Chapitre 14: Abnormalities in Dongwu City
Bai Yi shifted the conversation. "Are they still going to buy that batch of guns?"
Sabo understood immediately. "Absolutely, my friend. While your invention isn't new, no other alchemist has been able to replicate it. This won't impact the deal. If you'd prefer not to sell to them, the City Lord's Mansion would gladly take the equipment—but at a...different rate."
"Sell it to them. You can pick it up later," Bai Yi replied briskly.
The Will family wasn't an enemy; their earlier clash was a minor spat at best. In the Dawn Federation, unless a direct family line was affected, interests took precedence over grudges. This was partly why Bai Yi hadn't escalated. He was confident that, on his home turf, dealing with a level 24 mage wouldn't have posed much trouble even before his recent breakthrough.
His main goal was to gauge the Will family's mettle—and, of course, squeeze some extra gold out of them. Alchemists always had an appetite for funds.
Sabo grinned wider. "Then by market rates, a bronze-level energy gun goes for around 200 gold coins, while yours, though lacking rapid fire, could fetch 300. Five hundred guns total 150,000 gold coins. Add the 31,030 gold coins you owe me, and I'll pay you 170,000 in total. Deal?"
Bai Yi raised an eyebrow, calculating briefly. Although he wasn't privy to Sabo's negotiations, he'd learned to trust his friend's knack for getting a good deal. "Forget the debt—200,000 gold coins."
"Deal!"
Sabo agreed without hesitation, his grin as wide as a chrysanthemum in full bloom, though it made him look oddly uncomfortable.
Bai Yi's mouth twitched—had he undersold? But the words were out, and he respected their mutual understanding. Still, he suspected Sabo would be reselling the lot for much higher, perhaps even 900 gold coins each. Were the Will family this naive?
He snapped his fingers. "Mr. Orr, please watch the shop. Miss Irene is off this afternoon." Without waiting for a response, Bai Yi strode toward the lab, with Sabo following cautiously.
In the alchemist's domain, Sabo moved with care. Traps and mechanisms weren't just for thieves and assassins; for an alchemist who specialized in poison and energy, security was essential. Bai Yi was still developing his specialties but intended to master them all. An alchemist of his breadth, with ample resources, was a formidable figure.
As the heavy steel doors swung open, Sabo marveled, "My friend, every time I enter, your lab seems more impressive."
"No need for flattery." Bai Yi set aside the energy guns and grew serious. "What's going on with the Scarlet Sect?"
In his mind, the timing of the sect's appearance coincided with other events, notably the rise of Blood Hell Greedy Wolf. He'd never heard of this sect, leading him to wonder if they were mere fodder for a larger threat.
Sabo's smile faded, and he leaned in, voice dropping. "They're followers of an ancient god. If I'm correct, they're converging here."
"Are you saying the Scarlet Sect's headquarters is in Dongwu City?"
Bai Yi hadn't encountered this sect in previous versions of events. A Scarlet Lord did exist, but it was more a background story—something that hadn't manifested in Dawn's reality.
Since his time in Dongwu City, he rarely left the civilian district. "In the civilian area?" he asked, shaking his head. "The Will family's core is in the capital, and those two we saw are clearly direct descendants. So, the cult members they're after must also be from the capital, and here we are at the border."
"Just a theory," Sabo replied. "But there's more. I suspect another faction is working underground here, targeting the Scarlet Sect."
Bai Yi's gaze sharpened. He recalled the two silver-clad warriors who had recently sought to recruit him. The Night Rose organization came to mind—an elusive group with a reputation for extreme caution and danger. They were only detectable by insiders or people like him with unique insights.
"What else?" he asked, his tone low.
Sabo hesitated, then whispered, "An invisible force. In the ten days you've been focused on weapons, they've been active, aiming their sights at the Scarlet Sect. I suspect what happened on Shengwu Street today is tied to them."
---
Meanwhile, Shengwu Street, the busiest area in Dongwu City, was unusually quiet. Some onlookers had gathered behind the soldiers' barricades, murmuring.
Ernado's gaze was icy. "Is this it?"
Beside him, Seth glanced at Kami, his anger still simmering from their recent encounter at the shop. Though he was only a branch family member, the Will family was unaccustomed to humiliation.
"Dongwu City now has over a thousand energy guns across its three legions," Kami remarked evenly. "The city lord himself is gold-level, a force not to be ignored."
Ernado glanced back, noting that the two silver soldiers sent by the city lord were keeping a careful distance. He sneered and lowered his voice. "And what of it? That alchemist is only level 35, at best. I could easily kill him."
"And then?" Kami's gaze sharpened. "Scarlet's rise began from a single spark. Our sole aim is to eliminate this cult—nothing else matters."
Ernado turned to Kami, a flicker of conflicting emotions in his light green eyes. "And what about the dwarf's involvement? Are we letting that go? We've spent 500,000 gold coins on this city—half the operation's budget."
"Every piece of information has a price," Kami replied, her gaze shifting to Seth with an inscrutable look. "Behave yourself in the meantime."
"Yes, Miss," Seth mumbled, a sheen of sweat forming on his forehead. Her penetrating stare made him feel exposed, as if every secret was laid bare.
Kami's attention turned briefly to the alchemist's shop down the street, a thoughtful look in her eyes. This alchemist, Bai Yi, held more power than she had anticipated.
Ernado's eyes reflected a mix of emotions as he turned away to inspect the bodies sprawled across the street.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone