176: Chapter 0176 Surprise Attack

Violet's eyes lit up. She picked up a rune pen and drew a simplified gear model in the blank space of the blueprint:

"Then, if I embed the 'Sturdiness' rune into the gear's axis, would it extend its lifespan?"

She looked up at Li Size, her pale Violet eyes shimmering with expectation, her long silver hair swaying gently with her movements.

Li Size rubbed her hair, his fingertips brushing past her pointed ears:

"Clever!

However, the 'Sturdiness' rune will increase the gear's weight.

You'll need to find a rune that can reduce gravity to use alongside it, otherwise the power core will be overloaded."

He picked up a freshly refined gear part from the side and handed it to Violet:

"Touch it and see. These two runes are embedded into the axis of this gear; the weight is reduced by 30%, yet the hardness has doubled."

Violet took the gear, her fingertips feeling the coldness of the metal and the faint fluctuations of the runes. A happy smile curled the corners of her mouth:

"Brother is amazing! I want to learn how to design gears like this too!"

Her voice carried a hint of admiration, and Li Size's reflection was mirrored in her pale Violet eyes.

Seeing her serious expression, a wave of warmth welled up in Li Size's heart:

"Take it slow; you're already doing very well.

Now, take a break. I'm going to see Gelia."

He stood up, patted down his cargo pants, and picked up the black magic iron armor jacket hanging on the wall.

The night in Gray Mist Mountain Town was very quiet, with the rune lamps on the streets emitting a soft yellow light.

Occasionally, patrolling Patrol Officers would pass by on their little sorcerer donkeys, the sorcery rubber clicking against the cobblestone road.

Wearing his black magic iron armor jacket, Li Size walked quickly toward Gelia's apartment—

It was a small two-story western-style building, its outer walls covered in green vines, with warm yellow lights glowing in the windows.

Gelia opened the door. Her crimson police uniform had been replaced with cream-white loungewear. Her icy blue eyes held a hint of fatigue, yet they brightened when she saw Li Size:

"You're here? Come in quickly."

She stepped aside to let Li Size in, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his armor, making her frown slightly:

"Wearing such heavy armor again? Aren't you tired?"

Li Size took off the armor jacket and placed it on the coat rack by the door:

"I have to be careful. Flora told me that someone has recently bought my information from the Dark Web at a high price again.

It looks like I'd better raise the entry fee to over a thousand gold coins!"

He walked into the living room. Gelia's police cap lay on the sofa, and a cup of freshly brewed mint tea sat on the coffee table, emitting a faint steam.

Gelia sat on the sofa and patted the spot next to her:

"Come and sit."

Her voice carried a hint of coquettishness, and tenderness was hidden in her icy blue eyes.

Li Size walked over and sat down. Gelia leaned into his embrace, her fingertips tracing over his chest:

"The police station has been very busy lately. There are more and more squads of demonized monsters. Fortunately, your winds kiss revolver stabilized the situation."

Li Size stroked her hair, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe:

"You've worked hard."

His voice was low and gentle:

"I'll find a way to continue improving the weapons to help lighten your load."

Gelia looked up, her icy blue eyes fixed on him, a smile curling the corners of her mouth:

"With you here, I can rest easy."

Her fingertips gently pinched his cheek, which flushed red.

The soft light in the living room reflected their figures. The air was filled with the fragrance of mint tea, and soon, confused murmurs and the sound of tearing clothes began to rise...

After a long while, Li Size held Gelia, feeling her body heat, a sense of peaceful happiness welling up in his heart.

After a moment, he stood up:

"I should head back; there's still work to do in the Laboratory."

Gelia nodded and walked him to the door:

"Be careful on the way."

Her fingertips gently grasped his hand, her eyes filled with reluctance to let him go.

Li Size walked on the way back to the factory. The nighttime streets were very quiet, with only the light from the rune lamps illuminating his figure.

Suddenly, a dark figure darted out from a nearby alley, a metal fist blade glinting with a cold light as it stabbed toward his chest—

It was a man wearing a black bodysuit and a mask that revealed only a pair of fierce eyes. The fist blade was engraved with the 'Sharpness' rune.

Li Size didn't have time to react and could only instinctively block with his arm—

A crisp "clang" rang out from the forearm section of the black magic iron armor. The fist blade was parried away, leaving a shallow scratch on the armor.

He sensed the other's aura and was startled:

"Peak Wizard Apprentice?"

The opponent was extremely fast. The fist blade swung again, this time aiming for his neck.

Li Size dodged to the side and simultaneously drew the winds kiss revolver from his waist, firing at the man—

The bullet, glowing with a pale blue light, flew toward the man but was blocked by his fist blade. It ricocheted off the nearby wall, leaving a small pit.

The man gave a cold laugh:

"Ranged attacks are useless against me!"

His fist blade stabbed again, even faster. Li Size could only keep retreating, relying on the armor for defense, his heart growing increasingly anxious:

Close combat really is my weakness!

The man's fist blade hit Li Size's armor repeatedly, each impact making Li Size's arm go numb.

Watching the man's movements, he suddenly took a deep breath, and the Mental Energy pattern on his forehead glowed with a dazzling golden light—

He overextended his Mental Energy, activating the "Mental Lock" rune of the Mysterious Shooting Technique and simultaneously using the Grand effect to control the bullet's trajectory.

"Hit him!"

Li Size shouted and pulled the trigger. The bullet flew out with a pale purple glow, suddenly curving in mid-air and flying toward the man's shoulder.

The man didn't expect the bullet to curve. Unable to dodge in time, his shoulder was hit, and he let out a muffled groan.

His movements faltered. Li Size seized the opportunity and fired again—

This time, the bullet aimed for his knee, curving again in mid-air and accurately hitting the target.

The man's knee buckled, and he knelt on the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief:

"How is this possible?!"

Li Size didn't stop, pulling the trigger repeatedly. The bullets kept curving in the air, hitting the man's arms, thighs, and other parts.

The man's defense grew weaker and weaker until he finally collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Li Size panted heavily, the overextension of Mental Energy making his head throb. He walked over to the man and removed his mask—

It was an unfamiliar face, wearing an expression of resentment.

Li Size brought the man's body back to the factory.

Felina was refining potions in the Laboratory. Seeing him return, her golden curls fell over her shoulders, and her pale Violet eyes were filled with worry:

"Hubby, what's wrong? Why do you look so pale?"

She put down the potion bottle in her hand, walked to his side, and touched his forehead with her fingertips:

"Overextended your Mental Energy? Quickly, drink a mental power amplification potion."

Li Size took the potion bottle and drank it, then pointed to the body on the floor:

"Help me interrogate the corpse; see who sent him."