Strategic Defence Department of Stardraggon, which is often known as 'Thirteen'.
Geezer Lu is the core character in the hidden storyline thus the target of Xiao. Geezer Gao is a bonus who is a big name and one of the top leaders in Stardraggon. Xiao is aware that he could hide his background from Gao. His plan was to deliver the intelligence of the Sprout anonymously and show himself after the trust was built. Now he has to change the plan. He can't be anonymous anymore. He decides to present his value and makes Thirteen find him. Their corporation is based on 'the enemy of the enemy is a friend'.
Changing the plan doesn't have to be a bad thing. If he could earn the trust of Geezer Gao, that would help a lot. Thus, Xiao asks, "What test?"
Geezer Lu looks around and doesn't find anything challenging enough. Suddenly, he notices the lost limb of Gao and says, "Make an artificial limb for him. If he is satisfied, you pass."
"Why me?" Geezer Gao is surprised, but Lu blinks at him. He then realises that Lu purposely makes a difficulty for this young man in order to kick him away.
"Grandpa, that's spiteful! You will scare him away! You drink, walk around and play chess every day. You never care about the business of the shop. Now you don't allow me to hire an assistant?" Qian is unhappy.
Lu doesn't answer granddaughter's questioning. He looks at Xiao and waits for the answer. Xiao looks strange and emphasises, "Are you sure you want me to make an artificial limb for this gentleman?"
"Take it or fuck off."
"Deal."
Xiao is happy. He has the blueprint of |Artificial limb| which he thought would be useless. He is confident about Lu's test, and it might impress Gao!
"Three hours, I don't have all day for you" Lu adds up.
"Grandpa!" Qian is angry. To make an artificial limb, Xiao needs to measure the size and draw a plan, then make the product. The latter two steps both need several hours at least! What makes it more difficult is that Gao needs to be satisfied with it! But Lu is the owner of the shop, and the protest from Qian is ignored.
Xiao is okay with the 'nonsense' and finds a cloth tape. He asks Gao politely, "May I?" Gao smiles and takes off the coat, hinting that Xiao could go on. When Xiao measures, Gao is watching him. Although deliberately challenged, this young man is not unhappy or furious but confident. He seems to be gifted. Still, it is unclear why the Sprout awarded a million on him.
Gao recognised Xiao at first sight. A million reward sparked a big wave in the underworld. Nearly all intelligence institutes had a record of the appearance of Zero. Gao was in charge of this. When he sees Xiao inside the city, he knows that there is bribery in the military again.
What is the aim of Xiao being in Western Capital? Is he dangerous? That's Gao's concern. So far, he seems common. Gao decides to continue watching. Lu is concerned for a different reason. He fought for his life when he was young. He sensed the murderous smell from Xiao. That's why he made up the challenge. He doesn't want Xiao to stay in the shop, which might bring trouble. Lu didn't know about the reward.
Xiao is about to finish measuring. Qian is unhappy about Grandpa being mean. She gets closer and offers help, "Let's dicuss about your idea. Maybe we can draw the blueprint together, which can save time."
However, Xiao turns it down. He smiles, "No need to draw. I have a complete blueprint in my mind."
Qian is shocked, she says, "You have a blueprint in two minutes?!"
"That's bull shit!" Geezer Lu laughs at Xiao. Constructing a complete blueprint in two minutes is impossible, even for him who is a machine expert. This boy is so arrogant!
Xiao doesn't explain. He writes down all the materials and machines he needs and hand over to Qian. Qian is familiar with the shop and she finds out all the stuff quickly. She wants to help Xiao as much as she can. Although she doesn't believe Xiao could make a nice artificial limb on time.
Xiao starts working. Various kinds of materials and metals are polished and shaped under pressure, electric saw, and electrowelding, etc. Gradually, they form the shape.
|Elementary machine affinity| gives Xiao a better sense of metals. When he touches those metals, he can feel faintly about the quaility like if it is pure, what and where the impurity is. Machine affinity is one of the core talents for a machinist, which affects the equipment's usage and making. |Elementary machine affinity| increase 1% machine quality and fabrication speed per level.
The top level of an artificial limb can collect electric signals from the muscles, which enable the user to control it. But this requires a surgery to connect the shoulder and the limb, which needs |Elementary electromagnetism| and |Nerve connection| in the branch of machine manipulation. The other type is using voice control mode. But this requires |Elementary acoustics|. The knowledge and techniques of machine is related to each other. With different knowledge combinations, there will be a great number of possibilities. Xiao can't make those two types above. He has to use the idea from the 'light-powered arm'. He plans to use the electricity to generate mechanical power. The force is passed with the limb framework, which helps the movement of users.
Geezer Lu finds a beer himself. He opens it and watches Xiao. He will mock Xiao as loudly as he can if Xiao fails it.