Mechanical Alchemist-Chapter 504 503 Going to the Monster Mountains

```

The Mafa royal family had not yet decided to make the news of the plane invasion public.

Upon receiving intelligence about a skirmish on the outskirts of the Kabitol, the Mafa intelligence department speculated it might be the actions of the divine plane's Mage group. They dispatched their elite forces, hoping to deal with the matter in secret, but upon their arrival, they encountered Su Lun.

Dora looked at the annoying fellow who was still feeding heartily and a sharp light flashed momentarily in her eyes before disappearing. She pursed her lips and turned to the communicator, saying, "We're leaving, pull out."

With that, she headed straight to the Mechanical Marketplace.

Instantly, several passersby who had been browsing stalls all simultaneously started to leave as well.

Among them, a handsome man who bore a striking resemblance to Dora hurried after her, bombarding her with a string of questions, "Dora, are we just leaving? Did you find any clues? And who was that person you were talking with just now?"

"I've got a general idea of the situation. We'll leave a team to check the site, that should suffice."

Dora responded, then glanced at the young man and corrected him, "Also, when on duty, please address me by my military rank. Understood, Major?"

"Understood, Colonel!"

The handsome man had an expression of resigned understanding.

But as if something suddenly occurred to him, he frowned in thought and mused, "However, why do I feel like that guy from before looks familiar... like he's some big pirate? Oh, I'm not saying your friend is a pirate, but after you were kidnapped by the Dawn Pirate Group, I pretty much memorized all the wanted posters with the Dawn members on them."

In his mind, anyone who could engage in delightful conversation with his sister was likely a friend or acquaintance and surely not some filthy pirate.

Yet, when Dora heard this, she gave him a look as if she were looking at an idiot, "Hehe, you think if someone can chat pleasantly they must be friends?"

The handsome man was momentarily stunned, he then realized the underlying meaning in his sister's words, "Ah... so they're not?"

Dora rolled her eyes and retorted, "You're just realizing they're not?"

She coldly mocked, "Huh, with your level of alertness, if my rescue was up to my dumb brother after being kidnapped, I would have probably been dead long ago."

"..."

Despite being ridiculed, the handsome man didn't feel the slightest embarrassment; he was used to it.

Yet after a moment of thought, his expression turned serious, even filled with a touch of offended anger, he said, "That guy dared to show up in Kabitol after kidnapping you, Dora? Hmph, I'll go teach him a lesson!"

Dora waved her hand dismissively, her tone the usual combination of love and strife, she quipped, "You? Better not. If he really made a move, you'd just increase the ransom our family has to pay. Without a Grand General's combat power, don't even think about catching him."

The handsome man: "Is he that powerful?"

"..."

Dora rolled her eyes again, not intending to explain any further.

The group left the marketplace and mounted their motorcycles.

At that moment, the adjutant brought over a box, saying, "Commander, these are the rare metals and blueprints we just acquired from the marketplace."

"Mhm."

Dora accepted the box with an emotionless face, then sat in the specially modified sealed compartment of her vehicle.

Once isolated from her surroundings, the relaxed expression on her face suddenly vanished, replaced with a rational, machine-like coldness.

Recalling her recent encounter with Su Lun, a thought struck her, "That guy seemed to have found something..."

Saying this, she mused to herself with a chuckle, "Hehe, such an interesting person."

At that moment, Dora opened the box in her hand, took out a dazzlingly lustrous metal, and murmured as though admiring a satisfying meal, "Zabir alloy? Good stuff... Looks like it's something that came from the Mountain Dwarves' tribe."

As she spoke to herself, the metal piece in her hand melted into a liquid and then astonishingly, bit by bit, got absorbed and disappeared.

The motorcycle sped away.

In the compartment, Dora seemed to ponder over something, and even in her mechanical, cold eyes, a trace of confusion emerged.

...

The next day, the weather was clear.

Having eliminated two invaders from the divine plane the previous night, Su Lun planned to personally go see the [Urobolos Ring], a tribal totem of a Mountain Dwarves' clan.

However, the terrain in the Monster Mountains was complex, and rumors told of eighth and ninth-level monsters lurking deep within. Teleporting there was fraught with risk. And although he had a map, it wasn't very accurate, the best option was to find an adventure group familiar with the direction and follow them there.

Before noon, Su Lun and Number Nineteen rode their motorbikes, arriving at the adventurers' camp located two hundred kilometers from Kabitol—Goldwatch Outpost.

```

But unexpectedly, upon arrival, they found the town nearly overrun with people.

Two or three dozen major Adventure Guilds' Steam Castles were ready to depart, with tens of thousands of adventurers crowding the town, creating a cacophony of noise. More adventurers continued to stream in from all directions.

The adventurers were dressed in their gear, with various kinds of supplies for field combat mounted on their mechanical exoskeletons. Ammunition for firearms and crates of supplies were being continuously loaded onto the Steam Castles of the major Adventure Guilds.

"Hey, Garen, snap out of it and hurry up to the Mercenary Guild. There's a major pioneering quest! You get three thousand crowns a day just for hanging around, and if there's combat, you get paid according to combat rates. The loot distribution ratio is also the highest I've seen in recent years. I reckon we could make hundreds of thousands from this trip at least!"

"Where's the pioneering happening that the bounty's so high?"

"Over by the 'Giant God Mountain.' The quest is organized by Vice President Bol of the Adventure Guild. The backer is said to be a big boss of some mining corporation; in any case, they're definitely not short on money."

"Oh, I remember that mountain range is the territory of the mountain dwarves, right? Those little guys don't like dealing with humans much, and they're not too friendly either."

"Who cares about that. With Vice President Bol leading the charge, and at least a few dozen major Adventure Guilds participating, those dwarves' treasures hidden in the caves ought to come out into the light."

"..."

Su Lun and Number Nineteen, on their way, frequently overheard adventurers discussing the lucrative mercenary quest from the Mercenary Guild.

Others might not know why suddenly there was an interest in pioneering that mountainous area, but Su Lun was very clear—it must be those guys from the race of deities behind it.

And he also guessed why there was such a big commotion.

According to military intelligence previously obtained from the Moses family, the combat strength of the mountain dwarf race was not to be underestimated.

Near the Giant God Mountain, there were over a dozen active dwarf tribes with an unknown number of mountain dwarves.

These dwarves were said to be descendants of mythological dwarves, possessing divine power and skilled in forging various magical equipment—they were not to be taken lightly in combat.

The people currently in Capitron from the divine plane only included that seventh-order "Hundred Mage Group" mentioned in the intelligence.

They simply didn't have the capabilities to conquer that dwarf tribe by force.

But if they wanted to find the "Urobolos Ring" quickly, the best choice was to spend some money and recruit adventurers to stir up trouble.

After all, in the eyes of those from the divine plane, this alchemical plane was already their hunting ground, and the recruitment cost didn't matter much since the money ultimately stayed in their own pockets.

...

The Monster Mountains had always been the most important source of resources for Mafa, and major pioneering operations had occasionally happened in the past, with adventurers considering it a common occurrence.

This kind of pioneering event often attracted a great number of adventurers.

After all, almost every widespread exploration led to the discovery of new mines or ancient ruins.

Although the risk was great, as long as one lived to return, they were bound to make a fortune.

Having left the Bounty Guild, Su Lun and his companion took on the mercenary quest.

Number Nineteen asked, "What do we do now?"

Su Lun replied, "Stick to the original plan."

Initially, he had considered picking an Adventure Guild headed in that direction, but now almost every Adventure Guild was heading for that dwarf tribe.

Plus, Su Lun sensed the presence of many individuals with unusual soul fluctuations in town.

Inside those massive Adventure Guilds' moving Mechanical Cities, a number of Mages had already quietly taken refuge.

Looking at one of the recruitment signs, Su Lun said, "Let's go inquire with the 'Iron Shield Adventure Guild.'

Inside the Mechanical City of this Adventure Guild, there were five Mages.

Number Nineteen nodded in silent understanding.

The two of them moved on.

Watch Gold Outpost is a place where adventurers stock up and establish front-line camps, where some lesser Adventure Guilds might temporarily form teams. Larger groups also recruit needed professional members for specific quests on the fly.

"What level of mechanical enhancement you got?"

"Level three light-armored combat mechanical exoskeleton. Plus a level three Firearms Master and a part-time intermediate medic."

"Firearms Master, huh? If you can supply your own ammo, you can join us, otherwise forget it."

"No problem."

"..."

Third-level modifications are roughly equivalent to the combat power of Tier 3 professionals and represent the level of the vast majority of civilian mechanical warriors.

Number 19's prosthetic limbs were probably of third-level modification standard; reporting this wasn't particularly high-profile.

However, Su Lun didn't want to reveal his abilities in combat, so he registered himself as a remote Firearms Master.

But the Firearms Master's popularity in Mafa was not high.

With mechanical exoskeletons providing far more precision and stability than the human body, almost everyone was a Sharpshooter. Any decent shooting accessory could help nearly anyone to shoot with the accuracy of ninety-nine out of a hundred on a fixed target.

Furthermore, the ammunition cost for Firearms Masters was much higher than that for mechanical warriors who specialized in hand-to-hand combat, which made them unpopular in mercenary groups that were primarily formed to earn money.

Fortunately, Su Lun also mentioned a scarce sideline as a doctor, which led to the Iron Shield Adventurers' Guild recruiting him.

...

The Iron Shield Adventurers' Guild was a venerable group. Its leader, Brook Rock, was a sixth-level modified veteran mechanical warrior, with three to four hundred people under his command, making it an experienced veteran group.

Before long, the supplies and recruitment were completed, and the Steam Castle's boilers were fired up, belching black smoke from its tall chimneys.

The team set off officially.

Heading east from the Outpost of Goldwatch led directly into the hills of the Monster Mountains.

The moving Steam Castle resembled a super-sized armored RV, emphasizing heavy armor over comfort, hence the ride was jarringly bumpy.

Not to mention, if one observed closely, the rusty castle would shed some seemingly useful or useless metal parts on the bumpy road. Luckily, there were Mechanics with the team who, despite constantly cursing about some malfunctioning components, always managed to keep the seemingly run-down castle going...

The caterpillar-tracked Steam Castle could handle most terrains with no loss of speed. For adventurers, the castle's cannons and armor were the last line of defense when danger loomed.

Su Lun paid no mind to their destination, leisurely spending time in the soldier barracks assigned to him and Number 19. He sensed that there were five Mages in one of the rooms of the castle.

By keeping an eye on these people, he would eventually learn of the divine tribe's movements.

Su Lun was in no rush to make his move.

Since they were still half a month's journey from the dwarves' territory in the mountains, he was sure to find a more suitable opportunity. Besides, he always felt that the divine tribe had other schemes in mind.

And so, the Steam Castle trundled through the mountains, bumping and lurching along the way.

Even the Iron Shield, a veteran group familiar with the forest, only had a general sense of direction.

The climate in the Monster Mountains was extremely diverse. Sometimes, a dense jungle tens of meters tall could grow overnight, leaving no path to follow.

Furthermore, as they delved deeper, the terrain grew increasingly complicated, with rainforests, swamps, ravines, quicksand...

By the third day into the Monster Mountains, the Steam Castle had slowed considerably.

The group then disembarked and proceeded on foot.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

Mechanical exoskeletons allowed them to carry heavier equipment, and they trekked further into the depths of the Monster Mountains with their gear.

They didn't encounter any significant problems along the way.

The Monster Mountains were mostly inhabited by various magic beasts, and as long as they avoided some of the top predators, there was almost no issue.

Large groups like their few hundred strong were often deliberately avoided by many beasts.

The most trouble they encountered was at night: a pack of magic wind wolves attacked, killing two who had ventured into the forest for a tryst and injuring more than a dozen others. However, mechanical warriors had a natural advantage against beasts, as they feared not the bites and could repair or replace a damaged mechanical arm, thereby regaining combat capability.

So, after more than ten days of trekking through the jungle, they gradually approached the territory of the mountain dwarves, an area seldom visited by adventurers.

In the distance, a peak pierced the sky.

That mountain stood like a colossal sword thrust into the earth, and it was the well-known landmark of the Monster Mountains—Giant God Mountain.

Few adventurers knew what lay there, but Su Lun had learned from the Moses family's intelligence that the site of the "Animating Silver" was in that area.

Mafa's official explorers had discovered the place, but a fierce conflict with the dwarves ensued. They also encountered a very dangerous cursed space and ultimately abandoned any attempts at intrusion or mining.

According to the mythology passed down by the dwarves, two deities had once battled there. One was slain on the spot, and the mountain was formed from the deity's corpse, with the peak being the sword.

Su Lun held a skeptical attitude regarding mythologies. After all, the mountain peak looked more like an active volcano to him.

However, the formation of "Animating Silver" as a fossilized remnant of a dead deity seemed plausible.

To truly understand the situation there, one would need to approach and see for oneself.

...

Meanwhile, as Su Lun and his group approached the vicinity of Giant God Mountain.

The "Old Blacksmith Adventure Party" had arrived at Eagle Nest Gully, an inconspicuous coordinate on the map of Monster Beast Forest, known only to their smithing group.

Not far ahead lay the dwelling of the mountain dwarf tribe – the Sandstone Tribe.

This was the domain of the dwarves; humans were no longer welcomed to come near.

The members of the smithing group, as was their custom, arranged the hundreds of kegs they brought along on the stony beach.

Soon, the sound of "clip-clop, clip-clop" of hooves echoed through the mountain gully as a group of dwarves riding antelope-like creatures galloped swiftly towards them.

Leading them was a dwarf with a brown beard plaited into cornrows, the leader of the Sandstone Tribe, High Knoll Bamond.

Seeing that the approaching humans weren't his old friend Yale Ferguson, Bamond frowned and stopped warily about a hundred meters away.

"Little Book, it's only out of respect for your father that I've allowed your adventure party on our tribe's territory," he said.

Bamond's brown pupils did not focus on his favorite drink, instead, he scrutinized the group of people, speaking in the common tongue of Mafa, "You should know that dwarves don't like dealing with strangers. What's more, you've brought some outsiders I have a bad feeling about."

The blond youth Book replied nonchalantly, "Clan Leader Bamond, my father was indisposed, so I've brought your favorite drinks this time. There's more than before, including expensive gold rum – that's a fine drink from the western seas, surely something you and your folks will enjoy..."

He continued to proudly introduce the goods he had brought, oblivious to the increasingly stern expressions on the dwarves' faces.

Dwarves were not fools; on the contrary, they could clearly sense the calculating nature behind the humans' eyes.

This was an attitude they disliked very much.

It felt as if they were dealing with greedy and cunning goblins.

Bamond's eyes flashed with displeasure as he said, "Little Book, out of respect for the friendship between your father and me, I'll accept this shipment and will give you a batch of high-quality ore in return. But remember, next time just follow the old ways. Our dwarf tribe does not take kindly to foreigners."

Book had expected his fine drinks to be welcomed by the alcohol-loving dwarves, but to his surprise, they were rejected.

And this time, he wasn't here merely to exchange for some ore; he had an ulterior motive.

Seeing the dwarves on guard, he knew the negotiation wouldn't go smoothly.

Book glanced back.

At that moment, a figure stepped out from the Old Blacksmith Adventure Party.

She lifted her cloak to reveal the black and white habit of a nun underneath.

It was none other than the "Forbidden Nun" of the Holy Military Order, Jonabel Marsha.

With an enigmatic and mysterious light shining in her eyes, she gazed at the dwarves before her and with a charming, sinister smile, began to speak fluently, "I've always heard that the dwarf race is a simple and kind forging kind..."

Her voice was melodious, carrying an enchanting magic that inadvertently caused listeners to fall into a relaxed and trusting state.

However, no sooner had these words left her mouth than the magical runes on Bamond's helmet flashed, and he suddenly erupted into thunderous rage, "Damn it! You despicable followers of the outer gods, daring to corrupt our faith!"

Corruption of faith was an affront to their gods and a form of spiritual enslavement.

Bamond was not blind to the malice these people harbored.

Dwarves were gentle, but also quick-tempered!

At his explosive shout, all the dwarves raised their weapons and charged into battle.

"Strengthened metal helmets, no wonder they could resist the Soul Capturing Technique..."

Jonabel was not at all surprised that her surreptitious spellcasting had been exposed.

She hadn't expected it would be so easy to learn about the treasure; it was merely a test.

Instead, as she eyed the enraged dwarves, she whispered to herself, "Half-dwarves who have lost their faith in the gods still have Divine Power protection? It seems even if that thing isn't here, there must be other treasures..."

Without killing these dwarves, the treasures hidden in their underground vaults wouldn't come easily.

She watched the dozens of dwarves charging toward her and raised her magic wand; behind her, twenty or thirty black-robed mages began chanting spells in unison.

In an instant, the vast gully was racked by earthquakes and landslides.

PS. Sorry, still sorting out my thoughts, having a bit of writer's block. I took a day off yesterday; I'll make up for it later.