CHAPTER 612: A NEW LINE

Well, looking at it this way, Marquise Julienne felt that maybe the auction items really weren’t too much in the eyes of these people.

Or at least in Luca’s eyes.

Because, left and right, more biomechas appeared. Butler Gary was finally presented with a Heavy biomecha, while his sister Gisella had been given a Light biomecha.

Yes, they were similar to the earlier models, but what truly made the difference was a proud announcement that made everyone’s pulse quicken.

Even Marquise Julienne thought, with wide eyes and a grin tugging at her lips, that this was the kind of shopping spree she would most definitely have enjoyed back in her day.

Because all of a sudden, the ground trembled.

Part of the wall shifted. With a low grinding hum, a long section of the floor slid open. Out of it rose a massive display case that stretched from one end of the chamber to the other.

And inside it?

Weapons.

Not one or two, but an armory’s worth.

Longswords, spears, and warhammers gleamed beneath the light. Curved scythes glinted with wicked arcs. Shields in every size and shape lined the middle rows like an unending wall of defenses. Ranged weapons filled the rest—rifles with sleek barrels, heavy cannons, even launchers that looked like they could clear out an entire formation of enemies in one strike.

The brilliance of polished alloys and tempered edges was so blinding that even Jax, who had been happily exploring the cockpit of his new biomecha, had to scramble down. His eyes were wide, his jaw hanging open.

"What... is this paradise?!" he shouted, hands dramatically clutching his hair as though overwhelmed by divine revelation.

The room hummed with gasps and mutters. Eyes sparkled. Fingers twitched. Even Steward Han, who wasn’t a mecha pilot, gulped in amazement.

And at the center of it all, a very red-faced Luca coughed once into his hand.

"This... is all thanks to the persistence of our resident mineral expert," he said. His golden eyes flicked toward the dwarf, who puffed her chest proudly.

Luca scratched at his cheek, clearly embarrassed, before explaining, "In the dungeon mine, Auntie Cece found a resonant ore. At first, we weren’t sure if it was worth anything. But after testing, we discovered that not only does it conduct spiritual signals smoothly, it can also amplify beast cores. It can even store spiritual energy and release it when needed."

The crowd sucked in a collective breath.

Luca rubbed his face and let out a sheepish sigh. "Of course, it wasn’t perfect. The ore was so brittle before tempering that at first, we couldn’t even figure out how to use it. Temper it the wrong way, and it would just shatter."

"But we finally narrowed down what kind of ore it was and managed to figure out how to temper it properly. It’s called Oblivion quartz."

The name alone sent shivers down a few spines because Master Quinn hadn’t heard of such a thing before, and Marquis Mylor, who was versed with materials for sale, agreed.

"And after several attempts," Luca continued, gesturing toward the armory, "these are the weapons we’ve managed to make. Since we haven’t had enough time to build too many custom weapons, if everyone’s alright with it... Please choose what you like."

He glanced at the assembled group with innocent earnestness. "Some weapons have beast cores embedded in them and can activate special abilities. But for those who prefer simplicity, there are also versions without cores, which use less spiritual energy overall."

The hangar erupted into a wave of astonished murmurs.

Butler Gary, who had just received his biomecha, visibly stiffened as if bracing for another blow straight to his heart. Gisella, ever the teasing sister, leaned toward him and whispered, "Careful, Brother. You might faint. Don’t forget, you’re not as young as you used to be."

But even as she teased him, her own eyes shimmered, her lips trembling like she might burst into tears.

Across the room, Duchess Amelia’s sharp eyes widened as she took it all in. For even her, who had seen so much of the impossible, this was staggering. Slowly, her gaze drifted toward Cece.

The dwarf was nodding proudly, arms crossed, as if to say, "Yes, child. This is ours. We made this."

And in that moment, Amelia realized something very clearly.

This was not just Luca’s brilliance alone. This was a partnership. Her child finally had dependable people who could help him. And more than that, he’d finally allowed people to help him!

Thank goodness!

But then it seemed that the explanation wasn’t done as Luca scratched his cheek, his voice soft. "Some of the weapons might be a little weird... because, well... the beast cores we got from D-64’s dungeon weren’t exactly cataloged. Aside from the deathworm cores, the rest were just... whatever we could grab."

The admission was so shy, so hesitant, that it almost sounded like he was apologizing for serving a gourmet feast without labeling the condiments.

But unsurprisingly, no one minded.

Who could mind when there were impact-absorbing gauntlets marked for Noah, reflective shields that could store and return kinetic force, two-handed scythes that created spectral afterimages, and spears that pulsed with shockwaves at every thrust?

With an arsenal like that? And the freedom to choose?

Anyone who dared complain deserved to disappear from the face of Solaris altogether.

Luca even turned toward Jax with a sheepish look. "If you’re interested, you can pick one too. I only made a particular shield for you, but you can still choose another weapon if you like."

Jax nearly tripped over his own feet. His mouth opened, his ears perked, and his entire expression screamed, I knew it. Wearing my lucky underpants was the right choice today!

It was pure cosmic justice in action.

Honestly, Luca’s only grievance was that most of the materials they had were A-grade—expected, of course, since D-64’s dungeon was ranked A-class. But to him, it was still a shame. Such materials wouldn’t allow Xavier or Duke Leander to showcase the full extent of their abilities.

So while everyone else buzzed over the arsenal, Luca quietly glanced at two of the people whose opinions mattered most to him.

The Crown Prince only gave him a serene smile meant just for him, the kind that made Luca blush instantly and fidget in place. But when Luca’s gaze shifted to the Duke...

He froze.

Because Duke Leander looked like he was about to explode.

Luca was momentarily worried.

If only he knew. For it was not from anger.

But from pride.

While Master Quinn was already pacing around the weapon racks, caressing each giant piece like it was a beloved child, the Duke hadn’t moved at all. He was rooted to the spot, his broad frame trembling as he stared at his son. His eyes shone. His chest heaved. The man was seconds away from bursting into undignified tears.

Luca, noticing his father’s expression, ran to him and then nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Papa... I’m sorry for the unexpected limiter. I haven’t found good enough cores yet, so for now we’ll have to make do with these. But when I do find something better, I promise I’ll make even greater ones."

That did it.

The Duke’s heart practically soared out of his body. His son was apologizing for A-grade weapons and equipment—apologizing, as if such miracles were disappointing!

His boy wasn’t just good. He was the best.

And somewhere deep in his chest, Leander was practically shrieking like a lunatic because soon—soon—it would be his turn. His turn to hold, to wield, to pilot something crafted by his very own son.

How many fathers in all of Solaris could claim this honor? Even those who had fathered mechanics would usually be too old, too frail, or worse, underground, by the time their children reached this level. But here he was, still at his prime, and his son was already giving away biomechas like gifts from heaven.

His precious boy was not only skilled but also generous enough to share something as outrageous as a sentient mecha with others.

Duke Leander’s chest swelled so fiercely he almost roared aloud. Truly, this was a blessing so great the universe itself must have envied him.

But maybe they should envy a certain blonde more.

Because just as everyone rushed around to look, two people were suddenly called over.