" So it's Professor Edwin. I'm really sorry for my poor hospitality!" Then he turned to Butler Joseph and said, "Tell the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous meal. I want to entertain our two distinguished guests well today!"
"No need. We came here today to ask for something, so don't bother." Before Butler Joseph could respond, Professor Edwin spoke first.
Vic's heart sank. The matter that could make these two people ask for help must be no small matter.
"That won't do. You two have come all the way to my small city of Carley. I must treat you well. Otherwise, if word gets out, I don't deserve to be the mayor anymore!" Vic said.
"All right, stop being wordy. We're short on time. Don't waste any more time." Rad looked impatient.
Without giving Vic a chance to speak, he said directly, "Let's get straight to the point. We want to go to the Dark Abyss Forest and need you to provide some help!"
Although they said they were asking for help, they looked arrogant.
"The Dark Abyss Forest? Are you crazy? Is that a place where people can go?" Reed said, pretending to be angry.
After he spoke, Rad and Professor Edwin just noticed Reed.
Rad was startled. Had this man been here all along? Why hadn't he noticed him before?
Although he was indeed a bit arrogant, his own vigilance was usually quite high. If Reed hadn't spoken up, he wouldn't have noticed this man at all.
In fact, as soon as Reed entered, he deliberately lowered his sense of presence. As a killer in his previous life, his hiding ability was quite good. Whenever he wanted, he could make everyone present ignore his existence.
Rad carefully looked Reed up and down, with a displeased look on his face. "Who are you? Do you have the right to speak here?"
Vic was afraid that Rad would pick on his son, so he quickly said, "This is my son, Reed. Although what he said wasn't pleasant to the ear, it was the truth."
Then he looked at Professor Edwin and continued, "As we all know, there are many dangerous ancient creatures in the Dark Abyss Forest. It's not a place where humans can go.
What's more, there is a special magnetic field there. Even the most advanced instruments for measuring directions will malfunction once inside.
Not to mention that modern vehicles like flying cars can't enter that area at all. The idea of entering the Dark Abyss Forest is really terrible!"
"What's so difficult about it? We can just walk in!" Rad said carelessly.
"Humph, walking in? Easier said than done! The Dark Abyss Forest is so thickly forested that the sky is blocked out and the visibility is extremely low. And there's poisonous gas everywhere. Even the periphery of the forest is full of dangers, let alone if you want to go deeper into the forest. You should know that even the most powerful mercenaries wouldn't dare to easily take risks at the periphery. What makes you think that just the two of you can get out of there alive!" Reed looked at Rad with an unhappy expression.
"Who said there are just the two of us? Aren't you guys here as well?" Rad said as if it were a matter of course.
"What do you mean? Isn't it enough that you want to court death yourself? And you also want us to go and die with you? Nice try!" Reed was even more unhappy.
He looked at the two of them with even more unfriendly eyes! There was even a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.
He hadn't been enjoying his good life for long before these people came to make trouble. How could he not be angry!
Even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake.
Regardless of whether they were big shots from the capital or not, coming to his territory and being so arrogant was really courting death.
If they really pushed him too far, he could just secretly kill these two people when no one was around. He was confident that no one would ever trace it back to him.
Vic noticed the flash of murderous intent in Reed's eyes and was even more satisfied in his heart. He didn't expect that his son was becoming more and more courageous.
However, he couldn't let Reed do that. If these two people died on his territory, it would cause a lot of trouble later.
At present, they didn't have enough power to confront those people.
Vic had no choice but to ask Professor Edwin, "Professor Edwin, may I ask why you want to go to the Dark Abyss Forest?"
Professor Edwin hesitated for a moment and then said, "Mayor Vic, have you ever heard of the Sky-breaking Project?"
Vic looked puzzled. "The Sky-breaking Project? Wasn't that a project that was stopped thirty years ago? It seemed that the project had to be suspended because the current technology couldn't provide enough energy support. Why is it being brought up again now?"
"That's true. However, the Sky-breaking Project was restarted two years ago. Not long ago, research found that there might be a powerful energy substance deep in the Dark Abyss Forest.
If that's the case and we obtain the new energy substance, the Sky-breaking Project can make further breakthroughs. We may be able to usher in a new era of interstellar civilization!"
The more Professor Edwin talked, the more excited he became, and he even seemed a bit crazy! It was as if he had already succeeded.
Vic remembered that in the past two years, there had indeed been many strange mercenaries from other places exploring the Dark Abyss Forest.
He had thought that they were just taking on ordinary tasks. It turned out that they were exploring for new energy.
These people had kept it such a tight secret that even he, the mayor of Carley City, had been fooled.
The more Vic thought about it, the more dissatisfied he felt in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face at all. Instead, he pretended to be excited and said,
"Is what you said true, Professor Edwin? If so, that would be wonderful! But the dangers in the Dark Abyss Forest are real too. This is not an easy matter!"
"Of course what I said is true. I know the Dark Abyss Forest is very dangerous, but this time we've brought a lot of new research technologies from the Ryan Group. We will definitely be able to find that thing smoothly this time.
However, it will indeed be a bit difficult with just the two of us, so that's why we're asking you for help.
We hope you can provide some manpower and equipment and go with us!"
A trace of suspicion rose in Vic's heart. "This matter is very important. Why are just the two of you here? Given its importance, it wouldn't be too much even if the central government sent an army here."
Professor Edwin paused for a moment and then explained, "You know that there are several factions in the central government. Although we firmly believe that there is that thing in the Dark Abyss Forest, there are also those who don't believe it. So we signed a military pledge and Rad and I will go to find out.
Moreover, Carley City is your territory after all. Your people must be more familiar with the Dark Abyss Forest than those brought from the capital.
It's the same if we seek help directly from you."
As he spoke, Professor Edwin took out a token from his body and handed it to Vic. "I think Mayor Vic will surely cooperate, right?"