Chapter 22 (Double Update Combined) Magic Liquid Bomb (Drama...)
The Bureau of Alien Management and the Cloud Journey Tower at the Will Hub are only two streets apart. It is a semi-circular building surrounded by four metal pillars. The overall design is ingenious, with stacked gears embedded in the pillars, which interlock in the air to form lines, making it look like a huge mechanical device slowly operating from a distance.
It is the same formation as the air route markings inside the Cloud Journey Tower.
Yan Shi looked up for a while and concluded that this seemed to be a well-planned arrangement by the Weil Hub Branch.
Unlike the Ju'e Plain Branch, which has a human guide service at its entrance, the Weier Hub Branch only has a small control panel at its entrance. When Yan Shi approached, a mechanical female voice suddenly came from the panel.
"Hello Madam, the regular departments of the Foreign Affairs Bureau are closed today. For business inquiries, please visit during working hours on weekdays. If you have an emergency to report, please press the red button on the panel. After facial recognition, you will be transferred to the Enforcement Department. Please note that the transfer is based on your real name. False reports will result in detention by the Foreign Affairs Bureau in accordance with regulations."
Yan Shi raised an eyebrow: "I'm an employee, I forgot to take my things."
Mechanical female voice: "Please place your employee card in the recognition area."
As he spoke, the panel swiped and produced a card slot. After Yan swiped his card, an electronic screen rose up from above the panel.
"Employee card successfully recognized. Please look directly at the screen for facial recognition."
So sophisticated.
Yan Shi looked up in surprise and subconsciously smiled at the screen.
"Facial recognition successful. Permission query matched successfully. Welcome to the Weil Hub Branch, Chief."
The panel retracted the card slots and electronic screen it had just ejected, folded at the waist, bowed to Yan Shi in a human-like manner, and then merged into the gate. Some of the spiritual lines on the metal pillars on both sides of the gate lit up, and the gate slowly opened to both sides.
As Yan Shi entered, the previously dimly lit hall suddenly brightened up.
The interior of the Welsh hub branch is highly mechanical. The hall reaches the ceiling, and looking up, one can see a huge chandelier hanging down, its gears and chains turning slowly, casting a soft light. The walls are inlaid with intricate pipes, made of a semi-transparent material, through which alchemical inscriptions are faintly visible.
Since it was already after work hours, the place was completely empty.
Yan Shi stood in the center of the hall, lost in thought. The Weier Hub Branch had no reception desk or map; in such a large place, who knew where all the confiscated contraband was piled up?
Let's take a look around first. If we can't find it...
Yan Shi's gaze fell on the beautiful chandelier at the branch office.
She would knock off a few gears from the chandeliers and take them over to sell.
The chandelier is so big that you wouldn't notice if a few gears were missing. The gears appear to be inlaid with many intricate alchemical runes. Even if they weren't contraband, the fact that they were knocked off the chandelier of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs is valuable enough.
The police station was enclosed by a spiral staircase that wound around the wall, and Yan Shi went up the stairs. As she walked, the police station slowly lit up.
Starting from the second floor, there are rows of large offices. The exterior walls of the offices are made of laminated glass, and the interiors contain a complex network of pipes just like the lobby. There are no specific signs at the office doors; instead, pendulums of different colors and sizes hang by the doors.
She passed several offices that looked similarly decorated, and stopped at the far end of the second floor, near the third floor.
Instead of a pendulum, a clock face hangs on the door of this room.
Yan Shi approached the glass, trying to get a better look at the interior layout.
It was pitch black inside, and it seemed like a cloth had been stretched across the glass.
She walked to the doorway, where there was no doorknob, only a control panel similar to the one at the branch office gate, displaying real-time mechanical data that Yan Shi couldn't understand.
She tried to bring the employee card closer to the bottom of the panel.
"Permissions successfully recognized".
The panel emitted the same mechanical female voice as the one at the door, and at the same time, the pipes on the glass exterior wall of the room lit up, making the sound of gears turning.
With a soft "click," the lock loosened, and a dim light shone through the crack in the door, illuminating the room.
It's starting to sound like a horror story.
The alchemists at the branch office have some personal hobbies when it comes to interior design.
Yan Shi paused for a moment, then pushed open the door and entered.
Sure enough, a black cloth was hung on the glass.
The room was filled with rows of shelves, each holding various items whose purpose was unclear. Each shelf was labeled with a date.
It really did seem to be the place where the branch office stored contraband. Yan Shi approached the shelf with some curiosity.
Conventional magical artifacts and spiritual weapons are all the same, while prohibited items are diverse and bizarre.
For example, the row that Yanshi is looking at now consists of distorted geometric shapes with dark metal shells. The air near the geometric shapes even emits a faint popping sound.
The geometric components were all placed in individual transparent bags. A sticky note on the shelf read: "Unstable Magic Liquid Bomb, shatters upon explosion, posing a significant threat to public safety. To be inspected at the Yuntu Airport Tower security checkpoint."
Yan Shi's eyes lit up.
She weighed three appropriately sized magic liquid bombs, put one in each of her coat pockets, and held the other in her hand before leaving the room in a cheerful mood.
"Let's go have dinner."
Stepping out of the branch office of the Foreign Affairs Bureau, there was hardly anyone around; the shops were all closed, and it was quiet. But once you stepped onto this street, it suddenly became noisy.
Passengers waiting for airships or picking up relatives and friends will stop and rest around the Yuntu Airship Tower at night, and the streets are full of itinerant vendors.
Yan Shi carried the gift Libertas had given him, carefully avoiding the crowds. He would stop and buy any snacks that looked appealing, and soon his hands were full of food bags of all sizes.
"Boss," Yan Shi asked while waiting for Cloud Charcoal Grill, "do you know where C5 Street is?"
“C5 Street?” The shopkeeper thought for a moment as he flipped the bread. “It’s near the city gate, I guess. This is A2 Street, the central ring is section B, and the outermost ring is section C. I pass by C3 Street every morning when I go out to catch clouds. Just walk straight north from the street entrance, and C5 Street is probably not far away.”
"Is the area near the city gate inhabited by residents of the Weil Hub?" Yan Shi asked.
Boss: "No, it was originally inhabited by us merchants, mainly for the convenience of going out of town to hunt in the morning. Now that the Well Hub has been built, the merchants have all moved to Area B, and no one lives there anymore."
"Honestly, girl, I don't recommend you go there. Because no one lives in Area C now, the Bureau of Illegal Affairs doesn't care, and we don't know if it's safe inside."
It's definitely not safe; illegal black markets are operating inside.
I wonder if the Bureau of Extraterritorial Control will intervene if Area C explodes.
Yan Shi accepted the cloud-shaped charcoal grill and handed over two silver coins at the same time: "Thank you, boss."
"No need, it's just a favor to ask for directions," the shopkeeper replied with a smile, not taking the money.
Yan Shi: "Paying for directions is just something I do on a whim."
She placed the silver coins beside the charcoal stove, stuffed the empty coin bag into her pocket, and walked in the direction the shopkeeper had pointed.
After leaving area A and entering area B, the number of people gradually decreased. By the time you reach area C, Yan Shi is the only one left on the road.
She ate as she walked, tasting all the snacks she had bought, and finally threw all the trash into the roadside bin.
"Finally arrived at Zone C..." Yan Shi sat on a bench by the roadside, questioning his existence.
It's really far. Even though she used her Bureau of Extraterrestrial Affairs employee card to take a short-distance teleportation array, these arrays weren't completely connected. There were always gaps in the path where there were no teleportation arrays.
Yan Shi took out the silver coin bag and the magic liquid bomb. The silver coin bag was very simple, with a simple magic circle on its surface, probably related to spatial stability.
It's just right.
She stuffed all three magic liquid bombs into the bag and tied the opening shut.
"Two more hours," Yan Shi muttered to himself. "I'll check the forums for a bit; I haven't had a chance to look at the forums since the comic was updated."
The third episode, in particular, is packed with information and is quite outrageous.
Let her see what new speculations are circulating on the forum.
The forum was buzzing with activity after the last update tonight, with the homepage filled with trending posts.
[A rational analysis of the relationship between Yanlan and the bureau chief]
1L Original Poster:
As everyone has seen the update, Yanlan's sister is the director of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs. This explains how Yanlan opened the prison door.
2L:
Yes, that's pretty outrageous. The sister of the head of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs is a lawless outlaw, the kind of person who breaks into prison and steals without any scruples—it made my pupils dilate in shock.
3L:
But Yanlan is so cool!!!
[Yanlan strolling around the auction house.jpg]
[Yanlan sits amidst the ruins, clutching the blazing sun crown.jpg]
This sense of unbridled chaos, going against the grain of the world, how could anyone not be moved!
And Yanlan and the director are twins! Twins! The same face, one serious and self-disciplined, the other unrestrained and carefree, who wouldn't love them?!
4L:
Twins, Modo Modo. One a rule-maker, the other a rule-breaker, complete opposites. The author really knows how to create compelling characters.
5L:
Imagine if they both pursued me at the same time, fighting over me... (Cat dreaming.jpg)
6L:
What a happy little girl I must be...
7L:
Children make choices, adults want it all, right? I can understand Yan Lan's overwhelming lead in the popularity poll, but wow, the second place is Director Yan instead of Lin Cai!
6L:
Lin Cai: Where is my status as the protagonist?
6L:
Hilarious! I can't find another comic where the protagonist is completely outmatched by the villain, or even a supporting character who's only made one appearance.
7L:
To be honest, this definition of a villain isn't quite right. A villain is a character who stands in opposition to the protagonist. Judging from Lin Cai's behavior, let alone opposing them, if Yan Lan wanted to destroy the world, Lin Cai would be the first to agree and immediately try to take action.
8L:
Yan Lan sets fires and she pours oil on them; Yan Lan kills someone and she hands him a knife, right?
9L:
There's no way around it, that's why Lin Cai, as the main character, can't even beat Yan Ju, who just appeared once (shrug).
While a seemingly innocent person can be cunning, Lin Cai has a specific target for this cunning persona, and she is also a rival to many of Yanlan's dream girls.
10L:
Yanlan is invincible! I declare that she is the only protagonist of this comic!
11L:
I need to get some votes for my wife! Yan Lan is the only true protagonist in this manga, a cute and charming villain with a free-spirited yet incredibly reassuring and mysterious power. Every step she takes touches your heart. Vote for Yan Lan in the popularity poll!!!
…
Is this some kind of new activity called "popularity voting"?
Yan Shi suddenly remembered what Wu Na had said about the manga being the most popular, so he made a note of it and continued scrolling through the posts.
…
215L Original Poster:
I just got back from taking screenshots, and it's all turned into a Yanlan thread. This is a plot discussion thread (angry).
Let's get back to the main point. After Yanju appeared today, I reread the comic and discovered some interesting little details.
[Image of Yanlan's first appearance.jpg]
[Image of Director Yan's first appearance.jpg]
Notice this coat! It's the exact same coat that Yan Lan wore when she first appeared and the one that Director Yan wore!
When Director Yan appeared, his jacket was worn very neatly, and you could see the emblem of the Bureau of Dissidents on the chest, so this jacket should be the uniform of the Bureau of Dissidents.
Based on the fact that Shu Zhijing's uniform and the uniforms of the execution team that came with her have the same style, it can be deduced that the uniforms of different positions in the Bureau of Foreign Affairs have similar styles but are definitely not the same.
Note that Director Yan is the head of the department. Therefore, there shouldn't be anyone in the department with the same uniform as her.
216L:
I think I understand what the original poster is trying to say. Yan Lan was wearing Director Yan's uniform when she first appeared?
217L:
The original poster is very observant. I just compared them myself, and the subtle patterns and the length of the trench coats are exactly the same!
218L Original Poster:
When Yan Lan reappeared to break Lin Cai out of prison after her imprisonment, she had changed her coat. Later, during the settlement of the black market incident, Director Yan made her first appearance wearing this same uniform.
219L:
I was a little confused (listening attentively).
220L:
I think I understand a little, but I'm not entirely clear yet...
221L:
The original poster is referring to the employee card that unlocks the jail cell, right? With such high-level access, it's solid proof it belongs to Director Yan.
222L Original Poster:
Yes, I'll represent it using an event timeline: Yan Lan's first appearance -> Lin Cai's imprisonment -> Yan Lan's second appearance -> Director Yan's appearance.
Let's reinterpret the incident based on the jacket: Yanlan wore Director Yan's jacket and stole his employee card -> Yanlan used the employee card to brazenly break into the prison -> Director Yan discovered the jacket was missing, went to his sister's house to retrieve it -> Director Yan received news of his sister's prison break and chased after her to Zhuri City.
223L:
That makes sense! It also explains why Director Yan arrived so quickly!
224L:
And when Yanlan saw the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs arrive in the ruins, her first reaction was to hide. Was it because she felt guilty for stealing her sister's uniform and employee card? Hahahaha!
225L:
Good grief, so you really want Yanlan to use Director Yan's authority to break her out of prison? Aren't you afraid your sister will lose her job?
226L:
Yanju: I'm truly impressed to have a sister like you.
227L:
Question: Who can fire the bureau chief...?
228L:
Is this what Yanlan relies on to act so recklessly?
229L:
Speaking of the bureau chief, that's strange. According to the comics, Lin Cai and Yan Lan are childhood friends, meaning they're about the same age. And Bureau Chief Yan and Yan Lan are twins, suggesting that Bureau Chief Yan and Lin Cai should also be about the same age.
How come Lin Cai is still in school, while Director Yan is already a director at such a young age?
230L:
That seems right, everyone's about the same age. Yan Lan and Director Yan's strength is unfathomable, so how come Lin Cai is just an ordinary, unremarkable person?
Is this setting in the manga really reasonable, or is one day in the surface world equivalent to ten years in the underground world?
231L:
Yanlan's abilities might be questionable; it's understandable if you squeeze out a few exceptional geniuses. But Director Yan, is he really not cheating?
232L:
Lin Cai and Yan Lan were childhood sweethearts, meaning they started out on equal footing. What happened afterward? (Shocked)
233L:
Let's see how the old thief wraps things up later. I have a feeling that either he'll retcon the original story, or there'll be a major plot twist...
234L:
Don't kill Yanlan, don't kill Yanlan, don't kill Yanlan, don't force me to kneel down and beg you.
235L:
If he really goes to surgery, I'll send that old thief a box of razor blades (gritting my teeth).
…
1024L:
Everyone is so good at analyzing! I just reread the comic and discovered another interesting point.
When Yanlan first appeared, Lin Cai said, "You got off work so early today."
Yanlan replied, "It's rare that nothing's happening."
What class is Yanlan in? (Tactical lean back)
1025L:
Yanlan, going to work...? Judging from the current plot, is he planning a prison break or infiltrating the black market...?
1026L:
Based on this timeline, the plan should be complete. Now we just need to get started (for sure).
1027L:
LOL, if Yanlan really went to work, wouldn't she just kill the boss and become the boss herself?
1028L:
Lin Cai's statement is also strange. She asked Yan Lan, "Why are you getting off work so early today?" Does she know exactly when Yan Lan gets off work?
1029L:
I just discovered something interesting: Lin Cai feeds the stray cats here every day, and she only carries one cat treat with her.
Did Lin Cai feed the cat air?
1030L:
? ? ?
1031L:
...Schrödinger's cat feeding?
1032L:
This cat-feeding spot is quite interesting; it's right at the entrance of the residential complex. With people coming and going, what stray cat would regularly come here to eat? (Shocking!)
Oh, except for the tiger cubs (indifferently).
1033L:
This is a tiger, not a cat!
1034L:
Understood. Lin Cai deliberately waited at the entrance of the residential area around the time Yan Lan got off work. If Yan Lan appeared, she would feed him cat treats; if he didn't appear, she would leave disappointed.
1035L:
Lin Cai, you're actually the protagonist!
1036L:
I'm dying of laughter. Does Yanlan know that Lin Cai is like this...?
1037L:
It seems they don't know.
...
I really don't know.
Yan Shi silently closed the post, deeply shocked.
The first thing she saw when she returned to the comic's homepage was the popularity poll.
The official "Curse of the Laws" event is here! Vote for your favorite character in the popularity poll!
Voting is limited to two weeks, and the most popular character will receive a special side story!
In addition, an extra chapter will be released this weekend. We look forward to everyone's wonderful contributions to the forum.
When Yan clicked on the voting link, just as the post said, Yanlan's votes were far ahead of everyone else's, more than all the other characters combined.
She tried to cast her vote for Shu Zhijing, but the message indicated that voting required 20 forum coins.
Forum coins can be earned by posting a plot analysis thread (with over 1,000 replies) for 5 coins, or by directly topping up your account.
This is essentially a pay-to-win event.
Instead of giving the voting money to Kirina, it would be better to give it directly to her. Kirina didn't even pay her an appearance fee.
Yan Shi was silently complaining to himself when suddenly a shadow was cast in front of him.
She quickly turned off her phone screen and looked up; it was Libertas.
Libertas changed into a set of practical clothes, covering her head completely with the hood of her coat, leaving only her clear blue eyes visible. She still carried the heavy sword on her back, but unlike when they met at the Cloud Path Tower that afternoon, the sword was sheathed, while now it was drawn, its sharp edge exposed.
This is a sword with excellent craftsmanship.
When Yan looked up, Libertas unbuttoned the hood of his coat that was covering his face: "You're here so early. I was going to call you, but then I remembered you haven't told me your name yet."
She gave a genuine smile: "Hello, I'm Libertas Lorenz. What's your name?"
Libertas would give a bag of silver coins to a stranger whose name he didn't know, and would go to the meeting near midnight, knowing full well that it was a meeting run by the deputy head of a smuggling caravan.
Libertas isn't afraid that she'll tell Liuguang, and then Liuguang will set an ambush to capture her.
Yan Shi began to doubt the Duke of Lorenz's educational level once again.
Libertas is the first in line to the throne, not because the previous heirs were all as naive and trusting as her, blindly trusting everyone and then disappearing..., right?
Yan Shi: "You can call me Yan Lan."
Libertas laughed: "Then we can be considered true friends."
She took off the long sword she was carrying on her back and sat down next to Yan Shi: "I was worried that you wouldn't be able to find me, or that you didn't want me to take any risks and went in first, so I thought I would come early to wait for you, but I didn't expect you to come even earlier."
As he spoke, Libertas looked curiously at the bag of silver coins on Yan Shi's lap: "You got your things so fast. This must be the identity code transaction terms that Liu Guang gave you."
In fact, she also brought some contraband from the merchant group that the Lorenz family had previously seized. She originally planned to use the contraband she brought to make up the difference if Yanlan failed to retrieve the items or if Yanlan did not come.
According to an inside source, Yanlan used her employee card to enter the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs and retrieved the items. Those were contraband items previously seized by the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs.
However, during the family intelligence investigation, the Weil Hub Branch did not find any employees whose facial recognition matched Yanlan's.
Libertas was a little confused. She noticed that Yan Lan hadn't disguised himself, so did he take the employee card from an employee of the Bureau of Extraordinary Management?
If you're already in the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs, why don't you get yourself a new ID code instead of doing business with Liuguang?
Libertas concealed the searching in his eyes.
No, Libertas actually knew?
Yan Shi turned his head and looked at her in surprise.
Seeing Yan Shi turn her head, Libertas opened her beautiful, sea-blue eyes wide and looked at her innocently.
Yan Shi suddenly remembered what she had just seen today: an analysis on a comic forum saying that Lin Cai was staking out her at the entrance of the neighborhood every day, while she, as the one being staking out, was completely unaware. She silently questioned her own judgment of people and coldly turned her head back: "Are you dressed like this to assassinate Liu Guang?"
Libertas: "I've met Liuguang before, she recognizes me, so I covered myself up. Besides, I'm your bodyguard tonight! This is more in line with bodyguard attire." As she spoke, she showed Yan Shi her hat: "It can perfectly cover my face without hindering my movement. I sewed it myself."
It is a layer of lightweight fabric added inside the original hood.
Yan Shi glanced at it but didn't reply. Libertas, holding his hat, looked a little embarrassed and put it back on.
A silence fell between them.
Yan Shi clenched the money pouch containing the magic liquid bomb, sighing inwardly. The silence was suffocating. Why did Libertas have to come so early? It would have been better to let her sit alone and browse the forum for a while longer.
She said stiffly, "I think it's about time, let's go."
“Okay.” Libertas immediately stood up and put his sword back on his back.
The bench is conveniently located, just a short distance from the intersection of C5 Street.
When Yanshi led Libertas to the intersection of C5 Street, Liuguang was already waiting there with a smile.
“You’re very punctual,” she said, then looked at the money bag Yan Shi was carrying: “Is this your small business? May I take a look?”
Yan Shi shrugged: "Of course, but I don't know if it's even viewable here."
Liu Guang shrugged: "Oh? What can't you see?" Her sharp gaze fell on Yan Shi, "Is it because your small business isn't presentable?"
Yan Shi smiled slightly: "You said it yourself."
She took a few steps back, took out a small magic liquid bomb she had selected beforehand from her money bag, and quickly tore open the transparent bag while Liu Guang looked shocked. She then forcefully threw the geometric component inside behind Liu Guang.
Liu Guang recognized what it was and screamed, "Stop!"
The magic liquid bomb crashed to the ground, shattering its outer shell. The alchemical liquid inside came into contact with the air, instantly generating intense heat and enticing the spirits in the air to become agitated, causing the nearby spirits to tremble violently.
"boom!"
The impact followed, generating a large amount of smoke and dust. The original buildings behind the streak of light were instantly pulverized and disappeared into the air.
Author's note: Rounding up, it's about 10,000 words a day (feeling guilty) (spitting out my soul)
Double update tomorrow too.
There are too many comments to reply to, thank you everyone for your support!
Yan Lan is a charming villain, of course she never looks at the explosion behind her.
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2024-05-24 22:33:28 and 2024-05-27 22:30:30!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the grenade: Do people go to the library after they die? And those who criticize others for boxing should mind their own business.
Thank you to the little angels who threw landmines: Ziqing (2); Asahina Xiao, Liao Wulu, Chu Zhinan, 67689732, Pigeon Soup, 707, Black Night Dream Butterfly, Eternal Leaf, President's Cat, Yu Yu, Rong kk, Oh Duck Smi, and Hetalia Lover (1).
Thank you to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: lzj 60 bottles; Yue, Chu Zhi Nan 50 bottles; Li Ling 44 bottles; Qing Feng Fu Mian 40 bottles; Ye Hui Xi, Zi Zeng Yue 30 bottles; xnin 25 bottles; Man Chen Huan 24 bottles; 23355867 22 bottles; Chao Ri Nai Xiao, Wu Mu, Nan Yuan, Shuo Ni Wo Jiao Shen Me Hao, Xiao, Xiao Mai 20 bottles; Qing Jiu Ba 18 bottles; Bu Jun 17 bottles; Sheng Huo YA 15 bottles; Yan Yan, He He Da, Ge Zi Tang 14 bottles; Gui Hua Luo, Tao Zi, Meng Xi, Eiersalat, treasure, Mu Huo Huo Huo, Shi Suan, Zhuan Ye Qiao Fu, Yu Yu, Xuan Yuan Zi Si, Ren Si Hou Hui Qu Tu Shu Ma, Qian Liang, Shang Xu, Xun An, Suan Suan Zi 10 bottles; TheLegoBatman 9 bottles; Jimo Yunkai 7 bottles; Tingyunfu, Xuejindaohua, Yueluoshuanghuawulongjiang, Rabbit, Sandianshui, Yongshengtonghenzhongtongkuai, Erciyuan 5 bottles; Buzai Meibianzaishibian, Ruguozhenzhenyou Jichen 4 bottles; Dilireba, Yuke, Coisini, Fanqie Tudou 3 bottles; Zhuoyue Yizhi Xiaokeai, Hui Kafei, Lan, Duanqiaoyanyu, Ye Zhirou, 72344484, Yemaozi, Nuotu, Shangan Jinli, 41864498 2 bottles; Dada Jiangyou, Buluoren, Muluomu, Mamiko, Y, Zuizong, Qiu, Flute, 123456, evina, Here, Muyan, Bi'an Huakai, Yunyunyun, Manzhi, Shijiu, Ling, Qianbei Bie Tiaohe!!, Jiuniangda Tiancheng, Jia+1, Pitaoer 1 bottle;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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