This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 687 - 358: Finally Bitten, Show Your Skills_2

Chapter 687: Chapter 358: Finally Bitten, Show Your Skills_2

As the voice fell silent, Nikol’s expression stiffened, and the others exchanged glances. Diaz frowned slightly, intending to say something, but was interrupted by Prince Costat, speaking with hidden meaning:

"After all, Azure Dragon, this Casting Star Mechanic, is not an enemy of the Empire. Nikol, don’t let your personal emotions jeopardize the interests of the Empire."

Diaz closed his mouth. Prince Costat’s reasoning was conventional. Nikol had always regarded Azure Dragon as a perceived enemy, which was why he believed it to be an ambush and had suggested this plan.

Prince Costat accepted this plan but used the excuse to directly remove Nikol from the equation.

This was an excuse carefully prepared long before they had started using Nikol.

"Alright then, that’s settled. Bring up the coordinates, get ready to move out."

This was a case of discarding the donkey after the millstone was turned. Although the crowd was not particularly surprised, they could not entirely ignore how much Satoru had suffered at Nikol’s hands.

Now, some people were even saying that Reina had been killed by someone sent by Nikol. If Prince Costat didn’t make things difficult for him, it would indeed be unusual.

Almost no one considered whether they could capture Azure Dragon—so long as there were no surprises in the intelligence, capture was inevitable.

Nikol suppressed the anger in his heart but had to force a smile and nod, saying, "I understand."

Expressionless, he left the conference room, letting out a tiny, barely audible snort of disdain.

The outcome was both expected and unexpected at the same time.

He wasn’t adamant about taking this glory. If he couldn’t achieve merit, avenging himself would be enough.

At almost the same moment, somewhere in a desolate Dimension World, faint ripples suddenly emerged as a spaceship traveled through. Its exterior appeared worn and mottled, covered in intricate webs of fine scratches and repair marks.

The thrusters emitted pale blue flames, halting the ship mid-air.

The hatch opened, and a figure disembarked with a blank expression. He dropped an unknown substance, roughly the size of a fingernail, then quickly returned to the cockpit.

As the hatch closed, he suddenly jolted awake, bewildered, glancing at the coordinates on the screen. "Huh? How did I end up here?"

Perplexed, he restarted the spaceship and followed the predetermined plan toward his destination.

...

The series of chain reactions triggered by these events quickly reached Li Ming’s side as well.

Half a day later, Blackbeard contacted him again, though another half-day had passed by the time Li Ming saw the message.

When the transmission connected, Blackbeard’s voice was unusually anxious, immediately asking, "Where are you?"

Li Ming’s heart stirred slightly. "What’s wrong? Did something happen?"

"Costat, I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but he suddenly decided to leave the Central World with his entourage. No one knows where they’re headed. He brought both Jaint and Diaz along, and the lineup is immense."

"Jaint and Diaz..." Li Ming frowned slightly. "What about Nikol?"

Blackbeard’s tone remained restless. "Nikol seems to have stayed behind—likely due to internal disputes. It’s not important."

If Azure Dragon were to be captured, the ramifications would be immense. The moment Blackbeard got the news, his thoughts immediately turned to Azure Dragon, fearing something might go wrong.

No, it’s deeply significant.

Li Ming lowered his head, his eyes glinting sharply, unable to fully conceal their gleam. Yet his voice remained calm: "Don’t worry. They’re not after me, and they won’t be able to locate where I am."

Li Ming’s tone was resolute, but Blackbeard still harbored doubts, unable to resist adding, "Prince Costat himself is an X-level life form. His strength hardly needs elaboration. Jaint and Diaz are both high S-level, with development progress exceeding 60%. This sort of lineup..."

"Relax, it’s impossible for them to know my whereabouts," Li Ming assured again.

Only now did Blackbeard let out a tentative sigh of relief, though he still gave another warning: "The last level-fifty development potential life form from the Sea of Stars will soon arrive. Based on the agreements between the parties, they will collectively meet the Dominion Holy Image when the time comes. You don’t have much time left."

"Understood," Li Ming responded blandly, ending the communication.

He glanced out the window at the World Tree, then rose and left his room. On the street, he quickly spotted a patrol unit—members of the Star Abyss Empire, clad in their signature blue Combat Armor.

As Li Ming walked past them, the soldiers’ expressions suddenly turned vacant. In an instant, they pivoted and followed him.

In the Central World, there were virtually no surveillance blind spots—except hotel rooms.

And for the patrolling soldiers responsible for inspections, they roamed the Central World unchecked during this period. Naturally, no one dared to hinder them.

At the front desk of a certain hotel, the receptionist nervously watched as they ascended the staircase, his throat tightening.

But not long after, the inspection soldiers descended the stairs again. The one at the forefront was now holding a rectangular metal object.

How could one bypass endless layers of scrutiny to enter a heavily guarded stronghold?

For most people, this would be a near-insurmountable challenge, but Li Ming had countless ways.

The Star Abyss Empire station was surrounded by towering metal walls that stretched to the horizon. These were no ordinary metallic materials; the surface was etched with energy patterns that glimmered with faint blue light, flickering intermittently.

Guards were stationed every three steps, with sentries placed every five. The soldiers on duty wore advanced technological battle armor embedded with various sensors and weapon modules.

Their helmet visors emitted a cold, icy glow. Postures upright, they held tightly onto energy firearms.

Every sentry post was equipped with advanced surveillance equipment and defensive mechanisms, leaving no blind spots and monitoring every surrounding movement.

The soldiers at one post, evidently familiar with this group, greeted them while eyeing the rectangular object being carried on the treads: "Luo’er, what’s that? Aren’t you from the inspection unit?"

"Classified," Luo’er replied with a faint smile. That’s the advantage of having numerous departments—any excuse could be used to deflect questions.

The other shrugged and refrained from prying further. Even these soldiers had to undergo multiple security checks.

Picking up the rectangular metal object from the treads, Luo’er proceeded directly to the low-altitude flying device.

The air was thick with the scent of metal, a heavy shroud that enveloped the entire area.

Massive Combat Mechanisms, standing over ten meters tall, occasionally passed by with deliberate, powerful strides. Each step of their colossal metallic feet caused the ground to tremble slightly.

The low-altitude flying devices glided through the air like phantoms, their wake generating fierce airflow vortexes that roared audibly.

The vastness of the station’s territory was staggering, resembling an endless metallic jungle. Traversing it on foot would take an unimaginable amount of time.

Three to four hours later, the low-altitude flying device came to a halt. Ahead lay the core zone, where entry required explicit orders.

"Halt." The guards at the entrance were visibly more imposing, extending mechanical arms to block Luo’er. Each of them stood two to three meters tall, clad in even more intricate Combat Armor adorned with additional external combat modules.

"Joint Review Department, Unit 123, Subunit 36—Luo’er, team leader," he stated calmly, sliding the rectangular metallic box forward. "This is an item from Grand Duke Nikol, delivered here as per orders."

"Grand Duke Nikol?" The guards exchanged puzzled glances, inspecting the metal object. One raised his arm, seemingly searching through records, frowning as he said, "No file matching this entry."

"I simply deliver the object," Luo’er replied, placing the metal box down and turning away without hesitation.

"Wait..." someone called out. "What’s the item’s serial number?"

"SH—4578."

Luo’er was already boarding the low-altitude flying device.

The guards entered the number, and the intelligent system instantly retrieved detailed information—from the checkpoint entry to every step Luo’er had taken while transporting the object here, complete with audit photos.

Staring blankly at the screen’s images, the guards exclaimed, "This is a folding scooter?"

"Why would the Grand Duke need such a thing?" They exchanged confused looks but dared not comment further. Picking up the metal object, they placed it on nearby inspection equipment for further scanning, uncovering no abnormalities nor any explosives.

"Forget it, notify the Secretariat," one of them suggested. They lacked the authority to confiscate and decided to report it up the chain.

The Secretariat had no relevant records either, instructing them to send the item to the Security Department.