Chapter 20: Neurotic Weapon Evaluation

After touring the core area of the Underground City, Barton didn't give Lin Jie much time to digest that overwhelming experience.This highly efficient investigator seemed determined to strike while the iron was hot, completing all pre-employment preparations in one go.

He led Lin Jie through corridors composed of intricate brass pipes and wiring, eventually arriving before a heavy metal door marked "Fourth Equipment Laboratory - Precision Machinery and Alchemy Integration Department."

"Before we officially register your identity and distribute initial resources, there's one final matter to address." Barton's expression became somewhat peculiar, tinged with sympathy and resignation.

"You need to meet someone. This is a 'baptism' that all new hunters must undergo, whether they're official members or freelancers like yourself. He's responsible for inspecting and registering your initial equipment, and assessing its value and potential."

Lin Jie noticed that even the usually fearless burly man Marcus involuntarily showed reluctance upon hearing they needed to meet this person, making Lin Jie increasingly curious about the individual behind the door.

Barton input a series of commands on a keypad beside the door, and the metal door slid open with a hiss of depressurization.

Unlike the futuristic metal corridors outside, the space beyond was a massive area filled with old-world workshop atmosphere—chaotic yet possessing a certain obsessive aesthetic beauty.

Countless design blueprints covered every corner of the room, from tables to floors, even plastering the walls.

Enormous lathes, drills, and various precision machinery Lin Jie couldn't name occupied most of the space.

Amid these massive machines were interspersed alchemists' crucibles, crystal distillers, and glass cabinets displaying various minerals and biological specimens, creating an eerie harmony of industry and magic intertwined.

Deep within this enormous workshop, a tall, slender figure stood with his back to them, hunched over a massive workbench.

Wearing a pair of bulky goggles, he was carefully embedding a rice-grain-sized red crystal into what appeared to be a pocket watch movement using tweezers.

His concentration was absolute, completely unaware of the three visitors behind him.

Barton seemed accustomed to this neglect. He walked to the workbench, cleared his throat, and spoke in as calm a tone as possible: "Arthur Conan, I've brought a new friend. He needs initial equipment registration."

The man called "Arthur" still didn't turn around.

He merely waved impatiently, his voice emerging from behind the goggles with a neurotic hoarseness and urgency: "Can't you see I'm performing the final stage of 'spiritual coupling' for the Crimson Count's power core!"

"If this fire salamander eye from the Arizona desert shifts by even one micron, seventy-two hours of work will be completely wasted! Whatever earth-shattering matter it is, wait five minutes!"

Barton's face showed an expected bitter smile. He spread his hands toward Lin Jie, indicating they could only wait.

Lin Jie studied the craftsman with curiosity.

From his surname and the current era, Lin Jie immediately associated it with a famously renowned name, but seeing this madly immersed, world-obsessed appearance made him feel it didn't quite match.

Exactly five minutes passed.

Arthur Conan's tweezers steadily placed the final micro-screw.

He exhaled contentedly, then slowly turned around.

Removing the complex goggles revealed a youthful face that didn't match his age.

His hair was somewhat messy, his eyes sharp, but the heavy dark circles beneath them betrayed chronic sleep deprivation.

He radiated an intellectual arrogance and neuroticism that screamed "stay away."

"Alright, speak. What clueless newcomer had to disturb me at my most critical moment?" Arthur's gaze swept over Barton and Marcus, finally settling on Lin Jie with a critical look.

"This is Mr. Lin Jie, newly certified freelance hunter by the Association." Barton introduced. "He needs to register his initial weapon."

Under Barton's signal, Lin Jie placed the Webley revolver, along with the core crystal obtained from the Mist Walker, on the workbench.

The moment Arthur's eyes fell on the pistol, his previously impatient expression immediately shifted slightly.

He ignored the obviously more research-valuable UMA crystal and directly picked up the revolver.

Unlike ordinary gunsmiths checking barrels and mechanisms, he immediately brought the grip close to his eyes.

His fingers repeatedly stroked the embedded scale, closing his eyes as if "listening" with his fingertips.

"Hmm... interesting texture." Arthur murmured. "Basic polishing, but crude technique, just to embed it."

"The scale comes from cold waters, but not entirely. This Zen-like stable mental frequency... not from the Deep Sea Siren itself, that's pure malice and madness."

He suddenly opened his eyes, bursting with fanatical light, looking at Lin Jie and asking rapidly: "When hunting Deep Sea Sirens, did you notice any accompanying monk-like or ascetic-form auxiliary UMAs? They're rare, don't attack actively, only surround the 'Siren Queen' performing mental chanting?"

Lin Jie was completely stunned.

Recalling the scene on the Sea Witch, he only remembered countless sirens besieging them, with no impression of any "accompanying creatures."

He could only blankly shake his head.

"Waste!" Arthur evaluated bluntly. "Such a precious observation opportunity missed! Cartographer Karl was also an idiot, his diary definitely didn't record such details!"

Barton coughed awkwardly nearby: "Arthur, mind your language."

Arthur completely ignored him, stroking the scale like a lover, his face showing obsession: "Perfect material! This mutated biological tissue produced through mental resonance between 'accompanying wraiths' and the 'main body' is the best choice for creating 'mental stability anchors'!"

"Although Karl was an idiot who didn't understand materials science, his luck was decent. Pity... he used it in the most wasteful way!"

He cast a disdainful glance at the revolver: "Embedding it on a gun grip? This insults art! It's like using Rembrandt's canvas to wrap stinking salted fish!"

"Firearms—such crude physical attack tools—how do they deserve such exquisite 'spiritual medium' that can soothe souls? This weapon has been a failure since its creation!"

Hearing his treasured weapon being disparaged as worthless by this neurotic craftsman, Lin Jie felt complex emotions.

But he cared more about the massive information revealed in Arthur's words.

For the first time, he learned the true origins of his pistol and the source of its abilities.

"Then... in your opinion, where should it have been used?" Lin Jie couldn't help asking.

Arthur looked up, giving him a "you've got some brains" glance.

"Of course embedded in defensive or auxiliary equipment! Like an amulet, a shield, even helmet lining!"

"Placing it closest to the brain or heart maximizes its 'soothing spirit, resisting low-level mental influence' effects! On hands? Hands need dexterity and stability, not fucking calmness!"

His rapid-fire scolding brought sudden enlightenment to Lin Jie.

This was professionalism.

This was the vast cognitive gap between him and I.A.R.C.

He only felt the gun made him calm, while this craftsman had already seen through the material's essence, optimal uses, and all future possibilities.

"So..." Arthur disdainfully tossed the pistol back to Lin Jie. "This failure is registered. Evaluation: premium materials, foolish design, low potential. As for this..."

He finally turned his gaze to the black crystal, putting on goggles and leaning close as if admiring a peerless diamond.

"Oh... oh! Perfect condensed shadow crystal! This is the Mist Walker's core! Look at this purity, this stable energy structure... Using it to create an 'optical stealth' trench coat, or a dagger that silently penetrates physical defenses is simply... simply... God's masterpiece!"

Arthur fell into a fervor only he could understand, hugging the crystal and beginning to frantically search through piles of blueprints, muttering to himself, completely ignoring the three people standing nearby.

Barton had long grown accustomed to such behavior, shrugging at Lin Jie.

"Welcome to I.A.R.C., Mr. Lin. I hope you're already accustomed to dealing with these artists."