A Purposeful Mistake

Fifteen minutes.

I moved fast, weaving between workers, my mind racing through the possibilities.

There were only a few ways this could end.

Option one: I fixed the bolt myself. The fastest, simplest solution. But if I did it openly, the other workers would see—and that meant questions. How did I notice it? Why didn't I say anything earlier? Evelyn would already know the truth, but the others? They couldn't suspect a thing. I needed them to be able to subjugate and Destroy Nathan.

Option two: I let the mistake play out. Let Nathan take the fall naturally. But if the bolt failed before someone else noticed, it wouldn't just be his career at risk. Mine would go down with him.

Option 3: Make up an excuse to slow down or delay the workload and give me more time before the structure collapses. But I couldn't do this, I had no time to waste. Evelyn did not care about if the structure falls, all that mattered was that nothing takes more time than it originally should of. If I couldn't fix it before the fifteen minutes were up, it was over.

I controlled my pace, slowing slightly whenever someone passed by, keeping my posture relaxed—no signs or urgency, no tells. At the same time, my Scan skill activated, flickering across every worker I passed.

I needed an answer.

[Scan Interface]

Name: Brant Sorell

Job Title: Structural Dismantler (Rank C)

Job Skills:

Material Salvage (Lv. 2): Increases recovery efficiency when dismantling structures

Fast Breakdown (Lv. 1): Speeds up controlled deconstruction

Weight Calculation (Lv. 2): Predicts load distribution before removing materials

Rapid Deconstruction (Lv. 2): Allows for swift and precise dismantling of specific structural components.

I nearly stopped in my tracks. Rapid Deconstruction. It was exactly what I needed.

I copied it without hesitation, feeling the effect settle into my system.

And then—I changed course.

I wasn't heading for the bolt anymore. Not yet.

I was heading for Nathan's last known location.

Twelve minutes left.

I reached another section of the bridge—one Nathan had worked on before. The signs were all there. Workers frustrated, but unwilling to challenge him. Sloppy coordination. Minor inefficiencies swept under the rug.

I glanced around. Nobody was paying attention to me.

Good.

With a single, efficient motion, I used Rapid Deconstruction on an entirely different bolt. One that wouldn't cause a collapse, but would be noticed soon enough.

A second mistake.

This was the key. If one mistake was found, it would justify double-checking Nathan's entire work. And when they did—

They'd find the original failure.

I exhaled slowly, stepped back, and resumed my normal pace.

Eight minutes left.

I waited.

Nothing.

Nobody saw it.

Damn it.

I needed to push things along. I observed the site, searching for an opening. Then I spotted Sienna, speaking with a group of coordinators. My Strategist skill basically screamed at me to head there and so I did.

Casual steps. Relaxed posture. I approached, keeping my expression neutral.

"Reynard!" One of the coordinators greeted me. "Your plan worked out well. Though that arrogant bastard, Nathan is ignoring the plans."

"Glad to hear it." I nodded. "Though, speaking of Nathan… we should double-check the sections he worked on."

Sienna narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why do you say that?"

I shrugged, keeping my tone measured. "It wouldn't be the first time he's made a mistake."

Her gaze lingered for a second. I could see the gears turning in her mind. She thought I was hesitant to speak up because of Nathan's rank difference.

That was fine. Let her believe that.

She exhaled sharply. "Fine. Let's check."

Three minutes left.

As expected, the second mistake—the one I had intentionally created—was discovered almost immediately. Murmurs spread among the workers. Nathan had screwed up.

Frustrated voices. Disapproving stares. The tension built.

And then—

Two minutes left.

Someone called out.

"Wait—there's another one!"

My chest tightened for a split second—then loosened as I turned and saw it.

The original mistake.

The bolt. The one that would have caused the entire collapse.

The moment it was spotted, chaos erupted. Coordinators scrambled. Workers dropped what they were doing. Tools were grabbed, skills were activated.

I didn't even need to pretend to look surprised. My sweat and heavy breathing, not from the discovery of the bolt, but from how little time was left helped me blend in perfectly.

With thirty seconds left, they finished securing the bolt.

And with twenty-eight seconds to spare—

It was over.

The structure was stable. The crisis was averted.

And Nathan?

Nathan was done

The workers, the coordinators, even Sienna—all of them turned on him. He had nearly caused a disaster. He had jeopardized the entire project. Regardless of what he says or what rank he is, he lost considerable influence. Nathan wasn't as invincible as he thought and his arrogance had finally cost him.

I exhaled slowly, keeping my face carefully neutral.

Inside, though—

I was satisfied.

Nathan had made a mistake.

And I had buried him with it.

[SYSTEM INTERFACE]

Name: Reynard Vale

Job Title: Jobmaster (Rank SSS)

Job Skills:

Endurance Boost (Lv. 3): Reduces fatigue from manual labor

Strategist (Lv. 3): Improves planning and problem-solving abilities

Heavy Lifting (Lv. 2): Boosts physical strength, making it easier to carry heavy objects

Material Efficiency (Lv. 2): Optimizes use of resources, reducing waste and improving precision

Team Coordination (Lv. 6): Enhances team management and leadership

Structural Reinforcement (Lv. 2): Improves the stability and durability of structures

Precision Engineering (Lv. 2): Enhances accuracy in measurements and construction

Fast Assembly (Lv. 2): Increases speed in constructing frameworks and structures

Rapid Deconstruction (Lv. 1): Allows for swift and precise dismantling of specific structural components

Jobs:

Unskilled Laborer (F) → [Rank-Up Quest Available]

Special Skill:

Scan, Absorb, Destroy

Cooldown:

Skill Copy (23h 46m left)