[The Progressive Mission: Rise of Alien Civilization (Part Two) has been completed!]
[As a success reward, you have acquired the "Origami Orbital"!]
[As a success reward, your Vibration Level increases +10!]
[As a success reward, you have acquired the "Anon Spell Blade"!]
"Hoho! Thank you, Grey! I will put to good use these abundant and valuable materials you've brought to my workshop! This will be of great help to my apprentices!" The favorable impression of a dwarf that was around four feet tall; one with brown skin, a bulky body, and eyes and hair that were colored similar to precious earth gladly accepted Grey's gift.
"Anyway, it's unusual for you to bring a companion aside from gorgeous Rana, Borax." Standing in front of the furnace that was left unchecked for a moment because of the unexpected visitors, the dwarf's gaze then landed on Borax sitting on a wooden chair across from Grey's; they were a few distance away from the scorching heat. "On the other hand, it's a first for me to see an alchemist possessing an indescribable amount of forging materials. Maybe you should have just become a blacksmith, don't you think so? Hahaha!"
Hearing this, Grey reached for the wooden ale and gulped a considerable amount of Dwarven Wine.
'Gramps, I am certain that you will hate the existence of Anoboids that can easily become anything given the right blueprint. But I admire hard work that takes time because of my mindset as an unofficial physicist or scientist…' Grey inwardly laughed self-deprecatingly before he addressed the old man, whose beard almost reached his packed chest.
"I don't have a talent for hammering, Old Heskan. I'd rather drink, you see. Haha!"
"Hoh? The spirits of the young are truly unmatched. If that's the case, then you should enjoy more!" Old Dwarf Heskan laughed as he sat beside the burning furnace for some reasons only known to himself.
His gaze then landed on one of the apprentices in this spacious blacksmith workshop, "You brat there, get our visitors some more wine! Also, take a rest or the others might think I'm overworking y'all bastards!"
The three apprentices frowned, but there was no malice painted in their eyes. It was as though they were so used to their mentor's antics. If there's one thing, it was that they were grateful and somewhat relieved for Borax's presence.
"Thank you, Master!" Simultaneously, before they brought delicacies to the table, the three apprentices bowed.
After some time, past midnight fell, and the mundane celebration of making a genuine connection ended with Grey not being able to be intoxicated because of his outrageous biology.
"Here's the list you are asking for."
With Old Heskan knocked out cold thanks to around twenty large ales of wine, Borax Doranfell finally handed out the finalized [Kill List] after some consideration.
In a white-brownish scroll in his grasp, Grey couldn't help but ask,
"Is there anyone written here that you perceive as good people?"
Hearing his query, Borax looked at him with scrutinizing eyes. He then said,
"What if there's one? Would you still proceed with it?"
Gauging the intention behind Borax's question, Grey couldn't help but chuckle.
"I asked for a [Kill List], but it doesn't mean that I will kill them, all right? Well, it depends." He smiled.
"What does that even mean?" Borax's brown eyes squinted. "Anyway, what's written in there are their names and respective locations, at the very least; it's up to you on how to find or deal with them. However, just so you know they're of different races so expect the unexpected. But if there's one thing, they're all residing in the parts of the Holy Empire."
"Ah, I see. Thanks for the advice…" Grey paused for a moment, his purple eyes gleaming under the moonlight penetrating the workshop's chimney turned serious and expectant before asking, "On a different note, why did you choose a complete stranger to entrust your daughter's life with?"
Even though Grey already had several hunches due to the information about Borax Doranfell acquired by the [Alien Archive], he still wanted to ask and hear the answers from the man himself. After all, even if Grey used [Knowledge Assimilation] to know everything about the Guild Master of the Shadow Guild, what he would not learn was the firsthand emotions that this father was feeling amidst of dilemma regarding Moria's critical condition.
In the end, information does not contain emotions, only plain data.
"The Shadow Guild is very sensitive to debts and favors. We always fulfill our word and breaking one's promise is radical dishonor. Considering this, if I reveal myself, for example, to the Elven Queen to get an Elven Elixir, a war may break out one way or another, internal or external."
To make this matter clear, Borax set an example in the form of questions for Grey to listen to and ponder.
"What if the Elven Queen asks for the Holy Emperor's critical weakness…? What if after I provided her that information in exchange for the Elven Elixir to save my daughter, the Elves started a war against the Holy Empire? Even if this war can be fought in the shadows, it would still erupt given the time.
"I don't know where you came from, Grey… However, the history of Magica consists mainly of wars for the sake of civilization development. It was built and founded in absurdity and sheer madness, and the current era is not any different since the races are still wary of each other even if it's just subtle… The damn Mystic Veil just solidified the limited access between nations."
Absorbing everything that Borax had said with a serene voice, Grey responded with the same tone.
"But Moria's your daughter, though? Wouldn't it be better to care about her life even if the world burns to the ground?"
Borax let out a self-deprecating chuckle. He then took a sip of wine, looked at Grey in the eyes, and said,
"That's the thing… Moria's everything to me. I want her well-being to remain healthy, which includes the peaceful state of the world, albeit ambiguously. In other words, I don't want the young her to see a war-torn world.
"After all, what's the use of asking for the Elven Elixir if my daughter will live in a world that tortures the innocent minds of the youth?"
For the first time since his reincarnation, Grey was left speechless.
After a few moments of contemplation, he thought to himself,
'This man has unshakeable principles!'
He then smiled, saying, "You have my respect, Borax."
***
Time passed, and the two separated ways after bidding farewell to Old Heskan.
"Now then… Let's get to business."
According to what Grey had learned since his reincarnation around some six months ago, the Ethics of Anon Scientist was generally categorized into two: (1) Permissive Operation, and (2) Defensive Operation.
The former pertained to the fact that Grey needed the permission of the desired subjects before he could perform [DNA Modification] on them. On the other hand, the latter concisely stated that anything that could be considered a threat against the well-being of the Anon Scientist could be purged and that anyone that could be deemed as enemies of the to-be-born Alien Empire was to be revoked of their human rights.
This meant that, Permissive Operation aside, Grey was given the prerogative of what to do against anyone that could threaten him or anyone with a connection to him, be it under his direct rule or just mere acquaintances. This will of choice as an Anon Scientist hardly fell into one kind: Experimentation for the cause.
However, when Grey asked Krishnaya about the Ethics of Anon Scientist, that if these two codes of morality as an unidentified alien race should be strictly followed, the latter advised that as long as the subject was mentioned or part of the [Progressive Missions], then the others should not matter.
With these in mind, Grey inspected the [Kill List] that he had acquired from the Guild Master of the Shadow Guild.
[Kill List]
[1] Vice-Guild Master of the Blood Clan, Alex of Radelhorn Household.
Target's Race: Vampire (A type of Demonic Mutant)
Current Possible Locations: XXX
Commissioner's Identity: Confidential
Monetary Reward: GGG