This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 644 - 337: Influence and Reaction (Requesting Monthly Votes at the Beginning of the Month, Thanks for the Support from All the Bosses!)

Chapter 644: Chapter 337: Influence and Reaction (Requesting Monthly Votes at the Beginning of the Month, Thanks for the Support from All the Bosses!)

Having never received Li Ming’s interrogation, nor his grandstanding, Reina spoke with a hoarse voice:

"I’ve let Duke Guya down, but don’t expect to get anything from me. Just kill me if you have to."

The shame of being a prisoner was secondary to Reina, who recalled the recent battle and thought that Azure Dragon had only managed to escape intact by relying on their Mechas.

But he hadn’t expected the enemy to have more hidden tricks than he had imagined.

"Kill you?" Li Ming shook his head and said indifferently: "I wouldn’t kill you. With you dead, Nicholas would be even happier, seizing the opportunity to incite the Empire’s higher echelons to strike at us."

Hearing Li Ming say this, Reina’s expression paused for a moment, and he said self-mockingly: "Yeah, I almost forgot about that mad dog Nicholas. Clinging onto me without relent, not caring whether I actually killed his son or not."

"Now that you’ve captured me, he will definitely do everything he can to make the Royal Council take action. In fact, he would have saved me."

"So, to avoid actually getting the Star Abyss Empire’s full attention on us, I can only let Your Lordship go," said Li Ming in a casual manner, not intending to truly challenge the face of the Star Abyss Empire.

Unlike Gabriel’s ambiguity, everyone tacitly blamed it on Duke Guya.

The fact that he had captured Reina was set in stone, and this news could not possibly be hidden.

There were already many spies outside the Star System; the disturbance caused then was significant, and the news must have already begun to spread.

As an S-level Life Form publicly listed within the Empire Internal, Reina was not purebred but was someone who joined later, and was under the jurisdiction of the High-level Life Administration, a department directly subordinate to the Royal Council.

No matter whose subordinate he was, those high-ups would not sit idly by. Extracting the Genetic Essence wasn’t a wasted effort; when it was time to let him go, definitely let go.

"You make it sound easy," Reina fell silent for a moment, then couldn’t help saying: "I went straight for you, nearly succeeding in a sneak attack, and Azure Dragon actually agreed to let me go. Aren’t you frustrated?"

"What’s there to be frustrated about..." Li Ming shook his head, unconcerned: "Who wants to offend Star Abyss Empire, that colossal giant? No need to make life difficult for ourselves."

"Aren’t you afraid if you release me, I’ll come back with reinforcements?" Reina provoked.

"You probably won’t have that chance," Li Ming muttered mysteriously, having extracted the other’s Genetic Essence. By the time he stumbled all the way back to the Star Abyss Empire, his first decline would set in.

Given the opponent’s level of progression, up to two times, maybe even the first would see him fall from being an S-level Life Form.

He didn’t mind people finding out that Azure Dragon had the ability to cause genetic regression. That is the mystery; that is the means.

Means aren’t conjured up by others’ imaginations. Otherwise, there will always be someone who dares to test the waters and they must be matched with a corresponding display.

The debut of Thunder is one aspect, and this gene-regression technique is also another, enough to heighten the threat level of Azure Dragon in the eyes of outsiders by many degrees.

"Hmph..." Reina snorted coldly, "You are prepared to release me but have not asked if I want to leave."

"You say, if I die here, would the Empire be forced to avenge me?"

Li Ming’s movement paused, his eyes flickered, and then he said thoughtfully: "Your loyalty, Lord, is truly moving across the stars."

"If you die here, the Empire would indeed only be able to issue a warrant against us, but this is of no benefit to Duke Guya at all."

"You want to clear Duke Guya’s name, to vomit out all the gains Nicholas has swallowed up, but you’d have to be able to capture my teacher for that."

Li Ming persuaded gently: "It’s just a small planet. We could abandon it if we say so, find a new place to hide. Other than bringing another heavy blow to the already severely damaged Duke Guya, what good would your death do?"

"If you really have Duke Guya’s interests at heart, you should think more carefully. If you’re truly determined to go through with this, I wouldn’t mind assisting you," Li Ming said considerately:

"I will send a video of your decapitation across the stars. Nicholas would surely applaud before further suppressing Duke Guya."

"If you can’t even protect your own subordinates, who would continue to work loyally for him?"

Reina remained silent. It was just a comment he had made because of the humiliation of being defeated by Li Ming, complex emotions stirring within him; he had uttered such words in an attempt to regain some initiative.

But Li Ming blocked his path.

"Hm... all right." Li Ming pretended to lift the metal box at hand.

It was then that Reina realized, he spoke in a deep voice: "What have you done to me?"

"Nothing much, our teacher asked me to prepare some little toys." Li Ming smiled warmly, "Rest assured, Lord Reina, it’s nothing troublesome."

As Li Ming had estimated, Reina’s development progress was only 4%, classifying him under the lower S-tier.

Reina twisted his body, unwilling to accept: "What about Azure Dragon, isn’t he planning to show up? Or do I no longer qualify for his attention?"

"You’re mistaken, Lord..." Li Ming paused, then laughed: "You never had that privilege."

Reina’s expression stiffened, a mixture of shame and anger, followed by a sense of defeat; not having even seen the face of Azure Dragon, what was there left to be resentful about?

......

About half a day later, Albert, who was hidden in the distant space orbit, carefully piloted the spacecraft away, his silver pupils filled with shock and wariness, with his guard raised to the utmost level.

He was not even sure if he had been discovered by Azure Dragon.

Only after moving away from Cold Sky Star and quickly distancing himself from the Meteor Flame Star System did he somewhat relax.

Not daring to delay, he quickly contacted Duke Bloodthurn, receiving a prompt response.

"Albert, what’s the situation over there?" Nicholas, sensing something might have happened when Albert took the initiative to contact him, asked straight away upon appearing.