Chapter 2: Empire Lab

Following Andrew's footsteps, fifteen teenagers walked deeper into the island.
Purgatory Island is an irregular circular island with a diameter of almost eighty miles. More than two-thirds of the island is covered by pristine jungle.
Large tracts of virgin jungle extend from this end of the island's shoreline to the depths of the island.
This jungle is like the product of hundreds of thousands of years of Jurassic age on the earth. The jungle is full of giant trees. Those tall trees are towering into the clouds. People cannot hug each other. There are tree roots, vines and plant roots everywhere.
These tall trees are the main tree species of Purgatory Island-Wu Shan.
Mose fir is a magical plant with water properties. It absorbs water elements in the air and releases a large amount of formed water mist to adjust the humidity of the surrounding environment. They are mixed with the rotten gas over the dead sea, producing a larger white smoke, which envelopes the entire island. Only at noon in the sun will Purgatory Island be freed from the mist and reveal its ugly face.
Due to the transpiration of the fog, people's sight was greatly obstructed, so after walking about 500 meters into the jungle, the youngsters discovered that there was actually a castle standing in the jungle in front of them.
The castle covers a huge area, and in the center is a tall tower standing like a sharp sword. It overlooks the world in a posture overlooking the world.
The teenagers were brought to the castle. Two teenagers about 16 years old greeted him at the door. One of them took a step forward, put his right hand on his chest, and bowed respectfully, "Master Andrew, you are back . "
Andrew coldly: "Sack, was anyone wrong when I was away?"
The boy named Thacker hurriedly said, "No one dares to disobey your will, Lord Andrew."
"Very well, Sisser, tell them what this place is and the rules here."
"Dear your command, Lord Andrew."
Another teenager named Seth answered respectfully.
Listening to Cather's statement, Gong Hao finally understood where he was.
To understand the existence of Purgatory Island, we must first understand the history of magic development on the mainland of Fengming.
Since some people in Fengming mainland accidentally discovered the existence of magic elements and successfully resonated with the surrounding magic elements through their own power, thus creating the first human magic and becoming the first human magician in Fengming mainland, so far The history of Fengming continent's use of magic has developed for six thousand years.
In the development history of human magic for 6,000 years, more than 3,000 spells have been created, dozens of factions have been divided, and the types of magicians and levels have gradually become more systematic. Naruto became a typical magic continent.
However, magic is not something anyone can learn. A person without talent, no matter how hard he works, cannot be an excellent magician. Through thousands of years of research in Fengming Continent, people have discovered that almost every 10,000 people can truly learn and use magical power. Only one out of every 100,000 people has outstanding talents who can master advanced spells. Those who can invent and create new spells may not appear in one in a million.
Bloodlines have become an important criterion for determining whether humans have the ability to learn magic. The probability that a descendant of a magician can become a magician is far greater than that of ordinary people. The concept of descent is therefore deeply ingrained, and the aristocratic spirit is deeply rooted in the hearts of everyone on this continent.
It is believed that the world is inherently hierarchical, and whoever has the blood of a magician is a born noble.
However, human beings have never lacked rebels. Some people always try to break through the shackles, break the rules, and break through their prison cages.
About a thousand years ago, a man named Georgy Lambourn continued to pursue the mysteries of magic without the power of communication elements. Through diligent efforts and research, he discovered that resonating with magic elements and borrowing their power is not the only way to use magic. There are many ways for humans to borrow elemental power, so that ordinary people can also possess the power to use magic.
This discovery caused a sensation at the time, and many people who longed for magical power continued their research on Georgie Lambourn, and finally formed a systematic and huge magic project. This is the origin of alchemy.
Unlike magicians, alchemy does not use its own power to use spells. They use their rich knowledge to collect various rare materials and make various magical props to achieve their goals. If the magician is a powerful individual, then the alchemist is a great engineer. They design and manufacture various magic instruments to complete people's continuous pursuit of quality of life ...
If the existence of a magician is the pinnacle of primitive force in the magic world, then alchemy is the mainstream direction of technological development in the magic world. The latter is far more socially significant than the former. It allows ordinary people to master the power of magic and promote the rapid development of the entire society.
Regardless of whether it is material technology or magic technology, its common feature is to continuously deepen its understanding of the world in which it is located, and use this understanding to turn it into an invention that can serve humanity. When civilization develops to a certain extent, it becomes a scramble for natural resources between humans and other living things.
A bottle of ordinary magic potion may need to destroy at least ten magic plants and kill five heads of Warcraft to make. People only use the parts that are useful to them, and the ones that are not useful to them are extravagantly discarded.
In the era when alchemy was the craziest, a large number of primitive jungles were cut down and Warcraft was killed. Except for a few extremely dangerous areas with top-level Warcraft survival, wherever human footprints can reach and can destroy, people almost from Don't miss it.
They ask for it without paying.
Large demon puppets for war were created, various samurai warriors sprung up, each weapon was enchanted with magical powers, warriors used scrolls and potions to fight ... any great invention was always the first to be used In war, they consume each other, invade, plunder resources, destroy production, and annex land. For example, when a large amount of fine gold or mithril is found in a certain place, nations will compete for it, while mining, refining, and consumption through war, and wielding various resources.
During those crazy centuries of war, alchemy became the standard for determining the strength of the country. The huge magic wars were much easier to use and more affordable than those taunted magicians. However, after the centuries of war, it was discovered that the once rich continent had been shattered into ruins by the war. Less and less materials can be used for alchemy, a large number of magic plants die, and various kinds of Warcraft disappear in people's vision. Primitive jungles disappeared from the ground, replaced by large ruins composed of abandoned gold puppets, golems, magic puppets and other alchemy items.
People's destruction of ecological resources has never been spared, no matter in the past, modern, or future. To some extent, it represents the level of science and technology development in a world-the greater the damage to natural ecology, the higher the scientific and technological achievements.
However, with the exhaustion of resources, the lack of materials to conduct a large number of experiments and production of alchemy gradually lost its former glory. It was discovered that magicians are still an irreplaceable force on this continent, but alchemists are beginning to do nothing.
Since then, alchemy has gradually subsided. Some powerful alchemy was lost.
Although alchemy has fallen, some countries with strong expectations are reluctant to give up their desire to recreate the glory of old alchemy ...
About twenty years ago, a merchant ship belonging to the Kingdom of Reims accidentally entered the purgatory island hidden in the mist when entering the sea of ​​death.
On this island, they discovered the long-lost primitive jungle and various rare Warcraft.
They found about 8,000 species of inhabitants on Purgatory Island, including nearly 2,000 magical creatures and plants. Because Purgatory Island has been hidden in the mist for many years, this island is rarely known to the world, and the environment here has been hardly damaged by outsiders. About 300 of the World of Warcraft currently living on this island have disappeared from the wind continent.
The leader of the caravan reported the discovery to his king, and a huge plan was born.
King Strike V of the Kingdom of Reims personally invited Patrick Hines, the best alchemist of the time in the country, and asked him to immediately go to Purgatory Island, build an alchemy castle, and kill the death of the Kingdom of Reims. The sea area was designated as a forbidden ground on the grounds of protecting the life of the fleet.
On Purgatory Island, Hines was assisted by the entire kingdom to develop various war puppets for the Kingdom of Reims. Because of the extreme scarcity of resources, war ravages are extremely rare on the mainland today. The existence of Purgatory Island gave the Lance Kingdom a chance to rejuvenate.
From this day, Hines devoted himself to his favorite alchemy research. On the one hand, he provided a large number of war equipment for the Kingdom of Reims, and on the other hand, researched various lost alchemy through the help of the Kingdom of Reims.
Ten years later, the Kingdom of Reims successfully defeated two neighbors that were originally stronger than him, becoming one of the three great powers of the northern continent of Fengming Continent. Strick VI was crowned emperor and became the Reims Empire.
Twenty years later, Patrick Hines has become the most terrifying alchemist on this continent. He has mastered at least 30 types of lost alchemy.
"It turned out to be the Empire's alchemy laboratory?" A young man exclaimed, but with a little excitement in his tone.
Being able to come to the core secret place where a country is rapidly becoming stronger, every teenager must be excited, everyone whispered. Some people even fantasize that they may be able to learn some profound and subtle alchemy spells, and from then on, they will be able to fly yellow.
But Gong Hao's heart sank in an instant.
After all, he is not just a teenager, but from the information age of information explosion. His understanding of human nature is much stronger than these children.
Coming to such a significant place usually means only one consequence-they don't even want to walk out of the island all their lives.
Is it possible to travel to this world for the purpose of being a prisoner?
And for some reason, there was a more unpleasant feeling in his heart, but he couldn't say it for another time.
Heather said: "Master Heins is the supreme master of the Alchemy Castle. His will is our destiny. Below Master Heins, there are two assistants. Lord Andrew and Lord Pierre. Lord Andrew, you have already seen After that, he is mainly responsible for managing the servants. Lord Pierre is mainly responsible for managing the apprentices. "
Pointing to the high tower behind him, Seth said, "Master Hines and Lord Pier live in that tower, and they usually don't come out. Generally, you don't see them both. All The instructions are issued by Lord Andrew, so we only need to follow the instructions of Lord Andrew to do things. "
"What's the difference between an apprentice and a servant?" Asked a teenager curiously.
"Apprentices are assistants who are in charge of participating in the experiments, design and manufacturing of the masters. They are much higher than our servants, with a small number of about ten. They are all the best alchemy apprentices selected from around the empire. . And the work of the servant is to do all kinds of miscellaneous people, and is the assistant of the assistant. There are about sixty servants in the castle, each of whom has a lot of work to do. Saks and me are the servant chiefs, and you are usually under our command . "
Thacker took a step forward: "Okay, now everyone counts from left to right. Follow me with double numbers, follow Heather with single numbers. We will take you to where you need to do things. From now on, you have to work hard, don't make adults unhappy, do you understand me? "
"Listen," all the boys cried at the same time.
After explaining some things that should be paid attention to, Sisser and Thacker divided the new boy into two teams and brought them into the castle.
In the center of the castle is a large open area. Countless young servants in white clothes are busy with their respective jobs.
The target of their work was unknown creatures kept in cages.
A mantis-like creature waved the sickle-like arms in the iron cage and screamed sharply at people outside, the sword arms waved, and the magic barrier on the iron cage shone from time to time in white light.
A huge snail was like a hill, lazily lying in a cage, accompanied by its breathing, a frost and cold mist appeared.
A three-eyed cat crawling up and down in the cage, hissing like a thunderous vibration, but unable to penetrate the sound-proof nodule arranged outside the castle. Beside the iron cage next to it was a dragon-shaped creature covered with thick scales, spitting out flames and seeing people's hearts beating.
What surprised Gong Hao was that he did not find any information about these creatures from the memory of Shuigler, that is to say, most of these Warcraft are some endangered creatures.
Around the castle were iron warriors in iron armor, exactly like the middle-aged man. The main defense force of the entire castle is composed of these puppet warriors. They are not real life, but they are very powerful and always loyal to their owners.
After arranging other teenagers to do things, Cather took Gong Hao to a flower shed where some strange potted plants that Gong Hao had never seen before were planted. There are even some plants with leaves and branches shaking around, as if people's hands and feet were free and easy.
"Greer, starting today, you will be responsible for material collection in Area 13." Cather told Gong Hao.
"What should I do?" Gong Hao asked.
Heather pulled out a plant from the pot nearby. The root of the plant looked like a doll, with hands and feet, and a facial features. He was pulled out of the soil at this moment, and immediately wow Crying.
"This is weeping grass, and its crying is very annoying." Sisser said, and then gently pinched the cheeks of her baby with her fingers, and there was a row of sharp teeth in her wide mouth.
"Sorrel's saliva is an excellent dissolve. Grasp its face and drip a few drops of saliva, just like I do now, but be careful, its teeth are highly toxic. If your fingers are caught by it When you bite, you're dead. Don't drip too much every day, or the weeping grass will die. "Then, Sisser took a few drops of saliva from the bottle, stuffed the weeping grass back into the pot, and shoveled it again. The earth was covered, and the crying stopped.
Next, Catherine explained the characteristics and precautions of various magic plants for Gong Hao one by one.
There are about forty species of plants in area 13, each of which is unique, and each has its own purpose. In addition to weeping grass, there are at least five magical plants that are extremely lethal, and they need to be handled with great care.
"Well, I have told you all the uses, maintenance and methods of these magic plants. It is not complicated or simple. Do you remember?"
"Yes." Gong Hao nodded.
"Well, every morning an apprentice will come here to pick up the materials you collected the previous day. You can just give them to him. At the same time, he will tell you what the materials need to be prepared the next day. You follow the instructions. Continue to prepare for the next day's supply even if the task is completed. Your room is No. 13 and is matched with your management area. As long as you have done your work, you can arrange for the rest of the time yourself. There is on the east side of the castle There is a canyon and a lake to the west. Both places are forbidden grounds. In addition, the high tower where Master Hines is located is only accessible by apprentices and a few adults. In addition, you can go anywhere else. But I suggest you better not to walk out of the castle, because the castle is protected by enchantment, and there are many terrible Warcrafts outside the castle. Don't think about running away, just focus on your work, understand? "
"I see." Gong Hao nodded.
After thinking about it, he suddenly said, "Sisser, can I ask you a question?"
"You say it."
"I remember you said that the servants here remained around sixty people all year round. Is that so?"
"Yes."
"But I heard that the Empire sends a batch of servants to Purgatory Island every month."
"indeed so."
"Where have so many people gone?"
Heather said, "Sometimes people make mistakes, Andrew will take those who make mistakes, and never see them back again. Andrew says that they don't work hard, so don't let them work here, take They sent to work elsewhere. "
Gong Hao's heart fell to the bottom in an instant.
Send a group of young servants who do not work hard every month to work elsewhere? Then send a batch of new people every month? I'm afraid such a lie can only lie to these children who are not deeply involved in the world.
Gong Hao said in a low voice: "So, fifteen people were taken away by Andrew last month?"
"Yes, so 15 people came in this month."
"How many people does Andrew typically take away every month?"
"I'm not sure. I've only been here for four months. The number of people varies from month to month. Last month, one of the servant chiefs made a mistake and was taken away by Lord Andrew. Then I was on top." At this point, Sissy frowned: "You said that you only asked one question, Hugh Igle, you have asked too much, and do your best."
"Okay Heather, I'll get things done. Hope you do too."
"What do you mean?" Cather froze, not understanding what Gong Hao said.
"I mean ... good luck."