Two months passed in the blink of an eye and Adrian spent the time immersed in his work, with his days filled with sketches, forging, testing, and perfecting his designs.
Eli, meanwhile watched in astonishment, frequently shaking his head at the seemingly endless creativity and determination Adrian exhibited.
Each invention Adrian crafted further cemented Eli's belief that the boy was no ordinary genius.
Every morning, Adrian explored the village, scouting for essential materials that weren't available in the forge.
His daily excursions introduced him to nearly every vendor and craftsman around. He didn't make friends or socialize though; instead, he maintained a polite but distant approach, always focused on his goals.
Villagers quickly grew accustomed to seeing the small boy bustling around town, carrying an odd assortment of materials.
Of course, there were obstacles with Adrian's projects. The sewing machine especially had nearly driven Adrian mad with its complex threading and tension systems, requiring multiple iterations before it functioned flawlessly.
The battery was another trial, as he experimented with numerous acids and metal combinations before discovering a reliable method.
Adrian persevered through each challenge though, driven by the thought of the knowledge he could soon access from the Tech Core.
Though the project took much longer than anticipated, Adrian felt no frustration. Every delay was merely another puzzle piece clicking into place.
By the end of the second month, his room had transformed into a bustling workshop filled with completed inventions ready for sale.
Now, Adrian stood in Eli's forge, tightening the final screw on the bell system. It was undoubtedly the simplest among his inventions — a mechanism triggered by a cord attached to the door, causing a small hammer to strike a bell each time the door opened.
With a deep breath, Adrian stepped forward and pushed the door.
Ding!
The clear, pleasant ring echoed softly through the forge, bringing a smile to Adrian's face.
'Honestly, how has nobody thought of this yet?'
Almost immediately, as if sensing his satisfaction, the Tech Core flared to life.
[Congratulations! You've completed an invention]
[Invention: Bell System]
[Type: Tool]
[Function: Alerts individuals through sound when a door is opened using a simple mechanical trigger.]
[Grade Evaluation: Function: B | Practical Utility: B | Complexity: D | Originality: D | Integrity: B]
[Final Grade: C]
[Remark: A clever and efficient alert system. Simple, yet extremely useful in everyday life.]
[Reward: 10 TP | 5 EXP]
Adrian's eyes gleamed with excitement as he quickly glanced at his total points.
[Total TP: 105]
A broad grin stretched across his face. Without hesitation, he navigated to his watchlist and selected the knowledge he'd coveted for weeks.
[Fundamentals of Ballistics]
[Cost: 100 TP]
[Confirm Purchase?]
Adrian selected yes immediately, his heart pounding with anticipation. He expected to see the information displayed instantly, but instead, a book-shaped icon appeared.
'Huh?'
Curious, Adrian tapped the book icon.
[Would you like to learn "Fundamentals of Ballistics" now?]
Again, Adrian selected yes.
Suddenly, his mind was flooded with a torrent of intricate information. Ballistics principles, chamber pressure dynamics, projectile propulsion, recoil management... details he'd never even considered rapidly filled his consciousness.
The influx was overwhelming, causing his head to throb painfully.
[Warning: Knowledge absorption overload detected. Rest immediately advised.]
Adrian felt his legs buckle beneath him and his vision spin. Before he could collapse completely, Eli rushed forward, catching him firmly in his strong arms.
"Whoa there, Adrian! Take it easy," Eli exclaimed with concern. "You've pushed yourself way too far again."
Unable to argue, Adrian allowed Eli to carry him back home.
***
When Adrian woke, sunlight filtered gently through his room window. He sat up slowly, rubbing his aching temples. His eyes darted to the clock Eli had placed back in his room.
'2:10 PM. I must have slept for about four hours.'
Slowly, he stood up and stretched, glancing around his room, which now resembled a small inventor's paradise.
Neatly stacked were ten bulbs, fifteen batteries, two sewing machines, three fans, one pumping machine, and two mechanical drills.
'Now comes the fun part. Selling all these inventions,' Adrian thought, determination surging within him.
Even though he was excited about the new knowledge he'd gained on ballistic engineering. Yet he knew building his first firearm would have to wait.
His immediate priority was turning his inventions into profit and gathering resources for his next steps.
Adrian carefully paced around the room, eyeing each invention while forming a plan in his mind.
He couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. After weeks of tireless effort, it was finally time to test the fruits of his labor. Adrian knew his creations had value; now, he simply needed to convince others of the same.
With a satisfied nod, Adrian stepped out of his room and found Eli and Mara seated at the kitchen table. Both of them glanced up, clearly expecting Adrian to speak first.
"I think it's time," Adrian announced with a confident smile.
Eli leaned back in his chair and crossed his muscular arms with an approving grin. "About time you decided to sell those marvels of yours, lad. You've nearly filled the entire house with your creations!"
Mara chuckled warmly. "Honestly, Adrian, I was beginning to wonder if you'd grown too attached to them to part ways."
Adrian laughed quietly, relaxing at their friendly teasing. "Not at all. But I wanted to make sure everything was perfect first. I think I've got an idea of who might want what, but I'll need your help."
Eli nodded seriously, his expression growing thoughtful. "Of course. You've certainly caught the village's eye these past weeks, so selling shouldn't be a problem. Tell us your plans."
Adrian briefly outlined his strategy, mentioning the potential buyers he'd identified and asking Mara for help reaching local merchants through her contacts.
"The sewing machines should be your easiest sell," Mara chimed in thoughtfully, already visualizing potential buyers. "I can introduce you to a few tailors tomorrow. They'll be thrilled to have something that can speed up their work."
"And I'll talk to the craftsmen about those drills," Eli said confidently, rubbing his chin. "They've already seen you scurrying around and were curious enough to ask me questions."
Adrian felt relieved hearing their support. His plan was finally shaping up, and their enthusiasm gave him even more confidence.
"Great. Let's begin now, we'll demonstrate a few things to get people interested."