A terrifying way to fight

"Darcy Morstan, this is the first time I've heard this name."

Xiao Nian stopped in his tracks when he saw the girl in the pure white robe in front of him.

The girl's mask seemed to have the function of altering her voice, making her tone sound hollow and lacking in character.

"That's perfectly normal—after all, it's just a 'pseudonym'."

"I was masked, so naturally I wouldn't reveal my Real Name."

Xiao Nian nodded. "I understand. In the City That Never Sleeps, assassinating Royal Nobles is indeed a serious crime punishable by death. Even assassins who are determined to die would not dare to easily reveal their personal identities—after all, whether the assassination succeeds or not, it's not just themselves who will suffer."

The girl didn't respond to Xiao Nian's words, but simply nudged the man's arm beside her feet.

"Your companion is not dead; he was simply injected with an overdose of sedatives."

"I know, my Prosthetic Eye is already working," Xiao Nian pointed to his eyeball, which indeed displayed the test data indicating that Good Night was still alive. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be here chatting with you."

"So... you want to take him Hostage?"

Xiao Nian asked casually.

The girl sighed softly, "Why must my actions be interpreted with malice? Can't this be my 'kind act'?"

I had no intention of harming innocent people.

Hearing the girl's words, Xiao Nian said in a low voice.

"Really? But you've already hurt him... Not to mention that your tranquilizer doesn't seem to have any harm to people at all. Before he was ambushed and fell unconscious, he was already bitten—a very serious bite."

The girl was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm sorry, but I really don't have the ability to guarantee that he won't get hurt at all... I can only do my best to make sure I don't kill him."

"I know, and I'm not demanding an explanation from you just because he's injured," Xiao Nian said, pausing for a moment. "Let's keep things separate. I thank you for sparing Comrade Good Night Ye's life."

As he spoke, Xiao Nian raised his Right Hand, holding the long, narrow, and gleaming Alchemy Blade, its tip aimed directly at the center of the other person's mask.

"However, a battle between us is still inevitable."

"Whether you're truly here for the innocent souls of those animals who died unjustly," Xiao Nian glanced back at Joe Solence, who was still struggling amidst the surrounding animal specimens, "I can't let you kill Joe Solence like this."

The girl bowed slightly again.

"I understand, but I'm not asking for this in exchange for your promise not to intervene—I have no intention of taking him Hostage."

Then, she stepped forward, her hand emerging from her wide sleeve, revealing her fair and delicate forearm and fingers.

"Count Arase Nian... please enlighten me."

As soon as the words were spoken, the Xiao Nian and the girl moved at the same time.

Xiao Nian's Alchemy Blade crisscrossed as he stabbed towards the girl's throat and heart.

But to everyone's surprise on the eve of the Xiao Nian...

The girl didn't flinch at all!

The Alchemy Blade pierced her throat and heart, but...

It only punctured the surface of the skin.

Beneath the opponent's skin lies a highly sophisticated alchemical protective layer.

Xiao Nian looked at the other person in surprise.

"You're... quite wealthy?"

The girl remained silent, but her hands, as if possessed, rested on Xiao Nian's left shoulder.

"Snap!"

After the crisp sound, Xiao Nian's left shoulder slumped down limply, as if dislocated.

The solidified Alchemy Blade transformed back into silvery alchemical liquid, dripping onto the ground.

On the Xiao Nian, one can clearly feel...

I can no longer feel her left arm.

No, it's not that we can't feel it at all.

However, Xiao Nian has temporarily lost consciousness of the Alchemy Component and implanted prosthetics on her left hand.

She could still feel her left arm—but for Xiao Nian, there were simply too many Alchemy Component within her body.

Especially the limbs.

On Xiao Nian's "left arm," the ratio of native tissue to Alchemical Prosthetic is almost three to seven.

Therefore, after the Alchemical Prosthetic went out of control and went offline, Xiao Nian did indeed lose control of his entire arm.

Furthermore, the Alchemy Turbulence caused by the sudden shutdown of the Alchemy Component in his entire arm also temporarily immobilized Xiao Nian —if he were to continue acting rashly, Xiao Nian was unsure whether it would trigger any unpleasant Chain Reaction.

Are you surprised?

Seeing Xiao Nian's surprised expression, the girl asked in a low voice.

Xiao Nian suppressed his surprise and put on a serious expression. "You were able to deactivate the Alchemical Prosthetic within me during battle; that's not something anyone can do easily."

After all... Xiao Nian could sense that the prosthetic body inside her wasn't "damaged," which was causing her inability to move...

Instead, it was directly "forced to shut down".

The Alchemy Component still exist and function perfectly, but they no longer absorb or release Alchemy Energy or operate.

Even for Alchemy Component under normal maintenance, shutting them down like this requires many steps—and those prosthetics are connected to Xiao Nian's nervous system, so restarting them would only require a thought.

But now, she is also unable to rebuild those Alchemical Prosthetic through her own will.

The masked girl in front of me, who calls herself "Darcy Morstan," might possess the most terrifying alchemical skills in the entire City That Never Sleeps.

Who exactly are you?

The Xiao Nian asked in a low voice.

The girl spoke again, "I know what you're thinking—but I'm not some famous Alchemy master. I can do this simply because I'm familiar with your Alchemy Component."

"The transmission enhancement component in your left hand is an unreleased prototype of the KC Series from the Divine Power Group; the alchemy basic circuit is a top-of-the-line custom-made product created by the Universal Trade Association using 'White Ore'; it also features two adapter platform conductors; functional components include 'Hand Blade' and 'Obscuring Mist'... Most importantly, these implant surgeries were all performed on you by that old doctor at the 'Fallen Leaf Clinic' in the Outer City, who has been retired from surgery for many years."

"I understand the design philosophy behind all your Alchemy Component, so I naturally know their flaws and weaknesses. I know how they were implanted into your body, so I can certainly see through the flow of their Alchemy Energy."

Xiao Nian immediately exclaimed, "That's impossible..."

"Nothing is impossible. I already did it, but since you don't believe me, I can demonstrate it for you again."

As the girl spoke, she placed her hand on Xiao Nian's right shoulder again.

This time, she seemed to deliberately slow down her movements, pausing briefly on Xiao Nian's right shoulder.

Xiao Nian, disregarding the still-unstable Alchemy Energy environment within his body, activated the Alchemy Component inside his body once more, attempting to dodge.

Even though she immediately retreated a distance, the girl seemed to be attached to her body, and lightly followed her by the same distance.

"Click."

The Alchemy Component in Xiao Nian's right arm were also forcibly shut down—her Right Hand hung limply at her sides, also losing all feeling.

"See, it's not difficult at all."

The girl said softly.

"But within this City That Never Sleeps, I've only seen you do this; I've never even heard of anyone else who can do it like you," Xiao Nian said, staring at the girl. "So... there are two possibilities now."

"Firstly, this is your unique fighting style. You possess alchemical knowledge of at least most of the cash Alchemy Component in the City That Never Sleeps, including even the prototypes under testing. You also understand most schools of thought in Alchemical Prosthetic implant technology, allowing you to easily dismantle your opponent's installed Alchemy Component or alchemical facilities during combat..."

"This is actually reflected in your 'entrance' – you manipulated all the alchemical facilities in Joe Solence's office area, and even Resurrection these specimens, infusing them with Alchemy Energy to make them move. This indirectly reflects that you do indeed have a very high level of Alchemy skills, and are very good at dismantling and utilizing other people's alchemical facilities."

The girl did not continue the pursuit, but simply stood in front of Xiao Nian and listened to her analysis.

"An interesting point of view, Count Arase Nian... But that's only 'one possibility,' what about the other one?"

Looking at the seemingly composed young girl, Xiao Nian continued speaking.

"Secondly... you might not be the kind of person who can instantly shut down an opponent's Alchemy Component during a battle in every situation."

"After all, hacking into Joe Solence's Alchemical Equipment is something any Senior Researcher from one of the Three Great Corporations or Noble from Marquis could do—nobody knows how long it took you to do it, and it's not the same level of difficulty as being able to unload an opponent's Alchemy Component in the heat of battle."

"Moreover, if anyone in the City That Never Sleeps has used such an exaggerated fighting style, even if you are hiding your identity, it will inevitably spread—judging from your leniency towards Good Night, you are not the type of person who would kill any opponent you have fought or anyone who witnessed your actions."

"And you have a wealth of combat experience; I am certainly not your first opponent."

"So... I'm more inclined to believe that you can only use this 'tactic' on me—your alchemical knowledge may be extensive enough, but rather than saying you're so skilled that you can see through all my modifications on the spot, it's more likely because..."

You know me very, very well.

As Xiao Nian spoke, his gaze was fixed on the other person's mask.

"You didn't come here for Joe Solence, did you?"

"Your target... was me from the very beginning."

"Joe Solence is just a smokescreen—after all, you haven't even given her a second glance from the beginning."