Mechanical Alchemist

Su Lun listened and said solemnly, "I can."

He had only asked casually, not really expecting to find the right material on the first try.

Then the cloaked figure handed over a box.

Inside the box lay a coil of silver hair.

The man continued, "I don't know which aberrant creature's hair this is, perhaps Mr. Hei knows its origin. But it's the most miraculous thread I've ever seen. Once you infuse it with dark spiritual power, you'll understand why I call it miraculous."

When encountering an unfamiliar material, the normal procedure was to have Mr. Hei appraise it.

However, Su Lun didn't need to do that. He simply used his All-knowing Eye to glance at the material, and its name immediately appeared.

[Cursed Hair of the Wailing Witch]

Detailed Explanation: Longing tears apart, and longing grows, as does the hair itself; this is a very special cursed material, possessing both elemental and solid states; it has exceptional energy conductivity, phenomenal durability, impeccable controllability, and powerful intermittency...

Seeing the description, a flicker of surprise crossed Su Lun's face.

It looked quite impressive, didn't it?

Since he was verifying the goods, he didn't hold back, pinching the translucent silver hair with his fingertips.

With his pinch, it felt like he was gripping a very thin needle, not something soft, as his fingertips distinctly sensed the thread's extraordinary durability.

Then, upon infusing it with dark spiritual power, something magical happened.

The hair, originally solid, gradually shifted into an ethereal elemental state, and the more energy he poured into it, the more transparent it became... and it lengthened, too!

The one-meter length of hair visibly extended to two meters before stopping.

Su Lun felt as though he was holding a faint "strand of light" in his hand, seeing it disappear from sight, yet still tangibly holding a small part of it.

Moreover, the most astonishing thing was that when he passed his palm through it, the transparent thread didn't break?

As soon as he stopped infusing the dark spiritual power, it immediately reverted to its original flexible solid state.

Watching Su Lun's trials, the cloaked figure who presented the thread added, "You can pull on it if you wish. With this thickness, it's the most durable thread I've encountered. I've tested it before; ordinary blades can't cut through it, and if forged into armor, it becomes even stronger..."

Su Lun tugged on it gently, and the thread bit into his hand without showing any sign of breaking, so he didn't try further.

He said indifferently, "Hmm, not bad."

....

Despite his even-tempered nature, Su Lun couldn't help but feel delighted upon seeing this material.

Just at one glance, he was convinced that it was the most suitable thread for a Puppet Master that he knew of!

Currently, he used steel wires to control his puppets, which not only had weak conductivity for dark spiritual power but were also significantly limited.

In battle, the steel wires were too conspicuous, making it easy for enemies to determine their location. Once the wires were cut, the puppets would immediately stop...

Furthermore, controlling multiple puppets in special environments or complex battles often led to the steel wires tangling and entwining...

And there was the issue of length limitations...

The drawbacks of solid steel wires were all too numerous!

He had previously wondered how Pestoya from Storm Manor controlled her puppets seemingly without solid lines, and had assumed it to be some special secret technique, never imagining that such miraculous cursed materials actually existed in this world.

This hair, capable of freely transitioning between its solid and elemental state, lengthening, being intermittent, with energy conductivity...

Even if it wasn't the same kind, this fulfilled all of Su Lun's requirements for a puppet thread!

Oh, praise this magical and eerie world!

....

At that moment, Mr. Hei, after examining the thread's properties, spoke up, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be from a creature known as the 'Wailing Witch' recorded in ancient texts. That creature is quite special; it seems to be a ghost species capable of physical attacks, able to invade people's dreams..."

Upon hearing this, Su Lun inwardly sighed, admiring the Scholar's extensive knowledge that seemed to encompass everything.

However, from which creature it came was no longer important; what he wanted was this hair!

This item... seemed to be only useful for Puppet Masters.

He hoped it wouldn't be too expensive...

While Su Lun was inwardly wishing not to miss out on such perfect thread due to price concerns...

The cloaked figure, about to be questioned on the price, dampened his hopes with a bucket of cold water.

He said, "However, I regret to inform you... there are only three strands of this material."

"Three strands?"

Su Lun frowned slightly upon hearing this.

What use would there be with only three strands?

The man seemed to sense the inappropriateness of raising interest and then disclosing this information, so he explained, "I found them embedded in a corpse near ruins during an underground expedition. The creature that used this hair must have killed someone with it, but I never actually saw the aberrant monster."

Understanding his meaning, Su Lun directly asked, "What price must I pay if I want specific information about the location of this material?"

The cloaked figure seemed unafraid of revealing his identity and stated his terms freely, "I can give that information to Your Excellency for free. I am Tuze from the 'Red Knights Scavenger Group.' Should you have any tasks in the future, I would appreciate your consideration."

After all, he saw anyone present as high-ranking professionals with whom he might deal in the future.

Establishing a good connection over a piece of information seemed worthwhile.

He was quite straightforward, jotting down an address with a quill on the table and handing the note over.

"It's actually there..."

Su Lun glanced at the note and recognized the address—it pointed to the underground ruins he had come across when he first arrived in this world.

His eyebrows knitted slightly, but he then spoke, "If Your Excellency obtains more of this material, I would still be interested in purchasing it. Of course, if your asking price for a commission is fair, I would like to know what I might need to pay to acquire this kind of material..."

Others were unaware of the state of those ruins, but Su Lun knew. Previously, his lack of understanding about this world kept him in the dark about the implications of that desolated site. But now he knew... those ruins meant "extreme danger"!

Entrusting a professional matter to a professional Scavenger group is indeed the right choice.

Unfortunately, upon hearing this, the cloaked figure shook his head, "Sorry, my group probably won't be going to those ruins again anytime soon. The team I led out this time suffered an eighty percent loss, and it will be a long time before we can regroup."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the corners of Su Lun's eyes twitched slightly.

This "Red Knight Scavenger Group" was a well-known large-scale Scavenger group from the outer city, with several second-tier professionals in their ranks.

Yet they suffered eighty percent losses; how dangerous were the ruins?

Su Lun now found himself in a difficult position; if professional Scavenger groups were unwilling to venture there again, what would he do about the materials he needed?

....

At that moment, the others sitting around the stone table became interested upon hearing the self-disclosed identity of the speaker and the mention of the ruins.

Someone then asked, "Group Leader Tuze, have you just returned from a Scavenger hunt in Dawn City? I'm actually in need of information about Dawn City, the more detailed, the better. Name your price..."

"Yes, I've just come back from Dawn City."

Tuze sighed slightly upon listening, as if recalling some unpleasant experience.

After a pause, he spoke again, "About those ruins... I can give you all some information for free. After all, it won't be long before the news gets out."

At his words, everyone turned, all ears to listen attentively.

After all, among the things they heard recently, none was more sensational than the legendary ancient ruins.

Tuze said, "Our group was one of the first to get the news. As everyone knows, venturing into ruins signifies tremendous opportunity. So, we set off excitedly, that's when the nightmare started... The caverns near the ruins were filled with a plethora of ferocious mutated monsters that attacked Scavenger groups at any moment...

After suffering heavy losses, we finally made it to the edge of the city, only to discover that there's an overwhelming number of high-level terrifying monsters and cursed spaces within the city, of A, S, even T-grade."

"As far as I know, our Red Knight Group was among those with the fewest casualties. The mortality rate for other groups that entered the ruins has exceeded 90%, some were even completely wiped out. That's just the outer periphery of the ruins, currently nobody can penetrate deep into the city..."

"..."

Tuze's detailed narration conveyed a sense of crisis so intense it sent shivers down the spine, as though one was living through that nightmarish Scavenger trip.

After listening, everyone sitting by the stone table fell into a deep introspection.

However, Su Lun did not care about the ruins; wealth beyond one's ability to handle was nothing but trouble.

He just felt... even more vexed.

He had indeed found a type of silk thread extremely strong, capable of qualitatively leaping the control of his puppets.

But now you're telling me, that the material lies within a ruin with less than a ten percent survival rate? And who knows how powerful the monster that possesses it is?

Su Lun was quite troubled...

....

Tuze continued, "Now, the ones still in the ruins are mostly slave Scavenger groups owned by the large financial families of the inner city... The Scavengers who went there and lived to tell the tale probably don't wish to return.

I even suspect that those ruins were initially discovered by someone from the inner city, but when they realized their people couldn't handle it, they purposefully leaked the information. Now there's a large Scavenger camp being constructed beside the ruins. It seems that before long, the financial conglomerates will organize a large-scale Scavenger operation to clear the ruins..."

People risk their lives to venture the ruins, while the financial tycoons wait within the city's walls to buy what's found – this is standard procedure.

At this point, someone else inquired.

"Group Leader Tuze, if you don't mind me asking, what was the haul from your group's Scavenger hunt like?"

"I can only say... it was worthy of the brothers we lost."

These words were clearly an understatement.

Anyone could guess that the harvest from such ventures must have been incredibly substantial.

The dangers of the ruins had been made amply clear by the seasoned Scavenger group leader.

But after all, none sitting here were ordinary folks; they were all high-tier professionals.

After a moment of silence, another person spoke, "Group Leader Tuze, I need the detailed route your group took during the last Scavenger hunt and all the intelligence you have. Name your price. And if possible, I'd like to hire a few of the team members who have traversed that path as 'guides'."

Tuze expressed his surprise, "You're still planning to go?"

The person nodded, "I've been stuck at the peak of the second tier for a long time, unable to find the materials I need to advance in the city. Discovering 'Dawn City' might be my only chance. I'm determined to try my luck..."

Su Lun found it strange; it seemed as though this person had come specifically to disseminate information – the more they were advised against it, the more everyone wanted to go.

With that, the other cloaked figures also joined in.

"Sell me a copy of the information as well. I happen to have a few slave groups under me; I'll send them to try their luck."

"Heh, it's the danger that signifies there's something to gain, sell me a copy too."

"I'm planning to form a high-tier professionals' Scavenger group, I'll post it on the Scavenger Guild's recruitment board shortly, interested parties can come and meet up..."

"..."

With cursed spaces, it meant there were numerous high-level cursed items, even sealed items!

This was no ordinary temptation.

Even if it really was a life-or-death risk, it constantly triggered the gambling nerves of the people.

If one managed to come out alive, it would be a windfall.

Now that Tuze had said his piece, the dozen or so individuals around the table were all clamoring to purchase the information.

Su Lun stood silently by, with no intention of joining in.

His heart was praying.
Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

Just hoping... that when these big shots returned, they could bring back a few strands of that hair.

Su Lun also felt fortunate that Mr. Hei had recommended him to join this small circle, giving him access to channels for high-tier alchemy materials and knowledge.

...

Before long, the small gathering concluded. Su Lun rode back to Green Street from the black market, only to discover a shady figure waiting anxiously at the entrance to his basement.

He was surprised that someone had found his residence.

"Are you waiting for me?"