Helen's Bargain (2)

Du Chen said nothing, instead leaning back in the sand-hued chair, eyes half-closed, lost in silent thought.

Helen must have been truly desperate to lay her cards on the table like this. After all, who could sit idly by while their father faced vivisection? Yet, Du Chen was a fraud; he couldn't genuinely help her, or he wouldn't have shirked such a benevolent act. However, now that he knew Phil was also one of Philip's test subjects, and he himself was likely targeted by Philip's machinations, he had to find a way to protect himself! In this light, Helen's intelligence network became quite useful.

Helen watched Du Chen, awaiting his reply. After a long moment, Du Chen opened his eyes and asked in a low voice, "First, tell me everything you know about Philip's Alchemy Laboratory!"

"Your Excellency, I am here to make a bargain, not to divulge all my secrets!"

"Even in a trade, you must first let me examine the goods, wouldn't you agree?" Du Chen chuckled.

Helen mused for a moment, then replied, "Philip's Alchemy Laboratory has a total of eighteen levels. The deeper one goes, the more secrets one uncovers..."

"Tell me something intriguing! The structure of an alchemy laboratory is something I can ascertain myself!" Du Chen wagged a finger, secretly smirking. So the laboratory indeed had eighteen levels; that was already quite a secret. But to uncover more, he needed to feign deeper knowledge.

"Then, Your Excellency, do you know which level houses Philip's true laboratory?" Helen was a shrewd bargainer, having whetted Du Chen's appetite sufficiently. She smiled again, "Eighteen levels, eighteen assistants... but Philip's actual laboratory is on a hidden nineteenth level, and my father is imprisoned there!"

"You have piqued my interest. Continue!"

"Beneath the eighteenth level lies a hidden door, behind which is a tunnel... Oh, and Hot Spring Mountain is actually a volcano. That tunnel passes directly through the magma of the earth's core. To traverse it, one either needs power comparable to yours, or Philip's secret techniques. That's why my associates couldn't gather intelligence on the nineteenth level. But I know this much: all of Philip's secrets reside on the nineteenth level!"

"How do you know this?" Du Chen countered.

Helen gestured vaguely with a finger. "That, Your Excellency, is not part of the trial goods."

The nineteenth level, then? The four executioners, Phil's past, the purpose of the experiments... all the answers must lie within.

Du Chen inquired, "Within the eighteenth level, there's data on a woman named Phil. How much do you know about her?"

"Phil? My apologies, she wasn't my target, so my knowledge is limited. My associates noted that both your and her data were grouped together as 'test subjects'. Phil's file contained a remark stating she was a 'failed experiment', but that 'her experiment could be continued in Francis's body'..."

At this, Helen pointed to her own face. "Your Excellency, are you truly Francis, or are you, like me, an imposter?"

"Do you truly believe a sixteen-year-old Francis could have saved you?" Du Chen disclaimed his assumed identity.

"Heh, I suspected you might be like me. After all, the real Francis is only sixteen, even younger than I am," Helen chuckled.

"Enough. Continue. What does it mean for Phil's experiment to 'continue in Francis's body'?"

"Regarding that, I truly know very little. The data only records one of Philip's annotations, a remarkably excited one." Helen mimicked Philip's tone, "Ramepatisu! Phil failed, but she bore a golden-haired son, and her son was a good-for-nothing! Now, that good-for-nothing has become a genius! I did not fail; I merely postponed success by twenty-five years!"

Du Chen's heart trembled at this. Philip was indeed no good; his aim was to use Du Chen himself as a test subject! If you show no virtue, then I shall cast aside all righteousness!

Chewing over Helen's imitated words, Du Chen was momentarily stunned again. "Rame-what-su? What does that phrase mean?"

Helen shook her head. "Your Excellency, I merely repeated the exact words, verbatim. 'Ramepatisu' is an exclamation from a very ancient language, indicating extreme rage or excitement from the speaker. Why Philip used such a tongue is beyond my knowledge."

With that, she spread her hands. "Your Excellency, I believe I have provided ample proof of my intelligence capabilities. Now, what is your answer?"

Only a fool would venture to the nineteenth level to rescue her father. Though Du Chen hadn't yet spotted any guards, not even a ghost would believe Philip's Alchemy Laboratory lacked expert protection. Yet, Helen's intelligence was undeniably useful! In that case, he might as well find an excuse to make use of this lass!

With this thought, Du Chen rubbed his nose and chuckled, "First, tell me: how do you intend to rescue your father without my assistance?"

Helen and Sulan exchanged a glance. "According to the intelligence I possess, Philip's Alchemy Laboratory is riddled with traps and mechanisms, and my father is bound by many shackles. Sulan and I lack the power to simply force our way in and rescue him. Thus, we are waiting for an opportunity, a singular chance!"

"What opportunity?"

After Du Chen's question, Helen smiled. "Your Excellency, would you be willing to help me?"

"Speak of it, then. If it's feasible, perhaps I might just assist you if the mood strikes me!" Du Chen replied roguishly.

Helen secretly gritted her teeth. Though she knew Du Chen might be trying to extract information without any intention of helping, she had no other choice — at least the man before her wasn't allied with Philip.

"Mount Tianshan! If Philip intends to vivisect my father, he will certainly go there!"

"So you plan to make your move while Philip transports your father to Mount Tianshan?"

"Yes!" Helen stared intently at Du Chen, her voice firm. "My associates reviewed Philip's experimental plans. He will first conduct several routine experiments, and then, vivisect my father on Mount Tianshan!"

"Routine experiments?!" Du Chen pondered the alchemical knowledge he possessed, musing, "If he intends to conduct routine experiments – blood analysis, tissue extraction, various fusions... that would require at least another month. If Philip wishes to conduct the experiments in detail, it would take even longer! You still have ample time to prepare! However..."

Du Chen continued, "Are you certain Philip will go to Mount Tianshan? Wouldn't it be more convenient for him to perform the vivisection within his laboratory?"

Helen looked at Du Chen with suspicion. "Your Excellency, with your power, can you not sense the secrets of Mount Tianshan?"

Du Chen started, realizing he had misspoken. Nevertheless, he shook his head slightly, feigning an air of profound mystery.

Helen smirked knowingly. "I understand. Your purpose in impersonating Francis to enter Battle God Academy was for that item beneath Mount Tianshan, wasn't it? You're worried my rescue attempt will disrupt your plans, correct? Please forgive me, but my only chance to save my father is on the journey to Mount Tianshan. Rest assured, I will absolutely not interfere with your plans; I will only act en route, and will not set foot on Mount Tianshan itself!"

Nonsense! This old man doesn't even know where Mount Tianshan is! However, your misunderstanding suits me perfectly. The profound expressions he'd learned from street swindlers in his previous life truly came in handy!

"Very well, I acknowledge your intelligence capabilities. I desire the data from the nineteenth level. Normally, I could simply force my way in and retrieve it, but for certain reasons, I do not wish to alert Philip!" Du Chen waved a hand. "If you can procure the data from the nineteenth level, I will seriously consider your bargain. You may leave now!"

"Alright, I will find out everything about the nineteenth level for you as soon as possible!" Helen suddenly showed a very peculiar expression. "However, before I depart, I have one more question: during Sulan's siege of Antwerp Port, do you happen to know the Battle God who secretly threatened Sulan and saved Antwerp Port?"