Eldritch Horror Theatre - Ch. 89: King of the White Tower (11)
In fact, someone came even faster than expected.
After successfully igniting the arena and grinding his reputation with the audience to a boiling point, an uninvited guest knocked on his door that very night.
Fu Qian went to open the door and found an old man in gray standing outside.
"Hello, Mr. Fu."
The visitor was completely shrouded in a loose robe. He lacked a single hair on his eyebrows, beard, or head, and his wrinkled face bore a mysterious smile.
"I am Lu Ming. I wonder if you have time to tour the archipelago with me?"
Tour the archipelago?
Fu Qian glanced down at his right hand, which was covered by a wide cuff.
Although it was wrapped tightly, its shape was obviously wrong; it was highly likely not a factory-original setup.
"Sure."
Seeing Fu Qian answer so readily, Lu Ming chuckled and immediately turned to lead the way.
A boat was already waiting by the island. Fu Qian and Lu Ming stepped aboard one after the other.
"Your display of mighty power in the arena today left a deep impression, Mr. Fu."
After sitting down, the boatman began rowing without a word, and Lu Ming spoke up first with a smile.
"Our people were a bit impolite yesterday. I mainly came today to express my apologies."
Your people? Fu Qian pondered.
"The Rebirth Club?"
"That's right. I was the one who asked them to invite you, Mr. Fu. I didn't expect things to end somewhat unpleasantly."
"I wouldn't call it unpleasant, just a bit boring."
"Boring?" Lu Ming looked at Fu Qian. "Do you also think Grafting is a crooked path, Mr. Fu?"
"A question like that could spark hundreds of debates; it's hard to have a definitive answer." Fu Qian shook his head. "Speaking for myself personally, it's somewhat interesting, but it simply doesn't appeal to me."
"Understandable. Your strength is transcendent, Mr. Fu; you don't need to rely on external objects like we do."
Lu Ming nodded in understanding. After a few seconds of silence, he flung open his sleeve, revealing the right hand he had hidden all the way.
In fact, it was hard to call it a hand anymore; it looked more like the head of some reptile.
There was no palm or five fingers. Below the elbow was completely covered in yellowish-brown scales, and the front end was a deformed long beak, with sharp fangs even visible inside.
Lu Ming extended his arm, aiming at the rippling water.
The next moment, accompanied by a bizarre screech, eerie green flames spewed forth, forming a gorgeous fan of fire that covered a large area.
The spewing stopped after a few seconds, but the residual flames floated on the water, enduring like will-o'-wisps.
He is indeed the boss; this looks much stronger than what Ji Ping had.
Fu Qian evaluated silently.
Having showed off, Lu Ming let out a long sigh.
"People are born different, especially in this world.
"Some are born with a talent for cultivation, some awaken supernatural abilities as they grow, and the rest live out their lives in mediocrity.
"In comparison, I believe the existence of Grafting actually provides a much fairer possibility than things like bloodline or luck..."
The gliding boat soon arrived near the central island. Lu Ming disembarked first, with Fu Qian and the boatman following behind.
The three quickly bypassed the White Tower and arrived before a circular building.
Someone had just introduced this place yesterday: the legendary Grafting Laboratory, the place of rebirth in the hearts of countless people.
Even at night, it was brightly lit and extremely bustling.
Lu Ming led the way, passing through security doors without hindrance, all the way into the depths of the Laboratory.
It was a massive underground space, filled top to bottom with transparent boxes of varying sizes, resembling an underground museum.
It was just that the things inside the display cases were rather horrifying.
Severed hands, eyeballs, tails, wings... a dazzling array of bizarre body parts.
"This is the Laboratory's Material Vault."
Lu Ming stood before it, his arms spread wide.
"Through our efforts, every item stored here will eventually meet its true master."
"I understand what you mean."
Seeing him so intoxicated, Fu Qian chimed in casually.
"Destiny favors the virtuous. The original owners of these things were nothing more than the soil that nurtured them."
"Well said!"
Lu Ming looked at Fu Qian with an expression of admiration. "Great minds think alike."
This has nothing to do with what we think; I'm merely deducing based on your tyrannical logic.
"Do you know what the most foolish rule is?"
Fu Qian's response piqued Lu Ming's interest, leading him to pose another question.
"The upper limit ratio for Grafting?" Fu Qian thought for a moment before answering.
The Grafting enthusiast in front of him must despise this rule.
"Exactly."
Lu Ming revealed a look of disgust.
"Rigid and stupid. It serves no purpose other than placing shackles on a great innovation."
"They are quite rigid in how they do things sometimes."
Fu Qian recalled his previous several encounters with the Night Watchers.
"Actually, the main reason I invited you over today, Mr. Fu, is for another matter."
Seeing that Fu Qian wasn't very interested in these things, Lu Ming stopped chatting nonsense and led Fu Qian further inside, opening a specially shaped box.
"Please, look here."
This...
The contents made Fu Qian frown.
It was a cluster of intertwined tentacles, varying in length and entirely deep blue in color. They were currently writhing slowly, emitting an indescribable odor.
"We found this while collecting supernatural limbs.
"We experimented with it many times. After more than one person was devoured by it, we unanimously agreed that it requires a highly powerful Beyonder to potentially tame it.
"You must know that the more powerful the limb, the higher the requirements for the recipient. Otherwise, at best, there will be no effect; at worst, they won't be able to withstand the backlash.
"And judging by its current performance, we believe that if this piece is successfully fused, it is enough to elevate a Beyonder to a Demigod... I wonder if you are interested, Mr. Fu?"
"Sounds like there's a lot of uncertainty?" Fu Qian glanced at him.
"To some extent, yes. But high risk means high reward, doesn't it?"
Lu Ming stared at Fu Qian. The temptation of advancing to a Demigod was something he believed no Beyonder could resist.
"High risk, high reward. Is that what you told those volunteers who died?"
"Not just them, actually everyone."
Lu Ming waved his hand behind him.
"To everyone who undergoes Grafting, we make it explicitly clear that everything requires paying a price. Without such resolve, they shouldn't dream of supernatural power."
The boatman from earlier stepped forward with her head lowered and gently pulled up her sleeve, revealing her left arm.
The slender arm was neatly severed just below the shoulder, and attached below it was a hairless, sharp claw dotted with dark red stripes, looking incredibly sinister.
Wait a minute. Fu Qian's focus was on something else entirely.
He hadn't noticed earlier, but looking at this person's short blonde hair now...
"Is your sister named Veil?"
Fu Qian took out the blonde woman's pendant and compared it to the photo.
"How did you know..."
The beast-claw girl snapped her head up, looking at Fu Qian in disbelief.
"Your sister asked me to give this to you. She and your family are very worried about you and hope you come home soon."
Fu Qian draped the item over her shoulder and relayed Veil's message, fulfilling his errand.
"I don't need you telling me what to do!"
Five seconds later, the beast-claw girl came to her senses, grabbed the pendant, and slammed it to the ground, her tone instantly turning hostile.
"No matter what you say, I won't go back!"
?
I was just asked by someone to hand over an item. Whether you go back or not is none of my business.
"Your choice is none of my concern, but your impolite tone..."
Fu Qian looked at the rebellious girl, half-smiling.
"Did my act of passing on an item give you the illusion that my reputation is set to 'Friendly'?"
The beast-claw girl shuddered, suddenly realizing who she was talking to, and her face instantly turned pale.
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