Colin Workshop, inside the workshop.
"Mr. Colin!"
Duke, standing at the door, closed it and looked at Mr. Colin, who had his back to him. Mr. Colin stood in front of the workbench, looking at the tools on it.
"Duke!!"
"Yes, Mr. Colin!"
"What you did today was far too risky, do you know that?"
Mr. Colin, holding a small wrench, turned around, anger in his eyes. Duke shrank his neck; this guy seemed very angry.
However, he had indeed been thoughtless at the time. Upon seeing that prosthetic limb, his hunting instinct took over, and driven by instinct, he immediately disassembled and reassembled it.
If he had such an opportunity again, Duke felt he would still make the same mistake!
He couldn't help it, he really couldn't help it!
A brand new device he had never seen or touched was placed before him. If he didn't immediately disassemble it, understand its internal structure, and learn from it, he would truly be wasting his Iron Man character template.
Moreover, it wasn't completely without gain; at least his Clockwork Technology had advanced from 'Beginner' to 'Proficient' level. To go further, he would need to continuously refine his current skills.
"Sorry, Mr. Colin!" Duke, who was internally dismissive of the situation, showed a sincere expression of regret on his face. He had to save face, after all, he was still an apprentice in someone else's workshop.
"Sorry?" Mr. Colin slammed the wrench onto the workbench. "Do you know the consequences of what you did?"
"Once you make a mistake during the disassembly and reassembly process, will you bear the losses?"
"You've been here long enough to know the price of a prosthetic limb. Can you afford it with your current wages?"
As Mr. Colin rambled on, Duke kept his head down, looking at his toes, his mind replaying the previous disassembly process.
In this current World line, Hextech has not yet been openly introduced. Camille is an exception, and she uses a hextech original crystal, which is inherently rare, equivalent to the heart of the Crystal Vanguard, that large scorpion species.
original crystals are scarce and precious, and only those with magic talent can use them.
Artificial ones don't count!!!
Chem-Tech was just starting at this time, so Chem-Tech enhancements had not yet appeared. Currently, Mr. Colin Workshop dominates a large portion of the market for human prosthetics.
After all, Clockwork Technology certainly has its advantages; who can guarantee that no accidents will occur in life?
Moreover, scarcity makes things valuable, and Clockwork Technology prosthetics are quite expensive, with enhanced versions costing even more.
Even if he sold Duke, he couldn't afford it!
"I am truly sorry, Mr. Colin!"
When you make a mistake, you admit it; when you're disciplined, you stand at attention. The attitude must be clear, leaving no room for criticism from the other party. Anyway, he'll make the same mistake again next time, so just get through this one first.
"Hmph!"
Mr. Colin snorted, opened his drawer, and pulled out a thick notebook, slamming it onto the table. Duke looked up and realized it was Mr. Colin's personal manuscript.
"To what extent have you mastered the technology of Clockwork devices?"
"I know most of it, but I don't know what level I'm at!"
"Come here and demonstrate for me!"
Mr. Colin pointed to the toolbox nearby, "Make a small trinket, anything, and I'll see your current skill level."
"Oh!"
Duke obediently walked to the toolbox, picked out a pile of parts, and began assembling them with tools, while Mr. Colin watched from the side.
Duke glanced at Mr. Colin, not paying much attention, and instead focused entirely on the pile of parts in front of him. Screwdriver, wrench, hammer—each tool was used in turn. Duke's movements were clean and fluid, with a unique sense of beauty.
Mr. Colin watched the gradually forming creation, a hint of astonishment in his eyes.
This kid had quietly given him a big surprise. Perhaps he could let him participate in his next project.
Before long, Duke finished making a music box. After winding it up, Duke flipped the switch, and a simple "Jingle Bells" resonated throughout the workshop.
"Your skill level is decent!" Even if Mr. Colin was astonished, he maintained a tough demeanor. Handing his notebook to Duke, Mr. Colin said earnestly, "This is my personal manuscript from my time studying at the academy. It records some of my research insights into Clockwork devices. Although some of it is outdated, you can continue to delve deeper into it."
"You know about the Blue Lavender Manor evaluation. If you can create something amazing, I will recommend you to participate in the evaluation."
"Understood, Sir!"
After Duke took Mr. Colin's manuscript, he respectfully bowed to him and left the workshop with the book. Mr. Colin leaned against the table, looking at the music box on it. After winding it up again, a sigh escaped him: "I really am getting old!"
"But there is still room for improvement. Clockwork enhancements are my next research direction. Building on prosthetics, I aim to enhance their performance to achieve effects far beyond human capabilities."
Listening to the music from the music box, Mr. Colin murmured to himself, "It might even be possible to use Clockwork enhancements to create artificial organs!"
"But how should I begin?"
"Perhaps Duke can help me, and when I brought him back, I had the idea of raising him as a son. Now, perhaps, it's time to pass on my mantle!"
Meanwhile, Duke, who had walked out of the workshop, was stopped by Orianna. She looked at the book in his hand and said in disbelief, "My father actually gave you his private manuscript that he wrote while studying at the academy!"
"How far has your Clockwork Technology come?"
"At least a bit better than yours!"
Duke flicked Orianna's forehead and chuckled, "Speaking of which, what are we eating for lunch?"
"You still have the mind to eat?"
"Otherwise?"
"You've really gotten bold, Duke!" Orianna walked around Duke a few times with her hands behind her back, then suddenly clapped her hands on Duke's shoulders: "But never mind, since you asked what we're eating for lunch, let's have something good to celebrate your father's approval!"
"Alright!"
Although Duke responded with a smile, there was no joy in his heart. For him, this was just the beginning. Clockwork Technology still had some enlightening effects on him, and perhaps he could absorb more knowledge to facilitate his technological system.
Moreover, Clockwork Prosthetics seemed too weak; it would be great if they could be strengthened, just like a Clockwork Automaton.
Thinking of this, Duke's expression suddenly froze, "A Clockwork Automaton?"
"Orianna?"
"Could it be…" Looking at Orianna, who was counting on her fingers and listing menu items, Duke swallowed, "Orianna is the predecessor of the Clockwork Automaton, and in this current timeline, she hasn't been affected by Zaun's alchemical gases yet, and Clockwork Technology is just starting."
"But that's right, Vi is still a half-grown girl, Caitlyn is still studying at the academy, Ezreal doesn't know where he's eating hair wax, Ekko is a precocious little kid, so it's normal for the Clockwork Automaton not to have been born yet."
"But if that's the case, then where are those well-known heroes?"
Duke suddenly felt a shiver. Although many heroes haven't appeared yet, this is only on the surface. Several heroes in the Twin Cities were born very early.
Not to mention anything else, Camille, Janna, and Heimerdinger have already existed for a long time and possess great power.
Feeling a chill rise from his back to the back of his head, Duke shivered violently, "It seems I absolutely cannot be reckless right now. I can show my talent, but before I have the power to protect myself, I absolutely cannot be reckless!"
"I have to find a way to strengthen myself, and the first priority is to make money!"
With a goal in mind, Duke hugged the book in his hand tightly. This book might provide him with some help, but the most important thing was still to make money!
Ding-a-ling!
The doorbell rang, interrupting Duke's thoughts. Orianna stopped drooling as she counted on her fingers and walked to the door. A Piltover Enforcer in a blue uniform stood at the door and smiled politely at Orianna: "This is a summons from the Council!"
"A summons?"
"That's right, Jayce Talis of the Talis family will be put on Judgment tomorrow!"
"Mr. Enforcer, what did Senior Jayce do?"
As a student of the academy, Orianna knew Jayce Talis's name. The Enforcer shook his head helplessly: "That's not for you to know. You should give this summons to your father and tell him to be sure to attend tomorrow!"
"I have another house to deliver to, so I'll take my leave for now!"
After tipping his hat, the other party left Colin Workshop.
"It seems the plot is about to officially begin!"
Duke glanced at the letter tube in Orianna's hand, then turned and went up to the attic.
He wanted to study; not even Pantheon could stop him!