This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 688 - 359: Luring the Snake Out of the Hole? Drawing the Tiger from the Mountain! Desperate Nicholas!

Chapter 688: Chapter 359: Luring the Snake Out of the Hole? Drawing the Tiger from the Mountain! Desperate Nicholas!

Security Department, Li Ming, hidden inside the metallic structure, was undergoing layer upon layer of inspections.

Countless tiny mechanical probes swarmed around it like bees, emitting dense scanning light beams, which interwove into a dazzling net of light across the surface of the metallic structure.

A variety of instruments consolidated complex streams of data information, continuously analyzing every subtle structure of the metallic body.

The inspection personnel busily operated the equipment, their expressions focused, as energy pulses repeatedly covered the metallic structure through specialized transmission circuits.

"At least sixteen inspections already..." Li Ming thought to himself, speechless yet inwardly astonished. Under normal circumstances, trying to infiltrate this place would be as hard as reaching the heavens.

"I wonder if I’ll be able to meet Nicholas." He pondered internally, without certainty about the matter. However, having breached the external defenses, the situation had become significantly more manageable.

Thinking of Nicholas constantly stirring up trouble like a restless specter, an inexplicable agitation crept into Li Ming’s heart.

...

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Within the vast metallic corridor, urgent footsteps echoed. Their sound layered, reverberating off the metal walls.

Nicholas led the way, his expression cold and unyielding, while Albert followed in silence. The group’s faces were grim. Beside them was a tall, slender secretary, her voice crisp:

"According to the message from the Main Universe, Satoru has already submitted a request to the Royal Council seeking to revoke your title."

"The process is ongoing, but judging by the evidence provided by the other side, they are exceedingly prepared. There’s a high likelihood they will reach a verdict in your absence."

Nicholas’s face grew somber. "How did it progress so quickly? Where did he get so much evidence?"

The secretary continued: "Additionally, the Royal Council has issued an administrative order requiring Lord Albert to explain, face-to-face, his activities during the operative timeframe."

Albert’s expression subtly shifted with concern. Facing the scrutiny of the Royal Council, he couldn’t be certain whether he would endure to the end.

"Satoru..." Nicholas’s face remained stern. "Respond to them, and say that my mission here remains incomplete."

His mood was grim. Azure Dragon hadn’t faced any repercussions, yet he was the one left dealing with the mess.

Thinking of Azure Dragon, he frowned and asked, "Have Prince Costat and his team reached the designated coordinates?"

"They just arrived and are currently deploying. If the target surfaces, they will act immediately," the secretary responded, yet Nicholas’s expression didn’t soften in the slightest.

Satoru’s rapid maneuvering, compounded by Prince Costat purposely excluding him, meant even capturing Azure Dragon would merely provide a slim opportunity for relief.

"By the way," the secretary reported further, "the item you requested earlier has already been delivered to the Security Department."

"The item I requested?" Nicholas halted and turned back expressionlessly. "What item?"

"This one." The secretary lowered her head, summoning an image directly on the virtual screen.

She wasn’t certain if the item in question was something Nicholas himself had ordered others to deliver, but based on his reaction, he seemed unaware of it.

But questioning her superior was definitely not a wise choice.

Nicholas looked down. It was a comprehensive perspective scan of a rectangular metallic object.

"This is..." A hint of confusion flickered across his expression as he examined the scan. "A mechanical folding motorcycle?"

Nicholas’s gaze turned cold. "Who sent this?"

The Duke truly wasn’t aware?

The secretary’s heart tightened. Someone under her charge dared to forge commands. She hurriedly pulled up the shipping routes and Luo’er’s photograph.

"It was delivered by a soldier from the Inspection Department, saying it was sent per your special orders. It underwent multiple layers of inspections en route and showed no signs of tampering."

"Summon this individual." Nicholas glanced at the photo, showing no recognition. His brows furrowed slightly as he pondered briefly before continuing toward his office. "You verify its safety. If confirmed, bring it to me."

"Understood." The secretary turned away.

Nicholas returned to his office. The pale-gray light turned on, illuminating a room that was minimally decorated in line with his preference for Interstellar Realism.

The gray windows gradually cleared, revealing outside a colossal black cannon stretching thousands of meters, resembling a giant dragon resting atop a massive metal foundation.

At its rear, the Dark Matter Decomposer resembled a complex rune-inscribed ring. Sparks of sharp electric light danced along its edges, while dense, oil-like energy flow churned within.

The metallic surface gleamed with a frigid luster, reminiscent of icy stars in the dark night, etched with mysterious engravings. Its deep barrel generated visible swirling airflow in its vicinity.

Along the barrel, scarlet energy restraints were assembled every hundred meters. Their bright, blood-like glow flickered upon the black frame, exuding an aura of dread, containing power sufficient to quell entire stars.

On the desk sat a black box. Nicholas seemed to already expect it, stepping forward to open it directly. Inside were two irregularly shaped black stones.

"So this is the Terrax Stone? The crystallized essence of the Terrax people’s being..." Nicholas picked one up and inspected it closely—it was his first time handling such an object.

Previously, he had mainly operated within the Main Universe and rarely encountered items from the Dimension World.

Now, with Prince Costat and others away, his high status in the base allowed him access to such artifacts.

"It’s said that the Terrax people’s evolutionary path is entirely different from the current mainstream routes," Albert remarked with curiosity.

"Indeed, the Terrax people are born with immense strength and can even traverse freely within the Dimension World." Nicholas casually replied, still thoroughly examining the stone in his hand, murmuring: