Chapter 375: 135. Cross-boundary cooperation_5
Translator: 549690339
Talbot joined the Blackbone Secret Society as a member of the Re-forged Alchemist Association, which must have been arranged by the Re-forged Association.
Noland Lee’s judgment is based on evidence.
Take himself, for example.
After successfully escaping the Suffering Borderland, his [identity] column changed:
[Identity 1] Debtor (expired)
[Identity 2] Sin Soldier (expired)
As you can see, when someone truly leaves a certain power, the “expired” wording will appear in their [identity] column.
Talbot’s Re-forged Association membership does not have this term, so he has not left the Re-forged Association.
From this, it can be concluded that the Re-forged Association secretly helped the Blackbone Secret Society build a machinery factory under the Savage Stone Wasteland.
Assuming that Blackwater Winery is a cover set up by Intelligence Department 6 and the Razor Gang is a local alchemy faction funded by Intelligence Department 6.
Then the Re-forged Association’s exchange of huge Union Coins for Blackwater Winery is a collaboration with Intelligence Department 6.
The Re-forged Association is working both ways, helping Blackbone Secret Society from within and Tatis Empire’s Intelligence Department 6 from the outside, contributing a great deal of power to the unstable situation in Union City.
What’s their purpose for doing this?
Noland Lee pondered for a moment, taking a deep breath and saying:
“Alchemical Constructs. I get it; all this is for Alchemical Constructs.”
Noland Lee looked up and asked the puzzled lady:
“Cindy, I have a question. Who is the main creator of Alchemical Constructs? Is the alchemist named Torrence Manx a member of the Re-forged Alchemist Association?”
Cindy shrugged, spread her hands, and showed a “do I need to ask?” look:
“Yes. Torrence Manx is the chief alchemist of the Re-forged Alchemist Association, an eighth-order alchemist, a Great Alchemist. As for the creators of Alchemical Constructs, well… I don’t know much about that. Fars told me that most of the mechanical parts can be made according to the alchemy blueprint. However, for core components like Alchemical Cubes, only the Re-forged Association can make them. They have the alchemy blueprint and irreplaceable alchemic materials, and they can only activate the re-forging Array/Formation for making Alchemical Constructs.”
“Irreplaceable alchemy materials?” Noland Lee asked.
Cindy nodded:
“Yeah, irreplaceable. I don’t know what it is, do you want me to find out? But don’t get your hopes up too high. These alchemy materials must be top-secret to the Re-forged Association. It’s unlikely I can get any useful information.”
Noland Lee frowned, his thoughts racing.
He had a feeling.
If he could figure out what the irreplaceable alchemy material was, all the clues would come together.
He would find the answer to his puzzling question.
Why would the Re-forged Association willingly pay billions of Union Coins to the Blackwater Winery Sales Company for salaries?
Just to spread money?
… Or to pay for the purchase of “irreplaceable alchemy materials”?
An idea flashed through the depths of Noland Lee’s heart!
He remembered Fars’ condition when the ‘Perceptual Link’ was severed.
Bleeding from the nostrils, bloodshot eyes, splitting headache.
This is the adverse reaction after using the “Pure Bone Card” to establish a “Soul Link” and then forcibly severing the “Soul Link”!
Noland Lee thought at the time that the so-called ‘Perceptual Link’ was just similar to the ‘Soul Link’ and not the same thing.
But now, looking at the connection between the two clues: “Re-forged Association holding irreplaceable alchemy materials” and “Re-forged Association paying huge Union Coins to Intelligence Department 6’s winery company”.
Noland Lee grasped the key to the whole incident.
If he didn’t guess wrong, the so-called “irreplaceable alchemy material” is the “Pure Bone Fragments” or something similar.
The Blackwater Winery Sales Company, in the Tatis Empire, was not selling wine for worthless New Solon Currency, but for “irreplaceable alchemy materials.” That’s why the Re-forged Association willingly paid a huge amount of Union Coins.
With this, all the clues are strung together.
As Noland Lee came to his senses, he flipped through the documents brought by Cindy and asked:
“When was the last time the Blackwater Winery Sales Company’s ships returned from the Tatis Empire? Is it written in these documents?”
“Yes.. let me think..” Cindy stubbed out her cigarette and pondered:
“Two weeks ago, before the last Spray Powder Day. Are you going to investigate the local Blackwater Winery’s sales in the Tatis Empire? This could be quite difficult. Because it involves the Tatis Empire, that place is too closed.”
“When is the next time a ship comes back?”
Noland Lee turned to the page with the shipping company’s cargo shipping information and answered his own question:
“Oh, I found it. Every half a month, a cargo ship docks and brings back the money collected from the Tatis Empire. So the next time a ship docks is in the next few days, either today or tomorrow.”
Noland Lee put down the documents, having a clear plan in mind.
“Thank you, Cindy. The information you brought is very useful.”
Cindy flipped her hair and said:
“Is it okay to tell me what you want to do? Noland. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to pry. I just want to say that if you need help, our Golden Commerce Guild is willing to lend a hand. Business is always more lively with more people involved. So if there’s anything you need, just let me know.”