The Industrialist

SARS – Science Aspirant Registration Service

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The crowd inside SARS seemed to be distracted by their CloudArchives – personal digital tablets that stored their legal documents, even their personal files and could convey news from Media and any other communications from the Government or Corporation. Continue your journey with empire

The aspiring scientists that filled the wide halls of SARS clustered together, conversing noisily. Lance seemed to be indifferent, but he knew something was up.

It was always when there was News that came from the Corporation, announcements, or amendments, Corporation celebrities celebrating special occasions, a newly constructed megastructure, or some gruesome news like murders, terrorism, and of course new Scientific breakthroughs, such as new projects.

Lance was indifferent still, but something was alarming. From the majority of the aspirants, something elated them. However, for a few moments, he knew that something trendy filled the News as he heard positive appreciation from the looks of the Scientists.

As he weaved about the throng of crowded scientists, he overheard some conversations;

"who is this, guy? He must be one of the high echelons," one teenager said.

"No, he doesn't dress like us. Probably, a mid-classer," one high-classer responded.

"Genius!"

"This guy won't last long, I assure you all." One antagonized.

Unsure of the topic, he took out his CloudArchive to check on the news. He activated it and a prompt message appeared on its screen. Well, assessor Mari could wait as he took steps nearer to the Junior Assessor's table.

The news article blew up and escalated Lance's heart rate. It was his face on the news! And beside his portrait was the title of the article: Aspiring Scientist's Amazing Discovery!

It was about his successful RoFlo production. He read quite a few lines there;

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Robotic Floatation Pollution Control Device or RoFlo was invented by a Scrapper Tier 2 Scientist, Mr. Lance Berkley. RoFlo is a device that floats on our wastewater treatment facilities in our WWMD and is baffled by the invention's effectiveness on water pollution collection….

Kranian Industries assembled the actual RoFlo mass production and Mr. Berkley was assigned as the coTOR of Doctor Zee Andradez, the Industrialist Tier 1….

Mr. Berkley's contribution provided great help with the current predicaments of major water pollution control systems, avoiding multi-million units of facility construction for our wastewater management systems in the future because of the presence of thousands of RoFlo's in the wastewater treatment facilities….

In light of Mr. Berkley's achievements, Doctor Zee Andradez commends the inventor's breakthrough, thus granted him offerings beyond the established rules of Tier rankings….

"This is to inspire Scientists to look beyond their present thinking and create inventions outside the norm. Mr. Berkley had created something of great use, city-wide, beyond the trends nowadays. I urge scientists to improve our waste management systems, a dirty job of course, but we, as the Corporation leaders, will not deny its impact…." - Doctor Zee Andradez.

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The news went on. A two-page article that hooked the aspiring scientists, somehow, would motivate the younger ones, especially the Scrapper Tiers.

What made the majority happy about these projects as rumors had circulated about budget constraints in the city's economic state, sacrificing humanitarian privileges and programs for the community, especially the rich communities, would resurface monetary grants back to the employees.

Somehow, as they connected the dots, RoFlo's existence saved millions of units for the Government, hence, granting the privileges back to the citizens.

"Bonuses!" One scientist, in his mid-twenties, shouted. He was quite sure about it. He turned many heads inside the hall and some of them cheered and clapped. "Praise Mr. Berkley!" Then laughter loomed.

Lucky for Lance, the people did not notice him. He wore decent and mid-classer clothes in the portrait, with a filtered face and a friendly smile. In person, Lance has rather had a gloomy aura, wearing his pocketed jeans as Commoners do, and a repulsive personality.

He turned off his CloudArchive and continued to approach Mari's table. Mari's attention directly glued to her CloudArchive as well, probably was wondering about the crowd's ecstatic distraction.

"Ahem…" Lance placed his CloudArchive on Mari's table. "Hi, Miss Mari. I am here once again to apply for an offering of ranking up."

Mari turned her head away from her tablet and stared at the young boy across her table.

"You are Mr. Berkley," she said softly, her mouth opened but did not utter any word further.

"Yes. I am here for the offer of Mechanical Tier 3 from Doctor Zee Andradez." Lance said.

"You are famous, now," Mari said.

Doctor Zee's reputation greatly impacts the lives of the scientific community and that made Doctor Zee one of the Corporation celebrities. If Lance was commended by Doctor Zee, the former achieved a rare opportunity and gained equal fame for a duration of time.

"Famous. That's an exaggeration, Miss Mari," Lance answered.

Mari's face turned to glee, unlike his two encounters before, the former had subtle hostility in her treatments with the Commoner. She turned her head with a smile on her face as if wanted to announce that the recently famous scientist was standing in front of her.

"Wow. Mr. Lance Berkley," she seemed to have an authentic appreciation towards the kid. "For only a quarter of the year, you managed to reach a Mech Tier 3? Very impressive. You must have famous parents or Government influencers."

Government Influencers were usually politicians or personas handling high positions in Government departments such as Jaqi's parents – her mother was the Directress of the Agri Sector and her father was the Secretary head of the Customs and Border Defense department. Both departments were hailed vital to the city's control.

"Nope. I am orphaned, now. My father died years ago." Lance winced.

"You must have a famous father," Mari said, something in her line of questioning somehow had a hint of mockery.

"Nope. He lived a simple life and died simply without any fame and money." He told the half the truth. "Listen, I want this transaction to be fast. Doctor Zee would like to have a meeting with me the soonest." Then he lied about his meeting with the Industrialist Tier 1.

"Sorry to even bring it up," Mari seemed to cringed to the kid. "Ok. I will expedite your request, granting you have complete requirements… Oh. Sorry, I know you have complete requirements. It's Doc Zee's recommendation."

She started to glance at the CloudArchive and scan through Lance's documents and recommendation letters.

Lance stood there with his head bent low without attracting any attention from the crowd while Mari hurriedly and deftly typed on her glass touch keyboard. Lance placed thirty currency cards on her desk amounting to three thousand units as payment for his ranking.

After a few minutes, "Mr. Berkley, I have expedited your request and you are now a Mechanic Tier three. In your CloudArchive, you will see the offerings of your new rank.

He scanned his tablet. It had the same offerings when achieved the Mechanic Tier 1 such as access to a Desker job, access to a scrapyard tier 3, and the scrap level compositions, but with no new accommodation offer. What Lance had raised his eyebrows was the fourth item of the offering.

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[4] Free courses available.

[a] Advanced Agricultural Mechanics - Knowledge and application of various high technological advancements for Agricultural use. [Intelligence grade 2]

[b] Specialized course for Masterworks Energy Sources - Concepts and advance knowledge in various Energy sources and industrial applications. [Intelligence grade 3]

[c] Advanced Mechanical Strength of Materials - High calculative course about metallic strengths in structures and construction engineering fields. [Intelligence grade 2]

[d] Basics of Metal Forging - Concepts on metal component mixture using industrial grade metal forging equipment and technology. [Intelligence grade 1]

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"Thanks," he said to Mari. "I would like to register for the Specialized course for Masterworks Energy Sources."

Lucky but expected. A specialized course for Energy sources was his needed technical know how to construct the Ultragenerator by the use of the two energy major components - Infused Electromagnetic Battery and the Energy Accelerator.

Moreover, Lance was also surprised of the courses' respective intelligence grade. He heard about it before that the Scientists that took on courses had their augmentations of their intelligence grades. It held no importance before as Lance had assessed, he only needed the Scientific rankings.

"Master, I will inlcude in your profile your intelligence grade as you plan to take on the course." Jasper whispered at the back of his ear. "The intelligence grade would tell how much knowledge an individual had enrolled in to. The higher the intelligence grade, the greater is the knowledge acquired. In your case, Master, you have an Intelligence grade Zero."

'That's absurd! Intelligence grade Zero and I am already in the News articles and commended by one of the Corporation Celebrities,' Lance boasted in his thoughts.

"Right away, Mr. Berkley," Mari said. After a few moments, "You are registered now. Please proceed to the High Science Academy and look for Doctor Adamson."

The course would take him months to finish and such time the rebels don't have. They needed the Ultragenerator immediately. Hence, his plan should work. But first, he needed to talk to Doctor Adamson.