Chapter 1370 Enchanted Mechanical City <TOC> Chapter 1372 Witness Ceremony
Translator: SumTLMan
The Creation Hall was nothing more than an expansive chamber of cogs and chains. Its architecture, brimming with diverse mechanical structures, elevated its prestige to the pinnacle.
On either side of the Hall’s grand entrance stood tall iron pillars.
As Angel approached the entrance, a voice greeted him even before he set foot within. “Welcome to the Creation Hall, newcomer. I am Antonio, the spirit guardian of this gateway.”
Angel looked up, finding the source of the voice to be a brass mechanical lion perched atop the left pillar. As it spoke, the gears within its mouth became visible.
“Oh, Antonio, your valor captivated me at first sight. If danger befalls me, may I seek your protection, dear Antonio?” chimed in a rotating ballerina atop the right pillar. She bore a resemblance to a ballerina inside a music box, a creature of cogs and springs.
“Of course, while I stand guard here, I also watch over you, my Nanessa.”
Their exchange, filled with exaggerated theatricality, seemed utterly comical. But the crux was——
Midora listened to the conversation with a deadpan expression, commenting, “Next time you talk to yourself, perhaps change your voice a bit? Using the same tone makes me think it’s not a rotating ballerina but a male dancer.”
What Angel found amusing was that both entities shared the same lazy male voice.
“The tone isn’t important, it’s the intent behind the words that matters,” the dancer responded, halting her rotation. She stared down with a cold gaze, locking eyes with Angel. “New member, Antonio is a real spirit. Within the bounds of the Research Institute, if ever you sense danger, just call out to Antonio, and he’ll rush to ensure your safety.”
Angel wore an expression of puzzlement, wondering, “What dangers could possibly lurk within the Research Institute?”
“Imagine, if you were at odds with an alchemist, they might plot against you within these walls,” the speaker mused. “Or say, you’re grappling with unforeseen perils in your experiments; then, Antonio would emerge as your guardian spirit.”
The rotating ballerina, having spoken, resumed her graceful pirouettes, her voice weaving a melodious yet enigmatic song.
Midora then chimed in, addressing Angel, “He’s spot on. Antonio is the spirit of the Research Institute. Whatever the situation, perilous or not, you can call upon it. It’s decidedly more reliable than some.”
A chilling wind rustled from behind. Angel couldn’t shake the feeling that the ‘some’ Midora hinted at was skulking in the shadows, watching them malevolently.
“Shall we?” Midora gestured forward, breaking the tension. “Didn’t you inquire about the purpose of summoning you here? It’s essentially to meet someone… unpredictable.”
The grand doors to the Creation Hall swung open, and together, Angel and Midora ventured within.
Angel had envisioned the Research Institute as an expanse dotted with experimental stations and assorted tools. Yet, up till now, his expectations hadn’t materialized. Not until this very moment.
Instead of a vast hall, the Creation Hall unveiled itself as a towering structure, encompassing six expansive floors of laboratories.
Each floor buzzed with activity and silhouettes.
The vivacious scene mirrored Angel’s prior speculations. Yet, upon closer inspection, he realized that these diligent figures engrossed in experiments were not humans. They were mechanical puppets, their intricate joints and gears exposed.
At a glance, there appeared to be thousands of these mechanical entities dispersed across the six floors.
A sense of awe painted Angel’s features. While he was aware that some alchemists employed alchemical automatons as assistants, the sheer number of these mechanical dolls engrossed in alchemical experiments was nothing short of astonishing.
“In all the labs of the Research Institute, is this the usual state of affairs?” Angel inquired, barely suppressing his curiosity.
Midora shook his head, “Only a certain individual would indulge in such procrastination.”
“Procrastination? Not really. Given my modest talents, I must employ a plethora of mechanical puppets, employing an exhaustive approach, to validate my hypotheses. Only then can I sift through the myriad possibilities to pinpoint the optimal solution,” a languid, nonchalant voice remarked from nearby.
Angel had initially assumed it was another one of Midora’s mechanical marvels, similar to the birds and lions he’d seen, an extension of the ‘Split Personalities’ Midora had alluded to. But, on closer inspection, it was a young man seated behind a desk, speaking.
His desk was awash with various documents, and mechanical dolls were ceaselessly emerging from the lab tower, presenting him with their reports.
As Angel observed, a mechanical puppet descended from the sixth floor, handing over a report: “Director, the latest test results indicate that the pressure-bearing capacity of the right arm has been improved, resulting in a 2% reduction in wear and tear.”
“Just a decrease in wear? No other enhancements?” The young man furrowed his brow, scanning the document, “Retain these points, archive the rest, and run another test using the improvement method #1737.”
The puppet, equipped with the new instructions, promptly returned to the sixth-floor lab. Given the transparent glass partitions separating the labs, Angel had a clear view of the puppet disseminating the improved method to the entire floor. In no time, every puppet was bustling with activity.
“Do all the mechanical dolls on the sixth floor research the same subject?” Angel queried.
Midora responded with another shake of his head, “Not just the sixth floor. Every floor here is engrossed in the same research, albeit focusing on different aspects.”
Pausing for effect, Midora turned to Angel, “Speaking of which, the subject of their research has some relevance to you.”
“Relevant to me?”
Midora nodded, “Do you recall the arm you fashioned for your friend?”
Angel hesitated for a moment, memories of his time learning from Midora flooding back. “The mechanical arm?” he ventured.
“Precisely,” Midora affirmed with a smile. “The blueprints for that mechanical arm you devised provided profound inspiration to a certain individual.”
What Midora didn’t mention was that it was witnessing Angel’s design and the subsequent fitting of the arm to his friend that had compelled this particular individual to grant Angel an access card to the Research Institute.
The ‘certain individual’ Midora had referenced now approached.
“Midora wasn’t mistaken,” he declared, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Your creation, that mechanical arm, ignited a wealth of ideas in me. I am Muse. Welcome aboard.”
M… Muse? Angel stared, taken aback. Was this young, handsome man before him truly Muse? The very same Muse who, as the rumors went, was one of the two rulers of Sky Mechanical City and the widely acknowledged master alchemist known as ‘The Mediocre’?
While Angel was still reeling from the revelation, he stumbled a bit during his introduction.
After listening, Muse continued with his perpetual grin, “Truth be told, I know more about you than you might think.”
There was a brief pause before Muse added, with a change in his tone, “I’ve heard tales of your ‘mech’ concept. I sincerely hope to witness its marvel with my own eyes someday.”
Angel was left bewildered. When had he ever shared the concept of mechs with Muse? He had only discussed it with Midora. Could it be that Midora had relayed it to Muse?
In a moment of internal doubt, Angel was softly queried by Midora, “Did you believe I possessed the authority to bestow upon you an access card to the Research Institute? When your friend was being fitted with a mechanical arm, the person present wasn’t actually me, but rather an individual infatuated with multiple personas, masquerading as my likeness.”
Midora’s revelation left Angel somewhat bewildered, yet on reflection, the pieces seemed to fit. Even Sanders had alluded to the fact that only the director of the Research Institute had the privilege of distributing such cards. And now, that esteemed position wasn’t held by Midora, but Muse!
The doppelganger, with a profound fondness for myriad personas, turned to gaze at Midora with a look so full of warmth it was nearly palpable. “It appears our esteemed Potion Master not only has assumed a position at the Research Institute earlier than expected but also contemplates extending their tenure? Truly touching.”
Midora quickly retorted, shaking his head, “That’s not me, I didn’t — stop fabricating tales.”
A sly grin graced Muse’s lips, he paid no heed to Midora’s trembling body, but instead addressed Angel, “I’ve always wanted to discuss the concept of mech suits with you. Now that you’re here, why not join me for a detailed discourse?”
Caught off guard, Angel hesitated, “You summoned me here, Lord Muse, just to discuss this?”
“While I did have another matter in mind when I called for you, right now, I’m more intrigued by the ‘mech suit’ concept you mentioned,” Muse stated, snapping his fingers. Tables and chairs materialized out of thin air.
Motioning Angel to take a seat, Muse wasted no time in delving into the subject at hand.
Regarding the mech suit idea, Angel had previously had a detailed exchange with Midora. At the time, Angel had meticulously explored data on the holographic tablet, making the current conversation familiar terrain.
Angel’s explanation was rooted in Earth’s military technology, yet it was merely a broad framework. When delving into the details, Angel provided insights from the perspective of an alchemist.
Muse nodded in agreement as Angel spoke. Once Angel concluded, Muse promptly voiced several questions sparked by his burning curiosity.
Many of the queries posed were piercingly astute. Angel could address some, yet others remained beyond his grasp.
The unanswerable questions largely stemmed from the chasm between two distinct civilizations. Angel yearned to replicate Earth’s armored machines using alchemist techniques. Such an endeavor demanded vast enhancements, necessitating extensive research. Naturally, expecting Angel to promptly produce an answer was like expecting rain from a cloudless sky.
However, the insights Angel shared already satiated Muse’s curiosity, much like a parched traveler finding an oasis.
While Angel only hypothesized solutions to some quandaries, and these hypotheses might seem glaringly flawed, such imperfections are merely minor bumps on the road of alchemy. After all, every journey faces its challenges, and every problem is but a riddle awaiting a solution.
Chapter 1370 Enchanted Mechanical City <TOC> Chapter 1372 Witness Ceremony