Chapter 383

She didn't have a lot of contact with Maria and the 18-year-old, but it certainly wasn't infrequent either.

Since coming to Hundred Stoves from the South River, we've all gotten to know each other... and we've become quite familiar with each other.

But... friends?

This relationship actually becomes somewhat delicate when applied to the individuals involved now.

"So... that's not it after all?"

The boy tilted his head, looking distressed.

She had previously asked Maria what kind of people could be considered friends in the social relationships of these little people.

Maria's answer was also very simple.

'Friends are those who can help each other.'

Although Sui didn't feel she had helped Zuo Zheng in any way, Zuo Zheng had specifically come to help her and Maria pay for their meal...

Logically speaking, we should all be friends by now, right?

But Zuo Zheng's current performance...

"Waaah..."

It's really hard to guess what a petty person is thinking.

"This..."

The fact that he was 20 years old also surprised Zuo Zheng a few times.

She truly hadn't expected that she had reached this level of importance in the hearts of these two people.

So... I've already been accepted as one of their own?

He hesitated for a long time Zuo Zheng gritting his teeth and looking at the two bright women in front of him.

"Alright... alright, I'll take you to see it."

Zuo Zheng eventually softened.

She shook her head and spoke to the two girls.

Although she still felt that their relationship wasn't actually that good yet.

But there's no way around it... 28 and Maria are just too attractive.

It wasn't just their captivating appearances; more importantly, it was their charisma and corresponding abilities.

Maria exuded a mysterious and powerful aura... Although Zuo Zheng had never seen Maria fight in front of her, she could sense Maria's strength from her actions in eliminating bandits and her occasional comments and training on weapons.

Her long, black hair enveloped her stunning figure, making her appear both mysterious and sharp.

As for Sui, who was standing to the side... although she looked cute, her occasional displays of strength were enough to make Zuo Zheng take her seriously.

He can easily repair complex mechanisms, understand their workings at a glance, and melt steel with his bare hands to forge suitable precision instruments...

To be honest, even Zuo Zheng felt a little envious.

Zuo Zheng could almost be certain that the future of these two people was limitless.

My upbringing emphasized making many friends and recognizing good ones... Although these two people have somewhat eccentric personalities, they truly deserve to be called good friends.

So after hesitating for a long time, the girl nodded firmly.

But some things need to be said in advance.

"Although I've agreed, don't touch anything inside... Last time I only touched a small cauldron, and a bunch of old men suddenly appeared and gave me a good scolding. If something like that happens, I won't help you."

The girl warned.

Maria nodded slightly, indicating her understanding.

If anyone dared to touch her while she was experimentally refining her blood, she probably wouldn't be in a good mood.

After tidying up briefly, the girls headed towards the Hundred Refining Bureau.

The guards at the gate saluted when they saw Zuo Zheng there, and then asked him questions.

They hesitated after being told they were only there for a visit.

Hundred Stoves such a large place, there are countless places worth visiting.

Why go all the way to the Hundred Refining Bureau?

However, after confirming that Zuo Zheng's identity was correct, they registered Maria and Sui's information and let them in.

However, once everyone entered the Hundred Refining Bureau, they found that it was not quite what they had imagined.

Why is there no one around?

The boy looked around strangely.

Aside from the guards who patrolled regularly, she couldn't see any blacksmiths forging things here...

Instead, various tools were scattered everywhere... making it seem as if everyone had suddenly vanished.

This disappointed Sui somewhat.

She also wanted to see what the other people here were forging.

"Well... maybe some master chef was giving a lecture, and the others went to listen?"

Zuo Zheng was also somewhat puzzled by this situation.

After all, when she came here before, she could hear groups of grown men everywhere cursing their apprentices while brandishing various tools to smelt metal...

But today, the entire Hundred Refining Bureau was eerily quiet.

She was even starting to have some doubts about things.

After circling around several times without finding anyone, Zuo Zheng was starting to get a headache.

"Perhaps... we came at the wrong time today?"

The girl turned her head and spoke to Sui and Maria beside her, her expression hesitant.

She didn't know what was going on either; the prestigious Hundred Refining Bureau couldn't find a single blacksmith.

"Fine..."

Maria shook her head, seemingly uninterested.

After all, she had absolutely no idea where to go.

The main factor is age.

"Can't you see it... What a pity."

The girl looked extremely disappointed.

Zuo Zheng didn't really want to upset the other person.

After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly nodded.

"Hey~ there's another place."

"Um?"

Maria and Sui both turned their heads.

Zuo Zheng then spoke earnestly.

"I remember there's a place within the Hundred Refining Bureau specifically for storing experimental weapons... Although you can't just go in there, I know a place that's kind of an abandoned warehouse; I can take you there to see it."

"Abandoned warehouse..."

"Yes, an abandoned warehouse."

Zuo Zheng didn't seem to pay much attention to this.

The main issue is that this abandoned warehouse is genuinely full of junk.

Basically, they were all made by those whimsical masters from the Hundred Refining Bureau who suddenly thought, "Hey, this is something we can try," and then created them.

These weapons are either ferocious and terrifying, but no one can use them, or they are the type that would kill a thousand enemies but also cause eight hundred casualties to oneself.

Even worse, some of them can't even start normally.

In this situation, the only purpose of the weapons in this abandoned warehouse is to serve as examples of failure so that other apprentices can recognize their own shortcomings.

Stop thinking about creating a giant humanoid machine all the time.

If you have that capability, wouldn't it be better to build some super cannons?

Because these things don't really have much value, Zuo Zheng can take Maria and Sui to see them without applying for permission.

Both girls readily accepted this offer.

Soon, the group arrived at the so-called abandoned warehouse.

The various pieces of equipment inside were carelessly thrown together, seemingly without any intention of ever taking them out for later use.

This also proves that this place is indeed full of scrap.

Even items with a modicum of artistic value wouldn't be placed here.

Wow... you guys are all researching these things?

The little boy stared wide-eyed with curiosity at the piles of various instruments.

They were especially wide-eyed when they saw the large mechanisms shaped like dragons.

"This stuff is great... why aren't you using it?"

"This one?"

Zuo Zheng came over and took a look, then shook his head slightly.

"The design of this thing is fine, but the forging process required is currently impossible to achieve. It's standing up now, but it's actually hanging there. If it were really put down, it would collapse on its own."

"What about this one?"

"This? There's nothing special about it. Some people just think that the bigger the weapon, the more powerful it is... so they made this kind of giant sword that's seven or eight people long. But in the end, it takes more than a dozen Originium Arts masters to fully enhance one person. They can barely lift it, let alone swing it, so it's pretty useless."

"And this..."

"As for this..."

Once inside, Sui was like a dragon that had found its treasure trove, wandering around excitedly.

Since Zuo Zheng had nothing better to do, he started telling Sui about the interesting things he knew.

Maria lagged half a step behind the two, casually observing her surroundings.

After listening for a while longer, Sui also frowned.

"These ideas are all very good... it's such a shame that they can't be used for these reasons."

"There's nothing we can do about it..."

Zuo Zheng shook his head.

"Technological progress always comes step by step... These things may indeed be mentioned again in the future, but at least for now, our technology is not up to par."

"We need even better steel and parts..."

"Even more advanced steel and parts?"

Zuo Zheng's words were like activating some kind of mechanism within the year.

She paused for a moment, then clasped her hands together.

"That's easy to solve."

"Um?"

Zuo Zheng was still puzzled.

But Sui had already run to the side, staring at her favorite dragon-shaped mecha, and stretched out her hand with a grin.

"This thing... I'll handle it!"

~~~~~

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