This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 413 - 220: Holding the Winning Card? Space Ability User_2

Chapter 413: Chapter 220: Holding the Winning Card? Space Ability User_2

"I understand," the manager nodded repeatedly, Ulrich’s gaze sweeping over the container with faint curiosity.

After giving his instructions, Li Ming had no intention of going back. Leaving from the back door of the warehouse, he began to wander aimlessly through the streets.

At least that was how it appeared to Ulrich trailing behind. As for Theo, he wore no expression, silently following along.

"What... exactly are you doing?" Ulrich frowned, eager to know the full story. Along the way, he had speculated several possibilities.

"Shh," Li Ming gestured Ulrich to silence, as if listening to something and then his figure suddenly disappeared with a sonic boom, the air burst spreading, causing an outcry.

Ulrich’s pupils shrank as he quickly looked in another direction and hurriedly followed.

In a luxurious room of a hotel several blocks away, the last soldier entering closed the door.

Others were setting up various anti-surveillance devices, all enveloped in a strange atmosphere, with the windows tightly shut.

Then, the pressure on the projection was suddenly lifted, and Li Ming looked around.

Gabriel casually picked up a bottle of brown-yellow liquor, with a packaging featuring a spicy mermaid.

Pouring some into a glass and handing it to Li Ming, he took a big gulp himself, savored it and said, "Sometimes, trying this kind of cheap blended liquor has a different flavor."

Having said that, he raised the bottle in his hand, lightly touching the packaged mermaid, then shook his head.

Li Ming also took a sip, but unfortunately, the Mimic Projection had no sense of taste.

"Have you made up your mind?" Gabriel asked, seemingly patient, but then added, "This is your last chance. If you decline, there’s no turning back."

Li Ming pondered for a moment without answering, but instead looked towards another direction, "What are they doing?"

Gabriel’s expression darkened slightly. In that direction, his subordinates were operating a sort of small device, extracting a syringe from the metallic sidewall, with a series of data on the LCD screen.

"Genetic comparison," Gabriel’s voice got colder, "Faces, ear shapes, pupils, outward characteristics, nature, behavioral habits can all deceive, but I need to be 100% certain of your identity."

"I remember there’s a species that could even mimic genetics?" Li Ming hesitated.

"That’s why they no longer exist," Gabriel shook his head, "Brainwave detection takes too long, genetic comparison will suffice."

"Wait, I have one more question," Li Ming quickly said as he saw the blood-drawing personnel approaching.

Gabriel thought himself patient, but now he was somewhat irritated.

The blood-drawer didn’t pay him any heed, the needle piercing the skin and going in.

But no blood was drawn into the syringe. The soldier tasked with drawing blood seemed to freeze for a moment, then suddenly cried out in horror, "Your Highness!?"

"Your Highness?" Li Ming smirked, half of his body already becoming ethereal.

Gabriel pushed him away, his usual calmness gone, eyes flashing with astonishment as he said in a deep voice, "Luo Nan."

"Yes," the figure standing behind him raised his hand. The space around Li Ming suddenly solidified, dust particles hanging still, as if even the air stopped moving,

But Li Ming’s body still dissipated calmly with a faint smile on his face until he completely vanished:

"Your Highness... we will see each other again very soon."

Gabriel furrowed his brows yet remained calm, simply staring at the spot where Li Ming had disappeared.

"Your Highness, there’s been no change in the room’s data, no energy fluctuations detected," reported a subordinate promptly.

"Clever technique." Luo Nan’s face also showed dissatisfaction, "When he dissipated, I faintly sensed that he was not a solid body, but more like a separate entity."

"Is he still a Superpower User?" Gabriel asked coldly.

"There were no energy fluctuations," Luo Nan shook his head, seeming to struggle with an explanation for a moment, then hesitantly said, "It’s more like a projection that has a physical form."

"A projection?" Gabriel couldn’t quite comprehend, Luo Nan didn’t dwell too much on the matter, instead he seriously said, "Your Highness, we should leave quickly."

Gabriel took a deep breath, realizing that he’d been fooled. This Li Ming was nothing but bait, or rather, he wasn’t Li Ming at all—and Gabriel had foolishly taken the bait.

A slight irritation welled up within him, not towards Li Ming, but towards himself for underestimating the other party.

His soldiers, well-trained, quickly packed up their gear, but as they were about to leave, Luo Nan, walking in front, abruptly stopped and stared solemnly at the door.

Silently, cracks began to spread across the metal door like a spider web and finally, it shattered like glass, scattering fragments all around.

Gabriel’s face showed a slight change as standing behind the door was the silver Mechanical Body that had aided the Mechanical Azure Dragon in combat before.

"Gentlemen, my master has not yet permitted you to leave," Monroe adjusted his tone, devoid of any inflection, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he spoke.

But remembering the instructions of Azure Dragon, he still went along with the act to avoid giving anything away.

Luo Nan spoke sternly, "Whether we may leave or not is not for your master to decide."

"As a Combat Mechanism of Level A, you mustn’t be purely an intelligent entity, but a mechanical life form. We also don’t wish to cause more trouble for your master, so step aside!"

He had witnessed the previous battle first-hand, and knew that he could easily defeat this Mechanical Body that blocked their path due to its not-so-impressive overall strength.

However, causing a scene would make leaving more problematic.

"How considerate of you all," a voice came from outside the corridor. Gabriel’s face darkened, and Luo Nan became more serious until the newcomer came into view.

It was Azure Dragon, the real Li Ming.

"Won’t you invite me to come in?" asked Li Ming casually.

Having composed himself, Gabriel took a slow breath and said, "Please come in, both of you."

Li Ming entered nonchalantly, followed closely by Monroe, while Luo Nan remained alert.

"So that Li Ming just now, was it actually you?" Gabriel asked first.

"What do you think?" Li Ming revealed an enigmatic smile.

Gabriel did not appreciate the feeling of being led by the nose and cut straight to the point: "What do you plan to do?"

"Capture me? Or kill me?"

"You are a member of the Star Abyss Empire, how could I dare?" Li Ming feigned shock.

A member of the Star Abyss Empire?

Monroe, standing motionless as if he were a robot, was surprised but also thought it made sense; an individual like Azure Dragon, with such enemies, was indeed expected to be involved at this level.

Gabriel frowned but then saw the other’s elusive smile, "However, I am curious, what is it that you are so interested in doing to me?"

"Although rumors outside say that I am a fugitive Mechanic who has stirred up a great deal of trouble, I know for a fact I have no connection to your Star Abyss Empire."

Gabriel fell silent, and the atmosphere gradually grew more tense.

"Curiosity," he finally said, "It is precisely because we can’t track your origin that we are curious."

"What if I can’t satisfy your curiosity? What will you do, capture me? Kill me?" Li Ming pressed on.

"The two of you are no match for me," Luo Nan abruptly interjected, seemingly unrelated to the conversation, "Even together, you only just managed to suppress Tiago. As for Ulrich and the others, it’s impossible they’d upset the Star Abyss Empire over you."

"I understand, I get it," Li Ming appeared more indifferent now, realizing that this individual named Luo Nan seemed to have the ability to influence space.

It wasn’t clear whether he was a Superpower User or a Genetic Evolution Body, but anything related to space meant he must be extremely powerful.

"It must be great being a high-ranking individual of the Star Abyss Empire, having such high-level Life Forms accompanying you on adventures," Li Ming said with a hint of melancholy.