Chapter 133: Unexpected Discovery

Entering the Silver Star District, looking around, collapsed buildings could be seen everywhere.

However, the streets have been cleared, and the cracks in the ground have been sealed by the earth‑element spells of the Secret Fire Guard, allowing vehicles to pass.

At every intersection, the Silver‑clad Knights patrol, and order has actually improved.

Lei En rode his bicycle through, finding that most of the collapsed area was not as severe as expected, and many places had already begun reconstruction.

Only one place was nearly leveled, with more than half the buildings collapsed.

That was Bu Lunte Street.

Once the most prosperous district of Longshande, it is now a vast ruin that has caved down into a huge pit. At the pit's center lies the Sword of Oath; the air drifts with a burnt smell, and even the ground is a black glassy surface formed by extreme heat.

Lei En saw this pit from the tower last night.

Now observing up close, the terrifying destructive power is felt directly, as if it had been bombarded by a cloudburst bomb!

This is the power of the Divine Chosen combined with Divine Descent.

Lei En was secretly startled; the great light returning to his own world is truly terrifying.

The Sword of Oath vanished completely, taking with it the destruction of dozens of nearby shops, leaving half a block barren. The Violet House was farther away, at the other end of Bu Lunte Street; although it was also hit by the battle, it was luckily preserved and did not collapse.

There were many other shops as lucky as the Violet House, all clustered outside the giant pit's area.

Lei En stopped his bicycle and entered the Violet House, finding that the main structure was still standing, but many interior items—decor, furniture, merchandise—had suffered varying degrees of damage, and the staff were busy repairing.

"Mr. Lei En."

A female receptionist stepped forward and, without waiting for Lei En to speak, respectfully said, "The manager is in the office on the fifth floor; a guest has arrived."

"Which guest?" Lei En asked.

"It's Mr. Kaineji of the Mechanical Guild," she replied without hesitation, knowing Lei En's relationship with Viola.

"Thank you, I'll go up to meet them."

After thanking her, Lei En rode the lift to the fifth floor; even before reaching the door, he heard a clear melody from inside and immediately recognized it as the sound of a Phonograph.

He knocked and entered; Viola was sitting on the sofa listening to the music.

Kaineji, dressed in formal attire, stood beside the Phonograph.

His complexion was a bit haggard, but his spirit was clear; when he saw Lei En, his eyes lit up and he smiled, "Lei En, you arrive at the perfect time. This is the first batch of Phonographs we produced; give it a listen and tell me how the sound quality is."

Viola also stood up and smiled at Lei En.

"So quickly produced?" Lei En was surprised at Kaineji's efficiency.

He had delivered the first Phonograph to them less than a month ago; although he helped design the manufacturing process, converting the factory and putting it into production within such a short time, and producing a physical unit, was a speed that would have seemed unbelievable even in his previous life.

Kaineji shook his head and praised, "Actually it's your credit; your design was mature, we just followed your plan, and I found little to improve."

"Lei En, you are a born mechanic!" Kaineji said sincerely.

Lei En smiled, taking it as acceptance.

Viola, listening nearby, had a slightly odd expression; as the person who knows Lei En best, she had praised him before, but she said, "Lei En, you are a born musician!"

However, Lei En had not devoted much effort to mechanics or music.

He spent most of his time meditating and training for combat.

Compared to mechanics and music, Lei En is actually a born transcendent and a genius of perfect Soul Transformation.

The more Viola thought, the more she felt she couldn't see through Lei En; how many more surprises would this young man hold for her?

Unaware of the Half‑elf's thoughts, Lei En carefully examined the Phonograph.

From the outside, the Phonograph resembled what he remembered from his past life: a copper horn like a blooming flower, a wooden base box engraved with beautiful patterns and lacquered, looking like a delicate work of art.

In fact, it was a piece of art that could play music.

Its sound quality still had slight flaws, but was clear enough, and the record's grooves were finer, allowing longer recordings.

"What do you think?" Kaineji asked, a little uneasy.

"Excellent, it can be sold as is, no problem at all. Thank you for your hard work, President Kaineji," Lei En clapped, finding no fault; even if he improved it himself, it couldn't be better.

Kaineji wore a delighted expression.

In fact, for this Phonograph he had been sleepless for over half a month, personally leading several mid‑to‑low‑stage mechanics to retrofit the production line, improve product quality, and even drinking alchemical potions to sustain himself, all to get the Phonograph to market as soon as possible.

Viola was also very pleased; selling the Phonograph a day earlier meant earning money a day earlier.

Now the year's end was near; on the day of the Divine Birth Festival, the Duke would confer a title, and the candidate for Dong Ting Bo Ju had not yet been decided.

As long as the Phonograph's market prospects are proven, the competition will be a foregone conclusion.

Last night the Silver Star District suffered a disaster with huge losses; rebuilding it requires a large sum, and the Duke now needs people who can contribute wealth even more.

According to earlier discussions, Kaineji is in charge of Phonograph production, while Viola handles sales.

Next, the three of them discussed and set the Phonograph's price and the official release date, which was set for ten days later. Kaineji left excitedly, ready to return and start production of the first batch of five hundred Phonographs.

Viola personally escorted Kaineji downstairs, and when she came back, she saw Lei En half‑lying on the sofa, daydreaming, looking extremely relaxed.

She walked over, sat beside Lei En, and asked with a smile, "What are you thinking?"

"Thinking of you," Lei En teased.

Viola laughed appreciatively, her lovely body leaning against Lei En's chest, and softly said, "You were so tired last night, and I haven't even asked about your experience in the Dwarf Fortress—how did you run into the Shadow Blade?"

"It's a long story…" Lei En wrapped his arms around her soft waist, inhaling the scent of her golden hair, and took a contented breath.

He recounted the events that he, Roger, and the others experienced in the fortress.

Besides being able to absorb souls for charging, Lei En did not hide anything else; he even told Viola about the existence of the Thunder God's Hammer.

"Thunder God's Hammer!"

"So the Alfa Empire and Warden both obtained it from the Iron Must Fortress."

Viola's eyes sparkled as she listened; she turned to stare at Lei En's close‑up face and smiled, "You must really want that legendary war hammer, right?"

"Obviously, who wouldn't want it?" Lei En replied irritably.

Viola nodded lightly, then suddenly said, "Lei En, are you about to be promoted to Mid‑stage Wizard and undergo a second Soul Transformation?"

"How did you know?" Lei En was rather surprised.

Viola heard Lei En's words and was instead startled, sitting up straight from the sofa; Lei En had only merged the legendary Element less than a month ago, and now was about to upgrade again!

"I was just guessing casually; are you really going to perform the Soul Transformation ceremony?"

Lei En nodded seriously.

Viola realized he wasn't joking, and was at a loss for words; she had already been so frightened by Lei En's speed of power increase that she felt numb.

Seeing her surprised expression, Lei En smiled smugly.

Viola remained silent for a long time, then sighed, lowered herself, her beautiful face pressed against his chest, listening to the strong heartbeat within, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.

The office was very quiet, with only two faint breaths.

Gradually, Lei En's breathing grew heavy. He had been in Iron Must Fortress for almost ten days, holding it in for so long; at his age of vigorous blood Qi, with Warm Fragrant Soft Jade in his arms, he could no longer endure.

Viola immediately sensed his change, her face slightly flushed, somewhat resistant, saying, "What are you thinking? This is my office."

This instead made Lei En even more excited!

Half‑reluctantly, Viola also went along, throwing herself wholeheartedly into it.

After a long struggle, Lei En lay on the sofa, satisfied; he had achieved a scene he had imagined countless times in a past life, fulfilling a wish he had held for years.

He finally grasped the deep meaning of the saying "a short parting is better than a new marriage," and was simply overjoyed!

Viola's cheeks were also flushed, taking a long time to return to normal.

After resting, she dared not stay longer in her own office, quickly tidied her clothes, excused herself to inventory the shop's losses, and fled away.

"Don't forget to bring me a Soul‑devouring elixir."

Lei En said to Viola's back.

Bored, he sat by the floor‑to‑ceiling window, opened the books on his phone, and began reading.

After a little over an hour, he finished two books and paused to rest briefly.

Viola's office was on the fifth floor, overlooking the entire Brent Street; sitting by the window, she could see where the Sword of Oath had been, now a huge pit.

Lei En looked down, subconsciously activating his Soul Eye, scanning the ruins left by the great battle.

Under the influence of Truth Willpower, his perception was amplified several times.

Suddenly, an extremely subtle magical wave caught Lei En's attention; the wave was faint and obscure, as if something were buried underground, not in the deep pit but at the foot of the Violet House, not far from the street side, yet blocked by a massive stone.

From time to time, patrols of the Silver‑clad Knights or Wizards of the Secret Fire Guard passed by, yet no one noticed.

If Lei En did not have Truth Willpower, he would not have discovered its existence.

"What is that?"

Curiosity sparked in Lei En; he waited a moment until no one passed nearby, opened the window, and jumped down.

Bang— a heavy thud upon landing.

Lei En hurried forward, easily lifted the massive stone that might weigh tens of thousands of pounds, brushed aside some soil, and uncovered a sword hilt.

He grasped the hilt and pulled it out; a sword appeared before his eyes.

(End of Chapter)