Hello everyone! My name is Кайра05 and I'm from Kazakhstan. English is not my primary language; I would say it's my third language. You might notice grammatical errors and strange jokes. I first write in Russian (because it's convenient for me) and then translate it into English. I apologize, that was just an introduction. Enjoy reading!

After another intense day, I sat in my "workshop" room, looking at blueprints and parts. The room was lit by a dim lamp that barely illuminated the tools scattered on the table: screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers. Drawings were pinned to the walls.

In the corner stood a massive workbench cluttered with metal parts and wire scraps. Next to it was a small lathe, where my father and Lilia recently machined new parts for the engine. The smell of oil and metal filled the air, creating an atmosphere of intense labor and creativity.

"Am I really on the right path?" I sighed, rubbing my temples. "These machines, these devices... They can change the world, but what if they do more harm than good?"

Though I was the theorist coming up with all these amazing inventions, it was my family who brought them to life. My father and Lilia, and sometimes even my mother, took my ideas and worked on them, turning blueprints into working mechanisms. I just couldn't do it all by myself, and moreover, they spent a lot of money on these projects without asking questions. I was immensely grateful to them for their efforts and support, for believing in me and my ideas despite the great difficulties and costs.

Just in case, I asked my parents about the conditions of the common people. What I heard from them sharply undermined my spirits. I felt my small hands, covered in work marks and small cuts. In these hands lay the power to change the world, but did they hold wisdom? Was I taking on too much responsibility...?

"I'm trying to bring progress, but maybe I'm rushing too much. Perhaps I'm not considering all the consequences. What if my machines replace workers and leave them jobless? Poor people, who already barely make ends meet, could be left penniless. I just want to improve people's lives, but what if I'm only making it worse?"

I sighed, recalling the faces of my parents who looked at me with faith and hope...

The first prototype turned out to be reliable. It required no maintenance for months, was incredibly powerful and fast, exceeding all my expectations. This machine could work non-stop, needing almost no repairs and support. Moreover, the engine could be disassembled and adapted for various purposes.

It could serve as an engine for a car, a grain crusher, a water pump, a mill drive, a power generator, and even be used in agricultural machinery for plowing fields. And it could be improved even more! Just give it time and resources! Oil, lubricants, fuel, metals, and chakra and mana! These things will enhance the engine even further!

And I created it literally "from scratch," so to speak. Don't confuse a smart person with a genius. A smart person is confident in their knowledge, while a genius always doubts themselves, wondering if they are a genius or just another fool. A genius?.. Many call me that. But I don't consider myself a "genius."

I recalled how steam devices in the Hidden Stone and Snow Country changed the lives of ordinary citizens. Yes, they created new jobs and significantly increased productivity, but many workers suffered from harsh working conditions, low wages, and poor living conditions. I didn't want to repeat the same mistakes here.

"I won't give up. I'll find the right path, even if it takes more time and effort. Only then can I create something truly great and useful..."

After all, as sad as it may be, the well-being of people is more important than striving for perfect technological progress.

"Sir, Raul has come to see you. He brought the order," Lilia knocked on the door, interrupting my thoughts. She and I had become real comrades. Although I had not yet made my inventions public, pondering over the details, Lilia helped me in every way. She also makes wonderful soaps of various kinds and sells them on our behalf.

"Okay, I'll be right out," I replied, washing my dirty hands and hurrying to meet him.

"Hi, Rudy!" Raul was a hunter and a good friend of my father's. I had never seen his face, but from the bright "aura" he emitted, I thought he was a handsome man, maybe even a young guy. "The automatic crossbow and traps have really made our lives easier. I caught more game in a day than I used to in a week. You're a wizard!"

"Hope you didn't shoot yourself and remember, never look directly into the barrel," I chuckled, reaching for my weapon. Raul hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to keep the crossbow for himself. Eventually, he reluctantly returned my invention to me.

It was a pneumatic multi-shot gun, created based on a steam engine. Imagine this: a hunting rifle that is silent, multi-shot, and so powerful that it can pierce a tree through! The Uchiha clan during the Warring States period invented this "wonder toy." But apparently, hunting trees quickly got boring, and they went back to their beloved kunai and shuriken. And yes, maintaining these rifles was so complicated that it was easier to catch a Senju shinobi and make him do it.

"Here are your plants. A Vattirus flower, an Akisumi leaf, and a Dragon Lily root. They will help you in your research," Raul reported, laying out many plants and some monster hides. When mom returns from work, we'll have a botany session.

As Lilia came in and was about to pay for Raul's "mission," I heard a child's curious voice:

"Dad, who is this boy? Why are his eyes covered?"

I turned my head to the sound and heard light footsteps. Raul answered:

"This is our new friend, Rudeus. He helps us. Luffy, be polite."

"Hm? You never mentioned you had children," I noted, trying to catch her scent and the sounds of her movements.

Raul laughed, but Lilia looked like something had struck her. She seemed very surprised.

"This is my Luffy. She is always curious about new things, go say hello. Oh, Luffy is her nickname, her real name is Sylphiette!"

He quickly explained. I heard the girl come closer and felt a light scent of fresh herbs and flowers coming from her. Of course! It was the aroma of our new generation of fragrant soaps! Judging by the smell, our products are top quality. I felt proud of myself.

"Hi, Ludeus. Why are your eyes covered? Are you sick? Why are you so skinny?" she asked a series of questions with clear curiosity. What a childish accent! She barely pronounces the letter "R"...

"Yo-ho-ho! I am the coolest inventor in all of wild Asura! And I'm not sick, it's just that my brain requires constant calorie intake."

She, not understanding, still laughed and continued to ask:

"And what do you invent? Dad said you make all sorts of cool things. Can you show me something?"

"Of course!" I nodded enthusiastically. "This, for example, is called a camera," I handed her a small metal box, and she looked at it with awe. How I love this feeling! "Just press this button, and it will take a picture, capturing the moment forever."

Sylphiette cautiously pressed the button, and a flash illuminated her face. She clapped her hands in delight as if she had seen magic. I took out the photo plate and handed it to her. It must seem strange to see a blind boy creating a camera so people could see what he himself couldn't. What irony...

After some discussions and handshakes with Raul, I began showing off my inventions. I showed them a primitive camera, an incandescent lamp, and many other things, explaining how everything worked. Raul looked at me with amazement and respect, and his daughter, Sylphiette, literally glowed with excitement, asking a myriad of questions.

"How did you manage to do this, Rudeus?" Raul said in bewilderment, examining the camera. He saw the image of his daughter on the plate and became very interested. Bringing the camera too close to his eyes, he accidentally pressed the button. The flash blinded him, and he cried out, rubbing his eyes in pain.

"Ha-ha-ha! Didn't I tell you not to look into the barrel?"

"Ouch, it hurts...!" he groaned, continuing to rub his eyes. Coming to his senses and seeing his frightened face in the photo, Raul blushed like a schoolboy caught cheating. But at the same time, it confirmed my suspicions: the prototype was successful. Even sudden movements were no problem for it. I couldn't help but laugh, watching him try to make a serious face, blinking and squinting from the residual effect of the flash.

"It's just magic... well, almost," I felt my pride swelling like a balloon.

I should probably brag about my childhood achievements more often. You live like a fool, grow up, and forget that in reality, you are a great hero, unstoppable in the face of any challenge...

Sylphiette, not falling behind her silly father, continued to ask me about every device I described. "Can I see how the lamp works too? This is so cool!"

Though soon I began to realize I was getting carried away. Bragging wasn't what I wanted to do. After all, I didn't want them to think all I did was show off my achievements.

"Friends, I have a lot of work ahead," I said, trying to gently hint at the door. "Thanks for your visit and interest, but I need to continue."

Sylphiette, seeing I had returned to my tasks, quickly calmed down. She politely said goodbye and, smiling, left with her father.

"See you soon, Ludi!" she said as she left, still glowing with excitement.

I escorted them to the door, feeling a slight regret for bragging too much. Well, now I'll have to learn to be a humble genius... or at least try.

Every morning started with training: my father practiced his sword skills, while I "trained" in using chakra and magic. Mastering mana is no easy task, though, according to my mother, I was progressing quite quickly. The key, it turned out, to magic is belief. And that's where my problems began. I thought too much about the illogical nature of magic and other trivialities instead of just doing it.

One day, realizing that my head was starting to smoke from overthinking, I decided to do things differently. I threw all the theory into the trash and decided to practice, like in the good old days.

"Holy crap!" — that's what I said when a water ball appeared in front of me.

Shock! Nothing more! As soon as I stopped thinking that magic was illogical nonsense and just started "casting," I finally managed to bring the first spell to life, which I called "little water." It was a true revelation! I thought: knowledge doesn't always help in everything.

Sometimes it only hinders. In my case, the more I stuffed my head with theory, the worse it got. As they say, knowledge is power, but sometimes it's better to act intuitively without burdening yourself with unnecessary thoughts.

"So, is this the liquid heat?"

The feeling of mana was very different from chakra. It was like the "temperature" of your blood rising, and you distinctly feel it. When I first started focusing on mana, I was stunned. A tiny stream was born inside me, gradually turning into a bubbling river! I felt the energy flowing through my veins like warm water, filling every corner of my body.

With each breath, this warmth grew more intense until it started pulsing in unison with my heart. You can never get used to this!

Damn, I hope I don't get a heart attack... I felt a slight tingling in my palms, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up in surprise. This was an entirely new, unfamiliar sensation, and I couldn't help but marvel at how different it was from the usual flow of chakra. I was thrilled and a bit confused, not knowing how best to direct this new power.

"No-no-no, I can't mess around! I'm walking on very thin ice..."

All 361 tenketsu points didn't absorb a drop of mana, but they freely let it pass through them... It was like they just didn't mix, like oil and water. I have very, I repeat, very strong sensory skills and extremely fine senses.

The chakra channels, as I sensed them, ran parallel to the so-called "mana channels," and they were incredibly close, almost touching! I don't want to test what will happen if I accidentally make them intersect... Imagine if two high-speed trains decided to race on the same track. Spoiler: it would end in disaster!

"As strange as it sounds, my body is almost the perfect synergy for all these energies. Wow, my soul did a great job fine-tuning everything so precisely..." I was very surprised. So, I'm a descendant of second-type civilizations. If I'm right, there should be some dormant genetic abilities inside me...

And yet, it's as if in the quantum world someone perfectly aligned all the spins of the electrons so they spin in unison without causing any collapse. Inside me is such a fine-tuning that any deviation could cause chaos.

All types of energy have one common property: energy neither arises from nowhere nor disappears to nowhere; it merely transitions from one form to another or from one body to another. This is called the law of conservation of energy. But here's the strange thing — I eat more than I weigh and still remain hungry. Where does all the energy from food go? This is a mystery of universal scale! Maybe I have a black hole instead of a stomach...

I did thorough calculations and realized that my brain doesn't need much food to work, just a kilogram of sugar. That's nothing, right? Though I think I'm lucky not to have gotten diabetes with such a diet. My weight is estimated to be around 5-8 kg, which is significantly below the norm for children my age. Sometimes it feels like if a breeze blows, it will carry me away into the air.

"Damn, why am I blind? What's wrong with my eyes...? I'm tired of wearing this bandage."

Sometimes it seems that I spend more time trying not to trip over furniture than on actual tasks. Sometimes I just want to throw off this bandage and say: "Hey, world, here I come!" Instead, I bump into doors, scare cats, and drop things when I lose concentration. Just recently, I almost ate a spoon instead of food — that's my daily life for you.

"Rudi, I have a question for you."

After breakfast, we moved to our improvised workshop. The sun had barely risen above the horizon, and we were already bent over the blueprints, surrounded by tools and blanks.

"Yes, Dad?" I asked, not looking up from my work.

"You know, you create cool things, and I really enjoy working with you," Paul looked at me warmly. "Drawing blueprints has become my second favorite activity, alongside sword training..."

"What are you getting at?" I asked with slight suspicion, sensing that he wanted to say something important. Dad, you're being weird.

"I wanted to say... Some not-so-nice people might become interested in us soon," Paul frowned, his voice becoming anxious. "Your inventions won't be limited to these things, right? If you created this at three years old, I dread to think what will come in the future."

I felt my breath catch. Paul continued:

"These inventions can change the world, but with such power comes great responsibility. If they fall into the wrong hands, the consequences could be terrible. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes, I understand," I replied, feeling the weight of his words. "I've thought about it. What do you suggest?"

"Your mother and I were S-rank adventurers. I've seen a lot of crap in this profession," Paul said seriously. "You are talented... and you are really different from the rest. But being different doesn't mean being safe. If you rush ahead too quickly, you'll die young. I hope you get the hint."

I was slightly taken aback by his words. He usually didn't show this side... of wisdom. I immediately started analyzing his words. Paul has much more experience in this world than I do, and I should listen to his advice. Judging by his wariness, he had thought about this for a long time before telling me.

He wants to protect our family and my inventions. Paul understands that my creations can attract unwanted attention and cause big problems. His words made me realize the need to protect not only ourselves but also my developments.

No matter how "generous" I am, I need protection. Not in the sense that something threatens me, although that too... My inventions in this vast country can become an uncontrolled and sharp push for development, and that does not promise the most favorable outcomes.

If you don't control your inventions, I could start a revolution, the consequences of which would be unpredictable. Imagine if someone stole the blueprints of my steam engine and began mass-producing it. This could lead to a sudden technological leap that society is simply not ready for...

"Dad," I began after a short pause. "Can we find a way to protect our inventions so that no one can steal or use them without our permission? Something like a document that confirms our rights to them. Do you know if such things exist?"

Paul thought for a moment, then quickly nodded, as if remembering something.

"You're talking about something like a master's privilege? Yes, such things exist. It's official recognition of your right to an invention. We would need to go to Roa and register."

"Privilege?" I asked, processing the new word. "So, it's a document that confirms that the invention belongs to us?"

"Exactly," Paul confirmed. "It will give us the right to protection and the ability to officially claim that these are our inventions. No one will be able to just steal or use them. We will be protected by the adventurers' guild and the law of Asura."

In this world, where there are no "official" patents, protecting inventions becomes extremely challenging. However, there might be an analogue to the patent system — something like official recognition and protection of rights to an invention. This "master's privilege" seems to be the analogue. But just bare ideas are not enough, we need investments and resources. No one will want to invest money without concrete developments and results.

In the Shinobi world, the patent system was more of a "guarantee" that no one would steal your secrets — whether it was Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, or scientific ninja weapons. If you developed something new, you had to register techniques, otherwise, they might consider you disloyal to the village.

But no one cared about these "patents," and everyone strove to learn as many techniques as possible, not worrying too much about the author's rights, although you could sue the thief. For example, Kakashi-sensei, who stole thousands of Ninjutsu and became known as the "Copy Ninja." No one particularly liked him, and the ninja from neighboring villages hated him.

Even I didn't initially like him when he copied my Rasengan. Well, imagine, this guy comes along and says, "Hey, look what I can do!" — and you're standing there thinking, "Hey, that's my technique!"

"Eh-eh?"

I suddenly started having a panic attack... Kakashi-sensei?

Memories of bloody wars flooded over me, images of destroyed villages and bloody bodies flashed before my eyes. I felt my pulse quicken, and my breathing became heavy. These scenes from the past haunted me, causing panic attacks.

"Rudi, are you okay?" Paul asked, noticing my state. He threw the screwdriver in his hand and quickly came to help.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain control and calm down. "Yes, Dad, I'm fine. Just memories."

Lately, I've often been suffering from mental problems. Are you familiar with the feeling of sudden panic that arises out of nowhere, without any apparent reason? In just a moment, it drives you crazy, accelerating your heart to the limit — it feels like it's about to explode. Your head gets foggy, chills turn into heat and terror, paralyzing you and simultaneously making you want to run away.

Moreover, this panic is accompanied by sharp chest pain, as if pierced by a hot iron. That's how it is for me, only multiplied by ten. Sometimes I just want to take and hang myself...

"Dad, we're going to Roa. Prepare Caladjav, please," I said, crossing my arms over my chest and trying to calm my heartbeat. Seeing me in this state, my father sighed. He understood that he couldn't help me now and decided it was best to leave me alone.

The morning was cool, and the gentle sun was just beginning to illuminate the village of Bueno. My father and I were getting ready to set off to register my inventions in Roa. It seemed like this was my first time leaving the village. The panic attack I had suffered from finally subsided after an hour of agonizing meditation. It was incredibly hard, but I managed to calm down and get my thoughts in order.

I wonder, is the world beyond the village completely different? Maybe there are giant snails and talking snakes everywhere? Or worse, mages with heads like toads? I chuckled, imagining these creatures. Such contrasts in my thoughts: at night, I thought about ending my life, and now I'm pondering such things... I've always liked toads and slugs, and snakes, in my opinion, are quite cute too.

Father noticed my smile and, raising an eyebrow, asked, "What are you thinking about, Rudi?"

"Oh, just thinking about what I would do if I suddenly met a giant chicken with a human head," I replied, continuing to fantasize.

"They do exist. I told you to listen to the story about the three swordsmen!"

"Really?! Even those?" I exclaimed, freezing in place. What a perversion of nature! Now I'll definitely have to be on guard. It's amazing how this world still manages to surprise me. If these creatures are intelligent too, my curiosity just grows...

Lilia kindly wrapped me in warm clothes to protect me from the morning chill. Meanwhile, Paul and I, carrying a ton of blueprints and documents, looked like two travelers embarking on an expedition to the top of a mountain. We had to take not just a bag, but a whole load worthy of a camel's back.

"Be careful, gentlemen," Lilia said, her voice sounding a bit worried. "And come back soon."

Mother hugged me goodbye, and I felt her warmth and care.

"Good luck, Rudi. Be careful and don't forget your goals," Mom said, kissing me on the forehead. "And you, Paul, keep your eyes to yourself and don't ogle other women!"

"Yeah, yeah..." Father replied in a bored tone, clearly letting the remark pass by. Zenith just sighed heavily. Knowing his libido, it can be said with confidence that he will certainly do all sorts of things. But Mom wasn't worried, as she had a super brat who secretly promised to keep an eye on Father. We waved goodbye and rode off on horseback.

"So, is this place big or small? Damn blindness!" We finally reached this fortress-city I had only heard about from my parents. Disappointment filled me because I couldn't see this place in all its glory.

Nevertheless, the crowd of people, the noise, and the buzz of conversations immediately intrigued me. So many people, so close to each other, I hadn't seen in ten years—seven years in that world and three years here. I tried to catch their voices, distinguishing different accents and intonations. It was a real cacophony, reminiscent of an orchestra without a conductor—everyone played their part and didn't listen to others.

"Whoa! What a stench, dattebayo?!"

The sharp influx of smells made my head spin: a mix of sweat, street food, fresh pastries, and unfortunately, the horrifying stench of waste. This stench stood out especially against the rest, and my heightened sense of smell made it even more unbearable. I felt slightly nauseous and grimaced.

"Hang in there."

We paid the entrance fee, which also caused me some irritation. The money, like everything else here, smelled unpleasant, and I couldn't help but complain:

"Did we really pay to smell this stench and walk through the dirt? Dad, better carry me on your shoulders, please!" I pleaded, unable to bear it. Father lifted me and set me on his shoulders, which immediately improved my mood. Now I was higher than everyone and could enjoy the light breeze that somewhat freshened the air.

"That's better," I muttered. "But I still don't understand how they live in such filth. Is all of Asura like this? Damn, they're ruining the name of my incarnation!"

From this height, the shouts of the merchants sounded even louder, their voices merging into a continuous cacophony. It was almost pleasant if not for the constant smell of dirt and waste. Hmm... To reach the level of civilization of the first ninja villages, these people probably need to walk to Mars and back! Practically the Stone Age, damn it.

Paul smirked, not paying much attention to my words, and I felt him shake his head. He seemed to know that my complaints wouldn't change anything and just continued moving forward, confidently maneuvering through the uneven streets and dirty puddles. Though he too grimaced, apparently having grown accustomed to the scents of our fragrant soaps. I can already imagine becoming a millionaire just by selling cleaning products.

By the way, people looked at us like we were strange creatures: our luggage took up so much space that it would have been easier to roll it on a cart. However, my father's strength handled this task easily. He managed to jump over the dirt while carrying this load on his back, and I was sitting on his shoulders, swinging my legs. With such a father, you can move mountains or carry a cart full of junk!

"Here we are. This is the adventurers' guild," Paul said proudly, pointing to a rather imposing building. "Since you're only three years old, you can't get an adventurer's card. The minimum age for humans is six."

Father explained many unknown things about the devices and structure of this world with childlike enthusiasm. In my view, the adventurers' guild is something like the analogues of hidden ninja villages, only a more decentralized organization. There is no single leader here, like in our villages, but there are still rules and orders. This model provided greater freedom of action and flexibility, but the lack of unified leadership could lead to misunderstandings and chaos. There are pros and cons.

When we entered inside, we were greeted by a friendly middle-aged man, clearly holding an important position. His smile was so wide it seemed slightly unnatural.

"Welcome, brave adventurers! My name is Roberto Fox," he exclaimed, approaching us. He looked at my father: "How can I help you?"

Fox, huh? Kitsune = Fox. Of course, a strange name. Though who am I to judge, I'm a gray rat myself.

"We've come to register an invention and obtain a master's privilege. Can we wait..."

"Ah, Paul Greyrat, right?" the man turned to him with an even wider smile. "I've heard of you, the great S-rank adventurer and captain of the 'Black Wolf Fangs' group. What an honor to see you here! Please, come in, I'll personally help you with the registration, no waiting."

Father snorted proudly and nodded: "Yes, that's me. Nice to hear my old merits are not forgotten."

This strange gesture made me feel uneasy. Something about this man seemed off. The atmosphere around him was tense. A slight scent of sweat coming from him indicated nervousness despite his friendly manner.

"U-u-uh?"

Inside the guild building, there was a strange silence. Usually, such places are filled with noise and voices, but here it was almost empty. Even footsteps echoed down the corridors. This was too unusual for a bustling institution, which even Paul noticed and found surprising.

"Today is an important day for us—an inspection from the central office. So all staff are busy and trying not to make noise. Please, come in."

His steps were slightly uncertain as if he wanted to hide something. A normal person's walk is usually confident, but this man's legs seemed tense, ready to flee. Hmm, it seems he noticed Paul's look and decided to explain the situation. Hmm-hmm...

"Dad, can we trust this guy?"

Paul nodded, not noticing my concern. "He recognized me, son. S-rank adventurers are always welcome here. You probably can't see it, but he has an administrator's badge."

Lately, I've been experiencing paranoia and visions of horrors in my dreams, which might be causing me to look at things suspiciously. I need to just calm down and relax...

"So, gentlemen, let's start with filling out the forms," the man said, smiling. Knowing I needed to stay vigilant, I felt that shinobi intuition awakening within me that had saved my life more than once. I decided to be on guard.

With a thud, Paul set the bag on the table, nearly breaking it, and opened it to reveal our world of papers and tools. With great "enthusiasm," I began demonstrating my small mechanical devices—automatic cleaners designed to significantly improve life here.

Alongside them lay blueprints for the latest automated irrigation system, which precisely dosed water depending on soil moisture and plant needs. And that wasn't all—we had many other amazing inventions.

Here's the plus side of such a local patent system: you don't have to drag all your junk into the office and show it. But we brought a bunch of things just in case to avoid problems. If we had to demonstrate each invention personally, we would need a whole team of porters, and I'm not joking!

Even the luggage with the blueprints weighed as much as a good set of weights. And it would take so much time that you could write a book, "My Patents and I: An Epic of Eternal Demonstration."

"This interests me. A mechanical clock? Is it really possible to invent such a thing? And what's this? A counting machine? What?! A printing machine? How many of these are there?!" This time, the director's reaction was genuine; he looked at these things in his hand in shock. His eyes widened with amazement, and he couldn't hide his admiration as he examined more and more things.

I smiled and shook my head, playing along with his game. Despite all his friendliness, this man seemed... suspicious. I decided to play by his rules, at least for the first few minutes. He continued examining the devices while I kept pulling them out of the bag in batches.

My small devices, like clocks, pocket compasses, miniature notebooks, folding knives, and even pocket calculators, all showcased my mechanical mastery. Inventions appeared one after another, and the director, overwhelmed by this flow, tried to keep his composure.

Among these items were also some useful things invented by Paul himself (of course, with my participation), such as pocket water filters, self-inflating sleeping bags, and a manual mechanical flashlight. Simple but innovative, they are perfect for adventurers. Carrying such exquisite and useful items is a real art, and Father knows the preferences of people in this profession well. On the other hand, adventurers are similar to shinobi, just with more freedom.

"Is that all?" The director was already tired of being surprised and now seemed to no longer be pretending. After the twentieth invention, he started reading the descriptions monotonously, not paying attention to what was written. He got to the "super-intelligent hat pin" and just nodded, pretending to still be impressed.

"Probably..." Paul joked, receiving a glare from the director.

We began processing a huge number of documents for rights. The director's fingers trembled from the strain as he signed the endless papers. The stack of documents grew like a tower of parchment, threatening to collapse at any moment.

Paper here is not cheap, and I even provided him with some sheets of the necessary size to speed things up. When the director ran out of his parchment, he gratefully accepted them as if they were treasures. Pens didn't exist, so dipping the quill in the ink pot turned into a torturous process. The director sighed every time he dipped the quill in ink, as if it was his greatest life challenge.

"Yaaawn..." Father yawned.

"Yaaawn..." I yawned.

We waited so long that time seemed to stop. In the end, we waited half a day, but in reality, it was all night. Paul even managed to doze off at the table, leaving an ink stain on his cheek. The director, with a grim face and ink on his nose, barely held back from throwing everything out the window. When he dipped the quill in the ink pot for the fifth time, cursed, and threw the quill, we realized we should have brought a pen.

"Hmm, not bad..." I sleepily ran my fingers over one of the hundred sheets extracted from the mountain of parchment. The smell of ink helped me easily read what was written.

The contract contained the following points: The guild recognizes me and my father as "initial level masters" and gives us an honorary title. The word master covered all skills, from alchemy and magic to construction. By the way, Father's title as an S-rank adventurer played a big role here; otherwise, the inventions would only be registered under his name since I'm not six yet.

My inventions are now protected, and no one can steal them, at least I hope so. For each invention used by the guild, I will receive fair compensation. The guild promises help and resources for creating new inventions, of course, in their own interest. If the contract is terminated, the rights to my inventions will remain with me. In general, we are "respected" and supported.

Moreover, we had to sign a bunch of papers and their copies: a confidentiality agreement, a licensing agreement, a revenue-sharing agreement, a document on the right to "patents," a cooperation agreement, an inventory list, a liability agreement, an insurance document, test protocols, and an acceptance certificate. It was extremely tedious, but better safe than sorry.

"We petition for special rights to these inventions. Of course, with your permission," even through the fatigue, those suspicious eyes "glowed."

The director insisted on exclusive rights to several inventions. He was especially interested in pocket water filters, self-inflating sleeping bags, generators that can store electricity and convert it into light, multi-functional belts with hidden pockets (good old analogs of shinobi bulletproof vests), and something else.

These devices were key for the survival and comfort of adventurers, and the guild wanted their exclusive use. We immediately agreed and signed more contracts. Paul stood by, smiling smugly, while I just clicked my tongue—the director chose Father's inventions over mine. On the other hand, it was reasonable since we hadn't explained the purpose of things like the steam engine, induction furnace, automatic forging hammer, mineral separation system, and hydraulic press.

When the director saw my mini versions of mechanisms, his eyes started bulging like a fish's, and he mumbled something like "What kind of magic is this? What other integrals?" Apparently, their complexity and obscurity scared him off. Paul, of course, rejoiced; his simple yet useful devices were the obvious choice. He was so smugly smiling that it seemed he would start dancing any moment.

In the end, no one wants to sit over blueprints, trying to figure out how another wonder of technology works, if they can just take and use a ready-made water filter. Although, honestly, at that moment, I really wanted to slap Father on the back of the head for his smug smile.

"What the heck, dattebayo?"

Everything went too smoothly, as if our arrival had been planned in advance. During our entire time in his office, we were not disturbed, and the director never got distracted, except for food and drink. This made me suspicious—it seemed he knew about our visit and had prepared everything beforehand. Even the stock of paper and ink he pulled out from under the table was ready for the "master privileges" documents. Though it was amusing to watch him sweat with tension, trying to keep up with the stream of inventions.

Moreover, there was a very subtle pretense in his behavior that ordinary people might not notice. Could someone have tipped him off about our inventions? Mr. Ada? Raoulz? Sylphie, maybe? Although she's just a little girl. And yet, none of them had left Bueno for several months... It all reminded me of one of those traps ninjas set to lure their enemies.

And most importantly: why was he handling this personally? Doesn't he have assistants for such cases? A man of his level, did he really decide to serve us himself?

"What a wonderful person! He did work that usually takes months in just one evening!"

Paul was thrilled with such hospitality. There was some truth in his words—we really expected to stay here for a few weeks. But this man settled everything so quickly that I dubbed him "The Fixer." We even received 60 gold coins for the authorship rights. That's a very substantial amount of money, and in the future, we will also get royalties. As for the royalties, I think that 5-10% of the revenues would be a fair share for us.

A good guy, albeit suspicious—like a fox in a henhouse, only with a quill and inkpot.

"Dad, let's buy some books on magic," I remembered my goals and suggested enthusiastically.

"Hmm, since we have a lot of money, we can buy a few. There's a bookstore nearby. Let's go!" Paul agreed happily, smiling. "And by the way, we also need to get some metals..."

"Great! Then let's go, my faithful steed!" I exclaimed, riding on his shoulders. We made our way through the stench and dirt of the city. My heart was beating faster in anticipation, and Paul laughed and joked along the way, enjoying the moment. Despite all the inconveniences, our spirits were high.

By the way, while we were noting down prices of goods on our way to the market, Paul, with a face full of lust, bought an expensive bottle of liquid from one merchant for 8 gold coins, damn it! He's throwing money around, the bastard! But I immediately understood what it meant—our family was probably going to have more kids soon... I just swallowed my complaint.

Father went shopping, leaving me in the bookstore. Inside, there was almost no one except the seller and a little girl who was eagerly eyeing some books. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to reach the top shelf, but her small hands barely touched the edge of the book. I noticed her efforts and couldn't help but smile—kids, indeed. She was probably too shy to ask the seller for help.

By the way, the seller smirked when he saw me, a blind kid, feeling the books and making notes, but he scolded me when I touched them too much. The books were of excellent quality, decorated with beautiful patterns and pleasant to the touch. Naturally, I evaluated them with my fingers since I couldn't see. And, as expected, the books were very expensive—a real luxury in this world.

"Kid, can you see anything through that black blindfold? Maybe I can help you?"

"Who are you calling a kid? Aren't you small yourself?"

I felt the surprised look of the girl. Did she think I was blind? Though, maybe I shouldn't have been rude...

"Oh, sorry. I thought you might need help..."

Well, she could have reached for that book herself. I don't need help right now.

"Alright, never mind. Hey, old man, I'll take these books: Encyclopedia of Plants, Sig Summoning Magic, and the world map..." The seller's eyes almost popped out when he saw my wallet stuffed with gold coins. His attitude towards me instantly became much friendlier.

"W-what?! So many?!"

The girl stood there, stunned, watching as I laid out a huge amount of money by this world's standards.

I was dressed like an ordinary commoner, so such a sum of money in my hands looked about as fitting as a crown on a rooster's head. The seller probably decided that I was an important person since he even gave me a discount when he heard my surname, Greyrat. With a satisfied look, I was about to leave the store when I suddenly heard behind me:

"W-wait, sir!"

"Hmm," I turned around and saw that very girl from the bookstore. A beggar? No, it seemed, she was holding a metal staff and some luggage. She wasn't homeless. "What's the matter?"

"Huff... Huff... I noticed that you are probably from a wealthy family? Do you need a court mage or a guard? I'm a mage and looking for a job..."

"What? A mage?" I was surprised. She looked like a dwarf teenager, about fourteen years old. According to my father, there are many mages in this world, especially in the adventurers' guild. But truly strong mages can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and they are usually highly sought after by countries.

If this girl is looking for a job, maybe she's not that strong, but still, it's interesting to know what she can do.

"And what can you boast about? What are your skills?" I asked with interest, crossing my arms over my chest. She joyfully jumped up to me and, puffing out her chest, began to introduce herself:

"I'm a saint-level mage! And an A-rank adventurer! If you want, I can be a magic teacher too!"

Wow! A water saint?! Paul, you said you wouldn't find such among ordinary adventurers! My father would surely say now: "Don't believe it until you see a certificate and a recommendation!" I suddenly froze for a moment and decided to study her more closely. It only took a second. She was clearly not human, and she wasn't lying. I can sense lies from a mile away.

"I've traveled the continent for a long time, and when I saw this beautiful city, I just couldn't resist! It's so lovely and cozy here, and gentlemen like you are so kind and generous!"

Liar! She decided to flatter a little me? Does she even notice that someone defecated and urinated around the corner? This city is a dump!

I restrained myself from cursing and then thought... This world is full of diverse intelligent races. I often heard from my family that some of them are humanoid and even indistinguishable from humans on the outside. For example, Raoulz and his daughter were not of the human race: they had different smells and the sounds of internal organs, slightly distinguishable from humans.

My senses are so sharp that I can hear infrasound and ultrasound over wide ranges, distinguish the heartbeat, breathing, and steps of various creatures, and catch almost all scents. But just hearing this is not enough for detailed information. Fortunately, my brain processes this information instantly, like a computer.

These abilities help me avoid stepping on a cat's tail, predict when Mom is cooking my favorite dishes, and find hidden sugar in the most secret places. However, in this city, I prefer to turn off these senses; otherwise, I would be sick from all these smells. It's strange that I was born with it and never developed it...

Maybe this girl is also from one of the other races. A dwarf, perhaps? I became interested and decided to set aside the slight embarrassment from her presentation. Instead of a chicken with a human body, I met this girl.

"And my name is Roxy Migurdia!" I barely listened to her self-praise, catching only the name at the end. She handed me an adventurer's card and some certificate that she graduated from "some" magic university. Given her confidence, I thought, "Will the next paper be a recommendation from her cat?" She was clearly a master of self-promotion.

"Okay. My father will be here soon, he's nearby, and we can discuss everything at the table. And stop waving that staff around!" Roxy beamed with joy and suddenly shouted: "Yes! Finally!" as if she had won the lottery.