Before Lawson could curse, his phone exploded with vibrations. A quest box flashing with blinding gold light popped open:
[EPIC Main Mission: The Armor Smith's Legacy]
[Objective: Retrieve Lost Facility Managers (0/4)]
[Weapon Smith (0/1) / Medical Manager (0/1) / Canteen Manager (0/1) / Vault Manager (0/1)]
Rewards:
12,000 LP
Eye of Omnipotence - Essence Certificate x1
The rage vanished from Lawson's face. His breath hitched at the final reward.
"The... [Eye of Omnipotence]?!"
"What's that? Your face changed so fast, Senior."
"You don't understand! That's a Legendary Secret Skill! The eyes that can see through all illusions and grasp the very essence of rules!"
Lawson was suddenly on fire, his complaints forgotten.
"See through everything?" Katie recoiled slightly, clutching her chest.
"Sounds like a pervert skill for peeping. That has nothing to do with blacksmithing."
"Shallow! So shallow! You'll understand its power later..." Lawson waved his hand, sprinting toward the end of the hall.
"No time to explain! I need to see my Forge! Let's go!"
Lawson and Katie stood before the towering metal gates of the Armor Forge. The dark composite plating looked like a silent bastion.
Above the frame, a black motion sensor looked down like a hawk.
Lawson didn't hesitate. He strode forward, his boots clicking against the metal floor. He raised his arm and slammed his palm against the cold induction panel.
BEEP—!
A sharp chime tore through the silence. Blinding red light hissed from the scanner like a striking viper, sweeping over Lawson's palm, fingertips, and even the capillaries beneath his skin.
For one second, time froze.
CLANG!
A heavy, powerful mechanical thud followed—the electromagnetic locks disengaging.
Then, the multi-ton gates let out a low, beast-like hum.
They didn't slide gracefully; they retracted with a violent SHING!
The thick plates ground against the rails, displacing a gust of air that whipped
Lawson's coat around him.
The scanner's speaker emitted a synthetic, masculine voice:
[Initial Identity Verification Complete.] [Master Authority Locked: Armor Smith — Lawson.]
[Current Area: Armor Forge. Switching to Standard Open Mode.]
The Forge was a masterpiece of minimalism. Walls, floors, and ceilings were forged from a single, seamless silver alloy.
Cold white light fell evenly across the space, highlighting an environment of absolute professionalism.
At the end of a sleek corridor stood a minimalist reception counter.
Flanking the hallway were six rectangular virtual display units—three on each side.
"You use these to display the armor, right?"
"I'll only display what I consider a perfect masterpiece," Lawson replied. "As of now, I haven't created a single thing worthy of these cases."
"You're a harsh critic, Lawson..." Katie sighed as they moved deeper into the facility.
Behind the minimalist counter lay the heart of the beast: The Armor Forge.
There was no soot, no scorching heat of a traditional blacksmith shop.
Instead, it was as silent and sterile as an operating theater.
The air smelled faintly of ozone.
Giant holographic screens hovered in the air, monitoring every stage of production.
Below them lay terminals where a Smith could scan blueprints.
Beyond a massive glass partition sat the core: The Fully Automated Armor Factory.
Suddenly, the heavy blast doors hissed open.
The distant noise of the outside world surged in like a tide.
"Warriors! This is the Armor Forge!" Ester clapped her hands, leading a group of battered survivors inside.
Her voice was uncharacteristically gentle. "Leave your damaged armor here for storage, then head straight to the Medical Bay. Don't let your wounds fester."
The rookies looked exhausted. Several suits were covered in horrific claw marks and dried blood.
Curiously, Dodge and that "Patched" rookie were nowhere to be seen.
Through the holographic projection, Lawson watched the blood-stained warriors. His gaze sharpened like a blade.
"Work's here. Katie, go greet them. I'll be out as soon as I finish the prep."
"No problem, Boss Lawson!" Katie gave him a soft smile. If Lawson was the brain and hands of this fortress, she would be the pillar that kept it running.
"Welcome!" Katie switched instantly to her professional mode, her smile capable of healing battle-scars.
"Miss! Please, look at this!"
A girl with red pigtails rushed the counter. Her face was pale, her hoodie torn to shreds, revealing a bloodied shoulder.
She poked frantically at her phone.
"It won't respond! No matter what I click!"
Katie took the phone. As she navigated the system's sub-layers, her brow furrowed. "The damage has exceeded the 99% critical threshold. The system forcibly locked the link to prevent your data from collapsing and killing you. Don't worry. Give it to Lawson. He can bring it back to life. Name, please?"
"I'm... Emma," the girl whispered.
"Alright, Emma. We'll notify you the moment the repair is complete."
Emma nodded, but then turned back awkwardly.
"Um... Miss? How do I... actually give the armor to you?"
Katie froze. She scanned her mind for Lawson's "onboarding training," only to realize that the self-proclaimed master had never explained how to unload physical armor.
Damn that guy!
"Blue-hair, are you really failing at such a basic concept?"
Ester appeared out of nowhere, her voice dripping with cold, aesthetic violence.
"I... haven't had the chance to ask yet," Katie blushed.
"For someone with a 'Seven-Year Veteran' title, this is a disgrace to all players." Ester smirked, leaping over the counter with a grace that sent her gothic skirt fluttering.
She reached under the counter and pressed a hidden manual override.
CLUNK.
Three futuristic kiosks slid out from the wall, glowing with ice-blue holograms:
[Request Interface]
[Settlement Center]
[Load/Unload Port]
"Just plug your phone into the physical interface. Pigtails, you first."
Emma followed the instructions. Click! A 3D model of Emma's armor projected above the terminal, flashing with frantic red 'DAMAGED' warnings.
"Confirmed. Forced Armor Materialization."
With a soft blue light, a transparent display pod etched with the name 'Emma' rose from the floor.
The data stream from the phone reconfigured in the air, manifesting into jagged, charred, and broken steel plates suspended in the center of the pod.
"How much... is the repair fee?" Emma asked nervously, clutching her dirt-stained hem.
Katie typed rapidly on the keyboard. After a moment, she looked up and delivered a cold number: "The total is... 1,000 LP."
Emma stared at her measly '200 LP' balance, her eyes reddening with frustration. "I nearly died for those 200 points! That's not even enough for a single screw?! Look at this armor—it looks like it was put through a giant cheese grater! I traded my blood for those points! Are you telling me my life is worth less than a repair bill?!"
"At that price... I have to give up too," muttered a green-haired man beside her, his face bitter.
"It seems you two have lost your right to link," Ester said ruthlessly.