Regret

In truth, this thing had not stumped Huai Shi for long at all.

There was no need for the Hand of Confinement, now fused with the Forging Furnace as one.

With Huai Shi's mastery of metallurgy, he had already figured out the structure of the Alchemy Matrix inside just by examining the box. After finding a few points, feeding in Source Matter several times, and trying the startup password, it opened automatically.

The box existed only to verify Huai Shi's identity.

—Only an alchemist proficient in metallurgy could open it.

Yet when the box contracted and came apart piece by piece, there was nothing inside.

Only an emblem at its very core...

It was the insignia of the Helios Workshop!

As the box's intricate structure continued shifting and contracting, it ultimately overlapped into an iron sphere the size of a fist and dropped into Huai Shi's hand.

Through the delicate hollow patterns on its surface, he could sense Source Matter circulating through the complex matrices within. Then dozens of inner layers began to operate, eventually forming a map unlike anything he had ever seen.

At that instant, the Sorrowful Rope gave a profound hum.

It left Huai Shi standing frozen in place.

In accordance with an agreement made long ago.

The alchemical workshop, Helios Chariot, had issued a summons to the alchemist who had entered into a contract with it.

Marcus had not come as Rome's representative at all. The Mercury Organization had merely delivered this notice on its behalf...

Now, as the iron sphere slowly unfolded, a faint blaze of light ignited within it.

The Helios Workshop awaited Huai Shi's response.

The simplest choice: accept, or refuse.

Huai Shi fell silent.

In the long silence, he raised his head and gazed at the city behind him, at that region