Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The Tale of Jin-306
The workshop, as always, was a haven of industry. Preliminary armor parts lay in wait, while a large plasma cutter methodically sliced through the precious metal.
Yet, everything felt different today. The familiar figure, who usually darted between machines, now stood still at the center of Hades' workspace. The electronic screen, which often displayed a myriad of expressions, was now dim and lifeless.
On the edges of the golden robe, tiny fibers floated aimlessly, some settling down.
Hades shifted his gaze to him—Jin-306 made no attempt to resist.
Jin-306 had locked most of his joint engines, opened his base code, shut down his firewall, and waited silently.
Awaiting judgment from Hades.
Such is the way of the weak.
When the chasm of power is insurmountable, showing vulnerability and surrendering becomes a wise choice for the weak to preserve themselves.
Hades blinked, scanning Jin again, ensuring he wasn't rigged with any explosive devices.
Then Hades looked at Jin. The mechanical servant stood there, lifeless, yet the currents flowing within his cables, visible through his helmet's imaging, spoke of vitality.
Hades sighed,
"What's your plan, Jin-306?"
Hades had used Jin's connection to track down Sage "Lanze". There was no feeling of betrayal; Hades had anticipated Jin's treachery from the start.
Jin's caution when contacting the sage, mixed with a sense of urgency and fear, was evident.
Given how quickly the sage had offered Jin's control codes to Hades as an apology, it was clear Jin was just a pawn.
During their time together, Jin had been a good assistant. Although their camaraderie was a facade, Hades was reluctant to execute a valuable mechanical servant.
He still needed an assistant.
As long as he had Jin's control codes, there was nothing to fear.
Why should one worker make life difficult for another?
Jin's screen remained dark, but his speaker buzzed to life, emitting a cold, mechanical voice.
"Jin-306 awaits your decision, Lord."
He had always known this would be his fate.
Individuals can't always choose their destinies. Some paths are preordained.
Jin-306's life began as the natural offspring of two lower-tier mechanical servants. But as an unedited natural-born on Mars, his fate was either destruction or servitude.
Sage Kerkland found him, abandoned and near death, and took him in. The sage had mistaken Jin's weak soul fluctuations for those of an untouchable. But in reality, Jin's weak soul was due to prolonged starvation.
Jin had won the sage's favor and was transformed into a mechanical servant, equipped with an expressive electronic screen and advanced synthetic vocal cords.
Yet, during his interactions with Hades, Jin realized there were other, different beings in the world.
Hades was unlike the mechanical sages or the imperial bureaucrats. He was, in the traditional sense, a good person.
Maybe Jin was making a mistake. But not everyone has the power to make the right choices.
So, Jin silently embedded the detonation code into the engine and watched Hades leave.
Without further instructions from the sage, Jin knew he had been abandoned.
He couldn't escape on his own.
Was this regret?
Why not change the orders?
Jin didn't know.
He simply returned to his usual spot and entered a low-power mode.
But Hades returned, holding Jin's control codes.
Ah, no wonder Jin felt odd. Hades knew Jin's true nature.
Hades approached, bringing judgment.
Knowing how he'd die was enough.
But then—
"Do you have nowhere to go now?"
"If you promise not to betray me, you can continue as my assistant. I'll forgive your past actions."
Jin spoke, his voice, if he had vocal cords, might have quivered.
"Why, Lord?"
"Jin-306 doesn't understand."
Hades scratched his face, a gesture Jin recognized from his database as Hades pondering a difficult question.
"Maybe because I only have one assistant. Without you, I'd be all alone."
Jin filtered out Hades' peculiar phrasing.
Logic circuits flickered. According to the rules of the Tech-Adept base, even if Jin-306 was terminated, another mechanical servant would replace him.
They both knew this.
Jin activated his electronic screen. Familiar blue dots danced, forming a simple, primitive expression—
"Very well, Lord Hades of the Death Guard. From this moment, Jin-306 serves you."
This first emoticon in human history conveyed the purest goodwill,
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