"Just as I thought," Reyn confirmed his suspicions inwardly.
He didn't answer or refuse right away but asked instead:
"Mr. Kenji, why me specifically? We weren't acquainted before this."
He'd just taken the soul test at the Violet House, and before he could get far, they found him. The Guild of Steam and Mechanics worked too efficiently.
Kenji, noticing Reyn's puzzlement, laughed and said with some pride:
"Reyn, don't misunderstand. Our Mechanics Guild is always scouting talent, but finding you so quickly today was pure chance."
He explained:
"My friend happened to be at the Violet House and saw you take the soul test. I was nearby on business, so as soon as I heard, I came right over."
Reyn nodded but inwardly remained skeptical, not fully believing it.
However, as vice chairman of the Longsand Mechanics Guild branch, a major tycoon, and aristocrat, Kenji was undoubtedly a very influential figure in the city. For him to personally approach a commoner, arrive in person to recruit him, behave politely without disdain for their status difference—it showed the depth of his intent.
As if to demonstrate even greater sincerity, Kenji immediately laid out the terms.
"Reyn, once you agree to join the Mechanics Guild and become a Mechanic, the Guild will provide every convenience: meditation techniques, demonic souls, spiritual power enhancement potions, alchemical items—we cover it all, up to your ascension to legendary rank!
"Besides development necessities, the Guild will pay you a salary. Starting at first-level Mechanic—ten golden shields per month.
"Your salary increases with your professional level.
"Even if your level stalls, you get two salary bumps per year.
"Additionally, the Guild has prepared a large house for you in the Silverstar district, with a manager, servants, and guards hired. All upkeep costs on us. Once you're a Mechanic, the house is yours immediately.
"I won't detail other perks. In short, become a Mechanic, and power, golden shields, beauties, social status—I'll guarantee you have it all. You'll enter Longsand's upper society overnight."
Finished, Kenji pulled a chain-watch from his inner pocket, checked it, and said gravely:
"You have five minutes to think."
The list of perks blinded Reyn with golden shield shine; one thought remained in his head: "Incredible wealth!"
Honestly, he was quite tempted and seriously considered it.
The Guild of Steam and Mechanics—often just called the Mechanics Guild for short—was one of the Empire's leading powers, founded centuries ago, with influence rivaling the Triune Church.
Reyn didn't remember exactly how many years, vaguely over four hundred.
But one event tied to the Mechanics Guild stuck with him—he'd read it in a history textbook: the Guild's founder, its eternal chairman, had held the post from creation to now, never changing.
Meaning the Mechanics Guild chairman had lived over four hundred years!
This legendary figure seemed to appear suddenly like a meteor one year and skyrocketed.
Yet very few knew his name or origins. At least, books didn't mention it, and among the Empire's common folk, he remained a mysterious, almost mythical figure.
Despite the chairman's enigma, the profound changes the Mechanics Guild brought to the Empire and world were utterly real.
Since its founding, mechanical devices emerged: the crucial steam engine, buses, steamships, locomotives, airships, looms, elevators, and countless smaller mechanisms infiltrating every industry, transforming life.
The Mechanics Guild wound up the world with springs and gears—everything sped up and developed rapidly.
Once, a historian lamented that Ellunes' changes in the last four hundred years outstripped the prior four thousand—or even forty thousand—years; the world had changed almost beyond recognition.
If some legendary-or-higher supernatural powerhouse slept four hundred years and woke now, he might not recognize it.
One could say the Mechanics Guild's rise fundamentally reshaped the world.
Naturally, with its growth came immense wealth. Global mineral reserves, machine works, factories, transport—all tied inseparably to the Mechanics Guild. They bought everything with money, formed industry unions one after another, and seized power through capital.
Along with the Mechanics Guild rose and strengthened the Mechanic profession.
Mechanics were half-casters, so their talent requirements weren't low—possibly not inferior to those for mages. However, the Mechanics' combat power was significantly lower than that of mages.
At least up to the legendary level, a Mechanic could hardly compete with a mage of the same level—the difference in their strength was enormous.
This was because Mechanics focused primarily on studying mechanical technologies rather than enhancing their own abilities.
In the early stages, Mechanics wielded a small number of spells, most of which lacked great power and were intended to assist in creating mechanical devices.
Therefore, low-level Mechanics often relied on spirit weapons to compensate for their lack of lethality, which led many to mistake them for Archers.
Of course, the Mechanics' insufficient power in the early stages was only in comparison to mages.
If compared to ordinary supernatural professions, such as Iron Guardians, Mechanics were quite strong.
As their level increased, Mechanics could create more mechanical equipment, their functionality improved, and their power grew, leading to an explosive increase in their overall strength.
There were rumors that upon reaching the legendary level, a Mechanic became one of the most powerful supernatural professions. There was even an exaggerated saying "one in the field is a warrior," placing them on par with the best All-Spirit Mages, or perhaps even surpassing them.
In the words of his past life, Mechanic was a "late-game" profession.
Unfortunately, this "late bloom" came too late. How many could reach the legendary level?
It needed to be understood that half of all supernatural beings never broke through to the intermediate level in their entire lives, and the legendary rank was like an unattainable dream for them.
However, becoming a Mechanic had other advantages.
For example, with mechanical technologies at their disposal, they had far greater chances of getting rich than representatives of other professions. They usually didn't have to fight monsters themselves—anything could be bought for money.
However, this was the Auriens Empire, a country ruled by mages. How many young people capable of becoming mages would want to become Mechanics, who were relatively weak in the early stages?
Without Mechanics, the Mechanics Guild would cease to exist, and this massive organization would collapse sooner or later.
This was likely the main reason why the Mechanics Guild cared so much about scouting talents.
Fortunately, the Mechanics Guild had its own advantage—money!
Paving the way with a money attack, offering all sorts of benefits and privileges, showering people with mountains of golden shields that made their heads spin—before such temptation, Reyn was certain, many would agree to become Mechanics.
He wasn't the first one the Mechanics Guild had tried to overwhelm with money, nor would he be the last.
But he didn't let the money completely cloud his mind.
Because free cheese is only in a mousetrap.
The Mechanics Guild offered such favorable conditions, naturally not for free. Upon joining the Guild and becoming a Mechanic, he would inevitably have to serve it, repaying every copper fox invested in him, or at least bring it benefits.
On the other hand, Reyn was quite interested in the Mechanic profession.
In his past life at university, he had studied mechanical engineering, so this was, one might say, his field, and he was well-suited for the role of Mechanic.
If he joined the Mechanics Guild, thanks to his knowledge of mechanics, he should quickly establish himself and earn the approval of his superiors.
He said "should" because he wasn't entirely sure.
The mechanical technologies of this world, on a broad scale, were based on steam power; there were no internal combustion engines or electricity, but another powerful driving force had developed—magic. At higher levels, many mechanical technologies combined with magic, though this was uncommon in everyday life. The most typical application was mechanical golems.
Reyn remembered that two mechanical golems stood at the entrance to the Supernatural Academy library.
They were like giants, powered by magic, fully mobile with an "IFF" recognition system, moving swiftly like living creatures, and far superior to the clumsy robots from his past life.
Recalling them now, Reyn had no idea how they worked.
He was very interested in studying mechanical golem technology. If there weren't a more powerful profession like mage, he would have gladly agreed right then.
For Reyn, the temptation to become a mage was too great, even stronger than the temptation of golden shields.
As an ordinary person who had lived on Earth for over thirty years and never seen supernatural powers, Reyn craved and anticipated supernatural abilities far more intensely than the people of this world.
Since the opportunity to possess supernatural power had arisen, of course, he needed to choose the strongest one!
Besides mage, there was no better choice.
But Mechanic was very good too. It might not be the most powerful profession, but it suited him best, and the Mechanics Guild offered generous conditions—wealth and social status would be within his grasp.
"Indeed, a difficult choice," Reyn thought with some headache.
It was like choosing between two beauties: one stunningly beautiful with a perfect figure, and loves only you; the other beautiful, kind, understanding, from a rich family, and the only daughter. But you can only choose one.
Who would you pick?
Reyn wanted to shout: "I want both!"
Unfortunately, this wasn't a simple multiple-choice question, and there was no solution that satisfied everyone.
Reyn gazed at the streets flashing by outside the window. The car glided smoothly along the road, but his mind was in complete turmoil—he hesitated, unable to make a decision.
Kenji, sitting beside him and watching his torment, couldn't suppress a slight smirk. He was inwardly triumphant.
He no longer tried to persuade him, believing the deal was done.
Few young people could resist such a huge temptation, especially those from the common folk who might never have ridden in a car. They surrendered easily to the golden shields.
He had seen plenty of such talented but inexperienced youths. Now they were all Mechanics.
Five minutes hadn't passed yet, but the car had already pulled over to the curb. A few steps ahead was the largest Demonic Souls Market in Longsand.
Kenji didn't rush him, just took out his watch, glanced at it, and was about to remind Reyn of the time when he suddenly saw him reach out, open the car door, and prepare to get out.
"Reyn, have you thought it over?" Kenji couldn't believe his ears. This was completely unexpected, and he suddenly grew anxious.
"Yes, Mr. Kenji. I'm very sorry," Reyn's expression was perfectly calm.