The Industrialist

As soon as he entered the room, Lance darted towards his fabrication table. He opened the schematic diagram and blueprint design maker in a touchpad right beside the controls of the fabrication table.

'Poison-Fused Rail Gun,' He tried to think of a cool name.

"Jasper, I am making a rail gun. We don't have rail guns in our Government Arsenal."

"I won't say brilliant, Master." His AI responded. "It's impractical. You need a certain size that can accommodate the large energy components to produce the beams."

"That's what I am thinking about," Lance started to draft his rail gun design in the touchpad. "I can do this in my free time."

"Master, your only free time is your sleep time. You have a day job, then you have courses in the evening with Adamson, then you are designing weapons."

"I can squeeze a little bit more, Jasper. If I won't do this, then what good am I to Leric? He needs designs, so I will give it to him."

"Remember, that you have a pending patent presentation this week, Master. You have to prepare for it."

"I don't need to prepare for it, Jasper. My poison bombs are a simple design with readily available components. There is no secret in that. And besides, I am patenting my invention on behalf of CBD's name. So, the panelists would not be too hard for me."

"Ok, Master… What do you need from me?"

"Possible components, maybe you can dig deep in your archives about high-powered beams that can incinerate?"

"I do have industrial applications," Jasper said.

"Hit me," Lance commanded.

Jasper stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Master, beam-producing components are used in Metal smelting industries. They use these high-induced beams to melt metals and scraps in seconds."

"Components, Jasper."

"Ok. They call it the overhead Smelter. Showing you components,"

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[Overhead Smelter] – Major Components

[1] Adaptive Power Core – Rare Level

[2] Ion Repulsor Coil – Masterworks Level

[3] Plasma Arc Igniter – Rare Level

[4] Electromagnetic rings – Uncommon Level

[5] Quantum Flux Capacitors – Masterworks Level

[6] Magnocore Rails – Rare Level

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"Master, the possible cost of materials is around 25,000 units," Jasper reported.

His plan would work if the rebels could supply him with the components from the scrap surviving cities. He was familiar with the other components and could be found in Bay City. However, scrapping in Bay City posed a high risk of Abominant threat. Although only 30% of the city was utilized by the hive, still Abominants were scattered around to form a defense for the queen.

"No problem with the budget, Jasper. I have an allocation of 200,000 units," Lance boasted.

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"You did well for yourself, Master," Jasper praised.

"You can say that if that's my money. Now, where can you give me sources of these materials here in Axe Central?"

"Well, some of these components are manufactured here in SteamHaven. But for the others, you can find scraps from service robots. Third-generation-level household and Industrial grade. Some of it from the military-grade during the wars."

"What do you mean by military grade?" Lance asked. Military-grade components had a level of uncommon to rare levels and had been disposed of in military bases outside the walls.

"The Adaptive power core. You can scrap them from laser weapons Utility vehicles and Shielded Hummers."

"Price difference?"

"The Adaptive Power Core newly manufactured is priced at about 6000 units each. Refurbished and scrap Adaptive Power Cores can be priced within the range of 1500 to 2500 units."

'That's half the original price,' Lance realized a good business for the rebels. 'Damian knew the locations of the military business. He can scrap the cores.' He thought.

"What components I can find in Bay City?" Lance asked.

"Quantum Flux Capacitors," Jasper said.

"How so?"

"They are used in the power generators of Bay City, Master. They did not use perpetuating generators like in the walls that we used windmills and Lithocore turbines. The Quantum Flux Capacitors served as power capacitive banks to store and regulate energies from the generators and distribute power to grids efficiently, without surges and wastage." Jasper elucidated.

"What about the others?"

"You can source them in high tier Scrapyards or in Higher class Trade Markets," Jasper responded.

"Ok, Jasper. I will be making five of them for CBD. Then I will make one for the rebels."

"Five, Master? That many?"

"Yes, Five. This is to flourish the rebel's business to supply me the components. It would give them ample income to produce weapons on their own."

Drafting the design was always easy. However, the challenge for the design was the internal workarounds, fitting all the components in the casing. It took him tiresome hours with the digital drawings.

For hours, he rested. As he woke up in the middle of dawn, he could not sleep back. His somnolence had escaped him. Thoughts drove rage against what Leric said, be aggressive with the inventions. Moreover, a disturbing need to augment one's rank.

"Jasper, can't sleep. Show me currency status," Lance sat on the bed and groaned.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He needed to know if the Zelkian trade business was successful last night. Damian took care of the business and Lance offered him additional compensation to take care of such transactions with the Mafia.

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[Name] Lance Berkley

[Rank] Mechanic Tier 3

[Currency] 21,000

[Previous transactions]

Donation to rebels – -3000 units

Zelkian Transaction – +2400 units

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By looking at his holographic profile, he then knew that the Zelkain transaction was successful. He transferred an amount to Damian worth 750 units and Joe for 200 units.

That made his total currency worth 20,050 units.

With that amount of currency, he was rich.

'Ok, Damian. We will start trading parts.' Lance thought, thinking about Damian and his band of misfits.

However, he needed Leric's approval first for the designs before he could procure the materials.

Early morning, Lance mustered the confidence and proceeded to Leric's office. Leric was also on an early start of work, signing documents via hologram. The major roles of heads of departments if not only signing electronic documents, but also scolding subordinates.

Leric would spend hours just reading documents, scanning them, and signing them. Lance was not sure of the extent of powers, Leric had, however, the former knew that his control extended beyond his department.

Lance only hoped that Mister Leric would sign his railgun design.

"Mister Leric, good morning. As you have said I need to be aggressive in inventing weapons. Here it is," Lance handed his Digital Tablet to Leric.

"Hmm…" Leric scanned the digital blueprints. "This is actually great. Full vehicle mount?"

"Yes, Miste Leric. Heavy weapons category."

"Railgun huh? This is new. This is groundbreaking if you can pull this off. How much do you think is the budget for this?"

"Around 80,000 to 100,000 units," Lance responded.

"Hmm… If you carry on this momentum, I will promote you to Weapons Design Supervisor. And an increased compensation of course."