they can obtain plot twists (clues) through conversation.


    The study, the corridor, the banquet hall... the clues in his mind suddenly connected.


    Su''en felt that he had probably found the key to breaking the deadlock!


    "Phew..."


    He let out a sigh of relief.


    Su''en decided to give it a try.


    At this moment, his expression suddenly froze, and he said something inexplicable to the empty space: "Miss Pestoya, can I talk to you?"


    ......


    With this opening, it was as if time had stopped.


    Su''en, with a piece of meat in his right hand, stopped in mid-air.


    Upon hearing these words, the bald man nearby, whose mouth was filled with blood, clearly paused, not understanding why Su''en suddenly said something so inexplicable.


    However, at this moment, a response came from the void, "Huh... How do you know my name?"


    It was still the deep and eerie voice of the olddy from before.


    He guessed it right!


    Upon hearing these words, Su''en immediately realized that his reasoning was correct.


    That Marcus guy mentioned that this "ghost species" discovered them but didn''t kill them directly. Instead, they yed a few games, like hide-and-seek, marbles, and bowling...


    As long as they followed the rules of the game, they could temporarily survive; but if they vited the rules, they would be killed immediately.


    The current situation was the same. This weirdness could easily kill them, but it chose to "y".


    This also proved that this "ghost species" was young, or rather, psychologically young.


    On the dining table, besides the corpses, there were only three dolls: a gentleman in a suit, a noblewoman, and a young woman. The gentleman sat in the main seat, indicating that they were a family of three.


    When Su''en observed them on the table earlier, he had a familiar feeling about these three people.


    After thinking for a moment, he remembered seeing a family photo on the wall in the study.


    In the photo, these three people were present.


    And there was actually a fourth person in that photo.


    A little girl holding a teddy bear!


    So... it wasn''t difficult to guess that the only remaining person was the little girl referred to as "the master" by the butler, who liked bloody pranks. The identity of this "ghost species" could only be that little girl.


    And on that photo, there happened to be a name written, "Pestoya Isaac"!


    ......


    Su''en didn''t answer that question but said directly, "Can I have a chat with you, Miss Pestoya?"


    Although he didn''t know what this "weirdness" was, it was probably simr to the "ghosts" he had in mind.


    Moreover, since he knew that she was young at heart, there was more room for conversation (maniption).


    Therefore, he needed to pique her interest first.


    He continued, "I can tell you interesting stories, dance, sing, perform shadow ys, puppet shows... I think Miss Pestoya will like them..."


    .......


    After saying these words, the room fell silent for a while.


    Su''en thought that things were still not quite there, but at this moment, the surroundings suddenly changed. The banquet hall transformed into a delicately decorated girl''s bedroom.


    At the workbench by the window, a little girl in a princess dress was sitting, tinkering with some doll parts.


    She seemed to be earnestly assembling a doll covered in runes. Without turning around, she said, "You haven''t answered how you know my name."


    Her voice was gentle and sounded tender.


    The first step was sessful!


    He sessfully piqued her interest.


    While quickly observing everything in the room, Su''en continued, "I saw your name on a photo in the study..."


    He spoke in a calm tone as much as possible, fearing that he might provoke the other party.


    Because he knew that the seemingly harmless little girl in front of him had a twisted mind that enjoyed killing humans.


    The little girl asked, "How did you discover me in the study?"


    Obviously, she was referring to the incident with the nutcracker.


    Su''en thought it was a good sign. At least, she took the initiative to start a conversation. He responded, "Because I noticed that the eyes of the doll moved."


    "Oh, so that''s how it is."


    Upon hearing this, the little girl slowly put down the rune doll in her hand.


    As if time stood still for a moment, she then turned around slowly.


    Seeing this, Su''en narrowed his eyes slightly and had a vague feeling that there would be a major turning point in the plot. Just in case, he silently yed a background music from a horror movie in his mind - "Today is a Good Day."


    As expected!


    In the next moment, the little girl turned to face Su''en and suddenly reverted to the previous low and terrifying voice, asking in a sinister tone, "Now, do you still want to chat with me?"


    .......


    It was a burnt and charred face, with facial features wrinkled together due to high temperature burns, and only three holes left for the mouth and nose.


    A normal person would definitely be startled upon seeing this face.


    But what surprised the little girl was that Su''en''s expression remained unchanged. There was no fear, disgust, or fear... Instead, he looked at the little girl''s face intently and even showed a warm smile.


    If you have watched a thousand horror movies, it''s probably hard to be scared.


    In horror movies, there were countless ways of "turning back and killing," including sulfuric acid, burning, dismemberment, pus... all kinds of terrifying and disgusting scenes.


    So, when Su''en saw this burnt face, he wasn''t particrly affected.


    He knew that if he showed an expression of being scared or afraid, it might trigger some instant death effect, and the conversation would definitely not continue.


    However, he sessfully passed this first level.


    Su''en went straight to the point, "Of course, Miss Pestoya. I can sense your loneliness..."


    He imitated the tone of the psychiatrist who treated him before and began the conversation.


    .......


    The little girl was stunned, as if she hadn''t figured out how to respond if the other person wasn''t scared by her terrifying appearance.


    Su''en didn''t give her a chance to attack. He immediately started telling his own story.


    "When I was in the juvenile detention center, I was often put in solitary confinement. Oh, the juvenile detention center is a ce for disobedient children. So, I can understand the loneliness of being locked in a small room alone..."


    "I was born into a loving family, but at a young age, my parents left..."


    "..."


    If you have read eight hundred books, you won''t find anything new in the world.


    Italian writer Carlo Gozzi said that there are only thirty-six plotlines in the world: pleading, rescue, revenge, revenge between rtives, pursuit, disaster, misfortune, enlightenment, seeking...


    Upon seeing the face of "Pestoya," Su''en immediately spected on many plotlines.


    Burned?


    Either it was an ident, or she was a victim.


    And the family sitting neatly at the dining table, either it was nostalgia or resentment.


    From the limited clues, it seemed like a harmonious family.


    Pestoya was probably born into a loving family, but when she was around ten years old, she lost her life in an idental fire.


    Her life was frozen in that year.


    Su''en wasn''t entirely bluffing; he could actually empathize with that kind of loneliness.


    Because he was telling his own story.


    Perhaps only a mentally ill patient could understand a mentally ill patient?


    After being treated in the juvenile detention center for so many years, reading so many books on psychology, he could easilymunicate with troubled children.


    Although this "weirdness" was powerful and could easily kill a hundred Su''en, it was ultimately just a little girl with limited life experience.


    With intelligencees emotional needs...


    That''s what the psychiatrist who treated him said.


    The desire to survive overwhelmed any guilt Su''en had for manipting the little girl. They slowly started talking as if they were good friends, sitting side by side.


    Su''en told her some strange and interesting stories from Earth.


    Pestoya also talked about the events that happened in the manor.


    "My parents are both powerful alchemists, and they are busy every day... Only these dolls apany me all the time, but unfortunately, they can''t talk..."


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t ask about the fire incident. It was easy to guess that it would trigger painful memories for Pestoya.


    The two of them chatted about happy and interesting trivial matters.


    The plot unfolded as he had predicted.


    Su''en''s goal was to survive, and it seemed that he probably wouldn''t be killed.


    But it seemed like something else had been added.


    Resonance, it was always mutual.


    Although there was no affection level panel like in games, Su''en felt that he got along well with this little girl.


    .......


    They chatted for a long time, and Pestoya seemed very satisfied, with a lovely smile on her face.


    "Thank you. It''s been years since someone talked to me."


    The little girl thought of something and said, "But you can''t stay with me for too long... Otherwise, you will be distorted."


    "Distorted?"


    Su''en thought it wouldn''t hurt to stay a little longer, but upon hearing Pestoya''s words, he realized that there might be other dangers in this space.


    At this moment, Pestoya seemed to think of something else.


    She walked to her workbench and picked up thepleted rune doll, putting it in an exquisite box. She said, "This is a farewell gift for you, Mr. Su''en. Thank you for talking to me."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en knew that he had sessfully survived.


    Su''en didn''t hesitate and epted the wooden box containing the rune doll.


    It was a simple doll with yellow skin, quite heavy to hold, as if it contained many metal parts. The most peculiar thing was the faint blue rune light that appeared on its surface.


    He didn''t ask further questions but smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your gift, Miss Pestoya."


    "Mr. Su''en, we probably won''t see each other again. Even if youe again, I might forget about you..."


    As they were about to part ways, Pestoya''s face showed a touch of sadness.


    Then, she took off a butterfly brooch from her clothes and pinned it on Su''en''s chest with her own hands. "This is my favorite brooch. It was a birthday gift from my mother when I was six years old. It''s also a small gift from me to you. I hope you can do me a favor when you leave."


    Su''en readily agreed, "Sure."


    "If you can see my parents in the future, please ask them..."


    When Pestoya said this, she suddenly stopped and didn''t continue.


    Su''en asked in confusion, "Ask them what?"


    Pestoya''s tone suddenly became painful, alternating between the terrifying voice of the olddy and the voice of a young girl, "Ask them... why did they burn me to death?"


    With these words, an inexplicable chill suddenly swept through the entire room.


    Ah?


    Su''en never expected her to suddenly say such a thing.


    He immediately realized that the truth of the matter wasn''t so simple.


    So Pestoya was burned to death by her parents?


    How is that possible? A harmonious and loving family, and yet the parents burned their beloved daughter to death?


    Where did the problem lie?


    Was it Pestoya who had a problem, or was it her parents?


    However, there was no time to think further. At this moment, Pestoya seemed to be reminded of something else.


    She walked to her workbench again, took out a well-made rune doll, and put it in an exquisite box, saying, "This is a parting gift for you, Mr. Su''en. Thank you for talking to me."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en knew that he had sessfully survived.


    Su''en didn''t hesitate and epted the wooden box containing the rune doll.


    It was a simple doll with yellow skin, quite heavy to hold, as if it contained many metal parts. The most peculiar thing was the faint blue rune light that appeared on its surface.


    He didn''t ask further questions but smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your gift, Miss Pestoya."


    "Mr. Su''en, we probably won''t see each other again. Even if youe again, I might forget about you..."


    As they were about to part ways, Pestoya''s face showed a touch of sadness.


    Then, she took off a butterfly brooch from her clothes and pinned it on Su''en''s chest with her own hands. "This is my favorite brooch. It was a birthday gift from my mother when I was six years old. It''s also a small gift from me to you. I hope you can do me a favor when you leave."


    Su''en readily agreed, "Sure."


    "If you can see my parents in the future, please ask them..."


    When Pestoya said this, she suddenly stopped and didn''t continue.


    Su''en asked in confusion, "Ask them what?"


    Pestoya''s tone suddenly became painful, alternating between the terrifying voice of the olddy and the voice of a young girl, "Ask them... why did they burn me to death?"


    With these words, an inexplicable chill suddenly swept through the entire room.


    Ah?


    Su''en never expected her to suddenly say such a thing.


    He immediately realized that the truth of the matter wasn''t so simple.

 Chapter 8: Statue, altar, offering

    Chapter 8: Statue, altar, offering


    Saying goodbye to a friend that he had only known for a few hours, but would probably never see again, Su''en felt a bit down.


    The surroundings suddenly changed from the luxurious mansion to ruins.


    "Is this... the remains of the mansion from before?"


    Although everything inside the house had decayed, from the intact framework of the house, it was the mansion where he had stayed before.


    The banquet hall, the corridors, the study... theyout was all familiar.


    "It must have taken hundreds of years for it to decay like this..."


    Su''en found it unbelievable.


    He thought he was mentally prepared, but seeing the scene of destruction in front of him, he still couldn''t fully process it.


    Could it be that the previous mansion was an illusion, and Pestoya and the others he encountered were also illusions?


    But when he looked down, he saw that he was holding a wooden box, the same one that contained the "rune doll".


    And on his chest, he was wearing the butterfly brooch adorned with a ck gem.


    "The items are real..."


    Su''en touched the box in his hand, feeling like he had woken up from a dream and brought something from the dream into reality.


    "Could it be that the brightly lit mansion just now was like a special space, like a game instance?"


    Su''en looked around but couldn''t figure it out.


    His knowledge of this world was too limited, and many questions couldn''t be understood just by thinking.


    However, now he was faced with another question: where should he go from here?


    And the first thing that came to his mind was the information on his retina.


    "The original owner came here to find something called ''Sir Isaac''s relic''..."


    With some free time, Su''en finally had the opportunity to carefully read the obscure and difficult-to-understand information on his retina. He also realized that the "treasure" the original owner was looking for seemed to be quite extraordinary.


    Coincidentally, he was also very interested in that "transcendent ability".


    After some thought, Su''en decided to go and take a look. He spected that there shouldn''t be any other dangers in this mansion. If there were, Pestoya would probably be the biggest boss.


    ...


    Based on his memory, Su''en found the banquet hall of the mansion.


    Then, counting from his left, he found the seventh room.


    The door of the room hadpletely decayed, and there were spider webs everywhere, giving it a gloomy appearance. But the structure of the room was still stable, except for the peeling paint on the walls, it could still be recognized as a storage room.


    Su''en cautiously walked in, and besides asionally hearing the squeaking of mice, there were no terrifying monsters that would appear in horror movies.


    He took in the sight of the furnishings in the room and saw the hexagonalmp on the wall.


    Finding the correctmp, he turned it clockwise, and heard the sound of gears clicking. A hidden door appeared.


    "After hundreds of years, this mechanism can still work..."


    Su''en was slightly surprised by the deep passage that appeared in front of him.


    Without hesitation, he walked in.


    The passage seemed to be isted from the outside air and was very well preserved.


    He tested it and found that it wasn''t stuffy and he could breathe normally.


    The passageway was built with green bricks, and every few meters on the walls, there were wallmps. The faint yellow light from the gemstones, whose material he didn''t know, was weak but enough to illuminate the entire secret passage.


    Su''en didn''t dare to touch anything. Since the hidden door could open normally, the mechanisms in the secret passage should still be functioning.


    The information on his retina specifically warned him not to touch anything outside of the safety lines.


    In this way, after walking for a while, Su''en noticed that the passageways around him became strange, as if they were all the same.


    He knew that he had entered a maze.


    There were mechanisms that caused visual disturbances here.


    He carved some necessary directional markers on the ground and continued forward.


    "After the first intersection, left, left, right, up, down..."


    Luckily, the correct path through the maze was left on his retina. Su''en didn''t encounter any trouble along the way.


    After about fifteen minutes of walking, he arrived at his destination, a spacious sealed stone chamber.


    There wererge glowing gemstones here, illuminating the entire room.


    "So this is the ''Hermit''s Altar'' marked on the treasure map?"


    Su''en didn''t immediately step into the stone chamber, but carefully observed it.


    In the center of the circr chamber, there were five tall stone statues. They were wearing cloaks that covered their entire bodies and most of their faces, giving them a mysterious appearance. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that three of the statues had cracks, while two were intact.


    And behind the cloak of each statue, there was a special symbol carved: , , , , ...


    They seemed to be special codes.


    What surprised Su''en was that just by gazing at these statues, he felt a sense of sacred majesty, as if he wanted to bow down and worship.


    That feeling was as if he was being watched by a god, making him feel insignificant like dust.


    "These statues are really peculiar..."


    Su''en sighed as he looked at the scene.


    The unveiled world was gradually revealing its mysteries to him, and his curiosity was growing stronger.


    ...


    There was nothing unnecessary in the sealed chamber.


    The five statues stood in different positions, facing the center where there was a circr altar with a diameter of about five meters.


    The altar was engraved with an eight-pointed star magic array, surrounded by some unreadable special words and runes. In the center, there was an engraved pattern of a "coiled snake" and a "bnce".


    "The secret to obtaining the ''talent'' that allows one to withstand bullets like the bald man is hidden on this altar?"


    Su''en looked at the well-carved patterns on the altar, his face showing a pensive expression.


    The retina still had this message: "My dear Fick, I''m sorry that you have lost everything; through deciphering and decrypting, I discovered an astonishing secret from the mysterious ''Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript'' that I obtained from the family: besides natural awakening and bloodline inheritance, there is actually a third way for transcendent talents to awaken, through specific conditions... Although it''s just an unconfirmed ''treasure map,'' it''s the bestpensation I can think of for you..."


    Su''en didn''t think too much about this passage, as the cause and effect were no longer important.


    He caught a few important keywords: sacrifice medium, directional awakening, talent.


    It said that after "sacrificing one''s own eyeball," he "might" obtain an extremely powerful S-level talent. A highly rare ability that everyone in the alchemy world dreams of.


    If it were on Earth, Su''en would have definitely taken it as a joke.


    Remove his own eyeball as a sacrifice and gain superpowers?


    Fuck those superpowers!


    But after witnessing so many transcendent powers just now, Su''en thought carefully about this question.


    As for the word "might," it carried a gambling element.


    Because no one had tried it before.


    "I remember the bald man called his ability ''C079-Steelized Bones''? It seems more powerful than ''S-level''..."


    Su''en weighed his options for a moment, not knowing how the talent ratings in this world were distinguished.


    But if he could obtain the "transcendent power" like the bald man, it seemed worth it to pay some price.


    Certain thoughts had already begun to stir in his mind.


    And what made Su''en determined was another reason.


    He also thought about the background of the original owner, which seemed extraordinary. The person who left the information on his retina acknowledged the high specifications of this altar with respect. Perhaps the awakened talent here would be even stronger than the "steelized bones".


    Opportunity, no matter which world, always had a gambling element to it.


    The worst result would be blindness, without gaining anything.


    After experiencing a life-and-death battle, Su''en felt that this was not an uneptable price.


    To obtain something, one must pay a price. This was a basic rule in any world.


    Thinking this, he raised his eyebrows and reassured himself, "Since I''m already here... let''s give it a try."

 Chapter 9: [Talent S-018 - All-Seeing Eyes]

    Chapter 9: [Talent S-018 - All-Seeing Eyes]


    Su''en made a decision and walked calmly towards the altar.


    Hesitation was never his character.


    He had already made a n when he intended to follow the route.


    Coming to such an interesting fantasy world, it would be boring to be timid.


    ......


    Su''en stood on the altar, stepping on the intricate engraved runes and carefully observing.


    He had seen the bald man use this "Alchemy Array" before, using a hexagram magic array to create a set of metal scales.


    But obviously, the array engraved on this altar was much moreplex.


    "Blood stains the tail-biting snake, activate the array..."


    Following the instructions on his retina, he tore off the simple bandage on his palm. Then, with a slight force, he tore the wound apart, and the blood flowed down his fingers and dripped onto the engraved "tail-biting snake" on the magic array.


    As the blood stained the tail-biting snake, the red color automatically spread.


    The stone-carved snake gradually turned into a shining ruby-like red.


    In an instant, the runes on the altar lit up, and the golden light was so dazzling that it was almost impossible to open one''s eyes.


    "The array is functioning normally..."


    Su''en muttered to himself, with a hint of joy.


    This was a good sign.


    If the array could function, it meant that the decoding method in the "Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript" had a high chance of being correct. After all, no one would y such aplicated prank.


    With the array activated, the next step was the "sacrifice" ceremony.


    ording to the information on his retina, all alchemy in this world followed the principle of "equivalent exchange". To obtain such talent, an equivalent price must be sacrificed.


    What he had to sacrifice now was his own eyeball.


    "Phew..."


    Su''en took a deep breath and slowly raised his right hand, reaching towards his left eye. He sarcastically muttered to himself, "Indeed, my body seems to be excited about experiencing pain. Even if it means gouging out my own eye..."


    Gouging out an eye might be bloody for others, but it was not unfamiliar to Su''en.


    In his first year in the detention center, when he had an episode, he did the same thing. The target was a prison bully who had bullied him. After that, his cellmates called him "madman".


    Later, after studying "Human Anatomy" in the detention center, he learned how to urately kill, injure, and fight...


    Feares from the unknown, and Su''en knew very well what he would face when gouging out his eye, so he remained calm.


    He acted decisively, as if he was not the one enduring the pain.


    ......


    The pain, the piercing pain...


    And the fear of losing one eye.


    Blood dripped from his eye socket and fell onto the altar.


    The intense pain made Su''en''s forehead covered in cold sweat, and his face turned pale.


    After a few breaths, he took the crimson object and ced it in the left basket of the "bnce" stone carving.


    In that moment, as if a specific condition had been activated, a bright red light suddenly emanated from the central bnce of the altar, devouring the eyeball. At the same time, a faint green aura, like a small snake, quietly flowed into Su''en''s bleeding left eye...


    This was a veryplex alchemical transformation ritual.


    At this moment, this ancient and majestic altar, which had been sealed for thousands of years, seemed to connect different time and space... An ancient and majestic aura descended upon this secret room.


    Unaware of all this, Su''en''s limited perception allowed him to touch the mystery of this miraculous alchemy. It was as if he was traversing an endless starry sky, plucking a brilliant star from the sky and integrating it into his body.


    The process went more smoothly than expected, without any unexpected incidents.


    Su''en didn''t know what had happened, as his vision was filled with blood.


    Soon, he clearly felt the pain in his eye disappearing, and the light in his left eye was restored.


    "It worked..."


    Su''en guessed what had happened and let out a sigh of relief.


    The tingling sensation was a phenomenon of muscle tissue regeneration, faster than he could believe.


    The whole processsted about three minutes, and the red light on the magic array on the altarpletely dimmed.


    And as the red light dissipated, the statue with the symbol "" on the five stone carvings beside the altar cracked open.


    Su''en''s left eye slowly focused, clear and radiant, shining like a newborn baby. Upon closer inspection, there was a silver "moon" within the golden iris. With a flicker, the moon disappeared into the depths of the pupil.


    It was a strange experience. The altar in front of him was still the same, but it now appeared as a strange "new world". All objects became extremely clear, like a high-definition original photo with no filters, every detail visible. Even the spiderweb-like cracks on the statue were clearly distinguishable.


    ......


    "So... what kind of transcendent ability have I awakened? Is it ''Enhanced Vision''?"


    After confirming that the ritual wasplete, Su''en looked around and then lowered his head to examine his own body.


    His appearance seemed unchanged, but his vision had improved significantly. Even in dim light, his field of vision was incredibly clear.


    If that was all, he felt that it was much inferior to the bald man''s ''Steelized Skeleton''...


    But just as Su''en wasining in his mind, a strange sensation urred.


    He carefully examined his body and, after staring intently as if trying to see something clearly, strange text appeared in his eyes.


    Su''en (Fick Reigade)


    Dark Spiritual Power: 233/1130


    Charm: 9


    Strength: 6


    Agility: 6


    Constitution: 5


    Perception: 4


    Skill: 8


    Mental Power: 26


    Talent: [Talent S-018 - All-Seeing Eyes]


    Skills: [Hegem Breath Method], [Basic Firearms Proficiency], [Advanced Combat Introduction]


    Overall Combat Evaluation: B+ (For ordinary people who have not be transcendent, you are weak inbat except for your handsome appearance. But with the awakened S-level talent ''All-Seeing Eyes,'' you have endless possibilities in the future.)


    Seeing this, it felt as if time had frozen for a moment.


    Su''en eximed, "Data panel?"


    When he saw the string of data appearing on his retina, he felt as if he was ying a game.


    But when he saw the talent ''All-Seeing Eyes'' on the panel, he suddenly realized.


    "So, this transcendent talent awakened through the sacrifice ritual is this ability? It doesn''t seem that powerful..."


    Su''en muttered to himself, understanding why he had to sacrifice his own eyeball.


    So this "directional awakening" meant exchanging one eye for another.


    Su''en''s thoughts were jumping, and he no longer dwelled on things he couldn''t change. Instead, he began toin about the evaluations on the panel.


    But to think that hisbat skill, which could defeat ten opponents on Earth, was only considered "advanced introduction"?


    And the marksmanship that he had spent most of his savings practicing at the shooting range was only "basic proficiency"?


    Then what would advanced proficiency be like? Could the bullets turn corners?


    And there''s more!


    Overall evaluation, weak?


    Not very damaging, but extremely insulting...


    "Hehe... Compared to that bald guy, I can indeed be called ''weak''."


    Su''en smiled wryly, but he had a rough idea of the power levels in this world.


    And that strange [Hegem Breath Method] should be a "passive skill" that the original owner had learned and mastered.


    Su''en had felt a strange energy flowing in his body before, and his breathing followed a specific rhythm. It was like a "muscle memory," almost instinctively moving in a certain way.


    As for the Dark Spiritual Power, it should be simr to the "internal energy" of the previous life.


    But when he looked at his attribute panel, he showed a puzzled expression. The value of 26 for mental power was too eye-catching.


    "Could it be because of the multiple personalities?"


    Su''en pondered with his chin resting on his hand, but before he could think further...


    Suddenly, an anomaly urred!


    At that moment, the previously extinguished altar suddenly lit up again.


    This time, it was not golden light, but a gray mist enveloped in a cold light. It was like opening a gateway to hell, and he felt a shivering aura originating from the soul.


    "What''s going on? The alchemy array is activated again?!"


    Su''en felt puzzled because the information on his retina did not mention such a strange situation urring during the ritual.


    But he did not panic, as this scene was very simr to when he awakened before.


    After the light of the magic array shed, the statue with the symbol "" on the cloak emitted a fluorescent light, and a faint ck aura overflowed from the statue.


    This time, the transformation process was much faster than before.


    "Why is the talent awakening again when it has already awakened? I didn''t sacrifice anything..."


    Su''en looked at this familiar process, feeling greatly confused.


    At the same time, he felt as if something invisible was being drawn out of his body, and he inexplicably felt much lighter.


    Not long after, the octagram light dissipated, and the statue cracked again.


    This time, none of the five statues remained intact.


    Su''en also clearly felt that the sense of mystery and awe that these statues had given him suddenly disappeared, and they became ordinary stone carvings.


    ......


    Su''en looked at the panel again, wanting to know what had happened to his body.


    Then, he saw something new in the talent section - [Talent S-004 - Reaper of Death].

 Chapter 10: Extraordinary items harvested

    Chapter 10: Extraordinary items harvested


    "Double talent? What is this?"


    Su''encks basic knowledge of this world, so even if he sees this extra talent, he doesn''t know what it''s used for.


    Moreover, he found that his spiritual power value has changed from "26" to "18".


    His spiritual power has decreased by 8 points, and the feeling of hearing whispers in his ears haspletely disappeared.


    Su''en spected in his heart, "The principle of this altar is to offer items and exchange them for some kind of transcendent talent. It used to be an eye for an eye. Now that my spiritual power has decreased, could it be... the previous owner''s remnants werepletely sacrificed within my body, and then I obtained a new talent?"


    He didn''t dwell on this question too much, as there was no way to confirm it anyway.


    But at this moment, a strange thought popped into Su''en''s mind: if he wasn''t a traveler, what would a normal person sacrifice to obtain this talent? Would theymit suicide on the altar and sacrifice their own soul?


    .......


    "What is the use of this talent S-004, Death Reaper?"


    After all, this is not a game, and reality doesn''t have skill usage instructions.


    Su''en looked at it for a while, but still had no clue, and his body didn''t undergo any changes.


    He thought for a moment, didn''t dwell on it, and continued to test the abilities he gained from his eyes.


    In an instant, he turned his gaze to several stone sculptures, and a string of words appeared on them.


    [Damaged stone sculptures]


    Exnation: Stone sculptures without transcendent power, no significant observation value;


    This time, Su''en probably knew the use of this talent, "Isn''t this the ''appraisal skill'' in the game..."


    If we talk about the enhancement ofbat power with this talent... it''s not significant, it can be consideredpletely useless.


    This can basically be ssified as a support function.


    At least, in a real fight, it is not on the same level as the previous bald man''s [Steelized Skeleton].


    "Maybe I haven''t understood the use of this ''All-Seeing Eye'', or perhaps there are still undeveloped abilities. This awakening ritual is soplicated, it shouldn''t be that simple..."


    Su''en looked at it, but he wasn''t too disappointed.


    At least, his vision has improved, and it seems that his marksmanship has be more urate.


    At this moment, he suddenly thought of something, walked down from the altar, and took out the rune doll that Pestoya had given him to appraise.


    Upon inspection, he realized that it was a valuable treasure.


    [Cursed Item: Rune Puppet]


    Quality: Gold


    Description: It doesn''t like being controlled by others, but it enjoys controlling humans;


    Curse Attribute: Within a range of ten meters, it can indiscriminately control the minds of target creatures with a spirit level below 15, causing hypnosis, physical confusion, madness...


    Exnation: A material for alchemists specializing in mysterious puppets; after specializing, it greatly enhances skill and agility attributes and gains exclusive inherited skills.


    Evaluation: Bodypatibility 93%, this is already a very good quality material for advancing professions.


    If it weren''t for this "All-Seeing Eye," Su''en wouldn''t have expected that a random toy doll he considered a "souvenir" would be so powerful.


    "Physical confusion... this seems to be one of Pestoya''s transcendent abilities?"


    He looked at the detailed description of the puppet and immediately thought of the scene where he uncontrobly ate in the banquet hall before.


    Directly depriving control of the body, this ability is truly bizarre.


    "It even has indiscriminate mind control..."


    Su''en looked at it with a startled expression. If his spiritual power wasn''t stronger than that of an ordinary person, having this thing around would probably drive him crazy.


    Hmm... it''s probably equivalent to carrying a dangerous "nuclear radiation toy" with you.


    And at this moment, he also noticed a new term in the detailed descriptionspecialization material.


    He thought of the bald Ivan who transformed his entire body into metal scales using a magic array. Could this be some kind of special method for advancing professions?


    Su''en had quite a lot of strange knowledge in his head, and he spected that this so-called "specialization" was simr to job changes in games.


    "Pestoya''s profession should be ''Puppeteer''... but how do I specialize?"


    Countless question marks popped up in Su''en''s mind, and he sighed softly.


    He had limited knowledge of this world andcked much necessarymon sense.


    And now it seems that having this "All-Seeing Eye" ability is quite useful, at least it allows him to see these magical items without beingpletely clueless.


    ........


    Su''en put the puppet back into the wooden box.


    To his surprise, upon closer inspection, he found that the box containing the rune puppet was also a treasure.


    [Level 2 Rune Sealing Wooden Box]


    Exnation: A special alchemical box that can block fluctuations in spiritual power; upon careful observation, you will find some inscriptions on it.


    Su''en had previously felt that the patterns on the box were somewhat special, and now seeing this prompt, he took another look and discovered that the intricate patterns were actually tiny words, which turned out to be a book titled "Comprehensive Guide to Puppet Making."


    "Could it be that Pestoya thought my spiritual power was strong and suitable for being a puppeteer, so she not only gave me a ''specialization material'' but also included a skill book?"


    Su''en suddenly thought of the gentle little girl with golden hair and blue eyes, and there was always an indelible sense of regret in his heart.


    What a pity...


    He also didn''t forget his promise to the girl, to ask his parents why they burned her to death.


    But this estate has been abandoned for hundreds of years, and his parents are probably long gone.


    This "promise" may never be fulfilled.


    Then, he looked at the butterfly brooch pinned to his chest by the little girl, which turned out to be a transcendent item as well.


    [Pestoya''s Brooch]


    Focus +10


    Exnation: A brooch with strong resentment. It is a delicate alchemical product that allows the wearer to be more focused in learning, casting spells, working... But prolonged wearing will make one''s temperament be irritable and violent.


    (Note: Your transcendent ability prevents you from detecting and understanding too many things beyond your cognitive level, so after careful perception, you also see a string of ''unknown ???''...)


    Su''en looked at the brooch, thinking it was just a little trinket the girl gave him.


    But unexpectedly, when he saw the "???" note behind the brooch, a series of question marks also appeared in his mind.


    An elusive sense of mystery immediately enveloped him.


    There is actually something in this brooch that he temporarily can''t understand?


    What exactly could it be that the "All-Seeing Eye" judges him unable toprehend... Is it like exining the concept of three-dimensional or four-dimensional space to a two-dimensional creature, where they can hear and see but simply cannot understand?


    Something that even a traveler like himself can''tprehend must be extraordinary...


    "Could there be some secret hidden in this brooch?"


    Su''en instinctively felt that something was off.


    And at this moment, the question that troubled Su''en resurfaced in his mind: why did Pestoya''s parents burn her to death?


    Perhaps... she herself had some kind of problem?


    In this world with transcendent abilities, who knows what strange existences there might be.


    If it weren''t for the "All-Seeing Eye," Su''en probably wouldn''t have noticed any issues with the brooch.


    But now that he has discovered it, he feels a sense of caution.


    However, Su''en quickly thought that Pestoya is the big boss of this estate, so even if he suspects something, it''s best not to bring it up here.


    Thinking this, he decided to leave this ce before making any decisions.

 Chapter 11: Reaper of Death

    Chapter 11: Reaper of Death


    "The original host came to this mansion in search of the ancient altar, and then obtained the ''S-level'' Transcendent talent through sacrifice.


    Su''en fulfilled the original host''s wish.


    The only difference now is that he has awakened dual talents.


    Without any reference, Su''en doesn''t know if this situation is normal or not.


    He has understood some of the abilities of the ''All-Knowing Eyes'', but he has no clue about the function of the ''Reaper of Death''.


    There is no additional information left on the retina, the only useful thing is probably the map.


    At least, he knows where the original host came from and can follow the same path back to find the ''starting point''.


    Su''en also ns to leave here and find a human gathering point to learn more about this world.


    ......


    After careful inspection, there is nothing else in the basement.


    The five stone sculptures already have spider-web-like cracks, which have spread to the altar. It seems that the ancient altar haspletely lost its function.


    Su''en didn''t stay long and walked out of the secret passage.


    Back in the ruined mansion, Su''en was already out of breath.


    Losing arge amount of blood made his head dizzy.


    And the things on his body were taken away by Ivan and his gang before he crossed over. He urgently wanted to find some food to fill his stomach and replenish his energy.


    Otherwise, he knew he would not be able to go far alive.


    "I wonder what kind of existence Pestoya is and where that special space is..."


    Su''en looked at the ruined mansion and felt like it was all just a dream.


    ording to Marcus'' previous words, more than ten people in Ivan''s group died in the mansion, so he should have seen the bodies no matter what.


    But Su''en looked around and didn''t see any bodies at all. Even the spider webs on the passage indicated that no one hade except for himself.


    Su''en didn''t find anything in the house and walked out of the door.


    Walking into the courtyard, he noticed that the sky was gloomy, as if the dark night was covered by dark clouds, and everything around was hazy.


    The mansion seems to be built on a half-mountain slope. With the enhancement of his ''Enhanced Vision'', Su''en could vaguely see the shadows of somerge buildings in the distance.


    It looks like a ruined ghost city.


    There are no light sources in the city, shrouded in mist, and there are faint shadows of huge moving creatures...


    Seeing this scene, Su''en''s gaze gradually deepened, and he muttered to himself, "The mysteries of this world are bing more and more intriguing..."


    Like discovering a mysterious map that has never been explored in a game, the strong desire to explore made his heart restless.


    This is also one of his beliefs in order to survive.


    However, if a ruined mansion is so strange and dangerous, there must be dangers lurking in the ruined buildings in the distance.


    Su''en had no intention of exploring the city ruins now. He carefully looked at the map on his retina and nned to first find the route the original host came from and return the same way.


    The map is even more strange, with the route from top to bottom.


    It means that if the scale on the route is not marked incorrectly, Su''en is now at least hundreds of kilometers deep underground.


    Who would build such arge city in such a deep underground?


    This is a very strange point.


    Moreover, if this is underground, what is the meaning of the faint light source in the sky?


    This underground space is also unusuallyrge...


    However, Su''en, who had witnessed the power of Transcendence, did not delve into these questions.


    No matter how strange this world is, it is within his expectations.


    ......


    Su''enpared the directions and nned to leave the mansion.


    But just as he took a few steps, he saw a bloody figure lying in the dpidated garden of the mansion.


    The shiny bald head immediately alerted Su''en.


    Obviously, this guy is Ivan, the leader of the bandits!


    At this moment, this guy''s metal scales had fallen off, and his skin was covered with wounds as if he had been tortured.


    "This guy is still alive?!"


    Su''en looked at the slightly undting chest of the bald head and felt a little surprised.


    He thought that Pestoya''s ability should easily kill this guy.


    "Could this also be a gift she specially left for me? Or does this bald guy have some life-saving means to escape from that special space?"


    Su''en pondered for a moment and chose not to escape, but opened the wooden box and took out the rune puppet.


    Then, he slowly walked towards the bald head.


    It just so happened that he urgently needed supplies to survive, and this bald head came at the right time.


    Twenty meters, ten meters...


    When he reached within ten meters, Su''en also let out a sigh of relief.


    Even if the bald head still had the strength to resist at this time, the rune puppet should be able to control him.


    Obviously, Su''en''s caution was unnecessary. The bald head had alreadypletely lost consciousness.


    Facing this guy who had almost killed him before, Su''en had no mercy. He drew the dagger from his waist and stabbed it into his heart.


    The sharp dagger urately pierced through the ribs, instantly ending the bald head''s life.


    Su''en looked at the lifeless bald head and finally rxed.


    At this moment, a strange scene appeared.


    Su''en fixed his gaze and saw a grayish, glowing mist-like substance appearing on the bald head''s body.


    He thought it might be a "corpse transformation" or "evil spirit conversion", but before he could think too much, he found himself having an urgent desire to devour that "mist" unconsciously...


    It was the kind of craving one feels when extremely hungry and sees food.


    "Could this be... a soul?"


    Su''en suppressed that desire and suddenly realized something. He tentatively touched the "mist" with his hand.


    In the next moment, a series of images and information flooded into his mind.


    "You have obtained ''Ivan Adams'' memory fragments."


    "You have acquired some ''basic mechanical knowledge''."


    "You have captured a piece of information: ''Oh! Sabina''s peaches are really big...''"


    "Combat experience +5"


    "Mental power +0.1"


    ...


    "This ''mist'' is actually Ivan''s memory fragments!"


    Su''en found that his mind suddenly had something extra.


    First, it was like watching a movie, seeing Ivan modifying and maintaining the mechanical arm, and seeing him fighting with others...


    However, after the mist was devoured and fused, there was no longer any barrier. That memory seemed like his own "personal experience".


    As for the erotic scene that shed into his mind,pared to other surprises, it was naturally ignored.


    When he came back to his senses, Su''en realized that he seemed to have acquired some of Ivan''s skills.


    He looked at his panel again.


    Indeed!


    His mental power had increased by 0.1, and a new skill, ''Basic Mechanical Knowledge'', appeared in his skill list.


    The increase of "Combat experience +5" made Su''en estimate that even if he trained hard for three to five months, he might not have achieved such a huge improvement.


    He suddenly realized the potential of this ''Reaper of Death'' ability: "This ability, ''S-004-Death Reaper'', can actually strip memory fragments from the soul and make them his own..."


    Realizing the potential of this ability, he couldn''t believe it. "Is this ability so incredible?"


    Although this talent does not directly increasebat power, it is definitely a "god-level" ability for growth and development!


    He can strip the memories of deceased targets and gain some of their abilities... no wonder it''s called the ''Death Reaper''!


    The more Su''en thought about it, the more he marveled.


    This meant that as long as he had enough memory fragments, he could easily master more skills and abilities.


    Magic, alchemy, mechanical knowledge,bat experience, marksmanship... and so on. Skills that others need to spend a lot of time experiencing and umting, he could instantly master.


    The future potential is limitless!


    Indeed, it is worthy of being an ''S-level'' talent!


    Without further thought, Su''en noticed another problem.


    When the bald head was still alive, there was no "mist" on his body. It only appeared after he was killed.


    It seems that this ''Reaper of Death'' ability can only strip the soul of the deceased?


    "But, whether dead or alive, where can I find so many souls to harvest..."


    Thinking of this, Su''en furrowed his brows.


    In the next moment, he murmured as if having a conversation with someone, "Hey hey hey... don''t be so excited."


    At this moment, he didn''t realize that he hade to a cruel world where human life is as insignificant as grass.


    Here, death is like the wind, always apanying everyone."

 Chapter 12: Bountiful spoils of war

    Chapter 12: Bountiful spoils of war


    The bald man died, and Su''en began to collect his spoils.


    The mechanical arm on his right arm was damaged in the previous battle. The barrel, valve, and high-pressure pipes were all cut open.


    However, this did not hinder Su''en''s research on this steampunk technology.


    He had just extracted the memories from the bald man and gained some basic "steam mechanical knowledge". With a nce, he roughly understood the structure of this mechanical arm.


    "It seems like the technology tree in this world is a bit crooked, abination of alchemy and steam power..."


    Su''en looked at the runes engraved on the mechanical arm and fell into deep thought.


    Pure metal materials alone could not support such aplex structure, especially the ultra-high-pressure steam cannon. These mysterious alchemical runes yed a very important role in maintaining the stability of the structure.


    However, his knowledge of mechanics was still limited, and he temporarily couldn''t understand the principles behind these inscriptions and enchantments.


    ......


    Without looking further, Su''en began to scavenge the other equipment on the bald man''s body.


    Unfortunately, except for the dagger he just found, almost all the items on the body were damaged. The shotgun was also cut into several pieces, with only half of the barrel left in the holster.


    Su''en couldn''t help but feel disappointed. He didn''t find the supplies he wanted and wondered, "Is this it? Don''t these guys bring any food with them when they go out?"


    Just as he was wondering in his mind, he suddenly noticed three ck gemstone rings that the bald man was wearing.


    If Su''en remembered correctly, one of them was peeled off from the finger of the cock''sb-headed man who died.


    He focused his attention and immediately received a response from the "All-Seeing Eye".


    [Damaged spatial ring]


    Exnation: Inferior spatial equipment engraved with identity recognition runes (damaged).


    "Spatial equipment?"


    Su''en looked at it and revealed an expression of "just as expected".


    In this deste underground world, water and food should be more important than weapons. These guys didn''t even have a water bottle, which was abnormal.


    He took off one of the storage rings and put it on his finger. With a thought, he suddenly saw that the "ck gemstone" on the storage ring was a folding space.


    Approximately half a cubic space, densely packed with various bottles and jars.


    Red, green, arranged in rows, they looked like potions.


    Su''en randomly took out a red test tube of potion and identified it with the "All-Seeing Eye".


    [Inferior healing potion (oral)]


    Exnation: Quickly stops bleeding and elerates wound healing; although there are impurities, there are no significant side effects.


    Then he looked at a blue one, which was for restoring dark spiritual power.


    There were also some high-level potions with inscriptions on the test tubes, but there were only a few of them.


    "It seems that emergency medicine is essential for adventurers. Now I probably won''t die..."


    Su''en felt delighted.


    Just a moment ago, he was worried about theck of essential potions. The wounds on his body could be infected and inmed, posing an unpredictable and fatal threat.


    Now that he saw these potions, he immediately opened a medium-level healing potion and drank it. He then used an external disinfectant to clean his wounds.


    If it weren''t for the "All-Seeing Eye," Su''en felt that even if he saw these potions, he wouldn''t know that they were life-saving potions stored in these test tubes.


    Of course, there were also poisons.


    Now it seemed that this talent ability was really a perfect match for him as a transmigrator.


    What was amazing was that after Su''en took the potions, he suddenly felt a tingling sensation in the palms of his hands. He knew very well that it was the elerated division of cells, a sign that the wound tissue was healing.


    However, under normal circumstances, this healing sensation would only be apparent several days after the appearance of the wound.


    "What amazing potions. If they were avable in my previous life, they would be life-saving miracles in surgery..."


    Su''en''s current vision allowed him to clearly see his wounds healing at a visible speed.


    It seemed that it would bepletely healed in less than half an hour.


    However, he couldn''t help but mutter, "It seems a bit wasteful to use ''medium-level healing potions'' for this kind of injury..."


    The "medium-level healing potion" seemed to have such a powerful effect that it should be used to treat more severe injuries. The wounds on his palms seemed to be enough with the inferior potions.


    But Su''en didn''t feel regretful about using them on himself.


    ......


    In the second storage ring, Su''en found the food and water he wanted, but they looked very unappetizing.


    The food was hard, like bricks of ck bread, and the water was murky.


    If it weren''t for identifying it as "inferior drinking water," Su''en wouldn''t have thought that this turbid liquid, which seemed to be directly pumped from a swamp, could be drinking water.


    Not in a hurry to eat, Su''en checked thest storage ring, and inside were weapons.


    There were two punk-style pistols and a short-barreled shotgun.


    There were also numerous bullets and recement parts for the mechanical arm.


    The guns were of good quality, and the bullets were not ordinary gunpowder bullets.


    After identifying them, Su''en found that among the ordinary bullets, there were some special alchemical bullets with engraved magic patterns, such as [Alchemical Bullet (High Explosive)], [Alchemical Bullet (Armor-Piercing)], [Alchemical Bullet (Demon-Breaking)]...


    There weren''t many of them, but they seemed to be very powerful.


    There were no other food items in thest storage ring. Su''en had no choice but to eat. Low blood sugar had already made him feel dizzy. He took a few bites of the ck bread and drank some water that had a rotten taste.


    While eating, Su''en couldn''t help but wonder.


    Judging from the equipment carried by the bald man, the production of firearms and bullets seemed to be very sophisticated in this world. However, the food was quite miserable.


    "Do these guys really not have ess to clean drinking water and food?"


    It was hard for Su''en, who had transmigrated, to understand why these guys could have such sophisticated equipment but couldn''t guarantee a pot of clean drinking water and food.


    He vaguely guessed that it might be because the living environment in this world was extremely harsh.


    ......


    Su''en sat next to the bald man''s corpse, eating while watching the physiological features of a living person gradually disappear from the body, the skin turning pale, and the body temperature gradually fading away...


    While he was still counting the items in the storage ring, he suddenly noticed two glowing objects on the bald man''s body.


    A palm-sized blue scale slowly condensed on the skin of the corpse, and there was also a dark red fibrous bundle that looked like muscle fibers.


    After identifying them, they turned out to be two special items.


    [Adamantite Scale (Damaged)]


    Exnation: Damaged alchemical nt equipment. Perhaps you can extract some useful transcendent materials from it.


    [Cursed Item: Resilient Demon Muscle (Damaged)]


    Exnation: Material for the warlock''s strength-based ''Iron Goliath'' job. It is missing some of its cursed properties and needs to have the curse runes redrawn to be used.


    "So this is the scale that made the bald man invulnerable before? It turns out to be something simr to equipment..."


    Su''en suddenly felt amazed. What kind of existence was this? It could turn into a tattoo and cover the body, and with a magic array, it could be activated to be a physical object. Now that the bald man was dead, it was peeled off.


    The "alchemy" that frequently appeared in the "All-Seeing Eye" was bing more and more intriguing to him.


    After the "demon muscle" was removed from the corpse, the visible size of the bald man''s body decreased significantly.


    Su''en also understood what was happening. He realized, "So this is how ''job materials'' are used... directly fused into the body to enhance physical attributes?"


    He immediately thought of the "job material" of the "Puppeteer" that he had in his hands. After bing a puppeteer, it could greatly increase agility and skill.


    Now it seemed that this "demon muscle" of the bald man was the root cause of his exaggerated strength!


    However...


    Even if he knew the principle, Su''en found that he still didn''t know how to "be a job."


    ......


    After filling his stomach reluctantly, Su''en had also sorted out most of the items in the bald man''s storage ring.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to figure everything out, but identifying items with the "All-Seeing Eye" was not without cost.


    Identifying consumed dark spiritual power.


    The higher the level of the item, the more it consumed.


    He now had only a few dozen points of dark spiritual power left in his body, and even if he drank a restorative potion, it would take several hours to fully recover.


    Since he had already found the remaining potions and water, there was no rush to find out what the rest of the items were for.


    Su''en loaded the two pistols with bullets.


    One was loaded with regr bullets, and the other was loaded with special alchemical bullets. He then holstered them at his waist.


    He nned to leave this ce first and find a human city to learn about the situation in this world.


    As he was about to leave, looking at the bald man''s corpse and the deste manor, Su''en suddenly had another doubt.


    "ording to reason, the original host came to search for this ruin. Why did the bald man kidnap the original host? Did he specifically track him down, or did a fellowpanion suddenly turn malicious?"


    Su''en felt that the former possibility was more likely.


    Even if the original host was foolish, he probably wouldn''t share such an important "Baron Isaac''s treasure" with others. Moreover, even if he were looking forpanions, he wouldn''t choose someone like the bald man, who was capable of plotting for wealth and life at any time.


    From the information left on the retina, the original host''s identity seemed to be very sensitive, like an exiled scion of a certain big family.


    When these conditions were put together, it became intriguing.


    "First of all, in such a remote ce, the chances of a chance encounter are very low. Judging from the previous interrogation by the bald man, they didn''t know about the treasure or the true identity of the original host. So, their purpose in following him was very simple, to kill and silence him!"


    "And the reason they didn''t act immediately might be because the bald man was greedy for the secrets on the original host, so he followed him all the way here..."


    "If they didn''t know each other, there wouldn''t be any old grudges. So, the most likely scenario is ''hiring a killer''."


    Su''en connected the limited information in his mind and roughly reconstructed the truth of the matter.


    He spected in his mind, "It also means that there are people who want to kill the original host wherever he came from. If I go back, I might be assassinated as well?"


    Thinking of this, he frowned. This was not good news.


    It also meant that even if he returned to the city where the original host came from, he couldn''t expose his identity.


    Otherwise, it might bring fatal trouble.


    "This is a bit troublesome..."


    Su''en thought of something and muttered to himself, "With such a handsome face, it''s highly recognizable."

 Chapter 13: Grotto World

    Chapter 13: Grotto World


    A few dayster.


    In aplex underground passage, in a dark pit.


    Su''en tried to suppress his breathing as much as possible, and his gaze was focused on a few hundred meters away.


    There, a humanoid monster was wandering aimlessly in the cave, hunting for food.


    It still had some human clothes and equipment on it, but its appearance hadpletely turned into a swollen monster like a giant tumor.


    Su''en looked at the monster, his finger already resting on the trigger of the alchemy bullet-filled gun.


    As long as it came closer, he would blow its head off with one shot.


    Distorted Humans


    Exnation: Humans who cannot withstand the curse''s power and have turned into monsters, possessing strong auditory perception. They don''t have much intelligence, only the instinct to hunt and kill.


    Luckily, not long after, the monster wandered away in another direction, not approaching the ce where Su''en was hiding.


    Su''en also breathed a sigh of relief: "Phew... How many strange creatures are there in this underground?"


    This wasn''t the first time he encountered such monsters.


    Three days ago, when he walked out of the secret passage, he encountered one.


    Because he had no idea about the dangers of this underground, he didn''t know that the sound of stepping on stones would attract these creatures with extremely sensitive hearing.


    Fortunately, with his enhanced vision, he noticed in time.


    The thing came charging at him like a mountain of flesh, almost killing him on the spot.


    The distorted monsters couldn''t be approached at all. Just a random wound would cause your face to be covered in disgusting rotten flesh and mud.


    They had strong corrosiveness and a foul odor.


    Normal bullets were almost useless. Shooting at them was like shooting into a pile of mud.


    "Boer~" it would bubble, but have no effect.


    Luckily, Su''en was prepared and used several "high-explosive" alchemy bullets.


    With precise shots, the monster was blown to pieces like a grenade.


    But he didn''t have many alchemy bullets left, and there were more than just these monsters in the caves.


    If he hadn''t awakened the "Eye of Omniscience" and greatly enhanced his night vision, he would have died many times on this journey with just the crude alchemy night vision goggles.


    <em>Su''en had previously thought that this underground world was arge mine or a cave.</em>


    But the size of the underground space was so unimaginablyrge, not only with remnants of human cities but also aplete ecosystem with various animals, nts, and monsters hidden in the dark corners.


    Have you ever seen a glowing mushroom forest tens of meters high?


    Have you seen lizard-like creatures the size of dinosaurs?


    Have you seen red-eyed rats that look like locusts passing by?


    Have you seen a centipede that is over ten meters long and really has a thousand legs?


    And have you seen a giant tentacle monster with eyes covering the entire wall?


    Su''en had never seen any of these in his previous life, but in these few days, his mind had gained a lot of strange knowledge. With the identification of the "Eye of Omniscience," he also got to know many strange creatures.


    Most of these underground creatures were grotesque and disgusting, like deformed creatures after nuclear radiation...


    The living conditions here were extremely harsh for humans!


    ***


    Su''en was afraid that the monster hadn''t gone far, so he decided to stay in the pit for a while to replenish food and water.


    "ording to the map I found in the bald storage ring, I should be heading towards the B-level area with a higher frequency of human activity. Maybe I can encounter other hunting teams and find out the situation..."


    Su''en looked at the map with markings, checked the food and water reserves, and estimated that his supplies would notst until he reached the human settlement city marked on the map.


    Being alone, he had always been cautious and didn''t dare to randomly shoot and kill the underground creatures, fearing that it would attract bigger trouble.


    These few days of experience had gradually given him a more urate understanding of this mysterious world with transcendent powers.


    The fact that there was a huge city ruin underground indicated that there were arge number of humans living here thousands of years ago.


    Moreover, Ivan and his baldpanions were miners, and it seemed that their team was specifically adventuring in the underground to search for supplies as a "hunting team".


    Their pale skin was not only due to their bloodline, but also because they hadn''t been exposed to sunlight for a long time.


    Su''en suspected that even the destination he was heading to was not on the surface, but underground.


    But all of this was just spection.


    If he could survive for a few more days and reach the "destination," he would probably have a clearer understanding.


    ***


    After a short while, the feeling of fullness from the food made Su''en feel that his glycogen was replenished, and he could continue on.


    At this moment, he suddenly remembered something and took out the <em>Pestoya''s Brooch</em> that he had put in the storage ring before.


    For the past few days, Su''en had been pondering over the unknown information disyed as <em>"???"</em> on the brooch.


    The mystery of Pestoya''s death had always puzzled him.


    An abandoned mansion that had been deserted for thousands of years, a ghost species, a story with obvious doubts...


    It felt like a missing piece of a puzzle.


    Having watched over a thousand horror movies and yed countless horror games, Su''en had a hunch that there was something wrong with this brooch.


    And in this world, there were many strange supernatural powers. It might be a big trouble.


    If he didn''t know, he would just leave it alone. But since he had doubts, Su''en didn''t n to keep this "potential bomb" with him.


    Now that he was far away from the mansion, he no longer worried about triggering anything bad.


    Without much hesitation, Su''en dug a hole in the pit and buried the brooch, making a mark.


    He thought that if there was no problem, he would dig it outter when his cognition could identify the hidden information on it.


    Little did he know that shortly after burying it, a certain will within the brooch awakened and whispered from the abyss: "Huh... Did that kid discover something?"


    ***


    Unbeknownst to Su''en, a group of ck-clothed people arrived at the "Storm Manor" a few days after he left.


    In the dpidated mansion, a blond young man in a pink suit was leisurely drinking coffee. It seemed that he was already ustomed to the eerie and terrifying atmosphere, and it had no effect on his mood.


    Before long, the subordinates of the blond young man had violently broken open the <em>"cursed space"</em> filled with creepy dolls.


    A man in a ck suit approached, holding a box, and reported: "Young Master Evan, there was a ''ghost species'' in the cursed space of this mansion, and we have killed it."


    The man in the suit seemed rxed, as if he had a lot of experience in dealing with such things.


    After a pause, he opened the box to disy the spoils and said: "This is the <em>''cursed object''</em> we found after killing that strange creature. It should be the source supporting this cursed space. Master Nick has already identified it, and the quality of this cursed object is very high, with excellent effects..."


    The blond young man nced at the ck butterfly brooch in the box. Since it seemed to be a women''s essory, he wasn''t very interested and waved his hand: "Theresa likes to collect these essories. Send it to her mansion when we return."


    The man in the ck suit respectfully replied, "Yes, Young Master."


    ***


    It seemed that this group of people also had the same <em>"treasure map"</em> as Su''en. They quickly found the secret passage, then the maze, and finally the shattered altar.


    The blond young man was still looking forward to the legendary relic of the most mysterious and powerful alchemy organization of the previous era, the "Twilight Cross Society." He fantasized that if the altar really existed as recorded in the manuscript, he might awaken a legendary super talent.


    But unexpectedly, not long after, he heard some "bad news."


    The captain of the suit-wearing guards walked over with a slightly unpleasant expression and reported, "Young Master, we have explored the basement and it does indeed match the deciphered contents of the ''Isaac Alchemy Manuscript.'' However, the ancient altar in the secret room has already been destroyed, and there is no way to perform the sacrifice ritual. Moreover..."


    The blond young man had a premonition that he would hear something bad: "Moreover, what?"


    The man in the suit said, "Moreover, after careful investigation, we found traces of recent human activity in the basement. So we conclude that the altar may have already been triggered by someone..."


    Hearing this, the blond young man angrily said, "How is that possible! We are the only ones who knew this information!"


    After experiencing such a huge disappointment of missing the treasure, he suddenly thought of something and said angrily, "Damn it! It must be that old man from the Rega family who is causing trouble again!"


    "What about the ancient city ruins over there?"


    "We have sent people to investigate, but no one hase back alive... Preliminary judgment is that the danger level is at least ''red.''"


    ***


    On the other hand, after a few more days, Su''en finally encountered living people.

 Chapter 14: Mechanical prostheses

    Chapter 14: Mechanical prostheses


    "Lao En, congrattions on your sessful job cement. Your profession as a ''Windrunner'' is suitable for a wide range of alchemical nt materials. Our main target this time is the ''Lightning Lizard'' or the ''Dungeon Horn Dog.'' There are quite a few of these two types of monsters in the shallow depths of the dungeon. As long as luck is not bad, the chance of obtaining cursed materials is very high..."


    "Yes, if we happen to encounter the ''Beast King,'' perhaps we can even extract ''Silver-grade'' cursed materials. Then we can ask the guild''s mechanic to help refine them, and you, Vice Captain Laon, will be an official professional."


    "Boss, guys, please don''t make fun of me. Buying job cement materials and that nt equipment blueprint has almost depleted all my savings. If I don''t gain anything this time, I will really be a pauper..."


    "Haha, don''t worry, Vice Captain Laon. Once you be a professional, yourbat power will skyrocket. The initial investment will quickly pay off, and we will rely on you to take care of us then..."


    "..."


    This is a fully armed hunting team, consisting of eight people.


    They chose to camp in a building ruin with a dpidated watchtower. The location of this campsite happens to be a must-pass route on Su''en''s map.


    While chatting, a vignt team member suddenly noticed abnormal movements deep in the cave and shouted, "Be careful, someone ising over there!"


    ...


    The progress in the dark dungeon was not fast, and it would probably take another four or five days to reach the "city" where Su''en originally came from.


    But Su''en''s situation was not good.


    His food was almost depleted, and if he didn''t get any supplies, he would probably have to try hunting some dungeon monsters for food.


    But water was a big problem.


    Su''en originally thought that there would be an ecological chain underground and that water sources should not becking. After walking in the dungeon for several days, he did find a few water puddles and seeping cracks in rocks. However, the All-Knowing Eye identified them as various degrees of "polluted water sources," which would cause distortion when consumed.


    Su''en also vaguely understood why the water in the bald man''s storage ring was so turbid but still drinkable.


    Compared to distortion, turbidity was eptable.


    Su''en had hoped to encounter some people who could buy drinking water and inquire about the situation. But obviously, meeting anyone in this deste dungeon was not a good choice for asking directions or buying water.


    But now, he encountered such a hunting team.


    Having witnessed the ruthlessness of the bald man''s group, Su''en didn''t think highly of the people in this world.


    However, he had no choice but to take the risk and make contact with this team.


    Because they had also noticed him.


    Obviously, there were special abilities among them that were good at long-range perception. Even before Su''en saw them, they had already aimed their guns at him.


    Su''en had amazing eyesight. When he saw the sniper on the high watchtower aiming at him with a sniper rifle, he had no intention of resisting and raised his hands, indicating that he had no intention of drawing a weapon.


    And on his waist, there was a wooden box hanging there, and with a slight touch, the puppet inside would drop out.


    Eight people, two snipers, and six in the camp...


    After observing for a while, Su''en roughly estimated the situation.


    The range of the ''Rune Phantom Puppet'' was only ten meters, and he was trembling with fear at the thought of walking hundreds of meters.


    But if he chose to escape, the sniper on the opposite side would probably shoot him like shooting a mole.


    As he walked, he shouted loudly, "I mean no harm... I just want to exchange for some food and water."


    ...


    "Boss, it''s a human, not an anomaly."


    "Yeah, it seems to be a lone unlucky guy."


    "Huh... That kid''s red fire gun on his waist, could it be the famous gun ''Three-Headed Ghost''? Isn''t that the gun used by ''Ironhead'' Ivan from the Crow Gang?"


    "Yeah, I saw it too. ''Ironhead'' Ivan is not someone to mess with..."


    "..."


    The small team camped in the ruins of the watchtower was obviously curious when they encountered a lone human here.


    After the "bald man" didn''t make any dangerous moves, they let hime closer.


    Yes, that "bald man" was Su''en.


    Without undergoing any cosmetic changes, how could he quickly change his facial features?


    Su''en was worried that the troubles of his previous body would be passed on to him if he didn''t change his appearance.


    Returning to the city with this face would definitely not work.


    Intentionally destroying his appearance, like disfiguring himself, would attract even more attention.


    Therefore, he decisively used the physical disguise method - shaving his eyebrows.


    If someone had tried it before, they would know that the most direct way to make a face suddenly unfamiliar is to shave off the eyebrows. It was definitely a disfiguring-level disguise method, and it worked quickly.


    And, Su''en had no attachment to any idol image. To be safe, he even shaved off all his hair.


    Then he used oil paint to apply eyeshadow and create a smoky makeup.


    He went from a handsome gentleman to a punk hooligan.


    Judging from the dressing style of the bald man and his group, this dark punk style was not umon in this world and was even mainstream.


    Just as Su''en saw several people in this hunting team dressed in this way.


    ...


    Su''en walked to the broken wall, and at least ten guns were already aimed at his head.


    He didn''t know if his understanding of steam machinery was insufficient, but he felt that the equipment of these guys in front of him, although not as sophisticated as the bald man''s group, was much moreplex and had a stronger sense of technology.


    They were equipped with various long guns and short cannons, strange-looking mechanical swords, mechanical shields, full-body metal exoskeletons for carrying heavy loads, backpack-sized steam-powered boilers...


    What surprised him even more was that the guy who looked like the "captain" had both arms reced with well-made steam-powered mechanical arms!


    Not the external exoskeleton-type mechanical arms like the bald man, butplete "mechanical prostheses" that reced flesh and blood arms.


    "Did I guess wrong? This is not a magical world, but a cyberpunk world?"


    Seeing this, Su''en doubted his previous spection.


    Perhaps, the tech tree of this world had already deviated... to the extent that they had developed technology like "prosthetic modification," which was extremely difficult.


    With limited knowledge of machinery, he was confused.


    These people clearly appeared to be in a world of steam technology + magic, so how could they be connected to high-tech prosthetic limbs driven by nerves?


    This was a strong sh of technology mixtures, just like people from the steam age developing lightsaber technology from Star Wars. Theoretically, this was several eras apart in terms of technology.


    However, the confusion quickly disappeared.


    Su''en did not show too much surprise on his face.


    And at this moment, the guys on the wall also seemed cautious and shouted, "Stop!"


    Su''en cooperatively stood still.


    The captain with the mechanical arm asked, "Who are you?"

 Chapter 15: Annihilate Team

    Chapter 15: Annihte Team


    "What kind of person are you?"


    Facing the other person''s question, Su''en gave the prepared answer, saying, "I am a wilderness hunter. My team encountered a group of ''lightning lizards'' before, and my team got separated. Now I amcking food and water. If you are willing, I would like to buy some or exchange for some..."


    Because hecked knowledge of this world, he tried to speak in ambiguous terms.


    This statement was half true and half false, not entirely made up. He did encounter a group of giant lizards before.


    But he didn''t expect that these people in front of him seemed to be heading towards the hunting of thoserge lizards that were as fast as cheetahs.


    Su''en clearly noticed their reaction when he said this, and the faces of the people on the other side showed a bright expression.


    Sure enough, someone directly asked, "You encountered a group of ''lightning lizards''?"


    "Yes."


    Su''en turned and pointed to the passage, saying, "On the left side of this passage, in the direction leading to Zone B11, there is arge group of them. I guess that''s where their nest is."


    Hearing the urate reply, the joy on the faces of the people on the other side became even stronger.


    The captain with the mechanical prosthetic limbs, Yuguang, nced at the gun hanging at Su''en''s waist and asked, "Are you alone? Which wilderness hunting group are you from?"


    Without thinking, Su''en casually said, "I am from the ''Straw Hat Wilderness Hunting Group''."


    "Oh?"


    The captain squinted his eyes, seemingly thinking of something. His gaze also fell on the ck storage ring in Su''en''s hand, and he asked, "Are you a member of the Crow Gang?"


    Upon hearing this, the expressions of the eight people on the other side turned unfriendly.


    "..."


    Su''en keenly noticed the expressions of the few people and became alert.


    He didn''t understand the exact meaning of the term "Crow Gang," but he vaguely felt that the other party''s tone was certain, as if they had figured something out about him.


    Clearly, something was wrong.


    He felt that the problem might lie with the gun at his waist.


    Without aparison, he didn''t know, but now that hepared it, the runic firearm he found from the bald man''s storage ring looked much more advanced than the ones these people had on them.


    But obviously, admitting that he was a member of the "Crow Gang" might lead to immediate death.


    Su''en knew that continuing to ask questions might lead to trouble, so he could only respond vaguely, "As you can see, I am a frence adventurer. Sorry, I just wanted to buy some food and water. If you don''t have any extra, then forget it."


    "A frence adventurer?"


    The captain listened to Su''en''s response, and his eyes suddenly became yful.


    But he clearly saw Su''en''s hesitation and suddenly had a friendly smile on his face. He gestured to his subordinates to put down their guns and said, "No, what I mean is... if you don''t have a faction, you can consider joining us. As you can see, we are the ''Steam Brotherhood.'' You can call me Dick."


    As soon as he finished speaking, someone next to him added, "This is our captain, Dick, the famous ''Silver Mechanic Hand'' of the Lang Street District in the East City."


    Su''en nced at his silver mechanical arm and casually said, "Of course, I have heard of Captain Dick''s reputation."


    ttery never hurts, whether he knew him or not.


    From the other party''s tone, he guessed that this "Steam Brotherhood" should be a veryrge organization. Moreover, judging from the tone of the person next to him, this Dick should be very powerful...


    Dick, the "Silver Mechanic Hand," suddenly changed his attitude and invited, "Brother, would you like toe into the camp and rest? We can sell you some food and water."


    "That would be much appreciated."


    Although he was no longer held at gunpoint, Su''en felt that he had no right to refuse.


    He entered the camp, where a bonfire was burning.


    Su''en had no intention of staying for long or speaking much. But obviously, the other side kept testing his bottom line.


    "What should I call you, brother?"


    "I am called Su''en."


    "Brother, aren''t you a professional?"


    "Well, not really."


    "Oh, then you should consider joining our ''Steam Brotherhood.'' Once you join a faction, there will be many ''employment materials'' and ''alchemy blueprints'' for you to choose from. You know, besides the ''Cross Society'' and the ''Crow Gang,'' no one in the outer city can provide more resources than us. And if you want to modify mechanical prosthetics, only our ''Steam Brotherhood'' is the top choice..."


    "I will consider..."


    Su''en captured a lot of useful information from their conversation.


    It seemed that there was a distinction between the "Inner City" and the "Outer City" in that city.


    And there were three major factions in the Outer City...


    Seeing that Su''en did not agree, Captain Dick brought up the purpose of their trip.


    He tentatively said, "We came out this time to prepare the cursed materials needed for the vice captain, Lorne, to craft alchemy prosthetics. Our target is the ''lightning lizard''s leg tendons'' or the ''abyssal horned dog''s skin.'' If you have these materials, you can sell them to us..."


    "Sorry, I don''t have any. Our team encountered danger shortly after we set out and didn''t gain anything."


    "..."


    The atmosphere of the conversation seemed harmonious.


    The other side prepared three days'' worth of drinking water and food for Su''en.


    Originally, Su''en didn''t want to think badly of human nature, but with the next move, he knew it was time to act.


    They handed him their water sk, and Su''en used his All-Knowing Eye to appraise it, revealing a few words: [Water with neurotoxin].


    Their intentions were clear.


    Before, they probably didn''t act because they saw that he was alone and were unsure if he had any hidden cards or secrets. Now that they had tested him enough, it was time to act.


    Poisoning the water was the best choice.


    Once he drank it, everything would be over.


    Even if he didn''t drink it, with so many of them, it wouldn''t be toote to act.


    Now that he knew they had ill intentions, Su''en looked at those people with a slightly unfriendly gaze.


    They seemed to be sitting around the bonfire chatting, but it felt more like they were surrounding him.


    And their wandering gazes were always on his gun at his waist. If he made any sudden movements, they would attack first.


    Su''en pretended not to know and opened the water sk. He had no intention of reaching for his gun.


    He knew very well that even if he drew his gun quickly, he could only fire one or two shots at most.


    And there were eight of them.


    Not to mention the highly threatening professional, Dick, the "Silver Mechanic Hand."


    But the good news was that, except for the two lookouts, the other six people were within ten meters of Su''en.


    And this distance was within the range of influence of the Cursed ItemRune Puppet.


    .......


    Su''en had a sincere smile on his face as if he was about to drink the water.


    But just as the water sk was about to touch his lips, he stopped, as if he suddenly remembered something, and said with a smile, "Captain Dick, thank you for your hospitality. Although I encountered some danger on this trip, I did gain something..."


    Saying that, Su''en calmly reached for the cloth bag hanging at his waist and revealed the wooden box inside.


    "Su''en, you are too kind..."


    Although Dick''s face was full of smiles, a hint of vignce shed in his eyes.


    He was confident that even if at this moment, Su''en took out a hand grenade to detonate, he would be able to dodge it immediately.


    "This is something I found in a manor ruin before. I haven''t figured out what it is for yet, so I''ll give it to Captain Dick for now..."


    Su''en pretended to be clueless, with a rxed smile on his face. He opened the box and took out the rune puppet.


    Since there were curse items that could control spirits in this world, there must be something to resist spirit control as well.


    In his mind, Su''en was actually calcting that if it didn''t have the desired effect, he would have an excuse.


    Clearly, Dick was blinded by Su''en''s "kind" smile and saw that he didn''t make any dangerous moves. The few people did not guard against him.


    Of course, no one would have expected him to take out such a "sinister thing"!


    As soon as the puppet was exposed to the air, something strange happened!


    An invisible mental power fluctuated instantaneously.


    Obviously, the power of this puppet was stronger than expected.


    Even Dick, who saw the puppet, had a momentary stiff expression. The other five people by the bonfire also seemed to have lost their souls, their gazes fixed in one ce.


    This was the moment Su''en had been waiting for!


    Seeing the situation, a fierce light burst out of Su''en''s eyes!


    Without any hesitation, he pulled out his gun from his waist and pulled the trigger at the eye socket of Dick, the captain, in front of him.


    Su''en had been paying attention before. As the only "professional" in the team, this guy, like Ivan the bald man, possessed many magical transcendent abilities.


    So, even if he was controlled, Su''en believed that this guy had to be killed first!


    "Bang!"


    The head exploded like a smashed watermelon.


    "Obtained ''Dick Nelson''s Memory Fragment *2''"


    "You have acquired some ''Intermediate Mechanical Knowledge''"


    "You have acquired a memory: ''The distortion events in the city are increasing, I feel...''"


    "Steam Mechanical Combat Experience +4"


    "Spirit Power +0.13"


    A "gray mist" also appeared on the corpse. Su''en waved his big hand, and the mist was swallowed into his soul.


    He didn''t have time to digest the information he obtained and immediately raised his gun for another shot, killing the sniper on the watchtower in the distance.


    The bullet hit the abdomen, and a figure fell down.


    The two snipers were not within the control range of the puppet, but they didn''t expect Su''en to suddenly attack.


    Furthermore, they didn''t expect that Su''en could instantly "control" six people in their team and kill their captain.


    Su''en fired two more shots without hesitation. He knew he didn''t have a chance to shoot a third time, and the sniper on the other side wasn''t a fool.


    Then he decisively leaped back and hid behind a mud wall.


    As expected, the next second, with a "crack" sound, a bullet exploded on the mud wall, shattering arge piece of it.


    The bullet directly prated the mud wall and narrowly missed Su''en.


    Then, with a rapid session of gunfire, the nearly one-meter-thick mud wall was instantly reduced to rubble.


    At this moment, the only remaining threat was the sniper hiding in the watchtower.


    Su''en knew that he was at a disadvantage in terms of marksmanship and terrain. If they engaged in a shootout, his pistol would definitely lose to the sniper rifle.


    Without wasting any time, he directly drew the rifle filled with special alchemical bullets, and then fired several shots towards the sniper''s position on the watchtower.


    Alchemy Bullet (Incendiary)*2, Alchemy Bullet (High Explosive)*2, Alchemy Bullet (Shockwave)*2.


    Although therge-caliber revolver only had six bullets, he used them to overwhelm the sniper directly.


    Su''en had no idea that this round of shooting consumed much more ammunition than an average gunman would use in a year.


    The three types of special bullets had astonishing power, and after the ammunition was used up, the entire watchtower was sted away.


    The explosion at a distance of a hundred meters was quite loud, especially thest two "shockwave bullets." Even Su''en, who was far away, felt his head buzzing.


    Without any dy, Su''en rushed out after the shooting.


    Due to his enhanced vision, he saw the struggling sniper trying to climb up from the tower in the thick smoke. Su''en shot two more rounds at him.


    "Bang!" "Bang!"


    The body fell to the ground.


    "Obtained ''Xenos Carter''s Memory Fragment *2''"


    "You have gained some ''Basic Alchemy Knowledge''"


    "Firearm Experience +6"


    "Spirit Power +0.07"


    ........


    Su''en didn''t let his guard down and found the other sniper who had been shot in the abdomen and shot him as well.


    Then, he returned to the bonfire and without any hesitation, fired four shots at the five bodies that were twisted like marites, killing four of them.


    Only the vice captain, Lorne, was left.


    From the moment the fight started until it ended, the entire process did not exceed one minute. A reorganized wilderness hunting team was wiped out by Su''en''s decisive action.


    However, there was a small problem.


    "I extracted too many memories at once, and my head is a bit overwhelmed..."


    After extracting the memories from three bodies in a row, Su''en found that his head was a bit dizzy.


    It felt like staying up all night, with a confused mind.


    But he also discovered that if he didn''t extract the memories in time, the "gray mist" on the bodies would be lighter and lighter. The longer the interval, the lower the quality of the extracted memories. After about five minutes, the gray mist on the body wouldpletely dissipate.


    At this moment, Su''en probably understood some of the limitations of the Reaper of Death ability.


    After resting for a while andpletely digesting the memory fragments in his mind, Su''en opened his eyes.


    Su''en took a deep breath and looked radiant. "With this Reaper talent, I feel like I can be invincible in this world..."


    The soul fragments of the seven bodies brought him many benefits. His mind was filled with all sorts of strange knowledge, as well as an understanding of this world.


    He felt visibly stronger.


    In just a few minutes of digestion, he felt that he had mastered knowledge and skills that would take one or two years of study to learn!


    .......


    Su''en put the Rune Puppet back in the wooden box.


    He looked at Lorne, who was tightly bound, and muttered to himself, "I didn''t n tomunicate with you in this way..."


    Unfortunately, you had to harbor evil intentions.


    After putting away the puppet, Lorne regained his rity from the mental confusion.


    Like waking up from a dream, this guy seemed to not understand what had happened yet. But when he saw the bodies scattered all over the camp and looked at Su''en, he instantly showed a terrified expression. "You..."


    Su''en didn''t waste any more words and stabbed his right leg with a knife, coldly saying, "Now, I will ask you a question, and you will answer..."


    PS. Please vote~

 Chapter 16: Old London

    Chapter 16: Old London


    "Originally, I wasn''t shot dead by these guys. It turns out they recognized the origin of this gun..."


    Su''en felt fortunate that he narrowly escaped death once again.


    After interrogating for over an hour, he gave thest survivor of the <em>"Silver Hand Hunting Expedition"</em> a quick death.


    <em>Only then did he understand that this group of guys didn''t attack him earlier because of the rune gun he carried on his waist - the famous gun</em><em>"Three-Headed Demon".</em>


    It was the gun that belonged to "Ironhead" Ivan from the Crow Gang, capable of harnessing the energy fluctuations of special alchemical bullets.


    It turned out that the bald guy, who was notorious in the city called Old London, was a veteran killer in the Crow Gang, known for his ruthless methods and vengeful nature. Few dared to provoke him...


    Those guys saw Su''en alone and had the intention to rob and kill him. However, they were unsure about his rtionship with Ivan, so they tested the waters first.


    ***


    Sure enough, no one bes rich without windfall.


    <em>Su''en obtained the supplies he desired - ten storage rings, as well as ample water and food.</em>


    <em>He didn''t know the basic prices in this world, but looking at the total number of alchemical bullets on the eight corpses, which wasn''t more than what the bald guy had, he guessed that the price he paid was probably not small.</em>


    But, he definitely made a profit.


    He took two of the most valuable items from the corpse of <em>"Silver Mechanism Hand"</em> Dick.


    A strange blood vessel and a bone.


    <em>Cursed Item: Trembling Witch''s Blood Vessel</em>


    Quality: ck Iron


    Exnation: Material for the Warlock Mechanist "Gunner" upation; after joining, it provides a moderate increase in skills and a slight increase in neural reflexes. The curse''s special attributes are rtively intact, but it needs to be re-enchanted for optimal effect.


    Evaluation: Bodypatibility 61%, an ordinary material for joining.


    <em>Golden Humerus Bone</em>


    Exnation: A first-tier alchemical imnt with highpatibility for the Gunner upation; it can rece a portion of the host''s bones; toughness +6, stability +153%, bone strength +175%.


    Two cursed items with intact special attributes.


    ording to Laun''s words, each of these two items could be sold for at least one hundred thousand lisuo on the ck market.


    And the average monthly sry for ordinary mechanical workers in this world didn''t exceed three thousand lisuo.


    This was already a huge fortune that could make someone overnight rich.


    Su''en was also d for his judgment and promptly killed <em>"Silver Mechanism Hand"</em> Dick.


    ording to Laun''s words, official "professionals" were very strong.


    This Dick specialized in the modification direction of the Gunner upation. He reced both of his arms with gun and cannon limbs. Once given the opportunity, he would definitely be a human-shaped Gatling gun.


    The flexibility of these "limbs" and the externally attached bones werepletely on different levels.


    Even if his brain was under psychic control, his mechanical arms would automatically activate the counterattack device, a capability that came with the imnt.


    And machines were not within the range of psychic control at all.


    If Su''en had hesitated even for a moment before, once the automatic counterattack device in the mechanical arms was activated, he would have been the one to die.


    ***


    Several dayster, Su''en followed the route on the map and finally arrived at the city called <em>"Old London"</em> after narrowly escaping danger multiple times from encountering monsters.


    This was the only gathering ce for humans, as Laun had informed him.


    An underground city.


    "It''s really spectacr..."


    Although Su''en had already heard about the tall walls of <em>"Old London"</em> from the people, he was still shocked when he saw the cement wall that was as high as a dam, reaching a hundred meters.


    A city that was not inferior in size to the main city area of a provincial capital in his previous life waspletely enclosed within such a high wall. Just the scale of this project alone could be considered an architectural miracle.


    <em>Moreover, the high walls still bore many terrifying marks - w marks of giant beasts, impact craters like meteorite collisions, corrosion marks caused by spells...</em>


    It was hard to imagine what kind of intense battle had taken ce here in the past, and what kind of "existence" had left so many terrifying battle marks on this wall.


    Indeed, this city was also an ancient relic.


    It had silently stood here for thousands of years before these humans appeared.


    The All-Knowing Eye confirmed this statement.


    Su''en looked up at the high wall and a string of text appeared.


    City Wall


    Exnation: An ancient city wall that has been built for over 1,400 years.


    ***


    Old London had four huge city gates in the north, south, east, and west.


    If Su''en hadn''t known about the situation in "Old London" beforehand, he might have foolishly entered through the main gate.


    Because that seemed to be the only passage that could enter this kind of city.


    If he did that, he would be subjected to inspection at the city gate. And without a "legitimate identity," he would immediately be singled out for further investigation. The worst-case scenario would be the exposure of the original host''s identity, and Su''en would once again face assassination.


    As for outside the high walls? No one would choose to live outside the city for a long time except for hunting expeditions.


    Because... they couldn''t!


    It was like being in a radiation zone for a long time. Even if they didn''t encounter monsters, the intense dark spiritual power would still cause a high probability of "aberration" in people.


    And the mostmon monsters outside the city walls were the aberrant humans wandering around.


    But in reality, there was another way to enter the city, and that was through "gang smuggling."


    ***


    Su''en learned a lot of useful information from Laun.


    Old London was divided into an inner city and an outer city.


    The inner city was where the rich and elite gathered, while the outer city was themoners'' district.


    Although the entire Old London was managed by Duke Roberto, who controlled the <em>"ck Tower,"</em> and his Raphael family behind him, the actual control of most of the outer city was in the hands of the three major gangs.


    The three major gangs in the outer city were the <em>"Steam Brothers"</em> in the eastern district, the <em>"Steel Cross Society"</em> in the southern district, and the <em>"Crow Gang"</em> in the western district.


    They also represented the three mainstream branches of alchemy in this world: the mechanical faction, the fusion faction, and the ancient magic faction.


    The essence of alchemy was <em>"equivalent exchange of matter."</em> The <em>"ancient magic faction"</em> had the ability to cast various spells like a magician. They excelled in alchemical potion brewing, enchanting, and mysticism.


    Although they could cast spells, they didn''t believe in any elemental gods, and casting spells didn''t rely on magicalws to activate them. Instead, it was a pure fusion of energy and elements, using alchemical principles to exchange the form or nature of the elements.


    For example, standing on the ground, an alchemist could transform the form of the earth element to create the "Earth Spike" spell. By consuming more energy, they could exchange the earth element for the fire element and release the "Fireball" spell.


    The <em>"mechanical faction"</em> was also known as the new faction.


    Their alchemical research direction was more focused on manufacturing mechanical devices, firearms, mechas, steam devices... and mechanical inscriptions!


    The <em>"mechanical limbs"</em> that had puzzled Su''en before were essentially semi-technological products based on alchemy, rather than pure technology.


    The <em>"fusion faction"</em> was abination of the two factions, with both skilled mechanical engineers and ancient magic practitioners who studied spells, epting anyone who came.


    ***


    Su''en couldn''t use the original host''s identity, so he didn''t have a legitimate identity to enter the city.


    He could only choose to join one of the three major gangs and smuggle his way in.


    The bald Ivan he killed earlier was a prominent figure in the Crow Gang, and that "Silver Mechanism Hand" Dick was from the Steam Brothers. Although no one knew that it was Su''en who killed these people, he still felt it was better to be cautious.


    Especially since he still had some spoils of war to sell, he didn''t want to get into trouble because of them. Just like when the gun <em>"Three-Headed Demon"</em> belonging to the recognized Ivan almost got him killed by those who wanted to rob and kill him.


    "It seems like I can only join the ''Steel Cross Society''..."


    Su''en avoided the city gate and took a detour under a segment of the wall in the southern district.


    Looking up, he saw a crude iron cage elevator on the city wall, ready to transport people into the city.


    Su''en didn''t hesitate much and walked over.


    Joining a gang had good benefits and plenty of transcendent resources...


    But in reality, most people in Old London would rather be workers for their whole lives than join a gang.


    Because... the casualty rate among gang members was extremely high, and their lifespan was short.


    They reced the city''s public security department and dealt with aberration incidents, violent conflicts, and hunting expeditions within their jurisdiction... areas involvingbat with a very high casualty rate.


    <em>It was somewhat simr to Su''en''s previous life, where he sold his life on the battlefield for money... a mercenary.</em>


    The main reason why the impoverished district with chaotic management allowed the existence of the three major gangs was that they took care of security.

 Chapter 17: Iron cross

    Chapter 17: Iron cross


    On the city wall, a group of armed militants stood, some in punk style and others in ck suits and trench coats.


    Their clothes were all marked with a clear "iron cross", which was the gang symbol of the "Steel Cross Society".


    Every day in Old Lingdun, there were people who wanted to join the gang for various reasons, such as desperate fugitives, murderers, those who wanted to get rich overnight, and those who wanted to obtain transcendent resources...


    And on the high walls, they often recruited fighters to go outside the city.


    The gang leaders liked to wait here and recruit new members.


    "Hey Kay, can you put away your de Imnt? It''s so shy, it makes people think that the ''Cross Society'' professionals have never seen the world. We are all captains, can''t you be more steady..."


    "Hehe, Smoke Boss, I just sessfully integrated the de Imnt, so I''m a bit excited."


    "The high-level of the gang has assigned you to take care of the three blocks on Green Street. Be careful in the future. There are many gambling dens and flower houses there. Although they are profitable, the old people in the gang have avoided them. Do you know why they let you take advantage?"


    "Isn''t it because the ''Steam Party'' guys have been causing trouble recently? It''s okay... if they dare to cross the line, I guarantee I''ll chop off their heads, haha."


    "As long as you know. Not only are the ''Steam Party'' causing trouble, but there have also been more incidents of distortion in the city recently. You''d better be more vignt. Let me know if you need any help. Pick a few of the new recruits that you like..."


    "Thank you, Smoke Boss. Hehe, I hope I can recruit a few capable fighters today..."


    "..."


    The one speaking was a middle-aged man with a gloomy look in his eyes. He was smoking a cigar andzily lying on a chair.


    Standing beside him were young people who emanated sharp metallic light, like "des".


    Su''en looked up and saw the two of them. Without hesitation, he walked into the shabby iron elevator and climbed up the city wall.


    .......


    "Neer? Want to join our ''Cross Society''?"


    "Yes."


    "What''s your name?"


    "Su''en."


    "What awakened talent do you have?"


    "[D-016-Hawkeye]."


    "Oh? So you''re pretty good at marksmanship?"


    "It''s alright."


    "Alright, then follow me. You can call me Captain Kay."


    "Okay."


    The process of joining the gang was unbelievably simple.


    Su''en was asked a few simple questions and officially became a member of the "Steel Brotherhood".


    As expected from the previous interrogation, the gang didn''t care about your background. After all, the majority of people who joined the gang had a questionable past.


    As long as you dedicated yourself to the gang, no one cared about your past.


    In exchange for loyalty, the gang could also provide protection.


    No one searched him, no one asked too many questions, no one bothered him...


    Su''en also breathed a sigh of relief, as he managed to keep his storage ring. The precautions he had taken earlier were useless, but it was a good start.


    .......


    Captain Kay looked only a few years older than Su''en, but he seemed to have been in the gang for many years.


    To survive for many years in the underworld, one had to have skills.


    This Kay was also a formal "professional", currently an agile type with a highly aggressive alchemical imnt called "[de]".


    Su''en silently watched everything, his eyes shining with anticipation and curiosity for this new and exciting world.


    After waiting for a while, the recruitment for the day wasing to an end.


    Besides Su''en, three other people were chosen by Captain Kay.


    One awakened talent was "[D-082-Strongman]", another was "[D-071-Stone Skin]", and thest one was "[D-031-Enhanced Smell]". They all had talents that could enhancebat abilities to varying degrees.


    "Let''s go, Smoke Boss. I''ll take the neers to patrol the area..."


    "Okay."


    Kay greeted the middle-aged man who hadn''t stopped smoking and got off the city wall.


    Su''en remained silent throughout, following behind him quietly as an inconspicuous member.


    This young man named Kay was talkative and seemed quite satisfied with the new recruits.


    As they walked, he distributed a few stacks of banknotes to the neers, exining, "The benefits in the gang are 20,000 lis per month, and additional money will be given depending on the mission. Since our team is newly formed, we don''t need to go outside the city to hunt for the next three months, so you can enjoy yourselves..."


    The neers easily received their first substantial "sry".


    20,000 lis was equivalent to half a year''s sry for an ordinary worker in the city''s factory.


    Su''en was slightly surprised, as he didn''t know this detail. But looking at the excited expressions of the other three, they didn''t seem surprised.


    Getting paid before work, this would have been considered excellent treatment in his previous life.


    Was this still a gang?


    After thinking about it, Su''en understood.


    In the gang, members couldn''t guarantee that they would survive until the next month.


    Getting paid first meant enjoying life first.


    If something happened, it wouldn''t be much of a loss.


    Moreover, there were no restrictions or constraints after joining the gang, not even restrictions on freedom.


    Su''en could even take the money and run away...


    But no one would do that.


    Because if you were wanted by the authorities, joining the gang provided a way out. If the three major gangs were after you, there would be no ce for you in Old Lingdun.


    Only a dead end.


    So for the majority of people, once they joined the gang, they could only go down one path.


    But for Su''en, a high mortality rate?


    Tsk tsk, it didn''t matter...


    Compared to facing death, the ordinary world would make him feel more bored.


    His awakened talent, [Reaper], would inevitably involve dealing with death in order to be stronger.


    To avoid risks and be an ordinary person?


    No,ing to such a wonderful and exciting world, being timid and cautious would be truly boring.


    Su''en looked at his slightly trembling pulse, and he knew that "he" also loved this world.


    ......


    Su''en and the new recruits followed Captain Kay off the city wall and entered the city.


    The city was filled with densely packed slums, looking like a "post-war Syria style" from a distance.


    Just like the high walls, the reinforced concrete buildings in the city were ancient relics from thousands of years ago. The great war seemed to have captured this city, leaving behind dpidated buildings everywhere.


    And on top of these ruins, there were towering steam chimneys and steel container slums, which were the "new buildings".


    As for the inner city, it was at the end of the line of sight. There was another high wall that separated it, with bright lights shining. Vaguely visible in the center of the inner city was a "ck tower" of unknown height.


    The city wasrge, and they rode an open steam lotive, speeding into the city.


    Su''en remained silent, observing everything on the streets.


    As a transmigrator, he didn''t dare to speak carelessly, afraid of revealing that he waspletely unfamiliar with this city.


    But perhaps because Su''en mentioned that his awakened talent was [Hawkeye], which was considered one of the most practicalbat abilities among D-level talents, Captain Kay seemed to value him. He specially reminded Su''en, "With your talent, you''re quite suitable for the Gunner sequence profession. I''ll keep an eye out for relevant ''employment materials'' for you. Meditate more when you have free time, and when your Dark Spirit Power is full, you can change professions. Let''s try to have two ''professionals'' in our team..."


    Su''en responded, "Okay."


    Kay didn''t say much more and waved his hand, saying, "Let''s go, let''s take everyone to patrol our designated area. Besides that, we can go wherever we want..."


    "Understood, Captain."


    Obviously, this was also what the others expected. No one wanted to take risks.


    .......


    "Fancy meeting you here, Mr. Clive. Business must be booming..."


    "Mr. Milton, I heard you have some good goods recently. Remember to save a few beauties for me and my brothers tonight."


    "..."


    The "Cross Society" controlled almost all the entertainment venues on Green Street.


    Kay and his group casually greeted the nightclub madams and the courtesans as they passed by.


    Su''en was also quite surprised. This seemingly rundown industrial city actually had such a lively side. The liveliness of these entertainment venues was not much different from therge bars in his previous life, bustling with people.


    Groups of heavily made-up courtesans stood on the street, attracting customers. They wore revealing clothes, with long, slender legs and impressive breasts, making it difficult for people to look away.


    The streets were filled with a strong scent of sensuality.


    yboy bunnies, catwoman costumes, qipao dresses with high slits, motorcycle leather jackets, maid outfits, bondage ve themes, nobledy styles...


    Su''en didn''t expect the fashion style in Old Lingdun to be so diverse. Almost any kind of sexy attire that could stimte a man''s hormones could be seen here.


    The courtesans were bold and sexy, not caring about the wandering hands of men on their bodies. Instead, when their hands reached certain ces, they would even flirt and giggle.


    "Hey, Elena, it seems like you''ve gained weight. No no, I don''t mean it in a bad way, I mean your butt feels even better~"


    "Oh, Lisa, why haven''t I seen you recently? Are you fooling around with some man~"


    "Mua~ Captain Kay, do you want to have some fun tonight?"


    "..."


    Kay and the old members seemed familiar with the ce, joking their way through the crowd.


    They were not only local bosses but also regr customers here.


    The survival rules in Old Lingdun were cruel. The ordinary civilians who couldn''t engage inbat professions were very cheap. Here, spending a few hundred lis could find a good-looking courtesan for a night of pleasure.


    Therefore, the 20,000 lis monthly sry from the gang could allow people to indulge in pleasure until they were drained.


    Su''en and the new recruits mingled with the crowd, bing familiar faces.


    .......


    Green Street consisted of three main streets.


    Every corner was filled with violence, sensuality, and illegal transactions...


    They patrolled a street purely for entertainment, then a street full of taverns. Neon signs of various colors illuminated a world of drunkenness and debauchery...


    Most of the taverns on this street had a strong industrial style, with steel elements in every corner.


    Su''en was starting to find the patrol boring when they encountered a problem.


    Passing by a ce called the "Elephant Tavern," a middle-aged man with a brown beard called out to Kay.


    "Hey, Captain Kay, you came at the right time. I have a problem in my tavern and need you to take a look."


    The tavern owner led them to the back alley, pointing at a half-bloodied corpse on the ground and said, "It should have happenedst night. Some poor guy got drunk and slept in the alley. Now you can see, his body was bitten off by some unknown creature..."


    This was the back alley of the tavern, filled with empty bottles. Unlike the morous front, it was dirty, dark, and smelly...


    Su''en''s eyesight allowed him to clearly see the half-body on the corpse. There were bite marks that looked like saw teeth, as if it had been gnawed by a creature of considerable size.


    And on the street corner, there were several dark sewer openings, emitting a foul stench.


    The owner seemed ustomed to such things and continued muttering, "Captain Kay, it seems that some monster has appeared in the sewer. I''ve also heard that homeless people have been disappearingtely. It seems that they were carried away by some man-eating monster, making people panic... I''m afraid if this continues, it will affect the business of our tavern."


    "Oh, I understand the situation."


    Kay nced at it and kicked the corpse into a nearby trash can.


    The body would probably be eaten clean by rats soon, and no one would care who died.


    He scraped his boots on the ground, and Kay said, "Mr. Chapman, don''t worry, I will send someone to investigate."


    With that, he didn''t stay any longer and led Su''en and the others away from the "Elephant Tavern".


    After leaving the tavern and walking on the main street, one of the new recruits asked, "Captain, are we going to investigateter?"


    This was also Su''en''s question, as he thought it was their job.


    However, Kay smiled dismissively and replied, "Hehe, investigate? The sewers in Old Lingdun are ancient relics from a thousand years ago. The underground structure is ten times moreplex than the surface roads, and no one can figure out the underground structure. It''s a paradise for all kinds of distorted monsters down there. Who the hell wants to go to such a stinky ce..."


    After a pause, he looked at the new recruits and said, "As long as those monsters don''te to the surface, we don''t need to worry about it. We have this free time, so we might as well enjoy ourselves..."


    "Understood, Captain."


    Obviously, this was also what they expected. No one wanted to take risks.


    .......


    The next stop after the entertainment district and taverns was the gambling dens.


    The group made their presence known at all the establishments on Green Street, marking their territory.


    Before long, they arrived at the underground boxing gambling den.


    And when Su''en saw the cloud of "mist" appearing on the dead diator''s body in the arena, his eyes lit up.


    Finally, it wasn''t so boring...


    He knew that for a long time toe, he would probably have things to do.

 Chapter 18: Death Battle

    Chapter 18: Death Battle


    Su''en didn''t expect that there would be a "Death Battle" in the underground casino of the Green District.


    This is a very brutal fightingpetition, with no rounds, regardless of points, only victory or defeat.


    Because it is a fight to the death, diators will do their best to fight, with strong entertainment value.


    Because the killer moves are often instantaneous, it leads to a lot of uncertainty in the oue, making it more exciting and entertaining for gambling.


    Therefore, this bloody diatorial match is the most popr gambling event in the underground world.


    ...


    Su''en followed Captain Kay into thebat gambling den called "Crimson Stronghold".


    Each gang has its own reputation. Whether they know each other or not, gamblers will unconsciously make way when they see the "Cross Star" symbol on their bodies.


    The air was filled with a sweet fragrance, which was a hallucinogenic drug that could stimte the nerves. "Pharmacology" is the basic skill of alchemists, and there are people in the ck market who specialize in making these addictive hallucinogenic drugs for sale.


    "Shatter his skull!"


    "Oh, ''Doombringer'', get up quickly! I''ve bet 10,000 Lisos on you, don''t let me down!"


    "Hahaha, ''Skullcrusher'' is going to win! Kill him, kick that guy''s head to pieces..."


    "..."


    The underground second floor was as big as an indoor basketball court, with a huge octagonal cage in the center.


    On the arena, two diators covered in blood were fighting to the death.


    The pace of the battle was fast. After a few rounds of fighting, the strong diator named "Skullcrusher" snapped his opponent''s neck, and the casino erupted in cheers like a tide.


    Of course, there were also curses from the gamblers who lost their bets.


    And Su''en''s gaze focused on the "gray mist" floating above the corpse in the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    Before, he felt that his "Death Reaper" didn''t have much room to y after entering the city. Now it seems that joining a gang might not be a bad idea.


    Kay looked at Su''en''s gaze with a strange look, guessing that he was probably attending this kind of diatorial match for the first time, and also introduced to the neers, "This is the hottest gambling method in our Green District..."


    As he spoke, he pointed to the private rooms on the highest level of the audience seats and said, "See that? Many of those private rooms belong to important figures from the inner city. They are the real big spenders..."


    Listening to this, a neer asked, "Will the important figures from the inner citye to the outer city? Aren''t those arrogant guys disdainful of our dirty and rundown outer city and never set foot here?"


    "Hehe... quite a few of theme."


    Kay shrugged, seemingly not respectful towards the people from the inner city, "After all, the inner city doesn''t have such exciting matches. Those guys want to have fun, they have toe to our territory. But it''s also because of these big spenders that we can live sofortably."


    As he said that, he seemed to remember something and warned the neers, "Although we and those people from the inner city are from two different worlds and are unlikely to have any intersections, if you really happen to encounter them in the future, don''t provoke those people from the inner city. Otherwise, it will cause trouble for our boss."


    Su''en also nodded along with the neers, "Understood, Captain."


    ...


    Kay led the group to wander around the casino, making the neers familiar with the ce.


    "Alright, today''s mission is done. You can go do whatever you want, just remember to bring yourmunicators."


    "Okay, Captain."


    "Get lost, stop ttering."


    As soon as Kay announced "off duty", the veterans scattered excitedly.


    He looked at the still confused neers and said again, "It''s your first day in the gang, so you can have some fun. The taverns and brothels we just passed by are all under the protection of our ''Cross Society'', and there are discounts if you want to find girls."


    Upon hearing this, the other three neers showed eager and ambiguous smiles on their faces.


    Kay seemed to notice that Su''en was more interested in thebat arena and specifically advised him, "You can try other things, but it''s better to stay away from gambling... especially this kind ofbat arena, it''s easy to get addicted. With that money, there are plenty of other things to enjoy."


    The group said, "Understood, Captain."


    Kay then seemed to remember something and gave an example.


    He pointed to the only veteran who hadn''t left yet, Sam, with a disdainful expression, "Look at this guy Sam, he spent his sry fromst month in one night. Now he has to rely on the help of our brothers in the gang to eat. Isn''t it embarrassing..."


    On the side, Sam, who was pointed out, looked like a wronged little wife, murmuring weakly, "I won several rounds and made thousands... I didn''t expect one upset, I was angry and raised the bet..."


    The mentality of a gambler is the same in any world.


    When winning, they don''t leave; when losing, they want to make it back; and when they lose even more, they double down, sinking deeper and deeper.


    Su''en also understood while listening that Kay was worried that he would lose all his money in one day.


    This captain seems to be a good person.


    Kay rolled his eyes, not listening to this guy''s exnation, waved his hand, and said to Su''en and the others, "Alright, you can go now."


    Everyone nodded, "Yes, Captain."


    ...


    As soon as Kay left, the group felt liberated.


    The other three neers had been thinking about the beautiful women they saw earlier.


    Being in a gang, isn''t it for the carefree life of having alcohol, meat, and women?


    "Su''en, aren''t you going?"


    "No, I want to stay here for a while."


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t go to the brothel with the other three. His attention had been on the arena.


    His rationality told him that,pared to women, enhancing his strength was the capital to survive in this world.


    His awakened talent, "Collector," focused on development. Only by living long enough would he be able to obtain everything he wanted.


    In just a moment, a new diatorial match began.


    In the octagonal cage, two new diators reced the previous ones, and a bloody battle to the death began again.


    Su''en squeezed through the crowd of gamblers and approached the cage.


    If he remembered correctly, this would be the passage where the bodies were dragged away.


    There were at least thousands of people in the casino, and it was noisy.


    No one would pay attention to where a failed body was dragged away, but Su''en was also worried that someone would notice his actions of collecting soul fragments, so he deliberately chose this inconspicuous corner.


    At this moment, a graceful woman carrying a tray squeezed through the crowd.


    She smiled at Su''en with a charming expression and asked softly, "Sir, do you want to ce a bet? If you can''t bet on this match, you can bet on the next one. Blind guessing will have additional multiplier bonuses~"


    "Buy a thousand on the red side."


    Squeezing to the front like this, anyone would think that Su''en was an enthusiastic gambler. Su''en naturally took out a stack of bills and ced them on the tray.


    The woman was pressed against Su''en by the crowd, and her chest was deformed by the pressure. She seemed to not mind, took the money, handed over the ticket, and threw a flirtatious nce at Su''en, saying, "I think sir will definitely guess correctly~"


    "Well, I think so too."


    Su''en smiled faintly.


    He didn''t think that his bald appearance now was handsome enough to attract the initiative of beautiful women.


    When he observed earlier, he had already noticed that the bettingdies in the casino would try to please the customers. Because the winning gamblers would generously tip them. Despite being touched by those perverted hands, their ie for one night was even more considerable than most of the male gamblers. This job earned much more money and was much easier than the prostitutes standing outside.


    ...


    "Kill him!"


    "Kill him!"


    "..."


    Near the cage, a group of gamblers holding betting tickets were shouting their diator''s name hoarsely. Although Su''en wasn''t interested in gambling, he was also fully focused on observing the battle.


    This was the first time he had seen such a bloody and brutal fight, and a certain suppressed emotion inside him started to stir.


    The fighters on the arena gave him his first lesson in interdimensionalbat.


    The punches were fierce, and the killing intent made one''s scalp tingle...


    Su''en imagined himself as one of the diators in the arena, feeling deeply moved, "No wonder the All-Knowing Eye only rated mybat skills as ''advanced beginner''. If I were to face them on the arena, I would probably be killed as soon as we met."


    At this moment, Su''en saw the huge gap.


    The attack moves of the diators on the arena were ruthless, sharp like bullets, like daggers, stabbing at vital points, and immediately following up with a finishing move, not giving the opponent any chance to counterattack.


    One strike, one kill.


    This kind ofbat had no fancy moves, everything was aimed at killing.


    This waspletely different from thebat Su''en had in mind!


    This world gradually revealed its cruel side to Su''en, the transmigrator.

 Chapter 19: A-class wanted criminal

    Chapter 19: A-ss wanted criminal


    "Haha, I knew it, the ''Blue Side'' is definitely going to win. After all, this guy''s height and arm span are too advantageous..."


    Before long, amidst the cheers of the gamblers, another fighter was killed, and the match ended.


    The gamblers cheered for the winner, while the body of the loser was dragged away from the octagonal cage like a dead dog, leaving a ring bloodstain on the ground.


    Su''en calmly watched the scene before him.


    When the body passed in front of him, no one noticed that a "gray mist" was swallowed by him.


    "You obtained ''Watt Smith''s Memory Fragment *2''."


    "You obtained the information: ''I really don''t want to be someone''s ve and fight in this damn underground boxing match...''"


    "You have mastered the skill [Ground Technique: Cross Lock],bat experience +2."


    "Mental power +0.05."


    Su''en digested the just obtained memory fragment, a sharp light shed in his eyes, and he felt somewhat surprised in his heart: "I actually directlyprehended abat skill?"


    This was the first time that the [Reaper of Death] had stripped off aplete skill.


    Does that mean that he also has a chance to directly strip offplete alchemy and spell skills?


    In that instant, Su''en suddenly felt a sudden surge of excitement.


    Although he couldn''t always strip off useful skills from the souls of the dead, fortunately, there were many bodies!


    In this deadly battle, there were seven or eight matches in one night, and over two hundred bodies in a month.


    Moreover, the fighters were skilledbat experts, so there was a great possibility of stripping offbat skills!


    Compared to the difficulty of killing a few enemies and obtaining memory fragments, this method of "collecting" memory fragments was much easier.


    Just by staying at the arena and watching the matches, there was almost no risk.


    If he could survive for a few more months, Su''en felt that hisbat power would definitely undergo a qualitative leap!


    Of course, the premise was that he could survive long enough in the average short-lived gang.


    On his first day on the job, Su''en suddenly started to like this gang identity...


    .......


    After one match, without resting for long, the next one began.


    Su''en''s attention was focused on the bodies, and he didn''t notice the betting girl in hot pants who had walked over with a smiling face.


    She handed him a tray and smiled flirtatiously, "Hey, sir, congrattions on your correct guess. Do you need me to help you ce bets for the next match? The final match tonight is a true ''professional'' one..."


    "Professionals participate in this kind of deadly battle?"


    Su''en''s gaze slightly paused, he wasn''t particrly happy about winning money, considering the ratio, he probably won over a thousand li-suo.


    What surprised him was that there were actually professionals participating in this deadly battle?


    In his opinion, those professionals with magical transcendent powers could do something else instead of earning this desperate money?


    Seeing that Su''en seemed interested, the betting girl asked again, "Sir, which one do you think will win? Do you want me to ce bets for you?"


    As she spoke, she had already pressed her body against Su''en''s, like a little cat, and even rubbed against him.


    Su''en naturally understood that this wasn''t a romantic encounter, but a subtle way of asking for a tip.


    He wasn''t stingy either, so he took out two green bills of one hundred li-suo each and stuffed them into the girl''s bra.


    This was the proper behavior of a normal gambler.


    "Haha... Thank you, sir."


    The girl felt a tickling sensation in her chest, and not only did she not feel taken advantage of, but she also smiled even more flirtatiously.


    Su''en''s hand didn''t linger for long, he took out a few more stacks of banknotes and said, "I''ll bet on the red side for the next few matches, one thousand per bet."


    "The boss has a good eye, I also think that the red side has a higher chance of winning tonight~"


    The girl filled out the betting card, blew a kiss full of charm, and then left gracefully.


    .......


    The life and death battles in the octagonal cage were still going on, and Su''en was also carefully observing each battle.


    In addition to stripping soul fragments, he was also earnestly studying thebat techniques of this world.


    Although these diators were not "professionals," their physical fitness was far superior to that of humans on Earth, and their fighting styles and techniques werepletely different from what Su''en had known.


    To disguise his purpose of "collecting" and his actions, he yed the role of a normal gambler, cheering for the side he bet on, getting excited when he won money, andmenting when he lost.


    On his first day in the gang, he felt that the environment was quite rxed, and his intuition told him that someone''s eyes were asionally watching him.


    The identity of the original host was problematic, and he didn''t want to attract too much attention.


    And indeed, that was the case.


    While ying cards with the captain, Kay, who had been with him for a long time, received a report from his subordinates.


    "What are the new guys doing now?"


    "That Su''en has been gambling at the arena the whole time. The other three, Kige went to the tavern, Sapa and Andrew went to the ''Emperor''s Bath''..."


    "Oh, I see."


    Kay responded to the report without expression and didn''t say anything more.


    Sam, who was sitting across from him, was also a long-time member of the gang. He spoke without any reservations and curiously asked, "Captain, why do we have to keep an eye on those new guys?"


    "Boss Smoker said before, normal people need to eat, drink, gamble, prostitute, and smoke, it''s a basic human instinct. And those who don''t show desire either have ulterior motives, are extremely self-disciplined, or are monsters... None of these can be our friends."


    Kay continued ying with the ying cards and exined indifferently, "I don''t want anyone with ulterior motives to infiltrate our team..."


    .......


    Su''en found that his luck seemed to be quite good. He won more and lost less in the matches he bet on, and he even made a few thousand li-suo.


    Finally, thest match began.


    And before the match started, there was a rumbling sound of elevators in the underground of the arena. The cage of the octagonal cage was removed and lowered underground, and a huge transparent ss cover rose up.


    After this unusual movement, the gamblers at the scene were not surprised, but instead erupted into waves of exmations.


    "Wow~ We''re in for a good show tonight!"


    "..."


    Su''en looked at the thick ss walls on the stage and felt a sense of familiarity. Wasn''t this the bulletproof ss from the bank counter in his previous life? It just looked thicker.


    And the fat gambler next to him seemed to be a regr customer here. He muttered, "Tsk tsk... It''s been a long time since I''ve seen this ''Explosion-Proof Cover'' rise. It looks like the two ''professionals'' who came tonight have strongbat power."


    At this moment, the first contestant had already entered the stage.


    He was a guy who was being escorted by several mechanical arms, looking like a prisoner.


    Su''en looked at his posture and raised an eyebrow slightly, "A dangerous person has arrived..."


    The moment this person appeared, the scene instantly exploded.


    "How is this possible, how could it be him!"


    Someone in the crowd recognized the person''s identity and eximed, "A-ss wanted criminal ''Scorpion'' Abel, this guy is a genuine second-tier professional. To think that he would participate in this fighting match?"


    Others began whispering to each other, it seemed that no one had expected the level of this match to be so high!


    "I heard that this guy was caught by the ''Umbre Organization'' in the inner city after causing trouble. I didn''t expect it to be true."


    "This match is interesting. This guy hasmitted countless murders, and he has been rampant for so many years without being caught. He must be quite skilled..."


    "To be able to have ''Scorpion'' Abel participate, who will his opponent be? Could it also be a second-tier professional? Hehe, that''s rare. Second-tier professionals are top-notch experts no matter where they are, and they are actually sent to the arena."


    "..."


    Second-tier?


    Su''en listened to the conversations of the gamblers and found it hard to believe.


    The "Steel Brothers Association" was already one of the three major gangs in Old Lingdun, and it was already considered a powerfulrge transcendent organization. But second-tier professionals were also rare.


    Even Captain Kay, who controlled three blocks, was only a first-tier professional who had just entered. But tonight''s death match actually brought two second-tier professionals, and one of them was destined to die?


    "How strong are second-tier professionals?"


    Su''en''s curiosity was also aroused, he didn''t have much concept of thebat power of second-tier professionals.


    Both "Ironhead" Ivan and "Silver Mech Hand" Dick, whom he had killed before, were first-tier professionals. But to him, they were already extremely strong individuals. If it weren''t for fortuitous circumstances, a hundred Su''en probably wouldn''t be able to kill them.


    And now there were two second-tier professionals?


    "Does that mean... I can strip the soul of a second-tier professional soon?"


    Su''en''s surprise turned into anticipation, the match hadn''t even started yet, and he was already looking forward to what he would obtain from the bodies.


    .......


    After the cheers, the second contestant also entered the stage.


    He was a burly man in a suit, with a cold and stern face, and a scar on his left eye, making him look like a cold stone.


    This guy was impably dressed, with shiny hair that was styled with hair gel. Even after stepping onto the stage, he exuded an air of superiority. He looked a bit like a bodyguard for some important person in the inner city.


    The host introduced his name, he was called "Red Devil" Gelong!


    A guy who seemed to have no reputation in the outer city.


    However, the knowledgeable gamblers always managed to get some insider information.


    Upon hearing his name, it seemed that someone knew his background.


    "Huh... Is it him?"


    "Do you know him?"


    "Some time ago, I heard that the personal bodyguard of a big shot in the inner city secretly had an affair with the beautiful wife, and their scandal spread widely... Could this ''Red Devil'' be the real master?"


    "It''s possible. Otherwise, who would allow a second-tier professional to participate in a death match? Most likely, he was sold to the casino, or maybe he was personally sent by that big shot who was cuckolded..."


    "Tsk tsk, being a personal bodyguard for an important person in the inner city means he must have strongbat power. It is said that those big shots have high requirements for the talent of their bodyguards, at least ''C-level'', or even rare ''B-level talents''..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened to the rumors around him and pondered.


    But it seemed like that "Scorpion" Abel was even stronger?


    .......


    "Ding!"


    The bell rang, and the match began.


    However, with the opening move, Su''en, the transmigrator, was stunned!


    "Splitting a bullet with a knife? Damn, this is so explosive at the beginning, is this the power of a second-tier professional?!!!"


    Su''en was dumbfounded.


    Just a moment ago, he felt that he was very strong, or rather, with the talent of [Reaper of Death], he would be strong in the future.


    He was full of confidence...


    But seeing the skills of these two people, Su''en instantly felt an overwhelming pressure, and his confidence was so ignorant.


    This was the power that he couldn''t even imagine matching with his current knowledge.


    He could hardly imagine, no... he couldn''t even think of any means to deal with the probing attacks of the two just now.


    He felt that if he were to face these two, even if he had a famous gun in his hand, he would probably be killed instantly.


    In that instant, Su''en squinted at the two figures on the stage, and a certain thought burned in his heart: "So this is the power of a second-tier professional. I can''t wait to ''join'' now..."


    PS. Brothers, let''s vote, new book votes are very important~

 Chapter 20: second-tier professionals

    Chapter 20: second-tier professionals


    "It seems like I''m going to lose money on the red square I bought..."


    <em>"The Red Devil"</em> Gelong is fighting against the A-ss wanted criminal <em>"Yinxie"</em> Yaboke. Su''en''s first impression is that Yaboke will win.


    After all, both are second-tier professionals, and the infamous wanted criminal definitely has strongbat abilities. The other one is just an unknown bodyguard.


    Even if someone has great talent, a well-fed hunting dog kept in a greenhouse cannotpare to a hungry wild dog in the wilderness.


    But unexpectedly, this matchpletely overturned Su''en''s understanding.


    Under normal circumstances, when both diators enter the arena, the referee would ring the copper bell to announce the start of the match.


    But this match is different.


    Yaboke had no intention of following the rules at all. In the moment when several mechanical strongmen released him from his restraints, this guy magically produced two handguns in his hands. He pulled the trigger and fired two shots at the suited strongman in front of him.


    This guy obviously knows that only one person can survive on this arena today.


    There are no damn rules that are more important than staying alive!


    Because they are close enough to the arena, Su''en even saw a cold and mocking expression on his face. This guy disyed the word "scheming" to the fullest extent.


    ***


    This is an unrestrictedbat, and fighters can use weapons they are good at, including guns.


    Su''en finally understands why there is a<em> "st-proof shield".</em>


    But when he saw the second-tier expertunching a sneak attack, his expression immediately became strange. "This...this guy has no sense of martial ethics!"


    You are an A-ss wanted criminal, and this is all the courage you have?


    The image of the second-tier professional that Su''en had just established in his mind copsed immediately.


    However, he also felt that this guy''s cunning personality is suitable for the survival rules of this cruel world.


    A true viin, not pretending.


    No wonder he keepsmitting crimes and can still survive for so long.


    ***


    Everything happened too fast. In less than a tenth of a second, that guy fired his gun.


    In the eyes of anyone, this move is very unfavorable for the suited bodyguard.


    These two shots are very tricky and unavoidable. Once hit, even if he doesn''t die, he will lose the advantage after being injured.


    The gamblers who bet on "The Red Devil" Gelong were about to curse the opponent for being cunning, but the turn of events came too quickly...


    Before the shocked expressions on the faces of the gamblers had time to appear, they suddenly saw sparks shing in front of the suited bodyguard''s hands, just as the gunshots and the sound of metal colliding sounded almost at the same time.


    A moment of silence.


    The gamblers in the hall were dumbfounded.


    Even Su''en was shocked when he looked at the two men confronting each other in the arena.


    It seemed as if time had stopped for a moment, and his thoughts in his mind finally returned to normal.


    Su''en looked at the short knife that appeared out of thin air in the hands of the suited bodyguard and realized what had just happened. He also seemed to doubt what he saw: "The knife split the bullet? Damn..."


    The sound of swallowing saliva filled the surroundings.


    No one expected that the suited strongman would actually use a knife to intercept the two bullets from the sneak attack!


    He just stood there expressionless, calm as a cold stone.


    In the next moment, the entire arena erupted with half apuse and cheers like a tsunami.


    <em>"The Red Devil!"</em>


    <em>"The Red Devil!"</em>


    <em>"The Red Devil!"</em>


    "..."


    The emotions of the gamblers instantly reached their peak.


    This high-profile fighting match just started and it has already provided the audience with a visual feast, stimting their nerves.


    The battle between the two second-tier professionals made everyone...open their eyes!


    ***


    "So strong!"


    Su''en''s gaze narrowed as he focused on everything happening in the arena, not wanting to miss any details.


    At this moment, Yaboke''s expression also changed slightly.


    Only a peer of the same level can urately perceive how strong the opponent is.


    Although he didn''t underestimate his opponent and expected that the two shots might not hurt the other party, he didn''t expect the other party to resolve it so easily.


    And at this moment, a sharp light shed in his eyes, and he made his move again!


    Yaboke''s cloak fluttered, and suddenly a string of sharp throwing knives flew out.


    <em>DING! DING! DING! DING!</em>


    With flickering mes, Gelong easily intercepted the flying knives with his short knife.


    But obviously, Yaboke didn''t expect the throwing knives to harm the enemy. In that moment of sshing mes, he had already appeared behind Gelong like a ghost!


    He was like a phantom, and a ck dagger was shing towards Gelong''s neck.


    It was as fast as teleportation, unbelievable.


    Seeing this scene, the underground gamblers also became excited.


    "So fast, is that Yaboke''s speed...no wonder he is an assassin!"


    "It is said that the talent Yaboke awakened is <em>[Talent C-009-Instant Body]</em>, which gives him the ability to make short-distance bursts. Within twenty meters, the opponent doesn''t even have a chance to shoot..."


    "The A-ss wanted criminal is indeed well-deserved."


    "..."


    Su''en listened to the shocked words of the gamblers around him, and his thoughts hadn''t had time to digest when the two men in the arena had already fought several rounds.


    Yaboke''s speed of movement was extremely fast, like a ghost, as if the entire arena was his shadow.


    If it weren''t for Su''en''s enhanced vision, he wouldn''t even be able to see clearly that the two men on the stage had shed thirteen times, with two elbow strikes being blocked...


    And obviously, Gelong was stronger.


    Despite the intense storm-like attacks, he calmly waved his short knife, urately blocking each strike.


    "That guy fights like a machine,pletely calm..."


    Su''en watched carefully, and Gelong didn''t even move his feet, just stood in ce and parried with his knife.


    It looked like the two were engaged in a fierce battle, but...upon closer inspection, even his suit was not disheveled.


    "Are all the bodyguards of those big shots in the inner city this strong?"


    Su''en found it hard to believe.


    Yaboke''s ghostly body movements were enough to ensure his invincibility. Moreover, both his marksmanship and knife skills were top-notch techniques that were beyond Su''en''s understanding as an "advancedbat beginner".


    But he didn''t manage to harm anyone.


    Su''en never expected that a bodyguard would be so strong.


    And there is more toe!


    ***


    The battle between the two second-tier professionals on the stage was very intense, and the ordinary gamblers were just enjoying the spectacle.


    "Why doesn''t Gelong fight back when he''s constantly being suppressed?"


    "He wants to fight back, but he needs to react in time. Yaboke''s speed is so fast that it''s already good enough to block his attacks."


    "Heh, you guys don''t understand. That''s the smart way to deal with it. Yaboke has the <em>[Instant Body]</em> talent, it''s almost impossible to catch him. But that talent consumes a lot of energy when used frequently. The best response is to stay still and adapt to changes. Gelong is not stupid, but rather clever. Just watch, it won''t be long before Yaboke starts to panic..."


    "Hmph~ I didn''t realize that big guy was so powerful. I still think Yaboke will definitely win, his agility is too unpredictable..."


    "..."


    Most of the gamblers are ordinary people, and they only care about their own bets.


    The pace and techniques of the battle on the stage can only be understood by a few people.


    However, quietly, many experts have gathered around the "Crimson Fortress" gambling booth, even Captain Kay and the other veterans of the "Cross Society" havee to watch this exciting duel.


    The gamblers'' eyes were outside of Su''en''s sight. In the private box on the second floor, those important figures from the inner city were standing in front of the one-way ss, watching this bloody battle with great interest.


    They are the real protagonists behind this match, and the heavy bets on the two diators are the most important reason for thispetition.


    Beside the arena, Su''en muttered to himself, "The test is over, is it time to get serious..."


    He knew that the excitement had just begun.


    <em>After all, they are two alchemists!</em>

 Chapter 21: B-002

    Chapter 21: B-002


    "Abok, the ''Scorpion'' used all his means, but it seems to have no effect on the ''Red Demon'' Gelong.


    Su''en also noticed that if they continue like this, the one at a disadvantage will definitely be Abok, who appears ghostly on the arena.


    The oue of the match seems to have be confusing in an instant.


    And obviously, this A-ss wanted criminal also realized this.


    At this moment, he suddenly backed away, then drew a distance, and instantly drew a hexagram alchemy on the ground with one leg. At the same time, his hand constantly changed gestures, and in an instant, hepleted the transformation ceremony with a light drink: ''nt Armor  Unseal!''


    The gamblers below watched Abok''s actions and became excited again.


    "Look, Abok is getting serious!"


    "That''s his alchemy nt armor, the legendary ''Blue Steel Scorpion Tail,'' forged from the hardest known alloy, ''Mithril Blue Steel,'' indestructible..."


    "Hey, he actually forced this guy to use his special skill. I remember seeing him easily kill a reorganized security guard with this scorpion tail back then..."


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t expect that this guy would actuallyplete the unsealing of his nt armor in just an instant.


    He remembered that back at the Storm Manor, even the bald Ivan seemed to have taken several seconds.


    But Abok only took 1.3 seconds.


    At the moment when the alchemy array dissipated, Abok''s clothes suddenly tore apart, and his body crawled on the ground like a scorpion, with a nearly three-meter-long metal scorpion tail appearing behind him.


    This nt armor scorpion tail was made up of sections of blue steel armor, with graceful lines and extraordinary flexibility. It twisted at a strange angle, as if it were a living creature. At the tip of the tail, there was also a sharp triangr de, resembling a raised-necked Eysh Viper.


    Even from a distance, one could feel the strong sense of danger.


    ...


    After unsealing the nt armor, Abok did not give his opponent any chance to react and chose to take the initiative.


    The ''Blue Steel Scorpion Tail'' moved and made a strange, crisp sound of fine metal.


    This time, Abok changed his previous fighting style and directly charged forward.


    The metal scorpion tail resembled the head of a predatory snake, and it actually shot out!


    "It can stretch and retract?"


    Su''en, watching the scorpion tail suddenly stretch like a spring, was somewhat surprised.


    To achieve this level, the structure of this metal nt armor must be much moreplex than he expected. It was not only mechanicallyplex, but also had numerous mysterious runes.


    Although it seemed like a frontal attack, it was actually an ambush.


    The suddenly ejected scorpion tail swiftly stabbed towards Gelong''s chest...


    Indeed, as soon as the nt armor appeared, Abok''sbat power increased several times. Gelong could no longer stand still, and his short knife in his hand was unable to block the imposing scorpion tail.


    "ng!" A spark flew.


    The harsh sound of metal friction indicated that the two had already fought for a round.


    Gelong, holding the short knife, retreated violently. When he looked closely, he saw a smooth cut on his white shirt. Although he didn''t see any bloodstains, this cut was extremely dangerous.


    And Abok''s attack obviously did not stop there. Unable tond a hit, the ''Blue Steel Scorpion Tail'' that could freely stretch and retract behind him stabbed out again.


    The sound of breaking wind was incessant, and the phantoms were everywhere.


    If it were in an open space, Gelong might have enough space to dodge. But on the arena, especially on the restricted arena with the explosion-proof shield, his space for movement was already limited.


    "ng," "ng," "ng"...


    The short knife and the scorpion tail shed hundreds of times in a very short period, making it difficult for people to follow.


    No one expected that Gelong, who appeared strong and sturdy, would have such agile footwork.


    This bodyguard in a suit, although he appeared disheveled, at this moment, he did not show any signs of defeat.


    "So strong!"


    Su''en waspletely stunned.


    Thebat skills of these two fighterspletely exceeded his understanding. In his previous life, no matter how powerful a fighter was, they couldn''t perform such exaggerated moves and footwork.


    In terms of physical strength, strength, speed, and reflexes, both of them had reached an unimaginable height.


    The moves that didn''t seem to cause casualties on the arena were fatal to ordinary people, and even to official ''professionals''. Any small mistake could lead to instant death.


    This deadly battle opened the door to a new world for Su''en.


    ...


    Surprisingly, despite facing such a fierce attack from his opponent, Gelong still blocked with his knife. Even though his suit was already riddled with holes and bloodstains, he didn''t seem to show any signs of using his ''ultimate move''.


    ording to reason, as two second-tier professionals, this bodyguard should also have an alchemy nt armor, right?


    Or maybe he didn''t have time to activate it?


    "Why hasn''t this guy unseal his nt armor yet? What is he waiting for..."


    Su''en''s eyes turned, vaguely guessing that things might not be that simple.


    And at this moment, what he expected happened.


    Perhaps after watching the fight on the arena for a long time, suddenly, the one-way ss in the private rooms on the second floor of the arena slowly lowered. A slightly obese middle-aged man with a gold-framed monocle, with a gloomy expression, shouted towards the underground arena in a deep voice, ''Kill that guy, and I''ll give you your freedom!''


    This monocle-wearing man had ced a heavy bet on this match.


    Clearly, it was a situation where he was supposed to win, and he couldn''t afford to have a ''draw'' or intentionally lose to that despicable bodyguard, causing him to lose arge sum of money.


    Although the voice was not loud, it seemed to have a magical power.


    Everyone''s eyes turned towards him.


    Someone recognized the monocle-wearing man and whispered, ''That''s... Mendes Batolov, the boss of the ''Batolov Winery Group''!''


    Old Lingduncked clean water sources and did not have enough food to make wine, but the demand was high. Therefore, the wine industry, a highly profitable industry, has created many wealthy tycoons, and this ''Mendes Batolov'' is one of the top tycoons in the inner city.


    ...


    At this moment, Su''en immediately understood what Gelong had been waiting for.


    "Hmph!"


    As soon as the monocle-wearing man appeared, a cold snort sounded on the arena.


    The entire person of the ''Red Demon'' Gelong suddenly changed, like a lion awakened from sleep, the calm numbness in his eyes disappeared, and for the first time, a tangible killing intent burst out.


    The one who felt it the most was undoubtedly Abok on the arena.


    This A-ss wanted criminal, who had killed countless people, saw the sudden rise in Gelong''s momentum and felt a sense of danger. That terrifying gaze, like needles, pierced into his body.


    Originally, he wanted to hide some tricks and find an opportunity to ''escape''.


    But now, he gave up on the idea of reserving his strength. Suddenly, he opened his mouth, and his lower jaw dislocated exaggeratedly, revealing a tube that shimmered with a metallic luster.


    Before others could see what had happened, a strong purple poison gas spewed out, instantly engulfing the entire arena.


    Therge ''explosion-proof shield'' unexpectedly became the best barrier against the poisonous gas, but in just a few seconds, the entire arena waspletely obscured.


    "This...what happened?"


    "It seems like Abok sprayed poison gas..."


    "This is bad, we can''t see anything, and the air is toxic. That big guy is probably in danger."


    "This arena is too advantageous for Abok, an assassin-ss professional. Hey...looks like I''m going to lose all the money I bet on the ''Red Demon.'' I heard some rumors that this guy is very powerful..."


    "..."


    The purple poison gas enveloped the entire arena, and the gamblersined.


    But this kind ofpetition was cruel. Everyone epted the result without watching the process.


    Su''en also frowned as he looked at it.


    The poison gas that Abok considered as his trump card would definitely not be simple.


    The arena was sealed, with no escape.


    Thinking about the powerful Gelong, the best oue would probably be a mutual destruction.


    "It seems like I''m going to lose a thousand coins..."


    Su''en muttered to himself, not feeling regretful about losing money.


    At least he witnessed such an exciting battle between professionals, and the ticket was worth it.


    At the same time, looking at the poisonous fog, his expression became somewhat strange, thinking to himself: If that guy had released this earlier when he stepped on the arena, wouldn''t everyone in this casino be buried with him?


    Damn...this world is so dangerous.


    Su''en felt that without strength, he could be in danger anytime and anywhere.


    ...


    The poisonous gas filled the air, and visibility was reduced to zero.


    Therge gambling hall fell into silence, with only asional whispers among the gamblers.


    Is it over?


    The gamblers were mentally prepared and waited for the result of this match to be revealed.


    But at this moment, suddenly!


    A strange sound caught everyone''s attention.


    With a loud bang,


    It seemed like something heavy collided with the explosion-proof shield.


    Then...


    Another rough "thud" sound came from another direction. Faintly, a shadow was seen falling on the ss shield, and then it disappeared in an instant.


    "Is it not over yet? What happened inside?"


    In an instant, the entire gambling hall fell silent.


    All the gamblers stared at the poison gas shield, wanting to figure out what had happened.


    And at this moment, suddenly, a roar sounded.


    "Roar!"


    The voice was like a terrifying monster roaring in anger, making people feel dizzy even through the ss shield.


    Then, the sound of dense "thud thud" like raindrops echoed...as if a hammer was striking the ground, causing the entire gambling stall to tremble.


    Before long, themotion disappeared.


    Everything returned to calm.


    In front of them was still the explosion-proof shield filled with poisonous gas.


    Everyone looked confused.


    Everyone looked at each other, as if their eyes revealed the same question: What happened?


    ...


    "The match is over, the red side wins!"


    In the bewildered expressions of the gamblers, the organizers suddenly announced the result.


    It seemed that the casino had a special method to confirm that the blue side''s diator had already died.


    At this moment, the automatic venttion system under the arena also started, and the dense purple poison gas was quickly sucked underground.


    As the poison fog dissipated, the visibility gradually improved, and everyone saw what had happened.


    On the arena, a huge red-skinned monster stood there with a strong killing intent.


    "That...isn''t that the Hell Baron?"


    Su''en looked at the red-skinned muscr monster and his temples twitched.


    But obviously, it wasn''t. This guy didn''t have horns on his head.


    On the ground, there was a mass of crimson flesh, no longer in a human shape. And the indestructible ''Blue Steel Scorpion Tail'' was also broken into pieces...


    The entire arena was in a mess.


    Obviously, the body on the ground was Abok, the ''Scorpion.''


    So...that red-skinned muscr monster was Gelong, the ''Red Demon.''


    As if time had stopped for a few seconds, someone finally eximed, "My God...I thought it was just a nickname, but I didn''t expect that guy''s awakened talent is really ''B-ss,'' one of the strongest melee talents, B-002-Red Demon!"


    The legendary super melee talent that was even stronger than most A-ss talents!


    ...


    Beside the arena, looking at the mighty and domineering red-skinned ''Hell Baron,'' a certain emotion that made his scalp tingle surged from Su''en''s heart.


    He guessed that Gelong was strong, but he didn''t expect him to be so brutal!


    When his ultimate move was unleashed, it was simply crushing.


    The gap between the two was unbelievable.


    Why were the bodyguards in the inner city so strong?


    Could it be just because of their talent?


    Doubts arose in Su''en''s mind.


    Looking at the ''gray mist'' on the ground, he became even more curious.


    And at some point, Captain Kay also squeezed to the side of the arena.


    Looking at the situation on the arena, this newly promoted professional was also full of emotions and muttered to himself, "The inner city gathers more than 90% of Old Lingdun''s alchemy resources, amodates the top curse objects, has the most transfer sequence, alchemy blueprints, and rare talents... That''s why so many strong people are eager to go to the inner city."


    PS. This is not filler, this is a supporting character with a plot. Brothers, please vote~"

 Chapter 22: Gunfighting Technique

    Chapter 22: Gunfighting Technique


    Su''en had just arrived in Old Lingdun on the first day and was not sure of the exact concept of the "Inner City". He thought it was a wealthy area isted from the rest, but now it seems that the ss differences in this world are even greater.


    As Captain Kay approached him, he greeted him out of courtesy, "Captain."


    "Mm."


    Kay nodded and let out a sigh.


    The "Red Demon" Goron on the arena gradually returned to human form, and the overwhelming dominance that made everyone breathless slowly dissipated.


    Kay seemed to have deep feelings about the battle just now and looked at the burly Goron, saying, "Those guys in the Inner City have the best resources, cursed materials, aplete professional promotion system, and endless knowledge of alchemy... Professionals who grow up under those conditions are notparable to us outsiders who rely on our own exploration. The boss of the Yama Gang told me before, don''t underestimate those who have been living in the Inner City since childhood. If you have the chance to really go to the Inner City and see it for yourself, your perspective will bepletely different..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened to these words as if they were spoken to him, but it seemed like Kay was talking to himself.


    Although they hadn''t known each other for long, Su''en could tell that this newly appointed gang leader seemed to have aspirations and ideals.


    Unlike most gang members who only seek pleasure, Kay seemed to be more interested in alchemy and transcendent powers.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have be an official professional at such a young age.


    You should know that although the "sry" of the gang is good, bing a professional is the real bottomless pit. Not to mention the materials for employment that can cost tens of thousands of li, even the alchemical imnts after employment are expensive.


    The more advanced the materials, the more expensive they are. If you want to be stronger, you have to spend more money.


    In the gang, relying solely on sry, it would probably take many years of frugality to have a chance of bing a professional.


    This would make most gang members who want to live a carefree life refuse this idea. Didn''t they join the gang just for good wine and women?


    Su''en had heard the old birds chatting before and heard that when Kay was just an ordinary gang member, he actively participated in many dangerous missions and expeditions, which led to his current position.


    ...


    As Kay looked at the arena again, the hope on his face faded and he said with envy, "B-002 Red Demon... Ah, it''s really enviable. Those rich people in the Inner City are really capricious. Such a powerful expert actually came to the arena."


    Great strength, high recovery, high endurance, petrified skin, hardened bones...


    In general, it meant being able to fight, endure, and self-heal...


    That''s why B-002 Red Demon was known as one of the strongest melee talents.


    "Yes, it was a wonderful match."


    Su''en raised an eyebrow as he listened, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.


    If it was about talent, he didn''t have much to envy.


    Although this "B-level" Red Demon had strongbat power, if he looked at it from a long-term perspective, his "S-level" Death Reaper had even greater potential.


    But then again, would a cold and powerful bodyguard like this really be expelled because of romantic problems?


    Su''en didn''t think much about it. At least for a long time, he wouldn''t have any contact with the people in the Inner City.


    Because he suspected that the original owner of this body was probably a member of a certain big family in the Inner City. It would be best to remain as a "little transparent" until he investigated it thoroughly.


    The more low-key, the longer he would live.


    Kay didn''t look at the arena anymore and casually asked Su''en, "How''s your luck today?"


    Su''en shrugged and said, "Not bad, won two or three thousand."


    "A little gambling for fun."


    Even though he was young, Kay adopted an old and domineering tone and said again, "If you want to be a professional in the future, there will be many ces where you need money. Knowledge, materials, imnts... all cost money."


    This was what his former captain, the boss of the Yama Gang, had told him.


    "I understand, Captain."


    Su''en could tell that Kay didn''t seem to be very ustomed to this "preaching tone" with him. But maybe it was because of his new position as the team leader, he tried to adapt to this role as much as possible.


    Without watching the match any longer, Kay didn''t stay and said, "I''ll go first, remember to gather on time tomorrow."


    Su''en waved his hand and said, "Okay, Captain."


    ...


    The martial artspetition ended, and the excitement in the "Crimson Fortress" gradually died down.


    The gamblers began to disperse, the winners happily went to redeem their tickets, and the losers cursed and prepared toe back tomorrow.


    The hall was a mess, with discarded lottery tickets scattered all over the floor.


    Su''en didn''t hurry to leave because he had to wait.


    Professional''s bodies contained cursed materials, and even if they were beaten to a pulp, the materials of a second-tier professional were still valuable.


    On the arena, the staff started to clean up the body of the "Scorpion" Abok.


    Su''en nced at the "gray mist" on the body and prayed that those guys would hurry up. The longer it took, the more fragmented the memory fragments would be.


    Perhaps his prayer worked, as the people cleaning up the body collected the valuable cursed materials and showed no interest in the body itself. They gathered the severed limbs and arms on a piece of bup and dragged it over.


    When they passed by Su''en, the "gray mist" was finally devoured by him as he wished.


    "You obtained ''Abok Turner''s memory fragments *4''"


    "You have gained some information: ''Hmph, those fools from the ''Umbre Organization'' really thought that I only had a few hiding ces for my treasures... Unfortunately, that ''Forbidden Item'' is still in the ''Moon Hotel''. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been caught...''"


    "You have acquired some ''Advanced Alchemy Knowledge''"


    "You haveprehended the firearm skill ''Gunfighting Technique'', firearm experience +19"


    "Assassin''sbat experience +26"


    "Mental power +0.3"


    Arge amount of information flooded into Su''en''s mind, and he felt like he had just had a nightmare digesting the soul fragments of a second-tier professional.


    After he figured out what he had obtained, his eyes lit up.


    "I''ve made a big harvest this time..."


    Su''en muttered to himself and organized the gains from Abok''s memories.


    Firstly, this guy gave him ten times thebat experience of an ordinary corpse, truly worthy of being a second-tier professional.


    This gave Su''en a certain understanding of the assassin''s professional skills, cunning, ruthless, and malicious... His mind was filled with many vicious assassin techniques.


    Moreover, this time he also obtained aplete skill!


    "Gunfighting Technique? Huh... can bullets really curve in this world?!"


    When Su''en looked at this skill, he couldn''t help but feel incredulous.


    In the memory scene, Abok threw his gun and the bullet actually followed a curved trajectory, bending around and hitting the enemy behind cover.


    Bullets that curve, this was definitely a divine skill!


    A second ago, Su''en believed in science.


    ording to thew of inertia, force is the reason for changing the motion of an object. After the bullet leaves the barrel, regardless of its initial speed, it is only affected by gravity and air resistance, which means the trajectory will be a straight line downward.


    But curving halfway?


    Where does the forcee from?


    After fully digesting this "Gunfighting Technique", he suddenly understood that this secret firearm skill required extremely high firearms proficiency to support it.


    Not only that, it also required a sturdy firearm capable of amodating the initial bullet trajectory deviation, as well as wind alchemy to control the spiral force when the bullet leaves the barrel, providing the "force" for the curve.


    And he currently only knew this skill.


    To be able to use it proficiently like in the memory fragments, urately hitting enemies behind cover with a single shot, there was still a long way to go.


    That would requireplex ballistic data analysis and shootingprehension.


    "No wonder my firearm skill is only ''Elementary Mastery''. There are so many tricks in firearms usage..."


    Su''en suddenly realized.


    On his current attribute panel, the experience value for elementary mastery had reached 239/300, but he felt that even if he reached "Intermediate", he still had a long way to go before fully mastering Gunfighting Technique.


    Perhaps, to truly reach "Advanced Firearm Mastery", he would be able to fully grasp this secret firearm skill.


    Seeing this, Su''en unconsciously ced his hand on the firearm at his waist, feeling a bit restless.


    But he had a strange feeling, that even though he understood the techniques, he couldn''t draw the gun.


    At least, the action of "throwing the gun" required extraordinary strength and skill. It was an action that his current body simply couldn''t perform.


    "My body is too weak..."


    His eyebrows furrowed, and Su''en realized the source of this difort.


    His mind said: You''ve learned it.


    His hand said: No, you haven''t.


    Skills cannot be used just by learning them. They also require the body to have enough strength to support them and the muscle memory from repeated practice to be able to use them freely.


    Thinking of this, a self-deprecating smile appeared on Su''en''s face.


    He knew that although he had the ability to quickly learn skills with the "Reaper", he would still need to strengthen his physicalbat training in the future.

 Chapter 23: Emergencies

    Chapter 23: Emergencies


    After stripping a second-order professional, Su''en felt that hisbat skills had improved significantly.


    When he looked back, he also found a keyword, "Moon Inn," in Abok''s memories.


    "What did that guy hide in the inn?"


    Su''en was curious.


    Abok, the "Scorpion," was originally an assassin-ss professional, notorious as a ss A wanted criminal. He loved stealing treasures and killing people.


    For many years, he hadmitted numerous major crimes and stolen a considerable amount of wealth.


    From the limited fragments of memory, Su''en also learned that this guy had been caught by the "Umbre Organization" and had confessed to several hiding ces for his treasures. However, it seemed that an important "forbidden item" had been hidden by him.


    "What is this ''forbidden item''?"


    Su''en felt that something that could make this second-order professional feel that it could save his life must be extraordinary.


    But he didn''t dwell on it.


    Abok had just been captured, and it was possible that his actions, which he thought were concealed, were being closely monitored by certain people. For example, the "Umbre Organization" in the inner city, a specialw enforcement departmentposed of professionals.


    Just like in his previous life, the police would trace the criminal''s history and actions to find clues.


    If he were to look for the "dirty stuff" now, he would most likely attract the attention of those who were tracking him.


    The more valuable the item, the higher the chance of being targeted.


    Su''en thought that when things cooled down, he would have the opportunity to inquire about the whereabouts of the "Moon Inn."


    .......


    Tonight''s diatorial matches had all ended, and after themotion, the gamblers dispersed.


    The ordinary gamblers didn''t know that many important figures hade to the "Crimson Citadel" gambling den for the final match tonight.


    In a private room on the second floor, smoke filled the air, and there was a strong sweet tobo smell.


    These were top-grade cigars produced by the "Bagman Tobo Company."


    There were several men and women with modified mechanical prosthetics in the private room. Although they were dressed in gentlemanly ck suits, they couldn''t hide the strong murderous aura emanating from them.


    They were gangsters.


    If there were others present, they would undoubtedly recognize the bearded man smoking a cigar as Ban''na, the president of the "Steam Brotherhood" in the outer city, a well-known figure.


    One of the most powerful figures in the outer city.


    Ban''na had watched the entire battle, and although he had lost a little money, he seemed to be in a good mood. "Tsk tsk, this ability is interesting... Send someone to contact this ''Red Devil'' Goron. If he is willing to join our gang, give him the position of an officer."


    Goron, a second-order professional expelled by the Bartalov family, would no longer be hired by other families in the inner city.


    This guy could only stay in the outer city to make a living.


    For their gang, such people were the best "neers."


    Upon hearing this, the man standing by the door of the private room responded, "Yes, boss."


    At this moment, the seductive woman nestled in Ban''na''s arms also spoke, coquettish, "Old man, what should we do about Green Street? These gambling dens and nightclubs are a gold mine... The ''Cross Society'' has sent a young kid to watch over the ce, making it difficult for us to operate."


    Ban''na, with his big hand that had not yet been modified into a mechanical prosthetic, unceremoniously roamed and caressed the woman''s chest as he said, "Heh heh, just a rookie who has just been promoted to a professional. Since they don''t allow officers to intervene, let''s notpromise our own status. In a few days, send a few people to deal with them and test the attitude of the ''Cross Society''s'' high-level members."


    The seductive woman seemed to know some inside information and guessed something when she heard this. Curiously, she asked, "Old man, did something really happen to the leader of the ''Cross Society''?"


    "Well..."


    Ban''na neither confirmed nor denied it. After thinking for a moment, he said, "That guy Chuck hasn''t shown up in the ''Cross Society'' for two or three months. There are rumors that he went to deal with a ''Cursed Space'' outside the city and had an ident."


    Pausing for a moment, a trace of doubt appeared in his eyes, and he changed his tone, "But, based on my understanding of that old cunning guy, even if something really happened, he would have made some arrangements. Now, that guy shouldn''t be making any big moves and is probably preparing to ambush someone. That''s why we need to test... Otherwise, if it weren''t for these few streets, my ''Steam Brotherhood'' would have taken over long ago."


    As Ban''na spoke, his big hand became more and more unscrupulous.


    The seductive woman was already wearing a long skirt, and with a flick, arge expanse of her spring scenery was exposed.


    But the others in the room seemed to turn a blind eye to this alluring scene, and no one dared to look directly at it.


    The seductive woman was slightly panting andined, "Old man, are you noting to my ce tonight?"


    Unexpectedly, Ban''na shook his head, "Not tonight."


    Hearing this, the woman pouted, "Huh?"


    It was this seemingly casual pout that gave off a charming and seductive charm, as if it had an inexplicable magical power that made people feel pity.


    Ban''na looked at the woman''s provocative gaze, smiled, and unconsciously exined, "I received news that there will be something exciting to watch tonight, so I have to go out."


    "Exciting?"


    When the woman heard this, curiosity also appeared in her crystal-clear eyes.


    Ban''na thought for a moment and didn''t conceal much, saying, "It is said that the ''Cross Society'' brought back a mysterious antique from the ancient ruins they discoveredst time. Coincidentally, many important people in the inner city are interested in that thing. Therefore, a group of people will probably attack the ''Cross Society''s'' treasury tonight."


    His words were vague and concealed many key pieces of information, but the woman could still sense that something explosive was happening.


    She became a little excited and asked, "Are we going to war with the ''Cross Society''?"


    Ban''na shook his head and corrected her, "Not us. It''s probably the ''Raven Gang'' and the influential figures behind them in the inner city who want to make a move. It''s not considered a war, just a raid. We''re just going to watch the show. Of course, if there''s an opportunity, we might as well take advantage of it."


    ......


    There were no more souls to strip in the arena today, and Su''en didn''t stay any longer.


    He also wasn''t interested in participating in the other gambling games upstairs.


    On his first day in the city, Su''en nned to familiarize himself with the environment, at least understanding the three blocks of Green Street. After all, the "Cross Society" was the local power, and it wouldn''t be good if their members were not familiar with their territory.


    The more chaotic the order, the more developed the entertainment industry. After leaving the gambling den, Green Street was filled with lights and revelry.


    The streets were bustling with pedestrians.


    Weapons could be seen everywhere on the street, firearms, swords, steam-powered mechanical arms, leather armor, cowboy hats, and boots. These were the standard equipment of adventurers.


    The sry of ordinary people in the outer city was only two to three thousand li per month, while sitting in a tavern on Green Street would cost several hundred li. Therefore, most of the people who could afford to consume here were adventurers. They risked their lives to explore outside the city, and after getting rich, they would enjoy a life of debauchery in the city.


    Su''en walked on the street, weaving through the crowd.


    The walls of the street were covered in painted graffiti, with patterns that had a strong dark style, abstract, ironic, advertisements, and even explicit content...


    In the dim alleyways, the continuous hissing sound of steam leaking from the walls could be heard. These were the sounds of steam pipes rupturing and releasing steam.


    In various parts of the city, there were towering chimneys emitting white smoke. These were the smokestacks of the underground steam boilers that provided energy and hot water to the city''s factories.


    In the damp alleys near the tavern, one could often see one or two drunkards lying next to trash bins, vomiting and sleeping. The rats scavenging seemed ustomed to it and asionally sniffed the drunkards, perhaps hoping they could be used as food.


    Su''en thought of the half of a body he had seen in the alley behind the "Elephant Inn" earlier and his gaze fell on the dark sewer deep below the flowing water. In the pitch-ck hole, it seemed that pairs of crimson eyes were hidden...


    After walking for a while, Su''en''s empty stomach made him find a rtively clean restaurant.


    The main dish was mushroom soup with ck bread, a specialty of the underground city. The meat dishes were expensive luxury items, and you never knew what kind of animal meat you were eating.


    Su''en didn''t mind as long as it was not poisonous. In his eyes, it was all high-quality protein.


    The taste was a bit strange, but it was much better than the ck bread he had been eating all this time.


    ......


    The working hours of the gang were only half an hour each day.


    Su''en thought that this leisurely lifestyle wouldst for some time.


    But he didn''t expect that on the first day, a sudden incident would ur.


    While he was dining in the restaurant, themunicator hanging from his waist suddenly emitted an urgent call, "Everyone, gather at the back alley of the ''Imperial Bathhouse''!"


    Although Kay didn''t exin anything on themunicator, the urgency in his voice indicated that something was wrong.


    The gathering point was not far, and Su''en didn''t dy, quickly walking over.


    By the time he arrived, dozens of members of the "Cross Society" had already gathered in the dark alley. Steam motorcycles roared, and motorcycles and armored transport vehicles were already in position...


    The efficiency of the gang in rallying was always high, and an emergency gathering meant that a battle was about to take ce.


    Most of the gang members didn''t know what had happened yet and had smiles on their faces.


    Su''en looked at the weapons and ammunition being distributed and furrowed his brows slightly, realizing that something big seemed to have happened.


    Kay got straight to the point and said seriously, "The headquarters warehouse has been attacked. We need to go there immediately! Although we don''t know who the enemy is yet, prepare for battle, everyone!"


    Note: The trantion is a direct trantion and may not capture the literary style of the original text.

 Chapter 24: Sealing Item

    Chapter 24: Sealing Item


    "What! The headquarters warehouse of the gang has been attacked?!"


    "Damn it, it must be those guys from the ''Steam Party''. Let''s go, brothers, let''s get them!"


    "..."


    Upon hearing the news from Captain Kay, the gang members grabbed their weapons and got on the cars.


    It took less than three minutes for everyone to gather, but it was enough time for the gang members near Green Street to arrive at this dark alley.


    Su''en joined the gang on his first day and had never participated in a collective mission like this before, so he didn''t know what he was supposed to do. But seeing everyone queuing up next to the armored vehicles distributing weapons and equipment, he also went to get some bullets and grenades.


    Without waiting any longer, Captain Kay waved his hand and said, "Get on the car, let''s go!"


    Although this young captain was still young, he looked serious and terrifying at critical moments. He also said, "Write down the names of those who haven''t arrived. They will be dealt with ording to the gang rules tomorrow!"


    Everyone got on the cars one after another.


    Steam motorcycles led the way, followed by two-wheeled, three-wheeled, four-wheeled... and evenrge iron hoop unicycles, each with unique designs.


    The gang had its own mechanical modification shop, and these steam motorcycles, which looked rough in craftsmanship with many exposed parts, performed well. They had exaggerated shock absorption systems that could jump more than ten meters, ejection systems, hinges, hooks, machine guns on the front... they had everything they needed.


    <em>BOOM~ BOOM~ BOOM~</em>


    The steam boilers roared, and the old birds carrying rocketunchers andrge-caliber rifles shouted as they rushed out.


    Then came the armored personnel carriers, jeeps, and various four-wheeled vintage motorcycles.


    Su''en didn''t wait for someone to assign him a vehicle; he followed a few experienced gang members and jumped onto the middle motorcycle.


    His intuition, having watched a thousand movies, told him that the center of the convoy was the safest.


    And it was safer to follow experienced gang members than to stick with rookies.


    Coincidentally, Captain Kay was in the car in front.


    When he saw Su''en, he seemed to remember something and said to the person next to him, "Sam, the neers have never participated in gang operations before. Take care of themter."


    Sam still had a carefree look on his face as he replied, "Sure thing, Captain."


    The convoy set off in a grand manner, attracting the attention of the people on Green Street.


    ***


    The headquarters of the "Steel Cross Society" was located in the core area of the South City, Block 41, the ck Forest Building.


    After receiving the news of the headquarters being attacked, this huge gang started to move. The cadres and captains scattered in various blocks quickly organized the gathering of personnel and headed towards the headquarters.


    At this moment, in the ck Forest Building, a group of fully armed masked individuals had already broken in.


    Outside, there was intense gunfire, but these people didn''t seem to have the intention to fight the members of the "Cross Society" head-on. They held a long box that looked like a coffin and headed straight for the underground vault.


    These people were equipped with various alchemical night vision goggles, and their masks covered most of their faces, making it difficult to see their appearances.


    They were very powerful and easily killed the guards along the way. Then, calmly, they arrived in front of a silver metal door.


    Looking at this sturdy door that could probably withstand even explosives, the leader, a masked person, sneered, "Hehe, I always heard that the ''Cross Society'' silver warehouse was an advanced alchemical weapon left over from the previous era, indestructible. Now it seems truly extraordinary."


    At this moment, the technicians also studied the code lock on the warehouse door and shook their heads.


    Seeing this, another masked person wearing a crow mask said, "There''s no time to decipher the code. Let''s get started."


    "Tsk tsk... If we didn''t bring this ''Sealing Item'', it would still be difficult to open this warehouse door."


    "Let''s get started quickly. The mercenaries can only dy us for a limited time. If the executives of the ''Cross Society'' dare toe, it will be troublesome if we get surrounded."


    "Hehe, Chuck and the core executives haven''t returned to the city yet. If we do get surrounded, we might still be able to break out."


    "..."


    Although the group of masked people said they were not afraid, their actions were not slow.


    At this moment, they had taken out the item from the "coffin," which turned out to be a nearly two-meter-long ck scythe.


    The ck scythe emitted a strange ck me, and its de shimmered, looking incredibly sharp.


    As soon as it was exposed to the air, a terrifying aura, as if the god of death had descended, instantly enveloped the scene, making people''s hair stand on end. The group of ck-clothed people looked at the scythe with a hint of fear.


    "Felix, get ready! Although this ''Sealing Item'' is eerie, as long as we can return to the medical base within an hour, our chances of survival are high."


    "Okay."


    Felix, the cloaked person, nodded.


    He took a deep breath and then picked up the chain de from the box.


    With the scythe in hand, his whole demeanor suddenly changed, as if a real death god had descended upon the world.


    Without any dy, he raised the scythe and swung it towards the metal vault door.


    In the next moment, a strange scene unfolded.


    The de of the scythe was at least ten meters away from the vault door, but with this swing, a ck arc of light, simr to a spatial rift, suddenly appeared in the empty air.


    The ck light shed and disappeared, and when people looked again, a crack had appeared on the metal door.


    Silently, the ck scythe had cut open a gap in the one-meter-thick alloy door as if it were cutting through air, without any resistance.


    Felix, the cloaked man, looked at his own strike, and his face twitched as if it hurt a bit.


    But obviously, one gap was not enough to open the vault door.


    However, Felix didn''t dare to strike again.


    At this moment, another ck-clothed person took over the scythe and swung it at the door. Another smooth gap appeared.


    In this way, after four people took turns, they cut a square incision on the vault door.


    The leader of the ck-clothed people kicked it, and with a "bang," the alloy block easily fell off, revealing arge hole.


    The group stared at the opened vault door, finally showing relieved smiles. "Everyone, we''ve found that thing. Take as much as you can of the rest!"


    ***


    On the other hand, Su''en and his group were still on their way from Green Street to the gang headquarters, the "ck Forest Building."


    Even if they were driving at full speed, it would still take them at least ten minutes to reach the headquarters.


    But as their convoy was crossing a bridge, something unexpected happened.


    The lead car suddenly hit a high-explosivendmine, causing a violent explosion.


    Clearly, someone had guessed that they woulde to support and set up an ambush on the route they had to pass.


    This bridge had a unique geographical position, and taking a detour would waste more time.


    <em>"Boom"</em> went the deafening sound as mes shot up into the sky.


    The lead car was overturned and tumbled in the air for dozens of rounds before finally falling to the ground.


    Fragments from the explosion flew in all directions, and the shockwave even overturned several motorcycles.


    "Ambush!"


    Captain Kay shouted loudly.


    The screeching sound of brakes filled the air.


    Su''en''s reaction was also extremely fast. Before the motorcycle coulde to an abrupt stop, he used his inertia to support himself on the guardrail, jumped off with one hand, and then rolled to find a solid cement pile on the bridge to hide behind, keeping his entire body hidden behind the stone to avoid the fate of crashing and falling.


    Jump off, find cover, draw the gun, all in one breath.


    "Indeed, there was an ambush!"


    Su''en had a vague expectation before setting off.


    The "Cross Society" was the ruler of the South City, and if someone dared to attack the headquarters warehouse openly, they must have anticipated that there would be reinforcements.


    If it were him, he would never let the support personnel arrive easily if he wanted to cause trouble.


    Divide and conquer for better results.


    So, along the way, his gaze had been observing the surroundings. When he saw the abnormality in the front car, he was the first to react by jumping off.


    The sudden explosion caused a moment of panic in the convoy, but the next second, both sides began a fierce firefight.


    Gunfire and bullets rained down.


    <em>Su''en didn''t dare to expose himself easily. He took out a small mirror and extended it out of his cover to observe the situation. Then, in the mirror, he saw a group of masked gunmen on the opposite side using the terrain to snipe at the convoy.</em>


    However, the members of the "Cross Society" were not weak either and fought back.


    The gang had its own military factory, and their firearms and equipment were not inferior to any force in the outer city. The members of this world''s gangs were not afraid of a fight. They were a group of desperados.


    They leaned against the motorcycles for cover and took out heavy firepower weapons to counterattack.


    For a while, bullets rained down like a storm, and the sound of explosions was deafening.


    While Su''en was observing the situation with a small mirror, a "crack" sound suddenly rang out, and a severed arm fell from the sky andnded at his feet. The ckened traces of gunpowder were still emitting smoke, and blood flowed from the severed end, staining the ground...


    Before he could react, another "bang" sound came, and a shrapnel hit the cement pir, sshing arge amount of debris.


    <em>Su''en felt the fiery pain on his cheek caused by the cement fragments, squinted his eyes, and looked at the scene in front of him. He muttered with a slightly solemn tone, "Such a bigmotion on the first day..."</em>

 Chapter 25: The cadres of the Red Cross

    Chapter 25: The cadres of the Red Cross


    Su''en knew very well that death on the battlefield was not something that could be avoided by hiding.


    They were here to support the headquarters, and Captain Kay would definitely not choose to retreat.


    The only choice to survive was to kill the enemy.


    Since joining the Cross Society, Su''en quickly entered the role. He silently estimated the position of the enemy gunner he had observed earlier, took a deep breath, and rolled over, firing several shots with therge-caliber gun in his hand towards the other side of the bridge.


    "Bang", "Bang", "Bang"...


    After this roll and gunshots, Su''en happened to hide behind a steam car a few meters away.


    Just as he stood firm, he heard a loud praise from beside him, "Hey, kid, not bad! Many rookies are easily scared on their first mission, but you can still shoot..."


    Turning his head, it turned out to be the burly Sam.


    He had been paying attention to the new recruits as instructed by Captain Kay.


    When he saw Su''en hiding behind cover for the first time, he thought he was too scared to move. But unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, he saw him shooting.


    Rolling, aiming, shooting...calm judgment, skilled action.


    And when Sam looked again, he saw a gunman on the other side of the bridge with a bullet hole in his head, falling to the ground. He was even more surprised and praised Su''en again, "Your marksmanship is urate..."


    Su''en smiled without saying anything.


    In that situation just now, he wasn''t sure if he could hit the enemy, but he didn''t expect the process to go so smoothly. The whole tactical rolling action seemed toe naturally, precise and seamless...


    He realized that he had collected so much firearms experience with the "Reaper", and hisbat level was now much higher than before.


    At this moment, Captain Kay, not far away, seemed to have seen this scene too, and his eyes showed a moment of surprise.


    However, he didn''t look for long, as the intense gun battle had already drawn his attention back.


    Of course, Kay and Sam didn''t know that the reason Su''en took the initiative to shoot was not to show off his marksmanship, but for his own safety.


    He was changing positions.


    Because he found that in this level ofbat, the cement block provided him with no sense of security. On the contrary, the bulletproof motorcycle with modified rune armor was the safest cover.


    He didn''t forget that this world was a world of alchemy, where there were not only ordinary bullets, but also various alchemical bullets.


    That cement block could be blown to pieces in minutes.


    Not to mention the group of veteran protectors.


    Sam probably thought that a neer would be easily frightened, and he didn''t want to fall behind. He directly opened the equipment box on the car and took out a shoulder-mounted rocketuncher, firing it towards the other side of the bridge.


    "Boom~"


    A loud noise, mes soaring.


    ...


    The battle became intense from the beginning.


    Both sides fought fiercely.


    However, what Su''en felt was good news, as it seemed that the enemy did not use any "weapons of mass destruction". This ensured his safety.


    Considering that alchemical bullets were worth thousands or even tens of thousands of miles, they were not feasible as regr ammunition in this gang warfare.


    This battle was destined to be a war of attrition, only ending when one side suffered heavy casualties or voluntarily retreated.


    But this was also the enemy''s goal - to buy time.


    By the time they really attacked the bridge, the battle at the headquarters warehouse would have ended.


    But what Su''en didn''t expect was that even though they had been attacking for a long time, Captain Kay made an unexpected decision.


    ...


    "They should be mercenaries from the North City district. Damn it...they want to dy us from supporting."


    Kay looked at the armed branch on the opposite bank and guessed the enemy''s intentions.


    Naturally, he couldn''t let the enemy achieve their goal. He said to Sam and the others, "Wait for my countdown of three, cover me!"


    Upon hearing Kay say this, everyone''s faces showed a shocked expression. "Captain Kay, are you going to charge across the bridge?"


    This was a crazy idea.


    Since the enemy had nned to intercept, they must have estimated the presence of "professionals" among their own ranks.


    In such a situation, even the "professionals" who could withstand bullets with their bodies would not dare to expose themselves easily. Otherwise, they would be met with special bullets and artillery. Under concentrated fire, no matter how strong their bodies were, they would be riddled with holes in an instant.


    "Yes! The enemy''s goal is to dy us. The more they do this, the bigger the trouble at headquarters. We can''t continue like this. We must support the headquarters as soon as possible..."


    But it seemed that Kay had already made up his mind. With a solemn expression, he shouted, "nt Armor, Activate!"


    As he spoke, his hands quickly formed a spell, and the ground lit up with an orange hexagram alchemy array.


    In just an instant, his shins and forearms protruded and sharpened, gradually turning into metal sickle-like des.


    This was Kay''s alchemical nt armor - "de"!


    Kay didn''t give the others time to persuade him. After activating the armor, he began the countdown in his mouth, "Three, two, one...charge!"


    "Damn it! Screw them!"


    Sam and the others shouted angrily, but they didn''t hesitate at all. Everyone stood up at the same time, picked up their guns, and unleashed a barrage of fire towards the other side of the bridge.


    Su''en also didn''t hesitate, firing both guns.


    And with his peripheral vision, he watched Captain Kay charging out!


    In the moment of the gunshots, Kay leaped up with great force, leaping dozens of meters. In the sky, his agile figure looked like a flying mantis as hended on the stone pir of the bridge, then pushed off with force and charged another dozens of meters forward. With just two leaps, he had plunged into the enemy''s position.


    Seeing this, Sam and the other veterans shouted together, "Brothers, charge!"


    With themand, the members of the Cross Society rushed out of cover, like a group of trapped beasts, surging forward.


    The enemy seemed unprepared for someone tond in their position and was caught off guard.


    Behind them was a deadly "de Mantis" constantly reaping lives, and the firepower of the forward shooting was instantly extinguished by more than half. In just an instant, it disrupted the enemy''s formation in their position.


    Kay was like a god of war, agilely killing in the enemy''s position.


    A few secondster, the frontmost members of the Cross Society had already rushed into the enemy''s position.


    The ughter began...


    When Su''en followed the team and rushed in, the battle was already nearing its end.


    Bodies were scattered on the ground.


    Su''en looked at Kay, who was sitting not far away with bandaged wounds, and a hint of surprise shed in his eyes.


    Kay''s lower abdomen was bleeding, indicating that he had been shot when he charged alone just now.


    However, he seemedpletely indifferent, injected a healing potion, and immediately urged everyone to clear the obstacles and continue forward.


    Su''en didn''t look much and proactively helped move the bodies.


    There were more than ten members in this mercenary squad, most of whom had recently died, and the "ash mist" on their bodies was still clear.


    After busy work, Su''en gained a lot.


    ...


    The teams from various districts that went to the headquarters "ck Forest Building" were all obstructed by mercenaries, and everything seemed to be going ording to the n of those masked people.


    But no one expected that at this time, there would be a change in the underground vault.


    Just after those masked people broke into the vault, a group of mysterious experts appeared suddenly outside the "ck Forest Building". The mercenaries couldn''t stop them at all, and they headed straight for the vault.


    The situation suddenly reversed.


    The information reached the underground vault, and a group of ck-d people immediately panicked. They clearly felt the change in the gravity field around them and realized that the iing people must be Chuck, the "Arbiter" who awakened the rare talent "A-017 Gravity Field", the president of the Steel Cross Society!


    The masked people immediately realized their situation and started cursing, even starting to fight among themselves.


    "Everyone, it seems the situation has changed..."


    "Damn it! Wasn''t the information saying that Chuck was still outside the city hunting? What the hell is this gravity field? And those Cross Society executives, how did theye so fast!"


    "Most likely, our operation has been figured out by that guy Chuck."


    "Sigh...it''s useless to say anything now. The task given to us by that important person is to get that ''thing''. Now that we have the thing, whether we can escape alive depends on our own abilities."


    "Number Five, be careful. With such a bigmotion, Chuck must have guessed that there is an insider in the Cross Society..."


    "Hmph, if it weren''t for his faulty intelligence, we wouldn''t be in such a passive situation!"


    "Our operation has been exposed, and there must be something wrong internally as well. But...let''s worry about this after we can escape alive. Let''s go, scatter and escape!"


    The group of masked people didn''t have their previousposure and explosively sted open the ground, then hurriedly rushed into the underground pipeline.


    ...


    The convoy from Green Street was the first support team to arrive at the 41st district.


    Su''en originally thought there would be a more intense battle than on the bridge, and wondered if he should use the alchemical bullets he had hidden to save his life.


    But when they arrived, the situation didn''t seem as bad as he had imagined.


    In fact...it was very calm.


    There were gunshots near the "ck Forest Building," but they were sporadic and didn''t sound like intense gunfire, but more like scattered shots during a pursuit.


    And in the distance, Su''en also saw a strange mist shrouding the streets near the ck building.


    Seeing the mist, Captain Kay was not surprised but delighted, eximing, "That''s the ability of the Smoke Ghost!"


    The veterans in the team also seemed to recognize this technique and eximed with joy, "Haha...great! With the Smoke Ghost here, everything will be fine!"


    Regardless of whether there were any problems, they had to go over.


    Sure enough, after the convoy entered the mist, they encountered armed personnel cleaning up the battlefield not far away. They were members of the Cross Society.


    Someone recognized Kay and greeted him, "Hey, Kay, you guys are here..."


    Kay looked at the calm headquarters, puzzled, and asked, "I received information that the headquarters was attacked. Where are the attackers?"


    The person responded, "Haha, the president and the executives suddenly came back, and those guys were naturally killed."


    Kay was first stunned, then overjoyed, "Ah? The president and the executives are back?"


    Hearing this rxed tone, Su''en also breathed a sigh of relief.


    At least it seemed that he wouldn''t face a transcendent battle that was far beyond his current strength on his first day joining the society.


    ...


    The convoy from Green Street arrived at the "ck Forest Building" in a grand manner, and the surrounding fog gradually dissipated.


    At this moment, a figure with a watery expression slowly condensed from the smoke not far away.


    Kay and the other veterans recognized this person and greeted him respectfully, "Smoke Ghost!"


    Su''en remembered seeing this middle-aged man just ten hours ago on the city wall.


    This person was one of the executives of the Cross Society, Sandbuk Kachinsky, also known as the Smoke Ghost.


    "Mmm."


    The middle-aged man nodded in response.


    He seemed to be injured, his face pale.


    Before Kay could ask, another figure suddenly swooped down from the sky.


    Su''en instinctively reached for the gun at his waist, but when he took a closer look, it turned out to be a human with ck metal wings. When hended, the wings on his back instantly retracted and disappeared without a trace.


    Kay recognized the person and greeted him excitedly, "Angel!"


    This was another executive of the Cross Society, Goethe Amato, also known as the Night Angel.


    Goethe seemed to be familiar with Kay and asked curiously with a smile, "Oh...Kay, I heard that the teams from other districts were hindered by mercenaries, how did you guys arrive so quickly?"


    Kay modestly replied, "We were afraid there would be trouble at headquarters, so we rushed a bit."


    Goethe seemed to understand Kay''s character and guessed something, saying with a smile, "You, always charging ahead?"


    "Heh..."


    Kay rubbed the back of his head and smiled.


    Goethe shook his head, but didn''t say much, his eyes filled with admiration.


    Su''en quietly stood among the crowd, but when he saw the wings that could fly, a hint of surprise shed in his eyes. "Alchemy equipment that can fly, very practical..."


    He nned to "join" in the near future and would then face the choice of alchemical equipment.


    "Maritist" was a profession that grew in agility and skill, so it seemed like a good choice to obtain the blueprint for these alchemical wings.


    ...


    Since it seemed that there was no problem with the headquarters, everyone''s nervousness also eased.


    At this moment, the two executives suddenly turned their heads, seeming to have noticed something.


    Following their gaze, Su''en also looked over.


    In the next second, he saw a woman carrying a heavy object jump down from the rooftop about ten meters away.


    As soon as shended, she dropped the burden on her shoulder, revealing a body covered in knife wounds, and the masked person fell into aa.


    Apparently, she was another executive, Qiantiao, the "Four-Armed Rakshasa."


    Kay greeted her again, "Qiantiao!"


    This woman had a bold and heroic appearance.


    Her thick blue hair was tied into a high ponytail, and she wore arge red rope simr to a shimen around her waist, with four single-edged long knives of different colors attached to it.


    She wore a half-body leather armor simr to the Japanese samurai, but only covered the front and back, leaving her long white legs and half of her buttocks exposed. It was even questionable whether she would expose herself if she made big movements.


    Her upper body was even more revealing, with only a bandage-like bandeau and two simple fire-red leather shoulder pads and wrist guards. Arge area of her skin was exposed, making it clear to see her exaggerated muscr arms and the Rakshasa tattoos covering her back.


    When Su''en caught a glimpse of the Rakshasa tattoo, he felt a fierce and sinister aura that made it difficult to look directly at. Another nce at her heavy and majestic chest, it was indeed an omen of great danger.


    Qiantiao saw Kay and the others, and the killing intent she had when she firstnded suddenly dissipated. She joked, "Hey, little Kay, I heard you are in charge of Green Street now? Tsk tsk, when will you arrange a few handsome men for your sister to y with?"


    Kay patted his chest andughed, "Of course, Qiantiao, anytime youe, I''ll arrange it personally if you think the men in the Flower Field aren''t good enough!"


    Qiantiao nced at him disdainfully, with a look of disgust, joking, "Tsk tsk, with your skinny arms and legs, I''m afraid you won''t be able tost long in the pleasure district..."


    Hearing this, the veterans in the car burst intoughter.


    Sam and the other guys were even shameless, shouting loudly, "Qiantiao, if the Captain can''t do it, we can!"


    Seeing this scene, even Su''en''s face showed a rxed smile.


    But even though it was a joke, everyone also noticed the unconscious captive that Qiantiao brought back. The Smoke Ghost and the Night Angel, the two executives, looked at the person and had different expressions in their eyes.


    At this moment, another group of people walked out of the ck Forest Building.


    Seeing the leader, whether it was Kay or the executives, everyone respectfully shouted, "President!"

 Chapter 26: Kill the prophet

    Chapter 26: Kill the prophet


    "Arbiter" Chuck, the most powerful figure in the southern city, a godfather-like character in the underworld.


    Dressed in exquisite brown suit, heavy woolen coat, low-crowned hat, thick sideburns... Although not very tall, his muscr arms and sharp facial features, along with his deep wolf-like eyes, give off a dignified and steady aura, like a mountain.


    This president of the "Steel Cross Society" fulfills every image of a mafia boss that Su''en had imagined.


    ......


    Seeing the president approaching, the members of the Cross Society greeted him one after another, saying, "President!"


    "You all have worked hard."


    Chuck nodded to the crowd and looked at the unconscious captive on the ground.


    Qiantiao, who was standing by, took the initiative to exin, "This guy tried tomit suicide when he couldn''t escape earlier, but I stopped him. He looks unfamiliar and should be a mercenary from the northern city."


    In the outer city of Old Lingdun, there are three major gangs that dominate the east, west, and south districts respectively. As the northern district is close to the inner city, it is still managed by the urban security department and no major gangs can reach there.


    As the buffer zone between the slums and the inner city, the various forces in the northern district areplex, and various neutral organizations such as the "Mercenary Guild," "Alchemy Guild," "Wilderness Hunting Guild," and "Professional Guild" are also gathered there...


    Except for the three major gangs, most of the "professionals" in the outer city are mixing in the northern district, and there are also many experts.


    The people who attacked the headquarters of the Cross Society this time seemed to be a mercenary group from the northern city.


    Upon hearing this, Chuck didn''t know what he was thinking and nodded, "Hmm."


    He said in a calm tone, "These guys used a ck scythe to break open the door of the vault. It should be the same forbidden item that appeared in the auction house in the inner city a few years ago, the ''Night ck Scythe of Supnos.''"


    Upon hearing this, several captains seemed to remember something. Their brows furrowed slightly, but they also showed a sudden realization.


    Only that forbidden item could open the vault door in a short amount of time.


    At this moment, Chuck frowned and said seriously, "The ''forbidden item'' cannot be put into a storage ring. It is a big target. People can leave, but the thing must not leave the southern city! Notify the brothers below to immediately seal off the city district. No one should be allowed to escape."


    The captains responded one after another, saying, "Yes, President!"


    .......


    The support team on Green Street originally did not have the qualifications to listen to the decisions of the gang''s high-level members, but because they arrived too early, they happened to be in front of the headquarters building.


    Upon hearing President Chuck''s order, they immediately took action and prepared to return to Green Street to fortify their defenses.


    The motorcycles started, just about to turn around and leave.


    At this moment, Qiantiao thought of something and threw the unconscious captive onto one of the bright open-top motorcycles, saying, "Kay, take this guy to the interrogation room."


    "Okay!"


    Kay nodded and instructed a few people to tie up the captive.


    The gang''s interrogation room was just three blocks away, which was on the way.


    After the group of people from Green Street left, the captains also left one after another, each going to their respective patrol areas.


    Leaving President Chuck alone standing in ce, he looked at the mist-covered district in the distance, deep in thought.


    After a while, a middle-aged man with a cigarette in his mouth walked over and reported, "President, the investigation has beenpleted. We killed four of the seven people who entered the vault earlier and captured one. But the ''thing'' was also lost, probably taken away by the guy with the scythe. As for thest one, he might be..."


    Chuck didn''t wait for him to finish and waved his hand, saying, "I know."


    No one saw it, but upon hearing these words, a hint of sigh shed in the eyes of this mafia godfather with a notorious reputation.


    .......


    The convoy on Green Street was heading back on the return journey.


    Unlike the tense atmosphere when they came, the car was now filled with joy.


    Captain Kay also announced some good news, saying, "Brothers, Boss Smoker just said that everyone who participated in the mission will receive a bonus of 50,000 each. And for our team from Green Street, we will receive an additional bonus of 50,000!"


    "Hahaha, Boss Smoker is mighty! Captain is mighty!"


    Laughter filled the convoy.


    100,000 lisuo was equivalent to five months'' sry for everyone. For ordinary gang members, it was definitely a huge sum of money.


    Although six gang members died and more than ten were injured in the battle on the bridge earlier, it didn''t seem like a big deal to these gang members who were ustomed to death and bloodshed. The lives of most people in the outer city were not worth 100,000, including them.


    If they could survive, they would continue to enjoy themselves.


    Even those with minor injuries could be healed with a healing potion. Even those with severed limbs could use the 100,000 bonus to install a mechanical prosthetic limb and enjoy themselves in the pleasure district of Green Street for several months...


    Listening to the cheers and shouts of the crowd, Su''en also had a smile on his face.


    On his first day joining the gang, he encountered so many things, which really surprised him.


    Indeed...


    The high risks and casualties in the mafia were not just empty words.


    But the rewards were also proportional.


    However, Su''en felt that this kind of life was not bad either.


    It made him feel the long-lost thrill.


    In his previous life, he spent several years in a juvenile correctional facility undergoing mental therapy until he could perfectly control his emotions before being released.


    The "illness" seemed to have been cured, but he rarely felt the adrenaline rush of excitement anymore. Even the most terrifying movies and games rarely made his heart have any significant waves, and as time went on, the sense of boredom became more severe, and the joy in life became less and less.


    On the contrary, this cruel underground world made Su''en feel satisfied.


    ......


    Lost in his thoughts, his mind drifted away.


    "A surprise attack on the headquarters of the Cross Society turned out to be surrounded and killed by the president and the executives. The high-level members of the gang are quite capable..."


    Su''en sighed in his heart and thought of the several "important figures" he had seen before.


    President "Arbiter" Chuck, as well as the executives "Four-Armed Rakshasa" Thirteen, "Smoker" Sambu Kacinski, and "Night Angel" Goethe Amato...


    Each one of them was a second-order or higher professional, not only powerful but also now appearing as flesh-and-blood characters.


    The term "mafia" alone could not fully describe them.


    However, suddenly.


    Su''en didn''t know what he was thinking, and his gaze suddenly fell on the captive from the raid. His thoughts instinctively started ying a game of deduction.


    Who could the enemy be?


    Is it the "Raven Gang," their long-time rival, or the "Steam Party"?


    But from the current situation, almost all those who participated in this operation were mercenaries from the northern city, so it was unlikely that the two major gangs were directly involved or had a significant role.


    For such well-funded mercenaries, they were probably... important figures from the inner city.


    Also, why did they attack the warehouse of the headquarters?


    It was not worth it just for simple robbery.


    With this free time, robbing the rich would be much easier than robbing the mafia.


    The target of these mercenaries should be a very important and special item in the warehouse...


    Connecting the limited clues together, Su''en quickly deduced some truths in his mind.


    However, he wasn''t interested in delving deeper.


    After all, he didn''t want to and didn''t have the ability to get involved in the affairs of the gang''s high-level members.


    "But then again, why would these mercenaries, who clearly know that the Cross Society''s high-level members are formidable, choose to pick a fight?"


    Su''en thought of some interesting things.


    Judging from the calm expressions of the executives earlier, it probably didn''t take much effort to deal with that group of mercenaries.


    So where did the enemies get their confidence from?


    "Oh, wait, that person said earlier that the president and the others just returned... which means that the enemies caught the gang''s high-level members off guard when they were not in the city. However, the president and the executives were actually already lurking in the city, waiting for the trapped turtle?"


    Su''en felt that things seemed to be getting moreplicated.


    No one would be idle enough to y the empty city strategy and get beaten up. After all, the breach of the gang''s headquarters was like being pped in the face. For the "Steel Cross Society," one of the three major gangs, even if the losses could be recovered, it was not a glorious event.


    Therefore, Su''en came to the conclusion: "If the high-level members of the gang were ying a trick, it must be for some purpose..."


    Such as:


    Establishing dominance?


    Or maybe capturing an inside traitor?


    With such arge-scale invasion, there must have been support within the Cross Society...


    Su''en thought so and became puzzled, "Hmm... that doesn''t seem right."


    Suddenly, he looked at the captive who was still unconscious, and a random thought popped into his mind, "If there really is an inside traitor in the gang, ording to the normal plot, someone shoulde and kill him to silence him. The plot feels iplete without it..."


    The interrogation room was just three blocks away. If they didn''t kill this captive on the way, it would be difficult to do so once he was inside. By then, the identity of the traitor would definitely be exposed.


    It was probably a case of "seek and you shall find."


    As soon as this thought arose in Su''en''s mind, a gunshot rang out like thunder.


    In the next moment, the captive in the front car had his head blown open.


    "..."


    Su''en watched the bloody scene in front of him, his face twitching.


    He immediately realized that he seemed to have guessed correctly.

 Chapter 27: Introduction to Alchemy

    Chapter 27: Introduction to Alchemy


    Knowing from the sound of the gunshots, it was not an ordinary sniper rifle; seeing the explosion of the head, one could also guess that the bullet was an alchemy bullet.


    The purpose was probably to ensure that one shot could kill the target.


    Although Su''en instinctively shuddered at the sound of the thunderous gunshot, he soon calmed down.


    Because he anticipated the cause and effect of the whole incident, he was confident that the sniper would not fire a second shot.


    After all, the sniper was here to kill and silence, and would definitely not waste bullets on them, the "small fry" helpers.


    Moreover, the position of the convoy was not far from the headquarters building of the Green Gang, and the experts of the gang could arrive in an instant. The longer the sniper dyed, the more unlikely it was for him to escape.


    ...


    "Damn it, there''s a sniper, everyone be careful!"


    The sudden attack scared the people on Green Street.


    The convoy stopped urgently, and everyone found cover to avoid being shot by the sniper hidden in a building.


    Su''en guessed the motive of the gunman and no longer worried.


    He looked at the corpse with a blown head ten meters away on the motorcycle, turned his eyes, and "bravely" jumped and rolled, hiding beside the motorcycle with the corpse.


    Su''en didn''t care about the conspiracies of the high-ranking officials or the "mole".


    In his eyes, there was only the corpse on the motorcycle.


    This was the body of at least a second-tier professional. How often did he have such good luck toe across it?


    In the eyes of others, it was a pile of rotten meat, but in Su''en''s eyes, it was a lump of priceless treasure shining with golden light.


    However, his "brave act" made the captain Kay and the other experienced veterans by the car slightly surprised.


    Are all the neers so brave now?


    Facing an unknown sniper, they were not afraid at all, but took the initiative toe forward and relieve the pressure on the old helpers?


    Su''en also noticed the strange look in their eyes and naturally wouldn''t say that he came to "harvest" fragments. He could only find an excuse and say, "The gunman is on the high building southwest, 1,300 meters away!"


    This was not a fabrication. His current "Basic Firearms Proficiency" allowed him to quickly determine the position of the gunman through the trajectory of the bullet.


    The blood sttered from the corpse on the motorcycle was scattered in the northeast direction, indicating that the bullet must havee from the southwest. The prating power of the alchemy bullet was strong, as it blew up the target''s head and created a hole in the ground through the motorcycle. The angle of the two bullet holes on the ground and the bottom of the car could determine the angle of the bullet''s entry.


    Of course, the most important thing was Su''en''s amazing vision. When he judged the location where the sniper fired, he saw the figure on the high building in the distance at a nce.


    "To the southwest?"


    Upon hearing Su''en''s words, Captain Kay and the other veterans were initially stunned but soon realized.


    As seasoned warriors, they naturally knew how to determine the position of a sniper. It was just that their minds were still in shock from the surprise attack and hadn''t recovered, so they didn''t expect a neer to already have the answer.


    At this moment, because the distance was close enough, Su''en sessfully stripped the memory fragments from the corpse.


    "You obtained ''Vincent Isakov''s Memory Fragments *3''"


    "You gained some information: ''How could they not think that the manuscript would be hidden there...''"


    "You learned ''Elemental Language Beginner''..."


    "You gained some knowledge of mysticism, alchemy experience +31"


    "Spiritual Power +0.35"


    This time, Su''en didn''t strip anybat skills, which made him slightly regretful.


    However, after digesting the "knowledge of mysticism" in his mind, he realized that the value of this knowledge was not lower than that of abat skill, or even rarer.


    This was a world with various alchemy arts, where alchemy was everything.


    Even for the "Curse Imntation" that was most important for enhancing thebat power of professionals, it was just a routine application of alchemy.


    The mysteries of alchemy went far beyond that. Enchanting, metalworking, crafting, potions, imnts, spells... almost all fields were rted to alchemy.


    It could be said that alchemical knowledge wasbat power.


    Thew of equivalent exchange allowed alchemy to exchange everything!


    This was why the "Crow Gang" old-school alchemists of the magical faction despised the mechanical technology of the other two gangs.


    That was because, so far, thebat power of the "new-school" steam machinery was far inferior to the "old-school" magical faction.


    The higher the rank, the greater the gap.


    But why were the old-school alchemists still prevalent, and mechanical arms and steam equipment were everywhere?


    Because they were cheap and had a low entry threshold.


    In the field of low-level professionals, firearms and steam machinery were very useful. But in high-levelbat, only alchemy was the truth.


    Su''en didn''t dwell on whether steam technology or ancient alchemy was stronger or weaker, as hecked a lot of knowledge about this world and was still exploring.


    But knowledge was always beneficial.


    As for the "Elemental Language," Su''en was not aplete novice anymore. He knew that it was the basic ancientnguage that must be mastered in the study of mysticism. Almost all old-school alchemy, ancient scrolls, and ancient books were written in this script...


    Without thinking too much, Su''en looked at the two new skills, "Alchemy Beginner" and "Elemental Language Beginner," that appeared on his character panel and felt satisfied with the gains.


    Then, he also stripped a fragment of iplete memory from the corpse.


    "Manuscript? Could it be the thing those people attacked the headquarters vault for?"


    Su''en spected in his mind.


    It was a fragmentary thought without any context, but he knew that the so-called "manuscript" was hidden in an unexpected ce...


    The specific location was not mentioned in the memory fragment.


    "Unexpected? Could it be one of those ''the most dangerous ce is the safest'' tricks..."


    Su''en sarcastically thought to himself but didn''t dwell on what the manuscript was or where it might be hidden.


    After all, it wouldn''t fall into his hands.


    In Su''en''s opinion, if that thing was important, the high-ranking officials of the gang would definitely make every effort to find it.


    If they found it, it wouldn''t belong to him.


    And if the gang couldn''t find it, as a lone individual, he didn''t have any hope either.


    ........


    After waiting for a few seconds without hearing a second shot, Kay finally realized that the gunman was here to kill and silence, not targeting them, the people of Green Street.


    "Damn it, the gunman is here to kill and silence!"


    Captain Kay''s face turned ugly.


    The mission that the cadres had just given him, and now, after only two streets, the captive was killed right in front of him. How was he supposed to exin this?


    "Sam, you, and you...e with me! Let''s go catch that gunman!"


    Kay pointed to a few people, probably because of Su''en''s performance earlier, he included him as well.


    Su''en didn''t mind, as he thought, even if he went, he wouldn''t be able to catch up.


    The fact that the sniper didn''t fire a second shot meant that the guy had a lot of experience and would retreat after killing.


    Running to that distance, the probability of catching him was low.


    The group of them ran towards the southwest building.


    As Su''en had expected, they returned empty-handed after a short while.


    Captain Kay had a dark expression when he saw the gang member "Night Angel" Goethe Amato, who had already arrived at the scene of the assassination.


    "Boss Angel..."


    Kay looked guilty.


    "It''s alright. It''s not your fault."


    Goethe looked at the corpse with a calm expression, as if the death of this "important captive" was inconsequential.


    He alsoforted Kay, "The chairman said it''s fine, you can go back."


    "But..."


    Although Kay wanted to make up for his "mistake," it was already toote, and there was no way to salvage the situation.


    The people of Green Street set off again, feeling gloomy.


    On the motorcycle, no one spoke, and everyone had a gloomy expression, like children who had made a mistake.


    Su''en, on the other hand, was in a good mood, but he didn''t show it on his face.


    Although this trip was dangerous, his gains were also astonishing. He stripped more than ten corpses and one second-tier professional, improving his proficiency in various skills.


    Oh, and he also received a reward of 100,000 yuan.


    But when he looked at the gloomy Kay, a thought suddenly popped into Su''en''s mind: "This doesn''t seem right. If I can think of a mole, the high-ranking officials shouldn''t be so oblivious. Since they can think of it, how could they be so careless as to let a group of rookies escort such an important captive?"


    With this thought, Su''en immediately realized that this was not carelessness but an intentional act!


    "Could it be that the high-ranking officials of the gang deliberately wanted to lure someone toe and kill to expose the mole?"


    Thinking of this, Su''en suddenly realized that he might have guessed the truth.


    This was the "scheming" of the high-ranking officials of the Cross Society.


    The mole probably also guessed that this was a deliberate attempt to expose him, but he had no choice but toe and kill to silence. Otherwise, if the captive''s testimony was revealed, he would still face death.


    But Su''en also knew that it was difficult to cultivate a sniper, and out of ten thousand gunmen, not necessarily one would be a qualified "sniper." Moreover, the farther the distance, the more factors would affect the shot.


    So, being able to blow someone''s head off at this distance meant that the gunman had good marksmanship.


    If it was someone from within the Cross Society, it wouldn''t be difficult to investigate the identity of the gunman...


    Thinking of this, Su''en nced at Kay and shook his head slightly.


    This poor little captain med himself for everything and felt deep guilt.


    Little did he know that this was part of the n of the high-ranking officials.


    .......


    Su''en rubbed his temples and dismissed the chaotic thoughts from his mind.


    Whether it was a conspiracy or a scheme, it had nothing to do with him.


    He only cared about one thing in his heart, which was to buy materials as soon as he returned and prepare for his "induction"!


    Who knew that on his first day joining the gang, he would encounter such an unexpected event?


    Who knew that this unexpected event would have such a high level of danger?


    Although it was safe and sound this time, Su''en didn''t have the confidence that he could always turn danger into safety in the face of unexpected idents.


    Therefore, enhancing his strength was the most urgent goal!

 Chapter 28: Alchemy Planting Blueprint

    Chapter 28: Alchemy nting Blueprint


    The captives were assassinated, and the people on Green Street returned to their jurisdiction in disappointment.


    Not far from the headquarters of the ck Forest Building, in a basement, a young man was cleaning his beloved sniper rifle.


    A few minutes ago, it was with this rifle that he assassinated an important captive of the gang.


    Then, because of his identity, he easily shook off the suspicion of the gang members and returned to this basement.


    But he didn''t escape, as if waiting for something.


    Soon, a man in a cloak walked in silently.


    The young man seemed to have expected it, and without turning around, he continued to focus on wiping his sniper rifle.


    The man in the cloak asked, "Did you get rid of him?"


    "Yeah."


    The young man nodded.


    Then, as if thinking of something, his expression dimmed. "Captain, this is thest thing I promised you. I won''t do it anymore."


    "Yeah."


    The man in the cloak didn''t care at all. He came here to kill and silence.


    And at this moment, the young man seemed to have guessed something. There was a bitter smile on the corner of his mouth.


    He put down the cloth in his hand, his eyes trembling with crystal tears. Finally, he nced at the man in the cloak and said, "Captain, I have paid off my debt to you."


    Upon hearing these words, the man in the cloak''s gaze slightly chilled, and he fell silent for a moment. "Don''t you want to try to escape?"


    The young man smiled and shook his head. "You saved my life before, Captain. I am prepared to do this for you. If you don''t kill me, I won''t have the face to continue in the gang."


    "Anyst words?"


    "None. I have no family, so no one will care if I die. I won''t cause trouble for you, Captain."


    ***


    Upon hearing the young man''sst words, something seemed to touch the man in the cloak''s heart, but he still decisively killed him.


    He looked at the corpse, and in his cold eyes, there was finally a slight tremor.


    The captured captive had to die.


    But he also knew that this was a test from the leader. At that time, whoever killed would definitely be the traitor.


    Therefore, a middleman who would not be suspected was needed.


    If it weren''t for this desperate situation, he wouldn''t have wanted to kill the old team member he had brought out with his own hands...


    ***


    Soon, Su''en and Kay''s group returned to Green Street.


    Returning to the familiar territory, the low spirits of the gang members quickly dissipated. With a hundred thousand yuan in their hands, the next period of time would be their carnival days.


    The convoy was still gathering in the alley, ammunition was stored, battle losses were counted, damaged motorcycles were sent to the repair shop, and seriously injured members were sent to the hospital...


    There were procedures for gang fights, and everyone was familiar with them.


    Soon, all the misceneous matters were taken care of.


    Captain Kay''s mood was still a bit low. He said to the others, "Alright, everyone can do whatever they want..."


    Sam and the other veterans couldn''t wait any longer and winked at each other. "Captain, can we go now?"


    Kay nodded. "Yeah, don''t go too overboard, remember to gather for patrol tomorrow on time."


    "Got it!"


    The veterans dispersed excitedly.


    Su''en originally wanted to leave with the crowd, but Kay stopped him.


    "You did well in this operation."


    Kay praised Su''en''s performance and said straightforwardly, "Your marksmanship is good. If you have the intention to be an advanced professional, practice well on normal days. If you meet the requirements for employment, I will mention it to the executives, and the gang will provide certain resources."


    "Yeah, thank you, Captain."


    Su''en nodded.


    However, he didn''t ce his hopes for employment in the gang, nor did he want to be a "promising neer" in the gang.


    He already had the materials for the "Phantom Puppeteer" employment and sold the loot from killing the baldies. He probably had enough money for now. He didn''t n to show himself until he had the power to protect himself.


    Kay might still be concerned about the captive being killed, so he wanted to chat a bit more, but he didn''t have much interest.


    "If you have any questions or encounter any difficulties regarding employment as a Transcendent, let me know."


    After a pause, a smile appeared on his face. "This mission was hard on everyone. If there''s nothing else, Su''en, you should also rx a bit..."


    "Yeah."


    Su''en didn''t say much.


    Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, Captain, I have a question to ask you."


    Kay raised his eyebrows. "What is it?"


    Su''en pretended to hesitate and then asked, "I saw the ''Angel Boss''s'' alchemy wings before, and they were very powerful. I want to ask... if I have the opportunity to be an advanced professional in the future, is it possible to obtain the blueprints for that kind of imnt?"


    This was a question he had wanted to ask before. The wing imnt was the most appealing to him at the moment, as it could fly and fight. The key was that he felt it was more suitable for his career developmentpared to imnts like "Adamantite Scale" or "Golden Arm Bone."


    "Haha, you also think that imnt looks cool?"


    Hearing this, Kay''s eyes suddenly lit up.


    Heughed, "Before... I also wanted the ''Thousand Kill Feather Wings'' imnt from the Angel Boss. I thought it would be cool to fly and use the wings as flying knives..."


    It seemed like there was a naive dream in everyone''s childhood, but it became unattainable as they grew up.


    Kay looked at Su''en and seemed to find resonance.


    But suddenly, he changed the topic and said, "But after I became qualified as a professional, I realized it was impossible."


    Su''en frowned, not understanding. <em>"Impossible?"</em>


    Kay seemed to guess that Su''en misunderstood and exined, "In the gang, as long as you have a certain contribution, you can buy any blueprint from the gang''s warehouse at a price lower than the market price. Even the alchemy blueprints of the executives and the leader can be bought!"


    Su''en listened without rushing to speak.


    This was something he had learned before. As long as he joined the gang and made some contributions, he could buy imnt blueprints with money.


    This was also one of the benefits of joining a gang.


    So he asked that question just now because he was confused about why Kay said it was "impossible."


    Kay smiled and exined, "You should know that alchemizing alchemy imnts is not without conditions, but requires a certain ''Containment Value.'' The curse characteristic of the Angel Boss''s imnt is very strong and requires a high Containment Value for the body."


    "Containment Value?"


    A strange term popped up in Su''en''s mind. He really didn''t know about it.


    Upon hearing this, he realized that the Containment Value was approximately equal to Dark Spirit Power Value + Rank.


    Kay continued to exin, "For ordinary people like us, the Dark Spirit Power Value is about seven to eight hundred after practicing the breathing technique. If you have an advanced breathing technique, it might be higher."


    After a pause, he smiled bitterly and said, "The ''Thousand Kill Feather Wings'' of the Angel Boss is a ''Silver-grade'' imnt, which has very high requirements. To ensureplete containment of the body, you need at least nine hundred to one thousand points, so as to prevent the curse characteristic of the imnt from bacshing and distorting!"


    "Oh?"


    Su''en finally understood.


    So the difference between "ck Iron" and "Silver" quality imnts was this. The higher the grade of the imnt, the stronger the body''s tolerance needed to be to ensure no distortion.


    But when Su''en heard that the "Thousand Kill Feather Wings" required a thousand Dark Spirit Power Value to ensure no distortion, his thoughts became a bit strange.


    He looked at the data panel, and his Dark Spirit Power limit had already increased to 1157. His eyebrows twitched unconsciously, and he couldn''t help but sigh, "The original host''s ''Hegem Breath Technique'' seems to be of a high grade..."


    For ordinary people, their Dark Spirit Power would be seven to eight hundred when it overflowed. Very powerful executives might have a thousand. He already had nearly twelve hundred.


    And he felt that it was barely overflowing and hadn''t reached its limit.


    This was enough to show that either the gap between breathing techniques was too big, or the original host had extraordinary talent.


    Before Su''en could think too much, Kay remembered the time when he said he wanted the "Thousand Kill Feather Wings" before and was scolded by the Smoke Boss.


    He smiled bitterly and used the same rhetoric, saying, "Alchemy imnts should first match your own talent, and then your profession... Actually, the ''Thousand Kill Feather Wings'' is not very suitable for a gunner, but more suitable for assassins and rangers. I think you can look for blueprints that enhance vision and skill, such as the powerful gunner imnt ''Titanium Eye'' or ''Agile Hand Bones''..."


    "Ordinary blueprint prices are around twenty to thirty thousand yuan. With the bonus you received now, you can keep an eye out. Blueprints are something that can''t be sought but can be encountered. The more suitable they are, the more you should buy them."


    "If you''re not satisfied with the blueprints in the gang, you can also go to the ''Shadow Alley'' in the North City. asionally, unexpected good things can be found on the ck market..."


    "Oh, you haven''t tested your Dark Spirit Power Value yet? When you feel it''s necessary, I''ll take you to the headquarters. They have instruments there that can urately measure your situation..."


    Su''en listened to Kay''s nagging and smiled, "Alright."

 Chapter 29: Black market

    Chapter 29: ck market


    Captain Kay is a pretty good person. He probably doesn''t want Su''en to take the wrong path, so he exined it in detail.


    However, Kay doesn''t know that Su''en''s awakened talent is not the D-level "Hawkeye", but the S-level dual talent. He also doesn''t know that Su''en doesn''t want to advance to a normal profession, but already has a highlypatible golden employment material called "Rune Puppet" and wants to be a rare profession called "Puppeteer".


    Therefore, the career advice that is suitable for ordinary people is not suitable for Su''en.


    Indeed, as Kay said, choosing alchemical imnts requires a highpatibility between one''s profession and talent in order to achieve abat power greater than the sum of its parts.


    Choose body-enhancing imnts for melee, agility-enhancing ones for assassins, and various enhancements to casting efficiency for mages...


    But Su''en''s career path is focused on skill and agility growth, so alchemical imnts are quite versatile, but it is difficult to find highpatibility.


    From the current perspective, except for the Silver-tier "Thousand Kill Feather Wings" imnts, which have rtively highpatibility, the other essible Iron-tier imnts are somewhat "wasting" his own attributes.


    But he thought, what if there were morepatible ones?


    Su''en didn''t dwell on this issue too much.


    There is no need to hurry about the alchemical imnt blueprint, as that is something he will face after bing a professional.


    First, he needs to prepare for his "employment".


    In addition to requiring exclusive employment materials, bing a "professional" also requires some items to set up a transformation array. For example, magic crystals, star antimony, mercury salt... as well as various powdered metal media such as red copper and gold.


    .......


    After a night of tossing and turning, the hustle and bustle of Green Street gradually subsided.


    As the liveliest nightlife street in the southern district, the city wakes up in the early morning, bing the night here.


    It is worth mentioning that there is no sun or moon in the underground city. The distinction between day and night is marked by the mist and lights in the city.


    When night falls, the mist permeates the entire city, and the light towers set up by the municipal office to save energy will be extinguished. During the day, the mist dissipates and the lights illuminate the streets.


    6:55 in the morning.


    The members of the Crossroads Association in Green Street are still in their peaceful dreams, while Su''en has already left.


    Due to the operation of numerous steam boilers in the city''s factories and the burning of coal mines, the mist appears in a pale gray color, and the air is filled with a strong smell.


    Five minutes before the city train departs, there are not many pedestrians on the street.


    Su''en changed into arge ck windbreaker, with a round-brimmed hat covering most of his face, and squeezed into the line of waiting passengers. A slight breeze blew into his cor, bringing a hint of coolness.


    "Ding Ling Ling~"


    After a crisp sound of a copper bell, a steam lotive on tracks arrived with a "woo woo".


    Just like taking a bus in his previous life, Su''en followed suit and squeezed in.


    Arrived at the station and got off.


    The Bird Street in the North District is the intersection of the four districts, and the X-shaped intersection of the two major districts is also the boundary line of three factions. This ce does not belong to the territory of the three major factions, and the North District Security Office cannot reach here. It is a "no-man''snd" where various forces intertwine.


    Under the crossroads, there is an inconspicuous alley leading to the underground called "Shadow Lane".


    In the underground, there is a ck market for professionals named after this alley.


    There are interconnected underground pipelines that connect to theplex sewer system of Old Lingdun. Even if they are besieged by arge army, the people inside can escape through the underground officialwork.


    Therefore, due to the special geographical environment, this has gradually be thergest underground ck market in the outer city.


    .......


    "Shadow Lane" is the favorite ce for wanderers and adventurers. They bring the harvest from hunting outside the city to sell here, including curse materials, alchemical scrolls, ores, rare cursed items... and many strange ancient alchemical products.


    This is also the extraordinary market that professionals from the outer city like to visit, because there are many goods here that are notmonly seen or even unavable in the market.


    As long as you have money, those ck market shopkeepers can always satisfy you.


    Many shady things, such as stolen goods sold by thieves, and goods obtained through murder and robbery, can be found in certain inconspicuous shops in Shadow Lane.


    Famous guns, swords, high-level potions, alchemical bullets, steam machinery, alchemical blueprints, and even military-modified prosthetics that only nobles can enjoy... and top-secret intelligence.


    Everything is avable here.


    .......


    Shady things are always hidden in dark corners.


    There is only one dim gasmp every ten meters, and the light is dim.


    Su''en walked through a long underground passage, probably going underground for one or two hundred meters, beforeing to a huge underground crevice.


    "Shadow Lane" is not a t street, but a three-dimensionalplex of buildings.


    Ancient sewer pipes are neatly arranged on the rock walls, and the end of the pipes leads to the endless darkness deep underground. People have built steel-framed small shops using the pipes. Just like Su''en''s previous life''s "Hanging Monastery", they rely on various crude steel structure stairs and bridges for passage.


    Su''en stood at the intersection of the street that leads to the district, looking at the pitch-ck abyss in front of him, with a pensive look in his eyes.


    Without dy, he went straight to the market street.


    Stepping on the steel road surface, making a nging sound.


    Probably because it was still early, Shadow Lane, which had just opened, didn''t have many customers.


    Su''en looked around.


    Most of these shops are only a few square meters in size, with some materials hanging at the entrance, indicating what the shop sells. asionally, some shops would write a small sign with charcoal and hang it at the entrance, such as "ck Witch''s Alchemical Materials Shop", "Starry Bookstore", "Giant Mechanical Shop"...


    Interestingly, Su''en actually saw his "missing person notice" in the street bulletin board, or more precisely, the notice of the original owner.


    Although it is not a wanted warrant, the photo states that providing clues can earn a reward of 100,000 miles. This is already the reward price for a B-level wanted criminal.


    Very tempting.


    This is a bulletin board posting information about buying materials, with half of the space filled with various information about buying materials, and the secret code for the trading address is left behind.


    Only those who frequently frequent the ck market know what those secret codes represent.


    On the other side, there is a section for information brokers to exchange intelligence. Like a small advertisement area in a newspaper, it is densely filled with various "missing person notices", bounties, and trading codes.


    And the A-level wanted criminal "Shadow Scorpion" Abelk, who died in the arena yesterday, is also among them. However, a red cross has been drawn on his photo at this moment.


    Su''en only nced at it and didn''t pay much attention.


    The wanted person on the list is the brown-haired youth Feek Leka, what does it have to do with the bald Su''en?


    Appearancees from the heart, and with a new soul in his body, both temperament and facial features have be increasingly different from the original owner.


    He doesn''t think that just with this photo, bounty hunters will find him.


    ......


    "Shadow Lane" is not only home to fixed shops, but there are also some antique dealers iming to be wilderness hunters on the narrow roadsides.


    They casually spread a piece of cloth and put a few things on it, iming that they are ancient treasures found in certain ruins.


    This gives Su''en the feeling of visiting the Panjiayuan Antique Market in his previous life. Various strange and odd things look impressive, but when seen through the All-Knowing Eye, they are all "fake"!


    Although he has the "All-Knowing Eye", Su''en doesn''t think he can pick up any bargains. He didn''t waste time identifying those fakes one by one.


    Transcendent items have a very special energy fluctuation, especially curse materials, even ayman can feel that they are not simple.


    Moreover, alchemists are very knowledgeable professionals. It can be said that almost every hunting team has an "appraiser" who is proficient in archaeology and mysticism.


    One person may overlook something, but if everyone overlooks it, the probability is almost zero.


    There are good things in the ck market, but theye at a corresponding price. Instead of going to various shops to look for bargains, it is more likely to attract attention.


    "Shadow Lane" has good things, but they are definitely expensive. You don''t need to scavenge on your own, just ask the store owner directly, and they will mysteriously bring out the good things that are not disyed on the counter.


    After all, his wanted notice is still hanging on the wall, and Su''en has no intention of wandering around in the market.


    His purpose foring to the ck market this time is to buy some materials for "employment".


    Kay had told him before that "Rosen''s Alchemical Shop" has a good reputation and good quality items.


    He walked for a few minutes and found that inconspicuous little shop in the market corner.


    A quaint copper bell hung at the entrance of the shop, and the narrow door had to be touched when entering.


    With a jingle, the shopkeeper knew that a customer had arrived.


    The shop was very small, with ss counters on three sides, and the walls were filled with small grid cabs. Even the air was filled with many disyed material samples hanging from ropes.


    Listening to the bell, an old man with sses who was organizing the materials appeared behind the counter, saying, "Dear customer, what materials do you need to purchase?"


    Su''en nced at him and without hesitation, took out the material list and said, "I want six pieces of white quartz, thirty grams..."


    But as soon as he started, the old man looked surprised, as if he had misheard, "You want white quartz?"


    Su''en asked, "What''s wrong? Don''t you have it in your store?"


    The old man exined, "No, esteemed customer, I didn''t mean anything else. I mean, advancing as a ''professional'' doesn''t require high-purity quartz. Ordinary yellow quartz is enough."


    The shopkeeper sells alchemical materials, so he naturally knows that buying quartz is most likely for setting up an alchemical transformation array for employment.


    In his shop, he sells dozens of units of quartz every month, and more than 95% of people buy impure yellow quartz. Only a few buy higher purity blue quartz.


    As for high-purity white quartz? No one in the outer city needs such advanced materials.


    Not only are they expensive, but it is a waste to use such high-level materials to set up a normal employment transformation array.


    So he assumed that the customer in front of him made a "slip of the tongue".


    "Thank you for your kind suggestion, but I''m sure I need six pieces of white quartz."


    Su''en said in a deep voice.


    It''s not that he is ignorant, on the contrary, he now knows a lot about alchemy. He knows that he must have this kind of material.


    In the case of a normal employment ceremony, impure yellow quartz is indeed sufficient.


    But the "Rune Puppet" employment material he has reached the gold level, so he needs to set up a transformation array of the same high level to have a chance to sessfully advance.


    "Oh, I see..."


    The old man nced at him and didn''t say much.


    He took out something from his personal storage ring and introduced, "Coincidentally, I received a few pieces from a group of wilderness hunters yesterday. I originally nned to sell them to the big merchants in the inner city, but I can sell them to you now. However, the price is not cheap. The six pieces in total will cost 12,000 miles."


    Su''en looked at the six palm-sized crystal clear white quartz on the tray and nodded in satisfaction.


    Although he doesn''t have the ability to judge purity, the All-Knowing Eye has revealed the name of this thing as "high-purity white quartz".


    The old man asked again, "What else do you need?"


    "Snowke star antimony, fifteen grams. Mercury salt liquid of at least grade IV quality, eighty milliliters. Eight portions of refined red copper powder. Two hundred grams of lizard powder from at least thirty years ago. Green glow crystals..."


    Su''en didn''t hide anything and directly reported the list of materials he needed.


    He was well aware that there was no need to conceal his intentions.


    The merchants here have sold too many materials and are extremely shrewd. Once you open your mouth, they can actually guess what you want.


    If you really go to different shops to buy, the likelihood of being targeted will be even higher.


    "All these are very high-level materials... If you go to other shops, you may not be able to gather them all at once. Fortunately, I still have some stock in my shop."


    The old man muttered to himself, apparently guessing that the customer in front of him was nning to set up a very high-level transformation array.


    However, as a professional merchant, he would not inquire about the customer''s secrets. This is the rule of the ck market.


    He didn''t hesitate either and took out various materials one by one, weighing them on the scale, and then quoted the price, "A total of 42,000 miles."


    Listening to the price, Su''en took out the bonus that hadn''t been heated yet and said, "This is the money, please count it."


    Just a few hours ago, Kay had told him that when he himself advanced, he spent 8,000 miles to buy array materials.


    And now, Su''en has spent five times that amount.


    However, the good news is that everything is ready, and he can now advance.

 Chapter 30: Inauguration ceremony

    Chapter 30: Inauguration ceremony


    ''''In the "Shadow Alley" ck market, there are many good things, and the treasures in various shops are dazzling.


    But Su''en didn''t n to stay long.


    The ck market has its own survival rules, and naturally there are "rats" living in the shadows. Beforeing here, Kay specifically instructed Su''en. There are often wandering gangs near the ck market, and they like to engage in such activities as killing and smuggling. Even the people from the three major gangs are not picky eaters.


    Just bought tens of thousands of yuan worth of materials, and the money was already exposed.


    For people from the outer city, this is already a fortune that can make people murderous.


    Leaving the "Rosen''s Alchemy Shop", passing by a bookstore, Su''en casually picked up a few introductory books on alchemy, "The Secret Book", "Natural and Secret Things", "Basic Alchemy Knowledge"...


    In the outer city, knowledge is expensive. Except for antiques from the wilderness, all bookse from the inner city, especially books about alchemy, which are even more expensive and belong to the category of luxury goods.


    Although Su''en had extracted some alchemy knowledge from corpses before, it was scattered and not systematic at all.


    He evencked a lot ofmon knowledge.


    He was well aware that in the future, if he wants to go further in the path of alchemy, his demand for knowledge will only increase.


    .......


    Su''en left the ck market and took a steam train back to Green Street.


    He wanted to find a ce where no one would disturb him to set up his alchemy array for his inauguration, but he found that the guild did not arrange amodation for him.


    Perhaps they thought it was unnecessary.


    After all, for the majority of guild members, taverns and pleasure quarters are their "homes". Even if amodation is arranged, those guys would only spend a few days there each month.


    In the end, Su''en found a hotel.


    The walls were not soundproof, and there were strange noisesing from the neighboring rooms, rhythmic creaking of the wire bed, the moans of women, and the sound of a whip...


    Su''en automatically blocked out these unpleasant sounds and frowned: "It''s really dirty..."


    Looking around the room, the corners of the walls were damp and dpidated, and there was a dusty white mattress on the shabby iron bed. There were some stains on the sheets that he didn''t know if they were blood or something else. Under the bed, a thickyer of old dust, cigarette butts, and hair piled up.


    The room always had an indelible musty smell that rushed into his nose.


    But it didn''t matter, Su''en didn''t n to sleep here.


    As an ordinary guild member, as long as he wasn''t stupid, he wouldn''t be so high-profile as to stay overnight in a super luxurious hotel. He just wanted to find a ce where no one would disturb him and set up the transition ceremony.


    He pushed the bed aside and swept the space under the bed clean with a broom, clearing a space with a diameter of about three meters.


    Then he took out the alchemy materials he had purchased in the ck market.


    Using six pieces of white crystal as the pivot, he arranged a hexagram pattern. Then he mixed red copper powder and lizard powder in proportion, used the powder as ink, and drew a circr pattern. He then used a mercury salt solution to draw a serpent with a scale and a symbol of bnce...


    The alchemical conversion array needed for the inauguration was the most basic alchemical array, with simple runes and notplicated materials. As long as the specific materials and patterns were ced correctly, it could produce wonderful magical reactions.


    Su''en carefully arranged it, and after about half an hour, hepleted the entire array.


    "Phew... a slightly more advanced basic alchemical array would cost tens of thousands. No wonder there are so few ''old-school'' magic alchemists. It''s truly a profession that burns money..."


    Su''en sighed slightly.


    In his impression, ancient alchemists of the old school needed to arrange simr alchemical arrays every time they cast spells to convert elements.


    Casting spells was, in fact, burning money.


    There is a saying among alchemists: there is nothing that alchemy cannot do in this world; if there is, it means there is not enough money.


    Without thinking too much about the past, it is worth paying any price to be stronger.


    Su''en took out the wooden box containing the "Rune Puppet" without hesitation and opened it.


    The most important thing to be a professional is the "inauguration material".


    .......


    The essence of the inauguration is actually to transfer the transcendent characteristics in the material to the human body through the transition ceremony.


    There are various inauguration materials sold in the market, and they are not too expensive, with a market price of about a hundred thousand lisos.


    Those materials are usually obtained by wilderness hunters who hunt and kill monsters in the underground caves, then extract materials with cursed characteristics from the monsters, and use specific magic patterns to create alchemical items.


    Su''en now also knows that the materials sold on the market are all made of ck iron.


    But in reality, there are higher quality "silver materials".


    However, the silver-quality inauguration materials belong to "controlled goods" and can only be seen by the major merchants in the inner city, and they are also rare. They are monopolized byrge families and conglomerates.


    These are the best inauguration materials that the alchemists in Old Lingdun can produce.


    But in reality, the best inauguration materials are not silver materials, but the "cursed objects" handed down from ancient times.


    Those rare and hard-to-find materials are called "golden materials".


    Just like the golden-quality "Cursed Object - Rune Puppet" that Su''en obtained.


    Because any inauguration material that can withstand the erosion of time is of extremely high quality. They are often left by the outstanding alchemists of ancient times and can awaken special abilities, making them rare professions.


    For example, the mysterious series Puppeteer of Illusions.


    ........


    "It''s been a long time since I felt this sense of anticipation..."


    Su''en took out the Rune Puppet and a faint excitement appeared on his face.


    The inauguration ceremony is not without risks. Failure means being affected by the curse characteristics in the inauguration material and suffering from abnormal bacsh.


    But for Su''en, he doesn''t need to worry about this problem.


    The All-Knowing Eye has confirmed that the magic circle he drew can be used normally, and thepatibility between the inauguration item and his body is also high, so there is no reason for failure.


    He stood in the center of the hexagram array, ced the puppet in the center of the serpent pattern, and then chanted a spell in his mouth: "Following thew of equivalent exchange of all things, praising the glory of the original Creator, witness the miracle of creation with alchemy..."


    The spell was simple, not like the kind of spell that a magician would use to beg for power from a deity. It was just a short phrase like a motto.


    It is said that it is not necessary to chant it.


    Chanting such a phrase is just for more "ceremonial feeling".


    Because alchemists do not believe in any deities. In their eyes, even the so-called deities are just higher beings who have mastered certain higherws, and they also have to follow the principle of equivalent exchange.


    If they really believe in something, alchemists only believe in the "original Creator", the one who created everything in the universe.


    Su''en was not careless and followed the prescribed procedure.


    Just as expected, when the spell fell, the conversion array lit up with a bright blue light.


    The six white crystals gathered the magic power of the entire array, bing brighter and brighter, and the mysterious power became stronger and stronger.


    Su''en remained calm. He watched as the puppet doll on the ground melted into the light, gradually integrating into the hexagram array.


    Then, the dazzling light like vines entwined around his body, and visible particles of light entered his skin.


    That mysterious power gradually merged into his body.

 Chapter 31: Mechanical Puppeteer

    Chapter 31: Mechanical Puppeteer


    "This is the transformation ceremony..."


    Su''en earnestly experienced the process that could bring him transcendent power. The feeling of continuous surging power flowing through his body made him feel relieved in every pore.


    The entire transformation ceremonysted about fifteen minutes, and the light of the hexagram alchemy array gradually dissipated. All the materials turned into a team of lifeless ashes as if they had been burned.


    <em>"Sess!"</em>


    Su''en felt delighted.


    Because he could see his own panel after sessfully "taking office," he could clearly see the changes in his body.


    All his attributes had been improved, strength, perception, physique... all had increased by about 3-5 points.


    But the most exaggerated increase was in three of them.


    "Agility" changed from 6 to 24!


    "Skill" changed from 8 to 35!


    "Spiritual power" also changed from 19 to 31!


    They directly doubled.


    And on the skill panel, there was an additional passive skill called "Multitasking."


    Just like stripping off fragments of the soul, integrating with the eerie puppet, Su''en''s mind gained some new abilities, but they seemed to have merged into his bones.


    The most tangible change brought by the increase in data was that Su''en felt that his body had be stronger.


    Especially the three greatly improved data, he could clearly feel the "transcendent feeling."


    The change in agility made him feel as light as a swallow, able to leap and jump several meters high with a single jump;


    The improvement in skill made him feel that his body had be more agile. The recruitment ability of his nerves to his muscles became extremely strong, allowing him to almost precisely control every piece of bone and muscle in his body;


    Although there was no specific manifestation of the improvement in spiritual power, Su''en felt that his senses had be much clearer.


    At this moment, Su''en felt like a "superhuman."


    He felt that he could now fight ten of his previous selves!


    ***


    Moreover, the most direct reflection of the increase in data was the skills on the panel.


    The two skills Su''en mastered, "Basic Firearms Mastery" and "Advanced Combat Introduction," directly changed to "Intermediate Firearms Mastery 334/800" and "Basic Combat Mastery 99/300"!


    "The improvement in skill can also directly enhance the mastered skills?"


    Su''en felt somewhat surprised.


    He eagerly wanted to experience the sensory differences brought by the increase in skill level, so he casually pulled out the pistol from his waist and immediately felt the difference.


    At this moment, the pistol no longer felt like a tool, but an extension of his arm. It made him feel that if he were to shoot, with a casual aim, he could easily hit the target.


    It was an extremely smooth feeling of "familiarity breeds skill."


    "So this is intermediate firearms mastery? Just by increasing one level, it bes so powerful..."


    Su''en''s eyes sparkled.


    Without reaching that height, one could never understand the scenery at the top.


    What he couldn''t understand before, now became clear.


    He even felt that with a little more practice, he could barely use the high-skill "Secret Technique: Gunfighting" that required great skill.


    But with a little thought, he also understood.


    The significant improvement in skill also allowed him to have an extremely detailed control over variousrge and small muscle groups in his body. With stronger muscle control, regardless ofbat skills or firearm skills that used muscles, the proficiency would undoubtedly increase significantly.


    <em>Swish~</em>


    The pistol in Su''en''s hand formed a flower of gun smoke and urately returned to the holster.


    At this moment, he suddenly thought of something. Both hands moved simultaneously, and he pulled out two pistols at lightning speed, pointing them at the door and the windowsill.


    In that instant of experimentation, a new passive skill was automatically unlocked on the panel.


    Su''en looked at the changes on the panel and eximed, "Multitasking... tsk tsk, it even unlocked the skill ''Dual Weapon Mastery''!"


    This was apletely new and wonderful experience.


    He could clearly feel the feeling of controlling the left and right hands separately, aiming at two targets. His two thoughts in his mind had clear divisions ofbor and could independently give instructions to search for targets, aim, and pull the trigger.


    Although it was also dual-wielding, it was fundamentally different.


    One was "able to use" both hands, the other was "mastery"!


    Hisbat power had skyrocketed.


    ***


    The inn was not a shooting range, so there were no conditions for live shooting.


    Su''en put away the pistols.


    Although the "Multitasking" skill was also powerful for a gunman profession, in reality, it was an awakening ability for the "Puppeteer" profession.


    Su''en shifted his gaze back to the wooden box that had contained the puppets before. On it was a book titled<em> "Comprehensive Guide to Puppet Making for Beginners."</em>


    The significant increase in spiritual power and the passive ability of "Multitasking" were obviously skills exclusive to puppeteers.


    "The road is still long..."


    Su''en pondered.


    To be a qualified "Puppeteer," he still had to learn many things, such as puppet making and maintenance.


    The process of making puppets was extremelyplicated.


    This involved engraving, enchanting, runes... each process required a lot of time to study.


    For example, the most basic rune drawing.


    Don''t think that just drawing some curved special symbols on the puppet is easy. It''s like giving you a sketch, can you immediately draw it urately if you have no foundation? Even slight mistakes would greatly reduce thebat power of the runic puppet.


    "It seems that I''ll have to go to the ck market again sometime, buy some spiritual wood, and try to make my own runic puppet..."


    Su''en was not afraid of difficulties. On the contrary, he enjoyed the process of learning new knowledge.


    At this moment, a new idea suddenly popped into his mind as a time traveler: "Hmm... the material for puppets doesn''t necessarily have to be spiritual wood!"


    He thought of the scene where Pestoya controlled a group of puppets to attack Ivan in the dpidated underground mansion.


    At that time, Ivan, who had awakened "Hardened Bones" and had "Adamantine Scales" imnts, easily killed the puppets made of ordinary materials. The ordinary puppets armed with cold weapons couldn''t even scratch him.


    Arge part of thebat power of the "Puppeteer" profession depended on the puppets.


    And the attack power of the puppets themselves was also the most important factor in determining the oue of a battle.


    Wooden puppets were easily broken, but what if they were reced with mechanical puppets armed with hot weapons?


    Su''en''s expression suddenly brightened when he thought of this.


    The reason for using wooden puppets was for easy control. After all, the lighter the puppet, the greater the room for control. Low-level puppeteers couldn''t control puppets that were too heavy...


    But it''s not a thousand years ago anymore!


    Old Lpndon was in the age of steam technology.


    Micro steam boilers could provide enough power for heavy mechanical arms and external skeletons. Why couldn''t they provide power for mechanical puppets?


    Thinking of this, Su''en''s thoughts suddenly diverged.


    As a time traveler, he didn''t have any conservative concepts. Whether it was technology or transcendent power, weren''t they all for bing stronger?


    Having seen all kinds of high-tech products in his previous life, his mind was now filled with many "design inspirations." Since this world didn''t have electronic control systems, how about a "Puppet Gundam" or a "Puppet Transformers"?


    Su''en felt like he had opened the door to a new world. In his mind, he could already imagine himself controlling not a group of puppets, but a group of battle mechas...


    However, it was difficult to turn his thoughts into reality.


    It was like turning the technology of making fireworks into a rocket that could reach the sky. They might look simr, but the difference in technological content was worlds apart...


    Firstly, the machinery was not agile enough. Even with a power device, steel materials were much heavier than wooden puppets;


    Secondly, to create mechanical puppets, he needed to have a deep understanding of machinery and puppet knowledge.


    Of course, there was also alchemy, the foundation of everything.


    For Su''en, a time traveler, there was too much to learn, and he had to start from scratch with everything.


    The amount of knowledge needed would probably take hundreds of years to learn.


    <em>However... he had the "Reaper of Death"!</em>


    Su''en felt that his future self would probably take apletely different path from the traditional inheritance. That path would be the<em> "Mechanical Puppeteer"!</em>

 Chapter 32: Gang Regulations

    Chapter 32: Gang Regtions


    After sessfully starting his job, Su''en finally felt the gap between "professionals" and "non-professionals" clearly.


    Moreover, this was only the difference in the enhancement of physical attributes and skills after starting the job. The real focus on improving thebat power of "professionals" was still on the "alchemy nt equipment".


    Although Su''en couldn''t see other people''s attribute panels, he could guess that his advanced rare profession "Puppeteer" using golden materials would definitely overpower other professionals of the same type.


    This made him more "worried" about the direction of his future alchemy nt equipment.


    Such good talent attributes felt like a waste to use ordinary nt equipment blueprints. Even the silver nt equipment "Thousand Killing Feather Wings" that Goethe, the officer of the guild, used, Su''en always felt somewhat unsatisfied.


    His high agility attribute was a good match, but high skill and high mental power were a bit wasted.


    Without much thought, after sessfully starting his job, Su''en meditated in the hotel for a whole day.


    He needed time to adapt to the skyrocketing attributes after starting the job.


    The "Rune Puppet" brought a leap in his physical fitness. And for a long time in the future, this growth would continue in a decreasing form until the curse characteristics in the materials werepletely digested.


    During the whole "digestion" process, he would often hear whispers in his ears. It was the alchemy art that made the materials for the inheritance of the "Puppeteer" wanting to enlighten him. Perhaps during this process, he wouldprehend more professional abilities.


    .......


    At night, the fog that enveloped the entire city gradually thickened.


    It was time for the work meeting.


    Su''en woke up from meditation earlier than the scheduled time.


    His thoughts returned to reality, and the unpleasant noises from the next room came over again.


    He nced at the terrible environment in the room, frowned, and muttered, "It looks like I need to find a long-term residence."


    He checked out and left the hotel.


    Su''en arrived at the gathering ce fifteen minutes earlier than the scheduled time.


    Beside Green Street, in front of the abandoned building, a bonfire was burning in an iron bucket, and the flickering fire cast strange shadows on the wall.


    However, something seemed off about the atmosphere today.


    Captain Kay sat on the steps with a cold face, without a hint of a smile on his face. The veteran members didn''t joke around today either, as if they knew something was going to happen, they all stayed quietly.


    Su''en walked to the side of the road and found a spot, imitating the casual posture of the veterans, and squatted there.


    One by one, more people arrived, and some whispered to each other when they noticed that something was wrong with the atmosphere.


    "What happened? Captain doesn''t look good..."


    "Oh, the sniper who attacked us yesterday was found out. It''s an old man from the guild named Miller. He had a good rtionship with Captain Kay, but..."


    "Ah...you mean Captain Miller from Hongfan Street is the mole?"


    "Shh, the captain is in a bad mood, don''t mention this."


    "..."


    Su''en listened on the side and roughly understood the reason for Kay''s gloomy face.


    But he wasn''t too surprised.


    He had already guessed that there weren''t many sharpshooters who could urately kill targets from that distance. If it was someone from within the Cross Society, they would probably be easily found out.


    When Su''en heard about the suicideter, he also felt that things might not be that simple.


    But he didn''t think too much about it. It was a headache for the high-level members of the guild.


    Soon, everyone gathered.


    Kay didn''t waste any words and said directly with a ck face, "Those who didn''t show up for the guild''s operation yesterday, step forward!"


    Although his voice wasn''t loud, everyone could hear the coldness in his tone.


    The people looked at each other, and at this moment, two veteran members with pale faces stood up.


    "Captain, it''s not that I didn''t want to... I drank too much yesterday and really didn''t hear the assembly..."


    The bearded man wanted to exin something, but Kay interrupted him and said expressionlessly, "Joe, you are also an old member of the guild. You should be clear about the guild rules. Take care of it yourself..."


    "I..."


    Upon hearing this, the bearded man''s face turned ugly.


    But he also knew that there was no room for mercy in the guild rules. He gritted his teeth, picked up an axe not far away, and without hesitation, chopped off his left hand.


    Crack!


    The sharp axe instantly severed his wrist, and his severed hand fell to the ground, blood sttering.


    Joe was covered in cold sweat, looked at Kay, and lowered his head. "Captain, I was wrong."


    Kay still didn''t say anything and nced at another person. "Duan, what about you?"


    "I..."


    The other thin man with a roosterb hairstyle was pale with fear, but he still walked out tremblingly.


    Not everyone could cut off their own hand without blinking. This guy was still scared and stuttered, "Captain, I... I can''t do it..."


    As soon as he finished speaking, a cold light shed, and another severed hand fell to the ground.


    A scream of howling ghosts and wolves echoed through the building.


    .......


    Su''en and the gang witnessed a bloody scene of the guild''s execution, but this was amon small episode.


    The discipline of the gang was loose, but once the guild rules were vited, there was no room for mercy.


    However, losing an arm was not a big problem in this world. The most basic mechanical prosthetic arm only cost about ten to twenty thousand yuan. But those two unlucky guys didn''t participate in yesterday''s mission and didn''t receive any rewards. They would probably have to live with a severed hand for a long time.


    At seven o''clock in the evening, Kay led everyone to patrol three blocks of Green Street on schedule.


    Half an hourter, they finished work.


    The veterans went to drink or find women, and the crowd dispersed.


    Su''en sat next to the octagonal cage of the Crimson Fortress and began his night of gambling.


    Perhaps as a gambler who didn''t care about winning or losing, Su''en won two consecutive rounds.


    But the bets were not big, only one thousand yuan per bet.


    Originally, he wanted to follow yesterday''s strategy and evenly bet on either the red or blue side for all the matches tonight to save the trouble of betting each time.


    This kind of betting method definitely wouldn''t make him rich, but ording to probability, he wouldn''t lose too much either.


    Su''en didn''te for gambling anyway, so he didn''t mind.


    But just as he was about to bet like yesterday, a bold female voice came from behind him, seeming to ask him something.


    Turning around, it was unexpectedly a green-haired woman with four long knives hanging from her waist, exuding a heroic aura.


    She walked straight to Su''en''s side and leaned on the railing. Seeing her serious expression, she seemed to be more interested in the gambling arena because it was closer to the octagonal cage.


    "Boss Qian?!"


    Su''en found this person very familiar, and when he saw the fierce tattoo on her exposed arm, he immediately recognized her. Wasn''t this the Cross Society''s officer, "Four-Armed Asura" Qian Tiao?


    Although she wasn''t wearing the sexy and revealing red leather armor from yesterday, today she wore a loose dress simr to a kimono, which couldn''t hide her towering figure.


    Qian Tiao seemed slightly surprised by Su''en''s address, raised an eyebrow, and looked at him, "Oh...a neer?"


    Su''en nodded, "Yes."


    Thinking that she probably didn''t mind being called that because of the "Cross" symbol on his clothes.


    Qian Tiao didn''t seem to care about the address, she said, "You''re the same as Little Kay, just call me Sister Qian."


    Su''en nodded, "Okay, Sister Qian."


    But in his heart, he wondered why this officer came to the arena.


    Qian Tiao''s gaze returned to the octagonal cage, and she seemed to have a fanatic obsession with gambling.


    It seemed that she really came here specifically for gambling.


    She asked again, "You seem to have good luck...who do you think will win the next round?"


    "I can''t be sure either..."


    Su''en knew that his two red tickets in his hand already exposed the fact that he had won two consecutive rounds.


    But his betting was just a cover, he was only here to "harvest" the fragments of memories from the corpses. He didn''t really have a preference for either side.


    Qian Tiao found his hesitant answer unsatisfactory and raised her eyebrows, "Then which side are you nning to bet on?"


    "Red...blue side."


    Su''en felt that if he continued to bet on the red side, it would give people a feeling of perfunctoriness, so he changed to the blue side.


    But unexpectedly, as soon as Qian Tiao heard this, she waved her hand to call the bettingdy and shouted loudly, "Come, bet ten thousand on the blue side."

 Chapter 33: See a person, send a message

    Chapter 33: See a person, send a message


    Qian Tiao threw a thick stack of green banknotes urately into the tray of the girl, without looking back.


    Looking at her swift movements, she was definitely a regr at the casino.


    But even though the sry of a cadre in the Cross Society was not low, ten thousand yuan was still a considerable bet.


    Su''en''s eyelids twitched slightly, hoping that the boss wouldn''t me him if he lost.


    In order to not make people suspect that he was not just a gambler, he also bought a thousand blue squares.


    ***


    "Ding~"


    The bell rang, and the match began.


    One charge, and the two diators collided in the octagonal cage, starting an intense fight.


    Perhaps due to luck, the blue side with serious injuries narrowly won this round.


    <em>"Wow~ You won! Your luck is really good!"</em>


    Qian Tiao eximed, in high spirits.


    After winning money, she turned her head and looked at Su''en again, asking, "Which side do you think will win the next round?"


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t care about winning or losing.


    He didn''t understand betting, he just bought whatever he thought of.


    But now, with a boss from a gang by his side, sincerely asking him, he couldn''t just brush it off.


    In order to make himself appear more like a gambler, he thought for a moment and said a mystical phrase, "If red wins, then blue will win next... I guess?"


    "Yes!"


    Qian Tiao blinked and nodded, looking like she thought it made sense.


    After winning a round just now, even though the casino took a cut, she still had eighteen thousand yuan.


    After hearing Su''en''s words, she directly told the betting girl to put all the money she had just won on the blue side, boldly saying, "Let''s bet on the blue side together."


    "..."


    Su''en felt that something was off. This boss seemed to have a gambling addiction.


    After hesitating for a moment, he also agreed, "I''ll bet a thousand too."


    If it weren''t for the intimidating tattoos and the four long knives at her waist, who would have thought that this woman with a glint in her eyes while gambling was a member of a gang.


    ncing sideways, Su''en cautiously sized her up for a moment. If he didn''t know that this boss was a ruthless professional, he would have thought that Qian Tiao had attractive features and a great figure, with a sexy mature woman vibe.


    But... she was actually a killer.


    Can''t afford to provoke, can''t afford to provoke.


    Su''en retracted his gaze.


    ***


    "Ding~"


    The bell rang again, and another gambling match began.


    This time, it was a fierce battle with no clear winner. The two diators in the octagonal cage fought with all their strength, bringing a fierce and bloody battle to the gamblers.


    The gambling booth was filled with the cheering and shouting of the gamblers.


    And Qian Tiao, like an anxious coach, shouted and gave instructions to the diators in the arena, just like any ordinary gambler.


    "Oh, take him down, Blue Knight!"


    "Hey, buddy, use the ''Guillotine'' and strangle him, strangle him!"


    "Damn, what a stupid move, pursue the advantage!"


    "..."


    Qian Tiao was like a coach who cared deeply, shouting while also giving instructions to the diators in the arena.


    Su''en listened with a mix ofughter and tears, not knowing if this counted as cheating. As a skilled fighter, her guidance was enough to change the oue of the gambling.


    However, Su''en''s attention was no longer on who would win or lose, but rather on carefully observing the movements of the two diators in the arena.


    Unlike before, at this moment, as long as he focused on the punches and kicks of the diators, he would notice that their movements had be slower. This allowed his gaze to clearly capture every detail.


    It was like watching a slow-motion video.


    "It''s not an illusion. There has been some change in my left eye..."


    Su''en murmured to himself, confirming his previous spection.


    Since his sessful job induction, he had noticed that his "All-Knowing Eye" had gradually changed.


    Not only could he see farther, but he could also see more details.


    It was like a fly flying by. Before, he could only see a ck shadow, but now he could clearly see the frequency of the fly''s transparent wings vibrating.


    Looking at this match again, every move of the diators was within his sight. Su''en confirmed that because of the awakening of his profession, his talent had also improved.


    "S-grade talent, it''s not that simple indeed."


    Su''en confirmed that the talent "Talent S-018 All-Knowing Eye" was not just for identifying items, it had many other undeveloped abilities.


    This new ability of "Dynamic Capture" was one of them.


    Su''en''s mind wandered a bit, and just at this moment, a powerful arm suddenly and roughly wrapped around his neck. He had just realized it and instinctively moved to draw his gun, but then he thought of something and instantly rxed.


    Then, Su''en bumped into something warm and soft, feeling like waves crashing.


    "Haha! I won again!"


    Hearing Qian Tiao''s excited voice in his ear, Su''en realized what had happened.


    But he was also amazed. Was this the strength of a cadre?


    He was extremely agile now, with a super-fast reaction speed that allowed him to dodge crossbow arrows. But just now, he almost didn''t react in time.


    Su''en sighed in his heart and felt a little dizzy from hitting something warm and soft...


    Qian Tiao let go of Su''en andughed, "Hahaha, luckily your luck is good, otherwise I would have lost myst bit of sry and would have to rely on my brothers in the gang for support for the next half month."


    "..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en''s expression slightly froze.


    This... Qian Tiao, a gang member, only had ten thousand yuan in her pocket?


    She bet her entire fortune on a single bet?


    Indeed, in any world, gamblers have nothing.


    ***


    Su''en thought that Qian Tiao would stop after winning tens of thousands of yuan, but unexpectedly, she spoke again, "Hey, who do you think will win the next round?"


    At this moment, there was a strange green light flickering in Qian Tiao''s eyes as she looked at Su''en, full of excitement and enthusiasm...


    Su''en had already won two rounds in a row. No, including the previous two rounds, he had won four rounds in a row.


    He bet small amounts, so winning or losing didn''t matter to him.


    But now that he knew this was Qian Tiao''s entire fortune, Su''en felt a bit pressured.


    He asked, "Are you still going to gamble?"


    "Why not?"


    Qian Tiao asked back and then shouted, "I''ve been out of the city for a few months, it''s been so boring... I need to have some fun tonight."


    Pausing for a moment, she exined seriously, "Besides, not increasing bets in gambling is soulless! Good luck without increasing bets, when will you get rich?"


    This gambling rhyme, one after another... Su''en''s head was spinning.


    Saying that, Qian Tiao didn''t care about how Su''en felt and directly told the betting girl, "Come, bet all of that on the red side!"


    "..."


    Su''en looked at it, his forehead twitching.


    Betting everything... this woman was really daring.


    Well, if she loses, the world will be peaceful again.


    ***


    However, things didn''t go as nned.


    Perhaps it was fate ying tricks, but Su''en guessed correctly again.


    This time, the red side defeated the blue side after a fierce battle.


    And then, the dramatic scene continued.


    Qian Tiao would ask Su''en after every bet, and Su''en would casually say one, and she would bet everything...


    An amateur gambler dared to speak, and a fierce woman dared to bet.


    In this way, this strange duo gradually became the focus of the entire gambling booth.


    In the next match,


    They won;


    In the next match,


    They won again...


    No matter what Su''en guessed, he would win just by saying it!


    Familiar scenes repeated mysteriously and strangely...


    In the end, the two of them actually guessed correctly for eight consecutive rounds!


    Qian Tiao''s initial ten thousand yuan capital turned into an astonishing two million yuan in cash every time she bet everything.


    Even Su''en, seeing such arge pile of cash for the first time, was amazed.


    A pile of green banknotes, like a small mountain, constantly stimted people''s nerves, directly driving the gamblers in the casino crazy!


    Su''en originally didn''t want to attract so much attention, but it seemed like his luck was a bit too extraordinary.


    But fortunately, after the eighth round, he breathed a sigh of relief. Because the final round of the diatorial match had also ended.


    Finally, he no longer had to worry about guessing the winner for this gang boss.


    ***


    "Hahaha, Goethe''s gambling secret is indeed useful. If I have bad luck, I''ll just follow someone with good luck; otherwise, I''ll find a loser and bet against them!"


    "Your name is Su''en, right? From now on, you''re under me, Qian Tiao. If anyone bullies you, just mention my name!"


    "..."


    After winning money, the boss was in a good mood.


    Su''en decisively refused her suggestion to continue gambling upstairs and nned to slip away.


    But at this moment, Kay, covered in blood, approached them.


    "Qian Tiao, why didn''t you inform me when you arrived?"


    "Oh, why are you so bloody?"


    "I just had a conflict with a few guys who didn''t know any better. They were probably from the ''Steam Party''."


    "Oh? Where are they?"


    "Dead, dumped in the sewer. They were just small characters, not worth making a big fuss over."


    "..."


    Qian Tiao listened to Kay''s words, pouted, and it seemed like the hungry and thirsty long knife at her waist calmed down.


    But today, she won money and was in a good mood, so she waved her hand and said, "Let''s go, I''ll treat you guys to a drink."


    Su''en, as the hero who won the money, naturally couldn''t refuse and reluctantly followed her to the tavern.


    As they walked, Kay chatted with Qian Tiao.


    "Qian Tiao, why did youe to Green Street? Hehe, is it because you want me to arrange something for you?"


    "You brat, I came for business, okay?"


    "What business?"


    "To meet someone, and also to deliver a message to you."


    "Oh... what''s the message?"


    "Yesterday, one of the attackers who raided the headquarters of the gang escaped. He took something very important from the warehouse. We chased him all the way, but his trail disappeared in the streets near Green Street. The boss doesn''t want that thing and the ''Forbidden Item'' to be taken away, so he wants you to be more vignt..."


    PS. Requesting votes on Monday, monthly votes, and rmendations~

 Chapter 34: Tool man

    Chapter 34: Tool man


    It was expected that the high-level members of the Cross Society would actively recruit the "Red Devil" Gelong, which was also within Su''en''s expectations.


    After all, such a highly skilled expert who was expelled from the inner city would be a great help to any gang in the outer city.


    It''s possible that not only the Cross Society, but also the Raven Gang and the Steam Party are in contact. Otherwise, the guild leader Chuck would not have personally visited the Cross Society''s core member, Qiantiao.


    Now Su''en probably understands the difference between professionals in the inner city and the outer city.


    Although it is not absolute that professionals in the inner city are stronger than those in the outer city, the inner city, which concentrates more than 90% of the resources of Old Lingdun, cannot deny that the averagebat power of professionals of the same level is much higher than that of the outer city.


    Rare silver blueprint for nt instation and employment materials that are rarely seen in the outer city often appear in the inner city''s auction, and there are even rarer ancient cursed objects.


    After all, only those wealthy and powerful figures can afford the good things that hunters find in ruins.


    Over time, the major conglomerates have certainly umted a lot of rare alchemical resources.


    And the difference in resources is the fundamental reason for the difference inbat power between professionals in the inner city and the outer city.


    Just like the "Red Devil" Gelong, a bodyguard can obtain top-level resources, which is unimaginable in the outer city.


    ......


    In the Elephant Tavern, heavy metal music was deafening.


    Su''en followed Qiantiao and Kay and found a booth to sit down.


    Qiantiao waved her hand and shouted, "Hey, bartender, bring us three sses of ''Golden Wheat''!"


    As a gambling addict who won money, Qiantiao didn''t hesitate to order the most expensive Golden Wheat beer in the tavern.


    Each person had arge pitcher.


    Because this "Golden Wheat ck Beer" was a high-quality product directly from the inner city brewery, it was also expensive. A pitcher cost about 1,000 lisuo, equivalent to half a month''s sry for an ordinary worker.


    Su''en didn''t taste anything special about this beer. Its taste was simr to the blended whisky he had in his previous life.


    But when he looked at the ingredients of the beer, he understood that the reason why this beer was expensive was mainly because of its water.


    Old Lingdun''s water source was not actually scarce, but itcked clean water sources. The underground water sources were mixed with arge amount of dark energy substances, and drinking them directly could easily cause distortion.


    To deal with these pollutants,rge-scale filtering water nts were needed. It was said that the filtering cost was high, and it was also because of the monopoly of the conglomerates. Only residents of the inner city were eligible to enjoy truly pure drinking water.


    In the outer city, ordinary people could only enjoy inferior drinking water, and the prices were not cheap either. The cost of daily drinking water was the biggest expense for most ordinary people.


    ......


    Su''en had just joined the gang, and although he felt that Captain Kay and Qiantiao were quite appetizing, he wasn''t too familiar with them.


    After sitting down, he silently drank his beer and listened to their conversation.


    "Qiantiao, you said that the guy who escaped ran to our Green Street and disappeared?"


    "Yeah... The tracking expert of the guild followed him all the way to the next block, and then the traces disappeared. But whether it''s that item or the ''forbidden item,'' they can''t be put into the storage ring. It''s not easy for that guy to escape. We suspect that he is hiding in one of the sewers nearby..."


    "Also, Kay, be careful when you and the brothers are doing thingstely. It seems that something has happened in the ck Tower, and there is some internal turmoil among the top conglomerates in the inner city. The Steam Party and the Raven Gang are supported by major corporations, so there may be some actions recently..."


    "I understand, Qiantiao."


    "..."


    Su''en listened on the side, but the two of them didn''t mention what exactly "that thing" was.


    Perhaps it was tacit understanding, or maybe they themselves didn''t know what they had lost.


    But Su''en understood that it should be that "manuscript."


    As for the news of turmoil in the inner city, it seemed to be something from another world and had nothing to do with him.


    What interested Su''en more was something else, the special items called "forbidden items" mentioned by them.


    He also understood that the forbidden item seemed to be arge ck scythe of about two meters. And those intruders used the scythe to cut open the door of the guild''s vault.


    Su''en didn''t bother to ask what the forbidden item was. It sounded like a cursed object with special effects, simr to the "Rune Puppet" in his previous life.


    To make the Cross Society, one of the three major gangs in the outer city, go to such lengths to find it, Su''en became even more curious about the magical properties of these so-called "forbidden items."


    The only information he knew now was that the scythe wasrge and sharp, and could easily cut through metal doors. And the guy who escaped with the treasure was suspected to be hiding in the sewer near Green Street...


    Drinking his beer, a thought suddenly shed in Su''en''s mind, "Huh... In the memory I stripped from the ''Scorpion'' Abok, it was said that a forbidden item was hidden in the ''Moon Inn,'' I wonder what it is."


    Thinking about it, he became somewhat absent-minded.


    ......


    Because he didn''t have the opportunity to interject, Su''en was either drinking or ying with the coin in his hand out of boredom.


    At this moment, the copper coin on the back of his hand was flipping between his fingers, from the base to the gap between his little finger and then flipping back. No matter how his hand moved, there was no sign of the coin falling.


    This was a direct manifestation of his greatly improved skills after joining the gang.


    He could now precisely control almost every muscle in his fingers. The coin seemed to stick to his skin, rolling skillfully, but it wouldn''t fall.


    Of course, this wasn''t just for fun.


    Su''en was actually practicing a basic skill of a Puppeteer - the Ten-Finger Maniption Technique.


    It was the most basic operation technique for manipting string puppets.


    It required the operator''s fingers to be flexible and versatile, using subtle finger movements to make precise movements with the puppet''s limbs.


    Now that he had learned the technique, but his muscle memory was still a bit awkward, he needed to practice continuously.


    And just at this moment, Qiantiao seemed to have noticed that Su''en was bored. She raised her ss again and said boldly, "Cheers!"


    "Cheers."


    Su''en clinked sses with her and took a big gulp of beer.


    Qiantiao drank boldly, gulping down the beer, and the beer stains flowed down her mouth and neck.


    She also noticed Su''en ying with the coin and raised an eyebrow, casually asking, "Are you on the gunslinger career path?"


    Su''en nodded, "Yeah."


    There was no need to hide this, and he even intentionally did so.


    Although he had already joined the gang, Su''en had no intention of revealing his special Puppeteer profession.


    asionally showing some skills that were in demand in the profession would make people think he was a gunslinger.


    On the contrary, the more secretive he was, the more curious people would be.


    Qiantiao became interested and asked casually, "Are you interested in learning knife skills from me? Your hands are very dexterous, so you should learn quickly."


    Su''en shook his head and politely declined, "Thank you, Qiantiao, but my awakened talent is ''Hawkeye,'' so gunslinging might be more suitable for me."


    Before he had self-defense abilities, he nned to continue being inconspicuous. Besides, "knife user" was not his career n.


    "Oh, that''s a pity..."


    Qiantiao pouted and didn''t say much.


    After a moment of contemtion, she suddenly said something that sounded somewhat mncholic, "Kid, don''t die so easily. There will definitely be a ce for you in the gang in the future."


    This gang leader seemed to be ustomed to farewells and said the most sentimental expectation in the most indifferent tone.


    Don''t die...


    In the gang, this was the best expectation.


    Su''en listened and smiled, nodding slightly, "Yeah."


    He felt that this gang leader''s temperament was quite to his liking, and he was slightly moved.


    But sometimes, plot twists could catch people off guard.


    Just as the serious atmosphere was building up, Qiantiao suddenly leaned her arm on his shoulder and leaned in mysteriously, "There''s one more thing..."


    "???"


    Su''en''s expression became serious, thinking it was something important.


    But in the next moment, the dignified image of this gang leader suddenly copsed.


    Qiantiao''s eyes suddenly emitted the same green light as before in the casino, and she excitedly said, "Hahaha... It''s rare to encounter someone with such good luck as you. Let me tell you, this kind of good luck usuallysts for several days. We''ll meet at the arena tomorrow, don''t bete!"


    "..."


    Su''en''s eyes twitched as he listened.


    So, when she said not to die easily, it wasn''t because she valued his talent, but because she was afraid of losing her "lucky tool"?


    "Plfft~"


    Unable to hold back, Captain Kay, who was beside them, also sprayed out his drink and burst intoughter.

 Chapter 35: Distortion event

    Chapter 35: Distortion event


    A cadre, a captain, and a small gang member.


    A strangebination started drinking heavily in the tavern.


    Su''en and the other two were drinking happily.


    Suddenly, Sam and several members of the Cross Society rushed into the tavern in a panic, carrying heavy firearms.


    They scanned the tavern and immediately spotted Kay sitting at a table.


    Sam walked over with urgency in his eyes and said, "Captain, something bad happened! We heard that one of the troublemakers we dealt with earlier was the younger brother of a member of the ''Steam Party.'' I received information that Kun Tu, the ''Red Hair,'' ising with a group of people and seems to be nning to cause trouble for us! Captain, we need to gather our brothers quickly..."


    Sam spoke in a long string of words, almost out of breath.


    Gang fights were normal, especially in territories where two gangs had contact.


    Originally, this was an urgent matter.


    The enemy wasing with great momentum, and the Cross Society would definitely gather their brothers. They might not necessarily engage in a full-blown fight, but they wouldn''t let the enemy have the advantage in numbers.


    However, after Sam finished speaking, he noticed that the atmosphere at the table was strange.


    Normally, the captain should have mmed the table and started rallying the troops, right?


    But... Kay seemed calm.


    He even picked up his drink and leisurely took a sip before sneering, "Younger brother? Heh... It seems like those ''Steam Party'' guys are deliberately looking for an excuse to start a war."


    Su''en remained silent and nced at the gambling addict next to him.


    In other circumstances, he might have been worried about his own safety.


    But now...


    Qiantiao had her back to the entrance of the tavern, and Sam and the others were so focused on finding Kay that they didn''t notice the woman at the table seemed familiar.


    Now that the atmosphere seemed off, they finally recognized the woman with therge tattooed arm as Qiantiao.


    "Qiantiao?" Sam and the others eximed in surprise.


    Qiantiao raised her ss and took a sip,zily asking, "What''s going on?"


    "Well, the ''Steam Party''..." Sam was about to repeat the previous situation, but when he saw Qiantiao''s uninterested expression, he quickly changed his tone and said, "Ah, you''re here, so there''s no problem."


    Everyone: "..."


    Not long after, the sound of motorcycles roared outside the door as the notorious "Biker Gang" of the Steam Brotherhood arrived on Green Street.


    Su''en looked at the modified steam-powered Harley motorcycles outside the door, feeling a bit envious. It couldn''t be denied that the Steam Party had superior mechanical modification technology in the outer city.


    More than twenty people with mechanical prosthetics and long guns and short cannons rushed into the "Elephant Tavern" with great momentum, scaring the tavern''s customers away.


    Judging from their posture, it was clear that they were here for revenge.


    But what happened next was a dramatic scene.


    The far-headed man with red hair saw Kay at the table and angrily raised his gun, shouting, "Kay, you..."


    But before he could finish his sentence, he caught sight of the woman with therge tattooed arm on the table, and his face suddenly changed. The harsh words he was about to say got stuck in his throat and he swallowed them back.


    Red Hair was quick on his feet as well. Without saying another word, he holstered his gun and turned to leave the tavern, as if he had taken the wrong path.


    This scene left the tavern''s customers, who were unaware of the truth, confused.


    But the members of the Cross Society burst intoughter and jeered, "Hahaha..."


    Qiantiao ignored the departing Steam Brotherhood members. As a member of the Cross Society, she wouldn''t stoop so low as to cause trouble with a small gang leader from a rival faction.


    After finishing their drinks, Qiantiao said to Kay, "Kay, be careful recently. The Steam Party guys are also eyeing Green Street. They won''t hesitate to make some moves..."


    Kay nodded thoughtfully, "I understand, Qiantiao."


    In the world of gangs, it was always about fighting and killing.


    From the moment they joined, they were prepared for it.


    .......


    The first day of joining the gang was eventful, but the following days returned to normal.


    Every evening at seven o''clock, Kay would lead the new recruits on a half-hour patrol before disbanding.


    The days were leisurely.


    Even the Steam Party guys didn''t show up again after the incident at the Elephant Tavern.


    The gambling addict, on the other hand, would always appear in the arena every night, dragging Su''en along to gamble.


    But gambling was all about luck.


    Even though Su''en had good luck, he couldn''t win every time.


    Of course, he only gambled small amounts, so wins and losses were manageable.


    But this gambling addict, when she won, she would lecture about the importance of stopping losses and taking profits...


    But when she lost her temper, she didn''t care about any of that. She would increase her bets after losing once, and double them after losing again...


    No amount of advice could stop her.


    This kind of gambling behavior led to her winning over two million at first, but she squandered it all in just a few days.


    This was the typical behavior of a gambling addict. When they won, they were intoxicated with wealth, but when they lost, they were destitute.


    However, this gambling addict, despite her average winnings, had good character.


    After losing everything, she didn''t borrow a single penny from Su''en or Kay, only relying on them for food and drink.


    Su''en had to go to the arena every day to collect soul fragments, so he could only apany her in gambling. As a result, they became quite familiar with each other.


    Qiantiao didn''t have the airs of a big sister, and they were more like drinking buddies.


    It was no wonder she had a good rtionship with the gang members.


    A few dayster, Qiantiao lost all her savings and reluctantly returned home. She nned to earn money by doing gang tasks and agreed to gamble with Su''en another day.


    Su''en bid farewell to this influential gang member, and his own life returned to normal.


    Every night, he would stay in the arena until dawn, then find a hotel to meditate, practice puppetry techniques, and read alchemy books...


    The days were regr and leisurely, harvesting soul fragments every day, practicing professional skills, and rapidly gaining experience.


    The arena had eight to ten corpses every day, and asionally there were professional diator matches.


    In just a few days, he had acquired a variety of strange abilities, such as "Lip Reading," "Dart Throwing," "Motorcycle Riding," and "Gwent Card Skills"...


    A mix of various skills, he had them all.


    However, he gradually discovered a problem.


    After his firearm andbat skills reached a certain level, he started gaining less experience from the corpses.


    Later, he realized that as he approached the level of "Advanced Firearms Mastery," he naturally couldn''t learn much from a "Basic Mastery" corpse.


    Although he could learn from others'' strengths to make up for his weaknesses, it wasn''t much.


    Fortunately, there was no risk, and every little bit counts.


    During this time, Su''en visited the ck market a few times but couldn''t find the ideal blueprint for his imnts. However, he heard that there would be a high-quality auction held by the ck market in a few days, where many good items would appear as hunters and thieves gathered to sell their goods.


    He nned to try his luck then.


    .......


    On this day, in the hotel room.


    A gunshot rang out, causing the lime powder on the wall to fall.


    It was unclear who had been shot.


    Although he was used to it, Su''en''s arm instinctively trembled at the sound, causing the runic pen with blue paint in his hand to deviate from its intended path, leaving a ring mark of failure on the puppet''s body.


    "Another failure..."


    Su''en looked at the puppet in front of him, which had beenpletely ruined by his painting, feeling a bitter helplessness.


    Although he was usually focused and not easily distracted, he couldn''t ignore the frequent fights and gunshots in this noisy environment.


    In the corridor of the cheap hotel, there were often drunken tenants fighting. In this world where everyone had a gun, physical fights almost always led to gunfights, which were always terrifying. Just yesterday, there was an incident in the room above Su''en''s, where a call girl and her aplices conspired to shoot a mercenary. The ensuing chaos almost hit Su''en downstairs.


    "It''s really difficult to find a suitable ce to live..."


    Su''en sighed softly, feeling tired of this harsh noise environment.


    He wanted to find a ce with soundproofing, quietness, and preferably a shooting range.


    As a puppeteer, a rare profession, he could hardly learn relevant skills from diators in the arena. He could only practice diligently. Enchanting and carving were much more difficult than he had expected, requiring a quiet environment and a lot of time to practice.


    Since he had already been disturbed, Su''en didn''t dwell on the sound of gunshots.


    He looked at the ruined puppet in front of him and turned his gaze. Just then, he suddenly bent his fingers, as if grabbing an invisible object. The puppet stood up strangely.


    It was only half a meter tall, like a toddler taking its first steps, and it started moving around the room.


    The sound of wooden joints rubbing against each other, "click, click," was somewhat eerie.


    Su''en stood still, his fingers moving rapidly like ying the piano, and the puppet followed suit, making various movements. Although it still looked stiff, it could perform somebat actions like punching, kicking, rolling, and stabbing.


    After practicing maniption for a while, Su''en felt his finger muscles stiffening and stopped.


    "Phew..."


    He let out a long breath.


    Looking at the steel wires entwined between his fingers, Su''en shook his head slightly and muttered, "The wires are not thin enough or tough enough, and the maneuverability is too low... It''s really not easy to find the right thread material."


    This was the most suitable material he could find to control the puppets, but it still fell short.


    He thought of the scene in the mansion ruins where Pestoya controlled dozens of puppets with threads, effortlessly restraining the bald Ivan.


    Controlling threads, but the effects were vastly different.


    The unfinished puppetcked the right steel wire, and the maniption skills were still unfamiliar...


    As a novice "puppeteer," he still had a long way to go to formbat power with puppets.


    But Su''en had a good mindset. To achieve this level in just a few days, he felt that his progress was not bad.


    There were still several hours before work, and Su''en originally nned to continue practicing puppet maniption.


    But just then, he received a call from Kay on themunicator, "All new recruits, gather at the usual ce. We have a distortion mission."


    Su''en didn''t dare to dy, checked his equipment and ammunition, and walked out of the room.


    ........


    Shortly after the gathering message was sent, Kun Tu, the "Red Hair" of the Steam Party, quietly infiltrated the vicinity of Green Street with a group of people.


    A mysterious voice came through themunicator, "Captain Kun Tu, it has been confirmed that Kay and a group of new recruits, about twenty people, have gone to the Tube Building."

 Chapter 36: Monster in the high-rise building

    Chapter 36: Monster in the high-rise building


    "Hehe, twenty people? Only Kay, the professional, is a bit tricky. The other neers are not worth worrying about."


    "But that kid who was close to the ''Four-Armed Rakshasa'' before needs to be watched more closely. If there''s a chance, kill him first to avoid any idents."


    "Yes, Captain Kuntu."


    "..."


    Kay gathered his men to prepare for the first time to deal with the anomaly event. The members of the "Steam Brotherhood" received the news and quietly ambushed near the tenement building.


    The incident of the Elephant Tavern escaping in embarrassment has be a joke for "Red-Haired" Kuntu in the underworld, making him lose face in front of his peers.


    Now that Qiantiao is no longer on Green Street, they are ready to take action again.


    .......


    Although the city is much safer than outside, anomalies still ur from time to time.


    Old Lingdun City is an ancient relic, and even after years of cleaning and excavation, some "cursed objects" with residual curse characteristics that have notpletely dissipated are still asionally found underground. These things are good for professionals, but for ordinary people, they are nightmares like radiation sources and easily trigger anomalies.


    The air in the city, although the concentration of dark spiritual power is thinner than outside the city, is enough to trigger anomalies with a low probability.


    Eating contaminated food and water, returning from hunting in high anomaly environments, and various other reasons... Almost every month, there are several anomaly events in each major district.


    And recently, the frequency seems to be quietly increasing.


    Of course, the most troublesome are the out-of-control professionals.


    The essence of "anomaly" is the uncontroble dark spiritual power in the body, which destroys a person''s will and transforms the body into a giant-like monster or other special forms.


    After the anomaly, the dark spiritual power in the body will be unrestricted and rapidly increase. Therefore, professionals who turn into monsters will be several times stronger than theirbat power when they were alive, making them very difficult to deal with.


    There are no city guards or security forces in the outer city, and the anomalies in the jurisdiction are all handled by the underworld.


    So, this is also the daily work of the Ten Cross Society members on Green Street.


    Shortly after the assembly order was issued, Su''en had already arrived at the dpidated building.


    In the recent period, more than ten neers have joined, making up for the members who were killed in the support headquarters battle.


    The efficiency of the assembly was very high, and soon there were nearly twenty people in front of the dpidated building.


    Su''en, who was already considered an old-timer, looked at the almost all "neers" gathered in front of the building and was slightly surprised.


    After waiting for a while, Kay counted the number of people and said as usual, "Alright, everyone is here, get ready to go."


    Dealing with anomaly events is a good practical training. Listening to the old birds like Sam, Su''en learned that this time the captain intends to take the neers out for some realbat practice.


    Everyone got on motorcycles, and Kay exined the content of this operation, saying, "There have been many homeless people missing near the tenement building these days. Some people have seen bodies that have been gnawed on and monsters with anomalies... Maybe the seal in the nearby sewer has been broken, and monsters havee out, or maybe there are ''cursed objects''. Anyway, our task this time is to clean up the basement near the incident at the tenement building. If we''re lucky, we might find ancient cursed artifacts buried underground; at worst, we can get some cursed materials. By then, everyone will receive a bonus..."


    After speaking, he waved his big hand and said, "Let''s go, set off."


    Everyone nodded, "Yes, Captain!"


    Su''en remained silent as usual, not saying a word as an insignificant person.


    Although "anomaly events" are the daily unexpected events of the underworld, there are still casualties, especially for inexperienced neers.


    Su''en was not careless at all.


    He observed the people in the team and checked his equipment before silently boarding the motorcycle with a few veterans.


    .......


    In addition to the bustling three entertainment districts, there is a tenement building in the north of Green Street, which is the "slum" in the civilian area.


    Because this ancient architectural relic preserved some dpidated tenement buildings that can still be inhabited, it has gathered arge number of homeless people, beggars, and thieves. But even the members of the underworld rarely set foot in this ce. gue, stench, filth, and anomalies are the synonyms of this area...


    The people of Green Street marched in a mighty manner and arrived at the tenement building, where someone was already waiting.


    "Captain Kay, you''re here!"


    The one who spoke was an old man in coarse cloth, Bravo the "One-Eyed". This guy is also the leader of the thieves in the Green Street area, and he has dozens of half-sized kids under hismand, specializing in learning theft techniques to make money.


    Those with good talent will be sent to the guild to be trained as professionals.


    They are considered a subordinate organization of the Ten Cross Society.


    Kay nodded, familiar with this old man, and didn''t bother with pleasantries. "Old man, where did the incident happen?"


    Bravo said, "Follow me."


    The old man led the group of people through a ruin.


    The air was filled with a strong sewage stench.


    Su''en asionally scanned the surroundings and saw faces of emaciated people peering curiously and timidly from the shabby huts.


    These were the residents of the tenement building.


    There were also some children, ten or eight years old, wearing tattered clothes and barefoot on the ruins. They followed the people from Green Street from a distance, their eyes filled with envy and longing.


    In the outer city, there are many such poor people, and no one knows the exact number, but it is definitelyrge.


    Their lives are as cheap as rye, with a hundred lisu buying a life. In such a harsh living environment, only sewer rats can survive, but they stubbornly survive.


    These slum dwellers are also one of the most important reasons why the inner city gave up on governing these areas.


    The Ten Cross Society asionally sends food here.


    Because many people in the underworld havee out from here.


    At least Captain Kay did.


    As they walked, the old man sighed, "Ah... I don''t know what''s been happening recently. The monsters in the sewer seem to be very active. A few days ago, someone even heard about a beautiful endless woman in the Snail Alley. Hehe... I think it''s probably some anomaly monster luring people to eat... Sure enough, a few dayster, all the homeless people in that area disappeared."


    Su''en listened from behind, his eyes showing contemtion.


    Beautiful women would be in the brothels on Green Street, but they would never appear here.


    But... what kind of anomaly monster would turn into a beautiful woman?


    This touched on Su''en''s blind spot of knowledge.


    .......


    Before long, the old man led the people from Green Street to the northernmost part of the tenement building.


    The smell of the sewer here was even stronger, as if they were close to certain pipe outlets.


    The old man pointed to a ck tenement building several hundred meters away and said, "Someone saw anomaly monsters appearing in that dpidated building before. They are more active when the mist appears at night. But be careful, there is a basement under that dpidated building that seems to be connected to the undergroundwork. I don''t know what kind of monsters are hidden there, so don''t go too deep."


    After listening, Kay waved his hand and said, "Alright, leave the rest to us."


    Next was the job of thebat personnel.


    He pulled the gun bolt and said to Su''en and the others behind him, "Brothers, let''s get to work!"


    The old man stayed where he was without saying anything.


    Everyone put on gas masks and night vision goggles and walked into the dpidated building.


    Su''en held the shotgun distributed by the guild, loaded it with a click.


    Compared to pistols, this kind of scatter gun is more suitable for dealing with anomaly monsters. Even without alchemical bullets, a few more shots can st the monsters to pieces.

 Chapter 37: Mutation

    Chapter 37: Mutation


    A group of twenty people swaggered into the cylindrical building.


    Several veterans had participated in such events many times before. Before entering the dpidated building, Sam loudly exined the precautions to the neers.


    "<em>Check your ammunition!</em> Keep your spare firearms within reach..."


    "Be careful and aim before shooting. Don''t throw grenades randomly unless absolutely necessary. You don''t want to bury yourself if the monsters aren''t killed!"


    "Also, keep your gun pointed at the ground, not at the person in front of you. Don''t keep your finger on the trigger, or you might identally shoot someone due to fright. That''s a vition of the rules!"


    "Don''t speak loudly after entering. The distorted monsters in the darkness are very sensitive to sound."


    "..."


    Su''en listened carefully. These were all practicalbat experiences. No wonder Kay wanted the neers to gain experience.


    He nced at the cylindrical building not far away and frowned slightly. The dpidated building stood alone, like an ugly toad monster crouching there. The dark windows looked like lumps on its back.


    Su''en didn''t know if it was an illusion, but he always felt like something was staring at their team.


    <em>"Is it a person or a monster?"</em>


    Su''en couldn''t figure out where the uneasiness in his heart came from.


    He knew very well what this feeling meant. There were some clues in his mind that caused his uneasiness, but they were not enough to form a clear connection, so it was intermittent.


    But he didn''t say much because even if he didn''t warn everyone to be careful, everyone would be extremely cautious in this environment.


    Before he could think too much, the team had already entered the cylindrical building.


    ***


    The interior of the cylindrical room was spacious, somewhat resembling a shopping mall from Su''en''s previous life.


    The housepletely blocked the external light source.


    The gasmps in the team provided sufficient light, but even so, everyone felt like they had entered a dark world. The light was only enough to illuminate a corner.


    Su''en thought it was fine. After bing a professional, his "night vision ability" had greatly improved.


    Even without wearing the crude night vision goggles, he could still see the rough outline of things in the distance.


    But the other neers seemed a bit uneasy. The dark environment made them feel a fear originating from the unknown, afraid that something man-eating would suddenly appear from the darkness...


    And at this moment, a gunshot suddenly rang out.


    <em>"Bang!"</em>


    The fire illuminated the area for a moment, and everyone saw a ck shadow falling from the nearby ceiling.


    Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a white-haired rat.


    This sudden movement made the neers shudder. It was no wonder that Sam had told them not to keep their fingers on the trigger. Otherwise, with that sudden scare, many guns would have identally fired.


    And in front, Sam''s heartyughter came, "Oh... lucky us. This ''White Rat''s Ear Bone'' is a cursed material worth 3,000 Lis. I didn''t expect to get the material just by shooting one casually..."


    Monsters living in the distorted environment had a chance to produce "cursed materials" in their bodies, but the probability of ordinary monsters producing materials was very low. Usually, only elite monsters like beast kings had a higher probability.


    Su''en''s mind shed with a thought as he listened.


    The first monster produced a cursed material. <em>Was it a coincidence or something else?</em>


    The veterans looked at the nervous expressions of the neers andughed, "Hey, everyone, don''t be so nervous. This ''White Rat Giant Mouse'' is just the mostmon monster in the sewer. Shoot it in the head, and it''ll die. But be careful, they can jump up and bite your bird..."


    "Hahaha..."


    The veterans seemed ustomed to this. This kind of operation was much safer than hunting in the wilderness.


    After all, this was Old London City, where there wouldn''t be groups of monsters. Even the distorted humans were only sporadic.


    With more than twenty people, they had an absolute firepower advantage and didn''t need to be overly cautious.


    Kay carried his gun on his shoulder, looking rxed. At this moment, he said, "Get ready, the monsters in this building should being."


    The gunshot immediately attracted the monsters in the darkness.


    But as the veterans had said, sporadic monsters couldn''t pose much threat to the team.


    The journey ahead turned from hunting monsters to a shooting game.


    Gunshots would attract monsters in the darkness, saving them the trouble of searching each room one by one.


    Soon, two "distorted humans" that had been seen by witnesses appeared in the darkness and were quickly shot to pieces by the group.


    Su''en had seen these monsters twice outside the city. At that time, he was alone, and the surroundings wereplex, making it difficult to deal with. But for a team, a lone monster was just a live target.


    Except for one unlucky guy who stepped on nothing and broke his leg, everything went smoothly.


    And the harvest was good.


    They found that the probability of monsters in this cylindrical building producing "cursed materials" was much higher than outside the city...


    ***


    In less than an hour, the people from Green Street had cleared out the cylindrical building and arrived at the entrance to the "underground chamber" mentioned by the old man earlier.


    It wasn''t a copsed hole but had obvious architectural traces.


    Looking at it, it reminded Su''en of the entrance to a subway station in his previous life.


    The clearing operation this time was so smooth that it became a bit boring. They probably felt like they hadn''t had enough fun yet. Looking at the entrance to the underground chamber, one of the veterans asked, "Captain, should we go down and take a look?"


    Kay looked at the entrance of the underground chamber, his brow slightly furrowing. "Thest time we cleared these underground chambers on arge scale was ten years ago. There were significant casualties. I don''t know what kind of monsters are down there now..."


    Apparently, he seemed to recall some unpleasant memories and shook his head. "Going down to the underground chamber requires stronger equipment and more manpower. We are not prepared enough this time, so there''s no need to go down..."


    The harvest today far exceeded expectations and gave Kay a bad feeling.


    Su''en blended in with the crowd without drawing attention.


    He didn''t have many opportunities to shoot during the entire clearing process. The monsters would appear and be shot down by the group in one round. Regardless of marksmanship, with dozens of gun muzzles firing together, there would always be hits. That''s the advantage of having more people.


    Now, hearing Kay say they were going back, he also thought it was good. The faint uneasiness in his heart made him feel that if they continued to explore, something unexpected might happen.


    And at this moment, something came just as he thought about it.


    Suddenly, his gaze caught a humanoid shadow rushing out of the subway station entrance.


    Su''en''s pupils contracted, and he eximed in his heart, <em>"So fast!"</em>


    <em>A distorted human?</em>


    <em>No, this was definitely not the speed of a normal "distorted human"!</em>


    Moreover, that thing could even climb walls!


    <em>"Be careful!"</em>


    Almost at the same time, Kay also shouted urgently.


    Apparently, he had also noticed the shadow rushing out.


    Before the words could fully leave his mouth, a gunshot rang out, followed by a barrage of gunfire.


    Although the monster was fast, it was hit in the leg by the scattered bullets, and then it was covered by another round of firepower. The lizard-like creature that could climb walls was rendered immobile by the shots.


    But before everyone could rejoice, a cry of horror mixed with fear suddenly came from the crowd, <em>"Ah!"</em>


    As Su''en heard the scream from behind, he turned around, and his smoking firearm was already spewing mes, his movements seamless.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    The shotgun hit the long mouth organ that had fallen from the ceiling, and the helper who had screamed fell from mid-air.


    Everyone looked at the smoking firearm in Su''en''s hand, their eyes filled with shock, probably surprised at how quickly he reacted. But their attention was instantly drawn to something elsethe half-broken mouth organ wriggling like a severed snake on the ground. Everyone''s faces turned pale.


    It was a crimson mouth organ as thick as a bowl, withyers of sharp teeth wriggling in the red flesh, causing people with trypophobia toe out.


    Sam approached with a stiff face and used his gun to flip the still twitching mouth organ. He swallowed his saliva and asked, <em>"What kind of monster is this?"</em>


    The veterans also showed confusion, no one recognized it.


    "I''ve never seen it before."


    Kay''s face became serious, and he looked at the shattered corpse and the half-broken mouth organ, furrowing his brows. "This monster is definitely not simple. Even out-of-control professionals wouldn''t have such fast speed."


    If it weren''t for Su''en''s quick shot just now, one of them would have been dragged away by the monster.


    Kay''s expression became slightly solemn as he looked at the "entrance to the underground chamber" and said, "Something''s not right. This kind of monster has never appeared in the city''s sewers before... I think it''s best for us to leave here first."


    Su''en''s All-Knowing Eye allowed him to have superhuman vision, and in an instant, he saw the name of this monster.


    <em>[Mutated Distorted Monster]</em>


    <em>Exnation: Distorted humans affected by special environments; their weaknesses are the same as humans, and shooting them in the head or heart can quickly kill them.</em>


    But at this moment, he wasn''t interested in specting about the cause of the monster''s mutation. Since two monsters had appeared here, it meant...


    <em>There might be more in the underground chamber!</em>


    <em>"Let''s go!"</em>


    Kay also realized that they couldn''t stay here for long and was about to tell everyone to leave.


    But just at this moment, piercing screeches suddenly sounded.


    <em>"Squeak~", "Squeak~", "Squeak~"</em>


    In the next moment, several incendiary bombs lit up the surroundings.


    The intense light illuminated the entire cylindrical building, and the monsters hiding in the shadows seemed frightened and hid in various small caves.


    The people surrounding them were a group of individuals with various mechanical prosthetic limbs, and they had already surrounded them.


    Sam recognized the people and shouted angrily, <em>"Steam Party! Damn it, we''ve been ambushed!"</em>


    Su''en saw this and his expression turned cold. He finally realized where his sense of crisis hade from.


    It wasn''t from these monsters, but from these Steam Party guys!


    He nced at the "entrance to the underground chamber" and then at the blocked exit of the cylindrical building. He muttered to himself, "They chose a good ce for an ambush..."

 Chapter 38: Hysterical strength

    Chapter 38: Hysterical strength


    "Hey, isn''t that Captain Kay? Long time no see..."


    The voice echoed in the tenement building, and everyone could hear the sarcasm in the words.


    The members of the "Steam Party" surrounded the people of Green Street who were at the bottom of the tenement building.


    The leader was the "Red-Haired" Kun Tu, who had appeared at the Elephant Tavern before. He looked at Kay with a rxed smile, as if victory was already in his hands.


    ......


    Su''en looked at the enemies and his expression became serious. "Two professionals, this is going to be troublesome..."


    Kun Tu''s alchemical nt was the "me Lizard," with the main material being the oil nd of the me Lizard, a curse material that was obscure and somewhat useless. But this nt gave him a high resistance to fire and the ability to manipte mes. After adding some improved me-throwing mechanical devices, he became a "pseudo-fire mage."


    Thisbination of machinery and nts was the mainstream "new-style" alchemist.


    Although itcked the flexibility of a pure first-order old-style fire alchemist and the strength of a normal professional, its destructive power was not inferior. The key was that the casting process was more cost-effective.


    It was like using a lighter to ignite and using a magnifying ss to focus the fire. The methods were different, but the results were the same (limited to low-level spells).


    As "new-style" alchemists, the members of the Steam Party preferred machinery over alchemy.


    To them, alchemical nts were just auxiliary tools, and machinery was the focus. Although this clever approach limited the potential of the nts, the mechanical modifications had no limits. Moreover, the curse properties of the nts, although weaker in effect, also had a smaller chance of distortion, making them suitable for people with less talent.


    However, facing only Kun Tu, Kay didn''t have much advantage.


    In a one-on-one fight, the probability of Kay, a high-agility assassin, killing Kun Tu, a pseudo-mage, was obviously higher.


    But obviously, the enemy had also thought of this.


    In their team, there was another person who had unsealed their alchemical nt.


    It was a person wearing a ck windbreaker, with an octopus metal mask on his head. The exposed skin on his hands and neck emitted a dark metallic cold light.


    When Su''en saw this person, he instantly matched the information in his mind: "The captain of the Thirteenth Block of the West City, ''Steel Gori'' Sis!"


    Since he knew that the Cross Society and the Steam Party would always have shes, he had done his homework during this time and had some understanding of the abilities of the famous professionals from the opposing factions.


    This "Steel Gori" Sis awakened the beastification talent, "Talent C-071-Ape," which allowed him to transform into a giant ape like a werewolf, greatly increasing his physical strength, speed, and toughness.


    It was a very good melee talent.


    And this guy also obtained the obscure alchemical nt, "Smander Iron Skin," a "metal bio-skin" with super toughness that the Steam Party had developed. This allowed him to have super defense against firearms after unsealing the nt.


    Because of this, Sis earned the title of "Steel Gori."


    "This is a bit tricky..."


    Su''en looked at the situation and knew that it was specifically targeted at Kay.


    One could fight, and the other could withstand.


    Although Kay''s "de" was sharp and could cut people in half, it was obvious that this "Steel Gori" was specifically targeting assassins like him.


    At least Kay''s de would not be able to kill him in a short period of time.


    ........


    "The ''Red-Haired'' Kun Tu is not much of a threat. Although his fire control ability is strong, his attack range is limited..."


    In Su''en''s eyes, Kun Tu, who had joined the organization, was not much of a threat.


    His attack methods were single, and there was a lot of room to predict the direction of the attacks from his mechanical methrower.


    Moreover, Su''en had already advanced to "Advanced Mastery" in marksmanship, which was enough for him to use the "kite-flying" method to turn that guy into a sieve.


    But there was still the "Steel Gori" Sis.


    Su''en squinted his eyes and observed the man in the windbreaker upstairs, thinking to himself, "I wonder if the ''Armor-Piercing Alchemical Bullet'' can prate his goggles..."


    Without actualbat data, it was difficult to determine.


    ording to legend, this guy had a record of withstanding alchemical bullets...


    The only weak point, his eyes, seemed to be hidden behind the goggles with runes, and it didn''t seem easy to break through. Moreover, since it was one of the few "weak points" on his body, he would definitely be heavily guarded.


    Su''en felt that choosing these two professionals as the first targets of attack was not logical.


    Because the most troublesome situation at the moment was not the two professionals, but the number of enemies!


    There were nearly fifty enemies, with dozens of guns and rockets aimed at the people of Green Street.


    Under concentrated fire, there would definitely be casualties.


    Su''en also didn''t have the certainty to avoid the concentrated fire in the first moment.


    But for him, there was one good news... most of the guns were aimed at Kay.


    After all, in the eyes of those people, only Kay, as a professional, was the biggest threat.


    Thinking of this, Su''en''s gaze began to wander...


    .......


    Gang fights were a daily urrence in the underworld.


    The veterans were prepared for death at any time in the firefight with rival gangs. But the neers seemed a bit at a loss.


    Perhaps it was because these neers were trembling in the face of death that the members of the Steam Party didn''t immediately take action.


    It was like a hunter seeing its prey fall into a deep trap. It wouldn''t kill it immediately, but would appreciate its masterpiece.


    Kun Tu looked down from above and smiled, "Captain Kay, oh, you don''t look too good, do you?"


    "Hehe... is this all the Steam Party has? You ran away with your tail between your legs at the Elephant Tavernst time, and now you want to y dirty tricks?"


    Kay mocked mercilessly.


    Then, he whispered to the people beside him, "Most of their attention is on me. I''ll attract their firepower, and you find an opportunity to strike. Prepare for a fight, everyone..."


    Surrendering was impossible. In gang fights, only one side beingpletely wiped out by the other would end it.


    Everyone was aware of this.


    Su''en had a gun pointed at him, and his adrenaline surged.


    He had also been mentally prepared to face unexpected events, so there was no surprise on his face.


    However, upon closer observation, he noticed something strange.


    Su''en''s super vision allowed him to clearly see that among the group of gunmen upstairs, two of them were staring at him through their scopes.


    In the instant their gazes met, he realized that he was receiving "special treatment."


    Su''en also found it strange in his heart: "Huh... why aren''t those two aiming at the veterans or Kay? Why are they staring at me?"


    The other gunmen were casually aiming at the crowd, but the gazes of those two gunmen were urately locked onto him.


    Su''en''s thoughts quickly turned, and he immediately realized: Could it be that I attracted attention because I was too close to Boss Qian before?


    He pouted at the thought. It seemed that he should avoid getting involved with important figures in the future, or else he would easily be the focus of the enemy.


    .......


    Since he noticed that he was being targeted, Su''en didn''t make any rash moves. Instead, he slowly rxed his grip on the shotgun in his hand.


    In the eyes of the enemy, this action was not threatening and could make them rx their guard.


    But others didn''t know that Su''en was analyzing the situation in his mind at a rapid pace: "The exit of the tenement building must have been blocked. After the first round of concentrated fire, the only chance to escape is to go to that ''underground chamber'' and use cover and the dark environment to kill the enemy..."


    The position of the people from Green Street was awkward. Besides a few load-bearing columns, there were almost no cover on the ground floor.


    The enemy had the high ground, and if they engaged in a direct shootout, the people of Green Street would be wiped out instantly.


    Therefore, Su''en decided to take the initiative.


    The feeling of adrenaline surging made his body excited as well.


    He licked his lips, and a strange ferocity appeared in his eyes. "I''m going to kill again..."


    .......


    Su''en was well aware that he had a "dangerous personality."


    This was diagnosed by the therapists at the juvenile detention center when he was twelve years old, after he killed those thugs. But he didn''t think of it as another self; it was more urate to say that "he" was a part of his emotions.


    Later, the learning and treatment at the detention center also taught Su''en how to manage this part of his "emotions" precisely.


    This allowed him to separate certain negative emotions in his daily life, such as ferocity, fear, killing, desire... or pain. He used to think of it as an "illness."


    Butter, he realized that it was also a self-defense ability.


    In dangerous situations, letting certain specific emotions erupt would stimte his potential.


    It was like the news in his previous life where a young mother lifted a several-ton car to save her child in a moment of desperation.


    It was like when he was twelve years old and could deal with those young and strong thugs.


    It was a potential called "hysterical strength."


    Scientifically speaking, in extreme situations, hormones in the body would rush out of the adrenal nds, flow into the blood, and circte throughout the body. This would fill the muscles with excess oxygenated blood, allowing them to exert more strength. But this process was also dangerous and had a high chance of causing the breakdown of various tissues in the body and death.


    Su''en wasn''t sure if his situation was like that.


    But once he released "him," his body would be extremely excited, hormones would surge, and his strength and nerve reactions would increase significantly...


    Now, with a gun pointed at his head, he felt this sensation again.

 Chapter 39: Firearms expert

    Chapter 39: Firearms expert


    Captain Kay said, let them find an opportunity to take action themselves?


    Su''en would not be polite. The people on Green Street were already at a disadvantage, and giving the initiative to the enemy would be suicidal.


    Just as the thought arose, a cold light shed in his eyes.


    "Hehe..."


    Su''en smirked in his heart and let go of the shotgun in his hand.


    In that instant, time seemed to slow down, and the long gun fell slowly in the air.


    At the same time, his hands quickly reached for the handles of the two pistols at his waist.


    Before the shotgun hit the ground, he already had the two pistols in his hands.


    Draw the guns, aim, and pull the trigger!


    The whole action was smooth and without hesitation, so fast that people only saw a fleeting shadow of his hands.


    While the members of the Steam Party were still enjoying the thrill of being hunters, and while Kay and the others were still struggling to find a way out, suddenly the entire tenement building was filled with thunderous gunshots.


    "Bang!"


    A loud explosion.


    If you listened carefully, you would find that it was two ovepping gunshots.


    The shotgun did not have the range and uracy to kill the two gunmen aiming at their heads from upstairs, but therge-caliber pistols did!


    Su''en''s proficiency in dual-wielding weapons allowed him to urately aim at both targets. His advanced firearms proficiency allowed him to draw his guns at a speed that was unimaginable, even faster than the two snipers whose fingers were already on the triggers.


    After the gunshots, two heads exploded, and blood sttered everywhere.


    In that instant, time seemed to stand still.


    The gunshots came too suddenly...


    So much so that the seventy to eighty people in the tenement building were all stunned.


    No one expected that a "rookie" would suddenly be a killer in this situation.


    After pulling the trigger, Su''en''s reflexes had reached their peak. His dual pistols were still spewing tongues of fire, and his body was pushed back by the recoil of the bullets.


    Throughout the process, his face was filled with a numb calmness.


    Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was stunned, he quickly kicked the ground and rolled away from the crowd.


    At almost the same time, Kay, as a professional, also reacted. He thought to himself, "What an opportunity!"


    Without any dy, the muscles in his legs suddenly bulged, and he shot out like apressed spring, "swoosh"!


    Taking the initiative in the battle into their own hands was also Kay''s idea!


    But before, most of the enemies were focused on them, and he didn''t have a chance to strike first.


    Now, Su''en''s two shots not only broke the deadlock but also relieved some of the pressure on Kay, creating an opportunity for a counterattack. As long as he was given the space to operate, he could unleash a shocking speed that the enemy couldn''t even catch up with, breaking the deadlock!


    .......


    The neers hadn''t figured out what had happened yet, but in the next second, the battle was ignited by the gunshots.


    For a while, nearly a hundred guns from both sides were firing frantically, like thunder in the summer, deafening.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang...


    The mes illuminated the tenement building, and the intense shockwaves caused debris to fall from the surrounding buildings. The floors and load-bearing columns exploded like tofu under the dense barrage of bullets...


    Kay rushed forward, and most of the firepower was drawn away.


    But even so, the people on Green Street were still in a desperate situation facing the enemy shooting from above. Except for a few veterans who rolled and dodged the bullets in time, barely leaving room for counterattack, the neers became living targets almost immediately, with blood holes exploding on their bodies, falling to the ground...


    Under such firepower suppression, even Su''en, who was already several meters away from the crowd, was under considerable pressure.


    He fired the first shot and attracted a lot of firepower. Even though he reacted as fast as a cheetah, he was still forced into a miserable state by this barrage of bullets.


    In that moment of rolling, he keenly felt the hot wind of several bullets passing by his side. Even though he reacted so quickly, some of the stray bullets still hit his body.


    But at least he managed to save his life.


    Su''en took cover behind a thick stone pir and took a few deep breaths.


    Under the chaotic gunfire, no matter how good his footwork was, it was useless. He had a few blood holes on his back from the iron sand, but he had managed to survive.


    However, since he didn''t die in the first ce, the ferocity in Su''en''s eyes grew stronger.


    He held the dual pistols, calcting the countdown in his mind: "Five, four, three..."


    Sure enough, within five seconds, the gunshots suddenly quieted down by more than half.


    He knew that this was the interval when the heavy firepower weapons ran out of bullets.


    Su''en''s eyes suddenly sharpened, and he urgently shouted in his mind, "Now is the time!"


    Without any hesitation, he rushed out again!


    ......


    If it were an ordinary person, they would definitely think about self-preservation in this situation.


    But Su''en knew very well that if he didn''t kill all these Steam Party guys, there was no way he could walk out of the tenement building alive today!


    Although Captain Kay was strong, he had no chance against the two professional enemies. If he waited for Kay to die, Su''en''s fate would also be a dead end!


    Therefore, Su''en didn''t hold any hope. Even if the enemy''s main target was not him at the moment, he had to take the initiative to attack.


    .......


    Su''en directly circled around from behind the stone pir, seemingly without aiming, but his hands were already alternating between firing the guns.


    But even with this seemingly random shooting, every time the gun barrel spewed fire, an enemy upstairs would fall to the ground.


    If someone observed carefully, they would notice that not only did he hit his targets, but almost all of them were fatal shots, hitting the heart or the head...


    At this moment, Su''en''s face was filled with a cold frost, like the arrival of the Grim Reaper, mercilessly harvesting the lives of his enemies.


    With two revolvers, one with six rounds and the other with eight, in just 2.4 seconds, fourteen bullets took the lives of twelve or thirteen people!


    Listening to the sound and determining the position, analyzing the trajectory and judging the enemy''s position, this was the miraculous skill of "advanced firearms proficiency". It was a magical feeling, as if the firearms were a part of his arms, and the bullets shot out were pulling invisible threads...


    As soon as he thought of it, the bullets had already arrived.


    When Su''en rushed out earlier, he had already roughly judged the positions of these ten or so gunmen. With a nce, he had locked onto them, and there was no need to waste time aiming again. Shooting was as smooth as breathing.


    However, bullets were limited.


    No matter how strong he was, he only had two guns.


    Even if he seeded, it was purely because Kay had drawn away most of the firepower, catching the Steam Party off guard. But the enemy were all bloodthirsty gangsters who had licked the edge of a knife. How could they give him the opportunity to reload and shoot again?


    Su''en was well aware of this, he only had one round of gunfire.


    After this round of gunfire, he didn''t hesitate to roll again. While emptying the shells from the cylinder, he had already taken cover behind a sturdy stone pir.


    The entrance to the underground passage was less than ten meters away from here.


    In the next second, a torrent of ammunition poured onto the stone pir, and Su''en tried to curl up his body as much as possible to avoid being hit by the bullets.


    "Da, da, da, da..."


    The sound of gunfire was deafening, and fragments of stone and bullets grazed past him.


    At this moment, Su''en''s gaze regained rity.


    ......


    The Steam Party members were not ignorant. They were all shocked by Su''en''s amazing marksmanship.


    Except for the "Steel Gori" Sis, no one dared to show their heads casually and instead took cover to shoot.


    It was too terrifying, one shot, one head exploded. Anyone would feel a piercing headache.


    Kuntou, the "Red-Haired" man, cursed angrily, seemingly questioning the person who provided the wrong information: "Damn it, how could there be a ''firearms expert'' among the Cross Society guys? Wasn''t it said that none of them posed a threat except for Kay? What the hell is going on now?!"


    "Firearms expert" was an exclusive title for advanced marksmen.


    In the entire Outer City, besides the few famous "firearms masters," this was the ceiling ofbat power that ordinary people could touch.


    These marksmen were well-known in the three major gangs, and now there was an unknown rookie who turned out to be a "firearms expert"?


    But which "firearms expert" wasn''t a seasoned gunman who had been feeding bullets for decades?


    Clearly, he looked young, so how did he acquire such marksmanship?


    A freak!


    Kuntou cursed in his heart.


    Originally, the two Steam Party professionals had nned to team up against Kay, and everything was going ording to n. But they didn''t expect a sudden turn of events!


    This level of marksman couldn''t be underestimated. Otherwise, it would be an extremely deadly threat to professionals.


    At this moment, Kay also got a chance to catch his breath. His face lit up, and he quickly retreated, taking cover behind another stone pir. And that position happened to be able to make eye contact with Su''en.


    The two exchanged a nce, and Kay''s eyes couldn''t hide his astonishment. He had known that Su''en''s marksmanship was good, but he never expected it to be at such a level!


    It turned out that there was still a "firearms expert" hidden in his team?


    But now was not the time to talk about this.


    And Su''en made a gesture, pointing to the nearby "entrance to the underground passage."


    Kay instantly understood that they couldn''t break out with the enemy shooting from above. Even if Su''en''s marksmanship was astonishing, it would be difficult for him to kill the two professionals.


    The only way out now was to escape to the underground passage and maybe hold on until the guild reinforcements arrived.


    However, the enemy didn''t give them much time to catch their breath.


    The bullet battle couldn''t break the load-bearing columns for the time being, but the mes could!


    .......


    Su''en only knew that Kuntou had the ability to manipte mes, but he had never seen it before.


    And in the next instant, he immediately experienced the abilities of this pseudo-professional!


    The entire tenement building suddenly lit up with a dazzling red light.


    Su''en sensed the danger and nced over, only to see a stream of fire spraying out from the mechanical gun on Kuntou''s arm. As soon as the fire touched the air, it immediately turned into a small fireball. In the blink of an eye, the small fireball grew into a huge fireball with a diameter of about ten meters!


    This was not just simplebustion, but a range spell created by fire control!


    "AlchemyExplosive Bomb!"


    Before the fireball even reached him, Su''en felt as if the air had been burned dry, and his breath was hot and painful.


    "Not good!"


    Su''en inwardly cursed, "Without alchemical imnts, there is still quite a gap inbat powerpared to a formal professional..."


    He had been suppressed by the fire guns earlier and didn''t dare to show himself, but he didn''t realize that Kuntou had already gotten close.


    This fireball was unavoidable.


    Su''en was extremely decisive. Before the red light appeared, he had already switched to a strange-looking fire gun in his hand.


    It was none other than the gun named "Three-Headed Demon"!


    In this situation, he was willing to be seriously injured and burned in order to fire an alchemical bullet at Kuntou. Only by gambling on a mutual destruction could he bring a glimmer of hope to this desperate situation.


    But just as he was in this extremely dangerous situation, a figure suddenly rushed towards him, ignoring the mes!


    "Huh...?"


    Su''en looked and saw that it was Kay. He immediately realized what he was trying to do.


    In that moment of thought, he felt like he had been hit in the stomach by a cheetah, and his whole body was sent flying.


    So fast!


    Almost at the same time, the overwhelming mes mmed into them like a tsunami. Taking advantage of this impact, the two of them fell even faster. After a loud explosion, they fell directly into the dark underground passage.


    .......


    Seeing Su''en and Kay fall into the entrance, Kuntou shouted, "That guy is injured! Chase after them, we must not let them live!"


    He knew very well that this was the best opportunity to kill Kay, who must have been seriously injured. There was no hesitation, and the twenty to thirty members of the Steam Party followed them into the underground passage.

 Chapter 40: I can fight back

    Chapter 40: I can fight back


    Su''en was somewhat surprised that Kay would bring him along at such a critical moment.


    The distance was enough for Kay''s burst of muscles to send him flying, but bringing another person along resulted in injuries from the aftermath of the explosion.


    But obviously, this was the right choice.


    Not to mention that Kay was a straightforward person, as the captain, he wouldn''t abandon his subordinates and escape alone. Otherwise, when the enemy appeared earlier, knowing that he was no match, he would have done so.


    And the current situation was even worse. If Su''en died, he wouldn''t be able to escape the encirclement of the Steam Party on his own.


    Even if they escaped into the underground cave, it would only dy their deaths.


    ***


    The two fell into the underground cave and rolled to the ground.


    Su''en immediately smelled the burnt flesh and the scent of burning hair.


    His night vision ability was not weak, and he could see at a nce that Kay''s back was burned over arge area, with bleeding wounds. It seemed that this guy had also been shot during the firefight.


    Kay stood up panting, his leather armor melted onto his skin, causing him great pain.


    But he didn''t make a sound, took out a potion and injected it into his leg, temporarily dying the worsening of his injuries. He asked, "Su''en, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine."


    Su''en was fine because Kay had protected him. The explosion only burned his thigh and the iron sand on his back didn''t prate deeply.


    These injuries didn''t affect his movements.


    Kay nced at the "Three-Headed Demon" in Su''en''s hand, looking slightly surprised. It seemed that he recognized this famous gun but didn''t say much.


    Many people who joined the gang had their own secrets.


    He looked around at the dark environment and said seriously, "We can''t stay here for long. The Steam Party will definitelye after me since they know I''m injured."


    "Okay."


    Su''en nodded as well. If Kay didn''t die, this operation would bepletely meaningless.


    The two didn''t say much and observed their surroundings as they walked.


    Su''en looked around and realized that this was probably a subway station from a thousand years ago. tforms, stairs, waiting rooms, and even traces left by the decayed tracks.


    Kay''s night vision goggles couldn''t provide a clear view, but as someone who had escaped from the slums, he knew how to determine the direction of escape underground. He listened to the sound of water and whispered, "There''s the sound of water to the west, so that passage should not be blocked. I''ll distract them for a while, and you can escape on your own. Their target is me, so we''ll find a way to hold on a bit longer. There''s a lot of activity here, and the gang will definitely send reinforcements. Maybe we can survive..."


    When Su''en heard this suggestion, his eyebrows slightly raised.


    Kay''s n was not bad.


    Being together would indeed burden each other.


    Kay''s own burst speed was strong, and he would be more likely to survive alone. Moreover, if they split up, the enemy''s focus would definitely be on chasing him, increasing Su''en''s chances of survival.


    But Su''en looked at the restless shadows in the darkness and his face became serious.


    In this underground cave, there were not only them but also some "natives."


    Judging from the "Mutated Aberration" they had killed earlier, there were probably more unknown monsters in this underground area.


    If they went deeper, their chances of survival might not necessarily be higher than facing the Steam Party.


    Thinking of this, Su''en shook his head and said, "I think it''s best if we don''t go too deep."


    Kay seemed to have also thought of the existence of monsters, furrowing his brows. "But now, it seems like we don''t have a better choice..."


    "No, I think we can ambush them here."


    Su''en looked at theyout of the ancient subway station, whether it was the tform, the passage, or the tracks... they were all well-preserved.


    In the previous battle, these ancient buildings withstood most of the bullets, giving Su''en a clear understanding.


    This was the best cover.


    For a gunman, thisplex environment was also the most advantageous battlefield.


    "Are you suggesting we ambush them here?"


    Kay was also surprised by Su''en''s crazy suggestion. If it wasn''t for him being a lunatic, then he must have extraordinary abilities.


    At least for Kay, a melee fighter, there was absolutely no chance of winning!


    Su''en''s suggestion seemed to fit Kay''s taste, and he became excited. Killing the enemy was much more satisfying than being chased.


    His eyes lit up and he asked, <em>"Are you confident?"</em>


    He couldn''t see the calm and confident expression on Su''en''s face.


    Su''en analyzed, "This ce is very suitable for sniping. Except for those two professionals, the others... are not to be feared."


    When Su''en said this, his tone was very calm.


    But Kay could hear the confidence andposure in his words. He realized that this was a "gun expert" who never missed a shot!


    Su''en continued, "But once I start shooting, my position will be exposed. That ''Iron Gori'' will definitelye to kill me first. At that time, I''ll need you, as the captain, to buy me some time. I still have two alchemical bullets. If I''m lucky, maybe I can kill him... and then we can counterattack!"


    <em>"Counterattack?"</em>


    Not just sniping, but also counterattacking?


    Kay''s spirits were instantly lifted when he heard this. He immediately understood the key to this tactic.


    To counterattack, the two couldn''t separate, otherwise, they would be picked off one by one.


    But professionals weren''t so easy to kill, even if you had a gun. Advanced professionals had extremely high reaction speed and alertness, and it would be difficult for even a gun expert to kill them, not to mention the presence of "Steel Gori" Sis, who was impervious to both knives and guns.


    However, looking at Su''en''s expressionless face, Kay also knew that this calmness must be matched with confidence: this guy must have a "trump card"!


    <em>"Good!"</em>


    Kay chose to believe in Su''en and nodded without hesitation. He said, "Although Sis''s profession has some advantages over me, he won''t be able to defeat me in a short time."


    Su''en replied, "Okay. Please make sure to dy him for at least ten breaths."


    Kay said confidently, <em>"Just ten breaths? That''s definitely not a problem."</em>


    Su''en felt thatmunicating with smart people saved time and said, "Not only do we have to deal with the Steam Party, but there are also monsters. I heard some abnormal movements near the water source earlier, which might be the nest of the monsters..."


    He pointed to the dark area as he exined, which was the most important reason why Su''en chose to stay hidden here instead of escaping.


    He continued, "Most of the aberrant monsters here rely on ''auditory perception.'' Once I start shooting, it might attract the monsters. But the monsters are not only our enemies, the Steam Party will also have to face them. We can use the monsters to distract them, but our risk is also not small..."


    Upon hearing this, Kay seemed to have figured something out and pped his thigh, "Right, why didn''t I think of the aberrant monsters!"


    Now the enemy had the numerical advantage, but once those aberrant monsters in the darkness joined the battle, it would be a three-way melee.


    The numerical advantage of the Steam Party would instantly copse, and Su''en and Kay''s two-person team, with fewer people and smaller targets, would be more flexible.


    ***


    Time was running out, and reality didn''t give them much time to discuss the details.


    Su''en casually used his puppet control to set up a "Ghost Thunder" on the ground as they passed by.


    Then the two chose a passage that allowed them to advance or retreat and waited quietly for the enemy.


    Sure enough, a few secondster, a group of people rushed into the underground cave.


    The gasmps illuminated several figures, but Su''en didn''t rush to attack. His eyes were fixed on Kun Tu and Sis, the two professionals, hiding in the darkness where the light couldn''t reach.


    Those guys were also smart. Knowing that Su''en''s marksmanship was astonishing, they obviously anticipated the possibility of an ambush and let the ordinary gang members go ahead.


    Once Su''en revealed his position by firing a shot, the initiative would immediately change hands.


    Kun Tu was also an experienced veteran, and he saw the traces left by some unknown creature on the ground, realizing that there might be danger here. He warned, "Be careful, something doesn''t feel right in this underground cave."

 Chapter 41: Sickle in the sewer

    Chapter 41: Sickle in the sewer


    Su''en and Kay were both injured, leaving bloodstains on the ground.


    However, since it was a chase, the members of the Steam Party did not dare to slow down. They walked near the tform when suddenly, the person in the front did not see the thin thread on the ground and stepped on it.


    Unfortunately, when the safety lever of the hand grenade flew off with a "ng," the burly steel gori immediately became alert and quickly stood in front of everyone.


    With a loud bang, mes sttered.


    But the effect was minimal.


    Ordinary hand grenades were limited in their effectiveness against fully armed members of the Steam Party, who had also modified their limbs with mechanical prosthetics.


    There was no time to set up more traps, but Su''en didn''t expect this method to cause much damage to the enemy anyway.


    The explosion was used to disrupt the enemy''s formation and attract the attention of the monster!


    ......


    Listening to the sound of the explosion, Su''en stepped out of cover without hesitation. As he raised his arms, the muzzles of his two guns spewed mes towards the members of the Steam Party a hundred meters away.


    For a sharpshooter, this was the mostfortablebat distance.


    Crack! Crack! Crack...


    Those guys holding gasmps were the first targets of the gunfire. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight light sources fell to the ground.


    "Damn!"


    A shout came from the darkness.


    Before Su''en had time to reload, a burly figure rushed towards him.


    Just as expected.


    "Here ites!"


    Su''en''s pupils contracted, but he showed no intention of retreating. He raised his hand and fired several shots, hitting the remaining bullets in the revolver at the figure.


    However, these shots did not hinder the guy''s speed at all.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    The bullets sparked on Kay''s body, bouncing off like hitting a steel te.


    Even the shot that hit the goggles precisely did not cause any damage to this guy.


    Su''en ran out of bullets and deftly switched the magazine.


    His gaze was not on the gun, but on the steel gori that had always been there. He calcted in his mind, "Indeed, based on this strength, even armor-piercing bullets may not be able to prate his rune goggles."


    If he rashly used alchemical bullets and failed, the enemy would be alert, making it difficult to seed next time.


    These shots, besides testing, were also meant to lower the enemy''s vignce. To make him think that Su''en''s gunfire posed no threat!


    Just as the steel gori was about to collide with Su''en, a slender but swift figure also rushed towards him.


    "Bang!"


    After a muffled sound, a struggle ensued.


    Kay''s de Imnt on the steel gori''s body created sparks and emitted a piercing sound of metal being cut.


    The two engaged in a fierce battle.


    Su''en could clearly hear West''s coldughter, as if mocking Kay''s ipetence.


    Kay followed the agile path of a ranger profession. If he chose to move around, West might not be able to catch him in a short time.


    But if he chose closebat, it was exactly what he wanted!


    The steel gori was not agile enough, but its physical strength had an absolute advantage over Kay in closebat.


    In this head-on confrontation, Kay was already at a disadvantage in the blink of an eye.


    But once Kay retreated, West would definitely choose another target and kill Su''en, who was the gunner, first!


    Therefore, when Su''en and Kay chose this tactic, it meant that they had no way out.


    To survive, the two of them had to trust each otherpletely.


    And because they had to entangle this guy, Kay became somewhat sluggish in his movements due to his injuries. He was identally caught by West''s foot and tossed around like a sandbag.


    Life and death were just moments away.


    At this moment, Su''en still stood ten meters away without taking a step back.


    He calmly loaded the ammunition and raised the muzzle again.


    For him, a "firearms expert," this distance was enough to ensure urate shots even if the opponent moved violently.


    This time, Su''en didn''t test anymore. He aimed at the buckle on the steel gori''s face mask!


    Even though this mask was part of an external mechanical skeleton and was indestructible, the weaknesses of the machinery were obvious. The welds, joints, and connections were all more fragile than other parts.


    The high-level enchanted goggles could block bullets, but the buckle of the fixed mask might not be able to.


    If one shot was not enough, then shoot more.


    "Ding! Ding! ng! ng!"


    Su''en fired several shots, each one urately hitting the buckle on the face mask, causing cracks to appear in the welds.


    And while Kay was engaged in closebat with the steel gori, he also seized the opportunity and kicked it.


    "Bang!"


    After a dull sound, the face mask fell off.


    Revealing the steel gori''s eyes filled with astonishment.


    West looked at his fallen face mask, his expression stunned. Then, a moment of terror before death struck.


    His gaze shifted and happened to see a dark muzzle aiming at his eye socket. At the same time, it seemed to recognize the origin of the gun: "Ironhead" Ivan''s famous gun, "Three-Headed Ghost"?


    At the same time, he realized that he had been careless.


    The previous ordinary bullets made him lose the necessary vignce, thinking that this was just an insignificant gunman. But he didn''t expect that the opponent also had alchemical bullets.


    However, facing the dark muzzle, a sneer appeared at the corner of West''s mouth. "Hmph, naive!"


    He was extremely vignt as well.


    In fact, when he noticed that Kay chose to confront him head-on, he sensed that something was wrong.


    Now, seeing his face mask being knocked off, he realized the purpose of Su''en and Kay.


    Heh, breaking the goggles was to hit the eyes, right?


    The idea was not bad, but... if a professional was so easily killed by a gun, it would be too weak.


    Even alchemical bullets would need to hit the few "weak points" on his body to kill him.


    West''s crisis response ability allowed him to instinctively turn his head as soon as the face mask fell off. This angle was a blind spot for shooting, and he felt that the bullets posed no threat to him.


    But just the next second, something despairing happened.


    In the instant West turned his head, he saw Su''en on the opposite side suddenly make a strange shooting motion, and when the mes spewed from the muzzle...


    He actually "threw the gun"?


    Seeing this, the mocking smile on West''s mouth had not yet disappeared, but turned into horror.


    He didn''t have time to react anymore.


    At thest moment of his life, this veteran Steam Party captain thought of a "master-level" gun technique: "Gunfighting Technique!"


    So...


    There was such a terrifying person hidden among the enemies.


    Like a venomous snake hidden in a pile of dead leaves, it would strike a fatal blow when the hunter least expected it.


    ......


    Su''en''s eyes were almost numb with calmness. He changed guns, predicted the angle of the enemy''s head movement, calcted the trajectory, and pulled the trigger while throwing the gun.


    There were no mistakes in his movements, and he didn''t give the enemy any chance to turn the tables.


    An alchemical armor-piercing bullet shot out from the silver skull-adorned gun, drawing an arc in the air and urately hitting the left eye socket of the steel gori.


    With a "bang," blood sttered in front of his eyes.


    The alchemical bullet prated West''s head, and the steel gori, who had been menacing just a second ago, fell to the ground with a loud crash.


    This shot was a fatal blow.


    ........


    Su''en breathed a sigh of relief, walked over, and helped up the heavily injured Kay.


    At the same time, he also swallowed the mist from the corpse.


    "Obtained ''West Arnold''s Memory Fragment *3''"


    "You have obtained a small amount of ''Intermediate Mechanical Knowledge''..."


    "You have mastered the ''Basic Mechanical Arm Kic Energy Device Modification Technique''..."


    "Combat Experience +8"


    "Mental Power +0.12"


    Su''en felt that his mind suddenly gained a lot of mechanical skills, but he didn''t have time to think about it.


    Because at this moment, the battle was far from over.


    Su''en supported Kay and asked, "Captain, are you okay?"


    "Not..."


    Kay wanted to say he was fine, but before he could finish his sentence, he couldn''t hold back the bloody taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood. He shook his dizzy head, smiled bitterly, and said, "I can''t die for now."


    Then, Kay looked at West''s body with bullet holes in his eye sockets and nced at Su''en, his expression bing extremelyplicated.


    Su''en''s astonishing performance time and time again shattered Kay''s perception of this "rookie."


    It turned out that he was not just a "firearms expert," but also proficient in the master-level gun technique, "Gunfighting Technique."


    This was a super difficult gun skill that only truly talented professional gunmen could master...


    "With this gun skill, no wonder he is so confident."


    Kay sighed and also felt fortunate that he chose to believe.


    .......


    From the sound of the explosion to West rushing over and engaging in a fight, then being killed by Su''en and Kay''s cooperation, the whole process took just over twenty seconds.


    Kun Tu, the "Red-Haired" man in the distance, originally thought that even if West couldn''t kill the two, he could at least hold them back.


    And when he and his men rushed over, it would be easy to kill the opponents.


    But unexpectedly, ns were always subject to change, and the explosion attracted the distorted monsters lurking in the shadows!


    Those agile monsters that could climb walls appeared out of nowhere, using their long mouths to bite one member of the gang after another.


    The members of the Steam Party were now too busy to take care of themselves. Even if they didn''t take action, it was uncertain whether those creatures could survive the monster pile.


    Inparison, although Su''en and Kay were in a somewhat unfavorable situation, it was not worse than before.


    Some monsters were also attracted to them and climbed onto their heads.


    However, the two of them cooperated well, with one shooting urately and the other engaging in closebat with a knife.


    Although these distorted climbing monsters were astonishingly fast, the two managed to hold on for a while as they fought and retreated.


    But suddenly!


    While Su''en was killing, he unexpectedly found a "mist" in the pile of monster corpses.


    "Huh... an elite monster actually produced a soul fragment?"


    Almost no "mist" appeared on the bodies of monsters due to their low intelligence.


    But at this moment, just as he shot and killed a strong distorted monster, Su''en saw a fragment on its body.


    Because the distance the body fell was right at his feet, Su''en swallowed it without thinking while shooting.


    However... after digesting the information in this mist, his expression suddenly became strange.


    "Obtained ''Mutated Distorted Monster''s Memory Fragment *2''"


    "You have obtained the ''Partial Layout of the Sewer''s Pipe Network''..."


    "You have obtained some iplete images..."


    "You have mastered the ''Intermediate Climbing'' skill..."


    "Mental Power +0.01"


    .......


    It was not surprising that Su''en learned the "Intermediate Climbing" skill from these humanoid distorted monsters that could climb walls.


    The "Partial Layout of the Sewer''s Pipe Network" was also expected...


    But the "iplete images" behind it made Su''en feel that something was wrong.


    The perception system of monsters was not as clear as that of humans. In the monster''s memory, Su''en saw a fragment of a warm yellow image that looked like a thermal image.


    Even though it was unclear, he could still recognize that it was a sickle-shaped object!


    PS. Brothers, please vote~

 Chapter 42: Dilemma

    Chapter 42: Dilemma


    "Is this... the scythe known as the ''Forbidden Object''?"


    Su''en''s mind quickly made a connection.


    From his fragmented memories, it was clear that the monster had a strong aversion to the scythe, indicating that it was not an ordinary object and likely had cursed properties.


    Moreover, the appearance of the scythe perfectly matched the description of the ''Night ck Scythe of Supunos'' given by the high-ranking members of the guild.


    Thinking further, the person who attacked the guild headquarters and escaped to the vicinity of Green Street, presumably hiding in the underground tunnels, Su''en immediately concluded that the scythe in the monster''s memories was most likely that object!


    "So that guy actually came here? Is the scythe here? Did he die or escape?"


    Su''en believed that it was highly probable that the person had died.


    That ce was the monster''sir, and it was unlikely for a living person to enter.


    .......


    Although Su''en unexpectedly obtained some valuable information from the monster''s memories, it didn''t change his current situation.


    Regardless of whether the scythe was a forbidden object or had any incredible uses, it was currently in the depths of the sewer and couldn''t solve their immediate crisis.


    Furthermore, although Su''en now had a yout map of the sewer" in his mind, the consciousness of the monster was vastly different from that of a human. Even though Su''en found the tunnels familiar, it was of no use. Besides the exit of the apartment building, he couldn''t think of a better escape route.


    But at this moment, the monsters in the depths of the underground surged out like a tide, blocking the subway tunnel tightly, and the only exit became a dead end.


    Not far away, the gunfire from the Steam Party members was gradually diminishing.


    The louder the noise, the more distorted monsters it attracted.


    Fortunately, their firepower attracted most of the attention, otherwise the monsters would have torn the two of them to pieces in an instant.


    That ''Red-Haired'' Kun Tu was still standing strong, mes from his spells burning everywhere, covering a wide range and causing the monsters to emit piercing screams.


    However, just like the gunners, both spellcasters and gunmen had high damage output but obvious weaknesses.


    Once they were engaged in closebat, their meleebat abilities were poor.


    Moreover, even Kun Tu, who used semi-mechanical spellcasting, had his casting intervals.


    The densely packed monsters would take advantage of these intervals to rush forward and take a few bites.


    As the number of their gang members around him dwindled, the death of that guy was also expected.


    On the other hand, Su''en and Kay were also in a precarious situation.


    As they fought and retreated, they were forced into a culvert-like tunnel where they could hide from the train drainage.


    The advantage was that they only had to deal with the monsters in front of them and didn''t have enemies on all sides.


    But the disadvantage was that more and more monsters were gathering outside, making it increasingly difficult for them to break through.


    .......


    "This is bad... there are too many monsters, and we''re injured. It''s highly likely that we won''t be able to break out and can only wait for rescue."


    However, Kay''s words also had an element offorting himself.


    Even if the support troops from Green Street received the message, it was unlikely that they would be able to rush in and save them.


    Unless... a high-ranking officer personally came.


    But there was no guarantee that the two of them would be able to hold on until then.


    Thinking of this, while mechanically making shing motions, Kay cursed angrily, "Damn it, how could there be such arge-scale group of distorted monsters in the city''s sewer!"


    This was also something that puzzled Su''en.


    It was not surprising to have monsters outside the city with dense dark energy, but in Old Lingdun City, the conditions for distortion were limited, and there were people who regrly cleaned it. So why were there so many monsters in the sewer?


    The density of monsters in the sewer was definitely abnormal.


    Moreover, under the identification of the All-Knowing Eye, all of them were distorted monsters that had undergone unpredictable mutations due to special environmental factors.


    There were crawling monsters with long mouthparts, bulky mountain-like creatures, tall humanoid monsters with long arms and legs, and corrosive monsters that could spew acid...


    It was these monsters with long-range attack methods that forced Su''en and Kay to retreat step by step.


    "..."


    Su''en listened to Kay''s angry curses without saying a word, and his index finger on the trigger was starting to feel numb.


    There were simply too many monsters, and even without aiming deliberately, he could easily hit them.


    But even after killing so many, new monsters continued to emerge endlessly.


    .......


    "I''m going to use explosives to copse the entrance. Captain, be careful!"


    "Alright!"


    During the interval of changing bullets, Su''en took the opportunity to throw a grenade, blowing away a group of monsters and temporarily relieving some pressure.


    He felt that there might be some problems in the sewer, but now was not the time to consider that.


    It was also fortunate to have Kay, a melee professional. Otherwise, no matter how good Su''en''s marksmanship was, he would be overwhelmed by the tide of monsters after firing only a few shots.


    Looking again, due to the intense and prolonged battle, Kay''s condition was getting worse, and it was bing increasingly difficult for him to cope. Without hesitation, Su''en decisively chose to use directional explosives to copse part of the pit.


    This would narrow the exit and reduce the monsters'' attack space.


    But in doing so, they would also be unable to leave.


    With a loud "bang," rubble fell, effectively blocking more than half of the opening.


    And Kay took the opportunity to use his skill, ''de,'' to cut off severalrge rocks above, blocking thest bit of the passage. The two of them slumped down there.


    Outside the rocks, the sound of monsters digging holes could be heard incessantly.


    The monsters with sharp teeth and fangs were digging at a fast pace, and these rubble would probably not hold for long.Su''en and Kay took advantage of the rare respite to bandage their wounds and reload their ammunition.


    At this critical moment, Su''en didn''t hold back and filled the cylinder of theThree-headed Ghostwith the remaining alchemical bullets.


    Kay, who was not used to firearms, stuffed a few grenades into his pockets.


    The acid spray from the monsters and the wounds inflicted by their mouthparts made the two look quite miserable. However, after cleaning the wounds and injecting healing potions, they were not in any serious danger.


    They probably had a few more minutes to rest.


    Kay looked at Su''en and sighed, "I''m afraid we might not make it through this ordeal today..."


    As someone who had been involved in gangs since childhood, Kay had long been prepared for the possibility of dying on the streets. He spoke these words quite calmly.


    He thought he would see some fear on Su''en''s face, but instead, he found the man calmly reloading his ammunition, showing no signs of fear or panic.


    Kay recalled the scene where they had killed the members of the Steam Party. Even now, it still felt like a dream to him.


    The two of them had actually killed thirty people from the other side?!


    Heh, it was worth it.


    Kay couldn''t figure out why Su''en was so calm and asked, "Su''en, aren''t you nervous at all?"


    Su''en didn''t borate, "I was born with a cold personality."


    Kay showed a sudden realization, "Oh."


    Perhaps feeling that he was about to die, Kay suddenly became more talkative.


    "Su''en, I didn''t expect you to know ''gunfighting''..."


    "Yeah, I''ve been practicing my shooting skills."


    "Is that the famous gunThree-headed Ghost?"


    The two had gone through hardships together, and now they didn''t know if they could survive. Su''en felt there was no need to hide anything, especially since the gun was so recognizable.


    He nodded lightly, "Yes."


    Hearing this answer, Kay looked at Su''en''s bald head and smoky makeup, as if guessing something, and suddenly became interested.


    After hesitating for a moment, he asked with a wicked smile, "Could it be... you''re the son of ''Ironhead'' Ivan?"


    "..."


    Su''en''s eyelids twitched as he wondered how Kay hade up with that idea.


    Kay guessed that it wasn''t true, but he still joked, "Don''t worry, I''ll keep your secret."


    Su''en exined, "No, I killed him."


    "You actually killed Ivan?"


    Kay''s eyes were filled with disbelief. This was even more shocking news than being Ivan''s illegitimate child.


    Ivan was a veteran assassin of the Crow Gang, even more difficult to deal with than the previous ''Steel Gori'' Sis. He was not someone ordinary people could kill.


    But then, thinking about Su''en''s previous performance, Kay guessed that there were many secrets hidden within him.


    Such a young "firearms expert" who also knew gunfighting couldn''t have an ordinary background.


    But in the gang, many people had secrets in their past. He didn''t ask further and said seriously, "If we can make it out alive, I''ll keep your secrets."


    "Alright."


    Su''en didn''t say much either.


    There was no point in hiding anything now that he had already revealed some of his cards.


    In fact, upon careful consideration, the only secret he really couldn''t reveal was the identity of the original owner of his body.


    As for the others...


    The two S-rank talents didn''t have any obvious characteristics, so as long as he didn''t say anything, no one would know;


    The "Puppeteer" profession could be passed off as an ordinary puppet master;


    As for his shooting skills, in a gang where gunfights were asmon as meals, it was bound to be exposed sooner orter.


    Although they hadn''t known each other for very long, Su''en felt that Captain Kay was worth some trust.


    Besides, Kay had saved his life before.

 Chapter 43: Emergency rescue

    Chapter 43: Emergency rescue


    "Prepare for battle."


    "Mm."


    Su''en and Kay were not the type to easily ept their fate, even in such dire circumstances.


    Now there was no room for them to retreat in the alley. They nned to wait until the monsters cleared the rubble blocking the door, and then make one final charge.


    This charge would probably determine their life or death.


    However, what they didn''t expect was that just as the monsters were about to clear the rubble, the gunshots that had already ceased suddenly rang out again from outside.


    <em>"Reinforcements?"</em>


    Su''en and Kay exchanged a nce, both seeing the disbelief in each other''s eyes.


    The only ones who coulde to their rescue were the veterans of Green Street.


    But with so many monsters, not a single professional was among them. How did they manage to charge in?


    Kay thought of something and said, "There must be high-level professionals here! Hopefully, they''re not enemies..."


    Su''en tightened his grip on the firearm in his hand and said sharply, "Whoever it is, the monsters outside have already been attracted by the gunshots. This is our best chance to charge out."


    "Mm."


    Kay nodded. "Should I go first?"


    Su''en nodded.


    Kay took a deep breath, and the cold light of the mantis des on his arms shed, creating several cracks in the stone wall.


    <em>"Charge!"</em>


    After a sharp shout, Kay smashed through the rubble and charged out first.


    Su''en didn''t hesitate either and followed closely behind.


    The two of them had already prepared themselves for a fierce battle against the tide of monsters after breaking out. But they didn''t expect that when they charged out, they found themselves facing an empty space!


    Upon closer inspection, besides the corpses they had killed earlier, there was not a single living monster in the tunnel.


    And when they looked again, not far away, a group of people and horses were engaged in a fierce battle with the monsters.


    The two leaders were a green-haired Rakshasa with four arms wielding four long knives, exuding a chilling aura, and a burly figure like a bear, with muscles as solid as rocks, and a deep redplexion.


    One of them swung their four arms, cutting through the crowd of monsters like cutting melons and vegetables, with limbs and arms flying everywhere. The other charged like a wild bull, a single punch enough to burst the monsters'' bodies, blood and flesh sttering in a brutal manner.


    Just these two alone left a trail of corpses in their wake.


    <em>"They... are so strong!"</em>


    Su''en''s eyes widened in astonishment. Although he had never seen a thousand transformations of alchemical imnts, he recognized the familiar four long knives and identified the gambling-addicted woman.


    As for the other red-skinned giant, he left a deep impression on Su''en. He was none other than the second-tier professional "Red Demon" Gelong who appeared in the arena back then!


    ***


    Su''en didn''t understand. <em>Didn''t Qiantiao go back to headquarters?</em>


    <em>And why did Gelonge to their rescue? Did he join the Cross Society?</em>


    Su''en and Kay never expected that these two would be the ones toe to their rescue.


    The veterans of Green Street who followed behind the two big shots saw Su''en and Kay and eximed, "Captain Kay!"


    The veterans rushed over, relieved to see that their captain was unharmed.


    "Wow, Captain, you''re so cool. You actually killed so many monsters."


    "Haha, I knew it, Captain must be fine."


    "Captain is mighty~"


    "..."


    The veterans cheered, as long as the captain was alive, that was the greatest relief.


    At this time, the distorted monsters in the tunnel had already been killed and scattered.


    The remaining scattered ones had also fled back into the depths of the tunnel.


    Qiantiao looked at Su''en and Kay, a relieved expression appearing in her eyes.


    She sheathed her long knives and the imnts merged back into her tattoos.


    She walked over and teased, "Oh, little Kay, you''re really lucky..."


    Kay had a good attitude. Just as he had escaped from danger, a smile appeared on his face. "Thanks to you foring in time. If you hade a littleter, I''m afraid we would have be corpses for you to collect."


    After a pause, he asked, "Huh... Qiantiao, didn''t you go back to headquarters? How did you end up here?"


    Qiantiao exined, "Mr. Gelong and I were discussing something and happened to be in the nearby Red Pine Street. When we heard that you were ambushed by the Steam Party, we rushed over..."


    As she spoke, she looked at the numerous monster corpses on the ground, a faint surprise crossing her face.


    The number of these corpses was quite astonishing.


    And upon closer inspection, there were two types of wounds on the monster corpses on the ground: gunshot wounds and knife wounds.


    The knife wounds were naturally caused by Kay''s abilities, but what about those gunshot wounds?


    Qiantiao, with her experience, could immediately see that most of the gunshot wounds on the distorted monster corpses were fatal shots.


    One or two corpses could be attributed to luck, but if every single one had this kind of wound, then this marksmanship was quite rare.


    Thinking of this, Qiantiao seemed to have guessed something and looked at Su''en, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.


    Because they had already be familiar with each other at the casino, there was no awkwardness when she spoke to Su''en. However, she didn''t mention the corpses on the ground and just asked, "Su''en, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine. Thank you, Qiantiao."


    Su''en didn''t intend to say much and politely smiled at Qiantiao.


    Let Kay take the limelight. He was content to be a quiet little transparent person.


    Qiantiao didn''t ask further and said, "It''s good that you''re fine. Let''s leave here first. There''s something strange underground, possibly some special distorted material. It''s best not to stay here for long..."She naturally noticed that there were unusually many cave monsters here, and almost all of them were species she had never seen before.


    There must be powerful distortion factors in the environment.


    Not to mention anything else, it''s not necessarily safe to stay here for too long.


    After hearing this, everyone didn''t dare to dy and quickly cleaned up the battlefield before leaving the building together.


    ***


    Breathing the outside air, Su''en felt rxed. The intense battle had made him tired.


    But as soon as they reached the surface, Kay, who had been rescued, had a cold expression on his face. He immediately called out to his brothers, "Brothers, let''s go. It''s time for us to cause trouble for the Steam Party!"


    "The Steam Party dares toe and cause trouble in our territory. This time, we must break their legs!"


    "So many brothers died this time, they must give us an exnation!"


    "Yes, let''s teach them a lesson!"


    "..."


    The veterans were excited to hear that they were going to fight the Steam Party.


    Qiantiao seemed unsurprised by Kay''s decision and didn''t try to dissuade him. Instead, she had a nonchnt expression and said, "If we''re going to fight, we should do it sooner rather thanter. Otherwise, the leaders of both sides will end up sitting at the negotiation table. We will not only suffer losses, but we will also have to pay. Our brothers'' lives are not worth it."


    While they were ready to fight, someone raised a question, "Qiantiao, if we go there so openly, won''t they wait to surround and attack us? What if their leaders show up..."


    Qiantiao was already familiar with this kind of conflict and spoke with certainty, "Don''t worry, those Steam Party guys have no shame. They will have to bear the consequences this time. Although their leaders will definitely show up, there are still rules in the underworld. They definitely won''t start a fight."


    After a pause, shezily added, "Besides, there''s me and Mr. Gelong. If something unexpected happens, the Cross Society executives won''t just sit idly by."


    Upon hearing Qiantiao''s words, the members of the Cross Society gained confidence.


    Qiantiao looked at everyone ready to seek revenge and then nced at Su''en, who had remained silent. She exined to the two survivors, "The Steam Party''s intrusion this time is directly rted to the internal struggle between the inner city financial factions. But many of these matters will be negotiated by the leaders, involving high-level power struggles. I can''t go into details..."


    In other words, conflicts and shes were expected and inevitable in high-level power struggles.


    Green Street was a lucrative "piece of cake" in the outer city, conveniently located on the border between two gangs'' territories. As the defending side, they couldn''t take the initiative to attack, but if they were attacked, they had to fight back.


    Listening to all this, Su''en quickly understood the meaning behind Qiantiao''s words.


    This ambush was not just a simple territorial conflict.


    It was like the border issues between major countries in his previous life. Conflicts were expected, but just because they were expected didn''t mean they couldunch a preemptive strike with atomic bombs.


    There were too many interests and power struggles between international forces involved.


    The Cross Society and the Steam Party were the tworgest gangs in Old Lingdun''s outer city. They not only involved countless gang members and various industries, but also the interests of the hidden backers in the inner city.


    Fighting for territory among the lower ranks was normal and apetition method tacitly approved by both sides'' high-level executives.


    Small shes resulted in small losses, but they could still determine who was superior.


    This was how gang turf wars worked. Either you were beaten down or you couldn''t afford to back down and had to give up your territory.


    The Steam Party and the Cross Society had fought countless times for Green Street.


    Kay, the former captain of Green Street, was killed in the crossfire.


    Everyone wanted a piece of the pie, but it wasn''t possible for the leaders to intervene every time the kids fought.


    If a minor incident escted, high-level executives would step in and it could eventually evolve into a full-scale war between the two gangs.


    No one could bear the consequences of such arge-scale war.


    Even the leaders of the two gangs!


    Without an obedient Steam Party, the inner city backers could immediately support a new "Steam Party"... Interests were eternal, not the struggle for supremacy.


    Although it sounded cruel, in Old Lingdun, in the outer city, in the underworld, the lives of the lower ss were worthless.


    The gang members had long been prepared for this.


    ***


    Originally, if the Steam Party had carried out the ambush cleanly and killed Kay''s team, there would be no trouble at all.


    This was the norm in gang fights.


    Although everyone knew who was behind it, in gang warfare, if there was no caught-in-the-act evidence, no one could do anything. You could send someone to assassinate them in return, as long as you weren''t caught.


    But now, Kay and Su''en had survived, while the bodies of the Steam Party members were still lying in Green Street''s territory.


    The nature of the situation had changed.


    This was the evidence.


    The Steam Party was in the wrong, and now when Kay and the others went to fight back, the other side didn''t even have a bit of temper.


    ***


    Kay acted decisively as always.


    After dealing with his own injuries, he gathered hundreds of people from the nearby blocks and headed straight for the Steam Party''s territory.


    They directly took over Kun Tu''s territory, and when they were about to go and overturn Sis''s territory as well, they were intercepted by the Steam Party''s executives, just as expected.


    Then, the executives from both sides showed up, sat at the negotiation table, and the fighting stopped.Losing money, ceding territory, temporary reconciliation.


    This was the old standard procedure.


    Su''en didn''t care about the high-level negotiations, but he still went along and harvested many fragments.


    It had to be said, the Steam Faction, worthy of the title "New School", had gang members whose mechanical skills were indeed a cut above the average person. Every gang member, more or less, was proficient in some mechanical knowledge. After picking a few sites, Su''en extracted a lot of mechanical knowledge, going straight from a mechanical novice to a "Intermediate Mechanical Beginner".


    After this battle, the Steam Faction would probably be quiet for a long time.


    Su''en also had time to steadily improve himself.


    However, after the fierce battle in the tube building, his need for alchemical imnts became increasingly urgent. Professionals without imnts were far less powerful than those with imnts. Relying solely on gun skills was not enough to survive in the brutal outer city.


    Finally, several dayster, the monthly ck market auction opened.

 Chapter 44: The voyeurism of the mysterious person

    Chapter 44: The voyeurism of the mysterious person


    After the ambush incident in the Tubr Building, the turf war in Green Street temporarily ceased.


    Not only did the Steam Party admit defeat and sign a ceasefire agreement this time, but more importantly, the "Red Demon" Gelong became a cadre of the Cross Society and was responsible for protecting several small teams near Green Street. With such a powerful second-tier professional, the cost ofunching another attack would be much higher.


    As for the "scythe," the information left by the monster''s memory fragments was different from human memory. It was vague and simple, only having the concept of turning at intersections, without the spatial concept of up, down, left, and right. Therefore, Su''en knew how to find it by entering the underground entrance, but he didn''t know its exact location.


    This meant that if he wanted to find it, he had to go down to the underground of the Tubr Building again.


    Before he regained his self-defense ability, Su''en wouldn''t be foolish enough to go down again.


    So, his goal was to find a suitable alchemical imnt as soon as possible.


    He nned to try his luck in the ck market and see if he could buy a more advanced blueprint.


    Unless absolutely necessary, he didn''t want to exchange the silver blueprint for the "Thousand Kill Feather Wings" at the headquarters of the guild.


    After all, if he did that, it would expose the fact that his body had a high containment value, which might attract the attention of someone with ill intentions.


    Normal people knew that, without special circumstances, the higher the containment value, the higher the quality of the breathing technique.


    And high-quality breathing techniques were mostly mastered by the top financiers in the inner city, or even exclusive techniques of certain prominent families.


    Su''en increasingly felt that the "Hegem Breathing Technique" that the original owner had learned was of extremely high quality and definitely couldn''t be revealed.


    For the time being, he nned to remain inconspicuous.


    .......


    The "Shadow Lane" ck market held an auction every month at an irregr time.


    During the auction, hunters, mercenaries, and professional thieves gathered to sell their goods, and the shop owners in the ck market also brought out the good things and collections they had acquired from various sources for auction, so there were many valuable items avable.


    On this day, Su''en received the newly delivered "Old Lingdun News" in the inn.


    In an inconspicuous corner, he saw a piece of news.


    [Recruitment Information: Greenham Printing Factory is recruiting 12 workers, monthly sry of 2180 Lisuo, day and night shifts...]


    It was said that the sources of the secret codes obtained by each force were different, not just the same message in the newspaper. If there were any problems, the organizers behind the ck market could follow this code to find out where the problem originated.


    It is worth mentioning that "cryptography" is an entry-level skill for alchemists.


    The secret codes in the newspaper were the simplest applications.


    In the previous era (a thousand years ago) when alchemy was flourishing, in order to prevent their research results from being stolen and to conceal the secrets of certain astonishing research, alchemists would divide their knowledge into many pieces and scatter them in various ces.


    Almost all the content of the ancient alchemical scrolls that have been passed down contains hidden messages that must be deciphered to reveal their contents. The purpose is to ensure that only those who are truly worthy can ess them.


    Therefore, the phrase "one book opens another book," frequently mentioned by Sir Isaac, who was hailed as the "Alchemy Demigod," became the motto of alchemists inter generations.


    ......


    Su''en asked for a day off from Kay, saying that he wanted to visit the ck market.


    Because of their shared experience in the Tubr Building, he now had an extraordinary rtionship with Kay, so taking a day off was smooth.


    He nned to try his luck at the auction and see if he could find a suitable blueprint for the alchemical imnt, and also see if he could exchange for another runic musket.


    After all, the recognition of the "Three-Headed Demon" was too high, and everyone in the gang knew that it was the signature weapon of the assassin "Ironhead" Ivan.


    He took the tram to the intersection of Bird Street in the North City and arrived here two hours early.


    After observing the surroundings and finding no suspicious situations, he headed towards the "Shadow Lane."


    There was a security gate because of the auction tonight.


    Behind the iron gate, there was a small window, and the toll collector was a muscr man covered in tattoos.


    Everyone entering needed to report the invitation code and pay an entrance fee of 5,000 Lisuo.


    Spending 5,000 without buying anything made Su''en feel a little heartbroken. But this was also to prevent most people who were just here to watch the excitement.


    Su''en wasn''t a first-time visitor to the ck market and was familiar with the route.


    But today, there were indeed many more people here than usual, mostly wearing long coats and duckbill caps to cover their faces, or hooded masks, dressed mysteriously.


    Su''en, wearing a deerstalker hat, blended in with the crowd without attracting attention.


    The ck market auction didn''t have a specific hall; it was a bit like the "market day" in the previous era, where everyone found their own ce and waited for the auction to begin.


    With time still early, Su''en strolled along the narrow streets built with steel frames. He noticed that the "Missing Person Notice" of the original owner was still hanging on the bulletin board.


    But today, in the most prominent position, there was an additional red missing person notice.


    "Provide information and get a reward of one million Lisuo?"


    Su''en became interested when he saw the long string of rewards and stopped to look for a moment.


    The ck and white photo showed a woman with delicate features and a professional demeanor, looking like a white-cor worker in an office. From the photo, it could be seen that she had apletely different temperament from themoners in the outer city and should be someone from the inner city.


    "This is a reward amountparable to an S-ss wanted criminal... What did this woman in the photo do?"


    Su''en was puzzled but didn''t stay for long.


    Although a million reward was tempting, a high reward also meant high risk.With a bounty equivalent to an S-level fugitive, he had no intention of bing a bounty hunter, even if he really encountered the target.


    Su''en left the notice board, and at this moment, he just happened to pass by two people in ck trench coats.


    Judging from their figures, they seemed to be a man and a woman.


    As soon as Su''en passed by, the man nced sideways and muttered to hispanion, "Huh... I feel like I''ve seen that guy before. Even though his face is covered, I''m sure I''ve seen him..."


    The woman in the trench coat said indifferently, "Half of the people in the ck market are wanted criminals, or have a criminal record in some organization. It''s normal for you to find him familiar. But this is not our territory, it''s best not to meddle."


    The man in the trench coat withdrew his gaze and didn''t think any further, "Hmm!"


    ......


    Meanwhile, Su''en, pretending to know nothing, continued to walk forward, his face bing serious, murmuring in his heart, "Have I been noticed..."


    When he passed by those two people just now, he also felt an invisible pressure. It was the kind of hierarchical pressure that only came when facing high-ranking professionals.


    His extremely high mental power made his perception very sharp, allowing him to sense some subtle things, such as other people''s gazes.


    He was certain that when they passed by just now, the man had nced at him out of the corner of his eye.


    "That guy must have recognized something with some special identification ability, or maybe he was just curious..."


    Su''en didn''t think that his current bald and eyebrow-less appearance had much resemnce to the original owner, but in this world with Transcendent abilities, people would definitely not rely solely on their eyes to identify others.


    He became alert, but a momentter, the feeling of being watched disappeared, and Su''en breathed a sigh of relief.


    It seemed that it was probably just a casual nce.


    He didn''t linger on the street, nced at the sign of "Rosen''s Alchemy Shop" on the side of the road, and plunged in.

 Chapter 45: Golden blueprint

    Chapter 45: Golden blueprint


    Not long after, the auction began.


    The ck market auction was quite interesting, somewhat resembling the open-air car movies from Su''en''s previous life.


    Because the ck market of the "Shadow Alley" was built on the pipes on the rock wall, there was a pitch-ck rock wall on the opposite side.


    And it was this rock wall that the organizers of the ck market didn''t know how to create a projection-like thing. Then the information of the auction items was disyed on the rock wall in the form of "slides", so that everyone on every floor and in every shop of the ck market could see it clearly.


    There were no auctioneers, only the introduction of the items and the constantly changing prices.


    Famous guns, famous swords, ancient relics, cursed objects, alchemy secrets... every item was a good one.


    Su''en was envious in the shop, but also felt somewhat powerless.


    There were too many things he wanted to buy, but with items that were worth hundreds of thousands or even millions, his current financial resources could probably only afford one, which would deplete his savings.


    Not only the inner city had wealthy people, but also the top professionals in the outer city had considerable worth.


    .......


    "Forget it... I''ll just wait for the blueprints."


    Su''enforted himself like this, resisting the temptation to bid on the impressive famous gun.


    And at this moment, an item appeared and its price instantly skyrocketed.


    It was something that looked like a notebook, a thin sheet with blurred images, making it impossible to see the words on it clearly.


    But on the introduction of the item, it was written, "Authentic Sir Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript Page".


    You should know that amon ck iron nt would only cost around a hundred thousand li.


    As soon as this page appeared, its price soared to over two million, causing Su''en''s eyelids to twitch, and he couldn''t help but feel amazed, "There are indeed many wealthy people in the outer city..."


    In the end, the manuscript was bought by a mysterious buyer for over three million.


    This was still a "bargain" price. You should know that in the auction in the inner city, it would probably be sold for four or five million.


    And at the time this item appeared, in an inconspicuous shop, the two ck-clothed figures that Su''en had encountered before were sitting there.


    The man in the ck cloak looked at the manuscript and seemed to recognize something, eximing softly, "Boss, isn''t that the one that was stolen from the Duncan family''s ancestral vault?"


    The woman in the ck cloak had an expression of indifference, saying calmly, "Probably."


    The man''s face turned somewhat ugly upon hearing this. This was a case that had given their umbre organization a headache, and they still hadn''t caught the suspect. He muttered, "Damn it, that arrogant little thief actually brought the stolen goods here."


    The woman in the ck cloak had a nonchnt expression on her face, her gaze deep as she stared at the projection in front of her, saying calmly, "What else could it be? If it''s not stolen goods of unknown origin, what do you think would be sold in the ck market? Just watch quietly, don''t get so worked up. Our purpose foring this time is not to find some thief, but to find the person who escaped from thatboratory..."


    "Oh."


    Upon hearing this, the young man shrugged indifferently.


    He looked at the manuscript and suddenly thought of something, asking again, "Boss, I heard that Chuck from the ''Cross Society'' found a copy of the ''Isaac Alchemy Manuscript'' outside the city recently. It is rumored to be one of the five books that record the divine-level alchemy?"


    The woman in the ck cloak said, "It''s probably true. Otherwise, those guys from the Oliver Consortium wouldn''t have gone to such great lengths to secretly snatch it. Hehe, in the end, they didn''t get the item, but instead lost a very powerful ''forbidden object''..."


    The young man asked again, "Boss, do you think... that manuscript ended up in Chuck''s hands again?"


    The woman in the ck cloak shook her head and responded, "It''s unlikely. Since the news leaked, Chuck knows that he can''t keep that notebook. That guy is smart and definitely wouldn''t leave such a big trouble by his side. The information should be urate, the manuscript should have really been lost..."


    "Oh."


    "Wow... that''s actually thetest military mechanical prosthesis from the inner city defense force! Damn it, who let this restricted machinery flow into the market!"


    "Hiss... the effect of that ''cursed object'' is unexpectedly strong. Even in the inner city, it could be sold for a better price. Oh, it''s probably stolen goods again!"


    "Oh, my god, the batch of ''super recovery potions'' stolen from the Nathan Chamber of Commerce..."


    "..."


    It seemed like it was the young man''s first time attending the ck market auction, and he was shocked again and again by the high-quality shops.


    The woman in the ck cloak, on the other hand, seemed to be ustomed to it and watched calmly.


    And at this moment, an item called the "Aberrant Distortion Curse Material" appeared at the auction, and the young man seemed to remember something and asked.


    "Boss, recently there have been several serious ''sewer monster incidents'' reported by the outer city security department. Looking at the specimens of those monsters, they seem to be mutated species that have never appeared before. Could it be a sign of something bad?"


    "Sewer monsters? Hehe... most likely aboratory leak, with some remnants flowing into the sewers. Those guys in the ck Tower always like to conduct some crazy experiments, and idents like this are not umon. You haven''t been in the organization for long, but as you stay longer and gain enough authority to ess some high-level confidential files, you won''t find it strange..."


    "Ah... then, do you think the person I was ordered to find this time by the higher-ups is rted to some secret experiments in the tower?"


    "Did you forget about the confidentiality agreement?"


    "..."


    The two mysterious figures in ck cloaks exchanged whispers in the shop.


    And the auction continued.


    .......Su''en looked at the projection in front of him and sighed from time to time.


    Just now, he auctioned off a silver-quality finished nt, as well as a blueprint, but they were all melee-based and had a lowpatibility with his profession.


    Of course, it''s not just aboutpatibility, but also the price.


    Last time at the Tongzi Building, Su''en received over two hundred thousand inpensation, and with his own savings, he had nearly four hundred thousand in cash.


    He originally thought that buying a nt blueprint would be enough, but now, as he looked at the increasing prices of the auction items, he became less hopeful.


    Silver blueprints have already appeared, so the following items will only be better and more expensive.


    Could it be that the legendary "golden blueprint" will appear?


    Su''en thought that he would return empty-handed this time, but unexpectedly, an extremely rare blueprint appeared.


    Just at this moment, a blueprint without detailed descriptions appeared on the projection. The pattern was eight spider legs, and thebeled name was [Eight-Armed Spider God Spear (Golden)].


    The origin of this item was a "ancient blueprint" discovered by a hunting team in the ruins outside the city, and it could be considered a unique item.


    Starting bid: three hundred thousand lisuo.


    As soon as this item appeared, it immediately caused an uproar in the entire ck market.


    "It''s actually a golden blueprint?"


    "This is rare. Even in the inner city auction house, a golden blueprint might not appear once a year..."


    "Heh, it''s a pity that although the quality is high, probably no one will bid for it."


    "..."


    A blueprint brought out by the ck market side must have been verified, and no one doubted its authenticity.


    But after reading the introduction of this blueprint, almost everyone didn''t think it would sell for a good price.


    .......


    At the same time, in a small shop in the corner, the two "umbre organization" cloaked figures also saw this item.


    The cloaked man looked at the projection in surprise and eximed, "It''s actually a ''golden blueprint''. How can such a good thing be seen in the outer city?"


    The cold woman also took a nce but shook her head,menting, "Although the grade of this blueprint is high, its practicality is not great. The alchemical nt in the form of a spider is tooplicated to control and requires extremely high skills and multitasking abilities. For most professionals, it is difficult to match."


    Pausing for a moment, she continued incisively, "Moreover, the moreplex the nt, the stricter the material requirements, and the higher the requirements for alchemy. If not handled properly, it is easy to have defects and high failure rates. Simr things have appeared in the inner city auction before, but they are only good as collectibles and have low practical value."


    Hearing this, the cloaked man felt a bit regretful and hesitated, "But...this is something from an ancient ruin, so it shouldn''t be simple, right?"


    "A nt that can reach the golden grade is naturally not simple. Once it bes a finished product, its power will definitely surpass the same-grade nts by arge margin. However..."


    The cloaked woman agreed with this statement.


    She changed the topic and said, "Perhaps some rare ancient professionals can fully utilize the function of this nt. But now...even a first-tier professional who can multitask with eight arms is probably nowhere to be found in the Old Lingdun."


    Hearing this, the cloaked man suddenly realized and lost interest, "No wonder...this blueprint is so mediocre. The auctioneer probably knows that it won''t sell for a good price even in the inner city, so they brought it to the ck market auction to give it a try."


    .......


    Almost everyone in the ck market didn''t think highly of this golden blueprint, and few people were interested. But in Gerson''s alchemy shop, someone couldn''t take their eyes off it.


    "Requires high skills, high difficulty in control...high discement speed, climbing ability, poison needle mechanism..."


    Su''en squinted his eyes and muttered something as he looked at the image on the projection.


    He didn''t know that this alchemical blueprint was considered mediocre by others, but the moment he looked at it, he immediately realized that it was the perfect alchemical nt for his "Puppeteer" profession.


    After reading some of the effects described on the blueprint, Su''en felt that this was definitely something tailored for him at the moment.


    Controlling eight spider arms may be difficult for others, but for Su''en, who awakened the ability of [Multitasking], it was not impossible as long as he practiced diligently!


    Su''en calcted, "With this eight-armed nt, it means that I will have ten arms in total. In the future, I won''t be limited to just two hands when controlling puppets..."


    Looking at this blueprint, he could already imagine himself simultaneously controlling ten or even more puppets in battle.


    With this nt, coupled with his Puppeteer profession, he alone would be an army!


    Moreover, the blueprint stated that this nt had extremely high discement and climbing abilities, capable of both fighting and fleeing. This was the idealbination.


    The reason for the high skill requirement and limitation of the eight-arm climbing was also mentioned.


    This nt was a perfect fit for Su''en!


    However, although he was satisfied, Su''en''s eyelids twitched slightly as he looked at the auction price, "The starting bid is three hundred thousand..."


    He had never witnessed the scene of a golden blueprint auction, but he estimated that the final hammer price would be at least one million or more.


    After crossing over for so long, Su''en felt poor for the first time.


    It should be noted that a normal finished ck iron alchemical nt would only cost around one hundred thousand. This blueprint alone started at three hundred thousand, not to mention the cost of materials. If he really wanted to refine this [Eight-Armed Spider God Spear] finished nt, it would probably be a discouraging number.


    However, blueprints are something that cannot be sought after. Especially one that suits oneself.If I miss this opportunity, I don''t know when the next one wille.


    The auction item was put up, and for a long time, no one bid.


    Su''en gathered his wandering thoughts and raised his sign for the first time, "Three hundred thousand!"


    .......


    Blueprints for imnts are strategic materials, and they are also the favorite collectibles of major powers and tycoons.


    Logically speaking, such a "unique" blueprint appearing at an auction would definitely be snapped up.


    But when this golden blueprint appeared, it wasn''t even as popr as the previous silver blueprint.


    Su''en thought for a moment and understood.


    The requirements for physical attributes of this imnt are too high, most professions are not suitable, and it''s useless for ordinary people!


    It''s impractical, just a dust-collecting collectible in hand.


    People in the inner city might spend hundreds of thousands on a collectible, but there are definitely no such extravagant people in the outer city.


    Seeing that the price didn''t skyrocket too quickly, Su''en breathed a sigh of relief.


    But... the auction price soon exceeded four hundred thousand.


    This was the total amount of cash Su''en had.


    Then, four hundred and fifty thousand, five hundred thousand...


    Su''en looked at the blueprint, a touch of determination in his eyes.


    Then, he turned his gaze to the bespectacled old man engrossed in reading at Rosen''s Alchemy Shop and asked, "Boss, do you buy cursed materials and finished imnts here?"


    "Yes."


    The old man nced at Su''en and nodded.


    .......


    Finally, after several rounds of bidding, Su''en gritted his teeth and shouted the high price of "eight hundred thousand", finally getting the blueprint.


    The cost was that he sold all the spoils of war from killing ''Ironhead'' Ivan, ''Silver Mechanic'' Dick and his group, and almost everything from the Tube Building.


    A blueprint for an alchemical imnt, he had spent his entire fortune.


    PS. Brothers, the rmendation next week is crucial, it determines the life and death of this book. Please don''t just read, vote. If you can, a small tip would be appreciated~ Thank you, everyone.

 Chapter 46: Ancient relics at the auction

    Chapter 46: Ancient relics at the auction


    Su''en emptied his savings and bought the blueprint for the "Eight-Armed Spider God Spear Imnt".


    But besides feeling fortunate, he also found it strange.


    This alchemical imnt blueprint seemed to be tailor-made for his "Illusion Puppeteer" profession, with its strict usage conditions and perfectpatibility.


    In this world, there was a concept of "profession-specific imnt blueprints", which had been improved by countless generations of alchemists to achieve the highest level ofpatibility between imnts and professions.


    However, generally speaking, only the major families in the inner city would pay attention to thebination of professions and exclusive imnts.


    For the people in the outer city, being able to change professions was already extremely rare, and finding an alchemical imnt that was somewhatpatible was considered good enough. It was too much to ask for an exclusive blueprint.


    Moreover, it was extremely rare for a golden blueprint to appear in the ck market, and yet he happened toe across one. It was too much of a coincidence.


    However, it didn''t take long for him to realize that it wasn''t just his luck. It was because arge number of astonishing treasures had indeed arrived at this ck market auction.


    The golden blueprint he had won was considered mediocre by others, just an appetizer.


    ***


    While Su''en was stillmenting the loss of his 800,000, the next auction item appeared on the projection on the rock wall.


    It was a piece of dark hand bone.


    The product description showed that it was a cursed item called the "me Demon''s Hand Bone", an excellent silver-quality material for the rare magic profession "Dark Fire Mage". It was also a recently unearthed ancient relic.


    As soon as this item appeared, it immediately caused a fierce bidding war among the people in the ck market, eventually selling for over four million to a mysterious buyer.


    But the climax didn''t end there.


    The next item was another golden-grade blueprint, the melee-type "Diamond Skeleton Imnt Blueprint", with an auction price of 1.9 million...


    The next item was a "Alchemy Codex" excavated from an ancient ruin. Its contents had not been deciphered yet, but it was suspected to contain second-tier or higher elemental conversion techniques and spell forms. The auction price was 2.1 million...


    The next item was an ancient animal skin alchemy scroll. It had also not been deciphered yet, but it was believed to contain advanced rune knowledge. It sold for 1.3 million...


    One rare treasure after another appeared, and the prices kept getting higher.


    The atmosphere in the dark underground auction house of the ck market became extremely heated.


    It seemed that some wealthy tycoons had received advance information and had prepared arge amount of cash for these valuable items. They bid generously without hesitation when they saw something they liked.


    While Su''en marveled at the existence of so many hidden rich people in the outer city, he also realized that most of these treasures today were products of the same ancient ruin.


    He immediately realized that a newrge-scale ruin had been discovered.


    Clearly, he wasn''t the only one with this idea. Many others had guessed that arge ruin had been found, and whispers could be heard on the streets of the ck market.


    "Arge ancient ruin?"


    Su''en suddenly thought of the city ruin he had seen deep underground when he traveled here.


    Could it be that the city had been discovered?


    Although the auction did not specify where these items came from, Su''en couldn''t confirm his spection. However, there were powerful figures in the outer city who had connections. Since these were ancient relics, they must have been brought back by the hunting teams. There were no secrets in the world, and after this auction, news of a sudden wealth would likely spread quickly.


    ***


    This was a rare auction, even the shop owners in the ck market were amazed.


    If someone were to leave now, they would definitely be followed by the beggars waiting outside the ck market.


    So Su''en, after winning the blueprint, did not rush to leave.


    The shop owners in the ck market usually had more sources of information than ordinary people.


    Perhaps because he had sold materials before, the owner of the Gerson Alchemy Shop decided to give Su''en some free information.


    The old man spoke up, "There''s a rumor that these goods were brought out from the ''D33 Wastnd'' underground ancient ruins by the Red Gauntlet Hunting Team from the inner city. However, before the hunting team could enter the city, they were ambushed by a group of mysterious looters andpletely wiped out. These items are naturally stolen goods. That''s why they couldn''t be auctioned off in the inner city..."


    The "looters" were actually professional bandits who would ambush hunters on their way back to the city.


    But usually, those people were professionals, mercenaries, or even other hunters.


    When Su''en heard the old man say this, a look of realization appeared on his face.As expected, these items could fetch a better price in the inner city, but now they appear in the ck market of the outer city. Only illicit goods that can''t see the light of day could exin this.


    However, upon hearing this, Su''en''s brow furrowed slightly, thinking to himself, "The D33 Wastnd? If it''s nearby, it could indeed be something produced from that ruined city..."


    Upon hearing this news, he even felt that the blueprint of the "Eight-Armed Spider God Spear Imnt" might actually be the exclusive alchemical imnt diagram for his profession as a "Puppeteer".


    If his guess was correct, then the ce where this blueprint was found could very well be the "Storm Manor" from before.


    Could it be that after he left, some scavengers went and cleared out the "Cursed Space" in the Storm Manor?


    That''s not right, Pestoya is clearly very strong.


    In Su''en''s view, she has at least thebat power of a cadre level, and is a very tricky "Ghost Species". Ordinary scavenger teams can''t handle her at all.


    He had heard the boss mention the "Red Spear Scavenger Group". It seemed to beposed of only a few senior first-order professionals, without even a second-order one. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have been so easily ambushed and wiped out.


    <em>Could it have been found somewhere else?</em>


    <em>Did those guys go to the city?</em>


    Su''en''s thoughts drifted as he pondered, feeling it even less likely.


    He still clearly remembered that there were even more terrifying mutant monsters roaming in the ruins of that dpidated city.


    At this time, the boss spoke again, "Although the specific location of the ruins hasn''t been widely spread yet. But it won''t be long before a wave of scavenging fever will sweep through Old Lingdun, and business will be good for a while."


    After saying this, the old man added a seemingly regretful remark, "Tsk tsk, it''s a pity, a lot of people will die..."


    "..."


    Listening to this, Su''en''s thoughts raced.


    The more he understood about this world, the more mysterious it seemed to him, rather than making him feel like he understood it.


    The ruins left behind so many treasures, which meant that there was a very glorious civilization and powerful alchemists in the underground city.


    If such a powerful civilization existed... how did that city end up destroyed?


    The alternation of civilizations must have been apanied by great disasters.


    Intuition told Su''en that the ancient city ruins were definitely not simple.


    ***


    "Something doesn''t seem right. It feels like someone is deliberately spreading the news of the ruins through the auction, to attract people to search for the ruins..."


    An instinctive conspiracy theory possibility popped up in Su''en''s mind.


    But he didn''t dwell on it too much.


    If someone really used such a deadly "bait", even if the scavengers knew the high mortality rate, they would still rush forward.


    In Old London, human lives aren''t that valuable.

 Chapter 47: Distorted people and potions

    Chapter 47: Distorted people and potions


    While the people in the ck market were indulging in the treasures produced by these ruins, the duo in the corner of the shop quietly watched everything.


    They were members of the Umbre Organization and had obviouslye into contact with more ssified information.


    Seeing these ancient relics, the young man naturally guessed their origin.


    He asked, "Boss, are these the goods that were robbed from the ''Red Gopher Expedition'' before? There are so many good treasures. It seems that the ruins they found are not simple..."


    "Yes."


    The woman in the windbreaker nodded.


    But she seemed to have thought of something and a pensive expression appeared on her face. After a moment of contemtion, she said, "That ruin should be the ''City of Dawn Hidden in Eternal Darkness'' mentioned in the ancient records. Previously, the organization sent people secretly to investigate. It seems that they have confirmed the location of the ruins. That city was the Alchemy City nned and built by Sir Isaac himself, so it''s no wonder it produces so many treasures."


    "What? The City of Dawn?!"


    The young man obviously didn''t know some of the inside information.


    But when he heard the name, his expression suddenly became excited.


    Because this was a legendary ce that all alchemists yearned for, the holynd in the hearts of alchemists, the "City of Dawn" where the "Alchemy Demigod" Sir Isaac lived!


    In his excitement, the young man suddenly thought of something and anxiously said, "This is bad! Boss, should we quickly inform the higher-ups and seal off the news in the entire city? Otherwise... if this news spreads, the hunters will definitely flock to find that ruin!"


    "No."


    Upon hearing this, the woman in the windbreaker shook her head, her gaze deep.


    After a moment''s pause, she slowly said a meaningful sentence, "The information about the auction has always been under the control of the higher-ups. This news... might have been intentionally leaked by someone important."


    "Huh?"


    The young man obviously didn''t understand for a moment.


    But after thinking about it, he understood the meaning behind his boss''s words and asked again, "But... if it''s really the legendary ''City of Dawn'' and the news spreads, won''t the treasures in the ruins be taken by the hunters?"


    "Taken? Taken to where?"


    The woman in the windbreaker shook her head indifferently, as if she had already seen through the essence of the matter.


    She smiled faintly and said, "Most hunters risk their lives to venture out of the city for the sake of wealth. The treasures they find will mostly end up in the auction houses in the inner city. At that time, the important figures above will just spend some money to buy them back."


    The young man still didn''t understand, "But... those rare treasures, like Sir Isaac''s magical alchemy manuscripts, would be a pity if they fell into the hands of the hunters..."


    "Don''t worry... the higher-level ancient relics are less useful to the lower-level people. Otherwise, why do you think the high-level alchemy knowledge monopolized by the upper echelons exists? The truly advanced alchemical items, themoners in the outer city don''t even know how to obtain them. Items like silver blueprints and gold blueprints, how many of the lower-level practitioners in the outer city who practice low-level breathing techniques can use them? They are useless in their hands and can only be auctioned off."


    Listening to his boss''s exnation, the young man seemed to feel frustrated and weakly argued, "But... how much money would that cost?"


    "How much money do you think the auction tonight will make? Several billion, tens of billions? Hehe... do you know how much profit the water price in Old Lingdun increases by one percent in a day?"


    The woman in the windbreaker raised her eyebrows and said lightly, "You''re thinking too simplistically about the conglomerates..."


    .......


    The following auction items had nothing to do with Su''en. He had already spent all his savings to buy that blueprint.


    Although there were many treasures, his heart was full but his strength wascking.


    Now, what he was more worried about was what to do after obtaining the blueprint.


    Alchemy equipment not only required blueprints but also materials... not to mention other things, the main material for this blueprint was "spider legs with cursed properties," preferably materials produced by elite-level monsters.


    The blueprint was like a mold. If you were given a top-quality mold, it was up to you to choose what materials to use for production.


    Use gold to get gold equipment, use silver to get silver equipment.


    The final product could also vary greatly in effectiveness.


    Therefore, this was also the reason why there were many simr alchemical equipment on the market, but the finalbat power of the finished products differed.


    The price of cursed materials like "spider legs" varied greatly from ordinary quality to gold quality. Not to mention some special cursed properties, such as toxins, elements, resistances, and toughness... the better they were, the more expensive they were.


    In Su''en''s impression, there seemed to be ordinary spider legs avable for sale on the market for about tens of thousands.


    But with such a good gold blueprint, he naturally couldn''t settle for low-quality ck iron equipment.


    No matter how you thought about it, he had to get a silver-quality main material, right?


    In that case, Su''en estimated that the main material alone would cost at least two to three hundred thousand.


    Moreover, the better the main material, the higher the quality requirements for the auxiliary materials. Plus the cost of enchanting and refining, after calcting, Su''en estimated that it would cost about five hundred thousand to refine a silver-quality [Eight-Armed Spider God Spear].


    "Sigh... theck of money is still a big problem."


    Previously, Su''en was worried about finding a suitable blueprint for himself and thought he had enough money.


    Now that he had found a blueprint that far exceeded his expectations, it was way beyond his budget.


    However, expensive things have their reasons for being expensive. For Su''en, this seemingly exclusive blueprint for Puppeteers, the [Eight-Armed Spider God Spear Blueprint], was exactly what he wanted.


    Once sessfully refined, hisbat power would increase by at least several times.Without saying anything else, the ability to survive will greatly improve. Even if Su''en encounters the attack incident of thest tube building, he is confident that he can handle it even without Kay.


    This is the significance of alchemical imnts to professionals!


    ......


    The auction section has ended, but most of the customers did not leave immediately, but wandered around the market.


    The ck market is very lively today, not only with auctions, but also many shops disying precious treasures, waiting for customers toe.


    The organizers also specially set up some temporary iron frames so that those scattered vendors can also set up stalls to sell the valuable items they have, which are still rare.


    There are stalls everywhere, and various shops are filled with a dazzling array of goods.


    Su''en also wandered among the crowd.


    With only a few thousand lisu living expenses left on him, he naturally did note to consume.


    He wanted to find business opportunities with the perspective of a transmigrator.


    Don''t even think about things like homemade soap, perfume, and alcohol, which are the basic skills for transmigrators to get rich. Those things are what alchemists y with, and even apprentice alchemists can master dozens of obscure methods.


    Su''en also thought of the "lucrative business" written in the criminalw in his previous life.


    Be a desperate poison master?


    No, "pharmaceuticals" are the most important skill for alchemists, and you can find a hundred forms for hallucinogenic potions in the ck market.


    Open a pleasure house?


    That is an industry mixed with gang bosses and tycoons. Su''en, a small transparent person, is not qualified to get involved in such a big business. Moreover, the entertainment industry is long-term, and it is impossible to get rich overnight.


    As for gambling?


    Su''en stayed in the gambling stall every day and saw countless people lose everything.


    If you go gambling with the mentality of winning money, you will undoubtedly lose.


    As for other businesses such as resource monopolies, don''t even think about it. The social hierarchy in this world is already fixed. The inner city tycoons monopolize all resources, and people from the outer city can''t even think about getting involved.


    So the fastest way for Su''en to make money at the moment is to use the "All-Knowing Eye" to find a big loophole in the ck market.


    Therefore, he strolled around and looked at various shops and stalls along the way.


    Surprisingly, after walking for a while, he really saw an opportunity to pick up a bargain.


    ......


    It was a simple stall, with several crude test tubes ced on a ck cloth, which looked like potions.


    The "fat man" wearing a ck cloak that covered his face was probably the stall owner.


    At this moment, he seemed to be arguing with someone.


    It was the sound of the argument that caught Su''en''s attention.


    "You dare to sell this potion for thirty thousand without even the production batch number and seal of the Pharmaceutical Guild? Haha, with this shoddy potion, you dare to im that it has a simr effect to the ''top-level healing potion''?"


    "And this... you said this twenty thousand potion can enhance the body''s containment value and overload fusion of alchemical imnts? Hahaha... I''ve never heard of such a magical potion from the Pharmaceutical Guild. Why don''t you say it can bring people back to life? Do you really think we''re fools?"


    "..."


    Faced with the customer''s questioning, the stall owner looked helpless, wanting to exin something, but it seemed that he couldn''t exin a single question.


    Su''en walked over and took a look at the stall owner.


    The bloated body covered by the ck cloak was probably a disguise. Because of the irregr obesity, it looked more like a deformed monster than a human.


    And the slight movements of the body showed that the stall owner was slightly nervous, and he didn''t look like a merchant who often frequented the ck market.


    After observing the person, Su''en looked at the several potions on his stall, and his eyelids twitched slightly.


    No wonder those customers spoke harshly just now, because the appearance of these potions was too poor!


    They were just ordinary cheap test tubes filled with some red and green unknown liquids.


    It is well known that as long as the potions are produced by regr manufacturers, the containers will have trademark inscriptions.


    After all, potions are often used to save lives, and almost all potions sold on the market have special seals and anti-counterfeiting marks.


    Therefore, potions without seals and anti-counterfeiting marks will never be bought.


    Although there are indeed some inferior counterfeit drugs on the market, those counterfeit merchants have also put a lot of effort into packaging, and no one dares to make them so fake!


    The feeling given by the potions on this stall is like finding a mineral water bottle at random, filling it with some yellow-brown liquid, and iming that it is Kangshuai Fu iced ck tea. And it''s sold for three yuan?


    Moreover, even if it''s not fake.


    How can you prove that this is a genuine potion?


    Potion appraisers are a prestigious profession in high society, and can only be seen in the inner city.


    Take a sip?


    There are only four small workshop potions in total, who dares to drink them?


    Or if you identally drop it and break it, you have topensate tens of thousands...


    No matter how you look at it, these potions are definitely problematic.


    Su''en originally thought it was some kind of "staged collision" trick, but looking at the stall owner''s helpless appearance, he became curious and focused his gaze on the Extreme Potion, scanning it with the All-Knowing Eye.


    But as soon as he looked, his gaze immediately froze.


    The small red potion disyed a row of information.


    Extreme Healing Potion


    Exnation: High-purity extreme healing potion, stops bleeding rapidly, wounds heal quickly; almost no impurities, no side effects.


    "It really is an extreme healing potion?"


    Su''en was truly surprised.


    Although he is not knowledgeable about potions, the All-Knowing Eye cannot be faked.


    Is this three-zero product from a small workshop really an extreme life-saving potion that sells for hundreds of thousands on the market?


    So, selling it for thirty thousand is actually cheap?


    Seeing this, Su''en vaguely felt that the stall owner seemed to be telling the truth.At this moment, his gaze fell on the green potion that was priced at two hundred thousand.


    Upon seeing it, even if Su''en had some expectations, he couldn''t help but twitch his eyelid.


    Mutation Tolerance Enhancement Potion


    Detailed exnation: Increases the human body''s curse characteristic tolerance value by 10-18%; only for first-tier professionals; the potion has about a 3% chance of causing the user''s body to grow flesh mushrooms, butpared to the effect of the potion, this is a negligible side effect.


    "They weren''t bluffing... But this kind of miraculous potion is only selling for two hundred thousand?!"


    With just this simple two-sentence introduction, Su''en felt as if he had discovered a huge business opportunity.


    What does an average increase of about 15% in human tolerance mean?


    It means that it can significantly increase a professional''sbat power!


    Professionals who could only bear iron imnts before, after taking the potion, can overload and integrate silver-quality imnts. Those who can bear silver can even imnt gold imnts.


    For professionals, this is a priceless treasure!


    The key is that such a potion with a heaven-defying effect, no one in the whole of Old Lingdun has heard of it being sold. If this stall owner made it himself, not to mention the value of the potion, just the patent of the potion form could make him a millionaire instantly.


    What is the background of this stall owner?


    Why doesn''t he go to the inner city?


    A wanted criminal, or what?


    Su''en felt this was a great opportunity to "pick up a big leak".


    But he also had doubts, and on a whim, he used the Eye of Omniscience to look at the stall owner.


    And then,


    Huh... what''s going on?!


    Su''en could use the Eye of Omniscience to see his own attributes, but when looking at others, there was only a simple description of Human above their heads.


    However, something different appeared above the stall owner''s head for the first time.


    It showed Semi-Mutated Human.


    (To avoid being scolded for spoilers: It''s not the wanted woman.)


    PS. Brothers, don''t hoard books recently, if there''s an update, please flip it out and click, thanks everyone~

 Chapter 48: Wanderer

    Chapter 48: Wanderer


    "Is this guy''s bloated figure not a disguise, but a real physical mutation caused by distortion?"


    Su''en looked at the ring words "Half-Mutated Human" on the cloak vendor''s head and felt somewhat incredulous.


    Distortion is distortion, is there really such a thing as "half-mutation"?


    What exactly is the current state of this vendor, a person or a monster?


    This also involves Su''en''s blind spot in knowledge.


    But thinking about it, if he has reason, he should be considered a human.


    He didn''t think much about it and instead turned his gaze to the potions on the stall.


    The items are good, and the prices are really cheap.


    If Su''en had money in his pocket at this moment, he would definitely buy these potions. The packaging is so simple that it''s impossible to sell them, but it would be great to keep them for personal use.


    Unfortunately, he has no money.


    .......


    Su''en had no intention of giving up this opportunity to "pick up a bargain". When he saw the crowd dispersing around the stall, he walked over and said directly, "I intend to buy all these potions, but I don''t have enough cash with me. Can you leave me another contact method so that I can contact you when I find the money? Of course, everything will be done ording to the rules of the ck market."


    There was nothing wrong with this statement.


    People in the ck market are always cautious and usually don''t leave their own contact information. However, they can leave an intermediary, such as certain taverns that provide message delivery services for customers. Both parties agree on a secret code, and the transaction can bepleted without meeting face-to-face, ensuring safety and secrecy.


    Because he currently has no money, he wants to first obtain the vendor''s contact information and figure out a way to establish a connectionter.


    The potions are secondary. Even if there is a price difference, it''s only for four potions. If these potions were made by the vendor himself, then it would be a continuous source of goods, which is the real "big bargain". It''s not just a one-time deal.


    When the cloak vendor heard that someone wanted to buy his potions, he was initially delighted.


    But when he heard Su''en''s words, he immediately shook his head and said, "No, I only want cash."


    "..."


    Hearing his tone, Su''en felt that he seemed to be in urgent need of money.


    But after a moment of thought, he suddenly realized that if such good potions were sold at a low price, it must be because the vendor urgently needs money.


    This made him even more curious about the vendor''s identity. Alchemists who can produce such potions are usually from the elite ss of the inner city. They dare not show themselves and are probably wanted criminals or something.


    After hesitating for nearly a minute, Su''en racked his brains and proposed several ns, but the vendor stubbornly insisted on an immediate cash transaction.


    He knew that if he continued speaking, he would appear somewhat suspicious, so he could only retreat and say, "That''s really a pity... If you change your mind, you can leave a message at the ''Three Fire Guns Tavern'' on Green Street. The secret code is ''Pigeon''. Once I receive the message, I will contact you immediately..."


    "Um..."


    Upon hearing this, the vendor also seemed hesitant.


    Obviously, he also knew that his potions were not easy to sell, and it was rare to encounter an interested buyer. He didn''t want to give up so easily.


    Just as he was hesitating whether to agree or not, he suddenly seemed to see something in the crowd and a trace of panic shed in his eyes. "I''m sorry, sir, I have something urgent to attend to..."


    Without waiting for any reaction from Su''en, he quickly collected the potions on the stall and hurriedly blended into the crowd.


    .......


    Su''en had noticed before that the vendor''s gaze had been wandering, as if he was afraid of being recognized.


    Seeing him suddenly leave, Su''en was slightly surprised. He nced at the crowd in the ck market and wondered who the vendor had seen that made him so flustered.


    Hmm... Could it be those two trench coat-wearing individuals he encountered earlier?


    Su''en didn''t look too closely and restrained his gaze, blending into the crowd.


    He himself couldn''t afford to be exposed for too long.


    But even in this brief exchange, Su''en had roughly guessed that the vendor was young, polite, and probably had a good upbringing. He was likely from the inner city.


    In urgent need of money, with a distorted body, and considerable knowledge in alchemy...


    Thinking about it, Su''en had a rough idea of the vendor''s background. He was probably from a prestigious medical family in the inner city.


    Although the person had left, Su''en had done what he needed to do and didn''t dwell on it any longer.


    Looking at the bustling ck market in front of him, Su''en sighed softly, "I hope he will contact me..."


    .......


    Having been here a few times before, Su''en had already figured out what each shop in the ck market sells.


    He didn''t waste time in those shops with shrewd owners. He strolled along the way and gradually walked to the makeshift shack area at the bottom of the ck market.


    Today, the ck market was probably crowded because of the appearance of some relics and treasures, attracting many wealthy hidden big shots. As a result, there were also many opportunistic merchants.


    Some of them were even branches of major tradingpanies from the inner city.


    After all, although the outer city is poor, its poption is tens of timesrger than that of the inner city, and the low-end market is also very profitable.


    The low-end goods and second-hand items that cannot be sold in the inner city are top-notch hot items in the outer city. For example, textiles, outdated steam equipment, mechanical prosthetics...Su''en passed by the stalls piled with arge number of mechanical prosthetics. He took a nce and found that the military mechanical prosthetics discarded from the inner city were indeed good. Although they were old, the parts that could be disassembled were definitely top-notchponents in the gang''s mechanical modification shops.


    These military machines were all ssified as "contraband". The inner city would concentrate on destroying them and they would not be allowed to circte. It was unknown where the opportunistic merchants found their sources.


    However, old mechanical equipment and prosthetics were not cheap, costing tens of thousands. A mechanic with good judgment might be able to make a 20-30% profit from disassembling parts, but it required arge amount of capital.


    Su''en didn''t have that much money, and it wasn''t suitable for him to stockpile mechanical parts.


    As he continued to wander, he was unexpectedly drawn to a bustling storefront.


    It was a shop that appeared in the ck market for the first time, and it had directly hung up a sign that read "Rose Ore Trading Company".


    Su''en had an impression of this tradingpany from some fragmented memories he had harvested from somewhere.


    It was a famous financial conglomerate in the inner city, the "Heide Mining Group", which specialized in various rare ore businesses.


    From a distance, he could hear the bustling noise.


    "Oh my god, this gentleman is so lucky, he got a high-purity ''Cursed Crystal'' from just three raw stones! He made ten thousand Lisuo with just nine hundred!"


    "Come and see, three hundred Lisuo each, free cutting."


    "Over here, eight hundred each for high-purity cursed raw stones, there''s a chance to get top-grade crystals..."


    "..."


    As he approached, he saw severalrge piles of fist-sized gray stones on the ground of the shop.


    A group of people were bending over, rummaging through the mountain-like pile of stones, "lighting up", "watering", and flipping through the stones back and forth, their eyes filled with frenzy.


    "Isn''t this... stone gambling?"


    Su''en looked at this familiar scene and immediately realized what these people were doing.


    ......


    "Cursed Crystal" was the most important hard currency in this world.


    It was a special energy crystal simr to jade, containing a vast amount of energy and having a wide range of uses.


    Cultivation, casting spells, enchanting, alchemy, mechanical energy supply... In the field of alchemy, almost all the energy used in the w of equivalent exchange" refers to this thing.


    Cursed Crystals were natural products, sourced from mineral veins in the earth''s crust. The veins could yield exposed crystals, as well as "Cursed Raw Stones" wrapped in stone skin.


    The raw stones might contain crystals or crystal fragments, but most likely, they contained nothing.


    The grayish raw stone skin also had energy fluctuations, so it was impossible to determine from the outside whether there was definitely a "crystal" inside the stone.


    That''s why opportunistic merchants came up with a clever business opportunity.


    Under normal circumstances, the probability of a crystal appearing in the raw stones mined from a certain area is roughly the same, say 3%.


    So, out of a thousand raw stones, thirty crystals could be cut out. Given the market price of about ten thousand Lisuo per crystal, that''s three hundred thousand Lisuo.


    But if you sell a thousand raw stones as "blind boxes" for five hundred Lisuo each, then each stone has value, and the total value is five hundred thousand.


    The value of this batch of ore instantly increased by two hundred thousand.


    Many people are willing to gamble on the chance of winning ten thousand with five hundred.


    Besides, if you''re extremely lucky, there''s a chance to get a "Top-grade Cursed Crystal" worth one hundred thousand Lisuo.


    Just like buying a lottery ticket, you lose a little money if you don''t win, but if you do, you get rich.


    This is the origin of the stone gambling shops in this world.


    ......


    "I remember this thing being a pastime for the rich in the inner city, right?"


    Su''en looked at the stone gambling project that appeared in the ck market for the first time and muttered to himself, "It seems that those guys in the inner city have also realized that the poor are more likely to gamble on luck..."


    That''s why no matter how poor the ce is, gambling stalls can always do well.


    The shop was getting busier and busier. In addition to those gambling on stones, many outer city people interested in this business had already started talking with the manager of the "Rose Ore Trading Company". It seemed that those people from the inner city also intended to bring this business to the outer city, and both sides were having a lively conversation.


    However, all of this had nothing to do with Su''en.


    Looking at the raw stones all over the ground, his eyes were sparkling.


    The prestigious S-level talent [Eye of Omniscience], at this moment, he seemed to have finally found the correct way to use it...

 Chapter 49: Pick up corpses

    Chapter 49: Pick up corpses


    Su''en approached the shop filled with raw stones and casually identified a stone using the All-Knowing Eye.


    <em>Cursed Raw Stone</em>


    <em>Exnation: Purity 6;</em>


    There was no further exnation, only a purity number.


    He identified several more stones, all of them being low-quality raw stones with a purity of less than ten.


    This pile was the cheapest, costing two hundred lisuo per piece.


    Su''en identified dozens of them, consuming a considerable amount of dark energy, but he didn''t find a single stone with a purity higher than ten.


    He spected that they were all waste stones, so he didn''t buy any of them.


    "If the probability of cutting a ''Cursed Crystal'' is theoretically no more than 2% for a stone that costs two hundred lisuo, then only one out of every fifty stones on average can produce a crystal. The merchants are the ones making a profit... In other words, only stones priced above fifty can have a chance of producing a crystal."


    He calcted in his mind and knew that unless he had extraordinary luck, this probability was normal.


    Merchants were shrewd, so the price of gambling stone ore fluctuated.


    After a vein was opened, the ore merchants could only estimate the approximate crystallization rate of the raw stones through samples. However, no one could determine the final condition of this batch of stones until they were cut open. There might be cases of localized rich ore or localized poor ore.


    If the frequency of crystals cut during sales was high, the shop owner would automatically increase the price of this batch of stones.


    If the probability was low, it would be reduced ordingly.


    Therefore, theoretically, the probability of raw stone crystallization could be roughly estimated from the unit price of the raw stone.


    ***


    Su''en didn''t rush to make a move, as cautious as ever. He carefully observed on the side, wanting to see if there were any other tricks in this gambling stone.


    The size and appearance of the stones varied, and the size of the crystals determined their value.


    The two-hundred-lisuo raw stones were slightly smaller, with the lowest probability of producing crystals. On the other hand, the five-hundred-lisuo and eight-hundred-lisuo raw stones wererger, of better quality, and had a higher chance of having a purity between 10 and 20.


    While Su''en was observing, the cutting room in the shop suddenly heard good news from time to time.


    "Oh! Congrattions to this gentleman for cutting a medium-sized ''Cursed Crystal''. Our shop is willing to purchase it for thirteen thousand lisuo!"


    "Look, thisdy''s luck is also quite good. She cut some good-quality crystal fragments, worth at least one thousand lisuo. You only spent five hundred and earned double..."


    "Wow~ That gentleman''s batch of thirty thousand raw stones unexpectedly produced crystals worth over fifty thousand. Oh my, such good luck..."


    "...."


    The shop manager energetically presided over the sales, loudly announcing each shipment with enthusiasm.


    This also led to more and more peopleing to mine the stones.


    The people in the outer city seemed to enjoy this novel form of gambling.


    Those who coulde to the ck market were probably not poor. Batch after batch of raw stones were cut open, and news of stones being cut out would asionally spread.


    More and more people came to watch the excitement.


    Su''en silently watched on the side.


    After watching for a while, he finally figured out the rule for disying the purity of the stones.


    Purity below 10 meant low-quality stones that werepletely useless.


    Among the piles of raw stones, over ny percent were these low-quality ores.


    Those with a purity between 11 and 20 could be cut into some crystal fragments. Although their value was not high, it was enough to break even.


    Then there were the ones with a purity above 20, but they were extremely rare.


    Su''en looked at every stone that produced a crystal when cut in the shop, and they all disyed a purity of "20" or higher.


    Having figured out this rule, Su''en looked at the piles of raw ores and a meaningful smile gradually appeared in the corner of his eyes. He murmured to himself, "This is the correct way to use the All-Knowing Eye..."


    ***


    As time passed, more and more people crowded into the gambling stone shop. Su''en was not afraid of attracting attention and blended in with the people selecting raw stones.


    He pretended to learn from others, shining lights, watering, and carefully observing.


    Then, after appraising dozens more stones, his eyes lit up.


    <em>Cursed Raw Stone</em>


    <em>Exnation: Purity 24;</em>


    Seeing this gray stone in his hand that was almost indistinguishable from the other raw stones, Su''en calmly put it in his pocket. To avoid trouble, he also casually stuffed a few low-quality ores.


    Five pieces in total, costing one thousand lisuo.


    Su''en still had over three thousand lisuo in his pocket.


    In this way, Su''en picked and chose, squatting among the group of people selecting stones. He picked a basket full of stones, big and small. But out of these dozen or so stones, eight of them had a purity of over twenty.


    This meant that once they were cut open, they would be worth at least eighty thousand lisuo!


    A cost of three to four thousand turned into eighty thousand, a twenty-fold increase, faster than gambling!


    But Su''en didn''t n to continue selecting.


    First, he didn''t have the money to buy more raw stones today. Second, he felt that if he used cheating methods to pick out most of the stones with crystals from this batch, the shop owner might be suspicious.


    However, good luck kepting.Just as Su''en was preparing to pay and leave, suddenly, an unremarkable stone was thrown at his feet.


    It was a piece of ore that others had overlooked. Among the 800-unit price ores, this one indeed had a poor appearance.


    Since Su''en was already nning to leave, he casually appraised it and immediately realized that he had found a treasure.


    <em>Cursed Origin Stone</em>


    <em>Detailed exnation: Purity 99;</em>


    <em>"Such high purity?"</em>


    Su''en''s eyebrows jumped in surprise.


    <em>With a purity of 20, it was already possible to produce cursed crystals. How could a 99 purity suddenly appear?</em>


    <em>Clearly, this was most likely the legendary "top-quality cursed crystal" worth a hundred thousand!</em>


    Finding such a treasure, Su''en didn''t show any unusual expression and casually threw the stone into the frame.


    The staff enthusiastically helped him settle the bill.


    "Sir, would you like us to cut it open on the spot?"


    "Alright, cut a few pieces to test my luck..."


    Su''en didn''t behave too differently and chose two pieces of inferior ore with a quality below 10 to be cut open. As expected, they were both worthless.


    Seeing this, he had an uninterested expression and stopped the staff from continuing to cut, muttering, "Forget it, I''ll take the rest back and deal with it myself."


    The gambling stone shop was bustling, and the staff happily packed it for Su''en.


    And so, Su''en discreetly left the ck market with a stone worth nearly two hundred thousand.


    ***


    Shortly after Su''en left, this batch of ore had already been sold out, and a new batch arrived. The manager of the gambling stone shop also had doubts.


    "Huh... strange, even though a batch of high-quality ore was selected and sold at a reduced price, why is the probability of finding valuable stones not as high as expected..."


    "Also, this pile of 800-unit ores was brought from the special rich ore area that produced ''top-quality ores.'' They even said they would create an explosive atmosphere today, but not a single one has been found until now..."


    But because the quantity of ore sold today was toorge, the abnormal probability of this batch of stones was quickly overlooked.


    The gambling stone shop continued to be lively.


    ***


    As the instigator, Su''en had already taken a steam train back to the small inn on Green Street.


    He rented a room and locked the door.


    He took out the pile of ore from his storage ring and started cutting it himself with cutting tools.


    Choosing a piece with a purity of over 20, as soon as he made the first cut, he saw a pure green light representing a crystal sh before his eyes.


    Although Su''en was already quite calm, he couldn''t help but mutter, "I''m going to make a fortune..."


    After polishing, a walnut-sized "cursed crystal" appeared in hisrge hand.


    It was like the most beautiful gem in the world, emitting a strange and vibrant green light under themp.


    "So, this is a cursed crystal..."


    Su''en looked at the green gem in his hand, his gaze deep.


    With just this crystal, it could release astonishing energy.


    <em>Cursed Crystal</em>


    <em>Detailed exnation: An energy gemstone containing the power of dark origin force, it is the energy source of alchemists.</em>


    Su''en was not yet a formal professional, so he didn''t have many ces to use this thing.


    However, that didn''t prevent him from selling it for money.


    And then, he continued cutting the next piece.


    Su''en also felt a bit lucky. The All-Knowing Eye was indeed an S-level talent.


    As he cut, he muttered to himself, "I just said I spent all my money on buying blueprints, and now I have materials for alchemy equipment..."


    As he continued cutting, he thought of the mysterious person who sold potions in the ck market.


    If he had discovered this batch of ore earlier, he estimated that he could have obtained those potions.


    But Su''en didn''t dwell on it because he was certain that the owner of the potion shop would most likely contact him.


    Because no one would probably buy those potions based on their appearance, but that person urgently needed money.


    ***


    In a short time, all the ore was cut.


    Just as he expected, there were eight differently sized cursed crystals in front of him, as well as one dazzling green "top-quality cursed crystal."


    For less than four thousand li, he exchanged for crystals worth nearly two hundred thousand in total.


    Moreover, this was a sustainable and stable source of ie.


    Su''en felt that this was a good sign, and it seemed that he could see a long period of time in the future where he wouldn''t have to worry about money.


    "The ''Rose Ore Trading Company'' came to the ck market today for a sales exhibition. It''s obvious that they''re not here to sell a few pieces of ore, but to promote this business. It''s not surprising that this new form of gambling, stone gambling, will soon be popr in the outer city..."


    Su''en pondered in his mind.At this moment, he seemed to have thought of something, muttering to himself, "If we consider the shipment probability of around 2-8%, out of tens of thousands of raw stones in a shop, only about a thousand could possibly yield crystals. If I were to hoard them all, it would definitely cause problems. It seems I''ll have to run around the city from now on. Otherwise, if I keep shearing a single sheep, once it''s bald, it would easily arouse suspicion..."


    However, although running around the city was a bit tiring,pared to hunting in the wilderness or going into the sewers to kill mutated monsters as backup money-making ns, gambling on stones was obviously a much easier way to make money...


    With money, Su''en also gained confidence.


    He nned to buy the materials needed for alchemical imnts and get himself some new equipment.


    For instance, recing the famous gun, "Three-headed Ghost", in his hand.

 Chapter 50: Mechanical gloves

    Chapter 50: Mechanical gloves


    After returning from the ck market, life returned to normal.


    With money, Su''en could also tinker with the equipment he needed.


    There were several inconspicuous mechanical shops near Green Street, which was the favorite ce for the members of the Cross Society to modify motorcycles.


    The owner of the "Bearded Mechanical Modification Shop" was called Lait.


    He was skilled in craftsmanship and was a certified "Intermediate Mechanic" of the Mechanic Guild. He was good at modifying steam motorcycles and firearms, and had a certain reputation in the mechanical modification circle.


    With two hours left before work, Su''en arrived at the mechanical shop and looked at the greasy bearded man. He smiled and greeted, "Hey, Laisen, has the thing I wanted arrived?"


    "Su''en, brother, your material requirements are too demanding."


    The bearded Lait looked at Su''en and grumbled.


    He put down the steam Harley shock absorber he was tinkering with, picked up a ck cloth next to him, wiped his hands, and suddenly raised his eyebrows, "But, this can''t stump me, Lait."


    As he spoke, he took out a coil from the house and introduced it in a boastful tone, "This is the ''Huirui VII Alloy Wire'' produced by Gerson Arsenal. I dare say, this is the finest and most resilient alloy wire you can find in the outer city. It''s a top-grade material that flows out of the inner city''s military industry channels. It''s just too expensive, three hundred li per foot. I managed to get three hundred feet for you, and they''re all here."


    These shop owners all had their own fixed channels for goods. As long as you could afford the money, those material merchants would always be able to find satisfactory materials for you.


    Even prohibited and controlled goods from the inner city.


    "Oh, I''m very satisfied with this material!"


    Su''en looked at the alloy wire, which was slightly thicker than a hair, and showed a kind smile.


    As Lait said, this was already the best material that could meet his requirements in the world.


    If he wanted better performance, he could only use some cursed materials.


    However, not all wires could be used to manipte puppets, and Su''en felt that this wire was enough for now. He said, "Thank you so much. Here''s a hundred thousand li. I''ve been doing well at the gambling den recently and won quite a bit."


    Everyone knew that Su''en was a gambler. He would stay at the arena every night until dawn.


    His record of winning over two million at once with Qiantiao Yiyue had spread throughout Green Street and became a topic of conversation for people after dinner.


    Su''en also felt that it was just right for him to get rich at the gambling den. It was reasonable and could exin the source of his funds.


    He generously took out a stack of banknotes, received the coil, and said, "Leta, I also need to use your workshop."


    Lait shrugged as if he was already familiar with this request and said, "Feel free to use it. If you need any help, just ask."


    ......


    Su''en had been here many times before and walked into the workshop of the shop with familiarity.


    There were two operating rooms in the shop. One room was for modifying steam motorcycles. It was filled with various old parts that were dismantled from different channels. The air was always filled with a strong smell of rust.


    The other room was for firearm modifications. The walls were like an arsenal, hanging with various firearms of different shapes.


    Sprayers, pistols, submachine guns, sniper rifles...


    Because of the existence of alchemy in this world, there were many directions in which the performance of materials could be modified, which also led to the variety of firearms in this world. There were all kinds of modified machine guns with exaggerated magazine capacities, steam-powered high-pressure air guns,rge-caliber enchanted pistols, and gunpowder war hammers that could be used as melee weapons...


    Although there were no "famous guns" in the shop, the modified firearms produced here provided enough firepower support for the members of the Cross Society.


    Su''en walked in and took out some tools, starting to tinker with the "Huirui VII Alloy Wire" he had just obtained.


    These days, he spent some time designing a pair of half-mechanical leather gloves that resembled "sleeve arrows" for himself, in order to use the steel wire that controlled the puppets more flexibly.


    After the battle at the Tubazi Building, he killed many members of the Steam Party and stripped off many pieces of mechanical technology, turning his mechanical knowledge into "Advanced Mechanical Introduction".


    Designing such simple mechanical equipment came naturally to him.


    Su''en took out the leather gloves that he had alreadypleted most of, and then put on the goggles.


    Although these mechanical gloves looked simple, in order to meet the requirements, there were also densely packed brass paper wheels and springs on them, just like the core of a watch.


    The coreponents of the mechanical gloves were the "H-33 Spring Adapter" and the "B15 Spring Power Modtion System". They were good things dismantled from the military mechanical arm of the inner city that Su''en bought from the ck market. They could make the steel wire shoot out like a slingshot with precision.


    These high-precision mechanical parts that small workshops in the outer city couldn''tplete, Su''en''s current mechanical knowledge could only allow him to use them flexibly, rather than create or invent them.Before long, Su''en had adjusted the parts of his mechanical glove, then wound the entire spool of thread into the metal storagepartment on his forearm.


    He flexed his fingers. The half-mechanical glove didn''t interfere with his shooting.


    He tested theunching device. The alloy thread would smoothly spring out from theuncher on the back of his hand, and his fingers could deftly control the thread, which could be used to manipte puppets at any time.


    He pulled down his sleeve, perfectly covering the mechanical devices, so they weren''t too conspicuous.


    Su''en was quite satisfied with his handiwork. After a few more minor adjustments, it would be ready for actualbat.


    ......


    Before long, Su''en left the bearded mechanic''s shop and made a trip to the "Three Muskets Tavern".


    It wasn''t the tavern''s business hours yet, and the bartender was idly wiping sses at the bar.


    Su''en walked over and asked, "Hey, mate, any ''pigeon'' messages today?"


    He had been expecting to hear "no" again, but to his surprise, the bartender nced at his notebook and gave a different answer: "Yes."


    "Huh?"


    Su''en walked over with a smile and received the note made up of newspaper clippings.


    It was the third day since their initial meeting in the ck market, and he had finally received a message from the mysterious stall owner.


    The note read: "At 5 p.m. on the 12th, put ten thousand lira in a leather bag and ce it under the mailbox at the entrance of the Berman Bakery on No.14 Ginkgo Street. I''m sorry, sir, I need to see your sincerity in purchasing the potion, so I need you to pay some deposit in advance. If you don''t see this message in time, I will wait until the 13th. But if you don''t pay the deposit as agreed, I will refuse this transaction."


    "Heh, quite cautious."


    Su''en looked at the note in his hand, a smile ying at the corners of his mouth.


    Thenguage in the letter was as polite as he had anticipated. As he had guessed, the stall owner was well-mannered and young.


    If it were him, he probably wouldn''t trust someone he met randomly in the ck market either. The suggestion to pay a "deposit" was reasonable.


    Of course, the most important thing was that Su''en had money now, so paying a deposit in advance was not a problem.


    He was also confident that this money wouldn''t go to waste.


    His intuition told him that the mysterious stall owner would bring him more surprises.


    Checking the time, he had twenty minutes until five o''clock, enough time for him to make a trip to Ginkgo Street five blocks away.


    Su''en gave the bartender two hundred lira as a tip for passing on the message.


    Then he casually took a leather bag, stuffed a stack of banknotes into it, folded it neatly, put it in the inner pocket of his trench coat, and left the tavern.


    ......


    Green Street was the territory of the Cross Society, and Su''en was very familiar with it.


    With a casual wave of his hand, he borrowed a steam motorcycle from the side of the street.


    Two minutester, he arrived at a small alley near Ginkgo Street.


    He parked the bike, pulled down his hat to cover his face.


    Su''en checked the time, three minutes to five o''clock.


    Timing his steps, he left the alley, blended into the crowd, and walked onto Ginkgo Street.


    The No.14 shop was the Berman Bakery, with a green mailbox at the entrance.


    When Su''en got there, it was exactly five o''clock.


    Without looking around, he directly stuffed the oil-paper bag with money into the gap of the mailbox against the wall.


    Then he walked away without looking back. In the underworld, this kind of transaction method was verymon.


    Of course, Su''en was also a bit curious about who woulde to collect the money.


    Considering that this area was all Cross Society''s territory, he might even know them.


    By the time he passed the corner, he had walked far enough. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young boy deftly take the oil-paper bag from behind the mailbox and quickly disappear into the crowd.


    The handover was very professional, like a seasoned thief.


    "Huh, looks like one of the kids from the tenement..."


    Su''en nced at him, but didn''t think much of it.


    He circled back to find his bike in the alley, then returned to Green Street.


    Having paid the deposit, all he had to do now was wait for the next message.


    By then, the mysterious person would probably bring the potion for the transaction.

 Chapter 51: The Trial Team of the Inner City

    Chapter 51: The Trial Team of the Inner City


    Back on Green Street, Su''en began his regr nightlife.


    At seven o''clock in the evening, the members of the Cross Society gathered punctually at the dpidated building.


    Then half an hour of patrol.


    After finishing, Su''en went to the arena of the Crimson Stronghold as usual.


    As expected, he would stay here for the whole night.


    Recently, there seemed to be some changes in the inner city, and there were more professional death matches in the arena.


    ording to the rumors, several major financial conglomerates in the inner city were engaged in intense internal struggles due to conflicting interests. The participants in the arena were mostly outstanding professionals, bodyguards, retainers, or people with special identities. In any case, their backgrounds were not simple.


    However, the turmoil in the inner city had nothing to do with Su''en, the little gangster.


    On the contrary, he felt that the more chaotic it was, the better.


    After all, these professionals from the inner city indeed had much deeper "knowledge" than the professionals from the outer city. During this period, Su''en had gained a lot of alchemical knowledge and mechanical knowledge from the bodies in the arena. These were benefits that the professionals from the outer city, who could only extractbat skills, could notpare with.


    Today, the arena was as lively as ever.


    But before Su''en could bet on a few matches, Captain Kay came over with a mysterious look on his face.


    He said that he was going to take him to meet an important person.


    .......


    "Captain, who exactly are we going to meet? You''re making it so mysterious."


    Su''en felt a bit regretful about being taken away halfway. There was a professional death match tonight.


    If he missed it, he would miss out on a lot of experience.


    "Hehe, of course it''s a good thing!"


    Kay put his arm around Su''en''s shoulder and winked, "You can earn a lot of money, contribute to the gang, and have the opportunity to meet important people in the inner city. Let me tell you, as long as things go well, the benefits will be unimaginable."


    "Ah... What exactly is it?"


    Looking at Kay''s excited expression, Su''en became more and more puzzled.


    Meeting important people in the inner city?


    For others, it might be a rare opportunity, but for Su''en, it might not necessarily be a good thing.


    The identity of the original host was sensitive, and he didn''t want to have any contact with important people in the inner city until he figured out the situation, for fear of running into acquaintances.


    At this moment, Kay looked at Su''en''s exaggerated smoky makeup and frowned, "Hey, brother, your outfit is getting stranger. The heavy metal style may be cool, but I don''t think it suits you..."


    Pausing for a moment, he seemed to think of something and muttered, "I wonder if that important person will be influenced by your style and have a bad first impression..."


    Su''en muttered in his heart, "It''s better if they don''t like it."


    He also understood that it seemed that an important person from the inner city hade and wanted to "interview" him. Then they could see if he was suitable for some conditions...


    Earning money and getting to know important people?


    Could it be that they were selecting gigolos?


    This thought involuntarily popped into Su''en''s mind, making him feel a bit annoyed.


    After all, he was still a member of the Cross Society and couldn''t refuse the captain''s tasks. So he followed him out.


    Thinking about it, Kay shouldn''t be so unreliable.


    .......


    As they walked, Su''en felt uneasy again. He quietly put on a pair of steel tooth braces, making his facial features even stranger. This was also a mainstream dark punk style, not considered too unconventional.


    The two of them walked through the crowd and then left the gambling den, arriving at the back door guarded by someone, which led to the VIP rooms on the second floor of the gambling den.


    But when they arrived here, Kay didn''t go in. He said, "Su''en, you go up by yourself. Qiantiao is already up there."


    Su''en was a little puzzled, "Aren''t you going?"


    Kay rolled his eyes and said with a hint of resentment, "I just went there, but it seems like that important person didn''t pay attention to me..."


    "..."


    Su''en understood. So that was the case.


    But he was also very surprised. Kay was not weak among the first-tier professionals in the Cross Society, and his character was also good. How could he not be chosen?


    Even if they were selecting gigolos, Kay''s appearance was much better than his current punk style, right?


    What kind of conditions did that "important person" want?


    At this moment, Kay looked at Su''en, who was full of doubts, and finally revealed some information. He said, "Forget it, I originally wanted to give you a surprise."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "It''s not a difficult task. That important person wants to find a guide who has been to the Tubr Tower Dungeon. Only the two of us have survived before, so... well."


    So, he wasn''t chosen, and Su''en was called instead.


    "The Tubr Tower Dungeon? As a guide?"


    Su''en became even more puzzled. The important people from the inner city despised evening to the outer city because it was dirty, so why would they go to a smelly and dangerous ce like the dungeon?


    Kay exined, "I heard from Qiantiao that some noble students from the ''ck Tower Alchemy Academy'' in the inner city have a graduation trial. Those precious young masters anddies definitely can''t risk their lives going outside the city to hunt for resources, so they can only find a ce with monsters in the city to go through the motions. The distorted monsters in the inner city have all been cleared, so they can only go to the outer city. I don''t know where they heard that there are monsters in the Tubr Tower, so they need a local expert as a guide and to handle some negotiations..."


    "That''s it?"


    Su''en finally understood after hearing this. So that was the case.


    "You can rest assured, you don''t need to fight at all in the Tubr Tower. The noble students are apanied by second-tier professionals as their mentors. You know, the professionals in the inner city are very strong, especially those who can be mentors at the ''ck Tower Alchemy Academy.'' They are definitely not weaker than our cadres..."


    As Kay said this, he seemed to be a bit resentful that he wasn''t chosen by the big shot.He pursed his lips and continued, "So, you just need to follow them, there''s no need for you to lift a finger. Just lead the way for them and make sure the residents of the Tube Building don''t disturb those young nobles."


    "I see..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en finally understoodpletely.


    An inner city trial team was going to the Tube Building to kill monsters for their graduation trial, and they needed a local guide?


    ......


    If it was just guiding, Su''en would definitely try to get out of this task.


    He didn''t want to run into people the original owner knew.


    But hearing the address of the Tube Building made Su''en hesitate.


    Because he immediately thought of the sealed weapon, the scythe, still deep in the tunnel.


    After the battle at the Tube Building, Su''en realized the terror of the underground monsters. He estimated that without second-order strength, he had no confidence in retrieving the sealed weapon alive from the depths of the tunnel.


    What if this group of people went down for the trial and, by some twist of fate, found the ce where the scythe had fallen? Wouldn''t he be wasting a great opportunity?


    Now he also understood the value of the sealed weapon.


    During this time, he had specifically inquired about the legend rted to the "Night ck Scythe of Shub-Niggurath".


    He was quite shocked when he understood it.


    That ck scythe was a super weapon that could sh open spatial rifts!


    Nothing could withstand it, nothing could resist it.


    Even the toughest armor would be split in two under that scythe.


    So, that group who attacked the headquarters was able to easily break open the door of the treasury with this scythe.


    Although the scythe must have its unknown negative "cursed characteristics", Su''en felt that if he could really get such a divine weapon, it would definitely be a life-saving weapon.


    If he encountered a powerful enemy and couldn''t beat them, at least he would have some confidence to die together.


    ......


    "Maybe I can follow this group of people, and then use their high-endbat power to clear the monsters in the tunnel, to achieve my goal of retrieving the item?"


    At this time, Su''en quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.


    If he was to guide them to the cave tunnel, he was indeed the most suitable for this task.


    After all, he had a real map in his mind!


    Without much thought, Kay urged him, "Su''en, you should go up, don''t keep that big shot waiting too long."


    "Okay."


    Su''en nodded, regardless of his decision, he had to go up and meet the big shot from the inner city.


    Maybe, they wouldn''t even like him?


    He walked up the stairs to the second floor private room, then down a quiet corridor with luxurious floor mats.


    Although there was no one, the moment Su''en stepped into the corridor, he felt as if there was a gaze watching him.


    This was not an illusion, but a warning of danger brought by high perception.


    "An assassin?"


    Su''en suddenly became alert, his hands quietly reaching for his gun.


    Just then, a cold dagger silently pressed against his neck from behind.


    In that instant, Su''en''sbat experience allowed him to make the most timely response. His super-fast nerve reaction speed allowed him to make a pre-judged evasive action before the dagger could cut his throat.


    Then, with a swift elbow strike, he hit the attacker''s abdomen.


    The assassin grunted, and in the moment he curled up, a fire gun was already pressed against his chin.


    However, Su''en didn''t pull the trigger.


    If it were anywhere else, this guy''s head would have been blown off.


    Because Su''en remembered Kay''s words, he was more cautious. Since there were executives here, the attack was somewhat intriguing.


    A test?


    Sure enough, at that moment, a familiar voice sounded from not far away, "I told you he''s good, but you had to test him..."


    This was obviously not addressed to Su''en, but to the person in the room.


    After saying that, the woman called out to Su''en from a distance, smiling, "Come, let me introduce you to someone."


    "..."


    Seeing this gambling-addicted woman, Su''en raised an eyebrow and finally let out a sigh of relief.


    He naturally holstered his gun and walked over.


    Entering the private room, he saw a very cool woman.

 Chapter 52: Just took a quick glance at your legs

    Chapter 52: Just took a quick nce at your legs


    It was probably because she was going to meet an important person in the inner city that Qiantiao dressed quite formally today.


    She didn''t have her usual street thug look, with one arm bare and the intimidating big tattoo on her arm exposed. Today, she was wearing a red, green, and blue mixed-color battle kimono, giving off a homely vibe.


    Su''en looked at her with a hint of surprise, feeling that something was off.


    The loose ovepping robe had a white cor, without any bandages to bind it, making it even more heavy and profound, catching one''s eye.


    Her dressing style was as bold as ever.


    She had lost some of her bossy social aura and gained a bit of sexiness.


    Perhaps Su''en didn''t expect Qiantiao to have this side.


    Of course, don''t look at the four murderous long swords hanging from her waist, she still had a bit of the charm of a gentle wife.


    Qiantiao looked at Su''en, who easily dealt with the assassin in the corridor, squinting her eyes and seeming very satisfied with his performance.


    Listening to her tone when speaking to the people in the room, it seemed like she was saying, "See, the person I introduced, isn''t he good?"


    "Come, let me introduce you, Lady Filov..."


    Qiantiao greeted Su''en, casually putting her arm around his shoulder, and whispered, "This is the patron of our Cross Society, behave well."


    If it weren''t for Kay telling him the purpose of this trip beforehand, Su''en would have found the phrase "behave well" quite strange.


    Su''en felt his arm being enveloped in tenderness, unable to refuse, and nodded, "Hmm."


    He was also curious about what the patron behind the Cross Society would look like.


    ***


    It was not a secret that the three major gangs in the outer city were supported by major corporations in the inner city.


    It could also be said that it was because of the support of these corporations that the three major gangs existed.


    Many times, the conflicts between the gangs were actuallypetitions between corporations.


    Qiantiao led Su''en into the VIP private room, and then introduced him to the patron sitting on the sofa, saying, "This is Su''en, he has excellent marksmanship."


    Su''en nced over and immediately identified the main person. Although there were other people in the room, the woman sitting on the sofa had a very special aura, making it easy to guess that she was the "Lady Filov."


    The gothic-style ck one-piece short skirt reflected a high-quality pure ck under the lights, which was a high-end fabric that could be seen at a nce. The silk strapless top outlined her figure perfectly, and the appropriate hollowce revealed her cleavage, standing proudly.


    The embroidered hem of the pencil skirt was finely crafted, and the skirt had a high slit, almost reaching the root of the thigh, revealing her long and beautiful legs, captivating the eyes. The cold expression matched her graceful figure, sexy yet with a hint of aloofness. She was a woman who made people''s desires surge but dared not defile, with a conflicting style of coldness and desire.


    She sat on the sofa so casually, but the feeling she gave was like a queen sitting on a throne.


    Su''en only took a nce and then lowered his gaze, saying, "Hello, Lady Filov."


    He didn''t dare to look directly at her, partly out of courtesy, and partly afraid of running into acquaintances of the original host and being recognized.


    But in that moment of avoiding eye contact, the woman in the ck dress on the sofa raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Qiantiao, who was beside her, naturally knew the criteria for selecting candidates by the patron, and seeing Su''en''s calmness, a slightly proud smile appeared on her face. "How about it, I told you he''s good, right?"


    Su''en found the phrase "he''s good" quite intriguing, as if he had just gone through a test.


    Obviously, the woman in the ck dress was not familiar with the original host. Su''en felt that there were eyes scrutinizing him, but there was no trace of anything unusual.


    As long as they didn''t know each other, it was fine.


    After a few moments of silence, the woman in the ck dress finally spoke, in a cold and emotionless tone, "Hmm... it''s you."


    Then, she said without any emotion, "Alright, you can leave now."


    Her lofty tone made Su''en, as a transmigrator, feel that this woman was arrogant, but he remained unaffected.


    Being cold was the normal attitude.


    As the behind-the-scenes patron of a gang, it was already good enough for her to look at a small gang member directly.


    In the entire Cross Society, besides Su''en, there probably wasn''t anyone else who could personally meet this ordinary gang member.


    The concept of social hierarchy in this world was strong, and people from the outer city naturally felt inferior to those from the inner city, let alone someone from the upper ss like the woman in front of them.


    This was also why Kay, even though he wasn''t chosen, was so excited just by meeting her briefly.


    Su''en didn''t say anything and turned to leave.


    Qiantiao seemed afraid that Su''en would misunderstand something, so she gave him a smiling nce, probably meaning to say that he had performed well and that the patron had no ill intentions.


    Su''en nodded slightly and walked out of the private room.


    ***


    After Su''en left, Qiantiao immediately broke the formal atmosphere of the meeting between superiors and subordinates in the VIP private room.Qian Tiao seemed to be quite familiar with the woman in the ck dress. She unabashedly sat across from her and said, "See, the people I rmend are always good, right? Su''en''s marksmanship has reached the level of a ''firearms expert'', and his crisis awareness is strong. He''s not your average professional. Of course, Kay was also pretty good before..."


    "That''s indeed true."


    With no outsiders around, the coldness on the woman in the ck dress''s face eased.


    She looked at Qian Tiao and exined somewhat helplessly, "Kay was eptable, but he''s too young andcks steadiness."


    Qian Tiao knew what she was referring to. Feeling a bit indignant for her own people, she retorted, "So what if he looked at your legs a bit more..."


    Hearing this, the woman in the ck dress gave Qian Tiao a nce andzily said, "It''s always better to be more careful. After all, those young masters and misses are not easy to serve. If the person we choose causes trouble, it will be a big problem for your Cross Society."


    "..."


    Qian Tiao shrugged nomittally.


    But at least they had chosen someone, and she had understood the task assigned by the president.


    She unabashedly nced at the woman in the ck dress''s beautiful legs again and said in a low voice, "I knew Su''en would satisfy you. After all, a person who can control his bets when gambling, how could he be disturbed by your beauty?"


    Hearing this, the woman in the ck dress shook her head with a wry smile.


    Her old friend was good in all aspects, but she was a bit blunt when it came to matters between men and women.


    Clearly, the woman in the ck dress understood human nature better. She had read a lot from Su''en''s gaze. He had desires but could restrain them, such people live longer.


    But she didn''t exin further.


    At this moment, she looked at Qian Tiao, a cunning smile shed across her face, and she deliberately asked, "But, are you sure that Su''en likes women?"


    <em>"Eh... right!"</em>


    Upon hearing this, Qian Tiao was taken aback, as if she had discovered something, "I''m really not sure about that."


    If he liked men and was not moved by women, wouldn''t that be too normal?


    But the young masters in the city were all fair and tender, wouldn''t that be a problem?


    ***


    Su''en left the private room and went downstairs, where he ran into Kay who was still waiting.


    Kay asked expectantly, "Brother, how did it go? Did thatdy choose you?"


    Su''en frowned and thought, "I''m not sure."


    He should have been chosen, but the woman in the ck dress gave him a strange feeling, not like an ordinary noblewoman.


    At this moment, Kay leaned in mysteriously and said in a tone that all men would understand, "Hehe, isn''t Lady Philo beautiful?"


    "Of course."


    Hearing this, Su''en''s expression became a bit strange, and he suddenly realized why this guy wasn''t chosen.


    If you''re talking about beauty, that woman''s figure and looks were impable.


    But lust should be appropriate.


    In any world, no woman in a high position of power is simple, and it''s not just about appearance.


    His intuition told him that the woman in the ck dress was very cunning.


    When the name of the sponsor was mentioned, Kay showed a fascinated expression and sighed, "The big shots in the inner city really have a different temperament..."


    He stopped halfway through his sentence, probably feeling it was inappropriate, and swallowed the rest of his words.


    Su''en was a bit curious and asked, "Captain, do you know what that big shot does in the inner city?"


    Kay frowned and thought, "Who knows... But I heard that she lives alone now. Um... I also heard that she has business dealings with many big tycoons in the inner city, but I don''t know what she does."


    "Oh, I see..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en became curious.


    Living alone and being called ady, could she be a widow?


    Since she''s a sponsor, there should be some big consortium backing her.


    But this one, seems a bit wild...


    A socialite of high society?


    Or the spokesperson for some real big shots behind the scenes?


    ***


    But before the two could say more, footsteps sounded from the stairs.


    Turning their heads, they saw Qian Tiao.


    The gambling-addicted young woman seemed to be in a good mood. She waved her hand and said, "Kay, Su''en, let''s go, I''m treating you guys to a hot spring."


    "Ah... hot spring?"


    Upon hearing this, Kay''s expression instantly became strange, as if he had recalled some not-so-good memories.


    Su''en was also curious, why did this boss suddenly invite them to a hot spring?


    Qian Tiao nced at Su''en, her eyes slightly strange, but she didn''t exin further.

 Chapter 53: Daily soaking

    Chapter 53: Daily soaking


    Norton Street is about a seven to eight-minute drive from Green Street, and that street is also the busiest "soup street" in the southern city.


    Outside the city of Old Lingdun, there are arge number of factories that consume endless amounts of coal every day with theirrge steam boilers. As a result, the air quality in the city is very poor, with arge amount of particles and dust floating in the sky. Often, after walking on the street for a few hours, people''s bodies and hair would be covered in thick dust.


    Because of this, the residents of Old Lingdun City also have a strong culture of soaking in hot springs. Whether rich or poor, they would choose to soak in hot springs every day to cleanse their bodies.


    Although the underground water in Old Lingdun City cannot be directly consumed, it is suitable for soaking and bathing. Every day, arge amount of boiler water flows out from the factories, ranging from cheap public bathhouses to high-end hot spring facilities that provide various services.


    And Norton Street has thousands of hot spring facilities, big and small.


    This is the territory of the big shots.


    ........


    Green Street also has ces for hot springs, but they are usually known as bathhouses.


    Su''en didn''t understand why Qiantiao suddenly invited them to soak in hot springs.


    But looking at Kay''s eager behavior, he felt that things might not be that simple.


    After leaving the gambling den, the three of them went to pick up their vehicles on the side of the street. Kay had his own Harley motorcycle, and Su''en originally nned to borrow one as well, but Qiantiao seemed to find it troublesome and asked him to ride with her.


    "Kay, let''s go to ''A Kun''s Hot Spring''."


    "Oh, okay, Sister Qiantiao."


    Kay nced at Su''en, revealing a mischievous smile, then started the motorcycle and disappeared around the corner in a sh.


    Su''en was a bit puzzled, but could only sit on the back seat of Qiantiao''s motorcycle with a stiff face.


    It must be said that the cadre''s motorcycle was several levels higher than an ordinary one.


    Qiantiao''s ride was a ck cheetah motorcycle, with body lines that matched the softness of a woman, but also had a fierce and wild appearance. Su''en''s mechanical knowledge now allowed him to understand that the modifications on the motorcycle were high-end, and its performance was definitely top-notch.


    However... the back seat was small, as if it was more suitable for a single rider.


    Qiantiao got on the motorcycle and seemed to feel restrained, so she rolled up one of her sleeves, revealing her iconicrge floral arm. She started the motorcycle, looking like she was ready to speed off, and reminded Su''en behind her, "Hold on tight!"


    In the gang, street racing was one of the favorite entertainment activities for the gang members. These guys were extremely reckless in their street racing, and their speed on the streets was even faster than professional racers in the previous life''s racing tracks...


    Su''en was afraid of being thrown off, so he got on the motorcycle and naturally held onto the waist of this gambling-addicted woman.


    The two of them were quite familiar with each other, and they often had physical contact in their daily lives, so it wasn''t awkward.


    "Vroom~"


    "Vroom~"


    "Vroom~"


    The motorcycle''s boiler roared like a wild beast, and the sound of the tires rubbing against the ground was piercing. With a swoosh, the motorcycle shot forward.


    The sudden eleration made Su''en feel like his whole body was rapidly tilting backwards, but fortunately, he reacted in time and hugged Qiantiao''s waist, avoiding the embarrassment of falling off.


    The wind rushed past their ears, and the scenery on the side of the street quickly shed by.


    Su''en gradually adapted to this speed, and his perception became clearer.


    It must be said that melee professionals generally had good physiques, and this gambling-addicted woman''s figure was also excellent. Her well-proportioned and strong waist had no excess fat, and it felt warm to the touch.


    Because of the leaning riding position, Qiantiao seemed to be lying on the engine, and Su''en, who was hugging her waist, felt like his hand was being pressed down by something heavy and couldn''t move.


    The wind blew her green hair, and the strands tickled Su''en''s face.


    Su''en felt that their posture seemed a bit too intimate, after all, she was a high-ranking member of the gang, so it was somewhat presumptuous. But seeing that the big shots didn''t say anything, he didn''t say much either.


    ......


    After a while, the motorcycle slowly decelerated and stopped by the roadside.


    This was a Japanese-style hot spring facility, with low tiled houses,ttice windows, and a sign hanging at the entrance that said "A Kun''s Hot Spring".


    Kay''s motorcycle had long been turned off, and he was squatting on the side of the street chatting and joking with a group of acquaintances.


    When Su''en and Qiantiao got off the motorcycle, those people also stood up straight and bowed, shouting.


    "Sister Qiantiao!"


    "Sister Qiantiao!"


    "..."


    The dressing style of the gang members in this block was mostly rted to the boss. The Ten Cross Society members on Norton Street also followed Qiantiao''s style, withrge floral arms and various colors of punk hairstyles. Both men and women had a fierce and aggressive look, resembling the yakuza from the previous life in Japan.Qian Tiao nodded to everyone and waved her hand, "There''s nothing to do today, everyone can leave."


    After a pause, she added, "By the way, make arrangements for the Sanquan Pool, I want to take a bath."


    "Yes, Qian Tiao."


    The group of little gang members greeted each other and dispersed.


    Kay''s face twitched slightly when he heard "Sanquan Pool". He looked at Su''en with a strange look, as if he was holding back a smirk.


    Qian Tiao nced at Su''en beside her, hooked her shoulder familiarly, and enthusiastically said, "Su''en, you probably haven''t been to Norton Street before, right? Come, I''ll show you the special services in my jurisdiction today..."


    "Oh..."


    Su''en felt something was off.


    But looking at the in storefront in front of him, without any exposed girls weing guests, it seemed like a regr bathhouse for massages and baths.


    He thought that as a female cadre of the gang, Qian Tiao wouldn''t make such a ridiculous move of bringing her subordinates to a ce of pleasure. So he didn''t think much about it and followed her inside.


    As soon as they entered, Su''en noticed that the storefront of this bathhouse was in, but the interior decoration was luxurious, indicating that it was high-end.


    Qian Tiao led the way, probably guessing that Su''en would be confused, and casually exined, "This is a bathhouse specially for receiving high-level VIPs of the gang. It''s not open to the public. The water in all the pools here is not boiler water, but underground hot springs. It''s very beneficial for professionals."


    As she spoke, she seemed to think of something and added, "The president and the cadres oftene here, oh... even Mrs. Filov, whom you met before, asionallyes all the way from the inner city to take a bath."


    Listening to this, Su''en realized that Qian Tiao had invited them to take a bath on a whim?


    ......


    After entering, there were dedicated female attendants to receive them one-on-one.


    Qian Tiao went to the women''s changing room, while Su''en and Kay went to another side.


    After they separated, Su''en finally had the opportunity to ask Kay, "Captain, is there anything special about bathing here?"


    He naturally noticed that Kay''s expression was a bit strange and guessed that there might be some special rules.


    "Hehe... nothing, just enjoy it."


    Kay smirked, but didn''t say directly, and said, "The services here are ording to the standards of the inner city. Ordinary people can''t enjoy them. Last time, I came with the boss of the Smoke Gang..."


    Before they could chat for long, the female attendant led Su''en and Kay to separate ces.


    The services in this high-end bathhouse were very attentive, and Su''en didn''t need to know what he needed to do throughout the whole process.


    The tall and slender female attendant led Su''en to a separate dressing room, then carefully helped him wash his body, changed into a bathrobe, and provided considerate service. Even though it was his first time here, he didn''t feel ufortable at all, but rather feltpletely at home.


    Su''en didn''t find it strange either. After changing his clothes, he followed the female attendant into the courtyard behind.


    "Sir, please follow me."


    The backyard wasrger than it appeared, with a Japanese-style courtyard and corridor design, taking care of the environment while cleverly ensuring the privacy of the guests.


    You could see the smoke and hear the sound of water, but the bath was cleverly hidden by artificial hills and vegetation, so no one could be seen.


    White smoke emerged everywhere, seemingly an open-air bath.


    The female attendant who Su''en followed walked through several corridors and arrived at an independent courtyard called the "Sanquan Pool".


    The female attendant stopped at the door, seemingly not intending to go in, and said, "Sir, it''s clean inside. If you need anything, just call me."


    "Okay."


    Su''en didn''t say much either and walked in.


    After passing through a small bonsai of shrubs, his vision suddenly opened up.


    Su''en saw clearly the open-air bath of about seventy to eighty square meters in front of him, and his face froze in ce, "Huh... Did I walk the wrong way? Did Ie to the women''s bath?"


    As soon as Su''en said this, the seven or eight big-armed women soaking in the pool all turned their gazes towards him.


    This scene was not romantic at all. As far as the eye could see, there were several heavyweight fighters weighing three to four hundred pounds each, with full-back tattoos, fierce and intimidating. It almost made Su''en instinctively reach for his gun.


    Looking at the calm temperament of these women, they were almost on par with professionals.


    Suddenly, Su''en thought of something and thought to himself, "Could these be the powerful subordinates by Qian Tiao''s side that the Cross Society talks about?"


    There is a legend circting in the Cross Society that Qian Tiao has a group of strong women as her capable subordinates, with formidablebat power. Could these be the ones in front of him?


    He thought he must have gone the wrong way, but before he could turn around, he saw Qian Tiao entering through another entrance, with a towel hanging on her shoulder.


    She greeted Su''en, "Huh... why are you standing there? Come and join me in the bath..."


    "..."Su''en''s face twitched, suddenly realizing what Kay''s teasing gaze meant.


    However, he was only surprised for a moment before his expression returned to normal.


    Because he suddenly knew why the gambling addict had invited him to soak in the hot spring.


    .......


    Qiantiao took off the towel and walked into the hot spring pool.


    He wasn''tpletely naked, still wearing a thin gray linen robe and shorts specifically for swimming.


    However, when the robe and pants, as thin as paper, got wet, they became semi-transparent, not much different from being naked. Su''en could see through them clearly.


    Hmm... this boss does have a good figure, with distinct curves.


    It''s not that he "doesn''t look at others" and only looks at Qiantiao, but the other people in the pool are a bit eye-catching.


    This is a mixed bathing encounter, and Su''en is not shy. He calmly enters the water.


    At this time, Qiantiaozily lies by the poolside and shouts, "Get a few people to give me a back rub."


    With a call, several female attendants dressed in the same cool attire enter, and the atmosphere finally bes less "oppressive."


    After waiting for a while and Kay still hasn''te, Su''en knows that the guy probably already knew what would happen here.


    However, he is also at ease.


    Since he''s here, he might as well enjoy it.


    Although the color of the hot spring water is slightly dark, it is still clear. Soaking in the water, he feels the refreshing sensation on his countless pores. And with each breath, he can clearly feel the cirction of that dark spiritual power in his meridians.


    With these several gang elders by his side, Su''en doesn''t have to worry about his safety. After traveling through time for so long, this is the first time he has enjoyed such a leisurely time.


    .......


    The clothes of the female attendants around him arepletely soaked, sticking to their bodies as if they were not wearing anything, even adding a hint of temptation. The two attendants help with the washing, asionally making provocative physical contact, and casually reaching out can touch their alluring tenderness.


    "Although there is no danger this time, you should be more careful. Those noble young masters anddies are not easy to serve. Do your guiding job well and try not to talk to people."


    "Okay."


    "Themunication signal is cut off in the depths of the underground cave. So, be more vignt and adapt ordingly."


    "..."


    It''s just some irrelevant small talk.


    Even if Su''en doesn''t open his eyes, he can feel certain stolen nces wandering over his body. In this scene, he has already guessed Qiantiao''s "scheme."


    Finally, he didn''t say anything, but the other person couldn''t help but speak.


    "Ah... It''s been a long time since a man dared toe to these three spring pools even though it''s a mixed bath."


    "..."


    "Su''en, do you know why I invited you to soak in the hot spring?"


    "To see if I''m really not interested in women."


    "Huh... You guessed it?"


    "Heh, it''s a test... Probably thatdy was afraid that I had abnormal tendencies and would disturb those noble young masters in the inner city. And you, Qiantiao, were curious if I really liked men..."


    "Heh, you''re quite clever. So... you really have no interest in women?"


    "..."


    Su''en felt that this boss was good in many aspects, but his emotional intelligence seemed to becking.


    He looked at Qiantiao''s curious gaze, feeling a bit helpless.


    "No, my preferences are normal."


    "Then why didn''t you react? When Kay camest time, it was quite embarrassing. He didn''t dare toe together this time..."


    "..."


    Although the two of them are already familiar, Su''en didn''t expect Qiantiao to be so straightforward.


    And when the boss asked this, the capable attendants beside her also had a teasing smile on their faces.


    Su''en could probably imagine the embarrassing situation Kay had been in.


    In this world, the concept of gender is very open, especially for gang members who live on the edge of life and death. Pleasure ismonce, and the nightlife is like home. The hot spring culture in Old Lingdun is very ancient, just like ancient Rome in Su''en''s previous life, mixed bathing between men and women is normal.


    And Qiantiao seems to have no problem exposing herself in front of Su''en. In her eyes, there are no men, only brothers and knives.


    Su''en was speechless when asked, he didn''t exin his ability to control certain emotions in his body.


    But he also nced at the several capable attendants, the meaning was clear: Are you going to make me perform in front of everyone?


    Qiantiao probably guessed something and waved her hand. The several capable attendants also wrapped themselves in towels and left the pool, instantly lowering the water level by several centimeters.In the pool now, there were only Qian Tiao and a few female attendants, all of whom were quite attractive, creating a scene of springtime beauty.


    The attendants probably knew what Qian Tiao wanted them to do, so they clung even closer to her.


    Seeing the gossip-hungry eyes of the gambling-addicted woman, Su''en helplessly stood up.


    Qian Tiao saw something, her eyes lit up, and she even let out a meaningful "hmm," saying, "Oh, not bad..."


    She didn''t shy away from her gaze, seemingly not finding anything inappropriate.


    Having witnessed it firsthand, she confirmed that this guy was indeed straight.


    "..."


    Su''en rubbed his temples in annoyance, and in retaliation, he stared at Qian Tiao''s almost uncovered chest.


    Hmm... majestic and upright, round and smooth.


    And those tight, slender, beautiful legs...


    However, the carefree smile that Qian Tiao had on her face from beginning to end was not a pretense, but a true reflection of her pure heart. After a few seconds, Su''en felt as if his gaze was somewhat disrespectful.


    It was just like that inte phrase from his previous life, "I treated you as a brother, and you actually want to X me?"


    Qian Tiao seemed to have noticed Su''en''s unabashed gaze, and only then did she realize something.


    But she didn''t cover herself, instead, she squinted her eyes and warned in a stern tone, "Hey, hey, hey... you''re really not polite, are you..."


    In the guild, there were no such bold guys. Even if there were, they would have been souls under the knife.


    The corner of Su''en''s mouth slightly lifted, he didn''t argue, but he did avert his gaze.


    He didn''t sense any killing intent, so this boss probably didn''t really mind.

 Chapter 54: Haunted house

    Chapter 54: Haunted house


    When Su''en came out of "Akun''s Soup Room," it was already the middle of the night.


    On the street, he ran into the refreshed Kay.


    This guy disappeared as soon as he entered, probably sneaking off to another bathhouse to enjoy a soak. He caught up with Su''en and started the motorcycle, asking, "How was the soup room here?"


    Seeing his teasing expression, Su''en guessed that Kay wasn''t genuinely curious about the luxurious service he had enjoyed, but rather wanted to know about the embarrassing situation he had encountered.


    After all, thest time Su''en came, he was almost humiliated by a group of capable subordinates. The women''s eyes were too sharp, and their words were full of malice... It still left him with psychological trauma.


    Su''en guessed what Kay was thinking and smiled without exining much, "It''s not bad."


    As he spoke, a fleeting and beautiful image shed through his mind.


    Hmm... that gambling addict''s figure is indeed good.


    Although Qiantiao didn''t have much of an attitude towards familiar subordinates and everyone was eloquent whenmunicating, besides being addicted to gambling, he hadn''t heard of any chaotic private life from this boss.


    Su''en felt like she had no interest in men at all.


    "Oh~"


    Kay thought that Su''en didn''t want to talk about his embarrassing situation and showed a knowing smile.


    The two rode the motorcycle back to Green Street.


    .......


    It wasn''t toote when Su''en returned, and he caught thest professional diatorial match at the gambling stall, conveniently harvesting some soul fragments.


    This night was not wasted.


    Then he went to the "Three Fire Guns Tavern" and, as expected, received a message from the potion stall owner.


    "Tomorrow at noon, the warehouse on the back street of Gingko Street."


    The note left the meeting ce and time, and Su''en looked at it and had a rough idea, "He paid the deposit this afternoon and made an appointment to meet tomorrow morning. He must be urgently in need of money."


    Looking at Gingko Street again, Su''en also guessed that the mysterious stall owner might be active in this area. After all, secret transactions generally wouldn''t take ce in unfamiliar territory. He had previously chosen to pay the deposit on Gingko Street and now chose to meet there, indicating that the other party was familiar with the environment there.


    Su''en didn''t think much about it. After all, it was the territory of the Cross Society, and many underground forces had some connections. The mysterious stall owner might indeed have some involvement with the Cross Society.


    It was already early morning when Su''en left the tavern. He went to the hotel to meditate and rest, replenishing his energy.


    But before noon, he received news from the real estate agent that they had found a suitable property.


    Big enough, cheap enough, and quiet enough...


    Thinking that it wouldn''t affect the noon transaction, Su''en decided not to rest and took the opportunity to go to the real estate agency.


    He was tired of the poor amodation conditions in cheap hotels.


    He wanted to find a suitable ce to live, preferably spacious enough, with a shooting range where he could practice marksmanship, alchemy, and making puppets.


    ......


    Su''en didn''t expect that the meeting ce the real estate agent arranged for him was also Gingko Street.


    Areas with a high concentration of entertainment venues usually wouldn''t be too remote. Gingko Street, which was not far from Green Street, belonged to the "middle-ss district" of the outer city.


    Here, there were rtivelyplete social resources, and many people with stable jobs in the outer city lived in this area.


    "There used to be a banker from the inner city who nned to choose this ce as the address for the bank and even wanted to build a vault underground... Butter, because they dug too deep and probably hit the earth''s veins, a thick dark spiritual power surged out. It was unbearable for ordinary people, and the bank n was abandoned, so this house became vacant..."


    "I heard that you are about to advance to a professional, looking for a ce with a strong dark spiritual power. I think there is no better ce than this property of mine. The underground vault is spacious enough, and the sound instion effect is excellent. You can even use it as a shooting range. Even if you practice marksmanship in the middle of the night, I don''t think anyone willin about disturbing the peace..."


    "And, you can rent this two-story house with a basement for only two thousand liang. I dare say there is no cheaper option in Old Lingdun."


    "..."


    Thendlord''s name was Gngtai, a middle-aged man who looked shrewd with a big belly.


    He followed Su''en all the way, introducing the house at 88 Gingko Street.


    It was a grayish small Western-style building, located in a slightly secluded corner of the back street, inconspicuous. The house had simple furniture, and the basic decoration was almostplete. Gas and water pipes were installed, and it was ready to move in with just a twist...


    Su''en didn''t expect to be pleasantly surprised during this house viewing. The previous few times, various conditions didn''t meet his expectations.


    But this property in front of him met all his expectations in every aspect.


    Not eye-catching, quiet enough... especially the sturdy and spacious basement, which made him most satisfied.


    The house itself was an ancient building, sturdy enough, and the thick cement walls of the basement prevented the sound of gunfire from spreading.


    Here, Su''en could already imagine having his own workshop in the future, making runic puppets, modifying machinery, and using it as a shooting range...


    Moreover, the reason why this house was so cheap was because of the thick "dark spiritual power" permeating from below.


    For ordinary people, this was a deadly "radiation" that could cause distortions.


    The dark spiritual power in Old Lingdun City was much weaker than outside the city, and the practice of breathing techniques for professionals would also be much slower, probably only one-fifth to one-tenth of that outside the city.


    But it wasn''t absolute, and there were also some localized "high distortion areas" in the city where the dark spiritual power was much denser.


    Like this small building.


    However, ordinary professionals didn''t like this kind of ce because in a high distortion environment, humans could unknowingly undergo distortions. Environmental factors were one of the most difficult distortion factors to control. The denser the dark spiritual power, the more violent and difficult to control it became.However, Su''en had no such concerns. He possessed the All-Seeing Eye, which allowed him to clearly see the changes in his own data surface. If he detected any abnormal spearheads, he could leave in time.


    Moreover, he was in need of such high concentrations of dark spiritual power.


    Su''en had now taken up the position of a first-order puppeteer, his rank limit had been lifted, and his body needed to absorb more dark spiritual power toy the foundation for advancing to the second-order profession in the future.


    Although most of the members of the Cross Society had never thought they could advance to the second order in their lifetime, Su''en, as a transmigrator, was not just satisfied with the bottom-level scenery.


    Therefore, this small building was very suitable.


    He signed the contract, paid the rent, and spent several thousand Lisuo.


    Su''en received the keys to the house.


    Thendlord, Gngtai, seemed very pleased as well. This troublesome property of his had finally been rented out.


    ......


    Su''en was always efficient in handling matters. It took him less than an hour to view the house and sign the contract.


    Landlord Gngtai said he would arrange for someone to clean the house in the next two days and agreed to hand over the house in three days.


    Su''en had no objections. He needed to prepare for the "Inner City Trial Group" in the next two days.


    He left the small building. It was not yet nine o''clock, and the morning crowd was already bustling on Ginkgo Street.


    Su''en nned to find something for breakfast and thought of the Bellman Bakery at No. 14 Ginkgo Street where he had previously paid a deposit.


    Because many middle-ss people lived on this street, the bakery offered not only hard ck bread that could be used as a baseball bat, but also a variety of other styles to choose from.


    Su''en randomly picked a few, stuffed them into an oil paper bag, and prepared to pay.


    At this time, two half-grown boys wearing duckbill caps and overalls followed him in, seemingly making some small moves.


    In fact, Su''en had noticed them before he entered the door and knew that these children were the mostmon thieves in the outer city.


    But they were not after Su''en''s wallet, but the bread on the counter.


    While Su''en was choosing and paying, the two boys had quietly swiped two pieces of ck bread, their technique was very skilled.


    Su''en pretended not to see, but the bakery owner seemed to be very familiar with these habitual offenders'' methods.


    As soon as the two boys came in, the clerk''s eyes became very alert. At this moment, they had just seeded and had no chance to slip away, the baker with the golden handlebar mustache came out angrily with a rolling pin, grabbing one of them by the cor.


    With this pull, a foot-long piece of bread fell to the ground.


    "Hey, you damn brats, you''re back again!"


    The baker roared angrily, lifting the little thief into the air.


    The duckbill cap fell off, revealing a dirty little face. With clear eyebrows and bright eyes, it turned out to be a "tomboy" with short hair.


    Su''en originally didn''t n to interfere, such things were toomon in the outer city.


    Children in the slums mostly lived by begging and stealing. Being beaten and going hungry were part of their growth. Whether they could survive in this cruel world depended on their own fate.


    However, when Su''en saw the look of fear and helplessness in the child''s eyes, he suddenly saw his own past. He had been helpless like this, as if the whole world had abandoned him.


    The little thief was hit with a stick, her eyes full of tears, but she didn''t cry out.


    Su''en thought for a moment, pointing to the ck bread on the ground: "How much for these breads?"


    The handlebar mustache baker guessed Su''en''s intention and advised: "Oh, honorable customer, these thieves are not worth your sympathy... You don''t need to spend money on them."


    He paused, looking like he was about to beat the little thief, and said menacingly: "If we don''t give these guys a painful lesson, they''ll be back tomorrow!"


    Su''en didn''t argue, he handed over a banknote: "Here''s fifty Lisuo, it should be enough to buy these breads."


    He showed no expression on his face, paid the money, and turned to leave the bakery.

 Chapter 55: Mysterious pharmacist

    Chapter 55: Mysterious pharmacist


    Su''en had no intention of being a good person, nor did he intend to owe anyone gratitude.


    He left the bakery, but he didn''t expect that the tomboy would chase after him with the bread in her arms.


    "Sir, please wait..."


    Su''en heard someone calling him from behind and stopped.


    Perhaps it was because people who mingled with the underworld had a domineering aura, the tomboy instinctively took a step back when she saw Su''en''s expressionless face.


    She said, "Sir, thank you for your generosity. We... we really need this food."


    "Mm."


    Su''en nced at her, nodded, and epted her verbal gratitude.


    He could naturally tell that this skinny tomboy needed food, or rather, everyone in the slums needed food.


    Su''en originally didn''t n to stay longer, but at this moment, the tomboy spoke up. Due to her panic, her words were a bit incoherent. "Um, sir... we didn''t intentionally follow you. We just saw you renting a house earlier..."


    Su''en frowned as he listened.


    The tomboy seemed startled and quickly exined, "You were deceived by that Ge Langtai! He definitely didn''t tell you that people have died in that building. It''s a haunted house and can''t be rented out. Two months ago, a blind man went in and never came out, and there were also..."


    Before Su''en could ask further, she ran away like a frightened rabbit.


    So, she chased after him just to tell him this news?


    A piece of bread in exchange for a piece of news.


    Su''en listened with a pensive expression.


    It wasn''t surprising to him that someone had died in the house. If it were an ordinary person, they would definitely encounter trouble living in such a highly distorted environment.


    Otherwise, the rent wouldn''t be so cheap.


    But ording to the little girl''s implication, more than one person had died in that building?


    In that case, thendlord was indeed an unscrupulous businessman.


    Thendlord had indeed deliberately concealed a part of the truth, but for Su''en, if it was only because of the dense dark spiritual power, it wouldn''t be too troublesome.


    But perhaps the deceased were not ordinary people, but professionals?


    After all, it was rare to find such a suitable property, and Su''en wouldn''t give up just because someone had died.


    He also thought that before moving in next time, he should use the All-Knowing Eye to carefully examine what was strange about the house.


    .......


    The agreed time for the transaction was twelve noon.


    Su''en went to the hotel and changed into a ck market-style trench coat suit.


    The meeting ce was an abandoned warehouse on Gingko Street. He had explored the area when he was wandering around before. It was sparsely popted and indeed suitable for some shady transactions.


    The mysterious stall owner was obviously cautious too. The chosen location had aplex cluster of buildings, making it easy to escape in case of emergencies.


    At eleven fifty-five, Su''en arrived at the warehouse on time.


    As a member of the underworld, he didn''t feel much pressureing to these remote ces. On the contrary, when he saw the few half-sized guys disguised as members of the underworld, he felt a bit surprised.


    These guys were wearing obviously ill-fitting old trench coats, with ck hats on their heads and their hands resting on their chests, as if they were about to draw their guns. They almost had the words "we are the underworld" written on their foreheads.


    It seemed like they wanted to overpower Su''en, a genuine member of the underworld, with their imposing manner?


    "I''m actually trading with a bunch of half-sized guys?"


    Su''en''s eyesight easily captured the six people who hade to the abandoned factory.


    In addition to the potion stall owner who was still wearing a ck cloak, there were five thugs who seemed to be guarding the ce. The clothes they were wearing seemed to have been stolen from somewhere, clearly a size too big.


    But with their cold expressions, silent aura, and the way they touched their guns, it was like a scene from a gangster movie.


    Of course, if it weren''t for the trembling feet, Su''en would have thought that these people were really the real deal.


    But he felt that their gun-drawing actions were probably just for show. They probably couldn''t pull out a firearm from their trench coats.


    Although firearms were everywhere in Old Lingdun, for people in the slums, it was better to exchange a piece of bread than to carry around a lump of iron.


    Of course, even if they had guns, they wouldn''t pose any threat to a firearms expert.


    And after observing for a while, Su''en was surprised to find that the world was really small.


    Upon closer inspection, two of the trench coat-wearing individuals were the two thieves from the bakery this morning.


    "..."


    Su''en suddenly felt that the mysterious atmosphere of the transaction had disappeared in an instant.


    If he didn''t know that the stall owner really had top-grade potions, he would have thought that this was a prank.


    .......


    Su''en also clearly saw the other party''s realization that he hade alone, and their rxed movements.


    The person in the ck robe said in a deep voice, "Did you bring the money?"


    After guessing the other party''s identity, Su''en wanted to take it seriously, but he couldn''t bring himself to do so.


    Although his face was covered, when he looked with his True Eyes, it was indeed the "Half-Deformed Human" from the ck market.


    "I brought it."


    Su''en didn''t see the goods, but he took out the money bag containing two hundred thousand in cash and handed it over directly.


    He was confident that the other party wouldn''t y any tricks. Of course, he also had the confidence that before the other party could cheat him, he would shoot them all in the head and take his money back.


    The person in the ck robe took the money bag and a smile appeared on his face.


    He asked, "What kind of potion do you need?""I''m very interested in your potions. You''ve seen my sincerity, and we believe we can have a long-term partnership. I have channels to sell the goods..."


    Su''en said directly, he didn''t want just a few potions, but an opportunity to earn money through long-term cooperation.


    But before he could finish his words, the cloaked figure interrupted him decisively, saying, "No, unless there''s a problem, I won''t sell my potions. Our transaction is limited to this one time."


    "..."


    Su''en frowned slightly upon hearing this.


    A one-time deal?


    His thoughts instantly changed.


    He was now more certain that these potions were made by this cloaked figure. It meant that this person had at least the level of an "advanced alchemist." And such technical talents, even in the inner city, were the elite ss thatcked no money.


    Perhaps the reason for not wanting topete with potions was not only because of the fear of attracting attention?


    Is he really a wanted criminal?


    It was normal for criminals to be wanted, but if an alchemist was wanted, it would be intriguing.


    What charges?


    Illegal production of controlled potions, causing medical idents, or something else?


    Su''en guessed that the other party might have a shady background like himself.


    He didn''t say much either.


    After all, since he recognized two of the kids as thieves in this neighborhood, there was no need to rush.


    There would be plenty of opportunities for further contact in the future.


    Su''en said, "Alright! Then I need an equivalent amount of potions..."


    Suddenly, he remembered that he would be going to the underground dungeon in three days and added, "I n to hunt and kill aberrant monsters in the city dungeon. Do you have any rmended potionbinations?"


    It was better to buy potions directly from an alchemist than to prepare blindly on his own.


    "The dungeon?"


    But upon hearing this, the cloaked figure''s tone suddenly became serious, and he casually said, "The aberrant monsters in the sewers have undergone uncontroble and violent mutations due to environmental influences. The city sewers have be very dangerous now. I suggest you not go. If you really want to go... you should at least have a team of second-tier professionals to ensure basic safety."


    "Huh..."


    Su''en thought the other party would introduce him to potions, but he didn''t expect to hear this.


    He keenly caught many key words.


    The fact that the monsters in the sewers had mutated had not spread among the general public. Even the high-level members of the Cross Society only knew that there were more new monsters in the sewers, but they had no idea about the cause of this abnormal situation.


    This guy actually knew about the mutations in the sewer monsters and even knew that the mutations were caused by environmental factors?


    "Of course, it''s just my spection."


    Obviously, as soon as the cloaked figure spoke, he seemed to realize that he had said something he shouldn''t have, and his tone became slightly panicked.


    He quickly remedied, "If you really want to go, I suggest you bring at least intermediate-level ''antidote potions.'' I have two types of advanced potions here, one for neurotoxins and one for septic toxins. The sewers are full of various toxins, and these two potions are enough to deal with most poisoning situations. Of course, you also need essential healing potions, paralysis relief potions... adrenaline and blood-booster potions are also essential for battles... If you have extra budget, I suggest you buy some ''aberrant monster repellent.'' This powder is expensive, costing 100,000 lis, but it might save your life when you encounter danger..."


    "Oh?"


    Listening to the string of professional terms, Su''en once again confirmed that this guy was very knowledgeable in alchemy.


    Moreover, he seemed to be very familiar with the situation of underground monsters.


    However, Su''en also sensed that this guy had a good heart from his words.


    If he were a shrewd businessperson, upon hearing that Su''en was going hunting, he would definitely rmend his own potions. But he first warned Su''en about the danger in the dungeon.


    Su''en directly asked, "How much do all these potions cost?"


    The cloaked figure thought for a moment and said, "These potions are very expensive on the market, but I''ll only charge you 250,000 lis. However, you have to promise me one condition, that you won''t tell anyone about our transaction."


    Su''en wasn''t surprised at all by his words and immediately agreed, "Alright!"


    You should know that the inferior potionsmonly used by hunters cost only three to five hundred lis each. This batch of potions would cost over 200,000 lis, which was definitely a luxury that ordinary people wouldn''t even dare to think about.


    Su''en didn''t hesitate to take out 50,000 lis in cash.


    Although it seemed like there was no danger in this mission, he believed in being prepared.


    After receiving the money, the cloaked figure said again, "I only brought a portion of the potions with me. If you trust me, I''ll have someone deliver the rest to the ''Three Fire Guns Tavern''ter. If you don''t trust me..."


    Before he could finish, Su''en interrupted, "No problem, I trust you."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "If I need more potionster, how can I contact you?"The cloaked man originally intended to say that he would no longer trade in the future. But looking at the customer in front of him who had given him enough trust, he found it hard to refuse.


    After a moment of hesitation, he finally said, "You can leave a note, just put it in the mailbox at the entrance of the Bellman Bakery on Ginkgo Street No.14. After I get the message, I will contact you in the old way. But you need to know, I have very few potions on hand, it''s impossible to provide on arge scale..."


    Su''en agreed without hesitation, "That''s fine!"


    This cloaked man probably only has a simple small potion workshop, he didn''t expect to get arge batch of potions. But as long as this path is not cut off, he can consider other options in the future.


    ......


    The transaction was sessfullypleted, and Su''en left the abandoned warehouse.


    Those half-grown kids who got the money also carefully crossed the building ruins, and after a lot of twists and turns, they finally crawled into a broken house underground.


    In the dim room, they lit candles, counting a bag full of cash, all of them were very excited.


    "Ah, finally we can save Susan''s mom!"


    "Yeah, with this money, Big Brother Danny can buy those expensive materials and make the mutation suppression potion..."


    "..."


    ......


    In the afternoon, Su''en got the potion at the tavern.


    And two dayster, the trial team from the "ck Tower Alchemy Academy" in the inner city finally arrived.


    A day earlier than nned.

 Chapter 56: Leather clothing

    Chapter 56: Leather clothing


    The "ck Tower Alchemy Academy Trial Team" from the inner city arrived one day earlier than scheduled, which didn''t surprise Su''en.


    He thought that the mentors deliberately adjusted the time for the safety of the young masters and misses, so as not to be ambushed.


    But for Su''en, whether it was one day earlier or one dayter didn''t make much difference.


    After all, his task was to take this group of prince sightseeing group to the underground cavern and see if there was a chance to visit the location where the banned scythe was sealed.


    .......


    At five o''clock in the morning, Su''en received a sudden message while squatting at the gambling stall, saying that the sightseeing group would arrive at Green Street at seven o''clock.


    But fortunately, the equipment, ammunition, and potions were all prepared early, and he wasn''t caught off guard.


    Half an hour in advance, Su''en waited alone at the designated location outside the tenement building.


    It seemed that the big shots from the inner city didn''t like to interact with too many people from the outer city. Even the members of the Cross Society didn''t have the qualifications to pick them up.


    Qiantiao specifically reminded him to dress in a "gangster" style that wasn''t too revealing, for fear of frightening those inner city nobles who had never seen a real gangster.


    So today, Su''en didn''t continue his dark punk style, but changed into a standard hunter outfit: high boots with puncture resistance, tactical vest, knee and shoulder guards with metal parts, and a worn leather cloak. In addition to the gas mask on his face, he also applied oil paint and covered it with ayer of ck gauze. After putting on the alchemy night vision device, probably no one could recognize him.


    Hanging from his waist were two pistols with increased ammunition capacity, which he had recently modified into firearms ording to his shooting habits. There were also mechanical gloves, daggers, magazines, and a first aid kit...


    .......


    After waiting for half an hour, at exactly seven o''clock, a heavily armored military transport vehicle arrived outside the tenement building.


    This kind of military heavy truck was rarely seen in the outer city, just like a spaceshipnding in a garbage dump. This movement inevitably attracted the attention of the original residents of the tenement building.


    There was the emblem of the Cross Society on Su''en''s cloak, indicating his identity.


    This identity had enough deterrent power. He raised his hand to signal for them to avoid, and those poor people who looked like distorted monsters in the eyes of the inner city nobles didn''te to disturb these young nobles out of curiosity.


    This was also the biggest role of him, the "local snake".


    Su''en walked over and greeted the leading mentor, introducing himself, "Mr. August, I am Su''en. Miss Philo rmended me to be in charge of guiding you in this trial."


    August was a middle-aged man with a brown beard, very steady in his demeanor. He was also a second-tier professional and the leading mentor of this trial.


    The mentor appeared very cultured. Even though he knew Su''en''s gangster identity, he didn''t show any contempt, giving him enough respect and politely said, "Hello, Mr. Su''en, you will be responsible for the trial of the students this time."


    Su''en responded in the same courteous manner, "It is my honor."


    The students got off the car one after another, looking around like curious babies.


    Su''en didn''t say anything and quietly watched them get off the car.


    A total of twenty-three students participated in this trial, in addition to the second-tier professional mentor August, there were also two assistants. One male and one female, the male named Daniel, had well-crafted and technologically advanced mechanical exoskeletons on his arms and legs; the female named Rosa, dressed in a sexy low-cut teacher''s skirt, looked like a mage from the French system.


    The students were all young, about fifteen or sixteen years old, and fully armed.


    Although their outfits were different, they all wore a tight ck "liquid battle suit" underneath.


    "Could it be... school uniforms?"


    Su''en had never seen this kind ofbat suit that looked like sharkskin swimsuits. Not only did it take into ount the design aesthetics, but also the mysterious runes asionally revealed under the light and the blue fluorescent energy marks full of technology on the clothes. He knew that this suit was not only clothing but also an alchemical product, and its functionality must be excellent.


    The male students looked very heroic in these leather suits, exuding a sense of stability in ck.


    The female students, who were full of youthful vitality, wore these ck liquid leather pants, fully disying their tall figures. The well-developed chests, perky buttocks, and slender and symmetrical thighs outlined the most perfect and enticing lines. They exuded a pure and beautiful aura from head to toe.


    Su''en took a nce and then restrained his gaze.


    It was no wonder that Lady Philo was so demanding when selecting a guide. These young female students were indeed attractive to this group of rough gangsters.


    .......


    All the students got off the car, and no one talked to Su''en, and he didn''t intend to seek any attention.


    Before entering the underground cavern, Mentor August gave a routine speech to the students, saying, "Today is your graduation trial. Complete the mission in groups of five... The two assistants will giveprehensive evaluations based on your performance in the trial. This is a practical trial, and the teachers will not lend a hand. I will not apany you either. Everything depends on the knowledge you have learned to solve the difficulties you encounter... Please take it seriously..."


    Su''en listened on the side, it was all boring admonitions, and the students listened with some boredom.


    August said he wouldn''t apany them, but Su''en knew that this second-tier professional would always protect them in secret. Only when they encountered insurmountable danger would he take action.


    But instead of worrying, the students showed excited expressions on their faces.


    For the people from the outer city, "hunting the wilderness" was a matter of life and death; but for these noble students from the inner city who had never tried it before, it had a deadly allure like poppy flowers. The adventurous journey of exploring unknown territories made these students who had never traveled alone and explored excited with fanaticism.


    "Wow... Mentor, aren''t you going? Haha, don''t worry, we will definitelyplete this trial perfectly!"


    "Yes, we are now official professionals and will definitely not embarrass the academy."


    "..."Su''en watched the energetic students with a cold gaze, hoping that they would still be happy when they saw the disgusting distorted monsters in the dungeonter.


    However, these guys did have their reasons to be proud.


    When Su''en and Kay went to the dungeon before, they were chased by the distorted monsters and were in a miserable state. It was because there were only two professionals at that time. But the trial group in front of them, each and every one of them was a professional, and they had a hundred times advantage in terms of equipment, imnts, professions, and logistical supplies.


    That''s why Kay said this mission was easy.


    Being able to receive a reward of 100,000 yuan and contribute to the guild was indeed a "freebie".


    ......


    After the mentor''s speech, the students began their excited group activities. They formed teams of five to undergo the trial, and in the end, their team and individual performances would be assessed.


    In fact, there were standard five-person team professionbinations for hunting in the wilderness. A tank + DPS + healer were the three necessary roles, and then two otherplementary professions, such as an assassin responsible for observing the environment or a warlock for crowd control, or even a demolitions expert...


    A "five-person team" could ensure the best professionbination for the team, allowing them to exert their strongestbat power. But obviously, these students didn''t have that kind of idea for their teamposition. Each of them started inviting their own friends or were overly confident in bringing girls along for the trial.


    The teachers didn''t say anything either. This trial was entirely decided by the students themselves, testing their organizational abilities.


    "Miss Rena, can I invite you to join my team? I just received the ''Academy''s Top Marksman'' honorary medal, so I will definitely achieve the best results in this trial..."


    "Hey, Jack, stop bragging. I have the highest overall score in alchemy. I will definitely get first ce in this trial!"


    "..."


    The male students were likepetitive bulls, not showing any modesty. They treated this trial as apetition and a way to show off their abilities in front of the opposite sex.


    Soon, the twenty people were divided into four teams.


    Assistant Daniel said to Su''en, "Mr. Guide, please help us lead the way to the dungeon."


    Su''en nodded. There was indeed a difference in temperament between the young assistant and the mentor. Although this guy sounded polite, he couldn''t hide his contempt in his eyes.


    Su''en didn''t mind. The people from the inner city had always had a sense of arrogance.


    He led a group of noble students through the ruins and headed towards the entrance of the dungeon in the cylindrical building.


    These youngdies and gentlemen were very excited, holding their guns and aiming around. As they walked on the ruins, they were eager to try.


    Because the entrance to the dungeon was close to the sewer, the foul smell in the air became stronger and stronger, causing many pampered students to startining.


    "Oh, the air in the outer city is really terrible... I can smell the stench even through the gas mask."


    "Wow... do you think those monsters hiding in the ruined buildings are distorted monsters? Are we going to shoot them?"


    "..."


    As soon as they spoke, Su''en knew why Sister Qiantiao said that the noble students from the inner city were difficult to serve. These guys had never been to the outer city andcked a lot of basic knowledge.


    At this time, the female assistant Rosa exined, "Those are not distorted monsters, they are just malnourished wanderers."


    After hearing this, the students lost interest.


    ......


    Soon, the group arrived at the entrance of the dungeon in the cylindrical building.


    Everyone put on their night vision goggles and entered.


    The traces of the previous battle between Su''en, Kay, and the Steam Party were still visible on the buildings, with bullet marks everywhere on the walls.


    Although the bodies had been devoured by the monsters in the sewer, there were still many horrifying traces on the ground, such as blood stains from dragging and marks of decaying bodies...


    Entering the dim interior from the outside, a terrifying atmosphere instantly swept over the entire trial team.


    The students nervously gripped their guns, looking around, afraid that monsters would suddenly emerge from the darkness.


    Mentor Auguste did not continue forward and stood at the entrance of the dungeon, saying, "The trial below begins. Each person''s task is to kill at least ten distorted monsters, and each team must obtain at least five cursed materials. Also, collect samples of the mutated monsters in the sewer..."


    "Yes, mentor."


    The students responded one after another.


    Auguste made it seem like they were guarding the entrance of the cave, and then he said to Su''en, "Mr. Su''en, I''ll trouble you from here on."


    Su''en nodded.


    Then, as the guide, he took the lead and entered the entrance of the dungeon.


    Returning to this familiar ce, he remained calm.


    He was already very familiar with this subway station, and he even remembered which bullet holes were made by himself.


    But the students, one by one, became nervous.


    After entering the dungeon, the two assistants became spectators, and the students had to rely on themselves.


    Among the four teams of five, the team leaders took care of their respective team members. All the students were experiencing their first realbat trial, and they had no experience, so they could only encourage each other based on the knowledge from the textbooks: "Keep the muzzle low, don''t put your finger on the trigger, pay attention to the ground and the ceiling..."


    Su''en was called the guide, but after leading them into the dungeon, he was basically free.


    Exploring the unknown and choosing the path were also part of the students'' trial.


    The four teams of five walked ahead, with the two assistants behind them. Su''en naturally knew that he was not the same as them, so he stayed on the side as a transparent person.


    In the dark dungeon, this was a ce where light couldn''t reach.


    The sound of fragments asionally came from the darkness, pairs of red eyes, and ck shadows passing by at the edge of their vision, causing the students to scream in fear from time to time...


    Su''en appeared very rxed. At least, he was very familiar with the environment on this level of the subway station.


    There was no danger here.


    But unexpectedly, after walking a few steps, a chubby student quietly approached.


    "Hey, guide brother, how should I address you?"


    Su''en had actually noticed this chubby student a long time ago because everyone looked good in their liquid skin suits. Only this person, dressed like a "Michelin Man," was impossible to ignore.It seems that no matter what school, there''s always one chubby guy in every ss.


    This guy came over in a friendly manner, whispering to Su''en, "My name is Charlie Leonard. My family owns the Sunbird Mechanical Equipment Company."


    His straightforward self-introduction left Su''en somewhat puzzled about his intentions, but he courteously replied, "Just call me Su''en."


    Although he didn''t know the guy, he had heard of "Sunbird Mechanical", one of thergest military equipment manufacturers in the inner city.


    Beforeing here, Su''en had heard that this trial team was not an ordinary student ss, but a ss of top nobles in the "ck Tower Alchemy Academy".


    The students in front of him, each one of them came from a significant background, either a wealthy princess or a young master of arge family.


    This random chubby guy was a bona fide son of a billionaire family.


    At this point, the chubby guy named Charlie revealed his purpose, whispering to Su''en, "I''ve asked around, and they say you''re a formidable gunman in the ''Iron Cross Society''. So, I was hoping you could look out for our team when necessary. After all, you''ve probably noticed that my team is full of nonbatants..."


    As he spoke, he stealthily slipped a package into Su''en''s hand.

 Chapter 57: The Joy of Rich People

    Chapter 57: The Joy of Rich People


    Is this bribery so tant?


    Su''en suddenly felt that this fat guy was quite "spiritual".


    In a group of arrogant lions, a fox suddenly appeared, which was quite interesting.


    Moreover, this guy even considerately said, "Brother, don''t worry about anything else. This is a reasonable rule. Just ept it with peace of mind. Consider it my hiring fee. The trial rules of the academy allow the use of all avable resources to pass, and do not prohibit hiring guides. If it weren''t for the assistants ignoring me, I would have wanted to give them..."


    Hearing this, Su''en suddenly felt that this fat guy was to his liking.


    A business family, no wonder they are so well-behaved.


    Beforeing here, Qiantiao had mentioned that there might be clever students who would give gifts during the trial, so he should just ept them. Su''en had no psychological burden in epting the thick stack of money from this fat guy.


    The fat guy looked at Su''en taking the money and also breathed a sigh of relief. He casually started chatting, "My father told me that we don''t need to be very powerful ourselves, just find our own career positioning. I will be a great businessman in the future, understanding how to make money is enough, fighting is the job of a bodyguard. To be honest with you, I came to the academy just to get a graduation certificate. I want to show off in high society in the future..."


    Su''en smiled slightly as he listened. This honest fat guy''s words made sense.


    Not everyone needs to be able to fight, especially for the big financial magnates who monopolize resources in high society. Leave the life-threatening matters to subordinates.


    Charlie was talkative, and he said mysteriously, "I have received reliable information that the school intends to increase the difficulty of the trial this time, and the casualty quota will be increased to ten percent. Although I know that Professor August will definitely follow us, in such aplex environment, the professor cannot take care of everyone. After all, there have been casualties in the previous trials..."


    Pausing for a moment, the fat guy continued, "And, don''tugh at me, but every time there are casualties, it''s always us nonbatants..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened helplessly.


    This guy really knows himself well. In a realbat trial, it is natural that the weaker ones are more likely to be the "casualties".


    But it''s fine to be at the bottom, but to call themselves "nonbatants," this fat guy really has thick skin.


    After hearing this, Su''en deliberately took a look. It seemed that the fat guy''s group was indeed a bunch of rookies who couldn''t even hold a gun properly.


    The powerful students gathered together for the sake of their trial results, leaving behind the fat guy''s group, which consisted of the stragglers.


    At this time, Charlie knew that it wasn''t good to be away from the team for too long, so he didn''t say much. He just whispered to Su''en, "If we encounter danger, please take care of my team. Um... especially me!"


    Su''en looked at his strong desire to survive, and since he had already taken the money, he nodded, "Okay."


    If necessary, he didn''t mind taking care of this fat guy.


    But it seemed that there was no need for such a spring outing-level trial at all.


    .......


    Although Fat Charlie deliberately avoided the gaze of the others when he came to find Su''en, some people still noticed his secretive behavior.


    Word quickly spread.


    They were still at the entrance of the underground cave and hadn''t encountered any monsters yet, so the students began to whisper.


    "Hey, that Charlie guy probably went to take a bribe again. He bribed the examiner during thest assessment and barely passed. Now he''s using the same trick again. It''s really embarrassing for our elite ss..."


    "Hmph, is a guide worth spending money to please? I heard that those guys from the outer city treat even the ck iron nt blueprint as a treasure. They don''t even understand basic alchemy. If something happens, we''ll probably have to protect him."


    "Shh... that guy is a member of the underworld! I heard from my mother that the underworld are ruthless murderers. Their minds are full of despicable and dirty calctions. They especially like to kidnap wealthy people like us from the inner city..."


    "We must not provoke the underworld. My father also said that those guys are like rats hiding in the dark. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals..."


    "..."


    Su''en could feel some faint gazes on him.


    Although he couldn''t hear clearly what those guys were whispering, he was sure they weren''tplimenting his looks.


    Thinking about it, in the eyes of those pampered young masters anddies, he, an underworld member from the outer city, was probably a ferocious monster...


    ......


    As the trial team gradually went deeper, small groups of monsters began to appear around them.


    Perhaps because Su''en and Kay had killed too manyst time, only a few wall-climbing monsters appeared this time. They hung on the ceiling like geckos, crawling around.


    At this time, the students gradually adapted to the dark environment and became bolder.They had shot down a few stray rats, the sound echoing deep into the cavern.


    Then, sporadically, small waves of monsters began to attack.


    After the initial panic, the students gradually found their confidence. Under the overwhelming firepower, the monsters would instantly drop dead.


    Su''en found it somewhat boring.


    Pure firepower suppression, without a hint of technique or tactics.


    But he finally experienced the pleasure of the wealthy in this world.


    The equipment of these rich second generations was too luxurious. They fired alchemical bullets as if they were free, a single volley costing tens of thousands in ammunition.


    Bad aim?


    No problem, just use a high-explosive grenade.


    Hitting the target was like a spray effect, causing an area explosion.


    Too many monsters?


    No problem, just use a machine gun.


    If one shot doesn''t hit, just fire a hundred more, one of them is bound to hit.


    It was like a group of godly equipped yers clearing a low-level dungeon. Even if they were low-level and inexperienced, it didn''t stop them from clearing it without any losses.


    Of course, such a scene would never ur in a "serious" hunter team.


    With this kind of fighting style, the value of the cursed materials they harvested wouldn''t even amount to one percent, or even one-thousandth of the ammunition they consumed.


    Su''en watched with mixed feelings. If they had this kind of firepower and equipment back then, they wouldn''t have almost died here.


    Indeed, in any world, money can do anything.


    ......


    However, equipment was just one aspect.


    Su''en had to admit, the knowledge these systematically trained students possessed was mostly at an elite level, surpassing over 99% of the people in the outer city.


    Whether it wasplex magic alchemy, mechanical armor, or medical skills, they were proficient in all... Although their operation was immature due to their equipment, it couldn''t hide their talent.


    Many areas of knowledge were even beyond Su''en''s understanding.


    Being proficient in firearms, he naturally paid more attention to the gunners.


    There was a student in the team with decent gun skills. Su''en heard people calling him "Jack", apparently the only one in this ss of ck Tower Academy who had won the "Sharpshooter Medal".


    On the way here, he had killed the most mutated monsters.


    In terms of skill, this Jack had probably reached the threshold of a "firearms expert".


    But that was it.


    These students stillcked realbat experience.


    Their attacks were very standardized: drawing the gun, aiming, shooting... You could see the rigid training in every move.


    It wasn''t bad, but this kind of guny was too predictable andcked flexibility.


    Moreover, to measure whether a gunman has reached the level of a "firearms expert", besides target shooting results, the most important thing is their mentality in actualbat.


    Su''en was confident that against this Jack, thetter wouldn''t even have a chance to draw his gun.


    But it was just a hypothetical enemy, they would never face each other.


    After all, unlike those in the outer city who risk their lives for a living, these young nobles from the inner city didn''t need to risk their lives to gain realbat experience. This trial was already the most dangerous experience of their lives.


    ......


    "If the trial ends like this, it seems a bit boring."


    Su''en followed behind the team, never drawing his gun, feeling somewhat detached.


    The five teams were like ying a monster hunting game, pushing forward all the way.


    They killed monsters and collected some samples of mutated creatures and water sources.


    But these sporadic monsters didn''t seem to satisfy their bursting sense of achievement, and they were still far frompleting the mission.


    They needed a more thrilling sensory experience and more monsters.


    At this moment, the team leader "Sharpshooter" Jack seemed to remember something and asked Su''en, who was at the back of the team, "Hey, guide, which way should we go now? Where are the most monsters in this cavern?"


    His tone was quite rude.


    Su''en saw that the two assistants didn''t speak, apparently acquiescing to the students'' choice.


    He thought for a moment, pointed in the direction of the scythe he remembered, and said, "When we came here before, we saw monsters running in that direction. I think that should be their nest."


    Anyway, these guys weren''t satisfied with killing monsters, so they might as well use their overwhelming firepower to clear this passage.


    The two assistants didn''t make a move, and the second-order instructor hiding in the dark didn''t show up either.


    With this team configuration, they could easily sweep this area of the cavern.


    Upon hearing this, everyone became excited, "Great, let''s go there! This time we must destroy the monster''s nest, maybe we''ll even encounter a ''weird'' one, hahaha..."


    The students were still immersed in the excitement of the adventure, unaware of the mysterious smiles exchanged between the two assistants following the team.


    PS. Tomorrow is the 1st, asking for monthly tickets and rmendations in advance. Brothers, please help~

 Chapter 58: Zombie-type Aberration

    Chapter 58: Zombie-type Aberration


    In aplex underground dungeon, Su''en was ying a monster-hunting game with the trial team of the "ck Tower Alchemy Academy".


    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, in the street above their heads, arge disguised tanker truck stopped in a hidden alley.


    Several men in ck held a certain device and scanned the sewer entrance, seemingly searching for something.


    After a while, the device lit up with a red light, and the leader of the men in ck spoke.


    "Have you determined their location?"


    "Yes, the target is about two hundred meters underground, currently exploring deeper to the west."


    "Release the distorted monster."


    "Yes, boss."


    As they spoke, they opened the valve of the tanker truck and inserted a pipe into the sewer entrance on the street. With a squirming sound, a ck viscous liquid, resembling oil, slowly poured into the sewer.


    ......


    The students'' shooting game continued.


    Su''en leisurely followed along, although he hadn''t gone this deepst time, the surroundings were familiar to him.


    In addition to the ancient subway tunnels left behind in this dungeon, there were also many pits dug out by monsters, leading in various directions, and it was unknown where they ultimately led to.


    Even the monsters in the sewer had their own territories. Su''en knew that they were about to reach their of those crawling monsters, a huge space resembling a subway hub.


    "Haha... Captain Jack just killed eight monsters again, all headshots. He truly deserves to be the number one sharpshooter in our academy."


    "Our team has already collected seven cursed materials, exceeding the trial task requirements."


    "Hey, Galen, your goals are too low. Captain Jack doesn''t want these ordinary materials. We need higher quality silver materials. Hopefully, we''ll encounter more elite monsters, preferably of the ''Eerie'' level. Maybe we''ll even get some gold materials. Then our trial results will definitely be disyed on the academy''s honor wall..."


    "Miss Rena, I''m telling you, our team will definitely take first ce in this trial. The results of this trial will be our besting-of-age gift..."


    "..."


    The four teams of five steadily advanced, feeling no sense of danger.


    During their free time, the young students would chat and joke with each other.


    As the guide, Su''en followed behind the team, appearing idle. He took the opportunity to carefully observe each student in the team. Although they all wore gas masks and night vision goggles, he could roughly discern their personalities through their attire, skin color, and physique.


    Although he couldn''t see the faces of the female students clearly, he could guess that they were surrounded by admirers and must have attractive appearances.


    Especially Rena, there were always boys hovering around her, trying to impress her.


    However, Su''en wasn''t particrly interested in those delicate female students. Compared to them, he was more interested in the monster corpses.


    Although the probability of "gray mist" appearing on the distorted monster corpses was low, the number of monsters killed was high.


    Along the way, as the students pushed forward, Su''en also collected two clusters of gray mist.


    From the memories of the monsters, he extracted more detailed maps of the dungeon and some "counter-joint movement techniques".


    Although these movements didn''t conform to the normal human body''s power exertion habits, there was no denying that some of these monster techniques were suitable for his high agility attribute as a "Deceptive Puppeteer".


    Simr to the "Five Animal Frolics" from his previous life, imitating the postures of animals could develop the rarely used small muscle groups in the human body. These climbing techniques of the monsters made Su''en feel like he could climb walls like a gecko, maximizing the utilization of his agility attribute.


    With money to earn and fragments to harvest, Su''en felt that this mission was not bad, at least for now.


    ......


    After a while, everyone arrived at an open space, about the size of six or seven football fields, with a high ceiling.


    From theyout of the buildings, it could be seen that this was once a hub station for the underground railway in Old Lingdun.


    Obviously, this was the monster''s nest that Su''en remembered.


    When the trial team arrived, the monsters were briefly startled and hid in various pits and buildings.


    The students were excited. They had been in narrow tunnels all the way, and the monsters had been killed by those with good marksmanship. Now, in such a spacious area, everyone had the opportunity for realbat, and they rushed forward eagerly.


    "Wow... this is indeed the monster''sir, there are so many distorted monsters!"


    "Haha, now it''s our turn to show off!"


    "Team Three, follow me. We need to catch up with the trial results..."


    "..."


    The four teams of five chose different directions and began their extermination operation. Of course, except for Charlie''s team deliberatelygging behind, everyone else seemed very enthusiastic.


    The two teaching assistants didn''t follow along either. They chose a high vantage point to stand, holding notebooks and recording the performance of each student in the academy. That position allowed them to overlook most of the space and provide timely rescue in case of emergencies.


    Su''en also chose a distance that was neither too far nor too close to observe everything here.


    Although the mission was easy, he never let his guard down. The safety of the students was guaranteed, but he didn''t believe that if he encountered danger himself, those mentors would definitely save a low-level member of the underworld like him.


    He was indeed very familiar with this space, and Su''en knew that this was their of the "Zombie Breed" distorted monsters. However, he didn''t know how many monsters were here and what kinds of mutated creatures there were...He nced at the buildings and the countless dark holes above his head, his gaze slightly heavy.


    His sense of danger told him that something in the darkness seemed to be watching their group.


    The two assistants were observing the progress of the team while chatting.


    "The new generation ''Night III Combat Suit'' does indeed have strong protective capabilities. But over-reliance on equipment can also cause the students to lose arge part of their necessary crisis response capabilities. The effect of the trial may not meet expectations..."


    "Yeah, when we were tested, it was the first generation. The defense was not far off. Tsk, these kids should suffer a bit, after all, the academy has instructions to increase the difficulty of the trial, right?"


    "Let''s find an opportunity to test their adaptabilityter."


    "Mm, there should be an opportunity soon..."


    The two did not avoid Su''en while chatting. From their conversation, it seemed that the two assistants might take some action to increase the difficulty of the trial.


    But it made sense. With bodyguards around all the time, the students would not be alert at all.


    Just as the two assistants were chatting, a sudden change urred!


    ......


    The students, in groups of five, were reaping the lives of those mutant monsters.


    But at this moment, a mutant beast over three meters tall suddenly sprang out from nowhere. It charged like a gori, directly knocking a team flying.


    Immediately, someone shouted, "Be careful, it''s a ''Zombie-type Aberration''!"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en''s pupils contracted sharply, and he focused his gaze.


    An "Aberration" is defined as a cursed creature that is stronger than its peers, has a certain level of intelligence, and usually has the ability tomand other mutant monsters.


    In simpler terms, it''s a boss monster.


    Aberrations are also divided into ordinary, silver, gold, lord-level... based on their strength.


    There are generally three types of Aberrations: Zombie-type (humanoid), Ghost-type (spiritual), and Beast-type (monster).


    In more detail, there are some extremely rare special categories, such as "Mythical-type", "Elf-type", "Phantom Beast-type", "Abyss-type"...


    And mutant monsters that can reach the "Aberration" level almost 100% produce cursed materials, and the quality far exceeds that of silver and gold materials of the same level.


    This is the monster that the hunters are reluctant to face, but look forward to hunting.


    ......


    "This Zombie-type Aberration is so strong... But, the defense of thosebat suits is too exaggerated."


    Su''en watched the sudden situation in front of him. After a slight surprise, he didn''t show much difference.


    It would be strange if there weren''t one or two bosses in such arge group of mutant monsters.


    The two assistants obviously knew this, but they didn''t warn in advance, letting those impulsive students suffer a loss.


    However, what surprised Su''en more than the ferocity of the monster was the "Liquid Combat Suit" on the students.


    Just now, the "Zombie-type Aberration" directly hit several students, knocking them all flying. Judging from the impact and the speed of the body flying backwards, Su''en determined that the monster''s impact was extremely strong, not inferior to a heavy truck hitting at full speed.


    If it were an ordinary person, they would probably die on the spot from this hit.


    But just like that, the students who were knocked flying, although embarrassed, stood up unscathed.


    Su''en''s keen eyes allowed him to clearly see what had just happened, and he quickly analyzed some properties of thebat suit: "The blue light mark on the clothes should be the energy supply system, and the alchemical runes on it are at least second-level ''Solidity Runes'' and ''Resilience Runes''... It''s a strange material, it''s like a non-Newtonian fluid, absorbing most of the impact energy with its fluctuations."


    At this time, Su''en saw that the rune blue light on the student who was hit the hardest had be dim. Then he reced a few new energy crystals like changing batteries, and sighed in his heart: "Ah... using ''Cursed Crystals'' worth ten thousand each as energy, no wonder the defense is so strong. It''s another money-burning piece of ck technology..."


    Such armor, not to mention whether it can be bought outside, for ordinary hunters, even if they have it, they can''t afford such extravagant consumption.

 Chapter 59: The Power of Money

    Chapter 59: The Power of Money


    Suddenly, a "Bizarre-level" distorted monster appeared, catching the four teams off guard.


    However, Su''en was leisurely watching the scene unfold, with the two assistant instructors observing from a higher vantage point without any intention of helping.


    The students had seen samples of the zombie-like creatures in the academy and had practiced tactics to deal with them, but this was their first time encountering living creatures.


    Although slightly panicked, it had to be said that the students'' theoretical knowledge was sufficient, and they were handling the situation withposure.


    The four teams cooperated with each other, with the heavy machinery students dying the onught of the distorted creatures while others searched for cover and focused their firepower on the boss.


    However, not only did the bizarre creature appear, but the distorted monsters hiding in the shadows also went mad and charged out.


    For a moment, the students were overwhelmed by the tide of monsters.


    ...


    Fortunately, the academy''sbat suits had good defense, otherwise, with just one encounter, these inexperienced students would likely have suffered casualties.


    At this moment, while everyone was engaged in the intense battle, Su''en noticed a fleeting gaze from the crowd directed towards him.


    Upon closer inspection, he saw a chubby guy giving him an innocent look from a distance. It was as if the gaze was saying, "Brother, remember to take care of me!"


    Although Su''en found it both funny and exasperating, he understood the meaning behind the gaze and nodded towards the guy.


    After all, they were all elite students, and they were not so helpless.


    After a brief moment of panic, the team leaders of the four teams finally reacted and began implementing the tactics they had practiced.


    "Form a defensive formation, triangr formation!"


    "Don''t panic, prepare heavy firearms!"


    "Mages, set up alchemy formations for area coverage attacks..."


    As soon as the giant mechanical shield was brought out, it made a crisp sound as it unfolded into a steel te. The sps interlocked, instantly forming four iron triangles, tightly protecting the team members inside.


    It had to be said that this was the advantage of having superior equipment.


    Then, variousrge-caliber, high-powered firearms were set up, firing rapidly.


    Steam cannons, six-barreled fire god guns, anti-armor methrowers...


    Su''en watched the firearms emitting bizarre blue and ck mes, and his eyelids twitched.


    These high-end heavy military firearms were not even seen in the firearms shops outside the city.


    Yet, almost every student had one in their hands.


    While feeling envious, Su''en couldn''t help but think, "These rich kids sure know how to spend... They use up all their ammunition on the small monsters before even facing the boss. They are really extravagant."


    However, despite his musings, the effects were immediately apparent.


    With a single burst of fire, the monsters within the range of the firepower werepletely destroyed, with limbs and arms flying everywhere.


    And it wasn''t just these mechanical weapons.


    After the defensive formation was established, the alchemy formations under the feet of the mage alchemists also lit up.


    One by one, the mage students formed their hand seals, their expressions serious as they began to condense elements...


    In terms of destructive power, alchemy magic was not inferior to firearms at all.


    The power of alchemy magic was directly proportional to the amount of energy involved. Within the limits of the caster''s physical endurance, the more energy added, the more exaggerated the elemental magic would be...


    Then, Su''en watched as this group of rich second-generation mages used the most basic first-tier spell, "Fire Serpent Coiling," and with the surplus energy, they piled up small fire serpents the thickness of two fingers into me pythons the size of water barrels, directly incinerating the distorted monsters into ashes.


    For a while, the underground space was filled with lightning and thunder, and various elemental spells showcased the astonishing killing power of the old-school mages.


    These students who had mastered a wealth of magical knowledge treated this ce as a demonstration ssroom for magic, opening Su''en''s eyes wide.


    However, at the same time, Su''en couldn''t help but mutter to himself incessantly: "Tens of thousands, tens of thousands... and they''re all gone in an instant..."


    Alchemy practitioners truly were a money-burning profession, especially the mages.


    Su''en felt a bit distressed. Clearly, with just a few shots of ordinary bullets to the head, the monsters could be dealt with, but these guys insisted on using a thousand or ten thousand times the cost... He had witnessed the "wealth ability," a transcendent ability exclusive to the rich!


    ...


    The boss was indeed extremely powerful.


    As a "Bizarre-level" creature, it possessed considerable intelligence. Not only did it know how to find cover to avoid attacks, but it also used tools to throw heavy objects from a distance. Moreover, its body''s resilience was extraordinary. Even high-explosive alchemical shells that could st open concrete could only leave fist-sized holes on its body.


    However, in the end, the "wealth ability" quickly quelled this unexpected situation.


    The tide formed by the distorted monsters was suppressed by even more terrifying firepower.


    Knowing that it was no match, the bizarre creature abandoned itsir and fled towards the depths of the tunnel with its heavily injured body.


    Su''en casually crushed a few stray distorted monsters that had escaped to his side and muttered, "These guys waste so much ammunition. Aren''t they afraid of encountering even greater dangerter on..."


    Although he knew that the storage space rings of these noble students wererge, the quantity of ammunition was definitely limited. Moreover, firearms also had cooldown times. The more powerful the firearm, the more it needed to cool down and be maintained after continuous firing...This wave has been repelled, but what about the next wave?


    However, Su''en also feels pretty good, anyway, it''s not wasting his own money.


    It''s also fortunate that there is such a group of people to clean up the monsters. Otherwise, Su''en would have no idea how long it would take for him to find that sickle by himself and whether he would have the ability to do so.


    The injured boss escaped, but the students dared not chase after it. However, the assistant Daniel thought of something and smiled as he whispered to the female assistant next to him, "I''ll go after that weird one!"


    Rosa seemed to know what he was going to do and nodded with a rxed smile, "Okay."


    These young students, without a bit of crisis pressure, the trial would be meaningless.


    .......


    Because of the battle suits, although the students were in a sorry state, except for a few minor injuries, there were no major losses.


    After experiencing a big battle, these young students suddenly rxed from the tension and smiles appeared on their faces again.


    "Phew... it''s finally over."


    "It seems that the distorted monsters are not that terrifying..."


    "Oh my god, we actually repelled a ''zombie-like weird'' too. We almost killed it!"


    "That''s right, I haven''t even unlocked my equipment yet, and this wave of monsters has been repelled. Boring..."


    "..."


    Alright, they''re showing off again.


    This is typical ofck of experience.


    Experienced hunters would definitely choose to clean up the battlefield and leave quickly at this moment.


    But these students probably thought that the previous round of fire had already cleared all the monsters in thisir, so there shouldn''t be any danger. They sat down one by one, chatting and resting.


    But they didn''t think about whether thismotion would attract monsters from deeper in the cave.


    .......


    At this time, Su''en, who was watching from a distance, gradually became serious, muttering to himself, "It seems like they''ve been attracted..."


    He looked up at the dark hole that looked like a beehive above his head, and suddenly heard the sound of friction, as if some monster was about toe out.


    Su''en took a closer look and his super vision allowed him to see that something strange was wriggling out of the hole, like a chubby white worm?


    Like an erged slug, these two to three-meter-long worms secreted sticky bodily fluids and slowly slid down from the hole in the ceiling.


    [Aberrant Acidic Worm]


    Exnation: Arge carnivorous worm that contains arge amount of acid in its body; this type of distorted monster is timid by nature, moves slowly, and has no attacking ability; unless it is under a lethal threat, it generally does not leave its nest. However, its mature form is highly aggressive.


    It''s another kind of distorted monster that I''ve never heard of.


    Su''en looked at the identified information and immediately became suspicious, "No attacking ability, then how did theye out? And what is the mature form of this thing?"


    He vaguely felt that something was wrong.


    He originally thought that the distorted monsters were attracted passively, but he didn''t expect them to be worms.


    At this time, the sticky fluid dripped from the ceiling, and the students only realized what was happening.


    "Huh... something fell on my head?"


    "Ah! It''s so disgusting, what is this?"


    "Be careful, this slime is highly corrosive!"


    ..."


    The students were stillining and hadn''t realized the danger.


    They once again missed the best opportunity to dodge in time.


    And at this moment, with a thud, a fat worm fell from the sky andnded heavily on the ground. With a st, it turned into a puddle of green acid emitting corrosive smoke.


    After the first one, it was like opening a floodgate. The white worms in the sky fell like rain, making crackling sounds.


    Hundreds and thousands of worms instantly turned this space into a pool of acid.


    Su''en was rtively far away, but he could still feel the burning sensation in his respiratory tract through his gas mask. He could imagine that the students in the acid would definitely be in a bad state.


    Oh~ Their gas masks are more advanced, maybe they can''t smell it.


    But it''s definitely nauseating.


    "Damn it, this acid is corroding my battle suit!"


    "We need to get out of here clean. Oh my god, the corrosiveness is too strong, I can already feel my skin burning."


    ..."


    There is no eternal substance in the world. Even the best battle suit materials will wear out, let alone being soaked in such a highly corrosive environment, the runes on them are also quickly corroded.


    The students didn''t even have time to retrieve their mechanical shields and ran out of the acid area in a sorry state.


    At this time, Assistant Rosa also had a serious expression and spoke up for the first time, "A sudden situation has urred now that Assistant Daniel is no longer here. I can''t guarantee the safety of each and every one of you. Everyone, stay alert!"


    Su''en listened and guessed what the purpose of the male assistant leaving just now was.


    With one less "bodyguard," the students were nervous, but Su''en didn''t feel anything. Because he knew that there was still a second-tier professional mentor hiding in the dark.


    Thinking of this, his gaze unconsciously looked towards a certain hole in the tunnel.A hint of confusion shed in Su''en''s eyes. Could this also be part of the trial?


    Did the academy instructors drive these bugs out?


    .......


    In the darkness, two figures seemed to have noticed that Su''en was aware of their presence.


    "Huh, that guide is quite alert. He seems to have noticed us."


    "That''s normal. Professionals struggling to survive at the bottom all have the alertness of a beast. Those who have crawled and rolled out of a pile of corpses won''t have poorbat abilities. Ah, our studentsck these kinds of experiences..."


    "..."


    The two people hiding in the dark turned out to be Daniel and the instructor, August.


    As they were chatting, Daniel suddenly bent over and spat out a mouthful of turbid blood.


    August instinctively supported him, expressing concern, "Huh. Daniel, are you injured?"


    Daniel leaned on his arm, a trace of cold light shed across his face, "Hmm, I got punched when I was chasing that weird creature just now."


    August was about to say something, but before he could speak, he suddenly sensed something and his gaze sharply turned towards the void several meters away, "Huh... Something''s not right, a professional is approaching, it''s a stealth!"


    But before he could react, the next second, he felt a tremendous force on his arm, and a sense of impending death instantly enveloped him, "You... Daniel, what are you doing!"


    PS. Asking for monthly votes and rmendations at the beginning of the month, thank you all~

 Chapter 60: Something is wrong

    Chapter 60: Something is wrong


    The [Mutated Acidic Worm] is also a mutated monster that has never appeared before. If Su''en hadn''t seen its habits with the All-Knowing Eye, he wouldn''t have been puzzled.


    But now he knows, and doubts arise.


    Why did these non-aggressive worms fall from their nests?


    "They generally don''t leave their nests unless they face a life-threatening threat." This exnation is particrly eye-catching. What exactly threatened their lives?


    Did the academy instructors want to increase the difficulty of the trial?


    A sense of unease shed through Su''en''s mind, but he didn''t have time to think about it. The group of students had already run out of the acid pool and rushed towards the hidden tunnel entrance where he was hiding.


    .......


    "Oh, it''s so disgusting. This slimy mucus almost made me vomit my breakfast."


    "Damn it! What kind of bug is this? I''ve never heard of it before..."


    "Can someone help me wash off the mucus on my clothes? I feel like I can''t breathe..."


    "..."


    The students abandoned their mechanical shields and heavy equipment and ran over, covered in green slime, looking very miserable.


    However, it was clear that these worms were just appetizers.


    Su''en''s gaze was focused on the depths of the passage, as if searching for something. He hadn''t forgotten that there was a note behind the worm''s description that said "the mature form is highly aggressive."


    Since this was thervae''s nest, the mature monsters must be nearby!


    The female assistant instructor, Rosa, also realized this and stopped the students who wanted to take off theirbat suits on the spot. She said, "Everyone, be careful. The next wave of monsters may being! Everyone, unlock your alchemical imnts and prepare for battle!"


    At hermand, the students who hadn''t unlocked their imnts before also activated their alchemical formations one by one. Various magnificent alchemical imnts were like a high-end exhibition, dazzling Su''en''s titanium alloy eyes.


    [Diamond Dragon''s Skin], [Magma Demon''s me Core], [Thunder Serpent''s Eye], [Rampaging Demon Muscle of the Velociraptor]... and a familiar type of imnt, the Cross Society cadre''s [Thousand Kill Feather Wings]!


    Theplexity of the alchemical formations on the ground indicated the level of the alchemical imnts. There was not a single ck iron imnt!


    Su''en had only seen silver imnts in the Complete Guide to Alchemical Imnts, and there were even several students with suspected gold imnts.


    As soon as the alchemical imnts were unlocked, the entire team''s momentum changed instantly.


    (Note: Unlocking the imnts consumes dark spiritual power, and low-level practitioners cannot maintain the unlocked state for a long time.)


    "..."


    Su''en looked at these students, his gaze slightly stagnant.


    He had spent all his money to obtain a gold imnt blueprint, but he hadn''t even found the main materials yet. Now, these students who hadn''t even left the school had easily equipped themselves with top-of-the-line imnts.


    However, after witnessing the luxurious equipment of these little nouveau riche, he wasn''t too surprised.


    Of course, there were always exceptions among this group of arrogant little lions.


    Assistant instructor Rosa''s words made everyone aware of the crisis, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.


    And at this moment, Su''en once again felt a gaze from the crowd directed at him.


    He turned his head and saw Charlie, the chubby guy, looking at him with a weak pleading look, as if saying, "See, I told you it was dangerous. Brother, you should understand~"


    Almost all the students in the ss had unlocked their alchemical imnts, except for the few stragglers in Charlie''s team.


    Not that they didn''t want to, but because they couldn''t.


    The only one left was the ck iron imnt that Su''en had overlooked, the [Ironhead Dragon''s Mushroom Skull], an imnt that enhanced survivability but had an extremely ugly appearance.


    Perhaps his talent was too poor, and he couldn''t fuse high-quality imnts. He could only reluctantly equip this thing.


    The other chubby guys were not even practitioners!


    After all, money could assist in cultivation, but it couldn''tpletely rece it.


    Advanced practitioners needed to reach the standard of dark spiritual power, which required countless days and nights of arduous meditation. For many people, it was an extremely difficult process. The more they wanted to join the workforce as soon as possible, the higher their self-discipline needed to be.


    Obviously, Charlie was not the kind of person who could be disciplined in his cultivation.


    Su''en once again showed a wry smile, but he nodded at Charlie, who then turned his head in relief.


    .......


    Obviously, Su''en''s worries were not unfounded.


    Assistant instructor Rosa''s reminder prevented the students from being caught off guard again.


    After the white worms fell and shattered on the ground, it didn''t take long for a chain reaction to ur.


    Although they didn''t see any distorted monsters for the time being, the dense and eerie "squeak squeak squeak" cries came from the deep holes in the ceiling...


    In this dark underground cave, it made people''s hair stand on end.


    "They''reing!"


    Su''en''s eyesight allowed him to see the monsters before anyone else.


    Suddenly, some flying creatures that looked like bats and moths burst out of the caves where the worms had fallen.


    [Mutated Fleshwing Moth]


    Exnation: ''Blue-eyed Poison Moth'' that has undergone mutations due to environmental influences; although they are fragile, their mouthparts have extremely strong armor-piercing abilities and can inject a deadly neurotoxin; they are abnormally sensitive to luminous objects and highly aggressive!


    "So, these are the mature forms of those worms?"Su''en looked at the giant moth in the distance, about half a meter long, with bat-like wings and a long proboscis, his expression slightly serious.


    Without any hesitation, he immediately hid all the reflective and glowing items on his body behind his trench coat.


    Before he could warn anyone, the moth swarm descended from the sky in an instant.


    At this moment, Assistant Rosa quickly approached Su''en and kindly reminded him, "Mr. Guide, don''t stray too far from me."


    This was a trial for the students, not a death sentence for the guide. Seeing Su''en''s "simple equipment", she naturally wanted to help if she could. She didn''t want the guide to die here just after the trial had begun.


    "Okay."


    Su''en nodded, not refusing this kindness, and replied, "Thank you."


    Although the monsters were fast, he could clearly distinguish and capture almost every approaching moth through his left eye.


    He didn''t prepare to draw his gun, but instead reached for the two Nepalese curved knives he had made himself at his waist.


    Knowing that these moths were attracted to light, it was best not to use a gun, otherwise the sh would definitely attract more moths. Although he hadn''t shown much closebat ability in the past, Su''en, who had mastered intermediate swordsmanship, was not weak in closebat!


    ......


    Su''en instantly learned about the moths'' phototactic behavior through his All-Knowing Eye, but the students didn''t know about it.


    Moreover, the energy symbols on theirbat suits (to prevent friendly fire in the dark), their imnts, and the glow of their spells were all sources of light that couldn''t be concealed.


    In the darkness, they were particrly ring.


    As soon as the swarm of moths descended, they immediately rushed towards the students.


    For a moment, gunfire erupted, and all kinds of dazzling spells were thrown at the swarm of monsters without hesitation.


    But this time, their "money power" didn''t seem to be as effective.


    The previous battle had used too many heavy weapons, some needed to cool down, and some were left in the acid...


    Although they killed arge number of moths under concentrated fire, the sudden burst of light made the moth swarm even more "excited".


    They enveloped the entire team like a sandstorm in an instant.


    Su''en didn''t dare to approach the students'' team, he found a dark corner and crouched down. This was a trial for the students, not for him. Even so, he still killed several moths that were flying around him with his knife.


    "Now those students are in for a tough time..."


    Su''en looked at the students who were still using mes to kill monsters, and knew that their "money power" was definitely going to take a hit this time.


    Experienced hunters knew that dealing with mutant monsters was not a one-size-fits-all approach, they needed to observe the monsters'' habits. If they found the right technique, they might be able to achieve a lot with a little; if they didn''t, even high-level professionals could be killed by low-level monsters.


    Just like now, the students were using fire spells against a swarm of moths that were sensitive to light sources. Regardless of how effective they were at killing the enemy, they were indeed good at attracting them.


    These moths, upon seeing a light source, would fearlessly rush over in a frenzy!


    Moreover, flying monsters were much more agile than the previousnd monsters.


    The all-around three-dimensional attack also made the students'' defense line virtually useless.


    Moreover, because the monsters had the ability to dodge obstacles as agilely as bats, the damage that firearms could cause was very limited. Without superb marksmanship, they couldn''t even hope to hit them.


    ......


    "Captain Jack, what do we do?!"


    "Damn it, these moths are interfering with my sight, I can''t aim at all. Shooting their wings is useless, if we can''t hit their heads, we can''t kill them!"


    "What kind of monsters are these, the more we burn them with the methrower, the more theye! If we don''t think of a solution, we''re screwed."


    "..."


    As the moth attack came, the students instantly felt that their firearms were bing less and less effective, even Jack, who was known as the "best marksman in the academy", was silenced and made frequent mistakes.


    He had been full of confidence before, killing a mutant monster with every shot, but now he couldn''t even manage basic self-defense.


    Su''en watched from a distance, clicking his tongue.


    This was the difference between target practice and realbat.


    The reason Jack had performed so well before was because his teammates had created a stable shooting environment for him. But now that the moths had gotten close and started to harass him, hisck of adaptability in realbat was immediately exposed.


    ......


    Half a momentter, the situation was getting worse and worse.


    "These guys should have learned bat observation'', they''ve suffered so much, but they still haven''t noticed that these moths are attracted to light sources?"


    Su''en asionally frowned as he watched.


    Their equipment, imnts, skills, and knowledge reserves could all be considered elite, but their adaptability was too poor, they had no realbat experience at all. When they encountered unfamiliar monsters, they were immediately confused.


    Originally, Su''en knew that there was a second-order tutor secretly following them, watching the students being beaten and fleeing in embarrassment, he also followed from a distance, without saying a word.


    But gradually, as the situation got worse and worse, he realized that something was wrong.

 Chapter 61: The gun skills shocked the audience

    Chapter 61: The gun skills shocked the audience


    "Ah! Damn it, my battle suit has been pierced by something. Ah... my arm is numb!"


    "Everyone be careful, the mouthparts of that monster are highly toxic, it''s a neurotoxin!"


    "How could my battle suit be pierced? Oh my god, the mouthparts of those monsters are too sharp..."


    "..."


    Suddenly, screams came from the crowd.


    Su''en looked at the figure that fell among the group of monsters and frowned, "Is the battle suit damaged?"


    Yes, the mouthparts of this monster have armor-piercing abilities. The acid from earlier also corroded the runes on the battle suit. If the energy is not reced in time, it will weaken the defense and it''s not surprising that it was pierced.


    He looked at the panicked students who relied too much on their battle suits and thought to himself, "They rely too much on their battle suits, resulting in poor crisis response capabilities."


    In fact, he had noticed this problem before. Those students relied on their battle suits and hardly dodged the monsters'' attacks.


    But what about continuous attacks at a high frequency?


    Now they encountered a swarm of armor-piercing moths. The battle suits had long endured the high-frequency attacks that they couldn''t handle, and finally, they were pierced.


    .......


    At this moment, Su''en looked at the female assistant teacher beside him and noticed something. He couldn''t bear to watch any longer and shouted, "The monsters are sensitive to light, stop creating more light sources!"


    Indeed, she was an assistant teacher, with much morebat experience than the students.


    After hearing this, the students stopped using spells that would create strong light sources, and even the sound of gunfire quieted down.


    But...


    This reminder came a bit toote, there were already too many monsters.


    Moreover, the students gathered together, and as long as they attacked, they would inevitably create some shes of light.


    Before long, the battle suit of the second student was pierced.


    A scream that made people''s scalp tingle.


    "Ah... my battle suit has been pierced too, damn it, my legs are paralyzed!"


    The worst thing on the battlefield was not casualties or death, but serious injuries.


    One seriously injured person meant that at least two healthy team members would be burdened. With the appearance of the injured, the already chaotic student team became even worse.


    Su''en looked at the increasingly dire situation in the distance and suddenly felt that things seemed to have exceeded his expectations.


    The unexpected happened too quickly.


    "Teacher Rosa, I don''t want to continue the trial, I want to go home, I don''t want to die here..."


    "Ah, I''ve been stung again, my heart and lungs are... paralyzed... I can''t breathe..."


    "Quick, inject him with the antidote!"


    "..."


    Finally, the worst situation urred.


    The first student with a critical life-threatening injury appeared. If not treated in time, he would probably die here.


    Su''en frowned and looked around, "Is it really the case that the mentors won''t intervene?"


    ........


    "Damn it!"


    Rosa, who was not far from Su''en, cursed without hesitation. She quickly formed more than ten wizard seals with her hands.


    Before the words fell, the alchemy array under her feet lit up, "nting ArtUnseal!"


    Su''en watched as this female assistant teacher almost instantly unsealed the nting art, and he was greatly surprised, "She forms the seals so quickly!"


    She was definitely the fastest person he had seen in unsealing the nting art!


    And it didn''t end there.


    After unsealing the nting art, Rosa''s body suddenly emitted a faint blue cold me. She once again changed the wizard seals in her hands, and her momentum suddenly changed. She softly chanted, "Alchemy Secret TechniqueUnhindered!"


    In the next moment, Su''en saw the cold me on her body condense into two illusory giant arms, floating behind her.


    "What kind of alchemy is this?"


    Su''en watched with curiosity. From a short distance away, he could clearly feel the chilling intent emanating from those cold eyes.


    At this moment, Rosa charged towards the students.


    "She''s actually a melee ss practitioner?"


    Su''en didn''t expect that this seemingly gentle and soft female assistant teacher would fight in closebat.


    And what surprised him even more was yet toe.


    Those cold me fists swung without a gap, instantly forming a whirlwind of mes, burning down arge number of moths.


    "Is this her ability to inflict double damage on monsters?"


    Su''en was seeing this ability for the first time, which subverted some of his fixed impressions of traditional alchemists.


    He thought that they could only cast spells, but it turned out they could also engage in closebat.


    Being able to be an assistant teacher at the ck Tower Alchemy Academy was indeed not simple.


    .......


    Because of Rosa''s intervention, the crisis situation for the students improved significantly.


    However, because her technique also attracted the moths, after killing one wave, another wave came rushing in.


    At this moment, Rosa shouted, "Extinguish the light sources! You all go first!"


    It turned out that she wanted to attract the swarm of monsters herself and let the students escape.


    The students didn''t dare to dy after hearing this and quickly ran towards the passage where Su''en was hiding.


    At this moment, Su''en finally realized what was wrong.


    If this was a trial, it seemed that the level of danger had far exceeded expectations."This is not right... There are already multiple severely injured people, and the hidden mentor is still not ready to take action?"


    Su''en had no doubt that these inexperienced students, running around in panic, were likely to be wiped out in the underground cave.


    That assistant, Rosa, alone cannot stop this group of strange moths.


    Do they still find the trial not difficult enough?


    Do a few people have to die to scare these students before the mentor behind the scenes will take action?


    But as Su''en looked at the anxious face of the assistant, Rosa, he felt that something was increasingly wrong.


    And at this moment, a deadly crisis appeared again.


    Charlie, the chubby boy running at the back of the student group, felt a slight sting on his back and immediately realized something. His face turned pale in an instant.


    He didn''t care about his image anymore and suddenly shouted, "Brother Su''en, help!"


    .......


    Hearing the cry, Su''en hesitated for a moment, but his hands had already decisively reached for the gun at his waist.


    There are still a small number of moths chasing them, and there is no sign of the mentor appearing. If he doesn''t take action now, Charlie''s group will likely be the first to have casualties.


    After all, he had taken the money, so he still had some sense of obligation.


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang..."


    In that instant, Su''en suddenly drew both guns and fired nearly twenty bullets in a very short amount of time.


    But his actions immediately drew a shout from the leading students, "Are you an idiot? Don''t shoot! The light will attract those moths..."


    But before they finished speaking, they heard a series of heavy objects falling to the ground.


    The expressions of the students instantly froze: How... is this possible?


    Charlie had already given up hope.


    He shouted for help without caring about his image because he had already felt the piercing sensation of the moth''s mouthparts stabbing his back.


    He thought he was going to die.


    But suddenly, he realized that the piercing sensation disappeared?


    When he looked again, he found that more than twenty moth corpses had fallen around him. And on the head of each moth, there was a bullet hole.


    Looking at this scene in front of him, and then at Su''en not far away holding a gun, Charlie immediately realized what had happened. He finally felt the sensation of his frightened soul returning to his body.


    After a moment of daze, a look of joy after surviving a disaster appeared on his face. "Brother Su''en, save me!"


    .......


    The student who had scolded Su''en for shooting looked at how easily Su''en killed so many moths and saved Charlie and his ssmates, and instantly felt a burning sensation on his face.


    They were all just focused on running, and no one noticed that Charlie and his group had already fallen into danger.


    But unable to resist his pride, that person still weakly muttered, "Don''t shoot randomly, the fire might..."


    Su''en didn''t give this group of people a chance to waste time with theirints. He pressed the magazine release button and quickly changed the magazine with both hands. At the same time, he said, "If you want to shoot, it''s best to use regr submachine gun bullets."


    There was no time to hide his clumsiness. He had to shoot to save people.


    He didn''t exin in detail why he used regr bullets. If they couldn''t figure it out, it would make these proud elites look foolish.


    There was no need to use alchemical bullets to deal with these monsters!


    The rate of fire and power of a firearm were often inversely proportional. Alchemical bullets had greater power, but slower rate of fire, and the resulting sh and noise were also greater.


    For dealing with these numerous and fragile moths, firearms with a fast rate of fire and fewer bullets werepletely sufficient.


    With less noise and a fleeting light source, the attraction to those moths was very limited.


    As long as the shots were urate, the efficiency was higher than alchemical bullets, and it was safer.


    Just like what was happening right now.


    While everyone was still staring at the ground covered in moth corpses without reacting, Su''en had already swiftly changed the magazine and pulled the trigger again.


    In the next instant, he gave these students a textbook-like demonstration of practical shooting.


    Both guns raised, index fingers quickly pulling the triggers.


    Dah, dah, dah... The sound of gunfire was dense like raindrops, but it had a fast and steady rhythm. This waspletely different from the panicked shooting rhythm of the students.


    Su''en seemed to aim aimlessly, but with each gunshot, at least one moth corpse fell from the air, and sometimes even two or three...


    The targets of his bullets seemed to be not just a single point, but a line.


    Throughout the shooting process, no one saw Su''en show any signs of panic. He remained calm and almost numb, calmly pulling the trigger, as if he calcted the precise timing and trajectory of each monster''s attack.


    The firearms in his hands seemed to have eyes, always urately dealing with the approaching moths, hitting each monster''s head with a single shot.


    With just his two guns, he blocked the group of moths chasing after the twenty students who were fleeing in panic.


    After three rounds of magazines were emptied, the ground was already densely covered with hundreds of moth corpses.


    At this moment, all the students were dumbfounded...


    Su''en''s marksmanship was shocking!


    .......


    Charlie, the chubby boy, was already stunned.Having narrowly escaped death, he didn''t hide his excitement at all, "Wow...my information was indeed correct, brother, you are the top gunman of the Cross Society!"


    His smug expression seemed to be showing off to the students around him: See, I was right, wasn''t I? Are you stillughing at me now?


    The students on the side were whispering to each other.


    "He''s so strong! I noticed he used at least seven advanced firearm techniques just now, precise trajectory calction, moving target lock-on, attack prediction, quick reloading, simultaneous multi-target attack..."


    "This...he must be a ''firearm expert''."


    "But...isn''t Jack also a ''firearm expert''? Why does it feel like there''s such a big difference? Seeing this guy, I even feel like I''m seeing our firearms instructor, Master Punk. He always hits the target..."


    "I didn''t expect there to be such a skilled gunman in the outer city. This guide, he must be a famous veteran gunman from the outer city..."


    "..."


    Listening to the whispers in his ear, Su''en felt a headacheing on.


    These students were really clueless. Assistant Rosa risked her life to attract most of the moth monsters for them, and he himself had just killed the ones that had slipped through the and chased after them.


    Now that they could finally catch their breath, these guys actually stopped running?


    Su''en didn''t want to be dragged down, so he said expressionlessly, "You guys go first, find a ce to hide, and extinguish all light sources!"


    Upon hearing this, the students finally realized that the crisis was not over.


    Then, they really ran...


    Although Charlie was a coward, he still had some sense of loyalty.


    At the critical moment, when everyone else had fled, he was the only one who asked in a panic, "Brother, is there anything I can do for you?"


    Su''en thought for a moment and said, "Leave some bullets for me, you go first!"


    "Okay."


    Charlie didn''t waste any time, he took out several fine firearms and a pile of bullets from his storage ring, "Brother, take care!"


    "Okay."


    Su''en nodded, holding two guns, he stood at the entrance of the tunnel.


    It wasn''t that he was selfless and willing to sacrifice himself for others.


    But with this group of burdens, he would be safer running alone.


    Now that Assistant Daniel had disappeared without a trace, the second-order instructor was nowhere to be found, and there were inexplicably falling bugs... All these abnormal situations indicated that something had happened in the cave.


    Although Su''en didn''t understand what had happened, his intuition told him that perhaps bigger trouble was waiting for them.


    Following these students would only increase the danger!

 Chapter 62: The beautiful woman in the cave

    Chapter 62: The beautiful woman in the cave


    Originally, Su''en thought it was just a simple trial guide task, but now he can see that there is something fishy about this trial.


    After some simple recollection, Su''en has connected the limited clues in his mind.


    Even if he doesn''t know the ins and outs of the matter, he can guess that it probably involves some grudges and power struggles among the wealthy families.


    This is a premeditated "ident".


    The disappearance of the mentor and assistant for no reason is most likely an ident.


    After all, if something happens to these young masters and misses from wealthy families, the mentors cannot escape me.


    Of course, Su''en, as a guide, will also be implicated.


    It seems that the target of the mastermind behind the scenes is not Su''en, but probably these students. But for him, this is a bigger threat than the crisis he is facing.


    If even second-tier professionals can be sent to the arena, then these wealthy families are definitely not easy to deal with. If something happens to these noble students, Su''en, a member of the lower-ss gang in the outer city with no foundation, will definitely be the first to be buried.


    By then, even the president of the Cross Society may not be able to save him.


    "I thought it was an easy way to make money, but I didn''t expect to get involved in the power struggle of the wealthy families. This is troublesome."


    Su''en''s thoughts were racing in his mind, already thinking about his future path: "Could it be that after this, I have to change my identity again and join the ''Steam Party'' or the ''Cross Society''?"


    Only by joining the gang will he know how powerful the three major gangs are in the outer city.


    Once he betrays the Cross Society, he will be in big trouble with the gang, and then he will have nowhere to go in the entire outer city.


    Unless it is absolutely necessary, Su''en does not n to give up his current identity.


    And in the blink of an eye, the students behind him have already run far away.


    Su''en also breathed a sigh of relief.


    At least he has saved his own people now, and even sacrificed himself, which can be considered as fulfilling his duty. If there are casualties, he can also exin himself, and the high-level members of the gang can also give an ount to the inner city gold owners. It''s not in vain that he was rmended by Mrs. Filov in front of that person.


    After all, before they came, everyone regarded this guide task as a great "opportunity".


    If used well, it is indeed an opportunity for these lower-ss gang members to turn their lives around.


    ........


    If he can help the female assistant, Su''en doesn''t mind using a few more bullets.


    But obviously, the number of these strange moths is not something that a few guns can solve.


    If Rosa, who attracts firepower, is gone, these moths will definitely chase after any living creature in the tunnel. Su''en doesn''t have thebat suit like those noble students, and his simple leather armor probably won''tst long.


    He also thought that the assistant at the ck Tower Academy must have more means to save her life than he expected, so he has always maintained a safe distance.


    Sure enough, as he expected.


    At this time, when the female assistant saw Su''en taking action to alleviate the crisis, she also breathed a sigh of relief. Without any hesitation, she took out something like a grenade, twisted it fiercely, and threw it towards the entrance of the tunnel.


    "A bomb?"


    Su''en looked at the thing thrown at him by the woman and guessed that she might want to blow up the tunnel andpletely block the path of these moths'' pursuit. But if it''s a bomb, it will probably blow him up too, and maybe even cause arge-scale copse.


    Su''en instinctively wanted to shoot down this thing in the air, but when he saw the female assistant rushing towards him, he knew that it was not as simple as a bomb.


    "Run!"


    Rosa shouted urgently while running.


    Su''en''s reaction was not slow either. He turned his head and ran towards the depths of the tunnel.


    And at this moment, he heard the "grenade"nding and heard the sound of gas leaking.


    Looking again, white foam gushed out of the bottle, suddenly expanding thousands of times. In just a few seconds, it had the tendency topletely block the entrance of the tunnel.


    The expanding foam behind them was like a tsunami, chasing after them as they ran. After two or three hundred meters, the foam stopped expanding, and they finally slowed down.


    Su''en looked back at the foam that blocked the passage, somewhat surprised. This thing is much more reliable than a bomb, and it won''t cause arge-scale copse. In his impression, although there were simr expanding materials in the chemical industry in his previous life, they could not achieve such arge volume expansion.


    It was probably because the female assistant had consumed too much energy before, she was panting heavily, and her chest was rising and falling violently.


    She looked at Su''en with interest in the foam and took the initiative to exin: "That''s the ''Super Foam Expansion Bomb'', an alchemical product. It is currently in the experimental stage and cannot be seen on the market."


    Su''en showed a sudden realization: "Oh."


    No wonder he hadn''t heard of it before, it turned out to be aboratory-level product.


    The ck Tower Academy indeed has a lot of high-tech.


    At this time, the female assistant nced at Su''en, as if she remembered something, and said again, "Thank you for saving the students just now."


    She probably didn''t expect that the guide arranged by the academy, who was a local gang member, would turn out to be a hidden "firearms expert".


    If it weren''t for the person in front of her, she would have been overwhelmed by herself.


    Su''en nodded in response and said politely, "It''s what I should do."


    After thinking for a moment, he spoke again, "If it''s convenient, I would like to ask, did something unexpected happen during this trial?"


    In principle, as a guide, he is not qualified to ask anything about the trial.


    But now, the situation is obviously not right.The female assistant thought for a moment, then spoke seriously without evasion, "Assistant Daniel and Professor August seem to have encountered some problems. We need to find the students now and end this trial immediately!"


    "..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en realized that something unexpected had indeed happened.


    However, ending the trial now was also good news for him.


    At least no students had died.


    He, as a guide, hadn''tpletely failed in his duties.


    But... it seemed that the current situation was such that they couldn''t end the trial just because they wanted to.


    .......


    Without saying much, the two of them retraced their steps.


    However, after walking for a while, when they reached a crossroad, Su''en discovered an unexpected situation.


    The traces at the scene showed that the group of students didn''t return the way they came, but chose another path at this crossroad, running deeper underground.


    Clearly, something was wrong.


    Su''en and the female assistant exchanged a nce, both guessing what might have happened.


    "Be careful, there might be monsters."


    "Mm."


    The students didn''t choose to return the same way, there was only one exnation, something forced them not to dare to return the same way!


    Moreover, there were some strange battle traces left at this crossroad.


    Some ck, oil-like viscous fluid was left in various ces in the tunnel.


    Su''en used his All-knowing Eye to identify it, showing that it was a trace left by a mutated creature.


    Mutated Amoeba Debris


    Exnation: This is a part of a slime amoeba''s body; its main body has the characteristics of splitting, transforming, merging, and strong corrosive toxins, and its vitality is extremely tenacious; it has almost no sensory system, but it is very sensitive to certain specific smells;


    "Did we really encounter a monster?"


    Su''en looked at the ck viscous fluid, his eyebrows furrowed.


    Encountering another unknown monster didn''t surprise him, but... why didn''t they encounter it when they came, but the students encountered it when they returned?


    Moreover, even if the mutated monsters are "strange", the students'' abilities should be able to handle them.


    Judging from the traces at the scene, it seemed that the students had no resistance and were driven deeper underground?


    Su''en found this puzzling.


    Looking at the introduction of "very sensitive to certain specific smells", his eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that something was wrong.


    .......


    The female assistant didn''t recognize the origin of the ck viscous fluid, but she also guessed that the situation was urgent. She urgently shouted at Su''en, "The students must be in danger, let''s go check it out!"


    Su''en nodded and followed her.


    As the two of them descended, the fragments of the route in Su''en''s mind became more and more blurred. He vaguely remembered that this had already exceeded the territory of the previous zombie-type mutated monsters.


    The mutated monsters in the underground cave were not just one or two types, they also had aplete food chain.


    Su''en didn''t know what kind of monsters were in the direction they were heading deeper underground, but judging from the memories of the monsters he had harvested before, there seemed to be a very terrifying group of mutated monsters hidden.


    Fortunately, not long after, they finally found the group of students hiding in a cave.


    "Oh my God, Teacher Rosa, you''re finally here!"


    The students saw Su''en and Rosa, and like seeing a lifesaver, they all gathered around.


    Before Assistant Rosa could ask, the students started talking about their experiences.


    "Teacher Rosa, it was terrifying! We encountered several ck dogs that we couldn''t kill..."


    "Yes, those ck dogs chased us madly. No matter how we attacked, it was useless. When we smashed their bodies, the ck viscous fluid would quickly gather and resurrect. Even if we burned them with fire, their size only shrank a little, we couldn''t kill them..."


    "Moreover, those smaller ck dogs would merge with each other and then transform into arger monster..."


    "..."


    Listening to the students, Su''en understood that the oil-like traces he saw earlier were fragments of the "ck dogs''" bodies.


    Su''en carefully looked at the students, apart from some corrosive injuries on their bodies, there didn''t seem to be any fatal injuries.


    Wait... weren''t there twenty students? Why was one missing?


    Assistant Rosa obviously also noticed something wrong. One of the four five-person teams was missing a person. She asked, "Where''s Kome?"


    "He... he''s gone."


    "Gone?"


    Rosa looked surprised. How could such a big living person just disappear?


    At this time, a student named Brown said, "Just now... Kome told me he saw a very beautiful woman in the tunnel. I didn''t take it seriously. Then when I turned around, he was gone."


    Rosa thought an enemy had arrived and asked seriously, "What woman?"


    "A... a naked woman!"


    "..."


    As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere suddenly became strange.


    There were plenty of monsters in this cave, but where would a beautiful naked womane from?


    Su''en, who was standing by, felt very familiar when he heard this, as if he had heard it somewhere before.


    A very beautiful woman?


    Suddenly, he thought of something.

 Chapter 63: Mutated amoeba

    Chapter 63: Mutated amoeba


    "Beautiful woman... Could it be the thing rumored to be near Green Street?"


    As the local boss in Green Street, Su''en naturally knew that there had been many inexplicable cases of missing people in Green Street recently. There were multiple witnesses who imed to have seen a beautiful woman appearing in the ces where the disappearances urred.


    Obviously, that "beautiful woman" was most likely not human.


    But rather, some kind of distorted monster.


    ........


    Su''en looked at the surroundings and frowned. This was no longer the area he was familiar with.


    The bad news was that one student was missing, and there were no signs.


    The good news was that it was only one.


    He suggested to the female assistant, "I think... we''d better leave here."


    Cutting losses in time was not toote.


    Rosa clearly knew the situation was critical. If there were other teachers here, she would have chosen to search in the underground cave.


    But now, she had no choice but to ensure the safety of the students in front of her as much as possible.


    She nodded in agreement with Su''en''s suggestion and said, "Students, there have been some changes in this trial. I announce the termination of the trial. Everyone should return to the surface immediately."


    Someone said, "But teacher, are we... giving up on Com?"


    "I wille back to find himter."


    Rosa thought for a moment and then asked Su''en, "Mr. Guide, do we have any other way to return to the surface?"


    Su''en thought for a moment and realized that there was, but he didn''t dare to say too much, "I''ll try."


    He also wanted to leave here as soon as possible and distance himself from these students as soon as possible.


    Because he felt that if things dragged on, they would only get worse!


    And his premonition of bad things was always terrifyingly urate.


    .......


    The students were frightened and had no intention of staying any longer, but as they were preparing to leave after packing up their equipment.


    Suddenly, from the tunnel they hade from, there came the sound of sshing water, as if something wet was running quickly.


    The students seemed to be familiar with this sound and eximed in fear, "Teacher Rosa, it''s not good, the ck dog is here again!"


    Su''en listened and his expression froze. He didn''t dare to be careless and used his eyes to observe.


    He saw at the end of his field of vision, seven or eight "dogs" with blurred features in their "dog" form, running out of the tunnel.


    The appraisal still showed Mutated Amoeba Shapeshifter.


    At this moment, Assistant Rosa took out the methrower tied to her thigh, raised her hand, and fired several shots at the monsters.


    Her marksmanship was good, directly hitting the heads of two monsters.


    Then Su''en watched as the heads of the monsters exploded into a puddle of ck water, but the monsters continued to run, and in an instant, they reformed a head.


    Seeing this, Su''en frowned slightly.


    The students anxiously said, "Teacher, physical attacks are useless, we can only use fire to pose a threat to them!"


    .......


    "Strong vitality, good at shapeshifting and fusion..."


    Su''en coldly watched everything in front of him. He had already put away his ordinary pistol and was now holding two rune firearms loaded with alchemical bullets.


    His eyes flickered as he captured the movements of the monsters and analyzed in his mind, "It''s difficult to kill them unless their bodies are burned dry. The only attacking method is close-range corrosion, which is not too lethal... The trouble is their numbers."


    Looking again at the end of the tunnel, it seemed that there were more than just seven or eight of those ck dogs!


    Assistant Rosa quickly tried other attack methods, but they had little effect. She immediately shouted, "Retreat!"


    Their escape route had been blocked, and they had no choice but to move deeper into the cave while retreating.


    Physical professionals had no way to deal with these monsters. Once they got close, even theirbat suits would be quickly corroded, emitting white smoke. Only "Elemental Alchemical Bullets" and some fire-based spells had some use, but they only slowed down the pursuit of those monsters.


    Those things couldn''t be killed at all!


    Even if they used another foam bomb to seal the tunnel, those "ck dogs" would still appear from somewhere, relentlessly chasing after them.


    Su''en followed the students as they ran downhill.


    He quickly pieced together the fragments of his memory in his mind, trying to find another route back to the surface.


    But strangely, no matter how they changed their path, those ck dogs always appeared like ghosts, finding them urately in every corner.


    Before long, not only were they being chased, but intercepting monsters had also appeared.


    The situation became more and more critical.


    ......


    But a turning point came suddenly.


    By chance, in an open area, after the personnel dispersed, Su''en discovered a characteristic of those "ck dogs": they did not attack everyone, but specifically targeted one particr team.


    That was the team led by Jack, who was known as the "number one gun" in the academy!


    Previously, when a female student fell, those ck dogs could have killed her, but theypletely ignored her and instead rushed towards the team in front of the crowd.


    Before long, all the students noticed that as long as they avoided Jack''s team, those ck dogs would not attack them at all.


    Upon closer inspection, the target of the ck dogs'' attacks was not the team itself, but a girl in the team.


    Someone noticed something abnormal and shouted, "Teacher, those monsters are after Rena!"


    At this moment, everyone understood that those ck dogs had been chasing Rena from the beginning to the end, not them.


    They had inadvertently blocked Rena in the crowd, so they mistakenly thought that the ck dogs would attack everyone.


    Realizing this, almost all the students instinctively avoided the girl.


    Sure enough, the ck dogs directly passed by them, and the crisis was instantly resolved.


    Su''en watched this scene and instantly connected the clues in his mind, forming aplete conspiracy.


    He suddenly realized, "So that''s how the monsters use their ''extremely sensitive sense of smell to certain specific scents''!"


    Like a trained drug-sniffing dog, it wouldn''t bite ordinary people, but it would attack criminals carrying contraband.


    "Is this monster being controlled by someone?!"


    Su''en immediately concluded, "In order to avoid causing too many casualties, they''ve set up this targeted monster to ambush here... The culprit must be some big shot from the inner city!"


    Even without thinking hard, it was clear that this was some clichd power struggle among the wealthy elites.


    The puppet master behind all this was aiming to kill the girl named "Rena"!


    ......


    Su''en felt extremely annoyed, inexplicably getting involved in the power struggle of the inner city elites.


    With his current status as a small-time gangster, he was nothing but cannon fodder in the face of such powerful forces.


    Regardless of whether the puppet master''s plot seeded or not, he, as the guide, would be implicated.


    He might even be framed as an aplice, after all, he was the one who led the way!


    "I''ve really gotten myself into a big mess... If that girl''s identity is extremely important, and if she dies on the territory of the Cross Society, the higher-ups of the gang would probably have a hard time exining."


    Su''en''s mind was racing.


    Looking at the situation at hand, he was almost certain that he needed to make a run for it.


    But if he ran away and left no one to take the me, Qianjiao and Kay would definitely be implicated.


    So unless it was absolutely necessary, he still had no intention of immediately washing his hands of the matter.

 Chapter 64: I hate it when others threaten me

    Chapter 64: I hate it when others threaten me


    In a short while, the number of ck dogs increased.


    At the end of the field of vision, the corridor was filled with chaotic ck shadows.


    Assistant Rosa also noticed this and realized that it would be a burden to follow therge group. She decided to take one person and be more agile.


    Her decision was resolute. She grabbed the girl named "Rena" and shouted loudly to Su''en, "Mr. Guide, let''s split up and please make sure to lead the students to a safe ce!"


    Without waiting for Su''en''s response, she didn''t look back and took the girl into the darkness.


    The group of chasing ck dogspletely ignored the other students hiding against the wall and chased after them.


    Su''en knew very well that he had no way to deal with those ck dog monsters. Even if he knew that Rosa and the girl student running down there were in danger, he had no hesitation.


    "Let''s go!"


    The underground cave was not a good ce to stay. Su''en gave a lightmand and nned to lead the students out first.


    Now that there was no mentor, if these young nobles died here, not only would Su''en himself be in trouble, but the "Cross Society" would also be retaliated against by the influential figures in the inner city.


    Upon hearing this, the frightened students had no objections and hurriedly followed Su''en back to the corridor they came from.


    After walking for a while, they didn''t encounter any trouble.


    The few ck dog monsters they encountered didn''t pay any attention to them and continued chasing after Rosa and the girl.


    Everyone could now be sure that all the abnormalities in this trial were because someone wanted to kill "Rena".


    Originally, it was just an ordinary trial where they might encounter some small crises, but it would pass.


    But unexpectedly, so many idents happened.


    The missing Kom was probably in great danger, Mentor Auguste never showed up, Assistant Daniel didn''t return, and now even Assistant Rosa had fled deeper... and Rena.


    .......


    Su''en found a route leading to the surface and they continued on.


    The monsters around them became sparser, and the people finally saw hope of survival.


    After running for a while, they were close to the surface and the environment was already safe enough. Some people were exhausted, so they stopped to rest in an open area.


    With no intimidating monsters around, the thoughts of the people returned to normal.


    At this moment, someone weakly asked, "Will Teacher Rosa and Rena... be okay?"


    As soon as this question was asked, the atmosphere became unusually quiet.


    In fact, everyone knew in their hearts that they couldn''t do anything to those ck dog monsters even with so many people. How could two people possibly kill the monsters?


    The best hope was for them to escape...


    But Su''en knew the habits of those monsters. If Rosa escaped alone, she might survive; but if she took "Rena" with her, both of them would be in great danger.


    However, at this moment, an inappropriate voice appeared.


    It was Jack who stood up, with a serious expression on his face, and said, "No, we can''t just give up on Teacher Rosa and Rena... and Kom! We have to go save them!"


    As soon as he said this, someone immediately expressed opposition, saying, "But those monsters are not something we can deal with. All we can do is go to the surface and inform the academy. They should send rescue soon."


    "No!"


    Jack insisted on going down, his tone resolute. "We must do something. Waiting for rescue is not an option!"


    "I think it''s better if we don''t go..."


    "Yeah, going won''t change anything."


    "I won''t go anyway. If you want to go, go ahead, don''t morally pressure me."


    "..."


    Suddenly, an internal conflict broke out. Su''en watched this group of arrogant little lions quarreling and thinking about something else.


    He also noticed that Jack had always been attentive to that "Rena" along the way, probably pursuing her.


    It seemed like a plot where someone bravely risked their life for their loved one.


    Originally, it was somewhat admirable.


    But suddenly, the plot took a turn.


    Jack didn''t dare to go alone and wanted to invitepanions. After calling for a while, no one responded, and he became angry. He probably wanted to use provocation and no longer spoke politely, saying, "Hmph, you cowards! Our most respected teacher and our ssmates we spend time with are in danger!"


    His words were harsh and tore off the facade.


    Someone also stood up and revealed the truth.


    "Jack, aren''t you a coward? Haha... Don''t think we don''t know why you''ve been trying so hard to get close to Rena. Isn''t it for her family''s assets? Now if something happens to her, you and your family''s only reliance will be gone. You selfish person, you want us to follow you to our deaths, impossible!"


    "Normally, we didn''t expose you when we saw through your intentions towards our ssmates, but now you''re stepping on our faces? The second-ss citizens are desperately trying to climb up the socialdder, thinking we don''t know about your petty thoughts?"


    "That''s right! We didn''t see you bravely rushing down earlier. Now that you''re thinking about how it might affect your family, you regret it and want us to go die with you?"


    "..."


    The students became more and more impolite in their words, hitting where it hurt.


    The conflicts between the upper ss and the lower ss seemed to have no difference, exposing weaknesses and adding salt to the wound.


    Su''en, who was watching this drama unfold silently, suddenly didn''t expect the fire to burn onto himself.Jack looked around and found no one willing to apany him, so he turned his gaze to Su''en, the only person on the scene he could suppress with his status.


    Without a second thought, hemanded, "You, I order you toe with me to save people!"


    Hearing this arrogant tone, Su''en nced at him, not arguing, and said indifferently, "My task is to get you all out."


    Charlie, the fat man who had been silent all along, also stepped in to mediate, "Jack, don''t go too far. The guide''s task is to get us all out. You can''t sacrifice everyone''s safety for your selfish goals!"


    "Hmph!"


    Jack''s face turned red with anger, and his gentlemanly demeanor was nowhere to be seen.


    Ignoring Charlie, he stared at Su''en and threatened, "You, a lowly outsider, dare to refuse mymand? Let me tell you, if anything happens to Miss Rena, you won''t live to tell the tale! Not just you, but the forces behind you as well. I guarantee that the Reiss family of Miss Rena, my Edward family will definitely pursue it to the end!"


    Hearing him mention the "Reiss family", Charlie''s face froze.


    Su''en, however, remained expressionless throughout.


    A death threat?


    Tsk tsk...


    This guy really threw his sense of superiority as an inner city resident onto his own face.


    At that moment, a thought shed through his mind. Without finding any more reasons to refuse, he stood up and said, "If no one else has any objections, I can apany you..."


    Hearing Su''en "submit", everyone thought he was intimidated by Jack''s words. It was only natural to think so. An outer city gang member, whose status was even lower than that of a ve in the inner city''s major families, how could he dare to defy?


    No one spoke up, and the students seemed unwilling to speak up for an outsider.


    Charlie wanted to say something, but swallowed his words, sighing deeply.


    After all, while one Jack was insignificant, almost everyone in the ss was not afraid of him.


    But if they were known to have obstructed the "rescue Rena" operation, and something really happened, causing the upper echelons of the Reiss family to be furious, that would be a real disaster.


    No one could bear it.


    Seeing no one speak, Jack sneered, "No need to ask these cowards, youe with me to save people!"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en stood up expressionlessly and apanied this young master back into the depths of the cave.


    ......


    Soon, the two arrived at the fork in the road where they had separated from the female assistant.


    This ce was remote enough, the quiet underground space, even their breathing could be clearly heard.


    Su''en thought, probably no one would hear the gunshot.


    Jack had been walking behind him all the time, seemingly on guard against him.


    Little did he know that Su''en had already had the intention to kill.


    Just then, a strange noise came from the depths of the cave, and human instinct would be attracted to such a moment.


    Su''en, who had been prepared, quickly drew his gun and decisively pulled the trigger.


    Without any warning, the gunshot did not deviate at all.


    With a "bang", a bullet hit Jack right between the eyebrows, and he died with his eyes wide open.


    Su''en put away his gun, looked at the corpse, and said indifferently, "I hate being threatened more than I hate causing trouble."


    People from the inner city can''t be killed?


    Ha...


    There''s no such word in Su''en''s dictionary.


    Following you was just a convenient excuse to break away from the group.


    PS. The new book period updates six to eight thousand words every day, it feels like the word count is going to run away again... Asking for monthly tickets, rmendations, all kinds of requests!

 Chapter 65: Bumper harvest of knowledge

    Chapter 65: Bumper harvest of knowledge


    A headshot.


    Su''en looked at the "mist" on Jack''s body in front of him and swallowed it casually.


    "Hmm..."


    After digesting the fragments of those memories in his mind, he eximed in surprise, a hint of joy appearing on his face.


    "Obtained 6 memory fragments of ''Jack Edward''."


    "You obtained some information: ''Damn it, if something happens to Rena, all the family''s investments will go down the drain...''"


    "You have mastered arge amount of ''alchemy knowledge''..."


    "You have mastered some ''basic, intermediate, and advanced potion knowledge''..."


    "You have gained some ''intermediate mystery knowledge''..."


    "You have mastered fluent Gnidenguage..."


    "You have acquired some ''advanced firearms theory knowledge'', firearm experience +365."


    "Mental power +0.11."


    The memory fragments obtained from this corpse suddenly made Su''en feel like his mind had gained a lot more.


    After a moment, he snapped out of that dazed feeling and couldn''t help but exim, "The knowledge reserve of the students at the ck Tower Academy is so exaggerated..."


    This was the first time Su''en had gained so much "knowledge" from the same corpse.


    The useful knowledge obtained from the corpses in the outer city''s arena was very scarce. It was already good enough to harvest somebat experience. The memories of the diators living in the lower levels were ny percent filled with useless information, scenes of pleasure quarters, gambling dens, taverns... and various intimate scenes with women.


    The stripped memory fragments had a low chance of containing experience and skills, but a high chance of containing these low-quality contents.


    However, Jack''s memories were theplete opposite.


    The alchemy knowledge he had studied for many years at the academy upied arge portion of his memories. With just a simple extraction, he could dig up a "treasure".


    Upon thinking about it, Su''en also understood.


    As the top noble academy in Old Lingdun City, the ck Tower Alchemy Academy''s students had no survival pressure. Their only task was to cram various knowledge. The students had top professionals as their teachers and could ess the richest alchemical ssics and scrolls. Naturally, they were the small group of people who possessed the highest quality alchemical knowledge.


    Harvesting the soul fragments of this Jack made Su''en feel like he had saved several years of hard study.


    Moreover, many of them were advanced alchemical knowledge that even people in the outer city couldn''t learn with money.


    Just the "firearms theory knowledge" alone filled in the gaps in Su''en''s theoretical understanding. Before this, he could use many firearms techniques, but he didn''t understand their principles. He couldn''t be considered aplete master.


    Now that he had filled in this theoretical knowledge, his firearm experience also skyrocketed, instantly reaching Advanced Firearms Mastery 487/2000.


    Su''en was also curious about what kind of scene the legendary "firearms master" would be when his experience was filled.


    And that Gnidenguage had also changed from "beginner" to "fluent". There were also improvements in mystery studies and potion studies. Although they didn''t seem to be useful for the time being, it was still a decent harvest. More knowledge was always better.


    ......


    Su''en collected the glowing "employment materials" and "alchemy equipment" from Jack''s body. They were all silver-quality materials. Along with the storage ring, the two runic methrowers on his waist,bat suit, advanced gas mask, night vision goggles, and protective gear were all stripped off.


    These were all good things, but they couldn''t see the light of day.


    Just talking about the two runic methrowers with me runes all over them, they were obviously much better than the gun Su''en had obtained before, the "Three-Headed Ghost". They felt very smooth in his hands, with superior sights, stability, recoil, and durability.


    They looked very tempting, but Su''en couldn''t use any of these things, and he couldn''t even sell them on the ck market to cash in.


    Once others discovered that these things had entered the market, it would expose the fact that he killed Jack.


    The "fake death n" would also fail.


    ......


    He hadn''t nned to give up his current identity as a member of the Cross Society because he didn''t think things were that bad.


    Now that he knew the identity of that "Rena," he knew he had to make a decision.


    That youngdy had a significant background, the only daughter of the top Lingdun City financial conglomerate, the "Reyes Family".


    Even for people from the outer city, this financial conglomerate was well-known. The conglomerate operated two of the most famouspanies, the "Old Lingdun Resident Drinking Water Supply Company" and the "ckde Mining Group".


    One controlled the residents'' drinking water, and the other controlled the development and trading of most of Old Lingdun''s minerals. The scale of their assets was unimaginable.


    If someone wanted to kill Rena, it must be rted to interests. After all, she was the first heir of the conglomerate.


    This kind of clich power struggle plot, whether in novels or in reality, Su''en was already used to it.


    He wasn''t interested in getting involved.


    But because he was involved in this inexplicable conspiracy, Su''en''s current situation had be very bad.


    Those people chose to ambush him during the trial, naturally considering all factors. They killed the mentor first, then released this relentless and relentless pursuit of a monster...


    In everyone''s eyes, Rena was as good as dead.


    Once she died, it would definitely involve many people.


    As a guide, Su''en would definitely be implicated.


    In the eyes of the major financial conglomerates in the inner city, the lives of people from the outer city were not worth mentioning. They wouldn''t listen to your exnation of whether you were powerless. If the youngdy died, someone had to take the me and be buried with her.


    Even if he couldn''t die, once he was interrogated and the identity of the original host was exposed, Su''en''s fate would be very miserable.


    Therefore, although it seemed unrted to him, he actually had no choice.


    To be on the safe side, he decided to "run away".


    But the Cross Society had taken him in, and whether it was the Thousand Stripes or Captain Kay, they treated him well.


    Even if Su''en ran away, he didn''t want to involve them.


    Now that this guy Jack forced him to go deep into the underground cavern to save someone, everything was justified.


    Both of them would "die" in the underground cavern, with no trace of their bones left. This was the best oue.


    A small guide sacrificing his life to save someone, what could those inner city financial conglomerates say?


    By then, the Cross Society would be minimally affected.Su''en felt that he had done his best, and no one else could have done better.


    ......


    As Su''en was collecting the spoils of war, he was already nning his life after leaving.


    Giving up his current identity meant giving up everything he was familiar with.


    This would be a very difficult process. He couldn''t reveal his shooting skills, lifestyle, current image... everything had to start over.


    Feeling a bit of a headache, Su''en didn''t think too much about it.


    He cleaned up the murder scene to avoid leaving any traces. Then he carried the body and walked towards the depths of the cave.


    Since he nned to run away, there was something even more important he had to do now.


    That was to find the [Forbidden Object] - the scythe!


    Without his identity, he still needed to take the treasure.


    Several students and tutors with sensitive identities had died. Before their bodies were found, the big shots in the inner city would definitely organize arge-scale search and clean-up of the cave.


    If high-ranking professionals came down, the mutated monsters in the cave wouldn''t be able to stop them.


    The scythe was nearby now, and it might be found by someone.


    So, Su''en nned to find it and take it away before he ran away.


    This was the best opportunity, and perhaps the only one.


    ......


    After carrying the body for a while, Su''en saw a vertical hole on the side of the cave.


    In his memory, this seemed to lead to the deep underground.


    Hearing the rustling sounds of monsters, he threw the body with treated wounds down. In the cave, fresh bodies were the favorite food of the mutated monsters. The smell of blood would attract nearby monsters. It wouldn''t be long before even the bones were gnawed clean.


    Su''en didn''t think too much about it and continued to move deeper into the cave.


    Fortunately, the previous battle had cleared most of the zombies in this area, so the journey was smooth.


    Then, following the memory route he had harvested, he arrived near the cave where the scythe was located.


    This part of the cave was connected to a part of the city''s sewer system. He could hear the sound of water, and the air was filled with a strong stench.


    Suddenly, Su''en saw traces of something like oil on the ground and his expression became serious: "Those ''transforming bugs'' actually followed us here?"


    He hadn''t seen any traces along the way. It seemed that Assistant Rosa and a girl named Rena had led them from another tunnel. They were probably also trying to find a way to the surface, but it seemed to be blocked.


    "I hope we don''t run into them."


    Su''en muttered to himself.


    Although he knew that those transforming bugs hardly attacked others, it was better not to encounter them.


    Not far away, as he was about to reach the ce where the scythe was, Su''en saw signs of battle.


    Several spider-like mutated monster bodiesy in the tunnel. The bodies looked like they had been sted by firearms, with green blood flowing out. Upon closer inspection, there was a strange human face pattern on the abdomen of these spider bodies.

 Chapter 66: Stop talking, take off your clothes quickly

    Chapter 66: Stop talking, take off your clothes quickly


    The characteristics of the spider''s corpse looked simr to several types of deformed spiders, but not exactly the same. It seemed to be another type of mutated monster.


    Su''en used the Eye of Omniscience to firmly determine and immediately revealed the information.


    [Mutated Ghost-Faced Spider]


    Exnation: A mutated creature of the beast species that excels in mental control. It prefers dark and damp environments and its venomous fangs can release deadly blood toxins. Do not look directly into its eyes, as it will evoke your most primal desires. Although it is deadly, its body is also fragile.


    "There is another group of mutated spider monsters near the sewer?"


    Seeing the corpse, Su''en frowned.


    Poisonous and skilled in mental control... this thing doesn''t seem easy to deal with.


    The appearance of several of them means that there may be more in the depths of the cave.


    As he was about to reach the location of the sickle, a new monster suddenly appeared. Should he go or not?


    Suddenly, he thought of the eerie human face pattern on the spider''s abdomen, and a sh of insight came to his mind: "Could it be that the student who saw the ''fruit body woman'' before was controlled by this spider monster?"


    In other words, it wasn''t that he saw a "fruit body woman," but that he was mentally controlled?


    Thinking of this, Su''en felt that the monster''s ability was a bit strange.


    He looked around the sewer pipes and gradually formed a three-dimensional map in his mind.


    "Hmm... calcting the distance, this seems to be directly below Green Street Sewer. So, the cases of missing people are also caused by the spider monsters here?"


    Upon careful consideration, everything matched up.


    The case was solved, that''s how it was!


    ......


    But reality did not give Su''en much time to think. Just at this moment, there was suddenly an abnormal movement from deep within the cave.


    "Bia Ji, Bia Ji, Bia Ji..."


    Hearing the wet and rapid running sound, Su''en immediately guessed that it must be the big ck dog that had transformed from the previous deformed worms!


    "They''re not dead yet?"


    Su''en was also somewhat surprised.


    Upon hearing the noise, he didn''t waste any time and quickly retreated, trying to find a corner to hide from the pursuit of the "Rena" ssmate who was being chased by the monsters.


    She was like a time bomb now, whoever was close to her would be unlucky.


    He didn''t want to provoke this deadly trouble.


    He even thought that if she was killed by the ck dogs, maybe he could take the opportunity to search her body.


    Not long after hearing the noise, Su''en saw a agile figure running out from the darkness. Behind her were seven or eight fierce big ck dogs.


    "Beastification talent [C-011-Catwoman]?"


    Seeing the agile running on all fours, Su''en immediately thought of this talent.


    Looking at the familiar liquid-like leather suit, although he couldn''t see her face clearly, wasn''t she "Rena"?


    No wonder she could survive until now. This talent was one of the few talents that excelled in agility.


    Although she wasn''t good at fighting, she was excellent at running.


    In just a moment, Su''en saw three more ck dogs appear out of nowhere and block her path. But Rena was like an agile ck cat, skillfully avoiding the attacks of the ck dogs.


    Seven or eight ck dogs turned into ten, and the situation became increasingly worse.


    And looking at her violently heaving chest, the intense and continuous consumption, she was probably at her limit.


    ......


    Su''en had no intention of meddling in other people''s affairs, and he couldn''t do anything about the ck dogs anyway.


    He even thought that if this woman dared to lead the monsters over, he wouldn''t mind shooting her in the leg.


    But obviously, Rena also saw the guide who appeared inexplicably in the corridor.


    What Su''en didn''t expect was that she not only didn''t have the intention to lead trouble to him, but instead shouted a reminder: "Be careful! Avoid me!"


    Before the words fell, she probably felt that it was toote to dodge. The dozen or so dogs had almost blocked the entire passage. Even if he passed by, the corrosive gas emitted would cause Su''en, who didn''t have protectivebat gear, to suffer greatly.


    Knowing that she couldn''t escape, Rena apparently didn''t want to involve others anymore. At this moment, she bit her silver teeth and suddenly changed direction, not rushing towards Su''en, but choosing another vertical well passage that required even more physical strength and rushed into it.


    Then, the dozen or so ck dogs followed suit and disappeared into the passage.


    Watching this scene, Su''en rxed his grip on the gun, somewhat surprised: "These young masters and misses from the inner city''s wealthy families are not all like Jack, selfish and naive..."


    However, he didn''t dwell on it.


    Su''en watched the figure running past and felt no emotional fluctuations.


    An unfamiliar nobledy who caused him to have to "run away," it was already good enough that she didn''t push him into the well.


    It was probably impossible to pick up the corpse now. He walked out of the hiding corridor and nned to continue forward and get the sickle first.


    But just at this moment, his ears twitched and he retreated: "Huh, why did shee back?"


    The footsteps that had gradually gone away suddenly returned!


    Su''en hadn''t figured it out yet, but he already heard Rena''s desperate and anxious shout in the corridor, even though he couldn''t see her: "Mr. Su''en, please help me deliver this thing to my Aunt Qiantiao, please!"


    "???"


    Hearing his own name, Su''en''s gaze froze, filled with astonishment.


    This... Rena actually knew his name?


    And, listening to the rest of her words, Qiantiao was actually her aunt?!


    What''s going on?


    The gang members from the outer city actually have rtives from the inner city''s wealthy families. Could this be another melodramatic plot of a wealthy family?


    Su''en felt that this sentence contained a lot of information.In the moment of his astonishment, the catwoman had already torn off a crystal ne from her neck and tossed it over.


    Then, this woman, as swift as the wind, led a pack of vicious dogs away...


    Su''en looked at the ne that had fallen not far from his feet, his expression suddenly bing somewhat strange.


    Did Rena know she was going to die, so she left her belongings behind?


    Just because of her mention of "auntie", Su''en felt he should send her belongings to Chiantiao.


    ......


    Obviously, this ne was not simple.


    But out of caution, Su''en didn''t immediately pick up the ne, but instinctively avoided it as if avoiding a gue.


    Seeing that the dogs had no intention of chasing after the ne, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    This meant that this thing did not have the "specific scent" that attracted the mutated monsters to pursue relentlessly.


    "Huh...specific scent?"


    Su''en looked at the figure running away, and suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head.


    He found a turning point in the situation!


    And... he also found the key to breaking the situation!


    In this instant, Su''en''s thoughts were racing.


    Since Chiantiao was Rena''s aunt, then Chiantiao''s influence in the inner city must be extraordinary.


    Correspondingly, as someone under Chiantiao''s protection, Su''en was not apletely manipble tool.


    The premise was... that Rena didn''t die!


    A hundred Jacks dead would not be as important as this one Rena!


    Suddenly obtaining this important information, Su''en quickly deduced various possibilities in his mind.


    At this moment,


    If he watched Rena being chased to death by the dogs, Su''en would indeed save a lot of trouble now, but the identity of "Su''en" must die, and there would be endless troubles in the future;


    If she didn''t die, Su''en might take some risks now, but the situation would have more room for maneuver.


    After quickly weighing the pros and cons, he thought the best choice was to let Rena live!


    .......


    But... this group of "transforming bugs" that could infinitely resurrect, merge and split couldn''t be killed at all.


    Even a second-order powerhouse might not be able to save her, how could he save her?


    In a split second, Su''en''s thoughts were running at high speed, and all the means he could use to save his life shed through his mind.


    Suddenly, he thought of something and shouted urgently at the figure that was about to disappear at the end of the corridor: "Run towards the third corridor on the left, circle back after a detour!"


    He thought of a way that might give this woman a chance to survive.


    But whether it would work or not, it depended on her own fate!


    After Su''en shouted this sentence, he also chose another corridor to run through.


    He installed directional sting explosives on the rock wall, then pulled them up with a wire, and then hid in the distance.


    Soon, he saw the catwoman running back in a disheveled state.


    At the brink of death, Rena had no choice but to follow Su''en''s guidance and instinctively circled back.


    Su''en shouted urgently again: "There''s a detonation wire on the ground, be careful to avoid it."


    Upon hearing this, Rena saw the marked detonation wire not far away on the ground. Instead of being happy, she frowned.


    Copsing the corridor couldn''t stop these liquid monsters, they had tried it before!


    It''s nice that this guide has a heart to save people, but the method is wrong!


    Rena had no choice but to jump over the wire, ran a few steps, and a loud explosion sounded behind her.


    The "rumbling" sound echoed, and the shock wave sent sand and stones flying.


    The rubble copsed instantly, blocking the corridor.


    But at this moment, visible to the naked eye, some ck droplets quickly overflowed from the cracks, and in an instant, the ck dogs reformed again.


    Rena rushed to Su''en''s side, no longer holding any hope of survival. She didn''t stop, and anxiously said: "You go on your own, don''t worry about me! Remember to give the stuff to my aunt..."


    I appreciate your kindness, but you can''t save me!


    As she spoke, she didn''t notice that Su''en had calmly lit something that looked like a "smoke cake" in his hand, and a pungent smell was quickly filling the entire corridor.


    Now is not the time to babble, Su''en directly interrupted the other party''s babble, and ordered sternly: "Stop talking, take off your clothes quickly!"


    "You don''t worry about me, hurry..."


    Rena instinctively thought that the other party still wanted to save her, but she had already killed Teacher Rosa, and she didn''t want to drag others down.


    She was about to turn around and leave, but her brain only reacted at this moment that her ears seemed to have received some strange words.


    Take off clothes?


    The moment she realized this, her body seemed to be under a spell, frozen in ce.


    Time seemed to stand still.


    She thought she had heard wrong, her body was still moving forward due to inertia, but her gaze instinctively turned to stare at Su''en, her face full of question marks: "???"


    We''re running for our lives, dude, what are you thinking?

 Chapter 67: Pretend not to see

    Chapter 67: Pretend not to see


    Su''en looked at Rena, who was still stunned, and knew that he was not clear in his instructions, so he felt it necessary to exin: "Take off your clothes quickly, leave nothing behind. Clothes, equipment, storage ring... take them all off! The smell of the burning powder can only disturb the monsters'' sense of smell for a minute."


    Take off my clothes?


    Rena was a little surprised at first, but in the next second, her cleverness naturally made her understand Su''en''s intention.


    In fact, when they were escaping earlier, Assistant Rosa had already guessed this problem, which was that these ck dog monsters might be relying on their sense of smell to locate their "prey".


    But those monsters started chasing them as soon as they appeared, without giving her any chance to catch her breath.


    And they had also tried, even the highest-grade "odor-removing potion" had no effect at all, which made them doubt their judgment.


    Hearing the words "take off your clothes," she naturally guessed that Su''en was thinking the same way.


    Originally, she had no hope, but she was shocked to find that Su''en''s method actually disrupted the monsters'' perception abilities!


    Calcting the time, those distorted monsters should have already broken through the rubble, but none of them rushed into the smoke to attack her. It was obvious that the smoke was really effective!


    ......


    After Su''en finished speaking, he had no intention of staying in ce.


    He quickly took out a bottle of odor-removing potion and one of his own clothes from the storage ring and ced them on the ground. Then he turned around and ran to the end of the corridor to hide.


    It wasn''t because he was being a gentleman and avoiding Rena changing clothes, but because he wasn''t sure if the powder would be one hundred percent effective against those ck dogs; he also wasn''t sure if the scent that attracted those monsters was something external or Rena''s own scent.


    So he could only give it a try.


    If it was something external that attracted the monsters, Su''en wasn''t sure which item it was on her, and he didn''t have time to try them one by one, so he could only ask her to take them all off.


    If it was Rena''s own scent, when the burning of the powder ended, it would be her death sentence.


    Run a little further away to avoid being affected.


    Now it seems that the powder is more effective than expected.


    Not only was Rena shocked, even Su''en himself was amazed by the fact that the burning smoke from the powder really disrupted the ck dogs'' sense of smell.


    This burning smoke powder was obtained from the memory fragments of that mysterious pharmacist, the "Disgustant for Distorted Monsters".


    Originally, Su''en thought he was just ignorant and hadn''t heard of such a miraculous medicine.


    But now, after harvesting arge amount of knowledge of alchemy from Jack''s memory fragments, he realized that even the ck Tower Academy had no records of this special medicine.


    So there are only two possibilities: either the memory fragments he obtained happened to be missing this part, or the powder is really high-end to the point where even the ck Tower Academy doesn''t have it!


    Su''en felt that the second possibility was more likely.


    Otherwise, Assistant Rosa should have thought of this method too. She must have had a lot of advanced potions on her, and if she had this "Disgustant for Distorted Monsters", she wouldn''t have been chased so dangerously.


    This also made Su''en even more curious about the origin of that mysterious pharmacist.


    ......


    Su''en walked without leaving any traces of water, and now it was Rena''s turn to make a difficult decision.


    Take off all her clothes?


    Although she knew that this was the only way she could save herself at the moment, she still had some reservations in her heart.


    She had never changed clothes in a strange environment before, let alone with a strange man urging her.


    But there was only one minute left, and she didn''t have any room for hesitation.


    Rena was extremely decisive. After a moment of hesitation, she bit her silver teeth and directly took off her night vision goggles and gas mask. Then, without any hesitation, she pulled open the hidden zipper on herbat suit at her chest, "zip" it down to below her abdomen, exposing arge area of white skin in the air.


    Her talent as a "Catwoman" gave her a liquid-like delicate figure. She quickly took off her sleeves, and then her one-piece shapewear... like shedding snake skin, she quickly took off the entirebat suit. Her snow-white and beautiful body was exposed in the air without any cover.


    Then, her close-fitting sports vest, seamless underwear, jewelry, hairpin, storage ring... everything was taken off.


    Rena took off everything she could take off from her body, and then poured the "odor-removing potion" on herself, quickly covering her naked body with the oversized clothes.


    Finally, she was no longer exposed to the air, and the feeling of shame instantly disappeared.


    Because of the talent of the "Catwoman", her night vision ability was not bad.


    Even if she didn''t deliberately look, she could still catch a glimpse of the end of the tunnel with her peripheral vision, and the figure of that person was still there. She couldn''t help but feel a slight blush on her cheeks, and the shyness spread from her face to her slender neck, turning it pink.


    With a turn of her head, she pretended not to see.


    ......


    Su''en watched Rena undress and change clothes so decisively, and praised her in his heart: "Smart choice!"


    If this woman hesitated, he would turn around and leave without hesitation, letting her fend for herself.


    Someone who couldn''t distinguish the situation didn''t deserve his help. That would only harm himself.


    Seeing Rena decisively take off her clothes, Su''en finally didn''t turn his head away.


    He held the runic fire gun and guarded the entrance of the tunnel, his gaze fixed on the graceful figure in the smoke.


    It wasn''t that he deliberately watched the girl change clothes, but he was observing the distorted monsters.


    Taking off thebat suit meant that Rena had almost no defense. After all, he wanted to save her, in case she didn''t have time to change clothes, he could still help by shooting.


    However, with just one nce, his gaze inadvertently caught a glimpse of a hint of spring.


    "ck hair? It''s rare..."


    Su''en had strong eyesight and could see almost everything clearly.Previously, his view of Rena was obscured by a gas mask and night vision goggles. He had no idea what she looked like, only that she was probably not unattractive.


    Now, seeing her clearly, she was even more beautiful than he had anticipated, stunning even.


    She had beautiful, long, straight ck hair, and her ck pupils shimmered with a captivating golden glow. Her figure was impable, even without the shaping effect of her liquid suit, her chest and hips were still perky. She exuded a pure aura that was unique to young girls...


    Her chest was proudly full, her waist slender, further entuating the impressive proportions of her hips and legs...


    Her skin was as smooth and lustrous as porcin, glowing faintly in the dim firelight, making her seem more like a warm jade sculpture. The smoke from the burning powder swirled around her curvaceous figure, adding a touch of hazy beauty, a sight as smooth as silk.


    Su''en raised an eyebrow slightly, watching Rena''s deliberate movements to cover herself, and chuckled to himself, "Ah, so she noticed me..."


    Even when discovered, he didn''t avert his gaze, his expression remained calm throughout.


    Because his focus was always on the sprawling tunnels, not the girl changing her clothes. The seriousness on his face didn''t fade in the slightest, but rather, as the smoke dissipated, his brows furrowed even more.


    After all, it seemed that the "Mutant Monster Repellent" had sessfully interfered with the ck dogs'' sense of smell, but that didn''t mean that once the smoke from the burning powder disappeared, the ck dogs wouldn''te chasing again.


    Moreover, the source of the crisis was never just these ck dogs...


    ......


    Clearly, Rena also realized this.


    She quickly changed into Su''en''s clothes, leaving all her belongings behind and fled from the changing area.


    But she didn''t immediately approach Su''en, instead, she stopped at a safe distance at a fork in the road. If the monsters were to chase her again, she could run.


    However, there probably wouldn''t be a chance to escape.


    Without her battle suit, without any equipment, if this attempt failed, she was essentially on a path to death.


    .......


    A minuteter, the yellow smoke from the burning powder dissipated.


    At the end of the tunnel, more than a dozen ferocious liquid ck dogs had gathered. They seemed to have lost their way, spinning in ce. The corrosive liquid on their bodies evaporated, corroding the tunnel into a pitted mess.


    But as soon as the smoke cleared, they seemed to have picked up a scent, excitedly pouncing on the pile of clothes Rena had taken off. More than a dozen ck dogs tore and twisted together, finally merging into a huge ck monster, blocking the entire tunnel.


    Fortunately, they didn''t seem to have any intention of pouncing on Rena in the distance.


    Seeing this, Su''en finally let out a sigh of relief, "I''m d I bet right, the source of the smell is external. It wasn''t a waste to use a high-priced drug that works for a hundred thousand miles."


    As for Rena, the girl who was saved, a look of relief spread across her face, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.


    It was then that she turned her gaze to the man who had saved her life in the nick of time, her expression somewhatplex.


    She felt she should say thank you, but something seemed to cross her mind, and her cheeks flushed.


    Su''en looked at Rena, guessing that a young girl being naked in front of a strange man would probably feel ufortable.


    But he wasn''t a nanny, nor a suitor, there was no need to cater to her girlish feelings.


    He waved his hand, signaling her to follow, and said curtly, "Follow me!"


    With that, Su''en took the lead and walked into the depths of the dark tunnel, without any intention of waiting for her.


    His attitude was clear, it was up to her whether she wanted to follow or not.


    Rena, in the distance, watched as Su''en coldly walked away, a look of surprise crossing her pretty face.


    But his indifferent attitude somehow made the awkward atmosphere less awkward.


    The surrounding darkness swallowed everything like a monster, making Rena, who was without her equipment, feel insecure. After a moment''s thought, she followed him, running barefoot to catch up.


    ......


    The two of them walked, one in front of the other, Su''en showing no intention of amodating her, walking at a brisk pace.


    The wind blew through her thin shirt, making Rena feel a chill run through her body, a moment of shyness. She wanted to say something, but looking at the cold figure in front of her, she swallowed her words.


    Finally, after a long walk, Rena broke the awkward silence, saying, "Mr. Su''en, thank you for saving me."


    "Hmm."


    Su''en remained cold as ever.


    He didn''t want to get too involved with her, after all, she might be an old acquaintance of the original owner.


    But he was curious about something, and after a moment''s thought, he asked, "How do you know my name?"


    Rena timidly replied, "Aunt Qian told me. She said you''re a good shot, calm in handling things, and that if I ever got into trouble, I could seek your help."


    She paused, then added, "I didn''t think it was necessary before, so I didn''t mention it..."


    Su''en listened expressionlessly, not caring about the details, and asked again, "Is Aunt Qian your real aunt?"


    Rena nodded, "Yes."


    "..."


    Having satisfied his curiosity, Su''en didn''t speak again.


    He could guess the rest.


    After the brief conversation, the two fell silent again.


    In the dark tunnel, only the sound of their footsteps and breathing could be heard, which was somewhat eerie.

 Chapter 68: Bait, please adjust your attitude

    Chapter 68: Bait, please adjust your attitude


    The two walked in the darkness, going deeper and deeper underground.


    Rena looked at the tunnel leading deeper underground, realizing that it was not the way out. Her anxiety and fear grew stronger.


    She felt as if she was stepping closer to the abyss...


    Finally, unable to bear the eerie atmosphere any longer, Rena cautiously asked, "Mr. Su''en, where are we going? Aren''t we going back to the surface?"


    Seeing her timid and hesitant look, she probably thought that if something happened in this environment, even if she screamed her lungs out, no one would know.


    "..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en turned his head and nced at her. After a moment of contemtion, he finally spoke, "Do you think you''re safe now?"


    "Huh?"


    Rena felt a bit guilty under his gaze, as if she could see the word "stupid" written on her forehead.


    Su''en thought for a moment and exined, "Explosions can be heard from far away, enough to attract assassins. The distorted monsters are just a means of murder, but the mastermind behind them... is human. If they find out you''re not dead, do you think they won''te looking for you? If you go out now, I guarantee there are assassins waiting for you."


    If saving someone was as simple as dealing with a few distorted monsters, he wouldn''t have hesitated before.


    The mastermind behind it all was what he truly feared.


    .......


    "Huh? I... I..."


    As soon as Rena heard this, her mind seemed to be filled with conflicting information, and her speech became incoherent.


    She hadn''t had time to think about it while being chased by monsters all the way. And now, in this unfamiliar environment, changing clothes under the gaze of a stranger, her mind was still nk.


    Listening to his words, she instantly understood.


    Now, she finally realized that the man in front of her was indeed as her aunt had described, always possessing an almost inhuman calmness in any situation. (The original words seemed to be about betting on a gambling table or something, but it doesn''t matter.)


    Thinking of this, Rena realized that she had asked a really stupid question earlier.


    This intelligent gentleman must have guessed her foolish and naive thoughts.


    Blushing, she weakly expressed her apologies for her random guesses, "I''m sorry..."


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t pay much attention to her, seemingly indifferent, and continued walking.


    To ease the awkward atmosphere, Rena thought for a moment and took the initiative to say, "Mr. Su''en, aren''t you curious about why the trial went wrong? And who the mastermind is?"


    Su''en frowned slightly, feeling that she was being a bit verbose.


    Perhaps it was because the enclosed environment made this youngdy feel uneasy, and she wanted to talk to seek somefort. But in this situation, was it the time for idle chatter?


    Huh, as expected, women only slow down the speed of drawing guns.


    He casually said, "Not curious."


    "..."


    Rena felt embarrassed for a moment.


    Seeing that she still wanted to say something, Su''en felt that he should put an end to this meaningless conversation.


    After thinking for a moment, he said in one breath, "If I''m not mistaken, your father is either critically ill or retiring, and you are the first heir of the conglomerate, destined to inherit it. Unfortunately, you also have some greedy uncles and cousins. And... the mastermind behind this attack is most likely a close rtive who stands to inherit the conglomerate if you die."


    Upon hearing this, the shock in Rena''s eyes grew stronger, and she couldn''t help but exim, "Ah... how... how did you know?"


    "..."


    Su''en''s mouth twitched slightly, feeling a bit bored.


    It was probably because the entertainment industry andmunication in this world were not developed enough, so themon people couldn''t get a taste of the upper ss society.


    But in Su''en''s previous life, these power struggles within wealthy families had been yed out countless times in novels and in reality. The gambling king prolonging his life, the concubines fighting for power; the son of a certain chaebol forcing his father to abdicate and seizing power; the wealthy prince hunting down his bodyguard and lover who had cuckolded him...


    Reality was more melodramatic than fiction.


    The richer they were, the more ruthless they were towards their own family.


    There was nothing new about it.


    Su''en felt that he had talked enough and didn''t say anything more.


    However, the advantage of saying such a long speech was that Rena finally understood and obediently followed behind him, poking her fingers together, silently keeping up.


    She felt that this man seemed to be able to guess everything.


    As calm as a monster.


    .......


    As the two went deeper and deeper, the foul smell of the sewer became stronger.


    Suddenly, Su''en realized something and turned to look at Rena, whose face was flushed from holding her breath. There was a helpless expression in his eyes.


    He had been thinking about other things and forgot that this girl was only wearing a thin shirt and didn''t even have a gas mask.


    But perhaps because she had been repeatedly embarrassed in the conversation just now, Rena didn''t feelfortable asking for anything.


    Su''en shook his head slightly and took out clothes, a gun, a dagger, and bullets from his storage ring.


    "The bulletproof clothing technology in the outer city is outdated and heavy. Wearing it will greatly affect your agility. It''s up to you to choose. If you don''t wear bulletproof clothing, there will be no room for error, and you must remain highly vignt throughout. The underground is very dangerous, and a slight carelessness could be fatal. But if you wear it, you won''t be able to escape if you encounter danger..."


    Rena took the heavy bulletproof vest, which was dozens of times heavier than the academy''sbat uniform. She was about to put it on, but upon hearing Su''en''s analysis, she seemed to have thought of something and backed off, answering weakly, "I... I think I won''t wear it."


    Su''en put away the bulletproof vest, then pointed to the firearm hanging at her waist, reminding her, "Try the feel of the firearm first, but don''t fire it. The firearms in the outer city are not as good as those in your academy, the recoil will be quite strong. Be mentally prepared in case of any situation. The other one is a rune firearm, which was given to me by Charlie before, it should be handy. But the alchemical bullets are limited, please don''t fire at will unless necessary..."


    "Oh."


    Rena felt that she understood everything, but in front of this man, it seemed like she knew nothing.


    She was like a puppet being manipted, whatever Su''en said, she could only say "okay", there was no room for refusal.


    Before this man spoke, he had already considered everything.


    The clothes were Su''en''s men''s wear, which was too big for Rena. In the end, she only wore the thin shirt, without even wearing pants, revealing her white thighs. Fortunately, the darkness concealed her embarrassment on her pretty face, and Su''en didn''t seem to take an extra nce, which saved her from feeling shy and awkward.


    The shoes also didn''t fit, so she went barefoot. However, thanks to the catwoman''s natural talent of enhanced toughness in the foot muscles, going barefoot wasn''t a problem, except that stepping on the damp sewer made her feel a bit nauseous.


    After distributing the equipment, Su''en spoke again, announcing, "Alright, from now on, keep a safe distance from me. Don''t talk to me, don''t make any noise... Stay absolutely quiet."


    "Huh?"


    Upon hearing this, Rena looked puzzled.


    Su''en didn''t beat around the bush, he exined directly, "From now on, you are the bait. I will decide whether I can save you again based on the potential strength of the enemy. Don''t look at me like that. If you''re with me, the enemy will choose to take us both out at once. I''m just an ordinary gangster, only if I survive, can you survive..."


    What Su''en didn''t say was that if the enemy was too strong, he would not hesitate to abandon the "bait".


    After a pause, he added, "Of course, the ideal situation is that the enemies think you were killed by the mutant monster, and no onees after us."


    "..."


    Listening to this, Rena was stunned, her pretty face full of awe.


    Right, there are assassins.


    Listening to him, it seemed like... his words made sense?


    But even though they made sense, she always felt something was off about them.


    In high society, wouldn''t gentlemen protect their femalepanions'' lives first, even in the face of death?


    Why would Mr. Su''en want me to be the bait?


    Although she had never experienced such a sudden event, Rena still felt that the plot was unfolding in a strange way.


    She wanted to ask, but didn''t know what to say, as he had already exined everything.


    Su''en felt the pitiful nces from behind, but he didn''t turn around. He quickly increased the distance between them, saying as he walked, "I''m just an ordinary guide... The reason I risked saving you is because of your aunt, Sister Qian."


    Not taking credit for himself would save a lot of trouble.


    By the way, it would also curry favor with Boss Qian, which would make things easierter.


    Moreover, Su''en''s actions were not pretending to be cold, but the most rational choice.


    Because he understood human nature.


    Facing this tsundere nobledy, if you treat her well, she takes it for granted, because that''s how she''s treated in her daily life; however, when she realizes that your kindnesses at a price, she will truly value it.


    Being bait is more valuable than being a burden.


    To be a good bait, one must be prepared to be bait.


    In short, a sycophant has nothing, equivalent exchange is the eternal truth.


    If you want to be saved, you have to pay the price.


    Besides, although his words were ruthless, this was the best way Su''en could think of to save Rena''s life.


    He was very clear that the assassins who dared to target this youngdy were not simple.


    PS. The update iste, sorry. Please vote~

 Chapter 69: Rosas corpse

    Chapter 69: Rosa''s corpse


    Su''en chose a path that led deep into the underground cave. They had entered the city''s sewer system, with sewage flowing all around them. Originally, Su''en had intended to go in the direction of the scythe, but now it was also a good opportunity to avoid any potential pursuers.


    Although the environment was foul, the sewage conveniently masked their footsteps.


    However, to their surprise, before they could encounter any pursuers or find the scythe, they stumbled upon a corpse in a drainage pipe.


    It was the body of a half-naked woman, wrapped in spider webs, pale and lifeless. Arge red-eyed spider had pierced her skull with its venomous fangs, feasting on her brain...


    Rena wanted to scream in horror when she saw the body, but she remembered something and quickly covered her mouth. Her crystal-like eyes trembled with a mixture of grief and sorrow.


    The corpse turned out to be none other than Rosa, the female assistant teacher from before.


    As Su''en looked at the mist emanating from the body, his eyes lit up. "Hmm... freshly dead?"


    With so much knowledge harvested from Jack''s body, what about an assistant teacher who could teach the students?


    ......


    This kind of corpse was a treasure to Su''en, its value surpassing that of an ordinary professional''s body by a hundredfold.


    However, Su''en remained calm and instead squinted at the red-eyed spider that was about to feast. He appraised the monster''s attributes and muttered, "Hmm... an elite monster?"


    At that moment, the spider also looked back at him.


    Su''en thought of something but did not avoid its gaze.


    In that instant, the six crimson spider eyes stared at him, as if an invisible hand was teasing his soul. But it was fleeting.


    At the same time, the All-Knowing Eye disyed a negative status effect.


    "You have been subjected to a mental attack. The intensity of the mental fluctuation is lower than your mental power, so you have sessfully resisted this negative status..."


    Su''en looked and confirmed that, as the All-Knowing Eye had indicated, this elite spider''s mental attack was not enough to pose a threat to his exceptionally high mental power.


    "A high mental power can resist low-level mental spells... It seems that as long as I don''t get surrounded by the monster horde in this spider''s nest, it doesn''t seem too deadly for me..."


    Encountering a living monster, Su''en deliberately tested some hypotheses.


    He now had the confidence to continue searching for the scythe.


    However, Rena, who was behind him, was not as lucky. Inadvertently, she made eye contact with the spider and then stood there like a soulless statue.


    Moreover, it seemed that she saw something erotic in her imagination, and her desire surged. Her face quickly flushed, and she even let out some strange moans.


    Su''en nced at Rena, who was standing there with a vacant expression, walking towards the spider. He didn''t rush to help her but observed carefully.


    As he watched, he analyzed in his mind, "So this is the state after being affected. The monster''s mental attack simply influences desire. If I block this emotion of ''desire,'' will I be able to ignore this mental attack?"


    The All-Knowing Eye made it clear to him the attack method of this ghost-faced spider. Direct eye contact would arouse instinctual lust, causing one to lose consciousness and easily be captured like prey.


    Just like the youngdy in front of him.


    Rena''s breathing technique and everything else were top-notch among first-tier professionals, yet she was easily affected. This meant that even if a second-tier professional came, if their mental power was not strong enough, they would likely be influenced by this elite spider.


    Su''en didn''t know what he was thinking, but his gaze gradually deepened. "Tsk tsk... It seems that this youngdy''s fate is not meant to end here..."


    ......


    Su''en felt that he had observed enough and raised his hand, using a pistol with a silencer to shoot the spider''s head.


    Just like the information appraisal had indicated, although these distorted monsters were deadly, their physical defense was extremely poor. Ordinary bullets could easily createrge holes in their bodies.


    As the monster died, Rena also snapped out of her infatuated state.


    She instantly realized that there was something embarrassing about her body, unsure if it was shyness or if her face had been red from the beginning. She weakly asked, "What... What happened to me just now?"


    "Don''t make direct eye contact with those ghost-faced spiders'' red eyes, or else you''ll be mentally controlled."


    Su''en didn''t exin much and simply said in a calm tone.


    He didn''t look at Rena''s shy appearance, which could make many boys'' hearts flutter. Instead, he walked straight towards the body of the assistant teacher, Rosa.


    "Hmm... the spider monster even dropped some nt materials."


    Su''en looked at the glow emanating from the corpse of this calf-sized spider. Among the remains, there were actually two cursed glowing spider legs.


    However, the quality was not that great; they were just ordinary ck iron materials.


    Su''en ignored the spider legs and approached Rosa''s body.


    The mist on the body would dissipate over time, and every second of dy meant a loss of these high-quality fragments.


    He had to harvest them quickly.


    Then, as he approached the mist, he sessfully extracted arge amount of useful things.


    "Obtained ''Rosa Williams'' memory fragments *5"


    "You have obtained some information: ''Daniel has been acting strangetely. I saw him secretly opening some kind of signaling device in the underground passage...''"


    "You have mastered arge amount of ''Advanced Alchemy Knowledge''..."


    "You have mastered the arcane alchemy Void Servant (Iplete)..."


    "You haveprehended arge amount of ''Alchemy Theory''..."


    "You have mastered the proficient Quick Seal Formation Technique..."


    "You have gained some ''Advanced Alchemy Casting Techniques'', Alchemy experience +111"


    "Mental power +0.35"


    An expected harvest.


    Su''en felt that there was too much "knowledge" in his mind.


    Like a shattered puzzle suddenly piecing together arge chunk, it gave him an indescribable sense of aplishment.


    .......


    "Did I actuallyprehend Rosa''s arcane Void Servant?"


    Su''en looked at the additional skill on the panel and immediately thought of the scene in the dungeon where Rosa single-handedly held off countless moth monsters.


    The ghostly cold fire burning the monsters kept them at bay, which still made him feel uneasy.


    He was no longer a novice in alchemy, he naturally knew that skills crowned with "arcane" were top-tier rare and valuable knowledge. Not only was it difficult to acquire the skill, but the learning difficulty was also great, and understanding it was key!


    This Void Servant in the inner city, was probably a top-tier arcane secret. To learn it, one would have to be one in ten thousand.


    However, due to the talent of the Harvester, Su''en easily mastered this arcane level alchemy.


    A moment of curiosity shed through Su''en''s mind. At this moment, the dark energy in his body circted in a special and familiar way, and a small stream of pale blue cold me suddenly emerged from his fingers.


    "It really worked..."


    Su''en looked at the me like a lighter, a smile appeared on his face.


    This cold me not only burned with dark elemental magic, but also added a "defense-breaking" effect to physical attacks.


    It gave the user''s "basic attack" the effect of both physical and magical damage, causing a massive increase in damage!


    Because it was an iplete secret, Rosa only had two me arms, which was just a small achievement in arcane. If it was aplete secret, one could even condense aplete "Void Servant" to cover the whole body, as if possessed by a god...


    "What a powerful arcane secret."


    After carefully sensing the special features of this cold me, Su''en sighed in his heart.


    He felt that he could probably poke a hole in a concrete wall with one finger now.


    Although he didn''t have Rosa''s exaggerated mes, it was enough for his basic attack to crit.


    At the same time, he also admired that the assistant was indeed an assistant, possessing much more knowledge than the elite students.


    The surge in alchemy knowledge made Su''en feel like he had "skipped grades", jumping from third grade to sixth grade in an instant.


    However, before he could digest all this knowledge, when he saw one piece of information in the memory fragments, his face suddenly became serious, and he wondered, "Is there something wrong with Assistant Daniel?"


    .......


    There was a mole in the trial team, Su''en had always suspected.


    Otherwise, the enemy wouldn''t have been able to urately grasp their trial movements and precisely send the mutant worm to chase after Rena.


    However, he wasn''t sure whether the mole was a student or a tutor.


    Previously, Daniel had disappeared without a trace, and the tutor Augustus had never shown his face, so Su''en had prematurely judged that they were dead.


    Now, from Rosa''s memory, he found a clue.


    Rena was still immersed in sadness, after all, Assistant Rosa died because she tried to save her.


    Su''en''s eyes shifted, and he directly asked, "Miss Rena, what are Assistant Daniel''s profession and talent? Does he have any powerful trump cards?"


    Rena was previously confused, but she wasn''t stupid.


    Hearing Su''en''s question, she instantly guessed something and directly said, "Assistant Daniel''s advanced profession is a ''Ranger'', he is good at tracking, anti-tracking, and closebat. Many of our practicalbat courses were taught by him..."


    Hearing the words "good at tracking", Su''en''s expression turned cold.


    At this moment, he also felt as if there were pairs of red eyes in the darkness staring at him, muttering to themselves, "Scythe, killer, mutant monster..."

 Chapter 70: I am a ventriloquist

    Chapter 70: I am a ventriloquist


    "Mr. Su''en... Do I... Do I really have to keep my eyes covered? But I can''t see anything..."


    "Yes, because they have arrived."


    Su''en didn''t exin how he knew someone hade, and Rena didn''t ask further.


    Although they hadn''t known each other for long, Rena had an almost blind trust in this stranger introduced by her aunt.


    She knew the assassins were powerful, and she knew this underground dungeon was full of danger. But from the beginning until now, she hadn''t seen any panic or unease in this man. He remained calm andposed. Because of his indifference, Rena herself felt influenced, feeling a calmness that could face death.


    And at this moment, being led by Su''en with a thick blindfold over her eyes, she didn''t know where they were going.


    Blindfolded, she hadpletely given up on fighting.


    It wasn''t that Renacked strength. On the contrary, her basic skills were quite solid. Whether it was martial arts, marksmanship, or alchemy, she surpassed the average first-tier professional.


    But in the current desperate situation, herbat power was not enough to survive against the distorted monsters or assassins.


    On the contrary, focusing on being a "bait" would give her a greater chance of survival.


    After blindfolding herself, she didn''t notice the pairs of crimson eyes that lit up in the darkness around her, nor did she see the almost pathological smirk on Su''en''s face.


    In this crisis, Su''en once again felt that adrenaline rush, and "he" also enjoyed this feeling of walking on a tightrope.


    Escape?


    Tsk tsk...


    No... I want to kill people, obtain forbidden items, and kill monsters too!


    Wasn''t there a high-quality spider leg material? There are suitable targets here, and quite a few.


    "The uing battle will be dangerous, but as long as I''m not killed first, you won''t die before me... Remember, if you get poisoned, inject the antidote, but never take off the blindfold or run around..."


    "Yes, I understand."


    Rena felt that Su''en''s voice became colder, and just by hearing it, she felt a strong killing intent.


    Su''en let go of her hand, and Rena felt as if she had fallen into an endless abyss. A strong sense of fear instantly enveloped her. The world in front of her was pitch ck, and there was no one speaking in her ears. The sound of flowing sewage was particrly clear...


    She felt that there was a "person" staying by her side, but her intuition told her that it seemed like it wasn''t Mr. Su''en anymore, but someone unfamiliar and terrifying.


    .......


    Not long after, a figure indeed walked quietly into the tunnel where Su''en had predicted.


    He saw the two figures in the distance and cautiously stopped.


    He slowly raised the gun in his hand and aimed at one of the two.


    He didn''t shoot, but instead exposed his position by shouting, "Miss Rena, where are you..."


    Daniel knew that even if he didn''t speak, the small mechanism triggered at the entrance of the tunnel had already exposed his presence.


    At this moment, Rena was also surprised to hear Daniel''s voice.


    So, Mr. Su''en had guessed everything.


    She took a deep breath, although she couldn''t see, in order to not reveal any ws, she pretended to be surprised and turned around. From a distance, she shouted loudly in the direction of the voice, "Teacher Daniel, I''m here!"


    Daniel probably thought that his identity as a mole hadn''t been exposed yet, so he continued to act, sounding very anxious, "Oh my, finally I found you. You don''t know how worried I was when I heard that you were being chased by monsters... Miss Rena, did Assistant Rosa save you?"


    Su''en, hiding in the darkness, heard the probing and a cold smile appeared in his eyes. "Knowing that the opponent is far inferior, yet still so cautious... No wonder he could be a mole."


    He should have already discovered Rosa''s body, but he pretended not to know now.


    The purpose was to say these few sentences and get closer, to make a fatal strike!


    Hearing this, Rena directly said, "No, Assistant Rosa died trying to save me. It was Mr. Guide who saved me."


    But before her words could finish, she suddenly heard a gunshot. Almost at the same time, a gust of wind blew her hair, the feeling of a bullet grazing her ear.


    Rena was shocked. Assistant Daniel did indeed shoot.


    Mole!


    He wants to kill me!


    However, the bullet wasn''t aimed at herself, but at the "Mr. Su''en" beside her!


    .......


    After losing her vision, Rena''s attention was focused on her hearing.


    Hearing the sound of the gun, she instinctively felt a sense of danger and thought it wasn''t good.


    Although she was shocked that her respected teacher Daniel could be the mole behind this assassination, she was more worried about the Mr. Su''en beside her!


    But before the feeling of worry could dissipate from her heart, in an extreme moment, Rena heard a second gunshot.


    "Bang"!


    But this shot wasn''t fired by Daniel, nor was it fired by the "Mr. Su''en" beside her. Judging from the direction of the sound, it came from another direction in the darkness.


    Could there be a third person here?


    Amidst her surprise, Rena also noticed something unusual. After the "Mr. Su''en" beside her was shot, there was a sound like the cracking of wood.


    No, even before she reacted to the gunshot, wood splinters had already scattered and hit her.


    A puppet?


    Although Rena couldn''t see, she guessed what was happening and felt inexplicably excited and surprised!


    Mr. Su''en had actually anticipated that the enemy would shoot at him and had arranged a puppet decoy in advance?......


    Su''en had guessed that the assassin woulde after him when he saved Rena earlier, and he had never relied on luck.


    Although the highly corrosive metamorphic worms hadpletely corroded Rena''s belongings, as long as there were people proficient in tracking traces, the faint traces left by the two of them in the corridor could not be concealed.


    And coincidentally, this Daniel was a very skilled trace tracker, a silver professional known as a "Patrol Ranger"!


    So, when Su''en extracted the information from Rosa''s memory, he knew that this guy would definitelye.


    He was certain of one thing: if Rena didn''t die, everything this mole had done would be meaningless.


    And Rena wanted to ambush this guy, so she didn''t choose to leave Rena alone as bait.


    After all, if the traces of two people appeared but only one person was present, it would definitely alert Daniel, the "Patrol Ranger," and the ambush would be meaningless.


    The puppet left by Rena''s side was naturally meant to attract firepower.


    As for why Su''en was certain that Daniel would shoot "himself" first instead of killing Rena first, he was 80% sure.


    Between two people, would a cautious "firearms expert" kill a student who was familiar and easy to kill, or kill an unknown stranger?


    Of course, there was also an element of gambling.


    But without risks, what''s the point of being bait?


    But no matter who Daniel shot first, the result would be the same.


    Whoever shot first would expose their position and lose the advantage.


    ......


    In a duel between masters, the difference in skill and experience is negligible, and victory or defeat often lies in the details.


    Su''en and Rena also learned from their mouths that Daniel was a genuine "firearms expert" and one of the firearms instructors at the ck Tower Academy.


    He didn''t dare to underestimate him.


    This wasn''t like Jack, who was a mediocre expert, but possibly a stronger gunman than himself.


    Facing a gunman of the same level, it all depended on who seized the opportunity, often determining victory or defeat in an instant.


    When Daniel asked just now, he actually wanted to deceive the other party, find an opportunity and distance, and ensure a guaranteed kill with one shot.


    This cautious response, even Su''en couldn''t find any ws.


    But that guy never expected that he would shoot the puppet instead.


    Since the shot didn''t work, then... it was Su''en''s chance!


    In the instant the mes lit up, Su''en decisively pulled the trigger without hesitation.


    "Bang~"


    The tongue of fire spewed out.


    The armor-piercing alchemical bullet shot out from the muzzle, not hitting the head or heart, but the right hand holding the gun of Daniel.


    Because Su''en knew that with thebat suit and gas mask, this shot definitely couldn''t kill that guy.


    Thebat suits at the ck Tower had special reinforcements in vital areas, and even alchemical bullets might not be able to break through as long as there was enough energy. However, this kind of protective clothing also had its weaknesses. In order to ensure flexibility, the stability at the joints would be rtively weak.


    And the palm was the part of the body with the most joints. (This information also came from Rena)


    The armor-piercing bullet couldn''t be fatal, but it was enough to break the bones in the hand.


    With this gunshot, Daniel''s firearm immediately slipped from his hand not far away, and a burst of blood mist exploded, revealing a glimpse of white bones.


    Even though he was shot, this guy didn''t even groan. With a sh, he dodged behind a stone pir.


    Because Daniel had already judged from the timing of the shot that Su''en was also a "firearms expert"!


    He was well aware that if he didn''t leave now, the second shot would definitely follow.


    ......


    "What a cautious guy!"


    Su''en broke the opponent''s right hand with one shot, and the enemy didn''t even give him a chance for a second shot.


    Facing a gunman of the same level, it was clear what the other party would do.


    Being able to be an assistant teacher at the ck Tower Academy, even if it was only first-tier, he must be among the best in the same tier. Daniel and Rosa, both were almost half a step into the second tier and had very strongbat skills.


    Su''en knew that even with a broken hand, that guy''s truebat power hadn''t been greatly reduced.


    Because... Daniel''s true strengthy in his closebat abilities!


    And in this instant, suddenly a loud "sizzling" sound came from the darkness, like the feeling of a high-pressure gas tank exploding in an instant, causing a wave of turbulence that shook the entire space.


    "It''sing!"


    Su''en''s pupils suddenly contracted, and he suddenly saw a figure rushing towards him like a cannonball.


    The speed was so fast that there was no time for any reaction, and it directly broke the cement pir, then collided with Su''en''s body.


    His muscles didn''t have time to react, but Su''en was already prepared. He saw his fingers curl, and the steel wire on the mechanical glove pulled his body sideways, moving him a distance of one position.


    With a "thud," an invisible figure shed by.


    The two figures collided directly with the wall in the distance, instantly creating arge spiderweb-like crack.


    Such a brutal impact was enough to crush a flesh-based professional into pieces!


    Daniel thought he had seeded, but suddenly felt that the texture of the "person" he was holding in his arms was wrong. When he looked closely, he realized that it was a life-sized doll.


    "Not good!"


    Daniel''s face changed drastically, instantly understanding what had happened: the other party knew everything about his imnts and innate abilities!


    "That guy is actually a puppeteer?!"


    But at this moment, it was already toote to understand.


    This kind of misjudgment was fatal.


    ......


    Just a few meters away from the shattered pir, the firearm was already aimed at Daniel again.Su''en knew that the profession of "Forest Patroller" had a strong perception ability, so he deliberately made a noise to lure the opponent to seize the initiative and charge forward.


    This was the advantage of information asymmetry.


    Su''en was almost familiar with Daniel''s abilities, while the enemy knew nothing about him.


    If it were a fair fight, Su''en''s chances of winning would not exceed 20%!


    This guy was a "new school" alchemist, and his alchemical imnt was a ck technology product thatbined steam machinery and traditional imnts - the "Resentful Skeleton Jet".


    After umting steam, a sudden burst would produce a super-strong thrust like a jet ne. This thrust could make a person move quickly like a cannonball, with extremely strong linear lethality, which was almost impossible for peers to avoid.


    But this ability alone was not too tricky...


    The key was that this imnt had a very highpatibility with his talent!


    Although his talent was not the rare B-level, it was also a mysterious ability with strong practicalbat - "Talent C-001- Magic Bane".


    A strange talent that could instantly block the energy flow of the opponent''s body with close contact with both hands.


    As long as he touched you, dark spirit power, strength, magic power, and even blood flow speed... would be instantly blocked or slowed down.


    This imnt plus talent was simply a nightmare for closebat.


    Combined with high-speed collision and close-range magic ban, even a higher-level professional would suffer a lot!


    This was also one of the most important reasons why Su''en wanted to disable one of his hands with the first shot!


    ........


    Daniel''s face was ashen, and heughed bitterly in his heart: "He actually used Miss Rena as bait, haha... what a clever calction."


    At thest moment of his life, he realized that every step of his attack was within the enemy''s calction. From entering this space, to firing, to colliding... the opponent calcted his every move.


    The key was that he never thought that someone would dare to use the youngdy of the "Reyes family" as a live bait!


    But it was toote to realize this now.


    In a duel between masters, one mistake might still have a chance to turn the tide, but continuous mistakes were almost a dead end.


    The inertia of the collision had not disappeared, and it was toote to dodge. Su''en''s rune fire gun had already spewed out a tongue of fire.


    A shot hit his intact left palm, disabling the most threatening hands. Then several shots hit the ankle joint, knee joint, shoulder joint, elbow joint...


    Bang, bang, bang, bang...


    The sound of gunfire was endless.


    If one shot didn''t work, then he would fire two shots at the same position.


    At such a close distance, Su''en had no chance of missing.


    Even the battle suit couldn''t dissolve such terrifying continuous impact energy, and blood holes were shot out one by one.


    This Daniel had already lost his life due to two mistakes in face-to-face encounters.


    The enemy had been shot into a sieve, but at this time, Su''en''s face showed no rxation, but his pupils suddenly shrank.


    A sense of killing had quietly arrived, making one''s hair stand on end.


    And just as he shot Daniel, a jelly-like transparent figure in the darkness behind him stumbled for some reason, suddenly making a noise.


    Su''en''s eyes narrowed slightly, as if not surprised at all, thinking: "Sure enough, herees the stalker..."


    At this moment, he abandoned the fire gun, his ten fingers suddenly bent, the leather jacket on his back tore open, revealing two strange puppets glowing with blue rune light.


    He grabbed at the empty space with both hands, and the two puppets floated around him like guardians. Their wooden jaw joints kept opening and closing, as if they wereughing heartily.


    "Cackling..."


    In the dark sewer, this sound was particrly harsh.


    At this moment, pairs of strange red eyes gradually lit up in the darkness around, and those monsters also came out of the darkness under specific stimting smells.


    At this moment, the rity in Su''en''s eyes was reced by violence and sneer: "Want to assassinate me, hehe... I am a ''Puppet Master''!"


    PS. There is a group number in the introduction, interested friends can join~

 Chapter 71: No conditions to win, create conditions

    Chapter 71: No conditions to win, create conditions


    Su''en discovered the assassin who appeared out of thin air behind him, but instead of being surprised, he had already anticipated it.


    He decisively opened his leather jacket, and two puppets, one emitting a creepy howl and the other grinning, flew towards the enemy. Their hands cracked open, revealing the ck, poisoned dagger des.


    The assassin staggered, seemingly not realizing why he suddenly lost consciousness for a moment. He bit his tongue and instantly regained his rity. At this moment, he saw the poisoned des already poking in front of him, and a cold light shed in his eyes.


    With a "ng" sound, sparks flew.


    The assassin blocked the dagger of one puppet, but felt a moment of confusion: not good!


    Instinctively reacting to the crisis, he made an extreme backward movement. At this moment, the dagger of another puppet had already passed by the assassin''s cheek, apanied by a slight corroding sound, and a seam was cut open at the edge of his hood.


    "This puppet is strange!"


    The assassin noticed something fishy and was about to reach out, but suddenly saw the two puppets flying back like lightning.


    Unable tond a hit, he promptly withdrew.


    At this moment, Su''en, as the controller, also revealed a hint of regret on his face, thinking to himself, "Second-tier professionals are indeed not so easily injured..."


    The assassin across from him also showed a hint of seriousness in his eyes: this is not an ordinary puppeteer!


    .......


    In fact, ever since Su''en saved Rena from the assassination attempt by the shape-shifting worms, he had been trying to reconstruct the entire assassination process in his mind.


    He had already suspected that there might be a mole in the trial team.


    But the mentor, Auguste, should be fine.


    Otherwise, the assassins wouldn''t need to go through all this trouble to kill Rena. With his mentor''s identity and the strength of a second-tier professional, there were countless opportunities to directly kill Rena.


    Instead, the reason why the assassins chose to attack in the underground cave and went to the extent of putting a special scent on Rena and using shape-shifting worms to chase her... all of this was probably because of the protection provided by Auguste along the way, which led to this n.


    Moreover, Su''en also discovered a suspicious point.


    That is, he was certain that Auguste had always been near the trial team, but this powerful individual died without making any noise, which was somewhat puzzling.


    After all, the mentors of the ck Tower Alchemy Academy were carefully selected strong individuals. Even if the second-tier mentor Auguste was ambushed, he couldn''t possibly fail to send out a warning signal.


    He didn''t understand why before, but now that he knew the fact that Daniel was the mole, it perfectly filled in the missing piece of Su''en''s puzzle.


    In Su''en''s mind, he could even reconstruct the entire battle process.


    At that time, Daniel left the trial team, actually to secretly attack Auguste. Because of his role as an assistant, it was easy for him tounch a close-range surprise attack and then use his special talent, the "Forbidden Magic" ability, to seal Auguste. But with his strength, he couldn''t kill a second-tier professional. Therefore, Su''en concluded that there was at least one more second-tier professional in the assassin team who was skilled in stealthy surprise attacks.


    That''s why when the stealthy assassin appeared behind him just now, Su''en wasn''t surprised at all.


    .......


    Facing a second-tier professional, especially an agile-enhanced stealthy assassin, the firearm had almost no effect.


    Having witnessed the feat of "Red Devil" Gelong cutting bullets with his sword, Su''en didn''t think that as a "firearm master," he had any chance of winning against a second-tier professional.


    Therefore, he decisively gave up the firearm and revealed his professional ability for the first time: controlling puppets.


    But Su''en was not an ordinary puppeteer.


    The reason why "entric Puppeteer" was so bizarre was mainly because of the various strange rune puppets he created.


    The two puppets beside him, one with a red and white smiling face and the other with a blue and gold crying face, were exactly two types of basic entric puppets, the "Howling Doll" and the "Sneering Doll."


    These two little things didn''t look like the stiff dead objects in a puppet show. Under Su''en''s skillful maniption, they seemed toe alive, dancing happily with their limbs, their joints twisting flexibly, and even the expressions on their eerie faces were lifelike, blinking, grinning, angry, and howling...


    They were like two ghosts dancing in the darkness, emitting a sinister and eerieughter...


    As soon as they appeared, a terrifying aura instantly enveloped the surroundings.


    Of course, these cuties were not just cute in appearance; their curse effects were also extraordinary.


    Both of these entric puppets were mental curse objects, one was a sonic attack that affected people''s consciousness upon hearing the sound, and the other was a visual attack simr to these spider monsters, causing hallucinations when looking at the smiling face.


    After Su''en knew that he would be fighting, he carried the two dolls on his back to be prepared for any unexpected situations.


    Although his puppet-making skills were just at the beginner level, the two entric dolls were of low quality and had a small attack range. But it was enough to temporarily control a target in closebat.


    That''s why the stealthy assassin stumbled and revealed himself just now; that guy''s consciousness was affected by the two entric puppets.


    ......."He''s disappeared again. His talent must be rted to stealth, either Talent C-025-Chameleon, Talent B-077-Invisibility, or even the rarer Light Absorber..."


    Su''en squinted into the darkness, once again losing sight of the second-order assassin.


    He dared not be careless. His two puppets continuously emitted psychic waves, oneughing, one crying, to ensure he wouldn''t be killed up close.


    However, despite the strong curse properties of the puppets, their power was still a rank lower.


    Su''en didn''t believe these two odd puppets could save his life in front of a second-order assassin.


    After all, facing an assassin skilled in stealth, their attack methods were not limited to closebat. Assassins were also proficient in various long-range weapons.


    No matter how cautious, the current situation was almost a death sentence for Su''en.


    However...


    In a one-on-one situation, Su''en indeed had no chance of winning, but there were more than just the two of them in this cave!


    The dark underground of Old Lingdun was not human territory, but the domain of mutated monsters.


    If there was no chance of winning, then he would create one!


    Su''en had caused such amotion in this cave, the Mutant Ghost Face Spiders hiding in the dark were already starving.


    He caught a glimpse of the dense spider swarm overhead and sneered, "Heh, let''s see who can survive in the monster swarm..."


    Potions to shield monster perception were hard to find, but bait to attract mutated monsters was easy toe by.


    Fresh human blood, corpses... were the best things.


    Daniel''s body on the ground was still steaming with blood, and the few "inducing potions" that Su''en had smashed earlier were also emitting a pungent smell.


    Since the monsters were enemies, and the assassin was an enemy, wouldn''t a three-way battle be good?


    "He" enjoyed the feeling of dancing on the edge of a knife.


    ......


    Su''en knew almost all the characteristics of the monsters and had targeted countermeasures, but the second-order assassin knew nothing.


    This was a mutated monster, which meant it had never been seen in the outside world.


    Its psychic attacks were unpredictable and gave no room for error. Once controlled, it was a dead end.


    At this moment, these spider monsters didn''t disappoint Su''en.


    These eight-legged creatures hung upside down from the ceiling, moving extremely fast.


    The first thing they did was not attack the three humans in the space, but scurried to the entrance of the tunnel, spewing spider silk, and blocked the escape route in the blink of an eye.


    "Sealing the entrance? This is not the wisdom amon mutated monster possesses. There is indeed a ''strange'' one hidden in the monster swarm..."


    Seeing this, Su''en raised an eyebrow.


    He had always felt a chilling gaze from the darkness, intermittently watching him. Now, seeing the spiders'' unusual behavior of "blocking the door", he immediately guessed that there was a "strange" one among this Ghost Face Spider swarm!


    However, it was just what he wanted.


    He had no intention of escaping in the first ce.


    Whether he gambled on the door or not, there was no difference. He couldn''t run, and the assassin was also limited.


    Perfect for a three-way battle.

 Chapter 72: Spider Queen

    Chapter 72: Spider Queen


    This second-tier assassin has a very advanced stealth ability, and Su''en''s current perception is not enough to easily capture him.


    But he didn''t even think about looking for that guy.


    Because those countless red eyes can weave a spiritual that covers the entire cave, making it impossible for anyone in the dungeon to escape.


    Now all they can do is see who is lucky enough to survive.


    Sure enough, as Su''en expected.


    Just as countless red eyes lit up, there were numerous "spiritual attacks" prompts appearing on his body panel, like a wave of widespread coverage, one wave after another. Even if he didn''t directly face the monsters, he would still be affected to some extent.


    Su''en was unaffected, but the assassin was not so lucky.


    Almost at the same time the spiders blocked the exit of the nest, in the void more than ten meters away from Su''en, the hooded figure was also affected by the shockwave of the spiritual attack, revealing his figure once again.


    This guy was also extremely alert, as if he immediately noticed the abnormal spiritual fluctuations around him, he directly took out a potion and stabbed it into his waist.


    Su''en looked at the guy stabbing the potion and immediately saw his spirited appearance, and guessed what it was: "Awakening potion? Quite vignt..."


    However, the duration of the awakening potion is very short, as long as he is still trapped in this space, sooner orter it will be a dead end.


    .......


    Those who can advance to the second tier of their profession have some means, more or less.


    Probably because of Rena''s baiting, this assassin also keenly noticed that the red eyes of those spider monsters cannot be looked at directly.


    Faced with such a dangerous situation, the assassin immediately lowered his head and focused his gaze on his feet.


    Su''en looked at this guy''s small movements and secretly admired him.


    Professional killers indeed have amazing intuition.


    But in this way, his field of vision was reduced by more than 90%, and even a second-tier professional would definitely suffer.


    And the moment the assassin lowered his head, his hands trembled, and two short des with flickering lightning appeared.


    He ignored therge spider that fell from above, and instead rushed towards Rena not far away!


    "Tsk tsk... he can''t even save his own life, but still wants to kill the target. Seems like a fanatic. But I just saved her with great difficulty, I can''t let you kill her so easily..."


    Su''en was slightly surprised by the assassin''s choice, but also felt that it was just right.


    If the enemy''s target is not himself, then he can also free up his hands to fight back.


    Seeing this, Su''en grabbed something invisible with one hand and instantly pulled it straight.


    And at this moment, arge spider that fell from the ceiling above Rena suddenly disintegrated in mid-air, as if it was cut intorge pieces by an invisible de.


    Upon closer inspection, there were steel wires as thin as hair strands surrounding Rena.


    The bodies of the ghost-faced spiders were very fragile. When they fell from a high ce, their bodies touched the wires just like touching a de. In an instant, they were easily cut into pieces, leaving behind a trail of green blood on the wires.


    Seeing this, a hint of doubt shed in the assassin''s eyes, and his sudden attack instinctively stopped.


    The dark environment and the inability to look up high made it impossible for him to determine what the wires were.


    He was still wary after being tricked by that puppet just now. His intuition told him that this "guide" dared to confront him head-on, there must be other means.


    Actually, he didn''t guess that Su''en was actually gambling.


    These wires couldn''t stop a second-tier professional at all, and he was betting on the opponent''s cautious mentality.


    At this moment, the assassin hesitated, but Su''en didn''t show any hesitation.


    He manipted the wires with one hand, and his other hand had already pulled out a flintlock pistol. Without giving the assassin a chance to attack, he fired several shots at him.


    As expected, the assassin''s nerve reaction speed was already at its peak.


    He caught a glimpse of the direction of the muzzle, leaned back to avoid the first shot, and then performed several consecutive backflips, perfectly avoiding this round of gunfire. Even the "curved trajectory" hidden in thest shot only grazed him and did not hit him.


    .......


    Su''en didn''t expect to injure him, as long as he could create distance, his goal would be achieved.


    Because at this time, the monsters on the ceiling had alreadyunched their attacks.


    That "strange" one obviously also knew that the second-tier assassin was the most threatening among the three, so it mobilized therge spiders to surround the assassin.


    Faced with the tide of monsters, the assassin''s methods were also extremely sharp. He threw flying knives with his hand, piercing through several spider monsters in one go, even stronger than the damage caused by the flintlock pistol. With a single sh, he could easily cut off half of arge spider''s body.


    Even though he didn''t dare to look directly at the red eyes of the monsters, he relied on his keen hearing and the movement of the spider legs near the ground to dodge with ease. He was like cutting melons and vegetables in the midst of the spider swarm, without any disadvantage.


    But... the attack methods of these ghost-faced spiders were not limited to this.Not to mention there is a cunning creaturemanding in the dark!


    At this moment, therge spiders on the ceiling suddenly raised their abdomens, and white spider webs gushed out.


    When the spider silk is thin enough, it looks like threads; but when it bes as thick as a thumb, it turns into sticky glue!


    Although the assassin dodged the first round of spider silk with his agile body movements, he found that the sticky spider silk was already everywhere on the ground afternding. It was like stepping into a swamp, and his movements were instantly restricted.


    Realizing the danger, the assassin panicked a little. But at the first moment, he chose to kill Rena instead of escaping. At this moment, the cave had already been sealed off by spider webs... it was difficult to escape.


    Bombs and incendiary bombs were thrown around like they were worthless, but in the wave of monsters, it was futile...


    .......


    On the other hand, Su''en faced the same situation.


    Originally, these spiders would be more deadly for him as a first-tier professional without any equipment.


    But facing the overwhelming spider webs, he did not dodge or avoid them. A faint blue cold me suddenly rose from his body.


    When the spider webs touched the cold me, it burned up like flying fluff. Before it even touched Su''en''s clothes, it had already been burned to ashes.


    This was the Alchemy Secret Technique - "Mushi"!


    This was also why he blindfolded Rena.


    One was to prevent her from being controlled by the spiders, and the other was to prevent her from seeing his abilities.


    If he hadn''t extracted this skill from Rosa''s body before, Su''en would never have chosen the tactic of a "three-way deathmatch".


    Because of the existence of the cold me, Su''en didn''t have to worry about the spider webs at all.


    He also freed up his hands, dual-wielding guns, and shot at the spiders around him.


    He single-handedly formed awork of firepower, making it impossible for the fragilerge spiders to get close.


    For a while, severed limbs and broken arms flew in the air, and green spider blood sttered all over the ground...


    .......


    At the same time, because of the defense barrier woven by steel wires around them, therge spiders were temporarily unable to approach Rena.


    But this did not prevent them from spitting spider silk from a distance.


    Rena was extremely frightened at this moment.


    She could hear the dense sound of gunfire and grenades in her ears... and she could also hear the high-frequency sound of the monsters'' joints moving. Even if she didn''t open her eyes, she could guess that there were arge number of monsters around her, staring at her intently.


    She stood there alone, feeling helpless.


    Just now, she was drenched in the foul-smelling spider blood, and now she was covered in sticky stuff...


    But she couldn''t open her eyes, and she couldn''t move around.


    She could only stand there, trembling, allowing the asional spurt of spider webs to tightly bind her.


    However, luckily, the spiders seemed to have the habit of storing food. They saw Rena not running away and not attacking, so after being tightly bound by the spider webs, they didn''t attack her again!


    Rena, as the bait, didn''t know why she was temporarily safe...


    But she could also hear that the battles in the directions of Lein and the assassin were extremely intense.


    Suddenly, she heard the sound from one side suddenly disappear.


    Rena''s heart instinctively skipped a beat, praying, "The gunfire is still there, Mr. Su''en should not have encountered any danger..."


    ........


    At this moment, Su''en had gone crazy with killing.


    The spider monsters were muchrger and clumsier than the flying moth monsters before. They were just crawling creatures, making them easier to hit.


    He almost shot one head with one bullet, and even when using alchemical bullets, he could kill a group with one shot.


    The spider''s two killer moves, mental control and spider webs, werepletely useless against him. So Su''en was like a killing god, killing and maiming hundreds of monsters in a short period of time.


    Around him, the bodies of the spider monsters had piled up into mountains, and more spider monsters kept crawling over the "mountain of corpses" to offer their heads.


    Su''en''s face showed no panic, because although there were many spider monsters in this nest, he absolutely didn''t believe that there were more of them than his bullets!


    But just as he was killing, suddenly there were no more monsters.


    Therge spiders seemed to have received some signal and receded like a tide.


    Su''en looked into the distance with a puzzled look, only to find that the battle on the other side had already ended.


    The "cunning" creature hiding in the dark looked at the casualties of itsckeys and finally appeared in person.


    At this moment, Su''en was looking at the second-tier assassin as if he was dumbfounded. The assassin stood still in ce.


    A spider spear easily pierced through his skull, and with a stab, it went through like skewering meat, leaving him dead without any resistance.


    .......


    Su''en also looked at the monster, identified it, and his face instantly became serious. "This is going to be a big trouble..."


    Fortunately, it was only a first-tier strange creature;


    Unfortunately, it was a "Lord-level monster".If "weird" is a special term humans use for the boss among the mutant monsters, then the lord monster is the boss among the weird. It''s roughly equivalent to a super high rank between "gold+" and "legend-".


    The zombie-type weird that Su''en and his team encountered at the subway hub station before was merely a "ck iron level", two or three grades lower than the one in front of them now.


    Such monsters are extremely rare, usually only a small chance of appearing in a superrge-scale mutant monster group.


    The chance of a wilderness hunting team encountering such a monster in the wild is about the same as winning five million in a lottery.


    But once encountered, it almost always means a total wipeout.


    "Lord monsters" often awaken some special abilities, possessing the power to crush peers and even higher-ranked weirds.


    Just like this first-order lord in front of them, who easily killed a second-order professional.


    Su''en guessed that there would be a "weird" here, but he was not surprised by ck iron or silver.


    But he didn''t expect it to be a lord.


    ......


    This big boss is half-human, half-spider.


    Its upper body is a naked female body. The skin is white and tender. Although the chest only has the soft outline of a woman,cking a cherry-red point. Even so, it is still extremely sexy and charming, making people unable to look away.


    Its face is also extremely beautiful, the kind that makes people instantly aroused with desire, wanting to press it down and rub it on the ground.


    However, the lower half of its body is somewhat chilling, a huge and hideous spider body, eight spider legs shining with metallic luster... its ferocity fully disyed.


    [Mutated Ghost Face Spider Queen (Lord)]


    Detailed exnation: Lord-level Ghost Face Spider, possessing powerful mental control ability; due to mutation, its body has undergone extraordinary changes, bloodline regression, rank limit increased by 270%. The spider body''s flesh and tissue are extremely tough, possessing high intelligence,pound type of extreme poison, and extremely fast movement speed...


    Looking at the row of "top configuration attributes" introduction, Su''en didn''t need to fantasize, he definitely couldn''t beat it.


    But he didn''t intend to surrender, he raised his hand and fired two shots.


    "Bang", "Bang"!


    The armor-piercing alchemical bullets made two charred dents on the skin of the Spider Queen, and then, there was no more...


    The bullet heads fell to the ground, making two crisp sounds, "ng", "ng".


    "Holy shit, its skin can block ''armor-piercing bullets''?"


    Seeing this, Su''en''s expression changed drastically, and he couldn''t help butin in his heart, "This can''t be killed at all..."


    But since he had to face it sooner orter, he didn''t feel any regret, his expression was as calm as ever.


    In an instant, he thought of something and muttered to himself, "I can only try that..."


    At this time, his two shots sessfully attracted the attention of the Spider Queen. A strong wave of mental power hit Su''en like a wave, making him feel dizzy.


    Even from this distance, looking at his continuously weakened mental power panel, he knew he could only hold on for a few more seconds before beingpletely controlled.


    The mental power level of this lord monster hadpletely crushed him.


    At this moment, the scenes in his eyes alternated between reality and illusion, one moment it was a dirty monster cave, the next it was a paradise that fulfilled all human fantasies, everywhere he looked there were beautiful...


    His body also quickly became hot, his lower abdomen was already so restless that he couldn''t suppress it with reason, that urgent need to unleash the power of the wild, made his will copse rapidly.


    ......


    Su''en felt his consciousness gradually bing confused, the evil arc at the corner of his mouth getting higher and higher: "It''s a life-or-death gamble..."


    It wasn''tpletely unexpected, he just didn''t think he would really have to use thisst resort.


    While he still had a bit of reason left, he didn''t hesitate at all, his right hand took out a potion and jabbed it into his neck.


    At the same time, he raised his left hand, made a grabbing motion in the air, the steel wire in the mechanical glove quickly retracted, and with a "whoosh", it grabbed an item soaked in the sewage not far away.


    Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a big ck scythe.


    At the same time, thest bit of reason in his eyes disappeared,pletely turning blood red. It was at this moment of losing his reason that the bursting lust was instantly suppressed.


    At this moment, with the ck scythe in hand, Su''en was like the god of death descending.

 Chapter 73: Just a knife

    Chapter 73: Just a knife


    Actually, Su''en had already found the ck scythe lying in the sewage when he was setting up theyout for the assassins who wouldeter.


    In the midst of his surprise, he used the All-Knowing Eye to take a look at this legendary "forbidden item" and suddenly felt...


    Um... how should I put it...


    It''s quite troublesome.


    He had heard of the name of this forbidden item before, knowing that this scythe had extremely strong killing power and could break through anything.


    But no outsider knew that its curse was even more powerful.


    [Nocturnal ck Scythe of Supnos]


    Quality: Legendary


    Description: It is indestructible and can break through anything, but be careful, as it may cut off your head in your sleep.


    Curse: Using the scythe can create long-range shes that tear through space, causing a "one sh, two halves" effect on any material whosew level is not higher than the scythe''s sharpness limit. However, within an hour, the user''s body will suffer 80% of the damage from that sh, even if the scythe is no longer with them, the de will silently cut through space. The more frequently it is used in a short period of time, the greater the power of the sh and the shorter the bacsh time.


    Exnation: A super-cursed item created by ancient alchemists using the alchemicalws. These items generally have some of the effects of artifacts, but they follow thew of equivalent exchange. The more powerful the cursed item, the stronger the negative effects. They can be used as materials for advancing to higher-level professions.


    (Note: Artifact - Forbidden Item - Cursed Item - Ordinary Alchemical Item)


    In fact, a "forbidden item" is actually a more powerful cursed item.


    Usually, their curse characteristics are uncontroble, so most of the time, those super-cursed items are sealed to prevent the overflowing curse characteristics from affecting others or things around them.


    When Su''en saw the attributes of this scythe, the first thing that came to his mind was: killing a thousand enemies, injuring oneself eight hundred times.


    Clearly, it was a super powerful weapon, but with such a curse, it immediately became a "suicide bomb" that would kill both the enemy and the user.


    Now that he had been living in this world for a long time, he also had some understanding of "curse characteristics".


    It seemed that because the alchemists did not have faith in deities, they relied only on their own power and the power of natural substances. Therefore, certain high-levelw powers that surpassed the user''s currentprehension level could not be directly used.


    Therefore, those ancient alchemists came up with the idea of using thew of equivalent exchange to forcefully activate these powerful forces.


    Alchemists believe that "everything has a price," and the use of power is no exception. The higher the level of power used, the corresponding bacsh must be endured.


    Thinking about itter, Su''en also felt that it made sense.


    Otherwise, how could a first-level professional casually sh through space?


    Even artifacts can only be used by those who haveprehended high-levelws.


    So, this ck scythe was also hisst resort.


    Unless absolutely necessary, he didn''t n to use this thing to "gamble with his life".


    .......


    Now suddenly encountering such a "lord-level" Spider Queen, unable to even move with alchemical bullets, it was already a situation where Su''en believed he would die. He didn''t think he had any means to deal with it other than the ck scythe.


    But there was no regret.


    As long as he still had the forbidden item scythe in mind, he would eventuallye to this sewer.


    As long as he came, he would eventually be ambushed by this Spider Queen.


    Before, he didn''t know the situation in this underground cave, and he thought that maybe he would have the ability to take the scythe when he reached the second level.


    But now, even if he reached the second level, he was afraid he would only be giving his head to the Spider Queen.


    Just like the second-level assassin before.


    On the contrary, this time, someone helped him step on andmine, and the timing, location, and people were just right.


    Allowing him to obtain the scythe and have a chance to gamble.


    ......


    At this moment, Su''en knew he was no match, but he decisively chose to gamble with his life.


    Um... why did I say "again"?


    It seems like it''s not the first time, and he didn''t feel anything wrong with it himself.


    With the ck scythe in hand, he infused it with dark spiritual power, and the de instantly ignited ayer of flickering ghost fire. Su''en clearly felt a powerful force being controlled in his hand, as if he could tear through space with a light swipe of the scythe.


    A sense of dominance over the world suddenly arose.


    But even though he was the owner of this ck scythe, the sharpness of the de made him feel a chill in his heart, as if it was a tiger that would devour its master, and he could identally suffer bacsh.


    With therge scythe in hand, Su''en''s whole demeanor suddenly became sinister and terrifying, like a demon that had just walked out of the gates of hell. He tilted his head and looked at the scythe in his hand, licked his lips, seemingly enjoying the feeling of controlling such a powerful force.


    With a weapon in hand, evil arises from the heart.


    At this moment, the red eyes of Su''en, with a fierce smile on his face, stared at the Spider Queen not far away and said, "Hehe..."


    The Spider Queen, who used to rule the n, instinctively felt a deadly crisis when she was stared at by this sinister gaze.


    And at this moment, Su''en suddenly pushed off the ground with his feet and rushed towards the Spider Queen!


    Red light burst from the Spider Queen''s eyes, but it did not hinder his charge at all. That beautiful face instantly showed confusion, as if she was shocked why her mental control did not work on this person. Clearly, he was much weaker than the human he had just killed...


    Looking at the ck scythe, it gradually showed fear on its face as well.


    After all, it was eerie. The Spider Queen could feel that the scythe was very dangerous and instinctively did not want to touch it. But after all, it was eerie, and it didn''t know what dangers the scythe held.


    Su''en, with his red eyes, was as swift as a cheetah, reaching the distance of a hundred meters in an instant. Faced with the ghost-faced spiders that were closing in on him, he showed no fear, only a crazed desire to kill!


    He was covered in cold mes that were even more intense than before, with a scythe in one hand and a firearm in the other. Charging into the spider swarm, it was as if he had entered a realm without anyone.When he was about twenty or thirty meters away from the Spider Queen, this mutant lord also sensed danger. She spat out spider silk to block in front of her, and the sharp spider spear stabbed forward. As long as the human rushed up, he would definitely be pierced with several bloody holes.


    But what she didn''t expect was that suddenly, red-eyed Su''en stopped.


    A smirk appeared on his face, and then he raised his hand and swung his scythe without hesitation!


    In that instant, it seemed as if time had slowed down a hundred times.


    The ck scythe slowly fell, and the ck fire on the de made the void ripple. The de vibrated at a high frequency, as if it had torn a crack on God''s canvas, revealing a void that made people see the nothingness of the world.


    And the next second, an even stranger scene urred.


    Tens of meters away, the Spider Queen sensed danger and wanted to block with her spider spear. But suddenly, a void crack appeared near her neck. Without giving her any time to react, the crack disappeared in a sh, and a head with a shocked expression fell to the ground with a thud.


    Green blood gushed out from the headless body of the Spider Queen, spraying several meters high.


    The Ghost Face Spider Queen, whose defense couldn''t be broken by alchemical bullets, was easily beheaded by the ck scythe.


    Just one strike, only one strike.


    The elite monsters and small monsters on the side werepletely panicked...


    Seeing their lord being killed, these Ghost Face Spiders, who were not very intelligent, lost their organization and instantly became chaotic. Their instinct for survival made them feel that this ce was dangerous, that human was dangerous, they wanted to escape. After a moment of chaos, they rushed into the tunnels deep in the cave like a tide...


    But a few momentster, in the vast space, except for those spiders with broken legs struggling in the pile of corpses, no intact spider was seen.


    ......


    After using the power of the ck scythe for the first time, red-eyed Su''en had a look of insatiable greed on his face.


    He looked at the body of the Spider Queen, tilted his head, seemingly not satisfied.


    Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he turned his head sharply and looked at the only other living person in this space, Rena.


    Like a wolf seeing its prey, the killing intent in his eyes became even stronger.


    "There''s one more..."


    Red-eyed Su''en let out a strangeugh, just about to rush over, but suddenly something happened. He suddenly held his head and showed an extremely painful expression, letting out a suppressed roar like a beast.


    It was a kind of frenzy as if he had finally gained freedom, but was forcibly dragged back and locked up.


    Frenzy, rationality, his face alternated between red and white.


    As the potion continued to take effect, waves of coldness washed over his frenzy, and rationality gradually took the upper hand.


    The red light in Su''en''s eyes quickly faded, and then rity was restored.


    "Huff...huff...huff..."


    Su''en was panting heavily, his chest heaving.


    He was like someone who had just been fished out of the water, his back soaked with sweat.


    He rubbed his slightly aching temples, his face returned to normal, as if the hysterical struggle that had just urred on him had never happened.


    "The ''Advanced Calming Potion'' seems to be a bit forced... Next time I have to ask that mysterious pharmacist if there''s anything better."


    Muttering to himself, Su''en turned to look at the headless body of the Spider Queen not far away.


    Then he looked at the still alive Miss Bait.


    He finally let out a sigh of relief and muttered, "Not bad, the timing was just right. The bait wasn''t killed by that guy..."

 Chapter 74: Dark gold material

    Chapter 74: Dark gold material


    Su''en looked a bit weak, but it couldn''t hide the joy in his eyes.


    Almost 100% of the Lord-level monsters would drop materials of silver quality or higher, with a high chance of gold.


    Looking at the glowing corpse of the Spider Queen, Su''en felt like he had found a pile of gold. "Wow, it really dropped high-level cursed materials..."


    This was his first time killing monsters and obtaining high-level materials.


    The corpse of this Lord-level monster emitted a special aura from the cursed materials, which was the luster of cursed materials.


    Spider silk, venom sacs, skin, skull, blood, bones... even the internal organs, although they couldn''t be used as imnt materials, were all very advanced and rare alchemical materials.


    What Su''en cared most about were the spider legs needed for his "Eight-Armed Spider God Spear".


    Originally, he only hoped to buy eight silver spider leg materials and assemble them together, which would have satisfied him. Gold was even harder toe by. Unexpectedly, he now had aplete set of spider legs!


    "Huh... these spider legs are actually dark gold quality?"


    The eight dark golden spider legs on the Spider Queen''s corpse made Su''en unable to look away.


    "Dark gold" was an extremely rare material that was half a tier higher than gold. Even the top auction houses in the inner city might not see it for years.


    This was truly priceless.


    The structure was intact, sturdy, tough, with barbs, hooks, and natural magic patterns... almost every aspect met the requirements of the blueprint, or even exceeded them. At first nce, Su''en felt that this was probably the most suitable material for the blueprint of the "Eight-Armed Spider God Spear".


    Although this trip to the underground dungeon was risky, just obtaining these materials made it worth it!


    .......


    "What kind of mutation happened to this Lord-level monster that allowed it to produce such high-quality distorted limbs?"


    While pleasantly surprised by the harvest, Su''en also felt that something was amiss.


    The appearance of a Lord-level monster in the first-tier distorted monster group was already very low in probability. Now, the degree of mutation in this Lord-level monster was so exaggerated, making him wonder what had happened in this underground area.


    At this moment, Su''en looked at the mist on the Spider Queen''s corpse and swallowed it without thinking.


    After all, it was a highly intelligent distorted monster, and the fragments of the queen''s memory contained some information that humans could discern.


    "Obtained ''Distorted Ghost-Faced Spider Queen'' memory fragments *2"


    "You have obtained some information: ''Terrifying presence in the water pit, do not approach''..."


    "You haveprehended ''Intermediate Spider Climbing''..."


    "Spirit Power +3.5"


    There wasn''t much in the memory fragments of the Spider Queen, but they were all very practical.


    The "Intermediate Spider Climbing" skill was very suitable for Su''en, and it could even be said to be an exclusive skill.


    Once he integrated the spider spear imnt, this skill would immediatelye in handy. Ignoring obstacles, hanging and climbing, rapid discement... essential skills for escaping and pursuing.


    And the surge in spirit power by "3.5" was equivalent to the spiritual strength of nearly ten Rosa assistants at the "pseudo-second-tier" profession.


    After the surge, he felt refreshed and his perception became much clearer.


    However, thest piece of information made Su''en frowned and analyzed in his mind, "There is a huge water pool in the sewer... and in the water pool, there is a ''terrifying presence'' that even this Lord-level monster fears? A giant tentacled predator... could it be a distorted octopus monster?"


    Although everyone knew that the underground of Old Lingdun was a paradise for distorted monsters, after seeing this information, Su''en felt that things were probably worse than he thought.


    The mutations caused by the environment might have given birth to many terrifying monsters.


    However, he didn''t dwell on it.


    If he could survive this trip, he probably wouldn''t willinglye to the dungeon again.


    After collecting the cursed materials from the Spider Queen, Su''en went to the body of the assassin that was no longer in human form and looted some spoils.


    Unfortunately, killing monsters took some time, and the soul had already dissipated a lot, so he didn''t harvest anything valuable except for some proficiency.


    The items carried by the body were worth a lot of money, second-tier imnts, weapons, mechanical equipment, potions... a wide range ofbat items.


    However, most of these spoils couldn''t be easily converted into cash.


    If these items were to appear on the ck market and be recognized, it would immediately reveal a lot of useful information to those who were interested.


    Su''en didn''t want everything he did in the dungeon to be public knowledge.


    After looting the assassin, Su''en went to the pile of spider monster corpses and harvested a few pieces of spider monster fragments, gaining some experience points for "Spider Climbing".


    Then, he flipped over the pile of corpses and found Daniel''s broken body.Previously, after killing this guy, I hastily stripped his soul, but his storage ring and other things are still on the body.


    I have to say, after harvesting Rosa''s soul fragments before, there is a lot of "knowledge" ovep when harvesting Daniel''s.


    After all, they are both teaching assistants at the ck Tower Academy, and they have ovepping knowledge in many fields.


    But the advantage is that the knowledge of the two teaching assistantsplements each other, and Su''en has be more proficient in certain knowledge.


    Hmm... the spoils from Daniel''s body cannot be exposed or cashed.


    This is quite annoying.


    .......


    The process of looting the spoils is always enjoyable.


    After doing all this, Su''en finally thought of his own trouble.


    He didn''t forget that using the Night Reaper of Sopnuses at a painful price.


    It''s satisfying to kill monsters instantly, but he will have to endure 80% of the bacsh.


    Su''en sighed helplessly and estimated the size of the wound on the Queen''s body, calcting in his mind, "ording to the calction, the damage from the previous attack should bacsh to the body in about an hour. If it cuts the head or heart, it will almost trigger instant death. It means there is at least a 10-30% chance of death. Well... it''s not too bad."


    He estimated his chances of survival and was quite optimistic.


    After all, exchanging a situation of certain death for a 60-70% chance of survival is already a big gain.


    But then he faced a big problem, which is how to deal with the wounds that will appear in the future.


    Those terrifyingcerations will randomly appear on his body, and it would be easy to lose a hand or a foot... but if it cuts through internal organs, that would be bad.


    If not handled properly, although he won''t die on the spot, he won''t live long either.


    The actual death rate is higher than he calcted.


    Su''en thought of the advanced healing potions he brought, but then shook his head, "Thesecerations, advanced healing potions probably have limited effect. Surgery is the most direct treatment method. If there were cutting-edge medical equipment, maybe the chances of survival would be higher. Unfortunately, this is the sewer, and there is no time to go to the hospital in an hour..."


    Moreover, those crude clinics and mediocre doctors in the outer city probably wouldn''t be able to handle such serious injuries.


    "Oh, didn''t Rosa and Daniel, the two teaching assistants, have some medical equipment in their storage rings?!"


    Su''en suddenly thought of something and quickly looked through the storage rings that were taken as spoils.


    Sure enough, he saw several high-end medical emergency devices. There were surgical instrument sets, simple operating beds, blood transfusion and oxygen supply equipment... all kinds of emergency equipment!


    They were probably carried in the storage rings of the two teaching assistants for emergency treatment of injured students during trials. They were the top medical equipment in the inner city.


    But when Su''en saw these good things, he was happy for a moment, but then hesitated. He muttered, "I do know some basic first aid, but... I can''t stitch myself up, right? What if the injury is in a special ce and I can''t move my hands? Then I would just wait for death."


    Thinking of this, he suddenly had a sh of inspiration.


    "Isn''t there still someone else?"


    At this moment, Miss Rena, who was used as bait, had been listening for a long time without any movement. Finally, she couldn''t help but cautiously ask, "Mr. Su''en, are you still there?"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en raised an eyebrow slightly.


    .......


    Rena was given permission and finally took off her blindfold.


    Her body was covered in sticky spider webs, and as soon as she opened her eyes, she couldn''t wait to get rid of the disgusting slime.


    But when she looked around, she was stunned.


    Piles of spider monster corpses filled her vision, with limbs and arms scattered everywhere, and green blood flowing like a river...


    Only the small area where she was standing still had some space to stand.


    Did Mr. Su''en kill all these monsters? The number is too exaggerated...


    Although she had witnessed the intense battle just now, seeing such an exaggerated mountain of monster corpses left her speechless.


    Rena was about to ask what had happened when she turned her head and saw a pair of scorching eyes staring at her.


    Miss Bait''s heart skipped a beat. She didn''t remember wrongly, this was the first time the indifferent guide Mr. Su''en looked at her directly.


    Could it be... Mr. Su''en was affected?


    Strange images automatically popped into her mind, and Rena couldn''t help but feel anxious.


    But at this moment, Su''en didn''t give her a chance to overthink. He directly asked, "Can you use these emergency medical devices?"


    Rena looked at the devices on the ground. Weren''t these the standard battlefield emergency equipment of the academy?


    Although she didn''t know what Su''en wanted to do, she weakly replied, "I can."Upon hearing this, Su''en let out a sigh of relief, then asked, "Can you handle serious injuries? Like, say, being cut in half..."


    Rena felt a bit guilty under his gaze, "Well... I think so."


    "You think?"


    Su''en didn''t like the sound of her uncertainty.


    This was a matter of life and death, he needed a definite answer.


    Seeing Su''en''s apparent need for a doctor, Rena added, "Actually... I''m not abat major, I''m a medical major..."


    She paused, then asked, "Mr. Su''en, are you injured?"


    But upon inspection, Mr. Su''en didn''t seem to have any serious injuries.


    Hmm... If it''s just minor wounds, she should be able to handle it.


    That''s what Rena thought.


    This girl is actually a medical major?


    Upon hearing this, Su''en felt like a sleepy person who had just found a pillow, "How... How good are your skills?"


    "They''re... They''re okay."


    Rena thought for a moment, it was something she was proud of, but she said it without confidence, "I... I scored full marks in my medical graduation exam."


    Oh, a top student?


    Su''en felt his chances of survival had increased, "Have you ever saved anyone in practice?"


    "Yes..."


    Just as Su''en was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Rena added, "Yes, in theb."


    "Good, you''re hired!"


    Although Su''en found this girl a bit clueless, in this dungeon, finding someone who could use these emergency equipment was a stroke of luck.


    Having this deadweight around finally paid off.


    "Huh...?"


    Hearing the usually calm and monster-like Mr. Su''en show a normal emotional fluctuation for the first time, Rena was somewhat taken aback.


    She asked timidly, "Mr. Su''en, what... what can I do?"


    Su''en said, "Save me!"

 Chapter 75: Doctor Miss

    Chapter 75: Doctor Miss


    Su''en didn''t stay long in this spider nest full of corpses.


    Although he thought that all the second-tier assassins had appeared and there should be no more killersing, the corpses were scattered everywhere, and the smell of blood would spread far, attracting the distorted monsters from other parts of the underground.


    After tidying up the battlefield and covering up some necessary traces of the battle, he nned to lead Miss Bait away...


    Oh no!


    Now Rena is no longer a burden, but a useful lifesaving doctor.


    This youngdy, who has never been so embarrassed as the heiress of a wealthy family, can''t stand the sticky spider webs all over her body. The wet shirt sticks to her body, making her feel a sense of shame as if she is wearing see-through clothes. But there are no conditions for cleaning here, so she can only use a towel to clean her body briefly and then ask Su''en for a shirt to change into.


    She used to be so nervous when changing clothes before, but she doesn''t know why she can change clothes so calmly this time.


    She probably thinks it''s because she has been influenced by the guide Mr. Su''en, who is as calm as a monster.


    Rena now finds it incredible that Mr. Su''en calmly stated that he might die and asked her for help with first aid.


    That tone, as if he was talking about someone else.


    Hmm... he''s really a strange guy.


    .......


    "Let''s go, let''s find another ce."


    There''s no time to find a way to the surface, so they can only find a rtively safe ce in the underground.


    Su''en called Rena and then slung the scythe wrapped in a rag over his shoulder.


    After identification, he also understood why the "forbidden items" could not be stored in the storage ring.


    The reason is that the rules contained in ordinary forbidden items are much higher than the pseudo-space rules of the storage ring. It''s like a paper bag can''t hold a red-hot iron ball. If a forbidden item is put into the storage ring''s inferior folding space, it will immediately copse.


    With this scythe in his hand, he didn''t avoid Rena''s meaning, nor could he avoid it.


    She, as the heiress of an inner-tier top family, has an incredible range of information channels. If she really wants to inquire, there is no way to hide it.


    The injuries on his body that are about to erupt due to bacsh are too special. As long as someone has heard of the curse characteristic of the "Night ck Scythe of Supnos," they can guess something.


    And the girl naturally saw the "strange cloth package" in Su''en''s hand, but she didn''t show any intention to ask.


    She was just asionally a little absent-minded, but she wasn''t stupid, and even her inner mind was sharp.


    The guide Mr. Su''en risked so much to save her, and she felt that she should be grateful, which was enough.


    As for the rest, Rena didn''t think it was important at all.


    .......


    Su''en didn''t want the things that happened in the underground to cause amotion, nor did he want everyone to know that he had saved Rena.


    Blocking the shape-shifting worms, ambushing Daniel, and plotting to kill the second-tier assassin... a series of events would be considered bizarre to a third party.


    Probably no one would believe that a small member of the outer-city gang like Su''en could do all this.


    If it really caused amotion, there would definitely be people investigating.


    By then, the "forbidden items," the "distorted monster repellent," and his identity... everything would be impossible to hide.


    However, before he could speak, Rena cleverly thought of this point.


    She walked quietly behind Su''en, just like when she came before.


    And suddenly, she spoke.


    "Mr. Su''en, don''t worry... everything this time was caused by me. I have already caused the death of Mentor August and Assistant Rosa. I won''t cause you any more trouble."


    The big families are used to seeing too many things like this. The lives of the lower-ss people are just a word in the hands of the top elites.


    After such a serious assassination incident, even if she didn''t die, the responsibility would definitely be investigated.


    Bodyguards, security officers... and so on.


    And Su''en, as a guide, would definitely be implicated.


    As Rena spoke, she also noticed the "cloth package" on Su''en''s shoulder. She felt that she had an obligation to keep the secret of her lifesaver.


    After a pause, she continued, "Don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone about what happened here. I won''t say it, and no one can force me to say it. This is our secret."


    "..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en suddenly stopped and turned to look at the serious-faced heiress.


    He didn''t say much, just responded with a faint smile.


    Rena was slightly startled by his sudden turn. Although she couldn''t see Su''en''s face covered by a gas mask, she could tell from the details of his raised eyebrows that he was smiling.


    This was the first time she saw such a friendly expression on the cold guide Mr. Su''en''s face.


    Su''en turned his head back and continued walking forward.


    This was also his purpose in risking his life to save someone.


    Rena''s identity is very special, and as long as she is willing to help conceal it, it''s not a big deal.


    Moreover, Su''en thought that even if it was exposed, it wouldn''t be a problem.


    The only thing he did in the underground that couldn''t see the light was killing Daniel. But because he was careful enough, he could easilye up with an excuse to cover it up.


    Compared to saving Rena, the weight of the heiress, the lives of a hundred Daniels were not as important.


    He was just afraid of trouble and afraid of exposing the identity of the original owner.


    As for this scythe... if it really gets exposed, he can just hand it over to the gang. Even if there are any problems, they won''t be able to trace it back to him.


    This trip to the underground has gained so much "knowledge" and obtained the much-needed spider leg imnt materials, which is already satisfying for him.


    Now it seems that he has unintentionally found a way out for himself by saving someone.Since Rena was willing to keep the secret, it was just what he wanted.


    ......


    Su''en led Rena around in the underground cave for a while and found a dry abandoned sewer pipe. Three sides of the pipe were blocked by cement walls, making it difficult for monsters to disturb them.


    Then he took out a temporary surgical frame and a pile of emergency medical equipment and ced them on the ground.


    Rena skillfully connected various pipes to the equipment and powered them up.


    Su''en watched her professional technique and felt relieved. If he had to do it himself, he wouldn''t understand how to operate these devices.


    Perhaps because they had gone through hardships together, Rena didn''t seem as distant as before. She quickly assumed her role as a "doctor".


    While preparing surgical instruments, she asked, "Mr. Su''en, did you use any medication just now? I want to ask to avoid any conflicts with the medication I will useter."


    "A potent sedative."


    "How many milliliters?"


    "10 milliliters."


    "What?"


    Upon hearing this, Rena suddenly stopped what she was doing, shocked. She looked at Su''en incredulously, "That dosage... is a highly lethal dosage. How... how could you inject so much?!"


    "I didn''t die, did I?"


    Su''en smiled and didn''t exin further.


    He was well aware of his condition, and that dosage did carry a certain risk. But if he didn''t inject it, the two of them wouldn''t be sitting here talking right now.


    Su''en didn''t intend to dwell on this topic and changed the subject, asking, "What should I do next?"


    Rena nced at him, with an expression of helplessness as if a doctor was looking at a patient who was taking medicine randomly.


    She didn''t ask further and instead said, "I want to confirm again, Mr. Su''en, you said that a part of your body will suddenly split open, about one foot in size?"


    Su''en nodded, "Yes. There may be some error, but it shouldn''t be significant."


    Rena didn''t ask for the reason. She also guessed that it might be the bacsh of a powerful curse.


    After thinking for a moment, she said, "If that''s the case, I suggest setting up a ''Life Conversion Alchemy Array''. Because I''m the only one here, I''m afraid I won''t have time to stitch up the wound. With that array, even if the carotid artery and nerves are severed on arge scale, you won''t die immediately. I..."


    She paused and added in a less confident tone, "I... I should be able to handle such a tricky injury."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en was greatly surprised: you can survive even if your neck is severed?


    In his knowledge base, most of it was aboutbat skills, and he didn''t have much knowledge in the field of medicine yet.


    Listening to this "Life Maintenance Alchemy Array," it seemed very powerful. He asked with some anticipation, "Is it troublesome to set up this array?"


    If he could survive even if his neck was severed, then he felt that his chances of survival would be even greater.


    "It''s a bit troublesome."


    Rena said, seemingly afraid that the patient would question her medical skills. She continued, "But that happens to be the topic of our graduation assessment in the medical department. I... I happened to get a perfect score."


    As she spoke, she took out the corresponding materials from the storage ring of the teaching assistant Rosa and exined while setting up the array, "The principle of this alchemy array is to convert ''physical energy'' into ''biological energy''... as long as the energy is not depleted, it can continuously replenish the patient''s life force."


    Su''en listened with amazement. Could equivalent exchange be used like this?


    He felt that this alchemy array was very practical and definitely a life-saving tool. If he learned it, he might be able to use it in the future.


    However, as he looked at the materials Rena took out and a pile of curse crystals worth 11,000 Riso, he suddenly realized something.


    He asked, "Are the materials needed for this ''Life Conversion Alchemy Array'' expensive?"


    "Not too expensive."


    Rena continued her work without stopping and casually replied, "The basic array materials cost about one or two hundred gold crowns, and if the materials are better, the effect will be better. Then it depends on the duration of the surgery, which also consumes some curse crystals..."


    (Note: 1 gold crown = 10,000 Riso)


    Su''en''s eyelids twitched as he listened. Once again, he experienced the financial power of top conglomerates.


    To forcefully extend one''s life with money, it was terrifying.


    If it weren''t for the loot from the corpses they obtained during this trip to the underground cave, as a poor person like him, he wouldn''t even have the qualifications to listen to this kind of array.


    No wonder there weren''t manyrge hospitals in the outer city, only some small clinics. The surgery fees of several million Riso were simply beyond the reach of ordinary people.


    ......


    "Alright, Mr. Su''en, you can lie on the operating table now."


    "..."


    Su''en did as he was told.


    But as Rena looked at hisplex adventurer attire, she suddenly thought of something and a strange expression shed across her face. She said, "I... I suggest that you take off your equipment and clothes for the surgery. Because we''re not sure where the wound will appear, it''s better to..."


    "Okay."


    Before she finished speaking, Su''en understood what she wanted to say.


    He didn''t show any hesitation and directly took off all his clothes, walking naked to the operating table.


    Rena also seemed to have entered the role of a doctor. Her cheeks blushed slightly, but it quickly disappeared.


    She picked up the disinfectant and began to carefully disinfect, preparing for the surgery.


    As she worked, this heiress of a conglomerate muttered to herself in a voice that only she could hear: it''s like dissecting a cadaver in the anatomy ssroom.


    ......


    The wait for the curse bacsh was somewhat long.Su''en, a grown man, didn''t feel the slightest bit awkward being naked, but the innocent young girl, Rena, was somewhat embarrassed.


    In order not to let the atmosphere be stiff, the two of them started to chat intermittently.


    Whether it was her knowledge or her upbringing, Rena, the heiress of a wealthy family, was impable. The conversation was quite pleasant.


    After this trial, Su''en became interested in some aspects of the inner city. In the course of their indirect conversation, he subtly probed whether Rena knew the original owner.


    He had originally thought that the original owner was a top noble in the inner city, part of the upper-ss society, and should be known to Rena.


    But to his surprise, when he asked, he discovered a big problem.


    Not only did Rena not know the original owner "Fick Regadi", but even... there was no "Regadi" family in the inner city''s upper-ss society at all!

 Chapter 76: Musketeer Inn

    Chapter 76: Musketeer Inn


    Su''en had been traveling through time for a while now, and he had always been cautious about being discovered as the original owner.


    During this time, he had actually gained some understanding of the inner city. Just like the top 500panies in the world, many of the major families in the inner city also had industries in the outer city and were well-known.


    But strangely enough, he had never heard of the "Leijia" family''s origins.


    He had thought that the original owner shoulde from a low-key hidden family, but he never expected to hear an unbelievable answer from Rena: there was no "Leijia" family in the upper-ss society of the inner city!


    This puzzled Su''en.


    Whether it was the information on the retina or the mysterious wanted order, they all indicated that the original owner''s identity was definitely not simple, and definitely not from some unknown small family. If it was a hidden family, others might not have heard of it, but as the daughter of a top financial conglomerate, Rena should have heard of it to some extent.


    Su''en thought for a moment. In this situation, either the "Leijia" family used a different name in the inner city, or... the original owner''s identity might be even more mysterious.


    However, before he could think too much, Su''en suddenly felt a sense of being stared at by a venomous snake, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.


    He immediately realized what was happening and eximed in his heart, "They''re here!"


    .......


    Su''en finally experienced the horror of being bacshed by the ck Scythe for the first time.


    He felt a slight chill in his chest, as if an invisible grim reaper had silently cut through his body with an extremely sharp de. Before he could feel any pain, he suddenly saw blood gushing out from his chest. In an instant, his skin split open, revealing a wound about a foot long that pierced through his chest and abdomen, exposing his internal organs.


    Rena, who was next to him, was carefully confirming the surgical instruments for the third time when she was caught off guard and sprayed with blood.


    Because she had anticipated this, she looked at the wound on Su''en''s chest that appeared mysteriously and was only slightly panicked. She quickly activated the "Life Conversion Array" by pinching the sorcerer''s seal.


    As the hexagram array lit up with a green light, Su''en felt a surge of vitality entering his body.


    Looking at the exaggerated wound on his chest, Su''en was not shocked, but rather delighted.


    Compared to cutting off his head or throat, the chest was the least fatal position. And although the wound was deep, it just missed his heart and didn''t go down another two inches to the most critical position.


    It could be considered extremely lucky.


    The rest of the surgery became thrilling but safe.


    Although the environment in this crude sewer was harsh, it had the best emergency medical equipment from the ck Tower Academy, as well as Rena, an intern doctor with perfect theoretical knowledge.


    For this type of non-lethal wound, Su''en didn''t even bat an eyelid.


    The only unexpected incident was probably the small mistake caused by Rena''s nervousness.


    "Ah... Mr. Su''en, I''m sorry, I... this is my first time handling a wounded person alone, and my hands are shaking a bit..."


    "It''s alright. If one time is not enough, just give a few more injections."


    "I''m very sorry, please bear with me!"


    "By the way, did you administer anesthesia?"


    "Ah... I''m sorry! I was too nervous and forgot."


    "Forget it, just sew it up like this. It''s almost done anyway..."


    "..."


    asionally, Su''en could use his mediocre medical knowledge to give some instructions to Rena andfort the intern doctor who was full of guilt because of her own small mistake.


    Perhaps because of Su''en''s calmness, Rena gradually found the feeling of being a doctor and smoothlypleted the second half of the surgery.


    Indeed, this girl''s perfect score in the assessment was not obtained through connections, but through her own abilities.


    Half an hourter, the surgery waspleted.


    After stitching up the wound, Rena originally wanted to give Su''en a bottle of "Advanced Recovery Potion" to elerate the healing of the wound.


    But Su''en stopped her.


    Now, even the shirt on Rena''s body belonged to Su''en, so naturally the potions did too.


    Su''en didn''t have the financial ability, and for this kind of injury, a bottle of intermediate potion was enough.


    The advanced ones were reserved for life-threatening situations, and it would be a waste to use them.


    The bacsh from the sealed object was thrilling but safe, and Su''en''s heart finally rxed.


    He didn''t stay in the sewer for long. After the wound had healed a bit, he led Rena to follow the map of the route extracted from the memory of the Ghost-Faced Spider, making their way up.


    .......


    There had been many cases of missing personnel on Green Street before, and Su''en now knew what it was. It was the Ghost-Faced Spider in the sewer, a distorted monster that could bewitch people''s minds.


    The two of them followed the spiders'' route to the surface, and after dealing with a few foolish monsters along the way, they finally saw the lights on the street through the cracks in the sewer.


    With a "ng" sound, the manhole cover was pushed open from below.


    Su''en climbed up and then pulled out the dirty Miss Rena.


    The surroundings were filled with colorful lights, and dazzling neon lights illuminated the entire block.


    Su''en looked at Rena''s wrinkled brow finally rxing, and he was very familiar with the surroundings. It was a corner of Green Street.


    Finally, they were safe.


    Both of them let out a sigh of relief at the same time.Rena was visiting the chaotic and dirty entertainment district of the outer city for the first time. She looked timid and afraid, but couldn''t help but sneak curious nces. Her beautiful ck eyes blinked, reflecting everything in front of her: staggering drunks, scantily d prostitutes, and gangs chasing after people... everything was so fascinating.


    Su''en was familiar with almost every corner of Green Street. He found a small corner in an alley to hide his conspicuous sickle.


    Rena waited quietly without peeking.


    But when she saw Su''en climbing down from the rooftop through the drainpipe, she was prepared to be led by him to the street, but she resisted internally.


    She bit her lip and weakly suggested, "Um... Mr. Su''en, can I find a ce to take a shower first?"


    The Green Bean Princess couldn''t stand the stench on her body anymore. With her life no longer in danger, the first thing she thought of was taking a shower.


    Su''en nced at her and pointed to the "Musketeer Inn" not far away, where pink neon lights were shining, seemingly asking if it was okay.


    Rena looked at the obviously suggestive pink lights and bit her lip, but nodded.


    .......


    Ten minutester, the door of Room 304 at the Musketeer Inn was knocked.


    Su''en had already seen the ck panther motorcycle downstairs by the window and knew who it was. He opened the door.


    Qiantiao walked in quickly, her furrowed brows rxing a bit when she saw Su''en.


    After receiving the news that the trial team had been attacked, not only was the Cross Society in an uproar, but arge number of top professionals from the inner city had also been dispatched to search the underground dungeon. ording to the surviving students, the incident had happened several hours ago. With the dy in the news, everyone thought Rena was probably in grave danger...


    But suddenly receiving a message from Su''en, Qiantiao felt an overwhelming joy as if she had won a bet!


    They actually survived?


    How did they manage to do that?


    With an incredulous mood, Qiantiao rode her motorcycle at full speed to arrive. Now she finally saw living people in front of her, and her anxious heart finally calmed down.


    She looked around the room and saw no one but Su''en.


    But she heard the sound of rushing watering from the bathroom, as if someone was taking a shower.


    Su''en looked at Qiantiao with a puzzled look and shrugged.


    Qiantiao''s expression suddenly became strange.


    What''s going on? Weren''t they assassinated... why are they taking a shower?


    And at this moment, the bathroom door opened, revealing a head. Rena couldn''t open her eyes because her wet hair was blocking her vision. She hugged her chest with one hand, closed her eyes, andined, "Mr. Su''en, why is the hot water in this hotel sometimes hot and sometimes cold?"


    Su''en responded indifferently, "For an 80-dor hotel, having hot water is already good enough. This is the condition in the outer city..."


    "Oh."


    Rena was scolded and lost her temper.


    She hadn''t noticed that there was another person in the room and continued, "Can you please bring me my clothes? This bathroom is too small, there isn''t even a changing room..."


    Su''en: "..."


    Upon hearing this, Qiantiao''s face suddenly became very strange.


    She came here with the mindset of encountering a killer, but instead of seeing the enemy, she witnessed this scene.


    What... is going on?


    Seeing Qiantiao''s puzzled expression again, Su''en spread his hands and exined, "Just came out from the sewer. This youngdy found it dirty, so she came to take a shower first."


    Qiantiao''s curiosity about Su''en instantly disappeared when she realized it was him.


    She naturally trusted the person she had chosen.


    And at this moment, another puzzled head popped out near the bathroom door as Su''en seemed to be talking to someone else.


    Rena rubbed her eyes and saw Qiantiao, her face suddenly showing joy, "Auntie!"


    After seeing a loved one in such dire circumstances, this girl was so excited that she almost forgot she was naked and almost ran out like that.


    Qiantiao looked at the unharmed youngdy and finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    .......


    "Ah... Auntie Qiantiao, will your clothes be too loose if I wear them? They seem a bit revealing..."


    "What should we do then?"


    "I... I... Can I borrow another piece of clothing from Mr. Su''en?"


    "Another one?"


    "..."


    After taking a shower, Rena, the young miss, finally felt fully revived.


    Qiantiao looked at Rena wearing a men''s shirt, with her long legs exposed and wet hair, and sighed: Isn''t this revealing enough?


    But she didn''t mind.


    She was just very puzzled. How did these two be so familiar in such a short time in this world?


    They were not strangers in the room, and the three of them began to exchange information.


    Su''en briefly exined what had happened in the underground dungeon.


    Everyone knew about the events before killing Jack, so they all spoke truthfully.


    As for what happened after killing Jack, they avoided the important and focused on the trivial.


    He didn''t mention encountering Daniel, the second-tier assassin, or the Spider Queen and the sealed creature...


    He only said that they were searching for an exit and happened toe across Rena, the "lostdy," who led them out. As for how she escaped from the pursuit of the shape-shifting worms, that was for Rena to exin herself.Rena, the youngdy, was very cooperative throughout, only saying one sentence: "Yes, that''s right, just as Mr. Su''en said!"


    Whenever she encountered something vague, she chose to feign amnesia: "Ah... I''m too nervous, I forgot."


    Listening to this story full of holes, Qian Tiao wore a helpless expression the entire time.


    Although she guessed that things might not be so simple, she didn''t ask further.


    The fact that this youngdy was still alive was the greatest fortune.


    No matter what Su''en had done during the process, he was the greatest contributor.


    After their coborated testimony, Qian Tiao gave Su''en a definite answer. She and the high-level members of the Cross Society would handle this incident. Su''en, the guide, would be an irrelevant "invisible man".


    This was exactly the oue Su''en wanted.


    He had managed to keep the scythe, obtained the imnt materials, and the future looked promising.


    He didn''t want to change his identity now...


    PS. Brothers, the story is about to get on track, don''t just bookmark it, click on it when there''s an update~ I''m aiming for the top three this week, please, please. Also, I''m asking for some votes~

 Chapter 77: Some aftermath matters

    Chapter 77: Some aftermath matters


    Qian Tiao led Rena out of the "Fire Gun Inn".


    Having gotten rid of such a hot potato, Su''en also felt relieved.


    He didn''t expect that a normal trial guide mission would cause so many idents. After several fierce battles and more than ten wounds of varying sizes, he felt exhausted.


    Thinking that Qian Tiao and the guild officials would handle everything, he didn''t have much to do, so he decided to rest in the inn for the night.


    However, he didn''t stay in Room 304, but opened a new room next door.


    Just in case something happened and someone traced him, he would have room to react.


    .......


    The next day, Su''en woke up on time from his meditation due to his biological clock.


    He looked at the time and realized it was time for the daily street patrol. Without much to prepare, he checked the bullets in his gun and walked out the door.


    There were no signs of anyone breaking into Room 304 next door, so he thought things should have been resolved properly.


    At exactly seven o''clock, at the abandoned building.


    The members of the Cross Society responsible for Green Street had already gathered together.


    Su''en greeted a few old birds and squatted on the roadside to listen to their chat.


    "Hey, did you guys know? I heard something big happened at the Tube Building yesterday. Many professionals from the inner city came, and it was quite a scene."


    "I heard about it too. I heard that dozens of transport vehicles came, and it seemed like they were going to war."


    "Hey, do you guys know why? Could it be that there was a powerful mutant monster in the underground dungeon?"


    "Not sure. I heard that the incident had a high level of confidentiality, and several guild officials went there..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened on the side without saying a word.


    Not many people knew about Su''en acting as a guide for the ck Tower Academy''s trial team, and with such a big ident happening, the news had been kept under wraps.


    No one knew that Su''en, one of the people involved, was squatting next to them.


    Before long, Captain Kay also hurriedly arrived on his motorcycle.


    This was the first time Su''en remembered Kay beingte. He exined that he had just returned from headquarters.


    Without saying much, the group started their daily street patrol.


    The guild members still flirted and joked with the street girls as carefree as ever, then walked through the bar street and the casino street...


    Kay took the opportunity to walk side by side with Su''en and said apologetically, "Sorry, brother. I didn''t expect this matter to cause such a big mess."


    "It''s alright."


    Su''en smiled.


    Kay did have good intentions. If nothing unexpected happened during this mission, it would be a good opportunity to make money.


    Kay seemed to be unaware of the full story and thought that Su''en was just a "bystander" in the incident. He pouted and said, "Those wealthy magnates in the inner city are getting more ruthless. I heard that this time it was because of a family feud. They sent assassins to kill a student, which disturbed the young masters and misses of the trial team, causing such a bigmotion... Luckily, nothing major happened. Otherwise, if it happened on Green Street, we would have been implicated too..."


    "Yeah."


    Su''en nodded in agreement without exining.


    Probably because the top-tier consortiums didn''t want the scandal to spread, not even Kay knew that it was the daughter of the Reyes family who was targeted for assassination. And this time, two students and three apanying mentors died, but the news didn''t leak out.


    When Kay said this, he also felt bored, "Forget it, let''s not talk about it. The higher-ups of the guild don''t want us to discuss these things too much."


    After a pause, he looked at Su''en and asked, "Brother, are you still going to the Crimson Stronghold?"


    Su''en nodded with a smile, "Yes. I received news that tonight''s diatorial fight at the Crimson Stronghold will be lively. I definitely have to go and see..."


    Kay pouted, looking disappointed, and said, "I probably won''t be able to go. The officials said that there might be a big upheaval because of yesterday''s incident, so they asked me to stay in the district..."


    Su''en and Kay were already quite familiar with each other, so they spoke without any barriers. Su''en even said teasingly, "Oh, then you go on your street patrol, and I''ll go watch the diatorial fight, okay?"


    Kay rolled his eyes, "..."


    This was the trouble of being a captain, there were so many things to deal with.


    This was also the reason why Su''en refused when Kay said he wanted to rmend him as the vice captain, so that he could be the captain in the future.


    .......


    Su''en was already a regr customer at the arena. He walked familiarly into the casino and greeted some familiar gamblers before arriving at his usual spot next to the octagonal cage.


    Listening to the advance information revealed by the betting girls, he learned that there would be professional diatorial fights tonight, and there would be three consecutive matches. It was said that the diators were from the inner city.


    Others didn''t know the reason, they just wanted to watch the excitement.


    But Su''en guessed that after the failed assassination of Rena, the high-level members of the Reyes family had started a purge. And with this kind of excitement, it would probablyst for a long time.Then it was the repetition of "work" every day, cing bets, shouting, and reaping.


    Su''en didn''t know why, but he wasn''t very interested in watching the matches today.


    Later, he realized that it was probably because he had lost interest in reaping from the corpses.


    In the underground dungeon, he reaped the souls of two ck Tower Academy assistants, a second-tier professional, and an elite student... gaining a lot of knowledge.


    Compared to those high-quality fragments, the power increase that the arena could bring him, even as a professional, was not much.


    It was like winning the five million jackpot a few times and then winning a few hundred or thousand prizes. It was hard to get excited.


    But as he continued to gamble, Su''en felt his arm being embraced by a gentle touch. He turned his head and saw a gambling addict woman with a face full of excitement leaning towards him.


    Without any hesitation, she boldly hugged Su''en''s shoulder and asked, "Su''en, which side do you think will win the next match?"


    Su''en didn''t mind and replied, "I bet on the red side."


    Upon hearing this, the woman called the betting attendant and shouted, "Red side, ten thousand."


    Su''en was already used to it. This gambling addict woman probably wanted to try her mysterious gambling technique again.


    While the arena match hadn''t started yet, the woman took out a well-crafted silver mechanical box and handed it to Su''en, saying, "Here, take it."


    "???"


    Su''en looked at her with confusion but still epted the box.


    It was heavy in his hands, as if it contained something valuable.


    The woman exined, "It''s a thank-you gift from Rena. She thanked you for taking care of her in the underground dungeon."


    "Oh."


    Su''en listened and suddenly realized. He was also curious about what kind of gift a top-ss heiress like Rena would give. He was about to open it, but the woman stopped him with a firm grip.


    She leaned in close and whispered, "If you open it here and let people know you have this thing, you''ll probably end up dead on the street tomorrow."


    The consequences were so severe?


    Upon hearing this, Su''en became even more curious about what was inside the box.


    Although he didn''t know what it was, it was definitely valuable.


    However, it seemed that beating around the bush was not the woman''s style. She directly revealed what the gift in the box was and said, "That girl doesn''t know how to choose gifts. If these two famous guns appear in the outer city, who knows how many murders will ur."


    "Famous guns?"


    Su''en''s eyes lit up as he thought to himself: Oh, that girl is quite thoughtful.


    If she had given him something else, he would have thought it was unnecessary. But for a gunman, "famous guns" indeed had an inexplicable attraction.


    Moreover, these were firearms that even the gambling addict woman valued so much. They must be extraordinary.


    At this moment, the woman took out another box.


    This time, she didn''t hide it and directly opened a corner of the box, revealing a stack of green banknotes, saying, "This is five hundred thousand in cash. It''s also a thank-you gift."


    After a pause, she added, "The young master of the ''Leonard Family,'' Charlie, sent someone to ask if you were interested in bing his personal bodyguard in the inner city."


    Su''en looked at the box of money and immediately thought of the chubby student who looked like "Michelin."


    That guy who knew how to handle things would never disappoint.


    Su''en epted the box of money with a smile and said, "I''ll take the gift, but being a bodyguard is not for me."


    The woman raised an eyebrow and said, "I knew you weren''t interested, so I rejected it for you. Being a bodyguard in the inner city is not as good as following me."


    "..."


    Su''en smiled and didn''t say anything.


    He had previously thought that the woman was just a gang member, but now that he knew she was Rena''s aunt, he realized that this big shot''s background was not simple either.


    But he didn''t ask any further. This matter didn''t need to be asked to be guessed. It was probably rted to some unpleasant past of the woman.


    ......


    At this time, the arena match had already ended.


    The blue side won, contrary to Su''en''s guess.


    The woman lost ten thousand yuan, pouted, and then turned to Su''en, asking, "What will you bet on in the next match?"


    Su''en knew he couldn''t persuade her, so he directly replied, "Still the red side."


    Upon hearing this, the woman raised an eyebrow and beckoned to the betting attendant, doubling her bet on the blue side, saying, "Blue side, twenty thousand!"


    Su''en looked at her helplessly. This gambling addict woman''s mystical gambling technique was at work again. She probably wanted to go against the unlucky guy.


    During the break, the woman said, "Things have been roughly taken care of, and you don''t have to worry about anything. Rena took care of everything herself and sent people to clean up the traces in the underground dungeon. However, there was a little trouble during the cleaning process. Terrifying distorted monsters emerged from the underground, causing some casualties. The entrance to the basement of the apartment building has also been sealed off, preventing anyone from getting close..."


    "Okay."Su''en breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.


    The fact that he killed Jack was not exposed, and no one from the inner city came to question him. This was the ideal oue.


    From now on, he would still be a member of the Green Street Gang, a small transparent under Captain Kay.


    At this point, Qiantiao nced at Su''en with a slightly teasing look and said, "It is said that in the elite ss of the ck Tower Academy, an old second-order instructor and two quasi-second-order assistants died in the underground dungeon. So some people specte that there is at least a second-order professional among the assassins. But they still couldn''t kill Rena..."


    Su''en listened with a calm expression, as if he had no connection at all.


    It was normal for outsiders to specte on this point. As long as those assassins were not fools, they must have been confident before taking action, so there must be a second-order professional involved.


    But the fact that the assassins were so well-prepared and still couldn''t kill Rena made this matter "mysterious."


    Qiantiao retracted his probing gaze, seeming to not care about the truth, and smiled slightly. "Now, high-level aberrant monsters have been found in the dungeon, so everyone has concluded that the problem lies with those monsters."


    "Oh..."


    Su''en also pretended to suddenly understand.


    Thinking about it, no one would probably believe that an ordinary member of an outer city gang could deal with a killer group that had at least a second-order expert, even if he was a "firearms expert."


    This way, the me could be shifted to the monsters, and the logical loopholes in the situation were also filled.

 Chapter 78: �Blue Ghost】 and �Thunder Snake】

    Chapter 78: ¡¾Blue Ghost¡¿ and ¡¾Thunder Snake¡¿


    Apanied by Qiantiao for a night of diatorial gambling, this gambling-addicted woman lost all her money and left.


    Her metaphysical gambling skills once again proved that gambling is a dead end.


    Su''en, on the other hand, was in a good mood.


    Although he lost a few thousand lisuo, the gratitude gifts from Rena and the fat guy Charlie were already a big profit.


    In the morning, Su''en treated Qiantiao, this poor boss, to breakfast and sent off this boss who had agreed to gamble again in the future. Su''en then found a hotel and wanted to see what was special about the gun Rena had given him.


    .......


    In the sealed room, Su''en opened the alloy metal box, entered the password, and heard a crisp sound of metal gears biting.


    Seeing the two runic pistols in the box, Su''en finally understood why Boss Qiantiao had said those "hidden wealth" words.


    The recognition of these two guns was extremely high, with a strong cyberpunk technology style, low-key yet luxurious. They were the kind of guns that people could tell at a nce that they were of high quality and valuable, with a steady style.


    One ck and one blue, the gun bodies were engraved with advanced runes that bnced aesthetics and practicality.


    "Blue Ghost and Thunder Snake?"


    Su''en looked at the inscriptions on the gun bodies, his pupils slightly narrowed.


    Having exclusive names meant that they were "named guns".


    The definition of "named guns" was that they were made by a famous gunsmith and were unique.


    These firearms were different from mass-produced goods in terms of materials, design, handcrafted enchantments, and runes. Some of their unique craftsmanship meant that they could not be mass-produced, and it also meant that these firearms had certain special functions.


    There was also an identification certificatebeled "Markchin Firearms Workshop" and technical parameter instructions for the two guns in the mechanical box.


    Su''en had heard of thete "Master Markchin", a top figure in gunsmithing, who dedicated his life to forging fine firearms. Because this master had passed away and his works were few, every one of his remaining works would cause a frenzy in the market. Those fine firearms were also the "artifacts" that all firearms enthusiasts dreamed of.


    Su''en raised an eyebrow slightly. This gift was not light.


    This was a top luxury item that was almost impossible for people from the outer city toe into contact with.


    Perhaps only the kind of financial conglomerate like Rena''s family could take out two guns as a thank-you gift at once.


    Thunder Snake


    Details: The gun body is made of Hegye nickel-based alloy, weighing 3.3 kilograms; the gun body is engraved with Level II stable runes, Level III sturdy runes, and residual shock energy recovery runes; the entire gun is enchanted with advanced elemental conduction, dust-free enchantment, and anti-oxidation enchantment; this firearm has a +20% firing speed, +135% uracy, and +50% initial bullet velocitypared to the benchmark; it can be loaded with Level III high-explosive shells, and the effective range with regr bullets is 300 meters, with alchemical bullets reaching 600 meters...


    Blue Ghost


    Details: Weighs 2.5 kilograms; the gun body is engraved with Level II stable runes, Level I cooling runes, Level II sturdy runes, and special-grade permanent runes; intermediate elemental conduction enchantment, dust-free enchantment, and high-level wind element rifling magic pattern; this firearm has a +110% firing speed, +40% uracy, and -75% recoilpared to the benchmark; it can be loaded with standard ammunition, with a record of firing seven hundred rounds without jamming, and alchemical bullet rapid-fire test rating of A+...


    "These attributes are so strong... and this is still a handgun?"


    Su''en looked at the technical parameters of the two guns and couldn''t help but feel a sense of attachment.


    He himself was now a mechanic who had mastered "Basic Mechanical Proficiency", and he could also modify and manufacture ordinary firearms.


    So when he saw the attributes of these two firearms, he was shocked.


    The attributes of these two runic pistols were not just outstanding, they were simply excellent.


    Thunder Snake was arge-caliber super-powered handgun, which could be called a "hand sniper" without any problem. The blessing of advanced runes gave it the power and range of a regr sniper rifle.


    The effective range of a conventional handgun was only 50-100 meters, but this gun reached 300 meters, and it was even more powerful when loaded with alchemical bullets.


    On the other hand, Blue Ghost was a high-speed firearm, urate, fast-firing, and with very little recoil, which was the only drawback of this firearm.


    The data of this thing was so exaggerated that it was no different from a regr light machine gun. The specially made extended magazine could definitely double the firepower of the gunner.


    After not daring to use the Three-Headed Ghost, Su''en was worried that he didn''t have a runic pistol that suited him, but now these two were just right.


    One with great power, one with rapid fire, it was simply a perfect match.


    These two guns were even a grade or two higher than the two that the fat guy gave him in the underground dungeon. They were clearly high-level runic firearms worthy of being collectibles!


    Moreover, besides the two handguns in the mechanical box, there were also neatly arranged boxes of alchemical bullets.


    Su''en gently stroked the bullets in the box, as if caressing the delicate skin of a peerless beauty.


    He didn''t have the slightest fluctuation in his heart when the fat guy gave him the five hundred thousand, but looking at these two guns that Rena gave him, he really liked them.


    Not to mention that there were several boxes of alchemical bullets, which were probably worth over a million. The two named guns were even more valuable and couldn''t be bought with money.


    Hmm, Miss Rena is so considerate.


    "But the luxurious appearance of these guns is also a problem..."Su''en looked at the two high-value firearms and thought of something.


    He didn''t have any collectibles here; guns were meant to be used.


    But it was too eye-catching to have them hanging on his waist like this. As a small gangster, he didn''t deserve such top-notch firearms.


    Although he couldn''t manufacture firearms of this level yet, it was no problem to make slight modifications, like... making them look old and painting them?


    Su''en finally understood that Rena had carefully selected these two seemingly ordinary-looking rune guns before sending them. She probably guessed that it would be inconvenient to carry them, so she wanted him to modify them for his convenience...


    .......


    When Su''en came out of the "Bearded Mechanic Shop" on Green Street, it was almost ten o''clock.


    By the time he came out, the gun holsters under his windbreaker had been reced with two slightly different-looking, old and worn firearms. The runes on the guns, which originally looked high-end, were covered with paint, concealing their sharpness and making them look ordinary.


    He tried the guns at the shooting range, and they felt surprisingly good.


    As their names suggested, the "Green Ghost" was a rapid-fire gun that emitted green ghostly mes from the muzzle. It could fire hundreds of rounds without getting hot and never jammed. The "Thunder Snake" was a sniper rifle that shot like a sh of lightning, urate and deadly.


    Su''en finally experienced the power of money. With the dual guns in his hands, hisbat power increased significantly.


    Now that he had money, Su''en also wanted to get himself a motorcycle for transportation. It was inconvenient to take the bus every time.


    Coincidentally, the owner of the mechanic shop, Wright, had just finished modifying a heavy-duty motorcycle using old military parts from the inner city. Su''en bought it for over 20,000 lisu.


    Firearms, leather jackets, motorcycles...


    Now he had everything, the standard equipment for a veteran gangster.


    .......


    Calcting the time, today was the day to move into the house.


    Su''en was tired of the environment in cheap hotels and urgently needed a private and stable ce to make puppets and practice some alchemy with significant movements.


    Before long, he rode his motorcycle to the small western-style house at 88 Gingko Street.


    Thendlord, Green, still greeted him with a smiling face, showing no signs that he had just rented out a "haunted house" where people had died.


    Perhaps because the money had already been paid, and the contract couldn''t be revoked, this fat man no longer concealed the fact that people had died here.


    "I heard that someone died in this house before?"


    "Oh, dear sir, as you know, too much dark spiritual power is a disaster for ordinary people. I think it was just an ident... And, don''t you happen to need this dark spiritual power?"


    "..."


    The small house had been cleaned up.


    The first floor had a living room, dining room, firece, and a maid''s room. The second floor had a bedroom and a study, a very standardyout.


    Although the furniture was a bit old, there were no signs of anyone using them.


    There was also the spacious basement that could be used as a shooting range andboratory.


    Considering the price and the environment, it was really impable.


    After all, more than one person had died in this house.


    Su''en asked Green to apany him and carefully visited every room.


    Whenever he had doubts, he quietly used his All-Knowing Eye to scan, but he didn''t find anything unusual.


    Except for the higher concentration of dark spiritual power in the basement, which could cause people to deform, Su''en couldn''t find any fatal factors.


    Could it be that he was overthinking?


    Rarely finding such a suitable property, Su''en didn''t n to give up just because people had died here.


    He took the keys and rested in the house for the whole day.


    Still, he didn''t find anything unusual.


    .......


    At night, Su''en asked for leave from Kay and didn''t go on patrol on Green Street.


    He had something very important to do now, which was to turn the spider leg materials and blueprints into alchemical imnts and officially be an alchemist.


    Turning curse materials into alchemical imnts requiredplex enchantments and alchemical conversion processes. With Su''en''s current level of "Intermediate Forging," he could only handle ck iron-level materials and had a high chance of failure.


    Originally, he thought he could get some silver spider leg materials and then find a decent alchemy shop to customize his "Eight-Armed Spider God Spear."


    But now, the materials were too good, which made him hesitate.


    Materials of silver and gold quality could still be found in the outer city for alchemical refinement.


    However, for "Dark Gold" curse materials, extremely high-end enchantments, runes, and refining techniques were required. This demanded a high level ofprehensive skills from alchemists. Even "Master-level" proficiency was needed to ensure that the materials wouldn''t be scrapped.


    In the entire Old Lingdun, there were only a few alchemists who reached the "Master-level," and those talents were often offered by the major families in the inner city. There were even fewer in the outer city, and even the alchemists in the three major gangs could only barely reach the "Expert-level."


    Su''en only had this one set of Queen Spider Legs and didn''t dare to try randomly.


    So, he nned to go to the ck market and inquire about any news of "Master-level craftsmen" in the outer city.Unless absolutely necessary, he had no intention of using his meager connections to seek out that wealthy woman Rena.

 Chapter 79: Mr. Hei

    Chapter 79: Mr. Hei


    Su''en felt that the money he spent was worth it. Riding his small motorcycle, he arrived at the Berde District in the North City, saving him half an hourpared to taking the intercity train.


    He parked his motorcycle in the parking lot guarded by the local gang and went to the underground Shadow Alley.


    The ck market in Shadow Alley not only sells various illicit alchemical materials but also serves as a gathering ce for information in the outer city.


    Here, one can find relevant information about many professionals and even some powerful professionals who dare not show their faces.


    Since he had been here many times before, Su''en was familiar with the ce and went directly to the information shop that posted hiringmission tasks.


    ......


    As he passed by the bulletin board, Su''en nced at it.


    The original owner''s "missing person notice" was still hanging there, and the reward had increased. The clues provided were now worth two hundred thousand lisuo.


    Since he learned from Rena that there was no original owner''s "Leijia" family in the inner city, he always felt something strange when looking at this wanted order.


    Who is it that is wanted by the original owner?


    Su''en looked at the method of receiving the reward on it, which pointed to a small tavern run by a professional information merchant.


    Although he could probably find out who was offering the reward by following this lead, it was unnecessary.


    Without thinking about it, if he followed this lead, he would find small fish, big fish, and eventually sharks. He would uncover a huge organization (family), which would alert the person behind the reward.


    If it weren''t for being implicated by the wanted order, Su''en had no interest in the original owner''s past.


    Now, what he needed to do was to keep a low profile and make the person behind the scenes think that the original owner was already dead. It would be best if this wanted order turned to ashes.


    Su''en didn''t pay much attention to his own wanted order and looked up at the familiar red notice at the top.


    It was still the woman who had a million bounty before, but now her bounty had increased to two million.


    "She hasn''t been caught yet. This woman is really amazing. What exactly did she do..."


    Su''en looked at it with a slightly strange gaze, pondering something in his mind.


    Afterst month''s auction, he happened to witness the scene where this mysterious woman was surrounded and chased by a group of umbre organization members.


    To escape under those circumstances was indeed surprising.


    After all, in the eyes of people from the outer city, especially gangsters, the inner city''s "Umbre Organization" was a mysterious organization that could not be resisted at all. It was said that this organization had an informationwork that covered the entire Old Lingdun, countless high-level professionals, and the most advanced technological equipment... Perhaps, someone around you is their temporary hired worker.


    Once they set their sights on you, there was only a dead end.


    Su''en felt that this organization was a bit like the CIA in his previous life, something like KGB.


    In the future, it would be best not to get involved with them if there was nothing to do.


    .......


    After a while, Su''en walked out of the information shop, but his brows were slightly furrowed.


    It was not easy to find a "master-level craftsman" who could handle dark gold materials in the outer city. The information merchant gave a vague reply, saying to inquire first and contact them if there was any news.


    After all, a person like that could get a good position in the inner city based on their skills and wouldn''t be short of money. Unless there were special circumstances, a master wouldn''te to the outer city to make a living.


    However, Su''en couldn''t wait.


    In the underworld, idents could happen at any time, and he urgently needed to refine the "Eight-Armed Spider God Spear" as soon as possible.


    "Do I really have to go to the inner city?"


    If it were before, Su''en would have no choice but to wait. As an illegal resident, he couldn''t go to the inner city at all. But now it was different. He knew Rena, and he had some small connections with Charlie the fat guy. Perhaps he could find a master-level craftsman by pulling some strings.


    However, he didn''t want to use this method unless it was absolutely necessary.


    Not to mention that the "Eight-Armed Spider God Spear" was already very picky about its applicable profession, the body containment value required for the alchemical equipment made from dark gold materials would definitely be extremely high. It was not something an ordinary member of an outer city gang could equip.


    A rat has its own path, and it''s best for gangsters to go through the ck market channels. Although there were still risks, it was definitely better than exposing oneself to the sunlight.


    As he was thinking, Su''en arrived at "Rosen''s Alchemy Shop" where the old man with sses was tidying up his cramped and crowded little shop.


    He needed some other materials for the alchemical equipment, and now that he had money, it was a good time to gather the other materials.


    The old man heard the sound of the copper bell at the door and looked up to greet the customer, "What do you need, esteemed guest?"


    Although Su''en took out a list of materials and read it out, "I need 30 milliliters of ''Thousand Orchid Juice,'' three kilograms of ''Water Ghost Copper,'' two hundred grams of ''Stoneheart Ghost''s Heart Powder,'' ''Colorless Solvent''...."The old man looked at the list and raised his gray eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, these are all high-quality materials. It''s not easy to gather them all at once... Let me calcte, these materials will probably cost around 300,000 lisuo. If you need them urgently, the price might increase by another 20,000."


    Pausing for a moment, he said, "50,000 deposit, and you can get these materials within five days at thetest."


    Su''en: "No problem."


    It didn''t matter if the craftsman couldn''t be found, and the materials could be dyed for a few days.


    Although he had lowered his hat brim, he felt that the old man must have recognized him. After all, he had bought materials here many times before, and these shrewd shop owners were always urate in judging people.


    At this moment, Su''en thought of something and casually asked, "Excuse me, do you know where I can find a master-level craftsman?"


    The ck market shop owners usually had connections and might have some useful information.


    "You''re looking for a master-level craftsman?"


    The old man didn''t seem too surprised and nced at him, pondering for a moment. "Hmm... It''s a bit difficult in the outer city."


    Hearing this, Su''en was taken aback and sensed that something was off in the old man''s tone.


    "A bit difficult" didn''t mean it was impossible!


    A flicker of surprise shed across Su''en''s face, and he asked again, "If you can provide valuable information, ording to the rules, I can pay a corresponding reward for my question."


    The old man nced at him without answering and instead asked, "Do you need a high-level nt equipment to be forged?"


    Obviously, it wasn''t just about money.


    "Yes."


    When Su''en heard this, he knew there was a chance, and he didn''t show any unpleasant doubts.


    Upon hearing this, the old man said, "There is indeed a frequent customer in my shop who is at least proficient in ''expert-level'' forging techniques. I can ask him for you, but you have to tell me what you want to forge first. I can also pass on the message and see if that gentleman is interested in epting themission."


    At least an "expert"?


    Then it was very likely a "master"!


    ck market shop owners rarely made mistakes. If he could say this, it must be reliable.


    Su''en felt a surge of joy in his heart. He didn''t expect to get a useful clue just by asking casually.


    Instead of directly mentioning themission, he cautiously asked, "Is the ''gentleman'' you mentioned... trustworthy?"


    The old man''s tone was affirmative. "Of course. That gentleman has a deep connection with the organizers of the ck market. If you have reached an agreement with him before, I can even vouch for him."


    "Great!"


    Hearing the old man''s words, Su''en no longer had any worries.


    He said directly, "I have a golden blueprint [Eight-Armed Spider God Spear] and a set of dark gold-grade main materials, so I need a master craftsman who can guarantee a sessful refinement."


    He had bought the blueprint herest time, and the old man recognized him, so he must know that he had the blueprint. There was no need to hide it. Besides, the old man dared to vouch for him, so the matter was settled. A ck market shop owner with a fixed store guaranteeing him carried weight.


    "Oh... dark gold materials? No wonder you need a master craftsman..."


    The old man''s face finally showed a hint of surprise.


    It seemed that he had not only seen good materials but was also curious about where a semi-professional who needed to forge a first-tier nt equipment got such high-level cursed materials.


    But he didn''t ask further, abiding by the rules, and said, "Let me ask for you. That gentlemanes to the store to buy materials several times a month, but I''m not sure when I will receive the information."


    Su''en nodded. "Thank you, I wille here frequently in the near future. If that gentleman is confident in forging this equipment, please make sure he offers themission conditions. Even if it''s slightly higher than the market price, it''s still worth considering."


    It wasn''t easy to find a master craftsman in the outer city, and even if he was being ripped off, he would ept it.


    Fortunately, he had money now, which gave him the confidence to say this.


    The old man said, "I can''t guarantee that. That gentleman has a peculiar temperament. He only forges alchemical items that interest him..."


    Su''en tactfully took out a stack of bills, neither thick nor thin, and pushed it onto the table. "I''m counting on you."


    The old man looked at the money and didn''t say much. "I''ll do my best."


    .......


    After Su''en left the ck market, it didn''t take long for a middle-aged man in a windbreaker to visit "Gesen''s Alchemy Shop."


    The old man looked at the middle-aged man, recognized him, and greeted him warmly. "Mr. Hei, what materials do you need today?"


    "Get me a copy of all the materials on the list."


    The man in the windbreaker handed over the list and casually asked, "By the way, has the shop received any rare cursed materials recently?"


    "We have received some. Let me show you."Every month, this gentleman woulde to buy some materials. The old man was not verbose and took out some rare materials from his storage ring that he had collected from hunters and colleagues. These materials were all high-level, not the basic materials disyed in the shop. They were second-order, and even third-order... high-quality goods.


    "Oh, I almost forgot, Mr. Hei. There is something that you might be interested in. A customer needs a set of dark gold materials forged for their equipment. They have entrusted me to find a skilled craftsman who can refine them..."

 Chapter 80: Harviers Resentful Morgue

    Chapter 80: Harvier''s Resentful Morgue


    Although I don''t know if the "sir" is really interested in epting themission to forge the spider nt, at least it is confirmed that there is such a master in the outer city.


    Su''en also felt a bit emotional. There are indeed hidden dragons and crouching tigers in the ck market.


    As for the identity of the mysterious sir, he spected that he was probably from the inner city.


    After all,bat professionals can stillprehend advancement through fighting, but for professions that require arge amount of specialized knowledge, they can only be cultivated in ces withplete inheritance like the inner city. For example, the ck Tower Alchemy Academy, orrge organizations like the "Alchemy Guild"...


    Su''en guessed that he was probably another powerful figure with a shady background.


    But for him, it''s better. Being shady means that the rtionship with the inner city is more distant, and it is safer to deal with.


    ...


    When Su''en came out of the ck market, it was still early. He rode his motorcycle back to Green Street and plunged into the arena.


    Recently, there have been battles between professionals, and he happened to be able to catch up with the final matches.


    After reaping a wave of experience from the corpses, he also helped Kay and the others resolve several brawls. The night passed like this.


    In the early morning, Su''en rode his motorcycle to Gingko Street.


    He went to buy bread for breakfast and suddenly thought of something, so he posted a note on the mailbox in front of Bellman Bakery at No. 14 Gingko Street.


    Su''en wanted to contact the mysterious pharmacist again to buy some special potions. He found the Abomination Repellent that saved Renast time very useful.


    It would be good to have some more in case they are needed in the future.


    After leaving the note, Su''en didn''t go far and watched the person approaching the mailbox from a distance.


    Sure enough, not long after, a half-sized kid appeared. He found the note on the mailbox and tore it off after looking around.


    Su''en bit into his bread and suddenly became interested, so he followed.


    Although the half-sized kid was cautious and looked back several times, and even sneaked into empty alleys several times, showing a certain awareness of being followed, Su''en''s Advanced Tracking Technique and the steel wire in his mechanical glove made it easy for him to follow.


    Finally, the half-sized kid came back and appeared on Camellia Street, four blocks away from Gingko Street.


    This is a civilian district in the outer city, with dpidated gray buildings on the street, as well as "iron box houses" made of containers and steel frames.


    Su''en leaned against a three-story small building with dark red tiles, calmly watching the half-sized kid who took the note enter a small alley and meet with severalpanions there.


    In the sewage-filled alley, a pale corpse that had been dead for an unknown amount of timey in a pile of garbage. More than a dozenrge gray rats with big heads were gnawing on the corpse, making a "squeak squeak" sound. They were not afraid of humans and stared at the few humans at the entrance of the alley while eating.


    "Hey, Luke, aren''t you supposed to be ''working'' on Gingko Street today? Why did youe back?"


    "Don''t block me, I have Danny''s mission. I got the letter!"


    "Oh~ Is someone buying potions? I hope that customer buys more so we can have money to buy bread."


    "Beta, stop saying things like that. It will make Danny very difficult..."


    "..."


    Listening to the conversation between the few people, Su''en probably knew the name of the pharmacist.


    The half-sized kid sneaked into a dpidated building and didn''te out again.


    Su''en didn''t follow him in either. He just had a sudden curiosity and wanted to see what was going on. And in case he needed any special potions in the future, he could recognize the ce.


    After finding the ce, he returned the same way.


    ...


    Soon, Su''en returned to No. 88 Gingko Street and hired someone to move severalrge boxes into the small Western-style building.


    No one noticed that there was arge ck scythe in one of the luggage bags that looked like a cello case.


    A "haunted house" had a new tenant, probably feeling unlucky, and no neighbors came to say hello.


    Su''en was also happy about this.


    After the movers left, he carefully checked the entire house for the third time and found no abnormalities. Then he set up some warning mechanisms on the windowsills, roof, and various room doors, and closed all the curtains.


    After doing all this, he plunged into the basement.


    He installed several shooting targets on the basement wall and moved down the training sandbags and equipment.


    After a little arrangement, the training room became a bit more interesting.


    He had prepaid the rent for half a year, and this small building would be his residence for a long time in the future.


    Su''en knew that although he had the talent of the Reaper of Death, which made his skills and knowledge progress rapidly in all aspects, his weakness was also obvious, which was that the talent had almost no amplification effect on his physical body.


    If he wanted his body to adapt to the skyrocketing skills in his mind, he had to train hard himself.


    But there are many high-tech enhancements in this world, and physical strengthening is also possible.In a fewrge boxes, there was a "steam-powered ultra-low temperature therapy device" that helps muscles recover quickly, and a "neuromuscr bioelectric stimtion device" that elerates muscle growth...


    These were good things that Su''en had previously found in the ck market mechanical shop.


    These iron lumps were taken out of the scrapped military arsenal in the inner city and sold on the ck market, probably intended to be dismantled for parts.


    After all, hardly anyone in the outer city knew what these devices were for.


    But after Su''en stripped the memories of the assistant at the ck Tower Academy in the underground dungeon, he learned that these devices were "military-grade instruments" used by the training department of therge organization in the inner city for new recruits.


    Although the models of the devices were a bit outdated, they were indeed good treasures for enhancing the body.


    Using these two devices properly could greatly improve the efficiency of physical training.


    Su''en tinkered with the devices a bit and found that they were in normal working condition, so he didn''t pay much attention to them.


    .......


    After setting up the basement, Su''en walked to the corner and took out the ck scythe.


    If such a powerful weapon was only used as a life-or-death gamble with enemies, Su''en felt it would be a waste.


    He wanted to try if there were other ways to avoid the curse bacsh on the scythe.


    As a puppeteer, his first reaction was to use puppets.


    Then, he actually controlled a puppet to hold the scythe and drew a subtle spatial crack on the wall.


    He didn''t dare to make it too big, just a crack the size of a fingernail.


    To avoid being instantly killed by the bacsh.


    An hourter, Su''en, who had taken off his clothes and stood naked in front of the mirror, suddenly felt a chill in his buttocks, and a jet of blood shot out.


    It was an embarrassing ce, but fortunately, there was no danger.


    "As expected..."


    Su''en sighed slightly and sprinkled medicine powder on the wound on his buttocks.


    It was an expected failure.


    If it was so easy to get stuck in a bug, Su''en believed that the previous owner of this scythe must have used it to kill many people.


    "Ordinary puppets won''t work. It seems that the curse of the scythe should trace back to the user. The most likely targets are ''living beings'', ''energy sources'', or some other signs of life..."


    Su''en roughly figured out some principles of the scythe''s curse bacsh, but he hadn''tpletely lost interest in trying.


    He analyzed again, "There is a high-level puppet called the ''substitute puppet'' that can transfer the injuries of the main body. That might work. Or directly controlling someone else''s limbs with steel wires to make them swing the scythe should also be able to avoid the curse bacsh..."


    As a puppeteer, he instantly thought of these two methods.


    But for now, he couldn''t create the ''substitute puppet'' with his current skills. And controlling others to use the scythe was still a long way off. He had just started learning puppet control techniques and had a long way to go before he could control them freely.


    Thinking of this, Su''en moved his ten fingers, and the two puppet dolls in the room happily danced and practiced puppet control instinctively.


    He suddenly thought of something and muttered to himself, "If I could strip the bodies of a few puppeteers, my control skills would probably improve quickly... Unfortunately, puppeteers are already a rare profession. It''s unlikely to find a few in the whole Old Lingdun."


    .......


    The technique of multitasking allowed Su''en to control the puppets with his hands while his mind could think about other things.


    Since he couldn''t free up his hands to do other things anyway, his thoughts suddenly drifted away.


    Looking at this house, Su''en didn''t feel sleepy. Suddenly, he instinctively thought about the fact that people had died in this house.


    Based on his experience of watching eight hundred horror movies, a "haunted house" with consecutive deaths definitely had a problem.


    With this thought, Su''en''s mind became active: "Let me think, assuming this house has a problem... besides dark spiritual power causing distortions, what other reasons could there be?"


    In an instant, scenes from countless horror movies shed through his mind, and Su''en''s gaze gradually became deep.


    Then, he quickly analyzed several possibilities for the deaths.


    NO.1: Thendlord pretended to rent out the house but actually lured tenants toe and then plotted to rob and kill them;


    NO.2: There were hidden "dangerous sources" in the house, such as radiation, that caused deaths invisibly;


    NO.3: There was something in the house that would only appear under certain conditions, such as "ghost seeds" or supernatural powers;


    NO.4: Other reasons, such as random thefts and killings for money...


    The first possibility was almost instantly ruled out.


    Before renting the house, he had already revealed his identity as a member of the Cross Society, so it was unlikely for thendlord to do such a thing.


    And he had the All-Knowing Eye, which could see body data panels and couldn''t be deceived by negative maic fields, so the second possibility was also basically ruled out.


    As for the fourth possibility, it was possible, but not very likely.


    Then, using the process of elimination, Su''en was left with thest option.


    Thinking of this, he suddenly felt a bit annoyed: "If there really is a problem with the reason for the deaths in this house, is it because there are ''ghost seeds'' inside? It can''t be that coincidental, right..."


    .......Su''en never harbored any illusions about matters of life and death.


    After thinking about this issue, he immediately went to find thendlord, Ge Langtai, and used threats and enticements to inquire about the situation of the previous tenants.


    To his surprise, he discovered that in the past year, three tenants had died in this house.


    The first two deaths were quite normal, probably caused by deformities. One died from a tumor on the head, and the other went mad and died from deformities all over the body.


    But the third blind man was very strange.


    From Ge Langtai''s words, Su''en noticed several anomalies about the blind man: 1. He had a mysterious background and was not from the Nan City area, possibly from the inner city; 2. He seemed to be investigating something; 3. The doors and windows were closed, and the blind man suddenly disappeared without a trace, with no body found; 4. The blind man was very skilled and could locate things by sound.


    After obtaining this information, Su''en immediately felt that this house was probably not just an "evil house."


    Did the third blind man simply leave without saying anything, or perhaps he didn''t die?


    Or maybe he did die, but his body disappeared?


    Whether it was just wild spection or cautious instinct, Su''en always sought out clues and reasoned through the doubts when encountering such bizarre events.


    It was like ying a puzzle game, refusing to give up until it was solved.


    "If the blind man came to this house to investigate... to find someone? There are no living people, but there might be ghosts."


    "Or maybe, there is a treasure in this house?"


    Returning to the basement, Su''en looked at the surrounding cement walls, and a thought became clearer in his mind: "If he was looking for something, the All-Knowing Eye would have detected abnormalities. Could it be that this house can only be seen (triggered) under certain special conditions, like a cursed object, or... a sealed object?"


    "Suppose the blind man died and his body disappeared. Either he was eaten by a monster, taken away by the murderer, or his body is still hidden in somepartment of the house. Wow, this is a transcendent world..."


    "Perhaps... this house itself is a monster that devours people?"


    As this thought emerged, as if imposing a psychological suggestion on himself, Su''en became more convinced that there was something "strange" in this house.


    His gaze involuntarily focused, scanning the entire basement.


    And just at that moment, suddenly!


    On the basement wall that had shown no abnormalities despite being observed several times by the All-Knowing Eye, a row of information appeared.


    [Harvier''s Resentful Morgue]


    Exnation: It only exists when you be aware of its existence; it appears before your eyes when you think of it;


    .......


    "I actually guessed it right..."


    Su''en''s eye twitched.


    Seeing the changing scenery around him, he realized for the first time that indulging in wild thoughts seemed to be a sin.


    This wasn''t a game. Solving puzzles might be fun, but it could also trigger some unimaginable things. Old Lingdun was originally an ancient relic, and even now, there were asional "strange incidents" that suddenly urred in the city.


    But I was just thinking... and it triggered this?


    It wasn''t the "ghost" he had spected, but the situation was even more absurd.

 Chapter 81: Cursed space

    Chapter 81: Cursed space


    Because he had personally experienced it before in Storm Manor, Su''en was not surprised by the sudden changes in the surroundings.


    "The basement of this house... is actually a ''cursed space''?" Su''en frowned.


    Suddenly, he found himself in a strange scene from the basement of 88 Gingko Street, and he suddenly understood why the blind body of the previous tenant had disappeared.


    Without a doubt, he had been sucked into this special space. The usual exnation for a "cursed space" is that it is a special space formed over time (but notpletely) by the overflow of ancient powerful cursed object energy, but the specific cause has not beenpletely deciphered.


    This is a secondary space simr to a storage ring, like bubbles in the air, containing certain specialws. It can also be understood as a "game instance" with a plot and monsters.


    The scenes in the space, whether fragments of the obsession of the original owner of the cursed object, or a nightmare, or a life and death experience... are usually very strange and full of danger.


    And once you enter, it means that you can only find the correct way to clear it in order to get out alive, otherwise you will be trapped here forever.


    Of course, after sessfully breaking through, perhaps he would be able to see the "powerful cursed object" that created this special space.


    .......


    "A cursed space triggered by a single thought... it''s a bit strange." Although Su''en was inexplicably drawn into a cursed space, he immediately realized something.


    The entrance to a typical "cursed space" is easy to identify, usually a dark and twisted portal or a mirage. You have to get close to it to be sucked in.


    But this one is obviously different. It''s triggered by thought.


    If Su''en hadn''t thought about the abnormalities of the house before and just acted as an ordinary tenant, he probably wouldn''t have encountered any problems.


    It was because he thought about it that he triggered this special entry condition.


    Just like the exnation given by the Eye of Omniscience: "It only exists when you be aware of its existence."


    However, Su''en''s character made him instantly calm down.


    If this space was a death trap, panicking would be useless. If there was a way to break through, being calm would increase his chances of survival.


    Like countless horror game openings in the past, Su''en instantly entered a state of contemtion. He calmly recalled all the useful clues in his mind and observed everything in front of him.


    In the cursed space in Storm Manorst time, the final boss was Miss Pestoya, the "Ghost Seed," and he sessfully cleared it by outwitting her.


    With the experience of clearing a level, Su''en believed that he would always find a way to break through. Either through intelligence or through firepower.


    This ce looks like a hospital, with white-painted walls all around, an iron chair at the entrance of the clinic. There are no windows, and there are rooms on both sides. The light is sometimes bright and sometimes dim, and the night wind blows in like a ghostly howl, just like a scene from a horror movie.


    He touched the gun at his waist and found that it was still there. The storage ring on his body was also brought in, which was good news.


    He used the Eye of Omniscience to examine everything around him, and everything could be identified normally, just like the real world.


    Items such as "Damaged Wall Brick," "Hexagonal Gas Lamp," "Rusty Iron Chair," "A Lump of Moldy Dog Shit"...


    After observing for a while, Su''en did not find any useful information.


    But no matter where he looked, this corridor was strangely quiet.


    Su''en did not move randomly.


    Suddenly, he thought of something and thought to himself, "If I am in a special space right now, then the Eye of Omniscience should be able to show me something..."


    With that in mind, Su''en dted his pupils and identified everything in his field of vision as "an item."


    The next second, he indeed saw different identification results.


    "A special scene condensed by an obsession."


    Description: This is a scene from the inpatient department of the Havier Hospital in Old Lingdun City a thousand years ago.


    Solution: Find the owner of this obsession, recite their full name, and you will be able to break free from this obsession.


    .......


    "It seems like I''ve found the way to clear this level?"


    Su''en looked at the prompt in front of him, and a slight smile appeared on his face.


    The Eye of Omniscience did not disappoint. It directly told him how to leave this cursed space.


    But upon careful consideration, he realized that something was amiss.


    "I have to recite the ''full name'' of the owner of the obsession? That... seems to be the key." Su''en keenly caught onto some clues.


    The identification revealed the method to clear the level, but because he didn''t see it, the Eye of Omniscience didn''t know the name of the owner of the obsession.


    Of course, he could take a gamble and identify it face to face with the boss. See if it kills him first or if he can recite its name first.


    And if, by any chance, the identification reveals a category description like "human" or "obsession" instead of a name, Su''en felt that he might die on the spot.


    "I remember seeing a scene called ''Harvey''s Obsession Morgue'' before. Is the big boss in the morgue now?"


    Su''en pondered for a moment, stood in ce for twenty seconds, and then roughly knew what he had to do next.


    He was quite familiar with this kind of start. Now that he knew the method to clear the level, the best choice was to find clues in other parts of the hospital, learn the full name of the "obsession master," and then recite it to get out.


    The worst-case scenario was that he had to go to the morgue and face the big boss head-on.The worst-case scenario is that the big boss wille out and wander around the world, suddenly appearing...


    .......


    "If the resentment in this space is as intelligent as Pestoya, then it might not be so troublesome to clear the level. If it''s a monster that kills... it depends on luck whether we can save ourselves."


    Su''en didn''t dare to be careless. The blind tenant from before came from the inner city.


    The morgue is a crucial term, usually located at the bottom floor of a hospital.


    Su''en didn''t n to go there directly.


    His goal was clear, he intended to go to the archives or the duty room to take a look. Although this hospital has been around for a thousand years, judging from its scale, there should be a considerable number of staff members, and there is probably some kind of scheduling management system. If he can find today''s duty roster, he will have a general idea of who is in the hospital.


    The long corridor was empty, with gasmps flickering, and there was a vague feeling of being blindfolded by a ck veil in the field of vision.


    Su''en pulled out his gun, lowered his breath, and tried not to make any noise.


    He quietly walked to the door of a ward and looked inside through the small ss on the door. The ward had seven or eight beds covered with white sheets, but there was no one inside.


    There was a small card hanging on the door, with the words "Duty Nurse Janice George" written on it.


    The hospital was unusually quiet.


    "This doesn''t seem right... How can there be no one?"


    Su''en nced at the ward and then at the nearby nurse station. There was no one there either. "Even in horror movies, there should be at least one zombie or ghost, right?"


    Just as this thought shed through his mind, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he keenly noticed something.


    Without any hesitation, he drew his gun and pulled the trigger behind him.


    "Snap!"


    "Snap!"


    Two urgent and slight gunshots broke the eerie silence.


    Due to the muzzle suppressor installed on the gun, the sound was not deafening, and it didn''t travel far in this enclosed corridor.


    "Huh..."


    After firing two shots in a row, Su''en focused his sight and saw two bullets embedded in the wall. A hint of surprise and doubt appeared on his face. "I missed?"


    The atmosphere instantly became somewhat eerie.


    His pupils slightly contracted, his back against the wall, and his gaze coldly scanning the empty corridor in front of him.


    Su''en remembered very clearly that he saw a figure in the reflection on the ss of the ward door just now. It was a female nurse with a pale face, ck eyes, and blood stains all over her body, holding a knife and standing right behind him...


    He instinctively fired his gun, but unexpectedly, he didn''t hit the target.


    Moreover, not only did he miss, but the nurse with the knife had also disappeared?


    .......


    "Could it be a ''phantom breed''?"


    Su''en''s face became slightly solemn.

 Chapter 82: The man who stubbornly changed the rules

    Chapter 82: The man who stubbornly changed the rules


    "The Phantom Species" belongs to the category of spiritual beings, and they are rare but also very troublesome.


    Their usual method of attack is through mental attacks. Lower-level monsters create auditory and visual illusions, affecting the target''s senses and judgment. Higher-level ones can directly control a person''s body until they die, just like what happened to Pestoya before.


    But Su''en is no longer the clueless novice he was when he first crossed over.


    He knows that even if the Phantom Species wants to control a person, it is rted to their spiritual power. The weaker the target''s spiritual power, the easier it is to control them. That''s why many evil spirits choose to scare humans first instead of killing them on the spot. It''s not because they have a taste for scaring people, but because it''s difficult to control calm andposed humans. Only by continuously lowering the target''s sanity through fear can they reach the threshold of control.


    ...


    "They didn''t attack directly. It seems that the rank of that Phantom Species is not too high..."


    Su''en remains calm. Although his two shots were ineffective, he has deduced some useful information.


    He is well aware that his spiritual power far surpasses that of a first-tier professional and even most low-level Phantom Species.


    The "Eerie Nurse" from earlier didn''t directly attack, probably because she couldn''t control him at all!


    The calmer he is, the more helpless the other party bes.


    Moreover, his firearm is loaded with "Silver Alchemy Bullets" specifically designed for special monsters.


    But strangely, Su''en waited by the wall for almost a minute and didn''t notice anything unusual.


    Has the creature already left?


    At this moment, he slowly moves to change his position.


    But just as he does so, his peripheral vision catches a glimpse of the shadow of the knife-wielding nurse on the door''s ss once again.


    And it''s very close!


    Just a moment ago, there was a five-meter gap, but now it''s only three meters behind him!


    Without hesitation, Su''en pulls out his gun and fires two shots again.


    "Crack!"


    "Crack!"


    But this time, he still doesn''t hit the target. He turns around and sees no trace of the eerie nurse.


    Four bullet holes are now embedded in the wall.


    "It disappeared in an instant? Or is there another reason... like only being visible in the mirror?"


    Su''en is well aware that his two shots should not have missed.


    At this moment, he is rapidly specting on how this thing disappeared.


    If it were someone else, they would probably be scared to the point of a heart rate of 160+. But Su''en remains calm, maintaining a heart rate of around 70.


    Watching eight hundred horror movies wasn''t in vain.


    In a moment of enlightenment, Su''en suddenly has a sh of insight in his mind. He feels that this scene is somewhat familiar.


    Then he connects a certain clue and reveals a look of realization: That''s right, it''s her!


    Just as he was contemting, it seemed like he sensed something and looked up at the ss again. But this time, he doesn''t see a shadow; instead, he sees a ghostly face staring at him after being peeled off. It''s the pale-faced eerie nurse from before!


    Their eyes meet, and they are less than half a meter apart.


    But this time, Su''en doesn''t shoot again.


    He calmly looks at it, even blinking as if he''s not surprised by what he sees. "Tsk tsk... so this is how it starts. If I turn around now, this thing should stick to my face, right?"


    For a normal person in this situation, their first reaction would probably be to turn and run.


    Thinking this, Su''en seems to confirm his thoughts and decisively turns around.


    Then, he watches as the pale-faced ghostly nursees within a centimeter of him, almost about to touch him.


    "No physical means of harm, just a scare tactic. Is this the ''Miss'' I imagined? I remember the prototype should be..."


    Su''en instantly understands.


    This Phantom Species is something he created himself!


    He pays no attention to the terrifying face in front of him. He has already figured out the rules of this cursed space and mutters to himself, "When you think of it, it appears before your eyes." So that''s what it means."


    At this moment, Su''en reaches out and touches the ghostly nurse in front of him, but his hand passes right through, confirming that it is a spiritual being.


    He analyzes further, saying, "When I saw the name ''Janice'' on that nurse just now, my mind unconsciously associated it with a long-legged blonde beauty. Combined with the terrifying environment of the hospital, it created the image of a scary nurse. But it actually exists..."


    That ghostly nurse only has the ability to scare, and the knife in her hand is just for show. It looks at Su''en, who ispletely unaffected, and leaves on its own, uninterested.


    ...


    "Manifestation of imagination, projection of thoughts, making things happen with your mind? The rules of this cursed space are quite interesting..."


    Su''en finds this experience fascinating.


    Although he has practiced "lucid dreaming" during psychological therapy before, which can also achieve the effect of making thoughtse true, this is the first time he has directly materialized his thoughts in the real world.


    "I have the ability to create it, but I can''t make it disappear. So, that''s also the difficulty of clearing this. If I create too many powerful things because of my wild thoughts, they might end up killing me..."


    Su''en connects all the details and understands the entire set of rules.


    At least on this floor, the "danger" of this cursed space lies here.


    The hospital, filled with a terrifying atmosphere, may not actually have any monsters.


    Its purpose is to give people psychological suggestions. The dim lights, empty corridors, and empty hospital beds... these terrifying elements make you fill in the gaps in your mind and imagine some monsters.


    Then, these fantasies materialize and be real monsters thate to hunt you.


    And the things that can instinctively frighten people are probably things that you can''t defeat.


    Unfortunately, Su''en is a pathological yer who has cleared eight hundred horror movies and games.


    He has a little surprise, but he doesn''t feel scared.


    ...


    Su''en feels that he has already deciphered the rules, and he wants to give it a try."Since it can be manifested in imagination, then... let''s try a ''big wave''?"


    Su''en imagined the image of a beautiful woman riding a big wave in his mind, but...


    The next moment, he dragged his chin in surprise and showed a thoughtful expression: "Did it fail?"


    "Could it be that the imagination is not specific enough, not detailed enough?"


    Su''en pondered.


    Then, he automatically imagined several characters with detailed images.


    "Xiao Ze Maria?"


    "..."


    "Audrey Hepburn?"


    "..."


    "Gangshou Ji?"


    "..."


    Characters from the two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and film and television dramas all came to mind, but none of them manifested.


    The continuous failures made Su''en puzzled: "The way I opened it seems to be wrong... I think my spection should be correct, otherwise that ghost nurse shouldn''t have appeared before."


    He thought his train of thought should be correct, but there must be something missing.


    "Let me think, what conditions did I meet when I imagined that ghost nurse... I was fully focused on guarding against monsters, and then... right, emotional fluctuations!"


    Suddenly, he felt that he had found a blind spot.


    This cursed space cannot manifest everything, but only certain specific things that meet the rules.


    For example, things that can evoke fear in people... terrifying things!


    .......


    If it were an ordinary person, even if they thought of this rule w, the more they tried to control themselves from thinking about it, the more they would think about it in their minds.


    In that instant of random thoughts, the corridor would probably be filled with various cute little things.


    But Su''en seemed unaffected, although various "candidate characters" also appeared in his mind, he had no fear or emotional fluctuations.


    After ying eight hundred games, there was no novelty left.


    But he still didn''t n to give up trying, dragging his chin in thought: "If it''s a terrifying character, it''s best to be physically attacking, someone whose strength I can easily overpower, not a ghost, the best would be a zombie..."


    Hospital + horror elements + youngdy, what is the first reaction?


    Of course, it''s the invincible and extremely fierce nurse from "XX Ridge" with an amazing figure!


    Suddenly, Su''en imagined a screen full of long legs, tight low-cut tops, short skirts, faceless nurses, and then controlled himself to feel a little nervous...


    The next moment, the moment of witnessing a miracle arrived!


    Su''en thought that there should be people in those empty wards, and sure enough, nurses with twisted bodies, holding knives, steel pipes, and wrenches, walked out of the wards.


    Seeing this, Su''en''s eyes lit up, not surprised but delighted: "It really worked... I finally see something tangible!"


    After ying so many ssic games and collecting a row of figurines at home, he had always fantasized about seeing something tangible one day. At this moment, his dream finally came true.


    These nurses in short skirts had strong attacking emotions, but theirbat power was nothingpared to Su''en, who had already been employed.


    Su''en easily dodged the knives and sticks, and even had the leisure to carefully observe some details that had puzzled him before.


    "So their bodies under the clothes and human organizational structure are the same..."


    "Tsk tsk, thisce is a real detail. They even wear leggings, pah, poor taste! What about the basic trust between humans and the eerie?"


    "Indeed, they are made of real materials, not stiff, and the touch is great..."


    "..."


    Finally, his curiosity of many years was satisfied.


    Clearly, this terrifying hospital scene in the cursed space had been turned into a sensual game by Su''en, who didn''t follow the rules.


    After a while, when he had observed enough, he raised his hand and easily dealt with this group of monsters.


    If this wasn''t a dangerous cursed space, Su''en felt that this hospital that could manifest in imagination would be his "happy little house", and he would probably stop and create more cute things to satisfy his curiosity.


    Unfortunately, if he dyed too long, there might be unforeseen changes, so he decided to continue exploring.


    .......


    After understanding the curse rules in this space, Su''en walked horizontally on the third floor of the inpatient department and didn''t encounter any more monsters.


    However, apart from finding a few nurse duty rosters, he didn''t find any useful information.


    Then he looked at the hospital stairs and walked down to the second floor.


    As soon as he went down, he saw a blind man with a cowboy hat sitting at the door of a ward.


    The reason Su''en knew this person was blind was because he recognized this highly recognizable guy at a nce, and was surprised in his heart: "Blind Detective Bill? Could the previous tenant be this guy..."


    He didn''t know where the memory of this "Blind Detective Bill" image came from, but it didn''t prevent him from knowing that this person was the famous bounty hunter and one of the few "gun masters" in Old Lingdun!


    Legend has it that this blind man''s secret identity is also a major in the "Umbre Organization"!


    PS. Please vote for monthly tickets and rmendations~

 Chapter 83: Blind Detective Bill

    Chapter 83: Blind Detective Bill


    "It''s really that famous blind detective..."


    Su''en looked at the person sitting in the chair and briefly doubted whether it was a manifestation of his own thoughts, but immediately denied it. He was certain that he had only supplemented his brain with various cute things and definitely not this old man.


    Moreover, the appearance of "Blind Detective" Bill made things even more confusing.


    Why would someone who seemed to be a member of the "Umbre Organization"e here?


    ording to the intelligence, this guy had rented the property at 88 Gingko Street several months ago.


    Is the blind man in front of him dead or alive?


    ........


    "Blind Detective" Bill was blind, but his perception was extremely strong.


    When Su''en had juste down, he had already noticed the slight movement of this old cowboy''s cochlea.


    In front of a true "gun master," Su''en couldn''t afford to be careless. His hands were always on the gun handle at his waist, but he didn''t make any movements that would be misunderstood as drawing his gun.


    However, Bill didn''t show any malice. He spoke first and asked, "Are you human?"


    "Yes."


    Su''en responded and breathed a sigh of relief.


    It was good news that they didn''t start fighting without even meeting.


    And being able to have a conversation, even if it was "strange," instantly lowered the level of danger.


    At this moment, Su''en noticed the pool of crimson blood flowing under Bill''s feet, indicating that he was injured.


    Instead of underestimating this guy''s strength, Su''en became even more cautious.


    In the third-floor horror fantasy manifestation rules, it was difficult for Su''en to imagine anyone surviving unless they were lucky. And this guy not only survived, but also only suffered some non-lethal injuries, which proved that his strength was extremely strong.


    However, Su''en looked at the corridor without any signs of a fight and a trace of doubt shed in his eyes.


    At this moment, Bill spoke again and asked, "Who are you?"


    As he said that, he looked towards Su''en. Although his eyes were clouded with cataracts and he couldn''t see, they urately looked in Su''en''s direction.


    Su''en responded, "I am a tenant at 88 Gingko Street. I don''t know why I was inexplicably involved in this."


    Pausing for a moment, he directly asked, "Sir, do you know what''s going on?"


    He wanted to extract some information from this old cowboy''s mouth.


    After all, he was the legendary detective. If he came to Gingko Street, he must know something.


    Bill keenly caught a detail in Su''en''s words and asked in return, "New tenant? How long have I been missing?"


    Su''en secretly praised him but didn''t n to reveal everything. "Ah? I don''t understand what you''re saying. I just moved in today."


    "..."


    Bill''s expression was calm, obviously sensing that Su''en was withholding something, but he didn''t say much.


    Perhaps he thought that the curse space and the flow of time in reality were different, so he didn''t delve into this issue.


    There was no point in discussing this topic when they couldn''t leave.


    He didn''t hide his detective identity and said again, "As you can see, this is a curse space left behind from ancient times. I was involved because I epted a ''missing personmission'' and followed the clues to Gingko Street. How did you get in?"


    There was nothing to hide about this question, so Su''en truthfully replied, "I am a new tenant. I heard that someone died in the house before. I carefully inspected the house and unexpectedly got sucked in."


    Through the conversation, Su''en also captured some key information.


    He heard from Gngtai that this blind man was here to investigate something, probably the "missing personmission" he mentioned.


    Following the clues led him here, and it felt like... was 88 Gingko Street itself a "trap"?


    But who had such a big n to use a curse space to scheme against people?


    "Blind Detective" Bill was not an ordinary person, and the investigation he was conducting was definitely not simple. In an instant, Su''en understood that he had probably identally be involved in a conflict between high-level professionals.


    "Oh, I see..."


    Bill didn''t seem surprised by Su''en''s words. If he coulde in, he naturally knew the special triggering conditions of this curse space.


    At this moment, he said something inexplicable, "Those who eternal sleep are not the deceased. Even death itself will dissipate in the mysterious eternity."


    "..."


    Su''en, who had been mingling in the underworld for so long, immediately realized that this was either a password or some kind of secret code.


    Moreover, it was probably the password of the "Umbre Organization."


    This guy wanted to confirm his identity!


    Su''en wanted to respond, but he couldn''t connect. All he could say was, "Sir, what did you just say?"


    Upon hearing this, Bill seemed slightly disappointed and muttered to himself in a low voice, "That clue has already been cut off. There shouldn''t be anyone elseing."


    After a pause, he asked again, "The monster upstairs is very strong. How did you manage to survive? Judging from your breathing, you should not be a second-tier professional."


    Su''en also breathed a sigh of relief that Bill didn''t turn hostile just because the password didn''t match.


    Monster upstairs?


    There was no monster upstairs at all!


    Hearing this, Su''en suddenly confirmed something in his heart, had a sh of insight, and further confirmed something.


    He said, "I encountered several not-so-strong zombie species, and I found..."He wanted to remind the blind detective not to think too much, but he was interrupted.


    However, Bill seemed to have discovered something from his tone and shook his head, sighing, "Your tone tells me that you''re hiding something. But it doesn''t matter anymore. We probably won''t make it out alive..."


    "..."


    Su''en looked at the wax-yellow face with carved knife marks and was slightly startled.


    At the same time, he suddenly realized what this guy meant by saying that and thought to himself, "This is not good."


    But it was toote to stop him.


    At this moment, the old cowboy suddenly heard some movement, his ears twitched, and he shouted, "The monster ising again, be careful!"


    As he spoke, his hand had already reached for the shotgun hanging at his waist.


    Upon hearing this, Su''en knew it was toote.


    Just then, he suddenly heard the sound of rushing water, like the sound of a water tank bursting and gushing out. When he looked, he saw a terrifying monster rushing out from the end of the second-floor corridor. It was a distorted humanoid creature, with blurred facial features, like a gori with its skin peeled off.


    Just the oppressive feeling alone made Su''en immediately realize that this was definitely not a first-order anomaly!


    Su''en was shocked.


    He immediately realized that this monster was a terrifying manifestation imagined by the old cowboy.


    The blind man couldn''t see the precise appearance of the monster, but he could depict a rough outline in his mind through other senses. This abstract painting-like skinless blood gori in front of him, didn''t it perfectly match the manifestation in the blind man''s mind?


    .......


    The monster had just appeared, but Bill''s reaction was not slow at all.


    He stood up and swung his body, and a submachine gun with arge magazine capacity, resembling a "Chicago Typewriter," appeared in his hand. He pulled the trigger, and tongues of fire spewed out, making a dense and crisp "tatata" sound.


    Su''en looked at the gun and immediately recognized it, "The high-rate-of-fire famous gun, Woodpecker!"


    Although he couldn''t see, he urately hit the blood gori''s leg with a burst of bullets, causing a burst of blood.


    Su''en also noticed something, "Judging the position by sound?!"


    The gori''s leg was hit, causing it to stumble, and its head hit the wall.


    Just as this collision sound rang out, Bill suddenly pulled out a small-sized ck revolver from his left hand and fired three shots in quick session.


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    The sound of the gun was deafening, and the three shots almost sounded like one.


    Su''en himself was a firearms expert, naturally able to understand the skillfulness of Bill''s marksmanship.


    Three shots fired in quick session, the bullets seemed to connect end to end, perfectly ovepping and hitting the same spot on the monster''s head.


    "Advanced firearms technique - Multiple Ovepping Shots!"


    Su''en''s pupils slightly contracted, silently admiring the mastery of a master.


    Even with alchemical bullets, ordinary gunmen couldn''t break through the defense of at least a second-order anomaly. But if three shots hit the same spot on the target in a very short period of time, it could break through the defense while the target''s defense hadn''t recovered yet.


    One shot shook, one shot pierced armor, and one shot prated!


    This technique was something he currently couldn''t evene close to, requiring extremely high skill, precision, and... a runic firearm.


    And the heavy revolver in Bill''s hand was none other than the famous runic firearm - "Kiss of the Poisonous Snake"!


    One shot, one hit, and this was a blind man?


    In just a short one or two seconds, Su''en witnessed this "blind detective" Bill severely injuring a second-order anomaly.


    But everything wasn''t over yet.


    Human thinking is active, especially when encountering terrifying events.


    Su''en knew things were going to be bad when he saw the first monster appear, but he didn''t have time to warn anyone.


    Sure enough, before the blood gori waspletely dead, two huge "flying head monsters" suddenly appeared out of thin air at both ends of the corridor, almost blocking the way. The facial features of the heads were blurry like ster statues, but the hair on their heads was made up of living ck snake heads.


    Looking at the appearance of these monsters, it was obviously a product of the blind man''s sensory world, undoubtedly created by the old cowboy''s imagination.


    There weren''t many horror movies in this world that could provide material for this. What he thought of in his mind was probably something the original person had experienced or actually existed.


    How many terrifying things had this guy experienced?


    It''s one thing to make things difficult for oneself, but to this extent...


    Seeing this, Su''en didn''t hesitate at all, turned his head, and retreated back to the third floor along the stairs.

 Chapter 84: Research Diary of the Living Dead

    Chapter 84: Research Diary of the Living Dead


    Returning to the third floor again, Su''en suddenly heard the noise downstairs disappear.


    No sound of blood, no gunshots, and no strange noises from monsters.


    Su''en breathed a sigh of relief, deep in thought.


    He instantly confirmed something in his mind: "Usually, the flow of time in the cursed space is the same as the outside world. ''Blind Detective'' Bill should have been here for a few months, given his reckless brain frequency. He couldn''t have survived this long. So what I saw just now is probably not a living person..."


    He also confirmed a space rule he had deduced earlier, which is that when a person dies, the manifested monsters of horror will disappear, and the space will return to its original state.


    Otherwise, when he was first sucked into it, there were no monsters on the third and second floors, and there were no signs of battle. This is obviously not right.


    As he expected, this is a triggered plot!


    It can only happen when an outsider enters.


    Fortunately, the monsters didn''t chase after him, otherwise Su''en felt that he might have died on the spot.


    "It seems that I have to go down again..."


    There were still some unanswered questions in his mind, and although it was dangerous, Su''en still intended to go down again.


    After all, if he wanted to get out himself, he couldn''t avoid the second floor of the hospital.


    After listening carefully for a while, he didn''t hear any movement.


    Su''en cautiously went down again.


    Then, he saw the exact same scene as before.


    ''Blind Detective'' Bill was sitting at the door of a consultation room, blood flowing beneath his feet.


    Su''en''s gaze slightly chilled: "Did the plot rewind? It seems that the blind detective had some regrets before he died..."


    .......


    The old cowboy noticed Su''en again and asked the same question: "Are you human?"


    "Yes."


    Su''en responded with the same words.


    He originally wanted to use the All-Knowing Eye to identify what secrets the second floor held and to see the current state of the blind man. But in the instant his gaze fell on him, the blind man seemed to sense something and suddenly drew his gun!


    Su''en''s pupils contracted.


    As an "expert in firearms," he knew from the subtle movements of the blind man that he was about to draw his gun, so he didn''t hesitate at all and rushed up the stairs again.


    Almost at the same time, the sound of a gunshot filled his ears, and the bullet grazed his thigh.


    If he hadn''t dodged in time, that shot would have taken half his life.


    Back on the third-floor corridor, the second floor returned to calm again.


    Su''en let out a breath and sighed, "The firearms master is too strong. The gap is quite big..."


    It wasn''t too surprising that Bill could shoot.


    If it were Su''en himself, he would have done the same. In such a bizarre hospital, the possibility of encountering a human is unlikely, especially with the inexplicable gaze of the blind man.


    He had stood so close to the stairs just now to guard against this.


    However, although he was injured a bit on this trip downstairs, he also confirmed some things.


    In that moment of identification just now, the word "human" did not appear above Bill''s head, but "Manifested Soul."


    Biologically speaking, he was already dead.


    But in this space, he was still alive in a way simr to an NPC.


    .......


    "The events on the second floor should be a reenactment of the blind man''sst moments..."


    Su''en took out a potion and treated the scrape on his thigh, quickly analyzing the situation in his mind.


    If it weren''t for the brain-boosting blind man, he would have smoothly gone to the second floor to find the files.


    Now that he had this guy, if he went down again, he would have to face the high-level distorted monster created by the blind man''s brain.


    To prevent him from having any wild thoughts?


    The most effective method is to kill him.


    But... Su''en was now certain that Bill was unbelievably strong.


    He had only nced at him and already took a bullet.


    Su''en felt that if he had even the slightest intention to kill, he would probably be greeted with a barrage of bullets as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs.


    The n to kill him was directly passed!


    "However... the monster didn''t appear until we had a conversation for so long. It''s probably because his attention was focused on me at that time. As long as I distract his attention and exin the situation in time, maybe I can prevent the appearance of the distorted monster..."


    Su''en thought of the key point and decided to go down again.


    He took a deep breath, reminding himself not to show any hostility or actions that could be misunderstood.


    Then he went down the stairs again and indeed saw the old cowboy bleeding on the bench.


    .......


    Bill also noticed him at the same time and asked the same question for the third time: "Are you human?"


    Su''en responded, "Yes."


    The same conversation unfolded again, and Bill wanted to test Su''en''s origins.


    This time, he didn''t hide his method and directly said, "I have discovered the rules of this cursed space. The monsters here are actually manifestations of our thoughts. As long as we control ourselves not to think about them, the monsters won''t appear."


    Since the other party was already dead, he didn''t think it was necessary to hide this information.


    Moreover, a firearms master who didn''t show any malice, in this eerie cursed space, might not be an enemy but a great help.


    Upon hearing this, Bill''s face showed a shocked expression.


    He furrowed his brows, seemingly pondering.


    In an instant, this blind man, known as a great detective, easily grasped the key point: "No wonder, I felt that the monsters that appeared before were familiar. So that''s how it is."


    The two of them chatted for a while, and Su''en noticed that no monsters appeared. He guessed that the blind detective had probably gained control over some of his terrifying thoughts.


    Clearly, Bill hadn''t realized that he was already dead.


    Su''en nned to win him over as a temporary teammate and said, "Mr. Bill, I have heard of your name. I think if we want to get out of this cursed space, it''s best to look for some clues that can lead us out."


    Bill nodded without hesitation, "Hmm. I happen to need a helper."Su''en didn''t expect that Bill had already figured out a way to break the curse space.


    The old cowboy directly stated his opinion: "There are three conventional methods to break a space curse. First, eliminate the curse source within the cursed space; second, find the cursed object; third, create energy fluctuations that the space cannot withstand to forcefully break it. However, this particr space is different. It absorbs people who be aware of its existence. So, I suspect that the ''curse source'' may not be a physical entity, but something like a spiritual body, such as some kind of ''grudge''. The ''rule of the manifestation of evil thoughts'' that you discovered also confirms my spection. I am almost certain now that the curse source in this space is likely an extremely powerful existence!"


    Extremely powerful?


    To make this gun master say such words, Su''en furrowed his brows.


    Things were much more troublesome than he expected.


    His understanding of the curse space was far inferior to Bill''s. Many things were beyond his knowledge, and he didn''t expect that breaking the curse space would involve so many intricacies.


    Now, upon hearing this, the option of confronting the boss head-on was immediately ruled out.


    Without even gambling on the probability, it was highly likely that there wouldn''t even be time for identification before death upon meeting.


    The option with the highest chance of survival seemed to be finding and reciting the name of the "grudge master."


    Su''en didn''t expect that Bill would actuallye up with the same idea as him.


    Bill continued, "Based on the current clues, the specifications of this curse space are probably very high. The ability of the ''curse source'' is likely beyond what we can bear. So, it would be dangerous to rashly search for it."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "However, I have learned some special methods to deal with this type of ''grudge'' from some old hunters. Perhaps we don''t need to confront it directly."


    Su''en asked, "What methods?"


    Bill said, "First, find a powerful cursed object that can restrain ghost species, such as the Carter family''s [Cross Emblem]. I don''t have it, and I think you don''t either. Second, use alchemical bullets, such as ''Silver'' and ''Evil-Breaker''. Third, perform an exorcism alchemy ritual. Fourth, recite its name... Different situations require different methods, and I''m not sure which one will be effective. But the first three methods all require directly facing the ghost species, so it''s best not to try unless absolutely necessary. We can try the fourth method first. Find the name of the ''grudge master'' in the hospital, and then recite it. Perhaps it can break the grudge and allow us to leave directly..."


    Su''en listened and gained some new knowledge. He didn''t expect that there were so many ways to deal with this. This was the experience gained at the cost of countless lives. The people from the "Umbre Organization" were indeed worthy of their reputation.


    ........


    After discussing their strategy, Su''en and Bill began searching for clues in various examination rooms.


    Su''en remained on guard against the sudden appearance of monsters throughout the process, but he found that his worries were unnecessary. He was also surprised that this blind detective, Bill, could perfectly control himself and not let his mind wander.


    Without the disturbance of monsters, they quickly found a special room: the director''s office.


    Without wasting much time, Bill''s detective skills allowed them to quickly find a safe behind a mural on the wall.


    Su''en originally thought that the safe would be troublesome, but he didn''t expect that this old cowboy would easily open it with a receiver and a master key.


    Detectives really were a mixed bag of professions that knew everything.


    There were no valuable items in the safe, only a pile of notebooks.


    Su''en casually picked one up and immediately realized that they had found the right clue!


    These notebooks recorded an experiment diary called "Undead Research." He easily saw the name of the person who signed it on almost every diary: Tirmido M. Chekhov.


    Su''en flipped through a few pages and saw that the notebook was filled with various dense data, rune knowledge, alchemy knowledge... The content was too advanced, and he couldn''t understand most of it.


    In an instant, Su''en realized that the value of this diary was immeasurable.


    Without looking closely, he stored all of them in his storage ring.


    ording to the nature of horror plots, Su''en''s intuition told him that upon discovering such a crucial clue, it would most likely trigger some kind of chain reaction.


    Sure enough, just as he put away the notebook, there was suddenly abnormal movement at the door of the director''s office.

 Chapter 85: T-Sealed

    Chapter 85: T-Sealed


    There was amotion outside the door, and the perceptive "Blind Detective" Bill was the first to notice something unusual. With a click, two guns were already pointed at the office door.


    Although Su''en''s perception was slightly weaker, he also quickly drew out his gun because he was on guard in advance.


    He knew that the problem wouldn''t be with him. Just as this thought crossed his mind, a blue-skinned creature covered in golden runes appeared at the office door.


    It wasn''t an abstract image that a blind person could imagine. This creature was very specific and detailed.


    It didn''t look like a living person, but it had the unmistakable aura of a living being. It wasn''t a distorted monster, but it definitely wasn''t a normal human either.


    "So fast! What is this thing?"


    Su''en''s expression suddenly changed as he looked at the blue-skinned creature.


    He had heard themotion downstairs earlier, and in the blink of an eye, it had already appeared at the door as if it had teleported.


    Based on his previous experience, he didn''t dare to use his identification ability immediately.


    Because as soon as he nced at the golden runes on the creature''s skin, a strong sense of imminent danger instantly surged in his heart. Without hesitation, he began reciting the name he had just seen on the notebook: "Terumido M. Chee..."


    Bill''s reaction was also extremely fast. As he listened to the noise at the door, his finger on the trigger of the gun had already pulled it.


    At this moment, time seemed to freeze. The tongue of fire from the gun was still slowly spewing out, but the blue figure was elerating towards the two of them.


    The metal bullets hit its skin, creating a spark, but it didn''t stop its momentum.


    In that instant, the blue-skinned creature had already "teleported" in front of Su''en and Bill, and then it raised its hand and punched towards Bill''s head.


    "Bang," a crimson explosion.


    This renowned master-level gunman had no chance to retaliate. He was instantly killed with just one blow!


    At this moment, the blue-skinned creature turned its head towards Su''en and punched again.


    Su''en watched the fist shadow, not only was it fast, but it also had a power that he couldn''tprehend. It made his scalp tingle and his body feel like it was about to burst...


    Fortunately, because he had predicted in advance, he had also recited thest syble of the name in his mouth.


    .......


    In an instant, the surroundings changed, and they were instantly back in the basement of 88 Gingko Street from the hospital.


    "Hoo...hah..."


    Su''en gasped heavily, as if he had just escaped from a huge pressure like a copsing mountain. Cold sweat poured down his forehead.


    His eyes still shimmered with an incredulous gleam, and he said with lingering fear, "So strong! What level of existence is that undead?!"


    He didn''t even have time to identify it just now. Just a nce made him feel like he had seen some kind of unfathomable forbidden horror, and a tremor of instinctive fear rose in his heart.


    He felt that the blue-skinned creature was definitely not someone he had ever seen before.


    Now that he thought about it carefully, he realized that the level of the runes could be discerned from theplexity of their patterns. The blue-skinned creature''s runes were definitely of a terrifyingly high level.


    To give an inappropriate but vivid analogy.


    Themonly seen low, intermediate, and advanced runes (Level I, II, III) on the market looked like simplified characters: one, two, three, four;


    But the golden runes on this creature''s body looked like this: .


    Just the luster of the runes gave people a sense of oppression. How powerful must it be?


    Usually, the people in Old Lingdun referred to those iprehensible ancient knowledge as "super-tier knowledge." Obviously, the runes on this blue-skinned creature far exceeded his understanding.


    Su''en immediately thought of the research content in his diary and realized that this blue-skinned creature was an "undead"!


    How powerful were those ancient alchemists? How could they create such ridiculously strong undead?


    .......


    "Blind Detective Bill was actually killed by that creature..."


    Su''en''s eyes flickered with seriousness.


    This was the first time that even in the face of death, he didn''t feel as strong of an oppressive feeling as he did from the blue-skinned creature just now.


    "It''s a good thing I didn''t rashly go to find a morgue, otherwise I wouldn''t even know how I died. There''s probably more than just one blue-skinned creature in the lower level of the hospital..."


    He looked at the empty basement, his face bing grim, and judged in his heart, "To be able to kill a second-tier professional in an instant, this cursed space is not just a Red S-ss, but a ''ck T-Sealed'' level!"(Note: The curse space level is divided into T, S, A, B, C, D ording to the degree of danger. S-level: High-level professionals can explore with a high probability of casualties; T-sealed level: The difference in rank is toorge, no one can survive, it is rmended to permanently seal it.)


    Su''en felt somewhat fortunate, and it was also fortunate that he knew the method to crack the space in advance with the True Eye. It was also fortunate that he found a temporary teammate and sessfully found a clue.


    Otherwise, if he had to face that monster alone, there would be no possibility of survival at all.


    However, the old cowboy was already dead, so he didn''t feel guilty about using his temporary teammate.


    Even...


    In the moment when Bill''s head exploded just now, he also swallowed the dispersing "gray mist" from the corpse.


    "You obtained 4 fragments of ''Bill Strauss''s memories''."


    "You obtained some information: ''Vice Dean Nik J. Emirich of the ck Tower Academy has defected. The organization''s order is to find him. Finally, I found some clues and investigated Silver Maple Street No. 88, but unfortunately, it seems to be a trap set by that guy...''"


    "You obtained some auditory perception skills. Youprehend the [Sound Positioning (Entry)]..."


    "Youprehend the psychic perception ability [Malicious Perception]..."


    "Youprehend the marksmanship secret technique [Multiple Ovepping Shots], firearm experience +547."


    "Spiritual power +1.19"


    Now that the crisis is resolved, Su''en also snapped out of that high level of tension and his mind started working again.


    "The soul of Bill is actually perfectly preserved in the space?"


    Su''en felt incredulous about being able to harvest so much content, even though that guy had been dead for several months.


    He even felt that next time he entered, he might be able to see that blind man.


    Next time?


    No, Su''en was certain that he would not have another chance.


    Although he was curious about what the "cursed object" behind the terrifying curse space was, he immediately dismissed that unrealistic fantasy.


    Looking back at his gains, he felt that life was worth living again.


    Su''en was very satisfied with the additional skills he obtained. His perception andbat abilities instantly soared.


    The skills [Sound Positioning] and [Malicious Perception] were simply exclusive skills for gunmen. One was an auditory perception technique, and the other was a passive psychic perception.


    After digesting that bundle of memories, Su''en felt as if he had opened the door to a new sensory world.


    He used to think that the basement was very quiet, but now he could hear a lot of noise.


    By listening carefully, he could even distinguish clearly which sounds were the sound of rats crawling in the walls, which were the sound of cockroaches crawling, and which were the sound of air cirction...


    Su''en took a shortcut again.


    This auditory perception ability, ordinary people might neverprehend it in their lifetime, because perhaps only blind people who have relied on auditory perception to perceive the world since childhood can focus on the development of auditory abilities.


    As for that [Malicious Perception], it was the reason why Su''en was shot immediately after he nced at Bill''s state.


    With this, if he encountered an enemy who shot without warning, he could immediately sense the malice.


    A well-rounded ability for offense and defense.


    And that gun technique [Multiple Ovepping Shots], Su''en had always heard of its reputation, but he had beencking a way to learn it and his skill in firearms was alsocking.


    Now, he achieved it in one step, making Su''en feel that he could already perform a "double shot" now. In the future, when his strength improved, multiple ovepping shots woulde naturally.


    From today onwards, he finally had the means to deal with heavily armored targets.


    Indeed, it was a soul fragment of a "firearms master".


    .......


    However, after reading the skill gains, the message that shed through Su''en''s mind made his brow furrow.


    "The Vice Dean of the ck Tower Academy defected? Did Bille to investigate him?"


    Seeing the name "Nik J. Emirich," Su''en happened to have an impression of this Vice Dean in his memory. It seemed to have been separated from the memory of the female assistant, Rosa.


    However, in Rosa''s memory, he was a kind and respected elder with a benevolent appearance.


    Defected?


    Su''en felt that this word was used very abruptly.


    In the vast underground world, Lingdun was just one city, and the Vice Dean of the ck Tower Academy, whocked neither fame nor power, where could he defect to?


    Could it be another person who failed in a power struggle?


    However, Su''en didn''t think too much about the grievances and entanglements among the important figures in the inner city. He was more concerned about another matter.


    "From Bill''s memory, he already guessed that he fell into the Vice Dean''s trap? Is Silver Maple Street No. 88 simply a ''trap''?"Su''en''s mind shed with a thought, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy. He thought of a possibility: if it was a trap, and a prey fell into it, would there be a huntering to investigate?


    Just like how there would always be a spider lurking in the shadows behind a spider web. Even if it wasn''t the prey it was waiting for, it would still go and take a look if there was any movement.


    With this thought, a sense of crisis instantly surged in Su''en''s heart.


    Without any hesitation, Su''en picked up the sickle with a ck handle that was in the corner and rushed out of the house.


    And the fact also proved that his intuition was correct!


    PS. A very small number of readers should not always think it''s a coincidence that he always harvests the skills he wants. It''s because it''s necessary that it was emphasized. A firearms master would have at least a hundred or eighty skills, so it wouldn''t make sense to list them all beforehand. It''s just like the spider blueprint, some people always think it''s a coincidence, but they overlook the fact that the protagonist has been to the ck market several times and didn''t find anything suitable. It''s like when you buy a suitable new piece of clothing, you have to describe the ny-nine pieces that you didn''t choose first before it can be considered a coincidence.

 Chapter 86: Defector

    Chapter 86: Defector


    Su''en had juste out of the basement and entered the living room when he immediately felt a strange gaze on him.


    In the past, Su''en might not have been able to perceive that faint gaze. But now, with his perception ability enhanced by Bill, he could clearly determine that the person peeping at him was standing behind him at the bay window!


    "There''s someone in the house!"


    Su''en''s heart skipped a beat.


    He acted decisively, and as soon as he sensed someone, he used one hand to grab the two puppet runes from his windbreaker and protect them by his side. His other hand was already gripping the handle of the ck box, ready to swing it and create a spatial rift.


    The fact that someone had broken in confirmed his previous spection.


    This house was a trap!


    The hunter hade to inspect his prey!


    If it was the former vice dean of the ck Tower Academy who had defected, Su''en knew that he only had one chance to make a move.


    So he didn''t even draw his gun, and as soon as he saw the person, he had to act before the other party could react. Even if it meant risking being killed in the process, he had to eliminate the person who had been secretly spying on him.


    All these actions were decided in an instant. Su''en thought he had reacted quickly enough, but he didn''t expect the other party''s reaction to be even faster!


    He was in the process of turning his body, trying to capture the intruder''s position, and his hand holding the ck box swung across. As long as he saw the person, the oue would be decided in an instant.


    But suddenly, something strange happened.


    Su''en found that he couldn''t move his body!


    It wasn''t because of mental control, but rather, the air around him seemed to have turned into a solid, imprisoning him and making it impossible for him to break free. "Control-type magic?"


    At this moment, the intruder behind him also eximed in surprise, "You''re actually alive?"


    ...


    "A top-tier professional..."


    Su''en murmured to himself as he listened to the voiceing from behind.


    But in an instant, he rxed.


    The gap in strength was already something that couldn''t bepensated for by desperate measures.


    Moreover, even if he made an attacking move, he still didn''t sense any "malice" from the person behind him. At least not for the time being.


    And when the person spoke, he slowly walked to Su''en''s front and first expressed his attitude, "Don''t misunderstand, I have no ill intentions towards you. Restraining you is also for the sake of our safety."


    Listening to these words, Su''en also knew that the other party had seen through his intentions and pretended to be confused, "Since you are a high-level professional and have trespassed into my residence, I''m afraid it''s not appropriate."


    The person in front of him was dressed in a ck cloak that covered his face, making his features a ck mist.


    He said with a hint of praise, "You are indeed very vignt. If it were someone else, even a high-level professional, you would probably have be a dead soul under their de..."


    Su''en narrowed his eyes slightly, neither confirming nor denying.


    He felt that the other party had seen what was in his box, and he felt uneasy about it.


    Thinking that even if he couldn''t die today, he probably wouldn''t be able to keep the Reaper''s Scythe.


    But it seemed that the cloaked personpletely guessed his thoughts and said directly, "You have the Night ck Scythe of Supnos in your hand, right? Tsk tsk, I didn''t expect it to fall into your hands. But rest assured, that kind of sealed object is a treasure to others, but it doesn''t hold much attraction for me. There aren''t many people who can force me to use that weapon, and when ites to a life-or-death situation, it''s useless."


    Upon hearing these words, Su''en''s eyes shed with a hint of surprise.


    But he immediately understood the hidden meaning in the cloaked person''s words: not many people in Old Lingdun could force him to use this scythe!


    To be able to say such words, this person must be very powerful.


    Su''en felt that looking at this cloaked person gave him a deeper sense of unfathomability than looking at Chuck, the leader of the Umbre Organization.


    And thinking about the person who would be tracked by Colonel Bill from the "Umbre Organization," he must not be simple.


    However, since he wasn''t here for wealth or to harm him, why did this cloaked persone here?


    Oh... right!


    For the cursed space!


    ...


    Su''en didn''t say much. He was the passive party and just listened silently. The other party would eventually reveal their purpose.


    And at this moment, he never expected that the cloaked person would not mention his purpose, but instead casually asked, "Did you go to the ck market before to find a master-level craftsman to forge a set of special imnts?"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en''s gaze narrowed, "You''ve been following me?"


    His first reaction was that he had been followed.


    But as he quickly recalled in his mind, he couldn''t figure out when he had exposed any ws. He also couldn''t understand the purpose of a high-level professional following him.


    "No, you misunderstood. It''s just my guess."


    The cloaked person didn''t beat around the bush and said in a casual tone, "I didn''t follow you. It''s just that I went to ''Rosen''s Alchemy Shop'' before, and the owner told me that someone wanted to customize a set of Dark Gold imnts for the Eight-Armed Spider God Spear. I thought that there aren''t many professionals who can use that set of imnts, probably a puppeteer..."


    Pausing for a moment, he looked at the two puppets that Su''en was holding and a hint of surprise shed in his eyes, "Your puppet maniption skills are quite good. Just out of curiosity, I didn''t expect it to be such a coincidence..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en also revealed a hint of realization and surprise, "Are you the ''master craftsman'' mentioned by the shop owner?"


    A first-tier professional who can use suchplex imnts as a puppeteer does indeed meet this condition.


    It''s just that he didn''t expect such a coincidence, that the two of them would meet in this way.


    But as Su''en thought about it, he also felt that this person wasn''t lying.


    "Master craftsmen" are few and far between in the inner city, and it''s almost impossible for such important figures to appear in the ck market of the outer city. But if it was the vice dean who had defected from the ck Tower Alchemy Academy, the logic also matched!"Master? I guess so..."


    The cloaked figure spoke in a rxed tone, having already lifted the restraining spell on Su''en. He asked, "Do you still need your equipment forged?"


    "Of course."


    Freed from the restraints, Su''en felt a lightness in his body and didn''t make any rash movements. He even ced the ck box he was holding on the ground.


    The cloaked figure continued, "We can make a deal."


    Su''en replied, "I''m all ears."


    The neer showed no hostility and Su''en responded with enough courtesy.


    This cloaked figure gave him a strange feeling. Every word and action was polite, and there was no sense of malice. He exuded the air of a true noble gentleman with refined manners.


    In Su''en''s eyes, someone who revealed no ws like this person was either genuinely well-intentioned or extremely dangerous!


    The cloaked figure said, "I can forge your equipment for free, but in exchange, I want to know how you came out of that ''cursed space'' in the basement. Of course, if the value of the information exceeds my reward, I will pay you additionalpensation to your satisfaction."


    "Deal!"


    As expected, Su''en readily agreed without hesitation.


    He didn''t think the other party would deceive him about the materials in order to say this. After all, while the Dark Gold Spider Emperor''s leg was rare, it was only a first-tier material and had limited appeal to high-level professionals.


    Moreover, the other party said it was a trade, and he had no right to refuse.


    .......


    "However, before the trade, I have a question."


    After thinking for a moment, Su''en decided to take some initiative and asked, "I want to know why there is a ''cursed space'' in this house. And why did you appear in my house?"


    The cloaked figure was not surprised that Su''en asked this question and casually replied, "Are you sure you want to know?"


    "???"


    Hearing this, Su''en showed a puzzled expression.


    I asked, so why wouldn''t I want to know?


    The cloaked figure exined, "What I mean is... some things are troublesome once you know them. So, do you want to invite trouble?"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "Can I choose to listen to the part of the information that won''t cause trouble?"


    Trouble?


    He was well aware that he had already gotten himself into trouble when he discovered this cursed space.


    If he didn''t figure out this question, he felt it would be even more troublesome.


    He needed some necessary information to judge his future choices.


    "Hehe, interesting."


    The cloaked figure chuckled lightly and began speaking directly, "Eight years ago, when a banker developed this property, there was a ''strange incident of missing personnel.'' At that time, I happened to be in charge of handling this incident. After investigating, I discovered from ancient books that this was the site of a hospital from the previous era. I also learned some of the cursed characteristics of this space..."


    At this point, he nced at Su''en and said, "It''s what you know, how to enter."


    Su''en listened calmly upon hearing this.


    The cloaked figure continued, "Later, many people who went in for investigation couldn''te out. This ruin was then ssified as ''T-Sealed.'' Of course, there are also some highly confidential plots involved, which I guess you wouldn''t want to hear."


    "Okay."


    Su''en didn''t ask about the hidden content, but instead listened quietly as he continued.


    "As for why I came here... it''s because this is a trap I set. I sensed someone entering, so I came to take a look."


    The cloaked figure also had no intention of hiding anything and said frankly, "Something happened back then that made me aware that this cursed space involved a big secret. Although I destroyed that top-secret file and most of the people who knew about it died during exploration, there are still some traces that cannot be erased. Since someone is investigating me, I used those remaining clues to lead the investigators to the basement of this apartment."


    Taking a breath, he continued, "I didn''t do this to harm ordinary tenants, so I said I have no ill intentions towards you. After all, as you know, the way to trigger this cursed space is quite special."


    Saying that, he looked at Su''en curiously and asked, "So, I''m also curious, how did you get involved?"


    Su''en simply said, "I heard that a few people died in the house before, so I thought about it a bit more and got sucked in without thinking."


    Indeed, this trap was not aimed at ordinary tenants. If he hadn''t overthought it, he probably wouldn''t have encountered any problems.


    "Hehe, it''s not something you can achieve just by thinking."


    The cloaked figure shook his head and spoke with a hint of admiration in his tone, "You have a meticulous mind. From the moment you came out and decisively left the apartment, I knew that you didn''t just stumble upon the cursed space by chance, but rather it was your ability. If you were a second-tier, perhaps I would be interested in sharing some more interesting secrets with you. But for now..."


    Su''en felt that this person had revealed too much information to him, as if he wasn''t afraid of others guessing his identity based on this information.


    Su''en was just about to wonder why he would do this.


    At this moment, the cloaked figure casually said, "Although I don''t know how you found out, I feel like you have already guessed my identity."


    "..."


    Upon hearing this, a barely noticeable stern expression shed across Su''en''s face.


    At this moment, he finally knew where the uneasiness in his heart came from.


    Now he was certain that this guy had the ability to "read minds" or something simr!


    Su''en tried his best to suppress his emotional fluctuations, avoiding being seen through, and simply exined, "I encountered ''Blind Detective'' Bill in the cursed space."


    There was no need for him to exin in detail. This cloaked figure would fill in the gaps himself and understand what had happened.The cloaked figure was not surprised, but rather curious. "He''s not dead yet?"


    Su''en: "No, he''s already dead. But his soul hasn''t dissipated yet."


    Listening to this, the cloaked figure muttered to himself, "Just as it was recorded in the ancient texts."


    At this point, he looked at Su''en and said, "Alright, I''ve told you what you wanted to know. You can tell me what you know..."


    Su''en didn''t hesitate. In front of such a powerful and wise person, ying tricks would only make him look like a clown.


    "After I entered, I found myself in an ancient hospital, marked as the third floor. I encountered monsters... andter I discovered the ''terror objectification'' rule of the space..."


    He roughly recounted his experiences in the space, avoiding some sensitive details.


    The cloaked figure listened patiently and carefully.


    When he heard Su''en mention the rule of "terror objectification," he eximed in surprise and admiration, "You actually discovered this rule?! Tsk tsk, this is not just ordinary meticulous thinking. Could it be that your talent is [B-059-Thinker]?"


    Su''en deliberately ignored the role of [All-Knowing Eye] in his narration, making it sound somewhat unbelievable.


    But he felt that if he lied, this guy would definitely see through it, so he simply avoided the question and said, "I''m just more cautious..."


    "Hehe."


    The cloaked figure naturally didn''t believe it, but he didn''t care about this irrelevant question.


    After a moment of contemtion, he asked, "Did you encounter a ''living corpse'' with blue skin?"


    Su''en knew that this guy was intentionally interrupting, just to remind him that he didn''t know everything about this cursed space.


    Su''en calmly replied, "Yes, I encountered it. That monster was very fast, and it easily killed Bill in the space. Because I had heard about a method to break this kind of space, in an emergency, I recited a name I happened to see, and then I came out..."


    "On which floor of the hospital did you encounter the monster?"


    "The second floor."


    "Which room?"


    "The fifth room on the left."


    "What is the name of the dean?"


    "Thermido M. Chekhov."


    "..."


    After asking a few questions, the cloaked figure fell into deep contemtion for a long time.


    Although Su''en couldn''t see his expression, he could sense that this guy was probably very satisfied with the information he provided.


    ........


    For the first time, a living person came out of the "T-level" cursed space where no one had survived. The cloaked figure felt that the harvest far exceeded his expectations.


    After a long contemtion, he took the initiative to speak, "I am very satisfied with your information. It even exceeds the value of the materials I helped you refine. So, ording to our agreement, I can promise to give you some additional rewards."


    Pausing for a moment, he asked Su''en, "What do you need? Money, materials, alchemical knowledge, anything is fine."


    Su''en said, "I haven''t thought of anything for now."


    The current situation was not a good time to ask for rewards.


    And no matter what reward he exchanged for, he felt that he would be at a loss. After all, this person was the top professional in Old Lingdun, a "Master Forger," a prominent figure that the people in the outer city couldn''t evene into contact with.


    If there was no hostility, just getting to know him would bring benefits that couldn''t bepared to any material wealth.


    The cloaked figure didn''t hesitate either and straightforwardly said, "Then I owe you a favor. Let me know when you need it in the future. Give me your materials, and five dayster, pick up the alchemical equipment at ''Rosen''s Alchemy Shop.'' If you decide what you want to exchange for the favor, you can leave a message at the shop as well."


    "Alright."


    The conversation between smart people saved a lot of unnecessary steps.


    But Su''en was also curious. Did this guy really just ask a few questions without any other purpose?


    And the process of the conversation was too casual. Wasn''t he afraid that the information he obtained might be incorrect?


    At this moment, as the cloaked figure was about to leave, he seemed to have guessed something.


    He felt that since Su''en already knew his identity, there was no need to hide anything and directly stated the reason, saying, "My talent is [C-042-Mind Reader]. Although it''s not a very strongbat talent, it''s practical."


    Hearing this, Su''en suddenly understood why he always felt like the other party already knew what he was going to say before he said it.


    So, he really understood "mind reading."


    But Su''en felt that the [Mind Reader] ability he knew wasn''t that exaggerated, after all, it was just a C-level talent.


    He vaguely guessed that this might involve a realm of high-level professionals that he was not familiar with...

 Chapter 87: The three ultimate subjects of alchemy

    Chapter 87: The three ultimate subjects of alchemy


    The cloaked figure talked with Su''en for a while, obtained the information he wanted, and then left the apartment.


    He didn''t even go to the basement to take a look.


    But thinking about it, even if he knew the way in and out, it didn''t mean he could definitelye out alive.


    Once he entered the basement, he would definitely be involved.


    If he really encountered the super-level blue-skinned undead, even though he was already one of the top professionals in Old Lingdun City, he might not be able toe out alive.


    However, Su''en was indeed slightly surprised by the unexpected arrival of the cloaked figure.


    The cloaked figure never showed any hostility from beginning to end, just like a true gentleman, polite, reasonable, and fair in his dealings...


    But why would this seemingly humble Vice Dean of the ck Tower Academy, "Nic J. Emirich," escape from the inner city?


    The reason was probably what he said himself: certain secrets that would cause trouble if known.


    Su''en''s special experiences allowed him to understand human nature more easily than others.


    At least he could distinguish between goodwill and malice.


    He even felt that this "Nic J. Emirich" was the easiest person to get along with that he had encountered since crossing into this cruel underground world.


    .......


    As the cloaked figure left, the sense of danger in Su''en''s heartpletely disappeared.


    Now that the hunter behind the trap had taken the initiative to reveal himself and exin his intentions, things were probably clear.


    Looking at the house that he was originally satisfied with, Su''en looked somewhat helpless. "Looks like I have to move again..."


    Although the cloaked figure said that the trap was not aimed at ordinary tenants and would not disturb him in the future, Su''en had no intention of continuing to live there.


    He preferred to stay away from this sensitive "battlefield" involving top professionals.


    He didn''t dare to go to the basement again and nned to find someone to move his things out tomorrow.


    At this moment, Su''en thought of something and took out a notebook from his storage ring.


    This was the "Undead Research Diary" that he brought out from the cursed space safe.


    The other party didn''t ask earlier, and he intentionally withheld information.


    Now that he had some free time, he carefully looked through it.


    It was a handwritten manuscript, with each page filled with dense text and illustrations.


    With just a flip, he could see colored pencil drawings of various human body structures, such as arms, heads, skeletons... or detailed depictions of various internal organs.


    The author of the diary had a very strong drawing skill, and looking at these hand-drawn pictures, Su''en even felt like he was looking at precise anatomical prints from his previous life, with every blood vessel, nerve, and muscle fiber clearly depicted...


    From the surface to the internal structure, even to the microscopic level of erged cell patterns.


    Moreover, it was not just drawings, the notebook also had a lot of annotated text. It detailed the functions of human organs, how blood, muscles, organs, and the brain worked. It even specified where runes should be drawn on which blood vessels.


    There were also many iprehensible diagrams of auxiliary instruments, various scales, and strange essory models...


    Su''en first looked at these iprehensible contents in the diary and couldn''t help but marvel at how ancient alchemists had researched life sciences to such an exaggerated extent.


    Life sciencesbined with mysterious alchemy truly created a magical world.


    However, with his current level of "Advanced Beginner Alchemy," when he saw the contents in the diary... he understood nine out of ten, but waspletely lost when it came to putting everything together.


    He was curious about the super-level runes on the blue-skinned undead''s body, but when he looked at it, his scalp went numb.


    The diary did indeed have detailed instructions and principles for drawing such runes. However, it was not a textbook, but an experimental log. There was no step-by-step exnation, just a simple record of something. Moreover, it involved sensitive research content and was clearly encrypted.


    After reading a few pages, Su''en waspletely confused and gave up on trying to understand those professional knowledge.


    He felt that this "advanced knowledge" was probably not something he, or even most people in Old Lingdun, had the qualifications to understand.


    However, Su''en also had doubts in his heart. Why were ancient alchemy and modern breakthroughs so powerful?


    Where did the missing stages go?


    .......


    Su''en didn''t dwell on the academic content any longer and instead focused on the parts of the "diary" that he could understand.


    With just a nce, he knew how this "Undead Research Diary" came about.


    The most basic exnation of alchemy was the transmutation of precious metals, such as gold.


    But in reality, alchemy was not mysticism or magic, but science.


    There were three ultimate topics in the field of alchemy: resurrection of the dead, transference of life, and creation of life.


    And in these diaries, it was the research report of a mad ancient alchemist named "Thermido M. Chekhov" who wanted to revive corpses.


    Following the timeline recorded in the diary, Su''en found the first volume.


    "January 2nd, 1221. Ah... it''s all because of my research mistake that Miss Pestoya suffered a cmity... Why can''t I bring her back to life? I looked through the research materials left by ancient alchemists and found a lot of inspiration. Finally, I decided to restart the ''Resurrection of the Dead'' project..."


    When Su''en saw the first volume of the diary, an incredulous expression appeared on his face.


    Because he saw a familiar name: Pestoya.


    If it wasn''t the same name, then it should be the little ghost girl from the Storm Manor''s cursed space when he first crossed over.


    He didn''t understand the background of this world before and didn''t know the origin of that little girl.


    Now he knew, her surname was very special, Pestoya Isaac.And that dpidated manor, without a doubt, was the residence of Sir Isaac, who was hailed as the "Alchemy Demigod" in the previous era.


    It''s no wonder that there is an altar underground in that manor that can awaken the S talent.


    There is not much information about Pestoya in the diary, and Su''en does not have enough clues to specte what "misfortune" she has encountered.


    Next is the hardcore research diary.


    "March 21, 1221. Experimental subject number #001. I used a fresh corpse and began the experiment..."


    "May 1. I found a method in ancient books that can slow down the decay of corpses... Active potion + [Level 8 Dark Attribute Convergence Rune] can gather the aura of the dead... I transformed the hospital morgue into a research field..."


    "August 13, 1221. Experimental subject number #624. I extracted an active substance from the body of that super-tier abyssal creature. I named it ''X Serum.'' After injection, the fresh corpse regained some of the physiological features of a living person..."


    "Increasing the dosage of ''X Serum,'' the fresh corpse became uncontroble. The body tissues underwent deformations and strange shapes appeared, eventually turning into repulsive monster forms, resembling atavistic abyssal creatures... Adjusting the form, continuing to increase the dosage for experimentation, the bodies of the test subjects couldn''t bear it, and their blood vessels and hearts ruptured..."


    "The hospital''s corpses are not enough, and the conditions cannot meet the requirements for active research. I need fresher corpses; I tried to use those patients who are about to die..."


    "The families of the patients discovered some abnormalities, so I dared not use hospital patients anymore. I entrusted a ck market merchant to buy ves from the ve market..."


    "November 7, 1222. Experimental target number #1135 showed signs of deformity after injecting X Serum, but miraculously survived and his physical qualities were unbelievably enhanced. I sessfully extracted a sample of biological antibodies that inhibit deformities from the blood of the test subject. Oh, today is a happy day, the experiment has made substantial progress..."


    "March 11. Today, a ''rat'' sneaked into theboratory and stole some research data. It seems that someone is interested in the ''X Serum,'' after all, it can fill the human body with vitality. Perhaps some dignitaries want to use it to prolong their lives. I''m not interested in dealing with them, let them be..."


    "Another failure. Oh, what a terrible day..."


    "April 24, 1224. Experimental subject number #3335. The experiment finally made progress, and I sessfully created the first active corpse. I started to attempt soul fusion..."


    "Damn it, even though I have sessfully given the corpse all the biological features of a living person and there are no problems with the bloodline, why did the soul fusion still fail?! The body showed obvious rejection of the soul... There is not enough time, I am unwilling..."


    ...


    Su''en flipped through the pages of the diary, understanding the contents that he couldprehend, and had a general impression of the story in his mind.


    It was a powerful alchemist who wanted to research a method to revive the dead and conducted crazy experiments in the morgue. From corpses to patients, and then to live subjects...


    Finally, the diary abruptly ended, as if something unexpected happened, and there was no further information.


    That Kekov created "active corpses," but ultimately failed to give them life.


    At least ording to the notes, he failed.


    ...


    "So, the ''active corpse'' in the cursed space came from this..."


    After reading the diary, Su''en had a sudden realization.


    When he looked at the description of the "active corpse," his first reaction was not to study any resurrection technique, but to suddenly realize whether the blue-skinned "active corpse" could be used as a puppet medium for wielding a scythe.


    It had almost all the life characteristics of a living person, and even had dark spiritual power...


    Almost all the conditions for manipting the scythe were met.


    But it was just a passing thought.


    The content in the diary was too advanced, and even the surface knowledge was too much for him to digest at the moment.


    Su''en put away the diary.

 Chapter 88: Controlled drugs

    Chapter 88: Controlled drugs


    Su''en didn''t rest at No. 88 Gingko Street, but instead found a random hotel to take a nap.


    In the evening, he received a reply from the mysterious alchemist at the "Three Fire Guns Tavern," agreeing to meet at the usual ce the next morning at ten o''clock.


    Then it was another day of wandering the streets, gambling and fighting in the arena all night.


    It is worth mentioning that the arena has been very lively these past two days.


    Many important figures from the inner city seemed to havee to the VIP room on the second floor. The gambling in the casino was getting bigger, and the fights in the arena were bing bloodier. The gamblers were excited, and Kay and the others thought it was a good sign of Green Street''s prosperity. The more lively it was, the more money they could make. But Su''en, who silently watched everything by the arena, always felt that there was an undercurrent behind this unusual liveliness.


    But he didn''t worry about it.


    For him, this was also a good thing.


    The more lively the arena was, the more soul fragments he could harvest.


    .......


    In the early morning, the deadly battles in the arena ended, and it was time for Su''en to finish work.


    He hired a few porters to move all the equipment from the basement of No. 88 Gingko Street.


    Since he couldn''t find a suitable ce to live, Su''en simply didn''t bother and rented a basement near the shooting range. Although the new ce had a less dense dark spiritual power, it was quiet enough when the door was closed. The mechanical workshop and training ground were barely enough. He could also go directly to the shooting range next door for target practice.


    It was still early after moving, so Su''en adjusted and tested two pieces of high-tech exercise equipment.


    The "Neuromuscr Bioelectric Stimtor" connected to his body, and a current-like energy flowed through his muscles, constantly stimting the muscle fibers to tear.


    The effect of training for half an hour was also very obvious.


    Because Su''en could urately grasp the changes in his body data, he confirmed that this high-tech equipment was indeed effective.


    Just in terms of muscle stimtion, the training effect with the connected equipment was about three times better than without it.


    Then there was the "Steam Ultra-Low Temperature Therapy Device." After intense exercise, the muscles were in a state of high excitement and fatigue, and they needed rest and recovery. Only when the values of muscle strength, muscle endurance, andctate threshold increased would it be beneficial. Spending two or three minutes in the device with a temperature of minus one hundred degrees instantly relieved the fatigue of the skin and flesh. This also greatly improved the efficiency of recovery and shortened the recovery period.


    Although the equipment greatly improved the effectiveness of physical training, Su''en was not satisfied.


    In this world, besides high-tech equipment, the most exaggerated and direct way to enhance the body was through "alchemy potions"!


    .......


    At ten o''clock, Su''en arrived at the dpidated warehouse where the previous transaction took ce on time.


    Because it wasn''t their first transaction, the few guys pretending to be gangsters were obviously not as nervous.


    Su''en saw the mysterious alchemist again.


    For some reason, when he saw the tightly wrapped body of that guy, he suddenly realized that the words "Semi-Mutated Human" identified earlier were somewhat ring.


    Su''en had insufficient knowledge in this area before, and he didn''t understand what it meant.


    But after harvesting the memories of the assistant professors from the ck Tower Academy during the expedition, he gained some basic understanding of biology.


    This made him feel incredible.


    In theory, mutations were irreversible.


    Once a person mutated, they were destined to be irrational monsters.


    Therefore, the situation of this mysterious alchemist named "Danny" being a "semi-mutated" was very special.


    This reminded Su''en of some advanced knowledge he read in the "Zombie Research Diary" yesterday.


    A thousand years ago, that crazy sorcerer did indeed sessfully extract "Mutation Suppression Samples" from live experiments, making the mutations of zombies controble.


    Although Su''en was not sure what the situation with Danny was, he felt that it was very simr.


    Su''en was lost in thought, slightly distracted.


    At this moment, the alchemist Danny took the initiative to speak, "Sir, what potions do you n to buy this time?"


    Su''en said, "The ''Mutation Monster Aversion Potion'' you gave mest time saved my life, so I n to get some more."


    Although it saved Rena''s life, in a sense, it also saved the identity of "Su''en."


    Keeping one on hand mighte in handy in the future.


    Hearing this, Danny seemed a little hesitant and said, "The main ingredient for that potion is hard to find in the outer city, and I don''t have much of that potion left."


    Su''en also felt that it was difficult. Even the ck Tower Academy instructors didn''t have the potion. "What materials do you need? Next time I go to the ck market, maybe I can help you keep an eye out."


    Danny said, "I need the marrow fluid of high-level mutated monsters. The higher the rank of the monster, the better the effect of the potion. The one I sold youst time was made from the marrow fluid of a second-rank silver strange creature."


    Listening to this, Su''en asked, "Can any kind of strange creature''s marrow fluid be used?"


    Danny said, "Basically, yes."


    "Okay, I''ll keep an eye out for you."


    Su''en nodded and then said, "I also want to buy the ''Mutation Tolerance Enhancement Potion'' that you wanted to sellst time."


    The ''Mutation Tolerance Enhancement Potion'' was prepared for the fusion with the Dark Gold Spider Imnt.After reading the materials yesterday, the defected vice dean told Su''en about a situation. That is, if top-quality materials are used to refine the finished nt equipment, it will be very powerful, but the "containment value" requirement will also be extremely high. It is estimated that he needs to reach a level of around 1400 in dark spiritual power before he can ensure that there will be no distortion. However, when Su''en was promoted to the first rank, he only had around 1200.


    Originally, the dean said he could demote and use inferior materials.


    But Su''en refused this proposal.


    He thought of the "Distortion Tolerance Enhancement Potion" in the alchemist''s hands, which can increase the curse tolerance value by 10-18%. If he takes this potion, it should be just enough to integrate with the dark gold nt equipment.


    ......


    "Okay, but I only have one."


    Danny had no intention of selling the special potion in his hands, and even if he did, he wouldn''t be able to sell it to others.


    And for the sake of the transaction, they also brought it with them.


    Su''en sessfully obtained the "Distortion Tolerance Enhancement Potion," and now everything was in ce.


    Then he asked again, "In addition, I now need a physical enhancement potion without side effects, the higher the level, the better."


    Danny gave a suggestion, "I happen to have a "PTX Rampage Enhancement Potion" and a "Lester VI Generation Blood Cell Enhancer"... These potions areboratory-level things that are not avable in the market. You may not be familiar with them, but I can guarantee that their effects are absolutely the best. Do you want to try them?"


    Su''en immediately agreed without even seeing the potions, "Okay."


    Danny thought of something and added, "I can sell you the potions, but I still hope that you can only use them yourself and not disclose them to anyone. Otherwise... both you and I will get into big trouble."


    "No problem!"


    When Su''en heard the names of the potions, he naturally knew what trouble they were referring to.


    Because these were truly controlled substances!


    He had an impression of the names of these two potions. They were special refining potions used for internal training by the noble students of the ck Tower Academy. They could greatly improve training efficiency and promote muscle growth.


    These were advanced potions exclusively provided by the ck Tower Laboratory for the "limited supply" of the academy, and any external cirction was prohibited. Once discovered, it would be a serious crime punishable by the gallows!


    And, if he remembered correctly, the students were only using "Fifth Generation Potions" now, but Danny took out the "Sixth Generation"?


    As soon as he heard the name of the potion, he could basically confirm that Danny was a pharmacist from a top-levelboratory in the inner city!


    In an instant, the two potions were handed over to him.


    [PTX Rampage Enhancement Potion]


    Exnation: Taking it will allow you to train beyond your limits, greatly increase muscle strength during training, elerate fatigue recovery, provide sustained explosive energy, endurance, and focus; the effectsts for 12-13 weeks.


    [Lester VI Generation Blood Cell Enhancer]


    Exnation: Taking the potion continuously enhances cell activity, muscle growth +60%, recovery efficiency +144%; the effectsts for 16-18 weeks; there is a 5-20% fluctuation in data due to individual differences in physique.


    Su''en used the All-Knowing Eye to take a look at the explosive effects of these potions, and he immediately decided to buy them, "How much?"


    These effects were at least two or three times better than the best refining potions he had seen on the ck market!


    When he heard the inquiry, Danny seemed a little hesitant in his eyes and said, "They are not sold on the market, so I don''t know how much they are worth. But the material cost alone for these two potions exceeds five hundred thousand. I''ll give you both for one million... or eighty thousand."


    "No problem."


    It was definitely a conscience price to sell them for less than the cost price.


    Su''en immediately paid in cash and obtained the two potions.


    He then asked, "If I need these potions in the future, is it possible?"


    Danny looked troubled, "It''s... difficult. Without aboratory-level potion room, even with the materials, these potions cannot be refined."


    "Oh."


    Su''en felt a little regretful.


    But being able to obtain such high-level potions was already an unexpected surprise.


    The effects wouldst for a few more months, which was enough for him to think of a solution.


    At this time, Su''en said again, "I know that your potions cannot be sold on arge scale, but if there are potions that need to be sold, you can contact me directly. At least I can guarantee that your information will never be leaked, and the price will satisfy you."


    Since he learned about the situation of this mysterious pharmacist, he knew that this guy must be in need of money.


    After all, being an alchemist was a very expensive profession. Although the finished potions were valuable, the materials wasted during the refining process were also astonishing. Relying solely on those half-sized kids around him to steal, he couldn''t support his daily research.


    After two transactions, they had established a basic trust. Hearing this, Danny nodded, "Okay."


    At this point, Su''en remembered something and casually asked, "By the way,st time when I was hunting in the underground dungeon, I encountered many mutated distorted monsters. Do you know what''s going on? Many of those monsters were species I had never seen before, and they were much stronger than ordinary distorted monsters."


    "This..."


    Upon hearing this, Danny clearly seemed a little hesitant. It seemed that he knew the reason for the situation but was reluctant to say it directly.But after selling so many special potions, he also guessed that Su''en must have already spected about his origins to some extent.


    Thinking about it, he just mentioned, "I heard that there was a serious ident in the inner cityboratory a few years ago, which caused some special substances to leak into the city''s sewer system, triggering biological mutations... I''m not sure about the specific situation, but it''s best for you, as a hunter, not to go to the sewer."


    So it was aboratory leak?


    Su''en listened and nodded, "Hmm."


    .......


    Two more days passed, and Su''en went to the ck market.


    He finally got his hands on the Alchemy nting of the "Eight-Armed Spider God Spear" as he had wished.


    The finished product was even more perfect than expected!

 Chapter 89: Eight-arm spider spear

    Chapter 89: Eight-arm spider spear


    In the dim basement, Su''en took out the alchemical imnt he retrieved from the ck market.


    It was an inconspicuous but nearly eight-meter-long spider arm.


    Under the flickering light of the gasmp, ayer of dark cold light, resembling gold, reflected on the eight spider arms. Upon closer inspection, each spider arm was densely engraved with mysterious and intricate runes.


    The reason why forging this imnt required a "master cksmith" was because of these runes. It was not something an ordinary craftsman could aplish to engrave enough runes on such narrow spider legs.


    Although Su''en''s alchemy level was still far from being a master, his vision was notcking.


    He could understand not only the singleyer runes on these spider legs but also the intricate technique of ovepping multiple runes.


    It was like drawing several different patterns on the same piece of paper, each pattern had to remain independent andplete, without affecting each other. This required a high level of rune carving skill.


    Su''en was very satisfied with the appearance of this imnt. The color was low-key and steady, and most importantly, it could meet various professional needs.


    With the firmness of the All-Seeing Eye, he was not afraid of any hidden dangers left by the defected Vice Dean of the ck Tower on the imnt.


    As expected, it was just like the description on the blueprint. It even had some minor attribute enhancements due to the special materials.


    [Eight-Armed Spider God Spear]


    Exnation: A first-tier dark gold quality alchemical imnt, requires high skill maniption; containment value rated A+ or above, first-tier dark spiritual power value of 1350 points, distortion rate less than 8%; after fusion, overall body resilience +25, elemental resistance +20, agility +12, toxin resistance +50%;


    .......


    Alchemy practitioners were a very ancient profession.


    They explored the mysteries of nature and sought the ultimate truth of the material world, but they did not pay much attention to their own physical training.


    The great alchemists of ancient times also discovered that their weak bodies were a limitation to their study of alchemy, and theirbat abilities were weak.


    Somebat-oriented spellcasters came up with the idea of transnting special biological parts into their bodies to enhance their attributes.


    However, direct transntation would cause rejection reactions between different species.


    Until a certain era in ancient times, a mysterious and powerful super-tier alchemist named Nichs mell came up with a method. He used thew of spacebined with thew of equivalent exchange to research a special imnt fusion method that "deceived" the body into not rejecting it.


    This method allowed the external imnt to exist on the host in the form of a "space imprint". It would be sealed on ordinary days and could be activated and used by driving it with dark spiritual power.


    After generations of improvements by alchemists, it gradually formed the current "Enchantment Imnt" system.


    And now, the "new generation spellcasters" were even more extreme. They were no longer satisfied with biological limbs and wanted to rece a part or even all of their limbs with machinery...


    .......


    After taking the Distortion Tolerance Enhancement Potion, Su''en identified that the fusion sess rate reached 97%.


    Without hesitation, heid out the prepared materials on the ground of the basement, forming a pentagram alchemy array. Just like before, he chanted the universal spell of the alchemist and guided the array to take effect.


    "Following thew of equivalent exchange, praising the glory of the original Creator, witness the miracle of creation through alchemy..."


    After the pentagram lit up, a strange "chemical reaction" began. The Eight-Armed Spider Spear imnt gradually dissolved and merged into the light of the array, then slowly integrated into his body.


    In no time, the light of the array dissipated, and the imnt fused perfectly.


    Su''en clearly felt afortable sensation as if his body was soaking in warm water. When he looked at his attribute panel, he could see a visible increase in resilience and resistance.


    It meant... he could take more beatings.


    For example, previously, getting shot would leave a fist-sized hole in his skin, but now it would be much smaller, increasing his chances of survival.


    Finally, the imnt fusion was sessful, and Su''en was now truly a first-tier professional.


    He thought for a moment, formed hand seals, and changed into eight different spellcaster hand seals: Light, Swift, Crystal, Wind, Dark, Thunder, Power, Stone.


    The essence of the "Spellcaster Seal" was to guide the dark spiritual power within the body to flow in a special trajectory, quickly condensing the alchemy array and unlocking the "space imprint" of the imnt.


    Each spellcaster seal represented a specific flow trajectory of dark spiritual power.


    Differentbinations of imnt seals also had differences, following the distinction of the four elemental attributes of "Earth, Wind, Water, Fire". Su''en''s Eight-Armed Spider Spear belonged to the "Metal attribute" imnt, requiring the arrangement of the eight seals to form the "Pentagram sh Gold Array".


    Also, because he harvested the soul of Rosa, the assistant of the ck Tower Academy, he gained the skill of Rapid Seal Formation. Although it was his first time forming seals, he had an inexplicable sense of familiarity. The eight seals were orderly, and the dark spiritual power within his body surged rapidly.


    With fast and urate seal formation, in less than two seconds, the pentagram array under his feet also lit up.


    As the light dissipated, eight ferocious dark gold spider arms suddenly appeared on Su''en''s back.


    "So this is what it feels like to have an imnt..."


    Su''en felt it was very strange. Eight spider spears appeared on his spine, and even his entire back skin became tough.


    It wasn''t the feeling of an external equipment, but rather as if eight arms had appeared out of thin air, allowing his brain to sense the existence of these limbs.


    The ability to multitask allowed Su''en to quickly enter a state. He controlled the spider arms and cautiously climbed up the wall, easily gripping it with the sharp bristles and barbs on the spider legs.Because he had killed the Spider Queen in the dungeon before and obtained the skill "Intermediate Spider Climbing," Su''en felt that climbing walls with spider arms was no longer difficult. After familiarizing himself with the operation, his body became more and more agile. His eight legs alternately grabbed the wall, and his speed became faster and faster. In the blink of an eye, he climbed up to the ceiling and hung there.


    "So fast!"


    Su''en was delighted.


    After a brief test, he was shocked by his own speed.


    Running with eight legs was at least several times faster than running with two legs, and it was much more agile. After a slight test, his straight-line running speed was about twice as fast, but the increase in speed when changing direction was exaggerated. The eight spider legs could ignore obstacles and move, stop and change direction, jump in the air, cross obstacles, and climb walls... The ability to pass through obstacles increased several times!


    After bing proficient, he could be even faster.


    If he had this spider imnt when he first entered the dungeon, would he still need to be chased by monsters?


    Even if he couldn''t defeat them, he could just run away, and those distorted monsters wouldn''t be able to catch up with him.


    Su''en even imagined a tactic that was very suitable for this spider leg imnt - the "Kite Flow"!


    Fight while running, fight while chasing...


    With his marksmanship and long-range shooting ability, this ability to move away from the body would visibly increase hisbat power.


    Whether in the wilderness or in the city, this was definitely a powerful ability for survival and pursuit.


    ...


    However, this spider spear not only had the function of movement, but also had strong attack power.


    The eight spider spears had retractable "poisonous spikes".


    These spikes, engraved with "Armor-Piercing Runes" and "Sturdy Runes," could easily prate iron tes.


    Su''en leaped down from the ceiling, and his eight spider arms dispersed and buffered the force, allowing him tond steadily without feeling any impact.


    At this moment, he controlled one of the spider spears and stabbed it towards a nearby old steam pipe. It easily pierced through, as if it had entered soft mud.


    "Such strong piercing ability..."


    Su''en looked at the cold light shing on the spider spear, his eyes filled with surprise.


    Although his marksmanship was good, his closebat ability was not outstanding. Now, with this spider imnt, his closebat ability instantly increased several times.


    Can the enemy with two arms defeat someone with ten arms? Especially when those arms can extend up to four meters, and the eight spears can instantly turn someone into a blood sieve...


    At this moment, Su''en took out a puppet entangled with steel wires.


    Although the spider arms didn''t have fingers, they had eight of them. The steel-hardened fluff and thorns on the spider spear were originally used to control spider silk, and they were smooth and flexible, not inferior to fingers.


    Now, when controlling the steel wires, one spider arm could even control multiple steel wires. With several spider arms cooperating with each other, the number of controlled wires could be even greater.


    This allowed Su''en to control two puppets while freeing up his hands to hold a gun.


    "Now both hands arepletely free. When ites to realbat, I can control the puppets while using hand seals..."


    The more Su''en tried, the more interested he became, and he seemed to want to test the limits of his control. The number of steel wires he controlled increased.


    But soon, he became helpless.


    After controlling four puppets, the steel wires were everywhere in the room, chaotic and disorderly, almost binding himself.


    It was his first attempt to multitask, and his skills were not proficient enough. Obviously, he couldn''t handle it.


    However, even so, Su''en was very satisfied.


    After all, the skill "Multitasking" could improve with practice...


    He was very satisfied with this eight-arm spider spear imnt.

 Chapter 90: Negotiation

    Chapter 90: Negotiation


    In the following days, Su''en''s life became more fulfilling.


    After sessfully integrating the eight-arm spider spear imnt, he needed a lot of time to practice controlling puppets with multitasking abilities, as well as climbing and shifting positions, and fighting and killing...


    Moreover, in order not to waste the two expensive body training potions he bought, he also needed to spend several hours a day on physical training.


    Fortunately, the lifestyle of the gang was very rxed. Except for the mandatory street patrol at seven o''clock every night, he could arrange his time freely if there were no emergencies.


    Recently, Su''en also found that harvesting ordinary corpses brought him less and less experience, so he didn''t waste time in the casino during the first half of the night. He only went to watch the professional fights in the second half of the night.


    In this way, time passed quickly, and peaceful and fulfilling days flew by in just over a month.


    ........


    On this day, Su''en was tinkering with mechanical modifications in the basement.


    This dpidated basement had changed a lot since he moved in a month ago. During this time, Su''en had been moving arge number of mechanical equipment and parts in, like ants moving their nest, and even a small steamthe.


    Various mechanical tools hung on the walls, which he bought from various shops and good items from the ck market.


    He had transformed this ce into his own mechanical workshop.


    At this moment, Su''en was wearing a greasy work suit, wearing goggles, and his hands were also equipped with two external "PT3 single-cylinder steam-powered arms." He was tinkering with something.


    The steam boiler provided the mechanical arms with powerful power, allowing him to shape the steel materials in his hands without using athe.


    He was making ammunition belts and ammunition boxes for his customized gun, "Qing Gui."


    This gun had a super high rate of fire. If used only as a pistol, its firepower advantage could not be fully utilized.


    But if it was fired continuously, even with an extended magazine, it would run out of bullets in a few seconds.


    So, he thought of the kind of ammunition belt and externally attached super-capacity ammunition box used by heavy machine guns. When he really encountered a need for firepower suppression, he could hang the ammunition box on himself, connect it with the ammunition belt, and the pistol would immediately turn into a "tututu" heavy machine gun.


    While his hands were busy, his eight spider arms behind him were not idle either.


    Because it was not convenient to hold other things with the working mechanical arms, when he was thirsty, one of the spider arms would bring a cup of tea from a table several meters away and feed him a sip of water.


    The eight spider arms saved him a lot of time andpleted some simple but time-consuming tasks.


    For example, loading bullets into the ammunition belt.


    It didn''t require precise control. With the cooperation of several spider arms, they could easily pour the bullets from the box onto the specially made bullet press, and then press the handle. With the rhythmic metallic sound of "click, click, click," the bullets would be neatly loaded onto the ammunition belt.


    In no time, thest two modified ammunition boxes from the ck market were alsopleted, and Su''en breathed a sigh of relief.


    He looked at his work and seemed satisfied, muttering to himself, "Finally done, ten ammunition boxes should be enough."


    These ammunition boxes were not only suitable for Su''en''s "Qing Gui," but also for another thing in this room: a mechanical power armor.


    Su''en took the ammunition box and walked to the suspended mech on the wall. He tried the card slot, and it fit perfectly.


    This mech was just an experimental product that Su''en put together, very rough, but basically formed.


    Su''en named this lump of iron "Iron Man Generation One."


    It didn''t have any extra things on it, not even a shell.


    The old and mottled body frame was a rough modification of the "Hunter VIII external mechanical skeleton"; the core was a "PT9 four-cylinder steam boiler" bought from the old goods market, which provided power for this lump of iron; the two arms were simple and crude six-barreled guns, connected with ammunition belts and bulletproof tes. There were also some hydraulic transmission devices, high-pressure valves, and otherponents that were dismantled from various old goods...


    Although it didn''t have much technical content, this thing was Su''en''s attempt.


    He tried to control this kind of power armor like a puppet with steel wires.


    But because the technology was far from enough and the machinery was too heavy, he hadn''t even solved the problem of easily falling when running.


    Now its only use was as a semi-fixed turret. Su''en could remotely control it to fire, make simple movements, and aim.


    It could be considered as a small step towards his idea of bing a mechanical puppeteer.


    .......


    It was midnight now, and Su''en originally had several hours to arrange freely in his studio.


    Afterpleting his mechanical manufacturing tasks for the day, he wanted to practice making "Rune Puppets."


    But at this moment, themunicator suddenly transmitted Kay''s urgent voice: "Everyone, bring your weapons and gather at the Elephant Tavern!"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en frowned.


    Themunicator was a tool used by the Cross Society members to gather manpower in the event of a very important emergency. For small fights and disputes, a few shouts in Green Street would be enough to gather twenty or thirty people, and there was no need for amunicator.


    He had only used it once when the Cross Society headquarters was attacked on the first day he joined. Now he heard it again?


    Judging from Kay''s tone, it seemed that the situation was not small.


    "Could it be those guys from the Steam Party causing trouble?"


    Su''en spected. Conflicts often urred at the boundary between Green Street and the Steam Party''s territory. If there was a big disturbance, it was probably those guys.


    He didn''t dy and changed out of his work suit.


    Because hisbat equipment was always stored in his storage ring, there was nothing to tidy up. Su''en left the basement and then started his motorcycle, racing all the way. In less than two minutes, he arrived in front of the Elephant Tavern.


    .......


    When Su''en arrived, two groups of people were already confronting each other on the street outside the tavern.The ordinary customers on the street have disappeared, and two gangs of about two to three hundred people each are standing outside the tavern with long guns and short cannons, facing each other. The number of people is still increasing.


    Su''en took a nce and saw that the Cross Society was not just a few dozen people from Green Street, but also captains and gang members from other districts.


    It seems that there is going to be a big fight tonight.


    The elimination rate of gang members at the bottom of the gang is very high, and Su''en is already considered an old man in Green Street.


    Because of his close rtionship with Kay, although he has not been officially appointed, the gang members also regard him as the "vice captain". Especially the neers, when they see his motorcycleing, they wave and greet him.


    A familiar neer walked over and greeted Su''en, "Vice Captain, you''re here..."


    Su''en didn''t see Kay and looked at the situation tonight, feeling a bit exaggerated, and asked, "What''s going on?"


    The person whispered, "The Steam Party suddenly gathered people to Green Street, and the cadres are negotiating in the tavern..."


    "Negotiating?"


    Su''en frowned as he listened.


    He looked at the arrogant motorcycle gang members of the Steam Party not far away and realized that something was wrong.


    In a normal situation, such arge-scale invasion would lead to direct warfare.


    But they are sitting down to negotiate?


    However, looking at the current situation, he also knew that they couldn''t fight for the time being. Since there are cadres negotiating, at least before there is any movement in the tavern, the people outside cannot provoke or fight.


    ...


    Su''en roughly understood the reason for the gathering and didn''t n to mix in the crowd. He walked to the corner of the street and squatted in a ce near the alley.


    In case a fight really breaks out, crowded ces will definitely be the focus of grenade attacks.


    After squatting for a while, he saw Kay walking out of the tavern.


    Kay also saw Su''en and gestured for him toe to a secluded corner, indicating that there was something to discuss.


    The two bumped their heads against the side wall of the tavern.


    Su''en had never seen such an ugly expression on Kay''s face before, so he asked, "What''s going on?"


    Kay gestured for him to look inside the tavern.


    Su''en nced through the window and saw that there were no ordinary customers in the tavern, only a group of strong men in ck leather jackets with guns.


    Two cadres from the Cross Society, "Red Devil" Gelong and "Smoke Ghost" Sambu, came. And on the opposite side of the negotiation table was the scar-faced man from the Steam Party whom Su''en also knew, second-tier cadre "Mad Dog" Hogg Wiesnat, with the talent of a werewolf in the Beast Transformation system, and strongbat power. He was also an old strongman of the Steam Party.


    At this time, Kay finally said, "There''s a big problem in the inner city, we might be in trouble..."


    Su''en listened to the tone and his face remained unchanged.


    If there''s a problem, there''s a problem. It won''t affect the livelihoods of the lower-level gang members like them...


    Kay was concise and said, "I just received news that the top-level financial consortium ''Reyes Family'' in the inner city has split into seven parts. The industry in Green Street is now in the hands of the third branch. Today, the young master of the third branch, Martin Reyes, is also here. He''s upstairs."


    "The Reyes Family?"


    Su''en heard this and felt that something good seemed to suddenly have something to do with him.


    Isn''t this the family of Rena, the rich woman?


    Their benefactor, Lady Finov, has a very close rtionship with the Reyes Family...


    What happened in just one month?


    Could it be that Rena couldn''t control the situation and her uncles split the family?


    Kay continued, "I don''t know the specific situation. But I heard that the ck Tower high-levels put pressure on them, and the major families in the inner city don''t want to see the Reyes Family dominate alone, so they forced the Reyes Family to agree to split the consortium."


    "..."


    Hearing this familiar pattern, Su''en immediately understood.


    The "Reyes Consortium" almost monopolizes the residents'' water and mining in Old Lingdun, a true oligopoly.


    But the fate of an "oligopoly" is usually already determined.


    Either they have immense power and control over the government.


    If they can''t reach the top, the final oue is getting beaten up.


    This is not a new thing in the previous life either, just like the seven oligarchs in Russia, how glorious they were at their peak, but in the end, they were all hammered without any resistance...


    Old Lingdun is a privately owned feudal lord system. In theory, everything in the city is the private property of the lord "Grand Duke Raphael". As long as the ck Tower, the highest authority in the inner city, is there, no matter how big the "oligopoly" is, they have to bow down.


    But...


    What does the split of the Reyes Family have to do with their Green Street?


    Su''en looked at the Steam Party, who was negotiating on the other side, and seemed to have guessed something.


    At this moment, Kay finally expressed his concern, "Most of the entertainment industry in Green Street is owned by the Reyes Family. Now that the Reyes Family has split, the taverns and gambling dens are mostly in the hands of the third branch. And those guys from the Steam Party somehow got involved with Martin Young Master. Now their intention is for the Cross Society to withdraw from Green Street and let the Steam Party take over..."


    Su''en understood immediately upon hearing this.


    ...


    Su''en felt that negotiations like this were likely to break down.


    Sure enough, after a few words, there was suddenly amotion in the tavern.


    The voices were loud and could be heard on the street.


    "Mad Dog" Hogg was very tough in his attitude and aggressively said, "Within three days, you Cross Society will withdraw from Green Street, otherwise..."


    Gangs do rely on their benefactors for their livelihood, but not entirely.


    They are not so weak as to give up their territory that they fought for.


    "Impossible!"


    "Smoke Ghost" Sambu directly mmed the table and interrupted the conversation.


    With a gloomy face and a slow pace of speech, he said, "Green Street has always been the territory of our Cross Society, Hogg, don''te up with these empty words. If the Steam Party wants the territory, they shoulde at us with open weapons!"


    The benefactor of the Cross Society is Lady Finov. As long as she doesn''t speak, no one can do anything.


    With these words, it meant that the negotiation had copsed.As soon as the words e and fight" fell, it irritated the nerves of both sides. Everyone in the tavern aimed their guns at each other.


    Su''en and Kay reacted quickly, pulling out their guns and aiming at the members of the Steam Party in the room.


    This action triggered a chain reaction. The members of both sides outside the door immediately became tense, hearing the sound of bullets being loaded, "click, click."


    The atmosphere suddenly became tense, like a lit fuse on a barrel of explosives. Any slight movement would immediately ignite a fierce fire.


    For a moment, therge Elephant Tavern fell silent.


    No one dared to fire the first shot.


    If a fight were to break out now, it would undoubtedly be the spark that ignites a full-scale war between the two factions!


    .......


    In gang negotiations, it''s all about showing off and flipping tables, but the possibility of actually fighting on the negotiation table is low.


    Normally, in this situation, a third party woulde out to mediate, to calm both sides down and sit down to negotiate again...


    But unexpectedly, something unimaginable happened.


    At this moment, a bottle of wine suddenly fell from the sky and smashed onto the negotiation table.


    With a "crash," it shattered, sshing everyone with wine stains.


    Everyone was stunned. This action clearly showed that they didn''t take the two major factions seriously and was a tant provocation.


    Everyone''s gaze turned to the second floor of the tavern. However, when they saw who it was, their anger subsided one by one.


    A young man in a silver suit leaned against the railing, looking down at everyone with a contemptuous expression. "Hmph! A bunch of ignorant fools. I gave you a little taste of sweetness, and you actually think highly of yourselves?"


    These words were clearly directed at them.


    Su''en didn''t know this young man, but judging from his luxurious suit, he guessed that he must be someone important from the inner city.


    Clearly, this person is the protagonist of today, the third young master of the Reyes family, Martin Reyes.


    PS. Seeking votes on Monday~

 Chapter 91: Im not here to negotiate with you

    Chapter 91: I''m not here to negotiate with you


    The entertainment industry in Green Street is one of the most developed districts in the outer city.


    Because of the mysterious Lady Filov behind it, there are many wealthy people from the inner city whoe here for entertainment and consumption. Especially for gambling projects that the inner city does not have, such as bloody diator arenas, even just themission from those gambling high rollers is an exaggerated amount.


    Usually, such entertainment venues are under the protection of the underworld, dealing with things that are more convenient for the local bosses to handle.


    For example, thieves, cheaters, non-paying customers, troublemaking drinkers, illegal human trafficking, hallucinogenic potions... and some other shady deals.


    It''s not that the behind-the-scenes bosses are incapable of handling these matters, but outsourcing them with some money can save a lot of trouble and even be a win-win situation.


    Originally, the situation was that the Cross Society had the power to control Green Street.


    And because the benefactors behind the Cross Society could bring some high-quality customers to the entertainment industry on this street, everyone was happy.


    But now, the third branch of the Reyes family has obtained the ownership of some major venues in the Green Street area, and the situation has changed.


    Young Master Martin wants to kick out the Cross Society and bring in his own Steam Party, which he is closer to.


    Originally, many venues on Green Street had shares owned by the Reyes family, such as the diator arena "Crimson Citadel" that Su''en always liked to go to, and now the third branch is the major shareholder.


    It''s reasonable to change the person in charge of one''s own industry, and there''s nothing wrong with it.


    But it''s reasonable, but it''s not in line with the rules of the underworld.


    After all, the outer city is the territory of the three major gangs, and they are all desperate ouws who live by the sword. They earn their lives with their lives. Why should they listen to you just because you say so?


    Originally, negotiations were about give and take.


    The ultimate goal of gangsters fighting and killing each other is to make a profit.


    The Steam Party does want toe and take a look, make some profit, and even lose arge sum of money, so there is room for negotiation.


    That way, everyone can save face.


    But Young Master Martin''s current intention is to kick the Cross Society out with nothing.


    ........


    "Smoke Ghost" Sangbu looked at the broken old-fashioned on the table, a sh of gloom in his eyes, and suppressed his anger without showing it.


    He looked at the young man in the suit upstairs and asked in a deep voice, "Young Master Martin, what do you mean by this?"


    "What do I mean? Hehe..."


    Young Master Martin sneered, not even looking at this member of the Cross Society, and said, "From now on, Green Street is under my control. Also, please watch your tone and don''t think that anyone has the right to talk to me. I didn''te here to negotiate with you. I just let Hogge to inform you. Within three days, I don''t want to see any members of the Cross Society in my venues."


    After speaking, he turned his gaze to Smoke Ghost and asked, "Now, do you understand?"


    Not only Smoke Ghost, but the faces of everyone in the Cross Society were very ugly.


    If someone else spoke so arrogantly, they would probably have already started a fight.


    But facing this big shot from the inner city, none of the members of the Cross Society dared to point their guns at him, and they all held back their anger, their faces turning red.


    With a cold face, Smoke Ghost spoke again, "Young Master Martin, we will withdraw from your venues, that''s not a problem. But by doing this, it might not be easy to exin to Lady Filov..."


    Soldier against soldier, general against general.


    Smoke Ghost knew very well that he didn''t even have the qualification to negotiate with this young master, so he could only bring up the benefactor.


    Gang members are all desperate ouws struggling at the bottom of society, in the upper ss of the inner city, they are just lowly "thugs", with miserable lives.


    Identity?


    Respect?


    Thinking too much, they are just tools.


    Although it sounds cruel, it is the truth.


    Upon hearing this, Young Master Martin coldly said, "If it weren''t for Lady Filov''s sake, I wouldn''t havee in person. Besides, this matter is the business of my Reyes family, and it has nothing to do with Lady Filov..."


    This statement directly blocked all the arguments of the members of the Cross Society.


    Without even giving face to the benefactor, there is no room for further negotiation.


    .......


    Upon hearing this, Su''en, outside the tavern window, frowned.


    The more powerful the family, the more they valueworking, and the less they should offend others so recklessly.


    This Young Master Martin looks aggressive and has the arrogant temperament of a spoiled young master. Facing this group of wicked gangsters, Su''en felt that this guy definitely shouldn''t be as shallow as he appears.


    Not giving face to the Cross Society is one thing, but not even giving face to Lady Filov is quite intriguing.


    This kind ofpletely disrespectful behavior gives the impression that... the other party doesn''t care about offending people at all.


    "It seems that things have be moreplicated..."


    Su''en''s thoughts started to spin.


    He quickly realized that the incident on Green Street was just the tip of the iceberg, involving more high-level power struggles.


    The control of several streets'' venues wouldn''t be enough to make this young mastere in person.


    If there is no further value, there is no need to give face...


    This kind of thing usually happens when a building is about to copse.


    A sh of insight came to Su''en''s mind, and from Young Master Martin''s words, he quickly deduced two possibilities: 1. Someone wants to take action against the Cross Society; 2. Someone wants to take action against the benefactor behind the Cross Society!"Could it be that someone is nning to target Lady Philo, or the power behind her?"


    Upon careful consideration, Su''en immediately felt that his spection was probably close to the truth.


    He had known before that the power behind Philo was closely rted to Rena''s father. After all, Rena was still her aunt.


    If anyone had the ability to force the Reis family to split, wouldn''t they take advantage of the situation and weaken them?


    In fact, when Rena was assassinated, Su''en had already guessed that things were not that simple.


    If it was only through killing that one could rise to power, then the people in the Leonard family who were in charge would be too foolish.


    Choosing assassination was probably to create internal conflicts.


    Now that Rena was not dead and the consortium was still forcibly split, the high-level members of the ck Tower who had been pushing things behind the scenes had alsoe to light. But since they had already done it, they had to swallow the criticism.


    Splitting the Reis family into seven clearly showed that the other party did not have the ability to kill this behemoth, so they created internal conflicts, rallied some people, divided others, and struck another group...


    This was a very clever political strategy.


    Therefore, this was also why the Third House did not continue to support the Cross Society, their old partners in the outer city, but turned to the Steam Party. This was actually a true reflection of the internal conflicts being transferred to the outer city.


    Thinking of this, Su''en suddenly understood why Martin Young Master was so tough, because he knew that someone was nning to target Lady Philo.


    In a sh of thought, Su''en muttered to himself, "If that''s the case, there will probably be a lot of deaths in this territorial dispute..."


    .......


    Martin Young Master pped all the members of the Cross Society in the face with a few words. Kay, who was beside him, gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, "This damn Young Master, I really want to shoot him!"


    He said it, but no one dared to actually do it.


    Even though the Reis family had been split, it had gone from being an "oligarchy" to seven "tycoons".


    The Third House was not to be underestimated, and it was definitely not something that a gang in the outer city could provoke.


    At this time, Martin Young Master lost patience and no longer stayed in the tavern. He threw two gold coins as if he was giving alms and arrogantly said, "This is for the drinks just now."


    Without even looking at the members of the Cross Society, he said, "Remember, three dayster, I don''t want to see you again."


    Then, without looking back, he walked out of the Elephant Tavern with his bodyguards.


    The members of the Steam Party followed behind him like foxes behind a tiger''s butt, with a triumphant smile on their faces, and left with the Young Master.


    The Smoke Ghost and Red Demon, the two executives, had dark faces and remained silent.


    Although the members of the Cross Society were filled with anger, no one dared to stop them.


    .......


    After the enemy left, Kay and the other captains also rushed into the tavern.


    As long as the executives gave the order, they could immediately take their weapons and chase after them.


    "Smoke Ghost Boss, what should we do now? This damn Steam Party has gone too far!"


    "I''m telling you... Let''s take our weapons and teach them a lesson! I almost couldn''t resist shooting those damn dogs just now."


    "That''s right! That damn Young Master, I really want to twist his head off!"


    "..."


    There weren''t many gang members who were afraid of trouble, especially those who became captains. They had all crawled out of a pile of dead bodies.


    They weren''t afraid of fighting. They rolled up their sleeves and were ready to fight immediately.


    But the executives clearly knew that there were more internal factors involved in this matter, and they had a higher level of consideration.


    Su''en didn''t have the qualifications to go in, so he quietly listened outside.


    He felt that what he could think of, the executives would definitely be able to think of as well.


    If they really started a war now, the Cross Society would lose both in terms of reason and money.


    No matter what, would they dare to openly attack a young master of an inner city family?


    Killing people might be satisfying, but what about the consequences?


    Did they really think that the security and defense forces of the inner city couldn''t eliminate a gang because their knives were not fast enough?


    The Smoke Ghost suppressed the anger of the crowd and said, "I''ll go back to headquarters first and ask the president what he thinks... Don''t act impulsively, wait for news."

 Chapter 92: Start war

    Chapter 92: Start war


    "I''ll leave now, and leave the matters here to you. I''ll take care of the things in the inner city, so you can handle it freely. Three dayster, I don''t want to see any members of the Cross Society still on Green Street!"


    "You can rest assured, Young Master Martin. We''ll take care of it."


    "..."


    After leaving the Elephant Tavern, "Mad Dog" Hogg led a group of Steam Party members respectfully and sent Young Master Martin into his luxurious steam car.


    Watching the convoy leave, Hogg also breathed a sigh of relief.


    It was the first time he apanied such an important person, and he felt a lot of pressure. Just now in the tavern, he was really afraid that the Cross Society would lose their temper or even start shooting...


    Although there were bodyguards by his side, this young master probably wouldn''t die even if something happened, but even if he was just frightened, Hogg felt a great responsibility.


    And if a fight really broke out, the Steam Party would definitely be at a disadvantage on the Cross Society''s territory.


    But now that they had sent away this young master, the mission was perfectlypleted.


    Hogg was in a good mood and waved to the group of members, "Let''s go, brothers."


    The roaring sound of hundreds of motorcycles deafened the ears as this group of uninvited guests left Green Street in a grand manner.


    ........


    Before long, Hogg returned to the Steam Party gathering ce in the Wellington District of the East City.


    Here, various mechanical modification shops and essory stores could be seen everywhere.


    Illegal limb modifications were also an important source of ie for the Steam Party.


    Hogg walked into a heavy metal-style tavern and saw the president, "Butcher" Banner, in a private room on the second floor.


    "President, the job is done."


    "Is there any movement from the Cross Society?"


    "Not for now. It seems that they have to swallow this loss."


    "Well done."


    Banner was in a good mood andughed as he embraced the seductive woman beside him.


    Seeing that he was in a good mood, the woman asked coquettishly, "Old man, why would Young Master Martin be willing to personally handle such a small matter?"


    "A small matter? This is not small at all."


    Banner shook his head with a smile, a look of joy appearing on his face. He exined meaningfully, "If the matter on Green Street is sessful this time, the situation in the outer city will be different... The Cross Society might even suffer a big setback."


    "But... Will the backer behind the Cross Society just sit idly by?"


    "That Mrs. Filov also has a lot of power in the inner city. If the Reyes family hadn''t split, we wouldn''t have had any chance at all. But now... Mrs. Filov is also in a difficult situation herself, so she probably won''t tear her face over a small piece of territory in the outer city."


    The woman seemed to understand something and asked, "Are you saying that someone wants to target the backer of the Cross Society?"


    Banner neither confirmed nor denied it, and didn''t exin further. He smiled and said, "Who knows? We don''t need to worry about the matters in the inner city. Just take care of Green Street for now."


    "Oh."


    The seductive woman didn''t ask any more questions. She thought of something and said softly, "But when we met, I always felt that Young Master Martin looked at me strangely..."


    Bannerughed, "Well, men, how can they resist when they see you?"


    The woman gave him a seductive look and yfully asked, "What if the young master really takes a liking to me?"


    Banner had an indifferent expression, "Then I''ll send you over."


    "Pfft~"


    This remark made the seductive woman yfully punch her chest. Banner burst intoughter and his big hands wandered freely on the woman''s graceful figure.


    But unexpected events often ur when least expected.


    Just as Banner was in a good mood and was about to move his body, urgent footsteps could be heard outside the door.


    After all, he was a high-level professional, and his perception was extremely sensitive. Hearing the footsteps, his face changed slightly.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    In an instant, someone knocked on the door, and Banner said in a deep voice, "Come in!"


    The door opened, and a captain stood at the entrance with an anxious expression. He spoke quickly, "President, something bad has happened!"


    As soon as he spoke, the joyful atmosphere in the room instantly disappeared.


    Banner vaguely guessed what had happened, and his gaze suddenly turned cold. "What happened?"


    "Just now... The Reyes family''s convoy was attacked by a group of mysterious people on Wutong Street in the South City. The entire convoy was wiped out, and Young Master Martin... was killed!"


    "What?!"


    Upon hearing this, Banner''s face changed drastically, and he stood up with a swish.


    For a moment, the terrifying pressure of a high-level professional instantly spread, making it difficult for the people in the room to breathe.


    He asked urgently, "Is the news confirmed?"


    "It''s confirmed! There was a severely injured driver at the scene, and he said... among the attackers, there was a guy who could transform into a red giant."


    "The ''Red Demon'' Gollon?"


    Upon hearing this news, Banner''s eyes flickered frequently, and he cursed angrily, "Damn it!"


    He knew very well how much trouble the death of Young Master Martin would bring to their Steam Party. Not only would the cooperation they had just negotiated be in vain, but the pursuit that followed would be the most troublesome!


    He immediately ordered, "Gather manpower and immediately take over the Cross Society''s stronghold on Green Street! Notify the cadres to gather and prepare for a gang war!"


    "Yes, President!"


    The captain also knew that the situation was urgent and hurriedly left to carry out the order.


    ........


    The sudden bad news made the faces of the remaining people in the room extremely ugly, and the atmosphere became terrifyingly cold.


    They had just celebrated the great advantage the Steam Party had gained, and now they received news that the young master from the inner city had been killed.


    It was like a hole had been punched in the sky, and everyone was stunned by this news.


    Banner sat on the sofa with a gloomy face, not knowing what he was thinking.On the side, "Mad Dog" Hogg''s face turned pale. It was not long ago that he personally sent Martin away, and now he heard the news of his death. He knew he couldn''t escape from this.


    But he didn''t lose his rationality due to anger, and raised his doubts, "President, what if it''s not Gelong, but someone else who awakened the talent of the Red Demon?"


    Anyone with clear eyes could see that the convoy intentionally left survivors, and one of the attackers who awakened the talent of the Red Demon was recognized. It seemed suspicious no matter how you looked at it.


    "President, I feel like there''s something fishy about this. It seems like someone is setting a trap to provoke a war between our two gangs..."


    Hogg felt that he had found a point of doubt, and then analyzed, "After all, the members of the Cross Society feel like they''re at a disadvantage. As long as their brains are not damaged, they wouldn''t dare to really kill Martin. Now we have to go to Green Street to settle this. What if it''s a misunderstanding..."


    "Hehe... Do you think I don''t understand?"


    Barna interrupted him with a coldugh and said, "Now that the attacker is not Gelong, the Cross Society will have to bear this me!"


    He sneered and continued, "Also, our Steam Party won''t have it easy either!"


    It was clear that Barna was truly furious, "Whether it was the Cross Society who attacked the convoy or not, since the young master died, someone has to be buried with him! Do you really think the big shots in the inner city will wait for us to slowly investigate the truth and find the culprit? If no one dies today, we won''t be able to settle this!"


    "Ah... this..."


    Hogg immediately realized that the situation was even more serious than he had expected.


    In the eyes of those big shots in the inner city, their lives as gang members were no different from sewer rats.


    If a young master from a top financial family died, it would be worth more than ten thousand gang members.


    If they didn''t make a move, the high-level members of the Steam Party would immediately face the furious storm of those big shots in the inner city.


    After venting his anger, Barna gradually calmed down.


    He thought of something and his expression became extremely ugly. He muttered to himself with self-mockery, "I thought those big shots in the inner city were going to deal with the Cross Society. Now it seems like they don''t want to see us grow either..."


    It didn''t matter who the culprit was!


    What mattered was that the Steam Party and the Cross Society, the two major gangs, had to go to war and give an exnation!


    In this battle, both sides would suffer.


    The person behind the scenes wanted to see this situation!


    At this moment, Barna suddenly thought of something and his eyes turned cold. He asked, "Hogg, besides you, who else knows the route of the Rayes family''s convoy?"


    Hogg''s face instantly turned pale when he heard this.


    He instantly realized that the president asking this question meant that he suspected there was a problem within the Steam Party as well.


    ........


    After the guys from the Steam Party arrogantly left, the members of the Cross Society did not leave Green Street.


    Everyone knew that something big would happen within the next three days, and the members of the gang were prepared for a war.


    The members from other districts also canceled their rest and gathered in various taverns, carrying guns and ammunition.


    In the dpidated building on Green Street, Kay led forty to fifty men and squatted down.


    A bonfire burned in a metal barrel, and the firearms and ammunition from the arsenal were distributed. Mechanical arms, cannons, grenades, heavy machine guns... everything needed for a battle.


    The veterans set up their rifles on tripods next to the bonfire, then gathered together to chat and y poker. Fighting was amon urrence, not much different from usual.


    The neers had never experienced such a battle before and trembled with their firearms.


    The dpidated building had five floors, and standing on the top floor, one could overlook arge part of Green Street.


    Kay and Su''en stood at the edge of the building, looking at the bustling street below.


    A cool breeze blew into their cors, bringing a slight chill.


    When Kay came out of the tavern, he was already feeling down. Now, looking at this prosperous street, he sighed, "If we lose Green Street this time, I won''t have the face to see the boss and the others."


    This was his first time as a captain, and Green Street was his first jurisdiction.


    If they really lost, it felt like his wife had been taken away.


    Su''en looked at his expression and didn''t directly say that this was no longer something he, as a captain, could intervene in, or even something that President Chuck could reverse.


    All he could do was advise, "Captain, I have a feeling that something big is going to happen. Be careful."


    Upon hearing this, Kay became even more furious, "Hmph, if those guys from the Steam Party dare toe, I''ll definitely crush them!"


    Su''en: "..."


    He guessed that there might be an armed conflict, but he didn''t expect it toe so soon and so directly.


    Kay was also a jinx.


    Just as he finished speaking, there was a sudden explosion, and the entire Green Street was engulfed in mes.


    Someone immediately shouted in rm, "Something''s wrong! The Steam Party''s people are attacking!"


    Su''en looked closely and his pupils contracted.


    In the distance on the street, the Steam Party''s convoy came in a ck mass. There were transport vehicles, motorcycles, armored vehicles, modified heavy trucks... and even tanks. There were probably hundreds or even thousands of them!


    Seeing this scene, Kay beside him also eximed, "Damn, how many people did the Steam Party bring?"

 Chapter 93: A shot hit from three hundred meters away

    Chapter 93: A shot hit from three hundred meters away


    The Steam Party suddenly started a war, which is very unreasonable.


    ording to reason, they should have given three days to retreat. The Steam Party should not havee to provoke Green Street during this time.


    Moreover, with the support of the third branch of the Reyes family, as long as the Steam Party waits a few more days, the Cross Society will eventually withdraw from Green Street under the pressure of the higher-ups. Even if there is a conflict, it will be a small-scale one.


    It is iprehensible why they would create such a scene of a gang war when they could have easily taken over Green Street without much cost.


    Kay looked at the number of enemies and cursed angrily, "Are these Steam Party guys crazy? Do they want the two gangs to fight to the death?"


    Su''en looked at the sudden situation and suddenly thought of something. His expression became slightly strange as he muttered, "With such disregard for the consequences, could it be that the president of the Steam Party was assassinated, or... that Martin Young Master was taken out by someone?"


    Besides this reason, he couldn''t think of any other reason that would make the Steam Party so recklessly aggressive.


    However, it doesn''t matter what the reason for the Steam Party''s war is. The enemy has already reached the doorstep, and the Cross Society has to face them.


    ........


    The first shell exploded, blowing up the armored vehicle parked at the head of Green Street. The convoy rushed into the nearby blocks of Green Street like a torrent of steel.


    Then the two sides engaged in a fierce gun battle, with gunshots ringing out and cannons exploding throughout the streets.


    The Steam Party excelled in mechanical modifications and had a significant technological advantage with their cannons and armored vehicles.


    Almost every motorcycle was equipped with individual artillery and heavy machine guns. These hundreds of motorcycle knights were like hundreds of mobile artillery tforms.


    The Cross Society did not expect arge-scale gang war and was caught off guard. The frontal artillery battle did notst long, and the gang members were forced into the alleys between the buildings, starting a street battle.


    Preliminary estimates showed that the number of people from the Steam Party was ten times that of the current Cross Society members in Green Street!


    Moreover, the majority of the Steam Party members had mechanical prosthetics, which gave them a significant advantage inrge-scale firefights. Even if they were hit by bullets, it wouldn''t be as deadly as it would be for a flesh and blood body.


    Furthermore, although mechanical prosthetics were not as agile as a human body, in terms of uracy and stability in continuous shooting, they had a huge advantage over non-professionals.


    .......


    Kay and the others were waiting in front of a dpidated building, right next to a narrow alley.


    Large tanks couldn''t enter here, so they relied on this alley to fight a defensive battle.


    "Brothers, fight them! Hold on a little longer, reinforcements have already been sent from headquarters!"


    "Wolf, use the rocketuncher to blow up the transport vehicle at the street corner!"


    "Damn it, we need someone who can bandage wounds to treat Barty''s injury!"


    "..."


    The sound of gunfire was dense like raindrops, and Captain Kay shouted hoarsely as hemanded the battle.


    "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh"... The sound of bullets whizzing through the air rang in their ears, and the oppressive feeling of death made everyone feel like there was a heavy stone pressing on their chests. The cloud of death hung over each and every one of them.


    Large-scale wars were not the time to show individual bravery. Even Kay, who had extremely strong closebat abilities, could only hide behind cover and shoot. If he rushed out now, he would immediately be the target of concentrated fire.


    After all, the gang was not a regr army, and although they fought fiercely, they had many shorings.


    For example, they didn''t have medics.


    Once injured, it was fatal for them.


    The veterans had some experience and changed their cover positions while fighting, overall engaging in a back-and-forth with the enemy. The rookies were prone to making mistakes, and their nervousness caused them to make frequent errors...


    Mistakes meant death.


    In a short time, about forty to fifty people were reduced by more than ten due to death or serious injuries. And because they discovered resistance in this dpidated building, more and more Steam Party members gathered at the entrance of the alley.


    ......


    Su''en hid behind cover and asionally took shots.


    His expression remained calm throughout.


    After all, ordinary gunmen didn''t pose much of a threat to him.


    Even if he didn''t stick his head out to observe, Su''en''s ability to "locate by sound" allowed him to easily determine the shooting positions of the enemies. Even if a rocket wasunched at him, he could predict the trajectory and impact point in advance from the sound of the burning gunpowder, calmly avoiding the deadly range of the explosion.


    Su''en''s currentbat power had already surpassed the majority of captain-level fighters. With his marksmanship, he could easily suppress the two or three dozen enemies at the alley entrance.


    But he didn''t do that.


    Because it wouldn''t solve the problem at all, and it would bring a real disaster to their Green Street team.


    Once the enemy discovered that there was a "firearms expert" in this dpidated building, captain-level professionals would immediatelye to deal with them. If Su''en killed the captains, there would be cadre-level fightersing... and the trouble would be endless.


    With the enemy outnumbering them tenfold, Su''en couldn''t possibly kill them all.


    The best choice was to continue wearing them down and wait for the reinforcements from the Cross Society to arrive. At least when there were people to hold back the local second-tier professionals, he could unleash a counterattack.


    For now, all he had to do was protect himself, asionally take shots to eliminate a few more threatening enemies.


    .......


    The members of the Green Street team were constantly being pushed back from the entrance of the alley.And at this moment, Kay suddenly noticed that the sniper on the dpidated rooftop behind them had gone silent. He turned around and realized that their sniper had been shot in the head by the enemy, with the body hanging halfway off the edge of the building.


    "Damn it, our sniper has been taken out!"


    "Captain, it seems like there are enemies approaching from behind!"


    "..."


    The enemies of the Steam Party dared not advance because the Cross Society had already upied the high ground, suppressing them with sniper fire.


    Now that they no longer had a sniper in a high position, the Steam Party outside the alley pushed forward with their powerful mechanical shields.


    The situation became increasingly dangerous, and Su''en was considering how long they could hold on before they had to retreat.


    But just then, he suddenly felt a pressure on his forehead, as if being pricked by a needle.


    "Am I being targeted by a sniper?"


    This was a warning from the "Malicious Perception" skill, indicating that someone was staring at him with hostile intent.


    The feeling was faint, indicating that the enemy was far away.


    But it was enough to make Su''en alert.


    Without any hesitation, he rolled to the side, and almost at the same time, a bullet hit the spot where he had just been, leaving a bullet hole on the hard ground.


    Su''en looked at the trajectory of the bullet and instantly identified the precise location of the sniper. Without hesitation, he pulled out his famous gun, "Razer," and aimed it towards the window of a small building over three hundred meters away at the eleven o''clock position to the left. He pulled the trigger.


    "Bang!"


    In an instant, a special sh of light, like that of a lightning bolt, shed from the muzzle of the Razer. The bullet was fired and urately hit the window three hundred meters away. The sudden stter of blood on the ss bed indicated that someone had indeed been hit behind the window.


    Kay, who was beside him, watched as Su''en suddenly rolled and fired towards the nk of the enemy''s position. His gaze instinctively followed the direction of the gun.


    He had been puzzled as to why Su''en had aimed the gun at such a high angle, but with this nce, he saw the stter of blood on the ss window.


    "A sniper?"


    Kay looked at Su''en, his eyes filled with astonishment as if he had witnessed something unimaginable.


    Su''en was a "firearms expert," and Kay knew that.


    He wasn''t surprised that Su''en could kill an enemy sniper with one shot.


    But to urately kill a target three hundred meters away with a pistol? That was unbelievable!


    Not to mention marksmanship, could your pistol even be used as a sniper rifle?


    Kay, after all, was a professional and had much more experience than an ordinary gang member. He took a nce at the old and worn pistol in Su''en''s hand and knew that this gun was definitely not ordinary.


    He had thought that Su''en didn''t bring his famous gun, "Three-Headed Ghost," because he was afraid of exposing himself, but it turned out that he had reced it with something better?


    Kay didn''t say much. It wasn''t the time for idle chatter.


    Losing the high ground was very disadvantageous for them. Kay instantly thought of something and approached Su''en, asking, "Su''en, can you take two of our brothers and seize the high ground of the dpidated building?"


    This was a very dangerous mission.


    Snipers were high-priority targets and once they opened fire, the enemy would immediately choose to eliminate the sniper position.


    Kay and Su''en had a close bond, and if it weren''t for the need of the position, he would have chosen to go himself.


    But he didn''t expect Su''en to agree without hesitation, nodding, "I can."


    He felt that it suited him well.


    There were too many people and distractions at the position, and he had many hidden cards that he couldn''t reveal. Moreover, the position was a high-priority target for the enemy, and even with his super perception, he couldn''t avoid being hit by stray bullets.


    And if things really became unbearable... it would also affect his tactical retreat.


    Su''en thought for a moment and added, "I can handle it alone."

 Chapter 94: One person suppressed the battle situation

    Chapter 94: One person suppressed the battle situation


    Su''en didn''t stay in the alley for long and turned to a dpidated building nearby.


    There were no lights in the building, it was pitch ck.


    Knowing that the enemy had already entered the building, he guessed that there must be traps, hidden explosives, or warning devices along the way.


    After all, this dpidated building was the usual gathering ce for the people of Green Street, and he was familiar with theyout.


    Su''en chose not to take the stairs and instead used the mechanical gloves on his arms to shoot steel wires to pull obstacles outside the building. After climbing a few times, he reached the rooftop along the outer wall.


    There was no one on the rooftop. He listened carefully and then went down to the fourth floor.


    Using the steel wire to descend to the fourth floor, he saw two figures setting up sniper rifles in a corner, acting suspiciously.


    They didn''t notice that someone had silently approached them from behind.


    Su''en raised his gun and shot, "Biu~ Biu~" Two shots ended the lives of these two people.


    He walked over and collected the soul fragments from the bodies.


    "Obtained 2 memory fragments of ''ggyLeet''."


    "You have acquired some ''basic mechanical knowledge''."


    "Firearm experience +6."


    "Mental power +0.05."


    "Obtained 1 memory fragment of ''PortHaddad''."


    ..."


    The two clusters of mist provided Su''en with some firearm experience, and the basic mechanical knowledge was exactly what he needed.


    Indeed, his performance was not affected when working alone.


    Su''en killed two people, obtained a decent sniper rifle, two additional mechanical arms, and several items from the storage rings. Altogether, they could probably be sold for around two to three hundred thousand.


    Although he rarely used sniper rifles, his marksmanship was not bad.


    He lifted the bodies,y on a dust cloth, and ced the enemy''s sniper rifle on his shoulder. Through the scope, he looked down at the battlefield below.


    This angle allowed him to see Kay and the others'' positions in the alley.


    Fortunately, he arrived quickly. If he had been dyed for a while, the people of Green Street would have been surrounded and most likely wiped out.


    In an instant, Su''en aimed the scope at a member of the Steam Party across the alley and shot him in the head.


    Then he pulled the bolt and aimed at the person next to the headshot target, who was looking at the broken building in astonishment. He shot him in the chest.


    Two shots killed two targets, and the enemy realized that there was a sniper in the broken building, so they didn''t dare to show themselves.


    ........


    After firing two shots, Su''en didn''t look for other targets but quickly put away the sniper rifle and left the area.


    Just a few seconds after he left, a burst of gunfire swept through the spot where he had just shot.


    Hearing the distinctive sound of the machine gun, Su''en knew it was the vehicle-mounted heavy machine gun on the armored vehicle.


    Armor-piercing bullets pierced through the cement wall,pletely obliterating the two bodies on the floor. If he hadn''t left, those bullets would have hit him.


    Su''en changed direction and hid behind a load-bearing column, his gaze fixed on the battlefield below.


    His expression was extremely calm, and he didn''t shoot frequently.


    He only shot asionally when he saw targets that posed a great threat to Kay and the others.


    After killing two more people, a rocket flew towards him and exploded arge hole in the floor.


    However, Su''en had anticipated this and avoided it in advance.


    Kay, who was watching the rocket fly towards the building, was initially worried about Su''en''s safety. But hearing the asional gunshots, he knew that Su''en was still safe.


    With such a precise sniper suppressing the enemy, their pressure was greatly reduced.


    .......


    From the dpidated building, Su''en overlooked the entire battlefield.


    Now the entire Green Street was in chaos, and the enemy''s main forces hadpletely poured into Green Street. In the few minutes since he went upstairs, several ces where gunshots were heard had fallen silent. The Steam Party had a numerical advantage, and the Cross Society was retreating step by step.


    It could be said that Kay''s team was still holding on solely because of him.


    But Su''en knew that it was time for him to retreat.


    This situation couldn''t be stopped by killing a few people.


    But suddenly, he saw a house in the distance copse.


    "An advanced professional in battle?"


    Su''en squinted his eyes and saw a red-skinned giant fighting with several Steam Party executives, like a war god.


    "Is that Gelong? He''s really strong..."


    Su''en''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Gelong fought against three opponents and didn''t fall behind at all.


    The Cross Society sent two executives this time, and Smoker had returned to headquarters, leaving Gelong alone in Green Street.


    Su''en hadn''t seen anyone before, so he couldn''t fully unleash his abilities.


    Now that he saw Gelong, he felt relieved.


    With this executive attracting firepower, it was like a bright light in the dark, attracting the attention of the enemy''s second-tier professionals.


    In this way, Su''en felt that the possibility of enemy executivesing to trouble him was even smaller.


    Thinking of this, he looked at Kay and the others who were still fighting downstairs and didn''t rush to leave.


    "It seems like I can take down a few more people."


    Su''en muttered to himself.


    He calcted the time and thought to himself, "Someone should being soon..."......


    The high ground in the battlefield is crucial, especially when there are snipers inside.


    Suddenly, there was an explosion near the staircase of the dpidated building.


    Su''en heard the explosion and showed no surprise. It was the warning bomb installed by the two snipers earlier.


    The explosion meant that someone had infiltrated.


    He quickly took out several smoke bombs from his tactical vest and threw them directly into the corners of the fourth floor.


    Secondster, the smoke filled the entire floor, making it impossible to see anything.


    Su''en adjusted his goggles, and his vision was not affected at all.


    The tactical goggles he wore on his head were equipment he scavenged from the ck Tower Academy in the underground, not only equipped with night vision, but also capable of prating smoke. This was military equipment that couldn''t be bought in the outer city.


    He didn''t think that the ordinary members of the Steam Party would have such good equipment.


    Before long, several figures quietly walked up the stairs. Before their feet could touch the fourth floor, Su''en fired four shots in a row.


    As soon as the gunshots fell, the bodies of four people rolled down the stairs.


    After firing the shots, Su''en''s ears twitched slightly, and he detected other movements. He immediately turned his gun towards the window and fired two more shots, shooting down two guys climbing up the wall.


    After killing six people in a row, the guys downstairs became smarter. They held mechanical shields in front of them, and about a dozen of them crowded together and came up.


    The smoke obscured their vision, and although they couldn''t see clearly, they shot their guns in all directions in the smoke.


    Su''en didn''t rush to attack. He hid behind a stone pir, carefully listening to the footsteps of the enemy and determining their positions.


    Bullets swept across the stone pir, causing debris to fall.


    After hearing the enemy''s round of gunfire, he urately determined the position of a row of enemies.


    Just at this moment, Su''en flicked his finger, and a creepy doll suddenly dropped from the ceiling at the staircase.


    The doll, like a tortured corpse, "struggled" and swayed in the air, emitting a creepyughter.


    As soon as this sound entered their ears, the members of the Steam Party felt a momentary daze, and their guns and shields suddenly slipped from their hands.


    Without any hesitation, Su''en quickly moved away from the pir, dual-wielding his guns, and fired thirteen shots in a row at the crowd, followed by three more shots.


    In the blink of an eye, thirteen more people were killed.


    The bodies piled up at the staircase.


    In front of this "firearms expert," even with the advantage of ambush, the ordinary members of the Steam Party were no match at all.


    ......


    Su''en didn''t bother to look at the bodies on the ground. He pulled the wire and pulled the creepy doll back up to the ceiling.


    Because he knew very well that this was just the beginning.


    There were still footsteps downstairs!


    Su''en changed his position again, fully focused on observing the entire fourth floor, and thought to himself, "The next wave should be captain-level professionals..."

 Chapter 95: Kays Mess

    Chapter 95: Kay''s Mess


    The enemy could appear from any direction, and Su''en didn''t dare to be careless.


    Suddenly, his ear moved, and he heard some movement.


    In a sh, he quickly turned around and fired a few shots towards the window.


    But these shots hit the metal, sparking for a moment.


    In the instant he fired, he saw a figure''s "arm" suddenly shoot out and grab onto the beam, pulling himself up andnding steadily on the fourth floor.


    "The retractable iron w? Captain of the Knight District, ''Anchor Hand'' Park?"


    Su''en saw the iconic steam-powered retractable iron w and instantly guessed the identity of the person.


    Seeing this person, he was not surprised, but rather relieved.


    Without hesitation, he directly shot at the figure. But no matter where the bullets hit, they only caused sparks.


    Seeing this, Su''en thought to himself, "Tsk tsk... as expected, it''s difficult to harm this guy with a firearm, just like the legends say."


    .......


    After all, he was the captain, and Park reacted quickly to the sound of the gunshots.


    He immediately determined Su''en''s position in the smoke and shot out an iron w.


    Su''en was prepared and easily dodged the attack by predicting the angle of the attack.


    Mechanical limbs had strong defense, but theirck of agility was very obvious.


    The mechanical hook lock had a distinct sound of steam energy umtion and release. Although this time was short, it was difficult for non-professionals to avoid. But for Su''en, who had strong auditory and nerve reaction speed, it posed no threat at all.


    That''s why he didn''t even consider the idea of removing the imnted device when facing someone of the same level.


    This lump of iron posed no threat to him!


    ......


    With a "ng," the mechanical iron w didn''t grab the person but instead grabbed arge piece of cement from the load-bearing column.


    Su''en was also surprised. If this thing grabbed a person, their bones would probably be crushed.


    And at this moment, because of Park''s distraction, nearly twenty members of the Steam Party suddenly rushed up the stairs.


    Those guys somehow obtained a powerful hairdryer and blew it randomly at the smoke on the fourth floor. Due to the venttion in the dpidated building, the smoke quickly dissipated after this random blowing.


    "Heh..."


    Su''en raised an eyebrow and found these guys who tinkered with machines quite interesting. They even carried a hairdryer with them.


    Moreover, just by blowing for a moment, Park also exposed Su''en''s approximate position and shouted, "Seven o''clock direction, focus fire!"


    Hearing this, Su''en had time to react.


    He calmly took out a bulletproof board and hid behind a stone pir, enduring a barrage of bullets.


    Seeing that the stone pir was about to break, he remained calm and counted in his mind, "3, 2, 1..."


    The enemies had all arrived at their designated positions. Suddenly, three creepy dolls fell from the ceiling,nding right in the middle of the crowd.


    They cackled strangely, as if pressing a pause button on the gunshots in the building.


    In an instant, the entire floor was filled with their eerieughter.


    Mechanical armor could block bullets, but it couldn''t block the wailing of psychic power!


    Wailing Dollswere almost always urate against non-professionals.


    Moreover, they were now an advanced version of the creepy dolls.


    Su''en wielded his dual guns and fired again.


    Although the members of the Steam Party had various mechanical parts on their bodies, as well as bulletproof helmets and bulletproof vests, their chances of being hit were rtively low.


    But in Su''en''s eyes, as long as they didn''t have full-body armor like "Anchor Hand" Park, there was no difference.


    Eyes exposed, shoot the eyes. Neck exposed, shoot the neck. Knees exposed, shoot the knees... as long as there was an exposed area, it was a precise shot.


    Su''en''s eyes were cold, and his dual guns spewed tongues of fire, mercilessly harvesting the lives of these gunmen.


    Blood sttered like fireworks, bursting in front of his eyes.


    Taking advantage of the intervals between shots, he could also avoid Park''s iron w.


    In just a few moments, nearly twenty peopley in a pool of blood.


    Even if a shot didn''t kill them, bullets would enter through the gaps in their bulletproof vests and helmets as they fell... precise follow-up shots to kill them.


    .......


    Park, the "Anchor Hand," in the distance waspletely dumbfounded by the scene before him.


    His subordinates died one after another, and he could only watch helplessly.


    He realized that the guy with the dual gunspletely ignored his intentions andpletely disregarded the iron w, mercilessly reaping lives like the Grim Reaper.


    Park was dumbfounded.


    Was there a "firearms expert" in this damn building? He had anticipated it, but this person...


    Facing their entire reorganized squad alone, not only did he not run away, but he also dared to ambush them?


    Every move was calm andposed, showing no signs of panic from beginning to end. Shooting and killing in the chaos, every shot precisely hit a vital spot, as if he were a cold-blooded monster.


    Was this guy a monster...


    This guy, facing their squad, showed no signs of panic at all?


    And what the hell was thatughing doll that emitted a terrifyingugh?!Reality didn''t give Park much time to think. In just a moment of shock, he suddenly saw the monster with dual guns kill all of his subordinates and then turn his gaze towards him.


    Park thought to himself, "This is bad," as he tried to control his mechanical arm to grab the guy. However, before the pressure of the mini steam boiler could build up, he saw the person on the other side aim the gun at his head.


    A firearm?


    Even alchemical bullets couldn''t break through his mask.


    But at this moment, Park looked at the expressionless face and suddenly felt less confident.


    It shouldn''t... be able to break through, right?


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    It sounded like two shots, but he only saw a sh of fire in his eyes.


    Two armor-piercing bullets connected end to end, hitting the same spot almost at the same time.


    In his final moment of life, Park watched as cracks appeared on the mask, and then the bullets entered his eye sockets, plunging him into eternal darkness.


    .......


    Suren looked at the fallen lump of iron in front of him and muttered to himself, "My proficiency in [Secret Technique: Double Shot] is still a bitcking when ites to hitting agile professionals. But it''s just right for dealing with clumsy targets like this."


    If it were another first-tier professional, they might have been able to do something about this Park.


    Unfortunately... they encountered Suren.


    After killing a fellow first-tier professional, Suren''s face remained expressionless.


    Without dy, he walked over and swallowed the floating mist above the corpse.


    "You obtained ''Park Cecil''s Memory Fragments *3''."


    "You obtained some information: ''The day for delivering next Friday hase again. Damn it, we''ve already captured all the orphans and beggars in the neighborhood. It''s barely enough this time, but where am I going to get so many people next time...''"


    "You obtained some ''Intermediate Mechanical Knowledge''..."


    "You gained insight into ''Mechanical Limb Modification Techniques'', Mechanical Manufacturing Proficiency +77."


    "You mastered the blueprint for [Park''s Mechanical stic Arm]..."


    "Spirit Power +0.11."


    "Huh... I actually directly extracted aplete mechanical blueprint? Hehe, this guy from the Steam Party really has a lot of mechanical knowledge."


    Suren wasn''t surprised that he could extract mechanical experience from a corpse, but it was the first time he had extracted a mechanical blueprint from a corpse.


    But he had also heard that this Park was a well-known inventor in the Steam Party, skilled in designing and modifying mechanical limbs. The steam w on his own hand was a limb he designed, so it made sense that he had the blueprint in his mind.


    As for the information he extracted, it was iplete and Suren didn''t pay much attention to it.


    After wiping out the team, he didn''t waste any time and started harvesting souls, pulling out the spoils from the bodies on the ground.


    .......


    On the other hand.


    Because Suren had to deal with the group of people who broke into the dpidated building and there was no sniper suppressing them, Kay and the Green Street group downstairs were already in a desperate situation.


    Just as Park led his men to attack the dpidated building, the enemies across the alley also began to charge.


    Kay''s team was being pushed back, and out of the forty or fifty people, there were still seven or eight intact.


    The enemies were increasing in number, and gunshots could be heard from all directions.


    Kay knew that it was pointless to hold on any longer and shouted, "Brothers, retreat! Hold on for a little longer, our reinforcements should be here!"


    "What about you, Captain?"


    "You guys go first!"


    Kay nced at the dpidated building not far away, hesitated for a moment in his eyes, and made a decision in an instant.


    His best option now was to try to escape into the alley and avoid the enemy''s main force. With his speed, it would be difficult for the enemy, who were not professionals, to catch up.


    But as he listened to the intensifying gunfire from the dpidated building, he knew that Suren was in trouble.


    If the gunfire hadn''t stopped, it meant that no one had died yet.


    Gritting his teeth, he charged back.


    "You guys go first and find a ce to fight in the alley. I''ll go save Suren!"


    Judging from the intensity of the gunfire in the building, Kay knew that there were at least twenty or thirty enemies.


    With almost a certain death in mind, he rushed in, but before he could reach the second floor, the sound of gunfire suddenly stopped.


    Kay''s heart sank, suspecting that Suren was probably in grave danger.


    But he didn''t retreat. With a fierce gleam in his eyes, he silently approached, intending to assassinate a few enemies.


    Then, on the stairs from the third floor to the fourth floor, he discovered several bodies.


    As he took a few more steps, he felt that something was off.


    Because he didn''t hear any movement...


    The fourth floor was deathly silent.


    Huh... why is there no one?


    Kay cautiously poked his head out, wanting to observe the situation on the fourth floor, and suddenly saw a gun pointed at his head.


    Just as he was about to dodge, he suddenly froze in ce, his eyes filled with disbelief as he said, "Suren, my brother?"


    Kay never expected that the one who survived was Suren, all alone!


    .......


    Suren had heard the footsteps long ago.


    He thought it was the enemy, but he didn''t expect it to be Kay.


    Looking at Kay''s astonished expression, he put away his firearm and continued to collect his spoils, calmly asking, "Captain, why are you here?"


    "I... I came..."


    At this moment, Kay somehow felt that his words were stumbling out of his mouth.


    He walked up to the fourth floor and saw the bodies scattered on the ground. The words "I came to save you" were stuck in his throat and couldn''t be spoken.What...what did I see?


    Kay was stunned for a full two seconds before he came back to his senses, trying hard to make his brain believe what he saw in front of him.


    There were a total of thirty-four bodies on the third floor stairs and the fourth floor.


    Are all these people dead?


    Upon closer inspection, there were no extra wounds on the bodies, almost all of them were killed with a single shot.


    Obviously, this was the work of the same person.


    And when he looked again at the body with the iron hook mechanical arm by the window, wasn''t that Captain "Anchor Hand" Park from the Knight District?


    Seeing this, Kay looked towards the man who was busy cleaning up the battlefield,pletely in chaos.


    He...he single-handedly took down a reorganization squad of the Steam Party?


    Including a veteran professional of the Steam Party?


    Without waiting for him to think further, Su''en looked up and smiled, urging him, "Captain, why are you standing there in a daze? Hurry up and help clean up the battlefield. Otherwise, we''ll have trouble with the higher-upster..."

 Chapter 96: A disdainful gaze

    Chapter 96: A disdainful gaze


    "We need to leave here quickly. Themotion here might attract the Steam Party''s cadres."


    "Mm."


    Kay helped Su''en clean up the battlefield, and the two of them prepared to leave.


    At this moment, Su''en listened carefully and discovered something. He grabbed Kay, who was about to go downstairs.


    "What''s wrong?" Kay looked at Su''en with a puzzled expression.


    Su''en shook his head. "There are peopleing downstairs."


    Kay listened to this and tried to hear for himself, but apparently, he didn''t notice anything.


    "Let''s go to the rooftop!"


    Su''en didn''t exin much and set up a few traps under the corpses on the ground before going up the stairs.


    Without much thought, Kay followed suit.


    They had been to this dpidated building many times before, and Su''en had already observed the escape route beforehand.


    Fifteen to sixteen meters away from the dpidated building was a shorter ck building. As long as they could get there, they could avoid running into the Steam Party downstairs.


    Going from high to low, the distance between the two buildings was far, and the steel cables in the mechanical gloves were not very useful. However, fortunately, there were several rusty iron pipes connecting the buildings.


    Originally, Su''en''s n was to untie the nt equipment and use spider legs to climb along the pipes with the help of leverage. The corroded pipes couldn''t withstand a person''s weight, but with the weight distributed among eight spider arms, it was easy to pass. Then, with the help of the nt equipment, they could easily crawl between the buildings and retreat safely, which was no big deal.


    But now that Kay was with him, Su''en didn''t n to show off his nt equipment.


    Although Kay didn''t say it, he could guess that this guy had actuallye up to save him.


    ...


    Kay looked at the opposite rooftop and then nced at Su''en with concern. "I can jump over, but what about you..."


    After all, as an assassin, his jumping ability was extraordinary.


    But he felt that... it would be difficult for Su''en, who was a gunner, to cover this distance.


    Su''en shrugged and didn''t exin much. "Just jump."


    It was indeed a bit difficult, but not impossible.


    With that, Su''en took a deep breath and then suddenly ran forward. He leaped off the edge of the rooftop without hesitation, falling like a bird in a parabolic trajectory.


    With a "pu" sound, he rolled to the ground.


    Although it was a bit embarrassing, it was still a safending.


    Su''en stood up and dusted off the dirt on his body.


    Thanks to a month of hard training, his physical fitness had made a qualitative leap. With the help of alchemical potions and the advanced ck technology device, the effect of this month was equivalent to one or two years of normal training. His muscle condition was now excellent.


    A few secondster, Kay also jumped over.


    He looked at Su''en, his eyes bing even more strange.


    "Su''en, my brother, what kind of profession did you advance to?"


    "A gunner."


    "..."


    Kay rolled his eyes when he heard that.


    In his impression, gunners were all weaklings with "visual enhancement" and "perception enhancement" abilities.


    Which gunner could jump over ten meters?


    But thinking about the corpses that Su''en had shot before, this "gun expert" was indeed genuine.


    Kay fell into deep self-doubt...


    Could it be that he was just overthinking?


    ...


    Perhaps because the noise of jumping off the building was a bit loud, the people downstairs saw them in mid-air.


    Not only did they see them, but they also recognized them.


    "That''s Kay, the ''de'' of the Cross Society. Chase after him and kill him!"


    "Whoever brings his head will receive a reward of 100,000!"


    "..."


    Listening to the Steam Party members shouting from below, Su''en nced helplessly at Kay beside him. His eyes seemed to speak.


    See, having a big reputation is impressive, but when you have acquaintances all over the battlefield, it''s hard to kill you.


    Being a small fry also had its advantages. At least not many people would pay attention to you.


    Kay responded with an innocent expression, muttering, "Hey, brother, why do I feel like you''re looking at me as if I''m a burden?"


    Su''en replied, "Please remove the questioning tone."


    Kay: "..."


    The two of them had gone through many hardships together and had a deep bond. They knew that the other was joking, so theyughed it off.


    After jumping over the dpidated building, they didn''t dare tond and instead continued to jump across several buildings.


    Perhaps because the bodies of the Parker team in the dpidated building had been discovered, the Steam Party members went crazy and quickly surrounded them.


    It was like a tightening, with more and more people surrounding them, leaving Su''en and Kay with less and less room to escape.


    Gunshots and rockets exploded in their ears, and their tracks had been locked on.


    To avoid exposure, they didn''t wander on the rooftops but entered a low building. As long as they rushed across the street in front of them, they could escape to the moreplex honeb building area. Once they entered there, no matter how many enemies there were, they wouldn''t be able to surround them.


    ...


    Running frantically, the two of them were panting for breath.


    During their escape, Kay became even more amazed at Su''en''s stamina.


    Most of the members in the guild had exhausted their energy on the bellies of the courtesans. When it came to fighting, they could give it their all for a short period of time, but if it came to a prolonged battle of endurance, not many could handle it.


    The two of them hid behind a "U-shaped" obstacle, taking the opportunity to catch their breath.


    The sound of gunfire on the street made it hard to breathe, like the big hand of death, gently caressing their trembling souls.


    At this critical moment, even Kay, who was ustomed to life and death, couldn''t help but feel a bit unsettled.But when he turned his head and saw Su''en, who was checking his firearms and ammunition without any expression, his eyes twitched. Finally unable to resist his curiosity, he asked, "Brother, why aren''t you panicking at all? It was the same in the underground dungeonst time, and it''s the same now... If we can''t escape this time, we''ll be done for. Why do I feel like you don''t care at all?"


    Su''en didn''t look at him and continued to work on his gun. He asked in return, "Can fear prevent us from being surrounded?"


    "It seems... not..."


    Kay pouted and suddenly felt bored.


    I just wanted to find some resonance with someone, but you have this indifferent expression towards life and death...


    Forget it, if you''re not afraid, as the captain, I won''t be afraid either.


    Kayforted himself like this.


    .......


    And in this moment when Su''en and Kay caught their breath, two enemies on the opposite rooftop suddenly spotted them.


    "They''re here!"


    A shout echoed through the alley, and almost at the same time, Su''en raised his gun and took them down.


    The two quickly changed their positions.


    But after being exposed, no matter where they hid, they would immediately be showered with bullets like a storm.


    Finally, they found themselves trapped behind a corner of a wall, unable to get out.


    Da da da da...


    Bullets came from all directions, leaving them no chance to break free.


    Kay took a look outside with a mirror and just saw a dense crowd of enemies before the mirror was shattered by stray bullets.


    At this moment, the pressure of impending death made Kay''s breathing heavy.


    He looked at Su''en beside him and said in a deep voice, "Brother, this is bad. We can only fight for our lives now. The enemy''s firepower is strong. I''ll charge first to attract their attention, and you find a chance to retreat... Let''s see who has better luck surviving."


    It was the same desperate situation as thest time in the apartment building, forcing the two of them into a corner again.


    But...


    Kay was still Kay.


    But Su''en was no longer the same Su''en as in the apartment building.


    "The enemy''s firepower is strong?"


    Su''en nced at him and didn''t say much.


    He thought for a moment, silently took out arge iron box, and hung it on the makeshift mechanical leg bone he designed.


    Kay looked at Su''en''s inexplicable action and couldn''t figure it out. "Is that... an ammunition box?"


    Then, he watched as Su''en removed the magazine from the old pistol in his hand and connected it to the ammunition box with a bullet chain.


    "You..."


    Kay was confused.


    Wasn''t an ammunition box only used for heavy machine guns?


    The act of connecting the pistol to the ammunition box seemed... very strange.


    Wait!


    We''re about to fight for our lives, but howe your expression was so indifferent just now?


    Could it be...


    Kay looked at Su''en''s still expressionless face and knew that he was serious.


    At this moment, Su''en took out another half-finished puppet that was dressed in the same clothes as him and said, "I''ll throw a shbangter, and you grab this puppet and run out at the fastest speed to attract their firepower. The rest, leave it to me."


    "???"


    Kay was full of question marks.


    He looked at the puppet in his hand, pinched it, and realized that it was just an ordinary puppet.


    It wasn''t some kind of "sealing object" with terrifying effects that could block bullets or kill enemies. What does this mean?


    Su''en continued, "As long as we rush across this street, we''ll be safe."


    "Huh?"


    Kay understood the n to attract firepower, but looking at Su''en''s posture, was he nning to charge through?


    He looked at the puppet in his hand and then at the ammunition box. It seemed like he guessed something and eximed in shock, "Are you... nning to fight them head-on?"


    As soon as the words came out, he found his own n in his mind unbelievable, and he said again, "But there are at least forty to fifty people on the other side!"


    Su''en didn''t exin much and asked inexplicably, "Have you seen any second-tier professionals?"


    Kay didn''t understand what he was thinking, but he answered, "No, but I saw two captains..."


    Su''en seemed to be more certain about something, and his expression became even colder. "Oh."


    Then he didn''t say anything else.


    Perplexed by the strange question, Kay suddenly felt that his brain wasn''t enough. He asked, "What does ''oh'' mean?"


    Su''en checked his gun onest time, then removed the shbang and casually responded, "The ''oh'' means it''s not too bad."


    "This isn''t too bad?"


    Kay felt that it was already a matter of life and death, but this guy''s dead fish face made it seem like they could really turn the tables.


    But the enemy''s firepower was so fierce that even if they had pure physical talents, they would still be riddled with bullets if they went out.


    Before he could think too much, Su''en closed his eyes, his cochlea trembled slightly, and his fingers drew on the ground. He determined the approximate positions of the enemies and didn''t exin further.


    "Get ready, I''m going to throw the shbang!"


    As soon as the words were spoken, Su''en opened his eyes fiercely, his expression as sharp as a knife.

 Chapter 97: Killed crazy

    Chapter 97: Killed crazy


    Actually, when Su''en was fleeing, he had already been observing whether there were any formidable enemies in the pursuit team.


    Generally speaking, high-level experts have some arrogance and would not stoop so low as to chase and kill low-level professionals.


    Unless... the prey disys astonishing killing power.


    That''s why Su''en was able to kill more pursuers earlier, but only dealt with a few threats to them.


    The more he kills, the more likely he is to be targeted by high-level professionals.


    Now is the perfect opportunity!


    .......


    There was no time for exnations.


    At this moment, Kay wanted to ask something, but when he saw that Su''en had already pulled out the pin of the sh grenade and thrown it away, he didn''t hesitate to grab the puppet and rush out.


    At this moment, he still chose to trust Su''en.


    Su''en didn''t expect the sh grenade to cause much interference to the enemy. The most important purpose was to tell the enemy that we are charging!


    This was a small psychological suggestion that would make people instinctively attack moving targets after the sh.


    Regardless of whether they saw clearly or not.


    Sure enough, the moment Kay rushed out with the puppet, gunshots rang out.


    All the enemy''s firepower was attracted to them, and they were frantically shooting at the two figures running at high speed.


    At the moment when the gunshots rang out, Su''en, who was hiding behind cover, suddenly stood up, raised his hands and fired both guns, covering everything in front of him in a fan-shaped pattern.


    The left and right "Green Ghosts" were in continuous burst mode, with blue mes gushing out of the barrels like ghost fire...


    The right hand "Thunder Snake" aimed at the formidable target, and each shot was an alchemical bullet...


    Therge-capacity ammunition box provided continuous bullets for Su''en''s continuous shooting. A "Green Ghost" instantly turned into a heavy machine gun.


    What does it mean for a "firearms expert" to have unlimited firepower?


    It means death is imminent!


    Su''en faced the enemies shooting at Kay and didn''t give them a chance to turn their guns. Headshots, eye shots, throat shots... every shot was fatal, and he wiped out a whole group in an instant.


    If it were an ordinary magazine, Su''en would have run out of bullets long ago. During the time it takes to reload, the enemy would have had enough time to kill him.


    But at this moment, the handguns in his hands continued to spew out deadly ghost fire.


    This was the suppressive power of a heavy machine gun!


    "Da, da, da, da..."


    The Steam Party guys were caught off guard by this burst of fire. They instinctively tried to avoid this damn suppressive firepower.


    Dodging and dispersing... their formation was in chaos.


    In just a few breaths, half of the enemy, about forty to fifty people, were shot and fell into a pool of blood.


    Su''en waspletely fearless and continued to harvest lives numbly. Even if the enemy had taken cover, as long as they showed the slightest w, he would shoot urately.


    Precise, calm, numb.


    There was not a trace of panic.


    .......


    Kay shouted and rushed out. As he heard the continuous gunshots, he didn''t have much hope of surviving.


    But something strange happened.


    After running a few steps, he suddenly realized that the sound of bullets whizzing past his ears had disappeared, and the fragments of shells flying past his scalp were gone.


    "Huh... why aren''t those guys shooting at me?"


    The gunshots hadn''t stopped, so what was going on?


    When he turned his head, Kay saw a scene that he would never forget.


    "F*ck, what the hell... handguns can be used like this?!"


    Kay cursed in his mind, finally understanding what was going on with Su''en''s outrageous ammunition box.


    From the beginning, that guy had intended to take on enemies twenty times his number head-on!


    At this moment, Su''en, with two guns, was suppressing all the enemies in front of him!


    Kay suddenly realized, and a hint of excitement appeared on his face: "What a crazy n..."


    But now was not the time to think about these things. Thoughts raced through his mind.


    Now, he and Su''en were in a triangr position with the enemy, and this was the best opportunity for him to escape.


    But Kay didn''t!


    The two of them had a trust and understanding, just like when he chose to trust Su''en without hesitation and brought out the puppet to attract firepower.


    Kay knew that Su''en''s firepower had temporarily suppressed the enemy, and they couldn''t give the enemy any chance to catch their breath.


    They were not trying to escape now, but to counterattack!


    "F*ck it! I''ll go crazy with you, you bastard!"


    Thinking of this, Kay didn''t hesitate to push off the ground with one leg, turning into a mantis that shot out, directly leaping into the crowd of enemies!


    Kay didn''t forget that his advantage was closebat.


    Now that there was no enemy firepower suppression, in closebat, he wasn''t afraid of these people!


    Meanwhile, Su''en continued to shoot from a distance, and a rxed smile appeared on his face as he saw Kay rushing out.


    With such a high-quality teammate cooperating, it would be much easier to kill all those guys on the other side!


    In just a breath, the extra ammunition box was emptied.


    And Kay''s charge gave him just enough time to reload.


    Su''en didn''t even dodge, he pressed the mechanical buckle, immediately took off the ammunition box and the supporting mechanical exoskeleton, and quickly reced it with the extended magazine hanging from his waist.


    The ammunition was replenished.


    Was there nothing to worry about after taking cover?Have you ever seen a bullet turn?


    Without the constraints of the ammunition box, Su''en''s marksmanship became more flexible.


    With a flick of his hand, he pulled the trigger, and two bullets slid through the air, tracing a beautiful arc before exploding into a burst of blood on the target behind cover.


    At the same time, Kay charged into the midst of the enemy crowd, wielding his de with ease. The enemies hiding behind cover were forced toe out.


    One person charging, one person urately shooting from behind.


    The two of them cooperated, swiftly reaping the enemies in front of them.


    Su''en calmly walked out of cover, dual-wielding his guns.


    As he fired, he advanced forward.


    His abilities of "Sound Positioning" and "Malicious Perception" allowed him to urately pinpoint the enemy''s location. Even if someone aimed at his back, he could turn around and shoot the person''s head before they could fire!


    His absolute calmness made his brain feel like an icy machine, precisely calcting the position of each enemy.


    A miraculous scene unfolded.


    In this war-torn street, a solitary figure walked leisurely, bathed in a hail of bullets, his face calm andposed.


    The bullets seemed to have eyes, unable to harm him at all.


    The artillery fire and flying debris seemed like weing fireworks, celebrating his arrival...


    He did not dodge or avoid, walking straight ahead. With each shot fired, he either severely injured or took a life.


    Both in momentum and firepower, Su''en alone suppressed the enemies on the entire street, leaving them breathless.


    The overwhelming sense of danger frightened even the ordinary members of the Steam Gang, as if they had encountered an envoy from hell.


    Just one nce, and they would truly die.


    .......


    Soon, Su''en dealt with all the ordinary enemies near the block.


    Meanwhile, Kay and the two captains of the Steam Gang were locked inbat.


    Almost all the professional members of the Steam Gang had undergone extensive mechanical limb modifications.


    One of them was "Scissorhands" Hosen, whose modified mechanical limbs were simr to Kay''s abilities. They were sharp mechanical scissors forged from mithril blue steel, equipped with a high-pressure steam-powered boiler, capable of easily severing bones and limbs.


    The other was "Iron Lungs" Durand, a member of the modified faction. This guy was covered in full-body armor and equipped with arge steam-powered propulsion device. He resembled a steel bull, capable of charging and swiftly moving. His hands were equipped with both frost cannons and machine guns, excelling in both close-quarters and long-rangebat.


    Both of them were veteran professionals of the Steam Gang.


    Their advantages in modification were obvious, giving them exaggerated mechanical strength and steel-like bodies.


    At least, facing these two as an assassin of the same level, Kay was at a disadvantage.


    Although he could dodge the enemy''s attacks with his agility, his own attacks had limited effect on the enemy.


    In a prolonged battle, it was difficult to gain an advantage.


    Under the joint attack of the two, Kay''s situation became even more precarious.


    Fortunately, Su''en arrived.


    .......


    Su''en walked like the God of Death, killing all the gang members of the Steam Gang along the way.


    The "Iron Lungs" Durand, watching his subordinates die in agony, was already furious.


    He looked at Su''en, who stood unwavering, like a raging bull. The steam boiler behind him umted pressure and instantly erupted. With a powerful kick from his mechanical legs, the ground cracked open like a spiderweb, as if a cannonball was charging towards Su''en.


    Before the person arrived, the immense pressure swept through with a gust of wind, carrying flying sand and rocks.


    Su''en''s expression remained unchanged.


    Machinery was still machinery, with obvious preparatory movements and insufficient maneuverability. The speed of a straight-line impact was fast, but... it posed no threat.


    He had long noticed the signs of pressure umtion and the indication of force from the guy''s feet.


    So when Durand made his charge, Su''en''s "Thunder Snake" was already raised.


    Perfect, a straight-line target, as simple as hitting a target.


    The opponentpletely underestimated Su''en and did not take his gun seriously.


    "Crack!"


    "Crack!"


    The special sound of armor-piercing alchemical bullets resounded throughout the street.


    Su''en fired two shots in a row, urately hitting the bulletproof goggles of the guy.


    Kay, who was not far away, anxiously watched Su''en, thinking that he didn''t know how formidable the opponent was. He was just about to shout "Be careful," but it was already toote.


    Once they collided head-on, there was almost no chance of survival!


    At this moment, time seemed to slow down.


    Everyone''s gaze focused on the figure charging forward.


    They all knew that this collision would determine life and death.


    However, the next second brought an unexpected scene.


    At the moment the gunshot sounded, Durand, who was charging like a steel bull, suddenly twisted his head in a strange manner, instantly slowing down his momentum.


    Dead?


    No one expected that the one to die would be the notorious "Iron Lungs" Durand!


    And he died so casually.


    In an instant, the oue was decided.


    The corpse inertia continued to charge forward, but Su''en calmly sidestepped, casually harvesting a cloud of mist from the corpse.


    Hmm... not bad mechanical experience.


    ........


    If it could be said that Su''en killing those ordinary members of the Steam Gang before was due to his marksmanship and some luck.But now, after killing a fully armed professional, everyone realized that his marksmanship was not just good.


    "Killed? This..."


    Kay looked at the fallen body, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    At this moment, he finally understood why Su''en was able to kill the "Anchor Hand" Park earlier.


    "Could it be... the advanced gun technique of that legendary door?!!!"


    Kay knew that Su''en knew Gunfighting, but after seeing those two shots just now, he immediately realized something else.


    [Secret Technique: Multiple Ovepping Shots], a super gun technique specifically designed to prate armor.


    Legend has it that only a few "gun masters" in Old Lingdun, or a few veteran "gun experts" who have immersed themselves in gun techniques for many years, can master this advanced secret technique.


    Su''en, at such a young age, actually knows this?


    And his almost inhuman calmness just now, his extraordinary perception...


    Kay felt that today, he had used up all the shock he would experience in his lifetime.


    .......


    "Damn it, where did the Cross Society find such a freak!"


    "Scissor Hand" Hossorn cursed as he looked at his deadpanion.


    He knew they had underestimated him.


    If they had known about this guy''s gun technique earlier, they wouldn''t have been so reckless.


    But who the hell could have imagined that the gunner who had behaved so "ordinary" during the previous chase would have this trick up his sleeve?!


    They had only considered "de" Kay to be a threat, but they never thought that the little-known gunner was the real deadly presence.


    "We''ve been yed!"


    Hossorn also instantly understood that from the beginning of the pursuit, they were destined for this oue.


    That gunner deliberately showed weakness, waiting for this moment to ambush them.


    It was toote for regrets.


    While cursing in anger, Hossorn also secretly rejoiced that he didn''t make a move just now.


    This guy was also extremely decisive. In the instant hispanion died, he immediately retreated without hesitation and fled into the nearby dpidated building.


    .......


    Su''en fired two shots, but failed to take down that guy, so he gave up.


    After all, their goal now was not to kill the enemy, but to retreat.


    He walked over.


    "Captain, are you okay?"


    "Yeah, got shot once and took a few cuts. But it didn''t hit any vital spots, so it won''t affect the fight for now..."


    "Let''s go, the Steam Party''s executives will definitelye soon."


    "Yeah."


    Su''en supported Kay, who was limping from being shot on the outer side of his thigh, and walked towards the alley.


    At this moment, in the distance on the main street of Green, the sound of heavy artillery bombardment suddenly came, and an armored vehicle was sted high into the sky.


    Seeing this, Kay eximed with joy, "Our reinforcements have arrived!"

 Chapter 98: Spider bomb

    Chapter 98: Spider bomb


    After the main forces of the Cross Society arrived, the confrontation between the two sides immediately escted.


    In the old town of Lingdun, where firearms were cheaper than drinking water, the gangsters fought fiercely, turning it into a partial war.


    Both sides invested arge number of personnel and equipment, vying for control of the "Green Street stronghold", engaging in back-and-forth battles.


    In the subsequent battles, Kay did not participate due to his injuries, while Su''en remained active on the battlefield.


    He avoided dangerous areas but often appeared where there were many corpses.


    However, Su''en did not stand out on the battlefield. Like an ordinary gang member, he fought when he needed to and ran when he had to. Thanks to his super perception ability, he could always foresee some dangers in advance, making it seem dangerous but actually safe.


    In fact, war is just burning money.


    The conflict between the two major gangs escted, causing heavy losses not only to their backers but also involving more and more powerful forces. The power struggle between the high-ranking families was intertwined with personal rtionships, and the more people involved, the greater the resistance. Eventually, it was said that the major families in the inner city came out to mediate, bringing peace to the situation.


    This conflictsted for three days and three nights, resulting in thousands of casualties, and the entire Green Street was turned into ruins.


    Both major gangs were severely weakened.


    Later, Su''en heard about the inexplicable cause of this gang war. It turned out that Martin, the young master, was assassinated. Among the attackers, there was someone who awakened the talent of the "Red Demon".


    Coincidentally, the "Red Demon" Golong from the Cross Society was also surrounded and killed on the battlefield.


    There was no evidence of their deaths.


    The "Mad Dog" Hogg from the Steam Party, who had previously apanied Martin during negotiations, was also killed in front of everyone.


    As for the true facts, ordinary gang members were not qualified to know.


    Su''en also felt that it was not important.


    He even thought that when the "Red Demon" Golong was sent to the outer city for a duel, it might have already nted the seeds for this battle.


    But it didn''t matter anymore.


    What mattered was that Su''en gained a wealth of mechanical knowledge in this war, allowing him to directly advance from "Advanced Mechanical Beginner" to "Intermediate Mechanical Expert".


    ........


    Green Street was turned into ruins. ording to the mediation agreement, it temporarily became a neutral territory.


    No one dared toe and consume, and various taverns, gambling dens, and the backers behind the scenes all withdrew. With no profit to be made, the two major gangs didn''t care about these dpidated streets.


    However, as the former leader of Green Street, Kay felt a bit deste.


    As the captain, he lost his territory and his manpower...


    In this confrontation, apart from him and Su''en, everyone from Green Street was wiped out.


    It must be said that the elimination rate of the lower-level gangsters was really high.


    If Su''en had joined the Cross Society and didn''t aim to be an advanced professional, but instead spent his sry every day in taverns and pleasure houses, he would probably have been cannon fodder in one of the confrontations.


    After this battle, many legends began to circte in the underworld of the outer city.


    A group of neers emerged, while a group of old-timers were buried.


    Among them, there was one legend that became more and more mysterious. The "Scissorhands" Hossorn from the Steam Party admitted in person that there was a top-notch shooter in the Cross Society. This person was a veteran firearms expert who could use the secret technique "Multiple Reflections". He killed at least two reorganized squads, including the squad leaders "Iron Lung" Durand and "Anchor Hand" Park.


    But after spreading for a long time, even the internal members of the Cross Society didn''t know who it was.


    Kay didn''t say anything, so no one knew who it was.


    After all, everyone from Green Street had been wiped out, and there were very few people in the Cross Society who knew Su''en.


    ording to reason, Su''en should have received rewards and honors for killing so many enemies in this confrontation, estimated to be worth millions.


    But he didn''t want to attract attention and didn''t go to im the money.


    After all, this conflict had taught him a lesson. It was not good to be too famous, and Kay almost died because of his reputation.


    But Qiantiao knew that Su''en was skilled in marksmanship, so he discreetly asked about the situation and sent a substantial reward.


    Su''en''s life returned to normal, and because there was no entertainment venue in Green Street, he even lost his nightly patrol duty at 7 o''clock.


    He had the whole day to arrange his leisure time freely.


    He stayed in the rented basement every day, training his physical fitness, tinkering with mechanical equipment, and making puppet dolls... asionally, he went to the shooting range next door to practice shooting to keep his skills sharp.


    As for the struggles within the Cross Society, he, as a small gang member, didn''t care.


    The only bad news was that there was no nearby arena to extract souls. If he wanted to watch diatorial fights in other districts, he had to travel a long distance. It was said that the backers behind the Cross Society were preparing a "New Green Street," but it would take some time.


    The knowledge gained from this battle was enough for Su''en to digest for a long time, so he wasn''t in a hurry to find a new arena.


    In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and the situationpletely calmed down.


    .......


    On this day, in the basement.


    Su''en was wearing a stained work uniform, engrossed in tinkering with a new toy - the "Spider Bomb".


    This was an inspiration he found from his Eight-Armed Spider Spear Imnt.He wanted to design a mechanical bomb that could crawl on its own, equipped with discement devices and dyed detonation devices.


    This bomb could adapt to variousplex terrains, climb walls, drill holes, turn corners... and climb to blind spots that people throwing bombs could not reach.


    The mechanical spider on the workbench had already taken shape. Su''en focused his attention and installed several brassponents the size of melon seeds.


    This was the most crucial step, requiring him to connect the explosive device and the mechanical timing system.


    Su''en thought he had been careful enough, but suddenly, white smoke emerged from the mechanical spider on the workbench. He muttered to himself, "This is not good," and quickly took out a st shield and covered it on the workbench.


    With a muffled sound, the high-power exhaust device on the workbench whirred and sucked away the smoke generated by the explosion.


    Su''en lifted the st shield and looked helplessly at his failed creation. He murmured, "Something''s not right... The ''H2 Quartz Timer'' was fine, and the ''T3 Explosive Prototype'' was fine too... Why did it trigger an explosion? Could it be a conflict with the wall-climbing device I made myself?"


    Fortunately, it was just a test product, and there wasn''t much ammunition. Apart from making him feel embarrassed, it didn''t reach the level of causing harm.


    But with this explosion, Su''en once again fell into self-reflection and doubt.


    Repeated failures for unknown reasons made him gradually realize the root cause of the problem.


    Although the ability of the "Reaper of Death" was strong and allowed him to learn the knowledge of others in a few months that would take them several years or even more than a decade, there was also a very big problem: the acquired knowledge was not systematic.


    Without systematic learning, he couldn''t even figure out where his own problems were.


    Just like this explosion, his "experience" told him that there was no problem, but in reality, it exploded, which definitely indicated the existence of a "knowledge blind spot."


    All the machinery he currently mastered was stripped from various corpses, just like Lego building blocks, piece by piece.


    But these "knowledge puzzle pieces" were missing a part, just like building a high-rise building full of holes that could copse at any time.


    Despite having reached the level of "Intermediate Mechanical Mastery" in terms of knowledge, there were some basic knowledge that Su''en was not even as good at as a novice apprentice.


    "It''s really troublesome that the machinery is not systematic..."


    Su''en looked at the failed spider bomb, frowned, and pondered, "It seems that I need to systematically learn mechanical knowledge."


    Combat knowledge didn''t matter, as practice made perfect and he could master it through repetition.


    But theoretical knowledge was different. Without a knowledge framework, certain things couldn''t be connected.


    Having gone through nine years ofpulsory education in his previous life, Su''en was well aware of the importance of systematic learning. He urgently needed a thread to connect the fragments in his mind.


    With this thought in mind, Su''en instantly thought of a person.


    That person was the former Vice Dean of the ck Tower Academy, Niki J. Emirich, who had defected!


    When it came to systematic knowledge, who would know more than the Vice Dean of the top alchemy academy in Old Lingdun?


    .......


    "That gentleman still owes me a favor..."


    Thinking of this, Su''en no longer had the mood to continue tinkering with the spider bomb in the basement. He rode his motorcycle to the Shadow Lane ck market.


    He wanted to leave a message at "Rosen''s Alchemy Shop" and use that favor.


    Although he had only met Mr. Emirich once, Su''en believed in his intuition.


    That person had no ill intentions towards him.


    The key point was that being pursued by the Umbre Organization made him feel safer.


    If it was just for some basic alchemy knowledge, Su''en felt that it wasn''t necessary to use up this favor.


    He could find other channels in the ck market, although it would be more troublesome. For example, he could get textbooks from the ck Tower Academy or apprentice manuals from the Alchemy Guild.


    Su''en chose to contact that gentleman because he wanted to maximize the value of this favor.


    Because he knew that besides being a top professional suspected to be stronger than the Cross Society President, Emirich also had a deep rtionship with the organizers of the ck market.


    The ck market was very mysterious, and the organizer was rumored to be the true boss that even the Umbre Organization couldn''t do anything about.


    Although Su''en needed more information to understand this world, the mysterious alchemy world was like a stunning beauty veiled in mystery and strangeness, giving her infinite charm and arousing people''s curiosity. He had already lifted a corner of the veil and couldn''t wait to catch a glimpse of her true face.


    The gang''s structure was too small after all.


    He had already seen through the merger of the previous gang. Compared to the financial magnates in the inner city, the gang was just a tiger trapped in a cage.


    Su''en had crossed over to this fantasy world to witness the scenery at the top.


    Another consideration was that he wanted to understand the path to bing a second-tier professional in the future.

 Chapter 99: Second-order career planning

    Chapter 99: Second-order career nning


    Su''en currently only has three choices to advance to the second-tier professional: the inner city, the guild, and the ck market.


    The inner city is temporarily not considered, so there is only the ck market and the guild.


    The advancement of professions in the outer city ispletely unregted. Whatever conditions there are, one can advance ordingly, without any system.


    Many times, even if the profession and talent do not match, there is no choice but to waste one''s own potential.


    If Su''en wants to advance through the resources within the Cross Society, then he must first be a captain and gradually gain contributions and resources.


    However...


    Even the captains of the Cross Society have very limited choices for advancement. It is always the same two or three dozen paths that the cadres already have, and most of them aremon ordinary professions.


    Puppeteer?


    That kind of niche profession, Su''en has never heard of it in the entire Cross Society, so naturally it does not exist.


    In fact, just the first-tier profession choices recorded by the "Alchemy Guild" alone have more than eight thousand, and there are also thousands of second-tier profession paths...


    And those rare professions passed down from ancient times are even more dazzling.


    Su''en does not want to waste his talent and potential in vain.


    So, in fact, the only option in front of him is to try his luck in the ck market.


    Instead of groping around on his own, it is better to ask someone with experience and connections.


    Mr. Emirich, the former vice dean of the ck Tower Alchemy Academy, is obviously the most suitable person.


    .......


    Su''en arrived at the ck market and went straight to "Rosen''s Alchemy Shop".


    He left a message for the boss, saying that he wanted to see that gentleman.


    Then he went around various shops in the ck market as usual, hoping to find suitable curse materials and mechanical parts for himself.


    Passing by the bulletin board, the original owner''s wanted notice had already been pushed into a corner.


    Tasks that have not been found for clues for a long time will gradually be forgotten.


    This is also the situation that Su''en wanted to see.


    And among the top few, except for a new "S-ss" wanted criminal who is unfamiliar, the rest are all familiar faces.


    The one at the top is still that mysterious woman.


    Now the amount of her bounty has soared to a sky-high price of three million lisuo for providing information.


    Su''en thinks that if such a high bounty has not found any clues, either that woman has gone to the outer city or she has hidden herself like him, changing her appearance.


    Su''en didn''t look much and went to the "Whitebeard Mechanical Materials Shop" in the lower level of the ck market.


    The boss of this shop has wild channels for goods. The two body training devices he found before came from this shop. This time, he didn''t expect his luck to be good again. He actually found a "Cheetah IX Miniature Six-Cylinder Steam Boiler" that was scrapped by the inner city military industrial nt. It is small in size, the price is beautiful, and it can still be used after repairs.


    Su''en bought it and nned to bring it back to use as a power boiler for his "Iron Man II".


    It''s a coincidence that after buying the things, he nned to return to Green Street, but unexpectedly, when he passed by "Rosen''s Alchemy Shop" again, he saw a familiar figure in a cloak.


    "Sir?"


    Su''en walked over and tentatively called out.


    The cloaked figure turned his head, although his face couldn''t be seen clearly, his voice was very familiar and still gentle: "Heh... the boss just told me that you wanted to see me, I didn''t expect you haven''t left yet..."


    Su''en confirmed the identity of the person in front of him and directly stated his purpose, "I''m sorry, there are indeed some things that I need to trouble you with."


    After all, the other party is a top-tier professional, and he is so polite to him, a low-tier professional. Su''en also returned the courtesy with a polite greeting.


    The cloaked figure nodded, "Let''s talk while walking..."


    The narrow alchemy shop where they could barely stand is not suitable for chatting.


    ........


    The two walked on the streets of the ck market, talking quietly.


    Su''en expressed his desire to learn some systematic alchemy knowledge.


    The cloaked figure was not surprised, and even had a bit of a "willingness to help" meaning, "Knowledge is precious. But when I meet someone who sincerely wants to learn, I am willing to give some guidance."


    "Thank you."


    Su''en listened and didn''t expect him to agree so readily.


    Thinking of his position as the dean, it is not surprising.


    The cloaked figure continued, "But if it''s systematic knowledge, there is too much of it. Alchemy, enchantment, nt cultivation, runes, alchemical spells, machinery, forging, mysticism, medicine... what the outside world generally refers to as alchemy is divided into more than ten disciplines at the ck Tower Academy. Which one do you want to learn?"


    Su''en had a jumble of knowledge in his mind, and if he had to choose, he wanted to learn alchemical spells and mechanical knowledge... but if possible, he wanted to refer to all of them.


    It is impossible to digest so many categories of knowledge just by self-study with textbooks.


    But Su''en has the "Reaper of Death".


    If it were someone else, the cloaked figure would probably think they are too greedy. But looking at Su''en, he said this sentence, "Hehe... I don''t know why, but I always feel that you will give me a big surprise in the future."


    He didn''t refuse either and casually agreed, "That''s easy. I happen to have a set of teaching materials that I used before, which can be considered the mostplete and suitable introductory learning materials in the entire Old Lingdun. I don''t need them anymore, so I can give them all to you."Su''en listened and said, "Thank you for your generosity. It is already rare to gain some knowledge in the outer city."


    The cloaked man didn''t seem to mind and smiled, "After all, my original name was a bit troublesome. You can call me ''Mr. ck''."


    He spoke casually, without any fear or hesitation like other wanted criminals, and said, "I''m just giving you a few books, which is not enough to repay the favor I owe you. So... I think you still have something to ask me."


    As always, a gentleman who didn''t want to take advantage of others.


    Su''en wasn''t surprised when he heard that the other party understood "mind reading".


    He didn''t show much emotion and went straight to the point, "As you know, people in the outer city have little knowledge about high-level professions. I would like to ask, what are the considerations for advancing to the second rank? Or... do you know the choices for advancing to the second rank as a puppeteer?"


    "Oh? When ites to this question, it seems that no one can give you a better answer than me."


    Mr. ck smiled, seemingly self-deprecating his previous profession as a teacher.


    .......


    "After bing a professional, the subsequent advancements are actually to obtain the necessary abilities for your main profession. There is no fixed path for advancement, it depends on how you n your future profession."


    Mr. ck looked at Su''en and continued, "For example, for a normal puppeteer, the second rank path may choose to fuse curses rted to ''enhanced perception'', ''enhanced skills'', and ''puppet element control'' to improve the control andbat abilities of the puppets. But for some special puppeteers whock attack methods, they may choose more advanced auxiliary abilities, such as ''multi-tasking'' and ''space control''. After all, the ability to control multiple puppets is also a standard for measuring the strength of a puppeteer. And some puppets with special rules cannot be stored in a storage ring, so spatial abilities are also useful... There are also powerfulbinations such as ''corpse research'', ''mind control'', ''element annihtion'', ''reverse alchemy'', and so on..."


    "So many choices?"


    Su''en listened and felt a sense of enlightenment.


    He didn''t know that there were so many considerations for advancing to the second rank.


    "That''s why I said it depends on your own future career nning, so you can make a better choice..."


    Mr. ck didn''t continue and said, "If I go into more detail, it will be too much and can''t be finished in a short time. As far as I know, there are more than thirty types of second rank abilities suitable for puppeteers. Of course, the rarer the ability, the harder it is to find the corresponding cursed items. In the end, it depends on your own abilities and choose the best. Sometimes, career advancement also requires some ''luck''."


    "I see... Thank you for rifying, sir."


    Su''en listened to these words and felt that it was the right choice to ask this "Mr. ck".


    .......


    At this moment, Mr. ck seemed to have thought of something and suddenly said, "However... you are very special. I have a small suggestion for your future career nning."


    Su''en thought he had figured something out and restrained his emotions again, saying, "Please tell me."


    "Well... it''s ''mental control''."


    Mr. ck said, looking at Su''en as if observing something.


    After a moment of contemtion, he continued, "I found that you have a problem. That is, you have very good control over your emotions. You are the only novice I have seen who makes me feel that mind reading is limited. I noticed it when we were at the Gingko Street Apartmentst time, but I didn''t figure it out..."


    Su''en listened, his face showing a slight change.


    It was not surprising that someone who was very skilled in mind reading could see this.


    Mr. ck suddenly changed the topic, apparently having figured it out, and said seriously, "You have suppressed some of your emotions in exchange for a constantly calm state. But this long-term suppression is very dangerous and even fatal for your mental state. The more you suppress, the more deadly the bacsh..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened to these words, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    Mr. ck pointed out the hidden danger that even the psychologists in his previous life didn''t notice.


    He didn''t think there was anything to hide and calmly said, "I didn''t expect to live long before, and I didn''t care. But now..."


    In his previous life, he had no interest and didn''t expect anything for the future no matter how long he lived.


    But now, in this mysterious world, he was a bit reluctant to just die like this.


    Since Mr. ck brought up this topic, Su''en guessed that he might have a solution, so he asked, "So... Mr. ck, do you have a solution?"


    "For us alchemists, this may not be a bad thing..."


    Mr. ck neither nodded nor shook his head and said, "If I''m not mistaken, your mental power before employment should be much higher than that of an ordinary person."


    Su''en smiled without confirming or denying, half-jokingly said, "May I ask, Mr. ck, are you a doctor?"


    Mr. ck didn''t mind and corrected, "No, my profession is a ''Schr''. But when ites to those misceneous rumors, ancient alchemy knowledge, and medical mysteries... in the whole Old Lingdun City, there are not many people who know more than me. So it''s not wrong to think of me as a doctor."Su''en heard these calm words, but they sounded domineering, and a sense of admiration suddenly arose in his heart.


    He finally understood that the heavy temperament on Mr. Hei was like this.


    It turned out to be profound knowledge, which gave him a pair of eyes that seemed to see through everything in the world.


    Mr. Hei continued, "The solution is actually quite simple."


    Su''en listened attentively, "Please tell me more."


    Mr. Hei said, "The root cause lies in ''control''."


    Su''en: "..."


    Mr. Hei continued, "Relying solely on one''s willpower cannot control that kind of violent bacsh. Therefore, you need to rely on some external forces, such as mental power secret techniques."


    "Mental power secret techniques?"


    Su''en frowned as he listened.


    This was another blind spot in his knowledge. Even in any of the memories he had stripped away, no one knew about this concept.


    Mr. Hei seemed to sense his confusion and exined, "This is a field that only high-level professionals are qualified to explore. Even in the inner city, it is a ''forbidden technique'' restricted from spreading by the higher-ups of the ck Tower."


    "Forbidden technique?"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en realized that he had probablye into contact with some high-level secrets.


    "I have read ancient books and learned that ancient alchemists of higher ranks often practiced mental meditation secret techniques to increase their mental power and control it. It is also used to release high-level spells... Forget it, those things are too advanced for you now, and it would be meaningless to say them. It would only bring you trouble."


    When Mr. Hei said this, he seemed to have some concerns and didn''t say much more. "Just know that by learning a suitable mental secret technique, you can control that chaotic part of your mental power."


    "I see..."


    Su''en suddenly realized that there was a cure for his "condition".


    But even though ancient alchemists could practice it, why was it ssified as a "forbidden technique" by the ck Tower?


    Suddenly... he felt like he had guessed a part of the reason why Mr. Hei had defected.


    Upon hearing this, Su''en looked at Mr. Hei again, seemingly expecting something.


    "I have indeed been exploring a mental secret technique, but it is extremely dangerous and not suitable for you."


    Mr. Hei saw through Su''en''s thoughts and shook his head slightly, smiling, "I only mentioned this to let you know that if you encounter simr secret techniques in the future, you can pay attention... The ''Dawn City'' in the underground has been discovered, and arge number of ancient relics have been excavated. There will also be many good things appearing in the ck market recently. Perhaps you can find a suitable mental power secret technique for yourself before finishing your collection in the inner city..."


    "Dawn City?"


    "Yes... It is a newly discoveredrge-scale ancient ruin underground. Not many people in the outer city know about this news, but it should spread soon."


    "Oh..."


    Su''en''s first reaction was the ancient ruins he had traveled to.


    But what he cared more about was the "mental power secret technique".


    He didn''tck mental power, in fact, he had a lot of it.


    As the S-rank talent "Reaper of Death," every time he harvested soul fragments, it would increase his mental power a little. Although the amount of mental power he could extract from ordinary people''s bodies was decreasing, his current mental power value had already reached 75 points, more than double what it was when he first advanced as a professional!


    However, this doubled mental power value did not bring Su''en double benefits.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t have enough mental power, but that he couldn''t use it.


    But just like a handful of loose sand, no matter how much he wanted to use it, he couldn''t hold much with his own hands...


    He had felt that something was missing before, and now he realized that there was indeed a concept of "mental power secret technique" in this world.


    .......


    As they walked and talked, half an hour had already passed.


    Mr. Hei seemed to have no intention of continuing, and said, "The more you understand the path of alchemy, the more doubts you will have, and it is impossible to exin them all. After you finish reading those textbooks, I can guarantee that you will probably need ten times or even a hundred times more knowledge to unravel the mysteries..."


    "I don''t mind if youe to ask me. But meeting with me frequently will bring you a lot of trouble. So, as the final part of repaying the favor, I can introduce you to a ce where you can ess advanced knowledge..."


    Su''en asked, "Is there such a ce in the outer city?"


    "Yes, it''s in the ck market."


    Mr. Hei said, "It''s not a taboo organization, just a small circle for advanced professionals tomunicate. Generally, only second-tier professionals are qualified to receive invitations. I happen to be going there now, so you cane along."

 Chapter 100: The small circle of high-level professionals

    Chapter 100: The small circle of high-level professionals


    Su''en followed Mr. ck all the way down.


    The two walked through the streets of the ck market, then climbed over the fence and continued walking into the darkness, stepping on a steel pipe over a meter thick.


    Underneath their feet was an endless abyss. Ordinary people would be terrified to walk here. Su''en felt fortunate that his sense of bnce was good, otherwise he would have slipped and fallen into the endless darkness.


    After walking through dozens of meters of pipes, Mr. ck seemed to remember something and took out a cloak, handing it to Su''en, saying, "This is the token of entry into this small circle. Wear it, it will save you a lot of trouble."


    "Okay."


    Su''en nodded and took the cloak, looking at it and feeling strangely familiar. Wasn''t this the same cloak Mr. ck was wearing?


    Cloak of Concealment


    Exnation: An alchemical cloak with advanced concealment formations. It has the ability to distort vision, change voice, and weaken mental detection.


    Good stuff!


    Su''en put on the cloak, feeling as if his body was isted from the outside world. Suddenly, he had the feeling of peeping at people from a hole. This cloak could bring him more security than his high-cored windbreaker.


    The two continued forward, passing through an abandoned sewer.


    As they walked, Mr. ck said, "Before we go in, there are a few simple rules I need to tell you. This small circle is a membership system. Only when three or more members rmend you can you qualify to join. It''s best not to say that you joined through me, otherwise there might be trouble. Of course, with this cloak, no one will question you. Also, don''t casually inquire about the identities of other members, and be careful not to be discovered by others..."


    "There will be one or two exchange meetings every month, and the information will be printed on the third row of the ''Old Lingdun Daily'' advertisement column. The decoding method is the ''Hill Cipher''..."


    "The people here are very diverse, not as friendly as you imagine. They could be wanted criminals, evil alchemists, or spies from the ''Umbre Organization'' with ulterior motives..."


    "If you need any material knowledge, you can see how others exchange itter."


    "..."


    Su''en listened carefully, nodding frequently.


    Before long, the two arrived in front of a rusty iron gate and walked in, and the space suddenly opened up.


    It was a space about the size of a basketball court. There were pipes of all sizes everywhere, resembling observation rooms of ancient sewer systems.


    Even though he had been to the ck market many times, this was the first time Su''en knew that there was such a secret gathering ce at the bottom of the ck market.


    .......


    There was only one gasmp in the space, illuminating the stone round table in the center, which was carved with aplex hexagram alchemy formation.


    Dark, mysterious, and silent.


    The vast space waspletely silent, filled with a thick sense of mystery.


    Mr. ck seemed to be the host of the gathering. As soon as he arrived, those cloaked figures resting in the dark corners gathered around.


    "Mr. ck..."


    Everyone greeted him.


    Mr. ck nodded in response.


    Su''en casually nced over and saw fifteen figures by the round table. Although their heights and body shapes were different, they all wore the same cloak, making it impossible to see their faces and with voice modtion. Thinking that these cloaked figures were all second-tier professionals from the outer city, perhaps some of them were cadres of the Cross Society, he didn''t pay much attention.


    Mr. ck spoke, "Alright, today''s exchange can begin."


    Everyone seemed familiar with the process and no one wasted time, going straight to the point.


    Su''en originally thought it would be a serious and cold meeting of a mysterious organization, but it sounded more like a tea party.


    As soon as it started, it became lively.


    "I need some information. The steward of the inner city''s Cast family was assassinated, and the killer escaped to the outer city. I want to know how that person left the city. Besides the reward, the Cast family will also provide a cooperation opportunity..."


    "..."


    "The Sunbird Military Machinery Factory''s branch in the East City had a batch of military supplies stolen. Is there anyone here who can contact the group that did it? I''m not looking for trouble, I just want those goods, and the price is negotiable..."


    "..."


    "Any news on the S-ss wanted criminal who came out of the inner city?"


    "There is news that she wasst seen in the West City district. The Umbre Organization is closely monitoring her, and they have found some clues, but they haven''t caught her..."


    "Does anyone know her background?"


    "Hehe, I heard she is a very powerful mechanical warrior, and it seems she escaped with some kind of ''research secret''..."


    "A character as troublesome as her, even if she has earth-shattering secrets, I doubt anyone dares to take her on. Oh, except for that organization..."


    "..."


    The cloaked figures exchanged information with each other.


    asionally, secret information that needed to be traded would be written in envelopes.


    For less important matters, they would chat along the topic, each person sharing what they knew, often piecing together the truth of the whole matter.


    After all, these were all high-level professionals from the outer city. The events they mentioned were of high importance, and their sources of information were very broad. Moreover, almost all the questions asked had someone who could answer them.


    It was like watching the news, and Su''en silently listened on the side, only then did he realize that Old Lingdun was actually so lively.


    After listening for a while, he also roughly understood the role of this small circle.


    Here, they could understand the real-time information of the entire outer city, and even the inner city.


    Su''en also noticed that, except for him and Mr. ck, almost everyone at the round table spoke to some extent.


    It seemed to be an unspoken rule or an established custom.


    No one could just take information without contributing their own. To participate in the exchange, one had to provide some of their own information.


    That was why Su''en felt like someone had just nced at him, probably realizing that he was a neer.


    .......The intelligence exchange segment passed, and it was time for the item exchange segment.


    A cloaked figure spoke up, "I need advanced materials for the rare profession of a ''Withering Warlock''. The advancement direction is roughly ''Water Elemental Control''. Ideally, it should be a high-quality silver product from a relic. The price is negotiable..."


    As soon as he spoke, someone immediately responded.


    "I happen to have a silver cursed item, the ''Tears of the Poisonous Swamp Crocodile'', which should meet your requirements. But I need to exchange it for aplete set of thetest ''Frost Giant Battle Armor'' from the inner city..."


    "That item is a ''controlled product'' of the inner city army... It''s not just about the price."


    "I''ll add a set of second-order rare water magic scrolls, ''Acid Dissolution''..."


    "Deal! But it will take about a week to get the armor."


    "No problem."


    The two quickly reached an agreement, without any unnecessary words.


    Both parties handed their items to Mr. ck for inspection. Even though the armor wasn''t present, some promises were made, and the deal was concluded.


    Only then did Su''en understand that Mr. ck was not only the host of the gathering but also the "appraiser" and "guarantor".


    Everyone seemed to trust him implicitly.


    Materials and scrolls he deemed eptable could immediately conclude a deal.


    Su''en knew some of Mr. ck''s identities, so he wasn''t too surprised.


    What surprised him more was the immense power these cloaked figures possessed!


    The "Frost Giant Battle Armor" was said to be thetest generation of battle armor recently equipped by the inner city guard. The army hadn''t even fully equipped it yet, and someone could already get it?


    ......


    As soon as the trading segment began, a lot of high-level items that Su''en had never heard of started to appear.


    "I need a curse-breaking item for high-level ghosts, preferably someone can bring out the ''Cross Holy Emblem'' from the inner city Carter family. The price is negotiable..."


    "I have a few pages of manuscript from ''Alchemical Metaphor'' written by the great alchemist ''Master Arnold'' from the same period as ''Sir Isaac''. But the content hasn''t been deciphered, and I can''t guarantee it''s alchemical knowledge. I want to exchange it for a piece of information..."


    "Can anyone provide clues for third-order profession advancement curse materials? Any melee ones will do..."


    "..."


    The cloaked figures each stated their needs, and they seemed well-prepared, bringing items that could be exchanged for their needs.


    The materials needed were all high-level, almost all of them were of silver quality or above.


    Moreover, no one mentioned any prices, all were bartering.


    Su''en then understood why there were few second-order materials for sale in the ck market shops. Even if there were, they were just a few low-quality samples.


    Because high-level curse materials have a small output and an even smaller audience.


    Unlike first-order materials that cater to everyone, advanced materials can only be used by second-order or higher professionals, and they are hard to sell.


    Professionals who can get advanced materials probably don''tck money, what theyck are materials suitable for themselves.


    So, bartering is the best way.


    ......


    Su''en listened quietly for a while and fully understood the rules of this exchange meeting.


    At this point, he remembered what Mr. ck had suggested earlier, that he could ask here, so he spoke up directly.


    "I need aplete mental method of ancient alchemist cultivation. Also, I need a thread with curse properties, thin enough, resilient, preferably suitable for a puppeteer''s control... The price is negotiable."


    Although Su''en didn''t know the value of the two materials, he felt that he probably couldn''t offer materials of the same level in exchange.


    But whether there are fish or not, it''s better to cast the first.


    As soon as he spoke, all the cloaked figures around the round table fell silent for a moment.


    "Mental methods" belong to a very advanced field, and these people may not know what it is.


    And the market demand for puppeteer materials is small, few people keep them for exchange. Even if they do, they probably sell them to the inner city.


    Su''en saw that his words had cooled the atmosphere, and he was being scrutinized by a group of people.


    Fortunately, the cloaks blocked the gaze, otherwise, being stared at by a group of at least second-order professionals, he might not be able to stand here calmly.


    Just as the topic was about to be skipped, suddenly someone spoke up.


    "I don''t have the ''mental method'' you mentioned, but I do have a thread with a very magical curse property that meets your conditions. If you''re interested, you can take a look."

 Chapter 101: The Curse of the Witch

    Chapter 101: The Curse of the Witch


    Su''en heard this and said in a deep voice, "Alright."


    Originally, he was just asking, not expecting to find a suitable one on the first try.


    Then the cloaked person handed over a box.


    Inside the box was a circle of silver hair.


    The person continued to introduce, "I don''t know what kind of distorted creature this hair came from, maybe Mr. Hei knows its origin. But it is the most amazing thread I have ever seen, infused with dark spiritual power. You will understand why I say it''s amazing."


    When encountering unfamiliar materials, the usual procedure is to have Mr. Hei identify them.


    But Su''en didn''t need to, he directly used the All-Knowing Eye to take a look at the material, and immediately disyed its name.


    [Cursed Hair of the Mourning Witch]


    Exnation: Heartache of longing, longing grows, hair grows longer; this is a very special cursed material, it possesses the dual state characteristics of elementalization and solidification; it has super strong energy conductivity, super strong toughness, super strong controbility, super strong intermittence...


    Seeing the introduction, a hint of surprise shed in Su''en''s expression.


    It seems very powerful?


    Since it was an inspection, he didn''t hesitate and picked up the translucent silver hair with his fingers.


    With just a pinch, it felt like pinching a very thin needle, not soft at all, his fingertips clearly felt the extraordinary toughness of the thread.


    Then he infused it with dark spiritual power, and a magical scene happened.


    The originally solid hair gradually turned into a state of ethereal elements, and the more energy was infused, the more transparent it became... and it gradually lengthened!


    This one meter long hair visibly turned into two meters before stopping.


    Su''en felt like he was holding a faint "strand of light" in his hand, feeling it disappear from his line of sight, but still firmly holding a small section.


    And the most amazing thing was, when his palm passed through, this transparent thread didn''t break?


    As soon as the infusion of dark spiritual power stopped, it immediately returned to its original flexible solid state.


    Seeing Su''en''s attempt, the cloaked person who took out the thread also added, "You can pull it with confidence. This thickness, it is the toughest thread I have ever seen. I tested it before, even a normal de couldn''t cut it. If it is refined into a nt, it will be even stronger..."


    Su''en pulled it slightly, the thread tightened in his hand, but there was no sign of it breaking, so he didn''t try any further.


    He said lightly, "Hmm, not bad."


    .......


    Su''en saw this material, even though his mindset was good, he couldn''t help but feel delighted.


    With just one nce, he determined that this was definitely the most suitable thread for a puppeteer among all the materials he knew!


    Currently, he controls puppets using steel wire, which not only has weak dark spiritual power conductivity, but also has many limitations.


    Using steel wire in battle makes the position of the puppet too obvious. Once the steel wire is cut, the puppet will immediately stop moving...


    And controlling multiple puppets, encountering special environments, andplex battles, all make it very easy for the steel wire to be tangled...


    There are also length limitations...


    The drawbacks of physical steel wire are too many!


    He was still wondering before, when he saw Pestoya controlling puppets at Storm Manor, even though she wasn''t using physical wire, he thought it was some special secret technique. But he never thought that there would be such a magical cursed material in this world.


    This hair can freely transform between physical and elemental states, it can also lengthen and intermittently transmit energy...


    Even if it''s not the same kind, it satisfies all of Su''en''s requirements for puppet threads!


    Oh, praise this magical and mysterious world!


    .......


    At this time, Mr. Hei looked at the characteristics tested from this thread and spoke, "If I''m not mistaken, it should be the hair of a distorted monster called the ''Mourning Witch'' recorded in ancient books. That kind of monster is very special, seemingly a ghost species with physical attack methods, able to prate people''s dreams..."


    Su''en heard this and also secretly admired this [erudite schr], he knows everything.


    However, it doesn''t matter where ites from, what he wants is this hair!


    This thing... seems to only be useful for puppeteers.


    Hopefully, it won''t be too expensive...


    Su''en thought in his heart, feeling a bit anxious.


    This material is so amazing, he feels that the spoils he obtained from the gang fightst time may not be enough to buy it, at least not inrge quantities.


    But Su''en prayed in his heart that he wouldn''t miss out on such a perfect thread because of the price...


    However, before he could inquire about the price, the cloaked person who took out the thread poured cold water on him.


    He said, "However, it''s a pity... there are only three strands of this material."


    "Three strands?"


    Su''en frowned slightly as he listened.


    If there are only three strands, what''s the use of it?


    I''ve even taken off my pants, and you''re telling me this?


    The person seemed to realize that it was inappropriate to say this after teasing him, and exined, "I extracted it from a corpse near a ruin when I led a team to the underground before. That monster used this hair to kill people, but I didn''t actually see that distorted creature."


    Su''en understood his meaning and asked directly, "What price do I need to pay if I need specific information about the location of this material?"


    The cloaked figure seemed unafraid of exposure and directly revealed his identity, "This information can be given to you for free. I am Tuze from the ''Red Knight Hunting Team''. If you have any future missions, I can also help you."


    After all, in his opinion, everyone here was a high-level professional, and there might be opportunities for future interactions.


    A piece of information for a good rtionship, it was worth it.


    He was straightforward and wrote down an address with the quill on the table, then handed the note over.


    "It''s actually there..."


    Su''en nced at the note and recognized that the address pointed to the underground ruins where he had traveled from.


    He couldn''t help but furrow his brows and said, "If you still have this material, I am still interested in purchasing it. Of course, if the hiring price is suitable, I would like to know what price I need to pay to obtain this material..."


    Others didn''t know what the ruins were about, but Su''en did. He didn''t know what the ruins meant when he first arrived in this world because he didn''t have enough understanding of this world. But now he knew... those ruins meant "extreme danger"!


    Professional matters should be entrusted to professional hunting teams, and that was the most correct choice.


    Unfortunately, when the cloaked figure heard this, he shook his head, "Sorry, my team won''t be going to that ruin in the near future. We lost eighty percent of our team this time and will need a long time to recover."


    "..."


    Su''en''s eyes twitched when he heard this.


    The "Red Knight Hunting Team" was a well-knownrge hunting team in the outer city, with several second-tier professionals in the team.


    But if they suffered an eighty percent casualty rate, how dangerous must that ruin be?


    Now Su''en was in a dilemma. If even a professional hunting team didn''t want to go, what should he do to obtain the material he wanted?


    .......


    At this time, the people around the stone table became interested when they heard about the identity of the cloaked figure and the mention of the ruins.


    Someone asked, "Captain Tuze, did you just return from Dawn City? I happen to need information about Dawn City, the more detailed the better. Name your price..."


    "Yes, I just returned from Dawn City."


    Tuze sighed slightly, as if recalling some unpleasant experience.


    After a pause, he continued, "As for that ruin... I can give you all some information for free. After all, the news will naturally spread sooner orter."


    Upon hearing this, everyone turned their heads and listened attentively.


    After all, recently, the most talked-about topic among them was the legendary ancient ruins.


    Tuze said, "Our team was one of the first to receive the news. As you all know, exploring ruins means great opportunities. We went with this mindset, and then the nightmare began. There are many ferocious and distorted monsters in the dungeons near the ruins. They constantly attack hunting teams... We lost a group of brothers, and it was not easy for us to reach the city. Only then did we discover that there are a lot of cursed spaces in the city, A-level, S-level, and even T-level..."


    "As far as I know, our Red Knight Team has rtively fewer casualties. The death rate of other teams entering the ruins has exceeded 90%, and some even suffered total annihtion. And this is just the outskirts of the ruins. Currently, no one can prate deep into the city..."


    "..."


    Tuze exined in detail, and the crisis between the lines made people''s scalps tingle, as if they had experienced the nightmare-like hunting journey themselves.


    After listening, the people around the stone table fell into contemtion.


    Su''en, on the other hand, didn''t care about the ruins. Any wealth beyond his own abilities to control would only bring him trouble.


    He just felt... more frustrated.


    He had discovered a very strong thread that would allow his puppet to make a qualitative leap in control.


    But now you''re telling me that thing is in a ruin with a survival rate of less than ten percent?


    Su''en was in a dilemma...


    .......


    Tuze continued, "Most of the people still in the ruins are ve hunting teams from the inner city''s major financial families... Those who have actually been there and returned probably don''t want to go again. I even suspect that it was certain individuals from the inner city who discovered the ruins initially, but they found that their people couldn''t handle it, so they deliberately leaked the information. Now arge-scale hunting camp is being built near the ruins, and it seems that it won''t be long before the financial families organize arge-scale hunting operation to clean up the ruins..."


    Some risk their lives to explore, while the financial families wait behind the city walls with money to buy. This was a normal routine.


    At this time, someone asked again.


    "Captain Tuze, may I ask how your team''s harvest was during the hunting trip?"


    "I can only say... it was worthy of the sacrifices made by those brothers."


    This statement was obviously modest.


    Anyone could imagine that the harvest from exploring the ruins must be astonishing.


    Everyone present had a sufficient understanding of the danger level of the ruins from the words of this experienced hunting team captain.


    But after all, those present were not ordinary people, but high-level professionals.After a moment of silence, someone spoke again, "Captain Tuze, I need the detailed route and all the information from your team''sst wilderness hunting expedition. Name your price. If possible, I would like to hire a few members from your team who have taken this route as ''guides''."


    Tuze looked surprised, "Are you nning to go?"


    The man nodded, "I''ve been stuck at the second-order peak for a long time. The materials I need for advancement can''t be found in the city. The discovery of ''Dawn City'' is probably my only chance. I must try my luck..."


    Upon hearing this, the other cloaked figures also chimed in.


    "Give me a copy of the information as well. I have a few ve teams under me, I''ll send them to try their luck."


    "Heh heh, danger means potential gains. Sell me a copy too."


    "I n to form a high-level professional wilderness hunting team. I will post it on the recruitment board of the Hunting Guild soon. Those who are interested cane and discuss..."


    "..."


    The existence of the cursed space implies the presence of arge number of ancient high-level cursed items, even forbidden items!


    This was no ordinary temptation.


    Even if it was a matter of life and death, it constantly stimted people''s gambling nerves.


    If they survived, it would be a huge profit.


    Upon hearing Tuze''s words, the dozen or so people around the round table all asked to buy a copy of the information.


    Su''en sighed slightly on the side.


    Hopefully... when they return, they can bring back some hair strands.


    He was also grateful that Mr. Hei had rmended him to this small circle, giving him ess to high-level alchemical materials and knowledge.


    ......


    Before long, the small gathering ended. Su''en rode back to Green Street from the ck market, only to find a sneaky figure anxiously waiting at the door of his basement.


    He was surprised that someone had found his residence.


    "Are you waiting for me?"

 Chapter 102: The origin of the mysterious pharmacist

    Chapter 102: The origin of the mysterious pharmacist


    Su''en had always been careful about his whereabouts. Even Kay didn''t know the location of the basement he rented.


    Moreover, now that he had obtained the skill of "Malicious Perception," the possibility of being tracked was almost zero. Unless it was a high-level professional with special means to deceive perception, he should not be found.


    But unexpectedly, someone found his doorstep.


    He looked at the cloaked figure wandering near the basement and asionally ncing at the street, and knew that this guy was probably looking for him.


    .......


    Su''en looked around and didn''t see anyone paying attention to him. He walked over and asked in a deep voice, "Are you waiting for me?"


    The sneaky guy was none other than the mysterious alchemist.


    Hearing Su''en''s cold tone, the cloaked figure apologized repeatedly, "I''m sorry, sir. I do have a very important matter to trouble you with, so I took the liberty toe to your door."


    His tone was full of sincerity and uneasiness, and it seemed that he really had an urgent matter.


    Anyone would have an unpleasant expression if someone inexplicably found their doorstep.


    But what Su''en was more curious about was how this guy knew his ce of residence.


    He didn''t ask what Danny came for, but asked, "How did you know I live here?"


    In order to rify some misunderstandings as soon as possible, Danny quickly exined in a fast pace, "My profession is ''Debate Pharmacist,'' and my awakened talent is ''D-031-Enhanced Smell.'' Although I don''t have muchbat power, it makes me very sensitive to the smell of potions..."


    Taking a breath, he hurriedly exined again, "I''m sorry, sir, I didn''t mean to track you! But because you took the potions I gave you, the smell on you is very special to me. Since we''re not far apart, I followed the smell... I knocked on the door but you weren''t there, so I took the liberty to wait here... I''m really sorry, sir."


    Perhaps due to guilt, his speech became incoherent.


    But Su''en understood. This guy found him by smelling the potions on his body?


    Is the talent of "Enhanced Smell" really that powerful?


    The ce where the alchemist lived was two or three kilometers away from Green Street. If he could smell the scent from such a distance, this talent would be the top tracking ability, not just a D-level talent.


    Su''en felt that he was lying or hiding something, and coldly questioned, "Did your enhanced smell allow you to smell the scent of the potions on me?"


    Seeing Su''en''s displeased expression, Danny knew that he had been misunderstood and quickly exined, "No, others can''t smell this scent! It''s because... it''s because..."


    When he said this, it seemed that there were some words that were difficult to say.


    After weighing it for a moment, he seemed to have made a decision and said, "Because my body has undergone some changes, my smell talent awakened for the second time, which makes it more special."


    "..."


    Second awakening of talent?


    Su''en frowned as he listened.


    He instantly thought of the words "Semi-Mutated Human" that were identified. It seemed that this guy wasn''t lying.


    But at the same time, he also breathed a sigh of relief.


    If anyone could have such a strong tracking ability, it would be truly terrifying.


    At this moment, Danny seemed afraid that Su''en wouldn''t believe him. He gritted his teeth and, for the first time, revealed his face hidden by the cloak, revealing a distorted face full of pustules like toad skin.


    "Sorry, sir, I scared you. I just wanted to prove that I''m telling the truth."


    Uncovering the cloak, Danny''s gaze dodged, as if he could already predict the surprised expression of the gentleman in front of him.


    However, to his surprise, Su''en remained calm throughout the process, without any expression of surprise.


    "Follow me. This is not the ce to talk."


    Seeing this, Su''en said calmly and walked towards the alley behind the basement.


    Danny''s appearance did not surprise him at all. This was consistent with the situation of being a "Semi-Mutated" individual.


    ........


    Su''en walked to the depths of the alley and looked at Danny in front of him. Then he got to the point and asked, "Tell me, what do you want from me?"


    Danny anxiously said, "My friends were just captured. Beta, Brown, and Nancy. So I want to ask you to help me rescue them."


    Pausing for a moment, he seemed to feel that he didn''t specify clearly and added, "They are the ones who traded with me and you before. They are good people. Half an hour ago, several people got off a ck truck from another block and took them away. I heard that it was done by the gang that has been hunting down homeless people and orphans in Green Street recently..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened but didn''t respond.


    His first reaction was that the person who came to trouble Danny in the inner city had arrived at his doorstep.


    After all, being able to produce so many advanced potions must mean that the person had a remarkable background.


    Danny seemed to realize this as well and said directly, "Sir, I can guarantee that Beta and the others being captured has nothing to do with my identity! After all, in the eyes of those people, I died in thatboratory ident... No one wille looking for me again. I''m sorry, sir, the only solution I can think of right now is you. Please, help me..."


    Su''en listened and roughly understood the cause of the matter.


    After thinking for a moment, he asked, "I think you should first tell me about your background before I consider whether to help you with this favor."


    If it involved Danny''s mysterious background and the person who took action was from the inner city, then he would definitely not choose to get involved in this trouble.


    But if it was just some human traffickers, Su''en thought the matter was simple.


    After all, this was not umon in the underworld, and it wouldn''t take much effort to solve it.


    Listening to Danny''s words, he thought that Green Street had be a neutral area recently, without the restraint of the Cross Society, and people from other blocks were crossing the line to capture people involved in illegal human trafficking.Danny knew that in order to gain people''s trust, he had to disclose some information, so he didn''t hide it and said, "My name is Danny Banks, I am a researcher at the ''Number Seven Research Institute'' in the inner city. It is a secret research institute directly under the ck Tower. I don''t think you have heard of it."


    Suren listened without expressing any opinion. He had already guessed these news, which were irrelevant.


    The key information, Danny didn''t reveal anything.


    He asked directly, "I think if you really want someone to help you, it''s best to be more honest. For example, talk about theboratory leak you mentioned before, and also about your own physical condition and why you came to the outer city..."


    "This..."


    Danny hesitated.


    He knew that once his identity was exposed, it would definitely cause big trouble, but now he had no choice.


    In the end, he chose to trust this person who had traded potions with him twice.


    He said, "Sir, you probably guessed it. The ce where the ''leak ident'' happened was actually the ''Number Seven Research Institute'' where I am. The distorted monsters in the sewer were caused by a special potion we were researching that exploded and leaked three years ago, which led to the mutations..."


    "As for myself... because my parents were in charge of that project, they died in the ident. Unfortunately, I was also infected and then used an unfinished distortion suppressant, which is why I look like this."


    Danny looked like a bookworm, without much social experience, and he didn''t know how to divert attention from the important points when making up stories.


    He didn''t lie, but he did hide some key things.


    Suren had lost patience listening to him. "If that''s all you have to say, I''m sorry, I can''t help you."


    With that, he turned to leave.


    This story shouldn''t be so simple. How could aboratory ident that caused so many monsters to mutate in the sewer be described so casually?


    He wasn''t interested in helping someone who wasn''t honest.


    .......


    "Sir, wait!"


    Seeing Suren about to leave, Danny panicked.


    He also realized his concealment and quickly said, "I... I have something else to say."


    Suren nced at him.


    Danny knew he wasn''t good at lying, so in his anxiety, he decided to tell the whole truth.


    He said, "The project is called the ''X Serum n''. It is a top-level medical research project deciphered from ancient documents found in a certain relic by the high-level members of the ck Tower. Its purpose is to study the ultimate mystery of life..."


    "The X Serum has very strong activity, it can prolong a person''s life and greatly enhance their physical abilities. However, the serum also has very strong side effects, which is that it will 100% cause biological distortion. The ''Number Seven Research Institute'' where I am is responsible for developing the distortion suppressant..."


    "This secret project has been going on for many years and has already achieved some research results. Butter, my parents discovered that the high-level members of the ck Tower conducted arge number of live experiments for certain undisclosed secrets. At least tens of thousands of people died because of this project, and if the research continues, more innocent people will die... My parents felt that this vited the original intention of medical research, so they chose to detonate theboratory and destroy all the research results..."


    "And at that time, I was also infected in theboratory and injected with the unfinished distortion suppressant. Although I survived, I ended up like this."


    Danny finished telling the story in one breath, heaved a long sigh, and felt relieved.


    Suren listened with a slightly furrowed brow, bing more and more puzzled.


    Danny was born into a medical family, and Suren had guessed that.


    But at the beginning of the story, he felt strangely familiar, and when he heard the name "X Serum" without any change, he immediately realized that this was the research mentioned in the "Zombie Research Diary" before.


    And considering that the current "development" of the entire Old Lingdun City is actually archaeology, it is not surprising.


    Now listening to Danny''s story, in order to confirm his guess, he asked, "Where did the ''X Serum''e from?"


    Danny replied, "I don''t know either. This is a veryrge project with a very high level of confidentiality. Our research institute is only responsible for a part of it, which is the research on the distortion suppressant..."


    Upon hearing this, Suren asked again, "How did you escape?"


    Danny said, "Theboratory explosion opened the exclusive water pipe for handling experimental wastewater, connecting it to the city''s sewerwork. I was affected by the explosion and fell into the water pipe, which allowed me to survive by chance. Then I escaped to the outer city through the pipeline, and Aunt Susan and my friends took me in. That''s how I didn''t starve to death..."


    As he spoke, he nced at Suren. "Sir, I didn''t intentionally hide anything before, I just didn''t want to trouble you. I don''t have much time left to live now. If you think you can get a reward by taking me to the inner city, I won''t resist. I beg you to help rescue my friends."


    Even if this guy had a bounty, which Suren doubted, he had no intention of doing so. But he said unexpectedly, "You''re going to die?"


    Danny nodded, "Although I survived the ident, the unfinished ''distortion suppressant'' has a great side effect, which is that it greatly shortens lifespan. I estimate that I can live for at most two more years..."


    "..."


    Suren listened and realized that his superhuman sense of smell was obtained by squeezing out his life force?


    But he remembered that the solution to the distortion in the "Zombie Research Diary" had no side effects.


    .......


    After listening to the story, Suren''s concerns were basically dispelled.


    He thought for a moment and asked, "Besides you, does anyone else know my ce of residence?"


    Danny said, "Don''t worry, don''t worry, no one knows your ce of residence except me. I have never sold potions before, so no one would notice that I am still alive. As a reward, you can take me to exchange for a bounty, and I can also help you refine potions for free. I am a ''potion expert''..."


    As he spoke, he added somewhat embarrassedly, "But... I don''t have money, so you need to provide the materials.""Let''s talk about thister."


    Su''en responded indifferently.


    He had been interested in the "X Serum Project" for a long time. The serum could dramatically enhance physical abilities and even create "living dead"... Its effects were extraordinary.


    However, due to ack of clues, he hadn''t given it much thought.


    Unexpectedly, someone in the real Old Lingdun had restarted this research. This meant that the conditions for restoring the research already existed in reality!


    Although theboratory in the ck Tower that Danny mentioned had failed...


    The "Living Dead Research Diary" recorded the entire research process of the mad alchemist who had sessfully studied the living dead back then!


    Although the part involving technical content hadn''t been decrypted yet, the notebook was in his hands, and he would be able to decipher it sooner orter.


    Su''en''s current medical knowledge was far from enough for "conducting research", but Danny could. In the future, this guy might even be able to help him greatly in deciphering the diary.


    If he could really produce the "X Serum"...


    Su''en thought it might bring him tremendous benefits!


    .......


    But now was not the time to think about this. Su''en asked, "I can try to help you rescue your friends, but I can''t guarantee sess. Can you use your sense of smell to determine their location?"


    He nned to give it a try. If it wasn''t too troublesome, he wouldn''t mind lending a hand.


    Upon hearing this, Danny was overjoyed, "Yes! At least for an hour, I can smell the scent on Nancy and the others. I can clearly distinguish that the car carrying them went to the west of the city..."

 Chapter 103: Black Jazz

    Chapter 103: ck Jazz


    Pharmacist Danny truthfully exined his origin, and Su''en also confirmed that this incident should have nothing to do with the inner city. He also asked a few familiar faces on Green Street and heard that there have been outsidersing to this area recently to capture orphans and beggars. He agreed to help with this small favor.


    Su''en wore a brown dirty braid wig, changed into a rock-style shiny leather jacket, and "borrowed" an inconspicuous steam motorcycle using his lockpicking skill. Then, he took Danny and followed the scent all the way to the West City District.


    It must be said that Danny''s sense of smell was really extraordinary, as sensitive as a dog''s nose. Even after half an hour, he could still guide Su''en to the Knight Street area more than ten kilometers away based on the scent.


    Su''en had suspected that the people capturing orphans on Green Street were members of the Steam Party, and now that he had arrived in the Knight Street area, he knew who was most likely responsible.


    The "Anchor Hand" Park, whom he had killed in the conflict, used to be the patrol captain of the Steam Party in this area.


    And from that guy''s memories, Su''en also extracted some information. It seemed that they had always been capturing people for some kind of "delivery mission."


    ......


    Su''en took Danny for a stroll on the street and found the ck truck that was used for capturing people in an inconspicuous alley.


    But there was no one on the truck anymore.


    After searching, Danny finally determined that the scent of his friends was a few hundred meters away from the truck, inside a building called "ck Jazz" in the West City District.


    Su''en had heard of this entertainment club, which was quite famous in the West City District and very lively.


    He parked the motorcycle in a dpidated building that went unnoticed and let Danny hide in the darkness.


    Then, he swaggered down Knight Street.


    The West City District was the territory of the Steam Party and the ce with the strongest steam punk elements in the entire outer city. Everywhere on the streets, one could see people with various modified mechanical arms and prosthetics. Most of the buildings on the street were either Saxon or Romanesque domed gray-ck structures, with steel frames and steam boiler smokestacks on the exterior walls. The street was filled withplex train tracks, and there were multiyered steel train bridges overhead. Steam trains passed by from time to time, emitting a burst of white smoke.


    It was a lively and bustling scene, this was "Green Street" in the West City District.


    Su''en hadn''t taken many steps when a man with a sharp face approached him mysteriously, saying, "Hey friend, do you want to modify your prosthetics? I have the cheapest goods from the outer city here, with a one-year warranty..."


    In the territory of the Steam Party, there was a shortage of everything except for shops that specialized in mechanical modifications.


    Su''en, dressed in a rock style, didn''t have any mechanical prosthetics installed on him. In the eyes of these local snakes, he was a potential customer.


    But these shops that needed to attract customers usually had mediocre modification skills, with a high possibility of infection, distortion, or malfunction.


    Although he hadn''t been here before, because he had absorbed arge number of memory fragments from the gangst time, he was not unfamiliar with these tricks.


    Seeing that Su''en ignored him, the guy approached again, "Friend, I also have high-end goods from the inner city. Do you want to take a look?"


    Su''en didn''t say a word, but showed the gun at his waist. Only then did the guy leave.


    He was familiar with the ways of the gang. The more polite you were to these persistent guys, the more troublesome it became.


    Su''en walked straight to the "ck Jazz Club."


    Then he encountered pimps, little girls selling flowers, and cigarette vendors...


    "Brother, do you want a girl? Just arrived from the inner city, only three thousand Lisuo for one night. Oh, you may not know, the skin of those nobledies is so tender..."


    "Sir, do you need a rose?"


    "The best Berkeley brand cigarettes, Baghm Factory cigars. Would you like a box, sir?"


    "..."


    Su''en flicked a ten Lisuo coin to the little girl and took a rose, then walked into the club''s entrance.


    Inside the entrance was a security area surrounded by iron fences, with a neat row of firearms hanging on the wall. Several well-built men in suits with sunsses were standing with their hands inserted, scrutinizing the passing guests. These were the Steam Party''s helpers responsible for security, just like Su''en''s previous job.


    These guys paid special attention to unfamiliar faces.


    Naturally, they noticed Su''en, who was visiting for the first time.


    Entering the enemy gang''s stronghold, Su''en showed no signs of fear. He walked in confidently like an old regr customer and even handed the rose to the bunny girl in a sexy bunny costume at the entrance.


    He didn''t know where he had extracted the memory from, but he happened to know this girl. "Hey, Moyira, do you want to have a few drinks with me tonight?"The bunny girl looked at Su''en and immediately approached him, saying, "Oh, sir, it''s been a long time since youst came..."


    The professionalism of the night club girls was such that even if they didn''t remember you at all, they would still act as if they recognized you.


    Su''enughed and naturally wrapped his arms around the slender waist of the girl, entering the club.


    As a familiar customer of the club, the attention of those around instantly shifted away from him.


    .......


    Upon entering the club, there was a lobby with a dance floor and arge stage.


    The lights were dim, and the air was filled with the scent of hallucinogens and the intoxicating aroma of hormones.


    Su''en had be numb to the entertainment scene on Green Street. There was nothing new here, just the same pole dancers and seductive showgirls on the runway...


    A band with zombie makeup was ying wildly on the stage, while men and women in the dance floor moved their bodies to the beat of heavy metal music...


    Su''en sat with the bunny girl in a corner booth, drinking.


    With a tip of a thousand miles, he enjoyed the gentle and enthusiastic service of this girl named Moy.


    After all, this was the territory of a rival gang.


    Su''en''s n was simple: if a problem could be solved with money, he would try not to resort to violence.


    One could easily spend a lot of money here, and three and a half kids wouldn''t make much of a dent.


    By drinking in the night club, he could be familiar with the ce and smoothly conduct business without seeming out of ce.


    After a while, as they drank, the girl''s face flushed, indicating that the timing was right. Su''en casually clinked his ss and said to the girl, "Hey, Moy, is ''Golden Tooth'' Bali here?"


    Illegal human trafficking within the gang usually involved specialized ve traders, and Bali was the broker who operated in the "ck Jazz" club.


    The girl took a sip of her drink andzily replied, "Bali? Mr. Nichs, are you looking to buy some ves?"


    Su''en said, "Yes. A nobleman in the inner city needs a group of children to train as household servants. I want to pick a few sensible ones to send over..."


    As the girl listened, she became even more attached, coquettishly saying, "Oh, I almost forgot, Mr. Nichs, your business is connected to the nobles in the inner city, right? Shall I inform Bali?"


    Su''en smiled and said, "That would be great."


    .......


    Before long, a thin man with a gold tooth and a mechanical vest approached.


    "Sir, I heard that you need to buy some ves?"


    "I heard that you have good merchandise. I''m looking for some younger ones..."


    "Then you''vee to the right person."


    After a brief conversation, Su''en followed Bali out of the club through the back door. They descended the iron staircase to the basement, which looked like a prison cell.


    Inside the iron-barred cells were more than ten young women in a panic, all of them young and attractive. They were topless, with only small pieces of cloth covering their private parts, and most of them had whip marks on their fair skin.


    Such illegal human trafficking wasmon in the outer city.


    Bali introduced with a ttering smile, "Sir, these are truly good merchandise. Some of them were recently sent from noble families in the inner city. Look at their grace and legs, they understand the true etiquette of nobility. If you buy them, they will serve you well."


    Su''en was not here to buy female ves, and since he didn''t see those three and a half kids, he showed his dissatisfaction, saying, "I say, Bali, is this all you have? I need young ones that can be trained as household servants!"


    Pausing for a moment, he added provocatively, "I heard that you have the best merchandise on Knight Street!"


    Upon hearing this, Bali immediately patted his chest and said, "Of course! I guarantee that the merchandise in my hands is the best and mostplete in the entire Knight Street area!"


    Su''en nced at him, meaning: Is that all?


    Bali exined with a troubled expression, "To be honest, these are all truly good merchandise. The ones that are slightly inferior... I didn''t keep them."


    Hearing this, Su''en said, "I say, Bali, I need a few young ones, preferably around eleven or twelve years old, both boys and girls. As long as the merchandise satisfies me, the price is negotiable!"


    Since Danny confirmed that the person was in this building, there must be other ces where ves were held.


    Bali must know about it.


    Sure enough, when Su''en mentioned the negotiable price, Bali immediately changed his tune, saying, "Please wait a moment, I''ll bring a few for you to see."


    Su''en waved his hand and said, "No need to trouble yourself, just take me to see them directly."


    As expected, there was another ve warehouse.


    But when Bali heard that Su''en wanted to go, he looked hesitant and said, "Um... I''m sorry, it''s not very convenient."Su''en realized that it might be a secret base, but he didn''t insist. He waved his hand impatiently and said, "Forget it, just hurry up."


    "Alright, please wait a moment, it won''t take long."


    Bali left his two subordinates behind and walked out alone.


    There were people guarding nearby, but Su''en didn''t wander around. He sat on a chair with his legs crossed, seemingly careless but actually listening attentively.


    He listened to the sound of the iron staircase outside the door. After Bali went out, it seemed like he went upstairs and then came back down a few minutester.


    Su''en''s ears twitched slightly, and he silently thought to himself, "That guy went to the third room on the left on the third floor, then came down and walked at least one hundred and ten steps to the southwest. It should be in that building... What did he go up for? To report to the boss?"


    Just by listening to the sound outside the door, Su''en had already deduced Bali''s walking path and was silently contemting his backup n.


    .......


    Before long, Bali came back again, followed by eight half-sized children chained with iron.


    They were all dressed in tattered clothes, clearly just caught thieves and homeless orphans from the neighborhood. Some of them had resisted and were beaten up, with bruises on their faces.


    Su''en took a look and indeed saw a familiar face, he remembered his name was Brown.


    But...weren''t there three of them?


    There was only one here, which meant that the other two were still locked up.


    Su''en looked at them and felt that things were getting a little troublesome.


    Bali looked at Su''en without saying a word and asked, "Are you not satisfied?"


    Su''en pursed his lips, pretending to be uninterested.


    These few were actually of good quality, even better than the other two he was looking for. But it would be meaningless to buy them all at once.


    If he were to be more selective, it would appear that his intentions were not so pure.


    Su''en shook his head, took out a stack of tips and left them on the table, as if he had lost interest. "They barely pass...but the boss needs the real deal. Bali, my friend, I''ll trouble you to keep an eye out for me in the next few days. I''lle back to take a look."


    Although the deal didn''t go through, Bali looked at the tips on the table and smiled happily, "Don''t worry, sir. In three to five days at most, I guarantee I can find what satisfies you."


    ........


    Su''en returned to the private room in the hall, and the bunny girl was still waiting for him there.


    "Mr. Nichs, didn''t you find a suitable one?"


    "Sigh...Bali doesn''t have anything that satisfies me for now. I''ll have toe back in a few days."


    "That''s a pity. Sir, would you like a drink?"


    Su''en picked up the ss, but in his mind, he was thinking that if the deal couldn''t be made, he might have to resort to force.


    Fortunately, he already knew the location of the detention, so it wasn''t too troublesome.


    At this moment, he suddenly felt that the person who shed past in the dance floor seemed familiar. He said, "Huh...why do I feel like I''ve seen that person before?"


    He didn''t look closely, so he couldn''t remember who it was, but he guessed it was someone from his fragmented memories.


    The bunny girl apanied Su''en for another round of drinks. Su''en felt that it was time to take action. He said, "Wait for me for a few minutes, I''ll go to the restroom."


    The bunny girl seemed to misunderstand something and smiled ambiguously, "Sure~ Do you want me to apany you?"


    In the nightclub, the restroom was not just a ce to relieve oneself, it could also be a ce for transactions...


    Su''en took out some tips and stuffed them into her cleavage, wiped off the oil, and smiled, "Just wait for me."


    With that, he left the seat gracefully.


    ........


    Su''en left the private room and went to the restroom.


    Avoiding the drunken customers, he directly climbed out of the restroom window and appeared in the back alley. He took off his coat and covered his face with a skull mask.


    Because of his excellent hearing ability, he could easily avoid others.


    "One hundred and ten steps to the southwest, it should be that small building. There are two guys drinking on the second floor, most likely undercover guards..."


    Su''en was very familiar with the habits of the gangsters, and he could easily distinguish between the customers and the steam gang members.


    Taking advantage of the guards'' distraction, Su''en quickly approached the small building.


    Then he sneaked in and indeed saw a basement with a heavy iron door.


    There were three guards ying cards at the entrance. Su''en walked over and, in the astonished gazes of the three, pulled out a silenced pistol and took care of two of them with two shots.


    Then he pointed the gun at thest person''s head and said coldly, "Open the door."


    The person was already trembling in fear, "The...the key is with Boss Dam."


    "Where is Dam?"


    "On the third floor... Room 303."


    Su''en didn''t waste any words. He shot the guy in the head.


    The lock on the heavy iron door wasplex, not something that could be opened with mere technical skills. He turned around and left the basement.


    .......


    Su''en had guessed that Barley had gone to the third floor earlier, probably to get the key.


    He didn''t take the stairs guarded by the Steam Party, but instead went to the small alley outside the bathroom where bottles were piled up. In the shadows, he undid his nt suit, his spider-like arms firmly gripping the wall, easily climbing up.


    He didn''t rush to go up, but instead listened carefully on the outer wall of the second floor.


    "There''s only one person''s breathing, it must be Damu."


    Damu was the head of the ve traders in the Knight District, not a professional, and posed little threat to Su''en.


    His original n was to go in, kill the guy, get the key, and solve the problem within a minute.


    Unexpectedly, as soon as he showed his head at the window, his gaze froze.


    Inside the room... a naked fat man was tied to a chair, a woman with short purple hair was holding a knife to his throat, seemingly "interrogating" him.


    The man was naturally the ve trader Damu, and looking at the woman, Su''en finally understood why he had found the fleeting figure in the dance floor strangely familiar.


    It was... the mysterious woman who topped the ck market bounty list with a reward of three million!

 Chapter 104: Do you know me?

    Chapter 104: Do you know me?


    Su''en didn''t expect to see this scene inside the house from outside the window. A woman with a knife was interrogating the human trafficker, Dam, that he was looking for.


    With spider legs fixed, he instinctively pulled out his gun, wanting to aim, but instantly lowered the muzzle. He knew very well that the woman in front of him was incredibly powerful, and even shooting wouldn''t hurt her. What''s more, he noticed that even if the woman discovered him, she didn''t show any signs of attack or malice.


    The woman had shoulder-length purple hair and was wearing a tight bunny girl outfit. She wore a gothic-style short skirt with a left slit that reached her hip bone, ck thigh-high stockings, and furry bunny ears...coupled with her cold expression while holding the knife, she exuded a kind of cold-blooded sexiness all over her body.


    Judging from her attire, it seemed to be a disguise for infiltration.


    This was the first time Su''en had seen this woman''s figure, and a thought shed through his mind: "I remember the wanted notice said her hair color was silver-white...and wasn''t she called a ''mechanical warrior''? Doesn''t seem like it..."


    Because of the bikini-like bodysuit, her graceful figure was fully revealed, with a high hip line, which was a sign of strong gluteal and leg muscle explosiveness. She also wore ck high-heeled boots, making her legs look very slender. It was precisely because of this perfect proportion that it felt somewhat unreal, as if she had been artificially crafted ording to the golden ratio.


    The woman with purple hair also didn''t expect someone to suddenly appear outside the window, and a hint of surprise shed in her eyes.


    The two locked eyes for a moment.


    .......


    One person held a knife to the human trafficker''s neck, while the other was preparing to climb in through the window. Obviously, both sides realized that the other shouldn''t be a member of the Steam Party.


    But why did this "walking three million" not find a ce to hide ande here?


    Moreover, what Su''en found strange was that when the woman saw him just now, there was obviously a sense of alertness in her eyes, as if she wanted to raise her knife, but it disappeared in an instant, and she put away her intention to attack.


    That look, as if...she recognized someone?


    Both sides remained motionless in this tacit understanding.


    The woman with purple hair seemed to have obtained the information she needed. She didn''t care that there were onlookers outside the window and casually swung her white coiled rope katana, ending Dam''s life.


    Blood spilled onto the carpet, and the strong smell of blood permeated the air.


    Su''en hung outside the window, witnessing this woman casually killing someone, suddenly not knowing what he should do.


    The other party didn''t show any malice, but he didn''t get the key either. It didn''t feel right to go in, and leaving also seemed inappropriate.


    At this moment, the woman with purple hair extinguished her cigarette, sheathed her knife, and then turned her head to ask Su''en, "What are you here for?"


    Su''en said, "To get the key and save the ves in the basement."


    Upon hearing this, the woman gave him another look.


    She thought for a moment, bent down, and expressionlessly pulled a bunch of keys from the waist of the corpse, throwing them to Su''en. She added, "I''ll stay in the house for another five minutes."


    Although her words were brief, Su''en understood. He only had five minutes to save the people.


    Or maybe in five minutes, she was preparing to make a big move?


    "Thank you."


    But Su''en didn''t bother with her business. He was here to save people, and he wasn''t interested in what this woman wanted to do.


    He turned around and prepared to leave, but before he left, he couldn''t help but ask, "Do you know me?"


    "..."


    The woman was very indifferent andpletely ignored his question.


    Su''en waited for a second, didn''t get an answer, and climbed down the wall along the wall.


    But he understood the expression of the woman just now.


    She must know him.


    No, to be precise, she knew the "original host"!


    The transcendent abilities in this world were varied, and there might be the ability of high-precision facial recognition, such as eyes, skull contours, and teeth, which were not easily changed by disguise.


    This woman obviously recognized the original host, but it seemed that they didn''t have any rtionship.


    Who was she, and who was the original host?


    .......


    Su''en didn''t think too much about it and went down the wall with the key.


    He put away the equipment and went straight to the basement.


    Opening the heavy iron door, a foul smell rushed over. Inside were about fifty or sixty ragged people, young and old, clearly impoverished people struggling to survive. They crouched in various corners of the cell, trembling as they looked at the masked Su''en.


    Su''en didn''t waste time and said directly, "Go, go out and go upstairs. Remember not to make any noise. Jump over the wall from the second-floor window and you''ll be on the main street outside. Whether you can escape or not depends on your luck."


    If he could help, he didn''t mind lending a hand, but he knew very well that he couldn''t take away so many people alone.


    The people in the cell were initially afraid, but after seeing the body of the guard on the ground, they knew that the masked person in front of them was not a human trafficker.


    One person tried to walk towards the door and found that Su''en didn''t stop him, so he quickly escaped. Seeing this, the people in the house rushed out in a panic.


    Su''en acted quickly and caught three and a half children at the door.


    The others didn''t pay attention to him catching people and quickly fled therge basement.


    Nancy and the other three people were caught, their faces full of fear, thinking that this masked person was going to trouble them.


    But Su''en didn''t waste words and directly took out three sets of new clothes and boots from his storage ring, saying, "Danny entrusted me to save you. After jumping over the wall, immediately change into these clothes and remember to throw away your dirty clothes in the sewer. Then, don''t run around, walk slowly south along the street, and don''t look around!"The orphan thieves of the Knight District had been cleaned out. If these guys were to escape to the streets, they would easily be recognized and captured by the Steam Party. Su''en didn''t want to go through the trouble of rescuing them again.


    Upon hearing the name Danny, the three faces lit up with excitement.


    Beta: "Ah, Big Brother Danny ising to save us!"


    Brown: "I told you, Big Brother Danny will definitely find a way to save us."


    The little girl named Nancy looked at Su''en and timidly said, "Thank you, sir."


    Su''en interrupted the excitement of these little brats, and coldly shouted, "Get moving!"


    The three youngsters were startled and didn''t dare to dy, they quickly went upstairs.


    Su''en, however, walked straight out of the small building.


    Now that the people had been rescued, his job was to buy them some more time.


    After waiting a few seconds, Su''en listened carefully. It seemed that two members of the Steam Party had heard the noise and were heading towards the small building.


    Then in the darkness, there were two muffled gunshots, and the bodies fell directly onto the road.


    Su''en walked out of the small building and stood in the open space. The two sentries drinking on the second-floor iron staircase also noticed him, but before they could sound the rm, their heads exploded like snowkes, and their bodies fell from the iron staircase.


    While killing, Su''en also noticed a gaze from the third-floor window watching him. Looking up, the purple-haired woman was watching everything indifferently.


    Su''en nced at her and then withdrew his gaze.


    He killed all the members of the Steam Party near the small building, then calmly walked towards the bathroom window and climbed back in.


    He put on his coat, removed the skull scarf covering his face, and like a normal patron using the restroom, returned to the club''s main hall.


    The entire rescue process took less than eight minutes.


    In the booth, he was greeted by the seductive smile of a bunny girl.


    ......


    Su''en didn''t rush to leave, but instead sat drinking with the girl.


    He had been worried about being suspected, but now it seemed that this "Walking Three Million" would probably take the me for everything tonight.


    However, a few gang members dying wasn''t a big deal, revenge, turf wars, conflicts, people died every day.


    What he cared more about was, why was this woman here?


    And why did she know the original owner?


    "Darm is a ve trader, what does she want with him? She''s now an S-ss fugitive, instead of hiding, she''s taking such a big risk tomit a crime, her purpose must not be simple..."


    Just as this thought popped into Su''en''s head, he estimated that the five minutes the purple-haired woman mentioned should be almost up.


    At that moment, the lights in the entire club suddenly dimmed, and thick smoke began to billow from the ceiling.


    Someone shouted, "Fire!"


    Something mmable must have been ignited upstairs, the fire spread very quickly, and the thick smoke filled the entire "ck Jazz Club" in an instant.


    Seeing the ceiling on fire, Su''en''s eyebrows raised slightly, realizing it was arson to cover their tracks.


    With that shout, chaotic footsteps came from upstairs, and the thousands of people on the first-floor dance floor began to panic and rush towards the exit.


    Su''en calmly retreated with the bunny girl in his arms.


    As they were leaving, they saw a group of Steam Party members checking everyone at the door, seemingly guessing that someone with ill intentions might be trying to escape in the crowd.


    The bunny girl clung to Su''en''s hand in panic, as a "regr" he naturally wasn''t suspected, and they smoothly exited the door.


    "Oh my God, it''s so scary, how could it suddenly catch fire..."


    "Oh, what a letdown. Moira, I''lle find you another day."


    "Mr. Nichs, see you next time..."


    Su''en didn''t linger, hailed a steam taxi, and got in.


    The motorcycle was heading south along the street, just as Nancy and the three youngsters were walking along the roadside, pretending to be casual.


    Su''en called them over to get in the car, then picked up Danny at the corner, and the group headed back to the South District.

 Chapter 105: Lets go and do something big

    Chapter 105: Let''s go and do something big


    Su''en saved Danny''s three friends.


    They got off in a neighborhood far from Green Street and started walking.


    Along the way, both Danny and Nancy''s three kids were excited.


    But Su''en remained expressionless, reying tonight''s actions in his mind.


    Although the illegally captured people in the basement were released, not many of them could escape. The control of the gang in the area far exceeded the imagination of ordinary people. Those who looked like homeless people and orphans couldn''t run far with just their legs. Even if they hid, they were easily discovered because they were unfamiliar with the area.


    Su''en was not sure if the Steam Party would exclude those who were not caught, and remembered Nancy and the others, then traced back to Green Street where the arrests were made, and looked for clues.


    Although the possibility was small, Su''en knew it was best not to leave any hidden dangers.


    After all... this incident also involved that S-ss wanted criminal.


    If only a few gang members died and a few captured orphans escaped, the Steam Party might not go to great lengths to pursue the culprit.


    But if the inner city umbre organization discovered that woman had been there, things would beplicated.


    Before Su''en came, he also thought that the Steam Party was only involved in "illegal human trafficking," but now he realized there were some problems.


    The batch of illegally captured people were meant to be "delivered," but delivered to whom?


    Who would ept such a batch of low-quality ves? After all, half-grown children and homeless people were not as valuable as young women.


    Moreover, judging from the memories Su''en extracted from those bodies, this "delivery" had been going on for a long time.


    This indicated that the recipient had a great demand for people.


    Ordinary ve business couldn''t handle so many "low-quality" people.


    When Su''en thought about that S-ss wanted criminal, he felt that the situation might involve some other hidden issues.


    .......


    "I was so scared. I thought we were going to be sold to the meat factory and turned into canned food..."


    "The person I was captured with before said that the people in the inner city would raise some deformed monsters as pets, and they would feed us to the pets..."


    "..."


    Along the way, the three kids chattered and shared their terrifying experiences of being captured with Danny, as well as the exaggerated legends they had heard.


    "Oh, we can finally go home."


    "Susan''s mom must be worried sick knowing we were captured."


    "We owe it to Danny this time, otherwise we wouldn''t be able toe back."


    When Danny heard this, he quickly looked at Su''en next to him and corrected them, "You should thank this gentleman. He saved you."


    But he knew that Su''en probably didn''t want to reveal too much information, so he didn''t introduce how he had called for help.


    "Thank you, sir."


    The three kids were overjoyed and bowed to Su''en.


    But Su''en shook his head and didn''t pay attention to their gratitude. He poured cold water on them directly, "You can''t go back to your ce now, at least not for the next few months."


    The three of them were stunned, "Ah? Sir... why?"


    Su''en felt it necessary to exin the seriousness of the situation to them, so he said, "When I saved you, I killed several gang members. The people who captured you might remember that you came from Green Street. If they see you again when you go back, it will not only harm yourselves but also your otherpanions."


    "Ah?"


    As soon as he said this, the three of them were instantly at a loss.


    Thinking of the horror of those people before, they seemed to be really scared. They stood in ce, looking at Danny, and then at Su''en, "Then, sir... where can we go now?"


    Su''en thought for a moment and took out a stack of banknotes, "Here is some money, enough for you to live in another ce for a few months. I suggest you take the intercity train to the Marshal Street area in the East City District. It''s the territory of the Crow Gang, and the Steam Party''s reach doesn''t extend that far."


    Looking at the stack of green bills handed over by Su''en, the three of them simultaneously withdrew their hands and no one dared to take it.


    "No, no, no... sir, we don''t need money to survive."


    "Yeah, sir, we can earn money ourselves."


    "I can steal bread, I won''t go hungry..."


    The three of them looked at Su''en timidly. Thisrge sum of money made them feel fearful.


    The lives of orphans in the slums were cheap. Even if they searched for food in the garbage cans, they could still survive tenaciously.


    Su''en shook his head and exined calmly, "This money is for you to avoid wandering on the streets for the time being. Otherwise, it''s easy for people to see that you are outsiders."


    "But..."


    "Take it!"


    Before the three of them could say anything else, Su''en had already stuffed the money into the hands of the girl named Nancy.


    And at this moment, a distant "woo woo" sound came from the train approaching.


    With a threatening tone, Su''en said in a deep voice, "You take this train and leave. You can''te back for at least three months, otherwise, you might harm yourpanions."


    He knew that scaring them would make it less likely for things to go wrong.


    The three of them listened to Su''en''s serious tone and hadpletely lost their attention. They could only turn their heads and look at Danny helplessly.


    Danny knew the seriousness of the situation and also persuaded them, "Listen to this gentleman. He''s right, you can''t go back to Green Street now."


    By this time, the steam train had already arrived at the tform.


    Feeling sad, but helpless.


    The three of them turned back reluctantly to look again.


    Beta weakly asked, "Danny, will we see each other again in the future?"


    Danny thought for a moment and didn''t dare to answer immediately, but in the end, he looked at the expectant eyes of the three and smiled, "We will."


    The girl Nancy timidly asked Su''en, "Sir, can we know your name? I will pay you back the money in the future."


    "No need."


    Su''en shook his head.


    Thinking about it, he took out two pistols and a dagger and handed them to the three of them, "Keep these for self-defense."


    "Oh."The train doors opened, leaving no time for further farewells. The three of them carefully concealed their weapons and money under their robes, boarded the train, and journeyed into the distance.


    .......


    Two people stood on the tform, watching the three depart.


    Su''en felt relieved, as if he had just sent away three little troubles.


    Tears shimmered in Danny''s eyes. He knew he might never see these friends again in his lifetime.


    He was well aware that Nancy and the others couldn''t go home, and neither could he.


    Danny turned to Su''en and asked, "Sir, where are we going now?"


    Su''en led him towards Green Street, "I''ll rent another house for you near Green Street. You should stay indoors for a while."


    "Okay."


    Danny nodded, "What do you need me to do?"


    After all, saving people was a transaction, and he hadn''t forgotten to pay the price.


    Su''en didn''t beat around the bush and said directly, "You should prepare some emergency potions for the time being. Make a list of what materials you need, and I''ll bring them back for you the next time I go to the ck market. After a while, I might need your help with some things."


    Danny nodded, already prepared to work long hours, "Okay."


    The two of them walked back towards Green Street.


    Su''en also asked about the "X Serum Project" and some details about the inner city.


    Suddenly, he remembered something and asked, "By the way, Danny. Last time you went to the ck market, did you notice the top bounty on the list, the S-ss fugitive from the inner city? Do you know her?"


    He thought that since they were both from the inner city, Danny might know her.


    To his surprise, Danny did know.


    "Sir, are you talking about the silver-haired woman?"


    "Yes."


    "I don''t know her, but I saw her once in theb."


    "Was she a member of the research institute?"


    "I''m not sure, but she wasn''t a researcher, she seemed to be abatant. Once when I was at home, I overheard my parents mentioning another top-secret project that our medical research department and mechanical department were working on together, which seemed to be rted to her..."


    "Do your parents know her?"


    "They probably do..."


    "..."


    Listening to this, Su''en instinctively had a thought.


    Danny''s parents blew up theb, and this woman happened to steal some research results and defected. Could these two events, separated by more than three years, be somehow connected?


    .......


    They chatted casually along the way, and soon they were back on Green Street.


    Su''en was always efficient. Not long after they returned to Green Street, he rented a basement for Danny through a housing agency not far from his own rental.


    This distance could avoid some trouble and they could also look after each other.


    Because Danny''s deformed appearance was too conspicuous, and it was inconvenient for him to go out wearing a cloak, Su''en prepared plenty of food and water for him.


    Fortunately, alchemists are real homebodies. As long as they have something to do, they can stay in theb forever.


    After waiting for a few days without any trouble, Su''en knew that the trouble at the "ck Baron Club" had probably passed.


    Su''en''s life returned to normal.


    Since he got aplete set of textbooks from Mr. ck, he plunged into the study of theoretical knowledge and became busy.


    Not only textbooks, but also the vice principal''s teaching ns and annotations, filled a storage ring.


    The textbook content was easy to understand and progressive. As long as he followed the order of beginner, intermediate, and advanced reading, it was not difficult to understand.


    Moreover, Su''en could read the textbooks very quickly because many knowledge fragments had been stripped from his mind. Many pieces of knowledge in his mind felt strangely familiar when he saw them in the textbooks. By understanding some transitional content, he could connect the pieces of knowledge.


    These textbooks were like a thread, stringing together the beads of knowledge.


    Stringing beads into chains, gradually became a systematic discipline.


    Potions, enchantments, imnts, runes, alchemy spells, mechanics, forging, mysticism, medicine...


    Su''en was immersed in the ocean of knowledge of this fantasy world, absorbing it like a whale.


    His progress was rapid.


    Especially in the field of mechanical knowledge, his progress was simply iparable to before.


    The problem with the "Spider Bomb" that had always failed before was found. With theoretical support, he could even improve the previous design drawings and create a more perfect spider bomb. The "Iron Man Mark II" also had many technological innovations...


    Through systematic learning, his rune drawing skills and forging skills also improved significantly. Because of the more perfect skills, the rune puppets he made now were much more powerful than before. He could also slowly start to try to make those high-difficulty intermediate puppets...


    The same was true for alchemy spells and mysticism.


    Once the principle is understood, everything else follows.


    .......


    Su''en spent every day in the basement, nning a detailed and regr schedule for himself.


    Exercising, studying, tinkering with machinery and puppets, asionally going to the shooting range...


    He strictly followed the schedule every day, and the data on the panel visibly increased.


    The peaceful and fulfilling days passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, a month had passed.


    Su''en originally wanted to continue staying at home, but Kay came to find him.


    The former boss of Green Street, who was bored as amander without a territory, seemed to have nothing to do every day. In the end, he couldn''t stand the loneliness and found Su''en.


    "Let''s go, brother, let''s pull off a big job!"


    On this dark and windy night, Kay had an excited expression on his face, as if he was taking his brother to make a fortune. He said mysteriously, "I got a secret tip. The Steam Party will be transporting a batch of ''top-grade mechanical equipment'' from the inner city tonight..."

 Chapter 106: A highly confidential escort

    Chapter 106: A highly confidential escort


    After thest battle between the Steam Party and the Cross Society, both sides were seriously injured.


    Su''en also heard some news in the high-level professional exchange circle of the ck market, saying that the backer behind the Cross Society, Lady Finov, has been having a hard timetely, which has also led to the poor economic situation within the Cross Society.


    Although the Cross Society seems to be no different from before and is still the dominant gang in the southern city, Su''en has noticed some signs. The high-level members have be more low-key, and the most obvious manifestation is that the expansion of the gang has almost stagnated.


    The treatment of the elderly has not changed, but the number of new recruits has decreased significantly.


    Kay, the captain with only one team member, has been idle during this period.


    Because of this, this guy who has nothing to do all day is always thinking of causing trouble for the Steam Party.


    .......


    It was a dark and windy night.


    On a secluded abandoned overpass in the West City District, two armed masked men were quietly ambushing.


    Su''en held a sniper rifle, aiming at the end of the nearby road.


    Kay had a mouthful of grass roots and was also observing with a telescope.


    When Su''en first heard Kay''s idea of "doing something big," he actually refused in his heart.


    He wanted to develop sneakily, and he needed a lot of time to digest the knowledge in his hands.


    But the reality is that the money in his pocket is running out, so he has to find a way to make some money.


    Su''en is now in great need of money. The bonus and spoils from the gang battlest time have consumed most of it.


    Whether it is his mechanical research, puppet making, or the potion making from Danny, they all burn a lot of money.


    The higher the level of materials, the more money they burn.


    Can potions be made with just a few materials?


    Only amateurs would say that.


    Low-level potions are fine, but high-level potions are difficult.


    Just the precise instruments needed to make potions are diverse... The more advanced the potion, the more demanding the equipment. Even second-hand goods bought from the ck market are not cheap. They cost tens or hundreds of thousands, not to mention the maintenance and repair costs...


    And if you want to ensure a high sess rate and obtain low-impurity potions, you need a sterileboratory.


    ording to Danny, a standard ordinaryboratory equipped ording to the standards of the inner cityboratory would cost billions. Not to mention those specially developed special instruments...


    The production yield of a small workshop-style potion is extremely low, and you can try your luck with a few potions. But if Su''en wants to make this a long-term source of ie, some investment is necessary. In the end, he managed to set up a low-end version of a potionboratory, which cost several million.


    Then there are the attempts at advanced puppet making. If a failure urs, the material waste can be tens or even hundreds of thousands... This is also a necessary expense for bing stronger.


    And there are also mechanical research projects like the "Iron Man Second Generation"...


    Su''en calcted that he still needs to keep arge sum of money to prepare for purchasing the things he needs from the hunters who bring back items from ruins.


    Mental power secret techniques, the "Curse Hair of the Mourning Witch," or in case he encounters suitable curse materials for his advancement to the second rank... These are the real big expenses.


    He doesn''t want to miss opportunities because of ack of money.


    No windfall, no wealth. This is even more true in this different world.


    If you want to make money, there is no faster way than robbing enemy gangs.


    .......


    Kay said excitedly, "Hehe... I''ve always heard that the Steam Party has a channel to obtain mechanical equipment from the inner city, and this time I actually caught it. This time, I heard that they transported a batch of ''military-grade mechanical equipment'' that was just reced by the City Guard. There are quite a few of them, and I estimate that they are worth several tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions..."


    It is not a secret that the backer behind the Steam Party has a channel to obtain regted mechanical equipment from the inner city.


    Otherwise, relying solely on some underground mechanics in the gang, it would be impossible to support such arge gang''s limb modification and development business, let alone the truly cutting-edge mechanical limbs of the Steam Party.


    "Captain, you''ve said it for the eighth time..."


    Su''en joked with a smile.


    Listening to this, he also had some expectations at first.


    If what Kay said is true, and this batch of goods is worth hundreds of millions, it really is worth robbing.


    But the two of them have been squatting here for nearly two days and nights, and they haven''t seen a single ghost.


    Kay''s information is very limited except for knowing that the Steam Party''s convoy will pass through this road. The rest, such as the transport time, quantity of goods, and personnel configuration, are all "spections."


    But it is precisely because of the uncertainty of this information that the two of them have patiently waited for so long.


    As members of the gang, they are well aware that the higher the level of confidentiality, the more valuable the transported goods.


    "I say, Captain, could your information be wrong? This route is so remote, and the deserted park is just ahead. Even if it is mechanical equipment, it should be sent to the Steam Party''s various strongholds. It''s not reliable to send it to this wilderness..."


    Su''en is not impatient to wait, he is just joking when he says this.


    This road is overgrown with weeds and doesn''t look like a legitimate transportation route.


    However, except for the slightly remote route, everything else fits the situation of secret transportation.


    Kay is a bit bored and has a nonchnt expression, "Who cares? We''re just killing time here. If they don''te, we won''t lose anything; if they doe, we''ll make a profit!"


    "Hehe, you don''t even know the situation of the enemy''s transport force, but you think you can seed for sure?"Su''en also felt that it was only...


    Kay dismissed it, saying, "The standard convoy configuration is just a team leader leading the team. With your excellent marksmanship and me... the two of us are more than enough to take them down."


    "Heh..."


    Su''en chuckled nomittally.


    Coincidentally, at that moment, he spotted something in his sniper scope and eximed, "They''reing!"


    He observed carefully and added, "Three vehicles in total! One truck and two jeeps... drivers and convoy personnel included, I see twelve people!"


    This was a standard convoy configuration.


    "Holy shit, they''re reallying!"


    Kay was also delighted.


    He looked through his high-powered telescope and clearly saw the faces of the people in the vehicles. He shared the information he knew, "The convoy leader is ''Barbarian'' Buck Bista, a veteran from the Steam Faction. His talent is [D-003-Bloodthirsty Berserk], which allows him to block pain and enhance strength after going berserk. His prosthetic modification is a honeb firearm arm... Are you confident?"


    "No problem."


    Su''en squinted and nodded.


    He remembered this man, who was indeed quite strong.


    But any first-order mechanical warrior didn''t pose much of a threat in his eyes.


    However, Su''en didn''t let his guard down, his gaze swept over the other eleven people in the vehicle.


    Most of them looked familiar, and the fact that ''Barbarian'' Buck was sitting in the front passenger seat meant that there probably wasn''t anyone in the convoy with a higher status than him.


    Having confirmed that the enemy''s convoy strength was just a regr twelve-man elite team, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.


    As the convoy slowly approached, Kay licked his lips, "Heh heh, then brother Su''en, you stay here and snipe, I''ll go to the ambush point."


    Su''en nodded, "Hmm, be careful. Stick to the n, and if anything unexpected happens, retreat immediately."


    "Okay."


    Kay disengaged his imnts and quietly slipped away.


    ......


    Since it was an ambush, Su''en and Kay had already nted anti-tank mines in advance.


    Just as the convoy entered the ambush circle, the leading jeep drove over a mine and instantly turned into a ball of fire, being blown several meters into the air.


    Seeing the attack, the convoy showed no signs of wanting to fight and immediately tried to turn around and flee.


    But on the ground behind them, there were also mechanical mines modified by Su''en. As soon as they turned around, they triggered the mines that could only be activated by reverse crushing, and another steam jeep was blown over.


    Su''en wasn''t idle either, he aimed at the truck driver through the scope of his sniper rifle and pulled the trigger when he found the opportunity.


    Unexpectedly, the alchemical bullet didn''t prate the ss!


    "Bulletproof ss?"


    Su''en frowned, suddenly feeling something was off.


    If such arge windshield could withstand alchemical bullets, it wouldn''t be cheap. The modification cost would be equivalent to the price of a regr truck.


    At least, it''s definitely not something this rusty-looking convoy truck would normally install!


    He immediately informed Kay of the anomaly through themunicator, "Captain, the truck has bulletproof ss, be careful."


    "Roger that!"


    With the lead and tail vehicles already blown up, and the sessful robbery seemingly imminent, Kay naturally wouldn''t give up.


    Seeing the truck trying to escape, he agilely darted under the vehicle from the roadside, only to find that the bottom of the vehicle was also fitted with an explosion-proof te, with no ce to grab onto.


    "Good thing I was prepared..."


    Kay muttered to himself, took out a suction cup to attach himself to the bottom of the vehicle, and then installed Su''en''s modified suction alchemical bomb on the pipe.


    After activating the detonator, he rolled out from under the vehicle. The truck tried to escape like a madman, but suddenly there was a loud explosion.


    Although the vehicle wasn''t flipped over, the alchemical bomb sted through the bulletproof te under the vehicle, disabling the truckpletely.

 Chapter 107: How come you know everything?

    Chapter 107: Howe you know everything?


    Su''en looked at the sniper rifle that didn''t break the ss. To prevent any idents, he put away the sniper rifle and immediately rushed down.


    Although the truck had already overturned, the driver''s cabin was bulletproofed, and no one inside was foolish enough to open the door.


    Su''en stopped Kay from wasting another alchemical bomb to blow up the front of the truck. Instead, he used a ricochet shot to prate the ss and kill two people.


    Oh... there was one unexpected thing.


    The "barbarian" Buck surprisingly survived the explosion and jumped out of the mes. He fired his honeb methrower from his right arm, almost causing Kay to get injured.


    But after all, he was only a first-tier professional, a mechanical gunner with limited ammunition. Su''en and Kay, two professionals working together, quickly killed him on the spot.


    With that, all twelve members of the escort team on the three vehicles were killed.


    .......


    Kay looked at the steam party members who were wiped out in front of him, a smile on his face. "Hehe, the whole truck is bulletproofed. This batch of goods may be more valuable than expected... and thanks to you, Su''en, for preparing the alchemical bomb. Otherwise, they would have almost escaped."


    Su''en felt that Kay was right. The truck was obviously intentionally made to look old, and the cargo they were escorting was also very valuable, as proven from the side of the truck.


    He said, "Let''s get to work quickly. They should have already sent out a distress signal. If we dy any longer, there may be trouble."


    "Okay."


    Kay nodded as well.


    The reason they chose this ambush point was not only because it was remote but also because they considered the time it would take for the steam party reinforcements to arrive.


    Now that they had dealt with the enemies so smoothly, they had enough time to unload the cargo.


    Su''en didn''t dare to be careless. He walked to the side of the carriage and pressed his ear against it, listening carefully.


    The carriage wall was thick, and he didn''t hear any movement.


    Meanwhile, Kay was fiddling with the lock on the door. He quickly discovered that this mechanical lock, called the "Coltes alloy lock," was impossible to open without a key. He turned to Su''en for help and said, "Su''en, this lock seems to be a ''Coltes alloy lock.'' We can''t open it without a key. Should we use an alchemical bomb to blow it open?"


    Su''en shook his head and said, "The individual cost of an alchemical bomb is 600,000. It''s too extravagant to use a bomb just to open a lock. And what if there are valuable things inside and they get damaged by the explosion?"


    "It''s that expensive?"


    Kay''s hand immediately shrank back. Even as the captain of the Cross Society, he felt his hands trembling at that price.


    In an instant, he looked at Su''en with an expression of a nouveau riche and exaggeratedly said, "Brother, you''re so rich?"


    Su''en didn''t exin much and gave him a disdainful look. "The anti-tank mine from earlier wasn''t cheap either."


    Robbery also required costs. Without proper equipment, it was impossible to deal with this escort team.


    Kay knew it wasn''t the time to gossip and said helplessly, "Then what should we do?"


    "Of course, we''ll use a cheaper method..."


    Su''en walked over and took out some materials. With the lock as the center, he drew a hexagram alchemical array.


    Kay looked at the alchemical array drawn by Su''en curiously and asked, "What is this?"


    He was purely a melee professional and knew almost nothing about alchemy except for unlocking alchemical arrays.


    This was also amon problem for most outer city professionals. They could fight and kill, but their theoretical knowledge wascking.


    Su''en skillfully drew the alchemical array and exined casually, "First-tier alchemy, ''Melting Alchemy,'' a very practical auxiliary alchemy. The main materials for drawing the array are a mixture of magnesium powder and mithril powder. When activated, it produces extremely high temperatures and can melt most known metals. It should be enough to deal with this lock."


    Kay felt his knowledge greatly expand as he listened. But then he asked, "Aren''t you a gunner? How do you know alchemy? And alchemy knowledge is expensive and not easy to learn..."


    "I bought it from the ck market."


    Su''en didn''t exin much either. This spell was indeed obtained from the ck market, but it was a basic spell from the textbook that Mr. ck gave him.


    In the eyes of people from the outer city, it was an expensive spell, but in the inner city, it was just an example in the textbooks of noble students.


    Fortunately, he had some basic knowledge from the memories of the two assistant teachers he had previously separated from, so it was easy to pick up.


    He said to Kay, "Step back a bit."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Su''en formed several magician seals with his hands and pressed them onto the alchemical array. Immediately, the hexagram array lit up with a dazzling white light. Even from a distance, one could feel the scorching heat on their skin.


    Then a magical scene appeared.


    The high temperature generated after the alchemical array was activated instantly melted the entire metal lock, turning the alloy into red fluid-like magma that dripped onto the ground.


    Kay, who was watching from a distance, was filled with surprise and muttered, "Why do I feel like you know everything..."


    It was eptable for a gunner to make alchemical bombs, but to know alchemy as well... it was strange.


    Alchemy was not something that could be easily achieved just by drawing a hexagram alchemical array. It required learning spells, forming seals, and matching materials, aplete set of casting procedures...


    Under normal circumstances, even if a mage had good talent, it would be impossible to be so proficient without one or two months of hard practice.


    Which gunner would have so much free time and spend so much time learning an auxiliary spell?


    Su''en didn''t exin much to him. "Captain, get ready to work!"


    .......


    The lock was destroyed, and the door to the truck carriage was sessfully opened.


    Kay didn''t dwell on why Su''en knew alchemy and instead looked forward with anticipation to see what valuable goods were inside.


    But just at that moment, Su''en''s ear moved, and he heard some movement inside the carriage. Suddenly, his face changed drastically. "Get back quickly!"


    Kay hadn''t figured out what was happening yet, but hearing Su''en''s urgent warning, he didn''t hesitate at all and quickly retreated.In just an instant, a huge ck shadow burst out from the carriage. It leaped out and mmed its heavy fist into the spot where Kay had been standing, creating a half-meter deep pit on the ground.


    Kay eximed, "What the hell is this thing!"


    Su''en''s gaze also froze as he looked at the sudden appearance of the monster.


    Hateful Warrior


    Exnation: A first-order semi-distorted monster created by X serum. They have lost their rationality but can still execute simple killingmands through special conditioned reflex training. The potion enhancement has given them super strong physical bodies, fast movement speed, high recovery, high strength, high physical resistance, and medium magic resistance...


    This is a nearly three-meter tall, ugly blue-skinned humanoid monster.


    "Conditioned reflex? It seems that the way to open the carriage was wrong, activating this monster..."


    Su''en looked at the identification content disyed on the monster''s head and immediately guessed what it was.


    It turned out that there was not only a reorganized escort team from the Steam Party, but also a monster guarding it.


    What kind of cargo was in this carriage that required such cautious handling?


    The blue skin is somewhat simr to a living corpse...


    A thought shed through Su''en''s mind, and his actions were not slow at all. He immediately raised his hand and fired two shots at the monster.


    "Crack!"


    "Crack!"


    The alchemical bullets sessfully prated the back of the monster''s head, but they didn''t go deep. And strangely, the bullet slowly squeezed out of the muscle, and the wound visibly wriggled and recovered!


    "Such resilience!"


    Su''en looked at his two shots that didn''t even hurt the monster and was greatly surprised. Alchemical bullets could create a bloody hole in an ordinary professional with one shot, but when used against this thing, it only left a bullet hole the size of a little finger.


    The monster''s recovery ability was even more terrifying, making it hard to believe.


    On the other hand, Kay''s reaction was not slow either.


    After dodging the monster''s punch, he rushed forward, his arm transformed into a de, and he shed at the unprotected thigh of the monster.


    The de shed with a cold light, and under this sh, the normal flesh and blood would undoubtedly be cut apart.


    But just as he made his move, Kay''s expression suddenly changed. It was as if a blunt knife had hit the bark, almost causing his de to get stuck in the monster''s flesh.


    Upon closer inspection, this sh only left a superficial mark and did not cause any substantial damage.


    Moreover, in the blink of an eye, the scratch had already returned to its original state.


    And because of this momentary dy caused by the sh, Kay just wanted to avoid it when a fist the size of a sand pot smashed into his abdomen. Even if he tried his best to dodge, it felt like he had been hit by a rhino''s horn on his ribs.


    "Poof!" He couldn''t hold back the surge of dark blood and was sent flying like a cannonball.


    With just one encounter, Kay fell into a dangerous situation.


    .......


    Seeing that the monster was still chasing after Kay, Su''en fired several shots in a row, trying to attract the monster''s attention.


    As he watched various alchemical bullets explode on the monster''s vital points, Su''en also confirmed one thing: the monster had extremely high physical defense, but its magic defense was not too high!


    However, it was difficult for the double-shot "Armor-Piercing Bullets" to prate its defense. Ammunition like "Anti-Magic Bullets" had some killing power, but if they didn''t prate the surface, they wouldn''t cause much damage.


    Su''en sessfully attracted the monster''s attention with these shots. The towering body of over three meters looked burly and clumsy, but its speed was extremely fast!


    The monster turned its head and charged forward, cracking the ground. Its whole body was like a cannonball crashing over.


    "So fast! This monster''s speed has reached the level of a second-order professional!"


    Su''en felt the tremendous pressureing towards him and was already prepared.


    His muscles all over his body had contracted to the extreme, and with a pull of the steel wire in his hand, he used the collision force of brushing past to spin rapidly in the air beforending.


    Although he looked a bit disheveled, Su''en calmly analyzed many things in his mind. "Very fast in a straight line, but the ability is somewhatcking... Purely physical attacks, no imnts, no spellcasting, low intelligence..."


    This was a monster with some attributes surpassing a second-order professional but also obvious weaknesses.


    He instantly judged that he could fight!


    .......


    Seeing Su''en being knocked away, Kay suppressed the difort in his chest and swiftly rushed over.


    He felt that as a melee assassin, he might not win, but he could temporarily withstand a few blows.


    As for Su''en, with his weak physical body as a gunman, it was hard to say. Once the monster got close, a single punch could take his life.


    Kay urgently said, "This guy''s strength has reached the level of a second-order professional. We are no match for him. Get ready to retreat!"


    Su''en seemed indifferent, showing no intention of running away. He continued to fire his guns.


    He knew very well that without alternating cover from both of them, Kay would definitely not be able to hold on for long. He urgently said, "You can''t outrun it, don''t run, use your skills to dodge!"


    And if they chose to simply run away, the terrifying speed of the monster could catch up to either of them in an instant.


    Once it stuck to them, with a single mistake, they would immediately die on the spot.


    That was the tricky part about this monster. It couldn''t be killed, couldn''t be worn down, and couldn''t be escaped.


    .......


    The monster was mighty, its punches and kicks shattering gold and breaking stones.


    Kay''s figure was agile, darting around the armored truck. Sometimes he would dive under the carriage, sometimes he would go around the back, barely able to protect himself.


    But no matter how he attacked, the monster remained unscathed.


    If they continued to drag it out, they would eventually run into trouble.


    Not to mention being killed by the monster, if they were dyed, it would be enough for the Steam Party''s reinforcements to arrive.


    "Damn it! How could there be such a monster in the carriage!"


    Kay cursed angrily. He saw the cargo right in front of them, but they had to give up.He understood Su''en''s battle n. It seemed like they were trying to kite the monster, alternating in drawing its attention to find an opportunity to retreat. He urgently shouted, "Su''en, I''ll hold it off first. You snipe from a distance. We might still have a chance..."


    He wanted to persuade Su''en to leave first, to create enough distance for a kill shot, and then both of them could escape.


    But Su''en''s battle n was clearly not about escaping.


    He vaguely guessed what was in this batch of goods and decided to go all out.


    "Help me hold it off for a moment, prepare for a counterattack!"


    "???"


    Kay''s thoughts stalled.


    Before he could finish speaking, he saw from the corner of his eye that Su''en had already put away his twin guns. His hands were quickly forming seals, and a pentagram formation had already lit up under his feet.


    "Such a fast seal formation speed!"


    Astonishment shed through Kay''s mind, but he still couldn''t figure out what Su''en was trying to do.


    Was he going to unleash his imnt and fight head-on?


    But... this monster couldn''t be killed!


    In that instant, his puzzled thoughts hadn''t yet shown on his face when Kay''s gaze suddenly froze.


    That familiar feeling from the battlefield had returned...


    ......


    Su''enpleted the seal formation expressionlessly and lightly shouted, "Imnt: Release!"


    After the pentagram formation fully lit up, a dark golden, ferocious eight-armed spidernce was revealed behind him!


    PS. This Friday, or perhaps on September 1st, the book will be on the shelves. I hope everyone will support it by subscribing on Qidian. Otherwise, I feel like I''ll be on my knees begging for subscriptions. Thanks in advance.

 Chapter 108: Do you call yourself a gunman?

    Chapter 108: Do you call yourself a gunman?


    Su''en, why did you take off your alchemical armor?


    To escape?


    In the previous second, Kay hadn''t reacted yet, but in the next second, his expression became very strange.


    At this moment, he wasn''t just feeling that something was wrong with Su''en''s behavior, but also that there was something off about the dark golden and ferocious eight-armed spider spear.


    What the hell is this?


    Seeing this bizarre alchemical armor, it surprised him even more than when a monster suddenly appeared in the carriage earlier.


    If it weren''t for the pentagram formation on the ground, would I believe that this is alchemical armor?


    The spider-shaped alchemical armor is not only unique in the outer city, but probably also rare in the inner city.


    In a moment of thought, Kay seemed to realize that he had never seen Su''en''s alchemical armor before.


    He had asked before, hoping to help him get a suitable gunslinger''s armor. But Su''en said he already had a "decent" set of armor, so Kay didn''t ask further.


    But... is this it?


    You call this kind of armor "decent"?


    Also, is this the kind of armor a proper gunslinger should have?


    What''s the deal with those eight spider spears? Are they for running faster? But you also need to be able to control them!


    Although he didn''t understand what Su''en was doing, looking at that familiar dead fish face, Kay felt an inexplicable trust in his heart.


    The familiar feeling of the battlefield had returned. If this guy says he can fight back, then he definitely can.


    ........


    After taking off the alchemical armor, it''s not over yet!


    Su''en knew very well that simple physical damage would be difficult to prate the "Abomination Warrior''s" skin. Even though the spider spears were sharp, they didn''t prate deep enough, so the damage they caused to the monster was extremely limited.


    Just as he took off the armor, Su''en didn''t stop. His hands quickly changed into the gestures of a sorcerer.


    The alchemical formation lit up again, and his gaze became sharper and sharper. With the final sorcerer''s gesture, he softly chanted, "Alchemical Secret Technique: Unbound Servant!"


    In that instant, a faint blue cold me appeared on his entire body. The eight spider spears were covered in cold fire, resembling eight fiery spears, with a strange and ferocious style.


    When this cold me spell appeared, Kay, who was far away, was no longer surprised, butpletely shocked.


    The rank of alchemical spells often corresponds to the intensity of their disy. This cold me, filled with a chilling aura, didn''t look simple at all. This was definitely not an ordinary alchemical spell!


    However, the higher the rank of alchemical spells, the longer the learning time required, and more importantly, this high-ranking alchemical knowledge couldn''t be bought.


    Previously, Su''en had already shown him the "Gold Fusion Technique," which was already unbelievable. And now, he had this me protective spell that he couldn''t understand.


    With just this, you still call yourself a gunslinger?


    .......


    Now is not the time to hesitate. Once the reinforcements from the Steam Party arrive, they will face more than just a monster.


    After Su''en took off the armor, he didn''t hesitate at all. He raised his hands, dual-wielding pistols, and instantly attracted the monster''s attention.


    The monster charged forward, its eight spider arms moving together, and its eight legs supporting its body. It dodged at a strange angle.


    And in that moment of passing by, Su''en''s hands grabbed the air, and several strands of cosmic threads formed a lead-gray puppet. As the threads were pulled, the puppet, like a ma, firmly grabbed the monster''s right side.


    Almost at the same time, Su''en shouted, "Release!"


    The runes on the puppet immediately lit up. In an instant, the monster''s legs became unbnced, and it stumbled and fell to the ground.


    This was the intermediate puppet, Lead Weight Doll, engraved with the earth-based "Mountain Rune." When the doll stepped on the ground, it was like a ma attracting iron sand, and earth elements would continuously attach to the doll, making it heavier and heavier until it reached its limit. Originally a light wooden doll, it could generate a pulling force of over a thousand kilograms.


    The monster fell heavily to the ground, and Su''en knew that this wouldn''t cause it any harm.


    Almost at the same time, the eight spider legs pulled at the same time, and two more puppets, one ck and one red, made a crisp sound as their wooden joints moved. They rushed forward.


    When they approached the Abomination Warrior, the ck-faced puppet''s jaw split open, and a ck tube emerged, spraying a dark liquid like oil towards the monster. At the same time, the red-faced puppet opened its mouth and sprayed a me with a special phosphorescent glow that was over ten meters long.


    When the fuel met the me, it immediately became like a methrower, igniting the entire body of the monster.


    These two puppets were Su''en''stest mastery of two types of runic puppets, the Oil Devouring Doll and the Phosphorus Fire Doll!


    The red-faced doll was engraved with an alchemical formation and spewed a first-level alchemical spell called "Indestructible Phosphorus Fire."


    The ck-faced doll didn''t spray ordinary fuel, but a specially formtedbustion-enhancing material called "Refined Phosphorus Oil."


    The fuel was extremely sticky and couldn''t be shaken off once it stuck to something.


    And when phosphorus fire encountered water, it was difficult to extinguish unless it burned out.


    Strong defense and strong recovery, so what?


    If it were an alchemist who knew magic, they might have other means to extinguish the mes.


    But for a physically attacking and low-intelligence "Abomination Warrior," this burn would be enough to give it a hard time.


    .......


    The monster seemed to have no sense of pain. It had mes burning on its back, but it seemedpletely unaware.


    It stood up, pped and shattered the Lead Weight Doll clinging to its leg, and turned its head towards Su''en.


    But this time, the monster made a shaking motion with its head, as if trying to shake off the phosphorus blocking its vision.


    It was precisely this shaking motion that dyed it for a second, allowing it to charge towards Su''en.


    Su''en caught the monster''s subtle head movement and immediately judged in his heart, "As expected! This monster also relies on visual perception to locate its target. The burning mes have greatly limited its perception!"The hateful warrior charged furiously, running and dripping phosphorous fire all the way.


    A gust of wind carrying a bone-piercing heat wave brushed past him. This time, Su''en skillfully avoided the monster''s charge by using his spider spear to support his body.


    And this time, it was much easier than thest.


    The monster, with its limited perception, had a noticeably weaker reaction.


    For Su''en, the crisis was significantly reduced in an instant.


    He could just watch the monster burn. Although it probably wouldn''t burn to death, it could be severely damaged.


    Killing it would be much easier then.


    But Su''en knew he couldn''t wait any longer.


    This monster had an extraordinary vitality. If he didn''t fight quickly, it might hold out until the reinforcements from the Steam Party arrived.


    So, he had to take the initiative to attack.


    As he brushed past the ming monster, it collided with the steel wire. This pull caused Su''en to "whoosh" and fly out.


    But, this was exactly what he wanted!


    Su''en''s body flew backward, like a javelin thrower''s inertia sprint, giving him an extra eleration.


    At this moment, he had already set up eight spider spears vertically in front of him. With a "crack" sound, the sharp ends of the spider spears shot out sharp ck spikes.


    The monster, failing to hit its target, also sensed something and abruptly stopped.


    In that instant, Su''en was catapulted out by a huge inertia. The eight spider spears, wrapped in a cold, blue me, fearlessly pierced towards the monster''s body, aiming for its vital points.


    Four spears targeted the monster''s back of the head, chest, and waist.


    Not knowing if it finally felt pain, the monster''s movements noticeably slowed.


    Su''en didn''t stop. He pulled the steel wire, and his whole body was fixed in mid-air. The spider spears were flexible at the joints, not only capable of straight stabs, but also able to attackteral points. With a "hiss" sound, two spears pierced into the monster''s ears.


    The spider spears even had better pration than alchemical bullets, with six spikes prating half a foot into the flesh.


    The eight-armed spider spear, permanently engraved with the "Sharp Rune", was not only sharp, but also carried the toxic properties of the cursed material itself!


    The "Corrosive Toxin" gave the spider spear a remarkable armor-piercing effect; after piercing, it instantly released the "Blood Corruption Toxin" that slowed wound healing.


    The double toxins made the spear prate deeper, causing massive damage to the monster.


    Su''en was like a giant mosquito, with eight spider legs acting like mouthparts, firmly attached to the monster''s back.


    Because of the multiple legs, he had enough support points to calmly avoid the monster''s swinging arms, repeatedly stabbing and creating new wounds. In an instant, the monster''s body was like a punctured water bag, with blue blood spurting out.


    "Roar~"


    The remote wilderness echoed with the monster''s angry roar.


    The monster instinctively sensed danger and tried to shake Su''en off its back.


    After several unsessful attempts, it elerated and charged towards the bulletproof transport vehicle.


    With a "thud", the massive impact force shifted the heavy vehicle several meters.


    Su''en, however, was quick and pulled the steel wire in his hand, separating himself from the monster''s body before he could be crushed.

 Chapter 109: Goods beyond expectations

    Chapter 109: Goods beyond expectations


    Several meters away, eight spider armsnded steadily.


    Su''en shook his dizzy head, looking at the lively me monster in front of him. The seriousness on his brow finally eased a bit.


    Because he found that the monster''s defense had been broken!


    The previous gunshot damage, before it could attack again, the previous wounds had already healed.


    But now, with the burning of phosphorus fire and the dozens of holes pierced by the eight-arm spider spear, tons of damage was dealt. The wounds were healing with obvious difficulty, which meant that the monster''s self-healing ability had reached its limit.


    Although it was still healing, as long as he continued to output damage that exceeded the healing amount, the monster would be weaker and weaker.


    Moreover, self-healing was not without cost.


    In the field of alchemy, energy was conserved.


    Even though this monster had terrifying self-healing ability, it still needed to consume biological energy to heal itself.


    The more wounds, the greater the consumption, which would cause it to be weaker and weaker.


    Because of its weakness, the monster''s strength, perception, and reaction abilities would all decrease.


    The pressure of Su''en''s battle would be smaller and smaller.


    Moreover, this abomination warrior had a major weakness, which was "low intelligence"!


    Reality only gave him a moment to catch his breath. Just as Su''ennded, he saw the monster charging towards him again.


    However, he remained calm and used the same technique again, using both the "Oil Devouring Doll" and the "Phosphorus Fire Doll" to cover the mes that the monster was trying to extinguish, causing the mes to burn fiercely once again...


    Without intelligence, only the instinct to kill, just like fighting a boss in a game, he could attract hatred and choose a fixed routine of attack methods.


    After burning it, Su''en found another opportunity and jumped onto the monster''s back, stabbing it with the spider spear...


    The blue blood sprayed more and more violently, the monster became weaker and weaker, its movements slower and less threatening.


    .......


    Not far away, Kay watched the battle in silence.


    Originally, he wanted to rush up to help. Even if he couldn''t harm the monster, he could at least distract it and share some of the pressure with Su''en.


    But before he could do anything, he found that the plot had unexpectedly taken a different direction...


    Alchemy was one thing...


    Spider armor was one thing...


    Being covered in ghostly fire was one thing...


    And now there were several iprehensible runic puppets?


    He thought those spider legs were for running away, but it turns out...


    His eyes told him that Su''en was actually a puppeteer?


    But in the end, Su''en had the upper hand. Kay looked at him with shining eyes and felt a surge of excitement in his heart: "What quality is this spider armor? And he can control it so flexibly..."


    A monster with closebat abilities of a second-tier professional, a monster with abnormal defense and recovery, was actually being suppressed by Su''en?


    Alchemy bullets couldn''t break through the monster''s defense, but the spider spear could pierce through it... He now knew that the alchemical quality of this armor must be terrifying.


    It definitely wasn''t ck iron!


    Even Kay felt that the silver armor wasn''t as strong!


    After all, he was also a professional and knew the prerequisites for fusing armor.


    Su''en''s ability to fuse high-quality alchemical armor meant that his dark spiritual power far exceeded his peers when he joined.


    And to be able to control these eight spider legs so flexibly was definitely not something an ordinary person could do.


    "So he wasn''t joking on the battlefield before, he was serious."


    Thinking of this, Kay muttered with a deep gaze, "Damn, if it weren''t for encountering this monster today, I wouldn''t have known that this guy is so powerful!"


    Usually, he always protected Su''en as the team leader, but it turns out that he was the clown.


    But as he watched the bnce of victory tilt towards Su''en, Kay''s tightly clenched fist slowly rxed. His friend had be stronger, and he felt a genuine happiness from the bottom of his heart.


    .......


    From the moment Su''en found the opening in the abomination warrior, the oue of the battle was already determined.


    Before long.


    The monster covered in mes finally weakened due to continuous injuries, and after being pierced by the spider spear once again, it let out a reluctant howl and fell to the ground with a loud crash.


    Su''en looked at the corpse and finally let out a long breath.


    Although the entire battle process seemed to be repeating the same few routines, tripping, spraying oil and burning, and then stabbing...


    In reality, it was a constant dance of life and death.


    The strength of the monster did not allow him to make any mistakes.


    You could hit the monster a hundred times and it wouldn''t feel a thing, but if you made one mistake, the monster could seize the opportunity to kill you instantly.


    Because of his constant state of calmness, Su''en minimized the probability of making mistakes.


    However, there were also many gains from the battle.


    This was his first time using all his skills to kill a powerful enemy.


    Although he had trained many times in the basement before, it was not the same as actualbat.


    Fighting against this "abomination warrior" gave him a lot of inspiration.


    He also realized that the puppeteer profession was strong, but its strength was not only in the various magical effects of the puppets. It was also strong in the operability of this profession.


    If various puppets with different effects were used well, thebat power could almost double, and one person could achieve the effect of a whole team!


    This battle gradually made Su''en understand the future nning of his profession.Tank, DPS, healer, control, support... All these abilities could bepletely reced by various functional oddities.


    He didn''t need anyone to form a team with, he was a team himself!


    ......


    Su''en retracted his imnt, slowly calming his breath.


    At this moment, Kay quickly walked over, looking at Su''en as if he was looking at a monster, excitedly asked, "Bro, when did you be so powerful? What''s with your imnt, what spell is that cold me, and that puppet..."


    Su''en felt there was nothing to hide about these, but it wasn''t the time to exin. He shook his head with a smile, "Now is not the time to talk about this, let''s move the stuff, we don''t have much time."


    Kay pursed his lips, finally suppressing his curiosity, "Right."


    The two didn''t dy any longer and quickly walked to the back of the truck.


    They looked at the densely packed alloy boxes in the truck, their eyes full of anticipation.


    "Haha... Let me see, what kind of treasures could be guarded by this monster!"


    Kay said, casually opening a mechanical box.


    Suddenly, a chill hit their faces.


    Both of them were taken aback, because they saw a set of brand new, high-tech armor in the box.


    "This..."


    Kay looked at the armor, then at Su''en.


    Wasn''t it supposed to be second-hand mechanical equipment? This didn''t look like it...


    Gently touching it, a frosty chill could be felt on his palm.


    Helmet, armor, mechanical gloves, frost cannon, power boiler... Each part had high-level runes and enchanted coatings.


    Where would Kay, who was born in the slums, have seen such a thing?


    Looking at the armor, he was surprised and puzzled.


    The loot was too high-end, making him feel somewhat unreal. It was like they hade to steal some scrap metal, but ended up with bars of shining gold.


    He turned his head to look at Su''en, his voice trembling slightly, uncertainly asking, "Brother Su''en, what kind of armor is this? Refurbished?"


    Su''en''s eyes narrowed slightly, he actually recognized the origin of this armor.


    His eyes showed a hint of contemtion, and he slowly uttered a few words, "Thetest mechanical equipment of the Inner City Guard - Frost Giant Battle Armor."


    "..."


    Upon hearing this, Kay''s mind went nk.


    Looking again, there were dozens ofrge and small mechanical boxes in the truck, and they didn''t know what treasures were inside.


    The two immediately realized that this batch of goods... waspletely different from the information they had received!


    It seemed like they had hit the jackpot.


    PS. Some people have doubts, so let me exin a bit more. Don''t think that this low-profile escort team is unreliable or the plot is forced. The more valuable the item, the safer it is to transport it in a low-profile manner. If you''re interested, you can search for the ''1931 Gold Theft Case''. There are countless simr cases in reality. Many very precious things are often transported in the simplest and most unassuming ways, and the process of loss is also very coincidental. Moreover, this plot also involves a hidden plot. In the Outer City, the ck Tower also has opponents.

 Chapter 110: X Serum

    Chapter 110: X Serum


    When Su''en saw the mechanical box they casually opened, he immediately realized that the contents were not "second-hand mechanical equipment" bought by the steam party from the inner city.


    This kind of mechanical battle armor with top-level technological content is not sold to the outer city gangs as they are not fully equipped with the elite forces of the inner city.


    Without looking at the other boxes, Su''en knew that the goods in this truck far exceeded expectations and were of immeasurable value.


    Not long ago, he heard in the high-level professional circle of the ck market that someone was demanding to buy this type of battle armor for a unit price of over 15 million lisuo.


    The most crucial thing is that the configuration of this escort team feels strange to Su''en.


    A normal transport team wouldn''t be escorting something so valuable, would they?


    But with a little thought, it seemed reasonable.


    The steam party''s escort team has always been active.


    Who would think that a shop that sells bread every day would asionally have something other than flour in their supplies?


    In the outer city, second-tier professionals are all important figures and generally wouldn''t stoop down to rob a batch of "second-hand mechanical equipment".


    But in fact, the escort team led by the "barbarian" Buck is simply a decoy to deceive others. They may not even know what they are escorting.


    Special armored vehicles and abomination warriors are the real guarantee for this batch of goods.


    Even if normal bandits were to rob this transport team, not to mention whether they could intercept this special armored truck, even if they did, once they opened the carriage and faced the "abomination warriors", it would be almost impossible for a normal first-tier professional team to survive.


    Even if there were second-tier professional bandits, without means to restrain the monsters, they could be entangled and killed, or they could be dyed until the steam party reinforcements arrived.


    Even if they managed to escape, they would definitely not be able to take the goods.


    With this in mind, this low-profile escort method is not only not outrageous but rather clever.


    Moreover, when Su''en fully understood what these goods were, he understood even more why the owner of the goods chose this low-key escort method.


    .......


    Kay looked at the "Frost Giant Armor" and suddenly felt a little at a loss.


    In his life, he had never seen something so good.


    He looked at Su''en and asked, "What should we do now?"


    "What else can we do? Since we''ve already robbed it, of course, we take it with us."


    Su''en smiled indifferently and said, "We''ll clean up the scer."


    With people and monsters killed, even if they stopped now, the mastermind behind these goods would definitely investigate to the end.


    Kay''s face lit up when he heard this, "Haha, that''s what I was thinking too!"


    As a member of the gang, he still had some courage.


    That''s what he had in mind, but he was worried that his greed would cause fatal trouble for the gang and for Su''en.


    After all, the greater the value, the greater the price the mastermind behind the goods would pay to investigate. There were many bandits who had fallen into such situations.


    Now that he heard Su''en thinking the same way, he felt relieved.


    No pain, no gain!


    What''s there to be afraid of!


    The two of them happily started unpacking and then packed everything up.


    ........


    The storage ring is a simple application of spatial rules in alchemy. Because it is a secondary space, it cannot be toorge. Therger it is, the easier it is to copse, and the cost increases exponentially. A normal storage ring has a storage space of only one-eighth of a cubic meter, and arger one is only half a cubic meter.


    Even in Su''en''s hands, he only had a storage ring of about one cubic meter, which he obtained after killing the noble student Jack in the underground dungeon. It was barely enough to hold the puppets, but it was not enough to hold these rtivelyrge mechanical equipment.


    So the two of them had to take out all the mechanical equipment from the boxes. If they could be disassembled or folded, they were stuffed into the storage ring. Therger unremovable items were gathered together.


    The people from the inner city used an iron box over two meters long to transport this set of "Frost Giant Armor", but in reality, the space upied by the contents inside was less than one-third. It was probably to prevent any scratches or damage to the enchanted coating, affecting its appearance...


    But these bandits like Su''en naturally didn''t have such concerns.


    The two of them treated the equipment like firewood, roughly tying the mechanical arms and legs together, and packing them with the canvas they brought, making it convenient to take them away on the motorcycleter.


    The two of them worked quickly, and in no time, they had unpacked most of the boxes.


    Five sets of armor, ten individual artillery, several light/heavy external mechanical skeletalponents, fifty runic pistols, twenty mechanical rifles, fifteen alchemical bullets, and several ordinary ammunition grenades...


    In addition to the astonishingly valuable armor and ammunition supplies in the truck, there were also various types of protective clothing, gas masks, instrument essories... and other things.


    When Su''en saw the ammunition supplies, he began to suspect who in the outer city could use such advanced equipment.


    When he saw theseboratory equipment, a strange thought immediately came to his mind: "Could this batch of equipment be sent from the inner city to a secret experimental base in the outer city?"


    These high-quality biochemical equipment is of no use to people in the outer city, only ces likeboratories would have them.


    And to confirm his spection, a small ident happened at this moment.


    "Crack," a crisp sound like the shattering of ss echoed clearly in the carriage.


    Su''en turned around and saw Kay looking at him innocently.


    Kay also didn''t understand what had happened and pointed to the broken storage ring and the box on the ground, and said truthfully, "I... I saw that there were potions in this box, so I put them in the storage ring. I didn''t expect the storage ring to crack..."


    Kay had never encountered this situation before and didn''t understand what it meant.


    But Su''en immediately thought of something and his expression froze slightly.


    The storage ring cracked?


    He immediately opened that box and appraised it.


    As expected, inside were neatly arranged five potions!X Serum Raw Fluid


    Exnation: An active substance extracted from the body of a super-cognitive ''*** Abyssal Creature''. After injection, it significantly enhances physical attributes, raises the limit of rank advancement, and modifies bloodline;


    Effect: After injection into the body, the body will gain arge amount of enhancement in the following months. The tolerance limit for Dark Spirit Power increases by 230%-570%, strength increases by 270-350%, toughness increases by 220-325%, cell activity growth by 880-1100%, and the limit of cell division increases by 50%... The values fluctuate due to uncontroble mutation factors; After blood modification, the Abyssal bloodline inheritance is obtained, gaining rted growth potential, with each advancement in rank, all attributes additionally increase by 3-10%;


    Side effects: The serum is extremely violent. If injected into a human whose bloodline rank is not higher than that of the Abyssal bloodline, it will 100% cause mutation; After mutation, attributes will undergo non-directional mutation, gaining arge increase in attributes; It will turn your skin blue for a long period of time;


    ......


    "X Serum?!"


    Su''en''s gaze faltered, and he instantly fell into thought.


    He never expected to find five vials of the legendary "X Serum" in this batch of goods.


    He had guessed when he saw that "Abhorrent Warrior" that those guys in the inner city hadn''t given up on researching that project.


    But seeing this batch of potions, he realized that the experiment was so close, even in the West District!


    He also knew that he had guessed right, this batch of goods was indeed a supply for a secretboratory set up by the inner city in the outer city.


    "Things are getting a bitplicated..."


    Su''en murmured to himself.


    However, now that he had the goods in hand, any trouble was a matter for the future.


    He was more interested in the value of this potion.


    After all, the string of data identified was too eye-catching.


    "Even with ten times the cell activity, it can''t reach that exaggerated recovery ability. That Abhorrent Warrior must have undergone some mutations after the mutation..."


    "Cell activity and division times are attributes directly linked to lifespan, no wonder the big shots in the inner city can''t forget about it..."


    "And it can gain some bloodline growth... If it doesn''t mutate, it''s simply a miracle drug!"


    "..."


    Just talking about the body''s enhancement, this "X Serum" is ridiculously non-human.


    Dark Spirit Power, strength, toughness, cell activity... It''s simply a doubling of all dimensions.


    It''s even more exaggerated than the attribute increase of a first-rank job!


    It gives the feeling that with one injection, you can immediately have a superhuman physique.


    But that 100% mutation is too eye-catching.


    Su''en looked at the information identified from the potion, and many thoughts shed through his mind in an instant.


    Suddenly, he had a sh of insight.


    X Serum + Mutation Suppression Drug = Zombie, right?!


    That "Zombie Research Diary" recorded the detailed method of making zombies, now it seems like all the hardware conditions are met?


    Before he knew the whereabouts of the "X Serum", Su''en didn''t pay much attention to the contents of the diary.


    But now that he had a few real potions in his hand, his thoughts immediately became active.


    Now that he had the "X Serum", although the mutation suppression form was still in the research stage for the ck Tower, it wasn''t a big problem for Su''en.


    Because the diary had a detailed form!


    Su''en had always guessed that zombies could use that forbidden object, the ck Scythe... If he could really create zombies, it might give him an extra trump card!


    Moreover, if the "X Drug" could be used on zombies, could it also be used on humans?


    If the mutation on a living body could also be suppressed, wouldn''t he take off immediately?


    Thinking of this, Su''en felt that he should go back and take a good look at that "Zombie Research Diary"...

 Chapter 111: PX-911 Artificial Mechanical Limb

    Chapter 111: PX-911 Artificial Mechanical Limb


    Su''en''s thoughts drifted away for a moment, then returned to reality.


    Beside him, Kay muttered in confusion, "Strange, could it be that my storage ring is too old and has copsed?"


    If Su''en didn''t have the All-Knowing Eye, he would probably be just as confused.


    But now he could guess that the reason the storage ring copsed was probably because the source of this serum was identified as an unrecognized creature.


    The secondary space cannot store items with rules that are too high.


    That "creature" may represent some kind of indescribable high-level being.


    Su''en even spected that the main cargo that the owner of this batch really wanted to transport was this batch of potions, and everything else was just extras.


    These potions cannot be ced in the storage space and can only be transported by the transport team.


    The cargo cannot see the light, and the destination cannot see the light either. The Steam Party, the snakehead of the West City, is the best partner!


    .......


    Su''en searched through the other boxes and found more.


    In addition to these five bottles of [X Serum Original Solution], there were also one hundred bottles of [Second Generation X Serum] in anotherrge box next to it, which had a distortion rate of 100% but only had one-tenth of the effect.


    There was also a note left in the box, which said, "Dr. Victor''s personal letter."


    Su''en nced at the contents and roughly understood that a person named "Number Neen" had not been caught yet, the items had not been retrieved, and the stock of serum was running low, so the doctor should use it carefully.


    For some reason, when Su''en looked at this "Number Neen," the image of the woman with a three million reward immediately came to his mind.


    She was connected to the "X Serum n" and had escaped from the inner cityboratory without being caught. Her conditions almostpletely matched the conditions on the note.


    It seemed that the items she stole from theboratory were the key to making the serum?


    However, it was obviously not the time to think about this question now.


    Su''en felt that this robbery was getting more and more unexpected.


    If not handled properly, it would definitely cause big trouble.


    And these potions were too special.


    They couldn''t be put in the storage ring and could only be carried on the body.


    Su''en was also worried that there might be some tracking marks on the boxes. After thinking about it, he took out all the potions, sprayed them with [Odorless Potion] and [Interference Powder], and then put these more than one hundred potions into the prepared potion bag.


    Kay, who was beside him, looked at him being so cautious and asked, "Su''en, do you know about these potions? Do you need to be so careful?"


    Su''en didn''t exin in detail and said, "I roughly know what these potions are. They may cause big trouble, so it''s better to be cautious."


    But Kay didn''t seem to be interested in the potions either. He just casually asked, "You understand potions too?"


    Su''en: "A little..."


    "..."


    Kay rolled his eyes when he heard this, as if he was used to this guy knowing everything.


    He didn''t ask much and continued to search for other things.


    ......


    While Su''en was still dealing with the potions, Kay opened thest few boxes and found something. He eximed, "Su''en,e and see what this is!"


    Su''en nced over and saw that in the box at the bottom, there was actually a set of iprehensible machinery.


    Kay took out a shiny silver metal arm and looked at it repeatedly, uncertainly saying, "This is...mechanical skeleton? No, it seems to be a mechanical limb?"


    Su''en was also surprised when he looked at it.


    In this world, there is only a physical control system, so the core of all machinery control is actually a person.


    Whether it''s a mechanical skeleton or a battle armor, they are essentially a mechanical shell worn by a person.


    But this thing engraved with "PX-911 Artificial Mechanical Limb" on the inscription was very strange.


    It was not an external attachment, but a real mechanical limb with hands, legs, and even an energy conversion boiler in the chest. However, it was missing some connecting parts. But topletely assemble a robot, it stillcked some linkage devices and a...head?


    Su''en''s knowledge of machinery was already quite good now. Even if he didn''t understand the principles, he had a general idea of its origin.


    But when he looked at this set of mechanical limbs, he waspletely puzzled.


    How does this thing work?


    It''s not an external attachment, is it directly recing the human skeletal system?


    But how can nerves directly manipte machinery? Is it some kind of special alchemical prosthetic?


    In an instant, countless doubts filled Su''en''s mind.


    And at this moment, Kay, who was holding the mechanical arm, identally touched some mechanism. With a "click" sound, a sharp de suddenly popped out of the mechanical palm.


    Kay was startled, his hand trembled, and the arm fell off.


    Then the sharp de easily cut a smooth slit on the metal box next to it.


    Kay looked incredulous, "This...this dagger is so sharp?"


    Su''en squinted and looked for identification, which showed that the metal used to make this dagger was "Amande Metal," an extremely rare natural metal described in the ck Tower Academy textbook as being used to forge artifacts in ancient times. It has super hardness and magic conductivity...


    Seeing this, he also became very interested and picked up another arm to observe.


    It felt smooth in his hand, but he didn''t see any seams where a dagger could be embedded.


    "Hmm..."


    Seeing this, Su''en murmured.


    Not only was it sharp, but the precision of this set of mechanical arms was what truly shocked him.


    This was a true boratory-level" technology!Not to mention the outer city, even the military enterprises in the inner city probably couldn''t produce this level of precision machining.


    Just this piece of mechanical limb alone was many levels more technologically advanced than the "Frost Giant Battle Armor" they had seen before!


    Upon seeing a piece of machinery he couldn''t understand, Su''en felt a desire to disassemble it and understand its structure and principles.


    But now was obviously not the time to examine it closely. He said to Kay, "Let''s pack it up together, we don''t have much time. I''ll clean up the traces of the battle."


    "Okay."


    Kay didn''t dare to dy, and the two of them packed up everything.


    ......


    Kay rode over on the hidden motorcycle, then stuffed these "tattered canvas bags" full on both motorcycles.


    Now that they knew this batch of goods was not the "second-hand mechanical equipment" they had originally thought, Su''en had to be even more careful.


    They had originally thought they were robbing the Steam Party, but now it seemed they had stolen materials from a secretboratory in the inner city!


    Su''en carefully dealt with the traces they had left at the scene, including the traces they had made from two days of ambush. Then he set up incendiary bombs near the truck...


    After everything was dealt with, the two of them rode on their motorcycles and found a small road to leave the scene of the robbery.


    Not far away, the truck exploded in a ze, and all traces were engulfed in the sea of fire.


    Because they were carrying heavy things, the two of them didn''t ride fast.


    Kay was still immersed in the huge surprise of their harvest, riding the motorcycle and asking, "Hey, Brother Su''en, how much do you think we can sell our spoils for this time? A hundred million at least, right?"


    "More than that."


    Su''en shook his head.


    Five sets of "Frost Giant Battle Armor" alone were worth 75 million, not to mention other advanced firearms, ammunition, and research equipment.


    Especially the "X Serum" and "PX-911 Artificial Mechanical Limbs", these two items were the real priceless treasures.


    Hearing this, the smile on Kay''s face became even brighter. He was from the slums and had never seen so much money before. "Hehe, once we sell this, we''ll be rich overnight! I know a few reliable ck market merchants, our goods are so good, we can definitely sell them for a good price..."


    It wasn''t that Kay was careless, but that he didn''t know the true value of these goods and what they involved.


    If it was ordinary "second-hand mechanical equipment", it wouldn''t matter who the owner was, there were plenty of people in the ck market who would dare to buy it.


    But he didn''t know about the "X Serum" inside, which was rted to the inner city''s top-secret n.


    If they casually sold this batch of goods, there would definitely be problems.


    Su''en solemnly denied his idea, saying, "No. These goods cannot enter the market for the time being, otherwise there will be big trouble."


    He felt that if he were the owner of the goods, and they were lost, the first reaction would be to look for the ce where they were sold.


    The ck market in the outer city would definitely be a ce of focus.


    Mr. ck had told him that there were spies from the Umbre Organization in the ck market, and if they really went to sell the goods, they would probably be "delivering themselves to the door".


    "Why?" Kay asked, puzzled.


    Su''en didn''t exin in detail, only saying, "There are some very sensitive things in this batch of goods, they absolutely cannot be sold through normal channels."


    After a pause, he added, "No one can know about us robbing the Steam Party''s transport team this time. If it gets out, it will be a huge problem for anyone."


    "Okay."


    Kay frowned, actually, when he saw the battle armor and mechanical limbs, he had realized the seriousness of the situation.


    Although he didn''t understand where these things came from, he chose to believe Su''en''s words.


    There was enough trust between the two of them, he didn''t say much, just asked, "So, how do we deal with these goods? Hide them for now?"


    "Yes."


    Su''en had the same idea, and added, "I have a safe channel to sell the goods, but I need to observe for a while. The goods may not be able to be sold immediately."


    Ordinary merchants definitely wouldn''t work, but Mr. ck was trustworthy.


    That defector who was being hunted by the Umbre Organization would definitely not have any connection with the owner of these goods.


    The only thing Su''en needed to worry about was how to sell the goods in batches without arousing suspicion that they had intercepted this batch of goods.


    Hearing this, Kay nodded, "Okay."

 Chapter 112: Laboratory explosion

    Chapter 112: Laboratory explosion


    Su''en and Kay followed the predetermined route on their motorcycles, and halfway through, they switched to another motorcycle and continued on.


    The fact that no one had caught up with them for so long meant that their clean-up work had been done well.


    There were no major ws in the first stage of the robbery.


    However, as they rode, Kay felt that the motorcycle was a bit unstable. He muttered, "Huh... Su''en, why do I feel like the motorcycle is swaying today? Did something heavy break it?"


    Su''en had actually noticed the abnormality earlier. The feeling came very quickly, and before Kay finished speaking, Su''en''s face changed instantly. "Get off quickly!"


    Without exining further, he took out a folding bulletproof board and they both held it up.


    In the next instant, a thousand-meter-high mushroom cloud suddenly rose from the direction of the deste park several kilometers behind them!


    It felt like something was about to emerge from underground, rolling violently and making it difficult to stand.


    After a moment, a thunderous explosion rang in their ears, deafening.


    Boom boom boom~


    The shockwave came crashing like andslide and tidal wave,pressing the air and momentarily making it difficult to breathe. A tremendous force "bang" hit the bulletproof board, almost sending the two of them flying.


    Fortunately, they were far enough away. After the shockwave passed, although they were a bit dusty, they were not injured.


    Kay brushed off the dust on his body and looked at the direction of the explosion, his expression full of disbelief. "Could it be that the few incendiary bombs we lost set off an underground gas tank?"


    There didn''t seem to be a better exnation.


    "It shouldn''t be. The distance is too far..."


    Su''en stared at the rising mushroom cloud and responded.


    Suddenly, he realized something.


    The transport team they had just encountered was heading towards the secretboratory...


    And the explosion happened to be in that direction...


    Could it be...


    The secretboratory exploded?


    .......


    The explosion came suddenly.


    The outer city wasrge in area, but usually only ces with buildings had human gatherings.


    This "deste park" in the western city seemed to have been an ancient park, now deste and rarely visited.


    Now that he thought about it, wasn''t this the best location for a secretboratory?


    Although it was uncertain whether it was deliberately detonated or an idental explosion, Su''en''s first reaction was, "Could it have been bombed by someone?"


    Moreover, because of the explosion, a series of clues in his mind instantly connected, and a cold and beautiful face appeared in his mind. It was the S-ss female wanted criminal with a three million reward!


    "It couldn''t really be her, right?"


    Thoughts shed through Su''en''s mind, but the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed to be her.


    When he went to the Knight District to save Danny''s three friends, he encountered that woman.


    At that time, Su''en hadn''t figured out why she wouldmit crimes against the wind and cause trouble for a human trafficker.


    Now that he intercepted this batch of goods, he also learned that the Steam Party would transport supplies to a certainboratory. And thisboratory was researching the "X Serum" and was located in a certain position in the western city.


    With this association, he immediately guessed why the Steam Party was capturing vagrants and orphans.


    Because he had learned from Danny that the upper levels of the ck Tower had conducted arge number of live experiments for the "X Serum Project" in order to progress. And since the research was still ongoing, it made sense that they would need arge number of people for experiments.


    Such a live experimentboratory couldn''t be set up in the inner city, so the outer city, where human life was cheap, was the most suitable.


    And that woman going to find a human trafficker was very likely to be trying to lock down the location of theboratory through the clue of human trafficking!


    So, was it really her who caused the explosion?


    .......


    "That woman stole important items for extracting the ''X Potion''. If she really blew up the outer cityboratory now, the upper levels of the ck Tower would probably be furious..."


    Su''en suddenly became interested in that woman.


    A person with conviction, it would be a pity if they died.


    Su''en guessed the reason for the explosion, but he wasn''t interested in staying longer. After all, it wasn''t his home that was blown up.


    He called out to Kay, "Let''s go, there will probably be a lot of peopleing to watch the excitementter."


    A rxed smile appeared on Kay''s face as well. "Heh, this explosion actually helped us a lot. The traces of the robbery scene should be almost destroyed now."


    "Yeah, indeed."


    Su''en also raised an eyebrow, feeling that they were lucky.


    Since it was guessed to be deliberate, the timing of the explosion coinciding with the day of their robbery was probably not a coincidence.


    That kind of secretboratory couldn''t be entered and exited like a market, so it was highly likely that today was a day of concentrated resupply.It''s possible that Su''en and the others intercepted not only this batch of goods, but also other supply convoys, such as the ones used for experiments.


    That woman probably infiltrated through other means.


    However, they have nothing to do with it.


    They are just ordinary small bandits.


    .......


    Su''en and the other person did not bring the goods back to their residence on Green Street. Instead, they searched for some dpidated buildings and secluded ces in the sewers along the way, and hid the items in batches.


    After setting up some warning devices, the two of them burned the clothes they wore during the crime and got rid of any traces that could be tracked, before returning to Green Street.


    The news of the explosion in the West City District quickly spread throughout the entire Outer City. Even the higher-ups of the Cross Society sent people to inquire about what had happened.


    But the rumor circting among the ordinary members was that it was a methane explosion. It seemed that the Steam Party also deliberately controlled the information and there was no mention of the boratory".


    As for the "robbery" that Su''en and the other person participated in, it is unknown whether the Steam Party intended to secretly investigate or if it was all considered part of the explosion. At least for now, there was no news of anyone looking for that batch of goods or the bandits.


    But the calmer it was, the bigger the situation seemed to be.


    Because Su''en discovered...the reward for that S-ss wanted criminal in the ck market had increased again.


    This time, there was no specified price. It stated: "For those who provide valuable information, depending on the value of the information, they can obtain permanent residency in the Inner City, hereditary noble title, and any cursed materials currently recorded by the Alchemy Guild..."


    It can be seen that the person offering the reward was already "desperate".


    This unprecedented reward price was enough to tempt almost anyone.


    Permanent residency in the Inner City, for almost anyone in the Outer City, was a welfare that they would fight for even if it meant breaking their heads;


    Hereditary noble title, even the major families in the Inner City would probably dig three feet into the ground to find the person;


    And the reward of any cursed materials, it was enough to tempt even the second and third-tier professionals who were not interested in fame and fortune.


    And this was just the reward for providing information!


    Moreover, this wanted notice not only included the original photo of the woman, but also various disguise photos, as well as detailed data on height, bone structure, dimensions, and more.


    The pink-haired bunny girl outfit that Su''en had seen before was also among them.


    In other words, even if she covered her head, anyone with a keen eye could recognize her through her figure!


    Su''en felt that with such a reward, it would be difficult for the "walking treasure trove" to avoid being caught.


    Thinking about the next gathering of high-level professionals in the ck market, he nned to inquire about the news and also ask Mr. ck if he was interested in that batch of goods.


    And at the moment, Su''en had another important task.


    That was deciphering the "Zombie Research Diary"!


    .......


    Previously, Su''en didn''t pay much attention to the "Zombie Research Diary" because he thought it was meaningless to study it.


    At least for now, it was not useful.


    Tranting those ancient cryptograms would waste a lot of his time and energy, and the research content was too advanced to be of any use even if tranted.


    Most importantly, the key ingredient, the "X Serum," was missing, so it was impossible to sessfully study the zombies.


    But now, things were different. Su''en had a finished X Serum in his hands.


    If he could sessfully trante the diary and create a potion that suppressed distortions.


    Not only could he attempt to create "zombies," but if the serum could be used on humans, it would be great to give himself an injection.


    After returning from the robbery, Su''en didn''t go around everywhere. He stayed in the basement and started researching the cryptograms in the "Zombie Diary".


    The ancient alchemists'' manuscripts were mostly encrypted.


    The higher the level of content, the higher the encryption level.


    It was almost impossible to decipher an unknown ancient cipher with just one''s own strength.


    But there was a shortcut for modern people to learn how to decipher codes, and that was "cryptography," which was now a fully developed discipline at the ck Tower Academy.


    A bunch of cryptography experts and archaeologists studied it daily, deciphering the patterns of many ancient cryptograms andpiling various cryptography into textbooks.


    This made it easier and easier for modern people to decipher ancient alchemy scrolls.


    Most ordinary people had ready-made forms to apply to the dazzling encryption methods.


    As long as they knew the type of encryption and the key, many cryptograms could be cracked easily.


    And Su''en had the mostplete set of "Ancient Cryptography Deciphering Encyclopedia" in Old Lingdun.


    The textbook recorded almost all the methods of encrypting and deciphering cryptograms on the market.


    This greatly reduced the time and difficulty of deciphering.


    And, Su''en had a shortcut within the shortcut, which was the "Eye of Omniscience".Before he had read "The Complete Guide to Ancient Cipher Decryption", when he saw those ciphers with specific patterns, the All-Knowing Eye might hint, "This is a text with a ''three-grid horizontal and vertical discement encryption rule''...";


    But after reading it, it has now directly be "A cipher textpiled by the ''R''lyeh encryption method''...".


    This is also a pattern he gradually discovered after using the All-Knowing Eye for so long. That is, the information identified by the eye will appear in the form that is most easily understood and conforms to his cognition.


    The more knowledge Su''en has, the easier it is to understand the content identified.


    Now when ites to deciphering codes, when Su''en reads the content in the diary, it will directly indicate the specific name of the encryption method.


    Then he just needs to look it up like a dictionary, find the relevant cipher content in the textbook, directly apply the form, and he can decipher it.


    This has saved him a lot of time.

 Chapter 113: Deciphering a diary

    Chapter 113: Deciphering a diary


    With this clever method, Su''en spent several days burying himself in the basement, deciphering the contents of the diary.


    There were many encrypted contents in the diary, but he selectively studied the part about researching distortion suppression potions.


    Oh, not only encrypted text, but alsonguage.


    Fortunately, he had previously mastered the ancient alchemist''s writtennguage, "Guneed," when he separated his soul. Otherwise, it would have taken him several years just to be proficient in this ancientnguage.


    However, even so, the deciphering difficulty was still not small.


    The diary involved many obscure terms in ancient medicine.


    The worst part was that some ancient terms and modern references were fundamentally different.


    Su''en relied on the convenience of the "Complete Guide to Codes" and the All-Knowing Eye, stumbling through the trantion for several days, and actually managed to decipher quite a bit!


    He was certain that the deciphered part was theplete method for "distortion suppression potions."


    But he couldn''t trante the remaining thirty to forty percent, or the trantions were inurate.


    For that part that required highly specialized medical knowledge, Su''en handed it over to Danny, who was half a block away.


    And for the part that he couldn''t trante, he nned to consult the knowledgeable Mr. ck.


    Coincidentally, in the newly arrived "Old Lingdun Daily," he saw information about a gathering of the ck market circle.


    ........


    On this day.


    After spending several days at home, Su''en finally emerged from the basement.


    There were no unfamiliar gazes from strangers on the street, which was a good sign.


    It meant that their robbery operation two days ago was clean, and no one had found their way to Green Street for the time being.


    He rode his motorcycle to the ck market in Shadow Alley.


    Putting on his cloak, he arrived at the secret space in the lower level of the ck market five minutes before the agreed time.


    The participants seemed to be very punctual. In the few minutes after he arrived, more than ten people arrived one after another.


    This time, it was even more lively thanst time. By the time Mr. ck arrived, there were already more than twenty people standing around the stone table.


    Then came the familiar process, starting with the exchange of information.


    Sure enough, as soon as they started, someone immediately asked about the explosion in West City.


    "Does anyone know what happened at the abandoned park in West City a few days ago? I heard that even the Steam Party''s cadres were not qualified to approach the explosion site, and many mysterious people from the inner city came to handle it. It seems to be the work of the Umbre Organization."


    "I received some information saying that there was a secretboratory there. I don''t know why, but it suddenly exploded."


    "Heh, theboratory made it to the outer city. Could it be some highly dangerous research?"


    "..."


    Those who could advance to the second stage were not fools, especially in the outer city. Most of these cloaked people were influential figures, and they had a wide range of information sources.


    As soon as they heard that it was aboratory explosion, they immediately spected on a lot of information.


    Su''en listened quietly as these big shots discussed, and their spections were almost exactly the same as his.


    "I received information a long time ago that the Steam Party had been secretly capturing vagrants for a long time. But I haven''t heard of anyone in the inner or outer city who has received any of those goods. It seems that the disappearance of the poption is closely rted to that explodedboratory..."


    "Live experiments? Those damn guys from the ck Tower really don''t care about the lives of us outer city people."


    "I''m not sure about anything else, but I''m sure the one who caused the explosion is the current number one on the wanted list. By the way, I want to ask if any of you know any clues about her. Hehe... I''m very interested in that reward."


    "I have some information, but it has already been exchanged for the reward. Someone saw her at the ''ck Knight Club'' in West City. She killed Dam, the human trafficker in the Knight District, and then set the club on fire. Now that I think about it, she was probably asking about the whereabouts of the trafficked people..."


    "Oh? So that''s why the ck Knight suddenly caught fire. It was her doing! Hahaha, now that you mention it, I feel a bit satisfied with that explosion..."


    "I have thetest information. There was a big battle in the North Cityst night. The Umbre Organization somehow found her, and after a fierce battle, she was severely injured."


    "So, was she captured?"


    "No."


    "She managed to escape?"


    "..."


    When the topic reached this point, the person who provided the information seemed to have some concerns. After pondering for a moment, he continued, "I heard that a third party force intervened and broke through the Umbre Organization''s encirclement, allowing her to escape."


    "..."


    Listening to this, Su''en realized that he had been med for trying to save people.


    But at the end, when the person mentioned the "third party force," everyone present was surprised.


    Su''en also thought, who in Old Lingdun would dare to oppose the Umbre Organization?


    And then he realized that there was one right in front of him.


    Su''en also noticed that no one continued the topic after this, as if they all had concerns.


    Mr. ck, as usual, remained calm and didn''t speak.


    There was nothing noteworthy about the rest of the information exchange, and Su''en also contributed some of his own spective information.


    Then came the item trading session.


    The most discussed topic during this session was still the information about the "Dawn City" ruins.


    Recently, many ancient relics had been excavated and sent back to Old Lingdun. These big shots in the ck market now had many high-level cursed items and materials to exchange.


    After a lively exchange.


    Su''en also witnessed some strange and rare things.


    During this time, he also found an opportunity to inquire about the "Mental Power Secret Technique" and the "Cursed Hair of the Weeping Witch," but no one responded.


    That was expected as well.


    However, towards the end, a cloaked person raised a purchasing request that caught his attention.


    "I need a set of ''Frost Giant Battle Armor,'' and it must be in stock. I''m leaving the city in three days, and during this time, as long as someone can get it, I''m willing to pay 20 million or an equivalent value of cursed materials..."


    Su''en heard this and remained silent.In the batch of goods he and Kay had intercepted before, there were indeed five sets of finished battle armors.


    But this stuff was special, once sold, there were only a few ces it could havee from.


    He thought, this guy was very likely fishing for information.


    Moreover, the way the other party asked was very clever,


    They were in a hurry, offering above market price, and setting a time limit.


    If someone really had a channel and wanted to sell, they would definitely find a way to do so, after all, time waits for no one. And such goods were sensitive, it was not easy to find a buyer who dared to buy.


    Su''en didn''t speak, and the scene fell silent for a moment.


    At this time, another person spoke up: "I can get it, but I''m not sure when. And... it might not be aplete set."


    From the tone, it sounded a bit like the person who had a channel to get the battle armorst time.


    Upon hearing this, the buyer also wrote a note, replying: "This is my contact information. But I can only wait for three days. If you can get it in time, the price can still be negotiated."


    .......


    The transaction was over, and this small gathering was nearing its end.


    Su''en found Mr. ck, who was about to leave, and exined his purpose: "Mr. ck, I''ve encountered some difficulties in ancient knowledge and need your advice."


    He didn''t know if Mr. ck could see through this cloaking cloak, but he obviously recognized him.


    Mr. ck seemed to be very interested in ancient knowledge, "Oh? Let''s hear it."


    Su''en took out the notes of sentences he didn''t understand from the diary.


    Upon asking, this "schr" really knew.


    He casually tranted a few sentences.


    "This sentence is a metaphor often used by ancient sorcerers, ''The wheat falls to the ground and dies'' means that mercury dies in saltpeter and sulfuric acid. The flowing ''living silver'' mercury bes solid and dies, a pun. It is usually used when a certain material is being refined..."


    "''The belly of the fire dragon hides magic steel, take four parts of the fire dragon and nine parts of the ma'' This sentence is a high-level alchemy process, the corresponding materials are..."


    "Um... this one is very difficult. This is a professional term in the field of ancient medicine, using a double encryption method... I probably need some time to look through some materials to ensure uracy."


    "..."


    Listening to him casually tranting those codes that he couldn''t guess even after racking his brains, Su''en''s expression remained unchanged, but he was full of emotion.


    Mr. ck was truly knowledgeable, as if he knew everything.


    Thinking about his talent, Su''en felt that being erudite and mind-reading was a perfect match.


    It seemed that without making a move, those wise eyes could see through everything about the enemy.


    After all, it involved too many professional terms in ancient medicine, Mr. ck couldn''t trante some of the content urately for a while, but he didn''t refuse to help with this small favor: "How about this, give me the note, I should be able to decipher it in a few days at most. I''ll leave the note in the usual ce..."


    Su''en nodded and asked, "Mr. ck, what kind of price do I need to pay?"


    Mr. ck said nonchntly, "These precious ancient knowledge are the best reward you have already paid."


    After a pause, he smiled and said, "Tranting ancient scrolls is one of my favorite jobs. If you have more simr knowledge in the future, you cane to me, I would be happy to help."


    As always, a gentleman.


    Even if he guessed that Su''en must have more ancient scrolls in his hand, he hinted in the most unobtrusive way.


    "Thank you for your generosity..."


    Su''en sincerely thanked him.


    He didn''t rush to sell the stolen goods in his hand, nning to wait until the heat died down to ask.

 Chapter 114: Create zombies

    Chapter 114: Create zombies


    Half a monthter.


    Basement of Green Street.


    Su''en was tinkering with a newbat puppet in the basement of Green Street. He tried to use steel wires to manipte its movements, butpared to the wooden puppets, it was too clumsy in both shing and dodging.


    This puppet, which was almost the same height as him, was not made of wood, but a mechanical puppet assembled from dismantled parts of the PX-911 mechanical limbs.


    Su''en also knew that it was not that the mechanical limbs were not sensitive enough, but that his approach was wrong.


    During this period of research, he had already figured out many functions of these mechanical limbs.


    The outer armor of the limbs was made of a special alloy that could not be dented even by alchemical bullets. There were also various weapons hidden inside the limbs, such as knives, guns, energy cannons, retractable metal ropes, and jet thrusters...


    Once disassembled, it was a collection of top-level technological weapons.


    There was also a mechanical heart with a blood pumping function, and a mechanical lung for oxygen supply...


    And these were not the most amazing things.


    During this period of experimentation, Su''en discovered that the most iprehensible technology on these mechanical limbs was the high-sensitive mechanical contacts that could be triggered by bioelectricity.


    This was an extremely advancedboratory-level technology, surpassing even steampunk, making Su''en think that the technological tree of this world had reached the level of "neuro-mechanics" in cyberpunk.


    With these high-sensitive contacts, theoretically, connecting them to the human nervous system could directly control the movements of the mechanical limbs!


    Su''en also thought that this limb might be the secret project Danny mentioned, the Super Mechanical Warrior Project, which was a coboration between the ck Tower Medical Research Department and the Mechanical Department.


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t be so coincidental to find it on a transport vehicle headed to theboratory.


    After discovering this, Su''en reconstructed theplete structure of this mechanical limb in his mind. The missing parts might be aplete human nervous system or some other driving organization made of alchemical prosthetics.


    There was no intelligent control system in this world, so they simply installed a human brain and created a semi-mechanical human.


    As long as they covered it with ayer of synthetic skin, they would look no different from humans!


    This was more thorough than those "new-style" alchemists in the outer city, who were still limited to modifying mechanical limbs. The topboratories in the inner city had already developed warriors with almost fully mechanical limbs.


    Su''en spected that the wanted woman was probably such a mechanical warrior.


    .......


    However, the mechanical limbs involved too manyboratory-level cutting-edge technologies, which couldn''t be thoroughly researched by one person.


    Su''en had no intention of selling this thing, nor did he n to cut off his own head and connect it.


    So, all he could do was dismantle the parts.


    He disassembled the indestructible dagger from the arm of the mechanical limb and attached it to his wooden puppet. He also removed the spring-like sharp de from the mechanical leg and gave it to another puppet. As for the high-precisionponents, he didn''t need them, so he dismantled the alloy outer te and created a bulletproof puppet. As for the mechanical organs, they gave him a lot of inspiration for his "Iron Man Mark III"...


    Su''en was busy tinkering with the mechanical puppet,pletely absorbed in his work.


    But suddenly, his ears twitched slightly, and an unusual sound entered his ears.


    Su''en stopped his work and turned his head sharply to look.


    He became more certain that there was the sound of breathinging from the dissecting table in the corner of the basement, separated by a transparent curtain!


    "Hmm..."


    Listening to the faint sound, he was not surprised, but rather delighted: "It worked!"


    Su''en ignored the puppet in his hand and quickly walked over.


    At this moment, he looked at the body on the dissecting table with a slight rise and his eyes brightened.


    .......


    Half a month ago, Su''en found Mr. ck in the ck market and had him trante those profound cryptic texts. He sessfully deciphered the form for the "Distortion Suppression Potion" developed by the insane alchemist who created the living corpses a thousand years ago.


    It was also fortunate that Danny''s original work at the "Number Seven Research Institute" was the study of distortion suppression. Although the ancient form was veryplex and had some iprehensible parts, because many theoretical aspects were interconnected, hebined his own knowledge and tinkered with it, sessfully producing the first batch of "Distortion Suppression Potion" yesterday!


    The outer city was notcking in corpses, and Su''en immediately found a fresh corpse to try. After injecting the second-generation X serum in the appropriate dosage, the corpse slowly regained vitality. However, the effect of the second-generation serum was much worse than the original solution, and this was already the third injection. If there was no effect, he might consider injecting the fourth dose.


    Unexpectedly, the corpse suddenly started breathing!It looks like a sleeping human, but ording to the diary, it is just a soulless shell. Even the features of the body are not from the corpse itself, butpletely transformed by the active substance in the "X Serum," forcing the body tissues to revive. In a sense, this corpse is no longer a human corpse.


    After a moment of breathing, Su''en looked at the gradually appearing dark red marks on the body, and the overall skin color gradually turned blue. He thought to himself, "The skin is turning blue, and the marks are appearing. It''s indeed starting to deform..."


    The diary detailed the process of this deformation, and Su''en was not surprised at all.


    Without dy, he took out a distortion suppression injection and injected it into the body.


    After a while, the speed at which the distorted marks spread began to slow down.


    Su''en didn''t waste any time and took out a rune pen to start drawing basic runes on the breathing corpse.


    Corpse Vitality Rune, Level 1 Dark Attribute Gathering Rune, Wind Element Cirction Condensation Rune, Level 1 Life Rune...


    The materials were prepared in advance, and Su''en had been practicing rune drawing for days.


    He didn''t need to research on his own, he just followed the drawing order recorded in the diary and drewyer byyer.


    These were all low-level runes, and the difficulty of drawing them was not high.


    As described in the diary, the person named Kekov used this set of low-level runes to create a "useless" active corpse.


    Su''en knew that he definitely couldn''t create the terrifying blue-skinned monster in the cursed space with these low-level runes, nor did he intend to.


    What he wanted was not the ultimate research of "resurrecting corpses," but just a "living corpse" that could maintain normal life characteristics!


    .......


    Three hourster.


    Su''en had filled the body with various runes alternating between yellow, ck, white, and red.


    The runes on the entire body contained the four basic elements of "earth, wind, water, and fire," connected in a continuous cycle, giving life.


    "The ancient sorcerer who created thisbination of runes was truly talented..."


    Su''en put down the rune pen and looked at his work, feeling emotional.


    He could master these low-level runes proficiently, but he couldn''t understand the principles behind them. By consuming a small amount of materials, he could make these runes continuously operate, which involved extremely profound rune skills.


    It would also be convenient to add more runes in the future.


    With thepletion of the rune drawing, Su''en finally rxed.


    He had done everything he needed to do and began to check the state of deformation on the body.


    "The X Serum has changed the structure of the body''s tissues, significantly enhancing muscle strength. But while the distortion suppression agent takes effect, it also suppresses some of the serum''s effects..."


    Su''en was already satisfied with this result.


    Various signs indicated that the first active corpse he created was about to seed!


    He didn''t want to create a "hateful warrior." The strength of the corpse didn''t matter as long as it could rece him in bearing the bacsh of the ck scythe.


    Before long, the body''s skinpletely turned blue.


    "It''s done!"


    Su''en felt delighted.


    This meant that the serum-transformed body had stabilized. Although there would be some enhancements to the subsequent active corpses, this could already be considered a sessful "rune active corpse."


    ......


    Creating the active corpse was just the first step. What was important was that Su''en intended to use it to verify his conjecture.


    He used a steel wire to pull the body up and make it stand.


    The active corpse stood there like a sleepwalker, eyes closed, with a dull expression. It seemed alive yet not alive, appearing slightly eerie in this dark basement.


    "The muscle strength is enough to support the body, and the joints are normal. Itpletely meets the conditions..."


    Su''en checked the state of the active corpse.


    He had already determined that using the ck scythe required at least two necessary conditions: having life characteristics and infused with dark spiritual power!


    And the curse bacsh was also highly likely to be directly rted to these two conditions.


    The "living corpse" happened to meet both!


    After being transformed by the X Serum, the body was filled with surging dark spiritual power, even surpassing that of ordinary professionals, faintly overflowing.


    This was perfect, as it saved Su''en the trouble of finding another method to activate the release of dark spiritual power from the corpse.


    Su''en fixed the ck scythe in the hand of the active corpse.


    In an instant, the ck mes emanating from the scythe seemed to be stimted by the dark spiritual power, immediately surging up.


    Seeing this, Su''en faintly felt that his conjecture was correct.


    Taking a deep breath, he tried pulling the arm of the corpse lightly with the steel wire, and as if hearing a tearing sound, a small spatial crack appeared near the tip of the scythe de, mysteriously.


    "Indeed, a spatial crack appeared!"Seeing this, anticipation overflowed on Su''en''s face.


    This time, he didn''t infuse any dark spirit power into his main body, yet he seeded.


    He could now roughly confirm that his conjecture was correct!


    After making this cut, he didn''t move anymore.


    He put down the puppet and began the long wait for the bacsh.


    .......


    An hourter.


    Su''en didn''t feel anything unusual about himself, but at this moment, he saw a sudden gash appear on the right arm of the zombie in front of him.


    "It worked!"


    Su''en knew that this was a sign of the scythe''s curse bacsh.


    "My guess was indeed correct. As long as the conditions of a living body and dark spirit power are met, a spatial rift can be cut!"


    Now, Su''en''s face was radiant, as if he saw a glimmer of light piercing through the foggy future.


    Where the scythe passed, it cut in two!


    The "Night ck Scythe of Hypnos", which could only be used to gamble with enemies before, has now be a controble weapon of mass destruction.


    The curse bacsh won''t be applied to his main body, which means he can control the zombie to swing without any hesitation.


    There was also a pleasant surprise. Because of the modification of the "X serum", the zombie had a strong self-healing ability. The wound was slowly healing.


    This meant that as long as this zombie wasn''t killed in one go, it could be reused!


    Humans would hesitate to use the scythe for fear of crippling themselves and affecting theirbat power, but zombies were different.


    What Su''en wanted was a puppet. As long as the zombie could cut a spatial rift, even if it was missing an arm or a leg, it didn''t matter to him.


    He estimated that before the body bacsh and death, it could probably swing five or six times in a row!


    One swing could kill a lord-level Spider Queen, what was the concept of five or six swings?


    This meant that Su''en now had the ability to kill high-level professionals!


    However, Su''en wasn''t too excited, this was a result he had anticipated.


    Next, he faced more problems.


    The experiment was sessful, but to reach the level of actualbat, there were still many problems.


    He looked at the zombie on the dissecting table and pondered, "The zombie is not flexible enough to control now. If it really fights, there are many areas that need to be improved... The muscle strength of the corpse is enough for it to stand and support its body, but it can''t walk. What if I install a mechanical skeleton and add a steam power boiler? Hmm... The current technology is not mature, and it''s not convenient."


    As he thought, his thoughts began to diverge.


    "The phenomenon of the zombie''s dark spirit power overflowing also needs to be controlled, so that the intensity of the spatial rift can be controlled..."


    "The swing range and the infused dark spirit power value determine the size of the spatial rift, but urate control still requires more attempts to get urate data..."


    Now that he had a zombie, he didn''t need to risk his main body for such dangerous attempts.


    There were still ny-seven vials of "Second Generation X Serum", enough for him to create more zombies and get the precise data he wanted.


    But looking at the two-meter-long ck scythe, Su''en muttered in his heart, "And, the biggest problem is that both the zombie and the scythe can''t be stored in the storage ring, it''s not convenient to carry around."


    "Huh... Didn''t Mr. ck say before that the second-tier profession of Puppet Master can choose ''Spatial Ability''. Some high-quality spatial curse materials can give people the ability to create real folding space. Then, creating a folding space that can hold zombies and scythes would be perfect. However, it seems that such cursed items are not easy to find..."

 Chapter 115: Havent you noticed any changes in me?

    Chapter 115: Haven''t you noticed any changes in me?


    Su''en sessfully created a zombie.


    But he had another idea, which was whether he could inject himself with it.


    Su''en carefully looked through the "Zombie Research Diary" and found some experimental records of injecting "X Serum" into living people, which made him hesitate.


    Even with the "Deformation Inhibitor," the sess rate of fusing the serum was only 80 percent.


    The remaining 20 percent meant unknown mutations, deformations, or even direct body explosion.


    Moreover, the side effect of the skin turning blue for a long time was also a big problem.


    It''s not that he had any idol baggage, after all, he could ept the eyebrowless bald smoky style, and blue skin seemed no uglier.


    But ordinary people didn''t know what the skin meant, but anyone with discerning eyes could tell that it was the side effect of the "X Serum." Once discovered by the people in the inner city, it would definitely be a big problem.


    He also didn''t know how long the blue skin wouldst and didn''t dare to try it rashly.


    Anyway, it seemed that there was no reason for him to take the risk of using the serum now. Su''en nned to wait for a while and see if he could find other methods to increase the sess rate.


    ........


    Su''en stayed in the basement every day, tinkering with zombies, puppets, machinery, exercising his body, and studying alchemy knowledge...


    He felt busy, so busy that even with the help of his eight spider arms, it still wasn''t enough.


    It had been almost a month, and except for attending a small gathering of high-level professionals in the ck market, he hardly went out.


    He also inquired about the progress of the investigation into the robbery he and Kay carried out, but there seemed to be no significant movement.


    After all, theboratory had exploded, and who cared about a batch of lost supplies?


    In this way, Su''en sessfully sold a part of the stolen goods and exchanged them for some hard currency.


    But the more money he had, the more worried he became.


    Now, Su''en not only wanted to buy the "Mental Power Secret Method," but also the "Cursed Hair of the Mourning Witch," and now there was another second-tier advanced material that could awaken spatial abilities.


    ording to Mr. ck, the first two could still be bought. After all, many people didn''t recognize the value of the Mental Power Secret Method and didn''t need it, so there were opportunities to pick up bargains. As for the hair, only puppet masters could use such material, and it could be bought at a reasonable price.


    As for the cursed material that could awaken spatial abilities, it was almost impossible.


    Such rare advanced materials that could awaken "Spatial Abilities" were in short supply, and there were no reports of them being stocked in the treasuries of the major financial magnates in the inner city.


    Even if they were found by a hunting team, would they be able to keep it internally?


    Even if they were sold, the wealthy magnates in the inner city were the best buyers.


    Su''en felt that if he really wanted it, he could only try his luck in the wilderness.


    There were indeed more and more good things in the ck market.


    With the gradual excavation of the "Dawn City Ruins," more and more people also participated in hunting outside the city.


    Of course, the casualty rate remained high, and many small hunting teams were wiped out on the way without even seeing the ruins.


    But the harvest was truly astonishing.


    ording to the news that came back, the ruins were not empty cities, but seemed to have been destroyed by some terrifying disaster.


    The city preserved arge number of ancient artifacts, and there were also many S-level and T-level cursed spaces.


    Su''en didn''t feel anxious after hearing this news.


    After all, Mr. ck had evaluated that it would take at least ten or eight years to develop the ruins without sacrificing arge number of lives.


    But because the harvest was so tempting, the major financial magnates in the city organized hunting teams and daredevil squads to explore the underground.


    The three major gangs in the city also took action upon hearing the news.


    Within the Cross Society, multiple exploration hunting teams were organized, and they had already left the city to scout ahead.


    After hearing the news, Su''en also had some thoughts.


    Now he had a zombie that could manipte a sickle and a certain degree of self-defense ability.


    If the timing was right, he also nned to go and take a look.


    ........


    After all, they were members of the gang. Su''en and Kay, the two loners from Green Street, would eventually have to do some work.


    Others might forget about these two cking off for the past month, but Qiantiao knew very well about their talents.


    On this day, Su''en rarely went out and rode his motorcycle to wait at "Big Beard''s Mechanical Repair Shop." He chatted and exchanged experiences in mechanical repair with the boss, Wright, for a while. At half past six, Kay arrived on time riding a bicycle.


    Kay greeted, "Let''s go."


    Su''en followed, "Captain, why did you call me out?"


    Kay said, "The new ce on Norton Street is opening tonight, and Qiantiao wants us to go and check it out. ording to Qiantiao, we might have to follow her in the future..."


    "Oh."


    Su''en listened and suddenly realized.


    After Green Street was destroyed, the Cross Society had been nning to rebuild an entertainment district.


    It just so happened that the recent internal conflicts in the inner city seemed to have subsided.Mrs. Fino stood firm amidst the turmoil, and the Cross Society began to expand again.


    I''ve been hearing about the preparation of a new entertainment street for a while, and I didn''t expect it to bepleted so quickly.


    And that new street is located in Norton district, one of the thousand districts.


    .......


    There was plenty of time, so the two of them didn''t ride too fast.


    Kay seemed very excited, riding his motorcycle like a victorious rooster, puffing out his chest and raising his head, he asked with a smirk, "Brother Su''en, haven''t you noticed any changes in me?"


    Su''en nced at him and naturally noticed something.


    It had been half a month since hest saw this guy.


    Kay''s physique had obviously grown a lot, his leather jacket was bulging. His arm, gripping the handlebar, was muscr and rolling, as if there were worms wriggling under his skin, creating a visually striking image.


    Seeing Kay''s deliberately showy flexing, Su''en pretended not to see and cooperated with him, asking, "Ah...what''s up?"


    Kay let go of the motorcycle with one hand, showing off his massive biceps, "Look, what''s this?"


    Su''en looked at him, not knowing whether tough or cry.


    He felt he should be shocked, but he just couldn''t muster the surprise, and could only respond with an "Oh."


    "Oh?"


    Kay rolled his eyes, realizing he had chosen the wrong person to show off to, and seemed a bit deted.


    But he also knew Su''en''s character, saying "Oh" was already a good response.


    Even though his show-off attempt failed, it didn''t affect Kay''s mood, he excitedly said, "Brother, the body refining potion you got for me from the ck market is simply divine! I feel like a month of training with it is equivalent to a year''s worth of training in the past. I feel great now!"


    "Oh, as long as it''s useful."


    Su''en responded with a slight smile.


    Of course, he knew what the potion was all about.


    The PTX Berserk Amplification Potion and the Lester VI Generation Blood Cell Enhancer, he was using them himself.


    He bought so many second-hand instruments for Danny, making money was secondary, the first priority was to ensure his own potion needs.


    Now the initial investment has yielded returns, these two body refining potions are the top priority for production.


    Last time, under the pretext of sharing the money from the sale, he casually gave Kay a few.


    "Brother, I won''t say anything else, this potion has really helped me a lot!"


    Kay excitedly said, "If it wasn''t for the fortune we made togetherst time, I wouldn''t have been able to afford such an expensive potion."


    He was very clear that without Su''en, they wouldn''t have been able to intercept that batch of goods.


    After a pause, a hopeful gleam appeared in Kay''s eyes, he sighed, "With such a good body refining potion, I see hope of advancing to a second-tier professional in my lifetime..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened and smiled.


    Actually, professionals like Kay, who are ambitious and courageous, have always been working hard.


    But in reality, his strength is just average among professionals.


    The key difference is still the gap in resources.


    Whether it''s breathing techniques, alchemical imnts, or various martial arts training, they are allcking.


    For closebat professionals, without enough high-quality supplements, the training efficiency will be low, and hidden injuries will umte. It may not matter in the short term, but in the long run, it will leave asting impact.


    This is the most important reason why it''s difficult for outer city professionals to advance, and even more difficult to promote to the second tier.


    After all, body refining potions are a long-term need.


    The two types of potions that Kay is using now, each costing nearly half a million, are not only "controlled potions" that can''t be bought in the inner city, but even if they could be bought, he couldn''t afford to use them.


    At this point, Kay added, "When I feel like I''ve hit a bottleneck, I n to apply to join the guild''s wilderness hunting team and go out of the city to hunt. I might even make a fortune..."


    After a pause, he mysteriously added, "Hey, have you heard? They say they''ve found arge ancient ruin underground, it seems to be quite amazing."


    Su''en knew he was probably talking about the Dawn City ruins, the information of the lower-level gang members was indeed much slower.


    He casually said, "Isn''t that ruin said to be very dangerous?"


    "We have to go even if it''s dangerous!"


    Kay had an indifferent expression, not hiding his admiration as he recounted the legendary stories he heard in the guild, "The boss Angel became strong because he encountered danger while hunting in the wilderness outside the city, and that''s how he sessfully integrated the silver imnt, Thousand Kill Feather Wings..."


    But when he got to this point, his words suddenly stopped.


    Kay seemed to remember something, he turned his head to look at Su''en who was riding alongside him, and deted his mouth in disappointment.


    The other members of the guild would be boiling with passion when they heard the story of Boss Angel, but he knew that Su''en definitely wouldn''t.


    Because he knew, this guy''s imnt must be more than just silver!


    But even though he thought about it, he never asked.


    At this point, seeing that Kay didn''t continue, Su''en also smiled and said, "You''ll have it all in the future."

 Chapter 116: I can think of the best fate

    Chapter 116: I can think of the best fate


    Before long, Su''en and Kay rode their motorcycles to Norton Street.


    It waspletely different from thest time they came here. The customs museum, gambling stalls, taverns, and unique bathhouses... Various gorgeous neon lights illuminated the entire street.


    Su''en and Kay felt a sense of familiarity with this scene.


    "Crimson Fortress," "Elephant Tavern," "Emperor''s Bathhouse," "Musketeer Inn"... The familiar signs were no different from the once prosperous Green Street.


    Kay looked a bit disappointed, feeling nostalgic. As the leader of Green Street, he had deep feelings for this ce.


    Su''en, on the other hand, didn''t care at all. If he had to start patrolling the streets every night at seven again, it wouldn''t take much effort. He could just move here again. And with the arena open, he could harvest souls every night, which was a good thing.


    ........


    Today was the opening ceremony, and Norton Street was bustling with activity.


    The president of the Cross Society, "Arbiter" Chuck, and other officials were all present.


    They were all dressed in suits, looking very formal. Apart from the asional aura of killing intent between their brows, it was hard to tell that they were a group of gang bosses who killed people like cutting grass. They looked more like sessful entrepreneurs.


    Most of the major shareholders in the entertainment industry were wealthy people from the inner city. Today, many big shots from the inner city came to the opening ceremony, and various luxury cars lined the streets. The fat and wealthy gentlemen, the elegantly dresseddies, the graceful and charming socialites... It was like walking on a red carpet, allowing Su''en and the others from the outer city to see what the rich people from the inner city looked like.


    Su''en and Kay, being nobodies, naturally didn''t have the qualifications to show their faces on stage.


    Those who looked good went to the inner area to show off, while those who wore leather jackets, had tattoos, looked ugly, and had a fierce appearance stood on the outskirts to ensure security.


    Su''en, with his bald head and smoky makeup, naturally stayed outside.


    He was quite rxed.


    Kay and the other captains of the Cross Society were squatting on the side, chatting and joking. At this moment, a long luxury white car decorated with angel wings suddenly drove up to the red carpet.


    Someone eximed, "Look, there... a beauty!"


    The experienced old birds perked up their ears upon hearing the word "beauty" and stretched their necks to look in the direction of the red carpet.


    Then, they saw a cold and morous woman in a flowing ck dress step out of the car.


    Su''en nced at her and immediately recognized her as the patron of the Cross Society, Lady Philo.


    Most of the captains of the Cross Society were not high-ranking enough to know who the patron behind the Cross Society was. Even if they had heard the name, they had never seen her before.


    Kay, who was beside Su''en, took a look and his gaze immediately became fixed. He suppressed the restlessness in his heart and calmly exined, "Don''t be surprised. If you disturb Lady Philo, the president will definitely kick your asses."


    Someone eximed in surprise, "Is that the legendary Lady Philo? Kay, have you seen her before?"


    Kay said, "Well, I have indeed had the honor of meeting thatdy in person before. But it''s not worth mentioning..."


    His teasing tone, coupled with his show-off expression, was really asking for a beating.


    "Tsk~"


    The captains all hissed in unison, but it didn''t affect their enthusiasm for looking at beautiful women.


    "My goodness, she''s so damn beautiful..."


    "Oh... another person got out of the car. Kay, do you know who the little beauty next to Lady Philo is?"


    "I don''t know, but I think she must be the daughter of some big family."


    "Could it be Lady Philo''s daughter?"


    "Bullshit! Where did thatdy get such a big daughter?"


    "..."


    The old birds started specting about various gossip.


    The gossip about the love lives of the big shots in the inner city was the best topic for discussion in the outer city after a meal.


    Su''en listened silently on the side because he had already recognized the person following Lady Philo as Rena.


    Although her face was covered with a ck veil, Su''en recognized her beautiful long ck hair at a nce. Wasn''t she that girl Rena?


    Why would the daughter of a top-tier familye to such an asion?


    But seeing Lady Philo and Renaing out of the city to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Su''en thought that the internal turmoil of the Reyes family had probably subsided.


    He didn''t think much about it.


    .......


    The protagonist had arrived, and now it was time for the boring ribbon-cutting ceremony.


    The big bosses from the inner city jointly cut the ribbon and made speeches.


    However, Lady Philo was very low-key. Apart from showing herself when she got out of the car, no one saw her again.


    Su''en felt a bit bored and leaned against amppost, ying with a flipping coin skillfully between his ten fingers, from the palm of his hand to the back of his hand, and then back to the palm of his hand...


    Suddenly, he felt someone''s gaze on him from behind, and the coin in his hand paused for a moment.


    But recognizing the familiar footsteps, he didn''t pay much attention to it.


    The next moment, Su''en felt his arm being enveloped in a softness, and a warm body boldly hugged his shoulder. Even without seeing the person, he had already heard the familiar tone of the big sister, "Hey, Su''en, where have you been all this time? I didn''t see you at the casino. I wanted to invite you to gamble, but you didn''t show up."


    Su''en knew it was Qiantiao as soon as he heard the footsteps and greeted her with a smile, "Big Sister Qiantiao."


    When he turned his head, he saw that Qiantiao was dressed quite formally, probably because of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. She was wearing a Body Fusion blue and white kimono, her hair was tied up high, and her big arms were not exposed. She looked quite gentle.


    Qiantiao asked again, "Where''s Kay?"


    Su''en shrugged, "I don''t know. It seems like he went to watch the excitement with the captains."Qiantiao patted Su''en on the shoulder and said, "I''ve already talked to the president. You and Kay wille to Norton Street from now on. You''re my people now!"


    Su''en didn''t really care, "Oh..."


    Qiantiao looked around in the crowd but couldn''t find Kay. She grabbed Su''en''s shoulder and led him outside, saying, "Let''s go, let''s go soak in the hot springs. I''ll introduce you to some people."


    "Huh? Today is the opening ceremony. Aren''t you going to watch it?" Su''en felt that something was off.


    The boss of Norton Street is just starting his business. Do you really want to go soak in the hot springs?


    Qiantiao had a look of annoyance on her face, "There are too many things to do at the venue today. I''ve left it to the captains."


    "..."


    Su''en thought that Qiantiao was being irresponsible.


    It''s precisely because there are so many things to do for the opening that they need someone like her to manage the venue.


    At this moment, Kay appeared out of nowhere and greeted them from a distance, "Qiantiao!"


    "Here you are." Qiantiao greeted Kay and said, "Let''s go to Akun Bathhouse! I''ll treat you guys to a hot spring!"


    Kay''s eyes lit up when he heard this, "Sounds good!"


    It''s hard to refuse when Qiantiao is treating. Although Su''en wanted to go back and study the animated corpses, he had no choice but to go along.


    .......


    After soaking in the hot springs, they felt refreshed.


    In thete night, Su''en apanied Qiantiao to a newly opened arena.


    The arena was newly opened, and this gambling addict was eager to try her luck.


    Because it was the first day of the opening, there were skilled professional diators participating in the arena battles, and Su''en gained some valuable experience.


    He stayed in Norton Street for the whole night and originally nned to return early the next day.


    But just as he came out of the gambling den in the early morning, Kay found him and said that the leaders had arranged for them to escort a batch of goods to the inner city.


    Later, Su''en learned that it was because of the opening of the new arena, and the captains of the Cross Society were all busy.


    It seemed that only the two of them from Green Street were free, and since the leaders saw that they were free, they arranged for them to do the escorting.


    It wasn''t a particrly special task, just following the convoy to deliver a valuable batch of goods to the inner city.


    The Cross Society had its own expedition team, so the guild''s warehouse would umte a lot of advanced cursed materials and relics collected from outside the city.


    These things were of no use in the outer city and couldn''t be sold for a good price. So every once in a while, they would be sent to the inner city and handed over to the business guild under the patronage of the main sponsor for processing.


    With the sponsor''s pass, they didn''t need to have their identities checked when entering the city. This was a rare opportunity for gang members to enter the inner city.


    The veterans of the Cross Society all liked this task.


    It was a rare opportunity to broaden their horizons.


    Kay also seemed excited.


    ........


    In the afternoon, Su''en and Kay arrived at the warehouse of the Cross Society''s headquarters, the ck Forest Building.


    Kay checked the things loaded on the truck, signed on the inventory list, and prepared to set off.


    A standard escort team, three vehicles.


    One captain with nine people, and two truck drivers.


    Just like the steam gang''s escort team they intercepted a few days ago.


    Because they had studied in detail how to rob a transport team before, Su''en and Kay felt a bit strange and didn''t sit in the front and rear cars.


    Kay sent the driver to the small car and drove the truck himself, walking in the middle of the convoy with Su''en.


    They were afraid that there might be some secret dealings between the Cross Society and the inner city, which would attract some inexplicable interceptions. Before getting on the car, Su''en deliberately observed that this time the truck carrying the goods was not a special armored vehicle, and the goods were normal goods.


    After getting on the car, the two of them smiled at each other.


    But they thought they were being overly cautious. After all, they had several escort missions every year, and it was unlikely that they would encounter interceptions.


    .......


    They set off from the South City and drove for half an hour before approaching the inner city wall, which was several times more magnificent than the outer city wall.


    Su''en recalled some vague memories and had some impressions of the structure of the inner city.


    Seeing the towering city wall in the distance, some images from his memories ovepped.


    Theyout of the inner city was like a cake divided into eight equal parts, which were the 1st to 8th city districts. In the center of the inner city was a ck tower that couldn''t be seen at the top, like a candle inserted into the cake.


    On the foot of the city wall, hundreds of meters high super chimneys were constantly emitting white smoke, which was the super steam boiler that powered the entire city.


    The inner city wall was about two hundred meters high, but the buildings inside were even taller.


    The convoy got closer and closer to the inner city, and the city wall became more and more real in their sight.


    There was white spray paint on the front wall, with a huge number "5" marked on it.


    Below the city wall was the fifth city gate, and behind it was the 5th city district of the inner city.


    Kay was excited and pointed at the skyscrapers taller than the city wall from a distance, introducing and eximing, "Hey, brother, look! That''s the famous ''Sky Garden'' in the inner city! Can you see the colorful ribbons in the sky? Hehe... that''s the legendary rainbow, you can''t see such a spectacle anywhere else."


    "Yeah." Su''en had good eyesight and had already seen it.


    The lights in the inner city were as bright as daylight, giving a very bright feeling.


    It was like adding ayer of bright light filter to those buildings, clean and transparent.


    Even from a distance, he could see the upper levels of the inner city buildings covered in green, and white waterfalls flowing down from the tops of those buildings, with rainbows hanging between the buildings...


    In the rooftop garden with yellow-orange fruits, he could even see ady in white leaning on the railing, enjoying the view as her skirt fluttered in the wind...A high-altitude swimming pool, lush rooftop greenery, and ss buildings as blue as the sea... From the ss corridor, one could see the blurry figures of people walking, chatting, andughing in pairs...


    The architecture of the inner city was beautiful and filled with a sense of technology; the outer city was like a post-apocalyptic wastnd, full of gloom and filth.


    Separated by a wall, it was as if they were two different worlds.


    After his initial excitement, Kay''s tone suddenly became a bit mncholic, "Hey, brother. I won''t lie to you, I''ve never been to the inner city in my life..."


    Su''en smiled, "Neither have I."


    "Haha, this time we can go and broaden our horizons."


    As he spoke, the reflection of the massive city was mirrored in Kay''s clear eyes, revealing his longing for a better life.


    Just being able to visit the inner city was a dream that many people from the outer city could never reach in their lifetime.


    Kay suddenly became a bit mncholic, "I''m an orphan from a tube building, with no parents. Apart from fighting and killing, I don''t know how to do anything else. I heard that the kids in the inner city learn to y instruments and do business from a young age, they go to school to learn knowledge... When they grow up, they can bewyers, dentists, teachers..."


    At this point, Kayughed self-deprecatingly, "Heh..."


    Thinking about it, he continued slowly, "Brother, do you know... I used to fantasize that the best life I could fight for myself was to be lucky enough to advance to the second level, and then be a bodyguard for some big boss in the inner city... Haha, isn''t that pathetic?"


    Su''en listened and nced at him.


    The young gang leader, who could still be called a teenager, suddenly had a sparkle in his eyes, shining brightly.


    "Everyone in the gang says I''m brave, that I''ll definitely make something of myself..."


    Kay had a smile on his face, but as he spoke, he couldn''tugh anymore, "Actually, I''m not afraid to tell you, sometimes I''m very scared. Countless nights, I wake up from nightmares of fighting and killing, covered in cold sweat. I touch my still-beating heart, and it takes a long time to realize that I''m still alive..."


    Su''en listened quietly, ying the role of a silent audience.


    His gaze was fixed on the city, which was gradually deepening.


    .......


    The journey was uneventful.


    Both Su''en and Kay breathed a sigh of relief.


    The truck arrived at the foot of the city wall, like a mouse under an elephant''s foot.


    Because they had a special pass, they were not checked and smoothly drove into the massive steel city gate.


    At this point, there was no trace of mncholy on Kay''s face, and his carefree smile returned.


    As they approached their destination, Kay suddenly thought of something and said to Su''en, "I have a secret to tell you, but you mustn''t tell anyone."


    Su''en raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"


    Kay said mysteriously, "Before we set off, Boss Smoker told me that he would introduce me to a big shot from the inner city, and I might have a chance to enter the inner city early."


    "Boss Smoker?"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en''s brow furrowed, as if some thought shed through his mind.


    "Yeah! Boss Smoker said that once I enter the city, that big shot will send someone to contact me."


    Kay nodded andughed brightly, "I tell you, if I make it big, I''ll cover for you! Hahaha...."


    Su''en looked slightly startled, feeling that something was off, and asked, "You mean... Boss Smoker asked you to keep it a secret?"


    "Yeah."


    Kay said, "He originally told me not to tell anyone, but I think we''re brothers, and you''ll definitely keep the secret for me."


    Why the need for secrecy?


    Introducing a benefactor wasn''t something to be hidden.


    Su''en instinctively felt alert and asked again, "How will that person contact you?"


    Kay, unaware of any problem, replied, "I don''t know. But Boss Smoker said that person will find a way to contact me..."

 Chapter 117: Lost manuscript

    Chapter 117: Lost manuscript


    "Boss, the convoy of the Cross Society has entered the city. They should arrive at the ''White Sail Warehouse'' in ten minutes."


    "Has the list of escorts been confirmed?"


    "Yes, it has been confirmed. There are twelve people in total, three vehicles. They are all elderly members of the Cross Society listed on the roster, and there are no suspicious individuals. The leader is ''de'' Kay, and there is also someone named Su''en on the list, who is quite skilled in marksmanship."


    "Well, he''s just a gunman, at most a first-tier. No need to worry. Stick to the n. Once we confirm that the item is in the cargo, eliminate everyone in the convoy."


    "Yes!"


    "Oh, by the way, go and make contact with that kid named ''Kay''. Give him a peripheral test first. If his abilities are good enough, recruit him."


    "Understood."


    .......


    The convoy of the Cross Society transporting goods slowly entered the inner city through the "Fifth Gate".


    After entering the city walls, it was like entering a steel forest. This was a very three-dimensional city. There were many skyscrapers that were three to five hundred meters high, like towering trees, forming the main body of the city. And relying on these high-rise buildings as the framework, various steel-frame bridges, suspended intercity train tracks, elevated pedestrian streets, and hanging steel-frameyers were densely built... like ayered cake.


    These elevated buildings connected the buildings into one, and roughly divided the entire city into three levels: upper, middle, and lower.


    The architectural styles were clearly distinct.


    The shorter buildings appeared slender, with exposed brick walls,rge blocks of stone, pointed towers that clearly showed Gothic style, pointed arches, andrge windows with colored stained ss, resembling architectural styles from a thousand years ago. The middle level had steel-frame structures, thick pipelines, steam boilers, and a rough industrial style reminiscent of steampunk. As one went higher, it became the futuristic technology style of the cyber world, with even sky gardens...


    The city''s designers increased the number of residents that the inner city could amodate several times within the limited space.


    Su''en had a vague impression of the harvesting memories and knew that the people in the inner city were also divided into different sses.


    The higher one lived, the more prestigious their status.


    The lower level was the civilian area of the inner city.


    The Cross Society''s convoy traveled on the ground, while intercity trains roared overhead like light rails. Along the streets, there were flower stands with colorful flowers. People of all ages, whether young or old, were dressed in vibrant clothes.


    "Wow... so many cars! Are these guys in the inner city all so rich? It seems like everyone can afford luxury cars..."


    Kay had never been to the inner city before. He looked at thepletely different scenery from the outer city and couldn''t help but exim.


    Each of these cars was shiny and had sleek lines. They were iparable to the old goods assembled from scrap parts in the outer city.


    Seeing the cars on the road, Kay suddenly felt that the "cool modified motorcycles" in the gang were like mischievous children covered in mudpared to these cars.


    Su''en rested his chin on his hand, leaning against the car window, looking at the bustling street full of cars, but his gaze seemed unfocused.


    Although the goods had been transported to the inner city, he couldn''t help but feel that something was amiss.


    ......


    The destination for transporting the goods was the "White Sail Warehouse," an inconspicuous warehouse located by the riverside in the 5th district. The ss roof resembled a white sail.


    The space inside wasrge, and the trucks drove directly into the warehouse.


    Kay called for Su''en to get off the car. "Hey, bro, we''re here. We''ve delivered the goods, and the mission isplete."


    Su''en nodded but didn''t rush to get off the car.


    He deliberately observed the people receiving the goods in the warehouse. There were a total of seven people, all employees of the chamber ofmerce under Lady Filov, and they seemed fine.


    Then he looked at theyout of the warehouse. It was spacious, about the size of a football field. But there was no ce to hide except for a few thick spray-painted iron columns supporting the ss roof overhead.


    In that instant, Su''en instinctively thought of a feasible escape route in case of danger.


    Kay had already gone down and greeted the people involved in the handover.


    Then he went to the back of the truck and opened the password-protected door, and the gang members began unloading the cargo ording to the list.


    Su''en observed this and didn''t find anything unusual, so he also got off the car.


    "Jackson, the butler, here is the inventory list of the goods. We already checked it once before we set off, so there shouldn''t be any problems."


    "Sorry, we still have to go through the process."


    "Oh, counting is a time-consuming task. You must be working hard."


    "No, this is exactly why Lady Filov hired us."


    "..."


    When Su''en got off the car, he saw the members of the Cross Society unloading the items from the truck one by one, and the old butler named Jackson was responsible for counting.


    The people from the inner city seemed indifferent and didn''t seem to want much interaction with the Cross Society from the outer city, even with Kay, the leader of the transport team.


    Kay seemed bored.


    Seeing Su''en getting off the car, he walked over. "Su''en, after we deliver the goods, shall we go around the city?"


    Seeing his enthusiasm, Su''en nodded. "Sure."


    But at that moment, a bearded man in a suit walked over from outside the warehouse. He opened his mouth and asked the group of people, "Who is Kay?"


    Kay frowned at the arrogant tone. He didn''t want to pay attention, but it seemed like he thought of something and spoke, "That''s me."


    Without wasting any words, the man said coldly, "Come with me. Someone wants to see you."


    Saying that, he didn''t even look back and left in the direction he came from.


    Kay, instead of doubting, became excited and couldn''t hide it on his face. He gestured to Su''en, "Bro, I''ll be gone for a while. Can you watch over things for me?"


    "Sure."


    Su''en nodded and didn''t say anything.


    He knew that this bearded man was probably the person the smoker arranged for Kay to meet.


    There was nothing more to say.After all, Smokey was Kay''s old captain, and the one who had promoted him in the gang. Su''en often heard Kay express his admiration for Smokey, like a child idolizing his father.


    But...


    What Su''en found strange was, this bearded man came directly to the warehouse to demand someone?


    This was the warehouse of Lady Philo''spany. If Smokey introduced Kay to a financier who was a friend of Lady Philo, why was he being so secretive?


    And, that faint gaze from afar at the warehouse entrance, was it a sentry or something else?


    ......


    Many items had already been unloaded from the truck, withrge sculptures, metal utensils, and other antiques piled up on the ground.


    Then there were smaller items like ancient books, scrolls, and cursed materials.


    Su''en had doubts and quietly watched from the side. Gradually, he noticed something. The old butler with the horseshoe mustache seemed to be examining those books very carefully.


    Even on the list, it only said "one hundred ancient books," without any detailed names.


    There were hundreds, if not thousands, of books in that pile. To look through them all would definitely waste a lot of time.


    But the butler was painstakingly examining each book, as if looking for something.


    This unusual behavior made Su''en suddenly alert.


    What was this old man looking for?


    He wasn''t this meticulous with the other antiques. Was he looking for a specific book?


    In that instant, several keywords shed through Su''en''s mind: goods, books...gang warehouse?


    No!


    Something was wrong!


    Suddenly, he recalled a rted memory through these keywords.


    It was his first day joining the Cross Society, and the warehouse attack he had participated in!


    At that time, they had captured an intruder alive, but he was killed by a traitor within the Cross Society on the way.


    Su''en connected these clues and suddenly frowned, guessing a possibility that made him break out in a cold sweat: "This guy is looking for Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript!"


    ......


    This thought suddenly popped into his mind, and a huge sense of crisis instantly overwhelmed him.


    He had originally thought it was just a simple escort and handover mission, but he didn''t expect it to be a trap!


    Su''en had already learned through various channels that the Cross Society had lost a copy of Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript.


    He had thought that it was just lost, and that such a precious item had nothing to do with him, a low-ranking gang member.


    But now, he was unexpectedly involved.


    He immediately thought: "The Captain Miller who assassinated the prisoner back then was definitely not the traitor, at least...not the mastermind. This means that there is still a ''key figure'' from the original robbery case within the Cross Society that has not been discovered. When President Chuck and the executives suddenly returned to the headquarters, the traitor knew that they could not possibly safely carry the manuscript, so hiding it would be the safest..."


    Moreover, this was not just a guess, but a fact!


    Su''en immediately recalled the key information he had obtained from the soul of the second-order attacker: "They would never think that the manuscript would be hidden there."


    "So that''s what happened..."


    Su''en connected all the clues in his mind, and a huge, far-reaching conspiracy suddenly surfaced.


    Since the manuscript couldn''t be taken away under those circumstances,


    Where would be an unexpected ce to hide the manuscript?


    Naturally, the Cross Society''s warehouse!


    "The manuscript has never left the ck Forest Building, it just moved from the Cross Society''s vault to the ordinary warehouse outside!"


    Connecting all the clues, Su''en immediately concluded: "The traitor also knows very well that even as an executive, he would be suspected if he went to the warehouse again. But he doesn''t need to risk retrieving the manuscript himself, because every once in a while, the Cross Society automatically transports the goods in the ordinary warehouse to the inner city...he just needs to intercept the transport team to find the manuscript hidden among those books!"

 Chapter 118: Suddenly started killing people

    Chapter 118: Suddenly started killing people


    "Damn it! Sandbu, the smoker, is the mole of the Cross Society!"


    Su''en reconstructed the truth of the whole incident in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more the various clues matched.


    If Miller wasn''t the real mole, then the one who ordered him to kill the captive was most likely a cadre.


    Although there were still a few cadres of the Cross Society who hadn''t left the city at the time, no one would suspect the old veteran of the Cross Society''s merits.


    But the secret that Kay had told him earlier immediately confirmed that Sandbu was the mole!


    Su''en was certain that Kay had absolutely no knowledge of it, so... now that he was taken away, is it possible that Sandbu really valued his talent and intended to spare Kay''s life?


    Although he didn''t know what Kay would encounter when he was taken away, it was not something Su''en needed to think about right now.


    He was well aware that once the "Alchemy Manuscript of Isaac" was really found in this batch of goods, it would be the death sentence for the people in this warehouse!


    ......


    Perhaps the other party only wanted the goods and didn''t intend to kill?


    No.


    Su''en didn''t hold any illusions because he had already sensed the intent to kill.


    As he scanned theyout of the warehouse with his gaze, he suddenly felt that the situation was very bad.


    Their position was in the center of the warehouse, and if the enemies outside the warehouse rushed in, they would be caught in a crossfire from all directions.


    Even if they used the carriages as cover, they would still be waiting for death.


    Su''en thought that the other employees of the Chamber of Commerce might not have much of a problem, but the old steward who was searching for the documents was definitely in trouble.


    Su''en originally thought that the vague sense of disgust was the inherent superiority of the people in the inner city looking down on the people in the outer city, but now he realized that it was actually a hidden intent to kill.


    Thinking of this, Su''en slowly leaned back and then pretended to help, slipping into the carriage. Although this carriage was not a specially reinforced one, it could withstand a barrage of bullets to arge extent.


    At this moment, the old steward who was searching through a pile of books suddenly found a thick book with a ck embossed cover and his expression subtly changed as if he had discovered something.


    And just at this moment, the old steward made a seemingly normal gesture, taking off his hat.


    Su''en had been paying close attention to every move of this guy, and when he saw this, his pupils suddenly contracted.


    This guy was giving a secret signal!


    Seeing this, Su''en didn''t wait any longer and took the initiative to ask, "Steward Jackson, have you found what you were looking for?"


    When the old steward heard this, his expression changed drastically, and he looked at Su''en in astonishment.


    And in that instant, the vague sense of disgust in Su''en''s perception suddenly turned into a needle-like "intent to kill".


    Even though Su''en could now control his emotions very well, he couldn''t help but feel furious at being calcted by someone. "You really proved me right!"


    Almost at the moment he sensed the intent to kill, Su''en didn''t give the old steward any chance to make a move. He quickly pulled out his pistol from his waist and shot the old steward''s head, blowing it up on the spot.


    Killed instantly.


    .......


    Su''en suddenly erupted in killing, and whether it was the escorts of the Cross Society or the Chamber of Commerce employees who came with the old steward, they were all stunned.


    Looking at the head that exploded in front of them, everyone thought Su''en had gone mad. They were about to scold him when they saw Su''en throw several smoke bombs that exploded with a bang.


    "Damn it, what are you doing!"


    "Have you gone crazy!"


    "..."


    Angry curses rang out, but suddenly stopped abruptly.


    Because before the smokepletely obscured their vision, at this moment, the warehouse door was suddenly kicked open with great force.


    A group of ck-d men wearing checkered vests, gloves, and newsboy caps entered in an orderly manner, carrying "ck Wheel Submachine Guns" and without any useless words, they opened fire on the convoy in the center of the warehouse!


    Da, da, da...


    More than ten machine guns fired in unison, and the more than ten people standing next to the truck didn''t even have time to react before they were turned into beehives.


    Ten secondster, the drums ran out of bullets, and the sound of changing magazines rang out in the warehouse.


    These ck-d men were obviously well-trained. Seeing the smoke filling the air, they also guessed that the enemy might take advantage of the opportunity to reload. Some of them changed magazines, while others drew their pistols from their waists and cautiously closed in on the smoke-filled truck.


    Deep inside the truck carriage, Su''en, hiding behind a metal sculpture, silently calcted, "Three in the front, five on the nk, eight in the direction of the front of the truck..."


    He heard the footsteps of the enemy clearly and suddenly made his move.


    Gunshots suddenly rang out from the smoke.


    "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"


    Three consecutive rapid gunshots, before they even saw any figures, the three ck-d men who were surrounding the truck carriage from the front were urately hit.


    The group of ck-d men were caught off guard, but they quickly retaliated and unleashed a barrage of gunfire into the smoke.


    And in the next instant, a blurry figure of an eight-armed monster suddenly rushed out of the smoke.The two ck-clothed men who had just gathered around to block the truck''spartment hadn''t seen what it was when they were suddenly pierced through the chest by two spider spears and died on the spot!


    The ck-clothed men instantly reacted and wanted to focus their fire on Su''en. However, Su''en, who was running with his eight-arm spider spear, was quick on his feet and his hands were not idle either, changing colors as well.


    "Malicious Perception" allowed him to urately capture the positions of the enemy gunmen and continuously pull the trigger to kill them.


    Bang, bang, bang...


    Both sides fiercely exchanged fire, and the sound of gunfire echoed in the empty warehouse, creating a dull roar.


    If they were in the outer city, Su''en could easily kill these more than ten gunmen as they posed little threat to him with their ordinary reaction speed and marksmanship.


    However!


    The bullets that were enough to kill ten gang gunmen in the outer city only killed one person. The other bullets either missed or were evaded by those guys, only hitting non-lethal areas...


    "They''re all professionals!"


    Seeing this, Su''en felt that things were not good. He had no intention of fighting and fought while retreating. The eight-arm spider spear vibrated at a high frequency, creating a blur as he moved.


    He didn''t dare to rush out of the warehouse door but instead headed straight for the nearest load-bearing pir. The eight-arm spider spear climbed up the pir, appearing as if it was walking on t ground.


    ........


    Su''en took the initiative and caught the ck-clothed men off guard.


    After he rushed out of thepartment, he revealed his extraordinary spider equipment and precise marksmanship, causing the ck-clothed men to be surprised.


    Weren''t there supposed to be only one professional in the convoy?


    What''s the deal with this spider person?


    And when did such a powerful first-tier professional appear in the outer city?


    Although many doubts arose, the actions of the leader of the ck-clothed men were not slow.


    "Hehe, how could I let you escape!"


    When a contemptuous look shed in his eyes, the leader of the ck-clothed men had already formed the hand seals.


    In the next moment, a deep blue hexagram alchemy array suddenly lit up under his feet. As soon as this array appeared, therge warehouse suddenly felt like a cold wave had descended, and the temperature dropped significantly.


    At this moment, Su''en, who was still desperately avoiding being hit by bullets while climbing the iron pir, asionally counterattacked with a few shots, causing the ck-clothed men to dodge and flee.


    But at this moment, he caught a glimpse of the guy who had activated the hexagram array under his feet, and his heart sank. He thought to himself, "A second-tier professional!"


    Such aplex alchemy array, just by looking at it, he knew it was a second-tier spell.


    It meant that the guy was definitely a second-tier professional!


    Moreover, this second-tier ice spell was not simple. Su''en not only felt the sudden drop in air temperature, but also a sense of death looming over him, making his hair stand on end.


    Without hesitation, Su''en raised his hand and fired two shots at the guy.


    He wanted to interrupt the opponent''s spellcasting.


    "Bang!" "Bang!"


    After the two gunshots, regardless of whether he hit or not, Su''en did not continue shooting. Instead, he turned the barrel of the gun towards the ss roof above his head and fired several shots, creating arge hole next to the load-bearing pir.


    Seeing that the opponent had cast an ice spell, he instinctively thought of a way to deal with it, put away his guns, and quickly formed the alchemy seals with both hands.


    .......


    However, none of the second-tier professionals were ordinary, even in the field of magic, they had enough experience in dealing with gunmen.


    The leader of the ck-clothed men looked at Su''en pointing the gun at him, a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    A thought shed through his mind: "The secret technique of double shooting... The outer city gang actually has such a firearms expert. This guy really knows how to surprise people. Hehe, I bet he''s a wanted criminal in the organization..."


    Just as this thought crossed his mind, he watched as sparks flew from the muzzle aimed at him. Without dodging or evading, almost at the same time, the bullets hit his forehead.


    "ng!"


    "ng!"


    With two crisp sounds, the bullet heads bounced off, and a rune gloss shed, sttering a momentary ice flower.


    The ck-clothed man was unharmed. It turned out that it wasn''t real skin, but ayer of frost armor equipment!


    Just as he was hit, the ck-clothed man''s alchemy seals had already finished, and he softly chanted, "Alchemy Art: Extreme Frost Freeze!"


    With this alchemy seal, a frosty path resembling a white snake spread out from the alchemy array under his feet and swiftly rushed towards the weighing steel pir not far away.


    ........


    "Such fast casting speed!"


    Su''en didn''t expect these two shots to be able to harm the ice mage, but he also didn''t expect this guy to withstand the bullets with his head.


    Since he couldn''t stop the opponent from casting the spell, he could only watch as the piercing cold spread to the iron pir he was climbing.Seeing that he was just over ten meters away from reaching the rooftop, he suddenly found that the spider spears clinging to the iron wall were bing increasingly difficult to pull off, as if they had stepped on glue.


    Looking down, he saw that the entire iron pir under his feet had been coated with ayer of frost, which was getting thicker and thicker.


    Almost instantly, the eight spider spears were not just difficult to lift, but werepletely stuck to the iron wall upon contact.


    Seeing that Su''en was about to bepletely frozen and unable to move, the leader of the men in ck below seemed to think he had the situation under control, and shouted, "Take him alive!"


    .......


    The gunfire instantly died down by more than half, but it also gave Su''en a chance to breathe!


    Because at this moment, thest sorcerer''s seal he had been holding in his hand was alsopleted.


    Just as the frost was about to spread from the spider spears to his body, Su''en''s body suddenly erupted with ayer of blue-purple cold me!


    As the cold me emerged, the frost on the eight-armed spider spears was instantly melted. He shot up and reached the rooftop in an instant, then disappeared from the sight of the men in ck.


    "Huh..."


    Seeing this, the leader of the men in ck was taken aback.


    Looking at the cold me, a serious expression appeared on his face, "The unique alchemical secret technique of the Williams family, ''MysteryNo Servant''? How could an outer city gang possibly know it? A firearms expert, spider arm imnts, and even knows No Servant, what is this guy''s background... Could he be from that organization?"


    Thinking of this, he immediately took out hismunicator and shouted, "Attention everyone, issuing a B-level emergency order now. All units search for a fugitive suspect, physical characteristics as follows... The security team checks suspicious individuals in the block, the city guard team strictly verifies the identity of each person leaving the city. The suspect has the strength of a quasi-second order professional, all units must be careful, try to capture him alive!"


    Seeing Su''en escape, a few of the men in ck also chased after him.


    The remaining few, however, were rummaging through the pile of items that had been smashed earlier, seemingly looking for something.


    Someone reported, "Boss, the stuff isn''t here!"


    Hearing this, the face of the man in ck grew even darker.

 Chapter 119: Moon Hotel

    Chapter 119: Moon Hotel


    Su''en leaped onto the roof of the warehouse, and his eight spider arms disyed superior discement abilities that ignored the terrain obstacles.


    Crawling horizontally, moving vertically, jumping...


    The ck-clothed men were more well-trained than expected. As soon as he reached the rooftop, the guards outside noticed him and started shooting wildly.


    Su''en manipted his spider legs to swiftly dash on the warehouse roof, not daring to touch the ground. Instead, he climbed along the pipeline connecting the warehouse to another building.


    Fortunately, with the eight legs able to grip the pipeline and the steel wire traction in his mechanical gloves, he leaped into the opposite building floor. He rushed in and finally shook off the ck-clothed men on the ground.


    Then Su''en continued to run without stopping.


    Fortunately, the buildings in the inner city were very crowded. With his ability to climb walls using spider legs, he quickly reached two blocks away.


    Then, he found a secluded alley and stopped.


    .......


    Su''en put away his disguise and quickly used hemostatic powder to treat the wounds on his legs.


    Although he had tried his best to avoid it, he was shot in the leg when he was stuck to the iron pir while climbing in the warehouse.


    He quickly took off his blood-stained clothes, bandaged the wound, and changed into a set of high-end suits simr to those worn by residents in the inner city. He washed off the smoky makeup on his face, put on a wig and a hat, and pressed the brim of the hat down low. He also sprayed himself with deodorant.


    After doing all this, Su''en quickly stored the changed clothes in his storage ring.


    Then, he looked at the thick book named "Precious New Pearl" in his hand, with a slightlyplicated expression.


    When he escaped just now, he casually put the book into his pocket with the spider spear.


    The book cover was naturally a disguise. Even without reading the content, he knew that it was definitely Isaac''s alchemy manuscript.


    In the ck market, a page of the manuscript could be auctioned for three million Lisuo, and this book had at least five hundred pages.


    However, it was not because he coveted the value of this manuscript.


    It was because whether he took it or not, his situation couldn''t get any worse.


    The other party came with the intention of killing him.


    Moreover, as an outer city gangster who managed to escape from a second-tier professional, if he were the previous ice mage, he would definitely not let himself go.


    More importantly... by killing those ck-clothed men during the breakout, he had already sealed his fate!


    After all, those ck-clothed men were not the ordinary thugs Su''en had expected, but members of the "Umbre Organization"!


    .......


    When the war started earlier, Su''en was very puzzled.


    Although there were many inner city professionals, it was not necessary to send a second-tier professional and a reorganized professional team to intercept an outer city gang.


    After harvesting the memories of the two corpses killed by the spider spear, Su''en finally knew the true identity of these bandits.


    At that moment, Su''en had no illusions.


    The Umbre Organization was the most formidable force in Old Lingdun. He had heard about it when he was in the gang. Others could be killed, but not the people from this organization.


    Kill one, and they would relentlessly pursue until the end.


    Now that he had killed so many, they would definitely chase him to the end.


    Moreover, others didn''t know the identity of the original owner, but the "Umbre Organization," thergest intelligence agency in Old Lingdun, definitely knew.


    Once caught, there was only death.


    Oh, and they would also extract all the secrets before killing.


    .......


    Su''en knew that this escort was not a coincidence. To some extent, he was "involved" because of Kay.


    The cadre who arranged for them to be in charge of this escort was most likely the Smoker.


    That guy wanted to send Kay into the inner city...


    So, did the Smoker want to send Kay to the Umbre Organization?


    This puzzled Su''en as well.


    Since the Smoker was a mole, the intelligence about this escort was most likely leaked by him.


    But how could the Smoker be an undercover agent for the Umbre Organization?


    Su''en felt that there was a problem with this chain of rtionships.


    He had previously spected that the mole in the Cross Society should be someone from an opposing faction of a hostile conglomerate in the inner city, simr to Lady Philov''s "level." It shouldn''t be someone from an official department.


    Now, there were more and more doubts.


    For example, such an important notebook, Chuck, an outer city gangster, definitely couldn''t keep it safe. How did it get leaked?


    Since the Smoker was a member of the Umbre Organization, why didn''t the authorities directly intervene at the beginning?


    Could the Smoker be a double agent?


    Or, within the Cross Society, were there factors that even the Umbre Organization feared?


    Too many things didn''t make sense.


    Perhaps the content of the notebook could provide some answers, but it was obviously not suitable to read it now.


    .......


    The notebook couldn''t be stored in the storage ring either, but fortunately, it was not big. Su''en could stuff it into the inner pocket of his coat.


    After changing his clothes, he didn''t stay in the alley and walked straight out.


    "I definitely can''t leave through the city gate. I need to think of another way..."


    As Su''en walked, he pondered on the countermeasures in his mind.


    His steps were light, showing no signs of impatience. Just like an ordinary resident in the inner city, he leisurely walked on the street, not at all like a fugitive.


    Now, what he needed to do was to escape from the inner city as soon as possible.The Cross Society used to have some channels to smuggle out of the city, but since they found out that the enemy is the Umbre Organization and that Yan Gui is a mole, those channels are no longer trustworthy.


    After excluding several ns to leave the city, he came up with a feasible n.


    "The ''Number 7 Research Institute'' where Danny used to stay is on Queen Street in District 4. The sewer there is connected to the ancient sewer system. This is currently the only safe n to leave the city..."


    Su''en had asked Danny for detailed escape routes and knew the exact location that leads to the outer city sewer.


    But once the n was established, another problem arose.


    To go from District 5 to District 4, he had to cross arge district, which was very risky.


    Su''en thought of Danny''s highly sensitive sense of smell.


    He was certain that even if the Umbre Organization''s intelligence agency didn''t have someone with the same ability, they would definitely have simr tracking methods.


    Now that he had temporarily shaken off the pursuers, the most likely possibility was that they would track him by scent.


    After all, he had been shot and bleeding, and his scent was left on the truck. There was no room for luck.


    While thinking about this, Su''en walked towards a nearby bus stop.


    When he reached the bus stop, he stopped in front of the bus route map for a moment and took note of the general roadyout in District 5.


    Then he hailed a taxi and got in.


    He had to escape as soon as possible before the enemy closed in.


    ........


    Just a few minutes after Su''en got on the car, several men in trench coats hurriedly arrived at the bus stop.


    They were holding a deformed ugly dog.


    The ugly dog sniffed around the bus route map where Su''en had been standing before, then barked towards the east street.


    Seeing this, the man holding the dog picked up amunicator and reported, "Attention all units, the target has boarded a transportation vehicle. From the West Gate Station of Mailin Road, heading west towards District 6."


    Shortly after the report, a car arrived, and the men got in with the dog.


    On the other hand, Su''en, who was riding in the taxi, took the opportunity when the driver wasn''t paying attention to stuff the blood-stained clothes he had changed out of into the gap between the back seats.


    Then, after only two stops, he got off and went to the opposite street.


    He changed to another taxi and headed towards District 4 in the opposite direction.


    He didn''t think that such a small trick could deceive the enemypletely, but he hoped it would buy him some time.


    However, it was clear that this anti-tracking technique could mislead the pursuers but couldn''t stop another inescapable method of the Umbre Organization - roadblocks!


    .......


    Su''en was riding in this taxi, about to leave District 5, when he saw a roadblock checkpoint at an intersection.


    The guys from the Umbre Organization had obviously already considered this and wanted to trap him in District 5.


    This was a one-way street, and now even if Su''en held a gun to the driver''s head and told him to turn around, it would be meaningless.


    He saw the checkpoint, and the people in the checkpoint naturally saw him too.


    Turning around would only expose him faster.


    Seeing the inspection, the taxi driverined, "Oh, why did they suddenly close the road during the day? It''s too early to check for drunk driving... And it''s not the guys from the Public Security Bureau, it seems to be the people from the special department of the municipal government. Could it be to catch fugitives..."


    The driver muttered to himself, suddenly thinking of something. Then he nced at the passenger in the back seat from the corner of his eye. Seeing that he was calm as usual, he didn''t pay much attention.


    Su''en naturally noticed the driver''s gaze on him, but he didn''t say anything or jump out of the car. He calmly sat in the back seat.


    The vehicle drove over and was indeed stopped.


    Several guys in trench coats knocked on the driver''s window, "Sir, please show your identification card."


    The driver took out his identification card and held it in his hand. The card emitted a green light.


    The inspector looked at it,pared it, and handed it back, "Thank you for your cooperation."


    The anti-counterfeiting technology of the inner city identification card was extremely difficult to forge.


    It was useless to use someone else''s card because it was bound to the biological information of the cardholder. It would only emit light when held by the cardholder.


    Su''en naturally couldn''t produce such a thing, and he didn''t have the intention to do so.


    His actions naturally caught the attention of the inspector, and several people surrounded him.


    This situation was about to be exposed.


    But even so, Su''en didn''t draw his gun. Instead, he calmly rolled down the car window and coldly asked the person next to the door, "Who is in charge here?"


    When he spoke, he showed no signs of fear as a fugitive. His expression was resolute and calm. He even deliberately released a bit of the killing intent that he had honed in actualbat.


    This question caught the trench coat man off guard, and his mind was momentarily stunned by the imposing aura. He instinctively responded, "It''s... Captain Mogos."


    Su''en didn''t give him a chance to ask back. He said in a calm but unquestionable tone, "Call him over."


    The man was stunned for a moment, then turned his body and said a few words to the man with a square face who was inspecting another car at the checkpoint.


    Before long, the square-faced man walked over and asked, "Sir, did you call for me?"As he spoke, he was also sizing up Su''en, clearly taken aback by his imposing aura. Instinctively, he felt that this was a high-ranking professional with authority, strength, and a significant position.


    Without giving him much time to think, Su''en uttered a baffling phrase: "The eternally slumbering are not the deceased, even death itself will dissipate in the mysterious eons."


    The driver was utterly confused by these words. However, the square-faced man by the door turned pale upon hearing them, suddenly showing respect and saluting on the spot: "Comrade Colonel!"


    "Hmm."


    Su''en waved his hand, not saying anything unnecessary, and ordered the driver: "Drive!"


    Seeing the man outside the car saluting, the driver was stunned for a moment, realizing that there was a big shot in the car.


    Upon hearing themand to "drive", he unconsciously started the vehicle.


    Although the man in the trench coat felt something was off, before he could react, the car had already left the checkpoint.


    ......


    Su''en sat expressionlessly in the back seat, ncing through the rearview mirror at the people in the checkpoint who didn''t chase after them. Only then did he rx his hand that was touching the gun.


    If his previous trick hadn''t worked, he would have had to draw his gun and start a firefight by now.


    This secret phrase was something he had heard when he encountered the ''Blind Detective'' Bill in the cursed space of the basement at 88 Ginkgo Street.


    He hadn''t been able to use it at the time, but now it came in handy.


    "So this is the exclusive secret phrase of the Umbre Organization''s colonels?"


    Su''en had a moment of realization. The square-faced man had immediately mentioned a position upon hearing it, which was obviously the correct way to use the "secret phrase".


    But it couldn''t be that simple, there must be some follow-up phrases.


    Su''en didn''t know the rest, so he intentionally didn''t give those guys time to react and urged the driver to start the car.


    The deliberately revealed murderous aura was also to make that man instinctively think that he was a high-ranking official within the organization.


    But this method had too many ws. It might have worked on a normal day, but it was bound to cause trouble today.


    Seeing the taxi leaving the sight of the checkpoint, Su''en got out of the car.


    He couldn''t take public transportation anymore.


    ......


    Meanwhile, at the Umbre Organization''s District Five Command Center.


    "Command Center, we have intercepted a suspect in a taxi and found a set of blood-stained clothes. The information was incorrect, the suspect has switched to the opposite direction towards District Four."


    "All units be advised, check every vehicle passing through the rted routes, especially public transportation. The suspect is heading towards District Four, urgently call for the secret files of smuggling channels..."


    "We just received urgent intelligence, the suspect is impersonating an internal cadre of the organization and has used a ss A secret phrase. Everyone, switch to ss B codes and changemunication to the emergency channel."


    "..."


    Messages from agents all over the city converged at themand center, and the massive machinery of the Umbre Organization began to operate, gradually closing in an invisible.


    ......


    Su''en knew that it was no longer safe to take a car, but thinking that he had already entered District Four, he decided to go on foot.


    But walking on the street, he quickly encountered the patrol security team and the city guards in "Frost Giant Armor". Being alone, he was once again asked for his identification.


    Su''en thought about using the same trick again, to deceive them.


    But this time, as soon as he began to utter the "secret phrase", the other party raised their guns.


    After a fierce battle, he barely escaped.


    But his whereabouts were also exposed.


    Su''en knew that the Umbre Organization hadpletely grasped his movements. Being unfamiliar with the ce, it was impossible to go to the vicinity of "Research Institute No.7" like this.


    For anyone, this would almost be a dead end. It was already impressive to have held out this long against the entire city defense system.


    But Su''en still didn''t give up.


    He thought of thest escape method that required a gamble on luck: the Moon Hotel!

 Chapter 120: Should he dance?

    Chapter 120: Should he dance?


    "Hoo...huh..."


    On the corner of a steel-structured high-rise building in District Four, Su''en hung there using his spider arms, gasping heavily.


    The position he was in was as high as forty floors, and the wind was strong.


    Looking down, he could see the security teams in uniforms, the umbre organization in windbreakers, and the fully armed mechanical city guards searching around the building. asionally, people from the bottom of the building looked up, seemingly noticing his traces of climbing the wall.


    Su''en narrowed his eyes slightly and sighed, "The umbre organization''s tracking ability is indeed well-deserved."


    There was a widely circted saying in the outer city''s underworld: "Beware, even the street fruit vendors may be peripheral informants of the umbre organization."


    Just now, Su''en experienced it firsthand.


    As he was walking on the streets two blocks away, he suddenly noticed a fruit vendor staring at him with malicious intent.


    Without hesitation, Su''en shot the guy in the head, and then he saw the military-standard pistol hidden in his fruit stall.


    This triggered the fierce battle that forced him to hang on the outer wall to stay alive.


    After gasping for a few breaths, Su''en finally had the strength to remove the alloy bulletproof te from his chest.


    He looked at his pale muscles that were almost frozen, his gaze slightly solemn.


    He searched through his storage ring and found an "advanced frost healing potion." After injecting it, he gradually felt the sensation of blood cirction returning to the muscle tissues in that area.


    Hisplexion gradually recovered, and the restoration of body temperature also made him feel warmth.


    If it weren''t for the lightweight bulletproof armor he had dismantled from the chest te of the PX-911 mechanical limbs, which blocked most of the frost injuries, the previous round of frost bombardment might have taken half of his life.


    It has to be said that the "Frost Giant Battle Armor" of the city guards is indeed a headache.


    Fortunately, he had obtained several sets from the previous robbery, and Su''en had already done some research. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have had a chance to escape if he didn''t know the weak points of this thing.


    They can fight, resist, and even use high-pressure bombardment to output frost wind cannons to control targets in a wide range.


    With Su''en''s current strength and methods, he might be able to kill one or two, but they wouldn''t give him a chance to fight one-on-one. They would immediately surround him with a well-trained tactical encirclement.


    He could only flee in a sorry state.


    Two minutester, the potent effect of the medicine took effect, and the frost sensation dissipated over arge area. His limbs finally stopped being stiff.


    Su''en tried to move his spider legs, and the sluggish feeling in his nerves had also disappeared for the most part.


    He knew that he couldn''t hide on this outer wall for much longer before he would be discovered.


    He looked up at the "Mid-level City District" that was still seventy to eighty floors high. The lights there were dazzling and exceptionally prosperous.


    This was thest possible escape method he could think of.


    Because the "Moonlight Inn" was located in the business district right above his head.


    Without wasting any time, Su''en used his spider arms to climb up the building.


    ........


    When Su''en first joined the Cross Society, he witnessed the spectacr deathmatch between the "Red Demon" Gelong and the "Shadow Scorpion" Abok in the Colosseum of the Crimson Fortress.


    In the end, Gelong survived, and Abok was killed.


    Abok was an "A-level wanted criminal" who was active in the inner city at that time and was also a notorious thief.


    Leaving aside other things, this guy''s ability to escape was indeed remarkable.


    Today, Su''en also witnessed firsthand the umbre organization''s control over the inner city, which shocked him even more that this guy had been able tomit crimes frequently and still remain atrge for so many years.


    At that time, Su''en also extracted a memory fragment from Abok''s soul: "It''s a pity that the ''forbidden item'' is still in the ''Moonlight Inn'' and hasn''t been taken out. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been caught."


    Now pushed to the extreme, he thought of this obsession of Abok''s.


    If having that thing could allow such a notorious thief to evade the umbre organization''s pursuit, Su''en believed it could also solve his own predicament.


    However, what worried him was that if that thing was no longer in the inn, then he would truly be in a desperate situation.


    After all, the "Mid-level City District" belonged to the wealthy area of the inner city, where the city''s defense forces were several times stronger, and there were also many high-level professionals.


    This required taking a gamble.


    .......


    The buildings in the inner city were densely packed, and almost all high-rise buildings were connected by various linking structures such as steam pipes, sky bridges, and iron frames.


    This also made it convenient for Su''en.


    He climbed to the rooftop of a building and then used the attached structures to climb onto the outer wall of another building, deliberately avoiding the attention of the crowd. He quickly arrived at themercial district.


    The good news was that the "Moonlight Inn" was a very high-end inn in the inner city, and its pink neon sign hanging on the building could be seen from far away.


    But the bad news was that it was located right in the center of themercial district.


    If Su''en wanted to enter the inn, he only had one choice, which was to walk directly from the street.


    This street called "Dunwich Street" was simr to the upscale venues in his previous life, with various colorful signs hanging on both sides of the street.


    Unlike the streets in the outer city, where only essential goods like rice and flour were sold, there were many luxury shops here, jewelry stores where richdies gathered, high-end tailor shops where gentlemen frequented, luggage shops, cane shops, instrument shops...


    The people on the street all looked wealthy and noble, and their clothes and jewelry gave off a strong visual impact. The scenes in the outer city felt like scenes from a ck-and-white movie, while here, it truly felt like the era of color films.


    While Su''en observed the street with his gaze, he casually nced at a storefront selling men''s canes and saw a cane with a silver lion head, priced at "348,888 lisuo." Then, in a ss disy case of a jewelry store, he looked at a diamond ne that was purely decorative, priced at "1,256,666 lisuo." A silk scarf was priced at "7,777 lisuo," equivalent to three months'' sry of an ordinary worker in the outer city...


    Before Su''en had a chance to take a closer look at the bustling street, his brows suddenly furrowed.


    Because at this moment, as soon as he appeared in the district, several gazes immediately fell upon him.But then, a rxed smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    He muttered to himself, "So I was discovered so quickly..."


    This time, Su''en didn''t avoid or draw his gun when he felt the malicious gaze.


    Putting on his suit jacket and tidying up his messy wig from climbing the wall, he calmly walked out without trying to hide his face under the brim of his hat...


    The smile at the corner of his mouth grew bigger and suddenly turned into a bright grin.


    He was as happy as a child.


    Could the situation get any worse?


    No, it couldn''t.


    This was hisst chance.


    Should he dance?


    Of course.


    Su''en was like a dancer on stage, at this moment, all the spotlights were on him.


    He... was the only protagonist.


    Walking to the soothing melody ying in the mall, he made a grand entrance. His steps were light and agile, asionally spinning to avoid others, his clothes swaying gently. He even gave friendly smiles to strangers passing by. He danced like a waltz, proud, elegant, calm, andposed.


    "He" really enjoyed the feeling of dancing in such a desperate situation.


    At this moment, it felt like there was only the stage, the music, and the audience in the world.


    .......


    The undercover agents, whether they were from the Umbre Organization or the City Guard, thought that Su''en hadn''t noticed them yet and slowly surrounded him.


    But after taking a few steps, they clearly saw Su''en raise his hand to adjust his wig, holding a device with a red button.


    Seeing the inconspicuous button, the undercover agents'' faces turned pale, and their encirclement instantly dispersed. They no longer had any intention of forcibly arresting him.


    An urgent report came through themunicator.


    "Withdraw, retreat immediately!"


    "The target has appeared at ''Dunwich Commercial Street''. The suspect is holding an unknown device resembling a ''pressure detonator''. Please advise..."


    "There are arge number of civilians at the scene. Do not use area attack weapons. Do not approach the suspect. Do not cause panic. Start evacuating the crowd from the periphery. Top-level professionals have been notified to handle the situation..."


    "Understood."


    "..."


    At this moment, Su''en''s eyes were focused on nothing else. He walked confidently, looking around.


    Suddenly, a colorful ball rolled to his feet.


    Su''en bent down to pick up the ball and handed it to the blond boy who was chasing after it.


    The boy, wearing a checkered shirt, politely said, "Thank you, sir."


    Su''en touched his forehead and gave a bright smile, "You''re wee."


    The boy''s parents were a few meters away, looking at their polite and adorable son, with smiles of happiness on their faces.


    "Goodbye, uncle."


    "Goodbye, little friend..."


    Su''en smiled.


    What a beautiful world.


    He didn''t feel that picking up the ball had dyed his time. Instead, he suddenly felt joyful.


    Pinching the lighter with the red button, Su''en put his hand back into his pocket and walked towards the Moon Hotel with a swagger.


    He would probably be mistaken for a bomb by those guys, right?


    Su''en thought so.


    But even I believe it, who wouldn''t?


    .......


    Not far from the entrance of the Moon Hotel, there was a boutique jewelry store with shining samples in the disy window.


    This was a shop that young girls liked to visit.


    And just at this moment, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl with ck hair and a blond girl happened to walk out of the store together.


    "Rena, I heard you went to the outer city yesterday? The outer city is dangerous, why would you want to go to such a ce?"


    "Well, just to broaden my horizons."


    "What kind of knowledge can you gain from a ce full of crime, filth, and gue?"


    "Yulia, the outer city isn''t as bad as everyone says. I found that it''s not as terrifying as people make it out to be."


    "How is that possible... My mother said the outer city is a paradise for gangs and criminals. Poverty makes them do crazy and unreasonable things, like kidnapping, child trafficking, and it''s dangerous for girls like us to go there... I will never leave the city in my lifetime."


    "..."


    Upon hearing her best friend say such things, Rena suddenly had a sh of insight in her mind and muttered softly, "Gangs... there are good people among them."


    Yulia argued, "No way!"


    "There are..."


    And just as Rena was about to argue further, she suddenly heard someone on the street call out her name, "Miss Rena!"


    Rena looked up and saw a stranger walking towards her.


    She felt that the voice was familiar but furrowed her brows, as if trying hard to remember.


    Because she had never seen this face before.


    At this moment, the burly bodyguard not far away also noticed her expression and immediately stood in front of her.


    .......


    Su''en didn''t expect to encounter Rena, who was out shopping.


    He didn''t show any fear when the bodyguard suddenly appeared beside Rena. Instead, he waved at her with a smile, as if they were old friends, "Hey, Miss Rena, long time no see."


    Rena had just thought that she didn''t recognize this person, but upon hearing his voice, she suddenly, in those sparkling eyes, showed a look of pleasant surprise and blurted out, "Mr. Su''en!"


    Su''en, who didn''t have smoky makeup on, actually had a very handsome appearance.


    Wearing a well-fitted suit, he exuded elegance andposure with every move. The faint, confident smile on his face made people feel a warm familiarity.


    Looking at Su''en, who suddenly changed his style, Rena hesitated and asked, "Mr. Su''en... why are you here?"


    She originally wanted to ask why Su''en had changed like this, but changed her question, "How did youe here?"


    Yulia, who was beside them, looked at the well-mannered Su''en and was curious about when her best friend had met such a handsome guy. She asked with gossip in her eyes, "Rena, who is this...?"


    Su''en had a strong and resolute temperament that waspletely different from that of a pampered young master, which suddenly made him stand out.


    Rena paused for a moment before introducing, "Mr. Su''en... is my friend."


    Su''en naturally bent down, taking the slender hand of the blonde girl that was extended a secondte, and performed a hand-kissing gesture, "Oh, beautifuldy, the dimples that overflow from the corners of your mouth when you smile are truly captivating..."


    His words were smooth, like a seasoned charmer, something that a nobledy would have encountered many times.


    Yet at this moment, Yulia felt strange. In this man''s eyes, she saw no hint of the detestable light she was ustomed to.


    She withdrew her kissed hand, returning the courtesy with equal elegance, "Thank you for yourpliment."


    Seeing that he was indeed a friend of the youngdy, the second-tier professional bodyguard subtly increased his distance.


    Rena was still curious about why Su''en had suddenlye to the inner city, and asked again, "Mr. Su''en..."


    But before she could finish her sentence, a pair ofrge hands had already draped over her shoulders, like an extremely intimate friend.


    Su''en''s sudden intimate gesture made Rena''s pretty face stiffen, her words instantly evaporating.


    Before she could react, she felt a warm breath by her ear, it was Su''en whispering, "Don''t move, help me out."


    Hearing this, Rena didn''t know why she suddenly felt less nervous.


    It was as if they were back in the dungeon, where this man would alwaysmand her to do things in amanding tone, but each time, it saved her life.


    ......


    Su''en wasn''t here to flirt. Just a second ago, he had noticed that he was being targeted by a high-ranking professional.


    The gaze felt extremely dangerous.


    Su''en knew very well that the other party would definitely not give him time to go to the hotel to find the sealed object.


    They would seize the opportunity to strike.


    So, he needed a presence that would make the other party hesitate to act.


    Originally, he nned to find a rich young master on the street, but he ran into the more suitable Rena.


    In terms of weight, the youngdy of the Reis family was naturally the most suitable.


    ......


    When he took Rena away, Su''en didn''t forget to turn his head and ask her best friend cheerfully, "Beautifuldy, you don''t mind if I upy a little bit of your best friend''s time, do you?"


    Yulia, thinking they were close friends, smiled and said, "Of course~"


    Su''en responded with a friendly smile and led Rena away.


    Only Rena, the person involved, was still in a state of confusion.


    After all, it wasn''t just the monster-filled dungeon where no one was watching. In public, she also felt it was inappropriate for a man to be holding the neck of the youngdy of the Reis family.


    Especially in front of her best friend and bodyguard.


    Could it be that in the outer city, the way friends greet each other is so passionate?


    Her cheeks slightly hot, her mind in a whirl, she took the initiative to ask, "Mr. Su''en, what... do you need my help with?"


    Su''en was straightforward, "I''m being targeted, and the situation is very dangerous."


    "Huh?"


    Rena looked up at the face that still wore a smile, and couldn''t reconcile his casual tone with the urgent situation he described.


    But thinking about how he always spoke in this tone in the dungeon, she understood.


    Thinking about it, she asked softly, "Then... what can I do to help you?"


    Su''en gave a slight smile and said directly, "You''ve been kidnapped by me."


    "???"


    The abruptness of the topic made Rena feel like her brain had short-circuited, losing the ability to think.


    Kidnapped?


    A momentter, it clicked.


    So, being held around the neck meant she was being kidnapped?


    No wonder Mr. Su''en would do such a strange thing.


    She suddenly understood something. But it seemed that she had no realization of being a "hostage", and there was no panic in her heart.


    Instead, because of the skin contact, she smelled a faint bloody scent on Su''en. She guessed that behind Mr. Su''en''s calm demeanor, the situation was already very urgent.


    Rena thought for a moment, then asked weakly, "Then... then... do I need to cooperate with you?"


    "No need, just follow me."


    Su''en said, looking at the very cooperative hostage, he was in a good mood, and added, "Hmm... if possible, you can show a little more nervousness."


    With that, Su''en had already pulled Rena into the "Moon Hotel".


    Only then did Rena btedly respond with an "Oh".


    ......


    Not far away, Rena''s best friend Yulia was dumbfounded.


    Is this what you meant by "upying a little time"?


    Heading straight for the hotel?


    Showing off so tantly in front of a single girl, is that really okay?

 Chapter 121: Shroud

    Chapter 121: Shroud


    In the moment when Su''en embraced Rena''s arm, the killing intent that was aimed at him from behind suddenly weakened.


    As the eldest daughter of the Reyes family, Rena had a lot of influence.


    Even the members of the Umbre Organization would have to consider her safety if they wanted to pursue the culprit.


    Su''en didn''t waste any time and took advantage of the small number of people surrounding them. He had to find the "Sealing Object" as soon as possible.


    Thanks to Rena''s cooperation, the two of them smoothly entered the lobby of the hotel.


    Upon entering, Su''en immediately recalled some scenes in his mind and became certain of where the Sealing Object was hidden.


    Su''en wasn''t sure about the room key for this hotel, so he didn''t n on going directly to the room. It would be troublesome if he couldn''t forcefully open it.


    He went to the front desk and intended to check in normally and get the key.


    He originally thought that he would need to show identification, but unexpectedly, the manager at the front desk warmly greeted them.


    No payment was collected, and no identification was checked.


    The manager had a ttering smile on his face.


    They didn''t ask for a luxurious suite, just a regr room with a double bed in room 505.


    After going upstairs, our "meat ticket" Miss Rena weakly said that this hotel was her family''s property.


    The manager knew her.


    Furthermore, half of the real estate on thismercial street belonged to her family.


    Hmm, Su''en almost forgot that she was a heartless rich woman.


    .......


    On the fifth floor, that gaze that had been focused on him still hadn''t disappeared.


    Su''en ignored it and opened the door to the room.


    The Moon Hotel was a high-end hotel, and its decoration was not inferior to the five-star hotels from his previous life.


    The price of this kind of room was not cheap, and the infamous thief "A-Tong" chose this ce not only for the enjoyment but also for safety. The more luxurious the hotel, the less likely they would check the rooms.


    Behind this hotel was the Reyes family, and the people who came and went were all important figures. There were fewer room checks, and the frequency of people staying was low, making it difficult to discover hidden things.


    Although Rena didn''t mind helping Su''en, she was also puzzled as to why he brought her to a hotel room.


    But before she could ask, as soon as they entered the room, Su''en said, "Close your eyes. Otherwise, you''ll have a lot of troubleter."


    "Oh."


    Although Rena didn''t understand what Su''en was doing, she didn''t ask any further questions and obediently closed her eyes.


    Su''en really didn''t want Rena to see what he was about to do, otherwise, she would be in trouble.


    The more he said, the more he would expose himself.


    As soon as he entered the room, the images in his mind became clear.


    Then, his gaze fell on the corner of the ceiling.


    With the naked eye, he couldn''t see anything, just a white paint.


    He stepped on a stool and reached out to the corner, as if grabbing an invisible strip.


    "Found it! It''s really here!"


    Su''en felt delighted.


    He didn''t know what this Sealing Object was, but he knew it was hidden in that inconspicuous corner.


    Now that he had it in his hands, he used his All-Knowing Eye to immediately see what this transparent thing was.


    "The Shroud of Oz the Ice Man"


    Description: It is the shroud that covers the body of the deceased and the lifeline of the living.


    Curse characteristics: It can seal a corpse on the level of the item itself, preventing it from emitting any aura. Of course, if you are willing to pay the price of your lifespan, you can use it as an "invisibility cloak" that no one can detect your whereabouts or aura. When you get close to the shroud, it will absorb your life tenfold. If you insist on wrapping it around yourself, the necromantic aura will cause your life to wither a thousandfold.


    Exnation: This is a strip of shroud that was stripped from a mysterious ancient corpse at least twenty thousand years ago. It has absorbed very powerful curse characteristics. Can you see it? No, no one can see it.


    When Su''en touched this transparent strip earlier, he felt something strange.


    Now that he saw the exnation, he realized that it was the feeling of his life being drained tenfold.


    And the curse characteristics of this Sealing Object were with him at all times, ready to absorb his life tenfold.


    Wearing it for a day would consume a thousand times more life, equivalent to losing more than three years of lifespan!


    However,pared to being caught and killed on the spot, this price was definitely worth it.


    "No wonder A-Tong believed that he could confidently escape the Umbre Organization''s pursuit with this thing... This thing is simply a life-saving artifact!"


    Su''en felt arge part of the death cloud that had been shrouding his heart disappear when he obtained this thing.


    Gambling with his life, it seemed like he had won again.


    But now was not the time for sentimentality. Su''en picked up the two-meter-long bandage and started wrapping it around his body. Just as he was wondering how to wrap his whole body with such a short strip, the bandage seemed toe alive on its own.


    It was like a transparent little snake greedily sucking the life force of a living person as it slithered around Su''en, circling himyer byyer, tightly binding him.


    At this moment, Su''en could feel that he had been bound like a mummy, tightly and securely.


    He lowered his head and looked at his own hands, which were still visible.


    But when he looked at the mirror in the room, it was very strange. Even though there were two living people in the room, he only saw Rena, who had her eyes closed.


    The ce where Su''en was standing was empty!


    "Completely disappeared..."


    Seeing himself disappear in the mirror, Su''en finally saw a glimmer of hope for escape.


    However, he also discovered a problem.


    He had only disappeared in an optical sense, his body still existed.The ground beneath his feet showed clear footprints.


    Su''en knew that some highly perceptive experts would definitely notice this anomaly, so he didn''t dare to stay in the room any longer.


    Before leaving, he nced at Rena, who was still standing obediently, and said, "Remember, no matter what happens. If someone asks, just insist that I kidnapped you and threatened you with death to force you upstairs."


    Rena obediently nodded, "Okay."


    Su''en thought for a moment and said softly, "Thank you."


    Upon hearing this, Rena didn''t open her eyes, but a faint smile appeared on her pretty face.


    Then, she heard the sound of the door closing.


    For a long time, there was no sound in the room.


    Rena guessed what had happened and cautiously asked, "Mr. Su''en, are you still here?"


    No one responded.


    She asked again, "Can I open my eyes now?"


    Still no response.


    At this moment, Rena still didn''t dare to open her eyes because she remembered Mr. Su''en saying that it would cause trouble.


    After waiting for a while, she suddenly heard a noise outside the window.


    A person jumped in and anxiously asked, "Miss Rena, are you okay?"


    Rena opened her eyes again.


    Mr. Su''en was no longer there.


    Everything that had just happened seemed like a dream.


    .......


    The kidnapping of the youngdy of the Reyes family quickly reached the higher-ups of the Umbre Organization.


    This heinous kidnapping immediately caused a violent upheaval in high society.


    When the top professionals at headquarters rushed to rescue the hostage, they suddenly heard that the situation had already been resolved.


    The hostage had been rescued.


    But the suspect had disappeared.


    The technicians of the Umbre Organization carefully examined Room 505 of the Moon Hotel.


    A middle-aged man with a stern face listened to the report from his subordinates in the room.


    "So... you and the City Defense Department and the Security Team, a total of thirty elite squads, let the suspect escape right under your noses?"


    "Sorry, General. We did see him kidnap the youngdy of the Reyes family into the room. Then... we didn''t rush to take action because we were afraid he would harm the hostage. But when the higher-ranked professionals of the organization arrived, there was only Miss Rena left in the room."


    "Heh..."


    The middle-aged man suppressed his anger.


    Originally, intercepting the Cross Society escort team was just a small task.


    Eliminate all the people, contain the "contaminants," and there would be no ripples at all.


    But unexpectedly, a second-tier professional led a team to intercept a group of small-time thugs from the outer city, and they were counter-killed, and the suspect escaped?


    Then they mobilized so many resources and failed to capture the person.


    Now there was a well-known kidnapping case in the whole city, and the person had escaped again?


    If it weren''t for the fact that the capable subordinates in front of him were brought out by himself and their abilities had been recognized, the middle-aged man would really suspect that the new recruits in the Umbre Organization were all idiots!


    Although it was confirmed that the fugitive had the strength of a quasi-second-tier professional, it also proved that there was a major loophole in the organization''s internal intelligence system.


    Otherwise, how could such a powerful person be just an unknown figure in the Cross Society andpletely nk within the Umbre Organization?


    Thinking of this, the high-ranking member of the Umbre Organization naturally became furious.


    "Do you have any clues about the suspect''s identity? With such a distinctive disguise, don''t tell me you didn''t find anything."


    "We do have clues. Based on the clues, we retrieved the files and found that a few months ago, the Shadow Alley ck market did indeed auction off a previously unrecorded ''golden quality'' spider disguise blueprint. And from the effects, it basically matches..."


    "A few months ago? Heh... Are you saying that the fugitive, who is at least an experienced firearms expert and can use the secret technique ''Mushin,'' only advanced to a formal professional a few months ago? A few months as a novice professional, and he managed to outwit dozens of your reorganized squads?"


    "...."


    The atmosphere was very awkward.


    The employee was scolded throughout.


    But the fact was just like that, these were the clues they found.


    Although they themselves didn''t believe it.


    The middle-aged man knew that getting angry now wouldn''t solve the problem, so he asked again, "Have you figured out why the kidnapper came to abduct the youngdy of the Reyes family? I heard before I came that the two of them seemed to know each other?"


    "Yes. The youngdy of the Reyes family was apanied by her bodyguard and the youngdy of the Cortes family, Yulia. They both confirmed that the two of them knew each other. But Miss Rena couldn''t provide any more information, she just said she was coerced by someone, and we didn''t want to ask too much."


    "What about this room?"


    "There are some unusual marks in the corner of the ceiling. Afterparing the marks, the forensic personnel found that there should have been a transparent object attached there before. We investigated the relevant files and spected that it might be the ''shroud of the Ice Man of Oz,'' which was lost in the Bravo family''s treasure theft case."


    "So, you mean, the stolen goods that you investigated for several years were taken away directly by the suspect, and then he escaped using that sealed item?"


    "Yes..."


    After listening to the report from his subordinates, the middle-aged man looked through the records of the entire arrest process and his angry expression turned into a solemn contemtion."From the very beginning, whether it was using a taxi to mislead the pursuers or using a fake code to break through the blockade, the suspect has shown an extraordinary calmness... His thinking is very clear, and he has shown a very urate purpose throughout the anti-hunt process. He first went to District Four, and after being blocked, he came to the Moon Hotel to retrieve the sealed object... So, his purpose is very clear, he wants to escape!"


    Thinking of this, the middle-aged man''s gaze sharpened.


    "Notify everyone to focus on blocking and investigating District Four. The suspect''s destination is still in District Four, especially check the rivers, sewers, and smuggling channels leading to the outer city..."


    "Yes!"


    After the middle-aged man gave the order, his brows still didn''t rx.


    "Being able to respond so quickly in the warehouse, it can''t be ruled out that he knew in advance that Isaac''s Alchemy Notebook was hidden in this batch of goods. This is strange, Sambu should not have been exposed yet, how did the news leak... Right, has there been any movement from Mrs. Philo and the forces behind her?"


    "Not for the moment."


    "Keep a close eye on them!"


    "Yes!"


    "Also, there''s a high chance you won''t be able to catch that guy. Prepare to intercept and kill him in the outer city. Don''t you have that kid''s bloody clothes? Notify the ''gue Doctor'' Sergei of the Crow Gang to find him. Notify Sambu to intercept and kill, we absolutely cannot let the suspect meet with the high-ranking members of the Cross Society!"


    "Yes!"


    "The most important point, the Duke''s Mansion has issued a death order, the notebook must not be lost! If it falls into the wrong hands and contaminates others, it will have a huge impact on our Dawn City. Remember, anyone whoes into contact with the notebook must bepletely eliminated! If you let someone escape after making such a big fuss, don''t bothering back!"


    "Yes!"

 Chapter 122: Plague doctor

    Chapter 122: gue doctor


    Half a dayter, outside the city.


    Su''en, covered in dirt, rushed out of a sewer in the northern part of the city.


    As soon as he emerged, he copsed on the ground, gasping for breath. Although the air quality in the industrial area of the northern city was so poor that one could inhale dust with every breath, it was still much better than the toxic gas in the sewer!


    After taking a few breaths, the discoloration on his face disappeared. He quickly took out a "potent detoxification potion" and injected it into his neck.


    The ck poison on his face stopped spreading.


    After injecting the detoxification needle, Su''en let out a long sigh of relief.


    "So many terrifying monsters were created by the leaked ''X Serum''... The sewer is almost filled with them!"


    Looking at the dark sewer entrance, he still felt lingering fear.


    The danger in the underground dungeon was even greater than being chased in the inner city.


    If it weren''t for his fast eight-legged running, the millipede with over a thousand legs that could spew fire and poison would have killed him on the spot.


    If this had happened three years ago when Danny escaped, with his over 100 kilograms of flesh, it wouldn''t have been enough to fill the gaps between those terrifying mutant monsters'' teeth.


    But in the end, he was lucky enough to survive.


    ......


    Su''en looked back at the towering walls of the inner city, his gaze filled withplexity.


    Originally, he had nned to follow the escort team to broaden his horizons, but he didn''t expect this trip to the inner city to turn into a day trip to hell''s gate.


    Being chased and blocked from all sides made him feel like he was constantly jumping around at the gates of hell.


    However, although he almost lost his life, he also gained two things.


    Not far behind him, there was a steel wire tied to something invisible.


    That was naturally the shroud of the "Oz Ice Man" that saved his life this time.


    Just spending half a day in the city had already consumed one or two years of his lifespan.


    He survived, and the price was worth it, but he didn''t dare to keep it by his side anymore.


    This thing was indeed a good life-saving treasure, but it couldn''t be put into a storage ring, nor could it be tied to his body at all times. He could only drag it from a distance like this.


    Although the "lifespan" couldn''t be seen on the data panel, as long as this thing was within one meter of him, he noticed some slight changes in certain physical values.


    So he also deduced that the range of influence of this seal was about one meter.


    Su''en thought that if he wanted to carry it with him in the future, he could only tie it to a "living corpse".


    Living corpses didn''t have a lifespan, so they should ignore this curse.


    He even came up with a suitable puppet tactic. When the time came, he would create an "invisible living corpse", which would be a natural-born assassin. If the sickle could also be tied to the "invisible" state, it would be a top-notch killer. Even top professionals might be killed by him.


    ......


    For now, he could only drag the shroud like this.


    Taking advantage of the time to catch his breath, Su''en took out the "Alchemy Manuscript of Isaac" from his arms.


    The previous cover, titled "Precious New Pearl," had already been soaked and ruined in the sewer, revealing the true appearance of the manuscript.


    The cover felt rough, like crocodile skin, and was engraved with a veryplex octagram alchemy array. The identification showed it as an "unrecognized advanced sealing technique."


    Just by looking at the cover, a heavy sense of mystery came over him.


    When he opened it, the pages were even more bizarre. They didn''t feel dry like parchment, but more like "human skin."


    When touched, the pages even trembled lightly, like the sensitive skin of a young girl.


    If Su''en didn''t know what this thing was, he would probably find a ce to hide it because it looked so sinister.


    But with the True Sight identification, this manuscript was not only not sinister, but also very useful.


    However, its curse had some special characteristics.


    [Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript 3]


    Description: A alchemical notebook written on the skin of an unrecognized creature;


    Curse characteristic: Fate is an endless chain of causality, and the development of the world itself follows this principle and causal rtionship. This is a notebook tainted with fate, and it will involve the causality of anyone whoes into contact with it... Whether it is a blessing or a curse, who knows?


    Exnation: Carrying it with you will gain the aura "Sir Isaac''s Blessing," which will make your study of alchemy twice as effective; you will frequently have "enlightenment" and "shes of inspiration" to understand some profound alchemical knowledge;


    The curse characteristic is that the notebook will involve causality.


    Su''en didn''t think this was a big deal at all.


    There are causes and effects, and everything in the world follows this rule.


    Afraid of getting into trouble?


    He had already been passively involved in trouble when he was chosen as part of the escort team.


    Even if he threw away the notebook now, he couldn''t get rid of it.


    Therefore, this curse characteristic had no effect on Su''en at all.


    Moreover, it was clearly stated that whether it was a blessing or a curse, who knows?


    Instead, the positive enhancement aura, "Isaac''s Blessing," made Su''en feel that this manuscript was very useful.


    He was now exposed to more and more alchemical knowledge, and it was bing more and more profound. Many deep-level alchemy required not only time to study, but also intelligence to understand.This notebook would increase his learning efficiency by n-fold, the benefits were absolutely immeasurable.


    Moreover, the notebook wasbeled "3", which meant there were at least two more of them. Unsurprisingly, one of them was likely in the possession of the person who had left words on his retina.


    As for the content, it was encrypted as well, and it wasn''t the time to decipher it.


    After catching his breath for a moment, Su''en put away the notebook.


    Now, he had another important thing to do: run away.


    Escaping from the inner city was just the first step, the crisis was far from over.


    ......


    Although Su''en had been a wanted man before, his low profile didn''t affect his life in the underworld.


    Now, being hunted by the Umbre Organization, the situation waspletely different.


    Moreover, now that he knew that Smoky Sangbu was a mole, there must be more undercover agents in the Cross Society.


    He couldn''t go back to the Cross Society, and even his identity as "Su''en" couldn''t be used in the outer city for the time being.


    He could only leave the city and hide.


    After all, even the most powerful tracking has its geographical and temporal limitations.


    As long as he ran far enough, all tracking methods would be useless.


    Fortunately, arge hunting camp had been built near Dawn City, providing a guarantee for long-term life outside the city.


    Su''en had originally nned to check it out, and now was the perfect time.


    What he needed to do now was to go back to Green Street, pack up his belongings, and run away.


    After all, he had to leave the city, and he had to take with him life-saving items like the sickle and the living dead.


    Su''en had already nned his escape route in his mind, and he was running wildly.


    ......


    Before long, Su''en unlocked a motorcycle on the road in the north of the city and drove towards the south of the city.


    Because he had anticipated that he might have to run away one day, he was well prepared and had mastered several secret channels to leave the city.


    Moreover, the outer city was not like the inner city, he was very familiar with the roads. There were not so many professionals in the outer city, and the pursuers did not have such good mechanical equipment. Even if he was surrounded, the danger level was not high.


    The premise was not to encounter second-order professionals.


    But the outer city was vast and sparsely popted, and the chance of encountering a second-order professional was a thousand times lower than in the inner city.


    Before long, the motorcycle was speeding along, and had already entered the territory of the Cross Society in the south of the city.


    This also meant that the number of enemies would drastically decrease.


    But Su''en was not careless.


    He knew very well that the guys from the Umbre Organization, not having caught him, must have guessed that he was already in the outer city.


    Su''en didn''t know what methods the other party had, but such arge organization would definitely not give up so easily.


    He was very careful all the way, always on guard for someone chasing him.


    The motorcycle was very fast, and at this speed, not to mention that ordinary people couldn''t catch up, even if someone was tracking him, they would be discovered instantly.


    But no matter how careful he was, he was still pursued.


    He had guarded against people, but there were other things.


    While riding, Su''en suddenly noticed a red-eyed crow following his motorcycle.


    After turning a corner, the crow was still following.


    He shot at it casually, and the crow fell to the ground with a caw.


    However, after this shot, Su''en had a very bad premonition.


    In Old Lingdun, crows only liked to gather in the east of the city. Because only the old-school sorcerers of the Crow Gang would feed these ominous scavengers. Crows were their faith and their power.


    Sure enough, his premonition became reality.


    After Su''en killed the first crow, he gradually noticed that more and more crows were following him.


    They were like surveince cameras, their red eyes making people feel uneasy.


    As the number of crows increased, Su''en fired a burst of shots, and the crows exploded into clouds of green blood mist.


    In an instant, he recognized who the user of this ability was, and was surprised: "The ''gue Doctor'' Sergei of the Crow Gang! How could this guy be working for the Umbre Organization?!"


    ......


    Sergei was the younger brother of the Crow Gang''s leader, the ''Crow Godfather'' Gwenbu, a terrifying old-school second-order professional.


    These "old-school" alchemists all mastered some strange abilities, which were weird and very tricky.


    This Sergei was a professional known as the "gue Doctor", proficient in various curses and tracking, killing people invisibly.


    He was the one that even the executives of the Cross Society least liked to see.


    Legend has it that Sergei had a tracking secret technique. As long as his crows swallowed the target''s blood, nails, or hair, his crows would help him find the target.


    Seeing this flock of crows, Su''en had no doubt that he had been discovered.


    At this moment, as he was about to raise his gun while riding the motorcycle, he felt a tickle in his throat, as if something was blocking it, and he retched.


    The next second, with a "vomit" sound.


    He suddenly spat out a feathered ck crow, which cawed and flew away.


    Seeing this, Su''en felt a chill in his heart: "Curse magic!"

 Chapter 123: Seduce and Kill Sergei

    Chapter 123: Seduce and Kill Sergei


    For ordinary people, curse magic is simply the "devil''s technique".


    But for alchemists with a certain amount of knowledge, any technique can be traced back to its origin.


    "Curse magic... is it essentially something simr to a parasitic nature? It must be because I breathed in or had skin contact with the green blood of those crows earlier, that I got infected..."


    Su''en automatically recalled rted knowledge in his mind.


    He also guessed the process of how he got cursed.


    The red-eyed crows from earlier were not only used for surveince, but more importantly, they were the medium for the "gue doctor" Sergei to cast curse magic. Those crows were shot and their green blood sttered everywhere, which was unavoidable. Whether they were shot or not, the crows themselves were the source of the gue.


    Su''en looked at his attribute panel, his brows furrowing.


    At this moment, a negative status prompt appeared: [Raven''s Blood Curse], consuming 1% of vitality per minute, giving birth to green blood ravens.


    Just now, he spat out a live crow, which was a distorted monster born from the curse using its flesh and blood.


    Being cursed was equivalent to having a continuous blood loss status in the game.


    The consumption of 1% vitality per minute did not mean that a person would die when it reached 100%. In fact, when it reached around 30%, a person would fall into a weakened state, and at most 60%, their life would be in danger.


    Hmm, the psychological damage was also quite significant.


    If an ordinary person encountered suddenly spitting out a living creature with feathers in their mouth, not to mention the extent of the damage, they would be scared half to death.


    Su''en now felt strange even swallowing saliva. There seemed to be something foreign in his throat that he couldn''t swallow.


    He thought and injected himself with a recovery potion.


    The momentum of vitality loss eased, but it didn''t cure it.


    If recovery potions were continuously injected, their effectiveness would gradually decrease, and the body would not be able to withstand it.


    Topletely resolve it, he could only find the correct method to lift the curse. Otherwise, he would be sucked to death.


    ........


    At this moment, a red-eyed crow suddenly flew onto the handlebar of the motorcycle and cawed, "Kid, you have been cursed by me. I''ll give you a chance to survive..."


    But before the crow could finish speaking, Su''en seemed to have no interest in listening and shot it, turning it into a mass of green blood mist with feathers flying everywhere.


    Survive?


    I fucking believe you.


    After causing such a bigmotion in the inner city, Su''en had killed more than ten members of the Umbre Organization. He didn''t have any hope of being caught and still staying alive.


    Even if he wanted to survive, it definitely wouldn''t be relying on this guy.


    He could only rely on himself.


    Without thinking, Su''en knew that the crow''s words were either asking him to surrender or trying to buy time...


    Su''en knew very well that this was also Sergei''s method. The crows themselves didn''t have muchbat power, and now with the "curse" being applied, they could only engage in verbal battles.


    But it also revealed one thing, which was that Sergei''s main body was still some distance away from here. Otherwise, there would be no need to use crows to ry messages.


    Sergei was indeed very strong, but no matter how strong he was, he couldn''t kill someone from a distance. How could he take advantage of a few crows?


    Su''en didn''t pay attention to this guy''s intentions.


    Then, another crow flew over and threatened, "You''re looking for death! I now..."


    Before it could finish speaking, it was shot again.


    This actionpletely enraged the flock of crows. At this moment, these hundreds of crows unexpectedly formed a formation and charged towards Su''en''s motorcycle. The damage wasn''t significant, but it disturbed his line of sight and slowed down his riding speed.


    "Heh... as expected, they want to buy time."


    Su''en looked at the increasing number of crows in the sky and decided not to escape. The buildings in the block became the crows'' cover, making it inconvenient to shoot. So he simply drove the motorcycle to an open area.


    Once he arrived at the open area, the flock of crows immediately followed, their imposing manner wanting to peck at Su''en''s eyes and obstruct his vision.


    Su''en squeezed the brakes, and the motorcycle abruptly stopped. Then, he extended his hands into the air, conjuring two puppets without any hesitation, and unleashed a barrage of phosphorus fire into the sky!


    Can''t do anything to you second-tier professionals, can''t do anything to a few dumb birds?


    The mes caught the crows off guard, and hundreds of them were instantly burned to death. Their bodies fell like rain, and the air was filled with the smell of burnt meat.


    The surviving crows flew away in panic, screeching in fear from a distance.


    But Su''en wasn''t polite either, both guns firing.


    As a "firearms expert," he might not be able to kill professionals, but shooting these stupid birds was like shooting one with each bullet, or even shooting several at once.


    With a few shots, the remaining two or three percent of the crows in the sky exploded into blood mist.


    In the blink of an eye, the hundreds of crows scattered and fled, leaving only one crow flying while shouting in anger, "Damn it, kid, I will definitely tear you into pieces..."


    Su''en listened to this threat without any change in his expression. Without aiming, he raised his hand and pulled the trigger in the direction where the sound came from, instantly killing it.


    It''s no wonder that Sergei, the "gue doctor," cursed and cursed. Su''en''s actions just now caused him quite a bit of loss.


    These "green blood crows" were not ordinary crows. To train them to their current state, it required arge amount of money, energy, and time.


    Every death was like plucking a hair from the top of the "Mediterranean" head, one pluck, one heartache.


    And those three crows that could speak were especially precious!


    .......


    After Su''en finished this, he ignored the crows that were hiding far away and rode the motorcycle towards Green Street once again.


    He also knew that his whereabouts were exposed now, and he would be surrounded at any moment.Moreover, there is a second-order professional who is good at tracking, which is the most troublesome.


    "I must find a way to kill Sergei first, otherwise I won''t be able to escape back to Green Street..."


    Su''en rode his bike, a coldness appearing in his eyes.


    To kill a second-order professional, the most reliable method he could think of now was the zombies and scythes in the basement of Green Street.


    However, Sergei, the "gue Doctor," had a very strange ability. It was said that he had a special curse technique that allowed him to use crows to take damage in his ce, making him immune to physical injuries such as knives and guns. There were rumors in the underworld that he could "resurrect" after being killed.


    Su''en didn''t know what that ability was, but since it had been spread, it meant that Sergei definitely had a simr ability and should not be underestimated.


    After all, the scythe caused physical damage. If he couldn''t kill Sergei, Su''en felt that his situation would be very bad.


    "Qiantiao is on Norton Street... No, besides the Smoke Ghost, there must be other moles in the Cross Society."


    Su''en trusted Qiantiao, but he knew that Qiantiao couldn''t protect him.


    Although the Crow Gang was fearless, there was an umbre organization behind them.


    Moreover, if he couldn''t find anyone on Norton Street at the first moment and instead attracted other smoke ghosts or moles, that would be the worst.


    As for the municator," Su''en dared not use it now.


    Themunication range of a regr gang member''smunicator was only a few kilometers, and it received on all channels, so the level of confidentiality was very low.


    Once he spoke, the undercover agents of the umbre organization in the outer city would receive the message first, exposing his approximate location.


    Just shouting "the smoke ghost is a mole" wouldn''t be of much significance.


    First, there was no evidence.


    Second, it would be harmful to his escape route.


    What he might receive then would not be help, but killers.


    And... the only expert he knew seemed to be Mr. Hei.


    Although that elusive top professional was not afraid of the umbre organization, he had no obligation to help.


    "It seems that I can only use that method..."


    With a sh of thought, Su''en frowned and muttered to himself.


    .......


    The crow flock was dispersed, but Su''en knew that his whereabouts must have been exposed.


    He was certain that the "gue Doctor" Sergei must be chasing after him now.


    However, the situation was not too bad.


    That was because the southern city was the territory of the Cross Society, and the Crow Gang couldn''t cross the border on arge scale. Su''en believed that it was very likely that Sergei came alone.


    Su''en thought of a n to kill him.


    Just now, he had frightened the flock of crows, and those crows had learned their lesson and no longer came out to intimidate him. But he had the ability of "Malicious Perception," and although those crows hid well, they couldn''t escape his perception.


    Su''en pretended not to notice and rode his motorcycle not to Green Street, but to Gingko Street a few blocks away.


    After leaving the motorcycle behind, he deliberately circled around and made enough anti-tracking movements before entering the small Western-style building at No. 88.


    After entering the house, Su''en no longer felt anxious.


    He sat on the sofa in the living room and took the time to deal with the wounds on his body.


    Then he checked his ammunition, firearms, and equipment.


    After doing all this, hey back on the sofa to rest. Looking at the ceiling, he muttered to himself, "I hope Mr. Hei doesn''t mind me leading someone into his trap..."


    Yes, this was a n he had thought of a long time ago.


    Su''en had imagined that if he encountered an unbeatable enemy, No. 88 Green Street would be an excellent ambush location.


    Because there was a "T-level Curse Space" in the basement.


    And Su''en knew the way out.


    Although he might encounter the terrifying super-tier zombies after entering,pared to the enemy who was lured in, it was a nightmare.


    .......


    "But this ''Raven Hematopoietic Curse'' is indeed a problem. If I can''t find a way to break it, I might really be sucked to death..."


    Nearly twenty minutes had passed, and even though he had injected the healing potion, Su''en still felt dizzy and weak, a sign of blood loss.


    And at this moment, a familiar foreign object sensation appeared in his throat again. Su''en''s face turned slightly pale, and in an instant, with a "vomit," another crow flew out.


    The "caw caw caw" sound seemed to be mocking his ipetence.


    As soon as he vomited, Su''en instantly felt even weaker, but a trace of coldness shed in his eyes. "Finally, it''s here..."


    Although Su''en had no surprise in his heart when the crow flew out of his mouth, he still reacted as if his whereabouts had been discovered and turned to rush out of the door.


    But obviously, the enemy wouldn''t let him escape so easily.


    Just at this moment, the ss of the second-floor window suddenly shattered, and a group of crows flew in, blocking his way. Among the flock of crows, a middle-aged man withrge ck feather wings and a crow mask on his face flew in.


    "Your talent for flying is indeed fast."


    Seeing the neer, Su''en naturally guessed that this was the real "gue Doctor" Sergei.


    This guy had the rare Beastification talent [B-055-Crowman].


    As soon as the crow flock entered the room, the imposing pressure of a second-order professional immediately made Su''en feel a strong sense of malice.


    Sergei looked at Su''en, who was trapped like a turtle in a jar, sneered, and didn''t rush to attack. He coldly taunted, "Kid, do you think you can escape?"


    In response, two bullets were fired in rapid session.


    Two crows were killed, but Sergei''s main body was unharmed.


    Seeing this, Su''en''s face was full of "panic," without any hesitation, he turned and rushed into the basement.


    Sergei, seeing that Su''en had been discovered, naturally guessed that there might be an ambush or tunnel in the basement. He didn''t rush to chase after him, but controlled the flock of crows to fly down first.Through the shared vision of his crow, he found that it was just an empty, enclosed basement.


    Then, the basement was filled with the sound of gunfire again.


    His crow was shot down by Su''en once more.


    "Damn bastard!"


    Sergei cursed, feeling his pet being killed. His eyes twitched, and his anger surged instantly.


    Knowing that there was no ambush in the basement, he pursued.


    ......


    Sergei cornered Su''en in the basement.


    Originally, he wanted to persuade him to surrender in a victorious posture, but before he could, a strange scene urred.


    The space around Su''en in the basement twisted, and then, without any warning, he disappeared!


    "Teleportation? Or invisibility?"


    Sergei watched as a living person in front of him vanished, his face changing drastically.


    Where Su''en disappeared, a piece of paper slowly fell to the ground.


    Sergei widened his eyes, trying to find Su''en''s figure in the basement, but to no avail.


    "No seals, no alchemy array lighting up, how did he escape?"


    Sergei was full of doubts.


    At this time, he also saw the paper, so he controlled the crow to fetch it.


    Upon reading it, the paper read: "The basement is a cursed space."


    "Cursed space?"


    Sergei instinctively muttered something in his heart, and suddenly found the surroundings twisting and changing.


    He instantly realized something and muttered, "Not good!"

 Chapter 124: A knife

    Chapter 124: A knife


    Su''en tried his best to control his thoughts, not thinking about the fact that the basement was a cursed space.


    He was afraid that if he was sucked in too early, he would encounter the blue-skinned zombie. If he was killed instantly, or had to leave early, the ambush would be meaningless.


    However, after entering, he found the situation was not bad.


    The familiar surroundings were clearly the third floor of the "Havier Hospital" inpatient department.


    It was also empty, with no people or monsters.


    Su''en breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, he was d that his ambush n had been mostly sessful.


    .......


    After killing someone in this cursed space, it could trap the person''s soul here.


    Then the plot after the person''s death would be repeatedly rewound.


    Now that there was no blue-skinned zombie on the third floor, Su''en guessed that the plot might have been rewound again.


    As long as he didn''t trigger the safe in the director''s office on the second floor, the zombie should note up to the third floor.


    If there was no blue-skinned zombie, Su''en would be very curious whether "Blind Explorer" Bill was still sitting on the second floor. After all, thest time he was "killed", he only stripped away a part of his soul. He might be able to strip away a few more times.


    But he definitely couldn''t go now.


    Then, Su''en began to implement his "n B".


    Without any dy, he formed the warlock seal with both hands, unlocked the imnt, and cold mes rose from his body.


    This time, he not only wanted to leave "gue Doctor" Sergei in this cursed space.


    He also wanted to kill him face to face and find a way to lift the curse.


    Because usually, the person who poisons others would carry the antidote with them.


    .......


    Sure enough, not long after, the space twisted not far away, and Sergei suddenly appeared in the corridor.


    The guy looked around at the changing scenery, his eyes full of confusion, obviously not understanding what had happened. But when he saw Su''en, who was menacing with his eight-armed spider spear not far away, he immediately realized that he had been set up, and his face was full of caution.


    Seeing the maning, Su''en raised a corner of his mouth, and greeted warmly like a host weing a guest, "You''re here, Mr. Sergei."


    But while speaking, he didn''t give the enemy any chance to cast a curse, immediately controlled his emotions, and thought of a scene in his mind: a menacing Spider Queen appeared in the middle of the corridor, facing Sergei at close range!


    As soon as this thought arose, a huge creature suddenly appeared in the corridor. The bloated spider butt, the menacing eight-armed spider spear, the beautiful upper body, this was clearly the "Lord-level" Spider Queen that Su''en had encountered in the dungeon.


    .......


    Yes, the method Su''en thought of was to use the "Terror Manifestation" rule of this space to kill the enemy!


    If he just lured people in, he could indeed kill them.


    But there was a problem: he couldn''t get the enemy''s loot.


    Even if he came in again next time and the enemy was already dead, he would still encounter the enemy''s "Soul Manifestation". At that time, he would not only have to face the enemy, but also the monsters he imagined, which would be more troublesome.


    But now Su''en was afflicted with the "Raven Blood Curse", he had to get Sergei''s storage ring and memory fragments.


    So, this guy had to die here.


    He had to die in front of him.


    And the most difficult part of this ambush n.


    That was the monsters manifested in this space attacked indiscriminately.


    This meant that Su''en had to imagine a target that could kill the enemy, but he could survive from the monster''s hands.


    The enemy that could make him risk luring in must be a second-tier professional.


    A monster that could kill a second-tier could usually easily kill Su''en, a first-tier.


    But... there was an exception.


    That was the mentally strong "Spider Queen"!


    Back in the dungeon, Su''en had seen that monster easily kill a second-tier assassin, which meant that the Spider Queen''s mental control was effective against most second-tier professionals.


    Moreover, the most crucial point was that Su''en spected that there was a hidden rule in this space, that was, the more realistic the details of the "Terror Manifestation" monster, the more controble its abilities. (If you imagine Cthulhu, the most likely oue is amon octopus-headed monster, after all, you don''t know what that level of power means)


    So it''s best to have personally experienced and thoroughly understood the monster''s abilities.


    Coincidentally, he almost knew all the detailed data of the Spider Queen, even the intensity of the mental shock wave was very clear.


    Especially after merging with the eight-armed spider spear, that monster had almost no secrets in Su''en''s eyes.


    It was like ying a game, fighting a new boss could easily lead to a team wipe, but after fighting a few times and finding the pattern, the casualties would be smaller and smaller.


    The Spider Queen was strong, its mental control could affect people even without direct eye contact; moreover, its skin could resist face alchemy bullets.But Su''en was very clear that the gaze of the Spider Queen was like a beam of light, and it could only attack what the eyes could see.


    That''s why the monster Su''en imagined was facing away from him, with its face towards Sergei.


    This narrow corridor was spacious enough for humans, but it was difficult for the bulky Spider Queen to turn around.


    .......


    The moment this monster appeared, Sergei also felt the threat of death and instinctively wanted to resist with magic.


    But the Spider Queen looked at the human in front of her, her eyes filled with a strong red light, and a powerful spiritual force washed over the entire corridor like a tide.


    Even Su''en, who was behind her, felt a moment of confusion.


    And Sergei, who was facing her, was instantly knocked unconscious.


    The Spider Queen was not polite at all. She raised her spear and stabbed it, piercing through the head of that guy.


    A second-tier professional was killed in one encounter.


    When Su''en saw this from a distance, he felt delighted: "Killed him!"


    If he couldn''t control Sergei, he would immediately chant the name of the Grudge Master.


    Now, it seemed that the n was going smoothly.


    But suddenly, Su''en''s gaze focused on Sergei''s body, and no mist appeared. His pupils contracted: "Something''s not right, he''s not dead yet!"


    The spear pierced through Sergei''s skull, but at this moment, the corpse turned into a crow corpse as tall as a person.


    And the back of the corpse tore open like a cicada shedding its skin, and a pale middle-aged man stumbled out from behind the shell.


    "So this is his legendary ability to avoid physical damage?"


    Su''en also understood. This guy seemed to have a crow puppet with a simr effect to the "Stand Puppet".


    Fortunately, he didn''t choose to use a sickle before, otherwise, if he didn''t kill him with one strike, it would have been a disaster.


    At this moment, Sergei, because of his resurrection, temporarily regained consciousness.


    Unfortunately, he was still close to the monster.


    The Spider Queen was not surprised either. Her gaze narrowed, and once again, she unleashed a spiritual shockwave on the human in front of her.


    Then, she took control and stabbed him directly in the chest with her spear.


    Seeing the "mist" floating above the corpse, Su''en finally confirmed that the guy was really dead this time.


    There was nowhere to escape when facing this kind of spiritual monster up close. Even though this "gue Doctor" had countless mysterious and unpredictable spells, he didn''t use any of them and was directly killed twice in a row.


    After Sergei died, the Spider Queen naturally noticed another human behind her.


    Just as the bloated spider body showed signs of turning around, Su''en''s two puppets suddenly entangled and sprayed ck oil and phosphorus fire towards the Queen.


    The mes instantly ignited the spider''s body and the corridor.


    Su''en didn''t continue to attack. The eight-armed spider spear quickly flipped, and he rushed towards the Spider Queen.


    Just as the monster turned 180 degrees, Su''en arrived behind it, and with a pull of the steel wire in his mechanical gloves, he pulled himself away from the burning back of the monster.


    Unlike the previous time in the underground dungeon, he didn''t need to kill this monster at all.


    He just brushed past it and leaped close to it, perfectly avoiding the mental shockwave from the Spider Queen''s direct gaze.


    In mid-air, he instantly retracted his equipment, then rolled andnded, peeled off the storage ring from the corpse, swallowed the mist floating above it, and chanted the sybles in his mouth: "Terumido m. Chekhov."


    The whole process went exactly as nned, as if it had been rehearsed countless times.


    In the next moment, the light and shadows around him changed, and Su''en had already returned to the basement of 88 Green Street.


    ......


    There weren''t many things in Sergei''s storage ring, and Su''en poured everything out.


    There were some strange bottles and jars, most of which looked dangerous and strange materials.


    "Mummy''s Pituitary nd," "gue Rat''s Short Tail," "Decaying Giant''s Tear nd," "Komodo Dragon''s Saliva"...


    Then he used the True Eye to identify them, but he didn''t pay attention to those strange gue materials.


    After searching, he sessfully found a way to lift the "Crow Septic Curse." It was a kind of internal medicine powder.


    After seeing its effects, he didn''t hesitate to take it.


    Before long, the curse mark on the attribute panel disappeared.


    By killing Sergei, a second-tier professional who excelled in curses, and lifting the curse, Su''en''s sense of oppression eased, and he let out a long breath: "Phew... lucky."


    At this moment, he finally had the mind to recall the memories he had harvested.


    "Obtained ''Sergei Mari'' memory fragments *4"


    "You have obtained some information: ''It seems that there is an ancient battlefield in the ruins of Dawn City, and many incredible treasures have been discovered in the city...''""You have mastered some ''Curse Knowledge''"


    "You haveprehended the skill [Curse Art: Strawman]"


    "You have gained some ''Raven Taming Knowledge''"


    "Alchemy Casting Experience +31"


    "Mental Strength +0.8"


    After devouring the grey mist, Su''en found that his mind was filled with new information, mostly about ravens and curse arts.


    Moreover, he had directly mastered a new skill.


    "Strawman? A long-range attack method using the target''s blood, tormenting the target''s mind and body... The further the distance, the weaker the effect..."


    The detailed information of this skill shed through Su''en''s mind.


    This curse art seemed useful, but its usefulness seemed limited.


    It could harm people from a distance, which was a strange attack method. But if the distance was too far, it could only create nightmares and illusions to torment the target''s mind, which was not very useful.


    Hmm... It seemed suitable for some venomous women to torment their love rivals.


    But suddenly, an idea shed through his mind.


    "Eh, if the closer the distance, the greater the damage... If I solidify this curse art into a puppet doll, and if the doll absorbs the enemy''s blood during the fight, wouldn''t the enemy hurt themselves if they attack the doll? This curse art seems pretty good?"


    Su''en only had a beginner''s guide to puppet making in his hand, which exined various basic methods and theories of making puppets, but there were not many design blueprints for finished products.


    However, it contained a sentence with infinite possibilities: "Creativity and imagination are the most precious potentials of a puppet master. A qualified puppet master needs to create runes puppets suitable for themselves."


    Su''en felt that this idea of "Curse Art + Doll" was a good one.


    The idea shed through his mind, thinking that he could try it out in the future.


    After digesting the harvested memories, he picked up the beak mask that he had casually plucked from Sergei''s corpse.


    Upon inspection, it was also a powerful cursed item.


    [gue Doctor''s Beak Mask]


    Quality: Silver


    Description: Is the gue doctor a death god spreading gue, or a doctor saving people?


    Cursed Trait: This gas mask has a cursed trait. Wearing it, you can filter out more than 99% of the toxins in the air; wearing the mask for a long time, you will slowly increase your toxin resistance, and your gue resistance will greatly increase; but asionally, you will be poisoned inexplicably due to the residual old poison in the mask, or catch the gue;


    Exnation: A thousand eight hundred years ago, during a gue outbreak in a city, a kind doctor wore it to deal with the terrifying gue; after his death, the reputation of the gue doctor was passed down.


    The attributes of this mask were very good, almost 100% toxin filtration, which was a lot better than the top gas masks on the market.


    Moreover, wearing it for a long time could slowly increase the body''s toxin resistance. This was also a very good growth attribute, theter the higher the toxin resistance.


    "The item is good, but it''s too recognizable. If I wear this, I''m afraid the whole Old Lingdun will know that I killed Sergei..."


    Su''en''s eyebrows raised slightly, for him, this was a rather useless item.


    He was not a professional doctor, and the asional poisoning cursed trait was very "luck-based". One breath, the toxin might not be filtered, and he might even be infected with ancient old poison.


    He couldn''t guarantee that he could definitely cure the poisoning.


    Moreover, he dared to say that if he wore this mask, the members of the Raven Gang would definitely not let him off.


    ......


    It was a bit of a pity that due to the urgency of time, he didn''t take the official documents and imnts from Sergei''s body.


    But it was not bad.


    Killing was the goal, escaping was the purpose, and the harvest was just incidental.


    Su''en felt quite satisfied.


    He thought that after triggering the cursed space, Mr. ck would appear.


    Su''en wanted to apologize to him.


    But after waiting for a while, he didn''te, and Su''en didn''t stay in the apartment for long.


    In order to kill Sergei, he had wasted a lot of time, and the vanguard of the Umbre Organization in the inner city had probably already reached the south city.


    What he needed to do now was to return to Green Street immediately, pack up his belongings, and leave the city.

 Chapter 125: A knife for the chain smoker

    Chapter 125: A knife for the chain smoker


    After leaving the apartment at No. 88 Gingko Street, Su''en hurriedly walked through various alleys.


    He was very familiar with the neighborhood near Green Street, and quickly took shortcuts to reach the rented house.


    There were no signs of the small mechanism set at the door being touched, so he entered the basement with peace of mind.


    The basement was filled with various instruments and mechanical equipment, which couldn''t be taken away or packed up in time, so they had to be left here temporarily.


    Because he had always been prepared to run away early on, Su''en''s residence was always equipped with things to escape.


    He supplemented several storage rings filled with ammunition and supplies, and went straight to the dissecting table.


    On the dissecting tabley a corpse with healing scars all over its body, covered in runic symbols. Su''en looked at it and muttered, "Old buddy, whether we can escape this time depends on you."


    Without dy, he went to the corner and took out the ck scythe hidden in a secretpartment, and tied it to the hands of the corpse.


    Then he tried to wrap them all up with the "Oz Ice Man''s Shroud", so that everything could be taken away.


    Originally, it was just a trial, and he didn''t expect the shroud to be able to wrap the ck scythe, which was also a sealed object.


    Unexpectedly, after wrapping it, itpletely disappeared from sight.


    The scythe and the body immediately disappeared before his eyes.


    An invisible weaponposed of two sealed objects and a corpse appeared in the world.


    "Now it''s much more convenient..."


    Su''en was pleasantly surprised, and with a slight lift of his fingers, he controlled the corpse to walk out. Although he couldn''t see it, he could clearly sense its position.


    After nearly a month of practice, he had be adept at manipting the corpse urately and smoothly, without any hups, and sessfully rushed the corpse out of the door.


    However, the only imperfection was that although the spiritual threads were thin, there were still some traces.


    He thought that he would need to obtain the "Curse Hair of the Mourning Witch" in the future topletely solve this problem.


    .......


    After all, Su''en used to be the head of a gang active on Green Street, so he was very familiar with everything here, and he could even recognize almost all the vendors and residents.


    No one else knew the location of the rented basement, so his previous caution saved him a lot of trouble now.


    He came to the street, but he hadn''t walked far when he noticed a problem.


    The entire Green Street was surrounded!


    Some unfamiliar faces appeared on the streets and alleys, wearing checkered suits, draped in cold-colored tweed coats, and wearing gloves and newsboy caps... Although ordinary people couldn''t see anything unusual, those skilled in tracking could immediately tell that the gazes of those people were different from those of ordinary residents.


    "The members of the Umbre Organization came so quickly? It seems they have other ways to track and locate me..."


    Although he never held any illusions, Su''en felt a bit troubled now that he was surrounded.


    But the timing was just right.


    He now had the corpse and the scythe.


    Even if there were high-level professionals in the encirclement team, he wouldn''t bepletely at their mercy.


    Thinking of this, Su''en tightened the spiritual threads connecting him and the corpse.


    His expression remained unchanged as he walked down the street like a normal person.


    .......


    Since the enemies had already appeared on Green Street, Su''en didn''t think they couldn''t see through his disguise.


    This was thest moment of tranquility before the battle.


    Sure enough, after walking a few steps, he suddenly found everything in front of him turned pitch ck.


    It was like the lights had been turned off, and he couldn''t see anything.


    "Visual deprivation!"


    Su''en instantly realized what was happening and his heart skipped a beat.


    This was a highly advanced control spell.


    At the same time, he also found that he couldn''t hear any sound.


    "Auditory deprivation!"


    Unable to see or hear, in an instant, it felt like he had fallen into an endless ck hole, and a tremendous sense of terror washed over him.


    What made Su''en even more serious was that even with his high mental power, he was instantly affected, which meant that the person who attacked him was of a higher rank.


    It must be a second-rank professional!


    "Hehe, three second-rank professionals came to capture a small gang member like me. They really think highly of me!"


    Su''en sneered in his heart and immediately sensed something.


    Although his vision and hearing were deprived, he remained calm. The needle-like "malice" burned like a me in the dark night, allowing him to "see" clearly.


    The first wave of hostility came from the direction of the person who cast the control spell.


    "Ten o''clock direction!"


    Su''en coldly hummed in his heart, already prepared for a decisive battle.


    In the moment of sensory deprivation, he used one hand to make a grabbing motion, driving the invisible corpse near him to swing the scythe towards the direction where the malice came from.


    "Whoosh~"


    It was as if he heard a sharp sound of breaking wind.


    Just as the scythe struck, Su''en suddenly found that his eyes could see normally again, and his perception was restored!


    With a nce, he sensed the maliceing from the ten o''clock direction, and saw that the red brick chimney on the rooftop had a smooth cut, and a female corpse cut in halfy beside it.


    "Got him!"


    Su''en''s eyes lit up, and he could already see the mist on the body.


    And obviously, the person who came was not alone!


    There were two more second-rank professionals!


    He had already experienced it in the city before. The Umbre Organization was a well-trained elite group that often used a set of tactics that made the target unable to resist.


    After the control, there must be other means.


    In an instant, even without sensing the malice, Su''en instantly sensed the bone-chilling coldnessing from under his feet.


    That familiar sensation of freezing, it was the second-rank ice mage who attacked the escort team in the "White Alum Warehouse" in the inner city!A high-level sorcerer who can even harm alchemical bullets!


    His body froze stiffly, but when his gaze passed, Su''en immediately controlled the zombie without hesitation and shed it again.


    This time, with visual capture, Su''en urately aimed at the neck of the man in ck.


    His fingers grabbed the void and pulled down forcefully, causing the man in ck who was still casting a spell a hundred meters away to change his expression drastically.


    He was full of astonishment. The target had clearly been deprived of perception, so why could he still counterattack urately?


    Doubts shed through his mind.


    Because he was caught off guard and still casting a spell, the man in ck wanted to avoid it, but it was already toote.


    When he saw Su''en swinging his sword, a ck spatial crack appeared at his Adam''s apple, and death came without warning.


    The smooth cutting sensation passed by, the head fell to the ground, and blood sprayed high like a fountain.


    "Nocturnal ck Scythe of Sophonos? But how can he control it so urately..."


    Before he died, the man in ck had onest thought.


    He recognized that spatial crack.


    But he couldn''t figure out why that sh was so urate...


    No one else would ever think that Su''en was probably the only person in this world who could precisely control the distance and power of the scythe.


    Because of the terrifying curse bacsh, ordinary people would never practice how to control the scythe urately at the cost of their lives.


    But Su''en could.


    Because he had zombies that he could use repeatedly!


    That was why he risked going back to his residence to get the scythe, even if it took more time.


    With the scythe in hand, he truly had the confidence to escape!


    .......


    With just these two shes, he instantly broke the three-personbo that was supposed to be a sure-kill move by killing two second-tier professionals.


    But it''s not over yet!


    In Su''en''s perception, there was still a very strong "killing intent" hidden in a nearby tavern, a threat that a first-tier professional could never pose.


    Just as Su''en was about to make his second sh, the window of the tavern suddenly exploded, and a burst of gunfire rushed out.


    Su''en had already sensed his presence, so how could he not be prepared?


    While controlling the zombie to kill the man in ck with his right hand, his left hand had already pulled out a puppet to block beside him.


    Almost at the same time, the cannonball and the puppet collided.


    With a "boom," the puppet covered in defensive runes was sted to pieces, showing the power of the cannonball.


    Su''en was also shaken and flew out due to the impact, spitting out a mouthful of blood, "Puh~"


    And because the puppet blocked this supposed-to-be fatal attack, he didn''t care about his own injuries. In the process of flying out, he raised his hand and shed in the direction of the cannonball.


    Although the person didn''t see the existence of the "invisible zombie," he heard the sound of the de cutting through the air.


    The instinctive sense of crisis as a high-level professional made him break through the ss and jump out after firing the cannon.


    But even with such a quick reaction, his heavily armored thighs were still chilled, and they were cut off neatly by the sudden spatial crack. His legs remained in the tavern, and his body, gushing with blood, jumped out of the window.


    The spatial crack of the scythe blinked, and with Su''en''s precise shing ability, the spatial crack appeared wherever his gaze fell. How could it be easy for someone to dodge?


    With both legs cut off, the amount of blood loss was enough to cause instant shock, but this guy bit his teeth and pulled the trigger with hisst bit of belief.


    Su''en originally wanted to make another sh topletely solve this trouble, but at this moment, a burst of blood mist suddenly exploded beside him.


    He realized what was happening and quickly dodged.


    Fortunately, the guy with the severed legs was seriously injured, and this shot didn''t have any "locking technique." Su''en rolled on the ground in a sorry state, avoiding this deadly attack.


    Looking again, after the guy with severed legs fired the cannon, hepletely passed out.


    .......


    Su''en didn''t look at the bodies for long, but looked at the blood mist beside him, frowning slightly, "It''s reached the limit..."


    It turned out that he used the scythe too frequently, and the bacsh urred prematurely.


    Three long cuts divided the zombie into several pieces, instantly losing its vital signs.


    The ck scythe also fell out.


    Su''en looked at the "old buddy" who had helped him a lot, feeling a little emotional.


    I don''t know if it was because of theck of time or because the Umbre Organization didn''t think it was necessary to send too many high-level professionals to deal with Su''en.


    Fortunately, it seemed that there were only these three second-tier professionals near Green Street.


    The "old buddy" hadpleted its glorious mission.


    Su''en didn''t look much, he reached out and shot the steel wire from the mechanical glove back, pulling the scythe and bandages back onto his back. He also threw an incendiary bomb on the corpse,pletely destroying the evidence.


    Then he drew out his dual pistols and opened fire at the members of the Umbre Organization across the street.


    .......


    The three most troublesome second-tier professionals were killed in a few encounters, and Su''en''s crisis was instantly relieved by ny percent.


    Ordinary professionals posed limited threats to him.


    Moreover, there weren''t as many people wearing "Frost Giant Battle Armor" in the outer city as in the inner city.


    These people wearing coats and hats were the favorite targets of gunmen!


    Even if they were wearing bulletproof vests, they exposed too many fatal weaknesses...


    Su''en took off his disguise, using the buildings on Green Street to attack and retreat, suppressing the opponents with his dual pistols so that they didn''t dare to show their heads.


    Because this was his territory, he was familiar with every alley here.


    After tearing open a gap in the encirclement, Su''en came to an alley. As long as he climbed over this wall, he could immediately jump out of the encirclement.Just then, he suddenly noticed a thick fog spreading through the streets and alleys.


    Su''en immediately knew who it was.


    But the hostility he sensed was somewhat elusive, so he didn''t rush to act.


    He knew very well that this was the ability of the Smoke Ghost.


    Seeing the smoke, Su''en deliberately lowered his gun barrel, feigning a face of surprise and joy, and excitedly said to the thick smoke, "Boss Smoke Ghost, is that you? Have youe to save me?"


    Upon hearing this, the figure of the Smoke Ghost slowly emerged from the smoke.


    This grim-faced man looked at Su''en, who had caused a hugemotion, a trace ofplexity shed in his eyes, but he said, "Hmm... I''ll take care of this. You find a chance to leave first."


    He never expected that a seemingly insignificant "small fry" by Kay''s side would cause him such trouble!


    With that, the Smoke Ghost, shrouded in thick smoke, slowly walked towards Su''en.


    The thick "malice" became more and more solid.


    "Great!"


    Su''en seemedpletely unguarded, his face filled with the wild joy of a narrow escape, he even put his gun back in its holster.


    But before his smile could fully spread, it suddenly froze. The next moment, he drew the ck scythe from his back and shed it down at the figure in front of him!


    The Smoke Ghost on the other side was instantly dumbfounded.


    PS. The extra updates for this month are done, ah... brothers, desperately seeking subscriptions!!!!!!

 Chapter 126: Do you think I dare to make a second cut?

    Chapter 126: Do you think I dare to make a second cut?


    The smoke ghost always thought he was hiding well.


    After all, the fact that the book "Isaac''s Alchemy Notes" could be hidden in the guild warehouse for so long without being discovered proved that his n to deceive others was sessful.


    But what he couldn''t understand was why, even though the items had already been delivered to the inner city, they were still stolen?


    The higher-ups in the organization had previously questioned him about why he had missed such important information and arranged for a "thunderstorm" to be sent to the escort team. Not only did they take the manuscript, but they also caused such a bigmotion...


    I don''t know anything about it!


    Do you guys not know the strength of the ordinary gang members in the outer city?


    There are only a few members of the Cross Society in Green Street. Who in the guild doesn''t know?


    The only professional in the escort team is Kay. Who knew that he had a "little brother" who was a quasi-second-order expert by his side?


    A firearms expert, a spider alchemical nt with suspected golden quality, and the secret technique "Mushi"...


    If an ordinary professional has one of these, they would definitely be a core member of the Cross Society. Who would have thought that Su''en had not leaked any information about it before?


    The smoke ghost felt very aggrieved when questioned by his superiors.


    Are you sure you don''t investigate whether there are any elite defectors from the special organizations in the inner city, and insteade to question when the outer city has raised such a monster?


    Can a first-order professional like this be cultivated in a resource-poor ce like the outer city?


    And another thing!


    Are you telling me that the umbre organization in the inner city, the mechanical city guards, and the security department experts couldn''t handle a single first-order professional?


    The smoke ghost felt that those guys had lost their basic hunting abilities because their living environment was toofortable.


    No matter how powerful Su''en is, he is still just a first-order professional!


    Even just fifteen minutes ago, when the smoke ghost was notified to join the joint interception, he couldn''t believe that the unknown little gang member named "Su''en" had just killed twenty or thirty people who were trying to capture him in the inner city and escaped?!


    But now, seeing everything in front of him, he believed it.


    Just a minute ago, he heard the report on themunicator that three second-order members of the umbre organization who participated in the interception were killed.


    .......


    The smoke ghost blocked Su''en, his expressionplicated.


    So it was because he had a "forbidden item" in his hand?


    How could the smoke ghost not be familiar with thatrge ck scythe? They used this "forbidden item" to break into the headquarters of the Cross Society.


    Afterward, the scythe was taken away by arade.


    Later, when he didn''t hear any news of hisrade returning to the city, he thought he had died in some corner of the sewer. He didn''t expect... it ended up in this kid''s hands?


    The power of that forbidden item was indeed almost unbeatable, but its cursed nature was also deadly. It was impossible to use it as a regr weapon.


    However, even with the ck scythe that had the forbidden item, if a professional used it to kill three people in a row, they should have exploded and died!


    The smoke ghost was not present during the previous battle, so now he looked at Su''en, who was greeting him with a smile, and thought that he hadn''t been exposed.


    Then, unexpectedly, he was suddenly struck by a sh.


    .......


    "Damn! How could this kid suddenly attack? Could it be that I''ve been exposed?"


    If the smoke ghost assassin''s thoughts could be heard at this moment, it would definitely be this curse word.


    In a state of confusion, another moment of terrifying death made his hair stand on end.


    The ck scythe swung down, and a spatial crack immediately appeared in front of the smoke ghost.


    If this sh hit, it would have diagonally split his entire neck in half.


    But the smoke ghost was, after all, a veteran second-order professional.


    Although Su''en''s movements were seamless and he took the initiative with a surprise attack, the shing motion was too easy to predict. At the moment he started, the smoke ghost instinctively reacted to the crisis and began to dodge with all his might.


    But the ck scythe''s sh was too fast.


    As the scythe swung, the crack appeared.


    With a sharp sound of a de cutting through silk, blood sprayed, and a broken wall fell to the ground with a snap.


    And the smoke ghost''s body disintegrated into thick mist, instantly blending with the surrounding mist.


    "I didn''t kill him..."


    Su''en looked at the broken wall, his pupils slightly contracted.


    With a pull of the eight-armed spider spear, his robe tore, instantly revealing several "Wailing Dolls" and "Sly Smile Dolls" protecting his body.


    He tightly gripped the ck scythe in his hand, staring intently at the mist surrounding him.


    He had expected that he wouldn''t be able to kill the smoke ghost with one sh.


    The reason he was able to sessfully kill the three second-order professionals from the umbre organization earlier was mainly because they didn''t know he had the ck scythe and didn''t notice the "invisible zombie", so they werepletely defenseless.


    But now the smoke ghost had already seen the scythe on him and would instinctively be on guard.


    Moreover, the smoke ghost''s ability was very special.


    Su''en had heard Kay boast about how powerful the old captain smoke ghost, who had brought him out, was, and he had also mentioned in detail how he had witnessed the smoke ghost''s strange abilities in battle.


    Although the smoke ghost believed Su''en''s words and walked out without any defenses, in fact, this old cunning guy had habitual defensive measures.


    The smoke constantly lingering behind him served as cover, with a simr ability to "refract illusions".


    You see a person right in front of you, but their actual specific location is not there.


    It''s like a fish in clear water. If you stab the harpoon ording to its shadow, you will definitely miss.


    This is very practical in battle. Even if the enemy aims at his heart, after firing, they will find that they missed or hit a non-lethal area.The smoke was so thick that it could confuse the perception of any professional.


    So, just now, Su''en only predicted the approximate position of the smoke ghost with that sh.


    Being able to cut off an arm was already a good result. (Don''t ask why he didn''t cut horizontally, a wide horizontal sh would undoubtedly result in a bacsh)


    .......


    With just one blow, the smoke ghost''s arm was severed. In addition to anger, he also felt a strong sense of fear.


    In the moment when Su''en revealed his killing intent, he truly felt the threat of death.


    Looking at the eerie and grotesque runes floating around Su''en, as well as the ck scythe in his hand, the smoke ghost dared not easily show himself in the smoke, for fear of being struck again.


    "How did you get the Night Reaper''s Scythe of Sopnos?"


    A voice echoed from all directions, like an echo in a valley, making it impossible to pinpoint his location.


    Su''en looked at him with a smirk and coldly said, "Why don''t you guess?"


    In his perception, that "malice" also spread out, as if it appeared from all directions.


    The mist could conceal all traces of his existence.


    A very troublesome ability.


    A coldugh came from the smoke, "Hehe... so what if you have it? You just made one sh, but if you try to make a second one, the curse bacsh will immediately take your life!"


    The smoke ghost thought that Su''en didn''t know about the curse of the ck scythe, so he specially reminded him.


    "Oh?"


    Su''en smiled indifferently, showing his white teeth, and sarcastically asked, "Do you dare toe out and try if I can make a second sh?"


    The smoke ghost was right.


    The curse bacsh is directly rted to the user''s physical strength. The body of an ordinary person is much weaker than that of a rune zombie. If two shes are made in session, there is a high probability of instant death.


    But the smoke ghost didn''t know that Su''en had precise control over the power of the spatial rift.


    The previous sh was close enough, and the wound was notrge, so the bacsh would be much smaller than in the underground cave.


    If the damage calction was correct, he estimated that he could make at least four or five shes before triggering an immediate bacsh.


    As soon as these words were spoken, there was no sound from the smoke.


    The smoke ghost didn''t dare to gamble with his own life.


    Moreover, he didn''t need to show himself to kill.


    "Why... Mr. Sambu doesn''t dare to show himself?"


    Su''en continued to provoke with his words.


    Both of them chose to engage in verbal warfare at this time, each with their own purpose.


    Su''en wanted to make the enemy speak, exposing more ws and locking in his position.


    And the cunning smoke ghost, who was afraid to show himself with the ck scythe in his hand, spoke to cover up his "invisible killer move".


    The smoke around them became denser and denser, seemingly only affecting their vision, but actually hiding a deadly threat.


    Su''en looked at the anomalies on the data panel and sneered in his heart. He calmly took out the "gue Doctor''s Crow Mask" he had before and put it on his face.


    Because... there is a special fire poison in this mist that even a gas mask cannot filter!


    Seeing Su''en suddenly take out the gas mask and put it on, the smoke ghost also realized that his methods had been seen through.


    Originally, he had some contempt in his heart, after all, his fire poison was a mixed injury spell of smoke and technique, which ordinary gas masks couldn''t filter.


    But looking at the special crow-shaped mask, the smoke ghost immediately eximed in surprise, "Is this Sergei''s crow mask?"


    Then, he immediately realized something, and a shocked voice came from the smoke, "Did you kill Sergei?"


    "Yeah... Mr. Smoke Ghost, it will be your turn soon."


    Su''en continued to provoke, and through the emotional fluctuations just now, he roughly determined the smoke ghost''s position.


    But as soon as he gripped the ck de, that guy disappeared again.


    Several eerie dolls were also wandering around him. Once they found an opportunity, he would not hesitate to swing his de.


    At this time, Su''en continued to stimte him, saying, "I''m also curious, how did you be a member of the Umbre Organization... Mr. Mole?"


    A contemptuousughter came from the smoke, guessing Su''en''s thoughts, "Hehe... you want to anger me?"


    Now the fog has filled the entire alley, no one wille in, and the sound cannot escape.


    He knew that as long as he didn''t show himself, he would undoubtedly die!


    When smart peoplepete, victory or defeat lies in the details. Now it''s about who can remain calm.


    Su''en looked at the increasingly dense smoke around him and said, "Oh? Do you think that if you don''t show yourself, the fire poison will definitely kill me?"


    The smoke ghost responded contemptuously, "Haven''t you already felt it?"


    "Hehe..."


    A sinister smile gradually appeared in Su''en''s eyes.


    He had indeed felt the damage from the fire poison.


    Looking at his own skin, the burning sensation was intensely piercing his nerves. This was a severe pain that ordinary people could hardly bear.


    This dense white smoke not only burned the heart and lungs, but could also seep into the pores. In just a moment, Su''en felt a scorching sensation on his skin. His skin gradually dried up and heated up, slowly turning into the charred yellow color of burnt tree bark, and then into ayer of burnt ashes.


    Without the smoke ghost taking action, if this continued, he would be burned to death.


    And now more members of the Umbre Organization wereing, he couldn''t afford to dy, he had to force the smoke ghost to make a move!


    Originally, he still had some concerns, but now it seemed that he had no choice. Su''en took out a green syringe, nced at it, and decisively stabbed it into his own neck.In the smoke, the Smoky Phantom saw what was happening and let out a coldugh, "Healing potion? Haha... You underestimate my ''Ash Poison''."


    Su''en tilted his head and injected the potion, a cool sensation immediately rushed to his forehead.


    The smirk on his face was increasingly inscrutable, he mocked with a dismissive tone, "Oh... is that so?"


    Because he could see his own data panel, he had thoroughly tested the healing data of various healing potions.


    He was also very clear that even the best potion in his hand could not offset the continuous stacking of fire burns.


    But as soon as this potion was injected, a miraculous scene urred.


    The skin on Su''en''s body that had just been scorched and dried was slowly healing!


    Moreover, as if the healing amount was overflowing, his whole body was flowing with a majestic life force,pletely offsetting the burning damage of the fire poison.


    "Huh..."


    Upon seeing this, a light exmation came from the smoke.


    Obviously, the Smoky Phantom also found it incredible and asked, "What kind of potion is this?"


    "Do you want to know?"


    Su''en felt that his current state was excellent, he grinned provocatively, "Too bad, I''m not telling you."


    However, after the violent energy healed the injury, it did not stop. Like a breached dam, it initially moistened the soil like a spring, then it was a violent flood, rampaging through his meridians and muscles. It seemed to want to destroy everything and reshape the chaos.


    So this is what the "Mutation Precursor" feels like?


    Su''en felt the sensation of a balloon about to burst, teetering on the brink of life and death.


    But it was also within his expectations. He calmly injected another potion into his neck. The cool sensation poured into his brain, and the feeling of explosion was instantly suppressed.


    Good.


    What Su''en injected was not amon potion, but the [x Serum] and [Mutation Suppression Potion]!


    The serum would transform his body, causing his cell activity to skyrocket several times in a very short time, greatly enhancing his self-healing ability.


    Although it couldn''t reach the level of that "Abhorrent Warrior", it seemed to be enough to resist the fire poison.


    ......


    The serum only had a 75% sess rate, but Su''en couldn''t afford to hesitate at this critical moment.


    Now the Smoky Phantom was obviously stalling for time, if he continued to dy, even if Su''en could kill him, he would not be able to escape the city.


    Moreover, he had another n for injecting the "x Serum".


    He had already used the ck Scythe once, and the bacsh would appear in an hour.


    Although the wound wouldn''t berge, if he wanted to be safe, his best choice would be to find a skilled doctor to save his life, like Danny on Green Street.


    But!


    He was currently being hunted and had to leave the city, so he had no chance to wait for treatment.


    And to kill the Smoky Phantom, he would need at least one more strike!


    By the time the curse of the two scythes bacsh, his situation would be very bad.


    So, he came up with this "fight poison with poison" method.


    The super recovery ability brought by the "x Serum" could allow him to preserve his life to the greatest extent after a sudden wound appeared.


    The serum could not only solve the current fire poison problem but also solve the hidden danger of bacsh.


    A 75% sess rate was enough for him to make a decision.


    Moreover.


    After injecting the potion, Su''en had the confidence to fight back!

 Chapter 127: “§�symbol

    Chapter 127: ¡°¡ì¡±symbol


    Now the fire poison cannot harm Su''en, and the n of the smoke ghost has also failed.


    If he doesn''t show up and attack, he can''t do anything to Su''en.


    And Su''en won''t just sit and wait for death. He controls the eight-arm spider spear and starts running.


    He used to be afraid of being found by the smoke ghost and being killed with one fatal blow. But now, after injecting the "x potion," his body''s resilience, resistance, and recovery ability have be stronger and stronger.


    He is now confident that the smoke ghost cannot kill him with one blow.


    On the contrary, once the opponent can''t help but make a move, it will be the time to determine the oue.


    Although he can''t see the surroundings, Su''en can roughly distinguish that the direction he is heading is south. He rushes straight towards that direction.


    The spider legs have the ability to move without obstacles, climbing walls and stairs without caring about whether there is a way or not. The speed is getting faster and faster.


    However, even so, the cloud of smoke follows closely behind.


    Even though there are many ws in his running, Su''en doesn''t care at all.


    The two of them chase each other from Green Street all the way south.


    Su''en thought that the smoke ghost would not be able to resist attacking him when he saw his ws, after all, if they really went outside theplex terrain of the city, the situation would be even more unfavorable for the pursuers.


    But unexpectedly, when both of them were looking for opportunities to kill each other, something unexpected happened.


    A cloaked figure rushed towards them, blocking their way.


    The person spoke and questioned, "Sanbu, are you from the Umbre Organization?"


    The voice was disguised, and it was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman.


    ......


    Su''en looked at the person who blocked their way, thinking that it must be a high-ranking member of the Umbre Organization.


    But when he saw the cloak, his expression immediately became subtle.


    The person was wearing a ck cloak with an ancient style, and his face couldn''t be seen clearly.


    It looked a bit like the hidden cloaks in the high-ranking professional circles of the ck market, but both the material and workmanship were visibly several levels higher.


    It was not the ordinary pure ck color. The cloak had beautiful patterns outlined by golden lines, including snakes, eagles, lizards, fire dragons, thorn flowers... these were metaphorical patterns that appeared in alchemy ssics.


    The golden patterns on the cloak looked like decorations, but whenbined, they seemed to form some kind of profound alchemy formation. Upon closer inspection, there was a strong sense of mystery.


    This cloak seemed to belong to those ancient noble families with profound backgrounds.


    What caught Su''en''s attention even more was another factor.


    When the person caught up with them just now, Su''en saw a golden "" symbol on the back of the cloak.


    Su''en had seen this symbol twice before. One was when he first crossed over, in the underground altar of the Storm Manor, one of the five statues was carved with this symbol.


    The other was the eight-pointed star alchemy formation core on the back of the book "Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript 3" he was holding.


    And now, it appeared on this cloak for the third time.


    Su''en spected that this symbol was rted to some kind of S-level talent.


    Because when he awakened the "s-018-All-Seeing Eye," the statue with the "?" symbol shattered; and when he awakened the "s-004-Death Reaper," the statue with the "?" symbol also shattered.


    Usually, obvious markings on clothing represent a certain organization.


    Like the Iron Cross of the Temr.


    This cloaked person should be from a mysterious organization.


    Su''en''s first reaction was that the person was Mr. ck, because he should already know that Su''en had been to the basement of 88 Gingko Street.


    But looking at the imposing manner of this cloaked person, he immediately ruled it out.


    Mr. ck always gave people the feeling of being calm andposed, while this person exuded a strong and domineering aura, as if mes were burning all over him.


    Since he couldn''t sense any "malice," Su''en also stopped and didn''t make any moves.


    The fact that the person caught up with them in just a few leaps showed that his physical strength must be extremely strong.


    Now that he came to question the smoke ghost, the situation didn''t seem like they were enemies.


    ......


    Upon hearing the question from the cloaked person, the smoke ghost asked in a deep voice, "Who are you, sir?"


    The cloaked person didn''t answer at all and asked again, "You just need to answer yes or no."


    The smoke ghost naturally couldn''t lie, especially with Su''en, who knew the truth, by his side. He had to change the topic and said, "What does it have to do with you since you know I am from the Umbre?"


    "That''s it then."


    The tone of the cloaked person was a bit domineering.


    If you don''t admit it, then forget it.


    If I say you are, then you are.


    As he spoke, his aura soared, as if he was about to make a move.


    The smoke ghost found it inexplicable that the imposing manner of the other party made him coldly snort.


    But realizing that the other party''s intentions were not good, he didn''t hide anymore and said directly, "Since you know I am from the Umbre, what is your purpose in stopping me?"


    From the cloaked person''s aura, the smoke ghost could tell that he must be a high-ranking professional. If they really fought now, with his arm already severed, he would definitely be at a disadvantage.


    Moreover, there was also a guy holding a scythe staring at them.


    Once he revealed his identity, he knew that his situation would be very dangerous.


    "What''s my purpose? Naturally, to kill you!"


    But unexpectedly, bringing up the identity of the Umbre Organization not only didn''t improve the smoke ghost''s situation, but also made the cloaked person unleash his full power. With a stomp of his foot, he rushed towards the cloud of smoke!


    ......


    "So strong!"


    Su''en''s pupils contracted.


    Seeing the movement of the cloaked person stomping on the ground and creating a shockwave, he knew that this guy must have extremely strong closebat abilities.


    This was a very advanced rushing body technique. The stomp not only exerted force on the ground, but alsopressed the air into an air burst, using it to propel himself forward.


    However, they started fighting as soon as they met. This person''s temperament is really hot-tempered.


    But even though he knew that the smoke ghost was from the Umbre Organization, he still dared to make a move?


    In the entire Old Lingdun, there were not many people or forces that dared to actively oppose the Umbre Organization.


    Seeing this, a thought suddenly shed through Su''en''s mind.When he was gathering information in the ck market before, people had mentioned that a month ago, the woman who had bombed the West Cityboratory and was wanted, was cornered by the Umbre Organization in North City. Just when they were about to sessfully encircle and kill her, a "third party force" suddenly appeared, breaking the Umbre Organization''s encirclement and allowing the woman to escape again.


    Could this cloaked figure be that "third party force"?


    Although he had guessed this, Su''en had no intention of watching the fight between high-ranking professionals.


    Now that someone was holding off the Smoky Ghost, he didn''t need to risk using his ck scythe for a second strike.


    Just as he was preparing to slip away in the chaos, he didn''t expect...


    The fight came suddenly, and ended even more abruptly!


    Even though Su''en had mentally prepared for the cloaked figure to intercept the Smoky Ghost, he knew the figure must be quite powerful.


    But looking at the scene before him, his eyes were still filled with disbelief!


    ......


    The Smoky Ghost hid in the fog, making it a significant challenge for anyone to kill him.


    Unexpectedly, the cloaked figureunched a major attack as soon as they met!


    When he rushed out, the murderous aura that was like a me suddenly surged, growing higher and higher.


    In that instant, the purple-ck me suddenly condensed into a strange phantom with delicate features, yet exuding a dignified aura. With ming hair and six arms each holding a weapon, it was clearly the image of a Rakshasi from ancient mythology.


    "A mythological talent [a-022-Rakshasi]?"


    Su''en''s gaze faltered, recalling the introduction of this rare talent in the ssics.


    "No, even an A-level talent couldn''t be this strong!"


    He remembered the description of this talent in the ssics, which said it could greatly enhance physical strength, but he had never heard of a talent that could manifest in such a way.


    Moreover, in the entire outer city of Old Lingdun, those with A-level talents were all well-known figures, and he had never heard of anyone awakening this kind of mythological talent.


    Could it be a second awakening of talent like Danny''s?


    Who could this person be?


    Su''en didn''t have time to ponder.


    Because the fight was already over.


    The cloaked figure moved so fast, like a meteor; so powerful, that with a single encounter, the Smoky Ghost hiding in the thick fog was hammered to spit blood and fly out!


    Even though the Smoky Ghost had lost an arm, he was a genuine second-tier professional.


    Defeated in a single encounter?


    The Smoky Ghost, lying on the ground spitting blood, his face as pale as gold paper, obviously recognized who the cloaked figure was, and was terrified: "It''s you! How can you be so strong?!"


    But in the next instant, the cloaked figure didn''t give him a chance to speak, shed, and kicked him in the head again.


    A chilling sound of bone cracking rang out.


    The veteran member of the Cross Society, a long-established second-tier professional, "Smoky Ghost" Sambu Kachinsky, was killed on the spot!


    ......


    Before he had a chance to escape, the fight was over.


    Looking at the explosive crime scene, Su''en tightened his grip on the big ck scythe in his hand, then loosened it again, aplex expression of confusion, shock, and emotion appearing on his face.


    Voice, face, even body shape could be changed by the cloak.


    But the style of doing things had a strong sense of dj vu.


    Thinking back to the Smoky Ghost''s familiar expression before his death, Su''en had a rough guess who this person was.


    He just didn''t expect her to be so incredibly strong...


    What on earth was going on with the Cross Society? It was one thing to have a mole in the Umbre Organization, but how could she be that "third party force"?


    At this time, the cloaked figure looked at Su''en who hadn''t run away, and was staring at her in surprise. She seemed equally incredulous, asking, "Do you recognize me?"


    Hearing her tone, Su''en was even more certain of his guess, and said with aplex expression, "Yes, Sister Qian Tiao..."

 Chapter 128: Leave the city

    Chapter 128: Leave the city


    Su''en had thought before that Qiantiao mighte to save him.


    But he never expected that this gambling addict would be so powerful!


    She was only a second-tier member, just like a smoker, but now she showed a strength thatpletely overwhelmed others of the same level. She killed someone with just one blow!


    And if she really was the "third party" opposing the Umbre Organization, the situation would be even more delicate.


    She was Rena''s aunt, so could there be other reasons behind the recent turmoil in the Rayes family?


    What about the mysterious benefactor behind the Cross Society, Mrs. Filov?


    And Mr. ck?


    A series of questions.


    In an instant, Su''en formed awork of underground forces involving both the inner and outer cities in his mind.


    Qiantiao''s appearance was just the tip of the iceberg, but there were stillrger unknowns and mysteries hidden beneath the surface.


    To counter the ck Tower, one must have corresponding strength, wealth, and manpower.


    This "third party" already possessed all of these.


    Although unknown to outsiders, it couldn''t be denied that this organization was very powerful.


    ...


    Su''en knew that since Qiantiao came wearing this special cloak, it was inconvenient for her to reveal her true identity.


    Perhaps the Cross Society couldn''t afford the cost of opposing the Umbre Organization now and wanted the "third party" to take on that role.


    Qiantiao walked over without taking off her cloak.


    But as soon as she spoke, the sense of mystery disappeared. "Hey, you actually recognized me. I didn''t n to meet you in this way, but you should understand that it would be inconvenient for me toe in my original identity."


    From her tone of voice and content, Su''en was certain that this was the gambling addict.


    As a member of the Cross Society, it was naturally inconvenient for her to kill members of the Umbre Organization.


    Upon hearing Qiantiao''s words, he asked, "Qiantiao, did youe to save me?"


    Qiantiao straightforwardly replied, "Yes. Rena sent me a message in a hurry, saying that you were in danger in the inner city and asked me to think of a solution. Originally, my n was to use my connections in the inner city to help you, but I was intercepted by the Umbre Organization on the way and obtained their battle information. I found out that you actually escaped. So I rushed back, but it took some time."


    Su''en sincerely said, "Thank you, Qiantiao."


    "I told you, you are under my protection. Do you need to be so polite?"


    Qiantiao said indifferently.


    Su''en also knew her personality and didn''t say much polite words.


    After a pause, Qiantiao nced at Su''en and said with a hint of teasing in her tone, "I heard that you even kidnapped Rena. I don''t know why that girl is still helping you."


    Su''en shrugged self-deprecatingly and naturally knew she was joking. He smiled and said, "You know about that?"


    Qiantiao''s tone was a bit strange. "Yes. Not only me, but all the major families in the inner city are making a fuss about it. They thought another ''purge'' was going to happen in the past few months. Many people were scared and inquired about the origin of this kidnapper who dared to kidnap the youngdy of the Rayes family in the inner city in broad daylight."


    "..."


    Su''en raised his eyebrows as he listened.


    The Umbre Organization would definitely not mention that the cause of the incident was their attempt to ambush a transport team of an outer city gang, which resulted in them being counter-killed.


    But he couldn''t hide themotion he caused on the "Dunwich Commercial Street" before. In the end, it would probably be concluded as an ordinary kidnapper.


    Qiantiao didn''t intend to say much. "Let''s go, we''ll talk while walking."


    Su''en asked, "Where are we going?"


    "To send you outside the city."


    Qiantiao exined, "There are powerful trackers in the Umbre Organization. Now that you have caused such a bigmotion, they will spare no effort to hunt you down. It''s not safe for you to stay in Old Lingdun City. Leave the city to avoid trouble. I can''t expose myself right now, otherwise, I might not be able to take care of you if something happens."


    "Oh, then wait for me."


    Su''en said and walked towards the body of the smoker.


    While removing the storage ring and the "official materials" from the body, he also harvested the soul fragments.


    The silver official material, "Haiying''s Rune Pipe," is the professional material of a second-tier "Ashen Warlock"; the second-level silver equipment, "Foodlight Hourss," can give people the ability to distort light and hide in smoke.


    They were both very practical materials for an assassin.


    If it weren''t for the fact that it didn''t suit Su''en''s career n as a Puppeteer, he would have liked the smoker''s ability to produce smoke and conceal himself.


    (Curse Aggregation Principle: After the advancement of a professional, the curse characteristics of the official materials will merge. Usually, a corpse will only yield one high-level official material and equipment.)


    As for the memories he extracted, Su''en guessed that they contained some information about the smoker being a mole in the Umbre Organization.


    The rest was just a bonus of experience.


    ...


    Qiantiao didn''t say anything as she watched Su''en collect the spoils from the smoker''s body.


    Their rtionship wasn''t so distant.


    But at this moment, she also noticed that Su''en hadn''t taken off the crow mask on his face and curiously asked, "Did you kill the ''gue Doctor'' Sergei?"


    "Yes."


    Su''en nodded.Qiantiao felt it was unbelievable and said, "That guy''s ability is quite tricky, he is good at curse magic, and he can even resurrect... Most second-tier professionals can''t do anything to him. I didn''t expect that you could actually defeat him?"


    "Well..."


    Su''en didn''t know how to exin to him, after all, it was Mr. Hei''s trap.


    He saw the cloak on Qiantiao''s body, although he had guessed what it was a long time ago, he still asked, "Qiantiao, do you know Mr. Hei?"


    Hearing this, Qiantiao''s tone was surprised, and she asked back, "Huh... how do you know Mr. Hei?"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en sighed in his heart, "As expected."


    That third party force, Mr. Hei, or the mysterious organizer of the Shadow Lane ck market, had a direct rtionship with him.


    He said straightforwardly, "I used some special means to kill Sergei. But it involves some secrets of Mr. Hei, and I can''t say it. Since you know him, you can just ask Mr. Hei directly."


    "Oh."


    Qiantiao didn''t continue to ask.


    After Su''en finished collecting the spoils of the Smoke Ghost and threw a burning bomb to destroy the body, the two of them walked towards the south city wall.


    With such a powerful expert escorting him, Su''en finally felt relieved from the urgency of being chased for a day.


    ...


    Compared to Qiantiao''s hidden identity, Qiantiao was more curious about the various incredible methods Su''en disyed.


    She looked at Su''en, who had a calm expression, and her tone was quiteplicated, "Even if I didn''te, the Smoke Ghost wouldn''t necessarily be able to kill you, right?"


    "Yeah."


    Su''en didn''t deny it and calmly responded, "But the possibility of me dying is also quite high."


    "Tsk tsk, you really are quite amazing. Although that Smoke Ghost guy has a strong assassination ability, even ordinary second-tier professionals would suffer a lot, but he couldn''t do anything to you. Instead, he lost an arm..."


    As Qiantiao spoke, she seemed to have thought of something, "Huh... could it be that you already knew the Smoke Ghost''s identity in advance?"


    Su''en felt that there was nothing to hide, and Qiantiao would eventually know about the hand note in the escort. He said, "Yes. We were going to escort a batch of goods to the inner city before..."


    He briefly exined a few sentences, exining how he discovered the hand note and deduced that the Smoke Ghost was the mole.


    Qiantiao listened with amazement, "You really have a meticulous mind..."


    At this moment, she looked at therge scythe behind Su''en and asked, "How did you get this scythe?"


    "I picked it up when I went to the underground dungeon for a trial."


    "You used that scythe to cut off the Smoke Ghost''s arm just now?"


    "Yeah."


    "Now it''s a bit troublesome... the curse bacsh of this banned item is very deadly. Wait a moment, I''ll contact a medical team outside the city for you, but time is tight, and they may not make it in time. Hopefully, they can save your life..."


    "Uh... I think it shouldn''t be that bad. I can handle it myself to some extent. If possible, having a doctor to help would be good."


    "Ah? I think you may not be aware of the curse characteristics of that ck scythe."


    "No, I am aware."


    "..."


    Su''en now had spider arms, so sewing needles and the like were no problem at all.


    Moreover, during this short period of time, he had specifically studied surgical emergency techniques and learned how to use the emergency equipment from the ck Tower Academy. As long as it wasn''t a fatal injury like having his brain split in half, there shouldn''t be a big problem.


    He could handle it himself.


    Besides, now he had the super strong recovery ability after the transformation with the "x serum," and he also learned the "Life Conversion Alchemy Array" from Rena. With multiple safeguards, Su''en felt that the possibility of dying a violent death was not high.


    But it would be better to have one or two doctors to help.


    ...


    The two of them soon arrived at the south city wall. They didn''t go through the main gate. Su''en climbed the wall with his spider arms, while Qiantiao leaped over the wall with a few jumps.


    "I have arranged a hunting team from the inner city for you. They will give you a new identity, and you will follow them. There is a great opportunity at the ruins of Dawn City, but it is also very dangerous... You are even more cautious than I expected, I don''t need to say much more."


    As they walked and talked, Qiantiao had already arranged everything for Su''en.


    Originally, it was supposed to be an escape, but it sounded more like following the hunting team for a casual stroll.


    "Yeah. Qiantiao, there''s something I need your help with. I have a basement on Green Street, and there are some things inside. If it''s convenient for you, can you help me clean it up?"


    "Okay."


    "Oh, and there''s one more thing. In the basement of No. 16 Green Street, there is my friend. His name is Danny, and he is a very powerful alchemist. I''m afraid the Umbre Organization will trace it back to him, so please take care of him for me."


    "Okay."


    "Qiantiao, that visible illusion you just showed, is it a second awakening of your talent?"


    "Huh... how do you know about this? This is an area that only top professionals would be involved in. It''s advanced knowledge that even the inner city has sealed off..."


    "..."


    As the two of them chatted, Qiantiao noticed that Su''en''s face had turned into a strange blue color.


    She asked, "Huh... are you poisoned? Why did your skin turn blue?"


    "..."


    Su''en listened helplessly.


    If she had appeared earlier, he wouldn''t have had to take the risk of injecting the "x serum."However, it seemed like a blessing in disguise.


    There were no abnormalities now, it should be a sess.


    Throughout, Qian Tiao never exined the identity of her cloak, and Su''en never asked.


    But when parting, Qian Tiao gave him a profound piece of advice, "Strive to be stronger... Only from a high ce can you see a different scenery."


    "Okay."


    Su''en smiled slightly.


    Although it was just one sentence, Su''en understood the implied meaning, he was not yet qualified to touch those high-end secrets.


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 Chapter 129: Voodoo Doll

    Chapter 129: Voodoo Doll


    The energy in both the inner and outer cities is immense.


    Even though Su''en caused quite amotion in Old Lingdun, she managed to find a good doctor within an hour to help her solve the bacsh from the ck Scythe Curse.


    Because Su''en controlled the strength of her attacks precisely, the wounds from the curse were not severe. With the help of the "Life Conversion Alchemy Array" and the X Serum, she was able to survive without any major issues.


    Next was the n to leave the city.


    Originally, Su''en nned to go alone and find an opportunity to join a wild team to Dawn City. However, Qiantiao''s arrangement seemed more appropriate.


    She arranged a legal identity for Su''en.


    In order to avoid exposing his identity, Qiantiao did not arrange for him to join a hunting team rted to the Cross Society. Instead, she had him join a transportation team in the inner city. Su''en became a casual sniper hired for a hunting guild mission, with a registered medal and a series of certification documents issued by the hunting guild. His identity was well-founded. He reced the original hunter named "Johnny".


    .......


    On this day, arge transportation team was slowly moving through the dark underground passage.


    This was Su''en''s seventh day following the "Thornbird Merchant Guild Transport Team".


    The sound of steam-powered mechanical dogs filled the air in the team. These simple mechanical animals did not havebat capabilities, but they could carry heavy goods and adapt to the rugged mines in the underground. They were the mainstream transportation tools used by hunters to transport heavy objects.


    Currently, arge hunting camp was being built in Dawn City, requiring arge amount of construction materials. This was a good opportunity for merchants to make money, so there were many transportation teams heading underground during this time.


    Since the hunters were going to explore ruins anyway, they also epted the guild''s employment and earned some money for escorting along the way.


    This transportation team hired five small hunting teams and some reputable solo hunters from the hunting guild. Su''en, who took on the identity of "Johnny", was among them.


    There were a total of one to two hundred people in the team, and Su''en blended in without attracting attention.


    In the past few days, they had encountered two small-scale attacks from aberrant monster groups, resulting in a few deaths, but fortunately, there were no major losses.


    And because he was a hired frence hunter, he didn''t have many acquaintances and hung at the back of the team, appearing quite aloof.


    Of course, this was a deliberate image created by Su''en to conceal the abnormalities in his body.


    Due to injecting the "X Potion", his entire skin had turned blue due to the side effects.


    To prevent anyone from noticing, he wore a gas mask throughout the journey, and his hands were covered with expensive synthetic skin gloves, leaving no skin exposed.


    Fortunately, most hunters who explored the underground were fully armed, so this attire didn''t seem out of ce.


    ......


    The transportation team continued to move steadily towards the underground.


    Su''en carried a ck box, which was used to disguise the presence of the scythe by making it look like a sniper rifle case since they hadn''t found a new corpse in the past few days.


    As they walked, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy happily ran towards the back of the team.


    He waved his gas mask in his hand and greeted Su''en excitedly, "Mr. Johnny, can you help me check what''s wrong with my mask?"


    This boy was named "Tommy" and was the son of the leader of the "Drunkard Hunting Team". Because he loved adventure, his big-hearted father brought him along.


    Two days ago, the transportation team encountered an attack from an aberrant monster. Su''en happened to kill one of the monsters and saved this little guy from almost having his neck bitten off. As a result, he gained the friendship of the Drunkard Team.


    This unreserved little guy would asionally seek advice on marksmanship and mechanical matters besides expressing his gratitude.


    "Mr. Johnny, your parrot mask is so beautiful."


    Tommy looked at Su''en''s mask with envy and pouted, "Compared to yours, mine looks like an ''Ugly Duckling Mask''."


    "Hehe, let me take a look..."


    Su''en took the ugly duckling mask from him without any trouble and carefully examined it.


    Of course, it couldn''tpare.


    The mask Su''en wore on his face was not an ordinary gas mask but a modified "gue Doctor''s Crow Mask".


    Initially, he thought he wouldn''t need it after killing Sergei, but after injecting the X Serum, Su''en found that his cell activity had be extremely strong, and his body could automatically metabolize minor toxins without any effect. He had also tested the curse properties of the mask in the past two days and concluded from observing the attribute panel that his cell activity could withstand the side effects of this mask. With the detoxification potion, he was at least less likely to be poisoned.


    Since he had to wear a gas mask to cover his face anyway, he decided to modify the appearance of the crow mask.


    After all, there was no better gas mask than one with a 99% probability of protection against toxins and the ability to enhance toxin resistance when worn for a long time.But because it was spoils of war, in order to avoid being recognized, Su''en also transformed the originally cool and mysterious crow-mouth mask into a shy "parrot mask".


    Not only did he change the ck main color to the parrot''s yellow-green color, he also added a chicken-rib mechanical device that cleans the goggles like a windshield wiper, and also casually covered the crow''s mouth with a piece of mysterious ck cloth. This is the mainstream punk style on the market. It was a simple mechanical modification, but itpletely changed the appearance and made it look instantly mon".


    However, this chicken-rib modification attracted Tommy''s strong interest.


    Watching Su''en inspecting his own work, Tommy muttered on the side, "Mr. Johnny, I want to make a mechanical goggles that can automatically flip open, so that when I need a wide field of vision, it can stay on my hat. But it always creaks and is stiff even after I oiled it..."


    "Oh?"


    Su''en found that Tommy had a talent for mechanics and hade up with something interesting in just one day.


    He took a quick look and found the root of the problem, saying, "Actually, you''re already doing pretty well. You can slightly move the gears here, and the power transmission of the steel wire will be smoother. The reason it gets stuck is because you designed the device to be tooplicated. The moreplicated the machinery, the more likely it is to malfunction..."


    Tommy followed Su''en closely, listening carefully.


    Before long, Su''en handed the mask back to him.


    The boy had a good understanding, and he seemed topletely understand. He smiled and said, "Oh, thank you, Mr. Johnny. I know how to modify my ''ugly duckling mask'' now!"


    With that, he happily ran off.


    Su''en smiled as he watched him.


    The boring escort mission had some small pleasures after all.


    .......


    After walking for a few more hours, the team stopped.


    "Alright, we can stop here. We''ll set up camp here today!"


    The one shouting was Abagon, a tall and thin old man. His appearance matched his personality, always making people feel harsh. He was the most respected person in this transport team and also a steward of the "Thornbird Trading Company" in the inner city.


    With thismand, excited cheers came from the team.


    Finally, they could rest again.


    The mechanical dogs surrounded the perimeter, protecting the members of the tradingpany inside. Those people from the inner city always looked down on the people from the outer city.


    As for the hunters, they had to set up their own camps.


    Su''en also took out the marching tent from his backpack and set up a sleeping ce for himself in an inconspicuous corner, then crawled inside.


    Finally, it was time to rest, and Su''en felt that this was the mostfortable time of the day.


    He brought the "Invisible Corpse" into the tent and then unwrapped the shroud, revealing the runic corpse and therge ck scythe inside.


    Su''en also took off his gas mask, exposing his eerie blue-skinned face to the air.


    If there were outsiders here, seeing the two blue-skinned monsters in the tent would surely scare them.


    But Su''en was used to it.


    He took out a rune pen and began to redraw the alchemical materials on the dimming runes.


    This was a hunter who died in an attack two days ago. The body was intact, so Su''en collected it to use as materials.


    While he repaired the runes on the living corpse, he also examined the changes in the muscles of the body and muttered to himself, "The amplification effect of the X Serum on the body varies greatly among individuals. Melee professionals should be more suitable for making living corpses. It''s a pity that I didn''t have the chance to bring out the body of the second-tier professional from before. If I had used the body of that kind of professional, it should have been able to withstand more strikes..."


    Although the bacsh was the same, the recovery ability was much worse.


    Even though the living corpse had also been injected with three doses of the "Second Generation X Serum", Su''en found that this female corpse was much worse than the previous male corpse under the same circumstances. In the same situation, there would be a significant difference in the number of bacshes it could withstand.


    But it didn''t matter... they were all consumables anyway.


    ......


    Speaking of the "X Serum", Su''en lowered his head and looked at the bulging and knotted muscles under his blue skin on his arm, his expressionplex.


    They had been on the road for several days, and even though he didn''t have intense training, his muscles were constantly filled with a sense of expansion.


    That was a sign of muscle growth.


    It was even more evident on his data panel. Except for mental power, almost all the physical-rted data had increased by more than double.


    And this growth process was still continuing in a decreasing pattern, and it would probably bepletely digested in the next few months.


    After fully absorbing the serum, Su''en could predict that his physical fitness would be much stronger than that of an ordinary melee professional!


    In addition to the increase in physical data, there was another very obvious enhancement.


    That was the efficiency of his meditation in absorbing "Dark Spiritual Power", which was significantly different from before he injected the serum.


    Before, Su''en could increase his dark spiritual power by one unit after meditating for a night.


    But now, after meditating for a night, he could increase it by three units!Although the dark spiritual power in the cave was indeed denser than that in Old Lingdun, it did not reach three times the density.


    Moreover, it was not just about the density, but also the absorption efficiency and the feeling.


    Su''en felt that his previous meditation was like forcibly infusing his body with dark spiritual power. Now, even if he didn''t actively use the breathing method, the dark spiritual power would automatically prate his pores. His body not only showed no signs of distortion, but also had a pleasant feeling like drawing silk.


    It felt like... a significant increase in the "elemental affinity" mentioned by the spellcasters.


    Su''en also estimated that he should soon be able to meet the minimum attribute requirements for advancing to the second-tier profession.


    Even because of the strengthening of his body and the surge of dark spiritual power, his capacity would also be very high, estimating that he could at least withstand the advancement materials and alchemical imnts of second-tier gold quality and above.


    This also made Su''en look forward to his trip to Dawn City even more.


    If he could find a powerful space cursed object, he wouldn''t have to worry about his body not being able to withstand it and miss the opportunity to fuse with such high-level professional materials.


    ......


    Su''en had almost finished drawing the runes on the zombie, and then wrapped it up again with the shroud.


    At this time, he thought of something and took out a pitch-ck doll from his storage ring.


    This was an experimental product, a solidified "Cursed Doll" of the spellcaster.


    Su''en named it "Voodoo Doll".


    But because this was a new work, there were still too many functions and data that needed to be tested before it could be used in actualbat.


    Su''en thought that this boring escort still had half a month to go, so he collected some blood samples for testing. It just so happened that Mr. Abagon, the steward, fell off the mechanical dog during the previous downhill journey and bled a little.


    Su''en didn''t know what he thought of, and a slight smile of apology appeared on his face, "With a distance of more than a hundred meters, the effect should not be bad... Mr. Abagon, I''m sorry, I can only use you for the test."


    Muttering to himself, he took the collected blood sample and smeared it on the alchemical array on the back of the doll. The gloss shed and disappeared, and the doll seemed to have a spirit in an instant. Ayer of gray mist appeared on the face of the doll, which had no facial features. It was somewhat simr to Mr. Abagon, and it looked a bit terrifying.


    Su''en was very familiar with the "Straw Man" spell in his memory, so there was no reason for him to fail.


    He picked up a rune steel needle and then poked it into the doll''s leg.


    This spell was not the kind of method that could easily kill with one blow. The distance was far, there were not enough blood samples, and if you didn''t stab the heart and head, you could only torture people.


    As soon as this needle was inserted, Su''en''s keen hearing allowed him to hear a scream instantly.


    "Ouch..."


    He didn''t know what Mr. Abagon was doing, but it seemed quite painful to hear him yell.


    "Subtracting the time consumed by the sound propagating in the air, from the moment of stabbing to the target''s scream, there was a dy of about 1.3 seconds. I don''t know if his reaction was slow, or the spell was dyed due to distance..."


    Su''en muttered to himself, and then recorded his experimental data: "September 1st, test target #001, ordinary middle-aged man... blood sample quality e, one hundred and thirty meters, needle stabbing the calf, dy 1.3 seconds scream..."


    After recording the data.


    Su''en thought for a while, picked up the rune steel needle again, and stabbed the same leg of the doll, then listened carefully.


    "Huh... The reaction to this scream is obviously slower, maybe he was prepared for the leg that was stabbed? Try another one?"


    Su''en thought for a while, then changed his leg and stabbed it again.


    In an instant, he heard Mr. Abagon''s scream and cursing, Su''en finally confirmed something, and added a sentence in his notes: "It is basically confirmed that the casting distance and reaction speed are inversely proportional, and the precise values of distance and dy can be tested in the future..."


    Then he stabbed a few more needles, almost no screams were heard, and the blood samples became very light.


    Su''en recorded again: "Casting will consume the target''s biological samples, greatly reducing the curse effect, and the casting distance will be greatly reduced..."


    ......


    Su''en tested the properties of the first version of the "Voodoo Doll" and got some new inspirations.


    He took out a new piece of wood, nning to carve a doll that had improved some of the spellcaster''s attributes.


    But as he was carving, footsteps approached from outside the tent.


    Tommy came to inform him that Mr. Abagon had called all the mercenaries to hold an emergency meeting.

 Chapter 130: Search

    Chapter 130: Search


    Su''en put away the half-carved wooden doll and put on his gas mask again.


    Just as he walked out of the tent, he heard Mr. Abagon rubbing his leg and cursing as he walked out of his luxurious marching tent: "Damn it, this dungeon is not a ce for humans. My old cold legs have rpsed..."


    Su''en listened to this and the corners of his mouth under the mask lifted slightly.


    .......


    This time, the "Thornbird Trading Company" hired a total of five small hunting teams and some scattered hunters. These fifty to sixty fully armed hunters were also the main force for transportation security.


    Su''en found a corner and listened quietly.


    If there was an emergency meeting, it meant that there was a problem somewhere.


    Before long, everyone arrived, and Mr. Abagon got straight to the point.


    "I just received thetest news. In the d24 area, which we will enter in about three days, several transport teams were attacked by mutated monsters and almostpletely wiped out. But we must deliver the supplies to the campsite of the Dawn City Ruins on time. So, I hope you can be prepared, send more people on guard duty during the night, and ensure the safety of the transport teams..."


    It was clear that this manager, who had never been outside the city, was nervous, and he spread his fear to the entire transport team.


    The more hunters headed to the Dawn City Ruins, the more dangerous the journey became. It was like fishing, attracting more and more mutated monsters with the scent of human beings.


    The dungeon was not a human territory; it was always a paradise for monsters.


    Humans were just a kind of delicious food in the eyes of monsters.


    The deeper underground, the stronger and more numerous the monsters.


    With that said, the hunters began to discuss.


    "I heard about it before. It seems that there is arge group of ''Three-eyed Poison Lizards'' active near the d24 area. Several hunting teams have encountered small-scale monster groups and suffered losses..."


    "That kind of mutated monster is quite troublesome. They are fast, move in groups, and a bite can infect people with toxic substances that cause flesh to rot... Do we have enough antidotes prepared?"


    "Not many. Hopefully, we won''t encounter arge-scale monster group, otherwise, we''ll be in trouble."


    "Everyone, prepare in advance. ce the outposts farther away when setting up camp..."


    "Yes, that''s the only way."


    "..."


    The leaders of the five hunting teams gathered together to discuss.


    After all, they all made a living from this, and no one was scared away by the danger.


    .......


    In an inconspicuous corner, Su''en also quietly listened to the battle n arrangements discussed by several team leaders.


    The underground passages wereplex and winding, and there were many routes to the Dawn City.


    The transport team was currently taking this route, which was the closest one discovered by the hunters so far.


    But it was not the artificial secret passage that Su''en knew before.


    They took a detour and passed through some dangerous areas marked on the map.


    However, Su''en didn''t care since he was traveling with the team.


    He didn''t feel any urgency while listening.


    He knew about the "Three-eyed Poison Lizards," which posed a significant threat to non-professionals. But for him, those monsters that could be killed with a regr firearm were not a threat.


    Moreover, with the "Invisible Corpse" as his trump card, even if high-level mutated monsters appeared, he had a way to fight back.


    Even if they really had to run, most mutated monsters wouldn''t be able to outrun him, who had the Eight-Armed Spider Spear.


    After a while, the meeting ended.


    Su''en was about to go back to rest.


    But Benson, the leader of the "Boozehound Hunting Team," came up to him.


    "Johnny, my brother!"


    "What''s up, Captain Benson?"


    "Hehe, that kid Tommy has been causing you trouble these past few days."


    Benson was a big-bearded man with a boozy nose and a hearty personality.


    Although they hadn''t known each other for long, Su''en had a good impression of him. Because of saving Tommy before, this big-bearded man was always very polite to him.


    Su''en smiled, "It''s not really trouble."


    Benson looked helpless like an old father, "Ah... this kid is driving me crazy. I heard that he likes to tinker with those mechanical things. I wanted to send him to the repair shop as an apprentice. It may not be wealthy, but at least he can live afortable life. But he doesn''t want to. He keeps shouting that he wants to be an adventurer, a real mechanic. So, I thought of taking him out to see the world, but we almost had a problem on the way. If it weren''t for you, that kid would have suffered a big loss."


    "Tommy actually has a talent for mechanics..."


    Su''en smiled. He felt that this big-bearded man must have something else to talk to him about.


    Sure enough, after being polite for a while, Benson finally said, "By the way, Johnny, the route ahead may be dangerous. If we really encounter arge-scale attack from mutated monsters, stay closer to our team. We can take care of each other."


    He said it politely and took Su''en''s face into consideration.


    He said it was taking care of each other, but he actually wanted to take care of this lone wolf.After all, in the eyes of ordinary people, gunmen are a profession that needs to be protected by teammates, especially snipers. Once they are approached by monsters, they be weak in closebat.


    Su''en understood. This was to repay the favor of saving Tommy before.


    He didn''t say much, just smiled and nodded, "Hmm, okay, thank you."


    .......


    In this way, the transport team continued to move towards the depths of the dungeon.


    Along the way, they encountered several small-scale attacks from distorted monsters, but because the transport team had enough manpower and firepower, they were able to repel them without any danger.


    Su''en was a sniper and didn''t need to engage in closebat. asionally taking a shot was enough.


    No one cared about thiszy and unsociable guy in the team.


    Su''en''s daily life was also very regr.


    He studied the Voodoo Doll, tinkered with some machinery, meditated to increase his dark spiritual power, and recorded detailed changes in his body data after injecting the "x serum"...


    Then he studied and interpreted Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript.


    When Su''en was ambushed by the Umbre Organization in the "White Sail Warehouse" before, he was puzzled as to why those guys could quietly take things away but chose to kill to cover their tracks.


    Later, in the battle on Green Street, Su''en killed three second-tier professionals from the Umbre Organization. After extracting the memory fragments of the ice mage who ambushed them in the warehouse, he finally understood that the reason the Umbre Organization wanted to cover their tracks was because they considered this manuscript as a "contaminant" and believed that its curse would contaminate anyone who came into contact with the notes, causing great harm.


    Their orders were to eliminate anyone who hade into contact with the notes and retrieve the manuscript.


    Moreover, this was a direct order from the Duke of ck Tower!


    But this made Su''en very puzzled.


    He identified the detailed information of this manuscript and found that it didn''t have any "contaminating properties" at all.


    The only curse mentioned was thating into contact with the manuscript would involve certain "causality" of the manuscript, and it was unknown whether it would bring fortune or disaster. How could this be considered contamination?


    Su''en felt that this was probably a move by the high-level officials of the ck Tower to monopolize the knowledge of super-tier alchemy.


    After all, he also learned from the memory of another second-tier professional that the Umbre Organization knew about the existence of this manuscript. Moreover, they spected that it was one of the five manuscripts left by Sir Isaac, which recorded the "Divine-tier Alchemy".


    After much contemtion, Su''en wanted to find answers in the notes.


    He had been deciphering this manuscript for the past few days.


    Unexpectedly, using his not-so-clever deciphering methods, he managed to trante the contents of the manuscript.


    The result was...


    He found that this notebook was just an ordinary alchemy notebook, at least from what he had seen so far.


    The contents recorded on it were a special alchemical prosthetic.


    The Sir Isaac of that year wanted to use a "Heart Prosthetic" to bear additional dark spiritual power and also give the human body a continuous recovery "blue buff". This would allow alchemists to neverck dark spiritual power in battle and freely unleash more powerful spells without worrying about consuming their mana...


    Moreover, the contents of this notebook were also very user-friendly. It seemed that the half-god alchemist was afraid that future generations would not understand his brilliant ideas, so he gradually exined from the basics, step by step, how to sessfully create that "Heart Prosthetic".


    Su''en understood the first few pages, which recorded the manufacturing blueprint of the "Isaac''s Alchemical Heart (Level 1)". The main material used was the heart of a first-tier distorted monster. Although the runes and refining forms wereplex, they were entry-level knowledge that low-tier professionals could gradually learn and master.


    And miraculously, he could only see theter contents after understanding the previous ones.


    These past two days, he understood the first few pages and then deciphered theter pages, which contained the contents of the "Isaac''s Alchemical Heart (Level 2)".


    Thinking about it, there were still Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 contents in this notebook...


    It was simply an ordinary notebook.


    This book waspletely a collection of alchemical knowledge, apart from alchemy, it contained even more advanced alchemical knowledge.


    There was nothing that could be considered "contamination" in it.


    The only special thing Su''en felt was the sentence that was suspected of "spheming the gods".


    Sir Isaac wrote this sentence on the first page with a disdainful tone: "So-called divine-tier creatures are nothing more than high-level materials in the face of great alchemy."


    Su''en spected that the final part of this notebook might be about using the so-called divine heart to refine an "Isaac''s Heart"?


    .......


    The transport team continued to walk towards the depths of the dungeon for several days and finally entered a high-risk area. The atmosphere in the team gradually became tense.


    On this day, they chose a rtively safe ce to set up camp as usual and assigned more people to guard at night.


    Su''en also set up his tent and began his daily research.


    But unexpectedly, in the middle of the night, a group of uninvited guests broke into the camp.


    "Someone attacked the camp!"


    "Everyone, prepare for battle!"


    "..."


    The sentry sounded the rm, and suddenly there was amotion outside.Su''en didn''t dare to be careless. He cleaned up the invisible zombie and stepped out of the tent.


    To his surprise, despite themotion, no fight had broken out.


    The intruders were not mutated monsters, but a renowned bounty hunter group from Old Lingdun.


    The members of the wilderness hunting team guarding the camp were angry, but they didn''t dare to fight back.


    Among these rude intruders was a second-tier professional, ''Flower Sword'' Hol, a sub-leader of the "Iron Knight Bounty Hunter Group", an experienced swordsman who excelled in court fencing.


    After all, they had signed a protection contract. The wilderness hunters of the transport team also had the duty to protect the transport. They stood their ground with their weapons, not allowing this group of uninvited guests to break into the core of the camp.


    Although the other party had a second-tier professional, the transport team also had one to two hundred people. If a real fight broke out, it would undoubtedly end in mutual destruction.


    The other party didn''t dare to act rashly either.


    Then Hol negotiated with Abagon, and it seemed that he said something. The manager of the merchant group actually easily agreed to their search in the camp!


    "We are pursuing a very dangerous fugitive. Please cooperate with us for your own safety."


    "Everyone, step out of your tents, open your tents andrge bags, we need to check!"


    "Take off your masks, please show your faces..."


    "..."


    There were ten people from the Iron Knight Group. Judging by their demeanor, besides the second-tier Hol, there were several other formal professionals.


    This was already a strong team configuration.


    Su''en watched this group of people storm into the camp, seemingly looking for a "fugitive".


    Hearing this, he frowned.


    Because he himself was a fugitive.


    Could it be that the Umbre Organization had tracked him here?


    That was his first reaction.


    .......


    These guys drove everyone out of their tents and then checked one by one.


    Su''en was now in blue skin, which couldn''t be exposed to light. Once he took off his mask, he would definitely attract attention.


    But he was also a bit puzzled... The "Iron Knight Group"''s handling method was a bit overbearing, wasn''t it?


    After all, the people in this transport team were all legal wilderness hunters. Bounty hunters were notw enforcement agencies and had no right to search. This was the most important reason why Qian arranged this legal identity for him, to avoid unnecessary trouble.


    And this rude behavior naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of several wilderness hunting team leaders.


    Benson, the team leader, spoke up directly: "Hey, hey, hey, ''Iron Knight Group'', don''t go too far. We are a wilderness hunting team, not some fugitives. We have no obligation to cooperate with your search!"


    With that, the leaders of the other four teams also echoed: "Exactly! On what grounds are you searching us?"


    The wilderness hunters were not cowards, and it seemed that an armed conflict was about to break out.


    The search was obstructed, and Hol''s face turned pale.


    Ordinary bounty hunters wouldn''t dare to kill legal wilderness hunters.


    But he seemed to be carrying some urgent order, didn''t have time to argue, took out a wanted order and a gold badge, directly revealed his identity, and coldly said: "This is the highest level wanted order issued by the ck Tower, I am a specialw enforcement officer of the ''Umbre'' in the outer city. Just half an hour ago, this extremely vicious fugitive assassinated Lord Haus, the chief intelligence officer of Old Lingdun. Anyone who obstructs the pursuit will be treated as an aplice of the fugitive and killed without mercy!"


    Seeing the gold badge that Hol showed, the faces of several wilderness hunting team leaders changed drastically, and they didn''t dare to speak anymore.


    No one dared to provoke the Umbre Organization.


    .......


    On the other hand, Su''en''s expression became somewhat strange.


    Was it really the Umbre Organization''s undercover?


    So a high-ranking official had just been assassinated?


    Looking at the wanted order, he also understood that these people were not here to catch him.


    From a distance, he could clearly see the portrait on the wanted order.


    Wasn''t that the woman who had blown up the experiment?


    That woman had made a bigger fuss than him before, and she definitely couldn''t stay in Old Lingdun. It was expected that she would flee the city.


    But she didn''t keep a low profile after escaping, and caused a bigmotion again?


    Su''en''s eyebrows twitched.


    The legendary "Super Mechanical Warrior" who existed only for battle, was she really so troublesome?


    The fact that Hol was in a hurry to reveal his identity and search the camp meant that they were sure that the woman was nearby at this moment.


    However, what Su''en cared about was not the woman''s situation, but his own.


    Because at this moment, a guy from the "Iron Knight Group" had alreadye to his tent, and then, holding a gun, he ordered: "Hey, you... take off your mask!"


    Hearing this, the gaze hidden under Su''en''s gas mask also cooled down.


    A thought shed through his mind: Should I kill them all...


    ps. These two chapters are transitional chapters, written a bit weirdly... I don''t know where the problem lies.

 Chapter 131: Diviner

    Chapter 131: Diviner


    The underground cave is not the same as the city of Old Lingdun. If he really wants to take action, he has no scruples.


    Su''en can kill them and retreat calmly.


    With thisplex terrain, even if ten times the number of pursuers from Old Lingdun were toe, they might not be able to catch up to him.


    But in doing so, his n to quietly go to Dawn City will be ruined, and his identity as "Johnny" will have to be abandoned.


    But it seems that there is no other choice but to take action now.


    ......


    "Hey... you, take off your mask!"


    Su''en was being urged by the guy from the "Iron Cavalry" on the opposite side to take off his mask.


    After all, it was the time for the camp to rest, and most of the people in the transport team were not wearing gas masks. As the guy passed by, he naturally noticed that Su''en was different.


    Seeing that Su''en didn''t make a move, the guy''s gun also lifted slightly, as if he would shoot immediately if he sensed something wrong.


    The mask definitely cannot be taken off, as it would definitely cause problems.


    Listening to the urging, Su''en didn''t really care about this guy in front of him. Judging from his subtle movements with the gun, Su''en guessed that this guy wasn''t even a professional, so his threat was limited.


    Su''en''s peripheral vision was always focused on the "Flower Sword" Hall in the distance.


    If he were to take action, this person must be eliminated first to ensure that the battle would not have any unexpected incidents.


    However, just as Su''en was about to exert a little force with his fingers, preparing to control the "Invisible Zombie" behind him to strike the second-tier professional with a single blow.


    Suddenly!


    "The Knights" a few others who were searching in the camp discovered something and shouted, "Captain, I found this!"


    This urgent shout attracted the attention of everyone in the camp.


    Su''en also looked over and saw that the person was holding a damaged mechanical arm, which was surprisingly a severed arm of a living person. However, the tattered synthetic skin reflected a metallic luster, and there was no blood at the severed end, but rather some damagedplex high-precision mechanical parts.


    While others looked puzzled, Su''en was familiar with it and thought to himself, "px-911 Mechanical Limb?"


    The reason why he was familiar with it was because there were parts of this mechanical limb that had been disassembled in the puppetry items in his storage ring.


    Seeing this severed arm, Su''en also realized that the woman used a severed arm to attract certain tracking abilities of the enemy.


    Obviously, the "Flower Sword" Hall also realized this, and his face became very ugly.


    Finding the mechanical arm meant that they had been "misled" by the wanted criminal, and continuing to stay in the camp would most likely be a waste of time!


    Even the guy in front of Su''en had no intention of urging him to take off his mask anymore.


    He was not in a hurry to take action either.


    With the top boss being assassinated and Hall facing great pressure, he turned his head to look at the man in the team wearing a ck silk top hat and asked, "Harkins, how long until you can use your divination ability again?"


    Upon hearing this, the man named Harkins showed a difficult expression on his face, "At least another two hours."


    Hall shook his head, "What about now?"


    Harkins originally wanted to say that it was impossible, but looking at the captain''s pale face, he knew he couldn''t refuse, "I''ll try."


    With that, this guy stabbed the silver handle of the staff he was holding into the ground, and then sped his hands in a wizard''s seal. In an instant, a silver hexagram formation appeared under his feet.


    Not far away, Su''en was just wondering what these guys were up to when he suddenly realized something from the starry sky symbol that appeared on top of the hexagram formed by the man in the top hat, "Divination?"


    Although he had not encountered a professional with this extremely rare and mysterious ability in reality, he had read about it in the textbooks at the ck Tower Academy.


    Diviners were truly extremely rare professionals.


    They needed certain specific "mediumship talents" to qualify for this profession.


    In the whole of Old Lingdun, there might not be more than a few qualified diviners.


    However, in the eyes of alchemists, any ability had value.


    Abilities like predicting the future and divining good and bad luck, although considered divine skills, came at a great cost and were truly high-risk professions.


    If the target of divination was within the diviner''s ability range, it was still manageable, such as finding a lost wallet, which would only cost some energy.


    But if the target of divination exceeded one''s own abilities, or if certain taboos were touched upon, the cost could be the loss of life or even unlimited amplification.


    For example, when divining an item, if one identally glimpsed at an indescribable existence, they would instantly die.


    Just as this thought shed through Su''en''s mind, the hexagram formation under the feet of the man in the top hat hadpletely lit up.


    And miraculously, the silver handle staff that he had ced in the center of the formation seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, swaying slowly in a certain direction, as if guiding something.


    The staff kept swaying in one direction, but in the end, it did not fall.


    As if something was still missing.


    But at this point, the diviner Harkins seemed to be struggling. He recited an incantation with his mouth, and his whole body trembled.


    Seeing that the divination had no result, he gritted his teeth and took out a crystal ne.


    As soon as the crystal ne appeared, a faint blue light instantly enveloped the alchemy formation.


    With a "ng," his palm suddenly touched the ground and pointed towards a cave in the southwest.


    The ne also floated up, and the triangr crystal pointed in the same direction like an arrow.However, at the same time, the diviner Hawkins seemed to be hit by an invisible heavy hammer on his soul, and he suddenly spewed out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale. With this mouthful of blood, he seemed to have aged ten years, and hisplexion visibly deteriorated.


    Hull looked at his subordinate who was spitting blood as if he had expected it, and his face didn''t look good either. "You''ve worked hard."


    "Chase!"


    But before he could say more, he immediately called his subordinates and chased after the direction indicated by the floating crystal ne.


    In the blink of an eye, the Iron Cavalry Squad of more than ten people hurriedly left the camp.


    .......


    Watching them leave, Abagon, the steward, called out to everyone, "Alright, everyone go rest, continue to keep watch, don''t let your guard down!"


    After being disturbed like this, the faces of the members of the transport team didn''t look good.


    But after all, the other party was from the Umbre Organization. Even if they were angry, they had to hold it in. The hunters grumbled a few words and continued to sleep or keep watch.


    Not far away, Su''en looked at those who had left, and the steel wire in his hand loosened. However, his gaze gradually deepened.


    He had originally nned to take action, but he didn''t expect the other party to ignore him and just leave.


    However, he didn''t feel fortunate for being discovered. Instead, he felt a sense of inexplicable crisis.


    "This divination ability is very dangerous..."


    Su''en squinted his eyes, and a curious thought emerged in his mind.


    This was probably what Qiantiao had said before, those special trackers?


    If there were people like that in the Umbre Organization, they would be a great threat to any fugitive.


    Now that the woman was an SS-level fugitive, Su''en believed that he was at least an S-level. If there was a mysterious diviner like that, they would definitely end up fighting sooner orter.


    Moreover, his abilities and scythe had already been exposed. The next time he encountered a siege, it might not be so easy for the attackers to kill him.


    Thinking of this, Su''en pondered, "Diviners are extremely rare professionals. It''s hard to say if there are any in the Umbre Organization... They should all be in Old Lingdun City. There might only be one or two left in the underground now."


    Kill one, one less?


    Su''en raised an eyebrow, and a dangerous yfulness shed in his eyes.


    Since danger had emerged, it would be better to eliminate that danger in its infancy...


    With this thought, he immediately turned it into action. He controlled the undead and quietly approached the back of the tent. Then, avoiding people''s gaze, he untied the spider spear device and climbed up the cave wall to the top, and then followed the direction the Iron Cavalry Squad had left.


    .......


    Although he had only met her once, Su''en had a deep impression of that woman. Calm, rational, decisive.


    In her, he could always find some thoughts that could be mutually understood and resonated with.


    Since that woman chose to hide her severed arm in a transport team she encountered on the way, she must also know that the enemy had divination tracking methods.


    Su''en felt that if he were in that woman''s situation, he would definitely not just run away like that, but would ambush the Iron Cavalry Squad somewhere.


    After all, without killing that diviner, there would be no peace of mind.


    So... Su''en chose to catch up. Killing was a backup n.


    The first n was for that anticipated "ambush drama" that he believed would definitely happen, like catching a yellow sparrow.


    Su''en''s eight-armed spider spear ran quickly on the ceiling and soon caught up with the people of the Iron Cavalry Squad. He deliberately kept a distance, afraid of being discovered. Although he didn''t see anyone, he could hear the sound of their footsteps.


    "The pendulum disy shows the second passage on the left!"


    "We''re almost there, hurry!"


    "..."


    And suddenly, an unexpected event urred.


    As that group of people chased after them, they suddenly triggered an explosive device.


    With a loud bang, a st wave and mes swept over, and the entire cave wall shook violently, with debris falling like rain.


    Immediately after, intense sounds of battle could be heard.


    "They''re fighting?!"


    Su''en was almost knocked off the cave wall by the st wave, but instead of being startled, he showed an expected expression.


    Without dy, he quickly rushed towards the direction where themotion came from.


    In the pitch-ck corridor, there was only a faint light.


    But from time to time, there were shes of metal fire from the collision of swords and swords, apanied by the sharp sound of "ng".


    Su''en''s night vision allowed him to capture the two figures who were in intensebat. The person holding the sword was naturally the "Flower Sword" Hull that he had seen before. This guy swung his fast sword so densely that it was imprable. The elegant style of the court''s rapier technique exuded a sense of elegance, and his figure was light and agile like a dance, showing grace in his evasions. However, there was hidden killing intent in the tip of his sword...


    On the other side was a silver-haired one-armed woman. She also held a long katana and swung it with great force. Upon closer inspection, not only had she lost an arm, but her synthetic skin was also damaged in various ces, as if she had experienced a fierce battle before.


    But even with one arm severed and her physical condition looking bad, she was evenly matched with Hull in the fight, and even had the upper hand.


    Both sides fought fiercely, exchanging blows.


    "Second-tier melee profession really has an extraordinary reaction..."


    Su''en hung on the top of the cave wall, watching from a distance, while secretly observing Hull''s fighting style.The closebat second-tier professional''s nerve reaction speed has reached the level of being able to "split bullets with a knife". Even if Su''en had the ck Scythe in his hand, his own reaction was not fast enough to harm this person if he was not prepared in advance.


    He didn''t rush to take action, just hanging not far from the top of the cave.


    Because he knew that the silver-haired woman who dared to ambush must have the confidence to make a move.


    ......


    The explosion just caught the "Iron Cavalry" off guard, and now there are still six of the more than ten people alive. Captain Hall restrained the silver-haired woman, while these guys were casting spells on the side and shooting cold guns.


    Su''en also deliberately looked, and the diviner Harkins was indeed still alive.


    This kind of "rare professional" must be a key protected target. Obviously, they also guessed that the woman would focus on killing the diviner, and the few people who were alive protected the diviner in the center.


    Su''en originally wanted to find an opportunity to take action and kill Hall to end this battle.


    But suddenly, he noticed something unusual.


    "Are these people deliberately dying time?"


    Su''en also noticed that Hall knew that he couldn''t kill the wanted criminal "Number Neen" at all, so his offensive also converged, bing a prolonged and entangled fight.


    Not seeking to harm the enemy, just seeking to dy.


    "It''s strange..."


    Su''en noticed this and a thought shed through his mind.


    Why dy time?


    Waiting for reinforcements?


    ........


    The battle continued.


    How fierce was "Number Neen"?


    Since she was able to escape multiple times from the Umbre Organization''s encirclement and suppression battles, how could she be held back by a second-tier professional?


    Her purpose for setting up an ambush was very clear, it was to kill the "diviner"!


    Number Neen saw through Hall''s dying tactics and no longer cared about this guy. Suddenly, a burst of propulsion airflow erupted from under her feet, directly rushing towards the diviner.


    Her figure shed past.


    With a sh of her sword, a visible ripple of sword energy whistled by, and the cold light swept past, and two heads had already flown up, with bodies gushing out like a spring.


    The few people guarding the diviner were pale with fright and hurriedly fired their guns to try to stop her from continuing the ughter.


    However, even with alchemical bullets, they only produced sparks on Number Neen, and explosive bullets only pushed her back a few steps...


    Su''en''s thoughts were still spinning in his mind, and he saw the people raising their guns in front of him, but there was no ripple in his heart: "[px-911 Mechanical Limbs] have extremely high physical and magical resistance. Alchemical bullets won''t hit the vital points, so they are useless against her. And... maybe, she doesn''t have any conventional ''vital points'' at all!"


    He had carefully dismantled and analyzed the functions of these mechanical limbs before. Although he couldn''t understand many of the technologies, he spected that this "Number Neen" in front of him might have everything except the brain and nerves reced with machinery or alchemicalponents.


    So for normal people, weaknesses like nasal cavities, ear holes, eye sockets, and various skeletal joints were probablypletely eliminated in her design.


    This is a super mechanical warrior that exists purely forbat and killing!


    But then Su''en had a doubt: "If she is so strong, who was able to cut off her arm before? A third-tier professional?"


    Moreover, being chased by a second-tier team, not fighting back, and having to flee?


    Su''en felt that she might have guessed that there were stronger pursuers behind her, so she didn''t waste time killing these people.


    With this thought, Su''en narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Sure enough, there are stronger reinforcements on their way..."


    .......


    Number Neen''s swift operation of entering the crowd made the "Flower Sword" Hall''s face turn ck.


    This second-tier swordsman also seized the opportunity and stabbed into Number Neen''s damaged limb. But after all, it was machinery, and if it didn''t damage some keyponents, it was practically meaningless.


    Number Neen''s face showed no emotional fluctuations at all, and Su''en seemed to see his own shadow. Only in this absolutely calm state could one be a truly qualified fighting machine.


    In just this moment, Number Neen had already killed all six people, including the diviner.


    At this time, shepletely ignored Hall, who wanted to hold her back, and a burst of propulsion airflow erupted from under her feet as she turned and ran towards the depths of the underground cave.


    "Escaping?"


    Su''en looked and felt that the situation was probably over. If it were him, after killing the diviner, he wouldn''t bother with this second-tier professional who couldn''t be killed for the time being.


    But unexpectedly, Hall chased a few steps and couldn''t catch up, cursing angrily, "Damn it!"


    Then he gritted his teeth and did something unimaginable.


    Su''en watched as this guy ran while taking out a green potion and decisively stabbed it into his own neck.


    Seeing this, Su''en''s eyelids jumped. No matter how he looked at this action, it had a strong sense of deja vu.


    Isn''t this the same as his previous actions when fighting the Smoke Ghost?


    Could it be that this guy also realized that he couldn''t win and wanted to inject the "X Serum" to fight desperately?


    It seems that he received some kind of life-or-death order, and if he doesn''t keep anyone, he probably won''t survive when he returns.


    But...


    Su''en dared to inject the serum because he had the "Aberration Suppression Potion". Why does this guy have the right?


    In the next instant, as Su''en watched, Hall''s body swelled up like the Hulk, and Su''en understood and was greatly surprised: "He wants to hold her back even if it costs his life?"


    In the blink of an eye, this guy had transformed into a Hateful Warrior!Turns out, this wasn''t any pure "X Serum", but a loathing potion.


    Hogan never intended to suppress the mutation, he was merely trying to stall Number 19 with his life.


    Su''en''s eyelid twitched as he watched. How terrifying must the ck Tower''s ability to control people be, that a second-tier professional would self-destruct just like that?


    However, what he cared about more was something else.


    Loathing Warrior?


    It seemed like a pretty good material for a living corpse...

 Chapter 132: Mechanical Warrior and Hateful Warrior

    Chapter 132: Mechanical Warrior and Hateful Warrior


    "How strong is the regenerative ability of a second-tier Abomination Warrior?"


    Su''en looked at Hall, who had turned into an Abomination Warrior after injecting the serum, as if he had seen something incredible. His anticipation soared instantly.


    When he and Kay robbed the Steam Party escort team before, they had killed a first-tier Abomination Warrior. He had deeply experienced how powerful those monsters were. They had surpassed the limits of their tier, with physical attributes several times, or even more than ten times, stronger than professionals of the same tier.


    Seeing this second-tier Abomination, Su''en was not worried about its strength. On the contrary, he was looking forward to it bing even stronger!


    Because for ck Scythe, it was all about one sh.


    What he cared about was whether he could use the Abomination as a living corpse material!


    ......


    The essence of an Abomination Warrior and a living corpse was the same. They both utilized the non-directional distortion enhancement of the "X Serum" to improve their attributes. Theoretically, it could be used as "corpse" material.


    When Su''en was creating living corpses before, he had always thought about making an Abomination Warrior as a living corpse.


    With the exaggerated and extreme self-healing ability of the Abomination, as long as it didn''t hit the vital points, it could heal instantly.


    This meant that if Su''en controlled the Abomination living corpse and shed it five times with ck Scythe, triggering an immediate bacsh, if these five shes didn''t hit the vital points of the Abomination, then... it would immediately be healed by its terrifying self-healing ability!


    Perhaps... he could immediately sh it five more times?


    Five shes followed by five more shes...


    Theoretically, as long as luck wasn''t bad and it didn''t trigger a fatal injury, Su''en could sh the Abomination Warrior N times!


    If Su''en''s hypothesis was correct, ck Scythe would be the truly terrifying weapon in the hands of the Abomination Warrior.


    He hadn''t tried making an Abomination Warrior before because he didn''t have the technology. But now, a finished product appeared before his eyes!


    And it was a second-tier Abomination!


    Thinking of this, Su''en couldn''t contain his anticipation anymore.


    He must bring this Abomination back and give it a try!


    With this in mind, Su''en quickly harvested the spoils from several corpses and chased after the Abomination Warrior.


    ......


    After Hall injected the serum and transformed into an Abomination Warrior, his speed became extremely fast.


    He rushed forward and quickly caught up with Number Neen, who was trying to escape.


    Number Neen looked at the monster, her expression still numb, but a hint of seriousness appeared in her eyes.


    She heard the sound of the Abomination charging from behind and suddenly jumped back, avoiding the collision. Her body arched like a crescent moon in the air, and as shended, she swung her long knife down, shing at the Abomination Warrior''s right shoulder. The de prated two fingers, but in the blink of an eye, the woundpletely healed.


    In the next moment, because of her attack, the Abomination''s reaction was also extremely fast. It turned around and swung its massive arm horizontally, smashing heavily into Number Neen''s waist and abdomen. Her delicate body, which looked like only a quarter of the size of the monster, was sent flying like a cannonball and crashed deeply into the rock wall.


    When Su''en arrived, he happened to witness Number Neen being thrown back.


    He also judged that the speed of this Abomination Warrior was at least twice as fast as the previous Hall, and it was still getting stronger!


    Number Neen was also smashed into the stone wall, and Su''en felt a slight pain in his lower abdomen. If this blow hadnded on him, even though his body was so strong now, he would have undoubtedly lost half of his life.


    But Number Neen seemedpletely unaffected. She sprang out of the pit like a projectile and swung her knife at the approaching Abomination.


    A mechanical warrior against an Abomination Warrior.


    Both sides relied purely on physical attacks, had no sense of pain, and fought in a very violent manner, fist to flesh, de to flesh, fierce and terrifying... It made people''s scalp tingle.


    Just a few shes, and the two of them were like reckless cannons firing at each other, causing the underground chamber to copse everywhere.


    In the distance, Su''en just watched without taking action, hiding his body even more discreetly.


    Originally, this was the best opportunity for a sneak attack with Number Neen restraining the Abomination Warrior.


    Su''en also knew that facing an unintelligent Abomination, one or at most two shes would be enough to deal with it.


    But he didn''t make a move.


    Because... he was already certain that the Umbre Organization''s reinforcements would arrive in a short time!


    Otherwise, Hall''s actions to hold off Number Neen would be meaningless.


    If Su''en believed that he had guessed correctly and the Umbre Organization had reinforcementsing soon, then if he killed the Abomination Warrior now, he would expose himself and the "invisible living corpse."


    This would put him in a very passive situation.


    Even if he managed to escape this time, the next target of the Umbre Organization''s pursuit would change from one to two.


    But even though he knew there were reinforcements, Su''en didn''t immediately withdraw.


    One reason was that he didn''t want to easily give up the readily avable Abomination Warrior''s corpse.


    The other reason was that he felt the situation hadn''t reached the point where he had to retreat.


    From such a distance, it was impossible for arge force to arrive quickly. The most likely possibility was a lone ranger.


    The hostility of the Abomination Warrior was indiscriminate, so even if the enemy reinforcements arrived, it didn''t necessarily mean an immediate victory or defeat. It was highly likely to turn into a three-way melee.


    And Su''en felt that this kind of chaotic situation was more suitable for him to take advantage of the situation.


    With the scythe in his hand, who knows...


    Not only could he obtain the Abomination, but he could also ambush the "reinforcements"!


    If he guessed wrong and there was more than one enemying.


    Then it wouldn''t be a big problem.Neen and Hatred could also buy some time. It was not easy to catch up with Su''en, who could climb walls and drill holes with his eight-armed spider spear in thisplex dungeon. As long as he chose a good hiding spot, it wouldn''t be difficult to retreat.


    So, what he was doing now was to wait patiently for an opportunity.


    ...


    Neen wanted to leave, but he was being held back by Hatred and couldn''t escape at all.


    The battle between one person and one monster had already reached a white-hot stage. One body was made of alloy and couldn''t be destroyed, while the other body could heal and couldn''t be killed. Both sides were consuming their energy.


    Suddenly, Su''en''s eyes narrowed. "They''re here!"


    The sound could travel far in the dungeon passage.


    At this moment, he listened carefully and keenly caught a series of "popping" sounds of air explosionsing from the direction of the cave where they wereing from.


    He guessed that the personing must be a top-tier powerhouse. Su''en didn''t even dare to look in the direction where the sound wasing from, fearing that the other party also had a simr malicious perception ability.


    However, as the sound got closer and closer, Su''en suddenly heard something unusual. It was not just the sound of air explosions caused by running and stomping, but also the sound of "sizzling" from a jet propulsion device.


    "A jet propulsion device? Is the personing also a mech warrior?"


    Su''en was very familiar with this sound because during the battle with Neen, there were air surges in each joint.


    When he analyzed the stolen [PX-911 Mech Body], he also discovered the fuel propulsion device and the air propulsion device that looked like a jet engine. After being charged, these propulsion devices could provide explosive power to the mech warrior.


    Therefore, he was certain that the personing was a "mech warrior."


    ...


    Su''en listened carefully to the movement and indeed, as he expected, the "reinforcements" came alone.


    Seeing this, he didn''t rush to leave.


    After all, knowing that the other party was a mech warrior made the intelligence clearer.


    Unlike those strange magic professionals who could always unleash some unpredictable spells, mech warriors were very strong but had a single attack method, usually only physical attacks.


    And because they didn''t have a physical body, their perception system was also very simple, with only the four senses of "sight, hearing, taste, and touch." They wouldn''t awaken any strange perception abilities.


    In a certain sense, the predictable direction became much clearer.


    When the person arrived, Su''en lowered his breath and crouched in the corner without daring to take a deep breath.


    Although he knew that mech warriors wouldn''t have any "malicious perception" abilities, he deliberately lowered his gaze and relied on his keen hearing to passively capture the movements of the target.


    But what surprised Su''en was that the three-way melee he expected did not happen.


    After the "reinforcements" rushed into the battlefield, it seemed that the Hatred warrior did not attack him, and the situation immediately turned into a two-on-one!


    Listening to the intense impacts of "thud, thud, thud," the battle quickly fell silent.


    "So fast..."


    Su''en guessed that the guy must have some way to control the Hatred warrior or make it not attack him.


    However, even if there was no melee, it was not a problem.


    Because in Su''en''s eyes, "Neen" was just a bait to distract the enemy, no matter how it was done.


    ...


    Su''en heard the end of the battle and cautiously shifted his gaze upward.


    Not being noticed, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    As his gaze gradually moved up, he looked at a young man in ck military uniform standing there. Like a sharp sword, he gave off a sharp and intimidating feeling.


    With one hand pinching Neen''s neck, he lifted her up in the air.


    But because Neen held a great secret, this guy seemed to have no intention of killing her immediately.


    As a mech warrior himself, the man in military uniform naturally understood the structure of mech warriors and didn''t know how to operate them. He quickly and decisively grabbed Neen''s wrist with one hand, and with a sudden twist and pull, he snapped off her other arm with a "crack."


    With both arms broken, Neen hadpletely lost the ability to resist.


    The man in military uniform seemed to be relieved at this point and, in a victorious posture, said calmly, "Neen, the legendary mech warrior, an irreceablebat genius... It''s a pity that the previous generation''s PX811 mech body had so few design ws..."


    Su''en could hear the strong resentment and contempt in his tone.


    It was as if the second best in the world had defeated the best, and that bitterness finally came out.


    The man in military uniform saw that Neen had no reaction to his words at all, and seemed to find it boring, so he didn''t waste any more words and coldly asked, "Tell me, where is it?"


    Neen stared expressionlessly at the man in military uniform in front of her.


    With both arms broken, she had already lost any possibility of turning defeat into victory. No matter how she struggled, it would be in vain.


    But just at this moment, she suddenly moved!


    Because she was being choked, she still had her legs left. She suddenly used a scissor leg lock on the man in military uniform''s arm, tripping him and making him lose his bnce.


    The man in military uniform, being locked, showed a sneer on his face. "Hmph! Foolish choice!"


    But... the next second, he immediately couldn''tugh anymore!


    ...


    From a distance, Su''en, hidden on the rock wall, saw this scene and his eyes narrowed. "Smart choice!"


    He knew very well that Neen''s attack was not intended to cause any harm to the man in military uniform, but to create an opportunity for himself to attack!The auditory capabilities of a super mechanical warrior must be extremely strong. Su''en knew that despite his best efforts to conceal himself, having followed her all this way, she must have noticed something amiss.


    The woman''sbat state was very simr to his own - calm, rational, devoid of any unnecessary emotions.


    For this reason, Su''en put himself in the shoes of Number 19, and he was certain that Number 19 could do the same!


    Having discovered the "peeper", after watching the show for so long, she must have deduced that the "peeper" was not from the Umbre Organization.


    Why was he peeping?


    Naturally, it was to wait for an opportunity to kill and take advantage of the situation!


    Moreover, now that another powerful mechanical warrior had arrived, and he was still watching the show without retreating, it meant that he had the capital to watch the show.


    Su''en felt that if he were Number 19, thinking up to this point, he would definitely create an opportunity for the "peeper" to attack.


    Seeing her make this move, Su''en immediately understood, distracting the invisible zombie, and shing at the military man''s neck!


    ......


    Number 19 had already lost both arms, even with her full strength lock, she had no means to harm the military man.


    But her intention was not to harm!


    With this lock, the military man was thrown off bnce by Number 19. At this moment when he couldn''t leverage, a spatial rift suddenly cut across his neck at an extremely tricky angle.


    With a "swish", an ultimate silky feeling swept across, even the alloy neck was casually cut open with a smooth incision.


    The head with a look of astonishment fell off, and Number 19 and the headless corpse fell to the ground at the same time.


    With the death of the military man, the nearby abhorrent warrior seemed to lose control again, going berserk.


    But just as it was about to charge, another spatial rift appeared, and an ugly head ttered to the ground, blood spurting up like a fountain to a height of eight meters.


    After two consecutive long-distance shes, the zombie newly created by Su''en instantly copsed, and a cloud of blood mist exploded in the air.


    Su''en picked up the fallen scythe and body bag, and walked towards Number 19 and the two corpses.

 Chapter 133: The true identity of the original owner

    Chapter 133: The true identity of the original owner


    Su''en ignored the paralyzed Number 19, who had lost both arms and was sitting on the ground. He quickly walked to the corpse of the abomination warrior and reattached its pumpkin-sized head to the headless body. Then, he took out a surgical needle and thread and quickly sewed it back together.


    With the connection made, the wound on the body''s neck began to heal.


    There was no need for precise stitching techniques, as the body''s strong healing ability automatically reconnected the severed nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues.


    Seeing this, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    The "Undead Research Diary" had detailed experimental records. After being modified by the "X Serum," the human body had extremely high cellr activity. Normally, even after death, the body''s cells and nerves would remain active for a long period of time. It was only when the biological energy was depleted and there was no longer a supply of energy from the circtory system that the body wouldpletely die.


    In simple terms, the body was notpletely dead yet.


    But if the body was left to coolpletely and then brought back, even if it was stitched back together, it could no longer be used.


    Creating an undead required aplete body, not two pieces stitched together.


    Seeing the body healing itself, Su''en rxed.


    He began to gather his spoils.


    The "Flower Sword" Hall had turned into an abomination, and its soul had already dissipated. Su''en only gained a small amount of experience from it.


    But this soldier in military uniform was a great harvest.


    "Obtained 5 fragments of ''Mol Costa''s Memories''"


    "You have gained some information: ''Glory is my life, I am the most loyal subordinate of Duke...''"


    "You have learned thebat skill [Becklow Army Body One-Hit Kill Technique]..."


    "You have gained a lot ofbat weapon usage experience..."


    "You have mastered a lot ofbat skills,bat experience +751"


    "Spiritual power +0.1"


    Mechanical warriors had almost no spiritual power, so the increase was the same as an ordinary person. However, the increase inbat experience was extremely exaggerated.


    These killing machines created in secret by the ck Tower were filled with variousbat knowledge.


    Harvesting over 700 experience points caused Su''en''sbat experience to skyrocket, almost reaching the level of a bat expert."


    In addition tobat skills, this guy''s mind was filled with fanatic "loyalty."


    Su''en thought of another urate description for brainwashing - "Thought Steel Seal."


    Thinking that the ck Tower probably imprinted absolute loyalty on thesebat machines before they left the factory, just like they could erase memories, they could definitely add some loyalty suggestions to the subconscious.


    However, speaking of which, what was the deal with this defector, Number 19?


    .......


    After killing the mechanical warrior, Su''en naturally took all the spoils.


    Just as he was about to put the body of the soldier in the storage ring, Number 19, who had been watching him clean up the battlefield without saying a word, spoke up.


    She calmly said, "If you are willing, I would like to pay a price to buy this mechanical limb. Of course, I will also pay you a reward for helping me out of this predicament."


    Su''en looked up at her and didn''t bother with any useless words. He said directly, "I want to hear your background first before deciding if we have the basis for trust to make a deal."


    He didn''t have a bad impression of Number 19.


    But it wasn''t a good impression either.


    If someone was considered "not bad" by Su''en, it was already a high evaluation.


    Last time they identally met at the "ck Knight," she didn''t make a move, and now Su''en didn''t make a move either.


    Although Su''en didn''t tremble when killing, he didn''t take pleasure in it either.


    But if he didn''t have absolute certainty, he would never let his situation get out of control.


    It would be best if they could just pass by each other likest time.


    Number 19 seemed to have something to say, and Su''en also felt that she recognized him wearing the gas mask. "I think we can find another ce to talk," she said.


    Su''en nodded and asked, "Can you still walk?"


    "I can."


    Number 19 responded expressionlessly.


    With both arms severed and wounds on her legs, she struggled against the wall before standing up.


    She looked very weak.


    She looked at Su''en, who was collecting the abomination''s body, and asked, "Are you nning to take the abomination''s body with you? The storage ring on my severed arm is an ancient alchemical artifact with a superrge storage space of five cubic meters. You can have it if you need it."


    Five cubic meters?


    Su''en didn''t say much. He picked up the severed arm, took off the storage ring, put it on his own hand, and then stuffed the severed arm into the storage ring, legitimately reaping his spoils.


    However, he didn''t put the body in it.


    Because... the body was already showing faint breathing and irregr heartbeat.


    This was the phenomenon of "feigning death," but for Su''en, it was a good sign.


    In a sense, it was already a semi-finished "undead."


    The body showed signs of revival, and Su''en''s spection was halfwayplete.


    Now, he needed to immediately draw runes on it and see if he could activate the body''s circtory system and maintain its vital signs. Otherwise, it would truly die.


    It was inconvenient to stay at the battlefield, and time was of the essence. He directly tied the body with steel wire and controlled it to walk towards the depths of the underground cave.


    .......


    The two walked for a while in the dark underground cave. Su''en set up some warning devices along the way before stopping in a secluded corner.


    He didn''t avoid Number 19''s presence and took out the materials for drawing runes, starting to draw runes on the abomination''s body.Number Neen had been quiet throughout the journey, like a mechanical device that had run out of battery, stumbling along the way. Now it had stopped and leaned against a corner.


    While drawing runes, Su''en asked, "What should I call you?"


    His ability to multitask allowed him to draw runes and converse at the same time with ease.


    Number Neen replied expressionlessly, "Number Neen."


    Su''en asked, "Is there a story behind this name?"


    Number Neen answered sinctly, "It was my code in theb."


    Thinking of theb, Su''en casually asked, "Do you know Eve Banks?"


    Upon hearing this, Number Neen finally showed a hint of emotion, and asked in surprise, "Dr. Banks? You know him?"


    "No, that''s not important."


    Su''en didn''t dwell on this topic and instead asked, "I want to know, does your escape from theb have anything to do with the Banks couple?"


    Number Neen seemed to have guessed why Su''en asked this question. She nced at him and revealed a shocking secret, "You''re right, I was acting on their orders. The explosion at the ''Research Lab Seven'' not only destroyed the suppressant research project but also covered up some arrangements they made. It gave me the opportunity topletely destroy that project."


    "Oh."


    Su''en''s expression didn''t change much, as he had already guessed most of it.


    Now that Number Neen had admitted it, everything was clear.


    Danny''s parents knew that merely blowing up theb wouldn''tpletely destroy the higher-ups of the ck Tower''s desire to continue researching the "X Serum". So they left a backup n, allowing Number Neen to steal the source of the "X Serum".


    But Su''en didn''t ask her what exactly she stole.


    Whatever Number Neen risked her life to steal, she would never give it to anyone else, even if it meant her death.


    That topic ended there.


    It was just a casual question to break the ice.


    ......


    Having gotten the answer, Su''en also cleared up some of his doubts.


    He didn''t waste any more words and went straight to the point, "Let''s talk about the deal. How can I trust you? And what are you willing to pay for that mechanical limb?"


    Number Neen had a calm look in her eyes, as if she had seen through life and death. She simply exined, "There are still some things in the ''X Serum Project'' that need to be destroyed... So, I can''t die yet."


    Su''en didn''t respond.


    Obviously, he didn''t think this was enough to move him.


    Number Neen then revealed her bargaining chip, "I have a batch of spoils of war obtained from hunting Umbre Organization members, worth several hundred million. If you''re not interested in those, I have a lot of top-secret information about the ck Tower..."


    "Hmm..."


    Su''en didn''t agree or refuse.


    In terms of value, these things were almost enough.


    The technology of those mechanical limbs was too advanced, and they weren''t of much use to Su''en, nor could they be put on the market. It would be better to exchange them for something useful.


    Besides, he still had a set.


    However, he was more curious about another issue.


    Why did Number Neen know the original owner?


    At this point, Su''en knew that Number Neen had recognized him, guessing that the mechanical warrior had some ability to identify voices.


    He asked, "I know you must have recognized me, after all, we met once at the ck Knight Club. But I''ve lost some memories, so I want to know, did we know each other before that?"


    Upon hearing this question, Number Neen didn''t seem surprised.


    She said calmly, "Yes. Because I personally sent you out of the ck Tower."


    Su''en asked curiously, "What was my identity in the Inner City before?"


    At this point, Number Neen said calmly, "No! You''re not from Old Lingdun."


    She paused, then uttered a few unexpected words, "You''re from outside the Tower."


    "..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en was taken aback.


    He never expected to hear these words.


    Outside the Tower?

 Chapter 134: Black Tower Confidential

    Chapter 134: ck Tower Confidential


    "Outside the tower?"


    Su''en listened to these words and only then realized what Number 19 had said.


    No, everyone told me that there is only one city in the underground world, Old Lingdun. So what does she mean by "outside the tower"?


    As a transmigrator, Su''en''s thoughts had not yet formed any fixed impressions, but he instantly thought of something.


    No wonder she was asking around and collecting countless fragments of memories. No one had ever heard of the "Reiga Di Family" in Old Lingdun.


    So, they were not originally from here, but were brought from outside?


    .......


    "If you want to ask about your missing memories, I''m sorry, I don''t know."


    Number 9 continued, "I am just one of the people responsible for escorting the ''exiles'' from outside the ck Tower and exiling them from the inner city. It just happened that I was the one who escorted you when you were sent down."


    Those?


    Su''en keenly caught this quantifier and furrowed his brows slightly, asking, "Are you saying that there is more than just me who came from outside the ck Tower?"


    "Yes. You are just one of them."


    Number 19 confirmed, "This is the highest secret of the ck Tower."


    She continued, "The ck Tower connects to the upper levels. Besides Duke Raphael and a few high-ranking individuals, no one knows what exactly is above the ck Tower. I don''t know either. But there are definitely other humans living there. Because every once in a while, a group of strangers is sent down from the ck Tower. They have their memories erased and are left to fend for themselves in the outer city..."


    At this point, Number 19 exined another of Su''en''s doubts, saying, "This is also why I didn''t act in the ck Jazz Clubst time. Because I knew you came from outside the tower, so you couldn''t possibly have any connection with the Umbre Organization."


    "..."


    Hearing this, Su''en fell into contemtion.


    As ifpleting the most important piece of the puzzle, he suddenly felt enlightened.


    Many of the questions that had troubled him before suddenly made sense because of these words.


    He muttered to himself, "I said, in such a world, there shouldn''t be only one underground city. So... the ck Tower is a passage to the upper levels?"


    The people in Old Lingdun had no concept of the "surface," Su''en felt that even if it wasn''t the surface, it must be a much broader world.


    Exile, escort, memory erasure...


    These keywords connected in Su''en''s mind, giving him the feeling that Old Lingdun was like... an underground prison?


    The criminals from outside the tower were exiled here to fend for themselves.


    This situation was familiar to Su''en from some plotlines in his past life... like the convicts exiled to Sydney in the British Empire that the sun never sets on in the 19th century?


    When Su''en thought of this, he didn''t feel surprised, but rather inexplicably excited.


    This world was truly bing more and more fascinating...


    He had thought that after being transmigrated for so long, he had already uncovered the veil of this mysterious world.


    But he didn''t expect that he had only uncovered a small part of the veil.


    Su''en finally understood the identity of the original host.


    Although... he was still puzzled about the Reiga Di Family.


    But he knew the general situation of this world.


    No wonder the ck Tower had absolute control over Old Lingdun, no wonder they wanted to block advanced alchemy knowledge, no wonder Duke Raphael enjoyed everything...


    Would a prison warden allow prisoners to have powerful strength?


    He remembered the words Qiantiao had said to him when he left Old Lingdun, "Be strong enough to see the scenery from a high ce."


    So it was a double entendre.


    A high ce?


    It not only referred to the realm of advanced professions but also the upper levels of the ck Tower!


    Even, he guessed the meaning behind the existence of Mr. ck''s "third-party force."


    With this thought, Su''en didn''t feel a sense of despair as a "prisoner," but instead, a strong desire to be stronger welled up in his heart.


    Tsk tsk, turns out the world is so big...


    Endless unknowns appeared before Su''en''s eyes, and a strong desire for exploration shed in his eyes.


    ........


    "I think you should understand now."


    Number 19 looked at Su''en''s paused brush and said, "There is one more piece of information I can tell you. Once you hear it, you won''t have so many concerns."


    "Oh?"


    Su''en put on an attentive expression.


    He also knew that the woman in front of him could think of what he had thought of.


    From the beginning, the bargaining chips and everything else were secondary.


    Trust was the most important.


    Su''en didn''t want topletely expose his safety to someone who could potentially threaten him, even if Number 19 hadn''t shown any malice at the moment.


    Now that she had severed her arms and seemed to have exhausted her energy, but if she were to receive her arms back, Su''en would be in a vulnerable position.


    Number 19 pondered for a moment and said something that caught Su''en''s attention, "You should be familiar with the ''Rakshasa Woman,'' right?"


    Su''en looked up at her but didn''t respond.


    The Rakshasa Woman should be referring to Qiantiao.


    Number 19 didn''t wait for Su''en''s answer because she was confident in her judgment. She continued, "Because I used to be a high-ranking member of the ck Tower''s secret organization, I am familiar with almost all of their intelligence systems. The Umbre Organization is a vast system, and it is impossible to change it in a short period of time. That''s why I intercepted a lot of confidential information during this period, including information about you..."


    Su''en''s brush didn''t stop, but his gaze became curious.


    After a pause, she directly revealed the information, saying, "I know that you are now called Su''en and that you are a member of the ''Steel Cross Society.'' You caused amotion in the inner city and were chased out. I also know that you have the ''Night Reaper of Sopnos'' and the ''Shroud of the Ice Man Oz'' in your hands. You also killed three second-tier professionals in the outer city... and then you were intercepted by the Umbre Organization''s insider in the Cross Society, ''Smoke Ghost'' Sangbu, and the ''Rakshasa Woman'' saved you..."


    "..."Upon hearing this, Su''en''s eyebrows slightly lifted. So, Number Neen knew everything.


    However, recalling how she was previously surrounded by the Umbre Organization, and how a "third party force" had participated in her rescue, he wondered if Number Neen was also part of that organization.


    "You guessed right."


    Number Neen seemed to have noticed that Su''en had already guessed her hidden identity and admitted it decisively.


    She said, "The Rakshasa woman took such a big risk to save you, I think your rtionship with her must be more than simple. They helped me out in the city before, and then I had some contact with Mr. ck and decided to join that organization. So, I don''t think we are enemies, in fact, to some extent, we should be allies."


    She paused, looking at Su''en, her tone finally not so cold, "Otherwise, I wouldn''t have told you so much."


    Death was not enough to make a warrior like herpromise.


    Upon hearing this, Su''en thought that if Number Neen really was part of Mr. ck''s organization, then she could indeed be considered a "friend, not a foe".


    Number Neen didn''t beat around the bush, she directly stated her needs, "I still have some unfinished business, there are a few people I haven''t killed yet, so I can''t die now, that''s why I want to buy that mechanical limb."


    She paused, then added, "Also, my arm is broken now, I need someone to help me connect the mechanical limb. If you don''t mind, I would like to ask you for this favor."


    Listening to her, Su''en confirmed again, "You joined Mr. ck''s organization?"


    Number Neen: "Yes. If you need some necessary proof, there is a token of the organization in my storage ring. You should recognize it when you see it."


    Su''en looked at the storage ring on his hand. He had put it on as a trophy of war without checking what was inside.


    Upon looking, he saw a golden cloak with a "" symbol in the corner.


    Although the pattern was slightly different, the craftsmanship, material, and overall feel were exactly the same as the one from Qian Tiao.


    Su''en made his decision: "Alright."

 Chapter 135: The mechanical body of the 19th

    Chapter 135: The mechanical body of the 19th


    Su''en agreed to the transaction with Number 19.


    But because he couldn''t dy the work of drawing runes on the undead, he didn''t stop.


    Number 19 also watched quietly on the side.


    The two of them were silent for a while.


    Before long, they finished their work.


    Because he was already skilled, Su''en didn''t take much time to draw the runes on the abomination warrior''s body.


    To his delight, after the runes were drawn, the vital signs of the corpse stabilized.


    This meant that he had sessfully created an "abomination undead"!


    He tested it with a sharp dagger, and the muscles were incredibly resilient. After stabbing it forcefully, the exaggerated regenerative ability was just like when it was alive, instantly healing the wound.


    Seeing this, Su''en let out a long breath.


    He really struck gold on this little outing.


    When Chekhov wrote "Undead Research Diary," he was researching how to revive humans normally, so he probably didn''t expect that a "hateful warrior" with a certain special distortion could also be made into an undead.


    With this "abomination undead," the Reaper became a super killing weapon in Su''en''s hands.


    .......


    After Su''en finished working on the undead, a three-meter-tall corpse paired with a two-meter-long ck scythe was a perfect match, exuding a sinister aura!


    Because Number 19 already knew about the two forbidden items in her possession, she didn''t deliberately avoid them and wrapped the corpse and scythe together with a shroud.


    Although Number 19 did know the information and had witnessed the killing of the enemy who was also a mechanical warrior with this corpse and scythe, she still showed a hint of surprise when she saw the massive abomination corpse and the ck scythe suddenly disappear from her sight.


    It was hard to imagine who could withstand this "invisible killer" if caught off guard.


    Number 19 said with aplicated expression, "The internal intelligence of the Umbre Organization said that you have mastered a method of using the [Nocturnal ck Scythe of Sopnos] without fear of bacsh. So, this is how..."


    Su''en didn''t exin much because it wouldn''t be meaningful for others to know without the research knowledge from the "Undead Research Diary."


    Now that his own affairs were settled, he could start discussing the transaction.


    He took out the mechanical corpse of the soldier and asked, "How do you want to rece your mechanical limbs? I''m not very proficient in mechanical knowledge, but I can be considered an intermediate-level mechanic..."


    "That''s enough."


    When Number 19 heard that Su''en was an intermediate-level mechanic, she was pleasantly surprised.


    She said, "If it''s just instation, you don''t need advanced mechanical knowledge. However, this ''power-type mechanical limb'' doesn''t quite match my design framework, and it''s a new generation of machinery, so some essories need to be modified to make it barely usable... I have the materials in my storage ring, and the severed arm also needs to be disassembled to rece some parts..."


    Su''en also felt that the soldier''s mechanical skeleton was one sizerger than Number 19''s, and the difference was significant. He curiously asked, "Power-type? Are there different types of limbs for mechanical warriors?"


    Number 19 briefly exined, "Yes. There are ''PZ power-type'' and ''PX skill-type'' two models, which focus on differentbat styles."


    Just by hearing the names, Su''en roughly understood the difference between the two models. He suddenly remembered the small-sized limbs in his storage ring, but they seemed different from Number 19''s. He asked, "Is it the [PX-911 Mechanical Limb] that you need?"


    Number 19 shook her head, "No, although the PX series are all skill-type. Mine is the old version of [PX-811], so some parts need to be reced."


    "Oh..."


    Su''en thought for a moment and said, "Can you install the [PX-911 Mechanical Limb]?"


    "???"


    Number 19 was confused by what he said and didn''t understand the meaning.


    Su''en took out some parts of the [PX-911] and said, "What I mean is... I identally obtained a [PX-911 Mechanical Limb] before, but I can''t use it. I disassembled it, and it should still be intact. If you need this model, I think we can exchange for it."


    Seeing the parts that Su''en took out, Number 19 was also stunned for a moment, feeling a sense of surprise and disbelief, "911 is thetest model of mechanical limbs developed this year... You actually got one?"


    Su''en briefly mentioned, "Yes. On the day you blew up the West City Laboratory, I identally intercepted a transport vehicle and found this mechanical limb. If you need it, we can include it in the transaction."


    "Okay."


    Although Number 19''s expression remained the same, her tone of voice clearly showed emotional fluctuations. "If it''s this one, it''s naturally better."


    Su''en also didn''t mind, thinking that the soldier''s corpse with a head was more suitable for research. He asked, "How should I help you rece the limb now?"


    Number 19y t on the ground and said, "First, help me with one of the mechanical arms, so I can also assist."


    Su''en asked, "Should I remove the alloy te armor on the chest first?"


    Number 19 nodded, "Yes."


    .......


    Although Number 19 was a mechanical warrior, except for the visible mechanical parts at the shoulder joints where the arms were severed, there was no difference from a real person in other ces. The synthetic skin was delicate, and even pores and blood vessels could be seen.


    Of course, in some ces where there were minor damages, there were traces of scattered metallic luster.


    Su''en had already disassembled and studied the mechanical limbs in detail before, so he was not unfamiliar with the tools and directly started working.


    "Do you mind if I cut your clothes to remove the alloy te armor?"


    "No. You can go ahead."


    Both of them spoke calmly, without any unnecessary emotional fluctuations.


    Number 19 was wearing a ck gothic-style one-piece ultra-short skirt, withrgece hollows on the chest. Even when lying down, it still had a proud undtion.Because it is a mechanical body, her body proportions arepletely built ording to the golden ratio, whether it is the waist-to-hip ratio or the leg-to-body ratio, it looks very perfect. Especially the hip line, it makes people feel that the pair of white legs wearing ck high-heeled boots are particrly slender and three-dimensional.


    Su''en''s face showed no surprise as he calmly cut open the ck dress.


    "Snip, snip" The sound of scissors cutting through the fabric was particrly clear in this dim dungeon.


    When cutting the clothes, Su''en''s fingers identally touched the synthetic skin of No. 19, tight and bouncy, just like real human skin.


    This was his first time encountering such advanced material.


    As a novice alchemist, he naturally had some curiosity about this material. The skin was liketex, but tough enough, and it felt smooth between his fingers.


    Looking closely, there were obviously many alchemical techniques and ck technology that he couldn''t understand.


    From the chest, to the abdomen, and then to the skirt.


    Until this broken mechanical body waspletely exposed in the air...


    Then came thece underwear.


    One second before cutting, Su''en thought that the body under her clothes should only have a rough shape, without any details. But afterpletely cutting the clothes, it turned out to be exactly the same as a real person.


    Even without the damaged parts, this well-proportioned body could almost be said to be a wless work of art.


    No. 19 seemed to have guessed Su''en''s doubts and didn''t avoid them at all. With a calm tone, she exined, "There''s nothing strange about it. Synthetic limbs were originally invented to meet some special needs of men. And in order to avoid easy exposure during missions, the appearance of our mechanical soldiers is not much different from normal humans."


    "Oh."


    Su''en raised an eyebrow as he listened.


    Suddenly, he understood some of the runic marks on the skin and asked, "Can this synthetic skin also provide optical invisibility?"


    No. 19 didn''t avoid the question either and responded, "Yes. It is made of light-absorbing material, with high magic resistance and toughness. Optical invisibility is just one of its functions."


    "Oh."


    Su''en curiously asked a few more questions but didn''t say much.


    He touched the mechanical joints under the synthetic skin with his hands and began to dismantle the alloy tes with his hands.


    "Can the synthetic skin be destroyed?"


    "Yes."


    Su''en asked and started to work.


    There was no abnormal emotional fluctuation in his eyes even though she was naked, just like when he was dismantling the mechanical limbs in the basement.


    Both of them were very calm.


    No. 19 looked at his skilled technique and sighed, "Your technique is very proficient. I thought you would need my help."


    Su''en said, "I have studied it before when I dismantled it. I roughly remember..."


    "What energy source do mechanical soldiers consume?"


    "Cursed crystals. If it''s intensebat, it requires high-quality crystals."


    "Do you have any food requirements in daily life?"


    "The brain needs necessary glucose for energy, so I usually supply some nutrient fluids."


    "How are the nerves connected to the machinery? Is it technology or special alchemical prosthetics?"


    "Both. But even the ck Tower hasn''t mastered the technology of connecting nerves to machinery. Later, some special substances were extracted from the ''X Serum'', which made the ''Super Soldier Project'' possible. However,rge-scale modifications still cause strong rejection from the human body towards mechanical limbs. That''s why there aren''t many super soldiers. I was the only one who survived among the first batch of test subjects, probably less than a 0.3% chance..."


    "Oh. Are the people you killed all rted to the ''X Serum Project''? Before I came here, I heard that you killed an intelligence officer named House..."


    "Yes. Illegal poption collection, that was House..."


    ..."


    While operating, Su''en chatted with No. 19.


    He was very curious about the structure of the mechanical soldiers, and now that he had analyzed aplete one, he asked all the questions he had.


    He also asked about the details of her crimes and some insider secrets of the ck Tower.


    Time flew by as they chatted.


    Originally, it was just recing two arms, but now they had changed the entire set of new mechanical limbs, including the legs and body.


    In no time, Su''en reced No. 19 with two new arms, and she could also help with some mechanical parts on her own. The two of them cooperated tacitly, and in less than two hours, they had reced most of the limbs.


    There were still some delicate parts and damaged synthetic skin that needed time to be dealt with. No. 19 said she could handle it herself.


    Su''en took off the synthetic skin from the military man''s body and gave it to her as well.


    .......


    Perhaps it was because they had been chatting for a long time, or maybe it was because they had be more familiar with each other.


    No. 19 stood up again, and her face was no longer the cold expression of a robot when they first met. Her words and actions were friendly.


    She tried to move her new px911 mechanical limbs and found it not awkward at all. Although her arms were stillpletely exposed metal skeletal limbs, she seemed to feel good.


    She was satisfied.


    "Thank you."


    "No need to be polite. It was our agreed-upon deal."


    "Let me give you another piece of information. When you go to Dawn City, pay more attention. There are also many members of the Umbre Organization there. I intercepted a secret intelligence before, and the ''Dawn City Ruins'' were discovered because a big shot from outside the tower went to search for some legendary altar and identally found it. The news was intentionally spread by the high-level of the ck Tower. Apart from developing the ruins, Duke Raphael seems to be looking for something in there... Soon, there will be arge-scale hunt for lies in the inner city, and more high-level professionals wille..."


    "A big shot from outside the tower?""Um, there''s no more information. All we know is that it came from the Duke''s mansion, seems to be a young master."


    "..."


    Upon hearing this news, Su''en suddenly understood who was hunting the "original owner".


    The two didn''t say much more.


    Before parting, Number Neen thought for a moment and added.


    "I owe you a favor this time. If we meet again, I''ll repay you."


    "Um."


    Watching her disappear into the depths of the cave, Su''en also turned and left.


    PS. Thanks to the bug-catching buddies, you''ve helped the rookie author a lot, thank you very much.

 Chapter 136: Wilderness town

    Chapter 136: Wilderness town


    When Su''en returned to the transport team''s camp, it was still early morning and the camp was not yet packed up.


    The night watchman was smoking boredly around the camp, and there were flickering lights in the darkness.


    He quietly sneaked back into the tent from the top of the rock wall, and no one noticed.


    After being busy for most of the night, Su''en now had some free time and began to count the spoils of the night.


    The "Iron Knight Order" was a peripheral member of the umbre organization after all, and their equipment was pretty good. They could sell it for a good price.


    But what Su''en cared most about was the storage ring of the fortune teller.


    Inside, there were some strange divination materials and the crystal ne he used for divination before.


    Upon identification, it turned out to be an ancient cursed item.


    [Sereya''s Crystal Pendant]


    Description: A crystal ne engraved with the words "To my beloved Sereya".


    Curse characteristics: When faced with difficult choices, it can help you make decisions; the exchange cost is equivalent lifespan based on the level of the divination object.


    Exnation: Although the refining technique is not too sophisticated, it is an alchemical ne full of love. Wearing it can greatly reduce the chance of being detected by divination below the second level. It can also be used as a material for bing a "Pendulum Diviner".


    Su''en felt that the name "Sereya" sounded familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere. But because it was also amon female name, he didn''t think too much about it.


    In terms of effectiveness, this was a very practical ne.


    Su''en had been worried about being detected by fortune tellers before, and the "anti-detection" attribute of this pendant happened to solve this problem.


    He could also ept the curse characteristics, as it only affected lifespan when using divination.


    Su''en was not a fortune teller by profession, although he had learned some divination skills, he didn''t think he would forcefully divine like the previous owner, causing himself to cough up blood and lose lifespan.


    It was good enough to have passive attributes when wearing it.


    The item was good, so Su''en wrapped the pendant around his wrist to conceal it, muttering to himself, "Indeed, robbing professionals urately is the ''shortcut'' to obtaining profession-exclusive items."


    After counting the spoils, Su''eny down on his sleeping bag, carefully recalling what had happened that night.


    Now that he had figured out the origin of the original owner, Su''en felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.


    He also understood the reason behind the bounty in the ck market. It must have been done by the original owner''s hostile forces outside the tower.


    Even if he was exiled to this underground world, they still wanted to exterminate him.


    But this was also good, at least the enemy was not a major family in the inner city.


    All Su''en had to face was a useless wanted order.


    No one recognized him before, and now that he had injected the "x serum", who could associate his blue-skinned, muscr self with the appearance of the original owner, a delicate noble boy?


    .......


    Before long, the assembly order sounded in the camp.


    The transport team began their new day of escorting.


    They had heard that there would be monster attacks in the d24 area, so everyone in the team was on edge. But after a few days of travel, their journey went surprisingly smoothly.


    d24, d25... as they continued on, they only encountered a few small-scale aberrant monster attacks, but there was no dangerous battle.


    Along the way, they saw many traces of battles, but the bodies had been cleared. It seemed that a powerful team hade before and cleared the way.


    Without any battles, the hunters in the team enjoyed their leisure.


    Finally, after several days, they arrived at the ruins of Dawn City.


    ......


    Returning to Dawn City, the "birthce" he had just crossed over from, Su''en felt quite emotional.


    In the past, it was like a burial ground, lifeless.


    But now, with "Storm Manor" as the center, there were various buildings being constructed all over the ce.


    From a distance, the camp was brightly lit, and the tall steam boilers emitted white smoke. These boilers provided a continuous energy supply to therge workshops in the camp, elerating construction...


    In the manor, there were two sets ofrge mechanical devicesposed of various tanks and pipelines, like a chemical nt. They were the "air filtration device" and the "drinking water treatment device". These were the most important devices to ensure that the hunters could survive in the underground world with rampant dark energy.


    It was more like a war town than a camp.


    The hunters had built a mega-sized hunting camp that could amodate over a hundred thousand people using stones and steel frames. Caravans were constantly bringing various building materials from Old Lingdun City. In the near future, this ce would be a bustling small city...


    However, when Su''en saw Storm Manor, his gaze became distant.


    Returning to the familiar ce, he remembered Pestoya.


    The little ghost girl who had given him the materials to advance as a "Puppeteer".


    "Storm Manor has been upied, which means the cursed space has been broken..."


    Su''en frowned slightly as he thought of the petite girl who suited his taste, even though she wasn''t human.


    Oh, almost forgot.


    It seemed that she had also given him a brooch, buried somewhere.


    ......


    Arriving at the ruins under d33 area, the concentration of dark energy was several times higher than in Old Lingdun City.


    For humans, this was a dangerous area where staying for too long could easily cause physical deformities.


    But for Su''en, it had no effect at all.


    Instead, he feltfortable all over in this environment.After the amplification of the "x serum," Su''en''s body felt veryfortable with this high concentration of dark spiritual power. He didn''t even need to meditate anymore, as the increase in his dark spiritual power was almost the same as when he used to meditate.


    Moreover, there were no signs of distortion due to absorbing this dark attribute energy too quickly.


    This concentration was only on the hillside, and there was still a "particrly dense area" in the ruins city in the far distance, where ck mist filled the air.


    It could be predicted that in this environment, Su''en''s dark spiritual power would skyrocket. Perhaps within the next month or two, his dark spiritual power might reach the threshold of a second-order professional.


    If he found suitable advanced materials by then, he might even sessfully break through to the second order.


    ...


    "Alright, our hiring contract ends here. Thank you all for your dedicated escort. ording to the contract, there was no loss of goods, so an additional ten percent of the escort fee will be paid..."


    "Oh, praise generous Mr. Abagon!"


    "Our guild will return to the city in ten days. If any friends are interested in continuing to take on escort missions from our guild, you can sign up at our guild office in the camp..."


    "..."


    Upon reaching their destination, Su''en and the other hunters'' mission waspleted.


    Abagon distributed the remaining hiring payment to everyone and went to make the delivery.


    Since there was no fierce battle and no additionalbat allowance, Su''en only received the basicmission, but it was nearly a hundred thousand lisuo.


    High risk brought high returns.


    After receiving the money, everyone dispersed.


    Su''en looked into the distance at the nearby camp but didn''t rush over.


    The abhorrent warrior was his lifesaving tool and naturally had to be carried with him.


    However, its three-meter-tall body was too conspicuous. Even with the shroud of a burial cloth, it would be easily discovered in crowded ces.


    Moreover, because the undead had vital signs, they couldn''t be put into a storage ring, which was the most troublesome part.


    Su''en thought that when considering his second-order advancement direction, he must prioritize awakening materials for "space abilities."


    Otherwise, if he controlled too many puppets in the future, he would probably have to walk around with a long string of them like walking ducks.


    After some consideration, Su''en bought a steam dog from a returning merchant caravan and disguised the undead as cargo carried by the mechanical dog, making it less noticeable.


    ...


    Su''en led the mechanical dog towards the hunting camp.


    At this moment, there was already a long line at the entrance of the camp.


    Beforeing, Su''en thought that the camp in the Dawn Ruins would be a scattered camp full of tents. He didn''t expect that in such a short time, it had already grown into a walled town.


    There were heavy machine guns and cannons on the city walls, and some fully armed guys were setting up checkpoints at the gate.


    He thought it was an identity check, but it turned out to be collecting an entrance fee.


    Su''en calmly assessed the guardyout at the city gate and instinctively estimated whether he could escape unscathed if a real conflict broke out.


    Then, he silently lined up at the back of the queue.


    He listened attentively to the conversations of the people in front, and also understood the general situation in the city.


    The high entrance fee also made the neers to the hunters'' campin.


    "Damn it, staying in this camp for one night actually costs three thousand lisuo for the entrance fee? I only earned a hundred thousand from the escort, and it will all be spent in a month?"


    "A month? You''re thinking too optimistically! I heard from a guy who went in before that everything in this camp is expensive. The ordinary-looking women in Old Lingdun City cost three to five hundred, but here it''s five thousand. Even drinking water is ten times the price of Old Lingdun! And food, medicine, and ammunition supplies are all several times more expensive..."


    "So expensive? Aren''t we risking our lives to hunt in the wilderness just to earn money for these unscrupulous merchants?"


    "It''s not that expensive, actually. We''re all here to hunt in the wilderness, who is here to settle down? At most, we''ll resupply and rest in the city for a few days. Besides, those big consortiums spent a huge amount of money to build the city and brought in so many facilities. Naturally, they have to recover the costs..."


    "Damn it, I haven''t even started making money yet, and I have to spend this unjust money..."


    "If you don''t want to pay, you can camp outside the city. It''s just that the attacks from the anomalies near the ruins are frequent, and there are also raiders and thieves. You might end up losing your life while sleeping..."


    "There are actually ways to avoid paying the entrance fee."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Join one of the five major consortiums'' hunting teams. As long as you obey their orders and participate in some collective hunting missions, it''s fine."


    "Join the hunting team of the five major consortiums?"


    "Yes."


    "You''ll get a sry when you join. Then, the treasures discovered during the hunt will be sold to them first, and there aren''t many other restrictions. I asked, and the prices are reasonable."


    "..."


    After listening for a few sentences, Su''en roughly understood the situation in the camp.


    Several major consortiums in the inner city built the camp and then implemented this entrance fee.


    If you didn''t want to pay, you had to join their hunting teams and follow their orders to carry out some specific exploration tasks.


    Su''en had no intention of joining these consortiums'' hunting groups.


    After all, he wasn''t risking his life to make money from hunting.


    He was well aware that those consortiums probably wanted "cannon fodder" to explore the cursed space.


    After all, no one knew the danger level of the "cursed space" in advance, and it required someone''s life to explore it.


    It would be a pity if a high-level professional died inside. It would be better to send some cannon fodder to explore and roughly understand the level of danger.


    Before long, it was Su''en''s turn in the queue.


    He paid the money, received a colored badge to hang in a conspicuous ce, and smoothly entered the city........


    Su''en had no intention of setting up a tent outside the city. A scavenger who couldn''t even afford the entrance fee probably didn''t have anything valuable. He wanted to check out the scavenger market in the city first, hoping to find the materials he needed. If he couldn''t, he would go to the Scavenger Guild to gather some information, rather than blindly plunging into the dangerous ruins.


    There were no ordinary residents in the scavenger camp, nor any superfluous buildings.


    Weapon shops, firearm shops, machinery shops, medicine shops...


    Upon entering the city, both sides of the street were filled with various supply shops.


    The signs all bore the names of the major businesses in the inner city.


    After a few steps, he could see the familiar red and green lights of the city.


    Opportunistic merchants had opened bars and entertainment venues in the camp as soon as possible.


    Perhaps to avoid the hassle of exining, signs with prices were hung at the entrances.


    "Courtesans from 3500"


    "Rye beer from 400/bottle"


    Despite the prices being ten times those in Old Lingdun, business seemed to be booming.


    As Su''en passed by, he saw scavengers arm in arm,ughing and joking as they walked in.


    It was no easy feat to bring such a group of delicate and weak courtesans to the underground, so the high prices were somewhat justified.


    The uncertainty of life put a lot of mental pressure on the scavengers, they needed to vent. Food and drink businesses, therefore, had a bigger market here. Besides, scavengers who managed toe out of the ruins alive always had money in their pockets.


    Su''en walked on.


    He had seen the camp''syout at the city gate earlier and knew that there was a street to the east specifically designed for scavengers to sell their goods.


    Leading his mechanical dog, he walked two streets and heard the bustling noise of a market in that direction.


    "Freshly emerged silver-grade material from yesterday''s ruins, ''Owl''s Eye''..."


    "Come,e, newly unearthed ancient alchemy scrolls, limited quantity..."


    "Ancient weapons, a two-handed sword that cuts through iron like mud, alchemy crossbow, dwarf shield..."


    "Freshly produced cursed materials, ck iron, silver grade, beautiful prices..."


    "..."


    Hearing these voices, Su''en became interested.


    The names of many rare materials appeared in the merchants'' mouths.


    In Old Lingdun, it was impossible to see silver materials being hawked at a stall anywhere.


    Even in the ck market of Shadow Alley, silver materials were a rare hotmodity.


    But here, they were being sold by scavengers asmon goods.


    This was the advantage of a primary source of goods.


    Because there were no shops, ancient items worth hundreds of thousands were casually ced on a ragged cloth on the ground for sale.


    There were many peopleing and going on the street.


    There were well-dressed opportunistic merchants, and more scavengers dressed as adventurers.


    Most of the cursed items left over from ancient times were rare goods. Even ck iron materials were much better than those refined in this era.


    Here, scavengers who wanted to advance their professions could find truly high-quality materials.


    As soon as Su''en entered the market district, the first stall caught his attention.

 Chapter 137: Lloyd the Magician

    Chapter 137: Lloyd the Magician


    The vendors at this stall were two hunters with red fox emblems on their clothes.


    Su''en recognized this emblem. It was the emblem of the "Fire Fox Squad," arge hunting squad in Old Lingdun.


    They had various sheepskin scrolls and ancient books on their stall.


    Some were well-preserved and looked like they came from the cursed space.


    Some were tattered and iplete, probably ancient relics.


    It looked like they had found an ancient library.


    As Su''en stopped to look, one of them picked up a scroll and greeted him, "Hey, brother, want to buy an alchemy scroll? This scroll records the rare thunder alchemy spell, ''Five Thunder Strikes,'' which was once sold for 300,000 at the Old Lingdun Auction. I''m selling it for only 240,000 here. We are the ''Fire Fox Hunting Squad,'' and our reputation is absolutely reliable. If you don''t trust us, you can go to the Chamber of Commerce for appraisal..."


    Most of the scrolls werebeled with spell names. Although they couldn''t be opened, Su''en used his All-Knowing Eye to identify them and confirmed that these things were indeed good stuff.


    However, the spell scrolls were not what he wanted.


    He looked around and asked, "Do you have any ancient books that record knowledge rted to the mind or puppeteers?"


    "These two types of books are quite niche..."


    Without thinking, the person seemed to have thought of something, "Wait... it seems like we do."


    He searched in his storage ring and took out a thick book, saying, "Is this it?"


    Su''en looked at it and saw that the cover of the book was written in ancient Nidnguage, "Introduction to the Mind" by Joseph Disher.


    He asked, "Can I flip through a few pages?"


    "Of course."


    The person didn''t mind and handed him the book, saying, "This thing seems to be super-tier knowledge, so we didn''t put it out."


    Super-tier knowledge was useless to ordinary people in Old Lingdun City, and no one would buy it even if it was disyed.


    Only the wealthy in the inner city would buy some as antique decorations.


    Su''en looked through a few pages. It introduced some theories about mental power, but it wasn''t a cultivation secret technique.


    But he was still nning to buy it and take a look. Perhaps he could find some useful knowledge. He asked, "How much is this?"


    The person truthfully said, "We just brought this out from the ruinsst night. If no one buys it, we n to sell it to the majormercial firm in the inner city. They send people to purchase once every afternoon, and it can probably be sold for 70,000 to 80,000. Just give me the same price."


    Alchemy knowledge was expensive, even first-tier knowledge would definitely cost more than this.


    But if it wasn''t super-tier knowledge, it would be worthless.


    "Alright, I''ll buy it."


    The price was fair, and Su''en nodded, "Anything else?"


    The person took out a few more books and said, "I don''t have any books rted to puppetry, but I have a fragment of an arcane-level alchemy technique and some super-tier knowledge. If you''re interested, you can take a look..."


    Su''en looked at them and bought a few more books.


    But he didn''t buy any spell scrolls. Those things were expensive, and it would require a lot of effort to study them, which didn''t match his profession.


    .......


    The first stall yielded some useful things, and Su''en felt that he might find some good things in this market.


    He continued walking forward, stopping at the stalls that interested him.


    The stalls mostly had alchemy materials and materials for job advancements...


    On the stalls of thoserge hunting squads, there were even piles of them, and it was unknown how many monsters they had killed.


    However, Su''en had already advanced to a professional and had no need for first-tier materials.


    But after a few rounds, he filtered out most of the shops.


    Moreover, he even saw second-tier job advancement materials and blueprint designs at somerge stalls.


    But most of them were materials for mainstream melee, assassin, and mage professions, and they were expensive and not suitable.


    Su''en wanted to find second-tier job advancement materials rted to "space abilities," but he didn''t want to use them. Such things would never appear on stalls.


    Even if they did, they would immediately be bought at a high price by opportunistic merchants wandering the streets.


    Su''en strolled through half of the street and unexpectedly found a pleasant surprise!


    At an inconspicuous stall, he saw that the stall owner had packed up some silver threads in a box, and there were more than twenty of them.


    Upon identification, they turned out to be the "Cursed Hair of the Mourning Witch" that he had been looking for!


    It was a surprise that was both expected and unexpected.


    He had spected before that since the hair came from ruins, others might have encountered some as well, but he didn''t expect to actuallye across it.


    Su''en quickly walked over and asked, "Brother, how much are you selling these threads for?"


    The stall owner looked at the customer and enthusiastically introduced, "Oh, sir, you have a good eye. These threads are amazing. They are very tough, and after injecting dark spirit power, they be transparent and can be elementalized..."


    Although these threads were amazing, they were not in high demand by many professions, so they were not easy to sell.


    This statement attracted some passersby who seemed interested in these threads that could be elementalized.


    Su''en was well aware of the characteristics of these hairs and didn''t want to attract too much attention. Before the stall owner finished introducing them, he said, "Give me a price, and if it''s suitable, I''ll buy them."


    The stall owner''s eyes flickered with shrewdness as he casually shouted, "11,000 per thread. You know, it took a lot of effort to get these..."


    It was clear that he was testing the waters.


    "If I''m not mistaken, you probably picked up these threads from a certain corpse, right?"


    Su''en said this to make the other person realize that he knew what he was talking about.


    This kind of material belonged to the "new materials," and almost no one in Old Lingdun had seen it before.


    For those who needed it, 11,000 per thread was actually quite cheap.


    But for those who didn''t need it, it was useless even if it was given for free.


    After all, puppeteers were a rare profession, and there were very few people who needed it.


    Although he thought the hair was worth the price, Su''en didn''t want to be taken advantage of.


    Su''en didn''t waste any words and straightforwardly said, "I''ll buy all of them for a fixed price of 100,000."


    The person thought for a moment and seemed to think that this customer wasn''t easy to fool, so he decisively agreed, "Deal!"


    Su''en paid the money, put the hair into his storage ring, and inexplicably felt relieved.And at this moment, the stall owner introduced some other things on his stall again, "Look, I also have some materials here..."


    "Do you still have this silk thread?"


    "No, this is all I have."


    "..."


    Su''en nced at it, not interested in the materials, but asked directly, "I want to know the information about the origin of this silk thread. If you know, I am willing to pay a suitable price."


    In the wilderness, everything has a price.


    Including information.


    The stall owner, upon hearing this, was not surprised. Information about the source of materials was also one of the "goods" he sold at his stall.


    He quoted directly, "30,000. I guarantee to give you the specific location where this silk thread was found."


    "10,000!"


    Su''en was more direct.


    He took out a thick stack of green banknotes and said, "If it''s not detailed enough, I will refuse to pay."


    "Deal!"


    The stall owner immediately took out a pen and paper and drew a sketch, "On the outskirts of the ruins, there is a monastery three hundred meters northeast of the red brick tower..."


    Listening to this, Su''en had a rough impression of the address in his mind.


    He needed these "Cursed Hair of the Weeping Witch," the more the better.


    This would give his puppet control a qualitative leap.


    If possible, he even wanted to find the monster that produced this material.


    Now that he had the ck Scythe, he had the idea of trying even high-level aberrant monsters.


    ...


    This was originally a normal transaction.


    But unexpectedly, when the merchant was still telling Su''en the address, several people suddenly approached.


    "I heard that you have another special silk thread for sale?"


    With this opening, the arrogant tone of the person revealed their superior status.


    Su''en didn''t need to look to know that this person was probably from the inner city.


    With a nce, he slightly turned his head.


    The person who came was a middle-aged man with a mustache.


    Su''en''s gaze was instantly attracted to the man''s hands holding a cane. His fingers were slender, and the meridians on the back of his hand were clear. This usually meant that the ten fingers were dexterous, like a pianist or a typist.


    If he was a Transcendent professional... or a Puppet Master!


    Because Su''en''s own hands were like this.


    When the merchant heard someone asking, and after looking at the person''s attire, his tone suddenly became polite, "Respected sir, what do you need?"


    The middle-aged man with a mustache stated his purpose again, "I heard that you are selling a special silk thread, and I am interested in buying it."


    "Well..."


    Hearing this, the stall owner nced at Su''en and showed a hint of difficulty.


    Su''en guessed the guy''s intention and didn''t n to make itplicated. He handed the money to the stall owner and said indifferently, "This is the money, give me the receipt."


    "Oh..."


    The stall owner was a bit at a loss.


    The middle-aged man apparently also saw something from the stall owner''s expression and asked, "Are you saying that the silk thread has been sold?"


    The stall owner answered with a forced smile, "Yes. I just sold it to this gentleman."


    The mustached man nced at Su''en''s adventurer attire and didn''t bother to look again.


    It seemed that he felt that his identity would be demeaned by talking to amoner.


    At this moment, the young man who looked like an apprentice beside him noticed the situation and stopped Su''en who was about to leave, "Sir, please wait."


    Su''en paused for a moment when he heard the polite tone, "Hmm?"


    The young man said, "The silk thread you just bought is very important to us. Can you please give it up?"


    "Sorry, I have no intention of selling the materials."


    Su''en decisively refused.


    Before he even spoke, he had guessed the other party''s intention.


    However, he would definitely not sell this hair.


    Because it was not just a few materials, it was also rted to whether he could control the "Hateful Undead" normally!


    A few months ago, he obtained three strands of "Cursed Hair of the Weeping Witch" in the ck market, but because the quantity was too small, it was not enough to control the puppet. They had been left unused.


    Now, with these more than ten strands, it was enough for him to control a puppet within a small range.


    When he entered the city before, he felt that the Hateful Undead was too eye-catching, and if he used steel wire to control it, it would be easily noticed.


    Now with these hair, it perfectly solved this problem.


    He didn''t even need to hide the existence of the Hateful Undead like before. He could cover the undead with a cloak, and when controlling it, he could infuse the hair with dark spiritual power. This special silk thread that could be elementalized wouldpletely disappear without a trace.


    He could carry it with him at any time, without any traces of control, and no one would suspect him.


    Therefore, he would never give up this material that he had obtained.


    ...


    Upon hearing Su''en''s refusal, the young man''s face suddenly became less pleasant.


    He had never received such treatment before, considering his identity and status.


    He felt that he had been ignored and humiliated by amoner from the outer city.


    A shadow shed through the young man''s eyes, but he endured it and calmly said, "I am Danze Oliver. This is my teacher, ''Puppet Master'' Lloyd Rodney. The silk thread material is only useful for Puppet Masters. If you can give it up, we will pay you extra..."


    The Oliver family,


    A first-ss financial consortium in the inner city.


    Their strength was simr to several branches of the Reyes family, which ounted for one-seventh of the power.


    They were also one of the "Five Major Financial Consortia" that built camps.


    By bringing up their identity, they naturally wanted to make people retreat.


    And Su''en had some impression of the identity mentioned by the young man.


    Lloyd Rodney, the famous "Magician" and a veteran second-tier professional, was one of the few Puppet Master instructors in the entire Old Lingdun.


    But what about people from the inner city?


    Others might still have to consider it, but...


    What did it have to do with him, a wanted criminal?


    The reason why Su''en responded was because the other party had been polite enough before.


    But now, he could see the arrogance of these guys, clearly trying to overpower him.


    "Sorry, I really have no intention of selling the materials."


    He didn''t say anything more and turned around and left directly.


    ...Watching Su''en show no respect, the young man named Danze''s face turned red in an instant.


    But the man had already left, not giving him a chance to retaliate.


    Danze could only turn his head and re at the stall owner, angrily asking, "How much did he pay?"


    The stall owner swallowed nervously under his gaze, "One... one hundred thousand."


    Danze angrily said, "We''ll give you a million, sell the silk thread to me!"


    "This..."


    The stall owner looked distressed, instantly feeling like he had sold at a loss.


    Although he knew the rules of the market, he also wanted to take the money. He quickly turned his head to call out to Su''en, who had already left, loudly saying, "Sir, could you..."


    Su''en didn''t look back, coldly saying, "No!"


    "You..."


    The stall owner was in the wrong, so he couldn''t say anything.


    Seeing Su''en''s attitude, the young man named Danze was even more furious, cursing, "Damn guy!"


    But the man with the goatee shook his head, calling out to the young man, "Since the material has been sold, let''s go. The silk thread was perfect puppet material. If there was enough, it could even be considered as the main material for refining the ''Thousand Silk'' imnt. What a pity..."


    Listening to this, Danze felt even worse.


    After a pause, the goatee man looked at the stall owner again, "By the way, where did you get the silk thread material? We''ll also buy the information."


    The group retraced their steps.


    As they walked, the young man''s anger didn''t subside, but instead surged.


    He said to the middle-aged man beside him, "Teacher, I think that guy just now might not recognize the ''Cursed Hair of the Weeping Witch''. After all, it''s not very useful for ordinary professionals. I was probably too reckless, revealing its origin. He heard that I''m from the Oliver family and deliberately wanted to raise the price."


    After a pause, he felt like he had grasped something and suddenly realized, "I''ll go find him now. I can definitely buy it if I raise the price. That silk thread, even if it costs a million, it''s worth it!"


    "No, he should be very clear about the effect of that hair."


    The goatee man shook his head.


    Su''en didn''t give his disciple face, nor did he give him, the teacher, face.


    A cold glint shed in his eyes, "Since you''ve revealed your family, he''s not afraid of offending people and refuses to give up the material. He must be a puppet master. Hehe... There are only a few inheritances of puppet masters in Old Lingdun. I''d like to see where he gets his confidence from!"


    After a pause, the middle-aged man''s eyes shifted, pondering, "However, I think he might be a wanted criminal..."


    Otherwise, such a disrespectful guy wouldn''t dare to disrespect the Oliver family, nor would he dare to disrespect him, Lloyd Rodney!


    "Yes, I also think you''re right, teacher!"


    Hearing this, the young man''s eyes lit up, immediately understanding.


    He gave a look to his bodyguard behind him.


    The bodyguard immediately understood and quietly left the group.


    ......


    Su''en was walking on the street when he suddenly sensed something. His brows furrowed and he muttered to himself, "I''m being followed..."


    He had the ability to sense malice. Any malicious gaze would be immediately detected.


    Obviously, it was the people from the Oliver family just now.


    Did they have bad intentions?


    Hehe...


    A cold smile appeared at the corner of Su''en''s mouth.


    But the camp was crowded and not suitable for action.


    Su''en thought for a moment. He didn''t want to cause a scene here, so he turned into a secluded corner.


    The person following him was probably a professional bodyguard, not very good at tailing.


    Since Su''en had detected him in advance, and the camp buildings wereplex and chaotic, it was easy to lose the target.


    Before long, Su''en changed his clothes and mask, and once again walked boldly onto the street.


    At this time, he was no longer apanied by a mechanical dog and goods, but by a burly man in a cloak.


    Although this kind ofrge physique was eye-catching, such exaggerated closebat professionals and heavy mechanical warriors could asionally be seen on the street.


    Having changed the witch''s hair, the control threadpletely disappeared in the air.


    With breathing and heartbeat, others couldn''t detect the abnormality of the hateful living corpse.


    In this way, Su''en led the living corpse towards the direction of the "Hunter''s Guild".


    If there was a ce where he could find out about "Psychic Secret Techniques" and advanced spatial ability materials, it must be the Hunter''s Guild.


    There, they had the mostplete information about the ruins, as well as the hunter teams that had mastered the information.

 Chapter 138: Mr. Johnny is very strong

    Chapter 138: Mr. Johnny is very strong


    "The Hunter''s Guild" is the liveliest ce in the Dawn Camp.


    And, it is located in the dpidated vi of the Storm Manor.


    Su''en, the controller, hated the undead and walked up the hill, arriving at the garden of the manor in no time.


    The surroundings were familiar, and he remembered that it was under the crooked-necked tree where he killed Bald Ivan. Now, it was an anti-aircraft gun and machine gun position.


    The vi hall had turned into a hunting hall, crowded with all kinds of hunters carrying guns and swords.


    In the center of the hall, there was a huge bright screen, disying various mission information densely.


    Recruitment, intelligence purchase, and the sale of various advanced materials and cursed items.


    The hunters stopped in front of the big screen, searching for the information they needed.


    "Recruitment: ''Iron Boots Hunter Group'' is recruiting 30 members for the hunting group, doctors preferred, led by second-tier professionals, exploring the A-level cursed space in the west city tomorrow..."


    "Recruitment: Exploration mission of C~A-level cursed space outside the east city, led by high-ranking professionals from the Oliver family, unlimited number of people, daily sry of 20,000 lisuo, additionalbat allowance..."


    "Intelligence purchase: In need of second-tier Thunder Elemental Warlock rted advanced materials/information, payment of 300,000 to 5 million lisuo depending on the value of the information, go to the Notary Office."


    "Item consignment: Advanced materials for second-tier assassin [Dark Magic Dagger], appraisal can awaken stealth ability, price negotiable..."


    "..."


    Su''en had good eyesight and didn''t squeeze into the crowd. He nced at the words on the screen and saw someone else seeking second-tier materials.


    That was also his purpose foring here.


    The Dawn Ruins were vast, and he couldn''t possibly find the information he wanted on his own.


    Without dy, he went directly to the guild, paid the money, and posted a looping message.


    "Intelligence purchase: Shocking, 5 million!!! In need of second-tier awakened ''Spatial Ability'' rted materials/information, payment of 2 to 5 million lisuo depending on the value of the information, go to the Notary Office. Can also join the group for exploration, a first-tier veteran, a skilled firearms master, won''t hold back..."


    This eye-catching method was something he learned from various disreputable self-media in his previous life, known as "clickbait."


    No matter what the situation, start with something shocking.


    With this offer of 5 million, he instantly stood out from the dense information.


    As for the secret mental power technique, he didn''t post it.


    Mr. ck said it was ssified as "forbidden knowledge" by the ck Tower. Su''en felt that if he made a big fuss about it, it might attract some ill-intentioned people.


    .......


    After posting the intelligence purchase information, Su''en stood at the entrance of the hall for a moment, wanting to see if there was any information that interested him.


    Just at this moment, a probing voice suddenly called out from behind.


    "Mr. Johnny, is that you?"


    Su''en turned his head and saw a young face staring at him with wide eyes.


    Who else could it be if not Tommy?


    However, what surprised Su''en even more was that he was actually recognized?


    Just now, in order to shake off the person who was following him, he even changed his appearance. How did Tommy recognize him?


    Su''en smiled and didn''t deny it, curious, he asked, "How did you recognize me?"


    Tommy looked at Su''en and immediately smiled with joy on his young face, saying excitedly, "I didn''t recognize you. But I had a feeling that it should be Mr. Johnny."


    "A feeling?"


    Su''en was even more surprised to hear this.


    He vaguely felt that Tommy seemed to have some special talent, so he asked, "Is it some kind of special ability that you awakened?"


    Tommy nodded, then shook his head, sounding uncertain, "I don''t know either..."


    He frowned and thought for a moment, saying, "When I was almost bitten to death by the distorted monster during the escort, my head was buzzing with fear... Fortunately, Mr. Johnny saved me. And then, I found that I seemed to have some special abilities. Just now, I felt that your figure was very familiar, so I called out your name..."


    "I see..."


    Listening to his description, Su''en could basically confirm that Tommy had awakened some kind of special talent.


    However, when he thought back, he couldn''t find any corresponding talent.


    This kind of inexplicable "feeling" ability seemed a bit rare, like some kind of visual talent?


    But because talents couldn''t be seen, they could only be inferred through some manifestations.


    And, before fully awakening, it was even uncertain what it was.


    For example, even if your talent is [B-002-Red Demon], when you first awaken your talent, it may only manifest as increased strength, easily confused with [D-082-Strongman].


    Without developing and controlling that strength, there would be no chance to transform into the "Red Demon," and it was possible that such a rare talent would be buried for a lifetime.


    For ordinary people who didn''t n to be advanced professionals, this situation was normal.


    When Su''en saw Qian Tiao revealing her two-stage awakened talent [Rakshasa Woman], he had also curiously asked about some knowledge about talents.


    He was now certain that talents had growth potential and could be broken through for a second time.Although it is uncertain what factors affect "growth", ording to the experience summarized from thousands of cases, talent awakening is almost always rted tobat.


    Only by experiencing the despair between life and death can one have a great realization.


    This is also exactly what Tommy described.


    ......


    Su''en frowned and thought for a while, but couldn''t figure out what Tommy''s talent should be, so he asked, "What about your dad? Does he know that you have awakened your talent?"


    "I told him."


    Tommy said, pouting and saying with a grievance, "He said I was just daydreaming."


    "My dad also said..."


    Pausing for a moment, he imitated Benson''s tone, with a rough voice, "The talents I awakened are all about strength. You must have awakened strength too. Being strong enough to lift and resist is the most practical ability! Don''t daydream..."


    "Hehe."


    Su''en listened and couldn''t help butugh. This statement really matched Benson''s careless personality.


    For ordinary people, great strength is indeed one of the most tangible abilities.


    Those fancy and rare abilities are like winning the lottery, they belong to others.


    He asked again, "What about your dad?"


    Tommy pointed to the crowded hall and said, "He met an acquaintance and went to take a mission."


    "Oh."


    Just as the two were talking, Benson appeared out of nowhere.


    Seeing his son talking to a stranger, a cautious expression appeared on his bearded face.


    But Tommy greeted him excitedly, "Dad, I met Mr. Johnny."


    Benson nced at Su''en and felt surprised, "Johnny, brother?"


    He was puzzled. They hadn''t seen each other for long, why did he change clothes?


    Su''en nodded, "Yes, Captain Benson."


    "Why are you still wearing a gas mask in the city? I almost didn''t recognize you..."


    Benson muttered, but didn''t think much of it. There were quite a few hunters dressed like this.


    Recognizing Su''en, he seemed to remember something and suddenly became excited, "Brother, are you interested in a hunting mission? It''s a hunting mission in the Red Brick Tower District of East City. I have an old acquaintance who leads a team there. He is a second-tier and very powerful. The reward is good and the danger level is low..."


    There are often joint exploration situations in hunting, especially when encounteringrge dangerous relics.


    Usually, it would be teams of familiar acquaintances.


    "East City?"


    Su''en became interested when he heard this.


    The reward and everything else were secondary. He recognized the name "Red Brick Tower District" and it sounded familiar.


    Just thinking about it, isn''t that the ce where the vendor mentioned finding the "Cursed Hair of the Weeping Witch"?


    Seeing Su''en''s interest, Benson asked again, "Brother, I guess you haven''t found a team yet, right? How about joining our ''Drunkard Team''? We can take care of each other."


    Su''en knew that this uncle probably thought he still owed him a favor from the previous escort, so he nned to continue "taking care" of him.


    He was nning to go to that area anyway, and having a team would provide more security, so he agreed, "Okay."


    Benson smiled when Su''en agreed and said, "Let''s go, I''ll register for you. I''ll also introduce you to my friend."


    At this moment, he also noticed the cloak giant standing quietly not far away from Su''en and curiously asked, "Who is that...?"


    Su''en casually said, "That''s a partner I used to know. I just happened to meet him at the camp. If it''s convenient, let''s register together."


    Seeing the size of the abhorrent undead, Benson naturally guessed that it had formidable strength and thought it made sense to have a sniper as a partner.


    Heughed, "Haha, of course it''s convenient! All the major teams are recruiting people to explore relics. They are afraid of not having enough people, not too many."


    ......


    After speaking, Su''en followed Benson and left the hall, turning into a room next to the banquet hall.


    Su''en looked at the brightly lit corridor, his gaze gradually deepening.


    Back then, he had encountered a bloody banquet here...


    While walking, Benson continued to introduce, "Let me tell you, the reward for this mission is very good. Even if there is no gain, you can earn 5,000 lis per day. The key is that the people are reliable. My friend is an experienced veteran hunter who has cooperated many times. He definitely won''t have any problems... And, we have a cooperative contract, we are independent of each other, and we don''t have to obey their orders. We have the right to choose when faced with danger."


    5,000 lis even without any gains?


    Su''en found it familiar as he listened. Just as he was about to figure it out, he saw Benson leading him into a room with a sign that read "Oliver Family Hunting Team".


    He muttered to himself, "Can''t be that coincidental..."


    The Oliver family, wasn''t that the family of the young man who wanted to forcefully buy his hair when he was selling the hair?


    And there was also a "Magician" named Lloyd Rodney...


    As soon as he thought of the destination, Su''en instantly understood.


    It seemed that they had also bought the information from that vendor and nned to send a hunting team to investigate.Thinking back to the previous tracking, Su''en''s eyes narrowed slightly, "What a coincidence."


    Upon entering the room, Benson began to boast, "This is my brother Johnny, a very skilled sniper, an experienced veteran wastnd hunter. That''s his friend, a very formidable hand-to-handbat expert, a sniper observer..."


    Then he introduced Su''en to the registrar, who seemed to be a professional, "This is my old friend Rolly, the famous captain of the ''Battle de Squad''..."


    Rolly looked at Su''en and the hateful living corpse, saying, "Hmm, take out your ID for registration."


    Su''en took out Johnny''s wastnd hunting certificate, and the living corpse made up an excuse about losing a document to get by.


    The other party was obviously in a hurry to recruit people, and since it was a rmendation from an acquaintance, they didn''t make a fuss.


    Before long, the contract was signed. Su''en was now under the "Drunken Ghost Squad", and would join therge team organized by the Oliver family to the ruins tomorrow morning.


    ......


    Afterpleting the hiring procedures, Su''en didn''t stay long at the Wastnd Hunting Guild.


    After bidding farewell to Benson and his son, he led the living corpse to the camp to find a ce to stay.


    Watching Su''en leave, Benson also breathed a sigh of relief.


    He hooked Tommy''s shoulder, saying, "Let''s go, son!"


    As he walked, he continued to boast about his ability to get things done, "Phew... I managed to find a reliable hiring mission for Brother Johnny. After all, a lone ranger, especially a gunman, it''s not easy to find a team, and it''s easy to run into ck teams..."


    Tommy, watching Su''en''s retreating figure, seemed to think of something and muttered, "I think, Mr. Johnny is very capable... Even without your introduction, dad, he would definitely be able to find a good team."


    Benson didn''t understand the meaning of Tommy''s words, raising an eyebrow, "Hmm, Brother Johnny''s marksmanship is indeed not bad..."


    But it was just not bad.


    He had seen it during the previous escort mission, that marksmanship...pared to his team''s gunman Paul, it was a fifty-fifty chance.

 Chapter 139: The legendary Shabina

    Chapter 139: The legendary Shabina


    Su''en walked out of the Hunter''s Hall and walked around the camp.


    Considering the time, it was still early in the afternoon, so it was too early to rest.


    He thought that he should learn more about the relics, so he decided to go to the tavern again.


    The tavern was not only the most important "information exchange center" besides the Hunter''s Hall, but also Su''en believed that the hunters who could afford the ten times more expensive drinks in Old Lingdun were mostly the ones who sessfully came out of the relics. They would definitely have a lot of valuable firsthand information.


    Su''en looked around and chose thergest tavern with the most people, conveniently named "ck Jazz".


    This was a chain brand that was famous both inside and outside the city of Old Lingdun. The main financial backer behind it was the "rk family", one of the five major consortiums that built the camp, and also the financial backer behind the Steam Party.


    Even though it was still daytime, the tavern was packed with all kinds of drunken customers.


    They were all hunters who hade out of the relics and earned money to spend.


    Su''en found a inconspicuous spot in the corner and sat down.


    A bottle of Old Lingdun''s 40, here it was 400 lisuo for a bottle of ck wheat beer, and they sold it by the dozen.


    He also called a decent-looking hostess, who only apanied him for drinks, with a minimum tip of 3000.


    Don''t underestimate these hostesses, they were the ones who had the most information in the tavern. Although they didn''t go hunting, they stayed in the tavern all day. They apanied many different customers and had a lot of unexpected information.


    ...


    Su''en drank his wine sip by sip, listening to the customers chatting.


    "Have you heard? The ''Firebird Hunting Team'' that went out a few days ago came backst night with a super big harvest. It is said that those managers from the major business associations who came to collect the goods broke the team leader''s door..."


    "How is that possible? It is said that the members of the Firebird Team had extremely good luck. They identally entered the central city area and not only did they not get wiped out, but they also luckily found a ''forbidden-level'' cursed item... The money they received is enough to live afortable life for the rest of their lives."


    "Why don''t we have such luck in our team..."


    "Captain Bass, don''t even think about it. The central city area has many high-risk cursed spaces, and there are also those endless distorted monsters. The situation is still unclear now, even top professionals dare not guarantee that they cane back alive..."


    "That''s right. I heard that the ''Iron Crocodile Team'' mistakenly explored an ''S-level'' cursed space yesterday and suffered heavy losses..."


    "There are also two ''T-level'' cursed spaces appearing in the West City. The five major families have arranged ve teams to explore, but they were all wiped out... But the estimated profits are also amazing. It is probably only a matter of time before high-level professionals are sent to explore..."


    "..."


    Su''en drank his wine while being a quiet listener.


    Now, hunting in the Dawn City ruins is almost always either a sudden fortune or aplete wipeout.


    If you can open up a new area ande out alive, the profits are almost always good.


    Su''en also heard a lot of useful information from these customers.


    Which areas are more dangerous, how many ''T-level'' and ''S-level'' cursed spaces there are...


    Where there are top-level distorted monsters...


    Where the hunting teams went and never came back, the "nightmare areas"...


    Listening to these fragmented pieces of information, Su''en automatically pieced together a map in his mind, and he also had a general impression of the entire outer ring of the Dawn Ruins.


    ...


    Su''en sat in the tavern for a few hours and had heard enough information.


    Just as he was about to leave and find a ce to rest and prepare for tomorrow''s hunting, his gaze suddenly turned towards the stairs on the second floor.


    The second floor of the tavern was the VIP area, not just anyone could go up there. It was specifically for entertaining the people from the inner city.


    The iron staircase made a nging sound as a few people walked down.


    The tavern instantly became quiet, and the sound of footsteps on the stairs was particrly clear.


    A pair of slender legs stepped on a pair of high heels, followed by a white silk long skirt that split open to the root of the legs. From this angle, the beautiful legs were fully disyed. After a few more steps down the stairs, a head of fiery red wavy hair and a graceful figure came into view.


    And then, that enchanting and beautiful face came into sight.


    As soon as this woman in the white fox fur long dress appeared, the noisy tavern seemed to have been paused, and suddenly fell silent.


    The group of men held their wine sses in their hands and froze, their gazes burning.


    Her fair skin was radiant, giving the illusion that she had a built-in high-definition beauty filter. Looking at her, everything around her seemed to fade. Especially the slight arc of her mouth, which brought out all kinds of charm between her eyebrows.


    Clearly, she was a gangster''s wife, but her every move revealed the elegance and luxury of an upper-ss socialite.


    This woman''s temperament was alluring and extraordinary.


    "So, you''re here too..."Su''en squinted at the woman.


    He naturally recognized this woman, who had a notorious reputation in the outer city''s underworld, as Shabina, the wife of the Steam Party''s leader, "Butcher" Banner.


    She was the woman who had left a deep impression on him since the first day he crossed over.


    "Tsk tsk... I have to say, those peaches are indeed quite big."


    Su''en nced at her and muttered to himself.


    Her chest was a towering, proud, and imposing sight, exuding a heavy sense of oppression.


    He was also curious about what kind of woman she was in the eyes of others in the tavern, to be so infatuated. He let go of some normal emotions and looked at his attribute panel, where the word "slight fascination" instantly appeared.


    It wasn''t really a negative status.


    It was purely "being attracted by appearance."


    She was a stunning beauty who could ignite desire with just one nce.


    "Her charm attribute is quite high... Is it an innate seductive talent or some other ability?"


    As his emotions settled, the trace of infatuation in Su''en''s eyes disappeared instantly.


    In that instant, the woman nced at the tavern.


    With just that casual nce, the sound of everyone in the tavern swallowing their saliva could be heard.


    Su''en keenly caught that gaze, and his spiritual power on his own panel fluctuated slightly. He once again had a different view of this woman and thought to himself, "It seems that this woman is not just a character who relies on her beauty to climb up the ranks, as the legends say..."


    After leaving the tavern, the woman was apanied by a slightly excited young man.


    Su''en recognized him as another acquaintance, the young master of the Oliver family he had encountered in the market before, Danze Oliver.


    "Young Master Danze, let''s stop here for today''s drinks. I''ll wait for your good news."


    "No problem!"


    "..."


    Perhaps they had just discussed something upstairs, and the two of them whispered to each other as they walked out of the tavern.


    Once those people had walked far away, the men in the tavern, who had been dumbfounded, seemed toe back to life.


    The tavern returned to its noisy and bustling state.


    "Damn, if I could sleep with a woman like that, I''d be willing to shorten my lifespan by ten years..."


    "Shh~ Keep your voice down. You dare to have thoughts about ''Butcher'' Banner''s woman? Are you tired of living? Although I have to admit, I think the same way, hahaha..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened to these whispers and chuckled lightly.


    He didn''t stay long and left the tavern.


    .......


    Early the next morning, thousands of fully equipped hunters had already gathered at the camp''s entrance.


    Looking at the gs, there were hundreds of hunting teams, big and small.


    The agreed meeting time was seven o''clock, and Su''en arrived ten minutes early.


    When he arrived, he saw that the members of the "Drunkard Hunting Team" were also present.


    The team was well-equipped, following the standard configuration of a small team: heavy armored soldiers, doctors, gunmen, sorcerers, and demolitions experts...


    As the team leader, Benson was urging the members to do a final check of their equipment.


    Seeing Su''en approaching, he greeted him warmly, "Brother Johnny!"


    Su''en nodded in response.


    He saw Tommy fully armed and appearing in the team, and asked in surprise, "Captain Benson, why did you bring Tommy to the ruins?"


    Benson''s eyes flickered with affection, but also helplessness, and he said, "Yeah, this kid insisted oning."


    Tommy, who was beside him, patted the gun at his waist andined, "Dad, I''m not a kid anymore!"


    Benson shrugged indifferently, turned his head, and smiled at Su''en, "When I was his age, I was already out hunting. Since he chose this path, he will eventually have to grow up..."


    Hearing this, Su''en didn''t say much.


    Hunters have their own destinies.


    At exactly seven o''clock, the team set off.


    The Oliver family''s hunting team had organized more than ten small hunting teams to act together, with over a hundred people in total.


    They had a second-tier professional leading the way, the captain of the "Warde Team," Bloom.


    The Oliver family, as a major conglomerate, had the most urate information and maps of the ruins. They had already nned their route in advance.


    To avoid danger while crossing the city, the team would follow the outskirts of the city in a circle and then enter through the ruins of the eastern city wall, heading directly to explore the "Red Brick Tower District."


    Su''en knew that Danze Oliver, the young master, was eager to find the hair strand, which coincided with his own goal, making things easier.


    .......


    The outermost area of the Dawn City ruins had already been cleared, and there was no danger along the way.


    The hunters were progressing smoothly, with a rxed atmosphere and asional chatting.


    The undead controlled by Su''en followed behind the "Drunkard Team" like they were being transported, appearing somewhat isted.


    However, Tommy had been sticking by his side, pestering him for advice on gunmanship and machinery.


    With over a hundred people, there was always something new to talk about during their chats.While chatting with Tommy, Su''en also listened to the gossip of other hunters.


    Unexpectedly, he heard something about himself.


    "Speaking of which, have you guys heard that there is a new ruthless person in Old Lingdun City, a new top ten S-ss wanted criminal..."


    "Oh, there''s a new face in the top ten of the wanted list? Where did hee from?"


    "I heard that he is a very powerful firearms expert from the Cross Society, called ''Su''en''. It is said that he killed three second-tier professionals from the inner city and became famous in one battle."


    "This is an exaggeration... Even a firearms master may not be able to kill three second-tier professionals, let alone an expert."


    "The battle on Green Street was fierce, and many people have heard about it. Moreover, I also heard a rumor from my nephew that before this ''Su''en'' joined the gang, he was actually a bodyguard and driver who defected from a wealthy family in the inner city because he had an affair with a beautiful mistress of a nobleman. That''s why he was hunted down..."


    "..."


    Listening to the stories from those people, Su''en originally wanted to gather some useful information.


    But the more he listened, the more something felt off.


    Familiar form, familiar plot, isn''t this exactly the same as the Red Devil back then?


    In the end, the topic of these rough men quickly shifted from the new rookie on the wanted list to which night club had the most beautiful women...


    On the other hand, Tommy listened with great interest. This kind of legendary story was his favorite at his age.


    After listening to those people discussing "S-rank Su''en", he suddenly thought of something and turned to Su''en curiously, "Mr. Johnny, who do you think is more powerful, you or that S-rank?"


    Su''en smiled, "Me? I''m far behind..."


    Tommy said seriously, "But... I feel that you are very powerful. At least you should be much stronger than my arrogant old man."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en asked curiously, "Is it your ''feeling'' ability again?"


    "Yes."


    Tommy thought for a moment and pointed to the person in front of him, "Right now, I feel a light from everyone, the firelight on my old man is like a candle, while others are like matches, and Mr. Johnny, you are like a... big fireball."


    Light?


    Did he see the soul, spiritual power, or dark spiritual power?


    Su''en felt that Tommy might have awakened a very powerful talent.


    He thought for a moment and said, "Tommy, you must never tell anyone about this ability in the future. Otherwise, it may bring big trouble to you and your father."


    Tommy was smart, and he naturally understood what Su''en meant. He patted his chest and said, "I know! But because it''s Mr. Johnny, I said it. Because... I feel that you are a good person, better than anyone else."


    Listening to this, Su''en smiled again.


    .......


    The hunting team walked along the outskirts of the city for half a day, repelling several small-scale attacks from distorted monsters, and finally arrived at the designated entrance area of the city.


    Dawn City had no city walls, and one could enter the city center by finding any road.


    The city was full of ruins, a scene of devastation after a great war.


    After stepping into this building ruins, the leader of the Warde Squad, Captain Bloom, shouted, "Everyone, be careful. We are now entering a dangerous area. Check your equipment and be on guard against monsters from the sky, underground, or anywhere!"


    Everyone responded in unison, "Yes!"


    The hunters, who had fought a months-long battle with distorted monsters in the streets and alleys of Dawn City, not only did not reduce the number of monsters in the city, but they increased instead.


    No one knew where these monsters came from, but no matter how they were killed, they couldn''t bepletely eradicated.


    Moreover, after entering the city, a mist gradually spread in the air, greatly limiting visibility. The mist would also move with the wind, and when it became dense, the visibility would not exceed ten meters.


    The atmosphere in the hunting team suddenly became tense.


    As they went deeper, they encountered several distorted humans feasting on some corpses...


    The hunters quickly shot and killed those monsters who were once their colleagues.


    ........


    Then, not long after entering the mist, the expectedrge-scale attack came.


    The breath of living people was like a lighthouse in the dark night, attracting nearby monsters.


    As they walked, Su''en suddenly moved his ears slightly and quietly ced his hands on the pistol at his waist.


    After a second, someone finally shouted a warning, "Be careful, there are monsters in the sky!"


    Before the words had even fallen, strange screeches came from the mist. The sound came from all directions, and the number was astonishing.


    In the next moment, everyone looked up and saw a group of giant bats with wingspans of two to three meters suddenly flying out of the mist!


    The pping of their flesh wings created a whistling sound.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang...


    Gunshots rang out, and everyone fired their pistols into the mist in a frenzy.


    But there were too many monsters, and shadows continued to fly out from the mist.


    The situation suddenly became critical.Benson and his scavenger team were mostly experienced veterans. They quickly formed a defensive formation when they encountered trouble.


    Because Tommy was in the team, everyone gathered around him as the core, and Su''en also benefited from this. He didn''t have many opportunities to take action, asionally firing a few shots to take down a threatening bat, then firing randomly, as if he was participating...


    Fortunately, because they were prepared in advance and had enough firepower, the scavenger team quickly repelled those strange bats.


    However, even so, the scavenger team still suffered casualties.


    "Damn it, we''re two men short, taken by those bats!"


    "Our team also lost one..."


    "Everyone be careful, the bat''s blood has corrosive toxins..."


    "..."


    They had just entered the ruins and the team had already suffered losses, which immediately made the atmosphere heavy.


    However, the Drunkard team was surprisingly intact, with almost no losses.


    The situation was chaotic before, and no one noticed Su''en''s excellent marksmanship. Tommy, who was next to him, noticed something and asked quietly, "Mr. Johnny, the bat''s eyes are so small and they''re flying around. How did you hit it?"


    "Just lucky. Practice more and you can do it too..."


    Su''en casually replied with a smile, not expecting this little guy to be so observant.


    ......


    "Let''s go, keep moving!"


    The scavenger team didn''t suffer much loss. They cleaned up the battlefield and continued to go deeper.


    As they passed by the pile of corpses, Su''en nced at the bat bodies on the ground, a thoughtful look in his eyes.


    Abyss Bloodthirsty Giant Bat


    Exnation: Prefers darkness, bloodthirsty; a mutated monster that has lived in a rich dark spiritual environment for a long time, it hasbat power exceeding the limit of its species;


    Looking at the information identified from this monster, Su''en somehow thought of the mutated monsters in the sewers of Old Lingdun.

 Chapter 140: The Legend of the Clock Tower Monster

    Chapter 140: The Legend of the Clock Tower Monster


    The ruins of Dawn City are as dangerous as the legends say.


    After the first wave of attacks by a swarm of giant bats, the hunting team encountered several more waves of monster attacks, resulting in casualties.


    Among them, there was a wave of monsters that even Su''en found slightly troublesome.


    It was a humanoid monster with four limbs and sharp ws, and its brain was outside its body. It would burst out from the mist like lightning, kill people, and then disappear back into the mist. Its speed was so fast that even ordinary gunmen didn''t have a chance to pull the trigger before it vanished.


    The identification information showed that it was a monster called "Blinker," which was a mutated assassin.


    Mutation is the result of the body being unable to withstand the dark energy and undergoing changes.


    The dark spiritual power in this ruin is more than ten times that of Old Lingdun, and the degree of mutation of the monsters is much higher than in other ces.


    Therefore, even though it was a first-tier monster, some of its attributes were several times stronger than ordinary first-tier professionals, such as speed!


    Fortunately, there was a second-tier professional in the team.


    After several deaths, the leader of the "Warde Squad," Bloom, personally chased into the mist and killed the monster, finally resolving the crisis.


    However, the good news was that the monsters in the ruins were very strong, and the chance of producing cursed materials was extremely high.


    Even the "Drunkard Squad," which followed behind the main force, also obtained a lot of materials.


    Moreover, for Su''en, the extremely high concentration of dark spiritual power in this ruin made his breathing stronger!


    .......


    The journey that should have taken three or four hours ended up taking half a day.


    In the afternoon, they finally arrived at the "Red Brick Tower District" marked on the map.


    The buildings in Dawn City were a mix of various styles. This was a cross street, with a dpidated red brick tower on the east side that looked like an ancient bell tower. It had a pointed top, flying buttresses, and some broken stained ss, clearly Gothic in style.


    The monastery where the witch''s hair was found was on the west side, also in ruins, but with a round Romanesque dome. The main building was white, but the main hall and corridors had copsed on arge scale...


    Su''en used the Eye of Omniscience to take a look, and it showed "A Dpidated Monastery."


    There were no special prompts.


    From the known information, there must be a "Wailing Witch" hunting humans nearby.


    Someone had found a corpse in this area before, and they had taken the hair from the corpse while still alive. This indicated that the witch might be a wandering monster or a curse space triggered by special conditions.


    Su''en didn''t dare to be careless and didn''t approach the monastery.


    Then he looked down at his hand, made an awkward finger gesture, looked around, and then lowered his head to repeat the gesture twice. His furrowed brows rxed, confirming something in his heart, and he muttered, "Not a dream..."


    He hadn''t forgotten that the ability the "Wailing Witch" was good at was killing people in dreams.


    And even if Su''en wanted to approach the monastery, he couldn''t.


    Because the second-tier leader of the "Warde Squad" had already started sending teams to investigate the situation inside the monastery.


    They were a hunting team sponsored by the Oliver family, and their purpose was to find clues about the "Wailing Witch" for Danze Junior. The dpidated monastery had be a key target for exploration.


    But Su''en thought it was fine.


    Having someone else scout ahead for him would at least help him figure out what kind of existence the witch was.


    .......


    Upon reaching the vicinity of the designated destination, each hunting team began their search tasks.


    As a member of the Joint Hunting Contract Team, the "Drunkard Squad" was free to act upon arrival at the destination.


    Benson greeted his team members and also called out to Su''en, "Let''s go, Johnny, let''s search those buildings over there."


    They couldn''t go to the monastery, but there were still many buildings around.


    Although other hunters had already been here, no one could guarantee that the treasures had beenpletely looted.


    Hunting was simr to gold panning; it required enough patience and luck to find gold in the gravel pile.


    And because this city was suddenly destroyed, the ruins preserved many everyday items from the residents of the city a thousand years ago.


    Perhaps there were undiscovered cers, jewelry boxes in copsed rubble, and hidden stashes underground...


    As long as they searched patiently, they would always find something.


    With that, Benson led his team members to unload their backpacks and tents, and they began their treasure hunt with light equipment.


    The fog density on the streets was very low now, allowing them to see far without encountering any monsters.


    Everyone dispersed and relied on their experience to search for treasures.


    Tommy was excited to be hunting in such a dangerous ce for the first time. But instead of following Benson, he turned to Su''en and asked, "Mr. Johnny, can I go with you?"


    Su''en was curious, "Why?"


    Tommy''s eyes flickered with intelligence, "Because I feel safer with you!"


    Su''en smiled. This kid was quite clever. "Sure,e with me."


    Hearing his agreement, Tommy smiled happily and shouted to Benson, who had already crossed the street, "Dad, I''m going with Mr. Johnny!"


    Benson didn''t mind and waved his hand, "Alright!"Su''en was not very interested in hunting for treasures in the wilderness. He didn''t need money at the moment, so he didn''t put much effort into it.


    Moreover, because he knew that the "Crying Witch" often appeared nearby, his gaze was always focused on these ruins, trying to see if there was anything wrong.


    Before long, the hunting team made a discovery.


    Suddenly, a heartyughter rang out.


    "Hahaha... I found a treasure chest!"


    The one who spoke was Bernard, a mage in Benson''s team who was skilled in "treasure hunting magic".


    That rare supportive magic had nobat power, but it was perfect for finding buried metals. It was like a personal metal detector that could be used while walking.


    Benson alsoughed and said, "Not bad."


    A small box of ancient silver coins could probably be sold for a hundred or eighty thousand.


    Starting off on a good note, the members of the Drunkard''s Group became even more excited.


    Su''en and Tommy also found a building to explore and went inside.


    .......


    This street had already been looted by previous hunters. If they wanted to find treasures, they had to dig deep into the ruins or search in more hidden ces.


    If they didn''t know the special magic of "treasure hunting", it would require a lot of effort.


    Su''en was already azy person, and with Tommy, a novice, the two "amateur-level" hunters wandered aimlessly in the ruins.


    He didn''t have any hope of finding any treasures, but he discovered that Tommy''s treasure hunting ability was surprisingly good!


    The two of them arrived at a pile of copsed rocks, and Tommy seemed to sense something. He suddenly stopped and pointed to the ground, saying, "Mr. Johnny, I feel like there''s something beneath you."


    Su''en asked, "What is it?"


    Tommy furrowed his brows, as if he was trying hard to sense something, and said, "I don''t know, I just have a feeling..."


    "Alright, let''s dig and see."


    Listening to this description, Su''en became even more curious about what kind of talent this guy had awakened.


    A prophet? But it didn''t seem like it.


    Thinking that there was nothing to lose, the two of them started digging.


    With the assistance of their mechanical arms, they dug very quickly.


    When they threw away the broken bricks and stones, they actually found an alchemy staff embedded with a blue gemstone.


    There should have been a corpse next to the staff, but time had already decayed it into a puddle of yellow-brown stains.


    Tommy excitedly shouted, "Wow... Mr. Johnny, we really found a treasure!"


    Su''en appraised it and although the runic effects of the staff had dissipated due to the passage of time, the material alone was valuable. He said, "The gemstone embedded in this staff is a ''Shattered Star Gem''. With such arge piece, its auction price would not be less than eight hundred thousand."


    When Tommy heard the price, his eyes lit up, "Wow... we found eight hundred thousand just like that?!"


    Su''en also found it unbelievable, "Yes."


    At this moment, he suddenly noticed something and swiftly drew his gun, pulling the trigger towards a ck figure crawling on the ceiling behind him.


    Bang! The sound of a gunshot rang out.


    A monster fell to the ground.


    Tommy hadn''t reacted yet and watched as a distorted lizard that had been crawling on the ceiling fell from above.


    ......


    Gunshots asionally rang out as the hunters killed scattered distorted creatures hiding in the buildings. But theck ofrge-scale battles indicated that there weren''t many monsters and they weren''t much of a threat.


    However, this made Su''en even more cautious.


    In the Dawn City where distorted creatures roamed in groups, this situation was abnormal.


    Su''en and Tommy wandered around the ruins, and before long, they arrived at the copsed red brick tower.


    This ce had already been searched many times, so there probably wasn''t anything valuable left.


    But at this moment, Tommy noticed something and pointed to the copsed building, saying, "Mr. Johnny, why do I feel like there''s something strange about that clock tower?"


    Hearing this, Su''en also became interested. If Tommy said he had a "feeling," there was most likely a problem.


    It was a square clock tower, and erosion over the years had reduced it to only a seven to eight-meter base. When Su''en estimated its intact state, it was probably at least a hundred meters tall.


    In addition to the broken bricks and stones on the ground, there were also some shattered and rusted oversized clock parts.


    For example, a giant bell that looked like it weighed more than ten tons.


    Although it was made of metal, no one could take it away, nor was there any need to. This thing was worthless.


    Su''en focused his gaze on the copsed ruins, examining them one by one, but he didn''t find anything unusual.


    With a hint of doubt, he turned his head and asked, "Tommy, where do you think there''s a problem?"


    Tommy thought for a moment and said, "That bell."


    "..."


    Su''en furrowed his brows as he listened, and once again stared at the ten-ton bell, trying to discover something.


    From top to bottom, inside and out, he didn''t miss a single detail.


    He even deliberately looked at the rust patterns.


    However, after looking at it for a few minutes, he still didn''t find any clues.


    Could it be that there was a need for a certain special condition to see its peculiarities?


    Su''en thought of the cursed space at 88 Gingko Street that required one to think about it in order for it to exist.Or... did Tommy perceive it wrong?


    .......


    While the two of them were circling around the bell, Su''en didn''t notice that a ten-person team from the "Warde Squad" that was heading to the monastery for investigation suddenly disappeared into thin air.


    A few secondster, the huge bell that Su''en had previously seen as nothing out of the ordinary suddenly revealed different information.


    [The Legend of the Clock Tower Monster]


    Exnation: A cursed space with a special trigger method. It only appears when the weeping witch appears. Ring the bell, and the space will engulf anyone within 100 meters who hears the bell. Normally, this is a curse space with a danger level of A, but for you, it is a level D. Enter the clock tower, fulfill the monster''s wish, and you can leave. Special reminder: Do not let it sense your disgust, otherwise it will be enraged.


    "It really is a special trigger!"


    Su''en looked at the information, his thoughts racing.


    But ording to the intelligence analysis, this was not the cursed space of the weeping witch that he had predicted.


    Instead, it was apanion space that only appeared when a witch appeared???


    Su''en furrowed his brows as he looked at it. Being a level D meant that there was almost no danger.


    Before he could think too much, in that instant, Su''en also heard the sound of heavy objects falling nearby.


    Tommy, who was beside him, eximed, "Mr. Johnny, look! There are so many corpses here!"


    Su''en''s gaze followed and saw that not far away, ten bodies appeared out of thin air!


    "Hmm..."


    Su''en''s gaze sharpened, immediately realizing something.


    The fact that the bodies appeared out of thin air meant that they were expelled from the cursed space.


    He looked at his own hand again and made a strange gesture.


    Not finding anything abnormal, he breathed a sigh of relief. "It''s not a dream..."


    Using his all-knowing eyes to survey the surroundings, there was nothing unusual.


    All ten bodies had the emblem of the Warde Squad, a blood-colored warde. And these faces were somewhat familiar, they were the members of the "Seventh Team" of the Warde Squad. Su''en remembered that this seemed to be the Seventh Team of the Warde Squad.


    The bodies looked peaceful, but there were several crystal-clear threads piercing through them.


    "The weeping witch!"


    Su''en immediately understood.


    No wonder the cursed space of the [Clock Tower Monster''s Legend] appeared, its trigger condition was the appearance of a witch!


    Having discovered this, Su''en suddenly looked towards the direction of the monastery. "It''s not just monsters, which means there is another cursed space there with a special trigger!"


    At this moment, Tommy also noticed the silver hair. He curiously pulled out one from the body and asked, "Mr. Johnny, what is this?"


    Su''en naturally recognized this thing.


    However, there were nearly thirty strands of hair on these ten bodies, which was more than all the strands Su''en had in his handsbined.


    Only now did he understand how these strands of hair were obtained.


    However, this thing was not easy to obtain.


    Just as Tommy was pulling out the strands of hair from the body, a nearby team also saw something and quickly walked over. The captain leading the team coldly stopped Tommy from continuing to pull out the hair, "Kid, that thing is not something you can touch!"


    Hearing this tone, Tommy was frightened and stood there at a loss.


    But as Su''en listened, his eyes suddenly turned cold.


    .......


    Originally, Su''en didn''t expect to obtain these strands of hair through normal means.


    After all, these ten fresh bodies were all members of the Warde Squad. They wouldn''t let outsiders take what they risked their lives to explore.


    But...


    What was this "malice" that felt like a thorn in his back?


    Su''en looked up at the team. He didn''t remember wrongly, they were the Second Team of the Warde Squad, and the explosive-haired captain who spoke was named "Bomb Man" Collins.


    Tommy, who was beside him, was a bit puzzled and asked, "Captain Collins, what do you mean?"


    Collins naturally recognized Su''en and Tommy as members of the "Drunkard Squad," but looking at the bodies, he seemed very irritable. "I said... don''t touch these damn threads!"


    Tommy''s face turned red from being scolded and argued, "We didn''t say we wanted to take them..."


    At this moment, Collinspletely lost his patience and red at Tommy and Su''en, "Get lost!"


    That adult had given a strict order. They must find the "weeping witch" this time, or a sufficient number of strands of hair.


    Otherwise, even if everyone in their squad died here, they couldn''t go back!


    Right now... it was still not enough!


    Which meant that there would definitely be more people who would continue to die!


    Su''en, who had remained silent, had already determined something. His expression under the mask suddenly became yful as he greeted Tommy beside him, "Let''s go, Tommy."


    After turning around, the expression under his mask suddenly became sinister. "Malice has turned into murderous intent... it seems like my guess was right."They imed to be working together, but in reality, the "de Squad" with their second-order professionals didn''t need to bring along a group of "disobedient" independent yers, considering theirbat power and equipment.


    The most reasonable exnation was that these guys had ill intentions from the start, rather than considering any personal feelings.


    Otherwise, they would have warned everyone about the presence of the "Weeping Witch" here.


    They probably thought that the more teams they had, the more people there would be to trigger the traps.


    After all, exploring apletely unknown cursed space meant risking their lives.


    Just like the ten corpses in front of them.


    Judging from the situation, Benson, the squad leader, also fell victim to the "familiar faces". (They weren''t sure if the witch was here before, and other ces in the ruins might not be safer than here, so there was no point in warning Benson.)


    However, even though he had guessed some of the signs, Su''en still followed them.


    Firstly, he thought he had toe and see for himself, no matter who he was with.


    Secondly, if they really had malicious intentions, Su''en thought it would be a good opportunity to gain some experience and loot.


    With the Hateful Zombies and the ck Scythe in hand, the "de Squad" was not enough to make him feel threatened.


    Now that the bodies had appeared out of nowhere, it meant that they had figured out how to trigger the "Weeping Witch''s Cursed Space"...


    Their malicious intentions had clearly turned into murderous ones.


    ......


    However, killing people out of the blue didn''t seem right.


    They had the advantage in numbers, and Su''en might not gain much from a direct confrontation.


    Even though he had guessed the truth, the "sense of malice" was still hard to exin.


    When the fight really started, the independent teams might be confused about who to support.


    Unless absolutely necessary, Su''en didn''t want to antagonize these independent scavengers who were unaware of the situation.


    But he also didn''t n to wait until someone pointed a gun at his head to fight back.


    So, he thought of another way.


    Ignoring the bodies, he walked straight to the giant bell, took out a metal object, and struck the bell hard.


    "Dong..."


    If it wasn''t convenient to kill here.


    Then he would change the location.


    Moreover, Su''en thought he might have caught some important clues about the "Weeping Witch", and he had to check out this cursed space first.

 Chapter 141: Wait a moment, Im going to kill two people

    Chapter 141: Wait a moment, I''m going to kill two people


    "Dong..."


    The sound of the bell echoed like ripples on the water, spreading in the mist-filled air.


    After the heavy bell rang, Su''en suddenly heard a long and increasingly clear sound of bells, "dong," "dong," "dong."


    The two different sounds of bells ovepped, as if gradually ovepping with another time and space.


    Su''en felt his surroundings flicker before his eyes, and the scenery around him began to change rapidly.


    He was already familiar with this situation and knew that he had been sucked into the cursed space.


    .......


    It was a cold night.


    As the scenery changed, Su''en found himself standing at a crossroads in the shape of an "X."


    He quickly looked around at the surroundings.


    On the left side of the crossroads was a towering red brick bell tower, reaching a height of one hundred meters, with lights shining on the top of the tower.


    The sound of "dong dong" still echoed in his ears.


    He looked up at the clock on the bell tower, and the ck hands on the white dial pointed exactly to twelve o''clock.


    It was the midnight bell.


    One hundred meters to the right was a magnificent white monastery.


    The street at midnight was deste and quiet, with a thin ck mist pervading the entire street.


    The ground was wet cobblestones, not spacious. There were obvious narrow lines on the thinyer of snow, as if they were traces left by carriage wheels.


    There were retro-style hexagonal gasmps on both sides of the street, and ck iron flower fences surrounded roadside flower beds.


    In front, there were rows of houses with red roofs, and the dim yellow light flickered on the frosted ss. It was the light of the fire burning in the firece, adding a touch of warmth to this cold winter night.


    Snowing?


    "Will it snow in the City of Dawn after a thousand years..."


    Su''en looked at the intact buildings around him, which turned out to be the scenery of the City of Dawn a thousand years ago.


    At this moment, a ck carriage swiftly passed by on the road. The bell on the neck of the chestnut horse "ding-a-ling" made a clear sound, and the horse''s hooves stepped on the stone road, making a "nk nk" sound...


    Through the window of the carriage, one could still see an old gentleman in a well-dressed suit sitting inside.


    The carriage passed by, stirring up a flurry of snowkes, and the cold wind blew into the cor of Su''en''s coat.


    It made him shiver involuntarily.


    There were figures, lights, and chimneys emitting white smoke.


    There was an atmosphere of fireworks, as if in the real world.


    This feeling was very strange.


    It was as if he had traveled through history, and the painting of history was vividly disyed before his eyes.


    "Mr. Johnny? Where are we?"


    Beside him, a young boy in thin clothes tentatively called out. He was holding a basket of matches in his hand.


    A match-selling boy?


    Su''en didn''t recognize Tommy, but he could tell from his tone and casually responded, "Cursed space."


    He looked at Tommy''s attire and guessed something, then asked, "What am I wearing now?"


    Tommy replied, "Police uniform."


    Su''en looked at his own outfit as a hunter and suddenly realized.


    He focused his attention on the additional badge on his chest.


    [Badge of the Dawn City Police]


    Intimidation +3


    Exnation: An alchemical essory, proof of identity as a police officer in the City of Dawn; with it, you are a police officer withw enforcement authority. But be careful, it will attract the attention of killers.


    "I am a police officer? A cursed space in role-ying mode? Interesting..."


    Su''en looked at the easily misunderstood prompt with indifference, raising an eyebrow.


    He then looked down at his own hands.


    There was now an additional leather file folder in his hand.


    Opening it, he found a case record.


    [Police Testimony File for the Clock Tower Street Murder Case]


    Case number: MST-07 Serial Killer Case


    Case status: Unsolved


    Chief: Fraule Scott


    Witness/Assistant: Officer Johnny


    The file record is as follows: This morning, a male body was found in the alley at 44 Clock Tower Street, with his face and internal organs eaten; this is the seventh murder case in this neighborhood, and the modus operandi is identical to the previous six cases; someone witnessed a cloaked figure wandering near the crossroads of ''Red Tower Street'' at midnight; suspected distortion event, handle with caution, apply for support from the City Guard Special Organization if necessary...


    "Is this a cursed space with a plot background? Do I have to find the killer?"


    Su''en quickly scanned the file, reading it line by line.


    However, the content of this file is very misleading.


    He had already seen through the name of this cursed space, "Legend of the Clock Tower Monster," through the All-Knowing Eye, and guessed that the killer was most likely in the red brick bell tower on his left.


    Moreover, the way to get out was not to catch the killer.


    It was to fulfill a wish.


    But since the All-Knowing Eye judged it as a "D-level" difficulty space, Su''en was not in a hurry.


    Besides, he had his gun, storage ring, and the scythe of the undead.


    There was more than one way to solve the puzzle.


    But speaking of which, this scene is really realistic.Looking at the vibrant ancient street scene around him, he lost interest in the murderer.


    It''s the bustling Dawn City from a thousand years ago that really piques his curiosity!


    .......


    Entering the cursed space for the first time, Tommy seemed a bit nervous on the side. "Mr. Johnny... where are we going now? Are we going to find the source of this cursed space?"


    "Yes. But no rush."


    Su''en nodded and looked at two suspicious figures not far away. He said, "Wait here, I''m going to kill two people."


    Kill?


    Tommy was stunned by his words.


    His tone was as calm as if he were saying he was going to buy a few oranges.


    Before he could ask any more questions, Su''en had already walked over.


    He took out his badge and said to the two men in ck trench coats with pipes in their mouths, "Hello, please show me your identification."


    The two men were a bit confused, as if they hadn''t fully reacted to their new identities yet. "We are detectives, we want to investigate..."


    But before they could finish their sentence, Su''en asked, "Members of the Warde Squad?"


    "How did you..."


    Before the man could finish his sentence, Su''en pulled out his gun expressionlessly and shot two holes in their foreheads.


    The bodies fell to the ground, and Su''en harvested some experience points. He solemnly took off the storage rings from the bodies.


    He muttered to himself, "Ten in total, eight more to go."


    After killing the two men, Su''en turned his head and looked at Tommy, who was still stunned. He beckoned and said, "Let''s go."


    Tommy quickly ran over and asked, "Mr. Johnny, why did you kill them?"


    He was also clever enough to guess something. "Those two were members of the Warde Squad, right?"


    Su''en asked, "You recognized them?"


    Tommy nodded. "Yes."


    Su''en didn''t exin much. "You''ll know soon."


    Tommy asked, "Ah... where are we going now?"


    Su''en replied, "Let''s go see what the Dawn City from a thousand years ago was like."


    Go out?


    It would be a waste of opportunity to leave such an interesting ce like this.


    Eliminating the Warde Squad was just a side n.


    The most important thing was that he was already 100% sure that thispanion space was rted to the "Wailing Witch," so he still needed to find some key clues in the space to understand the events.


    .......


    Su''en led Kay walking on the street. Instead of going to the clock tower or the monastery, he went directly to a brightly lit red-roofed house at the intersection.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    He knocked on the door and looked at the namete next to the door, then shouted inside, "Sorry for disturbing you sote, Mr. Smith. I''m Officer Johnny, and I have something to ask you."


    He quickly adapted to the role he was ying.


    A female voice responded from inside, "Oh, Officer Johnny. Please wait a moment."


    He heard some rustling sounds, as if someone was getting dressed.


    After half a minute, the door opened, and a golden-haireddy in a Victorian-style puffy skirt opened the door.


    She looked at Su''en as if she recognized him. "Officer Johnny, please have a seat inside."


    Su''en didn''t hesitate and walked in.


    The interior of the house was elegantly decorated, with crystal chandeliers and mahogany furniture. Delicate ceramic dishes and silver trays were ced on the table. The firece was burning fiercely, and there was a deer head specimen and a hunting rifle on the wall.


    This was a wealthy household.


    Su''en entered the house and quickly looked around. "Sorry for disturbing your rest, Mrs. Smith."


    The blonde woman muttered, "Oh, it''s such heavy snow, and you still have to go on patrol, Officer Johnny. You must be working so hard. Has there been another murder? Oh my, it''s so scary. There''s bad news every day recently."


    After a pause, she asked, "Coffee or tea?"


    "Tea, thank you."


    Su''en casually replied, fully assuming the role of a police officer, and asked, "Mrs. Smith, have you noticed anything unusual in the neighborhood recently?"


    Mrs. Smith was tinkering with a teapot on the firece and poured a cup of tea for Su''en. She said, "When the midnight bell rangst night, I seemed to hear a very painful screaming from the direction of the clock tower..."


    When she bent down, Su''en saw therge white gullies through her cor and the steel corset around her waist.


    "Oh."


    Su''en didn''t sit on the sofa, but went to the decorative bookshelf next to it and took out a thick, gold-embossed book.


    He flipped through it, but there were no writings on the pages.


    The other books were simr, except for the book "Complete Alchemy Basics," where he saw some fragments of ancient Nuidnguage.


    Su''en wasn''t surprised by this. He continued to flip through the book while continuing to ask questions.


    "Have you heard any news about Sir Isaac recently?"


    "No, not at all..."


    "Do your family have any ns to install mechanical prosthetics?"


    "..."


    "Do you know a tall ck tower?"


    "..."


    "Do you have any knowledge of alchemy?""Sorry, I''m not a sorcerer. Those books were bought by my husband, the mayor. But he hasn''te back for three days..."


    "Are there any alchemists nearby?"


    "The old nun in the white monastery across the street seems to be a powerful sorcerer..."


    "Mr. Smith won''t being back tonight?"


    "Oh, Officer Johnny, you''re so direct. Maybe you should be more tactful..."


    "..."


    "I want to ask about the monastery across the street. Have you noticed anything unusual?"


    "There''s nothing unusual there except for a few nuns and pigeons cooing all day."


    "Do you have any special impressions of those nuns?"


    "I only remember a girl named Alice, she''s very beautiful. She often ys the flute alone in the attic of the monastery. Oh, it''s a sad tune that brings tears to your eyes..."


    "..."


    After asking a few more questions, Su''en knew that he probably wouldn''t get any more information.


    Mechanical and rigid answers.


    This cursed space was a fragment of memory from the "cursed source", where the street scene could be restored, but a group of living souls could not.


    These people were like NPCs in a game, capable of simple responses but notplex emotions.


    Questions that went beyond their understanding or were unrted to the mission would be selectively "unheard".


    (This is a low-level space. The higher-level cursed spaces would be closer to the real world.)


    .......


    Su''en didn''t stay in the house for long, but he said to Tommy, "You stay in the house, no matter what happens, don''te out."


    Tommy was a little puzzled, "Why?"


    Su''en said, "The monsteres out to kill at midnight, but all seven victims in the files died on the street, so the house should be rtively safe. Stay with Mrs. Smith and remember not toe out at any time."


    Tommy said, "Oh. Officer Johnny, what about you?"


    Su''en replied, "I''m going to find some clues."


    After a pause, he turned to the blondedy and said, "Mrs. Smith, can you please take care of him? I''ll be back soon."


    Mrs. Smith responded, "Of course, Officer Johnny."


    Su''en knew that this cursed space was "D-level" for him, but for others, it was a high casualty "A-level".


    Roaming around with Tommy might be dangerous.


    And Su''en had some spections.


    Since they both had their own "roles" when entering this cursed space.


    It was not impossible that both of their "roles" died on the street.


    Otherwise, the badge on his chest wouldn''t remind him of a "special attraction to the killer" and wouldn''t be so "real".


    The rules of the cursed space followed the flow of the plot and were very simple. Everything was constructed from the killer''s memory.


    Things existed, but they wouldn''t exceed the killer''s understanding.


    It was like the killer hadn''t read the books on the bookshelves, so they were nk. Only the book they had read had text.


    Only when the killer had the concept of "the badge is an alchemical item" would it be identified as such.


    This was a space that became very simple as long as it was carefully sorted.


    By investigating some information, it would be discovered that all the clues pointed to two ces, the Red Tower Clock Tower and the White Monastery.


    But the difficultyy in the fact that this was the focus of the background story, but not the focus of the solution.


    ......


    Su''en walked out of the door and stepped on the wet cobblestone street again.


    Snowkes fell from the sky andnded on his shoulders and hat, asionally forming a thinyer.


    Su''en brushed off the snowkes on his shoulders and strolled down the street.


    The cold wind made his thoughts particrly clear.


    Then he visited a few more ces and collected several ancient books with scattered information.


    He asked a few questions, and the situation was simr.


    These NPCs would only say a lot when the nun named "Alice" was mentioned.


    There was also an olddy living in a house with a window attic facing the clock tower, who said she had seen a strange person on the tower...


    These were all crucial pieces of information.


    The police officer who investigated back then must have found this information too.


    The original process was for the "yers" to collect this information and then be directed to the red brick clock tower to find the monster.


    But Su''en wasn''t in a hurry to go.


    Different choices would lead to different oues.


    Just like ying those open-ended plot games, Su''en could directly kill the monster in the clock tower or fulfill itsst wish without understanding the game''s background and stillplete the game.


    But the plot would end.


    He would lose the meaning ofing to this cursed space.


    So, Su''en chose the second option.


    He walked down the street, intending to go to the monastery and see how the weeping witch was formed.


    Now that it was confirmed that this was not the "weeping witch''s space", the monastery wouldn''t be too dangerous.


    It was just an ordinary scene.


    But it would fill in an important background for the story.


    .......Walking along, his thoughts whirling, Su''en unexpectedly came across a few lostmbs.


    In a tavern, he saw a group of men dressed as detectives, arguing about something.


    Although their appearances had changed, Su''en was able to discern their origins from their conversation.


    "Damn it! What''s the answer to that question? Soro answered ''ugly'', Martin answered ''not ugly'', both were killed, and Jick was killed for not answering! I suspect that cloaked monster just wants to kill for fun..."


    "Stopining, let''s think of other ways. We''re safe in the room for now, but are we going to be trapped in this cursed space forever? I just heard some news from the bartender, there''s a weirdo near the clock tower..."


    "..."


    This group was also trying to figure out a solution. It seemed that three people who were not present had already been killed by the "murderer".


    Su''en walked in, without saying a word, he drew his gun and started shooting.


    Gunfire echoed through the tavern.


    Although the tavern was destroyed by the enemy''s retaliatory explosion, all five men, including the team leader, the ''Bomb Maniac'' Collins, were killed.


    Su''en put away his explosion-proof puppet, as if he had just done something trivial.


    He walked out of the tavern and continued towards the monastery with the white walls.


    In a city of alchemists who don''t believe in gods, why would there be a monastery?


    That was what Su''en was most curious about.


    And what was the rtionship between the nun named Aili and the weirdo in the clock tower?

 Chapter 142: Big spenders

    Chapter 142: Big spenders


    It was a snowy night.


    Snowkes fell on the roof of the white monastery, making the building look bloated.


    As a police officer, Su''en had no trouble knocking on the door of the monastery.


    There was thick snow in the courtyard, and pigeons were sleeping high up.


    A brown-haired nun received him.


    "Officer Johnny, what can I do for you?"


    "There has been a murder on the street, and I''m afraid the killer has hidden in the monastery. Can I go in and take a look?"


    "Of course."


    The brown-haired nun led Su''en into the monastery.


    There were no statues in the main hall, but instead, there was a totem of the alchemist''s faith, the "Tail-Biting Serpent."


    Su''en wanted to extract some useful alchemical knowledge from these nuns, but it was clear that he didn''t seed.


    "Can I know how many nuns are in the monastery now?"


    "Six."


    "I need to ask a few more people some questions."


    "..."


    "By the way, where is Sister Alice?"


    "Sorry, she is doing her weekly tasks and maintaining the seal in the basement."


    "The seal?"


    "..."


    The conversation was cut off halfway.


    At least Su''en knew that these nuns were here to maintain the seal.


    ......


    After a while, Su''en walked out of the monastery.


    Although he didn''t see Alice, he heard a sad love story.


    The missing piece of the story was finallypleted.


    As he walked out onto the street, he heard the sound of footsteps crushing the snow behind him.


    Someone was following him.


    But the gaze of that person didn''t show any malice for the time being.


    Su''en calmly turned around and saw a person wearing a ck cloak from head to toe.


    The cloaked figure spoke, "Do you think I''m ugly?"


    The hoarse voice sounded like it came from a throat that had been scalded by molten iron.


    Then he lifted his head, revealing a distorted and monstrous face.


    Su''en had already guessed who "it" was, but his expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Appearance has never been the key to measuring beauty or ugliness. In my eyes, kindness has nothing to do with one''s appearance."


    The prompt given by the All-Knowing Eye was already obvious.


    Answering "ugly" or "not ugly" was not the answer,


    Not answering was also not the answer.


    Emotion was the correct answer.


    Feelings of disgust would stimte "it."


    That''s why, for Su''en, the difficulty of this cursed space was "D-level."


    Su''en could control his emotions very well.


    After a pause, he looked at the cloaked figure in front of him and sighed, "Mr. Brook, I have heard your story, and I''m sorry..."


    Upon hearing this, the cloaked figure fell into silence.


    After a long time, he spoke in a hoarse voice, "Sir, can you pleasee and see me in the bell tower? I''m going to die tonight, and I have a request to ask of you..."


    Without hesitation, Su''en agreed, "Okay."


    The result identified by the cloaked figure in front of him was [Abbas, the Flesh Mountain Incarnation, on the verge ofplete distortion].


    Su''en knew he was not the bell tower monster.


    After Su''en agreed, the cloaked figure seemed relieved and disappeared into the snowy night.


    Su''en didn''t pay any attention to the cloaked figure.


    He went straight to the red brick bell tower, which he knew was the key to solving the puzzle.


    There was a thick iron door at the bottom of the bell tower, which was now open.


    Su''en walked in without hesitation.


    There was no elevator, so he climbed the stairs step by step.


    Gradually, strange patterns appeared on the surrounding walls, like autumn ivy climbing all over the walls, bing denser as he went up.


    Later, he discovered that they were densely packed living blood vessels.


    As he continued to climb, there were moving human organs on the walls, intestines, pale yellowyers of fat...


    Even the steps under his feet turned into flesh with slippery mucous membranes, stepping on them felt wet and slippery.


    The air was filled with the special smell of fresh organ tissues.


    Su''en felt like he had entered the body of a giant monster. When he was about to reach the top, he saw a giant beating heart.


    This was the true difficulty of breaking the curse in this space.


    A normal person entering this bell tower would probably first react by throwing a grenade to destroy everything.


    Stimting the "it" upstairs would have serious consequences.


    Su''en looked at the information identified and showed no change in his expression as he climbed up the fleshy staircase step by step.


    Finally, he reached the top of the bell tower and saw a distorted monster''s face growing on the wall.


    This was a grotesque creaturepletely fused with the bell tower.


    Bell Tower Monster?


    No,


    More urately, it should be called the Bell Tower Beast.


    A voice came from the hollow below the two eyeballs in front of him, looking like a mouth, "Sorry, did I scare you?"Su''en learned the story from the nun''s mouth and shook his head, saying, "No, Mr. Brook. You are a respected and brave warrior."


    "Yes, I have no regrets about joining the war."


    There was a hint of pride in his voice. "If there is time, I will talk to you about that battle. But I don''t have time now..."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Although I did not die in battle, I was infected with distortion during the fight with the abyssal monster... Seven days ago, I came back here with thest trace of my determination, wanting to see her onest time. But unfortunately, my will cannot stop the distortion of my body anymore. The demon is devouring my sanity. I don''t want her to see me as a monster now... so I hid here in this clock tower."


    Listening to his words, Su''en looked in the direction of his two eyes and saw the white monastery through the gaps in the clock dial.


    In the final moments of his life, he silently watched his beloved girl from here.


    The voice continued, "If possible, could you please help me fulfill myst wish and bring my memento to my beloved Alice? Tell her that I can no longer keep our appointment, and she should not wait for me anymore..."


    "Okay."


    Su''en agreed and took the harmonica that emerged from a meat tentacle, taking a look at it.


    [Brook''s Harmonica]


    Description: Can you help me deliver it to my beloved girl?


    Curse attribute: Love for a lifetime, it can be considered a curse.


    Exnation: Engraved with the names Alice and Brook; blowing it can soothe Alice''s soul.


    With hisst will supporting him, the face on the wall slowly closed its eyes.


    The beating sound of the giant heart gradually ceased, and the clock tower returned to silence. Only the sound of the clock hands ticking could be heard.


    The life of the distorted monster was so tenacious, but Brook willingly gave up his own life.


    With this, the entire plot of the curse space waspleted.


    Looking at the distorted monster, identified as the Abyssal Abbas Meat Mountain (Second Order Silver-level Eerie), dying, Su''en breathed a sigh of relief.


    He also knew that this was the correct way to break through the "D-level difficulty."


    A direct attack would be "A-level."


    With such arge volume, even with the ck Reaper, it would not be able to cause effective damage.


    Even if the entire tower were to copse, it would not necessarily kill Brook. Instead, it wouldpletely enrage him and turn him into a terrifying monster.


    ording to the original plot, Brook should not have entrusted this harmonica until his death, forming this obsession, hoping that someone would return this "token" to Miss Alice.


    Su''en felt that he probably knew who the "weeping witch" was.


    The twopanion curse spaces were like this distant clock tower and monastery.


    .......


    As the signs of life disappeared from the meat mountain, a glowing piece of flesh gradually condensed.


    [Abbas''s Flesh]


    Exnation: Second Order Silver-level material, can be refined into a professional advancement material, greatly enhancing physical strength.


    Second Order Silver-level materials were already extremely rare.


    Su''en put away the material and knew that the curse space was about to copse.


    However... the story was quite good.


    No curse item was obtained?


    Su''en didn''t think too much about it. The surroundings suddenly changed.


    Then, he found himself back in the ruins of Dawn City, with Tommy looking at him in surprise, holding a ck whistle in his hand.


    Looking at Su''en, Tommy eximed, "Mr. Johnny!"


    Su''en guessed what had happened and asked, "Did you meet the cloaked person?"


    Tommy replied, "Yes... he suddenly walked into the room and asked me if I thought he was ugly. I felt his pain and chatted with him for a while. Then he gave me a whistle. After that... I don''t know how, but I came out."


    "..."


    Su''en felt that sometimes, breaking the curse space depended on strength, and sometimes, it really depended on appearance.


    No wonder he thought there was no curse item in the space, it turned out to be with Tommy.


    [Whistle of the Dead]


    Quality: Gold


    Description: Do you want to talk to a demon?


    Curse attribute: By using the power of the demon, you will be tempted by the demon.


    Exnation: Material for the mysterious ''Necromancer'' profession; the conditions for the profession require a specific medium for spiritualmunication.


    Su''en didn''t know what talent Tommy had awakened, but this curse item was a good thing.


    An ancient relic of "gold quality," definitely a rare profession.


    Although he had never heard of a "Necromancer," it was definitely not simple.


    Tommy asked while holding the whistle, "Mr. Johnny, what is this whistle and why did the cloaked person give it to me? I feel like it suits me..."


    "A rare golden employment material. Put it away."


    Su''en didn''t say much, because at this time, on the ruins of the monastery in front of them, an expected scene was unfolding.


    ...


    Intense arguing could be heard.


    "We signed an equal exploration contract. Why does your Oliver family think we should help you explore the cursed space?"


    "Damn it, de Battalion! You are viting the Hunting Agreement!"


    "They never intended to let us leave alive..."


    "..."


    Not far from the monastery, dozens of members from the de Battalion, armed with guns, drove the three independent hunting teams, including the "Drunkard Gang," into the monastery. It seemed like they were forcibly making them explore the cursed space.


    And at this moment, they also noticed Su''en and the others who appeared out of thin air.


    In an instant, everyone''s gaze turned towards them, and the barrels of guns and cannons were also pointed at them.


    Tommy, who was standing aside, saw his father among them and angrily rushed forward, shouting, "Let go of my dad!"


    The situation in front of him was exactly as Su''en had expected.


    The de Battalion finally tore off their disguise, and dozens of malicious gazes made people''s scalps tingle.


    In a critical situation, Su''en snorted coldly in his heart, hooked the silk thread in his hand with one hand, and instinctively wanted to control the hatred and behead the second-ranked captain of the de Battalion, and then guerri snipe the others.


    But the next second, he nced at his own hand and instinctively stopped.


    Then, a look of confusion appeared on his face.


    He lowered his head again and looked at his hand, trying to make that awkward finger movement, but he found a problem.


    He looked at the surrounding environment and then looked at his hand.


    Only then did he realize something. "Huh... so it''s a dream. When did I fall for it? Was it the moment I came out just now?"


    The "Sorrowful Witch" mainly used dream killing as her method.


    Su''en had never been careless from the beginning.


    He determined the scene in front of him through a special conditioned reflex. It was a dream he created himself.


    ...


    Normally, people who are dreaming are not aware that they are in a dream.


    But it is possible to be aware of being in a dream through some training techniques.


    Su''en had done this kind of training before in order to control his dangerous personality that would harm others in his dreams.


    It was the finger movement he did when looking at his hand. He repeatedly suggested to himself before falling asleep, "When I am in a dream, I will look at my fingers and realize that I am dreaming."


    (Note: Lucid dreaming, simr to Tang Wang''s technique, has been modified. Don''t take it too seriously.)


    Through this long-term training,


    it had be a conditioned reflex.


    Now, although everything in front of him was incredibly real, Su''en was certain that he was in a dream.


    ...


    In front of him, the members of the de Battalion had already caught Tommy and were closing in on him.


    Su''en smiled and said, "Hehe..."


    The self in the dream would definitely be alive.


    So they might shoot, but he would definitely not die.


    Facing countless gun barrels around him, he did not resist. A hint of madness appeared in the corner of his eye.


    After confirming that he was in a dream, everything became meaningless.


    He took out a gun and pressed it against his own chin, then pulled the trigger without hesitation.


    Very skilled, obviously not the first time.


    ...


    Everything went ck in front of him.


    As if waking up from a nightmare.


    Su''en looked around at his surroundings.


    It was a crossroads in a snowstorm.


    "Mr. Johnny? Where are we?"


    Beside him, a young boy wearing thin clothes tentatively called out. He was holding a basket of matches in his hand.


    A match-selling boy?


    This familiar scene seemed to be happening again.


    But due to theck of memory in the dream, he only felt that the scene was familiar, as if it had happened before, but he didn''t realize anything.


    "A thousand years ago, the Dawn City..."


    Su''en muttered to himself, wanting to respond to Tommy with "Cursed Space."


    But suddenly, he instinctively looked at his own hand, then looked around, and his gaze instantly became serious, as if he had stimted some conditioned reflex and realized something. "A dream?"


    Tommy beside him froze.


    He watched Su''en pull out a gun and press it against his temple, and hurriedly eximed, trying to stop him, "Mr. Johnny, what are you doing!"


    Before the words could fall, Su''en, with a smile on his lips, pulled the trigger without hesitation.


    The more you talk, the deeper you fall into the dream, the harder it is to extricate yourself.


    Another gunshot rang out.


    Everything went ck in front of him.


    As if waking up from a nightmare.


    ...


    This time, the scene changed.


    It was a broken monastery, surrounded by dense fog, and only the scene inside the monastery was real.


    In the grand hall of the monastery, a silver-haired nun over five meters tall was attacking several humans with her extendable hair.


    Among the seven people, five were second-tier professionals, and the other two were crowd control sorcerers.


    Four of the five second-tier professionals were familiar faces: the "Trickster" Lloyd, the executive of the Crow Gang "Blood Crow" Langferro, the leader of the Battle de Group Bloom, the executive of the Steam Party "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus" Toyinbi, and an unknown robed sorcerer.


    The other two first-tier professionals were also very rare crowd controllers. One used a "Thorn Wrap" spell to control the tall nun''s legs, showing a special talent for controlling nts. The other emitted a "Slow Ray" that slowed the nun''s movements, another special ability.


    The seven of them surrounded the "Wailing Witch", with the "Trickster" Lloyd constantly shouting orders.


    "Send another group of people into the witch''s dream to stimte her into the second state. Kill her then, and we can get the ''Infinite Hair''!"


    "Hurry, control her! Her hair length is limited now, injure her severely first!!!"


    "Don''t hit her head, we need to ensure the skull is intact for material collection!"


    "..."


    Under the cooperation of the seven, the tall nun was already covered in wounds.


    The next second, for some unknown reason, the surrounding fog gradually turned red.


    The nun, originally with snow-white skin, suddenly turned red all over.


    "Has the witch entered the second-tier berserk state?"


    Su''en was taken aback by the scene before him.


    He had learned about the "Wailing Witch''s" abilities in detail from Mr. ck, and immediately realized what these people were doing when he saw this scene.


    .......


    "Such a big scene, am I dreaming?"


    Looking at the unreal scene before him, Su''en didn''t believe his own eyes, and this thought instinctively popped into his mind.


    He looked down at his hand, only to find... it was the real world?!


    Realizing this, his memory suddenly seemed to reconnect.


    Su''en instantly remembered his experiences in the "Bell Tower Monster" space and the memories ofmitting suicide twice to escape the dream.


    Looking at his surroundings again, his Eye of True Sight identified the result.


    White Monastery


    Exnation: A special triggered cursed space. If you can''t distinguish between dream and reality, the danger level will be "T-level". Kill the witch, and you can leave.


    "This is the real world!"


    Su''en was surprised.


    This time, he didn''t pull out his gun tomit suicide.


    But he also guessed: "I must have been pulled into this space as soon as I left the ''Bell Tower Monster'' space. Did I trigger some kind ofrge-scale spatial involvement? What did these guys do?"


    He guessed that these guys had used some special cursed item, which caused the "Wailing Witch''s Cursed Space" to cover all the nearby blocks.


    That''s why he fell into the witch''s dream as soon as he came out of the other space.


    "How long have I been in the cursed space? When did these guyse?"


    Su''en was filled with doubts.


    But he knew that he didn''t have time to think about it now.


    Recognizing the origins of these people, Su''en instantly understood that this was the Wild Hunt Team of the Oliver family!


    They came with five second-tier professionals just to collect hair materials?


    Big spenders...


    The power of the top financial group in the inner city was indeed not to be underestimated.


    They not only wanted to kill the monster for materials, but now they also wanted to deliberately stimte this "Wailing Witch" to go berserk and collect higher-grade materials?


    The previously identified Gold Level monster, after the second form, would definitely be a Lord Level!


    Want to get "Infinite Hair"?


    Su''en quickly connected the information he had just captured with what he was seeing, understanding something. His eyes suddenly became malicious: "Tsk tsk... Big spenders indeed!"

 Chapter 143: Puppeteers Secret Art · Puppet Theater

    Chapter 143: Puppeteer''s Secret Art ¡¤ Puppet Theater


    "Not enough, send in another twenty ves!"


    "Very well, the witch''s frenzy isplete!"


    "Prepare to kill..."


    "..."


    Su''en heard clearly that the Oliver family wanted to make the "Sorrowful Witch" go berserk by sending in a group of ves.


    When a witch is in a dream-killing state, they also need to be distracted. By sending in more people at once, overloading the witch, she is forced to enter a second stage of frenzy in order to kill more people.


    Unfortunately, Su''en was supposed to be the "fertilizer" to induce the witch''s frenzy.


    But now, he woke up.


    He also knew very well that if the Oliver family killed the witch and broke the curse space, how would they handle these living witnesses?


    Previously, there was only Bloom, the leader of the "Sharp de Squad," a second-tier professional. Su''en had confidence in both fighting and escaping.


    But now there were five second-tier professionals right in front of him, as well as two first-tier troublesome control warlocks. Under normal circumstances, if they were discovered, these people would surround him and Su''en wouldn''t even have a chance to escape.


    Moreover, besides these seven, there must be more enemies in the curse space.


    Although Su''en seemed unharmed for the time being, the situation was already very critical.


    But it wasn''t all bad news.


    The good news was that Su''en was currently outside the monastery in the mist, and the people who were trying to kill the witch had not yet realized that he had woken up.


    In the dense fog around him, he could faintly see some figures standing there dumbly. These were all "fertilizer." In the split second that he nced over, several figures disappeared, probably killed in the dream and then expelled from the curse space.


    Seeing this, Su''en instantly knew what he had to do.


    ...


    The silver-haired nun, who was originally over five meters tall, was already oppressive enough. Now that she had entered a frenzy state, her body was emitting billowing blood, making it impossible for people to look directly at her.


    Her silver hair fluttered in the wind, like sharp des. With a light and airy sweep, her hair easily cut through the original stone pirs of the monastery.


    The scattered hair turned into needles, piercing the hard floor like raindrops;


    When gathered together, it became a weapon that could strike heavily.


    And because she had entered a frenzy state, the silver hair was no longer limited in quantity or length. For a while, the entire monastery seemed to be woven into a cage by the silver hair, trapping the seven people inside.


    Seeing this, Su''en narrowed his eyes slightly.


    He knew that this was also the purpose of these people, to stimte the witch to enter the second tier and obtain this silver hair that could infinitely extend.


    But he knew that it was not yet time to make a move.


    The monster was unharmed, and the seven people in the field were obviously notpletely restrained.


    After all, they came prepared, and even in the face of a lord-level anomaly, they were not at a disadvantage.


    The "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus" Toynby of the Steam Party, who had transformed into a humanoid tyrannosaurus, entangled arge amount of hair with his heavily armed mechanical limbs;


    Bloom, the leader of the Sharp de Squad, swung his wind-element dual swords like a windmill, shing with the "Sharp Spears" formed by the silver hair, causing sparks to fly.


    And the executive of the Crow Gang, Langfero, was even more sinister with his curse magic. The green hexagram under his feet emitted a bright light, and he held a crow with feathers in his hand, biting off the crow''s head and making a bone-cracking chewing sound. After this sound rang out, the witch trembled all over, as if her own bones were being gnawed on...


    Even Su''en, who was not far away, felt his scalp tingle when he heard this terrifying sound.


    However, the most exaggerated one was Lloyd, the "Magician" who was the main attacker.


    Su''en was seeing a puppeteer''s battle for the first time.


    ...


    Seeing that the witch hadpletely entered the second stage of frenzy, Lloyd shouted, "Get ready, I''ll control it, you guys attack ording to the n!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly formed a set of warlock seals with his hands, his gaze like a torch. "Evolutionary Armor  Unleash!"


    As the evolutionary armor was unleashed, the body of this puppet master immediately underwent a transformation.


    The feeling he gave was that he suddenly lost all vitality, as if he was no longer a living person, but a puppet.


    Even more bizarrely, the exposed skin on his body burst open. It was as if the skin of a ck yarn doll had been cut open, and the ck thread and fluff inside were exposed to the air.


    And when he finished thest seal with his hand, the "threads" inside the doll''s body suddenly swelled up like crazy...


    After Lloyd released the evolutionary armor, he hardly paused and formed seals again, chanting in his mouth.


    What he disyed was his famous secret technique - [Puppeteer''s Secret Art  Puppet Theater].A set of thirty-six mysterious magician seals made people dizzy. As soon as he finished arranging the magician seals, a huge blue hexagram alchemy array covering the entire monastery suddenly lit up in the sky. After the light appeared, a huge cross-shaped shadow slowly condensed into a solid form from the alchemy array.


    At the same time, it seemed to be in response to the ck threads on his body. Countless ck threads also descended from the sky, extending in the wind...


    As these ck threads fell, the puppets that had been arranged around Lloyd in the monastery stood up with a "crackling" sound.


    In an instant, it seemed like the entire monastery had be arge puppet theater, with everything connected by the ck threads.


    A pair of hidden hands behind the scenes controlled everything.


    Moreover, the purpose of the ck threads was not just to control the puppets, but also to "control"!


    The ck threads falling from the cross in the sky continued to invade, gradually engulfing the silver world like a ck tide.


    Although the number was not as many as the silver hair of the witch, the momentum was equally strong.


    The puppets controlled by the ck threads rushed towards the witch, but in an instant, they were firmly controlled by the silver threads, wrapped into a ball.


    But this was exactly what Lloyd wanted.


    The two types of threads intertwined and the ck threads gradually entangledpletely with the silver hair, like a tangled mess, bing tighter and tighter.


    More than ten puppets, like more than ten nails, firmly pinned the witch in ce, making it more and more difficult for her to move.


    Even if the silver hair could avoid the ck threads by elementalization, the witch could not retreat. She could only be entangled more and more. Once she gave up defense, her body would immediately be entwined by these ck threads.


    The threads of both sides were entangled together, like a group of entwined snakes, making people''s scalp tingle.


    Lloyd''s control objective was gradually being achieved.


    .......


    "These ck threads are actually ''Tismoxing Iron Wire Worms''?"


    Su''en identified the ck threads and found that they were not inanimate objects, but living creatures!


    This was a kind of iron-eating parasitic worm discovered and named by an ancient alchemist named "Tismoxing". It had an extraordinary tensile body that could stretch up to a hundred meters. It was exceptionally tough because it fed on metal, making it difficult to be harmed by swords and knives.


    Just these two characteristics alone made it an excellent thread material for puppet masters.


    Seeing this scene, Su''en suddenly felt that his perspective was too narrow...


    He originally thought that the threads used by puppet masters were all inanimate objects, but it turned out that they could be manipted like this.


    This "magician" actually used his own body as a host and raised so many living parasitic worms...


    But watching this scene, Su''en also became interested and muttered to himself, "Controlling with threads, it turns out that puppet masters can use threads like this. But on the other hand, that guy can actually produce so many threads at the same time. Is it because of his secret technique or his equipment..."


    This was much more advanced than Su''en''s mechanical gloves. No matter how exquisite the design of the mechanical gloves was, they could only pull out a dozen steel wires at most at the same time.


    But this "magician" Lloyd was covered in ck threads from head to toe, and the quantity was not even in the same league.


    However, the quantity was enough. After all, the iron wire worms were still bound by the "physical threads". Being entangled and cut off like this was a disadvantage.


    But what if it was the witch''s hair that could transform between substance and non-substance?


    Thinking of this, Su''en suddenly became excited.


    He finally understood why Oliver, the young master of the Oliver family, was so interested in this witch...


    .......


    The hair and the ck threads intertwined, and the tall blood-stained nun waspletely controlled on the spot.


    The ck and silver threads pulled against each other, and the buildings they passed by were all cut into pieces.


    Facing the already Lord-level anomaly, the "magician" Lloyd was obviously struggling in the direct confrontation. After a moment of stalemate, he spewed out a mouthful of blood.


    But at the same time, he also shouted, "Attack!"


    Upon hearing this, the other second-tier professionals also began to form seals, seemingly preparing to unleash a powerful move...


    However, they did not expect that almost at the same time, when Su''en heard these words, he also took action.


    His scattered gaze suddenly focused, sharp as a knife.


    At the critical moment when the few of them were about to attack and kill the witch, Su''en raised his gun without hesitation, aiming at the head of the blue-robed female magician who was casting the "Slow Light" spell.


    But how keen were the perceptions of second-tier professionals?


    Among the five second-tier professionals present, except for the "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus" Toinbi, who was slightly slower in reaction, the other four instantly sensed something abnormal.


    Seeing someone raising a gun from the mist outside the monastery, the four of them simultaneously had a thought in their minds: "Someone isunching a surprise attack!"


    Although they were shocked that someone had awakened from the dream, they also instantly responded.


    Just as Su''en raised his gun, the leader of the de Battalion, Bloom, stomped his foot fiercely, his figure moved several meters horizontally, instantly blocking in front of the blue-robed female magician.How could they not know that this was a critical moment in the witch hunt, where no mistakes could be tolerated? If the "Slow Light" spell was terminated and the witch regained her normal speed, their situation would be extremely dangerous!


    Seeing that the attacker was armed with a musket, Blum breathed a sigh of relief.


    If it was just a musket, he was confident that he could deflect it with his sword. With him standing in front, no matter how precise the shot, it wouldn''t harm anyone!


    "Tsk tsk... Closebat professionals indeed have quick reactions."


    Seeing this, Su''en, who seemed to have anticipated it, smirked and fired without hesitation.


    At the same time as he pulled the trigger with his right hand, his left hand fiercely wed at the air, controlling the invisible zombie beside him to sh down!


    "Bang!"


    The unique explosion of the alchemical bullet echoed throughout the entire monastery.


    mes spurted from the muzzle, and the noise of the bullet firing masked the sound of the scythe cutting through the air.


    Blum also keenly caught Su''en''s "little movement" with his left hand.


    But even so, he didn''t choose to dodge, but to block.


    Because he knew that if he dodged, the mage behind him would definitely be shot.


    Besides, it was just a gunman, even if he was a "Master of Firearms", this shot wouldn''t kill him.


    As long as he could withstand this shot, once the others reacted, it would be the gunman''s end!


    However, he didn''t realize that he was facing Su''en, the "S-ss Wanted Criminal" on the bounty list of Old Lingdun City, nor did he know that Su''en had the powerful weapon, "The ck Scythe of Hypnos"!


    Blum could block the alchemical bullet, but he was not qualified to block the spatial rift.


    The moment the gun was fired, the sound of the bullet cutting through the air attracted everyone''s attention, but they didn''t notice that a dark spatial rift quietly appeared on Blum''s forehead the next second.


    Even though he used his weapon to protect his head, the scythe ruthlessly cut through his famous double-edged sword.


    The spatial rift didn''t stop there, it cut off half of Blum''s head before disappearing.


    Just at this moment, a bullet passed through the crack in the head that had been split in half...


    The blue-robed female mage, who was continuously casting spells with both hands and had no time to react, looked in astonishment as the man''s head in front of her was suddenly split in half, and then... a bullet grewrger andrger in her field of vision, hitting her eye socket precisely, and the world plunged into darkness.


    "Bang~"


    With a sound of explosion, the blue-robed mage''s head burst into a cloud of blood, and she fell to the ground with a thud.

 Chapter 144: Alices Tears

    Chapter 144: Alice''s Tears


    "Done!"


    Su''en looked at the two people in front of him who had been taken care of, and his brow slightly rxed.


    Killing two people was within his expectations.


    Before taking action, he had guessed that the action of raising his hand and holding a gun was too obvious and couldn''t deceive high-level professionals.


    The other party couldn''t just watch him kill the control mage, so there must be someoneing to rescue.


    The scythe that swung at the same time as the gun was the real hidden killing move, just to kill the control mage and also take down a second-level professional who came to rescue.


    Now it seems to be effective.


    .......


    Su''en was very self-aware.


    After all, he was alone, even if he was strong, he was only first-level.


    Even with a scythe in hand, it would be difficult to kill again if the enemy became vignt after being discovered.


    Second-level professionals wouldn''t just stand there and let him kill.


    Therefore, Su''en still needed a helper.


    How to snatch the enemy''s boss and kill enemies several times stronger than oneself when there are few people?


    The best way is naturally to assassinate the enemy''s control mage and make the monsters go berserk.


    That''s why he chose to kill the blue-robed mage first.


    Just like now, without the "Slow Light" covering the mourning witch, a piercing scream of relief came from her throat. In an instant, the attack speed of her hair maniption visibly increased by fifty percent!


    Before, several second-level professionals in the field could easily deal with the encirclement of her hair, but now they were instantly beaten into a sorry state.


    They were too busy dealing with the hair and couldn''t spare any hands to deal with Su''en, the assant.


    Looking at the shocked and murderous gazes that were directed at him, Su''en waspletely fearless. He didn''t stop his actions and once again used his fingers to control the invisible zombie beside him, shing towards another target not far away.


    Seeing this, the "Magician" Lloyd''s face changed drastically, obviously realizing something. He urgently shouted, "Stop him!"


    The silver-ck threads intertwined like two tug-of-war yers, and he used the threads to control the witch, but at the same time, he couldn''t move himself.


    Lloyd knew very well that he was the key to controlling her. If he had a problem, this raging witch wouldpletely break free from her restraints, and they would undoubtedly fail, or even be in a desperate situation!


    However, how could the several second-level professionals in the field not guess that this was the movement caused by the famous sealing item, the "Night ck Scythe of Supnos"?


    Since they knew, who would dare to use their body to block it?


    Moreover, even if they wanted to block it, they couldn''t!


    In the next instant, another spatial crack appeared and uratelynded on Lloyd''s neck.


    Silently, his head fell.


    Su''en thought that this strike would definitely kill the immobile puppet master, but he didn''t expect that even though the head fell, he didn''t see any "ashes".


    "Huh... not dead?!"


    Su''en''s pupils suddenly contracted, and his instinctive crisis response made him quickly hide behind the invisible zombie.


    In the next instant, he heard the sound of breaking wind, and several poison needles sprayed out from the severed head, hitting the invisible zombie in front of him and falling to the ground.


    Looking again, Lloyd''s headless corpse robe tore open, and a one-meter-tall ugly dwarf emerged.


    "So this is Lloyd''s true form?"


    Su''en didn''t expect that the famous puppet master would actually be an unremarkable ugly-faced dwarf.


    .......


    Although the witch was strange and not very intelligent, she also knew that the person controlling her was the biggest threat!


    Lloyd avoided Su''en''s killing move, but he couldn''t avoid the silver hair that was everywhere in the monastery.


    After the beheading, the spell was interrupted.


    Now he was forced to give up his puppet body and also lost control over most of the ck threads.


    Without the restraint of the ck threads, the witch''s silver hair broke free, and a piercing scream echoed throughout the cursed space.


    In an instant, the sky was densely covered with silver hair, like a tide crazily spreading, quickly enveloping the monastery in a silver cocoon.


    The "Infinite Hair" that they had been trying to make the witch go berserk to obtain had now be a death sentence.


    And as soon as the dwarfnded, a bundle of silver hair, like a spear, stabbed towards him. With a "ng" sound, it pierced a fist-sized hole in the stone floor.


    The puppet master''s physical agility couldn''tpare to other professionals. Although the dwarf tried his best to dodge, it was like being cut by a de, and his thigh was pierced, causing blood to flow all over the ground...


    Moreover, what was even more despairing was that more than ten spears of silver hair condensed in the air in an instant, and they came piercing down with a "whoosh" sound.


    Lloyd''s face turned pale.


    In this moment of crisis, the "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus" Toinby, who was closest to the dwarf, acted faster than his eyes. The steam boiler that had been charging up to attack the witch''s main body suddenly changed direction and shot out, destroying the silver spears, saving the dwarf''s life.


    The sky was filled with silver hair, like a pouring rain that couldn''t be avoided.


    The other second-level professionals were also too busy to take care of themselves and were more or less injured...And the sorcerer who used the "Thorny Entanglement" first-tier spell desperately avoided several attacks, but still had a desperate look on his face as he was stabbed full of holes...


    The stalemate in the battle was instantly broken, and the situation was irretrievable.


    Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the dwarf shouted angrily with a ck face, "Retreat! Let''s leave the cursed space first!"


    The four second-tier professionals gathered together, destroyed a piece of silver hair above their heads, and tore apart a scroll before they werepletely trapped.


    As the scroll shattered, a magic portal appeared out of thin air in front of them, and they rushed out without hesitation.


    .......


    "I thought I could kill a few more..."


    Su''en looked at the guys who escaped through the portal and felt a little regretful.


    The members of the Oliver family were obviously well-prepared, being able to prevent falling into the dream and having a means of escape.


    But they could escape, while Su''en could not.


    Not to mention that the magic portal disappeared in an instant, even if it didn''t, he couldn''t follow them out to "die".


    A sharp scream sounded, and the "nourishment" in the mist was also cleared out.


    In the vast cursed space, Su''en was the only one left.


    Now that there was no one to attract the firepower, the tall blood nun''s target was only him.


    "I hope my deduction is correct..."


    He exhaled a breath of impure air.


    Su''en took off his gas mask and brought the "Brook''s Harmonica" to his mouth.


    Although he hadn''t learned to y the harmonica in his previous life, this instrument was not too difficult. He had already mastered it well from the fragments of souls he had collected.


    Without much thought, he yed a slow folk song, which he had heard the NPCs hum in the "Legend of the Bell Tower Monster" space.


    The melody was melodious and echoed throughout the monastery.


    The silver hair around him also seemed to understand the mncholy in the melody, suddenly bing soft, like the water grass in a clear littleke, floating with the wind...


    ncing at the scene in front of him, Su''en continued to y the tune calmly, with a steady rhythm.


    In the distance, the tall blood nun, more than five meters high, also calmed down and stood there nkly.


    She seemed to recall something, and tears slowly overflowed from the corners of her eyes.


    Su''en continued to y the song, and the surroundings rapidly changed.


    As if time was flowing backward, the broken walls and ruins around him quickly restored to their original state, bing the majestic white monastery.


    Snowkes began to fall from the sky, and pigeons flew again on the dome...


    In a sh, the surroundings seemed to return to a thousand years ago.


    A young nun often stood alone on the attic, ying the song that carried her longing, waiting for her beloved to return safely from the battlefield.


    They had promised to meet again on that snowy winter day.


    .......


    After a while, the song ended.


    "I was entrusted by Mr. Brook to bring this harmonica back to you."


    Su''en stopped and didn''t know if the now eerie Alice could understand. He looked at the witch, who had already calmed down, and handed her the harmonica.


    He continued, "He asked me to tell you that he can''t keep the appointment and told you not to wait for him."


    The silver hair gently epted the harmonica engraved with "Brook & Alice" and handed it to the young nun in front of her.


    A smile gradually appeared on her face, as if she saw a beautiful scene, and she whispered, "You finally came to see me..."


    In a sh, a handsome man in military uniform appeared in the courtyard of the monastery. He smiled and held the hand of the beloved girl, gently saying, "Yes, I''m back."


    They had vowed to love each other and spend their entire lives together.


    Brook''s short life had already vanished on the bell tower a thousand years ago;


    And Alice...


    Waiting for this news,


    She had waited for a thousand years.


    Su''en quietly watched the scene in front of him.


    He knew that he was probably the only witness to the tragic love story from a thousand years ago.


    A young girl had waited her whole life for a promise.


    And now, the young nun put the harmonica to her lips, gently blew, and yed the familiar tune.


    The melodious melody resounded, and a crystal tear slowly fell from her eye.


    .......


    The nun in front of him hadpletely lost her "malice," and the steel wire in Su''en''s hand loosened.


    Now that he had fulfilled Brook''s request and resolved a life-threatening crisis with this harmonica token, he hadn''t forgotten that the person in front of him was still a lord-level anomaly who could make second-tier professionals suffer on the spot.


    Su''en didn''t have the ability to create a portal like those guys before.


    If he wanted to leave, he could only kill this source of curse.


    But now, it seemed unnecessary.


    As the tear fell, he also saw that the "Lord Anomaly" in front of him suddenly lost his momentum. From being sharp and intimidating in the previous moment, he became increasingly calm.


    And upon identification, the shining tear on the ground turned out to be a cursed item.


    "Alice''s Tear"Exnation: An energy essence that has condensed the full magical power of the Weeping Witch, a very precious curse material; it contains a vast amount of magical and spiritual power, as well as the mostplete spiritual matrix of this type of witch.


    "All the magic power condensed?"


    Upon reading these words, Su''en suddenly realized something.


    Looking again at the nun, her aura was getting weaker and weaker.


    It seemed that she had found her answer, and that obsession was finally relieved. She was about topletely dissipate in the world.


    Su''en no longer felt any hostility. Thinking about it, he didn''t deliver the final blow.


    As for the witch''s hair needed, it was all over the monastery.


    If a body was needed, it would be avable soon.


    The harmonica melody in his ear was getting sadder and weaker.


    Su''en silently began to collect the spoils and blood in the courtyard while listening to the song.


    He had killed a second-tier professional, the leader of the de Group, Bloom, and gained somebat experience.


    As for the rare magic system sorcerer, he was actually a graduate of the Inner City ck Tower Academy from two sessions ago.


    It had to be said, the soul fragments of these inner city masters were of really high quality.


    Su''en harvested arge amount of casting experience and alchemy knowledge.


    There was also a decapitated "Alchemical Puppet", naturally left by the "Trickster" Lloyd.


    The dwarf had fled in panic, not even having time to strip the storage ring from the puppet.


    Then, the sound of the harmonica abruptly stopped.


    Su''en turned his head.


    He saw the nun lying on the ground.


    "It''s quite nice..."


    He said to the corpse, then walked over and calmly cut off the glowing head of the witch.


    "Obtained ''Memory Fragment of Witch Alice'' *2"


    "You have received a piece of information: ''It seems like a very long time has passed, finally he hase, I''m so happy...''"


    "You haveprehended the [Intermediate Silk Control Technique]..."


    "Spiritual Power +7.5"


    The cursed space began to copse.


    Su''en undid his nt armor, and cold mes erupted all over his body.


    He hadn''t forgotten that outside the cursed space, there were people waiting for him to walk into their trap.

 Chapter 145: A group of guys waiting to kill Suen

    Chapter 145: A group of guys waiting to kill Su''en


    Curse Space.


    Danze Oliver, surrounded by a group of bodyguards, had a rxed smile on his face.


    Having spent such a great cost and hired so many experts, he naturally had high hopes for the "Curse Hair of the Mourning Witch".


    Not to mention the experts from the Oliver family, the Crow Gang, which was sponsored by their family, had also managed to invite a powerful member of the Steam Party, "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus" Toynbee.


    Of course, all of this was thanks to the beautiful and elegant woman by his side.


    Danze looked at the graceful and stunning beauty beside him, feeling great and said with a smile, "Hahaha... If this matter seeds, I must thank Lady Sabina for her help."


    After all, this was a ruin deep underground, not in the city of Old Lingdun.


    For his Oliver family to gather so many ve hunters in the camp in such a short time, the three major gangs were of no use. After all, the ve hunters were all from outside the city.


    Unexpectedly, when he casually asked, this beautiful woman from the Steam Party readily agreed to help.


    Upon hearing this, Sabina smiled and said coquettishly, "Young Master Danze, you tter me. It was just a small favor."


    "I must express my gratitude."


    Danze smiled and nced at the towering presence on her chest that was impossible to ignore.


    As the legitimate young master of the Oliver family, what kind of beauties had he not seen?


    But it was this gang leader''s wife who stirred up his long-lost desire. He knew that he couldn''t touch a woman supported by a rival family, but it only aroused his possessiveness.


    Seemingly within reach, yet elusive, and with a hint of dangerous conspiracy...


    Danze knew it well, but he enjoyed this feeling.


    Conquering a woman like her would bring him a greater sense of aplishment.


    A cunning glint shed in Sabina''s eyes, seemingly unconcerned about revealing her alluring figure in front of others. She lightly opened her red lips and said, "Young Master Danze, with the Mourning Witch''s hair, you should be able to advance to the second stage, right?"


    "Yes. The materials for advancement and the blueprint for the prosthetic have long been prepared."


    Danze nodded confidently, "Originally, I was just following the family''s caravan to explore the ruins and strengthen my physical endurance in the dense dark spiritual environment. I didn''t expect toe across one of the rare silk threads that is most suitable for a puppeteer, the ''Mourning Witch''s Hair''. It''s a pleasant surprise..."


    He didn''t hide his joy in his tone. He even imagined himself with the "Infinite Hair" prosthetic, which would surely attract everyone''s attention in the field of puppetry in Old Lingdun.


    With that, Danze didn''t forget to say politely, "Thank you again for your assistance, Lady Sabina."


    Sabina''s lips curled into a seductive smile, "Then I congratte you in advance."


    "When I sessfully advance, the Oliver family will hold a celebration banquet. Lady Sabina, please grace us with your presence..."


    Danze had already started inviting guests to the celebration banquet.


    But unexpectedly, something extremely sudden happened.


    Before he could finish his words, a hexagram magic portal suddenly appeared on the sealing barrier in front of him.


    "Could it be that the witch has been killed?"


    Danze looked at the magic portal and was about to be delighted, but the next moment, his expression froze.


    Because he saw several figures escaping in a sorry state.


    .......


    Due to the sudden rampage of the Mourning Witch, the four surviving second-stage individuals had varying degrees of injuries.


    Seeing the ugly dwarf with a leg injury, Danze''s face changed drastically, and he quickly went up to ask, "Teacher! How did you get injured like this?"


    He had never seen anyone force his teacher into such a sorry state. After all, that alchemical puppet was an ancient relic that the family had paid a great price to obtain. Who could force him to abandon the puppet and escape?


    Could it be that something unexpected happened during the ambush?


    How is that possible...


    They were all familiar with the witch''s attack methods. How could there be any surprises?


    The same question appeared on the faces of everyone present.


    Upon hearing the inquiry, "Magician" Lloyd became furious and angrily questioned, "Damn it! How did that wanted criminal appear in the Curse Space with the witch? Didn''t you notice when you brought people in?!"


    It was the first time he had revealed his dwarf identity to outsiders, and he felt the strange gazes around him, which further fueled his anger.


    "Ah...?"


    Danze waspletely confused by this nonsensical question and asked in confusion, "Teacher, what wanted criminal are you talking about?"


    Lloyd was furious, "Hmph, we were just one step away from killing that second-stage witch, but we were ambushed!"


    Upon hearing this, Danze was shocked and angry, "Teacher, you were ambushed?!"


    Lloyd was so angry that his teeth itched, "Someone brought that ''S wanted criminal, Su''en, into the Curse Space. And then that guy used the ''Night ck Scythe of Supnos'' to kill Bloom and Pol, ultimately ruining our n to kill the witch. Even I almost died in there!"


    Was there really a problem with the ambush?


    Danze''s eyes trembled, his face full of disbelief, "How is that possible... They were just ordinary ves."


    As soon as he said this, everyone immediately understood.


    Several streets near the monastery had already been sealed off, and the people who could enter must have been the ve group they sent in.


    Since they recognized the ''Night ck Scythe of Supnos'', these people immediately guessed that it was Su''en, who had been causing a stir in Old Lingdun recently.


    But... how could a wanted criminal like that be brought into the space?Just as everyone was puzzled about how the attacker managed to infiltrate the cursed space, a captain from the de Squad suddenly remembered something.


    He spoke up, "Well, if it''s the person wearing the parrot mask... I have some impression, there was such a guy in the ''Drunken Squad'' before."


    Danze Junior frowned upon hearing this, "Drunken Squad?"


    The captain continued, "A small group of unaffiliated individuals, all of whom have been sent into the cursed space. However, they disappeared suddenly before you arrived, Young Master Danze."


    "Why didn''t you say so earlier!"


    "We thought they were sucked into the witch''s cursed space and had already died..."


    "Drag him away, execute him!"


    "No, Young Master Danze..."


    "..."


    Although the captain''s words rified the situation for everyone, he not only didn''t receive any reward, but was directly executed by the furious Danze Junior.


    Such a big incident had urred, if their leader hadn''t already died in the space, even a second-order master would have been executed on the spot!


    You were supposed to bring a ve squad to scout for mines, but you brought an S-ss wanted criminal with ulterior motives?


    And you almost wiped out the hunting team!


    .......


    The person was killed, and some of the anger was vented.


    However, at this point, it was meaningless to think about the question of "why he appeared in the space".


    And it seems that the losses are not too great.


    Only two professionals and a group of ves died, the witch''s space is still here, the main force is still here, for the Oliver family, it''s not a big problem.


    Danze asked, "Teacher, what should we do now?"


    "We can''t enter the witch''s space for now, without a field control mage, the casualties would be great if we rush in. If we want to get the hair, we''ll have to wait for the family to send another group of masters."


    Lloyd also sighed slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "What we need to worry about now... is the wanted criminal''s next move."


    Hearing his teacher say this, Danze was somewhat puzzled, "Teacher, the wanted criminal hasn''te out yet, he must have died in the cursed space. After all, it''s very difficult to kill a second-stage witch with physical damage alone, even with that forbidden scythe, how many times can he swing it?"


    "We can''t be careless."


    Lloyd shook his head, as if he had thought of something, he frowned and said, "There was information before that the guy had mastered a way to possibly avoid the bacsh of the scythe''s curse, it seems to be true now... otherwise, he would have died when he killed three high-ranking members of the Umbre Organization outside Old Lingdun."


    After a pause, he continued to analyze, "Since Su''en was able to wake up in the witch''s dream-making ability, he must havee prepared. And if he dared to take action, he must have been sure of his survival."


    Hearing this, Danze also frowned.


    Lloyd: "And when that guy attacked before, I clearly caught that he was controlling the puppet''s movements. I guess he used the ''Shroud of Oz''s Ice Man'' to make an invisible puppet."


    Hearing this, Danze frowned in confusion, immediately said, "Invisible puppet? But teacher, I have seen the scythe forbidden object with my own eyes, even if a puppet uses it, the curse bacsh will definitely trace back to the source..."


    Lloyd was also puzzled, "I don''t know. Maybe it''s some kind of special living puppet. That guy''s puppet control technique is not bad, he should be a rare puppet profession, and he might even have some ancient special puppet refining methods..."


    Danze''s face darkened.


    If he could really avoid the curse bacsh, how terrifying would that forbidden scythe be?


    And the fact is, Su''en has already killed at least four second-order professionals with this scythe.


    Thinking of this, everyone couldn''t help but feel a chill down their necks.


    At this time, Lloyd seemed to think of something, and said in a serious tone, a sentence that made Danze Junior''s back chill, "Maybe that Su''en is targeting you, Young Master Danze... This point, we must be careful."


    Danze was startled and puzzled, "I have no grudge with that wanted criminal, why would he target me?"


    A shadow passed through Lloyd''s eyes, "No... we''ve met before."


    Danze was puzzled, "Huh?"


    Lloyd continued, "Remember in the market before, someone bought those witch mages before you? Just now, that Su''en controlled the zombies without leaving any traces, obviously using a kind of transparent thread. Apart from this, I can''t think of any other thread that could meet this situation!"


    Danze eximed, "It''s that guy?! Damn it, if I had known, I would have killed him at the camp!"


    He had previously sent bodyguards to follow, wanting to retrieve the hair. Was it this action that provoked the other party?


    "Don''t be careless, get ready, that guy might have other ways to escape from the cursed space."


    Before Lloyd''s words fell, suddenly someone shouted, "No good, the witch''s cursed space is copsing!"


    At the same time, an eight-legged shadow shot out quickly.


    "It''s him!"


    Lloyd''s pupils contracted sharply, and he shouted, "Kill that guy!"

 Chapter 146: Gun King" Geiger

    Chapter 146: Gun King" Geiger


    "It''s him, kill that guy!"


    Upon hearing the loud shout from a distance, Su''en didn''t hesitate and swiftly ran with his eight spider legs.


    As the legitimate heir of the Oliver family, Danze, was present, it was natural for him to be apanied by skilled experts.


    With just a nce, Su''en saw at least four or five second-tier professionals, in addition to the four who had escaped earlier.


    Seeing the enchanting white fox-fur woman, he finally understood why there were members of the Steam Party in the team that had previously hunted witches.


    "The Oliver family actually coborated with the Steam Party supported by theirpetitors?"


    A moment of doubt shed through Su''en''s mind, but his speed of escape did not slow down.


    Not only were there this group of second-tier professionals, but there were also over a hundred elite hunting teams from the Oliver family.


    The intense gazes filled with killing intent made him feel like a roastedmb on a stove, being turned and roasted.


    ...


    The moment Su''en appeared, several rockets with long mes trailing behind them were already flying towards him.


    "Boom~"


    "Boom~"


    "Boom~"


    The shells fell around him, exploding continuously.


    The sound of debris hitting his body was crackling.


    Fortunately, Su''en had sharp senses and was able to predict the direction of the rockets in advance.


    It was also fortunate that his eight-arm spider spear was agile, allowing him to easily climb over ruins and leap over ditches. He narrowly avoided the first round of rockets.


    The bad news was that enemies were everywhere he looked.


    The good news was that the ruins were spacious, and the superior mobility of the eight-arm spider spear was fully utilized.


    After dodging this round of rockets, a dense rain of gunfire erupted behind him.


    But at this moment, Su''en had already found an opportunity and rushed into the back of a building.


    Then...


    With a loud bang, a fireball fell from the sky, instantly ttening the building.


    "A second-tier mage has made a move..."


    Pushed back by the scorching wave of mes, Su''en stumbled, but luckily his legs were stable enough to prevent him from falling.


    However, he didn''t dare to look back and took advantage of the momentum to increase his speed by another three points.


    He could clearly feel that behind him, he was being locked onto by six or seven particrly chilling "killing intents".


    There was no need to think, those were the second-tier professionals from the enemy.


    With his eight-arm spider spear, ordinary professionals couldn''t catch up to him at all.


    As long as he avoided the first round of firepower, the over one hundred Oliver family hunters in the Dawn City ruins were not a threat at all.


    From beginning to end, the troubles he faced were only from those few second-tier professionals who could fight and run.


    For example...


    The group of lingering ck crows above his head!


    ...


    Su''en didn''t dare to run towards the outskirts of the ruins.


    He was well aware that if he ran outside the ruins, although the environment would be safe, those second-tier professionals would definitely chase him relentlessly. Moreover, it was highly likely that he would be surrounded and hunted by various hunting teams mobilized by the Oliver family, making it impossible to escape.


    He could only run deeper into the ruins, where the chances of encountering people would be lower.


    The ruins were dangerous for him, just as they were for those second-tier professionals.


    Only by utilizing the environment and the mysteriousness of the ruins to dy the pursuers could he have a chance to escape.


    Fortunately, he had collected a lot of information at the tavern yesterday, and Su''en had a rough understanding of some dangerous areas in the East City. He didn''t dare to forcefully break through those "death zones" and chose a direction, rushing towards the center of the ruins.


    Su''en looked at the crows pping their wings above his head and knew that it was the work of Langfero, the "Blood Crow".


    If these crows weren''t killed, he wouldn''t be able to escape.


    Without any further thought, he raised his gun and fired a burst of shots.


    Bang bang bang, the sound of gunfire rang out.


    Seven or eight crows fell in response, exploding into ck blood mist in the air.


    "Using this trick again..."


    Su''en nced at the blood mist and muttered to himself.


    The techniques of these crow sorcerers were extremely sinister. He still vividly remembered the scene of vomiting crows from his encounter with Sergei, the "gue Doctor". Now, he had learned his lesson and wore a gas mask and quickly avoided the areas where the crow blood fell.


    This wasn''t Old Lingdun, there weren''t endless crows here.


    After the price was paid, he raised his hand and fired another burst of shots, leaving only a few crows flying away.


    Su''en originally wanted to kill all these crows in one go, but at this moment, he suddenly felt a sense of alertness.


    "I''ve been targeted!"


    Su''en sensed something and his expression changed slightly.


    Instinctively, he moved to the side, trying to avoid the killing intent.


    But this evasive action not only didn''t allow him to dodge the bullet, but instead "caught" the bullet.


    "Crack~"


    A burst of blood sttered from his forearm, creating a hole that was directly shot through.


    If it weren''t for the fact that his body had been injected with the "X Serum" and had be extremely resilient, and his arm guard had reduced the power of the bullet, this shot would have blown apart his entire forearm!


    "How did it hit?!"


    With his right hand broken, Su''en felt not only shock but also confusion.


    He clearly dodged, so how did he get shot?


    But before he could think further, that familiar sense of danger struck again.


    "I''ve been targeted by that marksman again!"Su''en''s heart trembled, instinctively wanting to dodge.


    This time, a mysterious scene yed out again!


    He judged the direction of the hostile gaze behind him and roughly estimated the trajectory, instinctively avoiding the original path he was supposed to take.


    But even so, a bullet still hit his back.


    The shooter didn''t follow his original route at all, as if he had predicted in advance where Su''en would dodge to.


    The enemy predicted his prediction!


    "''Gun King'' Gage?!"


    Su''en saw this ability and immediately guessed who the person behind the gun was.


    ncing back, he immediately saw the guy holding the rifle, and his face instantly matched the person in his memory. He muttered to himself, "No wonder I was hit by two consecutive shots, it''s not surprising that it''s this guy..."


    That guy was none other than Gage Kiliman, the "Gun Master" with a notorious reputation in Old Lingdun City, one of the top-tier professionals in the gunner profession, known as the "Gun King"!


    Gage''s awakened talent was the highlypatible [b-098-Sixth Sense] for gunners. The old-fashioned rifle in his hand was also famous for its deadly uracy, known as the "Lucky 777" sniper rifle. Legend has it that this gun has killed not only hundreds of professionals, but also countless ordinary people!


    His talent was not considered strong, and it didn''t have any enhancement effect on his body.


    But for almost any gunner, it was almost like a coveted "godly skill".


    The [Sixth Sense] was not some profound divination ability, it was just a kind of instinctive feeling. It allowed him to predict the target''s next move, avoid the harm he was about to suffer, and had no side effects!


    Not to say it was always urate, but it hit the mark eight or nine times out of ten.


    It was this ability that made Gage the "Gun King" in the eyes of all gunner professionals in Old Lingdun.


    Less than ten seconds separated the two shots.


    The angles were tricky.


    The first shot hit his arm, and the second shot hit his back.


    However, because Su''en had the alloy te from the [pz911 Mechanical Limb] on his back, the second shot didn''t cause any harm to him.


    In the distance, Gage, who witnessed this scene, was slightly surprised. "Huh... this bulletproof material is quite special. It didn''t even prate my specially enhanced ''armor-piercing bullet''."


    He bit a bullet in his mouth, loaded it again, aimed at the eight-legged figure running ahead, and a mocking smile appeared on his face. "No first-tier professional has ever survived three shots under my gun. It seems like you need four shots, huh..."


    ...


    At the same time Gage aimed, that looming deadly crisis struck Su''en''s heart again.


    "A gun master who can urately predict, it''s really troublesome..."


    Su''en narrowed his eyes and frowned.


    He knew that he probably couldn''t dodge the next shot.


    But since he was facing the "Gun King", he didn''t feelpletely helpless.


    This time, Su''en didn''t choose to simply shift and dodge. Instead, while dodging, he summoned four pitch-ck dolls to protect various vital parts of his body.


    "Crack!"


    Once again, he heard the sound of a gunshot.


    That guy hit Su''en''s lower back again.


    And this time, the bullet was a "st Alchemy Bullet".


    At the moment the bullet exploded, Su''en felt as if his back had been struck by an elephant, and he was sent flying.


    As someone who was also proficient in firearms, a "Gun Expert", Su''en instantly guessed the purpose of Gage using the explosive bullet.


    Because he was cautious enough to be sniped, even while escaping, Su''en always kept his head hidden in the blind spot of the gunner''s line of sight.


    Now that guy''s second shot had tested the alloy te, he knew that hitting other parts wouldn''t be fatal, only a shot to the head. He thought that this shot would make Su''en lose bnce and expose his head, resulting in a headshot.


    But...


    Since he had guessed that he would definitely be hit, how could Su''en not be prepared?


    With this shot, although he stumbled, it wasn''t a big problem. The eight-armed spider spear stabilized his body and didn''t expose his vulnerable head under Gage''s gun.


    But the enemy wasn''t so lucky.


    This time, the bullet didn''t directly hit Su''en''s body, but hit one of the pitch-ck dolls first.


    In the instant the doll exploded, a cry of extreme pain came from one of the seven pursuers not far away.


    "Ah!"


    The second-tier robe-wearing sorcerer who was previously surrounded and killed in the [White Monastery] cursed space screamed in agony, as if enduring some intense mental pain.


    In the moment when the second-tier sorcerer was in pain, Su''en''s gaze sharpened.


    "Now is the time!"


    With a cold snort in his heart, he controlled the undead to raise his hand and sh down.


    The sorcerer was still in extreme mental pain and hadn''t recovered, nor did he have any defenses. A spatial rift appeared on his head.


    Another extremely smooth cut, his skull flew off, and his head was split into two crimson halves.


    Instant death on the spot!


    In the distance, the several second-tier pursuers were all stunned.


    It was clearly the "sSu''en" who was shot, so why was it their person who got killed?Now they knew that Su''en held the forbidden object, "Hypnos''s Night Scythe" in his hand, and they were extremely cautious. So why were they still killed?


    The scream from just now was still vivid in their minds. Su''en was shot, but one of their own was suddenly hit. Was it some kind of sinister spell?


    That "Blood Raven" Langfero was all too familiar with this curse spell, and it scared the soul out of him. He immediately realized something and shouted, "It''s a curse spell! Be careful, don''t hit the puppet on him!"


    He was afraid that if he spoke a secondter, someone would hit the ck doll on Su''en''s body, and someone would surely die again.


    Moreover, he guessed that one of them must be a cursed doll bound by his own blood.


    Langfero knew that the spell couldn''t kill him, but paired with that ck scythe, one controlling from a distance, the other killing from a distance, it was simply "unsolvable"!


    It didn''t give anyone any chance to react, and no one could save the victim.


    If this bo" fell on him, Langfero felt that he would undoubtedly die!


    Looking at the corpse beside him with its skull chopped open, this Raven Gang executive couldn''t help but slow down.


    Because he knew, the further away, the less the "voodoo" curse would affect.


    ......


    Correct.


    This ck doll was the "Voodoo Doll" that Su''en had just made!


    Previously in the cursed space, although the four second-order professionals had all escaped alive, they were all injured and left enough blood in the monastery for Su''en to make a curse spell.


    Now it seemed, the effect was very good.


    Beforeing to the ruins, he had tested the precise range of the "Voodoo Doll" in the transport team.


    Although the second-order professionals would be greatly affected by the curse spell, Su''en didn''t n to use this spell to hurt people.


    As long as he had a slight chance, the ck scythe would follow!


    Seeing that his attack was effective, Su''en pulled out eight or nine ck dolls, like flying kites, trailing behind him, protecting his body tightly.


    Although only three of them were useful, he guessed that the pursuers wouldn''t dare to gamble.


    Once hit, someone would surely die.


    The tactic worked, and Su''en thought about blowing up the "Voodoo Doll", and the other three would hardly escape death.


    But he didn''t do that.


    Because he wasn''t sure how many more strikes the hateful zombie could make.


    Including the two strikes in the cursed space before, this was already the third strike.


    If there was another strike, it would trigger an immediate bacsh, and the hateful zombie would die on the spot.


    Without the deterrence of the ck scythe, it would be Su''en''s own death.


    The effect of this string of dolls seemed not bad now.


    Even that "Gun King" Geiger, who never missed a shot, had stopped firing, not daring to shoot again.


    That was enough.


    The further the distance, the less threatening the gunman would be...

 Chapter 147: Im not dead, it should be you who dies

    Chapter 147: I''m not dead, it should be you who dies


    Su''en fled alone, with six people chasing closely behind him.


    But seeing that he was about to escape into the extremely dangerous Dawn Ruins, those pursuers also became somewhat panicked.


    Now, seven second-tier professionals were chasing after a first-tier professional. Not only had one of them been killed, but if the target were to escape as well, how could they face going back?


    The curse space shattered, and everyone understood that the "Sorrowful Witch" had definitely been killed by Su''en, and the material for the hairpin must have been taken as well.


    They had worked so hard to create an opportunity, and even provoked the witch to be a second-tier lord. But in the end, they had given it all away for nothing?


    Wouldn''t that Oliver family member, Danze Junior, just let it go?


    And at this unfortunate moment, themunication device transmitted the furious roar of Danze Junior: "Damn it! That guy took the witch''s head, you must kill him and bring back my material!"


    The tone of the order brooked no doubt.


    Hearing this, the expressions on the faces of the pursuers were not good.


    Except for the Steam Party cadre "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus" Toynbee, the other five were all Oliver family bodyguards or henchmen. They were highly skilled professionals paid by the consortium, which meant that they had no qualifications to refuse Danze Junior''s orders.


    Upon hearing themand from themunication device, the second-tier professionals looked at each other and frowned.


    Lloyd, the "Magician," had an especially gloomy expression on his face.


    Only he knew how much Danze coveted the witch''s hairpin.


    Although he was Danze''s puppetry teacher, how could he not understand the capricious nature of Danze Junior?


    It was one thing if the attacker escaped, but if the material was lost, this young master would definitely fly into a rage.


    His own reputation as a teacher would be tarnished.


    This old man hesitated for only a moment before urgently shouting, "Chase! That guy has already used the ck Scythe to make three strikes, at most there''s one more strike left. The curse bacsh will immediately erupt. His invisible puppet will definitely die as well. By then, he won''t be a threat anymore... Otherwise, there''s no need for us to go back either!"


    The implication of his words was also very clear. Whoever took thest strike would be unlucky.


    "Alright!"


    The others looked at each other and could only grit their teeth and charge forward.


    As long as they hadn''t defected from the Oliver family''s consciousness, this order had to be carried out!


    ...


    "Huh... they''reing again?"


    Su''en furrowed his brows.


    Just now, he had used the Voodoo Doll to assassinate a second-tier professional, and those guys had quieted down for a while. But now, that feeling of being targeted had returned.


    Su''en turned his head and looked at the several second-tier professionals who were suddenly elerating, and he also guessed what was happening. "Did they receive a death order from that young master?"


    Thinking of this, he also felt that things were not good.


    Those guys had no way out, and neither did Su''en himself.


    Looking ahead, without any hesitation, he directly plunged into the deeper part of the ruins where the mist was denser.


    Although the "Gun King" Gage was powerful, after all, gunmen were not good at chasing and pursuing.


    In this mist-filled Dawn Ruins with itsplex buildings, as long as the distance was far enough, the threat from the gunman would be smaller and smaller.


    However, the enemy seemed to have guessed this as well.


    Those guys seemed to know that if they continued to chase, even if they caught up to Su''en, their situation would be very dangerous once they entered the depths of the ruins. At this moment, they were preparing to determine the oue in one fell swoop!


    Gunshots rang out once again.


    "Bang!"


    The sound of the gunshot was slower than the bullet.


    Even before hearing the sound, Su''en clearly felt his body being hit and stumbled.


    And coincidentally, after the Voodoo Doll was hit, the blood-bonded Lloyd''s body, who controlled two puppets, froze for a moment.


    Although the other several threats were getting closer and closer, Su''en decided to kill this guy first!


    He didn''t hesitate at all, and with a wave of his hand, the invisible puppet''s hand holding the ck Scythe swung down towards the dwarf.


    But this time, it wasn''t as smooth as before.


    When he swung the scythe, the several second-tier professionals used their abilities one after another, and their speed instantly increased several times, rushing towards him without any regard for their own safety.


    It was a resolute move to kill Su''en in one fell swoop.


    ...


    The Eight-Armed Spider Spear was fast, but that didn''t mean that second-tier professionals couldn''t have a burst of speed in close quarters to catch up.


    They hadn''t disyed it before because they each had their own ns and wanted the other to trigger the trap.


    After all, Su''en had the ck Scythe in his hands.


    But now, they guessed that Su''en only had one chance to strike with the scythe.


    And after seeing Lloyd being hit, the remaining few breathed a sigh of relief.


    It''s better to have a dead friend than a living enemy.


    In the end, it wasn''t themselves who were the unlucky ones.


    Since this strike had been made, the melee professional with discement and sudden eleration abilities no longer had any reservations and burst forward with all their strength.


    Toynbee, the "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus," reacted the fastest.


    The modified jet propulsion device had already umted enough pressure, and now it was released all at once.


    With a "pshh" sound, white steam gushed out like a rocketunch.


    He was like an elerated projectile, crossing several hundred meters in an instant.


    Even if Su''en made several sudden stops and changes in direction, this guy also released the pressure and stopped suddenly, then used several bursts of jet propulsion for a long-distance charge, catching up to him in an instant. Then, in mid-air, a mechanical arm flew out like a w, "click" sound, and shot out...


    Su''en was controlling the invisible puppet to swing the ck Scythe and kill the dwarf in the distance, but he had to do his best to dodge the mechanical w.


    It was this dodge that caused the direction of the scythe''s swing to deviate slightly. It didn''t cut the dwarf''s neck, only severing his legs with one strike.


    And Su''en didn''t have time to follow up with another strike because at this moment, the threat was approaching again.


    In addition to the mechanical arm, the Oliver family bodyguard in a suit was right behind it.


    That guy gathered his strength and leaped, his trouser legs bursting open, turning into exaggerated muscles like a bullfrog''s legs, leaping a hundred meters...


    "Bang!"As Su''en sheathed his de, the bullfrog-legged bodyguard in a suit charged at him, barreling straight into his chest.


    The speed of a second-order closebat professional?


    Su''en had no time to react.


    He saw the man''s movement, but his body couldn''t respond in time. In the face of danger, he could only use his spider legs to pull a ck doll in front of his chest for protection.


    With that collision, there was a "crack" sound, and the puppet shattered.


    Su''en was hit so hard that his eyes bulged out, and a mouthful of old blood spurted out.


    There was another "thud", and a massive force spread out from the point of impact.


    It felt like being hit in the chest by a charging rhino, giving him the illusion that his soul was still in ce while his body was thrown away.


    A momentter, his soul finally caught up and returned to his body.


    Only then did Su''en feel the dizzy sensation of his blood flowing backward into his limbs.


    In mid-air, just as he became aware of his body, he suddenly crashed heavily into a building. After smashing through two thick walls, he finally stopped.


    Then, another mouthful of turbid blood sprayed all over the ground.


    If it weren''t for the alloy breastte on his chest, he would have died on the spot from that collision.


    However, someone else was suffering even more!


    The moment the ck doll shattered, the mechanical warrior, Toyinbi, who was about toe to help from ten meters away, let out a painful scream, clutching his head and almost fainting.


    The voodoo doll, which used this guy''s blood as a medium, exploded at such a close distance, the pain was unimaginable.


    It was because of this tactic that Su''en wasn''t sandwiched between the two and killed on the spot.


    ......


    Su''en felt as if his internal organs had been disced, and he was so weak that he couldn''t muster any strength.


    In this critical moment, he didn''t have time to catch his breath. His eyes suddenly hardened, and his emotions unleashed a crazed look in his eyes.


    In the next instant, the pain on his face disappeared, and his severely injured body seemed to no longer feel any pain.


    He forced himself to stand up, his four spider arms revealing sharp spears positioned at his chest, while the other four quickly pulled out several strange puppets to protect him.


    After making this defensive move, Su''en''s hands reached out into the void, trying to grab the distant ck scythe for a desperate fight!


    But unexpectedly, he instantly felt a difference in the force on the silk thread.


    It wasn''t shattered flesh, but aplete living corpse.


    Su''en instantly understood something, and a surprise joy filled his heart: "Huh?"


    Even though he controlled the precise power of each sh, he had made four shes in a short time, reaching the limit of bacsh.


    Especially thest sh, which was too far away, was equivalent to two previous shes.


    The curse bacsh of the ck scythe was immediately triggered!


    Although the corpse was wrapped in a shroud and Su''en couldn''t see where the wound appeared on the body, he could clearly feel the "blood explosion" of the living corpse through the vibration of the silk thread at the moment of the sh.


    Su''en had thought he would have to fight desperately with his own body and the scythe again, but at this moment...


    He was surprised to find that the hateful living corpse hadn''t died!


    ......


    "The bacsh didn''t hit the fatal part of the hateful living corpse?!"


    Su''en immediately understood what had happened.


    The wound didn''t appear on the neck or the heart, any other ce for the hateful one was not a fatal injury.


    Its terrifying recovery ability would heal the wound in a very short time.


    This meant... the BUFF was refreshed.


    The hateful living corpse had survived a round of curse bacsh, and could be shed four or five more times!


    Thinking of this, Su''en''s eyes shone brightly.


    Although he was spitting blood in a sorry state, a crazy smile spread across his face.


    On the other hand, the bullfrog-legged bodyguard had no intention of giving Su''en a chance to live. After ramming him into the building ruins, he kicked off the ground and charged again.


    The sound of the wind "whooshing" came, the speed was so fast that it left no time for reaction.


    But because Su''en was prepared, the bodyguard saw the poisonous spear standing on his chest and obviously realized the danger.


    He didn''t dare to hit the spear, but stopped precisely in front of the spider spear, then used the momentum to stand on one leg and performed a spinning kick.


    The absolute power crushed two of the strange puppets with one kick. Then, the kick, like an iron whip, hit Su''en''s side heavily without losing any momentum.


    "Bang~"


    A muffled sound with a bone-cracking echo.


    Su''en was hit hard again, and his body was kicked out like a sandbag, crashing into a thick wall.


    A mouthful of turbid blood spurted out from his mouth and nose, almost vomiting out his heart and lungs.


    However, the bodyguard obviously hadn''t seen the rune puppets before, and he was affected by the wailing of the "Wailing Doll" when he was in close contact with Su''en, causing him to be momentarily dazed.


    It was this moment of daze that gave Su''en time to catch his breath.


    Without hesitation, he injected himself with a stimnt to prevent himself from fainting due to the unbearable pain.


    While injecting the drug, the eight spider spears behind him had already controlled the hateful living corpse outside the ruins to swing the ck scythe again!


    Su''en looked at the momentarily dazed bodyguard, grinned, and showed his blood-stained teeth: "Hehe..."


    I''m not dead, it''s your turn to die.

 Chapter 148: Lion sings

    Chapter 148: Lion sings


    If it were steel wires, they would have broken countless times in such a battle.


    Unfortunately, Su''en now has enough witch hair in his hands.


    Infused with dark spirit power and transformed into an elemental state, these transparent threads cannot be detected by others. Even if there are obstacles, there is a gravitational force between the threads that is strong enough to control the puppet''s movements, like a ma.


    With just a flick of his finger, a spatial crack instantly appeared on the bodyguard''s neck.


    The guy seemed to be waking up from a daze, but the sudden life-threatening crisis made him instantly pale. Before he could react, the ck spatial crack silently severed his neck.


    With a "thud," the head fell to the ground.


    Su''en watched this scene with a smirk on his face.


    However, he didn''t dare to be careless. He used his ten fingers to pull and manipte the abominable undead outside once again.


    Because at this moment, the curse spell "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus" by the curse master Toinbi had also regained consciousness.


    .......


    Enduring the intense pain in his head, Toinbi rushed into the broken building.


    Coincidentally, he witnessed the scene of the bodyguard''s head falling to the ground.


    Then, this guy looked at Su''en''s finger movement again, and a look of horror appeared in his eyes.


    He had seen this movement several times before, and each time, a high-level expert was inexplicably killed.


    Toinbi originally nned to capture the "helpless" Su''en, but seeing this, he was scared to the point of trembling.


    Watching the moment when the headless body turned into a human fountain, his instinctive reaction made him quickly release the pressure valve in the steam boiler. Instead of rushing in, he flew out with a jet of air.


    Fortunately, Toinbi reacted quickly enough. While the jet device carried his body out, a one-foot-long spatial crack appeared in the spot where he had just stood.


    Originally, the crack was supposed to cut through his chest, but because his body flew out, he survived.


    A mechanical leg fell smoothly to the ground with a "ng."


    Although the mechanical prosthesis wouldn''t feel pain when broken, it still had the power to fight.


    But where would Toinbi dare to rush into the ruins again?


    During the process of flying backward, he looked at Su''en, who had a numb expression and was flicking his finger again, and his face turned pale with fear.


    He had no intention of confronting Su''en head-on and quickly hid his body behind a building.


    But even so, a hair-raising spatial crack brushed past him.


    Fortunately, he had chosen to avoid and escape in time. Otherwise, these two consecutive tricky strikes would have definitely taken his life!


    While feeling fortunate, Toinbi couldn''t help but curse angrily, "Who the fuck said this guy could only make one strike at most!"


    Now, seeing Su''en kill Danze Junior''s bodyguard with one strike and then sh at him twice, it seemed like he could make even more strikes?


    "Doesn''t this guy experience any curse bacsh when using that seal?"


    While cursing, Toinbi also made sure to hide his body more securely, restraining his breath and sound, afraid of being seen by Su''en and attacked again.


    .......


    "Did I manage to dodge it? Huh... my body is at its limit."


    Su''en gasped heavily, but he didn''t chase after the guy who flew away.


    After enduring the pain of his shattered sternum and shing three times in a row, he was almost at his limit.


    After a pause of one or two seconds, he felt his blood cirction, which had been disrupted by the impact, return to normal, and he regained his strength.


    "The reaction speed of a second-tier professional is really fast..."


    Su''en muttered as he looked at the headless body on the ground.


    He didn''t waste any time and took off the bodyguard''s storage ring, harvested the soul, and didn''t forget to throw a burning bomb to burn his own blood that he had spat out.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t have time to deal with the ones outside.


    Su''en could already hear the sound of someone chasing after him, so he continued to control the eight-armed spider spear and flee deeper into the ruins.


    "There are seven second-tier pursuers, two dead, two with broken legs, and three left..."


    As Su''en ran, he also had the idea of finding a suitable terrain to kill the remaining few.


    But he realized that he didn''t have the confidence.


    First, his body was severely injured and couldn''t withstand high-intensity battles;


    Second, although he had dealt with the melee professionals who posed the greatest threat, he wasn''t confident enough to kill the "Gun King" Gage, who had the talent of "Sixth Sense," with the ck scythe.


    Moreover, he had already shed three times with the ck scythe, and Su''en couldn''t guarantee that the next bacsh wouldn''t be able to withstand the abominable undead.


    Now he had basically escaped from the pursuers, so there was no need to take the risk of ambushing them.


    Because he had been chased in a panic before, Su''en felt that he had already entered a dangerous area in the Dawn Ruins.


    He hadn''t run far when the sound of the pursuers gradually disappeared behind him, and his speed also slowed down.


    The mist in the air became thicker and thicker, and then he saw a low and dpidated city wall.


    Su''en suddenly realized that he had already entered the ck area of the "Central Ring" in the hunting map - the "Dawn City."


    The fog around him had reduced visibility to an extremely low level, so he didn''t dare to venture further or look back. He happened to see a building that looked like a bunker and rushed into it.


    .......


    After a while, the mist in the air became denser, almost to the point where one couldn''t see their own fingers.


    Su''en didn''t dare to leave the bunker.


    Among the hunters, there is a widely circted experience that the areas with dense fog are where high-level aberrant monsters are most active.


    Fortunately, it seemed that the pursuers didn''t follow him here.Su''en listened attentively for a while, but didn''t hear any pursuers. Instead, he heard strange noisesing from the thick fog, as if some kind of animal was gnawing on bones.


    Su''en breathed a sigh of relief.


    He carefully observed the hiding ce.


    The bunker was not big, about ten square meters in size.


    It looked like a fortress from wartime.


    The walls were unusually strong and thick, almost a meter thick. When he entered earlier, he noticed many irregr marks on the outer wall, as if they were left byrge distorted creatures.


    The entrance and venttion openings were also small, enough to block the distorted creatures from entering.


    The dust was thick, and everything in the bunker had decayed over time.


    Su''en didn''t see any excrement from the distorted monsters, which also relieved him.


    He felt that it was safe enough here and decided not to go out for the time being.


    He nned to hide until the mist dissipated and then assess the situation.


    He used a scent-eliminating potion to remove his own scent.


    He took out a bulletproof te and a mechanical exoskeleton, and made a simple and sturdy one-way door at the entrance before finally being able to rest.


    Unexpectedly, he found something good when he sat down and felt something ufortable on his buttocks. He dug through the dust and found a valuable ancient "Fire Longsword" that wasparable to famous swords on the market.


    In ruins, things that can be preserved over time are usually valuable. This weapon would be worth over a million if sold on the market.


    Unfortunately, besides some broken porcin, he didn''t find anything else valuable after searching.


    Su''en leaned against the wall of the bunker and gently pressed his chest wound.


    A sharp pain came, the feeling of fractured ribs.


    It was fortunate that he had spider spears as legs. Otherwise, a normal person would be unable to walk with such serious injuries and could only wait for death.


    However, the situation was improving.


    Even without taking any healing potions, Su''en clearly felt that the pain was subsiding.


    His injuries were rapidly healing, not worsening.


    The "X Serum" gave him a super high self-healing ability, and at this moment, it was ying a huge role. The super strong cell activity was rapidly repairing his heavily injured body, as if patching up holes.


    ...


    "Phew..."


    He let out a long breath.


    Su''en finally regained consciousness.


    His injuries healed automatically, without him needing to do anything.


    Now that he had a moment to rest, he began to examine his previous gains.


    The biggest gain was naturally the materials obtained from the "White Monastery".


    Su''en didn''t expect that this trip wouldpletely solve the problem of "Silk Thread".


    The guys from the Oliver family had stimted the witch into the second stage of the Lord state, which directly produced a very rare "Dark Gold Material".


    "The Head of the Weeping Witch"


    Exnation: Dark Gold Cursed Material; It is not just a head, but also aplex curse source with aplete structure and innate magic patterns; as long as there is enough energy, it can produce an unlimited amount of witch hair.


    Not only hair, but also the source of hair production was obtained in one go.


    With these hairs, Su''en felt like a true puppeteer.


    Of course, there was also the concentrated magic power of the Weeping Witch''s entire body, "Alice''s Tears". Su''en hadn''t thought of how to use this material yet, which was identified by the All-Knowing Eye as "very rare".


    There were also several storage rings and equipment obtained from killing people.


    He killed two first-stage control warlocks and a second-stage swordmaster, Bloom.


    The equipment and materials of the two warlocks were good. The one who controlled thorns dropped the materials needed to be a Silver professional, "Thorn Warlock". The slow light warlock''s abilities came from talent, and the equipment and materials were normal magic-based ones, but they were damaged...


    Although Bloom''s second-stage equipment and materials were ck iron, they were valuable. The agility-based ck iron equipment, "Wind Lizard''s Magic Skin", and the required equipment for advancement, "Dagger of the Wind Spirit".


    The bodyguard''s storage ring didn''t have anything special.


    Packing them up, they would probably sell for a good price.


    But what Su''en was most interested in was the decapitated alchemy puppet left by the "Magician" Lloyd and the storage ring.


    Now that he had time, he took out the alchemy puppet that looked exactly like a real person and carefully studied it.


    Upon appraisal, it was indeed an ancient relic from a thousand years ago.


    The puppet''s skin was simr to the synthetic skin Su''en had seen on No. 19 before, but there were obvious differences in both material and craftsmanship.


    The puppet was hollow, with a ce just right for a dwarf to control, and someplex controlponents inside.


    Su''en tried it out and felt that he could make a synthetic puppet in the future.


    ...


    Then, a pleasant surprise came!


    Among the pile of books in the storage ring, Su''en found arge number of exclusive books for puppeteers.


    Moreover, he found a very important-looking golden box. When he opened it, he found a blueprint for a second-stage golden alchemy equipment - "Thousand Threads: Roaring Lion''s Chaotic Song"!


    Looking at the description of the blueprint''s effect, it was exactly the same ability as the one Lloyd had disyed, where threads burst out from his body. When used, it was like the mane of a lion, wild and unruly...


    The blueprint for the golden alchemy equipment was almost considered a forbidden item by the top financial conglomerates in the inner city.


    Su''en felt that relying on his own luck, he might not be able to find a golden blueprint for puppeteers in his lifetime.


    "Now I''m really rich..."Looking at these spoils of war, Su''en suddenly felt that the near-death chase he had just experienced was worth it.


    He guessed that both the "Skull of the Weeping Witch" and these blueprints were probably advanced items prepared for Danze Oliver.


    Now, they were in his hands.


    Tsk tsk...


    Indeed, hunting down professionals of the same ss was the best way to find professional materials.


    If there was a better shortcut, it would be hunting down professionals of the same ss in the inner city.


    Moreover, there were some exclusive puppeteer books that couldn''t be bought on the market, such as "Puppet Control Techniques 1 and 2", "Three-Line Technique", "Silk Thread Control Techniques"...


    Su''en imed to be a "Trick Puppeteer", but in reality, he was a half-baked one, only knowing a bit about making trick puppets, andpletely ignorant of other professional skills.


    His professional level was even far inferior to his secondary profession, "Gunslinger".


    All puppet control was learned through his own exploration, without any instruction or soul fragments to peel off.


    But now it was different.


    With these books, he didn''t need to ze his own trail, these books were the smooth road...


    If he could fully digest the content of these puppeteer books, Su''en felt that his puppet control would advance several levels, and he would truly be considered a beginner.


    "It''s a pity that the gnome''s famous puppet secret technique ''Puppet Theater'' wasn''t in the storage ring..."


    Su''en muttered to himself.


    He thought that next time he met, he would definitely ask the puppet master.


    ......


    While counting his spoils, Su''en kept an eye on the outside.


    He thought the Olivers would catch up, but after waiting for an hour or two, they still hadn''t arrived.


    There wasn''t even a sound of a crow flying in the sky.


    He guessed it might have something to do with the thick fog outside.


    Instead of feeling relieved, he became more cautious.


    If the Olivers didn''t dare toe, it meant that there was definitely a great danger in the fog.


    Luckily, he had this small fortress.


    Su''en didn''t n to go out either.


    Then, as he waited, a small ident urred.


    Su''en saw crow feathers growing on his body...


    Looking at his panel, there was an additional "Curse TechniqueCrow Feather Parasite".


    Su''en frowned, guessing that his blood left behind had been cursed by the "Blood Crow" Langfero.


    He started to pluck the feathers.


    Without the "X Serum", he would probably die.


    But now... apart from being disgusting, this level of curse was of little use.


    So Su''en stayed in the fortress, the fog outside getting thicker. Then, as the fog reached its peak, he found that the dark energy in the air became violent...

 Chapter 149: Suddenly became handsome and compelling

    Chapter 149: Suddenly became handsome andpelling


    "The concentration of dark spiritual power is at least ten times stronger than before..."


    Su''en looked at the attribute panel, his expression somewhatplicated, neither feeling good nor feeling bad.


    No wonder those pursuers didn''t dare to chase after him.


    After the dense mist, the dark spiritual power gushed out like a spring, permeating everywhere. This was not something an ordinary person could bear, nor was it a high distortion concentration that could be filtered by a gas mask.


    The normal concentration of dark spiritual power was like the cold wind of winter, a cool breeze entering the body with each breath, slightly chilly. But the current concentration was like ice des, cutting the throat with each breath.


    However...


    Su''en knew that this value was "dangerous," but his body honestly felt a thread-likefort.


    Since the mist filled the air, he had already noticed the change in dark spiritual power and had been carefully observing the data on his body, fearing any idents.


    But he found that there were no signs of distortion at all.


    Even now, when the dark spiritual power had reached such a terrifying level, he still didn''t feel ufortable.


    On the contrary... with each breath, his own dark spiritual power value increased.


    His body was crazily absorbing the special energy in the air, and this energy was also transforming his body.


    Because there were no reference examples, Su''en could only judge based on his own feelings: as the data increased without any distortion, this should be a good thing.


    He knew that this abnormality in his body was definitely rted to the increase in dark spiritual power tolerance caused by the "X Serum."


    .......


    Not to mention that the mist outside had be so dense that it was impossible to see or walk normally.


    Since there were no signs of distortion, Su''en was not in a hurry to leave the bunker.


    And... it seemed like he couldn''t leave either.


    Although he couldn''t see, Su''en could hear many disturbing soundsing from all directions after the dense fog spread.


    Sounds like the heavy footsteps of a veryrge monster, thud, thud, thud...


    Sounds like the crunching of chewing with skin and bones, crack, crack, crack...


    Sounds like the miserable screams of some distorted monsters being bitten to death...


    As Su''en listened to these terrifying sounds bing more and more numerous, he sealed off all the venttion ducts, not daring to leak any breath.


    He knew that he seemed to have encountered a phenomenon simr to a "beast tide," arge-scale activity of distorted monsters...


    However, Su''en''s mentality was still good.


    Since he couldn''t leave, he would calmly recuperate here.


    He had enough food and water stored in his storage ring, and the bunker was sturdy enough, so he didn''t have to worry about safety for the time being.


    The mist in the ruins was flowing, so this abnormal activity should be temporary.


    Even if small monsters discovered him and rushed into the bunker, he believed that he could protect himself from the loathing undead and ck reapers.


    At least, in the current situation, it was much better than being chased and blocked by the Oliver family.


    Su''en prepared some food for himself and then sat cross-legged, meditating.


    This meditationsted for a night.


    Although there was no distinction between day and night in the ruins, it was obvious that the monsters were more active during the "nighttime."


    When dawn came, the mist showed no signs of dissipating.


    But Su''en felt pretty good.


    Over the course of the night, his body''s powerful healing ability had already recovered most of his injuries. Although there was still a slight tingling sensation when pressing on his chest, the recovery efficiency was already very satisfactory.


    And after meditating for a night, Su''en felt refreshed.


    On the data panel, the upper limit of his dark spiritual power visibly soared.


    After advancing to a professional, meditating for a night in Old Lingdun would usually increase his dark spiritual power value by 7 to 8 units. But in this Dawn City ruins, Su''en had skyrocketed by more than 100 units overnight!


    Moreover, there were no signs of distortion caused by the rapid absorption of dark spiritual power or any other negative effects.


    Although Su''en knew that the "X Serum" would enhance the body''s tolerance to dark spiritual power, he was still quite surprised by this effect.


    Last night, he meditated cautiously. If he absorbed without any scruples, the value might have increased several times more.


    At this rate of cultivation, in about a month, his dark spiritual power value would reach the limit his body could bear. That would be a value several times more exaggerated than the dark spiritual power requirement for ordinary professionals to advance to the second stage.


    From this perspective, this "mist tide" was not only harmless to him but also an excellent aid for cultivation.


    Su''en also spected that the "unrecognized creature" that extracted the serum might live in this highly concentrated dark spiritual power environment, and its bloodline was very suitable for survival in this environment. Su''en injected the serum and now obtained some of the peculiar characteristics of this bloodline...


    And because his dark spiritual power value had increased significantly, Su''en also discovered a good phenomenon, which was that the blue color of his skin was rapidly fading.


    Because of the All-Knowing Eye, he could urately discern the changes in his skin color data.


    Although there was almost no visible change to the naked eye after just one night, the data indicated that the rate of fading was several times faster than yesterday.


    The raging dark spiritual power surged in, catalyzing the absorption of the serum and greatly shortening the absorption process.


    Originally, it was estimated that it would take at least four to six months to digest the serum, but now it seemed unnecessary.


    .......


    The second day, the third day, the fourth day...


    The mist showed no signs of dissipating,


    And the monsters outside became more and more active.And so, Su''en passively stayed in this narrow bunker and didn''t go out.


    During this period, he encountered several distorted monsters passing by, including small groups of distorted monsters and several times terrifyingrge distorted monsters.


    Fortunately, the small distorted monsters couldn''t destroy the sturdy bunker and left after a few attempts.


    As for those giant monsters, although they discovered him, they didn''t pay any attention to him. It was probably like humans seeing a mouse in a small hole on the roadside, not interested enough to even plug the gap with their teeth.


    asionally, there would be one or tworge monsters that smelled something and curiously scratched with their ws. However, the bunker was strong enough, and they all safely passed by without incident.


    And so, without realizing it, a month passed.


    Su''en''s body also underwent earth-shattering changes.


    .......


    On this day, inside the bunker.


    Su''en was meditating.


    Since the gas mask was useless, he didn''t wear it anymore.


    However, that face was no longer the appearance of a blue-skinned bald weirdo from a month ago. His skin color returned to normal, and he grew a thick head of hair, even his eyebrows grew out.


    Without the dark punk-style smoky makeup, this angr face suddenly became handsome andpelling.


    This was not Su''en''s illusion, but the intuitive data on the attribute panel.


    "My charm value has increased to 12?"


    When Su''en discovered that the fixed value of charm had changed, he was also surprised.


    Then, in this month, as hepletely digested the "x serum," his charm value increased from 9 to the current 12.


    From his observation, this data would hardly change with the enhancement of strength. Unless it was someone like Sabina from the Steam Party he encountered before, who had the talent for charm, the normal value for a person would not exceed 10.


    The only exnation was that the serum not only made the body stronger but also had the special ability to optimize human appearance.


    He spected that perhaps the indescribable creature that extracted the "x serum" was naturally good-looking?


    Su''en didn''t pay much attention to it, as it wasn''t a bad thing.


    Moreover, the change in appearance suited him.


    At least now, he didn''t have to continue shaving his head and go for the dark punk style.


    The previous disguise was to conceal his appearance and avoid being recognized by bounty hunters.


    Now, the wanted poster with his bald image was posted everywhere, so it was inappropriate to maintain the bald punk image.


    And now that his hair had grown out, it was perfect.


    Moreover, his appearance almostpletely disregarded the wanted poster of the original owner. Because Su''en believed that no one would associate his current appearance with the original owner, "Fick Regadi."


    Not to mention the earth-shattering change in temperament, the 3 points of charm were disyed on his face, making it seem like he had changed his face.


    Moreover, even the body dimensions such as shoulder width, waist circumference, and hip circumference... werepletely different from a month ago.


    Afterpletely digesting the "x serum," Su''en''s strength skyrocketed, his bones became tougher, and all of it increased two to three times. However, his body''s muscle dimensions did not turn into a burly man but became more slender and symmetrical.


    But he felt that it was just right.


    Muscles with toorge dimensions would hinder flexibility for both a puppeteer and a gunman.


    And the most exaggerated thing was Su''en''s current dark spirit power!


    From the previous upper limit of 2214 points a month ago, it had now soared to 23332, nearly ten times higher.


    This was already an extremely exaggerated number.


    To advance to the second rank as an ordinary practitioner, a minimum of around 7000 points of dark spirit power was needed, which would be enough to sessfully fuse ck iron materials for advancement. Even some high-demand silver materials would only require around 10000 points. (Rank advancement condition: Materialpatibility + current rank dark spirit power reaching a certain value)


    But now, Su''en had reached an astonishing more than twice that amount.


    Even when he used the Hagrid Breathing Technique to meditate, he felt that there was still a small increase in space.


    Although Su''en didn''t know what was special about such arge amount of dark spirit power, he guessed that it had a direct rtionship with advancing to higher ranks. The more solid the foundation of dark spirit power at a low rank, the easier it would be to advance to higher ranks, and the higher the upper limit.


    Another immediately visible benefit was that he temporarily didn''tck mana much.


    Just by controlling the first-rank Eight-Armed Spider Spear, he could now maintain the state of exoskeleton for a long time.


    Using the Witch''s Hair to control puppets, the distance he could control them had also increased...


    .......


    This month passed, and the mist around gradually dissipated.


    Estimating that in a few more days, this wave of "mist tide" would probablye to an end.


    The food and fresh water prepared in the storage ring were almost consumed.


    The "x serum" had also been absorbed.


    Su''en felt that it was time to leave the ruins.


    After all, this ruin was not a good ce.


    Su''en thought that even if therge army of Oliver''s family that was hunting him continued to wait, they probably wouldn''t stay in the ruins for a month.


    Moreover, even if he appeared in front of those bounty hunters, most likely no one would recognize him with his handsome andpelling face as the "S-rank wanted criminal Su''en" with the previous smoky bald appearance.


    ......


    On this day.


    The mist had almost returned to normal levels, and there were no more sounds ofrge distorted monsters around the bunker.Su''en opened the venttion duct and carefully observed the scene. In the distance, he could see several two-headed, humanoid goat monsters leisurely feeding on the foggy walls of Old Lingdun - the "Fallen Goatmen".


    Eating grass?


    No, they were gnawing on the bones of their prey.


    "Crack"...


    "Crack"...


    The sound was enough to send chills down one''s spine.


    Su''en had been observing them for nearly two days now.


    There were about fifty-six of these upright goat monsters. They appeared docile, but in reality, they were ferocious. They were fast, capable of jumping and bounding, and their sharp teeth and jaws could easily crush stones.


    Especially the leader of the goat monsters, who was asrge as a bull, had strength not inferior to a second-tier melee professional. The group could easily killrge prey when they surrounded it. They were not to be underestimated.


    Su''en had a ck scythe in his hand, and his strength had surged, so he wasn''t afraid of these creatures.


    But he didn''t want to start a fight as soon as he left the bunker.


    After all, this was the central ring of Dawn City, and the mutated monsters in the vicinity were not just them.


    After observing for a while, the group of monsters showed no signs of leaving.


    Su''en figured he might have to wait another day.


    Once they finished eating the food they had caught yesterday, they would probably leave.


    ......


    After observing for a while,


    Su''en closed the venttion window and prepared some food for himself.


    He broke the ck bread into pieces, added some of his homemade "instant noodle seasoning packet", and chewed it down.


    However, this was just an asional act to satisfy his taste buds and fill his stomach.


    The main source of nutrition was still the direct injection of nutrient solution.


    Digesting the "X serum" to enhance his physical body over the past month required a lot of energy, and he relied on these nutrient solutions to get through the day.


    Su''en had a simple meal.


    Then he took out the puppetry books and started reading.


    During this time, he had carefully read through the puppetry books from his spoils of war, and had made up for hisck of puppet maniption skills.


    He also learned that there were so many tricks and shortcuts to puppet maniption...


    ying with puppets and being a professional puppeteer were twopletely different things.


    As he was reading, he looked at the golden blueprint of the "Thousand Threads - Lion''s Song" in the pile of books.


    He had been coveting this thing for a month now.


    He not only had the blueprint, but also the main material, the "Skull of the Weeping Witch", and even the refining materials were all found in his previous spoils of war.


    But Su''en, who had studied the blueprint no less than ten times, was still helpless.


    He was facing the same problem as when he got the blueprint for the "Eight-Armed Spider Spear".


    Although he had been learning and progressing during this time, and his level of refining equipment was not low,


    But this second-tier golden blueprint plus dark gold materials, without master-level skills, he didn''t dare to touch it.


    He really didn''t have the confidence, and he didn''t dare to waste the materials by trying recklessly.


    So he thought of "Mr. ck".


    Unfortunately... that mysterious person was probably in the ck market of Old Lingdun at the moment.


    Su''en didn''t dwell on the blueprint issue and continued to read the books attentively.


    But as he was reading, his ears suddenly perked up, and he eximed in surprise, "The fog has cleared, how could there be another ''big guy''?"


    Then, like an earthquake, the ground began to tremble.


    He was used to this situation. Every time arge monster passed by, there would be this kind of noise. The bunker was like a speaker lying on the ground, making the sound particrly clear.


    But... this time it sounded a bit different.


    "Is it a fight betweenrge monsters?"


    Su''en immediately noticed the "boom", "boom" of the urgent tremors, which didn''t sound like a monster walking, but like a fight?


    And it wasn''t the small noise of hunting, but the noise of a fierce battle between equals!


    Fights betweenrge monsters were very dangerous. These monsters could spit wind, spray fire, pour water... The ancient buildings in the city were so badly damaged because of these big monsters.


    Thinking of this, Su''en didn''t dare to take it lightly and opened the venttion window to look out.


    A huge mutated monster came into view.


    But what surprised Su''en more was the "opponent" fighting the monster!


    He originally thought it was two monsters fighting, but when he looked...


    The monster that was constantly wailing was actually being attacked by several humans?!


    Upon closer inspection, Su''en''s gaze froze, and he was filled with disbelief: "Is someone actually daring to take on such a high-level monster?"

 Chapter 150: Seals

    Chapter 150: Seals


    Su''en cautiously looked out through the venttion hole and immediately saw the gigantic humanoid monster that was over thirty meters tall.


    It looked like an ancient soldier, wearing a round-brimmed bronze helmet on its head. Its shoulders and legs were covered in the same bronze-colored metal armor, and its robe had long since decayed, revealing dark brown corpse-like skin...


    The most eye-catching thing was the hexagonal bronzemp it held in its hand.


    Themp had an ancient and simple design, with mysterious carvings on its body. The dark yellow ssmpshade had been smoked ck, and the flickering dim yellow light could be seen, forming a halo of nearly ten meters around the bronzemp...


    It was this faint halo that gave off an extremely terrifying feeling, as if being touched by the light would cause one to bepletely annihted.


    "A Dominator-level Aberration?"


    As Su''en looked at the monster, his pupils suddenly contracted.


    The All-Knowing Eye identified this monster as a Dominator-level Aberration, one level higher than a Lord-level!


    [Tomb Lantern Bearer of Dawn City]


    Exnation: A distorted monster formed from the resentment of ancient soldiers, a Dominator-level zombie species with superior strength, skilled in fire maniption, extremely dangerous;


    (Note: In the protagonist''s current knowledge, any entity above the third rank is considered ''superior rank'')


    This was the strongest Aberration Su''en had ever seen!


    The oppressive feeling it gave off was like that of a mountain, causing one''s soul to tremble.


    It was so powerful that Su''en felt that even the Lord-level Mourning Witch would be instantly annihted in front of it.


    Even with the ck Reaper in hand, Su''en felt that he had no chance of winning.


    Upon seeing it, his first thought was definitely to escape.


    Because, not only did he have a sealing item, but the bronzemp that the monster held in its hand was also one!


    [Furnace Lamp of Vogang]


    Quality: Legendary


    Description: Those who y with fire will eventually burn themselves;


    Curse Attribute: It can create extraordinary alchemical objects and possesses mes that can burn everything; using thismp can activate the ''Urken Lava Fire'' that can incinerate any item whose level ofw is lower than themp itself, but the mes are indiscriminate and will also burn the user;


    Exnation: A bronzemp imitating a divine artifact forged by ancient alchemists, it possesses extremely powerful sealing abilities; within themp is imprisoned a strand of ''Urken Lava Fire'', capable of forging high-quality alchemical objects; it can be used as an advanced material for fire-based alchemists;


    Su''en looked at this ancientmp, feeling even more shocked than when he first saw the ck Reaper.


    At least the damage from the ck Reaper was controble, and the curse bacsh could also be roughly predicted...


    But thismp was simply an indiscriminate attack.


    As Su''en looked at it, he could only see four words - mutual destruction.


    However, judging from the functions identified by the hexagonal bronzemp, it should mainly be used as an auxiliary sealing item for forging; or perhaps for battles for alchemists with extremely powerful fire control abilities?


    ......


    It was only when the All-Knowing Eye identified thisbination of a Dominator-level monster and a sealing item that Su''en realized that this thing was not something a human could contend with.


    So, he was surprised that someone dared to attract its attention.


    A hunter?


    Obviously not.


    No matter how powerful the hunting team was, even if there were several top-tier hunting teams with third-rank professionals present, Su''en believed that this monster could easily wipe them out.


    But in the misty shadows before him, three to five figures wearing ck cloaks were constantly provoking the monster.


    They seemed to have clear divisions ofbor, with some luring the monster out of the inner ring of the city wall, some interfering, and some taking action...


    In just a moment, the monster had already chased after those people and arrived near the city wall of the inner ring.


    At this moment, probably reaching the nned ambush location, one of the ck-robed figures took action!


    He suddenly formed hand seals with both hands at a rapid pace, creating a series ofplex hand seal patterns that even Su''en found dazzling. Suddenly, aplex triple imprint lit up under his feet, with a tail-biting snake on the inneryer, a pentagram on the middleyer, and a septagram on the outeryer...


    "Septagram Alchemy Formation?"


    Su''en looked at the brown alchemy formation under the man''s feet, and his gaze slightly narrowed.


    Under normal circumstances, forms below the third rank were pentagrams or hexagram formations; the septagram was only said to appear in some advanced alchemical knowledge.


    Now this guy made a move and used such a technique?


    After the ck-robed man''s robe fluttered without wind, and the septagram formation lit up under his feet, his aura also grew stronger and stronger.


    He had just been like an ant, but in an instant, his aura was already on par with that Dominator Aberration.


    Su''en looked at the pattern of the alchemy formation and guessed something: "Superior rank Earth-based form?"The alchemy array under the ck-robed figure''s feet rapidly converted energy, and the surrounding earth elements were visibly transformed into yellow-brown spiritual lights, quickly converging. In the blink of an eye, a magnified seven-pointed star alchemy array appeared under the feet of the "Graveyard Lantern Bearer of Dawn City". In an instant, the light shone brightly, and the alchemy array changed the solidification state of the earth elements, causing the once hard ground to suddenly be muddy.


    In another blink of an eye, it had turned into a dark swamp.


    The monster''s body was too bulky to avoid it, and its legs sank into the swamp in an instant, even bending at the knees.


    And it wasn''t over yet!


    After the ck-robed figure disyed the identified super-grade earth alchemy spell, "Art of the Great Swamp", his hands once again changed into the gestures of a sorcerer, and the brown seven-pointed star array under his feet suddenly became brighter and seamlessly transformed into anotherpletely different andplex gold spell.


    As the spell changed, the marshy swamp also rapidly solidified...


    ......


    In the distance, Su''en watched this amazing operation and couldn''t help but be amazed in his heart: "Aposite spell that converts earth elements into gold elements? Even third-tier sorcerers may not be able to master the seamless conversion between two different third-tier spells, but this guy directly performed the conversion between two ''super-grade spells''? How strong is he?"


    Seeing this, he didn''t know how to describe his own state of mind.


    Although Su''en had never seen a third-tier professional take action, he had obtained some information from various books and memories he had collected, so he had a rough idea.


    "Multiple element conversion" is one of the top casting techniques in the field of alchemists specializing in elemental magic.


    The more seamless the conversion, the stronger the understanding and control of elemental spells needed.


    A normal third-tier professional who can proficiently master the seamless conversion between two different third-tier elemental spells is already considered a top expert.


    But this cloaked figure in front of him, consecutively disying these two "super-grade spells", seemed to be very calm?


    With just a change in spell, the rich earth elements in the marsh pit suddenly transformed into gold elements. The brown mud turned into a golden solid in the blink of an eye, like golden metal.


    With this change, the giant soldier monster''s feet couldn''t move anymore and was immediately immobilized.


    .......


    "This spell''s understanding is simply incredible. There are actually such experts hidden in Old Lingdun City..."


    Su''en felt that he had underestimated the top professionals in Old Lingdun.


    Before, he thought that the third-tier professional like Chuck, the leader of the Cross Society, was already the top powerhouse in Old Lingdun.


    But now, at least this cloaked figure in front of him was stronger than Chuck.


    When he identified the information about the dominator-level aberrant monster earlier, Su''en thought these people were "overestimating themselves" and misjudged the monster''s rank.


    But now, looking at this cloaked figure using two super-grade control spells, he finally understood that these people were not misjudging, but rather came prepared, seemingly confident in taking down this monster and the sealed item in its hands!


    However, even though its feet were fixed in ce by metal, the giant soldier dominator still had not lost its fighting power.


    Its hand holding thentern did not move, but its other hand, wielding a rusty greatsword, swung towards the cloaked figure casting the spell.


    In the face of absolute strength, any technique seemed pale and powerless.


    When this sword fell, Su''en felt that it could easily split a ten-story building in half.


    Moreover, it was not just a pure physical attack. The de of the greatsword was visibly covered with ayer of raging wind elemental sword qi.


    Under the swing of the over twenty-meter-long greatsword, it didn''t seem fast, but it was actually as fast as the wind, and there was no way to avoid it.


    Therge area of wind elemental sword qi covered the cloaked figure, pressing on his robe and rendering him immobile.


    Even before this sword fell on his head, the ground around him had already been crushedyer byyer by the terrifying sword qi, extremely horrifying.


    Even the underground bunker where Su''en was hiding hundreds of meters away seemed like it was about to copse, with dense cracks appearing overhead and sand and stones falling like rain.


    Su''en watched with a twitching eyelid. The bunker, which had remained intact despite being visited by the aberrant monster countless times, was actually about to be crushed by a strand of sword qi?


    Just how terrifying was this sword?


    Before he could hesitate whether to run out now, Su''en suddenly saw another ck-robed figure holding a short knife in his hand fearlessly meet the swing of the giant sword.


    At almost the same time, the gestures of the cloaked figure casting the spell changed again, and the golden seven-pointed star array under his feet turned into a blue wind elemental array!


    Su''en''s gaze burned: "Again? Conversion between three elements?"


    With the wind elemental alchemy array, it seemed that it was not meant to forcefully block the attack, but rather to channel and drain it, directly guiding the devastating straight sword qi on the giant sword into a swirling tornado.


    As the sword qi turned into a tornado, the ground crackedyer byyer as if plowed by an iron plow.


    But the two people at the core of the alchemy array werepletely unaffected!"ng!"


    The sharp sound of metal collision echoed through the ruins.


    The ck-robed figure holding a short knife disyed astonishing strength, using his slender body to firmly block the consecutive strikes of the giant''s sword.


    At the moment of contact between the de and the sword, a shockwave erupted from the center, forming a visible wave of air that blew up sand and stones.


    Even inside the bunker hundreds of meters away, Su''en was destabilized by the shockwave that poured in through the venttion shaft. He eximed in awe, "So this is a top-tier expert..."


    This attack made him feel that a third-tier expert had arrived, capable of inflicting heavy damage even if not killed. However, it was easily resolved by the cooperation of the two cloaked figures.


    ......


    "He used advanced wind elemental control again. This sorcerer must be proficient in at least three types of spells..."


    Su''en watched, his eyes trembling, unable to find words to describe this ck-robed sorcerer.


    The textbook-like maneuvers, whether it was the sorcerer''s seal or the skill of casting and condensing elements, were wless.


    Su''en found it hard to imagine what kind of identity this ck-robed person had that allowed him to be proficient in at least three types of spells.


    He even suspected that this guy might be like him, awakened with some kind of talent to harvest the abilities of others.


    Otherwise, how could it be so exaggerated?


    In normal circumstances, alchemists specializing in elemental magic would only focus on one type of element.


    After all, human energy is limited, and only by specializing can one be stronger and venture into higher realms.


    Therefore, most of the famous second-tier experts in Old Lingdun City were sorcerers specializing in a certain element, such as the mainstream earth, wind, water, and fire...


    There were very few who specialized in two elements.


    Because specializing in more than one element required sorcerers to invest double the time and energy of others.


    But if it was more than two types, it was usually called a "useless all-element sorcerer" unless they were an exceptional genius.


    And to cast advanced spells, it meant that the sorcerer must be "proficient" in that particr type of spell.


    ......


    However, Su''en already found it incredible that this cloaked figure was proficient in three types of advanced spells.


    But the reality proved that it wasn''t over yet.


    Now, the seven-pointed star formation under the cloaked sorcerer''s feet lit up again.


    The light changed from blue, representing the wind element, to green, representing the wood element.


    Although this transformation had a few seconds of pause, it seemed a bit difficult...


    But four consecutive elemental transformations were already at an "unimaginable" level.


    Watching one advanced spell after another, Su''en remained calm and muttered, "He has transformed four elements. How many types of elemental spells is this guy proficient in..."


    Then, he watched as the cloaked figure threw a green bean into the alchemy array.


    A green light shed in the alchemy array, and a green vine suddenly sprouted from the ground, growing rapidly in the wind. The power of the raging wood element caused the vine to swell rapidly. From a small sapling, it quickly grew thicker, from the thickness of an arm to the thickness of a water barrel, and then to the thickness of several people hugging it...


    Then the main trunk of the vine began to branch out, spreading and thickening, and then branching out and thickening again...


    In the blink of an eye, it swelled a thousand times, and the vine turned into a lush and towering giant vine.


    During the growth of the vine, it climbed up the giant''s limbs like a coiled snake, tightly entwining and restraining the giant soldier.


    The monster tried to struggle, but the vine became thicker and tighter.


    In just a moment, Su''en identified four advanced alchemical spells: [Earth Element: Great Marsh Art], [Metal Element: Transmutation], [Wind Element: Wind Tornado Art], and [Wood Element: Secret Art: Heavenly Vine]...


    However, once the monster was under control, it was naturally killed.


    The monster probably intended to unleash the "mes of the Void" with the hexagonal ancientmp in its hand, but before the mes could burst out of themp, a pale blue thirty-six-faced seal barrier suddenly appeared on thentern.


    Then, with a sh of sword light, a smooth cut appeared on the arm holding themp.


    The monster''s forearm was severed and fell to the ground.


    With the ancientmp taken away, the monster posed no threat.


    What followed was an unsurprising kill...


    ........


    Su''en counted, there were a total of five ck-clothed individuals.


    Only three of them took action.


    After witnessing the ferocity of the ck-robed sorcerer''s methods, he knew that this battle was already decided.


    They hade prepared, familiar with everything about this monster, its attack methods, and the seals...


    Their tactical n was wless.


    Before it could unleash its ultimate move, the giant soldier''s body had already died in the entanglement of the vine.


    However, watching the spectacle had befortable.


    Su''en also knew that those people had noticed him.


    Experts of this level, being observed for so long, would naturally not fail to notice.


    However, Su''en remained calm.


    Because he had guessed the identity of these cloaked individuals.


    He could imagine that only two forces in Old Lingdun could assemble such a luxurious hunting lineup.Either it was the ck Tower,


    Or that mysterious "third party force".


    Clearly, these people were not from the ck Tower.


    Firstly, those from the ck Tower had no need to hide...


    Secondly, among the five people, Su''en recognized two of them.


    Previously, he had a strong sense of familiarity with the ck-robed sorcerer who could cast high-level magic with a wave of his hand. This "omniscient and omnipotent" feeling immediately reminded him of someone he knew - Mr. ck.


    And the one who could physically withstand the giant sword, her body didn''t seem normal at all, with "hiss" "hiss" mechanical propulsion jet sounds apanying her movements. If he wasn''t mistaken, she was the super mechanical warrior - Number Neen.


    Su''en watched them appear before his eyes, his expression quiteplex.


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 Chapter 151: Commission

    Chapter 151: Commission


    "At least a quadruple-elemental mage, Mr. Hei is indeed incredibly strong..."


    Su''en looked at the ck-robed man who had just finished casting his spell and now appeared no different from an ordinary person. He sighed with mixed emotions.


    Although Su''en had guessed it the first time they met, he still found it unbelievable that this former vice dean of the ck Tower Academy was so powerful.


    But on second thought, being shocked was not the main issue.


    Su''en knew that he had been discovered and felt that he should now think about how to act so as not to be mistaken for a petty thief by these big shots who came to the ruins to trade and be killed on the spot.


    And now that the battle with the dominant Graveyard Lantern Holder was over, the ck-robed men were free. One of the two who hadn''t made a move seemed to have noticed something and turned his head to look at the dungeon.


    Their gazes met at the venttion opening.


    Su''en couldn''t see the face hidden by the cloak, but in that moment of eye contact, he vaguely felt a hint of a smirk in the cloak person''s eyes.


    It was the kind of yful smile a cat would have when it found a mouse.


    But fortunately, it wasn''t a "killing intent".


    And in that instant of eye contact, the cloak person suddenly raised his arm under the cloak and made a throwing motion like a flying card.


    Before Su''en could react, the golden card flew out of his hand, spinning through the air and urately shot into the venttion opening like a bullet.


    "ng~"


    A sharp sound.


    The card embedded itself in the wall and then exploded into a burst of white smoke.


    Before the smoke had cleared, an incredible scene urred.


    The cloak person who had thrown the card from hundreds of meters away suddenly appeared in the dungeon.


    Su''en stared at this teleporting figure and made no suspicious movements. Without waiting for the other person to do anything, he decisively spoke, "I am Mr. Hei''s friend."


    .......


    As it turned out, people naturally grouped together.


    Mr. Hei himself was a true gentleman, and the people in his organization were not bloodthirsty.


    After Su''en mentioned Mr. Hei''s name, the cloak person with the card ability made a soft sound of surprise and then nced at him. But he didn''t say much, and his figure immediately turned into a burst of white smoke and returned to hundreds of meters away.


    He came suddenly and left suddenly.


    Then that person probably said something, and the five cloak people all turned their gaze towards the dungeon.


    But it was just a nce, and they weren''t interested.


    They were busy dealing with the strange soldier corpses and the very dangerous hexagonal coppermp. They didn''t seem to have time to pay attention to this "lost hunter" who appeared here for no reason.


    Su''en felt that there was no point in continuing to hide, so he opened the self-made mechanical door and finally walked out of the dungeon for the first time in a month.


    At this time, the ck-robed man who had been casting his spell put down what he was doing and walked towards him.


    As he walked, he lifted the cloak covering his head, revealing a gentle middle-aged face. He was naturally the mysterious Mr. Hei.


    Looking at Su''en with his long hair, Mr. Hei''s gaze showed a hint of confusion, probably not recognizing him as anyone he knew.


    But he seemed to have noticed something and looked at the position behind Su''en, revealing a sudden realization.


    That was exactly where the invisible undead stood.


    He didn''t miss the subtle movement.


    An invisible object?


    It was no secret who had the "Oz Ice Man''s Shroud" now.


    He instantly recognized who this person iming to be his "friend" was.


    Mr. Hei smiled and took the initiative to greet him, "Su''en, long time no see."


    Su''en also greeted him and nodded, "Mr. Hei, long time no see."


    ......


    Mr. Hei always gave people a very approachable feeling.


    Before Su''en could speak, he jokingly said, "I''ve been hearing a lot about youtely. You''ve caused quite a stir in Old Lingdun and the Dawn Camp."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Now not only the authorities, but also the ck market, the Oliver family, the Crow Gang, and the Steam Party have all added a hefty bounty for you, waiting to im your head..."


    Su''en chuckled.


    He wasn''t surprised to hear this news.


    He had seized the opportunity of the Danze Junior and killed several second-tier professionals, so it was only natural to be wanted.


    As Mr. Hei spoke, he nced at Su''en with his long hair again and teased, "But now it seems that Su''en doesn''t need to worry about the wanted order anymore."Su''en shrugged and humbly said, "I apologize for any inconvenience."


    After the pleasantries, Mr. Hei got to the point and asked, "By the way, how did you end up here? This is the central area of Dawn City, and there are many powerful aberrant creatures and anomalies nearby, especially since the ''Mist Tide'' just ended..."


    The implication was clear:rge hunting teams led by top-tier professionals were only cautiously active in the central area now, so how could a first-tier professional like him end up here?


    And at this particr time.


    "It''s a long story. I was being chased before..."


    Su''en briefly mentioned the process of being hunted by the Oliver family.


    He then pointed helplessly to the bunker behind him and said, "Then, I hid in that bunker for a month."


    "You''ve been here for a month?"


    Mr. Hei''s calm eyes finally showed a hint of surprise and curiosity.


    It wasn''t something that could be easily survived just by hiding.


    The dangers were everywhere during the "Mist Tide," not to mention the various monsters from the abyss. The violent dark spiritual power alone was something that normal people couldn''t bear.


    A flicker of doubt shed in Mr. Hei''s eyes, as if he had thought of something but didn''t say it out loud. However, a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    "Yeah... that''s about it."


    Su''en didn''t think that the "X Serum" was a secret that couldn''t be mentioned. Mr. Hei probably knew about it too, so there was no harm in saying it.


    But since he didn''t ask, Su''en didn''t take the initiative to mention it either.


    ...


    While the two were talking, the other four ck-robed figures had already cleaned up the bizarre corpse of the tyrant and tidied up the battlefield.


    They didn''t even say a word to each other, just exchanged nces for a moment before leaving separately.


    It was as if they were a group of frencers who disbanded on the spot afterpleting a mission.


    Three of them left, but one stayed behind. It was Number 19.


    Number 19 was a mechanical warrior with many advanced mechanical modifications, such as iris recognition, voice recognition, and skeletal contour recognition. She had collected Su''en''s data before and now recognized him with just a nce.


    She walked over, nodded as a greeting, and that was considered a friendly gesture.


    Su''en didn''t mind. It was already a good treatment to receive a greeting from the cold mechanical warrior.


    Since the battlefield had been dealt with, it was natural not to stay for long.


    Mr. Hei called Su''en and said, "Themotion caused by hunting the anomalies just now might attract some troublesome guys. Let''s go, we''ll talk as we walk."


    "Okay."


    Mr. Hei didn''t inquire about Su''en''s secrets, and Su''en tacitly didn''t ask why they were here or why they were hunting the bizarre tyrant just now.


    He also didn''t attempt to inquire about the secrets of this mysterious "third-party organization."


    Of course, without asking, both sides had already guessed some of it.


    ...


    The three of them walked eastward, towards the direction of the ruins.


    With Mr. Hei and Number 19 as super bodyguards, Su''en no longer needed to be as cautious as when he was alone before.


    He had been thinking that now that he had second-tier blueprints and materials, he needed a master cksmith. It was a coincidence that he met Mr. Hei.


    Just as he was about to ask for help, Mr. Hei seemed to have figured something out and spoke first, "When I first met you, Su''en, you were still a quasi-professional running around for first-tier equipment. I didn''t expect that in just a few months, you would advance to the second tier."


    Hearing this, Su''en asked in surprise, "Mr. Hei, did you figure out that I was about to advance?"


    "Yes."


    Mr. Hei naturally read the hidden meaning behind Su''en''s words.


    It wasn''t that he figured it out, but how did he figure it out?


    He directly exined, "The amount of dark spiritual power you breathe out is extraordinary. This level is not something that any first-tier professional can achieve. In fact, many second-tier professionals can''t reach this level."


    "I see..."


    Su''en felt somewhat incredulous and thought that it might be due to some special perception ability.


    Considering that Mr. Hei could casually cast spells beyond his tier, he no longer found it strange. He followed the topic and made his request, "Um... Mr. Hei, I have a favor to ask. I need your help."


    "Are you preparing to forge second-tier equipment?"


    Mr. Hei smiled.


    "Yes."


    Su''en was already used to Mr. Hei''s irvoyant actions and nodded.


    While taking out the blueprints, he said, "I happened to find suitable blueprints and materials for myself, but ordinary cksmiths can''t handle this kind of equipment, so I have to trouble you..."Mr. Hei nced at the blueprint that Su''en handed over and said with a strange expression, "Isn''t this the famous costume of the ''Magician'' Lloyd? Did you kill that guy?"


    The blueprint held by the tycoon would naturally not be sold, the only exnation was that it was obtained through murder and robbery.


    "No."


    Su''en shook his head and added, "I destroyed his alchemical puppet and cut off his two legs. That''s how I managed to get the blueprint."


    Mr. Hei obviously didn''t know this information, so when he heard Su''en''s words, he showed a curious expression.


    Then he asked Su''en, "Did you find suitable materials? Lloyd''s fame isrgely rted to the ''Tismox Iron Wireworm'' he found. Only special silk threads can unleash the full power of this costume..."


    "Yes."


    Su''en nodded and took out a silver-haired head.


    Mr. Hei guessed that Su''en had prepared the materials, but when he saw him suddenly take out a human head, this knowledgeable schr''s gaze also slightly faltered.


    After taking a closer look, he recognized what it was and asked with a questioning tone, "The ''Head of the Mourning Witch''? And... it''s the second stage ''Infinite Silk''?"


    "Yes."


    Su''en nodded and secretly admired Mr. Hei''s extensive knowledge, as he was able to recognize the origin of the material at a nce.


    If an ordinary appraiser saw this, probably not many would recognize it.


    Mr. Hei asked, "This is an extremely rare material, how did you get it?"


    Su''en looked at Mr. Hei''s curiosity about the origin of this head and exined further, "Before, I followed a team to explore ruins, and coincidentally ran into Oliver''s family''s expedition. Then I got involved in the cursed space... So, that''s how things happened."


    A month ago, in the fierce battle on Zhonglou Street, seven second-tier professionals were chasing after a first-tier professional. Two were killed, two had their legs broken, and Oliver''s family probably didn''t have the face to talk about this achievement.


    There was no need to exin too much, Mr. Hei, being the person he was, naturally guessed the cause and effect of the matter.


    Listening to this "bizarre" story, Mr. Hei couldn''t help but show a very strange expression. "Hehe... I see why Oliver''s family is so desperate to hunt you down, it turns out to be like this."


    Even Number Neen, who had been silent all along, looked at Su''en with a strange look when he heard about that fierce battle: You, a first-tier professional, killed arge-scale expedition team?


    Mr. Hei didn''t ask any further and put away the materials, saying, "Now that I have obtained the ''Furnace Lamp of Vogelgan'', the production of the costume will be quick. At most three to five days, you will have the finished product."


    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "By the way, have you found suitable advanced materials?"


    "No."


    Su''en shook his head and coincidentally asked, "I want to find advanced materials rted to ''Spatial Abilities'', but it doesn''t seem easy to find."


    "Hmm, spatial abilities do fit."


    Mr. Hei nodded when he heard this, but also had a regretful expression, "I don''t have any clues about such materials either. However, Dawn City will soon experience a wave of expeditions, and many ancient relics will appear. Although advanced spatial materials are scarce, it doesn''t mean they don''t exist. The Adventurer''s Guild is a good ce for gathering information, you can try your luck there, and I can also keep an eye out for you..."


    "Okay."


    Su''en nodded, he had the same idea.


    The informationmission has been hanging in the Adventurer''s Guild for a month, and he didn''t know if anyone had heard the news.


    "As for the costume, I''ll leave it to you."


    He didn''t forget the rules of themission and asked, "So, may I ask what the fee is?"


    Last time, it was a favor, but not this time.


    A master-level craftsman''s services were not cheap.


    Mr. Hei smiled, and it seemed that he had originally not nned to charge a fee.


    But suddenly, he remembered something and changed his words, "However, there is actually something you can help me with."


    Help?


    Su''en was puzzled.


    A master of this level, is there something he needs help with?


    But he still said, "Please tell me."


    Mr. Hei said, "You are going to the expedition camp now, right?"


    "Yes."


    Mr. Hei exchanged a nce with Number Neen beside him, seemingly asking her something, and received her approval.


    Only then did he say, "If possible, I hope you can help bring Miss Number Neen into the camp."


    "???"Mr. ck exined, "As you know, she used to be a super mechanical warrior, excellent inbat, butcking in life skills. I think she would cause less trouble if she were with you. Of course, just infiltrate the camp."


    Number Neen, who was standing by, seemedpletely unbothered by Mr. ck''s assessment of her.


    As a war machine designed specifically for ughter, she indeedcked many of the emotions and smoothness of a normal human being.


    Although she didn''t trust others, having an acquaintance didn''t seem too bad.


    ......


    Infiltrate the camp?


    Just like that?


    Su''en felt that this mission" was a spur-of-the-moment idea from Mr. ck.


    Upon hearing about infiltrating the camp, his first reaction was: This woman is going to stir up trouble again!


    No, it should be said that this time it was their "third-party organization" that was up to something.


    However, Su''en had no curiosity about it.


    If Mr. ck would tell him, he would naturally tell him; if he didn''t, it meant that this matter was definitely the kind of thing that would cause trouble if known.


    He thought about it and it didn''t seem difficult to do, so he agreed: "Okay!"


    If it was just about sneaking someone into the camp, thismission was simply D-level difficulty.


    Before, Su''en was thinking that his identity as "Johnny" had been exposed, and his hateful zombie body was too conspicuous, whether he was invisible or not, he couldn''t bring it into the camp anymore.


    The Oliver family would definitely pay special attention torge weapons like the ck scythe that couldn''t be stored in a storage ring, even if it was disguised, it would be noticed.


    If he didn''t bring the zombie and the scythe, he wasn''t too confident that he could get out unscathed in case something happened.


    Now that he had Number Neen, a superpower, with him, it was just right.


    The two wanted criminals could look out for each other.


    Not to mention... the mysterious organization behind her.


    Apart from the two in front of him, the three who had left before, this was a force that could definitely take down the camp.


    Which also meant that they had five top experts near the ruins, in case something irresistible happened, these experts would most likely take action.

 Chapter 152: Another big move

    Chapter 152: Another big move


    Mr. Hei probably also felt that his mission" was a bit vague.


    Although Su''en didn''t ask, he exined a bit more: "You should know by now that I have formed a loose organization with some like-minded friends. You should also have guessed the purpose of its existence. But because of this, the identities of some of our members are sensitive and it is not convenient to expose them too early. Otherwise, it will alert the higher-ups of the ck Tower... So, unless absolutely necessary, Miss Neen willplete this mission independently."


    "Mm."


    Su''en nodded as he listened, understanding his meaning.


    Mr. Hei and the forces behind him must have a way to arrange for Neen to enter the city.


    But this time, they were nning to make a big move.


    Once exposed, they would definitely be traced back to the source.


    The members of the Umbre Organization were not ordinary people. The intelligence organization that imed to be able to infiltrate anywhere would definitely investigate the channel through which Neen entered the camp by following the slightest clue.


    Even if the arrangement was well done, there would definitely be clues left behind, which would lead to a lot of trouble.


    The more people involved, the more exposed they would be.


    On the contrary, it wouldn''t be a big problem to follow Su''en inside.


    After all, although Su''en was now an S-ss wanted criminal, besides the information from the two incidents, there was almost nothing else!


    Even within the Cross Society, they couldn''t find any information.


    .......


    With two top experts escorting them, Su''en didn''t need to worry about safety at all.


    The three of them moved quickly and soon arrived at the edge of the ruins city area.


    They had already seen frequent appearances of hunters here, so Mr. Hei didn''t want to show himself in front of people and took his leave.


    Only Su''en and Neen were left.


    The two of them avoided the crowd and didn''t rush to the camp. Instead, they chose a high ground in the distance to observe.


    Just a month of absence, Su''en found that the Dawn Camp hadpletely changed.


    The city walls had been built to nearly thirty meters high, and the camp area had doubled in size.


    A month ago, the highest building in the camp was only two stories high, but now there were already five or six-story steel structures. The buildings were crowded and chaotic, but they already had the atmosphere of a war town.


    The dense steam pipelines were crisscrossed, emitting white smoke. Various mechanical artillery positions turned the city walls into a hedgehog. There were even city defense patrol teams wearing "Frost Giant Battle Armor" on the walls!


    Not only did the number of buildings increase, but the number of hunters and merchant caravansing and going was several times that of a month ago.


    Looking out, the line of hunters queuing at the city gate to enter the city had already stretched for nearly a kilometer.


    Neen carefully observed the heavily guarded camp, her gaze bing serious, as if she was also reminding Su''en: "The ''Phoenix Dynamic Micro-Touch Warning System''monly used in the inner cityboratory is installed on the city walls. If someone climbs up, it will immediately trigger an rm."


    She thought for a moment and continued, "The range of instation for those highly sensitiveponents will be extensive and not easy to detect. Even if you directly jump over, there is a high probability of triggering it."


    Listening to her serious analysis of the possibility of climbing over the wall, Su''en''s tone became strange as he said, "You don''t want to climb over, do you?"


    "How else are we going to get in?"


    Neen thought Su''en was asking her seriously and replied with a puzzled tone.


    Speaking of which, she pointed to the queue of people entering the city and said, "Our wanted posters are posted at the city gate. Of course, they might not notice you like this. But if I want to go over, even if I disguise myself, there is a high probability of being discovered."


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t know what to say as he listened to her serious tone and attitude.


    Indeed, Mr. Hei was right. This super mechanical warrior Miss Neencked some "worldly sophistication".


    He didn''t say much and asked a question.


    "Do you have a wig and disguised clothes with you?"


    "Yes."


    "That''s good."


    Su''en felt that he probably couldn''t exin his n clearly to Neen, so he directly said, "Let''s go, let''s change our clothes and enter the city!"


    ......


    Although Neen was still puzzled, she followed Su''en to a secluded ce and changed her clothes.


    Su''en took off his hunter outfit of a coat and leather pants and put on a luxurious white suit with exquisite fabric. He wore a top hat on his head. Coupled with his handsome and imposing noble appearance, he looked like a rich young master, extremely good-looking.


    After changing his clothes, Su''en looked at Neen who was about to change into a pair of leather boots and a short skirt, frowned, and shook his head. "No, not this one, that one."


    As he said that, he pointed to a set of whitece ruffled skirt with leg-of-mutton sleeves, a steel-framed skirt with a noble appearance.


    Neen looked puzzled. "With this kind of skirt, wouldn''t it be inconvenient forbat if it''s discovered?"


    "No need forbat..."


    Su''en didn''t know how to exin, so he just said the effect he wanted, "We will be a newlywed coupleter, and you will be a youngdy from a fallen noble family. That court dress is more suitable for your identity. The wide-brimmed hat and wig can cover your face, and the puffy skirt can conceal your figure..."


    Not only was her face well-known to bounty hunters, her perfectly proportioned figure was also highly recognizable.


    If she went out wearing those tight-fittingbat suits, even with her face covered, bounty hunters would still be able to recognize her!


    So, these seemingly bulky noble dresses were the most suitable.


    "..."


    Neen listened to Su''en''s words, her beautiful face slightly wrinkled.


    Even if she felt that there were many ws in this n, she didn''t say much and chose to execute it.Probably because she is a cyborg, she doesn''t have many worldly thoughts. And since time is of the essence, she didn''t avoid Su''en and directly took off her previous clothes, intending to change into the dress. Since the off-shoulder low-cut dress couldn''t be worn with a sports vest, she took that off as well, exposing her delicate and fair synthetic skin to the air.


    Since the other party didn''t mind, Su''en also openly enjoyed the view.


    It must be said that Number 19''s figure was impable.


    Originally, this scene would probably be very ambiguous to others.


    But for these two, it was as indifferent as ever.


    After a short while, they changed their clothes.


    Number 19 took a few steps and felt that the dress was restricting her movement. She furrowed her brows slightly and asked, "Is this okay?"


    Su''en looked her up and down and was very satisfied. "Not bad, this looks good."


    Apart from her sharp gaze, her appearance was no different from that of a normal rich youngdy.


    This court petticoat, beloved by nobledies, was designed to intentionallypress the waist and abdomen, making the proportions of the chest and hips "squeeze" to an exaggerated degree.


    Number 19 already had a curvaceous figure, and wearing this dress made her figure look less natural, as if it was "squeezed out."


    Coincidentally, it also perfectly concealed her impressive figure.


    Number 19 didn''t say much and turned to look at Su''en. "Is your forged identification ready?"


    "Yes."


    Forgery of identification was an important way for the underworld to make money.


    Although Su''en had never used this ability before, he was proficient in this skill.


    There were ready-made identification materials among the spoils of war, and he just needed to modify some name details.


    He waved his hand and said, "Let''s go, let''s enter the city."


    .......


    "Hold me closer, more intimately. Yes, press your face against my neck..."


    "Even if someone is looking at you, don''t respond, be arrogant..."


    "..."


    Su''en and the disguised Number 19 walked hand in hand, heading directly to the camp.


    They didn''t go through the main gate but instead headed towards the side gate dedicated to the Chamber of Commerce. There were several hundred people from various merchant caravans and thousands of steam dogs carrying goods, all queuing up for inspection.


    The armed city guards meticulously inspected eachrge cargo.


    It was impossible for anyone to hide, whether they were spies or members of the ck Sickle.


    Because people wereing and going, no one paid attention to the two extra people in the Chamber of Commerce pile.


    Su''en walked past while holding Number 19''s slender waist and pointed and gestured among the piles of goods for a while. Then, without queuing, they directly cut in line and went to the city gate.


    He naturally handed over his identification documents and greeted the chubby duty captain with familiarity. "Hey, Captain Mom, long time no see."


    As he spoke, heined, "My caravan is still behind, but I don''t want to waste time waiting here. Let theme in by themselvester..."


    "???"


    The duty captain, Captain Mom, was stunned. Obviously, he was racking his brains trying to remember who this "acquaintance" who greeted him was.


    But before he could speak, a heavy bag of money was already stuffed into his hand, along with the identification documents that shed before his eyes.


    Su''en didn''t give him a chance to ask questions at all. He threw the documents onto the pile of documents waiting to be inspected and directly led Number 19 to cut in line and enter the city gate. He even turned back and said warmly, "Captain Mom, let me treat you to a drink next time."


    The subordinates looked at Su''en and their captain, thinking that they seemed familiar, so they didn''t dare to stop them.


    And so, this group of people let the two of them enter the city in a daze.


    .......


    Number 19 intimately held onto Su''en''s arm, as if they were a newlywed couple deeply in love.


    She was a cyborg, and although she didn''t have great acting skills, she didn''t show any signs of nervousness either, so no one could detect any ws.


    However, she didn''t expect that they would be able to enter the city so easily like this.


    They had been walking for a long time, but no one had caught up to them.


    Number 19 found it unbelievable.


    She was very curious and asked in a low voice, "Do you know that city guard?"


    Did they enter the city like this because they knew the city guard?


    But that couldn''t be right...


    He was also a wanted criminal, so the city guard couldn''t possibly let him in.


    Su''en shrugged casually. "No, I don''t know him."


    Number 19 was puzzled. "Then how do you know his name?"


    Su''en exined simply, "I can read lips. When I was observing from the hignds earlier, I noticed that his subordinates called him by that name."


    Number 19 listened carefully, pondering over it. There was still a hint of confusion in her eyes as she asked, "But... that guy actually let us in just because you called him by his name?"


    Su''en smiled meaningfully. "Didn''t you see that he even took my money?"


    Number 19 still couldn''t understand. "Money? Those guys would risk their lives to let unidentified people into the city for a little money? Are they that desperate?!"


    She thought for a moment and realized another "w." She asked, "I also looked at the identification documents you forged. Although I couldn''t tell if they were real or fake without careful examination, we don''t have a merchant caravan at all. If they find out during the inspection, won''t they immediately suspect us?"


    "Suspect? Of course, they would."


    Su''en''s tone was very certain as he continued, "That fat captain extorts money from every small merchant caravan. This is definitely not legitimate ie. If it bes a big deal, it won''t be good for him."


    He paused and added, "And if they really start to suspect, they might not recognize me, but they might suspect you. If they had guessed your identity, they would be even more cautious."


    "???"


    Number 19 really couldn''t understand.Did they think that by guessing his identity as an "SS fugitive", they would avoid causing trouble?


    Su''en found it a bit tedious to exin, so he simply retorted, "But what would happen if a guard post in the inner city let a special fugitive in, ording to the city defense team''s regtions?"


    Number Neen replied with certainty, "The whole team would be executed by firing squad!"


    "Well, there you have it."


    Su''en shrugged, "We''re already in. The fact of their dereliction of duty is established. Even if they realize itter ande after us, it would inevitably lead to a major battle with immeasurable losses. Whether they catch us or not, they can''t escape the me. On the other hand, if they keep quiet, who would know that they let the fugitive in during their shift? If they confess, they''ll be held ountable; if they keep it a secret, they can avoid responsibility. What do you think a normal person would choose?"


    The city guard''s regtions were indeed strict, but human nature could be exploited.


    This super mechanical warriordy had plenty ofbat experience, but shecked some experience outside of the rules.


    "But what if they had stopped us just now and questioned us..."


    "Although I''m sure there was no ''what if''. Even if there was, our credentials would withstand scrutiny. The ''Golden Camel Commerce Guild'' is a small guild that actually exists in the inner city. Even if they really wanted to make things difficult, there are many excuses we could use to deal with it..."


    "..."


    As they walked, Su''en exined things to Number Neen.


    Soon, they blended into the bustling main street without any trouble.


    ......


    Now that they were in the city, both of them had their own things to do.


    The city was crowded, and they didn''t stand out.


    Without patrols, the risk of exposure was not high.


    What Number Neen had to do was dangerous, and Su''en didn''t n to get involved, nor did he ask too many questions.


    They nned to part ways here.


    He looked at the most luxurious hotel not far away and said, "I''ll be staying at the Rose Hotel, registered under the name Nichs. Then I''ll open another empty room directly above mine under a different name. If you run into trouble, you cane there."


    Number Neen nodded, "Okay."


    Having entered the city in such an unimaginable way and without any danger, she now truly trusted some of Su''en''s abilities.


    Before parting, she remembered something and said, "By the way, there''s something else you need to be careful about."


    Su''en: "Hmm?"


    Number Neen: "I previously assassinated Umbre Organization''s chief intelligence officer in the outer city, Major General Haus, and obtained some top-secret information. But after analyzing it, I also found a problem. Above Haus, the Umbre Organization actually has a never-exposed major general level intelligence officer, codenamed ''Sleepwalker''. He should also be at the ruins this time. There''s not much clue, the only certainty is that ''he'' can ess a lot of secret information. I suspect he has close ties with all the major forces in this camp, and his identity and status should not be simple. Be careful."


    "Hmm."


    Su''en listened and showed a thoughtful expression.


    In the Umbre Organization, the higher the rank, the greater the ability and strength.


    Having such a lurking major general level intelligence officer indeed required extra caution.


    The two didn''t say much, they just walked in the crowd and eventually went their separate ways.


    Su''en took the opportunity to change into a wastnd hunter''s outfit and checked into the Rose Hotel.


    Then he put on a half-face gas mask and went to the "Wastnd Hunter''s Guild".


    He wanted to ask if there was any feedback on the information he hadmissioned...

 Chapter 153: 1911 Hotel

    Chapter 153: 1911 Hotel


    As Su''en walked towards the "Wilderness Hunting Guild", he noticed that there were indeed some special gazes mixed in with the crowd in the city, probably from members of the Umbre Organization.


    Their sharp gazes swept through the crowd, paying special attention to those who were hiding their identities or carryingrge boxes as wilderness hunters.


    Su''en didn''t intend to cover his face with a half-face mask, but rather to hide his unruly handsomeness, making him look more like a wilderness hunter.


    When those gazes swept past and didn''t match the image of a wanted criminal, no one paid any attention to him.


    Before long, Su''en arrived at the hall of the Wilderness Hunting Guild.


    It was much livelier here than a month ago, with crowds of hunters filling the guild''s mission hall, epting and distributing tasks, filling the entire Storm Manor.


    Fortunately, Su''en had been cautious and did not use Johnny''s identity to submit themission.


    This also saved him a lot of trouble.


    After checking, the mission management office received more than ten messages in total, all iming to have information about "space materials."


    Apart from five messages that couldn''t reach the person, probably because they had left or died;


    Seven or eight messages were unreliable, and a few were obviously fishing for information. There wasn''t much useful information.


    After filtering, Su''en saw a rtively reliable message, which came from a somewhat famous professional information merchant named "Red Nose" Fox.


    Five days ago, this guy left a message saying that in a cursed space newly discovered in the West City, a wilderness hunting team had found a strange creature with spatial abilities. The appraiser determined that the strangeness was at least a second-order silver rank, with a high probability of producing advanced space materials.


    Su''en also carefully looked at the address and general information description on the message, and preliminarily judged that the information had some degree of truth.


    As for whether it was exactly what he wanted, it was uncertain.


    But he nned to go and meet the information merchant first.


    After paying themission, Su''en left the Wilderness Hunting Guild.


    .......


    In Old Lingdun, information merchants were a lucrative gray profession, and there were many in the ck market.


    Their sources of information wereplex, including taverns, brothels, gambling dens, gangs, and friends of women... Some were responsible for collecting information, while others were responsible for summarizing it. They were even "rats" in the informationworks of major forces, asionally leaking information. Whoever paid the most money would be sold the information.


    Of course, this circle was full of mixed fish and dragons, and these people were usually double-faced spies. Buying information could easily result in being sold information.


    Su''en returned to the city and went to the "ck Gentleman" tavern again.


    This was where "Red Nose" Fox had left his contact information.


    There would probably be a bigmotion on the 19th, and Su''en thought it would be best to obtain the necessary information as soon as possible and leave the camp.


    Only after reaching the second rank did he feel that he had the ability to calmly protect himself from the pursuit of the Umbre Organization and bounty hunters.


    Su''en entered the tavern and went straight to the bar, casually tossing a silver coin and asking the bartender, "Hey, have you seen ''Red Nose''?"


    The bartender took the tip and said, "Mr. Fox usuallyes here to drink around seven in the afternoon. Take a seat, maybe you''ll meet him soon."


    Su''en looked at the time and realized there was still about an hour left, so he decided to stay and try his luck. He raised his hand and ordered, "Give me a pint of ck rye."


    The tavern was noisy all day long, much busier than a month ago. Although it had been renovated and expanded by two floors, it was still packed.


    Not finding a private room, Su''en could only sit at the bar.


    Looking around, there were also many more scantily d barmaids, but the demand seemed to exceed the supply.


    Su''en originally wanted to find a barmaid to inquire about recent events in the camp, but the mama-san unexpectedly said there were no vacancies.


    But luck was on his side. After waiting for less than half an hour, a green-haired man with a red nose and cunning eyes walked into the ck Gentleman tavern.


    The bartender seemed to remind Su''en and greeted him, "Mr. Fox, you''re here."


    Su''en looked at the shrewd gaze of that guy and knew that he was "Red Nose" Fox. He was familiar with the rules of the street and greeted him without hesitation, "Hey, Red Nose~"


    Upon hearing this, Fox was pleasantly surprised.


    Being able to call him by his nickname meant that the customer had a lot of background.


    Su''en got straight to the point and said, "I want to buy some information."


    Fox walked over, calmly nced at Su''en, and smiled, "Sure, sure..."


    Su''en said directly, "I want to know about the ''space materials'' in your possession."


    As soon as Fox heard this, his small eyes immediately lit up as if he had discovered something interesting. He lightly eximed, "Oh, I remember now! You''re the one who posted the ''shocking five million'' reward, right?"


    This guy didn''t mention the business first and said again, "Hey, my friend, that trick of yours really works. I''ve been trying it for a few days, and my business has indeed improved a lot. But recently, there are too many people imitating it, and they''re always using the ''shocking'' phrase. Now I don''t even know which information is really valuable."


    "..."


    Su''en smiled and didn''t dwell on this topic. He asked, "Is that cursed space you mentioned still there? Or can you provide information about the whereabouts of advanced materials?"


    "It''s still there. The cursed space is currently being developed, and the materials haven''t been obtained yet. However..."


    Fox''s eyes flickered, and he said directly, "I see that you posted a reward iming to provide a maximum of five million for the information. The information I have is worth one million."After a pause, he boasted, "Although the price is a bit high, I can guarantee that I, ''Red Nose'' Fox, have the most detailed information about the entire Dawn Camp."


    These information dealers are all experienced, and they always start with a high price.


    Just like the vendors in the antique market, they always negotiate for a higher price.


    Su''en didn''t pay much attention to it and said calmly, "Based on the information you left in the Hunting Association, it''s currently worth only three thousand. If you can provide more detailed and useful information, I will consider adding a bit more."


    As he spoke, he took out three thousand in cash.


    "Hehe..."


    One million became three thousand, but Fox didn''t mind.


    He took the money with a smile, knowing that Su''en was knowledgeable, and said directly, "Seven days ago, the members of the ''Buck Hunting Team'' discovered arge cursed space near the ck Lake in the Eastern District of the ruins, close to the Central Ring. After exploring, they found a strange being that is at least a second-order silver. It is an ancient ''magician'' with the ability to produce various items out of thin air. We specte that it is definitely a professional spatial ability..."


    Then, the information stopped abruptly.


    He took three thousand yuan and only provided information worth three thousand.


    Su''en became interested, "Is the cursed space still there?"


    "It is."


    Fox nodded, his eyes flickering, and said, "No one has heard of anyone killing that strange being. Moreover, I can guarantee that even if arge hunting team goes there, it is impossible to deal with that cursed space in a short period of time."


    When Su''en heard that even arge hunting team couldn''t handle it, he asked, "Is it an S-level space?"


    Fox shook his head and skillfully piqued Su''en''s interest, "No. It is apound cursed space, and it is currently difficult to determine its level. Based on the information we know, the danger level is probably B. The second floor is somewhat special, but it should be A+; the third floor is currently unknown, as no one hase out alive. It is temporarily ssified as T-level. And, I can give you a free piece of information, that cursed space is very special, and the rewards will be astonishing."


    A pound cursed space" usually refers to a superrge cursed space with localized difficulty levels. It often produces various cursed objects, and even sealed objects of super-tier curses.


    Su''en became more and more interested and asked, "What if I need detailed information about that cursed space?"


    A shrewd look shed in Fox''s eyes as he held up three fingers and said, "Thirty thousand for the address and basic information; one hundred thousand for detailed information."


    Su''en expressionlessly took out a wad of money and ced it on the bar, but didn''t fully hand it over, saying, "This is one hundred thousand. I hope the information I receive is worth this price."


    "Don''t worry, I, ''Red Nose,'' have been in the information business for a long time. I have professional ethics."


    Fox looked at the money, squinted his eyes, and smiled like a fox.


    He immediately took out pen and paper, drew a map while saying, "That cursed space is called the ''1911 Hotel,'' an ancient luxury hotel. There is a time difference between the space and reality, approximately 20:1. The condition to exit is simple, just stay in the space for a full 24 hours, and you will see the exit. The general situation is... at midnight, the hotel will be contaminated by ghost fog, and all the tenants in the hotel will turn into ''strange beings.'' There are ny-nine rooms on the first floor, and most of them have been explored. The rooms are all first-order ck iron, with a few silver-level strange beings. The hunting teams that have explored it have gained a lot..."


    As Su''en listened, his expression remained unchanged, but his mind was racing.


    Fox continued, "The number of rooms on the second floor is unknown, but no more than ten have been explored, and the danger level is very high. The ''magician'' I mentioned earlier lives in room 2013 on the second floor... No one has survived on the third floor, so there is no information."


    After a while, Su''en finished listening to the information.


    He now had a rough idea of the ''1911 Hotel'' cursed space.


    It was probably an ancient hotel, and at midnight, it would be contaminated by a special polluted energy, turning everyone into monsters.


    Each tenant in every room would be contaminated and turned into a "strange being."


    And ording to the information, the hunting teams had been exploring there for seven days and gained a lot.


    But they hadn''t even fully explored the first floor...


    Which meant... there was a great risk!


    Fox finished speaking and drew a sketch, promising, "I guarantee that this is the most detailed information about the ''1911 Hotel.''"


    "Okay."


    Su''en felt that this was probably enough. This information was indeed worth the price.


    With this information, he could save a lot of trouble.


    Moreover, based on the description, he became more certain that the ancient "magician strange being" in that space could produce the materials he needed.


    .......


    Su''en obtained the information about the cursed space, but he didn''t rush to leave the tavern.


    He sat at the bar, drinking and constantly thinking.


    He had finally obtained information about the "space materials," and he naturally had to find a way to obtain them.


    It was not realistic to wait for others to bring out these rare advanced materials and then buy them with money. So he definitely had to personally visit that cursed space, the ''1911 Hotel.''


    But the ''1911 Hotel'' cursed space seemed to have many confusing aspects.


    Why were there only bosses and no small monsters in the cursed space?


    What was the powerful "ghost fog" that could directly turn hotel tenants into strange beings of a certain level?


    Why would the Wilderness Hunting Group, who discovered this cursed space, be willing to share it with other hunters? Is it like the situation with the "White Monastery"st time, where they needed people to sacrifice to the abyss?


    One question after another arose.


    However, there was also a piece of rtively good news.


    This space operated on "survival mode". If you could survive for "twenty-four hours", you could leave.


    There was no need topletely clear the game or kill any final boss.


    From the known information, if Su''en stayed on the first floor, the "1911 Hotel" wouldn''t pose much risk to him.


    Of course, he would have to avoid the rooms where the "ghost species" had been found.


    But the materials he needed were on the second floor of the hotel, which was currently ssified as an "A+ level" area, with high levels of unknown dangers.


    The strength of that "mysterious magician" was unclear, and many things were uncertain.


    Even if he brought the living dead with him, he wasn''t very confident.


    With these thoughts, Su''en fell into deep contemtion.


    ......


    As night fell, the business in the bar became increasingly lively.


    The ck Jazz Bar was packed with hundreds, if not thousands, of people.


    Su''en sat there, sipping his drink in boredom, while keeping his ears pricked for the various conversations in the bar.


    After fully absorbing the "X serum", his hearing had be even more acute.


    In the bar, the heavy metal rock music and the chatter intermingled, creating a thunderous and noisy atmosphere. However, in his ears, he could clearly distinguish the mixed sounds, like different colored threads. As long as he focused his attention on a certain thread, he could distinguish that voice from the noise and hear it clearly.


    Even the whispers spoken in hushed tones.


    "Oh, boss, we can''t do that here, only hand stuff, nothing else..."


    "Huh~ Seven thousand, double satisfaction."


    "..."


    Automatically filtering out some useless information, Su''en focused his attention on the relic information exchanged among the hunters.


    "Have you heard? The ''Two-Headed Snake Hunting Group'' went to the North City the day before yesterday and harvested a batch of valuable gems and alchemical ancient books..."


    "A few days ago, a branch of the ''Iron Boots Group'' went to the Central Ring, but I heard they suffered heavy losses..."


    "..."


    As Su''en listened, he heard his own name.


    "Hey, brothers, the young master of the Oliver family is looking all over for that ''wanted criminal Su''en'', any news? That bounty is too tempting..."


    "I got news that Su''en should be in the ruins. After all, you know,st month''s ''Fog Tide'' caused heavy casualties to the hunting teams in the East City. The Oliver family and various hunting groups have blocked the periphery of the ruins. If he didn''t escape, he''s definitely dead..."


    "Ah, what a pity. But after that Fog Tide, many strange and bizarre monsters appeared in the East City..."


    "..."


    As Su''en listened, he summarized this information, and then roughly understood the progress of the hunters'' exploration over the past month.


    As for the Central Ring, the exploration caused high casualties and progressed slowly.


    ......


    Su''en sat there alone, drinking his wine, his ears capturing all sorts of information.


    But as he listened, he suddenly heard a familiar voiceing from the second floor of the bar.


    It was a somewhat immature roar.


    "Old witch, if you dare, kill me!"

 Chapter 154: Mind-altering alchemy

    Chapter 154: Mind-altering alchemy


    Su''en immediately felt familiar when he heard it: "Tommy?"


    Then, a voice came from upstairs again.


    "Even if you kill me, I won''t join your Steam Party!"


    "Hey hey hey... I already told you that your father''s death has nothing to do with us. If it weren''t for thedy saving your ass, you wouldn''t be here making a fuss. Don''t be ungrateful!"


    "Hmph, you''re all aplices! I won''t join you!"


    "Shut up, you brat. Believe it or not, I''ll beat you up."


    "I''m not afraid of you!"


    "..."


    Then, there was a muffled sound, probably because his mouth was covered.


    This time, Su''en heard it clearly and confirmed that it was Tommy.


    "He''s not dead yet..."


    Thinking of this, Su''en''s eyebrows slightly raised.


    Last time at the White Monastery, he was too busy to take care of himself and thought that Tommy had died in the Witch''s Dream or during the settlement with the Oliver family.


    Didn''t expect him to still be alive.


    That''s fortunate.


    Old witch?


    Could it be the mafia boss Sabina?


    .......


    Just as Su''en was discerning this, the tavern suddenly quieted down.


    The restless music continued, but the noise gradually disappeared.


    Everyone''s gaze was once again attracted to the charming woman on the stairs.


    Naturally, it was Mrs. Sabina.


    This enchanting woman was dressed in a very cool ck veil dress today. The semi-transparent light veil split skirt revealed her beautiful legs, perfectly outlining her alluring figure.


    The fabric of the clothes was high-quality, like alchemical products. It was called a dress, but it looked more like wisps of ck smoke lingering on her snow-white body, perfectly concealing her privacy.


    This woman was not stingy in showing off her exquisite figure in front of others. She dared to wear and reveal, wherever she went, she would definitely be the focus of men''s attention.


    Alluring yet just right, not making people feel wanton, but full of charm.


    Su''en looked over, and this woman was nevercking men around her.


    This time, she was apanied by several well-dressed middle-aged gentlemen who seemed to be from the five major families of the camp.


    As the group descended, there was also a professional with a mechanical prosthetic limb modification following them, surprisingly the Steam Party cadre "Mechanical Tyrannosaurus" Toynbee. This guy was chasing Su''en in the ruinsst time and had his leg cut off. Now he had a new mechanical prosthetic limb, which had an obvious color difference.


    And beside him, there was a half-sized boy with his mouth taped shut, his face full of anger.


    Looking closely, it wasn''t Tommy, then who was it?


    .......


    Su''en raised his eyebrows and guessed that the Steam Party people probably also discovered Tommy''s unique talent, so they kept him.


    "Old witch? Tsk tsk... Tommy has a sharp tongue."


    Su''en looked at Tommy, whose mouth was taped shut, and was not surprised.


    Although he was in a somewhat embarrassing situation being locked up, his life was not in danger.


    Those guys from the Steam Party didn''t seem to want to kill him. Otherwise, they would have already silenced him and gouged out his eyes for offending the mafia boss.


    But on second thought, if they weren''t enemies, it would be a good choice for Tommy to join the Steam Party.


    In the Outer City, the Steam Party was one of the few organizations that could provide arge number of machinery and transcendent knowledge.


    When this group of people came down, the tavern quieted down for a moment.


    Almost all the greedy gazes of the men fell on Sabina, and Su''en didn''t behave differently. He felt that he shouldn''t be discovered while blending in with the crowd. After all, there were people in front, back, left, and right, and he only took a nce through the gaps between people.


    But unexpectedly, when Sabina and her group walked down, Tommy, who was still struggling, seemed to suddenly notice something. When his gaze swept over the crowd in the tavern, he suddenly looked over.


    In that instant, Su''en immediately realized that he had been discovered?


    But fortunately, it seemed that Tommy also knew that Su''en was a wanted criminal. After a moment of surprise in his gaze, he immediately realized something and quickly averted his eyes.


    No one knew that it was just a slight fluctuation of interest, but when Sabina, who was walking at the front, seemed to sense something, a barely noticeable color shed in her crystalline eyes.


    .......


    Watching Sabina and her group leave the tavern, Su''en also stayed a little longer before leaving through the back door of the tavern.


    There were stacks of empty bottles in the alley behind the tavern, and a few couples were intimately entangled here.


    Su''en pretended to be a customer getting some fresh air and deliberately lingered at the back door for a while.


    Although he believed that even if Tommy recognized him, he wouldn''t expose him to others, he still felt a sense of unease.


    That feeling of being locked on by some means.


    But after carefully sensing it, he didn''t find any tracking gazes, and there were no special prompts on his panel.


    After observing for a while, he didn''t notice anything unusual.


    Su''en slipped into the alley and deliberately made a few turns, taking some anti-tracking measures, before returning to the main street.


    He didn''t go back to the Rose Inn, but instead found another cheap hunter''s inn with a lot of people and mixed smells, and rented a single room.


    The sound instion here was not good, and you could hear clear snoring and conversations from the corridor and next door.


    But it happened to cover up many traces.


    It was already midnight, and Su''en nned to wait here until dawn before leaving the camp.


    Excluding all possibilities of being tracked, he felt that he might have been overthinking.


    Then, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began to meditate.


    Like this, about half an hour passed.


    Suddenly, Su''en felt that the surroundings seemed to have suddenly quieted down, and he faintly heard a charming female voice whispering in his ear, as if she had cast some kind of spell.


    After hearing this murmuring sound from the depths of his consciousness, Su''en, who was meditating, suddenly lost consciousness.


    There were no other sounds from outside the corridor, as if the space had distorted and be unreal.


    In the next moment, with a click, the door was opened from the outside.


    A red-haired woman gracefully walked into the room.She nced at the cheap hotel room, her eyebrows furrowed, seemingly disgusted by the dirty environment.


    The person who came was none other than Sabina, whom she had met at the tavern before.


    At this moment, her face was even more charming, but her aura waspletely different. She was no longer a delicate woman, but a seductive demon exuding a dangerous aura.


    If there were others present, they would probably be shocked. This usually delicate gangster''s wife was actually using a second-tier mental spell!


    She walked up to Su''en, who waspletely unaware, and a hint of yfulness appeared in her eyes as she muttered to herself, "Let me see what secrets you have in your mind."


    Sabina formed the hand seals of a sorcerer with both hands, and her beautiful face suddenly became eerie. Her pupils turned crimson.


    In an instant, she gathered the sorcerer''s hand seals and softly chanted, "Mind Alchemy  Daydreaming!"


    Just as the alchemy array lit up, her eyes burst with a red light, as if trying to probe the secrets in Su''en''s mind.


    But as soon as the spell was cast and the mental connection was established, a wave of intense negative emotions flooded into Sabina''s mind, violently assaulting her sanity.


    Like being electrocuted, Sabina''s face changed drastically, and she quickly interrupted the spell.


    "How can he have such strong mental power?!"


    Instead of glimpsing any secrets, she was frightened. Sabina eximed in her heart, "What kind of monster is hiding inside this guy''s body?!"


    In that instant, she saw not a person, but a terrifying monster made of emotions.


    She peered at him, and it stared back at her!


    It was an absolutely terrifying emotion that could instantly drive a normal person insane...


    But just as Sabina was lost in thought, the man in front of her suddenly opened his eyes wide, his eyes bloodshot.


    She inwardly sensed danger, but it was toote to react!


    After a sinister smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, hisrge iron-like hands swiftly grabbed her slender neck.


    Without giving her any chance to react, a tremendous force pressed the delicate beauty against the wall, followed by a heavy punch to her chest!


    A muffled sound of flesh being struck by an iron hammer.


    This punch hit her chest solidly, causing Sabina to involuntarily spew out a mouthful of crimson blood.


    Before the force of the impact dissipated, it passed through her chest and back, causing the partition wall behind her to copse, and the two of them crashed into the adjacent room.


    The bloodshot Su''en straddled Sabina''s delicate body, and a faint blue me surged out of his fists like raindrops, fiercely bombarding the soft body beneath him.


    Caught off guard, Sabina couldn''t react in time, her heart filled with disbelief, "Isn''t he just a first-tier puppeteer... How is he so fast?!"


    "Thud!"


    "Thud!"


    "Thud!"


    "..."


    The muffled sound of fists hitting flesh echoed throughout the entire hotel.


    The shadows of fists were continuous, so fast that it seemed like the sound of a torrential rain, merging into one.


    Mental professionals were powerful, but silently taking someone''s life was extremely dangerous once they were in close proximity!


    She never expected that her tried and true Mind Alchemy would be defeated today.


    In a critical moment, Sabina bit her tongue and sprayed another mouthful of hot blood onto the man''s face in front of her.


    In an instant, a cool sensation washed over his mental power.


    The blood-red in Su''en''s eyes suddenly faded, and his sanity seemed to return to his body.


    But when he looked at Sabina beneath him, he immediately understood what had happened. However, instead of stopping his attack, he swiftly drew the pistol from his waist and pressed it against her forehead, decisively pulling the trigger.


    But in this moment of stagnation, Sabina finally got a chance to catch her breath. The dark spiritual power surging within her quickly condensed, and she finally managed to cast her spell.


    However, mental techniques had limited effects, and she had no intention of entangling further.


    "Bang!"


    At the moment the gunshot sounded, the delicate body beneath Su''en exploded into a burst of scattered pink petals, disappearingpletely in an instant.


    "She escaped?"


    Su''en looked at Sabina''s body, which had turned into petals and disappeared, his eyes filled with seriousness.


    The appearance of his alter ego did not mean that he had lost consciousness; it was just that his rationality was no longer in control, reced by those dangerous emotions.


    He was well aware of everything that had just happened.


    The woman had used a mental spell to control him, then got beaten up, and used a "sobering spell" to restore him.


    At this moment, the tenant in the room, who had been expressionless, also regained consciousness. He looked at the shattered walls and the sudden appearance of another person in the room, his face full of confusion. It was as if he had just woken up from a drunken stupor and had no idea what had just happened.


    ...Su''en didn''t dare to linger in the inn. By the time the other tenants were just waking up from their dreams, he had already swiftly left the inn.


    As he walked, he was reying the recent battle in his mind.


    "Talent B-005-Subus... Sabina is actually a high-level psychic professional! With her mind-altering alchemy that can invade people''s consciousness, no secret can be hidden from her. She must have known about Tommy''s ability, hypnotized him just now, and then discovered me?"


    All the clues connected, and Su''en deduced the reason why this woman hade to him.


    At this moment, he suddenly thought of something, and his face slightly changed: "Could it be that she is the ''Sleepwalker'', the major general level intelligence officer in the Umbre Organization?"


    Thinking back to the woman''s ability to y both sides among the major powers, Su''en felt that this guess might be true.


    He didn''t know before that this woman was a rare psychic professional, but now it all matched the description given by Number Neen!


    The boss of the Steam Party''s woman is actually a high-level professional and a high-ranking intelligence officer of the Umbre Organization?


    Ha... With this psychic maniption ability, this woman must have yed many people into the palm of her hand.


    "But how did that woman track me down before?"


    Unable to figure this out, Su''en didn''t want to stay in the city any longer. Without waiting for the city guards to react, he went straight to the city wall of the camp.


    He had originally nned to leave at dawn, but it seemed that he couldn''t stay in the camp now.


    He had observed during the day that there was an early warning system here, but the defense was weak.


    Once his armor was removed, he used his Octopus Spear to climb up the wall.


    In an instant, the rm sounded loudly.


    However, he was trying to escape now, and he wasn''t afraid of being discovered.


    After climbing over the wall, he exchanged a few shots with the city wall guards, and then easily escaped.


    With his current physical condition, even a second-order professional would find it difficult to catch him...

 Chapter 155: She stole a very strange thing

    Chapter 155: She stole a very strange thing


    Su''en controlled the eight spider spears and ran wildly, his speed was extremely fast.


    The terrain next to this underground cave was much better for the spider spears than the ruins in the city.


    Climbing up the cliff, Su''en quickly reached the top of the cave where he had hidden during the day, and obtained the invisible undead and ck scythe hanging in mid-air.


    With the powerful weapon in his hand, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Now Su''en was not in a hurry to run anymore.


    He waited in ce for a while, setting up an ambush trap. He originally wanted to see if there were any pursuersing, so he could gain some experience.


    Although his strength was not strong at the moment, with the ck scythe and spider legs, he could fight and escape. Facing one or two second-tier professionals was basically a piece of cake, and even if arge group came to besiege him, he could retreat into theplex underground cave.


    However, after waiting for a long time without hearing any movement from the pursuers, he gave up.


    Su''en thought to himself that maybe Sabina didn''t actually summon the city guards.


    After all, in the eyes of others, she was just a delicate and weak woman. It wouldn''t make sense for her to personallyunch a night attack on a wanted criminal in the middle of the night.


    It was still early in the morning, and Su''en had no intention of running around. After all, he had some small agreements with Number 19. He used a silk thread to hang himself on the cliff and nned to wait until dawn to go to the East City.


    With some free time, Su''en recalled the previous battle.


    He had to admit that he couldn''t underestimate other professionals, especially those in the Umbre Organization who gathered various strange and special abilities.


    There might be someone who could counter his abilities.


    Sabina today was an example.


    Spiritual professionals were already rare, and a second-tier professional like her with the talent of "Subus" was truly hard to guard against.


    Not to mention second-tier professionals, even third-tier professionals without defensive spiritual control methods might not be able to do anything to her.


    If it weren''t for Su''en''s extraordinary spiritual power, even with the ck scythe in hand, he probably wouldn''t have had a chance to make a move against such an enemy.


    He even suspected that since this woman had such means and scheming, the leader of the Steam Party, "Butcher" Banner, might not be the one in real power. This scheming woman might be the one holding the real power.


    Thinking about the fact that she was the intelligence officer of the Umbre Organization and had a suffocating intelligencework that almost covered the entire outer city of Old Lingdun, it was clear how much control the ck Tower had over Old Lingdun.


    ......


    "That woman must have cultivated a spiritual secret technique..."


    Although he didn''t seem to have suffered any losses in the previous confrontation, Su''en still had lingering fears.


    In the instant when Sabina invaded his consciousness, they both felt each other''s spiritual strength clearly.


    From the perspective of quantity, the woman''s spiritual power might not be stronger than his, but in the moment of casting the spell, Su''en was hit.


    It felt like his own spiritual power was like a pile of sand, while Sabina''s was like a carefully constructed fortress, capable of both offense and defense.


    Tonight, Su''en had experienced the power of spiritual techniques and felt that he urgently needed to cultivate spiritual secret techniques.


    He still remembered back at Storm Manor when Pestoya easily controlled him and Ivan with spiritual threads.


    He felt that he had yed the "Puppeteer of Illusions" like a puppeteer of marites, and the way he opened it was definitely wrong...


    Otherwise, having such a huge spiritual power would not be abat strength, but a burden.


    Su''en also keenly felt that the more soul fragments he harvested, the more obvious the hidden danger of oppressive emotions became. It made him feel an impulse to go crazy and indulge...


    Lost in his thoughts, Su''en hung on the cliff, asionally using a telescope to observe the distant camp, wanting to see if there were any signs ofrge-scale mobilization.


    Looking at the brightly lit camp, he suddenly thought of Number 19.


    "I wonder if she seeded in what she nned to do..."


    Su''en wasn''t too worried.


    After all, this was not the heavily guarded Old Lingdun. He could easily leave the city, so Number 19 should be able to as well.


    Although he didn''t ask before, he was indeed curious about what kind of mission could make the mysterious "third party organization" concerned.


    Was it to assassinate a special target?


    Or to steal something?


    Number 19 was decisive in character, once she determined the target, she would immediately take action...


    Maybe it was tonight?


    It was quite a coincidence.


    Just as Su''en was thinking about this, suddenly, an unexpected event urred!


    "Boom!"


    Gunshots suddenly rang out.


    The sound traveled from afar, shaking Su''en''s figure hanging on the cliff.


    "Huh...something happened?!"


    Su''en immediately became alert and picked up the telescope to look in the direction of the camp.


    From his high vantage point, he suddenly saw that the camp was suddenly in chaos, with gunshots ringing out.And from the direction of the gunfire and mes, it was clear that the firepower wasing from the Storm Manor on the hillside, and it was rapidly approaching the city walls.


    It was as if someone was being chased and blocked, and then ran towards the city walls.


    Su''en looked at the mes and immediately guessed that it was Number 19.


    Only that notorious wanted criminal could cause such chaos in the camp.


    But it wasn''t over yet!


    Just when Su''en thought that Number 19 could escape from the camp, a low rumbling sound like an air raid rm suddenly came.


    "Level 1bat readiness?"


    Su''en knew exactly what this rumbling represented.


    It meant that the camp was facing a "special-grade monster siege event" where life and death were at stake, and this rm would only be sounded in such situations.


    With the rm sounding, it meant that all the hunters in the city had to participate in the city defense mission.


    Looking at the situation now, were they nning to block Number 19 in the entire city?


    Sure enough, as the rm sounded, the whole city seemed to boil, and even from a distance, one could hear people shouting at the top of their lungs.


    "Someone, quickly catch the wanted criminal!"


    "Brothers, it''s time to get rich..."


    "Capture her and get a one billion reward!"


    "..."


    With this shout, the entire city joined in the pursuit and blockade.


    Perhaps because there were other wanted criminals hiding in the camp, gunshots were heard everywhere in the city.


    However, just after the rm sounded, Su''en saw that the "target" that seemed to be Number 19 was blocked and suddenly turned around, heading towards another side of the city wall.


    And then, she was blocked again.


    Houses copsed one after another, and the battle was intense.


    "Has she been blocked by a top-tier powerhouse?"


    Su''en wondered as he watched.


    He didn''t think that Number 19 would be at a disadvantage.


    After all, the mechanical warrior had an alloy body that was impervious to knives and guns, and it had a super-strong propulsion and eleration system. Even if she faced a hail of bullets, no one could stop her.


    Besides, she wasn''t alone.


    .......


    Sure enough.


    After the battle didn''t stalemate for long, a small mushroom cloud suddenly exploded on the street where the copsed houses were.


    It seemed like some kind ofrge-scale weapon was used.


    And then, the chase began again.


    This time, Su''en saw through the telescope a figure leaping lightly from the city wall, and it was none other than Number 19 in ck leather.


    And right after that, he saw another person chasing closely behind, jumping off the city wall.


    "The vice president of the Hunter Guild, Tier 3 powerhouse ''Stormsword King'' Nero Redgrave?"


    Su''en''s pupils slightly contracted as he looked at the red-bearded pursuer wielding arge sword.


    No wonder he was so fierce, with a sword aura that extended tens of meters. So it was him.


    However, seeing this, Su''en felt that Number 19 was not in danger.


    Melee professionals indeed ran fast, but swordsmen had no advantage against super mechanical warriors, and they would actually be at a disadvantage.


    And then, Su''en noticed therge ck box that Number 19 was holding in her hands, and he understood what she was going to do.


    "So she''s going to steal something?"


    He muttered to himself, also curious about what exactly Number 19 had stolen.


    If she couldn''t put it in her storage space and had to carry it in her hands, it meant that it was definitely a super-grade item.


    A sealed item?


    Su''en raised an eyebrow.


    Something that even the powerful organization that could "stock up" in ruins wanted to seize, it definitely wasn''t just an ordinary sealed item.


    .......


    Su''en watched the show from the cliff, his heart calm.


    Once they left the camp, the oue was already determined.


    But just at this moment, Su''en suddenly saw Number 19, who was running frantically, shoot a signal re into the sky, and then run towards his direction.


    "Is she asking me for assistance?"


    Su''en instantly understood what was happening.


    This was the escape n they had discussed before. In case of a special situation, if both sides happened to have someone outside the city, they would assist each other.


    Seeing this signal, he didn''t hesitate, and he released his imnted device, controlling the undead to climb down the cliff.


    There were only a few top-tier professionals, and their methods were highly recognizable. No matter how well they hid, once they made a move, their identities would easily be exposed. That was also why Mr. ck said that they wouldn''t intervene unless absolutely necessary.


    And Su''en had the ck Scythe in his hands, which happened to have the ability to help.


    This favor he was doing had almost no risk.


    Su''en descended from the cliff and went straight to the predetermined ambush location.


    In the blink of an eye, the person being chased and the pursuer also arrived.


    Su''en seized the opportunity and decisively controlled the undead to swing the ck Scythe down.Unfortunately, although the spatial rift was silent, the faint sound of the undead swinging their scythes alerted Nero, the "Sword King of Wind and Thunder".


    Nero noticed something was amiss and swiftly moved away from his previous position, narrowly avoiding Su''en''s predicted attack route.


    However, his pursuit of Su''en slowed down upon realizing that someone hadunched a surprise attack.


    Knowing that it was the scythe, he naturally guessed who the attacker was, and a serious expression appeared on his face.


    He looked around, worried that there might be other ambushers.


    Su''en was not surprised to see that the opponent could avoid the spatial rift.


    Previously, when Number 19 fired the signal re, Nero naturally guessed that she was calling for reinforcements.


    It would be strange if he didn''t take precautions.


    Top-tier professionals were not so easily killed.


    .......


    At this moment, Number 19 also noticed Su''en and headed straight towards him.


    Then, with a powerful swing, she threw the ck box in her hand towards him.


    With nothing in her hand, herbat power instantly soared, and she immediately turned around to sh head-on with Nero, the "Sword King of Wind and Thunder".


    For a moment, sword energy filled the air, and sand and stones flew everywhere.


    Su''en caught the box and knew what she meant.


    He looked down and saw the identification: [Engraved with a Super-grade Sealing Rune Secret Box].


    However, even though it was sealed in this box, he seemed to sense a strange aura emanating from it. Holding it felt like holding a block of ice, not only chilling to the bone, but even causing his soul to tremble.


    "What exactly is in this box? It feels so eerie..."


    Su''en muttered to himself.


    But after looking at the attribute panel and seeing no effects, he didn''t pay much attention to it.


    He didn''t care about the situation on the battlefield, nor did he ask where to take the things he obtained. He turned around and left.


    The Eight-Armed Spider Spear spun rapidly as he quickly left the battlefield and entered a nearby corridor.


    When tomorrow''s newses out, it will probably say that the two of them, important wanted criminals, teamed up to steal a treasure...


    Thispletely absolved the "third party" of any involvement.


    After all, when you owe too much, it doesn''t matter if there''s one more crime on Su''en''s wanted list, or even an extra "s".


    Helping Mr. ck with a small favor would bring even greater benefits.


    .......


    Number 19 held back Nero, the "Sword King of Wind and Thunder," allowing Su''en to escape smoothly.


    He knew that he didn''t need to ask where to go; someone would definitelye to pick him up soon.


    Sure enough, not long after he started running, a cloaked figure appeared in the pitch-ck corridor.


    Su''en didn''t let his guard down and instinctively controlled his silk thread.


    As he watched the figure remove the cloak, he rxed.


    Mr. ck, as always, was polite: "Su''en, my friend, I''ve troubled you."


    Su''en casually handed the sealed secret box to him and smiled indifferently, "Just helping out."


    He didn''t bother to be curious about what was inside, but instead remembered something and casually said, "By the way, Mr. ck, I just received some information that might be useful to you."


    Mr. ck listened attentively, "Oh?"


    "Number 19 told me before that the Umbre Organization has a senior intelligence officer codenamed ''Dreamwalker''..."


    Su''en didn''t go into too much detail and didn''t mention the battle process. He simply said, "And I unexpectedly discovered that Sabina from the Steam Party is a Tier 2 psychic professional, and her talent is [Subus]. I suspect she might be that intelligence officer."


    "It''s her... no wonder."


    Mr. ck''s surprise was evident on his face, and then he suddenly realized.


    Without going into too much detail, just these two points were enough for him to deduce a lot of information.


    Su''en knew that Mr. ck wouldn''t ask for more details, so he didn''t continue.


    Now, he naturally wanted to bring up the topic of psychic secret techniques.


    There was no need to hide anything from Mr. ck, so he directly said, "Mr. ck, I have seen Sabina''s psychic abilities before. I wanted to ask if you have any information rted to psychic secret techniques."


    Mr. ck naturally knew that Su''en was looking for psychic secret techniques.


    After all, he was the one who brought it up.


    Upon hearing this, he said directly, "Not before. But recently, I received some information that there is indeed a ce in the ruins where a psychic secret technique that is very suitable for Puppet Masters can be found."


    Su''en became interested, "Oh?"


    After a pause, Mr. ck frowned and shook his head, "However, the situation is a bitplicated. Well... at least wait until you reach Tier 2 before discussing it."


    It sounded like he had to go get it himself?


    But since Mr. ck said so, Su''en didn''t ask any further, "Okay."At this moment, Mr. ck seemed to have thought of something and said, "By the way, do you have any information on spatial materials? I received a message saying that a ''Magician''s Trickery'' has appeared in a cursed space in the East City. It probably has the materials you need."


    Su''en: "The 1911 Restaurant?"


    Hearing his response, Mr. ck knew that Su''en was aware of the information. He said, "Yes. I''ve been staying in the ruins for a few days and just gathered the information today. I originally wanted to find an opportunity to tell you, but it seems you already know."


    Upon hearing that Mr. ck knew about the cursed space, Su''en simply asked another question, "Sir, do you know what''s going on with that space? I didn''t get much information. But it sounds like, that space is not simple."


    "That space is indeed not simple. But... if you''re going, it shouldn''t be a problem."


    Mr. ck seemed to have thought of something, a smile appearing in his eyes.


    After a pause, he took out a golden card and handed it over, saying, "This is for you, as a thank you for your help tonight. When you go to that space, keep it on you, it might help you solve some troubles."


    "Thank you."


    This gentleman always had an attitude of not wanting to take advantage of others, which Su''en found very pleasant to deal with.


    Since it was a gift, he naturally epted it without hesitation.


    He initially thought it was some kind of amulet, but the identification showed: "Card with a Spatial Mark".


    Su''en''s first reaction was that it was the card of the mysterious person he had encountered in the ruins who could teleport using cards.


    Could it be that the cloaked figure was going?


    If that was the case, the cursed space would be much safer.


    However, he always felt that Mr. ck had some other intentions in giving him this card.


    But he didn''t think too much about it.


    Not to mention that he didn''t feel any malice, if Mr. ck really wanted to harm him, he wouldn''t need to go through such trouble.


    Besides, there was nothing on him worth coveting.


    Two cursed items with significant characteristics?


    How could someone who could go to the ruins for suppliesck these things?

 Chapter 156: Twisted light gate

    Chapter 156: Twisted light gate


    Su''en disappeared without a trace when the five major families and the City Guard''s troops arrived to surround her.


    There was amotion in the Dawn Camp all night.


    Those guys were probably trying to find the aplices of the wanted criminal, but they ultimately found nothing.


    As a participant in the crime, Su''en was even more at ease.


    He found a secluded cliff to rest for the night.


    Camping on the rock wall was not bad, except that asionally some strange-looking insects would crawl up to "say hello".


    No one slept soundly. Early in the morning, Su''en squatted not far from the Dawn Camp, on the road leading to the ruins.


    He and a group of penniless wanderers who couldn''t afford to stay in the city were waiting for therge group of hunters toe and pick them up for the expedition.


    Before long, the troops began to leave the city one after another.


    Listening to the hunting teams heading towards the East City, Su''en casually joined a team that was heading in the same direction as his destination and set off.


    Following the team, he could inquire about some news fromst night.


    Going on the expedition, it was also good for fabricating a "background".


    .......


    In the eastern part of the city, near the Central Ring, there was a huge ckke.


    There were ruins of buildings by theke, which was where the "1911 Hotel" was discovered.


    Beforeing here, Su''en thought that there wouldn''t be too many people here.


    But when he arrived, there were about two thousand people.


    These guys had already set up a small camp here with stones and mechanical equipment.


    Looking at the gs on the tents in the camp and the numerous hunting teams, there were dozens of them.


    Naturally, the responsible ones were the direct hunting teams of the five major families.


    Su''en didn''t rush to enter the camp like the other hunters to inquire about the news of this cursed space. Instead, he looked at the camp''s defense situation.


    He wasn''t thinking about how to get in, but instinctively thinking about how to escape aftering out of the cursed space.


    He still had the card that Mr. ck gave him in his pocket, which made Su''en feel like the danger of the instance had decreased a lot.


    But... he had a feeling that something was going to happen.


    Looking around, he didn''t find the guy who looked like the cloaked person he saw before.


    Su''en didn''t pay much attention and entered the camp.


    In addition to the armed hunters, there were also information merchants who looked like "scalpers" selling information in the camp.


    These guys brought their business directly to the front line of hunting, without having to enter the ruins themselves. They only needed to buy thetest information from the hunters who came out and then consolidate and sell it to make a profit.


    Most of the people who came here to hunt were hunters with some strength.


    No one would be stingy to buy some information to increase their chances of survival.


    The information merchants were doing well.


    While Su''en was wandering around the camp, a middle-aged man with a small beard approached him, "Hey, brother, want to buy some information? Thetest information, guaranteed to be worth it..."


    "How much?"


    "Fifty thousand."


    "Forget it then."


    "Ten thousand?"


    "No money."


    "Tsk, poor guy..."


    Su''en wasn''t in a hurry to spend money, but instead listened carefully to eavesdrop on the surroundings.


    It''s better to listen to multiple sources than just one.


    After inquiring, the information was simr to what he bought from "Red Nose" Fox before, but there was some new information as well.


    Basically, it said that the "ownership" of this cursed space belonged to the five major families, but they couldn''t handle it themselves, so it was open to all hunting teams. After entering, they mustplete a designated exploration task assigned by the families. If theypleted it, the rewards would belong to the individuals, and there would be additional rewards. If they didn''tplete it, they would have to pay a hefty "entrance fee" when they came out.


    Most of the ny-nine rooms on the first floor of the hotel space were explored in this way.


    These conditions didn''t sound too bad.


    Risk in exchange for reward.


    As for what the five major families wanted, in their words, they only wanted the high-level items on the second floor of the space and the final "Cursed Source".


    ......


    The twisted light gate of the cursed space appeared twice a day, with about a hundred people entering each time.


    The casualty rate varied, sometimes high and sometimes low.


    Sometimes they would be wiped out for no reason,


    Sometimes most of the people would survive,


    Overall, the death rate was about sixty percent.


    This was still within an eptable range.


    Also, because there were exploration tasks arranged in advance, the people in the camp roughly estimated the "high-risk rooms" on the first floor that couldn''t be explored based on the casualty rate.


    As for the information Su''en wanted to know about the second floor, it was still scarce.


    In summary, most of the first floor consisted of first-tier anomalies (ck iron and silver);


    As for the second floor, it was said that the anomalies all started at the silver level, and there were also an unknown number of second-tier anomalies.


    Su''en also understood that the higher the floor, the higher thebat power of the guests transformed into monsters, and the better the materials produced.


    .....The death rate of this instance is not low. Although there are one or two thousand people in the camp, not many dare to go in.


    Just right, there are two groups every day, which can almost fill up a hundred people.


    Su''en signed up for the next round of exploration in the cursed space and received a mission to explore room 1088.


    Then he sat in the waiting area and listened to the temporary captain exin some precautions for this time.


    "After entering, no one is allowed to hunt down the guests in the hotel in advance! Otherwise, after midnight, these dead will definitely turn into ''phantom species'', which will harm yourself and others!"


    "Remember, rooms 1021, 1055, and 1071 are not allowed to be opened, and you are not allowed to disturb the guests in these three rooms!"


    "You can search for clues, but don''t offend the guests or do anything strange. Otherwise, if you are caught by the hotel security, you will be locked up and undoubtedly die! Last time, there was a guy who got carried away and harassed a noblewoman. He enjoyed it himself, but he also prevented the noblewoman, who was originally a second-floor guest, from going upstairs at midnight. She directly turned into a second-order anomaly on the first floor and almost wiped out that team..."


    "Before the ghost mist appears, we have plenty of time to search for clues. But remember, don''t trigger some difficult plot points casually. The fewer idents, the greater our chances of survival in the end."


    "..."


    Su''en listened silently, which was not far from his spection.


    Although the plot in each cursed space they entered was the same, the oue was different because of human intervention.


    For example, when the midnight ghost mist descends, there is a big difference between guests in rooms and guests not in rooms.


    Although they will all be anomalies, the difference inbat power may be the gap between ck iron and silver anomalies.


    There is also a big difference between being dead and alive. The dead will be "phantom species" and the living will be "zombie species"...


    .......


    While Su''en and the others were listening to the temporary captain''s exnation, the camp suddenly became noisy.


    "Look! The exit of the cursed space has appeared!"


    "It''s the ''Falcon Squad''..."


    "Hmm... quite a few people survived this time. It seems like they had a good harvest."


    "..."


    Not far from the camp, a several-meter-high elliptical distorted portal suddenly appeared.


    Like a ck hole, it sucked in the surrounding light.


    This is the usual way the cursed space appears.


    In just a moment of noise, some hunters with more or less injuries walked out of the pitch-ck portal one after another.


    However, although these survivors looked a bit disheveled, they all had relieved smiles on their faces.


    Coming out alive means that the harvest has now turned into "real gold and silver".


    At the moment these people came out, professional merchants had already stationed themselves at the entrance of the space,peting to make offers to buy the treasures they brought out.


    "Thirteen pieces of ck iron, five pieces of silver cursed materials..."


    "Oh, it''s actually a rare ancient job material..."


    "Oh my god, Belok, where did you find so many alchemy books? This batch alone can be sold for at least seven million!"


    "Wow~ high-purity gemstones, these are good materials for enchantment. One piece is worth three hundred thousand. Brother, you''ve made a fortune. This bag is worth..."


    "..."


    The merchants were counting the hunters'' harvest.


    Each offer stimted the excitement of the hunters outside.


    Not to mention that these hunters might have hidden good treasures that they didn''t bring out, just the current harvest alone was worth millions per person.


    For the majority of ordinary hunters, this was already a fortune worth risking their lives for.


    Su''en also squeezed into the crowd to watch, but his gaze fell on the distorted portal.


    With the All-Knowing Eye, he identified the result.


    [1911 Hotel]


    Exnation: Arge-scalepound cursed space, sealing a fragment of the super-tier creature "***". The guests have been contaminated by corpse energy, and at midnight, they willpletely transform into anomalies. Surviving in the space for twenty-four hours will cause the space exit to appear again; death in the space will impact and destroy the seal, current progress of breaking the seal: 1157/3000;


    Su''en saw the information about this cursed space and remained calm.


    Even though he saw that the "source of contamination" was a fragment of an unrecognized super-tier creature, he didn''t feel surprised at all.


    Without this super-tier existence, it would be impossible for an entire hotel full of people to transform into boss-level monsters.


    When he saw thest sentence, he muttered to himself, "As expected, it''s this kind of nature..."


    This cursed space, which produces good results, is definitely not a good intention of the five major families.


    Su''en had only suspected before, but now, looking at this information, it was solid evidence.They seemed to have discovered another way to break through this space.


    That is, instead of exploring, they directly used human lives to fill the gap.


    Perhaps because the area being developed recently was gettingrger andrger, and the ve group was not enough, these guys thought of attracting scattered groups in this way.


    "I was wondering why the death rate remained high, so that''s why..."


    In the same instance, logically, the more times it was cleared, the lower the casualty rate would be. But here, the death rate always remained around 60%, which was quite strange.


    But it wasn''t all about total annihtion, they left some people alive to spread the news and attract more people.


    No matter how you look at it, it seemed fishy.


    Upon seeing this, Su''en lost interest in the treasures produced by the ruins. He focused on each person who came out, especially those who were uninjured or didn''t seem too excited.


    Soon, he discovered something.


    ......


    After the twisted light gate appeared, it disappeared again.


    By evening, the entrance appeared again.


    And there were just over a hundred people in the camp, lined up waiting to enter.


    Su''en was going anyway, so he led the undead to line up in the middle of the queue.


    He scanned the team entering this time again, but still didn''t find the person who might be the "Card Cloak Man".


    "Did I get it wrong?"


    Su''en didn''t think much about it and followed the team into the space.


    After he entered, he didn''t know that a small incident had urred outside.


    The number of people entering the space was not constant, it was about a hundred people.


    But in reality, the stronger the people who entered, the fewer the number.


    Originally, over a hundred people were prepared, but as they entered, the light gate suddenly disappeared.


    This abnormal scene left everyone puzzled.


    "Eh... why did the light gate disappear after only so many people entered this time?"


    "It seems like only over sixty, right?"


    "That''s not right... Even when there was a second-tier professional leading the team, over ny people entered. Why are there so few this time?"


    "Did the space have a problem?"


    "..."


    The news quickly reached the ears of the managers of this small camp.


    However, this did not attract their attention.


    All kinds of strange things could happen in the ruins, and they thought this fluctuation in the number of people was probably normal.


    The leaders of the five major families'' hunting groups were troubled by other things.


    In the tent, several leaders were gathered together, discussing something with worried expressions.


    "The higher-ups have given a death order to break through this sealed space as soon as possible. But from the looks of it, at least one or two thousand people need to be sacrificed before this space can be broken."


    "I heard that there was a big mess at the main campst night. The mysterious item brought back by the ''Blood Axe Group'' was stolen, which angered the higher-ups of the ck Tower..."


    "Ah, it''s useless to talk about those things. Spread the news and try to attract more hunters..."


    "But no matter how much we spread the news, only about two hundred people can enter per day. We can''t always kill people inside, can we? If the death rate is too high, it won''t attract scattered groups after one or two times..."


    "..."


    ......


    On the other hand, Su''en and his group had already entered the cursed space.


    This was the street scene of Dawn City a thousand years ago.


    The hunters appeared on the street, and in front of them was a luxurious building with a sign that read "1911 Restaurant".


    The temporary team leader also noticed the abnormal number of people, slightly puzzled, but didn''t think much of it.


    "The number of people this time is a bit small, everyone be careful. Remember the precautions I told you before, alright, disperse..."


    "Yes."


    Everyone dispersed.


    Seeing that the number of peopleing in was significantly reduced, Su''en guessed something and thought to himself: "So he really came in..."


    However, he didn''t rush to enter the restaurant to search for treasures like the others, but found the source of the faint "malice" and followed it.

 Chapter 157: Four corpses, four alchemical objects

    Chapter 157: Four corpses, four alchemical objects


    The cursed space is cut off from the outside world, so if you want to control the death rate, the hunting teams of the five major families must send people in.


    Su''en suspected this possibility and has been keeping an eye on certain suspicious individuals in the team.


    He didn''t want to be someone else''s "fertilizer" while looking for materials.


    He had noticed a faint "malice" in the team before, and after observing for a while, he naturally discovered the man wearing a deer hunting hat.


    The reason why the malice was sometimes present and sometimes absent was because it was directed towards everyone in the team, not just Su''en.


    ......


    More than sixty hunters entered the restaurant one after another, and Su''en followed that guy inside.


    There was no one on the streets outside, but the restaurant was bustling.


    It was an exceptionally luxurious ancient restaurant, with exquisite candlestick-style ssical crystal chandeliers, artistic female body murals, and warm-toned decor that gave off a heavy sense of luxury as soon as you entered.


    In addition to the hunters, there were also some staff members in the lobby, such as the cute receptionist, doorman, and serious-faced security guards in ck trench coats... but these people were all shrouded in a faint ck aura, a sign of contamination.


    Su''en followed the guy with the deer hunting hat and walked straight in.


    The guy seemed to be familiar with theyout of the restaurant and had a clear purpose. As soon as he entered, he headed towards the guest room area, asionally looking back to be vignt of anyone following him.


    Such anti-tracking methods were almost useless for Su''en now.


    He quietly followed, his extremely high nerve reaction speed allowing him to easily anticipate the other person''s movements and avoid them in advance.


    After walking for a while, Su''en saw that the guy stopped in front of room "1021" and pretended to be a smoking guest, waiting there for a while.


    "Huh... Isn''t this room 1021 one of the few rooms that should never be touched? What is this guy doing?"


    Su''en looked slightly curious.


    He didn''t expect the guy to go straight to this room.


    ording to the information he had obtained before, this room should never be opened. Once opened, it could trigger a terrifying wipeout plot, seemingly involving some terrifying "ghost species."


    Is this the key to controlling the death rate?


    Or is it intentionally misleading information leaked by someone?


    Su''en just watched coldly without stopping him.


    He knew that this guy definitely didn''te here to seek death. Since he was doing this, even if there was real danger as rumored, he probably knew some way to survive.


    Moreover, Su''en had previously spected that the background plot of this cursed space in the "1911 Hotel" was likely rted to room 1021.


    Otherwise, why would there be a few special rooms that mysteriously appeared on the same floor with the same level of contamination?


    It was called the "Survival Mode," but in reality, it was also the "Plot Decryption Mode." There was more than one way to clear the cursed space.


    But from the information he had obtained so far, all the information was about how to kill monsters, and there was almost no information about the background plot.


    The hunters were also after wealth, so they probably didn''t want to "meddle" and trigger any high-risk plots. No one would interfere.


    But Su''en was different. He needed something on the second floor.


    The current information about that ce was almost nk, and he needed to collect more useful information.


    Now, watching this sneaky guy with malicious intent enter room 1021, Su''en felt that he must go and take a look.


    And in that moment, he saw the guy with the deer hunting hat take advantage of the waiter''s disappearance and pull out lock-picking tools, fiddling with the door lock.


    ......


    The guy looked around while working on picking the lock.


    "Click, click, click..."


    The lock cylinder made a faint metallic sound as the tool probed for the correct position.


    Su''en leaned against the corner of the corridor and attached a silencer to his gun, calmly and unhurriedly.


    He didn''t even look, but he could clearly distinguish the progress of this guy''s lock-picking from the sound.


    The technique was pretty good, but due to nervousness, he made a few mistakes.


    Then, after waiting for nearly a minute, Su''en heard a "click" sound.


    Listening to the faint sound of the door opening, Su''en suddenly rushed out from the corner.


    He moved extremely fast and appeared in front of the room door in a few strides.


    In the instant before the person could close the door, Su''en grabbed hold of it.


    The man, who was already nervous, was startled when someone grabbed the door.


    Before he could react, a gun was pressed against his head.


    Su''en pushed the guy into the room and casually closed the door.


    "Tell me, what are you doing here?"


    "What... what do you mean..."


    The man''s voice trembled as the gun was pointed at his head.


    Su''enzily looked at the pale-faced guy, not paying attention to him at first, but instead nced around the room.


    The room was very tidy and didn''t look like someone had been living in it.


    However, at first nce, Su''en saw a pair of feet with livor mortis on the white bed.


    "A corpse?"


    Su''en wasn''t surprised.If, as the rumors say, ghosts appear in this room after midnight, then it would make sense for the tenants here to die.


    But looking at the corpse, it seems like it has been dead for a while.


    Because there was a screen blocking the view, Su''en didn''t see the whole picture. He took two steps and wanted to move closer.


    At this moment, the guy opposite him seemed to sense that Su''en''s attention was not on the gun, and he charged forward, wanting to snatch the gun and counterattack.


    Then...


    Su''en easily dodged and the butt of the gun smashed into the man''s head.


    Then, without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.


    "biu~"


    "biu~"


    The special gun with a silencer made a sound.


    Two shots urately shattered the kneecaps, and the man in front of him fell to his knees.


    "Ah..."


    A scream.


    Just as he was about to cry out in pain, Su''en''s gun was pointed at his head, and he coldly said, "If you don''t want your head blown off, shut up."


    The man endured the intense pain, sweat pouring down his forehead, and said, "We''re all scavengers, what... what do you mean?"


    Su''en calmly said, "Tell me, what were you doing in this room, and all the information you know."


    The man wanted to argue and hide his intentions, but listening to that indifferent voice, he had no doubt that as long as he didn''t satisfy the other party with his words, he would be killed immediately.


    He endured the pain and threatened fiercely, "If you kill me, you''re dead too!"


    Su''en ignored his threat because at this moment, he had already seen the body on the bed.


    It was a male corpse with a blood-stained sack over his face.


    With the All-Knowing Eye, information immediately appeared.


    [Faceless Man]


    Exnation: A special resentful corpse containing powerful fire attribute energy; one of the sacrificial materials required for an evil ritual; if the body is damaged or moved out of the room, the practitioner will immediately detect it.


    Upon further examination, the sack on the body''s face turned out to be an alchemical item.


    [Cursed Sack]


    Exnation: Who recognizes you with a sack over your face? This is a sack tainted with special corpse energy, when worn on the head, it is immune to attacks from specific vengeful spirits; it is both a weapon and a restraint against vengeful spirits.


    Evil ritual?


    These words were particrly eye-catching.


    As Su''en read this, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he suddenly realized that things were not so simple.


    His thoughts immediately raced in his mind, and he suddenly guessed the purpose of the forbidden rooms on the first floor.


    Seeing that Su''en seemed a bit dazed, the man with broken legs thought his threat had worked. He sneered and said, "Now that room 1021 is open, you''re dead! If you''re smart, you..."


    But before he could finish his sentence, Su''en interrupted him and said expressionlessly, "Are you trying to say that at midnight, this corpse will turn into a ''ghost seed'' and kill anyone who enters? And if you wear the sack on the corpse''s head, it won''t attack you?"


    As soon as these words were spoken, the man''s confidence vanished, his face went from white to ck, and he pointed at Su''en in disbelief, as if he had seen something even more terrifying than a distorted monster.


    "You... you... you..."


    He roared in his heart, why would someone else know this secret!


    Dragging his broken legs, the man kept retreating, finally leaning against the wall with nowhere to go.


    Su''en nced at him, then pulled the trigger.


    "biu~"


    "biu~"


    Two shots again, breaking the man''s arms.


    Su''en had lost patience with wasting time on this kind of person. "Now that the door is open, is there a way to prevent the corpse from turning into a ghost seed?"


    With his limbs broken, this man had been scared silly by Su''en''s cruel methods.


    His greatest reliance had been exposed, and he knew he had no bargaining capital left. Trembling, he said, "I... I don''t know."


    Su''en asked onest time, "Tell me any information you think will let you live."


    "I... I am a member of the rk family''s exclusive scavenger team..."


    Before the man could finish speaking, a bullet blew off his head.


    Asserting his identity had be oppressive, and there was nothing worth listening to.


    Su''en had no interest in wasting any more time on this kind of person.


    He walked over, took off the sack from the corpse''s head on the bed, and put it away.


    There were still over four hours until midnight, and he didn''t have much time left.


    The body couldn''t be moved or damaged, and Su''en didn''t care. He walked out.


    .......


    To confirm his suspicions, Su''en went directly to the "Room 1055" that was strictly forbidden to open ording to the intelligence.


    This room also had a "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on the door.


    Su''en''s lock-picking skills were much better than the previous guy''s, and he opened the door in less than twenty seconds.


    Then he walked in and saw the hanging corpse, hanging from the ceiling with its feet off the ground, and a sudden realization dawned on him.


    [Hanged Corpse]


    Exnation: A sacrificial material for a certain evil ritual, a wind attribute resentful corpse; if the body is damaged or moved out of the room, the practitioner will immediately detect it.


    The rope hanging the body was also an alchemical item with cursed properties.


    Its function was simr, both to avoid harm from specific evil spirits and to restrain them.Then, Su''en made another trip to "Room 1071", where he found a drowned female corpse in the bathtub and picked up a strand of wet hair.


    He had gathered corpses of water, wind, and fire attributes.


    The previous scavenger team had identified problems with these three rooms, saving Su''en a lot of trouble.


    However, there were still ten rooms, 1090-1099, that had not been explored.


    Thinking it wouldn''t take much time, Su''en decided to check them out before midnight.


    There were three rooms with "Do Not Disturb" signs. Su''en listened at the doors. If there was noise, it meant there were living people inside, so he didn''t need to open them.


    For the rooms without any noise, he would pick the locks and take a look.


    Then, on the bed in "Room 1099", he found an earth-attribute Big Head Grudge Baby corpse and an alchemical item, the Grudge Baby''s Swaddling Clothes.


    Looking at the four almost identical special corpse materials, Su''en had a rough understanding of the "hidden plot" on the first floor.


    Someone had set up an evil ritual and left four corpses in four rooms... perhaps there were more?


    But there were many rooms in the hotel, just the first floor had ny-nine. Searching room by room would definitely not be enough time.


    He thought he should go to the front desk to see who had checked into these rooms, perhaps he could find more clues.


    As for the "magician" he was looking for, there was no rush.


    ording to the intelligence, the magician would not appear until an hourter and would perform in the hotel banquet hall. It wouldn''t be toote to go then.


    ......


    The previous scavengers had risked their lives to test that the previous three rooms were "forbidden rooms".


    Now that Su''en had opened four rooms, it meant that about four ghost species would appear.


    But he didn''t feel much of a crisis.


    After all, having opened a "forbidden room", it was destined that this wave of scavengers would be wiped out.


    Su''en thought that if he could investigate clearly, there might be a chance of survival.


    Moreover...


    Ghost species were indeed powerful, but they were not truly invincible.


    Their usual methods were mental attacks, and they were usually immune to physical damage, so for most scavengers who used physical attacks with guns and knives, they were invincible.


    But in reality... it wasn''t that exaggerated.


    The so-called "ghost species" could not escape the category of energy.


    They could be hurt by magic, or some other magical means.


    For example, the cold me of No Servant.


    As for the mental attacks of the ghost species, they were also graded.


    Ordinary first-order ghost species couldn''t control a healthy human unless they were scared to a very low san value.


    Want to scare Su''en?


    It didn''t seem very realistic.


    Want to control forcibly?


    It probably required a high-ranking ghost species.


    From the information currently known about this space, such an existence would not appear on the first floor of the hotel.


    Things weren''t too bad.


    Besides, that card master had alsoe in, so there was someone to back him up in case of trouble.


    ......


    Without a room key card, Su''en had no right to go to the second floor guarded by guards.


    He thought about it and went to the hotel''s registration front desk.


    Just like thest time in the "Clock Tower Space", there were many ancient people restored in the hotel.


    Guests, waiters, doormen, guards... there were thousands of "living people".


    These NPCs didn''t have much wisdom, they were like programmed robots, only doing certain fixed actions, reacting to certain fixed dialogues.


    They wouldn''t think that these scavengers who suddenly appeared were outsiders.


    As long as you didn''t disturb their normalcy, they would choose to "ignore".


    This time, more than sixty scavengers hade in.


    Obviously, some people thought of getting some useful information from these hotel staff, such as... which room was upied by a rich businessman, a jeweler.


    A direct theft would yield a lot of rewards.


    But obviously, not everyone could check the registration records.


    When Su''en arrived, a few scavengers had just been rebuffed at the front desk and left cursing.


    "Don''t waste your time, those silly front deskdies won''t reveal a word."


    "Yeah, ask a few more times, damn it, they''ll call the guards. If we get caught, it''ll be really bad..."


    "But speaking of which, the girls at the front desk are really good-looking. If it wasn''t for the fact that we can''t force them, I''d really like to try these ancient people..."


    "..."


    Waiting for the few people to leave, Su''en then walked over.


    He didn''t beat around the bush, and directly asked, "Beautifuldy, can you do me a favor?"


    Sure enough, even if they were NPCs, they would react when someoneplimented their beauty.


    The blonde girl changed her previous indifference towards the scavengers, her pretty face was filled with a smile, "Sir, please speak."


    Knowing that conventional methods wouldn''t work, Su''en took out a badge and said mysteriously, "I''m Officer Johnny, this is my badge. I''m here to secretly investigate an important fugitive, so... I''d like to see the room records."

 Chapter 158: By performing magic with magic

    Chapter 158: By performing magic with magic


    This police badge was naturally obtained in the clock tower spacest time.


    Because it was ced in the storage ring, it was brought out directly.


    Su''en originally wanted to give it a try, but he didn''t expect this police badge to be quite useful.


    The blondedy covered her mouth with one hand and suddenly became respectful, calling out softly, "Oh, Officer Johnny, please wait."


    Then, Su''en conveniently saw the registration records.


    After flipping through them, he sessfully found the check-in records for four rooms: 1021, 1055, 1071, and 1099.


    They were all registered under the same person, Teg Gallson.


    It looked like a pseudonym.


    However, the somewhat good news was that only four rooms were registered under this name on the first floor.


    And the two female attendants also described the appearance of the registered man.


    Su''en roughly nced at the half of the rooms on the second floor that were the same as the first floor.


    Then, Su''en looked at the name of the magician who registered for room 2113, Robert Bell.


    Then, he looked at the third floor, which only had ten luxury suites.


    Because he spected that the third floor would be the "source of the curse" of this cursed space, he paid careful attention, especially to the check-in dates.


    There was only one room that was checked in on the same day as the four rooms.


    Su''en looked at the name of the tenant of that room and asked, "Do you remember Miss Gloya Garry in room 3001?"


    This question triggered a special conversation.


    The blonde girl seemed to remember something and responded, "Oh, she was an old nun. It happened to be my shift that day, so I remember it well. Because the guests on the third floor are all VIPs, the doorman would help them with their luggage. And that old nun brought a big suitcase... The doorman offered to help her with her luggage, but she didn''t allow it and carried it up herself."


    An old nun?


    A big suitcase?


    When Su''en heard these two key words, he suddenly thought of something.


    In Dawn City, nuns were a very rare profession. As far as Su''en knew, there was only one discovered monastery ruins.


    Coincidentally, he personally experienced one, which was the "White Monastery" where the Weeping Witch was located.


    And before entering the space, Su''en had already identified that the "curse source" of this 1911 Hotel was a "superior-level biological limb".


    So when he heard this information, he immediately guessed, "It seems that the pollution source should be in that suitcase. In that case, the seal ced on the White Monastery back then was sealing this..."


    Su''en had already figured out some of the ins and outs of the matter by this point.


    He felt that he probably knew who the old nun was.


    .......


    Su''en chatted with the two registration attendants at the front desk for a while and roughly extracted all the information they could provide.


    Calcting the time, he nned to go to the banquet hall to watch the magician''s performance.


    Everything else was not important, obtaining advanced materials was the top priority.


    Unfortunately, as soon as he left the front desk, he was blocked by two hunters at the corner of the corridor.


    One of them, a guy with a modified mechanical arm, nced at Su''en and said with a smirk, "Hey, buddy, you''ve been chatting with those two front desk girls for so long, you must have gathered a lot of information, right?"


    Su''en had actually noticed that the two had been observing him before and guessed their intentions, so he didn''t give them a good face. "So what?"


    They were from the "Scorpion Squad," and the squad leader was the temporary captain who came in this time. He was a somewhat famous veteran. Among the sixty-plus people who came in this time, this squad ounted for half, so they had absolute authority.


    The man looked at Su''en''s uncooperative expression and reminded with a smile, "Wow, buddy, you''re quite impressive. I''ve never heard of anyone being able to extract information from those two front desk girls. What did you say to them?"


    The other person also showed off the pistol at his waist and smirked, "Share the information with us. Since we''re exploring the space together, it''s fate. Let''s make a fortune together."


    Their intentions were already very clear.


    They wanted to forcefully obtain the information.


    This kind of situation wasmon in the wilderness. Hunters were characters who risked their lives to make money, and not many of them were good-natured.


    Embezzlement, smuggling, coercion...


    Ordinary lone hunters could only suffer in silence.


    Su''en knew that he was being treated as an easy target, so he didn''t even raise his eyebrows when he saw the guns they revealed.


    He didn''t bother with them.


    Killing someone here would definitely attract the attention of the hotel security, and getting into trouble would greatly affect his subsequent ns.


    He nced at the two and simply walked away.


    The two men were stunned for a moment when they saw Su''en''s attitude, then caught up with him angrily, shouting, "Hey, are you deaf? Didn''t you hear me talking?!"


    While listening to the other party pulling out their guns, Su''en calmly asked, "Do you dare to shoot?"


    At the same time, he noticed that the security guards'' attention had already been drawn over, and the killing intent in their eyes disappeared.


    He sneered and ignored the two guys who were just bluffing, and walked away directly.


    .......


    Scorpion Squad?


    If they really want to, I don''t mind sending them off early...


    Su''en didn''t waste time entangling with these two insignificant characters and went straight to the hotel''s banquet hall.


    It was dinner time now, and almost all the tenants in the hotel were dining here.


    This was the best time to observe the situation of the guests in each room.


    But the banquet hall had security guards, and you needed to show your room key card and meal ticket to enter.


    When Su''en arrived, there were already seven or eight hunters squatting there. They asionally approached and tried to extract some information from the passing guests.


    But obviously, the results were minimal.


    These NPCs directly ignored those "strange" behaviors that were beyond their understanding.


    Su''en walked straight past them, showing the room key card and meal ticket he had just obtained from the front desk attendant, and walked in.


    This action naturally made several hunters at the door very puzzled.


    "Huh... Wasn''t that guy just a hunter with us?"


    "He doesn''t have ck aura on him, so he must be a hunter."


    "It''s strange, how did he get the room key card?"


    "..."The hunters were not unable to infiltrate the banquet hall, but they all used shady methods. Some assassins climbed walls and sneaked in, some disguised themselves as maids and infiltrated, and some attracted the attention of the guards and sneaked in...


    But none of them entered so openly.


    Seeing Su''en''s actions, the hunters were naturally amazed.


    At this time, the two members of the "Scorpion Squad" that he had encountered at the front desk had also escaped from the guards and happened to witness this scene.


    Seeing Su''en enter, the mechanical-arm man''s face turned pale and he cursed angrily, "Damn it, that guy must have obtained some important information at the front desk. Wood, you stay here and inform the boss!"


    ......


    The banquet hall was lively, with about one or two hundred people dining.


    The lights were dazzling, illuminating the restaurant with an orange glow.


    Well-dressed gentlemen in suits anddies in low-cut dresses were elegantly dining.


    The tables were filled with various delicious-looking foods and fruits.


    On the stage not far away, geishas were performing passionate and hot dances.


    Su''en found a seat where he could see the stage directly and nced at the dining guests. He didn''t see the nun or the man described as "Tiger Gerson" who had booked four rooms.


    Just as he sat down, a petite and cute waitress in a ck maid outfit with a professional smile walked over and said, "Sir, would you like to order?"


    Su''en nced at the delicious food on the neighboring table and gestured, "Bring me a portion of that."


    As he spoke, he handed her a coin as a tip.


    The waitress smiled and bowed deeply, "Alright, sir. Please wait a moment."


    By midnight, these waitresses would transform into monstrous creatures with sharp teeth and ws. They were called "Bloody Maids" in the intelligence, known for chasing and biting people.


    Su''en didn''t pay much attention and shifted his gaze elsewhere.


    The singing was pleasant and captivating.


    The performers on the stage were dancers from the "Swan Dance Troupe," and their registration records were at the front desk.


    Originally, Su''en came to the banquet hall mainly to wait for the magician to perform.


    Because he was afraid of missing some special NPCs, his left eye was constantly emitting a gleam, in a state of continuous release of the All-Knowing Eye.


    But unexpectedly, he gained something else.


    At this moment, as he looked at the enchanting and charming lead singer on the stage, his eyes suddenly changed.


    When he appraised the other NPCs in the restaurant, all their names disyed were Contaminated Ancient Human Remnant Manifestation.


    But the lead singer performing on the stage actually had a name disyed: Contaminated Dance Diva Barbara Remnant Manifestation!


    Su''en looked at the woman on the stage who was disying her charm, and suddenly felt a familiar sensation.


    She was so stunning that it seemed like a filter had been applied to her visual impact, clearly showing her high charm value.


    This made Su''en immediately think of the mafia boss Sabina, and a thought popped into his mind: "Could she also be a woman with the ''Charm Demon'' talent? Is she an ancient alchemist?"


    Obviously, having a name meant that she was different from others.


    And there was no information about this Barbara from the outside world.


    Because she was a second-floor guest.


    Su''en recalled the registration records he had checked earlier. She was staying in room 2115, right next to the magician in room 2113.


    The performance on the stage continued.


    As Su''en looked at the fair and beautiful singer, instead of thinking of anything seductive, his first reaction was, "If this woman distorts into a monster, it would be quite troublesome..."


    He thought of Sabina''s psychic attacks and frowned.


    If she turned into a monster, herbat power would definitely be off the charts.


    But...


    Why would an alchemist go to a dance troupe?


    Ande to think of it, that "magician" Edward also seemed to be here to perform?


    Su''en thought of something and a pensive look appeared in his eyes.


    ......


    Before Su''en could think too much, a waiter pushed a food cart over and started serving the dishes.


    Although it was a cursed space, the things were real.


    Colorful fruits, golden-brown roasted chicken, fine wine, and various exquisite dishes...


    A thousand years ago, these delicacies were a luxury.


    Su''en took a bite of a fruit, which was sweet and juicy.


    In Old Lingdun, fruits were luxury items, especially those that had never been seen before.


    But before he could take a few more bites, the dance troupe finished their performance.


    Then, several boxes were brought up.


    It was time for the magic show.


    A handsome man in a tailcoat and a top hat walked onto the stage and bowed deeply to the audience in a gentlemanly manner.


    Su''en looked at him and squinted his eyes slightly because this guy was also appraised with a name: Contaminated Magician Edward Remnant Manifestation.


    After the apuse, Edward began his performance.


    He first conjured a cane out of thin air, twirled it a few times, and then squeezed it, causing it to explode into ribbons and disappear...


    Then he took off his hat and pulled out live rabbits, doves...


    After that, he performed a teleportation through space.


    There were two cabs on the stage, about a foot off the ground and covered with ck cloth. He entered one of them and pulled the ck curtain closed.


    The next second, the ck curtain of the cab several meters away was pulled open, and he walked out with a smile...


    These were all seemingly ordinary magic tricks,


    But Su''en watched with shining eyes, and waves surged in his heart.


    He thought of a saying.


    Some people, under the guise of performing magic, are actually casting spells.


    He was certain that this guy named Edward wasn''t just performing magic just now, but actually cast a spatial spell!


    With the All-Knowing Eye, the illusionary magic had almost no effect.


    If it was a prop, it would be immediately appraised.


    For example, if the hat had a hiddenpartment, it would be appraised as Hat with Hidden Compartment. But now, it was simply disyed as a normal Top Hat!


    And the two cabs used for the teleportation didn''t disy Cabs with Mechanisms, but simply Normal Cabs!


    This guy just now went from one cab to another, not using any twin substitutes or secret doors...The magician had truly teleported!


    Upon seeing this, Su''en immediately confirmed that this Edward was a professional who had mastered spatial abilities.


    Retrieving objects from a distance...


    Spatial discement...


    The abilities demonstrated by this magician perfectly matched all of Su''en''s expectations for his second-tier career nning.


    "This magician is incredibly agile, he must have a high level of ''skill'' enhancement. Coupled with the ability to teleport, he is excellent in both self-defense and attack. If he can produce advanced materials, I suspect he would be highlypatible with my ''Puppeteer'' profession!"


    Su''en watched the performance on stage, his eyes slightly trembling.


    However, while he was hopeful, he suddenly showed a hint of difficulty, muttering to himself, "He has the ability to teleport, I''m afraid even the ck Scythe can''t kill him..."


    ......


    Su''en''s previous n was to kill this magician and take his professional materials before midnight, that is, before the pollution urred, once he confirmed that the magician possessed the spatial abilities he needed.


    Otherwise, there might be unexpected changes after the mutation.


    But now, having seen some of the professional techniques Edward demonstrated in his performance, Su''en immediately realized that even without the mutation, he was not confident he could kill this magician!


    There were no signs of a seal or an alchemy array lighting up, which meant that this guy had mastered spatial abilities.


    Even if he tried to ambush him with an invisible zombie, Su''en felt that he might not seed and instead get beaten up.


    Being killed by an NPC meant real death!


    However, spatial materials were hard toe by.


    Having finally encountered a cursed space that could produce them, Su''en was still hoping that this special NPC would drop spatial professional materials. He couldn''t just give up.


    But he couldn''t beat him by force, so he had to think of other ways.


    "This is a bit troublesome..."


    Su''en couldn''t wait until midnight.


    Because he found it hard to imagine how tricky this ability user would be after turning into a monster.


    Was the second floor an "A+" difficulty?


    No!


    If these two mutated, the rating would at least be "S-ss", or even higher!


    Thinking of this, Su''en quickly stood up and headed directly towards the backstage.


    Because he had thought of a breakthrough.


    A performance team hiding two powerful alchemists was clearly the hidden "main plot" in the background story of this cursed space!


    If he couldn''t kill them directly, what about a "plot kill"?

 Chapter 159: See the symbol "§" again

    Chapter 159: See the symbol "¡ì" again


    ording to the original plot, the "contamination" will only ur at midnight, and everyone in the 1911 Hotel will be strange.


    The scavengerse in to collect materials, just to act after midnight, because ordinary people will transform into strange beings, and then curse materials will appear.


    But Su''en couldn''t wait until that time.


    If the magician really transforms, Su''en feels even less confident in killing him.


    Moreover, all four "forbidden rooms" on the first floor have been opened, and he feels that there may be other changes in the contamination event tonight.


    To solve the problem, he needs to act early.


    ......


    Su''en walked towards the stage and then entered the backstage through the staff channel.


    He nned to intercept the magician when he came off the stage because he heard from the intelligence that no one had seen the magician after he came off the stage.


    Su''en thought that he might use his spatial ability to teleport away, so he could only guard him in the backstage.


    After the stage, there was the dressing room, which was slightly narrow.


    The "Swan Ballet Troupe" dancers were changing clothes here.


    There were staff members guarding the entrance. Su''en took off his hat, revealed his face, and showed his police badge. He was not stopped and walked in.


    The dancers were used to changing clothes temporarily during performances and didn''t mind not having separate dressing rooms. When Su''en walked in, he saw the young girls in tight and graceful costumes changing in the narrow dressing room.


    When the girls saw a strange man walking in, they were startled at first, covering their exposed bodies. But when they saw Su''en''s handsome face, the dancers instantly calmed down. No one screamed orughed, but instead whispered and giggled. Some of them were bold enough to smile flirtatiously at him.


    "Hey handsome, who are you looking for?"


    "I''m looking for Mr. Edward."


    "Oh, what a pity. I thought you were here to invite our leader, Barbara, to dinner..."


    "..."


    Su''en smiled politely at these beautiful girls as he walked past them.


    He wanted to walk to the backstage exit and wait for the magician so that he wouldn''t disappear from his sight.


    After walking past, he saw a small dressing room next to the dressing room, separated by a curtain. Miss Barbara, the lead singer, was changing clothes and removing makeup inside.


    The lighting was bright, and arge makeup mirror reflected her enchanting face.


    Su''en saw the enchanting woman with her red lips in the mirror, and the woman saw him too.


    "What''s the matter, handsome? Are you lost?"


    Her voice was soft and seductive, making people''s bones feel weak.


    Su''en looked at the woman turning around, and his gaze was involuntarily attracted to her rose-colored bright red lips.


    It was as if those red lips had endless magic, making it impossible to look away.


    This was a mental suggestion with a bit of psychic power, which made people let down their guard.


    Su''en narrowed his eyes slightly and guessed that this woman was probably a professional with the talent of a "Subus".


    He was afraid that this woman would use some kind of hypnosis, so he directly showed his police badge. "I want to wait for Mr. Edward. I have something to consult him about."


    Barbara looked at the police badge, her eyebrows curved, and her tone became even more sticky. "Oh? A police officer... What can I do for you if you''re looking for Mr. Edward?"


    Su''en didn''t sense any malice, nor did he let his guard down. He said calmly, "Some official business."


    Although Su''en thought that this woman probably knew the magician, he still wanted to wait andmunicate with Edward.


    Upon hearing this, Barbara smiled charmingly and pointed to the chair beside her, saying, "Handsome police officer,e and sit? Mr. Edward will take a while to finish his performance..."


    Su''en nced at her and didn''t want to get too close to this psychic professional. He declined the alluring invitation, "I have official business to attend to. I won''t sit."


    Because Barbara was changing clothes, she was also dressed quite revealingly. As she spoke, Su''en''s peripheral vision unintentionally swept across her deep cleavage.


    By the way, do women with the talent of a Subus have such a captivating figure?


    Barbara covered her mouth and chuckled, also catching that gaze. But she didn''t mind, instead, she smiled yfully and proudly disyed her attractive figure, teasing, "Handsome police officer, what are you looking at?"


    "..."


    Su''en remained unchanged.


    He felt that this was probably a professional habit of a Subus.


    Just as these few words were spoken, the stairs in the backstage suddenly made a sound.


    A man in a tailcoat came down, and it was Edward the magician.


    The ambiguous atmosphere instantly dissipated, and Barbara said to Edward, "Mr. Edward, this police officer says he has something to discuss with you."


    When Edward heard "police officer," it seemed to trigger something, and he finally looked at Su''en, whom he had originally nned to ignore.


    Su''en directly showed his police badge and said, "I am Officer Johnny from the Clock Tower District. I have been ordered to investigate something. Please cooperate, Mr. Edward."


    Edward seemed to have thought of something and asked, "Clock Tower District?"


    Su''en received a response and immediately knew that he had guessed correctly: these two alchemists hidden in the crowd hade for the old nun.


    Edward nced at Su''en for a moment and continued to ask, "Officer, what are you here to investigate? And how can I cooperate?"


    Su''en didn''t sense any malice, which meant that the four bodies in the four rooms were probably unrted to these two in front of him.


    Now, he was even more confident in how to use this plot.


    He said directly, "Have you heard of the ''White Convent''?"


    Upon hearing this, Edward''s expression froze, and he frowned, "Oh, of course, I remember. It''s a convent in the Clock Tower District of the East City. But... Officer Johnny, can you be more specific about why you''re looking for me? Does it have something to do with this convent?"These people look like living beings, but in fact, they are advanced NPCs that only react to certain specific plots.


    Su''en needs to trigger the plot, so he says directly, "A senior nun took something very dangerous from the monastery, which may contaminate others. And I have investigated and found clues that she came to this hotel. But in the process, I discovered some other things, so I need Mr. Edward''s cooperation..."


    Having said that, Edward didn''t continue pretending to be unaware and smiled, "Officer Johnny, your investigative ability is truly astonishing."


    As he spoke, he took out his identification.


    This action surprised Su''en.


    He originally wanted to ask Edward to assist in the investigation and guide him to see the four bodies, and then find an opportunity to provoke a conflict between him and the evil practitioner, and then find another chance...


    But unexpectedly, this guy directly took out a badge from his pocket, and the symbol on it was a golden coiled snake with a "" symbol.


    Taking out the badge was meant to show his identity.


    But, what''s with this symbol again?


    The other party thought he was a Dawn City patrol officer, so he should recognize this badge.


    But he didn''t.


    Su''en didn''t show any expression of doubt, but instead remained silent, waiting for the other party to introduce himself.


    Sure enough, Edward politely exined, "This incident has exceeded the scope of the police station''s handling. Therefore, it is now under the jurisdiction of our Special Operations Department. Leave the matter here to us."


    Pausing for a moment, he added, "Praise your dedication, Officer Johnny."


    So that''s how it is?


    After hearing this exnation, Su''en immediately understood.


    This Edward and Barbara are both official personnel from Dawn City who handle abnormal events!


    .......


    After speaking, Edward seemed like he was about to leave.


    But...


    The reason why this hotel has be a cursed space means that a thousand years ago, they failed to stop this incident.


    The midnight contamination incident is a reenactment of the tragedy from back then.


    If Su''en were to leave here, things would definitely return to their original trajectory.


    Although Su''en has the alchemical items he obtained from the four bodies, there is a high probability that he can survive until midnight.


    But he still needs spatial materials!


    So he definitely won''t let Edward leave like this.


    Moreover, since Room 1021 was opened, it was destined that this hunting team might be wiped out.


    Now that they have the official personnel from Dawn City, perhaps they can solve the problem on the first floor in advance?


    In an instant, Su''en''s thoughts raced in his mind, quickly weighing the pros and cons of the identification matter.


    Will changing the plot too drastically cause certain butterfly effects?


    He didn''t know what would happen in the end if he changed the plot like this, but...


    But upon careful consideration, it seems that this is the most likely choice to achieve his goal.


    And recalling Mr. ck''s tone of speechst night, they have enough understanding of this cursed space.


    It means that there is someone hiding in the team who has the ability to deal with various emergencies.


    Thinking of this, Su''en no longer hesitated and said directly, "Um... Mr. Edward, since you are handling this matter, I am relieved. However, I have obtained some information here, I don''t know if you are aware of it..."


    Hearing this, Edward turned his head and nced at him, "Oh?"


    Su''en said, "I previously investigated the check-in records and found that there was another guy named ''Tage Galsen'' who checked in at the same time as Sister Elizabeth. He booked four rooms and ced four strange bodies in them. They are the Faceless Man, Hanged Corpse, Drowned Woman, and Big-Headed Resentful Infant... It seems like they are conducting some kind of evil ritual."


    Upon hearing this, Edward and Barbara''s faces changed drastically, obviously they knew what these four bodies meant!


    Edward said, "Four Sinful Spirits'' Fallen Sacrificial Formation! Damn it, she wants to open the ''Sealed Object'' in this hotel!"


    Su''en confirmed that they didn''t know about the bodies.


    Edward''s expression suddenly became serious, and he muttered to himself, "I hope we can stop it in time..."


    Su''en looked at the word "contaminated" on their heads and felt it necessary to remind them, so he said, "Have you considered that you may have already been contaminated?"


    Upon hearing this, the two of them exchanged a nce, their eyes filled with seriousness.


    The enchanting expression on Barbara''s face disappeared, and she suddenly formed a warlock seal, as if she was casting some kind of spiritual spell.


    After a few breaths, she looked at Edward with an unpleasant expression and said heavily, "Someone of higher-levelws has blinded our perception. If nothing unexpected happens... Officer Johnny''s words are correct, we, and even everyone in this hotel, have already been contaminated."


    "..."


    Edward fell into silence.


    However, there was a more determined look on his face.


    He looked at Su''en and said, "Officer Johnny, this matter is of great importance, and we may need your help."


    Su''en looked at him with a puzzled look, knowing that he might have changed the main plot.


    Edward resolutely said, "If we are really contaminated, please make sure to kill us before you discover our abnormalities!"


    As he spoke, he nced at the position not far behind Su''en, where the invisible zombies were standing.


    Sure enough, this spatial ability user had already discovered the presence of the invisible zombies.


    Upon hearing this request, Su''en showed a difficult expression, hesitated for a moment, and then agreed, "Alright!"


    He never expected that after racking his brains to figure out how to obtain the materials, the other party would mention it voluntarily.


    In the situation tonight, they are one hundred percent going to be abnormal.


    With their cooperation, he doesn''t need to ambush them at all, and the difficulty of killing them instantly decreases by a hundred times.


    But...


    Does this mean I have to be ready to move with them at any moment?


    At this point, Edward spoke again, "This information is crucial, but I need to gather mypanions. Those four corpses must be destroyed first."


    .......


    Su''en followed Edward out of the dressing room.


    They were going to contact his colleagues in the hotel.


    In order not to alert the enemy, they agreed to take action five minutester, first to clear the bodies in the four rooms.


    Su''en knew that touching those corpses would immediately alert the caster of the evil ritual.


    The battle might break out ahead of schedule.


    But things seemed fine for now, at least nothing in the hotel had been distorted yet.


    Edward and his team would investigate this matter, naturally, they had some strength.


    Su''en didn''t think the oue would be one-sided.


    Leaving the banquet hall, Su''en originally nned to find a ce to prepare for battle.


    Unexpectedly, he was blocked.


    The leader of the "Sand Scorpion" group, Gallup, leading more than a dozen of his group members, had been waiting in the corridor.

 Chapter 160: Creating black holes with hands

    Chapter 160: Creating ck holes with hands


    The members of the Scorpion Squad watched Edward and Barbarae out and followed Su''en''s lead to approach them for information.


    "Hey, Mr. Edward..."


    "Oh, beautiful Miss Barbara..."


    "..."


    No matter what opening line they used, as long as it didn''t trigger any keywords, the two key NPCspletely ignored these "outsiders" and left directly.


    The other hunters were left disappointed and turned their attention to Su''en, who came outter.


    "Hey, you!"


    Gallop''s face darkened as he stopped Su''en.


    Without beating around the bush, he bluntly asked, "What did you say to those two guys just now?"


    ...


    Su''en had long noticed that the Scorpion Squad was watching his every move, from entering the banquet hall to entering the backstage... until now.


    Seeing these guys with obvious ill intentions, he furrowed his brows.


    Exining any further would be a waste of time.


    Su''en had no intention of paying attention to this group of people and ignored Gallop''s words. However, when he tried to leave, he was blocked by members of the Scorpion Squad, each with a gun or knife in hand.


    Only then did he coldly ask, "What do you want?"


    Gallop asked again, "What did you say to those two ancient people just now?"


    Su''en''s brows furrowed at the intimidating aura and he retorted, "Do I have an obligation to exin to you?"


    After all, he was the leader of a prestigious hunting squad, and Gallop naturally couldn''t openly demand information.


    He said firmly, "I already told you when I came in, don''t trigger any special plot. Did you ignore my words?"


    At this moment, one of theckeys stepped forward, pretending to be reasonable, and said, "Captain Gallop is right! Those two ancient people are guests on the second floor. If they don''t go up by midnight, we''re all dead. So, you must give us an exnation!"


    The demand for an exnation was false, but the request for information was true.


    Since the discovery of this cursed space, one or two thousand people had entered. Anyone with discerning eyes could tell that the "Magician" and the "Songstress" were not ordinary, but no one had ever heard of anyone being able to extract useful information from them.


    The hunters were also well aware that the first floor was just an appetizer, and the real treasures were on the second or third floor with the VIPs.


    Discovering some alchemical knowledge or alchemical items at random would definitely be an opportunity to get rich overnight.


    Now that someone had stumbled upon a "trick", how could they not be envious?


    Seeing Su''en''s attitude of wanting to "monopolize" everything, Gallop threatened again, "You better make it clear. Otherwise, if anyone triggers any dangerous plot, I don''t mind taking them out first."


    ...


    Su''en originally didn''t mind exining a few words.


    It wasn''t that Su''en wanted to kill them, but rather the five major family hunting squads outside.


    From the moment the 1021 room opened, it was destined that the hunting squad entering the cursed space this time would be wiped out. If you don''t trigger the plot, you will definitely die, but if you do trigger it, you might have a chance to survive...


    However, the malice around him was like needles.


    This guy really had murderous intent.


    Su''en''s face no longer showed any expression, and he calmly asked, "Do you want to kill me?"


    Gallop snorted coldly, and it was self-evident: you know it.


    However, no one expected that Su''en, like a reckless youth,pletely didn''t understand the situation.


    He just casually said, "Oh."


    Oh?


    Seeing that Su''en waspletely disrespectful, Gallop''s face turned iron blue.


    Theckeys of the Scorpion Squad were also unhappy, like cats whose tails had been stepped on, they exploded on the spot.


    "Kid, our captain is talking to you nicely, and you dare to ignore him? Do you really think we won''t touch you now that we have security guards?!"


    "Captain Gallop, don''t waste your breath on this kind of person. I say, if he doesn''t give us a satisfactory exnation, let''s just tie him up and throw him in the wine cer to die."


    "..."


    The hunting squad no longer concealed their intentions, and their questioning turned into a tant threat to their lives.


    Without the hotel security guards, someone would have died long ago.


    But it wouldn''t be Su''en, it would be them.


    Blocked again, Su''en became a little impatient with their entanglement.


    He was no longer polite and said, "Get lost."


    The Scorpion Squad''s ruffians didn''t develop their arrogance in just one or two days. They were used to being overbearing, so how could they tolerate such arrogance?


    As soon as Su''en spoke, someone immediately jumped out and said, "Kid, who the hell do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like that?"


    At this point, Su''en no longer concealed his killing intent and a hint of mockery appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    He tilted his head and looked at the group of people, "My name... If you know it, you''ll die. Are you sure you want to know?"


    When Gallop heard this, his heart trembled inexplicably.


    He realized that he might have encountered a tough opponent.


    Why would someone be so arrogant if they didn''t have a background?


    But, this was the cursed space!


    Heh... If there really was a background, offending them would make it even more impossible for them to leave alive!


    Gallop''s eyes grew colder.


    Although the members of the Scorpion Squad were intimidated by this aura, it was impossible for more than a dozen people to back down just like that.


    The deputy captain raised his head arrogantly and sneered, "Hahaha... Am I scared? Come on, tell me, what''s your fucking name? I''ll die if I hear it!"


    This time, Su''en didn''t waste any words and calmly said, "Oh... My name is Su''en."


    With that, he didn''t look back and left directly from the crowd.


    This time, no one dared to stop him.


    ...


    He said... his name is Su''en?


    This name seemed to have a magical power.


    Everyone''s hearts were filled with confusion.


    This name seemed familiar, but they couldn''t recall it in an instant.


    No, it should be said that no one dared to think about it.


    The group of people looked at each other, seeing the doubt and the inexplicable unease in each other''s eyes.


    After a while, someone finally voiced the possibility that almost everyone had thought of, trembling as they said, "It seems... the recently notorious S-rank wanted criminal... is called... Su''en."As soon as he spoke, it seemed as if the whole world fell silent.


    Their gazes turned towards the departing figure, finally understanding where his confidence came from.


    They suddenly realized that his previous words were not a threat, but the truth.


    In this world, it was a grave offense to reveal the face of a bandit or announce the name of a wanted criminal.


    If he really was the "S-Rank Wanted Criminal," would he let these people who knew his identity live?


    In that instant, they all heard the sound of swallowing saliva.


    Even the leader of the Scorpion Squad, Gallop, had a pale face.


    Even though the man had his back turned to them, Gallop didn''t dare to draw his gun.


    A ruthless character who made it onto the S-Rank Wanted List had the strength to kill second-tier professionals. Could they, a small hunting squad, provoke him?


    Although they regretted it, it was toote.


    Gallop''s face turned dark.


    "Boss, what if he really is ''Su''en''?"


    "So what if he''s a wanted criminal? Do you think I''ll kneel and beg for mercy? Fuck that! We''ll take him down before midnight. I don''t believe he has three heads and six arms with all this weird shit going on! Let''s not hunt anymore, let''s make some money today!"


    "Yes, he didn''t dare to make a move because he''s also wary of the guards. We can even find an opportunity to provoke a conflict and let the guards arrest him. By then, even if he is the wanted criminal, we can use the rules of space to kill him!"


    "..."


    As soon as he said that, the others also agreed.


    .......


    The Scorpion Squad didn''t have the courage to shoot on the spot.


    Su''en also didn''t bother with them.


    He walked over and met Edward and Barbara who had juste downstairs.


    They had juste down from the second floor and brought along a newpanion, an olddy in a ck robe with tattoos all over her face.


    Edward introduced Su''en to theirpanion, "This is Mrs. Aqiman, she is an Exorcist and is skilled in dealing with dark arts. We have anotherpanion who wille downter."


    "Okay."


    Su''en didn''t say much and led the three of them to the door of room 1021.


    He used lockpicking techniques to open the door.


    Edward and the others went in first, and then they saw the corpse on the bed.


    The olddy with tattoos on her face also had a solemn expression and said, "This is indeed the corpse of the ''Faceless Man.'' Destroying the corpse will immediately alert the spellcaster."


    Edward sighed, "The people in the hotel should have already been contaminated, there''s no need to evacuate. Let''s prepare for battle."


    Barbara didn''t say anything, but at this moment, she had alreadypleted her Subus transformation. Her pupils turned red and a tail grew out. A strange pink mist enveloped her entire body.


    Su''en didn''t get close, but stood far away, hiding his body behind the invisible zombie.


    Just as they were about to destroy the corpse, a man with a crew cut suddenly arrived.


    Edward and the others recognized him and greeted him, "Rosco, you''re here."


    But as soon as this person entered, Su''en''s pupils suddenly contracted.


    He looked at the man''s unusuallyrge earlobes and immediately thought of the description given by the receptionist.


    Terrifyingly, Su''en eximed in his heart, "This guy is the one who booked these four rooms... Teg Galsen!"


    Identifying him, the name above this guy''s head was also "Rosco the Enchanted Beast Tamer."


    .......


    Enchanted?


    This guy set up these four corpses!


    It turned out that it wasn''t just the old nun, there was also a mole in Edward''s team.


    Su''en could even guess that a thousand years ago, these people failed to handle this incident, most likely because of this guy.


    However, even though he discovered this, Su''en''s face showed no signs of surprise.


    Since the person had arrived, there was no need to say anything. They would definitely fight.


    Three against one, the advantage was still on their side.


    He didn''t dare to reveal the truth, for fear of being targeted by the "Enchanted Rosco." Instead, he silently took out the Puppet and activated the Warlock Seal, quietly removing his disguise...


    Edward and the others looked at Su''en''s Spider Spear nting Equipment, slightly raising their eyebrows, but they didn''t say anything.


    At this moment, the olddy had already taken out some red crystals and alchemical powder, intending to destroy the corpse.


    Suddenly, the crew-cut man made a move!


    Without any warning, he extended his hands and in the blink of an eye, they turned into two spotted venomous snakes. Opening their mouths, they bit towards the necks of the magician in front of him and the olddy in the ck robe.


    Edward sensed the danger and his figure suddenly shed, appearing several meters away.


    But the olddy in the ck robe couldn''t dodge in time and was bitten on the neck by the venomous snake.


    "Rosco, what are you doing!"


    "Be careful, he''s already contaminated!"


    "..."


    Several urgent shouts.


    Rosco''s face was expressionless, and ck energy surged all over his body. An alchemical array lit up under his feet, and in the next second, thousands of spotted venomous snakes suddenly flooded into the entrance of room 1021!


    Each venomous snake had bloody mouths and venomous fangs, rushing towards the people in the room.


    What was even more eerie was that under the corpse of the "Faceless Man" on the bed, a gray alchemical array suddenly lit up.


    The corpse... stood up straight!


    Su''en''s scalp tingled as he silently took out the sack he had previously taken from the corpse and put it over his head.


    Through the gaps in the sack, he watched everything in the room.


    There was no need for him to fight.


    .......


    The crew-cut man suddenly turned against them, catching Edward and the others off guard.


    But that didn''t mean the three of them had no power to fight back.


    The ck-robed olddy was bitten on the neck by the venomous snake, and her face instantly turned ck, a sign of death.


    However, at this moment, she also took out a ck cloth doll and sprayed a mouthful of ck blood onto it.


    Upon closer inspection, her face instantly regained a healthy color.


    As they watched the tide of venomous snakes rushing in, Edward''s hands rapidly changed the Warlock Seal, and a ck hexagram array lit up under his feet.


    Then, a miraculous scene urred.


    Su''en looked at the space in the palms of Edward''s hands, which suddenly twisted.In the blink of an eye, it was as if the "canvas" of space had been forcibly torn apart, turning into two increasinglyrge ck whirlpools. The tide-like venomous snakes surged in, but before they could wreak havoc, they were suddenly swallowed by a powerful suction force into the two ck whirlpools in the palms, disappearing to an unknown destination.


    Su''en watched this battle scene from the side, his heart filled with shock: "Creating ck holes with hands? Is this... is this spatial ability so outrageous?!"


    He was also grateful that he had not nned to directly ambush this magician before.


    This move hadpletely dumbfounded Su''en, who had never seen such spatial abilities.


    ......


    On the other hand, the battle in the room was still ongoing.


    Barbara had transformed into a subus, her body exploding into a cloud of pink mist. When she reappeared, she was already enveloping the bald man.


    But the next moment, a delicate shout came: "Roscoe has beenpletely corrupted, I can''t control him!"


    Before the words fell, the bald man''s skin suddenly began to swell, and huge tumors bulged out from his body, tearing his clothes... He was about to turn into a monstrous creature.


    "Kill him!"


    Edward made a decisive decision, shouting sharply.


    He closed the ck hole in his palm, sped his hands together in a gesture of squeezing space, and the space around the bald man seemed to solidify, his body suddenly stiffening there.


    A cold light shed in the pink mist, and before the monstrous creature that the bald man had turned into could go berserk, a huge head rolled to the ground.


    The old woman in ck breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the corpse in the room, she said: "The four resentful corpses have been resurrected. Killing one alone, they will resurrect indefinitely. We must kill all four at the same time, or kill the caster to break the curse!"


    Edward also shouted: "Hurry to the third floor! The old nun must have been heavily corrupted! Fortunately, we knew the n in advance, let''s kill her before she is fully demonized!"


    The change happened too quickly, and the group had no time to hesitate.


    Without saying another word, Edward and the others rushed out.


    The battle came suddenly and ended just as suddenly.


    From the appearance of the bald man to now, in just a few moments, there were no more snakes in room 1021, and no more people...


    All that was left was a decapitated corpse on the ground, and a stiff corpse of the "Faceless Man" on the bed.


    Oh, and Su''en, with a sack over his head, in the corner.


    ......


    Outside, gunshots had already sounded, and the NPCs in the hotel seemed to have started to mutate.


    Su''en looked at the two corpses in the room, muttering to himself: "The plot seems to have gone awry..."


    The person who booked the room was Edward''s teammate, which he hadn''t expected.


    But... it didn''t seem to make much difference.


    They had to fight anyway.


    The only difference was that the "Ghost Fog" that was supposed to erupt at midnight hade two hours early.


    He didn''t know whether this was good or bad.


    Su''en wanted to leave the room, but at that moment, he saw the "Faceless Man''s Corpse" suddenly bloom. Then, from the petals, a pistil grew, and several meters long, tumor-filled, flesh-colored tentacles swayed out...


    Those seven or eight tentacles, like snake tongues, probed around in the air, seemingly searching for living beings by scent.


    Su''en didn''t move, the information he identified was exactly the same as what the old woman in ck had just said.


    "Demonized Faceless Man''s Corpse"


    Exnation: A bizarre second-order silver zombie species; a special evil ritual material, if the caster is not killed to interrupt the ritual, or if the four resentful corpses are not killed at the same time, the bizarre will resurrect indefinitely in the formation.


    Although it''s a zombie species, it can''t be killed.


    Su''en looked at the formation that lit up in the room, and guessed that this room was the "respawn point" of the bizarre.


    At this time, the tentacles seemed to have detected the presence of a living person in the room. The slime-dripping tentacles groped towards where Su''en was standing, getting closer and closer...


    But fortunately, the "sack" worked.


    Just a foot away, the tentacles seemed to sense a scent that repulsed them and retracted.


    The "Faceless Man''s Corpse" ignored Su''en and left the room.


    ......


    "Phew..."


    Su''en let out a sigh of relief.


    A glow had already appeared on the decapitated corpse in the room.


    He walked over and picked up the golden job material "Beastmaster''s Whip".


    It''s a pity it''s not a magician''s material...


    Su''en frowned slightly.


    As the previous information suggested, the bizarre here easily produces high-level materials.


    But this also means that if he wants to guard Edward''s corpse, he has to go upstairs.


    Su''en thought about it, took out the "Hangman''s Noose" and put it on his arm, then hung the bag containing the "Wet Hair" around his waist, and used the "Resentful Infant''s Swaddling Cloth" as a cloak...


    After doing all this, he controlled the living corpse to leave the room.

 Chapter 161: The painting style has been twisted again

    Chapter 161: The painting style has been twisted again


    ps. I stayed uptest night to write this, and I feel like there are some problems with the sentences. I will update and revise themter. Please read without words for a better reading experience.


    When Su''en came out of room 1021, the restaurant was already in chaos.


    A ck-gray mist spread down from the stairs on the second floor, as if adding ayer of underworld filter to this brightly lit luxury restaurant, presenting a gray and cold color.


    The identification showed that it was a special "corpse gas".


    Because the NPCs in the restaurant had already been contaminated during these three days, as soon as they touched this gray mist, they began to distort. Their bodies were like being irradiated, growing disgusting tumors and strange tentacles... They transformed from humans into distorted monsters with fangs and ws.


    For a while, the entire restaurant was filled with zombies, and the sounds of roaring and screaming were endless... It was like a purgatory on earth.


    Su''en had learned from the previous intelligence that this "ghost mist" was a gas that had a high chance of causing mutations even for hunters.


    So this was the reason why the hunters would onlye out exactly twenty-four hourster, even though they could have stayed longer.


    But Su''en discovered that this "ghost mist" was a purer dark attribute energy than dark spiritual power. It could also increase the upper limit of dark spiritual power through the breathing method.


    He tried to take a few breaths and found...


    His dark spiritual power, which had already been slowly increasing, continued to rise.


    Moreover, his body had a higher affinity for this "ghost mist", and breathing it in was very pleasant. With each breath, the efficiency of consuming dark spiritual power for recovery would increase. The amount of recovery was almost the same as the amount consumed by removing the equipment and using [Wu Shi], and there was no sign of mutation...


    It meant that in this environment, Su''en could almost maintain the state of removing the equipment.


    This was also good news.


    .......


    There was intense fighting noiseing from upstairs, indicating that Edward and the other two "magicians" had shed with the old nun.


    But Su''en didn''t rush upstairs.


    Both sides were currently in a strong state, so the battle upstairs must be extremely dangerous.


    If he joined in, he might be identally injured.


    ording to the thousand-year-old storyline, Edward and the others should have been wiped out.


    But now... it was hard to say.


    Judging from their abilities just now, all three of them were very strong. As long as they didn''t transform, they definitely had the power to fight.


    The noise from upstairs was also going back and forth, indicating that the battle was intense.


    So, he would wait.


    When both sides were heavily injured, it would be the best time to intervene.


    Su''en walked to the corridor and decided to first check the situation on the first floor.


    The situation today was different from when the previous hunting team entered.


    When the previous hunting team entered, by midnight, they only had to face the "wild monsters" that were on duty in the hotel, such as the room attendants and security guards. To hunt other monsters, they had to open each room one by one. If they didn''t open the door, the monsters wouldn''te out on their own.


    But today, because the "ghost mist" erupted early, most of the guests were gathered in the banquet hall on the first floor.


    This also led to a concentration of mutated monsters and chaos.


    But this wasn''t all bad news.


    The good news was that because the mutation erupted early, although there were many of these monsters, they weren''t strong.


    Su''en easily killed a "mutated waiter" in the corridor and found that it was not a "strange" level monster, at most it was an elite monster.


    This was quite different from the previous intelligence that said the lowest level on the first floor was the "ck iron strange".


    And there was another piece of good news for Su''en.


    Originally, the higher the floor, the stronger the mutated monsters would be.


    But now, most of the guests had gathered on the first floor, so there would be fewer high-level monsters on the second and third floors.


    If he had to go upter, it would be much less dangerous for him.


    ......


    The Faceless Corpse left a wet trail of mucus in the corridor.


    Su''en followed the trail and happened to see it using its long tentacles to grab a panicked hunter, then the tentacles drilled into the person''s mouth and nose, and in an instant, the person was sucked dry.


    The hunters also noticed this head-blooming monster, but ordinary bullets couldn''t cause much damage to this second-level silver strange. Even cannons, apart from leaving some minor injuries, had little effect.


    Because it was wearing a hood, the strange didn''t pay any attention to Su''en.


    Su''en knew he couldn''t kill it, so he didn''t waste time trying.


    Room 1055 and room 1022 were not far apart.


    As Su''en walked down the corridor, he saw a translucent shadow with a long tongue floating over. The identification showed that it was the hanging corpse in room 1055 that had turned into a ghostly creature.


    Because Su''en had the Hanging Noose, this ghostly creature selectively ignored him and they passed each other.


    Without this second-level strange threat, Su''en felt that there wasn''t much deadly danger on the first floor either.


    Thinking this, he went straight to the banquet hall.


    There, chaos reigned as monsters danced and gunfire filled the air.


    The cute maids had turned into "bloody maids", the long-legged dancers had be "lustful female demons", and thedies and youngdies had all turned into various grotesque zombies...


    The hunters were engaged in fierce battles with the monsters.


    "What the hell is going on! It''s not even midnight yet, why did these ancient people mutate..."


    "It''s probably that wanted criminal Su''en causing trouble. Damn it, if we had known earlier, we should have killed him!"


    "These mutated monsters don''t seem to be that powerful..."


    "Haha, we''re going to make a fortune this time..."


    "..."


    When Su''en walked over, he saw the hunters divided into two groups, hunting down the monsters.


    One group consisted of individuals, and the other group was the members of the "Scorpion Squad".


    Most of these monsters were zombies, and the majority of them hadn''t reached the level of being strange. Although there were many of them, concentrated gunfire could easily mow them down.


    But the good times didn''tst long. Four special second-level silver strange entered the scene, and the situation instantly became one-sided.In addition to the previously seen "Faceless Corpse" and "Hanging Corpse," two more have appeared.


    The "Big Headed Resentful Infant" has turned into arge-headed zombie, with a basketball-sized terrifying eyeball upying most of its head. It possesses immense strength and can also burrow underground.


    The "Drowned Female Corpse" has turned into a ghost with a blue glow all over its body, floating along and leaving a puddle of water on the ground.


    These four second-tier anomalies have made the hunters'' counterattack instantly feeble.


    Dealing with the two zombie types is manageable. Although they are resistant to gunfire and move slowly, they can still be avoided by utilizing the terrain.


    However, the two ghosts are more troublesome. Theypletely ignore physical damage, can pass through walls, float, and cannot be escaped...


    "Ah... those are ghosts!"


    "Don''t be afraid, there are many of us. The ghosts can''t control all of us!"


    "Don''t fucking run around! The more scared you are, the more they will focus on you!"


    "..."


    The hunters have experience dealing with ghosts, but in the end, not everyone can control their inner fear.


    Being scared by themselves, their mental state bes disordered, and their sanity drops to a very low value. They will immediately be controlled by the ghosts'' mental attacks. The atmosphere of fear will also spread, and the agonizing screams ofpanions dying will strongly stimte the nerves of others, infecting one after another...


    When Su''en arrived, he saw two ghosts floating among the crowd.


    Wherever they went, bodies fell like cut wheat.


    For ordinary people who are not proficient in spiritual power, their methods are almost unsolvable.


    The target chosen by the "Hanging Corpse" seems to induce a choking illusion of hanging, causing them to instinctively try to remove the noose with their hands. In reality, they are strangling themselves, and the stronger the feeling of suffocation, the more they struggle to strangle themselves to death...


    The attack method of the "Drowned Female Corpse" is simr. It induces a feeling of drowning and suffocation, causing people to suffocate themselves to death. But judging from the water stains on the bodies, it should also have the ability to manipte water elements...


    Both ghosts arepletely immune to physical attacks, which is why ordinary hunters fear them.


    Originally, spellcasters could still fight against them, but there are basically no money-burning professionals in the independent team, so ghosts basically mean "certain death."


    .......


    Su''en watched from a distance and roughly understood the abilities of the four second-tier anomalies.


    Because of the "Four-piece Anomaly Defense Set" on his body, the four special monsters ignored him, and he didn''t bother with them either.


    But the other distorted monsters were sensitive to the living aura on Su''en and rushed towards him.


    Su''en didn''t hold back either and unleashed a barrage of bullets from his dual pistols.


    Based on his experience ying games in his previous life, it''s best to clear out the small monsters before dealing with the boss.


    He wanted to quickly clear out the monsters on the first floor to prevent any unexpected situations when going upstairs. For example, as time passed, the monsters would be stronger, or the old nun upstairs had some special means to summon small monsters to go upstairs...


    So, he struck first.


    If regr bullets don''t work, then he''ll use alchemical bullets.


    After Su''en''s strength increased, the people he killed became stronger, and the spoils of war became richer. He had more alchemical bullets than he needed, with a quantity of over a thousand.


    For a "firearms expert," ammunition is their confidence.


    The distorted monsters rushed towards him like sharks smelling blood, but he found a corner with three walls and stood there. With an ammunition box hanging, he started harvesting without expression...


    Knowing that tonight would be a fierce battle, Su''en didn''t hesitate to use ammunition.


    "Bang", "bang", "bang", "bang"...


    The rapid-fire of the submachine gun resounded, asionally apanied by the special explosion of alchemical bullets, "bang", "bang".


    Although the sound of gunfire was overwhelming, the rhythm was not chaotic.


    The suppressive fire of the "Green Ghost," the precise sniping of the "Thunder Snake," allowed Su''en''s actions to match the firepower of an entire reorganized team of hunters.


    Headshots, joint-breaking shots, piercing through defenses...


    Absolute calmness made Su''en''s marksmanship precise and deadly.


    In fact, because of the gap between marksmanship and alchemical bullets, he killed more monsters alone than thebined total of dozens of independent hunters.


    After all, ordinary hunters who risk their lives in the wilderness would never carry alchemical bullets with an average price of 10,000 each.


    A single burst would cost hundreds of thousands, which most hunters couldn''t afford.


    This is the difference in equipment,


    and also the crushing difference in skills.


    Gradually, the pile of distorted monster corpses in front of Su''en grew higher...


    The ordinary hunters in the distance drooled as they watched.


    Just Su''en''s perfect marksmanship shocked everyone.


    Especially those from the "Scorpion Squad," their faces turned pale.


    They realized how ignorant they were before, thinking they could kill this "S-rank wanted criminal" and im the bounty?


    If this round of bullets didn''t hit the distorted monsters but hit them instead, the result would probably be the same.


    Moreover, Su''en''s methods were not just marksmanship.


    .......


    Most of the NPCs in the restaurant are ordinary people from a thousand years ago. They are not considered strong even after being distorted because they have not beenpletely "corrupted."


    The troublesome ones are the original professionals among the guards and guests.


    After they became distorted, they were at least Silver-tier anomalies.


    In this first-floor lobby, there are at least three to four hundred peoplebined between the guests and the hotel staff, and there are bound to be some professionals among them.


    When the ghost mist erupted, they all emerged.


    The fast-climbing Spider Woman, the Skull Crusher Doctor who likes to hit people''s heads, the Flesh Mountain Monster that can''t be killed even with alchemical bullets, the chameleon-like invisible monster...


    These anomalies mixed in with the pile of monsters are the biggest threat to Su''en.


    But there are many "people" around Su''en as well.


    Various eerie dolls stood in rows beside him.


    The "Sinister Smiling Doll," the "Wailing Doll," the "Explosion-proof Doll," the "Lead Sinking Doll," the "Oil Swallowing Doll," the "Phosphorus Fire Doll," the "Voodoo Doll"...


    He now had arge amount of witch hair strands, which greatly increased the number and efficiency of his puppet control.


    The fine hairs of the Octo-Spider Lance could easily control the threads, even if Su''en was continuously firing with both hands, it would not affect the operation of the puppets at all.


    These puppets could also ensure that the asional fish that slipped through the under the cover of firepower would be blocked outside the safe range.


    Even if there were one or two very tricky second-order anomalies, the invisible zombies behind Su''en would cut the monster''s head in half before they could get close.


    With long-range and close-range means, it was difficult for the mutated monsters to get close.


    .......


    His dark energy was sufficient, and he had plenty of bullets...


    Originally, at this pace, Su''en thought that in a short while, all the monsters on the first floor, except for those four, could probably be cleaned up.


    But while he was fighting, an ident happened.


    Just when Su''en was killing smoothly,


    The "Big Head Grudge Baby" exploded without warning, turning into pieces of meat all over the floor...


    He hadn''t understood what had happened when the light and shadow of the "Drowned Female Corpse" also dispersed.


    The two anomalies seemed to have suffered some invisible attack and suddenly died.


    "Huh..."


    Su''en was still firing, but when he saw this scene out of the corner of his eye, he let out a sound of surprise.


    He was sure that the sudden death of the two second-order anomalies was not his doing, and those hunters definitely couldn''t do it.


    They just died inexplicably.


    "Could it be Edward and the others upstairs who did it?"


    Su''en suddenly realized something, but he couldn''t figure out how this method of killing monsters through the air worked.


    But he didn''t think too much about it.


    Because at this time, his gaze fell on the ce where the "Drowned Female Corpse" copsed.


    There... a "gray fog" had appeared!


    Zombie species rarely produce gray fog fragments, but ghost species, being spiritual entities, have a high probability of producing gray fog.


    Because he was too far away, Su''en had no chance to collect the gray fog.


    And in this brief moment, the light and shadow fragments and flesh and blood fragments from the two anomaly corpses seemed to be absorbed by the space and disappeared without a trace.


    Looking back, a perfectly intact "Drowned Female Corpse" floated out of the door of room 1055 in the distant corridor.


    And soon, a big-headed monster,ughing weirdly, hopped into the banquet hall to continue hunting...


    They really could resurrect indefinitely.


    .......


    However...


    Seeing this, a bold idea suddenly popped into Su''en''s mind.


    These four corpses could indeed resurrect indefinitely, but what would happen if their soul fragments were stripped away?


    Su''en suddenly realized that he had found a way to restrain these four mutated monsters, no, even possibly kill them!


    With this thought, he no longer chose to squat in the corner, but ran to a position near the two ghost species, waiting to try something.


    Before long, the "Hanged Corpse" inexplicably died again, dispersing.


    The "gray fog" appeared again.


    Seizing the opportunity, Su''en rushed up without waiting for the gray fog to disappear, and then swallowed the gray fog.


    "Obtained ''Demonic Hanged Corpse'' soul fragment*2"


    "You haveprehended ''Spiritual Illusion TechniqueSuffocation Technique (Iplete)''..."


    "Spiritual Power +0.6"


    When Su''en digested this gray fog, his eyes lit up.


    It really worked!

 Chapter 162: Hair shearing has left four sheep completely bald

    Chapter 162: Hair shearing has left four sheeppletely bald


    In the field of alchemy, everything can be exchanged through equivalent exchange.


    This is probably also the principle behind the infinite resurrection of those four special and eerie beings.


    But can souls be exchanged through equivalent exchange in the alchemy array?


    It is said that the alchemists of the god era were able to do it...


    But that''s just a "legend".


    Now, it is simply impossible!


    Although Su''en didn''t know what level of array this "Four Eerie Fallen Sacrificial Array" set up in the restaurant was, it was definitely not the legendary "god level".


    The soul has been devoured, so it is impossible to resurrect an identical ghost species with this array!


    Sure enough, just after Su''en devoured the mist, the "hanged corpse" floated out again.


    But this time, the light on it was noticeably dimmer.


    The appraisal showed that the word "weakened" also appeared!


    .......


    "It''s really like this!"


    Su''en looked delighted, it was exactly as he had guessed.


    The array resurrected the eerie beings, but couldn''t restore their souls.


    If he could kill them a few more times, he even felt that he might directly devour these ghost species...


    And just at this moment, themotion from the battle upstairs suddenly intensified, as if the two sides of the battle had discovered something abnormal and triggered a new round of fierce fighting.


    Then, the "drowned female corpse" also dispersed for the second time.


    This time, Su''en saw it clearly.


    Before the eerie beings dispersed, it seemed like they were attacked by something fatal from a distance, causing them to die.


    Without dy, he skillfully ran over and devoured the mist.


    "Obtained 2 soul fragments of ''Enchanted Drowned Female Corpse''"


    "You haveprehended ''Spirit Illusion Technique: Drowning Technique (Iplete)''..."


    "Spirit Power +0.7"


    Then came the second harvest...


    The third harvest...


    The fourth harvest...


    These four second-tier silver eerie beings downstairs would asionally explode, constantly resurrecting and constantly being harvested.


    This repeated cycle.


    Su''en didn''t know what was happening upstairs, but it didn''t stop him from happily harvesting soul fragments.


    These second-tier eerie beings provided him with...


    Su''en repeatedly took advantage of the two ghost species, gaining less and less spiritual power and fragments each time, but every time he harvested, the two ghost species became dimmer after resurrection.


    Even the two zombie species, in extremely rare cases, had exploded with "mist" a few times because of repeated deaths.


    The intelligence of the zombie species was not high to begin with, and after their souls were stripped away, the impact was significant!


    Even though their physical bodies had fully recovered, the entire eerie aura of the species was gone...


    .......


    Finally.


    The style of the battle gradually deviated because of Su''en''s talent, the "Reaper of Death".


    The infinite resurrection bug of the "Four Eerie Fallen Sacrificial Array" that was originally unbreakable was slowly being cracked by an unconventional method.


    Su''en spected that the copse of the "Four Eerie Corpses" must be directly rted to the battle upstairs.


    The weaker the monsters, the more advantageous it would be for Aihua and the others.


    With this in mind, he was in no hurry to go upstairs and join the battle.


    He stayed in the banquet hall, repeatedly harvesting soul fragments from the four second-tier eerie beings.


    Infinite resurrection, repeated stripping...


    And because he was stripping from the same target, each time he obtained something different.


    Unconsciously, Su''en had actually stripped aplete set of "Illusion Technique: Drowning Technique" and "Illusion Technique: Suffocation Technique" from the two ghost species, reaching a level of "mastery"!


    And he had also stripped some misceneous abilities rted to the four elements of earth, wind, water, and fire...


    But with so many stripping attempts, even a strong body couldn''t handle it.


    Su''en was pleased to have mastered some new skills,


    However, although the four distorted monsters were still constantly resurrecting, the style of the battle hadpletely changed.


    When they first appeared, they were extremely fierce, as if they could wipe out everyone on the first floor with just one of them.


    All four of them together were unstoppable.


    If Su''en hadn''t obtained the "Four Eerie Set" in advance, dealing with just one of them would have been a headache.


    But now...


    The two ghost species had be idiots, their eyes vacant, without any ferocity...


    The two zombie species had be foolish children, attacking instinctively, relying solely on their remaining instincts...


    The word "severely weakened" in the appraisal was particrly striking.


    The two ghost species had their memories rted to creating illusions stripped away by Su''en, so how could they still use spiritual illusions?


    The instinct to prey of the two zombie species had been stripped away, and their already low intelligence could no longer control their bodies to move normally...


    The current "Four Eerie Corpses" probably couldn''t even kill an ordinary monster hunter.


    .......


    And the culprit, Su''en, had not stopped his wool-gathering behavior at this moment.


    Where else could he find monsters that could be killed repeatedly?


    One stripping at a time, he could gather all the skill fragments in ten attempts.


    Su''en had already killed almost all the other distorted monsters in the banquet hall. He was now guarding a few surviving members of the Scorpion Squad, using them as bait to attract the four monsters.


    Then, he would wait for these four almost-zombies to lose theirbat power, and harvest them again.


    In this way, the style of the battle changed from intense fighting to leisurely fishing.


    The evil ritual arrays in the four rooms were still operating as usual, but the "main materials" had been damaged to a considerable extent, and it was unknown how effective they were now...


    Su''en listened to themotion from the battle upstairs and thought that after harvesting a few more waves, and gathering a few moreplete elemental skills, he should be ready to go upstairs.


    However, just at this moment.


    Suddenly, a figure jumped down from the second floor and appeared in the hall in a few shes.


    The person who came was Barbara.


    .......


    Barbara was covered in injuries, as if she had experienced a fierce battle.She had originally nned toe down and assess the situation, prepared to face countless bizarre creatures in a fierce battle. However, seeing the scene before her, the ancient sorceress was stunned on the spot.


    The banquet hall was littered with corpses, blood flowed like a river, and various bizarre creatures were piled up like mountains. Severed limbs and scattered entrails were everywhere...


    There were hardly any living people left, but the bizarre creatures were also gone.


    In the hall, the "Four Resentful Corpses" seemed to be wandering aimlessly like fools.


    Seeing here down, they showed no signs of attack.


    Looking at Su''en, who was waiting among the four bizarre creatures, Barbara showed a bewildered expression.


    In her limited understanding, such a scene should not have urred.


    Seeing Barbara suddenlye downstairs, Su''en thought something had gone wrong with the battle upstairs, so he curiously asked, "Eh, Miss Barbara, why did youe down?"


    "..."


    Barbara couldn''t figure out what had happened, so she could only ask, "Officer Johnny, what exactly happened? Did you kill all these mutated monsters?"


    Su''en looked at her, relieved that she hadn''t beenpletely "corrupted".


    He shrugged and said, "I watched them die over and over again, then I used a little trick, and they ended up like this. By the way, what happened upstairs? Why did these bizarre creatures suddenly die?"


    Barbara then exined, "Sister Elizabeth has been demonized. She used a spell to transfer damage to these ''Four Resentful Corpses''..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en finally understood.


    So, every time these four bizarre creatures died, it was because Howard and the others upstairs had killed the old nun once?


    But because the damage was transferred to these four bizarre creatures, the old nun essentially gained an "immortal body", which put Howard and his team in a tough battle.


    This was originally an unsolvable situation.


    The four specially refined corpses could be resurrected in the formation of the "Four Fallen Spirit Sacrifice" after death.


    And the "Sealed Object" provided a constant supply of energy.


    They would resurrect indefinitely.


    Without killing the spellcaster, the four corpses could not die.


    But the clever part about Sister Elizabeth, the spellcaster, was that she transferred her own damage to the four corpses.


    This created a vicious cycle.


    At least within this hotel, no one could kill her!


    But...


    This vicious cycle was disrupted by Su''en, who broke the deadlock in an unexpected way.


    The cycle was still there, but a keyponent of the cycle had been almostpletely depleted.


    The Four Resentful Corpses were getting weaker and weaker, naturally affecting the battle upstairs.


    The damage that the bizarre creatures could bear was getting lower and lower, and the old nun was getting more and more injured.


    Originally, this would have been good news for Edward and his team,


    But they couldn''t figure out who in the hotel could break the "Four Fallen Spirit Sacrifice" formation.


    They even suspected it might be a trick by the old nun...


    So, Barbara came down to check the situation.


    ......


    Seeing the situation now,


    Barbara also breathed a sigh of relief.


    She looked at Su''en and said in a strange tone, "I didn''t expect Officer Johnny to be such a powerful sorcerer..."


    Su''en didn''t exin much, but asked about the situation upstairs.


    Hearing that it was a stalemate, he immediately stated, "If you kill the old nun a few more times, I might be able topletely solve this sacrificial formation."


    Seeing the scene before her, Barbara also breathed a sigh of relief.


    But the battle was not over yet, she didn''t dy any longer, "Okay! I''ll leave the downstairs to you, Officer Johnny!"


    Su''en nodded, noticing that the ck aura around her was very dense, he reminded, "Miss Barbara, you don''t seem to be in good condition."


    Barbara showed a determined look on her face, "Yes, I know."


    Without looking back, she rushed back upstairs.


    ......


    Knowing the situation upstairs, Su''en was not in a hurry to go up.


    The previous information said that if the "Ghost Fog" urred at midnight, the hunters wouldn''t notice the battle upstairs.


    This meant that Edward and his team would be "corrupted" and demonized unconsciously.


    Now that they knew their situation, it seemed that even if they were to die together, they wouldn''t let themselves be demonized.


    Perhaps, by the time Su''en went up, he wouldn''t need to lift a finger, he could just collect the materials.


    Su''en thought it would be safer to solve the sacrificial formation downstairs first.


    From beginning to end, the old nun was the ultimate boss.

 Chapter 163: Bonjour

    Chapter 163: Bonjour


    After Barbara went up, as expected, the frequency of the four strange deaths increased.


    Su''en harvested again and again, and the formation was on the verge of copse.


    But the closer he got to victory, the more cautious he became.


    It wasmon for the boss to use a powerful move before dying.


    The four strange puppets werepletely harmless, but Su''en didn''t feel any joy. Instead, a sense of unease grew stronger in his heart.


    He looked at the increasingly dense ghost mist in the restaurant and suddenly felt something was wrong.


    Since there were already other enemies in the cursed space, there was no need to hide. Su''en thought for a moment and took off the "Oz Ice Man''s Shroud" wrapped around the abomination corpse, then wrapped it around himself.


    Although it would consume some lifespan, he felt that this was the safest way.


    However, it turned out that Su''en''s caution indeed saved him from a major crisis.


    Just after harvesting the soul fragments, the ghost species, "Hanged Corpse," failed to gather enough souls to sessfully condense, and the sacrificial formationpletely copsed.


    Almost at the same time, a piercing scream suddenly came from the end of the corridor.


    It sounded like nails scratching a ckboard, causing goosebumps all over.


    In an instant, a two-meter-tall strange nun rushed down from the second-floor staircase, full of killing intent!


    Its speed was extremely fast, as if it teleported.


    Su''en had just seen the strange nun with a green face at the staircase a hundred meters away, but in the blink of an eye, she had already appeared in front of him.


    Now, the only one standing in therge banquet hall was the abomination corpse.


    The target of the old nun was clear, she wanted to kill the "culprit" who destroyed her formation.


    With a p, the abomination corpse, over three meters tall, was directly sent flying. After the sound of bones cracking and muscle tissue breaking, its huge body flew out and crashed into the ruins, breaking a load-bearing pir and shattering a wall.


    "What power is this!"


    Su''en quickly lowered his gaze and didn''t dare to look at the terrifying monster just a few meters away.


    He didn''t even dare to determine its level.


    With such terrifying power, the abomination corpse could hear the sound of bones cracking. Su''en felt that his body probably wouldn''t be able to withstand even a single blow.


    Moreover, its almost teleportation-like speed couldn''t be avoided.


    ...


    Fortunately, the shroud was a "sealing object" that isted all energy fluctuations.


    Su''en, who was standing against the load-bearing pir, narrowly escaped disaster.


    But the strange nun seemed to know that someone was nearby. Although she couldn''t see, she reached out her hand and kept groping in the air...


    Su''en watched as the strange nun got closer and closer. Even if he was calm, he couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat from the oppressive feeling that made his soul tremble. This nun hadpletely be a demon. This was not a normal aura at all, but the aura of a "super-tier creature."


    Su''en''s eyes became serious, and his mind quickly thought about how to deal with the current crisis.


    His most powerful move was the ck Scythe.


    But with the nun''s speed, it was impossible for him to have the opportunity to swing his knife.


    He didn''t even dare to provoke the abomination corpse to test if it was still alive.


    Just at this moment, there was movement at the staircase.


    Su''en looked over and saw two disheveled figuresing down.


    One had arge hole in his abdomen, and the other had a severed arm.


    Only two of them?


    The one with the hole in his abdomen was Edward, the "Magician." The wound seemed to have been hollowed out by a w, but it was temporarily held together by a ck spatial power, preventing the blood from flowing out.


    Barbara had a severed arm and her face was pale, looking extremely weak...


    Su''en''s heart sank as he looked at their injuries.


    Could these two heavily injured individuals defeat the strange nun?


    "The boss has indeed gone berserk..."


    Su''en didn''t dare to determine, but he could roughly guess.


    If it hadn''t gone berserk, the battle wouldn''t have suddenly ended after being deadlocked for so long.


    At this moment, the noise made by Edward and the othersing down immediately attracted the attention of the strange nun.


    It didn''t search for Su''en anymore and rushed over in a rage, seemingly teleporting with each step.


    A resolute expression shed across Barbara''s face, and a strong pink aura surged from her body as she met the nun head-on!


    "Whoosh!"


    The old nun reached out and pierced Barbara''s chest, causing ck blood to spurt out.


    But at the same time, Edward behind her was rapidly changing his hand gestures for his magic, and a mysterious octagram formation lit up under his feet.


    His face turned pale, as if he had used some forbidden technique to the point of overloading.


    In that split second that Barbara fought for, his condensation spell had already taken shape. He pped his hands together and solemnly shouted, "Spatial Secret Art: Midnight Seal!"


    With this spell, it was as if all the lights suddenly went out, and the entire corridor became pitch ck.


    And the space near the position where the strange nun stood turned into a viscous asphalt-like substance.


    The space turned into ck fluid and slowly adhered andpressed onto the tall strange nun''s body,pletely restricting its almost teleportation-like speed in ce.


    Edward controlled the nun, but couldn''t help but spurt out a mouthful of blood.


    It was probably because the overloaded spell caused him to lose control of his injuries, and the wound on his abdomen suddenly burst with blood.


    Edward wanted to condense the mage seal again and use a killer move, but it seemed very difficult...


    "A good opportunity!"


    Su''en, not far away, saw this and a coldness shed in his eyes.


    He didn''t care about exposing himself and decisively reached out with a cross-shaped void, pulling forcefully.


    The abhorrent zombie still had a faint breath, which meant that it was not dead yet!


    Su''en didn''t care about the condition of the zombie, he pulled the ck scythe and swung it towards the neck of the sinister nun.


    Now that the sinister nun was under control, this was the only chance!


    The ck scythe swung down, and a spatial crack appeared instantly at the end of the corridor, on the neck of the sinister nun.


    "Bang!" A head fell to the ground.


    No matter how tough the sinister nun''s body was, it was cut in two in front of the spatial crack.


    Su''en breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this.


    Edward felt relieved as well.


    Barbara also rxed and slowly closed her eyes.


    .......


    Since they had started, there was no room for any luck.


    Because he didn''t see the gray mist, Su''en didn''t dare to be careless and rushed up, directly pulling out the Oil Swallower and Phosphorus Fire Dolls to burn and scorch the body of the sinister nun.


    And because he was close enough, he also harvested the gray mist on Barbara''s body.


    "You obtained 3 fragments of ''Contaminated Barbara''s Memories''."


    "You have stripped off a fragment of obsession and obtained the ''Advanced Subus Contract''..."


    "You have gained some memories, Mental Magic Proficiency +11..."


    "Mental Power +4.1"


    Su''en didn''t have time to digest what memories he had just stripped off, and an unexpected event happened as expected.


    Just then, the temperature around them suddenly dropped significantly.


    Edward, who was sitting on the ground, turned pale, as if he sensed something, and muttered in despair and unwillingness, "Did I fail again..."


    As soon as Su''en heard this, almost reflexively, he took out the golden card from his pocket and shot it out.


    At this time, the "ghost mist" around them became denser and denser.


    The ck energy gradually gathered on the body of the sinister nun on the ground, extinguishing the mes.


    This headless corpse slowly stood up again.


    At almost the same time, an indescribable will seemed to descend on the body.


    That momentum grew stronger and stronger.


    Just a nce made Su''en feel as if there was a mountain pressing on his forehead. It was a kind of terrifying horror that wanted to bury him in the dust, something that couldn''t be looked at directly or described!


    But this pressure onlysted for an instant, and the overwhelming pressure suddenly dissipated.


    Su''en was overwhelmed, as if he heard someone whisper, "Finally, it''s out..."


    He didn''t know how long had passed,


    Su''en''s gaze focused again, as if he saw a dim yellow light shining from the endless abyss of darkness.


    It was not dazzling enough, flickering as if it could go out at any moment.


    But it dispelled the darkness, step by step, bing brighter and brighter.


    More and more real.


    There was nothing else in Su''en''s field of vision.


    He just watched as a person in a golden cloak, holding a quaint hexagonal coppermp, slowly walked out from the end of the darkness.


    The coppermp dispelled the darkness and sucked in the strands of ck smoke.


    The surroundings returned to the original appearance of the hotel corridor.


    The person in the golden cloak took out a box, condensed a ball of me glove with one hand, reached out, and seemed to pull out something ck from the body of the sinister nun, quickly stuffing it into the box.


    "Click" The box closed, and that terrifying feeling that made people''s souls tremble disappearedpletely.


    .......


    Su''en saw the person clearly and breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, "He really came..."


    The golden patterned cloak was naturally the symbol of Mr. ck''s organization.


    The appearance of the coppermp was also very familiar, it was the "Furnace Lamp of Vogang".


    It turned out that they took the coppermp for this moment.


    What surprised Su''en was that not only did he recognize the person in the cloak, but even Edward, the "magician" on the opposite side, seemed to recognize the person or the cloak at the moment of his death.


    A fanaticism representing honor and loyalty appeared on his face, then he struggled to stand up, and actually knelt down on one knee towards the person in the cloak, performing a knight''s salute with one hand protecting his chest!


    The person in the cloak nced at him, nodded, and seemed to approve of his actions.


    Edward''s life dissipated.


    Now, Su''en couldn''t understand.


    An NPC from a thousand years ago showed such a great courtesy to a modern person?


    What... special meaning does the cloak have?


    But there was no malice, they were friends, not enemies.


    Su''en didn''t think too much about it.


    In fact, when Mr. ck gave him this card yesterday, he guessed that today''s spatial exploration would probably end up like this.


    That powerful organization must havee for the "Curse Source" of this cursed space.


    This big boss must be killed.


    Without this factor, Su''en wouldn''t have dared to act so boldly.


    Although it looked dangerous, all the "idents" were actually expected.With a sigh of relief, Su''en finally rxed.


    The cloaked figure nced at Su''en, pausing for a moment, seemingly surprised that he could achieve this much.


    His tone was devoid of any emotional fluctuation, only offering a kind reminder, "The space will copse in a quarter of an hour, be careful. There might be trouble when you leave."


    "Alright, thank you."


    Su''en didn''t say much.


    The cloaked figure didn''t say much either, carrying his box and heading up the stairs.


    ......


    Watching the figure leave, Su''en casually harvested the grey mist from Edward''s body.


    Obtained ''Contaminated Edward'' Memory Fragment*2


    You have mastered some ''Spatial Magic Techniques''...


    You have mastered some Magic Techniques...


    Mental Power +1.6


    He didn''t go upstairs or anywhere else.


    He just watched with anticipation as a light slowly gathered on his corpse.


    Materials were being produced, but they might not necessarily be the advanced materials he wanted, they could also be imnts...


    These few minutes felt incredibly long.


    However, his anticipation eventually came true.


    A glowing hat appeared on Edward''s corpse.


    Magician''s Top Hat


    Quality: Gold


    Description: Who knows what might be hidden inside a magician''s hat, perhaps a whole world?


    Cursed Feature: You can pull out something from within a certain range from the hat, but a random item of equivalent energy will be sucked into your body;


    Exnation: Can be used as a material for job advancement, significantly enhancing skills, agility, medium resilience, super high perception attributes, and understanding of spatial abilities after advancement; Fusion requires a high containment value, it is rmended that a dark spirit power value of 18000+ has a higher sess rate;


    Evaluation: Compatibility 96%; This is a very rare high-quality spatial material;


    "Phew... It finally came out."


    Su''en looked at the identified attributes, his eyes trembling.


    Looking at the attribute introduction, skills, agility, perception... and spatial abilities.


    This advancement material was a perfect match for him, just as he had expected!


    Moreover, the surprises didn''t stop there.


    Not only did Edward''s corpse produce materials,


    A strange puppet also condensed on the body of the headless witch.


    Thanatos'' Death Substitute Puppet


    Quality: Legendary


    Description: A life borrowed from the Grim Reaper, dare you use it?


    Cursed Feature: After a blood sacrifice, the puppet will take a fatal attack for the host; But after resurrection, you will hear whispers from the unknown in the next month, that is the voice of the devil''s temptation; You may learn some high-level demon secrets from it, but there is a high chance of causing mental disorder.


    Exnation: A replica artifact, used to exchange souls with the Grim Reaper for a chance to be reborn;


    "Legendary" quality, another treasure of the forbidden level.


    Seeing these two items, a smile gradually appeared on Su''en''s face.


    This trip to the space was worth it.

 Chapter 164: Second-tier professional

    Chapter 164: Second-tier professional


    "Another sealed item, The Substitute Puppet of Tanatos..."


    Su''en held the eerie ck puppet, looking at the information about the puppet that had been identified, and a hint of contemtion appeared in his eyes.


    It looked somewhat like a downgraded version of the death transfer technique that the old nun had used before...


    Could it exempt from transferring a fatal injury once?


    Thinking about it, he dripped some blood on it.


    It seemed like the wooden material absorbed the blood, and then emitted a faint dark light.


    The identification showed that the contract was sessful.


    Su''en felt as if he had signed a contract with some kind of existence in the depths of theherworld.


    Although the curse bacsh after resurrection, which had a high probability of causing mental disorder, seemed quite severe,pared to losing his life, he could ept this level of bacsh.


    And Su''en always felt that "mental disorder" might not be such a big deal for him.


    "Mr. ck''s friends all seem very easy to get along with..."


    Su''en muttered to himself as he looked at the puppet.


    Naturally, he knew that this thing could be considered a freebie.


    If you really thought about it, the materials produced by the headless nun were actually spoils of the cloaked figure.


    Without that person entering, Su''en would never have dared to provoke the ultimate boss in this curse space, which was currently considered a "T-level" difficulty. At most, he would have just wandered around the first and second floors.


    This was the gift left by Him.


    But Su''en didn''t think he had gained much advantage.


    Without any surprises, this incident in the curse space would probably be attributed to him, "S-ss wanted criminal Su''en."


    But that was just as well.


    Su''en felt that this kind of fair trade rtionship was the most reasonable.


    .......


    The sealed item couldn''t be ced in the storage ring, so Su''en could only hang the puppet on himself.


    He looked at the loathsome living corpse''s injuries.


    It had taken a punch to the chest, creating a bloody hole and breaking a few bones...


    But it didn''t die, and it was rapidly recovering.


    He was increasingly looking forward to advancing to the second stage andprehending true spatial abilities.


    By then, he wouldn''t need to keep the scythe, living corpse, or puppet by his side at all times.


    He was also very much looking forward to the magical spatial techniques that "Magician" Edward had disyed before...


    This time,ing to this 1911 Hotel, everything was just right. Not only did he find advanced materials, but the dark spiritual power was also overflowing.


    He didn''t know where the "curse source" came from, but Su''en had been absorbing the ghostly mist without showing any signs of distortion.


    And in just a few hours, his dark spiritual power had increased by several hundred points, and it was almost impossible to increase it any further.


    This time, he could advance at any moment.


    .......


    The "curse source" was sealed, and this space gradually began to copse.


    Without the appearance of a light gate, the scene of the luxurious hotel from a thousand years ago gradually dissipated before his eyes...


    There were probably some valuable spoils of war, but there was no time to search for them. They would turn into energy and return to nature.


    At the same time,


    In the temporary camp outside the curse space, the hunters from the five major families were still busy.


    Several leaders of the hunting teams from the five major families had already made a decision to increase the "casualty rate" recently in order to break the seal ahead of time.


    The next group of people entering the space were lining up to register, and the independent hunters who were unaware of the situation were listening to the temporary team leader exin the precautions for the ruins.


    There was a time difference between the curse space and the outside world. It hadn''t been long since thest group of people entered, so normally, it would be some time before the light gate appeared at the exit.


    But just then, an anomaly urred.


    Not far from the camp, on the site of the 1911 hotel ruins, a mirage-like flickering shadow suddenly appeared. It looked like a bustling hotel interior, but it was filled with corpses, creating a scene of carnage.


    Naturally, this anomaly attracted the attention of everyone in the camp.


    "Quick, look over there, what is that?!"


    "Huh... isn''t that the interior scene of the curse space?"


    "Why are there so many bodies? What happened? Those are the members of the Scorpion Squad who went in before. I know some of them."


    "No, this is a sign that the curse space is about to copse!"


    "..."


    The hunters were shocked and looked at the dissipation of the hotel shadow, understanding what was happening.


    Hearing themotion in the camp, several hunting team leaders quickly emerged from their tents.


    Looking at the anomaly before them, they were all speechless.


    "How could the curse space suddenly copse?!"


    "Could it be that someone has obtained the ''curse source''? That''s impossible... the curse source of this space should be on the third floor, and the difficulty of just the second floor that was already explored is already A+. The strength of that small team just now couldn''tpare. And besides, didn''t we already arrange for someone to release the eerie thing in room 1021? They should have been wiped out..."


    "..."


    At this moment, someone remembered the abnormal number of people who entered the space before.


    A hundred people had entered, but only sixty-something hade out."Bad news, a high-level professional has infiltrated the hunting team! Someone is going after that thing!"


    "We must stop him, otherwise if the ''Curse Source'' is lost, the ck Tower will me us, and we''re done for!"


    "..."


    At this, several major team leaders immediately woke up, all of them looking pale.


    .......


    The copse of the cursed space came quickly.


    When the outside world turned into an illusion, in less than a minute, the "Mirage" suddenly burst into specks of light and disappeared before everyone''s eyes.


    At this time, several second-tier hunting team leaders were holding weapons, waiting in formation, ready to pounce on anyone who came out alive.


    Even without the reminder from the cloaked figure, Su''en naturally guessed that he would be ambushed when he came out.


    The copse of the space, there were only one or two reasons, which could not be exined. Either fight or flee...


    He secretly rejoiced that he had already observed the evacuation route when he entered the ruins earlier.


    For Su''en, the copse of the cursed space was like the end of a movie. The light and shadow dissipated, and then he saw a group of fierce-looking men in front of him, and the gunfire began...


    However, their target was not Su''en, but a group of cloaked figures scattered in various directions.


    Crackling, the sound of gunfire rang out, and various control spells were cast on this group of cloaked figures.


    But soon, they realized that something was wrong.


    Those cloaked figures exploded under the concentrated fire, but instead of flesh and blood, it was flying wood chips.


    Taking a closer look, under the tattered cloaks were all wooden puppets.


    "No good, these are all puppets!"


    "Be careful, get out of the way, the giant is holding the ''Night Scythe of Xiu Puno''!"


    "That person is the ''S-ss wanted criminal Su''en''! Damn it, we must catch him!"


    "He also has the ''Shroud of Oz the Ice Man'', watch out for invisible targets!"


    "..."


    The camp was in an uproar.


    Meanwhile, the real Su''en had quietly climbed over the camp''s wall when the first round of gunfire rang out.


    Wrapped in the shroud, with puppets attracting the firepower, he easily escaped.


    As for the loathsome undead, it took some gunfire, but as long as it wasn''t turned into minced meat, it was no problem.


    With the ck scythe in its hand, a single swing would force several second-tier professionals to avoid its edge, and no one dared to confront it head-on.


    More than ten puppets diverted the enemy''s firepower into more than ten parts. When they realized what was happening, Su''en, with his eight-armed spider spear, went into a frenzy. The threads were long enough, and with a strong pull, the undead and the scythe also fled the camp like a wisp of smoke.


    Even with the puppets, Su''en''s speed far exceeded that of the vast majority of first-tier professionals.


    The several second-tier team leaders chased after him with great momentum, but the scythe killed one, and the others immediately became obedient.


    Orders were important, but life was more important.


    None of these old birds dared to stick their necks out, and they all chased after him in the crowd.


    In this way, Su''en sneaked into the ruins and easily shook off the group of professionals.


    .......


    Su''en did not return to the camp at Stormwind Manor.


    With advanced materials just in hand, he was in the perfect state to advance to the second tier.


    He nned to find a secluded ce on the outskirts of the ruins to advance directly to the second tier in order to avoid being besieged and disturbed. He ran around the outer city of the ruins for a small circle, took some anti-tracking measures, and finally found a fortress that looked exactly the same as the one he had stayed in before.


    After resting for a moment, Su''en sealed off the entrance to the fortress and cleared a space.


    He began to draw a hexagram formation.


    The auxiliary materials needed to set up the second-tier formation had long been prepared, and the process of drawing the double-ring hexagram formation was already proficient.


    Red copper powder mixed with mithril as a base, outlining a perfect outer circle; the inner hexagram pattern was drawn with a mixture of refined borax and sunflower oil ground in proportion, with two drops of wind wolf tears, gathering the four basic elements of earth, wind, water, and fire; the formation was ced with red crystals inscribed with runes, which was already a very advanced material; of course, there was no shortage of alchemical core mercury and the curse crystal as the energy source...


    With everything in ce, Su''en took out the ''Magician''s Top Hat''.


    He stood in the center of the hexagram formation and began to chant the universal alchemy spell: "Following thew of equivalent exchange of all things, praising the glory of the original Creator, using alchemy to witness the miracle of creation..."


    For the second-tier professional advancement, Su''en felt no excitement or ripples in his heart.


    As the light of the alchemy formation gradually brightened, the top hat gradually merged into the formation. In the golden hexagram formation, there was also a ck light representing the "space attribute".


    After the hat melted, a mysterious power began to merge into Su''en''s body.The fusion of spatial power was a magical experience, making Su''en feel as if he was soaring through the stars, beholding the endless expanse of the void world...


    It made him feel as though he had previously been nothing more than a doodle on the "canvas" of space.


    But at this moment, he felt as if he had detached from the "canvas," touching the world beyond the painting.


    That world was still blurry, and he couldn''t see it clearly yet.


    But he truly felt it.


    .......


    Half an hourter, the dazzling light of the hexagram gradually faded.


    The preliminary fusion of the materials wasplete.


    Su''en sat cross-legged, beginning to meditate and absorb the special power that had merged into his body.


    Advancing to the second tier was different from the first; the greater the energy fused, the more time it took to digest the materials.


    The Magician''s Top Hat was an extremely potent golden material.


    Even if Su''en seeded in the fusion,pleting the digestion process would take a long time.


    It was like food in the stomach; you must digest it to convert it into nutrients that nourish the body, otherwise, it would be a waste.


    Time flew by, and half a month passed.


    Su''en had been meditating and digesting the nutrients from the advanced materials, hardly ever leaving the bunker.


    Fortunately, without the disturbance of aberrant monsters and hunting parties, the digestion went smoothly.


    One day, when he finally felt that the forcibly infused energy and the murmurs by his ear hadpletely vanished, Su''en realized he had sessfully stepped into the realm of a second-tier professional.


    The data on the panel was the most direct indicator; the explosive growth he had been experiencing every day had settled down, and the increase had be gradual and almost imperceptible.


    "Phew... No wonder there''s such a big gap between first-tier professionals and second-tier ones. Not to mention the awakened abilities, just the data alone shows a multiple-fold increase. The physical strength is simply not on the same level..."


    Su''en opened his eyes from meditation, exhaling a long breath of turbid air. His eyes sparkled with excitement, "But on the other hand, the boost from rare golden advancement materials is indeed exaggerated."


    Looking at his data panel again, it had undergone earth-shattering changes.


    There was an increase in almost all attributes.


    Strength and resilience, the melee attributes, had a slight increase,


    But attributes like "Agility," "Skill," and "Perception" for the sorcerer ss had seen a tremendous increase.


    "Perception" went from 13 to 24;


    "Agility" from 36 to 95;


    "Skill" had the most exaggerated increase, from the initial 51 points, it shot up to a three-digit number of 145.


    The changes in the data were intuitive but also quite stark.


    Yet the feeling was truly profound.


    Agility was not just about running fast; it was also about changes in nerve response and muscle reaction.


    At this moment, Su''en could finally understand what kind of physical quality was needed to "slice a bullet" in action. Now, he felt that his nerve reaction speed and the precision and control of his body had reached that level.


    What once seemed like a "miraculous skill" to a rookie, he now truly possessed that ability.


    As soon as a bullet was fired, his nerves and muscles couldpletely predict the bullet''s trajectory and easily avoid it.


    Within a certain distance, the speed of a bullet leaving the gun was no match for his perception and reaction!


    And the nearly threefold increase in skill was even more exaggerated.


    Su''en made a grasping motion with his fingers in the air, manipting a runic puppet single-handedly.


    Previously, his control was limited to simple actions like running, shing, and straightforward punches and kicks...


    Thus, in regrbat, he relied more on the puppet''s runic abilities rather than their physical capabilities.


    The reason for this was insufficient skill.


    With the desire but not the power, he couldn''t achieve that "intricate level" of control.


    But now, under Su''en''s finger maniption, the puppet performed a series ofplex movements, jumping, rolling, scratching, holding a gun, pulling the trigger, throwing darts...


    It could even execute a whole set of vigorous grappling and boxing moves with precise control...


    It looked almost indistinguishable from a real person.


    Moreover, with increased skill, Su''en finally understood why he had seen Mr. ck and the "Magician" Edward cast spells so effortlessly inbat.


    Before advancing, it took him about a second to unravel the eight sorcerer seals of the Spider Lance Armor.


    Now, snapping those first-tier seals was almost instantaneous.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t form seals; it was eight seals in a sh.


    The ultra-high skill allowed him to control his body to a terrifying degree.


    Of course...


    What was most anticipated was that mysterious "spatial ability."

 Chapter 165: Black Hole Doll

    Chapter 165: ck Hole Doll


    Su''en put down the puppet and gently reached out into the void in front of him.


    It was no longer the feeling of touching air,


    as if the space he grabbed had turned into a thin film that could be easily torn.


    He gathered dark spiritual power in his palm, and a dark void appeared in front of him.


    Then he reached his hand into it.


    Miraculously, a hand slowly reached out a meter away.


    He was well aware that his hand had not separated from his arm, but there was a meter of space in between.


    "Hmm, so this is what it feels like to control space..."


    Su''en couldn''t hide his excitement when he saw this. He instantly changed his hands into sixteen different mage seals, and a "ck hole" the same height as him appeared in front of him.


    He stood up and walked straight into it.


    Then, with one step, his front foot had already stepped several meters away, and his whole body appeared several meters away.


    This was true "space teleportation,"


    not just a discement that the eye couldn''t catch due to speed.


    After savoring the feeling just now, Su''en couldn''t help but smile.


    Although the operation was very awkward, this was his first experience of "teleportation."


    It wasn''t entering a time and space tunnel, just the space "canvas" being folded, and he just took a step from one coordinate in space to another.


    But at the same time, he also found some shorings in this attempt.


    After pondering for a moment, Su''en muttered to himself, "The distance of space teleportation is directly rted to the infusion of dark spiritual power. To achieve precise control of thending point and instant mage seal teleportation, a lot of proficiency needs to be improved..."


    "But where should I go to learn those space mage seals and skills..."


    Su''en frowned, feeling a bit of a headache.


    If it weren''t for the fact that he had previously extracted some techniques from Edward''s fragments, just fumbling with the simplest space discement ability would have cost him a lot of time.


    Moreover, what he really coveted was the kind of "hand-rubbing ck hole" spell!


    "Huh..."


    Thinking of this, Su''en''s professional illness as a puppeteer struck again, and he suddenly had an inspiration, "I can''t currently do theplex mage spells like ''hand-rubbing ck hole'' in my original form, but if I make a space puppet and then create a suction device, wouldn''t it achieve almost the same effect?"


    He now had the ability to control space, so making a real space tool was not a problem.


    For example, a space puppet?


    It wasn''t a second-rate space like an ordinary ring, but a "folded space" that could truly hold living corpses and scythes!


    Just like a magician''s hat, it could hold anything that a normal space could carry at any time.


    With this idea in mind, the first thing that came to his mind was a little dwarf holding a purple gourd.


    "Why not make a puppet version of the Seven Dwarfs with runic magic?"


    Suddenly, an idea came to Su''en''s mind.


    ......


    Su''en now had the ability to control space, and making a storage ring was as easy as blowing bubbles.


    But what he needed now was not a storage ring, but a "folded space" that could hold living corpses and sealed objects.


    The second-rate space of an ordinary storage ring was like a bubble in water, easily burst by pressure.


    But "folded space" was like a bubble floating on the water''s surface, not restricted by water pressure; as long as the ability was sufficient, it could expand almost infinitely.


    Several dayster.


    Su''en finally seeded in creating a space carrier and stored the scythe and living corpse inside.


    But the loathsome living corpse needed to breathe air, so he had to create an opening on the space carrier.


    For convenience, Su''en also thought of a hat, and in the end, he made a magician''s "top hat."


    Because he felt that using Edward''s method of concealing magic was an appropriate means. It allowed him to practice spellcasting at any time without being easily noticed.


    But he wasn''t in a hurry to go out; instead, he continued to work on his new idea.


    He wanted to create the envisioned "ck Hole Doll."


    One day.


    The underground fortress was filled with all kinds of puppet parts, alchemical objects, and runic materials.


    This temporary hiding ce had be a puppet workshop.


    Su''en was busy working on a puppet arm.


    In fact, many designs of machinery and puppets were simr.


    His current level of mechanical skills was barely considered proficient, and he was able to use them skillfully on puppets. He designed the puppet arm to be a trigger-based mechanical design, so that when the trigger was pulled, the arm would unfold and take on the shape of a fan de. Upon closer inspection, the six unfolded fan des formed aplete hexagram formation...


    As he worked, he muttered to himself.


    "The hollow arms of this puppet are engraved with ''whirlwind runes,'' which, when activated, can generate suction. When encountering elemental spells, they can be directly absorbed..."


    "Then I''ll also engrave ''reverse whirlwind runes'' in the mouth, so that it can expel what it has absorbed. Or maybe I''ll add a pressure storage device?"


    "As for the energy source of the runes, I can directly use the cursed crystal as a ''battery''..."


    "..."


    "Done!"


    Before long, Su''en assembled the puppet and created the first version of the "ck Hole Doll."


    He manipted the puppet with threads and tried to move it, feeling satisfied with the result.


    ......


    "Next, it''s time to witness a miracle..."


    Su''en looked at his new creation, quite satisfied.


    Then he took out a "Phosphorus Fire Doll" and nned to test the effectiveness of the "ck Hole Doll" by spraying it.


    Using both hands to manipte the threads, Su''en made the two puppets, like diators in the arena, fight each other.


    One was covered in glowing red runes all over its body, spewing phosphorus fire;


    the other unfolded its arms into a fan shape, with blue wind runes surging, and a vortex suction force instantly formed...


    The initial test showed that everything was normal.The small fire sprayed directly into the space inside the puppet''s belly.


    However, as the amount of firepower increased, problems arose.


    The "ck Hole Doll" absorbed the mes, and its body suddenly showed signs of high-temperature roasting cracks. Moreover, the suction power of its arms was not enough to absorb the gradually increasing mes.


    With a "ng," the puppet couldn''t bear the burden and burst apart.


    Su''en frowned as he looked at the puppet fragments on the ground, pondering with his chin in his hand.


    "The suction power ispletely insufficient... If encountering high-level spells, this amount of absorption is simply not enough. A single ''Second Order Cyclone Rune'' cannot satisfy full coverage of absorption from all directions. Moreover, the mes will burn the space, requiring high material strength for the puppet."


    Thinking, he carefully recorded a segment of experimental notes in his notebook: "December 13th, the first experimental test of the ck Hole Doll, failed. The limbs shattered when exposed to the phosphorus fire... Analyzing the reasons, the material strength is insufficient, with the following defects..."


    However, one failed experiment did not shake Su''en''s confidence.


    The fact that the small fire could be absorbed at least proved that his idea was feasible.


    He quickly thought of an improvement n.


    "As for the strength of the puppet, it''s not easy to find materials of a higher level. However, the alchemical puppet left behind by the ''Magician'' Lloyd should be sufficient in quality, as it is a finished product. With some modifications, it should meet the requirements. But as for the runes, that''s a bit troublesome..."


    "For greater suction power... I can try to modify the puppet''s arms into a moreplex spiral structure with a mechanical jet propulsion device. But the runes are the key;posite runes can generate greater attraction, and abination of wind and thunder elements should work well. It would be best to create an ''energy recovery system'' to directly convert the absorbed energy into the puppet''s power..."


    As Su''en thought about this, he furrowed his brow.


    He suddenly realized that his knowledge base could not support his creativity.


    He was not yet proficient in runes, especially in the field of high-level runes such as the Second and Third Orders. He had not gained much experience in this area before.


    He knew some, but he was far from being able to createbinations of runes.


    But if he couldn''t do it himself, he could ask for help.


    "It looks like I''ll have to consult Mr. Hei next time. He is proficient in various types of runes and should be able to help me solve this problem. The ''Thousand Threads'' imnt should have beenpleted long ago..."


    Thinking of this, Su''en''s tightly furrowed brow suddenly rxed.


    He began to pack up the tools and materials in the bunker.


    He was finally ready to go out.


    After digesting the materials, his rank was now stable.


    The key was that he had also mastered his spatial abilities, which gave him the qualifications to go "roaming."


    It had been over half a month since he had received any news from the outside world, but he knew that there might be an extra "s" added to his wanted poster.


    Those who wanted to im the bounty on his head would probably line up from Dawn City to Old Lingdun.


    He didn''t have the qualifications to roam before.


    But now...


    Su''en felt that he was almost ready.


    Although he was only a quasi-Second Order, he hadn''t even learned the skills of reproduction and advancement.


    But ordinary Second Order professionals posed little threat to him.


    High skill, high agility, high perception...


    In a direct confrontation, Su''en''s data could crush over ny percent of professionals of the same rank, even those veteran Second Order professionals.


    Even when facing Third Order professionals, although he couldn''t win, with his scythe and spatial teleportation abilities, he had some chance of escaping...


    ...


    After packing up, Su''en formed the Warlock''s seal with a pinch of his hands.


    Like opening a door, he lifted his hand, and a spatial door appeared in front of him.


    Stepping through, he found himself outside the bunker.


    "Space Teleportation" required arge amount of dark spirit power, and the farther the distance, the consumption almost doubled.


    The frequency of casting also increased consumption.


    But Su''en needed to practice the proficiency of spatial control, so he didn''t hesitate to use dark spirit power.


    Moreover, he had a huge advantage.


    His dark spirit power was much more abundant than that of an ordinary Second Order professional.


    The "x Blood Serum" had modified his body''s tolerance to dark spirit power.


    This meant that not only at the First Order, but at every rank in the future, he would have a higher tolerance for dark spirit power than ordinary people, and his body could store and absorb more dark energy.


    Su''en felt that this "high mana cost" skill of space teleportation would be even stronger in his hands in the future.


    After a few steps, he teleported a few meters.


    He walked a little further, then teleported a few meters again.


    As long as the dark spirit power in his body remained at a safe level, he would continue to practice.


    He wanted to test the precise consumption of various teleportation scenarios...


    In order to calcte every detail precisely in future battles.


    If someone saw him, they would definitely be startled to see him flickering in the faint mist, like a ghost...


    ...


    After a short time, Su''en avoided some hunting parties and returned to the Dawn City camp.


    However, he didn''t rush in, but hung upside down on a rock wall, overlooking everything in the city from a high vantage point.


    The city had beenpletely transformedpared to half a month ago.


    The buildings and steam chimneys towered high, far surpassing the city walls. The huntersing and going were densely packed, and the bustling streets were filled with people, and the noise could be heard from far away...


    It was a scene of prosperity and liveliness.


    Although he was far away, Su''en could still see everything clearly.


    There were thirty-five guards at the city gate, and the defense on the east side of the city wall was rtively weak. He could even clearly see the number "bs-2213" painted in white on the mechanical armor of the city guard whose gaze was focused at the moment...


    Previously, it would have been impossible to see this clearly from this distance with the naked eye.


    ```Su''en''s eyes reflected the bustling traffic of the city as he murmured, "My vision has greatly improved, along with night vision and the ability to distinguish high-frequency targets. Indeed, after advancing, the innate ability of the ''Omniscient Eye'' has also leveled up."


    The innate abilities of Transcendents can be stronger with development and career progression.


    He had noticed something unusual about his eyes on the way to the camp.


    On the way back, he had encountered a mutated lightning sculpture.


    The diving speed of this flying monster was faster than a bullet. To the average person, watching it hunt prey, especially in poor lighting, would seem like a glitch, a sh covering a hundred meters...


    This is what''smonly referred to as "physical teleportation."


    It''s because the eye''s capture of light changes faster than the neural response time, missing a segment of the visual capture, making it appear as if it teleported.


    But Su''en found that his current vision could clearly capture the silhouette of the lightning sculpture.


    This had a significant impact onbat.


    For example.


    Previously, he dodged bullets by predicting the direction of the gun barrel.


    But now, he could clearly track the entire trajectory of the bullet, not just the moments of firing and hitting.


    This was extremely useful inbat, especially against those closebat professionals who could "physically teleport."


    Su''en''s current vision could even capture every detail of a fast-moving target''s actions as if in slow motion. Seeing the actions clearly allowed him to predict and react in advance.


    He could fight, he could flee.


    However...


    While the ''Omniscient Eye'' ability had been enhanced, the ''Death Reaper'' seemed to have remained unchanged.


    At this thought, he suddenly remembered what Qian Tiao had told him about the second awakening of innate abilities.


    Using the words of that gambling-addicteddy, that was the real qualitative change.


    Thinking of this, he felt some anticipation. What would these two "S-ss" innate abilities be like after their second awakening?


    But he didn''t dwell on it, as the second awakening was something that couldn''t be forced.


    If one often skirted the edge of life and death, the probability would be higher.


    Su''en felt that normal people probably wouldn''t want to awaken any abilities in that way.


    Before long, after scouting out an escape route in case of trouble, he headed towards the camp.


    .......


    Although Su''en wouldn''t mutate in a high dark spirit force environment, he still needed to return to the city to purchase some supplies. He also had to contact Mr. Hei to collect his ''Thousand Threads'' alchemical imnt and ask some questions.


    Moreover, now that Su''en had advanced to the second tier, there were two needs yet to be met: one was the secret method of mental power, and the other was the forms for various spatial spells.


    The ruins of Dawn City were vast, and it was impossible for him alone to find what he needed.


    The Hunter''s Guild was a good ce for that.


    Su''en nned to visit the Hunter''s Market in the city to see if there were any bargains to be had.


    If not, he would post a bounty for information on "spatial spells."


    The Hunter''s Guild might just provide the information he needed.


    Perhaps, the omnipotent hunters had encountered that ''Magician'' Howard in some other cursed space, or through other channels, obtained some spatial spells.


    But before that, Su''en had another matter to attend to.


    He nned to have a "heart-to-heart" talk with the gangsterdy, Sabina.


    When it came to information, who knew more than the intelligence officer of the Umbre Organization?


    Before, he wasn''t sure he could win a fight against her, let alone escape, but now...


    It was time to avenge that night''s ambush.


    Moreover, Su''en also nned to test whether the ''High-Level Subus Master Contract'' he obtained in the cursed space would work on that woman...

 Chapter 166: Night break into the bathroom

    Chapter 166: Night break into the bathroom


    Su''en walked towards the Dawn City camp.


    One person was too conspicuous, so he blended in with the caravan.


    The development of Old Lingdun City was in full swing, and more and more caravans and pioneers came to the ruins.


    The narrow path in the underground a few months ago has now be a cement road, with a constant flow of peopleing and going.


    It seemed to Su''en that these caravans were of much higher quality than a month ago. Many professionals who were not short of money were also mixed in the crowd.


    Listening in on the conversation in the crowd, Su''en discovered that these people were actually the bodyguards of the major families and tycoons, seemingly here to take the lead.


    The Reis family, the Leonard family, the Rockefeller family, DuPont, Morgan...


    The people in the caravan were talking, and it seemed that the top tycoons in the inner city had sent people to participate.


    "Is the inner city also participating in the development?"


    Pioneering was originally an opportunity for the poor people in the outer city to earn a living at the cost of their lives. People from the inner city would hardly participate, at least not their direct descendants.


    But now, things were different.


    Su''en thought of what Mr. ck had said before, that there would be a hunting frenzy recently. It was said that the high-level figures in the ck Tower seemed to be nning to fully develop the central and core areas of Dawn City, and had ordered the major families in the inner city to send experts over.


    After listening for a while, Su''en got some fragmented information.


    He also had some thoughts in his mind.


    ......


    From a distance, Su''en saw several wanted posters posted at the city gate.


    The top two, of course, were Number Neen and himself, Su''en.


    As he had expected, because of the frequent "major crimes" recently, he had finally be one of the only two "SS-level wanted criminals" in Old Lingdun.


    The official reward amount had reached five million and a pile of other things, and the Oliver family had also added a substantial reward...


    However, he looked at it and realized that the situation didn''t seem too bad.


    The wanted posters still showed his previous bald punk face.


    But because it was an "SS wanted poster," the information on it was very detailed.


    Some major features were described in detail, such as being skilled in using dual guns, a puppet master, apanied by a blue-skinned giant, and having two banned items, the "Night Reaper of Supnos" and the "Shroud of the Ice Man"...


    The bounty experts even analyzed the models of the dual guns, down to the names "Blue Ghost" and "Thunder Snake."


    Not only his height, shoulder width, weight, shoe size... but also his aversion to the undead.


    It could be said that everything Su''en had previously exposed had been meticulously recorded on the wanted poster.


    If he still had his previous bald image, no matter how he disguised himself, he would be discovered by the bounty hunters when entering the city, let alone carrying the obvious burden of the aversion to the undead and the Reaper.


    For ordinary wanted criminals, there was really nowhere to escape from this level of wanted poster.


    But there was one thing that made Su''en slightly puzzled.


    He found that his current long-haired appearance was not on the wanted poster.


    But Su''en didn''t harbor any illusions.


    Although he had worn a mask that night, Sabina had only seen half of his face.


    But he always felt that Sabina wouldn''t let go of such good information.


    ......


    Caravans of all sizes lined up at the camp gate to enter the city.


    Because there were too many people, there was a long line at the city gate.


    Su''en felt that it was probably because of thest time he and Number Neen had caused amotion in the city, and the city''s defenses and guards had clearly been strengthened a lot.


    The number of inspection outposts had doubled, and there were also armed inspection teams with white helmets, seemingly to prevent the outposts from taking bribes...


    Everyone had to take off their hats and masks for inspection, and therge goods of each caravan had to be opened.


    It was obvious that some "inclothes" were mixed in the queue, their eyes wandering around the crowd, looking for suspicious individuals.


    Su''en had already observed the positions of these outposts and knew that he would only have a chance to get close to the city wall by following the caravan.


    It took a long time to enter the city, but it didn''t stop people from being in a hurry.


    Several makeshift sheds had been built outside the city wall as temporary toilets.


    Su''en pretended to be in a hurry and went to a corner behind the toilet, out of sight of the crowd.


    He had already observed that this was the closest cover to the city wall.


    The city wall was about ten meters thick, and he would need to teleport about ten meters behind the wall to avoid being discovered by the guards.


    Su''en was not yet able to teleport over long distances, so this distance was just right.


    He was already very skilled in the technique of spatial teleportation, so he found the right direction and made a warlock''s seal, and a dark portal appeared.


    Stepping through, he looked around, and he had already appeared in the city.


    ......


    "A little bit of a small error, not bad..."


    Su''en looked at thending spot and smiled lightly.He straightened his suit, lowered the brim of his top hat, and headed towards the city streets.


    The ck Baron''s Tavern was the territory of the Steam Party, and Sabina, as the gang''s big sister, naturally frequented the ce.


    This time, Su''en didn''t dare to go directly to the ck Baron''s, for fear of encountering something from beyond the domain and being recognized early.


    So he chose a small tavern a few shops away, found a position by the window where he could see the ck Baron''s, and ordered a drink. He listened to the hunters in the tavern talk nonsense, and got a general idea of what had happened recently.


    In addition to those hunting reports, he also heard the name "S wanted criminal Su''en" many times, but mostly with a ttering tone.


    Listening to it made him, the protagonist, asionally unable to help but smile.


    At the table next to him, there was a big-bearded man boasting about his encounter with "Su''en."


    "Hey, let me tell you, I also met ''S wanted Su''en'' at the 1911 Hotelst time. That battle was amazing, hundreds of people surrounded and killed him, and even a few leaders ofrge hunting parties failed to catch him and were killed in return..."


    "I heard that Su''en is actually a third-tier professional. The bounty guild guys deliberately downy it, just afraid that no one dares to provide them with information..."


    "That''s right! Even with that banned item in hand, how could a first-tier professional kill from Old Lingdun to Dawn City? Do they really think all those people in the inner city are useless?"


    "That person is really something. I heard he came from the slums, andter fought his way out in the gang, and that''s how he is now..."


    "Huh, howe I heard that he used to be a bodyguard in the inner city..."


    Various rumors and gossip came out of the mouths of the drinkers, and Su''en, the protagonist, couldn''t help but wonder if the "protagonist" in the story was himself.


    For ordinary hunters struggling to survive in the lower levels, the bounty on wanted criminals was too far away, and it was just a story to listen to after dinner.


    In a hard life, there must always be some fun. Suddenly, there was someone who could make the big tycoons suffer, and they were happy to see it.


    Su''en, on the other hand, was a "legendary figure" in their eyes.


    ......


    Su''en waited in the tavern for nearly three hours.


    Finally, near midnight, he saw the person he had been waiting for.


    At the entrance of the ck Baron''s Tavern, a fox-fur woman finally appeared.


    Even from a distance, one could see the morous woman, as if she were under a spotlight on stage, chatting andughing among a group of men. Naturally, she was the charming big sister of the gang.


    She seemed to have made a deal with some of the big shots from the inner city and left the tavern.


    The tipsy old gentlemen, supported by the scantily d tavern girls, smiled and bid her farewell, heading to the upscale hotel next door.


    Sabina led a group of Steam Party cadres and henchmen towards another hotel.


    It looked like they were nning to rest.


    Tommy was also in the group, and it seemed that in the past month, he had been trained by the methods of the big sister of the gang, losing his temper, not being gagged, and not speaking, keeping a straight face the whole time.


    Spiritual professionals have a strong sense of perception, and Su''en didn''t dare to look directly at them. His dted pupils took in everything.


    As the group of people entered the three-story building, he didn''t rush out.


    After a moment, he saw the lights in a room on the third floor of the hotel suddenlye on, and then he left the tavern.


    Su''en walked down the street, passing by the entrance of a building called the "Starry Inn" without stopping. He listened for a moment and was able to roughly identify the distribution of the personnel. The Steam Party''s henchmen were ying cards and bragging in the lobby on the first floor.


    Su''en avoided the gaze of others and turned into a small alley behind the hotel.


    It looked like the defenses werex, and he could climb the wall to get upstairs.


    But Su''en looked at the inconspicuous warning devices on the wall and thought to himself, "Huh, it''s no wonder they''re in the intelligence business, they''re careful enough..."


    Since realizing his spatial abilities, he had added the concept of space to his perception system, and even with his eyes closed, he could clearly discern the structure of buildings within a certain range.


    For example, the room on the third floor with the light on, he could clearly distinguish the partition, the bed, the cab...


    This way, he wouldn''t teleport over and end up in the wall.


    ......


    Since he had decided to take action, Su''en didn''t hesitate.


    With a pinch of the warlock seal, the eight-armed spider spear was revealed, and a void ck hole appeared out of thin air. He stepped into it.


    When he took another step, he was already in the room on the third floor.


    The room was spacious, and the dim warm-colored lights illuminated the luxurious interior of the room, with a faint mist in the air.


    There was no one on the bed, and a white fox fur and a silk dress were hanging on the coat rack. There were also scattered whitece underwear on the bed, and a pair of high heels by the door...Su''en saw these things and immediately confirmed that he had not judged wrong.


    This was Sabina''s room!


    He heard the sound of water in the bathroom and without any hesitation, he rushed straight towards the bathroom.


    The person in the bathroom also reacted extremely quickly. It seemed that she heard the faint sound of someone entering the room, and suddenly there was a "ssh" sound, like the sound of water pouring out.


    Unfortunately, Su''en, who was prepared, was even faster!


    With the agility of his eight-armed spider spear, he moved at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in the bathroom.


    Su''en didn''t give the enemy any chance to react. As soon as he entered the bathroom, he punched her in the stomach, interrupting her attempt to grab a gold bracelet from the washstand.


    At this moment, the Sabina in front of him had already transformed into a subus, with eerie red light emanating from her eyes.


    After taking a heavy blow from the cold me, her dark spiritual power stagnated.


    As a high-level professional, even though she was ambushed, she still had some resistance.


    But Sabina chose to retreat decisively. The enemy who had entered the room without making a sound gave her an extremely deadly sense of threat!


    After this punch, her body suddenly exploded into a cloud of pink mist, which was her innate subus ability, just like the day she escaped.


    Unfortunately, Su''en had already anticipated this.


    After the punch shattered her delicate body, he narrowed his eyes, pped his hands rapidly, and the warlock''s seal was instantly formed. The surrounding space seemed to solidify.


    As soon as the pink mist dissipated and she tried to escape, she reappeared just a meter away.


    Like a sh hitting a wall, she was momentarily stunned.


    Sabina looked at herself still in the bathroom, a hint of surprise on her pretty face.


    But this time, she was not given a chance to escape. Arge iron mp had already lurked around her neck.


    In that instant, Sabina''s face changed drastically, and she eximed in her heart, "Space Lock!"


    She found that when her neck was pinched by that hand, her whole body seemed to be stuck in a quagmire, not only unable to cast spells to escape, but even struggling was restricted.


    The other party obviously knew her abilities and came prepared, which restrained her means of escape.


    Space control was a very rare ability.


    The first thing that came to her mind was to search for what kind of enemy would have such an ability.


    But without her having to think, looking at the eight-armed spider spear in front of her, Sabina already knew who the person was.


    ......


    Su''en didn''t give Sabina any chance to resist. In the moment he controlled her, the two dark and flowing "poisonous thorns" of the spider spear had already pierced within a centimeter of her eyes. If she made any movement, the spear would prate her eye sockets and pierce her brain.


    And it wasn''t over yet!


    In order to restrict her movements, several other spears pulled out countless silver threads, enveloping her entire body in arge. The threads cut into her flesh, making it impossible for her to even form hand seals, let alone move her fingers.


    Space restriction + threads + spears...


    Completely defenseless, Sabina was controlled by Su''en in a very embarrassing position against the bathroom wall.


    The whole process was done in one go, and Su''en didn''t say a word. He took out a sharp dagger and directly cut a wound on her arm.


    This dagger, forged with "Amande metal" and dismantled from the "PZ911 mechanical limb," had an extremely strong anti-magic effect.


    With just one cut, it pierced through theyer of jelly-like defense barrier on Sabina''s skin, causing blood to flow.


    Seeing the blood, Su''en took out a parchment that had been prepared in advance to draw aplex covenant seal, and then dripped the blood onto it.


    The parchment absorbed the blood, and a spiritual light emanated from it.


    Seeing this strange action, Sabina''s face finally changed.


    She realized that things were not looking good.


    However, she was ultimately a top-level intelligence officer in the Umbre organization, and her mentality and strength were top-notch. She showed a sh of surprise but quickly regained herposure.


    She suddenly stopped struggling, and didn''t feel the least bit ashamed of her current naked state. Instead, she stretched out her body openly, as if she wanted the man in front of her to see everything clearly.


    Her red pupils emitted a strange light, and a wave of spiritual power quietly emanated.


    A unique fragrance that made hormones surge filled the air...


    Unfortunately, the two spears in front of her blocked most of her vision, making her unable to move.


    With a nce, she also saw a pair of almost numb eyes, faintly tinged with red,pletely unaffected by desire.


    Sabina was very familiar with this gaze.


    This was a sign that the guy in front of her was about to release the monster from the depths of his heart.


    Back then, she had almost suffered a great loss at the hands of this red-eyed monster.


    Seeing Su''en preparing to inject a potion into his neck, Sabina''s heart sank.


    An advanced calming potion?At this moment, she realized that the other party had a masterful understanding of the subus''s abilities, having calcted every move to perfection.

 Chapter 167: Okay. But... can I put on some clothes first?

    Chapter 167: Okay. But... can I put on some clothes first?


    Su''en didn''t expect Sabina to be bathing, but it was a good thing, which saved him a lot of trouble.


    She had no clothes or equipment on her, which also reduced a lot of unexpected situations.


    After all, just a nce at the nearby sink, there was a piece of jewelry identified as the "Golden Bracelet of Nito Cress," which was a very tricky spiritual curse item.


    If he hadn''t acted quickly, if this woman had gotten it, today''s situation might have turned into a disaster.


    ......


    At this moment, Sabina was captured, and her face instantly returned to calm. She took the initiative to speak: "Sir, I think there might be a misunderstanding between us."


    Her voice seemed to have a kind of magic, soft and gentle, sounding like a harmless and delicate woman.


    She pretended not to recognize him and waited for Su''en to respond.


    Unfortunately, Su''en had already harvested Barbara''s memories and was very familiar with the methods of the subus.


    The subus had four methods of enchantment in actualbat: voice, gaze, scent, and body.


    How could he not know what this woman was nning?


    If she said too much, she would be hypnotized without realizing it.


    "Shut up!"


    Su''en shouted without any emotional fluctuations.


    Sabina looked at his attitude and knew that the other party also knew about her "Enchanting Voice" ability.


    She suddenly softened her body, looking as if she hadpletely given up resistance, "Okay. But... can I put on some clothes first?"


    She cleverly added another sentence, giving no reason for anyone to act.


    Did she really want to put on clothes?


    No.


    In fact, this was a reminder to Su''en that she waspletely naked in front of him.


    The subus''s figure was so proud?


    Sabina, who was already dressed, was a charming and peerless beauty, but how could she not captivate people when she was naked?


    The bathtub next to her was still emitting steam, and the faint fragrance of rose petals filled the entire bathroom.


    Just out of the bathtub, she was naked, and a few petals still clung to her fair skin. Her skin was so smooth that it seemed as if even the glistening water droplets couldn''t stay, and they slid down her fragrant shoulders and beautiful legs...


    It seemed that she was nervous and scared, and her breathing revealed a hint of urgency, but upon closer listening, it sounded more like a seductive sound.


    Her chest also rose and fell violently due to her rapid breathing, and her fair and plump skin trembled along with it...


    This was definitely a body that could make any man''s blood boil.


    Not only was it a visual shock, but her body also exuded a special enchanting scent that would elerate a person''s blood flow.


    Coupled with her coy and shy appearance, it constantly stimted people''s sensory desires.


    As long as she was given a chance, she could fight back!


    Unfortunately, Su''en''s face was still wearing a parrot anti-toxin mask, which was not an ordinary mask, but a "gue Doctor''s Beak Mask" that filtered 99% of toxins.


    The aphrodisiac toxin was also a toxin.


    It was directly filtered out.


    ......


    Su''en had already anticipated everything and would not give this woman any chance to turn the tables.


    He didn''t look away, unaffected at all, and said coldly, "Now, recite with me."


    In addition to needing a contract formation, the "Advanced Subus Contract" also required the subus to actively recite an ancient demonic oath.


    This was the most troublesome part.


    After a pause, he directly recited a difficult oath: "&*%%..."


    When Sabina heard this, a hint of seriousness shed in her eyes.


    She had just watched Su''en use a piece of parchment to absorb her blood, and then wanted her to recite something with him, naturally guessing that this was some kind of ancient ritual.


    Although she didn''t know what he was up to, Sabina naturally wouldn''t be so foolish as to do as he asked.


    She realized that this was a very dangerous ritual.


    Sabina wanted to struggle and find an opportunity, and said, "We can make a deal! I can give you everything you want..."


    But before she could finish speaking, Su''en suddenly picked up the dagger in his hand and stabbed it into her corbone.


    Blood spurted out, the dagger pierced her shoulder, and she was pinned to the wall.


    Su''en said coldly, "Recite with me. I don''t have the patience to talk to you again."


    He was just here to try. If the contract couldn''t be sessful, he would kill this woman directly.


    Dealing with this cunning and shrewd woman, or a high-ranking official of the Umbre Organization?


    Su''en wasn''t so arrogant as to think he could handle it.


    Sabina naturally heard the numbness in Su''en''s tone and her crystal eyes turned cold.


    She knew human nature too well. The man in front of her was as cold as a stone, giving her no chance to take advantage.


    She knew that if she refused, this guy would definitely kill her mercilessly.


    But she also absolutely wouldn''t agree, so she raised her head and let out a cold snort.


    ......


    Su''en had known that this would be the situation.


    He had no mercy for his enemies.


    It was originally just a test. If it seeded, that would be great. If not, it would be a harvest of experience.


    At this moment, he took out a vial of potion and injected it into Sabina''s vein, saying emotionlessly, "This is the ''Interrogation Potion.'' As an intelligence officer of the Umbre Organization, you should know what this is. I know you must have received professional training, and your will won''t make you yield easily. But I will keep increasing the dosage until you are hypnotized, or until you die from an overdose."


    Looking at the potion, Sabina showed no emotion. She had already resigned herself to facing death.


    Instead, she was more concerned about something else: "Do you know my identity?"


    "What do you think?"Su''en sneered with a retort, his attention never straying from his panel. At the slightest sign of an anomaly, he was ready to kill.


    After administering one injection, he took out another vial, preparing for a second dose.


    At that moment, Sabina seemed to guess his intentions and asked, "Is this a Subus Bonding Contract?"


    Su''en didn''t bother to hide it: "Of course. You either be my servant, or... you die."


    "..."


    Knowing she had no choice, Sabina''s gaze became contemtive upon hearing the nature of the contract.


    Suddenly, she shouted, stopping Su''en from injecting the second vial, "Wait!"


    Su''en nced at her, "Oh? Changed your mind?"


    Sabina clearly understood what signing the contract entailed. Her expression eased, as if she had resigned herself to captivity, "Promise me one thing. I''ll cooperate with you."


    Su''en paused his action, "Let''s hear it."


    As a psychic professional, Sabina''s will was undoubtedly strong.


    An overdose of the potion could leave her a fool, if not dead.


    Even if the contract was sessful, it would be meaningless without her intellect.


    If she was willing to cooperate, that was for the best.


    Sabina said, "When you''re able, help me kill someone."


    Her tone sounded like she was making a final wish.


    Su''en was intrigued, "Who?"


    Sabina: "Severus Gerald."


    Su''en found the name unfamiliar, "Who''s that?"


    Sabina: "The leader of the Umbre Organization."


    Without hesitation, Su''en agreed, "Fine. If I be capable, I''ll kill him for you."


    It wasn''t an outrageous request; the leader of the Umbre Organization was already an enemy.


    If he became powerful enough, he would have to be eliminated.


    With that, they reached a verbal agreement.


    Su''en was surprised at how smoothly things went; he had thought she would rather die than submit. He asked, "Can you tell me why, upon hearing it was a ''Subus Bonding Contract,'' you suddenly changed your mind?"


    Sabina replied calmly, "It''s just a change of allegiance, nothing more. Since mythological times, subi have always been vassals to some powerful beings. If this contract is as legendary as they say, it could be greatly beneficial to me. The stronger my master, the stronger I be."


    She paused, then added meaningfully, "Besides, my loyalty to the Umbre Organization isn''t as strong as you think."


    Su''en listened, slightly surprised, but said no more.


    ...


    With Sabina''s active cooperation, the contract was established smoothly.


    As she recited the demonic oath, Su''en felt a mysterious connection form between thema master-servant bond that allowed him to control her life and death at will.


    Soon after, a contract marker appeared on his panel, "Contracted Subus: Sabina M. Sakarias."


    "It actually worked..."


    Su''en looked at the now harmless Sabina and released her.


    He had onlye to try; he hadn''t expected to actually seed.


    He knew that once the contract wasplete, she wouldn''t act against him.


    But curious about the contract''s power, he decided to test it.


    At the thought of punishment, Sabina''s face turned pale as if she were in agony, and she copsed to her knees, looking up at Su''en with pitiful eyes, devoid of anger or resentment.


    Su''en knew her life hung on his whim.


    He didn''t continue with the punishment.


    Freed from her constraints, Sabina quickly epted her new role.


    It was as if Su''en''s mark had been seared into the depths of her soul.


    Certain thoughts no longer seemed repulsive to her.


    The tense and deadly atmosphere shifted dramatically.


    Sabina looked up at the man before her with eyes filled with loyalty and obedience.


    Her demeanor carried a hint of ttery and abasement, "You are my master now. What would you have your servant do for you?"


    Surprised by her sudden change in attitude, Su''en was curious about the power of the contract and asked, "Do you feel any different?"


    Sabina seemed to remember everything, her consciousness intact, "Nothing''s different. I''ve heard of this contract from the elders in my family. Aside from you being my master and my obedience to yourmands, it doesn''t affect me otherwise."

 Chapter 168: Demoness, I require your aid in my cultivation

    Chapter 168: Demoness, I require your aid in my cultivation


    Su''en felt very satisfied.


    He walked out of the bathroom and went into the room.


    "You take care of the wound yourself, I have some questions to ask you."


    "Yes, master."


    Sabina responded and followed him out.


    As for the wound on her shoulder, after a pink mist enveloped it, the external wound quickly healed visibly to the naked eye.


    Su''en didn''t hear any movement to treat the wound, so he turned to look at her healed wound and asked, "Is this also your innate ability?"


    Sabina nodded and obediently replied, "Yes, master."


    Su''en always felt strange hearing the title "master" and said, "You can call me ''Sir''."


    Sabina, with apletely obedient servant-like appearance, would not refuse, "Oh, okay, sir."


    There was a very soft-lookingrge bed in the room.


    Su''en felt that the atmosphere was not so oppressive, so hey down on the bed.


    Sabina, on the other hand, stood obediently like a qualified maid.


    But she also looked at her naked body, turned her crystal eyes, and asked, "Sir, can I put on clothes?"


    Su''en didn''t mind, "As you wish."


    "Oh, then I won''t wear them."


    Listening to this, a mischievous smile crossed Sabina''s face, and she added, "Otherwise, it will be inconvenient for youter."


    Su''en looked at her, "Inconvenient for me?"


    Thinking about it, he understood.


    This was the professional disease of a subus.


    Every smile and frown would arouse desire in people.


    ......


    At this time, Su''en looked at the swaying triangr tail behind her and curiously asked, "Does your tail have attack capabilities?"


    "Yes, it can easily pierce a person''s body."


    Sabina blinked and responded, then turned to the side, revealing her perfect curved buttocks to Su''en, and teasingly said, "But usually, it''s soft. Sir, do you want to touch it?"


    If an ordinary person had a subus servant like this, their life expectancy would probably not be long.


    Su''en also began to slowly adapt to this "master" identity.


    Thinking that this was not an interrogation, there was no need for a question and answer session, and a maid couldn''t just stand there, so hezily turned over andy on the bed, asking, "Can you give a massage?"


    "I can!"


    Sabina heard this and immediately responded with a happy expression.


    She had not dared to overstep before, but now that she had received permission, she dared to approach.


    She walked to the side of the bed and asked in a docile tone, "Sir, can Ie up?"


    "Come up."


    Su''en nced at her.


    Just now, his nerves were tense, ready to kill, and his eyes were full of skeletons.


    Now, he rxed and looked at her with an appreciative gaze. This gangster''s wife had an amazing figure. She looked slightly plump, but her slender waist was full and easy to hold, with clear vest lines, showing no trace of excess fat.


    That plumpness was all in the right ces.


    Hmm... her chest was really big.


    He didn''t know why the towering figure in front of her chest had a kind of reverse gravity, as if it was also a subus''s innate ability?


    Especially after the transformation, her fair skin was like warm jade, with ayer of translucent and delicate fluorescence. Upon closer inspection, every detail was clear, and even the dark blue blood vessels were clearly visible.


    His gaze swept from top to bottom, and everything was clear at a nce.


    There was a slight pause.


    But just this one look, Sabina didn''t feel shy at all. Instead, she seemed to sense something, and a sly look shed in her beautiful eyes as she coquettishly said, "So... sir, my hair is not dyed, you know~"


    "..."


    Listening to this nonsensical talk, Su''en naturally felt that this woman had seen through his thoughts.


    He found it interesting and his lips curved slightly.


    He had thought that Sabina''s waterfall-like fiery red long hair, shiny and smooth, didn''t look real, thinking it was a wig or dyed after birth.


    Now, after scanning her unrestrained body, hmm... it should be natural.


    ......


    "Sir, you can take off your coat first, so the massage will be morefortable."


    "Shall I help you take off your gun? I''m afraid it might go off identally..."


    "This is my private room. Without my permission, no one dares to disturb. It''s very safe."


    "You don''t have to do it, I''ll do it for you..."


    "..."


    Skin touched skin, body temperature mingled.


    The touch was warm and moist.


    Su''en didn''t know if it was a subus''s innate ability or a skill learnedter, but Sabina''s massage technique was veryfortable.


    Su''eny on the bed, feeling that the soft and tender touch of her slender fingerspletely rxed his tense muscles.


    Su''en buried his head in the pillow, not only enjoying it, but also asking, "Tell me the information I''m interested in."


    He hadn''t forgotten that the woman behind him was a mid-level intelligence officer of the Umbre organization, and the information from her mouth was the truly valuable thing.


    When he asked, he intended to get some secrets of the Umbre organization, but unexpectedly, Sabinapletely missed the point.


    She said, "Oh... Banner is purely a mechanical reconstruction."


    Hearing this, Su''en turned his head slightly strangely, looked at her, and asked, "Why did you suddenly mention this?"


    I want the information I''m interested in. Why are you telling me that "Butcher" Banner is a mechanical body?


    Sabina said with a charming smile, "I think... the master must be interested in this information. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, I am Banner''s woman. But now, I am the master''s servant..."


    She continued, "In fact, that guy did it to show off. Banner has obtained the top mechanical reconstruction technology from the inner city and haspletely transformed himself into a mechanical body. To cover up, he pretended to be a good woman..."Su''en suddenly understood something when he heard this.


    He asked, "How strong is Bana?"


    Sabina replied, "Very strong. His talent is [a-043-metal devourer], naturally suitable for mechanical modification. His mechanical limbs are not inferior to the super mechanical warriors in the inner city, and in some aspects, even more suitable forbat. And, he''s almost impossible to kill. Not to mention the outer city, he ranks among the top professionals in the entire Old Lingdun. If you encounter him, you must be extremely careful. At least, it''s not easy to kill him with the ''Night Reaper of Supnos''..."


    Su''en listened with a hint of surprise.


    If Sabina said so, then Bana must be really strong.


    Su''en asked, "Does Bana know that you are a member of the Umbre organization?"


    Sabina replied, "He knows, we both have our own reasons."


    Su''en asked, "Why do you want to kill the leader of the Umbre organization, Severus Gerald? Isn''t he your superior?"


    Sabina exined, "My subus talent is hereditary, almost all the women in our family have this talent. The Umbre organization has always been recruiting various rare talents, my mother, sister, all died at their hands..."


    With a master-ve contract, Sabina would not lie to him.


    Su''en finally understood what she meant by saying that she did not have the loyalty to the Umbre organization as he had imagined.


    But at the same time, he was curious, "Since they know you have a grudge, why would the Umbre organization leave such a big hidden danger within the system?"


    Sabina replied, "No, they think I will be ''absolutely loyal''. In fact, the ck Tower has another means of controlling people. Have you heard of the mental power secret technique?"


    Su''en asked, "The secret technique ssified as ''forbidden'' by the ck Tower?"


    Sabina nodded, "Yes! This secret technique is ssified as ''forbidden'' because the high-level of the ck Tower wants to monopolize advanced alchemy knowledge. Another important reason is that this secret technique affects the rule of the lord."


    After a pause, she continued, "Duke Raphael has a special sealing object that can alter a person''s cognition. Almost all senior officials and leaders in the inner city will swear allegiance to that sealing object when they take office. It''s actually a ''mind imprint'' of absolute loyalty to the lord."


    "..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en thought of the super mechanical warrior he had killed before.


    From that guy''s mind, he had stripped away fanatical loyalty.


    Now, hearing that the ck Tower has this means, it was not surprising.


    At this time, Sabina continued, "Because of my subus talent, I have a special growth bonus for mental power. And by chance, I obtained an ancient subus-exclusive mental cultivation secret technique. Then... I discovered some cognition that had been altered by that sealing object."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en understood.


    But then he asked, "Can that secret technique of yours make you vite the master-ve contract?"


    Sabina replied, "No~ This is an ancient high-level contract passed down. I won''t vite it as long as I haven''t reached the level of creating this contract rule. And, once a subus acknowledges a master, they will never betray their master~"


    Su''en was not very surprised to hear this, it was simr to what he knew.


    Now with Sabina, he didn''t need to go to the hall for a lot of information, he could just ask directly.


    "Why haven''t you put my current appearance on the wanted list?"


    "Because I don''t have absolute loyalty to the Umbre organization. I''m still working for them, just waiting for an opportunity. I know that you have a close rtionship with the ''Mirror Organization'', I didn''te to arrest you before, I wanted to use you to learn some information about the ''Mirror''."


    "Mirror?"


    Su''en heard this term for the first time, a little puzzled.


    Sabina said, "Yes. Don''t you know the ''Rakshasa Woman''? She is a member of that organization."


    Su''en finally knew that the organization ck was referring to was called "Mirror".


    "How much do you know about that organization?"


    "I don''t know much, the intelligence of the ''Mirror'' is personally handled by Duke Raphael. I only know that they have a direct rtionship with the forces behind the ck market... but I haven''t even figured out how many members they have specifically."


    "..."


    They chatted for almost half an hour.


    Through Sabina, Su''en unraveled many of his doubts.


    ......


    And as they continued, Sabina suddenly spoke again.


    "Sir, are you going to turn over? The back is done, I need to massage the front."


    As she spoke, she raised her perky buttocks and knelt obediently at the edge of the bed, giving Su''en space to turn over.Su''en naturally rolled over, and the view before him was crystal clear, every detail visible, the snowy peaks within arm''s reach...


    A seductive fragrance wafted into his nostrils.


    At this moment, gazing at the enchanting beauty before him, bereft of any covering, a ssic line from his past life suddenly popped into his head: "Demoness, I require your aid in my cultivation. Should you disturb my inner peace, I shall spare you..."


    Sabina''s eyes brimmed with the allure of spring, without a hint of shyness.


    "Sir, may Ie up?"


    To be continued...


    Special note: The following content is a paid .avi chapter, please subscribe at Qidian.

 Chapter 169.1 – This wave is not losing

    Chapter 169.1 ¨C This wave is not losing


    With Su''en''s permission, Sabina finally sat down and began to massage.


    As a subus servant, Sabina had a deep-seated reverence for her master from the depths of her soul. She dared not be too presumptuous, carefully massaging and rxing Su''en''s shoulder and neck muscles.


    "Sir, your muscle lines are so beautiful~"


    Sabina''s fingertips touched Su''en''s body contours, marveling, "I can''t believe that you work as a mysterious puppeteer. Such muscle strength is rare even among closebat professionals."


    Because she had to massage his shoulders and neck, lying on top of her master''s body would be impolite, so she had to arch her back and stick out her waist to reach further. This also made her body bend into a bow, with arge expanse of skin exposed to the air, rubbing against each other.


    Su''eny back on the bed, the angle was just right.


    He could see clearly with just a nce.


    He didn''t hesitate to reach out and try.


    Hmm... the touch was very good.


    There was even an unexpectedly soft and bone-prating sensation.


    Sabina''s subus talent gave her incredibly tight skin, to a degree that ordinary humans could not achieve.


    She was called a "young woman," but she was like a young girl.


    In terms of pleasure, this was definitely a wonderful figure that could be thoroughly enjoyed.


    There was a charm called natural allure,


    That was probably what it meant.


    The legendary "subus" was indeed extraordinary.


    Suddenly, a warmrge hand reached up, and Sabina not only wasn''t startled, but instead straightened her body to make it easier for him.


    Seeing that the hand wasn''t too presumptuous, she looked at Su''en with a coquettish nce and said, "Sir, you are the master, you can do whatever you want~"


    Su''en smiled.


    He reached out and tried.


    Hmm...


    Full and untouchable.


    Sabina''s figure had always been a hot topic in the outer city underworld, a longsting and sensational topic. When the Cross Society and the Steam Party were at war, Su''en extracted soul fragments from the bodies of the fallen from the Steam Party, and eight out of ten of those that touched a woman''s memory had the shadow of this underworld big sister.


    But others could only think about it.


    The methods of the "Butcher" Bana were extremely ruthless and cruel. Even the cadres who dared to covet the beauty of this big sister didn''t hesitate to chop them up and feed them to the dogs.


    Su''en had also aplished a feat that others had thought about but didn''t dare to try.


    After ying for a while, his interest didn''t wane, and he became more and more fond of it.


    He was busy with his hands, but he didn''t forget that he still had some questions, "You said before that by signing a contract with me, you would also benefit?"


    This was something Su''en didn''t know.


    "Yes, sir."


    Sabina responded with a gentle face, "It is said that the subus from ancient times is a abyssal race, and they usually choose a powerful demon king as their master. The stronger the demon king''s strength, the stronger the servant will benefit. And the abilities I inherited also have some rted cultivation secrets. But I don''t know if it''s true... after all, I only have the talent of subus bloodline, not pure subus."


    After a pause, she looked at Su''en, with an unmistakable hint of ambiguity in her eyes, and leaned in, saying, "So, master, you shoulde often, this servant also wants to know if those cultivation secrets are really useful..."


    Su''en understood what those "cultivation secrets" were after hearing this. He smiled slightly, and his hand slipped down from her waist, resting on her round and perky bottom, patting it.


    Others only thought that this underworld big sister''s figure was indescribably wonderful, but they didn''t know that the touch of her round and perky bottom was also an extreme enjoyment.


    Do you know the difference between a young woman and a youngdy?


    If you pat the head of thetter, she will ask in confusion: Why did you hit me?


    If you pat the former, she will immediately understand what you want and obediently crouch down with a coquettish look.


    Sabina, the underworld big sister, was naturally thetter.


    "Oh, sir, did the belt buckle poke you? Let me help you take it off..."


    "Oh, your inner thigh muscles are very tense, can I help you rx them?"


    ..."


    Su''en didn''t say much.


    Not only did Sabina have extraordinary talent, but her seductive methods were also just right.


    All of this, only Su''en could deeply appreciate.


    The scene was alluring, and the seductive atmosphere became increasingly intense.


    Sabina was busy, and a thinyer of sweat appeared on her forehead.


    Su''en was lying there, quite leisurely.


    He suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, I also n to find a mental power secret method to practice. Do you have a suitable one?"


    Upon hearing this, Sabina raised her buried pretty face, looked at him, shook her head and said, "I''m sorry, sir. I only have a subus''s exclusive cultivation secret method, but it''s not suitable for male cultivation. Mental secret methods are forbidden by the ck Tower and are very rare. Most of the ones discovered are just fragments. And once discovered, they are immediately registered and reported. Even if there were any before, they have been sent to the ck Tower..."


    "Hmm."


    Su''en listened to her exnation and expressed his understanding.


    Mental power secret methods were different from breathing methods.


    Almost anyone could practice breathing methods, with only differences in the efficiency of breathing.


    But after practicing mental secret methods, it would change some "mental aspects" of a person.


    If Su''en were to forcibly practice Sabina''s subus secret method, it would probably work. But in the future, puppeteers might not be suitable, and the work of killing with a flying needle might be more suitable.


    Seeing Su''en frown, Sabina, as a servant, felt a slight sense of panic, and exined, "Both spatial secret methods and mental secret methods are very rare, but many inner city professionals wille recently, and the development progress of the central and core areas of Dawn City will be very fast. At that time, some might be discovered. I will pay more attention for the master..."


    "Hmm."


    Su''en nodded.With Sabina as his maid, it was as if he had half of the Umbre Organization''s intelligencework in his grasp.


    Coupled with some information from Mr. ck, if he still couldn''t find what he wanted, other means would be quite difficult.


    Su''en pondered for a moment, then said, "Right, I want to get my hands on some puppetry secrets. Do you know if ''The Trickster'' Lloyd has been in town recently?"


    Sabina guessed what he was after in an instant, "Sir, are you looking for his Puppetry Odeum, ''Marite Theater''?"


    Su''en nodded, "Mhm."


    Sabina blinked and asked, "That guy had his homunculus puppet cut down by the masterst time and hasn''t left his house since, staying put inside the Oliver family''s headquarters. Sir, do you need me to take care of him for you..."


    Su''en shook his head, "No, I want to kill him with my own hands."


    What he needed was not just the secrets, but also the ability to kill and extract experience.


    Hearing this, Sabina''s beautiful eyes flickered, seemingly having an idea, and she added, "In that case, this ve might have a suggestion... Perhaps, it could even procure a fine Spatial Seal for the master..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en''s expression immediately brightened.


    Those who dealt in intelligence really had a firm grasp on human nature.


    After all, skill extraction had a certain randomness, and Su''en couldn''t guarantee he would get exactly what he wanted.


    But if Sabina''s n seeded, not only could Su''en kill Lloyd, but he might also obtain theplete ''Puppetry Odeum: Marite Theater''.


    ...


    "Sir, you needn''t worry, the room is protected by a special istion array, no one outside will hear any noise. You can do whatever you like..."


    "Master, are you satisfied with this ve''s service? Whatever you desire, I can provide~"


    "..."


    Before long, desire was thick in the air.


    The room was filled with a faint pink mist, asionally punctuated by soft, bone-melting moans.


    With a seductive pose, Sabina asked for the third time, "Sir, may Ie up?"


    PS. This is an extra short chapter. My schedule is a mess, the regr update should be at 18:00, perhaps eventer.

 Chapter 169.2 – This wave is really not losing

    Chapter 169.2 ¨C This wave is really not losing


    Su''en stayed in Sabina''s room untilte at night, and before dawn, he teleported away.


    After this night attack, he couldn''t help but sigh. If it weren''t for his good self-control, this kind of turmoil would have visibly affected his attribute panel.


    The taste of the subus is not something that ordinary people can endure.


    Sabina has two forms, one is the hot and charming subus, and the other is the arrogant and domineering gangster''s wife...


    The feelings and sensations of the two arepletely different experiences.


    She can be gentle like ady, with the charm of a wealthy woman, and also has the dominance of an arrogant queen...


    Sabina can always subtly switch between various roles.


    She knows what Su''en needs, and she bes what he needs.


    She always knows how to tease people just right.


    For ordinary people, having such a subus maid would be a blessing.


    It''s also fortunate that after the "X Serum" transformation, his body is much stronger than before.


    Su''en feels that his body is... okay.


    But this wave of events was not in vain.


    After all, he not only joined the Umbre Organization, but also gained half of the organization''s intelligencework.


    .......


    The next morning, Sabina woke up from a light sleep.


    She uncovered the nket, and her beautiful body waspletely exposed to the air.


    Without wearing pajamas, Sabina walked barefoot on the soft carpet to the full-length mirror in the room, looking at her enchanting body in the mirror, her eyes bing even more gentle.


    For some reason, she felt that afterst night''s turmoil, not only was she not tired, but herplexion was rosy, and her figure seemed more plump.


    Thinking of something, she smiled gently and murmured, "I''m really looking forward to the master getting stronger~"


    The reason she chose to acknowledge Su''en as her master was partly out of necessity.


    But there was an even more important reason, she felt that Su''en had unlimited potential.


    At present, Su''en is the most stunning young person she has ever seen. With the strength of a first-tier professional, he has caused chaos in Old Lingdun, which is unique.


    In terms of character, means, strength, or other aspects, he is an excellent candidate.


    At least in her eyes, none of the so-called geniuses in the inner city canpare.


    Will the master be a powerful "demon king"?


    Sabina looked at herself in the mirror and smiled.


    She felt that having a master was quite nice.


    In ancient times, the abilities and beauty of subi destined them to be ythings for other powerful groups. Subi without a demon king to attach to have always had a difficult fate, it''s destiny.


    Just like the experiences of other members of the family.


    Sabina didn''t linger for long, she put on a finely woven red dress that perfectly outlined her wonderful figure. She also personally tidied up the traces on the bed before leaving.


    As she walked downstairs, the members of the steam gang all stood up to greet her.


    "Madam!"


    "Madam!"


    "..."


    These cadres and henchmen were not only here to protect the gangster''s wife, but also on behalf of the Baron, to block some unwee suitors for her.


    Sabina resumed her arrogant gangster''s wife appearance and nodded to the gang members, "Good morning, everyone."


    As she passed by Tommy, she suddenly became interested and reached out to pinch his face, pulling his skin long.


    Tommy looked unhappy and struggled to break free, angrily saying, "Old witch, what are you doing!"


    Sabina wasn''t angry, she tapped his head and a faintly smiling arc appeared at the corner of her mouth, saying, "Practice your abilities well, pay more attention in your daily life, don''t let people sneak in without you knowing."


    With that, she left.


    The gang members followed her out.


    The younger brothers also noticed that the gangster''s wife seemed a little different today, and they whispered behind her with some doubt.


    "The madam seems to be in a very good mood today..."


    "Yeah, it seems that the negotiations with the Oliver family went smoothlyst night."


    "Oh..."


    .......


    Early in the morning, Su''en went to the Hunter''s Guild.


    It was still early, and the Storm Manor was full of hunters who hade to receive and post tasks.


    The number of tasks had skyrocketed recently, with the total amount being more than ten times that of a month ago.


    The task disy screen in the guild hall was moved from indoors to the outdoor courtyard. Two extrarge screens were added, and the scrolling task information was overwhelming.


    Su''en stood in front of the guild''s task screen for almost an hour before scanning the messages.


    But he didn''t find the information he was looking for.


    It seemed that neither spatial spells nor mental secret arts were being posted.


    But he also noticed that there were many high-reward missions to explore the central area of the ruins, led by the vanguard teams formed by the big financial and family groups in the inner city. They had a lot of money, good equipment, and were led by real experts.


    Not only were there second-tier professionals, but he even saw information about third-tier professionals leading the teams.


    This was a situation that was impossible to see on a regr basis.


    Su''en looked on with amazement, "It looks like the Duke Raphael''s precious daughter ising. But what exactly is in the ruins that is so valuable, and why does it require the urgent development by the ck Tower..."


    The top professionals in the inner city are almost all important figures, they are not short of money, and they don''t need to risk their lives to hunt.


    But now they havee to Dawn City, which means that the pressure from the ck Tower is not small.


    If it were beforest night, Su''en would probably still be very puzzled.


    But now that he has Sabina''s intelligence, he also knows why.


    He didn''t look much longer and left his own coded message in the advertisement column.


    This was the contact method agreed upon with Mr. ck.


    After leaving the Hunter''s Guild, Su''en swaggered to various taverns and bought some information from the information merchants.


    But he didn''t find the information he was looking for.


    He knew that these things couldn''t be rushed.


    There is arge amount of new information about the ruins every day, and asking around will eventually yield results.


    Besides, there''s no need to rush now.


    Before, he was wary of the Umbre Organization''s spies lurking everywhere, but now with Sabina as his maid, he doesn''t need to worry.His face is not in the wanted system, so he is safe wherever he goes.


    He can wait for the news slowly.


    Moreover, even if something unexpected happens and he is locked by some special means, Sabina will be the first to receive the news and notify him.


    After all, when encountering an SS-level wanted criminal, only senior intelligence officers in the Umbre organization are qualified to order the arrest.


    .......


    However.


    Su''en didn''t expect that as soon as the secret message was sent out, he received a reply from Mr. ck in the afternoon.


    He didn''t expect Mr. ck to be lurking in the camp as well.


    ......


    Windmill Tavern.


    A table in the corner by the window.


    Su''en didn''t wait long there before an impably dressed old gentleman walked towards him.


    Mr. ck took a seat and greeted him, "Su''en, long time no see."


    Seeing this sensitive figure, who is also a wanted criminal, appearing in the city so openly, Su''en was greatly surprised, "Mr. ck, aren''t you worried about being discovered by someone?"


    Mr. ck exined with a smile, "I just happened to find an interesting alchemical item. The appearance others see of me is not what you see."


    "Oh."


    Su''en suddenly realized.


    Mr. ck nced at Su''en, and in his eyes full of wisdom, it seemed as if he saw through everything, and said, "It seems that Su''en has sessfully advanced to the second level. Congrattions..."


    Without further ado, he took out a storage ring, "The alchemical equipment you wanted has been refined for a while."


    After a pause, he said with a meaningful tone, "The skull of that witch of yours is a rare material, and it took me a lot of effort to refine it. However, the distortion tolerance value required for this equipment is not low..."


    Mr. ck said this not because he thought Su''en couldn''t integrate this high-quality equipment.


    In his impression, the young man in front of him had extraordinary rationality and calmness, so he would naturally not do anything without certainty.


    This statement was more of admiration and emotion.


    "Hehe..."


    Su''en smiled vaguely and passed over it.


    Looking at the storage ring on the table, he was already looking forward to it.


    He looked at Mr. ck and also returned the courtesy, "I''ve troubled you."


    Mr. ck smiled indifferently, thought of something, and said, "I also heard about the disturbance you caused at the 1911 Hotel before. The leader originally wanted to personally deal with the strangeness on the third floor, but unexpectedly, before he appeared, you were almost about to break the situation..."


    "Ah? Is that person the leader of your organization?"


    Su''en was slightly surprised to hear that the cloaked figure from before was actually the leader of the "Mirror Organization."


    From Mr. ck''s tone when mentioning the leader, it was obvious that the other party had the strength and character worthy of respect.


    Su''en was even more curious about who that cloaked figure really was.


    "Heh..."


    Mr. ck smiled and seemed to have no intention of responding to the question.


    ......


    The two chatted and had a few drinks.


    At this time, Su''en asked again, "Mr. ck, what is the purpose of your visit to the camp this time?"


    "There is indeed something."


    Mr. ck didn''t hide it and said directly, "A big shot from the ck Tower ising. I came to check the situation and make some necessary arrangements."


    Su''en guessed and asked, "Princess Theresa of the Duke''s Mansion?"


    As soon as he said this, Mr. ck''s face showed a hint of surprise, "Oh... you know about this intelligence?"


    "Well... it''s a long story."


    Su''en felt it necessary to exin the situation of Canosa.


    In case she is taken out by these big shots at some point, it would be a big loss.


    Although Su''en is not considered a member of the "Mirror Organization," he is seen as one by the outside world.


    In a sense, Sabina is also considered an ally.


    However, he was also curious. The intelligence head of the Umbre organization spected the news, but from Mr. ck''s tone, he actually confirmed that the youngdy from the Duke''s Mansion wasing?


    Su''en organized some words and said, "I identally obtained an ancient contract in the ruins..."


    He exined lightly and roughly rified the situation.


    As Mr. ck listened, a strange expression that had never appeared on his always calm face gradually emerged.


    After listening, he looked at Su''en and smiled meaningfully, "Every time Imunicate with Su''en, I always get unexpected gains..."


    Naturally, Su''en knew that Mr. ck had noticed hisck of vitality, and he didn''t mind the teasing tone in his words.


    The two had dealt with each other many times and were quite familiar, so they didn''t need to be too formal when speaking.


    Now that the equipment is in hand, he didn''t forget what Mr. ck said before, and asked, "By the way, Mr. ck, you mentionedst time that when I reach the second level, you have some news about spiritual secret techniques to tell me?"


    Mr. ck nced at him and asked instead, "Your profession is ''Puppeteer,'' right?"


    "Yes."


    Su''en nodded in acknowledgment. Although this profession is rare, it''s not surprising that Mr. ck, a knowledgeable person, knows about it.


    Mr. ck continued, "I have learned about this very powerful profession from some special channels. I also know that the founder of the ''Puppeteer'' was once a famous figure in the city of Dawn... So, the founder must have a spiritual secret technique that is particrly suitable for this profession."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en suddenly realized and asked, "Are you saying that you know the clue to the ''founder'' of this profession?"


    If it is indeed the founder of this profession, the spiritual secret technique must be the most suitable.


    Mr. ck nodded and said, "At least from the intelligence I know, there are traces of that existence in a cursed space in the ruins. But unfortunately, the danger level of that space is currently ''T-level'' ording to the current intelligence."


    "T-level?"


    Su''en frowned slightly as he listened.


    If even Mr. ck says it''s "T-level," the level of danger in that space can be imagined.


    However, since no one has survived, how does Mr. ck know?


    But now that there are clues to the exclusive spiritual secret technique, what else does he want?


    Su''en naturally doesn''t want to give up.He felt that the old gentleman might have other sources of intelligence, but he didn''t ask directly. Instead, he beat around the bush and asked, "Mr. Hei, do you think I have a chance of obtaining that psychic secret technique?"


    "It''s hard to say..."


    Mr. Hei shook his head, guessing Su''en''s thoughts, and then said with a smile, "Let''s talk about this when the time is a bit more ripe in the future."


    Hearing that Mr. Hei didn''tpletely deny it, Su''en also joked, "Could it be that when the youngdy from the Duke''s mansion arrives, there will be a turning point?"


    Mr. Hei raised his eyebrows nomittally and said, "You''re very smart. But this matter is somewhatplicated, and many things are unclear. It''s too early to discuss it now."


    "Mm."


    Since the conversation had reached this point, Su''en didn''t dwell on the topic any longer.


    But now that he had encountered a "know-it-all," he naturally wouldn''t let the opportunity slip by so easily.


    Thinking of his "ck Hole Doll," Su''en said, "Mr. Hei, are you in a hurry to leave? If not, I have some knowledge about runes that I''d like to consult you on."


    Mr. Hei was never stingy when it came to imparting knowledge about alchemy. Hearing Su''en''s sincere request, he said, "I did have a little matter to attend to. But it''s not urgent right this moment."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en didn''t hold back and directly said, "I''ve now mastered spatial abilities... So I have an idea, which is to create a rune puppet that can absorb elemental spells. But I''ve encountered some problems..."


    He described the issues he was facing one by one.


    As soon as it came to professional knowledge, Mr. Hei''s expression became very serious.


    Sure enough, the learned man knew immediately where the problemy upon hearing it.


    He listened to Su''en''s design, nodding in approval from time to time.


    After listening, Mr. Hei didn''t forget topliment, "Your idea is indeed good. However, your knowledge of runes is a bit too scattered. Youck a solid framework of knowledge, which will make it difficult to delve into higher realms in the future..."


    Su''en didn''t mind being "educated" and said, "I''m working hard to learn. But the knowledge of runes is profound and vast, and there''s still a long way to go to master it..."


    Considering that Su''en came from an unconventional background, it was already impressive that he had reached this level.


    Mr. Hei''s words were more out of appreciation for talent.


    He didn''t say much more and directly said, "The direction of your idea is problematic. Combining wind and lightning elements indeed increases the suction strength. But to carry high-level runes, the material requirements for the puppet will be very high, especially forposite runes. You also need to consider thepatibility and conflict of different elemental types. Moreover, if you want to create a puppet that can absorb most elemental spells, it''s best to use third-tier runes. I think you can trybining the third-tier ''Storm Rune'' with ''Little Thunder Sea''..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened intently.


    As he listened, he realized that Mr. Hei''s research on puppetry was also so profound.


    However...


    Although the old dean''s method of teaching was very scientific, starting from the basics and gradually going deeper, he went from materials and structure to discussing third-tier runes, which only top professionals would touch upon. Su''en gradually started to feel a bit lost.


    His knowledge of runes was basically piecemeal,pletely fragmented, and it had only improved a bit after cramming textbooks recently.


    But now, although he could understand some of it, he couldn''t connect it all together.


    Fortunately, Mr. Hei also took this into ount. After exining the principles for a while, it was as if he had opened his own floodgates of inspiration. It seemed that just talking was no longer satisfying, so he waved his hand grandly and said to Su''en, "Come, let''s find a workshop and do some practical work."


    "Great!"


    Su''en readily agreed.

 Chapter 170: Dispose of stolen goods

    Chapter 170: Dispose of stolen goods


    Mr. Hei has a very rigorous attitude towards academic research.


    Su''en asked the question, thought of a solution, and immediately put it into action.


    The two didn''t stay in the tavern for long, they went to the street and found a workshop for renting equipment for hunters to forge and went straight in.


    They stayed there for a day and a night.


    Originally, Su''en just wanted to get some advice and then improve on his own.


    Unexpectedly, Mr. Hei was also very interested in this puppet, and gave him a vivid practical course on rune and puppet making.


    The two stayed in the workshop, and their inspiration kept bursting, colliding with many brilliant sparks in design.


    What was originally just asking for advice turned into a practical course for the development of a new puppet.


    Su''en once again witnessed the old gentleman''s extensive knowledge, he seemed to know everything...


    As long as Su''en could think of, Mr. Hei could almost always provide corresponding opinions and solutions.


    Third-order runes, third-order enchantments, and Mr. Hei''s unique alchemical refining techniques, ancient alchemical ck technology, and various top-notch technologies were all piled onto the puppet...


    In the end, the two of them used the alchemical puppet as material to create a truly finished product, the "ck Hole Doll".


    The final product far exceeded Su''en''s expectations.


    Whether it was the concept, materials, functions, or anything else, it reached the level of a top-tier puppet.


    ......


    Su''en benefited greatly from this day and night of learning.


    If he had nothing else to do, he really wanted to study with Mr. Hei for a while.


    However, it was clear that this key member of the "Mirror Organization" had more important things to do at the camp.


    It was not easy to dy helping Su''en make puppets for a day.


    Although Mr. Hei did not pursue a career rted to spatial spells, it did not prevent him from having a wealth of theoretical knowledge about spatial spells. Su''en also obtained some "spatial spell" forms and magic scrolls from his collection.


    However, it would still be a long road to turn the spell scrolls into skills that he could master.


    ......


    After Mr. Hei left, Su''en continued to stay in the workshop for a few days.


    Compared to other professionals of the same level, puppeteers had a major advantage, which was that they could usually use puppets forbat that were of a higher level than themselves.


    This "ck Hole Doll" alone, with its ability to absorb third-order elemental spells, was enough to make the vast majority of third-order elemental spellcasters feel defeated.


    Although he still couldn''t win, Su''en felt that the possibility of being instantly killed by area-of-effect spells was very low when facing them head-on.


    And now that he had sessfully integrated the new alchemical prosthetic "Thousand Threads  Great Lion''s Chaotic Song", the puppet''s control ability allowed it to take off directly from the ground.


    After removing the prosthetic, it was the same situation as when "Magician" Lloyd was covered in threads, allowing him to control the number of threads, no longer limited to the degree that his fingers could control, but increasing by a hundredfold or a thousandfold.


    And Su''en had an advantage that other puppeteers did not have, which was the Eight-Armed Spider Spear prosthetic!


    After the fusion of the cursed properties, the Eight-Armed Spider Spear also improved by a level.


    The original spear already had thousands of fibers, which were now very useful. The fibers were like fingers, making it very precise and easy to control the threads.


    It could be said that as long as Su''en could control multiple threads at once, he would have an absolute advantage in controlling the threads.


    ......


    On this day, at midnight, Su''en teleported to Sabina''s room once again.


    The gang boss was not surprised at all by the unexpected intrusion into her room, as if she was weing a guest.


    After a deep discussion of the action n, it was close to dawn when Su''en teleported out again.


    The next day at noon.


    Su''en contacted a spective merchant, "Iron Lame" Maggie Tan.


    This guy was a reputable merchant in the ck market of Old Lingdun.


    After having his leg broken by a colleague in his early years, he got a mechanical leg and got his nickname from it.


    He had nobat power, but he had a very widework.


    He often had ess to goods that others couldn''t get, and dared to ept stolen goods that others didn''t dare to take.


    When Su''en was shopping in the ck market before, he had dealt with this guy a few times.


    But now Su''en also learned from Sabina that this guy was actually a covert member of the Umbre Organization.


    No, to be precise, he was a multi-faceted information merchant.


    As long as the price was right, he dared to sell any information.


    ......


    At the ck Baron''s tavern.


    Su''en deliberately disguised himself, pasting a bald head with a biosynthetic scalp, then wearing a wig and a Zolo mask to cover his face.


    He lowered the brim of his hat, drank his wine, and when the time was right, he saw a man with a mechanical leg walk in.


    Su''en greeted him and then said to the bartender, "Another ss of wine."


    Maggie Tan walked over, poured himself a ss of wine without being polite, and then said, "I heard from my buddy that you have goods to sell?"


    As he spoke, he also took a look at Su''en.


    This kind of cunning ck market merchant could see through the not-so-clever disguises.


    Su''en calmly said, "I have a batch of goods that can''t see the light of day and need to be sold. Let''s see if you can handle it."


    This was the ng used in the ck market for selling stolen goods.


    Upon hearing this, Maggie Tan was a little unhappy, feeling that he was being underestimated, and said, "Brother, I don''t care about anything else, as long as you have good goods, even if they''re worth a billion or eight billion, I can take them immediately."


    Su''en said, "This batch of goods is worth about seven or eight billion. And I want cash."


    As he spoke, he took out a storage ring with some samples inside.


    This was the rule in the ck market, called "sampling".


    It lets the buyer know that you really have good goods.


    Maggie Tan was a little contemptuous when he heard Su''en say seven or eight billion, after all, that kind ofrge-scale business was impossible to appear in the hands of a lone hunter.


    But when he took the storage ring and looked inside, his gaze immediately fixed on it.


    The samples were not just ordinary items, just a few simple pieces.


    There were materials for the "Beast Tamer''s Whip" made of gold, the alchemical material "Abbas''s Flesh" made of silver, and several second-order advanced materials and alchemical prosthetics.But it was these few things that made the ck market merchant stare for a moment, thinking that he was under an illusion.


    He tried to take out one, only to find that it was real!


    These ck market merchants were all experienced "appraisers" and could tell at a nce whether something was good or not.


    "This..."


    Maggie Tan looked at the golden and silver materials, thinking that he was looking at the product catalog of arge auction!


    Looking at the man in front of him, who was drinking calmly, he immediately realized that this was a business deal worth seven or eight billion.


    The contempt in his eyes disappeared, and he immediately showed great joy. He directly waved his hand to the bartender, "Open a VIP room upstairs, I have business to discuss with this boss."


    Changing to a private room was also in line with Su''en''s intentions, but he also said indifferently, "ording to the rules, I want to see the cash."


    Maggie Tan also knew that the man in front of him was knowledgeable, so he naturally didn''t hesitate, "No problem!"


    As he spoke, he discreetly nced at Su''en again, then beckoned to the steward beside him and gave a few instructions.


    ......


    Each has their own way.


    Maggie Tan, also known as "Iron Lame," despite being a ck market merchant, was able to ess the exclusive VIP room of the ck Jazz, which others could not. He led his men straight up.


    The two of them went to the private room and ordered good wine.


    Maggie Tan poured the wine and warmly toasted Su''en, saying, "Brother, wait a moment, the cash will be here in ten minutes at most. You can rest assured that everything will be done ording to the rules, and you won''t be at a loss, brother."


    Su''en didn''t mind and clinked sses with him.


    The two chatted for a while, and at this point, Maggie Tan also tentatively said, "Brother, let me get to the bottom of this. Is that batch of goods really worth seven or eight billion?"


    "Just a little more, not less."


    Su''en''s tone remained calm, "It''s just that this batch of goods is a bit hot, so I n to sell it to you at a discount."


    "Don''t worry, I can handle even the hottest goods!"


    Maggie Tan was not worried at all, but rather delighted.


    The hotter the goods, the higher the profit.


    He vowed and patted his chest, "Brother, you came to me, and you must have heard of my reputation as ''Iron Lame.'' I won''t say anything else, but I have a lot of money, good reputation, and many channels..."


    Su''en didn''t say much more. He took out the box he had brought with him and opened it to reveal a box full of storage rings.


    There were probably one or two hundred of them.


    "..."


    Looking at this, Maggie Tan''s gaze became somewhat strange.


    Naturally, he also noticed some details.


    The Chamber of Commerce sometimes uses arge number of storage rings for shipments. However, in those cases, the storage rings are usually brand new or of simr quality.


    The storage rings in front of him, on the other hand, were shiny and showed signs of being used for a long time.


    Usually, the storage rings of hunters are used for a lifetime and will not be released unless they die.


    In other words...


    Are these one or two hundred storage rings in front of him all pulled from corpses?


    Did this guy kill hundreds of people?


    Or did he happen toe across arge hunting team that had been wiped out and picked them up?


    But since it was said to be hot goods, it definitely wasn''t picked up...


    Seeing this, Maggie Tan''s expression suddenly became somewhat subtle, and he looked at Su''en again, feeling a little uneasy.


    Suddenly, he felt a bit reckless to be in the same room with such a person of unknown origin.


    Although he had received stolen goods countless times before and had dealt with all kinds of thieves and wanted criminals...


    For some reason, this time, he felt inexplicably nervous.


    ......


    ording to the rules, the goods cannot be inspected until the money arrives.


    Maggie Tan was an old hand at this, and even though he had doubts in his mind, he didn''t show it at all. He kept urging Su''en to drink.


    While drinking, he also kept observing in secret. When he discovered that the man in front of him was wearing a wig, his mental activity became even more exciting.


    Su''en naturally also noticed that this guy had been staring at him the whole time, but he pretended not to know.


    After all, he hade this time to let people guess his identity.


    Before long, several burly men in ck suits arrived.


    They entered the room and took out iron boxes from the storage rings. When they opened them, they were filled with "Curse Crystals."


    This type of energy source was also a hard currency, worth ten thousand lisos per piece, more convenient than cash.


    After verifying the funds, Maggie Tan said, "Brother, you''ve seen the money, can I inspect the goods now?"


    With these burly men in the room, this guy''s confidence was obviously much stronger.


    Su''en shrugged, saying, "Feel free."


    His gaze never left the several obvious first-tier professionals who were clearly not a threat.


    There were a lot of storage rings, and Maggie Tan and his two assistants began to inspect and count them one by one.


    While inspecting, they also recorded the value of the goods in a notebook.


    At first, there was nothing particrly unusual, and the three of them were counting as usual.


    But when Ken was counting, one of the assistants suddenly turned pale, and he didn''t know what he had seen. It was as if he had been electrocuted, and he actually dropped the storage ring he was holding to the ground.


    This abnormal movement instantly made the atmosphere in the room tense.


    Several burly men had already quietly put their hands on their chests and loosened their gun holsters.


    They did ck market business and had seen all sorts of weird things.


    Could it be that there was a bomb in the storage ring?


    Maggie Tan''s first reaction was that it was a case of the pot calling the kettle ck, but when he nced at Su''en, who was still calm, he felt that he had judged wrongly.


    He reprimanded the steward beside him, "Don''t you understand the rules for receiving goods?! Can you afford topensate the customer if you break their things?!"


    This was also a coded message, a hint for the assistant to say what was inside.


    If it was a bomb, there was a code for a bomb, but it couldn''t be said directly.


    Just in case it led to a confrontation.


    However, the assistant was obviously confused and didn''t know how to describe what he had seen. He spoke hesitantly, "No, boss, it''s not... it''s not..."


    As he spoke, he held the trembling storage ring in his hands, looking as if he wanted to cry but had no tears."Hmph! Useless trash!"


    Maggie Tan muttered under his breath, knowing that things might take a turn for the worse.


    These were all his long-time associates, and it was impossible for them to make such a mistake.


    But he took a look anyway.


    Huh...aren''t these just normal goods?


    Firearms, alchemical imnts, mechanicalponents, potions, alchemical materials...


    Huh...why does this badge look so familiar?


    This little umbre...


    Damn it!


    Isn''t this the insignia of the Umbre Organization''s leader?


    In that instant, a myriad of thoughts raced through Maggie Tan''s mind.


    As an undercover agent for the Umbre Organization, how could he not recognize this badge?


    Where there''s a person, there''s a badge!


    Now that the badge is here, it means that the person in front of him killed a member of the Umbre Organization?


    What if it was just found?


    Maggie Tan instantly dismissed this ridiculous notion.


    A quick nce at the 100 or 200 storage rings in the box, were they all just found?


    The experienced ck market merchant''s mind was suddenly unsettled.


    In an instant, he felt a chill down his spine.


    The several bodyguards in the room offered him no sense of security.


    Although all forms ofbat were prohibited in the camp, what wouldn''t these madmen who dared to kill Umbre Organization members do?


    In Maggie Tan''s mind, he was already automatically searching for the images of wanted criminals with an S-rank or higher.


    ......


    "What''s wrong, Mr. Maggie Tan, is there a problem with this merchandise?"


    Su''en looked at him without any change in expression, smiled, and said, "Of course, I told you in advance that the goods are a bit hot. You said it wouldn''t be a problem, right?"


    The storage rings in the box were in disarray, and Su''en himself didn''t know what these people saw.


    But it was nothing more than those things.


    It was the things Su''en had killed before, some of the military equipment stripped from the besieging personnel in the inner city of Old Lingdun; the spoils obtained from killing three second-tier Umbre Organization members and a bunch of first-tier professionals in the outer city; the time when he killed several members of the Oliver family during the witch''s hair incident...


    Oh, and even the time when he collected the spoils from the students Jack, the two assistant instructors Daniel and Rosa, and the second-tier assassin during the trial in the underground chamber.


    Previously, for fear of exposing his identity and the situation being revealed, many spoils of war dared not show up on the market.


    Now that they had all be "SS wanted criminals," those charges of murder were just a drop in the bucket...


    Might as well pack and sell them.


    ......


    A problem?


    It''s more than just a problem!


    You, this batch of goods is just a bit hot?


    Damn it, this batch of goods is basically a red-hot iron ball, no one in the ck market dares to take it!


    Listening to Su''en''s casual words, Maggie Tan felt as if he was being threatened.


    Now that the words were out, would he dare to say no to this merchandise?


    After all, he was a member of the Umbre Organization, and although Maggie Tan had already cursed in his heart, he still smiled and said, "No problem! I, Maggie Tan, dare to take even the hottest goods!"


    He was just an intelligence worker, and fighting was the job ofbat personnel.


    What he needed to do now was not to provoke the person in front of him and to save his own life.


    Seeing his attitude, Su''en nodded in satisfaction. "Well, I''ve always said that Mr. Maggie Tan has a good reputation. Now that I see it, you really haven''t disappointed me."


    After a pause, he added, "Next time I have business, I''lle to you."


    "Of course~"


    Listening to these words, Maggie Tan smiled on the outside but cried on the inside.


    Brother, don''te looking for me...


    I dare not make this money!


    Then, the ck market boss began to inspect the goods again.


    As he looked at each storage ring, he broke out in a cold sweat.


    Those military equipment, it was obvious where they came from...


    Those second-tier materials, it was obvious which famous expert was killed and stripped of them...


    Maggie Tan didn''t bother to look closely. With just a nce at one storage ring, he roughly knew that the normal selling price of this batch of goods definitely exceeded a billion.


    A price of seven or eight billion was also reasonable.


    .......


    Su''en took in the expressions of the others.


    The others in the room might not have noticed anything yet, but he knew that Maggie Tan had probably guessed his identity.


    But that was just as well.


    With this little incident, the efficiency of the inventory suddenly increased.


    Originally, it would have taken several hours to inventory, but now it was done in a few minutes.


    Maggie Tan pretended to be calm and said, "I''ve finished inventorying this batch of goods, and it''s really good. What price do you n to sell it for, sir?"


    He was afraid that Su''en was here to take advantage of him, and he didn''t dare to press for a lower price as usual, asking cautiously.


    Su''en quoted a price without expression. "Eight billion."


    Maggie Tan was actually pleased to hear the price and didn''t even haggle. "Deal!"


    As he spoke, he signaled for a few bodyguards to take off the storage rings in their hands and said, "In one storage ring, there''s a curse crystal worth one billion. Thest two boxes contain cash."


    Su''en took a quick nce and saw that they were all "curse crystals" andrge amounts of cash.


    He didn''t bother to count and just smiled, saying, "Mr. Maggie Tan is indeed generous!"


    They shook hands, and the deal was done.


    Su''en took the storage rings and was ready to leave.


    Maggie Tan watched him leave and was about to breathe a sigh of relief.


    At this moment, Su''en, who had reached the door, suddenly turned around and said, "By the way, I heard that Mr. Maggie Tan has a wide range of connections and can get anything. I have a business deal that I don''t know if you''re interested in."


    Maggie Tan didn''t dare to say he wasn''t interested and asked, "Please, sir, go on."


    Su''en said, "I want some puppet-rted secrets, preferably at the level of secret techniques. I don''t know if you have any connections? Of course, if you can get the ''Puppet Secret Technique: Puppet Theater'' of that ''Magician'' Lloyd, it would be even better. The price is negotiable."


    Maggie Tan didn''t dare not toply and said, "I can try."


    "Good, I''ll contact youter."Su''en didn''t say much, just smiled and left the private room.

 Chapter 171: The deceased

    Chapter 171: The deceased


    After Su''en left, Maggie Tan in the VIP room felt relieved.


    Sitting on the sofa, he took a few deep breaths and felt the cold sweat soaking his back.


    The several bodyguards and two stewards who had been doing business with him for many years had never seen their boss like this before, and they had no idea what had happened. Even the steward who had noticed the unusual goods before only thought there was something strange in the goods.


    Now that the outsider had left, they immediately asked.


    "Boss, yourplexion doesn''t look good. Is there a problem with this batch of goods?"


    "Why don''t you negotiate the price? I think that kid is hiding something. The source of the goods must be suspicious. If we negotiate, we might be able to make more profit..."


    "..."


    Hearing the inquiries from the old acquaintances, Maggie Tan''s expression became veryplicated.


    Only he knew the danger he had just experienced during the transaction.


    Fortunately, the other party did note with the intention of double-crossing them. Otherwise, if it was the wanted criminal he suspected, they wouldn''t have been able to leave alive today.


    After pondering for a while, he sighed and said, "It''s not just a problem. The person we just traded with is..."


    But before he could finish speaking, he stopped himself.


    Maggie Tan had a hunch that this matter absolutely could not be made public.


    One of the stewards, puzzled, asked, "Boss, do you know that person?"


    Maggie Tan pondered for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Forget it, you don''t need to worry about this."


    The others nodded at their boss''s words and began to count the goods.


    With the crisis over, Maggie Tan felt that his mind had be more agile.


    He thought about the conversation just now and pondered repeatedly, "If someone wants to buy the Puppetry Master''s Book, it''s probably that person. However, the young master of the Oliver family is offering a reward..."


    Wanted criminals also have a supply and demand for stolen goods, and the ck market is their best channel.


    This is also the main reason why ck market bosses make huge profits in this line of work, often obtaining stolen goods at low prices and selling them at high prices.


    Usually, legitimate businessmen would not sell out wanted criminals.


    But it depends on the situation.


    If the reward is too high, Maggie Tan wouldn''t mind selling the information.


    Now, the reward for the "SS wanted criminal Su''en" has skyrocketed, and the private reward added by the young Danze of the Oliver family is even higher than the profit from this batch of goods...


    Thinking of this, Maggie Tan''s heart was immediately moved, and he said to the group of associates, "Don''t sell this batch of goods for now. Wait for me toe back!"


    With that, he took out several storage rings from the box as "evidence" and immediately left.


    ......


    After Su''en left the tavern, he quickly removed his disguise and appeared on the street again.


    He watched Maggie Tan, the "Iron Lame," leave in a hurry, and he didn''t need to guess where that guy was going.


    Su''en didn''t pay attention to that guy. The bait had been cast, and the goal had been achieved.


    Even if he guessed that it was a trap, he had to take the bait.


    In just a few days, the secret of the Puppetry Master''s Book would probably be in his hands.


    He thought that this time, he not only wanted the professional secrets but also wanted to y a big game for real!


    After all...


    The information on the wanted order still listed him, Su''en, as a first-tier professional.


    But in fact, he was no longer the same as the original wanted criminal who could be chased by a few second-tier professionals and panic.


    This time, he would probably catch a few big fish.


    ......


    On the main street,


    Su''en, dressed in an expensive white suit, holding a cane, and wearing a hat, looked like a wealthy young man strolling out for a walk.


    He now increasingly felt the overflow of having Sabina as his maid.


    With the intelligence in his hands, he almost knew everything in the camp, giving him the confidence to do anything.


    This gave him too much convenience.


    After leaving the ck Jazz Tavern, Su''en went to the Hunter''s Guild again, scanned the new tasks and intelligence posted on the light screen.


    Not finding what he was looking for,


    he then went to the market.


    The scale of the Hunter''s Market in the Dawn Camp had increased several times, with the number of stalls more than ten times the original.


    But due to the limited area of the camp, the market was still only nned for one street.


    However, this did not limit the hunters.


    They added steel outer supports to the small buildings on both sides of the street, and then built various uneven steel partitions. With iron stairs connecting them, the market was transformed from a t area into a three-dimensional block, increasing the area several times.


    Su''en strolled through the market, naturally looking for any opportunities to find what he needed.


    After all, the ruins produced arge number of ancient relics, and there were countless good things in the goods.


    Because Su''en had already advanced to the second tier, he had no need for professional materials.


    Third-tier materials were also unlikely to appear on the stalls.


    Therefore, he could skip most of the stalls, and his pace was quite fast.


    Su''en often stopped at the stalls selling ancient books and scrolls to browse.


    The likelihood of finding something valuable was greater at the book stalls than at the material stalls.


    Because most alchemical ancient books were encrypted and written in ancient Nidnguage, tranting them required a lot of effort.


    Ordinary hunting groups basically had no trantion ability, making it easier to mix in "good things."


    Su''en had no problem reading them and could roughly tell what the content was with a nce.


    Even if there was encrypted information, he could roughly determine its origin.


    The moreplex the encryption method, the more important the content of the book.So for Su''en, the more iprehensible things were to others, the better.


    But even in the ancient times when alchemy was flourishing, the ssics that recorded alchemical knowledge were rare items. Most of the books on the hunter''s stall were literary biographies and the like.


    Looking around more, he asionally found some good things.


    This time, Su''en found a book called "Illustrated Exnation of Second-order Runes" on the stall.


    He happened to need to brush up on his knowledge of runes, so he spent a few thousand dors and bought it.


    As for those various iprehensible spell scrolls, although they were rare, he didn''t touch them.


    Now he had several scrolls of space magic given to him by Mr. ck, and he estimated that it would take a year or two to study them all. Being greedy for more would be of no use.


    He walked along, browsing through hundreds of stalls.


    He picked up a few ancient books and found some cheap materials suitable for making puppets, which could be considered a rich harvest.


    As he walked, Su''en''s gaze was suddenly drawn to a stall surrounded by many people.


    There were many cursed materials on the stall, as well as some alchemical nts and equipment that looked like they were obtained by killing people.


    The stall owner was a cold and ruthless man dressed as an assassin. Although his eyes were covered by a hood, one could still see the indifference and rotten skin at the corners of his mouth.


    When someone asked for a price, he would reply with a low, hoarse voice that sounded like sandpaper rubbing.


    If someone tried to haggle, he would ignore them.


    Originally, Su''en had no interest in the materials on the stall, but when he saw that face, he felt a little familiar and walked over.


    Looking closely, his pupils slightly contracted, "Kay?"


    .......


    There were many things on the stall, suitable for all professions, and the prices were fair, so there were quite a few buyers.


    But some people were also interested in the strange-tempered stall owner and whispered to each other.


    "Which group does this stall belong to? There are a lot of good things here. It''s just that the stall owner seems to have a bad temper and doesn''t seem to be afraid of not being able to sell his goods..."


    "Heh heh, this stall owner is not from the hunting group, but a lone wolf."


    "A lone wolf? How is that possible? With so many materials, don''t tell me he got them all by himself?!"


    "If you know who he is, you probably wouldn''t think it''s impossible."


    "Does this guy have a big background?"


    "Didn''t you see the mechanical arm he''s selling on the stall? Heh heh, the ''One-eyed'' Max''s mechanical spray gun, don''t you think..."


    "He''s the ''Hyena'' who ughtered more than forty people from the ''Steel Cannon Hunting Group'' three days ago?"


    "..."


    Listening to the whispers of these people, Su''en''s face also showed a hint of surprise.


    Kay was the first friend he had met in this world.


    The two of them had gone through several life-and-death experiences together, and they could be considered close friends.


    Unfortunately...


    There was an ident during that escort mission.


    If he guessed correctly, Kay''s current identity should be a member of the inner city''s Umbre Organization.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t still be alive.


    But why would he appear here?


    Kay flipped a coin on his finger, let it fall between his fingers, and then flicked it up with his thumb, making a pleasant metallic sound. He caught it in his hand and repeated the action.


    Su''en watched this agile finger movement and his gaze slightly sharpened.


    This was something he had taught Kay.


    It was the secret code of the people on Green Street: if there was danger and it wasn''t convenient to speak out, they would make this gesture to alert their teammates.


    Seeing this gesture, Su''en felt a familiar yet unfamiliar term sh through his mind.


    Green Street?


    Although it hadn''t been long, it seemed like a very distant term.


    Green Street was destroyed in the conflict between the guilds, and the Cross Society squad no longer existed. Even the former members, except for him and Kay, had changed several times.


    In the end, only the two of them were left.


    This secret code was known only to the two of them.


    ......


    "I remember ''One-eyed'' Max is a second-order professional, right?"


    "Yes, that''s why this news is so sensational! In the hunting operation three days ago, this guy made a big harvest and even found a valuable ancient treasure. When a captain of the ''Steel Cannon Hunting Group'' saw him alone, he wanted to get his attention. But the guy didn''t waste any words and just killed the captain with one blow. Then ''One-eyed'' Max wanted to take revenge with his group. But that guy didn''t back down, and didn''t care that Max was a second-order professional. He single-handedly took on the whole team. In the end, I don''t know how, but the ''Steel Cannon Group'' backed off and wanted to retreat..."


    "Isn''t that too unbelievable... one person made a second-order professional-led medium-sized hunting group back off?"


    "You think that''s the end? The real unbelievable partester!"


    "Oh?"


    "The ''Steel Cannon Group'' backed off, but that guy didn''t n to let it go. With an attitude of not giving up, he dragged his injuries and chased down dozens of people from the ''Steel Cannon Group''. It''s said that he ambushed them in the mist of the ruins and sessfully killed Max! In the end, the ''Steel Cannon Group'' only had a few small fries left to escape from the ruins..."


    "Damn, he''s really a monster."


    "I''ve heard of him too. This guy is notorious for being fierce in battle, both in killing monsters and people. He''s as cold-blooded as a monster. It feels like he treats every battle as hisst, and he charges in to bite when he encounters an enemy, often ending up injured. But because of his fearless fighting spirit, his harvest is always extremely rich. Now, anyone who knows him says he''s like a ''Hyena'', whoever provokes him, whether it''s a tiger or a lion, he''ll fight to the death and won''t give up. Few people dare to provoke him..."


    "..."


    Listening to the deeds of others, Su''en''s brow furrowed slightly.He wasn''t sure what had happened to Kay, but the cold-blooded assassin before him was starkly different from the cheerful gang lieutenant he once knew, who always wore a bright smile.


    Su''en nced around and, without approaching to greet him, turned and left.


    ...


    An old friend not being dead was good news, after all.


    In the evening, Su''en spent a long time in Sabina''s room, where he learned some news from her.


    Kay was part of the Umbre Organization''s inner city structure, not under Sabina''smand, so there wasn''t much intelligence on him.


    But Kay''s appearance here was directly rted to Su''en.


    In the pursuit of an "SS-ss fugitive," the Umbre Organization would mobilize all resources, monitoring all social rtions of the target. His sudden appearance at dawn had only one purpose: to lure Su''en into the trap.


    After all, among the social connections Su''en could trace, Kay was the most crucial acquaintance.


    In the following days, Su''en didn''t rush to contact the ck market merchant.


    After all, he needed to give the enemy some preparation time to catch a bigger fish.


    His daily routine became very regr.


    He would visit the Wild Hunt Guild early in the morning, then stroll around the market district to browse for goods.


    At noon, he would stay in the inn to practice spatial magic and puppetry.


    In the evenings, he asionally spent a few hours with Sabina, listening to thetest movements of the Oliver family.


    ...


    That night, at ten o''clock, the noisy ck Jazz Tavern was bustling.


    "Iron Cripple" Maggie Tan was negotiating a deal in the tavern.


    Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder.


    Turning around, he saw a man with his face hidden by arge trench coat.


    Su''en spoke directly, "Mr. Maggie Tan, any news about the goods I requested?"


    Hearing this, Maggie Tan immediately realized who the visitor was.


    A flicker of nervousness passed through his eyes, but his expression remained calm, "Yes. I''ve found a channel to acquire a puppeteer''s tome, even the unique art ''Puppet Theater'' from Master Lloyd. But it won''te cheap. To get your hands on it, you''ll need at least this much... and wait another two days."


    Su''en nced at the five fingers Maggie Tan held up,pletely indifferent to the price.


    He wasn''t surprised at all that the man said it would take time.


    After all... setting up an ambush takes time too.


    He handed over a bag ofrge-denomination cash and agreed on the spot, "Good, this is the deposit. Four days from now, at two in the afternoon, we''ll trade at the ''White Broken Wall'' on the outskirts of the southern city ruins."


    "About that..."


    Maggie Tan''s gaze fell on the money bag on the table, and he was about to say something when he looked up to find that Su''en had already disappeared into the crowded tavern.


    At that moment, several sneaky figures lurking in the tavern began to converge.


    After searching around, they found no trace of Su''en.


    "He''s really on high alert..."


    "It''s only natural for an SS-ss fugitive to be so cautious."


    "Did we confirm the trade location?"


    "Yes."


    "Let''s set it up then. This time, we can''t let that guy get away."

 Chapter 172: Double kill

    Chapter 172: Double kill


    The outskirts of the southern city of Dawn Ruins have a "white broken wall", which is a must-pass route for hunters to go hunting in the southern city, and it is also andmark building.


    The view there is open, not too far from the camp, and behind it is the ruins.


    It is suitable as a trading address, as it is able to fight and walk.


    Su''en was sure that the people of the Oliver family would be afraid of alerting the enemy and would not dare to ambush in advance.


    But he came early for most of the day and observed from a distance.


    Everything is going ording to his script.


    .......


    The agreed trading time is two o''clock in the afternoon.


    Su''en did not show up early, but waited for the traders to appear before walking out of the ruins.


    Three people came from the other side.


    "Iron Lame" Maggie Tan was probably afraid of death and did note in person, but sent a steward and two bodyguards.


    It seems that they are not aware of the situation.


    The two sides met.


    The steward of the goat beard followed the trading procedure and went straight to the point, asking, "Did you bring the money?"


    Su''en took out the money bag prepared in advance and said, "I want to see the goods."


    The two sides exchanged things.


    With a nce from the Appraisal Eye, the thing was real, the detailed exnation of the art of the "Puppet Theater".


    Su''en was somewhat pleased to receive the secret book, but it was also expected.


    If the thing was fake, time would not be dyed.


    The guys from the Oliver family probably thought that even if they gave him something real, he would not be able to leave alive.


    .......


    The steward was still counting the money bag, and the speed at which they counted the money was slightly slow.


    They probably received some orders to dy the time.


    He pretended not to know and waited patiently.


    Because, he was also waiting for the encirclement of the high-level professionals who were going to kill him!


    At this time, the steward did not know who he was facing, and thinking of dying a little time, he casually found a topic.


    He looked at the crow''s beak mask on Su''en''s face and found it somewhat familiar, and said with a smile, "Oh... your gas mask is quite unique, it looks like a high-level alchemical item?"


    Su''en said directly, "Of course, it''s the ancient cursed item of the ''gue Doctor'' Sergei from the Raven Gang."


    Before, he needed to disguise himself, so he modified it into a parrot mask.


    Now, with so many debts, he didn''t care about being chased by the Raven Gang.


    The steward, who had not realized the seriousness of the situation, raised his eyebrows and smiled, "A replica? Tsk tsk... no wonder it looks so familiar. But speaking of which, the workmanship is really good, even if it''s a replica, it''s a master-level work. It must have cost a lot of money, right?"


    Upon hearing this, a sly smile appeared at the corner of Su''en''s mouth, "No, it''s not a replica. I killed that guy, and this is the spoils of war."


    "..."


    As soon as these words came out, the steward was stunned for a moment.


    His gaze unconsciously observed the details of the crow''s beak mask, and he felt that something was wrong.


    Thinking of the boss''s instructions to dy the time, he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, but he forced a dry smile and said, "Heh... hehe. You really have a sense of humor, sir..."


    "Do you think I''m joking?"


    Su''en sneered.


    Seeing that the time was almost up, and the encirclement was probably closing in, he no longer paid attention to the three people in front of him.


    Because at this moment, he suddenly felt a killing intent targeting him.


    "Heh heh, it took so long to expose yourself, do you know that I have the ability to sense malice..."


    Su''en raised his eyebrows calmly.


    He also judged that the one aiming at him was a firearms master.


    In such a short time, aiming and shooting, an ordinary sniper couldn''t do it.


    Even in this nce, he clearly saw the guy who was shooting from a small hill a kilometer away, it was the "Gun King" Gage who had previously shot through his arm.


    But this time, Su''en was not the least bit flustered.


    Does the "B-098-Sixth Sense" always hit?


    For ordinary professionals, and even the vast majority of second-tier professionals, it is indeed "always hit".


    But here, there is actually a cause-and-effect rtionship that has not been rified.


    Gage sniped the target, actually using his ability to predict the target''s prediction, and then pulled the trigger.


    Prediction first, then shooting.


    But if the target dodges after he shoots, he can also avoid this "sixth sense".


    No one does this, because the bullet from a sniper riflees out of the barrel very fast, and ordinary professionals can''t wait to dodge until the bulletes out of the barrel, that''s equivalent to "waiting to die".


    The previous Su''en couldn''t do it either.


    But he can now.


    Feeling the sense of being targeted by a killing intent, he did not make any preemptive evasive actions.The enhanced all-knowing eye allowed him to clearly capture the movement of the opponent pulling the trigger.


    Then, in the instant when the muzzle spewed out mes, a bullet inscribed with runes also shot out.


    At this moment, Su''en''s eyes seemed to slow down everything by a hundred times.


    The white smoke of burning gunpowder solidified at the muzzle, forming a white cotton-like flower cluster; the firelight also formed a diamond-shaped beam of light, slowly dimming...


    He could even clearly see the bullet leaving the chamber, creating ripples of shockwaves in the air. The recoil caused Gage''s entire body to tremble.


    The bullet, too fast for the naked eye to catch, gradually left the chamber and pierced through the air...


    Su''en urately judged that the bullet''s trajectory was aimed at his forehead, then he slightly tilted his head.


    At such a distance, his ultra-high nerve reaction speed was enough to easily dodge it.


    The bullet whizzed past, creating a gust of wind in its wake.


    "Bang!"


    After the bullet passed, there was a dyed gunshot that sounded like thunder.


    In this slow-motion-like action, it seemed like a long time had passed, but in reality, it was just an instant.


    No one saw what had happened.


    It seemed as if Su''en had casually tilted his head and avoided the fate of being shot in the head.


    Gage, who was shooting not far away,


    saw this and


    his face changed drastically.


    .......


    This shot, like amand shot that opened the siege.


    "Swish~"


    "Swish~"


    "Swish~"


    A burst of signal res exploded in the sky.


    Upon closer inspection, after the signal res burned, they fell asyers of silver powder.


    Like snowfall, it quickly covered the ground.


    "Revealing powder..."


    Su''en squinted at the silver powder in the sky, a faint smile appearing under his mask.


    The Oliver family was well-prepared to deal with him.


    With this sky full of revealing powder, there was no way for Su''en to hide any invisible objects nearby.


    As a result, even if there were loathsome undead creatures, once they were revealed, their shing movements could be captured, and they wouldn''t appear out of nowhere to kill people as they did before.


    For those second-tier professionals, being able to see the movements was enough to predict them.


    This "revealing powder" directly reduced the threat of the ck Sickle by more than half.


    However,


    Su''en was not surprised by this tactic at all.


    Because, through Sabina''s sources of information, he was well aware of the ns of these guys to surround and capture him.


    "So, next is a full-on charge by all members?"


    Su''en''s eyes narrowed, and he swiftly fired three shots, directly killing the three people in front of him.


    His nerve reaction speed was now so fast that even if the other party reached for their gun first, there was no threat.


    Then, with a swift hand movement, he conjured eight ferocious spider spears behind him.


    Pulling out a sealing scroll, he quickly unfolded it in the air, revealing ten hexagram space sealing patterns drawn on the scroll.


    Before the scroll could hit the ground, Su''en quickly sped his hands together and lightly shouted, "SealRelease!"


    The scroll burst open, and more than ten puppets appeared around him, emitting eerie creaking sounds as their wooden joints moved.


    Using the sealing technique from the spatial scroll was much faster than taking them out one by one from the spatial ring!


    After doing all this, Su''en ran towards the direction of the ruins.


    It looked like he was fleeing, but in reality, he wanted to break through the enemy''s encirclement and kill them one by one!


    "Ten second-tier professionals, tsk tsk, the Oliver family really went all out this time..."


    As he retreated, Su''en''s eyes took in the entire battle situation.


    But what surprised him was that Gage didn''t continue shooting?


    Turning back to take a closer look, Su''en saw that the sniper''s position was actually under attack?


    A cloaked figure with ghostly agility was entangled in a fight with Gage.


    Su''en guessed who the cloaked figure was, and his brow furrowed.


    However, there was no time for any other unnecessary actions at this moment.


    .......


    The other party had already formted a detailed n to surround and capture him, and had guessed that Su''en would definitely "flee" towards the ruins.


    At the moment when the signal res exploded in the sky, a second-tier earth mage had already cast arge-scale "quicksand spell", covering the route that Su''en had to take to escape to the ruins.


    When Su''en stepped on it, the solid ground beneath his feet had already turned into soft mud.


    In another moment or two, this mud would turn into quicksand.


    By then, even the eight-armed spider spears would sink deep into the sand.


    This was clearly another tactical move against his escape.


    Unfortunately...


    Those guys underestimated Su''en''s current speed.


    His agility allowed him to control the eight spears to step precisely on the hard gravel, and then, before the groundpletely turned into sand, he leaped out of the quicksand pit that covered a hundred meters.


    The two enemies worked in pairs, coordinating and covering for each other.Su''en was in front of him, except for the earth mage, there was also a female mage with mes burning all over her body.


    Second-tier professionals are not unknown.


    The earth mage is the head of therge hunting team under the Oliver family, "Sand Demon" Horus.


    This female mage is none other than the former spell instructor of the ck Tower Academy, now a specially employed and highly paid special offering of the Oliver family, "Sunfire Woman" Virginia Eddie!


    A hand of fire spells, hot as the sun.


    They looked at Su''en rushing out, not surprised, and the killer moves followed.


    Virginia''s eyes were like torches, and the mage''s seal in her hand pinched, and the red six-pointed star under her feet shone brightly, and the mes all over her body turned from red to gold. She murmured softly, "Elemental Secret Art - Golden Scale Fire Python!"


    With a wave of the mage''s seal, she pointed forward with both hands, and a golden fire python shed out like lightning from her fingers.


    When it appeared, it was only the thickness of a forearm, but it grew longer in the wind, and in the blink of an eye, it became a fierce python about ten meters long and as thick as a barrel. The fire python was covered in golden scales, as if it were not made of elemental matter, but of pure gold, with an unstoppable force.


    Where the fire python passed, the ground was charred.


    Even though Su''en was still a hundred meters away from the fire python, he could clearly feel the burning heat that reached deep into his lungs.


    The surging power of the fire element was like a tsunami, as if it would burn everything to ashes.


    It was worthy of being a former spell instructor at the ck Tower Academy, and this move was an impable second-tier secret spell.


    This spell was fast and had a wide range, and any second-tier professional who came would have to avoid its edge.


    Moreover, the spell condensed was not ordinary mes.


    Virginia had fused with a special alchemical prosthetic that could cause elemental mutations in her body - the Elemental Heart Core of the Golden me Crow.


    It was this mutated golden me that had an extraordinary elemental pration, creating high temperatures that could even quickly melt steel!


    ......


    A particrly tricky aspect of area-of-effect spells was that they were almost impossible to block with physical means.


    Even if you could use a shield or something to block part of it, the ubiquitous fire element could still cover the target in a 360-degree all-epassing burn!


    Seeing the fire pythoning at him, Su''en''s eyes reflected the mes.


    Instead of dodging, he raised his hand and conjured an alchemical puppet.


    The alchemical puppet stood in front of him, and with a click, its arms suddenly split open into a trumpet shape.


    Just as the fire python was only a few meters away, the blue-purple dual-colorposite heptagram array on the puppet''s arms suddenly lit up.


    Thebined power of wind and thunder created a huge vortex of wind that turned into a ck hole that swallowed everything.


    The ten-meter-long golden python had just rushed up and had not had time to show its ferocity before it plunged into the ck hole vortex. The collision was extremely fast, and the golden light disappeared in a sh, and the light around it suddenly dimmed.


    This was none other than thetest version of the "ck Hole Puppet" that Mr. Hei had helped make!


    .......


    Seeing her spell that was sure to seed being swallowed by a puppet, Virginia''s face changed drastically.


    She looked at Su''en, who was charging at her, and immediately realized the danger. mes surged out of her body, overflowing several meters, and she waspletely enveloped in a thick shield of mes.


    At almost the same time as the absorption, the alchemical puppet that had absorbed the fire python suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a mouthful of golden mes.


    Looking again, the shrunken three-part fire python was aimed not at the female mage, but at the earth mage, "Sand Demon" Horus!


    At such a close distance, there was simply no way to avoid it.


    Horus had long since sensed the danger and had already used alchemy when he saw the fire python. The color of his skin instantly lost its blood color and turned into a rocky, earthy yellow.


    The fire python surged past, and the figure waspletely engulfed in the sea of mes...


    However, when the mes went out in an instant, the figure covered in what looked like a diamond armor slowly opened its eyes.


    This move had absolutely no effect on "Sand Demon" Horus.


    Su''en looked calm, and murmured to himself, "Silver nting Armor - Scorpion Armor, ah, the defense is indeed extremely strong..."


    He was not surprised at all.


    Because before he came, he had already obtained detailed information about these ten people.


    Prosthetics, abilities, talents...


    He knew it all!


    Su''en''s speed did not diminish, and in the blink of an eye, he was a hundred meters away.


    He did not give the enemy a chance to cast a second spell, and with a wave of his hand, several puppets had already flown past the two people in front of him.


    The female mage was surrounded by mes, and any puppet that came near her would be burned to ashes, but... Su''en had a "PZ-911 Mechanical Limb" in his hand!


    It had been difficult to control before, but now it waspletely unobstructed.The dagger made of Amandium on the mechanical limb was designed to prate all kinds of elemental shields!


    Moreover, the fully elementalized witch''s hair was not afraid of burning at all.


    The mechanical puppet had no fear of mes and pounced with a leap.


    No need for any fancy moves, it was like a street thug in a brawl, stabbing her belly with the dagger dozens of times...


    Amidst the mes, two figures entangled in a sorry state.


    One can only imagine the fate of a fire sorcerer with a frail body when someone gets close.


    Virginia''s professional advancement was towards elemental mutation; she had almost given up on defense for the sake of maximizing damage.


    Originally, with the ''Sand Demon'' Horus''s strong defense, there was no problem in self-preservation, let alone killing.


    But how could Su''en give him a chance to be rescued?


    Su''en had more than just two hands; his eight spidernces could run, jump, and control puppets!


    While Virginia and the mechanical puppet were engaged in closebat, several strange puppets had already firmly clung to Horus''s legs.


    This earth sorcerer had condensed rich earth elements under his feet early on for the fight.


    Now that the puppets clung to him, they immediately began to voraciously absorb the earth elements, instantly weighing a thousand pounds.


    These were the "Lead Sinker Dolls"!


    With these thousand-pound dolls clinging to him, Horus was so hindered that he could hardly move.


    Naturally, Su''en did not expect the two control-type dolls to harm this guy protected by rock armor.


    He raised his hand and drew the "Thunder Serpent"; the moment the gun was aimed, he fired four shots in session.


    Four streaks of lightning burst from the barrel, like a single line...


    Horus, unable to move, had already prepared his defense, confident that even a peer in his profession would not be able to break through his earth elemental armor in a short time.


    What more a musket?


    But hearing the nearly straight line of four gunshots, his face changed drastically, suddenly realizing something: "Firearms Mystique: Multiple Ovepping Shots!"


    How could there be four shes of fire?!


    Horus''s face changed drastically in an instant, his eyes showing disbelief.


    He had heard of this mystique of firearms, the signature gun technique of the firearms master ''Blind Probe'' Bill, capable of easily prating armor.


    However, this mystique ced an enormous strain on the shooter''s body, and even that firearms master could only perform the triple shot. That was already the limit for a gunman.


    Even a triple shot might break his elemental armor, but it wouldn''t be fatal...


    But what was this "Quadruple Shot"?


    ...


    Reality didn''t give Horus time to wonder; four armor-piercing bullets hit him in the forehead in session.


    The first impact of the armor-piercing bullet shattered a thinyer, but the condensed earth elements rippled like water waves.


    The second impact caused tiny cracks in the elemental armor, with the ripples growingrger.


    The third impact broke through the elemental armor, but after prating it, the force was exhausted.


    The fourth, the bullet shot straight through the skull, a headshot.


    Blood exploded before his eyes, and "Grey Mist" immediately emerged from the corpse.


    The ''Sand Demon'' Horus died on the spot.


    Not far away, ''Sunme Lady'' Virginia, who was grappling with the mechanical puppet, was also stabbed dozens of times, her fire elemental shield flickered and dissipated, her life already extinguished.


    In a single encounter, Su''en had already in two second-tier professionals.

 Chapter 173: Secret Technique: Caged Bird

    Chapter 173: Secret Technique: Caged Bird


    After the update, the reading experience will be better in twenty minutes.


    Su''en also knew what the "Sand Demon" Horus was surprised about.


    "Double Ovep" is not just as simple as pulling the trigger four times in a row. This firearm secret not only requires very high firearm skills and proficiency, but also requires extremely high reflex speed, strength, and endurance of the shooter''s muscles.


    Su''en''s own firearm skills may not be as good as the "Blind Detective" Bill, but in terms of physical strength, there is no gunner in the entire Old Lingdun who can reach his current level.


    He is notcking in skills, his firearm proficiency is high enough, and his body is strong enough.


    So he could barely fire four shots.


    But even so, after using the "Fourfold Ovep," Su''en also felt a burning pain in the flexor muscles of his forearm, as if a few muscle fibers had broken.


    It''s worth it to be able to take down this tough guy in seconds.


    And it''s no big deal, with super strong cell activity, those minor injuries are healing rapidly.


    ......


    After killing two second-tier professionals with one shot, "Grey Mist" immediately appeared on the two bodies.


    Su''en took it in.


    "Obtained ''Horus Walk'' memory fragments *3"


    "You have gained a small amount of ''pharmacology knowledge''"


    "You have mastered arge amount of ''wilderness survivalbat experience''"


    "You have mastered arge amount of ''earth alchemy form fragments'', alchemy casting experience +25"


    "Spirit power +0.8"


    The memory of a professional wilderness hunting team leader, harvesting arge amount of wilderness knowledge, is not bad.


    And the female sorceress gave Su''en a little surprise.


    When he stripped the two assistants from the ck Tower Academy, Su''en had a feeling of taking off from the ground. Now, after stripping a formal teacher, arge number of solid theoretical and practical memory fragments poured into his mind, filling in too many holes in his "skill tree."


    "Obtained ''Virginia Eddie'' memory fragments *5"


    "You have gained a piece of information: ''Danze Young Master is really not restrained at all, actually making a move in front of so many people... It seems like he has a special fondness for mature women...''"


    "You have gained arge amount of prehensive alchemy knowledge''"


    "You have mastered some ''intermediate enchantment knowledge''"


    "You have proficiently mastered ''second-tier rune drawing skills''"


    "You have mastered arge amount of ''fire element form fragments''"


    "You have mastered the fire element spell [Fire Vine Entanglement], alchemy casting experience +41"


    "Spirit power +0.9"


    Comfortable.


    The spiritual power of a sorcerer is usually higher, and the soul strength is higher, so the quality of the stripped fragments is moreplete.


    After digesting those memory fragments, Su''en instantly felt a sense of relief in his pores, and his face was radiant: "The memory fragments of the ck Tower Academy''s magic instructor are really of extremely high quality!"


    He had been studying alchemical theory knowledge all along.


    Runes, spell forms, every aspect of alchemy requires a lot of time.


    Now that he has advanced to the second tier, he needs to master second-tier knowledge, which raises the difficulty level.


    Su''en always feels like he doesn''t have enough time.


    Because he can always control his focus, his learning efficiency is not low. But in order to master intermediate and advanced rune knowledge, it would take at least ten or eight years, and he wouldn''t dare to say he''s proficient.


    But no matter how much he studies, can he learn as fast as the stripped soul fragments?


    If you don''t count the repeated knowledge, the knowledge stripped from the body of "Virginia Eddie" is enough to save Su''en several years of study time.


    From this perspective, having many enemies doesn''t seem to be all bad.


    .......


    Su''en killed an enemy with one shot, and immediately tore a hole in the encirclement.


    He didn''t stop, after swallowing the mist, he started running with the two bodies.


    As for why he took the bodies...


    Naturally, he had to harvest the storage rings, and wait for the materials for transformation and promotion to aggregate.


    The things on the bodies of second-tier professionals are valuable.


    Besides...


    He felt that if he didn''t give the people behind him the illusion of "we can catch up," the other party wouldn''t chase so hard.


    .......


    For anyone else, thebination tactic of "Flowing Sand Art" + "Golden Scale Fire Python" would be a skin-shedding experience even if they didn''t die.


    But now, Su''en has perfectly dealt with it and sessfully counter-killed.


    Seeing the situation, the experts sent by the Oliver family were all horrified.


    How could they not have arrived first? Two experienced old second-tier professionals, they couldn''t even stop the enemy for a moment, and were killed with one shot?!


    Didn''t they say that the kid had no means to threaten second-tier professionals other than the ck scythe of the banishing item?!


    But what''s the deal with the puppet that can absorb second-tier secret spells?


    They knew that the wanted criminal was a firearms expert, but what''s the deal with the "Fourfold Ovep"?


    How could a firearms master not achieve the secret technique of the gun, and he, a firearms expert, used this gun technique to break through the defense-enhanced "Sand Demon" Horus? Who would believe it?


    Everyone just realized that there seemed to be a big gap between this and the intelligence they had received.


    Of course, they knew from the beginning that there was something fishy about this.


    A wanted criminal took the initiative to show up in the city, exposed his identity by selling so many things, and even named the "Puppet Theater," which was clearly a provocation to the Oliver family.


    But even if they knew it was a bait, they had to bite.


    The young master of the Oliver family is now furious, and if he doesn''t kill this "Su''en" who robbed him of his opportunity, he will definitely not let it go.


    Moreover, even if there is something fishy, they have brought ten second-tier professionals, what can the other side do?


    This lineup is already a "foolproof" encirclement lineup.


    Otherwise, why would they invite those top professionals to besiege a first-tier wanted criminal?


    The faces of the remaining eight experts turned ck after two same-tier teammates were killed in front of them.But they didn''t dare to stay, and continued to chase in the direction Su''en was running.


    Because themand had alreadye through themunicator.


    "n B, continue the pursuit!"


    Holding the Oliver family''s token meant they had to fight for them.


    ......


    Su''en ran all the way, and the signal res and disy powder in the sky exploded all the way.


    The "disy powder" was like rain, covering the ground.


    Just the consumption of these special signal res was not a small amount.


    Su''en naturally knew that the reason the eight people behind him were pursuing relentlessly was because there were dozens of teams disguised as hunting teams still active in the vicinity of the ruins, waiting to ambush him.


    Because he also had amunicator on his ear with the same frequency channel.


    He was well aware of the enemy''s movements and ambush ns.


    It would take some time for the ambush team to gather.


    Su''en wouldn''t be foolish enough to wait until the other partypletely surrounded him before taking action. After stripping the spoils from the two bodies, he threw the bodies away. Although his speed increased by three points, this was already deliberately letting up, otherwise he would have to control the eight-armed spear to run at full speed, and no one in the ruins could catch up with him.


    As he ran, he nced back at the eight second-tier masters behind him.


    He decided to take out a few more.


    To reduce the threat for the uing battle.


    .......


    This time, the other party''s ambush n had considered almost everything.


    The people chasing him had a perfect professional mix, including closebat, magic, crowd control, and tracking... all different professions were represented.


    But probably because he had just killed two people, the eight people behind him didn''t act rashly, hanging back without getting too close.


    Oh, to be precise, seven were running, and one was flying in the sky.


    Su''en looked up and nced at the big bat.


    This guy had a pair of bat-wing prosthetics and was a well-known bounty hunter, "Darkwing Killer" Deke Wellman, specializing in long-range sonic attacks. He had a very high agility attribute and was not weak in closebat. But defense was his weak point.


    This guy probably thought Su''en couldn''t do anything to him, flying in the sky all the way and spewing sonic attacks all the way. It was like a range bombardment, blowing holes everywhere around Su''en.


    If Su''en''s own agility attribute wasn''t low, just these "sonic cannons" would be enough to give him a hard time.


    But the other party hade prepared, and Su''en was not without preparation.


    He had carefully analyzed the information on the pursuers and knew who among them was the best to kill.


    This Deke was one of the priority targets for killing.


    It looked like Su''en was fleeing in a sorry state, but in reality, everything was still within his expectations.


    Just then, Su''en saw the opportunity and suddenly took out a bunch of mechanical spiders from the storage ring.


    The mechanical spidersnded and scurried around, fanning out in a semicircle.


    Even in thisplex terrain of the ruins, they were not restricted and could climb walls and flip stones, moving very quickly.


    The pursuers behind him didn''t know what Su''en was up to, but seeing his "abnormal" behavior, no one dared to approach directly. They all showed their defensive measures and hesitated in their movements when the mechanical spiders ran towards them, all showing their defensive measures and hesitating in their movements.


    "Boom~"


    "Boom~"


    "Boom~"


    "..."


    A series of explosions rang out, and dozens of mechanical spiders burst open.


    The thick smoke quickly obscured arge area of the field of view.


    Those people thought Su''en was trying to escape by disrupting their vision, and there was an urgent shout in themunicator: "He''s trying to escape, Wellman, you go after him!"


    The other seven were all in the smoke, and only Deke in the sky had an unrestricted view, so the task of pursuit naturally fell to him.


    "Alright!"


    Before the words had even fallen,


    A big bat burst out of the thick fog.


    And at this moment, he had no idea that Su''en had taken advantage of the explosion just now to release the secondary imnt.


    [The Tears of the Wailing Witch] will render the userpletely transparent after being infused with dark spiritual power.


    If someone could sense energy fluctuations, they would definitely be able to "see" Su''en at this moment, as he was covered in transparent tentacles that floated all over his body. Those tentacles continued to extend towards the sky, increasing in number...


    Bats could fly,


    But its special structure allowed Wellman to be agile enough to easily dodge bullet shots.


    But it couldn''t fly very high.


    This guy had been chasing Su''en all the way, and suddenly felt a strange sensation around his body, feeling a little palpitation.


    But being alert was one thing, he couldn''t just stop chasing, right?


    Neither the sonic waves nor his vision revealed anything unusual, so he didn''t think much of it.


    But as he flew, Wellman suddenly saw the "Su''en" hanging below him make a grabbing motion in the air.


    A sense of crisis suddenly descended on him.


    Wellman was on guard against Su''en controlling the puppets around him to attack, and suddenly felt that something was wrong, his expression changing drastically.


    Because at this moment, he found that countless silver threads had suddenly condensed around his body.


    He immediately realized what was happening and eximed in rm, "The [Thousand Threads] imnt... damn it! Wasn''t this kid supposed to be a first-tier professional? He''s actually a second-tier professional!"


    The Su''en on the ground''s pupils suddenly contracted, not giving him a chance to fly away.


    His hands deftly manipted the threads, and with the help of a few spears, he suddenly grabbed them and lightly eximed, "Secret Technique: Caged Bird!"


    Then, the silver threads in his hands suddenly went taut!


    .......


    Puppeteers not only used puppets to fight, but the threads were also a deadly weapon. Especially when fused with the [Thousand Threads] imnt, a puppeteer could control countless threads!


    This control technique of [Caged Bird] was the unique technique he had found in the storage ring of the "Magician" Lloyd.


    Using arge amount of thread, he controlled the target.Originally, this was a technique that could only be performed in his "Puppet Theater," but now Su''en had the elementalized witch''s hair, which made this spell even more deadly and invisible!


    Wilman waspletely surrounded by silver hair, with nowhere to escape.


    Even if his bat wings were agile and he wanted to fly away, it was in vain!


    For at that moment, the threads around him had already tightened, trapping him as snugly as a cocoon.


    With his bat wings restricted and unable to take flight, his throat was slit by countless threads, and though he tried to use sonic waves, not a single sound could escape his throat.


    No matter how exquisite your martial skills or how agile your movements, once trapped, you can forget about moving.


    What does it matter if you can break a hundred strands of hair?


    There are still a thousand, ten thousand more!


    Su''en''s "Thousand Threads" alchemical augmentation, its main material is the "Infinite Hair"!


    Witch mages also possess the powerful ability of "intermittency"; even if broken, it can be reconnected!


    It was the moment these threads took control of the enemy that Su''en on the ground surged with cold mes, pulling the threads with great force, and his body shot up. At the same time, several sharp spider spears revealed their poisonous tips, thrusting forward in anticipation.


    One falling, one springing up, the two figures were like mas drawn to each other, "whoosh" colliding in an instant.


    After advancing to the second tier, thews of magic were elevated, and Su''en''s "No Servant" cold mes could easily prate the defenses of second-tier assassin professionals!


    With that collision, several sharp spider spears easily pierced through Wilman, who was trapped like a mummy.


    "Sss!"


    "Sss!"


    "Sss!"


    "Sss!"


    Four sounds of fabric being pierced rang out.


    Throat, heart, both kidneys, four spider spears passed right through, and blood spurted out like arrows.


    A momentter, a grey mist emerged.


    "Obtained ''Dek Wilman''s'' memory fragment*2"


    "You have learned ''Introduction to Toxic Potions''"


    "You have gained some ''Sonic Wave Attack Techniques''"


    "You have acquired a small amount of ''Intermediate Rune Knowledge'', alchemy casting experience +11"


    "Mental strength +0.4"


    Su''en didn''t bother to digest those memory fragments too much. Afternding, he retracted the threads and continued to run forward, dragging a "mummy" behind him.


    .......


    Not far away, those seven second-tier professionals had just rushed out of the smoke, just in time to witness the scene of the spider spears piercing through the body.


    The seven of them werepletely stunned.


    They thought the spider bomb explosions and rising smoke were some kind of lethal tactic, but it turned out to be just ordinary smoke.


    But it was their caution that dyed them these few crucial moments.


    By the time their vision cleared, they saw anotherrade killed...


    How did he do it?


    Wasn''t Wilman able to fly? How was he tied up and killed?


    They didn''t see the dense, invisible threads in the sky, only the "mummy" of their fallenrade hanging behind "Su''en," as if it were a silent mockery...


    "Keep chasing, watch out not to get separated, that guy''s methods are very strange!"


    "Damn it, the intelligence was wrong, Su''en must have advanced to the second tier by now! The ck Scythe hasn''t appeared yet, he''s very likely gone after it, everyone be careful."


    "Has the encircling troop over there gotten into position? Good... we can''t let him escape, drive him that way. Julian, we''ll cover you, get ready to cast..."

 Chapter 174: Puppetry Technique: Hundred Deceptive Night Walk

    Chapter 174: Puppetry Technique: Hundred Deceptive Night Walk


    Su''en listened to the tactics beingid out through themunicator, a hint of amusement flickering across his face.


    Julian?


    That name, of course, belonged to the "Dream Thief" Julian Williams.


    A mysterious practitioner skilled in mental illusions, his abilities were somewhat simr to those of the Weeping Witch, capable of inducing hypnosis and killing in dreams.


    She was also one of the elders of the "Mystical Studies Association" in Old Lingdun.


    ...


    Hearing this name through themunicator, Su''en knew what those people behind him were nning.


    He nced back and saw that among the seven pursuers, two guards had positioned themselves beside a purple-robed female sorceress.


    Because casting the dream-making spell required full concentration and left no room for dodging attacks, this move was probably also out of fear that Su''en would suddenly produce a ck scythe, allowing hispanions to save her in time.


    Su''en widened the gap between them.


    But he knew that he couldn''t avoid the spell; distancing himself was just to prevent being pursued when it was time to kill in the dream.


    Second-tier professionals all had one or two strange cursed items in their possession.


    Especially the experts nurtured by great financial conglomerates like the Oliver family, they were never short of good stuff.


    Su''en''s intelligence had informed him that the "Dream Thief" Julian had a special cursed item that was highlypatible with her abilities, the "Angus''s Dream Refraction Mirror."


    An item that could cast mental spells from a distance through its reflection.


    Just as the female sorceress took out the mirror, Su''en threw a bunch of mechanical spiders onto the ground.


    Unlike the previous smoke spiders, these had special markings.


    After this small action, he looked again and saw that not far from him, the outline of an ancient mirror had already been projected.


    ...


    He was hit without any sign.


    The surroundings remained unchanged, still within the ruins.


    Anyone else might not have realized they had fallen into an illusion.


    Su''en looked down at the movement of his fingers and a sneer appeared in his eyes: "So I''m dreaming, huh..."


    The sorcerer''s methods of the Mystical branch were unpredictable, especially that mirror capable of casting mental spells from afar, which was impossible to avoid. If it were anyone else, just Julian alone would have been a great disadvantage.


    Su''en didn''t show any abnormalities and continued running in the dream.


    At that moment.


    The robed sorceress behind him caught up.


    A mental practitioner not adept at pursuit suddenly seemed to teleport, catching up in shes.


    Because this was her dream, she could have everything.


    Since Su''en knew this was a dream created by the enemy.


    He didn''t attempt to fight the woman.


    Julian was the creator of this dream; she was the master of it, invincible here.


    Normally, the script would have Su''en unknowingly trapped in the dream, then starting to fight back.


    But soon, he would find in horror that guns couldn''t kill, spears couldn''t pierce... no method worked.


    While the opponent could slowly torture him to death.


    It was a bug; in the opponent''s dream, you simply couldn''t kill her,


    But it was easy for her to kill you.


    Although there was a time difference in the dream, Su''en didn''t n to waste time with the "Dream Thief" Julian.


    If physical means couldn''t harm her, then mental tactics would be used.


    The spell "Dreamspace" was almost certain to hit.


    But that didn''t mean the spell had no weaknesses.


    Generally speaking, with any spell, one could only focus on either "range" or "spell strength."


    Maintaining such a wide-ranging dream spell meant it was impossible to use any powerful single-target mental attacks.


    You''re proficient in mental spells?


    Coincidentally, so am I.


    Although Su''en was barely a novice in the basic theory of mental spell cultivation, he had bizarrely mastered several high-level sorcerer spells, such as "Illusion: Drowning" and "Illusion: Suffocation."


    These were skills he had scrounged from the "1911 Hotel," and his proficiency had even reached the "Master Level" of second-tier spells.


    Plus, his own mental strength was not weak. Although he couldn''t scientifically control it, he had arge capacity.


    It was the moment Julian caught up, their eyes met, and they shed with "visual illusions."


    "Ah..."


    Julian screamed in agony.


    Although Su''en also felt a bit dizzy, he was fortunate not to be at a disadvantage.


    ...


    It was during this brief sh that an explosion sounded right by Su''en''s ear.


    Looking again, the dream had been shattered, and not far away, Julian, as if heavily injured, plummeted to the ground.


    Boom...


    After all, it was a pursuit, and those behind him had to follow Su''en''s path if they wanted to catch up.


    This time''s spider bombs were not some alchemical mist but high-explosive bombs.


    Although he didn''t expect to kill these second-tier professionals, it was enough to pose a threat to them.


    As dozens of spiders exploded, a wall of fire also formed in the distance, blocking the line of sight between the two parties.


    Su''en pulled from his hat, and an invisible puppet immediately appeared beside him.


    Then, without hesitation, he shed three times towards the mes of the explosion.


    Although the fire obscured the enemy''s vision for a moment, as well as his own, the strike was not entirely a guess.


    Su''en knew the location of the spider bombs and the range of the explosion.


    So under normal circumstances, if you find a bomb on the left, which way would you dodge?


    Naturally, to the right!


    The explosion came first, followed by the sh, leaving no time for reaction.


    He predicted where the enemy would appear after dodging the explosion, and those three shes sealed off arge area behind the mes. Anyone appearing there would surely be hit by the de.


    Moreover, the figure he aimed at was dragging along a mentally stricken Julian!


    Crows still cawed in the sky,


    The executive "Blood Crow" Langfero from the Crow Gang noticed Su''en''s movements, and a shout came through themunicator: "Watch out for the ck scythe!"Unfortunately, it was already toote.


    As the voice fell, three spatial rifts had precisely appeared behind the mes.


    Although one of the three spatial rifts missed, the two that hit their mark sliced through the unconscious Julian and sheared off the leg of the melee professional who tried to save her, causing blood to spurt out like a fountain.


    Even without seeing the "Grey Mist" appear, these three strikes had effectively eliminated two second-tier professionals from the pursuit team.


    ...


    Su''en nced back but did not continue to strike.


    With both of them severely injured, they posed no threat; there was no need to waste the opportunity for the undead to strike.


    The abhorrent undead had appeared, and there was no need to retract the strikes, for in that instant, its body was covered in revealing powder, and its towering figure was outlined by the silver dust.


    Seeing the undead emerge, the remaining five felt not fear but relief.


    "How did Su''en avoid the illusion?!"


    "Damn it, he must have some cursed object that wards off psychic attacks! Forget the wounded for now, keep pursuing. His ck scythe has appeared; he''s out of tricks!"


    "Now that his puppet is visible, be careful, avoid his shes and fire gun, and he''s no threat!"


    "Prepare to execute n C! Hold him off on your end, reinforcements are almost here..."


    "..."


    Listening to the messages in themunicator, a yful look appeared in Su''en''s eyes.


    After such a long chase, the reinforcements were finally closing in.


    Not counting ''Gun King'' Geiger, ten second-tier pursuers, three dead, two severely wounded, and five remaining.


    But the ''Trickster'' Lloyd he was waiting for had yet to show up.


    Su''en knew that the man was busy directing the forces surrounding the ruins.


    Now, with the ck scythe by his side, the remaining few dared not approach.


    But what they didn''t expect was that even with the addition of such a bulky invisible puppet, Su''en''s speed had not slowed in the slightest.


    And then, as they pursued, they were surprised to find that Su''en had led them in a big circle and hade back.


    "No good! He''s going back to kill Julian and the others!"


    "Seeking death! If he kept running, we might not have caught him, but now he''s asking for it. Notify the encircling troops to converge on us! Prepare the spatial seal!"


    "..."


    Indeed.


    Su''en had circled back.


    He was still concerned about those two severely injured second-tier professionals.


    One with a broken leg, the other unconscious, they were easy pickings, a waste to let go.


    As Su''en approached, he saw the one with the broken leg treating his wound.


    Not too famous, but a professional bodyguard from the Oliver family, apparently named Johnson.


    Even for a second-tier professional, a wound like a severed leg could cause enough blood loss in an instant to weaken him, especially during intense activity with high blood pressure.


    Now... that man, seeing Su''en return, had eyes filled with terror.


    Although he had heard the news ten seconds earlier, with his leg broken, he had no chance to escape.


    Su''en ran over and blew away the unconscious ''Dream Thief'' Julian with a shot, reaping a wave.


    Then Johnson, who had intended to feign weakness andunch a sneak attack, didn''t expect Su''en''s melee skills to be just as strong.


    Although Su''en rarely engaged in hand-to-handbat, having stripped so many people of theirbat memories, his fighting skills had reached the level of a "Combat Expert." With the body modified by "X Serum," if it came to a direct fight, Johnson might not necessarily win against him.


    Moreover, his enhanced hearing and vision made it impossible for him to be ambushed by someone with a broken leg and severe injuries.


    The ambush failed, and after a brief struggle, Su''en stabbed the man to death with a few thrusts.


    However, due to the dy, the five pursuers had caught up.


    Su''en was not in a hurry to leave, stripping the souls and collecting the storage rings of the two men.


    Because, by then, it was toote to escape.


    The enemy''s encirclement was closing in.


    Looking towards the distant buildings, a group of about a hundred well-equipped troops appeared on the opposite side. The streets near the ruins suddenly surged with dense purple light, like beams from a projector, casting several purple screens.


    Then, a huge hexagram formation lit up in the sky, and the purple screens closed in, forming a deep purple "big box" hundreds of meters high and wide, enveloping arge area nearby.


    Su''en, seeing himself trapped, was not surprised in the least. He raised an eyebrow, looked at the purple screens, and chuckled, "Tsk tsk... a spatial lockdown barrier, huh."


    Now, with his mastery of spatial abilities, he could clearly feel the strength of this barrier.


    It was strong, impervious to gunfire.


    Even a third-tier powerhouse might not be able to break it.


    He had already heard the enemy''s battle n; this spatial barrier could only be opened from the outside. Moreover, a strict order had been given that it would not be opened until Danze Junior arrived with the main force.


    It meant that only one side could survive in this space.


    Of course, this was exactly what he wanted.


    No one could escape; it was time for a showdown.


    Oh, no!


    It was the enemy who couldn''t escape; it had no effect on Su''en.


    This kind of spatial barrier was like a ss cover, not a reinforcement of space.


    If Su''en wanted to leave, he could just open a spatial door.


    Of course, he stayed because he didn''t n to leave.


    Having finally gathered the fish together, why not cast a?


    ...


    Su''en was like a turtle in a jar, and the people from the Oliver family were no longer in a hurry, slowly closing in.


    Of course, what they feared most was Su''en''s desperate counterattack.


    After all, with the ck scythe in hand, if he were tosh out in desperation, no one dared to take it lightly.


    A siege that was almost certain to seed, no one expected such heavy losses.


    Ten second-tier experts participated in the hunt, and now only five were alive.


    The faces of the remaining people were all very grim.At that moment, not far away, a dwarf with a sullen face appeared. It was none other than the master of puppetry, the "Magician" Lloyd.


    If anyone hated Su''en the most, aside from Danze Junior, whose opportunity had been stolen, it would be him.


    A respected master who turned out to be an ugly dwarfpletely shattered the image of his esteemed status.


    Su''en mentioned to Sabina that ever since this guy''s alchemical puppet was destroyed, he hadn''t shown his face in public, probably too ashamed to meet anyone.


    In the brief moment he showed himself, the sorcerer''s seal in his hand had already solidified.


    Once his bio-armor was released, ck threads began to emerge from his body...


    In the sky, the hexagram formation slowly lit up, and a massive cross suddenly materialized.


    Su''en had seen this routine before and was naturally familiar with it.


    He also knew that using a barrier to limit space was not only to prevent his escape but also to maximize Lloyd''s abilities.


    Just like the time they ambushed the "Wailing Witch," within a certain range, Lloyd''s [Arcanum: Puppet Theater] was almost unsolvable.


    Su''en squinted at the cross in the sky and muttered to himself, "I''m quite envious of that arcanum..."


    The biggest purpose of today''s borate setup was to target this very man.


    ......


    Perhaps feeling confident in his victory, Lloyd didn''t rush to act and began to persuade, "Boy, give up resisting, and perhaps I might spare your life!"


    "Ha ha ha..."


    Su''en cracked a smile upon hearing this.


    The words were not false.


    If possible, they indeed wanted to capture him alive.


    After all, there were too many secrets on him, and young master Danze was very curious.


    For instance, how Su''en could use the ck Scythe without side effects...


    If he really died, that might remain an eternal mystery.


    Being stared at maliciously by over a hundred people felt like a sharp spear piercing Su''en''s head, causing him pain.


    The enemy numbered over a hundred, and he dared not underestimate them.


    Just a nce over, and there were thirty to forty professionals who had released their bio-armor.


    Even the non-professionals were equipped with sophisticated mechanical gear.


    Clearly, this was the Oliver family''s elite team.


    Not to mention the spellcasters, mechanical sorcerers, and mystic sorcerers, just over a hundred muskets and cannons firing in unison would be enough to bring Su''en to his knees on the spot.


    Why call so many people?


    Of course, it was to act as cannon fodder!


    There was only one ck Scythe, capable of striking only once at a time, and with the curse bacsh, it was impossible to use the ck Scythe to kill over a hundred people, right?


    In the interval between strikes, the attacks of over a hundred people would be enough to overwhelm him.


    Seeing that Su''en had no intention of surrendering, Lloyd coldly said, "Boy, I''ll give you onest chance. Surrender within three breaths, or else you will be shown no mercy!"


    He spoke as if persuading, but his vignce did not rx in the slightest.


    Because the SS-ranked fugitive before him was too calm.


    The mind of a professional who could advance to the second tier was never simple.


    From the very beginning, they suspected there was something fishy.


    Su''en had the chance to escape but returned for the spoils of two corpses and then got trapped?


    Although Lloyd felt this was somewhat rted to their "foolproof" n, something still seemed off.


    If he were really that "greedy," he would never have survived until now.


    The most likely possibility was that "Su''en" had some life-saving trick up his sleeve.


    But... with the situation as it was, what could he possibly do?


    ......


    With over a hundred eyes watching, even if Su''en could fly, his wings would be shot off on the spot!


    Cornered in the barrier, he seemed to have no way out.


    But in the next instant, he pped his hands together, and the spell for spatial teleportation was executed with practiced ease.


    Seeing his movement, a shout came from the other side, "Not good! Act now!"


    Then came the sound of triggers being pulled in unison.


    But it was already toote.


    Su''en''s foot had already stepped into the spatial gate, and as the guns fired, the bullets...


    Just when the Oliver family thought Su''en had escaped.


    Suddenly, they saw a figure appear on the small building behind them.


    On closer inspection, who else could it be but Su''en?


    "You have a lot of people, huh? Heh..."


    Su''en grinned at them and muttered to himself, "Good thing I''m not alone either."


    As he spoke, he pulled out three scrolls sealed with spatial spells.


    The scrolls unfurled in the wind, and nearly a hundred puppet dolls appeared, their wooden joints clicking mockingly as they faced the Oliver family''s hundred-plus members.


    Su''en''s eyes narrowed, and with a gesture of grasping at the void, he shouted, "Try my own creation of puppetry... ''Secret Technique: Night Parade of a Hundred Puppets''!"


    ps. My schedule has been erratictely, updates will probably be around 6 PM. In the future, I''ll try to do it by 12 PM.

 Chapter 175: Wild slaughter

    Chapter 175: Wild ughter


    The method of unsealing the spatial scroll allowed Su''en to summon arge number of rune puppets in a short time. Before the enemy could turn their gun barrels, he had already called forth a hundred puppets.


    By the time the enemy noticed themotion and turned around, he had already pulled the strings, triggering the puppets'' mechanisms.


    The puppets stood in two rows, eighty "Oil Gobblers" in front, and twenty "Phosphor Dolls" behind.


    It was in the moment that the strings were pulled that the jaws of the two types of puppets suddenly opened wide, one spewing ck oil, the other emitting a pale blue phosphor fire.


    Watching the astonished expressions of the Oliver family, a fierce light shed in Su''en''s eyes as he whispered softly, "Try my physical fire magic..."


    Brutally simple.


    In an instant, twenty "Red-faced Puppets" spouted a beam of fire from their mouths. Phosphor fire met oil, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into twenty rampaging fire dragons, striking towards the crowd.


    Twenty spread to eighty, and in a moment, there were eighty fire dragons.


    The improved "Oil Gobblers" had a powerful jet force, their ck tubes like high-pressure water guns, spraying ck fire oil dozens to hundreds of meters away.


    This spraying distance was almost no threat to most professionals. Just by keeping their distance, they could easily avoid it.


    But within the space limited by the sealing barrier, there was simply nowhere to hide!


    And because the puppets were controble, they sprayed wildly as they twisted their heads.


    The blue phosphor fire, unextinguished by water and growing with the wind, left flowing mes wherever the fire dragons passed. In no time, several blocks within the sealed area were aze with raging fire.


    Aside from a few sorcerers who could control fire, almost no one could withstand it head-on.


    With this round of eighty fire dragons spraying in unison, the enemy''s formation was immediately scattered.


    Over a hundred people fled in all directions, each beginning to shoot with their guns.


    .......


    "Take him down!"


    At themand, gunfire erupted.


    Su''en was not afraid at all, as a hundred puppets in front of him blocked all possible angles of gunfire. He controlled the rune puppets to fly chaotically, creating a scene of demons dancing wildly.


    These members of the encircling team were indeed the elite of the Oliver family. After a moment of panic, they also found cover and began to counterattack. These guys had sophisticated firearms and superb shooting skills. Even though the puppets flew agilely through the sky, with hundreds of gun barrels aiming, they were hit with a crackling sound.


    Although the dolls were fortified with sturdy runes and enchantments, the wooden material of the lower-tier dolls could not withstand too many concentrated bullet impacts, especially since there were people with man-portable cannons and mechanical ws attacking among the crowd. Almost every hit resulted in an explosion.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    "..."


    After a round of strafing, the ck-faced "Oil Gobblers" at the forefront kept exploding.


    However, it was not just a simple explosion.


    Likepressed gas cylinders being burst, the sky exploded with bursts of mes.


    Phosphor fire sttered everywhere.


    Watching the exploding puppets, Su''en did not feel sorry at all; instead, he revealed a smile that suited his intentions.


    These were not the small-capacity puppets of before, but space puppets modified by him using spatial magic.


    With each explosion, the space sealed within the puppets also burst. Like exploding oil drums, "boom" after "boom," ck phosphor oil sttered all over the sky.


    Phosphor fire sttered and stuck, impossible to extinguish. In no time, painful wails of agony could be heard everywhere.


    "Ah... hurry... help me take off my bulletproof vest!"


    "Damn it, my mechanical arm is burning red, someone help me take off this mechanical skeleton!"


    "..."


    Whether it was textiles or machinery, once contaminated with phosphor oil, they could only wait for the oil to burn out. Not everyone was a fire mage capable of dealing with this sticky burning oil; a little contamination meant burns.


    And the threat was not just that.


    "Oil Gobblers" that were blown up seemed to have lost their ability to spray directionally, appearing much less threatening.


    But the explosion was more direct than using a spray tube, and the burning area spread rapidly, reaching an extent that was simply unstoppable.


    Within this few hundred meters of restricted space, phosphor fire was everywhere.


    At first, the people of the Oliver family did not notice anything unusual, but as more shattered puppets appeared and the inextinguishable phosphor fire spread, someone realized the problem and shouted, "Careful, these mes are toxic! Put on your gas masks!"


    .......


    Toxic gas?


    No, it was not just that.


    Phosphor fire indeed produces deadly toxic gas when it burns, but that was not the main reason Su''en used so much fire oil.


    In fact, Su''en did not expect it to burn or poison anyone to death.


    Instead, it was to create thick smoke to obscure vision and to rapidly consume the oxygen in the space!


    The burning of fire oil also required a huge amount of oxygen.


    Outdoors, it might not be noticeable, but in a closed space, these tens of tons of fire oil would consume all the oxygen in the air in an extremely short moment.


    This was the tactic Su''en thought of when he first heard from Sabina that the Oliver family was preparing to use "Spatial Lockdown" against him.


    A closed space was not only suitable for "Puppet Theater," but it was also an extremely advantageous home ground for his "Phosphor Dolls."


    Although this was a world filled with alchemy, and ancient alchemists had long been able to prepare and separate oxygen from the air,boratory research and civilian use were two different things.In the minds of the vast majority, the concept of oxygen as a separate entity simply does not exist.


    Filter-type gas masks can handle most toxins, but they can''t solve the problem of oxygen deficiency. (Forget about sodium peroxide and the like in regr gas masks).


    Soon, people began to experience difficulty breathing.


    "Ah, I think I''ve been poisoned!"


    "Someone save me..."


    "..."


    The cries of agony continued, growing fainter and fainter.


    The rapidly decreasing oxygen content in the air made them gasp greedily for breath.


    Then they found it increasingly difficult to breathe, instinctively wanting to remove their gas masks for a few breaths.


    But then they realized that what they inhaled was poison again.


    Their faces turned ashen in an instant, and they fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth.


    The Oliver family''s hundred-plus elite members copsed en masse in the blink of an eye, like wheat being harvested.


    Even professionals quickly began to show signs of hypoxia.


    Some spellcasters who understood the situation shouted, "Stop shooting, don''t attack those oil-spewing puppets anymore! Cast a spell to rece the air, or we''ll all die here!"


    .......


    The gunfire ceased abruptly.


    Su''en listened to the exchanges of those around him and calmly took out apressed air tank, connecting it to his mask.


    Ordinary scavengers might not understand why they were having trouble breathing, probably thinking it was poisoning. But after all, this was the elite group of the Oliver family, mixed with alchemists from the inner city academies.


    It was not surprising that they could see through it.


    Using the principle of equivalent exchange to cast a spell and rece the other toxic gases with fresh air was indeed the correct response...


    But would Su''en give them that chance?


    Watching someone cast any wind-based spell, he raised his hand and fired several shots to kill.


    Those who weren''t killed were certainly elite spellcasters, too busy recing the air to deal with Su''en.


    With this move, he instantly nullified the enemy''s numerical advantage by ny percent!


    Since the enemy had stopped shooting, Su''en had no intention of letting them off. With a flick of his wrist and a light shout, "Explode!"


    The dozens of intact "Oil-Swallowing Dolls" burst apart in an instant, sttering oil everywhere.


    Now... the fire became unstoppable.


    Moreover, the burning of phosphorus oil produced arge amount of high-temperature ck smoke!


    As the oxygen in the sealed space dwindled, the phosphorus oil burned ipletely, creating more and more dense smoke particles. The high-temperature smoke interfered with all optical detection methods, rendering even the best night vision devices useless.


    This was a physical visual barrier even more effective than a smoke grenade.


    The high-temperature smoke couldn''t disperse in the sealed space, and the purple light barrier acted like a ss cover, enclosing several streets within it.


    Visibility dropped lower and lower,


    One hundred meters...


    Fifty meters...


    Ten meters...


    In the blink of an eye, the ck fog enveloped most of the space, and in some areas, you couldn''t even see your hand in front of your face.


    Now that no one could see,


    It was all about perception!


    Su''en did this because among second-tier professionals, his perception ability was absolutely superior.


    Not to mention that after the evolution of his All-Seeing Eye ability, he could still see farther than others in the dense smoke. Combined with his super-sensitive auditory perception and malice detection abilities, he could easily pinpoint the enemy''s location.


    Now, the enemy''s numerical advantage waspletely gone.


    Without a clear target, even the best marksmanship and equipment were useless.


    After doing all this, taking advantage of the chaos in the enemy''s ranks, Su''en extinguished the light source on his body and stopped shooting.


    Ignoring the fire-spewing puppets, he once again used spatial teleportation and appeared in the midst of a group of people dozens of meters away.


    Due to the extremely low visibility, the professionals from the Oliver family had not yet realized that an extra person had suddenly joined their ranks.


    .......


    Themander of the Oliver team clearly had a wealth ofbat experience. Upon realizing that their vision was obscured by ck smoke, he immediately guessed Su''en''s intention.


    "Be careful of enemy sneak attacks!"


    "Form trios, back to back!"


    "Don''t shoot recklessly!"


    At hismand, the surviving professionals formed trios, back to back, covering each other.


    This posture indeed made it difficult tounch a sneak attack.


    However, Su''en had no intention of taking action himself.


    With the unrolling of a scroll, another dozen puppet dolls appeared out of thin air.


    This time, they weren''t fire-spewing puppets, but "Nightmare Dolls."


    These were abination of the previous "Wailing Dolls" and "Giggling Dolls." After mastering the technique of dual rune inscription, Su''en created these new puppets that were very troublesome, possessing both auditory and visual hallucinogenic functions.


    "ng~"


    "ng~"


    "ng~"


    As soon as the puppets appeared, their limbs split open, revealing pitch-ck, poisoned, sharp daggers.


    With amand from Su''en''s Octopus Spear, the dozen puppets flew towards the crowd.


    The "Nightmare Dolls''" psychic wails, although still not very wide-ranging, required a proximity of one to two meters to affect the minds of professionals.


    But... the terror was in their numbers!


    The mixture of strangeughter was like ten thousand aunts babbling in one''s ear, instantly driving one to the brink of mental copse.


    Moreover, the puppets, fearless of life and death, would not be deterred by knives or guns.


    After the Witch''s Hair waspletely elementalized, the control was utterly untraceable.


    A dozen puppets were like a dozen Su''ens.


    They plunged into the crowd, and the sound of their eerieughter instantly blurred the minds of those around.Then, in the moment of distraction, there was a chaotic stabbing spree.


    Screams and gunshots filled the darkness.


    Su''en, like a specter, mercilessly reaped the lives of those still breathing professionals.


    A wild ughter!


    In the brief encounter, Oliver''s hundred-plus men hadn''t even had the chance to act violently before the poison gas killed the majority, and the strange puppets stabbed to death the rest, leaving almost none alive.


    What was originally a space barrier meant to trap their prey had be the very death knell for these pursuers.


    ........


    "Ah..."


    Wails and screams were incessant.


    The Oliver family''s second-tier professionals had plenty of life-saving tricks, and although they could temporarily protect themselves, they were powerless to stop Su''en''s killing spree.


    The thick smoke obscured everyone''s vision.


    With over a dozen disturbances, they couldn''t discern where the real "Su''en" was.


    A rash move might just result in a spatial rift suddenly appearing and severing their heads.


    Moreover, everyone now knew that Su''en was a second-tier professional, so no one dared to underestimate him.


    Not to mention the ck scythe in hand, even in a direct confrontation, they were all second-tier professionalswhy would anyone necessarily be weaker than you?


    And at this moment, they also came to a stark realization.


    Were they here to hunt down the "SS wanted criminal Su''en"?


    No!


    Looking at it now...


    From the beginning to the end,


    it was Su''en who was luring the snakes out of their holes.


    Realizing this, the few surviving second-tiers were drenched in cold sweat.


    The fivepanions who had died during the pursuit were not mere coincidences, but all within Su''en''s calctions.


    Although they didn''t understand why Su''en was so intent on killing.


    The fact was, if they didn''t figure out a way, they were likely to bepletely annihted.


    And now, embarrassingly, what they thought was a space barrier trapping Su''en, turned out to only control them!


    They had never anticipated that Su''en would awaken such a rare spatial ability.


    At this time, a soft and cautious voice came through themunicator.


    "Damn, we need to find a way to pinpoint Su''en''s location and take him out, otherwise, we''re afraid we won''tst until the barrier opens... Mr. Lloyd, what should we do now?"


    Before an answer could be given, someone in themunicator suddenly said faintly, "Hey... haven''t you noticed that our entire n from start to finish has been in Su''en''s grasp?"


    "You mean..."


    "..."


    The conversation was cut off halfway, and themunicator fell silent.


    Everyone understoodtheirmunication channel had been intercepted.


    ........


    Su''en, listening to the silence in themunicator, knew that his eavesdropping had finally been discovered, and chuckled to himself, "Only now they realize..."


    But it didn''t matter.


    The n was going smoother than expected.


    At this point, those guys couldn''t possibly turn the tables.


    Now, the only uncertainty for Su''en was whether he could kill all the second-tiers in this space before the enemy''s main forces arrived.


    Of course, the enemies were all well-known veteran second-tier professionals, and naturally, they wouldn''t be captured without a fight.


    Su''en nced at the threads drifting down from above and narrowed his eyes slightly, "The puppet show begins, huh..."

 Chapter 176: It seems like a big harvest

    Chapter 176: It seems like a big harvest


    "The Puppeteer" Lloyd, who could be called the "Master of Puppets," naturally had real skills.


    His mastery of puppetry was such that there might be one or two people in the whole of Old Lingdun who could match him, but definitely none who could be said to be stronger.


    ck smoke enveloped the entire sealed space, and just when everyone was at a loss, the ck lines on the huge cross in the sky suddenly burst forth, spreading wildly.


    Countless ck lines touched anything they could coil around, immediately binding them up.


    At this time, someone shouted in the smoke: "Don''t panic, this is Mr. Lloyd''s puppetry trick, everyone, do not resist!"


    The ck lines, like thin snakes, probed everywhere, binding people and objects they encountered. Even the corpses on the ground were animated like marites.


    The number of ck lines was immense, covering almost the entire space, leaving no ce to hide.


    It was as if a hidden hand was manipting the huge cross in the sky, turning the vast sealed space into a giant puppet theater.


    Puppets on strings wandered all around.


    .......


    "An almost inescapable puppetry secret technique, truly living up to its reputation..."


    Su''en watched, his brows slightly furrowed.


    His own puppets were also entangled in the ck lines around him.


    He tried to control a puppet, which struggled for a moment, then immediately triggered a chain reaction. Countless ck lines surged over, directly grinding the puppet into pieces. Moreover, thismotion caused the nearby "puppets" under control to swarm over as well.


    Seeing the ck lines covering the entire space, Su''en knew it was time to get serious.


    The previous battles could be won with tricks, but now it was time topete in strength.


    This was Lloyd''s "theater," where the ck lines restricted everyone''s ability to move and hide in the space.


    There was no choice but to face it head-on.


    Seeing the ck lines about to cover him, if he were bound, he wouldn''t even be able to escape with spatial teleportation.


    Even the abhorred zombies were the same.


    Su''en had no intention of running away. He narrowed his eyes at the ck lines and murmured, "Good... let''s see how the methods of a traditional puppet master fare!"


    With that thought, his gaze suddenly became sharp as a de.


    The next instant, he no longer concealed his aura, unleashing the second-order prosthesis, and his silvery threads surged wildly, rushing towards the cross in the sky.


    ck lines against silver threads!


    Thousand ThreadsagainstThousand Threads!


    Su''en possessed "Infinite Hair," and although his technique was somewhatcking, he was not afraid of "The Puppeteer" Lloyd.


    It was at this moment.


    The ck lines found a "resistant" target and instantly converged.


    Countless silver hairs and ck lines tangled together, bing a chaotic mess in a very short time.


    Just like the scene in the White Monastery!


    Both sides were once again locked in a struggle.


    At this moment, Lloyd''s voice came through themunicator again: "We''ve pinpointed his location, 45 degrees to the southwest of the space!"


    This notification was naturally intended to expose Su''en''s position to the other five second-order individuals, hoping to rey the tactic of besieging the witch as before.


    Su''en snorted in his heart, fearless.


    Now that he was trapped on the spot, he pulled out another spatial scroll, and upon unsealing it, another twenty or thirty puppets appeared out of thin air.


    He wasn''t just controlling threads with his hands; he also had eight spider spears!


    The spider spears manipted dozens of puppets, shielding him tightly.


    .......


    Su''en was restricted by the threads, and as soon as his position was exposed, the "puppet army" controlled by the ck lines also converged towards his location.


    Originally, after Lloyd''s Puppet Theater was deployed, it was a very spectacr battle scene.


    Whether it was melee, magic, assassin, mechanic... any other profession, in this "theater," they were all his marites.


    Even if one had means to resist the ck lines, they would still have to face the siege of countless ck lines and the "puppet" army.


    Puppets could not be killed; even if limbs were severed, they could still kill...


    In the end, those trapped in the theater could only be worn down to death.


    However, if both were puppet masters, especially both fused with Thousand Threads alchemical prosthesis.


    The fight became very uninteresting.


    Su''en never thought he could win over this Master of Puppets in puppetry.


    In this confrontation, he directly gave up the puppetry tactic. Then, he released countless silver hairs, simply and brutally entangling the opponent''s "puppets."


    Su''en''s witch hair was infinite, but Lloyd''s Tesmox iron threadworms were limited!


    With this entanglement, both sides could stop ying with puppets and just focus on the struggle.


    In terms of puppet control, Su''en was far inferior to the Master of Puppets.


    But when it came to wrestling, he was not to be underestimated.


    Moreover, after Su''en took control of all the ck lines from the cross above, he could then divide his attention to control his own puppets.


    He also felt that since he was "controlled," it was time for the enemy to make a move.


    .......


    Sure enough, as soon as they tangled, Lloyd''s loud shout came from the darkness: "Damn it, he really fused with ''Infinite Hair,'' act quickly! This kid is tricky; I can''t hold on for long!"


    There was still a glimmer of hope before.


    Thinking that even if Su''en got the witch''s head, it would be useless.


    After all, the dark gold quality "Infinite Hair" had extremely strong curse properties, and to refine it into a prosthesis required a very high tolerance value.


    Even Danze Junior, the young master of the inner city''s topyer, had to downgrade to fuse with it. He could only choose some inferior ingredients to refine, lowering the containment value of the finished prosthesis, and forcibly refining the dark gold main material into a golden prosthesis product, to ensure that the body would not deform after fusion.


    But now, after a try,


    The toughness, strength, and tension of this hair... were all astonishingly exaggerated.


    Lloyd immediately realized that this was definitely not a downgraded prosthesis!


    Golden level?


    No, it was definitely dark gold level!


    If anyone knew what Lloyd was thinking at this moment, they would think Su''en was a monster.


    Danze Oliver was the young master of the inner city''s topyer, with the best breathing techniques and cultivation resources. He had to downgrade to fuse with the alchemical prosthesis, so how could a wanted criminal from the outer city seed in fusion?


    Only a puppet master could truly appreciate the power of this "Infinite Hair."


    If he wasn''t killed today, he would truly be a terror once he grew up!


    ......


    In the thick smoke, originally blind to sight.


    This loud shout sounded like Lloyd had carelessly exposed his position due to anxiety.


    Both sides were wrestling, and Su''en couldn''t move his position, so Lloyd couldn''t move either.


    Exposing his position was the best opportunity for a killing blow.


    Just swinging the scythe seemed like it would easily kill the dwarf master.


    But Su''en wasn''t fooled; instead, his expression turned stern, and he focused his attention on his surroundings.


    How could he not know that the guy had a very special alchemical item that perfectly countered Supernos''s Night Scythe?


    The Oliver family''s search for items to counter the ck scythe''s curse could fool others, but not the Umbre Organization. What they thought was a surefire sneaky tactic was already known to Su''en through Sabina.


    This loud shout was simply to "attract firepower"!


    "Tsk tsk, old schemer..."


    If Su''en really swung his scythe in that direction, not only would he fail to kill the dwarf, but he would also be attacked by the other second-order individuals during the moment he struck.


    Thinking of this, a mocking smile crossed his eyes. He pretended not to notice and controlled the abhorred zombie to raise the ck scythe, as if he was about to sh in the direction of the sound.


    Now that the zombie was covered in revealing powder, its movements couldn''t be hidden.


    It was at this moment of action that the enemy reacted extremely quickly.


    Su''en suddenly felt a needle-like murderous intenting from behind, thinking to himself, "Here ites!"


    The malice approached at a high speed, almost instantly appearing behind Su''en.


    At this time, the person arrived, and only then did his ears btedly hear a series of explosive sounds of footsteps treading on air, "pop," "pop," "pop"...


    If this sh was really aimed forward, even if Su''en reacted quickly, he wouldn''t have time to defend.


    He would definitely be attacked from behind.


    However, to the surprise of the attacker, Su''en''s sh was just a feint. As soon as it was raised, it suddenly changed direction and shed behind him.


    With this speed, it had to be the "Viper" Bright Jars, a second-order professional assassin who was very good at stealth and assassination.


    The timing of this sh was just right to hit Bright.


    .......


    Seeing the ck scythe suddenly turn its de, Bright was also stunned.


    He hadn''t even managed to strike, and the scythe had already shed at his forehead. The momentum of his rush left him no room to turn back, and he instinctively blocked with his dagger in front of him.


    Normally, even if a melee professional was discovered during a sneak attack, they could still block and retreat unharmed.


    Unfortunately, the ck scythe was an exception.


    With one sh, it smoothly cut through.


    The famed dagger was cut into two pieces, and then a hand''s width of a blood gash was smoothly cut across his neck, with blood spurting wildly from the wound.


    Bright didn''t even have a chance to react, and his bodypletely lost its vitality.


    Su''en silently counted to himself, "Four shes have been made, and one more will trigger the curse bacsh."


    After killing the assassin, he didn''t let his guard down.


    Because at the same time as he acted, "malice" also came from three other directions.


    In front of him, he heard a sharp "hiss."


    This was clearly the sound of a steam boiler venting violently.


    Even without seeing, he knew that a mechanical warrior was charging at him!


    The steam boiler''s energy storage made a lot of noise, and the friction sound of the mechanical arm''s joints couldn''t be hidden from a master, so this guy had been hiding and didn''t dare to make a sound. Only after storing energy could he rush forward, so he was half a beat slower than the assassin.


    Moreover, not only from the front, but Su''en also felt intense elemental fluctuations from both sides. In the thick ck smoke, red and purple glows shed.


    In the blink of an eye, a scorching chain of fire and a lightning bolt were upon him.


    At this moment, Su''en''s eyes were devoid of any other emotion, only an almost numb calm.


    His brain was like a high-speed machine, controlling his body to make the most appropriate response.


    With a control of the spider spear, the ck Hole Puppet spread its arms into a horn shape, a ck vortex appeared, and as soon as the fire chain and lightning touched him, they were rapidly sucked in.


    The puppet opened its mouth again, and the magic of thunder and fire was spat out onto the face of the mechanical warrior who was charging at him.


    At this moment, the advantage of having many hands was immediately apparent.


    While manipting the puppets, Su''en''s right hand quickly drew his gun and continuously pulled the trigger towards the left.


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    Three special booms of alchemical bullets exploded in the eardrums.


    To the left was the thunder mage Rafael-Jemha, and to the right was the fire mage Nidam David.


    In such a situation, it was obviously too difficult to shoot a "Fourfold Shot," but using a "Threefold Shot" to hit the fragile thunder sorcerer was still no problem.


    Su''en couldn''t see the positions of the two, but he judged their directions from the sounds of their spells.


    Three shots fired, and a muffled groan was heard, clearly someone was hit.


    Su''en didn''t bother with them, with the ck Hole Doll around, the sorcerer''s abilities were reduced by seventy percent.


    Moreover, he didn''t have time to bother.


    Because at this time, the mechanical warrior in front had already rushed to his face!


    "Iron Tiger" Rein Lute, a retired junior lieutenant of the Old Lingdun city defense, now the captain of the Oliver family''s guard.


    This guy had a high degree of mechanical modification and high-tech content. Mechanical armor covered his entire body, with advanced magic resistance runes and enchanted ting. The two weakened spells did almost no harm to him, not hindering his charge at all.


    Su''en didn''t expect the two spells to stop the mechanical warrior in front of him, but the ck scythe had just been swung and couldn''t be retracted in time.


    At this moment, his ability to "multitask" was pushed to the extreme.


    As his right hand fired the gun, his left hand also suddenly pulled, and countless threads in front of him converged into a dense giant.


    Another heavy explosion-proof puppet was pulled in front of him.


    Just a brief momentter, the mechanical warrior Rein, relying on the powerful thrust of the jet propulsion device, brutally broke into the. His mechanical body paused slightly, then broke countless threads and rushed out of the. Using the inertia to gather strength, he mmed a punch forward, sting the explosion-proof puppet into pieces.


    After two interceptions, his strength was exhausted by seventy percent.


    But even so, he still reached Su''en.


    Rein knew he only had one chance to punch, the steam boiler couldn''t store too much energy, and he punched Su''en in the chest with another fierce blow.


    He was very confident that although this punch was not strong enough, it was enough to kill any ordinary second-order non-melee professional on the spot!


    Even if he clearly felt the presence of an alloy shield on his chest!


    "Pfft~"


    Hit in the chest, Su''en''s figure swayed.


    He couldn''t hold back the burning sensation in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.


    However, at this moment, a smile appeared on his bloodied lips.


    The damage was still within expectations.


    It had to be said that in terms of defense, speed, and strength, the mechanical warrior indeed had advantages that other professionals couldn''tpare with.


    But in terms of reaction to sudden stops and changes in direction, theg was also obvious.


    He didn''t die from this strike,


    The one who died was the opponent.


    The toughness of Su''en''s body was such that a punch like this was not enough to kill him.


    He didn''t make any superfluous movements, a flick of the spider spear, and the abhorred zombie beside him had already swung the scythe around.


    The appearance of the spatial rift, unreasonably, cut a smooth trace on Rein''s indestructible mechanical armor.


    "Swish~"


    Blood spurted wildly, and Rein Lute''s head was directly chopped off.


    Another one dead.


    And at this time, the abhorred zombie also made the fifth sh, triggering the curse bacsh immediately.


    ......


    Even through the body bag, he could feel the state of blood bursting.


    Su''en took a couple of breaths and looked around, but found that the abhorred zombie hadn''t turned into a pile of corpses.


    It was a small pleasant surprise.


    This meant that the abhorred had once again survived the five-sh bacsh, and the wounds were healing quickly.


    Su''en squinted at the direction of Lloyd in the ck smoke, with a hint of mockery in his smile: "Tsk tsk... it seems, luck is still on my side."


    Six second-order professionals in the space, now two more of the most threatening melee professionals were killed.


    The fate of thunder mage Rafael Jemha, who was shot, was unknown.


    There were still "The Puppeteer" Lloyd, fire mage Nidam, and the cadre of the Crow Gang "Blood Crow" Langfero left...


    Of course, even if the abhorred died, it wouldn''t be a big problem.


    Su''en''s storage space still had two ordinary zombies as backups.


    Previously, due to theck of storage space, it was inconvenient to carry zombies, so he didn''t bother with them.


    But now...


    He wasn''t short of zombies.


    Moreover, even without using the scythe, the threat of the remaining few magic professionals was not that great anymore.


    Today, it seems like a big harvest...

 Chapter 177: Less Struggle for Ten Years

    Chapter 177: Less Struggle for Ten Years


    ps. I''m in a bit of a rush, so I''ll update first and make correctionster. Sorry about that, the reading experience will be better in twenty minutes.


    This round of attack was probably also thest joint effort of the experts from the Oliver family.


    Su''en shed two second-tier melee fighters and severely wounded a spellcaster.


    The few who were still alive didn''t make a sound anymore.


    Without the restraint of melee professionals, the ranged spellcasters didn''t dare to show their faces. If they cast spells again, the spatial rifts created by the ck Scythe would definitely be faster than their casting speed.


    Having taken a heavy punch to the chest and with his blood still churning, Su''en didn''t rush to make any big moves.


    He casually harvested the Ash Mist fragments from the corpses of "Iron Tiger" Rein Lute and "Viper" Bright Gals beside him, gaining arge amount of melee experience.


    It must be said, the quality of the souls of the inner city professionals was indeed very high.


    Rein was originally a professional from the inner city military academy. With this harvest, Su''en directly gained a wealth of military-grade mechanical knowledge and various military insights.


    In terms of mechanical knowledge alone, this was the highest quality harvest he had ever had.


    ...


    Half of the six second-tier enemies in the space were gone, and the most critical moment had passed.


    As his churning blood settled, Su''en calmly took out two more undead corpses and reced the ck Scythe.


    That "Magician" Lloyd indeed had a treasure that could resist the ck Scythe''s attack, but using it was not without cost.


    Two ordinary undead plus an abomination could normally strike ten consecutive blows.


    That was enough to kill him.


    Su''en smiled lightly in his heart, slightly flexing his fingers, and controlled the undead to sh towards the location from where the sound hade.


    His ability to "determine position by sound" had already pinpointed Lloyd''s exact location.


    But the target was small, so the arc of this sh was very wide, to ensure a hit.


    As the sh came down, the undead wielding the de triggered an immediate bacsh, suddenly bursting into two pieces.


    However, Su''en didn''t care.


    Because at that moment, he heard a faint noise, like the sound of ss beads shattering.


    Su''en smiled lightly, knowing he had hit his mark.


    At the same time, he had also pinpointed Lloyd''s exact coordinates!


    "Now it''s simple..."


    He calmly switched the ck Scythe to another undead and swung the de again, another sh down.


    In the smoke, another "clink" of a faint shattering sound came.


    Then another sh, and another sound.


    Su''en thought he would have to sh five times, as the information he had was that the glove could hold five "Curse Source Crystals."


    But after the third sh, as he was about to swing the fourth, the mindset of that dwarf master copsed.


    Three shes and still three more to go...


    Endless.


    Being fixed in ce as a target, anyone''s mindset would probably copse.


    Su''en watched as the cross in the sky suddenly dispersed, and the ck line he was wrestling with also lost its strength at the same time.


    "Ah..."


    A painful scream came from the thick smoke.


    Su''en knew that the spell had copsed, and Lloyd had suffered a bacsh.


    With the copse of the Puppet Theater, Su''en was no longer restricted and let out a breath of relief.


    Thest threat was gone, and he felt a great relief.


    He collected his hair and controlled the puppet to rush towards the direction of the sound.


    Upon closer inspection, in front of a broken building guarded by more than a dozen heavy-armored knight puppets, Lloyd was already lying there, spitting blood, on the brink of death.


    Seeing that he still had a breath, Su''en raised his gun and pulled the trigger without any courtesy, sending him on his way.


    "Bang!"


    The gunshot sounded, and Lloyd fell dead in response, and the more than a dozen ck knights also instantly copsed into pieces of various sizes.


    These more than a dozen heavy-armored knights were also the famous puppet legion of this puppet masterTwelve Heavy Armored Knights.


    They were treasures excavated from ancient ruins as well.


    Forged from a special alloy, they were light, easy to control, and sturdily crafted puppets. Much better quality than the intermediate explosion-proof dolls Su''en was currently making.


    Unfortunately, against the space rifts that ignored obstacles, they had no chance to be used.


    Looking at the Ash Mist emerging from the corpse, Su''en then walked through the debris.


    With a wave of his hand, he devoured the fragments.


    A flood of memories instantly surged into his mind.


    You have obtained ''Lloyd Rodney''s'' memory fragments*5


    You have gained a piece of information: ''There is an ancient relic in the Oliver family''s treasury, which is a perfect match for my puppetry lineage...


    You have gained some ''puppet-making experience''


    You have obtained Secret ArtPuppet Theater (Iplete)


    You have mastered the control thread technique Secret TechniqueHundred Finger Dance


    You have gained arge amount of ''puppetry experience''


    Mental Strength +0.7


    After a moment of rest.


    A growing joy began to emerge in Su''en''s eyes.


    This fishing ambush wasrgely for this guy.


    And the harvest was richer than expected!


    ...


    Su''en quickly digested those memory fragments in his mind, his eyes unable to hide his joy.


    He muttered to himself in a voice only he could hear, "I didn''t expect to actually strip away Puppet Theater..."


    Instantly, his mind was filled with detailed controls of that secret technique, as well as Lloyd''s years ofbat experience.


    This made Su''en feel an instant sense of fulfillment.


    Directly stripping away such a "finished skill" with a high proficiency saved him at least several years of hard cultivation.


    Looking at the "iplete" mark, he didn''t care much.


    Although he didn''t know which part was missing, he had aplete scroll of the technique''s detailed exnation in his hand.


    When he returned, he could slowlypare and immediatelyplete it.


    And the surprises were not just stripping away Puppet Theater.


    That Hundred Finger Dance technique was also a skill that all puppet masters dream of!


    Lloyd''s ability to control so many threads was directly rted to this control thread technique he had honed through thousands of trials. It wasn''t that he had a hundred fingers, but because his thread control skills were so refined that his ten fingers moved as if a hundred were dancing.


    This was a truly "master-level" thread control technique.


    Normal puppet masters would have to practice hard for several years, even more than a decade... and that also depended on their learning talent.


    Su''en achieved it in one step.


    It couldn''t be anything but a great surprise.


    He gained two scarce puppetry techniques and a bunch of puppetry fragments and crafting skills...


    Su''en felt that this was the real big win.


    Stripping away Lloyd''s fragments, his own proficiency in the field of puppetry surged dramatically.


    Not to say he reached "master level," but at least "expert."


    This was the gain of less struggle for ten years!


    And finally, there was a piece of obsession in the memory fragments...


    "A curse object that fits puppetry well?"


    Su''en looked at the information, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    What could be the treasure that even the puppet master Lloyd coveted?


    But in the Oliver family''s treasury, even if he coveted it, it seemed impossible to obtain...


    Suddenly, looking at the slowly gathering prosthesis on the corpse, an idea popped into Su''en''s mind.


    Perhaps... there was still a chance?


    ...


    Su''en pulled off several storage rings from Lloyd''s hand.


    He nced at them, and arge amount of puppet materials and finished products were all good things he could use.


    It had to be said, as Danze Junior''s teacher, this guy really had a lot of good stuff.


    Last time he harvested a bunch from killing his alchemical golem, and now he had so much more...


    Tsk tsk.


    Su''en didn''t look closely at the items in the storage rings. At this time, he also took off a glove from the other hand of the dwarf.


    The glove seemed to be woven from silver threads, very soft to the touch, with five gems embedded on the back of the hand.


    Three of them were already shattered, and two were intact.


    This guy was able to withstand three spatial shes from the ck Scythe without exploding, all thanks to this glove.


    Upon identification, Su''en felt like he had struck it big again.


    Kronos''s Space Glove


    Description: An ancient alchemist, bored, transformed a spoils of war space magical device into a crude alchemical product, just so his rival couldn''t teleport away during a duel.


    Details: The glove solidifies the super-tier spell ''Titan''s Grasp'' (duration 8/15), consuming energy to cast the spell, solidifying space in the target area and imprisoning any space fluctuations within that area not higher than the spell''s ownw level; of course, it can also consume energy to passively resist a space rift near the wearer; minimum energy consumption 1 unit of Curse Source Crystal per use;


    Evaluation: This is a very chicken-rib alchemical item, consuming ten times the energy to cast a not very practical spell; but in reality, it is a space magical device, space affinity +30%, space spell power amplification 7-16%;


    Su''en looked at the detailed exnation of the glove and felt a mix ofughter and tears, "Wasn''t this supposed to be a ''sealing item''?"


    Obviously, it wasn''t.


    The glove was borrowed by Danze Junior from the rk family.


    It seems that even the rk family, as the owner of the item, didn''t fully understand its use.


    However, after seeing the detailed exnation of the glove, Su''en''s expression became a bit strange.


    They borrowed this thing, which indeed was very restraining to his abilities.


    But it shouldn''t be used like this.


    If they had found a professional with space abilities to actively cast "Titan''s Grasp" and solidify the space around Su''en, he wouldn''t even be able to teleport, and he would be finished on the spot.


    But they only understood a passive ability and used it to resist the ck Scythe''s attack.


    Probably because they thought the cost of experimentation was too great, and the ability was too chicken-rib?


    Su''en raised an eyebrow, guessing why the rk family didn''t fully understand the use of this glove.


    After all, it really is a... very chicken-rib ability!


    Su''en looked at the three shattered gems on the glove, not knowing what to say.


    These gems were not small in origin.


    They were called "Curse Source Crystals."


    The same kind as the hard currency Curse Crystals.


    Ordinary Curse Crystal = 10,000 riso;


    Top-grade Crystal  100,000;


    Curse Source Crystal, valued at 10,000,000, and that''s the theoretical price!


    These top-tier gems, said to only produce one or two from a vein, were priceless on the market.


    Even the financial tycoons of the inner city didn''t have many, and they were extremely scarce strategic resources that money couldn''t buy!


    But it was such a huge consumption, and the spell cast couldn''t control people, nor did it have any damage... it just solidified space, preventing the target from casting space spells to escape.


    Even the information Sabina got thought it was a "sealing item."


    Su''en had just shed three times to prevent a long night of dreams.


    One billion per sh, it seemed a bit painful...


    However, Su''en never dwelled on the unchangeable past.


    There were still two intact ones.


    Just the gems alone were worth two hundred million.


    This was the most valuable trophy so far.


    He tried on the glove on his left hand and found that it didn''t affect his finger dexterity at all, nor did it interfere with his thread control.


    Moreover, regardless of whether the "Titan''s Grasp" skill was chicken-rib, Su''en valued the other properties of the glove more.


    He himself already possessed space abilities, and once he put on the glove, the "space affinity +30%" boost property was immediately felt.


    He reached out and grabbed in front of him, and space immediately twisted into ripples, much easier than before.


    "Very nice..."


    Su''en suddenly became quite fond of it.


    With this glove on, his ability to control space visibly surged by several degrees.


    This space magical device, in the hands of a space ability user, could truly show its power.


    This time, it was really a "loophole."


    ...


    The rich spoils of war brought Su''en continuous surprises.


    But he didn''t look any further.


    There were still a few survivors in this space, and he couldn''t be careless.


    Although they probably wouldn''t show up again.


    Originally, Su''en''s n was to leave here after killing the "Magician" Lloyd.


    After all, the barrier was now full of thick smoke, and it was impossible for Su''en to find those few survivors in a short time.


    The longer he dyed, the more reinforcements would arrive outside.


    But now, he had a new idea: "Try the new spell?"


    Thinking of this, Su''en suddenly became interested, his hands forming thirty-six mysterious sorcerer''s seals.


    The next second, a blue six-pointed star array that almost covered the entire sealed space lit up in the sky, and a huge cross phantom slowly condensed from the alchemical array into reality.


    Yes,


    He was casting Puppet Secret ArtPuppet Theater!


    Although he didn''t know what was missing from this sorcerer, the basic functions were unaffected.


    It was at the moment this spell was condensed that countless silver hairs floated out of the sky.


    Su''en formed the sorcerer''s seal, feeling connected to the cross in the sky, as if it was an extension of his own body.


    That magical feeling, the threads extending out, felt like his perception was slowly spreading in all directions. It wasn''t that his mental power could focus on every thread, but like a spider web, whenever a thread touched something, it would immediately send back information.


    For example, the two simplest pieces of information: inanimate, animate.


    Su''en had infinite hair, and he paid special attention to one direction. He quickly found the one he had shot earlier, Raphael Jemha.


    Sure enough, he wasn''t dead, and that guy was hiding in a corner and didn''te out.


    Once the thread went there, there was immediately a movement, like someone touching the hair on his body, and Su''en immediately sensed it!


    "Hehe... caught one!"


    Su''en felt the prey in the struggling and controlled more threads to surge in that direction.


    Probably because of the severe injury, it quickly became motionless.


    Not far away, Su''en walked over and saw the purple-robed sorcerer who had been strangled in the pile of threads.


    The "Ash Mist" had already emerged, and after harvesting a bunch, he gained a lot of rune, casting, and alchemy knowledge experience.


    At this moment, Su''en truly appreciated the power of Puppet Theater.


    In this space, the enemy can''t hit you, but you can easily kill anyone.


    Within the range of this theater, the caster can control everything!


    ...


    The silver hair spread endlessly, and soon found several more survivors from the siege team. Su''en didn''t need to go there himself, and they were strangled one by one.


    There were still two second-tier professionals hiding in the space. It was during the spread of the silver hair that they hadn''t realized what was happening.


    But as the threads wrapped around them, panicked voices came through themunicator.


    "Damn it, Lloyd, what are you doing!"


    "Nidam, be careful, these threads aren''t Lloyd''s, they''re Su''en''s!"


    "How is that possible, how could he know Puppet Theater?"


    "..."


    Anyone would probably be puzzled.


    How could a wanted criminal suddenly know the unique secret art of Lloyd''s lineage?


    But puzzled or not, they still had to fight.


    The prey in the struggled more and more fiercely...


    Suddenly, themunicator transmitted the angry curses of "Blood Raven" Langfero again: "That kid might have some fast learning skill talent, or a cursed item! Damn it, our operation n has beenpletely exposed, there''s a mole around Danze Junior!"


    Su''en listened without any change in expression.


    It didn''t matter if they guessed it, at this point, they couldn''t turn the tables anymore.


    Although they were second-tier professionals with strong methods, the two were trapped by threads and still struggling to fight back, but their positions werepletely exposed, and they were sealed in a limited area.


    Su''en didn''t have time to waste with them, he raised his hand and the ck Scythe shed over.


    On the other side, because the hair had already caught someone''s foot, he pulled out his fire gun and fired three precise shots.


    Both sides fell silent at the same time.


    Su''en walked over, first stripping the soul of the fire mage Nidam.


    Then...


    Upon closer inspection, the "Blood Raven" Langfero''s corpse actually harvested the soul of a first-tier professional named "Roz."


    Su''en let out a light sigh, then realized something.


    He chuckled, "These guys from the Crow Gang really have some strange life-saving abilities..."


    The attire was Langfero''s, and so was the storage ring.


    There was no heartbeat or breathing nearby, this feigned death was wless.


    If it were someone else, they might have been fooled.


    But the soul fragments couldn''t be faked.


    This corpse was just a scapegoat.


    Su''en looked at the more than a dozen corpses nearby, unable to tell where the guy was hiding.


    But he didn''t want to waste time.


    Without warning, he pulled out Blue Demon and chose to... shoot each corpse!


    "Pop!"


    "Pop!"


    "Pop!"


    "..."


    Just as he was about to shoot each corpse again, one of the corpses suddenly came to life.


    Langfero realized his feigned death had been discovered and "whooshed" up.


    He wanted to escape, but how could Su''en leave this guy alive?


    At such a close distance, Thunder Snake was drawn, and three more shots were fired, hitting the back of the heart.


    The body crashed down, and Langfero''s face still held an incredulous expression.


    With this, all six second-tier professionals in the space were killed.

 Chapter 178: Doraemon: Su

    Chapter 178: Doraemon: Su


    In the vast cursed space, the phosphorescent mes continued to burn.


    The high temperature and dense smoke had reached the point where one couldn''t see their own fingers in front of them.


    Fortunately, thanks to the all-epassing silk threads of the "Puppet Theater," Su''en was able to precisely locate the hundred-plus corpses.


    This search yielded countless spoils of war.


    Hundreds of storage rings, alchemical prosthetics, professional materials...


    Equipment, firearms and ammunition, steam machinery...


    If it weren''t for Su''en''s own storage space, he wouldn''t have been able to take much of it with him.


    Of course, in addition to the spoils, Su''en also harvested over a hundred soul fragments.


    It must be said, the quality of the soul fragments from Oliver''s elite team was much higher than those from the outer city.


    During the battle between the Cross Society and the Steam Party, Su''en harvested the fragments of several hundred people. The quantity was substantial, but in terms of quality, they were far inferior to this hundred-man elite team.


    In the outer city gangs, most were brutes who barely recognized a fewmon characters. They possessed plenty of strange knowledge and practical skills, but almost no alchemical knowledge.


    Whereas nearly everyone in this hundred-man team was from the inner city.


    Not to mention the few second-tier professionals, even the dozens of first-tier professionals, and even the ordinary team members were literate, many having studied in the academy system.


    After this harvest, Su''en felt that the gaps in his foundational knowledge were instantly filled.


    Mechanics, runes, various techniques, tracking skills, wilderness experience, monsterpendium...


    Bomb mastery, swordsmanship, rope binding, jailbreak techniques, cooking, flirting...


    These elite team members each had their own areas of expertise,


    With this harvest, Su''en felt like he had amassed a vast amount of knowledge in various fields.


    Of course, the cost of harvesting so many soul fragments in such a short time was not small.


    Su''en hadn''t dared to carefully digest the excess information and just crammed it into his mind.


    Even so, it was like being drunk, his head heavy and foggy.


    After digesting some, he continued to harvest...


    He also discovered a pattern: after his mental strength value increased, the efficiency of absorption was much higher, and the heavy feeling became weaker and weaker.


    .......


    Su''en was constantly calcting the time.


    For an ordinary professional to travel from the camp to this location at full speed, it would take about half an hour. If they had to amodate the speed of a puppeteer with a weak physique like Danze Junior, it would probably take an hour.


    So Su''en wasn''t in a hurry and stayed in the sealed space for about half an hour.


    After harvesting the spoils of war and having enough time to gather the bodies, he set them on fire to destroy the evidence.


    After doing all this, he found a direction near the sealing barrier, opened a spatial gate, and stepped through.


    The scenery changed all around him, from a smoke-filled environment to a low, dpidated building.


    Su''en looked around; it was roughly the position he had estimated before being sealed, a location he had observed in advance.


    The spatial gate was concealed by the dpidated building, perfectly avoiding the line of sight of others.


    When he emerged, there were already many people piled up outside the barrier, from all four directions.


    The Oliver family had deployed dozens of teams in the southern ruins of the city to ensure Su''en''s capture, ensuring nothing went wrong.


    The barrier couldn''t be opened, nor could they see inside.


    Thesete pursuers, bored from waiting, were gathered around the barrier, whispering to each other about the operation.


    "Hey, do you think Mr. Lloyd and his team caught that wanted criminal?"


    "Isn''t that obvious? Once the barrier is sealed, not even a fly can escape."


    "Pity, I was a bit too far away and missed out on that easy bonus. Danze Junior said there would be a reward for participating in the encirclement, and a hefty one for capturing that guy..."


    "Yeah, the third team got lucky. Hey, do you think that ''SS-ranked fugitive Su''en'' really has three heads and six arms? I heard that this time, there were no less than five second-tier professionals involved in the hunt..."


    "Who knows. An SS-ranked fugitive definitely has some tricks up his sleeve. But it seems there were not only five second-tier, but maybe seven or eight?"


    "We''ll let you in on a secret, but don''t spread it around. The reason Danze Junior is so frantic is rted to thest monastery hunt. It''s said that the young master suffered a big lossst time, got his materials stolen, and even had a few second-tier professionals killed by Su''en..."


    "Cut it out, that''s an exaggeration, right? Su''en is just relying on having two ''Sealed Items.'' Give them to me, and I could do it too..."


    "..."


    Su''en casually listened to a few sentences from inside the dpidated building, didn''t step out, and roughly figured out the enemy''s position.


    There were quite a few enemies outside, but without any second-tier professionals, they posed almost no threat.


    More and more teams were returning, and he had no intention of staying here any longer.


    Just as he was about to teleport away, he suddenly heard gunshots.


    Then, there was no movement from those outside.


    "They haven''t caught him yet, huh? That guy sure can jump around."


    "I heard that guy alone wiped out the fifteenth team to the north. If it weren''t for the patrol team discovering him, he almost managed to break the barrier."


    "Let''s all be careful. The patrol team is responsible for the pursuit; we just need to guard the barrier."


    "But speaking of which, Su''en''s aplice is really loyal, to daree alone in this situation to face death..."


    "..."


    Su''en frowned upon hearing this.


    My aplice?


    His eyes shifted, and he immediately thought of something.


    During the ambush at the trading location, he remembered someone blocking the follow-up shots from the "Gun King" Geiger.


    Su''en immediately guessed who it was.


    .......


    The sound of gunfire moved towards the depths of the northern ruins.


    Su''en didn''t dy, formed the sorcerer''s seal with his hands, teleported several times, and escaped the surveince of those people.


    He followed the direction from which the gunshots hade and saw an elite ten-man squad supporting two injured members, cautiously heading back towards the barrier.


    Su''en originally wanted to go up and "ask for directions," but suddenly, his ears twitched, and he noticed something.


    Looking again, a figure burst out from the mist in the distance, clearly a hooded assassin flickering in and out of visibility.


    The person was incredibly fast, moving like a ghost, flickering in and out.


    The entire body was pressed low, as if to stick to the ground. Even more eerie was that his feet seemed not to be stepping on the ground, but on the air.


    "Eh... Air-stepping?"


    Su''en recognized this technique from his memory.


    He had seen it once before, used by the Thousand Strands Smoke Ghost.


    It was a very high-end secret technique, requiring extreme coordination of the body and explosive muscle strength. Only a few second-tier melee professionals knew it.


    If it weren''t for his improved eyesight, it would be teleportation-level speed.


    Su''en raised an eyebrow as the person, like a ghost, darted through the crowd.


    The figure passed, and only then did a series of explosions sound in the air, "pop" "pop" "pop"...


    Then, a burst of gunfire, "tap" "tap" "tap"...


    Bullets sparked everywhere on the ruins, but the hooded assassin had already vanished.


    In the crowd, a scream rang out as a soldier''s neck was slit open, blood gushing out. The cut was cunningly ced in a gap not covered by mechanical bones, killing him instantly.


    "Damn it! Damn it!"


    The team leader was livid with rage but helpless.


    Su''en recognized the cloaked figure and murmured, "It''s really Kay..."


    Saying this, he didn''t dy and teleported into the midst of the group.


    Before they could understand what happened, eight spider spears pierced through, and the bodies fell in unison.


    Su''en knew Kay was nearby and called out into the thick fog, "Captain, long time no see."


    Hearing this, the hooded man,


    Although his face was not clear, his scrutinizing gaze was obviously shocked.


    An elite squad, wiped out in a single encounter?


    Looking at the familiar dark golden eight-armed spider spear, Kay recognized the person as Su''en.


    Su''en cleaned up the spoils from the bodies, threw an incendiary grenade to burn the evidence, and then said to Kay indifferently, "Let''s go, we''ll talk somewhere else."


    Saying that, he nced at Kay and led the way deeper into the ruins.


    The hooded assassin hesitated on the spot for a moment.


    He looked at that figure and decided to follow.


    .......


    Su''en walked ahead,


    Kay followed at a distance, not saying a word.


    Two friends who once had a life-and-death bond were caught in an awkward atmosphere.


    Su''en raised an eyebrow.


    He had a strange feeling.


    Kay was still alive, but his soul seemed to have died.


    Finally, after walking for a while, Su''en found a ce that was not easy to be surrounded and stopped.


    Not that he didn''t want to go further, but he noticed that Kay had a gunshot wound.


    Su''en found a stone stump to sit on and then tossed over a potent healing potion.


    Kay caught it instinctively, looked at it, and seemed hesitant.


    He also found a stone to sit on, holding the potion in his hand without moving, seemingly indifferent to his own wound.


    The atmosphere not only didn''t ease but became even more awkward.


    Thinking it over, Su''en broke the silence and said, "Thanks for just now."


    Whether it was blocking the shots from "Gun King" Geiger oring to the barrier, he was risking his life to save someone.


    Even alone, he tried his best to save someone.


    Su''en knew that this was still the same Captain Kay.


    Kay''s gaze was evasive; he didn''t look at Su''en but stared at the contours of the buildings deep in the ruins, bing more profound.


    After a long silence, he uttered three words: "I''m sorry."


    Su''en heard deep self-me in his tone but shook his head, "Captain, I''ve never med you, you don''t need to be so hard on yourself."


    Although Su''en didn''t know what had happened to Kay, he knew that after the transport incident, it must have been tough for him.


    The Smoke Ghost, whom he trusted like a father, turned out to be a traitor to the Cross Society, and a chance he thought would lead to great sess ended up killing his most trusted brother.


    Kay shook his head and said, "I''ve been clinging to life just to say ''I''m sorry'' to you."


    But having said that, he seemed relieved and finally turned to look directly at Su''en, then took off his hood and smiled at Su''en, "Brother, I''m happy to see you''re still alive, and I''m d you''ve be so strong..."


    The smile was sincere, and his eyes twinkled with relief.


    At that moment, there was finally a sign of life in him, but his words sounded more like a farewell, the smile fading, and thest bit of attachment to the world gone.


    Finally, Su''en understood why he wasn''t in a hurry to tend to his own injuries.


    The half-face covered in grotesque tumors and the lifeless state of mind made it seem as if he was looking at a corpse that had walked out of the grave.


    "I must have scared you, huh?"


    Kayughed self-deprecatingly.


    Clearly, he knew he wouldn''t live long.


    He didn''t want to say more, stood up, and said, "Alright, I''ve said what I needed to. Seeing you alive, I have no regrets."


    Kay put on his hood, tossed the potion back to Su''en, and chuckled, "I won''t live for a few more days anyway, so there''s no point in wasting such a good potion."


    "..."


    Su''en looked at the potion in his hand, his gazeplex.


    Kay grinned, finally showing that signature radiant smile, "In the next life, I''ll still be your brother."


    But it seemed he hadn''t smiled in a long time, and the expression felt foreign to him.


    The smile hadn''t fully formed before it was withdrawn.


    After a pause, he looked uncertainly at Su''en and added, "I hope you won''t mind."


    Seeing Kay about to leave, Su''en thought of something, shook his head, and called out, "Captain, wait!"


    Kay turned back with a puzzled look.


    Su''en didn''t waste words and tossed him two potions.


    Looking at the potions in his hand, Kay frowned, even more puzzled.


    Su''en didn''t wait for him to ask and directly said, "The blue one is a ''Mutation Suppression Potion,'' which should solve your problem after injection. The green one, you should recognize, it''s the ''X Serum'' we robbed together from the Steam Party convoy.""???"


    Kay looked at the two vials, his gaze growingplex.


    Doubt, amazement, bewilderment... but most of all, disbelief!


    Could mutations be reversed?


    But when he saw that green vial, it seemed to trigger memories of that robbery they had pulled off, and a hint of reminiscence crossed his face.


    Thinking back, if it weren''t for Su''en''s formidable strength, they would have been in big trouble that time.


    And now, it felt like that happened a very long time ago...


    Kay''s eyes suddenly deepened.


    Su''en didn''t give him much time to think and went on to exin in detail: "The ''X Serum'' has a 75% chance of significantly enhancing your physical strength after injection, and a 25% chance of death. But from what I''ve seen, your body has a high tolerance for mutations, so the sess rate of the injection should be quite high. You can choose to inject the ''X Serum'' first, then the [Suppression Inhibitor]. Of course, there''s a minor side effect; it will turn your skin blue for a long period of time."


    Usually, once a mutation urs, humans would lose their will and turn into monsters in a very short time.


    But Kay''s condition was quite special.


    Su''en had seen it once in the Bell Tower Freaks'' space.


    He was sustained solely by his willpower, not fully mutated.


    But it was a dead end sooner orter.


    .......


    To be honest, Kay owned half of those "X Serum" vials.


    Now that Su''en was confident, it was only natural for him to give one to Kay.


    Hearing this series of unbelievable statements, Kay''s expression became very rich.


    In his current situation, death was certain for anyone, yet Su''en was talking about saving him?


    Doubt?


    No, he had none.


    It was just that... he felt veryplicated.


    Kay looked at Su''en, then at the vial in his hand, as if he was back in the days when he was still with the Cross Society.


    In those desperate times, Su''en always managed to bring him hope for life in an unbelievable way.


    Kay thought of something and smiled.


    But then he let out a bitterugh.


    The light that had just sparked in his eyes suddenly extinguished.


    He shook his head, not dwelling on the vial, but said, "I''m now a peripheral member of the Umbre Organization. They kept me alive to find clues about you through me. I''ve been clinging to life just to see you and say ''I''m sorry.'' Now... I have no regrets. Even if I could live, I wouldn''t continue to work for them."


    The life that Smoke Ghost had arranged for him,


    was not what he wanted.


    Su''en: "Then defect."


    "It''s not that simple..."


    Kay''s tone was heavy, as if he was shackled by an invisible chain.


    He shook his head and exined, "To control some special peripheral members, the Umbre Organization makes them take a slow-acting poison. They must receive an antidote every month, or they won''t live long. I won''t go back anymore..."


    Su''en looked at Kay, his tone slightly odd, "If it''s the antidote for the Umbre Organization''s ''Grom Parasitic Toxin''... I think I happen to have it."


    "???"


    Kay listened as Su''en directly named the toxin, and the corner of his eye twitched involuntarily.


    He felt an absurd yet real... sense of familiarity!


    This guy, it seemed like he knew everything, nothing could stump him!

 Chapter 179: The secret meeting in the tavern

    Chapter 179: The secret meeting in the tavern


    Su''en had previously inquired Sabina for information and knew that the Umbre Organization possessed a special poison to control certain members who were lesspliant.


    Indeed, no one outside the organization could neutralize that poison.


    Even within the Umbre Organization, obtaining the antidote required high-level clearance.


    Fortunately, Sabina had such clearance.


    And more fortuitously, Su''en had a good rtionship with this high-ranking officer of the Umbre Organization.


    Su''en lent the antidote to Kay, and the two sat down and started chatting.


    Kay, who had been prepared for death, was shocked beyond words as he watched his fatal problems being easily resolved.


    But after the shock, he quickly became indifferent.


    That familiar feeling returned...


    After the escort mission went awry, Kay quickly guessed the truth.


    He thought Su''en was a goner.


    But unexpectedly, not only did Su''en survive, but themotion he caused grew bigger and bigger. From a wanted criminal, he became an S-ss heavy-duty fugitive, and now an SS ultra-dangerous fugitive...


    Every time the Umbre Organization issued a new arrest order, Kay knew that Su''en had grown stronger.


    ......


    As they talked, the conversation turned to today''s encirclement.


    "The gunshot wound on you, was it ''Gun King'' Gage who shot you?"


    "Yeah. That guy''s ''Sixth Sense'' ability is tricky. Even when I got close, I couldn''t kill him."


    "..."


    Kay expressionlessly fiddled with the tweezers in the bloody hole, extracting a bullet lodged in the bone. His practiced movements suggested he was very adept at treating his own injuries.


    He didn''t use any anesthetic, but there was never a hint of pain on his face, as if the bullets hadn''t hit his own body.


    While operating, he managed to say distractedly, "I''ve heard that the Oliver family gathered at least a dozen second-tier professionals to hunt you down. You need to be more careful from now on..."


    He still didn''t know the whole story and thought Su''en had been identally caught.


    So, as soon as he got the news, he rushed over to "rescue" without considering the consequences.


    What he didn''t say was that, regardless of the oue, he couldn''t return to the "Umbre" after taking action.


    Kay thought Su''en had used some special method to escape the barrier and reminded him.


    Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Su''en responded lightly, "Oh, it''s fine. I''ve already killed all those people."


    Hearing this, Kay''s gaze froze for a moment.


    He thought he had heard wrong.


    But seeing Su''en''s expression, he soon smiled.


    He realized that even if he hadn''te, it would have been the same.


    He didn''t say more.


    His old friend was as strong as ever.


    So strong that it seemed... always so "outrageous".


    Kay himself had stopped caring about such things.


    Second talent awakening, special inheritances, strength... he hade to view them all lightly.


    Being able to kill was enough.


    But the fact was, not caring didn''t mean he wasn''t strong.


    Now, Kay could ambush and assassinate some professionals and counter second-tier professionals, which already made him a top-tier expert among first-tier professionals.


    Butpared to Su''en, he was still far behind.


    However, this was also quite good.


    A glimmer of hope, like the dawn breaking, shone in Kay''s eyes.


    .......


    The current Kay was no longer the cheerful person he used to be; he had be very steady.


    He gave off the impression of a de with its edge fully concealed.


    Except when talking about the days they spent together in the Cross Society, a smile would appear on his face.


    Most of the time, he was silent.


    However, the major turning point in life was not all bad for Kay.


    His ghostly movements were actually the result of a second awakening of his talent after countless life-and-death battles.


    Moreover, because he had a fatalistic attitude, he was fearless in his adventures.


    He survived and also found his own opportunity in the ruins. The "Void Step" was an ancient inheritance of the "Phantom Assassin" profession he obtained in a cursed space.


    .......


    Su''en had experience digesting "X Serum" and knew that the ruins were the best environment for processing the potion.


    Now that Kay had no more life-threatening concerns and had reached the threshold for advancement, he nned to stay in the ruins for a while.


    Su''en took out the spoils of war from killing ''Viper'' Bright Jars.


    The old second-tier assassin''s gear and advancement materials were highlypatible with Kay, and the storage ring was full of assassin''s professional items, which he stuffed to Kay, who initially wanted to refuse.


    After giving some advice on using the potion, the two parted ways.


    Kay was no longer the ordinary gang leader he used to be; he had be strong enough.


    Su''en also had his own things to do.


    .......


    While Su''en and Kay were exchanging their experiences.


    Danze Junior, along with the Oliver family''srge force, hurried over with great fanfare.


    Seeing the tight seal surrounded by nearly a thousand people, Danze Junior was in high spirits.


    He was about to see his revenge fulfilled, and the "Infinite Hair" material would be retrieved, releasing the pent-up anger in his chest.


    "Bring someone to open the barrier!"


    "Yes, young master!"


    At themand, the purple light screen began to slowly dissipate.


    The Oliver family members all had expectant expressions on their faces, imagining the sight of the "SS fugitive Su''en" being captured with a bloody face or his body being hung up...


    But unexpectedly, as soon as the barrier opened, a plume of ck smoke erupted like a volcanic eruption.


    "Be careful! Protect the young master!"


    The suddenmotion startled everyone like an explosion.


    The bodyguards quickly shielded Danze.


    Everyone thought it was a bomb explosion and scattered to the ground.


    But after a while, when no other movements were seen, they turned back to look at the sealed streets.


    The thick smoke quickly dispersed, revealing the charred and ruined streets.


    Huh... Where are the people?


    Phosphorus oil could burn bones clean, and Su''en had added an elerant to ensure there was enough oxygen.


    By the time they arrived, not to mention people, even the corpses had turned to ashes.


    The sudden opening of the barrier caused the air pressure to burst, scattering even the ashes...


    The Oliver family members were dumbfounded.


    They stared wide-eyed, trying to find something in the ashes.


    Some rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they saw.


    Over a hundred people vanished into thin air, leaving only char?


    Gradually, an unbelievable guess emerged in their minds: could it be... an ident?


    Clearly, that was the case.


    Although no one was seen, there were obvious signs of battle on the sealed streets.


    Stunned for a moment, Danze roared, "Damn it! What the hell is going on!"


    For a time, the thousand-strong team was silent, no one daring to respond.


    The fire burned, and they all guessed the truth but dared not speak it.


    In the team, only one person''s eyes sparkled with a smile that others failed to notice.


    This was none other than Sabina, who hade to "watch the excitement."


    She hade in case something went wrong, to see if she could save someone.


    Now it seemed she had worried too much.


    Although she knew Su''en had mastered spatial abilities and the spatial barrier couldn''t restrain him, it still felt incredible.


    After all, he was being hunted by more than a dozen second-tier professionals and so many elite teams.


    She had only given Su''en information and was not clear about the battle n.


    She originally thought... Su''en just wanted to lure and kill a few targets, then teleport away.


    Now it seemed he had killed everyone?


    Looking at the scene before her, the stunning gangsterdy was incredulous, but mostly delighted.


    She looked at the ckened streets and murmured, "Master is really amazing..."


    .......


    A major encirclement operation ended in almost a farcical manner.


    The news that the Oliver family had captured "SS fugitive Su''en" had spread throughout the camp before Danze Junior set off. Everyone was waiting to hear the good news.


    Now, an almost "supernatural" message came back.


    The spatial barrier was sealed, and no one knew what happened.


    But the fact was, the fugitive was not caught, and the Oliver family''s high-level fighters were wiped out.


    When the news reached the Dawn Camp, there was an uproar.


    Over a dozen second-tier professionals were wiped out, many of them well-known veterans, and the news couldn''t be hidden.


    Even thest incident at the monastery was exposed.


    Everyone realized that the fugitive had the ability to easily kill second-tier professionals.


    The wanted poster described someone who onlymitted crimes with banned items?


    Go to hell with that intelligence!


    Those who previously thought that a "walking bounty" had been caught and missed a great opportunity, the bounty hunters, were all relieved they hadn''t encountered that god of death.


    For a time, the entire camp was abuzz with the bizarre story.


    .......


    As for Su''en, the instigator, he had already appeared in the ck Knight Tavern, leisurely drinking.


    This was a ce frequented by members of the Umbre Organization and the Steam Party.


    But because of Sabina''s presence, it became the safest ce.


    Because he had dyed catching up with Kay in the ruins, by the time he returned it was nearly evening, and the news of the encirclement battle had already spread wildly in the camp''s taverns.


    The tavern was packed with drinkers.


    On normal days, they exchanged information about hunting in the wilderness, various gossips...


    But today, everyone was only talking about that bizarre encirclement battle.


    Hunters gathered news from various channels in the tavern.


    "Let me tell you, thetest information... some detectives went to inspect the scene and found some silver hair and battle traces, confirming it wasn''t any supernatural method or any self-destructive banned item. That Su''en really had a big battle with the hunting team in the sealed space..."


    "Impossible. No matter how powerful Su''en is, he couldn''t have killed over a dozen high-level professionals alone, right? This rumor is too unreliable..."


    "Rumor? Heh, now the list of eleven veteran professionals who died has been released. See if there''s a single survivor?"


    "I''ve been saying that Su''en is a third-tier professional, and you didn''t believe me? Do you believe it now? My goodness, over a dozen high-level professionals, hundreds of people, not a single survivor..."


    "I heard that Su''en also knows ''Hyena.'' Didn''t ''Gun King'' Gage also participate in the encirclement? I heard that to help Su''en escape, Hyena fought with Gage..."


    "Heh, you probably don''t know, Hyena is also outrageously strong. Not only did Gage fail to kill him, but he also got stabbed twice..."


    "Gage was lucky he was held back. If he had gone, he would probably have been buried with them..."


    "Don''t say, Su''en and that Hyena really have the same explosive temper, and a heavy killing intent. Whoever provokes them, it''s relentless. Now the Oliver family is going to hurt..."


    "Hiss~ Untouchable, untouchable. From now on, no one mention earning Su''en''s bounty to me! Even if I find that guy, I''ll walk around him..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened with interest on the side.


    Indeed, there were some capable people among the professionals who analyzed the situation after inspecting the scene.


    Fortunately, after listening for a while, it was all unimportant information.


    No one knew the key information about his abilities.


    After all, those who had seen it were dead.


    .......


    The tavern was exceptionally lively tonight.


    And as he drank, the entire tavern suddenly quieted down.


    Without looking, Su''en knew that Sabina had arrived.


    Every time she appeared, it was like this.


    He had a kind of spiritual connection with this subus servant, and he could sense her as soon as she was within a certain distance.


    Sabina naturally noticed Su''en sitting in the corner and nced over.


    It seemed like a casual nce, but the charm that flowed from her brows was naturally directed at Su''en, her master.With just a nce, Sabina showed no signs of deviation from her usual demeanor, gracefully ascending the stairs.


    The tavern resumed its boisterous noise.


    After a few more drinks, Su''en checked the time and made his way to the restroom.


    Avoiding the gazes of others, he teleported and appeared on the third floor of the tavern.


    This was the supreme VIP floor.


    Tonight, the ck Jazz Tavern was particrly lively, even the rooms on the third floor were packed with people.


    Scantily d women walked back and forth in the corridor, but Su''en didn''t step out; he waited in a restroom stall.


    Soon, the faint sound of high heels clicked.


    Su''en unlocked the door, and a woman with a graceful figure darted in.


    Sabina quickly locked the door behind her, rubbed the alchemical ring on her hand, and casually set up a one-way sound barrier.


    She looked at Su''en and revealed a charming smile, "Sir, you were looking for me~"


    As she spoke, her fiery body pressed against him without reservation, like a maid eager to please her master.


    Before Su''en could speak, Sabina blinked and praised, "Wow~ Sir, you were quite impressive today."


    Su''en smiled faintly, not saying much, and directly asked, "How''s the news today?"


    He hade, naturally, to get firsthand information from Sabina and confirm his arrangements for the future.


    If necessary, he might temporarily leave the camp to hide out in the ruins.


    Sabina replied, "They haven''t found any useful clues. Danze Junior is fuming right now. But because you killed everyone, Sir, some clever people are starting to suspect there''s an internal problem."


    She spoke softly, her supple body clinging to him. Her silk pencil skirt slipped down due to her movements, exposing her fair and delicate skin...


    Sabina showed no intention of adjusting her dress, not minding the exposure in front of this man.


    "Hmm..."


    Su''en pondered, not particrly surprised.


    Although he had enjoyed the killings, burning most of the evidence, some risks couldn''t be erased.


    Like the pre-prepared oil or certain details during the chase.


    Those with discerning eyes could naturally see that Su''en must have had some information.


    Thinking, he asked, "Will this cause trouble for you?"


    Hearing that Su''en''s first concern was her situation, Sabina''s smile grew more enchanting, "No. I used psychic hypnosis to get the information; those who leaked it don''t even know themselves. Even if they suspect, they won''t suspect me."


    As she spoke, she took Su''en''s hand and wrapped it around her slender waist, cing his hands on her perky behind.


    Perhaps because they had grown familiar over time, Sabina had figured out her master''s temperament.


    Although he always kept a straight face, he was quite reasonable.


    asionally, she could be a bit more presumptuous~


    Like, initiating a flirtation.


    "Hmm. You''ve done well."


    Su''en was ustomed to his maid''s constant flirtations and naturally enjoyed Sabina''s enthusiasm.


    Even though he was familiar with the firm touch of the beauty before him, the sensation was still bone-meltingly pleasurable.


    A subus''s allure isn''t feigned; it''s etched into their very bones.


    It''s a kind of ultimate charm that never tires.


    ......


    Hearing that the information matched his expectations, Su''en breathed a sigh of relief.


    At that moment, he thought of something and took out a storage ring, adding, "By the way, find a chance to hang this prosthetic on the Oliver family''s auction house."


    Naturally, the storage ring contained the Thousand Threads prosthetic stripped from the corpse of "Magician" Lloyd.


    Su''en''s other n upon returning was to "return" this item to Danze.


    Not to mention the witch''s hair, the main material used in the prosthetic, ''Tismor Lucky Iron Fment Worm'', was one of the few threads known to be most suitable for puppeteers.


    Knowing that it was unlikely to obtain the witch''s hair, if a finished Thousand Threads appeared on the market, Danze Junior would surely not miss it.


    Su''en naturally wanted to give Danze a boost, allowing him to advance earlier.


    After all, he had extracted information from Lloyd''s soul fragments that the Oliver family''s treasury contained an item very suitable for puppeteers.


    Thinking that once Danze Junior advanced to the second tier, he would likely carry that treasure with him.


    You can''t shear a sheep too often; you have to wait for it to grow out.


    "Alright, Sir."


    Sabina took the storage ring, nced at it, and immediately guessed what Su''en was nning, though she didn''t understand why he would do it.


    But she didn''t ask why; the master''s orders were naturally to bepleted.


    ......


    After Su''en finished giving instructions on the important matters, he thought for a moment and then said, "I won''t be showing up for a while, so be careful on your own."


    Sabina blinked, "Sir... won''t you being over at night anymore?"


    The wistfulness in her voice was the kind that could stir a heated restlessness in one''s belly.


    "Hmm."


    Su''en knew that her question wasn''t really a question, but rather an expression of something else.


    At that moment, he remembered something and took out an ancient mirror, saying, "By the way, I''ve acquired a cursed item this time that''s highlypatible with your abilities..."


    As he spoke, he took out the Angus''s Dream Refraction Mirror obtained from ying "Dream Thief" J.


    Such a cursed item capable of remotely releasing psychic power was indeed a rare treasure.


    Sabina took the mirror, seemingly unconcerned about the item''s effects.


    She was like a kitten rewarded with dried fish, her eyes instantly revealing great joy, "Oh~ Master, is this a gift for me~"


    She clung even closer, clearly showing her heartfelt surprise.


    As soon as she finished speaking, a warm embrace enveloped him, his hands touching softness and smoothness everywhere.


    Su''en didn''t speak, just smiled and patted her head.


    Coincidentally, at that moment, there was amotion from the next stall. It sounded like a patron and ady had hurriedly entered the same stall, then "ng" shut the door, followed by the sounds of rapid breathing and rustling clothes.


    The third-floor rooms each had a private restroom, and it was rare for patrons toe here. The neighboring inn was close by, but where the wine flowed, this secluded ce always attracted restless people...


    Su''en and Sabina, both with sharp senses, could hear themotion next door clearly.


    Listening to the noise from next door, the atmosphere suddenly became charged with intimacy.


    At this moment, Sabina''s dress straps hadpletely slipped down, her clothes half-undone, her ample bosom almost spilling out.


    She didn''t mind the full exposure, wrapping her arms around Su''en''s neck, her allure on full disy, "Sir, are you in a hurry?"

 Chapter 180: Wasteland Hunting Craze

    Chapter 180: Wastnd Hunting Craze


    The Oliver family suffered heavy losses this time, and Danze Junior was furious.


    The five major financial groups of the camp joined forces, determined to capture the rampant "SS wanted criminal Su''en," with the search efforts growing more intense wave after wave.


    For the following period, Su''en would change hotels every two or three days, to make himself look more like an ordinary wastnd hunter and not be targeted by the keen intelligence officers due to staying in one ce too long.


    Even so, there were several instances of door-knocking room checks.


    But no problems arose.


    Among the vast memories harvested by Su''en, there were countless identities that could withstand scrutiny and had verifiable backgrounds.


    He even forged various identity documents to match his fake identities, and the inspectors never spotted any ws.


    Although he frequently moved residences, Su''en was actually staying inside hotels most of the time without going out much.


    He didn''t go to the wastnd hunters'' guild, the market, or the taverns...


    Thest battle had yielded too much knowledge, and he needed a lot of time to digest what he had acquired.


    Finally, after half a month ofmotion, various other wanted criminals were caught, but not him.


    The noise eventually died down.


    .......


    On this day, in room 301 of the Rose Hotel.


    The small room was filled with various books and tools.


    Since Su''en had mostly reced sleep with meditation, he used the bed as a bookshelf, piling it with scrolls and research materials.


    Mr. ck had once sent him a set of introductory books from the ck Tower Academy, which he had previously made slow progress with. Without guidance, those arcane pieces of knowledge took a lot of time toprehend and understand.


    But after thest battle, having harvested the fragments of over a hundred elite inner city dwellers, those basic pieces of knowledge had almostpletely filled the gaps in Su''en''s low-level alchemy knowledge.


    However, memories tend to fade, especially those harvested ones that weren''t very profound.


    Not wanting to waste this precious knowledge, Su''en had taken out the books several times over the past half month to cross-reference and read through them, deepening the impression and truly imprinting the knowledge in his mind.


    Not just various pieces of knowledge.


    After harvesting the memories of the puppet master Lloyd, Su''en''s own level of crafting trick puppets had also skyrocketed.


    Looking back, aside from the "ck Hole Doll" Mr. ck helped make, all the trick puppets he had crafted himself were too crude.


    Thest battle also brought him a lot of inspiration.


    Now, Su''en nned to create a new batch of advanced trick puppets suitable forbat.


    ......


    In the not-so-spacious room, a blue light cross floated in the sky, covering the entire room.


    From the cross, strands of silver thread hung down, suspending seven or eight flesh-colored puppets that dangled without touching the ground. There were also some unfinished hands and feet, carving tools floating around, creating a very eerie scene.


    After carefullyparing with the scrolls, Su''en also found the missing parts in his memory of the "Puppet Theater."


    That''s why he spent some time every day practicing the proficiency of this puppetry secret technique.


    Although it was a room for one, there were often a group of "dancers."


    .......


    At this moment, Su''en was fully focused on installing a third head on a trick puppet.


    At the same time, he was using his eight spider arms to control the carving knife, carving shapes and inscribing rune grooves on four or five of those wooden pieces that had not yet taken shape...


    He alone was simultaneously working on the production of seven or eight dolls.


    Busy,


    Yet orderly.


    Su''en was wearing a coarse work outfit, his face already stained with various paints like a rainbow.


    Just then,


    There was a crisp "click" sound.


    Su''en''s brow furrowed slightly.


    He had just tried the thread, and as soon as the magic pattern was activated, the head of the newly made three-headed doll suddenly fell off, rolling far away on the floor.


    Su''en didn''t look at the rolling wooden head. The thread hanging from the cross had already wrapped around it and brought it back to the workbench.


    It was as if all the threads in the room were his "hands."


    "Another failure..."


    Holding the broken part of the puppet, Su''en frowned and studied it, muttering to himself, "It seems that three heads are already the limit. Any more heads would affect the stability of the structure and cause conflicts between the runes and enchantments..."


    He analyzed the cause and recorded it in detail in the notebook beside him.


    Perhaps a bit weary, Su''en didn''t continue with his puppet research after this failure.


    The cross on the ceiling disappeared, and all the threads in the room vanished without a trace.


    The eight-armed spider also put down the work in its hands, busy collecting various materials and semi-finished products.


    "Phew..."


    Su''en slowly exhaled a deep breath and stood up to stretch his limbs.


    He looked at the seven or eight finished trick puppets against the wall and smiled with satisfaction, talking to himself, "I''ve almost mastered themonly used second-order runes, and the sess rate of the trick puppets is steadily improving. All the ''Nightmare Dolls'' are inscribed with second-order runes, and in the future, ordinary trick puppets will also have a strong impact on high-ranking professionals..."


    Suddenly, he thought of something, and a light smile appeared in his eyes, "Tsk tsk, if I use these advanced dolls to perform ''Hundred Tricks Night Walk,'' I''m afraid there aren''t many second-order professionals who can handle it..."


    The current trick puppets, both in strength and effectiveness, were iparable to those from half a month ago.


    If he were to unleash a hundred puppets at once, Su''en felt that even if he faced the pursuers from before, he would have the power to fight.


    This was a puppet army that truly threatened high-ranking professionals.


    However, there was also a problem that remained unsolved.


    He thought of something and frowned again, murmuring, "The limit of multitasking has been reached. This is a big problem..."


    .......


    Su''en now had no shortage of trick puppets or means of control, and the witch''s hair could perfectly solve the problem of thread entanglement.


    Even after mastering "Puppet Theater," the number and efficiency of puppet control had greatly improved.


    But that problem still remained unsolved.


    He found that not only he, but all puppeteers faced this dilemma, even Lloyd, who was called a "puppet master."


    That is the problem of the "actual" number of puppets one can control.


    Su''en was now very proficient in the technique of "multitasking," almost reaching his current limit of divided attention.


    Now he could control seven or eight puppets as flexibly and variably as real people, achieving 100% control;


    But if the number of puppets increased to more than ten, thepletion of actions would be about 70%;


    Exceeding twenty, thepletion of actions would drop below 40%;


    And controlling a hundred at the same time, he could only perform simple actions, such as changing direction, spewing fire...


    The previous "Hundred Tricks Night Walk" was not strictly a finished technique,


    More urately, it was the direction of Su''en''s future career nning.


    If he used it now, it would mostly be considered a bluff based on quantity.


    Even using "Puppet Theater," which seemed to allow precise control of countless puppets, the actual number that could be precisely controlled was still bound by this "limit of divided attention."


    Su''en knew where the root of the problemy.


    Because of the data panel, he had long noticed the pattern. That is, as the value of mental power increased, this "limit of divided attention" also slowly increased.


    But it wasn''t entirely proportional.


    Su''en guessed that both the amount of mental power and its efficiency would affect this "limit of divided attention."


    To solve this problem, he felt an urgent need for a secret method of mental power cultivation.


    Moreover, harvesting over a hundred peoplest time was exhrating, but he also clearly felt that if he continued to absorb without control, he would not be far from mental breakdown.


    .......


    Su''en didn''t continue to stay in his hotel room but tidied up a bit and nned to go out to gather some information.


    After more than half a month, themotion he had caused had mostly subsided.


    Recently, there was a new topic in the camp.


    That is, the "Wastnd Hunting Craze" had arrived!


    A month-old news had only reached the underground in thest few days.


    It was said that the ck Tower had issued an order, demanding that the major families of the inner city send elite teams to hunt in the wastnd.


    And it wasn''t just elite teams.


    To prevent those big families from secretly defying the order, the Duke directly issued amand, requiring those prominent families to send their first-in-line heirs to the Dawn Relics in person.


    This move had an obvious effect.


    To protect the safety of those precious young masters and misses in the families, the old masters anddies had to send their strongest security teams over.


    It was this single order that mobilized arge number of high-ranking professionals from the inner city toe hunting in the wastnd, second-order, even third-order!


    Disobey?


    The next day, the family would be gone.


    In Old Lingdun, where the lordship system prevailed, the Duke''s mansion held unquestionable authority.


    So during this time, the poption of the Dawn Camp exploded.


    Those young masters and misses dressed in luxurious clothes, along with their well-equipped personal guards, arrived one after another. There were also maids, butlers, servants, tens of thousands of people, directly overcrowding the entire wastnd hunting camp.


    .......


    With the camp so lively, Su''en couldn''t stay put and naturally nned to go have a look.


    As soon as he stepped out of his room, he saw a freckled noble miss scolding her butler in the hallway.


    Beside her, there was a group of more than ten heavily armed bodyguards.


    "This damned ce, the amodation is so poor, I can''t even rent a suite with a bathtub? Without a bathtub, how am I supposed to bathe every day? Albert, the butler, can you spend a little more money and find me a decent suite?"


    "Oh, Miss Sophia, it''s not a matter of money. The environment in the camp is just like this, even if you can''t find a suite with a bathtub. If it weren''t for the fact that the owner of this Rose Hotel is a friend of the master, we wouldn''t even have this room..."


    "Really? Kunna''s room from the Edward family is even smaller than this?"


    "Absolutely true! And the day before yesterday, the young master of the Leonard family missed the arrangement at the ''cksmith Hotel'' and has been camping for two nights. Now he wants to go back, but that room is already full. Oh, you probably wouldn''t like the environment of the ''cksmith Hotel,'' because it''s really too bad, ten times worse than here... at least ten times! Miss, why don''t you settle in first, and I''ll go see if I can find something better..."


    "Hmph..."


    The haughty freckled miss heard that her peers from families of the same status had even worse living conditions than hers, and her resistance faded a bit.


    At that moment, she happened to see Su''en, dressed as a wastnd hunter,ing out of his room.


    Her arrogant neck immediately raised like a rooster, showing a look of disdain, "I can''t believe I have to stay in a cheap hotel with filthy wastnd hunters, oh, God, just kill me..."


    Afterining, she plunged into her room, then mmed the door shut with a "bang," showing her dissatisfaction.


    The butler also saw Su''en and suddenly lit up as if he had found a treasure, hurriedly approaching and asking, "Sir, may I be so bold as to ask if you could give up your room for us? As you can see, we have too many people in ourpany, and amodation... Of course, aspensation for your generosity, I will pay ten times the room rate..."


    His tone was polite, but Su''en''s brow raised slightly when he heard it.


    No wonder he had hung a "Do Not Disturb" sign, yet the staff still knocked on the door to announce a temporary price increase, almost ten times higher than half a month ago.


    So this was how the room prices were being driven up.


    But he had no intention of transferring the room, replying, "Sorry, I also have quite a few people in my room."


    With that, he didn''t pay much attention to these people and went straight downstairs.


    .......


    Having not gone out for two days, the streets of the camp were crowded with people.


    When Su''en came out, the streets were full of young masters and misses, each with a butler and a group of guards as standard.


    The young masters and misses from top-tier families like the Reiss had received some news early and arranged for people toe and set up camp, so there were no problems with amodation.


    For the young masters from slightly lesser families, the problems were much bigger.Luxury hotels were already fully booked, so they had no choice but to opt for the cheap lodgings once frequented by wilderness hunters. Even rooms with private bathrooms, like the one Su''en had stayed in before, were hard toe by.


    This predicament was a real headache for the delicate young masters and misses, who could be seen everywhere with their butler-like attendants inquiring at inns, only to emerge with faces full of disappointment.


    As Su''en walked along, he happened upon one such group.


    The chubby young master in the group looked somewhat familiar, prompting Su''en to take a closer look.


    "Master Charlie, oh, how fortunate... I''ve managed to book a luxury suite for you! It was Mrs. Melinda of the Ackerman family who made room for you..."


    "Hey, hey, hey, Mr. Franz, lodging is the least of our worries. Have you made contact with a wilderness hunting team? We need one with real pioneering experience! You don''t seriously think the Duke sent us to the ruins just to find amodations, do you?"


    "Master Charlie... this... I''ve been to the Wilderness Hunters Guild, and all the major teams on record have already been hired. I''ve only managed to hire two heavy-duty hunting teams..."


    "Good heavens, Franz, what are you still doing here? Go squat at the city gate, and as soon as a hunting team returns, sign an employment contract immediately! No matter the cost, within five days, I want to hear that you''ve hired at least three teams led by second-tier professionals!"


    "Yes, young master..."


    The old butler, scolded into submission, handed over the key and slunk off towards the city gate.


    The chubby young master looked at the key in his hand, his face full of worry, and sighed as he entered the inn.


    Su''en watched the big fellow, initially only feeling a sense of familiarity, but now, recognizing his style of doing things.


    Wasn''t this the same little chubby Charlie who had tried to bribe him back in the caverns?


    "Heh..."


    Seeing this guy''s strong desire to survive, Su''en chuckled to himself.


    However, the guy''s concerns weren''t unfounded; Su''en agreed that the Duke''s estate had sent them here for reasons far beyond a leisurely spring outing.


    Seeing this acquaintance, Su''en''s eyebrows raised, and suddenly, an image of a girl with ck hair popped into his mind.


    If every major family''s primary heir had toe, then... was Rena also on her way?


    Without giving it much thought, Su''en decided to head over to the Wilderness Hunters Guild for a look around.

 Chapter 181: Leader of the umbrella

    Chapter 181: Leader of the umbre


    Firste, first served.


    Su''en made his way to the Wilderness Hunters Guild.


    Perhaps because he was a solo hunter, no one greeted him, but for the others, any team was approached by some butler-looking individuals inquiring continuously.


    Upon arriving at Storm Manor, the scene was even livelier.


    The previous screens mostly disyed private tasks or small-scale recruitments.


    Now, the screens were filled with "Legion Recruitment" notices.


    The inner city tycoons, with their deep pockets, spent a fortune to pin their messages at the top in bold, dazzling the eyes.


    Entry fees, settlement fees, paid rest... The conditions offered by the major families were better than the next, all vying to recruit experienced and capable wilderness hunters and teams.


    It was just like a job fair held by major corporations.


    On ordinary days, those inner city folks looked down on themoners who risked their lives hunting in the wilderness, but now they became the "talent" eagerly sought after by the tycoons.


    Although the equipment andbat power of the wilderness hunters might not match the elite teams of the inner city, their hunting experience was solid. Especially in the perilous Dawn Relics, experience meant survival rate.


    Su''en couldn''t squeeze in, so he just watched from a distance.


    The ranking of the pinned information on the screen was basically the ranking of the inner city families'' strength.


    The wealthier they were, the higher they were ced.


    The Reyes family upied seven slots, with all seven branches that had split off earlier present, the main house ranked first.


    Then there were the likes of Oliver, rk, Rockefeller... twenty to thirty top-tier tycoons.


    Behind them were slightly smaller fonts for the second and third-tier tycoons... several hundred entries.


    The messages were more or less the same, with all the major tycoons recruiting various wilderness hunting teams, those with strength and experience.


    Anyone with discernment could see that the Duke''s mansion had a clear purpose in issuing this universal hunting task, and it certainly wasn''t for these big tycoons to just go through the motions.


    Bringing so many inner city experts, they were definitely going to hunt.


    When the time came, if there were mandatory assignments, the young masters and misses of the tycoon families might even be forced to "explore the relics."


    Risking one''s own life and direct family members for an adventure was clearly not worth it, better to recruit some hunters.


    Although it would cost some money, in the face of danger, the losses would be smaller, and the survival rate higher.


    ...


    Su''en''s eyes flickered rapidly as he scanned the information on the screen ten lines at a time.


    He analyzed the recent trends in hunting lies.


    Clearly, the pace of wilderness opening was elerating.


    In the central area of the relics, there were already third-tier powerhouses leading teams...


    But the resistance they encountered seemed significant too, not to mention that some of therge hunting teams that had been at the forefront had disappeared from the list.


    Such a situation meant that they either earned enough to return or were wiped out.


    Then, as he watched, Su''en actually saw a coded message in the advertisement column.


    "Is Mr. ck looking for me?"


    Su''en noted that the message was posted a day ago.


    Without using any other contact method, it didn''t seem too urgent.


    Su''en deciphered the content, which only listed one address: White Elephant Gambling Den.


    "Huh... Meeting at a gambling den doesn''t seem like Mr. ck''s style..."


    That kind of old gentleman would definitely not go to certain ces, like brothels and casinos.


    He thought he had decoded it incorrectly and looked again, but it was still that address.


    Could it be a code mix-up?


    No, that''s not right, this wasn''t a universal code, but a prearranged cipher.


    Su''en didn''t understand but decided to check it out anyway.


    Every day in the Dawn Camp, "nouveau riche" were made, so ces like gambling dens, natural gold sinks, were never in short supply.


    Su''en had no interest in gambling, and since there was no arena here, he had never visited.


    He didn''t know why gambling dens liked to be underground, but the owner of "White Elephant Gambling Hall" had dug ten meters into the ground to create arge underground casino.


    When Su''en arrived, the ce was bustling with noise.


    The not-so-spacious gambling den was crammed with nearly a thousand people.


    In the semi-enclosed space, smoke curled, and the air was filled with the strange smell of sweat, cigarette smoke, and hallucinogenic potions.


    It was no different from the gambling dens on Green Street, with slot machines, pachinko machines, roulette... various machines filled every corner of the gambling den.


    The machines were upied by gamblers, the clinking of coins, the "ng" of pulling levers, all sorts of noisy sounds merged into one''s ears.


    In the central area, there were also poker tables...


    And, of course, the scantily d gambling den girls.


    Su''en exchanged some chips at the front desk surrounded by irons, pretending to be a gambler as he blended into the crowd.


    He didn''t act like he was looking for someone; those who didn''t look like gamblers were the least wee in the gambling den.


    He watched as a gambler just left his seat, so he sat down at a slot machine with interest, inserted some chips, and casually pulled the lever.


    "ng~"


    The reels spun and then stopped on several fruit symbols.


    Su''en had spent quite some time on Green Street and was a mechanic himself, so he was familiar with the construction of these machines.


    These programmed machines seemed random, but there were certain tricks to them.


    After a few bets, he even made a small profit.


    But he wasn''t here to gamble.


    Under normal circumstances, Mr. ck, with his ability to appear and disappear unpredictably, should have noticed him by now ande to meet him.


    But unexpectedly, he had won arge pile of chips, and no one hade.


    Su''en felt puzzled; perhaps the message had expired?


    Thinking it over, he still got up from the slot machine and decided to wander around the gambling den.


    In the hall, there were several ckjack and dice tables, crowded with arge number of gamblers.


    "Nine points, nine points, nine points..."


    "Haha, twenty points, I''m sure to win!"


    "..."


    The gamblers were shouting hoarsely for the good cards they wanted.


    Su''en wandered around casually, not seeing any familiar faces, but he did catch some exceptionally well-behaved fellows.


    "People from the Umbre Organization, huh? Seems like they''re not low-ranking..."


    He bet discreetly, forming some spections in his mind.


    He had learned a lot about the Umbre Organization''s internal codes and recognition methods from Sabina.


    Observing those Umbre Organization professionals, Su''en didn''t think they were there to catch him. If there was an operation, Sabina would have warned him.


    "Could it be because these people are watching, Mr. ck hasn''t shown up?"


    Su''en thought so.


    However, it wasn''t long before he was immediately proven wrong.


    Because he saw a familiar face.


    ...


    Next to the basement hall, there were several smaller halls, which were VIP rooms for big clients to gamble. Although the doors weren''t closed, screens blocked the view of the gambling tables, and one needed a certain amount of chips to enter.


    Su''en didn''t see anyone at first, but he was drawn over by a familiar voice.


    "All in!"


    "Call!"


    "Four Aces! Haha, your full house is nothingpared to this!"


    "..."


    Su''en recognized that voice all too well.


    He muttered to himself with a strange expression, "Sister Qian?"


    It turned out that it wasn''t a code left by Mr. ck, but that gambling addict miss.


    At this moment, Su''en''s confusion was immediately rified.


    No wonder they chose to meet at a gambling den...


    No wonder he had waited so long without anyone showing up...


    It turned out she was enjoying her gambling, waiting for him to find her.


    Su''en was both amused and exasperated as he made his way over, tossing a chip to the doorman with the ease of a seasoned gambler.


    Even without showing enough chips, he smoothly entered.


    Behind the screen, the gambling table was ying Texas Hold''em, with seven gamblers in total.


    When Su''en arrived, he saw the gambling addict joyfully raking in the chips on the table.


    Judging by the amount, it was at least several million.


    Such high-stakes games did not allow spectators, and as Su''en approached, the girl pulled back a seat for him, inviting him to sit down.


    Su''en sat down naturally, then slipped a chip as a tip to the girl and said, "Change three million in chips for me."


    The blonde girl smiled sweetly, "Of course, sir."


    Suddenly, with an additional person, the others at the table nced at Su''en, but no one spoke, fiddling with their chips.


    Only that thick-skinned gambling addict seemed to still be immersed in the joy of winning money, apparently not recognizing Su''en, who had changed and now had a "charm value of 12."


    Su''en knew Qian liked this kind of excitement and didn''t n to spoil her fun by apanying her.


    He was nning to gamble a few hands, but just as he sat down and nced at the back of a middle-aged man, Su''en immediately realized that the situation might not be good.


    "It can''t really be that guy, can it..."


    Su''en kept hisposure, but his mind was already considering strategies for dealing with a potential conflict.


    With anyone else, he probably wouldn''t be so concerned, but it just had to be this person.


    If it really was who he thought, then it would be very tricky.


    At that moment, the room girl came over with a tray.


    She leaned over to ce the chips on the table, smiling at Su''en, "Sir, your chips have arrived..."


    Su''en turned his head towards the girl and gave her a yboy smile, "Thank you."


    While speaking, he handed her another chip, slipping it into her low-cut neckline. The action seemed frivolous, but his gaze inadvertently swept over the third person on his left, the middle-aged man with sses.


    Top experts all have extraordinary perception, and any change in emotion when you look at them can be easily captured.


    After seeing the man''s face clearly, Su''en was d he had been cautious, his heart sinking, "It really is him! He''s not here for me, could it be for Qian..."


    The girl giggled, throwing a seductive nce at Su''en before leaving the table.


    ...


    The other yers at the table didn''t seem to mind waiting for half a minute.


    The dealer shuffled the cards, and a new round began.


    Su''en actedpletely normal, asionally observing the other yers at the table, which was a normal gambler''s scrutiny of opponents.


    Although a "troublemaker" had appeared at the table, he wasn''t panicked at all.


    After observing for a while, Su''en realized that the man wasn''t there for him.


    He didn''t deliberately warn the gambling addict across from him.


    Qian might seem careless, but herbat instincts were incredibly sharp.


    Su''en knew she had recognized him.


    And very likely, she had also noticed something was off.


    Things seemed to be gettingplicated.


    Su''en felt that they were probably caught in an "idental incident."


    The game continued,


    Su''en had harvested various misceneous abilities, and his card skills were not bad.


    After a few rounds, the three million quickly turned into four.


    That''s the temptation of Texas Hold''em, "all-in" can make one quickly rich, but also empty one''s chips at any moment.


    Today, Qian''s luck didn''t seem bad either, with nearly ten million chips piled up in front of her.


    Those who gambled this big were not simple.


    In a few rounds, Su''en had roughly identified the identities of the yers at the table.


    Apart from a few who were obviously rich inner city businessmen, the most suspicious were the middle-aged man with sses and a gold-haired man in suspenders and a white shirt.


    Despite his fancy clothes, he couldn''t hide his street thug demeanor.


    He might pass outside, but not at a table of this caliber.


    The guy seemed to be unlucky, not getting good cards and losing all his previous chips in a few rounds, even adding five million.


    But this round, Su''en noticed a problem.


    The middle-aged man with sses seemed to be targeting the gold-haired man specifically.


    After the blind bets, the pot had already umted several hundred thousand chips.


    The dealer dealt the cards, and the threemunity cards were the Spade Jack, Spade Three, and Spade Ace...


    Three spades, it was obvious someone would y for a flush.


    The chance of bluffing was very small.


    After casually following a round, Su''en, Qian, and the others folded.


    Only two yers were left, the middle-aged man with sses and the gold-haired young man.


    Gold-haired man: "One hundred thousand."


    Su''en nced at the gold-haired young man and knew from the slight furrow of his brow that he probably wasn''t ying for a flush. The guy''s card skills weren''t great, and when he got decent cards, he would unconsciously make this micro-expression.


    The man with sses, however, was veryposed, calmly raising the bet: "Five hundred thousand."


    The gold-haired man hesitated for a moment, "Call."


    Su''en guessed that the gold-haired man probably had a two-pair hand, which is why he knew the opponent was ying for a flush but couldn''t bear to fold.He must have been betting on a "Full House" with "AAABB."


    Just then, the dealer dealt a Diamond 4.


    The wrinkles at the corner of the blond young man''s eyes tightened, clearly indicating the card was of no use to him.


    At this moment, the middle-aged man with sses became aggressive, raising the bet: "One million."


    His tone was steady, betraying no emotion, suggesting a flush.


    This put the blond young man in a difficult position.


    He had already invested nearly a million in this round; folding now would mean a loss.


    But to see the fifth card, he would need to put in at least another million.


    He looked at the man across from him and said discontentedly, "Hey, hey, hey, uncle, are you trying to scare me?"


    The middle-aged man with sses responded indifferently, "See the cards, raise the bet."


    "..."


    With that, a look of frustration shed in the eyes of the blond man.


    Then, the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes suddenly rxed, and he pushed forward nearly three million in chips, "All in!"


    ...


    First provoke, then go all in...


    A bit of cunning, but not exactly a masterful trick.


    Su''en watched this unfold, ncing sideways, thinking: "This is getting interesting. But what''s this guy counting on to win? Cheating?"


    At that moment, he suddenly realized something and focused his attention on the gold coin the man was fiddling with.


    Although the blond man had been ying with the coin, the change in his demeanor matched the rhythm of the coin perfectly...


    He took a closer look.


    Tabard''s Lucky Coin


    Description: You''ve gained? No, you''ve lost everything.


    Cursed Trait: Using the cursed power within the coin can bring you good luck; however, after using this good fortune, the person closest to you will suffer misfortune; moreover, the user will be increasingly dependent, and without it, their luck will worsen;


    Details: This is a cursed ancient coin; once, during the mythological era, a god created this coin of misfortune to punish a gambling descendant;


    Seeing this, Su''en''s pupils narrowed slightly, and he chuckled to himself: "He really is cheating... tsk tsk, if this guy knew who he was up against, he''d probably regret his actions."


    Cheating with sleight of hand is naturally out of the question in this gambling den, as there are experts around.


    But cheating with a cursed object, that''s something you can''t guard against.


    The middle-aged man with sses remained calm: "I''ll call."


    Then, the dealer revealed thest card, a "Club J."


    Since it was an all-in, there was no final round of betting, and both parties showed their hands.


    The middle-aged man had a Spade K and a Spade 9, indeed a flush.


    The blond man excitedly threw down his hole cards, a J and a 3, which,bined with themunity cards, made a "Full House" with JJJ33.


    He seemed very pleased, ready to rake in the chips in front of him, "Haha, I didn''t expect my luck to be this good... to actually hit a Full House."


    The middle-aged man lost money but didn''t seem to care at all; a smile suddenly appeared on his sickly face: "Yes, quite lucky, nco..."


    "You..."


    His name being revealed, the blond man''s face changed drastically.


    He didn''t even attempt to argue, and without any hesitation, he quickly pressed a pocket watch at his chest.


    In that instant, it seemed as if time slowed down for him, everything around him moving in slow motion.


    He swiftly rose from his seat, attempting to flee the gambling den.


    ...


    "An A-ss... oh, no, a newly promoted S-ss fugitive, nco?"


    Su''en finally knew who this person was.


    This guy had beenmitting crimes frequently, assassinating a young master from an inner city tycoon''s family and a wealthy merchant, and then made it onto the S-list.


    And in that instant, in Su''en''s field of vision, he suddenly felt the blond young man''s speed surge, as if he were a ghost about to vanish.


    This speed was beyond what even a second-tier full agility assassin could achieve.


    Su''en wasn''t amazed by the speed, but by the silver pocket watch the man had just taken out.


    Watkins'' Pocket Watch


    Quality: Gold


    Description: The consequences of disrupting the order of time are severe, do you want to try?


    Cursed Trait: Pressing the pocket watch, the user can gain 2 to 5 times eleration of their own time; but if you don''t master thews of time, using it will randomly shorten your life, perhaps by a second, or perhaps by a hundred years;


    Details: A proud creation of an ancient alchemist named ''Whit Watkins,'' it was originally a family heirloom meant for his descendants;


    Su''en thought to himself, "This guy''s got quite a few treasures..."


    Those who make it onto the S-list naturally have some tricks up their sleeves.


    However...


    It''s a pity.


    If the pursuer were someone else, with this ability to elerate time, nco might have actually gotten away.


    But... he''s up against someone who doesn''t stand a chance of living.


    Because the man with sses is none other than the leader of the Umbre OrganizationSeverus Gerald!

 Chapter 182: Lets go to your place and squeeze in together tonight

    Chapter 182: Let''s go to your ce and squeeze in together tonight


    "Lucky Star" nco suddenly erupted in violence.


    Before anyone could react, he had already darted several meters away.


    The bespectacled man maintained his unhurried middle-aged demeanor, as if he had done nothing at all.


    Yet beneath this calm,


    Suddenly!


    A streak of silver shed by,


    nco''s chest suddenly spurted a jet of blood, his expression frozen in ce.


    Su''en, with his keen eyesight, naturally saw that the "silver light" was a slender scalpel, his pupils contracting sharply at the sight.


    And what was more shocking was yet toe!


    As the bullet-like silver streak passed, the middle-aged man, who had just seemed like a consumptive, his eyes suddenly sharpened. His figure blurred, and in a blink, he had teleported several meters away.


    The middle-aged man used his hand as a de, piercing forward violently, and in an extremely bloody manner, he pierced through nco''s chest with his bare hands!


    "Shh" Blood sprayed everywhere, and the entire gambling den was immediately filled with a thick scent of blood.


    Su''en took in the whole scene, immediately bing alert: "As expected, he''s absurdly strong..."


    The middle-aged man was sttered with bright red hot blood.


    On his face, on his suit, everywhere was sprayed.


    But this guy didn''t seem to mind getting dirty with blood; on the contrary, he wore an expression of enjoyment, greedily breathing in the warm scent of blood.


    Everything happened too fast, in the eyes of ordinary people, it was like a sh of lightning, two shadows colliding.


    But in Su''en''s eyes, it was crystal clear.


    He caught the fleeting look of savage excitement on the middle-aged man''s face when he killed, and found it eerily familiar.


    This guy, his mind seems a bit off too.


    ...


    In a single encounter, the S-ss wanted criminal nco was killed.


    Now the scene froze, and everyone inside the gambling den was stunned.


    Violent conflicts had urred in the gambling den before, and people had died.


    There had been stabbings and shootings, beheadings and dismemberments, even guts spilling out...


    But no one had ever seen someone pierce through another''s chest with their bare hands.


    The bespectacled man stood like a javelin, his murderous aura visibly condensing into substance, a faint red glow faintly emerging around his body...


    The visual impact of this violent method was extremely strong, scaring the gambling den girls pale.


    After a moment of shock, screams echoed throughout the gambling den.


    In an instant, a team of Umbre Organization''s inclothes personnel rushed in, pulling out their badges, and reassured everyone: "Umbre is apprehending a wanted criminal, no need to panic!"


    The man who looked like the team leader, a square-faced man, nced at the frozen scene, his eyes twitching involuntarily.


    He walked over, showing a troubled expression, and said: "Sir, you shouldn''t have killed him."


    The bespectacled man then let go of the body, speaking in an indifferent tone: "Hmm... sorry. I suddenly felt like killing."


    Saying this, he put down the body and leisurely removed his sses from the bridge of his nose, then took out a white handkerchief from his pocket, gently wiping the blood off the lenses.


    This seemingly ordinary action made the square-faced man inexplicably anxious, his eyelids twitching: "Sir, I will report this incident truthfully."


    "Hmm."


    The bespectacled man seemed unconcerned, turned, and walked out, "I''ll leave this to you."


    "..."


    The square-faced man wanted to say something more but didn''t know how to start.


    At this moment, a team member conducted a simple examination of the body and reported: "Boss, confirmed, it''s the fugitive ''nco Quirk''!"


    As he spoke, the middle-aged man had already walked out slowly.


    ...


    Su''en listened to the conversation of the few people, quickly analyzing the intelligence in his mind.


    Obviously, the captain of this Umbre Organization didn''t recognize that the bespectacled man was their leader.


    But that''s not surprising.


    Because the legendary leader of the Umbre Organization, "Coroner" Severus Gerald, is very mysterious, and very few people in Old Lingdun have ever seen him.


    Su''en also got some information about his appearance from Sabina.


    But not much.


    He only knew that this guy''s usual identity seemed to be a coroner who liked dissecting corpses, very low-key, very mysterious.


    Su''en had also heard about his hobby of killing.


    But no one knew the details.


    It''s spected to be rted to his Transcendent profession, or perhaps his talent...


    Even though Sabina is a general in the Umbre Organization, her understanding of this mysterious leader''s abilities is very limited.


    She only knows he''s strong.


    Absurdly strong!


    Su''en watched the middle-aged man''s retreating figure, letting out a sigh of relief.


    At the same time, he was very solemn.


    "Such fast speed..."


    He recalled the move just now in his mind, even if it were him facing it, although he wouldn''t be killed in one encounter, the chances of escaping and saving his life were not great.


    Su''en dared not assess everything about this guy, withdrawing his gaze.


    As long as he wasn''ting for him, that was fine.


    ...


    The Umbre Organization''s people took away the body, and the gambling den returned to its noisy state.


    But like a bonfire doused with cold water, even though it could still burn, the atmosphere was no longer as intense as before.


    At least, at the table in their small hall, several big bosses from the inner city were so frightened that they turned pale and lost the mood to gamble, leaving one after another.


    With no one organizing games, the gambling-addicteddy also felt disappointed and began to count her chips. While packing up, she muttered: "I thought I was finally lucky tonight, hoping to win back what I lost yesterday... Ah! Forget it, I''m not gambling anymore, seeing blood affects the luck..."


    Su''en listened to her muttering, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He walked over, took a chair, and sat beside her, teasing her with the persona of a profligate young master: "Hey, beauty, care for a drink together?"


    Sabina naturally recognized Su''en early on, but she couldn''t act too familiar.


    She sized up Su''en, a glint of interest in her eyes, and teased: "Yo~ handsome, are you asking me out?"


    Su''en smiled: "May I have the honor?"


    Sabina didn''t hesitate, her expression like that of a mature woman smitten by a handsome man, readily agreeing, "Sure!"


    ...


    The two exchanged their chips and left the gambling den.


    Today, Sabina was dressed conservatively, not revealing her tattooed arms or carrying a knife, looking like a gentle housewife.


    But as soon as they hit the streets, Sabina showed her true colors. She casually draped her arm over Su''en''s shoulder, acting like a big sister: "Hey hey hey... I say, kid, you look pretty good with hair..."


    As she spoke, she unceremoniously pinched Su''en''s face and ruffled his hair, seemingly checking if it was real.


    After confirming, Sabina squinted her eyes with a teasing tone, "I must say... this skin of yours is really a favorite among thedies and misses."


    "..."


    Listening to the first half, Su''en thought Sabina wasplimenting him, but the second half felt off.


    He couldn''t help but feel that the gentle sinking sensation on his arm felt different than before.


    He remembered there was serious business to attend to and directly asked: "By the way, Sabina, was it you who posted the information about the Hunter''s Guild?"


    Sabina looked as if she had just remembered the important matter, "Oh, I almost forgot, I came to borrow something from you."


    "..."


    Su''en looked at the bloodshot in her eyes, probing: "You haven''t been gambling in the den for a day and a night, have you?"


    The message was posted yesterday, and she was still in the gambling den today; it seemed he might have guessed right.


    Sure enough.


    The gambling-addicteddy didn''t shy away from admitting it, nodding directly: "Yeah."


    She seemed to recall some unpleasant experience, pouting: "I lost some money yesterday, so I gambled a bit longer. Just when my luck was warming up today and I was winning some back, that incident happened..."


    "..."


    Hearing the whole story, Su''en''s expression became somewhat strange.


    He had wondered why it was such a coincidence that they bumped into each other, and just then, the Umbre Organization''s operation to capture a fugitive happened.


    It turns out it wasn''t a coincidence, but Sabina had deliberately sought it out.


    Using her mystical gambling techniques, she found a "jinx" to bet against, and her luck was good; otherwise, she would have lost everything long ago.


    The wanted criminal "Lucky Star" nco had been using the [Tabard''s Lucky Coin], suffering increasingly severe curse bacsh. Without the coin, his luck would get worse, so it was normal for her to win against him.


    Unexpectedly, while gambling, the leader of the Umbre Organization arrived.


    And then the scene Su''en had just witnessed unfolded.


    After she rattled off her story, Su''en asked again: "Sabina, do you know the background of that guy just now?"


    Sabina raised an eyebrow: "He must be a high-ranking member of the Umbre Organization, very strong, at least a ''T0 level'' senior general. I noticed him when he came in three hours ago. But thinking he wasn''ting for me, I didn''t bother with him. However, speaking of which... that guy''s gambling skills are indeed not bad."


    "Oh."


    Su''en, hearing her casual tone, knew she had a sense of measure and continued: "I''ve got some information, that person might be the leader of the Umbre Organization, ''Coroner'' Severus Gerald."


    "Turns out it''s him, no wonder."


    Sabina frowned slightly upon hearing this.


    Thinking about it, it didn''t seem surprising, and she muttered: "Probably because that little princess from the Duke''s mansion ising, and he''s here to pave the way."


    Seeing Sabina''s nonchnt attitude, Su''en didn''t say much more and asked: "By the way, Sabina, what did you want to borrow from me?"


    Sabina looked at the crowd on the street, not saying directly, "This isn''t the ce to talk. Let''s go somewhere else to discuss."


    Su''en pointed to a street lit with neon lights in the distance, "A bar?"


    Sabina waved her hand: "Forget it, I''m not drinking. I''ve been gambling for two days and a night, I''m not in good shape."


    Su''en: "Where to then?"


    Sabina, looking at the inner city people searching for amodations on the street, suddenly remembered something and asked: "By the way, have you found a ce to stay in the camp?"


    Su''en honestly replied: "Yes. I''m currently staying at the Rose Hotel."


    Sabina waved her hand grandly, "That''s perfect, I haven''t found a ce to stay. I''ll squeeze in with you tonight."


    Su''en felt something was off, but he was used to this straightforward gambling-addicteddy and agreed: "Oh."


    ...


    And so, Su''en led Sabina to the Rose Hotel.


    Now, a room was hard toe by, especially one with a private bathroom.


    Sabina brightened up as soon as she entered the room with a bathroom: "Wow~! You actually managed to book a room with a bathroom? Geez, even the big tycoons from the inner city are struggling to get such a room now..."


    Su''en: "I''ve always been in the camp, and the rooms were tight the other day, so I didn''t cancel..."


    The room had a soundproof barrier, so they weren''t afraid of being overheard.


    But to his surprise, before he could finish speaking, the gambling-addicteddy walked straight into the bathroom, then tore off the belt of her kimono, not caring at all that there was a man in the room, and began to undress.


    As she undressed, she muttered: "Ah, finally I can take a bath... After traveling for more than ten days without soaking in a hot spring, I was almost suffocated..."


    Saying that, the kimono was thrown out, "Please hang it up for me~"


    Su''en looked at thepletely bare back and shook his head with a wry smile.


    Back when they were at the Cross Society, Sabina had invited Su''en to join her for mixed bathing several times, and they didn''t feel awkward about it.


    They were used to living together and didn''t find it embarrassing.


    He teased her casually.


    "Hey hey hey, Sabina, can''t you spare me a little?"


    "Cut it out~ It''s not like you haven''t seen it before."


    "..."


    This boss really didn''t consider him an outsider, seemingly having no qualms about the difference between men and women.


    Listening,


    Su''en smiled and didn''t look any further.


    He turned around, taking the clothes to the coat rack in the room.


    Soon, the sound of water trickled from the bathroom.


    Su''en hung Sabina''s cheongsam on the coat rack and asked: "Sabina, how did you end up at the relic site?"Hearing this, Qian Tiao''s voice mingled with the sound of the shower, echoing from the bathroom, "The Duke''s mansion has issued a universal call to hunt in the wastnds, and all the major and minor powers have received the notice. Even the gangs in the outer city have been assigned tasks. It''s not just our Cross Society; the Crow Gang and the Steam Party have also sent people..."


    "Oh~"


    The room was small, devoid of a sofa. Su''en tidied up his belongings on the bed and plopped down on it.


    From this angle, looking up, he caught sight of an enchanting scene.


    The hotel was decorated in a minimalist style, and the bathroom was not separated by solid walls but by semi-transparent frosted ss.


    Though the ss made it hard to see clearly, one could still make out the hazy silhouette through the mist.


    Once the water hit, the wetness made it easier to discern the figure.


    With Su''en''s keen eyesight, he could see everything crystal clear.


    A slender figure, exquisitely shaped.


    As Qian Tiao turned to rinse herself, he could even make out a small detail of her proud and erect form.


    Su''en wasn''t intentionally trying to take advantage of the gambling-addicteddy; it was just this casual nce that inadvertently brought Sabina to mind.


    In fact, upon closerparison, Qian Tiao''s figure was not much inferior to Sabina''s. Both had slightly voluptuous figures, each with their own charm.


    Sabina was seductive, while Qian Tiao exuded a valiant air.


    Even as a closebat professional, Qian Tiao''s muscles were fuller, like her hips, legs, and waist, slender yet with a sense of symmetrical fullness.


    It''s just that she was known on the streets for her ferocity, not her beauty, so few spoke of it.


    And then, perhaps because he had looked a few seconds too long, a grumble came from the bathroom, "Hey, hey, hey... can you rein in your gaze a bit? Looking for a beating?"


    After all, she was a top-notch expert with keen perception.


    Su''en then realized his impoliteness and restrained his gaze.


    Since the two were well-acquainted, he mimicked the teasing tone she had once used on him and chuckled, "Hey, not bad~"


    His tone carried no lewd thoughts, just genuine appreciation.


    Seemingly unsure how to respond, the bathroom fell silent for a moment before Qian Tiao''s faint voice came through, "You really are asking for a beating..."


    Su''enughed, "Hahaha..."


    But jokes aside, there were serious matters to discuss.


    Su''en asked again, "By the way, Sister Qian Tiao, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to borrow something from me?"


    "Mhm."


    Qian Tiao responded.


    After a pause, she continued, "We''re going to intercept someone. Just in case, we might need your ck Scythe."


    Hearing this, a lightbulb went off in Su''en''s head, and he asked, "Are you going after that youngdy from the Duke''s mansion?"


    "Eh... how did you guess?"


    At that moment, Qian Tiao''s voice came from the bathroom, "More or less, but it''s a bitplicated, too much to exin in a few words..."

 Chapter 183: The Secret of the Dungeon

    Chapter 183: The Secret of the Dungeon


    Qian was bathing.


    Su''eny on the bed with nothing to do, so he took out an alchemical tome and began to flip through it.


    Now, he spent almost all his free time digesting knowledge.


    This was a habit he had developed even before he crossed over to this world; reading always stabilized his emotions.


    Before long, the sound of water from the bathroom abruptly ceased.


    Qian emerged wearing a loose bathrobe, naturally leaving nothing underneath. A nce upward revealed the deep V of her chest, a swath of pale skin. It must be said that closebat professionals indeed had impressive physiques.


    "Huff~"


    She walked over to the dressing mirror, letting out a long, contented sigh, "Finally feeling rxed..."


    Her soft, aqua hair was unbound, making her look less fierce and more approachable.


    Qian pulled a towel from the rack and, tilting her head, began to dry her damp hair. With each lift of her hand, the wide sleeves and neckline gaped open, revealing generous glimpses of skin.


    However, the two people in the room remainedposed.


    Su''en nced at his book, only sparing her a brief look before refocusing.


    The shower had masked their conversation with its noise, but now that it was quiet, Qian continued the earlier topic, "Hey, Su''en, I heard you have a puppet that''s immune to the ''Night Scythe of Hypnos''? Mr. ck''s n is to take your puppet along if possible."


    "Mm, it''s a type of reanimated corpse."


    This information was already on the wanted posters, so there was nothing against lending it out.


    Moreover, after Su''en had used the abomination so many times, Mr. ck, being the schr he was, had likely already guessed the origin of the reanimated corpse.


    As he spoke, something else urred to him, "But controlling that corpse is a bit tricky. If you''re not a puppeteer, it would be quite difficult. And to precisely control the scythe''s shes requires a lot of practice..."


    Although Su''en believed Mr. ck and his group were strong, he doubted they could efficiently use a sent they were unfamiliar with.


    Hearing this, Qian nced over from the mirror.


    She met Su''en''s inquiring gaze and added, "Mr. ck said you might be interested in seeing it for yourself. So... actually, I''m here to borrow you."


    .......


    "Borrow me???"


    Upon hearing this, an instinctive voice within Su''en responded.


    No, I''m not interested!


    Although he didn''t know why Mr. ck and his group wanted to intercept the young princess of the ducal mansion, that battle would surely be extremely dangerous. Even the leader of the Umbre Organization hade secretly to scout ahead, which suggested that the princess was likely surrounded by top-notch experts.


    Moreover, the ck Tower was a very special ce.


    Even the top financial tycoons of the Inner City had their limits, no matter how strong they were.


    But now that Su''en knew the ck Tower was a gateway to the upper world, he understood that the ducal mansion''s resources were unfathomably deep, far beyond his imagination.


    Otherwise, with the strength of Mr. ck''s group, which family in the Inner City couldn''t they bulldoze through?


    Their caution and secrecy were undoubtedly due to their wariness of the ck Tower.


    This battle would surely be a fierce sh between top professionals.


    Su''en was well aware of his own limitations.


    As a neer to the second tier, although he had some tricks up his sleeve, he wasn''t someone who could show off in such a situation.


    The battle between top professionals could be overwhelming even from the sidelines.


    Lending the scythe was one thing...


    Lending himself...


    Wait, what did Mr. ck say?


    A thought shed through Su''en''s mind, but he didn''t rush to express his stance.


    He looked at Qian, puzzled, "Mr. ck said?"


    "Mm. Although I think you probably wouldn''t want to go, Mr. ck said that once you hear our n, you would want to..."


    Qian nced at him.


    After a pause, she revealed something that would shock anyone, "After all, this time we''re aiming to take down a true transcendent powerhouse. ording to ancient terms, that person would be... a fifth-tier professional!"


    ......


    "Fifth-tier?!"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en was first stunned, then he realized the significance of her words.


    This was indeed unexpected.


    The strongest known expert in Old Lingdun was at the third tier, like the bosses of the three major gangs in the Outer City, the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the major guilds, the top experts of the Inner City... all were third-tier.


    What was the situation with the fifth tier?


    ording to the tomes unearthed from the ruins, ancient alchemists were certainly not limited to the third tier.


    After all, Sir Isaac of the Dawn Ruins, a thousand years ago, was hailed as a "demi-god."


    Hearing Qian''s words, Su''en was first surprised, but his actual first thought was: how many alchemical fragments could be harvested from a fifth-tier professional?


    This piqued his immediate interest!


    It wasn''t just about the volume of knowledge, but the depth of understanding at the level ofws.


    It also meant... a broader perspective!


    "The quadratic equation" is difficult for elementary school students, but for middle and high school students, isn''t it just an introductory problem?


    This principle applies in the field of alchemy as well.


    Without crossing certain tier thresholds, many transcendent pieces of knowledge are iprehensible.


    Su''en was deeply aware of this.


    When he was at the first tier, learning second-tier rune knowledge was extremely difficult, hard to understand, hard toprehend. But after advancing, many of the previous difficulties became almost instantly understandable, and the learning difficulty was reduced by several times!


    One could imagine, if the soul of a fifth-tier professional were stripped away and their knowledge ofws trulyprehended, how would Su''en''s learning progress be?


    Not to mention whether he could harvestplete knowledge fragments, Su''en felt that just the "perspective" alone would make understanding and learning other second-tier and third-tier alchemical knowledge a breeze, wouldn''t it?


    Transcendent knowledge was monopolized by the ck Tower, something that couldn''t be obtained even by harvesting dozens of third-tier professionals!


    If it were a group of third-tier enemies, he really wouldn''t want to go.


    After all, it would be strange if the young princess didn''t have a dozen or so third-tier protectors by her side.


    If Mr. ck couldn''t cover for them and Su''en really faced one, he wasn''t sure he could survive an encounter with a third-tier professional.


    But now, hearing this,


    It turned out,


    They weren''t after the young princess, but a fifth-tier guardian?


    ......


    "How strong must Mr. ck and his group be..."


    Upon hearing Qian reveal their n, Su''en instantly felt he had underestimated the strength of the "Mirror Organization."


    But as much as he was impressed, he was indeed very interested in this n!


    If Mr. ck and his group dared to make a move, they must be confident in their ability to seed!


    "It looks like you''ve decided to go."


    Qian caught the change in Su''en''s expression andmented lightly.


    Su''en nodded, "Mm."


    "Good that you''ve decided."


    Hearing this, Qian didn''t say much more.


    At this moment, she had finished drying her hair and nced at Su''en sprawled across the bed,ining, "Hey, hey, hey~ Su''en, could you move over a bit? You''re taking up the whole bed, can you leave some space for me?"


    Su''en''s thoughts had already drifted, his mind filled with the potential gains from harvesting a fifth-tier professional''s fragments.


    Hearing her, he nced at the disheveled Qian.


    This big shot seemed to really n on squeezing in with him.


    If the gambling widow didn''t mind, he naturally had no objections either.


    "Oh."


    Su''en responded and shifted over, making room on half the bed. Then, just as he moved, he suddenly felt a chilling de aura whisk past.


    "Whoosh," the sound was light, like a sharp knife slicing through the air.


    Looking again, therge bed was neatly split in two.


    The de was so swift that even the sheets and nkets on the bed remained undistorted, cleanly cut in half, leaving a wide gap in the middle.


    "..."


    Su''en looked on, his lips curling into a wry smile.


    He had clearly seen Qian draw her de, but he didn''t dodge. Obviously, the big shot was just intimidating him, probably as payback for the teasing during her bath earlier.


    Fortunately, the mattress was supported by numerous individual springs, so even cut in half, it didn''t copse.


    "Alright, time to sleep."


    Qian, seeing that Su''en wasn''t scared, pouted, finding it dull.


    She didn''t consider herself an outsider at all and happilyy down on the other half of the bed.


    Crossing her legs, her pale thighs were exposed.


    .......


    Since he was going to join the battle, Su''en naturally had to inquire about more details.


    He turned his head towards the other half of the bed and asked, "Sister Qian, when are we likely to depart?"


    "I don''t know, waiting for notification."


    Qian respondedzily without even opening her eyes, "The n is for Mr. ck and the others to handle; I''m just responsible for the fighting."


    She seemedpletely unconcerned with the details of the n, leaving the scheming and plotting to the likes of Mr. ck, the wise.


    The two shared a room without any awkwardness in the atmosphere.


    Thinking of their mission to surround and kill a fifth-tier professional, Su''en was indeed curious about many things, such as their strength.


    Qian didn''t consider herself an outsider, and neither did Su''en. He directly asked, "Sister Qian, what tier are you at now?"


    After a moment''s hesitation, Qian slowly uttered three words, "Hard to say."


    Su''en: "Hard to say?"


    Qian suddenly opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling in thought, not intending to hide anything from Su''en, "I broke through to the third tier half a year ago. But due to a second awakening of my talent and some special inheritance, mybat power is much stronger than that of an average third-tier. If I have to say... I''m barely at the fourth tier."


    "Oh."


    Listening, Su''en''s expression showed a hint of surprise.


    The conversation tonight had indeed refreshed his understanding of this world.


    Su''en was still pondering what the fourth tier entailed when Qian spoke up again, "Aren''t you curious why we''re targeting that fifth-tier guardmander?"


    Su''en had thought it might touch on some secret and hadn''t wanted to pry.


    But now that she brought it up, he asked, "Why?"


    Qian exined, "To advance to the fourth tier, one needs a special item[Sun God Stone]. Such a special energy crystal won''t form in the underground world without sunlight. Those transcendent professionals from outside the tower might carry it, and it can also umte from their corpses. If we want to break through the ck Tower''s blockade, we must have enough power. Right now, we''re far from it."


    Her tone was calm.


    But Su''en could hear a hint of heaviness.


    Perhaps because he nned to join the battle, he felt that Qian''s attitude towards him had clearly changed.


    Maybe as allies?


    Previously, they hadughed it off, but now she chose to reveal some top secrets to Su''en, secrets that only a few knew.


    She asked again, "Do you want to hear some secrets that could cause trouble?"


    Su''en sensed the seriousness in her voice and after a moment, replied, "Yes."


    Qian looked at the ceiling, her gaze drifting as she began to speak.


    "Remember when you left Old Lingdun, I told you to get stronger?"


    "Mm, I remember."


    "Actually, it was because I didn''t want you to bear that pressure too soon... just like when I first encountered the truth, it was truly despairing."


    "..."


    "When you realize the world you live in is a giant prison, everything you pursue seems utterly meaningless. The ck Tower has the power to make people despair. No matter how hard you try, you can only ever struggle to survive in a dark dungeon. What''s the point of such a life? Until I met ''Mirror''..."


    At this point, the gambling widow suddenly turned towards him.


    Propping her head with her hand, she looked at Su''en and smiled, "You''ve done well, I''ve always heard about you, and I know you''ve been getting stronger."


    "..."


    Su''en listened quietly.


    He had never seen Qian so serious before.


    Even though she was smiling.


    Qian continued to speak.


    "Do you know how Old Lingdun came to be?"


    She answered her own question.


    "About a hundred years ago, someone found the ck Tower using an ancient map. That person was Raphael I. The current Duke Raphael''s grandfather. Back then, Old Lingdun was just ruins, devoid of humans. Then, they filled it with arge number of war ves and prisoners from the outside world... The ves had their memories of the outside world erased, and then they began to clear thend and multiply in the underground world, establishing a new order...""In reality, there''s no fundamental difference between the tycoons of the inner city and themoners of the outer city. At the end of the day, everyone is just a ''miner'' under the Duke Raphael, generation after generation mining treasures from this ancient ruin that dates back a thousand years."


    "Those inner city tycoons think the wealth is in their hands? Hah... Unable to escape this cage, everything they have belongs to the ck Tower."


    "..."


    This news was indeed heavy to hear.


    But Su''en, as a transmigrator, didn''t find it too hard to ept.


    Ever since he learned from Number Neen that his predecessor was brought in from outside the ck Tower, he had guessed the existence of a surface world.


    Hearing this, he asked, "Can''t the truth of this matter be revealed?"


    With so many people in Old Lingdun, if they were to revolt, it would be a formidable force.


    Hearing this, Qiantiao shook her head.


    "Fifty years ago, there was a rebellion. That time, the rebels even breached the ck Tower. Then, despair began. Without any warning, a group of super-ss experts descended from the upper levels, effortlessly ughtering the leading top-tier professionals... The rebel army stood no chance and was quickly wiped out. In the end, the turmoil resulted in the massacre of hundreds of thousands. Everyone connected to the rebellion was executed for ''treason.''"


    So it had been tried before...


    Hearing this, Su''en could already picture the scene.


    A group of yers around levels twenty to thirty storming the tower, then a bunch of level fifty to sixty bosses appearing.


    With a swish of their des, the group was annihted.


    It seemed this topic touched on some unpleasant memories for Qiantiao, her brows slightly furrowed as she continued, "Some old folks in Old Lingdun city might still remember this, but no one dares to speak of it. If even a word of this topic reaches the ears of the Umbre Organization, it would mean the annihtion of their entire n."


    "If everyone in Old Lingdun knew the truth, the only consequence would be that the ck Tower would send top-tier experts to purge the entire ''prison.'' Then they would send in another batch of people... To them, the lives of miners are worthless."


    "So, you understand now why we have to do what we do, right?"


    ......


    After listening to Qiantiao''s story, Su''en also fell into deep thought.


    For ordinary people, this was truly despairing.


    Advancing to the fourth tier required the Sun God Stone, which could only be produced on the surface, meaning that the people in the caverns could only reach up to the third tier at most.


    If there were fifth tiers, it was possible there were also sixth, seventh, and eighth tiers.


    Su''en hadpletely lost any concept of what those levels of professionals could be like.


    Thinking about it, was it like the difference between ants and elephants?


    Ants inrge numbers might be able to kill an elephant.


    But in the world above the ck Tower, there were countless elephants, and perhaps even dinosaurs?


    No wonder Mr. Hei and the others were nning to intercept that fifth-tier leader.


    The lessons from the rebellion fifty years ago had taught them that numbers were useless; it was the top-tier experts who were the key to victory.


    If Qiantiao and the others could advance to the fourth tier, perhaps they would have a chance to break their shackles.

 Chapter 184: Fifth-tier professional

    Chapter 184: Fifth-tier professional


    After discussing the secrets of the ck Tower, the conversation turned back to the current mission.


    Qian Tiao seemed a bit tired as well, closing her eyes and saying, "Su''en, be careful when the timees. Although Mr. ck''s ns have never gone awry, I can only guarantee my own survival in such a level ofbat. It''s highly likely I won''t be able to look after you. Be careful not to die."


    "Mhm."


    Su''en listened and smiled.


    Not to mention anything else, this gambling-addicteddy had always taken good care of him.


    His mind was still digesting the shocking information he had heard tonight when suddenly he thought of something else.


    Since the topic hade up, Su''en didn''t hesitate to ask directly, "By the way, Sister Qian Tiao, does the '''' symbol on your cloak have any special meaning?"


    As he spoke, he traced the shape of the symbol with two S-like curves in the air with his finger.


    If it were Mr. ck, Su''en wouldn''t have asked, even if he was curious.


    But with Qian Tiao, it was different.


    If it couldn''t be disclosed, she would directly say "I can''t tell you."


    If it could be disclosed, it meant that the information wasn''t too secretive.


    Upon this inquiry, Qian Tiao responded, "That symbol represents a talentS-003-Fate Controller. It''s the talent that Sir Isaac awakened. A thousand years ago, it was also the emblem of a special organization in Dawn City. You must have guessed it; our organization does indeed have some connections with Dawn City, but..."


    She suddenly stopped there, changing the subject, "As for the rest, you can ask the leader when the timees."


    "I see..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en thought to himself that it was indeed as he had suspected.


    Back in the cursed space of the 1911 Hotel, when he saw ''The Magician'' Edward giving a half-kneeling knightly salute to the cloaked figure, he had guessed that Mr. ck''s "Mirror Organization" had some involvement with the special operations group of Dawn City back then.


    And the symbol representing a talent didn''t surprise him either.


    When he saw one of the five statues at Storm Manor with this symbol, Su''en had guessed it was some kind of S-rank talent.


    But what was somewhat unexpected was that Sir Isaac, hailed as a "demi-god," was the one who had awakened this strangely named talent.


    Fate Controller?


    Ranked even higher than his own Death Harvester, what kind of special abilities could it possess...


    Su''en was curious.


    But the "Mirror Organization" using this symbol to indicate their identity clearly had some special significance.


    Qian Tiao didn''t borate, and he didn''t press further.


    At this point, Qian Tiao seemed to remember something and suddenly smiled, "I heard you did wellst time at the 1911 Hotel. The leader even mentioned you to me specifically~"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en chuckled.


    .......


    The "Mirror Organization''s" hidden identity was Qian Tiao''s biggest secret, and she hadid it all out tonight, truly treating Su''en as one of their own.


    As the two chatted, the conversation flowed freely.


    From the secrets of the ck Tower to alchemy, they even touched on some personal topics.


    They talked until midnight, and their rtionship grew significantly closer.


    ......


    The next morning, Su''en woke up on time from his meditation due to his biological clock.


    Qian Tiao in the bed next to him was still sound asleep.


    This gambling-addicteddy really let her guard down around Su''en, her sleeping posture... was very unrestrained. Underneath her loose nightgown was just a simple pair of white underpants, which were clearly visible when lifted.


    Su''en smiled, pulled the nket over her, and didn''t wake her up, burying his head in his daily work.


    Flipping through alchemy books, crafting puppets, studying mechanical gadgets...


    He still needed to prepare for that ambush.


    Although he wasn''t the main force, he had to think about how to escape in case of an emergency.


    Su''en had spent most of his recent time like this, not feeling anything wrong with staying in his room.


    Busy and fulfilling, time flew by quickly.


    It wasn''t until the afternoon that Sister Qian Tiao finally showed signs of turning over.


    Seemingly having caught up on sleep after staying up for two days and a night,


    She got out of bed with sleepy eyes, rubbed them, andined, "Ah... I was wondering why I kept hearing sounds like a mouse gnawing on something in my dream. Turns out it was you, kid, tinkering with these broken pieces of wood early in the morning..."


    "It''s already afternoon, Sister Qian Tiao..."


    Su''en thought she was talking to him and turned his head to look.


    But he realized that this gambling-addicteddy had no intention of looking at him; she floated past him as if sleepwalking.


    Probably ustomed to taking a bath in the morning, Qian Tiao directly took off her bathrobe, threw it on the bed, and went to the bathroom naked.


    Su''en watched, touched his forehead, and returned his gaze to his puppet.


    Then, he heard the sound of the shower.


    .......


    Before long, the sound of water stopped.


    Su''en heard someone walking out of the bathroom but didn''t turn around, continuing to focus on crafting his puppet with the spider spear.


    This gambling-addicteddy seemed refreshed after the shower and started dressing in the room with abandon.


    She looked at Su''en controlling eight spider limbs to make puppets simultaneously and became curious, saying, "Yo~ Your method isn''t bad. One person can do the work of seven or eight..."


    "I am a puppeteer, after all."


    Su''en replied.


    He nced up and saw Qian Tiao wrapping her chest in the dressing mirror.


    He only nced for a moment before looking away, teasingly saying, "Sister Qian Tiao, don''t always wrap it up. From a medical standpoint, it''s not good for development."


    "Tch~"


    Qian Tiao hummed indifferently, picked up a half-finished Nightmare Doll from the table, and examined it, saying, "Your rune craftsmanship is quite good. Being able to draw second-tier runes so proficiently, you''d be considered a first-ss rune enchanter in Old Lingdun."


    "I''m still far from it..."


    Su''en casually responded.


    It wasn''t false modesty; his level was indeed far from Mr. ck''s standard.


    The two were very close, their skin touching, and he could clearly feel Qian Tiao''s body temperature.


    Although this gambling-addicteddy didn''t use perfume, Su''en also smelled a faint fragrance.


    Hmm... the scent of soapberry shampoo.


    Qian Tiao only looked for a while, seemingly uninterested in the puppet, and put it down.


    She went to the dressing mirror, tied her lush green hair with a red cord, and instantly looked spirited.


    Qian Tiao didn''t wear makeup or dress up, so she was very efficient when going out.


    She put on her kimono sleeves, covering the tattoos on her back and arms, then waved at Su''en, "Let''s go~ Su''en, time to head out."


    "Oh."


    Su''en thought there was an operation, so he packed up and followed her out.


    Unexpectedly,


    Qian Tiao took him straight to the gambling den,


    And gambled big again.


    Indeed, when a gambler has money in their pocket, they think about gambling.


    Fortunately, the more than nine hundred thousand Qian Tiao had left fromst night was lost in no time, and she calmed down.


    In the following days,


    The two of them honestly stayed in the hotel room.


    Su''en didn''t feel any different with another person around; his life was still very regr, doing what he needed to do.


    Even often, when it came to knowledge in the top professional fields, he could ask Qian Tiao.


    But this gambling-addicteddy was quite bored without gambling, alwaysining, "I''m not happy anymore," or just sleeping in.


    Hmm... and she was bing less and less like an outsider sharing a room.


    ......


    Six dayster, Mr. ck''s message arrived.


    Finally, the entourage of Princess Theresa from the Duke''s mansion set off.


    Su''en and Qian Tiao left the camp and headed to the predetermined ambush site.


    It''s worth mentioning that the Duke''s entourage did not take the three familiar routes used by the merchant caravans but chose a secret passage.


    It was the same secret passage Su''en had used when he crossed over.


    Su''en thought he was the only one who knew about this secret passage, but unexpectedly, not only did the people from the Duke''s mansion know about it, but Mr. ck and his people also knew it inside out.


    The map was very detailed.


    Su''en had the eight-armed spider spear, and Qian Tiao was a top-tier professional, so their speed was very fast.


    In just over half a day, they had already arrived at the ambush site.


    It was a spacious stone cavern.


    The area wasrge enough, with several passages for quick evacuation.


    .......


    Su''en looked around and immediately found a suitable ce to hide and ambush.


    Qian Tiao pointed to the vast cavern and said, "Alright, you stay here, find a ce to hide, and be careful not to be discovered. We will lead the people overter, and everything will proceed ording to n."


    This gambling-addicteddy was wearing a suit of battle armor today, and her face showed an unprecedented seriousness when she spoke.


    Before setting off, Su''en had felt her umting sword energy.


    Her aura had also be increasingly dangerous.


    Even though she was deliberately concealing it, standing next to her, Su''en felt as if he was next to a sharp de, his heart slightly trembling.


    The n was already well memorized, and there was nothing else to exin, so Su''en nodded, "Mhm."


    "Take care of yourself."


    Qian Tiao warned him, said no more, and disappeared into the depths of the cave.


    The first ambush site was not here; this stone cavern was just the killing ground.


    Su''en looked at the cavern, then unfastened his armor and controlled the eight-armed spider spear to climb the rock wall.


    He used silk threads to hang himself upside down on the rock wall, and the invisible zombie also hid nearby.


    There were no traps here.


    The n was simple and crude; someone would attack Princess Theresa''s entourage, but the actual target was a guard.


    Lead the person here, then kill them.


    As Mr. ck said, the simpler the n, the less likely it is to be seen through.


    The moreplex the trap, the more likely there are to be slip-ups.


    .......


    After hanging on the web, Su''en was like a spider patiently waiting for its prey, making no further noise.


    During this time, he even saw two groups of three assassins rushing past.


    He knew these were the professional assassins from the princess''s entourage, sent to check the safety of the road, eliminate traps, and ensure the safety of the team.


    Su''en didn''t dare to be careless, releasing his perception and listening intently to the movements in the cavern.


    Finally, after almost a whole day of waiting, there was a sound of earth-shattering noise from the depths of the cavern.


    "They''reing!"


    Hearing themotion, Su''en instantly became alert.


    The sound of battle from inside the cavern was initially imperceptible, but soon it became as loud as thunder, making one''s scalp tingle.


    "Shh~ That''s a bit too exaggerated."


    Su''en took a sharp breath.


    Although he was prepared, feeling the violent elemental fluctuations in the air, he also felt a twinge of fear.


    Without having seen the battle firsthand, the mere noise was enough to make his hair stand on end, let alone the terror of the fight itself.


    ording to Qian Tiao, ordinary third-tier professionals wouldn''t even have a chance to escape under that "target"!


    He took a slow breath and then reduced his presence to the lowest possible level.


    He calmed his emotions, and his eyes were left with nothing but a numb coldness.


    .......


    Just a few breaths after the battle noise came, several figures darted out.


    Before they arrived, Su''en, hearing the rushing sound of the mechanical propulsion devices, immediately guessed that the neers were the super mechanical warriorsNumber 19!


    Su''en didn''t dare to look directly, his gaze diffused, and he saw that beside Number 19, there was also a burly red giant.


    "The talent of the second stage awakening, Red Demon?"


    Su''en recognized the talent of the man immediately.


    But this Red Demon was much stronger than the ''Red Demon'' Gn he had seen at the Cross Society!


    Not only was this man''s skin fiery red and his muscles bulging, but his entire body was also covered in ayer of moltenva armor, with mes spilling out a foot around him. The whole person gave off the impression of ava giant walking out of a volcano''s mouth, seemingly impervious to gunfire and possessing super strong defense.


    Su''en even thought that "Fourfold Shot" might not


    Moreover, beside these two, there was another person, a cloaked figure.


    At this moment, a six-armed demoness with ming hair was floating behind her, and even though her face was covered by the cloak, Su''en knew it was Qian Tiao.


    At this moment, Qian Tiao revealed her six-ded, six-armed state that she had never shown in public before, and her aura had reached its peak.


    Yet, even with three top-tier powerhouses joining forces, they were being chased in a sorry state!Whether it was the two-stage "Red Demon" or Number 19, there was hardly an enemy that couldst a single exchange.


    With a single touch, they were sent flying backward, crashing into a pile of broken stones.


    The sound of cannon fire echoed through the cave, marking the moments when the three of them were repeatedly thrown about.


    Only by working together, covering for each other, did they barely avoid being killed!


    Behind them, a rolling tide of golden light surged forward.


    Su''en dared not look directly at the "target," but the mere presence of that golden light was like a mountain copsing, instilling an instinctual fear of great terror in anyone who witnessed it.


    If it weren''t for Su''en''s ability to control his emotions, an ordinary second-tier professional would have been scared into revealing themselves in an instant.


    "What a domineering aura, is this the might of a fifth-tier powerhouse..." Su''en murmured to himself.


    In the blink of an eye, the group had already reached the inside of the stone cavern.


    The target had arrived at the ambush site when suddenly a purple light barrier appeared around the space.


    "A spatial barrier?"


    Su''en found it very familiar.


    What surprised him even more was that at that moment, two cloaked figures emerged from the darkness nearby.


    Yes, they came out of the darkness!


    He had no idea what method they used, but they simply stepped out from the shadow of a rock. It was like a portal, yet there was no sensation of spatial fluctuation.


    Su''en had been hiding for a day and had not noticed that within a few dozen meters, two people had been concealed!


    One of them immediately cast a high-level spell, "Thorn Entanglement."


    Judging by the proficiency of the caster, it was likely Mr. ck!


    The other cloaked figure materialized from the shadows, his body turning into a purple ghostly light, and then his trace was no longer visiblean unmistakable sign of a top-tier assassin!


    ...


    Su''en looked at the shadows on the ground and got a rough idea; the golden light seemed to be a two-meter-tall gilded giant.


    Mr. ck''s "Thorn Entanglement" took root and sprouted at the feet of the golden target, trapping him tightly in an instant.


    But it only held for a moment before the gilded giant tore apart the entangling thorns with a single pull.


    He looked around at the cursed space and said in a deep voice, "So it turns out your target is me..."


    With that, his pride as a fifth-tier professional made him look down on the people before him, and he snorted coldly, "I didn''t expect that after a few years without cleaning, the rats in the gutter have grown so fat..."


    PS. Brothers, those who can support by subscribing, please do so, thank you~

 Chapter 185: Elemental Theft

    Chapter 185: Elemental Theft


    ps. Update first, then revise. No text to see, for a better reading experience.


    The golden-painted giant realized that Mr. Hei and his team were nning to ambush him. Far from being rmed, he instead revealed a mocking sneer.


    After all, the gap in rank cannot be bridged by mere schemes and plots.


    With spatial lockdown in the cave, Mr. Hei and his fourpanions no longer needed to conceal their presence.


    The five of them didn''t waste any words, revealing all their hidden tactics.


    In an instant, their momentum drastically changed, and under theirbined assault, they seemed to be able to contend with the golden-painted giant.


    "Attack!"


    In the presence of such a powerhouse, they couldn''t afford the slightest carelessnessa minor mistake could lead to a fatal crisis.


    The first to strike was the previously vanished assassin.


    Although Su''en couldn''t see him, he could clearly hear the crackling of dense thunder elements in the air.


    Upon closer inspection, he saw the golden-painted giant''s body surge with lightning, as if a lightning-fast figure was darting around him. In just a moment, several purple thunder chains as thick as arms appeared.


    The thunder chains,posed of elemental constructs, had no physical form. As soon as they materialized, they bound the golden-painted giant on the spot.


    The giant pulled hard at the chains, and the lightning exploded, but he found that the chains could stretch and couldn''t be broken by sheer force alone.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had guessed something, and he eximed in surprise and doubt, "Elemental thunder chains? Tsk tsk... you rats have indeed found some nice treasures..."


    But with a cold snort, he showed no concern, "Pity, how much of the power of such high-grade cursed items can you utilize? It would have been better to keep them hidden. Since you''re so eager to seek death, I''ll grant your wish!"


    ......


    The thunder chains restricted the golden-painted giant''s movements, but they couldn''tpletely immobilize him.


    As he spoke, his arms'' veins bulged, and he forcefully dragged the chains to form a seal. As soon as the warlock''s seal waspleted, the golden elements around him surged, and scales like those of a pangolin condensed on his skin, covering his entire body. His aura soared to new heights.


    At this moment, even with the thunder chains wrapped around him, his speed was as fast as before!


    The golden-painted giant stomped his foot and charged towards Mr. Hei and his fourpanions.


    Su''en didn''t dare to look directly at the target and didn''t know what exactly happened.


    But just the oppressive feeling of that golden light made him feel as if a golden torrent was rushing over, unstoppable and powerful.


    In the blink of an eye, apanied by a "dong" sound like the tolling of a bell, the entire sealed space echoed with the sound.


    A red, molten giant collided with the golden-painted giant.


    The shockwave was like a tsunami hitting the shore, causing the entire space to tremble violently.


    The top-tier professionals were unharmed, but there was still a small fry here.


    At the moment of collision, Su''en felt as if his head was next to a cannon, his mind shook, and it seemed as if his soul was about to leave his body. Unconsciously, a trickle of blood flowed from his ears, and the aftershocks continued to pierce through his eardrums...


    Su''en''s eyes were grave, "Phew~ This level of battle is indeed not something a second-tier professional can get involved in..."


    If it weren''t for blocking some of the pain perception, this aftershock would have really cost him dearly.


    Forcing his scattered thoughts back together, he still hung upside down on the wall, like a stone, without any movement.


    .......


    The aftermath of their contact was so astonishing, what about thebatants themselves?


    The Red Demon caught a punch from the golden-painted giant but also spat out a mouthful of ck blood.


    A direct hit from a fifth-tier powerhouse is not so easy to catch!


    But the Red Demon didn''t let go. His arms twisted like vines, locking the golden arm in a grappling technique. His body suddenly burst into mes, and he transformed into a magma giant, slowly pulling the scale-covered golden arm into his body.


    For a moment, the scorching heat seemed to melt the golden scales.


    The Red Demon''s talent was an extreme amplification of strength, and after the second awakening, he possessed the power to move mountains. Yet even so, it was extremely difficult to shake the golden giant.


    Seeing this, the golden-painted giant only sneered.


    Perhaps feeling confident of victory, he yed with his prey, unhurriedly saying, "Fire Art of Melting Gold? A good idea indeed. But you have no idea how vast the gap in rank is. The difference in the grade of spells cannot bepensated for by a bit of cleverness..."


    As he spoke, a seven-pointed star alchemical formation suddenly lit up under the giant''s feet, and with a light shout, "Flesh Alchemy - Diamond Body!"


    As soon as the spell was cast, the scales on the giant''s body stood on end like a porcupine, and looking at them was blindingly sharp.


    What was even more shocking was that as soon as his fifth-tier spell was activated, the bright golden light made the seven-pointed star formation under the Red Demon''s feet suddenly dim. It was as if in an instant, the fire elements around were absorbed by the fifth-tier formation.


    "So this is the fifth tier..."


    Su''en watched this phenomenon and immediately thought of the records in the alchemical books: "Rank suppression! Elemental plundering!"


    An alchemist''s spells utilize the elemental forces around them in an equivalent exchange.


    But the elemental energy in the same area is limited, and how much can be converted and controlled depends on the strength of the alchemist.


    If two alchemists cast spells at the same time, the higher-tier spell/alchemist can plunder more elemental energy, even forcibly assimting the lower-tier alchemist''s spell to their own needs.


    This is the disparity in rank!


    With this move, the Red Demon''s scorching heat was instantly doused with cold water, and he could no longer trouble the golden-painted giant.


    He had just absorbed the fist into his body, and with the scales standing on end, not only did it fail to melt the arm, but it felt like thousands of needles exploding inside him, causing severe damage.


    "Spurt~"


    Another mouthful of magma-like ck blood spurted out, scorching the ground and emitting a wisp of green smoke.


    The Red Demon, awakened with a second-tier talent and facing a direct confrontation, was severely injured with one strike.


    But it was not in vain!


    The time he bought allowed Mr. Hei and the others to seize the opportunity to strike.


    .......


    As the golden and red figures touched, Su''en suddenly noticed a seven-pointed star emblem light up under Mr. Hei''s feet, and upon closer inspection, the sequence of his seals was actually the spell for unlocking alchemical imnts.


    "A fourth-tier alchemical imnt? So Mr. Hei has already advanced to the fourth tier..."


    Su''en was surprised as he had never seen Mr. Hei''s alchemical imnt before.


    The warlock''s seal waspleted in an instant, and the space within the seal suddenly changed, turning into a library filled with bookshelves. On the mahogany bookshelves were densely packed gold-embossed books.


    Strangely enough, although the books had clear text, upon closer inspection, they became blurry.


    Moreover, what was even more shocking was that the ceiling of the library turned into a vast starry sky.


    At a nce, the stars were dazzling and the depths were endless, the more one looked, the more mesmerizing it became. It seemed to draw one''s gaze in, making it impossible to look away.


    Su''en, now very sensitive to psychic power, immediately guessed something upon seeing Mr. Hei''s imnt: "Does this imnt include a psychic spell? Is this the dangerous psychic secret technique that Mr. Hei said he was practicing?"


    "What a strange imnt, it''s actually a library..."


    While Su''en was contemting, he suddenly felt very odd.


    He also realized that this might be rted to Mr. Hei''s profession as a "Schr."


    Moreover, Mr. Hei was clearly considering that there was still a second-tier professional here, afraid that he would be affected by the battle''s aftermath, so he ced a bookshelf in front of Su''en.


    But that wasn''t all!


    As soon as Mr. Hei''s imnt was unlocked, his hands didn''t stop forming seals.


    He seemed to merge with the library, and countless seven-pointed star magic circles lit up on numerous books.


    In the center of the library, the golden-painted giant, who was about to pursue and finish off the Red Demon with a few more punches, saw the surroundings change and his brow furrowed. For the first time, a serious expression appeared as he muttered to himself, "He has already advanced to the fourth tier and fused with an imnt like ''House of All Things.'' No wonder he had the confidence to take action."


    While muttering, he suddenly pulled out his arm, no longer caring about the Red Demon who seemed to be severely injured.


    Instead, he charged towards Mr. Hei.


    He wanted to kill this person he perceived as the greatest threat first!


    .......


    A professional who could advance to the fifth tier was naturally not foolish.


    Previously lured here, the golden-painted giant had guessed that it might be a trap.


    But he didn''t care.


    He also wanted to see where the "rats''"panions were, to catch them all in one go!


    No matter how fat a rat is, it''s still a rat!


    The strongest in the underground world were only third-tier professionals. Even with an ambush, he didn''t feel threatened!


    But now, seeing Mr. Hei, who had advanced to the fourth tier, the golden-painted giant felt threatened for the first time.


    The opponent dared to seal the space and take action, knowing he was a fifth-tier professional, so he must be confident.


    Now that the library had appeared, he faintly realized that an invisible was closing in, feelingpletely exposed as if... hiscency had also been calcted.


    Although the golden-painted giant still felt that the people in front of him were rats that could be killed easily, looking at Mr. Hei calmly forming seals, his instincts told him...


    This man must be killed first!


    .......


    Su''en had seen Mr. Hei take action before. Back in the ruins, he had watched Mr. Hei seamlessly switch between four-element spells, which was astonishing.


    But the aura of Mr. Hei now waspletely different!


    With theplex and profound warlock''s seal in his hands, the golden books in the library also shone with golden light, revealing that he was casting a fourth-tier gold spell.


    Theplexity of the spell patterns that lit up on the seven-pointed stars made Su''en feel the same pressure he felt when he saw the runes on the blue-skinned zombie in the basement of Green Street 88.


    This spell was clearly moreplex.


    Before he could think further, the two had already shed.


    How fast was the golden-painted giant?


    With a stomp, his figure shot out like a cannonball, covering a hundred meters in a rush. The astonishing speed contrasted sharply with his hulking giant''s body.


    But it seemed as if everything was calcted.


    As the golden-painted giant charged, Mr. Hei''s final warlock''s seal was also ready. He pped his hands as if triggering some specialw, and the golden elements in the space suddenly stalled, merging with the vast library.


    A second ago, the golden-painted giant saw Mr. Hei using a gold spell and had a trace of disdain in his eyes.


    Using a gold spell against a fifth-tier gold alchemist, what a foolish choice?


    However, as he was about to scoff, he suddenly noticed an abnormal flow of elements around him. His face changed instantly, and he eximed in his heart, "This is not an ordinary arcane spell... he... he actually knows ''Elemental Theft''!"


    Mr. Hei paid no attention to the fist that was almost upon him, his hand seals changed: "Merge!"


    At that moment, a bizarre scene urred.


    The golden paint that solidified on the golden-painted giant like armor melted away like candle wax, pooling on the ground.


    Just now, to quickly kill the others, this fellow had condensed arge amount of gold elements in the sealed space.


    This left no elements for others to use!


    But now, the dense gold elements filling the space not only failed to aid the golden-painted giant but also turned into a quagmire due to the state of the elements being altered by somew.


    This caused the golden-painted giant to slow down as he ran, as if he were trapped in a swamp, his speed decreasing more and more, seemingly about to be ensnared!


    ......


    Under normal circumstances, a fifth-tier spell against a fourth-tier spell would be a one-sided defeat without any suspense.


    The gap in rank cannot be bridged by the grade of the spell, whether it''s amon spell or an arcane one... it''s impossible.


    But Mr. Hei, the alchemist, didn''t choose to sh head-on; he chose "theft"!


    He stole the gold elements condensed by the golden-painted giant, directly changing the state of the elements, giving the impression of "using the enemy''s strength against them."


    With perhaps less than a tenth of the effort, he moved the enemy''s full strength.


    "What a clever tactic!"Su''en, although unable toprehend the mysteries of this spell, could guess the principle behind Mr. Hei''s technique based on his current understanding of alchemy.


    To unravel a spell with finesse means you must have a thorough understanding of it.


    This implies that Mr. Hei, although not a fifth-order mage, must have a profound understanding of fifth-order spells!


    At this thought, Su''en couldn''t help but feel emotional: "Just how much knowledge does Mr. Hei have in his mind..."

 Chapter 186: The horror of mind reading

    Chapter 186: The horror of mind reading


    The reality of the battle had passed in a sh.


    Mr. Hei''s move directly created an opportunity for the others to strike.


    Number Neen pulled out a pair of mechanical gauntlets thicker than her own thighs and strapped them onto her arms.


    Just now, in order to retreat, she dared not wear these heavy gauntlets that affected agility, but now, trapped inbat, she had no reservations.


    Looking at the ancient design, it was surprisingly not a product of modern technology, but rather resembled an artifact of ancient alchemy.


    With a buildup of power, blue energy runes immediately lit up. On those pair of fists, ripples that seemed to twist space itself visibly condensed...


    At this time, Qian Tiao also switched to wielding two long swords, one red and one ck.


    Dark spiritual power infused, one de shimmered with a strange red glow, the other as ck as ink, with ck qi billowing.


    Even more terrifying was the sword aura she umted, which made onlookers feel a piercing sharpness. It seemed Qian Tiao had also used some secret technique, her aura rising higher and higher, vaguely ovepping with the fiery, upright shadow of a Rakshasa woman behind her...


    The vanishing assassin had also quietly appeared behind the giant, thrusting a dark green poisoned dagger fiercely towards his back.


    The gold elements on the giant''s body shifted from solid to liquid, greatly reducing his defense.


    It was this thrust he was aware of, and although his movements were restricted, his reaction was not slow. His fist, wrapped in dense gold elements, swung back fiercely. The assassin couldn''t avoid it in time and was hit in the waist by the punch, spewing a mouthful of dark blood in mid-air.


    Su''en watched with a slight chill in his gaze. This punch, ifnded on the highly defensive Red Demon, might not be fatal, but for an assassin with such fragile defenses...


    The thought of crisis in his heart hadn''t fully formed when suddenly, the body of the assassin in his view dispersed into a mass of lightning and vanished.


    "Elemental Talent [A-039-Lightning]!"


    Su''en, looking at the lightning filling his vision, finally confirmed the man''s talent.


    Moreover, this was another professional who had undergone a second-stage awakening.


    A normal [Lightning] talent meant an extremely strong affinity with lightning elements, a natural-born lightning sorcerer. But here in the Mirror Organization, it was a closebat assassin. Once his body dispersed, he immediately shed most of the punch''s force.


    And just as the assassin dispersed, Qian Tiao''s swords also arrived.


    Because the metal giant had calcted his punch well, aiming for a one-hit kill and then retreating to defend. But unexpectedly, his punch caused the person to disperse, and without shedding the force, his center of gravity shifted as well.


    This slight mistake, in the eyes of top experts, was a huge opening.


    Qian Tiao''s red and ck swords sliced across his neck, emitting a "sizzle" of metal being cut.


    At the same time, Number Neen''s charged punch also hit the side of the gold-painted giant, sting him away!


    A "thud" of metal shing and sparks flying.


    The gold-armored giant fell like a meteor, and the entire library shook with him.


    "Is he dead?"


    Su''en, hiding in the distance, watched the three-person encirclement and inhaled sharply.


    Any one of the moves from those three could have instantly killed him.


    Theirbined attack was unavoidable.


    And...


    Upon closer inspection, the weapons in the hands of the three were all ancient weapons with strange effects!


    The assassin''s dagger seemed to be coated with some deadly poison. Although the dagger didn''t fully prate, breaking through the defense meant it was mostly sessful.


    Number Neen''s mechanical gauntlet, charged with a punch that could shatter an armored tank, meant the giant was definitely not having an easy time.


    And Qian Tiao''s thunderous swords directly carved two finger-deep gashes on the neck of the gold-painted giant.


    But...


    It seemed like the wound was also metallic, with no blood visible?


    The next instant, Su''en''s pupils contracted as he looked at where the gold-painted giant hadnded.


    "No, he''s not dead!"


    Without seeing the mist rise, he knew that man hadn''t been killed!


    .......


    "Hehe..."


    A sneer sounded as the gold-painted giant slowly stood up, his wounds visibly healing.


    Sword cuts, stab wounds, punch marks... the metal on his body seemed to have a memory, quickly returning to its original state.


    Although he had suffered some injuries this time, he felt he had gauged the strength of the people before him.


    The slight apprehension he had before dissipated; a full-force strike of that level couldn''t kill him.


    The gold-painted giant stood up, not only were his wounds healed, but the golden scales on his body reconvened, and a misty aura like fine sharp gold qi emerged.


    He looked at Mr. Hei and the others, no longer in a hurry to act, and mocked, "Second-stage talent awakening, ancient cursed items, extraordinary inheritance... I must admit, you''ve really surprised me. Heh... those fools from ''Umbre'' really are useless, not realizing that the rats in the gutter already have the ability to bite."


    Su''en, listening from a distance, frowned slightly.


    Although he was a transmigrator, hearing the term "rats" still felt a bit harsh. The people of Old Lingdun were indeed not seen as human in the eyes of the ck Tower.


    However, these words seemed to be deliberately provoking Mr. Hei and the others?


    And more importantly, the mockery was secondary.


    Qian Tiao and the others had exhausted their methods just now and couldn''t inflict effective damage on the gold-painted giant.


    Su''en also felt that the current battle situation seemed very unfavorable.


    But the gap in rank, the refinement of dark spiritual power and elements, were not on the same level.


    For a "wooden knife" to cut into "stone" was already a testament to the assassin''s skill, but the difference in density and material was insurmountable!


    The ck Scythe could likely ignore the golden armor''s defense and y, but Su''en felt he had no chance ofnding a hit.


    With the reaction speed of a fifth-rank expert, Su''en felt that as soon as he made a move with the scythe, he would be detected and avoided. Then the ck Scythe, as a hidden weapon, would lose all its significance.


    Fortunately, upon looking, Mr. Hei was as calm as ever.


    Su''en patiently continued to wait for an opportunity to act.


    .......


    The gold-painted giant hadn''t died, and Mr. Hei seemed not at all surprised, as he continued to form seals without stopping.


    He seemed to have seen through the "sharp gold qi" on the giant''s body and even took the time to remind Qian Tiao and the others while still forming seals, "This guy practices the fifth-rank muscle alchemy technique[Vajra]. Don''t attack recklessly; physical damage will be reflected back equally. This technique can''t cover the whole body during movement; the bigger the action, the bigger the opening. Find the opening!"


    Hearing his technique''s "weakness" exposed, the gold-armored strongman frowned.


    The solemnity that had just dissipated from his face reappeared. The other three posed no threat, but looking at this cloaked figure, he instinctively felt wary, as if all his secrets were being peered into.


    The earlier "Elemental Theft" had already put him at a slight disadvantage, and now his fifth-rank technique had been seen through at a nce?


    He must be killed first!


    The gold-painted giant''s thoughts surged, and with a fierce stomp, he transformed into a golden light and charged forward.


    "Boom!"


    A loud noise as the golden light collided directly with Mr. Hei.


    However, it wasn''t the real person he hit, but a withered wooden stump.


    Mr. Hei''s true body had already quietly shifted a hundred meters away.


    The gold-painted giant didn''t care at all; the seal on the space indeed restricted his movements, but it also restricted everyone else in the space!


    After just smashing the wooden stump, he abruptly stopped and changed direction, charging towards the figure that appeared on the left.


    Knowing the enemy''s technique, Qian Tiao and the others didn''t dare to attack, and could only watch as the gold-armored giant charged around the space.


    "Boom!"


    The second wooden stump was smashed.


    "Boom!"


    The third wooden stump was smashed.


    With each passing moment, Mr. Hei''s dodges seemed more and more forced.


    .......


    "What kind of technique is Mr. Hei casting that it''s taking so long..."


    Su''en watched the battle unfold, and seeing that Qian Tiao and the others were still gathering strength with no intention of helping, he guessed that Mr. Hei was probably condensing some very powerful technique.


    The gold-painted giant seemed to have guessed as well, his attacks bing more and more fierce.


    Unfortunately, it was toote!


    Mr. Hei''s technique was finally cast.


    In this sealed space, something strange happened.


    Looking up again, the previously dazzling new stars on the library''s starry floor suddenly shone, eerily turning into a multitude of eyes. Countless cold gazes watched everyone in the space, as if scrutinized by deities.


    Looking again, the cloaked Mr. Hei''s aura suddenly became ethereal, giving Su''en a strange feeling, as if any secret was transparent in those wise eyes.


    "Has Mr. Hei''s [Mind Reading] been activated?"


    Su''en guessed something, but since the technique wasn''t aimed at him, he didn''t feel much.


    However, the gold-painted giant in the field noticed something and his face changed drastically.


    He charged again, but this time his punch didn''t hit a wooden stump, but was easily dodged by Mr. Hei.


    Another punch, dodged again...


    And another punch...


    And another...


    None hit the mark!


    Mr. Hei seemed topletely anticipate his every move, always avoiding with precision.


    He was like a matador, easily dodging the deadly horns despite being far less strong than the bull.


    Su''en watched this miraculous scene, speechless with shock: "Is this... really a C-rank talent?"


    Mr. Hei had turned what wasmonly considered a mediocre ability [Mind Reading] into something new.


    He was leading a fifth-rank expert around in circles.


    Despite all his abilities, punching at the air, he couldn''t even touch the hem of Mr. Hei''s cloak?


    This was no longer prediction, butplete knowledge of what the opponent was going to do.


    From the moment the opponent''s thoughts arose, he was already defending.


    This terrifying mind reading was unsolvable.


    Even if the enemy reacted quickly and realized they needed to change tactics, as soon as the thought arose, Mr. Hei "read" it as well.


    Change, and miss.


    Don''t change, and still miss.


    As if...


    One''s left hand trying to hit the right hand, not wanting to be hit,


    Mr. Hei had predicted the enemy''s every move!


    .......


    However, Su''en also noticed that Mr. Hei seemed to be better at developing control abilities, with offensive methods clearly being his weak point.


    He could barely dodge the attacks of this fifth-rank closebat professional, making it difficult to harm him.


    But Mr. Hei was not alone!


    And at that moment, the eyes in the sky seemed to have seen through something, and Mr. Hei shouted sharply, "His technique''s opening is on the back side of his left thigh!"


    Before the words fell, Qian Tiao and the others, who had been ready to charge, seized the opportunity and rushed forward.


    The three coordinated, and while the gold-painted giant avoided two of them, he was stabbed in the back of his left thigh by the lightning assassin.


    "Swish!"


    This time, the poisoned dagger prated much more easily than thest, creating a bloody hole with ease.


    The rest of the giant''s muscles were as if forged from pure gold, but this spot on his leg had only a hardyer of skin, and the dagger pierced through, spurting blood.


    "Defense broken!"


    Su''en, watching from a distance, his eyes shed.


    Seeing blood meant that the giant''s defense was not as invincible as it seemed.


    He could be killed!


    The situation suddenly turned.


    The gold-painted giant finally showed a look of horror.


    That feeling of being calcted at every step made him feel like he was punching cotton.


    He quickly gathered elements to cover his wound. But the dagger''s potent poison invaded his meridians, causing him to stagger and nearly fall.


    And right after that, Mr. Hei''s relentless voice rang out again, "The opening is on the right side, the ninth rib!"


    Hearing this, the gold-painted giant instinctively shrank his arms to defend his lower ribs.


    Being told of his weakness, he no longer dared to attack recklessly as before, but this hesitation allowed Qian Tiao and the others to let loose even more.


    "The opening is on the right arm!"


    "The opening is in the lower abdomen!"


    "The opening is..."


    Mr. Hei repeatedly called out the openings, and the gold-painted giant was repeatedly rmed, not even daring to attack, only able to defend in ce.


    ........


    Through Mr. Hei''s "exnation," Su''en understood the principle of the fifth-rank technique [Vajra].


    If this guy didn''t move, he was basically an iron turtle, unshakable.But as soon as he teleported, the gold element couldn''t cover his entire body in time, exposing his ws.


    The subsequent battle was devoid of suspense.


    Mr. Hei had the enemy''s intentions firmly in his grasp, predicting every move and clearly "calling the shots."


    Qian Tiao found the fight increasingly easy, leaving wound after wound on the enemy''s body.


    Just when it seemed there was hope to finish off the enemy, that golden giant started to y dirty, realizing he was at a disadvantage, he just stood his ground.


    He opted for a full-on stationary assault.


    His attitude was clear: "You can''t kill me, so I''ll just stand here and wait for reinforcements, let''s see who can oust whom."


    Moreover, this guy pulled out a cursed golden orb, and with a squeeze, his body was further covered in heavy armor.


    Now, Qian Tiao and his team were truly at a loss on how to handle him.


    Seeing this, Su''en finally understood the role Mr. Hei had called him for.


    The golden giant gave up on teleporting, and Mr. Hei and his team didn''t hold back, wrapping him withyer uponyer of thunder chains, enveloping him with all sorts offortable spells.


    If you move, you get cut.


    If you don''t, you get bound tighter and tighter.


    Finally, after the guy gave up struggling, he was firmly trapped in ce.


    Mr. Hei even specifically pointed out the position.


    Su''en controlled the living corpse and swung his de down.


    A massive head thudded to the ground.


    No matter how invincible your defense, if you can''t surpass thew of the ck scythe, you''ll be cleaved in two.


    Su''en''s eyes lit up as he watched the "mist" rising from the nearby corpse.

 Chapter 187: World

    Chapter 187: World


    The fifth-order gilded giant''s head fell, and as the grey mist emerged, Su''en was certain he was dead.


    The battle seemed perilous, with the second-stage Red Demon severely injured, and the others from the Thousand Stripes also bearing significant wounds.


    But, in fact, it was not so.


    Seeing Mr. ck''sposed demeanor, Su''en knew that everything was probably under his control.


    Su''en had observed the entire battle,


    And now, upon reflection,


    He noticed some issues.


    He guessed that Mr. ck must have encountered fifth-order professionals before, or at least was clear about the power of a fifth-order.


    That''s why his calctions were so precise.


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t havee with only five people to ambush an unknown fifth-order powerhouse.


    It was as if everything was just right, not revealing more of the "Mirror Organization''s" strength than necessary, just enough to kill the target.


    Moreover, Su''en felt that even without the ck Scythe, Mr. ck probably had other methods to kill the guy.


    After all, these top experts should notck sealing artifacts.


    Su''en had personally seen them with a Vulcan''s Furnace Lamp in their possession.


    The Dawn Relic was a treasure trove, buried with too many ancient high-order alchemical products.


    The "Mirror Organization" surely had plenty of good stuff.


    Like the weapons used by the Thousand Stripes in battle, they were clearly not ordinary.


    Thoughts raced through his mind, connecting the "coincidences" together.


    Su''en felt like he understood something.


    Ever since he learned that the "" symbol of the Mirror Organization was the mark of Sir Isaac from Dawn City, he also guessed that this organization''s understanding of the ancient history buried in the dust far surpassed the ck Tower.


    He vaguely felt that Mr. ck probably knew about his talent through some channels.


    After all, his talent originated from the altar in the Storm Manor.


    ...


    The grey mist was right in front of him, but Su''en was not in a hurry and walked over slowly.


    It was like visiting an elder''s home; even if the food was tempting, you couldn''t help yourself without the host''s invitation.


    After sessfully killing the enemy, the cloaked figures quickly cleared the scene and removed the sealing barrier.


    They nodded to Mr. ck, not even uttering an extra word, just likest time, and dispersed.


    Only Mr. ck and Su''en remained.


    Mr. ck removed his cloak, revealing his signature genial smile.


    As expected, he looked at Su''en and got straight to the point: "I heard from the teacher that you should need this corpse..."


    Teacher?


    This title...


    Upon hearing this, Su''en felt slightly strange.


    Butmunicating with a Mind Reader like Mr. ck, there was no need for beating around the bush. With the conversation at this point, he knew Mr. ck must be aware of his talent.


    Su''en smiled nomittally and walked over.


    Devouring the grey mist was the most urgent matter; other questions could wait.


    With this separation, like a floodgate opening, a torrent of memory fragments violently surged into his mind.


    You have obtained ''Grot Lester''s'' memory fragments*8


    You have gained a piece of intelligence: ''The situation in the Empire is getting worse, and the pirates of the North Sea have been increasingly rampant. Last month, the merchant fleet''s steam airship was attacked, probably by a squad leader under the ''King of the North Sea''. Oh, those damned people...''


    You have gained a piece of information: ''Miss Theresa is getting more and more beautiful, but it seems she has been ignoring young master Ewentely. The Duke probably intends to arrange a marriage with the Rega family to increase his influence in the Empire...''


    You haveprehended a vast amount of flesh and blood alchemy knowledge, understanding Diamond


    You have acquired ''Muscle Overload Micro-Control Techniques'',prehending the movement technique Extreme Step


    You have mastered arge amount of ''1~5th order alchemy knowledge''


    You have grasped the iplete fifth-order metalws


    You have acquired some fragmented memories: the Duke''s maritime territory, the ck Tower mines on the reef, the Luyin Empire, the Mechanical Sect...


    You have acquired arge amount ofbat fragment information,bat experience +424


    Spiritual power +4.3


    This was Su''en''s first time separating such "high-intensity" soul fragments.


    He hadn''t had time to digest the detailed content of the knowledge.


    Suddenly, like the aftereffects of drinking, his head felt heavy, and he felt drowsy.


    It wasn''t just the quantity of knowledge, but also the quality!


    This directly elevated his understanding of thews by several levels, and the impact was not as "gentle" as absorbing the soul fragments of first or second-order professionals.


    One was like a river flowing into the sea, the other like a sh flood into a river;


    It was like jumping directly from the Stone Age to the Steam Age, just witnessing the huge impact of the difference in the levels ofws between the ranks was enough to make one dizzy.


    ...


    He didn''t know how long he was in a daze, digesting the vast memory fragments, making Su''en feel as if a long time had passed.


    When his gaze refocused, there seemed to be a new spark of wisdom in his eyes.


    "Indeed, too strong soul fragments can impact the main consciousness..."


    Su''en felt fortunate that he could perfectly separate some other emotions, ensuring the rity of the main consciousness. If an ordinary person had this Death Harvester talent, they would not be able to absorb much before merging their own consciousness with the harvested consciousness, bing a "mental fusion monster."


    This S-rank talent was strong, but not so easy to control.


    It''s like watching a movie,


    You can consider yourself an audience, gathering information;


    But you can''t immerse yourself as the protagonist, bing a character in the story.


    Looking at it this way,


    His condition, awakening this talent, seemed very "fitting."


    As for the gains,


    Too many.


    Su''en couldn''t sort them out for a while.


    He gained countlessbat techniques, twoplete skills.


    The most precious was the understanding of thews.


    With the perspective of a high school student, even if one is a "science cker," looking back at elementary school knowledge suddenly feels effortless.


    First, second, and third-order alchemy knowledge seemed to be integrated; even if it wasn''t "metallic," it was universally applicable;


    As for fourth and fifth-order knowledge, there were also some iplete fragments. Although not enough to form a system, at least it was like seeing the North Star in the vast sea, at least knowing the general direction for the future.


    After digesting the content of the memory fragments, Su''en''s eyes trembled slightly, and he murmured in shock: "The Endless Sea, the Twilight Ruins, the Ancient God Sites, the ne Fragments... So the world outside is so vast, and besides humans, there are other races..."


    This world was more fascinating than he had ever imagined.


    ...


    Mr. ck had already cleaned up the materials on the corpse.


    Seeing Su''en''s gaze clear, he smiled warmly: "Su''en, how do you feel?"


    Su''en replied honestly: "A bit dizzy."


    Mr. ck wasn''t surprised and said: "Your spiritual power is about to lose control. If you don''t find a suitable mental secret technique to practice and control that spiritual power, the situation will be very grim."


    "Understood."


    Su''en nodded, aware of the problem.


    But he also asked: "Mr. ck, you just mentioned your teacher?"


    By now, he was certain that Mr. ck indeed knew his talent was Death Harvester.


    But he was very curious, who in Old Lingdun could be a teacher to the "all-knowing and all-powerful" Mr. ck?


    "Indeed."


    Mentioning "teacher," Mr. ck''s face was filled with respect. He pondered for a moment before saying: "Well... you can call him ''Mr. Mirror,'' the leader of our organization."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en realized that''s where the "Mirror Organization" got its name.


    He immediately thought of his previous spection.


    He felt that Mr. ck had seen fifth-order professionals; could it be this "Mr. Mirror" he mentioned?


    Mr. ck didn''t say more, beckoning Su''en: "Let''s go, we can talk while walking. Someone wille soon."


    "Alright."


    Hearing this, Su''en followed Mr. ck into the dark depths of the dungeon.


    Because of the spatial barrier, the previous battle did not leave too many traces in this cavern.


    The two


    Mr. ck looked at Su''en and smiled, "I was curious about your talent, Su''en, but couldn''t figure it out. It was only after the teacher told me that I knew you had awakened that rare talent."


    Su''en chuckled in response.


    He asked curiously: "Can your teacher discern people''s talents?"


    "You don''t have to be surprised. After all, the teacher is learned and has an understanding of the history of Dawn City that others can''t imagine."


    Mr. ck seemed to recall something, hesitating slightly: "The teacher''s abilities are very special... but it''splicated to exin."


    He didn''t intend to borate and instead said: "If you''re really curious, you can ask the teacher yourself next time. I think the teacher would be happy to enlighten you..."


    Very special abilities?


    Su''en pondered for a moment.


    It seemed that Mr. ck didn''t want to discuss the secrets of that "teacher" behind his back, so he didn''t continue to ask, but he couldn''t help but recall the cloaked person he saw at the 1911 Hotel.


    He didn''t even know if that person was male or female, and he probably wouldn''t recognize them next time.


    But from Mr. ck''s tone, it seemed he had seen them somewhere else before?


    ...


    The two talked as they walked.


    Su''en also learned that Mr. ck had invited him over at the behest of the leader.


    As usual, he offered a gift, an equivalent exchange, and also asked him for a favor.


    Su''en looked at Mr. ck handing over a golden card and a sealed wooden box, not too surprised, "So... you want me to go into a cursed space and deliver something?"


    Mr. ck corrected Su''en''s words with a smile: "No, not me. It''s the teacher''s intention."


    Su''en grew more curious.


    Although he knew Mr. ck had no reason to send him to his death, something felt off.


    Mr. ck didn''t wait for Su''en to guess and directly revealed the significance of these items: "The sealed wooden box contains something number neen brought out from the ck Towerboratory. Don''t open it outside, or you''ll be detected. After entering the space, find ady named ''Sereya'' and give her the item."


    Taking a breath, he continued: "Did I not mention the founder of your ''Puppeteer'' professionst time? Lady Sereya was the greatest forging grandmaster and puppeteer in Dawn City a thousand years ago. With this card as a token, it will be easier tomunicate."


    Hearing this, Su''en looked at Mr. ck with an increasingly strange expression: "Mr. ck, may I ask... why did your teacher choose me?"


    If possible, he definitely wanted to get his hands on the Puppeteer''s mental power secret technique.


    But no matter how he looked at it, Mr. ck seemed to have arranged everything for him.


    With tokens and all.


    It all felt like a "mouse trap with bait," didn''t it?


    Mr. ck didn''t hide anything and directly said: "Because that Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript is in your hands."


    Su''en: "???"


    What does the notebook being in my hands have to do with anything?


    At that moment, Mr. ck said: "Fate is an endless chain of causality, and the world itself develops following this principle and causal rtionships. That is a notebook tainted by fate. If it doesn''t belong to you, it wouldn''t be in your hands."


    "..."


    Su''en found this very familiar; wasn''t that the original text written in the notebook?


    Although he knew this world had some strange and mysterious forces,


    But this...


    It didn''t seem very reliable.


    He just happened to get the notebook, and now it seemed to have no use at all.


    And looking at the situation, Mr. ck definitely knew the contents of the notebook.


    So now, if I give the notebook to you, doesn''t it belong to you?


    At this time, Mr. ck seemed to see through Su''en''s inner mockery and said with a meaningful smile, "You should know, the talent of Sir Isaac, who was known as the ''Demi-God,'' was Fate Controller."


    After a pause, he looked at the still confused Su''en and joked for once: "So, you don''t need to ask me why, because I don''t know either. Hahaha..."Hearing this, Su''en couldn''t help butugh and cry.


    Mr. ck continued, "I''ve heard from the teacher that Sir Isaac''s manuscript contains the ultimate secret of alchemy. However, the manuscript touches upon a strand of thew of fate, one of the supremews of the world, which no one can clearly define. Therefore, all we can do is watch and wait. But for now, it seems most fitting in your hands..."


    "..."


    Su''en felt like he was listening to loneliness.


    At first nce, the words seemed to make sense. But upon further reflection, it seemed like nothing had been said at all.


    But since even Mr. ck didn''t know, the topic was closed.


    Skipping over the topic of the notes, Mr. ck moved on to the mission at hand, saying, "You must have guessed something, but don''t speak of it. Certain supreme beings possess indescribable powers. Merely mentioning Their existence will alert Them."


    "Mm."


    Su''en nodded.


    The manuscript recorded a method for crafting an alchemical augmentation called "Isaac''s Heart," and considering the item number neen brought out, along with the need to find a master cksmith, the purpose was self-evident.


    Legend has it that the names of deities must not be spoken aloud.


    He didn''t ask further about this matter.


    .......


    As the two walked, Su''en asked about some "mission" details, and Mr. ck answered them all in detail.


    His rtionship with the Mirror Organization was getting closer, and now their conversations were less formal.


    Su''en directly asked the most crucial question.


    "Mr. ck, is that cursed space dangerous?"


    "The teacher says it is, but not fatally so. And if it''s you... it might even be safer than if we went."


    "Is it because I have the manuscript?"


    "That''s one of the reasons."


    "..."


    Hearing there was no fatal danger, Su''en put aside his worries.


    The more he understood about this world, the more he felt Mr. ck was trustworthy.


    Moreover, he could sense from Mr. ck''s words that the "teacher" had an extraordinary understanding of the Dawn Relics.


    Otherwise, others wouldn''t even know what lies at the core of the relics; they only knew there was a cursed space and a remnant named "Lady Sereya."


    Besides, Su''en was not one to shy away from risks.


    Having obtained a fifth-tier soul shard, the reward was already enough to risk one''s life.


    This transcendent knowledge was of great significance for Su''en''s future, especially since he was currently a "prisoner"!


    Moreover, the space contained the exclusive mental secret techniques of the "Puppeteer Founder," which he naturally intended to visit.


    The two walked through the caverns without any pursuers catching up.


    Mr. ck was not in a hurry to leave,


    And Su''en took this rare opportunity to ask some of his questions.


    What he was most curious about was Mr. ck''s omniscience and omnipotence, so he asked, "Mr. ck, howe you seem to know everything? Could it be that your awakened ''Mind Reader'' ability can also be used for learning knowledge?"


    Mr. ck smiled, probably having anticipated Su''en''s curiosity about this question, and exined, "The ''Schr'' profession I hold is very special. It cultivates the w of wisdom.'' My awakened abilities are also chosen around the needs of my profession. The first-tier ability is ''eidetic memory,'' second-tier is ''brain domain development,'' third-tier ''universal understanding,'' fourth-tier ''glimpse of truth''... Of course, the most important are the ''teacher''s'' guidance and some special opportunities. My talent is not the best, but I am diligent."


    "Mr. ck, what is brain domain development?"


    "ording to ancient texts, human brain potential is actually limitless. But for some reasons, it''s been restricted, and the usage rate is very low, so ancient sorcerers thought about developing the extent of brain domain usage... but it''s also very dangerous."


    "..."


    Listening to Mr. ck''s exnation, Su''en suddenly understood.


    But clearly, Mr. ck was being modest.


    Without cheating, to be this powerful,


    His talent was not the best... as if!


    Hearing about Mr. ck''s career nning, Su''en suddenly had some thoughts about his own third-tier advancement.


    Manipting puppets... brain domain development?


    Thepatibility seemed quite good.


    ording to Mr. ck''s description, this ability was a bit like upgrading aputer''s processor, allowing the brain to process more information efficiently.


    "Brain domain development" was a concept that also existed in his previous life, but it was still theoretical.


    In the ancient world of this universe, it was possible to achieve this through some transcendent materials.


    Su''en felt that this world hid too many secrets...


    But the materials for brain domain development were not easier to find than spatial materials.


    They were rare and hard toe by.


    Su''en felt that this could only be a future n.


    The two talked for a long time.


    Now, Mr. ck probably considered Su''en an ally and no longer spoke in riddles.


    He asked, and almost always received an answer.


    And all the answers were forting!


    From this conversation, Su''en gained a lot.


    And at that moment, he thought of another question he was very curious about, "Also... Mr. ck, I''ve noticed that members of your organization can awaken their talents a second time. Is there a shortcut to talent awakening?"


    It could be said that, except for Kay, all the people Su''en had seen awaken their talents a second time were from the Mirror Organization.


    This made him wonder if Mr. ck and his colleagues had some special method for awakening talents.


    The answer was no.


    Instead, the recruitment threshold for their organization was "second-tier awakening."


    As Mr. ck put it, without a "second-tier awakening," except for some with special abilities, there was almost no capacity for transcending one''s rank in battle.


    They could only be "targets for observation."


    Like the previous encounter with the fifth-tier professional, an ordinary third-tier facing them would likely die in a single encounter!


    Not very useful for storming the tower.


    Mr. ck: "Second-tier talent awakening can only be realized through life-and-death experiences; there are no shortcuts. Everything in the world is equal, including talents. The lower the grade, the easier it is to awaken; the higher it is, the more difficult. The difficulty of a second awakening for a C-grade talent is far less than for a B-grade... Those with A-grade talents who have awakened a second time have all gone through great trials and possess supreme talents..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en thought,


    What about S-grade?


    And two S-grades?

 Chapter 188: Princess Theresa

    Chapter 188: Princess Theresa


    Interlude chapter, feel free to skip if you dislike it.


    When Su''en returned to the camp, the news of Miss Theresa''s team being attacked had already spread.


    Although no one knew what had happened, the guard presence at the city gate had clearly increased. One could even see second-tier professionals guarding the gate in person, scrutinizing those entering the city for any suspicious individuals.


    However, this had no effect on Su''en.


    Due to the influx of inner city people to the Wild Hunt campsite recently, the entry fee had skyrocketed, and the inns had been fully booked for a long time. Ordinary hunters couldn''t afford to stay in the city, so many set up tents near the camp walls.


    This was convenient for Su''en.


    He simply found a spot near the wall, out of sight, and teleported into the city.


    The patrols inside the city were also exceptionally strict.


    He returned to the Rose Inn, and not long after settling in, there was a knock on the door for a routine inspection.


    Thanks to his nearly perfect forged identity, he easily slipped through the scrutiny.


    Su''en didn''t wander around and instead stayed in the inn to meditate and assimte the fifth-tier knowledge he had stripped away today.


    ...


    After harvesting the memories, Su''en learned that the people of the surface world did not absorb dark spirit force to advance, but normal spirit force instead.


    He also learned that there were many factions of ancient alchemists. The mainstream ones were called "Light Alchemists," but there were also different systems like "Dark Alchemists," "Necromancers," "Shadow Alchemists," "Toxic Alchemists," and so on.


    Aside from Light Alchemists, the others were niche factions.


    This underground city belonged to the "Dark Alchemists" lineage.


    In the following days, Su''en was almostpletely immersed in digesting knowledge and sensing the transcendentws that were beyond his current tier.


    It was a delightful and magical experience, as if he was gaining a vast amount of knowledge every second.


    Su''en devoured the knowledge like a whale, eating his fill in one go.


    After digestion, he finally understood what those so-called "Transcendent tier barriers" were.


    Indeed, the view from above was truly different.


    The peaks that once seemed insurmountable were just slightly shorter hills that could be taken in at a nce.


    ...


    On this day.


    Su''en was in his room at the inn.


    Threads suspended books all around the room, while his eight-armed spider spear, along with his hands, rapidly flipped through these airborne tomes.


    These were the textbooks from the ck Tower Academy that Mr. ck had given him.


    Although he had read them countless times, there were still many parts he couldn''t understand.


    Now, Su''en read ten lines at a nce, quickly flipping through the books to find those previously marked, difficult-to-understand sections.


    Especially those parts that required his own previous alchemy knowledge and understanding, which now seemed almost instantlyprehensible.


    After a while,


    Having scanned through the books and removed nearly nine out of ten tags, Su''en let out a long breath, "Phew... I used to think the knowledge of the ck Tower Academy was astonishing. But the high-tier professionals of the outside world, they truly broaden one''s horizons..."


    Even in the surface world, fifth-tier professionals were considered experts.


    That "Grot Lester" as the captain of Duke Raphael''s guard, was also a graduate of the "Luyin Empire War Academy."


    His knowledge was incredibly vast.


    Closing the books, Su''en''s face was radiant, and he murmured to himself, "I''ve almost thoroughly mastered the first and second-tier alchemy knowledge. Now I just need a bit more proficiency, and I can directly start on third-tier runes and enchantments. My rune puppets can be enhanced again..."


    He now deeply appreciated the saying, "Knowledge is truly an invaluable treasure."


    And he also profoundly realized why the [Death Harvester] talent was rated as an S-tier talent for its defiance of the heavens.


    Before, harvesting peers of the same tier didn''t seem like much. But now, after leaping three major tiers and harvesting, he had gained a massive boost.


    The significance of acquiring knowledge was absolutely iparable to obtaining a few sealed items!


    After the third tier, every advancement on the Transcendent path had a threshold; it wasn''t just about reaching the dark spirit force standard or finding materials to advance. One also needed toprehend the correspondingws, which was the greatest shackle that killed countless alchemists.


    ...


    After digesting the knowledge in his mind, Su''en suddenly thought of something and began to form a sorcerer''s seal with his hands.


    The seven-pointed star seal slowly lit up, but Su''en seemed to sense something, furrowing his brow. The sorcerer''s seal changed again, losing one point and bing a six-pointed star.


    The spell sessfully condensed, and upon closer inspection, his skin suddenly turned as if cast from pure gold, visibly exuding an indestructible metallic texture.


    This was naturally the execution of the Flesh Alchemy spell[Vajra].


    The original [Vajra] was a fifth-tier spell, soplex that perhaps a fourth-tier might barely be able to use it, while third-tier and second-tier professionals couldn''t understand it at all.


    Yet, Su''en could fullyprehend it.


    But this differed slightly from the dazzling golden sheen of the fifth-tier professional''s spell; Su''en''s golden sheen also carried a faint trace of ck.


    The spell driven by dark spirit force had slight differences.


    However, theplete spell consumed a tremendous amount of energy, and Su''en, whether in terms of body or dark spirit force, couldn''t sustain it.


    Because he thoroughly understood the spell, he also casually downgraded it.


    The essence of the spell was to condense gold elements intoyers of highly refined substances on the body''s surface, like ovepping gold leaf.


    With feweryers, the defensive power would decrease, but after all, Su''en didn''t need a defense that could withstand fifth-tier attacks.


    Downgrading was sufficient.


    Su''en felt his body.


    He took out a dagger and poked at it, clearly feeling the sensation of scraping metal, as the sharp dagger couldn''t leave a single scratch on his skin.


    Without much thought, he drew his firearm and shot at his palm.


    "Bang!"


    The gunshot echoed in the room.


    With a soundproof barrier, there was no fear of disturbing the neighbors.


    Su''en looked at the deformed bullet in his hand, his gaze indifferent.


    Then, he switched to an alchemy bullet.


    Another shot.


    This time, the alchemy bullet made a slight dent on the skin, but it quickly recovered.


    After firing two shots to test, Su''en had already roughly gauged the spell''s defense, pondering, "Both physical and magical defenses are high, it should at least withstand attacks from third-tier professionals for a short time. But the consumption is also great. Moreover, the muscles have solidified, which obviously affects agility..."


    That fifth-tier "Grot Lester" was so formidable not only because of the spell but also because of his profession and alchemical imnts.


    For Su''en, a puppeteer, to achieve this level with Flesh Alchemy was already satisfying.


    At least it gave him the ability to protect himself in front of third-tier professionals.


    And from this stripping, Su''en also acquired anotherplete skill [Extreme Air Step].


    A skillful movement technique that required high strength, agility, and finesse.


    This was highlypatible with him.


    It was an advanced version of Kay''s ghostly movement technique.


    To put it simply, it was like "stepping on air."


    Su''en had tried it a few days ago when he returned, and he could briefly leap into the air, which felt very good.


    Within a short distance, it was several times faster than the discement of the eight-armed spider spear.


    Agility and finesse were just passive attributes. Before, his own body''s attributes were very high, almost meeting the minimum requirements for this skill.


    But he couldn''t use it.


    Because the "muscle overload micro-control technique" was the key.


    It required countless repetitions to grasp that subtle control.


    It''s like learning to ride a bicycle; it seems like having legs is enough, but finding that bnce point is necessary to master the skill.


    One stripping allowed Su''en to easily master this advanced movement technique that countless melee professionals couldn''t grasp even after ten years of hard practice.


    One defense, one escape, his life-saving methods greatly increased.


    ...


    As evening approached, Su''en was in his room tinkering with his new puppet, when suddenly, amotion came from outside the window.


    "Quick, go look, Princess Theresa''s team has arrived outside the camp!"


    "Wow! I heard that even the big shots in the inner city rarely get to see the little princess, and I didn''t expect her toe hunting. This is a rare opportunity, let''s go take a look..."


    "Sheesh, what a grand entourage. The guards from the duke''s house seem so strong..."


    "..."


    Whether it was because therge troop was slow or because they had encountered an ambush and slowed down, the youngdy from the duke''s house arrived at the camp a few dayste.


    Su''en listened to the noise outside, leaned against the window, and looked in the direction of the sound.


    He had chosen this room precisely because it had a wide view, allowing him to see the camp gate and main street from inside the room.


    Su''en looked over.


    The young duchess''s entourage wasrge, with roughly hundreds of people.


    They surrounded a carriage-like special steam mechanical lotive.


    In the team, some carried gs embroidered with the harp and lion pattern representing the Raphael noble family. The guards in uniform dark cyan uniforms, wearing cross helmets and wielding swords in heavy armor, were at the front, and there were dozens of maids and servants, as well as butlers, tutors, cooks...


    "So many strong people..."


    Su''en squinted and observed.


    This standard configuration for high nobility travel made it easy for him to distinguish the main from the secondary.


    Apart from the youngdy Theresa''s personal maid, the closer to the lotive, the stronger they were.


    Because of some stripped fragment memories, Su''en felt some faces were familiar, yet he couldn''t recognize them.


    A fifth-tier guard captain had died, and there were clearly other fifth-tiers in the team. That white-faced man in military uniform, who kept his hat brim low, was obviously one of them.


    And around him, those dozen or so robed sorcerers constantly surrounded by thick elemental fluctuations, which others might not understand, but Su''en knew that this was the characteristic defensive measure of fourth-tier sorcerers, the "Elemental Barrier."


    Clearly, this was just the visible guard force; who knows what else was hidden.


    This team was incredibly strong.


    ...


    The Dawn Camp was originally a war town that existed for hunting, and it didn''t have very spacious streets.


    The team drove in from the city gate and then stopped in front of the narrow streets.


    The knights knelt on one knee, and the maids opened the lotive door. An old nanny extended her hand to lead out a veiled young girl. She wore a wide-brimmed hat with a pink bow, a floral skirt, and simple leather boots. She wasn''t dressed extravagantly, but as soon as she appeared, a noble aura hit everyone, as if a ssh of color had appeared in a ck and white scene, attracting everyone''s attention.


    Su''en nced over, retracted his gaze, and decided not to look.


    It was troublesome to pay too much attention to the youngdies of ducal houses.


    Just then, there was a knock on his door.


    Opening it, to his surprise, it was Qiantiao, whom he hadn''t seen for days.


    Su''en greeted her, "Sister Qiantiao."


    "Mm-hmm."


    Qiantiao responded weakly, looking as if she had gambled for days and nights, entered the room, andined, "Ah, finally back..."


    With that, she went straight into the bathroom, stripped off her dirty clothes, and threw them out, "Please hang these up for me."


    "..."


    Su''en watched her bare back, his eyebrows raised helplessly. This gambling-addicteddy was bing less and less reserved. She used to cover up a bit, but now she didn''t even bother with a chest guard.


    The sound of water trickled in the bathroom,


    Su''en was focused on making his puppet in the room.


    Before long, Qiantiao came out of the shower.


    She was drying her hair with a towel and said, "Are you free tonight?"


    Su''en continued to tinker with his puppet, "Nothing much."


    Qiantiao asked, "Then change into some clothes and apany me to a party?"


    "A party?"


    Su''en looked up at her, sensing something different in her tone.


    Qiantiao replied, "Yes. That youngdy from the duke''s house has arrived, and naturally, the major families of the inner city want to hold a wee party. Also, there will be a lottery for hunting assignments at the party, and Rena is not in a good situation... Well, and also, you disguise yourself with a new identity, and help me fend off some trouble at the time..."


    "..."


    With that exnation, Su''en finally understood.


    Although Qiantiao was an executive of the Cross Society, she was also the second youngdy of the inner city''s Evelyn family. Few people in the outer city knew of her identity, but the major families of the inneryer were well aware.The gambling-addicted young woman also found those high-society social gatherings tiresome, yet she couldn''t neglect her family''s expectations.


    She could ignore other parties, but the one weing the duke''s daughter was an exception; every notable family and person had to attend. No one dared to disregard the duke''s authority.


    Listening to her, Su''en realized he was expected to be her... escort?


    He didn''t mind doing her this small favor, but it was the first time he''d heard her speak of her family matters, and he was somewhat curious.


    As they talked, he watched in astonishment as the gambling-addicted young woman pulled a set of cyan-ck court gowns from her storage ring.


    "Eh..."


    Su''en''s eyes widened in surprise.


    In his memory, aside from kimonos and battle armor, he had never seen her wear any other style of clothing.


    Oh, there were pajamas, and the times she wore nothing at all.


    But...


    A high-societydy''s elegant dress???


    She noticed his peculiar gaze and said irritably, "Hey... Su''en, what''s with that look? You think I want to wear this?"


    At a high-society party, walking in wearing a mboyant kimono heavy with societal connotations would probably attract more attention than Princess Theresa herself.


    Su''en smiled, "Ah... I think it looks quite nice."


    She ignored him, dried her hair, and began to dress in front of the mirror,ining as she put on the skirt, "Such a hassle to wear..."


    Su''en refrained from staring at her as she changed.


    But after a short wait, hearing no more movement, he nced over and his eyes lit up.


    Indeed, the gambling-addicted young woman with her hair elegantly up and dressed in a courtly gown looked surprisingly good!

 Chapter 189: Renas predicament

    Chapter 189: Rena''s predicament


    Su''en was seeing the gambling-addicteddy dressed up for the first time.


    Her long dress was made of dark aqua brocade with golden patterns, outlining her graceful figure with stunning curves. Layers of light gauze adorned her, like a gentle breeze swirling around, and with the faint heroic spirit between her brows, Su''en couldn''t help but take a second nce.


    Elegant and luxurious, exquisitely charming.


    The mirror in front of the gang leader reflected a woman transformed by her attire, instantly bing ady of high society.


    But Qian Tiao seemed ufortable in a dress, looking disdainfully at her reflection in the mirror, mumbling something indistinct.


    At that moment, she seemed to notice Su''en''s gaze, turned around, and asked, "Su''en, do you find anything odd about this?"


    Su''en smiled and simply replied, "Pretty."


    Hearing this, Qian Tiao pouted, "Don''t just stand there, hurry up and change. The banquet starts at nine, but we need to get there early to wait for the little princess."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en put away the puppet in his hand and stood up.


    With the Octopus Spear retracted, he didn''t bother changing clothes; with a shake of his body, his work attire suddenly transformed into a white suit, as if by magic.


    Qian Tiao, witnessing his instant change of clothes, figured out his trick and raised an eyebrow, "Yo... using spatial abilities just to change clothes?"


    Su''en chuckled, "Just a little trick I''ve been working on, a magical costume change."


    With that, he shook his feet, and shiny leather boots appeared on them.


    sping his hands together and pulling, a silver-handled cane appeared in his right hand.


    Feeling like something was missing, he adorned his left hand with a boutonniere and magically produced a top hat to ce on his head.


    After all this, he looked at the gambling-addicteddy and said, "Let''s go, we can leave now."


    Qian Tiao sized up Su''en from head to toe, a hint of teasing in her eyes, "Tsk, not a bad look for you~"


    Su''en shrugged with a smile and walked over, opening his arms. Qian Tiao naturally took his arm.


    Suddenly, she noticed something, "Wait."


    Su''en stopped and watched as Qian Tiao wrapped her arms around him, then straightened his cor and smoothed out the wrinkles.


    "There, that''s better~"


    Qian Tiao seemed pleased, a smile appearing on her pretty face.


    .......


    Before Princess Theresa''s arrival at the camp, the major families of the inner city had already received news of the banquet.


    Unicorn Inn, a property of the Reiss family.


    As the only daughter of the Reiss family''s main branch, Rena naturally came to the underground.


    In the penthouse suite, a maid was applying makeup to her.


    The old butler, with a grave expression, was reporting thetest situation: "Miss, things aren''t looking good. We''ve received word from the family that several branches are getting restless again. They''ve advised us to be careful, as they may act against you. And just this morning, therge hunting groups we had contracts with, ''Red Dragon'', ''Iron Eagle'', ''Holy Knight''... their leaders came to us in unison, refusing our employment."


    Rena''s brows furrowed with concern at the stream of bad news, "But haven''t we already signed employment contracts?"


    "Yes."


    The butler spoke gravely, "But they''ve paid a hefty penalty fee and torn up the contracts. I''m negotiating with the Hunters'' Guild, but to little effect... I''ve heard that the second and third branches have joined forces with the five major families of the camp to pay this penalty fee. Moreover, they''ve spread the word that they will suppress any hunting group that cooperates with us. So far, no other hunting group dares to contact us... Therefore, besides the personnel Miss brought from the family and the ''Cross Society'' hunting group, we don''t have many people we can rely on. It''s confirmed that all the major families of the inner city must participate in the hunt, which puts us at a disadvantage... The risk of this hunt is great, and I''m worried that these people are trying to iste and weaken the family''s power, then pressure the master, or even have bigger schemes..."


    Rena listened, her expression growing more solemn.


    After a pause, the butler continued, "Also, the rk family sent a message saying they could help us out of this predicament, probably to meet with you... But since you said not to meet, I refused. However, if possible, at this banquet, Miss could try to reach out to a few allies, some families that have been friendly with us in the past, who I think would be willing to help for the sake of the master..."


    Rena: "Okay. I understand."


    .......


    Su''en and Qian Tiao walked leisurely.


    Qian Tiao''sdylike dress, though truly pretty, was not to her liking.


    Su''en, with his arm around her waist, the two appeared affectionate.


    It wasn''t for show; the gambling-addicteddy really was ufortable in a dress.


    "This damn dress, I can''t even walk properly! Su''en, hold me closer, these high heels are so awkward..."


    As they walked, Su''en listened to Qian Tiao''sints about the dress more than once.


    Fortunately, the walk wasn''t too far.


    Along the way, they encountered many elegantly dressed youngdies and gentlemen, all seemingly heading to the banquet.


    Seeing Su''en and Qian Tiao, a striking pair, they couldn''t help but cast envious nces.


    The two chatted as they walked.


    Qian Tiao briefed Su''en, "Your identity now is ''Zolo''. This identity is registered with the Bounty Hunters'' Guild, a bounty hunter with some fame, but no one has seen your face... Later, you might meet some people from my family, and they''ll ask you a lot of questions... So, you understand?"


    "Uh-huh. I get it."


    Su''en listened, his lips curling into a bright smile.


    The identity arranged by Qian Tiao was naturally wless, as she put it, "The best disguise is a recement."


    This was better than any fake identity Su''en could have forged himself.


    As for the rest of her words, though Qian Tiao was vague, Su''en understood.


    Qian Tiao, a single woman of a certain age in the underworld, still couldn''t escape convention. When meeting family members, she needed a shield.


    "So, Qian Tiao, did you join the Cross Society to escape marriage?"


    "What else? Of course, that''s one reason. The rest, you should have guessed."


    "Qian Tiao, the word on the street is you don''t like men, is that true?"


    "Tch~ False! Not only do I not like men, but I also don''t like women; I only love knives!"


    "..."


    The two were already close, and these topics were discussed without reservation.


    As they walked, they suddenly saw a familiar face.


    A youngdy in an evening gown, surrounded by guards, emerged from an inn painted white with a "Unicorn" sign.


    With her beautiful straight ck hair, who else could it be but Rena?


    She seemed a bit distracted and noticed Su''en and Qian Tiao passing by.


    Qian Tiao greeted her, "Rena~"


    Rena, recognizing Qian Tiao after a moment''s hesitation, brightened up and hurried over, "Ah... Aunt Qian Tiao~"


    Qian Tiao walked over and ruffled her hair, "What''s on your mind, girl, looking so worried?"


    Hearing this, Rena tried to smile, but her face couldn''t hide her concern.


    She didn''t have much to hide from her family elders and said directly, "The butler just told me that the hunting groups we had contracts with have all broken them..."


    "Oh, that''s a small matter."


    Qian Tiao waved it off nonchntly after hearing this.


    She then introduced Su''en, "This is my friend ''Zolo'', a very capable bounty hunter. He''ll be helping out with the hunt this time."


    Rena nced at Su''en, who was arm-in-arm with her aunt, her curiosity evident.


    She remembered that her aunt had never been so intimate with a man before?


    But she didn''t dwell on it, curtsied gracefully, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Zolo. Please take care of me."


    Su''en nodded, "Sure."


    The two became a group, heading up the slope.


    ......


    The banquet was held at Storm Manor.


    To wee Princess Theresa, even the Hunters'' Guild had relocated.


    The major families of the camp pooled all their resources to renovate the thousand-year-old manor, turning it into a brand-new, luxurious estate.


    After presenting their invitations, the guards stayed at the manor''s entrance.


    Su''en, Qian Tiao, and Rena entered the manor.


    Unlike the previous dpidated and noisy scene, Storm Manor was nowpletely transformed.


    The garden was lush and vibrant, with brilliantly blooming flowers, and even the withered trees sprouted leafy branches. The greenery was meticulously groomed by gardeners, giving a refreshing feeling upon entering.


    This garden was likely the work of wood mages, using a great deal of resources to cultivate.


    Inside the building, it was even more splendid.


    But Su''en felt something odd; in this mansion, he always had the feeling of being in that cursed space he had seen before.


    Especially... theyout of the manor, anyone with knowledge of architecture would recognize it.


    The ce that should have been the banquet hall was still the banquet hall.


    The location of this banquet was exactly where the "Bloody Banquet" had taken ce.


    The banquet hall was brightly lit, with soothing music echoing through the hall, and elegantly dresseddies and gentlemen were chatting andughing with wine sses in hand.


    When Su''en and hispanions entered, they naturally attracted the attention of those present.


    But what was slightly awkward was that they were immediately ignored, not even receiving the most basic nod of acknowledgment.


    These were the young masters and mistresses of the major families of the inner city, who all knew each other and were even quite close.


    Qian Tiao hadn''t mingled in the upper social circles for a long time, and she didn''t care about these people, so it was normal for them to ignore her.


    But it was strange for someone like Rena, a top-tier heiress, to be treated this way.


    When the Reiss family was united, she was the center of attention wherever she went.


    But now, these people saw her and not only did no onee to greet her, but they also seemed to avoid her, their gazes evasive.


    Rena didn''t mind, but she was somewhat worried, whispering, "The butler said the situation in Old London isn''t good either. Father even had me bring almost all of our high-ranking guards, I wonder if there will be any problems..."


    Qian Tiao, unconcerned, replied, "Don''t worry... those guys won''t seed so easily."


    Rena: "Okay."


    Su''en nced around, identifying some people based on his memory.


    Standing next to Rena, even Su''en, an outsider, felt some inexplicable "malice." He raised his eyelids slightly, his lips forming a smile that was not quite a smile, "Rena''s got quite a few enemies..."


    It seemed that the uing hunt would be filled with enemies at every turn.


    However, Su''en didn''t take this malice to heart.


    With Qian Tiao around, the Reiss family''s situation wouldn''t copse, at least Rena wouldn''t die so easily.


    At worst, with Su''en''s current strength, unless a third-tier professional came along, there was really no threat to him.


    Having many enemies... in some ways, wasn''t necessarily a bad thing.


    .......


    "Tsk, Rena is in big trouble this time. I heard they can''t even hire a decent hunting group now, and with just the people they brought from the inner city, they won''tst long..."


    "Now that the major families of the inner city have united to iste them, no one dares to help them..."


    "I heard that Miss Sophia from the Reiss second branch and young master Danze from the Oliver family have been getting closetely, and they''re even nning to get engaged. Once they join forces, the inner city''sndscape is going to change..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened for a while and quickly understood.


    The Reiss family was indeed once a top-tier financial powerhouse, but after splitting into seven, their influence greatly diminished.


    Moreover, former allies had be enemies.


    The seven split families were naturally at odds with the main house, even enemies.


    And having offended everyone to death, those families that had kicked them when they were down naturally wanted to finish them off to avoid future troubles and to share in the spoils.After all, Rena had brought many direct-line experts this time, and she was the sole heir. A total annihtion in the ruins would undoubtedly directly affect the situation in the inner city.


    Internal strife and external threats, the situation was indeed worrisome.


    The trio paid no attention to the whispers of others and found a corner to talk.


    Without disturbances, there was also no need to deal with those so-called high society social interactions.


    With Qiantiao as her elder backing her, Rena''s worries were somewhat alleviated.


    However, as they chatted, Qiantiao''s "trouble" also arrived.


    Severaldies of high society came over with their sons, who wore expressions of displeasure.


    The middle-aged woman with arge emerald ne around her neck called out to Qiantiao, "Oh, Odilia, long time no see, what are you doing here~"


    This time, it wasn''t just the young masters and misses who came; many mothers worried about their precious sons and daughters being wronged also followed.


    Qiantiao looked at the neers, her brow clearly furrowing, but she still had to greet them, "Aunt Cami, long time no see."


    Su''en listened to the exchange between the two, ncing at Qiantiao out of the corner of his eye, his curiosity piqued.


    So this gambling-addicteddy''s full name was "Odilia Evelyn."


    And that morous, still-charming blonde woman was Qiantiao''s stepmother?


    That little boy with a defiant face was her half-brother by name?


    Then there were various rtives of the Evelyn family, aunts and uncles, and their children.


    What followed was a series of greetings.


    The high society was full of cumbersome formalities: greetings, returning salutations, introducing the younger generation, more greetings, more salutations, and various inquiries about each family''s elders, reminiscing about the elders'' rtionships...


    And then, the marriage urging began.


    "Odilia, you''re not getting any younger, stop mingling with themoners in the outer city. I heard you''re even involved with the gangs? Oh, heavens, if that gets out, people will say our Evelyn family has fallen..."


    "You don''t know, just yesterday I was chatting with Mrs. Albertini, and they mentioned you. They all say our Evelyn family has an old maid who can''t get married..."


    "Odilia, you''re not young anymore. Dr. Enzo from the Smith family is a fine young man; their family owns eight hospitals in District Five..."


    "..."


    It wasn''t just Qiantiao; Su''en felt overwhelmed just listening.


    Since arriving in this world, all he had encountered was fighting and killing.


    So there were still ordinary people...


    Listening to thisrge-scale marriage urging scene, which was no different from his previous life, Su''en finally understood why Qiantiao had brought him along.


    Qiantiao directly interrupted the increasingly unreliable introductions and pulled Su''en to stand up, "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce, this is Mr. ''Zolo.'' My friend."


    Su''en also took off his hat and performed a greeting, "Zolo Cerna, it''s an honor to meet all you beautifuldies."

 Chapter 190: Exchange

    Chapter 190: Exchange


    Listening to Su''en''s self-introduction, the women all swept their appraising gazes over him in unison.


    In fact, they had already noticed the man of extraordinary temperament by Qianjiao''s side.


    But because he seemed young, they hadn''t given it much thought.


    Now, hearing Qianjiao''s special introduction as "my friend," they all switched to the kind of look an elder would give to a prospective son-inw.


    One of the women asked, "The Serna family? Oh, the Serna Biological Company in District One?"


    Su''en naturally had to y his role as a tool, shaking his head: "No, not that one."


    Serna wasn''t a big name in the inner city, at least not among themonly known major families, and despite racking their brains, the women couldn''t figure out Su''en''s origins.


    Qianjiao''s aunt then tentatively asked, "What profession does Mr. Zolo engage in?"


    Su''en replied, "I''m a bounty hunter."


    Another woman, still not giving up, asked, "The inner city''s Order of Bounty Knights?"


    Su''en had heard of it; it was an organization the inner city nobles yed with. He corrected, "No, a bounty hunter from the outer city."


    With that statement, the atmosphere immediately cooled.


    Thedies'' gazes on their faces instantly became odd, although their cultivation prevented them from showing any strangeness.


    But the children beside them couldn''t help it; hearing Su''en''s profession, several of the youngsters cast looks of disgust and disdain.


    Outer city bounty hunters were seen as even more lowly than bodyguards in the eyes of the inner city''s high society, those who licked blood from the knife''s edge, who normally wouldn''t appear in their field of vision.


    It wasn''t out of malice, but rather the deep-rooted perception of outer city people in their upbringing made them think Qianjiao had found a little ruffian.


    Mrs. Cami turned to Qianjiao and asked, "By the way, Otilia, have you known Mr. Zolo for a long time?"


    "Yes. We''re living together now."


    Qianjiao seemed to want just this effect, intimately linking arms with Su''en, her smile brimming.


    Hearing they were "living together," the expressions of the noblewomen grew even uglier.


    They didn''t make a scene on the spot, and Mrs. Cami could only pull Qianjiao aside: "Oh, Otilia,e here for a moment, I have something to tell you."


    ...


    Qianjiao probably didn''t want to go.


    But she was still sternly pulled away by thedies for a talking-to.


    With the people gone, Su''en was happy to have some peace.


    His keen hearing picked up everything clearly.


    The noblewomen didn''t seem to want to hide it, perhaps intentionally wanting him to hear, talking as they walked.


    "Oh, Otilia, you actually found an outer city bounty hunter? My goodness, I can assure you, the family will never allow you to be with such a person."


    "You''re being too reckless! If this gets out now, our Evelyn family will definitely be theughingstock of the upper circles..."


    "Also, don''t get involved in the Reiss family''s affairs this time. Although I know that''s your sister''s bloodline. But I was warned before I came this time... Besides, it''s the Reiss family''s internal matter, it''s not good for us outsiders to interfere... Even if our Evelyn family loses everything, we can''t change the situation..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened and felt a headacheing on.


    Every other sentence was about "family honor" and "family interests"...


    No wonder Qianjiao didn''t want to go back.


    With her temperament, if it weren''t for rtives, anyone else nagging like this would probably have already drawn a de.


    One sh to silence a busybody, two to silence a pair.


    And the world would be at peace.


    ...


    Qianjiao was probably going to be tied up for a while, leaving Su''en and another person behind.


    After all, "Zolo" and Rena weren''t familiar, and they didn''t have much to say.


    The atmosphere was slightly awkward.


    And both were the kind of people not very wee at the party, with nowhere else to go.


    Rena thought she should find a topic and asked, "Mr. Zolo is a bounty hunter?"


    Su''en nodded: "Yes."


    Rena asked again, "Have you heard of Mr. Su''en?"


    Su''en didn''t know why she suddenly brought up himself and said, "SS-ss wanted criminal Su''en?"


    Rena nodded, "Yes."


    Then, the two fell silent again.


    Su''en curiously asked, "Miss Rena, why do you ask this?"


    Rena thought for a moment, her tone hesitant: "Well... although Mr. Su''en hasmitted crimes, he''s not a vicious person. He saved me before... My aunt has high standards, she says you''re a very capable bounty hunter, so you must be very good... If Mr. Zolo encounters that Su''en, could you please show mercy... What I mean is, can you not harm him, maybe there''s some misunderstanding, he deserves a fair trial..."


    Her tone was contradictory.


    Even somewhat incoherent.


    Clearly, in her mind, "all wanted criminals are criminals," but this shed with her own perception.


    She thought Su''en was a good person, but she didn''t deny the fact that he hadmitted crimes.


    "..."


    Su''en listened and couldn''t help but smile wryly.


    Was she actually pleading for him?


    The information Rena had was probably all from the wanted posters.


    The official wanted posters described him with words like "vicious" and "irredeemable."


    And she was actually speaking up for him?


    Although... her heart was in the right ce.


    The current "SS-ss wanted Su''en" was an existence that most bounty hunters would avoid.


    Let him off the hook?


    If it were another bounty hunter, it''s not clear who would be letting whom off.


    He agreed anyway: "Okay."


    Rena, hearing this, politely smiled: "Thank you."


    ...


    Two people who weren''t very familiar didn''t have much to talk about.


    The topic was over.


    But it wasn''t long before a beautiful blonde girl quietly approached.


    Su''en had seen this blonde girl before.


    At the Moon Inn in front of the inner city during thatmotion, she seemed to be called Yulia, Rena''s best friend.


    As Yulia passed by, she didn''t even nce at Rena, and said urgently, "Rena, I''ve heard about your situation, sorry I can''t help you, my father sent someone to warn me, the family won''t let me get involved in your Seventh House affairs. I wanted to find you some help, but those mercenaries and wild hunt groups, as soon as they hear it''s you, no matter how much they''re offered, they refuse to cooperate. I only have a few personal guards who follow my orders, tomorrow I''ll have theme to you, you canmand them..."


    She said, looking at Rena with an apologetic face, "Sorry, I can''t talk to you more. Otherwise, it will be very troublesome."


    Rena watched her best friend hurry away, a trace of destion crossing her face: "Thank you."


    Su''en listened from the side.


    Being able to lend a hand at this point really counted as having loyalty.


    ...


    Su''en was attending this kind of high society party for the first time, probably to witness the warmth and coldness of high society tonight.


    It wasn''t long after Yulia left that a handsome brown-haired young man came over.


    Su''en remembered him; this guy was one of the five major families of the camp, the rk family''s young master, Eli rk.


    A friend of Danze Junior from the Oliver family.


    One of the masterminds behind the Reiss family''s current predicament.


    Eli, the young master, came over with a wine ss in hand, a light smile on his face, and greeted Rena, "Miss Rena, long time no see."


    Rena didn''t seem to want to deal with this ill-intentioned guy, but out of etiquette, she nodded.


    Eli, the young master: "Miss Rena, oh... I''m sorry to hear you''ve recently encountered some trouble. If you think we''re friends, you can tell me..."


    Rena had no intention of wasting words with someone with ill intentions and interrupted him, "Sorry, not necessary."


    "It seems you''re not in a good mood..."


    Eli, hearing this, shed a look of expected amusement, but then said, "Now that Princess Theresa has arrived, I''ve got word that in three days at thetest, you, me... everyone will have to go into the ruins for a wild hunt. I hear Miss Rena hasn''t recruited a hunting team yet?"


    He paused, his eyes mocking as he looked over Rena''s delicate doll-like face, "Actually, we could exchange some ideas, maybee up with a solution. If you don''t mind, after the party, I''d like to invite Miss Rena for a drink, I wonder..."


    His tone sounded like a question, but it was actually very aggressive.


    Rena''s face already showed anger, and she didn''t give this hypocritical young master any face, saying coldly, "Sorry, I don''t have time."


    Su''en, standing by, also raised an eyebrow.


    That''s the trouble with so-called high society.


    You know it''s you who did it, you can''t tear your face off, you have no evidence, you can''t fight, there''s too much to consider.


    Unlike in the gang, where everyone is barefoot, I don''t bother with you, you dare to provoke, I dare to kill.


    Eli shrugged, the gloom in his eyes shing away, suddenly no longer hiding it, and sneered, "Heh, I gave you a chance, you don''t want it, I won''t force it. I just hope Miss Rena you don''te to me on your knees begging..."


    If he could get the daughter of the Reiss family''s main house, he could gain more than by destroying it.


    Too bad... this woman doesn''t know what''s good for her!


    And not far away, Danze Junior and the other young masters and misses were pointing andughing.


    Seemingly making bets.


    Eli, the young master, lost and was humiliated.


    ...


    Rena, hearing that, blushed with anger.


    Her upbringing in manners and cultivation prevented her from returning the venomous words, so she just turned her head away, no longer paying attention.


    It was a negotiation that was going to end in failure, and it looked like it was going to end badly.


    But Su''en didn''t expect that as a bystander eating melons, he would also be affected.


    Perhaps because he was rebuffed by Rena, Eli also had some anger.


    He looked at Su''en and asked coldly, "This friend looks unfamiliar, eh? Which family''s young master are you?"


    The threatening tone was unmistakable.


    I don''t allow anyone to help the Reiss main house, and you dare to go against the wind?


    "..."


    Hearing this, Su''en didn''t even look up,pletely ignoring him.


    You high society people have to consider social etiquette, I''m just a gangster.


    Being ignored by Rena was one thing, after all, they were on the same level. Now being ignored by Su''en, Eli, the young master, felt a great insult.


    He looked at the two people who were alone, made up his mind about something, and said sarcastically, "Yo... Miss Rena, is this the help you found?"


    Rena seemed not to want to involve Su''en and quickly turned back to say something, "It has nothing to do with Mr. Zolo, he is..."


    But at that moment, Su''en directly interrupted her, bursting out his name: "I''m Zolo."


    Might as well be enemies if we''re going to be enemies.


    Let the hatred max out.


    Eli, hearing this, thought for a moment, not recalling anyone with that name: "Yo, it seems you don''t know me?"


    He figured if he didn''t recognize him, then he definitely wasn''t from the inner city''s top families, so there was nothing to worry about.


    Even if he was wrong, he had to lie down now!


    He didn''t know that he had provoked someone more ferocious than the top financial magnates.


    "I don''t know you."


    Su''en nced at him with contempt and added, "So, you have something to say?"


    That effectively killed the conversation.


    If they don''t know you, there''s no point in showing off.


    Eli, the young master, had a face like he had swallowed a dead rat, his face twitching, and he didn''t know how to respond.


    After a long struggle, he finally squeezed out a few words with a fierce look, "Zolo, is it? Heh, you''re something. Just don''t fall into my hands..."


    Su''en felt the tangible murderous intent and nced at him.


    But he didn''t care.


    No one dared to make a move at this party.


    ...


    Eli, the young master, left in a huff, and Rena turned back to Su''en, full of apologies, "Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Enzo."


    Su''en shook his head and smiled, "It''s nothing."


    Rena thought Su''en really didn''t know that Eli, the young master, and exined anxiously, "No, that was the young master of the rk family... it''s troublesome to provoke him..."


    Su''en shook his head indifferently, "I know."


    "Ah?"


    Rena was a bit puzzled, knowing and still... offending?Not even the bounty hunters from the outer city dare to provoke him, let alone those from the inner city.


    She wanted to say more, but just then, the entire banquet hall fell silent.


    Everyone looked up to see a young girl in avish princess gown, surrounded by a group of guards, making her entrance into the banquet.


    Naturally, she was the protagonist of the evening, Princess Theresa of the Duke''s estate.


    They had met briefly in the afternoon when Princess Theresa was wearing a full-face veil.


    Now, although still veiled, the sheer fabric only covered half of her face, allowing a glimpse of her exquisitely beautiful features.


    In an instant, the gazes of the inner city''s young masters anddies were captivated by her.


    Su''en, however, was not overly astonished. He had already peeled away the memory fragment of Princess Theresa''s appearance from a previous fifth-order memory.


    But seeing the memory and the person herself were two different things.


    "This one''s charm is quite high..."


    For some reason, Su''en always felt that there was something eerily familiar about Theresa.


    It wasn''t just her face, but a certain sense of familiarity, as if... he recognized a unique aura about her, or something of the sort...


    And when he saw the butterfly brooch pinned to the chest of the girl in the princess gown, his pupils suddenly constricted.


    It was identical to a brooch he had once buried in a certain cavern!

 Chapter 191: A thousand threads do not make a thousand

    Chapter 191: A thousand threads do not make a thousand


    ps. First draft, silent reading after twenty minutes.


    Upon seeing the ck butterfly brooch on Princess Theresa''s chest, Su''en''s gaze faltered.


    He immediately realized that things might be moreplicated than he had anticipated.


    The more he thought about it, the more he felt a chilling sensation.


    On his first day after crossing over, he had encountered a ghostly young girl named "Pestoya" in this very manor, in this very banquet hall.


    That young girl had given him a butterfly brooch just like this one.


    Su''en had once used the All-Seeing Eye to detect "???" information within the brooch and, to be safe, had hidden it in a corner of the catbs.


    Looking back, he still felt that his decision to hide the brooch was absolutely necessary.


    This was a world of mysterious powers.


    Every time the All-Seeing Eye identified "???" information, it involved something extremely high-end.


    Although Su''en didn''t know what it specifically was, it was likely some indescribable entity.


    Moreover, Su''en was no longer the naive neer he was on his first day after crossing over.


    He now knew that the people in the cursed space, no matter how real, were either remnants or illusions.


    Typically, even ghostly entities were NPCs with less intelligence.


    But after experiencing so many cursed spaces and encountering numerous monsters, Su''en realized that "Pestoya" he had met was on apletely different level of intelligence.


    Emotions, dialogue, logical thinking...


    "Pestoya" was just like a real person!


    This made Su''en even more certain that the level of the cursed space in the "Storm Manor" was unimaginably high.


    Or very special.


    After all, Pestoya had another identity; she was Sir Isaac''s own daughter!


    Now that Su''en had learned some of the background of Dawn City, he felt even more certain that this strange story must involve some secrets from a thousand years ago.


    So the appearance of that brooch here...


    Was even more bizarre!


    .......


    The moment he saw Princess Theresa, Su''en quickly averted his gaze and subtly shifted his position to avoid being noticed by her.


    Seeing the brooch, he reflexively thought of two possibilities.


    1. The brooch he had buried was discovered and dug up by someone, and it was just an ordinary cursed object;


    2. There was a big problem with the brooch;


    Su''en''s way of thinking always leaned towards the worst-case scenario.


    He chose option 2.


    And now, the likelihood that there was a problem with the brooch seemed very high.


    He had been suspecting what it was in the Dawn Relic that could attract the princess of the grand ducal family to risking in person.


    Now it seemed that either she had discovered some secret from the brooch, like a treasure map.


    But even if it was a treasure map, there was no need for her toe personally.


    After all, the entire underground world was her family''s mine; sending someone would suffice.


    Or there was some reason she had toe.


    And urgently so.


    Whichever it was, Su''en felt it was best not to get involved.


    Observing the aloof aura of Theresa, he also vaguely understood what that familiar feeling was all about.


    ......


    When Theresa made her appearance, all eyes were focused on her.


    Even within the inner city, very few of the great tycoons had seen the princess.


    After all, which mining magnate''s daughter would regrly delve into her own mines?


    Most people present would think Theresa''s aloofness was the demeanor of a high noble.


    But who could imagine that the ducal mansion in the inner city might just be for show?


    The asional descent into the mines for inspection by the princess was taken as a grace by these people.


    After entering the banquet hall, Theresa didn''t say a word.


    But it was this attitude of indifference that excited the inner city crowd below.


    Ah... this was true nobility.


    Each one generouslyvished their praise, sounding like whispers, but their voices seemed to wish for theirpliments to reach the princess''s ears.


    "Oh, Princess Theresa is so beautiful, like an angel..."


    "To see the princess with my own eyes today, even if it meant going to my death instead ofing to this relic, I would not hesitate..."


    "Yes. If she would allow me to kiss her toes, it would be the honor of my lifetime..."


    "Ah! My Valen family will always be the most loyal servant of the Duke and Princess Theresa..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened and felt something odd in his heart.


    Attending such an upper-ss social gathering for the first time, this culture of ttering the lord made him somewhat ufortable.


    However, fortunately, it seemed that Theresa had no intention of dining and drinking here. As soon as she arrived, she went straight to the main topic.


    Herdy-in-waiting announced: "The purpose of summoning everyone to the Dawn Relic by Her Highness the Princess is already clear. This mission requires everyone to explore the relic and find certain things..."


    She rattled off a bunch.


    Listening to thedy-in-waiting, Su''en quickly analyzed some key information in his mind.


    Pioneering, finding things.


    It meant that Theresa wasn''t sure where the "things" were and needed to pioneer the entire relic.


    Then there were tasks and rewards.


    Listening to thedy-in-waiting, it seemed that whichever family found what the princess wanted would be favored by the ducal mansion and be the number one family in the inner city.


    ......


    "All major families must arrive at the core urban area of the relic on time and ording to the route..."


    Before long, thedy-in-waiting finished speaking.


    She waved her hand and called out, "Draw lots!"


    As her words fell, a group of servants carrying tters came forward.


    The heads of the major families stepped forward to draw lots, dividing the relic into more than thirty routes like cutting a cake, and whichever route was drawn was theirs.


    Coincidentally, when the young girl Rena went to draw, she got number sixteen.


    Number fifteen was the Oliver family, and number seventeen was the rk family...


    Meaning that on the way to the hunt, they would be nked by enemies.


    Compared to Rena''s troubled face, Su''en chuckled to himself upon seeing this: "These guys still have some tricks up their sleeves, managing to tamper with the drawing of lots..."


    But it was just as well.


    He was still thinking about the treasure in Danze Junior''s hands.


    This hunting expedition would be fraught with danger, and it was highly likely that the young master would bring it along.


    After the drawing of lots, Princess Theresa left the scene.


    Su''en also inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.


    Only then did the feeling that had been causing a dull pain in his brow disappear.


    Although he had only seen a familiar butterfly brooch, he still felt an inexplicable palpitation.


    .......


    After the princess left, everyone thought the formal banquet would follow.


    But unexpectedly, at that moment, a group of maids carrying silver-covered tters walked in, starting to serve the "main course."


    As the main course was served, a strong smell of blood immediately swept through the entire banquet hall.


    Everyone looked at each other, thinking it was some kind of fresh "sashimi."


    Princess Theresa had already left, and the people at the party were no longer so restrained.


    Someone curiously lifted the cover of a tter to take a look.


    All eyes were focused on it.


    But to their shock, they found a simply marinated bloody head!


    Not all inner city young masters and misses had seen bloodshed, and at this sight, they turned pale with fright, instantly eximing. But since it was the temporary residence of Miss Theresa, they all covered their mouths, and no one dared to scream out loud.


    Someone recognized the origin of the head, tremblingly said: "This... isn''t this the youngest son of Mr. Marino of the ''Tessali family''?"


    Upon opening the other tters, they saw that the Tessali family was all ounted for.


    From old to young, the heads of more than twenty direct members of the family were all present.


    A banquet of heads...


    This terrifying scene stunned everyone.


    Looking at the table full of heads, these inner city young masters and misses immediately understood something.


    This was a warning to scare the monkeys.


    But they didn''t understand why the "Tessali family" was suddenly exterminated.


    "Why... why is this..."


    "Yes, weren''t Mr. Tessali and his family actively responding to the hunt? They also sent quite a few people this time..."


    "Could it be a mistake, or is there another reason?"


    "..."


    There are no secrets in the upper-ss social circles.


    At this time, a woman stood up and revealed the truth of the matter.


    "Ah... I probably know what''s going on. Mrs. Tessali was always reluctant to let her son join the hunt, and then, hoping for luck, she temporarily reced him with the son of a bodyguard''s family as a stand-in. She even advised me to do the same..."


    As she spoke, thedy did not forget to express her own stance: "I warned them not to y tricks, and now look what happened. They should have just followed the Duke''s orders properly, but they had to make it like this."


    With that, everyone understood.


    What they thought was a wless n was all under the control of the ck Tower.


    This also made those young masters and misses who had originally nned to y tricks during the hunt feel a chill on their necks.


    Princess Theresa''s tough attitude shattered any illusions they had.


    For a moment, the grand banquet hall was silent.


    But...


    These people had worked hard even if they had no merits.


    As subjects of Duke Raphael, those who could stand here were at least prominent figures in the inner city.


    To warn them with such a brutal and tyrannical method?


    It didn''t seem like a crime worthy of death, yet the ducal mansion showed no mercy, erasing an entire major family just like that?


    The crowd hadplex expressions, filled with worry, anger, confusion, indignation...


    Yet no one dared to speak out.


    But the more top-tier families in the inner city knew the terror of the ck Tower.


    Especially those who had heard bits and pieces about the "rebellion" fifty years ago from their elders, they dared not speak.


    .......


    Su''en watched from a distance, and his shock was no less than that of the others.


    However, it wasn''t the bloody banquet of heads that shocked him, but the method, which felt eerily familiar to him!


    The same banquet hall, the same bloody methods...


    It was as if Su''en recalled the scene from the past, thinking to himself: "Why does Theresa''s method feel like Pestoya''s... Could it be a coincidence?"


    For a moment, rted clues in his mind connected.


    He vaguely felt that he might have guessed part of the truth of the matter.


    But some aspects contradicted each other, and something didn''t seem quite right.


    For example, the most critical question: why would Sir Isaac have burned his daughter to death?


    Suddenly, a spection emerged in his mind that he found hard to believe: "Or perhaps... the Pestoya I met wasn''t Sir Isaac''s daughter at all? If not, then who was she?"


    The only certainty now was that there was definitely something wrong with the butterfly brooch.


    .......


    As Su''en''s thoughts were still drifting, at that moment, Pestoya approached from somewhere.


    The only necessary part of the party had ended, and there was no need for them to stay.


    She called out to Su''en and the other: "Let''s go, we''re heading back too."


    Saying so, Pestoya naturally took Su''en''s arm.


    The three of them headed down the road.


    "We drew number fifteen, and we''ll be leaving the day after tomorrow at thetest. But we haven''t recruited a hunting team or mercenaries yet..."


    "It''s not a big problem. The people from the Cross Society will be at your disposal when the timees. And Mr. Zolo will also go with you; he''s very capable. If you have any problems, just ask him..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened to the two women''s conversation on the side, unable to interject.


    Walking along, he became curious about something: had this gambling-addicted woman gotten used to wearing thisdylike dress? He hadn''t heard herin.


    Before long, they arrived at the "Unicorn Hotel."Su''en had intended to return to the Rose Hotel for a good rest, but Rena had also invited him along.


    He couldn''t refuse and followed her upstairs.


    The hotel was luxurious, with exquisite decor.


    There were two suites on the top floor, and since Miss Rena was staying in one, no one else was arranged to stay there.


    The suite was several timesrger than the hotel room Su''en had stayed in before,plete with a bathtub.


    It seemed that Qian Tiao was quite happy, as the two women took up one room.


    Su''en went to the other.


    .......


    The bed in the room was veryfortable, soft to sit on.


    Thinking that he would be hunting in the wilderness soon and probably wouldn''t be able to bathe for a long time, Su''en also took a quick shower.


    It turned out that inspiration and thought are most active while bathing.


    With bubbles on his head, as the hot water cascaded over him, it was like weak currents of electricity stimting his thoughts, making his senses even clearer.


    On the way back, he had been thinking about the "butterfly brooch."


    He still hadn''t figured it out and decided not to dwell on it.


    His thoughts shifted to Rena next door.


    "Rena''s situation is really quite dire. From what she said, it seems like several branches of the family and a few of the Oliver families in the inner city are nning to thoroughly deal with the main branch this time. But her father has such arge share of the business in the inner city, he must have more tricks up his sleeve..."


    Su''en pondered.


    Maybe it was the ck Tower targeting the main branch of the Reiss family?


    He knew that Qian Tiao was a member of the "Mirror Organization" and suspected that the Reiss family was definitely rted to "Mirror."


    But if that were the case, it should be the Umbre Organization making the move.


    Or perhaps, it was simply because the Duke''s Mansion didn''t want to see toorge a conglomerate emerge, so they took action?


    So, was themotion within the great Oliver family tacitly permitted?


    Su''en''s thoughts raced.


    .......


    The room was soundproofed well, and he couldn''t hear any noise from next door.


    But listening to the faint sound of water flowing within the walls, Su''en guessed that someone next door was taking a bath.


    Probably Qian Tiao.


    Su''en thought.


    With a bathtub, that gambling-addicteddy would probably enjoy a good soak.


    But suddenly, a sh of insight struck him.


    "Eh! Something''s not right. Qian Tiao has been acting a bit strange since we left the manor..."


    Su''en suddenly thought of something, frowning.


    If it had been back in Old Lingdun, he might not have noticed anything.


    But having spent so much time with Qian Tiao recently, he was all too familiar with her temperament.


    When they left the manor, although they were holding hands and appeared affectionate, Su''en had distinctly noticed something subtly different.


    At this moment, with a sh of insight, he finally realized what had been missing all along.


    The soft touch was gone!


    They were very familiar with each other, and Qian Tiao had no reservations around Su''en. On a normal day, her carefree nature would have her clinging to him.


    But just now, she had maintained a very rational distance.


    "Was that ''Qian Tiao'' just now not the real Qian Tiao?"


    Su''en thought of a possibility that terrified him.


    Yet he was also puzzled.


    "No, that can''t be right! The aura, the figure, they were exactly the same. Even the best disguise couldn''t achieve that level."


    He was confident that his perception was sharp enough that he couldn''t have been holding a fake Qian Tiao without noticing.


    And he felt that the gambling-addicteddy''s strength had reached the fourth tier; she couldn''t have been silently reced by someone else.


    But then a thought shed through his mind.


    Thinking of the bizarre appearance of the "butterfly brooch,"


    Or perhaps some special ability-sealing item...


    It might not be impossible to create a convincing fake!


    "A special talent, or perhaps a profession skilled in disguise?"


    With this thought, Su''en was no longer calm.


    The more he thought about it, the more suspicious the "Qian Tiao" from before seemed.


    It was a detail that others wouldn''t notice!


    ........


    Once this year started, things became increasingly uncontroble.


    If things were as he suspected, the problem was huge!


    Who would impersonate Qian Tiao?


    It must be that the ck Tower had discovered some clue and confirmed her identity.


    They came fishing for her!


    It wasn''t just targeting one person, but targeting the "Mirror Organization"!


    But as soon as this thought urred, Su''en considered too many strange possibilities...


    What if he was overthinking it?


    To rify his suspicions, Su''en decided to personally verify the situation.

 Chapter 192: Alibi

    Chapter 192: Alibi


    Su''en donned his clothes and stepped out of his room.


    The moment he appeared in the corridor, he sensed a gaze observing him.


    No hostility, just caution.


    "Quite strong, must be Rena''s shadow guard..."


    Su''en perceived his surroundings and, apart from that gaze, there was no one else.


    He didn''t show any signs of abnormality and walked straight to the next door, knocking on it.


    Knock! Knock! Knock!


    "Who is it?"


    "Miss Rena, it''s me, Zolo."


    Soon after, the door opened.


    Rena, dressed in a homely gown, greeted him with a smile: "Mr. Zolo. Are you looking for my aunt? She''s taking a bath."


    "Yes. I just remembered something urgent I need to discuss with her..."


    Su''en nodded gently at Rena, but his gaze swept into the room, pausing before he added, "May Ie in and wait for her?"


    Although Rena felt it was somewhat impolite to let a strange man into her room at night, hearing it was "urgent," she consented: "Pleasee in."


    After closing the door, the watchful gaze from outside disappeared.


    ......


    Su''en entered but did not wait on the sofa.


    Listening to the sound of water from the bathroom, he looked over and called out, "Aunt Qiantiao, when will you be done? I need to talk to you."


    Whether it was just coincidence or not, the sound of water stopped abruptly as Su''en entered.


    At that moment, "Qiantiao," wearing a bathrobe, emerged from the bathroom.


    She looked at Su''enzily and asked, "What''s up, kid Su''en?"


    Her demeanor showed no signs of abnormality.


    Su''en, observing hernguid expression, even began to doubt his own suspicions.


    However, upon seeing the tightly wrapped chest under the bathrobe, he felt something was off again.


    A gambling-addicted woman wouldn''t be so guarded against him.


    Especially the way the belt was tied... it was not Qiantiao''s usual style!


    "Um... indeed, there''s something..."


    As Su''en spoke, his hand did not hesitate, and he suddenly drew his gun.


    He aimed the muzzle at "Qiantiao''s" head, ready to blow her brains out at the slightest movement, "Who are you?"


    As he spoke, his left hand reached into the void, and an invisible reaper with a scythe appeared beside him.


    Su''en had expected this "Qiantiao" to argue, but instead, she just looked at him indifferently and raised an eyebrow: "Oh... caught on, have you?"


    Rena, witnessing Su''en suddenly raising his gun, was about to say something when she suddenly lost consciousness and copsed onto the soft carpet.


    Su''en caught this out of the corner of his eye and was shocked.


    He was horrified to realize that he hadn''t seen how the woman opposite him had made her move!


    A sense of fatal danger overwhelmed him, and he didn''t even think to pull the trigger.


    It was as if she had suddenly be wless, and even with a scythe and a gun in hand, any attack would fail.


    He had felt this once before.


    It was when Mr. ck and his group were ambushing a fifth-tier.


    Only when facing those top professionals did he feel such suppression.


    This woman...


    Very strong!


    Extremely strong!


    "Qiantiao" remainedposed, ignoring the threat of the scythe and the gun, and walked straight to the sofa, casually inviting Su''en to sit: "Sit."


    From beginning to end, there was no sense of hostility.


    Suddenly, Su''en''s mind cleared of certain thoughts, his tense nerves rxed, and he put away his gun and the reaper.


    He looked at the woman on the sofa, sighed slightly, and ventured, "Mr. Mirror?"


    Even if she wasn''t, the person before him was definitely a member of the Mirror organization.


    "Qiantiao" looked at Su''en and smiled nomittally, "How did you guess?"


    Su''en, hearing her tone, had aplex look in his eyes.


    He had never imagined that the one impersonating Qiantiao would be the leader of the Mirror organization.


    Mr. Mirror...


    Mirror?


    So, her ability was to mimic reflections?


    Although he didn''t know whether Mr. Mirror''s true form was male or female, judging by her demeanor, as long as she wasn''t a cross-dresser in daily life, she was likely a woman.


    Su''en: "I noticed some differences between you and Qiantiao..."


    "I see..."


    Mr. Mirror heard this exnation and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.


    Su''en then asked, "What brings you here?"


    He used a respectful tone, as he was almost certain that Mr. Mirror was not young.


    After all, she was the teacher whom Mr. ck referred to with respect!


    He was also curious about why Mr. Mirror was here and where the real Qiantiao had gone.


    Mr. Mirror spoke directly, "The leader of the Umbre organization, ''Coroner'' Severus Gerald, hase personally. His cognitive abilities have awakened, making him very skilled at solving cases. Due to some clues, Qiantiao and the Reyes family are now under suspicion. So, we need to deal with this trouble tonight."


    "Qiantiao is under suspicion?"


    Concise and clear, Su''en immediately understood.


    He thought of the bespectacled middle-aged man from the casino murder and his expression grew solemn.


    Although it was just suspicion, for the Reyes family, it was an absolute disaster.


    With such a major incident and the death of a fifth-tier professional, a mere "suspicion" was enough to annihte a n, considering the ck Tower''s attitude towards the major families of the inner city.


    Moreover, if Qiantiao was truly exposed, it would mean he would be exposed as well.


    If it weren''t for the fact that this big shot was sitting in front of him so calmly, Su''en knew that upon hearing this news, he would already be nning his escape.


    Mr. Mirror picked up the tea on the table and took a sip: "You''ll know soon. It''s not too troublesome."


    .......


    Hearing Mr. Mirror''s tone, Su''en breathed a sigh of relief.


    But at that moment, something unexpected happened!


    He suddenly felt a ring on his finger heating up, and his face changed drastically.


    This was a special signal he had with Sabina; ordinary information would be transmitted through other channels, but if this alchemical ring heated up, it meant an emergency.


    Su''en nced at Mr. Mirror, who was calmly sipping tea, and spoke rapidly, "I''ve received a message from an inside source, the Umbre organization ising for me!"


    Upon hearing this, Mr. Mirror continued to sip her tea leisurely, as if she had known all along, and said lightly, "Hmm. We''ve been followed since we left the manor."


    Su''en thought to himself that it was indeed so, and said nothing more.


    At that moment, Rena, who had copsed on the floor, slowly opened her eyes. She seemed to havepletely forgotten what happened before she fainted and looked around in confusion, "What... what happened to me?"


    Su''en, quick to react, dashed over and helped her up very gentlemanly, "You''ve probably been overworking yourselftely, you just fainted..."


    Then the young Miss Rena really believed she had just fainted, "Oh, I have indeed been getting very little sleep."


    She murmured with a frown, stood up, and didn''t think much of it, politely replying, "Thank you. I''ve embarrassed myself in front of you."


    Su''en nodded in response.


    After a pause, Rena looked at Su''en and asked, "By the way, Mr. Zolo, I remember you came to see my aunt because you had something urgent, right?"


    Hearing this, Su''en felt slightly awkward: "This..."


    The atmosphere in the room, with three people, suddenly became a bit strange.


    He had initially suspected the "fake Qiantiao" and wanted to confront her.


    Now the situation had reversed, and although he was sure she was a fake, she was almost as good as the real one.


    Moreover, not knowing who this "fake Qiantiao" was would have been one thing,


    but now that he knew she was the leader of the Umbre organization, he dared not act rashly.


    Unexpectedly, "Qiantiao" patted the spot next to her, "Zolo,e sit here. Help me dry my hair..."


    Hearing this, Su''en walked over and quickly got into character.


    His mentality was excellent; if the big shot called, he would sit.


    He plopped down next to "Qiantiao," and the two of them were as intimate as ever.


    After all, it seemed like trouble was brewing tonight.


    Being closer to the big shot was safer.


    He guessed that the big shot was creating an alibi for Aunt Qiantiao.


    .......


    Su''en casually made up an excuse to gloss over the earlier incident.


    The three chatted intermittently, and before long, there was a sudden, urgent knock on the door.


    "Miss, something terrible has happened!"


    Rena immediately went to open the door.


    At that moment, an elderly butler-like figure was holding a box, speaking urgently, "Someone just delivered Miss Yulia''s head."


    "What?!"


    Rena''s face turned pale at the news.


    She looked at the blood-stained box in the butler''s hands, trembling, "This... she..."


    "This old butler is a third-tier professional, the Reyes family indeed has some depth."


    Su''en''s eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the imposing old butler, guessing that this must be the expert who had been secretly protecting Rena outside her room.


    Yulia... seemed to be the blonde girl who wanted to help Rena at the party?


    Unexpectedly, she had been killed.


    The butler continued, "Earlier, I heard fighting noises from the ''Blue Moon Inn.'' Yulia''s guards didn''tst long; the attackers must have third-tier professionals! It''s likely the Oliver family''s doing. They''re probably targeting you, Miss. I think we must leave the camp immediately..."


    Before he could finish, the butler seemed to have noticed something, "Someone''sing!"


    With a shout, the man vanished from the spot.


    Immediately after, a roar from the old butler came from outside the inn: "Hmph! This is Reyes family property, who are you people!"


    .......


    Su''en also heard themotion outside; it seemed there were quite a few visitors.


    Delivering a head was naturally intended to provoke "Qiantiao" into retaliating and revealing herself.


    With a third-tier master arriving, she couldn''t hide.


    Su''en now understood why Mr. Mirror hade here tonight.


    Apart from protecting Rena, it was more important to use this third-tier elder to buy some time.


    Su''en and the others quickly descended the stairs, only to see the old butler confronting people from the Umbre organization.


    The leader was the bespectacled middle-aged man.


    Naturally, he was the leader of the Umbre organization, ''Coroner'' Severus Gerald!


    The man was currently covered in blood on his xen suit, with a hint of a sickly enjoyment on his face, as if he had just relished a bloody feast.


    In Su''en''s eyes, he saw a trace of uncontroble violence.


    He nced at the group of trench-coated figures in the shadows and noticed several fourth-tier professionals!


    "Qiantiao" made her appearance and was not polite in revealing her alchemical armor,


    With a nk, as if by reflex, the opposition tensed up.


    The bespectacled middle-aged man''s face changed as if he had put on a mask, and a terrifyingly creepy ck and white Joker Mask appeared!


    With the mask on, ''Coroner'' Severus''s demeanor changed drastically, and the violence was instantly suppressed.


    He became cold and inhuman.


    "This Joker mask seems to be a powerful cursed item..."


    Su''en didn''t dare to appraise it, but he also drew his gun, ying the role of the bounty hunter Zolo.


    Although he didn''t look at his side, he was curious how "Mr. Mirror" could perfectly mimic Qiantiao''s alchemical armor?


    Moreover, her aura didn''t seem excessively strong, roughly at the level of a second-tier.


    Both sides didn''t bother with words and immediately started fighting.


    .......


    The Umbre organization did not reveal their identity, probably thinking that if there was a mix-up, they could pass off the incident as a robbery gone wrong.


    After all, it was just a suspicion.


    Moreover, the Umbre organization was not the ck Tower; for thisw enforcement department to attack a top inner-city family, they still needed some usible reason.


    Rena''s guards were not weak; besides the third-tier elder, there were also two second-tiers in the inn.


    Facing the trench-coated figures, they didn''t fall behind for a while.


    Because... none of those fourth-tiers made a move!


    "Are they just suspecting and probing..."


    Su''en muttered to himself.


    His character was a gunman, so he didn''t need to engage in closebat. He just stayed by Rena''s side, taking potshots.Within the battle group, a third-tier butler was entangled by a "forensic" wearing a clown mask named Severus.


    On the battlefield, Qian Tiao was the one receiving special attention.


    Fortunately, her skill with the de was not bad, wielding her four arms so tightly that not a single blow could prate, at least for a moment...


    Su''en''s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the scene, and he couldn''t help but marvel again. This "Qian Tiao" was indeed indistinguishable from the real one.


    Her swordsmanship was identical to the real Qian Tiao!


    But outnumbered, "Qian Tiao" was at a disadvantage against the focused assault of several second-tier professionals.


    The people from the Umbre Organization were already suspicious, and now seeing Qian Tiao''s all-out effort, which seemed to be at a second-tier level, they couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    In this situation, there was no need to disguise one''s strength.


    They were about to intensify their probing,


    But unexpectedly, at that moment, a hugemotion erupted from Storm Manor.


    "Boom boom boom~"


    "Boom boom boom~"


    "..."


    The violent fluctuations of magic were so exaggerated that they couldn''t have been produced by a third-tier professional...


    It was clear that someone hadunched a sneak attack on Princess Theresa''s residence!


    From a distance, they could see several cloaked figures charging and attacking fiercely, and behind one of them, the phantom shadow of the "Rakshasa Woman" was strikingly visible!


    "Not good! It''s a trap!"


    Hearing themotion, the members of the Umbre Organization, as well as the hidden fourth-tier professionals, all changed color.


    How could they not understand that the enemy had taken advantage of the weak defenses to assassinate the princess?


    Without a second thought for the current battlefield, they vanished in an instant.

 Chapter 193: Goodbye Pestoya

    Chapter 193: Goodbye Pestoya


    The battle in front of the Unicorn Inn had abruptlye to an end.


    The fight that erupted from Storm Manor had set the underworld aze, throwing the entire camp into instant chaos.


    The sh of high-tier spells caused a series of terrifying tremors near the manor, as if mountains were copsing and the earth was splitting apart.


    From a distance, one could see the residence of Princess Theresa suddenly conjure the phantom images of four golden-armored knights, each towering twenty to thirty meters high.


    It was as if someone was fiercely battling these knightly apparitions, the nging sounds of their weapons echoing throughout the camp.


    Shockwaves surged one after another, like waves crashing against the entire camp.


    With the golden knight phantoms guarding the manor, the attackers'' methods were not weak either.


    The fourth-tier fire spell "Meteor Incineration" gathered meteors within the septagram in the sky, raining down like droplets...


    The wide-ranging fourth-tier lightning spell "City-Destroying Thundercloud" crackled with lightning, as thunder dragons rampaged down...


    The third-tier arcane spell "Earth Rend" shook the ground, creating deep, bottomless fissures around the manor...


    Upon seeing this disy of multi-elemental high-tier spells, Su''en knew that it was Mr. ck who had made his move.


    This "Schr" had truly mastered the alchemical arts of various elements. Even though he wasn''t a fifth-tier, his area-of-effect spells were even more troublesome than those of a fifth-tier.


    How many in the camp had ever seen high-tier spells?


    Witnessing this apocalypticmotion, everyone was horrified.


    For a moment, near Storm Manor, ice, frost, lightning, fire... various elemental spells collided like festival fireworks, exploding across the sky.


    But as dangerous as it was, it was time to show valor.


    "There''s an assassin attacking Princess Theresa, let''s go support her!"


    "We can''t let the viin escape!"


    "..."


    The mor and shouts were incessant, as everyone excitedly prepared to lead their troops to the rescue.


    The major families in the camp, along with their own forces, rushed towards Storm Manor in a frenzied surge, thousands of people flocking to the scene.


    And just as the crowd surged forward, someone amidst them suddenly activated a septagram, and before the others could react, another high-tier spell was unleashed, forcing several fourth-tier guards who were trying to seal off the manor to dodge in panic. Although it wasn''t necessarily fatal, it made them realize that there were still assassins mixed in with the group.


    Then, a thunderous shout!


    "Everyone is forbidden from approaching the manor, or they will be killed without mercy!"


    But thismand not only failed to stabilize the situation, it made things even more chaotic.


    While the higher-ups were unable, the people from the lower districts continued to pour in, eager to show off in front of the princess.


    The camp was filled with various scavenger groups, mercenaries, family guards, city guards, security teams... Dozens of groups, unfamiliar with each other, soon began to fight amongst themselves as someone fired a shot.


    "Damn it! Who''sunching rockets..."


    "Motherfucker, stop shooting randomly. We''re mercenaries from the David family!"


    "We''re targeting you, I just saw that rocket, you''re part of the assassin''s group!"


    "Go to hell, you''re the ones from the assassin''s group."


    Some fanned the mes, some fired shots, and those who tried to mediate inevitably got hit.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Pop! Pop! Pop!


    The sound of gunfire was chaotic.


    Suddenly, someone shouted.


    "Not good! The assassins are breaking out!"


    "..."


    The chaotic situation provided the "assassins" with an opportunity to attack and retreat.


    The battle started quickly and ended just as swiftly.


    A few cloaked figures caused somemotion in the manor, seemingly achieving their goal, and without any hesitation, they fled towards the outskirts of the city.


    Perhaps they were cautious after having lured and killed a fifth-tier professionalst time.


    The high-tier guards in the manor dared not pursue too far, fearing a repeat of the old trick or a diversion.


    The lower-tier professionals couldn''t stop them, and the cloaked assassins faced little resistance as they broke through the encirclement, leaped over the city walls, and disappeared beyond the city gates.


    .......


    In front of the Unicorn Inn.


    Several guards had died, and "Qiantiao" had also sustained some injuries.


    Su''en watched the "Rakshasa women" sessfully escape into the distance and let out a slight sigh of relief.


    Now, Qiantiao and the Rakshasa women hadpletely severed their ties.


    Although it seemed coincidental, it didn''t matter anymore.


    As long as Qiantiao wasn''t a "Rakshasa woman," just a gangster, no matter what, the level of danger had dropped countless notches.


    Even such ordinary gang records would no longer enter the sight of high-level officials like the leaders of the Umbre Organization.


    The Umbre Organization would probably quiet down for a while.


    On the other hand, Rena stood there in a daze.


    This youngdy, who had never experienced major setbacks, witnessed her best friend''s head being delivered to her tonight. She witnessed an unprovoked attack. The intense emotions of powerlessness and being at the mercy of others washed over her like a tide, eroding some of her beliefs. In her originally bright and sparkling ck eyes, there was also a trembling light that was difficult to describe...


    The old butler had been injured in the fight with the "coroner" Servis, with a patch of bright red blood on his shirt.


    He tidied himself up, covered it with his coat, walked over, and seeing his youngdy in a state of shock, he sighed softly, "Miss, you should go upstairs and rest. Leave everything here to me. We''ll leave the city tomorrow morning."


    The attack was by people from the Umbre Organization, they had realized.


    So, they could only swallow this loss, no matter how bitter.


    Even though the Reyes family was once a top financial tycoon in the inner city, they couldn''t afford to provoke that organization.


    Rena was somewhat dazed as she returned to her room and just sat on the bed in a stupor.


    "Qiantiao" nced at her, then turned to Su''en and said, "Let her be alone for a while, this might be good for her."


    Su''en nodded, "Hmm."


    The cruelty of this world was far greater than what Rena had seen.


    The y had to continue, and Mr. Mirror and Su''en entered another room.


    .......


    The door closed, and a soundproofing array was set up.


    Although Su''en knew that Mr. Mirror and his group wouldn''t have made a move without aprehensive n, he was still curious and asked, "Mr. Mirror, won''t exposing so many people''s movements alert the ck Tower?"


    "It won''t have much impact."


    Mr. Mirror''s expression was calm, as if everything was within the n, "After this relic event, the preparations will be almostplete."


    As she spoke, a miraculous scene unfolded before Su''en''s eyes.


    "Qiantiao," who only had the strength of a second-tier, was also not lightly injured, with many wounds on her body.


    But in the moment she entered the room, Su''en suddenly saw her wounds visibly healing!


    Without using any potions, just relying on her exaggerated self-healing ability, she was instantly as good as new.


    Su''en was somewhat surprised: Had Mr. Mirror also modified her bloodline, or was it some kind of special self-healing ability?


    This healing efficiency was almost on par with that of an "Abomination."


    It was much stronger than his own.


    But considering that she was likely a fourth-tier, or even higher, expert, it was normal for her to have some iprehensible methods.


    Instead, Su''en was more concerned about Mr. Mirror''s words that "the preparations are almostplete."


    It sounded like the big shots were ready to strike at the ck Tower?


    But Mr. Mirror didn''t seem to want to continue on this topic. She looked at Su''en and reminded him, "Although tonight''s trouble has been muddled through, that ''coroner'' Servis''s methods are not so simple. The Umbre Organization will definitelye to probe. Be careful in the future."


    After a pause, she continued, "I will be with the team for the next few days, but once we reach the relic, I have other matters to attend to. At that time, you take care of the team, don''t let them be wiped out. Especially take care of Rena for me."


    Su''en nodded, "Hmm."


    Rena had helped him several times, and within his capabilities, Su''en naturally would also think of saving her life.


    His expression unchanged, but upon hearing this, a slightly strange thought popped into his mind.


    Mr. Mirror actually took such good care of Rena, could it be... there was some special rtionship?


    Like, an illegitimate daughter?


    Although Su''en didn''t ask, Mr. Mirror seemed to guess his thoughts.


    She nced at Su''en, her expression somewhat helpless, and added, "The Reyes family was built up by my own hands. Rena''s mother died for me. That girl has good talent and learning, justcking in experience. I n to train her to be the heir of the Reyes family."


    "Oh..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en suddenly understood.


    But with this revtion, his thoughts became even more active.


    Built up by her own hands?


    That was quite a significant piece of information.


    The Reyes family had been a well-known family for decades, and if she had built it up, how old was Mr. Mirror?


    Su''en thought of the previous healing anomaly, and indeed, high cellr activity could make a person appear young, but... was she actually an elderly woman?


    However, just as this thought crossed Su''en''s mind, he clearly saw "Qiantiao" touch her forehead and shake her head, looking at him strangely and somewhat helplessly.


    "I... never mind..."


    She seemed to want to say more but didn''t seem inclined to exin further.


    Perhaps because she was disguised as Qiantiao, Su''en felt that "Mr. Mirror" seemed quite approachable and not as cold and distant as one might expect.


    Thinking that Mr. ck''s teacher was right in front of him, Su''en naturally asked directly if he had any questions, "Mr. Mirror, I saw a mask appear on the face of that Umbre Organization leader earlier, it seemed to be a curse item rted to mental power?"


    "Qiantiao" ced her knife on the table and began to tidy up her battle-torn clothes, nodding as she said, "Yes. Over the years, the ck Tower has also unearthed quite a few good things. That is the ''Tri-Color Mask of the Usurper,'' a very nice ancient curse item. Servis had some deviations in his professional cultivation, his mental power became aberrant, and that mask is used to suppress his uncontroble split personality..."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en realized it was as he suspected.


    And listening to its function, it seemed quite suitable for his own "symptoms"?


    He asked directly, "Mr. Mirror, could I use that mask?"


    "Qiantiao" looked at him and said, "I''ve heard from Emilich about your situation, and indeed, the mask would be useful for you. But it''s a temporary solution, not a cure. The essence of the mask''s effect is suppression, just like how you suppress it with your will, it will eventually backfire."


    (Emilich, Mr. ck''s real name)


    Su''en originally thought the item''s effect was a bit redundant, but then he suddenly heard "Qiantiao" seem to think of something, and she changed the subject, "However, if you can master a top-tier mental secret technique, it would be a very suitable advancement material for your ''Puppeteer'' lineage, helping you break through the limit of ''Multitasking.'' Normally, the ''Tri-Color Mask of the Usurper'' is an advancement material that only a fourth-tier mental professional can withstand. But in your case... you''re a bit special, you should be able to handle it at the third tier."


    "Advancement material?"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en immediately perked up.


    He knew she was probably referring to his "special" trait, likely meaning the extraordinary mental power due to the "Reaper of Death" talent.


    If she said it was suitable, then it was definitely a material with a very highpatibility.


    Moreover, she directly pointed out the effect after advancement, which could break through the limit of "Multitasking"?!


    "Qiantiao" looked at Su''en, her eyebrows curved, and asked, "Do you want to kill him?"


    Su''en nodded, "Hmm."


    Not to mention the curse material, when he and Sabina had signed the master-servant contract, they had agreed that once he had the strength, he would help her kill that man.


    "It won''t be easy to kill that guy."


    "Qiantiao" teased, not saying much else, and then said, "Just a reminder. Remember, if you encounter him in the future and see the mask is ''red-faced,'' be very careful. If you see the mask turn ''ck-faced,'' he will have abat power not inferior to a fourth-tier..."


    "Hmm."


    Su''en didn''t expect to be able to kill that ''coroner'' Servis in a short time.


    But now, wasn''t there strong support at hand?


    And now that he had a target, his thoughts revolved around achieving that goal.


    In an instant, he came up with some ideas.


    A n quietly took shape.


    "Qiantiao" smiled, not responding further.Upon encountering this individual, Su''en straightforwardly inquired about another matter that piqued his curiosity, "Mr. Mirror, are you aware of the existence of the underground altar at Storm Manor? Mr. ck mentioned before that you could help me unravel my confusion, including that symbol representing ''Fate''..."


    "Qian Tiao," true to what Mr. ck had initially said, seemed quite willing to rify his doubts, exining, "The underground altar of Storm Manor is a relic left from the previous prehistoric civilization, the ''Dawn Era'' of the Akavia period. The identities of those five statues are the elders of the most mysterious alchemical organization of that era, the ''Rosicrucian Order,'' true god-tier alchemists. That was the most authentic, closest to our time, and most glorious era of alchemy. When Sir Isaac named this city, he wished to see alchemy return to its splendor during the Dawn Era..."


    As she spoke, she seemed to think that since she had already said so much, she might as well add a few more words: "This is a prehistoric civilization that is almost unrecorded in the current historical materials of Old Lingdun. Legend has it that the alchemists of the Dawn Era battled across various fragmented nes, and top sorcerers could even hunt deities, creating a powerful alchemical civilization..."


    "I see..."


    After listening to her, Su''en''s eyes trembled lightly, profoundly shaken.


    Alright, this big shot really does know everything.


    And through her words, it was evident that her understanding of Dawn City reached an incredible depth.


    She not only knew about the altar but also its origins.


    This world is not only fascinating now, but its history, once buried in dust, is equally captivating.


    .......


    Although Mr. Mirror wasn''t Qian Tiao, she seemed to share the same fondness for bathing and soaking as that gambling-addicteddy.


    The previous battle had left her stained with blood, which caused her brows to furrow tightly.


    As she spoke, she also undid her robe, not looking at Su''en, and said, "Alright, I''m going to take a bath. We''ll talkter."


    Su''en naturally understood and averted his gaze.


    The gambling-addicteddy wouldn''t mind his presence, but this big shot still cared about such things.


    Soon, the sound of water trickling from the bathroom could be heard.


    The noise outside the window never ceased, and the pursuit of the assassin continued untilte into the night.


    After bathing, "Qian Tiao"y on the bed to rest.


    Su''en sat cross-legged on the sofa nearby, meditating.


    It was probably around two or three in the morning when suddenly, "Qian Tiao," who appeared to be sound asleep, noticed something and eximed softly, "Someone''sing!"


    Upon hearing this, Su''en immediately understood her meaning.


    Zolo was Qian Tiao''s malepanion, and they had to y their roles thoroughly.


    Anyone looking at the two of them in the room in their current state would immediately sense something was amiss.


    Su''en quickly changed into pajamas and jumped into bed, while "Qian Tiao" also cozily snuggled into his embrace.


    As the big shot indicated, he didn''t show any odd behavior and held her as he should. At this moment, "Qian Tiao" was wearing a thin nightgown, the touch was genuine. Arge expanse of skin contact allowed both to clearly feel each other''s temperature.


    However, there were no romantic thoughts.


    Although the touch of her tight skin was identical to that of the gambling-addicteddy, thinking that Mr. Mirror was probably of a significant age, Su''en always felt something was off.


    Su''en didn''t sense any movement from the approaching person, which meant the visitor must be a master of the third order or higher.


    He guessed it was probably the Umbre Organizationing back to check?


    "Qian Tiao''s" persona was that of a second-order professional, and she shouldn''t have been able to detect the other party.


    However, things didn''t go as Su''en had expected.


    Because soon after, Su''en, who had his eyes closed pretending to sleep, heard someone calling him by his ear.


    "Mr. Su''en, long time no see..."


    Despite hearing no sound, no one entering through the window, and no footsteps, the call seemed to be right next to his ear.


    "Hehe... I know you''re not asleep..."


    Su''en thought he was hallucinating and lifted his eyelids slightly, only to see a face emitting a pale blue glow immediately before his eyes!


    Just ten centimeters away, a semi-transparent little girl was face-to-face with him, her big watery eyes filled with a mischievous smile.


    If Su''en weren''t soposed, a normal person witnessing this scene in the dead of night would likely be scared out of their wits.


    .......


    "Pestoya?"


    Su''en tentatively asked.


    The little girl in front of him, dressed in a princess gown and looking adorable, was someone he remembered well, the "Ghost Species" he had encountered on his first day after crossing over!


    He nced at "Qian Tiao" beside him, who seemed to be breathing evenly, apparently deep in sleep.


    Unsure whether she was truly asleep or pretending, Su''en knew that today''s events were likely to get messy...


    Pestoya looked at Su''en, recognizing him, and her little face lit up with joy. She floated in mid-air, twirling around, "Oh my, I thought you had forgotten about me~"


    Listening to her yful voice, Su''en remembered their first meeting.


    Although this ghost species girl could be a bit unruly at times, the two shared a kind of instant "resonance."


    He smiled, "How could I forget?"


    Saying so, Su''en got out of bed, tucked "Qian Tiao" in properly, and then asked, "Pestoya, howe you''re here?"


    If he hadn''t seen that "butterfly brooch," he would have been quite happy to catch up with the ghost species girl he once found quite to his taste.


    But now, her appearance hereplicated matters.


    "I don''t know... I just felt you were nearby and came to see you~"


    Pestoya tilted her head, thinking, as if she had lost a part of her memory.


    But she didn''t seem to mind; she had forgotten many things over the past thousand years.


    But seeing an old friend, she was genuinely happy, "I didn''t expect it to be Mr. Su''en."


    Su''en walked over to the coffee table in the suite and poured himself a cup.


    Although he wasn''t sure if ghost species could drink tea, he also poured a cup for Pestoya, who was sitting beside him.


    While pouring the tea, Su''en joked, "I''ve be so handsome, how did you recognize me?"


    Pestoya sniffed the tea cup and even took a sip, saying, "Of course I can recognize you. I know your soul~"


    With a yful wink, she added, "But your soul has be much stronger than before, I almost didn''t recognize you~"


    It was like a reunion of old friends, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.


    The two chatted casually.


    Su''en subtly probed a few questions and discovered that Pestoya didn''t remember what had happened after he left.


    It was as if she had woken up and felt his presence nearby, which brought her here.


    But... the curse space of Storm Manor had clearly disappeared before.


    And the ghost species from the curse space had actuallye outside?


    But he was certain that this girl was the same one he had seen before.


    After chatting about a few light topics, Su''en directly asked, "Pestoya, where are you living now?"


    "I live in the manor~"


    Pestoya said, floating up for a bear hug, giving Su''en an enthusiastic embrace, "I thought I''d never see Mr. Su''en again. I''m really so happy~"


    Her physical state was strange; although she was a spirit, she could be corporeal when she wanted to touch something.


    "I''m happy too."


    Su''en smiled.


    Listening to her cheerful tone, he could feel her genuine happiness.


    After all, he was the first "friend" this girl had interacted with in a thousand years.


    The two chatted for quite a while.


    Su''en''s previously acquired flirting skills also came in handy.


    Jokes and memes came naturally, and even the little girl enjoyed them.


    Pestoya was amused toughter, and the room was filled with her bell-like giggles.


    Su''en truly believed she had juste to reminisce.


    But there were two issues he deliberately avoided mentioning.


    One was the question she had entrusted him to ask.


    The other was the matter of the brooch.


    Unexpectedly, at this moment, Pestoya, floating in front of Su''en, suddenly remembered something and asked, "Eh... Mr. Su''en, why don''t I see you wearing the butterfly brooch I gave you?"


    Su''en''s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.


    The girl seemed very sensitive to emotions, and before Su''en could think of an excuse, her face suddenly darkened, "You... don''t like the gift I gave you?"


    Her eyes brimmed with tears, a look of hurt on her face, "But... that was my favorite, my most precious thing."


    As she spoke, her eyes gradually turned red.


    Then, it wasn''t the red of being upset, but a sinister, fierce crimson.


    Pestoya looked at Su''en, tears falling uncontrobly from her eyes, each drop of pale blue tear light dissipating before it hit the ground.


    With a sobbing voice, an overwhelming sadness erupted, "Mr. Su''en, I don''t know why, but I feel so sad right now..."


    Even though I gave you my most precious gift, you lost it.


    It''s like watching my mom and dad burn me alive back then.


    They were the parents I loved the most in my life...


    It''s the pain of losing the most precious thing in my heart...


    A heart-wrenching pain.


    Su''en, seeing this, knew she was showing signs of a violent transformation.


    The first time they met, she had ughtered Ivan "The Ironhead" and his gang in such a state.


    He wanted to exin, but indeed, he couldn''t produce the brooch.


    But after all, he had no ill intentions towards this little girl.


    He felt Pestoya''s indescribable emotions, loneliness, and sadness...


    He sighed, reached out to pat her head, and said truthfully, "I like the gift you gave me. But I''m sorry, it seems I''ve lost it..."


    These words seemed to soothe the upset Pestoya, the red glow in her eyes dimmed a bit, but it still didn''t fade away.


    Su''en then gently rubbed her face with both hands and solemnly said, "But I will definitely find it."


    Although she was a thousand-year-old ghost species, her heart was still that of a ten-year-old girl.


    She was easy to console.


    Hearing this, the red glow in the little girl''s eyes finally stopped.


    Emotions can''t lie, and Pestoya could tell that Su''en


    But she still looked at Su''en with a pitiful face, mournfully saying, "Mr. Su''en, if you don''t find my brooch, I''ll eat you up!"


    Her tone was so pitiful, so very pitiful.


    Saying so, Pestoya also bared her little fangs and bit down on Su''en''s hand that was patting her head.


    A firm bite.


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t mind, he smiled and didn''t retract his hand.


    However, he was curious; his skin, which ordinary bullets could hardly prate, actually hurt from the bite?


    After biting, she seemed to have vented her anger.


    Pestoya lifted her head, but at that moment, her gaze was drawn to a ne on Su''en''s hand, "Eh... Mr. Su''en, howe you have this ne?"


    Saying so, she waved her hand, and the crystal pendant fell into her grasp.


    Su''en nced at it.


    The clues in his mind connected like lightning.


    This was the [Sereya''s Crystal Pendant] he had obtained from ying an Umbre Organization fortune-teller on his way to the ruins.


    He had been wearing it because the alchemical item had a property that evaded divination.


    He had always found the name of this ne familiar.


    Now, hearing Pestoya''s tone, he immediately confirmed something.


    "Sereya" was amon female name,


    But coincidentally,


    This ne had a significant background.


    The person Mr. Mirror had sent him to meet in a certain cursed space, the founder of the Puppeteer, was also named "Sereya."


    And more coincidentally, Su''en''s own Puppeteer initiation materials were obtained from Pestoya herself.


    Some special professions are passed down in session.


    The source of the coincidence was that Su''en had also seen this name in the family portrait in the library of Storm Manor when he first crossed over.


    She was the mother of the girl before him, Sereya Isaac. (She took her husband''s surname)


    .......


    Pestoya''s recently calmed emotions suddenly became violently turbulent, "You... saw her... my mother?"


    Afraid that she would remember something and be traumatized again, Su''en directly said, "Didn''t you entrust me to ask them a question? I''ve learned some clues, and I was nning to help you inquire."


    Pestoya fell silent.


    After a while, she squeaked, "Oh."


    Su''en felt the conflict in her heart.Filled with love, yet there was a despair akin to a vengeful obsession.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.


    Seeing the object, Pestoya was reminded of someone and lost the interest to stay any longer.


    She said to Su''en, "Mr. Su''en, I''m tired. I''m going to sleep now. I''lle to see you next time."


    "Okay. See you next time."


    Su''en nodded and waved at her.


    He watched her leave through the window with a somber expression, slowly fading away until she was gone.


    Su''en ultimately didn''t mention to her that the brooch was in Theresa''s possession.


    He felt that this matter was a bitplicated.


    The Pestoya before him seemed to have lost some memories.


    Intuition told Su''en that it was best not to trigger any other peculiar plotlines until things were clearer.


    .......


    After Pestoya left, "Qiantiao" on the bed suddenly opened her eyes.


    Su''en didn''t see the glint that shed through her profound eyes.


    Now that Pestoya was gone, Su''en sat on the sofa with a furrowed brow.


    Many doubts in his mind were connected, but without the key information, none could be unraveled.


    He felt it necessary to report the situation to the boss, so he turned to look at "Qiantiao" on the bed and coughed lightly, "Cough! Cough!"


    An immediate response followed.


    Without turning around, "Qiantiao" said, "Go to sleep. It''s nothing."


    Clearly, she had been awake all along.


    "But..."


    Su''en thought she was unaware of the situation and wanted to say more.


    At that moment, "Qiantiao" interrupted directly, "Can''t say."


    "..."


    Hearing these three words, Su''en''s gaze sharpened slightly.


    Can''t say?


    Does that mean...


    Pestoya is indeed involved with that indescribable entity?

 Chapter 194: Open up wasteland

    Chapter 194: Open up wastnd


    After all, tonight''smotion was so great that many people would want to rify the situation.


    Pestoya''s nocturnal visit was a minor episode, and the rest of the night was anything but quiet, with several uninvited guests arriving one after another at the Unicorn Inn.


    There were second-order and third-order assassins, all adept in stealth.


    I figured it was probably the Umbre Organization, or perhaps spies from those forces wishing Rena harm.


    To avoid giving anything away and to avoid the hassle of constant harassment, Su''en simply shared a bed with Mr. Mirror for the night.


    It wasn''t presumptuous; both parties were very calm.


    With such a master at his side, Su''en didn''t have to worry about his own safety and actually had a rare good night''s sleep.


    ...


    The next morning, the inn was awakened early by the stern chiding of the old butler, Anthony.


    "Everyone, get your gear ready, we depart at seven sharp!"


    Su''en got out of bed and also put together an adventurer''s outfit for himself,plete with a trench coat and a cowboy hat.


    "Thousand Stripes" was still washing up, so he went downstairs and sifted through a pile of letters at the front desk to find thetest briefings and messages.


    These were simple newspapers produced by information brokers, printed overnight, all about thetest intelligence on the camp.


    They were pricey, but sold well.


    Su''en nced at the newspaper, which mentionedst night''s attack at length.


    However, it was very rough, with no details about the identity of the assassins beyond "mysterious person."


    He also saw the hidden message left by Sabina, and had a rough idea of the Umbre Organization''s next moves.


    The people from the Umbre Organization were indeed still monitoring, but they had lowered the file level, reducing the threat significantly.


    While Su''en was reading the newspaper at the front desk.


    A few people came down the stairs, and turning his head, he saw Rena leading her personal maidservant down.


    After one night, the youngdy''s face no longer bore sadness but was filled with seriousness. She was dressed in liquid leather, not the standard model from the ck Tower Academy, but a higher-grade alchemical product with special modifications. She was equipped with a pistol, dagger, mechanical vest, and tactical belt, along with a gas mask...


    What was more remarkable was the mechanical case on her back, painted with a red cross, which was military-grade individual medical equipment.


    It seemed that the youngdy was prepared to fight personally.


    Su''en nced at her, his eyebrows slightly raised, naturally noticing certain changes in her.


    As if overnight, her immaturity had faded, reced by a touch of maturity.


    Rena saw Su''en and nodded, a form of greeting.


    ...


    Unlike the hunting parties of other families, which could number in the thousands, the Reiss family had only four or five hundred people.


    Aside from the hundred or so family guards brought by Rena, there were only a few medium-sized hunting parties from the Cross Society.


    The group met outside the camp in the tent area, immediately drawing whispers and points from all around.


    "Shh, if I remember correctly, that''s Anthony, the Reiss family''s butler. I didn''t expect the old man to have advanced to third-order."


    "I sawst night''s battle, he''s indeed strong. Too bad, with so few people, I''m afraid they won''t make it to the center of the city area before they''re wiped out..."


    "Did you hear the Unicorn Inn was attacked by assassinsst night?"


    "Assassins? Those weren''t ordinary assassins, I heard..."


    "So it was sanctioned by the ck Tower, no wonder the other branches of the Reiss family are so active. Looks like there''s going to be a change of power..."


    "..."


    The news of Rena''s best friend Yulia''s family being wiped out had also spread throughout the camp, and no one dared to approach the Reiss family''s main house team anymore.


    Rena remained expressionless amidst the idle chatter.


    The team didn''t linger and set off directly along Route 16, heading northeast to the Dawn Ruins.


    ...


    With a third-order professional leading the way, Su''en''s team moved quickly.


    The monsters in the outer ring of the ruins couldn''t stop the team''s progress. Moreover, since most of the outer ring had already been explored, there wasn''t much reason to linger.


    After a few small-scale battles, by noon, they had already reached a section of the broken city wall.


    This was thendmark for entering the middle ring of the ruins.


    The team crossed the wall and continued to move deeper inside.


    As the team ventured further, the frequency of monster attacks increased.


    Before long, they arrived in arge area of unexplored building ruins and stopped.


    The difference in monster strength between the middle and outer rings, separated only by a low, crumbling wall, was significant.


    The outer ring was mostly popted by first-order and lower aberrant and abyssal creatures, while the middle ring saw the appearance of second-order, third-order, and even super-order special monsters.


    Beyond the middle ring was the "forbidden zone" for small and medium-sized hunting parties.


    Almost any encounter with a group of social monsters could wipe out a medium-sized hunting party led by a second-order professional.


    The fog in the air grew thicker, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense.


    This was a true "high casualty area," and no one dared to be careless.


    Commands from the team leader came one after another over themunicator.


    "Everyone, stay sharp! Watch for any movement. After entering the middle ring, don''t talk loudly, don''t fire at will..."


    "Team three, nine o''clock direction, team two, three o''clock direction... Assassins, spread out and scout, watch for monsters and suspicious followers."


    "Everyone, start searching this area ording to the n!"


    "..."


    The team spread out in a lotus formation around Miss Rena.


    The Cross Society''s hunting parties were funded by the Reiss family, and the members were essentially "bondedborers" who had signed contracts. They were responsible for the most dangerous task of clearing the way ahead.


    Su''en and "Thousand Stripes" didn''t do anything special, just followed the path-clearing team and started their hunt.


    Here, there was little difference between the head and tail of the team; monsters could attack anyone at any time.


    The building ruins in the middle ring area were denser, with structures as tall as ten-story buildings around them.


    In addition to residential buildings, there wererge structures like opera houses, city halls, and bathhouses.


    Like a lush primeval forest, theserge buildings were also the favorite haunts of monsters.


    And not just on the ground.


    Such a vast city also had aplex sewer system, far more intricate than Old London.


    Su''en''s current auditory perception allowed him to clearly sense the scurrying soundsing from those sewer entrances due to their arrival. In those dark caverns, it was as if pairs of eyes were peering at them, these unwee visitors.


    This was the territory of aberrant creatures.


    ...


    The fog in the ruins was thick, with no lights and low visibility.


    Large-scale res couldn''t be used carelessly, so the team members had to rely on the limited vision provided by alchemical night vision devices, cautiously feeling their way through.


    Princess Theresa''s mission required each family to carefully explore their respective routes to find something they still didn''t know what it was.


    Therefore, the team needed to carefully inspect each building, check for suspicious targets, and break every cursed space.


    The exploration was slow.


    After the tasks were distributed,


    Su''en followed "Thousand Stripes," leading a team from the Cross Society to explore a residential building.


    The team members were all unfamiliar faces, apparently all "neers" recruited by the gangter on.


    Separated from the main team, the team members spoke without so much restraint.


    "Boss Thousand Stripes, why do we have so few people in our group this time? I see other families'' hunting parties have at least a few thousand people... I heard that our patron is in crisis?"


    "Sister Thousand Stripes, there was such a bigmotion in the cityst night... What happened? I heard the princess''s residence was attacked?"


    "They say that the princess from the Duke''s mansion is Old London''s ''Number One Beauty,'' is that true?"


    "Heh heh, this time those noble lords from the inner city have toe hunting with us, right? Our lives are cheap if we die, but they''ll be at a big loss..."


    "..."


    The bottom-tier hunters viewed their lives cheaply, having already prepared to face death by choosing this line of work.


    Their attitude was rather optimistic.


    Especially seeing the inner city people hunting with them, they seemed to take a heartless pleasure in their misfortune.


    They didn''t know the rtionship between Thousand Stripes and Rena, so they spoke without concern.


    The group chatted and joked all the way.


    The atmosphere was much more cheerful than the gloomy elite guards from the inner city not far away.


    Still alive,


    Chat about women,


    Earn money,


    Gossip...


    That''s enough.


    The happiness of the bottom-tier hunters was that simple.


    The monsters in the ruins were dense, and the dpidated building they were exploring was home to a group of creatures identified as [Abyssal Blood Sentinels].


    The "squeak squeak squeak" sound was incessant, and Su''en had already noticed these creatures that looked like hairless white monkeys with human faces andrge mouths.


    They could use stones as projectile weapons, with a forceparable to bullets.


    Fortunately, their defense was weak, and ordinary bullets could kill them.


    With Su''en and "Thousand Stripes" in the team, they didn''t encounter any risks.


    They cleared their way through, and the loot was good.


    "Ha ha... these monkeys actually dropped cursed materials. The drop rate for materials from the monsters in the middle ring city wall is so high. The patron said the materials are ours to keep, we''re going to make a fortune this time."


    "Let''s see if we can make it out alive first..."


    "But speaking of which, the standardized firearms from the inner city are stable, they don''t jam. Our patron is really good, the equipment each of us got must be worth hundreds of thousands..."


    "Yeah, I heard that the hunting parties of the Steam Party and the Crow Gang have much worse conditions than ours. They don''t even get equipment, they have to buy their own bullets..."


    "With this equipment, even if a second-order monsteres, I dare to confront it!"


    "..."


    Not sensing any troublesome monsters in the building, to speed up the exploration, the team split up.


    The team leaders took groups of ten and headed to different floors.


    Su''en and "Thousand Stripes" found a corner to sit leisurely, ready to provide support in case of an emergency.


    Reports came through themunicator from time to time.


    "Reporting to themander, a small-scale monster attack was found in the opera house, and it has been cleared."


    "High-order aberrant creatures found in the red brick building, requesting high-orderbat support!"


    "Commander, a ''cursed space'' was found in the broken building at ten o''clock. Preliminary judgment is ''C-level space'', please advise."


    "..."


    Gunfire erupted densely in this part of the ruins, and the clearing was proceeding methodically.


    ...


    In terms of individual strength, Rena''s team was actually not inferior to any hunting party.


    Even among the best.


    With a third-order professional and more than a dozen second-orders.


    The hundred or so direct guards Rena brought from the family were mostly well-trained formal professionals. They had the best firearms and mechanical armor avable on the market, and theirbat power was strong.


    But this team also had a fatal w.


    That was the small number of people and low margin for error.


    When encountering wild beasts, numbers were the guarantee of survival.


    And when encountering high-risk cursed spaces, that was truly fatal.


    Because Princess Theresa had issued a death order.


    No matter what, once a cursed space was discovered, it had to be explored and broken.


    It meant that if a team led by a first-order professional went into an unknown level cursed space and didn''te out, then they had to send in a second-order;


    If they were wiped out again, send in a third-order...


    Until they kept sending people in to explore.


    But in reality, most cursed spaces could be probed multiple times to find a solution.


    If there were enough people, using ve groups to probe could also gather a lot of information.


    Like the [1911 Hotel] Su''en encounteredst time, theoretically it was "T-level," but if a few hundred people died, some methods of breaking it could always be determined.


    So, numbers were crucial.


    And Rena''s team didn''t have this opportunity to make mistakes.


    There were only a few hundred people in total.


    The loss of each team meant that their overall chance of survival decreased by one.


    In the end, high-order professionals had to personally probe the spaces.


    And the density of cursed spaces in the middle ring area was much higher than in the outer ring, with several cursed spaces discovered in the ruins they were currently in.The deadliest part was...


    Even knowing the danger, there was no chance for deceit or trickery!


    Because the team was apanied by three white-helmeted "supervisory troops," who were from the inner city''s military. Their task was to oversee the wilderness hunting teams, reporting the battle situation and progress at any time.


    Once they died, or if the wilderness hunting team refused to execute orders, experts from the ck Tower woulde over.


    ...


    It looked like it was only a dozen or so kilometers from the central ring to the core of the inner city, but the progress of pioneering was very slow.


    For the whole day, the team Su''en was in only managed to clean up a few blocks nearby.


    The first day''s battle was fierce, with more than thirty people dead and many injured.


    The team did not continue to advance but chose to camp in a sturdy building and light a fire.


    It''s worth mentioning that Miss Rena had been busy since the battle began, always active on the battlefield.


    She shed the delicate and arrogant air of a rich youngdy, personally joining the medical team and appearing wherever medical support was needed on the battlefield, treating the wounded with her own hands.


    Rena''s medical skills were quite good, more professional than most of the wilderness hunting team''s medics.


    Even now, while resting at the camp, she was busy in the wounded''s tent.


    Because ady of her status was personally involved and busy on the front lines, the wounded were not only withoutints but were excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood.


    "Oh, Miss Rena, my life... it''s not worth such an expensive potion..."


    "My God, Miss Rena actually stitched up my wound herself..."


    "To serve Miss Rena is the honor of my lifetime..."


    "..."


    The view of gratitude and resentment among ordinary wilderness hunters was very simple.


    If you treat them well, they are willing to give their lives for you.


    Normally, after a fierce battle, the wounded would greatly affect the morale within their team.


    But because of Rena''s dedicated treatment, not only did it not disperse morale, it actually brought them closer together.


    In the current situation, only by uniting as a team was there a greater chance of survival.


    In the nearby tent area, everyone saw everything that was happening.


    ...


    In the individual tent, Su''en and Mr. Mirror were having a simple meal.


    Mr. Mirror, looking at the busy Rena, remarked, "This girl has finallye to her senses..."


    "She really has changed a lot."


    Su''en nodded, taking a bite of the bread in his hand.


    Then, he asked, "Mr. Mirror, are you nning to leave?"


    He remembered that this person had said before that they would leave upon entering the ruins.


    "Yes. In the next couple of days, I will find an opportunity to leave. There are very important matters to deal with."


    Mr. Mirror seemed to think of something and said, "When that timees, be careful yourself. Those supervisory troops have been watching you. And there are a few with ill intentions around Rena, it seems they have been bought off."


    Su''en was not surprised and replied, "Yes, I''ve noticed too. I received information before that the Umbre Organization''s people still haven''t given up their suspicions."


    He was aware that throughout the day''s battle, there were always a few gazes on him.


    It seemed they wanted to detect any clues from his fighting style, to confirm whether he was "Su''en" or if there were other connections.


    Mr. Mirror asked, "Can you handle it?"


    Su''en replied indifferently, "No problem."


    "That''s good."


    Mr. Mirror did not say much more; she had a good opinion of Su''en''s abilities.


    Thinking of something, she added, "Oh, one more thing. The deeper you go into the ruins, the more powerful the monsters be. When the timees, be careful to avoid these areas..."


    Su''en listened carefully,mitting it to memory.


    After Mr. Mirror finished speaking, he asked the question he had been curious about for a long time, "Mr. Mirror, where do all these monsters in the ruinse from?"


    The monsters of the Dawn Ruins had been killed in suchrge numbers, yet they kepting endlessly, which was a bit againstmon sense.


    Logically, the monsters in an area should satisfy an ecological chain.


    After killing some, the numbers should be scarce for a long time.


    But in the ruins, there were always new, unseen monsters appearing, and their numbers were nevercking.


    Mr. Mirror thought for a moment, her tone bing somewhat serious, "Theye from the cracks in the nes."


    Su''en heard a new term and was slightly surprised, "Cracks in the nes?"


    "Yes."


    Mr. Mirror said this, and seeming to think of something, her eyes showed a heavy expression.


    She nced at Su''en and continued, "Beneath this city of Dawn, there is actually a space channel that connects to a different ne. In ancient texts, that ne is called the ''Abyss.'' It''s something that existed in thest era, and it''s said that the alchemists of the Akavia civilization used this channel to wage war on other nes. Unfortunately, such a powerful civilization also disappeared, and no one knows what happened... When Sir Isaac established the city of Dawn here, on one hand, it was to explore the true secrets of that civilization''s interrupted era, to pursue the ultimate in alchemy; on the other hand, it was to guard this ne''s crack, to kill those otherworldly creatures that mistakenly enter our ne from the Abyss..."


    After a while,


    Su''en also understood.


    During the "Dawn Era," the once powerful Akavia civilization that could wage war across various nes suddenly disappeared from history.


    And the people of that civilization left behind a sealed space channel underground.


    But due to the passage of time, some cracks appeared in the seal.


    Some Abyssal monsters slipped through.


    And the "dark spirit force" actually overflowed from another ne.


    Su''en was also curious whether those powerful alchemists who could hunt gods were destroyed or migrated to other nes...


    ...


    In the ruins, especially in the central ring area, don''t expect to get a peaceful night''s sleep.


    The previous battle attracted monsters from far away, and the sound of gunfire continued intermittently all night.


    Not just their group, but almost the entire Dawn Ruins were like this.


    Su''en and Mr. Mirror talked for most of the night.


    This mysterious big shot didn''t seem to avoid discussing some ancient secrets with Su''en.


    She seemed like a witness to that period of history, knowing a lot of information that others simply couldn''t know from historical records or other channels.


    ...


    The next morning, the team broke camp and continued towards the core city area of the ruins.


    Another day of fierce fighting, and although many ancient relics were harvested, the casualties became more and more serious.


    Even, because of exploring an A-level cursed space, a second-tier professional died.


    The central ring city area of Dawn City was a dangerous ce that even Mr. Mirror mentioned with a furrowed brow.


    Let alone this kind of carpet-style wilderness hunting operation.


    It was almost no different from sending oneself to death.


    However, the good news was that there were dozens of teams throughout the city "sending themselves to death" at the same time.


    Like a tightening, it also dispersed the monsters in the ruins, reducing the pressure on individual teams significantly, and somerge monsters were driven to the center of the ruins by themotion from all directions.


    Mr. Mirror originally nned to find a reasonable excuse to disappear from the team, but "Thousand Stripes," with the persona of a second-tier professional, was not easy toe by.


    And coincidentally, on the second night of camping, the team encountered a "Nightmare Ghost Fog."


    This drifting ck fog was very sinister; once someone entered, they would disappear, like a head-eating monster.


    In fact, its essence was a kind of "moving cursed space."


    Whether one coulde out alive after entering was one thing; even if they dide out, they would appear in another ce due to the space moving.


    The ghost fog approached, and Mr. Mirror detected the anomaly in advance, and Su''en also felt the abnormal spatial energy fluctuations in the fog.


    Conveniently, this was also a reasonable excuse.


    Then the "Thousand Stripes" led the duty team, coincidentally, into the ghost fog that looked no different from ordinary fog, and the entire team disappeared without a trace.


    An hourter, the entire camp was in chaos.


    To avoid the fog, they moved overnight, hastily retreating to the previous night''s campsite.


    ...


    "Thousand Stripes" disappeared, with an unknown fate, and Miss Rena was heartbroken but became even more resilient.


    However, the wilderness hunting had to continue.


    This hunt was doomed to end in tragedy from the start.


    Rena was also mentally prepared.


    After entering the central ring of the ruins, the dark spirit force in the air had be so dense that everyone''s filter masks were hardly ever taken off.


    Mr. Zolo becamepletely isted.


    In the team, he only had "Thousand Stripes" as an acquaintance, and now he was gone, appearing very solitary all day.


    Su''en knew that in addition to those three supervisory troops, there were other experts in the team watching him.


    Therefore, he needed topletely separate the identities of Zolo and Su''en.


    Two dayster, a special report was sent to the Umbre Organization''s higher-ups: "Zolo Serna, confirmed as a closebat second-tier professional, proficient inbat skills, weak psychic fluctuations,bat style leans towards the ranger profession... Highly unlikely to be the SS wanted criminal Su''en, rmendation to downgrade file level to C!"


    And almost at the same time as this "Zolo" was still active in the Reiss family''s wilderness hunting team, the Oliver family''s hunting team was attacked.


    A Crow Gang executive was killed, three second-tier


    The assassin was a secretive person wearing a crow mask, adept at controlling invisible zombies and ck scythes.


    It was none other than the SS wanted criminal Su''en!


    ...


    On this day, the team finally reached Su''en''s destination for this trip, the superrge cursed space[The Central Prison of Dawn City].


    P.S. Still struggling with the text, only one chapter.

 Chapter 195: Desperate

    Chapter 195: Desperate


    The hunting team from the Reiss main house was short on people, and their progress was slow.


    It took ten days to finally reach the Central Prison of Dawn City.


    From a distance, it was a peculiar pentagonal structure, partially copsed. From its shape, it looked like a gigantic pentagram formation.


    "Commander, a cursed space has been discovered in the ruins over there, with a veryrge coverage area, rated S+, energy fluctuations S+, space stability..."


    "Judging by the architecture, it should be a prison, preliminarily identified as argeposite cursed space, requesting assistance from high-level professionals for reconnaissance..."


    "It has been ascertained that the space entrance is temporarily inessible, requiring special conditions to open..."


    "..."


    Due to days of fierce fighting, the original team of four to five hundred people had lost more than half, leaving only fifty to sixty wounded survivors. The vanguard of the Cross Society was almostpletely wiped out, and the elite troops brought by Rena also suffered heavy losses. Of the more than ten second-order professionals in the team, only six remained.


    Even the three members of the supervisory team who never participated in battles had died one after another, and the military from the inner city had sent new recements.


    Withoutpleting the mission, no one could retreat.


    Looking at the swirling vortex of dark energy above the prison ruins in the distance, everyone''s face was etched with despair.


    They had never seen such arge space entrance before.


    The only piece of good news was that within a certain range of the cursed space, there were usually no distorted creatures or abyssal monsters lurking.


    Before long, an elder d in runic light armor led a scouting team back.


    The old man was naturally the only third-order professional butler in the team, Anthony.


    Due to the shortage of manpower, second and third-order professionals had to personally lead teams to explore dangerous routes to reduce casualties.


    Anthony discussed the reconnaissance situation with the supervisory team,


    Those guys then reported the intelligence to their superiors using militarymunicators as usual.


    The team set up camp on the spot.


    .......


    Since there were not many survivors left, the team members chose a sturdy building that was easy to defend and used mechanical arms and armor to construct a circr encampment.


    Upon hearing the order to set up camp, everyone began to take out their marching tents from their backpacks and started to build.


    Anthony found Rena, who was setting up her own tent.


    Her personal maid had died in the battle three days ago, and now the youngdy no longer required anyone to serve her, taking care of all her affairs by herself.


    Anthony reported with a heavy tone: "Miss, the entrance to the cursed space is temporarily inessible, it seems to require special triggering conditions to enter. Majorie''s team is currently trying to decipher it..."


    "I understand."


    Rena listened, her expression calm, and her hands continued to set up the tent without pausing at the news.


    Anthony watched the changes in his young mistress with a trace of relief in his eyes, but he immediately expressed his concern: "Miss... it''s preliminarily identified as a ''T-level'' space. This time, I''m afraid we won''t make it through."


    "Mhm."


    Rena paused for a moment upon hearing this.


    But it seemed she was already mentally prepared, her tone resolute and indifferent: "If it really is T-level, probing in batches is meaningless. Once we find the way in, I will personally participate in the exploration."


    Anthony looked at her with aplex expression, "Yes, Miss."


    They were all too aware that no one could defy or escape the orders of the Duke''s mansion.


    If they did not continue the exploration, even if they tried to escape, they would surely not survive and would definitely bring disaster upon the entire Oliver family in Old Lingdun.


    Rena had been prepared for the annihtion of the entire army since the start of the expedition.


    This moment was bound toe sooner orter.


    Rena did not forget tofort the loyal old butler, "Grandpa Anthony, perhaps the situation isn''t as bad as it seems."


    "Ah..."


    Anthony sighed softly, said no more, and turned to leave.


    At that moment, Rena seemed to think of something and nced at the corner where a solitary figure was pitching a tent, the always aloof Mr. Zolo.


    Thinking it over, she walked over and greeted him: "Mr. Zolo."


    "Mr. Zolo" responded: "What is it, Miss Rena?"


    His face was covered by a crude full-face gas mask with mechanical modifications, making it impossible to see clearly, and his voice sounded hoarse through the filter canister.


    "Thank you for taking care of me along the way."


    Rena bowed to Zolo, well aware that he had taken great care of her throughout the journey.


    Otherwise, during the battle with the third-order Three-Headed Humanoid Python a few days ago, she would have been either dead or severely injured. At that time, Butler Anthony was restrained by the monster, and her personal guards had all perished. If it weren''t for Mr. Zolo, she would have been burned to death by the monster''s corrosive poison gas.


    Sure enough, her aunt said he was very powerful, and he truly was.


    After bowing, Rena continued: "Mr. Zolo, what I want to tell you is, after we figure out how to enter the cursed space, I will lead all the members in. You are not a contracted member of our family, and there''s no need for you to join us..."


    "No, you don''t need to be so polite."


    Zolo shook his head, his tone seemingly not as heavy as Rena''s, "After all, Sister Qian entrusted me to take good care of you."


    "You''ve done well enough, thank you very much."


    Rena thanked him sincerely again, then revealed the harsh truth, "But you don''t have to die with me."


    Hearing this, Zolo shook his head, seemingly amused, "No, what I mean is... even if I wanted to leave, I couldn''t."


    He paused, then added meaningfully: "Besides, I never nned to leave."


    "???"


    Rena was puzzled upon hearing this.


    Just as she was about to say something more, themunicator suddenly transmitted an urgent report.


    "Miss, we have arge group of people rapidly approaching us from the left... Judging by the gs, they''re from the rk family!"


    "Miss, another group has arrived from the right, they''re from the Oliver family!"


    With that, the entire camp immediately tensed up.


    .......


    The Dawn Ruins were vast, but dozens of teams were also clearing the area at the same time, so in reality, the distance between each team was not far.


    Rena''s team was assigned number sixteen, with the Oliver family at fifteen and the rk family at seventeen.


    Although obscured by fog and ruins, making it impossible to see figures, the sounds of gunfire and battle indicated that the teams were actually not far apart. It was like a divided cake; the closer to the core city area, the closer the teams were to each other.


    In fact, a few days earlier, Rena''s team had already noticed the movements of the teams on both sides.


    Those families had enough manpower to divide into several waves to clear the area, making rapid progress.


    The hunting teams were at the forefront, with the young masters anddies'' main teams following behind.


    And just minutes ago, within the Oliver family''s team a few kilometers away from Rena''s team.


    Danze Junior was leisurely enjoying his afternoon coffee in the tent.


    Compared to the brutal frontline battles, although they had also suffered some minor monster attacks, it was inconsequential.


    After all, they had the vice president of the Hunter''s Guild, the renowned third-order professional Nero Redgrave.


    Since thest time he was ambushed by Su''en, Danze had not dared to stray too far from this third-order professional.


    He and the bearded swordsman sipped coffee while ying chess on a ck and white checkerboard, chatting.


    "Mr. Nero, what do you think of that SS-ranked fugitive Su''en''s strength?"


    "Hard to say..."


    "Hard to say?"


    "I observed carefully during that ambush. The true strength Su''en disyed was only that of an average second-order level. But his Eight-Armed Spider Lance has an outstanding discement ability in the ruins, even I would find it difficult to catch him..."


    "Just good at running, that''s all."


    "It''s not that simple. Now that we''ve confirmed that guy is associated with that reactionary organization, we can''t underestimate him. Besides, did you notice that he hasn''t shown his second-order advancement ability yet?"


    "The advancement choices for a puppeteer are limited. That guy is young, yet his puppet control skills are so proficient, he most likely chose to advance in the ''puppet control skills'' direction. After all, you know, puppet control requires a lot of time and effort to practice..."


    "Mhm, that makes sense."


    "In my opinion, that SS-ranked fugitive Su''en seems to be relying on the scythe of a banned item to wreak havoc. That guy is indeed lucky to have obtained a secret technique for refining living corpses that can avoid the curse bacsh of banned items. However, now that I have firmly stabilized my second-order realm and have this Stanitz''s Chessboard, if Su''enes again, I guarantee he won''t return."


    "Although I think Danze Junior should be a bit more cautious. But with this cursed item,bined with Puppet Theater, facing a second-order professional, you indeed have no reason to lose..."


    Hearing this, Danze''s face showed a smug smile.


    As they were talking, a subordinate came to report.


    "Young Master, we''ve received orders from the ck Tower to send people to assist the Reiss main house team in opening arge cursed space..."


    Both men looked surprised.


    Danze turned, "Mr. Nero, are you interested in taking a look?"


    "Of course."


    Nero narrowed his eyes slightly and added: "Since we''ve offended the Reiss main house, we must eradicate thempletely. Now that the ck Tower has sanctioned your actions, that Miss Rena and old Anthony must not be allowed to leave the ruins alive. Otherwise, there won''t be such a good opportunity next time. Carnegie Reiss is very capable; he survived such a splitst time, and if we can''tpletely break them down this time, a weakened tiger is still a big trouble..."


    Danzeughed, "I think so too."


    .......


    Rena had long known that the rk family''s vanguard team on the left had far surpassed their own team in progress and had been keeping a close watch.


    Now these guys suddenly changed their route, obviously with ill intentions.


    Sure enough, before long, a group of several hundred hunters emerged from the distant fog.


    Judging by the family crests engraved on their equipment, they were clearly the elite team of the rk family.


    The young man leading the rk family, d in brand-new hunting gear, was naturally the eldest son, Eli rk.


    This eldest son looked at Rena''s few dozen survivors with a tone full of mockery: "Yo, Miss Rena, it seems your situation isn''t looking too good, huh?"


    The visitors clearly had bad intentions, and Butler Anthony had already protected Rena, eyeing the three personal bodyguards beside Eli with pupils slightly constricting, saying: "Miss, be careful, those are the Ice, Thunder, and Earth elders from the Old Lingdun Mystical Studies Association, very strong elemental sorcerers with powerful cursed items. Together, even I am not confident of gaining the upper hand quickly."


    An archer with a blue longbow, a woman in a robe with a thunder-patterned staff, and a punk with green hair.


    All three exuded an extraordinary aura, and the weapons in their hands were no ordinary items.


    Rena nced at them and turned to look coldly at the approaching group, responding: "What are you here for?"


    Eli led his team swaggering over,zily saying: "Received a notification from the higher-ups at the ck Tower, saying you might not be able to handle this cursed space, so I brought people over to take a look for you."


    He didn''t need toe personally, but now that he heard it was Rena''s team, this Eli naturally wanted to kick them while they were down.


    Rena''s brows furrowed slightly upon hearing this, and she nced at the three white-helmeted supervisors not far away, seemingly inquiring.


    The ck-faced supervisory team leader responded indifferently: "The order from above is only to supervise your clearing. We won''t intervene in your family affairs, nor will we manage them."


    After speaking, the three supervisors deliberately distanced themselves, seemingly indicating their stance: you fight, just don''t hurt us.


    Rena had no expectations for these people to mediate, and upon hearing this, she shouted sharply: "All men, on mymand, anyone who approaches the camp, shoot to kill!"


    At hermand, both sides almost simultaneously raised their guns.


    "Click" "Click" the sound of guns being cocked filled the air.


    With nearly a tenfold difference in numbers, the rk family had an absolute advantage.


    Eli seemedpletely unfazed by the guns pointed at him, signaling his men to lower their weapons.


    After all, in this situation, even if the other side fired first, they had no chance of winning.He looked at Rena and continued to provoke, "Yo~ Miss Rena seems to be in a bad mood..."


    As if it had been arranged, the moment the rk family arrived, Danze Junior of the Oliver family also emerged with his team.


    Danze Junior, watching the two tense groups, took delight in their misfortune, "Tsk tsk... seems like I''ve arrived at an awkward time?"


    Beside him, there was a heavily made-up young girl who bore a resemnce to Rena.


    It was none other than Betty Reiss of the Reiss family, Danze Junior''s fiance.


    She yed a significant role in the downfall of the main house.


    She looked at Rena and gloated, "Sister Rena, long time no see."


    ........


    The two groups together nearly amounted to a thousand people, all enemies.


    In this situation, it seemed unlikely that Rena and herpanions would be able to enter the cursed space; they might be annihted right outside.


    Anthony, the old butler, stepped forward and pressed, "Miss Rena, shall we talk now?"


    Rena, facing the enemies who had closed in to fifty meters, showed no fear and pulled the trigger.


    "Bang!"


    The gunshot rang out.


    The bullet hit the ground at Anthony''s feet, sending up a puff of white smoke.


    Rena, holding the gun, said calmly, "Come any closer, and the next bullet will be in your head."


    Apparently anticipating the bullet''s trajectory, Anthony''s bodyguards didn''t even flinch.


    Although Anthony himself jumped in fright, the sneer on his face deepened. He turned to Rena''s guards and said something intriguing, "You don''t want to live, but don''t you care about your subordinates?"


    His words seemed to be a signal.


    At that moment, a second-rank captain named Pruitt Keith suddenly led a dozen subordinates to distance themselves.


    Seeing this, the old butler Anthony bellowed, "Pruitt, what are you doing!"


    Pruitt looked at Rena and said, "I''m sorry, Miss Rena. I''ve given a lot to the Reiss family, but I don''t want to die here..."


    Clearly, these people had been bought off.


    There was no need for them to continue their undercover roles.


    Whether it was the cursed space ahead or the predicament here, staying with the Reiss main house seemed like certain death.


    As they said this, they held their guns at the ready and walked out of the fortified camp.


    Rena''s team was already small, and with the loss of a dozen more, a gap in the camp''s defenses immediately appeared.


    The most critical blow was to morale; with these people gone, the remaining eyes were filled with anger and despair.


    The old butler Anthony wanted to kill the traitors, but with enemies all around, he dared not act rashly.


    Rena remained silent, her situation worsening, but her demeanor unchanged.


    Her gun-holding hand was still steady.


    At this time, Anthony, not far away, with even more scorn in his eyes, asked again, "Now, Miss Rena, have you changed your mind?"


    The Reiss main house''s situation had be desperate.


    Rena didn''t turn to look but said indifferently to the remaining guards, "If anyone else wants to leave now, I won''t me you."


    She knew very well that they were targeted for the destruction of the Reiss main house.


    Surrender? It would serve no purpose other than humiliation.


    After a pause, she spoke with resolve, "But if you stay, be prepared to fight to the death with me!"


    Hearing this, the morale that had been dampened by the betrayal of their officers suddenly surged.


    The guards rallied around Rena, ready to fight to the death.


    "Miss, we won''t leave!"


    "We swear to live and die with the family!"


    "Yes! We swear to live and die with the family! Fight to the end!"


    "..."


    The crowd was fervent, and the spirit of the few dozen people was like a zing fire, holding its own against the nearly thousand enemies surrounding them.


    And the old butler Anthony seemed to have unleashed some secret technique, suddenly growing horns on his head, his bones cracking, and his body swelling into a nearly two-meter-tall muscr humanoid goat.


    Looking at this group, the experts from the Oliver and rk families frowned, even the third-rank professional Nero looked solemn.


    He watched the old goat whose aura had suddenly exploded and muttered to himself, "Anthony, the champion of the Old London fighting tournament twenty years ago... tsk tsk, it''s been a long time since I''ve seen this form."


    A third-rank professional fighting for their life is no joke.

 Chapter 196: Who is Zolo?

    Chapter 196: Who is Zolo?


    Young Master Eli looked at Rena''s fierce resistance and dared not advance any further.


    They had thought that faced with such a dire situation, a pampered youngdy from a prestigious family would surely capitte.


    But she had no intention of negotiating and chose to fight to the death instead.


    "Hmph! A woman who doesn''t appreciate kindness, don''t me me for not being polite!" Eli sneered, just as he was about to retreat.


    Unexpectedly, at that moment, an anachronistic voice suddenly emerged.


    "Um... Young Master Eli, I heard there''s some bad blood between us?"


    All eyes shifted, focusing on the masked man leaning against a stone pir in Rena''s camp.


    Although he stood with Rena''s group, he seemed out of ce.


    Rena, looking at Zolo who had suddenly spoken, felt a twinge of guilt and confusion. "Mr. Zolo, you..."


    Before she could finish, Zolo interrupted her with an indifferent tone, as if muttering to himself, "After all, I promised Sister Qian and that person to try my best to keep you alive. Naturally, I must fulfill my duty."


    That person?


    Rena''s mind flickered with confusion.


    But reality left no room for detailed questioning.


    ...


    Because of the gas mask, Eli did not recognize him and questioned, "Who are you?"


    The masked man responded calmly, "I am Zolo. Young Master Eli seems to have a short memory?"


    "Heh, it''s you."


    Something clicked for Eli, and he squinted at the masked man, chuckling, "What, you want to beg for mercy now?"


    "No."


    Zolo shook his head with a smile, "I was thinking of borrowing something from Young Master Eli."


    Eli scoffed, "Oh? What do you want to borrow?"


    Zolo spoke in a joking tone, "Your head for a moment."


    "Hehe..."


    Eliughed as if he had heard a joke,pletely unconcerned, full of scorn, "Just you?"


    I''ve got hundreds of men with me, even that third-tier old man wouldn''t dare to speak up, and you think you can take me down in a second?


    "Mhm."


    Listening to the obviously mocking question, Zolo actually nodded seriously.


    As he spoke, he toyed with the dagger in his hand, flicking his wrist to produce a beautiful flourish of the de. His tone remained casual, but the killing intent in his eyes began to solidify as he added, "I also wanted to say, you shouldn''t stand so close. At this distance, with just these few people, they can''t protect your life..."


    Before he finished speaking, the killing intent suddenly burst forth.


    The three elders beside Eli were the first to sense something, their expressions changing dramatically as they shouted, "Young Master, be careful!"


    Zolo''s words were still echoing in everyone''s ears when they heard a "bang" and the sound of shattering stone.


    Upon closer inspection, the stone pir Zolo had been leaning on, as if struck by some invisible colossal force, suddenly cracked with countless spiderweb-like fissures.


    "Crack," "crack," "crack"...


    After a series of fine, dense sounds, the force spread, and the entire pir could no longer withstand it, shattering into pieces and exploding.


    Everyone watched in disbelief as the nearly one-meter-diameter load-bearing pir inexplicably disintegrated.


    The explosion sounded in an instant, and only then did the shockwave ripple out from the spot where Zolo had previously braced his feet.


    After a momentary dy, a "pop" sounded in the air, piercing eardrums.


    Looking again, the figure of "Zolo" in front of them had dissipated.


    It was a visual illusion,


    The man had already vanished from the spot.


    ...


    The previously calm "Zolo" suddenly erupted into action.


    The lower-tier professionals hadn''t even grasped what had happened, but the two third-tier professionals present had already caught Zolo''s movement in advance.


    Both third-tiers changed color at the same time.


    Anthony, now transformed into a demonic sheep, was shocked, "Mr. Zolo is so strong?!"


    Only he, also a melee professional, could tell just from the cracking anomaly of the pir how terrifying this instant movement technique was.


    He never imagined that a bounty hunter, who had always seemed so unremarkable, possessed such physical prowess.


    And Nero, the "Thunder Sword King," immediately recognized the air-stepping technique and was horrified, "Air Step!"


    This was a secret technique even he had not mastered, and he was astonished to see "Zolo" pull off such a move.


    The subtle skill required to step on air seemed light, but it required supreme talent to master!


    Nero then understood why "Zolo" had said those words earlier. With the ability to charge forward, within fifty meters, those second-tier guards, no matter how strong, couldn''t protect Young Master Eli''s life!


    "Not good!"


    Nero''s heart raced with urgency. He naturally couldn''t just watch Eli get killed right before his eyes.


    Almost the moment he realized Zolo''s sudden move, he swung his sword, sending out a sharp sword qi that surged forward tens of meters in an instant.


    But...


    As another third-tier professional on the field, how could he let Nero have his way?


    Anthony also snorted coldly, his figure turning into a streak of light, perfectly blocking the sword qi.


    Transformed into a demonic sheep, he no longer bore the old demeanor from before; his body was now filled with explosive power.


    With this touch, Anthony''s hands, covered in white fur, wrapped around a whirlwind, and he actually blocked the sword qi with his bare hands!


    The two third-tiers reacted and shed extremely quickly, almostpleting their exchange in the instant the pir copsed.


    Nero''s sword qi was fruitless, and at that moment, the figure of "Zolo," who had disappeared, reappeared, already dozens of meters away.


    Young Master Eli also realized that something terrible was happening. The great terror of facing death changed hisplexion, and he wanted to shout for help in his heart.


    But his throat couldn''t make a sound in time.


    He instinctively wanted to dodge, but his body couldn''t keep up with his mind''s reaction, and he could only watch helplessly as the figure shed before him.


    The pitch-ck poisoned dagger quietly reached for his neck.


    As the crisis loomed, the three disaster elders of ice, lightning, and earth around Eli also reacted.


    But how could their spells be faster than a melee professional who used "Air Step" to advance?


    Among them, the bald, muscr man of the earth element, who had strong defensive capabilities and was the only melee professional, was the first to sh forward, positioning his body in front of Young Master Eli. At the same time, his skin glowed with an earthy light, clearly intending to withstand the blow.


    If "Zolo" charged straight ahead, he would run right into him.


    ...


    But would Zolo do as they wished?


    The "Air Step" was not only fast but also excelled in its ability to stop abruptly and change direction!


    Before anyone could react, another ripple burst in the air.


    "Zolo" stepped on the air again, stopping abruptly and changing direction, tracing a "Z" shaped lightning path in the air, perfectly avoiding the bald man''s block.


    Young Master Eli caught a glimpse of a figure in the corner of his eye, but before the image could be processed from his retina to his brain, he suddenly felt a chill at his waist.


    The sharp poisoned dagger precisely cut through a weak seam in the protective suit, cunningly slicing open a gash.


    In an instant, the wound was exposed to the air, quickly turning ck, and a foul-smelling pus gushed out.


    Before Young Master Eli could say anything, his vision darkened, and he slumped down, his breath as thin as a thread!


    ...


    With a single encounter, "Zolo" had severely wounded Young Master Eli, who was protected by numerous experts, stunning everyone present.


    As the person fell, the "pop, pop, pop" sounds of stepping on air echoed in everyone''s ears.


    Time seemed to pause for a moment, and only then did people recover from their shock.


    "Quick, detoxify the young master!"


    "Damn it, stop him!"


    "Protect the young master!"


    "..."


    The scene descended into chaos.


    Not far away, Nero, the "Thunder Sword King," saw this scene and was even more shocked, "Wasn''t the intel that he was a ranger? This looks like a professional assassin? And with a three-stage Air Step, such an exaggerated burst of speed, how strong must this guy''s body be? When did such a powerful expert appear among second-tier professionals?"


    With the "Air Step," even he felt a certain threat.


    Clearly, Nero''s first reaction was that there was something wrong with "Zolo"!


    How could such a strong person be just a somewhat famous bounty hunter?


    "Could it be a hidden handid by Carnegie Reyes?"


    Nero''s eyes darted around, and in an instant, his mind raced with many unanswered questions.


    But reality didn''t give him the chance to ponder.


    Because at that moment, the battle had already begun.


    Zolo''s assassination of Young Master Eli ignited the fuse of a powder keg.


    Gunfire erupted chaotically.


    And after "Zolo" had severely wounded Young Master Eli, his figure didn''t pause, charging directly into the ranks of the rk family''s troops.


    His speed left the second-tier professionals unable to react, let alone the ordinary guards?


    Due to the hasty arrival and relying on their numerical advantage, this group had not formed any defensive formation.


    Now that the incident had urred suddenly, "Zolo" was like a bullet, easily piercing through the enemy''s defense. His figure flitted about like a ghost, and wherever his sharp dagger passed, it inevitably left a cunning trail of blood through the gaps in armor and bulletproof vests.


    "Don''t shoot randomly, be careful of friendly fire!"


    "Use area control spells!"


    "Mech suits, block him!"


    "Use guns! Use guns!"


    "..."


    The enemy was in disarray.


    Because of "Zolo''s" presence, which attracted most of the rk family''s firepower, Rena''s side felt much less pressure.


    Although the Reyes family had fewer people, their equipment was extremely sophisticated, and they also took advantage of the terrain and defensive positions. A few heavily armored mechanical warriors blocked the front, and a barrage of firepower covered them, holding their ground for the time being.


    However, if the battle dragged on, it would eventually be a dead end.


    And even though "Zolo" was formidable, he was only one person.


    There were also second-tier experts among the enemies.


    Earlier, he had taken advantage of the surprise attack, and they hadn''t reacted in time.


    Now that he had killed someone, although he was mixed in with the crowd, his speed had slowed down.


    Two second-tier assassins entangled him.


    Daggers shed, sparking shes of fire.


    Although "Zolo" still had the upper hand for the moment, with the enemy''s overwhelming numbers, once he was entangled, he would also face a dead end.


    And the area spells of those magic casters were also forming...


    "Zolo" was clearly aware of this and didn''t give his enemies the chance to encircle him.


    After charging in, injuring dozens of people, he immediately ran towards the outskirts of the encirclement, looking as if he wanted to break through and escape.


    If he really disappeared into the mist, with his speed, no matter how many people there were, catching up would be impossible!


    ...


    Not far away, Rena and her people watched as Mr. Zolo reached the edge of the battlefield and breathed a sigh of relief.


    Under the current circumstances, escaping one by one was the best they could hope for.


    But just then, something unexpected happened.


    Normal speed was hard to match for a professional assassin who could use Air Step, but there were certain special alchemical items.


    "Don''t let him escape!"


    Seeing Zolo intent on fleeing, a figure among the enemy suddenly increased in speed by several times, reaching an unbelievable pace.


    Taking advantage of "Zolo" still being mired in the crowd, the figure suddenly surged forward to intercept him, moving even faster than the Air Step!


    It was this moment, the difference in speed, that brought the two into contact.


    The man''s fist mmed into "Zolo''s" head, and even though he tried his best to twist his body to dissipate the force, he was still hit in the face by the punch, his body halted, and he was sent flying backward.


    Zolo was sent flying, but without much surprise, he muttered to himself, "Tsk tsk... able to elerate time, must be that ''Watkins'' Pocket Watch'' the guy mentioned. As expected, still far from him. If he were here, he could probably kill all these guys..."


    A punch to the face sent the gas mask flying.


    Afternding, "Zolo''s" demeanor changed drastically from before, showing no intention of fighting to the death,


    He actually raised his hands without any heroic spirit,


    He... made a gesture of surrender?


    At that moment, seeing that the target was not resisting, someone suddenly shouted, "Take him alive!"


    With thatmand, the lethal methods also suddenly ceased.


    Everyone then saw clearly that beneath the mask was a strange face with blue skin.


    From a distance, Rena and Anthony, who had once seen "Zolo," were greatly surprised.They were astonished to find that this blue-skinned individual was not the handsome and imposing gentleman she had seen before!


    .......


    This blue-skinned "Zolo" was naturally not Su''en.


    Instead, it was Kay, who had merged with the X serum and advanced to a second-tier assassin.


    Kay, surrounded by the crowd, raised his hands in surrender.


    He showed no intention of behaving like a captive, his face adorned with a radiant smile, and he muttered, "Just as I thought, that guy said you wouldn''t dare kill me once you saw the ''X serum.''"


    Hearing this, a middle-aged man with a grim expression stepped forward.


    He scrutinized Kay''s blue skin and then looked at Kay, who waspletely lucid, clearly recognizing the effects of the "X serum."


    He was also immensely shocked.


    Where did they get their "X serum"?


    Could someone actually inject it and not be deformed?


    This was also the reason he had ordered to take a prisoner just moments ago.


    They were people from the Umbre Organization, naturally unconcerned with any family infighting.


    The middle-aged man ignored the ongoing fierce battle among the three major families and shot Kay in the leg,


    He was very cautious, probably also to prevent Kay from using that kind of speed to escape again.


    After injuring him, he then asked in a deep voice, "Who is the person you''re talking about?"


    Kay took a bullet in his left thigh, stumbled, and nearly fell.


    However, his face showed no sign of pain, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly: "You''ll find out soon enough."


    The middle-aged man''s expression changed slightly as he guessed something: "Are you stalling for time?"


    "Yeah... you just realized?"


    Kay looked at the curse space portal that was suddenly glowing with dark light not far away and grinned: "Tsk tsk... the timing is just perfect."


    Before the people in front of him could react, they suddenly found that the scenery around them had changed dramatically.


    Only then did everyone realize that due to some special condition, they had been swept into the cursed space!

 Chapter 197: Central Prison

    Chapter 197: Central Prison


    The prison from a thousand years ago wasn''t much different from the one in Old Lingdun.


    A gloomy and enclosed underground space, cramped cells, cold runic iron bars, and walls built withrge chunks of bluestone like bread, with a dim gasmp every few meters.


    The air was slightly damp, carrying the rotten stench of a sewer.


    Perhaps to dispel the damp and foul smell, there were zing fire pits in the corridor outside the bars, where the firewood crackled as it burned.


    The sound of gunfire was incessant to the ear.


    The prison seemed quiterge, with the sound of gunfireing from afar.


    ........


    The dark spiritual energy inside the prison was extremely dense, so thick that it seemed to warp people at any moment.


    Kay ignored the gunfire outside, greedily taking in a few breaths.


    The rich dark spiritual energy made him feel veryfortable.


    Although his thigh had been shot through, it didn''t hinder him from suddenly pulling out a dagger and effortlessly shing the throats of two elite members of the rk family in the same cell.


    Coincidentally, in the cell opposite him were Rena and Anthony, the old butler.


    Seeing the changing scene, the old butler firmly held Rena''s hand, finally rxing.


    Suddenly pulled into the cursed space amidst fierce battle, both of them had a look of shock and bewilderment in their eyes.


    However, they naturally also saw Kay, who had just killed someone in the opposite cell.


    Although they didn''t know who this blue-skinned stranger was, they knew he was a friend, not a foe.


    Through the iron bars, Anthony asked, "Young man, what exactly is going on here? Where is Mr. Zolo?"


    Kay was treating the gunshot wound on his leg, the "X serum" providing him with superhuman healing abilities, visibly mending his torn flesh.


    Hearing the question, he looked up at the two, his tone slightly odd, "Zolo? Hmm... he should be arriving soon."


    Saying this, Kay looked at the old butler who seemed to be testing the strength of the iron bars and stopped him, "Oh, right. He told us to stay in the cell and not go out, or we might run into trouble. The jailers outside... they can''t be killed..."


    Hearing this, Anthony pondered for a moment, visibly startled, and quickly asked, "Was it Mr. Zolo who activated the cursed space just now?"


    Kay had no intention of hiding anything and casually replied, "Yes."


    Upon hearing this,


    Rena and Anthony were both shocked.


    They had thought it was an ident, thinking it was too coincidental that they were swept into the cursed space during the heat of battle.


    Was it actually man-made?


    And wasn''t this a "T-level" space? Listening to the tone of the strange man before them, it seemed that Mr. Zolo knew some "secrets" that others did not.


    At this moment, Rena, looking at Kay treating his wound, said, "Sir, the through-and-through wound on your leg carries elemental damage, which will prevent the wound from healing. I have a targeted healing potion here. If you need it..."


    Before she could finish, Kay unceremoniously shed a brilliant smile, "Thank you."


    Rena tossed the potion over, nodding, "I should be thanking you... By the way, sir, how may I address you?"


    She was well aware that the man before her was very strong; if he hadn''t stayed behind, they wouldn''t have been involved at all.


    His injury was because of her.


    As Kay poured the potion on his wound, he introduced himself, "Miss Rena, you can call me Kay."


    He paused, then shook his head dismissively, "You don''t need to thank me. ''Zolo'' asked me toe in his stead and to protect Miss Rena."


    Saying this, he revealed a light smile on his face, ncing at Rena, "If you want to thank someone, thank himter."


    "Oh... we should all be grateful."


    Rena felt a bit puzzled upon hearing this.


    Even that Mr. Zolo didn''t have much of a rtionship with her.


    If it was because of her aunt, it seemed a bit far-fetched.


    Mr. Zolo seemed too kind to her?


    Rena thought for a moment and said, "I''m sorry for involving you in such a troublesome incident."


    Kay just smiled nomittally.


    .......


    As the youngdy spoke, Anthony, the butler, naturally wouldn''t presume to interrupt, instead listening silently on the side.


    He was also secretly guessing Kay''s identity.


    Suddenly, something came to mind, and Anthony, testing the waters, asked, "Mr. Kay, if I may be so bold, are you the one who injured Gage before?"


    As a butler, Anthony naturally handled all the family''s intelligence.


    He knew far more than Rena did.


    In fact, when he saw Kay''s sudden outburst, he had an inkling.


    Such a formidable professional couldn''t be a nobody.


    And there weren''t many professionals in Old Lingdun who could perform the "Step of Void."


    Then, he thought of the recent intelligence about the mysterious lone ranger with the nickname "Hyena," the one who had ughtered the "Steel Cannon Hunting Group" and nearly killed "Gun King" Gage with a ghost-like technique.


    Although the intelligence suggested that the "Hyena" was only a first-order professional, which was a bit below the man before him, there seemed to be no one else who would dare to oppose the inner city''s major families.


    Kay nced at the old butler, seemingly pondering for a moment, then simply uttered one word: "Yes."


    With that, Anthony''s pupils shrank slightly, his heart churning with shock.


    The "Hyena" himself wasn''t a big problem; the intelligence also indicated he was a lone ranger with no significant background.


    But he was involved in a huge trouble,


    That was the "SS wanted criminal Su''en"!


    Rumor had it that the two had an extraordinary rtionship.


    Moreover, there was now news that "Su''en" was also involved with a reactionary organization, entangled in troubles too vast to fathom.


    That was the kind of trouble that any major family would die from if they got involved!


    .........


    Rena, still not understanding, looked at the old butler with a puzzled expression, who seemed to have a different tone.


    Anthony didn''t know how to exin, his expressionplex for a moment before he murmured to himself, "So it''s your excellency..."


    He looked at Kay, then thought of something else.


    If he could guess his identity, so could others.


    He directly voiced his concern, "Thank you for your righteous intervention, sir. However, this might cause trouble now. The Oliver and rk families have close ties with the military in the inner city, and there might be people from the umbre organization among their troops. If they get out alive, it could cause a lot of trouble..."


    "Get out alive?"


    Kay shook his head, interrupting his worries, and stated directly, "No. If that guy intends to do this, they won''t be able to get out alive."


    "???"


    Anthony thought Kay was unaware of the prowess of top professionals; after all, there were only a few third-order professionals in the whole of Old Lingdun.


    His concern did not diminish but grew stronger as he exined, "But... the elites from the two families are very strong. ''Sword King of Wind and Thunder'' Nero is extremely powerful, even I am not sure I can defeat him. And the Three Cmities Elders, if they join forces, no second-order professional can stand against them..."


    Kay shrugged, his expression suggesting agreement, and said casually, "Mr. Anthony, I quite agree with you."


    Anthony was even more puzzled.


    But after a pause, Kay''s tone suddenly changed, his eyes deepening, and he slowly said, "Although I also think it''s impossible. But when that guy says he''ll do something, he always makes it happen."


    Upon hearing this, Anthony''s brow furrowed.


    Too many unexpected events had urred today, making him feel somewhat unreal.


    He suddenly thought, could it be... they n to use this cursed space?


    But this is a "T-level" space, a dead end for enemies, and isn''t it the same for them?


    .......


    Meanwhile, the sound of gunfire in the corridor outside was getting denser.


    The prison was not only filled with their group of outsiders but also NPC jailers and prisoners.


    It sounded like arge group of people was fighting the jailers, apparently trying to violently break out of prison and escape.


    Almost all cursed spaces have amon method of resolution, which is to fight one''s way through.


    Hearing the increasingmotion outside, Kay remained calm, but Rena and Anthony, the butler, were quite puzzled.


    Rena asked, "Mr. Kay, should we go out now?"


    Kay shook his head, "No. Those jailers outside aren''t strong, but that guy said, don''t kill them, killing them will bring big trouble."


    Hearing this, Rena thought for a moment and asked, "Does Mr. Zolo... know the information about this cursed space?"


    Kay spread his hands, "Don''t look at me. I don''t know much more than you do."


    But before they could talk further, Anthony suddenly looked alert and warned, "Someone''sing."


    After waiting a moment, Rena and Kay could distinguish footsteps approaching their corner cell amidst the gunfire.


    The footsteps were steady, without a hint of haste.


    As they got closer, they heard a conversation from outside.


    It seemed to be a dialogue between NPCs in this space.


    "Jailer Chief! There''s been arge-scale prisoner riot in areas one and two, please instruct!"


    "Hmm, hold your positions. There will be a shock troop to handle that. I need to interrogate a few prisoners."


    "Yes!"


    "..."


    As soon as the voice fell, a man wearing a dark blue prison uniform with a ferocious iron mask approached.


    Judging by the epaulettes on his shoulder, he was the jailer chief who had just spoken.


    The masked man came to Kay''s cell, jingling a bunch of keys, and as he unlocked the door, he said, "Sorry for the dy, had to deal with some things."


    Kay recognized the visitor as Su''en at a nce, and although not too surprised, he was still curious, "How did you be the jailer chief?"


    "It saves a lot of trouble with this identity."


    Su''en exined nonchntly.


    He opened Kay''s cell, then turned to unlock the opposite iron door.


    Because he hadn''t removed his mask, Rena didn''t recognize him and tentatively asked, "Mr. Zolo?"


    Su''en seemed to ponder for a moment, deliberately not revealing his identity, and chuckled, "Yes, Miss Rena."


    But Anthony, the butler, scrutinized the mysterious masked man, his eyes showing gravity.


    Why was everyone else a prisoner, and he was an NPC?


    .......


    Su''en led the three out of the prison.


    Only then did Kay and the others see several armed jailers in the corners of the prison corridor, who didn''t seem very intelligent.


    With Su''en, the "jailer chief," leading them, they walked past without anyone stopping them, which surprised Kay and the others.


    The dark corridors were cramped, giving a sense of oppression everywhere.


    After walking for a while and seeing no one around, Su''en finally exined, "These first-level jailers aren''t strong, but killing them would be troublesome. The jailers on the lower levels are very strong, and once they act, none of the escapees will survive. Especially those who have killed jailers."


    Hearing this, Kay and the others finally understood.


    Instinctively, Anthony asked, "Mr. Zolo, how strong are the jailers below? How many levels does this prison have?"


    He felt that as the strongestbatant present, it was necessary to understand the enemy''s strength and the basic information about this space.


    Su''en pondered for a moment before responding with two words: "Very strong."


    Thinking for a while, he exined in a way they could understand, "This prison has five levels. ording to ancient ssifications, prisoners below the third order are held on the first level where we are now. The prisoners on the second level, as recorded, are all ''beyond order'' beings. Although much of their energy has dissipated over time, there are beings beyond the third order on the second level. I don''t know about the third and fourth levels. But I do know there''s an unbeatable presence on the fifth level. And this prison is special; its exit is on the fifth level. So whoever wants to get out has to go underground."


    Listening to this series of exnations, Kay and the others behind him were all astonished.


    There were descriptions of "beyond order" and unbeatable beings...


    Rena asked, "So... is this really a T-level space?"


    Su''en nodded nonchntly, "Yes."


    "..."


    Anthony''s face twitched, his eyes filled with doubt.If someone could read minds, at this moment they would surely hear him thinking: Your Excellency must have some misconceptions about the "T-level space"?


    T-level signifies no survivors.


    The content you described does fit this rating.


    But your tone is so casual... as if discussing a "D-level" space!


    Moreover, what surprised them even more was, since it''s a "T-level," where did this guy get his information?


    Kay seemed to know something but didn''t ask.


    For some reason, Rena felt a strange sense of familiarity when she saw what was happening before her.


    There had been someone like this in the past, always numbly calm at any critical moment.


    Even in desperate situations, they could instill an indescribable sense of trust.


    Thinking of something, she directly asked, "Mr. Zolo seems quite familiar with this space?"


    Su''en replied indifferently, "Hmm, I''ve been here a few times before."


    Been here...


    A few times?


    If someone imed they hade out alive from a "T-level" space, anyone would think they were bragging.


    Not only have you been here, but you''ve also been here "a few times"?


    Hearing this quantifier, the gazes of Kay and the others simultaneously turned very peculiar.


    .......


    Su''en knew that his experiences, if spoken aloud, would seem unbelievable to others.


    He had previously thought of using the "false identity" tactic, wanting Kay to take Zolo''s ce to create an alibi.


    And during the time he freed up, he wasn''t idle either.


    He went to the Oliver family and killed a few people, showing his face;


    Then he came early to the cursed space to scout.


    Su''en had the items given by Mr. Mirror; he could have directly entered, found the prison "Lady Sereya."


    With those tokens, getting out safely wouldn''t be a big problem.


    But he always felt that, since this was a T-level space, it would be a waste to juste here for business.


    And with the All-Seeing Eye, he naturally could see all the information about this cursed space.


    Central Prison of Dawn City


    Details: A superrge cursed space, T-level; once the central prison of Dawn City, it held countless extremely vicious criminals; to stay alive, one must stay in their cell and not wander; otherwise, the jailers will kill all the escapees; without the pardon of that warden, you will never be able to leave the space; requires a specific spell to open; once the space is opened, it will draw in all life forms within a three-kilometer radius.


    The moment Su''en saw the space''s feature of "drawing in all life forms within a three-kilometer radius," an idea popped into his head: a death trap!


    This was a cursed space that could be called unsolvable.


    Those who enter can only stay in their cells, and breaking out would result in being killed as an "escapee."


    But staying in the cell, one can do nothing.


    Either die trapped or be killed.


    So, there''s actually only one way out, and that''s to break out and push through.


    But in reality... it''s impossible!


    After chatting with Mr. Mirror before, Su''en also knew that as time passed, the difficulty of the cursed space would decrease due to energy dissipation and the loss of certainws, and the NPCs inside would weaken.


    Over this past millennium, the remnants of fifth and sixth-order sorcerers in the space probably only had the strength of second or third-order, or even lower.


    This was also why the cursed space NPCs Su''en had encountered before were not of high order.


    But this ce was very close to that "space channel," with dense dark energy, preserving the cursed space well. After all, it was a city that once had "demi-god" level beings, and this Dawn Central Prison held many super-powerful beings.


    When Su''en previously scouted, he had seen NPCs above third-order just on the second floor of the prison.


    On the third and fourth floors, he estimated, there were at least fourth-order, maybe even fifth-order existences...


    So, pushing through was simply impossible!


    Moreover, if he didn''t do something, by the time Rena and the others arrived, their team would also be doomed.


    Isn''t this the perfect opportunity to solve many problems?


    After meeting and conversing with "Lady Sereya," he became even more certain of his n; he wanted to use the space to deal with those troubles.


    And the young master of the Oliver and rk families didn''t disappoint, hearing that Rena was about to be annihted, he indeed came personally to "kick someone while they''re down."


    Then the previous scene unfolded.


    .......


    As they walked, suddenly, Anthony was the first to notice something, his expression grave, "Someone''sing. They''re probably targeting the youngdy."


    Su''en''s tone remained calm, "Hmm... perfect."


    PS. The second chapter isn''t finished yet, will postter.

 Chapter 198: Madman

    Chapter 198: Madman


    The Oliver and rk families had brought their elite forces, and with their superior equipment, they quickly ughtered the jailer NPCs on the first floor, leaving them in disarray.


    Once the main force had gathered, they began searching for a way to break the curse that enveloped the space.


    The first floor of the prison wasid out in a circr pattern, and the two families together had nearly a thousand people.


    Even if they tried to avoid it, they would easily run into each other.


    Su''en had originally nned to take his people to the next floor to settle down before dealing with these guys.


    Now it seemed they were going to be intercepted ahead of time.


    Before they even saw anyone, the old butler Anthony noticed something amiss and stepped in front of the group, saying gravely, "Mr. Zolo, I''ll hold them off. Please take the youngdy and leave first!"


    Su''en shook his head and said, "There''s a very powerful guy hidden among them. Even you, Mr. Anthony, can''t win against him."


    At these words, Anthony asked in confusion, "Are you talking about ''Storm Sword King'' Nero Redgrave? If it''s him, even if I can''t win, I have a chance to hold him off for a while."


    "No, that person... is much more powerful than Nero."


    Su''en didn''t borate further but instead revealed his n, "The entrance is where I mentioned earlier. When you get the chance, break out. There are monsters below, so don''t wander off. With the ''Writ of Bail'' I gave you, you should be captured by the jailers on the second floor. Don''t resist, just wait for me in the cell."


    Upon hearing this, Rena realized that Su''en was nning to stay behind alone.


    She shook her head, her face set with determination, "Mr. Zolo, we can help you!"


    The youngdy hadpletely shed her naivety; she no longer felt at peace with others sacrificing themselves for her.


    She knew that at this moment, only by working together could they possibly have a chance to survive.


    Su''en nced at her and said, "If you stay here, you will die."


    Rena''s tone remained unwavering, "Mr. Zolo, I''ve been ready to die for a long time..."


    Before she could finish, Su''en interrupted her, "No, what I mean is... staying here, you might be killed by me."


    With that, the atmosphere suddenly shifted from serious to strange.


    All three of them tensed up.


    What did he mean by that?


    Su''en didn''t exin further, only turning to Kay and saying, "Kay, remember, when you see my eyes turn red, no matter what, take everyone and leave."


    He knew that only his old friend would believe him unconditionally.


    As he spoke, Su''en removed the mask from his face, revealing his handsome features. However, the faint smirk in his eyes added a touch of devilish charm.


    "Are you sure?"


    Kay frowned upon hearing this.


    After a pause, he added, "I think there''s something off about your state."


    He hadn''t noticed it with the mask on, but now that they had walked a bit, he realized that there was something very strange about Su''en''s aura.


    It was as if a murderous intent that couldn''t be suppressed was being released indiscriminately, and even walking beside him, one could feel a chilling sensation.


    "Yes."


    As Su''en spoke, his throat seemed to betray his excitement, emitting a low growl like that of a wild beast, "Hehehe... My body has never been so thrilled. Just thinking about killing them all, my blood is boiling..."


    That feeling was as if the monster beneath the human skin was about to break free.


    "You..."


    In that instant, Anthony clearly felt the change in Su''en''s emotions.


    Even as a third-tier professional, he felt a chill down his spine.


    He frowned and asked, "Mr. Zolo, are you sure you''re alright? Your mental state is very strange..."


    He sensed carefully and realized that the strange aura around Su''en was not just mental power; his dark spiritual power was surging out like waves.


    This waspletely different from the calm andposed "Mr. Zolo" they knew before!


    Hearing this, Su''en reined in his emotions, and his expression suddenly returned to normal, as gentle as before.


    He said, "No, I''m very clear-headed right now, it''s just that my body is excited. I''m brewing a very dangerous secret technique, so I can''t quite control my aura right now... Sorry for scaring you."


    Hearing this, Kay didn''t say anything more.


    He believed in Su''en.


    If this guy said he was confident, then he definitely was.


    Although Anthony and Rena still had their doubts, they didn''t say anything else.


    Because at that moment, the people from the two big families had already surrounded them.


    .......


    Danze Junior and another young master, Eli, were inexplicably trapped in the cursed space, filled with panic.


    They had onlye to watch the farce of the Reiss family''s main house, hoping to profit from their misfortune.


    Even if it was a hunt in the wastnds, it was their subordinates who went, not them personally.


    But they never expected...


    That things would turn out like this.


    Beforeing, they had heard that this was a suspected "T-level" cursed space, extremely dangerous.


    Now trapped within, how could they not be afraid?


    Moreover, a casual investigation revealed that the jailer NPCs on the first floor were easy to handle, but the second floor was much more problematic.


    The teams sent to scout didn''t return at all!


    The elite squads led by second-tier professionals disappeared without a trace, directly annihted below.


    One could imagine that even if this space wasn''t "T-level," it was at least "S+".


    Even with third-tier professionals, the chances of survival were not high.


    Now, looking at Su''en and his group, they didn''t immediately take action.


    From the abnormal behavior of that blue-skinned creature earlier, even a fool could tell that the opening of this space was rted to these people.


    Moreover, if they weren''t nning on a mutual destruction, then the other party likely knew the way out.


    Upon meeting, Eli immediately asked with a cold face, "Rena, did you drag us in here? Damn it, do you realize what you''re doing?!"


    Rena frowned upon hearing this because she herself didn''t understand what had happened.


    She nced at "Mr. Zolo" not far from her and saw that the expressionless gentleman did not make a statement.


    Facing the enemy, she had no reason to speak, so she kept silent with a dark face.


    From a distance, Danze Junior, seeing that Rena didn''t speak, didn''t dare to provoke her further, fearing that she might have a "mutual destruction" n.


    It was easy to kill these few people now, but after that, how would they get out?


    He could only try to persuade her with kind words, "Miss Rena, I think there''s some misunderstanding here. We can talk it out, everything is negotiable."


    And the heavily made-up youngdy beside him had already turned pale with fear, "Oh, my God... Rena, I''m your sister! I just came to have a look, why did you drag me into this? Tell me, how do we get out of this damned cursed space..."


    They yed good cop, bad cop, and the sympathy card, which was headache-inducing to listen to.


    Su''en narrowed his eyes and suddenly realized what these people had been babbling about for so long.


    Although he hadn''t sensed anyone approaching, his threads had detected a "stealthy" individual heading towards Rena.


    Probably fearing exposure, the person wasn''t moving quickly.


    It seemed they nned to capture the youngdy first.


    And those guys on the other side were still babbling to buy time.


    .......


    Having spotted the enemy, Su''en sneered and said, "Mr. Anthony, can you hold off that Nero for meter? I''m about to make a move."


    "I can."


    Anthony agreed, but looking at the hundreds of enemies opposite, he frowned, "But there are too many enemies, I can''t guarantee how long I can hold them off."


    "No, you just need to hold off that one."


    Su''en''s murderous aura grew stronger, "The rest... I''ll kill!"


    Anthony frowned upon hearing this.


    He looked at the enemy, outnumbering them by a hundredfold, and immediately felt it was absurd.


    In this surrounded situation, if he said it was a fight to the death, he could understand.


    But this guy actually said he was going to kill?


    He himself, a third-tier professional, wouldn''t dare to say such a thing, so where did he get the confidence?


    Then he saw that crazed look, and suddenly realized why he had felt something was off.


    No matter how you looked at it, the Zolo in front of him seemed like... a madman.


    Aplete madman!


    A flicker of worry crossed Anthony''s mind. Was it really right to trust this man?


    But at that moment, before he could think further, Zolo suddenly stretched out his hand and chanted softly, "Caged Sparrow!"


    With a sinister smile on his face, he pulled with his hand,


    Suddenly,


    Threads in the air solidified, and a transparent figure was yanked out.


    It was a second-tier assassin wearing a special alchemical cloak.


    To be able to elude the perception of a third-tier professional, one could imagine how skilled this assassin''s stealth techniques were.


    Anthony guessed the identity of the neer and felt a chill, "The ''de of Nightfall,'' Ibn Jariad!"


    A top-tier assassin ranked fifth on the Old Lingdun professional hit list, someone who had once assassinated alone and severely wounded a third-tier professional. The cloak he wore was the infamous assassin''s divine gear, the "Assassin''s Cloak of Invisibility."


    But the assassin that even he hadn''t detected was discovered by "Zolo"?


    At that moment, Anthony finally understood the strange energy fluctuations he had sensed before; it was these invisible hairs.


    But this...


    Wasn''t this a puppeteer''s technique?


    How did Zolo know this technique?


    And... it was the highly recognizable "Witch''s Hair"!


    Could it be...


    Thoughts raced through Anthony''s mind.


    Reality didn''t wait for him to think further.


    And in the blink of an eye, a fierce cold me burst from Zolo''s body, and the dark golden octopus spears on his back suddenly unfolded.


    "ng!"


    "ng!"


    "ng!"


    "..."


    A series of sharp sounds.


    The ck poison stingers at the tips of the octopus spears shot out, and the trapped assassin had no time to react. The octopus spears directly targeted the assassin''s vital points: eyes, neck, waist, groin...


    Assassins, in order to be agile, would not wear full-body heavy armor.


    But this Ibn Jariad, in addition to vital point armor, also had ayer of bio-skin with strong defense. Normally, even if a second-tier professional failed in an assassination, this rune skin would be enough to save his life.


    Moreover, his skills were top-notch!


    "This guy reacts so fast!"


    Trapped, Ibn saw the iing spears and sensed trouble.


    Only a top-tier assassin could appreciate how swift the octopus spears were, requiring an extremely high level of skill.


    But his reaction was also extremely fast. He twisted his body, using a bizarre counter-joint technique, "crack" "crack," quickly dislocating some joints.


    Although this would cost him some mobility, the twisted body allowed him to move a bit within the threads, avoiding most of the vital points.


    Just hold on for a moment, and his teammates would act, giving him a chance to break free from these threads!


    However, what Ibn didn''t expect was that even though the octopus spears with cold mes didn''t hit the vital points, they easily pierced through the rune skin.


    It was a piercing that felt like aplete overpowering ofws.


    Su''en''s current understanding of second-tierws was beyond theprehension of others. Now, with the  cold mes enhancing it, the pration and defense-breaking ability was not something ordinary second-tier professionals could withstand!


    After several stabs, Ibn could no longer move, and a few more spears finished him off.


    His neck was pierced, and blood spurted out.


    The assassin didn''t even have time to wait for hispanions to rescue him before he was pierced by the octopus spears and killed on the spot.


    .......


    "This...!!!"


    Anthony, watching from the side, changed color. He was about to act when the assassin was already killed.


    Not detecting the assassin was one thing.


    What surprised him more was the signature technique of controlling threads and the octopus spears.


    In the whole of Old Lingdun, only one person had this technique.


    That was... the SS wanted criminal Su''en.


    This Mr. Zolo was actually Su''en!


    How could it be?


    Beside him, Rena''s eyes were full of shock and confusion.


    But at this moment, she finally understood where that familiar feeling came from.


    Although Kay knew Su''en was strong now, watching him act also made his pupils shrink, and he was horrified, "He''s be this strong?"


    This "de of Nightfall," Ibn, was a big name in the industry. This veteran assassin was stronger than him in many ways, and now he was killed in a single encounter?


    .......As Su''en made his move, the reaction of the people opposite was extremely quick.


    The moment the spider spear pierced the assassin, an ice arrow cunningly appeared just a meter away from Su''en.


    The blue ice arrow moved in a bizarre manner, seemingly steady to the eye, but it wasn''t uniform in speed. After being fired, it elerated in three bursts, each faster than thest. After three explosive elerations, it was even faster than a sniper bullet!


    Had Su''en not killed that Ibn with a single strike just now, this arrow would have been enough to pose a serious threat to him. Even if it wasn''t fatal, he would have had to turn back to dodge.


    Unfortunately, the kill was too quick, and the arrow hardly posed any threat to Su''en.


    His eyes clearly captured the trajectory of the arrow as it was released.


    Though the arrow was fast, it wasn''t faster than his perception.


    Su''en was also well aware of the methods of the mysterious "Ice Cmity Elder" from the secret society, Iori Landis.


    After using the spider spear to kill the assassin, he slightly tilted his head and watched as the ice arrow, carrying a chill, grazed past his face, muttering to himself, "Tsk tsk... [Kaione''s Frost Bow], huh!"


    The ice arrow missed its target and hit a wall several meters away.


    In an instant, a fierce cold burst forth, and the temperature around plummeted significantly.


    With a "boom," the terrifying cold exploded, instantly turning the entire wall into an ice barrier.


    It even extinguished the braziers in the corridor in an instant.


    Had this arrow hit a person, it would have likely frozen them into an ice pop instantly.


    ...


    As the attack wasunched, Anthony, who had transformed into a demonic sheep butler, charged forward.


    Now that he knew Zolo''s identity, he also knew that Su''en had the ck Scythe!


    With him to distract and the ck Scythe in hand, they might be able to kill "Wind Thunder Sword King" Nero.


    Once they killed this most troublesome Tier 3 professional among the enemies, the situation would instantly improve!


    "That''s Su''en!"


    "Damn it, watch out for his ck Scythe!"


    "Be careful of invisible targets!"


    "...."


    Recognizing that the attacker was Su''en, everyone from the two great families was shocked.


    Especially the high-tier professionals, who were constantly watching Su''en''s every move, fearing the sudden appearance of the ck Scythe.


    "Hmph! I''ve been waiting for you!"


    Danze Junior naturally knew that he couldn''t let Su''en use the ck Scythe.


    He confidently took out a chessboard, pinched the sorcerer''s seal, and a hexagram array appeared.


    A huge ck and white checkered chessboard suddenly materialized.


    A beam of light enveloped Su''en from afar.


    Forcibly pulling him into the chessboard.


    Su''en had killed a man and didn''t immediately make a move, just waiting for this guy.


    He looked around at the changing scenery, not surprised in the least.


    "Tsk tsk... finally here, huh?"

 Chapter 199: Insoluble

    Chapter 199: Insoluble


    The scenery shifted around Su''en, and when he focused his eyes once more, he found himself in a ck and white checkered space.


    Not a trace of surprise crossed his face.


    He reached out to test the space and was still able to ripple it.


    This meant that from the start, this chessboard space imposed no restrictions on those who possessed <em>"spatial abilities."</em>


    Hmm...


    In other words, it was utterly useless against him, Su''en.


    However, items couldn''t be retrieved from lesser spatial storage devices like space rings.


    For others facing this situation, aside from what they carried, they could only engage in closebat with the individual before them.


    No wonder Danze Junior had taken out several finely crafted alchemical golems for protection well in advance.


    But this didn''t limit Su''en''s folding space.


    Though he didn''t need to retrieve anything to kill this guy.


    Just as well.


    After casting the bait for so long, this fellow finally came with the treasure in tow.


    <em>Stanitz''s Chessboard</em>


    <em>Description: Chess should be a fair one-on-one duel.</em>


    <em>Trait: Using this chessboard forces a one-on-one duel within a restricted space with a selected living target until one party dies or voluntarily disengages; it''s not a cursed item, but after contracting with the chessboard, the lingering thoughts of that old lich will haunt your dreams,pelling you to y chess. If you can''t win, then you''ll keep himpany indefinitely.</em>


    <em>Details: This is a soul container for an ancient alchemist named ''Mikhail Tokst'', who turned himself into a lich using ck magic and necromancy; an artifact from the Dawn Era, so ancient that the lich''s soul is fragmented, with much of its curse properties lost. Perhaps its value lies not only in the chessboard itself. That old lich, who constantly mutters about being the king of the ''Tarkolu Empire'', might reveal secrets of the Dawn Era if you converse with him.</em>


    "Forced spatial restriction... What a fine item."


    Su''en nced at the information identified, which was almost as he expected.


    No wonder that ''Magician'' Lloyd couldn''t stop thinking about it; this chessboard was indeed perfect for puppeteers.


    The value of a treasure lies not in its power, but in how well it synergizes with one''s professional abilities.


    At first nce, the chessboard has no offensive capabilities, but it can trap a target within this confined space, leaving no escape.


    With an ability like <em>Puppet Theater</em>, which covers a wide range, it''s indeed a formidable tool against peers within the same rank.


    And because it''s one-on-one, life forms like zombies can''t be brought in.


    This item indeed restricts Su''en.


    No wonder Danze Junior was so confident, opting for a one-on-one duel.


    ***


    Danze Junior had waited for this day for a long time.


    Ever since that encounter at the Dawn Camp''s street market with "Su''en," where he lost a few strands of hair, his once smooth-sailing life had been met with constant setbacks.


    During the battle at the White Monastery, this guy stole his opportunity, killed his guards, and tarnished his family''s reputation;ter, during an ambush, he killed his teacher and ten second-tier experts, causing heavy losses to the Oliver family; and just a few days ago, he even dared to provoke them...


    After repeated frustrations, Danze harbored a deep resentment. He felt he couldn''t swallow this grudge unless he killed Su''en with his own hands.


    He looked at Su''en before him, his sorcerer''s seals changing rapidly in his hands, and spoke with hatred, "You think you''re worthy of opposing me?"


    Just an outer city lowlife relying on a forbidden item to show off.


    Hmph, now without your scythe, let''s see how you die!


    "..."


    Listening to these juvenile lines, Su''en slightly raised his eyelids.


    He was very familiar with those sorcerer''s sealsit was the start of <em>Puppet Theater</em>.


    The proficiency was not bad, clearly taught by a master.


    Probably these pampered young masters felt the need to say a few words to showcase their superiority as top-tier heirs.


    If it were anywhere else, Su''en might have been interested in bantering with the young master.


    But right now, with the heated battle outside, he had no intention of wasting time here. He too began forming sorcerer''s seals with his hands.


    At this gesture, Danze''s gaze froze.


    How could he not recognize this gesture?


    "He... How does he know <em>Puppet Theater</em>?"


    Although Danze knew Su''en had the detailed scroll of this puppeteer''s secret technique, how could one master such a skill without years of hard practice?


    And such a control-based skill, without personal instruction, how could it be mastered so quickly?


    Danze was not only shocked that Su''en used the same technique as him but also that the speed of Su''en''s seals was even faster!


    How is that possible?


    Danze was horrified.


    <em>Puppet Theater</em> consisted of thirty-six sorcerer''s seals.


    He had the advantage, but his seals were only half-formed.


    Yet Su''en''s hand seals caught up in the blink of an eye!


    Sorcerer''s seals are not just about changing a few hand gestures; the moreplex the seals, the more intricate the energy maniption required.


    It must be fast and urate, or else it would be all for naught.


    But this guy was even more proficient than him?


    Danze felt like he was seeing his teacher''s shadow in Su''en''s movements.


    For a moment, he even suspected that they were taught by the same master.


    But reality didn''t give him the chance to ponder.


    Almost simultaneously, the final seal was formed.


    Both sides conjured their spells at the same time, and two blue hexagram arrays lit up in the sky: <em>"Puppeteer''s Secret Technique  Puppet Theater!"</em>


    As the arrays appeared, two giant crosses slowly emerged in the air.


    When the same spell appears in a limited space, <em>"energy plundering"</em> urs, where the stronger side easily crushes the other.


    Both crosses appeared at the same time, but one began to slowly disintegrate.


    "I... I''m actually losing to him?!"


    Danze Junior''s face paled, and even though he desperately fed cursed crystals into the hexagram array beneath his feet to replenish energy, he couldn''t stop his spell from copsing.


    The overwhelming momentum was indicative of a crushing disparity in rank.


    This meant that, whether on the level ofws or understanding of the spell, there was a crushing gap between the two!


    Is he a third-tier?


    How is that possible...


    Danze''s face turned ashen.


    ***


    Su''en paid no attention to Danze Junior''s shock.


    As the cross formed in the sky, countless threads cascaded down like rain.


    Danze Junior tried to entangle Su''en with his own threads and golems, but whether it was threads, spells, or anything else, the gap between them was too vast.


    When thread met thread, there was no contest; they copsed upon contact.


    Danze could only defend passively, using the threads of his own armor to protect himself.


    Su''en didn''t give him any chance, reaching into the void with ten fingers, controlling the threads to tightly wrap the man into a cocoon.


    Seeing that he was about to be controlled to death, Danze Junior hastily released the chessboard''s space, letting out a miserable scream: <em>"Save me!"</em>


    Kill him?


    No, Su''en didn''t n to do so.


    As long as Danze Junior was alive, the Oliver family''s guards would keeping to the rescue.


    This was much more convenient than chasing them down one by one to kill.


    Su''en watched the chessboard''s scenery copse around him, licked his lips, and the ferocity in his eyes grew stronger: "Now... it''s just the beginning."


    ***


    Originally, when Rena and the butler Anthony learned that Mr. Zolo was the SS-ranked fugitive Su''en, they were shocked but also somewhat hopeful.


    The strength Su''en disyed when he killed <em>''de of Night''</em> Ibn Jariad in a single encounter was already very impressive. With the forbidden scythe, they even felt they had a chance to turn the tables.


    But unexpectedly, in their first encounter, Danze suddenly produced a chessboard treasure and teleported the man away?


    Without a doubt, Danze Junior must have had some assurance to counter Su''en, which is why he did so.


    This realization sent a chill down the spines of Kay and the others.


    <em>"Mr. Kay, take thedy and run! I''ll hold them off!"</em>


    <em>"Alright!"</em>


    "..."


    In such an urgent situation, there was no time for hesitation.


    The old butler was prepared to die, roaring as he transformed into a massive ck-furred demon sheep, standing between them and the barrage of gunfire. Even alchemical bullets ricocheted off his body with a <em>''ng''</em>.


    However, the high-tier professionals from the two families were not weak, and a group of them quickly surrounded them.


    With a third-tier <em>''Sword King of Wind and Thunder''</em> Nero in front and the mysterious association''s Elder of Cmities behind, along with over twenty second-tier professionals and nearly a thousand elites...


    In an instant, a deluge of spells rained down like a torrential downpour.


    Even with the demon sheep''s body and runic armor capable of withstanding cannon fire, the old butler was still bloodied by the concentrated attack.


    Holding onto the thought of dying them for as long as possible, hoping to draw most of the fire to give Kay and Rena a chance to escape, he didn''t expect to have to fight desperately when suddenly he heard a scream echoing through the prison.


    <em>"Save me!"</em>


    That desperate, despairing cry sounded like it came from Danze Junior?


    Looking again, Danze, wrapped in ck threads andpletely encased in silver threads into a cocoon, was being crushed with immense force, like a python''s embrace, spewing blood from his mouth.


    His scream seemed to pause the intense battle.


    Both sides of the conflict were stunned for a moment.


    What happened?


    The battle ended in just a few breaths?


    The <em>Puppet Theater</em> spell in the sky hadn''t dissipated yet, and looking at that cross, <em>''Sword King of Wind and Thunder''</em> Nero''s face darkened as he immediately understood.


    He was well aware of the effect of <em>Stanitz''s Chessboard</em>, and Danze had lost within that restricted space?


    At the same time, he was shocked and horrified: "How... How does this Su''en know this spell?!"


    Before anyone could ponder further, Su''en, who reappeared, suddenly took out several scrolls and spread them in the air, shouting: <em>"Release!"</em>


    The scrolls exploded, scattering fragments everywhere.


    Looking again, in the dim prison corridor, over a hundred red-faced rune dolls appeared out of thin air. They wore sinister smiles on their faces, and their lower jaws trembled, emitting a low-frequency, eerieughter that sent shivers down the spine.


    Some with one head, others with two...


    Two arms, four arms, six arms...


    Like kites, over a hundred bizarre puppets floated in the air, staring straight at the enemies surrounding them.


    Su''en''s eyes began to show a red glint.


    Even those with weaker perception could feel his presence like a burning me. The special fluctuations of his mental power spilled from his body, radiating ripples that made onlookers slightly dazed.


    Su''en bared his white teeth in a mad, excited grin.


    From his throat came a low growl like that of a wild beast: <em>"Secret Technique  Night Parade of a Hundred Puppets!"</em>


    ***


    Seeing Su''en control a hundred puppets at once, everyone was stunned.


    The people from the Oliver and rk families realized how naive their previous thoughts were.


    The SS-ranked fugitive Su''en in the reports and the one before them were not on the same level ofbat prowess.


    Not only had Danze Junior underestimated his opponent, but almost everyone had thought Su''en was just a lucky fugitive who had a way to avoid the bacsh of the ck scythe and had repeatedly escaped by chance.


    But reality pped them hard, waking them up immediately.


    Not to mention the capabilities of the hundred puppets, just the eerie pressure emanating from Su''en was undeniably genuine.


    It was a feeling that made those second-tier professionals'' scalps tingle.


    Who else within the same rank could make them feel as if they were about to be killed with just one look?


    Just the feeling alone told them that this man''s true strength was terrifying!


    Even the sole third-tier professional<em> ''Sword King of Wind and Thunder''</em> Nero looked very grave upon seeing Su''en.


    "Such strong mental power, no wonder he can control so many puppets..."


    Seeing this, the veteran third-tier''s eyes were filled with solemnity, "Could his professional ability be <em>''spatial ability''</em> ?"


    He didn''t believe that these hundred-plus puppets were just for show.


    Each of the hundred puppets was covered in intricate blue light runes, not ordinary low-tier ones...


    Intuition told Nero that he should kill that man, but with Anthony desperately holding him back, he couldn''t free his hands.


    ***


    Su''en''s entrance as a puppeteer turned him into a one-man army, significantly closing the gap in numbers that was initially one-sided.


    Although there was still a difference in numbers, the puppet army''s momentum was not inferior to the two families''.


    As soon as the puppets appeared, Su''en didn''t give the enemy any time to react, simultaneously controlling them with eight spider spears.


    It was nearly impossible to control a hundred puppets with precision at the same time, but now, things were different.


    He gradually released those suppressed emotions, and his thoughts seemed to expand, revealing a new world before his eyes.


    Joy, anger, sorrow, thought, grief, fear, shock...


    Those suppressed emotions were like different "Su''ens," helping him to multitask and control the puppets.


    When it came to killing, "they" were all very interested.


    Like fireworks exploding, bursting into a dazzling array of colors.


    His senses became sharper, as if pulling threads, he felt a trance-like, ethereal sensation...


    The unrestrained emotions brought extreme pleasure to his body.


    Su''en licked his lips, growing more addicted to this state that brought him extreme excitement and joy, "Hehe, such a delightful state..."


    With a flick of his fingers, the hundred puppets surged wildly into the crowd.


    <em>"CLICK," "CLICK," "CLICK"...</em>


    The friction of the wooden joints of the puppets was chilling to hear.


    Watching those terrifying red-faced puppets fly towards them, the people from the two families panicked, raising their guns in unison, and gunfire erupted.


    <em>"BANG!"</em>


    <em>"BANG!"</em>


    <em>"BANG!"</em>


    "..."


    The two families had their share of sharpshooters, and many puppets were hit.


    But in an instant, they realized that ordinary bullets were useless against these puppets.


    Bullets hit the puppets with a crackling sound, but these seemingly wooden puppets became indestructible due to the enhancement of high-tier runes.


    These puppets were no longer the crude creations Su''en had made before.


    Since stripping the soul fragment from that fifth-tier professional, Su''en''s understanding of second and third-tier runes and enchantments had leaped beyond most of the "rune masters" in Old London.


    All the dolls were enchanted and runed with second-tier knowledge, and some even utilized third-tier knowledge.


    In the field of alchemy, the tier of the rune signifies its power. Second and third-tier runes mean second and third-tier attack and defense capabilities.


    Even if hit by alchemical bullets, asionally piercing through a puppet, what of it?


    The most formidable aspect of a puppeteer is that as long as the controller lives, all battles are meaningless.


    Even if reduced to limbs and fragments, puppets can still kill!


    With a tug of the threads, the first volley of gunfire failed to stop them, and these fearless puppets, like hungry tigers pouncing on sheep, plunged directly into the crowd.


    The daggers of the puppets were inscribed with third-tier runes like <em>Armor-Piercing</em>, <em>Sharpness</em>, <em>Demon-Breaking</em>... How could they be easily defended against?


    First-tier professionals, except for those heavily armored, were almost always left with a gaping wound with a single strike.


    In the first encounter, as the puppets swept into the crowd, screams of agony filled the air.


    And that was just the beginning of the horror of the puppets getting close!


    The most troublesome aspect of the rune puppetsy in their mental power runes.


    <em>Nightmare Dolls</em> could cause visual and auditory hallucinations, leading to confusion. Once within a ten-meter range, the effect intensified.


    If the dolls got too close, even second-tier professionals would suffer greatly.


    Caught off guard, they could be stabbed to death by the puppets while in a dazed state.


    With the arrival of Su''en''s puppet army, the enemies were caught off guard.


    Soon, the people from the two families realized the problem.


    Commanders screamed into theirmunicators.


    "Don''t look at the puppets'' faces; there''s a visual illusion!"


    "Don''t listen to..."


    "Keep your distance..."


    But, Knowing is one thing,


    What can they do about it?


    Most professionals rely on vision and hearing to track targets. If they don''t look at the puppets and shut off their hearing, how can they fight?


    That''s the trouble with rune puppets.


    For a moment, this group experienced the terror of being dominated by rune puppets.


    Those who had seen this technique before were dead.


    Those who had seen rune puppets were almost all dead.


    Now, those who have seen them are about to die again.


    ***


    The strength of <em>Puppet Theater</em> lies in the fact that within a certain range, this technique is virtually unsolvable!


    Where Su''en stood, within hundreds of square meters, he had absolute control.


    The puppets moved as nimbly as real people, attacking in swarms, leaving no match wherever they went.


    However, puppeteers do have weaknesses.


    Control distance is a big issue.


    The people from the two families were being ughtered by the puppet army with almost no ability to fight back, and the experiencedmanders issued orders to retreat quickly.


    Su''en watched those guys run off, the puppets unable to catch up.


    He didn''t waste the energy.


    He directly pulled the tightly bound Danze Junior in front of him, loosening the binding threads slightly to reveal his head.


    Then, Su''en stabbed the guy in the buttocks with a knife.


    Danze Junior cooperated with a painful cry: <em>"Ah... Save me!"</em>


    The scream echoed in the prison corridors, lingering for a long time.

 Chapter 200: Impossible

    Chapter 200: Impossible<hr>


    With Danze Junior as a human shield, the two major families naturally hesitated to kill Su''en, fearing the consequences.


    They dared not unleashrge-scale spells, nor fire their guns recklessly.


    Su''en''s keen perception and swift reflexes left no chance for a sniper''s bullet.


    The previous instant kill of <em>"de of Night"</em> Ibn Jariad served as a warning, deterring any assassins from getting too close.


    In the <em>"Puppet Theater,"</em> it was impossible to silently approach Su''en, who was surrounded by invisible threads.


    Especially with an array of ready-to-strike odd puppets by his side, including <em>"ck Hole Doll,"</em><em>"Nightmare Doll,"</em> and Lloyd''s famous puppet <em>"Twelve Armored Knights."</em>


    With the puppet fortress sealed tight, killing him without special means was nearly impossible.


    Not to mention the invisible zombies and the ck Scythe lurking somewhere, creatures even third-tier professionals feared.


    ***


    The crowd could only vent their frustration on the puppets, but ordinary people couldn''t even defeat them.


    The puppets, unafraid of pain or death, would simply break apart.


    Destroying one often meant the death of several people.


    Over a hundred puppets could mean hundreds of casualties...


    Suddenly, the tide of battle shifted.


    The side with more people was forced into a retreat, not daring to approach the domain of the Puppet Theater, confronting it from a distance.


    The sound of gunfire gradually faded.


    Su''en paid no attention to those people. The prison wasrge, and it was impossible to chase after so many scattered individuals.


    However, Danze Junior in his hands suffered.


    With no oneing to die, the hostage was stabbed again.


    Danze Junior''s screams of pain and fear of death stripped him of his nobleposure. With a crying voice, he screamed desperately, <em>"Someonee save me!"</em>


    He was truly frightened,


    Feeling the despair thates before death like never before.


    He had never felt such terrifying murderous intent from someone.


    Getting close to Su''en, the palpable murderous intent was like needles, chilling his soul.


    Those surging negative emotions, like an inting balloon, invisible yet distinctly felt...


    Danze had no doubt that if those emotions burst forth, this demon would stab him to death instantly.


    The most terrifying thing was not knowing when that explosion woulde.


    Danze Junior wailed continuously,


    The gunfire suddenly stopped,


    And the battle between the two third-tier fighters paused as well.


    Nero, the Sword King of Wind and Thunder, although seemingly stronger than Anthony, had no confidence in defeating the old butler determined to fight to the death.


    Instead, he was more wary of the ck Scythe that could appear at any moment, deliberately keeping his distance.


    Anthony didn''t dare to pursue, not wanting to stray too far from Rena.


    Seeing the increasingly intense red glow in Su''en''s eyes, Kay and the others knew what they had to do. During this ceasefire, the trio quietly moved towards the passage to the second level.


    Worried as they were, they knew they couldn''t help with Su''en in his current state.


    Themander of the Oliver family stepped forward and said solemnly, "Put down young master Danze, we can talk about any conditions you have."


    "Talk?"


    Su''en''s eyes brimmed with cold amusement as he shook his head, "Tsk, tsk... No, I just want to kill you all."


    With that, he stabbed Danze again.


    The de cut an artery, blood gushing out.


    Without immediate aid, Danze was doomed.


    This was also to force the Oliver family toe forward and rescue him.


    ***


    While the battle raged on one side, in a corner of the prison, a middle-aged man with sses leaned against the wall, silently observing the situation.


    Although dressed in Oliver familybat gear, his face showed no intention of intervening amidst the carnage.


    Instead, the thick scent of blood brought a pleased and enjoyable expression to his face.


    Only when his gaze fell on Su''en did a hint of liveliness appear in his eyes.


    ***


    Su''en had no intention of negotiating, and neither did the Oliver family.


    They were only looking for an opportunity tounch a surprise attack.


    In their eyes, Su''en was a man who must be killed.


    At that moment, a sh of lightning suddenly sparked among the enemy crowd.


    Spells require time to gather energy, the higher the level, the longer it takes. But this lightning burst forth abruptly, as if time had elerated several times over, instantlypleting the <em>"Chain Lightning Cloud"</em> spell.


    This second-tier lightning spell wasn''t highly lethal, but it had one effect: paralyzing enemies within its range.


    It was perfect for a rescue.


    Su''en''s eyes caught the surge of purple lightning, guessing that the caster was the mysterious association elder <em>"Speaker of Thunder"</em> Den Menard. The spell''s speed indicated the use of the special time-cursed item <em>"Watkins'' Pocket Watch."</em>


    Unsurprised, he murmured, "So that thing was in his hands..."


    How fast is lightning?


    In the blink of an eye, the explosive electricity was upon him.


    Along with the puppets surrounding Su''en, even Danze Junior was shocked, leaving no chance to use the <em>"ck Hole Doll"</em> to absorb the lightning.


    <em>"Zzzz~"</em>


    <em>"Zzzz~"</em>


    The lightning shed by and disappeared.


    The injured Danze Junior foamed at the mouth, while Su''en stood paralyzed, seemingly affected by the spell.


    Almost simultaneously with the lightning, several second-tier professionals from the Oliver family charged without hesitation.


    They feared Su''en''s recovery and Anthony''s intervention.


    <em>"BOOM!"</em>


    A loud alchemical bullet explosion.


    The sniper''s bullet was faster, striking Su''en''s head before the professionals could reach him.


    Unexpectedly, there was no gory scene of a head exploding.


    <em>"ng!"</em>


    The bullet hit the head, making a clear metallic sound.


    Upon closer inspection, Su''en''s scalp was broken, revealing ayer of dark golden skin.


    Seeing this, the leading professionals'' faces changed drastically, realizing, "Wrong, it''s synthetic skin!"


    They hadn''t expected Su''en to have anotheryer of synthetic skin over his face, hiding the abnormality of his true skin. Only upon closer inspection did they notice the rich gold element.


    Sensing trouble, it was toote to react.


    Due to their rapid charge, they were now within the range of the <em>"Puppet Theater."</em>


    As their sense of danger rose, they saw Su''en tilt his head towards them with a wicked smile, as if he had anticipated this.


    Regaining their senses, the air suddenly thickened.


    The invisible witch''s hair solidified, trapping them as if in a waterfall, surrounded by silver strands.


    Su''en pulled with one hand and whispered, <em>"Secret Thread Control Technique: Floral Waterfall Burial!"</em>


    The witch''s hair twisted and intertwined in a special way, leveraging and transmitting multiple times the torsional force. Countless threads wove into a, the more the prey struggled within the hair waterfall, the tighter it bound.


    The leading professionals, mostly light-armored, found themselves in the same predicament as the in <em>"de of Night"</em> Ibn.


    Su''en, having controlled them, didn''t give them a chance to escape, his eight-armed spear <em>"Whooshing"</em> and piercing their vital spots.


    The second-tier professionals couldn''t react in time and died on the spot.


    After harvesting a wave of soul fragments,


    To the surprise of those watching from afar, Su''en didn''t stay within the coverage of the "Puppet Theater." Instead, he made an iprehensible move.


    Like a brute warrior, he charged towards the direction of the lightning surge!


    ***


    Although it was unclear why Su''en wasn''t paralyzed and managed to kill the second-tier officers who tried to rescue, the two major families opened fire as they saw him approaching.


    The next moment, a scene of despair unfolded before them.


    Su''en faced the hail of bullets without flinching.


    Bullets struck him, making <em>"Ptter-Patter"</em> sounds.


    Even against a single soldier''s cannon, he could easily dodge by tilting his head.


    And once the synthetic skin waspletely broken, a golden, gleaming bronze body was revealed!


    Upon closer inspection, the barrage of bullets caused him no harm.


    Seeing this, everyone was struck with disbelief.


    A puppeteer, charging into gunfire and ammunition like an invincible warrior?


    Who the hell would believe that?!


    And to their astonishment, Su''en''s speed was revealed.


    As he surged forward, a <em>"POP"</em> sounded, and the air exploded.


    To most onlookers, Su''en''s figure suddenly dispersed.


    How familiar was this scene?


    Danze Junior, among the crowd, was terrified, the familiar feeling returning...


    Outside the cursed space, wasn''t it this same ghostly movement that almost killed him?


    ***


    "Air-Stepping! No... it''s not just ordinary Air-Stepping!"


    From afar, "Sword King of Wind and Thunder" Nero finally changed color.


    Before, he was only wary of the ck Scythe in Su''en''s hand; puppets and threads posed limited threats to a third-tier professional like him.


    But now, seeing Su''en in golden paint, using Air-Stepping,


    He realized the danger.


    "Is this a third-tier Gold Element Condensation Flesh Alchemy?"


    Nero understood,


    Just the ability to withstand alchemical bullets made Su''en invincible.


    Even if he personally took action, it would be difficult to kill him.


    Thus, it meant that without a third-tier professional present, Su''en, with his control over a hundred puppets and the ck Scythe, could indeed kill everyone here!


    <em>"What kind of monster is this?!"</em>


    Nero''s heart couldn''t be described as merely shocked; it was a tumultuous upheaval.


    Only a third-tier professional could appreciate how rare and valuable the Flesh Alchemy technique of imperviousness to des and guns was, requiring a deep understanding of thews to master such a top-tier spell!


    Air-Stepping, Flesh Alchemy, and a puppeteer...


    He suddenly realized that even without Anthony, he had no confidence in killing the SS-ranked fugitive Su''en.


    ***


    And the shock in the hearts of Kay and the others, ready to move to the second level, was no less than that of the others.


    Kay''s eyes trembled fiercely: "He''s actually this strong..."


    It was a chilling strength, charging into the enemy ranks as an invincible force.


    Anthony''s face twitched violently, feeling that his status as the "ceiling of professionals" at the third tier paled inparison to the golden-painted young man.


    And Rena was speechless, as if returning to the time in the underground cavern: when he said he could, he definitely could.


    Seeing this, they finally understood what Su''en had said before.


    When he said he would kill them all, he was serious!


    ***


    Although Su''en''s profession and augmentations weren''t geared towards physical enhancement, his Air-Stepping speed was still too fast for anyone to react.


    With such speed, he naturally dodged over ny percent of the attacks.


    The rest, striking the third-tierw-condensed <em>"Vajra"</em> body, were of no consequence.


    His target was precise, aiming for the "Speaker of Thunder" Den who had just cast the lightning spell.


    The female spellcaster holding the staff and silver pocket watch had no time to react before Su''en was upon her. With momentum, the eight-armed spear thrust forward, and at the speed of a spellcaster''s flesh, there was no escape.


    At the critical moment, with no other choice, she pressed the stopwatch in her hand, and the surroundings slowed down.


    The lethal spear was easily dodged.


    Just as she thought to flee further, her face bizarrely wrinkled, and her hair rapidly turned white. In the blink of an eye, her body shriveled like a deted balloon, aging fifty years and bing a white-haired crone.


    This was clearly the curse bacsh of <em>"Watkins'' Pocket Watch"!</em>


    Su''en easily pierced her chest with his spear, stripping the soul fragment, and then took the pocket watch in his hand.


    "Thest piece is in my hands..."


    Su''en muttered to himself, then reached out and seemed to grasp something invisible in the air.


    He hooked his finger, and the stopwatch floated mid-air, then <em>"Click,"</em> it was pressed.


    This subtle action made Nero, who had been watching Su''en from a distance, change color drastically. He kicked off the ground without hesitation, trying to leave his previous position.


    "Heh heh... Zombies can indeed be used."


    Su''en felt something, his smile growing wider.


    This was why he had been holding back, waiting to get the watch, which would give him the power to y a third-tier professional!


    <em>"Sleeping Scythe of Night" + "Oz''s Mummy Wrap" + "Watkins'' Pocket Watch" = an unstoppable killing machine!</em>


    The pocket watch could elerate time by 2~5 times for an individual, making the zombie''s movements very fast.


    Although there was an element of luck, if the speed reached 4 times or more, Su''en was confident that even a third-tier professional would struggle to react!


    And zombies don''t fear the bacsh of shortened lifespan.


    With this cut at a speed of 3.7 times, even though Nero reacted to the extreme, the de still appeared on his right shin.


    Su''en had anticipated the man''s evasion; the body could move, but the feet would be thest to do so.


    This cut severed the leg of the third-tier swordsman.


    The spatial rift passed lightly, and blood spurted out a momentter, leaving a severed foot behind.


    Nero, unsteady from the loss of his foot, stumbled and fell. As a third-tier powerhouse, even with a severed leg, his reaction was astonishing. In the moment of his fall, he pushed off with one leg and shot out, escaping Su''en''s sight.


    Though he didn''t die, this third-tier swordsman was effectively finished after losing his leg.


    Su''en sneered and ignored the enemies fleeing around him, charging towards the severed foot.


    This third-tier had to be killed first!


    ***


    Seeing Su''en''s invisible zombie finally reveal itself, the people from the two major families should have breathed a sigh of relief.


    After all, they had prepared many battle ns, all aimed at the ck Scythe.


    For example, swarm tactics, control tactics, revealing powder...


    The scythe could only strike once at a time, and many second-tier professionals could avoid it with caution.


    With so many people charging together, they would always find an opportunity.


    After all, the intelligence said that Su''en was just a slightly faster ordinary second-tier.


    But now...


    Was that golden-painted figure, using "Air-Stepping" to advance, just an ordinary second-tier?


    And with the pocket watch in the hands of the zombie, a third-tier had a leg cut off, who could stop it?


    Moreover, who the hell brought that pocket watch?!


    Now that a monster has been created, who can solve it?


    Naturally, the items were brought by members of several umbre organizations.


    They also realized that things had gotten out of hand, beyond their control.


    But they felt wronged in their hearts,


    They had no idea they would encounter SS-ranked fugitive Su''en here!


    ***


    Su''en charged forward, passing by as if avoiding the gue, with no one daring to provoke him.


    With the ck Scythe, a formidable weapon in hand, whoever stood in the way would die.


    And those below the second tier didn''t even have the qualifications to block.


    Su''en quickly reached the severed foot, picked up the bleeding limb, and took out a pitch-ck "Voodoo Doll," smearing it with blood.


    Then he pped it hard, and the doll shattered.


    Not far away, in a cell where "Sword King of Wind and Thunder" Nero had nned to hide and ambush Su''en, a muffled groan was heard.


    Su''en''s ears twitched, pinpointing the exact location, and he shed with his hand.


    A spatial rift swept by, and simultaneously, a faint sound of silk tearing echoed.


    With a <em>"POP"</em> in the air, Su''en appeared in front of the cell.


    However, at the same time, a fierce sword qi shot out, cutting the newly arrived figure in half.


    Nero looked at the puppet on the ground and let out a bitterugh.


    So strong, yet so cautious, even in directbat, it would be very difficult for him...


    With his waist and intestines severed, he no longer had the strength to fight.


    Failing to ambush sessfully, he had no more chances.


    Su''en ended the life of this well-known veteran powerhouse, the vice-chairman of the Hunter''s Guild.


    Entering the cell and devouring the gray mist, the red glow in his eyes became like a breached dam, uncontroble.


    He stepped out of the cell and returned to the previous passage.


    The people from the two major families had gathered together, seemingly ready for a decisive battle.


    Su''en didn''t rush to act but greeted the empty prison, "Mr. Gerard, if you don''t take action, I''m going to kill them all, you know?"


    This puzzled the onlookers, but after three seconds of silence, a response came, "Just kill them. After all, even if I intervened, these wastes wouldn''t survive."


    At that moment, a middle-aged man with sses emerged from the darkness.

 Chapter 201: Hormonal Rampage

    Chapter 201: Hormonal Rampage<hr>


    The bespectacled middle-aged man emerged from the gloomy prison, step by unhurried step.


    He removed his half-face gas mask, revealing the ordinary visage of a pale, somewhat sickly middle-aged man.


    Yet, this seemingly unremarkable manmanded an undeniable presence as he walked out.


    His demeanor was too calm, as if nothing could faze him, a stark contrast to the battlefield around him.


    The man was none other than the leader of the Umbre Organization, the <em>"Forensic Expert"</em> Severus Gerald.


    His name was known to few.


    Even within the upper echelons of the Umbre Organization, few had truly seen his face.


    As he emerged, the members of the two great Oliver families immediately became alert.


    This man bore an unsettling resemnce to the SS-ss fugitive Su''en. Their gazes held a chilling indifference, as if they were looking at corpses rather than living beings.


    Moreover, listening to their conversation, it seemed they knew each other?


    <em>Trash?</em>


    The tone was unmistakably arrogant, clearly not that of an "ally."


    And this man''s sudden appearance at the rear of the group forced the two families to be on guard.


    ***


    Geraldpletely ignored the guns pointed at him.


    He continued walking forward, removing his coat to reveal a proper dress shirt underneath, rolling up his sleeves as if preparing for a fight, unconcerned by the onlookers. His eyes were fixed solely on Su''en.


    As he rolled up his sleeves, Gerald asked, "I''m curious, how did you know I would be here?"


    His tone was t, as if exchanging pleasantries with an old friend.


    "Just a guess."


    Su''en squinted at the middle-aged man in the distance, the only one who could sense the surging intent to kill beneath that calm expression.


    But the red gleam in his own eyes showed no fear, instead, a fervent eagerness for battle, "I figured if I were you, I''d follow the Reiss main house here too... after all, it''s the most logical clue. Didn''t you guess I would show up?"


    "Yes."


    Gerald smiled indifferently, "Knowing I woulde, it seems you have a reliable source of information."


    He had long recognized that they were cut from the same cloth, a single nce was enough.


    "What do you think?"


    Su''en returned the gaze with a sly smile.


    Such a man could not be easily deceived; the slightest clue could reveal much.


    Gerald seemed to guess something, pushing up the sses that had slipped down his nose.


    Yet he said no more, simply smiling faintly, "Since you''ve shown yourself, you must be confident you can kill me. But that''s not enough. I''m also curious, what other tricks do you have?"


    "No certainty. But I''d like to try."


    Like the calm before a storm, Su''en''s sinister grin seemed to betray a loss of reason, yet his words were eerilyposed, "Whether it''s killing Mr. Gerald or, by some chance, being killed by you, Mr. Gerald, the thought is exhrating..."


    Their discussion of life and death was eerily calm, as if they were discussing the fate of someone else.


    Gerald''s face rarely showed a hint of mutual respect, "Your remarkable abilities indeed impress, spatial powers, puppeteer skills, understanding ofws beyond your tier... Any one of these would mark you as a genius. Old London is full of talent, but among those I''ve seen, nonepare to you."


    After a pause, he added, "Pity, if we weren''t enemies, we could have had a good chat."


    Su''en shed a grin, "Yes, a pity indeed."


    With those words, the tension between them escted further.


    ***


    The two conversed as if no one else was present, leaving the onlookers baffled.


    The eerie atmosphere deterred anyone from interrupting.


    They tried to glean something from the exchange between the two men.


    The situation for the two families was strange; blocked by Su''en at the front, and now another had appeared at the back.


    Both men seemed to exude an invisible force, pressing the crowd of hundreds to retreat step by step.


    Gerald paid no heed to the families, but since he had emerged from the crowd, he naturally had to approach the main group to leave.


    The still-living young master of the Ailey family had been cornered.


    Themander, sensing something amiss with Gerald''s approach, had no choice but to confront him, asking, "Who are you, exactly?"


    The delicate bnce was disrupted, and Gerald nced at him, his gaze suddenly sharpening like a tiger disturbed during its meal.


    The killing intent that had been focused solely on Su''en now turned towards themander.


    In an instant, as if needles pricked his eyes, themander felt as though he saw endless mountains of corpses and seas of blood in Gerald''s gaze.


    Gerald''s aura erupted, and a pale blue me simr to Su''en''s enveloped him  he was also a <em>"No Servant"!</em>


    With a flick of his fingers, his nails transformed into scalpel-sharp des.


    No one saw what happened next, only a sh of the de, and themander, d in heavy knight''s armor, fell to his knees, armor pieces falling off, drenched in sweat as if pulled from water, still breathing but with a vacant gaze, as if his soul had been extracted.


    Without a word, Gerald had attacked, showing no mercy.


    The families reacted in kind.


    Gunfire erupted.


    But then, something strange happened.


    Gerald moved like a drunkard, his image blurring as if there were multiple afterimages, making it impossible to pinpoint his exact location.


    In the blink of an eye, his phantoms were everywhere.


    His ghostly movements left a trail of bloodshed.


    Wherever he passed, bodies fell like mown grass.


    The wounds on the bodies were precise, like surgical incisions on vital arteries, blood spurting out. Even the heavily armored mechanical warriors couldn''t survive a single encounter.


    Whether first or second tier.


    Anyone who blocked his path perished.


    Gerald left a swath of death in his wake.


    The young master Ailey was petrified, cornered and awaiting death


    But to everyone''s surprise, Gerald did not intend to kill everyone.


    Not that he couldn''t, it just seemed too troublesome.


    If no one stood in his way, he spared them.


    He ignored the families and stopped not far from Su''en.


    Standing with his back to the crowd, no one dared to fire.


    Gerald pped his hands, and a red alchemical circle lit up beneath him, muttering something.


    In the next instant, the life force from the corpses behind him was drawn into the circle.


    As the ritual began, Gerald greedily absorbed the blood essence, his face showing pleasure. His body involuntarily tensed, his muscles bulging impressively.


    He looked just like Su''en not far away.


    Both men''s eyes reflected a deep, sick madness, their red glows intensifying.


    At that moment, as if a threshold had been reached, Gerald''s face suddenly disyed a ck and white clown mask.


    On closer inspection, the mask shifted to red and ck.


    ***


    "Ha ha ha ha ha..."


    A low growl came from Su''en''s throat.


    It was augh, yet also a roar. He tilted his head, eyeing Gerald with the red clown mask, licking his lips, "Red-faced clown, underestimated... I heard Mr. Gerald has an even stronger ck-faced state?"


    Gerald replied, "I hope you get the chance to see it."


    He didn''t rush to act, as if waiting for something.


    Red eyes met red eyes, two madmen, sharing an unspoken understanding.


    After this final exchange, Su''en slowly closed his eyes.


    The light before him narrowed to a slit, and thest shred of reason dissipated into darkness.


    Suddenly, blood streamed from his seven orifices, his hands spread as if to embrace the entire world.


    For the first time, he fully released the restraints in his heart, letting his suppressed emotions spiral out of control...


    The beast within leapt from its cage.


    Su''en''s eyes snapped open, a deep crimson.


    In an instant, a wave of invisible psychic force exploded from him.


    He looked around as if surveying a new world, a wicked smile on his face, "So this is what it feels like..."


    As his words fell, a <em>"BOOM"</em> of air burst forth.


    A visible ripple of air shot out from beneath his feet, and after a second''s dy, the cobblestone ground cracked like a spiderweb.


    This stomp was much more powerful than before; Su''en''s foot seemed to stomp on the very fabric of space, making everyone feel the air ripple around them.


    This step was several times faster than before!


    The release of emotions was not just a psychic change but also a hysterical state, causing a violent secretion of hormones.


    This would unlock the safety valves of muscle fibers, allowing muscles to exert many times, even tens of times more strength!


    Who among the third-tier professionals could im to be ten times stronger than Su''en, enhanced by the X serum?


    His body could now withstand much greater bursts of power than an ordinary person.


    This was a terrifying speed that even third-tier professionals could not match.


    In the blink of an eye, Su''en, engulfed in cold mes, charged at Gerald, his golden fist like a cannonball mming into the middle-aged man''s abdomen.


    Caught off guard, Gerald was sent flying, crashing into the Oliver family crowd. The impact sent several people flying, spitting blood, and creating a huge dent in the wall.


    The shocking speed stunned everyone on the battlefield.


    Everyone thought the battle was decided,


    But unexpectedly, Gerald stood up from the broken bricks as if nothing had happened.


    He instinctively went to push up his sses, only to remember the mask on his face, and muttered to himself, "Interesting... I thought I was the only one who knew this technique, but you know it too."


    Gerald dusted himself off, his hands forming a sorcerer''s seal: <em>"Flesh Alchemy: Hormonal Rampage!"</em>


    Something changed, and his aura surged dramatically.


    In the next moment, his figure dissolved on the spot.


    Almost simultaneously, a piercing metallic tearing sound echoed throughout the prison.


    After the transformation, Gerald''s speed was even faster than Su''en''s,


    So fast that the second-tier professionals present couldn''t catch a glimpse!


    His de-like nails glided over the golden skin, sparks flying, a continuous <em>"sizzle"</em> sound.


    Gerald, like a wisp of breeze, flickered around Su''en, front, back, left, right...


    His deadly de ws sparked against Su''en''s body.


    The <em>"Vajra"</em> was a flesh alchemy technique solidified from gold elements, nearly impossible to break through with sufficient dark spiritual power for a third-tier professional.


    Gerald, capable of easily wounding second-tier professionals with his ws wrapped in <em>"No Servant"</em> cold mes, could only inflict superficial wounds on Su''en.


    But suddenly, Su''en felt something was wrong with his condition.


    Limb confusion?


    Hormonal disarray?


    Gerald''s attacks were not merely physical damage.


    The <em>"Forensic Expert"</em> had a deep understanding of human anatomy, nerve control, and certain hormone secretions.


    The bioelectricity created by the de entering the skin immediately disrupted Su''en''s brain control over his limbs. The brain intended to move the left hand, but the right hand moved; it wanted to move fingers, but toes twitched instead...


    And fighting this man, one''s hormones were involuntarily affected, with negative emotions like fear artificially induced...


    A normal person facing him would be weakened as if afflicted with a <em>"feeble state,"</em> already at a disadvantage without fighting.


    Red-eyed Su''en, though bereft of reason, still had his fighting instincts.


    His emotions now seemed as if multiple minds were calcting the battle, oveing the "limb confusion" in an instant. As for emotions... both were using them, and masked Gerald was not necessarily crazier than Su''en.


    With no advantage in speed and unable to inflict damage in closebat.


    Su''en formed the sorcerer''s seal with both hands, once again conjuring the <em>"Puppet Theater."</em>


    Silver threads wrapped around space, dozens of puppets attacking simultaneously.


    This time, the <em>"Puppet Theater,"</em> deemed unsolvable at the same tier, showed its limitations in a tier-crossing battle.


    A single thread could be easily cut by the de-like nails, and when bundled, he could dodge with his ghostly movements...


    Gerald was like a fish swimming agilely through seaweed, the witch''s hair causing him little trouble.


    The main force of the attack was still the puppets.


    Su''en multitasked, controlling dozens of puppets to attack simultaneously, as if one person had dozens of hands and feet.


    But the <em>"Nightmare Dolls,"</em> which could affect the minds of second-tier professionals, were useless against the Umbre Organization''s leader. And his armor-stripping technique didn''t even need to shatter the dolls to dismantle them into parts.


    Soon, the battlefield resembled a horrific ughterhouse, with puppet limbs and torsos scattered in the air...


    But the dismembered limbs still attacked Gerald relentlessly.


    Both faces bore a numbness as if they were impervious to pain,


    And in the central prison, where dark spiritual power was rich, Su''en could sustain the fight for a long time!


    Moreover, with the super recovery power brought by the <em>"X serum,"</em> it was impossible for him to be defeated in a short time.


    The two engaged in a fierce battle.


    ***


    The onlookers were stunned by the duel.


    A bizarre one-on-one fight had turned into a sh of titans.


    The families then realized that this unassuming bespectacled middle-aged man was a third-tier professional, and an exceptionally strong one at that!


    Looking at Su''en, they also understood just how formidable this SS-ss fugitive was, even without using the ck Scythe.


    "This..."


    "What speed! Even Chairman Nero might not match them..."


    "Both have used it, especially Su''en, he might not live much longer..."


    "Let''s go! Whoever wins, it''s bad for us!"


    "Right, let''s figure out how to break this cursed space and get out."


    "..."


    The remnants of the two families chose not to watch but to flee.


    Meanwhile, Kay and the others at the second-floor passage saw the red-eyed Su''en and, despite their concerns about the battle, entered the second level of the prison without hesitation.

 Chapter 202: Black Clown

    Chapter 202: ck Clown<hr>


    What''s a battle between madmen like?


    <em>It''s all about recklessness!</em>


    Charge headfirst for hundreds of rounds.


    Bothbatants were fighting in an overloaded state brought on by extreme hormonal surges, their speed and strength surpassing what most ordinary third-tier fighters could only dream of.


    It must be said, Gerald was the type who would take a skill to its absolute limit.


    As a <em>"Forensic Expert,"</em> his understanding of human anatomy was as familiar as the back of his hand.


    He knew not just the functions of limbs, muscles, meridians, nerves, and more...


    He could even use these functions inbat.


    Beyond techniques that caused <em>"limb chaos"</em> and <em>"hormonal disarray,"</em> he could precisely slice key points in the meridians with des formed from his nails, blocking the flow of vital energy in the body.


    This effect was somewhat simr to the concept of "acupoint sealing" from Su''en''s previous life.


    Alchemists performing nearly all their spells required the flow of dark spiritual energy within their bodies. With one strike from Gerald, a spell would normally be interrupted immediately, and in severe cases, it could even cause bacsh.


    This technical style of fighting often allowed one to exert tenfold the power with just a fraction of the effort.


    Fortunately for Su''en, his <em>"Vajra"</em> was at the third tier, containing remnants of fourth and fifth-tier elementalws of gold, making him nearly impervious to des and spears.


    Otherwise, any other third-tier professional, even if they knew the Vajra technique, would be easily pierced by Gerald''s surgical de, breaking their technique in an instant.


    This leader of the Umbre Organization was one of the strongest professionals Su''en had encountered, aside from those from the Mirror Organization. At least, he was several times more troublesome than the previously deceased "Wind Thunder Sword King," Nero Redgrave.


    But as strong as the enemy was, Su''en was no less formidable.


    With <em>"Vajra"</em> at the ready, he was already in an invincible position.


    Within the <em>"Puppet Theater,"</em> the dense web of threads was like his own body hair, allowing him to clearly sense Gerald''s position inside. Any slight misstep from the opponent could trap him.


    At this moment, Su''en was surrounded by hundreds of puppet limbs with sharp des.


    These high-level runes and enchanted daggers stabbed chaotically around Su''en''s body like a torrential downpour.


    Although Gerald''s methods of killing were fierce and unique, his professional role was still that of an assassin. Strong in attack and burst, but weak in defense, and he had to fight at close range.


    Even with agile movements, the range of the daggers meant he was bound to be pierced to some extent.


    ***


    The shadow of the green wind whirled around the dark golden figure, and the noise of their battle rose wave after wave.


    Just then, a "DONG" sounded like the tolling of a bell.


    Su''en was struck by Gerald''s aerial sh, a vicious leg kick smashing into his shoulder.


    He sank his energy down, a tremendous force traveling from his shoulder into his leg, turning the hard ground beneath his feet into dust. The force didn''t stop until his feet were buried a foot deep into the ground.


    Su''en''sbat skills had reached "Master" level, and his ability to dissipate force had be instinctual.


    It was very difficult to beat him in terms of technique.


    And in the instant he was struck, Su''en pulled on the threads in the void, sending dozens of des plunging down. Gerald dodged dozens of strikes but was still hit by a few.


    He retreated rapidly, pulling back dozens of meters.


    Both fighters simultaneously ceased their attacks.


    Gerald nced at the wound on his right arm and exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    The high secretion of hormones could elerate wound healing, but the recovery rate couldn''t keep up with fresh injuries.


    Red-eyed Su''en felt this intense battle was exhrating. With a bloodied grin, he wasn''t in a hurry to make a move. His abnormal state caused him to let out a crow-like, strangeugh, "Mr. Gerald, your red-faced clown state can''t kill me..."


    "Indeed."


    Gerald shrugged nonchntly, rolling up the sleeves that hade undone during the fight.


    His nails were sharp like des, rolled up meticulously.


    Having fought to this point, he had figured out what Su''en was nning.


    He turned and asked, "Are you nning to use psychic power to break through the brain domain?"


    Red-eyed Su''en twisted his stiff neck from the kick, the cracking sound audible, and responded, "Yes."


    He had learned of this ancient method from <em>"Lady Sereya"</em> in the fifthyer of the prison.


    Some <em>"exceptionally gifted"</em> ancient sorcerers, before learning the secrets of psychic power, could try to use the release of violent psychic energy to shock the brain domain''s development.


    This would give them one more chance to <em>"advance psychically"</em> than others.


    Otherwise, once psychic power was restrainedter on, the precious gift would be wasted.


    Su''en belonged to the rare "exceptionally gifted" category, with strong initial psychic power but not yet insane.


    Hearing this, Gerald revealed an expected calmness and asked withposure, <em>"Can you use the spatial rules to kill me?"</em>


    He had already figured out his opponent''s strength. That ck scythe was not a fatal threat to him.


    If the opponent was confident, then there was only one possibility.


    Su''en didn''t hide it, <em>"Yes."</em>


    "Oh."


    Upon hearing this, Gerald''s emotions remained unchanged.


    From the moment he was drawn into the cursed space, he had guessed that he would die today.


    At the end of his life, the leader of the Umbre Organization was neither afraid nor sad, and suddenly asked calmly, "How much longer can you hold on?"


    To others, this question might seem baffling.


    But the two of them understood each other''s intentions as soon as they spoke.


    Su''en said, "At most four minutes."


    The overdrive of hormone secretion was not without cost.


    In the midst of the intensity, muscle fibers were tearing, and the burden on the organs and bones was tremendous. Ordinary people using this method ofbat would have died long ago.


    Su''en relied on the super cell activity from the "X Serum" modification to avoid dropping dead on the spot.


    He didn''t think a normal human body could withstand such an exaggerated overload.


    Su''en himself was like this, and so must Gerald be.


    Even if he couldn''t win, the oue had been determined from the beginning.


    It also meant that within four minutes, one of them must die.


    "Hmm... then as you wish."


    Gerald seemed to have made a decision, adding, "You''re the second person to see my ''ck Clown.'' I hope you won''t be killed by me. Otherwise, it would be a pity."


    The two red-eyed patients started chatting as if they were not mortal enemies but old friends engaging in pleasant conversation.


    They also realized that it wasn''t that they couldn''tmunicate in their frenzied state.


    Rather, it was that others couldn''tmunicate with them.


    Hearing this, Su''en''s face twisted into a maniacal smile, his eyes brimming with the desire to fight.


    He licked his lips, "Tsk tsk, what an honor..."


    ***


    Gerald didn''t say much more, nor did he bother to straighten his shirt. Instead, he tore it apart with one swift motion.


    The sound of silk ripping filled the air.


    The middle-aged man revealed his strong upper body, wrapped in bandages.


    The bandages burst apart instantly, but what was shocking was the centipede-like suture marks on his back. The pattern of the sutures was a hexagram!


    The flesh sewn together was a different color from the rest of his body.


    Dark and oozing a faint ck mist, it looked like a piece of dead flesh stitched onto living tissue!


    Su''en, with his all-seeing eye, recognized the origin of that flesh and muttered, "So it''s using the flesh of a different creature to bear the burden of this overdrivebat... I see..."


    This was not an augmentation device, but simply another piece of flesh sewn onto his own body.


    However, looking at the inmed and swollen wound, it seemed the human body was rejecting the ck flesh.


    Yet, Gerald forcibly stitched it to his body using alchemical arrays.


    What a mad act...


    "Just a little experiment. Be careful."


    Gerald responded lightly, pped his hands, and uttered, <em>"Flesh Alchemy: Release!"</em>


    As the alchemist''s seal was undone, a bizarre scene unfolded.


    The hexagram suture mark shed, and the "dead flesh" on his back came to life, writhing. The ck pigment spread rapidly across his body. His muscles seemed to awaken, pulsating under the skin like countless wriggling snakes.


    Even the cold me of Gerald''s <em>Void Servant</em> changed from deep blue to bright purple. The temperature remained the same, but the sight sent shivers down one''s spine.


    And his clown mask turned pitch ck in an instant. The crescent-shaped smile was chilling to the bone.


    The strongest <em>"ck Clown"</em> state... had emerged!


    With this state activated, Gerald seemed to be under a heavy burden,


    With a "gurgle," He bent over and spat out a mouthful of turbid blood.


    His chest heaved violently.


    The muscles'' overdrive generated a lot of heat, evaporating the body''s moisture and creating a visible mist from his mouth and nose, his breathing sounding like that of a wild beast.


    <em>"Huff..."</em>


    <em>"Huff..."</em>


    "..."


    Gerald hunched over, looking up at Su''en.


    In that moment, the ck Clown''s eyes lost all reason, bing a monster driven solely by the urge to kill!


    And in that instant of eye contact, the ck Clown raised a hooked w, and under the prison''s dim lights, the cold de w drew five streaks of afterimages in the void. It was as if one could hear the sharp sound of ws tearing through the air, a <em>"ng"</em> in an instant.


    What was even more surprising was that with this w, he threw out the purple mes he had been condensing in his hand!


    Su''en''s pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively twisted his body to dodge.


    The purple me didn''t touch him, but it exploded into a burst of purple fire just a foot away.


    Even though he was also enveloped in cold me, the st made his soul shudder, and he felt slightly dazed.


    When he looked again, the ck Clown''s figure had already dissipated on the spot.


    Even though Su''en''s eyes caught the iing figure, his body couldn''t react in time.


    It was too fast, The guy was now twice as fast as before!


    A shadow swept by, and Su''en could only watch as another w with a sharp gleam appeared in the air.


    All he heard was the grating sound of metal scraping.


    He was wed in the chest, and before he could react, he was wed again in the lower back...


    After one w came another, Gerald''s figure had bepletely ghostlike.


    <em>ng! ng! ng! ng!</em>


    In that instant of reaction, Su''en was struck four times!


    And unlike the previous skin-breaking "scraping" attacks, this time, each w left a gash an inch deep in his pure skin, with bright red blood visible in some areas.


    Just as Su''en was about to wrap himselfpletely in threads, those ws appeared out of nowhere, mming heavily into his chest.


    With a thunderous sound like a heavy object hitting the ground, That seemingly light p exploded with the force of a thunderbolt.


    A visible ripple burst from his chest, and the shockwave sent Su''en flying out of the <em>Puppet Theater.</em>


    He flew a hundred meters, crashing through a solid wall and falling into a prison cell.


    Su''en couldn''t help but spit out a mouthful of blood!


    ***


    In his "ck Clown" state, Gerald''sbat power had increased several times over.


    Just this encounter had already left Su''en injured.


    But red-eyed Su''en wasn''t shocked; instead, he grinned fiercely, overjoyed in his heart: <em>"Hahaha... so strong! So strong! So strong!"</em>


    The stronger the enemy, the more excited his spirit became, and the stronger the development of his brain domain.


    His current feeling was extremely peculiar. Once, his consciousness was like an isted ind in a vast sea, surrounded by fog.


    He was trapped on the ind, unable to escape.


    Now, unbound and drifting with the waves, he saw a whole new world.


    In this moment, as the opponent fought desperately, Su''en also fought with all his might without hesitation!


    The emotional stimtion led to a rapid and crazy secretion, reaching a potentially fatal level.


    Without going all out, how could he know where his potential limit was?


    Fully unleashing his body''s potential would give him near fourth-tier strength for a brief time in this world.


    Gerald was using the same method, using the "alien creature flesh" to bear the current pressure.


    But it was just an increase in physical strength; in terms ofws, he was still at the third tier.


    But Su''en was different; he truly understood parts of the fourth and even fifth-tierws!


    Moreover, Gerald was fighting under pressure,


    While Su''en was releasing pressure,


    The more he released, The stronger he became!


    "If it''s twice as strong, then let''s go for twice more!"


    Su''en shot up from the rubble, his face ferocious.


    He clenched his fist, and his muscles visibly swelled. His body, too, became steaming hot due to the overdrive of energy.


    Hormone secretion and potential reached their limits, and his muscles began to tear on arge scale...


    In this state, his body was on the verge of copse.


    But...


    Death?


    No, that was never a reason for him to back down.


    At this moment, the feeling of controlling power delighted Su''en. He greedily breathed in the air, feeling as if the world had slowed down, and his body finally caught up with his reactions.


    And just then, the ck Clown charged at him with a speed that was a blur, but Su''en faced him head-on without fear!


    A w to the chest, A punch to the shoulder, Both struck each other almost simultaneously.


    Both figures flew backward, tumbling onto the floor.


    Su''en''s chest had a gaping wound, and he heard the <em>"Slit"</em> of tissue being pierced.


    But at the same time, a clear sound of bone breaking was heard.


    His punch had turned Gerald''s right shoulder into a mess of sttered flesh, and his entire arm was torn off and flew away!


    Both suffered severe injuries.


    However, the next moment, the armless Gerald stood up.


    Su''en wanted to react, but found his body had reached its limit and suddenly <em>"crashed."</em>


    No, to be precise, he still wanted to fight, but he was stopped by an external force.


    His consciousness cleared for an instant,


    He knew,


    It was "Lady Sereya" who had been observing the fight that intervened.


    "Still didn''t win, huh..."


    Su''en gasped for air and slowly closed his eyes.


    But in a daze, he seemed to instinctively peel away something.


    <em>You have obtained 7 memory fragments of ''Severus Gerald''</em>


    <em>You have acquired a piece of information: ''The Duke suspects that Miss Teresa has been invaded by an evil entity, we should pay more attention... A secret team has arrived from outside the tower, probably from the Rega Earth family. Although they bypassed the Umbre, I still discovered their traces, they must be here for the youngdy''s situation...''</em>


    <em>You have acquired an obsession: ''The flesh of an alchemist is ultimately too weak, and the mechanical body is too clumsy, why can''t there be a perfect life form? Can alchemy create a perfect life form...''</em>


    <em>You have gained a vast amount of ''biological anatomy knowledge''</em>


    <em>You haveprehended the secret technique of flesh alchemy Hormonal Rampage</em>


    <em>You have mastered some necromantic spells</em>


    <em>You have acquired some skill fragments of Void Servant</em>


    <em>You have gained a vast amount of ''knowledge on stitching alien creature limbs'', increasing your recognition of biological corpses by +99</em>


    <em>Combat experience +155</em>


    <em>Psychic power +4.8</em>


    "So it was her who intervened..."


    As his consciousness faded, Su''en had onest thought.


    His entire world of consciousness suddenly plunged into darkness.

 Chapter 203: Teacher

    Chapter 203: Teacher<hr>


    "You''re awake?"


    Su''en opened his eyes to a soft female voice.


    He was in an alchemy workshop with high ceilings, probably seven or eight meters tall.


    The room was decorated in a rich ssical style, with a golden noble elegance and the mysterious aura unique to an alchemist''s workspace.


    Various ssical magicmps hung in the airround, square, diamond-shaped... lighting up the room brightly.


    One wall of the room was lined with bookshelves, densely packed with alchemical tomes.


    Inside those ss jars filled with pale yellow liquid were various biological materialseyeballs, brains, organs... Strange biological materials that mostly didn''t seem to be human tissue.


    The alchemy workbench was cluttered with all sorts of bottles, jars, and materials.


    Neatly arranged on the shelves were test tubes containing potions of various colors. In a beaker heated by purple mes, a thick green liquid bubbled and boiled, while a faint medicinal fragrance wafted through the air.


    A woman in a white pce dress was busily concocting a potion.


    Most striking of all were the eight crystal-clear spidernces on her back.


    Unlike the dark gold spidernces on Su''en''s body, her spidernces exuded a sense of returning to the essence, not at all ferocious. But upon closer inspection, one would see mysterious runes flowing with an unfathomable luster that was hard to look at directly.


    The spidernces, like her arms, moved flexibly and precisely, picking various potion test tubes from the shelves, and without precise measurement, she would casually drop a few drops, add a couple of spoonfuls of powder, a few solid pieces...


    Just by watching her concoction skills, Su''en knew she was making a high-level potion.


    In his current knowledge, a process that used eight materials to react simultaneously was something even the "master" alchemists of Old Lingdun couldn''t achieve.


    Su''en had been to this <em>"Dawn City Central Prison"</em> eight times before, but this was his first time entering this room.


    However, the elegantdy with the eight spidernces was not a stranger to him.


    She was naturally the target of Su''en''s mission, the founder of the Puppeteer profession, Sir Isaac''s wife, Pestoya''s mother, Lady Sereya.


    ***


    "Good day, Lady Sereya."


    Su''en replied.


    He was awake, but found that apart from his eyeballs, he couldn''t move.


    His body had lost all sensation.


    His mind quickly recalled the previous battle, and he understood that most of his muscles and bodily tissues had disintegrated.


    ncing at the alchemical runes on the floor where hey, the identification showed it was a sixth-order Life Alchemy Array.


    Lady Sereya seemed to have timed it just right, as thest ingredient was added to the beaker, and a miraculous reaction urred. The thick green liquid gradually became clear, turning into a qualified potion.


    She walked over to where Su''eny and poured the potion into the alchemy array.


    Suddenly, a surge of green light flourished.


    Su''en immediately felt a powerful vitality burrowing into his body.


    Like a withered tree regaining life, the broken muscle fibers and failing organs were recovering at an exaggerated rate.


    As Sereya poured the potion, she said, "Your brain development is not bad, about a 5% increase. That''s quite remarkable."


    After a pause, she added, "You have good talent. Indeed suitable for the ''Puppeteer'' profession."


    Hearing this, Su''en felt relieved and said, "All thanks to your teaching of the secret techniques, madam..."


    This growth was within expectations.


    The average person''s brain development is between 2% and 8%. In Su''en''s previous life, even top scientists mostly used only about 12%.


    This figure could grow slightly through certain acquired exercises and learning, but generally, one''s lifetime improvement would not exceed 2%.


    Su''en was now about 16%. It might not seem much, but on some levels, it''s the difference between scoring 59 and 60 on a test.


    That knowledgeable Mr. ck, who specifically sought advanced materials, was only around 18%.


    "Hmm. This secret technique does seem like my own work. After all, apart from me, no one else should know it..."


    Sereya always had a gentle and wise look on her face.


    Like looking at Mr. ck, it was the confidence of erudition, as if there were no secrets in the world she couldn''t unravel.


    She nced at Su''en, "Now, you can tell me what that letter you gave me earlier was all about. And your intentions."


    Su''en spoke directly, "Are you aware that the Central Prison has be a <em>''Cursed Space''?</em> My name is Su''en, I came in a thousand yearster..."


    As he spoke, he sinctly exined his purpose.


    Before entering the Cursed Space, he had taken a moment to hand thedy a letter he had written to "herself."


    He had obtained it during a previous visit, after exchanging information and gaining trust.


    The n was to try the secret technique Lady Sereya had personally told him about, which could increase brain development.


    He wouldn''t dare try it anywhere else; without someone to control the limit,pletely unleashing the suppressed emotions in his mind would undoubtedly lead to his death.


    ***


    Lady Sereya was highly intelligent.


    If it were any other Cursed Space, Su''en''s words would have been selectively ignored by the NPCs.


    It''s like someone time-traveling to you, holding a note in your handwriting, telling you it''s from a parallel universe you, and you should believe me.


    For a normal person, it would be hard to ept.


    But Lady Sereya''s remnant was easily able to think it through and ept reality.


    Just like the previous times.


    She murmured to herself, "So I''m already dead..."


    Hearing this, Su''en felt a strange sensation, as if the person before him was truly alive.


    For an NPC to recognize that they are dead, and that they are a Cursed Space NPC, is simply impossible.


    Su''en had thought she was a special existence like Pestoya.


    But she said she wasn''t.


    She was still a remnant NPC of the Cursed Space.


    As before, Su''en asked again, "Can you recognize that you''re dead?"


    He wanted to hear if he could get a different answer.


    Lady Sereya didn''t show any abnormal emotions upon realizing her own death, "It''s not hard to understand. When you''re alive and you foresee this inevitable death in your fate, many things be clear. Your arrival means that disaster has urred."


    Su''en listened and fell into contemtion.


    The same words, he had heard three times now.


    But he still couldn''t quite understand.


    Sereya easily believed Su''en and smiled, getting straight to the point, "You''re here today for a reason, aren''t you? Like, to give me a token? Need me to concoct something?"


    "Yes, that''s right."


    As he spoke these few words, Su''en found that he could move his body again.


    He opened his storage space and took out the golden card and the sealed casket.


    Seeing this ability, Sereya raised an eyebrow, "Spatial ability? Indeed quite suitable for a Puppeteer. But your understanding of thews is too shallow; against high-tier professionals, your space can easily be targeted byw-based methods."


    "..."


    Hearing this, Su''en looked slightly awkward.


    He thought to himself that this wasn''t Dawn City from a thousand years ago, where demigods existed.


    Now, in Old Lingdun, the strongest professionals on the surface were only third-tier, at the level of a prison guard.


    So far, Su''en hadn''t encountered the "high-tier" she mentioned.


    Sereya took out the golden card and seemed to read the contents using some special encryption method, her eyes bingplex.


    As if reminiscing, seeing the card brought a touch of tenderness and wistfulness to her gaze.


    After pondering for a while, she murmured to herself, "So that''s how it is..."


    Saying this, Sereya formed a spell gesture and eximed, <em>"Unseal!"</em>


    The runes inscribed on the casket suddenly lit up, andyers of golden sealing arrays shone. They wrapped around the casket tightly like chains. As the unsealing spell was activated, theyers began to dissipate.


    ***


    Su''en had brought out this casket several times before.


    But it had never been opened.


    Sereya said that once it was opened, the Cursed Space would cease to exist.


    With both families betrayed and murdered, and that "Coroner" Severus Gerald dead, Su''en''s brain development wasplete, and now it was time for the final step.


    He had previously identified the runes on the casket as "superior," knowing they were at least sixth-order or above.


    Now, seeing them in action, they certainly were.


    But upon closer inspection, they were not quite the same.


    The runes he knew were two-dimensional, while the runes that lit up on the casket were three-dimensional structures.


    Seeing that Sereya was rxed, he didn''t hesitate to interrupt.


    He asked directly, "Madam, what are these runes? They seem different from ordinary runes."


    Sereya casually exined, "These are ''Runic'' symbols, also known as Alchemical Runes. They''re equivalent to the ''arcane'' in spellcraft. Created by alchemists during the mythic era, they were perfected by countless alchemists into a vast body of knowledge. It''s not just a system but a way of thinking. It abandons the rigid rune patterns, delving into the variations and extensions of runes. Extremelyplex, the difficulty of study multiplies. But once mastered, the power is several times that of the same tier, and there are unexpected effects..."


    Su''en understood.


    The difference between advanced math and a regr textbook.


    They''re questions of the same grade, but the difficulty is iparable.


    The key isn''t the runes themselves, but the direction of divergent thinking.


    Su''en listened with a bit of envy, "Madam, are there any requirements to learn Runic symbols?"


    Such powerful runes, and he had harvested so many fragments, yet he had never even heard of them.


    <em>If he truly mastered them, third-tier Runic symbols could potentially match the power of ordinary fourth-tier ones, which would be immensely useful!</em>


    <em>Puppets, weapons, armor... third-tier with the effect of fourth-tier, wouldn''t that power be sky-high?</em>


    <em>This truly epitomized the meaning of "knowledge is power."</em>


    Sereya seemed to guess what he was thinking and smiled gently, "Normally, only highly talented professionals can ess this advanced rune knowledge. On the third shelf, there are a few introductory volumes. If you''re interested, you can take a look. With your high level of brain development, you''ll understand that level of knowledge more easily than others."


    Su''en''s heart leaped with joy upon hearing this.


    "Learning talent," in a sense, equated to brain development.


    As they spoke, Sereya suddenly remembered something else, "Speaking of which, these runes are somewhat rted to your <em>''All-Seeing Eye''</em> talent."


    Su''en paused, surprised: "R<em>ted to mine talent?"</em>


    Sereya asked, "Are you wondering why, after awakening the ''All-Seeing Eye,'' you can understand items you didn''t know before? Where does the necessary knowledgee from?"


    Su''en didn''t think his dual talent could be hidden from her.


    And indeed, this was something he wondered about.


    This wasn''t a game world, but a real onewhere did the "database"e from?


    Before he could ponder further, Sereya exined, "''Runic'' in ancient Gnidnguage means secret or mystery, representing ''the secrets of the cosmos.'' The ''All-Seeing Eye'' had another name in the mythic era, ''Akashic Record.'' You might find this term unfamiliar, but in the alchemical academic world, it''s a well-known name, ''Prima Materia.'' It''s the substance that created everything in the universe at the beginning. It contains all the secrets of the world, past, present, future... and so on."


    Su''en''s brows furrowed as he listened.


    He suddenly realized he might be hearing some high-end knowledge.


    If it had been before, he would have thought he couldn''t understand.


    But now, after brain development, he felt as if he had touched upon something.


    Sereya looked at Su''en and said, "Have you encountered something you can''t understand? For example, the contents of this box?"


    As she spoke, she took out the contents of the rune casket<em>a heart in a ss jar.</em>


    A ck and gold heart that was still beating!


    Su''en wasn''t surprised to see this; after all, he had suspected it.


    To extract <em>"X Serum,"</em> it had to be a biological limb or some kind of organ.


    Though he hadn''t expected the heart to still be alive.


    He identified it, and as expected, it read: Heart of *** from the Abyss.


    He asked, "Why is that?"


    Sereya said, "The ''All-Seeing Eye'' can see through all the secrets of the world. You can''t see it now because your talent awakening is still too superficial; some things you can''t see, others you see but don''t understand. Secondly... it''s because it''s protecting you."


    She paused for a moment, then pointed to the heart in the ss jar, "Do you know whose heart this is?"


    Su''en had a guess and ventured, "From a legendary <em>''god-tier''</em> being?"


    "Hmm."


    Sereya nodded, confirming his guess, "This is the heart of a god-tier being. The information of a ''deity'' is not just a few words but contains indescribablews for humans. Thews of gods are not something lower beings can covet. Your All-Seeing Eye saw that level ofw directly, but because your cognitive level is too low, it protected you. If it forcibly poured that high-level cognition into your brain, your mind would copse immediately."


    She revealed a wise smile and added, "If I say this heart belongs to a ''Fallen Angel,'' take another look?"


    Su''en looked again, and indeed, the identification now showed the words "Heart of a Fallen Angel."


    Sereya''s words "defined" that iprehensiblew, presenting it in a way he could understand.


    At the same time, Su''en was shocked.


    Angels?


    Beings with wings from the myths?


    No wonder "X Serum" injections made people more attractive; the genes came from angels.


    Su''en thought of something and asked, "Madam, is the source of talent awakening bloodlines?"


    "Yes, but not entirely. There''s a legend circting in the market that humans are descendants of the gods, and bloodline inheritance is the passing down of a part of the gods''w power, like the elemental talents of earth, wind, water, fire... But in reality, that''s an inurate statement."


    Sereya slightly arched her brow, correcting the notion, "Bloodlines are just one carrier. For example, your ''Reaper of Death'' talent, its carrier is the soul. In fact, the essence of talent is the ''Prima Materia'' of the universe, and even gods are just beneficiaries..."


    "..."


    Sure enough, she knew he had dual talents.


    Since the topic hade up, Su''en simply asked all his questions, "What''s the difference between S-tier talents and other talents?"


    Sereya responded, "S-tier talents represent the supremews of the universe. Your <em>''Reaper of Death''</em> represents the ''Law of Death,'' your <em>''All-Seeing Eye''</em> represents the ''Law of Wisdom''... Legend has it that for us alchemists to be gods, understanding thesews is a necessary path."


    Her tone became very serious as she spoke, "The essence of alchemy is to understand and decipher the truth of this world. We alchemists are all on the journey to pursue this truth. From the structure of matter to the understanding ofws, from simple toplex. Only when you have mastered it can you truly create alchemy of equivalent exchange at will. Therefore, an alchemist must be erudite. You already have the qualifications to be a top alchemist, to peer into the ultimate secrets of this world..."


    As she spoke, Sereya suddenly said, "Although I''m already dead, I would like to take you as my disciple."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en, enduring the pain throughout his body, rose to his feet without any expression.


    He bowed deeply in respect, And solemnly said, "Teacher."

 Chapter 204: Why did you burn her to death?

    Chapter 204: Why did you burn her to death?<hr>


    "Teacher."


    Su''en bowed respectfully to the great alchemist from a thousand years ago.


    "Mm."


    Sereya nodded with a gentle smile.


    Looking at Su''en, her eyes filled with satisfaction, "Though time has slipped by, our meeting was destined. Regrettably, I don''t have much time to teach you, so... as your teacher, let me give you a wee gift."


    Saying this, Sereya took out a ss bottle containing the <em>[Fallen Angel''s Heart]</em>, pinched a seal with one hand, and softly chanted, <em>"Seal Release!"</em>


    The runes on the ss bottle lit up.


    In that instant, Su''en felt that the ancient bottle didn''t contain a beating heart, but rather a primordial beast.


    The aura that leaked out was oppressive like a mountain.


    Dominant, holy, chillingly evil, like a flood of dark spiritual power...


    It made one feel an involuntary sense of worship, a profound humility.


    It was the pressure of a lower being looking up at a higher life form.


    That aura was like gazing at the stars, endlessly profound, yet unreachable.


    "This is the breath of a god..."


    Su''en was astounded, as if a storm surged in his heart.


    Once, "god" was just a simple word in his understanding.


    Indescribable, ineffable, but ultimately too insubstantial.


    Nothing like this tangible sensation.


    For the first time, Su''en felt the presence of a god.


    Sereya''s gaze was misty as she looked at the heart in the jar and said, "This is part of thew of a divine being. I''m not asking you to understand it, but to know how vast the world is. Only from a high vantage can one see further. A truly great alchemist needs extensive knowledge and a broader vision."


    Su''en nodded earnestly, his eyes shing with insight.


    In that moment, he deeply understood the meaning of her words.


    A frog in a well can never grasp the vastness of the world.


    But now, he had glimpsed the vast world beyond the well''s edge.


    Continuing, Sereya said, "Isaac once said that we live in the worst of times, but also the best of times, because we stand on the shoulders of giants. Although today''s alchemical civilization is not as glorious as it was during the Dawn Epoch, the knowledge has been passed down. The sages of history have left us too much precious knowledge, which is the real ''treasure.'' But this precious knowledge is buried in the dust of history, waiting for us to unearth, innovate, and continue to explore..."


    Her teaching method was straightforward and forceful, but the impact on Su''en''s heart was unparalleled.


    Yet his gaze was unwavering.


    The more fascinating the world, the more he looked forward to it.


    Su''en calmed the turmoil in his heart and bowed respectfully, "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher."


    "You''re doing well."


    Sereya looked at Su''en''s performance under the divine pressure and nodded with satisfaction, "If there was time, I would have you build a solid foundation and gradually expose you to the truth of this world. The world as seen by an alchemist is far more fascinating than that of ordinary people..."


    She changed the subject, "But clearly, there isn''t. So, the gift for my disciple must naturally be the best."


    Hearing this, Su''en''s anticipation grew.


    At that moment, Sereya took out the golden card from before and flicked it lightly with her hand.


    The card shattered, and an ancient hexagonal coppermp appeared before them.


    Su''en recognized it immediatelyit was the<em> [Volgan''s Furnace Lamp]!</em>


    "With this alchemical item, things will be much easier..."


    Sereya muttered to herself with a smile.


    Then, she ced the ss bottle on the ground and rapidly formed an intricate set of sorcerer''s seals with her hands.


    Not just her hands, but the eight-armed spidernce behind her seemed to be manipting somew. Centered around her, the air slowly gathered fire elemental motes like fireflies, more and more, until they formed a ring of firestorm...


    Looking again, a fiery nine-pointed star alchemy array suddenly appeared on the floor of the room.


    Su''en''s eyes trembled as he observed the mysterious patterns of the array.


    The grade of this technique was so high that he couldn''tprehend it at all.


    With the final sorcerer''s seal pinched, Sereya softly chanted, <em>"Alchemy ArtFurnace World!"</em>


    As her words fell, the nine-pointed star array on the floor seemed to melt through the floor, and a wave of heat swept through the room.


    Looking again, Su''en saw a world of magma and fire seas, as if through this small array mouth, connected to a furnace world.


    The hexagonal coppermp fell into it, the lid opened, releasing a trapped me demon, and a surge of violent fire elemental power pped upwards.


    The terrifying elemental pressure, even through the array, made Su''en''s scalp tingle, as if a mere touch would incinerate him.


    However, before he could fully experience this sensation, the nine-pointed star suddenly disappeared.


    The hexagonal coppermp and the heart were locked in that furnace world.


    ***


    After inserting the <em>[Fallen Angel''s Heart]</em> and the coppermp into the alchemy array, Sereya also breathed a sigh of relief.


    Like a housewife who had just put a turkey in the oven, she suddenly found herself idle.


    She looked at Su''en and asked, "By the way, did you bring your notes?"


    Su''en knew what she was referring to and took out the <em>[Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript III]</em> from his space.


    Sereya held the notes like a housewife with a recipe book, casually flipping through them, and muttered to herself, "Hmm... there''s still a slight deviation. Isaac made the ultimate design manuscript even more perfect..."


    As she spoke, she manipted the spidernce to take out some materials from the cab, like adding seasoning to a pot, casually opened a crack in the ground, and threw the materials in.


    Then she pped her hands, looking like her work was done.


    "Now it''s perfect. Crafting the <em>[Isaac''s Alchemy Heart]</em> will take some time; we''ll have to wait..."


    She looked at Su''en and suddenly thought of something else, "Do you want to know how this heart came to be?"


    Su''en naturally guessed something, "Teacher, did you hunt a god from the abyss?"


    Sereya was amiable, not too stern or serious as a teacher, and easy tomunicate with.


    "Not me. I''m not strong enough to battle a god. It was Isaac''s doing."


    She spoke casually, with a sense of drama.


    A deity, defeated in a realm without gods?


    But Su''en was also curious. Isaac was known as a "demi-god," presumably not of divine rank, yet he had actually killed a god.


    How did he manage that?


    Before he could wonder further, Sereya seemed to guess his confusion and simply said, "Moreover, although alchemists are physically weak, we have one advantage: we can use external objects and alchemy to exert power far beyond our physical rank. Plus, the [Master of Fate] is a very strong talent, and Isaac developed it to an impressive degree... Hisbat power is not inferior to ordinary deities."


    Su''en knew he couldn''t understand that level of power and asked about something he was more curious about, "Teacher, was that god killed? Then why is this heart still beating, is it some special ability of a divine rank?"


    "No, It''s not dead."


    Sereya shook her head, "A divine rank being can''t be killed as long as their divine fire isn''t extinguished. Isaac originally wanted to kill It, but due to some special reasons... Of course, the most important is, he wanted to use this rare divine material for some experiments. Like this <em>[Isaac''s Alchemy Heart] </em>."


    Su''en guessed something and directly said, "Teacher... you''re giving this to me as a gift? But, this is Mr. Mirror''s material. And..."


    His face showed some difficulty.


    After all, the heart was stolen from theb by Number Neen, the hexagonal coppermp was hard-earned by Mr. Mirror and his team, along with these other things...


    Although Su''en coveted the divine rank material-crafted item, he also felt it was inappropriate.


    "Mr. Mirror?"


    Sereya heard the name and obviously guessed something, her face showing a tender smile, murmuring to herself, "She actually chose such a name for herself."


    After a pause, she said with certainty, "No. If I give it to you, she won''t mind."


    "..."


    Hearing this, Su''en immediately confirmed his previous guess.


    Mr. Mirror was the "old monster" of Dawn City who had lived for over a thousand years.


    And from Sereya''s tone, it was clear they knew each other.


    Since she was the teacher, Su''en didn''t need to be so formal and directly asked, "Teacher, do you know Mr. Mirror?"


    "Didn''t she tell you?"


    Sereya neither confirmed nor denied, her eyes revealing a lightugh as if thinking of something.


    After pondering for a moment, she didn''t intend to rify for Su''en, only saying, "Alchemy is already quite dull, let''s leave some small pleasures for life. When you see her, you''ll probably be quite surprised."


    "..."


    Su''en shrugged.


    He didn''t inquire further.


    As she said, the secret of Mr. Mirror''s identity was a little pleasure in life.


    Seeing the notes, he thought of something and said, "By the way, Teacher. Mr. Mirror mentioned that there''s a big secret about alchemy hidden in the notes?"


    Now that the manuscript''s author''s wife was here, instead of guessing wildly, it was better to ask directly.


    "Yes."


    Sereya nodded, revealing a piece of ancient history that was a secret to Su''en.


    "Isaac studied the documents left from the Dawn Epoch and developed an ''epic'' set of alchemical imnts. He wanted alchemists to possess some divine rank abilities before reaching divine rank. Hence, he needed some divine materials."


    She paused, then continued, "However, as far as I remember, he only finished the draft."


    Su''en listened quietly, knowing there was more toe.


    "Of course, the alchemy manuscript is just the content of the notes. Its secret goes beyond that. I heard Isaac once said he wanted to hide the secret he discovered in the notes."


    Sereya''s face showed a sly smile, continuing, "A secret we once discovered, pointing to the ultimate secret of alchemy. If you find all five notes, you can see the secret we left behind."


    Like a treasure hunt game.


    They hid the secret in the notes.


    Waiting for someone to gather them and find that secret.


    Su''en''s interest was piqued, "The ultimate secret?"


    Sereya said, "The reason why the Akavia civilization of the Dawn Epoch was so glorious is said to be because the five divine rank elders of the ''Rosicrucian Society,'' the creators of the civilization and the five statues you saw in the basement of the Storm Manor, had seen the origin of the alchemical lineage left from the mythological erathe <em>[Emerald Codex]</em>, and were inspired by it. Hence, they created such a powerful alchemical civilization."


    Su''en heard a new term, "Emerald Codex?"


    "Mm. In ancient texts, it''s also called the Emerald Tablet, the Green Jade... It''s said to be the origin of alchemy, an item that records the ultimate secret of alchemy."


    Sereya nodded, but then her brows furrowed, questioning herself, "Strange, why can''t I remember what that secret is exactly, I only remember it''s rted to the <em>[Emerald Codex]</em>..."


    Like missing a piece from a memory puzzle, clearlycking some rted memories.


    After a pause, she seemed to realize something, her expression showing understanding, "ording to what you said, I''m just a remnant. So my memories must also be missing some parts. There are some things I can''t exin to youpletely..."


    "Oh."


    Su''en listened without much disturbance in his heart; the secrets of that level were still too early for him to touch.


    What ultimate secret of alchemy, And the other four notes whose whereabouts were unknown, All seemed somewhat unrealistic to him.


    Now he was still "in the mines."


    Estimating that after reaching the fifth or sixth rank, when he would be considered a master on the surface... perhaps then he would be qualified to touch upon them.


    ***


    While chatting, Su''en suddenly remembered themission from before.


    "By the way, Teacher. There''s something I feel I need to tell you."


    "What is it?"


    "I met a ghostly little girl at Storm Manor who said her name was <em>''Pestoya.'' </em>"


    Considering the previous circumstances, Su''en wasn''t sure she was definitely this woman''s daughter, so he chose his words very carefully.


    Sereya''s eyes immediately showed guilt and affection upon hearing this.


    She asked eagerly, "You''ve seen her... Is she alright?"


    "Mm. I''ve seen her twice."


    Su''en nodded, "I don''t know if her current state can be called good or bad. She has be a strange ''ghost''."


    He paused, then added, "Pestoya asked me to ask you a question."


    Before Su''en could speak, Sereya said, <em>"Ask me why I burned her?"</em>


    Her expression was calm, but it seemed she remembered something, her eyes already brimming with tears.

 Chapter 205: A scheme that had been planned for a thousand years

    Chapter 205: A scheme that had been nned for a thousand years<hr>


    Su''en was also troubled by this question.


    Why would Isaac and his wife choose to burn their most cherished little daughter to death?


    When Sereya heard Su''en ask this question, she wasn''t the least bit surprised.


    "It''s been a thousand years; she must be very sad."


    She sighed softly and said, "Because... only resentment can prevent her soul from dissipating."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en had a sudden realization.


    One of the prerequisites for forming ghosts or vengeful spirits is that there must be some kind of strong obsession.


    As soon as he heard the beginning, he guessed why Isaac and his wife did this a thousand years ago.


    They wanted to preserve Pestoya''s soul.


    But... why?


    Sereya''s emotions became veryplex, a mix of tenderness, love, guilt, sighs, and hope, all reflected in her sparkling eyes.


    She revealed the secret buried in the dust of history, "That fallen angel of divine rank was defeated back then, but Isaac paid a great price. Arge number of abyssal creatures invaded, and our Dawn City suffered heavy losses. The fallen angel even tried topletely destroy this spatial seal, allowing a massive invasion from the abyss... At first, we didn''t think we could kill it. To prevent it from wreaking havoc after recovery, we chose to disassemble its divine bodylimbs, torso, head, heart, wings... and sealed them separately in various locations around Dawn City. That way, its divine power couldn''t converge in one ce, greatly reducing the threat."


    Listening to this, Su''en finally understood where the <em>[Heart of the Fallen Angel]</em> he obtained came from.


    So, what was sealed in the White Monastery was also a piece of the divine body...


    At this point, Sereya continued, "On the surface, gods are gods because they understand thews of higher nes. But for us alchemists, we need to see through the appearance to grasp the essence of things. Laws are intangible and elusive, but the body of a god is very real. And having guarded this spatial passage for many years, we''ve also discovered that abyssal creatures have very strong physiques, and we''ve deduced some patterns, so..."


    By now, Su''en finally knew what Sir Isaac intended to do when he captured a divine-rank creature.


    They "sliced and studied" this divine-rank creature.


    Alchemists are the scientists of this world, including in the fields of biology, mechanics, as well as mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering... and so on.


    A thousand years ago, the group of great alchemists led by Isaac were the top scientists in these fields. Their research in biological science had reached a level that even Su''en, a transmigrator, found inconceivable.


    Perhaps because Su''en was her disciple, Sereya was very detailed, "Although we obtained some knowledge describing the divine body from ancient texts, this was our first time truly encountering a living one... We studied the blood and other bodily tissues of this fallen angel and discovered on a microscopic level the divine gene chain, which is much higher than humans; it has forty strands. And Isaac, as the strongest alchemist of the time, only had thirty-five. Ordinary non-professionals have only twenty-three..."


    Hearing this, Su''en didn''t know how to describe his feelings.


    It turned out that ancient alchemists a thousand years ago had already researched gics to such a thorough extent.


    He didn''t know if it was because Old London was a mining pit that led to some aberrant development, or if the outside world hadn''t reached the level of a thousand years ago. But among the knowledge he hade across, there was not a single mention of "gene chains."


    However, Sereya didn''t continue on the research topic but returned to the previous discussion, "But during this research process, some idents urred. Although we sealed the body of the fallen angel, we didn''t expect that its soul would escape during a research ident. Then, it possessed Pestoya''s body..."


    Hearing this, it was as if the final piece of the puzzle had been ced.


    All the clues in Su''en''s mind automatically connected, and he immediately understood the truth behind Pestoya''s burning.


    At this point, Sereya paused, seemingly recalling a memory she was reluctant to revisit.


    After pondering for a moment, she continued, "That fallen angel was cunning, knowing that no matter where its soul fled, it would be annihted. So, it chose Pestoya. By the time we discovered it, it had already entangledpletely with Pestoya''s soul. If we killed it, we would definitely kill Pestoya. But if we didn''t deal with it in time, it would bring catastrophic disaster to our ne..."


    She didn''t continue, but Su''en understood.


    So, they chose to burn Pestoya.


    Hearing the story up to this point, Su''en also vaguely understood what the secret previously marked as "???" on the butterfly brooch was.


    It was most likely the soul of that fallen angel!


    Su''en knew that things were probably not that simple.


    If it was about destruction, they would never leave the soul behind.


    Sereya said, "I''ve lost some memories and don''t know what happened afterward. But your appearance means that Isaac''s n seeded."


    Su''en listened quietly, knowing that someone like Isaac, who had mastered [Fate], wouldn''t have such simple methods.


    He asked, "Teacher, did you preserve Pestoya''s soul to resurrect her?"


    Sereya replied, "Yes. There''s no parent in the world who would want to watch their child be burned alive, but to ensure she had enough resentment, we didn''t tell her the truth. We set up some measures in Storm Manor to preserve her soul. Butpared to a deity, a human soul is too weak. The fallen angel could easily erase Pestoya''s soul. So, this n wouldst at least a thousand years. Only when Pestoya''s soul was strong enough and the two could no longer be separated... could we act."


    As she spoke, her face showed the fierceness of a mother harming her child''s enemy, "Hmph, so-called gods, to survive, only resort to such despicable tricks."


    Su''en now fully understood the whole course of events.


    It was far from being as simple as it seemed.


    It was a grand scheme.


    <em>A scheme that had been nned for a thousand years!</em>


    At the same time, a thought crossed his mind.


    No wonder the title page of <em>[Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript]</em> had that slightly emotional phrase: Gods are but higher-grade materials.


    There was this level of hatred involved.


    And... contempt!


    A master of fate''s contempt for divine-rank powerhouses!


    ***


    Relieved by this exnation, Su''en could at least give Pestoya an answer next time they met.


    Otherwise, always deceiving the girl without fulfilling promises would weigh on his conscience.


    Su''en then asked, "Teacher, is everything Mr. Mirror is doing for that god''s soul?"


    Thinking this way, the purpose of Mr. Mirror, who had lived for a thousand years, became clear.


    Sereya said, "Yes, but not just that. Her survival is for the deity within Pestoya''s soul and also for the legacy of Dawn City. After all, your appearance means that disaster has already urred, and Dawn City must have been destroyed."


    Su''en had always been curious about what caused the destruction of Dawn City and Old London.


    He directly asked, "Teacher, what exactly was that disaster?"


    "My memory is iplete."


    Sereya shook her head, indicating she didn''t know either, "I don''t have Isaac''s talent for fate and can''t deduce what will happen in the future. But it''s likely that there was a problem with the abyssal seal. ording to what you''ve said, the ne hasn''t fallen, so Isaac must have prevented the disaster from worsening. After all, the purpose of building the ''ck Tower'' was as ast resort when things got out of control..."


    The ck Tower had that effect?


    Su''en pondered as he listened.


    Suddenly, he thought of the powerful being capable of hunting deities and asked, "What about... my grandmaster?"


    "Him?"


    When talking about her husband, Sereya''s face showed a tender smile, and she said, "Isaac once said that thews of this ne are wed, and to break through to divine rank, one must go to a ne with more perfectws. I think he probably went to the ''Abyss''..."


    She paused, her eyes filled with love, and continued, "He''s always had a dream, to travel through various nes like the great alchemists of the Dawn Era, to probe into the ultimate mysteries of alchemy..."


    ***


    Now that Su''en understood the truth of the past, most of his doubts were resolved.


    The atmosphere of their conversation became very rxed.


    At this moment, Su''en looked at the books on the shelves in the room and asked, "Teacher, may I take these books with me?"


    He had long coveted these things; this alchemical knowledge was the true priceless treasure.


    But he had not dared to touch anything.


    The plot in the cursed space seemed to be an infinite loop.


    But in reality, if something was taken away, some energy would be lost.


    A few books might not have a big impact, but they could also cause a "butterfly effect," changing the entire plot of the cursed space.


    Su''en had previously encircled and ambushed two major families and the ''Coroner'' Severus Gerald, and to prevent the plot from deviating, he didn''t take away anything more than necessary.


    Now he had no such concerns.


    Sereya readily agreed, "Of course, I don''t have time to teach you. These books, you''ll have to study on your own."


    Saying this, she pointed to the bookshelf, "The first two rows are the basics of alchemy, the third row is knowledge of runes, and at the very top... oh, right! Almost forgot, taking you as a disciple, I should also pass on the heritage of my ''Puppeteer'' lineage..."


    She remembered something, and the eight-armed spider spear took down several notebooks from the top.


    Flipping through, it turned out to be manuscripts on puppet alchemy.


    The books in the cursed space must be read and remembered by the main character of resentment to appear.


    Su''en had been somewhat worried that the content would be missing, but upon picking up a book, it was filled with dense text.


    Although it was a manuscript, the handwriting was very beautiful, like print, and even the draft design sketches had the feel of perfect works of art.


    Sereya''s face showed the affection of a teacher looking at her disciple, and her tone was somewhat mncholic, "As a teacher, I haven''t had much time to instruct you. Once that heart is refined sessfully, the energy of this cursed space will be exhausted, and I will disappear."


    Su''en listened intently, his expression slightly changed.


    Sereya flipped to thest few pages of the notes and introduced, "This <em>[Alchemy Golem Notebook]</em> is the summary of my life''s research into puppetry. It''s also the design concept of the most perfect puppet in my heart. I wanted to create an alchemical creature with invincible defense that could also possess some intelligence..."


    Su''en looked at the design named [Gargoyle], his eyes slightlyplex.


    The founder of the Puppeteers actually wanted to create an "alchemical creature" that didn''t need strings for control and had its own consciousness!


    However, the technical level of this thing was too advanced; Su''en couldn''t understand it yet.


    What excited him more was his learning efficiency.


    Before, he always needed to suppress other emotions in his heart.


    It was like watching a ser match while worrying about tomorrow''s exam questions.


    Having be ustomed to it, he didn''t notice anything different.


    Only after letting go did he realize how great that pressure was.


    Now, with those negative emotionspletely released and his mental faculties constrained by secret techniques, he no longer needed to be distracted, as if the whole world had be clearer.


    A burden lifted.


    At this moment, Su''en also experienced the benefits of a 5% increase in brain domain development.


    Truly reading ten lines at a nce.


    It wasn''t about reading fast, but that the content that entered his eyes could be processed quickly by the brain, simultaneously.


    It was like upgrading the processor of aputer, with both the reaction speed and the amount of information processed increased exponentially.


    And no longer needing to read line by line as before.


    However,


    Even though his brain could process more information,


    Looking at these high-end alchemy knowledge, Su''en still felt his scalp tingle.


    He could foresee that these few notebooks would be the content of his research and study for many years toe.


    Seeing Su''en''s slightly furrowed brow, Sereya smiled and said, "The purpose of giving you these books is not for you to walk my path exactly as it was. A true Puppeteer is not about how many puppets they can make, but about truly understanding why they do it. This is also the essence of alchemy."


    She continued, "Study Isaac''s manuscript carefully. The content that progresses from simple toplex is not just to teach you how to refine [Isaac''s Alchemical Heart] and other alchemical prosthetics. It''s about a way of thinking that sees through appearances to grasp the essence. Only by fully understanding the structure of all things can you truly understand the supremew of alchemy, ''equivalent exchange,'' and go further on your future path. Only then will you have the chance to touch the truly top..."


    ***


    "I''ve told you a lot, some of which Isaac told me, the concepts that truly lead to divine rank. Although I''m still understanding them, I also pass them on to you, my disciple..."


    Perhaps because she felt there wasn''t much time left, Sereya spoke a lot.


    But there was little about technology; instead, she imparted to Su''en many top-level concepts only visible from the perspective of top alchemists.


    Su''en also discovered his own misconceptions, or rather, had entered some wrong paths.


    He used to care about how many spells, how many kinds of puppets, how many skills he mastered, and how much hisbat power would increase...


    But that was just the surface, diverse but not refined.


    In the realm of low-rank professionals, it might be very strong, but in the realm of high-rank sorcerers, "understanding" is the real difference between the true masters and the ordinary.


    Just as Sereya had previously seen him use spatial abilities and said it was easily broken by high-rank sorcerers.


    That''s what she meant.


    In the eyes of sorcerers at her level, the essence of "equivalent exchange" is the understanding of the world''s myriad things.


    Everything else is just stepping stones to understanding this principle.


    Indeed, as Sereya had said before, an alchemist must be learned.


    Su''en suddenly understood the realm of Mr. ck.


    It''s nearly impossible for ordinary people to master multiple elemental spells simultaneously.


    But if one truly understands, that''s the real "diverse and refined."


    Sereya''s words were enlightening for Su''en, leaving him deeply moved for a long time.


    Like a ship sailing in the dark sea at night, someone had lit a lighthouse for him, and the path ahead was no longer a darkness that needed to be groped for.


    This would save him from taking too many detours and entering many wrong paths.


    Heading towards "understanding of all things" and "equivalent exchange," he could reach a very high level.


    A godly level.

 Chapter 206: Isaacs Alchemy Heart

    Chapter 206: Isaac''s Alchemy Heart<hr>


    Su''en packed every book from the shelf into his storage space, just like ants moving house.


    Sereya''s erudition made the text in these tomes exceptionally clear.


    Both cherished this rare master-disciple time.


    Sereya taught with dedication,


    And Su''en asked questions as they came to mind.


    He noticed the spider spear on Sereya''s body and asked, "Teacher, what tier is your spider spear symbiotic armor?"


    His own spider spear was worlds apart from Sereya''s, despite both being the same type.


    Sereya smiled, "First tier."


    She understood what Su''en was pondering and added, "When I fused my spider spear symbiotic armor, the blueprint was much cruder than your current golden blueprint."


    "Teacher, then your..."


    Su''en''s eyes grew more puzzled.


    Why was there such a big difference between first-tier symbiotic armors?


    "Are you asking why my spider spear looks so formidable?"


    Sereya saw Su''en nod and exined with a smile, "The original purpose of Master Nics mel''s creation of alchemical symbiotic armor in the ancient era was to give alchemists somebat ability and topensate for certain deficiencies in human physiology by grafting limbs from other species. But the significance of alchemical symbiotic armor isn''t limited to this; it also represents an alchemist''s understanding of the life alchemy of other species. Symbiotic armor is essentially the creature an alchemist understands best. Many people only know how to use it, but don''t understand it, which is a misconception. Do you know why the ultimate question of alchemy, ''creating life,'' is so difficult? Because an organism is the mostplex existence known to the world so far, it''s about understanding the hierarchy of life. Symbiotic armor is also a shortcut for us to understand organisms..."


    Sereya''s exnation was detailed, and Su''en understood.


    He had thought symbiotic armor was just equipment with level restrictions, like his spider spear, which was useful at the first and second tiers but would be "outdated" at the third and fourth.


    But that wasn''t the case.


    Everyone''s symbiotic armor is "growth-oriented equipment," bing stronger and more perfect as the alchemist''s understanding of the creature''s limbs and the curse characteristics merge.


    The prerequisite is to learn and understand everything about these biological limbs.


    Theoretically, as long as one fully understands, one can have everything through the principle of equivalent exchange.


    That''s the wonder of alchemy.


    Like his "spatial ability," he currently only knew some basics and was far from truly understanding the spatialws.


    Once he truly understood, this ability would gradually be stronger.


    This was the difference between true masters, ording to Sereya.


    ***


    Creating the [Isaac Alchemy Heart] would take about a whole day.


    Master and disciple spent the entire day chatting in the alchemyb.


    Su''en also noticed that as time passed, the scenery in the room began to distort, like the tape in a cassette, with light and shadow warping.


    He knew this was a sign that the space was about to copse.


    The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat mncholic.


    Su''en felt a heartfelt respect for this teacher he had known for only a day.


    It was a respect from the level of knowledge, cognition, and spirit.


    This was a master-disciple fate that had missed a thousand years.


    Sereya, however, appeared calm, epting the fact that she had died and this parting.


    Her face carried a warm smile as she looked at Su''en and said, "You know, you''re my only official disciple."


    Hearing this, Su''en respectfully bowed.


    It was time to say goodbye.


    Sereya seemed to remember something, took off a ring from her hand, and quickly wrote a string of text on it with her finger before handing it to Su''en, saying, "Let me give you one more little gift."


    <em>[Sereya''s Blessing]</em>


    <em>Focus +21</em>


    <em>Insight +2</em>


    <em>Luck +1</em>


    <em>Description: A ring filled with blessings, engraved with "To my disciple Su''en";</em>


    <em>Details: A seventh-tier alchemical product, with the [Concentration] effect, it allows the wearer to study, cast spells, and work more focused and efficiently;</em>


    Although not a cursed item, its high tier makes up for it.


    Like a first-tier golden equipmentpared to an eighth-tiermon equipment, the attributes are worlds apart.


    All very practical attributes, greatly aiding his future studies.


    Su''en looked at the golden ring with aplex gaze and put it on his right index finger, "Thank you, teacher."


    "No need to be so formal. After all, you are my disciple. Oh, right..."


    Sereya looked at Su''en, probably thinking of her daughter, and took off another ring, simrly crafted for a while.


    Handing it to Su''en, she said, "If you see Pestoyater, give this to her. As a mother, I really owe her..."


    Su''en nodded solemnly, <em>"Mhm."</em>


    Just then, the ground trembled slightly, and the space began to copse.


    The nine-pointed star alchemical formation suddenly appeared under Sereya''s feet again. She looked at it, formed the alchemist''s seal with both hands, and shouted softly: <em>"Release!"</em>


    At that moment, a red light shed, and two items floated above the alchemical formation.


    One was a hexagonal ancientmp, naturally the <em>[Volgan''s Furnace Lamp].</em>


    The other was a heart wrapped in heavy runes.


    Different from the previously throbbing living heart, after refinement, the heart had lost its vitality and turned into a metallic luster, like a mechanical heart.


    However, the alchemical heart now had many intricate and mysterious alchemicalponents, making it obviously extraordinary.


    <em>[Isaac''s Alchemy Heart]</em>


    <em>Quality: Epic.</em>


    <em>Details: An alchemical symbiotic armor crafted from the heart of a divine creature; a great creation that will go down in history; provides an endless supply of dark spirit energy; minimum fifth-tier containment value S+ rating, dark spirit energy greater than 3 million, fusion mutation probability less than 10%; non-fallen angel bloodline professionals, 100% mutation after fusion; after fusion, dark spirit energy recovery efficiency massively increased, overall body resilience massively improved, fallen angel bloodline purity significantly enhanced...</em>


    (Author: Don''t get hung up on why ''Epic'' is higher than ''Legendary'', that''s just how it''s set in this book)


    When Su''en saw the details of this item, he knew it was no ordinary thing.


    The two sealed items in his hand were still "Legendary," but this heart was "Epic."


    Moreover, the tier was secondary.


    The most crucial thing was that after fusion, Su''en would have the legendary "infinite mana bar"!


    The heart of a god has specialw abilities, forming its own domain. It can naturally breathe in a world, converting all energy into dark energy.


    Moreover, it can also enhance the purity of the "X Serum" bloodline, and the body''s attributes will surge significantly.


    Sereya held the heart in her hand and said, "This heart symbiotic armor requires a high tolerance for curses, at least you need to be fifth-tier before you can possibly fuse it. Puppeteers in theter stages, the more puppets they control, will definitely need more dark spirit energy, this symbiotic armor has a very highpatibility with you. The rest, you have the [All-Seeing Eye], you don''t need me to say more..."


    "Mhm."


    Su''en listened with a slight frown.


    The item was good, but the fusion conditions were too exaggerated.


    His current dark spirit energy value was less than 30,000, and fusion required almost a hundredfold increase. This was after his bloodline transformation, a normal person... 100% mutation.


    Time was pressing, and Sereya didn''t ramble on. With one hand forming the alchemist''s seal and the other holding the heart, she suddenly pped it towards Su''en''s chest, shouting softly, <em>"Godyer SealForbid!"</em>


    Su''en didn''t have time to react and suddenly felt as if his chest skin was scorched for a moment.


    Looking down, his shirt was burned with a hole, and a nine-pointed star mark appeared on his chest skin.


    After doing all this, Sereya exined, "But the energy leaking from this thing is too violent for your current tier, even if it''s in the storage space, it will cause mutations. I''ve sealed it in your body, and from now on, you''ll have a source of dark spirit energy to draw from for your cultivation. Listen carefully to the method of unsealing..."


    Su''en listened, amazed.


    Sereya''s methods as a top alchemist were indeed incredible.


    He also tried it out and quickly got the hang of it. That [Isaac Alchemy Heart], the seal was like a "faucet."


    Turn it on, and dark spirit energy flows out.


    Draw as much as you want, as much as you need.


    This solved a big problem in Su''en''s cultivation.


    He had been thinking that only in this Dawn Relic, where dark spirit energy was abundant and absorption efficiency was at least dozens of times that of Old Lingdun, could he consider cultivating until he could no longer ascend.


    But then, he faced a big problem.


    This underground world was just a "mine," and to break through to higher tiers, he always had to go to the surface.


    He also wanted to experience that broader world.


    And in the future, when he went to the surface, "dark spirit energy" would be very scarce, and cultivation would be a big problem.


    Using cursed crystals or energy conversion arrays was possible, but that method of cultivation waspletely burning money.


    Su''en didn''t think he had the financial resources to support it.


    Now, this [Isaac Alchemy Heart] perfectly solved this problem.


    It must be said, Sereya as a teacher, thought very thoroughly.


    Su''en also suddenly understood why Mr. Mirror and the others were fighting for other divine limbs.


    Apart from limiting that fallen angel from obtaining its full power, it was probably for this purpose.


    .......


    The space was copsing, and Sereya''s body began to disintegrate. She gave herst few words of advice.


    "There''s not enough time. I won''t say much else. In the other notebooks, there are several alchemical symbiotic armors researched by Isaac. If you can find them in the future, they might give you a lot of help on your path..."


    "I don''t know where the end of death is, maybe it''s the underworld of myths and legends, or maybe it''splete dissipation. But I vaguely feel that if one day youprehend the w of death,'' we might have a chance to meet again... Grow strong, my disciple."


    "But with the heart on you, once you go out, that fallen angel will sense it. It will definitelye for you. Be careful, no one knows what will happen..."


    "..."


    Su''en listened carefully, nodding from time to time.


    Sereya''s figure had already started to disintegrate from the feet up, "Alright, time''s up..."


    Su''en bowed, "Farewell, teacher."


    Sereya showed a loving smile, and before shepletely disappeared, she said onest thing, "<em>If you can, please take care of Pestoya for me. She''s been alone in the cursed space for a thousand years, her temper might be a bit quirky, be patient with her...</em>"


    "Yes, teacher."


    Su''en responded, and when he looked up again, Sereya''s final smiling face had disintegrated before his eyes.


    ***


    The surroundings changed, the bright alchemy workshop turned into the dark, dpidated ruins.


    The five-pointed star central prison ruins were right in front of him, Su''en''s gaze was misty.


    He touched his chest, where the seal was still hot.


    Everything seemed so real, yet disappeared before his eyes.


    The thousand-year master-disciple fate had just begun, and now it was over.


    Sereya''s words still echoed in his ears, and Su''en''s thoughts drifted.


    At that moment, Kay not far away saw him and called out, "Su''en, are you alright?"


    Besides Kay, only Rena and the old butler Anthony were alive.


    "Mhm, I''m fine."


    Su''en naturally knew they could survive, so he wasn''t surprised.


    In that cursed space, it would have been easy for Sereya to kill anyone.


    As for the Oliver and rk families, nearly a thousand people were buried in the space.


    Sereya''s threads that spread throughout the prison made it convenient to take anything, and naturally, the spoils of war all fell into Su''en''s pocket.


    The elite troops of the two great families, equipment, symbiotic armors, supplies, employment materials...


    Incalcble value.


    It wasn''t in vain that he had entered and exited the prison eight times to n this ambush.


    Of course, Su''en felt that the greatest gain was meeting his teacher Sereya.


    Kay was used to it.


    Su''en always managed to do things that surprised people.


    Even in situations that seemed certain death.


    But surviving this time waspletely unexpected for Rena and Anthony.


    Before, whether it was the siege of several great families or that "T-level" cursed space, it was an unsolvable death trap for them.


    Unexpectedly, the situation turned around.


    The ones who survived were them!


    And all because of the man in front of them who seemed elegant and amiable.


    Rena looked at Su''en, who had changed greatly, with some disbelief, and obediently called out, "Mr. Su''en."


    Su''en smiled at her and formally greeted her as "Su''en," "Mhm. Long time no see, Miss Rena."


    "Thank you for saving me again."


    Rena understood that her survival was entirely due to the man in front of her.


    Su''en just smiled nomittally.


    After the ordeal, the pressure that had been suffocating her was gone, and the persistent worry on Rena''s pretty face also disappeared. She blinked and couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Mr. Su''en, how... could you be Zolo?"


    "Now''s not the time to talk,"


    Su''en shook his head gently, not exining further.


    His gaze was fixed on the depths of the ruins, and he said seriously, "You must leave the ruins immediately. In a little while, there might be a big change in the ruins... It''s best to stay far away."


    "Mhm."


    Rena''s expression turned solemn at his tone.


    She always had an inexplicable trust in Su''en''s words, and although she had many questions, she didn''t ask further and nodded.


    Kay, hearing this, asked, "Su''en, what about you?"


    Su''en: "I still have things to do, it would be very dangerous for you to be with me."


    Kay, now aware of Su''en''s true strength, naturally knew that this kind of "monster" didn''t need his concern and just said, "Mhm, then take care of yourself."


    Rena also added, "Mr. Su''en, please take good care of yourself."


    ***


    Although the old butler Anthony had been silent, when he left, he looked back for a moment, his eyes full ofplexity, and thought to himself, "What an extraordinary being..."


    He had heard of the notorious SS fugitive Su''en but had never seen him.


    He never imagined that he had been in the team before.


    The blue-skinned young man who had pretended to be "Zolo," called "Kay," had already impressed him.


    But Su''en was even more astonishing to an unimaginable extent.


    Looking at the young man with a gentle smile, no one would believe hisbat power was so shocking.


    Even Anthony, a genuine third-tier, felt a chill down his spine.


    If he were an enemy... he would probably have been killed too.


    Images shed through Anthony''s mind.


    He had witnessed Su''en''s puppet army withstand the elite troops of the two great families, kill the "Wind Thunder Sword King" Nero, and survive a battle with a man who was clearly a top expert...


    No, maybe he had already killed him.


    And yet, he always felt that Su''en gave off an unfathomable feeling.


    But none of that mattered anymore.


    The enemies were wiped out,


    They had survived.


    Anthony finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The conspiracy of the great families to kill the Reiss main house hadpletely failed, and even the Oliver and rk families would be severely weakened.


    And he and the youngdy Rena surviving was already the best oue.


    The trio quickly retreated, their figures disappearing into the thick fog of the ruins.

 Chapter 207: Do you want a cloak?

    Chapter 207: Do you want a cloak?<hr>


    After Kay and hispanions left, Su''en didn''t linger at the ruins of the Central Prison.


    ording to Sereya, the "Isaac Alchemy Heart" was now on him, and the fallen angel could sense it and woulde looking for him at any moment. Only with Mr. Mirror by his side could the danger be minimized.


    He signaled Mr. Mirror and then headed in the opposite direction of the trio, towards a rtively safe spot deep within the ruins.


    It was a sturdy tower building.


    Su''en leaped inside. The view here was wide open, with breezy, broken windows on all sides, allowing him to spot any approaching danger promptly.


    But shortly after he settled down, a mysterious figure whose face couldn''t be seen appeared out of thin air before him. It was like a beam from a projector; as soon as the light shone in, the person arrived.


    Seeing the golden-embroidered cloak, Su''en knew it was someone from the Mirror organization.


    Hmm... Considering this method even weirder than teleportation, it was likely Mr. Mirror himself.


    By now, Su''en had somewhat figured out some of Mr. Mirror''s abilities. She seemed capable of imitating anyone''s appearance and powers.


    This was obviously a very rare talent.


    Most of the knowledge system in Old London was excavated from ruins, with gaps and fragments. The introductions to talents were also iplete, with some missing pieces.


    Especially for S-ss talents, there were almost no records or descriptions.


    Su''en didn''t know what Mr. Mirror''s talent was before, only that it seemed rarer than A-ss.


    But just now, in the cursed space, he had acquired a volume called <em>"The Complete Compendium of Human Talent Awakening"</em> and, out of curiosity, flipped through the first few pages. He saw a talent<em>S-011-Mirror Guardian.</em>


    It was a talent that could mimic "almost" any ability, as long as one could understand it.


    Obviously, Mr. Mirror possessed this kind of talent.


    ***


    The cloaked figure saw Su''en and asked, "Have you seen her?"


    Hearing the tone of the voice, although indistinguishable between male and female, Su''en knew it was Mr. Mirror and responded, "Yes."


    The cloaked figure listened and let out an almost imperceptible sigh of mncholy.


    Su''en had a rough idea of what she was mncholic about.


    One of the causes of the cursed space was the fall of ancient powerhouses, where their powerful regrets and residual energies formed special spaces.


    The existence of the<em> Dawn Central Prison</em> cursed space, in a sense, was actually Sereya''s "grave."


    She must have died when Dawn City was destroyed.


    With the dissipation of the cursed space, it also meant that no trace of Sereya could be found in the world anymore.


    Su''en watched with an unchanged expression, but something strange stirred in his heart.


    He had already confirmed that this Mr. Mirror truly knew Sereya from a thousand years ago.


    That meant, the person before him was a real "old monster" who had lived for a thousand years.


    Under normal circumstances, ordinary humans could extend their lifespan through career advancements or some special methods, but two to three hundred years was usually the limit.


    He had never heard of anyone living for a thousand years.


    Thinking back to Mr. Mirror''s exaggerated healing ability when she was injured, Su''en wondered: Could it be that she''s not human?


    Now Su''en knew that this world''s intelligent life was not limited to humans; just on the surface, there were dwarves, goblins, orcs, elves, half-orcs, trolls, sea tribes, dragons...


    And various strange mythological races, special species from other nes...


    Oh, and fallen angels whose nature was unknown.


    But Mr. Mirror was definitely not an ordinary human.


    ***


    The cloaked Mr. Mirror, more mysterious than her previous form of a thousand strands, had a chilly aura.


    It was unclear if it was due to her innate aura or her personality.


    She nced at Su''en, seemingly guessing his confusion but didn''t exin, only asking, "You know what''s going on?"


    Su''en nodded, "Yes."


    Knowing that Theresa would definitelye looking for him, and wanting to understand the enemy''s strength to be prepared, he asked, "What exactly is her strength now?"


    Mr. Mirror: "Hard to say."


    Su''en: "Hard to say?"


    Mr. Mirror exined, "We''ve already found the other body parts in advance, but she''s got a small part. She''s probably recovered to the level of a fourth-order. However, her understanding of thews at that level is definitely notparable to that of an ordinary human fourth-order."


    Su''en understood.


    It was like how he was only at the standard of a second-order professional, but his understanding of thews had already reached beyond the third-order, withbat power far exceeding his peers.


    Mr. Mirror pointed at the sky, indicating she didn''t want to borate further, "Let''s not talk about this, the problem shouldn''t be too big."


    With that, she didn''t seem to have any intention of leaving and sat down cross-legged not far from Su''en.


    Neither of them explicitly referred to the fallen angel.


    Gods have sensitive perceptions and can listen to some whispers about them.


    Su''en understood the gesture.


    With this big shot by his side, he wasn''t too worried.


    Sir Isaac, who had been scheming for a thousand years, naturally had other means.


    At this moment, Su''en suddenly remembered the information he had stripped from the soul of "Forensic" Severus Gerald.


    He felt it necessary to speak up, "Mr. Mirror, I''ve learned some other information. Duke Raphael has begun to suspect Theresa of ''demonic invasion.'' Apart from the people in the duke''s mansion, there seems to be an exorcism team that hase from outside."


    "An exorcism team?"


    Mr. Mirror pondered for a moment, seemingly considering something.


    That team had avoided the Umbre organization, obviouslying in secret, and the Mirror organization hadn''t received any news.


    "Hmm... indeed, we need to be cautious."


    She thought for a while, took out an alchemical ring that looked like amunicator, and gave a few instructions.


    Su''en was curious about the ring-shapedmunicator.


    Probably because they were familiar with each other and he knew she wouldn''t mind, he appraised it.


    <em>Daggers Goblin Communicator</em>


    <em>Description: An alchemical product from the mythological goblin era, a true antique; canmunicate over great distances ignoring certain spatial barriers. ''Daggers Splitting Worms'' are a peculiar species that existed during the mythological era. The mother worm can sense the location of its offspring and urately transmit signals to each other; these worms were widely used for secret intelligence transmission in the goblin civilization of the mythological era;</em>


    "Nice piece."


    Su''en admired it silently.


    This was far more advanced than anymunicator he had encountered.


    Themunication that ignored spatial barriers felt a bit like an "encrypted satellite phone."


    And it didn''t require a signal tower.


    It seemed to be a proprietarymunicator of the Mirror organization.


    Mr. Mirror naturally saw Su''en''s examining gaze. After transmitting the message, she magically produced another identical ring and tossed it to him.


    Su''en looked at themunication ring in his hand, slightly surprised, and asked, "Mr. Mirror, for me?"


    "Yes, for easier contact."


    Mr. Mirror nodded and added, "There aren''t many of these. If you lose one, there''s one less, so be careful not to lose it."


    "Oh."


    Su''en put the ring on his finger, suddenly feeling a strange sensation.


    With a proprietarymunicator, was he now a member of the "Mirror organization"?


    But why didn''t they give me one of those cool cloaks?


    And wasn''t the entry threshold a second awakening of talent?


    Before he could ponder further, Mr. Mirror directly asked, "Want a cloak?"


    Her tone was casual,


    But the question,


    Clearly, was asking Su''en if he wanted to join.


    Before he could answer, Mr. Mirror continued, "''Mirror'' is a very loose organization, with no particr responsibilities or obligations. Everyone is currently working towards themon goal of leaving the tower, which is why weplete certain tasks. In the future, it will be like the ''Rosicrucian'' of thest era, a purely high-end alchemical academic exchange circle..."


    She rified the purpose of the organization in a few sentences.


    Su''en didn''t hesitate and immediately said, "I want it."


    That golden-embroidered cloak was a good item.


    Of course, the most important thing was that he was now very close to several big shots in the Mirror organization, Thousand Strands, Number Neen, Mr. Mirror, Mr. ck...


    Even if he wasn''t, in the eyes of others, he was.


    Hearing the response, Mr. Mirror casually tossed him a golden cloak.


    Although it was also golden-embroidered, with symbols of snakes, eagles, lizards, fire dragons, thorny flowers...mon in alchemy, it had distinct details from the cloaks Su''en had seen before, with some "exclusive" marks, like a scythe representing the Reaper?


    Was this prepared in advance?


    Su''en took the cloak.


    With just a simple exchange, he joined the current number one reactionary organization in Old London.


    Both of them were calm.


    At that moment, Su''en remembered something else and took out the <em>Furnace Lamp of Volgan</em>, returning it to its owner, "Um... Mr. Mirror, this is the coppermp I took in earlier..."


    But the heart had already been refined into the <em>Isaac Alchemy Heart</em> and was sealed, so he couldn''t take it out even if he wanted to.


    He intended to exin, "That heart..."


    But unexpectedly, Mr. Mirror didn''t seem to care at all and shook her head to interrupt him.


    She saw the ring on Su''en''s hand, a fleeting light in her eyes, and simply said, "I know."


    Hearing this, Su''en didn''t say more.


    Indeed, as Sereya said, she gave the <em>Isaac Alchemy Heart</em> to Su''en, and Mr. Mirror wouldn''t mind.


    After the exchange, they stopped talking.


    They meditated cross-legged, waiting for Theresa toe knocking.


    ***


    Previously in the cursed space, Su''en was constantly listening to Sereya''s teachings and didn''t have time to think about his gains.


    Now he had the mindset to properly check his loot.


    This meditation immediately felt different from before.


    Multiple thoughts could run simultaneously in his mind, yet the pathways were clear  what kind of experience was this?


    Su''en used to maintain a certain level of consciousness even when sleeping to suppress other emotions in his brain.


    Now that the negative emotions werepletely released, stimting brain development.


    The current Su''en could clearly feel his brain working at a faster pace, and the whole world seemed clearer.


    Naturally, it was the effect of the mental power secret technique.


    Even in ancient times, mental power secret techniques were high-end secrets.


    Like breathing techniques, they varied in quality and effectiveness.


    Mental power secret techniques also differed. Su''en had experienced Sabina''s mental power; a subus''s mental power lies in seduction, soft and enticing, able to stir up primal desires; Mr. ck''s mental power was "sharp," like needle pricks, able to probe into the secrets of one''s heart...


    There were also aggressive mental secret techniques, very domineering.


    Different mental secret techniques resulted in different types of mental powers.


    Su''en learned the exclusive secret technique of Sereya''s puppeteer lineage, an epic secret technique passed down from thest era<em>Starry Sky Contemtion Technique.</em>


    The mental power generated by this secret technique was scattered but focused on "quantity."


    Like the stars in the sky, twinkling and numerous.


    Perfect for controlling puppets.


    Previously, Su''en''s mental power was like loose sand.


    His "reason" was like a small sandcastle built on a beach, with very little usable power, and the excess mental power was a burden.


    But now, with this secret technique, Su''en could clearly feel the difference.


    During meditation, he could clearly feel the mental power in his brain coalescing into shape, forming a "willow tree."


    All the mental power was utilized, forming the trunk.


    And the mental power tendrils could spread out like willow branches...


    For a puppeteer profession, this was more than suitable.


    As long as his mental power was strong enough in the future, these "willow" mental power tendrils would increase infinitely and extend without limit...


    Moreover, Su''en could not only increase his mental power through contemtion.


    He could also grow it by harvesting residual souls from corpses with <em>Reaper of Death.</em>


    This secret technique had a very highpatibility with his talent!


    ***


    Having learned the mental power secret technique, Su''en hadpletely resolved the burden in his mind and the hidden danger of dying from mental power bacsh.


    Now he could still control negative emotions, but not by "blocking" them, but by "guiding" them.


    The extra mental power fluctuations created by negative emotions directly became nourishment for the mental secret technique.


    In the future, he could truly sleep well.


    And with the disappearance of negative emotions, it might seem that Su''en lost a desperate measure.


    But not really.


    Negative emotions could control the excessive secretion of hormones in the body.


    Like before in the cursed space, when Su''enpletely released his emotions, breaking through the safe threshold of his body, he even had thebat power of a third-order, or even fourth-order.


    Now that the violent negative emotions were gone,


    Because Su''en had mastered another method, "Forensic" Gerald''s unique alchemy <em>Hormonal Rampage!</em>


    After digesting his memories, Su''en found that this guy was not only the leader of the Umbre organization but also a true biological genius.


    His research in human anatomy and physiology had reached a very high level, especially in the study of corpses, unparalleled in Old London.


    Su''en''s previous method of using hormones was barbaric, opening the valve, roughly estimating the intensity, and then leaving it to fate.


    But Gerald had precise control!


    He could control his own pore breathing, control the precise secretion of his hormones, and achieve a betterbat power boost than Su''en''s method.


    The "White Red ck" jokers were the three stages of hormonal rampage he researched.


    The first stage was body excitement, the second stage was doubledbat power, and the third stage was dangerous.


    This method was much more scientific than Su''en''s barbaric approach.


    ***


    Thinking of this, Su''en suddenly had a strong curiosity and interest.


    He wanted to know how Gerald managed to rify such aplex system as human hormone secretion and mastered it.


    After all, having listened to Sereya''s teachings, he now understood that an alchemist should not only know how to use but also understand why.


    With that thought,


    He started rummaging through a pile of notes from his storage space.


    Researchers usually have the habit of recording their research diaries.


    Gerald was no exception.


    Su''en found his years of research results in his storage ring.


    Dozens of densely packed research diaries, all numbered.


    Su''en opened the first one, number 001.


    Neat lines of research notes caught his eye.


    "I like studying corpses, they aremunicative to me..."


    "I''ve discovered that people secrete different hormones under different emotions. Fear, joy, excitement, sorrow... Some hormones clearly enhancebat power. I need to rify the connection..."


    "People secrete hormones chaotically at the brink of death. I tried choosing live targets, torturing them, recording data, until death..."


    "Experiment #771, the hormone secreted by fear..."


    "Experiment #1222, I''ve finally mastered a method to absorb hormones from other corpses. I''ve named this technique <em>Blood Qi Extraction</em>. External qi and blood can supplement the body''s own insufficient hormone production..."


    "Since hormones are controlled by sensory emotions, then controlling emotions, could that continue to control secretion..."


    "The human body is too fragile,..."


    "..."


    Not just reading ten lines at a nce,


    But with a continuous "rustle" of flipping pages, clear and pleasant.


    So fast that each page only lingered for a second or two.


    But it wasn''t chaotic; there was even a slight rhythmic sense.


    Whole pages of notes were almost just nced at and flipped past.


    Even for content that needed understanding, his mind could process it quickly. Even if there were calctions that required time, it didn''t affect his reading speed.


    His brain would allocate a portion of focus to concentrate, while other thoughts continued to absorb new content.


    This was the marvelous benefit of a 5% increase in brain development and the release of mental pressure...


    With the double learning aura from <em>Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript</em> and <em>Sereya''s Instructions</em>, Su''en''s learning efficiency had reached an unimaginable level for ordinary people.


    Su''en waspletely immersed in this wonderful and novel sensation,


    Reading, learning, mastering, contemting...


    He absorbed knowledge like a whale swallowing prey.


    Hearing the sound of the pages, even Mr. Mirror, who was meditating, couldn''t help but nce over.


    She looked at Su''en for a moment, then slowly closed her eyes again.

 Chapter 208: Shadow Demon

    Chapter 208: Shadow Demon<hr>


    Duke Raphael''s domain lies on the western edge of the Luyin Empire, and it takes about half a month to reach by steam ferry.


    It is one of the most prosperous territories of the Empire.


    Further west, after several days of sailing across the vast ocean, there lies an unmarked spot on the map known as "ck Castle Reef."


    Atop the reef stands a castle with a towering lighthouse.


    But within the castle walls, there are no ordinary residents, only a secret personal guard of Duke Raphael.


    This is a purely military fortress.


    Little known to the outside world.


    Recently, the conflict between the Luyin Empire and the Mafa Mechanical Empire on the eastern coast has intensified, prompting many lords to call upon their military forces to join the battle.


    The withdrawal of troops by the nobility has also presented an opportunity for pirates.


    The fleet of Oleg J. Popov, a notorious pirate lord known as the "King of the Northern Seas," has been active near the territory of Duke Raphael, preying upon passing merchant ships.


    ck Castle Reef was also discovered by a small pirate scouting party.


    Such military strongholds are usually the least desirable targets for pirates.


    High casualties and little treasure to plunder.


    However, the unusual activity at the reef caught the attention of a prominent pirate.


    That was Tim Ashley, a captain under the "King of the Northern Seas," a formidable pirate with a bounty of 160 million Lis, and a fifth-tier professional known as the "Shadow Demon."


    After several days of patient observation, this pirate noticed that the military force on the reef was "over-equipped," far exceeding the needs of a typical military stronghold.


    Finally, he decided to take the risk and explore the ind.


    One day, a steam warship entered the military dock of ck Castle Reef.


    After severalyers of strict inspections, a few people from the ship were allowed to enter the castle.


    They headed straight for the lighthouse within the castle, descended underground, and entered a ck tower, making their way deep into the earth.


    Unbeknownst to them, hidden within a shadow was a great pirate.


    "The ''Super Mechanical Warriors'' that the Duke has been secretly researching shone brilliantly on the battlefield, even those from the Mechanical Sect of the Mafa Empire suffered a great loss."


    "Yes, those cumbersome mechanical armors are no match for the mechanical warriors. When ites to mechanical limb modification technology, our territory is truly top-notch."


    "After the great victory at the Battle of Norman Sea, the Empire will surely see the Duke in a new light. Even Her Majesty the Empress is likely to reward him significantly."


    "Of course, our Duke might even be conferred the title of ''First-ss Duke'' this time."


    "Hey~ I''ve heard that the women of Old London are quite something. They spend years underground, their skin pale and smooth, a different vorpared to those sunburnt women above ground. Shall we take a stroll in the cityter? Heh heh, themander said that the so-called nobledies and misses of the city, their demeanor is no less than the high nobility outside. If we fancy anyone, we can pick and choose at will, y however we like."


    "Don''t joke, I''m actually quite tempted."


    "Let''s get the important stuff done first. The Duke sent us with all these materials, hoping to deploy thetest batch of mechanical warriors to the battlefield. Let''s head to the research institute first."


    ***


    Before long, the group arrived in the city of Old London.


    Leaving the Duke''s mansion, they went straight to the mechanical research institute.


    Because this ce is underground, it requires lighting, and shadows lurk everywhere.


    The group waspletely unaware that after leaving the tower, one of their shadows connected with the shadow in the corner, then eerily "detached" from the person and merged into the darkness of the corner, quickly moving away from the Duke''s mansion.


    After distancing themselves from the guards of the ck tower, in an alleyway of Old London, the wandering shadow suddenly twisted and became three-dimensional, materializing into a man dressed as an assassin with triangr eyes.


    This man was none other than the great pirate, Tim Ashley.


    His talent was <em>[B-021 Shadow Mimic] </em>, which allowed him to hide his body within any shadow.


    This underground world, filled with shadows, provided too much convenience for his abilities.


    "Phew, that was a close call. Lucky for me, the boss gave me that treasure; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been easy to infiltrate with all those checkpoints."


    Tim muttered to himself, breathing a sigh of relief.


    After all, if a pirate were caught, they would be sent straight to the gallows.


    But in an instant, his gaze brightened as he looked at the bustling inner city of Old London before him.


    One could tell whether there was "oil and water" just by looking at the buildings on the street and the attire of the pedestrians.


    Peter Pan''s tip: "oil and water" Refers to benefits/profits


    My goodness, what kind of mine is this?


    It''s a bustling metropolis!


    The people here are dressed sovishly, not only a hundred times better than us poor pirates, but also not inferior to those wealthy territories.


    And, listening to those guys, this is also Duke Raphael''s secret research base!


    Super Mechanical Warriors?


    The "full mechanical limb modification" technology that even the fanatical mechanics of the Mafa Empire couldn''t breach has been sessfully developed here?


    And the ancient ruins of a thousand years, the legendary Dawn City?


    My god, does that ''demi-god'' great alchemist truly exist?


    And with so many people, wouldn''t selling them off be pure gold and silver?


    Isn''t this the ideal ce for plundering?


    "Phew, so this is the secret to Duke Raphael''s wealth. There have always been rumors that the Raphael family had a ''mine'' full of endless treasures, and this is what it was all about!"


    Tim was thrilled, not expecting that his risky venture would turn out to be such a huge surprise.


    The key is, wealth coupled with weakness, is the original sin!


    "The highest rank among the mine ves in this city is only third-tier, hahaha, I''m going to strike it rich. I need to gather the intelligence quickly and send it out so the boss can send a fleet over!"


    The great pirate thought of something, his face lit up with joy, and his figure once again merged into the darkness.


    ***


    Meanwhile, underground.


    In a tower near the core area of the city, close to the Dawn Ruins.


    Su''en and Mr. Mirror were still patiently meditating and waiting.


    Because he had stripped away some of the memory fragments of the "Forensic" Gerald, Su''en didn''t find it too difficult to understand the contents of the research diary.


    He quickly flipped through the notes in the notebook.


    But these were just research notes, and the human body is one of the mostplex organisms, so there was still a long way to go to thoroughly understand it.


    Su''en read through it once, but he would need a lot of time in the future to digest it.


    Even Gerald himself oftenmented in his notes that he had only touched the "surface" of biological alchemy, leaving behind one research topic after another.


    Su''en closed thest notebook, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and thought to himself, "The field of biological alchemy is indeedplex."


    He also finally understood that saying, the more knowledge one has, the more questions arise.


    After reading the notes, Su''en finally understood why Gerald had to wear that <em>[Three-Colored Mask of the Life Usurper].</em>


    The guy had once found a humanoid ancient creature that had been dead for at least tens of thousands of years, and then discovered living flesh within the corpse.


    After experimenting and researching, Gerald found that the flesh could merge with human flesh, giving the test subject super vitality and the ability to withstand a third-tier state of [Hormonal Rampage].


    Then, using ancient alchemy, he solved the not-so-strong reaction of alien species rejection and sewed that piece of flesh onto his own body.


    But he didn''t realize that this thing would not only affect the flesh, but over time, it would also affect the mind.


    And then, his mind became distorted.


    As the leader of the Umbre Organization, he naturally had no shortage of suitable cursed objects.


    He found this mask that could suppress the distortion of mental power.


    <em>[Three-Colored Mask of the Life Usurper]</em>


    <em>Description: Once the mask is worn, nobody will love you.</em>


    <em>Cursed Trait: Wearing the mask maintains absolute sanity, suppresses other abnormal mental fluctuations, and resists mental attacks of up to fifth-tier; if mental power does not exceed 500, you will be affected by the cursed trait, and once the mask is worn, it cannot be removed; it will also cause you to be mentally fragmented, eventually turning into a mad monster; it can absorb negative emotions from others, enhancing the cursed trait.</em>


    <em>Detailed Exnation: An ancient life usurper created this mask to suppress himself after suffering bacsh during divination, frequently hearing whispers from demons. To avoid going insane, he crafted this mask; but the mask absorbed too much negative emotion and became an item with a strong cursed trait; it can be used as a material for professional advancement, with mental power reaching 300, dark spirit power not less than 12W, and a fusion aberration probability not exceeding 5%; fusion leads to the understanding of ''Divided Mind Technique.'' This is not mental fragmentation, you can think of it as ''multi-tasking with multiple hearts'';</em>


    Su''en also discovered that as his knowledge increased, the detailed exnations he identified for items became more detailed.


    The essence of using cursed materials for advancement is to allow the alchemist to use these "external" means toprehend abilities that they currently cannot understand through normal channels.


    This "multi-tasking with multiple hearts" ability is indeed highlypatible with the Puppeteer.


    In the realm of the mind, this ability is probably as rare as spatial abilities.


    With one heart and multiple uses, Su''en could precisely control more than ten puppets;


    But with multiple hearts and multiple uses, the number of puppets he could control would multiply.


    This ability would also increase with the growth of mental power.


    Truly an ideal material for advancement.


    However, the conditions for advancement are also very strict.


    It''s no wonder that others need to be at least fourth-tier to meet the fusion requirements.


    That 12W dark spirit power requirement, Su''en estimated that he could barely reach it when he was at the peak of the third-tier. But this is also based on the premise that his body has been modified with "X Serum," making his tolerance much higher than others at each tier. Normally, a fourth-tier professional could possibly have a dark spirit power of tens of thousands.


    Then there''s mental power.


    Now that he has absorbed so many mental fragments, his mental power value on the panel is only 192, far from the 300 needed for fusion.


    Fortunately, now he has <em>[Stargazing Visualization Technique]</em>, which also provides mental power growth through meditation.


    But even with this top-tier mental power secret technique, it would probably take a year and a half to reach that level.


    Hmm. There''s also the <em>[Reaper of Death]</em> talent.


    If there are enough enemies, it should also cut down a lot of time.


    Su''en was still sorting through the spoils of war from the two major families'' elite groups, identifying and categorizing them, keeping some useful materials and equipment for himself, and then packing up the rest to sellter.


    Just then, Mr. Mirror suddenly opened her eyes and said, "He''s here!"


    Su''en also tensed up, "Should I go now?"


    Mr. Mirror nodded, "Yes."


    With that, she pinched a sorcerer''s seal with both hands, and a glow emerged from Su''en''s body.


    ***


    In the next moment, Su''en found himself instantly teleported outside the tower.


    "What a magical technique."


    Su''en looked at the fading glow on his body, nced back at the tower, and shrugged.


    It would have been a death sentence for him, a second-tier nobody, to meet that fallen angel.


    Not to mention the fighting power of the angel, the guards of the Duke''s mansion around Him were definitely not something Su''en could handle.


    But with Mr. Mirror''s technique, Su''en was not worried at all.


    To avoid being mistaken for an unknown assassin and killed by the stealth guards around Princess Theresa, he didn''t wear a mask and walked directly into the depths of the mist.


    Now, Su''en had roughly figured out the ins and outs of the situation.


    The brooch he found at Storm Manor was made of special material capable of carrying souls.


    Su''en was now certain that the hidden information he couldn''t identify was a fragment of the fallen angel''s soul hidden in the brooch.


    Looking back, it was the right choice to bury it cautiously in the ground.


    Otherwise, he might have be an unwitting "tool" manipted by that god without realizing it.


    But for some reason, that butterfly brooch, through some channel, ended up in the hands of Princess Theresa of the Duke''s mansion.


    Then, probably bewitched by the soul of the fallen angel, this Theresa became very enthusiastic about the development of the Dawn City ruins.


    She even came in person.


    It''s called hunting for relics, but in reality, it''s mobilizing the entire power of Old London to find the sealed body parts of that god.


    Unfortunately, Mr. Mirror and the others have almost intercepted it.


    Walking along, Su''en''s thoughts were racing.


    Before long, he "expectedly" found a little girl floating in the mist.


    Recognizing the well-behaved appearance, it was none other than Pestoya, the little ghost he had met not long ago.


    Seeing Su''en, she greeted him warmly, "Hi, Mr. Su''en, we meet again."


    Su''en also smiled, already knowing why she was here, but still asked deliberately, "Pestoya, what are you doing here?"


    Pestoya tilted her head, thinking as if waking from sleepwalking, "Ah? I don''t know, I sensed you nearby, so I came to find you."


    The fallen angel knew all the truths, but Pestoya had no idea that her soul harbored another "god''s" soul.


    Su''en didn''t continue to ask about it.


    He reached out his hand to her, signaling Pestoya to take it.


    Pestoya didn''t mind and happily reached out to grab his hand.


    At that moment, as if she noticed something, she floated in front of Su''en, sniffing close to him, "Oh, you have a very nice smell on you~"


    "What smell?"


    Su''en knew it was the scent of <em>[Isaac''s Alchemical Heart]</em>, which the fallen angel was after, but he pretended to be ignorant.


    After all, ording to the normal script, he was supposed to be unaware of everything.


    Unaware of the existence of the fallen angel, unaware of any divine body, and unaware of any millennia-old schemes, he should only treat Pestoya as a ghostly "good friend."


    The fallen angel was cunning, having been defeated by Sir Isaac and his body dismembered and sealed.


    Although it was just a lowly human, He would not underestimate such an enemy.


    He also suspected that there was another conspiracy behind that "burning at the stake."


    Although a thousand years had passed and the once prosperous Dawn City had be ruins, the enemy was nowhere to be found.


    But before rifying, He would definitely not give up Pestoya, this "amulet."


    Su''en got straight to the point, holding Pestoya''s hand, and said, "Last time you entrusted me with something, right? I''ve seen Lady Sereya."


    "Ah?"


    Hearing this, Pestoya''s eyes filled withplex emotions, nervousness, resentment, and anticipation.


    Su''en took out the ring that Sereya had given him and gestured, "Give me your hand."


    Without giving the ghost miss any time to think, Su''en took her soft little hand and put the ring on her index finger.


    The ring seemed unremarkable.


    The fallen angel still thought Su''en was unaware of His existence and continued to pretend.


    And our ghost miss truly had no defenses.


    As Su''en put on the ring, he calmly said, "I asked your question, and Lady Sereya asked me to give you a message. She said"


    At this point, Pestoya looked forward with anticipation,pletely forgetting to pull her hand back.


    After a pause, Su''en looked at her and slowly uttered three words, "She loves you."


    Pestoya was stunned, her big, sparkling eyes full of confusion.


    She never expected to hear such words.


    A thousand years of resentment,


    With no outlet,


    Suddenly turned into endless grievances.


    But before Pestoya could think further,


    At that moment, the ring in her hand suddenly emitted a scorching glow.


    Pestoya didn''t feel anything unusual, but the presence hidden deep within her soul let out a screech like a startled cat.


    At the same time, about one or two kilometers away, Theresa''s team suddenly erupted withmotion.


    An indescribable and terrifying will descended upon the entire ruins!

 Chapter 209: Gods must not be gazed upon

    Chapter 209: Gods must not be gazed upon<hr>


    Su''en knew that another team was secretlying to exorcise Princess Theresa, so naturally, Mr. Mirror wouldn''t ignore this intelligence.


    After all, the means of a god are not something ordinary humans can fathom. Even with the divine fire sealed, who knows what iprehensible abilities He might possess.


    So, instead of stepping on andmine himself, it was better to let the enemy test the waters and weaken their strength in the process.


    Those folks at the Duke''s mansion still thought Princess Theresa was merely a case of "demonic possession."


    ***


    While Su''en was conversing with Pestoya, as soon as he put on the ring Sereya sent, he heard a piercing scream in the distance.


    It seemed that some entity was trying to force Pestoya to remove the ring, but Pestoya''s face was contorted with struggle, as if she was resisting with all her will.


    This was something her mother had given her.


    Moreover, the ring seemed to be irremovable.


    Before she could struggle further, Pestoya''s figure vanished.


    It appeared she had returned to the host body of Princess Theresa.


    Su''en listened to themotion from afar and looked in that direction.


    After a moment''s thought, he quickly followed.


    With Mr. Mirror''s mirage technique, he didn''t have to worry about his safety for the time being.


    He wanted to see the battle situation, and also to try his luck.


    After all, there were many fourth-tier and even a fifth-tier guard around Princess Theresa.


    What if he could scavenge a few bodies and strip some soul fragments?


    Su''en''s mental strength was now formidable, and he was highly sensitive to fluctuations in mental power.


    Feeling that spine-chilling pressure descend, he knew that the deity had shown His face.


    The "exorcism team" from the Duke''s mansion seemed quite capable, having forced the fallen angel''s soul to reveal itself.


    Su''en didn''t know what Mr. Mirror had done before, but it seemed that he had sessfully instigated a fight on the other side.


    He cautiously approached, staying about a kilometer away, and found a sturdy cover to hide behind.


    Su''en didn''t forget Mr. Mirror''s admonition; he closed his right eye and watched the battle with only his left eye, which possessed the "Eye of Omniscience."


    He now also knew that this gift had a filtering protective function, preventing him from seeing things he shouldn''t.


    Mortals should not gaze directly upon a god.


    This was the warning left to posterity by Isaac after his great battle with the fallen angel.


    ***


    It was clear that the exorcism group from the Duke''s mansion hade prepared.


    When Su''en arrived, he saw hundreds of people surrounding Theresa, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy.


    But the only ones who could get within a hundred meters of Princess Theresa were about twenty people, all third-tier experts or above.


    The leader, an old man with a white robe and a red beard, was holding a cross that radiated blinding silver light, clearly an exorcist.


    Su''en nced at the heptagram under the man''s feet and realized that this fellow was also a fifth-tier professional.


    Upon closer inspection, the old man''s "Exorcist Cross of the Pdin" turned out to be a sealed artifact-level treasure.


    The silver light of the cross shone on Princess Theresa, emitting wisps of ck vapor.


    Like light dispelling darkness, ordinary people didn''t feel anything from the silver light, but the princess''s face contorted in pain, as if enduring great suffering, and she let out a piercing scream.


    Even more terrifying was the ck vapor steaming off her body under the holy light, as if she were being scorched.


    Theresa seemed to be enduring the burning of the holy light, trembling all over, and screamed in agony, "Foolish humans! You are desecrating a great deity!"


    When the cross was shoved in her face, the fallen angel knew she couldn''t hide anymore and didn''t conceal herself.


    But hearing this, the people from the Duke''s mansion remained unmoved.


    The red-bearded exorcist even spat a mouthful of old blood onto the cross, and the intensity of the holy light surged dramatically.


    No one took "Theresa''s" words seriously; evil spirits were not umon in this world.


    Those spiritual entities formed for various special reasons often boast themselves as gods to bewitch people''s hearts, and exorcists had long grown ustomed to such ims.


    In reality, they were just more advanced spiritual entities.


    They thought the situation with their princess was probably just that.


    But Su''en knew that these guys were in for big trouble.


    After all, this was once a genuine deity of divine rank!


    ***


    The people from the Duke''s mansion had dyed for so long just to wait for this sealed cross, to ensure a foolproof operation.


    Indeed, the artifact was very effective, capable of driving away abnormal spirits within the human body.


    After all, the fallen angel, having lost the divine fire and body, was no longer of divine rank.


    The holy attribute of the cross was particrly harmful to dark creatures.


    It didn''t take long for the ck vapor on Theresa to slowly condense into a shadow of an evil spirit.


    But what no one expected was that the "evil spirit" shadow was not just humanoid; it had a pair of pitch-ck wings spanning several meters on its back.


    As soon as these wings appeared, an evil yet majestic aura descended abruptly.


    Looking at the figure, it was exactly like the fallen angels from the myths.


    The bystanders, not understanding, were all shocked.


    From a distance, Su''en muttered to himself, "So this is the fallen angel..."


    The red-bearded exorcist had plenty of experience in exorcism and shouted, "This is the evil spirit''s illusion, guard your minds, don''t be deceived by it!"


    His six disciples also coordinated tacitly, forming a hexagram position, and the ropes binding "Theresa" were taut, giving Her no chance to break free.


    At that moment, the old man holding the cross stomped his foot, and the heptagram array beneath him shone brightly, and a divine gate of light suddenly appeared behind him, clearly preparing a powerful move.


    At the same time, he took out a crystal vial and sshed the water towards "Theresa."


    The holy water sshed onto the shadow of the fallen angel, hissing like sulfuric acid, and smoke billowed.


    The situation looked like they were nning to directly transcend this "evil spirit."


    "Ah... despicable humans, you have sessfully angered me!"


    "Theresa''s" voice became terrifyingly horrific, filled with not only rage but also an overwhelming intent to kill.


    If it were an ordinary evil spirit, it should have been burned or driven away by now.


    Unfortunately, this was a true god.


    Her understanding of thews was not something these people couldprehend.


    Caught off guard by a sneak attack and trapped by the holy artifact, She couldn''t escape, but now, She had recovered!


    Just as the soul was about to be driven out of Theresa''s body, She made a move that baffled everyone.


    Suddenly, a ball of ck fire rose from Her right wrist, and the silver rope binding the wrist turned pitch ck. The ckness spread rapidly from the wrist towards the two exorcists pulling the ropes.


    "Not good, it''s elemental theft!"


    Seeing this, the red-bearded exorcist''s face changed dramatically, "Damn, how could it forcibly reverse the holy power of the <em>Binding Spirit Ropes</em>?!"


    From a distance, Su''en wasn''t too surprised.


    He had seen this "elemental theft" once before when Mr. ck and his group surrounded and killed a fifth-tier professional.


    Mr. ck used this technique to dissolve a fifth-tier spell with fourth-tier strength.


    To use this technique, one needed an extremely deep understanding of thews.


    The stabilizing runes contained in the alchemical item <em>Binding Spirit Ropes</em> were of sixth-tier, and to reverse the holy power they produced into dark power required at least a seventh or eighth-tier understanding.


    Others couldn''t, but this Deity could!


    The red-bearded exorcist wanted to do something else, but by then, it was toote!


    "Theresa" suddenly broke free of Her right hand, and without hesitation, plunged it into Her own chest, causing blood to spurt out.


    Suicide?


    From a distance, Su''en was also a bit puzzled by this action, which seemed somewhat iprehensible.


    At that moment, everyone was visibly stunned.


    They were there to save someone, and now the evil spirit had controlled their princess tomit suicide; what was going on?


    And what was even more horrifying was yet toe!


    "Theresa" directly pulled out Her own heart and, without hesitation, crushed it.


    With a "bang," it was like bursting a bag of sma, and blood sprayed everywhere.


    Now, the originally noble and elegant princess had turned into a terrifying blood figure.


    Exorcism?


    Keep exorcising!


    Her soul was still present, and Theresa couldn''t die yet.


    Once driven away, without a heart, Theresa would undoubtedly die.


    At this point, everyone understood why the evil spirit had done this.


    ***


    From a distance, Su''en marveled at the tactic: "Can gods really live without a heart?"


    His mind immediately recalled some research reports he had seen in "forensic" Gerald''s notes.


    The guy had also researched this topic: if vital organs like the heart were shattered, how to survive.


    The solution in the notes was to create blood cirction with external forces without the need for the heart''s pumping ability.


    But that was still at the experimental theory stage; he hadn''t expected to see a living example right before his eyes.


    Su''en carefully observed the changes in the body of "Theresa," who had a bloody hole in her chest.


    Having harvested Gerald''s memories, Su''en now had a deep understanding of human anatomy.


    Seeing the faint pulsations in the body, he immediately guessed, "It seems to be using muscle contractions and dark spiritual power to create an alternative circtory system... Hiss~ Gerald''s hypothesis seems to be feasible after all."


    Su''en, as a bystander, watched with ease, but the people from the Duke''s mansion were instantly dumbfounded, their faces pale with fear.


    They had never imagined things would turn out this way; an almost foolproof "exorcism" operation had caused severe damage to the princess?


    If she died, the Duke would never let these guards off the hook.


    But at this point, they had no choice but to fight to the death!


    They might not be able to save the princess, but at the very least, they had to kill that "evil spirit."


    The man in military uniform with a pale face decisively ordered, "Take action, capture her first!"


    Unfortunately, "Theresa" breaking Her own heart was not just to make the exorcist wary.


    Arge amount of blood gushed out and quickly condensed into a red de in Her hands.


    The de was entirely formed of red light, with crimson lightning flickering, as if She was holding a bolt of lightning.


    The fallen angel wasn''t using alchemy, nor did any alchemical array appear.


    But Su''en keenly noticed some white strands appearing in Her hair and guessed, "It seems to be using some kind of life-sacrificing secret technique."


    Princess Theresa''s body was said to be only second-tier, still too weak.


    ***


    In the blink of an eye, a fierce battle erupted between the two sides.


    Su''en had also learned about the conditions of the abyssal ne from his conversations with his teacher Sereya.


    It was a ne with an extremely harsh living environment.


    The harsh conditions in this cavern were just a microcosm of that ce.


    Those who survived in the abyss were the best among their kind.


    This fallen angel from the abyss was naturally no exception.


    Just by watching, Su''en, a "martial arts master," couldn''t find any fault with "Theresa''s"bat level.


    Not only was Herbat experience impable, but the red lightning dagger in Her hand was also bizarre. Upon contact, the lightning exploded, and ordinary weapons and mechanical equipment were easily sliced through like cutting through mud. Even if blocked, the crimson lightning would transform into lightning elements, catching the opponent off guard.


    First and second-tier professionals were killed with a single sh, third-tiers couldst a few moves, and only fourth-tier professionals with "elemental barriers" could barely survive under the lightning de when working together.


    The people from the Duke''s mansion had initially thought about capturing the "evil spirit," but this battle made them realize they were too naive.


    Vaguely, everyone began to sense that the evil spirit''s im of being a deity might not be so far-fetched...


    But the battle had already begun, and they had no way out.


    As private soldiers of the Raphael Duke''s mansion, the lives of all of thembined were not worth as much as Miss Theresa.


    They had no choice but to fight to the death!


    How terrifying was the battle of high-tier professionals?


    For a time, various high-tier spells bombarded the ruins like a dense bombing run, with shockwaves from the battle rising wave after wave.


    The ancient buildings that had stood for a thousand years were reduced to dust, limbs and body parts flew everywhere, and blood literally flowed like rivers...


    "Thisbat power is truly outrageous..."


    From a distance, Su''en watched with a heavy gaze.


    Even using a life-shortening secret technique, "Theresa" was only just managing a fourth-tier professional''s level, as Mr. Mirror had predicted.


    But watching Her withstand two fifth-tiers, along with more than a dozen fourth-tiers and dozens of second and third-tiers in battle...


    Who would believe this was just fourth-tier?


    The equipment of the people from the Duke''s mansion was not poor; they were the elite of the elite, several levels stronger than the likes of the Oliver and rk families.


    Various ancient relics, alchemical items, cursed objects, scrolls... were thrown out as if money was no object.


    It was as if Su''en could hear the sound of money being thrown...


    He was amazed by what he saw.


    Indeed, in this world dominated by nobility, as the wealthiest few, the foundation of the Raphael Duke''s mansion was terrifying!


    But even with money paving the way, the casualties of the Duke''s mansion''s party continued to increase.


    Bodies littered the ground, and clusters of "grey mist" seemed to beckon to Su''en, making him extremely envious.


    These were the personal guards of the Duke''s mansion, and those selected were one in ten thousand.


    The quality of their souls could be imagined, right?


    If he could harvest this knowledge, he estimated he could save at least another ten or eight years of knowledge umtion...


    But as much as he coveted, he dared not make the slightest move.


    The core of the battlefield had be a meat grinder, and third-tier professionals had no assurance of survival, let alone second-tiers who would be in mortal danger in an instant.


    Although Su''en was a bit stronger than the average second-tier, he wasn''t arrogant enough to think he could make a ssh.


    "There are still two fifth-tiers, so many fourth-tiers..."


    He muttered to himself,forting himself that the soul fragments of those third-tier professionals and above were the real treasures.


    He also prayed that when Mr. Mirror and the others arrived, those grey mist fragments would not havepletely dissipated.


    ***


    Although the battle was one-sided, with several fourth-tiers being in.


    Gradually, Su''en also noticed something unusual.


    The lifespan of a human body is limited, which means that "Theresa''s" secret technique must have a time limit and could not be used multiple times.


    And this point was directly reflected in the battle.


    As the fight went on, "Theresa''s" hair turnedpletely silver.


    The people from the Duke''s mansion obviously also noticed this.


    The more they pressed, the faster Theresa would die.


    If Princess Theresa exhausted her lifespan and died, the battle would be meaningless.


    But they couldn''t capture her alive.


    To fight or not to fight...


    It was this indecision that gave "Theresa" the opportunity to kill several more people. Even two fifth-tiers were injured to varying degrees under that unpredictable lightning dagger.


    It seemed to be a situation where both sides would suffer.


    It was just a matter of whether "Theresa" would run out of life first or if the Duke''s mansion''s side would be wiped out first.


    ***


    But no one noticed that when "Theresa" killed people, it was almost always at certain special nodes, and the positions of the bodies seemed to fit some kind of formation.


    As time passed, the blood of those who died in battle was quietly absorbed by the ground.


    From a distance, Su''en, with his Eye of Omniscience, took in everything before him.


    Soon, he also noticed the unusual flow of blood in the air and identified it as a forbidden spell in the process of condensing, thinking, "Is She initiating some kind of forbidden technique?"


    It wasn''t described as "transcending tiers," but as "forbidden," which meant... divine magic?


    Discovering this, Su''en wasn''t surprised at all.


    As a deity of divine rank, it was natural to have some tricks up Her sleeve.


    Moreover, he also felt that "Theresa" must have guessed something.


    If She was entangled by these people and forced to respond, what followed would be even worse.


    The fallen angel wasn''t wary of these people.


    No!


    From the beginning to the end, She was wary of Sir Isaac, who had defeated Her a thousand years ago!


    Although Mr. Mirror and the others hadn''t shown themselves yet, some clues had already indicated that a conspiracy against Her was closing in.


    If it were Su''en himself, he would have been alert long ago.


    ***


    Su''en guessed that "Theresa" needed a sacrifice to activate that divine magic.


    Sure enough, at that moment, the sky hundreds of meters high suddenly became turbulent.


    The thick fog in the ruins gathered into a vortex of dark clouds in the sky.


    The vortex grewrger andrger, and the center condensed into a ck hole several tens of meters in diameter.


    It was this abnormal movement that made the Duke''s mansion''s guards, who were engaged in a fierce battle on the ground, stop and nce at the sky.


    Themotion was too exaggerated, not something that any fifth or sixth-tier alchemy spell could cause.


    They were stillpletely unaware of what kind of existence they were facing.


    The ck hole slowly cracked open a gap, allowing a glimpse of a pupil emitting a strange, ghostly light, which was a gigantic eye!


    The moment this giant eye opened, a sense of awe that made people want to worship surged from the bottom of everyone''s heart...


    As if a deity was gazing upon the mortal realm,


    Everything,


    Became insignificant.


    Those who saw the giant eye all knelt down.


    Even the two fifth-tier professionals knelt down instantly, powerless to resist.


    Their faces showed only devotion and fervor.


    Upon looking again, these people simultaneously drew their des andmitted suicide on the spot!


    Their blood and energypletely merged with the ground.


    The Duke''s mansion''s party, just by one nce, were all killed.


    At this time, after absorbing the power of the formation, a pair of solid pitch-ck wings slowly condensed behind Theresa, with an aura so high that it was unbearable to look at directly.


    "The power of lower beings is really weak..."


    The whisper from the abyss echoed in the ears, as if it had some kind of magic.


    Su''en felt that strange sensation, and his left eye immediately identified the <em>???</em> and automatically blocked the forbidden power that would make him lose his mind.


    He He instantly understood, "Gods must not be gazed upon... So this is why!"


    Su''en knew he had been discovered.


    At that moment, "Theresa" suddenly looked his way.


    Just one nce, and Su''en instantly died on the spot.


    However, there was no burst of blood.


    Like a shattered mirror, his body dissolved into specks of light.


    Yet, seeing this, "Theresa," who had just been self-satisfied, suddenly changed expression!


    Clearly, She recognized the origin of this "mirage ability"!


    ***


    And just as the giant eye formed in the sky, in a distant tower.


    Although Mr. Mirror was not present on the battlefield, he too sensed that awe-inspiring power and knew exactly what it was.


    After all, he was the only person in this realm who had seen a true "god"!


    He murmured to himself, "The power of faith... finally resorting to this move, huh. Having used up thest bit of faith power without the divine fire, it seems She''s preparing to flee back to the abyss."


    With that thought, his figure vanished from the tower.

 Chapter 210: Mr. Jings rank

    Chapter 210: Mr. Jing''s rank<hr>


    "What terrifying power... is this the power of a god..."


    Just one nce, and Su''en felt an indescribable shock coursing through his body, causing his mirrored self to shatter into pieces.


    But before he could even reflect on it, while his body had not yetpletely disintegrated, he saw "Theresa" react even faster. Without paying any attention to Su''en, her ck wings, once a symbol of the angelic status of gods, pped violently as she sped towards the center of the ruins.


    <em>She actually... fled!</em>


    This was a stark contrast to the domineering presence she had just a moment ago; now, she was escaping with absolute decisiveness!


    A moment after the mirror shattered, Su''en, who was meditating in a distant tower, suddenly opened his eyes.


    Looking around, Mr. Mirror had already vanished without a trace.


    "It seems this fallen angel also knows Mr. Mirror..."


    Su''en muttered to himself.


    The situation just now made it clear that "Theresa" recognized the mirror ability and was scared off by it.


    After all, an S-ss talent is extremely rare, and one might not encounter a second one in their lifetime.


    What''s more unfortunate is that it happened right here in the Dawn Relics, a ce that once nearly caused her, a dignified deity, to fall.


    Without even thinking, one would definitely assume it was an "old acquaintance."


    Su''en grew even more curious about what rank Mr. Mirror truly held, to scare off a god?


    Although it was only a remnant soul, judging by thebat power she had just disyed, even a sixth-order professional might not have been able to scare her into such a desperate flight.


    Or perhaps... it was the terrifying experience of being outwitted to death by Sir Isaac a thousand years ago?


    ***


    Su''en didn''t dwell on it, as he was more concerned about something else.


    He looked up at the sky nearby, where the giant eye that the fallen angel had conjured was also beginning to dissipate due to her escape.


    The feeling that had been making his eyelids twitch also suddenly vanished.


    Su''en hadn''t forgotten about the corpses strewn all over the ground.


    Mr. Mirror must have gone after "Theresa." He couldn''t get involved in a battle of that level.


    Nor was there any need to.


    Within the Mirror organization, Mr. Mirror wasn''t the only one. Herck of instructions meant she was confident in handling it.


    But looting corpses was something Su''en was more than happy to do.


    The Duke''s men had been annihted, and the battle just now likely took care of the nearby monsters, or at least scared them off.


    The danger should be minimal now.


    Without hesitation, Su''en unfolded his Octo-Spider Lance and quickly ran towards the site of the previous battle.


    After all, soul fragments on corpses would dissipate over time.


    Su''en was fast and arrived while the "grey mist" still looked clear.


    Out of caution, he used his All-Seeing Eye to scan the area for any other dangers before approaching the corpses.


    The first to harvest, naturally, were the memory fragments of the two fifth-order individuals.


    The closest was the corpse of the red-bearded exorcist.


    <em>''Obtained 6 memory fragments of "Matick Doyle"''</em>


    <em>''You have acquired a wealth of "Exorcism Knowledge,"prehending the skill [Thirteen Methods of Banishing Evil Spirits]''</em>


    <em>''You have obtained an alchemy recipe [The Preparation Method of the Sun Exorcism Holy Water]''</em>


    <em>''You have gained some knowledge of mysticism''</em>


    <em>''You have acquired a wealth of "1st to 5th Order Alchemy Knowledge"''</em>


    <em>''You haveprehended an iplete fifth-order holy system principle''</em>


    <em>''Spellcasting experience +175''</em>


    <em>''Mental strength +8.4''</em>


    ***


    Typically, the knowledge reserves of magic-based professionals are many times greater than those of melee-based ones.


    And the exorcist profession belongs to the "mystic" branch within the magic-based category.


    These individuals delve deeply into obscure and esoteric knowledge.


    Su''en eagerly harvested the grey mist.


    Although it seemed slightly less than expected, the knowledge filled gaps in his understanding of mysticism and broadened his horizons...


    Just right.


    He vividly remembered thest time he absorbed a fifth-order professional, the state of confusionsted for quite a while.


    But now, as a flood of knowledge entered his mind, it was quickly assimted, and everything was crystal clear!


    It was like the difference between swallowing food whole and chewing it thoroughly; the nutrients absorbed by the body arepletely different.


    Su''en immediately noticed this difference.


    With the same amount of memory fragments, the efficiency of assimtion was now at least 10 to 20 percent higher.


    Even the most fragmented pieces remained in his memory and were not forgotten.


    "The secret mental strength techniques and brain domain development can also improve the efficiency of harvesting, which is good news..."


    A thought shed through Su''en''s mind, and he was delighted.


    It was like getting a 10 to 20 percent experience bonus when killing monsters in a game.


    The benefits might not be obvious in the short term, but it was a substantial improvement that could affect thete game.


    Moreover, since all negative emotions werepletely cleared, Su''en now had enough energy to suppress those foreign memories in the short term without worrying about impacting his core consciousness.


    After the development of his brain domain, his memory andprehension abilities also improved significantly, which visibly enhanced the ability of his talent <em>[Death Harvester]!</em>


    ***


    Su''en didn''t dwell on the content of the harvested memories.


    The Octo-Spider Lance was also in operation, stripping the corpses of their storage rings and equipment almost simultaneously as he harvested the soul fragments, stuffing everything into his storage space.


    He also casually collected the sealed item-level <em>[Exorcist Cross of the Pdin]</em> from the corpse''s hand.


    A quick nce revealed that it was powerful but a specialized piece of equipment for spirits, not of much use on a daily basis.


    Then, he quickly moved to another fifth-order professional''s corpse, the pale-faced man in military uniform who had been following Theresa around, a court guard wielding a rapier.


    But this harvest surprised Su''en.


    <em>''Obtained 2 memory fragments of "Rasati Kale"''</em>


    <em>''You have acquired a small number of alchemy knowledge fragments''</em>


    <em>''You have gained a small amount ofbat experience''</em>


    <em>''Mental strength +0.3''</em>


    ***


    "Is this really a fifth-order?"


    Su''en looked at the few fragments he had harvested, his gaze freezing as he wondered if he had mistaken the corpse.


    The amount of fragments was even less than that of a second-order.


    And the rate of ipleteness was outrageous.


    But strangely enough... there were indeed some fragmented fourth and fifth-order knowledge.


    This confirmed that it was indeed the corpse of a fifth-order professional!


    Unable to understand what had happened, Su''en harvested a few more corpses nearby that he remembered were fourth-order professionals.


    The result was the same.


    But soon, he noticed a pattern.


    The souls of melee-based professionals had almostpletely dissipated, or only a tiny, extremely fragmented piece remained.


    While the souls of magic-based professionals, who naturally had stronger mental strength, left a bit more, but not much.


    "Did that fallen angel''s divine art extract even their soul power?"


    Su''en frowned, roughly understanding the reason.


    It was also fortunate that he arrived quickly, or he wouldn''t have even gotten a sip of the soup.


    As for the rtively intact preservation of the red-bearded exorcist''s soul, it was probably because mystic sorcerers all practiced some form of mental defense. Even in death, their souls were better preserved than others.


    However, Su''en''s attitude was good; he was satisfied with what he earned.


    The total amount of soul fragments harvested was almost 70 to 80 percent of thest fifth-order, and it was precious mystic knowledge, invaluable.


    Of course, the spoils of war were not limited to soul fragments.


    The equipment and storage rings on the corpses were also a big haul.


    These were the personal guards of Duke Raphael!


    It was also fortunate that the divine art of the fallen angel helped greatly, otherwise these few hundred elites could have directly breached the defenses of Old London.


    There would have been no chance for Su''en to loot the corpses.


    ***


    A hundred years of "mining," those treasures gathered from the lower levels, like a pyramid, eventually almost all converged in the Duke''s mansion.


    The equipment on these ducal guards'' corpses were all carefully selected fine items.


    Weapons, armor, robes, leather armor, boots, alchemical essories...


    The vast majority were "silver quality" or above, high-quality equipment.


    Even the team leaders had "gold equipment" and a few pieces of "dark gold equipment."


    Each one was a top-notch rarity seldom seen in the auction houses of Old London.


    Su''en collected them all; these were not just his spoils of war.


    If anything, the lion''s share belonged to Mr. Mirror.


    Without her n, the Duke''s forces would not have been annihted here.


    Besides these pieces of equipment, Su''en also found a number of heat-emitting gems in the storage rings of the two fifth-order and those fourth-order individuals, resembling burning coals.


    Upon identification:


    <em>Sun God Stone</em>


    <em>Description: A special gemstone containing rich light energy;</em>


    Su''en now knew that this was one of the essential materials for alchemists to advance to the fourth order.


    These personal guards of the Duke''s mansion were mostly "Light Sorcerers" from outside, unable to withstand the dense dark spirit power of the underground, so they needed to carry these stones to prevent the dark energy from corrupting and mutating them.


    On normal days, the people of the Duke''s mansion hardly ever left the inner city of Old London. To obtain so many <em>Sun God Stones</em> at once was a rare "harvest."


    This was an opportunity not to be missed.


    The quantity was not small, definitely more than thest time they ambushed a fifth-order.


    Su''en was only second-order, far from advancing to the third order, so he had no immediate use for these stones.


    But other members of the Mirror organization might need them, like Qiantiao.


    Moreover, based on the snippets of information from Mr. Mirror''s head, it seemed they already had a n to break out of the ck Tower.


    With these stones, the sess rate was likely to be even higher.


    If they really got out, these stones, which could only be considered high-level materials outside, would no longer be scarce.


    ***


    Seeing these stones, Su''en was also looking forward to it; if Qiantiao and the others all advanced to the fourth order, how strong would they be?


    But he was also a bit puzzled; where were the other members of the Mirror organization?


    Could it be that they went to surround "Theresa"?


    Just as these thoughts emerged, suddenly, anomalies arose all around!


    Dense dark spirit power formed a mist within the ruins, and at that moment, as if stirred by an invisible force, it converged in one direction, forming two tornado-like spirals in the sky above the center of the ruins, like "dragons sucking water."


    The mist was sucked away and dissipated, clearing the view instantly.


    Seeing this phenomenon, Su''en immediately realized what it was, his pupils shrinking: "An ''Elemental Domain'' possibly controlled by a sixth-order or higher professional?"


    From the memories he had harvested, he knew that such natural phenomena were a type of spell.


    There are two major thresholds in a professional''s advancement: <em>one is from third to fourth order, requiring mastery of "Elemental Barrier"; the other is from sixth to seventh order, the "Elemental Domain."</em>


    Legend has it that those who master the Elemental Domain can absorb the elements within several miles for their own use.


    This is a method at the level ofws that only top alchemists can master.


    But...


    Such beings, even on the surface, are among the very few at the pinnacle of the pyramid.


    Why would they appear here?


    Su''en thought he might be mistaken, but as his gaze shifted, he saw at the core of the gathering mist, two figures in the sky facing off against each other!


    Both figures had wings!


    Su''en looked over.


    One was "Theresa," whom he had seen before, with a pair of pitch-ck wings.


    The other, cloaked in a golden silk cape, had a pair of huge bat-like wings behind her!


    "A vampire?"


    Seeing those flesh wings, Su''en immediately thought of a legendary abyssal undead creature.


    That was the long-lived vampire, capable of surviving countless ages through slumber.


    A nce at the cape, and who else could it be but Mr. Mirror?


    In that moment,


    It was as if everything became clear.


    No wonder Mr. Mirror could live for a thousand years; she was of vampire lineage!


    However, Su''en had already guessed that Mr. Mirror was not a "normal human," and seeing her bat wings didn''t surprise him too much.


    After all, Su''en himself had a special body with a portion of fallen angel bloodline after being modified by the "X Serum."


    What shocked him more was Mr. Mirror''s strength!


    That "Theresa" could use the Elemental Domain, which didn''t surprise Su''en too much. After all, she was a genuine god-tier soul, and although her physical body wascking, it wasn''t strange that she could perform the spell with a lower configuration.


    Just like the fifth-order [Diamond], Su''en could also use it at the second order.


    But Mr. Mirror, how could she?


    Amidst his shock, Su''en''s mind was immediately filled with doubts and contradictions: "Mr. Mirror shouldn''t be seventh-order, but why does she have a seventh-order ''Elemental Domain''? Could it be her mirror imitation ability? No, that can''t be right; she shouldn''t be able to imitate abilities she doesn''t understand..."


    Now that Su''en had stripped the memories of those from the surface, he wasn''tpletely ignorant of the outside world.


    He vaguely knew that the ck Tower was on an ind called "ck Reef."


    There, a secret guard of Duke Raphael was stationed, roughly one to two thousand strong, with the strongest being a sixth-order grandmander. Although the overall military strength was formidable, if Mr. Mirror truly had the strength above sixth order, she shouldn''t be stuck here, slowly developing.


    ***


    Mr. Mirror was a mystery to everyone.


    She had never shown her face.


    Even within the Umbre organization, information about Mr. Mirror was limited to just this "code name."


    To be precise, no one had ever seen her take action, knew her true strength, or what kind of methods she had.


    Because even when she did take action, due to her mirror ability, she used others'' abilities. Bystanders didn''t even know she was "Mr. Mirror."


    She could have countless disguised identities.


    What she truly looked like was pointless to pursue.


    Su''en had also been curious about what order Mr. Mirror was as a professional?


    Although there were no conditions to advance to the fourth order in this underground world, Mr. Mirror was different.


    Now seeing her in this vampire state, Su''en was even more convinced of his guess: Mr. Mirror was truly an ancient relic from a thousand years ago!


    Su''en had previously spected that since Mr. Mirror and her group dared to attack a fifth-order professional, her own strength must be beyond fifth order, perhaps even higher.


    But without breaking through the ck Tower, her rank wouldn''t be excessively high.


    Now suddenly bing seventh-order,


    Su''en felt very conflicted.


    <em>Huh?</em>


    <em>Suddenly!</em>


    At this moment, a sh of insight crossed Su''en''s mind.


    Since it was almost certain that Mr. Mirror was an "ancient," could she be a close associate of Sir Isaac?


    With this thought, Su''en''s mind suddenly connected some clues that fit together.


    He vaguely guessed Mr. Mirror''s identity from a thousand years ago!


    If it was indeed her, it would be understandable for her to have strength above the sixth order.


    But reality and strength seemed to conflict.


    With true seventh-order strength, under absolute suppression, wouldn''t this "Theresa" be annihted?


    Or perhaps, there were other reasons limiting her strength?


    ***


    Without waiting for Su''en to think further, the two in the sky began to battle fiercely.


    The two winged figures wielded identical crimson lightning, and where they shed, the wind and clouds surged, thunder roared, and lightning shed in the sky. Streaks of red lightning tore through the heavens, illuminating half of the ruins like an apocalyptic scene.


    No matter what technique "Theresa" used, Mr. Mirrorpletely replicated it with her mirror imitation ability, giving her no chance to counter with elemental theft.


    You can throw lightning, so can I...


    You stab me with lightning, I''ll stab you with one too...


    You can fly, so can I...


    The two entangled, giving her no chance to escape.


    Su''en watched for a while and confirmed his guess.


    His realm was far from theirs, but his vision was notcking; he could tell that neither was holding back: "Indeed... Mr. Mirror only shows the strength of around fifth order, but why does she have a seventh-order Elemental Domain?"


    Themotion was exaggerated, but still not to the level of the legendary seventh-order''s earth-shattering power.


    "Theresa''s" physical body was only second-order, and being able to exert about fourth-orderbat power was already the limit of what her body could handle.


    And Mr. Mirror, being able to fight her on equal footing, naturally wouldn''t exceed that by much.


    But oddly enough, both usedws and understandings far beyond their ranks.


    Fifth order, sixth order, seventh order...


    Even higher!


    Then, the battle took a direction that Su''en couldn''tprehend.


    Laws shing, domains colliding...


    The two, gathering a vast amount of dark spirit power from all directions, had auras as high as primordial beasts, a level of battle that professionals below fifth order couldn''t possibly join.


    And that overwhelming pressure, even with the All-Seeing Eye, made Su''en''s eyelids twitch uncontrobly.


    The crimson light in the sky made his scalp tingle.


    Just as he was enjoying the spectacle, a stray lightning bolt that sshed out during their sh suddenly exploded from the sky, "boom," and struck the ground just tens of meters away from Su''en, carving out a crack hundreds of meters long...


    Two women casually wielding lightning with their bare hands...


    Hiss~


    Su''en inhaled sharply, gathered his spoils, and quickly ran a few kilometers towards the outskirts of the ruins, choosing a safer ce to watch the battle.


    Such a high-level battle was rare to see; understanding even a fraction of it was a gain.

 Chapter 211: The enchantresss innate abilities

    Chapter 211: The enchantress''s innate abilities<hr>Others may not understand why this sudden war erupted.


    But Su''en knew.


    A thousand years ago, Sir Isaac and his wife always had the ability to annihte the soul of the Fallen Angel.


    But they let it live until now, not for anything else, but for the resurrection of Pestoya.


    The Fallen Angel clearly guessed this point.


    Therefore, Pestoya, this life-saving trump card, was something it would never give up.


    Two winged silhouettes continued to battle fiercely in the sky, fighting from the outskirts to the very center of the city...


    Su''en''s all-seeing eyes possessed an ultra-long vision, allowing him to gaze over from a great distance.


    Previously shrouded in mist, he thought there might be some special structure in the city center. But due to the battle, the fog that obscured the view was also drained away.


    To his shock, the core urban area turned out to be a gigantic pit with a diameter of one or two kilometers, bottomless!


    It was like a spring, with the mist from the ruins and those aberrant and abyssal creatures continuously pouring out from that great pit.


    "Is that the passage to the abyssal ne?"


    Su''en spected as he watched.


    Looking at the traces on the edge of the pit, the irregr, pockmarked marks were clearly caused by external forces.


    It was probably the disaster a year ago that destroyed Dawn City, causing the city center to copse into such a huge hole.


    Su''en looked at "Theresa," who clearly did not wish to fight, and guessed the deity''s purpose: "Does she want to escape into the abyss?"


    ***


    Mr. Mirror entangled "Theresa," gradually forcing her into the center of the sky above.


    After all, her true form was only second-tier, and the high-intensity battle gave her no chance to breathe. The secret technique that consumed her lifespan also gradually became strenuous. The youngdy from the ducal mansion not only turned her hair white but her body also began to rapidly deteriorate, no longer able to control such terrifyingw powers.


    Finally, her arm holding the lightning suddenly copsed, and the skin on other parts of her body also cracked, disintegrating like fluff.


    "Theresa" knew her body had reached its limit, suddenly herplexion changed, and her body inted rapidly like an overblown balloon. Visible to the naked eye, streams of red lightning surged within her, and the red glow became clearer through the cracks in her skin...


    "Is she going to self-destruct?"


    From a distance, Su''en watched with trepidation and quickly pulled several puppets to shield himself.


    Although he was already far enough away, he was ready to flee at any moment.


    Seeing this, even Mr. Mirror had to p his wings and fly away, quickly distancing himself to safety.


    <em>"Boom!"</em>


    In the next instant, Theresa''s body exploded, and red lightning serpents surged through the sky.


    It was this explosion that seemed to break some critical point, and suddenly the ground shook violently, with a loud noise like a volcanic eruption, and shockwaves echoed throughout the sky above the ruins.


    At the same time, the ground trembled fiercely, and a surge of ink-like ck mist gushed out from the abyssal entrance, shooting straight up to the top of the kilometer-high cavern.


    Vaguely, amidst the dense fog, it seemed as if arge number of abyssal creatures emerged from the pit.


    "The mist tide has erupted again..."


    Su''en narrowed his eyes slightly.


    He had experienced a "mist tide" before and was naturally familiar with it.


    This kind of anomaly urs from time to time in the ruins. He used to be unclear about the cause, but now he knew it was the seal cracking and leaking arge amount of abyssal dark energy, randomly "spewing" out some abyssal creatures.


    This time, the amount of the surge was particrly astonishing.


    Su''en looked at the shadows of the abyssal creatures tens of meters tall in the mist and knew he couldn''t just stand by and watch, so he quickly retreated.


    He also guessed that the Fallen Angel probably wanted to use these creatures to break free.


    But was it possible?


    This was a battle that might have surprises, but the oue was destined.


    How could the demigod who had mastered Fate and nned for a thousand years let it escape?


    ***


    Su''en retreated towards the outskirts of the ruins, his vision gradually obscured by the thick fog.


    Sure enough, at the same time as the explosion, a Fallen Angel soul glowing with ck fluorescence shed by, taking advantage of Mr. Mirror''s avoidance to plunge headlong into the deep pit.


    Unfortunately, it waspletely unaware that during the battle, six mysterious figures in golden-embroidered cloaks had quietly appeared at six directions around the pit, each with a rune-etched casket in front of them.


    They were waiting for its soul to leave its body!


    As the explosion sounded, the six simultaneously formed seals and chanted softly, <em>"Release!"</em>


    Almost at the same time, six beams of rune chains appeared, extending rapidly and indefinitely.


    They moved as fast as lightning, tracking the Fallen Angel''s soul no matter how it fled, flexibly changing direction and ultimately locking it up tightly.


    The rune chains bound the target, and the six together ended their spells, making the rune chains snap taut.


    Like fishing, they pulled it out of the dark abyss.


    In the sky, there were no sound waves, but Su''en, who was retreating, heard a clear roar in his ears: <em>"Kill me, and she will die too!"</em>


    This high and mighty deity once again felt the oppressive sensation of death approaching, just like a thousand years ago.


    "She" naturally referred to Pestoya.


    A thousand years ago, the Fallen Angel survived until now by using this amulet.


    It now wanted to use the same method to continue living.


    Unfortunately.


    Mr. Mirror didn''t give it any chance, pulling out a silver mirror.


    He tossed it into the air, and the mirror split into eight thousand reflections, filling the sky with mirror images.


    Mr. Mirrorpleted thest mage seal in his hand and chanted softly, <em>"Sealing Technique  Eight Thousand Mirrors!"</em>


    The bright white light, like eight thousand moons in the sky, focused beams of light on the Fallen Angel bound by the rune chains.


    For a moment, it did not yield to the divine pressure.


    At that instant, the Fallen Angel finally understood something and roared, "You want to pave her way with my divine soul origin? Hahaha... Even if I die, you won''t seed!"


    Unfortunately, Sir Isaac had anticipated this a thousand years ago.


    Just as the Fallen Angel was preparing to self-destruct its soul, a phantom suddenly appeared next to its soul, bing more and more solid.


    She stretched out her arms, embracing the entire world. In an instant, the ferocious expression of the Fallen Angel turned into that of an obedient little girl. Those confused eyes gradually became clear.


    For the first time, Pestoya''s soul suppressed the will of the Fallen Angel and took control.


    She looked at the familiar figure in front of her, her face streaked with tears, reaching out to touch.


    Sereya smiled faintly but had already dissipated.


    ***


    "Teacher..."


    Su''en looked up at the loving white-d phantom in the depths of the fog and sighed softly in his heart.


    Back in the cursed space, Sereya gave him two rings, one of which was <em>Sereya''s Blessing</em> for him.


    The other was <em>Sereya''s Protection</em> for Pestoya, which had a function to protect Pestoya''s soul from disintegrating.


    Until now, Su''en had fully understood this thousand-year n.


    Waited a thousand years, was it to kill the soul of the Fallen Angel?


    No, not just that.


    Isaac and his wife also left a gift for their daughter,


    The divine soul origin of an abyssal deity!


    With this, Pestoya''s path to the highest ranks was almost assured, with nine out of ten obstacles removed.


    Even without much hard cultivation, her future Transcendent rank would be frighteningly high.


    At this time, Su''en''s finger, wearing themunication ring exclusive to the Mirror organization, suddenly transmitted a voice, "The mist tide has erupted, everyone, evacuate the ruins quickly!"


    Hearing this stern warning, Su''en''s eight-armed spider spear spun even faster, and he ran far away in a puff of smoke.


    After all, having experienced a "mist tide" firsthand, he knew there were extremely terrifying abyssal creatures inside. And this time''s eruption was much more exaggerated than thest.


    He nced casually and saw several gigantic creatures.


    A <em>Deep Abyss Volcano Turtle</em> with a volcano on its back, spewingva as it walked...


    A <em>Nine-Headed Heartstealer Demon  Oduer</em> stitched together like nine eels...


    A creature with numerous muscr vines, a <em>Cassantan Tree Person</em>...


    Named creatures usually meant they were not low in intelligence and were all "lord monsters."


    There were also countless smaller creatures, bloodthirsty giant bats, illusionary poison beasts, copper ghost pythons, blue-tailed two-headed lizards... swarming in groups.


    Not only were there creatures below the third tier, but there were also fourth, fifth, and sixth tiers...


    These abyssal creatures, brought out by the mist tide, were like a tsunami of fish, dense and overwhelming.


    Individually, one might not be a big problem, but with such a staggering number, no hunting group could withstand them.


    Even Mr. Mirror and hispanions had to avoid their sharp edges.


    The ck mist erupted from the pit, quickly spreading to the outskirts of the ruins like locusts passing through, leaving behind screams and gunfire.


    Su''en, with his eight legs and spatial discement ability, ran fast and felt no sense of crisis.


    But soon, the crisis came.


    Originally thinking that the ruins had been mostly cleared and nothing would hinder him.


    Unexpectedly, with the "mist tide," the entire cavern boiled over, and those abyssal and aberrant creatures hidden in the deep recesses also ran out.


    The hunting teams had only cleared the surface creatures before, but the ruins'' intricate sewer system still hid various monster groups.


    As Su''en''s eight-armed spider spear dashed, the ground suddenly began to roll.


    Countless giant earthworm-like pink tendrils wrapped in wet, corrosive slime sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain, emerging from the ground. It was like entering a pink seaweed area, a sea of tentacles as far as the eye could see, entangling and dragging any living creature that passed by into the depths of the earth.


    Su''en looked at the tentacle monster that covered several blocks and felt a chill down his spine.


    He also didn''t know how enormous the creature buried underground was.


    Fortunately, he had teleportation, and as soon as those tentacles smelled the scent of living beings and began to surround him, he teleported away.


    Identifying those tentacles, they turned out to belong to a fifth-tier "Overlord-level" abyssal creature <em>Abbas''s Flesh Mountain!</em>


    The source of the contamination that caused Brooke to mutate in the <em>Bell Tower Freak</em> cursed space.


    This thing was so huge, its entire body was soft flesh, almost all weak points, but also no weak points. Even with a ck scythe, there was no way to strike.


    Su''en dared not provoke it and, after several consecutive teleports, quickly fled.


    ***


    This "mist tide" was not the kind that only spread locally within the ruins before. The ck air mixed with countless creatures was like a hundred-meter-high tsunami, spreading from the center of the ruins outward.


    Su''en left the ruins where monsters were emerging everywhere, and only then did the hair-raising sense of crisis dissipate.


    The monsters were indeed fast, but almost none ran faster than his eight legs.


    Before long, the outline of the hunting camp appeared in his vision.


    There were still many nonbatants in the camp, such as professional merchants, nobledies, and maidservants.


    They had also noticed the anomaly in the ruins.


    Those with keen eyes had already fled, while others were still watching, now only despair in their eyes. The camp, which originally looked like an "iron hedgehog," appeared as flimsy as a thin sheet of paper in front of this ck tsunami.


    Su''en didn''t enter the city but headed straight for the cave leading back to Old Lingdun.


    Before long, the mist engulfed the entire camp. Although he couldn''t see, he could hear the sound of gunfire.


    Su''en had sensitive hearing, and he noticed that the gunfire in the camp dissipated very quickly.


    Looking at the situation, the hunting camp waspletely destroyed.


    And the Dawn Ruins would be a "forbidden zone" for a long time toe.


    However, the good news was that those monsters that had just emerged from the abyss seemed to have a high demand for the concentration of "mist," and they would not actively rush out of the mist-covered area. Just like fish won''t leave the water.


    And after the mist entered the crisscrossing caves, its spread slowed down, and the harassing monsters did not catch up.


    Su''en also let out a long sigh of relief.


    He happened to encounter a group of hundreds of refugees and put away his eight-armed spider spear, following therge group leisurely.


    Along the way, they encountered arge number of fleeing personnel.


    Finally, after a whole day of fleeing, those nobledies and lords could no longer move, and they met a merchant caravan camp that had set off back to the city half a day earlier, so they did not continue.


    Thousands of people gathered together, finally feeling a bit safe.


    Everyone began to light fires and set up camp.


    Su''en also mingled in the camp, setting up a tent for himself.


    Before long, campfires lit up the entire camp, the firelight shining brightly, and the smell of food wafting through the air.


    But the camp was filled with wailing.


    The hunters were used to life and death, but those from high society had never suffered such hardships, and each of themined endlessly.


    After a whole day of fleeing, even with guards supporting and carrying them, they were all exhausted.


    "s, I hope the Duke won''t me us for the unsessful hunt. This is not desertion in the face of battle."


    "How can he me us? Even the camp was destroyed. I''ve always heard about the ''mist tide'' in the ruins, but I didn''t expect it to be so terrifying this time..."


    "I reckon the ''mist tide'' won''t dissipate in a short time. The excavation of the Dawn City ruins..."


    "I heard that Princess Theresa also went to the ruins. I don''t know if she encountered any danger..."


    "With so many experts in the ducal mansion, we don''t need to worry about them. We should think about how to exin when we return to the city. This time, all the major families have suffered heavy losses. Old Lingdun is probably going to be greatly weakened..."


    "..."


    The mist tide came suddenly, and no one knew what happened in the center of the ruins.


    These noble lords anddies gathered together, discussing the follow-up after returning to the city.


    From a distance, Su''en silently listened.


    He also saw the woman chatting with a bunch of rich people, her shiny red hair particrly eye-catching in the firelight. After all, as a major general of the Umbre organization, even in fleeing, her face showedposure.


    Sabina naturally also noticed Su''en.


    The subus master-servant contract allowed them to sense each other within a certain distance, and even with Su''en wearing a mask, she recognized him at a nce, throwing him a meaningful wink and a flirtatious smile.


    Perhaps because she was too tired from fleeing, the noise soon quieted down, and people gradually returned to their tents to rest.


    ***


    Su''en returned to his tent.


    He meditated in the tent.


    About half an hourter, he heard a series of soft footsteps approaching from afar.


    Su''en sensed who it was and did not react.


    At that moment, he saw a cloaked figure sneakily lift the tent and crawl in.


    Lifting the cloak, it was none other than the alluring red-haired woman, Sabina.


    This big sister of the gang usually had underlings following her at all times, but this time the Steam Party''s experts who came were all apanying their patrons on the hunt, and almost all died in the ruins. There was also a first-tier squad leader and more than a dozen ordinary gang members.


    But Sabina was proficient in mental secret arts. If she wanted toe out, those people wouldn''t notice at all, so she boldly took the initiative toe over.


    Upon entering the tent, she casually set up a soundproof barrier.


    Because it was a single-person tent, the space was very narrow, and another person made it feel crowded.


    Sabina didn''t stand on ceremony, removed her cloak, and clung to him.


    Under the cloak, she wore a very thin, sexy low-cut silk dress, seemingly dressed up beforeing. This touch was warm and smooth, withrge patches of silky skin in the palm.


    Probably because she had be familiar over time, Sabina had thoroughly understood her master''s temperament and became increasingly "bold."


    She did not hesitate to disy her stunning figure, hugging Su''en, but also clearly understood her ce, coquettishly saying in a servant-like tone, "Oh, sir~ I was worried about you encountering danger before... It''s so good to see you."


    As she spoke, whether it was idental or intentional, the straps of her long dress suddenly slipped down.


    A pair of proud peaks were immediately exposed to the air, standing tall.


    Sabina didn''t mind at all, blinked, and asked softly, "Sir, you''ve been walking all day. Would you like a massage?"


    "Mm."


    Su''en smiled and nodded, lying t on the sleeping bag.


    A pair of hands caressed up from her thighs, from tender and smooth to firm, then climbing to the peak, grasping a handful.


    Sabina''s eyes were seductive, and she didn''t mind. In fact, to make it easier for Su''en to reach, she even lowered her body further.


    Her slender hands slowly rxed Su''en''s muscles.


    For a time, a faint pink fragrance filled the tent.


    The tent had a soundproof barrier, so outsiders couldn''t hear the sultry sounds.


    Because people asionally entered the camp, the faint movements in the tent were also imperceptible.


    ***


    After a while.


    Inside the tent.


    Sabina was drenched in fragrant sweat, her skin glowing with a special pink halo unique to subi. And on her face, there was a special radiance of vitality.


    Suddenly, she sensed something, a flicker of unusual emotion in her eyes, and she said with full charm, "Oh~ Master, I feel like you''ve suddenly be so strong~"


    "Heh..."


    Su''en, lying on his back, listened to Sabina''s words and chuckled.


    He thought it was just a flirtatious remark.


    But unexpectedly, the flirtation was real, and so were her words.


    "I''m serious~"


    Sabina blinked, knowing he misunderstood, and chided with augh, "I feel like your strength has increased a lotpared to before."


    "???"


    Su''en, hearing the tone was not joking, was slightly puzzled.


    This trip to the ruins had harvested so many abilities andprehended a lot of high-tierw knowledge. He had finally mastered mental secret arts, and his strength had indeed surged a great deal.


    But he hadn''t said anything, so how did she know?


    Sabina: "Didn''t I tell youst time... We subi have some innate secret arts, and when you, Master, be stronger, I can benefit as well. Just now, I suddenly felt a realm that hadn''t budged in a long time has broken through."


    Su''en listened with some curiosity, also recalling that Sabina had mentioned such a secret cultivation method before.


    Sabina thought carefully, relishing the sensation, and confirmed, "It''s so magical... I feel like I suddenly understand some third-tierw powers. Huh, strange, Master, have you broken through to the third tier?"


    After a pause, she looked at Su''en, a hint of suggestiveness shing in her sparkling eyes, and added, "I''m not sure... but I feel that the enlightenment came from you."


    "..."


    Hearing this, Su''en finally understood.


    Having harvested the souls of several high-tier professionals, he indeed had insights into third-tierws, even fragments of fourth and fifth tiers.


    Third-tier professionals need to grasp some aspects ofws, which are about perception and understanding, hard to describe. Even if spoken out loud, others might not be able to act on it; they have to prehend" it themselves.


    Therefore, the third tier is a significant threshold.


    Otherwise, the third tiers in Old Lingdun wouldn''t be called the "ceiling" of professionals, so rare.


    But now, Sabina has personally experienced it? Through this secret cultivation method?


    Looking at it this way...


    The subus''s innate ability and his Death Harvester have some simrities!


    Su''en was very clear that he hadn''t lost any knowledge,


    And like "sharing" that understanding, through the subus''s secret cultivation method, Sabina suddenly understood.


    "Heh..."


    Thinking this, Su''en chuckled.


    Sabina understood his smile, blinked with surprise, and said, "Ah, Master, have you really reached the third tier?"


    Su''en shook his head, "No, I haven''t advanced to the third tier. But your enlightenment indeed came from me."


    "Really?"


    Hearing this, Sabina''s eyes sparkled with curiosity.


    It wasn''t doubt, but joy.


    But she was also smart, not prying into Su''en''s secrets, only suggestively saying, "Master, can Ie to see you often from now on?"


    The fate of a subus, indeed, is to rely on a powerful demon lord.


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t speak, just patted her head as if rewarding a well-behaved maid.


    Sabina understood and showed a coquettishly grateful smile, "Thank you, Master."


    After another tender moment,


    Su''en remembered something and said, "By the way, there''s something you might want to know. Severus Gerald is dead. Also, the entire team of Princess Theresa has been wiped out."


    Hearing this, Sabina''s face instantly became a kaleidoscope of colors, "You... You killed Severus Gerald?!"


    She clearly remembered that the only condition for signing the master-servant contract was to eliminate the leader of the Umbre organization.


    She hadn''t expected it to happen so soon,


    <em>He... had actually done it?</em>


    And Princess Theresa was dead too?


    How could it be!

 Chapter 212: Return to the city

    Chapter 212: Return to the city<hr>


    "Sir, you..."


    Sabina listened to Su''en''s words, her face filled with disbelief.


    The information she heard was so oundish that she didn''t even know how to begin to respond.


    Although she didn''t know just how strong the "forensic" Severus Gerald was, the information she had gathered indicated that his abilities were very peculiar, and he was definitely one of the top powerhouses in Old London, with strength far surpassing that of an ordinary third-tier powerhouse.


    But now, he was killed?


    Who could have killed him?


    Could it be that someone from the Mirror organization helped?


    For a moment, her mind was flooded with countless doubts.


    Although Su''en did not exin the details, he had made a pact with Sabina when they signed the master-servant contract, so he said, "Gerald indeed died by my hand."


    Although Sabina would not question her "master," hearing this made her heart tremble...


    He... he killed him with his own hands?


    Just how strong must her master be?


    Thinking back to the insights she had during her secret cultivation, she suddenly understood something else.


    Her master was far more mysterious and stronger than she had realized.


    He was not at the level of an ordinary second-tier professional!


    The shock in her eyes shed by, and Sabina''s expression returned to normal.


    She clearly knew her ce and wouldn''t ask questions that she shouldn''t.


    From the moment the master-servant contract was signed, she knew that her future was bound to be tied to this "Great Demon King."


    The stronger the master, the more promising her future.


    As thoughts raced through her mind, Sabina suddenly felt a sense of relief and murmured to herself, "He''s been killed..."


    The heavy grudges of the past, gone like smoke in the wind.


    Suddenly, she felt as if there was only this master in front of her in the world.


    ***


    The tent glowed with a faint light.


    Sabina''s graceful figure was fully exposed to the air, her skin so pale and smooth that it shone like jade under the dim light, a vision of lustrous beauty.


    The two were chatting while their actions continued unabated.


    The flickering light cast dancing shadows of Sabina''s figure on the tent.


    But because the topic of conversation was somewhat serious, the rhythm of Sabina''s waist movement also became gentle and soothing, her fiery red wavy hair glistening, some strands covering her chest, others draped over her fragrant shoulders...


    Su''en could clearly feel her body temperature rising.


    In the small single-person tent, one could clearly hear the faint sound of breathing.


    This charming mafiady always disyed the perfect amount of allure, no matter the atmosphere.


    Su''en also enjoyed thisfortable and rxing time, as this subus maid always brought him the ultimate pleasure.


    He continued, "With Gerald dead and Theresa''s forces wiped out, there might be a big move from the ck Tower. Be careful on your own."


    Without saying much more, Sabina, the senior intelligence chief, naturally knew how to keep herself safe.


    With such a big incident this time, and the daughter of a duke dying here, it was no surprise that Old London would face a major purge.


    But it wasn''t a big problem.


    Because he guessed that Mr. Mirror and his people already had a n to "storm the tower."


    With so many shocking pieces of news, Sabina calmed downpletely.


    She responded with a "Hmm~"


    It sounded like an acknowledgment, but the coquettish tone was more like praise for a pleasurable experience.


    She knew some of the intelligence from the ducal mansion.


    But since her authority was mostly in the outer city, she couldn''t ess the detailed intelligence. She guessed that only a few top officials in the Umbre organization, led by Gerald, knew the specific details of Princess Theresa''s underground hunting expedition.


    Although she believed that no one in Old London should have been able to kill Princess Theresa and her party.


    But if the master said they were killed, then they were definitely killed.


    She didn''t ask further.


    Now that the people were dead, what she wanted to consider was making some arrangements in advance, finding a way to avoid being implicated.


    At that moment, Su''en thought of something and said, "There''s one more thing... I want to ask you about your ns for the future."


    Although his tone was still indifferent, Sabina could hear the seriousness in his words and blinked at him.


    Su''en didn''t beat around the bush and said, "Do you know that there''s a vast world above the ck Tower..."


    ***


    Su''en briefly revealed the biggest secret of Old London.


    This underground was a ce of exile; they were all miners for Duke Raphael.


    The outside world was vast, and Su''en was definitely going to take a look.


    He felt it necessary to inform Sabina: "So, I want to ask you, what are your thoughts for the future?"


    Without any hesitation, Sabina responded, "Sir, I am your servant. Naturally, wherever you go, I will follow."


    Actually, as a major in the Umbre organization, Sabina also knew some fragmented intelligence and had some guesses.


    The failed rebellion fifty years ago, and the many subsequent silencing operations, all had confidential files within the Umbre organization.


    She had guessed some of the truth.


    But since it was a taboo topic, no one dared to think too deeply about it.


    Now that she knew this "fact" from Su''en''s mouth, Sabina realized that this underground world was probably going to undergo a huge change.


    Her own fate would also take a significant turn.


    However, she was even clearer about one thing: there would never be a shortage of women by a strong man''s side.


    The followers of the capable are also strong.


    This was an ancient proverb circting in Old London.


    To be valued, one must have value.


    After a pause, Sabina seemed a bit tired and changed her position,zily pressing her upper body against Su''en''s chest.


    The gentle touch, the pressure, the distortion.


    Her beautiful eyes rippled as she continued, "Sir, I am skilled in intelligence work. I can be your ears and eyes. Just give me a little time, and no matter where, I can build you an intelligencework. The moreplex the power structure, the easier it is. If possible, I think the capital of the Luyin Empire that you mentioned would be the most suitable ce..."


    Listening to her, Su''en''s expression became thoughtful.


    He had no doubt about Sabina''s abilities. Hearing her simple description, it seemed she had already nned her future direction. As always, Su''en didn''t need to worry.


    Although she was a servant, Sabina''s abilities were to his liking, and her execution was strong. Su''en felt she was very handy to use.


    But if she were just a maid to warm his bed, she would be dispensable. Su''en wouldn''t be able to carry a vase around in the future.


    Now that she spoke like this, it was just right.


    Although Su''en didn''t know what he would encounter in the future.


    As a transmigrator, he was very clear about the importance of valuing intelligence.


    No matter what he was going to do in the future, intelligence was indispensable.


    Su''en nodded, approving of this idea: "Hmm."


    Sabina read the "satisfaction" in Su''en''s eyes and smiled, "Ah, sir, there seem to be many strong people outside. I also need to work hard in my cultivation..."


    Su''en smiled, the talent of a subus in cultivation... indeed not bad.


    ***


    Sabina was, after all, the big sister of the Steam Party. She could sneak out, but she couldn''t stay too long.


    After a couple of hours of activity, a cloaked figure quietly slipped out of the single-person tent.


    Most people in the camp were exhausted, and snoring sounds were everywhere.


    No one paid attention to the figure that disappeared into the darkness.


    Sabina''s massage skills were impable, and Su''en felt refreshed.


    He had nned to continue meditating, but without warning, a glowing little head suddenly popped out of the canvas tent.


    This scene was truly eerie.


    Completely silent, even with Su''en''s current perception being so sensitive that he could detect the sound of an insect''s wings within a certain range, or feel someone''s gaze...


    Yet, at such a close distance, he had no perception at all.


    "Mr. Su''en, are you done with your business?"


    Waiting for that silveryugh to ring in his ear, Su''en suddenly opened his eyes, instinctively startled.


    At a nce, he recognized the quirky little face and realized who it was, and the wariness in his heart dissipated.


    "Pestoya, what brings you here?"


    Su''en twitched the corner of his eye, feeling slightly awkward. Being in a ghostly state, indeed, made it convenient to go anywhere.


    However, if she hade a few minutes earlier, Sabina might not have left yet, and she would have barged in...


    Pestoya blinked, and seeing no one else in the tent, she moved her body in as well, saying, "I sensed you were here earlier and wanted toe find you. But Ophelia said you were busy with something and told me toeter..."


    Su''en: "..."


    Ophelia?


    It really was Mr. Mirror...


    Hearing this name, he immediately knew who this ghostly miss was referring to.


    But at the same time, he felt even more peculiar.


    It seemed there was no privacy in front of the big shot who was a suspected seventh-tier professional.


    It felt as if the recent tussle with Sabina had been broadcast live for someone to watch.


    Pestoya spoke, seemingly feeling that she had waited for a long time, and her tone was slightly grievous as sheined, "Why did your conversation take so long..."


    She hade eagerly to talk to him, only to find him busy.


    Su''en didn''t dare to dwell on this topic.


    In terms of seniority, this was either his senior sister or junior sister.


    He instead asked, "Pestoya, did youe to see me for something?"


    "Oh."


    Pestoya seemed to remember something and said, "I came to say thank you~ Thank you for the ring you sent me."


    Saying that, she showed off the ring on her hand like a treasured possession.


    The tent was narrow, but fortunately, this ghostly girl wasn''t tall. She floated in front of Su''en.


    She seemed interested in everything in the tent, asionally touching the tentmp and looking at the books piled to one side.


    Su''en said, "You don''t have to thank me. That was something the teacher entrusted me to give you."


    As he spoke, he also spread his hand and showed the ring on his hand.


    It seemed that Mr. Mirror''s n was very sessful, and Pestoya seemed to have fully recovered.


    Pestoya touched the ring and said, "Oh~ Did mom take you as a disciple?"


    "Yep."


    Su''en nodded.


    The heart knot resolved, Pestoya seemed very cheerful, always wearing a happy smile on her little face.


    She said, batting her crystal-clearrge eyes, "Are you my junior brother now?"


    Su''en wasn''t too serious and smiled, "Hmm... more like a senior brother. After all, the teacher said to take care of you."


    Pestoya pulled down her lower eyelids with her index fingers, making a tongue-sticking-out face, and said unwillingly, "No way, you''re clearly a thousand years younger than me. You should call me senior sister!"


    "Hehe..."


    Su''en smiled and shrugged, not minding.


    Without a doubt, this ghostly miss''s future rank would be frighteningly high.


    It was very likely that he would be under her protection, so calling her senior sister was fine, and he wouldn''t be at a loss.


    The two chatted for a bit more, and then Pestoya suddenly took out a butterfly brooch, "Here~ I''m also giving you something. Don''t lose it again this time."


    After all, Su''en was the only friend she had made during her thousand years of gloomy imprisonment.


    In her heart, he held an extraordinary special ce.


    "Oh."


    Su''en looked at the brooch, feeling somewhat embarrassed.


    He was supposed to find it himself, but then Theresa''s body self-destructed, and the matter was dropped.


    Unexpectedly, it ended up in this girl''s hands again.


    After appraising it, there was no longer any iprehensible information; it was just an ordinary brooch.


    He epted it.


    Su''en also noticed that Pestoya seemed a bit tired, and after a few words, she seemed to have sleepiness creeping up on her, barely able to keep her eyelids up.


    "I''ve been trying so hard to hold on, I wanted to talk to you, but you''ve been dyed for so long..."


    With a faintint, she couldn''t hold on any longer and said, "Alright, no more talking, I''m going to sleep. This time I might sleep for a very long time. When I wake up, I''lle find you to y."


    "Okay."


    Su''en guessed it was probably about digesting what the Fallen Angel had left behind.


    Pestoya waved, "See you next time, Mr. Su''en."


    "Yep, see you next time."


    Su''en said, and habitually stroked the head of the ghostly miss.


    Pestoya didn''t mind, showing her little tiger teeth and smiling brightly at Su''en.


    Then, her figure becamepletely transparent and disappeared.


    Su''en looked at the empty tent, his eyebrows raised.


    Thinking that Mr. Mirror was nearby, he contacted him with themunicator and walked out.


    After all, he still had the spoils of war from before, as well as many Sun God Stones...


    ***


    Due to the fog tide outbreak in the Dawn City ruins, the monsters in the entire cavern were very active.


    The fleeing group, after a brief rest of a few hours, was harassed by monsters again and continued on their way.


    In the following days, they encountered some small-scale monster attacks, but there were no major problems.


    Su''en followed the group, and life became very regr.


    He had obtained arge amount of alchemical materials and the "Puppeteer" profession''s books in the Dawn Important Prison''s cursed space, and he needed a lot of time to study them.


    Now, after developing his brain, he didn''t need to suppress negative emotions and could focus all his attention on learning. Su''en finally felt the joy of learning.


    There was a sense of achievement, and the brain was willing to ept new knowledge, unlike before when he couldn''t understand anything after looking at it for a long time, which was discouraging.


    Theplexity of high-tier alchemy knowledge increased exponentially, especially after the third tier, with dense data and theoretical knowledge that could be overwhelming.


    But Su''en found it fascinating.


    With the double learning aura from Sereya''s Blessing and Isaac''s Alchemy Manuscript, reading was like divine assistance.


    He could now maintain a clear mind for a long time and often had moments of "enlightenment," with extremely high learning efficiency.


    After harvesting the soul shards of rk and Oliver, two elite groups, he had a very solid grasp of knowledge below the third tier.


    With this foundation, he could quickly get started with fourth-tier knowledge.


    He was also learning "Runic Script," nning to make a batch of new puppet dolls...


    He also nned to try enchanting the witch''s hair with runes, giving the threads the sharpness and toughness of a de...


    The runes on the zombies could also be upgraded, using higher-level runes to make the bodies stronger and more agile...


    Every moment was precious. Su''en was voraciously learning, and his knowledge reserves were visibly soaring.


    On the other hand.


    Sabina''s "cultivation" was also diligent.


    After setting up camp, a mysterious cloaked person would always sneak into Su''en''s tent.


    She might bete, but she never missed a session.


    It also added some fun to Su''en''s somewhat monotonous study life.


    Moreover, to everyone''s amazement, Sabina, after days of hard work, actually managed to break through the long-standing bottleneck of the third tier!


    ***


    The fleeing group grewrger andrger, expanding from the initial thousands to tens of thousands, stretching for dozens of kilometers.


    The Dawn Ruins had beenpletely destroyed, and the fog-filled underground had be a paradise for monsters. This grand national hunting expedition hade to an end.


    No one dared to venture into the depths of the fog-shrouded cavern anymore. The fog might persist for many years.


    Many secrets were also buried underground.


    One day, the fleeing group finally reached Old London.


    On the walls of Old London.


    A pale-faced youth, surrounded by a group of burly men in suits, scrutinized the people entering the city.


    Beside the youth, a maid carefully drew a few drops of blood from his finger with a fine needle and handed it to the ck-faced old man in an expensive robe.


    The old man smeared the blood on the crystal ball in front of him and chanted. He was clearly performing a very sophisticated "Bloodline Divination."


    The Regalith family had not only sent a team to exorcise for Princess Theresa.


    But also these few people.


    At this moment, a butler-looking man in a tailcoat hurriedly walked up the city wall and reported to the pale-faced youth, "Master Evan, we just received urate news. The ruins have been engulfed by the fog tide, and Princess Theresa''s team has gone missing. The exorcist master, Master Matik, brought by the family has also lost contact. It seems likely that an ident has urred. We don''t know if it''s because of the fog tide or that evil spirit..."


    "Forget it, none of that matters anymore."


    Hearing this, the pale-faced youth''s expression was not good, and he said, "Have you confirmed it? Is Feick really that wanted criminal Su''en?"


    The butler continued, "It''s confirmed! Both the inner and outer cities have been divined, and he''s not in the city. The divination shows he''s still alive, so the only possibility is that he went hunting with the hunting group. He should be returning with them this time..."


    The pale-faced youth listened and frowned even more, "This coup failed, the Bonaparte regime was restored, the empress ascended to the throne, and the main family will definitely regain control. We absolutely cannot let that guy live to get out..."


    The butler listened silently, nodding from time to time.


    At this moment, the divination ended.


    The pale-faced youth looked over and asked, "Master Card, how did the divination go?"


    The ck-faced robe sorcerer shook his head, "I''ve tried three different divination methods, but the results of this assassination attempt are still very vague. I suspect that Feick may have a high-tier cursed object interfering. The only thing I can confirm is that if he appears within a three-kilometer range, I can pinpoint his location..."


    The pale-faced youth thought of something and nodded, "Thank you for your hard work, Master Card."


    After a pause, he spoke with a hint of disdain, "It must be that <em>[Hypnos''s Night Scythe]</em>. I heard that guy used that scythe to kill quite a few second-tier professionals, making quite a name for himself in Old London."


    The robe sorcerer shook his head slightly, "Master Evan, my divination has never encountered such a situation. It''s probably not just because of that scythe. I think we should not take it lightly."


    The pale-faced youth remained unconvinced, "Heh... no matter how strong, he''s at most a third-tier, right? Commander Milo, to ensure sess, once we find that guy, please take him down with one strike!"


    Upon hearing this, a ripple of light and shadow stirred beside the pale-faced youth, and a cold response came through, "Yes, young master!"


    The scene was set for a confrontation, with the pieces moving into ce. The walls of Old London stood silent, bearing witness to the schemes and the anticipation of a hunt that was about to unfold.

 Chapter 213: Mr. Mirror, save me!

    Chapter 213: Mr. Mirror, save me!<hr>


    Su''en waspletely engrossed in the study of alchemical knowledge.


    He mingled with the refugees and, before he knew it, found himself back in Old Lingdun.


    Theplete annihtion of Princess Theresa''s wilderness hunting party had caused a stir, and with the Duke''s residence demanding ountability, many in the power structures of Old Lingdun, especially the intelligence-gathering Umbre Organization, would face death. With such a major incident and no intelligence in their hands, they were already condemned.


    Sabina, the head of the intelligence officers in the outer city, was barely involved in this mission and thus not deeply implicated.


    However, she needed to make preparations to distance herself from the incident as much as possible, so she took the lead and returned to the city.


    Su''en didn''t need to worry about his maid, Sabina; her methods were far more formidable than her appearance suggested.


    ***


    From a distance, the sight of Old Lingdun''s towering city walls brought relief to everyone.


    The city was a dazzling array of lights, illuminating the pitch-ck underworld.


    The glow dispelled the gloom, and the lights provided a strong sense of security.


    The ecstatic joy of surviving disaster was evident on everyone''s faces.


    "Phew... finally back alive."


    "Yeah, it''s like we''ve snatched our lives back from the jaws of death. I''m nevering back to this cursed dungeon, even if it kills me..."


    "Hahaha... we''ve made enough from this wilderness hunt, we don''t have to leave the city for the rest of our lives. Jack, deputy leader, let''s take our brothers to the pleasure houses on Norton Street in the south city and soak it up for a month!"


    The outer city wilderness hunters were ustomed to their trade; survival meant a big profit.


    Now that they had made money, they excitedly hurried towards the city.


    But there was both joy and sorrow.


    The lords anddies of the inner city''s high society were downcast.


    They didn''tck money and had no need to risk their lives hunting in the wilderness; they would never have ventured into the dangerous dungeons if not for the Duke''s orders.


    They were now close to the city, with wide roads ahead.


    Various luxurious steam carriages waited by the roadside, belonging to the weing parties of the major families from the inner city.


    It was somewhat reminiscent of the airport pick-up scenes from Su''en''s previous life.


    Servants and butlers held up their family''s signs, and even the well-dressed lords anddies were present in person, each eagerly awaiting the return of their own.


    Those who saw their people rejoiced, while those who did not grew increasingly desperate.


    Many had gone to hunt in the underground wilderness, but it was estimated that less than twenty percent had returned.


    "Has anyone seen our Firefox Commerce''s people?"


    "Sir, have you seen the Turner family''s party?"


    "Damn it! Captain Bob, why are only a few of you back, where is the miss? Damn it, what''s the use of you living if the miss hasn''t returned? Take them to the gallows!"


    "Oh, Mr. Sandru, have you seen my little Ondo?"


    "Sorry, Mrs. Leonard. Before the fog tide erupted, I heard that Master Ondo''s team was still in the ruins, probably didn''t make it in time..."


    "Doctor! Doctor! Mrs. Leonard has fainted!"


    Bad news kepting, and the scene was filled with wails.


    ***


    Dressed as a wilderness hunter, Su''en blended into the crowd, undisturbed, and made his way towards Old Lingdun.


    For some reason, he felt a strange sensation today, as if someone was thinking of him from the shadows.


    Having read so many alchemical texts and learned much about mysticism, Su''en knew this was not a good sign.


    After practicing secret methods to strengthen his spirit, his mind had be more steadfast, meaning that inexplicable sensations, hallucinations, and misperceptions should diminish.


    Moreover, he would possess a<em> "passive perception"</em> ability, usually alerting him to mystical spells.


    If such feelings arose, it meant something bad was indeed happening.


    For instance, being the target of divination or a curse!


    And this feeling became more frequent the closer he got to Old Lingdun.


    Su''en frowned, muttering to himself, "Strange... Theresa''s team was annihted by the Fallen Angel, so divination shouldn''t fall on me. The Oliver and rk families were wiped out, so I have no enemies left. With Sabina handling the Umbre Organization, even if there were issues, she would have informed me in advance... Who in Old Lingdun could possibly be thinking of me?"


    He quickly ran through potential enemies in his mind.


    After eliminating the unlikely, a sudden thought struck him: "Could it be trouble rted to the original host''s identity?"


    Su''en hadn''t forgotten that since his transmigration, he had been constantly wanted.


    The enemies of the original host not only exiled him to this ck Tower but also sought to eradicate himpletely.


    Upon further thought, if it was divination, he would have sensed it, which meant the other party''s spiritual power wasn''t much higher than his own.


    Probably around the fourth tier?


    If it really was a fourth-tier professional diviner, it could only be someone from the surface.


    After all, if the original host''s family was indeed the dominant "Rega Earth Family" from the fragmented memories Su''en had pieced together, the problem seemed quite serious.


    "Or... could it just be a misperception?"


    Su''en couldn''t be sure whether the feeling was real or just his imagination, but he couldn''t let it stop him from entering the city.


    After all, this was Old Lingdun.


    Even if trouble arose, he was no longer alone; the people from the "Mirror Organization" were all in the city.


    If a fourth or fifth-tier enemy came, it wouldn''t be a threat but rather a delivery of materials.


    Despite this, Su''en remained cautious, constantly extending his perception to guard against being targeted.


    ***


    As Su''en blended into the crowd and approached the walls of Old Lingdun, suddenly, the diviner named Kad on the city wall noticed a sh of light in his crystal ball, revealing an image.


    He hurriedly spoke to the pale-faced youth lounging nearby, "Master Ewen, the target has appeared!"


    Hearing this, Ewen jolted, leaping to his feet and asking urgently, "Where?"


    Kad pointed in a direction, speaking rapidly, "Eleven o''clock, the man in brown leather armor wearing a bulging gas mask!"


    Ewen also spotted the target, his eyes filled with surprise, having waited for days. Hemanded, "Chase him! Captain Milo, he must not escape again!"


    "Yes, young master."


    A response came.


    At that moment, ripples spread through the air as if something had vanished from beside them.


    Just as they noticed, the diviner Kad let out a soft exmation, "Ah... such strong perception! It must be an ability rted to hostile perception. That eight-armed spider spear, that''s the <em>''SS wanted criminal Su''en''</em>."


    Finally, the person was found, and the task arranged by the family was about to bepleted. Ewen rxed slightly.


    He watched the fleeing figure and chuckled, "Hehe, it seems my cousin has been doing quite well underground. Having his memory erased, he still managed to cause such a stir."


    After a pause, he snorted disdainfully through his nose, "But what if he''s been discovered? Since Captain Milo has him in his sights, at this distance, there''s no way he can escape."


    "Hmm."


    Kad nodded in agreement.


    A fifth-tier professional assassin taking action to hunt down a second-tier target was undoubtedly a sure kill.


    Even if the target had that scythe, the <em>Night''s ck Scythe of Supnos</em>, death was certain!


    ***


    Although Su''en was unaware that he had long been awaited, the few hostile gazes that fell on him from the city wall did not escape his perception.


    Being able to pinpoint him in the crowd without a second thought, Su''en knew there was trouble.


    It seemed his previous spection was about toe true; those seeking the original host''s trouble had arrived!


    He decisively unleashed his eight-armed spider spear and fled into the caverns outside the crowd.


    Despite the enemy being two to three kilometers away, Su''en knew he couldn''t take this lightly.


    As he ran, he sent out a distress signal through hismunication ring.


    Because Su''en had already realized the enemy was very strong!


    Even with strong stealth capabilities and high-speed movement, one would inevitably leave some traces.


    His All-Seeing Eye was particrly sensitive to high-speed targets, naturally capturing the ripples spreading in the air.


    Clearly, a stealthy pursuer was on his tail!


    "This speed, could it be... a fifth-tier assassin?"


    Su''en caught a glimpse of the exaggerated speed and knew he couldn''t escape.


    He didn''t intend to flee.


    Without understanding why the original host was being hunted, even if he made it to the surface, troubles would continue to arise.


    Su''en knew that Mr. Mirror should be in the city, but it would take some time for him to arrive.


    He needed to hold on and not be killed on the spot.


    A second-tier facing a fifth-tier had no chance of victory.


    Su''en wasn''t so arrogant as to think he could face such a high-level expert head-on. He sped his hands together and chanted,<em> "Flesh Alchemy: Hormonal Frenzy!"</em>


    As the spell activated, hormones surged in his body, muscles stimted and swelling with explosive power, his speed increasing dramatically.


    At the same time, another spellpleted, and his skin suddenly shone with a dark golden metallic luster, the gold elements thickening.


    This state was clearly his strongest defensive spell, <em>Vajra</em>!


    Having done all this, Su''en didn''t feel any relief; instead, the sense of impending doom made the hairs on his back stand on end.


    It was as if the scythe of death was already touching his neck, half his life hanging by a thread...


    Su''en''s feet tapped the air, creating continuous<em> "pop" </em>sounds, but even so,pared to a professional assassin specialized in agility and strength, he was still far behind.


    Before long, Su''en darted into an uninhabited cavern.


    The cavern had aplexwork of passages, twisting and turning. With the eight-armed spider spear and spatial teleportation, he could almost ignore obstacles, and if not for shaking off the enemy, at least he could catch his breath.


    But Su''en found that the enemy was getting closer and closer.


    Not only was the eight-armed spider spear adept at obstacle discement, but professional assassins were also skilled at it.


    Climbing walls, burrowing holes, descending pits, swamp traps... none of these could hinder the pursuit of the fifth-tier assassin behind him.


    If it were a third-tier enemy, or even a fourth-tier not specialized in speed, Su''en might have already escaped.


    But facing this opponent, there was no chance of escape.


    "Canine talents? Scent tracking?"


    Su''en caught a glimpse of those faint green eyes; the speed was so fast, and he was still being pursued. Realizing the assassin must have a special tracking talent, no matter how he circled, the assassin followed the same path, confirming the scent tracking ability.


    However, discovering this was meaningless.


    The pressing chase left no room for Su''en to devise any countermeasures.


    The absolute difference in tier couldn''t bepensated for by strategy.


    Seeing that escape was impossible, Su''en chose a rtively spacious cavern and suddenly stopped.


    He sped his hands together, and a hexagram formation lit up in the sky, a massive cross quickly taking shape. Countless silver threads poured down, and with a pull of a scroll, nearly a hundred puppets were already guarding his side.


    ***


    The assassin, seeing Su''en stop, also halted a hundred meters away.


    He squinted, carefully surveying the environment.


    An assassin''s vignce was stronger than most other professionals, and intuition told him to be cautious.


    The previous divinations by Master Kad had yielded no results, indicating that the assassination would not be so simple.


    Moreover, during the chase, he had noticed that this "Mr. Fick" disyed abilities not typical of a second-tier professional.


    It couldn''t be said to be strong...


    In fact, it could be described as bizarrely strong!


    Even on the surface, he had killed countless professionals, but he had never seen a second-tier with such absurd methods.


    Was this the same person from the intelligence reports, merely a puppeteer relying on forbidden items tomit violence?


    Which damn second-tier puppeteer could outrun a third-tier professional assassin!


    He actually mastered the closebat discement secret Step on Air, can you believe it?


    And the bizarre situation of a hundred puppets arrayed before him, if it wasn''t a bluff, would make one mistakenly think they were facing a high-tier grand puppet master!


    Most importantly, thatposure in the face of danger...


    A second-tier facing a fifth-tier, the pressure of tier alone would make most professionals tremble, yet this man not only showed no fear in his eyes but also an unsettling calm.


    Milo suspected that this man had not had his memory erased at all!


    He sized up the web of silver threads and searched for any invisible targets, probing, "Hehe... Mr. Fick, not running anymore?"


    At this distance, there was no rush to act.


    Killing was just a thought away.


    Hearing this address, Su''en knew the other party was indeed after the original host. He kept his expression unchanged and deliberately asked, "Who are you, and why are you after me?"


    After all, he didn''t know how long it would take for Mr. Mirror to arrive, so he might as well stall for time.


    But how astonishing was an assassin''s intuition?


    Just this brief exchange made Milo vaguely realize: <em>he was buying time, waiting for reinforcements!</em>


    Thinking of the previous divination results, he felt something was amiss.


    His gaze shifted subtly, and he continued, "I didn''t expect you to be so strong. Young Master Ewen really underestimated you. If it weren''t for me personallying, others really wouldn''t be able to catch you..."


    Assassins were professionals who would do anything to achieve their goals, cunning and never underestimating their opponents.


    Although he was facing a second-tier professional, he didn''t let his guard down.


    Even as he spoke, his figure had already dissipated before their eyes.


    In the blink of an eye, he covered dozens of meters, a speed that left no time for reaction!


    Faster than Severus Gerald in his ''ck Joker'' state!


    ***


    Su''en''s eyes caught the sign of his movement, and the ck-glowing dagger was already before him, eximing in his heart, "Speed burst alchemy imnt!"


    Although he had seen fifth-tier professionals take action before, it was always from the sidelines.


    This time, he finally experienced the overwhelming pressure of a fifth-tier powerhouse.


    The pressure of being three whole tiers apart made him feel a sense of futility, as if any effort was in vain.


    At this moment, he felt the rity of his soul as death approached.


    Su''en''s All-Seeing Eye saw the enemy''s advance, but his body couldn''t keep up.


    He wanted to dodge, to use the puppets as a shield, but it was toote.


    Milo appeared in front of Su''en like teleportation, coldly raising his dagger.


    With a <em>"swish,"</em> the de slid past, easily severing the neck of "Su''en" amidst the puppets, a head rolling to the ground.


    However, there was no blood.


    Upon closer inspection, it was a wooden head.


    In fact, Milo had noticed the texture was off as soon as he struck.


    He narrowed his eyes, "Puppet trickery? You were prepared all along..."


    Milo sneered inwardly.


    Although he had dodged the de, the oue wouldn''t change!


    Almost simultaneously with the puppet being struck, a few meters away, a "trick doll" suddenly reached into the void and yanked, <em>"Silk Control Secret Art: Cocoon!"</em>


    Su''en didn''t expect his attack to harm the opponent; his goal was to control him first.


    With a tug, countless transparent threads suddenly converged and appeared, crisscrossing and weaving into a series ofs,yer uponyer, rapidly forming a "cocoon" that enveloped the assassin!


    Su''en had anticipated the enemy''s sneak attack and used a puppet trick to escape, giving him a moment to act.


    As the cocoon formed, a nearby invisible zombie swung down the ck scythe, aiming to cut the "cocoon" in half with a wide swing.


    However, even with the <em>Watkins'' Pocket Watch</em> doubling his speed, the moment the spatial rift appeared, the ck dagger inside the cocoon shed through theyers, and the shadow shed out.


    Su''en''s silver hair was extremely tough, but the sharpness of the fifth-tierw condensed on the dagger cut through the tightly woven like slicing through mud, failing to control the enemy at all.


    The assassin broke free and reappeared dozens of meters away.


    This time, he had pinpointed Su''en''s true location!


    Seeing the ck scythe miss the assassin, Su''en changed tactics, and a hundred Nightmare Dolls simultaneously vibrated their jaws, emitting a "gaga gaga" eerieughter.


    The creepyughter echoed in the cavern, inescapable.


    Some of these trick dolls were inscribed with third-tier runes, significantly increasing the power of the visual and auditory illusions.


    A hundred trick dolls acting at once, stacking mental illusions, might not control a high-tier professional, but affecting them for a moment was possible.


    Su''en chose this cavern with good acoustics for this very moment.


    Unexpectedly, this well-calcted move had no effect on the enemy at all!


    Upon closer inspection, Milo''s pupils emitted a green glow, and his ears had closed up.


    Such a level of visual and auditory illusions had no effect on him.


    Moreover, even with his hearing and part of his vision blocked, his movements remained agile.


    As Su''en manipted the trick dolls to attack, the dagger once again appeared at his heart.


    Milo was confident in this strike!


    However, the de bizarrely missed again.


    <em>"Huh..."</em> Milo was surprised, watching the figure he had hit suddenly dissipate.


    It wasn''t speed; it was spatial discement!


    "He''s even proficient in spatial spells?"


    A moment of gravity shed through Milo''s mind.


    But as an experienced old-school assassin, hisbat experience was vast.


    Although surprised, his hands didn''t slow down.


    Just as the de missed, he had already locked onto Su''en''s position again.


    ***


    This was the spatial instant-cast spell Su''en had obtained from Mr. ck  <em>Blink</em>.


    He had just mastered it two days ago, and now it was being put to use.


    But this life-saving spell could only disce him over a very short distance. The few meters of Blink were nothing to a fifth-tier assassin''s agility.


    Watching the ck-glowing dagger slice towards him again, Su''en desperately dodged, but the de still grazed his abdomen, cutting through the dark golden skin.


    Like a de through leather, the cut left a two-finger-deep wound, and a jet of blood sprayed out.


    It was a close brush with death.


    At that moment, Su''en truly felt the terror of life hanging by a thread.


    He quickly blinked again.


    But what shocked Milo even more was his reaction to the cut: <em>"Vajra? A third-tierw?!"</em>


    During the chase, he had thought he was overestimating "Mr. Fick," but it turned out he had underestimated him.


    The strike he had just delivered was imbued with a fifth-tier windw. Normally, it would have sliced through a second-tier like cutting through butter.


    Even if it hit the waist, the sharpness of the de should have bisected a second-tier professional instantly!


    But what did he see?


    He had assumed the golden glow on Su''en''s skin was a simr spell, but it turned out to be the real Vajra.


    A high-tier flesh alchemy spell that only fourth or even fifth-tier physical professionals could master proficiently.


    And what shocked him the most was the undeniable presence of aplete third-tier goldw in the Vajra!


    A second-tier professional knew Vajra and had even mastered aplete third-tierw?


    "This kid is tricky! I must kill him quickly!"


    Milo sensed something was wrong.


    All the bizarre signs indicated that there was something very unusual about this man.


    No matter how talented a person was, they couldn''t possess these abilities.


    So... there must be a powerful figure behind him!


    How could there be a powerhouse in this cavern capable of nurturing such a "monster"?


    The thought was terrifying, and he broke into a cold sweat.


    With that thought, his de became even sharper.


    ***


    The enemy''s offensive became more fierce.


    On the other hand, Su''en was in a dire state.


    He was barely managing, and his body was covered in cuts. If not for his robust physique, some of the trickier wounds could have been fatal.


    Surviving so many rounds in the hands of a fifth-tier professional assassin was no small feat.


    Such a record, not just for a second-tier professional but even for a third-tier, would be a source of pride.


    Now, having exhausted all his methods just to stay alive, the enemy had figured out all his abilities.


    Life and death hung by a thread.


    If the fight continued, Su''en knew he was doomed.


    Finally, Su''en, caring not for his dignity, shouted at the top of his lungs, <em>"Mr. Mirror, save me!"</em>

 Chapter 214: Some world background

    Chapter 214: Some world background<hr>


    Su''en had witnessed Mr. Mirror''s capabilities and knew she possessed a bizarre discement technique that rivaled spatial teleportation.


    It was like the projection of light and shadow from a mirror; once reflected, she was there.


    He didn''t know the extent of her discement range, buting from Old Lingdun, it certainly wouldn''t take long.


    Su''en was almost certain Mr. Mirror had arrived.


    He even suspected she had been there for a while, watching the fight from the sidelines.


    But since it was just spection, he felt uneasy.


    What if she hadn''te?


    The enemy''s killing intent was palpable, forcing Su''en to fight with all his might...


    But to bait the fish, someone had to be there to reel it in.


    ***


    With Su''en''s shout, Milo was frightened, thinking there must be reinforcements.


    He wanted to kill Su''en quickly toplete his mission.


    But the neer was more terrifying than he had anticipated.


    Following that shout, the air around him suddenly became sticky, trapping him like he was in a quagmire, sinking deeper into despair.


    This technique, capable of suppressing even a fifth-tier strength-based assassin, was terrifyingly high in rank.


    What kind of professional could lurk in the depths of the earth?!


    The thought shed through his mind.


    Without hesitation, Milo turned to flee.


    But, how could he possibly escape?


    Since Su''en had lured him to this deserted cavern, the goal was to ensure the battle went unnoticed.


    Mr. Mirror could act without restraint.


    Previously, Mr. Mirror couldn''t act recklessly for fear of exposing herself.


    Not because she feared the ck Tower finding out, but rather the Fallen Angel bing aware.


    Now that the threat of Pestoya had been thoroughly resolved, there were no more concerns.


    As long as the kill was clean, there wouldn''t be a problem.


    Watching his enemy flee, Su''en also breathed a sigh of relief. His wounds were severe, flesh turned inside out, and in some ces, white bone was visible  it was quite horrific.


    But as long as he wasn''t dead on the spot, it wasn''t a big issue.


    He used the Warlock''s seal, and the green Hexagram of the Life Alchemy technique lit up. He threw down dozens of curse crystals, and both the poison and wounds began to heal rapidly.


    This "money-saving" emergency technique was something Su''en had mastered particrly well.


    Since Mr. Mirror had personally intervened, there was no suspense in the subsequent battle.


    After waiting a while and hearing the noise diminish, Su''en followed the trail.


    He wasn''t there to join the fight but to collect the corpse.


    Sure enough, by the time he arrived, he saw that the assassin had already be a corpse. The wounds on the body were horrific, with shards like broken ss embedded everywhere, as if he had been torn apart.


    When Su''en arrived, he saw Mr. Mirror in a cloak and greeted her, "Mr. Mirror."


    Mr. Mirror nced at him and nodded, "Hmm."


    Before knowing Mr. Mirror''s identity, Su''en always felt a sense of awe towards this top-tier professional who had lived for a thousand years.


    But after hearing from Pestoya that her name was "Ophelia," and confirming her identity, the respect remained, but the mystique was gone.


    After all, by seniority, he should call her... Sister!


    If he wasn''t mistaken, Mr. Mirror''s real name was "Ophelia Fei Isaac." She was Sir Isaac''s eldest daughter, Pestoya''s biological sister!


    Su''en remembered the first day he crossed over, in the cursed space of Storm Manor, he saw a family portrait in the study with that name on it.


    Later, Pestoya invited him to the "Bloody Banquet." At that time, three important people to her were turned into dolls on the dining table. Besides Sir Isaac and Sereya, there was also a youngdy  <em>it was her.</em>


    Su''en hadn''t thought about it before, just didn''t expect she had truly lived for a thousand years.


    Since Su''en was taken as a disciple by Sereya, his seniority was suddenly elevated, making him a peer of Mr. Mirror.


    Their rtionship was also very close.


    Shouting that way was probably like calling for a parent when he couldn''t win a fight, nothing to be embarrassed about.


    ***


    Mr. Mirror left the corpse, naturally waiting for Su''en to harvest the memory.


    Su''en didn''t hesitate and went straight over to devour the grey mist.


    <em>"You have obtained ''Milo Jars'' memory fragments*7''"</em>


    <em>"You have gained a piece of information: ''I didn''t expect the new policy to fail... Killing this Fick, for the survival of the Rega Land family, the n council won''t hold us ountable...''"</em>


    <em>"You haveprehended a vast amount of assassination knowledge."</em>


    <em>"You have acquired ''Aerial Kick Technique'', and understood the movement skill [Levitating Chain Kicks]"</em>


    <em>"You have mastered arge amount of ''1~5 tier Alchemy knowledge''"</em>


    <em>"You have grasped an iplete fifth-tier wind element principle, mastering the elemental condensation technique [Secret Art: Wind Element sh]"</em>


    <em>"You have gained arge amount of assassinbat experience,bat experience +411"</em>


    <em>"Spiritual power +4.6"</em>


    Any professional capable of advancing to the fifth tier is a person of extraordinary talent.


    This guy''s soul fragments certainly didn''t disappoint.


    As expected, he harvested many assassin abilities, but those assassin skills required physical attributes to support them. Although Su''en could use them, the power was far from that of a professional assassin, somewhat superfluous.


    However, the assassin skills were secondary; the most important gain was those high-tier iplete wind element principles!


    "Wind Element sh?"


    Su''en digested the memory and immediately understood the potency of this alchemy technique.


    This wasn''t a skill just anyone could learn; it was a subtle understanding of elemental maniption.


    Simr to the Step of Emptiness, it couldn''t be learned by study alone; it required a lot of time to prehend."


    It was a skill that professionals below the third tier could not possess.


    If [Diamond Body] was about addingyers of gold element barriers to the body, then [Wind Element sh] was like adding a "sharp" temporary enchantment to the body, or a weapon.


    The assassin could easily cut through Su''en''s threads because of the dagger''s sharpness, but more importantly, because of this elemental "cutting" attribute.


    This was a very useful and powerful high-tier technique.


    Perfect for cutting through tough defenses, ideal for slicing and breaking through!


    "If I conduct it through the threads to the puppet, the puppet''s physical damage capability would be greatly enhanced..."


    Su''en had already thought of the practicalbat application of this techniquebined with his puppets.


    Relying solely on the sharpness of a de was bing insufficient in high-tier professional battles.


    Any enemy with a few protective techniques would make it difficult to break through their defenses.


    But the defense-breaking effect of the same-tier<em> [Wind Element sh]</em> was at least several times higher than that of <em>[Sharpness Runes]!</em>


    Combined, they perfectlypensated for the puppets''ck of breaking power.


    Gaining knowledge was one part, by stripping the "Assassin Commander" of the Rega Land family,


    Su''en finally understood the identity of the original owner.


    ***


    After stripping some memory fragments before, and now stripping some more, he had roughly pieced together the map of the surface world.


    The surface world had two major empires, one was the ind nation "Royal Dynasty of Luyin," and the other was the "Mafa Mechanical Empire" on the eastern maind.


    The two empires faced each other across the sea, separated by the Luyin Strait.


    Besides these, there were various small kingdoms, duchies, and independent territories.


    But most were affiliated with the two major empires.


    Beyond these, the northern frigidnds had vast ice fields known as the "Barbaric Lands," with arctic trolls, orcs, giants, and barbarians active.


    That region was synonymous with chaos, primitiveness, and savagery.


    "The King of the Northern Sea," Oleg, and his group of Viking pirates came from the northern ice fields.


    Of course, this was just what the two empires and their nearby known territories were aware of, and Su''en''s stripped memories were limited to the areas where humans were active.


    This world had too many unknowns.


    To the south of Mafa, there was the "Demonic Beast Mountain Range," an endless mountainous area. There lived various demonic beasts, and legends spoke of centaurs, mountain dwarves, and half-elves... these ancient intelligent races.


    Further, to the west of the Royal Dynasty of Luyin, in the vast ocean, no one knew where the end of the sea was. It was a paradise for oceanic races and various sea monsters. Ancient adventurers'' logs and traveling bards'' songs told of inds where dragons dwelled, inds with beautiful serpent women, and inds with sealed evil gods... and so on.


    Deep in the seay endless treasures covered by the dust of history, sunken ships filled with gold and silver, treasures from ancient wars, and pirate kings'' loot...


    Or perhaps in some cave onnd, there might be hidden treasures left by ancient civilizations...


    The rich historical heritage added a thickyer of the unknown and mystery to this world.


    Like a thick tome, flipping through one page reveals another even more fascinating page beneath.


    Page by page, one might eventually reach the splendid era of the gods'' creation.


    ***


    The Su''en''s body original owner''s Rega Land family had a rather special status.


    It was a territory that existed under the Royal Dynasty of Luyin, yet different from other territories.


    Strictly speaking, they were exiled royalty, the former royal family of the Mafa Empire.


    Over a hundred years ago, when a mythological dwarven relic was discovered, a technological revolution erupted. Steam machinery and various mechanical technologies sprouted like bamboo after rain.


    A portion of alchemists began to be obsessed with researching various machines.


    The new school of "Mechanical Alchemists" was born.


    They delved into mechanical alchemy, inventing various mechanical equipment. The power of machinery gradually influenced life, and mechanical alchemists used their knowledge to create mech battleships, steam airships, mechanical gear, and various powerful firearms. Even untrainedmoners could have thebat power of professionals with mechanical gear...


    But technological revolutions usually mean conflict with some ancient orders.


    Machines reced manpower, abolished very, and gave rights to themon people...


    The mechanical revolution made the nobles feel their rights were threatened.


    The reason nobles were noble was fundamentally because they had the superiority of enving their own kind.


    Initially, those powerful mechanical alchemists founded the "Mechanical Sect."


    As time went on, this organization''s influence among themon people grew.


    The nobles felt a sense of crisis that the order was about to copse.


    So, the Mafa Emperor at the time, "Rega Land the Eleventh," began to suppress the Mechanical Sect, trying to nip mechanical alchemy in the bud.


    Then... the ending was tragic.


    The mechanical alchemists overthrew the decaying old Mafa Empire, establishing the new Mafa Mechanical Empire.


    And as the royal family, the "Rega Land family" began their exile.


    Eventually, with the support of their old rival, the Royal Dynasty of Luyin, they took a southern ind as their territory, until now.


    And now, the two major empires of the surface world, and the structure of Old Lingdun, were also roughly the same, divided into two factions of alchemists.


    The old school and the new school.


    ***


    "Always thinking of restoring the country, it''s such a cliche...."


    Su''en digested the memory and finally understood why the original owner was being hunted.


    Because they were royalty a hundred years ago, the Rega Land family still took pride in this and even regarded themselves as an ancient family with a status equivalent to the royal families of the two major empires.


    Always thinking of restoring the country, they contacted various forces...


    And because the Mafa Mechanical Empire was growing stronger, the Royal Dynasty of Luyin also had some internal divisions.


    They faced the same situation as the old Mafa Empire; the mechanical revolution would shake the rulers'' power and change the existing social order.


    The key was the defeat in war.


    This war that hadsted a hundred years, from the beginning with the Royal Dynasty of Luyin''s one-sided advantage, to a stalemate in the middle, and now gradually weakening...


    Among peers, the old school alchemists indeed had an absolute advantage inbat power.


    Especially in the circle of top-tier professionals, mechanical warriors would fall further behind.


    But training a third-tier professional takes many years and requires one in a million talent and countless resources;


    To make a third-tier equivalentbat mech, mass production probably only takes a day.


    One can predict the future decline of the Royal Dynasty of Luyin.


    So, a part of the empire also wanted to reform.


    Then came various party struggles.


    The current family head, the original owner''s father, Kelson Rega Land, was a staunch royalist. After all, they were once royalty and naturally wanted to maintain the existing noble order.


    About a year ago, the revolution seeded, the new party came to power, and Emperor Bonaparte IX of Luyin was forced to abdicate, dying of depression not long after.


    Kelson happened to be in the capital and was implicated, detained, awaiting trial.


    His offspring were either exiled or imprisoned, and the original owner was one of the unlucky ones.


    The Rega Land family is now flourishing, with even more members than a hundred years ago.


    Those with this surname in the "Aon Territory" probably number in the tens of thousands.


    With the main family weakened, the branch families grew stronger.


    Thinking the family head was doomed, the branches of the Rega Land family began to act up, vying for power.


    To eliminate future troubles, they nned to kill off all the main family''s offspring.


    Hence, the original owner was exiled and had a bounty on his head.


    But unexpectedly, a few monthster, the plot twisted.


    The Empress returned with a strong hand, suppressing various factions with an iron fist, and the revolution failed, restoring the Bonaparte dynasty.


    And now, the original owner''s father was about to return to the territory...


    It seems the branches had no intention of letting the original family head return alive.


    ***


    As a transmigrator, Su''en had no interest in family infighting.


    He didn''t n to be a "royal descendant."


    But seeing the situation, the other party nned to eradicate them.


    However, it wasn''t a big problem; the surface world was endlessly vast, and avoiding the Rega Land family was easy enough.


    A myriad of thoughts shed through his mind, but only moments passed in reality.


    Mr. Mirror quietly watched Su''en digest the soul fragments.


    Clearly, she had also realized that Su''en had guessed her identity.


    Although her face was unclear, she seemed a bit... resigned.


    Su''en looked at the big shot who hade to save him and sincerely thanked her, "Thank you, Mr. Mirror."


    Mr. Mirror shook her head, seemingly unconcerned, "Not bad."


    Su''en knew she was referring to the previous battle.


    Being able to rescue him so timely meant she had arrived early and had been watching.


    Her purpose was self-evident; naturally, she wanted him to face a fifth-tier enemy himself and feel that pressure.


    Su''en also felt he had handled it quite well; after all, being able to hold on for so long against a fifth-tier as a second-tier was enough to make anyone proud.


    But unexpectedly, after a pause, Mr. Mirror said something profound, "Without experiencing death, you can never understand thews of death, nor can youprehend some things on the ''spirit'' and ''will'' level... Without nurturing spirit and will, it''s like a person without bones, no matter how skilled, the achievement is limited. That''s something no one can exin clearly, not even a [Death Harvester] can harvest it, you can onlyprehend it yourself."


    Hearing this, Su''en knew Mr. Mirror was guiding him towards some high-level cultivation secrets.


    After a brief thought, those words seemed to imprint on his heart, and he immediately had an epiphany.


    He said seriously, "I''ve learned a lot, Mr. Mirror."


    Hearing this, Mr. Mirror shook her head slightly and took the initiative to say, "You should have guessed my identity. When there are no outsiders, you can call me... Sister."


    It was already a peer rtionship, and calling her "Mr." was naturally inappropriate.


    Especially since she was his mother''s disciple.


    Su''en listened and nodded, "Alright, Sister."


    Mr. Mirror didn''t intend to stay long and added, "We need some external information. Emmerich is handling those people on the city wall, so you don''t need to worry about that."


    She paused, looked at Su''en, and added, "And... be careful yourself."


    Su''en nodded.


    With another look, the cloaked figure of Mr. Mirror had already dissipated before his eyes.


    ***


    Su''en looked at the corpse on the ground, silently storing it in his spatial storage.


    He didn''t linger and immediately left the battlefield.


    Although Mr. Mirror''s words were cryptic, the message was clear: <em>A person''s mindset can change in afortable environment, without them realizing it.</em>


    He also immediately understood.


    It''s instinct.


    Su''en was awakened by that sentence.


    When he first crossed over, survival was a problem, and he had to remain vignt at all times.


    Now, having met all these powerful allies, subconsciously, there was a sense of reliance on fort" in his heart.


    If he were alone, or if he was sure Mr. Mirror might not help, he would never have entered the city with doubts.


    Because he was certain Mr. Mirror would help.


    That''s why he thought of taking the opportunity to hunt and harvest a fifth-tier professional...


    Indeed, he was a bit reckless.


    This Sister, though seemingly indifferent, was quite attentive.

 Chapter 215: Mechanical puppet, hair, bubble bath

    Chapter 215: Mechanical puppet, hair, bubble bath<hr>


    Having eliminated several members of the Rega family, Su''en finally rid himself of the nagging feeling of being watched.


    He returned to the main road, blending into the crowd of refugees making their way back, walking unhurriedly towards Old London.


    Gazing at the towering city walls, Su''en couldn''t help but feel a twinge of mncholy.


    Initially, when he was hunted down with nowhere to turn, he had fled the city in a sorry state to seek refuge in the wilderness.


    Now, returning to this once-mysterious metropolis, its veil had beenpletely lifted.


    The ck Tower, the mines, very, exile...


    These were the "truths" that a small-time gangster like him could never have imagined.


    Indeed, the view from the top was different...


    After entering the city, Su''en didn''t wander aimlessly.


    He headed to the Southern Cross Society''s territory and returned to Green Street.


    This was where he felt most at home, a ce offort.


    Fortunately, his current face wasn''t on record with the Umbre Organization, so he could wander the streets without attracting attention.


    The city was as bustling as ever, with factory steam boilers puffing white smoke and people bustling about.


    The disaster at the Dawn Relic must have imed many lives in the inner city. But for themoners of the outer city, the big shots of the inner city were from a different world.


    They continued to eat, drink, and live as if nothing had changed.


    Even a major incident couldn''t stop them from earning their monthly sry of two thousand Lis.


    Su''en found a hotel near Green Street and settled into a routine life.


    He always felt pressed for time, needing to meditate, study, craft, research, and practice...


    Although he was now a second-tier practitioner, he was considered a top-tier expert in Old London. Even against third-tier opponents, he had a fighting chance.


    But this level was far from sufficient in the surface world.


    ording to Mr. Mirror, once Qiantiao and the others advanced to the fourth tier, they would storm the tower.


    Time was of the essence, and Su''en needed to quickly enhance his own strength.


    ***


    Days passed in the blink of an eye.


    Su''en stayed in his hotel room without leaving.


    During this time, Sabina visited once, bringing a trove of top-secret information.


    Princess Theresa''s death had been confirmed, the inner city was in turmoil, and many had perished.


    Nearly half of the Umbre Organization''s upper echelons had been wiped out.


    Sabina, having made some preparations in advance, not only avoided being implicated but was also promoted due to her advancement to a third-tier professional and a rise in military rank. With the inner city official Peacock''s support, she was promoted to the inner city, joining the small circle at the very top of the Umbre Organization.


    This provided Su''en with even more top-secret intelligence.


    On the other hand, after the news from the relic returned, the head family of the Reiss n changed their steady approach drastically. The family head, Carnegie Reiss, began to frantically sell off family assets andpany shares, amassing arge amount of cash.


    Others didn''t know why, thinking that the Reiss head family''s hunting team had been wiped out and was on the brink of copse.


    But Su''en knew they were preparing to leave for the outside of the tower.


    The Reiss family was supported by Mr. Mirror from the start, and naturally, they would leave together this time.


    ***


    On this day, in room 303 of the Musketeer Hotel.


    The room was densely packed with various materials and mechanical parts, with countless threads hanging in the air.


    Su''en was tinkering with a mechanical puppet equipped with a "PZ-911 Mechanical Limb," the "Iron Man Mark IV."


    Without the conditions of a preciseboratory,cking air cirction and filtration systems, the room was filled with a rust-like vtile toxic gas. Su''en, wearing a beak-shaped gas mask, was installing a mechanical arm with a miniature steam boiler.


    The mechanical arm was spray-painted with the words "BH Type Steam Hammer" in white.


    This was a trophy from the raid on the Duke''s estate.


    Even in the surface world, it was a top-tier mechanical arm.


    Once equipped with this steam hammer, the mechanical puppet could deliver a punch with the force of a third-tier flesh series professional, easily prating armored vehicle ting.


    While busy with the task at hand, Su''en''s controlling spider spears also retrieved a piece of heather stem soaked in grease from a nearby sk. After weighing, cutting, and calcting the dosage, he tossed it into a crucible burning on a nearby table, returning the excess to the sk to prevent oxidation. After stirring, another spider spear adjusted the fierce mes, and the orange-yellow metallic liquid in the crucible began to boil violently...


    His multitasking skills were increasingly refined, and his brain could process more tasks simultaneously.


    He alone was as efficient as ten other people.


    Su''en timed it perfectly, pouring the freshly smelted solution from the crucible and, with a specially made rune pen dipped in the golden liquid, began inscribing runes on the mechanical puppet...


    Having harvested the memory fragments of over a thousand elites at the Dawn Relic, his rune-crafting skills had reached "Master Level," and he was now adept at crafting third-tier runes.


    But he remained cautious,yering the runes more and more intricately.


    Once the runes were outlined, a miraculous scene unfolded under his pen. The runes glowed golden,ing to life and rotating in a special pattern.


    These were no ordinary runes but a wind variant from the "Runic Alphabet" - the <em>Super Load-Bearing Rune</em>.


    Runic Alphabet required divergent thinking. To tinker with the desired runes, one needed a plethora of experiments and brilliant inspiration.


    However, as Sir Isaac said, this was the best of times.


    Standing on the shoulders of giants afforded Su''en many conveniences. Those ancient alchemistspiled their research into volumes. Among the books he had brought from the Dawn Central Prison''s cursed space were many finished rune blueprints. There was no need for him to delve into research; he could use them directly.


    ***


    Before long, the partial rune inscription wasplete, and Su''en let out a long sigh of relief.


    Inscribing runes of the same tier as the Runic Alphabet was several times more difficult than ordinary runes, and the slightest mistake could ruin everything.


    He looked at his work with a hint of anticipation.


    With a gesture of his hand, the mechanical puppet slowly stood up. The boiler activated, and the runes on its body lit up simultaneously. The dense wind element gathered around the puppet, lifting its several hundred kilograms.


    "The calctions were correct; the load-bearing rune reduced the puppet''s weight by ny percent, barely achieving agility. The energy consumption is also within an eptable range..."


    Su''en tested the mechanical puppet''s movements, flexing its joints. It was fairly agile, and his brows gradually rxed.


    He meticulously recorded the data from this experiment in his notebook, then mused to himself, "The mechanical puppet hasn''t been equipped with heavy armor yet. Its offensive capability is about right, but to reachbat level, it needs to be significantly heavier, and third-tier runes won''t achieve the current effect. Plus, ordinary refined steel can''t be inscribed with suchplex runes; it must be high-grade magical materials. The cost aside, materials are a big problem..."


    Thinking this, Su''en scribbled something else in his notebook.


    This was, after all, an experiment.


    Now, the results proved that his line of thinking was entirely correct.


    With technology, runes, and some special materials, it was entirely possible to create a mechanically flexible puppet.


    The shorings of machinery were quite apparent: <em>clumsiness, slow reactions, low sensitivity...</em>


    But the advantages were also obvious: <em>strength, defense, cost...</em>


    And in certainbat scenarios, they had an undeniable magical effect, such as sieges, trench warfare, mass battles,rge-scale mechanical wars!


    As a transmigrator, Su''en was not averse to mechanical technology because technology was constantly innovating and developing. Its potential, like alchemy, was limitless.


    Alchemy plus machinery could definitely spark magic.


    "If only I could get my hands on the research materials for the ''Super Mechanical Warrior.'' It''s a pity those are the Duke''s top secrets, and even Sabina can''t ess them..."


    Su''en muttered to himself, recognizing his shorings.


    At that thought, another idea popped into his head: "The mechanical technology of the Luyin Empire is still behind; Mafa is the holynd for mechanical alchemists. I must visit if I get the chance."


    ***


    After testing the mechanical puppet, Su''en began to tinker with his rune puppets and threads.


    Having stripped the soul fragment from a fifth-tier assassin a few days ago and mastered <em>Wind Element Cutting</em>, Su''en had been researching and found that this ability was highlypatible with his profession.


    He originally intended to transfer this cutting ability to the puppet to enhance its armor-piercing attributes. But after some experimentation, he found that applying it directly to the threads was also highly effective!


    Under normal circumstances, a witch''s hair, no matter how tough, couldn''t withstand the condensation of wind elements beyond the second tier. It would be like throwing soft meat into a meat grinder, shredded to pieces.


    But if toughness wascking, it could bepensated with toughness runes.


    Engraving runes on hair strands was a high-level skill.


    Fortunately, Su''en was skilled in runes, and this experiment actually seeded, albeit with low efficiency. With the help of eight spider spears and his hands, he could only engrave about twenty to thirty meters of hair in a whole day.


    Wearing a magnifying monoclemonly used by mechanics, Su''en carefully inscribed the hair strands under the magnified view. After busying himself for most of the day, a strand of hair with a special silver glow was in his hands. Infusing it with wind elements, the hair suddenly became sharp, visibly keen to the naked eye.


    <em>"Phew~"</em>


    Thepletion was satisfactory, and Su''en exhaled lightly.


    With a slight movement of his fingers, the hair strand floated down gently in the air.


    And when itnded on the wooden table leg, without any force, it effortlessly sliced through.


    Looking at the effect, Su''en''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    The flowing wind elements were like a high-frequency cutting machine, seemingly imperceptible but the sharpest thing Su''en had seen below the third tier.


    Although the hair strand was still fragile, it had reached the pinnacle of sharpness. This special hair strand, condensed with third-tier windws, could easily cut through steel armor and the defenses of third-tier professionals.


    Used well, it could slice through professionals below the third tier like cutting through vegetables.


    With this invention, Su''en had added a new ace to his arsenal.


    Su''en had no ns to go out, intending to make a few more meters of rune hair.


    But unexpectedly, hismunicator rang, and it was the gambling-addicteddy inviting him for a drink.


    "Qiantiao has advanced to the fourth tier?"


    Hearing the message from themunicator, Su''en guessed what it meant.


    They hadn''t seen each other since thest relic expedition.


    But thinking of the many <em>Sunstones</em> they had acquired, she must have gone into seclusion to break through.


    With that in mind, Su''en didn''t continue to stay in the hotel but packed up his materials and headed out.


    ***


    Kay lived in a basement not far from Su''en''s hotel.


    His routine was simr to Su''en''s, staying in the basement and training like a madman every day.


    Qiantiao had also invited him, but with his skin still blue and no face to show, he didn''t join them.


    So Su''en rode his motorcycle alone to Norton Street.


    When Green Street''s entertainment venues were destroyed, the gambling dens, taverns, and pleasure baths all moved here.


    A few months had passed, and the ce was even more bustling.


    This was Qiantiao''s territory.


    Her public identity was still that of a Cross Society executive.


    Parking his motorcycle by the roadside, a few punk-styled thugs squatted on the curb, eyeing Su''en, the stranger.


    Su''en found it familiar; this was his old job on Green Street.


    He dutifully paid the watching fee to the Cross Society''s gang members and casually asked, "Hey, brother, have you seen Qiantiao?"


    The mohawked leader with a lip ring was taken aback. Anyone who could ask in such a tone was clearly from the underworld, so he replied, "Qiantiao is at the Grand Lisboa Casino..."


    "Thanks~"


    Hearing this, Su''en couldn''t help but smile wryly.


    Sure enough, it was right not to go to the agreed tavern.


    That gambling-addicteddy, with money in her pocket, couldn''t walk past a gambling den.


    He headed straight for the casino, lit with purple-red lights in the distance.


    Along the way, various pimps approached him.


    "Sir, want a girl? Top-ss goods just sent out from the inner city, real nobledies~"


    "Brother, drink? Our Blue Moon Tavern has the best girls, the best booze."


    "How about some hallucinogens? Certified alchemist''s product, guaranteed quality..."


    "..."


    The environment was noisy, with debauchery on one side and extortion, beatings, murders, and corpses in the dark alleys nearby.


    Su''en''s face always bore a rxed smile; this was the outer city, the environment he was familiar with.


    After entering the gambling den and exchanging some chips, led by scantily ddies, he easily found Qiantiao gambling in the VIP room.


    She was still in her battle kimono, showing off her intimidating tattooed arms.


    "Seven! Seven! Seven! Oh, damn..."


    Seeing Su''en arrive, she was still earnestly shuffling cards.


    Su''en thought that after advancing to the fourth tier, Qiantiao would be aloof. After all, in Old London, a fourth-tier was considered an extraordinary expert. But in reality, she hadn''t changed at all, still as carefree as ever.


    Losing the game, she saw Su''en and gestured to the seat next to her, warmly calling out, "Come, here~"


    Su''en walked over, and Qiantiao, as usual, wrapped her arm around his shoulder, "What should we bet on next?"


    During their stay at the hunting camp''s hotel, they had shared a room for a few days, and this gambling-addicteddy no longer treated him as a stranger.


    Su''en saw her enjoying the gamble and didn''t say much, just sat beside her and joined her.


    In the end, the nned drink didn''t happen, and they gambled for a few hours in the gambling den.


    Qiantiao lost all her chips.


    Only then did she reluctantly let Su''en pull her out of the gambling den.


    ***


    When they left the gambling den, it was already midnight.


    But on Norton Street, it was the busiest time.


    As soon as Qiantiao stepped out, she was stillmenting the previous game, muttering, "Ah, if I had known you wereing, I should have left then. I was winning at that time."


    She sounded like a seasoned gambler.


    Win and don''t leave, lose and regret.


    Listening, Su''en smiled, "Qiantiao, why did you call me out?"


    "To drink."


    Qiantiao thought about it, then pouted and changed her mind, "Forget it, I lost money, I''m not in the mood to drink."


    After a pause, she added, "Come on, I''ll treat you to a bath."


    "..."


    Su''en didn''t mind either.


    Drinking or bathing, both were fine.


    With that decided, they went to get their vehicles.


    Walking along, Su''en casually asked, "Qiantiao, why do you like gambling so much?"


    This was something he had always been puzzled about.


    Logically, high-tier professionals had much stronger willpower than ordinary people.


    And for an expert like Qiantiao, winning or losing a few million shouldn''t have much impact on her, nor should it be so attractive.


    But she seemed to enjoy it endlessly.


    Qiantiao casually replied, "Because I like it."


    She countered, "Don''t you find gambling pleasurable?"


    Su''en looked uninterested, "Not really."


    Theoretically, gambling does bring immense pleasure, with dopamine secretion during wins possibly dozens of times higher than during sex. This is also why gambling addiction is so powerful.


    Her statement wasn''t wrong.


    But that''s for ordinary people,


    Not for a high-tier professional.


    Qiantiao nced at him, with a look of disdain as if he had missed out on one of life''s great pleasures. She didn''t dwell on the topic and asked, "Where are the car keys?"


    After a pause, she added, "I just pawned my car to the gambling den..."


    Qiantiao didn''t consider Su''en a stranger, and she didn''t feel embarrassed to say this.


    "..."


    Su''en''s eye twitched, and he tossed the keys to her.


    Qiantiao, the big sister of the underworld, wouldn''t sit in the back seat. Su''en didn''t mind; it wasn''t the first time anyway.


    Qiantiao''s personality made her popr in the gang, without the airs of an executive, and the gang members were familiar with her. Seeing her with a young man in the back seat, the Cross Society''s gang members teased her.


    "Whoa~ Qiantiao, you''ve changed your taste?"


    "Hahaha... It''s my first time seeing a man in Qiantiao''s back seat."


    "Tsk tsk... Kid, good luck, we''re rooting for you~"


    "..."


    Amidst theughter and teasing from the big guys, Qiantiao didn''t mind, flipping a friendly international gesture and cursing with a smile, "Get lost~ Watch the ce properly!"


    ***


    The engine roared, and the motorcycle sped off.


    Su''en no longer felt uneasy as before, naturally wrapping his arms around Qiantiao''s smooth waist.


    "Take a spin?"


    "Sure."


    They didn''t go straight to the bathhouse but took a ride around the streets and alleys of the southern city.


    Since it waste at night, away from the entertainment district, there were few people in other areas.


    The roar of the motorcycle seemed to be the only sound in the silent night.


    The speed wasn''t too fast, and Qiantiao looked content.


    Sitting in the back seat, Su''en was somewhat bored and asked, "Qiantiao, have you advanced to the fourth tier?"


    Qiantiao''s voice, mixed with the wind, poured into his ears, "Yeah."


    Her casual tone left Su''en with no follow-up.


    He had thought that Qiantiao inviting him out for a drink was to celebrate her advancement.


    It seemed that this gambling-addicteddy didn''t care at all.


    After a while of silence, the atmosphere turned slightly cold.


    Qiantiao probably felt it too and suddenly brought up the previous topic, "Didn''t you just ask me why I like gambling?"


    Su''en perked up at her tone, "Hmm?"


    After a moment of contemtion, Qiantiao finally said, "Rakshasa women are destined to be lonely stars, born for ughter. Without finding other joys, life is very dull..."


    "..."


    Hearing this, Su''en finally understood.


    It seemed certain talents dide with special drawbacks.


    For example, cat women instinctively fear canines, fire elementals dislike water...


    And this <em>A-022-Rakshasa Woman</em> talent, strong as it was, even had this "lonely star" stiption?


    ***


    Before long, the motorcycle pulled up in front of "A''Kun''s Bathhouse."


    Su''en had been here several times and knew his way around. After cleaning up, he didn''t need any guidance. As Qiantiao''s guest, the attendants didn''t ask too many questions.


    He went straight to the mixed bathing "Three Springs Pool."


    During his previous visits, the pool usually had a few of Qiantiao''s trusted heavyweights.


    But this time, there were no other guests.


    However, there was an unexpected person in the pool.


    "Mrs. Filo?"


    This was the person Su''en had met once before, a mysterious benefactor of the Cross Society, the legendary Mrs. Filo.


    Su''en looked at her with a slightly puzzled expression.

 Chapter 216: Pirates are coming

    Chapter 216: Pirates areing<hr>


    Su''en had encountered Lady Filo twice before.


    Once during the selection of the ck Tower Academy''s guide, and another time from a distance at the grand opening on Norton Street.


    Both times, he felt that this woman was aloof and sensual, like a queen perched high above, both cold and desiring.


    Her identity was also shrouded in mystery.


    Previously, Su''en thought he would never cross paths with such a woman.


    But now, seeing her, his gaze was slightly odd.


    Because he spected that Mr. Mirror must have another identity in reality...


    Closely rted to the Reyes family, closely rted to the Qiantiao, possessing great power in the Inner City...


    All signs indicated that this "Lady Filo" was Mr. Mirror''s disguised identity.


    It was just a moment of eye contact, and Su''en was even more certain of his guess.


    After all, the attire for soaking in the hot springs was thin, and if a strange man had barged in, this "Lady Filo" would surely have a look of caution and doubt.


    But now, her eyes were utterly calm.


    Testing the waters, Su''en called out, "Senior sister?"


    "Lady Filo" nced at him, seemingly unsurprised that he could guess her identity, her expression a bitnguid as she nodded, "Mhm."


    Hearing this response, Su''en''s face lit up instantly.


    It really was her!


    He hadn''t dared to look closely before, but now, with aparative gaze, he noticed her features bore some resemnce to the family portrait he had seen at the Storm Manor.


    However, the photo showed a pure girl of eighteen or neen, while now she was full of charm.


    With this acknowledgment, Su''en instantly felt the cold and distant aura around her dissipate.


    Among acquaintances, there was no room for aloofness.


    Mr. Mirror watched Su''en''s scrutinizing and curious eyes, a hint of helplessness crossing her brow. Shey back at the edge of the pool, revealing her fair and delicate neck. She seemed to enjoy the feeling of the hot spring nourishing her skin, eyes closed, a look of contentment on her face.


    Since it was an acquaintance, the odd feeling in Su''en''s heart also faded, and he approached the edge of the pool and got into the water.


    ***


    Beside the hot spring pool, flowers vied for beauty, surrounded by greenery, with a misty blue smoke lingering above the water surface.


    The pool water was clear to the bottom, and the spring water flowed from bamboo tubes, making a pleasant <em>"ding-dong, ding-dong"</em> sound.


    The attire for soaking in the hot springs was a thin linen robe, which, once wet, left nothing to the imagination.


    Su''en nced over.


    Hmm... his senior sister had both an excellent figure and temperament.


    It wasn''t that he had other thoughts, just curiosity.


    The legend says that high-ranking vampires are immortal and eternally youthful, is that true? Or was it just a mirror image?


    Mr. Mirror''s personality was simr to her mother Sereya''s, easy-going and gentle. Su''en respected his senior sister but didn''t feel too distant.


    Curiosity rose in his heart, and he directly asked, "Senior sister, is this your true appearance?"


    There was no need to hide anything from her own junior brother.


    Mr. Mirror was naturally aware of that scrutinizing gaze and guessed what Su''en was thinking, simply responding with a "Mhm."


    Wow... it felt like discovering a little surprise.


    Su''en had thought his thousand-year-old senior sister, who always wore a cloak, was an old woman, but it turned out she truly possessed eternal youth.


    Just one look, and the legendary vampire bloodline seemed a bit against the heavens.


    Living long and looking good...


    In the vast pool, there were only two people, and it would be awkward not to chat.


    Driven by curiosity, Su''en simply asked, "Senior sister, is your vampire bloodline acquired through transformation?"


    Since she was Sir Isaac''s eldest daughter, she was presumably human.


    Of course, I can''t rule out the possibility that she has vampire blood.


    "Mhm."


    Mr. Mirror responded, then added, "My father once hunted a deep abyss vampire lord and extracted the power of his bloodline. This bloodline is highlypatible with human blood, with a very low mutation rate. Later, due to some events... I underwent bloodline transformation."


    This plot twist wasn''t unexpected for Su''en.


    But because of "some events"?


    It sounded like there was more to it than just Pestoya''s issue.


    He caught a moment of hesitation in her words and asked, "Senior sister, does calling yourself ''Lady Filo'' have any special meaning?"


    She had always called herself "Lady," and if there truly was a marriage, Su''en was curious about who could match his senior sister, who was suspected to be a professional of rank seven or above.


    If it were an elder, asking such a question would seem impolite.


    But a senior sister... gossiping a bit seemed okay.


    "..."


    Hearing this roundabout question, Mr. Mirror finally opened her eyes.


    She nced at Su''en, a trace of helplessness in her brow.


    She knew that if she didn''t exin, her little junior brother would make wild guesses. Since there was nothing she couldn''t say, she simply quelled his curiosity and said lightly, "I was once engaged. But before we could marry, he died in a battle defending a spatial passage."


    Upon hearing this, Su''en immediately realized he had touched on a painful past and quickly apologized, "Sorry."


    Mr. Mirror shook her head, her expression very calm.


    A thousand years had passed, and many things had been put into perspective.


    She probably guessed what else Su''en was curious about, so she simply revealed it all, "Also, the vampire bloodline isn''t as against the heavens as you think. This bloodline indeed has a longer lifespan than humans, but it''s not immortal. For most of the past thousand years, I''ve been in hibernation, only waking up in thest century. Moreover, there''s a price for a longer lifespan through hibernation. The long years can also weaken the body, and I''ve only recently recovered to the strength of a fifth or sixth rank..."


    "Oh..."


    Su''en understood why she had shown weaker strength but higherwprehension during her fight with the Fallen Angel.


    It was due to post-hibernation effects.


    But... excluding the hibernation time, she had still lived for over a hundred years?


    Su''en still felt that the vampire bloodline was quite good, and issues like fear of light or slower cultivation efficiencypared to humans... were no longer problems.


    ***


    As the two were chatting, Qiantiao, who had also cleaned herself up, walked over from the corridor.


    Su''en knew she was close to "Lady Filo," and now that Filo was Mr. Mirror, everything matched up.


    Qiantiao clearly also knew the rtionship between the two and smiled, "Yo, what are you two siblings chatting about?"


    As she spoke, she took off the bath towel she was wearing and got into the water.


    The water temperature was veryfortable, and Su''eny backzily, cing a damp towel on his forehead, replying, "We''re discussing some issues about the vampire bloodline."


    Qiantiao, nowpletely uninhibited around Su''en, sat down next to him after getting into the water.


    The linen robe for soaking was very thin, and once wet, the touch was extremely real.


    But no one minded.


    The three of themfortably enjoyed the soothing hot springs and chatted idly.


    Listening to the conversation between the two, Su''en also learned that their meeting wasn''t prearranged but a coincidence.


    He remembered that Qiantiao had mentioned before that "Lady Filo" also had a habit of soaking in hot springs. Perhaps because vampires are a cold-blooded species, they like the feeling of warmth?


    As they soaked, Mr. Mirror suddenly spoke up, getting down to business, "The situation outside has been roughly confirmed. The forces stationed outside the tower are a personal guard of Duke Raphael. The strongest is a sixth-rank leader, and there are many elite fourth and fifth ranks. Now that we have obtained the body of that Fallen Angel, I should be able to recover enough strength to suppress a sixth-rank in about half a month. By then, breaking out should be more secure..."


    At this point, she looked at Qiantiao and asked, "By the way, Qiantiao, what''s the situation with your Evelyn family?"


    "I can leave at any time, as I have no attachments. I asked my family, and they have no intention of getting involved."Qiantiao respondedzily, her tone carrying a hint of speechlessness, "Those n elders enjoy their current lives. They fear losing their present rights and wealth, saying that even if they leave, life won''t be better than it is now, and they told me not to cause more trouble... Compared to freedom, those Old Fellows chose afortable life. Let them stay here if they want."


    Su''en didn''t join the conversation, but he guessed the thoughts of the Evelyn family elders.


    Duke Raphael almost let his "mine" run wild, and those top families in Old Lingdun''s Inner City, except for not being able to go to the surface, in terms of quality of life and status, really weren''t worse than those nobles on the surface.


    In any era, the upper echelons of society are the least fond of change.


    But pigs in a pen, no matter how fat and strong, are ultimately raised by others.


    Those people aren''t blind; they just don''t want to give up thefortable life they''ve already secured.


    This is also the mindset of most top families in the Inner City.


    Mr. Mirror didn''t say much more.


    Even with her presence, "storming the tower" still had unpredictable risks, let alone that they could only choose to take a small group of people to leave first.


    After all, Old Lingdun City was Duke Raphael''s "mine," and if a riot broke out, the Duke''s mansion would immediately send reinforcements.


    Not to mention whether thebined forces of Old Lingdun could resist the power of a duke, even if they could, behind Duke Raphael stood the powerful Luyin Empire.


    Some chose freedom, othersfort.


    ***


    With Mr. Mirror present, the chances of sessfully storming the tower...


    The three chatted and began to talk about the outside world.


    Su''en also shared some intelligence he had gathered.


    Then, they discussed their ns after getting out.


    Qiantiao, born in this dark underground city, her face brimming with anticipation more intense than when gambling, suddenly asked, "Filo, what do you n to do after you get out?"


    Mr. Mirror had been to the outside world and saw everything very lightly. She said, "I''m not interested in meddling in the disputes between the two empires. I might go to ''Cynodia County'' north of the Luyin Strait. I heard that ce is currently a disputed territory with no sovereign. If possible, I n to establish a neutral force for alchemists to exchange alchemy, like my father established Dawn City, to pass on the torch of dawn..."


    "..."


    Listening, Qiantiao pursed her lips, clearly uninterested in such grand ns.


    She turned her head to look at Su''en next to her and asked, "Su''en kid, what do you n to do after you get out?"


    Su''en thought for a moment and said, "I n to travel around to broaden my horizons. If possible, I will look for the alchemy manuscripts left by my master."


    Actually, the safest n was to follow Mr. Mirror.


    Once her strength fully recovered, she would be among the top experts on the surface. There was also Pestoya, who was in slumber, a solid golden thigh to rely on.


    But Mr. Mirror had only pointed out to him that under her protection, he would never experience some things that only true powerhouses couldprehend. To go further on the path of the Transcendent, one must have their own insights and trials.


    And that was one reason.


    The second was that Su''en also wanted to see this mysterious and exciting world for himself.


    Upon hearing this, Qiantiao''s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she suggested, "How about we be pirates together? We can specifically rob these decadent nobles, uh... and we can also go rob other pirates!"


    As she spoke, she seemed to already envision an exciting future life, getting closer and detailing, "There''s an endless sea on the surface, with many treasures under the sea. We can go treasure hunting, explore new sea routes, hunt dragons, and find ancient ruins..."


    In the underground world, the sea is a very unfamiliar term.


    That boundless and mysterious ocean indeed holds unparalleled allure for anyone.


    Su''en felt his arm sink into a soft touch and smiled, "Sure."


    Pirates and gangsters seemed not too different.


    One onnd, one on the sea.


    Both doing shady work that can''t see the light.


    Treasure hunting stories are always timeless topics. Once Qiantiao brought up this topic, she immediately started imagining all the details.


    Su''en shared somemon knowledge with her, like... to be pirates, they first needed a ship that could withstand the wind and waves.


    Mr. Mirror, sitting nearby, listened to the two plotting to be pirates, a gentle smile on her face.


    But the good times didn''tst long.


    Just as the three were leisurely chatting in the hot springs.


    <em>Suddenly!</em> A loud disturbance came from the direction of the Inner City.


    All three changed their expressions.


    ***


    Mr. Mirror frowned, "Something''s happened in the Inner City, the noise ising from the direction of the ck Tower!"


    Hearing this, Qiantiao was also puzzled, "Could it be that someone is attacking the ck Tower?"


    Su''en also found it strange.


    The ck Tower was garrisoned by the Duke''s personal guard, a force with professional ranks of four and five.


    The only one in Old Lingdun with the strength to storm the tower was the Mirror Organization.


    Anyone else who tried would die.


    No matter how many people, it was useless.


    And the disturbance in the distance grew more intense, with the sound of gunfire rising wave after wave. It seemed that somerge-scale lethal weapons were used, and even from such a distance, the three could see the mushroom cloud rising over the Inner City.


    Clearly, the battle was very fierce.


    Mr. Mirror sensed something and shook her head, "No, it seems like someone is breaking out from the ck Tower, and the Inner City''s guards are resisting."


    Qiantiao waspletely confused, "People from the outside?"


    Su''en thought of the stripped memories and guessed it was an internal conflict within the Duke''s mansion, or perhaps the war between the two empires had spread to the ck Tower located in the ck Reef?


    Before they could specte further, the advantage of having an intelligence insider was revealed.


    Su''en immediately received a message from Sabina, "Sir, a group of very strong people have broken out from the ck Tower, they''re carrying the skull and crossbones g, they seem to be pirates! They''ve defeated the ck Tower''s guards, and the Inner City''s city guards have also copsed at the touch. Now those people are rampaging and looting in the city, the mechanical warriors at the research institute are resisting, but they probably won''tst long. Among those people, there are very powerful Transcendent professionals..."


    Su''en shared the intelligence in front of the two, and both Mr. Mirror and Qiantiao''s expressions became very serious.


    So it was people from the outside?


    And the ones storming the tower were pirates?


    The Inner City''s city guards were mechanized and not weak.


    If they copsed at the touch, it meant the pirates had an overwhelming advantage.


    Mr. Mirror analyzed, "Being able to break through the ck Tower means that there''s at least a sixth-rank professional among those people..."


    Su''en caught the detail in the intelligence and immediately thought of something, "The ''skull and crossbones g''... should be the pirate g of the ''King of the North Sea'' Oleg''s fleet. That pirate group is very strong, even the Luyin Empire can''t handle them. There are many fifth and sixth-rank high-level professionals in the pirate group, and Oleg himself... is said to be an eighth-rank professional."


    Mr. Mirror''s brow furrowed upon hearing this.


    At this moment, Qiantiao thought for a moment and said, "Someone storming the towering down isn''t necessarily bad for us. The ''King of the North Sea'' and his pirates, no matter how strong, are unlikely to fight a positional battle. Most likely, they''re just here to loot."


    Su''en also felt this made sense.


    The ck Tower being breached was definitely an earth-shattering event for Old Lingdun!


    This sudden change caught them off guard and immediately disrupted their original ns.


    Mr. Mirror nodded, "Alright, I''ll go check out the situation. Qiantiao, you gather the organization''s people; we might have to move up our action. Wait for my message."


    Qiantiao: "Okay!"


    As they spoke, there was a ssh of water, and when they looked again, the water rippled, and Mr. Mirror had already disappeared without a trace.


    Qiantiao looked at the continuous ze in the distant Inner City, a hint of fighting spirit shing in her eyes. The Rakshasa woman was not afraid of battle. She rose unhurriedly, called out to Su''en, "Let''s go, it''s time to get ready."


    With that, she got out of the water, dried off her body with a bath towel, changed into her battle kimono, and then donned a gold-embroidered cloak.


    Once the cloak was draped over her, a sense of mystery enveloped her.


    Su''en had a trick for changing clothes; after getting out of the water, he shook his limbs, and a suit suitable for battle was on his body.


    For the first time, he donned the gold-embroidered cloak representing the identity of a member of the Mirror Organization, following Qiantiao as they leaped over the wall.


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