Mechanical Alchemist

Now that fire poison couldn't harm Su Lun, the Smoke Ghost's plan had fallen through.

If he didn't attack proactively, he wouldn't be able to do anything to Su Lun.

And Su Lun wasn't about to sit around and wait for death; he took control of the eight-armed spider spear and started to sprint.

He had previously been wary of being located by the Smoke Ghost and killed instantly due to any vulnerability shown, but now, after injecting the "X Potion," his body's resilience, resistance, and recovery ability were becoming stronger.

He was now confident that the Smoke Ghost couldn't kill him in one hit.

Rather, once the opponent couldn't help but act, it would be the moment to decide the winner.

Although he couldn't see his surroundings with his eyes, Su Lun could still generally distinguish which direction was south and charged headlong in that direction.

The spider legs possessed the ability to bypass obstacles as if teleporting; climbing over walls and scaling buildings without regard to the presence of a path, his speed increased more and more.

However, even so, the cloud of smoke pursued relentlessly, shadowing him closely.

Even in a relentless sprint that left him wide open, Su Lun simply didn't care.

The two chased each other from Green Street all the way south.

Su Lun had assumed the Smoke Ghost would not be able to resist attacking upon seeing his vulnerabilities, especially since heading towards the complex terrain outside the city would be even less favorable for the pursuer.

But unexpectedly, while both were seeking an opportunity to kill the other, something unforeseen happened.

A figure in a cloak came running at high speed, blocking the path ahead.

The figure began with a question, "Sambu, are you from the Umbrella Organization?"
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The voice was disguised, indistinguishable as male or female.

....

Su Lun, seeing someone obstructing him, initially thought a high-ranking professional from the Umbrella Organization had arrived.

But upon seeing the cloak for an instant, his expression immediately became complicated.

The person was dressed in a black cloak, the design old-fashioned, with an obscured face.

It appeared somewhat like the concealment cloaks used within the secretive higher echelons of the black market, but the material and craft were visibly several grades higher.

It wasn't just ordinary plain black; the cloak featured elegantly simple patterns in golden lines, depicting snakes, eagles, lizards, fire dragons, thorny roses... symbols often found as allegories in alchemical texts.

The golden patterns on the cloak seemed decorative, but combined, they also resembled some complex alchemical formation, giving off a strong sense of mystery upon closer inspection.

The cloak looked like it was from a genuinely venerable ancient noble family.

Moreover, what particularly caught Su Lun's attention was another factor.

The instant the person had caught up to him, Su Lun had seen a golden "§" symbol on the back of the cloak.

Su Lun had encountered this symbol only twice before—once was when he had arrived in this world, in the underground altar of the Storm Manor, where one of the five statues had this symbol engraved upon it.

The other time was the seal at the center of the eight-pointed star on the back of the [Isaac's Alchemical Manuscript III] he held.

This was the third time he had seen it on the cloak.

Su Lun speculated the symbol was related to a certain S-rank talent.

Because when he had awoken [S-018-All-knowing Eye], the statue with the "ꧧ" symbol had shattered along with it; then when he awoke [S-004-Reaper of Death], the statute with the "☽" symbol also broke apart.

Usually, an obvious symbol on attire represents an organization.

Like the "Iron Cross Star" of the Cross Society.

This cloaked person must be from a mysterious organization.

Su Lun's first reaction was that it was Mr. Hei, given that Mr. Hei would have known he'd been to 88 Ginkgo Street's basement.

But given the aggressive demeanor of the cloaked person, he quickly dismissed the thought.

Mr. Hei always radiated calm, like a still well, whereas this figure was emanating a fiery presence, an overt aggression.

Since he didn't sense any "malice," Su Lun also stopped, not making any sudden moves.

The other had caught up in just a few bounds, indicating formidable physical strength.

Now that he was confronting the Smoke Ghost, the situation appeared not to be that of enemies.

...

Hearing the cloaked figure's demand, the Smoke Ghost asked in a deep voice, "Who might you be?"

The cloaked figure didn't respond, instead pressing further with the question, "You only need to answer, yes or no."

The Smoke Ghost obviously couldn't lie with his eyes open especially with Su Lun, who was privy to the truth, at his side. He could only shift the topic, "What does that have to do with you?"

"Then that's it," replied the cloaked figure with a somewhat domineering tone.

You won't admit it, it doesn't matter,

If I say you are, then you are.

As he spoke, his aura grew increasingly intense, apparently ready to take action.

The Smoke Ghost found the cloaked figure's pressing nature baffling and let out a cold snort.

But aware of the figure's ill intent, he no longer concealed himself and spoke plainly, "Since you know I am 'Umbrella', what is your intent in stopping me?"

From the cloaked person's aura, the Smoke Ghost deduced that the figure was surely a high-ranking professional. If it came to blows now, he, with an arm already lost, would definitely be at a disadvantage.

Moreover, there was a guy with a scythe, watching eagerly from the sidelines.

If his presence were to be revealed, he knew he would be in grave danger.

"What do you mean? Of course to kill you!"

But unexpectedly, invoking the identity of the "Umbrella Organization" did not improve the situation for the smoker; the cloaked person's aura flared up even more, and with a stomp, they charged at the puff of smoke!

....

"So strong!"

Su Lun's pupils shrank.

Just by observing the blast generated by the cloaked person's stomp on the ground, it was clear their close combat prowess was incredibly strong.

This was an advanced charging technique. That stomp was not just to exert force on the ground with the foot, but also to compress the air into a shockwave to propel oneself forward.

However, this straight into combat approach suggested a very explosive personality.

Yet knowing full well that the smoker was a member of the Umbrella Organization, they still dared to make a move?

In all of Old Lington, there truly weren't many people or forces that would dare to actively oppose the Umbrella Organization.

At this point, a thought suddenly flashed in Su Lun's mind.

When he had gone to the black market to inquire about news, someone had mentioned that a month ago, the woman who had bombed the west city laboratory and had a bounty on her head, was cornered in the north city by the Umbrella Organization.

Just as they were about to finish her off, a "third party force" appeared, tore through the Umbrella Organization's encirclement, and allowed the woman to escape once again.

Could this cloaked person be that "third party force"?

Although he guessed this, Su Lun wasn't planning on watching the fight between the high-level professionals play out.

With someone else holding off the smoker, there was no need for him to risk taking a second slash with the black scythe.

He was just about to take the chance to slip away when, unexpectedly...

The battle began abruptly and ended even more suddenly!

Even Su Lun, who had mentally prepared for the cloaked person's interception of the smoker and knew they were probably not weak, was filled with disbelief at the scene before him.

....

The smoker was concealed within the fog, a challenge for anyone to kill.

But unexpectedly, upon encounter, the cloaked person released their full power instantly!

When they burst forth, the deadly aura that flared like flames suddenly exploded, growing higher and higher.

In that instant, the purple-black flames condensed into an eerie phantom figure with a seductive face but exuding a dignified aura, resembling the image of a Rakshasa Woman from ancient mythology. With flame-like vertical hair and six muscular arms each wielding a weapon, it was indeed the figure from ancient myths.

"A mythological talent [A-022-Rakshasa Woman]?"

Su Lun's gaze stuttered as he remembered the description of this rare talent from the books he'd read.

"No, even an A-rank talent couldn't possibly be this strong!"

He recalled the talent's description of greatly enhancing one's physical body from the books, but he had never heard of a talent manifesting such an external phenomenon.

And in all of Old Spiriton Outer City, those with A-rank talents were usually widely known figures, yet he hadn't heard of anyone awakening such a mythological talent.

Could it be... a secondary awakening of talent like Danny's?

Who could this person be?

Su Lun had no time to ponder.

Because the fight was already over.

The cloaked person moved so swiftly, like a shooting star; their strength was so overpowering that they sent the smoker, hidden in the thick fog, flying with a single blow, spitting blood!

Even though the smoker had lost an arm, he was still a bonafide veteran professional of the second order.

Defeated in just one encounter?

Lying on the ground, spitting blood continuously, the smoker's face was as pale as death; apparently, he recognized the cloaked person and, filled with fear and shock, exclaimed, "It's you! How can you be this strong?!"

But in the next instant, the cloaked person didn't give him a chance to speak anymore, flickered, and delivered a savage kick to his head.

A chilling crack of breaking bones resounded.

The veteran member of the Cross Society, the long-established professional of the second order, "the Reaper" Sambu Kachinsky, was dead on the spot!

....

The fight was over before he even had a chance to escape.

Su Lun looked at the explosive crime scene, clenched the big black scythe in his hand tightly and then relaxed his grip, his face showing a mix of confusion, shock, and contemplation.

Her voice, face, even her figure could change with that cloak.

But the style was unmistakably familiar.

Thinking back to the smoker's expression before he died, Su Lun had a good guess about who this person was.

It was just beyond his expectation how overwhelmingly strong she had become...

What on earth was going on with this Cross Society, that they had an insider from the Umbrella Organization, and how did she become that "third party force"?

At that moment, the cloaked person, noticing that Su Lun hadn't fled and was looking at her with wide-eyed surprise, seemed incredulous and asked, "Do you recognize me?"

Hearing her tone, Su Lun grew even more certain of his conjecture and replied with a complex expression, "Yes, Sister Qiantiao..."