Mechanical Alchemist

Su Lun didn't linger in this spider's nest filled with corpses.

Although he felt that the second-tier assassin had appeared and no other assassins would come, the bodies scattered everywhere and the stench of blood would drift far, attracting other distorted monsters from parts of the cavern.

He tidied up the battlefield a bit, concealing some necessary marks of the battle, and then planned to lead Miss Bait out...

Oh, no!

The current Rena was no longer a burdensome tagalong but a highly useful life-saving doctor.

This heiress from the wealthy family, who had never been so disheveled in her life, couldn't stand the sticky spider webs all over her body and the damp shirt clinging to her. She felt a shame as if she were dressed in see-through clothing. But there were no conditions for washing, and she could only use a towel to clean her body briefly before asking Su Lun for another shirt to change into.

Previously changing clothes always made her terribly nervous, but she didn't know why she could change so calmly outdoors this time.

She thought it was probably because she was influenced by the guide Mr., who was calm throughout the journey as if he were a monster.

Rena now found it incredible that Mr. Su Lun had just calmly stated that he might die and needed her help for emergency medical treatment.

That tone, as if talking about someone else's problems.

Hmm... such an odd fellow.

....

"Let's go, we'll find another place."

There was no time to find a way to the surface, so they had to find a relatively safe place in the cavern.

Su Lun called out to Rena, then picked up the scythe that was wrapped in tattered cloth and carried it on his shoulder.

After giving it a look-over, he understood why "Prohibited Items" couldn't be kept in a storage ring.

The reason was that the laws encapsulated within the Prohibited Items were much higher than the pseudo Space Laws of storage rings, like how a paper bag couldn't hold a red-hot iron ball. Putting a Prohibited Item into the inferior folded space of a storage ring would cause it to immediately collapse.

Moreover, the space inside common storage rings was very small; the largest Su Lun had seen was obtained from killing the student Jack before. Yet, it was only about a cubic meter, definitely not enough to fit the scythe.

Holding this scythe, he had no intention of avoiding Rena, nor could he avoid it.

Being the daughter of a top-tier wealthy family, her channels of information were unimaginably vast. If she really wanted to probe, it would be impossible to hide anything no matter what.

The injuries on his body due to backlash were about to erupt, very special; anyone who had heard of the curse characteristics of "Xiupunos's Night Scythe" could guess what was going on.

And that girl surely saw Su Lun's "strange cloth bundle" but had no intention to ask about it.

She was occasionally a bit distracted, but not foolish—quite intelligent at heart, in fact.

The guide Mr. had taken such a great risk to save her, and she felt she should be grateful—that was enough for her.

As for anything else, Rena felt it was completely unimportant.

....

Su Lun did not want the events in the cavern to become widely known, nor did he want everyone to know that he had saved Rena.

Blocking the metamorphic insect, ambushing Daniel, plotting and killing the second-tier assassin... A series of events would absolutely seem bizarre to a third person.

Probably no one would believe that Su Lun, a minor gang member from the outer city, could accomplish this.

If it were to be made a fuss, it would definitely lead to investigations.

By that time, "Prohibited Items," "Repellent for Distorted Monsters," identity... All could not be concealed.

However, before he could speak, Rena cleverly thought of this.

She walked behind Su Lun quietly, just as she had when she arrived.

Suddenly, she spoke.

"Mr. Su Lun, rest assured... all these incidents started because of me. I've already caused the deaths of instructor August and assistant Rosa, I absolutely won't cause you any more trouble."

People from large families are used to seeing too many such situations, where the lives of lower-class people are merely a word in the hands of top elites.

This time, with such a serious assassination event, even though she hadn't died, responsibility was bound to be investigated.

Bodyguards, security officers... would be the first to be implicated, and Su Lun, this guide, would definitely be involved.

While speaking, Rena glanced at the eye-catching "cloth bundle" on Su Lun's shoulder. She felt it was her duty to keep secrets for her lifesaver.

After a pause, she added, "Rest assured, I won't tell anyone about the things here. If I don't speak, no one can force me to. This is our secret."

"..."

Upon hearing these words, Su Lun suddenly stopped and then turned to look at this serious-faced heiress.

He didn't say much, just responded with a faint smile.

Rena was slightly startled by his sudden turning. Although she couldn't see the face behind Su Lun's gas mask, she discerned from the slight lifting at the corners of his eyes that he was smiling.

This was the first time she saw such a friendly expression on the face of this normally cold and aloof guide Mr.

Su Lun turned back and continued walking forward.

This was also his purpose for taking the risk to save someone.

Rena's identity was very special; as long as she was willing to help keep it concealed, it hardly counted as a matter.

Moreover, Su Lun thought that even if his actions were exposed, it wouldn't be a big problem.

The only thing he did in the cavern that he shouldn't have done was killing the student Jack. But since he had been careful enough, any excuse could easily cover it up.

Compared to the significance of saving Miss Rena, the heiress, the death of a hundred Jacks was not as important.

He was just worried about the trouble and exposure of the real owner's identity.

As for this scythe... if it really were exposed, he might as well turn it over to the gang. It wouldn't bring trouble to his head.

This trip to the cavern had brought so much "knowledge" and the most urgently needed spider leg implant material; the gain was already satisfying to him.

It seemed that by serendipitously planting willows, he had saved someone and also left himself a way out.

Since Rena was willing to take the initiative to keep secrets, it was just what he wanted.

....

Su Lun led Rena around the cavern for a while, finding a dry, abandoned sewer pipe. It was blocked on three sides by cement walls, making it less susceptible to monster disturbances.

He then took out a temporary surgical frame and a bunch of emergency medical equipment and placed them on the ground.

Leina skillfully connected various pipes to the device and powered it up.

Su Lun watched her professional technique and breathed a sigh of relief. If it had been left up to him, he really wouldn't have understood how to operate these instruments.

Perhaps because they had shared adversities, Leina also didn't seem as distant as before. She quickly stepped into her role as a "doctor."

As she prepared the surgical instruments, she asked, "Mr. Su Lun, did you use any potions just now? I want to ask to prevent any conflicts with the potions I'll use later."

"A potent sedative."

"How much did you take?"

"10 milliliters."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Leina stopped what she was doing due to shock. She looked incredulously at Su Lun, "That dosage... it's dangerously lethal. How could you inject so much?!"

"I didn't die, did I?"

Su Lun smiled but offered no further explanation.

He was well aware of his situation, that dosage indeed carried certain risks. But without the injection, the two of them wouldn't be alive sitting here talking.

Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Su Lun changed the subject, "What should I do next?"

Leina gave him a look, her face showing the resignation of a doctor whose patient had taken medicine recklessly.

She also tactfully did not ask further and instead said, "I want to double-check, Mr. Su Lun, did you say that a part of your body is going to suddenly split open, about a foot long?"

Su Lun nodded, "Yes. There might be some inaccuracies, but it shouldn't be much."

Leina didn't inquire about the reason; she guessed it may be the backlash of some powerful curse.

After some thought, she suggested, "If that's the case, I recommend setting up a 'Life Transmutation Alchemy Array.' Since I'm the only one here, I'm worried I won't be able to stitch it in time. With that array, even if the carotid artery and major nerves are massively severed, you won't die right away, and I..."

She paused, then in an unconfident tone added, "I... I should be able to handle that type of severe injury."

Hearing this, Su Lun was greatly surprised: One could survive even with a severed neck?

This again was out of his knowledge range.

Listening to the "Life Sustaining Alchemy Array" seemed very powerful, Su Lun asked with some anticipation, "Then, is setting up this array very troublesome?"

If one could survive even with a severed neck, then he felt his chances of staying alive were much greater.

"It is a bit tricky."

Leina said and, seemingly afraid that her patient would doubt her medical skill, added, "But that's exactly the examination topic for our medical graduation. I... I also scored full marks."

While talking, she took out the required materials from Assistant Rosa's storage ring, setting up while explaining, "The principle of this alchemy array is to transform 'physical energy' into 'biological energy'... As long as the energy isn't exhausted, it can supply endless life force to the injured."

Su Lun listened and clicked his tongue in wonder, 'Equivalent exchange can also be used like this?'

He found this alchemy array extremely practical, definitely a life-saving tool. Thinking of learning it himself, he might find it useful in the future.

However, as he watched Leina taking out the materials and a heap of curse crystals costing 11,000 each, he suddenly realized something.

He asked, "Are the materials needed for this 'Life Transmutation Alchemy Array' expensive?"

"Not too expensive."

Leina didn't stop her hands and casually responded, "The basic formation materials are just around 200 Kroner, and better materials could improve the effect. Then it also depends on how long the surgery lasts, the process will also consume some curse crystals..."

(Note: 1 Kroner = 10,000 Risos)

Just around?

Su Lun listened to the casual tone and twitched involuntarily.

He once again realized the financial power of the top tycoons.

Money paving the way, forcefully extending life, terrifying indeed.

If it weren't for the loot of several bodies from this cave expedition, he, as a poor guy, wouldn't even have the privilege to hear about such an array.

No wonder there are no big hospitals in the outer city, only small clinics; these surgical fees amounting to millions, are beyond commoners' dreams.

....

"Okay Mr. Su Lun, you can lie down on the surgical table now."

"..."

Su Lun complied.

But Leina, noticing his complex adventurer's attire, suddenly thought of something, a hint of unusual color crossing her face, and then said, "I... I suggest you better take off your equipment and clothes for the surgery. As we're not sure where the wound will appear, it's best to..."

"Hmm."

Before she could finish, Su Lun, already understanding what she meant.

His expression showing no awkwardness, he directly stripped naked and lay there.

Leina, probably immersed in her doctor's role, showed a slight blush on her cheeks, which quickly disappeared.

She picked up the disinfectant and began carefully sterilizing the area, preparing for the surgery."

While doing so, this heiress murmured in a voice only she could hear: Pretend it's like the dissection classroom back in school.

...

The wait for the curse backlash felt quite lengthy.

Su Lun, this big fellow lying bare, didn't feel a bit uncomfortable, but it was somewhat awkward for the inexperienced young girl.

In order not to let the atmosphere become too stiff, the two engaged in sporadic conversation.

Whether it was in terms of insight or composure, Leina, the tycoon's daughter, was impeccable, and the chat atmosphere was fairly good.

After this trial, Su Lun also became interested in the situation inside the city. In the course of their indirect conversation, he cautiously probed whether Leina knew the original host.

He had thought the original host was a top noble of the inner city, both from high society circles, likely acquainted with Leina.

But unexpectedly upon asking, he uncovered a significant issue.

Leina not only did not know the original host "Fike Regadi," but there wasn't even a "Regadi" family in the upper social circles of the inner city!