The third day's work ended at dusk.
Since using that contract, orders for Lu Yuan had instantly increased.
The rewards had also shifted from basic material supplies and a few gold shields to Nightwatchers points.
However, Lu Yuan could not get many, because only perfect quality potions could be exchanged for Nightwatchers points.
Based on Laurina's current output, she could earn nearly two points a day.
Lu Yuan could only express his envy.
Three rows of potion bottles sat on the workbench in the Alchemy Workshop, each bearing a label handwritten by Laurina.
Laurina was tidying the equipment, her movements gentle as she wiped the mortar and measuring cups one by one before returning them to their places.
Lu Yuan had used his points to exchange for this set of professional equipment, and she appeared to cherish it greatly.
Lu Yuan sat by the window, watching the greyish-white text at the edge of his vision.
【Pharmacology: +13… 32/50】
【Medicinal Herbology: +11… 19/50】
After three days of intensive potion-making, these two skills had made great progress.
Unfortunately, Lu Yuan still could not refine perfect quality potions, and the experience provided by other quality potions had already decreased significantly.
But if he could maintain this pace, these two experience bars would be able to level up again in at most a week.
Lu Yuan retracted his thoughts and glanced out the window.
The sky had already darkened, and a few street lamps were lit.
The Nightwatcher coming to collect the medicine had not arrived yet.
According to the previous pattern, someone would come every evening to collect the refined potions and deliver a new batch of materials. Today, they were late by nearly an hour.
"No materials were delivered today?" Laurina's voice came from the workbench.
"Not yet."
Laurina did not ask further and continued cleaning the equipment with her head down.
The Alchemy Workshop was quiet, save for the subtle sounds of her wiping the tools.
Just as the two were talking, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the workshop.
The sound was urgent, followed immediately by a voice.
"Lu Yuan!"
It was the voice of the Nightwatcher who usually collected the medicine; Lu Yuan recognized it.
Opening the door, he saw a Nightwatcher in his early thirties standing there. Usually slow and methodical when collecting medicine, he was now drenched in sweat.
"Emergency mobilization," he panted heavily. "An important witness escaped from the Polymath Tower. Our people went to meet them but clashed with another faction. A fight has broken out."
"What faction?"
"I don't know. They're all in black robes, but they're definitely not ordinary people..." He steadied his breathing. "Our brothers are having a hard time dealing with them!"
"Where?"
"Blackstone Street."
Lu Yuan turned to grab his revolver and spare ammunition, tucking the previously refined potions into his coat.
Laurina had stopped her work and was looking at him.
"Be safe. I'll prepare first-aid medicine," she said, her voice calm.
"Alright."
Lu Yuan said no more and turned to leave with the Nightwatcher.
Blackstone Street was a narrow stone-paved road on the west side of the outer city. It was lined with low-lying buildings that were dry goods shops during the day, with some used as rental housing nearby. It was mostly deserted after dark.
From a distance, Lu Yuan heard the commotion.
It was the sound of metal clashing.
Rounding the corner of the third alley, Lu Yuan saw the scene.
Overturned dry goods boxes were scattered across the street, and a few distant lamps illuminated a small section of the road.
The light was weak, stretching everyone's shadows long and short.
Four Nightwatchers were scattered on both sides of the street, their backs against the walls.
One was already injured, his left calf tied simply with a strip of cloth, blood soaking through most of his pant leg.
A slightly older Nightwatcher stood in front of him, holding a uniquely shaped short-shotgun with intricate patterns carved on the barrel.
Opposite them were six black-robed figures.
Wait.
Lu Yuan's gaze quickly scanned those figures in the firelight.
The black robes were wide, obscuring most of their bodies and hiding their specific silhouettes.
But their movements were strange; they could burst with sudden speed, yet they would also freeze in place, making them look very disjointed.
One black-robed figure was grappling with a Nightwatcher. The Nightwatcher's short sword cut into its shoulder, slicing through the robe and what lay beneath.
There was no blood.
A dark liquid seeped from the wound, mixed with tiny metal fragments.
Under the light, the layered reflections of a metal skeleton could be seen in the tear.
The wounded black-robed figure showed no reaction. It didn't feel pain, nor did it retreat.
It merely stiffened for a second before drawing a short blade and stabbing toward the Nightwatcher's waist.
The Nightwatcher dodged to the side, the blade tip grazing his uniform and taking a layer of fabric with it.
On the other side, a black-robed figure's sleeve suddenly flew open, and a small crossbow bolt shot out from within.
It was incredibly fast, with almost no warning.
"Watch out!"
The warning had barely left his lips when the bolt buried itself into the shoulder of a Nightwatcher ahead.
The bolt head was of a very special design; the moment it pierced the shoulder, the tip blossomed, pinning itself firmly into the muscle.
The Nightwatcher let out a muffled groan, snapping the arrow shaft with his left hand while the tip remained in his flesh, his right hand's blade never stopping.
But the black-robed figures had the advantage in numbers. Moreover, they feared neither injury nor pain. They did not retreat when cut, simply continuing their attack mechanically.
The Nightwatchers on the scene were clearly struggling to hold their ground.
Most importantly, Lu Yuan only saw one team captain's silhouette.
Why was the escort group so small?
And in the middle of the battlefield, pressed against a corner of the wall, crouched a person.
Wearing a set of soiled striped clothes, they were trembling all over, curled into a ball. Their face and age were indistinguishable.
That was the witness.
As Lu Yuan's gaze swept over the curled figure, a line of greyish-white text surfaced at the edge of his vision:
【Target detected: Bronze City resident (Knowledge Erosion)】
【A common human—why can they step into the Sea of Knowledge?】
Lu Yuan frowned slightly. Without time to think further, he turned his gaze back to those black-robed figures.
Instantly, more greyish-white text quietly appeared:
【Target detected: Little Ascendants (Defective)】
【Characteristics: Creations deprived of most flesh and will, retaining only basic neural reflexes and an instinct for obedience. Nearly devoid of human Sanity, their behavioral patterns are rigid, lacking independent judgment; if the commander is killed, they fall into chaos.】
【Weakness: Kill the commander, dismantle the core.】
Ascension Society.
A trace of shock appeared on Lu Yuan's face.
Why were people from the Ascension Society here?
In the power landscape of Bronze City, the name of the Ascension Society did not exist.
Moreover, their creations were not welcomed, and they weren't things that could be deployed casually; each one represented a resource investment from the Ascension Society.
Deploying six previously unseen models suggested the other party was determined to get that witness.
But what did they want with someone who had escaped from the Polymath Tower?
But there was no time to think on the scene.
"Watch the left!" the Nightwatcher who collected the medicine shouted, drawing his mithril longsword and charging forward.
Lu Yuan also drew his revolver at that moment, joining the battle.
A Little Ascendant raised a short blade toward an injured Nightwatcher, the movement coming without any warning as it hacked down directly.
With a muffled "clang," the Nightwatcher responsible for collecting medicine parried the blow away.
The blade tip scraped against the stone slabs, throwing off a string of sparks.
The team captain standing at the very front had clearly noticed them too.
His eyes instantly turned cold.
"Kill them! Permission to open fire."
Rate on N.U.
