Liu Zhipeng led the newly appointed "First Mekboy," Ghazghk, and dozens of ragtag "mechanic apprentices" into the Ork Big Mek's private workshop.
This was a forbidden area within the larger workshop, crammed with the Big Mek's proudest "inventions." There were bizarre rifles spewing smoke of every color, mechanical Squigs with six legs, and an enormous "Thought Cap" assembled from countless television screens.
The Gretchin gazed at everything in awe, while Liu Zhipeng looked as though he were inspecting a pile of rubbish.
"Too crude, too wasteful. An outright insult to the laws of physics..." He shook his head and began dismantling the equipment.
His hands moved so quickly that Ghazghk and the others could barely follow them. He seemed to have no need for tools at all. A light flick or press of his fingers against those complex mechanisms was enough to make sturdy rivets and welded joints come apart on their own.
"Boss, how... how did you do that?" Ghazghk stammered, his eyes filled with adoration.
"Knowledge," Liu Zhipeng answered without looking back. "Remember, Ghazghk, true power doesn't come from muscle. It comes from here." He pointed at his head.
He sorted the dismantled parts into categories, then began giving Ghazghk and the others a hands-on lesson.
"Look. This is the core of an Ork power source, an unstable Plasma Generator. It's rubbish, but it produces enough energy. What we need to do is add a 'safety mechanism.'" Liu Zhipeng picked up a sharp metal shard and rapidly etched markings into the plasma core's casing.
His hand was unnaturally steady, completing the intricate runes in one uninterrupted motion.
"Now, connect it to this cooling system... no, not like that, idiot! You'll short out the energy circuit! Watch me!" He cursed as he guided their hands through the process.
Under