章 3: Chapter 3 [Talent C-079-Reinforced Skeleton]
"Things have gotten a bit messy now..."
Su Lun's gaze met Baldy's murderous intent head-on. Although he was not afraid, he couldn't help but reveal a bitter helplessness.
To snatch the gun, kill Cock's Comb, then take a chance to find an opportunity to shoot Baldy.
The plan had been considered thoroughly.
And he had been favored by luck, everything was advancing according to the planned schedule.
Unfortunately, it ultimately fell apart.
That bullet hadn't killed Baldy.
After all...
No normal person would ever expect that their enemy could have the "supernatural ability" to withstand bullets with their flesh!
....
After firing the gun, Su Lun had completely lost the chance to strike first.
Baldy brushed the embedded bullet from his forehead with a fingertip, his face breaking into a mocking smile.
He didn't fire the high-pressure cannon on his mechanical arm again. Instead, he stomped his foot, causing a ripple-like blast of air, and his figure vanished from the spot.
Upon focusing his eyes again, Baldy had already darted forward several meters, ghost-like, appearing right in front of Su Lun.
With a big iron-claw-like hand, he grasped Su Lun by the throat. Utilizing the monstrous force of his charge, he smashed not only Su Lun but also the mahogany chair he was tied to against the wall.
There was a loud 'clang' sound.
The chair broke into pieces, with the fragmented wood chips falling like rain.
Su Lun had no time to react at all. It felt like he had been hit by an elephant, everything went black before his eyes. Unable to hold back the taste of blood, he 'ptui' spat out a mouthful of dark red, filthy blood mixed with bits.
The silver revolver fell to the ground from his hand; he had lost the only weapon he could have used for resistance.
And now, it seemed, the gun was useless anyway.
Baldy's speed was exceedingly fast, bursting close-range so quickly that it was hard for the eyes to follow.
Another ability beyond that of normal humans...
But, Su Lun no longer felt any surprise at this.
A headshot didn't kill him, a bit of speed was nothing shocking.
...
Baldy glared savagely at Su Lun, who was suspended by his feet against the wall, and gnashed his teeth, "Kid, you didn't expect this, did you? My awakened talent is [C-079 - Steel Bones]. If not for this ability, I might actually have fallen to your hands today..."
As he spoke, Baldy glanced sideways at the corpse of his companion lying in a pool of blood on the floor, his gaze growing colder.
Thinking back to that tricky shot a moment ago brought him a shudder. Had it not been for the dodge, he might be the one lying as a corpse on the ground now.
Baldy's hand tightened, intending to strangle the kid in front of him in one go.
Yet, as if recalling something, he hesitated for a moment.
Su Lun thought to himself, "Talent, steel bones? Supernatural ability, huh..."
Then, he weakly closed his eyes...
The mechanical arm, like an iron clamp, firmly gripped his throat. The strong sensation of suffocation left no doubt that the man could easily break his neck.
But not being killed immediately, Su Lun felt no panic at all in his heart.
Because he saw Baldy's hesitation.
He knew very well that if he hadn't killed him immediately, it was likely because he was still coveting the "secret" of the original owner.
However, at this point, Baldy's patience was probably already exhausted from his companion's death.
Su Lun realized that if he said even one more unnecessary word, this man might fly into a rage and kill him.
So, exhaling the last bit of air from his lungs, he strained out five difficult words: "I have a treasure map."
As expected!
As soon as these words were spoken, though the murderous intent was still fierce, Su Lun felt the suffocating grip noticeably weaken.
The iron hand on his throat quietly loosened enough to allow him to breathe.
"Heh..."
A disdainful sneer.
Baldy did not look as foolish as he seemed; he also knew that Su Lun was trying to take advantage of the situation to save his life.
Still, he gave him a chance and said coldly, "Boy, you only have one opportunity to say something that interests me, and I'll give you a quick death."
As soon as he finished speaking, his iron grip tightened and a clear sound of breaking bones echoed.
Su Lun's brow twitched in pain, making him seem weak as he squinted his eyes, but in reality, he was quickly reading information on his retina.
"To only die quickly if I talk?"
He ignored the statement completely and said straightforwardly, "In the manor's banquet hall, along the main corridor on the left, the seventh door, there is a hidden door. The sconce on the wall is a mechanism, leading underground to a maze..."
These were not merely made-up words, but information obtained from his retina.
In such a short time, in a completely unfamiliar world, it was nearly impossible to invent an unassailable lie.
And the outcome of being seen through was nothing but a dead end.
Although he didn't know what meant these pieces of information were left on his retina, Su Lun could see that message whenever he closed his eyes.
The content was as follows:
"My dear Feck, by the time you see this message, your memory should have been erased... of course, that no longer matters... I've left you something as compensation. If fate hasn't forsaken you, living in darkness may actually be a good thing for you. Remember, trust no one, especially those fellows in the Black Tower..."
Beyond this message on the retina, there were only some complex texts that he hadn't had time to look at closely, apparently meant to explain some magical power of the world called "Alchemy."
There was also a very strange map.
It was not a flat map but a three-dimensional one with twisting, glowing lines marked from top to bottom, resembling a mine or perhaps some kind of abyssal cave.
With just a glance, Su Lun sort of understood the reasons behind these matters.
His predecessor's name was "Feck," who seemed to have been "exiled" for some reason.
However, none of these mattered to him, the transmigrator.
Having no memory whatsoever, he wasn't interested in the original owner's past at all.
Su Lun was more concerned about his current situation.
From the address, it was clear that a relative of the original owner had left these words on his retina.
It was also because of this information that the original owner had come to this manor, in search of what was marked on the map... an ancient relic?
He hadn't had time to look closely, but it seemed to be related to the legacy associated with Baldy's supernatural ability to resist bullets with his skull.
...
Su Lun selectively disclosed some information while omitting key details.
For instance, he didn't describe the details of navigating the maze; nor did he mention that there were many sconces in the room, and only the correct lantern would open the underground passage, while the others would trigger traps...
If he wanted to survive from this murderous Baldy, he had to demonstrate his value.
And to keep living, he couldn't reveal his full value all at once.
If the enemy weren't foolish, they certainly wouldn't kill him now.
Just as expected!
Upon hearing this, a glint of something different flashed in Baldy's eyes.
He had already guessed that this young man, who had a bounty on his head from the Big Shots of the Inner City, had secrets.
However, after the loss of a brother, Baldy had become cautious, and he asked, "What treasures are hidden in this manor?"
Feigning weakness, Su Lun closed his eyes, looked at the text on his retina, and repeated, "It's said to contain relics left by 'Sir Isaac.'"
As the words fell, Baldy seemed to hear something unbelievable, and his expression drastically changed, "What!"
"..."
His tone suddenly became very heavy, as Su Lun glanced up.
Although he didn't know what "Sir Isaac" meant, from Baldy's reaction, he guessed it must be some remarkable treasure.
But for Su Lun, this was good news.
Now he was more confident that he wouldn't be dying anytime soon.
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