This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 513 - 270 The Deepest Hidden Is Actually..._2

Chapter 513: Chapter 270 The Deepest Hidden Is Actually..._2

He didn’t think Li Ming would snitch; right now, they were all in the same boat—anyone who tried to jump ship was essentially digging their own grave.

Li Ming smiled faintly, then changed the subject: "What is it you want me to do?"

Theo hesitated for a moment before replying, "Manufacture the Sublimator, then help me secure it. Aside from the Ascension Source Crystal, you may choose anything else at will."

"Ts..." Li Ming pondered: "Sounds almost the same as the Torch Organization’s offer, not very tempting really."

Theo frowned, wanting to say more, but was interrupted by Li Ming: "There’s no rush on this, let me think about it."

He stood up, clearly meaning to see Theo out.

Theo’s brows furrowed slightly. He had thought that after having Sandro convey his wishes last time, Azure Dragon would have given it some consideration and leaned somewhat in his favor by now.

It shouldn’t still be wavering at this point, especially with time pressing and the manufacturing process stalled. Anxiety grew within Theo.

Observing the distinct intention to dismiss him, Theo’s eyes turned frosty, and he left a cold remark, "I hope Your Excellency will think it over carefully," before departing.

The Torch Organization was also getting impatient and would surely raise their offer to make Azure Dragon produce it.

Although not long ago the two had been allied, facing threats from the Torch Organization, their collaboration wasn’t out of concern for each other, but rather motivated by their own interests.

Thus, Li Ming currently had no desire whatsoever to assist Theo.

Whose hands the Sublimator fell into didn’t matter to him; what was of utmost importance was whether it aligned with his own interests.

"Haste makes mistakes," Li Ming shook his head.

Next, it was time for the Torch Organization to prepare for their retreat. For such a massive organization to move out entirely in a short time was clearly unlikely.

Added to this was the packing up of a large number of staff as well as various equipment, not to mention the temporary sealing of the fissures in the Dimension Realm.

While it was called an emergency evacuation, it would not be possible without ten days to half a month.

In a situation where priorities must be identified, Connet obviously couldn’t wait until the last batch of non-essential staff was ready before leaving.

Those among them would naturally be part of the first group, heading towards the Red River Star Stream as quickly as possible.

The items to take were not many; essentially emptying the entire Core Laboratory plus some essential supplies.

During the next three or four days, to avoid accidents, Li Ming only went out once using the Shadow Sting, primarily to inquire about the evacuation progress of the warehouses storing Dimension Crystals.

To his surprise yet relief was that these Dimension Crystals would accompany Connet and the others aboard the main ship, heading towards the vicinity of the Red River Star Stream.

When Li Ming first heard this news, he was quite surprised, but then it made sense upon reflection. He considered these valuable items.

But to the Torch Organization, these were weapons, and now facing the contest over the Core Relics, they naturally wanted to bring these weapons with them.

Once that was confirmed, Li Ming felt at ease.

Two days after the standoff at the laboratory, at the main base’s upper echelon, Ted was reporting on the retreat operation.

"The overall plan is divided into five batches for evacuation. The first batch is nearing completion; the ’Koneir’ and its affiliate fleet are ready to leave at any moment."

"The evacuation of the second batch of experimental personnel and mid-level core staff is also on track..."

Connet listened, his skin wounds nearly healed, and his left eye socket wrapped in white gauze.

Kewis leant back on the sofa, his head tilted back at an odd angle.

After the report, Ted hurried out, and just as he stepped through the door, he bumped into Pier rushing over. They passed by each other with a brief nod.

"Chief, two Excellencies..." Pier greeted upon entering, then quickly reported:

"Following the Chief’s prior orders, my colleagues from the Internal Affairs Department and I have compiled a timeline of all the Mechanics and Level-A Life Forms during this period."

"From our analysis, there are several inconsistencies in the timeline when Zog and others were under hypnosis, as he was in the Core Laboratory at those times."

"Oh?" Kewis perked up, lifting his head: "Is anyone’s timeline a perfect match?"

"There is." Pier nodded: "Theo, Ulrich, Hubert, Sandro, Brother..."

"None of them are Mechanics?" Kewis frowned, and Connet instinctively countered: "No Azure Dragon?"

"No, there was a time when Zog was under Hypnosis, and the surveillance video clearly captured him walking in the corridor."

Pier hesitated: "Apart from his Mechanical Body wandering the corridors every day, but that was it."

"Theo..." Fernand looked troubled, an inexplicable chill creeping up the back of his neck.

"I think his issue is the biggest, able to approach us so quietly, so close without being noticed, sneaking into the main base probably isn’t a difficult task either."

"Or maybe Brother... He wasn’t dead at that time." Kewis shook his head: "Now the trouble is, since Des is dead, it seems only Azure Dragon is capable of making the Sublimator now."

"He seems to be dragging his feet and holding out for a better offer."

Fernand frowned, glanced at Pier, and gestured for him to leave, and it was only after the door closed again that he spoke gravely: "Even if the Sublimator is completed, we don’t have any sublimation particles to use."

Connet stood with his hands behind his back, "The urgent matter is..."

He was interrupted mid-sentence by the ringing of the video terminal, "Leader, Mechanic Benny requests to meet with you and the other two gentlemen."

"Benny?" The three exchanged glances.

Soon after, in the small conference room, they met the hunched-over Benny, his pale yellow skin full of wrinkles and age spots.

"Lords Benny..." Connet invited him to sit, Kewis appeared nonchalant, Fernand wore a stern face.

Among the four Mechanics, Azure Dragon was the most enigmatic, Des the most hardworking, Jesse was a Level A Mechanical Transformation, Benny’s presence was very low, very low.

"Gentlemen..." Benny let out a helpless wry smile, "The manufacturing of Sublimator has been stalled for several days now, if we don’t figure something out soon, we might miss the Tidal Period."

"What are we keeping you for?" Fernand spoke quite rudely: "Des is gone, and now you can’t do anything?"

Connet shook his head, speaking calmly: "We understand what you mean, we will handle this matter as soon as possible."

"No, you don’t understand." Benny’s expression became serious, scanning the three men, his face becoming unreadable, "As Lord Kewis said, even if the Sublimator is made, can you use it?"

"Hm?" Connet was surprised by Benny’s different attitude.

"You..." Fernand looked at Benny with suspicion.

Benny smiled, speaking leisurely: "Every civilization that falls leaves behind a Fire Seed, the most core technology, the most core people, the most core culture."

"Some may be worn away in the Interstellar, yet some always persist..."

"Alright." Kewis interrupted, interested: "Are you implying you’re an Ascender Remnant?"

"I remember they don’t quite look like that, do they?"

"Unfortunately, you guessed wrong." Benny shook his head, "I am not an Ascender Remnant, but I can make contact with them."

The room fell silent; Connet appeared astonished, "No wonder you so readily agreed back then."

After a moment, his expression turned solemn: "What do you, or they, want? We can’t give you the Ascension Source Crystal, but anything else is negotiable."

Benny maintained his benign smile, "Even if you obtain the Ascension Source Crystal, can you use it?"

"Again, the genetic verification mechanism." Kewis had guessed, snorting in disdain: "Only the Ascender tribe can use it, right."

"That’s one way of putting it, but it’s not the whole story." Benny’s smile grew dark: "Actually, we can cooperate."