Volume 3, Chapter 10 – A Fair Deal

“How so?” Gray asked.

Anran calmly laid out her terms. “I can forgo payment, and I don’t need to join your research center…”

“…” Gray stared at her in astonishment.

Then what basis was there for cooperation?

“But.”

There it was, the important part. Gray narrowed his eyes slightly.

In the course of this brief conversation, he had already noticed that the girl standing before him possessed a maturity far beyond her years. She had strong opinions and a keen sense of caution. She was not someone who could be easily fooled.

Anran continued, “I can hand the blueprints over to you…”

Gray was very patient. He quietly waited for her to continue.

“But in stages.”

Anran had already thought of a way to cooperate. To be honest, her real leverage was lacking, which meant she was at an inherent disadvantage in this trade. Because of that, she had to give up something.

“In stages? What do you mean?” Gray asked, puzzled.

“At set intervals, I’ll give you one of Colin’s blueprints. In return, I want to be free to use the research center’s equipment during that period.”

Anran’s request was not unreasonable, but she was still uneasy.

She was too weak right now. Dealing with someone on the official side meant she had very little ability to protect herself.

If Gray really decided to rob her outright, there was no way Anran could keep those blueprints safe.

Still, from this short exchange, Anran could tell that although Gray and Colin traded barbs whenever they spoke, their past relationship had definitely been anything but ordinary.

For Colin’s sake, Gray was unlikely to do anything too excessive.

And yet, just because something was unlikely did not mean it was impossible.

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Anran was fully prepared to assume the worst of the NPCs in this world.

“I’m having a little trouble understanding why you’d do it this way.” Gray stroked his beard. From his tone, Anran could tell he was tempted. “Wouldn’t you gain more by agreeing to my earlier proposal?”

“I don’t like the feeling of being tied down.” Anran shook her head.

Just as she had said, time was tight. She could not afford to stay trapped in one place.

Unless that place could offer her enormous benefits.

Gray studied Anran carefully, then finally nodded. “All right. I agree to your proposal. Let’s settle on the interval first.”

“One blueprint per week?” Anran asked tentatively.

Gray pondered for a moment. “That works. Of all the blueprints Colin has, there are really only four that I want: [Colin-style Ultra-Long-Range Sniper Rifle], [Exoskeleton Armor], [Tri-Axial Power Unit], and one piece of [Auto-Aim Code].”

Only four blueprints?

That meant less than a month.

Anran lowered her head in thought. Her expression shifted slightly, but it was hidden in the workshop’s shadows, so Gray did not notice.

She had the first two blueprints. The third was part of [Aila’s Blueprint]. But as for that [Auto-Aim Code], Anran had no idea where it was.

“I can give you one extra week,” Gray said. “When the time comes, just give me any blueprint at all.”

“Deal!” Anran lifted her head.

Five blueprints. That meant five weeks.

She badly needed the research center’s automated equipment. It would greatly increase the speed at which she could level up.

Even if she had to deceive him, she had to get this deal in place first.

“Deal.” A smile appeared on Gray’s face, and his voice turned gentle. “You don’t have to worry about me cheating you. You saved Colin. Given my relationship with him, I’ll make sure this deal won’t be disrupted by outside interference.”

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“Mm.”

Anran nodded with a cold expression. “Don’t we need some kind of proof, like a contract or agreement?”

She had a strong premonition that Gray’s real goal was that [Auto-Aim Code]. The moment he mentioned it, even his tone had changed.

Gray said he would guarantee the deal for Colin’s sake, but Anran suspected he also feared that using force might still fail to get him that blueprint.

When it came to things like blueprints, an ordinary NPC could make them disappear with a single match.

“Take this badge.” Gray pulled a four-leaf-clover-shaped badge out of his pocket and handed it to Anran. “Whenever you want to come to the research center, just show this to the guard.”

Gray did not mention anything else.

“Mm.”

Anran put the badge away.

The conversation was more or less over.

Gray turned to leave. Anran set down the metal rod she had been using for polishing and was just about to try out the sheath she had made for her new blade when Gray suddenly turned back.

He strode forward two quick steps, wearing an “honest” smile.

“Oh, right,” Gray said with a grin.

What now?

Anran watched him warily.

Who would have thought he would suddenly ask, “How exactly do you put that knife away? It isn’t some kind of disposable item, is it?”

“…”

Anran was honestly speechless.

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Maybe this was what it meant to be truly devoted to research.

Whenever they came across something they did not quite understand, they could never stop thinking about it. If they failed to figure it out in the end, it felt as if something were hanging over them, leaving them deeply uncomfortable.

“Like this.”

Anran held the mechanical switchblade flat in her right hand.

With her left hand, she pressed the spring mechanism once, then twisted it half a turn counterclockwise.

Click. A flash of white light, and the blade swiftly retracted.

“So that’s how it works!” Gray was overjoyed, his eyes lighting up.

Anran then twisted the spring mechanism a little less than half a turn clockwise and pressed it lightly.

Snk.

The blade shot out abruptly.

At the same time, the spring mechanism automatically completed the remaining small part of the turn.

It all happened so fast that Gray’s eyes could barely keep up.

“It really is a fine thing,” Gray murmured to himself.

He reached out as if to take the mechanical switchblade, but withdrew his hand halfway.

“Would you sell me this blueprint?” Gray asked tentatively.

Anran shook her head.

“Fine, then.” Gray did not press the matter. The principle behind the mechanical switchblade was not complicated. If the research center really wanted to reproduce it, their capabilities meant it would not take much time. They might not restore it perfectly, but the result probably would not differ by much.

“It’s getting late, so I’ll be on my way.”

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“Go on, go on.” Anran waved him off.

Gray’s beard immediately bristled. “You’re not even going to pretend to ask me to stay?”

“Sorry. No.” Anran turned her back and went straight to the corner to get a metal block.

“Do you know nothing about respecting the old and cherishing the young?” Gray shouted.

“I don’t. Thanks!” Anran picked out a flat piece of metal.

Gray: “…”

Fine, have it your way. I’m leaving.

Anran glanced over and watched Gray go off into the distance.

She placed the metal block on the forging press, then saw Eudora wheeling Colin in.

“Uh…”

Anran set down the heavy hammer in her hand. She was still thinking about how to greet them when Colin spoke first. “Gray was my mentor back when I was at the research center. He’s an expert in electronics. His personality is exactly what you’ve seen. If you trade with him, he won’t cheat you. It’s just that the research center now isn’t the same research center it used to be.”

With that, Colin left.

He just left!

What the hell!

Anran parted her lips, at a loss for words. Are you some kind of Zen cultivator? You say a few lines and expect everyone else to guess the rest?

Well, it wasn’t really much of a riddle. Colin’s words eased her mind in some respects, while making her more vigilant in others.

Sometimes, an unintentional act of kindness could bring some good returns.

Clang, clang, clang, Anran began making the super-durability pressure cooker.