Mechanical Alchemist

The battle was raging on the alchemy material street halfway up the mountain.

A gigantic cross appeared in the sky, covering nearly half a block.

Silken threads dangled down, binding Viscount Primor, who was as fat as a pig, tightly in place. The thin threads sank into his flesh, with drops of blood trickling down, causing the man to continuously let out pitiful howls of pain.

At this moment, Su Lun, drenched in snow-white suit, was splattered with scarlet blood, making him look exceptionally ferocious.

He had killed the majority of that fat pig's lackeys, and only a few third-order guards were still struggling to hang on. Their armor was of high quality and had almost no flaws, taking a great deal of effort to defeat.

Ultimately, it was still within the city,

and Su Lun no longer had the opportunity to wipe out all these people.

The news of Viscount Primor's attack spread quickly, but the city guard arrived the fastest.

Soon, a team of knights clad in shining silver armor, mounted on majestic lions, surged forward with a formidable aura, quickly sealing off the entire block.

This was Count Osaca's most elite army—the "Fire Lion Legion."

The commander leading the knights was the "Lionheart Knight," Hattijah Owens.

Su Lun had some memory of him, a fifth-order professional with no small reputation.

The mount beneath him was a fifth-order [Blue-eyed Fire Lion], imposing and majestic, the size of a bull.

Together, the man and lion had an astonishing record of battling a sixth-order pirate without defeat.

The team members behind him were also elite, with second-order, third-order, and fourth-order lion magical beasts beneath them.

Magical beasts possess a beastly nature, with eyes revealing fierceness, but under these knights, the formation was orderly and precise.

These were true "Knights" with noble titles!

A true knight not only has access to the best supernatural resources but also wears armor and wields blades that are top-notch. Not to mention the cost of forging which could equal the combined wealth of ten or a hundred ordinary professionals, the annual rune maintenance and enchantment costs alone required several civilian families' yearly taxes to sustain.

The hundred-man magical beast knight brigade before him could even wear down a sixth-order professional to death.

Su Lun didn't feel he was in any position to clash with such an elite legion now.

However, he also showed not the slightest hint of fear, crooking his finger to hoist that fat pig into the air with silken threads for everyone to see.

Viscount Primor cooperated with a hysterical shriek, "Ah... Commander Hattijah, quick, save me!"

.....

The city guards were gathering more and more at both ends of the block, with at least several hundreds of gun barrels pointed at his head, but Su Lun seemed to be completely oblivious to them.

He glanced at his suit, now reeking of blood, and frowned slightly, seeming displeased. He calmly took off his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, while casually harvesting and assimilating the Soul Shard he had just obtained.

He didn't run away nor did he prepare to fight.

Knight Commander Hattijah stopped from a distance as he observed Viscount Primor bound within the glistening threads above, his gaze becoming slightly stern.

Killing this "criminal" before him wasn't difficult.

What was difficult was, he had no confidence that he could save the viscount while killing this criminal.

If the control was lost, those sharp threads would act like blades, slicing a person into segments.

Thinking that the other party hadn't killed anyone, he probably wanted to negotiate.

Hattijah, looking at the young man who was tidying his clothing with an indifferent expression, said, "Release Viscount Primor, whatever your conditions are, we can talk."

"..."

Su Lun heard these words but showed no intent to respond, not even lifting his eyelids.

Seeing this attitude, Hattijah felt it was going to be troublesome.

He feared that the intention was revenge, to kill for the sake of killing.

If being soft didn't work, Hattijah tried another angle, "Are you aware that under the empire's law, attacking nobility is a capital crime. It's not too late to let go of Viscount Primor now..."

Indeed, the laws of the Luying empire served the nobility; a noble killing a commoner would at most pay a fine.

If a commoner killed a noble, the punishment could range from death by hanging to the annihilation of their entire clan.

"The law?"

Hearing this, Su Lun shook his head.

```

If the law were effective, we wouldn't be having this mess.

He had no intention of troubling these knights who were simply following orders, still waiting for the "Fog Moon Earl" to arrive.

Just as he said that, a path suddenly opened up in the crowd on the distant street, with a group of high-ranking guards surrounding two big-bearded men in noble-specific garments.

Both big beards wore clothes with golden clasps, and their hats were adorned with golden leaves.

Although Su Lun did not recognize these two men, he could tell they were both Earls.

The two Earls, one quite indifferent, the other's face full of anger.

Su Lun immediately deduced that the slightly aging, angry gray-bearded man was the "Fog Moon Earl," Ossaka Ackerman.

....

The "Blood Count" Antonio was puzzled.

He had originally thought that the culprit daring to attack the Viscount's party in the city must be some fifth or sixth rank Great Pirate.

But he had never expected that it would actually be a young man.

Although he was not certain of Su Lun's rank, appearing like a second or perhaps a third tier professional...

But without an elemental barrier, he was definitely not a fourth rank.

This kind of "culprit" seemed to be beneath his need to act personally.

But looking at the bodies strewn all over the ground, Antonio simply could not understand. How could such a low-ranked professional slaughter almost to extinction the elite guards of an Earl's manor and even capture Viscount Primo?

Moreover, where did this fellow get the courage to strike and not flee?

What exactly did he intend to do?

Now surrounded, even if he were a Great Pirate, his death was certain!

Antonio took another look at the shimmering threads and his eyes revealed a hint of contemplation.

The profession of Puppet Master was very niche, usually with some special techniques, one could guess the origin.

Others might not recognize the manipulation technique, but his Harris family had a long history of inheritance, and Antonio recalled a lost Puppet Mastery secret technique, thinking, "Seems like... Puppet Theater? A very ancient puppeteering technique indeed..."

He suddenly became very interested in the origins of the young man before him.

....

Count Ossaka looked at his son in his sorry state, anger bubbling within him.

Although he had no respect for this useless son of his, he was not someone who could be disciplined by outsiders!

Moreover, by a lowly commoner?

Hmph!

He looked at Su Lun and asked in a cold voice, "Who are you?"

Su Lun, seeing the real deal had come, finally spoke, "Who I am is not important."

He paused and then succinctly recounted the events, "I came to Gadronte Harbor with my wife for a trip, and this guy tried to abduct my wife... I wonder, Earl, do you think this man has committed a crime?"

Although he had been briefed on the whole matter on the way, Count Ossaka still found it unbelievable.

Just over such a trivial matter?

His deep-rooted belief in noble supremacy made it impossible for him to comprehend the thought process of Su Lun the transmigrator.

He was more enraged by the fact that a commoner dared to question a noble?

Count Ossaka's eyes darted as he confirmed personally, "Do you hold any noble titles?"

Su Lun answered, "No."

Hearing this, Ossako sneered inwardly, letting go of any hesitation.

He narrowed his eyes and said, "Since you aren't a noble, do you know the crime of slandering nobility? Are you aware that attacking nobility means you and your family will be sent to the gallows? I suggest you..."

Although he also knew the facts to be so, nobles needed to save face too, abduction?

No... that is damn slander!

The threatening implication in his tone was more than clear.

Since it was a newlywed couple coming for a trip, a Rune Master and a merchant's daughter, they must be involved with some family.

```

He was convinced the young man must have been momentarily blinded by anger and would succumb to intimidation.

However, Su Lun clearly wasn't taking the bait, shaking his head slightly, "It seems the Earl has misunderstood something..."

Before his voice trailed off, he demonstrated his stance with action.

With a sudden flick of his fingers in the air, he watched as several strands of thread tensed and quivered, and instantly, a desperate scream sounded not far away, "Ah...!!! Daddy, save me!"

Everyone looked closely, and blood sprayed everywhere.

The fat pig bound by the threads had all his ten fingers chopped off like carrots by the threads.

The fingers fell to the ground, and blood spurted wildly.

"You..."

Earl Ossako looked as Su Lun made his move without warning, giving no regard to his noble status, and shouted in shock and anger, "What on earth are you trying to do!"

Su Lun's tone was still unhurried, "Earl, I'm afraid you've misunderstood my intention. When I questioned you, it wasn't to allow you to make excuses for this fat man's acquittal. He's as good as dead. As far as I know, just this year alone, this fellow has raped at least eighty civilian women, resulting in ten deaths... I was simply inquiring whether you were aware. If you were, then you are an accomplice and deserve punishment as well..."

He peeled away the memories of those thugs, feeling even more convinced that this fat man deserved to die a thousand deaths.

After pausing, he asked again, "So, Earl, do you now believe your son is guilty?"

....

In front of everyone, Su Lun severed a Viscount's ten fingers.

In the laws of the Empire of Luying, this was already an unforgivable grave offense.

A few heavily armored mecha warriors who had been watching the excitement for a while, the leader with a bristling beard observed the scene, "Public abduction of women, so this is how it is. The young man has some spirit. Too bad, he has angered Ossaka, and he's likely not to survive."

Meanwhile, in the attic of a small building, a purple-haired woman watched the scene with interest, murmuring to herself, "He sounds righteous and loyal... but where does this guy get his confidence from?"

Her view perfectly encompassed the entirety of the "White Whale Alchemy Shop."

She was also curious to see what the woman this man was fighting to protect looked like.

But when her gaze fell upon the woman sitting leisurely by the window watching the scene, dressed in a burgundy gown, her face immediately took on a serious expression.

That woman was too calm.

....

"How dare you defame a noble!"
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A self-righteous roar erupted.

How could Ossaka ever confess?

In front of everyone, with all the residents of the city hearing what had happened, admit that he allowed his son to abduct and rape women?

If this continued, his family's dirty laundry might spread throughout all of Luying!

Even if the incident was quelled, it would surely affect the authority of the lord.

The honor of the family was above everything!

While speaking, he signaled to his old friend, "Earl of Blood" Antonio.

Antonio nodded, "Hmm."

He felt somewhat confident that he could rescue the person, but it was not a certainty.

Now it seemed his old friend intended to forcefully resolve the issue even if it meant his good-for-nothing son perished.

Well then, he thought, it's just a little favor.

Antonio mumbled to himself.

But just as he was about to take action, and his aura was beginning to release, it was then that he saw a stunning woman in a burgundy gown appear out of nowhere by Su Lun's side.

Seeing Mr. Jing appear so suddenly, Su Lun wasn't the least bit surprised.

He also knew that surely a master was watching him.

Forcing him to act, it was time to let his senior sister take over the resolution.

Upon Mr. Jing's arrival, the party from the Earl's mansion became like an enemy on edge.

Ossaka's face darkened, "So there's help..."

But he was not too surprised. The city's military had already tightly encircled the area, and even if a seventh-tier professional came, they would still meet their demise right there!

Meanwhile, Antonio, standing to the side, harbored a different set of thoughts.

He looked at Mr. Jing, his eyes full of gravity.

He hadn't been able to discern how the man had appeared just now, despite his vigilance.

Moreover... what was crucial was not the other's peculiar movement, but rather the familiar feeling that inexplicably surged within him upon seeing that face.

But upon closer thought, he couldn't understand why it felt familiar.

....

Su Lun thought that with Mr. Jing's entrance, a fight was bound to break out immediately.

Yet, to her surprise, he didn't make a move, but instead repeated her own question, "Do you think Viscount Primor deserves to die?"

However, the one being asked was not Count Osaca.

This time, the question was directed at "Blood Earl" Antonio.

"..."

Antonio was perplexed by the question, thinking, what does this have to do with me?

But the next moment, he felt an overwhelming pressure, like a mountain collapsing upon him.

The woman before him carried no aura of intimidation, yet he felt a profound reverence that seemed to emanate from his soul.

Confronted with this question was like choosing at the gates of Hell.

A wrong answer meant... death!

Mr. Jing waited quietly, ready to discard this bloodline if the answer was unsatisfactory.

Antonio seemed to zone out for a moment, and inexplicably, he spoke his mind, uttering two words, "Guilty, deserves death."

Upon his words, Count Osaca's expression changed, and he looked on in disbelief: "???"

Why would his old friend utter such a remark?

The guards from the Earl's mansion exchanged glances with one another.

They thought they might have heard wrong.

Mr. Jing nodded at the response, "Good."

Just then, a hint of red light flickered across her eyes.

Just as Antonio had come back to his senses, he was clear about what had happened, annoyed at himself for blurting out such impolite words. Even though he also believed that Viscount Primo's actions were unforgivable, it was the result of the corrupt aristocratic system. In the vast Empire of Luying, such situations were everywhere, and no one could change them, not even the Empress herself. Speaking such "truth" would not only embarrass his old friend but would also put himself...

But at that moment, seeing the red light in Mr. Jing's eyes, Antonio suddenly realized something and awakened: "It's... that person!"

The next second, he did something that left everyone in disbelief—a most "abnormal" act.

In front of everyone,

"Blood Earl" Antonio suddenly knelt on one knee without hesitation and performed the chest-protecting Knight's salute to the woman in red— an act of loyalty.

The sight silenced the bustling district.

Thousands were stunned.

A mighty Earl, a high-ranking noble, need not kneel even in the presence of the Empress of Luying.

But now, he showed such respect to the woman before him by kneeling?

Everyone was guessing, who exactly was this woman? Or had the Earl been bewitched by some secret mental technique?

Su Lun, observing this scene, was initially slightly taken aback, but she quickly understood: "Is this the four-generation bloodline she spoke of?"

....

Prior to this, Mr. Jing had not exhibited the aura characteristic of his bloodline; Antonio merely found him somewhat familiar.

Now, feeling the ancestral pressure on his bloodline, he immediately recognized why it seemed so familiar.

Wasn't this person depicted in the oil painting of the progenitor in his family's treasury, despite some discrepancies upon closer inspection?

Although it seemed unbelievable, the ancestral bloodline pressure was unmistakably accurate.

He respectfully called out, "Progenitor!"