Negotiations break down, Xiao Nian's bottom line

Without a doubt... the "Secretary" wields considerable influence within the "Order."

As a Founder member Order "Order," he was a pioneer who established the organizational framework and Discipline of "Order."

Even though the "undercover agent" has now been confirmed dead, and the members of "Order" are shocked and suspicious, the chain of evidence generally accepts this fact... Even if someone occasionally suspects that there are other hidden circumstances, it has not gained momentum.

However... even if they "accept" it, it doesn't mean they completely accept it.

Many doubts and wavering will still linger in their hearts.

Why?

Everyone wanted to find out more about the deceased, arguably the most "Order" former leader of "Order."

The longer a member has been with the organization, the stronger their abilities, and the higher their position, the more familiar they will be with the "Secretary."

Upon learning this news, they will be even more shocked and more eager to ask further questions.

However, the secretary is dead and silent.

He left no answers. No one knows why he tried to kill Lin Yu and Li Hua, nor does anyone know why he felt that the "Furnace" was more important and correct than the "Order" that he had almost personally helped establish.

So...

The "professor's" organization's main reason for this action was indeed to obtain technology related to "Authority" so that the "God Creation Project" could continue.

On the other hand, he also hoped to use this opportunity to help those in the organization who were wavering as a result find an answer.

Even...

He himself actually wanted to know the "answer" on this matter.

And it is quite obvious that the Puppet behind the scenes also knew this.

"Xiao Nian" stared at the Puppet and spoke in a low voice.

How can I be sure that you really know what you're saying?

The Puppet replied, "Because... no one knows more about 'Supreme Evolution' than me."

Xiao Nian raised an eyebrow. "So you still need us to find the relevant technology for this company? Don't you understand it yourself? Even if you don't Item, you should at least know where to look for it, right?"

The Puppet gently waved its hand. "I did know about these 'techniques'... I just don't remember them."

"Furthermore, it's inconvenient for me to investigate, which is why I need your help."

"Therefore... by cooperating with me, I can also point you in the right direction, resulting in an absolute 'win-win' situation where no one will suffer any loss."

"Think about it, Count Arase Nian, what do you get? Information about the past of your high-ranking traitor—information you can't obtain by investigating these technical matters."

"Furthermore, I will tell you where to investigate and how to investigate... This will save you a lot of trouble."

"And all you have to do is hand over a copy of the 'technology' you've investigated—this won't even cost you your existing technology."

"What's that saying from your world? 'If we exchange two apples, we each still only have one apple; but if we exchange two pieces of knowledge, we each have two pieces of knowledge!'"

As the Puppet spoke, Xiao Nian squinted his eyes.

"This isn't something I can decide on my own... We're a team, you should give me a chance to discuss it with all of them."

The Puppet spoke up, "Really? Have you forgotten? I warned you before... Although that high-ranking traitor is dead, you still have someone on this trip... Well, although he's not a 'traitor' and his stance is basically the same as yours, he's also a 'Liar' lurking among you. I don't recommend you trust him."

Puppet spoke, Xiao Nian blinked.

Then...

"Bass!"

The Light Arrows shot out again, piercing the Puppet's head and knocking Puppet to the ground.

After the Xiao Nian, I stepped on the Puppet and crushed it.

"I still can't quite accept... cooperating with a scoundrel like you who's always stirring up trouble."

"I will investigate the matter concerning 'Secretary' myself—there's no need for you to trouble yourself."

Xiao Nian paused for a moment as she spoke.

"Furthermore... your claim that there's no loss in cooperating with you is a fallacy."

"The technology of 'Supreme Evolution' is dangerous, almost like Nuclear Weapons... I cannot entrust such a dangerous technology to someone like you with unknown background—if you endanger the Barren Realm because of it, it will still be unacceptable to me."

As he spoke, the Alchemy Component on Xiao Nian's body hummed slightly, the alchemical fluctuations changed completely, and Alchemy Waste Vapor continuously spewed out from his body.

The Puppet reappeared in another corner of the Rooftop.

"Count Arase Nian, you still misunderstand me too deeply—however, I will not harm your companions because of this; this is simply my way of showing sincerity."

The Puppet said regretfully.

Xiao Nian spoke coldly, "If you don't want me to misunderstand, at least you shouldn't be so secretive, and you shouldn't stop me from communicating with other people."

The Puppet said again, "They... I guarantee they encountered no danger, and may even have benefited from it."

Xiao Nian didn't reply, but simply turned around and climbed back into the Ventilation Duct.

She braced herself against the pipe wall with both hands and began to slowly slide down it, passing by one alchemical alarm after another.

Although Xiao Nian passed through those alarms, none of them sounded an alarm.

Therefore, at this moment, the Alchemy Energy level of Xiao Nian looks like... an alchemical alarm, enveloped by a cloud of Alchemy Waste Vapor.

While cracking these alarms, Xiao Nian had already figured out how they worked.

They detect fluctuations in Alchemy Energy and issue alerts accordingly.

However, not all fluctuations in Alchemy Energy will trigger an alarm.

Although Xiao Nian didn't have time to specifically figure out the detection range it wrote into the program, she was certain that there were two things that would definitely not trigger the alarm.

Other alchemical alarms, and Alchemy Waste Vapor that are discharged daily through this duct.

So...

Even if he couldn't crack these alchemical alarms again, Xiao Nian had another way to bypass these detection methods and get down below!

That is to use [Theseus’s Self] to adjust the energy fluctuations of the Alchemy Component to be similar to those of the alarm, and to use the large amount of Alchemy Waste Vapor actively released to blur the alarm's detection sensitivity!