Chapter 624: The Mysterious Consultant (2)

“R-right…”

The artisan finally nodded, a reluctant expression on his face.

“I’m more surprised you didn’t know that until now. Don’t you know exactly why I’m here?”

“I believe Master Narcissa designated our business type when she brought us into the Upper Workshop District, sir.”

Mauzer grimaced at Lennok’s words.

“Narcissa designated our work without even asking us? Indeed, without that kind of arbitrary decision, this situation wouldn’t make any sense…”

Mauzer inadvertently let slip a complaint about Narcissa, then clamped his mouth shut. Perhaps he thought there was no need to badmouth a colleague who had just escaped death and was now bedridden.

However, Lennok pondered Mauzer’s words for a moment, then shook his head.

“Given Master Narcissa’s personality, I doubt that’s the case. If she truly intended for us to do this, she would have openly demanded a firm answer from me on the spot.”

“Th-that’s true, but…”

“The very fact that such a client came looking for us even after Master Narcissa fell into a coma means she had already leaked information about this consulting service to the Workshop District.”

Lennok continued, “Perhaps, as a justification for promoting our workshop to the Upper Workshop District, she chose a rather unique business type as an excuse.”

Being promoted directly from the Lower Workshop District to the Upper Workshop District based solely on excellent results in the Selection Ceremony was a stretch. If, in that process, she advocated for the addition of a unique business type that leveraged Lennok’s abilities to add suitable justification for the promotion, it wasn’t an impossible scenario.

As if to support Lennok’s conjecture, the artisan, who had been listening intently, nodded his head.

“That’s right. Administrator Solmer said at the Workshop Council meeting that a new workshop would be promoted as a benefit for the artisans.”

“…Well, I’ll be…”

Perhaps the fact that Lennok’s almost intuitive guess was so close to the truth felt rather uncanny. Lennok ignored Mauzer’s curious glances and replied, “I suspect she intended to formally list the business type that way, but then leave the workshop free to operate as it wished. It seems that due to Master Narcissa falling into a coma, proper communication between the parties was lost.”

Ibert, who became the administrator of the Upper Workshop District on Narcissa’s behalf, simply carried out the work as instructed, having received no further specific details from her. Since he didn’t know the precise circumstances or particulars, things became tangled this way.

Only then did the artisan understand Lennok’s words, letting out a slight sigh of annoyance.

“So, in the end, you two are just here under Master Narcissa’s protection. You’re saying you can’t take my consultation, right?”

“…”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Mauzer belatedly cleared his throat, stepping forward to salvage the situation.

“We also heard nothing about this matter. It seems we’ll need to sort out the specifics once Narcissa awakens and returns.”

“Hmph…”

The artisan frowned, clearly displeased, but ultimately seemed to accept the situation, nodding.

“Alright. I know how meticulous Narcissa is. You must have been caught up in her arbitrary decision too.”

Perhaps Narcissa’s meticulous nature unexpectedly created a common ground. Mauzer also nodded at the artisan’s surprisingly cooperative attitude, a stark contrast to his initial rough demeanor.

“Indeed. Let’s discuss this again after Narcissa regains her health.”

“Huu, damn it… I thought this time I might finally fix the problem…”

With a sigh, the artisan trudged out of the workshop. Lennok watched him, then, as if suddenly remembering something, continued,

“I never said I wouldn’t take the job, though.”

“…What?”

“Van?”

The artisan and Mauzer both spun their heads around, surprised.

Lennok watched their expressions, slowly rising from the workbench.

“You mentioned consulting on workshop operations, right?”

Lennok stretched lazily, a faint smile on his face, and nodded toward the artisan. “The internal equipment relocation is almost done, so how about we go take a look? Would that be alright?”

“What on earth are you thinking, Van?”

The clean streets of the Upper Workshop District.

The pavement where their steps fell showed no cracks, every grain of cement neatly laid and organized. It was a clean and orderly scene, completely unlike the somewhat cluttered atmosphere of the Lower Workshop District.

Mauzer, walking behind the artisan, grabbed Lennok’s shoulder and whispered, “I understand his situation, but why should we provide that kind of consultation?”

Although the internal equipment relocation for their workshop was almost complete, there was still work to be done. They needed to inspect the necessary equipment and furnace output, and ensure the internal facilities and power supply were operating smoothly. Furthermore, having just arrived and settled into the Upper Workshop District, shouldn’t they open for business as quickly as possible to ensure other clients recognized their workshop?

To not only accept another artisan’s request but to entirely consult on workshop operations—it was a decision beyond Mauzer’s comprehension.

However, Lennok listened to Mauzer’s words and simply shook his head.

“There is a reason. At the very least, it’s not something we should dismiss without even trying.”

“…If your words are true, then Narcissa merely registered a different business type to create a suitable justification. Are you saying you’ll go along with the business type Narcissa designated, even knowing that?”

“If it benefits me, wouldn’t it be better to do so?”

Lennok counter-questioned, glancing around. “The gaze from this street is quite strong. Rather than being wary of outsiders, they know we are the new workshop artisans who’ve just arrived.”

“…”

Indeed, as he spoke, as Lennok passed, glances intensified from various points along the street, and workshop curtains subtly drew shut. It was hard to notice if one wasn’t paying attention, but the atmosphere subtly shifted around the group. Lennok cleanly cut through those gazes and spoke again.

“As Master Ibert said, it’s highly likely that the artisans here don’t view us favorably. In fact, that artisan there half thinks we’re a favored appointment, doesn’t he?”

“That’s…”

“Normally, Master Narcissa would have directly protected us and quelled this opposition, but due to the assassination attempt, Master Narcissa is absent, and only her decision remains.”

Lennok said this, looking up at the artisan’s workshop in the distance. “In other words, to properly work in this Upper Workshop District, we need to find a way to establish ourselves independently.”

“…And that’s what you mean by consulting on workshop operations?”

“There’s no reason to only do business with the residents of the Machine City, is there?”

Lennok smiled. “Why not make the artisans within the same workshop district our clients as well?”

If Lennok achieved results in this endeavor, he could build good relationships by doing business with artisans running similar workshops. Since the artisans residing in this Upper Workshop District were generally proven masters of exceptional skill and talent, they would undoubtedly hear a great deal of news from various sources. Lennok had already recognized that even here, there were means to uncover the secrets of the Machine City.

“Hmm, I still don’t quite understand…”

Mauzer sighed, looking up. “Why on earth did Narcissa register us under workshop operations, I wonder…”

“Thinking back to the advice Master Narcissa gave me when she first visited my workshop, most of it concerned internal facility organization and operation.”

Lennok, recalling his memories, explained, “Perhaps Master Narcissa herself had a profound interest in running a workshop, which is why she did so.”

At that moment, the artisan, who had been walking ceaselessly ahead of them, stopped abruptly.

“We’re here.”

The artisan tossed out the words, glancing back. But Lennok and Mauzer, seeing the exterior of the workshop before them, conversely fell silent.

Hiss! Whoosh! Clang!

A large workshop, massive in size. Dozens of pipes rose from its roof, pouring out acrid smoke, and alarms blared without cease.

Customers constantly moved in and out of the workshop, while employees selling goods mingled, shouting and loudly negotiating.

“Let’s go inside and talk.”

The artisan said this and immediately led the two into the workshop.

Clang, clang, clang!!

The workshop was filled with heat and steam rising from continuously poured water. The shouts of artisans hammering on workbenches intertwined, and at times, blurry smoke obscured their vision.

From five furnaces, equipment was relentlessly refined, maintained, and produced.

While Mauzer couldn’t tear his eyes away from the scene, Lennok casually walked to the artisan’s break room, located in the innermost part of the workshop.

“By the way, we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. I’m Cyberd.”

“…Cyberd?”

Mauzer subtly furrowed his brow at the name, while Lennok also introduced himself.

“I’m Lyman.”

“That friend just called you Van, didn’t he?”

“It’s a shortened name among friends.”

There was some confusion because he started his artisan work as Van, then his name changed to Lyman by Enforcer Isabella. However, Lennok replied calmly, showing no hint of such thoughts. Cyberd didn’t seem particularly interested in why he had asked, as he immediately brought the conversation back to the main topic.

“Then let’s get straight to what I want to consult you about. As you can see, my workshop is quite successful in the vicinity of this district.”

Cyberd, who had nonchalantly boasted about his thriving business, then furrowed his brow. “Things have been going well, and I’ve even taken on a few apprentices, and set up a separate business outside the workshop. The problem is that the internal environment of the workshop has been getting worse and worse lately.”

At Cyberd’s words, Mauzer and Lennok exchanged glances simultaneously.

“It doesn’t look that great even now, sir.”

“…”

The sight of the workshop, with acrid smoke and heat rising simultaneously to torment people. The faces of those desperately negotiating, sweating profusely, did not look comfortable.

But Cyberd shook his head at Lennok’s words.

“It’s not just that. The internal temperature of the workshop keeps slowly rising. As an artisan, this is a critical problem that cannot be ignored.”

Since they handle metals and equipment sensitive to heat, maintaining the internal temperature of the workshop at an appropriate level is crucial. Installing ventilation ducts inside and outside the furnaces, and designing the workshop for good airflow, are all extensions of this effort.

“I tried adding more ventilation ducts on the workshop roof and even forcibly lowering the furnace output, but it didn’t help at all.”

“…So that’s why there were so many pipes sticking out of the workshop roof?”

“I even consulted my colleagues, but they just spouted nonsense about drinking less alcohol.”

“…”

“When Master Narcissa recommended you for consulting, I came to your workshop, hoping you might be able to solve it.”

“Hmm…”

As Lennok pondered, Cyberd spoke in a firm tone. “If you solve this problem, I’ll not only give your workshop several lucrative commissions but also personally introduce you to other artisans.”

“…”

“I promise, on my honor as an artisan, I’ll do my best to help you establish yourselves in the Upper Workshop District.”

Cyberd, perhaps sensing his urgency due to the lack of a reply, repeated his offer. It seemed like a truly important matter to him.

“That’s not a major issue, but…”

Lennok said this, then rose from his chair and gestured toward the door. “I’d like to look around the workshop’s interior first. Would that be alright?”

After that, Lennok, guided by Cyberd, inspected various facilities throughout the workshop, including workbenches, ventilation ducts, the roof, and storage areas.

Cyberd seemed strict with his apprentices; whenever he appeared, the artisans, who had been immersed in their work, visibly tensed up. Occasionally, customers would greet him, but he would only nod indifferently.

After a full tour of the workshop, Cyberd immediately turned to Lennok and asked,

“Well, do you see anything?”

“…”

Lennok, lost in thought, spoke. “There are five furnaces.”

“That’s right.”

One on each of the four walls of the massive workshop, and two more side-by-side on the north-facing wall. At each furnace, at least two artisans were busily working. Hadn’t Lennok and Mauzer also worked together perfectly fine with just one furnace? It was evidence of the enormous scale of Cyberd’s workshop.

“Even large-scale workshops usually don’t install more than three furnaces.”

“Is that the problem?”

Cyberd spoke, a hint of disappointment in his voice. “That can’t be it. Expanding to five furnaces was two years ago, and at least until a month ago, temperature control was working fine.”

As the largest heat-emitting facility in the workshop, Cyberd had naturally checked the furnaces first. He lowered furnace temperatures, inspected ventilation ducts, and even called in a furnace facility management company to dismantle them right before his eyes.

“I even stopped one furnace from operating for three days straight. Still, the temperature didn’t drop.”

Cyberd let out a deep sigh. “If you couldn’t find the problem, then so be it. It was a long trip for nothing. You can go now…”

“Before you expanded to five furnaces.”

Lennok cut him off and asked, “Before that, did the workshop temperature ever drop instead?”

“…”

As if he had heard a completely unexpected question, Cyberd’s eyes seemed to widen for a moment.

“Th-that’s right. To be precise, the furnace heat itself had dwindled, so I somewhat forcibly built another furnace. How did you know that…?”

“That’s it. I understand now.”

“Y-you know the problem?”

Lennok nodded toward the hastily questioning Cyberd. “The workshop’s internal temperature isn’t rising and falling because of the number of furnaces. It’s a problem with when the furnaces were built.”

“What on earth do you mean by that…?”

“The furnaces are indeed the cause, but it’s highly likely that the fundamental catalyst for this situation isn’t actually the furnaces themselves.”

Lennok said this, subtly shifting his gaze. “Someone who knows these workshop facilities as well as the artisan must have secretly tampered with it.”

At Lennok’s gesture, pointing to Cyberd’s apprentices busily working in front of the five furnaces, Cyberd’s expression hardened.

“The culprit is inside this very place.”