The villain's way to tame the protagonist

In those purple eyes, there flashed the paranoia and madness of the devil's prophecy.

Chapter 9: The Wrong Timing

The size and prosperity of the imperial capital are difficult to describe in words.

Under the shining power of the emperor, the city was unimaginably magnificent. Before the end of his reign, Efesandr would occasionally bring down miracles to Tianxin City like a true god, miracles that would make even the extraordinary people tremble. Or... every emperor would have such behavior or even preferences.

In this great city standing in the center of the empire, the Alchemy Association undoubtedly has an extremely high status.

Although when Anser stepped into the solemn gate carved with complex and mysterious patterns, the group of alchemists swarmed in like crazy, under normal circumstances, they who were active in the association basically would not give any extra attention to other people who entered the association.

For example, Ming Fuluo, who had just stepped into the gate, even though she was now a celebrity in the imperial capital, many alchemists recognized her, but they did not show any reaction, at most they just looked at her a few more times.

"Thank you for your help, Ms. Ronger."

Ming Fuluo bowed slightly to the noble lady standing beside her: "That's enough."

Ronggel Molten Gold, the most powerful force of Babel Tower, escorted Ming Furo all the way to the Alchemy Association.

"You really don't need me to accompany you in the Alchemy Guild?"

The noble-looking female scholar frowned slightly: "I am worried about you staying here alone, Ming Fuluo."

Ming Fuluo replied calmly: "Hendrick and Professor Nokan cast five protective spells on me. Theoretically, there won't be any problems."

——This is of course only in theory. If a protective spell can prevent the assassination of the Ether Institute, then why would Ming Furo create so many puppets?

Although due to the threat of Ivora, the Ether Academy would not let a high-level extraordinary person kill her. Generally, they would hire someone to kill her. Being killed by such an assassin would be a way to pass the buck and also show that Ming Fuluo was not capable enough. However, as a representative of diverse means and treacherous abilities, warlocks can do a lot. It is impossible for the Babel Tower warlock, who is more theoretical, to protect Ming Fuluo only through spells.

After all, Ivora had already squeezed enough value out of Ming Furo. Just such a person was not worth the arrogant princess making a fuss against the Ether Academy. On the contrary, the Ether Academy could actually eliminate a genius who was indeed a threat and extremely hostile to itself.

"You...ah." Ms. Ronger sighed, "Hendrick is worried about you, Ming Fuluo."

"He always does, but there's no point in worrying."

Ming Fuluo always said such unkind words: "Don't worry about me, Ms. Rong Geer, don't waste your time on this, go on with your project, that's more important."

The cold beauty who tied her blue-gray hair into a high ponytail said indifferently:

"More important than anything else."

She walked to the reception desk and stated her purpose. Soon someone took Ming Fuluo to the alchemy workshop where the mass production chain of hummingbirds was located.

"Oh, you are Miss Zeger."

The person in charge of the production chain came out to receive her and asked in confusion, "Are you personally responsible for connecting with us?"

"No, I'm just going to see how the hummingbird production is going."

"It's not stuck anymore... I mean, after the problem with the core circuit is solved, there will be no problem."

The person in charge crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the complicated production line in the huge workshop, and said casually: "Twenty units a day should not be a problem."

"...The efficiency is a bit low." Ming Fuluo frowned slightly, "According to your resources, it shouldn't be just this much."

“No matter how many resources the association has, the amount allocated to each project is limited.”

When talking about this topic, the person in charge suddenly became very unhappy. From the look of him, the resources for mass production of hummingbirds... have actually shrunk?

"Are you saying that the Alchemy Association has reduced its investment in mass-producing hummingbirds?"

The woman's eyes swept across the resources piled up in the workshop, and a stream of light flashed across the mirror of her glasses. There was no problem with the resources stored in the alchemy workshop, so it was likely that the subsequent resource allocation would be reduced.

"Mass production of hummingbirds is an order from Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess."

Ming Fuluo had a bad feeling in her heart, and her voice became colder and colder: "Why would the Alchemy Association reduce its resource allocation, and reduce it by so much?"

“Because it’s not just this side that’s decreasing.”

The person in charge shrugged. "The resources of most workshops have been cut, and everyone is treated equally. As for why the projects designated by the Grand Princess also have their resources reduced..."

"Of course it's because of that thing called mechanical suit. The eldest princess is obviously interested in it."

Mechanical equipment...as expected!

Everything is going as expected, Ming Fuluo thought.

I just didn't expect the Ether Institute to act so quickly... Did they just hand over the design paper to Ivora without any in-depth analysis of the equipment? I don't know which version of the equipment Hydra traded, and how many details the paper gave.

The research and development of mechanical equipment is much more difficult than the mass production of floating guns. She and Anser have been researching that thing for a very long time. It can be said that except for the most core universal ether furnace, the mechanical equipment is the thing they have jointly developed for the longest time.

It is also one of the few things that cannot be made into a finished product.

But the Ether Academy does not need the assistance of the Alchemy Association at all. The resources they have, the alchemists and the alchemy workshops are more than enough to produce mechanical equipment. In other words...

"It's just as despicable as always."

Ming Fuluo whispered coldly, then looked at the person in charge: "Has the mechanical equipment alchemy workshop started?"

"Not yet. Those guys from the Ether Institute are messing around with our people."

This seemed to be the reason why the person in charge was unhappy: "That shitty mechanical equipment can only fool laymen like the eldest princess. There are many details that they themselves don't know how to implement."

"...Hmph." Ming Furo sneered and said nothing.

Alchemy is the realm of creators and geniuses. All sorcerers are on the path of pursuing truth, but each person's path and the truth in each person's eyes are different. Only alchemy, which represents "creation", is more in line with the truth in a broad sense.

The mechanical suit was a masterpiece conceived by her and Hydra, two geniuses among geniuses. In the Aether Institute, there was no one who could reach this level in design and creation. What's more, they did not study it at the first time. Instead, they used it as a tool to suppress the Tower of Babel... It would be strange if they could figure out what the mechanical suit was.

However, it is not ruled out that the Ether Institute has secretly established an alchemy workshop to start researching mechanical equipment, and what is placed here is just a cover and obstacle to disgust the Tower of Babel.

Ming Fuluo did not let her disgust for the Ether Institute affect her thinking and judgment.

Mass production of hummingbirds is no longer the key point. After leaving Hendrick's office, Ming Fuluo had made up her mind to fight violence with greater violence.

The purpose of her coming to the Alchemy Association was to give Ivora an answer that would make her more satisfied. The Ether Institute would never have thought that... such interference would not have much impact on her.

"The alchemy workshop where the mechanical equipment is located." Ming Fuluo suddenly said, "Can I go?"

"……Um?"

The person in charge was stunned. As a qualified alchemist, he answered very seriously: "In theory, the newly launched workshop currently has no restrictions on anyone entering or leaving. If there are no restrictions, then it should be possible... Hey!"

He had only said half of his words when Ming Furo had already walked out of the alchemy workshop.

The person in charge touched his chin and said, "There is nothing wrong with what I said. She just didn't listen to what I said afterwards. If something happened... theoretically speaking, it has nothing to do with me."

The second half of the sentence just now is——

Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess and Lord Ansir Hydra were inspecting the workshop.

*

“So…high!”

Xitana looked up at the high roof, then turned to look at Anser in shock:

"Anser, why is this house built so high?"

Anser smiled and replied, "To build something really big, of course."

"But this..."

Standing on the corridor in the air, Xitana looked down at the floor, then looked up at the roof, and was even more confused: "This is too big? Are they going to build a big ship?"

Only a very small number of northerners could see the ocean, and Xitana's fantasies about ships only came from stories she heard everywhere.

"You can't build another house inside the house."

This rather funny answer made Ivora on the side couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Anser, your contract is really interesting."

Xitana glanced at Ivora and said nothing, but leaned towards Anser.

She didn't like this woman. She didn't like the arrogance and aggressiveness she showed all the time. If such a person were to be the emperor...she would definitely be the worst of the worst!

But, hehehehe…

"..."

Ivora, who was looking at the huge alchemy workshop with his arms folded across his chest, felt Sitana's gaze. The slightly mocking look made her frown slightly: "Anser, take care of your dog."

"Ok?"

Anser, who was also observing the alchemy workshop, paused for a moment, then slowly turned his head and said with a smile:

"Excuse me, Ivola."

"What were you talking about just now?"

Gleipnir tapped the ground lightly, and the sound of steel striking steel echoed in the air, bringing with it a chilling and terrifying aura.

The abyss monster that was always resting lazily seemed to raise its eyes at this moment, looking down from the void at the blood-red flames that had not yet really started to burn, casting a cold gaze.

Being stared at like this, Ivora's eyes turned cold: "She was looking at me with an overbearing and rude look just now, Hydra."

"Ivora."

Anser still smiled and gently stroked his cane.

"I'm just asking you what you were talking about."

The terrifying aura emanating from the two monsters startled Pala, who was busy in the alchemy workshop in the distance, and looked up. Then he smiled bitterly and shook his head, causing all the fifth-level people in the Alchemy Association's headquarters to feel the fear and trembling that came from biological instinct.

And Hitana, who was closest to the collision of this aura, had already stood in front of Anser, with ferocity and ferocity in her eyes ready to burst out. Her body even began to undergo a secondary change. The bones at her tailbone slowly squirmed, as if something was about to break through her skin.

"……snort."

This terrifying confrontation ended with Ivora's snort and concession.

"Your attitude towards Qi Shou is exactly the same as your father's. You are indeed father and son. Okay, I take back what I said and say it again."

"Hydra, tell your 'Qi Shou' to behave himself."

"Of course there is no problem, Your Highness." Anser's smile had not changed from beginning to end, but now it has obviously become warmer and brighter. "Disciplining Xitana is my job."

But there was no intention of asking Hitana to apologize.

"Discipline... Oh, I don't think you really want to discipline her, and..."

The woman looked at Xitana for a while, and there was inexplicably a hint of... satisfaction in her eyes?

"She is not suitable for being disciplined. This is good. Just be restrained in front of me."

This kind of condescending attitude, as if treating herself as her subordinate, made Hitana extremely unhappy, but this time she still stood behind Ansor honestly and didn't say much.

However, just as she walked behind Ansher, the little finger of her left hand was gently hooked.

Ansher turned his head, blinked at Xitana, smiled silently, and signaled her not to take it to heart.

The tall but pretty girl standing behind the boy stroked Ansel's hand which was holding her little finger, and lowered her head slightly, trying to hide her unconcealable smile.

Ivola saw it, but didn't care, because she didn't think the Hydra she knew had the ability to "love others", and even if she did, she wouldn't give him the ability to love others.

"Anser." She said, "That mechanical equipment was researched by you and Ming Fuluo together, right?"

"To be precise, I only provide ideas."

Anser shrugged: "How it is accomplished depends mostly on her."

“…Heh, I’ll just take that as the case.”

One is the son of the greatest alchemist in history, and the other is a young scholar whose family can be considered prominent, but that's all. It is easy to tell at a glance who could have created such a great work.

However, Ivora didn't care why Anser concealed it, but continued to ask: "In your opinion, does that thing really have such great potential?"

"As a weapon of war... it is indeed good, but that's all."

Anser smiled and said, "After all, there is no war in the empire."

“But there will be in the future.”

Ivora's mouth curled up, and her eyes... seemed to reflect the cruel scene of everything in the world burning.

"Beyond the Tiantu Mountains, there is a vast land waiting for you and me to conquer, Anser."

"But the powerful combat power of a crown-level transcendent is enough, isn't it?"

"Crown?" Ivora said disdainfully, "The land I want to conquer is not a useless scorched earth, and the war I want to enjoy is not the destruction of a fifth-level bombardment."