Survival on the Internet: A Bizarre Start at Sea

"But she chose the wrong time..."

"Edgar's soul couldn't wait for the optimal moment for the marine iguana's eggs to activate, so Liliana forcibly started the experiment..."

"The experiment may have been partially successful, but a serious accident occurred, causing an explosion."

"Amadeus is dead, the workshop is destroyed, Liliana..."

"It may have merged with the experimental products in some form and remained deep within the 'Puppet Grip' alchemy workshop."

"And the marine iguana's egg, I obtained many years later in the Stormy Seas..."

All the clues finally came together.

Su Zhisu sat silently for a moment, carefully organized the file, and handed it back to the administrator.

"Finished watching?"

"I've finished reading it. Thank you very much."

After leaving the historical archives, Su Zhisu did not linger at the Alchemist's Guild.

He needs to act immediately.

The newly acquired archival information gave him a clearer understanding of the situation deep within the workshop.

This also gave him a clearer bargaining chip when communicating with the current 'Lelena Thea'.

Returning directly to the palace guest room, Su Zhisu began making final preparations.

Check equipment, replenish medicine, and adjust status.

Around noon, Su Zhisu arrived once again at the entrance to the restricted area below the cliff in the old port.

The guards recognized him and, upon seeing the silver token, respectfully allowed him to pass.

After passing through the damp, rocky area, we arrived at the half-collapsed arched stone gate.

Su Zhisu took a deep breath, ignited the Night Watch Heart Flame and attached it to the scimitar, and stepped into the dark cave entrance.

The familiar notification sound from the integrated network rang out.

[Network Notification]: Unusual spatial fluctuations detected... Matching in progress...

[Match Successful]: Found the dungeon [Abandoned Alchemy Workshop].

[Loading the instance... Loading complete.]

[Current Dungeon]: Abandoned Alchemy Workshop of "Puppet's Grip"

Without wasting time in the outer areas, he quickly traversed the broken corridors, avoiding the wandering low-level golems, and headed straight for the library area where he had last encountered [Amadeus's Alchemy Golem - Initial Work].

The scenery along the way was almost the same as during the last exploration, except that the traces of destruction were still fresh, as if time had stood still here.

Soon, he arrived once again in front of the half-open double wooden door with a bookshelf pattern engraved on it.

Inside, the library looked exactly the same as when I left last time.

This time, however, Su Zhisu did not go to the central reading platform.

His gaze fell directly on the deepest part of the library, that shadowy area.

"The first work, I know you were there."

Su Zhisu spoke calmly in the Common Language, while raising the Empress's token in her hand, which was engraved with waves and the sun.

Under the dim blue firelight, the silver token shimmered with a faint glow of 'order,' a glow that represented the authorization of Empress Sephiria.

In the shadows, two points of pure sapphire light slowly shone.

The enormous figure, made of dark wood and refined puppet alloy, silently stepped out once again and appeared in Su Zhisu's field of vision.

[Amadeus' Alchemy Golem - Initial Work] Its eyes flashed with blue light as it locked onto Su Zhisu and the token in his hand.

The cold, mechanical sound echoed:

"Her Majesty's access token detected."

"Permission verification in progress..."

"Verification successful. Holder authorized to proceed to the next area of ​​the workshop."

"Warning: You are about to enter the [Final Order] protected area, which is extremely dangerous."

"Please consider this carefully."

After saying that, the blue light in the eyes of the First Creation dimmed slightly, and its massive body moved half a step to the side, clearing a path to a hidden passage at the back of the library.

That passage was previously completely blocked by its body.

The passage was pitch black and bottomless.

"Thanks."

Su Zhisu put away the token, gripped the curved sword, and without the slightest hesitation, strode towards the passage.

Just as he was about to step into the passage, the mechanical voice of the initial creation sounded again, this time seemingly carrying a very faint fluctuation, different from the program's:

"Holder, you possess the legacy of the 'Creator'..."

"Furthermore, the aura emanating from you... is somewhat similar to 'her'..."

"Good luck."

Su Zhisu paused slightly and looked back at the initial work.

The blue light in the puppet's eyes had returned to calm, as if the words just spoken were merely an illusion.

Su Zhisu nodded and turned to step into the dark passage.

The passage slopes downwards, and is long and narrow.

There were no lights on the walls, only the glow of the Night Watch's Heart Flame illuminated the small patch of ground beneath their feet.

The smell in the air, a mixture of metallic rust and stale grease, grew stronger, and then another...

An indescribable buzzing sound, as if countless tiny sounds were mixed together.

That was the sound naturally emitted by the highly active and chaotic alchemical runes.

After walking for about ten minutes, a faint light appeared ahead.

At the end of the passage was a door made entirely of some unknown dark blue metallic material.

The door was tightly closed, its surface smooth as a mirror, without any handle or keyhole.

At the very center, there is an extremely complex alchemical array pattern that is constantly and slowly changing.

At the heart of the array pattern is an abstract design that appears to be woven from gears and nerve endings.

Just by staring at this array pattern, Su Zhisu felt a powerful mental pressure coming from it, and he seemed to hear a deep metallic rumble in his ears.

[Thorne's Pocket Watch] The watch case is so hot that it vibrates so much that it almost slips out of your hand.

Su Zhisu knew that the core area of ​​the workshop was behind the door.

It is also the place where the final work is guarded.

He walked up to the massive metal door, but did not try to push it open—that would obviously be pointless.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and adjusted himself to be in peak condition.

Then, he began to mobilize his mental and magical powers, combining them with his knowledge of the Alchemy Language - Puppetry, to construct the complex information package he had previously set in mind.

The message contained the truth he had just learned from the files, as well as his purpose for coming:

"I have come as the successor of Master Amadeus, carrying the crucial item, the [Sea Iguana Egg]."

"Entrusted by Edgar Thorne, I will find Liliana Thea and fulfill our unfinished promise..."

"And to seek the truth about the 'Perfect Container' project and the possibility of its continuation."

He combined this information packet with the aura of Thorne's Pocket Watch, the faint life fluctuations of the Marine Iguana Egg, and a trace of the lingering order representing the Queen's "witnessing," transforming it into an invisible stream of information bearing the characteristics of alchemical runes, and slowly injected it into the flowing alchemical array in the center of the door.

Time passed second by second.

The massive metal gate remained unresponsive.

Only the magic circle continued to slowly rotate, emitting a cold, faint light.

Just as Su Zhisu thought the communication had failed and was preparing to consider other solutions or try to force a breakthrough—

"Click..."