Chapter 606: Suspicious Engineer (4)

Crackle, crackle…!! Mana, which had been flowing like flames burning in mid-air, converged into a single point, rotating counter-clockwise.

As the mana gathered in one place, it simultaneously transformed into a massive sphere of light, brightly illuminating the workshop.

The mana didn’t just gather at a single point; it precisely hovered and fixated directly above the artifact Isabella held.

Hummm!! Inside the four-pronged blades, spread out like an umbrella, the massive sphere of light rotated—a bizarre sight.

From the surface of the sphere of light, mana dripped down as if melting, slowly beginning to seep into the artifact.

Flashhh!! Isabella’s own mana began to swell and grow in size right there.

Isabella and Uzart stood, staring blankly at the artifact she held, unable to utter a word.

“I removed the components that caused frequent malfunctions in the amplification device and converted the internal amplification function into an external form.”

Lennok slowly lowered the rapier pointed at his throat and spoke.

“It seems to be working well.”

“This… it’s impossible.”

That was Isabella’s first muttered remark.

“If it were an artifact designed from the start to have its functions externally implemented, then perhaps, but how can a function already designed for internal operation be—!!”

If it were merely an artifact that manipulates and discharges mana, it wouldn’t be strange for its functions to manifest externally.

But how could a function designed to amplify mana internally, through its internal components and circuit design, be extracted and made to operate normally outside?

It would be like a flashlight’s beam materializing not inside the bulb, but in the air above its head – that’s the level of astonishment this evokes.

It wasn’t just a violation of existing common sense; it was a modification that completely overturned the established principles of magic engineering.

But instead of answering Isabella, Lennok reached out his hand again toward the amplification device she held.

“If normal operation has been confirmed, could you return it? I need to finalize the detailed adjustments now.”

“…Can I hear an explanation?”

Isabella quietly stopped its operation and calmly handed the amplification device back to Lennok.

Uzart, too, watched Lennok work, unable to utter a word.

Connecting wires to the workbench and charging mana, Lennok tinkered with the artifact and spoke.

“The components designed by Master Clark Lonsdale were excessively intricate and complex, so even if repaired in the same way he did, they would eventually break down again.”

“…”

“I won’t be in this workshop every time it breaks down, and you wouldn’t want to go to such lengths just to ask me for repairs, would you?”

Slightly changing the direction of a gear and opening and closing a few circuits, he forcibly adjusted the mana flow that would be expressed.

“Rather than that, I thought it would be far more efficient to imitate the mana flow of the already completed artifact and modify it to be externally implemented in the same way.”

“How in the world is that possible?”

Uzart asked inadvertently, then lowered his head with a somewhat abashed look.

“Ah, I’m truly sorry for my rudeness just now. I never imagined that beyond just repairing the artifact, you would extract the function itself into an externally implemented form…”

“The ability to amplify mana itself is not a technology that can be efficiently implemented with current magic engineering. Unless one uses large-scale mana power plants or particle accelerators, it’s impossible to equip it as a device for use.”

Lennok explained nonchalantly.

From the start, mana amplification, despite the word, is not a simple matter to achieve.

Mana is treated as one of the most basic and core powers in this world, but increasing a fixed total amount of power itself goes against the Law of Equivalent Productivity.

However, mana is not a force that can be explained by physical laws or calculations, and it has many variables, being greatly influenced by strong will, emotions, or special conditions and environments.

“The reason an amplification device with this level of efficiency could be miniaturized and made portable is because the artifact was originally composed of a Geas that operates on the condition that Isabella, an individual, uses it.”

“…”

“Using the power of the Geas, the mana flow itself was forcibly bent to allow for amplification. I merely moved the endpoint of the mana flow created through that Geas to the outside.”

Clark Lonsdale probably couldn’t handle a Geas so easily without any cost either.

Even Lennok could only directly handle such a force after personally dissecting Kebaek, who was born as a corrupted Ascendant through a Geas.

Perhaps strong emotions and will for his lover, Isabella, were embedded in this device as a Geas.

The rumor that equipment crafted by artisans with their hearts become masterpieces that can never be replicated was not an uncommon legend in this world either.

“Even so, it’s certainly unrealistic to completely transfer the internal mana flow of an artifact to the outside.”

Isabella said in a subdued voice.

“When Clark designed this equipment, the assumed number of mana flow distribution patterns far exceeded 3,000. To individually perceive and observe all those mana flows, and moreover, to handle them almost simultaneously—if not for skill of that caliber…”

Even if he didn’t overhaul the artifact’s fundamental principles, but only moved the mana flow to the outside, it’s still the same.

Without perfectly understanding the internal mana flow of the equipment better than its creator, and without undergoing adjustments that surpass it, making it function with an altered mana flow is impossible.

Isabella, too, was clearly and distinctly aware of what kind of miracle Lennok had performed through her artifact.

But Lennok, even knowing that she had somewhat realized that fact, calmly nodded his head.

“I was lucky.”

“…”

At Lennok’s words, Isabella briefly met Uzart’s gaze and slowly nodded.

Soon, Uzart pulled out an incredibly heavy sack from inside his robe and placed it directly on the workbench.

Thud!! The sound of something incredibly heavy dropping, just from hearing it.

To have carried something like this all that time without showing any sign of effort, and even drawing a sword to pressure Lennok?

As Lennok slightly raised an eyebrow at that fact, Isabella spoke.

“It’s gold ingots, 10 times the amount of the originally agreed-upon payment.”

“…Gold ingots?”

“The artisans I’ve dealt with usually prefer physical goods over money.”

She carefully took the artifact Lennok handed back, then looked up at Lennok.

“For servicing the artifact and the music box, I express my gratitude once again.”

“I’m glad I could return it cleanly.”

“Ah, I almost forgot, but may I ask one thing?”

While preparing to leave with Uzart, Isabella asked.

“Regarding the maintenance of the amplification device, it won’t be difficult for other workshops to handle it now—”

“As far as I know, the artisan who used this workshop was someone else.”

“…”

“I wonder why the owner changed in the meantime, or if you happen to know anything about it.”

Lennok quietly raised his gaze and stared at the backs of Isabella and Uzart, who had turned away.

They seemed to be hurrying their preparations as if to leave immediately, and didn’t seem to pay much attention to the conversation they just had, but Lennok knew.

He knew that the two of them were completely on edge, awaiting the answer to the question Isabella had just thrown.

So, their subtle revelation of being Enforcers wasn’t just to get the artifact repaired, was it?

Depending on how Lennok answered here, someone’s fate and life might change.

Realizing that fact, Lennok quietly answered before it was too late.

“No, the owner of this workshop hasn’t changed.”

“Then?”

“I’m merely occupying and using the workshop without permission. I’m just committing an offense by not obtaining permission from the owner.”

“…”

“Should it become an issue, I will fully accept the punishment. I apologize.”

Isabella and Uzart said nothing, yet Lennok quietly confessed his wrongdoing.

If other people had seen this scene, it wouldn’t be strange for them to wonder why he suddenly confessed his faults to his customers.

But Isabella and Uzart were neither flustered nor curious by Lennok’s answer.

As if they had somewhat expected such an answer, they merely shook their heads with a seemingly natural expression, their backs still turned.

“Master. Please calm down. We didn’t ask that to blame you.”

Uzart, whose expression had softened unnoticed, patted Lennok’s shoulder.

Perhaps it was due to the memory of awkwardly pointing a blade at Lennok earlier, half-threatening him.

“It seems it’s not our place to interfere, so we hope you resolve the issue of workshop usage rights well with Master Mouser. After all, it’s absurd for a skilled individual like you to be unable to take on work due to a lack of a workshop.”

“…”

Even though he hadn’t said a word about Mouser, their attitude implied they knew about him as a matter of course.

So, they had known from the beginning that this workshop was registered under Mouser’s name, not Lennok’s, and had come seeking that knowledge.

In that process, they must have suspected that Lennok was an outsider from beyond the Machine City and had a dubious connection with Mouser.

If Lennok hadn’t honestly confessed his unauthorized occupation of the workshop, or if he hadn’t successfully repaired the mana amplification device, it would have been difficult for him to come out of it well.

But because he satisfied both tasks beyond their expectations, opportunities that he could seize also existed.

As if Isabella had read Lennok’s thoughts, instead of leaving the workshop immediately, she turned back to Uzart.

“No matter how I think about it, the payment seems a bit insufficient for the artifact repair cost.”

“I agree.”

“I hadn’t expected you to perfectly modify the amplification device to this extent and solve its problems. I think we should pay a bit more.”

At Isabella’s calm reply, Lennok subtly stepped back and waved his hand.

“I don’t think there’s a reason to add personal opinions to a completed transaction. I appreciate the sentiment, but I respectfully decline.”

“You may not know this, Master, but we are people who live off the city’s salary.”

Uzart said with a smile.

“If we unnecessarily take profit from a transaction, it could be held against us later. There’s no need for you to feel burdened.”

“…”

Perhaps because Enforcers, strictly speaking, are positions closer to civil servants of the Machine City?

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand what they were saying at all, but Lennok had no desire to get deeply involved with the Enforcers right now.

Not only had he not yet fully accustomed himself to working as an artisan, but he also hadn’t properly obtained information about the room Kaiser had hidden.

In this situation, if he got entangled with Machina’s leading investigative agency, it wouldn’t be strange if Lennok’s flimsy disguised identity was exposed.

It would be more advantageous to leave a good impression with the Enforcers here and cleanly withdraw.

Having decided so, Lennok leaned casually against the workbench, pretending to be at ease, and made a suitable jest.

“Well, if it truly bothers you, I would just like to ask you to spread the rumor among your acquaintances that this workshop does excellent work.”

“A rumor?”

“Since both of you came here through a friend’s introduction, word-of-mouth is important in workshop districts like this, isn’t it?”

If they are acquaintances of two Enforcers, there would undoubtedly be many people with equivalent positions or skills among them.

If such people came and requested Lennok to modify or service equipment, and he could receive payment for it, it would rather align with Lennok’s goals.

Engaging in conversation like this and receiving information they knew as payment was also one of Lennok’s objectives while acting as an artisan.

It was necessary to maximize contact with Machina’s key figures.

But at Lennok’s words, the two Enforcers, far from being flustered, exchanged glances as if they had been waiting and gave a strange smile.

…?

As Lennok paused slightly at their reaction and quickly racked his brain, Isabella pulled out a small business card from her pocket and offered it.

“Since the topic came up, there’s a position I’d like to introduce you to.”

Isabella, in an indifferent voice, turned to Lennok and said.

“In the Machine City, skilled artisans are regularly invited for a ceremony where they compete to bestow glorious titles.”

“…A ceremony?”

“Meister.”

Isabella said softly, as if cutting off the conversation.

“That name, given only to the greatest artisans in the Machine City. Have you never thought of wanting it?”