Chapter 27: Monetary Offensive

Lei En whispered to himself, "Sure enough," having guessed it himself.

He didn't answer or refuse right away, but asked, "Mr. Kai Nieji, why did you come to me? We didn't seem to know each other before, did we?"

I had just taken a soul test at the Violet House and had only just left when you came looking for me; the Steam and Mechanical Guild's information is unbelievably prompt, isn't it?

Kai Nieji saw Lei En's doubt, laughed heartily, and with a hint of self‑satisfaction said, "Lei En, don't misunderstand. The Mechanical Guild has indeed been recruiting talent, but the fact that we reached out to you so quickly today is actually a coincidence."

He explained, "A friend of mine happened to see you taking the soul test at the Violet House, and I happened to be on business nearby, so as soon as I heard about it I rushed over."

Lei En nodded, but remained noncommittal in his heart, not fully believing.

However, Kai Nieji, as vice president of the Mechanical Guild's Longshande branch, is also a billionaire aristocrat—a major power in the city—yet he is willing to lower his stature for a commoner, personally coming to court Lei En, behaving politely without looking down on him despite the status gap, which shows his deep sincerity.

Seemingly to demonstrate even greater sincerity, Kai Nieji immediately laid out conditions.

"Lei En, as long as you are willing to join the Mechanical Guild and become a mechanist, the guild will provide all conveniences, including meditation methods, magical souls, soul‑enhancing elixirs, alchemical items—we cover all of these until you ascend to Legend!"

"In addition to what you need for cultivation, the guild will also pay you a salary, starting from a rank‑1 mechanist, with a monthly wage of ten Gold Shields."

"As your professional rank rises, your monthly salary will increase as well."

"Even if your rank stalls, there are still two opportunities each year for a raise."

"Additionally, the guild has prepared a large house in the Silver Star District for you, already staffed with a butler, servants, and guards—the hiring costs are covered by the guild, and once you transfer to a mechanist, the house will immediately be transferred into your name."

"I won't go into the other benefits; suffice it to say that once you become a mechanist, you'll have power, Gold Shields, beautiful women, status—I guarantee you'll have everything, and in one night you'll ascend to Longshande's high society."

After finishing, Kai Nieji slipped a pocket watch from his jacket lining, glanced at it, and said seriously, "You have five minutes to consider."

Lei En was stunned by the barrage of offers, his eyes flashing with Gold Shields, and all that remained in his mind was one phrase: "wealthy and extravagant!"

To be honest, he was somewhat tempted, so he began to consider it seriously.

The Steam and Mechanical Guild—often shortened to the Mechanical Guild—is a top‑tier power that has risen in the Empire for several hundred years, its influence comparable to that of the Three Gods Church.

Lei En couldn't recall exactly how long the Mechanical Guild's history spanned, but it seemed to be over four hundred years.

However, one thing about the Mechanical Guild left a deep impression on him from history books: its founder, the Guildmaster, has been the same person since the guild's inception, never replaced.

In other words, the Guildmaster of the Mechanical Guild has lived for over four hundred years!

This legendary figure seemed to have emerged suddenly in a certain year, rising like a meteor.

Yet few know the Guildmaster's name or origins; at least the books don't record them, and among the Empire's common folk he remains a mysterious figure.

Despite the Guildmaster's mystery, the Mechanical Guild's astonishing changes to the Empire and the world are very real.

Since the Mechanical Guild's founding, various machines have appeared, including the crucial steam engine, as well as buses, ships, steam trains, airships, looms, elevators, and countless other small devices, permeating every industry and altering people's way of life.

The Mechanical Guild is as if it wound the world with springs and gears,

causing everything to accelerate forward and develop at breakneck speed.

A historian once lamented that the changes over these four hundred years in Ai Lun E Si were greater than those of the past four thousand, even forty thousand years, almost overturning the world.

If a being stronger than Legend had slept for four hundred years and now awoke, they might not even recognize this world.

One could say the emergence of the Mechanical Guild completely transformed the entire world.

Naturally, the rise of the Mechanical Guild also amassed countless riches; worldwide mines, mechanical firms, factories, and transport sectors are all inseparably linked to the guild, which buys everything with money, forming industry alliances and wielding power through capital.

Along with the guild's growth, the extraordinary profession of mechanist also flourished.

Mechanists are semi‑casters, so their talent requirements are high, even comparable to Wizards, yet their combat strength falls far short of Wizards.

At least below Legend rank, a mechanist can hardly match a wizard of the same level; the gap is vast.

This is because mechanists devote most of their energy to researching mechanical technology rather than strengthening themselves.

In the early stages, mechanists know few spells, and most lack great power, serving instead to aid the creation of mechanical items.

Thus, low‑rank mechanists rely on soul pistols to compensate for insufficient damage, often being mistaken for gunmen.

Of course, mechanists are weaker in the early phases compared to Wizards.

When compared to other extraordinary professions, such as Iron Guard, mechanists are still very formidable.

As their rank rises, mechanists can craft increasingly many mechanical gear, with functions refined and power growing, causing their overall strength to explode exponentially.

After reaching Legend, mechanists become one of the strongest extraordinary professions, boasting the hyperbolic claim "one person is a legion," comparable to the top Ten Thousand Spirits Wizards, perhaps even surpassing them.

In the words of a past life, mechanists are a late‑stage profession.

Unfortunately, this late‑stage burst comes too late; how many can actually ascend to Legend?

Know that half of all extraordinary beings never break past Mid-stage in their lifetimes; Legend is a dream beyond their reach.

Although becoming a mechanist has other benefits.

For example, possessing mechanical expertise offers far greater chances of amassing wealth than other professions; one generally doesn't have to battle monsters, as money can buy anything desired.

However, this is the Oriense Empire, a realm ruled by Wizards; among young people who can become Wizards, how many are willing to be a relatively weak early‑stage mechanist?

Without mechanists, the Mechanical Guild would cease to exist, and this massive organization would eventually collapse.

That is probably the main reason the Mechanical Guild is so keen on talent.

Fortunately, the Mechanical Guild has its own advantage: money!

By forging a monetary offensive, they freely dispense benefits, showering countless Gold Shields that daze people, and in the face of such temptations, Lei En believes many will choose to become mechanists.

He won't be the first to be knocked dizzy by the guild's money, nor will he be the last.

But he hasn't been completely blinded by the money.

Because there is no such thing as a free lunch.

The Mechanical Guild's generous terms are not gratuitous; after joining as a mechanist, one must serve the guild, earning back every copper coin invested in them, at least providing value.

That said, Lei En remains very interested in becoming a mechanist.

In his past life he majored in mechanical engineering at university, making him well‑suited for the mechanist role.

If he joins the Mechanical Guild, his mechanical knowledge should let him quickly find his footing and earn the appreciation of higher‑ups.

He says "should," because Lei En lacks confidence.

In this world, mechanical technology is broadly based on steam power—there are no internal combustion engines or electricity—but a powerful magical energy has been developed. At advanced levels, many mechanical techniques merge with magic, though they are rare in daily life; the most typical application is mechanical golems.

In Lei En's memory, there were two mechanical puppets at the doorway of the Supernatural Academy's library.

They resembled giant statues, powered by magic, with full mobility and friend‑foe identification; their movements were swift, like truly living creatures, far surpassing the clumsy robots of his previous life.

Looking back now, Lei En has no idea what principle governs these two mechanical giants.

He is very interested in studying mechanical puppet technology; if the Wizard, a more powerful vocation, were not available, he would gladly accept it now.

For Lei En, the allure of the Wizard is overwhelming, even stronger than that of the Gold Shield.

As an ordinary person who has lived on Diqiu for over thirty years and never seen any supernatural power, Lei En's yearning and expectation for supernal power far exceed those of ordinary humans in this world.

Since there is a chance to obtain supernal power, of course one must choose the strongest!

Apart from the Wizard, there is no better option.

Yet the Machinist is also good; perhaps not the most powerful profession, but the most suitable for him, and the Mechanical Guild offers generous terms—wealth and status are within easy reach.

"What a dilemma," Lei En thought, his head aching a little.

It's like having two beautiful girls before you: one with breathtaking looks, a domineering figure, and who loves you wholeheartedly; the other beautiful and graceful, understanding, from a family with mines and an only child, but you can only pick one.

Which one would you choose?

Lei En almost shouted: I want them both!

Unfortunately this isn't a simple multiple‑choice question; there is no way to have both.

Lei En stared at the street scene through the car window; the car sped like a Mercedes along the road, the ride was smooth, yet his mind was anything but calm, wavering and tangled, unable to decide.

Kai Nieji, seeing Lei En's conflicted expression, couldn't help but let the corner of his mouth lift slightly, a smug smile forming in his mind.

He didn't speak further, thinking he had already secured his position.

Few young people can resist such a huge temptation, especially those from humble backgrounds who may have never even ridden in a car; in front of the Gold Shield they surrender easily.

He has seen many such talented yet inexperienced youths; now they are all Machinists.

Five minutes hadn't passed, yet the car had already stopped by the roadside, just a few steps away from Longshande's largest magic‑soul market.

Kai Nieji didn't urge him; he simply opened his pocket watch to check the time, about to remind Lei En, when he saw Lei En reach out and open the car door, as if to get out.

"Lei En, have you made up your mind?" Kai Nieji felt astonished; this was completely unexpected, and he became a little impatient.

"Yes, Mr. Kai Nieji, I apologize." Lei En's expression was very calm.