The Industrialist

Chapter 91: Requirements

3rd Floor CastleRise, HyperVista Condominiums, Axe Central City

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No more rebels underground. It only meant that the SHF had already mobilized to flush the rebels out. It was two days ago. Lance had been expecting the News about the captured rebels. The Media were silent.

He just hoped momentarily that Felsom Prison would be a perfect shelter against the reach of Abominants. Some safety features were functional however, providing a guarantee to not falter when shaken by a horde attack.

The winds had been strange lately which gave Lance immense discomforting thoughts about his comrades. Damian had visited him yesterday and told him about their situation. As he was told, Damian's assessment and facility integrity, Felsom prison would be impenetrable for the Abominants.

Well, the facility had been tested a day before with the groundlings attacking almost unceasingly for the duration of nighttime, as Damian had foreseen. He had seen such incident when he was deployed, the Abominated birds were not a threat to them, but of what they bring after they swarm above you.

Damian had also told him about the need for Ultragenerator and the rebel council in dire need of money. They needed a loan and somehow the only way they could procure such money was the Axiom Trench money reserves, however, since the Demetrian season was approaching fast, Trenchers halted money movements except for supplies.

The Council members also had their spies walking amongst the citizens in Axe Central City and they gave information about the budget constraints that had been experienced by almost all Government agencies and Corporations.

With the current predicament, Lance paid in advance his fees to the Rebel council through Damian. 400 units rental fees per month for two months, a total of 800 units, and his Rattus collection business of 400 units for two months. A total of 1200 units for the cause.

Lance gave Damian one hundred marketable poison bombs intended for the Outsiders and Trenchers. Each will be sold for 50 units each. Most of his nights, he allocated his time for the poison bomb assembly in his new Condominium in Hypervista through his fabrication table.

He kept twenty poison bombs for himself for protection. Damian also shared that the suspected Abominated Human that killed all SHF that attacked the camps had already infiltrated the walls. Given the possibility that such Abominant was hunting Lance and two of his comrades, he kept poison bombs for himself.

"Jasper, show requirements for the Ultragenerator project," Lance commanded.

"Yes, master. I will base this data for the industrial-grade Ultragenerator units used in Government and Corporation facililites. I am assuming that you are going to manufacture one for the Felsom prison," Jasper responded.

A holographic construct appeared;

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[Project name] Ultragenerator

[Objective] To create a perpetual energy cycle, a self-sustaining system, that could power at least 1000 megawatts an estimate for all prison facilities throughout the surviving cities.

[Requirement: Major components]

Energy Accelerator – for procurement (3000 units)

Infused Electromagnetic Battery – in inventory

Schematic boards for panel circuitries – for procurement (100 units)

High resistive conductor – in inventory (Obsidian scorpion exoskeleton)

Impure Gold wirings – for procurement (500 units)

X5 Turbine systems – for procurement (1000 units)

[Total needed units] – 4600 units

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[Possible sources]

Scrapyard Tier 3

Any Mid-classer Trade Markets

SteamHaven Trade stores

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"Jasper, tell me an alternative source for the procurement of Energy Accelerator," Lance said. Knowing that the winds raging from the Eastern and Northern quadrants, Axiom Trench could be a dangerous place to travel to.

"I am sorry, Master. Energy Accelerators are not for sale anywhere in Axe Central," Jasper responded. "You were saying that you are going to acquire the Energy Accelerator from Merchant One."

In this case, he needs Damian's expertise again to another hazardous journey. Additional expense

"Ok. Technical skills requirement for Masterwork level equipment assembly," Lance said to Jasper.

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[Required Skills / Recommendations]

[1] Pre Masters Advanced Electrical Motors Assembly

[2] Pre Masters Perpetual Energy Mechanics

[3] Specialized course for Masterworks Energy Sources

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Jasper's new features enabled Lance as the user to leverage on all Scientific and Engineering Manuals made by the Corporation and the Governments for his personal use.

However, Jasper could not provide Lance with the intricate discussions and technical know-how that comprises the courses and the degrees being offered by Scientia Academia.

It would take him months to finish the required courses and be able to successfully assemble the Ultragenerator and the Rebel Faction had no such time. They needed the equipment as soon as possible, otherwise, it would drain them of the monetary capabilities of procuring Diesel.

Moreover, the cost implications of such courses would drain his own monetary reserves.

In addition, the procurement of the needed materials for its assembly implied monetary need and the predicament of sourcing out these materials.

He needed additional brains to assemble a Masterwork Level equipment and he needed the needed equipment to assemble a probably large equipment that would suffice the needed capacity.

His Fabrication table could only accommodate prototypes for his project, not the actual project itself.

He scratched his head as maybe his slight frustration. The HyperVista Condominium, 3rd floor, held a viewing window of the expanse of the sector. He was unsure how such a view would calm his nerves and his burnout brain from an overwhelming responsibility. He was not playing games anymore at the age of sixteen. No. He already had obligations beyond the grasp of an average person.

His decisions, even his laziness, could affect the lives of many innocent Rebel members.

'Father. What am I going to do?' He pressed his palms against the viewing window, that occupied the whole expanse of his Eastern wall. The condominium had a 50 square meter floor area, a little bigger than his apartment, holding a single bedroom. Nothing fancy about his room, he took some unnecessary furniture out and replaced it with his piles of scraps.

Even though the offerings as a Mech Tier 1 could provide him choices sufficient to support himself and his businesses scrapping was his passion, for a reason that he could not apparently grasp.

He just loved the smell of grease and oil. The concept of repairing damaged goods, or maybe the concept of recycling the Electronic waste of the City, hence, contributing to a greener environmental fashion.

Lance was not awed by the interior that held the condominium but by the amenities it offered. His room was designed to simple proportions, which was great for his taste. He hated the thought of overdesigning and overuse of unnecessary materials knowing that millions of citizens were in grave need of money.

The Amenities however had irked him. The topmost floor held a swimming pool, next to a zen garden, and an array of cubicle baths that would provide a euphoric feel of bathing – some would call it the Elemental Bathing, experiencing different aromas and elements depending on one's desire. If you want to bathe with a mud theme, then the Elemental Bathing cubicle would provide one for you.

The Amenities obviously were insensitive with the proper use of water, as he imagined the Death by thirst experience last year.

Ten thousand gallons of water are spent each day, Lance estimated.

Every time he thinks about it, he curses inwardly, screaming with utter hate for the Corporation and the Government.

The dark cluster of dust and clouds moved about the dark overcast. It was so perceptible lately as the MAF (Multifunctional Air Filters) hovering above absorbing them for filtration, or maybe his altitude provided him the benefit of witnessing such beauty. The crazy winds had caused perceptible dust cluster movements in the atmosphere. It was like the onset of the Demetrian season.

In apparent fairness, the MAFs held a precarious position of beauty and function. It was brilliant nonetheless. But, this equipment was made from greed and control, solely to deceive the hearts of the citizens and eventually, making the inventor divine.

His view permitted him to witness five MAFs in the air, absorbing contaminated air. Sometimes, the timing of the sun's position, streaking through filtered sunrays, shining upon an angle toward the atmosphere above them, it was perceptible that the MAFs were blowing down filtered air from its chamber like rain. Like a fog of life being supplied to the hopeless citizens below called humanity.

'Would the delivered salt will suffice and prevent the secondary Death by Thirst?' He thought.

"Jasper, I want to start procuring the materials. But first, what's my current savings?" Lance asked.

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[Currency] – 16,800 units

[Current transaction] – 1200 units for Rebel camp advance payment

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It was not enough to topple the greatest and most powerful organization in the city. But it was enough to procure the Ultragenerator materials.

"Master, I suggest you upgrade yourself first to Mechanical Level 3 for 3000 units," Jasper said.

"I don't need to upgrade, Jasper. I need to work on the Ultragenerator." Lance said.

"I know, Master. Somehow, in my database, Mechanical Tier 3 has offerings you might use during your assembly, such as a free selection of courses offered by the Academy. However, my database does not tell me the specific course, but we can try asking it in SARS during your registration." Jasper suggested.

"Ok, I will follow your suggestion. I will visit SARS tomorrow." Lance responded.