This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 497 - 262 Development Progress 30% Theo’s Purpose_2

Chapter 497: Chapter 262 Development Progress 30% Theo’s Purpose_2

"Isn’t this His Excellency the Collector? What brings you to me today?"

His words carried a hint of arrogance. Ulrich remained silent, slightly sidestepping to reveal Theo behind him.

Sandro’s expression subtly changed; facing Theo, he truly didn’t dare to be arrogant, and he shot a fierce glance at Ulrich, immediately softening his attitude.

"Please come in, come in." Theo walked into Sandro’s room, with Ulrich following close behind.

Sandro "banged" the door shut, looked around at the two men, hesitated to sit down, and did not speak immediately, creating a somewhat heavy atmosphere.

"What’s the situation with the Azure Dragon, how did it suddenly turn into the Eight Guns?" Theo asked on his own terms,

"Are you asking me?" Sandro glared, "What am I worth, would the Azure Dragon Association trust me?"

"The matter of the Core Relics is no longer something we can intervene in." Theo then suddenly jumped to another topic.

Sandro listened somewhat blankly.

"On the surface, it seems like a struggle between the Yitelan Civilization and the Torch Organization, but in reality, it’s a battle between Duke Bloodthurn and Duke Guya."

"Star Abyss Empire?" Sandro blurted out instinctively.

"You still want to benefit from the Torch Organization, which is doomed to be impossible."

"What do you mean?" Sandro didn’t understand, "Did you know all along? Then why didn’t you stop it at the beginning, instead going along with the Azure Dragon?"

"Why should I stop them?" Theo countered, "This is exactly what the person behind me wants."

"The person behind you?" Sandro unconsciously glanced behind him and Ulrich snickered, "Speaking in such a roundabout way, he won’t understand."

Sandro’s expression turned cold; it was just a subconscious reaction, not that he truly didn’t understand.

Ulrich added: "Theo’s support comes from the Star Abyss Empire; that’s why he’s willing to come here and even pluck the fruits in the end."

"You’ve really latched on to the Star Abyss Empire’s leg?" Sandro was surprised.

"Exactly, so I came to ask you, do you want to join us?" Theo nodded.

"Together?" Sandro was slightly startled, and suddenly a loud noise exploded in his mind.

The calm face of Azure Dragon suddenly appeared before him, and a faint voice echoed in his ear: "Don’t make the wrong choice, okay?"

"Ss~" He gasped for air, feeling a sudden chill; had Azure Dragon already anticipated these two would come for him, even extending an invitation?

"Wait..." Sandro’s heart tightened, he quickly waved his hands, scanning left and right, and said with a frown:

"Previously when I sought you out, you didn’t even bother with me, so why now the proactive invitation?"

"Oh, it’s because of the Azure Dragon, right? You want to know what Azure Dragon is secretly up to? Why the two Energy Cannons suddenly became eight."

"Or even if there are more hidden plans and methods?"

Ulrich was slightly surprised; Sandro could think of so much?

"So?" Theo seemed indifferent, "Sandro, you understand me; since I’ve spoken, I would never deceive you."

"This is your last chance to come aboard, the Star Abyss Empire or the Azure Dragon?"

Even now, despite Sandro’s awe for the Azure Dragon, hearing the two names laid out together, there was still an instinctive hesitation in his heart.

But then, he suddenly stood up and said coldly, "Theo, you indeed are a man of your word, but that doesn’t mean you don’t lie."

"If you truly represented the Star Abyss Empire, you would’ve sought revenge long ago."

Theo’s gaze became sharp, the bone-chilling coldness piercing through Sandro’s skin, and Ulrich looked on with admiration.

Sandro’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly added, "What I mean is, you’re bluffing. I know your Casablanca Flower must come from some big shot in the Star Abyss Empire."

"It might be a Duke, or even say, he may not even value you that much. Do you represent him in recruiting me? Does that guy know?"

"Are you declining?" Theo’s face turned cold.

At the tip of his tongue, Sandro hesitated again, and after a moment, he gritted his teeth, "I simply don’t believe you."

"Fine." Theo stood up, walked straight out, followed by Ulrich.

Closing the door, Sandro let out a long breath, and couldn’t help but curse, "Damn, why am I so unlucky."

After pondering for a moment, he felt he couldn’t keep this to himself. He peeked through the door crack and saw that Theo and the other had vanished, then he tiptoed out.

"He actually refused." From the shadows in the corner, Ulrich stood behind Theo, somewhat surprised.

"Sandro is a simple man, if you’re stronger than him, you can dominate him." Theo appeared very indifferent.

"Does that mean, he thinks that Duke Guya is weaker than Azure Dragon?" Ulrich pondered.

After a moment of silence, Theo spoke wordlessly, "You’re overthinking it, Sandro simply doesn’t trust us; if Duke Guya stood before him, he would surely submit."

"Is that so?" Ulrich mused, then shook his head and sighed, "I hope Azure Dragon understands our meaning."

To this day, that sky-piercing pillar of light still occasionally flashed before his eyes.

Theo stared at Sandro’s retreating figure, "He will."

...

"So it was Duke Guya."

In the room, after listening to Sandro’s account, Li Ming was contemplative.

He’d occasionally wondered about the person behind Theo but had no clues; thinking was useless without leads.

Until today.

"Duke Guya? That paralyzed fellow?" Sandro was surprised, then relaxed, "I thought it was someone else, Theo acts high and mighty, turns out it’s a guy who’s about to die."

"He won’t die." Li Ming shook his head, not much knowledgeable about the Star Abyss Empire, but still quite confident in their means.

"He won’t die?" Sandro tensed up, "So in the end, we have to fight this duke?"

"We?" Li Ming glanced at him, and Sandro sheepishly said, "I’m not qualified, it’s you... you..."

He couldn’t help but add, "But, Theo is not easy to deal with, that guy is very cunning."

"Your few cannons, I’m afraid it would be very difficult to hit him."

"Why fight him?" Li Ming shook his head, "He is sending you to convey the idea of cooperation to me."

"Only the Ascension Source Crystal can catch the duke’s eye, but the rest is also a considerable fortune; he doesn’t want to fight me."

"Have me convey it? When?" Sandro was clueless.

Li Ming couldn’t be bothered to explain. Theo finding Sandro didn’t even ensure Sandro would accept, going straight to self-disclosing his cards.

Certainly not really inviting Sandro to join, or rather, it doesn’t matter whether Sandro agrees or not.

Just letting Sandro pass the message to him, to understand the current situation.

Li Ming thought there was no need to complicate matters; even if Theo came straight to the point, he could accept it.

But this sly old man just likes to be indirect.

"Sadly, I can only speak for myself, can you truly represent that duke?" Li Ming mused to himself, figuring out who was behind Theo and what their intentions were was enough.

Sandro couldn’t help but ask again, "What does he actually want to do?"

"Nothing." Li Ming shook his head and dismissed him, "You may go now."

Sandro got up slowly, and seeing that Azure Dragon had no more to say, he left.

Li Ming had no interest in the cooperation suggested by Theo because the ownership of the Core Relics was still uncertain, yet they were discussing how to divide it, which seemed rather absurd.

"Does he actually believe that by staying in the Torch Organization, he’s already secured an advantage?"

Theo seeking cooperation with him was very likely to pluck the fruits of the Torch Organization’s labor, namely the completed Sublimator.

Theo might think that no one is closer to this object than him.

Aside from leveraging dimensional powers, almost no one can pose a threat to the Torch Organization; coupled with his own cooperation, the success rate indeed is quite high.

By obtaining the completed Sublimator, then finding the duke, would certainly be a great achievement.

And he believes that he is the most probable obstacle, a formidable contender for the Sublimator.

Hm, before blasting Brother to death, I probably wasn’t seen as an obstacle by him.

He speculated about Theo’s thoughts and then inexplicably laughed out loud, sending chills through the empty room.