People in the Alliance, Time Management Master

The place was shrouded in thick fog, and everywhere was filled with a deathly silence.

But tonight, gunshots and sword clashes are destined to echo there.

Chapter Fifty-Eight Glorious Evolution

The fog is getting thicker and thicker.

The stale air was unbearable. Occasionally, a few figures would flash by on the winding, rickety, openwork staircase, all of them with something wrapped around their noses. Some wore dust masks, others wore tattered clothes that no longer fit.

Viktor kept his left hand still and adjusted the silver dial of the iris lens. This device adjusted the light path through a set of reflecting lenses, allowing him to see the street scene outside the laboratory window.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, just like always. But the alarm definitely went off once just now.

Then there's only one possibility—the old business partner has arrived.

It's a bit annoying... he thought. That ignorant outsider always comes to visit over the smallest, most trivial things, which is really tiresome.

After letting out a soft sigh, Viktor looked away and resumed his work.

His third hand emitted a very thin beam of light, steadily and accurately welding metal into his left arm.

The smell of burning human flesh no longer bothered him, and he could calmly watch his left wrist being torn open, with blood vessels and tendons intertwined and fused with mechanical reinforcements.

He felt no fear or hesitation, but rather a sense of accomplishment, because he saw the seamless integration between synthetic and biomaterials.

The subsequent steps are relatively simple—a bolt is welded to the Achilles tendon under the skin, and then several pieces of loose epidermis are pieced together onto the surface of the arm. Finally, a laser is used to irradiate the seam, cauterizing the skin and flesh to close the incision.

"It looks really painful."

The moment the laser stopped shining, a slightly mocking voice rang out.

Viktor didn't like the owner of that voice; it was annoying. But he couldn't completely ignore it, since the cooperative relationship still existed.

“It just looks like that,” he replied. “To me, wrist flexor Achilles tendon transplant surgery is about the same as changing a nut on a machine.”

"It's amazing... You know what? Every time I see you, I can't help but wonder, are you a human or a robot now?"

A man who looked to be around fifty years old emerged from behind the wooden box and looked around with interest.

Glass tanks, filled with green liquid containing organs that were a mixture of flesh and metal, covered several walls.

A wheelchair, its leather surface stained with blood, and a mechanical drill lying beside it, lay silently in the middle of the room. Dozens of robots leaned motionless against each wall.

No matter how many times he sees it, such a scene will cause him to secrete large amounts of adrenaline.

There is no answer to this question.

As he spoke, Victor adjusted the new parts he had just installed, making sure there wouldn't be any more problems.

“People are afraid of change and think that ‘good enough’ is fine. But I want to pursue ‘excellence’. As long as the goal is achieved, the process is not important, whether it is a human or a machine is not important.”

"You are perfect," the man exclaimed.

"No, I have flaws too."

"Ok?"

Victor walked to his small stove, poured some dark powder and animal cream into a stew pot, and then heated the liquid with a laser.

“That’s my weakness… Would you like a drink?” he said. “Sweet milk.”

The man smiled, not taking the glass of white liquid that he wasn't sure if a normal human could drink. "Let's get down to business first. If we have enough time, we can have a few more drinks."

"Then you tell me," Viktor said, drinking half a cup of hot milk.

"They've found you."

"Because of that unfinished robot?"

Yes... your old friend is looking for you.

“He’s been looking for me.” Victor shook his head, finished the remaining half of the sweet milk, and then used his third hand to put the glass back in its place.

The middle-aged man watched him quietly, somewhat puzzled as to where the liquid would end up after dripping down the tin head.

"This time is different; he's come down to the ditch area. Anyway, you should make some preparations."

"Hmm." Viktor nodded calmly, seemingly not taking the matter to heart at all.

This is not arrogance, but self-confidence.

A year ago, he hadn't acquired enough Primal Crystals, which is why he was defeated and forced to flee by Jayce.

But it's different now.

Let alone just one Jayce, he was confident he could defeat ten or twenty Jayces.

“Confidence is a good thing.” The middle-aged man shrugged, then changed the subject: “How’s my ‘order’ coming along?”

"Is this the real purpose of your trip?"

"It is."

Viktor chuckled softly, his deep, hoarse, mechanical voice sounding somewhat eerie. "Almost done, it should be officially finished in less than a month... Are you in a hurry?"

"Yes, it's getting late."

The middle-aged man sighed and turned to look at the robots by the wall. They were covered in tubes and wires, and remained motionless. Beneath their metal shells lay flesh and blood, or perhaps even more metal.

"Since the original plan has failed, let's use force."

“You might die,” Victor said.

"Do you think I ever thought about going back alive?" The man shook his head and smiled bitterly. "I've been here for so many years that I've forgotten what my hometown looks like... It's fine to die here."

He paused for a moment, then looked up at the other person with a meaningful gaze, "But you, helping outsiders to harm your own hometown, don't you feel any guilt?"

"Guilt and homesickness are useless emotions," Viktor said. "After the glorious evolution, those things are meaningless."

"Alright." The middle-aged man shrugged, steer the conversation back on track, "Assuming the quality isn't compromised, how quickly can you get the item to me?"

"Hmm... if there is enough energy, twelve days, or eleven days."

"You really are greedy."

"Greed? No, no, no, this is a fair trade. You see, I'm helping an outsider destroy his own homeland." Victor manipulated the metal at the lips, extending it to both sides to create a smiling expression.

"You just said those were things that didn't matter... Never mind. How much do you need?"

"There's no need for us to waste any more time haggling. Just give us whatever you can offer."

“Alright, I’ll have someone send it to you when I get back.” The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow, glancing at the crystal embedded in the other person’s third hand out of the corner of his eye. “This thing is very precious.”

“Yes, Sheriff. I know better than anyone else.”

Viktor turned around, found a control panel on the cluttered workbench, and pressed it.

The robots facing the wall immediately raised their heads, and the sound of their rotating shafts echoed in the room, somewhat jarring.

"However, it's worth the price."

"Has anyone ever said that the way you flaunt your 'goods' makes you look like a vendor at a border market?" the middle-aged man joked, then walked towards the door of the old house.

"That's all for now. See you later, Mr. Three-Handed."

"I hope we'll have another chance to meet, Sheriff."

Xinghuo Lane remains peaceful today... for the time being.

Chapter 59 Embracing Progress

The spread of the dense fog has stopped.

Because it was late at night, most of the work at the alchemy plant had been completed. The nozzles that had been spraying smog had fallen silent, leaving only pools of green waste liquid still flowing.

The smell in the air was still pungent, and Mu Bai regretted not bringing a mask or something similar when he went out.

Fortunately, we're almost there.

“Victor in a place like this?” Jess touched his nose and said softly, “Well, that certainly suits him—it’s quiet enough and chaotic enough.”

Few dare to venture into the dense fog-shrouded boundaries of Starfire Alley. Filled with fog and madness, it's arguably one of the most dangerous places in the Ditch District.

Resource scarcity, harsh environment, and constant danger... Any young person with even a shred of a dream would try every possible way to escape this region.

Only a wanted criminal like Victor would open his arms to embrace the thick fog.

"Have you made any new discoveries with your crystal senses?" Mu Bai looked around and subconsciously moved closer to Jinx to avoid anything suddenly jumping out of the shadows.

“Yes. My old friend has been reminding me ever since we entered the edge of the fog.”

Jess proudly raised the Hextech Warhammer. The indicator light in the center of the handle gleamed, like a apex predator that had caught the scent of its prey.

"See that old house at the end? Viktor must be there."

"This time there shouldn't be any mistakes, right?" Mu Bai said with a smile.

"If I'm wrong, I'll give you all my inventions!"

"You said it yourself."

"I will never break my promise."

"Alright." Mu Bai slowly drew his Dolan sword, its blade gleaming with a dangerous, cold light. "Shall you fire the first shot?"

Only a handful of people possess the Primal Crystal, and in a mere Starfire Alley, there couldn't possibly be a second person besides Victor.

This time we can bomb with peace of mind.

“No problem.” Jess smiled and tightened his grip, and the Hextech warhammer immediately transformed, its terrifying electrical energy sending chills down one’s spine.

“And me, Little White!” Jinx also pulled out a fishbone, a sickly smile spreading across her unadorned red lips.

"Then... let's get ready to make our move."

Mu Bai quietly moved forward a few steps, then stretched out a hand towards the dilapidated old house—Hextech Flash charging up.

"Three, two, one... Charge!"

At his command, the Fishbone and the Hextech Cannon fired simultaneously.

The faster, enhanced electric sphere struck its target first, blasting the towering iron gate to dust. The fishbone missile followed, piercing through the gate and crashing into a concrete wall with windows.

A loud bang shattered the silence of the night, and the firelight dispelled the thick fog in Xinghuo Lane.