Chapter 223
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 223
"Do you have any idea how humiliating it is for a Tarpa like me to cooperate with the Handicraft Industry?" Lapis Lazuli said. She had come to their workshop just to service my prosthetic body.
"I already said I was sorry. Three times. You're probably the only person in the world who's ever heard me apologize that much."
I sat in the examination chair and shrugged off my tattered coat and shirt, revealing an upper body plastered with pain-relief patches.
Lapis and I were using one of the Handicraft Industry's maintenance rooms. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years—a total mess of grease, iron filings, and tiny, unidentifiable spare parts.
"Three apologies aren't enough for this. You owe me five, maybe ten."
Lapis set down the large mechanical toolbox she carried on her back. For a moment, it reminded me of Mushir Al-Kashura's metal box.
Whir, clack. Clack.
The moment it touched the floor, the toolbox unfolded in all directions. Rows of specialized tools hung neatly inside, and an AI-assisted mechanical arm equipped with a lens rose from the center.
With the help of the AI arm, Lapis skillfully began servicing my prosthetic.
Hummmmm.
She replaced broken components and reinforced the damaged outer casing, inserting and patching it with new metal plates. The screeching grind of her tools shaving down the edges to align them was deafening. The newly patched sections looked mottled, like mismatched grafts of skin.
"I never thought you'd abuse the Lazuli 21 to the point of wrecking it like this. A prosthetic with these specs is rare, even across all of Novas. Then again, considering your opponent..."
Lapis already knew I had fought Mushir Al-Kashura. She was tight-lipped, so I knew she wouldn't go blabbing about it.
But even if those around me keep quiet, rumors will spread.
There were too many witnesses this time. News of the man who took down Mushir Al-Kashura would sweep through Border City. Before long, my name would be on everyone's lips.
I don't have much time.
It was only a matter of time before the Empire—and specifically, Emperor Ivan Cracia—learned of my whereabouts.
Before that happens, I need to find a way to protect myself from them.
Japa Trading couldn't protect me. It wasn't a matter of willingness, but of capability.
No matter how outstanding Japa is, he's just a businessman.
The Imperial Family rules the Empire. Only another nation of equal strength could keep a state-level power like that in check.
"So, what was he like? Mushir Al-Kashura. You saw the man behind the legends with your own eyes."
I considered how much I should tell her.
The theory about him having multiple brains is just speculation, so I'll leave that out. Even if it's true, it's better if I keep that information to myself.
I organized my thoughts, watching the metallic vapor rise from my arm. "You'll find out when you examine the wreckage anyway. The surprising part wasn't that he lacked an exoskeleton, but that he was a full-body prosthetic."
"In the Empire, they call that level of heavy-spec combat prosthetic a 'full-armor prosthetic,' don't they? And the name of the top-tier model is..." Lapis trailed off, the name slipping her mind.
"Legion," I answered for her.
Saying the word aloud left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Ah, right. Legion. I've never seen one in person. Well, unless a war breaks out, there's no reason I would. It's a state-controlled tactical weapon, after all."
"It's better that you haven't. For a foreigner to encounter a Legion means they're in a horrific situation."
"Still, as a technician, I can't help but be curious. It's the pinnacle of cybernetic engineering, built entirely by the Empire."
I said no more. There was no need to speak of the darkness behind the Legion, nor did I want to.
Reading my expression, Lapis changed the subject. "...So, what did you talk about with the Handicraft Industry?"
I felt a flicker of suspicion. This wasn't a question Lapis would normally ask. Japa Trading didn't know the details of my negotiations with them.
"Did Japa tell you to sniff out the details of our deal? What a shallow trick."
"It's not that. I'm just personally curious. Luka, you don't know anything about the Handicraft Industry."
I narrowed my eyes. Her dislike and distrust of them were genuine.
"I know they're a force capable of keeping Japa Trading in check. And if you know something I don't, you could just tell me, Lapis Noona."
Lapis burst out laughing. She laughed until she was out of breath before finally managing to speak. "You'll find out soon enough. No need for me to explain. Anyway, En was furious, going on about how you betrayed Japa, but I don't see it that way. I think Lord Japa feels the same."
"It was a renegotiation between equals. Japa wouldn't risk his own ruin to protect me. I was never a mercenary hired to protect an employer; I was hired to find someone. Unlike the Equesian mercenaries, I have no reason to pledge my life and loyalty to Japa. He understands that perfectly well."
"True. It's wise to have multiple escape routes. But I think in the end, Luka, you'll choose to work for Japa Trading, not the Handicraft Industry."
One corner of my mouth curled into a smirk. "Now that's just nonsense. I'm going to get some sleep. The rest of the maintenance is in your hands."
I closed my eyes, catching a glimpse of Lapis's smile. I should be able to sleep for at least an hour or two.
Finally, some real rest. The thought was deeply moving. To exaggerate a little, I felt like I could cry.
Looking back, it had been a hell of a schedule.
Deus Ex Machina and Jin Gau.
Gaya's Hospital and Gabriel.
Drinking with Anguis Regina.
The old Japa family home.
And Mushir Al-Kashura's attack.
The Handicraft Industry and Son Seok-jae.
I had every right to be proud. I had survived a truly superhuman series of events. There was no boss here to pat me on the back. I was the only one who truly knew what I had endured, one crisis after another.
I don't need anyone's recognition. These were things that had to be done.
A period of silence passed.
I slowly opened my eyes. They felt light, a sign I had slept deeply. Over two hours had passed in a flash.
Lapis seemed to have finished the maintenance some time ago. She was sitting in a chair playing with her terminal, her toolbox already folded up neatly beside her.
"You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you," she said, noticing I was awake.
I stood and threw my clothes back on. "Anyway, I'm sorry for making you come all this way and deal with such an uncomfortable task, Lapis."
"Well, don't apologize too much. It's not like I wasn't curious myself."
I opened the door to the maintenance room. Two Equesian mercenaries stood outside, ready to escort Lapis. I could feel their hostility even through their combat helmets.
"Well, I'll be off then. Thanks for the repairs." I nodded to Lapis.
"...You've been through a lot too, Luka."
Hearing someone acknowledge my hard work wasn't a bad feeling at all.
* * *
Inside the factory, people bustled about, busy transporting the wreckage of Mushir Al-Kashura's prosthetic body. The technicians of the Handicraft Industry were meticulously gathering every last part that had broken off.
Step, step.
I walked over to Son Seok-jae. He was directing the work in the factory and only noticed my approach at the last second, his eyes widening slightly.
"Ah, you're here. Did the maintenance go well?"
"Excellently. My personal technician is highly skilled," I said, raising my hand and slowly clenching it into a fist.
"If we had a prosthetic specialist of our own, we wouldn't have had to leave your maintenance to an alien."
"Even if you did, I would have had Lapis do it."
"You trust aliens."
"I don't trust aliens; I trust Lapis. I don't judge by species. I judge the individual."
Son Seok-jae let out a soft chuckle, as if amused by my naivety. "Every species has its own inherent tendencies. Even members of the same species often fail to understand each other and grow to hate one another over the slightest differences—just look at the three nations of Planet Novas. How much worse is it between different species? They can never truly understand those differences, so conflict only grows. The belief that we can grow closer by understanding each other is an illusion."
"Sounds like you were betrayed by an alien once. No need to project your trauma onto me."
"I was merely sharing my thoughts," Son Seok-jae said, turning and walking away as if he had no intention of arguing.
I followed him, looking around the factory. There were no facilities for mass production, only a small-scale custom manufacturing setup. It felt less like a factory and more like a massive workshop.
"Make sure you remember our deal," I warned. Our negotiations were concluded.
"Of course. Your capacity for violence far exceeds that of all our combatants combined. I have no intention of deceiving someone who could reduce this place to rubble in a heartbeat."
Son Seok-jae stopped in front of a warehouse filled with numerous prototypes. Various forms of bipedal weapons lay scattered about, consisting of only skeletal frames and light outer armor. They looked like something between a bipedal robot and an armored vehicle. And...
...They also somewhat resemble a Legion.
Of course, they weren't Legions. They were much larger, and above all, they were piloted.
"Our company is striving to meet the weapons standards demanded by the Federation. This is the Mechanic Armor Unit project. It's a tentative name, but we call it MAU for short."
"A weapon to counter the Empire's full-armor prosthetics?"
A hint of excitement flickered in Son Seok-jae's eyes at my question. In that moment, the engineer in him surfaced. "The Federal Government doesn't just want a weapon to match the Legion's tactical value—they want something that completely overwhelms it. That is one of their core requirements."
His words were so audacious I almost laughed. "Hmph. Do you really think that's possible?"
"If we succeed, this will become the core of the Federation's military industry. And weapons development will progress far faster and more intensely than you can imagine. The clouds of war are already gathering over Planet Novas, after all."
I, too, had heard whispers that war was not far off. Those with keen insight were already predicting and preparing for it. It was only natural that the rulers and politicians were doing the same.
"You seem to think it's impossible to create something that surpasses the Legion."
"Honestly? Yes. Because I've seen one firsthand."
"When a nation concentrates all its resources on its military industry, the speed of development defies imagination. History has proven this. If the Federation creates a weapon that surpasses the Legion, the Empire will develop a counter-weapon within a few years. When you have a powerful justification like national survival, all other issues become trivial."
...He had a point.
Son Seok-jae was the weapons development expert, not me. I tended to respect experts, and his words made sense. Planet Novas was balanced by three equally matched nations, which meant the Bellato Federation had to possess technology and military might that rivaled the Empire's.
"The Federation also craves a charismatic presence on the battlefield—something symbolic yet powerful, like the Empire's Legion or the Holy Nation's Holy Knights. Their mere appearance can change the atmosphere of a battle. A weapon that plunges enemies into despair while boosting allies' morale instills a hope that has value far beyond simple performance and firepower."
Every word he spoke was true. The Legion was exactly that kind of presence, its fearsome reputation bolstered by the prestige of the Imperial Guard. If a Legion appeared on the opposing side, you were intimidated before the fight even began. If one was on your side, you felt you had already won. On the battlefield, the Legion's value far exceeded its technical specifications.
"Right now, I am merely the president of a small factory, but I want to change the world."
Son Seok-jae gazed at the prototype weapons, a distant look in his eyes as he ran a hand over their outer casings.
"Changing the world through weapons development doesn't sound like a particularly bright future."
Son Seok-jae laughed heartily. "If you're born into this universe, shouldn't you strive to be the one making the waves, not the one swept away by them? I don't care if this damned world burns in the process. I refuse to live my life as a passive bystander."
It was a magnificently dangerous philosophy.
"An egoist, then," I said indifferently, letting the thought settle deep within me.