The heavy gate slowly opened, a scorching wave rushing in, making Bologue squint his eyes. Once the gate fully opened, a figure in protective clothing appeared behind it, having seemingly waited there for quite some time.
Bologue looked at the name tag on the figure’s chest to determine his identity.
"Good morning, Mister Lazarus," Balder nodded to Bologue.
Belli waved to Balder before passing by him, energetically greeting everyone around.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Only at times like these did Bologue feel that Belli was like a department head. He wondered how she managed to call out each person’s name despite not seeing their name tags, as if she were a lion overseeing her territory.
"I thought you all never left the Sublimation Furnace Core," Bologue said, surprised to encounter Belli outside of it.
"We rarely leave," Balder replied, quickly adding, "But in some special cases, we do go out in groups."
"For emergencies needing technical support from the Sublimation Furnace Core, and when a project succeeds, we go out to celebrate and have a drink."
Bologue hadn’t encountered the former situation yet, but the latter brought back memories for him.
It happened shortly after he joined the Field Operations Department—once, while heading to the cafeteria with Palmer, he saw a large group of lab coat-clad individuals rushing by, mixed with a few people in protective clothing.
They were shouting and waving bottles, turning the public cafeteria into a party venue.
"Let’s go. The equipment requested by the Special Operations Group is ready. Come sign off, and I’ll have someone deliver it later."
Belli approached; everyone was in protective clothing except for her, wearing casual attire.
In the elevator, to avoid an awkward silence, Bologue casually chatted with Belli, including a mention of the current situation. Belli explained, saying, "Ignoring protocol is a privilege of a department head."
Damn it, can no one actually reprimand her?
Bologue nodded and followed Belli, Balder also walking beside them. Bologue was already used to Balder’s silence and elusive nature.
He was like Belli’s external brain, the two inseparable.
Doors opened one after another in the winding corridors, finally reaching a large door that Belli opened, revealing a warehouse filled with stacks of boxes, almost filling the entire view.
"These were custom-made according to your work needs."
Speaking, Belli forcefully pried open a box with a crowbar, sending wood and dust flying. Her movements were swift and clean, showing a bit of the spirit of a heroin.
Balder showed no intention of helping, suggesting this was not the first time this had happened.
"Although the minister is an unreliable Alchemist, she received excellent swordsmanship training before. If her talent in Alchemy weren’t outstanding, she might have been part of the Field Operations Department."
Balder explained timely, pausing for a second or two, then continued, "Perhaps she might have even been your colleague."
Sound of breaking continued, as Belli leisurely set down the crowbar, not a drop of sweat on her face.
Bologue thought she could pry open a grown man’s skull with a crowbar easier than prying open a wooden box.
"Aside from the Fourth Group within the Field Operations Department, you should be the second group to operate long-term within the Great Rift. This batch of equipment is based on the custom gear for the Fourth Group, modified specifically for you."
Upon opening the wooden box, among the cushioning fragments, Belli unveiled an iron chest hidden inside, tossing an Arm of Adaptation towards Bologue.
"Upgraded Arm of Adaptation. Compared to the original, this version uses tougher Alchemy materials, and the hook range has been doubled, making it easier for you to swing around in the Great Rift."
Bologue nodded, as the regular hook was indeed not very useful in the Great Rift. Doubling the range gave Bologue much more freedom in his movements.
"This set is Iron-Repelling Armor."
Belli said as she took out an object resembling a bulletproof vest. Bologue received the Iron-Repelling Armor, feeling it was very light. It appeared to be some sort of fabric, yet felt metallic, like chain armor woven with threads.
"The surface... is it Iron-Repelling Paint?" Bologue asked.
"You recognize it; the outer layer is indeed Iron-Repelling Paint. For flexibility, much of the defense has been sacrificed, but even so, it can somewhat resist cutting. However, be cautious..."
Bologue interrupted Belli’s explanation, and he said, "It can’t block piercing."
"Well, but it’s not that it completely can’t block piercing. It’s just that compared to other protective powers, it’s much less effective against piercing."
Belli took out another item. From the model of the Iron-Repelling Armor, it seemed to be prepared for Bologue and Palmer.
"In that haunted place, the Great Rift, accidents happen all the time. This thing is of limited use in battles against Condensers, but it’s still better than facing a blade with just flesh and blood." Belli’s tone was rarely tinged with some concern.
"And then... huh?" Belli’s voice became strange. She glanced at the list, then at the contents, and picked up a Sheep Horn Hammer in confusion, "Is this also what you wanted?"
"Yes." Bologue affirmed.
"Alright, alright, the Sheep Horn Shock Hammer, the effect is literal, vibration... we use this to forge steel."
"I’m very handy with it." Bologue affirmed again.
Belli’s gaze at Bologue became strange. Come to think of it, she only knew Bologue was from the Field Operations Department, but she was completely ignorant of Bologue’s style and method of work.
"You don’t like to use firearms?" Belli asked.
"I’m a bit nearsighted. If I want to focus on a target, it takes some time," Bologue frowned. Actually, he couldn’t really be considered nearsighted; it was just a bit of a struggle to see things clearly, "Plus, my marksmanship is terrible, but my throwing technique is superb, my accuracy with a flying knife is incredible."
Bologue was very skilled in throwing flying knives and even in the use of all projectiles. He felt it was like an instinct—anything in his hands could be thrown out at a deadly speed.
"Then this is very suitable for you. You don’t need to aim; as long as you’re in a rough shooting range, it’s fine."
Belli said as she pulled out a short-barreled shotgun, "From what I see in the requirements, you guys also need to be discreet. This kind of weapon is easy to hide."
Bologue took the short-barreled shotgun. During the hunt on the stormy night, he had already used this kind of weapon and, from an expert’s perspective, Bologue quite liked this weapon.
"This doesn’t look like an Alchemy Armament." Bologue observed, noticing that the metal surface lacked that faint light trajectory.
"This is just a regular firearm. What we’ve prepared for you are these Alchemy Warheads," Belli said while taking out box after box of ammo, "As for the specific effects, you can look at the list yourself, I won’t introduce them one by one."
"Yes, use them sparingly. The most expensive things here are these warheads and the Iron-Repelling Armor," Belli said.
Bologue walked up and quickly checked the contents of the box, then glanced at the list. He said, "These are all for Palmer and me. What about Lebius and the others?"
"They are Third Stage Negative Power Users. This kind of equipment doesn’t have much significance for them," Belli said, "Alchemy Armaments that are useful to them are at least of the ’Pure White’ level. And for that kind of Alchemy Armament, no matter how you sell your male charm, it requires approval procedures."
Belli suddenly paused, leaned against the wooden box, and her eyes scrutinized Bologue up and down. She spoke again.
"Of course, if you choose to join the Sublimation Furnace Core, it’s not impossible to just obtain ’Pure White.’
Joining the Sublimation Furnace Core? That’s certainly impossible. If he could, Bologue wouldn’t even want to come. He ignored Belli’s words and instead spoke softly.
"Alchemy Armaments of the Pure White level? I have never seen such a thing."
Over the past two weeks, Bologue had been so exhausted because, apart from his duties at the Great Rift during the day, he spent his after-hours reading, cramming knowledge related to the Extraordinary World.
To this end, Lebius recommended a few books to him, one of which was an introductory book on alchemy, titled ’Golden Thesis.’
Developments have led alchemists’ research into three major schools: one on the qualitative change of metal sublimation to transform base metals into noble metals, another on exploring the Alchemy Matrix, and the third is to create new life. They believe all three will guide alchemists deep within the "Secret Source" to explore the truth.
After centuries of research and evolution, the first one on metal sublimation, the "Iron Stone School," evolved into the subsequent research on Alchemy Armaments.
In the ideology of alchemists, the qualitative transformation of metal sublimation can be divided into four major stages, each named after a color: dissolution and corruption of matter, termed "Blackening;" followed by decomposition and purification, termed "Whitening," the third stage—"Yellowing"—combines the refined materials, and finally through "Red Transformation," condenses into the Philosopher’s Stone.
To this end, the degree of qualitative change in Alchemy Armaments is divided into four levels according to these four stages, carrying different strengths of Alchemy Armaments to release varying degrees of power.
The full name of Pure White is "Purifying White." The Alchemy Armaments of this stage correspond to the tier of Negative Power Users.
For one-stage condensers like Bologue, the Alchemy Armaments they use are untransmuted Alchemy Armaments. If Bologue wants to use transmuted Alchemy Armaments, he would at least have to become a Prayer Believer before he could use Alchemy Armaments of the "Corruption of Black" level.
"The Pure White level, indeed, you won’t see it. After all, it’s used by Negative Power Users."
Belli’s smile suddenly turned weird, and she scrutinized Bologue with that peculiar gaze again, then said.
"But now you have an opportunity to see the Rot Black level. Interested?"
After a brief silence, Bologue, with an unchanged expression, said.
"Speak, what’s the price?"