Mechanical Alchemist

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Having killed several members of the Reed Family, Su Lun finally felt the sensation of being targeted disappear.

He returned to the main road, blending into the crowd of refugees once more, walking towards Old Lington City at a leisurely pace.

Gazing at the towering city walls, Su Lun couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental.

Initially, he had fled the city in a desperate escape from his assassins, seeking refuge in the wilds.

But now, returning, the once mysterious and immense city had fully unveiled its secrets.

The Black Tower, the mines, slavery, exile...

These were "truths" that the former gangster could never have touched within his limited horizon.

Indeed, the view from the top was different.

Once inside the city, Su Lun didn't wander randomly.

He went to the Southern Cross Association's territory and returned to Green Street.

This was the place he was most familiar with, being there felt comfortable.

Luckily, his current face wasn't on record with the umbrella organization, so walking around the street wouldn't draw unwanted attention.

The city was still bustling, with factory steam boilers puffing out white smoke, and the streets teeming with people.

The massive incident at the Dawn Relic likely resulted in many deaths in the inner city. But to the outer city commoners, those noble lords were from a completely different world.
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Eat as they should eat, drink as they should drink, life seemed no different.

Even monumental events did not hinder their earning of a monthly wage of two thousand risso.

Su Lun found an inn near Green Street and resumed his routine life.

He always felt short on time now, needing ample time for meditation, studying, crafting, researching, practicing...

Though he was now second-tier, in Old Lington he could still be considered a first-class expert, even facing third-tier opponents, he wouldn't have a low chance of victory.

But such standings were quite below par in the surface world.

From Mr. Jing's perspective, it seemed they planned to storm the tower after Qian and the others advanced to the fourth tier.

With time pressing, Su Lun needed to quickly enhance his own strength.

....

Days passed in a blink.

Su Lun stayed in his inn room without going out.

During this time, Sabina also visited once, bringing lots of top-secret information.

The news of Princess Theresa's death had been confirmed; there was turmoil in the inner city, and many had died.

Almost half the high ranks of the umbrella organization were held accountable and purged.

The death of a noble duke's daughter meant for sure that many had to be buried along with her.

However, because Sabina had made some preparations in advance, she didn't get implicated. On the contrary, with her advancement to a third-tier professional and a rise in military rank—due to vacancies among the inner city's high officials—she got promoted to the inner city, filling the void and becoming one of the top powerful individuals in the umbrella organization.

This also made it more convenient to provide Su Lun with more confidential information.

On the other hand, after the news of the relic reached them, the Reed Family's main branch changed course drastically from their cautious management. The family head, Carnegie Reyes, began to frantically sell off family properties and company shares, amassing a large amount of cash in his hands.

Others didn't know the reason and thought that the Reed Family's main hunting team had been wiped out and that they were on the verge of collapse.

But Su Lun knew, they were preparing to leave the tower city.

The Reed Family had been supported by Mr. Jing from the start, so naturally, they would leave together.

One day,

in room 303 of the Musketeer Inn.

The room was densely filled with various materials and mechanical parts, with countless threads suspending materials through the air.

Su Lun was busily manipulating an eight-armed spider spear, working on a mechanical puppet adapted from the "PZ-911 Mechanical Limb"; this was the "Iron Man IV".

Without the conditions of a precision laboratory, no air circulation or filtration system, the room was filled with a rusty odor of volatile gases. Wearing a beaked gas mask, Su Lun was installing a mechanical arm equipped with a miniature steam boiler.

The mechanical arm was painted with the words "BHⅦ Type Steam Hammer" in white spray paint.

This was a spoil of war from the encounter at the duke's mansion.

Even in the surface world, it was one of the most top-notch mechanical arms.

Once equipped with this steam hammer, the mechanical puppet could use a charged punch with the strength of a third-tier flesh-based professional, capable of easily punching through the armor plating of an armored vehicle.

While working, the spider spear behind Su Lun took a stem block of holly soaking in grease from a nearby flask. After weighing and cutting it to calculate the correct dosage, he tossed it into the burning crucible on the side table, the excess placed back into the flask to prevent oxidation. Stirring for a moment, another spider spear adjusted the fierce flame, and the orange-yellow metallic liquid in the crucible began to boil...

Multitasking had become increasingly practiced, his brain able to process more tasks simultaneously.

He alone was as efficient as a dozen other workers.

Su Lun timed it well, pouring the freshly concocted solution out of the crucible. Then, taking a specially designed rune pen, he dipped it into the golden liquid and started to inscribe runes onto the mechanical puppet...

Having harvested the memory shards of over a thousand elites at the Dawn Relic, his rune crafting skills had reached master level, and he was well-versed in creating third-tier runes.

Still, he performed the task with careful attention, layering one intricate design over another.

As the runes were drawn, a magical moment ensued under his pen, the runes shining with a golden light, seemingly coming to life, spinning in a peculiar pattern.

These weren't ordinary runes, but a wind variant among the "Runic Runes"—the [Super Weight-Bearing Rune].

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Runes are a form of divergent thinking, requiring a vast amount of experimentation and brilliant inspiration to forge the runes one needs.

However, as Sir Isaac said, this is the best of times.

Standing on the shoulders of giants provided Su Lun with immense convenience. The great alchemists of ancient times compiled their research into tomes. Among the rune encyclopedias he had brought from the "Dawn Central Prison" cursed space, there were many completed rune blueprints. There was no need for him to study them painstakingly, as he could use them directly.

...

Before long, the partial runes were drawn, and Su Lun let out a long breath of turbid air.

Drawing runes of the same tier was several times more difficult than those of ordinary runes. The slightest error could ruin everything.

He looked at the results before him, also with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

With a single grab in the air, the mechanical golem slowly stood up. Its boiler activated, and the runes on its body lit up simultaneously, with the rich wind element gathering around the golem, lifting its several hundred kilograms of body mass.

"The previous calculations were indeed correct. The load-reducing rune has lightened the golem by ninety percent of its weight, barely achieving a degree of agility. And the energy consumption is within the acceptable range..."

Su Lun tried to get the mechanical golem moving, flexing its joints. It was fairly agile, and his eyebrows gradually relaxed.

He meticulously recorded the data of this attempt in his notebook, then muttered to himself in analysis, "The offensive capability is almost there, but to reach the combat level of high-order professionals, a significant increase in heavy armor is needed. Third-tier runes would not achieve the current effect. Moreover, ordinary refined steel is unable to be inscribed with such complex runes; only high-grade magical materials will do. If one wanted to mass-produce them, aside from the cost, materials would be a major issue..."

At that thought, Su Lun quietly notated something else in his notebook.

This was always an experiment.

Now the facts had proven that his line of thought was completely correct.

With technology, runes, and some special materials, one could indeed create mechanically driven golems that were flexible to control.

The shortcomings of machinery were indeed quite obvious: clumsiness, slow reactions, low sensitivity...

But the advantages were also clear: strong power, high defense, low cost, stable output...

They had a magical efficacy that could not be ignored in certain combat scenarios, such as sieges, trench warfare, and large-scale mechanical wars!

As a transmigrator, Su Lun was not averse to mechanical technology.

He knew that technology is continuously innovating and developing, and its potential, like alchemy, was also limitless.

Alchemy + machinery could certainly create miraculous results.

"There's still a lot missing on the technical level. If only I could get my hands on the research materials of the 'super mechanical warrior'. Too bad it's a top secret of the Duke's mansion, and Sabina can't access it either..."

Su Lun grumbled inwardly, also recognizing his deficiencies. The level of knowledge he had access to was still too low-end, insufficient to support more sophisticated designs.

At that thought, another notion popped into his head: "The mechanical technology of the Luying Empire is still relatively outdated. Mafa is the holy land for mechanical alchemy magicians. I must visit if I have the chance."

....

Having finished testing the mechanical golem, Su Lun started tinkering with his puppet runes and silk threads.

A few days ago, he separated the Soul Shard of a fifth-tier assassin and mastered the "Wind Element Cutting." Su Lun spent the last few days studying and discovered that this ability was also highly compatible with his profession.

He had originally planned to use the cutting capability of the silk threads to enhance the armorpiercing attribute of the puppet.

But after some experimenting, he found that using it directly on the silk threads was extremely effective as well!

Under normal circumstances, even the tough hair of a witch could not withstand more than a second-tier concentration of wind element.

But if toughness was lacking, it could be compensated with toughness runes.

Engraving runes on hair was an extremely difficult skill.

Luckily, Su Lun's rune crafting skills were solid, and his recent attempts had actually succeeded, although the efficiency was a bit low. Working with his eight-armed spear and both hands, he could engrave only about twenty to thirty meters of hair after a whole day of busyness.

At this moment, Su Lun was wearing the monocle commonly used by mechanics, carefully engraving on the hair with the help of the magnified image.

After being busy for most of the day, a strand of hair, shimmering with a special silver brilliance, was in his hands. Infused with wind element and upon a closer inspection, it looked as sharp as a blade, visibly keen to the naked eye.

"Phew~"

The completion was decent, and Su Lun quietly exhaled.

He barely twitched his fingers, and the hair floated gently down in the air.

As it landed on the wooden table leg, it effortlessly sliced through it without any applied force.

Observing this effect, Su Lun's eyes narrowed slightly, "It's just about reached the threshold of gold-tier equipment..."

The flowing wind element was like a high-frequency cutter, seemingly imperceptible, yet among the sharpest things he had seen below the third tier.

Although the hair was still fragile, its sharpness was taken to the extreme.

Specially condensed hair strands with the third-tier wind element law could easily cut through steel armor and the defenses of third-tier professionals.

Used properly, it could cut through professionals below third-tier as easily as chopping vegetables.

With this invention, Su Lun had managed to add a new ace up his sleeve.

Su Lun had no intention of going out, originally planning to make a few more meters of rune-etched hair.

But unexpectedly, at that moment, his communicator rang. It was the gambler's wife inviting him for drinks.

"Thousand advanced to the fourth tier?"

Upon hearing the transmission from the communicator, Su Lun guessed what was going on.

They hadn't seen each other since the last separation at the ruins.

But thinking of the many "Sun God Stones" he had processed before, she must have gone into seclusion for a breakthrough.

At that thought, Su Lun didn't continue to stay in the hotel room. He packed up his materials and walked out the door.

...

Kai lived in a basement not far from the Su Lun Inn.

He and Su Lun had similar routines, spending every day crazily training in the basement.

Qiantiao had also planned to join him, but the guy still had not gotten rid of his blue skin, and he was too embarrassed to go out, so he didn't join.

So, Su Lun rode his motorcycle alone to Norton Street.

Ever since the entertainment venue on Green Street was destroyed, the gambling stalls, taverns, and brothels all moved here.

Several months had passed, and this place had become even more prosperous and lively.

This was Qiantiao's territory.

On the surface, she was still a cadre of the Cross Society.

Parking his motorcycle by the roadside, a few punk-styled hoodlums squatting by the street sized up Su Lun, the stranger.

Su Lun felt very familiar with this scene, as this was his job back on Green Street.

He knew the rules well and gave the Cross Society members watching the place a parking fee, then casually asked, "Hey, brother, have you seen Sister Qiantiao?"

The mohawked leader with lip rings looked surprised upon hearing the question asked in such a tone, obviously by someone who knew the street rules, and he replied, "Sister Qiantiao is at the Lisboa Casino..."

"Thanks~"

Upon hearing this, Su Lun couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Sure enough, it was right not to go to the agreed-upon tavern.

That woman with a gambling addiction, as long as she had money in her pocket, she couldn't walk past a gambling stall.

He headed straight for the gambling stall, shining with purple-red lights in the distance.

On his way, various pimps kept approaching him.

"Sir, looking for a girl? Fresh out of the inner city, we've got top-class goods, real noble ladies~"

"Brother, fancy a drink? Our Blue Moon Tavern has the best girls, the best drinks."

"How about some hallucinogens, from a licensed pharmacist, guaranteed good stuff..."

"..."

The environment was noisy, with debauchery of wine, women, and extravagance on one side, and extortion, robbery, murder scenes, and dead bodies in the dark alleys not far away.

Su Lun always wore a relaxed smile on his face; this was the outer city, though harsh, it was an environment he was familiar with.

Upon entering the gambling stall and exchanging for some chips, he easily found Qiantiao gambling in the VIP room, led by scantily dressed ladies.

She was still wearing her battle kimono, her dauntingly tattooed arm exposed.

"Seven! Seven! Seven! Oh, damn it..."

Seeing Su Lun approaching, she kept rolling the dice earnestly.

Su Lun thought that after Qiantiao advanced to fourth rank, she should have become aloof. After all, a fourth-rank in Old Lington City was considered an extraordinary master. But the reality was, she hadn't changed a bit and still had her casual demeanor.

Having lost the card game, and seeing Su Lun arriving, she gestured to the spot next to her, warmly calling out, "Come, over here~"

Su Lun walked over, and as usual, Qiantiao put her arm around his shoulder, "What should we bet on next round?"

Last time in the Hunter's Wilderness Camp Inn, they had shared a room for a few days, and since then, this gambling-addicted woman never treated him as an outsider anymore.

Watching her gambling happily, Su Lun didn't say much and simply sat down next to her to accompany her.

In the end, they didn't end up drinking the planned booze but gambled for a few hours in the gambling stall instead.

Sister Qiantiao's chips were once again all gone.

Reluctantly, she was pulled out of the gambling stall by Su Lun.

....

When they left the gambling stall, it was already midnight.

But on Norton Street, the bustle was just getting started.

As soon as Qiantiao stepped out, she still lamented over the just-ended gambling, muttering, "Ah, if I knew you were coming, I should have left then. I was still winning at that time."

When she spoke, she sounded just like an old gambler.

Not leaving when winning, and regretting when losing.

Listening to her, Su Lun chuckled, "Sister Qiantiao, what did you call me out for?"

"To have a drink."

Qiantiao pondered and then pursed her lips, changing her mind, "Forget it, I've lost money, and now I'm not in the mood for drinking."

After a pause, she continued, "Come on, I'll treat you to a hot soak."

"..."

Su Lun was indifferent.

Drinking or bathing, either was fine.

Having decided, they went to get the motorcycle.

As they walked, Su Lun casually asked, "Sister Qiantiao, why do you like gambling so much?"

This was a question he had always been puzzled about.

Logically speaking, the willpower of high-ranking professionals should be much stronger than that of the average person.

Moreover, for a master of Thousand's level, losing or winning a few million should not have a significant impact on her, nor should it hold so much attraction.

But she seemed to never tire of it.

Thousand casually responded, "Because I like it."

She turned the question around, "Don't you find gambling to be pleasurable?"

Su Lun looked uninterested, "I don't think so."

Theoretically, gambling can indeed bring great pleasure to people; when winning money, the secretion of dopamine could be dozens of times that of normal, and the body will increasingly crave this pleasure. Gambling addiction comes from this.

What she said was not incorrect.

But that applies to ordinary people,

not to a high-ranking professional.

Thousand gave him a glance, with an expression conveying that he was missing out on a great joy in life, but she didn't linger on the topic and asked: "Where are the car keys?"

Su Lun tossed the keys to her.

As a big sister in the underworld, Thousand would not sit in the passenger seat. Su Lun didn't mind, as this was not the first time.

Thousand's personality was well-received within the gang; she had no airs of a superior, and the members were very familiar with her. Seeing her pick up a pretty boy, the members of the Cross Society were hooting and jeering.

"Yo~ Sister Thousand, switching things up?"

"Hahaha... This is the first time I've seen a man in Sister Thousand's backseat."

"Tsk tsk... Little guy, go for it, we're rooting for you~"

"..."

A chorus of burly men laughed and teased; Thousand didn't mind and put up a friendly international gesture, cursing with a laugh: "Scram, you lot~ Pay attention to the show!"

....

The motorcycle's engine roared as it sped off.

This time, Su Lun didn't feel as nervous as before and naturally wrapped his arms around Thousand's slender waist, feeling its warmth.

"Shall we take a spin?"

"Okay."

They didn't head straight for the bathhouse but took a ride around the main streets and alleys of the southern city.

Since it was late at night, beyond the entertainment district, there were very few people out on the other streets.

The rumble of the motorcycle seemed to be the sole sound in the silent night.

The speed of the motorcycle wasn't too fast; Thousand appeared content.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Su Lun also felt somewhat bored and asked, "Sister Thousand, have you advanced to fourth rank?"

Thousand's voice, mixed with the wind, poured into his ears: "Yeah."

Her tone was so casual that it left Su Lun without a follow-up.

He had thought that Thousand had asked him out for a drink to celebrate her advancement.

It seemed, to this gambling-addicted woman, it wasn't a big deal at all.

There was silence for a long while, and the atmosphere became slightly mocking.

Perhaps Thousand sensed it, suddenly starting up the earlier topic again: "Didn't you just ask why I like gambling?"

At the sound of that tone, Su Lun became interested, "Hmm?"

After a brief pause, Thousand finally said, "Rakshasa Woman with a star of calamity, born for slaughter, fated to be alone for life. Without finding some other amusement, living is quite dull…"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Su Lun had an epiphany.

It seemed certain talents indeed carried with them certain fateful constraints.

Like how Catwoman naturally fears dogs, and fire-affinity talents dislike water...

And this talent, [A-022-Rakshasa Woman], as strong as it is, even comes with a hidden attribute of a "star of calamity"?

....

Before long, the motorcycle stopped in front of "Akun's Family Bathhouse."

Having been here several times, Su Lun knew the way and followed the maid's lead to wash up. Knowing the place, he didn't need a guide. As a guest brought by Thousand, the maid did not ask too many questions.

Su Lun went straight to the mixed bathing "Three Springs Pool."

On previous visits, there would usually be some of Thousand's trusty, hefty ladies in this pool.

But this time, there were no others.

However, in the pool, there was someone unexpectedly present.

"Lady Philo?"

It was Su Lun's acquaintance, the mysterious patron of the Cross Society, Lady Philo.

Seeing her gave Su Lun a slightly strange expression.