Chapter 451: Chapter 449: The Blood-Stained Mountains

[Mysterious Skin Factory]

Located within the irregularly structured mountains of the Source Epidemic Area, and akin to the “Prison” that is the Suffering Monastery, the Skin Factory also possessed a unique function. It was the largest processing plant in the Old World, without any competition.

Aside from producing the skin it needed for itself, it was also responsible for the subcontracting of all kinds of processed products including flesh, bones, and even nerves. Various Source Epidemic Areas, large organizations, and even some mysterious forces were in ‘deep collaboration’ with the Skin Factory.

In the past when the Skin Factory operated normally, most transfer organizations like the Black Ascaris Company focused their attention here, where every tunnel and railway culminated.

Every day, various types of ‘Big Bosses’ would come to the Skin Factory to place orders or collect goods.

Rumors had it that the wealth accumulated by the Skin Factory was likely only surpassed by the Duke’s Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, the Skin Factory was willing to invest substantial funds in factory technological research and development, procurement of high-grade materials, recruitment of neutral talents, and expansion of the factory’s scale among other things.

Since ancient times, the status of the Skin Factory as the Old World’s largest had never changed,

until the arrival of that invasion war. The Mysterious Skin Factory immediately converted 80% of its factory area into a military industrial complex, maximizing the provision of military supplies for its former clients.

Because of this, the Skin Factory swiftly became the focus of the invaders’ attention,

Although it managed to maintain its core factory area by relying on the resources accumulated over the years, the many branch factories built in the past were all destroyed, a large number of Skin Slaves died in the war, and even key technologies and materials were lost.

The severely damaged Skin Factory slowly recovered after the war and gradually restored its former supply channels.

In its rush to return to its heyday, the reckless research and development led to the creation of an uncontrollable and entirely independent ‘Yellow Skin,’ which only sparked the Yellow Skin incident.

Although the Origin Disease deep within the Skin Factory finally suppressed the Yellow Skin, the severe internal damage plunged the Skin Factory back into a downturn, forcing it to cut most of its orders and even borrow money from the Duke.

Nowadays,

the area that once housed the Old World’s greatest factory is incredibly devoid of any human presence, with an eerily pungent scent of blood wafting through the air.

The Black Worm Train stops behind William, its doors sealed by a membrane to prevent the penetration of the bloody scent.

The attendants inside asked with genuine concern:

“Mr. William, the state of the Skin Factory is quite strange; this blood scent is several times more intense than when we delivered a client here a month ago.

We highly advise against contacting the Skin Factory at this stage. If you need, we can take you to any Neutral City for free and return you here at no charge once the Skin Factory announces it’s open again.”

But William waved his hand and responded affectionately:

“Thank you, but I have decided to make contact with the Skin Factory during this stage. You should leave quickly.”

“Alright, we hope Mr. William finds what he’s looking for.

When you wish to leave this area, you can call us from the Boundary Prairie. Even if you are being pursued, our company is willing to take the risk to pick you up.”

“Good.”

The Black Worm Train swiftly departed, snaking through the sweat-drenched plains.

At this moment, the Underground Sun with its huge four feet just happened to walk towards the base of the mountain where William stood, releasing a strong and scorching light. It caused the Skin Prairie to continuously secrete sweat, and even the connective mountains appeared to be in a state of flow.

Drops of sweat slid down William’s forehead, eventually absorbed by his collar. His gentleman’s clothes autonomously transformed into a lighter version, actively dissipating the excess heat.

Thirteen followed closely behind him, with the candle inside her skull burning at its lowest, since due to the heat, the wax that should have solidified around her eyesockets kept slipping down, as if she was crying.

William said with a puzzled expression: “Strange, even though we are within the heart of the Skin Factory, there is no Homologous Induction on my clothing. The situation might be worse than anticipated… Of course, it’s also possible that the Skin Factory is undergoing foundational industrial reforms. Either way, we’ll know when we get there.”

Just as William prepared to take his last journey toward the Skin Factory, some unrest stirred in his abdomen.

The ‘Black Umbilical Cord’ that had been activated earlier at the Cancer Palace seemed to sense the strong vitality of the outside world. It burrowed out of his navel on its own, raising its head to suck in the fresh blood substances from the air.

William did not stop it, allowing the umbilical cord to move freely.

However, after absorbing for a while, the Black Umbilical Cord suddenly started convulsing as if it were choking, and violent coughing ensued, even spraying out a large quantity of bloody water from its end.

As a result, the umbilical cord itself became very weak and retreated back into the body.

“Hmm, does this blood really contain some kind of ‘toxicity’? No wonder this once bustling area is now completely deserted…ugh! I’m starting to feel a bit nervous.”

Guided by the Yellow Skin, William followed the nearest mountain path, winding his way between the amorphous cluster of mountains that were soft yet tough, comprised of irregular connective tissue.

Upon climbing the first small hill, the undulation of the skin shared by Yellow Skin focused William’s vision on the center of the unending mountain range.

A “giant peak” much larger than its surrounding mountains stood there, its summit nearly touching the “Underground Sky Curtain” of the Old World, its height on par with the Bonfire Mountain Range that encased the deceased.

This giant peak was the headquarters of the Mysterious Skin Factory, with the main factory building nestled between the mountains, possessing the largest skin mineral resources of the Old World.

Even from several kilometers away, one could glimpse the “Seam Gate” at the foot of the giant peak, large enough to allow a hundred-meter-tall giant to step into the factory.

However,

The giant peak that reached for the sky curtain was bleeding,

Streams of blood were seeping from different regions of the mountain, even converging at the base into a river, dyeing all the surrounding connective tissue mountains red and forming the “Blood River Zone” nestled among the mountains.

Higher up on the mountainside,

Many beings with wings of fresh blood were circling the giant peak, seemingly acting as some form of watchers, quick to detect any lifeform that approached the factory.

“Yellow Skin, is this normal? Are those blood-red creatures circling the giant peak some kind of Skin Slaves?”

This is not normal. I have never seen such a situation during my time at the Skin Factory… And those flying objects are not Skin Slaves but a kind of Patient related to the Blood Plague.

“Not Skin Slaves? Does that mean the Skin Factory has been completely invaded by this group of Blood Illness Patients, and is even getting shut down?”

Impossible, the status of the Source Epidemic Area has always been unshakable by any internal forces of the Old World, let alone the Skin Factory which maintains cooperation with many forces.

If attacked, the Skin Factory could easily seek help in return for favors from various powers, even the Cancer Palace would dispatch the Venerable Tumor Knight Order for assistance.

In my view, the Skin Factory must be actively collaborating with this group of Patients related to the Blood Plague to undertake fundamental industrial reform. Be cautious, this Blood Plague feels very unfriendly to me.

While William and Yellow Skin were discussing,

Thirteen managed to magnify her vision by adjusting the distance between the candle and the eye socket, as well as the breadth of the flame layer, and slowly discerned the blood-plagued beings flying above the giant peak,

A row of twisted, chaotically interwoven yellow teeth tore open a ghastly smiling expression on their faces.

She compared the form of these Blood Plague beings with the ancient memories she bore when she was first created as a Candle Puppet.

“How is this possible… Why are there still Blood People?”

“Blood People, are they some kind of Old World Patients?” William quickly turned his head to look at Thirteen.

“Yes, they were once direct Patients of the Blood-Colored Manor in the Source Epidemic Area, one of the most fanatical power groups of the Old World. These Patients were as bloodthirsty as it gets, even frequently going on killing sprees in Neutral Cities just to taste others’ blood.

But because the Manor could supply an immense replenishment of life, as well as the unique ‘Blood Items’ of the Old World, oftentimes everyone had to turn a blind eye, only resorting to monastic punishment in extreme cases.

The most common type of prisoner held beneath the Suffering Monastery are the Blood People.

However, during the invasion war that led to the fall of the Evil Sun and the complete decline of the Old World, the invaders, determined to cut off the Old World’s life supply, destroyed the Blood-Colored Manor at all costs, and nearly all the Blood People who participated in the war were struck with a targeted curse and nearly all died.

Why are there so many Blood People reappearing here?”

The implications of Thirteen’s account caused William to grow more cautious as well.

“Blood-Colored Manor, the destroyed Source Epidemic Area… Now it’s somehow mixed up with the Skin Factory?”