He just had to survive long enough to witness it.
Or at least make it to the 51st hour.
Because that was when it happened.
Sowhere between a triumphant war cry and a high-pitched sob, a sound tore through the cha lab. It echoed like the birth of a legend.
"AAAHHH–!!!"
And then ca the thud.
A mop of blonde flopped dramatically onto the floor, arms splayed, fingers twitching. The poor soul? A certain chanic nad Ollie Mylor, who would, from this day forward, be rembered as the second person in the entire workshop to produce a component with 80% Calibration Fidelity.
The room froze.
The tester’s machine beeped. The screen blinked.
65%.
77%.
Then ca the agonizing crawl to 79.9%, where it sat for three soul-shattering seconds.
Ollie could practically see his entire life flash before his eyes. The finger cramps. The trembles. The missed snack breaks. And worst of all, the missed hug-breaks.
If this fails...I have nothing left...
And then—DING!
[Unregistered Rotor Stabilizer, Durability: 85%, Calibration Fidelity: 80%]
The world went white.
Ollie collapsed, tears streaking down his cheeks. He raised a trembling arm and pointed to the ceiling like he was about to ascend.
"I–I did it!" he croaked. "I actually did it..."
The room erupted.
So chanics scread in joy. Others scread in pain. A few curled into a fetal position just from emotional whiplash. But mostly, they scread from the realization that it could actually be done.
"BROTHER!"
Luca, who had been deep in concentration with three different near-finished chas, snapped to attention.
He turned, wide-eyed, and when he saw the screen, he smiled brightly and ran over.
"You did it!" he bead.
Ollie, still sprawled like a pancake, reached out with open arms and sobbed, "BROTHER! UWAAAAA!"
Luca caught him mid-wail and blinked. Then rembered Xavier’s advice. It was sowhere between the 34th hour when Luca started seeing everyone’s defeated look. And it was obvious that fewer and fewer people were trying to see if they were successful in polishing their components.
And the heir who didn’t have that much practice in leading people felt like he needed to do sothing about this, or they might have no chanics left. So he thought about asking Xavier, informing him about what had happened in a rather lengthy ssage.
In reality, Luca wasn’t sure if it was a good ti to ask because there were tis when his schedule wasn’t fixed, but surprisingly, he received a reply.
[XAVIER: I see. You may want to try positive reinforcent. It seems like the people of House Kyros are easily affected by rewards from you.]
Luca blinked at the ssage, montarily confused.
Positive reinforcent? Would that also work in this situation?
Then again, he did rember how everyone had gone feral the last ti they had a competition. Even those who looked like they were at death’s door managed to rise like resurrected warriors.
Curious, Luca typed back a question.
[LUCA: How much should I offer as a reward?]
The reply ca quickly, and it only puzzled him more.
[XAVIER: No, money might not work; it would be better to try it with food or trinkets. But food may be the best, so everyone, including you, could take a break and eat.]
Luca tilted his head.
[LUCA: Food? Would that be good enough?]
A part of him was skeptical. In his mind, rewards for such accomplished people should probably be grander—resources, access, schematics, high-grade tools. Sothing...more?
[XAVIER: More than enough. Please rember to make so for yourself. If I finish up here soon, can I drop by?]
Luca paused.
Make food...for myself?
Since the day he made D-29’s cha, the little system had been adamant about reminding him, but then it seems like Xavier had also been concerned. But more than anything, the question made his heart skip.
[LUCA: What about rest?! Wouldn’t it be better for you to rest when you get the chance?]
But really, if soone should be worried, it should be Luca because Xavier had been pushing himself. Between the academy, the frontlines, and now new negotiations—shouldn’t he be resting?
The response made Luca go still.
[XAVIER: Yes, that’s why I was hoping to see you.]
Luca’s eyes widened. His heart squeezed.
His fingers hovered over the terminal, warmth blooming in his chest. He felt...soft. He typed carefully, reverently.
[LUCA: Oh! Then please co, I will wait for you.]
And just when he thought he couldn’t feel more affected:
[XAVIER: I’ll be there. Be good. I miss you.]
Luca clutched at his uniform, a tiny, embarrassed sound escaping him as he covered his face with one hand.
"I miss you too," he whispered, a little shy to type it back.
But he would wait.
He’d make enough snacks for everyone.
And he’d definitely set aside sothing warm and sweet for Xavier.
They didn’t send ssages for long, and yet Luca felt like he wanted to hide a bit because he felt like he was fraternizing during work hours.
Ehem.
But it was really for the advice! One that he was about to make use of now.
"Brother," he said gently, patting his head, "Congratulations! You did really well, and because of that, as a reward, I’ll prepare sothing for you and anyone who reaches the standard. I believe you’ve earned a proper break."
Silence.
Then, ears perked. Literally.
People froze mid-recording. Mid-polishing. One person actually almost dropped his component, if not for the person next to them catching it.
Ollie, who looked monts away from coughing up a lung, sat up, his back practically bolting upright.
"Wait—wait. Brother, I—um—don’t think I deserve a reward! I only finished one component!"
He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. After all, Luca was making entire chas while testing a full factory setup. And look at his output, so close to finishing. In fact, he was sure that Luca would’ve been able to finish it much faster had he not been focused on making the machines work with D-29.
But Luca tilted his head, looking sincerely curious. "Oh? I was thinking of preparing a snack. Are you not interested anymore? I could make it a material reward instead."
"—A SNACK?!" Ollie’s voice cracked like glass.
He blinked once. Twice. Then sat up straighter, cleared his throat, and said nobly, "Now that I think about it...I may have just crafted the greatest piece of my life. I suppose, if you insist, a modest reward is acceptable."
He even clasped his hands with glittering eyes, full of humble anticipation.
"Wonderful," said Luca, bowing slightly. "I’ll be quick. I’ll also prepare extras—just in case others reach the standard."
With that, he turned and left the lab.
But his words?
They echoed.
"Prepare extras."
"Just in case others reach the standard."
It was like a bomb went off.
The workshop shook—not physically, but in sheer spiritual montum. A chanic dropped his goggles and yelled, "The Young Lord said ’food’, right?!"
Another ripped off his gloves.
"Yeah! He really did!"
"Then what are we waiting for? I’m hungry enough that I’ll probably be able to build a cha bearhanded! "
One person even scread, "Wait! I’ll get it this ti, too!" and ran full speed into a workbench, tears of hope in his eyes.
The lab had turned into a battlefield.
Tools flew. Terminals beeped. Sparks danced as the entire workshop entered beast mode.
They were possessed.
Driven. Motivated.
All because Luca ntioned the word "snack."
anwhile, Ollie lay on the floor like a dead fish, panting dramatically with his arm over his eyes. His soul, however, was very much alive.
And then, very softly, he said:
"...I know how to do it now."
Heads turned.
Ollie didn’t even sit up. He just lifted a single hand and whispered like a rchant with forbidden treasure:
"If anyone’s willing to share a snack commission with ..."
"...I’ll tell you how to make your component reach 80%."
Gasps.
The crowd descended.
And thus began the Snack for Secrets deal that nearly caused a riot in the lab.
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