Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Xilun was slightly taken aback.

Before he arrived, he had drafted his story dozens of times, devised countless explanations for Xiu Suo's death, and even prepared for a severe interrogation.

But now, all those preparations seem like a punch landing on cotton.

"Thank you, sir."

Without asking any further questions, Xilun bowed again, turned, and walked towards the door.

"Oh, right."

Just as Xiren's hand touched the doorknob, Lothar's nonchalant voice came from behind him, "Deliver a newspaper to my office tomorrow morning."

Xilun paused, turned around, and nodded: "Yes."

......

The next morning, the city of Saint Laurent was just beginning to lighten.

Xilun knocked on the heavy mahogany door.

"Enter."

As soon as I opened the door, a rich aroma of food wafted out.

Losas was sitting at his desk eating breakfast.

On the plate were two perfectly toasted slices of soft white bread, sandwiched with a thick layer of butter, pork floss, and a slice of Thuringian ham.

This fine white flour was a luxury enjoyed only by respectable people in the downtown area.

Lothas picked up the milk glass beside him and took a sip. The glass had the "Mumeng Ranch" logo printed on it.

Without glancing to the side, Xilun walked over and gently placed the copy of the Saint Laurent newspaper, which smelled of fresh ink, on the corner of the table.

Lothas swallowed the bread in his mouth, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and pointed to the newspaper: "Read it."

Xiren picked up the newspaper and unfolded the front page.

"Headline: Her Majesty the Queen toured the Mist City yesterday and delivered a speech on 'Imperial Glory' at the Royal Square..."

Lothas waved his hand, indicating that he should skip over.

Xilun's gaze shifted downwards, landing on a news article with a picture in the middle of the page.

It was a blurry black and white photograph, in which the outline of a huge machine could be vaguely seen.

"Special Report on Industrial Reform. The Imperial Academy of Sciences announces that the third-generation steam-powered exoskeleton armor, codenamed 'Mobile Fortress,' has entered the testing phase. It is claimed that this armor will grant ordinary soldiers strength comparable to wild beasts and significantly reduce reliance on superhuman abilities..."

As Xiren continued chanting, he sensed that Lothar's movements had stopped.

He looked up and saw Losas staring at the blurry photo, his eyes unreadable.

That's enough.

Lothar interrupted him, leaning back in his chair, his fingers interlaced on his abdomen, his gaze suddenly sharpening like two hooks, gripping Siron's face.

What are your thoughts on what happened last night?

coming.

Xiren's heart skipped a beat, but his facial muscles remained perfectly controlled, showing no sign of panic. He put down the newspaper, feigning hesitation, as if he were organizing his thoughts.

"Master Locksmith...is utterly loyal to the organization."

Xilun's voice was low, with a just-right hint of regret, "Unfortunately, he didn't expect that Subel Bear's strength to be so exaggerated. That kind of power is simply not something that ordinary firearms can handle. Lord Xiu Suo was one step behind."

"That bear was definitely something special."

Lothas did not refute, but nodded instead, his tone becoming somewhat playful, "That's a rare 'Dark Gold Subel Bear'."

Xilun then showed a puzzled expression.

Lothas seemed to be in the mood for conversation, or rather, he was observing Siron's reaction.

"This bear looks no different from a regular Subel bear, but as it ages, the roots of its fur develop a dark golden sheen. When this species is injured and goes berserk, its body secretes a special corrosive substance."

Lothas extended a finger and made a gesture in the air.

"That substance will give its claws a putrid, withered smell. Once scratched, the skin, flesh, defenses, and even protective energy will be corroded as if they were exposed to strong acid."

Losath paused at this point, his gaze becoming deep and unfathomable.

"Even in certain extremely special circumstances, the Dark Gold Superbear can unleash a detached claw attack, injuring people from a distance, making it impossible to defend against. It is one of the most troublesome among the low-level mutants."

Xilun listened quietly, but his hands, hidden in his sleeves, unconsciously tightened.

Separated claw strike.

A sense of corruption.

This was the talent he had plundered from that dead bear last night—[Corruption Claw].

So this thing has such a terrifying reputation in the extraordinary world.

"We extraordinary beings are in constant danger of losing our lives when facing these monsters."

Lothar sighed and pointed to the newspaper on the table. "That's why the occult exists, and that's why technology has power. The Industrial Revolution allowed ordinary people to wear metal suits and rival lower-level extraordinary beings. And the occult..."

He smiled, a cold smile, "It turns us into beings even more monstrous than monsters."

Lothar suddenly changed the subject: "I heard that you also practiced the 'Art of Weakness' passed down from the church? You're tough and resilient, with a high resistance to blows?"

Xilun felt a chill run down his spine.

This was a rumor he deliberately spread to cover up the physical changes brought about by the "Iron Wall Breathing Method".

"Yes." Siren lowered his head. "When I was a child, I met a wandering priest and learned a little bit from him. It was all by chance."

"Opportunity?"

Lothas scoffed, "On the path to the extraordinary, a few lucky breaks are nothing to fear. If you want to climb up, brute force alone is not enough. You need a background, resources, and even more importantly, you need to learn... to choose sides."

He picked up half a sausage from the table and fiddled with it in his hand.

"My former superior was Qi Le, a very witty old man, who now oversees defense. What do you think of him compared to Lord Yuri?"

boom!

This seemingly casual remark struck Xilun like a thunderclap.

This is a question that could cost you your life.

Qile and Yuri are clearly the leaders of two different factions within the organization.

Losas, once a subordinate of Qile, now works for Yuri.

No matter who answers this question better, it will offend the other party, and Lothar might even catch you red-handed.

Xilun's body stiffened instantly, and a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He lowered his head and said calmly, "Both of you have made outstanding contributions, and I dare not presume to comment."

silence.

The deathly silence lasted for three seconds.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Lothar suddenly burst into hearty laughter. He threw the sausage into his mouth, chewed it vigorously, and mumbled, "You're smart, kid. If you dare to speak ill of Lord Qile, I'll throw you into the Greywater River right now to feed the fish."

Xilun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After finishing the last bite of bread and drinking the milk, Losas pulled out a napkin to wipe his hands. The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by his suffocating indifference.

"If Xiu Suo dies, it doesn't matter to me."

Lothar leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold. "It's actually a good thing. I can replace the locksmith's workshop with my own people."

He looked up at Xilun, his eyes filled with scrutiny and regret.

"Unfortunately, you've gotten a bit too close to Yuri. Although it's only in name, at this critical juncture, even if I wanted to use you, I wouldn't dare let you get involved in core business."

Xilun remained silent.

He knew that the so-called "closeness with Yuri" was nothing more than the fact that the order to promote him was given casually by Yuri.

Once these factional labels are applied, they are very difficult to remove.

Losas pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"How about this?"

Losas made a decision: "I'm transferring you to the ship's side, to oversee five sailors and also manage a short-haul cargo route."