Chapter 26: Machinist

Ta Lini, in Viola's place, sent Lei En to the gate of the Violet House, reconfirmed that the Soul Transformation ceremony would be held tomorrow at noon, and then saw Lei En off.

Lei En glanced at the sky, realized he had been at the Violet House for over two hours, it was just past noon, his stomach wasn't very hungry, so he started strolling around Brent Street.

The street was bustling with traffic and crowds, people moving in and out of shop after shop.

Lei En observed with interest; he had to admit that everyone appearing on this street was at least middle class or a supernormal, or a student of the Supernormal Academy, and people's demeanor was clearly far better than that of other districts in Longshande.

This could be seen merely from the way people traveled.

The wealthy rode automobiles, aristocratic ladies preferred ornate carriages, sturdy knights rode high‑steed horses, supernormals were accompanied by strange beasts—or simply rode them—and occasional pedestrians moved faster than ordinary people.

Lei En also saw a very familiar mode of transport—a bicycle.

He recalled that he once owned a secondhand bicycle at the Academy, but it was stolen after only half a month of riding, and he had felt sorry for a long time.

Bicycles have been popular in the Empire for many years, are inexpensive, and are the most favored means of travel in the city besides public buses.

Many jobs require bicycles, such as mail carriers and newspaper deliverers, and some have been converted into tricycles for mobile vending.

"What a pity, this world actually has bicycles now; that's one less money‑making idea."

Lei En thought with some regret, but he wasn't overly tangled up about it.

In a world where steam engines and mechanical technology have developed for centuries, even without oil or electricity, a simple tool like the bicycle would inevitably be invented.

"Madam, please hold your pose, don't move, absolutely must not move… alright, that's it, alright… it'll be ready soon!"

"I'm ready to shoot, three, two…"

A sharp male voice caught Lei En's attention. What was this?

He locked onto the source, took a few quick steps forward, turned the corner, and with a "Bang!" a white flash burst before his eyes, causing him to instinctively raise his hand to shield them, startled.

"What the heck?"

The white flash vanished, and Lei En finally saw a man a short distance away holding something like a searchlight, its light pouring out while a plume of white smoke billowed.

The man bent over, thrust his head into a wooden box mounted on a tripod; the box had a front aperture with a glass lens, and a large black cloth at the back covering the man's upper body.

Opposite the box, a young woman stood under a tree on Brent Street, hand on the railing, with a full view of the Wu Shi Ta behind her; a forced smile stretched across her face, her posture unnaturally rigid, perhaps from standing too long.

Lei En immediately understood—it was a photo shoot!

Nearby a circle of onlookers, mostly youths of both sexes, watched the two being photographed excitedly, occasionally discussing with companions which poses would look best on camera.

Lei En instantly became interested and joined the crowd of spectators.

The photographer was a middle‑aged man, slender and scholarly, wearing glasses; he pulled a film canister that looked like a sealed box from the wooden box and stuffed it into the carriage beside him.

"Daguerre, the film is here."

The carriage was tightly wrapped in black cloth, completely light‑tight like a tent; someone inside caught the box, and a voice came from within: "Alright, Isman."

The middle‑aged man called Isman said to the subject: "Madam, your photo is taken; wait a moment and it will be developed right away."

Then he turned to the onlookers and shouted: "Anyone else want a photo? You won't find a better spot on Brent Street,

standing here you can capture the entire Wu Shi Ta, guaranteed to satisfy you. One photo costs one silver kron; you pay after it's developed, and if you're unsatisfied, an extra ten copper lira gets you a retake!"

"I'll take one."

"I'm first, let me shoot first."

A few youths rushed forward; Isman quickly urged them to be patient, one at a time, his face beaming with joy.

Lei En didn't want a photo, so he stepped back from the crowd.

Yet his mind buzzed with ideas; photographic technology has existed for many years, the Empire is full of photo studios, and Brent Street alone has seven or eight, doing quite well. Even his hometown opened a modest studio last year; the family took a family portrait, and his mother Marinda framed the picture and hung it in the living room.

The price isn't cheap; in a studio a single photo costs fifteen copper lira.

On‑street shoots are pricier—a photo costs twenty copper lira, i. e., one silver kron, roughly a day's wage for a commoner.

Nevertheless, people flock to it, showing a high demand for photos; it's a market with great potential.

Lei En has never studied photography or cameras in depth; he once read a history of photographic development in a library, recalling some related material and technical details of old‑style cameras.

If memory serves, the two just now were using the 'wet‑plate process'; the sensitizer and developing chemicals may differ, but the principle is the same.

This method is both outdated and cumbersome; just looking at that bulky carriage tells you a photo shoot requires hauling a whole wagon of equipment and chemicals.

If one could devise a portable camera, seizing the photo market would be a breeze!

Many ideas flooded Lei En's mind; he only recalls the basic principle of a camera, and to actually build one would require time to experiment and see if it works.

Just as he was racking his brain on how to profit from a camera and earn piles of Gold Shield, a car halted on the adjacent road; the driver opened the passenger door, stepped out, and politely asked, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Lei En?"

Lei En looked at the driver warily, then at the car; the curtain in the window blocked his view.

Nevertheless it didn't deter him; focusing, he heard a heartbeat from the rear seat, strong and vigorous, unlike a normal rhythm—clearly a supernormal, and a man.

"Mr. Lei En, I mean no harm."

The driver smiled kindly, and respectfully whispered, "My boss is in the car; he wishes to see you to discuss supernormal occupations. Please get in; I guarantee you won't regret it."

Speaking so, he opened the car's rear door.

Lei En saw a neatly dressed, polished middle‑aged man seated inside, nodding slightly at him and making an inviting gesture.

He pretended to consider for a few seconds, then secretly opened his Soul Eye to see through the man.

"Seventh‑rank supernormal, Machinist?"

Lei En was surprised; the supernormals he met today kept escalating in rank—first the sixth‑rank Ten Thousand Spirits Wizard Viola, now a seventh‑rank Machinist.

Seventh rank already enters the high‑tier professions, and a spell‑casting Machinist is extremely rare; the whole Longshande might not have many such senior Machinists.

At that moment, the man's soul hue was primarily white‑green with hints of orange, indicating a calm, relaxed mood, some happiness, and a touch of excitement or anticipation.

"He truly bears no hostility."

After so long observing souls, Lei En can roughly gauge others' emotions and attitudes toward him by soul color.

Feeling a bit reassured, Lei En took the rear seat, and the driver thoughtfully closed the door for him.

"Mr. Lei En, I am Kainegi *Rokofier, Vice‑President of the Steam and Machinery Guild, here is my business card." As soon as Lei En sat down, the middle‑aged man introduced himself, handing over a foil‑stamped card with a sincere smile.

Seeing his courtesy, Lei En did not delay, extended both hands to receive the card, and nodded, "Vice‑President Kainegi, hello."

While speaking, he glanced at the business card and found that this gentleman held several titles.

The first was Vice President of the Steam and Machinery Guild Longshande Branch, followed by founder of Rokofei Mining Company, owner of Andes Machinery Company, Steward of the Empire Steel Alliance, Senior Member of the Alchemical Association, and so on, plus a baronial title, a true aristocrat; any one of these titles would make him a big figure in the city.

Lei En had never heard of him before, but from the other's behavior—and the titles on the card—it was clear he was a wealthy magnate in the mining and machinery industries.

Whether on Diqiu or Ai Lun E Si, anyone who controls mines and can dig money from the ground is a rich magnate, a true elite class.

"I'm not the president. In Longshande we have several vice presidents; I'm just one of them," Kai Nieji laughed brightly a few times, then added, "I'm more than ten years older than you; may I call you Lei En directly?"

"Of course."

Lei En didn't mind and asked, "Mr. Kai Nieji, what brings you to see me?"

In fact, he had already roughly guessed.

"This matter isn't urgent; it's lunch time, I have a reservation at Danbulaer, we can talk while we eat." Kai Nieji said to the driver ahead, "Meili, drive."

Lei En had heard of Danbulaer, one of Longshande's top restaurants; it's said a meal costs several Gold Shields, but he didn't want to accept a favor without cause, so he quickly said, "Mr. Kai Nieji, I've already had lunch; if you have business, you can say it now."

The driver, uneasy, turned back to Kai Nieji, "Sir?"

Seeing Lei En's resolute attitude, Kai Nieji nodded, "Alright, then I'll give you a ride. Lei En, where are you headed?"

Lei En originally wanted to return to his apartment, but didn't want to reveal his address, so he randomly chose a place, saying, "Take me to the Demon Soul Market."

"To the Demon Soul Market." Kai Nieji signaled the driver, and the car immediately set off.

The Demon Soul Market wasn't far, they would arrive soon, so Kai Nieji stopped being courteous and frankly stated his purpose: "Lei En, I came specifically to invite you to join the Steam and Machinery Guild as a mechanic."