Helen's Bargain (1)

Why was he here? Where was Aliza?

Du Chen suddenly recalled the intelligence Professor Mina had shared with him days ago—Helen’s father had been captured by Roland!

According to the rules of the Battle God World, captives were the private property of the victor. Therefore, Philip had recently been negotiating with Roland for Helen’s father to be used as an experimental subject.

Connecting this to Subject Number One’s arrival moments ago, and Lewis’s warning of danger, a bitter smile touched Du Chen’s lips: Helen’s father had already been sent here to be experimented on.

Poor, unfortunate girl, your father is truly doomed!

Roland’s voice faded as quickly as it had appeared, indicating his rapid departure from Philip’s Alchemy Laboratory. Du Chen pondered for a moment, then feigned an air of nonchalance and resumed his next round of experiments—experiments concerning himself.

However, Du Chen was now far warier.

No one truly knew Philip’s character, but Arthur had called him a science madman who conducted experiments on living people, and that much was likely true.

If Philip were a good man, all would be well and good, but what if he harbored ill intentions?

Thinking back now, couldn’t Philip’s myriad previous hints also be seen as a means to lure Du Chen into his experiments? And considering the worst-case scenario, was it possible Philip was drawing Du Chen into the lab to first test his body’s data, then to achieve some unspeakable agenda?

Based on these considerations, Du Chen leveraged his status as a newcomer to slow down the progress of his own experiments.

Thus, the first day of his alchemy assistant duties passed. Du Chen walked back to his dormitory along the Water River.

The Water River, under the shroud of night, was picturesque. Though it was past ten in the evening, many people were still strolling along the riverbanks, mostly couples, lost in their own worlds of affection, which only deepened Du Chen’s melancholy.

Near the dormitory, Helen sat on a stone bench by the river, gazing at the starry sky with a serene expression, lost in thought. Seeing Du Chen return, she gracefully lifted her skirt, rose, and approached him with a smile.

“Francis, you’re back quite late tonight!”

“That’s hardly your concern, is it?” Du Chen replied with a faint smile, walking towards Dormitory Number 18, ignoring Helen further.

“Hey, that story I mentioned a few days ago has had new developments, would you like to hear them?” Helen called out, stopping Du Chen.

Du Chen frowned deeply, turning to stare at Helen. Displeased, he said, “I’ve already told you, I have no interest in that story! I don’t care about its ending, much less any new developments!”

Helen spread her hands, walked closer to Du Chen, and waved a slender, jade-like finger before his eyes. “No, this time I’m not ‘requesting’ you to hear a story, nor will I ever request it again. This is a transaction, do you understand, a transaction?”

<em>Damn girl, I have absolutely no interest in your body. What else could you possibly have to trade?</em>

“Strength lies in desirelessness,” he mused. “That adage from my previous life truly rings powerfully!”

Du Chen smoothed back his golden hair from his forehead, grinned, and entered his dormitory, leaving Helen out in the cold.

Helen’s gaze lingered on Du Chen’s retreating back for a moment before a sudden smile bloomed on her lips. “I no longer wish to engage in these pointless tests, Your Eminence. Thank you for saving me in Antwerp Port!”

Du Chen continued without breaking stride, not looking back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

But inwardly, he wondered, <em>Could this girl be ready to lay her cards on the table?</em>

Helen did not try to stop Du Chen, merely saying softly, “Just now, you met Arthur in Philip’s Alchemy Laboratory!”

“Annie, what exactly do you mean by that!?” Du Chen retorted angrily.

“Please, don’t be angry! There are just some matters I must explain to you!” A flicker of panic entered Helen’s heart; after all, he was the one who could break Zigurd’s seal, and to thoroughly enrage him would lead to unthinkable consequences!

“Are you spying on me?” Du Chen turned back, glaring furiously at Helen. But inwardly, he was on shaky ground. He was only able to speak so boldly by taking advantage of Helen’s misunderstanding. If Helen were to discover he was a fraud, with the temper of a Demoness, wouldn’t she immediately seize him and torture him for his lock-picking techniques!?

“Your Eminence, I would never dare to spy on you!” She bowed apologetically, her expression grave. “May we discuss this inside?!”

Du Chen pursed his lips, saying reluctantly, “Come in! Harry, get out here and guard the door. Don’t let anyone disturb me!”

Stepping into the living room, Du Chen sat imperiously on the worn leather chair, propping his feet on the coffee table. He asked, “Helen, what exactly do you want?”

“Your Eminence calling me Helen is tantamount to admitting you saved me!” Helen let out a soft laugh. With a sudden flick of her sleeve, a small, golden serpent darted out.

She hissed twice at the golden serpent, and it swayed its body, eerily transforming into a middle-aged woman clad in shimmering golden gauze, right before Du Chen’s eyes. “Greetings, Your Eminence, I am Sulan, a Ninth-Grade Divine Beast. My abilities are communication and mental manipulation.”

Saying this, she pursed her lips and hissed a few more times. Following her command, countless snakes, insects, rats, and ants crawled out from beneath the floorboards in front of Du Chen. They lined up in a single file, like an army arrayed at Du Chen’s feet.

Du Chen felt a chill crawl up his spine. He urgently said, “Just say what you need to say! Why are you bringing out all these creatures?”

“I apologize, I merely wished to prove a point!” Helen signaled Sulan to dismiss the creatures, then continued, “Esteemed Your Eminence, I no longer wish to engage in meaningless probes. In truth, I should have trusted long ago that it was you who saved me, for my eyes do not deceive me!”

She bowed in apology, speaking with her body still bent. “Firstly, I sincerely apologize for the trouble I have caused you during this period. Secondly, having seen my friends, you must surely understand their value!”

“Indeed, if they were to gather intelligence, then there would be no secrets across the Three Continents!” As he spoke, Du Chen was suddenly startled. “Damn it, you’ve been using these little creatures to spy on me all this time!?”

“No, I wouldn’t dare! If I had been spying on you, I would not have engaged in such foolish probing actions before. I know, Your Eminence must despise being watched, and I would not risk thoroughly enraging you!”

Du Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, if Helen had been spying on him, she would have long known he was a fake master. There would have been no need for her actions today.

(Meanwhile, Helen thought, <em>If it weren’t for your extraordinary strength, which would likely detect any slight disturbance around you, my little friends would have already begun spying on you.</em>)

“Very well then, you may sit and we can speak. First, tell me, how did you discover it was I who saved you? Was it your eyes?”

Helen sat primly before Du Chen, nodding in silent affirmation. She continued, “Discussing that now holds no meaning, esteemed Your Eminence. Today, my friends in Philip’s Alchemy Laboratory spotted you, and they also witnessed the incident with you and Arthur!” Seeing Du Chen’s enraged gaze, she hastily explained, “Please forgive me, I truly only intended to monitor Philip’s Alchemy Laboratory, not specifically you!”

“Never mind!” Du Chen frowned. “Then you should also know that your father has been sent to be an experimental subject!”

“Yes, which is why I acted so boldly today. My father is at death’s door, and I cannot wait any longer! Moreover, I originally didn’t wish to trouble you further, but some discoveries my friends made today tell me that cooperation between us is possible!” Helen shot Sulan a glance.

Sulan interjected, “Your Eminence, you seem eager to uncover some secrets within Philip’s Alchemy Laboratory. I believe our intelligence capabilities are sufficient for a transaction with you, would you not agree?!”