My Abyss Survival Diary

Chapter 19 Equipment Upgrade

The side door of the Ironwing Confession Room slowly opened, and Father Anderson stood at the door, smiling to greet them.

Klein went first, Badal second, and Simon last, the three of them entering the fortress-like building in turn.

Simon sized up Father Anderson, who was leading the way. He was nearly two meters tall, and his left arm was a reflective white-gray with intricate inscriptions carved on it. It looked like a prosthetic arm.

The Six-Winged Angels, the state religion of the Lieyang Empire, worship machines and take pride in replacing their bodies with mechanical prosthetics.

However, ordinary members of the church rarely have the opportunity to replace their limbs with prosthetics, and even if they do, they are given older, repaired prosthetics.

Only priests of higher rank are qualified to wear prosthetics engraved with inscriptions. Simon also heard that they receive a mysterious medicine called "Graceful Dewdrop" from the church every month, which can alleviate the pain of the body and prosthetics during the fusion period while improving a person's physical fitness.

No one in the empire who could be called a "priest" was someone to be trifled with. They all possessed considerable strength and had ventured deep behind enemy lines during the Great Expedition, making them a nightmare for every officer in the Twilight Empire.

“Normally, sinners should stand by the small window and stick their necks in to make their deal,” Father Andrei said, pointing to the low window. “But you are Mr. Bell’s friends, so you are entitled to come in.”

Is Mr. Bell really that popular? Simon wondered to himself.

"Please, just tell me what you want." Anderson was quite humorous. "This shop only accepts transactions using indulgences or the flesh of incriminating evidence. We do not accept credit."

The first thing you see is a shelf crammed full of old-model firearms, all of which look very well maintained. The shelf on the right is filled with daily necessities, military canned goods, shovels, and of course, the most common biscuits. More advanced weapons and equipment are hanging on the wall.

Information about various firearms flashed through Simon's mind: the bolt-action rifle developed by the Pale Knights Legion, the large-caliber revolver used for self-defense by the Edo Physicians Legion, and the silenced sniper rifle of the Night Owl Assassination Squad...

"With so many good things, aren't you afraid someone will steal them?" Badar asked casually, and Klein glared at him with displeasure.

Father Anderson smiled kindly.

"I'd love for someone to come and steal my things, preferably by force, so I can get some exercise."

He smiled, revealing his pearly white teeth, and looked at Badal: "Want to give it a try?"

Klein and Badal both shook their heads.

With that topic concluded, Father Anderson turned to look at Simon.

His eyes lit up when he saw the harpoon:

"Oh, Mr. Bell gave you the harpoon, right? It's a nice weapon. Mr. Bell consulted me when he was making the explosive crossbow. I left some bolts here, but they're not free. You'll have to exchange them for indulgences."

Great! Simon was wondering how to replenish his explosive crossbow bolts, but he didn't expect to be able to buy them here.

"I have two pieces of meat here that are evidence of my crime. Could you please estimate their value?" he said, pulling out two pieces of meat wrapped in cloth from his leather bag.

Father Anderson took it casually and examined the first piece of flesh, evidence of sin, that Simon had hunted from the fungal corpse.

"This piece of meat is not bad. It's probably the flesh of evidence of the crimes committed by about three people. I can offer it for... well, three indulgence vouchers."

Simon had just wandered around the confessional. Three indulgences were enough to buy a decent gun and some bullets.

Ordinary weapons in the confessional are relatively cheap, while canned food is expensive. One indulgence can be exchanged for a gun and a box of ammunition, but not for a can of food. Canned food starts at three indulgences, while cigarettes and beer are even more expensive.

As for the second piece of flesh, the evidence of guilt...

Andrei looked up, his face full of shock.

"Where did you hunt this piece of meat?"

"It was dug out from the back of a hunting animal's head," Simon replied succinctly.

"You're lucky. This piece of flesh, the evidence of your sin, came from a predatory beast tamed by heretics." Father Andrei looked Simon up and down with admiration, then praised him, "It's hard to imagine how a sinner without good weapons and willpower could defeat it. You're very strong."

"Thank you for the compliment." Simon nodded. "How many indulgences can it be exchanged for?"

"Twelve indulgences." Father Andrei finally offered a staggering price. "They are very valuable; the Empire can obtain even more precious genetic information from them."

Twelve indulgences? Klein and Badar stared in shock.

The price of this piece of flesh, evidence of their guilt, is almost equal to the total amount of indulgences they've collected this past week!

But Simon noticed more valuable intelligence.

The empire sent these sinners to the abyss to collect the flesh of their sins, all in order to obtain their genetic information.

He had expected this, after all, the presence of the Reanimated Physician, renowned for his medical technology, here indicated that the Empire was studying this unfathomable abyss. Collecting the flesh of the guilty was only one aspect; they would probably collect even more samples to further understand this place.

Once the Empire has gathered enough information, what will they do? Order a massive gene bomb to wipe out everyone and everything in the Abyss?

Simon dared not think too far ahead, but he was well aware of the Empire's style of doing things: swift and decisive, leaving no survivors.

After the two pieces of meat used as evidence of guilt were sold, it was time to consume them...

"Two light armors, and as for ammunition... I'll take one box of regular bullets and one box of armor-piercing bullets, plus two boxes of steel ball shot."

Andrei took two pieces of light armor off the wall and handed them to Klein, who then gave one of them to Simon.

"Thank you." Simon didn't stand on ceremony and put it on directly.

This light armor can't stop bullets; only the chest and abdomen can protect against blades. Even so, wearing it still gives you a greater sense of security.

Klein knew the rules; since he had asked Simon to do the job, he would cover all the basic expenses for the battle.

The entire bill was paid for by Klein's son.

He also bought Badar a new shotgun, an anvil shotgun.

A weapon discarded during the Great Expedition, it is a double-loading gun with a metal grip that can be used as a blunt weapon. The reason for its elimination is rather special: the recoil is too great, making it difficult for ordinary soldiers to handle, and it is too childish for the legionary warriors.

But for Badal, it was just right.

Klein spent a lot of money to buy another sniper rifle, a silenced sniper rifle from the Night Owl assassination squad.

Its range is extremely long, its drop is minimal, and its gunshot is extremely faint, almost inaudible if one is not careful or vigilant. Members of the Night Owl assassination squad used it to take the lives of many high-ranking officials of the Twilight Empire in the enemy's rear battlefield.

Next, it was Simon's turn to spend.