“Come in” a voice come out from inside Roy personal workshop.

Roy is working at his workbench when Bill knock, a MAM is being taken apart, it is a bomb that they found from warehouse.

“You want to speak to me professor?” Bill ask show the note that Professor Roy gave him.

“Yes, you probably know that it is about your core”

Bill instinctively touch his glove, fearing what professor might say next.

“Don’t worry I’m not taking your core from you it not an object of power or unstable for study”

“thank you sir” Bill relieved and feel more comfortable to talk which Roy took a chance to ask him what he really want to know.

“Who offer you that core and what is the term of agreement, is it an Amiel?”

“No professor, it was a crow his name is Edward Bernays, he run a MAM shop, Mercurius, just open recently”

“A crow huh” Professor Roy look less worry but still suspicious.

“What is his term?”

“Well I am actually have to get you to sign this paper for start and I’ll be middle man for him and this forge for future tractions although it just a promise with word not sign in paper yet” Bill answer honestly there is no reason to lie to professor Roy who to Bill seem like he want to help him.

“So you didn’t sign any contact with him yet he already gave you a core?” Roy note. After all a core is not that cheap and the one that Bernays give to Bill doesn’t seem to be a normal core either.

‘He kind of blackmail me but let not mention that’

“Yes, I’ll have to go read a contact term later if it different than what we spoke I’ll come to you before signing anything.” Bill think for a moment then add “From what I see Bernays seem really proud in his line of work so he probably didn’t lie about our term.”

“The term may look good now but be careful Bill those crow can be quite a sneaky bastard”

‘I thought we were supposed to trust and work together with other races?’ Bill confuse at Professor Roy word but he learn to keep his mouth shut this time.

“I’ll sign it for you. My signature will just speed thing up for them but our team are very strict with their inspection so they can’t do anything illegal.” Roy take a look at the paper and read every word thrice before sign the paper.

Bill take a paper back with joy. Now this B class core will really be his. ‘I think I’ll name you Johny, Johny Smit’

“One more thing” professor Roy stop Bill that is about to run out in excitement “Do you still want an internship here at a forge”

“Yes! Yes I do” It is always been his dream to work with MAM and to work in one of the best forge in the world? He’ll do anything for this opportunity.

Roy smile at Bill enthusiasm “If you want an internship you will have to take a test first”

“a test?”

“yes it is a simple test of your skill. We can’t just let anyone work here after all, a Magic explosion is not a joking matter”

Roy should know he blew a lot of people with it.

“what do I have to do”

Professor Roy think for a moment since Bill want to keep his status a secret so he can’t take a normal examination and it won’t make sense why should he work at a forge if he come from a first class family so Roy come up with an idea “I will tell everyone in our next class that I will be open a spot for 1 student to come help at a forge for extra point in grade and some pocket money. You will just have to contest with everyone in the class and win”

Bill jaw drop “Contest with everyone?” even Brant with A class core?

“Yes, or you could just take a normal examination but risk letting you class leak out since that mean more people seeing your citizen ID” Roy know what it like to work alongside people from different class. It can be tough at time and he want to spare Bill that fate.

“Ok professor, I’ll do as you say” Bill agree and left.

When Bill left the room Roy glance at a bomb on his workbench and add Mercurius group to the list of suspect.

The timing of all this could just be coincidence but... “Better be safe than sorry”

Bill who is eager to finish this contract so this core will really be his own immediately head to Mercurius shop on west side. Luckily the road is already open so Bill can travel there faster.

On the way Bill tap on activation button but hesitate to activate his MAM with rune inside.

‘Rune of fire is too dangerous maybe just light rune to make it shine like lamp? No let try later now is not a good time.’ Bill put his MAM down and keep walking until he reach Mercurius

The storefront is decorate with white marble and statue of bird holding a staff with a snake. Inside is an open area showing all kind of core secure behind glass, some of them even shine like Bill and its glow reflect of the dark granite floor. In a dark corner a wolf standing guard keeping an eyes on all customer but far enough to not disturb anyone enjoyment of core exhibit.

A human male walk up to Bill “Hello how may I assist you” he didn’t show any disrespect toward Bill at all. After all as long as you are old enough or have student ID to buy core for study anyone can buy a core if you can afford it.

“I’m hoping to meet Mr. Bernays. I got a recommendation paper for him”

“Yes right this way, Mr. Bernays is expecting you.”

A wolf glare at Bill as he walk pass him, scaring Bill a little.

On the top floor Bernays is up on his bird stand looking out the window deep in thought when Bill enter

“Mr. Bill is here sir”

“Thank you Jeffy, you can leave us” Jeffy bow before closing the door.

Bernays fly down to Bill with smile “I know you won’t disappointed me Bill”

“Thankfully Professor Roy is very understanding and...”Bill hesitate doesn’t know should he hand this paper to Bernays feet or his beak.

“Here let me” Bernays extend his wing toward and a wind slip a paper from Bill’s hand to his table.

Bill wait as Bernays look at the paper to confirm Roy signature, he want to ask if the paper is in order but he keep silent. ‘Bernays is like my boss now I should just wait for him to finish.’

“Now that you complete your part let us talk about the term of our contact for our future” Bernays float a paper up into Bill hand.

It is Bill’s contact and scope of work. Most is what Bill expected but there is a part about how Bill will work for Mercurius after he finish school.

“I’m sorry it said here I’ll be working for you after I finish school?”

“Well yes of course since we already work together you would naturally continue working with me after you finish school or are you saying you would like to go back to New Terra?”

“Eh no I don’t want to go back there” Bill remember what work condition was like there and he already think of moving here with his mother permanently when he ready.

“Then you would need to get a job anyway so why not apply one now with me and all your worry will go away, I’ll also be paying you extra starting today isn’t this a great deal for you? We also got great dental benefit too” Bernays throw in a part he heard that many human interest in.

“Yeah it great but I’m not sure I should agree to my career that far ahead especially when the term state that if I break my contact I’ll have to reimburse all the money I got from Mercurius.”

Bernays note that dental doesn’t work, maybe he should use word healthcare instead next time.

“Alright we’ll cut a part about you working for me for 15 years after you finish school. You can decide to join me later but know that your salary will be deduct significantly and I can’t freely support you in the future like when I gave you that core.” Bernays throw a bait one last time.

He know that for Bill to continue studying here and try to keep his status secret he will need someone to back him up with money and resource. So Bernays decided to invest in Bill now so that Bill will have to work for him later.

He know of Bill skill from a test and data he gather if someone support him Bernays really believed Bill could become a great MAM master one day.

‘He will continue support me? I might really need more money for study in the future who know what sort of equipment I’ll need to buy for some class that will come up‘ Bill almost sway and sign the contact right there but professor Roy warning stop his hand.

‘Maybe I should just listen to professor for now if I really need anything Miss Hellen and professor Roy would help me right?’

Bill make a decision and return the paper to Bernays “I’m sorry but I just can’t agree to something that far ahead.”

Bernays look very disappoint and take a paper by a beak and drop it in a bin. “Fine I guess those contact MAM mechanic will have to do for now, all of them is not even human you know? Not that any of they are bad but you know what they said; the best MAM is made by human.”

and all human either work for forge of Alana or republic of New Terra.

“Here a contact that cut a part about you working for me later out” Bernays fly a new paper out of nowhere.

Bill surprise but read the paper before signing 2 copy of it. He don’t really have an option to not sign a contact unless he want to return Johny smit to Bernays and buy a new core on his own. As far as they both concern Bernays is being very generous.

“I know that you’ll want an internship at forge of Alan too and since I’ll have to wait for permit you’ll have a free time at the moment but I'll sent a letter when I have need of you.”

Bill thank you before ask something that professor Roy bring up “Can I ask how do you make this core? It look different from other student core in the class.”

“Oh that a trade secret, maybe I’ll tell you if you decide to work with me” Bernays smile.

“Fine I won’t ask further”

“I’m just kidding” Bernays use wing to tap Bill “I meet and Amiel who was willing to work with me in turning those Mercury into a core. He is amazing at it and already sign a contact with me. I’ll introduce you to him later.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”