The Simulation Room and the Achilles' Heel
Yanaki stepped into the Combat Simulation Room. It was a vast, stark white room, its floor divided into a metal grid, with a complex control panel in the corner. This was one of the most advanced facilities in the Steam Guild.
She uploaded all the data on the "Aegis" Model Automaton that Rory had provided into the system. Immediately, a 3D image of the machine materialized in the middle of the room. It looked perfect. Its design was sleek, aerodynamic, its pearlescent white alloy shell seamlessly joined, without a single gap. It was the embodiment of the Gear Guild's "precision and efficiency" philosophy.
Yanaki did not work alone.
"Volt, connect and run diagnostics," she commanded. Her automaton connected to the control panel, beginning to run thousands of simulations on the Aegis model's pressure tolerance, energy consumption, and heat dissipation capabilities.
"Elara, 'read' these video clips for me." Yanaki played back the footage of the Aegis in combat.
Elara closed her eyes. She didn't just watch. She felt the "memory" of the footage, the details that the naked eye and machines might miss: a near-imperceptible hesitation before the machine launched an attack, a change in frequency in its optical sensors when facing a certain type of weapon, and most importantly, the combat "rhythm" of the artificial intelligence controlling it.
The initial results were not promising. Volt's data showed that the Aegis was extremely energy-efficient, with no overheating issues. Its armor had no obvious weak points. It seemed to be a perfect combat machine.
"Yanaki," Elara suddenly spoke after a long silence. "I don't understand machines, but I sense one thing. In all its battles, it never... wastes a single movement. Every action is calculated to be optimal. It's... too perfect."
Elara's words struck Yanaki's mind like a bolt of lightning. Too perfect.
Perfection was a strength, but sometimes, it was also the greatest weakness. A machine that operates purely on logic and optimization would likely be flustered when facing something illogical, something chaotic.
"Volt, run the simulation again," Yanaki said, a new idea forming. "Set up a match between Aegis and Sylva. But this time, add random environmental factors."
A virtual Sylva and a virtual Aegis appeared. Initially, the Aegis easily dodged and countered Sylva's somewhat slow attacks. But then, a virtual steam pipe burst, spewing blinding steam. A virtual lamp flickered erratically. A virtual patch of floor suddenly became slick with an oil leak.
And they saw it.
Every time a sudden, chaotic element occurred, the "perfect" Aegis automaton would freeze for about half a second. It was a minuscule delay, but it was real. In that half-second, its processor was having to recalculate millions of new variables, trying to find a new "optimal" action for an unpredictable situation.
It was programmed for a perfect duel, not a chaotic street brawl.
"The Achilles' heel..." Yanaki whispered. She had found it.
She didn't need a stronger weapon. She needed a "noisier" one. A weapon that could create chaos.
She quickly sketched a new design on the control panel. Not a laser gun or a missile. But a grenade. A [Jamming EMP Grenade]. It wouldn't deal much damage. Instead, upon detonation, it would create an unstable electromagnetic field, high-frequency flashing lights, and piercing static noise. It was an information bomb, designed to overload the Aegis's sensors and processor, forcing it into a state of "lag" for a few precious seconds.
She brought her detailed analysis report and her sketch to Rory.
The Steam Guild's Foreman read the report, her eyes widening progressively. Her guild's philosophy was "bigger, stronger, more explosions." This subtle approach, targeting the opponent's psychology and logic, was something completely new.
Rory looked up at Yanaki, no longer with the eyes of someone looking at an apprentice mechanic, but at a strategic asset.
"Kid... you don't just fix machines. You can read their minds."
[You have completed the Special Mission [Aegis Design Analysis].]
[Your rewards have been granted: 1000 Contribution Points, Access to B-Rank Guild Schematics.]
[Your reputation in the Steam Guild has soared. You have been promoted to [Strategic Engineer].]
Yanaki smiled. A new rank, a new recognition. She looked at her rough sketch. The next step was clear: gather the materials and craft her very first original invention, a weapon born from understanding an enemy's weakness.