滴滴...滴滴...滴滴...
Unsure how much time had passed, Mr. Baiyi groggily opened his eyes. Initially dazed, he stared blankly at his surroundings. Once adjusted, he casually waved his hand, and from under the hem of his coat, a worker bee flew toward the source of the mechanical sound and turned off the communicator.
He stretched lazily, peering at the pile of Barrett in the corner, his eyes full of satisfaction.
Not in a hurry to respond to the outside world's calls, he approached the treasure chests and gazed at the golden coins inside, his mood gradually elevating.
Checking the time, it had been eleven days since returning to Dongwu City, and the shop's profits during this period had reached about three thousand gold coins, which he deposited into his panel.
Currently, he had nine thousand pure gold coins on him, and with the eighteen thousand in the Dawn Badge—which functioned like a bank card—his savings now totaled over twenty-seven thousand.
This didn't include the equipment and items worth seven thousand from the two individuals of the Black Night Rose.
Instantly, Mr. Baiyi felt wealthy. In the three main categories of Alchemy and seven subcategories, he had already gathered the Highly Poisonous and Matter Science fields, and now this money would be enough to purchase another discipline.
Although the Federation provided common knowledge, the sheer volume and breadth of the information, much like university knowledge, couldn't be dismissed. Despite paying tuition, its value couldn't be denied.
Not to mention, thoroughly understanding it required producing tangible items, with the cost of materials...
Mr. Baiyi still felt he was too poor.
滴滴...滴滴...
While Mr. Baiyi was planning his future, the mechanical sound of the communicator rang again. This time, he furrowed his brows and didn't ignore it, but instead briskly walked out.
It was afternoon now, and Miss Elf Aileen was on duty. Neither Aileen nor Or would ever press the communicator twice consecutively.
Hiss~ Clang Clang Clang....
The sound of turning gears echoed as the giant metal door slowly opened. Mr. Baiyi walked swiftly through the passage, opened another metal door, and reached the foyer, asking, "What's going on?"
At this moment, Miss Elf's face was somewhat pale, and she was still continuously pressing the call button.
Mr. Baiyi's voice made Aileen shiver; she barely steadied herself and with a trembling voice pointed outside: "Bo...Boss, look outside."
Mr. Baiyi walked a few steps forward and looked outside the shop, where the mummified corpses stood out starkly. The once-bustling street was now deserted.
Some soldiers wearing black light armor and wielding Barrett Energy Guns were cordoning off the street. Even two Beastman Warriors of Silver Lower Tier strength stood vigilantly at his shop's entrance.
Mr. Baiyi frowned. It had taken him only ten days to upgrade equipment and manufacture firearms. What had happened during that time?
This was the Apocalypse Legion's elite, directly under the command of the City Lord, a guard force for the city's rich district.
Usually, such a large-scale movement by this army was rare, signaling that this event was no small matter.
Before Mr. Baiyi could inquire what had happened, a young man in a white robe, with a face of indifference, ignored the two Beastman soldiers and walked straight in.
He glanced around and finally focused on Aileen: "Did you see what happened just now?"
Though it was a question, his tone was one of certainty.
Aileen nodded, her voice somewhat unnatural, seemingly frightened: "Y...Yes, I saw it."
"Go ahead, recount what you just saw." The young man commanded.
"Just...Just now, a person suddenly split open from the middle, like...like taking off clothes, and from inside emerged something covered in blood. Immediately, people around began collapsing, their blood drawn out mysteriously." Aileen's voice trembled more: "Other...other than that I really don't know."
"Troublesome." The young man's tone was impatient. He took a step forward but stopped abruptly, turning to the side to look at the young man he had ignored.
No one can act violently in the sanctuary of an Alchemist, just as no one would intrude into a Mage's Tower.
"What do you intend to do with my employee?"
Mr. Baiyi's tone was laced with amusement, but the newly upgraded Demon Hunting Revolver was aimed at the young man's head.
The young man frowned; his eyes were still indifferent, but traces of magic power flickered around him.
But at that moment, behind Aileen, the large screen that had been showcasing products suddenly froze. A flash of red light followed as a wave of scanning swept through the shop, data dancing on the screen.
[Detected exceeding levels of magical fluctuations, scanning opponent attributes.]
[Name: Unknown.
Race: Human.
Profession: Mage.
Level: 24.
Tier: Bronze Middle Tier.
Danger Level: 0%.]
The commotion inside attracted the attention of the guards at the door. The two Beastmen's expressions changed; they hadn't expected a simple inquiry to escalate into a confrontation, and they hurried in.
The leaner warrior on the left quickly said, "Mr. Baiyi, this is Seth from the Will Clan. He's here in Dongwu City with Mr. Ernado to investigate a cult, and Mr. Ernado is a powerful Silver Upper Tier Mage."
The Beastman on the right blocked Seth directly.
The Beastman's voice was muffled but accurately conveyed his identity and backed him up, attempting to end this unnecessary conflict.
And with the two's intrusion, the screen behind Aileen already scanned their information.
[Name: Garrett.
Race: Beastman.
Profession: Berserker.
Level: 36.
Tier: Silver Lower Tier.
Danger Level: 30%.]
[Name: Magat.
Race: Beastman.
Profession: Swordsman.
Level: 35.
Tier: Silver Lower Tier.
Danger Level: 30%.]
Mr. Baiyi glanced at the trio's information, noticing that after a brief conversation, the previously scanned mage's name had already changed to Seth.
He lowered the Demon Hunting Revolver, calmly putting on leather gloves, his voice indifferent: "You can leave now; there's nothing here for you."
Seth's eyes displayed arrogance that Mr. Baiyi loathed, seemingly mistaking Mr. Baiyi's concession for fear.
Ignoring Mr. Baiyi's dismissal, he stated directly: "I need to read her memory; this is an order from the Will Clan."
Fear flickered in Aileen's eyes, and she instinctively leaned towards Mr. Baiyi. Nobody wants their memory read, especially with a Mage's memory probing spells that could cause brain damage.
But faced with a member of a prominent family, she really couldn't afford to confront or resist, only seeking shelter behind Mr. Baiyi.
Mr. Baiyi, gloved, clenched his fist, still calm as he looked at Magat: "Please, leave."
Seth's expression showed disdain, his tone slightly contemptuous: "My Will Clan chased the Scarlet Sect from Kyoto to the border, for the safety of the Dawn Federation. Anyone obstructing us will be crushed. Are you sure you want to oppose a Legislator Clan?"
"Just you, a mere Alchemy...."
Ms. Baiyi's expression darkened; he fixed his gaze on Magat's eyes, picked up the Demon Hunting Revolver, and pulled the trigger without hesitation toward the Beastman's head.
Bang~
A metallic bullet, arcing with electricity, spiraled toward the Beastman, and a sudden intense sense of crisis exploded in Magat's heart. It was too close; he couldn't react at all, only managing to tilt his head slightly.
Instantly, searing pain struck the Beastman's ear as terrifying electric currents engulfed his body, causing a severe paralysis effect.
Simultaneously, the bullet tore through the Beastman's ear, aimed precisely at Seth's forehead.
Fear flickered in Seth's eyes; it seemed he never expected that in the Dawn Federation, someone would dare to attack a person from a Legislator Clan.