One million Mora?
The number hung in the air, and Ji An's eyes gleamed with immediate, palpable interest.
A 'professional proficient in mechanics or ancient machinery'? The description fit him perfectly.
The appeal was twofold. First, and most pressing, was his desperate lack of funds. Second, as a newcomer to Liyue Harbor, finding a scholar knowledgeable about the lost nation of 'Sal Vindagnyr' felt like searching for a single leaf in a forest. This 'Jade Chamber,' capable of offering such an exorbitant sum, clearly possessed significant resources and connections. Enlisting their help could dramatically shorten his search.
But first, he needed context.
"Excuse me, sir," he asked a man nearby, "could you tell me what the Jade Chamber is?"
The man looked at him with surprise. "You don't know the Jade Chamber? You must be new to Liyue."
"I am, yes."
"That explains it." The man puffed out his chest with local pride and pointed a finger toward the sky. "That is the palace of Lady Ningguang, one of our Liyue Qixing. You can see it right there."
Ji An followed the man's gaze upward, and his breath caught. Suspended in the heavens above the harbor was a structure of breathtaking elegance and grandeur—a floating palace that seemed woven from cloud and ambition.
"It's... incredible," he breathed. The sheer artistry spoke of immense wealth and an owner who had poured her heart into its creation.
Seeing this tangible proof of the Jade Chamber's power solidified his decision. He would go to the interview.
Following the directions, Ji An soon found himself outside the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Despite the recruitment drive having lasted for days, a long line of hopeful applicants still spilled out onto the street.
He observed his competition. Most carried various contraptions—geared devices, whirring gadgets, or intricate models. It was a physical portfolio, a desperate attempt to prove their worth.
An idea sparked. Slipping into a nearby alley, he extended his hand.
'Precision Crafting.'
A soft, white light coalesced in his palm, flickering with concentrated energy.
Moments later, the light faded, leaving behind a finely crafted pistol. It was sleek and obsidian-black, cool to the touch, with a small, precisely carved recess at the base of the grip.
In the days before coming to the city, he had harvested the remaining Ley Line crystals from the ice valley. Using his 'Secret Art of Serenity,' he had safely absorbed their energy, strengthening his body and, in the process, pushing his Ancient Alchemy Mastery to Level 2. This unlocked 「Precision Crafting」, and combined with his 「Ancient Machinery Mastery」, he could now conjure sophisticated devices at will.
The pistol's design was inspired by the firearms of the Fatui, but refined. Insert an elemental crystal into the recess, pull the trigger, and it would fire a projectile of that element. In Liyue, such weapons were uncommon but not unheard of; the real scarcity was in the elemental crystals themselves, not the launchers.
It was perfect: elegant, efficient, and demonstrative of his skill without being alarmingly powerful. Confident it would suffice, he tucked it away.
Then he paused, a thoughtful crease forming on his brow. After a moment, he shrugged and invoked 「Precision Crafting」 once more, creating a second, bulkier object. Armed with both, he finally joined the end of the queue.
...
"Numbers 114 through 117! You may enter now!"
The interviews were conducted in groups of four. The line had moved with surprising speed, and within half an hour, it was Ji An's turn.
The interview hall housed a panel of four. The lead interviewer was a severe-looking woman with sharp, ear-length hair and black-framed glasses. Flanking her were two young assistants who seemed to do little more than take notes, and an elderly gentleman with a grand, gray beard whose expression was one of profound, uninterested haughtiness.
"Miss Zhao!" the other applicants chorused as they entered, their voices tinged with familiarity and respect. Ji An remained silent.
"Number 114, Li Changshun..." Miss Zhao began, consulting her list before stopping short. "Li the Butcher? Shouldn't you be at your shop? What brings you here?"
"Miss Zhao, it's like this!" Li Changshun boomed, his voice filling the room. "The Li family has been in the butcher trade for generations, it's true! But I, Changshun, have always had a passion for mechanics! I tinker in my spare time!"
"When I saw the Jade Chamber's notice offering one mil—ahem—seeking knowledgeable individuals to serve the nation. Well, the flame of my dream was reignited!"
He thumped his substantial chest for emphasis. "A man without a dream is no better than the pigs I—"
"Yes, quite," Miss Zhao cut him off, massaging her temples. "And what 'invention' have you brought to demonstrate today?"
"Right! Behold!" With a flourish, Li Changshun opened a wooden crate and produced a wickedly sharp butcher's cleaver.
The room tensed instantly. The two young assistants flinched back.
"Li Changshun! Explain yourself!"
"Put the blade down at once!"
"Don't panic! Don't panic!" the butcher cried, startled by their alarm. "Miss Zhao, this is my invention!"
He pointed a thick finger at the cleaver's handle, where a heavy iron weight was strapped. A long hemp rope was threaded through a hole drilled in the pommel.
"I call it," he announced proudly, "the 'Long-Distance Pig-Slaying Mechanism'!"
A stunned silence blanketed the room. Miss Zhao blinked slowly. "...I beg your pardon?"
"You see," Li Changshun explained, his voice taking on a nostalgic tone as he gently stroked the blade, "as a boy, I was... sensitive. The sight of blood made me queasy. But my father was determined to harden me. He made me slaughter pigs alone."
"I was terrified! But if the pig didn't meet its end, my backside would."
"And so, I devised this!" he beamed. "You secure the pig's head. Then, from a safe, comfortable distance, you use this rope to hoist the cleaver high into the air... and let it go! A few good drops, and the deed is done humanely!"
"..."
Ji An stared, his mind utterly blank. This has to be a joke. They're going to have him escorted out by the Millelith.
Then, the impossible happened.
"Not... entirely without merit," The elderly Master Lu mused, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "It demonstrates a practical, if crude, application of mechanical principles."
Ji An's internal monogue screeched to a halt. ...He's serious?
He glanced at the other interviewers. Miss Zhao and her assistants were now nodding in agreement.
"Master Lu is right," one of the young men conceded. "It shows more foundational understanding than the last candidate who presented a 'self-stirring tea cup' that just spun in circles until it shattered."
'What in the archons' names have the previous candidates been like?!' Ji An's sense of reality began to warp.
His hand went unconsciously to the sleek, elemental pistol hidden in his robe. For the first time, he seriously wondered if his sophisticated, alchemically-crafted weapon was hilariously overqualified for this circus.
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!
patreon.com/deadlygoober