Chapter 8 - Unlocking the Cube

Anise, noticing who came, looked up. She wiped her forehead with the back of her gloved hand. "Eshmund! You busy dude, what brings you here today?"

He smiled. "I need some copper wire. Can you make them for me? I have some idea of how to make them, but I'll need some help."

Anise raised an eyebrow, setting down her hammer. "Copper wire? Aren't those usually made for jewelry? What are you trying to make this time?" She was very familiar with this boy's requests all kinds of odd things they had made for him before. But he paid them well, so she was excited for the task. Lenord's eyes also brimmed with enthusiasm. Previously, the boy had requested delicate things like nail clippers, coffee grinding tools that included gears, hand shovels, and pliers. The finished products were quite useful. For example, those pliers and the cute nail clippers that she had grown fond of. Eshmund was the kind of person who was curious about everything he saw and even spent his time tinkering in the blacksmith shop before, which made their relationship really close.

Eshmund explained his plan using a sand mold to create multiple thin copper rods, then drawing them into wire. As he spoke, Anise listened carefully, nodding in thought.

"That's... actually pretty clever," she admitted. "I've never seen it done that way before."

Lenord, who had been listening from the side, chuckled as he approached. His thick arms were crossed over his chest, his face marked with years of hard labor. "You always come up with interesting ideas, boy," he said. "I think we can make those, but we have to go through some trial and error first. Copper is a little tricky compared to iron since it's softer. That kind of thing snaps pretty easily."

Eshmund nodded. "I was thinking of using trimmed bamboo skewers to punch the holes in the sand. Once we remove the skewers, the holes will act as molds to hold the molten copper. After it cools down, we can heat it a bit again and run it through a small hole in a piece of iron by pulling the other end with pliers."

"I don't need much, maybe ten strings, each half a meter long should be enough," Eshmund continued.

Lenord's eyes gleamed with approval. "Aye, that could work. Let's give it a try. Were finishing up with orders, so we'll be quite free."

Anise grinned. "Looks like we're making wire today."

With that, they got to work, preparing the sand mold, gathering the materials, and heating the copper. The forge burned bright, and the air hummed with anticipation.

The first few tries were quite tricky since the blacksmiths were accustomed to using force, but they quickly adapted. Within just three hours, they managed to make ten usable copper wires. Eshmund was very satisfied with them and paid them happily. While resting, they chatted, and Eshmund recounted the previous event at the Magistrate's house, while also complaining a bit about his lacking talent in being a healer.

"Boy, you should marry my daughter and become a blacksmith yourself. You're quite talented with this stuff," Lenord jested.

"True, besides, I've always wanted a brother," Balis grinned and looked at his sister.

Anise just pouted at them and then smiled at Eshmund. "Well, I might come visit and see what you're doing with this stuff," she said.

They chatted a bit more, and after expressing his gratitude, Eshmund excused himself and headed home.

---

--- Isagani Family's backyard --

Back at his house, he headed straight to the backyard, where a small lemon tree stood near the fence. The bright yellow fruits hung low, their scent fresh in the evening air. He reached up and plucked six ripe lemons, rolling them between his palms to test their firmness. These would be enough for what he had planned.

Instead of going inside, he set up his workspace outside. His room wouldn't be suitable for the next steps, he needed open air and proper ventilation. He gathered what he required: a small charcoal brazier, a pail of cold water, and the freshly made copper wires from the blacksmith. The brazier, typically used for cooking hotpot, would serve as his heat source, while the water would be used to rapidly cool the cube.

He turned to his next setup: the lemon battery. He carefully inserted iron nails and copper plates into each lemon, ensuring they didn't touch. Then, using the copper wires, he connected them in a series, linking the iron from one lemon to the copper of the next. After confirming the connections were secure, he took the cube out from his pouch and placed it on the ground.



He carefully lit the charcoal and fanned the flames until the charcoal glowed red-hot, then grabbed the cube and tossed it directly into the brazier. As the heat surrounded the cube, the fire engravings on its surface began to glow like embers, absorbing the heat - an indication that it was ready to be cooled. With a steady hand, he grabbed the tongs and plunged the cube into the cold water. Steam erupted as the cube sizzled, and Eshmund watched intently as the fire engravings faded back to normal. After a few minutes, the fire icon had fully dimmed, and now the water icon gleamed with a blue hue.

Disregarding the iron tongs he had just used, he dipped the tip of his index finger carefully into the water, checking if it was too hot. Once satisfied that it was safe, he took the cube out from the pail and placed it near the lemon battery setup, ensuring the 'S-B' characters on the cube faced upwards. Carefully, he took the two ends of the wires - the positive and negative nodes of the lemon battery, one in his left and the other in his right hand. His hands drew closer to the cube, and he touched the positive node to the 'S' character and the negative node to the 'B' character.

As soon as both nodes made contact, an almost inaudible clinking sound, like glass snapping, resonated from inside the cube. Then, a swirling noise, reminiscent of a small motor like those found in toys, emerged from within. He held his breath, watching as the sound reached a halt. A moment later, the cube split into four halves.

Eshmund stared at the separated pieces, his heart pounding with excitement and curiosity. He carefully picked up each of the four parts, turning them over in his hands before placing them into his pouch. Each piece was now a solid metal block, measuring precisely 1 inch by 2 inches by 1 inch, and each was labeled with a number from 1 to 4. He already knew the secrets of the cube, but now he needed to examine what each part represented.

Before leaving, he took a moment to clean up the backyard. He doused the braziers embers with water, making sure the fire was completely out. He collected the leftover lemon peels, neatly coiled the remaining wires, and returned the brazier and the pail to their original places. Once satisfied that everything was in order, he slung the pouch over his shoulder and headed inside.

Back in his room, he carefully laid out the four parts on his desk. The faint glow from their engravings had dimmed, but the intricate markings were still visible. He traced a finger over the metallic surface, studying each number and recalling their functions.

He already knew that Part 1 was the Conditioner Bots. This contained a nanobot injector that needed to be introduced into the body. The nanobots inside would condition and optimize the body to use the system functions.

Part 2 should be the Spy Bots, responsible for gathering information from targets.

As for Part 3 and Part 4, he was less certain. He suspected that Part 3 facilitated a wireless connection to the server, allowing communication between components. Part 4, logically, should serve as the energy source for the entire system.

At least, that was how he had designed the first five generation of the Spy Bot System.

It seemed that each part had a button on it, indented out like a coin, contrasting the rest of the smooth metallic surface. He took the part labeled 1 and pressed the button. Immediately, a small needle pushed outward from one end of the block. This was the injector needle, confirming its function.

He then tried pressing the buttons on the rest of the parts, but nothing happened. He suspected that in order to activate them, he needed to use the Conditioner first.

Without thinking too much, he used the first part, placing the end of the block with the needle against his left wrist and immediately pressing the button with his right thumb. A small shock ran through him as the needle pricked his skin, but it wasnt too bad - he had been pricked by thorns before, and this wasnt much different. He felt something flow into his wrist.

One minute passed. Then two. Then three. Nothing happened.

He planned to wait a little longer, but then he heard his grandmother, Leila, knocking on the door and calling for him.

"Eshmund, you there? Your grandpa is back with some people, they want to talk to you."

Eshmund quickly cleaned up his table, storing the cube's parts inside the drawer. "Okay, coming!" he called back as he made his way to the door.

---

Eshmund stepped into the main hall, where his grandfather, Tasan Isagani, sat at the wooden table, his fingers drumming rhythmically against its surface. A few workers stood to the side, waiting for instructions, but it was the presence of Muhsan, the cultivator from the Samang Sect, that made Eshmund pause. The man was casually sipping tea, his eyes studying the young boy with amusement.

"Ah, you've finally arrived, Eshmund," Tasan said, gesturing for him to sit. "We have much to discuss."

Eshmund took his seat, his eyes darting toward the cultivator. "I take it the meeting with Magistrate Jagule went well?"

Tasan exhaled through his nose, folding his arms. "Better than expected. Your decision to stop planting the cabbages in the mountains was wise. But this isn't just about convenience. If word of our cultivation method spread unchecked, it could bring unnecessary trouble. That's why I went to speak with the magistrate. He agreed to allocate official land for the project and provide security measures."

Muhsan set his cup down and smiled. "And that's where I come in, little brother. Since we already have a business arrangement, I saw an opportunity to extend our collaboration. The Samang Sect will assist in protecting the crops. In return, we'll receive a share of the produce."

Eshmund leaned forward, intrigued. "What kind of protection are we talking about?"

Muhsan tapped his fingers against the table, his tone turning serious. "Cultivators will be assigned to guard the land, ensuring that no one tries to steal or destroy the crops. But more importantly, the sect will work with government personnel to set up magical formation arrays around the fields. These formations will deter thieves, enhance the growth of the plants, and even provide a basic defense against pests and wild beasts."

Eshmund's eyes widened slightly. "That sounds more than fair. And the division of produce?"

Tasan nodded. "One-third for us, one-third for the government, and one-third for the sect. In exchange, we no longer have to keep this a secret, and we gain powerful allies."

Eshmund considered this carefully. The secrecy had been necessary when he was alone, but now, with this agreement, the benefits outweighed the risks. "And the planting method?"

Muhsan grinned. "The government will receive the method, but only as a regulated practice. They won't share it beyond controlled circles, ensuring that its value remains intact."

Eshmund let out a small sigh of relief. "Then I have no objections. This solves more problems than it creates."

Tasan exchanged a knowing glance with Muhsan before nodding. "Good. Then let's see the land and begin."

---

The group walked toward the allocated land, just a short distance from the family's apothecary. The area was fertile, with soft, loamy soil and access to a nearby water source. Workers surveyed the land, while cultivators from the Samang Sect examined it for energy flow and potential weak points.

Muhsan stepped forward, gesturing toward an open section. "This spot should be ideal. The land is flat, the water source is close, and there's a natural incline that will prevent flooding. What do you think, Eshmund?"

Eshmund knelt, running his fingers through the soil. It crumbled softly in his grasp, rich and well-nourished. "It's good, but it will need enhancement. The cabbages require mana-rich soil, and without that, they won't thrive. We need to mix Magic Core Dust into the beds before planting."

One of the workers frowned. "Magic Core Dust? That's not common material."



Eshmund nodded. "That's why I've been growing them in the mountains. There's residual mana there that allows them to grow naturally. But here, we need to replicate those conditions. The cabbages also require rich, fertile land like regular cabbages, which is why I had been hauling dirt and compost up the mountain to create a suitable environment."

Muhsan stepped in. "Our Sect has stores of depleted elemental cores. We can provide a supply to enrich the soil."

Tasan nodded approvingly. "Then it's settled. Now, Eshmund, explain the rest of the process so the workers understand."

Eshmund took a deep breath and began. "First, the soil must be tilled properly and mixed with Magic Core Dust. The cabbages grow from spores, not seeds, so we need to carefully transfer mature leaves containing viable spores into the soil. I've already collected enough mature cabbage leaves to ensure we have the spores we need. However, the spores don't germinate immediately. They need to be planted in a fertile seed cultivating medium before being transferred to the land we've chosen. We'll need to build a seedling nursery to handle this initial stage."

The workers and cultivators listened intently as he went on, explaining the delicate balance of conditions required. Soon, with the combined effort of cultivators, government workers, and villagers, the land was prepared for the first official planting of Red Veined Horse Cabbages.

As the last preparations were made, Eshmund stepped back, watching his secret finally become something shared, something bigger than himself. A sense of relief washed over him.

For the first time, he wasn't alone in this. And that was a good thing.

Eshmund reached into his satchel, pulling out a notebook to record their progress. It wasn't just for progress tracking - it contained detailed records of the entire planting process he had refined through trial and error. Turning to his grandfather, he spoke, "Grandfather, I want you to have this. It has everything about how I grew the cabbages."

Tasan looked at him with surprise and appreciation, reaching out to accept the notebook. But just as Eshmund extended his hand to pass it over, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, his limbs felt weak, and before he could utter a word, his knees buckled. The notebook slipped from his grasp as he collapsed, barely registering the alarmed voices of his grandfather and Muhsan calling his name before the world faded to darkness.

Eshmund had collapsed. It seemed he had caught a fever.