This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 368 - 198: Speculations from All Sides, Winds and Clouds Stir Simultaneously

Chapter 368: Chapter 198: Speculations from All Sides, Winds and Clouds Stir Simultaneously

"Didn’t catch the person?" A wavering tone tinged with suspicion resonated from the other end.

"With Your Excellency making the move, how could he have escaped?"

Theo didn’t really want to discuss this topic, irritatedly retorted, "It wasn’t that he escaped, I simply didn’t find him. If I had found him, how could he have possibly escaped?"

"You didn’t find him? You are the Chaser, the Grey Eyes that pierce through darkness, how could you not find him?" The other party was even more astonished.

Theo’s gaze turned icy: "Didn’t find him means didn’t find him!"

After a brief silence, the other party spoke with some helplessness, "Your Excellency, we had an agreement, if you can’t capture him, the deal will be difficult to continue."

Theo shook his head, then added, "It’s just this one time I didn’t find him. He has already moved into Ulrich’s castle, it’s hard for me alone to make a move."

"You said you didn’t find him?" the other party asked perplexed. "How did he suddenly move into the fortress? Were you discovered?"

Theo, his face grim and his grey pupils flickering with a cold gleam, offered no further explanation and directly said:

"I don’t want to openly break with Ulrich. He must possess something that only Azure Dragon can repair. He must have been preparing for a long time."

"Send a few people over, I can help you distract Ulrich, and you can make the capture yourselves."

"This..." The other party seemed hesitant. "With the current situation, our leader can’t make a move, in case it’s a trap, we..."

"Who asked for your leader to come?" Theo got more impatient.

"Can’t you send several B-level life forms? I’ll provide you with convenience."

Having said this much, after a brief silence, the voice from the other side suddenly changed, "Fine, I will send eight B-level life forms. The leader of the team will have a development progress of over 90%."

"Eight B-level life forms... development progress over 90%?" Theo was somewhat surprised; this number was too much.

A B-level progress exceeding 90%, grinding for more than a decade, virtually all could become A-level life forms, with only a few exceptions.

This time, the Torch Organization was really investing heavily.

The other party then said, "I have only one request, it must be foolproof!"

"Rest assured." Theo gravely said, "I will give you the map of the castle."

......

Coming out of the "Collector’s Mechanic’s confined room," the unease from being targeted by Theo had also significantly eased.

With just a brief scan here, he acquired two valuable items.

Besides the [Gun and Cannon Badge], there was another small accessory, classified as assistive, named [Mimic Projector], a B-grade item, requiring control of five hundred thousand metal energy.

Its ability was [Mimic Projection: create a mimic projection of the original body, possessing 10% of its total strength.]

Although it appeared to be only a projection, it was in fact a clone, the very item he ultimately demanded.

From the conversation, it was known that Rob and Cassis were old acquaintances who had originally planned to spar, coming here to pick up weapons.

But encountering Li Ming, Rob abandoned his original intent, his face full of smiles, "Lord Azure Dragon, I have long admired you, Uncle Sandro holds you in the highest esteem as well."

His eyes wide with feigned ignorance, this courteous and warm demeanor hardly matched his appearance.

Li Ming, wearing an odd expression, listened as he went further, "Could I invite you to my room to talk alone? I have a concept for a weapon here, and I’d like your opinion."

Huo Tan frowned, about to interject, but then heard Li Ming agreeing, "Fine, sure."

Cassis, indifferent, seeing the plan disrupted, turned and left. Watching Rob’s retreating figure, Huo Tan wanted to speak but held back, unable to stop him, and could only follow at a distance.

This Rob was incessant in his praise along the way, and ultimately bluntly said, "I know my uncle had some misunderstandings with you before, but his mind is always on raiding, it’s either fight or kill. I’ve advised him many times."

"But my uncle has one good point, as long as you are stronger than him, he will respect you."

Compared to being evasive, bringing this issue into the open seemed to engender more goodwill. Yet Li Ming’s heart remained unswayed, maintaining a smile all along.

Until following this Rob into his room.

The smile on his face suddenly vanished, replaced by a solemn expression; he even put a finger to his lips, signaling Li Ming to be quiet, then took out a disturbance magnetic field, and after setting it up, he sighed with relief.

"Sorry, the Collector’s castle is filled with surveillance everywhere, we cannot let him hear what we’re about to discuss." Rob looked resigned. Seeing Li Ming’s expression remain calm, he immediately got to the point:

"Lord Azure Dragon, your current situation is very dangerous, you could even say you are about to die."

Oh? Li Ming’s face finally showed some movement, seeming to finally be interested: "Are you planning to ambush me?"

"Me?" Rob was slightly startled, then shook his head: "No, no, the danger doesn’t come from me, but from the Collector."

Li Ming neither acknowledged nor denied, sitting down next to the table, "Let’s hear it."

Rob frowned, "Don’t doubt it, I’m guessing, are you not repairing some items for the Collector?"

"Is that even a question?" Li Ming laughed.

Rob emphasized, "I’m talking about something more powerful, more precious, more rare."

Li Ming’s smile withdrew, now truly interested in hearing what this man had to say.

Rob referred to a past incident, "Collector Ulrich, His Excellency, once served as a personal aide to the Star King, and he must have been the first to know of the Star King’s mysterious disappearance. By the time my uncle and Lord Theo realized, a whole batch of precious items were already missing from underneath the Star King."