Mechanical Alchemist-Chapter 614 - 613 Aftermath
In the midst of ruined streets, the high-temperature ashes had completely extinguished, leaving nothing but dust on the ground.
Su Lun grasped the throat of the "Ashen Knight" Teluns E. Yalun with one hand, his expression unchanging from start to finish.
Subduing this seventh-order Legendary Hunter had not taken much effort, and his suit was barely wrinkled.
This fellow's abilities were strong, but he relied too heavily on his ash talent. Once Su Lun saw through the flaws in his abilities, it was easy to suppress his throat.
It was not just the gap in their tier levels, but also an overwhelming advantage in understanding the laws that spelled his defeat, which was within reason.
To the side, the onlookers were completely stunned.
Even top-tier professionals might not understand Su Lun's methods, let alone those of the lower ranks.
They only saw how Su Lun easily subdued Teluns with a few moves, which naturally left them in disbelief.
As they watched the situation become fully controlled, they couldn't help but whisper amongst themselves.
"How strong must Prince Fick be?"
"It's too unbelievable, that's one of the 'Top Ten Legendary Bounty Hunters,' and he was subdued by one person?"
"I didn't understand... Even facing an eighth-tier professional, Teluns, as a Legendary Hunter, shouldn't have fallen without even having a chance to use his life-saving measures, right?"
"Yes. In the past, Teluns had records of fighting eighth-tier professionals and escaping unharmed. Yet all of his techniques were useless in this battle, and he was defeated just like that. Prince Fick is incredibly strong, almost absurdly so."
"Hey, do you think, could this be some sort of plot by His Majesty? Prince Fick is a member of the Dawn Organization, and the previous joint fleet involved Dawn..."
"Shh... Don't say it – it's really possible."
"..."
The number of onlookers was growing, and there were many big shots among them.
Those who attended the Roberts family's event today were either rich or noble, and they could see some issues in the situation at a glance.
Someone was being assassinated in the central city district of Lingdun; considering it was by one of the Top Ten Legendary Bounty Hunters, the incident was bound to have sinister implications.
And just as the battle ended, the uniformed military police finally arrived, albeit late.
Seeing the destroyed streets, the goatee-bearded police chief's eyes showed a trace of seriousness, but he had no choice but to speak up boldly, "Take everyone involved in the disturbance of public order back to the police station!"
Upon hearing this, Su Lun gave the man a glance.
One doesn't get to be the police chief without some perceptiveness, and at a minimum, he should recognize various princes and ministers. But this man, as if he didn't recognize him as "Prince Fick," was determined to take the still-breathing Teluns to the police station.
Of course, there was also the Class-A wanted criminal Abel Boyle.
The goatee-bearded chief spoke, completely ignoring Su Lun and loudly declared, "Abel Boyle, you have a warrant file in the southern Stormgar region of Rueen. Come with us to the police station to assist with the investigation. This is Lingdun, and I advise you not to resist futilely."
"..."
Abel Boyle's face showed a mix of emotions as he glanced at his teacher.
In the city of Lingdun, resisting arrest was a serious matter.
A hint of amusement crossed Su Lun's eyes.
He knew that the person behind all this had great influence, daring to assassinate someone right in the center of Lingdun city. There must be other plans in place as well.
Among these people, there were likely those harboring their own dark intentions.
If he truly handed the prisoner over to these knights, he feared the man would be dead before they even reached the police station.
Watching the group of knights coming to make an arrest, Su Lun took off his hat, showed his face, and said indifferently, "Someone tried to assassinate my disciple in the middle of the street, and I suspect there are assassins here looking to silence him. I will personally take him to the headquarters of the police station, so there's no need for you all to trouble yourselves."
The goatee-bearded police chief still wanted to feign ignorance, and even when someone reminded him that he was facing a prince, he insisted, "Forgive my poor sight, your identity may belong to a big shot. However, His Majesty has decreed that all public security affairs in Lingdun are managed by the police station, and no one has the right to obstruct our law enforcement nor disturb justice. Sorry, but we must take this person to the police station..."
On hearing this, the uninformed onlookers erupted in cheers.
Ordinary residents who had been oppressed by nobles for too long now saw that the laws of the empire made everyone equal.
The higher the status of the nobility, the more the people wished to see equal treatment for all.
Listening, Su Lun's brow furrowed slightly. He could see through the police chief's intentions; a seasoned bureaucrat for sure.
Knowing full well that neither status could suppress nor strength could win over, he could only quote the laws, while also trying to incite the onlookers to clamor.
This was their only possible way to take the individuals away.
"Heh heh."
Su Lun chuckled lightly, paying no mind to the man's intentions. He had no desire to engage in any power-playing schemes.
No one could take away the person he was determined to keep.
Without any hurry, Su Lun also wanted to see how many rats this incident would drag out, so he turned to Abel Boyle and asked, "Abel, what's going on, why would someone try to kill you?"
Abel Boyle responded truthfully, "Teacher, while I was traveling in the southern Stormgar region, I stumbled upon the 'All-Seeing Eye Cult' secretly spreading the faith of outer gods, enticing followers to defect. Following the clues, I investigated and destroyed one of the cult's branches and captured their archbishop. After a preliminary interrogation, I discovered that there were high-ranking imperial officials secretly supporting the cult. So I wanted to bring him back to Lingdun... I didn't expect the news to leak, and I've been targeted ever since."
Su Lun's eyebrows rose slightly as he said indifferently, "Oh... so that's how it is."
The Archbishop, huh, one of the authoritative figures of the Heavenly Eye sect—I guess there will be no shortage of big fish implicated in this.
Suddenly, something crossed his mind, and he asked, "Where is the person?"
With his mentor present and the anxiety of being ambushed at any moment dissipating, Abel Boyle no longer had any concerns, saying, "I've sealed him."
As he spoke, he took out a sealing scroll and performed Necromancy, uttering a single word: "Release!"
With a "bang," the scroll exploded, revealing a red-robed middle-aged man tightly sealed by Puppetry Technique.
Su Lun glanced casually, noticing that the very emergence of the Archbishop subtly shifted the atmosphere, yet he paid it no heed, going straight to the point, "Did you find out anything?"
Abel Boyle said, "After a psychic interrogation, I found that behind him is..."
Clearly, someone didn't want that name to be revealed.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than, suddenly, an unexpected change occurred!
A streak of black light, with the speed of lightning, shot from a high building a kilometer away, aiming directly at the unconscious Archbishop.
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The intent was clear—to silence him permanently.
The speed was so fast that no one was able to stop it.
Unfortunately for them, Su Lun was there.
He had anticipated that someone would attempt to silence the Archbishop, which is why he had deliberately asked Abel Boyle to bring the man out.
Where others couldn't track the path of the black light, it held no secrets from Su Lun's "All-knowing Eye."
"Hmph! Trying to kill someone right in front of me?" he thought with an internal snort.
With a swift grasp, he easily caught the black arrow in mid-air, mere inches from the prisoner.
Su Lun completely ignored the curse-like dark smoke emanating from the arrow, marveling to himself, "The 'Assassin of Hodell,' a dark-type banned item. Heh, those guys really do have some nice things..."
Indeed, those old nobles had accumulated plenty of good things over the centuries.
This "Assassin of Hodell" was an ideal treasure for assassination.
Too bad for them.
The item was good, but the user's rank was too low.
With ordinary forbidden items, if the user doesn't have a high understanding of the laws, even with life-risking recoil, the power unleashed wouldn't be too extreme.
Like Su Lun's own "Xiupunos's Scythe of Night," in the hands of a normal person, even enduring the extreme curse recoil, it could only create spatial cracks of around level six or seven.
But in Su Lun's hands, with his understanding of the laws of death, he could easily slash out the power of level seven or eight with a casual slash.
That's why the black arrow was so easily caught.
Had it been used by a top-tier professional, Su Lun would have done more than just catch a treasure; he would have been tracking down the source by now.
A second later, Abel Boyle finally saw the rune-inscribed black arrow in his teacher's hand and his pupils dramatically contracted.
As he looked at the nonchalant Su Lun, a feeling of admiration welled up inside him: The teacher is so powerful!
Nonchalantly acquiring a forbidden item like this, Su Lun felt quite pleased.
He casually pocketed the black arrow while striking up a conversation, asking again, "So, who is behind this Archbishop?"
With solemnity, Abel Boyle replied, "It's... Marquis Haines!"
...
Abel Boyle's response came in front of everyone, clearly heard by hundreds, if not thousands, on the street.
At that revelation, the air seemed to freeze, as if a certain "taboo" had been spoken, causing the onlookers to be simultaneously stunned.
Being present at the wedding meant that many of the onlookers were empire elites.
Initially, those old fellows in positions of power kept their distance from the fight, but hearing that Prince Fick had made a move and that the situation had escalated, they came to see for themselves.
They had not expected to walk right into a major drama.
Marquis Haines, a venerable noble whose lineage spanned a millennium, a current member of parliament, and the minister of defense holding a key position.
Arguably, he was one of the empire's top figures of authority.
This...
How could this be possible?! But, after a moment, these big shots came to their senses.
If it were anyone else making such claims, they might have hesitated, given that it was a great crime to accuse a senior minister.
But the person who caused a big scene is none other than "Prince Fick."
People even speculate on their own, guessing that this might have even been suggested secretly by Her Majesty the Empress herself.
Who doesn't know which side to take now?
One by one, military and political bigwigs immediately took action.
"Quick, report the situation here to His Majesty!"
"Notify the Military Intelligence Department, mobilize troops immediately to surround Marquis Haines, and detain him first before anything else."
"Conduct a thorough investigation of all military affairs related to Marquis Haines..."
"Closely monitor any military movements related to the Haines family to prevent rebellion!"
"..."
Although one couldn't just outright accuse an empire's high official of being a traitor with a single sentence.
But now a big shot archbishop from the Sky-Eye Sect was captured alive and brought to Lingdun, and the truth would be unearthed after an interrogation, it was only a matter of time.
Those ministers were not fools; daring to assassinate in the central district of Lingdun City and causing such a commotion in front of so many people, the person behind this had to be very influential and was certainly not a minor character.
Marquis Haines just happened to meet all the criteria.
They had thought the enemy was an external force, and even if a few traitors had infiltrated them, it wouldn't be a big problem.
Now they realized, damn it, the enemy is in the command headquarters!
But as long as one turns and defects, regardless of being a marquis, death was certain.
Even those implicated would have no good end.
Everyone knew that many people would probably die this time.
...
A confusing and bewildering assassination attempt became clear as soon as Abel said the name "Marquis Haines"; all the mysteries seemed to be suddenly illuminated.
Su Lun had also intentionally let the situation escalate.
Those in the Divine Plane are running out of high cards to play.
This time they've exposed another heavy-hitter, which is forcing them to take drastic risks.
If it were someone else, even with the critical intel that Marquis Haines was a mole, they likely wouldn't have lived to disclose it.
Like Abel, who narrowly escaped death at every turn.
But, he stumbled into the current Su Lun.
Assassinations, slander, political persecution, none of these tactics would work against him.
His status as "Prince Fick" meant that the other party couldn't suppress him with political measures; in terms of power, unless someone of the ninth order came along, they really couldn't touch him.
For Su Lun now, even if the enemies were seething with hatred, they couldn't do a thing to him and could only watch as he escalated the situation bit by bit.
Just like what he said to those from the Gregory family back in Old Lington, he would investigate this matter thoroughly.
...
As the situation has gotten to this point, even the goatee-faced police chief, who had earlier been all about enforcing the law impartially, stood dumbfounded.
Just now, his eagerness to take people away could have been seen as uncompromisingly upright.
But now that the truth is out, everyone is looking at him strangely.
No matter how one looks at it, he appears to be covering for someone behind the scenes.
Seeing this, Su Lun sneers, "Who instructed you?"
In front of him, not everyone can play these little tricks.
The sound of his voice seems to carry magical power; as soon as he speaks, the goatee-faced police chief's eyes momentarily glaze over, and he involuntarily responds, "Marquis Haines instructed me just now via communication that I must take the person away."
With these words out, the situation becomes instantly clear.
A commotion arises all around.
The incident has escalated to such a big extent that it's no longer a mere security issue, as senior officers from the Military Intelligence Department have taken over the scene.
After all, the Military Intelligence Department is directly under Ekaterina, and they are highly cooperative.
Su Lun hands over the "Ashen Knight" Teluns and the archbishop to the Military Intelligence Department and, after using his identification card, leaves smoothly with Abel.
...
The wedding has not yet concluded, and Su Lun, leading Abel, approaches Karma.
Abel Boyle took out an exquisite gift box and handed it to Kama, unveiling a radiant smile as he blessed her, "Sister, this is for you and your husband. Happy marriage."
The wedding of his sister was naturally a major event he couldn't miss; hence, he had rushed back home, regardless of the stormy weather.
Finally, he had made it in time.
Kama looked at her younger brother, her eyes already brimming with tears.
The group planned to return to the church, after all, there were still many guests there.
As they walked, the surrounding crowd cast their astonished gazes upon them.
Everyone had witnessed Abel Boyle's combat prowess, and now they all had a newfound understanding of the Boyle Mechanical Puppeteer.
With such a domineering and unparalleled teacher, he became the center of attention for a while.
Once in the car and the doors closed, the motor vehicle started moving slowly.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Abel Boyle asked, "Teacher, how powerful are you now?"
The shocking scenes from earlier lingered in his mind, and only he knew how formidable his teacher truly was.
Kama, sitting beside him, was also filled with excitement and anticipation.
With her teacher and younger brother here, she felt this was the happiest day of her life.
Su Lun smiled and chatted idly while also praising Abel Boyle for his performance.
At that moment, he took out a rune core and said, "Abel Boyle, I've repaired this core, and now it's yours."
This was the [Heart of the Boyle Mechanical Puppet], the control core of the [Thousand-Hand War Puppet].
Inside, the most comprehensive puppetry skills of the Boyle lineage were hidden.
This core was made from the crystal of an eighth-tier green dragon and had been damaged for hundreds of years due to energy loss. It was only after Su Lun hunted down a huge dragon in the Dragon Country Waters that he managed to repair it.
Looking at the treasured artifact of his family, Abel Boyle was overjoyed, having a thousand words to say but in the end, he simply said, "Thank you, Teacher."
Su Lun smiled.
He had a feeling that his disciple would go far on the path of a Puppet Master.
The motor vehicle continued towards the Alchemy Cathedral, and while chatting, Su Lun suddenly received a message and became contemplative.
Seeing the change in Su Lun's expression, Abel Boyle asked, "Teacher, what's wrong?"
Su Lun spoke lightly, "I've just received news that Marquis Haines committed suicide out of fear of his crimes."
The death of Haines didn't surprise him in the slightest.
But "suicide out of fear of his crimes" implied there were bigger fish behind the scenes.
...
The wedding concluded smoothly.
The death of Marquis Haines also caused quite a stir among the higher echelons of the United Empire.
However, Su Lun had no interest in those matters.
He seldom had the opportunity to meet with his disciple, so he took his time to patiently instruct Abel Boyle and Kama over the next few days.
His insights were now worlds apart from before.
With him guiding them, the siblings would avoid many detours.
On the third day, Mr. Jing contacted him with news that the bait had been taken.
Previously, Jing's organization had posted a reward in the black market for a relic capable of healing Holy Light injuries, as their enemy knew of Mr. Jing's injuries and would likely take notice.
Someone had sent word that in the southern territory of Stormgarde, a relic capable of healing was sealed within an ancient Earl's estate.
Mr. Jing planned to visit in person.
If the relic was real, he would buy it offhand.
If it were a trap, it would be a good opportunity to face the enemy.
By appearing in person, the enemy would have to seize this "great opportunity."
Still, even if they knew it might be a fishing scheme, they could not resist taking the bait.
The longer they delayed, the fewer chips they had to play with.
There was no better opportunity to eliminate an injured ninth-tier than now, and they probably felt that an injured ninth-tier wouldn't miss any chance to heal.
This time, there would certainly be a big commotion.
Su Lun was also curious to see what kind of people the enemy would send to ambush Mr. Jing within the boundaries of Ruying.
