Mechanical Spear-Gun

"Thump, thump..."

Having understood the contents, Bai Zhou's heart suddenly began pounding violently, making his body tremble faintly as well.

Divine Era Shattered?

Blood-Soaked Coronation?

And who was this Golden King?

He had no idea what it meant, but it sounded impressive.

He tried hard not to show anything unusual, but his thoughts had already become a tangled mess.

For some reason, these contents reminded him of the legend in Evening City about "the Miller who drew the Sacred Sword and the Millstone Knights."

Whoever drew the Sacred Sword from the mill would become the Destined Miller and be taken in as the former Miller's son-in-law.

Could putting on the Crown make someone into that... Golden King?

Bai Zhou muttered to himself.

...Still, he had heard that the Miller's son-in-law who drew the sword had gone through many trials afterward.

Presumably, the trial of wearing the Crown would not be as simple as it sounded.

—Even though these thoughts sounded like the wild fantasies of a madman.

If Section Chief Liu found out, he would surely loudly remind Bai Zhou that there were no kings, nobles, generals, or ministers anymore. There were only the equal Eastern and Western Federations of Blue Star.

But Bai Zhou still felt... it was worth trying.

However, how could he avoid Section Chief Liu's eyes, enter the heavily sealed Black Room, open the Black Box made of special materials, and touch that mysterious object?

—That sounded less realistic than dreaming.

Bai Zhou withdrew his gaze. His expression remained calm, but he sighed quietly inside.

He should ask Ya about the Crown first.

Though he did not know why, she seemed to understand this Crown better than Branch 36 of the Special Management Department...

At that moment, Section Chief Liu called to Bai Zhou from ahead.

"Come on, Bai Zhou. Time to head to the next Black Room Sector."

"I'm coming!" Bai Zhou answered and followed, temporarily forcing those thoughts down.

Section Chief Liu walked ahead, the silver-white metal Briefcase at his side occasionally bumping against his knee.

"Our Black Box Maintenance Department divides the Black Room into three sectors."

"We just inspected the Third Sector. Now we're heading to the Second Sector."

"Sectors?" Bai Zhou asked curiously.

"That's right." Section Chief Liu nodded.

"Each sector is fully managed by a Level P3 Specialist. Every supervisor has the highest authority in his sector and is assigned several Level P2 Specialists as subordinates."

"During special circumstances, such as a Black Box riot, supervisors are even permitted to mobilize F-Class Black Boxes within their jurisdiction without restriction."

Bai Zhou asked curiously, "Then which sector are you the supervisor of, Section Chief?"

"None of them." Section Chief Liu shook his head.

"I'm a Level P4 Specialist, the head of the Inspection Department in the Maintenance Department. I report directly to the Maintenance Department officer and specialize in supervising whether these supervisors are neglecting their duties or stealing what they are supposed to guard."

"—That's why I can bring you around freely through every sector."

The Inspection Department!

No wonder he could carry a Stainless Steel Thermos and patrol the Black Room with that steady crab walk, completely unconcerned with sector boundaries.

"...However, we'll need to visit the Third Sector we just inspected quite often for a while."

"Because the supervisor of the Third Sector was unfortunately killed some time ago while handling the riot of Black Box F-2334."

Section Chief Liu added with a grave expression.

"It was a hat that liked telling bad jokes and hadn't been washed in centuries. During its riots, all you had to do was laugh at its bad jokes..."

"—However, the Third Supervisor unfortunately suffered facial paralysis during a mission years ago."

"..."

Bai Zhou could not help falling silent for a while. After a long pause, he finally forced out a sentence.

"That is regrettable."

Section Chief Liu nodded and sighed. "So until a new Commissioner in the Maintenance Department is promoted to Level P3, this position will probably remain vacant for some time."

Third Sector. Supervisor. The authority to mobilize every Black Box in the sector when necessary...

Bai Zhou blinked, his face calm.

The Crown was in the Third Sector.

If he could become the supervisor of the Third Sector, or even just gain a certain position in the Third Sector, researching the Crown would no longer be so difficult.

However...

That was easy to say, but for Bai Zhou, who had just joined the Special Management Department—

It was like how everyone knew money could solve most problems, but the people facing those problems were usually not rich.

But Bai Zhou was even worse off. His position in this matter was not that of a "rich person," and perhaps not even that of a "poor person."

He was a stray dog begging by the roadside that no one would spare a glance at.

"Tap, tap..."

The two men's footsteps echoed rhythmically through the Black Room corridor lit by faint blue flames.

Trailing closely after Section Chief Liu as they wandered around, Bai Zhou found an opportunity to cautiously ask him about ranks.

"Other branches may care somewhat about seniority, but at our Branch 36, the Major has never been rigid in his hiring. He only looks at ability and achievements."

"Work hard! Maybe the next supervisor of the Third Sector will be you."

Bai Zhou's heart jumped, but his expression remained unchanged.

"I wouldn't dare dream of it!"

But Section Chief Liu laughed and patted Bai Zhou on the shoulder. "You underestimate the organization, and you underestimate yourself!"

"The Special Management Department never lacks crises, but crises are also opportunities."

As he spoke, he gave Bai Zhou a meaningful look.

"I heard you have a physique highly resistant to contamination? The higher-ups specifically mentioned you to me because of that."

"At Branch 36, it is not unusual for someone to be ordinary in the morning, then receive a rapid promotion for merit in the afternoon and rise three ranks in a row."

"Why can't the next person be you?"

As their patrol neared its end, their footsteps lightly crossed the quiet Black Room corridor while Section Chief Liu's voice slowly echoed through it.

He handed the thermos to Bai Zhou for safekeeping. With a click, he pulled a "black tube" from his waist.

"—The Arbiter-300 enchanted pistol. Modular design, seventeen-round capacity, nine-millimeter caliber, specially modified by the neighboring Logistics Department."

"Before modification, it was a SIG Sauer P320 pistol from the Western Federation. Only Commissioners above P2 are qualified to receive one when the base is under martial law."

He lowered his voice. "Martial law will not end anytime soon. As long as you work hard, you can finish your probation and advance to P2 sooner!"

"When that time comes, I'll personally teach you how to use a gun!"

Under the faint blue flames, the smooth contours of the black pistol displayed a cold, violent beauty.

Several ornate and intricate mysterious patterns had been carefully carved into its body, faintly reflecting the dim blue light.

Guns were a man's romance. No one could refuse such a dangerous and quiet pistol, just as everyone in the age of cold weapons had wanted to conquer a galloping steed.

Many years later, whenever facing newcomers who had just joined, Section Chief Liu would always recall that distant afternoon when he first received his service weapon.

The excitement from that time was unforgettable. Perhaps it was human nature: rejecting slaughter and bloodshed, yet instinctively pursuing the thrill of conquering danger.

—But Section Chief Liu did not see the excitement he had hoped for on Bai Zhou's face.

There was only confusion.

Because Bai Zhou had no idea what that lump of metal was for.

Section Chief Liu: "..."

"Fine. You'll understand later."

Section Chief Liu awkwardly put away the Arbiter-300, took back the thermos, and felt his temples twitch for no apparent reason.

"I originally wanted to tell you more about Level P3..."

"Level P3 Specialists can not only take up the position of sector supervisor, but are even qualified to apply for Magic Potions."

"When the time comes, researchers will tailor a Magic Potion enhancement plan for you. There is a certain chance that you will awaken your Destiny, become extraordinary, and receive a Mechanical Briefcase!"

"—But forget it. You probably don't find any of that interesting."

Section Chief Liu sighed.

As they spoke, the two had already reached the exit of the Black Room.

The sealed Great Door let through no light at all. The surroundings were frighteningly dark and unnaturally cold.

Beep.

Section Chief Liu took out his access card and swiped it.

The Great Door slowly opened. Light from outside rushed in eagerly, making the two men, accustomed to the darkness, instinctively shield their eyes.

"After all, you still can't understand what Magic Potions and extraordinary people really are..."

Section Chief Liu's muttering voice came at that moment. "But you'll understand someday just how unbelievable they are."

No, this was the one thing Bai Zhou truly understood...

He was even one himself.

An extraordinary person who had awakened his Destiny and stirred his spirituality.

It was just that Section Chief Liu knew nothing about it.

Bai Zhou's heart skipped a beat, and his gaze unconsciously flicked toward the metal Briefcase Section Chief Liu never let leave his left hand.

The scene of Section Chief Liu using it to produce a mechanical arm last time was still vivid in his mind.

The silver-white metal Briefcase gleamed brightly. The cross emblem bound by chains on it was especially conspicuous.

...Once his special training was complete, he might only be one such Briefcase away from the "unbelievable existence" Section Chief Liu had described.

But then again,

What did he mean by researchers tailoring a Magic Potion enhancement plan, with a certain chance of awakening Destiny?

Were their Magic Potions different from Ya's Enlightenment Potion?

"I... will work hard!"

Bai Zhou took a deep breath and put on a look of having been encouraged and inspired by Section Chief Liu.

—No matter what, Section Chief Liu's words had indeed reminded him.

A Level P3 Specialist supervisor was not all that impressive.

From the sound of it, Level P3 Specialists were not necessarily extraordinary people either.

But Bai Zhou was.

—And his Destiny talent was extremely close to five feet five inches.

As long as he advanced to Level P3 soon enough, he could become the supervisor of the Third Sector.

Then the Crown's secret would be easily solved.

"Dong—"

The Bell Tower in the underground base rang punctually at six in the evening.

As the bell echoed, Section Chief Liu stretched and got off work on time.

Ever since the end-of-work bell rang, it was as though some filter had been added to Section Chief Liu. His entire image became livelier, and he looked far more energetic.

...But beside him, Bai Zhou grew increasingly silent, his expression visibly turning bitter.

Because he knew his "free time" was over.

—The real suffering was still waiting for him in the Dormitory.

On the way back, Bai Zhou dragged his feet.

He even spent half the day browsing the Convenience Store in the Cafeteria, taking twenty minutes to buy a jar of Lao Gan Ma and a small bottle of Mustard Oil.

When he happened to see a line of ants passing by, the little black ants looked like a professional coffin-carrying team, marching to a neat rhythm while carrying some unknown crumbs of steamed bun.

Bai Zhou nearly wanted to count the antennae on their heads.

—Of course, this was merely proof of Bai Zhou's childlike innocence and love for life.

It was definitely not because he was dragging his feet and did not want to go back.

However, no road was endless. Eventually, one would reach its end.

Standing before the yellow Dormitory building, Bai Zhou no longer found the color warm. Instead, the deep, shadowy Great Door of the Dormitory looked like the gaping mouth of a man-eating beast.

He had no choice but to encourage himself.

A true warrior dared to face a bleak life head-on.

Then, he resolutely stepped into hell.

...That was what he said, but he was still "struggling with every step" on the stairs.

The Dormitory building actually had an elevator. The first time Bai Zhou rode it, he thought someone—or perhaps a Mule—was pulling ropes somewhere out of sight.

Back then, he had just arrived and felt unsafe in enclosed spaces. He always felt the elevator would suddenly stop.

Then, the instant its doors opened on the next floor, more than a dozen hulking men wielding machetes would charge at him.

Only a true Elevator War God could remain standing when the elevator doors opened again.

—For Bai Zhou, who had just experienced Black Robe's execution, such an assumption was perfectly normal.

Now, it was no longer that bad.

He took the stairs instead of the elevator purely because he wanted to exercise.

—It definitely was not because he wanted to dawdle on the way a little longer.

With an almost tragic sense of resolve, Bai Zhou stood before his Dormitory door and turned the key with a click.

The door slowly opened.

The burnt smell of Coffee Beans rushed at him.

The neat, clean Dormitory was utterly silent. It was colder than outside, adding several degrees of eerie chill to the atmosphere.

A thin, long black ribbon stretched across the room from left to right, connecting the two walls at about chest height.

Maiden reclined sideways atop the ribbon, using it as a bed, light as a feather as she lazily flipped through a book.

Every now and then, she casually tossed one or two Coffee Beans into her mouth, crunching away.

The faint clamor of a crowd drifted in from outside the window. Light spilled into the room, illuminating the red-eyed Maiden as she read intently.

Delicate and elegant, yet cold as an iceberg.

As the light shifted, time seemed to freeze. Everything was tranquil and beautiful, like a painting.

It gave the illusion that even if the World Apocalypse arrived this very instant, Maiden would still lie lazily on the ribbon and keep reading.

...A sound reached her ears, and the Maiden looked up from her book.

Her red eyes came into view, like the setting sun slanting over the horizon.

"...Sis, you already finished the Coffee Beans?"

That was the first thing Bai Zhou said when he entered.

Because at a glance, he saw the shriveled Mandheling bag in Maiden's arms.

It had only been a few days. She had finished them already?

Were they really that good...

Maiden immediately turned with a solemn expression, bent her knees, and shifted into a cool cross-legged sitting posture atop the ribbon.

"Not exactly."

Then, expressionlessly, she answered:

"There's still a little left."

"...Fine." Bai Zhou nodded. "Then I'll bring you a new bag tomorrow."

As he spoke, he set the plastic bag on the table and turned toward the bathroom to wash his hands.

His heart felt heavy.

There was no time to mourn the Coffee Beans she had eaten up. Next came the recurring act—

<My Big-Bladed Demon Drill Instructor and Me, Who Isn't Treated Like a Human>

"Oh, right. Good timing that you're back."

"The basic special training is more or less done. It's time to start advanced special training and teach you something real."

"But before that..."

With a snap, Ya closed the book in her hand and flipped down from the ribbon.

"There's something I want to show you."

Only then did Bai Zhou notice the object behind Ya, propped against the wall beside her blade.

It was extremely conspicuous, and it had not been there before.

"Is that... that broken spear?"

Bai Zhou could not be sure.

Because it was no longer a broken spear, but an entire long spear.

Yet what stood before Bai Zhou was not a spear in the conventional sense.

It was a thing brimming with battle-worn style, wrapped in springs and chains, welded with Steel Rebar supports, fitted with multiple loading grooves and Caliper Interfaces of unknown purpose, its surface covered in hammer marks and scorch marks...

"I call it the Mechanical Spear-Gun," Ya described it.

Like Section Chief Liu, she had used the word "gun."

Sure enough, a simple crosshair sight was fixed to the end of the spear gun.

Bai Zhou could even faintly smell Sulfur, though he had no idea what it was for.

"I studied the broken spear you brought back and found both its materials and mechanical ingenuity astonishing. It gave me a great deal of inspiration."

Ya said, "So I got some materials and repaired it according to my own understanding."

Repaired?

When?

Bai Zhou froze for a moment.

While he had been at work, Ya had apparently not been idle either.

But where had Ya gotten the repair materials?

Those things welded onto the outside looked an awful lot like scrapped parts from the base's junkyard.

Surely... that was impossible.

With a clank, Ya lifted the Mechanical Spear-Gun from beside the wall. It was covered in rust and welding marks, its cobbled-together style glaringly obvious. Yet the usually stern Ya wore a rather satisfied expression.

"This should be my most satisfying work in the past two years. I can guarantee that it's ten times more useful than most Enchanted Firearms."

"It may look a little strange, but Karl Benz, the famous extraordinary being of the [Mechanic] sequence and father of the automobile, once said—"

"Extraordinary beings never nitpick their weapons, so long as they can compose music from an enemy's screams."

"Considering its original materials, this spear gun can already be considered an Extraordinary Weapon!"

Holding the spear gun, she stepped toward Bai Zhou.

"However, unlike ordinary Extraordinary Weapons—"

"Based on the original mechanisms of the broken spear, I also installed quite a few... well, useful little things on it."

She did not need to say so. Bai Zhou could see them himself.

All kinds of mechanisms awaited activation on it. He had no idea what any of them did, but they looked downright sinister.

Before Bai Zhou could think any further,

with a clack,

Ya handed him the spear gun in her hands.

The Mechanical Spear-Gun, about 1.7 meters long, covered in scorch marks and exaggerated mechanical structures yet possessing a rugged industrial beauty,

lay across Bai Zhou's path.

The bloody-sweet smell of old steel rushed into Bai Zhou's nostrils, and his gaze was drawn deeply toward the Mechanical Spear-Gun.

A complete spear gun, an Extraordinary Weapon, Ya's proud creation...

For some reason, he suddenly thought of Section Chief Liu's excitement and pride when he had taken out his sidearm.

Now, Bai Zhou seemed to understand that feeling a little.

"Want to test its power?"

Meeting Bai Zhou's fixed gaze, Ya said softly:

"—Now, it's yours."