LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 38 - An Unexpected Visitor
Kicking aside the chunks of flesh underfoot, Luther analyzed the biological composition of the remnants. After a moment, he put away the equipment and stood up.
“It’s mutated humans, but not Federation citizens. Likely clones created by the enemy for experimentation.”
“In Arpeggio City, Federation citizens are under the constant surveillance of the T2-grade AI ‘April.’ If there were a sudden surge in missing persons, the AI would report it to the government.”
“The milk factory is truly convenient. It’s not just an underground dairy farm with cows but also comes equipped with slaughterhouses, processing, and disposal facilities. Adding a small cloning facility in such a setup makes things much easier.”
“Clones have no intelligence. If they die, their remains can be processed into feed for the cows, and their waste burned as fuel for reuse. Eventually, everything turns to ash, leaving no trace for anyone to discover.”
“Criminals these days are getting less creative. It’s disappointing.” Luther sighed.
“Well, young Luther, you’re already lamenting at your age? I’ve seen far worse and more absurd things in my time,” Pascal said as he set down a black and red case, starting to assemble its components.
“Forget it. I’d rather not hear about it—it might affect my mood during the mission.” Luther shook his head.
“Besides, things like this were rampant in the Fifth Epoch. Compared to back then, today’s villains are practically saints.”
“That era was indeed a cesspool of darkness and depravity. No wonder the entire civilization collapsed in the end.”
The three chatted to ease the tension while preparing their weapons and gear before resuming their exploration.
Yang Ce activated the night-vision mode on his goggles and wore tactical headphones to stay alert. Luther carried an Eight Mountain Compass in one hand and a black pistol in the other, its red laser line visible. Pascal, meanwhile, inserted ceramic plates into his bulletproof vest and hefted a rotating machine gun that looked like a metal storm.
Among the trio, Yang Che was the most well-rounded, Luther excelled in tracking and hacking, and Pascal specialized in heavy firepower.
“Reinforcements will arrive in 30 minutes. Let’s scout ahead in the meantime.”
“Understood.”
The three ventured into the dark cavern.
…
On the other side, Hestia returned home. After taking a bath, she changed into her pajamas and sat on her bed, reviewing the sheet music she had received earlier that day.
Her personal terminal projected a virtual keyboard into the air before her bed. Inputting the music, notes and rhythms scrolled across the screen. She placed her fingers on the virtual keys, mimicking a piano as she familiarized herself with the melody.
Time passed unnoticed, and soon it was 9 p.m. when a knock sounded from downstairs.
Shortly after, Grandma He came to Hestia’s bedroom door.
“A young man from the neighborhood is here to see you. He says it’s important.”
“Who is it?” Hestia tidied up her things and walked out of the room.
Following Grandma He downstairs, she opened the door to see a familiar face.
“Qiao Long?”
The black-haired young man before her wore a leather jacket and pants. His eyes were weary, and he looked unwell.
“Miss Hestia.”
He bowed respectfully before speaking.
“Sorry for disturbing you, but I have an urgent matter that requires your help.”
“What is it? I thought I made it clear last time—I don’t want to see you again,” Hestia replied, frowning.
“I know, but this time, it’s truly critical. It won’t interfere with your life, I promise,” he said, his tone tinged with desperation.
“Hestia?” Grandma He asked, concerned about the situation.
Taking a deep breath, Hestia closed her eyes momentarily before opening them.
“Let’s talk outside.”
She asked Grandma He to stay indoors.
The two stepped into a corner of the hallway.
“What is it?” Hestia asked, gazing up at the taller figure, wondering what trouble had brought him here again.
“It’s about a companion of mine. You’ve seen him before—the particularly tall and heavy one.”
“What happened to him?”
“He was attacked underground and is in critical condition. He won’t last much longer.”
“Why not take him to the hospital?” Hestia’s tone softened slightly.
“It’s no use. I know the medical capabilities in Arpeggio City. They can’t handle injuries this severe, and that location… an ambulance can’t reach it.”
“Oh?”
“It’s in a cavern on the 72nd underground level, an unmarked area on the Federation’s map.”
“Can’t he be moved?” The girl asked curiously.
“We’ve temporarily frozen him using special methods. Moving him would worsen his injuries and likely kill him on the spot.” Qiao Long shook his head and slammed his fist against the wall, producing a dull thud.
“That’s a gray zone, isn’t it? You want me to go to such a dangerous place?” Though only sixteen, Hestia had her guard up.
“I’ll pave the way and protect you. The journey will be absolutely safe.” Joel suddenly bent his body low, almost a 90-degree bow.
“Now you’re saying this? You should know what you did before.”
Hestia shook her head. She vividly remembered how this man had once crushed her bones. The pain still lingered, and if not for her resolve to avoid killing and the complications it could bring to her life, Qiao Long would already be a corpse.
“I sincerely apologize for that day’s offense against you, Miss Hestia. But this time, I beg for your help.”
His voice grew increasingly anxious as he pulled a long black box from his waist and presented it to her.
“This is something I prepared for my advancement. You can keep it as collateral, Miss Hestia.”
“What is this…” Hestia accepted the long black box, slid a button on the side, and the lid opened, revealing a liquid glowing with a vivid red hue.
As she gently shook it, the liquid rippled, reflecting shimmering scales of light, emanating a faint warmth and even a faint dragon’s roar.
‘Dragon Blood Elixir (Red-Scaled Thorned Dragon)’ [Superior Gold]: A rare dragon blood potion that grants the transcendent of the Dragon Sequence the abilities of the ‘Red-Scaled Thorned Dragon’ during their advancement. After reaching Sequence 6, it allows transformation into a dragon. (Due to the relatively weak nature of the Red-Scaled Thorned Dragon, its evaluation is reduced to Superior Gold.)
Sensing the magical rhythm within the crimson liquid, Hestia slowly opened her eyes, slightly surprised as she glanced at Qiao Long.
The potion was genuine, an exceedingly valuable item priced at 2.6 million Federation Credits on the official market, often unavailable even at that cost. Through special channels, it would fetch an even higher price.
“How much did you spend on this potion?”
“I found a middleman on the black market. After special arrangements, it was shipped to Arpeggio City. In the end, it cost around 4 million Federation Credits. I still owe about 800,000 in debt for it.”
“I see.” Hestia scrutinized Qiao Long’s expression and emotions carefully, finally confirming he wasn’t lying.
Lying in front of a songstress with a soul resonance talent—let alone one with a color-grade potential—was nearly impossible within the Federation.
With a sigh, Hestia lowered her arms, realizing Qiao Long was indeed in trouble.
Should she save him? Or ignore it? After all, Qiao Long currently posed no threat to her.
The room fell into a brief silence.
After a minute, Hestia turned around with the potion in hand, her slippers tapping softly against the floor as she walked toward the house.
“I’m going to change.” She couldn’t possibly venture out in her pajamas.
“Understood.” Hearing this, Qiao Long responded gratefully, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
Back in her room, Hestia spoke briefly with Grandma He and then stored the potion in a spatial pocket. She changed into a travel-friendly outfit, added a black jacket, and draped it over her shoulders.
“Let’s go.”
Now ready, Hestia reappeared in front of Qiao Long. She wore sneakers and short socks, the hood of her jacket covering her head, and a mask obscuring her face, with only a few strands of silky black hair and her bright blue eyes peeking through.
“Yes!”