nycdaug Chapter 304 Did they succeed?
Chapter 304 Did they succeed?
"Hmph, Qiong won't believe your nonsense!"
Kiana crossed her arms and looked completely disbelieving when Ajeta mentioned the curse.
"You just want us to be your guinea pigs, don't think we'll fall for it!"
Ajeta shook off the tool in his hand, which he didn't know what it was for, and casually glanced around.
"Believe it or not, this curse won't disappear on its own. If you keep ignoring it, you might not be able to leave Luoxing... Do you know? I'm not only a scholar, but also a well-known merchant in Langqiu. As a businessman, I always hope to achieve a win-win cooperation."
"So, you've been following us just to make this deal?"
"I told you, it was just a coincidence. How could I know you'd come here to play the flip-flop game instead of going back? If I had to say, it was fate?"
Qiong stared at Ajeta's graceful figure. Of course, he didn't believe Ajeta's words, but she had drawn a black card seven times in a row...
It feels like Ajeta used some unknown means to mess with him in order to conduct scientific research, trying to make him believe that he needs to change his luck and break the curse.
As for how they knew they were here... is it possible that the device that Song Que was using actually had a function similar to a locator?
Qiong thought about it more and more and felt that it was very likely!
Even so, Qiong still wants to talk first.
"Tell me first, how can you help me? What do you need me to do?"
Even though there were speculations, Qiong didn't say it outright. After all, if Ajeta could really provide some useful help (such as giving him truly useful tools) so that Ajeta could study him a little, it wouldn't hurt. In Qiong's view, as long as he wasn't dissected and studied, it would be a worthwhile deal.
Success!
Ajeta turned his face away, a smug smile appearing where the others couldn't see. He thought he'd have to drag things out for a while, but this gray-haired kid was actually so easy to fool?
Qiong took the bait too quickly, and things were progressing very smoothly. A strange unease flashed through Ajeta's heart as he thought about how to give him something real. If he did, it would be a transaction, not deception. Otherwise, if Qiong realized he was being tricked, wouldn't he just beat him up?
The myth of Elysium on the planet Lothar states that wise men who deceive the "innocent" usually suffer physical annihilation after all the "innocent" realize what's happening, while their spirits endure eternal torment...
"Don't worry, I told you I'm a businessman, and I can definitely offer you a price that will satisfy you: I can provide some special tools and rituals to help you break the curse, all of which are the results of my years of dedicated research in divination and fortune-telling. In addition, I will also assist you in returning home. You came by spaceship, right? Is the wreckage still there? If anyone in Anhe can repair it, it can only be me! And I only need you to cooperate with me to do some simple experiments and collect some alien biological samples... Don't worry, Miss Snake-like Person, I won't slice you up for research."
Ajeta said it casually, but a hint of barely perceptible expectation flashed in his eyes.
"I still think you're lying to us."
"Ahem, Kiana!"
Qiong waved her hand, signaling Kiana not to speak yet.
"If I'm the only one providing research, then forget it."
"make a deal."
Ajeta readily agreed, her smile no longer concealed. But Ajeta's quick agreement made Kiana feel that Sora, that fool, had stepped into a trap. Although Ajeta concealed it well, Kiana keenly sensed a hint of greed in Ajeta's eyes…
It's like a hunter seeing his prey fall into his trap.
"Let's start now. Let's go to my house first, and I'll check your physical condition."
“Qiong…”
Kiana was about to speak up to stop her, but Sora gave her a reassuring look.
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"Welcome to my studio. This is the scientific mecca of Langqiu, where all my brilliant ideas come to life."
Ajeta led the three into the workshop, which was filled with all sorts of strange tools and liquids shimmering with various colors. Sora followed Ajeta in, followed by Matsuzuki, while Kiana brought up the rear, cautiously observing her surroundings with distrust in her eyes. After hearing Ajeta's boastful words, she laughed.
"A holy land of science? Don't you find that laughable?"
For some reason, Kiana had no liking for the lab that reeked of disinfectant—Ajeta's lab was a far worse version of Jackal's Lab; at least the kobold's lab wasn't this messy.
Ajeta wasn't angry at Kiana's sarcastic remarks; instead, she started asking questions in return.
"Miss Rice Cake, what makes you say that? Mr. Baizhu, please lie down."
While letting Sora lie down on a king-size bed, Ajeta fiddled with various instruments and asked Kiana why she said that.
"Don't be nervous, Atractylodes macrocephala, it's just a simple test... Miss Nian Gao, what's the reason?"
"I heard it from Song Que. Your broken master key can't even open a door. How can you call yourself a genius scholar of Langqiu?"
Speaking of this, Kiana couldn't help but glare at Matsuzuki, who was trying her best to make himself inconspicuous—if it weren't for Matsuzuki's bad idea, she would probably still be taking Sora around to play right now!
"Ah...yes, yes!"
Seeing Kiana's look, Pine Sparrow immediately chimed in—the gentle rice cake snake's anger always gave her a terrifying feeling.
"Auntie Ta, that master key you gave me before really isn't very good..."
"Oh? Is that so? Then it's definitely not my problem."
"what?"
Hearing such arrogant words made Qiong worry about Ajeta's professionalism for the first time, and he was so frightened that he sat up straight in bed.
After all, when scientists say things like "it has nothing to do with me," it always gives him a sense of unease...
"Lie down! We'll be recording your body parameters soon! That universal key... hmm, I remember it."
Ajeta turned around, opened the drawer, and took out a master key that looked exactly like the pine bird.
"Is this it?"
With a simple tap, the key head instantly transforms into a metal wire; with another tap, the metal wire transforms into a flat key.
"It's yours."
Ajeta handed the master key to Kiana, who took it, examined it, and then smiled.
She didn't care about the master key. But she cared a lot about the little bottle that came with it.
Without asking Kiana if she was satisfied with her "gift," Ajeta began to talk to herself.
"My devices have always received rave reviews. As for why yours doesn't work... I think it's because you didn't enter the data three days in advance or you remembered the wrong key shape, right? After all, for the purpose of theft prevention, shape memory metal can only last for three days."
Hearing what Ajeta said, the sparrow shrank back in embarrassment: the master key he brought to break into the house was just a "master key" that recorded the house keys?
"Then what's the use of this master key? And isn't recording data every three days a bit too troublesome?"
Lying on the bed, Qiong asked, "Isn't it inconvenient to record things so frequently?"
"Bai Zhu, convenience must always be sacrificed for safety. Besides, I believe completion is more important than perfection. Realization is completion, completion is fulfilling a need, fulfilling a need is perfection, so completion is perfection... Moreover, this is just a 'tool' made on a whim, something I made on a whim because I forgot my keys when I went out."
After recording almost all the data on paper, Ajeta took out an extra-large syringe.
Qiong: ...
Why do we need to draw blood again?
"Don't ask me how I did it out of curiosity; it's a trade secret. But if you want to know..."
"Can I skip the blood test?"
Interrupting Ajeta's likely self-aggrandizing speech, Sora's hair stood on end when she saw the syringe. She suddenly realized that this so-called experiment was not as "simple" as Ajeta made it out to be.
If you sell yourself outright, what's the benefit? If you don't see any benefit, you won't cooperate!
"No."
Ajeta approached Sora to draw his blood, but Sora immediately grabbed her wrist.
Are you afraid of needles?
Ajeta paused for a moment, then laughed.
"Don't worry, I'll be very, very gentle, I promise it won't hurt at all."
"No, no, no, the main problem is that you took my blood for testing without giving me anything in return? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
So it turns out you felt that if you gave her too much, she might not keep her promise?
"Don't worry, I'm a businessman who keeps his word. If you don't believe me, just ask..."
Ajeta looked at the sparrow, hoping to gain their trust and get the sparrow's guarantee, but the sparrow, who was hiding far away, didn't seem willing to vouch for them at all...
"But it wouldn't be right if you didn't offer something first, would it?"
"can."
After a moment of contemplation, Ajeta took out a small bottle emitting a purple glow from his pocket.
"what is this?"
"Ajeta's Lucky Potion can temporarily boost your luck and enhance your masculine charm, effectively suppressing the 'curse' on you. Consider it my gift to you?"
Well, it's a lucky potion that slightly boosts blood circulation, but ultimately its main effect is "confidence" rather than "good fortune." It can be used to treat patients with excessive stress and anxiety.
Ajeta smiled and handed over the potion; putting everything else aside, it really did make one feel lucky. Sora took the bottle, then suddenly realized Kiana hadn't said anything? Looking at Kiana, he wondered if she was angry or what. Just moments ago, Kiana had been terrified that Ajeta would eat him, but now she was completely ignoring him?
"Alright, here you go first. You'll be satisfied with the rest of the equipment. Now let me take a cut... Huh?"
Taking advantage of Qiong's relaxation, Ajeta inserted the syringe into Qiong's vein, but before touching Qiong, Ajeta noticed that something was missing from the syringe.
Where is my needle?