Having asked for a large space to show my creation, the trio is guiding us to their large scale testing area while asking me some questions. To be specific, it's Jiaoshou Boshi that's asking the questions as one is too tired to bother and the other is slightly apathetic to our presence, but they both seem to be paying attention to the conversation anyways.
"So like, you're a Dragonoid, right? Does that mean you're related to the Imperial Family? if so I apologise on the behalf of these two for blowing up the left-wing of the palace. Oh, and none of us cares much for formalities, so feel free to call us by name."
"Ok then, Boshi, and no I'm not apart of Shenzhou's Imperial Family nor am I a Dragonoid, I'm an actual Dragon and I'm not even from Shengdi."
"Oh, I heard about some outsiders causing trouble not too long ago, so does everyone from the outside where clothes like yours? Don't get me wrong, you look good in them, I've just never seen clothing like that before," Boshi asks while commenting on my clothes from Earth.
"No, even on the outside, my clothes are unusual."
"I do remember overhearing a conversation between Lia, Aurelia, and Wanjing, with Wanjing asking them to make her a set of similar clothing to you. Even Aurelia mentioned she might make a set for herself as well, then Lia thought it would be a good idea to get matching clothing with you," Yue says.
"Why I'm I the only one who didn't know about this? Whatever I can deal with this matter later. I assume you all have a general idea of what I'm doing here, right?" I ask.
"The message said you wanted assistance to perfect your creation. We weren't given the details or anything, but the payment looked good and since we hardly get anyone at our doorstep with a job offer I forced-, persuaded, our leader to at least take a look."
A quick glance into the various rooms and even just looking at the hallway we're walking through, I can easily see why no one wants to approach them. Then you add their previous destructive history, it's no surprise no one will offer them a job.
"We're... here... the largest testing area... that we have," Hakase says.
Taking a look at the large open room, there should be enough space for a couple of my Big Metal Dragons to stand around in, but not all of them be able to move. I can probably at most have two of them out at once when considering movement.
"Looks like there is enough room, so I'll get it out now. Just a warning though, this may not look pretty," I say as I shift to my Dragon form to spit out a completed Big Metal Dragon.
"Woah, she really is a Dragon, I've never seen one in person before, she's big," Boshi says.
"Not full... size, she is... reducing her size," Hakase says.
Hearing this, I'm actually surprised she noticed.
"Hey, doesn't it look like a bulge is moving up through her," Gyosu says before I Big Metal Dragon comes out of my mouth, crashing onto the floor.
As I shift back into my Humanoid form I also clean up the residue saliva. With it all cleaned up I use my manipulation to bring it to its feet and introduce it, "this is what I call a Big Metal Dragon. I want your help with two things. The first is to improve the design and then turn this into an automaton. The second and more important one is that I want to redesign another one into something that can be controlled from the inside."
The reaction of the three is split between Hakase and Boshi looking at the Big Metal Dragon with interest while Gyosu looks a bit pale as he excuses himself to the toilet, likely a bit disturbed with the whole regurgitating a giant hunk of metal.
"Hey, hey, putting the barf boy aside, how did you do that? and you have more of these? And how did you make this? It's cool, even if it's poorly built. Oh, and how do you did you move it, it doesn't look like it has any mechanisms to allow for movement?" Boshi says, sending a barrage of questions towards me.
"I felt... space... I'm also... curious... if you're willing... we will work... with you," Hakase says.
I look over towards Yue and she says, "they're the best you going to get, so long as you look past their eccentricities they are some of the best minds in Shengdi."
"Well then, it'll be a pleasure to work with you, shall we sort out the details," I see, extending my hand towards Hakase.
"Yes... a pleasure... I'm very... curious... about your... creation," Hakase says, shaking my hand.
"Since this will take a while if Hakase leads the conversation, I'll take over," Boshi says, "so what should we do about the materials needed to make something like this and I haven't even thought about all the trial and error we'll inevitably be going through. To be honest we don't have that much money for materials. We can recycle some of the random scraps that Gyosu put together but it won't be of great quality."
"You won't need to worry too much, take a look," I say as I create a variety of different metals in front of me.
"Space again... no this is... different... what is this?"
"A reminder, everything we do and everything you learn about me is to remain confidential. As Boshi mentioned before, I'm not exactly in good standing with the authorities in Shenzhou."
"That's why you came to us right, we're in a similar situation, even though we were just following our curiosity. That's fine, but I want to know what you and your friends did. I'm sure you've heard of a couple of our exploits so it's only fair to share."
"Robbed a grave and blew up our pursuers," I say, keeping it simple.
"That sounds eerily familiar," Boshi says as she turns her head to look at Hakase who turns her head away to avoid eye contact, "so you can just make anything you want?"
"I can make any metal as long as I've eaten it, and I've had quite a few. This also includes alloys and the same applies to minerals too."
"This is very good and completely takes care of our supply issue. I'm very excited to get to work, I've never made anything like this Big Metal Dragon of yours, do you mind if I get started and dismantle it?"
Without even waiting for an answer, Boshi runs off and grabs some tools before she gets a closer look at the Big Metal Dragon.
Hakase looks as if she is about to say something, but before she can, Gyosu returns and asks, "I see the brat has already gotten started, so I assume you come to an agreement?"
"Yeah, we'll be working together for the foreseeable future. Remember that everything about me and our dealings remain a secret."
"I know, I read the message, you don't need to worry about that. If you'll excuse me, I'll go and begin my work as well," Gyosu says as he heads toward Boshi.
Yue also goes over to the Big Metal Dragon as she is also curious about it as well, leaving me with Hakase by the entrance.
"So you wanted to say something, right?"
"A favour... can you?"
"I guess I can depending on what it is, not like I'm doing much else right now."
"Make more... raw material... I want to... sell... I'll share... profits with you..."
Although I don't really need any more money, I feel compelled to just keep gathering more so I agree and we begin to go over the details. The conversation ends up taking far longer than I felt it should as Hakase drags everything she says out and I can't really tell when she is actually done and waiting for a response or if she's just taking a breather between words. I've hardly done anything but just speaking with her tires me out.
We end up talking a bit more and going into her own skillset and I'm more than satisfied that she seems like she can handle the job. Now if only I didn't feel tired after speaking with her, that would be great.