Chapter 229: Crafting Miraculous Items

After being threatened, the Mechanical Clever Hand became extremely obedient and docile.

It voluntarily moved forward and clung to Lei Ke Dun's right shoulder; its base emitted a squeak of metal friction, then firmly latched onto his shoulder.

Lei Ke Dun slightly frowned; he felt several needle‑like steel objects, moving with the Mechanical Clever Hand, pierce his shoulder.

A mild sting arrived, and instantly he sensed as if an extra hand had grown on his body; he could clearly feel the Mechanical Clever Hand on his right shoulder, freely control its arm swing, and make it perform various motions.

"My great master, what kind of miraculous item do you wish to create?"

A somewhat flattering and ingratiating hoarse voice rang in Lei Ke Dun's mind; the voice sounded stiff, as if forged through metal friction.

Lei Ke Dun, rather surprised, glanced at the agile Mechanical Clever Hand and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"You can speak!"

"First tell me what rank of miraculous items your ability can produce."

"With my current capability and knowledge reserves, I can only craft miraculous items of Sequence Nine down to Sequence Seven; beyond that, I cannot adequately control the negative effects or the outcomes."

The Mechanical Clever Hand replied with great respect.

Lei Ke Dun lightly nodded, then continued to ask:

"So, as long as you acquire more knowledge, with your current ability you could also forge higher‑tier miraculous items?"

That is to say, as long as you master more knowledge, with your current ability you can also create higher-level magical items?

"What are the ways you acquire knowledge?"

"Each time I craft a miraculous item, it is a process of self‑learning."

"Of course, I can also obtain knowledge by asking you, master, or by praying to that great being."

"However, the most stable method is when you use me, acquiring knowledge by reading books and the like, so I can simultaneously obtain the corresponding knowledge."

"This aligns better with my master's doctrine: every piece of knowledge has its weight, and we ought to sweat and toil for it!"

The Mechanical Clever Hand spoke at length, spouting a great deal.

Lei Ke Dun's expression shifted from a slow nod to a gradually frozen stare, making it hard not to suspect that the Hidden Sage was in collusion with the God of Knowledge; hadn't he always chased others to force knowledge upon them?

"Every piece of knowledge has its weight" sounds like something I said—did I stumble upon it by accident? This Mechanical Hand's enlightenment is rather high!

After a half‑minute of silence, Lei Ke Dun decided to skip the topic:

"Let's first try crafting a miraculous item; we happen to have a Bribe‑taker Trait."

Saying so, he produced the small iron box containing the Bribe‑taker Trait, and asked Tu Ba Ge for one of its ties.

The Mechanical Clever Hand deftly touched the spiritual wall, retrieved the Bribe‑taker Trait from the iron box—a black‑red crystal bearing a twisted human face.

The eye in the palm of the Mechanical Clever Hand gave Lei Ke Dun a different sight—a black‑and‑white view closer to spiritual vision, allowing him to clearly see the operational logic of surrounding things.

Objects involving extraordinary power acquire a hue; the Bribe‑taker Trait now held by the Mechanical Clever Hand flickers with overlapping dark‑red radiance.

Lei Ke Dun guided the Mechanical Clever Hand to press the Bribe‑taker Trait onto the red tie; under its extraordinary ability, the trait began to disintegrate into black, red, and gold filaments that merged into the tie.

Just watching this scene, Lei Ke Dun felt an insight: these are the extraordinary abilities and negative effects within the Bribe‑taker Trait.

The process by which a mechanical expert creates miraculous items is to regulate those extraordinary abilities and negative effects, allowing them to combine and operate within the item in the most suitable manner.

As a living miraculous item, the Mechanical Clever Hand is especially effortless to use; Lei Ke Dun only needs to provide spiritual support and a rough outline, and it will autonomously complete the work.

After roughly twenty minutes, a brand‑new miraculous item was completed.

The once‑ordinary red tie now bore irregular dark patterns, giving it a rather noble appearance.

"Great master, may I ask you a question? This is a necessary step."

Lei Ke Dun lightly nodded: "Sure."

"Very well, master."

"My first question: is the lawyer path abiding by the rules or distorting them?"

"It appears to follow the rules, but in fact it twists them, constantly drawing order's power for its own use."

Lei Ke Dun was somewhat puzzled why this mechanical arm asked such a question, yet he answered it earnestly.

"Next, the second question: what is the core of the Guardian of Knowledge's code?"

"The best way to guard knowledge is to spread knowledge."

"Third question: what is the ladder of civilization's progress?"

The third question: What is the ladder of civilization's progress?

"Alright, this Q&A concludes; I wish you a pleasant life!"

What a strong sense of déjà vu.

He muttered a comment in his mind, and Lei Ke Dun said in a slightly solemn tone:

"Why did you choose these particular questions to ask; what are you trying to convey?"

"Great master, for the progress of civilization and the development of the world, I think we should widely spread knowledge."

The Mechanical Clever Hand's flattering voice echoed in Lei Ke Dun's mind.

"You truly are a worthy follower."

Half in admiration, half in sarcasm, he said, and Lei Ke Dun removed the Mechanical Clever Hand from his shoulder.

The instant the Mechanical Clever Hand left his body, he felt his body and mind become sluggish, like an old machine.

"Three hours of use is the limit, but the negative effects appeared from the start."

He whispered to himself, and Lei Ke Dun felt his speech had become a bit clumsy.

The next moment, his eyes were veiled with a blue‑white radiance, and a bright, pure, warm light suddenly descended into the room.

The purifying power continuously dispelled the sluggishness in Lei Ke Dun's body; the effect was subtle, and after a minute or two he felt the discomfort vanish.

Picking up the asymmetrical dark‑patterned tie on the desk, he already knew its effects and side effects from the crafting.

Infusing it with spirit makes it usable; within a certain range, it can grant the target certain things, literally or symbolically, achieving a bribery effect.

By infusing it with spiritual essence, it can be used; within a certain range, one can achieve the effect of bribery by actually or symbolically giving the target certain things.

And impose on the target any one of the following effects: weakening, charm, arrogance, or linkage.

The negative effect is: the user gradually becomes greedy and prone to irrational choices.

As long as it is not used continuously for a long period, this negative effect remains within a controllable range.

"Tu Ba Ge equipment +1."

Muttering casually, they tidied up everything in the room.

Stepping onto the balcony and glancing across, the house No. 13 next to Ke Lai En seemed to have been bought by someone, yet no one lived there.

The gaze returned to Ke Lai En's house, a faint violet glow flashing in the eyes, and the sight easily penetrated the wall's barrier, as well as the barrier of the spiritual wall.

Seeing the change in Ke Lai En, his body took on a semi‑translucent state, his face constantly contorted, as if countless faces were layered into one.

Ke Lai En is the Faceless One of Ascension Sequence Six!

The next day, precisely three o'clock in the afternoon.

Lei Ke Dun, who had long been waiting in the study, had a deep crimson light surge in his gaze like a tide; the light engulfed his sight, then faded.

The surrounding scene had shifted to a grand ancient palace above the gray mist.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Bai Ta~ Good afternoon."

Miss Justice's light and cheerful voice broke the timeless silence above the gray mist.

After everyone exchanged greetings, today's Tarot meeting proceeded smoothly.

Silently acting on the audience's instincts, they observed everyone in a circle, drew their own conclusions, and Justice Ao Dai Li turned her gaze toward the figure shrouded in gray mist at the head and said:

"Esteemed Mr. Fool, I have just obtained three pages of Luo Sai Er's diary."

"What reward do you seek?" Ke Lai En said with a smile.

Knowing that Miss Justice had already joined the Psych Alchemy Society, he was not surprised that she could produce three pages of Luo Sai Er's diary so quickly.

Ao Dai Li answered sincerely:

"Consider it a reward for you previously answering my question; is that acceptable?"

As she spoke, she inexplicably bragged about the truth behind Duke Ni Gen's assassination, which the other members likely did not yet know, such as Mr. Hanged Man, who was clearly curious about it.

Hoo— I'm really envious; I also want to ask Mr. Fool a question. I'll go back and ask Mr. Lao Lun Si; he might have Luo Sai Er's diary.

Thinking that he could seek answers—or even help—from Mr. Fool gave the usually lazy Fo Er Si an instant desire and motivation.

"Fine." Ke Lai En, under the gray mist, nodded indifferently.

Ao Dai Li quickly manifested three pages of Luo Sai Er's diary with Ke Lai En's help and handed them to Mr. Fool.

After the Fool at the head received the diary, Ao Dai Li added:

"Mr. Fool, another ten pages of the diary will be given to you later, as payment for the protection you previously provided."

Seeing Miss Justice's performance, Miss Magician and Xiao Taiyang, who had also received help from Mr. Fool, each made a promise to provide Luo Sai Er's diary and historical data of Silver City as payment.

"Fine." Ke Lai En, seated at the head of the bronze long table, smiled and nodded, delighted at the sudden increase in receivables.

Indeed, in any organization, the power of a role model like Miss Justice is boundless.

(End of chapter)