Chapter 247: Activated Thermodynamic Mechanical Arm
Bent did not dare to delay. He immediately contacted Nightlight City and Ancestar through the Magic Network, reported the situation, and then went to investigate.
“It’s a good thing the Magic Network has been repaired; otherwise, there would be no way to ask for help. I’ll probe cautiously first to see if they are humans or Monsters.”
Bent did not go personally right away. With a probing attitude, he mobilized a small squad of militia to patrol with torches.
The three masked men, transformed into shadows, did not attack. Instead, they hid in the darkness, observing and communicating.
“There is actually a complete town here, and tight patrols. According to my rough observation, there might be over a thousand people living here!”
“Hehehe, not only that, they possess supernatural power. Supernatural forces different from the Divine Descendants. Those people during the day were no weaker than you two, and the strongest might be even more formidable than me.”
“We all gained power through faith in Pain, and you even obtained power equivalent to a Pseudo-Hero. They are clearly of mortal origin, with no surging divine blood visible in their bodies. How did they do it?”
“Hehe, that requires us to investigate deeply. Let’s find a supernatural individual in this town first, capture one quietly, drag him into the shadows, and let him enjoy pain!”
While the three masked men spoke, they bypassed the militia. They were cautious and planned to find an ordinary resident to torture for information first. Attacking the militia directly might alert the enemy.
Bent looked at the red dots on the Sensing Barrier Ball, his suspicion and alarm growing. The fact that the militia musketeer squad was not attacked confirmed that the opponents were not mindless Monsters.
“Intelligent lifeforms! Are they Divine Descendants, Demons, or something else? If they leave, everything about the High Tower Territory will be exposed. The High Tower absolutely cannot be exposed. I must find a way to lure them into a trap!”
Bent hesitated no longer. He reported his speculations to the Magic Department of the High Tower Territory Administration Office via the Grimoire. Then, he took out the Casting-type Magified Fixed-Load Black Powder Pack and the Lesser Wraith Powder Pack given to him by Lucilu this morning.
After multiple studies, Lucilu discovered that magifying black powder with Mana would enhance its power to a certain extent. After nearly a year of experiments, he finally invented the Magified Black Powder Technology, which could increase the power of black powder by three times.
Bent had worked with Lucilu in the Northern Mining Area and had a close relationship with him, so he managed to get Lucilu’s specially made black powder.
Bent’s memory flashed back to the past: fighting Monsters in the Monster Hunting Wilderness, the surprise of luckily obtaining a Grimoire, the first time using a spell, and the first time meeting other Contractors.
He still remembered that middle-aged uncle. He was thirty-four years old, and his only hope was to hunt ten Monsters to obtain Citizenship.
After mastering magical power, Bent wasn’t so keen on Citizenship. He wished the middle-aged uncle well. Who knew that ten days later, the heads of the middle-aged Contractor and his family would be hung outside the city to dry in the wind?
Bent narrowly escaped the army’s attack, but all his family members were killed. The seed of hatred had been deeply planted in his heart.
“We Wizards, and our High Tower Territory, are too weak right now. But we are full of potential. Give us time, and we will surely develop, surely overthrow this unjust old world. No one can stop the rise of the High Tower, and no one can stop Wizards from building a new world!”
Bent murmured in a low voice, taking out a rectangular sealed box from underground.
He ran Mana along specific magical patterns on the box. The box opened automatically, revealing the interior. A flickering tag read a sentence:
“Activated Thermodynamic Mechanical Arm (Left), Creator: Betty.”
Calmly, he took out the mechanical arm and installed it on his left arm and shoulder. The entire activated mechanical arm consisted of an arm plus a back-mounted thermodynamic engine.
Although it was a mechanical arm, it was also a Familiar.
This was the Combinable Activated Mechanical Device – Apprentice Model 5 invented by Betty. People without enough Mana Stones could buy an Activated Mechanical Core and parts of the mechanical device first, and assemble them into a complete mechanical device when they had enough Mana Stones.
He calmly poured the Magified Black Powder and Lesser Wraith Powder into the mechanical slot of the left mechanical arm, checked the Mana Stones and the thermodynamic engine inside, and after confirming there were no problems, left his residence with a resolute expression.
Meanwhile, Ancestar, who was returning to Nightlight City under the cover of night, received the distress message from Bent.
“This is Bent, the garrison of the Mining Town. Three unknown supernatural beings have intruded into the Mining Town. Strength unknown. According to observation, the opponents seem relatively cautious and are quietly investigating the situation of the High Tower Territory. I have gone to stop them.
The High Tower Territory cannot be exposed. I request the Magic Council to dispatch Advanced Apprentices for support, and report to Lord Ace. Also sending to Lord Ancestar, requesting urgent reinforcement.”
Ancestar read the content on the last page of the Grimoire, a murderous look in his eyes. He stopped his Winged Gale Horse.
Everyone stopped one after another, looking at Ancestar somewhat puzzledly.
“Received distress information from the Mining Town garrison. Donna, Eddie, Anlun… you six keep your direction and continue to Nightlight City with the strange monsters. The rest, follow me to support. Donna, upon arriving at Nightlight City, report to the Administration Office Magic Department immediately and submit a report to Lord Ace.”
Hearing Ancestar’s loud voice reach every apprentice’s ears, Donna looked at Ancestar with reluctance, but Ancestar avoided her gaze.
He led the other apprentices and Mid-level Knight Squires, rushing rapidly toward the Mining Town.
Donna looked back at Ancestar and the others who had already left, and whispered: “You must come back safely. Hyah!”
She rode her horse with Eddie and the others, rushing toward Nightlight City.
Mining Town. The three masked men did not know they had been marked. They broke into a house, reverted to their original appearances, and interrogated the residents with painful torture. After confirming they couldn’t get more intelligence, they brutally murdered the family.
Bent observed cautiously using Lesser Insight Perception. Suppressing his anger, he “watched” the three hooded men with pain masks, recording their appearance and abilities.
“Judging by their clothing, they seem to be Believers of Greyness, but their actions don’t quite resemble the style of Demon worshippers. The masks of pain, the cautious actions, and the terrifying torture remind me of a legend.
Legend has it that Hell has nine layers. On the first layer, there is a sinister and evil Devil Archon. The world does not know his name, calling him the Lord of Pain.”
Bent thought bit by bit in his heart, watching every move of the opponents.
Suddenly, he felt the painful faces of the three hooded masked men turn towards his direction, grinning at him.
“Not good!”
Bent felt a chill rise from his tailbone. He pushed fiercely against the ground with the activated mechanical arm, launching himself into the air.
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