Chapter 128: Abyss, the Master Dismantler
Titus sat on the floor near the basement entrance. He had found some water used to cool the factory’s machinery, and although it wasn’t exactly clean, he had used it to wash his face. Now, bored, he had retrieved his beloved spoon and was chewing on it, the metal clinking against his teeth.
He had expected Abyss’s conversation with Lannis to be lengthy, perhaps even punctuated by explosions. But Abyss returned from the basement sooner than expected.
“Hey, Mr. Abyss! Did you reach an agreement with Lannis?” Titus asked, jumping to his feet, his voice enthusiastic.
Abyss seemed hesitant. He coughed, then said, “We’ve reached an agreement. She’s willing to cooperate with my plan. But there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Tell me anything. I’ll do my best to help,” Titus said, smiling. He had witnessed Abyss’s power firsthand. Having such a powerful mage on his side wasn’t a burden, but a rare opportunity. He was eager to please.
“That machine, the solvent machine you wanted, we’ve decided to dismantle it here,” Abyss said, gesturing towards the basement entrance with his thumb. “We can’t let it operate anymore. The Goat Eyes Gang has been running it non-stop since they acquired it. If we don’t intervene, it might break down soon. The magic crystal at its core is irreplaceable. If it breaks, the machine is beyond repair.”
Titus’s eyes widened.
“So, I won’t be able to give you the machine. I need to secure that crystal. It’s incredibly important to both Lannis and me,” Abyss continued. “This machine is actually the work of a genius alchemist from forty years ago, Miss Rebecca. No one alive today can replicate it.”
Titus chewed on his spoon thoughtfully.
Abyss knew Titus wasn’t a saint. The allure of a machine that produced free alchemical solvents was irresistible to a gang whose primary income came from selling potions. Titus had finally secured a rare opportunity to infiltrate the Goat Eyes Gang’s main factory, and now he had to abandon his prize. His hesitation was understandable.
But Titus’s hesitation was shorter than Abyss expected. He quickly smiled at Abyss. “Then dismantle it.”
“You don’t mind?”
“It’s a unique and valuable artifact. I understand its worth to the world. And I know you’re a skilled mage, and Lannis, despite her eccentricities, is a brilliant alchemist. It’s far more meaningful for you to study it than for it to be used as a cost-cutting tool by some greedy gang,” Titus said, nodding slowly. “Besides, the Goat Eyes Gang is weakened after my little stunt. And without the solvent machine, they won’t recover easily. All I need is time. Even if you take the machine, the potion market in Lavoisier City will be mine eventually.”
“You have grand ambitions. The Goat Eyes Gang might retaliate. Have you prepared for that?” Abyss asked, nodding in approval.
“I’ve been preparing for a long time,” Titus said, a sly smile spreading across his face. “It would be difficult for us to initiate a conflict with the Goat Eyes Gang. But if they attack us, things will get interesting.”
With Titus’s approval, Abyss felt reassured. He returned to the basement, leaving Titus behind, who claimed he couldn’t bear to witness the machine’s dismantling.
“Ha! You’re back! So, did that charcoal briquette agree?” Lannis asked, laughing as Abyss entered the basement. “You’re a strange one. A powerful necromancer like you, seeking a gang leader’s approval.”
“I have my pride,” Abyss said, smiling, effortlessly slicing through the thick metal bars of the cage with his bone blade, the metal clanging as it fell to the ground. “If I dismantled the machine secretly and then told him I wasn’t giving it to him, wouldn’t that make me seem afraid?”
“Hehe, that makes sense. A mage of your caliber wouldn’t stoop to such underhanded tactics.”
“Not necessarily. But if I were to act secretly, I would ensure absolute secrecy,” Abyss said, chuckling, as he began dismantling the machine.
Lannis, having helped Rebecca assemble the machine, still possessed some knowledge of its inner workings, despite the passage of forty years. Her memories might have faded, but no one on the continent understood this machine better than her.
With Lannis’s guidance and recollections, Abyss carefully dissected the machine with his razor-sharp bone blade, revealing its intricate components, some in pristine condition, others showing signs of wear and tear. They finally reached a heavy box made of mana-conducting metal. Inside, a magic crystal, covered in cracks but still emitting a faint glow, lay nestled within.
At first glance, it resembled an ordinary magic crystal, but closer inspection revealed intricate details. The crystal’s surface was etched with numerous patterns using an unknown potion, and some areas bore faint discolorations, suggesting it had been soaked in a potion to imbue it with specific properties. It might look like a simple crystal, but its complexity rivaled that of a machine.
“This is the core… Miss Rebecca poured her heart and soul into it,” Lannis said, her voice tinged with nostalgia, as she looked at the crystal. “She spent days and nights working on it, perfecting every detail. The craftsmanship is exquisite, the process incredibly complex. No one in the world can replicate it, except for Miss Rebecca herself.”
“I’ll keep it safe for now. I have a secure storage space,” Abyss said, summoning his magical catfish and placing the crystal inside its mouth. “Let’s leave this place. We can’t stay in the Goat Eyes Gang’s territory forever.”
“Good. I’ll show you something Miss Rebecca left behind—an artifact she used in her experiments. She wanted me to destroy it along with her notes, but I kept it hidden,” Lannis said, turning and walking ahead, her hands clasped behind her back. “Come to my house. It’s my domain. No one can enter without my permission.”
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