The Industrialist

Lance could have brought Jasper with him but he did not activate him for a precaution. He could make the numbers right, and with Jasper's assistance, he could run financial simulations. However, the Committee had scanners on their own to avoid cheating during defense. And having an AI was a form of cheating.

They went in with heavy steps. The mood had depressed somehow evident on the panelists' faces. He could not blame Jaqi for not having business aspects of their project, it was just newly amended by the Committee. Probably, Jaqi had overlooked the amendments even though she was one of the Committee due to her busy lifestyle.

Being a CISU founder had field duties to scrutinize Markets where the illegal merchandise was sold. Lance also heard about the black-market merchandise was also audited by Jaqi. She used every bit of her time for work and her project.

"Miss Jaqi Leric and Team member, Lance Berkley. This is your project's verdict.

The two of them were silent and ominously waiting for the panelist's verdict. Lance's heart had beaten faster, not due to the verdict of the project, but how would Jaqi take a piece of bad news?

"The InVitro Plant Propagation Project," Doctor Zee started, "solves the City's predicament of food shortages in the winter season of the year, that we call Demetrian season. This project would help the majority of our citizens, especially those who can't horde food supplies months before the Demetrian Season.

We acknowledge our ever-challenging economy, and the weak links of our food chain, and this project greatly contributes to strengthening the supply. However, based on the amendments a few weeks ago, every project should consider financial considerations in the project's execution. This would provide a heads up for the Committee of whether the project is financially feasible or not."

Lance's heart thumped faster.

"But based on the Committee's scoring, we recommend your project, the InVitro Plant Propagation by the use of Tissue Culture, to be patented by the Corporation. Congratulations!"

Jaqi smiled at Lance and they were at ease. Her shoulders slumped and the tension had faded. It was a success!

"So, in the case of a Team like this project, Jaqi Leric, the Team Leader, would only be offered a Scientist Rank up and a monetary award as well. However, for the team member, Mister Berkley, you will only receive a monetary award.

So, based on the established rules of GLD executions, and Corporation Administrative Orders, and based on the awards bracketing, this particular project would garner about 15,000 units each."

'What! That big!' Lance thought.

Jaqi congratulated Lance with a handshake and the soft claps came from the panelists. He saw Mister Cultz and Tanaka stand up from their chairs as they had been relentlessly questioning the intricacies of the project. Doctor Greggory Micheals remained seated but a congratulatory smile streaked from his face.

They went out of the defense room and Jaqi was ecstatic with the reward. 15000 units each was a great reward, even though Lance was not offered a rank up. He knew the conditions and he accepted from the start.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Drinks?" Jaqi asked. Her smile and her mood had revisited.

"Ahm. I can't today. I am sorry," Lance responded. He had to construct the Ultragenerator again and sought Doctor Adamson's advice if he would meet a roadblock.

"Oh, c'mon, Lance! Live a little!" Jaqi insisted. "This is the only way that I can relax myself. And besides, I am meeting with my friends. I want you to meet them."

It was an interesting offer. However, Lance did not like to socialize much. Her friends should be the high-echelons of the society. He assumed that they would be boastful, spoiled brats, and those who would condescend people like him.

"No, I am fine, Jaqi. You go ahead with your friends. I have a lot to do."

"When can we hang out again? I love to chat with you. You are the only person that can understand my nerdiness."

"We can after my project. You know, a guy should work and work to reach the top. I am an ambitious guy. And besides, I do not drink liquor."

'Jaqi should not drink, too. She's underage.' Lance thought.

"Ok. Thanks for today. You are doing great!"

"You, too!"

And she went on ahead.

***

SteamHaven Condominium, SteamHaven Sector

That night.

***

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[Name] Lance Berkley

[Rank] Mechanic Tier 3

[Intelligence grade] Zero

[Originating city] Bay City

[Currency] 22,000 units

[Recent Transaction] InVitro project reward of 15,000

[Next project] Ultragenerator

[Pending project defense] Poison Bombs

[Pending quests] Search for the mystery girl

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By glancing at his status details, he was astonished by the Committee's reward immediately crediting to his account. However, he was saddened with his intelligence Grade level of Zero. He needed to augment his grade level in order to achieve Electronic Tiers and up. Find more to read at empire

He needed to undergo courses to increase such category. And one thing that bugged him always, was his pending quest to sought out the mystery girl that saved them in Asphodel boundaries. She held the key of the concept of Project Nightfall. The only project that could discredit Menks' MAF project.

He shrugged on the thought.

His fabrication table provided by Chester Leric was state of the art. It was more efficient, had better features, and was more automatic. Although the form and the robotic arms were almost the same as what he had, the efficiency of the new version was recognizable.

"Ok, Jasper. Commencing, Ultragenerator Assembly," he said, standing in front of his fabrication table with his generator components.

"You need more intelligence grade, Master, to be able to safely grasp the design assembly of your project."

"Jasper, I can't wait for many months just to undergo the courses and earn intelligence points. I need to do this now. The rebels need this before Demetrian season comes. What you can do for me is guide me with the references provided by Adamson."

"I got you, Master. Remember, what you are going to build is highly combustible. It would explode if the design is not compatible."

"Then, Jasper. That's when you come in."

Lance started to isolate the blocks of impure gold in his fabrication table while setting aside the other components. He needed the gold wires first to create conductivity for the components.

"As by using Adamson's formula, the dimension of the wires should be large enough to accommodate the level of current."

Lance entered the wire dimensions and as he pressed enter, the robotic arms started to move about the table, mounted on the corners of the table with gears the made the robotic arms move to every corner. There were four of them. The blocks of impure gold were then heated for it to become malleable.

Then the softened impure gold was subjected to a wire stripping molder equipment, the same equipment he used for his Roflo tentacles, and then abruptly cooled my spraying canister connected to the other Robotic arm. After which, the wires came out from the other side of the molder, achieving the operator's desirable thickness.

Then he placed the Energy Accelerator and the infused Electromagnetic battery on the table. With his fabricated casings, the two components snugged in place, fusing them into one. The golden wires were then soldered to each conductive connector that the battery and the Energy Accelerator had.

"Master, you are now at 40% completion rate of your Ultragenerator."

"Ok, Jasper. Thanks for the update. We will conduct testing. Show me possible electric shortages and mishaps.

Lance had his handheld equipment, a multitester, that he used for connectivity. Then, with the use of his fabrication table, it had a temporary power supply that could power up the newly connected components using safe levels of energy.

"Jasper, I am testing now conductive nodes. Tell me if I missed something."

Lance powered the device and he measured the heat build-up on each connectivity. If there was a sudden increase of heat with the use of a minimal amount of energy, it would be dangerous. However, seeing the results, the wire dimensions seemed to easily accommodate the level of Energy being streamed through.

"Master, your connections are doing fine for now. You will go into sequence from there on. We have to test every installed schematic boards one-by-one before conducting a wholistic testing."

"I agree. So, what's next."

He needed to tread the assembly carefully, as he had not acquire the needed intelligence grade for it. Hence, he relied his steps to his AI, Jasper.

"Ready your Obsidian Shell, Master."

As he tugged the Obsidian shell from the floor and placed it on the table, he reminisced the day they slaughtered a Level 3 Obsidian Scorpion. He also remembered the death of Lanky and the disappearance of Fatso.

The Obsidian scorpion's shell served as a heat diffuser for the housing of the energy accelerator to prevent from too much heating during its full operation.

"Ok, Obsidian shell installed. What's next, Jasper?"