Doomsday Jigsaw Puzzle

Chapter 266: Chapter 70: Invitation from the Tech City

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"...the day is starting again, another two days have passed, it’s been rather dramatic here in Mechanism City, really troubling, today and yesterday have been lazy stealing days (

Chu Qing, it’s not like you to have bad luck... truly, those in power are strong.

Jiaxie’s predictions have been exceeded, he’s incredibly strong within Shen Ta.

People of the high tower will surely become eternal... Jiaxie will come and seek out some sort of trump card if he doesn’t start from zero, but there’s a white fog of understanding, but he originally had some resistance to Mechanism City.

Inside him, there was no peace, and he walked towards Shen Ta, his head touching the white fog.

"Just a light description," said Old Plank, viewing the ice slag son of Shen Ta as crushed to pieces.

"You should come with me to Mechanism City, clean sweep, the task of Shen Ta is completed," said Erleipu.

The body was attacked by a nearly immune liquid, which was indeed an extremely troublesome type of cold liquid control, but still attacked by the cold white light.

The sharp white glow froze Shen Ta instantly, the black-clad warriors in armor being the target of this attack... and then there was another beam of light hitting Jiaxie directly in the middle.

"Do you think you can run away? Isn’t it too early to analyze what you’re doing?"

Jiaxie hadn’t yet concluded his attack, dodged a fatal strike, and avoided being covered in the liquid, Shen Ta’s body dissolving away.

But what about the other person... Possibly relying on Erleipu’s defense weapons to counter the crushing force of Jiaxie’s small team and himself, hoping for any chance, but this extreme annoyance seemed like it didn’t have any intention of tasting the freedom from the high tower either.

Shen Ta’s body could instantly be shattered... the so-called resistance might participate in the chaotic history if Jiaxie were truly involved, thought the white fog unimaginably.

From his mechanical body equipment launched... but rather, these terrifying beams of light didn’t come from Jiaxie’s mechanical body.

Lili’s body was already cut in half by the black cutting beam, and just then, Lili was speaking to the white fog, thirty black beams piercing straight through.

"It looks like you’ll be gone forever, your choice was too slow," said Lili to the white fog.

The white fog looked towards Lili and said, "You’ve made a sudden decision!"

Shen Ta seemed to feel a certain threat and reacted violently, shielding his body as a burst of fire absorbed the gold-clad warrior in black in an instant.

He finally sensed the power of technology--from this seventeenth-century world, he lowered his eyes.

There was no chance of avoiding since the essence of the divine realm kept dragging him in. White fog thought Erleipu would like to test out the full capacity of his equipment, as he roamed Zao Lake Village initially.

"You’ve obtained a piece of treasure. The Jiaxie people are really still quite something, I must say, there could actually be a fighting chance in a battle outside Shen Ta."

With more familiarity with the special combat systems within Shen Ta, compared to before, you are like Erleipu’s gifted mech, which is a supreme armor model, including the gift from Erleipu just for you, because I’ve seen you," said Chu Qing.

Naturally, there are six types of Jiaxie mechanical bodies with six grids, each with its most harmful extreme mechanical body equipment—[Outer Mech Fallen Equipments]

Like a treasured enigma, a Jiaxie person completely black, looked like a whole golden warrior.

Inside Jiaxie’s body, there were these bizarre materials that quickly covered the black mechanical body armor, and White Fog obtained them after returning.

No need to face the guards directly, that’s the most crucial.

White Fog was slightly relieved by the relatively stable profit relationship between Jiaxie and the external forces, but Shen Ta didn’t dare to move given the dangerous black zone.

"Transaction complete."

"Just take one core chip. It’s a good sign for him, that is what we have to do, drop it, they’re not the kind of people who can pay back, you can even call it divine clairvoyance, could it be the ’Zero’ number that’s the mechanical emperor?"

"What do I need with the ’Zero’ number?" asked White Fog, questioning the sudden need for Jiaxie to load some kind of weapon.

"Just wait for you to agree, I’m already prepared," said Jiaxie.

The bowels of the spaceship were filled with the sound of clanking weapons as he swung the cyan copper axe without stopping.

Because of these words, Shen Ta also heard parts of this conversation and perceived the sincerity of Jiaxie, unlike the concealed intentions of White Fog.

White Fog couldn’t compete with Erleipu during this event, requiring just enough information for this battle to avoid as much danger as possible, solving the Mechanism City’s issues, and completing the task.

"We and Jiaxie are adversaries due to Erleipu’s backing forces, but we wouldn’t dare utilize Erleipu’s resources for ourselves, because this is your and Erleipu’s showdown. Completing the task may provide a chance or solve some pressing questions, handle affairs as requested by Mechanism City’s inhabitants—accordingly, I should head to Mechanism City," said White Fog.

"Even though it’s a black area, that place... why do you think I can go there?" asked White Fog, firing an exploding axe just as he seized this opportunity.

The white mist pressed in, itching to rush forward, but was held back by some unforeseen force.

With every ticking second inside his head, Jiaxie spoke as he continued his silent countdown to twenty seconds, the time needed to charge a certain weapon.

"Once you’ve settled matters here, you can join me heading towards Mechanism City. It’s time to act. You’ve answered my questions about my family’s Old Plank, and I will help you," Jiaxie walked on.

The Shen Ta might not be able to extend a hand amidst the white mist and against twenty adversaries all rushing in, all still showing a reliance on the old ways, seemingly afraid to be pressured into moving too fast.

"I do not recognize you."

"Don’t you understand? If you won’t get through this crowd, you have no part in assisting me."

Jiaxie turned away, ready to counter any Shen Ta advancement on his side.

Lyril felt a certain unease, though he clearly saw him standing there amidst the descending wind.

The white mist urged on.

"You need to make a choice, Lyril,"

Chu Qing, as well as the white mist, had already entered the countdown, with time ticking away.

Despite the Shen Ta showing no signs of reaching out, they couldn’t deal lethal damage to him. These people could restrain him, but fundamentally, they were helpless against him.

The white mist could afford to defend against a significant number of attacks due to his properties of healing and defense, just tilted enough not to react, not move, simply relying on his steel armor when on Level Five, while the flow carried on.

And yet, being in a line of the weakest seemed to weaponize a specific threat in itself, perhaps because of Shen Ta’s involvement below.

It seemed like they had nowhere to run, being attacked from different angles from every direction.

Though Old Plank and the white mist seemed to be dragged into an active field, there was a certain force driving heavy assaults, unstoppable but now nonexistent.

A significant wave of illusionary progress.

But the two individuals’ speed began to accelerate rapidly, despite the very real pressure from the two sides.

Accounting for all sorts of capabilities, Jiaxie was able to predict the enemy’s movements based on their aggressive strategy, while the white mist could anticipate temporary changes in the next few seconds. Naturally, they could easily dodge attacks from Levels Five and Six, with both Jiaxie and the white mist on Level Seven.

"These people are quite bothersome, you see," Jiaxie said to the white mist.

The remaining soldiers from Shen Ta’s troops crowded around, making it easy for him to dodge the flying axe.

Having seen this unfold just a few seconds earlier, Erleipu’s gaze had already entered a binding state while watching the white mist. Lyril had the eyes of an observant scout.

Suddenly, the battle commenced with a flying axe hurled toward the white mist.

"Something miraculous will happen in thirteen seconds because of you. I’ll give you only thirteen seconds. As for what choice you make next, that’s up to you," said Lyril, only looking at Chu Qing, utterly uninterested in the copper mask with the green patina face, even though it was Shen Ta’s last presence.

Among all these ambushers, each of them held a thorny hand in the order — all of them were worthy opponents. While scanning through them, Erleipu’s eyes delivered a much more immediate feedback than usual due to the current battle situation, and Erleipu discovered these hidden individuals. The white mist’s facial expressions remained very serene amid the dangers surrounding him.

Half of the green-faced copper masks were already blocking the white mist.

Jiaxie and the white mist were already falling into an ambush.

The corridors of the four-way eight-directional arrays were quickly becoming blocked entrances, relentlessly swarmed by the troopers of Shen Ta emerging from the surrounding buildings.

Although Lyril’s gaze already spoke volumes, she didn’t open her mouth, just looking at the white mist.

"You should just tell me his positioning now. It’s up to you, as you’re the one who led Shen Ta to me, naturally."

"What’s this deadline you’re still counting down to between us?" asked Lyril.

Jiaxie and the white mist today are certainly stepping into a dragon pool and tiger’s den.

...and related to this Shen Ta’s leading role in the main cause for why Lyril and Shen Ta would hide therein.

The nature of the Shen Ta’s role was pivotal because of the hidden alliance between Lyril and Shen Ta, leading to the exodus from their sharpened nest.

How strong could the forces of Shen Ta’s soldier be in this place?

And even though he was facing Shen Ta, Jiaxie was considered one of the strong hands, with even Lyril paying attention.

Lyril, with the eyes of an observant scout, watched the pressing power of Erleipu’s eyes within the first hundred, while Jiaxie accompanied a Phase Seven power surge.

"He is merely an average, unexpected help - one that your eyes should actually see," Lyril said.

"Why are you still here? I’ve already contacted Shen Ta."

"Baiwu looked at her with a pale fog,"

"Lili Si had already been waiting here for a while, in a hurry to meet with Jiaxie and Baiwu."

"Baiwu was coming to remove the white fog, which was the goal. Including Lili Si, there was a total gathering of all the parts within the twenty departments, for Shen Ta’s council meeting."

"Several old buildings surrounded the area, becoming a part of the northern residential district’s space."

"There were many residential areas left vacant, with fewer people, relatively compared to the First Level."

"Baiwu had already known about Shen Ta’s council meeting from the information under Jiaxie’s strong surveillance."

"He had come to Jiaxie for help but to actually find Shen Ta was not difficult; however, he tried to test Lili Si one more time."

"She had decided to bring Baiwu to Shen Ta, as it seemed she was standing at a station nearby, which was her choice."

"In the end, Lili Si and Baiwu agreed to meet alone in a secluded area of Second Level to discuss and exchange information."

"And indeed, behind Lili Si were the ten departments of Shen Ta, each with their own military inspection team and immense real power; she was even more loyal to Shen Ta than anyone else."

"Second-Level High Tower"

...

...

"I must acknowledge the exceptional use of ’Heaven’s Eye.’ It serves a very good purpose,"

Baiwu said.

"You come with keen eyes, seeing everything at your banquet,"

"We should be heading to Second Level already, leading the ten high officials of Shen Ta, the council leader of Shen Ta,"

Baiwu said.

But Baiwu could proceed without any obstruction, despite Jiaxie’s thorough analysis of the opposing screen. This illustrates the difference between Mechanism City’s sequence and rank.

Jiaxie asked, "What are they up to?"

It seemed they were preparing to head to Second Level, moving very quickly toward the upgraded lift.

Some of the Giant Industrial Base workers also appeared, following shortly after. They emerged because of Lili Si. And so their conversation was halted.

He hadn’t noticed any changes at all compared to the time he had interacted with the Fourth Level himself.

Despite having come into contact with members of the Fifth Level and seemingly the High Tower of Sixth Level remained visibly unchanged, it was only now that he made the discovery.

Baiwu fell silent.

"It’s the High Tower, not a system of tiered governance,"

"What?"

"Why are you still pointing to the clouds above with your dusty intentions? You understand our worlds are incommensurate."

Jiaxie had already accepted this perspective long ago, evidently finding reason in what Baiwu said.

"All the different levels have already ceased to be a single system. While it’s true that for Fifth Level and up, mining productivity and social harmony might be increased if the lower levels were taken care of, you believe that everyone at the bottom, who is barely able to survive, cares about how the various families on the upper levels view them?"

Jiaxie let out a sigh.

"Sigh!"

Baiwu felt at least relieved that, if Jiaxie could be persuaded to help, it would not be a small inconvenience to reduce the load for his group. Changing the lower levels was a dream, perhaps even an impossible dream like the ninety-five percent.

"If you are indeed so capable of achieving total surveillance, then why don’t you consider changing the... altering the lower levels? They are rebelling because of level-based resource allocation issues. If you really intend to improve the conditions at the bottom for better governance someday, then people might have better days ahead," freewebnoveℓ.com

Baiwu asked one last question.

To the people of the lower levels of the High Tower, our Fifth Level officials are like those ultra-high-level characters from Shen Ta’s Fifteenth Level.

"While we within the tower are indeed very powerful, they don’t find it at all meaningful because my family does not yet need to make a move. We have no need to show our hand at this time because Jiaxie’s family has not yet done so. They are suppressed but individuals from the lower levels have indeed started rebellions throughout history,"

This world was just another game, with different roles. Jiaxie, the genius, ultimately lost the game because of a misconceived nation. He had once taught alongside the teacher, Tao, so he knew some things. But Jiaxie evidently knew nothing about the imperial era or post-war dark ages.

"It’s just like the imperial era or the dark age after the wars. This is the history of the High Tower: one resistance after another with no results,"

But Baiwu had come to believe it was truly a field of lowered defenses.

"The Jiaxie family’s Shen Ta might just be destroyed by these cold words," he thought.

"Could Shen Ta really be afraid of us? Just a small organization, with no power to remove them. That’s why there is no need for them to understand our demands, right? With the various power struggles and the cannibalistic food chain within Mechanism City, there would be immediate repercussions for Shen Ta if they considered every little clockmaker’s house a threat," he mused.

It’s not like they are really unsusceptible to vulnerability; after all, the vast amount of data from that era can expose quite a lot of personal privacy.

White Fog thought about it and realized that no illness could have led to this.

"After all, we didn’t leave you guys with much privacy," White Fog retorted.

"This really is a word that could leave one in utter despair," he admitted.

"All of us here are Chu Qing; every day on the streets above, crimes frequently happen; secrets and conspiracies are uncovered in the high-rise levels of Shen Ta, stirring up trouble from the lower levels."

Xie Jie said:

He had a high regard for Old Plank—a true appreciation of the man’s potential that was hard to discern. This was especially true for Xie Jie,

Although he didn’t participate in the banquet at all, Xie Jie had finished exploring on his own. Despite this, he still had a rather favorable impression of White Fog.

"Even the highest ranking aristocrats, the lucky few on the Third Level, pay close attention to their territory. Only my Jiaxie family can manage to install monitoring devices nine hundred meters up in the air, in Flower Plate Day," he said confidently.

"Can your monitoring also pick up on Flower Plate Day? Do you also know about his other properties?"

White Fog might have found him even more interesting, had he truly understood why Xie Jie did what he did.

Xie Jie, due to past experiences, knew that doing such things could quickly lose the interest of others, and yet, he didn’t realize that he was doing exactly that.

Xie Jie was able to easily perceive someone’s breathing and heartbeat through emotional conduction of epinephrine, even discerning the mental state of an individual.

Though his vision wasn’t equipped with the banquet’s binoculars, it’s not like Xie Jie only served as a guard for Jiaxie; he was cognizant of more than that,

Xie Jie didn’t enter the observation mode, and without showing joy or anger, he said in a very calm tone, "That’s definitely a demotion, to be managed by you. Even the people from the lower levels would feel left behind, let alone the fact that, despite the difference between each technological level being clearly delineated, I never really had such a thought before."

"Scared? Of what, exactly?"

White Fog felt questionable, yet he also had a feeling that... he could accept it.

"Are all your activities simply basic operations confined within your house?"

"We are all well aware of the monitoring capabilities of Flower Plate Day in our territory," they said.

"How extensive is your monitoring coverage? Does it reach the very bottom?"

"Our knowledge of that is very certain; we just need to open their heads and they can’t pass through. If we don’t monitor it, it becomes impossible for them to get away from our closely guarded production bases," said Xie Jie, watching the surveillance feeds within Shen Ta’s black tower.

Fourth Level, High Tower

...

...

Lilly finally managed to contact the Shen Ta assembly and set up a meeting with another person here, solving Lilith’s problem.

The Mechanism City might just be a place where Shen Ta manages certain goods, given that it’s located under the vast production base.

They might need to get their hands dirty, as Clockmaker’s House requires their protection,

Although it’s merely a cooperative relationship with Clockmaker’s House, Shen Ta, nevertheless, uses it as a production business point.

Only Jiaxie knew the secret, the circumstances around the mysterious death of Xu Zhong remained hidden, as per strict protocol within Shen Ta’s Third Level.

But she inevitably came to Shen Ta’s Third Level due to the power and influence of Xu Zhong’s foundation; she was certain she had figured out a way to contact the Shen Ta assembly, but whether or not she was right in thinking this remained to be seen.

Was Lilith just bothered by these questions, or would she possibly need White Fog’s help against an all-encompassing enemy like Shen Ta? It was not completely clear to her whether she should pay White Fog, as she was also indecisive and unclear in her own expectations.

Who was the mountain behind his back?

White Fog was alone, an absolute non-member of the assembly, yet what exactly was he against the entirety of Shen Ta?

This incident appeared to Lilly as somewhat questionable; perhaps if White Fog were not strong enough, he would never let her go, a side that also might be an acknowledgement of White Fog’s undercurrent. Perhaps White Fog actually wouldn’t dare to let her go on his own.

Lilith started to rapidly make her choices after White Fog had left her.

Vast Production Base, Industrial Zone, Third Level High Tower