Mechanical Alchemist

Su Lun had heard of the "Gusmao Airship" before—this information had been gleaned from the memories of the Mafa Royal Mechanical Knight, who had once served Princess Stika in the North Sea.

The military of Mafa had some top-secret intelligence that the Luying military department was developing a super-strong aerial fortress, aiming to control the airspace to cope with future battlefields.

This was not the kind of ordinary airship that hangs a basket from a large balloon but a true steel beast, which could even be described as a steam-powered steel castle in the sky.

However, there had been no reports of it being used on the battlefield yet.

Even the intelligence department of Mafa had only heard rumors that the Luying military was secretly developing it, but no one had actually seen it.

Su Lun hadn't expected to actually see the real thing here.

Whatever means the "Shadow Duke" had used to obtain this airship, just this feat alone truly justified his title as the King of Lington's Underworld.

Seeing the military airship, Su Lun's thoughts began to race, "A gang leader surely couldn't achieve this step alone. Who exactly is the financial backer behind this 'Red Oak Society'?"

After all, the Luying Empire had a millennium of heritage, and there were plenty of hidden crocodiles lurking beneath the surface.

For example, the low-key Lans family, the ambitious Duke Raphael...

This made Su Lun feel even more that he needed to be cautious about the dance party this time.

....

Aside from the slight tremor earlier that felt like an earthquake, there had been no other abnormalities.

But in his spatial awareness, Su Lun knew that this massive object was slowly ascending.

He didn't show any signs of abnormality and continued chatting leisurely with Sabina.

Half an hour later, Su Lun sensed that they were now at least three thousand meters above the ground, and the airship was still ascending.

Suddenly, the sound of a mechanism opening came from behind one wall of the room they were in.

Su Lun and Sabina turned their heads to see that the previous decorative wall had folded up, revealing a large panel of tempered glass.

Looking at the floating clouds outside, a hint of surprise appeared in Sabina's crystal-clear eyes—apparently, she had not expected that they had already ascended to the skies. She glanced at Su Lun, a brief flicker of exoticism disappeared in an instant, and she smiled charmingly, "Sir, would you like to take in the view?"

"Sure."

Su Lun stood up, and Sabina naturally took his arm as they walked to the viewing window.

From there, the entire city of Lington lay beneath them.

The city streets at night were brilliantly lit, and they were already above the layer of dense fog, so everything could be seen clearly.

The perennial haze that enveloped Lington lent a mysterious veil to the staggered buildings.

The lights along the Lokwarren River were the brightest, with gas lamps along the riverwalk lighting up long rows of orange points, clearly dividing the city into distinct northern and southern halves.

The fog was thickest in the south of the city, where factory chimneys ceaselessly spewed white smoke. Although the lighting in the noble district of the north was not as dense, it was very bright.

The entire city resembled a giant beast lying dormant on the ground, with the buildings like its spikes.

At that moment, a bright moon hung in the sky, its pale moonlight casting over the haze-veiled land, adding a layer of mystique to the world in sight.

It was Su Lun's first time overlooking Lington, this super-sized city.

He squinted at the brilliant lights below, feeling strangely relieved, and exclaimed, "Being up high really does offer a different view."

While enjoying the scenery, his gaze also passed through the viewing glass, sizing up this aerial fortress.

The hull was made of huge rivets joined together into a steel shell; from the side, many propellers of various sizes and purposes could be seen. From this angle, parts of the power equipment could be seen, with steam pipes puffing out white smoke. There were no obvious gas bags, and the shape was very peculiar, resembling a plump giant whale.

A thick steampunk vibe.

Su Lun looked closely, roughly understanding the structure of the "Gusmao Airship," but he couldn't figure out how such a heavy steel castle could fly, as the key to the energy system was hidden inside the airship.

He thought to himself, "Could it be ancient goblin technology?"

Without a doubt, if it was a mechanical product beyond the current level of technology, it was most likely archaeologically derived from ancient black technology.

Even though Su Lun couldn't understand it, it didn't stop him from having heard of the once glorious goblin civilization that had legends of "Cities in the Sky."

Given the Luying Empire's adventurers had been treasure hunting and pioneering for so many years, it wasn't hard to understand that the royal family had some black technology in their hands.

...

Su Lun and Sabina were admiring the aerial view from the edge of the bed when suddenly, there was a "click" sound of gears meshing in the room again.

A folding staircase slowly descended from the ceiling.

Sabina, holding Su Lun's arm, said, "Sir, it's time for the dance."

Su Lun nodded, and the two of them walked up the staircase.

The interior space of the mechanical airship was quite large; they didn't encounter any other attendees in the hallway.

Soon, after the rabbit-woman pushed open a door, the view abruptly opened up.

It was a luxurious banquet hall with dim lighting.

By the time Su Lun and his companion arrived, there were already dozens of masked people there, both men and women, dressed lavishly—judging just by the jewelry they wore, one could tell these individuals were extraordinary.

The air was filled with a faint scent of incense, refreshing to Su Lun as he sniffed.

Focusing on the incense burner in the corner, he identified it as "Could it be Maiden's Legend?"—a strangely named potion.

Although the name was odd, Su Lun had long heard of its renown!

Because the potion had miraculous effects such as beautifying and prolonging life, it was a legendary alchemical formula.

It was said that people whose life was nearing its end could breathe it and instantly live another half a year, and regular use could prolong life by many years!

The main ingredient of the potion was a fossil found only in the permafrost layers of the Far North Ice Field, incredibly rare. It was said to be a special potion concocted by the Pharmacist's Guild for the Luying royal family, with absolutely no availability otherwise on the market.

"What a treasure..."

Seeing this, Su Lun suddenly felt a bit like a country bumpkin.

He had made a fortune in the sea ruins before, and though he had money, his demeanor hadn't caught up yet.

At this ball, there were many things he hadn't seen before if not identified by the All-knowing Eye.

What Su Lun couldn't understand was, how could such exquisite items be offered for free?

He looked again at the buffet laden with drinks and food, all rare delicacies and aged wines that were not just for satisfying hunger or taste, they were also for various buffs. Certainly, they weren't just ordinary food.

Seeing this, Su Lun realized that the things provided for guests by the organizers of the ball were items that couldn't be bought with money, or were extremely hard to obtain.

One after another, some of the guests emerged from hidden corners. It was easy to tell; attendees all wore special masks to cover their faces, while those young men and women without masks were the designated waitstaff.

High-society socialites, royal ballet dancers, big-time singers...

Among those bunny girls, Su Lun recognized several familiar faces.

These seductively dressed beauties, unattainable in the eyes of ordinary people, were just part of the atmosphere at the ball for the real big shots.

Sabina, who was beside Su Lun, noticed him looking around and said affectionately, "If sir is interested, you can give it a try~"

Su Lun chuckled. He wasn't ogling the beauties, but rather wanted to see clearly who was attending the ball to deduce more information they possessed.

He discreetly observed everything around, but unfortunately, the masks provided by the organizers had enchantments that interfered with perception, making it impossible to see faces.

Su Lun could only remember their soul fluctuations, thinking that he might recognize them if he encountered them later.

....

The Full Moon Ball was by invitation only, rarely adding new members, so most of the attendees were returning veterans.

The desires at high-society balls were hidden, but at the "Full Moon Ball," an underground event, desires were released.

Those wearing masks were not surprised by anything, each engaged in their own activities in the corners of the banquet hall. Big shots could flirt with bunny girls, and the noble ladies could seek delight with male models, creating a vibrant and lively scene everywhere.

After all, it was nominally a ball, and as the mellow music started, people embraced each other and danced. Su Lun and Sabina also embraced in a slow dance.

Sabina, noticing Su Lun's apparent puzzlement at the unabashed reveling of chubby aristocrats, whispered in his ear, "Actually, many people here don't mind revealing their identities. Because everything about the ball is strictly confidential, even privately discussing it is forbidden. Otherwise, they would be hunted down by Lord Shadow Duke. His intelligence network is very sophisticated, covering both the underworld and the legitimate, even surpassing the Emperor Luying's intelligence agency. No one who has leaked information about the ball has survived. Moreover, joining the ball also acts as a status symbol for high society, and for many, revealing their identities can elevate their status in real societal interactions..."

Su Lun had begun to understand.

Actually, the high society was rife with scandals, which were an open secret. Now, under the rule of "no leakage," people naturally had no reservations.

The ball was membership-based, and many attendees knew each other or were connected in some way.

This was a kind of special alliance.

Only when everyone had dirt on each other could such an alliance be more stable.

One could imagine that the "Shadow Duke," the organizer, must possess a substantial amount of compromising information about the high society.

....

It didn't take long before a mysterious figure draped in a black robe and wearing a golden face mask entered the banquet hall.

Su Lun noticed this person immediately, feeling those unique soul fluctuations, and murmured to himself, "Very strong."

This was the mysterious "Duke of Shadows."

It's difficult for top-level professionals to discern the ranks from soul fluctuations, but to Su Lun, it felt at least seventh rank, and even somewhat resembled Mr. Jing's ethereal fluctuations.

"However, his soul fluctuations... is his lifespan nearing its end?"

Despite the impressive aura, Su Lun sensed some information that others could not perceive.

Similar to the time he met Grandmother Katusha on the boat to Mountain Hermit Nation, the soul fire of the man in the golden mask seemed like a flickering candle in the wind.

Which meant, this man was nearing the end of his life, about to die.

Su Lun then realized, the arrangement of the "Legend of Youth" potion at the venue was meant for his own use.

Considering that this man had been the king of Lington's underworld over twenty years ago, his old age made sense.

Everyone halted and bowed ceremoniously.

The man in the golden mask gestured for them to rise, and said, "We are all old friends here, no need for such formality. Before the masquerade officially begins, our 'Lady Marquess Agnes' has a dance performance for everyone. I believe you all would rather see the beautiful lady dance than listen to an old man like me ramble on..."

As he spoke, a spotlight fell on a lady in a black evening gown in the hall. Although her face was masked and her features indistinct, her attire alone spoke of high nobility.

All eyes turned to her.

This noblewoman, without further ado, removed her mask and revealed a reluctantly amused smile, "Oh dear, dancing at my age can be quite embarrassing."

She was a charming, mature beauty; though she mocked her own age, her skin was as tender as a young woman's, and her voluptuous figure carried a distinctive mature charm.

She promptly slipped off her black evening gown and then continued, "A bet is a bet. Since the last ball made a request and a gentleman has fulfilled that request, and he wished to see me dance in front of everyone, I can only oblige and hope not to disappoint..."

None of the attendees showed any surprise, instead, they clapped in perfect harmony with the mood.

In truth, whether before or after crossing over, when it came to the GHS, the onlookers all displayed uniform gentlemanliness: may the good people live in peace.

Su Lun watched in astonishment as a lady marquess, truly a big shot of high society, boldly took the stage under the spotlight and began a provocative dance before everyone present.

Noble ladies were masters in various dances, and Lady Marquess Agnes was no exception, dancing confidently, her movements both sexy and pleasing to the eye.

Indeed, this opening dance was undeniably impressive.

Su Lun, accustomed to seeing all manners of lady performances in the night scene, found that watching flamboyant dances did not faze him ordinarily.

But watching the dance of this aristocratic Lady Marquess, brimming with grace, somehow intrigued him.

He also marveled at the strict rules of this ball.

"Truth or dare," saying dare, even the Lady Marquess herself had to perform personally?

Sabina, beside him, also watched with great interest, her voice sultry as she whispered in Su Lun's ear, "So this is what you like?"

Su Lun didn't deny that he found it quite interesting, "Not bad at all."

Sabina listened and chuckled lightly without speaking.

Su Lun thought about it and could understand.

The private lives of Luying's nobility were inherently chaotic. For ladies and madams who grew up in noble families, there often weren't any strong convictions about chastity. They clearly understood that their greatest value lay in marriage alliances. Beauty was merely a tool, available for a price if the offer was enough, not about liking or not.

That the Lady Marquess was dancing here meant that the benefits she received in exchange were certainly more than what she was currently giving.

And correspondingly, the "Duke of Shadow" held even more leverage over her.

These leverages were genuinely scarce resources.

After the integration of resources, some incredible uses would emerge.

This was the most important reason why the influence of this ball was growing.

Su Lun thought of this and felt as if he had glimpsed the tip of an iceberg, finding the "Full Moon Ball" increasingly ingenious.

As long as they weren't enemies, it was definitely a great asset.

....

An erotic opening dance unveiled the curtain of the ball.

After all, these people weren't here to enjoy, but to exchange resources and information.

After the man with the golden mask made his appearance, he did not speak again, but sat in a corner where the light just managed to highlight his silhouette.

A butler-like person presided over the ball next.

The interaction segment then began.

The masked individuals began speaking, each stating their needs.

"The reporter from 'Lingdun Entertainment News' has some scandalous information, which is detrimental to me, and happens to belong to Senator Physis, who is my political enemy. Someone is blackmailing me with this. I need someone to handle it. The reward is one Charon silver coin..."

"I can take care of that. I can assure you that it won't appear in the newspapers."

"..."

"The council will have a proposal on ore trade reform the day after tomorrow, I need some accurate internal information. The reward is two silver coins."

"I know. But I need three silver coins."

"Agreed!"

"..."

"I need information about the assassin involved in the assassination of Count Malory."

"I have a batch of sensitive heavy weapons that need to be shipped out, and I need a pass."

"There's a war going on in the Mastan Principality, I need a mediator. The reward is one gold coin."

"..."

One after another, issues were raised and then taken up by someone.

Everyone was evidently very familiar with this process.

If no one could take care of them, the issues would end up with the "Duke of Shadow."

Though immediate answers weren't given, everyone knew that as long as it wasn't outright refused, it could be resolved. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire

Aside from those who spoke out, some members unwilling to reveal their identity projected their requests on the public screen via a special projector.

Normally such a resource exchange could be achieved at an ordinary social gathering, but the members preferred to trade here.

Elsewhere, even with people known in real life, there was still the fear that the trade partners might have ulterior motives.

But here, the trade was absolutely safe.

Because all trades were guaranteed by the "Duke of Shadow."

If someone took on the request, they had to perform it according to the contract.

These were the rules of the ball.

Just like the erotic dance performed by that Lady Marquess at the beginning.

...

True to being a high-end exchange meeting, all the discussions were about real big business.

Su Lun listened to others, carefully observing everything without rushing to speak up.

From the issues raised, he could generally guess the identities and factions of those people, and there were some whose identities remained sheltered.

He also noticed that the attendees of the ball came from diverse backgrounds, including big shots from all sectors.

The issues special enough to be resolved at this ball were all very challenging.

Listening to them, Su Lun deeply realized that Luying's capital, Lingdun, concealed too many big players. Those issues that sounded unsolvable were often resolved in a mere sentence by these individuals.

Merely participating in this buzzing event allowed him to gather much top-secret information and infer many changes in Luying's upper echelons.

But Su Lun knew it was impossible to freeload information for a long time.

The members were active because there was an unwritten rule at the ball: frequent attendance without displaying "value" could lead to expulsion from the membership.

Su Lun understood another implication of this unwritten rule: those who didn't give the "Duke of Shadow" something to leverage might be doubted.

Because participating in the exchange allowed the organizers to confirm who you are, what you need, your purpose, motivation, and stance...

From the information Sabina held, this "Duke of Shadow" always represented absolute neutrality, taking no sides.

It was almost certain that he did not stand with the royalists, nor was he a force supported by any of the councilors from the six major nations...

But he wielded significant power within both the royal family and the parliament.

Members with conflicts could seek his mediation, but he favored no one.

This was also the most important reason why Su Lun had decided to come here in search of clues.

If "neutrality" was just a facade, this ball, having existed for over twenty years and survived numerous political shifts, would have collapsed long ago.

Yet, the descendants of Mr. Jing, those intelligence agents who had been embedded in Lingdun for centuries, had never heard of him.

On the contrary, the "Duke of Shadows" had become more mysterious over the years.

The only certainty was that he was extremely powerful.

There had long been rumors from both the criminal underworld and law enforcement that people wanted him dead, yet here he was, still very much alive.

Those who had wanted to kill him had all disappeared.

...

The atmosphere during the exchange session was very subtle.

There were quite a few people hiding their intentions, and after observing for a while, Su Lun entered his own request into the sensor, projecting it on the screen, "A special formula of hallucinogenic potion has recently surfaced in the gang circles of South City. I would like to know the source of the potion and some detailed intelligence; acquiring the formula would be even better. The reward is one Charon silver coin."

The "Charon silver coin" is the circulating currency at the ball, a token issued by the "Duke of Shadows".

The nature of exchanges at this ball is barter, but sometimes when the trading parties do not have equivalent exchange tokens, these silver coins come into play.

Naturally, Su Lun could not directly ask for the identity of the "Curator". Having just made contact, it would be too risky if the other party were also at the ball.

Moreover, the potion's appearance in South City was no longer a secret; many well-informed forces had received the news and were also inquiring.

However, finding the "Curator" was not the ultimate goal.

Su Lun's goal was to find out who crafted that batch of potions and how the Red Death had originated.

No sooner had the question been posed than a row of anonymous text appeared on the sensor, which looked like a notebook: "This batch of goods was secretly developed by the 'Buckidge Biopharmaceuticals'. The lab is at their headquarters, inaccessible to outsiders. Fortunately, I know they have a new drug release conference coming up, and they will be launching this potion. Forget about the formula; it is tied to major interests as a special remedy for a disease and will definitely not be sold externally. That's all the information I have. As for the reward, it's up to you. Oh, and one more thing—there are quite a few people interested in this potion, looking to invest, so you better act fast."

"..."

Upon reading this, Su Lun knew he had come to the right place!

This inquiry had lead directly to the source of the potion.

"Buckidge Biopharmaceuticals" is one of the huge pharmaceutical giants in Luying, and also a Rodriguez family business!

The Senior Councilor of the Rodriguez family is also the staunchest supporter of the "Faith Freedom Act."

Now knowing who the opponent was, the next steps were clear.

Su Lun hadn't expected to obtain such crucial intelligence so easily.

Having achieved his primary purpose for coming to the ball, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He could now quietly observe from the sidelines.

There was not only demand here at the ball, but also surplus resources.

Soon, however, Su Lun saw another piece of intelligence that greatly interested him.

Someone had posted a message: "I still have a batch of specialized equipment left over from when those guys from the new faction imported from Mafa during the Fog Moon coup, intended for replicating mechanical armor. It's 90% new, currently stored in the royal shipyard warehouse. Duke Rafael is operating in the shadows trying to buy it; if not sooner, the royal shipyard is likely to sell it to him in a fortnight. I don't want this equipment to end up in his hands. Interested parties can bid. Transaction includes two silver coins; the price of the machinery will be discussed separately. I will find a way to get it out, and ensure a safe transaction channel."

"Replicated mechanical armor import equipment?"

The news had Su Lun's attention immediately.

While Mafa banned the export of mechanical armor, it did not prohibit the export of various mechanical equipment.

Although Rich Lady Lena's trade guild had also helped gather a batch of second-hand mechanical equipment, Su Lun had seen those lists, and most of it was outdated production equipment from Luying.

Although it was barely usable, it could not meet the production needs of the mini void world's war workshop.

But this batch imported from Mafa was different!

During the Fog Moon coup, when the new faction seized power, they planned to reform Luying, including numerous initiatives to learn from Mafa's advanced systems.

Among these was the "mechanical armor factory" plan.

This imported equipment was obtained at a high cost and through special channels from Mafa. The Prime Minister at the time wanted to start with replication, gradually exploring and enabling Luying to pursue the path of a mechanical powerhouse.

However, the Empress swiftly regained control and power, and the old faction brutally terminated the new government that had been in office for a few months. All proposals related to the new policies were fiercely suppressed. As a result, those expensive imported machines hadn't even been put into production before they were stored away.

Without policy support, these specialized devices were useless in others' hands.

Because mechanical armor required high-level mechanics, blueprints, and a systematic training system for mechanical talent...

Nothing less would suffice.

Even Luying's major munitions merchants couldn't utilize these instruments effectively; the equipment was too specialized for the production of high-precision parts for mechanical armor. Thus, even in their possession, they couldn't produce even modestly decent mechanical armors.

Using these machines to manufacture Luying's decades-old mechanical weaponry would be even less efficient than using outdated equipment.

But it was different for Su Lun!

Whether it was mechanical armor designs, mechanical talents, or even precision core instruments (like those on the submarine), he had them all!

Seeing this information, Su Lun immediately became interested.

Indeed, high-end resources were in the hands of a select few.

This ball was incredibly worthwhile!

PS: I haven't deleted the comments from the past few days because of policy reasons that render them invisible. It should resolve in a few days.