He had been transmigrated for two years now, and the current year was M42.200. For the past year, Gamma had been busy and happy in the beginning, and then busy and annoyed later on.
In the 2K era, learning was for making money.
In the 42K era, making money was for learning.
He deeply realized that the "warhammer universe" was indeed a cesspit; this world always gave you temporary happiness and eternal torment.
The key issue was that Gamma wasn't an exceptionally curious person, yet he had to act as if he, like other Priests, wholeheartedly pursued knowledge. This was "politically correct" within the Adeptus Mechanicus; anything "incorrect" was heresy. Gamma didn't want to be branded a heretic, and given the prevailing environment, he had no choice.
Also, Magos Lauster was too easy to talk to now. If Gamma didn't know he came from a cultivation pod, he would have started suspecting that Lia was adopted and he was the biological son!
With money in hand, he naturally started asking Magos Lauster for mechs again. He didn't want to spend money on them, but he had no choice! How else could he modify and upgrade them if they weren't his own? Who could refuse piloting a mech!
Gamma was prepared to shamelessly pester Magos Lauster until he agreed, but to his utter surprise, Magos Lauster simply gave him one, and not just the mech, but also an Iron Halo.
This scared Gamma quite a bit; he thought Magos Lauster was truly preparing to arrange for him to be "loyal" to someone!
Gamma cried out: No! This doesn't belong to me...
But the fact was, nothing happened; Gamma had simply overthought it. No arrangements! No missions!
After that period of anxiety, Gamma was puzzled:
What did they bring me here for? Is this still the "warhammer" I know? It shouldn't be...
Traitor! Heretic! Xeno! False Emperor! Lackey! Little brat!
We'll all come together to destroy them with a variety of great and small explosions, big slashes and tiny cuts!
After they die, their souls will be tormented by demons in the Warp; even if they don't die, they can still be subjected to horrific "PLAYs."
Even with his current cheat, the best outcome Gamma could envision for himself was a "peaceful death." His plan was to do well within the Adeptus Mechanicus, and once he was in a high position of power, wealth, and influence, he'd raise a few "untouchables." Then, when he was close to death, he'd lie down among them, ensuring no "god" could ever indoctrinate his soul! He wanted to "fight" until his soul was scattered!
Gamma is now a bit paranoid; Magos Lauster is very off! Jacob, Lia, they're all very off! Other Priests are also very off! It makes him feel like he's living in "The Truman Show"!
Whether it's an illusion or not, he can't continue to be so leisurely! He needs knowledge! He needs strength! He needs the power to resist when something happens!
Gamma made up his mind, pulling his thoughts out of the "Blue Sea." Let Jacob and the others mess around on their own! He really wanted to see if they were truly hiding something from him!
For more than half a year after stepping back, Gamma used his funds as capital and began acquiring damaged technological artifacts from the black market, from Priests, and from every channel he could find.
He discovered that his cheat, as long as it was something related to technology, regardless of its condition, as long as the overall structure was intact, he could extract the knowledge from its design to production then to improvement. It was quite powerful!
Scattered components could also be extracted, but only knowledge related to the component itself could be obtained, not the overall design. It was like a search engine with missing "keywords," resulting in imprecise search results. However, the fact that it didn't completely fail earned Gamma's approval.
Acquire -- Extract -- Learn -- Organize -- Repair -- Sell to recoup funds -- Acquire again.
Of course, what Gamma dared to sell were all low-end technological artifacts, not very high in technical content.
The reason the original sellers failed to repair them was purely because they were misled by the Tech-priest' "theological technology theory." Without the corresponding "Kowtow Sutra," most attempts at repair based on personal experience and the design philosophy of the artifacts were not just irrelevant, but completely counterproductive.
Gamma was different; he had a "cheat"!
But a "cheat" isn't omnipotent. Gamma stated: There are too many difficulties and problems from design to production. The knowledge of design principles and production processes isn't very useful to him right now—the equipment needed for production and the equipment for synthesizing materials are what's important!
The product isn't important! The production line is important! Production equipment is even more important! How to manufacture production equipment is the most important! He wants the entire 42K industrial chain!
For example, if Gamma wanted to eat an ice pop, what would he need?
First, he'd need to dig a well. To dig a well, he'd first need to learn how to dig a well. Digging a well would require well-digging tools, so he'd have to learn blacksmithing. To blacksmith, he'd need to know how to make charcoal, how to find coal mines, how to find iron ore, and how to make stone tools.
Finally, once the well was dug and he had clean water, he would still need a refrigerator for cooling. He would need to build a refrigerator.
To build a refrigerator, he would need...
In short, until the refrigerator was built, he wouldn't be able to eat an "ice pop." If no one could build a refrigerator, then no one would get to eat one!
Gamma finally understood why the Tech-priest were digging graves all over the galaxy. It turned out they all wanted their "refrigerators" and the "ice pops" they desired. A complete STC was the best and most wonderful fully automatic "refrigerator" that didn't require "digging a well."
He wanted one so badly too!
He could freely and openly "steal" from the production lines Magos Lauster was in charge of, but these lines weren't very advanced. He couldn't get into advanced factories; such high-level places were the private workshops of high-ranking Sages.
Moreover, if he didn't become a "42K Tomb Raider," he, Gamma "Magos," truly couldn't progress! Otherwise, he couldn't explain the source of the technology he possessed, such as the production blueprints for the Power Weapon's disrupter field generator.
Speaking of Power Weapons like "Power Swords," "Power Axes," and "Power Fists," they are all composed of a primitive, simple melee weapon structure combined with a disrupter field generator hidden within the weapon's hilt or handle.
Once the disrupter field is activated, a blurry, blue disrupter field envelops the primary striking area of the melee weapon (whether it's a sword blade or the head of a warhammer), and upon impact, it can break the molecular bonds of matter.
Only a very few Forge Worlds of the Adeptus Mechanicus can manufacture these deadly weapons, and existing Power Weapons are often hundreds or even thousands of standard years old.
Among mortals, only the most powerful and influential individuals in the Imperium possess Power Weapons, such as Inquisitors, high-ranking Commissars or Imperial Guard officers, and members of various noble families with strong political influence and wealth.
Even within the Space Marine Chapters, like the Emperor's Death Angels, who are considered "demigods" in the Imperium, Power Weapons are "relic"-level weapons; ordinary warriors can only feast their eyes on them.
How could Gamma dare to reveal this? He was only two years old, constantly under the watchful eyes of others. How could he explain the source of the technology?
Based on the technology he possessed, even without the conditions for mass production, it didn't mean he couldn't hand-craft "blank" level Power Weapons if given the materials.
If any Space Marine Chapter or Chaos Warband knew he could hand-craft "Power Swords" and "Iron Halos," they would dare to drop a drop pod directly to "invite" Gamma to be a "lifelong" Tech-Magos.
A child carrying gold through a bustling market will surely attract malicious individuals.
Gamma realized he had been wrong from the very beginning! Technical knowledge was a stepping stone! It was the foundation for survival! Without corresponding status and strength, he would always be a "child"!
Understanding the cause-and-effect relationship and knowing what he should do next, Gamma was in a great mood. Although the past six months had been a waste, it didn't matter; it wasn't too late!
Gamma pondered: As a religious Tech-Priest, if he wanted to "progress," he had to start with the "faith" within the Adeptus Mechanicus. From now on, he would be called—Technical Master, Devout Believer, Gamma.
Without further ado, Gamma rushed off to ask Magos Lauster for leave, citing the pursuit of faith as his reason. Although Magos Lauster agreed, from his bewildered expression, Gamma concluded that he was an impious Priest, a hidden "heretic."
A devout Believer sees everyone else as a heretic, and Gamma was very devout now.
Speaking of the Adeptus Mechanicus's faith, one cannot avoid the trinity of "Source Power," "Omnissiah," and "Omnissiah."
This means you can believe in all three simultaneously, or just one; no one can call another a heretic. You can't say it, but if you want to—you know.
Gamma's first stop was one of the three major faith factions of the Adeptus Mechanicus: the Source Power faction.
Source Power faction: Believes that all life and movement are attributed to the ineffable divinity of Source Power.
The moment Gamma entered, he knew this wasn't the place for him. The eye-searing style, it just looked wrong!
"Excuse me, wrong way!" Gamma bowed apologetically, turned, and strode out in one fluid motion.
"Bang!"
Damn it, the exit was blocked!
Two shirtless, bald "Blue Men" stood, one in front and one behind, sandwiching Gamma.
"Hahaha, Believer, since you've come, you have a connection with 'Source Power.' Come in and sit down," said the Blue Man in front of Gamma.
"Oh, I still..."
"Crackling sounds..."
He can discharge electricity with his bare hands!
"Believer, what did you just say?! What do you still...?"
"I still haven't given my contribution!"
"Hahaha, truly fated."
Electric Monk: A type of Tech-Priest within the Adeptus Mechanicus, fanatical warriors responsible for supporting other combat-oriented Tech-priest in battle. Their skin is etched with metallic special Source Power (circuitry) circuits, winding densely across their bodies and directly connected to their brains. This direct connection allows them to wield or generate incredibly high-energy currents.
Electric Monks can conduct electrical energy through anything they can touch. When an Electric Monk enters a highly excited, over-agitated state, the electric current on their body rapidly gathers, destroying enemies with lightning and thunder.