Chapter 2409 Frost Mist <TOC> Chapter 2411 Physically Abandoned
Translator: SumTLMan
In less than a minute, Eremy had returned.
After a whirlwind of dust, the unconscious Number x0 was tossed in front of Angel. Eremy looked at Angel, silently inquiring about what to do with Number x0.
Angel did not immediately respond; instead, he took an interest in examining Number x0.
Upon a cursory inspection, Angel found that this individual was indeed partially mechanized, just as he had suspected. Moreover, this mechanization differed from the mechanical implants seen in the Southern Region; it had a more frenzied touch of modification, as Number x0 even had some free-floating mechanical signals in his brain.
After pondering for a moment, Angel said to Eremy, “Take him away for now. However, if he shows any signs of movement, deal with him.”
Angel was somewhat interested in Number x0’s mechanization and soul armor. If there was an opportunity, he would like to study it, but everything hinged on being able to control Number x0. If Number x0 proved uncontrollable, disposing of him was also an option.
Eremy, understanding the directive, nodded and transformed into a shadowy wisp, enveloping Number x0.
Enveloping Number x0, Eremy slowly merged into Angel’s shadow.
With Eremy watching over Number x0, Angel felt reassured and returned to his study of the main control node’s magic formation.
He was curious about the underground rune that Number x0 had attempted to activate earlier; he was very keen to learn what Number x0’s trump card was, as it pertained to his own safety. However, before delving into this rune, he needed to suppress the information transmission block.
Minutes later, as a faint glow flickered, the previously silent mental connection became lively again——
“It seems much quieter around here than before. Is it because those guys saw us and moved?” Nisi’s voice still dominated the mental connection.
“Possibly,” Canter replied. “But if they really did move, they should be able to pinpoint our location.”
“Sigh, things were going fine. How did that Fire Scale Familiar spot us?” Nisi said. “It seems Lord Like the Night’s Nocturne cannot withstand fire.”
Canter remained silent.
Finding no amusement, and with Angel absent and Canter occasionally lost in thought, Nisi turned to Reynolds, “Didn’t you say that if the laboratory had a way to keep magical beasts, there must be a way to control them? It looks like we still can’t control it, huh?”
Reynolds was unsure what went wrong and remained speechless for a while.
Nisi continued, “By the way, Reynolds, was that Fire Scale Familiar one of the ones kept by your lab?”
This time, Reynolds nodded affirmatively, “Yes, that was one of the Fire Scale Familiars from Number 17’s Beast Garden.”
In a sector managed by Number 17, there was a domain known as the Beast Garden, populated entirely by magical creatures captured from the outer realms. These beings were generally categorized into two groups: those bred for combat, transformed for personal use, and those utilized as donors for organs, with the latter being the common case.
“However, I recall the Fire Scale Familiar in the Beast Garden was raised personally by Number 17. It’s unlikely it would rebel,” Reynolds expressed in hesitation. “And I’ve seen the Fire Scale Familiar’s strength myself; it’s quite weak.”
Nisi disagreed, “That Fire Scale Familiar is far from weak, and it’s quite intelligent too. This is unlike any Fire Scale Familiar I’ve encountered before. Could it have undergone a brain mutation?”
Puzzled, Nisi turned to Canter, asking, “What’s your take on this, Lord Like the Night?”
Before Canter could respond, another voice transmitted through the mental link interjected, “Fire Scale Familiar? What’s happening over there?”
As Reynolds held the Authority Eye, which began to move on its own, scanning the surroundings, he found they were in the middle of a corridor: “Where is this?”
Nisi queried, “Angel?”
“Yes,” replied Angel.
Nisi, surprised, exclaimed, “Ah, you’re able to contact us now… Does that mean you’ve reached the main control node?”
After affirming, Nisi hastily inquired about the status of the main control node, hoping all was well.
Following a brief exchange, Angel and Nisi updated each other on their respective situations.
Compared to Angel’s relatively comfortable research on magic formations, Nisi had encountered a sudden crisis that led to unforeseen consequences, essentially an accident.
Due to most researchers crowding on the fourth level and the full activation of the magic formation there, Nisi decided against going to the exhibition room, opting instead to head directly to the fifth level. According to the lab’s internal rules, unless permitted by the top three numbers, no one dares venture to the fifth level.
Now, with the top three numbers apparently absent from the fifth level, they saw an opportunity to search for documents undetected.
Their plan was sound, but the execution saw a minor mishap.
To reach the fifth level, merely taking a detour was insufficient; one must pass through the experiment center located in the heart of the fourth level.
Upon arriving at the outskirts of the experiment center, they found it unusually crowded.
Initially, they thought these people were conducting research but soon realized they were congregated to attack a magical creature that had infiltrated the experiment center.
At that moment, they believed the situation was advantageous: amidst the crowd and chaos, as long as they did not enter the experiment center, they could take this chance to circumvent it through a side corridor.
However, it was at this moment that an unexpected event occurred.
The besieged magical creature, specifically a Fire Scale Familiar, began to flee upon realizing it was momentarily outmatched. Initially, it appeared to flee erratically, but it was soon discovered that its movements were chaotic yet organized, aiming for their hidden location.
As the Fire Scale Familiar passed by them seemingly inadvertently, it suddenly unleashed a fire towards the shadowy corner where they were concealed. The flames themselves did no harm, but the bright red glow momentarily exposed their hidden figures in the darkness.
This brief exposure alerted the nearby researchers to their presence.
“An intruder!” shouted one of the researchers, prompting them to scatter. Sensing an unusual surge of energy, and realizing that their strength was not on par with that of the Fire Scale Familiar, they chose not to confront it directly and instead fled in different directions.
Observing the immediate chaos at the research center, Nisi finally understood that the Fire Scale Familiar’s approach was intended to distract others, buying it some time.
Upon this realization, Nisi attempted to capture the Fire Scale Familiar, but it seemed to have a deep familiarity with the laboratory and vanished in an instant.
The researchers fled swiftly, and since they were all within the inner part of the research center, protected by an activated magic formation, Nisi and the others dared not to barge in directly and could only watch as they ran away through a corridor on the opposite side of the research center.
The situation then shifted to a previously mentioned mental communication.
They planned to continue towards the fifth level, by now no longer seeing any signs of people along the way.
Nisi sighed, “I wonder if the people on the fourth level can detect our location through the magic formation and have already evacuated the people near us in advance.”
Angel glanced at a glowing section of the main control node and responded, “The magic formation on the fourth level is indeed fully activated, including the sensing methods you mentioned.”
Canter asked, “Are you next to the main control node? Can you take over the magic formation on the fourth level?”
If Angel could take control of the magic formation on the fourth level, they wouldn’t have to worry about being counterattacked by it.
Angel pondered, “I can try, but the magic formation here is very complex; it might take some time.”
This implied that Angel was preparing to disappear again.
To prevent Angel from going offline in the next second, Nisi quickly said, “Wait, are you sure everything is okay on your end? What about the Hunt and Kill Numbers?”
Angel replied, “It’s fine here; the Hunt and Kill Numbers hasn’t been activated, only Number x0.”
When the “x” series was mentioned, especially Number x0, everyone immediately thought of Reynolds, who was Number x1.
“Reynolds, do you really not know Number x0?”
After Angel described Number x0’s appearance, Reynolds was still confused, “I’ve never heard of this person.”
Nisi concluded, “It seems that within the laboratory, Number x0 is kept a secret.”
Even as an experimental number, Number x0 had never been exposed.
They engaged in a brief conversation and then ended the short communication. Angel continued to have Toby and Dangros “idle” in the mental connection while he himself delved into the study of the magic formation.
Initially, Angel wanted to first explore the runes on the ground, but the situation with Nisi was clearly more urgent. If it led to a backlash from the entire magic formation, that would be somewhat dangerous. Thus, Angel, without delay, began to analyze the fourth level magic formation.
The advantage of the main control node was that it could monitor the magic formation of each level in real-time and take it as the main. As long as Angel could thoroughly study the fourth level magic formation, taking it over was also a possibility.
Time quietly passed as Angel was engrossed in his research.
On the other side, Nisi and others were pondering whether to continue towards the fifth level passage. They were already exposed to the sight of certain individuals by now, and if they proceeded, they would definitely be obstructed. The collapse of the magic formation was not to be underestimated.
After consulting with Canter for a while, they decided to continue regardless.
They were already within the magic formation and had been categorized as intruders. Even if they stayed put, the other party might manipulate the magic formation against them.
Therefore, it was better to move towards the fifth level ahead of time.
Of course, if Angel took over the fourth level magic formation in the process, that would be even better.
With this thought, Nisi didn’t pause and continued moving towards the fifth level passage.
A quarter of an hour later, Nisi looked at a long corridor that seemed endless and turned to Reynolds with an expressionless face: “Didn’t you say that after that corridor, we could see the exit? Where is the exit now? Are you sure, you’re leading us the right way?”
Reynolds, who had been confident in leading the way on the other floors, now appeared somewhat hesitant.
“It should, it should be correct.” Reynolds’ voice was a bit weak, clearly lacking confidence.
“Should?” Nisi raised an eyebrow: “So, you’re not sure?”
Reynolds hesitated for a moment: “I’m actually very familiar with the fourth level, but at the last fork in the road, I felt a bit unfamiliar…”
Nisi also recalled that not long ago at a fork, Reynolds had paused for half a minute, which was clearly different from his previous smooth performance.
“Unfamiliar? Even you find it unfamiliar, do you mean you’ve never been there?”
Reynolds’ expression was slightly awkward: “I feel like I’ve been to that fork, just that my memory suddenly stopped, perhaps the memory about that fork is on my physical body?”
“So, you mean, you might have avoided that fork?”
Reynolds weakly said: “There’s a possibility. How about we go back and take a different path…”
Nisi sighed, they indeed didn’t have other options now, only to turn back.
As they were heading back, a long-missed voice came through the mental connection.
Angel: “I have roughly understood the situation with the fourth level magic formation.”
Hearing Angel’s voice, Nisi quickly asked: “How’s the situation?”
Angel pondered: “There’s good news and bad news, which one do you want to hear first?”
Chapter 2409 Frost Mist <TOC> Chapter 2411 Physically Abandoned