Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1351: Something is happening: Part-1

”So, what do you think about this?” Aether asked, his eyes fixed on the array of gun components meticulously dismantled and arranged on the white table before them.

”Hmm... It’s fascinating technology,” Lyirrs muttered, her voice tinged with curiosity as she leaned in closer. ”Look at the integration—nozzle, trigger, spring tension, the shaft assembly... every element’s machined to a precision you don’t see outside of royal workshops.”

After Aether had procured the weapon from Rosavere, he’d wasted no time. He returned straight to Pyra and sought out Lyirrs.

She was the best mind for such puzzles... two heads were always better than one, right?

So, Lyirrs led Aether down to her private lab she had near the palace.

Together, they’d worked slowly, carefully dismantling the artifact and laying out its components. Aether watched Lyirrs’ steady hands as she catalogued each part, both of them deep in silent analysis.

”I don’t see any visible projectile objects,” Lyirrs remarked, peering down the empty chamber and feeling along the smooth inner grooves. ”There’s no magazine, no rounds, not even residue you’d expect from a powder-based mechanism. Yet, the presence of a nozzle and this secondary cannon port suggests an energy release system.” She glanced at Aether.

Aether nodded, ”Exactly. Even without ammunition, it worked. Almost blew a boulder in half back”

Lyirrs gave a soft hum, ”So, you’re telling me it activated without bullets?” Her eyes flicked up, scanning his face for any sign of exaggeration. Aether nodded silently, turning the crystal core over in his palm. The weapon resembled a normal gun, but instead of a barrel, there was this... anomalous, glassy crystal, embedded at the heart of it.

”Do you have any idea what it is?” he asked.

A crystal like this.... semi-translucent, almost hollow, yet he could feel a faint hum of stored energy when he held it.

Lyirrs shook her head.

Aether nodded, sighing. As much as he wanted to take it apart further, he couldn’t risk breaking it—this was the only unit they had.

That weird crystal... Lyirrs’ family were good at their work with rare minerals. If anyone could coax out its secrets, it was her.

That’s why, despite his own engineering pride, he decided to defer to Lyirrs—the professional. Sure, he was good, maybe even brilliant on a lucky day, but beside a true Master, he was still just a boy.

”Hmm... Wait a second.” Lyirrs grabbed a slender brass probe, tipped with runic copper colour, from her toolkit. She brought it to both ends of the crystal, grounding herself, then touched the points with deliberate care. Instantly, a sharp spark flickered across the crystal’s core, a pulse of blue light dancing along the metal veins.

”Just as expected,” Lyirrs murmured, glancing at Aether with a faint smile of satisfaction. ”This unknown crystal is absolutely the charging module for the weapon. Now, as for the firing sequence—if it’s capable of rapid discharge, we might be looking at a new class of artifact without needing for energies” She tapped the gun thoughtfully.

”Where did you get this?”

Aether managed a tight smile. ”A friend of mine owed me a favour... But let’s focus. If you start the research, how long do you think before you can figure out what it’s truly capable of?”

Lyirrs tilted her head, mind already running calculations. ”Given that this is the only original, and considering the sensitivity of the materials... I’ll need to be extremely careful. Maybe a month”

Aether shook his head. ”That’s not good enough,” he muttered as he made up his mind to take matters into his own hands. She was taking too long... he simply didn’t have that kind of time. As he reached to gather the scattered parts, ready to take back everything—

”W-Wait!” Lyirrs blocked his hand, ”I just said ’maybe,’ right? I was considering all the variables—the Empire’s regulations, our ongoing investigations. If those weren’t an issue, I might be able to figure it out in a week.

Aether hummed, a low, thoughtful sound, then nodded. ”Well, then I’ll speak with Victor,” he replied, a sly smile playing on his lips. He could already see Lyirrs’ eyes sparking with curiosity; she’d never let another swoop in on a mystery like this.

He glanced at the gun one last time. He needed to brief the others about this find... but there was no way he’d let them probe into Rosavere’s company just yet. Not until he knew for certain who had given to her. Since he was the last one Rosavere had contacted, any rumour getting out would make her block all communication—he needed to hold everything back for now.

But to think... A weapon this dangerous, surfacing now of all times?

So damn messed up.

”Hmm... Are you alright?” Lyirrs asked suddenly.

Aether blinked, taken aback by her concern. For a moment, he wondered what she saw in his expression. Lyirrs pointed at his back, ”You know that wound?” she asked quietly.

Aether raised his eyebrows, glancing over his shoulder. ”Oh? Right... Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied, forcing a small, reassuring smile before letting it slip into a teasing smirk.

”What? Are you worried about me now?”

Lyirrs’s lips twitched. She almost regretted showing even a hint of care for him... especially when he looked so damn pleased with himself.

”You’re as annoying as ever,” she shot back, trying to regain her composure.

Aether’s smirk widened. ”Oh please, if anything, you’re the one always asking for it... Maybe you’ve finally noticed my worth.” He leaned in, voice lowering with arrogance.

”After all, I’m more valuable than your so-called Dragon Emperor~”

Lyirrs’s expression turned murderous as she glared daggers at him. ”Don’t you dare say another word about my Dragon Emperor!”

Aether lifted an eyebrow, ”Your? Oh? When did he become yours?” His grin turned wicked as he noticed Lyirrs flinch and her cheeks flush red. ”I-I didn’t mean it like that... I... I...”

”You... You... You what?” Aether pressed, his smile turning predatory as he edged closer.

”Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for that cold-hearted bastard?”

Lyirrs’s face went beet red as she tried to stare him down. ”N-No! I am not! There’s no way a lowly woman like me would ever fall for the mighty Dragon Emperor... If anything, I should just be grateful that he even talks to me!” Her voice wavered, her eyes darting, betraying her inner chaos. ”B-But to warm his bed? T-That’s ridiculous... and scandalous!”

Aether inwardly chuckled... He’d only meant to tease her.

Anyway, together, they turned their attention back to the table, focusing on whether they could replicate the other metallic parts... hours passed...

/Aether, we need your help./

Celestia’s voice echoed in his mind.

Aether flinched. He frowned, then turned to Lyirrs and spoke quickly, ”Handle the rest of this,” Without waiting for her reply, he strode from the lab, his mind already connecting to Celestia’s call, probing for details.

/What’s going on?/

/Didn’t you see the sky? We found something./

Aether frowned deeply. He’d been so absorbed with the gun, he hadn’t looked outside in hours. Now, he glanced up through the nearest crystal-pane window and saw—

The Naiadae Empire’s position had changed—so had the digits. Without another thought, he activated his teleportation, shifting instantly to the Naiadae Empire palace. He landed in the grand corridor and hurried straight for the chamber Celestia had described in her mental message.

When he reached the door, he paused, gathering himself, then entered. Inside,

A man was tied to a chair in the centre, blood pooling beneath him, his body battered, his eyes swollen and barely open. Pain and fear radiated from every trembling breath. He looked utterly broken!

Celestia and Sandra stood, both watching the captive with tense expressions.

”What’s going on here?” Aether asked.

Hearing a new voice, the man looked up, desperation flashing in his eyes. ”P-Please help me! I didn’t do anything, P-Please!” His voice cracked, weak and ragged.

Aether’s expression didn’t soften. He kept his gaze on Celestia and Sandra.

Sandra answered with a heavy sigh,

”While patrolling the barriers, a few guards noticed a white, spiralling portal open out of thin air. From it, a metallic figure emerged—the same type as the ones that kidnapped others recently. The guards engaged it, but it killed most of them. Only one managed to escape the slaughter, but this man here survived—he came back without a scratch, even though the escaped one said nobody was made alive. That’s why we’re asking what he did to survive. But he’s refusing to answer—”

”P-Please, I’m telling you, I don’t know what happened... I... I just—” The man’s face twisted in confusion and panic. ”N-Nothing happened! Please believe me! M-Mr. Aether, please, as Archpriest, show mercy! I really didn’t do anything... Please... aahh—!”

Aether finally turned his gaze upon the captive, his expression suddenly gentle—a warm, almost fatherly smile.

”I believe you...” he said softly.

For a moment, the man’s face blossomed with hope, relief flickering through his pain.

But then, Aether’s eyes lit up, glowing a deep crimson. The man’s pupils dilated and then dulled; his body slumped, head hanging loose.

Aether’s voice dropped into a chilling, controlled monotone.

”Tell me what exactly happened?”

The man’s jaw slackened, and he began to speak...