Mechanical Alchemist

"What, they want to remove the regiment commander from his position?"

"What right does the Military Intelligence Department have to announce the removal of an imperial royal army regiment commander from his position?"

"Those guys from the Military Intelligence Department, they've truly lost their minds!"

"Hmph! Yeager, your position in the Military Intelligence Department, at best, equals that of the regiment commander. What qualification do you have to say this?"

"..."

The moment the trench-coated man spoke these words, it was as if cold water had been dropped into a boiling pot of oil, instantly igniting the fury of the crowd.

Barrett's face showed no change, as if he had anticipated this. But behind him, the soldiers of the Sacred Judgment Army, one by one, became increasingly agitated, rebuking loudly.

They had reached the depths of this relic only after the Sacred Judgment Army had lost ninety percent of its members in battle, all to carry out their orders. And now they wanted to remove their own regiment commander from his position?

By what right did these damn Military Intelligence Department dogs have?

The soldiers' emotions became more and more heated, like a group of tigers released from their cages that couldn't be reined in, their presence pressuring the other two trench-coated men to the extent that their faces underwent a drastic change.

However, the leader named Yeager was not the least bit daunted.

He looked at the men before him with a cold eye, then at the silent Barrett, and asked sternly, "Barrett, are you planning to condone a mutiny within the Judgment Army? Think carefully, I am carrying out a secret edict from Her Majesty the Queen. If this really caused an uproar, it's not just you—all members of the Judgment Army, including those who died earlier, will be implicated... Even they will be held accountable posthumously..."

Upon hearing these words, Barrett's eyes became as dangerous as a ferocious beast's.

After pondering for a moment, he seemed to have reached a compromise, quietly tearing off the star rank from his armor and said indifferently, "I accept the order to be relieved of my command."

Upon hearing this, his deputy and some soldiers behind him, faces full of confusion and anger, boiled over again.

"Commander! You're right, we all support you!"

"That's right! Even if it goes to a military tribunal, we will go together. I refuse to believe that the empire's laws would dishearten royal knights who have been fighting abroad and shedding their blood for the empire!"

"Commander, your Barrett family has been royal knights for generations. Without Her Majesty the Queen personally speaking out, no one has the right to dismiss you from your position... Don't listen to those bastards from the Military Intelligence Department!"

"..."

Barrett glanced back at his men, feeling increasingly uneasy in his heart.

The current situation also confirmed to him that, while it might not necessarily be Her Majesty the Queen, there was definitely a big shot at the royal high levels who was very eager for this relic.

Such eagerness, so much so that it smelled of "conspiracy."

Barrett didn't say it out loud, but he also couldn't let these brothers, who had followed him through life and death, take risks with him.

He said with a resolute face, "Now, I issue the final order. All of you, withdraw from the relic immediately!"

"Commander!"

The crowd was deeply moved and angered upon hearing this, resolute to stick together through thick and thin.

But Barrett had no intention of changing his mind, and he spoke to a deputy beside him, "Kamur, according to military law, you are now the highest rank in the Judgment Army and will automatically assume the role of the regiment commander. Take the brothers out. And then report the situation here back to the imperial capital, truthfully."

The sturdy warrior named Kamur looked troubled, "But..."

Before he could finish speaking, Barrett added, "On a personal note, I will also prevent anyone from breaking these seals."

Kamur, hearing this, immediately understood what his regiment commander intended to do. Although he wanted to persuade him otherwise, he also knew the commander's character and realized that it would be futile.

He banged his chest and saluted, "Yes, Commander!"

The deputy knew full well that if they didn't leave, the Judgment Army would be confronting the Military Intelligence Department head-on.

No matter how it ended, it would be akin to the consequences of a "rebellion."

Moreover, they didn't think that those few people from the Military Intelligence Department could do anything to Barrett, who was left behind.

After all, Barrett was very strong!

....

The three trench-coated men from the Military Intelligence Department stood to one side, watching as the deputy led the men away, remaining silent.

In any case, they were now at the site of the seal, and the soldiers were no longer of much use.

However, the leader named Yeager looked at Barrett, who remained in place and challenged, "Barrett, are you certain you wish to obstruct us? You no longer have a rank. If you obstruct the execution of Military Intelligence Department's duties, I have the authority to execute you on the spot."

Barrett, hearing this threat, did not care in the least, and simply said, "These seals cannot be broken for now. No one is allowed."

Hearing this, Yeager's gaze turned cold, and he shouted sharply, "Then you can't blame us!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a layer of pale blue flames erupted from his body, which was unmistakably the royal secret top-tier fire-based Secret Technique "Wu Shi".

.....

Suddenly, intense sounds of combat echoed through the corridor.

The stability of the underground labyrinth had been compromised due to several high-level professionals fighting, making the battle aftermath exaggerated. Rocks rumbled and fell down, indicating signs that the entire underground palace might collapse.

Su Lun hadn't expected that Luying and his people would actually start fighting, and his expression turned peculiar.

He had witnessed Barrett's strength. With him blocking the way, theoretically, those three men in trench coats stood no chance.

Yet he was curious, those from the military intelligence were no fools, where did they get the confidence to attack?

"Could it be... that person behind the scenes had some other moves up their sleeve?"

Su Lun had an idea.

They were so eager to break the seal here, obviously aiming for the super-grade items within the God Burial Ground.

They possessed such detailed intelligence, it undoubtedly must be directly related to the great battle five hundred years ago.

But the two sides back then, the Dalu clan was completely annihilated, and the great Druids turned into giant trees, sealing this place.

Theoretically, there shouldn't be any treasure maps or the like that could leak information about this place.

That being said, the Luying royal family... there seems to be a significant problem.

Su Lun realized something, his expression turning slightly strange.

Yuta, who was unaware of what had transpired, thought that the seal had been broken and spoke gravely, "We must not allow them to break the seal!"

The Dalu clan had the duty to guard this place.

Su Lun nodded, "Mhm."

The two of them quietly moved closer.

....

The Sacred Judgment Legion had already left the underground, leaving only four people in the vast Hall of Valor.

Three men in trench coats and "Ferocious Beast" Barrett.

A fierce battle broke out between the two sides.

Su Lun and Yuta hid at the entrance of a corner cave, looking down at the fight below from a vantage point.

The battling sides seemed evenly matched, going back and forth without the one-sided situation Su Lun had anticipated.

"The guy from the Luying military intelligence is actually at the sixth order? No, that's not right... Even if he was just on the sixth order, he shouldn't have a chance of winning."

Su Lun pondered in his mind.

Although he didn't know why Barrett, who had become self-aware, was trying to prevent the seal from being broken, Su Lun hoped at this moment that he would win.

In a blink, Su Lun turned his gaze to the trench-coat man named Yegel, his eyes narrowing slightly.

This man was surrounded by a fierce cold fire. The flames condensed into a distinct blue fire armor around his body, making him look like he was wearing a ghostly armor. Every move he made radiated a domineering aura capable of destroying heaven and earth.

"The complete form of the Wu Shi Secret Technique?"

This was the first time Su Lun had seen "Wu Shi" at this level.

He knew this Secret Technique himself, but the extent of his mastery was only an outflow of a cold fire veil, enhancing some close combat abilities and fire resistance.

However, compared to the level of condensed armor before him, it was night and day.

Yegel, clad in the cold and dazzling armor, raised his hand and caused sand to fly and stones to roll, with the flames causing ripples to surge through the air. The armor not only amplified close combat abilities but also provided an absurdly strong defense. Not even Barrett's space-distorting power punch could truly touch that man's body.

"Hiss~ This armor condensed by Wu Shi, its level of refinement in terms of principles, is even stronger than the 'Giant's Strength' defense..."

Su Lun finally understood the practical use of this Secret Technique.

Penetration, dual damage of physical and magic, elemental affinity, Elemental Armor... its uses were numerous, covering both offense and defense.

He himself had only grasped the basics.

However, he could also see that Barrett, transformed into a black ape, had the upper hand. Presumably out of concern for the opponent's military intelligence status, he hadn't delivered a killing blow.

After all, he hadn't even used his "Giant's Strength" armor. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

But as he watched, Yuta beside him noticed something peculiar and said with a strange tone, "That man in the trench coat has a very strange power. I can feel an evil aura."

"Oh?"

Su Lun, hearing this, also focused his attention on the fight.

At his current level of skill, he couldn't quite understand a battle of this magnitude. But upon Yuta's comment, he too felt that the trench coat man's rank six seemed a bit too "watered-down." Shouldn't a senior official from the Luying Intelligence Department be much stronger than this?

....

Bazil fought against three opponents and didn't fall behind in the slightest.

Before long, the other two from the Intelligence Department were beaten down, lying on the ground unable to get up.

However, as the fight progressed, Bazil suddenly stopped.

Looking at the man in the trench coat, he began to feel unfamiliar with him, and with a somewhat astonished tone, he said, "Yeager, I didn't expect you to advance to rank six?"

Upon hearing this, Yeager let out a strange "heh heh heh" laugh, "Yes indeed."

Barrett obviously noticed something and changed his tone, narrowing his eyes and saying, "However, that power doesn't seem to be your own. No need to hide it anymore, show your true capabilities. Otherwise, with this level of strength, you guys should just leave."

"Oh?"

Yeager tilted his head to look at Barrett with nothing but arrogance in his eyes.

Seeing that Barrett was determined to stop them, he no longer held back: "Tsk tsk, are you that eager to die?"

As he spoke, he seemed to stop hiding his strength, and the aura around his body gradually intensified. The previous fierce battle seemed to have been just a warm-up, and only now was he preparing to get serious.

Barrett, hearing this, didn't show any change in expression.

But upon seeing the man's aura, he frowned heavily, revealing a look of grave concern.

However, in the next instant, something unexpected happened.

Red lines dense as a network of veins emerged from Yeager's pores.

"Red lines" swelled in the wind, and in the blink of an eye, his whole body seemed to explode into chaos, enveloped by an evil aura.

....

From a distance, Su Lun almost thought this man was a Puppet Master, about to use a secret technique like "Puppet Theater."

But the All-Seeing Eye immediately identified something odd about the technique.

Those red lines weren't threads, but rather parasitic organisms with fluid moving through them, like veins.

This move was eerie in every aspect.

What was more bizarre,

he didn't first attack Barrett, his opponent; the red lines instead stretched toward the two heavily injured comrades from the Intelligence Department as if leeches had detected the scent of blood.

Barrett didn't kill those two, but they were already out of fighting capacity. Seeing the red lines coming, they tried to dodge in horror. However, the red lines easily penetrated their bodies and began greedily devouring them.

"Ah... Captain, what are you doing!"

Their screams had just begun when they were abruptly silenced.

In an instant, the two were sucked dry into mummified corpses.

Watching from afar, Su Lun's brow furrowed: "This isn't Alchemy!"

Barrett, clearly seeing the trick, roared, "The power of heresy!"

Within alchemical civilization, any power system that wasn't Alchemy was considered heretical.

Alchemist Magicians are a group of humans who revered the study of the ultimate secrets of the world—they don't oppose the existence of other powers, but faith is an exception.

Apart from believing in the "original creator," Alchemist Magicians would absolutely not become devotees of any deity; it was a matter of principle!

Especially in Luying, a traditional Alchemical Empire, there would definitely not be any considerable "heretic Magicians."

Anyone spreading the faith of a foreign god would be sent to the gallows.

It was absolutely impossible for the royal family to harbor any!

Yet this Yeager was a high-ranking official of the empire's Intelligence Department!

The realization was chilling.

Barrett finally realized that his speculation might have come true—a major crisis had arisen within the royal family!

Now, Yegor's killing of the two companions revealed a clear motive, to cover up the fact that he was a "heretic magician."

Next, it was certain that real battle would ensue.

Without any hope for luck, Barrett quickly formed the sorcerer's seals with his hands and let out a fierce shout, "Armor Release!"

The air was filled with the snapping sounds of bones, and his body visibly swelled, growing from two meters tall to a nearly five-meter imposing black gorilla. Of course, this was the releasing of Giant's Armor.

....

"I'm telling you, Barrett, wouldn't it be good to just carry out your orders? Why seek death?"

Those red threads swiftly condensed behind Yegor, and in the blink of an eye, they formed a mass of blood-colored flesh wings. His face contorted, demon-like, gruesome and terrifying. In this state, he hardly resembled a human being anymore.

The unmasked Yegor's aura soared ever higher, and the blue flame created by his body's [No Servant] secret technique instantly turned into a sinister red-and-black hue. Exuding terrifying energy from where he stood, the complicated network of roots that filled the surroundings turned black and decayed upon contact, then crumbled to dust and scattered in the air.

With a severe expression, Barrett's tone grew less courteous as he demanded, "So, your aim in breaking the seal here is under the command of that 'heretic'?"

Yegor did not respond directly, "A dead man needn't know."

Barrett snorted coldly, "Since you've turned to heresy, there is no need for sentiments. In the service of the empire, I have fought in many battles and executed numerous heretic magicians. Today, I shall capture you and present you before His Majesty myself!"

Listening to this, Yegor seemed as if he had heard a joke, laughing coldly as he spoke in a hollow voice, "You have no idea what you're up against."

Without further ado, Barrett formed the sorcerer's seals with his hands again, and the ground beneath his feet suddenly burst open with ripples.

With a "smack," at a glance, he had already charged forward.

....

Watching from a distance, Su Lun immediately realized that things had taken a serious turn.

The domain of decaying power surrounding Yegor seemed to be the "Realm" attainable only by a seventh-tier professional.

Yuta, as if recognizing something, suddenly changed her expression, "This... I've felt this in the Cursed Space before, it's the aura of that ancient deep-sea giant!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Su Lun was not overly surprised.

The clues pointed to a connection with that battle in the past, as Cursed Valley in the depths of Silent Forest had been discovered by the likes of Ruying.

If not the Dalu's side, then it must relate to the mysterious and powerful deep-sea giant's side.

Suddenly, the tide of the battle made a drastic shift.

Barrett, who initially had the upper hand, suddenly became the disadvantaged party.

Despite still appearing fierce, the shortcoming of a power-type professional was evident; failing to finish the opponent immediately led to a gradual weakening over time.

Under normal circumstances, Su Lun would definitely flee this scene.

There was no point in contributing another loss for his side.

However, seeing Yuta's resolved expression beside him, he knew she probably wouldn't leave. The Dalu had a responsibility to protect the seal, and their ancestors had died here; naturally, she wouldn't back down.

Thinking this, Su Lun's brow furrowed slightly. He took out a communicator and updated Mr. Jing, who was on his way, about the situation.

He originally wanted to ask his senior for advice, but instead, he received astonishing news.

"What! Senior, you're arriving soon?"

Su Lun was surprised to hear this.

The agreement was to return in three days, and by all counts, it had only been two.

However, Mr. Jing on the communicator was even more astonished, "Wasn't that the agreed time? Did something unforeseen happen?"

Su Lun realized something, pulled out a pocket watch, and looked at the date, his expression immediately turning strange.

He thought the date was "today," not expecting it to be "tomorrow."

Then he realized, there was a whole day missing in his memory.

As he took out his notes intending to record this bizarre lapse of time, he saw notes he had previously overlooked.

It then dawned on him that the issue stemmed from the earlier "time anomaly zone."