Volume 4: The Last Day Chapter 34: Final Charge to the Lookout Tower
"Yes, the Philosopher's Stone, and part of the formula for the genuine Elixir of Immortality. I specifically asked two very famous neutral alchemist brothers from the Star Society to authenticate them.
They told me the formula was 100 percent genuine and were willing to pay a large sum of money to buy the broken version from me.”
In the room of the Star Society, a gleam of light shone in the gray and ruthless eyes of the Great Wizard Igor. He stroked the goatee on his chin and said meaningfully:
"I am old, my friend, and you are not young either. But we have just entered this new world of possibilities, and it seems a pity to face death head on.
I was still excited about my new runes, and spent whole nights studying those ancient stone carvings, hoping to master the power of lightning.
It was like the excitement I had when I first encountered magic as a child.
Time has not been kind to me.
However, since I already hold the key to the divine realm, it would be difficult for me to give up just like that.
The letter said that there were at least six more fragments, but they were all in the hands of a team in that world. It was they who attacked the Amaterasu team, which led them to ask us for help.
Now that it has been confirmed that the formula is genuine, other precious materials can be collected through the system of the Star Society, but the Philosopher's Stone, which serves as the main ingredient, can only be made by the most accomplished alchemists.
This may be our only chance.”
Igor raised his fingers, took the small fragment of the Philosopher's Stone in his hand, and said:
"Think about why our world was targeted, old friend. Those conquerors destroyed us just to find this magical item that can save people from death.
Even for the seemingly omnipotent Stars and the system they are in, immortality without side effects is still a luxury.
Not only can we use it ourselves, but we can also use it to knock open the door to the upper level.
Even escape the sad fate of becoming a hound!"
The great wizard Agilbert remained cautious. He shook his head and said:
"The lure of a treasure led a greedy man into a dangerous unknown land. This seemed like the beginning of a tragic story.
It is more like a bait set by a cunning hunter, specially selected for those prey that can't wait.
In this story, we don’t know who is playing the hunter, but I am sure that we are becoming the prey step by step under the temptation of treasure.
Have you checked the world coordinates?"
"I asked someone about it. It's an A-level world."
Great Wizard Igor narrowed his eyes and said:
"There are certainly dangers, but there are also benefits. I'm going to go over and take a look. If there is any fatal danger, I will withdraw immediately."
"I don't think the other party will give you time to quit, Igor ."
The great wizard Agilbert shook his head and said:
"How about sending someone to explore the way first?"
"Well, that's the thing."
Igor said with some sadness:
"That A-level world is a bit troublesome. It has been marked as special by the three Grand Masters. If you want to enter it, it is not enough to just have the world coordinates. You must report to the Grand Master of Exploration in advance.
I have applied but the reply I got was that the team must be led by the captain himself, and the people entering must be at least C-level and the stay cannot exceed three days.
In this case, if I rely on my side alone, my strength will be a little weak."
"Ha, I knew it."
The great wizard Agilbert sneered and said:
"With your bad character, Igor, how could you take the initiative to reveal the information of such a treasure to me? We were not friends before, but it turns out that you were waiting for me here.
You want to recruit me just to use my students and companions as cannon fodder.
You wish!
The conversation ended there.
I crave treasure but I hate being used and threatened with death even more."
"I think I can convince you, give me a chance."
Old Igor didn't care about the sarcasm of the man in front of him. He made a gesture and the tightly closed door behind him opened, along with the secret door of the treasure storage room in the room.
He walked towards it with the double-headed eagle staff and said:
"The code between wizards is equal exchange. You and I are both wizards, and we both have our prices. Come with me, Egilbert, and pick out a few gifts to please yourself.
Don't be in a hurry to refuse. Wait until you see my sincerity.
No wizard can resist this knowledge from the gods, not me, and not you either."
Ten minutes later, in Mr. Hunter's office on the top floor of Star Castle, Ciri, who was dressed as a man, had just temporarily escaped from the stressful affairs caused by the Third Impact. She was about to take a nice bath to relieve the fatigue of being busy in the past few days, and then she was interrupted by a tactless guy who came to apply for special operations.
She maintained the rationality and indifference of a great mentor and did not show her bad temper. However, she frowned when she saw the joint exploration application in front of her.
She glanced at the two old wizards with very different styles standing in front of her, and then asked in a low male voice:
"Mr. Igor, and Mr. Agilbert, are you sure you want to apply to go to that dangerous world? If I remember correctly, both of you have already started the promotion process to the A-level Twelve Council, right?
At this critical moment, it does not seem to be the right choice to spend your energy in a world that you are completely unfamiliar with instead of preparing for the very dangerous promotion task that follows.
I should have told you two in advance.
The world you are going to is extremely dangerous! Even A-level personnel have to prepare well before setting foot there."
"Thank you for your reminder, Master Hunter, but we have made up our minds."
Old Igor replied seriously.
His answer made Mr. Hunter shake his head in his heart.
Although she didn't know what this matter had to do with the troublesome Mason and Team K, she was certain that the two confident wizards and their elite team would never come back this time.
The destruction of Team Amaterasu has not yet sounded a wake-up call for these guys... It seems that greed is indeed a beautiful yet terrible quality.
"Okay, if you're sure you want to do this."
Ciri stopped trying to stop him.
Kind words could not persuade the damned ghost, so she took her seal and stamped it on the application form, then said to the two great wizards:
"You two and your pioneering team are the backbone of the Star Society. I should pay more attention to your future. Since you are determined to go to that world, I will help you again.
The Third Impact is now coming to an end, and the parallel world system will have to go through a period of reintegration afterwards. Therefore, the first task of your A-level promotion process should be carried out in this A-level world.
Let me see if there is any mission suitable for you. Wait a moment."
She pretended to take out a thick task document and flipped through it. After a few seconds, she pointed at one of them and looked up at the two great wizards and said:
"That's it. In that world, there is a city called Gotham and there is a guy in strange clothes. His nickname is 'Batman'.
You may have heard this name in the pub.
He is very dangerous, but he is exactly what the organization needs.
Therefore, your first round of promotion mission is to capture him alive and bring him back to Starforge, and the second-level mission goal is to rob the Batcave and bring back at least 20 pounds of kryptonite.
If you can accomplish this, your first round of promotion mission will be completed."
The two great wizards looked at each other, nodded and said:
"Thank you for your help, Master Hunter."
"Well, go get ready. The coordinates of the target world will be released in thirty minutes. I will send you directly to Gotham. Remember, you cannot stay there for more than three days!"
Mr. Hunter stood up and watched the two great wizards leave his office. The moment the door closed, she coughed and took out a classic Nokia mobile phone from the drawer.
Looking at the communication number marked as "Troublemaker" on the screen, he hesitated for a moment whether to inform Mason about this matter.
She felt that it must be Mason who was behind this from the beginning to the end, but she didn't know why the little guy wanted to target these two powerful wizard pioneer teams.
However, right now, the "personal relationship" between her and Mason is a little awkward because of the previous dispute. Perhaps, this is an opportunity to adjust the relationship?
Thinking about the various situations that kept happening to Mason, Hunter Ciri hesitated for a moment and finally pressed the number.
She felt the need to maintain a good relationship with Mason.
This was what her hunter instinct told her, that she might need the help of Mason and his K team in the future.
——
"Bruce, Cyborg said you just adjusted the guard strength of the watchtower?"
In the control room of the cool mechanical tower in orbit around the planet where Gotham City is located, Superman, who was flying over, said to Batman, who was sitting in the control chair monitoring various important cities on Earth:
"Why? Is it your 'bat instinct' that senses danger again?"
"Clark, if you had carefully read the list I revised, you wouldn't have asked this question."
The old man put down the cup in his hand with a feeling of tiredness. He turned the system in front of him into automatic monitoring, turned his chair and looked back at the Superman in classic costume behind him.
He explained in his hoarse, low voice:
"Didn't you notice that most of the team members are in a bad mood, including Diana? We just destroyed a world. Although we have the moral right, this behavior still puts us under pressure.
In this case, what our partners needed was a short vacation to relieve the doubts in their hearts, so I arranged professional psychological intervention for them.
Star Lab will also send professionals to take charge of this matter.”
"You are very thoughtful. I admit that I overlooked this."
Dachao nodded seriously, and picked up a PDA to carefully read the guard schedule for the next few days that the master had given to the watchtower, but as he read it, he became confused.
"Blue Beetle? Firestorm? These two kids are members of the Teen Titans, right? They are said to have great potential, so why is there Kara? My cousin just found her first permanent job, and I don't think it would be good for her career to ask her to take time off and come here at this time."
Superman put down his PDA, looked at the master, and said:
"I'm not questioning your arrangement, Bruce, but these members are not familiar with how the Watchtower operates. They are only 'reserve' forces."
"They can't stay in reserve forever, Clark!"
The master shook his head and said:
"The situation we are facing has not eased. Although Barry reported a few hours ago that the 'shock tremors' in the parallel world are subsiding, we all know that this is not the end and it will happen again in the near future.
We must take advantage of this period of time to make our young warriors realize the severity of the situation.
The members I selected are all very potential but inexperienced, and we will need them to go through a period of training to accelerate their growth.
This period of rotation is a very good opportunity.
You don't have to worry about them not being able to do the job because you and I will be here to lead them.
In addition, Clark, you also know that our opponents still have spies in our world. They are secretly working to erode us. Leaving these children on Earth is also a hidden danger.
I don't want to see the forces that are supposed to protect the world being pulled into the dark camp."
"Well, if that's the case, then I have no doubts."
Dachao nodded, put down his PDA and said:
"But Kara's job...she had a hard time finding it. You know, her personality is a bit..."
"You're a little overprotective of your cousin, Clark, she's a Kryptonian too!"
Batman stood up, activated his money power, and said to Superman:
“You don’t have to worry about her job at all. Just five minutes ago, the Wayne Group News Department sent her an internship offer. She will get a good job in the Metropolis.
If she is willing, she can even work until she voluntarily retires or the Wayne Group goes bankrupt.”
"etc!"
Da Chao, a reporter, immediately noticed something was wrong and asked with a strange expression:
"Wayne Group doesn't have any news department in Metropolis. This is something that happens in the industry. If you really have one, Louise and I can't possibly not know about it."
"Of course you don't know."
As the master turned to leave, a fleeting yet approachable smile flashed beneath his mask, and he said:
"I just established that department ten minutes ago."
"Bruce! You can't do this!"
Dachao immediately retorted unhappily:
"You've already inserted your hand into the Daily Planet, made me and Louise work for you, and now you're planning to 'keep' my cousin in captivity? With Kara's personality, she won't discuss these things with you as gently as I do."
"Kara El's first credit card after entering Earth was issued by my bank. The apartment she currently rents is managed by my property management company. She took out a loan to buy a car and obtained insurance through my company. Her trip to Europe last year was also arranged by my travel agency. The mobile phone and computer she uses are specially made by Wayne Group.
I admit that I was spying on her.
But it is precisely because of my "protection" that your straightforward and overly kind cousin has so far escaped 24 kidnappings, 237 telecom frauds, and 41 premeditated and purposeful approaches. "
The master presented the facts and evidence.
He turned around and looked at Dachao, who looked speechless, and shook his head and said:
"This isn't 'captivity', Clark. This is my 'discreet' concern for my team members. Just like when I redeemed your farm after our previous skirmish ended.
Even superheroes will encounter dilemmas that they are not good at handling, and too much exposure to the dark side of the world will dampen your enthusiasm for protection.
This is what friends and teammates are about, and this is what cooperation is about.
You can stand in the sun and be praised for dedicating your efforts to protecting the world .
Those unpleasant things that happen in the dark will naturally be dealt with by someone, and this is also the responsibility I should shoulder in this team.
We all have our responsibilities.”
"No, Bruce, I'm not accusing you, I'm just..."
Superman wanted to argue with his teammates about these old things again, but just as he opened his mouth, they heard Cyborg's serious voice:
"Batman, Superman! The space-time disturbance signal has appeared in Gotham again. This time it is very obvious. The spellcasters are ready to act. I can't stop them."
"Stop them! Don't let them go to their deaths!"
Batman and Superman looked at each other, and they rushed to the elevator. The old man said to Cyborg in a stern voice:
“There has to be a plan for this.”
