Another Uncle

As the heir to a Ducal Family codenamed "Adventurer," who enjoys scavenging inside the Gate of Boundary in his spare time, Ailan Rainbowlight is clearly an adventurous person.

Whether it's because they sought thrills after a failed startup, or because they always enjoyed seeking thrills and thus chose high-risk entrepreneurial projects...

At least in this respect, Ailan Rainbowlight and Nightless Sky Fire Apricot are actually somewhat similar.

So, after experiencing the incredibly long, dark slide and freefall, sitting in this small boat floating on the Dark Current, underground waterway...

Ailan Rainbowlight had completely put aside her unpleasant experience with Nightless Sky Fire Apricot —now she only felt admiration for Nightless Sky Fire Apricot.

"Nightless Sky Huo Ming... do you mean we'll have to travel by underground water and sail there next?"

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot nodded. "Yes -- we'll crawl through the pipes once we get there."

Ailan Rainbowlight's eyes brightened, but she still pretended to speak, "But this isn't good... I've read the geological survey report of the Great Wilderness. The fastest-flowing part of the underground water system here is faster than the fastest car in the City That Never Sleeps; it's very rapid—and in some places, the drop is over twenty meters."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot gave a thumbs up. "That's why I said, what's coming next is going to be even more exciting—and, it'll be very, very fast!"

Ailan Rainbowlight asked curiously, "How fast?"

"It only takes four hours to get to W District —once we get there, you can give me directions. We can get to that 'outpost' you mentioned in a maximum of one hour via the pipeline."

As the two were talking, Lin Yu and his Summoned Creature fell down the pipe and landed on another small boat.

Since Nightless Sky Fire Apricot is currently negotiating with Ailan Rainbowlight under the identity of "Nightless Sky Huo Ming," she doesn't intend to reveal her "Raccoon Squad."

Although two boats from the underground river remained here, the Raccoon drivers responsible for piloting them had long since dispersed.

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot spoke up, "Can you drive? Would you like to try driving the boat yourself?"

Ailan Rainbowlight immediately asked, "I've been to a boat club... Is what you're doing the same as driving those small boats?"

The Barren Realm has no sea and very few waterways, so boats are a somewhat unfamiliar mode of transportation for most residents of the City That Never Sleeps.

But precisely because Commoner don't really know about it, boating has become a sport that symbolizes the status of the ultra-luxurious Noble in the City That Never Sleeps —just like golf.

After all, creating a vast body of water where boats can sail is incredibly expensive in City That Never Sleeps!

It's important to know that the "Ghost Ship" project, Nightless Sky Family Head back then, targeted both the "Fear" Authority and the "Player," and the pool in question wasn't even a meter deep.

And Ailan Rainbowlight, codenamed "Adventurer," is also the heir to the Ducal Family...

He's a regular at the Boating Club!

"Of course it's the same thing. I stole these ships from the Boating Club," said Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, looking at Lin Yu. "Arthur, you and Xiao Qin come on this one, let Stiller and Old Zheng ride on the Ailan Rainbowlight!"

Upon hearing Nightless Sky Fire Apricot's arrangement, Lin Yu naturally had no objections. He grabbed Qin Siyu and crossed from the other boat to Nightless Sky Fire Apricot's side.

Meanwhile, Ailan Rainbowlight jumped over, and Old Zheng cast a pleading look at Lin Yu.

"I'm saying... this underground water system is complicated. Lord Ailan has only ever piloted boats at the club before. Are you sure it's alright?"

"Old Shi and I have no major issues, but Ailan, the future Duke, is of noble birth... isn't that inappropriate?"

Ailan Rainbowlight looked at Old Zheng: "What's wrong with that? Don't worry, I'm in the top three in many records at the boating club!"

"Lap speed, time spent in dangerous waters, simulated rescue racing... Don't underestimate me!"

Ailan spoke earnestly, and Lin Yu also looked at Old Zheng.

"It's alright, I trust Ailan's reaction speed... Besides, you'll be assisting Lord Ailan, right?"

Given that Lin Yu had already said so, Old Zheng sighed.

"Then I'll trust Ailan."

Standing next to Old Zheng, Stiller didn't say anything, but he had already silently put on his life jacket.

After Old Zheng's protests went unanswered...

Ailan Rainbowlight and Nightless Sky Fire Apricot also launched their respective ships.

The two speedboats left behind by the Raccoon were the most powerful and fastest—which was a major reason for Old Zheng's concern.

After the speedboats started, although their initial speed was not fast, the roar of the engine hitting the water and the splashing water already showed that the top speed of these two speedboats was definitely not ordinary.

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot gestured to Ailan Rainbowlight and shouted, "Follow me!"

Then, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot drove the speedboat towards the front of the water.

The splashing water swirled into the boat, slightly dampening the cuffs of Lin Yu and Qin Siyu's sleeves.

However, this speed was nothing to Lin Yu.

He was still able to get up easily and smoothly, step from the back seat to the front, and sit down next to Nightless Sky Fire Apricot.

"You called me over... besides letting Ailan Rainbowlight experience the joy of sailing, there must also be a reason why you wanted to talk to me without her, right?"

Lin Yu asked, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot smiled and nodded.

"That's clever, Arthur... I am indeed quite curious."

"How did you manage to pinpoint so much of Ailan Rainbowlight's identity information...? I know you're very capable, and your Stand has the ability to analyze people, but you couldn't possibly determine so much 'personal information' just from our conversation, could you?"

Lin Yu nodded. "Of course not... The reason I was able to analyze those things is because I saw them."

"You saw it?"

"Nightless Sky Fire Apricot asked with some curiosity."

Lin Yu nodded. "Yes, I saw it... I used some kind of [Item] to peer into the 'fear' deep in her heart—and then, I saw the liquidation statement from the day she went bankrupt and the letter from her father helping her settle her bills."

"That was a memory that was almost like Psychological Trauma for Ailan Rainbowlight, the failure she least wanted to face and the one she feared most... Her fear of that bankruptcy liquidation even surpassed the truly life-threatening situations she now encounters as an 'Adventurer'."

As Lin Yu was speaking, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot spoke up.

"Wow... there are such [Item]? The outside world is really amazing!"

Upon hearing Nightless Sky Fire Apricot's words, Lin Yu shook his head.

"This isn't some kind of Item from the outside world... it's even made by your Truth Company."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

"'Fear Project'... is that right?"

Lin Yu nodded. "Yes, the Fear Project... This involves the Authority of 'Fear'."

"I see," said Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, then suddenly realized something. "So, when she was inside the metal shell, she screamed in terror at the mysterious person who attacked her. Could it be that she also saw these related Memory? After all, although she said it was a 'Hallucination'... being so frightened couldn't have been just a random Hallucination, right?"

"If it's Hallucination related to her past trauma..."

At this point, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot suddenly felt something was amiss and looked at Lin Yu.

"I said, was her scream just now really the work of the attacker?"

Upon hearing Nightless Sky Fire Apricot's words, Lin Yu countered with, "Who do you think the attacker was?"

"I don't know. He must be a top-notch Alchemy, because there are very few people who can remove the Alchemy Energy from an alchemical device while an alchemical missile is in flight."

"While I could do it, I probably couldn't do it without 'cheating' with Supreme Alchemy —but that guy, it seems, didn't use Supreme Alchemy at all."

"A master of the level of City That Never Sleeps must be a treasure of every company, Family Elders... If I had to say, of all the people I've met, I'm only certain that my mother could do that."

Lin Yu nodded.

"That's about right... That person is your uncle—your biological uncle."

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot raised an eyebrow. "Wow, Arthur, you're really joking... I do have some distant cousins who hold easy jobs in the family, but I really don't have any real uncles."

"Before I was born, my mother had already killed almost all of her own brothers and sisters—the struggle for succession in the previous generation of the Nightless Sky Family was far more brutal than our generation."

Lin Yu shrugged. "I know, but... there are always some who slip through the net."

"Your mother killed almost everyone, but there was one person she didn't kill... but rather someone she threw out of this world."

Hearing Lin Yu say that, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot finally realized what was going on...

Lin Yu wasn't joking.

Regardless of whether the attacker was actually his uncle... he was first and foremost Lin Yu's card!

"Holy crap, Arthur... you really did arrange that attack?"

"Otherwise, how else can I find out about this 'Adventurer's' past and identify her if I don't arrange for attackers?" Lin Yu reached out and gently wiped the cool water that had splashed on his cheek. "If I don't give her the illusion that 'the enemy who killed Dark Rock is far stronger than we imagined' through this attack, why would she agree to cooperate with us so readily?"

Even if this 'Adventurer' is easy to fool... the 'Mr. Candle' behind her is no simple character. To negotiate with him, we need to start laying the groundwork with the 'Adventurer' part—not to mention, we might also have to face the 'Creator' behind the 'Mr. Candle.'

"Regardless of whether that 'Creator' is an imposter or not, at least I can be certain that he can perform the Creator's unique Alchemy... so he is valuable to me."