Mechanical Alchemist

Su Lun had once thought that Qian Tiao might come to rescue him.

But he never expected that this gambling-addicted lady was so absurdly strong!

She supposedly ranked the same as the 'smoke ghouls' as a second-tier executive, yet now she demonstrated strength that completely overwhelmed those of her rank, slaying someone with a single encounter!

On further thought, if she truly was the "third-party force" opposing the Umbrella Organization, the situation had grown even more delicate.

As Rena's aunt, could the recent turmoil within the Reyes family hold some other hidden meanings?

What about Lady Philo, the benefactor behind the Cross Society?

And Mr. Hei?

A series of questions.

Su Lun's mind instantly formed a web of underground forces that involved both the inner and outer cities.

Qian Tiao's emergence was like revealing the tip of an iceberg, but what was hidden under the sea was still an even more colossal unknown and mystery.

In order to contend with the Black Tower, a corresponding level of strength, financial power, and manpower was necessary.

This "third-party force" already possessed all of these.

Although unknown to outsiders, the strength of the organization was undeniable.

...

Su Lun knew that since Qian Tiao came wearing a cloak of special significance, she naturally wouldn't favor using her original identity.

Perhaps the Cross Society could not afford the cost of antagonizing the Umbrella Organization right now, hoping for that "third-party force" to take charge.

Qian Tiao came over without any intention of taking off her cloak.

But the moment she spoke, the air of mystery vanished, "Oh dear, you actually recognized me. I originally didn't plan to meet you like this. But you should understand that if I came in that identity, many things would become inconvenient."

Whether it was the tone of voice or the content of her words, Su Lun was certain this was definitely that gambling-addicted lady.

A Cross Society executive, naturally, would not conveniently assassinate someone from the Umbrella Organization.

Hearing Qian Tiao's words, he asked, "Sister Qian Tiao, did you come to rescue me?"

Qian Tiao replied bluntly, "Yes. That girl Rena sent me a frantic message, saying you ran into danger in the inner city and asked me to think of a way. My original plan was to mobilize relations within the inner city to assist you. I had run halfway there only to unexpectedly intercept combat intelligence from the Umbrella Organization, learning that you had actually escaped.

Then rushing back here, I was delayed a bit more time."

Su Lun sincerely said, "Thank you, Sister Qian Tiao."

"I've said before, you're under my protection. Is there a need to be so formal?"

Qian Tiao looked indifferent.

Knowing her character, Su Lun didn't bother with more pleasantries.

After a pause, Qian Tiao gave Su Lun another glance, her tone laced with a hint of teasing, "I also heard that you have taken Rena hostage. I have no idea why that girl is still so helpfully on your side."

Su Lun shrugged self-deprecatingly, obviously aware that she was joking, and laughed, "You knew about that, too?"

Qian Tiao's tone was somewhat peculiar, "Yes. Not just me, every major family in the inner city is now in an uproar. They thought another 'great purge' was about to happen a few months ago and were terrified, trembling with fear, everywhere inquiring about the origins of this robber who dared to hold the Reyes family heiress hostage in broad daylight in the inner city."

"..."

Su Lun raised an eyebrow as he listened.

The Umbrella Organization certainly wouldn't divulge that the cause of the incident was their attempt to ambush a transport team from an outer city gang, only to be counter-slaughtered.

But the ruckus he had caused beforehand on "Dunwich Commercial Street" could not be concealed, and most likely, the case would be closed with him labeled as a common robber.

Without the intention of elaborating, Qian Tiao said, "Let's go, we'll talk as we walk."

Su Lun: "Where to?"

"To take you out of the city," Qian Tiao explained. "The Umbrella Organization has some formidable trackers. Now that you've stirred up such a commotion, they will spare no cost to hunt you down. It's impossible for you to stay in Old Lington City, better to leave and lay low for a while.

I can't afford to expose myself right now, otherwise, if something happens, I might not be able to take care of you."

"Oh, then wait for me."

Su Lun said this and, without forgetting, headed towards the smoke ghoul's corpse.

Under the guise of stripping the Storage Ring and 'onboarding materials' from the body, he also harvested the Soul Shard.

Silver onboarding material [Haines's Rune Pipe], a profession material for the second-tier "Ash Magician"; second-level silver prosthesis [Time Eater Hourglass], granting the ability to warp light and remain invisible amidst smoke.

These were very practical profession materials for the assassin line.

If it were not unsuitable for Su Lun's Puppeteer career path, he would have quite liked the smoke ghoul's ability to emit smoke and conceal himself.

(Curse Fusion Principle: After a professional advances, the curse characteristics of the onboarding materials will merge, and typically, a body will produce only one high-tier onboarding material and prosthesis.)

As for the memories he stripped, they were all as Su Lun had guessed, some information about the smoke ghoul being an internal spy for the Umbrella Organization.

The rest was just a boost in experience.

....

Watching Su Lun gather the spoils of war from the smoke ghoul's corpse, Qian Tiao didn't say anything either.

Their relationship didn't warrant such formality.

But at that moment, she also noticed the beak mask still on Su Lun's face and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Did you kill 'Plague Doctor' Sergei?"

"Yeah."

Su Lun nodded. Continue your journey with empire

Qian Tiao was visibly incredulous, then said, "That guy's abilities are quite troublesome, specializing in Curse Magic and capable of resurrection... Most second-tier professionals can't handle him; I didn't expect you could actually kill him?"

"Well..."

Su Lun didn't know how to explain, since that was Mr. Hei's trap after all.

Seeing the cloak on Qian Tiao, though he had already guessed, he still asked, "Sister Qian Tiao, do you know Mr. Hei?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Tiao's tone changed to one of surprise, and rather than answering, she asked back, "Huh... How do you know about Mr. Hei?"

Upon hearing her response, Su Lun inwardly sighed "As I thought."

The third-party force, and Mr. Hei, or rather the mysterious organizer of the Shadow Alley black market, have a direct relationship.

He bluntly said, "I killed Sergei using some special means. But this involves some of Mr. Hei's secrets, and I'm not at liberty to say. Since you know him, Qian Tiao, you might as well ask Mr. Hei directly."

"Oh."

Qian Tiao didn't press the matter further.

After Su Lun had sorted out the spoils of battle from the smoke fiend and tossed an incendiary bomb to erase any traces, the two of them headed towards the southern city wall.

With such an expert providing high-level protection, Su Lun finally let out a sigh of relief from the sense of urgency that had been chasing him all day.

...

Compared to his curiosity about Qian Tiao's hidden identity, Qian Tiao was more curious about the various unthinkable methods Su Lun had displayed.

She looked at the calm Su Lun with a rather complex tone, "Even if I hadn't come, the smoke fiend wouldn't necessarily have been able to kill you, right?"

"Hmm."

Su Lun didn't deny it, calmly responding, "But the likelihood of me dying was also quite high."

"Tsk tsk, you really are stunningly impressive. The smoke fiend guy has strong assassination capabilities, ordinary second-tier professionals would suffer a great loss, but you managed to hold your own and even broke off one of his arms..."

Qian Tiao mused as she said this, as if something occurred to her, "Eh... did you know in advance about the smoke fiend's identity?"

Su Lun felt there was no point in hiding it, as Qian Tiao's influence would eventually uncover the existence of that card during the escort mission, and he said, "Yes. Didn't we go to escort some goods for handover in the inner city before..."

He briefly explained how he discovered the card and then deduced the reasoning process that the smoke fiend was an insider.

Qian Tiao, listening on the side, was amazed, "You really are meticulous in your thinking..."

Just then, looking at the large scythe on Su Lun's back, she asked, "How did that scythe come into your possession?"

"Picked it up on the way during the last dungeon trial."

"You used that scythe to chop off the smoke fiend's arm earlier?"

"Hmm."

Upon hearing this, Qian Tiao's tone suddenly turned grave, "This is a bit troublesome... The curse backlash from that sealed item is quite lethal. Hang on, let me make some contacts, and get you to an outside medical team, but time is tight, and we might not make it in time. Hopefully, we can save your life, kid..."

"Uh... I think it shouldn't be that bad. I can handle some of it myself. If possible, just having a doctor help out would be fine."

"Ah? I think you may not be aware of the curse properties of that black scythe."

"No, I'm aware."

"..."

Su Lun now had the spider arms, a trivial matter like stitching was a piece of cake.

Moreover, during his research on the living corpses, he had also brushed up on some emergency surgical knowledge and had learned to use the set of emergency equipment from the Black Tower Academy.

As long as it wasn't an instantly fatal wound like having the brain bisected, it wasn't a big issue.

He could solve it by himself.

Furthermore, now that he had the super recovery power from the "X Serum" modification and the "Life Conversion Alchemy Formation" he had learned from Lena, with these multiple layers of protection, Su Lun felt that the probability of dying on the spot was not great.

But having one or two doctors to help would be even better.

...

The two of them quickly reached the southern city wall. They did not go through the city gate; Su Lun climbed over the wall with his spider arms, while Qian Tiao leaped over the wall in a few bounds.

"I've arranged a wilderness hunting team from the inner city for you and set up a new identity. You'll go with them. There are great opportunities at the Dawn City Ruins but also great dangers... You're more cautious than I thought, so I don't need to say much more," Qian Tiao said.

"Hmm."

As they walked and talked, Qian Tiao had already arranged everything for Su Lun.

What he thought was an escape seemed more like a casual outing with a wilderness hunting group.

"Hmm. Qian Tiao, there's something I need to trouble you with. I rent a basement on Green Street where I've left some things. If it's convenient for you, could you clear it out for me?"

"Sure."

"Oh, and in the basement at 16 Green Street is a friend of mine. His name is Danny, a very skilled Pharmacist. I'm worried the Umbrella Organization might trace him, could you look after him for me?"

"Hmm."

"Qian Tiao, that external phantom you manifested earlier, was that a talent second awakening?"

"Eh... you know about that too? That's high-end knowledge relevant to top-level professionals, even info that the inner city has sealed off..."

"..."

As the two were talking, Qian Tiao noticed that Su Lun's face had turned an eerie shade of blue.

She asked, "Eh... Are you poisoned? Why is your skin turning blue?"

"..."

Su Lun felt somewhat helpless.

If she had appeared earlier, he wouldn't have had to take the risk with the "X Serum."

But it seemed to be a blessing in disguise.

Since there were no mutations, it should have been a success.

...

Qian Tiao never explained the issue about her cloak's identity, and Su Lun didn't ask.

But as they parted, Qian Tiao left him with a meaningful piece of advice, "Strive to grow stronger... Only from a high vantage can you see a different landscape."

"Hmm."

Su Lun smiled faintly.

Even with just a few words, Su Lun heard the implied meaning; he was not yet qualified to touch those high-end secrets.

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