Chapter 339: Helplessness

"Anthony Braden?"

On the fourteenth floor of the Arlington Building, outside a room constructed entirely of bulletproof glass, Dacia Rockefeller, forced into a sterile dust-proof suit, stared in horror at the black-haired man behind the workbench ahead.

Although the man's hair was disheveled beyond recognition and his face was bruised and swollen, Dacia recognized him at once—he was the current president of Light Magic Industries, the richest man in America, and a world-renowned scientist in applied physics, engineering thermodynamics, and mechanical engineering: Anthony Braden.

"Get in there!"

Behind Dacia, someone struck his waist hard with a rifle butt, forcing him into the makeshift workshop.

"This Mr. Richest Man told us he needs a reliable assistant. And you, Dacia, though a playboy, have been a twelfth-level magic-energy mage for two months now, a proud disciple of a fifth-level legendary mage. So work well here, and don't disappoint us, got it?"

It was a man with a black mask covering his face. He fixed Dacia Rockefeller with a warning glare, then swept his gaze to the workbench.

"Braden, though I don't think he'll be of much use in your research, I've brought him anyway. I know this kid is your friend. But beyond this, I don't want to hear any more excessive demands from you, understand?"

Anthony Braden said nothing, only raised a hand to indicate understanding. The masked man snorted coldly and strode out.

Only when the glass door closed did Dacia hesitantly walk to the other side of the workbench.

"Anthony, I didn't expect to find you here. What happened? What about your security advisors? Don't you carry that demigod-level exoskeleton armor with you?"

He knew that Anthony had two legends by his side!

"Isn't it obvious? Since I've been kidnapped, it means my security advisors are in dire straits. As for that armor, it lost power at a critical moment. I was betrayed, Dacia, by someone inside Light Magic Industries. Damn it, that armor had just undergone a full overhaul in the company's science lab."

Anthony Braden's expression was rather optimistic: "Also, no need to whisper, Dacia. There are many listening devices here. An alarming number, all kinds—guaranteed that any form of communication we use will be heard by them."

Dacia turned pale, scanning the all-glass room, including the toilet enclosed in transparent glass.

"So even when we're on the toilet, we're under their watch."

"And they can hear us shitting too."

Anthony chuckled: "Alright, enough small talk. We need to start working now, or else I'll get a beating for you, and you, Dacia, won't fare any better. They're quite skilled in that area—they can make you suffer agonizing pain without causing much physical damage."

"So what do they need you to research? This thing in front of us that looks like a coal briquette?"

Dacia had already shifted his gaze to an object on the workbench. It indeed resembled a burning honeycomb briquette, almost identical in shape, but smooth all over and jade-like in texture. The red light emitted from the honeycomb holes was very gentle.

"It's said to be an energy core extracted from the ruins of the Moshra, originating from an immensely powerful astral battleship. I've tested it—it contains astonishing energy. With the right external components, it could stably output 120 million kilowatt-hours over the next fifty years. Atlanta's peak summer daily power consumption is only 60 million."

"I see. So you're trying to make a bomb?"

"Guessed it?"

Anthony's lips twitched: "If this thing detonates, it could easily destroy Atlanta's magic tower defense array. But the energy inside is very stable; making it explode is no easy task."

Dacia had glimpsed the truth: "So those four 'magic-mechanical cores' were bait, right? To lure you out of your lair in Manhattan to Atlanta. They could only set the trap here because you wouldn't go farther."

"Does it matter?"

Anthony Braden sighed, then placed a sketch he had drawn in front of Dacia: "Your most important task now is to help me make this part. They have experts in physics and mechanics monitoring our progress every moment, so don't try any shortcuts or deception, OK?"

Seeing the blond youth nod, Anthony focused his attention on the 'honeycomb briquette' before him, and as he bent over the desk to begin calculating and drawing...

The masked man who had left not long ago burst in again with a group of heavily armed soldiers. The front men immediately pinned Dacia down, forcing one of his hands flat on the table.

The masked man, holding a knife, came to Dacia's side.

"Stop!"

Anthony realized what might happen next, his face as pale as paper: "He's my assistant now, Mr. Vulture! If you cut off Dacia's hand, how can he help me?"

"I only need one of his fingers—the pinky will do."

The masked man's expression was calm: "Just now, his father, the Secretary of the Treasury, flatly rejected our settlement proposal to release Mr. Skywalker in a closed cabinet meeting. Our leader believes we must retaliate against the Secretary. This is beyond your control."

"Not even the pinky!"

Anthony's face was cold, his tone firm: "If his fingers are damaged, I'm sorry, but I can't make what you want within ten days. Dacia has a special magic-energy talent—he can perform nanoscale precision manipulation using magic energy. None of you can replace him!"

The masked man hesitated, lost in thought. After about five seconds, he made a decision: "Then a toe!"

This time, he gave Anthony no chance to speak. He swung the long knife directly, slashing into Dacia's leather shoe, then strode away.

"Take out that toe, treat his wound, and give him a good pair of shoes."

Ten minutes later, in the transparent glass laboratory, Dacia Rockefeller's face was twisted, his eyes blazing with fury.

"I swear, I'll kill him! If I get out of here, I'll chop him up and feed him to the dogs!"

Anthony Braden smiled bitterly, thinking it wouldn't be easy. These people not only had the power to banish his two legendary fourth-level bodyguards to the astral plane in an instant, but their plan was also extremely meticulous. They used Atlanta's magic tower array and numerous hostages to block the strong forces from Light Magic Industries and the government outside Atlanta. Inside the city, only the demigod families had the power to rescue them.

But the problem was that these families had been locked in covert warfare for nearly twenty years, and the divine artifact Dragon's Might had fully ignited their conflicts and contradictions. At this moment, no single family could muster enough strength to help him.

At this time, who could save him?