Mechanical Alchemist

The sea was shrouded in thick fog, rendering visibility very low, and the speed of the three Dawn Brigade ships slowed down.

Especially now that evening was approaching and the temperature was dropping, the fog became even denser. Visibility steadily dropped to just a few dozen meters, to the point where even the three ships could only see vague shadows of each other.

Under such visibility, ships normally wouldn't be able to navigate at all. Especially in unfamiliar waters, where hitting a reef or encountering other special circumstances would instantly result in the destruction of both ship and lives.

Fortunately, the Dawn Brigade had Tanni, a sailor who could "listen to the voices of sea beasts." The fish told him there were no reefs or shoals in these waters, which allowed them to proceed calmly into the depths of the mist.

The moonlight and starlight were obscured by the thick fog, and the sea surface was almost pitch black. It was only illuminated by the searchlights on the three warships, shining a light into this dark, vast sea.

Creatures of the sea that were attracted to light swam around the ships, glowing jellyfish, shimmering schools of silverfish...

On the ships, everyone was on high alert.

Su Lun and Qian Tiao stayed together.

Since he could read lips, he sealed his own ears with red wax.

Though he couldn't hear, it didn't interfere with communication.

That way, if one of them was affected, the other could still react.

As they waited for the sea monster to come, they chatted sporadically.

"This dense fog is probably also the work of the sea monsters. If we don't deal with them, our speed is nowhere near enough to catch up to the 'White Eagle.'

"Mm. The Siren sea monsters like to move around at night. If they've sensed us, there's an eighty percent chance they'll come hunting tonight."

"These female demons are afraid of light and have fragile bodies, ordinary alchemy bullets can cause fatal damage. But since they wiped out the 'Silver Lance Troop,' there must be 'Lord-level' creatures within their ranks. It shouldn't be too troublesome, though, Sister Qian Tiao, you should be able to kill one with a single strike. But if possible, don't aim for the neck to avoid damaging their vocal organs. Ideally, we should capture a few alive."

"Got it. Leave it to me."

"..."

"The Song of the Sirens" was infamous at sea, especially among fishermen, as it was hard to detect and almost certainly deadly.

But the mood within the Dawn Brigade wasn't too grim.

After all, since they knew what monsters they were facing, they had found targeted countermeasures, which greatly reduced the danger level.

As night fell, the sea breeze also turned a little chilly.

The moon would occasionally peek through the sky, with its light giving the fog a sinister white glow.

Apart from the sound of the waves, everything seemed peaceful.

At midnight, when everyone on the ship should have been sound asleep,

suddenly, Tanni's voice came through the communicator: "Captain, they're here! The jellyfish we passed earlier relayed some information; there's a distinct sound wave coming from the south, about five nautical miles away from us!"

Jellyfish are among the marine creatures most sensitive to subsonic waves.

The member of the crew with the "Enhanced Hearing" talent hadn't heard the subsonic waves yet, but the jellyfish had already sensed that the monsters had come out to feed.

Qian Tiao relayed this information to Su Lun and also sealed her own ears with red wax.

At the same time, everyone on the ship sprang into action, making the same ear-sealing movement.

Su Lun also took out his black umbrella, intently observing the sea around him.

But it seemed like nothing had happened, the calm around was eerily quiet.

However, gradually, even with his ears plugged, Su Lun started to feel a bit nauseous and sleepy.

He knew the sirens were drawing near.

Because they had arranged tactics in advance, at this moment nearly everyone on the three ships fell limp on the deck and in the cabins as if asleep, looking like a ship full of corpses.

Everyone held their breath and kept as still as possible to minimize signs of life.

Leaning against the ship's rail with his black umbrella in hand, Su Lun seemed just like them.

Though he could neither see nor hear, suddenly hundreds of spiritual fires appeared in his perception!

"They're really here!" he inwardly shouted.

While the dense fog hindered human vision, it also limited those Siren sea monsters. Unaware of anything amiss, they flew out of the fog without any guard up. The creatures, seemingly thinking they were about to feast, landed on the masts and rails of the three warships, their eyes glowing as they stared at the "corpses."

Su Lun was keenly aware of the location of each siren. Waiting until he could feel the faint vibrations of them landing on the ship,

he suddenly opened his eyes and fired the flare gun that had been prepared in his hand.

"Whoosh~~~~Bang!"

The flare exploded in the fog, emitting a brilliant light.

Even with their eyes closed, the piercing light like needle pricks roused everyone on the three warships!

Once people opened their eyes, they immediately saw the panicked faces of monsters.

It was said that the Sirens were beautiful in appearance.

But in reality... Beautiful my ass!

They had the bodies of birds and human faces, with mouths full of serrated teeth, hideous and fierce, and large, hook-like claws for feet!@@novelbin@@

The members of the Dawn Group were not the least bit courteous to these monsters that sought to make them into meals, as they promptly revealed their guns.

In an instant, gunfire crackled, and shots joined together in an uninterrupted barrage.

The night was thoroughly woken.

These one or two hundred Sirens hadn't even grasped what was happening when they were "bathed" by a rain of alchemy bullets.

Barrett had long arranged the detailed annihilation tactics, with the crew members banded in threes and fives, their tasks clear, firing at all the monsters on the deck with full coverage and no blind spots.

The trajectory of the bullets wove a net of fire in the darkness, leaving no chance for any Siren to escape.

Those Sirens that landed on the deck flapped their wings in panic, trying to fly away, but before they could lift off, they were shot dead and fell into pools of blood.

Even those elite monsters that tried to use the ship's hull for cover and fly low over the sea to re-enter the fog were taken care of by dedicated snipers...

As Su Lun predicted, among this group of Sirens there was a fifth-order "Lord" and several of silver and gold-tier monsters.

The bird bodies of those Sirens clearly couldn't take much; even as alchemy bullets caused feathers to fly in all directions, they still staggered in flight.

But the Dawn Group was not short of experts, where would they allow those monsters to come and go as they pleased?

After a volley of cannon fire, those professionals with the ability to leap into the air pulled out their weapons and furiously propelled themselves after them.

Su Lun, not one to hold back, twirled his black scythe and with a few swift strokes, several monsters fell into the sea in response.

Because they were prepared in advance, the fight was fierce but over within minutes.

After chasing them down, the other crew members began tidying up the battlefield.

Except for a few monsters with light injuries that were knocked unconscious for research samples, the rest were killed for their materials.

There wasn't much of value in these Siren monsters for anyone other than Puppeteers; the other professionals really couldn't make use of them.

Before long, they too returned, bringing back with them the Lord-level Siren monster.

Kama assisted Su Lun in removing the vocal organs from the corpses of the Sirens, while the other crew members began cleaning the bloodstains on the deck.

After this group of Sirens was killed, the fog on the sea visibly thinned to the naked eye.

And the night returned to tranquility.

The speed of the warship also picked up.

...

On the deck, some crew members stayed to deal with the battlefield, while others took turns resting.

Everyone settled into a normal sailing routine.

In the laboratory.

Su Lun was busy processing those fresh, living organs.

This "Siren's Throat" was an extremely precious material. He had previously inquired in various material markets, only hearing that some ancient specimens were occasionally found in the collections of nobles. They were simply not for sale outside, nor was anyone buying.

But handling such biological organs was not easy; it required sufficient experience.

At his side, Kama was also helping to process those bloody Siren organs.

She cleaned and sorted the material, then placed it into jars filled with green liquid.

While working, she asked questions about anything she didn't understand.

"Teacher, why don't we use 'Strong Silver Solution' to process the materials, but instead use 'Hippolytus Solution'?"

"Hmm... 'Strong Silver Solution' does indeed have excellent preservative effects. But what we are processing now are still active biological organs. To ensure that the organs maintain their original functionality and extend their usefulness, we must consider not just preservation but also maintaining vitality characteristics. That way the puppets created will last longer and be more effective."

"Oh. Teacher, how can this kind of biological material be used in puppets?"

"That would require inscribing special life runes on the puppets..."

"..."

Su Lun had the eight-armed arachnid spear and originally didn't need any assistants.

But now with two newly acquired disciples, he also devoted plenty of patience to teaching.

Karma also treasured this opportunity, working diligently, focusing intently, and striving hard, she showed all the qualities of an excellent Alchemist.

Given time, Su Lun also felt that she would surely become a formidable Puppeteer.

As for Yabec, trapped within the "Puppet Core," his talent was exceptionally outstanding.

The talent of the "B-060-Exquisite Heart" was inherently suited for Puppet Masters; before, it simply lacked guidance and systematic knowledge. Now, with a way to learn, he absorbed all the knowledge Su Lun taught like a sponge, often coming up with some incredibly imaginative and brilliant ideas.

Su Lun was more than happy to polish this uncut jade.

...

After passing through the waters haunted by Siren sea monsters, the speed of the Dawn group's ship increased significantly. By noon the next day, Dr. Banks had already confirmed that biological markers were in very close proximity.

The members of the Dawn group once again entered a state of battle readiness.

But what Su Lun and the others didn't know was that at some place at sea, a mysterious and ritualistic operation had already begun.

The sun was shining high in the sky, and several ships were anchored on the sea's surface. There, unmistakably, were the "White-headed Vulture" and several Pirate ships.

The people on the ships were completely unaware that they were being pursued.

On one of the ships, several cloaked individuals were muttering strange incantations over the sea. Their voices were deep and penetrating, cutting through the water and reaching the deepest ends of the abyss.

If an outsider were here, they would definitely see that beneath these cloaks were beautiful women with blond hair and blue eyes, each exuding a pure, holy aura.

These were the Priestesses of the Temple of Aghaparnon.

In their hands they held jars, one pouring a glowing Spiritual Body into the seawater, another a crimson liquid, yet another silver powder, and one pouring golden ears of wheat...

All were extremely precious top-tier materials, yet they poured them into the sea without regret.

The ritual was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

On another inconspicuous ship, a woman whose sensual figure could hardly be concealed by a large cloak, and who had a seductive appearance, was lazily watching everything before her.

This person was none other than Scatty Harris, the Thirteenth Princess of the Mafa Empire, known as the "Frost Moon Princess."

No one would have guessed that she had come here quietly without any royal mechanical guards.

At the moment, several individuals dressed as guards stood beside her.

As she watched, Princess Stika suddenly spoke up, "High Priestess Helvi had a prophecy, suggesting that this ritual might encounter some unexpected situations. She advised us to be cautious. Gentlemen, where do you think the problem might arise?"

Her demeanor was full of charm, but her eyes twinkled with intelligence.

She was not as others rumored, a Princess reliant solely on her beauty.

Her wisdom was matched by few.

Upon hearing this, one of the aides responded, "The covert forces sent by the Royal House of Ruying, Duke Raphael, and Duke Lance should all have perished in the jaws of the Siren sea monsters and the 'North Sea Leviathan' by now. The experts from Van Gogh are still tied up in the city. In the North Sea, there are no other forces left that can threaten us. Your subordinate feels that there will be no problems..."

Princess Stika seemed to also think this made sense, but the hint of doubt between her brows did not clear, "The prophetic abilities of the High Priests of the Temple of Aghaparnon have always been accurate through generations. We cannot afford to be careless."

The aide spoke again, "Your Highness, my intention is not to question your judgment. But the High Priestess has succumbed to the overwhelming power of Oleg; the Temple's authority is no longer what it once was. Moreover, you've seen for yourself that her faith is no longer pure. Intelligence indicates that she dotes on her son Onis Popov enormously. A prophet with personal desires will greatly diminish in ability..."

Listening to this, Princess Stika arched a beautiful eyebrow, saying nothing but obviously agreeing with her subordinate's words.

Yet thinking over it, her brow furrowed again, and she changed the subject, "What do you make of the turmoil that took place in the city-states of Moros? Who do you think stole the 'Golden God Spear' from the Temple of Aghaparnon?"

"This..."

At her words, several subordinates looked at one another, no one able to provide a clear reason.

Seeing the speechlessness of her followers, Princess Stika said, "Clearly, there is a 'mysterious force' we have not grasped moving about in Roman. My father once taught me, one must not take any enemy lightly."

"You speak very true, Your Highness."

With that, one subordinate lowered his head, and nobody else spoke.

But just then, an ill-timed voice rang out, "Your Royal Highness Princess need not worry about any threat."

It was a man with a scar on his face, his eyes as sharp as Hawkeye.

He spoke in a languid tone, "Having been hired by Mafa, I shall surely ensure the Princess's safety. In the North Sea, other than Oleg and the two deputy commanders of the North Sea Fleet making a personal appearance, no one else poses a threat to me."

Oleg and Mafa were now allies, and he was currently employed by this Frost Moon Princess.

That meant, in the vast expanse of the North Sea, there were no enemies.

Such bold and supremely confident words.

Yet upon hearing them, not a single person on the ship showed even the slightest hint of doubt on their face.

Because this man had a significant reputation.

He was Carlo Meldis, one of the "Top Ten Legendary Bounty Hunters," the "Pirate King"!

Hearing this person's stance, Princess Stika's tone of arrogance also receded quite a bit; it was respect for a powerful being, "This trip will of course require Mr. Meldis's careful attention."

Her slender white fingers tapped the ship's rail, producing a rhythmic knocking sound.

After some idle chat, Stika suddenly thought of something and turned to ask with a smile, "Last time, Mr. Meldis, I heard you ran into a bit of trouble in the Silent Forest. Who exactly is this 'Mr. Jing'?"

Her tone sounded teasing but did not evoke the slightest dislike.

Upon hearing this, the cloaked man's face flashed with embarrassment as if recalling some unpleasant memories.

But as a professional of his standing, he would not avoid the topic of defeat, only responding with a somber expression, "That woman... very strong! She is a high-ranking vampire, so she shouldn't be one of those sub-humans. I did some investigating later and it seems that no power is currently associated with her, as if she appeared out of nowhere."

Princess Stika said, "I have heard Oleg mention that the woman seems to come from Duke Raphael's mines. But at the time, she wasn't that strong. At least, nowhere near strong enough to harm Mr. Meldis. Later, there was news that she was closely related to 'Earl Blood' Antonio Harris... She might be an ancient vampire who had been dormant for a long time."

The cloaked man fell silent, then countered, "Does Your Highness suspect it's her?"

Princess Stika shook her head, saying, "No. Intelligence indicates that the major powers in Ruying are now paying attention to 'Mr. Jing', she couldn't possibly be in the North Sea right now. I was just asking casually."

The cloaked man said, "Once those temple priests make contact with the one in 'haixu' and offer up the sacrifice, Your Royal Highness Princess will get that thing, and then we can go directly to the Void Relics."

Princess Stika said, "That would be best."

But at this moment, quite abruptly, the lookout in the mast spotted something and shouted loudly.

"Attention all hands, three unidentified ships spotted at ten o'clock! They are not flying any flags, and it seems they are heading straight for us!"

"What?!"

Hearing this, not only Princess Stika and the cloaked man but everyone was taken aback.

This was not the route to Devil's Island; hence appearing here, they definitely were targeting them.

Someone actually followed them this far?

The sea monsters didn't kill them?

....

These three ships were naturally the three warships of the Dawn Group!

If Princess Stika's people spotted the ships of the Dawn Group, Su Lun and his companions naturally also noticed them.

"All hands, prepare for battle!"

"Cannons calibrated, ready to fire on command!"

"..."

Barrett gave the battle preparations order through the communicator.

There was no dithering, no need to confirm anything.

If "White Eagle" ships appeared here, they could fire without the risk of hitting the innocent.

In the sky, the death birds circled above, and Su Lun had long taken in every detail of those ships' movements.

Watching the acts of those cloaked priests on deck, Su Lun was even more certain that the conspiracy involved the Temple of Aghaparnon.

The behavior of those priests looked very sinister...

No matter who was on the other ships, it was better to strike first!

Moreover, the Dawn Group had a huge advantage, and that was the range of their cannons which far exceeded that of their opponents!

Those fellows, in order to conceal their identity, sailed on a few ordinary Pirate ships. Although he didn't know why they sailed so fast before, the onboard cannons were all pretty standard, just regular market goods.

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But the cannons on the Dawn Group's three ships were confiscated Mafa military cannons, not something one could buy on the market!

The maximum range was several times that of the market's!

Meaning, they could hit the enemy while the enemy could not hit them.

So, the instant they reached firing range, Barrett promptly ordered, "Open fire!"

Nearly a hundred cannons fired simultaneously, creating an exaggerated commotion.

...

From afar, Princess Stika and her entourage on the "White Eagle" were dumbfounded.

As they watched the sky filled with incoming cannonballs, they were shocked, flabbergasted, and yet felt they could not die.

What enmity did they have to start with a barrage of cannons?

PS. If there are many typos, you can refresh the page. Due to recent changes in my sleep pattern, the chapters are posted first and corrected later. I apologize for the poor reading experience.