"I think it would be better if you didn't add that last sentence," said Shen Qin helplessly to Sucrose.
She realized she had said the wrong thing out of nervousness and quickly apologized again. "Sorry, I... I always do this, worry that what I say will be misunderstood, and then I end up saying unnecessary things to explain, which makes things even more uncomfortable."
"It's fine, you don't need to be so formal in front of me. We just need to communicate through alchemy, no need to worry about other things," Shen Qin said, turning back to glance at the still-standing, dazed Godwin before using his hoverboard to shoot up into the air.
"Okay, okay!" Sucrose nodded eagerly, following him on her skateboard, and curiously asked, "Those words you just said, were they for Godwin?"
"You noticed?"
"Mm. He feels very strange to me, always lying, looking disheveled, as if he's hiding something. You seem to know something about him?" She shared her observations.
Shen Qin explained about Glory, but he didn't mention anything about Godwin.
"I don't know what happened to Godwin, but he's hiding a lot, and he must have his reasons. When the time is right, he'll come clean himself."
"Yeah, everyone has their own troubles," Sucrose sighed, thinking of her poor social skills.
"By the way, I mentioned before that I wanted to ask you for advice on something..."
Shen Qin told her about his plan to develop a prosthetic body.
In terms of real alchemy skill, he could never compare to her. His current prosthetic development was just a rough prototype using his existing knowledge, and he wanted to hear her expert opinion as a biological alchemy specialist.
'Shen Qin was amazing!' Listening to his description, Sucrose couldn't help but feel admiration for him.
Creating a bionic prosthetic body wasn't something difficult for some alchemists specializing in it. If they were willing, they could even use alchemy to create a complete humanoid doll.
But those were typically custom-made, hard to replicate. According to Shen Qin, what he wanted to create was a prosthetic body that could be mass-produced and easily adapted to each person with simple adjustments.
And each prosthetic would simulate the real sensation of skin, something past alchemy had never achieved.
"Your design is already very good. The only thing I can think of to optimize is the muscle tissue. In the human body, bones only serve as support and connection; joint movements are powered by muscles. If you use a muscle-like structure for the prosthetic, it could make the movement more natural."
Once alchemy was brought up, Sucrose shed her usual shy nature and became confident and eloquent.
"Also, are you planning to make it a wearable or implanted type of prosthetic? Wearable prosthetics are easy to maintain, but they aren't as stable as implanted ones. Implanted ones could potentially cause secondary harm to the disabled person's body and are also difficult to maintain," she raised another question.
Shen Qin looked troubled. He hadn't expected so many problems to solve. He looked at Sucrose, who was blinking at him, and suddenly smiled. "How about this—do you have time recently? If you're free, come to my alchemy workshop and help me. Let's work together to make this bionic prosthetic!"
"Ah! Well, if you want my advice, that's fine, but if you want me to directly participate, I'm worried I won't be good enough…" Then she saw the eager look in his eyes.
"Please, don't look at me like that!" she said, blushing and turning her face away, shyly avoiding his gaze. "Okay, okay, I can help you…"
'What is wrong with him? We've only met twice, but he acts like we're already close. Not only did he invite me to participate in such an important alchemy project, but he's also looking at me with that strange expression. I don't even know how to refuse!'
After all, this is an alchemical invention that could change the world!
For the rest of the time, neither of them spoke. Sucrose was shy, while Shen Qin remained quiet to avoid any awkwardness.
Fortunately, after about ten minutes, they arrived at Starfell Lake. Shen Qin used his gloves to test different materials, and Sucrose helped find various materials.
An hour later, they still had nothing, and the highest score was still 86 points for the Wolfhook Fruit.
"The Wolfhook Fruit's properties are the most suitable, but it's still not perfect…"
Sucrose repeated Shen Qin's words, thinking carefully. "If we connect the Wolfhook Fruit with the nerves... it could be used for emergency wound treatment, the principle being that it numbs the nerves to eliminate pain and disinfects the wound…"
"Got it!" She suddenly pulled out a thick notebook from her bag.
"Experimental site for Wolfhook Fruit No. 38, located 100 meters from the Thousand Winds Temple towards the Starsnatch Cliff. Its properties make it more effective for pain relief, but it doesn't have disinfecting effects!"
She closed the book and waved at Shen Qin, who was not far away. "I know where you might find what you need!"
After they left, a figure flashed and began chasing after them in the direction they had gone.
Half an hour later, Shen Qin looked at the hilichurl camp beneath him with a dark expression. "Is this where you planted the Wolfhook Fruit?"
"This… this… How could this happen? I haven't been here in just three months!" Sucrose explained in a panic.
She flew around the camp and then pointed to a corner near the rock wall. "Look, there's still a Wolfhook Fruit shrub left there!"
"Later, you fly around the camp and check for any loose soil. There must be something buried underneath. They've probably hidden the Wolfhook Fruit!" She returned to Shen Qin's side.
Hilichurls may not be very intelligent, but they know that crushing Wolfhook Fruit and applying it to wounds can relieve pain, so after collecting the fruit, they store it in mud pits.
"Wait, how am I supposed to go down there? I'm no match for them!" Shen Qin said, a little panicked.
Although in the game, they're silly, harmless monsters, seeing a half-human, muscular hilichurl in real life still feels dangerous.
"Don't worry. I'll lure them all away. You just need to grab the fruit from the shrub and check if it's good. If it is, go find the hidden Wolfhook Fruit. But after five minutes, you need to leave the camp immediately and fly to a safe place. I'll come find you!"
Sucrose acted decisively, lowering her flight altitude and approaching one of the hilichurls.
"Upano? (What's this flying thing?)"
The hilichurl looked at her and scratched its head.
Sucrose waved her hand, and the wind element blew it several meters away.
"Ika ya! Nini zido! (Enemy! Attack!)"
The loud noise attracted other hilichurls in the camp, and they immediately charged at Sucrose, weapons raised.
"Come on! Come catch me!" Sucrose led the hilichurls away from the camp.