Mechanical Alchemist

As evening approached, a fine drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Passersby on the street popped open their ever-ready black umbrellas, resembling a collection of little black flowers weaving through the gentle patter of rain.

The sun had just set and the city's light dimmed, while the gas street lamps cast an orange glow, one after another, in a long procession.

The Lokwarren River divided the vast city in two; it was the largest freshwater river in Lingdun City.

Atop the river stood many uniquely designed steel bridges, like steel monsters creeping across the landscape. From time to time, pitch-black steam trains raced over the bridges, their engines hooting and emitting plumes of white smoke which blended with the evening fog, shrouding the entire bridge. They were like ghost trains, flitting through the fog, appearing and disappearing.

In a posh restaurant by the riverside, Su Lun gazed through the glass window at the ancient and colossal city. Raindrops fell on the window, sliding down slowly like sparkling crystals.

This was on the nineteenth floor, overlooking more than half of Lyndon.

Lyndon had mostly maintained its architectural style from a thousand years ago, with few tall buildings. Especially in the wealthy North District where many ancient manors from a millennium ago still stood.

As night fell, the city seemed to just awaken, its lights suddenly glinting brightly.

The table was covered with an elegant blue-black checkered tablecloth, and it was laid with delicate post-dinner desserts, and there was just the right amount of red wine in the tall glasses.

Reflected in Su Lun's eyes was the dazzling light display akin to a starry sky.

Miss Reina, sitting opposite, explained, "Lyndon's rainy season is just like this, with rain at least four or five days a week. And there's the ever-present thick fog."

Upon hearing this, Su Lun realized he had been somewhat distracted. He lifted his glass for a toast, touching it gently, "Cheers~"

Miss Reina smiled brightly, "Cheers~"

Since they started dining, a happy smile had never left her face.

Su Lun sipped a little and then set down the glass.

For his personal taste, the finely sipped red wines required by high-end restaurants were no match for gulping down rum in large swigs.

However, dining with an old friend like Rich Lady Lena was always a joy.

Because the restaurant was also part of the booming business owned by Rich Lady Lena, this entire floor was theirs alone, and the maid-uniformed waitresses appeared only to serve the dishes.

The two of them ate, drank, laughed, and talked without any restraint.

"I still remember the trial in Old Lington. If it weren't for you, Mr. Su Lun, I would have died back then. Oh, the thought of dying in those pitch-black sewers scares me even now. Later, you even made me act as 'bait' to lure the assassin. Thinking back, you were so mean..."

"And that time in the inner city, you were even worse, actually 'kidnapping' me! I was made fun of by everyone for a long time afterward, asking why I was so foolishly compliant and got kidnapped..."

"Wow... Mr. Su Lun, until I read the newspaper about you, I thought I had already become quite formidable myself, looking forward to giving you a surprise when we met again. But I could never have imagined that you had already become so, so formidable..."

"..."

Because they hadn't seen each other for such a long time, Miss Reina's conversation was all about the days when the two first met at the King's side.

Listening to his own stories, Su Lun couldn't help but laugh from time to time.

Things from Old Lington seemed like such a long time ago...

When they first met, they were not yet familiar with each other, and it seemed he did some things that now appear to be quite mean.

But there wasn't a hint of reproach in Rich Lady Lena's tone, just the friendly teasing between good friends.

...

It was still early, so Su Lun didn't rush to leave for his errands.

The two of them moved from past events to the pressing situation at hand.

Su Lun also took the opportunity to glance at the recent newspapers.

In the "Lyndon Daily News," he saw a report on the previous "Queen Rodrica" cruise ship accident, with the Giant Hermit Society being labeled a cult by the papers.

However, in the "Queen City News," Su Lun saw another version, with some reporters claiming that the sinking was a politically motivated fabrication. What was clearly a common maritime disaster was being used by someone to attack certain policies of the authorities. There were even interviews with "survivors."

Su Lun frowned upon reading this, originally thinking that the nearly five thousand deaths would serve as a wake-up call to those Lingdun City politicians who were trying to promote religious freedom; unexpectedly, he still saw such distorted reports.

Rich Lady Lena seemed to notice what he was thinking and said, "The 'Lyndon Daily News' is backed by the Misty Mountain Duke Roberts family's industry, the same family behind that young man, Alex, whom you, Mr. Su Lun, saved. They are strong opponents of the faith bill. The 'Queen City News' behind the Rodriguez family, with that Senior Councilor being a staunch supporter of the faith bill... so there is often all kinds of attack in the newspapers from both sides. Moreover, since the royal intelligence service hasn't produced any investigation results for a long time, the public didn't take it too seriously..."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Su Lun couldn't help feeling a bit helpless.

Controlling the media really could cover up the truth. Such a serious incident was being treated as an accident just because someone said it was.

But one thing was certain, this Rodriguez family must be followers of the outer gods.

Rich Lady Lena continued, "It's just that after the faith bill was introduced, it broke the political balance and silent agreements. Now the political situation in Lingdun is very chaotic, with numerous incidents of congressional members being assassinated. There have also been gang wars and military rebellions... Various forces are seizing power in the opportunity."

After hearing this, Su Lun fell into deep thought.

The situation in Lingdun was indeed in terrible shape.

Especially the infiltration of the Giant Hermit Society.

It hadn't seemed urgent before, but now that Su Lun knew those followers of the outer gods were distributing the "Awakening Potion" with parasites, that was the worst part.

The harm was even worse than countless cruise ships being malicious.

Su Lun had thrown the potion he bought at the docks over to Dr. Banks for research, and the conclusion was even more troubling: current research equipment was utterly unable to detect parasites in the potion. Moreover, even after people took the potion, the parasites would lurk in the body's tissues in a dormant state and go undetected.

This was truly terrifying.

If equipment couldn't detect it, then everyone who took it had a timebomb inside their body.

If it weren't for Su Lun's All-knowing Eye that had spotted the trick, this issue might have been discovered only a few months later, possibly plunging Lingdun into an irreversible crisis.

The only good news was that such parasites could only survive in the "Awakening Potion" formulated with blood-refined crystals. That eliminated the possibility of poisoning the entire city by contaminating the tap water.

From what could be seen at the moment, the distribution channels were limited; if only addicts took the potion, the infection wouldn't spread too widely.

But intuition told Su Lun that things might not be that simple.

If those followers of the outer gods dared to sacrifice an entire cruise ship and assassinate the heir of a Senior Councilor's family, then there was nothing they wouldn't dare to do.

Su Lun had a sneaking suspicion that those people might be brewing an even greater conspiracy.

However, given that even a major terrorist incident like the cruise ship case, which resulted in thousands of deaths, could be distorted by certain politicians with ulterior motives, he felt that his words alone were simply not persuasive.

An undetectable hallucinogenic potion would definitely not be taken seriously.

Therefore, tonight, Su Lun planned to scope out the Vaughan Brotherhood to see where their supplies were coming from. Then he would pass the information on to the Lance family of Yekaterina and the Roberts family. Two Senior Councilors should be able to thoroughly nip this hidden danger in the bud.

...

As they talked, time flew and it was already ten o'clock at night.

The view outside the window was a colorful scene of lights, and as Lingdun, the trendsetter of Ruying, its nightlife was incredibly rich.

Looking at the time, Su Lun said to Reina, "Miss Reina, I'm about to check out the bar where the Vaughan Brotherhood gang members hang out. That's it for tonight... uh, where do you live? I'll take you home first."

"That... "

Reina's eyes spun around, her face full of hesitation.

Having previously heard Su Lun talk about the hallucinogenic drug, she knew what he was about to do as she watched him get ready to leave.

After thinking it over, she spoke up, "The Vaughan Brotherhood mainly hangs out at 'T2 Bar'. I've been there too. What I mean is, Mr. Su Lun, can I come with you?"

Watching her hopeful gaze, Su Lun asked, "You want to come too? I'm not going there to party. It might be dangerous."

Reina nodded earnestly, "I'm not the delicate girl who could only rely on Mr. Su Lun for protection anymore."

She paused, then blinked her bright, curious and eager eyes, adding in a delicate voice, "Besides, I've never been to such a place..."

Su Lun listened, his brow twitching momentarily, and then he smiled, "Alright. Let's go together then."

Indeed, with Reina currently at the level of a third-tier professional, she was fully capable of taking care of herself under normal circumstances.

Moreover, Su Lun himself was also strong now, and no matter how dangerous it was, it was completely within his capacity to protect someone.

Reina beamed with excitement upon hearing this, her clear black eyes glowing as she exclaimed, "Really?!"

"Mhm."

Su Lun nodded and then looked at her office lady's outfit, "Go change your clothes. It's not appropriate to go to a bar like that."

"Alright! Just wait for me, I'll change my clothes, I'll be quick!"

Reina, excited and full of anticipation like a little girl who'd just received candy, hopped away cheerfully.

Su Lun watched her buoyant form, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Having come from a gang background himself, such matters left him completely unfazed internally.

But for someone who had always been the dutiful girl of a prestigious family and had never been to a bar, it was no wonder she was looking forward to it.

...

About a quarter of an hour later, Reina had changed and returned.

She ran in, apologizing as she spoke, "Sorry, Mr. Su Lun, for keeping you waiting. Makeup took a bit of time."

Su Lun looked over, visibly impressed.

Reina responded to his gaze with a touch of nervousness, "What is it? Doesn't it look right?"

Su Lun smiled slightly, "It looks good."

The girl was wearing a Gothic Lolita skirt.

Short at the front and long at the back, the skirt had a dark base color with layers of black lace adorned with patterns of bats, black roses, and thorns. She wore deer leather boots, and black stockings that perfectly contoured her slender legs. Underneath, she wore a white short-sleeved shirt made from high-end fabric, with a lace-up neckline revealing a hint of alluring cleavage, giving the overall dark and mysterious ensemble a touch of innocence.

She had also done her makeup to match the outfit, with black eyeshadow that, far from being jarring, gave her a mature and enchanting allure.
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She even meticulously applied black nail polish and wore some Gothic-style silver skull jewelry.

Exaggerated, dark, fearful, lonely, despairing...

A quintessential Gothic gangster girl appeared before him.

Listened to the compliment made Reina's initial unease about wearing such clothes for the first time dissipate, replaced by a slight smile, "Thank you. This is what Sabina taught me. She said this is the trendiest outfit for the ladies of London nightclubs. I was worried it might be a bit off..."

Su Lun took another look and replied, "It looks very nice. And it suits you."

Black stockings, thumbs up!

Those legs... super thumbs up!

Su Lun had always known Reina had an outstanding figure, but because she previously wore a very formal business suit, her curves were not so apparent. With this change of attire, her silhouette was strikingly revealed.

It was like changing into a whole new ensemble had transformed her into another person.

But that was fine, it was unlikely anyone would recognize her as the head of the Black Cat Trading Company now.

Without looking any longer, he called out, "Then let's go."

Reina smiled brightly, "Okay."

She then looked at Su Lun's gentlemanly suit and asked, "What about you? Do you need to change?"

Su Lun stood up, stretched out his arms, and instantly swapped into a leather jacket and biker style.

He had kept the outfit from his days in the Cross Society.

Throwing on the leather jacket and with the Pistols "Rattlesnake" and "Green Ogre" hanging at his waist, his aura suddenly became dangerous.

This trick left Reina marveling, her face awash with adoration, "Wow, that's amazing."

She glanced at the two pistols and feigned ignorance, "Are those the same guns from before?"

Su Lun said, "Yes."

Reina was even happier.

...

The two quickly descended the stairs and in a small alley off the street, Su Lun pulled out parts of a motorcycle and began assembling them.

```

Even in a megalopolis like Lingdun City, motorcycles are standard among the gangs.

Su Lun assembled his motorcycle, straddled it, and fired it up; the steam boiler roared to life.

Slightly tilting his head, he signaled towards the back seat and said, "Get on."

Excitement twinkled in Reina's eyes. "Wow... I've never ridden a motorcycle before."

With that, she climbed on.

Being her first time, she also felt a bit out of her element, not even sure where to place her hands.

Su Lun reminded her, "Hold on to me. Sit tight."

"Oh."

Reina responded with a smile, naturally wrapping her arms around Su Lun and pressing against his back.

"Woo~"

The motorcycle sped away.

Fine rain drifted through the sky, the drops cooling her face as they landed.

Reina watched the quickly passing scenery around her, the corners of her mouth lifted in a slight arc, her eyes sparkling with the brilliant sights.

The entertainment nightlife was inevitably clustered to draw in the crowds.

In the rich nightlife of Lingdun, the South District also had its place. Near the Kaketro Port, there was a very famous bar district at the crossroads near number 11 Fox Gem Avenue in the Queen's District.

The port attracted merchants from all over year-round, who sought fun and pleasure, making the nightlife thrive.

Different from the once Cross Society-controlled nightspots, Lingdun's nightlife wasn't just frequented by gangsters and outlaws but also by a large working-class population.

Stock traders, teachers, doctors, lawyers, financiers... usually the well-paid elite.

After a hard day's work, they would come to the bars in the evening to drink, listen to music, have a romantic encounter, and release their repressed emotions.

There were also wealthy bosses who spent lavishly here, attracting a bevy of ladies willing to throw themselves at them.

But the nightspots were also breeding grounds for crime; heinous offenses like murder, robbery, and shootouts occurred here sporadically.

Su Lun wasn't too familiar with the streets of Lingdun and relied on Reina to guide him. After winding through some of Lingdun's darker alleys, they finally arrived at Fox Gem Avenue.

Just entering the district, they could see an area awash with lights from afar.

Neon lights, mainly purple and red, created a kaleidoscope of bright scenes.

Graffiti of various mystical symbols covered the walls on both sides of the street, and seated along the curb were punks with multicolored hair, full-body tattoos, or sporting nose and lip rings – gang members whose brazen, dangerous gazes sized up every stranger entering the district.

Reina instinctively tightened her embrace, her arms holding slightly firmer. Su Lun, however, seemed as familiar with the place as if it were his own home.

He drove straight to the entrance of "T2 Rollin' Rock Bar."

It was one of the busiest venues in the district.

As soon as the motorcycle came to a stop, several gang members keeping watch whistled at the finely modified bike, "Hey~ bro, that's one cool ride you got there!"

A motorcycle was like a business card for gang members; one glance at the customization, and you knew if the person was in the know.

Su Lun chuckled, tossed the keys to the parking valet, and handed him a tip of two hundred lisos, saying, "Take good care of it."

With that, he walked into the bar's entrance, arm around Reina's slender waist.

The Vaughan Brotherhood could be easily identified by the "anchor" tattoos on their arms.

The guys at the door all had them.

And, as Su Lun passed by, several of them sneezed.

This was a contamination disaster area.

...

Walking through the main entrance of the bar leads to a flight of stairs. Looking over at the calm Reina beside him, Su Lun complimented, "You're doing well."

Reina sneakily glanced behind her, and seeing no one around, stuck out her tongue, "Sabrina taught me a lot of disguise techniques... but I'm still a little nervous."

Listening, Su Lun chuckled.

He turned a corner and lifted the soundproof curtain; the blasting heavy metal music seemed to bomb his ears.

The lighting was dim inside the bar, where scantily clad women twisted their bodies to lead dances on various stages, and the young crowd swayed intensely to the music pounding through the dance floor.

The air was thick with the scent of hallucinogens and pheromones.

The bass was so heavy it made their hair vibrate. Su Lun, however, appeared unaffected, glancing at Reina and asking, "Feeling alright?"

"Yep!"

Reina looked around, everything appearing new to her, her eyes filled with curiosity.

The pair were guided to their seats by the bar's waiter.

Su Lun casually ordered some drinks from the menu.

Soon, a waitress dressed in a sexy bunny outfit brought their drinks.

Reina, seeing the bunny girl's nearly exposed breasts, didn't feel embarrassed but rather admired, "Wow... that's so sexy."

The music was so loud that they could barely hear each other speak, even when close.

Su Lun gave a light laugh without responding, filling Reina's glass with drink and raised his for a toast, "Cheers."

Reina held her glass, almost as big as her face, and boldly downed it in one go.

The pulsing music, the hallucinogenic aroma, the flirtatious performances...

Every face in the bar bore the crazed expression of released repression, their gazes hazy.

Provocative shows were always the core attraction of the nightclub,

```

Not just on the dance floor, but all around, strippers were dancing seductive dances that stirred the hormones.

Their clothes fell to the ground one by one, drawing gasps and screams from the surrounding drinkers.

A small stage was just three meters from Su Lun and his companion, where a blonde had stripped down to just a thin layer covering her modesty and was still energetically dancing on the pole. The undulating scene made many faces flush red with excitement.

Reina finally felt a bit of shyness but was curious and asked softly, "Mr. Su Lun, should we give a tip? I see others doing it."

Su Lun, seeing her enthusiasm, shrugged and said, "Of course, if you want to."

Hearing this, Reina took out a few banknotes and, mimicking the other patrons, threw the money over.

It was as if she had made a bold attempt, her face flushed with excitement, and she exclaimed with a light breath, "Wow~"

Su Lun could tell that Reina was truly happy.

It was probably rare for her to indulge and release her emotions like this, and she tried hard to mimic the attitudes of the other bar patrons, swaying along with the rhythm of the music.

Although her moves looked a bit stiff, the smile on her face was radiant.

The two of them drank one glass after another, enjoying the rock music that made their hearts pound with the beat.

...

Su Lun knew that he wasn't just at the bar to have fun; his gaze was also scrutinizing everything in the bar.

He projected his Soul Perception outward, enveloping the first-floor dance floor, the second-floor private rooms...and everyone in the office area.

There were quite a few experts, two at the fourth rank, seven or eight at the third...they seemed to mostly be from the Vonn Brothers' association.

Naturally, Su Lun also noticed that he was being sized up, as unfamiliar faces were always noticeable.

At that moment, he deliberately took out a Crimson Potion and poured it into his own glass.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before a guy with a bright red comb-over came over, presumptuously saying, "Hey, boss, first time at Rolling Stone?"

As soon as he spoke, his mouth full of rotten teeth and the smell of decay, a clear sign of long-term use of hallucinogens, filled the air.

Su Lun glanced at the crow on the guy's shoulder and then at the inverted cross tattoo that was obviously new, and remarked lightly, "Nice pet. Death looks cool."

"Right? It's the latest fad in Lyndon with crow pets."

The guy with the comb-over was smug, pointing to the inverted cross on his forehead, "I think this tattoo is super cool!"

With that, he suppressed a sneeze.

Su Lun fanned himself slightly to dilute the odor around him and probed, "This tattoo, it's a symbol of some religion, right?"

The guy with the comb-over looked mysteriously and said, "Heard about the recent incident on the Queen Rodrica cruise ship, boss? It's the faith symbol of that cult."

He had immediately figured out that Su Lun was an old bird in the underworld and said directly, "Let me tell you, this is the trendiest tattoo on the streets. Amazing! The rich kids from the north city, they're the ones with the most..."

...

Su Lun just smiled and didn't say a word.

So it was a cult.

Indeed, the Outer God cult frightened decent folk, but to these already decayed guys, it was practically a messiah.

The more alternative and darker the stuff, the trendier it became.

Seeing that Su Lun wasn't talking and didn't want to be disturbed, the guy with the comb-over immediately stated his purpose, "Boss, need some Awakening Potion to spice things up?"

Su Lun replied indifferently, "I have some. And I can assure you, what you have can't compare to mine."

As he said this, he ostentatiously took out a Crimson Potion and waved it around.

The comb-over guy clearly recognized the potion and suddenly realized, "Oh, boss knows his stuff."

Su Lun looked unimpressed and said, "The stuff is good, but what a pity, that Bax guy's goods, they're diluted too much. The guy really lacks credibility."

Upon hearing a name from the gang circles, the comb-over guy lost all suspicion and defended, "This is top-notch stuff, production's very low. To be honest, if it weren't diluted, you might not even get your hands on it."

Su Lun's face showed disdain as he threw a stack of bills on the table, boasting, "Money is not an issue. Quality is what matters most."

The comb-over guy picked up on the hint and said, "Sorry, I don't have any on hand."

But worried about losing such a generous customer, he hesitated for an instant, then quickly said, "If you're not leaving just yet, there might be a shipment arriving tonight. I can keep some good stuff for you?"

"Oh?"

Su Lun mused to himself, was a shipment coming tonight?

He just had come to check out some leads, but it seemed he had stumbled directly onto one.

If there were goods coming, it meant someone would arrive?

He pulled out several bills as if to cover the expenses, impatiently saying, "Come find me when you get the goods."

The comb-over guy knew that look and glancing at Reina with a sly smile said, "All right. You have fun, boss, wait for my good news!"

...

Reina had been listening intently the whole time; only after the man left did she blink, a flash of reflection crossing her face.

But she didn't say much, just raised her glass.

Watching the man walk away, Su Lun quietly switched out his drink and clinked glasses for a cheers.

In the bar, there was no need to drink with delicacy; they drank in large gulps.

One after another, Reina, who had previously shown no change while drinking red wine, now had a tempting blush on her cheeks, seemingly slightly tipsy.

In the dance floor area, young men and women swayed their bodies unrestrainedly under the dim lights, exuding restlessness, passion, and sexy charm...

It was a rare visit, and she didn't know if she would come to such a place again. Reina pointed to the distant dance floor, hooked Su Lun's arm, and with an eager expression asked, "Mr. Su Lun, shall we go dance?"

She paused, then added weakly, "I haven't tried it before; I want to give it a go."