Chapter 24: Chapter 23: Ammunition

Still inexplicably able to capture the whole catalog of the faction contribution shop, Aven found himself only slightly strained at having to look at tens of thousands of different items, with most of them now having a description.

‘Having a grade 2 energy cultivation probably passively enhances my body. Just not to the degree martial energy can.’

A bit lost on what to make of this new 24-hour materialization ability he had gained, he ended up mostly looking at the end of the catalog, where items worth more than a million FCP were located.

“Does that mean I’m not limited by talent anymore…?” Voicing out the first assumption that came to his mind, he didn’t see any high-end elixir, serum, or wonders he didn’t want to get immediately.

‘Mostly though… No, I need to plan and research before putting any item on top of my priority list. Does a Tireless Apple give me a way to fight my natural biological sleep need? How rare and powerful are Energy Growth Wonder Flowers? And authority is also still a factor, most probably I don’t have all the options I need to make an educated guess…’

Quickly becoming lost in thought at the possibilities that were opened to him, Aven could find dozens of items that would change his life instantly if he got them and they worked.

“It’s like~” He suddenly got inspiration on what this grade 2 revolution really represented for him, “An unplanned expansion of my positive feedback loop!”

Pulling himself back after realizing his current environment wasn’t suitable for exploring everything his update shop had to offer, he focused on the one other thing that could be argued to be as important as this revolution: His grade 2 energy cultivation, his energy spark.

‘Grade 2 means… I can use the energy applications of any other energy systems…’

Not letting his newly acquired spark rest, he mobilized it instantly and willed it to extend towards the remote on the table.

While inexperienced in the pure energy system that allowed such telekinetic applications, grade 2 energy inherently made up for it and extended an invisible tendril towards it.

Then the remote started floating in the air, attracted by his hand.

“Hehe~” Giggling innocently at this display, Aven reached for it and pressed a button to turn off the TV before getting up and starting to clean the table full of empty flasks, “Time to start doing my part!”

Exiting the room he had been fully secluded in except for when he wanted to eat after cleaning it appropriately, he reached an empty and lifeless living room.

“Oh… Right,” taking his phone out, he sent a message to Rival and Commander telling them he had reached grade 2 and was awaiting deployment into wherever they had planned.

After sending this message, he started preparing himself by eating and relaxing, not worrying one bit about what would soon ensue.

Following 10 minutes of preparation, with him eating quickly and packing up, finally, it was Commander who pushed open the door to Rival’s house, “Aven! Hahaha! How are you doing? I hope you’re ready because the world is going so downhill that there’s a lack of production tech supers everywhere!”

“How am I doing? Nothing can stop me now!” Immediately feeling back at home when he had someone to talk to, Aven adopted back his enthusiastic and happy-go-lucky self, “I’m limited by nothing! Literally nothing! Knowledge? I can buy them. Cultivation resources? I can buy them now too. Talents? I can also buy them!”

“Well, that certainly sounds like a story worth hearing, but let us first go to your future workplace. We’ve gone so deep in trying to optimize our little puppet’s future that is you that I don’t think even grade 5 super’s descendants will have it better than you!” Cutting the small talks, Commander waved at him to follow.

Stepping outside, Aven enjoyed the benediction of the White for a bit before his brain caught up with what had been said a few seconds earlier, “The world is going downhill? What happened?”

Urging him to enter his car, the white-haired old man only started talking when he had begun driving, “A war of succession has started in the Emma Empire, but due to the turmoil inside the Bright Canopy, all the pretendants now have a chance, so its scale has exploded.”

“Sounds like a major event but not one I should be worried about,” Aven countered logically.

“Hehe, you’re too young to understand. You don’t know all the undercurrents that have started since that war began,” mocking him directly without chopping his words, Commander really treated Aven as an insider that didn’t need to be kept from the harshly devolving reality.

“Like what?” Demanding proof, he didn’t believe in empty air, even if this empty air was spoken by a grade 3 super.

“Like…” Musing for a moment, Commander really seemed to struggle at what news to disclose, “The previous emperor, father of the current emperor, a grade 5 elemental super, has left Emma to join Eland following a pretty explosive and destructive disagreement with his son.”

“And that’s worth making the world go downhill in panic?” Still finding the whole world going downhill thing fishy, Aven pursued the line and tried to get more undercurrents out of this very informed senior tech super next to him.

“Of course not,” not worrying about sharing what he knew, Commander started summarizing the grand lines that he knew of, “But combined with the Eternal Vow Kingdom reporting a probable Surge on their side of the Forbidden Continent and the United Federation of the Athal Continent subsequently starting to consolidate their war resources, and rogue Canopy branches interfering with them-”

“Ok, I’m convinced,” he cut him off to show he had understood there was more at play than just a war of succession starting, “So it’s good news for me?”

On that statement, Commander seemed a bit more skeptical but still relatively confident, “Maybe. It remains to be verified, but what’s more of a contribution for you: Volunteering during peaceful times? Or volunteering during hazardous times?”

“Well, I won’t answer. That’s a trap question,” refusing to answer, Aven opened the car window and started contemplating as he opened his status.

 

Aven Amias

Faction: Nation of Eland Military

Energy Grade: 2

Energy Cultivation: 100/1 000

Energy Affinity: Tech

Physical Talents: None

Energy Talents: Basic Tech Energy Affinity, Basic Energy Sense

Spiritual Talents: Inquisitive Spirit, Basic Knowledge Integration

Universal Talents: Unawakened Fairy Ancestry

 

“Nothing really changed on that side~ Not that I expected anything,” whispering his observation aloud without fear, he closed his mostly unchanged status and admired the concrete plain marred with massive industrial-looking buildings he was traveling in.

The end of the trip arrived less than 5 minutes later as the car he was in stopped in front of a building that looked similar to any other ones in Blackdale IMC.

Getting out of the car, he quickly caught up to Commander who hadn’t waited for him before entering the building through a side door.

“Welcome to your workplace by the way,” he announced offhandedly, “We already did all the paperwork for you, so you will directly enter a trial period for becoming a chief ammunition engineer directly from your official engineer position.”

“So it’s really the ammunition industry in the end. I’m fine with that,” Aven approved of this development, it was the field he had the most studied while he was secluded for 3 weeks.

“We’ve also invited an eminent ammunition engineer to bring you up to speed on all the new super-custom ammunition subtleties you will have to deal with that you surely didn’t get to learn before,” he specified a bit more.

“Are you sure that’s the most optimized path?” The proactive concerned person, however, hadn’t expected this as he already had thought about what his most optimized path should look like, “Shouldn’t I do something like menial tech super mass-production? Things others don’t like to do?”

“You’ll get your answers eventually, so just hold on to your questions for the next few days while focusing on learning as much as you can,” accelerating his pace slightly after saying that, the duo eventually entered the very classic-looking production area where production lines were already set-up in a controlled massive open-space. And one of them was active.

Navigating through the machines, Rival and an unknown woman appeared in their field of vision, and the woman seemed to be the one in charge of the currently active machinery, with Rival only standing still, overseeing the process.

As they approached, the duo was finally seen, making Rival and the unknown woman turn to look at them.

“She’s Mai Iyory, a grade 2 assault tech super relatively known for producing her own ammunition if you’re wondering,” making the introduction without being asked, Commander then looked at Rival, as if he was in charge.

“He’s the guy you’re in charge of for 3 days Mai, teach him all the tricks of the trade you have on the 3 ammunition he’s going to produce. As I explained before, don’t dwell on the early refinement and transformation processes and just focus on the bullet-making processes themselves,” elaborating probably not for the first time his plan, Rival then looked at Mai and waited for her to act.

Taking a few steps forward, a short blond-haired and black-eyed stern-looking woman held out her hands, which Aven instinctively accepted as she began her own introduction, “Hello young man, we’ll be together for the next 3 days, so I would prefer if you can directly call me Mai from now on.”

“Hello,” responding in kind, the handshake was quickly finished and they started inspecting each other. As he was conscientious about the situation he was in, Aven swiftly showed his attitude regarding this impromptu situation, “I’ll be in your care for the next 3 days then Mai.”

Keeping to himself his doubt about whether this was the best choice for him, he rationalized that it would only last 3 days anyway, so there was nothing wrong with doing it.

“Perfect,” finishing the introduction, Mai then alternatively looked between Commander and Rival, “Should I start today or tomorrow?”

“As you want,” a stone-faced Rival gave a short answer before starting to stride towards the exit, “It’s your responsibility and your job, not mine.”

“I’m of the same opinion,” kindly smiling at the two, though with a touch of something else hidden inside that Aven couldn’t identify, Commander bid the 2 good luck before following in his rival’s steps, escaping their vision in a few seconds.

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‘Well… If I didn’t know I would think I’m really a puppet.’

Making an internal joke making only himself smile, he turned to Mai, “So? Today or tomorrow?”

“How did you get them to treat you like that?” Directly changing the subject the moment she confirmed the 2 senior production tech supers had really left, she looked intently at Aven as if he was a juicy steak.

“They didn’t tell you?” Not refusing to answer, his smile took on another meaning and he happily started to brag about what he had done to end up here, “I kindly asked them to invest in me, and they agreed. As for how I got the 2 of them to agree so readily and go so far, I still don’t completely understand, so sorry for not being able to provide a satisfactory answer yet.”

“So luck, eh?” Making her own conclusion, she turned and waved at him to follow, “Let’s start today, I need to check where to begin, so let’s go to a conveniently already furnished room perfect for that.”

“What a coincidence! I love sarcasm too!” Showing his enthusiasm despite his apprehension, Aven walked next to her and opened the door for her with a mock gentleman attitude.

Entering closely behind her, he realized that this side room had really been prepared with the express purpose of being used as a meeting room. A few moving boards, a projector, lots of electrical outlets, a central round table, comfy office chair, it was a perfect meeting room.

Having appropriated the room for herself before meeting him it seemed, Mai turned on a peaceful and soft background music before taking a few boards for herself and positioning them all next to each other.

“I see no reason to wait anymore, take a seat, take notes if you want, register what I’m saying if you want, whatever,” taking the unorthodox teacher approach, she picked markers and started drawing.

A few minutes passed before both Mai and Aven were ready, but an understanding seemed to have formed, so it didn’t take long for Mai to start, “Let’s start with a reminder of all the knowledge involved in the ammunition field, after that you’ll tell me at what level you are on them.”

“First is material science on alloy, more precisely metal alloys, for obvious reasons that I don’t need to explain, right?” She started writing as she talked, asking a question without even looking at him.

“Second is chemistry, a propellant is the main power factor behind a bullet after all, and I learned that between knowing and not knowing, the difference was too huge to simply explain without showing you later,” stating so, she occupied a large part of the board with only this one, leaving enough space for only one more category.

“And third is aerodynamics. Same as chemistry, if we were not personally tech-producing everything, then knowing or not knowing would make no difference, but this field teaches you why the shape and rotation of the projectile are important, so it’s essential,” occupying the whole left side of the first board with that 3rd knowledge field, she then turned and looked at Aven.

“These 3 fields are the most important, but of course, they can’t support the whole ammunition engineering field for tech-production by themselves, so I’ll later start with the similarly impactful thermodynamics, kinetic interactions, and bullet engineering fields. For now though… It’s your turn,” crossing her arms after throwing her marker on the table, she had given her advanced introduction.

Now, it was Aven’s turn to make his advanced introduction and show what he had learned in the span of 1 month at EMATE, “Sure!”

…

‘The Bright Canopy, splitting into thousands of childish rogue branches who cannot see the bigger picture, all vying with each other to see who can commit the biggest tragedy in terms of civilian casualties without incurring the retribution of their better…’

Commander walked leisurely around the super-restricted area of Blackdale IMC, having his own thoughts regarding the global situation as he headed back towards his research building after leaving his impromptuly acquired… Student? Apprentice? Younger friend? Behind.

‘The 5th human era abomination surge, suspected to be coming, yet again without the necessary grade 6 supers or the fairy population needed in case the abomination core decides to participate against all odds…’

The world around him didn’t seem to exist as he simply cut through everything, not willing to lose any second in this new chaotic age that was slowly dawning on everyone.

‘One of the 5 great nations descending into chaos, its supreme emperor, having comfortably settled in grade 5, the peak of power in the current era, going as far as initiating its inefficient warring succession process knowing full well the worsening global situation…’

His thoughts collided and combined into insights he was sure all supers remotely interested in politics would understand, and that should have included the current Emma Emperor.

Yet…

“How…?” Stopping, he looked at the massive building hosting his latest research work on tech integration, the true future of the production tech super path, and asked both himself and the world.

‘How can he ignore what’s happening? The butchery of Ironvale, the collapse of Dirigate, the wiping of the Glen mercenary group… All those happened under his nose, all by madmen from the Bright Canopy, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties.’

The more Commander thought, the more his eyes glazed over as his mind and spirit fully focused on trying to find even a thread of logic and reason behind the recent happening of the Emma Empire.

‘He doesn’t need to vie for power…’

‘His history is full of rationality, from his birth to his ascension as the Emperor…’

‘Only a grade 6 psy super could potentially destabilize him…’

Soon enough, his spirit reconnected to his body and he entered his research building guided by his one and only active energy connection his undivided infusion energy specialization was restricting him to, one informing him he needed to fill back the concerned machine as it would soon run out.

Working on cutting-edge technologies and tech energy system innovations was hard, obviously, more so with his energy specialization no one but the most recently born grade 3 tech supers considered as something viable, but they were also the most rewarding fields.

That’s when he thought of Aven again.

“How the gear turns…” Using an expression he was sure only his good friend Rival would understand as it was some sort of inside joke, he picked up his phone to see if Aven’s hidden ERA life and development management had something to say about what he and Rival had ended up doing.

[ERA: Prospective ERA agent Mai Iyory has been properly inducted into Aven’s life and development management. The current directive of keeping him isolated is followed. Recent hacking attempts may hint at someone having some third-hand information on him. Please allow access to private and personal information and seek a lie check interview as soon as possible.]

“Well, I would like to say they’re taking it a bit too seriously, but~” Shrugging at this overbearing message ordering him, a grade 3 tech super, to do what they wanted without question, he still couldn’t believe how he had been initiated into this conspiracy.

Aven, a 20-ish-year-old, doesn’t really matter he’s too young, guy who intruded on his life in a way only the most straightforward, honest, friendly, and socially overwhelming ancient fairies, according to the numerous records that remained of them, should have.

That’s how he had ended up summarizing his encounter when he was asked by ERA to describe everything he had been told by this priority isolation target.

“Someone completely hidden by Eland, with the potential to do a lot of things a lot faster than anyone would have ever thought he would, and should, be able to…” Talking to himself aloud, he finished reminiscing about this era-defining anomaly that was Aven and recentered on what was before his eyes.

An integrated production line prototype.

Touching the cold hard alloy casing, he closed his eyes and mobilized all the knowledge he had about this specific line and all the physical, mechanical, electrical, and digital phenomena that were included in it.

His energy, infused with that knowledge covering everything Commander knew, was in turn infused into this integrated machine prototype, seeking to establish ground-breaking and revolutionary energy engineering formulas.

...

After a few hours spent evaluating Aven’s knowledge level in the field that mattered to her and finding them to be satisfactory, Mei finally entered the practical core of what she was charged with teaching him.

“To manufacture the 4 components of a bullet: The case, the primer, the propellant, and the projectile, you’ll need to mobilize all the fields we have reviewed,” she opened with a very wide approach, “Not coincidentally at all, these same fields can also be used directly on the field. That’s why I, an assault tech super, am teaching you, a prospective production tech super.”

Drawing a classic bullet schema on an available board, she wrote the 4 components she had just said and pointed at one of them, the propellant, “For now you’ll only produce the basic and proven nitrocellulose as your single-base propellant.”

Probably finding the lack of explanation to be a slight lacking on her part, she added, “Using more powerful and complex propellants are only for larger caliber ammunition such as those used in artillery and tank guns, or for custom-made ammunition such as platinum-gold alloy anti-super round, but that’s completely another matter.”

Questions popped in Aven’s mind at the mention of custom-made ammunition, but he held back and decided to either ask her later if the opportunity showed itself or just forget about it and let her naturally come to talk about it.

“I don’t think you’re aware yet, but they set you up for the complete ammunition production process, you’ll have to refine from raw ores and basic chemicals 3 types of ammunition: H9, AR7.62 , and SR12.7,” approaching the table, she opened a box and picked 3 different bullets out of it before handing them to him openly, “Those 3 if you can’t visualize them.”

After handing them, she started giving a bit of lore about them in a summarized way, “Those 3 ammunition types are commonly known as the most universal and optimized, H9 for handguns, AR7.62 for assault rifles, and SR12.7 for sniper rifles.”

Observing the bullets he had been given, Aven recognized them instantly as they were included in the knowledge he had integrated with at EMATE.

“We’ll of course start with the H9, it’s the one with the most abundant demand for tech-produced ones. It’s also perfect for priming you to all the subtleties and factors you can work on during the fabrication process with your energy,” finishing her piece, this time she didn’t continue with yet more context and explanation and headed towards the door.

“Conveniently, there’s a ready H9 ammunition production line next door, so instead of explaining to you mystical things, let me show you,” flashing him a sarcastic and confident smile as she opened the door, she was very clearly telling him to follow her for some practical display.

Slightly surprised at this quick turn, Aven swiftly packed his notepad and a pen before following after her as she led him to the production line which he remembered her to have been working with before he arrived.

“They clearly instructed me to focus on the bullet making process itself and leave the prior transformation processes for them to deal with, so that’s what I’ll do,” explaining her own circumstances, she pointed at the few machines that were dissociated from the 3 production lines present in the hall, “Meaning we’ll not use those machines there. We’ll use pre-made material.”

Cracking her finger loudly in the silent hall and removing the outer layer of her uniform, letting Aven get a glimpse of her… Militarized assault tech super body… She approached the command console of the first machine of the H9 production line.

Typing on the console, Aven carefully observed what she was doing as she started elaborating on how this section of her teaching would go, “Let me do a first silent demonstration to get those machines heated, after that, I’ll do another commented demonstration, and then it’ll be your turn.”

“Sure,” giving a weak vocal confirmation, he was readier than ready to observe everything that was happening on the physical side.

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