Last Gun Alchemist

“You have changed since the last time I met you.”

The man said calmly.

He looked Ezra over with a smile, taking in his appearance before shaking his head slightly.

“Back then, you were still a bit smaller. Now, you’ve grown taller.”

His smile widened as he continued to look at the young noble standing before him.

“Who would have thought you would attend the Royal Academy and even receive a title from the Queen herself?”

A hint of amazement appeared on his face.

He had met Ezra before, during the auction event for the Phantom Rolls, but the young boy standing in front of him now had already accomplished more than many people his age and people who also had the same background as him could boast of.

Ezra did not reply.

He simply looked at the man and waited for him to finish speaking.

There was no need to respond to every remark, especially when the man was only expressing his surprise.

The man did not seem bothered by his silence.

After all, Ezra had always been rather calm in their previous interactions.

“Leader Anderson won’t be available today because many of our top members are quite busy. However, we’ll provide you with some of our best professionals to help customize your Phantom Rolls.”

The man said calmly.

He was the Vice Head of the team under Anderson Hawthorne, the company’s top Grand Craftsman.

With Anderson unavailable, it would fall to him and the other members of the team to oversee the meeting and make sure Ezra’s requirements were properly understood.

The Vice Head then extended his hand towards the entrance of the administrative building.

“Let’s get going.”

Ezra gave a brief nod.

He began walking in the direction the man had indicated, with Lucy following behind him.

The other members of The Eclipse joined them as they entered the building.

The administrative building was quieter than the area outside.

The staff members who had gathered to welcome Ezra had already returned to their duties, while the members responsible for the Phantom Rolls division proceeded with the arrangements for the meeting.

The Vice Head led Ezra and Lucy through the building and towards a meeting room.

They passed through the entrance and entered a spacious room where a large table stood at the center.

Chairs had been arranged around it, leaving enough space for the people who would be attending the discussion.

The walls were neat, and the room had been prepared for the meeting.

Several members of the team were already waiting inside, including craftsmen and other staff who would be involved in the production of Ezra’s vehicle.

The Vice Head gestured for everyone to take their seats.

Ezra sat down, with Lucy settling into the chair beside him.

As soon as he was seated, he brought out his Zphone Tablet and placed it on the table.

He was ready to show them the design he had prepared.

Before the meeting began, however, the Vice Head took the time to introduce the people present.

He started with the Master-level Craftsmen and the Young Craftsmen who worked under the Phantom Rolls team.

Some were responsible for overseeing the more demanding parts of production, while others worked on the designs and technical details required to bring a vehicle from an idea to a finished product.

He then introduced the members of the sales team and those responsible for the materials used in production.

The introductions continued as he presented the other groups involved in the work.

Each group had its own responsibilities.

The craftsmen would be concerned with how the vehicle was built, while the members handling materials would need to consider the resources required for Ezra’s chosen design.

The sales team was also present to deal with the aspects of the project that fell under its area of work.

Ezra listened to the introductions and acknowledged the people presented to him.

Lucy remained beside him, quietly observing the meeting.

Once the introductions were finished, the discussion began properly.

Ezra unlocked his Zphone Tablet and opened the file containing his Phantom Rolls design.

He swiped his hand across the interface, sending the file to the large holographic screen hovering above the center of the table.

The image appeared before the group.

Several members leaned forward to get a better look, while others shifted their attention to different sections of the design. The holographic display allowed everyone around the table to examine the vehicle without having to crowd around Ezra’s tablet.

The first thing they noticed was the interior.

The arrangement of the seats appeared on the screen, followed by the door panels and the space between the front and rear sections.

The seats were covered in black leather, with deep burgundy sections adding contrast to the dark interior.

Polished wood panels ran along the doors and dashboard, bordered by fine metal fittings.

The design also included a broad rear seating area and storage compartments built into the side panels.

The members of The Eclipse examined the interior closely.

Some leaned towards the screen, while others studied the materials listed beside the corresponding sections.

Ezra changed the view.

This time, the dashboard and controls came into focus.

The dashboard used dark polished wood as its main finish, matching the panels along the doors.

Metal edging surrounded the controls, while the gauges were arranged so that the driver could read them without having to search across the entire panel.

The switches were grouped according to their functions, keeping the layout organized rather than filling it with unnecessary decoration.

The craftsmen looked between the dashboard and the rest of the interior, examining how the different parts fitted together.

A lady from the materials group paid particular attention to the materials listed on the display.

“That’s an interesting way to design an interior.”

She said calmly.

A few of her teammates had already begun writing down the materials specified in the design.

They needed to record the requirements accurately so that the necessary resources could be considered during production.

The lady moved her gaze between the list and the holographic image, examining how the selected materials would fit into the proposed interior.

An older Master Craftsman leaned towards the screen.

“So, this is how you want your Phantom Rolls to look?”

He asked curiously.

“Yes.”

Ezra replied simply.

The older craftsman studied the design for another moment before nodding.

“This is definitely nice. We do… want your vehicle to be different from the other Royal Phantom Rolls we’ve already made.”

He said calmly.

The comment reflected how much The Eclipse treated Ezra.

He was the original creator of the Phantom Rolls who sold his rights to the company.

And this vehicle played a huge part in increasing their earning revenue.

Of course, they were going to treat Ezra with enough care and gratitude.

Especially after Anderson had given the instruction for his team members to be very careful with how they handled Ezra’s Vehicle creation.

Another member of the team, a young adult, pointed towards the section showing the vehicle’s exterior.

“I also have to ask about the colour theme.”

He said.

His finger hovered near the image displaying the outer body of the Phantom Rolls.

“I can see that you’ve chosen black. But should we add a shade of another colour to it? As my colleague just said, the vehicle needs to be different. Because we’re giving you the Creator’s privilege, so we have to get the customization right.”

He spoke calmly, looking towards Ezra for an answer.

The black exterior was clear in the design, but the team still needed to discuss whether any other colour should be included.

Since Ezra was being given the privilege of customizing his vehicle, they wanted to make sure the final result matched his intentions.

Ezra looked at the section the man had indicated.

The discussion moved naturally to the next part of the design.

“What about the headlights and the back lights?”

A different lady from The Eclipse asked.

She looked at the holographic image, then turned towards her colleagues.

“Should we give his vehicle a unique pattern?”

The suggestion prompted another member to speak.

“What about using a bit of the style we developed for the Queen and the King?”

He said, offering the idea to the group.

The members began considering the possibilities.

The lighting was another part of the vehicle’s appearance that needed to be settled, and the team’s suggestions gave them several options to discuss.

But Ezra had already considered that possibility.

“I do have an idea for that part, too.”

He said.

He reached into his space bag and took out a sheet of paper.

Unlike the interior and dashboard, which were already included in the design on his Zphone Tablet, the paper contained the separate design he had prepared for the headlights and rear lights.

He had brought it along in case the craftsmen wanted to discuss the lighting during the meeting.

Ezra handed the paper to a few of the craftsmen.

They took it and examined the drawing, looking over the proposed arrangement of the lights.

One of them held the sheet at an angle so the others could see it clearly, while another leaned closer to inspect the details.

The team began discussing the paper design alongside the vehicle’s displayed exterior.

With the interior, dashboard, and controls already presented on the holographic screen, they could now consider how the separate lighting design would fit the overall appearance of Ezra’s custom Royal Phantom Rolls.

The meeting soon became more active.

Members of the different groups began discussing the production of Ezra’s Royal Phantom Rolls.

They examined the design, raised questions about the materials, and considered the choices that had to be finalized before construction could begin.

Some of the discussion focused on the interior.

Others returned to the exterior and the lighting, making sure that the decisions made for one section would fit the rest of the vehicle.

Ezra participated whenever the group needed his answer.

He did not spend time explaining things that were already clear in his design.

When a question required a decision, he gave a direct response.

When the team needed to examine a detail more closely, he allowed them the time to do so.

The craftsmen, in turn, shared their suggestions and considered the requirements he had brought to them.

Lucy watched the meeting from her seat beside Ezra.

She had brought along the chocolate candy she received earlier and continued snacking on it quietly while the discussion went on.

The conversation around the table was filled with terms relating to vehicle production, materials, and design.

Lucy could understand some of them, particularly those she had heard her Master mention while working on similar matters.

However, many of the technical terms were unfamiliar to her.

She had tried to learn more about the Kingdom’s Steam Power technologies by reading books, hoping to gain a better understanding of the subject.

She had also watched Ezra working on matters related to his creations.

Even so, her knowledge was still limited.

She listened to the craftsmen and tried to follow their discussion, but there were times when she could not fully understand what they meant.

Whenever that happened, she returned her attention to the holographic design, watching as the members pointed out different sections and discussed the choices that needed to be made.

She did not interrupt them.

The meeting was about her Master’s vehicle, and the people present were the professionals responsible for producing it.

For now, she was content to observe while enjoying her chocolate.

Several hours passed as the group continued working through the details.

The design remained displayed above the table, and the craftsmen examined each section that required a decision.

Questions were raised, suggestions were considered, and Ezra provided the answers needed to settle his requirements.

Gradually, the discussion reached its conclusion.

The group and Ezra finally agreed on the details concerning his Royal Phantom Rolls.

The Vice Head looked around the table before addressing him.

“The construction will begin tomorrow.”

He said calmly.

He tapped his index finger against the table as he continued explaining the arrangements.

“And transportation to the location you wrote down will be carried out almost immediately after the vehicle is completed.”

Ezra listened calmly.

The team had now settled the design, and the next step would be to begin the actual construction.

Once the vehicle was finished, The Eclipse would arrange for it to be transported to the location Ezra had provided.

“Everything should take us at least seven days in total.”

The Vice Head said.

The time included the work required to build the vehicle and complete the arrangements for its delivery.

The team had given Ezra an estimate after going through the details of his customization.

“Okay. Thank you all for your help.”

Ezra lowered his head politely.

The members of The Eclipse acknowledged his thanks.

“We should be the ones thanking you, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke.”

One of them said calmly.

He looked towards Ezra with a sincere expression before continuing.

“Without your creation, we would never have thought of something like this for a long time.”

His words carried a note of gratitude.

He then spread his arms slightly, wearing a pleased smile as he referred to the new pick-up vehicles.

“You’ve seen the newly produced pick-up vehicles. They’re basically cabs with different exterior and interior designs from other personal vehicles. None of that would have been possible without you.”

The man was referring to the vehicles Ezra’s ideology had helped The Eclipse develop.

Their different designs had given the company another product to offer the market, and the demand from pick-up companies had already shown that there was interest in the idea.

The members around the table had been involved in the work that followed.

They understood the value of the new direction, and some of them were clearly grateful that Ezra’s ideas had given them another opportunity to develop their products.

Ezra listened without interrupting.

He did not respond with a lengthy explanation or attempt to take the conversation in another direction.

He simply acknowledged the man’s words.

The Vice Head then spoke again.

“We’ve made plans for your sightseeing tomorrow. It’s a shame you’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow, but I wish you luck with whatever you’re pursuing and whatever you want to achieve.”

He said calmly.

The arrangement meant Ezra and Lucy would have time to see some of Thornwick before leaving.

Their stay was short, but The Eclipse had still made plans for their visit.

The Vice Head looked at Ezra as he continued.

“Remember, if you run into any trouble or need any help that we at The Eclipse can provide, we’ll help you.”

He added.

Ezra gave a small nod.

The offer was straightforward.

The Eclipse was willing to assist him if a matter arose that fell within the company’s ability to help.

Another young adult among the team members leaned forward with a playful smile.

“You should also remember that if you have any new vehicle ideas, you can hit us up!”

He pointed both index fingers towards Ezra.

His cheerful manner differed from the more formal tone used during the earlier discussion, but the message was clear.

The team would welcome the chance to work with Ezra again if he came up with another vehicle design.

He then brought up something else.

“It was a shame when I heard that a disciple of yours had created a Steam Bicycle. Your involvement was clearly written all over the exterior.”

He said, looking at Ezra.

The young man seemed excited by the subject.

“We tried to get the contract for the production, but it seemed the Ashenlockes were looking for a small company so they could arrange a contract that would benefit their earnings more. The Steam Bicycle hasn’t been released yet, but I’m quite excited about it.”

He explained excitedly.

Ezra did not offer a detailed response.

He looked at the speaker and gave a simple nod of acknowledgement.

When other members addressed him, he responded in the same restrained manner, occasionally lowering his head to thank them.

The meeting had come to an end, and the necessary arrangements for his Phantom Rolls had been settled.

There was little else that needed to be discussed at that moment.

The Vice Head turned towards Ezra one final time.

“Alright. Make sure to enjoy your stay in Thornwick, and visit us before you leave.”

He said calmly.

“I will, sir.”

Ezra replied.

He then rose from his chair, with Lucy getting up beside him.

The members of The Eclipse watched as the two prepared to leave the meeting room.

After exchanging their farewells, Ezra and Lucy took their leave.

They left the administrative building and returned to the Royal Phantom Rolls that had picked them up when they arrived at Solcrest Airport.

The vehicle was ready to take them back to their hotel, where they could prepare for the following day.

Ezra and Lucy boarded the Royal Phantom Rolls, and their journey back to the hotel began.