Chapter 409: Chapter 25: Bu Bu Unboxing
After riding Bubute Ni for half an hour, a small town faintly appeared ahead.
Su Xiao didn’t enter the town. He jumped off Bubute Ni’s back and pulled open his collar, a steel rod was inserted in his chest.
The steel rod wasn’t long, and the wound wasn’t deep. He hadn’t dared to deal with the wound earlier, as the smell of blood would attract the attention of that black gorilla.
Gripping the steel rod, Su Xiao expressionlessly pulled it out slowly, causing blood to spray from the wound and stain his clothes.
Being injured was commonplace, and Su Xiao skillfully cleaned the wound and drank a bottle of {Basic Alchemy Elixir}.
Undoubtedly, killing that black gorilla could yield huge rewards, but that was obviously impossible, at least not something Su Xiao could achieve right now.
Though Su Xiao had a fearless spirit, he wouldn’t willingly throw his life away.
At least until he ascends to a Second Tier contractor, he wasn’t a match for that black gorilla.
Su Xiao’s level had risen too quickly. Besides the Trial World, War World, and Promotion World, he had only been through four Derivative Worlds in total.
Repeatedly receiving high ratings made his level climb continuously.
Before advancing to the Second Tier, there’s a limit where the maximum attribute increase is up to 49 points.
Su Xiao is currently balancing the development of four attributes, with none reaching 49 points.
A low attribute doesn’t mean low combat strength. Su Xiao believed that among those contractors collapsed on the ground earlier, there were definitely those with attributes over 40 points.
For example, that cross-dressing fellow, their Intelligence Attribute was at least over 40 points.
But they had a fundamental difference with Su Xiao. Those contractors developed single attributes, which may have some advantages early on but become more lacking towards the later stages.
Su Xiao, on the other hand, had been steadily advancing. Although his highest attribute was only 38 points, his Sword Technique Master’s level was high, having reached Level 18, which was unimaginable for a First Tier contractor.
Most of the strong individuals who had fought Su Xiao were balanced in development. The Crazy Healer focused on dual primary attributes, with the main attributes being Power and Stamina, and the subsidiary attribute being Intelligence. The Cowboy Hat Man was the same, with primary attributes of Power and Agility, and a subsidiary attribute of Stamina.
Su Xiao’s four-attribute development was very rare, often being eliminated early on, or soaring into the sky after promotion.
However, Su Xiao couldn’t soar yet, as his attribute points were too scarce. Once he takes off, all enemies will have to lie low.
Su Xiao took out his walkie-talkie, trying to contact someone with it.
The signal was poor, and Su Xiao could barely make out what the other person was saying.
"Outside the city... at eight... the usual spot... meet."
Hearing these keywords, Su Xiao knew where the usual spot was.
...
At eight in the morning, Su Xiao waited in a forest, and not long after, a hooded figure walked into the forest.
"Over here."
Hearing Su Xiao’s call, the person removed the hood, revealing Colonel Mustang, also known as the Alchemist of Flames. The two were now allies, at least with a common goal.
"You caused quite a stir last night. What was that gorilla thing? The military deployed tens of thousands of troops, and it still escaped."
Mustang no longer had the previous hostility, as Su Xiao had provided him with a lot of intel. Now, Mustang understood this country’s secrets.
Mustang’s identity as a Human Pillar undoubtedly strengthened his resolve to rebel. A general who doesn’t want to be president is not a good general.
"That was a Synthetic Beast. I almost died at its hands. It’s better it escaped Central City."
The black gorilla leaving Central City was undoubtedly good news. The Little Man in the Bottle was hard enough to deal with, and adding a black gorilla would make things insurmountable.
Mustang nodded, beginning to recount his situation.
"I’ve mostly set things up on my end, but it’ll take some time before full-scale war can start. Last night, I investigated, and there indeed is an ’Undead Legion’ there."
The so-called Undead Legion was a type of soldier created by the Little Man in the Bottle, formed by refining bodies using Philosopher’s Stones, then forcibly embedding souls into those bodies, akin to Alphonse’s principle, just replacing armor with flesh.
The Undead Legion is not truly undead, only lacking vital points. Even if beheaded, they can still fight, but luckily, they don’t have the homunculi’s recovery power.
"How many are there?"
"At least tens of thousands, and they don’t seem to have souls added yet."
Mustang sighed, knowing who the enemy was, but the enemy was simply too strong.
"The Undead Legion is a minor issue. The high-ranking generals in the military must be dealt with immediately once the fighting begins."
"That’s not a problem. Don’t forget we have ’Hawkeye’."
Su Xiao nodded. Lisa Hokai’s sniping ability was undeniable, a female sniper naturally equipped with a scope.
"Great, I’ll be contacting another ally soon. Envy has already been dealt with, and by the way, it was Envy who killed Maas Hughes."
"What?"
Mustang’s pupils contracted, his gaze turning grim.
Maas Hughes was Mustang’s close friend and comrade, like brothers in life and death.
"Why didn’t you tell me this before?"
Mustang’s dissatisfaction stemmed from not personally avenging his foe.
According to power comparison, Mustang did have the ability to kill Envy·Envy, with his flame ability being a homunculi’s nemesis.
"You couldn’t possibly find him. If homunculi could be found easily, do you think I’d stay in Central City?"
Su Xiao and Mustang had only an alliance relationship, which could end at any time, but they had a common enemy, the Little Man in the Bottle.
"I need a secure place to stay and a ticket heading northwest."
Mustang nodded, "A secure place is no problem, but where are you heading with the ticket northward?"
"Briggs."
"The big snow mountain? Are you planning to unite with..."
"Yes, her."
"That woman won’t get involved in this. Though she’s just a Vice Admiral, the northwestern frontier is her kingdom, already semi-autonomous. They don’t even need central fund support, as she’s levying taxes on her own."
Mustang seemed skeptical of Su Xiao’s ally choice, though not because of the woman’s weak power, but because she was hard to convince.
"No, she will certainly unite with us. Don’t forget, the northwest is a corner of the Nationwide Transmutation Circle. According to the Little Man’s plan, there will definitely be a war there."
Listening to Su Xiao’s words, Mustang shook his head.
"I thought of that long ago, but given her character, heh~, that woman always thinks I got my position through nepotism."
Su Xiao lit a cigarette; that woman indeed wouldn’t be easy to handle.
"I’ll find a way. Start eliminating Central’s unstable factors in two days, Mustang."
"No, I’ll start tomorrow."
Mustang seemed more urgent than Su Xiao.
"It’s going to rain tomorrow."
Mustang was silenced; in the rain, his abilities were useless. Let alone flame, he couldn’t even strike a spark.
"Then the day after tomorrow, and about the safe spot you requested, go to my hometown; the Central Army can’t interfere there."
"Alright."
Su Xiao stood and left as Mustang leaned against a tree.
"Flame Alchemist, what exactly do you want to achieve, what’s your goal in defeating the Little Man in the Bottle?"
Mustang was never clear on Su Xiao’s objective. If not for the irrefutable evidence in front of him, he wouldn’t cooperate with Su Xiao.
"Perhaps he’s trying to save the world."
Lisa Hokai’s voice came; she had been nearby all along.
"If it were someone else, maybe I’d believe it, but the Flame Alchemist trying to save the world is as fanciful as a fairy tale."
...
Two days later, in a small town towards the northwest.
Su Xiao sat in front of a heater; Central City was off-limits to him for a while due to killing too many homunculi.
The High President and Pride hadn’t shown up previously, most likely due to the black gorilla; otherwise, the two would surely have besieged Su Xiao.
Sitting in front of the heater, Su Xiao took out several Philosopher’s Stones and a Purple Treasure Box. After opening the box, he’d be mass-producing alchemical potions.
Currently, Paradise coins were abundant; the only thing lacking to enhance ’Alchemical Potion Study’ was skill level.
No combat was expected soon; Su Xiao’s task was to keep making alchemical potions.
Su Xiao looked at the Purple Treasure Box before him, exquisitely crafted and with a heavy feel, emitting a purple glow.
He hesitated. Fate Redemption+7’s cooldown hadn’t ended. Should he open it now?
For other contractors, opening treasure boxes without luck aids was common, but for Su Xiao, it was a huge challenge.
Su Xiao glanced at Bu Bu Wang beside him, which seemed like a good choice.
PS: (Awkwardly asking for monthly tickets, shivering in the cold.)