This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 549 - 288: Shadows under the Core Relics_2

Chapter 549: Chapter 288: Shadows under the Core Relics_2

"But when dealing with a real S-level Genetic Evolution Body, it’s somewhat underwhelming."

"That’s quasi-S, right?" Li Ming classified it bluntly and then purposely asked, "The Reina you fought with, he wasn’t an S-level life form at the time, was he?"

"Reina!" Monroe’s face suddenly darkened, mechanical pupils spinning rapidly as he scoffed, "He wasn’t an S-level life form, he was no match for me. If it weren’t for his use of the nano-curse..."

Clearly, Monroe harbored extreme hatred for Reina, having suffered excruciating torment for over forty years.

"Oh..." Li Ming wore a contemplative look, which prompted Monroe to react, hesitatingly asking, "Why do you suddenly bring up Reina?"

"Because he is now an S-level life form and has gotten involved in the whirlpool surrounding the Ascenders’ Core Relics," Li Ming explained "offhandedly."

"S-level life form?" Monroe’s expression shifted slightly, his voice turned sharp, "It seems, over the years, he has indeed gained quite a few benefits."

"Is he still with Duke Guya?" Monroe asked again.

"Indeed..." nodded Li Ming, then inquiring, "At that time, was Duke Guya coveting the Material Reorganization Machine in your possession?"

"There was a part of the reason for that..." Monroe pondered, glancing at Azure Dragon, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Actually, the situation back then was very complicated..."

"I’m not a life form from the Northern Crown Arm." In Monroe’s pupils, a complicated Star Map was reflected, spreading continuously and finally fixing in place.

"Heintis—a Star Cluster Level civilization within the Sea of Stars, where there are many Star Cluster Level civilizations, hailed as the birthplace of the next Empire Level Civilization. It’s why the Star Abyss Empire and the Eternal Brilliance Federation have laid their plans there to prevent the emergence of the next Empire Level Civilization."

"For some reasons, my civilization was indirectly destroyed by the Star Abyss Empire, I was displaced with my father, and during that time, I was also stripped of my Genetic Seed, cutting off my Genetic Evolution Path..."

Li Ming couldn’t help himself, "You aren’t also some kind of prince or an Exiled Noble seeking vengeance against the Star Abyss Empire or trying to restore your civilization, are you?"

Monroe shook his head, "Neither, I’m just an insignificant commoner, nor do I have any grand goals like you mentioned."

That seems more like it... Li Ming muttered, feeling that there were too many Exiled Nobles in interstellar space, and that a plank could kill four or five with one swing.

Monroe continued, "I wandered throughout interstellar space for several years, my father was killed by a group of interstellar pirates, and I too came to the Land of Chaos."

"For some very complex reasons, someone took an interest in me, and he seemed to be a Casting Star Mechanic. He performed a complete mechanical transformation on me and placed me here to establish the Land of Stars."

"Oh?" Li Ming finally took an interest, "Using Land of Stars to lure things from the Red River Star Stream, is that by the other party’s design?"

"Indeed, in fact, I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be luring, but that’s what he instructed me to do, and to do it openly."

Li Ming immediately guessed, "He told you to deliberately attract attention?"

"Hmm." Monroe nodded, "Because of my presence here, Duke Guya took notice of this place for the first time, and even Duke Bloodthorn was covertly in contact with me."

"Wait a second, Duke Bloodthorn?" Li Ming caught the key word, his brows furrowing.

Why were those two involved again?

"What’s the matter?"

Seeing Azure Dragon’s reaction of surprise, Monroe couldn’t help but ask.

"You might not be aware." Li Ming massaged his temples, "The conflict over the Ascenders’ Core Relics this time is also due to Duke Bloodthorn and Duke Guya pulling strings in the background."

"Them again?" Monroe’s gaze became pensive as he pondered, "The Star Abyss Empire is divided into three factions, with the Holy Emperor, Adam, currently the dominant force within the Royal Family.

"Duke Bloodthorn and Duke Guya belong to two princes under the Holy Emperor’s command. Due to their adjacent territories, friction between the two is commonplace."

Monroe spoke with obscure implications: "Do you know how the man behind me instructed me to choose between them?"

Li Ming showed his inquiring gaze at the right time.

"Sow discord, by all means, sow discord!" Monroe uttered the words.

Li Ming’s breath hitched, realizing that this must be a significant affair, and an enormous one at that.

"A Casting Star Mechanical Master, even the gun from Dark Night was made by a Casting Star Mechanical Master..." Li Ming thought subconsciously, could it be the same person?

"Among those two, is it Duke Guya who has the advantage?" Li Ming asked.

"Correct," Monroe nodded, "Guya is much older than Bloodthorn. Bloodthorn belongs to the newly risen nobility. There is only so much cake in the Royal Family, and to gain more, he has to take from others."

Li Ming mused, "So letting Guya suffer but not perish, making Bloodthorn grow even more greedy..."

Is it really the same person?

He couldn’t help but wonder, a scheme that spanned over forty years?

Perhaps even longer; he only knew so much, the lifespan of advanced life forms, unimaginably long. The span of forty years between these two events was not surprising, not even four hundred years would be.

Monroe sighed, "Last time Duke Guya did not deploy an S-class life form, and Duke Bloodthorn only contacted me in secret."

"But this time, their competition became more apparent, even involving an S-class life form."

Li Ming then remembered the Material Reorganization Machine and asked, "Was that machine also given by him?"

"A bait," Monroe said. "The person behind me didn’t care whose hands the device ended up in."

Li Ming marveled at the wealth and power.

"However..." Monroe sneered as he continued, "but I’ve been mingling in the interstellar community for so many years, not for nothing. Did Duke Guya think he could kill me with Reina and the nano-curse?"

"Unfortunately, I managed to escape at the last moment."

Li Ming nodded thoughtfully, then asked puzzledly, "Since you escaped, why didn’t you contact that Casting Star Mechanic?"

Monroe shook his head, "He only saw me as a tool, implanted many components that restricted me during the modification, the nano-curse ended up corroding them all."

"I was no longer valuable, he probably wouldn’t have saved me."

Li Ming got a vague impression of that Casting Star Mechanic and had a guess.

This Core Relic must be a trap, right?

"It seems you have some thoughts about the Core Relic?" Monroe looked at the contemplative Azure Dragon and probed.

"Indeed I do," Li Ming responded frankly.

Monroe was on the verge of speaking more but hesitated, "This matter, I’m afraid it’s not that simple. I advise you still best not to take the risk, I have a vague feeling that there’s a big picture involved."

Li Ming just nodded without a response.

Monroe didn’t say more. With their relationship, it would be impolite to push further.

"What are your plans now?" Li Ming then asked.

"Nothing particular at the moment," Monroe shook his head, his mechanical pupils glowing red: "But I do have some thoughts on Reina."

Li Ming couldn’t help but be surprised: "You just advised me not to take any risks."

Monroe shook his head, his voice gradually cooling: "We are different; I have nothing to lose, the debt of gratitude has been paid, and now it’s time for... revenge!"

That’s just great... Li Ming couldn’t help but reveal a grin.

Monroe composed himself and asked again: "Theo, Ulrich, are they all on the ship?"

"You want to go see them?"

Monroe nodded and hesitated, "If it doesn’t interfere with your plan, I indeed have this in mind, some old matters, my personal knots."

"That won’t interfere," Li Ming shook his head, his face wearing a faint smile: "I’m sure they will be very happy to see you again."

Monroe had already morphed back into human form, his mouth also curving into a smile.

Li Ming sent a few messages and the two left the workshop.

Five minutes later, in the main ship’s conference room number one, Theo and the others gathered together, seated in two rows.

Sandro looked around nervously, and seeing no one spoke for a while, he finally couldn’t help but ask, "What does Azure Dragon want us for? Does anyone know?"

"Jesaya?"

No one minded him, everyone looked solemn, with different thoughts.

Finally, after a few minutes, they turned their heads as the door to the conference room opened, and Azure Dragon walked in.