Chapter 31: Alchemical Blades, Crimson Maple

"Considering the danger of this mission, in addition to equipping everyone with Frigga bullets, the academy will also provide alchemical live ammunition. Additionally, students proficient in cold weapons can apply for alchemical weapons, but they must be returned after the mission."

　　After discussing the plan, equipment arrangements were mentioned.

　　"If there are no questions, please return to your dormitories and pack your belongings. We will meet at the school gate at 11 o'clock and have dinner in Birmingham."

　　After finishing, Filimon announced the dismissal.

　　Under urgent missions, everything was rushed.

　　However, Lu Chen didn't prepare to return to the dormitory. He had no luggage to pack. As for clothes, he now knew how to use a student card (credit card), and if necessary, he could buy them in Birmingham.

　　Chu Zihang, on the other hand, greeted everyone and prepared to go back to get his luggage. Clothes were secondary; he needed to bring the Village Rain left by his father.

　　But his steps were unexpectedly interrupted by a somewhat hoarse voice.

　　"Chu Zihang, Lu Chen, please stay."

　　The one speaking was Schneider, who had been sitting silently in his seat the whole time. Seeing him speak up, although others were curious, they all tactfully left the meeting room first, including Filimon, the executive officer.

　　"This is your first mission. Don't be too reckless, but when you need to act, don't hesitate."

　　As he spoke, Schneider picked up a long black box from the oxygen tank cart and handed it to Lu Chen.

　　Lu Chen took it and, at Schneider's indication, opened it. Inside the box lay an ancient Tang Dynasty sword, with a red scabbard spreading dark red patterns, resembling flames burning.

　　Drawing out the blade, which flowed like water, one could see maple leaf-like patterns on the blade. When the blade moved, those maple leaves seemed to be dancing. When Lu Chen swung the blade to a certain angle, blocking the projection light, for a moment, it seemed as if crimson maple leaves were falling, swaying with a strange blood-red color.

　　"Alchemical weapon, Crimson Maple, created by Zhang Jiuya, a Chinese alchemy master from the Tang Dynasty. It has a severing attribute, but it requires a certain bloodline to activate."

　　This sword was originally in the hands of British gangsters, but before it was activated in the field of alchemy, it was just an ordinary Tang sword. Even those people didn't recognize its value and thought it was a counterfeit. They sold it to the academy for $240,000, thinking they had made a profit.

　　But in the hands of someone who could truly wield it, it would be an unparalleled famous sword, capable of severing anything.

　　"Is this for me?"

　　Lu Chen couldn't help but hold onto the sword tightly. Mainly because the system actually prompted this sword to be of blue quality. From the perspective of item grade, it was a level higher than the Dragon Blood he had received as a previous mission reward.

　　"Temporary supply for this mission only."

　　Even with Schneider's temperament, he was almost choked up. What did this kid take alchemical weapons for?

　　"Chu Zihang."

　　Schneider then turned his gaze to Chu Zihang.

　　"I have no other requirements for you. Familiarize yourself with the process of this mission. If there is no danger to life... don't use your Spirit Speech."

　　Schneider's gaze contained deep meaning, but when he said this, he didn't avoid Lu Chen. He knew that these two students were quite close.

　　"Understood."

　　Chu Zihang nodded. His mentor had already reminded him once after his Spirit Speech awakened that he could only use it in solo missions or certain special circumstances in the future.

Lu Chen and Chu Zihang left the meeting room under Schneider's watchful gaze, leaving Schneider alone, silently staring at the hell unfolding on the screen. He was the one sending the kids to hell.

...

"Junior Brother, don't tell me you looked like that when you arrived."

Sitting on the academy's special plane, Lu Chen and the others, with Lu Chen sitting opposite Luthisia, sighed lightly as they watched Lu Chen peering out the window.

"No matter how many times, I'm still amazed by the power of human technology."

Lu Chen withdrew his gaze, feeling no shame about his rustic behavior.

"Junior Brother, aren't you nervous at all?"

Luthisia looked helpless, glancing at Chu Zihang sitting upright next to Lu Chen, clutching the Village Rain tightly. He looked like a warrior about to set off for battle.

"Lu Junior Brother is S-level, and Chu Junior Brother, aren't you nervous either?"

Luthisia wondered if ice cubes were born without feelings of nervousness, or if any such emotions were overshadowed by that cold demeanor.

"Why should I be nervous?"

Chu Zihang asked calmly, his serious and puzzled demeanor leaving Luthisia at a loss for words.

"That's a super serial killer. Even an A-level senior sister has knelt before him. It shows how brutal and terrifying Slaughter is."

Slaughter, the Butcher, was the codename given by the executive department to the mission target.

"The one to be nervous about is Slaughter. He's the prey, and we're the hunters."

Chu Zihang stated the truth in a calm tone, leaving Luthisia speechless.

No matter how powerful Slaughter might be, under the iron fist of the executive department and the influence of the secret party, he was just a beast awaiting slaughter.

But even if a rabbit is cornered, it will bite, let alone what we are pursuing now, a devil-like creature.

"Chu Brother is right. I am looking forward to meeting Slaughter. My mentor sent... lent me this new toy. I haven't tried it yet."

Lu Chen interjected from the side. He no longer looked out the window.

It had been almost a month since he came to this world, and if he didn't indulge a bit, he felt like he would rust.

He only listened to half of what his mentor said, which was, "When you need to act, don't hesitate." How could he hesitate?

He wanted to complete this mission perfectly, unlock the mainline mission, and he had a premonition that this was a hurdle.

Once he crossed it, this magnificent world would truly unfold before him, and endless opportunities would come. He would eventually control even stronger extraordinary powers.

"Junior Brother... forget it. Anyway, just protect me!"

Luthisia finally got to the point.

"Junior Sister, rest assured. According to the analysis of the executive department, it's actually Milanra who fits Slaughter's aesthetics more. He might not even look at you."

Lu Chen chuckled. The executive department included Luthisia in this mission mainly because of her profiling abilities, which would facilitate tracking down the killer.

The number one bait is Miss Milanra, who is currently in the back cabin dressing up. A plate of exquisite dishes is being prepared by the royal chef, ready to be presented to Slaughter. Let's see if he'll take the bait.

As for the profiling ability, Lu Chen also had some understanding from today's lesson, but he was still surprised that Luthisia was skilled in this area. If it came to imagination ability, he thought this senior sister was top-notch.

"Junior Brother, you're wrong about that. While it's true that Junior Sister and I have some differences, they can't hide the inherent beauty of Senior Sister. Would he dare to ignore me!?"

At the end, Luthisia showed her teeth in a fierce manner.

Lu Chen was speechless. Where did this strange competitiveness come from? Being targeted wasn't a good thing anyway.