Chapter 291: Mechanical Master and the Royal Mechanic

Although she was somewhat curious about Leinuode's wings, Yun Mu also knew it was better not to ask about such private matters casually, so she suppressed the thought in her heart.

"We have already heard about the incident in Folaka Town, so we guessed you might return at this time," Edward explained to Yun Mu.

"You've been waiting here for a day?" Yun Mu was a bit surprised. "Is there some urgent matter?"

"Not a full day; in fact, it's only been about three hours. It's not exactly an emergency, but Leinuode has something he would like to trouble you with." Edward looked at Leinuode and Iliyasi, who was standing behind him.

"Is it related to Iliyasi?" Noticing his gaze, Yun Mu guessed.

"Yes," Leinuode nodded at this moment. "Let me explain."

"Iliyasi's father was a human, so she and her mother lived in the Frost Kingdom. Because we are both Beastkin, I was actually acquainted with her mother. Her mother passed away a few days ago, and she intends to go to the Orc Federation to bury her mother there and, incidentally, retrieve some things."

"I'm not entirely at ease letting her go alone. Since Miss Yun is also going to the Orc Federation, I hope you can take her along; that way, I'll feel more at ease."

After a pause, Leinuode added, "Of course, we won't let you work for nothing. How about I give you this?"

As Leinuode spoke, he took a somewhat archaic revolver from his bosom.

"Whoa, you're really willing to part with that?" Seeing this, Edward raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Immediately after, he asked, "Is it really okay to give this thing away?"

"It's fine, Captain," Leinuode explained. "The work at the Guard Hall isn't dangerous; I haven't used this thing in many years."

"Rather than letting it gather dust with me, it's better to give it to Miss Yun."

"This is?"

Yun Mu took the revolver. The initial sensation upon touching it was somewhat slick, as if the pistol were covered in some kind of scales, but this feeling vanished completely in an instant, as if it had never been there at all.

"It's called 'Parasitism'. It's something I brought back from an island in an uncharted sea over twenty years ago, when I was adventuring on the seas with the Captain."

"Don't misunderstand; it wasn't like this at the time. You can listen to the specific details as I tell them slowly..."

Leinuode began to introduce the revolver's abilities to Yun Mu. Although she could know them just by opening her Game Panel and taking a look, since the other party wanted to speak, Yun Mu decided to listen patiently for now.

"Parasitism is a living weapon. Depending on the user, the abilities it can unleash are completely different. Besides that, it can parasitize various types of weapons, such as a revolver."

"That is the reason it is named 'Parasitism'. However, one must note that not all weapons can gain the favor of Parasitism. I have held it for so many years, and I have only seen it switch between six forms."

"As for how to use it..."

"Is it like this?" Before Leinuode could finish his sentence, he saw the revolver in Yun Mu's hand suddenly change its appearance.

A unique Qi Strength, blending scarlet, icy blue, and dark purple, coiled around her palm and was then absorbed by the revolver. At the same time, scarlet flesh began to squirm and grow on the body of the pistol, as if it were proliferating.

Soon, a revolver with a rugged exterior, a scarlet body flowing with metallic luster, and looking like a living thing—no, it *was* a living thing—appeared before everyone.

【Bloodline Burst (Blue)】【@^&*%Parasitism&￥#*&】【Attack Power +21】

【Precision Correction +15】

【Critical Hit +2%】

【Skill: Burst】

【After an attack hits a target, detonate the bullet, dealing Spell Strength equal to 40% of the user's Spell Strength as spell damage.】

【Skill: Flesh Loading】

【This weapon does not require reloading; the cost is that every bullet will consume the holder's HP!】

【Note: Using ordinary bullets will not trigger the 【Burst】 skill.】

【A Pingpingwuji standard-issue revolver, once participated in the border war between the Frost Kingdom and Liedisi (Dwarf Kingdom) with its owner$%^@Error. Error%￥#*Error】

What the hell is this garbled text!? Could it be that even the system panel cannot display detailed information about Parasitism? Yun Mu looked at the revolver's panel attributes, feeling very surprised.

However, Edward and Leinuode were even more surprised at this moment: "How did you know—no, you've promoted to an Expert!?"

Leinuode had wanted to ask how Yun Mu knew the binding method for Parasitism, but halfway through his sentence, he reacted abruptly.

As a Third-tier Expert, he could naturally perceive that conspicuous Qi Strength from just now.

"Just in the last few days?" Coming back to her senses, Yun Mu smiled with a hint of smugness. "I accidentally promoted, hehe."

"As for how to use this weapon, it was just intuition. It felt like it was craving Qi Strength."

"..." Leinuode felt a bit discouraged. After all, he was already middle-aged and was only a Third-tier Expert Transcendental; he hadn't expected to be caught up to by a junior like Yun Mu.

"I originally wanted to tell you the method of activating it with blood, but it seems there is no need for that now."

"Hehe." Smiling helplessly, Leinuode looked at Yun Mu, who was unable to put down the Bloodline Burst (actually, she was thinking about the matter of Parasitism), and asked, "Are you satisfied with this reward?"

"Yes, I am very satisfied." After a pause, Yun Mu added, "I will protect Iliyasi well."

Looking at the attribute panel alone, this pistol was indeed quite good; it even made one wonder if this was truly a piece of blue-quality equipment.

But Yun Mu was clearly more concerned about the "Parasitism" label at the end.

A thing brought back from an uncharted sea, huh? Yun Mu secretly noted this matter; if there were an opportunity in the future, she would go there and take a look.

Before that, she would first test what the trait 【Appraisal Eye】 granted by the Civilization Path could reveal.

【Defender Type 1 Revolver, an old antique model that the Frost Kingdom has already discontinued. The magazine capacity is eight rounds, the caliber is 9.07mm (0.357 inches)$#$^&Error 11.43mm (0.45 inches), its inventor is】

Alright, there was no need to look any further.

The caliber information had been modified by garbled text; it seemed that Appraisal Eye also could not view the information of Parasitism.

Speaking of which, how could Leinuode have such an incredible thing, and how did she obtain it so easily? Could there be some conspiracy in this? Yun Mu suddenly felt a chill down her spine. It was as if her future had already been arranged clearly, and there might be some kind of camera nearby, broadcasting her every move to higher-level beings—wait, those gods were already peeking at her every day; this didn't seem to be anything to be afraid of, as she was already used to it.

Could it be the effect of the title?

Opening the Game Panel, Yun Mu found the information for the title 【Favorite of the Gods】.

【You will be more easily drawn into events involving 【Fate】. (Inactive)】

She had noticed this effect when she first obtained the progress for this title, but she didn't know what would happen after it was activated.

Events involving 【Fate】... She was still just a little novice at the Expert level; could things that felt this dangerous please not come looking for her! Even so, she couldn't just throw away Parasitism.

If there really were such a thing as fate in this world, then her throwing away Parasitism would just be a part of fate.

Ugh... so annoying, thinking about these things just gives her a headache.

If it gives her a headache, then she simply wouldn't think about it. Anyway, thinking was useless; it would be better to spend the time thinking about these things elsewhere. Thinking of this, Yun Mu looked at Iliyasi and said, "I'll take Iliyasi to tour the Xiangyang, and arrange her room while I'm at it."

"Wait a moment, I need to arrange for the townspeople of Folaka Town; they haven't disembarked yet," Brenna said hurriedly after hearing her words.

"I see... well, then I'll leave it to you." Yun Mu couldn't help with this matter, so she could only watch Brenna make the arrangements.

"Um, I, I want to practice swordsmanship with Dad," Lita spoke up at this moment. "Miss Yun and the Princess are both at the Expert level, so I have to work hard too!"

Among the three, she was clearly the oldest, yet her rank was only that of an Apprentice.

Just a little bit is fine, even if it's just catching up a little bit. "Haha, very good, that's exactly the look in your eyes." Edward noticed the burning fighting spirit in his daughter's eyes and laughed happily.

"The Swordsman profession is easy to pick up but hard to master, and once you've mastered the basics, it's quite simple until you promote to Master. Follow me."

Edward waved his hand and left Frostfall Port with Lita.

At this moment, only Yun Mu, Leinuode, and Iliyasi remained here.

"I still have work to attend to, so I'll leave Iliyasi to you."

Seeing Edward leave, Leinuode took a pocket watch from his chest to check it. Before leaving, he whispered to Yun Mu: "Um, this child is a bit shy; please take good care of her for me."

"Thank you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he smiled at Iliyasi and turned to stride away.

The scene was suddenly left with only Yun Mu and Iliyasi.

"Um."

"Um."

The two spoke almost simultaneously.

Yun Mu was slightly stunned: "Uh, you go first."

"Mm..."

The Frost Kingdom at the end of October had already half-stepped into its coldest moment. As a cold wind blew by, Iliyasi subconsciously pulled in her legs and wings: "Is the item Uncle Leinuode gave you very precious?"

She had originally wanted to find an excuse to leave because she really felt awkward staying with someone she wasn't familiar with.

But having been interrupted by the two speaking at the same time, she couldn't muster the courage to propose leaving again for a while, so she could only find something else to talk about. As it happened, she was very curious about this matter.

"There's no need for honorifics. As for that item—it is quite precious, I suppose."

Yun Mu's expression was a bit strange. Regarding this item Leinuode gave her, rather than calling it precious, it was more accurate to say it was somewhat eerie.

Neither the Game Panel nor the Appraisal Eye could view its effects, and she didn't know if it was dangerous.

Thinking about it from another angle, this thing was like a ticking time bomb, with the possibility of exploding at any moment. Leinuode giving this to her might actually be a good thing for him! "It really is a very precious item, isn't it!" Iliyasi looked at Yun Mu's expression, clearly having misunderstood, and said with a somewhat guilty look.

"Um, can you tell me exactly how many Gold Frost it's worth?" she asked Yun Mu.

Of course, Yun Mu didn't know the specific amount of Gold Frost, so she could only ask the other party: "Why are you asking this?"

"... I want to know how much money I need to earn to pay back Uncle Leinuode. Of course! It would be even better if I could redeem the item!"

"..."

What a good child!

She's also so cute; I really want to hold her in my arms and rub her face vigorously... (-ω-) "No need to pay it back; Mr. Leinuode isn't short of that bit of money." Yun Mu put on a Frieren-style expression and waved her hand.

Not giving her a chance to speak, Yun Mu continued: "Talking about money between acquaintances hurts feelings. If Mr. Leinuode knew you wanted to pay him back, he might think you're distancing yourself from him!"

"Eh?"

"Re, really?" Iliyasi looked at Yun Mu with surprise, clearly not having expected such a perspective.

Of course it was fake; she was just making it up.

However, Yun Mu wouldn't say such inner thoughts out loud, so she nodded repeatedly: "Of course it's true~"

"But..." Iliyasi still wanted to say something, but a slightly abrupt "rumble" sound suddenly came from her abdomen.

This sound was, of course, not as exaggerated as it is in anime, but to a Transcendental with keen hearing, it was no different from thunder.

"Let's go eat," Yun Mu said with a light smile.

"O, okay..." Iliyasi lowered her head, her face flushed with shame, wishing she could crawl into the gap in her chest.

"Uncle Edward, borrowing your kitchen for a moment~" Yun Mu brought Iliyasi to Sisilaiya Cafe, where Edward and Lita were currently practicing swordsmanship.

"Sure." Edward had one hand behind his back, holding his sword with one hand to spar with Lita, and still had the leisure to reply to her.

"Calculating the time, it is indeed time to eat."

"Could you trouble Miss Yun to make our portion as well?" he requested of Yun Mu.

"OK~" Yun Mu replied subconsciously; she had originally planned to do so anyway.

She just didn't know if Edward and Lita were used to the food she made, after all, Edward himself was a master chef.

"OK?" The three people besides Yun Mu were all stunned for a moment, not quite understanding the meaning of her words.

However, judging by the tone of her voice, it should mean 'yes'.

While Yun Mu was busy in the kitchen of Sisilaiya Cafe, inside the cabin of the Xiangyang, in the room assigned to Brenna as a Laboratory—

Tap, tap, tap... The sound of fingers tapping on the table rang out rhythmically. Brenna, who had just come into the laboratory to take a look, stared at the design blueprints on the table and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

【Master-level Strategic Mecha — Princess】

"The transmission device here, as well as the cooling system, both have problems..."

"It's not that easy to solve."

Shaking her head helplessly, Brenna turned and left the laboratory.

And next to the design blueprints, a calendar was hanging, on which the time of arrival in the Federation's waters was clearly marked with a pen.

【Goal — Promote to Master before arriving at the Federation (Incomplete)】

(End of chapter)