"Underground beneath the underground?"

Aya's mind didn't react at first, and just then, the ground vibrations stopped and the doors of the carriage slowly opened.

As the metal door slid aside, a bustling noise squeezed in through the doorway, filling the space inside the carriage, along with the bright lights.

"Underground city?" Tiran glanced roughly and grasped the general scene.

This place was similar to the research institute's underground space, with the same vastness, but with a completely different atmosphere. In the institute, it was busy and orderly, like an efficient magitech mechanical workshop for an elite class.

But in the current space, the atmosphere was much more casual. Though the main structure appeared to be aged ruins, many walls had been knocked down, streets built, and it had become an underground city.

Those coming and going were not like the researchers and specialized workers in the institute. Among the flowing crowd, there were mercenaries carrying large swords, merchants, and individuals with suspicious, thief-like behavior... and even obvious orc-like beings with distinct racial features.

"What is this place..." Aya was puzzled.

"There's no official name for it, most people just call it the Underground City," Chip stepped out of the elevator, "this place doesn't exist according to the laws of the Kingdom of Sainz."

"An illegal trading market, huh?" Tiran understood. Just like the place he had gone to buy books before, this was the black market of the magitech capital's underground. The only difference was the items being traded.

Aya carefully examined both sides of the street and seemed to see many shops. Mysterious shopkeepers wearing black robes displayed all sorts of odd-shaped things on their stalls, loudly advertising their wares.

Among those goods, many of the designs seemed familiar...

"Those... can't possibly be..."

"They're magitech props, or alchemical creations, and of course, there are also precious materials acquired by many mercenaries, adventurers, and bounty hunters from around the world," Chip confirmed Tiran's speculations.

The four of them proceeded along the street amidst the crowd, passing over a dozen shops along the way.

"In terms of magitech products, the proportion of civilian products is not high. Most of them are military-grade weapons with dangerous properties. Such things are at least impossible to freely circulate openly."

Tiran nodded, just like firearms control.

"However, aside from weapon orders between different countries, the common people and those from the inner world also have a demand for magitech weapons, and it can even provide considerable economic benefits."

"So, even though it's banned on the surface, this kind of black market exists behind the scenes?" Aya pursed her lips. Humans were just like that.

"You can't exactly say that. At least, this isn't officially supported by Sainz. This underground city was established by a certain family behind the scenes. Therefore, although it's illegal, the Sainz government doesn't have the capability to enforce punishment to a large extent. As a result, it has developed into a semi-legalized trading market, and there are even newcomers from central agencies who come here to sell their works... I used to sell my graduation works here as well. My teacher said that if Hermes were to hide somewhere, the underground city would definitely be one of them."

Indeed, it would be difficult to carry out large-scale magitech experiments without sufficient magical power supply, combined with possible support from Hermes' backers... The likelihood of finding Chirp here was indeed the highest.

"There is one more thing that I must tell Your Highness."

After walking a little further, Chip led the three of them to a relatively empty square-like area and stopped. "After Your Highness left, the teacher and I spent some time researching in the database and finally guessed Hermes' purpose."

"Human transmutation?" Aya raised her hand. It was in the alchemical core of the mountain giant where they saved Chirp initially. Wasn't that old bastard trying to do it again?

"If it were only that, it would be considered lucky." Chip smiled bitterly. "Based on the remaining files of Hermes, his ultimate goal should be...mechanical ascension."

"This is the highest creation imagined by combining alchemy and magitech technology... If it were really achieved, it could create artificial gods. The child that Your Highness saved may possess some special constitution, capable of providing a large amount of magical power, so he was used as the magical core."

"Artificial... gods?" Aya repeated the word and shook her head forcefully.

How could that be possible? If it had been not long ago, she might have been fooled. But after experiencing the power of Holy Rank, everything was different. Holy Rank alone could change the rules of the world, what more the level of gods?

"Well, actually, I don't have a clear concept of this thing either. It's just an imagination made by some alchemical master a long time ago. But Hermes is a genius and also a proud lunatic. It is not normal for him to set his sights on this theory that is almost impossible to achieve in magitech."

"Very reasonable," Aya and Tiran exchanged glances.

"Sir Chip." Shuma, who had remained silent throughout, raised a hand. "Setting aside all this, what do we do next? Shall we search the underground dungeon?"

This... is indeed a problem.

"Uh, sorry, I haven't been here for a long time either, and I don't know much about the recent situation." Chip scratched his head and apologized.

Aya could only console herself that at least the search area had been narrowed down to the underground dungeon...

"Chip, you mentioned earlier that the hidden family behind this place is likely the power supporting that lunatic Hermes, right?" The princess suddenly showed a malicious smile.

"Wait, what are you planning?" Aya, who knew Tiran the best, felt a shiver when she saw that smile. Because in the past few months, whenever she saw that smile, someone would have bad luck, and 80% of the unlucky ones were herself.

"Of course, I want to cause some trouble. Since the family is behind this, I can't just sit back and do nothing when I trash this place, right? I'll ask for their help after I draw out the person in charge."

"Absolutely not!" *3

"Your Highness, please calm down. What we said earlier were just speculations without evidence. If we make a big fuss without proof, it will not only cause trouble for you but also for the teacher and the entire research institute." Chip quickly tried to persuade her.

"That's right, now we need to gain Sainz's support. His Majesty definitely does not want to become an enemy with a powerful country over something like this." Shuma also said seriously.

As for Aya... she didn't say anything. Because her thoughts were simple. This was someone else's stronghold, and if they really fought... She had witnessed the tremendous power of magitech weapons, not to mention being bombarded by dozens of the highest energy-level magitech cannons. Even she would have to kneel.

What? Timid? Eh, being timid is just right! Timidity goes a long way! Looking back at history, 99% of those courageous and righteous guys died miserably, with only 1% left... Aya didn't think she was lucky enough to be in that 1%.

Especially following the princess, who possesses the "protagonist halo," if Tiran acts recklessly due to his extraordinary talent and quasi-Holy Rank strength, he might be fine, but she will definitely suffer. It's better to be a bit timid and avoid a dragon's fate!

"It's better not to do such things unless absolutely necessary," Chip wiped off sweat and said, "Let's go look for clues... There are quite a few people doing intelligence business in this place. If we spread out and inquire around, we might have some unexpected gains."