What a Coincidence, You're Here to Do Time Too
"So, this is our initial Industrialization in our hometown. Do you have any suggestions?"
In front of Layton, Yun Xiaoxiao became slightly more serious.
Layton paused for a few seconds, then slowly spoke, "I don't quite understand... Can these machines adapt to the Land of Darkness?"
"No." Yun Xiaoxiao answered instantly.
Layton remained silent, waiting for what was to come.
"The Land of Darkness has some special rules that prevent traditional industries from operating normally," Yun Xiaoxiao explained. "For example, many macroscopic Burn reactions are not allowed, or light is swallowed by darkness after traveling a short distance... These problems hinder the use of internal combustion engines, reactors, and high-precision instruments."
It paused, then added, "But with the Industrialization of Mana, everything was solved."
Layton understood.
The Industrialization of Zone 76 in the Land of Darkness was Mana modified version. But what's happening on Earth now is pure, unmodified Industrialization.
In other words, even if he takes these devices back to his own area, he won't be able to use them properly.
"If there's anything I can do for you, I'd be happy to," Layton said calmly. "Could you tell me about your collaboration methods?"
He instantly grasped Yun Xiaoxiao's subtext and expressed his own wishes.
Yun Xiaoxiao nodded and gave a thumbs up. "Everything is developing upwards, steadily improving. Zone 76 means we can provide your region with the foundation and intelligent programs for Mana Industrialization free of charge. We've also provided you with some vehicle-related products in the past few days."
Layton smiled and waited for what was to come.
"However," Yun Xiaoxiao changed the subject, "Our suggestion is that you should focus more on the various forces in the heavens, and use your Space Talent... to do more smuggling and the like."
This request was purely out of a desire to curry favor with him.
Layton found it somewhat amusing.
He's a Forbidden Class ranked definitely in the top 200 globally, and now... he's getting invested in?
"I have no objection to this," he said. "I am now gradually delegating authority within the region, shifting towards the celestial forces, and attempting to bring them into the Land of Darkness."
"Very good." Yun Xiaoxiao nodded. "Finally, the Scholar asked me to pass on a message: he hopes that we can continue to cooperate as smoothly as before."
Layton's smile vanished as he recalled his last meeting with the Scholar.
It seems that Layton himself got covered in poop and eventually couldn't take it anymore, so he quit the Dungeon... I just don't know if the Scholar got buried in poop.
"Uh..." Layton cleared his throat, "Of course. It's a pleasure doing business with you."
"It's a pleasure working with you." Yun Xiaoxiao.
"Hmm... Machine Fortress, why are you still so weak even with cheats on?"
Seeing that the Machine Fortress the monsters would be overthrown, Su Luo took action immediately, applying elemental status effects that continuously doubled the damage. Finally, he used [Elemental Collapse] to overwhelm the monsters, without even having to use any of the Observer's cards.
"Another insult to the machine... The battles in the Tower are not suitable for me. My combat state needs time to activate, and the pace of the battles in the Tower is too fast, making me prone to accidents."
Machine Fortress looked serious as he watched Su Luo pick up the gold coins again. At the same time, the dark red aura of the Desolation Plague on his body intensified, almost solidifying.
It's unclear what the Tower was thinking, but the Desolation Plague has been layered upon layer. Not only are Su Luo and the Observers affected by the Desolation Plague, but even the Iron Guard and Jingjing have been infected by the Desolation Plague sanctioned by the Tower.
The fact that the Machine Fortress didn't exist doesn't necessarily mean it's weak. Perhaps it's because it was once part of the Tower, later broke down, was found by the Six-Eyed Giant Whale, and Resurrection as a tower climber. In terms of status, it could be considered an "insider."
"How is the Desolation Plague now?"
"I can't calculate it clearly. If we only look at the monster's health and attack power, the monster's health has increased more than forty times, and its attack power has increased more than thirty times," Jingjing replied with a strange expression.
She herself found the number absurd when she said it.
In the past, if the numbers had stacked to this extent, they would have been wiped out and had to retreat to the bottom of the tower to start over.
But this time, with the combined efforts of Scholars and Observers, they actually managed to fight their way to the highest point of the third stage despite the exaggerated Desolation Plague.
The BOSS room is right in front of us.
"The third stage boss should be one of you two, right?" Su Luo looked at Jingjing and the Observer.
Based on the pattern of the first two stages, the BOSS is a powerful form of these puppets. The Iron Guard corresponds to the first level, the Machine Fortress to the second level, so the third level should be the Jingjing, and the fourth level is the Observer.
"The third phase involves two bosses," the Observer said, his voice still as deep as a still pool. "You need to defeat both of them. The boss in the fourth phase... I don't know. Maybe it's the Tower itself."
"That's troublesome."
He wasn't sure if his "One-Shot Cheat" ability could take down the Observer's BOSS form. After observing for the past few days and hearing the Observer's account, he had roughly pieced together the Observer's background.
The Observer came from a powerful religious organization that God. Her initial purpose in coming to the Tower was to "observe the Tower corrupted by the Desolation Plague."
And the names of her cards were all incredibly outrageous:
Ragnarok, The Power of All Beings, Blasphemy, Omniscience, Deceive Reality...
This art style sounds completely different from the other three-colored puppets. Moreover, Su Luo could sense that the Observer's power fluctuations were extremely unstable, fluctuating up and down.
That's because she does indeed possess a great deal of power derived from the Gods of ancient times.
Those Previous Civilization beings who built the [Eternal Night Court] and the Tower.
Based on Su Luo's overall perception, she deduced that they cultivated Mana Side while also practicing Faith Side, and possessed extremely strong Talent and skills in the realm of Dreamscape.
They created this incredibly vast Dream World, built Towers, wove rules, and nurtured generation after generation of "Ancient Ones."
Then came the Desolation Plague. Gods fell, and civilization turned to dust.
All that remains is this Corruption Tower and these four puppets in an endless Reincarnation.
The Observers directly represent the legacy of that group's power.
Iron Guard, representing flames, power, and faith, embody a certain spiritual will of Previous Civilization.
Jingjing, hunting, mission, clan, representing the traditions of Previous Civilization and the descendants of Ancient Ones.
The Machine Fortress, a tangible representation of Dreamscape technology, represents the development of Dreamscape technology in Previous Civilization.
Su Luo considered the Machine Fortress to be the least valuable item.
It's not just because the Machine Fortress is weak, but because the Dream Civilization has completely abandoned considerations and perspectives of the real world. The technology they develop is only applicable to the [Eternal Night Court]. Take it outside, and it's just a pile of scrap metal.
Su Luo placed her hand on the door of the BOSS room, preparing to push it open—
There was a noise behind me.
He stopped what he was doing and turned his head.
A figure slowly emerged from the shadows at the end of the corridor.
It was a human-shaped object, but its face was completely obscured.
Because His entire body was covered with an intensely dark red aura that was so dense it was almost impenetrable. That aura surged and writhed like a living thing, layer upon layer, enveloping Him in a blurry outline.
The Desolation Plague had accumulated so thickly on Him that Su Luo could not penetrate the layer of Desolation Plague to see His true form.
Around Him were nine strange and ugly creatures.
[Blood Moon].
He caught up.
"What a coincidence, you're here to go to jail too."