The Alchemist's Guide to Flesh and Blood Ascension

"Lin didn't even know what that white-robed man's name was... He told Lin to run quickly, to run into the shadows, so that no one else could catch him."

The lame ratman's hand seemed to have grown tired, and it slowly fell down, causing the faint light from the cracks in the pipe to quietly dissipate.

"As a result, Lin watched as he was burned to ashes by the holy light... not even ashes, not even a trace was left."

It stood up, put the crown crookedly on its head, and took off its cane, seemingly trying to regain some of its majesty.

"Lin's throne, Lin's subjects... in the end, all that's left is Lin's unfinished dream," the lame ratman stared at Yunevo and Nehta, "and this glass ball that constantly reminds Lin to be a good emperor."

"But Lin has noticed these past few days that his 'minister' seems to have a new alternative. He stares at Nehta, who sometimes bullies him but always takes care of him in crucial moments. This bastard who only eats nuts... has never refused Lin's request."

Nehta flicked its tail and nodded slightly, acknowledging Lin's statement.

"And that... that silly sixth brother, Lin thinks he'd be suitable to join Lin's finance department too."

"And of course, you too, alchemist." Then, the lame ratman's gaze shifted to Yunevo, and it said softly, "Lin feels... you're not Lin's 'minister,' but rather, it's like the feeling I get from that white-robed man."

It smacked its lips, carefully considering a suitable word.

"Friends? Are they really friends? Like the kind of relationship Lin had with his younger brother?"

Yoniv forced a helpless smile.

For some reason, he remembered something Iseria had once told him: "That ratman with the iron bars... tried to trade me a glass ball for the antidote, saying it was his treasure and that I must keep it safe until he had enough for the ransom."

Now, Lin handed over the glass ball, his claws outstretched, seemingly ready to relinquish this "incredibly precious" item. "What Lin wanted to say was... if we really have to fight..."

"Although Lin's intelligence network is small now, he knows who can be trusted and who cannot," its eyes lit up, as if a glimmer of "hope" had been rekindled.

"Lin doesn't want to...see his friend die in front of him," the lame ratman shook his head. "Lin doesn't want any reward, alchemist. You've already helped Lin so much...so much that Lin feels he'd give his life for it."

The claw that reached out to Yonivore was thin and dry, with filth still stuck in its nails—but Yonivore grasped it.

"Don't say such discouraging things... Your brother probably hopes you'll come back safely, right?"

"Lin's younger brother? Lin's younger brother is the best younger brother in the whole world..." Lin no longer hesitated and directly stuffed the glass ball into Yunefu's palm. "Lin is going to move to the surface with it and live in the big castle!"

Its mouth was stretched wide, and its eyes were narrowed to slits. "Lin, go prepare now! I guarantee, I guarantee that in seven days those white-robed figures will be running naked through the west tunnel, just like they're running naked in the street!"

Then, Lin limped towards the pipe entrance, but turned back halfway there. "By the way... Alchemist, if we really get to the surface..."

Before Yunevo could reply, it scratched its head and continued, "Lin wants to treat you to a meal, not some dried fish or anything like that, but a fancy restaurant with some kind of rating. Lin's on the treat!"

"That day will come, Lin..." The black-robed alchemist nodded solemnly. "I promise."

"Um... when Lin isn't around, remember to take care of his little brother for him. He's resting in that pipe in the bottom right corner."

Lin turned around, his resolute figure disappearing from their sight.

Nehta stood there, silent for a long time, but both he and Yonivore were intelligent people.

"Nuts, want some?" It grabbed a handful of nuts and offered them to Yunefu. "Lin used to... really acted like an emperor, always holding his head high and looking down on everyone..."

After seeing the latter take a few nuts from his palm and hand them over, Nehta continued, "Then came the Great Purge. It hid in 'Root' and locked itself away for three years. We all thought it had given up..."

Its words stopped there.

Afterwards, Ionev walked out of Lin's "reception room," with Nehta following closely behind.

Their gaze fell upon the "luxuriously" decorated pipe, and they crept closer...

Clear and even breathing could be heard from inside; Lin's younger brother seemed to be fast asleep.

"Should we leave it alone and come back later?" Nehta asked softly.

Yunevo nodded, and the two headed toward the apothecary.

"Oh! You're finally back!" Old Six called out in a voice that didn't belong to its size. It was standing on a small tin stool, leaning against the counter, swinging its aching arms.

Outside the shop, the bustling crowd of creatures had dwindled considerably, leaving only a few strong and capable individuals who had voluntarily stayed to help out as laborers.

"How's Lin doing?" The short, fat ratman rubbed his paws together, his eyes scanning the two men's faces.

"Lin said... its intelligence network is definitely up and running," Nehta said.

Old Six paused for a moment, then grinned, revealing a missing front tooth, and said, "We knew Lin still had a temper! If we run into him again... we'll have to negotiate a big intelligence deal with him!"

Instead of joining the brothers' conversation, Yunevo pinched his cheek and pondered the next battle plan.

Today is almost over, so there are only five days left...

The focus of attention from the frogmen, ratmen, and alchemists gradually converged on him.

"Sixth Brother... how many people with a certain level of combat capability can the three sides mobilize in total?" He looked at the short, fat ratman hopping around in place.

"We estimate... there might be one or two hundred?"

The black-robed alchemist rubbed his temples. "Let's say 150 then, but the quality of the existing combat forces on both sides is definitely not equal..."

Upon hearing this, Lao Liu's beard and ears drooped immediately, and he pressed on, "Then, isn't there an inside man?"

"He doesn't intend to self-destruct during this operation," Yunev exhaled, recalling Seth's assurance in Zehrhalan—the holy prayer man said that the final development of the "Holy Remains" would absolutely not succeed.

Nehta's brow furrowed. "Then this battle might be..."

Then the black-robed alchemist shook his head, interrupting the ratman ranger, "We have enough time now to make further modifications to these pipes."

"Remodel?" Nehta and the sixth brother asked in unison.

"Yes, the transformation... I have had the privilege of reading some related materials..." Yunevo paused, then suddenly stopped.

After whetting their appetites, he slowly began to speak.

"Tunnel warfare"