Adept Leia also leaned over at this time and said, "It's highly likely; I've heard my father mention it several times!"
"That makes sense. After all, in that position, he's indispensable!"
"Exactly, but if that's the case, then maybe I could be too?" Louis said, somewhat smugly.
"Heh, Louis, don't fool yourself!"
"Alright..."
Gamma still didn't know that his gossip had become a topic of conversation and a comfort for the Priests. He was currently in a car driven by Father Jacob, traveling between various Mechanical Temples, or more precisely, the Mechanical Temples where his batch of brothers and sisters were located. The information was obtained by Adept Leia from her father. Of course, Adept Leia didn't just get this through coquetry, acting cute, throwing tantrums, and rolling around. What exactly did she get?
A master-crafted plasma pistol with eternal loyalty (it would still overheat if disloyal) – held in one forearm.
An intricately carved master-crafted power sword – fixed into a slot on the other forearm of the mech.
Two modified laser cannons on the upper arms – the cannons were borrowed from a factory workshop.
At the head position of the cockpit was an "Iron Halo," which only Space Marine of Captain rank or higher were qualified to wear, capable of releasing a powerful deflection field.
On the most prominent chest plate in the middle of the mech were welded three gold-plated letters – GMA (Gamma's initials).
Gamma was currently taking advantage of the free time to focus intently on the power sword, "stealing knowledge." Father Jacob, who was driving beside him, opened his mouth several times as if to speak, but finally only said half a sentence: "Gamma, why do you..."
Gamma heard Father Jacob's words, knew what he wanted to ask, and so he looked at his own attire and chuckled.
"Firstly, people will disdain a nouveau riche's ability, but very few will think further to doubt his financial resources. Even if they doubt the financial resources, they won't doubt my ability to spend money. After all, it comes and goes quickly, and even if you don't spend money, there's still entertainment to watch."
"Oh..."
Seeing that Jacob didn't understand, Gamma was happy to explain to his companion, continuing: "It's like how some insects in nature hide by using camouflage colors that blend with the environment, while others deceive with a magnificent appearance."
"Oh..."
"I am that butterfly who got incredibly lucky, then became smug, arrogant, self-satisfied, and is now acting foolish."
Jacob suddenly understood and said, "You are deceiving them now."
"Yes, I never doubt how low the bottom line of the Sages above is. Face is something that powerful figures always show to the common people, tell to the common people, and make the common people follow and imitate. Once it involves interests, especially interests without the strength to protect them, hmph hmph..."
Jacob, who had been beaten by society for decades, nodded in deep agreement, thinking at the same time: Is this the ability buried in the genes! He has grown so much in less than a year; what will he become in the future...
(A certain Archmagos: You are slandering! I'm suing you for slander! Someone as great as me sometimes can't even control his bladder.)
"The main reason is still the fear that smart and quick-reacting people will quickly enter the market just as we are starting. Not to mention compared to the wealthy and knowledgeable Sages, even compared to affluent Priests, what is our small capital? Don't forget that Magos Lauster's 'pocket money' for Adept Leia is more than you, a Priest, selling everything you own! This outfit isn't even included."
Jacob's mouth twitched as he listened, but he understood that Gamma was right. Even he, a 70-year-old, was willing to risk it with Gamma. Would those Priests who had lived for three or four hundred years and were about to meet the Omnissiah be willing to stake their wealth for further advancement? If it were him, he would even stake his life.
"Father Jacob, you've seen many of my brothers and sisters with me just now. Look at their performance, think carefully, and you'll know the reason for what I'm doing."
Jacob grumbled inwardly: I think they are normal. It's just that their personalities haven't fully developed, they lack emotions, and everything is based on artificially shaped rational cognitive judgments. Normal cultivated humans are like this, let alone your batch of 'premature babies.' You are the abnormal one, with a much faster knowledge recovery speed and personality growth speed than them... Oh... Oh... Too rational... Oh... Yes.
Having understood, Jacob said, "You mean that because they are too rational, they won't view your disguise with prejudice. As long as they believe that interacting with you will bring benefits, they will be close to you."
Gamma picked up one of the cans piled in the car and said, "Yes, they won't like anyone now, nor will they hate anyone, but whoever can give them this, they will listen to that person."
Jacob stopped the car, looked at the unfamiliar Mechanical Temple not far away, and said, "Alright, we're here."
Gamma patted his face, adjusting to an expression that was three parts show-off, three parts smug, three parts proud, and one part arrogant, then said, "Time to get to work."
He flexibly maneuvered the mech, which had been curled up in the car, out of the vehicle. The mech's excellent performance was one aspect; the other was that Gamma had done the same action too many times this half-day.
Skillfully picking up two boxes of cans, Gamma swaggered into the Mechanical Temple and headed straight for the library. Jacob followed behind, not going to the library but waiting in the auditorium for the Tech-Priest who would come out to inquire about the situation. They each had their own tasks.
"Hahaha, my brother, your brother has come to see you!"
Upon entering, Gamma operated the mech, clanking and clanging, heading straight for the "three-no red-robed boy" who was reading, startling the other apprentices who quickly moved far away from this strange individual.
The three-no boy looked up and asked, "Who are you? Looking for me?"
Gamma had faced too many cold shoulders on this journey, so he was used to it. He patted the OMG on his chest plate and introduced himself: "139876-9527 - Gamma, your brother from the same batch. What's your name, my brother?"
"139876-8645 - Beta. We are cultivated humans; there is no biological blood relationship," Beta replied coldly.
"Hahaha, you really are cold! We were born together, why can't we be brothers!?" Gamma continued to press on.
"..."
"I came specifically this time to see how you are doing? Your brother here recently earned a little money. Look at this equipment!"
The mech operated by Gamma struck a pose. He didn't feel embarrassed; it was others who were embarrassed.
The camera cut to Jacob. The Priest of the Temple came out to ask Jacob the purpose of his visit. Jacob pointed to Gamma, who was striking a pose.
"Who is that?" The Temple Priest asked curiously, seeing Gamma's equipment, which was luxurious even among mid-level Priests.
"The same as the ones here."
"The same?"
You're lying! Look at that big mech! Look at that Iron Halo and power sword! Even the offspring of great nobles might not have them! Look at that arrogant, boastful expression, and then look at the cold-faced boy next to him! You're telling me they're the same!
Seeing that the other party didn't believe him, Jacob continued: "The official statement is like this; birth records can be checked!"
"Oh? But this outfit?" The Temple Priest still asked, disbelievingly.
Jacob shrugged and said, "He bought it himself."
"He himself?"
"Yes, really!"
The Temple Priest still asked disbelievingly, "Where did he get the money?"
Having made this journey, some would just ask a question and leave, while others liked to get to the bottom of things. Jacob had naturally prepared his answers long ago.
Jacob made a swearing gesture towards the cog-skull in the auditorium and said, "Don't disbelieve me when I tell you, but he earned it by copying all the book titles in the library. I swear to the Omnissiah that what I'm saying is true!"
Seeing Jacob swear to the Omnissiah, the Temple Priest had no choice but to believe, saying incredulously, "Copying a catalog can earn that much!? Can his outfit even be bought with money? Wouldn't anyone who had it keep it for careful study and research!"
"It can earn that much! It was issued directly by the Adeptus Mechanicus! It can be bought. You can't compare us poor people to those above," Jacob said, pointing to the ornate ceiling of the auditorium.
"Hiss..."
The Temple Priest and honest people like Jacob, who only knew how to kowtow, were not on the same wavelength. Jacob's meaning was simply that the wealth gap between Priests and Sages was that great! This Temple Priest was thinking of a conspiracy, a big conspiracy!
The Temple Priest, who had originally only intended to slack off, didn't expect to encounter such a big piece of gossip. He began to ask in binary language through a private channel: "Father Jacob, is it convenient to disclose the unofficial statement?"
"No, it's not convenient!"
Jacob was quite annoyed with this Temple Priest now. Of all the places he had visited, this was the first time he'd met someone so talkative. Honest people who didn't talk much found endlessly chattering people irritating.
"Father Jacob, this is a set of experimental data I just happened to find. I think it must be yours that you lost!"
Jacob's greed was piqued. Normally, an honest person like him wouldn't be tempted by such small favors, but today! His pockets had been squeezed dry, not a single coin left. His body was very honest; even while his mind was still conflicted, he had already accepted it.
Poverty makes people degenerate! While Jacob sighed with emotion, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue the conversation. Just as he was thinking about how to fabricate a story, he suddenly remembered the recent gossip about Gamma and had an idea.
"Oh! I was too careless, thank you. I can only say one thing: according to the daughter of our Temple's Magos, she personally heard her father whisper more than once when he saw Gamma: 'It must be that person's offspring!'"
The Temple Priest thought to himself:
That person? Which person? Is the word 'offspring' appropriate for cultivated humans! Only natural humans use 'offspring'! But indeed, he doesn't look like a cultivated human.
It's simply... simply like a normal child showing off a toy! This mech equipment is just a "toy" for a child! And he even used such a ridiculous excuse as "copying a catalog"! Perhaps it's not an excuse but just a "lie" to coax a child! A fake cultivated human! Why fake it!? Could it be for!
"Oh! It truly has far-reaching connections! What an act of blasphemy! To directly confer the status of Priest, to actually..."
"I advise you not to speak nonsense!"
Honest Jacob realized that the other party's speculation was a bit excessive, and this gossip had come from his own mouth. What did he mean? How was it "blasphemy"!
"This... Thank you for the reminder!"