Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1369: Section 1370 Fantasy Mechanical City
 

Angel followed behind Midora, heading deep into the quiet, narrow corridor.

Midora didn’t tell Angel the reason for calling him, but with a mysterious tone, he told Angel that if he followed, he would understand.

“Lord Midora, why is the research institute so deserted? Where are the others?” After walking a lengthy, silent path, Angel couldn’t help but ask.

“Others? The research institute is usually empty, only when an important item is unveiled will people return.” Midora heaved a slight sigh, “I truly hope that the item the head is working on can be perfected and unveiled soon. That way, those people will surely come back. Perhaps, then someone could be found to replace me and take charge of the research institute.”

Angel was filled with question marks.

In his mind, the status of the research institute should be exalted, a place many alchemists long for. Why then does it sound from Midora’s mouth filled with apparent distaste?

Midora didn’t explain why his tone carried helplessness and disdain; instead, he changed the subject, talking about the members of the research institute.

“Nowadays, there are fewer than a hundred registered members of the research institute, but many have lost contact, either dead or having left this world. The ones we really still have contact with number only over thirty.” Midora said, “Out of these thirty some, the vast majority are like you, not from Sky Mechanical City, but from the various Witcher Organizations.”

“They don’t stay at Sky Mechanical City on ordinary days. Only when the research institute has a new release do they flock here, rushing over as soon as they catch wind of it.” At this point, Midora turned and looked at Angel, “Do you know why they come?”

Angel pondered for a moment and replied, “Is it to learn the latest technology?”

“If it’s to learn technology, they would have been paying attention as soon as this product began to be developed.” Midora smiled, “Think again.”

Not to learn technology, could it be to gather information? Angel hesitated for a moment, then voiced his thoughts.

“Correct,” Midora nodded, “They indeed come to take the new product’s information back to their respective Witcher Organizations the moment it’s available.”

Because the research institute’s developments are essentially highly practical and universal, and difficult to replace, it’s natural for Witcher Organizations to come promptly to snoop on the news. If it’s useful to them, they can consider purchasing it in advance.

Just like why the Prophet Wizards from the Crown Star Church gather en masse during each observation day, isn’t it to get the latest information?

“Now you should understand why the area where Barbarian Cave is located is called Alchemy Wasteland, right?”

“Because… there were no members of the research institute in Barbarian Cave?” Angel replied.

“Exactly. Or should I say, there weren’t any until now, and here we have one.” Midora glanced meaningfully at Angel.

Angel was somewhat at a loss for words. According to Midora, was he going to become the liaison between Barbarian Cave and the research institute? Or, in other words, a middleman for information exchange? This somehow felt a bit…

“Do you think it will be troublesome? If it really was, do you think the Alchemy Masters would bother to come back?” Midora saw through Angel’s thoughts at a glance and laughed, “You’ll understand in time.”

The value of knowledge, the potential for profit, and the exchange of favors—none of these would leave the visitors with regrets.

They continued talking as they walked, and they now arrived at a hall.

The hall was empty except for a large mechanical door at the far end and, in the center, a stage-like elevation. However, the stage wasn’t occupied by people, but a display case instead.

Its appearance was similar to the display cases Angel had seen before, but one detail was different—

It was incredibly intricate! Ultimate opulence!

Just the materials used to make the display case were recognizable to Angel’s eye as extremely rare. Not to mention, the display case was adorned with Mana Arrays and Inscriptions.

Beyond that, the location of the display case was at the center of a ceremonial platform, which showed it was under the protection of an unknown Ceremony.

With such strict safeguards, what treasures might be inside the display case?

Angel couldn’t help but look.

However, no matter from which angle he looked, the inside was empty, void of any items.

“Could it be an object that requires a special state to observe?” Unable to restrain his curiosity, Angel looked toward Midora, hoping to get an explanation from him.

Yet, when Angel looked at Midora, he realized that he too was staring at the solitary display case, his eyes faintly filled with a trace of melancholy.

“That is… a display case reserved for a Mysterious Object.”

“Mysterious Object?” Angel’s face showed surprise, “You mean, someone has actually created a Mysterious Object?”

Midora fell silent for a moment, then nodded, “Though it was created, the consequences were not so wonderful.”

Midora quietly approached the display case, and as he neared the ceremonial circle, a screen materialized out of thin air before him. The screen read: ‘Name: Unknown (Reincarnation Casket), Effect: Unknown, Creator: Ivor Schubert’

Ivor Schubert, Angel had never heard this name before. He had wanted to ask Midora about it, but Midora kept silent regarding the person and the details.

It was clear that Midora did not want to elaborate further, merely saying indifferently, “Although the Mysterious Object is not here, being lost doesn’t have to be a regret. Let’s go. You will naturally learn about him in the future. Listening more now is of no benefit.”

Angel wasn’t the type to press the issue, but he was a bit curious. An alchemist who had reached mysterious domains should be famous, right? So why hadn’t he ever heard of him, and why did Midora seem unwilling to talk more about it?

Shaking his head, he suppressed his doubts and continued to follow Midora.

Finally, they stopped in front of the only mechanical door in the hall. Midora asked, “Did you see the top of the Research Institute’s tower from outside, an oval-shaped building?”

Angel nodded, “Is that building behind this door?”

Midora replied, “Correct. You’ve been curious why there are only display cases when it’s supposed to be a Research Institute. The answer lies beyond this door.”

Midora gestured for Angel to take out his access card.

As soon as the access card appeared, the door came alive like an organism, its metal twisting into tentacles and opening a passageway.

A blinding light emitted from behind the passageway.

When his eyes gradually adjusted to the light, Angel took a look inside the passageway, his eyes widening to their limits, and his pupils contracted sharply!

“How is this possible?! This is…”

A city?!

What appeared before Angel was a steel city being operated by machinery!

While Angel was stunned by the scene before him, a little bird fluttered out from inside the door, hovering in front of him.

Upon closer examination, this bird was not alive but made of brass. Its wings glinted with a metallic sheen, and its eyes were inlaid with pigeon-blood rubies—a mechanical bird.

“It’s rare for the Fantasy Mechanical City to have new blood. Bring him in,” a voice with a hint of languor said, coming from the mechanical bird’s mouth.

After the mechanical bird spoke, it flapped its wings and flew back into the passageway, stopping atop a tall steel column.

Midora then told Angel, “Let’s go, someone has been looking forward to your arrival.”

Someone? Who?

Angel hadn’t snapped out of his astonishment and looked at Midora in confusion. Midora responded with a mysterious smile and silently stepped into the true Fantasy Mechanical City.

Following Midora into the passageway, Angel found a city built in a vast steel space, layers upon layers, every place he thought was a house contained gears, machines, and unknown steam tools.

“This is the Fantasy Mechanical City, as whimsical a name as its appearance, a certain person’s mischief.”

Before Midora could finish, the mechanical bird on the tall steel column interjected, “What mischief? This is a preference with a strong personal touch. Don’t you think it’s the perfect counterpart to the Sky Mechanical City?”

Midora ignored the mechanical bird and continued to lead Angel up the metal stairs, “To put it plainly, this is the real Research Institute, or should I say, the Research Laboratory.”

“That’s right, there are common large laboratories here, as well as individual laboratories for all members of the Research Institute,” spoke a half-mechanical little cat perched on the steel column, its voice still that same lazy one from before.

Midora continued, “There are indeed individual labs, and they’re very well-equipped. However, staying here means you have to endure someone’s harassment.”

“What do you mean by harassment, this is interaction! Interaction! Understand?” retorted a crow perched on top of a gear clock, clearly frustrated.

Midora shrugged and pointed to some unknown place, his expression clearly saying, ‘See, I was right, aren’t you irritated now?’

“If this were really about interaction, this city wouldn’t be lonely with just you year-round,” Midora said.

“Hmph,” snorted a mechanical fish glinting with golden light, leaping out of a pool paved with an unknown liquid. It flicked its tail, splashing the liquid from the pool at Midora.

Midora, with practiced footwork, deftly dodged and then told Angel, “This pool contains a specially formulated reactive solution. It might look stable now, but the second it touches a living thing, a violent reaction will occur. It belongs to a particular Biological Alchemist, a very ferocious individual. If you ever come here, try to keep your distance from this pool.”

Angel, still bewildered at the moment, nonetheless instantly recalled two names upon hearing ‘Biological Alchemy’: Brufen and Dong La.

Dong La was also an incredibly ferocious wizard; could the person Midora mentioned be her?

After a long climb up the stairs, they finally reached their destination: the loftiest point of the Fantasy Mechanical City—the Creation Hall.