Evolution:The Bloodthirsty Saga of the Magic Engineer-Chapter 68: Laboratory

Flipping through the pages of the thick book the bald man had placed on the counter, my eyes fixated on the detailed descriptions of laboratories. There were options for all types of specializations: engineering labs for building machines and devices, spaces for alchemists equipped with cauldrons, distillers, and precision tools, exclusive areas for rune writing, and even more specific subdivisions for those seeking something unconventional. But I already knew exactly what I wanted. I didn’t need to think twice.

"I want this one," I declared, pointing firmly at the page showcasing a laboratory for engineers.

The bald man’s eyes lit up with excitement, and his smile grew even wider. He enthusiastically slapped the palm of his hand on the counter. "Excellent choice, my boy! That’s one of the best we have around here. You won’t regret it, I can guarantee that! Not only does it have everything you need to create anything from prototypes to final products, but this lab also comes with a special storage area already stocked with various materials. Just imagine! It’ll save you a ton of time and effort."

I took a deep breath, letting his words sink into my mind. He was right — it was exactly what I needed. But then my eyes fell on the price listed: 600 magical crystals. It was a steep amount, no doubt. I clenched my fists for a moment, feeling the weight of the sacrifice, but I knew why I’d been saving that money. This was the purpose. This was the reason I had hoarded every crystal until now.

"All right," I murmured, trying not to show my hesitation. Reaching for the pouch tied to my waist, I pulled it out slowly. The sound of the crystals clinking inside seemed louder than usual, almost as if they were protesting against being handed over. I held the pouch for a moment, my heart pounding, but I finally placed it on the counter.

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The bald man, with the quickness of someone who did this daily, grabbed the pouch and checked its contents, his eyes shining like those of a boy who had just received a new toy. He weighed the pouch in one hand, confirmed the payment, and then opened a solid wooden drawer behind the counter. From within, he pulled out a golden key—simple, but adorned with intricate details that shimmered subtly under the light of the room.

Before handing me the key, he made a point to warn me. "Listen carefully, boy. Don’t lose this key. It’s the only one you’ll have for your lab. If, for any reason, you lose it, you’ll need to pay another 600 crystals to regain access to your space. That’s because breaking into the door or walls would require hiring a specialized mage. The lab’s isolation and protection are top-notch. But if you’re careful, you won’t have any problems." His gaze was both serious and friendly at the same time.

I took the key, feeling its weight in the palm of my hand. With the key secured, I turned and walked down the long corridor of white marble, noticing the movement of other acolytes entering and exiting their labs. Most seemed focused, almost cold, as if the presence of others was nothing more than a fleeting distraction. Each carried tools or flasks, visibly engrossed in their own experiments and ambitions.

As I moved forward, my eyes caught a group of acolytes ahead, gathered in a semicircle near one of the doors marked with alchemical runes. They were speaking in hushed tones, but loud enough for me to catch part of their conversation.

"It doesn’t make sense to use the Flower of Eternity in an unstable solution," one of them, a thin young man with dark hair, said with conviction. "You’ll just create an uncontrollable energy explosion."

"But that’s exactly what we need," countered a girl with short hair and sharp eyes, holding a small flask glowing with a green liquid. "The energy explosion is the catalyst required to activate the Awakened Emerald Powder. Without it, the process remains incomplete."

"That’s absurd!" retorted another, a three-eyed acolyte with a long scar across his forehead. "You’re forgetting that the residual energy could contaminate the entire batch! Are you trying to blow up the lab in the process?"

They were so engrossed in their discussion that they didn’t notice my approach until I was just a few meters away. The moment they saw me, the group fell silent abruptly, exchanging quick glances among themselves. For a brief moment, I felt the weight of their eyes analyzing me. This kind of reaction was common — many in the tower preferred to keep their ideas and experiments far from prying ears.

I didn’t mind the sudden silence. I simply inclined my head slightly in a quick nod, keeping my expression neutral. "Good afternoon," I murmured softly, with no intention of prolonging any interaction.

They didn’t respond with words, but the short-haired girl gave a nod in return, while the others averted their eyes, resuming their conversation as soon as I passed them.

I continued down the corridor, the numbers on the doors passing by until I finally reached my destination: door 47. The rune carved into the reinforced wood glowed faintly, indicating that the lab was sealed, waiting for its owner. I took the golden key the bald man had given me and turned it in the lock. The click of the mechanism was clear and firm, echoing down the hallway.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, which locked itself with several internal mechanisms. I realized that if I lost the key, I’d probably die in here—after all, no one would spend such a large sum of magical crystals to come and save me.

I sighed, accepting the situation, and looked around. Stone walls, some lined with cast iron trellises. High ceilings, with wooden beams reinforced by metal strips.

Chandeliers with industrial-style lanterns used copper pipes to conduct gas. The floor was made of polished wooden planks, stained with oil and marked with signs of past use. It seemed that someone had owned this laboratory before. In some areas, there were iron plates where heavier work was performed.

There were long wooden workbenches with reinforced metal tops. They had lower cabinets and upper shelves for storing tools and smaller components. A vast collection of wrenches, precision hammers, files, saws, and steam-powered drills were neatly organized.

Organizer boxes filled with gears of various sizes, springs, screws, leather belts, and small pulleys filled the shelves.

In one corner stood a large gas-powered forge, surrounded by molds for crafting custom metal parts. A crucible for melting metals sat nearby, along with specific tools like iron tongs and molds for detailed creations.

Bars and ingots of copper, brass, black iron, vile iron, and even gold and silver for more delicate pieces were stacked neatly.

In the center of the room was a large drafting table equipped with a drawing board, yellowed papers, rulers, compasses, and inks for sketching detailed designs.

There were also micrometers, calipers, and other measurement devices, as well as a sturdy prototype-testing station mounted on a reinforced base with visible steam pipes and adjustable valves.

The shelves, tall and metallic, were filled with labeled boxes and glass containers. They contained everything from magical materials (energy-conducting liquids, lubricating oils) to raw materials like nails and other essential components.

A satisfied smile spread across my face. I stretched my arms out to my sides, relishing the freedom of having a space that was entirely mine. "Finally, a lab of my own," I murmured, letting the words echo in the silent room. "It’s not exactly like my garage in my past world… but who cares?"

I walked over to the drafting table, where the drawing boards, yellowed papers, rulers, compasses, micrometers, and calipers were arranged.

"This won’t do," I thought, letting out a short sigh. For other acolytes, these tools might be useful, but I had something they didn’t: my virtual lab, something that existed solely in my mind—a priceless advantage over conventional methods.

Without hesitation, I began clearing the items off the table. I picked up the drawing boards and the yellowed papers, smelling the mix of mold and old ink, and gathered the measuring tools one by one. Micrometers, rulers, compasses—all were stacked in an organized pile. I walked to the trash bin near the lab’s entrance and discarded everything at once, without remorse. The clatter of the tools hitting the bottom of the metal bin was sharp and satisfying.

Now, with the table completely clear, I sat in the chair before it, crossed my arms, and allowed myself to think seriously.

"Everything changes now," I thought, the weight of my words reverberating in my mind. "In this world, there’s no room for mistakes. Here, I won’t be manufacturing cocaine, something that would be utterly useless to the mages. I have to be careful. If I create something too impressive too quickly, I’ll end up drawing the attention of people I’d rather avoid. Something worse than the other acolytes… the mages."

I ran a hand over my chin, reflecting. "The best approach is to focus on something that generates long-term profit—something that keeps me within the average but still allows me to grow steadily and safely. That’ll give me the time I need to build a solid foundation without attracting the wrong kind of attention. Besides…" A subtle smile formed on my face as the idea took shape, "Now that I have a lab, I can occasionally feign doubts with Miguel. He’ll think I’m progressing gradually in engineering, just as he expects. Nothing to raise suspicion."

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