"The A11 district is the theoretical research area for magical armor. I usually stay there to conduct experiments and modeling with my teacher," Chip explained, noticing the skeptical expressions on Aya and Tiran's faces. He felt a bit embarrassed and tried to clarify the situation.

"No, no, you've completely misunderstood," Aya wiped her sweat. "We're just shocked that you, as a researcher, also have a side job as an information broker."

"Agreed," Tiran nodded in agreement.

"Well, actually, I'm not a full-time information broker. It's just that Moros saved my life before, so I promised to provide her with some information about Sorcery City," Chip scratched his cheek and suddenly realized that he was still in the research center. He quickly lowered his voice, "Could you please not mention this to anyone? Although it doesn't involve any real classified information, if my teacher finds out, I won't be able to stay here anymore."

"Don't worry," Aya nodded. "We understand the importance of discretion. We won't burn bridges."

"But even if you're surprised... I never expected that the friend Moros mentioned would be the famous Silver War Maiden," Chip habitually scratched his cheek and chuckled.

He knew about Moros' hobbies and her transition from being an assassin to running a tavern, but he never expected that the esteemed princess of a powerful nation would have any connection with that eternal loli.

"Just get used to it," Aya patted his shoulder with a solemn expression. "Boy, let me tell you, the more you spend time with her, the more you'll realize that she has nothing to do with nobility or elegance... Ouch! My ear! Don't pull my ear!"

"What do you mean?" Chip hadn't fully grasped the situation yet.

"Never mind, never mind. Pretend I didn't say anything," Aya blushed as Tiran gently ran his hand down her back.

Chip looked at the Silver War Maiden, who suddenly leaned against the knight lady next to him. They seemed to have a close relationship.

"Well, if it's Princess Silver War Maiden who came to ask me for information, it must be related to the recent attack on the Helgiast Castle by Hermes, right?" Chip guessed.

"Exactly," Tiran released Aya, who was trembling, and took a step back, leaning against the wall. Her legs felt weak.

"It's not convenient to discuss this information here. Follow me," Tiran said.

Of course, a busy corridor was not a suitable place. As for what "convenient" meant...

The next day, a rumor spread in the research center: the talented young member of the magical armor research group, a student of General Hefei, brought two beautiful women to his room and didn't come out for the whole afternoon...

As a result, Chip almost got tied up and burned at the stake by the furious members of the Heretic Inquisition, the Magic Kingdom branch. It was the first time Chip realized the terrifying extent of this organization.

To think that there were so many members in the most prestigious magical technology research institution on the continent... He even recognized several heads of major projects and a deputy director among those people wearing black robes and holding torches...

But that's a story for another time.

...

"Is this your home?" Aya and Tiran walked into Chip's room after sliding open the metal door to the right.

Chip, who was walking at the back, turned on the magical lighting, and the pure white cold light illuminated the entire room.

It was surprisingly simple here. Compared to the bedrooms in the Helgiast Castle and the palace, not to mention the room they were currently in Sorcery City, this place was much worse.

The colors in the room were monotonous, with a cement floor, alloy walls, a black bed frame made entirely of steel, white sheets, several books on magical theory scattered on the desk, a leather chair, and a single tall cabinet in the corner. Everything resembled a cabin on a warship.

"No," Chip shrugged indifferently. "This is just the residence in the underground research facility. I have a house on the surface... but because of work, I spend more time sleeping here than on the surface."

He moved the only chair to the center of the room and straightened the bedsheet. "Sorry, the conditions underground are not the best, feel free to sit wherever you like."

Since the owner of the room said so, Tiran didn't hesitate and sat directly on the chair, while Aya sat on the bed.

Chipp first walked to the outside of the room and looked left and right in the corridor to make sure no one was there. He then closed the door and locked it from the inside. After doing all this, he returned to the bedside in front of Tiran and Aya, standing by the bed frame.

"What do you want to ask about Hermes, Your Highness? If it's about Miss Moros' friend, I will answer to the best of my ability."

"Oh, oh, you're much more conscientious than little Mo." Aya was pleasantly surprised. As a Dragon who loved all kinds of treasures, she felt heartbroken every time she saw coins being given away. And to think it was free!

"In that case, I'll just say it," Tiran tapped the armrest of the chair. "I plan to cause trouble for Hermes. Can you tell me where that old scoundrel is?"

"Old, old scoundrel?" Chipp almost choked on his own saliva. He knew who Hermes was. Although he had been exiled by the higher-ups because he went astray in his research, his talent was unquestionable, even surpassing his teacher. Calling such a person an old scoundrel was really no problem?

"That's right, an old scoundrel! Putting a little girl in her early teens into the core of an alchemical creature is either the act of an old scoundrel or a pervert, there's no difference." This time, Aya chose to be on the same side as Tiran. The beast-eared little girl was so cute, she could act cute and sell moe... to do such a thing, it was absolutely unbearable!

"Wait, did Miss Aya just say... human transmutation?! Hermes did something like that?!"

Chipp quickly caught the key information from Aya's words, and his expression became shocked.

"You didn't know?" Aya paused for a moment, then realized. During the incident with the mountain giant, everyone except herself, Tiran, and Mimi thought it was just a mountain giant, and this matter was never leaked.

Aya briefly described the origin of Chirp, and Chipp's expression suddenly became enlightened, then his brows furrowed. "No wonder he attacked the Giliast Castle... I understand. Since that's the case, I will do my best to help."

Human transmutation was an absolute taboo technique. Even if the effect was good, it violated ethics and trampled on the existence of living beings. Even for the sake of so-called science, it would not be tolerated.

Going deeper into his thoughts, Chipp became more and more aware of the seriousness of this matter.

"Hermes was expelled three years ago for secretly using slaves bought from the black market as experimental subjects to test the effectiveness of the potions... After disappearing for a year, he suddenly appeared several times within the Sains territory and conducted some experiments related to magical machinery and alchemical techniques. The resources required for such experiments are not something an ordinary individual can afford. There must be support from a powerful family behind him."

"So... those big shots behind the scenes, while publicly saying they prohibit and resist, are actually doing such things behind the scenes?" Thinking of this, Chipp clicked his tongue.

"Nothing surprising, right? For humans, it's normal to say one thing and do another behind the scenes."

Aya spoke lightly. As a Dragon, she had long been accustomed to such things during her travels on the continent. "For example, a certain princess, who said she would set me free, but one trick after another..."

"Are you happy to tease me like this?" Tiran ruthlessly retorted.

"Is Your Highness trying to stop Hermes?" Chipp's eyes brightened.

"I didn't plan to... but it's about time. Save Chirp and then get rid of that old scoundrel." Tiran nodded.

"That's enough." Chipp breathed a sigh of relief, turned and walked to the side of the cabinet, taking out two folded papers from inside.

"When Hermes was expelled three years ago, all his research materials were destroyed, but I secretly kept a few fragments. Although not many, they can still give us an idea of his ideas."

"Initially, Hermes was the main researcher of magical machinery, responsible for magical armor... of course, his teacher has already mentioned this. But from his notes, I discovered that despite creating prototypes that could be used in combat, this stubborn genius was still unsatisfied with the finished product."

"He said in his notes, 'This is just a weapon, not a true machine. What I want to create is a true mechanical life.' Despite using a neural connection system, due to the low conversion rate of human neural signals into electrical signals, magical armor has always been just an external attachment and cannot reach the level of being controlled at will."

"So Hermes turned to study bionic mechanics and eventually decided to combine the two technologies... to create a true mechanical life form. Of course, this idea was never realized and he was expelled."

Aya was a bit confused by all this, as these concepts were completely new to Dragon.

The princess, on the other hand, had a look of disbelief on her face. In the end, she concluded that indeed, the style of this country and the entire magical world were inconsistent. Even though they were humans... if these guys had any beliefs, they would definitely not represent the true form of humans, but rather something like the god of magical technology.

If she were to talk to them about the Goddess of the Light, these guys with their different style would not show any respect, but instead might say something like, "Goddess? Let me blast you with a railgun first!" or "Are gods and humans the same species? Let's do a crossbreeding experiment!" It would be a completely blasphemous thought.

These guys were really...

Just my type.

Tiran stroked his smooth chin as he pondered.

Of course, except for that guy Hermes. Anyone who dares to harm a loli doesn't even have three years to live. They should be sentenced to death, and it should be a death that they can never come back from!