Arcane: Broken Mechanism

Returning to his room, Sirion locked the door twice and sat down at the table with relief, taking a piece of paper and a pencil from the table. Along the way, using the system, he entered the Engineering mode and prepared to create the mechanism for which he went out to get the materials. After spending half an hour on the road and once again avoiding unnecessary attention, he finally found himself in his small shelter. The plan for creation was spinning in his head, he was already impatient to start the process. He opened the system and delved into the design interface. His fingers slid over the virtual menu, and a drawing panel appeared in front of him.

"Welding machine."

A basic drawing for such a device came to mind, fortunately now he could proceed to its creation using the collected materials that he had previously lacked: high-temperature alloy and insulated cable.

"Well, I don't see the point in delaying," he muttered, looking down at the materials he had laid out on the table from his inventory, - "Okay, let's try..." - He began assembling the basic frame of the device, using metal plates, wires, and screws. The press he had recently made helped to adjust the metal to the required sizes and shapes. Everything went relatively smoothly until the system required the final components to complete the project. A few dozen minutes later, everything was assembled.

Sirion leaned back in his chair, wearily examining the assembled mechanism. In front of him on the table lay a welding machine - small, but fully functional. He felt a pleasant satisfaction from the work done.

The system notified with another pop-up window:

"Project completed. Welding machine. Efficiency rating: 95%. "

"Efficiency rating?" he thought, looking at the window. What could this mean. He asked a mental question, and a new window from the system appeared in front of his face, which answered his question:

"Efficiency rating is an indicator reflecting the quality, reliability and functionality of the created object. It is assessed by the system based on the optimality of the materials used, the accuracy of assembly and the object's compliance with the specified parameters."

Sirion frowned, carefully reading the text on the window.

"So the higher this rating, the better my work?" he muttered, thinking out loud.

The system continued to explain:

"An efficiency rating of 95% indicates the high quality of the created object. The rating can be improved by using more suitable materials, improving the design, or increasing the skill level."

"I see," he said thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair. "So it's like an additional assessment. Interesting...

He glanced at the welding machine. 95% was certainly a high indicator, but now he couldn't help but think: what if we reached 100%? What advantages would that bring?

"It looks like I have some work to do," he muttered, feeling a surge of motivation.

Sirion decided to test the machine to see how good it was at work. Pulling out a couple of metal plates, he clamped them in the press and tried to weld them. The heat flow was steady, and the seam was smooth and strong.

"It works perfectly," he said with satisfaction, turning off the device. A new idea flashed through his mind: if the efficiency rating could be increased, then it was worth investigating how to do it. Maybe improve the materials? Or develop more accurate drawings?

"Well, it's time to move on," he said to himself, putting the device away in its hiding place. "But first, I need to rest. Tomorrow will be a new day and new projects."

"Excellent," he exhaled, barely holding back a smile.

The welding machine looked simple: a compact metal body, a pair of insulated wires and a handle for easy use. However, despite its appearance, Sirion understood that this device opened up completely new possibilities for him. Now he could not only assemble simple mechanisms, but also work with more complex materials, joining them at a level that was previously inaccessible.

"That's it. Enough for today," he muttered, turning off the device and putting away the materials. His arms ached from fatigue, but the feeling of a job well done outweighed everything else. Now he had something that could become the foundation for more complex inventions.

"Engineering: Level 2 (2/20)

Design: Level 2 (2/20)"

***

The next day, he was sitting inside the factory next to Jerry. He had a new job waiting for him from the boss, and while he was waiting for some business meeting to end, he decided to spend some time with his mentor. However, the latter was not particularly eager to talk.

"From now on, you will have a harder day," he broke the silence.

"What are you talking about?" the white-haired guy asked, not quite understanding the words of his mentor.

"I mean that from now on, the Boss will load you with more work. You have already gone on two missions, and it seems like enough time has passed since them to understand that they were done well. No one complained about the packages not arriving, and you did not bring a tail with you. You have already received your wages for these two missions, so there is no point in continuing your probationary period."

Sirion frowned, considering Jerry's words.

"The probationary period is over, I thought it would last longer?" — he asked again, trying to hide his surprise.

Jerry nodded, lazily resting his head on his hand.

"Yeah. Everyone who comes to work for Finn first goes through some kind of test. Usually it takes much more than two or three tasks, and if you cope, they start loading you up with everything. However, your case is different, I praised you too much in front of him, and then again, you successfully demonstrated your skills and successfully completed two tasks. This is not a kindergarten, boy", — he chuckled, looking at his interlocutor with a barely noticeable grin.

"Got it" — Sirion answered briefly, trying not to show his excitement.

"If this is just the beginning, then what awaits me next?" — he thought, mechanically rubbing his fingers.

Jerry continued, looking somewhere to the side:

"And you, by the way, quickly got into it. Most people screw up the first time. Someone loses a package, someone doesn't make it on time, but you're all clean. Maybe you really are lucky. Or are you just more careful than the others?"

"More careful, rather," Sirion answered calmly, not raising his eyes to Jerry.

"Well, well," he drawled, smiling lazily. "Just be careful not to stand out too much. Finn doesn't like it when someone suddenly starts to "go too far." Otherwise, before you know it, they'll blame you for everything they can."

Sirion nodded, feeling his tension increase.

"Thanks for the warning," he said dryly. Jerry waved his hand, as if brushing off his words.

"Okay, relax. There's nothing to do now anyway. When the boss gets free, it'll all start.

Sirion was silent, thinking about what he had heard. Jerry's words were a warning, but they sounded more like an inevitable fact. "Harder? "We'll see," he decided mentally, already imagining how he would use his skills to withstand this "weight."

***

Finn greeted Sirion with his arms wide open, as if he had been waiting for him for a long time. His face, as always, was lit up with a predatory smile, and Sirion could not shake the feeling that the boss seemed to enjoy every moment when he saw him again.

"Ah, here you are," Finn said, his voice light, but there was a hidden threat in it. "It's good to see you, Sirion. How are you? Everything according to plan?"

Sirion, a little wary, answered:

"Everything is fine."

Finn did not immediately step away from him, leaving a slight tension between them, as if carefully studying his reaction. A few seconds passed before he finally removed his hands from Sirion's shoulders and sat down in his chair at the table.

"Well," Finn continued, "I have a new task for you. It will be more difficult than the previous ones, but I think you can handle it. You are not afraid of difficulties, are you?"

Sirion nodded briefly, not allowing himself to show nervousness. He was ready for a new challenge, but he still knew there were always risks in this world. Finn settled himself more comfortably, curling his fingers around a glass of some dark drink. His gaze remained attentive and penetrating. He leaned forward slightly, catching Sirion's attention.

"We have an unpleasant situation to resolve," Finn said, lowering his voice. "Some people have begun to ask questions about your involvement in previous cases. They suspect that you may be more than just an executor, but... someone more. Do you understand?"

Sirion felt his heart skip a beat. He knew he could not allow his activities to cause problems.

"I understand," he said, trying to keep his face calm.

Finn chuckled, sitting down in his chair, clearly enjoying the situation.

"Very well. You can handle it. You will need to find one thing and give it to me. And once that is done, your status in this game will rise. But be careful, it's not that simple.

Sirion nodded, knowing he was about to be tested once more. And this time the stakes were high.

Having received all the necessary descriptions of the object and its location, he left Finn's office with the clear understanding that the task he was about to undertake could be his most dangerous. He did not know what exactly he needed to find, but the instructions were clear: the place, the time, and the details he needed to take into account.

He moved quickly but carefully, trying not to attract attention. This time he had to be especially careful - even the slightest mistake could cost him not only his reputation, but his life. Questions were spinning in Sirion's head, but he knew that now the only thing that mattered was completing the task. Everything else could wait. After walking a few streets, he found himself in a narrow alley that led to a warehouse. This was the place Finn had shown him, and Sirion immediately realized that this was not just a warehouse with goods. Here were stored rarer things - weapons, technology, information that not everyone could afford to have. This is where, according to Finn, the thing he was looking for was located.

As Sirion approached the gate, he had to stand in the shadows for a few minutes to make sure no one was nearby. He peeked around the corner, noticing guards patrolling the area. They weren't high-class bodyguards, but that didn't matter for his mission. He knew how to sneak in where he wasn't wanted. After waiting for the guards to make their rounds, Sirion quickly made his way to a door with a small, inconspicuous lock, which he picked without difficulty. It was dark inside, but he activated his built-in night vision goggles, passing a row of old boxes and parts that had no value to his mission. All he needed to find was one specific box.

He made his way through the warehouse, feeling his nerves grow with each step. At one point, he felt his heart begin to beat faster. There were too many people involved here, and if something went wrong, it would be difficult to find him. When he finally reached the right shelf, there was a box with a translucent lid in front of him. Inside was an object that he couldn't quite make out, but based on Finn's description, it was the same thing. Sirion carefully lifted the box and closed it back.

"Time is running out," he thought. "I need to leave quietly."

At that moment, he heard a noise behind him. Sirion quickly turned around, but before he could hide, two guards appeared from around the corner. One of them noticed him and immediately pulled out his weapon.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" he barked, pointing the barrel straight at Sirion's chest.

But Sirion didn't lose his head. His hands instantly sprang into action, snatching a small hidden tool from his pocket and blinding the guards with short flashes of the light device he was using as a temporary smokescreen.

He jerked to the side, but not before noticing one of the guards starting to shoot. Sirion, clutching the box in his hand, ran through the warehouse towards the exit without looking back. There were several barricades in his way, but he passed them deftly, feeling his muscles working in full readiness.

Eventually he reached the doors and ran outside, but for a moment it seemed to him that his pursuers were still nearby. He hid in the nearest dark alley and, catching his breath, pulled the box out of his bag, checking the contents. Everything was in place.

"Everything worked," he breathed out, although he was not yet sure how safe it would be in the long run.

Sirion stood in the shadows, pressed against the brick wall, feeling his heart continue to beat wildly. He listened to the sounds of the street, waiting for the pursuers to move away. The echo of gunshots and the noise of the guards' footsteps still rang in his ears, but after a couple of minutes, when none of them appeared on the horizon, he knew that he was safe again.

He looked around, making sure that no one saw him, and hurried towards his district. The street was packed with people, but Sirion slipped through the crowd unnoticed, hiding the box in his bag. He could not afford to relax until he delivered the goods back to Finn. In his head, there was only one desire - to finish this task and disappear as quickly as possible.

Twenty minutes later, he was already standing in front of the familiar building where Finn's office was. Sirion sighed with relief and headed towards the entrance, trying not to attract unnecessary attention. He climbed the steps and knocked on the door.

"Come in," came a familiar voice from inside. He opened the door and walked into the room where Finn was sitting at his desk, sorting through some paperwork. A heavy figure stood behind him, a man with a hard look and a menacing air, clearly someone who had no equal when it came to security.

"You're back," Finn said, looking up and assessing him. "Where's the merchandise?"

Sirion silently pulled out the box and placed it on the table. Finn glanced at the item, then back at Sirion. His face remained cold, but Sirion knew that behind that look was approval.

"Well done," Finn said, nodding. "You did not disappoint. And here's a bonus for your prompt delivery."

He held out a few silver gears. Sirion silently accepted the money, not noticing that it was slightly more than the amount for the previous mission. He was still glad that he had been able to complete the mission, despite the risk.

"You'll have more work, Sirion. Don't think I've forgotten about your abilities," Finn added, his voice not warm, only calculating. "But if you decide to leave, know that there's no turning back."

Sirion nodded, trying to hide his emotions. He knew that Finn could make his life hell if he wanted. But first, his plan was simply to survive. He wasn't ready to engage in open combat with the boss yet.

"I understand," he replied, bowing his head slightly.

Sirion turned and left the office, feeling Finn's eyes on him. As soon as he was in the hallway, his breathing became even again, and a new plan formed in his head. He knew he had to act quickly, or this mission could be his last.

Now that he had money and a few new tools, his next goal was clear: to create something that would make him independent. And maybe even this new weapon he had just built would help him in the future.

Sirion quickened his pace and headed towards his room. Time to act.