Chapter 2396 Exhibition Room <TOC> Chapter 2398 Hunt and Kill Numbers
Translator: SumTLMan
Number 03 silently watched as the billowing steam drew closer and closer to her.
At this moment, she was still within the core of the Wave Mechanism, which now was divided into two areas. The outer area was a battlefield where water clashed with fire, filled with high-temperature steam; while the inner area resembled her “Water Trace” space, featuring a deep blue aquatic hue. The water energy here was incredibly dense, to the point where tangible water lines appeared and disappeared within it.
Now, after having been in a standoff with the Fire Law Land for an hour.
During this hour, the skull of the Wave Mechanism showed no signs of continuing to melt. A vast amount of water energy resisted the erosion of the Fire Law Land, leading Firo, who was outside, to believe that Number 03’s situation was as stable as she had described.
However, only Number 03, who was inside the core, knew that she was not truly safe.
This was because the steam area on the outside kept expanding, while the water area on the inside became increasingly smaller.
There was no helping it. The Fire Law Land was controlled by “Fire Walker” Firo still guarding the outside; whereas the core of the Wave Mechanism, although it possessed some power from the water lines, received this law-based power from its creator.
One was the fire lines, which could be directly controlled by the owner, and the other was the water lines, which were indirectly controlled by a user. The stronger and weaker of the two were clear at a glance.
Even though Number 03’s reserves of water magic were still ample, her power was somewhat far from that of the core’s line power. She could only barely replenish the consumption of the water lines. Her greater role was that of a controller.
She could replenish what was consumed, but not what was lost. Continuous use of the Mechanism’s core, even with the most precise machinery, would still lead to overload and wear.
Given the current situation, the outer steam area could probably hold on for at most another two to three hours. By then, if the inner and outer areas merged, the core of the Wave Mechanism would be declared destroyed.
“Can they make it back before then?” Number 03 sighed and turned to walk to the center of the inner area.
Here, a glowing azure crystal floated in the air, which was the core of the Wave Mechanism.
Number 03 reached out to touch it.
A burning sensation spread from the palm of her hand into her body. This was a sign that the Mechanism’s core was operating at full capacity. As time went on, the feedback temperature would continue to rise. Now, there was already a noticeable burning sensation. In another hour, it was estimated that the temperature could scald a scar into her palm.
She ignored the high temperature coming from it and kept her hand still for a moment. A water mirror emerged from the core of the Mechanism.
In the completely enclosed core space, the only way to probe the outside world was through the water mirror. The water mirror could project images from the outside world, one of the many functions of the Mechanism’s core.
Under normal circumstances, the water mirror could reflect everything from the outside world in great detail, even enlarging pores to be visible.
But now, the view in the water mirror was obscured by the blazing Fire Law Land outside, adding a layer of foggy filter to everything projected. Moreover, this foggy layer was permeated with firelight, making it impossible to see the outside world clearly, only allowing for the vague sighting of some figures.
At this moment, an extremely blurred figure could be seen in the water mirror. She knew that this figure belonged to Firo.
The reason for such certainty is because the water mirror can also transmit external sounds, and the external sounds are not affected by the Fire Law Land, so she clearly heard Firo’s continuous muttering.
Sometimes he speaks a few sentences calmly, sometimes he threatens with bristling anger, and sometimes he adopts a heartfelt and sincere demeanor.
Under such a kind of mental pollution-like muttering, it’s impossible for Number 03 not to recognize Firo’s voice.
“I think you don’t need to be so stubborn, there’s no great hatred between us, especially me, I have no grudges against you, I won’t harm you. You just need to hand over Night Butterfly Witch’s hand to me, and then tell me where Laboratory 2 is, who are there…”
Before Firo could finish, Number 03 coldly interrupted: “Even if you know where Laboratory 2 is, can you get there? The Southern Region is a proactive edge of the Wizarding World, with your abilities, how do you plan to reach the Western Lands?”
“There’s an endless spatial-temporal distance between the Western Lands and the Southern Region, are you prepared to fly for dozens or hundreds of years? Moreover, the four laboratories of the River Legacy Society each have their capabilities, our laboratory is about to conclude our research, do you think Laboratory 2 will continue researching for dozens of years? They might have even finished their research and returned to the Source World.”
“Or are you saying, you want to chase them to the Source World?”
Following that, a cold laugh came through. It was both a mockery and a stance.
Firo completely disregarded Number 03’s mockery, as long as she was willing to speak, there was a possibility of revealing some information.
Number 03 said a sentence, no longer listening to Firo’s voice, but quietly observing the foggy surface reflected in the water mirror.
One minute, two minutes… ten minutes…
When a quarter of an hour passed, Number 03 narrowed her eyes and softly said: “I wonder if Lord Phantom Master might be nearby?”
The foggy surface doesn’t show too far a distance, but one can vaguely see human silhouettes. Number 03 observed for so long because she wanted to see if other people would appear.
But after a quarter of an hour, besides Firo, no one else appeared.
This reminded Number 03 of a previous conversation with “Sanders,” from which she sensed the other party’s intention to explore the laboratory. Could it be… they entered the laboratory?
Firo said with a smile: “Not here. They left, do you believe it?”
Separated by a layer of the water mirror, it was hard for Number 03 to discern whether Firo was telling the truth or lying.
It’s very possible that Firo was actually trying to lure her away, but there’s also a certain possibility that what Firo said was true, gambling on a mindset.
Number 03 personally leans towards the idea that Firo was speaking ironically, trying to lure her away.
Sanders and the others, perhaps, are hiding outside the mist… after all, entering the laboratory is not so easy. That magic formation is a case of “touching one thing and affecting everything else,” unless a high-level rune wizard takes action, it’s difficult to break through in a short time.
As for “forcing their way in,” Number 03 actually hopes they do so, even guessing they might already be considering ways to force their way in. But now, they definitely haven’t forced their way in yet, because Firo is still here.
The commotion created by forcing their way in, once seen by Firo, would definitely not allow him to still be here calmly chatting with her.
After all, forcing their way in would surely activate that existence…
Number 03 was about to engage in a linguistic duel with Firo, preparing to shut off the water mirror directly, unwilling to listen to Firo’s voice any longer.
However, a second before shutting off the water mirror, Number 03 thought it over and eventually lowered her hand.
The core of the Wave Mechanism had already begun to deteriorate, and turning the water mirror on and off would also impose a certain burden on the core. Even though this consumption was minimal, past experiences told Number 03 that mechanical overloads often stem from the most inconspicuous trickle of energy.
Thus, faced with the choice between potential overload and enduring Firo’s ramblings, she chose the latter.
Enduring Firo’s continued nonsensical chatter from outside, Number 03 shifted her gaze to the intersection of the inner and outer areas, watching the outer region continuously encroach inward. Her mood plummeted non-stop.
Once the inner and outer become one, it would be the moment she had to leave the core of the Wave Mechanism.
If Sanders had ventured into the laboratory, then so be it. If they hadn’t, her departure would inevitably lead to unprecedented dangers.
Observing the rapidly expanding outer region, Number 03 remained silent for a long time before carefully taking out a bottle from the space.
Inside this transparent bottle was a green core, resembling a seed.
If it really came to confronting Sanders directly…
“I’ll have to use it.”
Number 03 looked at the bottle, her eyes filled with a hint of intoxication. This seed possessed a strange magic, continuously attracting her, as if urging her to swallow it.
Just as she was indulging in the “beauty” of the seed, a roaring sound emanated from the water mirror.
Number 03 abruptly woke up.
She turned her head, went to the side of the water mirror, and listened carefully to the grand fluctuation. She could discern that the fluctuation also contained a hint of a beast’s wail, which brought a mix of emotions to her eyes, both surprise and a hint of worry.
“Is this the ninth time? Or the tenth? Although I heard its wail, it shouldn’t have been so many times, right?”
“And this time, the sound is louder, as if right by my ear. Have they returned? But if they have returned, why would they still use it…”
Number 03 was somewhat puzzled. She pondered for a moment, then tightly gripped the bottle containing the seed.
“Number 01, was your choice correct? I hope everything goes smoothly, in honor of… the Legacy of the River.”
…
On the other side, within the exhibition room on the first floor of the laboratory.
“It’s really nauseating that we can only take three items,” Nisi grumbled as he moved among the various metal platforms, cursing under his breath.
“I’ve heard from Sanders that your treasure vault is guarded by a Keres Lion Head as the keeper of secrets. Apart from you, anyone who steps into the vault is limited in the number of times they can enter… A slight misstep, and the lion head will pull the excess space directly into the void for annihilation,” Canter’s voice came through.
Nisi turned his head to look at Canter: “What do you mean by that?”
“Just a reminder that compared to you, their approach is already quite generous.”
Nisi wanted to continue discussing the issue of double standards, but at that moment, Angel’s voice suddenly transmitted through the mental connection: “So that lion head statue was a Keres Lion Head.”
Canter: “What, Angel, you’ve been to this old guy’s vault?”
Angel: “I have, it was my mentor who took me there. It was for the —Iscariot’s Notes— that Wizard Nisi had collected. Speaking of which, it was thanks to those manuscripts that we were later able to cultivate the Morphing Softworms.”
Canter: “Lucky you were with Sanders at the time. If you had gone alone, given this guy’s stinginess, he probably would have had the Keres Lion Head turn you to ash.”
Nisi roared angrily through the mental connection: “I am not that stingy! The first time Angel came to the Soul Valley, he was just a junior apprentice, and I was planning to give him a vial of bloodline. Do you call me stingy?”
Canter exclaimed, “Oh? That happened?”
Nisi proudly said: “Of course.”
After a few seconds of silence in the mental connection, Angel’s voice faintly transmitted: “It’s true, but that vial of bloodline was… a Siren Demon Bloodline.”
Angel’s answer instantly changed Nisi’s expression, and Canter’s look towards him became somewhat subtle.
Nisi: “…, A Siren Demon Bloodline is still a bloodline, you know. It’s a rare Abyss Demon bloodline.”
Canter chuckled a few times, while Angel remained silent, making Nisi’s expression even more awkward.
After a few seconds, Nisi, trying to lighten the mood, said: “That’s all in the past… Anyway, Angel, we’re in the exhibition room now. According to Reynolds, we can take three things from here. Is there anything you want?”
Nisi wasn’t just pretending to be generous; he had indeed planned to share the findings with Angel, especially since he remembered the favor with the slab. Although he was a bit frugal, he was definitely not stingy with friends. In his eyes, Angel was already considered a friend. Canter’s teasing about him being stingy was just that, teasing.
“What’s available?”
“All are Soul Armor, such as the half-skull of a pig-man, the sharp claws of a spotted mole, the withered and shriveled leg stump of an unknown humanoid, and here, the mouth of a lace-horned magic lizard… Tsk tsk, this mouth opens like a blooming flower, does someone actually transplant this thing?”
As Nisi walked, he introduced what he could. His knowledge was limited to the appearance and basic properties of these items. As for the Soul Armor contained within, Nisi was completely unaware.
Regarding Reynolds, his knowledge was also scant. In the laboratory, only the top three Numbered formal wizards were privy to the specific properties and appearances of all the organs containing Soul Armor.
Angel listened for two minutes before discontinuing his attention.
He was quite curious about Soul Armor. If Nisi could research them in the future, or if he found a way to study them himself, he might try to do so. However, he was temporarily not considering transplanting organs.
After all, he hadn’t even figured out his own bloodline projection yet.
“No need to introduce further. If you come across the hand of Night Butterfly Witch, or a similarly powerful right hand, let me know. Otherwise, no need to notify me.”
Nisi understood that Angel’s interest was for Nausica. He didn’t say much more, only muttering to himself, “There must be something going on between you and Nausica…”
Angel didn’t hear Nisi’s words; he had already blocked his mental connection and re-entered his study of magic formations. Even if he had heard, he would have just laughed it off, indicating Nisi didn’t understand Nausica at all.
Nisi spoke a lot more in the mental connection, but seeing that Angel didn’t respond, he realized he had gone into hiding again.
“Studying so hard, who knows what he’ll come up with.” Nisi shook his head and continued to wander through the exhibition room.
After a difficult decision, Nisi carefully selected three items.
One was the left breast of a mermaid, as fluffy and soft as a cloud, and a foot that was pale, tender, and seemingly perfect as if made of cream… Since the extraordinary organs on the first floor of the exhibition room were not too precious, and their value was roughly the same with unknown Soul Armor, he chose according to his preferences.
The last item Nisi chose was a crab claw that couldn’t be identified as belonging to any specific category.
A crab claw is also a hand, and Nausica might be willing to transplant it.
As Nisi picked up the third item, the crab claw, imagining Angel’s expression upon seeing it, suddenly, an urgent alarm sounded from above the exhibition room.
At the same time, mechanical eyes hidden within the nameplates emerged and began flashing red lights.
Nisi was surprised: “What’s happening? Wasn’t it said that taking three wouldn’t cause an alarm?”
Chapter 2396 Exhibition Room <TOC> Chapter 2398 Hunt and Kill Numbers