Emergency Mission

The third day of work ended in the evening.

Since using that contract, Lu Yuan's orders have increased dramatically.

The reward has changed from the original supply of basic materials and a few Gold Shield to Night Watcher Points.

However, Lu Yuan wouldn't get many, because only Perfect Potion could be exchanged for Night Watcher points.

Based on Laurina's current output, she can get close to two points a day.

Lu Yuan could only express his envy.

Three rows of potion bottles were placed on the Alchemy Workshop's workbench, each with a label written by Laurina.

Laurina was tidying up the equipment, moving very gently, wiping the Mortar and measuring cup clean and putting them back in their original places.

She seemed to cherish this set of professional equipment, which Lu Yuan had redeemed with points.

Lu Yuan sat by the window, looking at the gray-white text at the edge of his field of vision.

[Pharmacology: +13...32/50]

[Pharmacognosy: +11...19/50]

After three days of intensive medicine-making, both of these skills have improved significantly.

Unfortunately, Lu Yuan still can't refine a perfect quality potion, and the experience gained from potions of other qualities has decreased significantly.

If they can maintain this pace, they should be able to level up again in about a week.

Lu Yuan snapped out of his thoughts and glanced out the window.

It was already getting dark, and a few streetlights were on.

The Night Watcher was supposed to fetch the medicine hadn't arrived yet.

As usual, someone would come to collect the refined potion every evening, along with a batch of new materials. Today, it's almost an hour late.

"Didn't you come to deliver the materials today?" Laurina's voice came from the workbench.

"Not yet."

Laurina didn't ask any more questions and continued to tidy up the equipment.

The Alchemy Workshop was quiet, with only the soft sounds of her wiping the instruments.

Just as the two were talking, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the Alchemy Workshop.

The voice was urgent, and then another voice rang out.

"Lu Yuan!"

It was the voice of the Night Watcher fetching medicine; Lu Yuan recognized it.

The door opened, and standing there was a Night Watcher in his early thirties. He usually came to collect the medicine slowly and deliberately, but today he was covered in sweat.

"Emergency mobilization." He gasped for breath. "A very important witness escaped from the Tower of Erudition, and our people went to meet them, but they ran into another faction, and now a battle has broken out."

"What faction?"

"I don't know, they're all men in black robes, but they're definitely not ordinary people..." He composed himself, "The brothers are tough to deal with!"

Where?

Blackstone Street.

Lu Yuan turned around, grabbed his Revolver and spare ammunition, and then stuffed the potion he had previously refined into his pocket.

Laurina stopped what she was doing and looked at him.

"Be careful, I'll go prepare the first aid medication," she said calmly.

"Good."

Lu Yuan didn't say anything more, turned around and walked out with the Night Watcher.

Blackstone Street is a narrow stone-paved road on the west side of the Outer City, with low buildings lining both sides. During the day, it is filled with dry goods shops, and there are a few rental rooms nearby. After nightfall, it is almost deserted.

From afar, Lu Yuan could hear the commotion.

It was the sound of metal clashing.

After turning the corner of the third alley, Lu Yuan saw the scene.

Overturned dry goods boxes were scattered on the street, and a few lights in the distance illuminated a small section of the road.

The light was dim, casting everyone's shadows of varying lengths.

Four Night Watcher were positioned on either side of the street, their backs against the wall.

One of them was already injured; his left calf was simply bound with a strip of cloth, and blood seeped out, soaking most of his trouser leg.

An older Night Watcher stood before him, holding a uniquely designed Short Shotgun with intricate patterns engraved on its barrel.

Opposite them stood six men in black robes.

Wrong.

Lu Yuan's gaze swept quickly across the figures in the firelight.

The black robe was very large, covering most of the body, making it impossible to see the specific outline.

But their movements are strange; they can suddenly burst into action, but then freeze in place, appearing completely disjointed.

One of the men in black robes was locked in combat with a Night Watcher's shoulder, slicing open the robe and what lay beneath.

There was no blood.

The wound was oozing a dark liquid mixed with tiny metal fragments.

Under the light, the layers of metal skeleton reflected light can be seen through the crack.

The black-robed man who had been slashed showed no reaction. He felt no pain and did not retreat.

He froze for a moment, then drew a Short Blade and stabbed at the Night Watcher's waist.

The Night Watcher dodged to the side, the tip of his blade grazing his uniform and lifting a layer of fabric.

On the other side, a black-robed man suddenly opened his sleeve, and a short crossbow bolt shot out from it.

It was extremely fast, almost without warning.

"Careful!"

Before the warning had even faded, a crossbow bolt had already pierced the shoulder of one of the Night Watcher ahead.

The arrow's shape is extremely unique; the moment it pierces the shoulder, its head bursts open and remains firmly embedded in the muscle.

The Night Watcher groaned, snapping the arrow shaft in his left hand, leaving the arrowhead embedded in his flesh, while his right hand continued wielding the knife.

But the black-robed men had the advantage in numbers. Moreover, they were impervious to injury and pain, and even when cut down, they did not retreat, but mechanically continued their attack.

The Night Watcher at the scene were clearly struggling to keep up.

Most importantly, Lu Yuan only saw the figure of a squad leader.

Why is the escort team so poorly equipped?

In the middle of the battlefield, right next to the corner of the wall, was a person crouching.

Wearing a dirty striped outfit, he was shivering and huddled up in a ball. His face and age were unclear.

He is a witness.

Lu Yuan's gaze swept over the huddled figure, and a line of grayish-white text appeared at the edge of his vision:

[Detection Target: Residents of Bronze City (Knowledge Erosion)]

How can an ordinary human being set foot in the Sea of Knowledge?

Lu Yuan frowned slightly, not having time to think it over, and turned his gaze back to the men in black robes.

Instantly, more gray and white text quietly appeared:

[Detection Target: Lesser Ascender (Defective Product)]

[Characteristics: Creatures Deprivation of most of their Flesh and will, retaining only basic neural reflexes and the instinct to obey. They have almost lost their human reason, their behavior patterns are rigid, they lack independent judgment, and they descend into chaos if their commander is killed.]

[Weakness: Eliminate the commander and destroy the core.]

Ascension Society.

A look of surprise appeared on Lu Yuan's face.

What are the Ascension Society members doing here?

The Ascension Society's name is not listed in the map of Bronze City's sphere of influence.

Moreover, their creations are not popular, nor are they things that can be moved at will; each one represents a significant investment of resources from the Ascension Society.

Sending out six unfamiliar models indicates that the other side is determined to obtain that witness.

But what would they want someone who escaped from the Tower of Erudition?

But there was no time to think about it at the scene.

"Watch out on the left!" shouted the Night Watcher was fetching the medicine, drawing his Mithril longsword and charging forward.

At that moment, Lu Yuan also drew his Revolver and joined the battle.

A Lesser Ascender raised his Short Blade at a wounded Night Watcher, the movement without warning, and simply slashed down.

With a muffled "thud," the Night Watcher responsible for fetching the medicine missed his target.

The blade tip scraped against the stone slab, creating a trail of sparks.

The squad leader standing at the front had obviously noticed this as well.

His eyes instantly turned cold.

"Go all out! Firing is permitted."