Previous page password is bold portion: 1ehl#EgE3PI9
Translator: SumTLMan
Reynolds’ access was not revoked, and he successfully opened the third level exhibition room.
Upon entering the exhibition room, Nisi, as before, quickly moved among the various exhibits, searching for a target of interest.
Canter then communicated through the mental connection, “Is Toby there?”
After a few seconds of silence, a hum devoid of emotion came through the mental connection.
Canter said, “It’s time to wake Angel up, tell him we’ve reached the exhibition room.”
A few seconds later, Angel’s voice came through the mental connection, “I’m here now.”
Hearing Angel’s voice, Canter, holding the Authority Eye, also started moving among the exhibits, “You should look too, maybe there’s something suitable for you.”
If it had been before, Angel would definitely have refused. But after being enlightened about organs that do not participate in the internal circulation, Angel had developed some interest in the organs here.
For this reason, when Canter said he would call him when they went to the exhibition room, Angel did not refuse.
Canter moved quickly because the organs in the exhibition room that did not participate in the internal circulation were few and could be seen at a glance.
“How about this? The exoskeleton of the back of an eight-legged bone spider.” Canter stopped in front of a metal platform, on which a container held a segment of pure white bone, full of cave-like black holes, a characteristic that revealed its identity.
Through the Authority Eye, Angel also saw this segment of bone.
He remembered the eight-legged bone spider mentioned in —Magical Creatures and Where to Find Them—, also known as “Bone Whip Spider.”
“Is this exoskeleton its bone whip?” Angel asked.
Canter exclaimed, “Oh, you know about it? I thought you were unfamiliar. This thing is already rare in the Southern Region, and not many know it’s a bone whip.”
“Although it’s hard to determine what characteristics transplanting this exoskeleton would grant, based on my understanding, it has very strong toughness, extensibility, and plasticity. It can lengthen or shorten; when long, it can be used for whipping, and when short, for binding. In a sense, it can be completely used as your third hand, and more flexible than a real hand.”
Canter was obviously very knowledgeable about the eight-legged bone spider, and his explanation was professional. However, after listening, Angel was not very interested in the exoskeleton of the eight-legged bone spider.
It wasn’t that he had a prejudice against whips, but he possessed a very similar ability to the bone whip——phantasmal limb.
Through the phantasmal limb, Angel could achieve the same effect as this exoskeleton, or even better. Because the phantasmal limb is controlled by the mind, and as long as Angel’s energy is sufficient, the number and length of the phantasmal limbs are not limited.
Since there was a better alternative, Angel naturally did not take an interest in this exoskeleton.
Certainly, the exoskeleton of the eight-legged bone spider also has advantages over the phantasmal limb, such as containing a piece of Soul Armor within it.
However, what this piece of Soul Armor specifically is remains unknown.
Moreover, if Angel truly intends to transplant an organ just for its Soul Armor, it seems somewhat like missing the forest for the trees. He still hopes that, even aside from the Soul Armor, this organ could be of some assistance to him.
Angel shared his thoughts with Canter.
After hearing this, Canter didn’t say anything but continued to search for another organ that doesn’t circulate internally.
At this moment, Nisi said, “I have five nails from a terror demon, want to give them a try?”
The terror demon is one of the weaker demons of the Abyss, but it is one of the most feared by the native inhabitants of the Abyss because it looks too much like humans. Its demonic horns are very small and can be completely hidden with a hat and hair, allowing it to blend into the groups of natives. Moreover, terror demons love to eat the flesh of the natives, and if one infiltrates a town of Abyss natives, it wouldn’t take long for it to consume everyone.
Angel, during his time in the Abyss, had indeed never seen a terror demon, but he had heard that they are adept at disguising and learning, and they naturally possess the ability to manipulate human hearts, essentially having a built-in fear spell of the highest level.
If someone really transplanted an organ from a terror demon, the skin or internal organs would be better choices because to have a similar casting of fear spells, this organ would necessarily need to be involved in the internal circulation, even the cranial circulation.
As for the nails of a terror demon… Angel hadn’t heard of them having any use.
Was he uninformed?
Angel silently looked towards Canter, wanting to see if the knowledgeable Canter had any explanation.
Canter was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head at Angel: “It’s meaningless, maybe it could make your nails a bit sharper?”
Having sharper nails isn’t bad, but this is definitely a bonus for close combat, more suitable for wizards of the bloodline branch. However, if a bloodline branch wizard really wanted to transplant an organ, wouldn’t they choose the corresponding arm instead of the nails?
All things considered, these nails have basically no value.
If the Soul Armor within the nails is strong, it could add back some points, but now it’s impossible to determine what type of Soul Armor is inside, so… Angel still decides to pass. He doesn’t really want to gamble.
Seeing Angel pass, Nisi didn’t say anything, because if he were in Angel’s position, he would also pass on these nails. He didn’t continue on the topic of nails but instead changed the subject and asked, “By the way, Angel, how is your research going? Any news on the Main Control Node’s Location?”
Nisi’s question made Canter pause for a few seconds, and Reynolds even stopped in place, listening intently, as he was also eager to know where the laboratory’s main control node might be.
Angel: “We’re still filtering through coordinates, but what can be confirmed is that the main control node is not on the second or third level.”
Nisi: “So, the main control node is on the fourth or fifth level?”
Angel: “That’s a possibility, but there are other possibilities, such as the existence of some interlayer in this laboratory, or perhaps, the main control node is… on the first level.”
“Is it really possible that it’s either in the next levels or on a the first level?” Nisi still had his doubts.
Angel replied, “Finding the main control node immediately isn’t easy, but determining which level it’s on is quite simple. Give me a few more minutes, and I should have it figured out.”
It took Nisi and the others only a few minutes to emerge from the sub-control nodes on the third level and arrive at the exhibition room. In that short time, Angel had already checked the second and third levels. So, indeed, pinpointing the exact level where the main control node was located didn’t require much time.
Nisi said, “Then we’re looking forward to your good news. It would be best if we could find the main control node before we run into anyone else, to avoid any hindrance.”
They continued to wander through the exhibition room.
Two minutes later, Angel had not found anything particularly appealing, mainly because he was looking for organs that did not enter the internal circulation, which were not mainstream, relatively weaker, and fewer in number.
The exoskeleton of the eight-legged bone spider they had seen earlier turned out to be the strongest so far.
“We don’t have much time left, the restrictions on this level will be lifted in a minute at most,” Angel said.
Before the time limit was up, Nisi sighed, randomly picked two items, and then hurriedly left. As for Angel, he had already given up on the third level’s exhibition room, perhaps the organs he needed were in the laboratories on the lower levels.
After leaving the exhibition room, Angel greeted them and then immersed himself in studying the magic formation, trying to locate the main control node through the three sub-control nodes.
Nisi and Canter headed deeper into the laboratory.
Led by Reynolds, they quickly found the entrance to the fourth level, which was still a narrow corridor, evidently an external attached corridor. They needed to enter it, and then the external arm would move the corridor to the entrance of the fourth level.
Nisi didn’t immediately enter the corridor because, up to this point, they hadn’t really encountered any of the laboratory’s internal researchers.
According to Reynolds’ description of the internal division of the laboratory, the fifth level was reserved for the top three numbers, and researchers were basically not allowed to go there.
Since there were no researchers seen in the first three levels, the likelihood of encountering them on the fourth level was the highest.
Therefore, to avoid alarming anyone prematurely, Nisi decided to wait and see if Angel made any discoveries before making a decision.
Time quickly passed another ten minutes, and after experiencing an invasion of law ripples, Angel’s voice finally came through the mental connection: “I just checked the fourth and fifth levels, and I found that all the main conduits of the magic formation extend downwards. Only non-core runes like those for information transmission seem to extend into the fourth and fifth levels.”
Nisi asked, “What does that mean?”
Canter answered for Angel, addressing Nisi’s question: “It means the main control node isn’t on the fourth or fifth level.”
Nisi wondered, “Could it really be on the first level?”
Angel posited with high probability that by comparing the second and third level control nodes, he discovered an abundance of main control magic runes on the first level.
Pausing, Angel’s tone slightly lifted, “If it’s indeed on the first level, then the time to find the main control node would be significantly reduced.”
Since Angel was currently on the first level, his familiarity with the magic runes there surpassed that of the other levels, enabling him to pinpoint the location of the main control magic runes with the utmost speed. On other levels, Angel would either have to come down personally or study through the Authority Eye, which would inevitably be slower.
“I’ll now follow the main control magic runes on the first level to see if I can locate the main control node,” declared Angel, a man of action, preparing to shield his mental connection and commence the search.
“Wait,” Nisi interjected, “Are you sure it’s safe to transmit our information out?”
Nisi was concerned that their information had already been relayed to the researchers here through the magic formation. If that were the case, stepping into this external corridor might lead to them being targeted, and they could forget about going to the lower levels; they might even be cut off from the external corridor and buried underground.
Being buried would actually be one of the better outcomes. If they were to suffer backlash from the magic formation, that would be truly terrifying.
Angel reassured, “For now, there are no signs that our information has been transmitted through the magic formation.”
“However, considering the time, we’ve been in the laboratory for quite a while. Number 03 might have already guessed our whereabouts.”
Guessing their whereabouts wouldn’t be too problematic, but the only concern was whether Number 03 had any means of contacting internal personnel. If she had already made contact, then the situation Nisi worried about might very well occur.
Canter added, “Wizard Firo hasn’t yet activated the item I left for him, which means Number 03 hasn’t come out from the Fire Law Land yet. So, even if she has a means to transmit information, at least for now, she hasn’t done so.”
“But Angel is right, Number 03 must be suspecting by now, and it won’t be long before she leaves the core of the Wave Mechanism. By then, we must leave the laboratory as quickly as possible.”
Number 03 coaxing them into the laboratory suggested that she might have arranged something inside, and even if not, the backlash from the magic formation would be dreadful.
Thus, the time left for them was running short.
Canter continued, “Angel, you continue searching for the main control node. Once we find the main control node, everything else will be much easier. If we can’t find the main control node before Number 03 comes out, we’ll have to find a way to leave here.”
“Alright, I’ll do it as quickly as I can,” Angel responded.
With that, Angel ceased talking and delved into his research time.
Meanwhile, Nisi and Canter stepped into the narrow corridor, heading towards the entrance to the fourth level.
…
While the laboratory was divided in its actions, Number 03 found herself in a dilemma outside.
More than an hour already passed.
Through the water mirror, she only saw Firo boasting outside, while Sanders and the others were completely out of sight.
Their prolonged absence, without even a sound, stirred a sense of unease in her.
Initially, she believed that Sanders and his group wouldn’t dare to infiltrate the laboratory, given the presence of the magic formation. Such a feat would require the assistance of a master deeply versed in the ways of runes, otherwise, it would be impossible to enter without triggering any alarms.
Now, however, her certainty wavered. Their continued absence raised the possibility that they might have actually entered the laboratory.
Could it be that either Nisi or Sanders had a deep understanding of runes? Or perhaps they possessed some other means to breach the laboratory without activating the magic formation… like a Mysterious Object?
If that were the case, she needed to leave the core of the Wave Mechanism immediately; otherwise, she would be unable to accomplish much.
Especially concerning the laboratory’s main mechanism, she had to exit the Wave Mechanism’s core and coordinate with the personnel inside. Only by working together from both inside and out could they activate it.
Then, even against Sanders, she would have a fighting chance… well, not to kill him, but at least she wouldn’t be utterly defenseless.
Moreover, once she gained control over that mechanism and awaited the return of the others, their combined efforts would significantly increase the likelihood of capturing Sanders.
However, all these plans hinged on two conditions: their entry into the laboratory and… her departure now.
She could leave right now, but her concern lingered, was she overthinking it? What if Sanders and his group hadn’t entered the laboratory but were lying in ambush deep within the mist, waiting for her to walk into their trap?
Should she leave the core of the Wave Mechanism?
Or should she wait a bit longer for the others to return so they could confront the enemy together?
Number 03 attempted to engage Firo in conversation through the water mirror to glean information about Sanders and his group. However, Firo was incredibly cautious, revealing nothing substantial. His words, occasionally sprinkled with seemingly false information, appeared more as a lure to coax her out of the Wave Mechanism’s core.
If this was indeed a ploy to draw her out, it indicated that Sanders and his group were lying in wait nearby.
At this moment, Number 03 felt as if she stood at a crossroads, one that would determine her fate and whether she could fulfill the Legacy of the River.
Torn with indecision, Number 03 looked down at the bottle in her hand.
The seed within continued to emit a magical power that tantalized her, urging her to swallow it.
Should she… try to venture out? If Sanders was indeed ambushing her outside, she could always swallow it.
But once she did, even if she managed to confront Sanders, the consequences for herself were unpredictable.
Number 03 gazed at the seed, her throat tightening with the urge to swallow, yet her heart grew more entangled.