Angor’s mind immediately worked at full force upon receiving the new idea.
A mechanical limb could help them avoid paying for high-cost transplantation. He might also try to enchant the limb and make it something similar to alchemy weapons.
Crafting an alchemy weapon in the shape of a human limb was not difficult. The problem was, he had to allow Nausica to wield the weapon freely as if using her own arm.
Mana tunnels? Artificial nerves? Or… spiritual controlling? Brain waves? Sound waves?
It was something that needed more research as well as Nausica’s cooperation. Angor needed to spend more effort in finding the best solution.
He expressed his idea and said, “You don’t have to rely on a new organ. We can create a mechanical arm. What do you say?”
“A man-made mechanical arm?” Both Nausica and Sailum were astonished by that idea. To them, machine and someone’s arm were two completely different concepts, and Angor somehow put them together.
Since he could not explain by just using words, Angor found his drafting book and swiftly created a simple sketch of Nausica’s feminine body on the paper.
Nausica raised an eyebrow. “That was fast, and you never looked at me.”
Angor thought Nausica was complimenting on his drawing skills, so he prepared some words to boost his ego. However, what Nausica said next ruined his plan.
“So, have you secretly fallen in love with me, Angor dear?”
Angor’s pen crashed on his paper and created a destructive black line which ruined Nausica’s portrait.
“Oh, don’t be shy. There were countless who sought my love during my years conquering the Blackberry Waters. I don’t mind another one,” said Nausica as she put a hand gently on Angor’s shoulder. “Well, maybe you’re a bit too young. Look at your body, no bigger than a chicken. I can’t say yes to you yet.”
“Nausica’s right. I think you lost too much weight, Angor. Let’s hold a move-in party tonight so you can eat something really good,” said Sailum as he joined the conversation.
“Don’t go off topic. I’m trying to help here.” Angor rolled his eyes in frustration. He got the feeling that he was worrying too much when the armless one herself did not seem so concerned about the situation.
Nausica chuckled. She then inhaled some smoke before she extinguished her pipe.
Two minutes later, Angor completed the sketch of Nausica’s body. He left her right arm empty.
“The mechanical arm I mentioned is a product of machine alchemy. It’s an existing practice in Floating Mech City, so I thought it would help with your case.”
He continued drawing the “mechanical arm” on the paper. However, he did not have many details yet—he had to go through discussions and experiments first.
Soon, an awe-inspiring metal arm colored in blue and white came into existence on Angor’s paper.
“This is a general idea. We’ll use a machine instead of a transplanted organ. If you find something better later, simply remove it and use yours. So what do you think? If you agree, we’ll talk more about the elements later, such as what kind of appearance you want, and which enchantment effect…”
Nausica felt exceptionally touched when Angor spoke of the matter as if it was his job.
Angor did not have any complex reason for doing so. Nausica was his friend who saved his life before, so he would never refuse to help.
“If you create the arm following this draft… will it cost many magic crystals?” Nausica began to hesitate. She was not sure if she should accept Angor’s help.
“Oh, don’t mind the draft. It’s just a basic idea. You should decide what it looks like in the end. As for the cost… for one, your body can’t take high-leveled materials, and I can’t refine those materials yet, so we won’t be spending much money. Besides, I never said I’ll provide materials for free. You can have my crafting service for free though,” Angor replied with a big smile on his face.
Nausica was not sure about this. She clearly knew that materials were never the biggest share—alchemy items were valuable because of alchemists.
Seeing Nausica unresponsive, Angor simply continued explaining his idea.
“I studied alchemy for less than half a year. There’s no way I can do anything too awesome. And I just thought about the idea. Whatever I make this time is only a temporary solution until you find a better limb.
“Still, until then, by using this mechanical arm, it’ll help you do quests or tower challenges.”
Nausica grew more determined when she heard about the Sky Tower. She had to strengthen her fundamentals at all cost, and earning a ticket to the purification garden was the best way for now. Her professor, Fantase, said the same thing.
“Thank you for the help, I guess.” Nausica finally nodded and accepted Angor’s favor.
Meanwhile, Sailum did not pay any attention to their conversation. The boy had been looking at Angor’s design while muttering words like “cool” and “awesome”. It was only until Nausica made her decision that Sailum finally registered what just happened.
“It looks so nice. Miss Nausica’s going to keep it all the time? Aw, I want one too!”
“Of course you can,” Angor joked, “I’ll help you. Come, which one will you remove first? Your arm? Or a foot?”
Sailum stepped back quietly.
Since Nausica agreed, Angor proceeded to make plans. “I’ll be busy with something in half a month so I can’t get to it very soon. Come to my house half a month later, and we shall discuss the details, such as how it looks, numbers and sizes, materials, enchantment, and so on. It’s my first time making such a thing so I need a lot of references. More importantly, your thoughts.”
His 100,000 debt to Twilight was the first priority in the next half month. Everything else had to be put aside. As for the other 150,000 for Sunders… Angor decided to delay it as best as he could.
If he failed to convince Sunders…
Then it could not be helped.
With this settled, they talked about more “entertaining” matters such as the Moonfrost Passage, the Abyss Plane, and the Twilight Well.
“Did you go to the grand auction to buy something? Or, did you buy anything at all?” Angor asked.
“Nope,” Sailum said and looked at Nausica with a somewhat pleading look.
Nausica looked away and kept Sailum’s secret about the Azure Bloodline. Sailum did not want to tell Angor because the bloodline carried great risk, and he did not want to add to Angor’s troubles.
Angor did not pay much attention to his random question, so he failed to notice Sailum’s strange attitude.
Sailum wanted to avoid talking about it as well, so he quickly changed the subject by asking, “Did you see the music box thingy, Angor? Land on the Sky, is it? Even across the screen, I could sense the perfect combination of illusion and music.”
…
Sailum and Nausica bid goodbye when the sun was well over the horizon.
“Remember to join our meal in the evening!” Sailum waved back. “It’s a housewarming party!”
Sailum made sure Angor nodded before walking away.
It seemed the Tree Spirit was in a good mood today. Most of the giant leaves of Tree of Eternity were retracted, allowing sunlight to reach the earth. The figures of Sailum and Nausica appeared more lively when viewed from behind their backs. It was something magical that brought warmth to Angor’s life after going through the distressing experiences in the last days.
Angor stretched himself and since he still felt energetic, he went down to the basement.
He sat in front of his lab table and created a list of items he needed to make quickly.
Naturally, the foremost job was to pay off his debt. How to pay it remained something to think about. He had to ascertain the value of Prelude to Elimination magic array first. Considering how well rune-enchanted items sold, those enchanted by magic arrays could only aim for higher.
To draw Prelude to Elimination, he had to have an Energy Stabilizer, or he would never find enough mana to finish the enchantment process.
The first thing written on his list was “Energy Stabilizer”.
Next was the alchemy weapon enchanted with Prelude to Elimination. He agreed that he would give Prome the weapon, and he planned to use the same product to earn some money as well.
Then he needed his “space storage”. He had collected a good amount of greyspace microbes. Such an item usually sold high on the market, so he might also pay his debt in this way. It required more researches, so this one was the third on the list.
The fourth, Nausica’s mechanical arm. Due in half a month.
The rest were: a music box for Lady Mirror, a vehicle, and a robe that prevented detection.
He thought for a moment and added another “music box” below Energy Stabilizer. This one was for Toby. He was too busy with his debt to look for Toby’s “betrayer”, so he was going to give Toby a new music box first.