Ring of Fate

Chapter 1080: Worship and Humiliation

Bella took off her goggles, revealing a face with soft lines and beautiful eyes, unlike the more masculine female mechanics that Julian had in mind.

"I heard that you just came back from an exchange study?" Bella asked curiously.

"Yeah." Julian was no longer interested in sharing this experience.

"What are you learning?" Bella pointed at the mechanical parts scattered on the factory floor with great interest. "How about we exchange ideas? You try to assemble a machine with the remaining parts? A qualified craftsman must have his own judgment and sufficient creativity."

Julian instinctively wanted to refuse. He knew clearly that there was an unbridgeable gap between him and the approachable lady opposite him.

But at this time, his sister Janna instigated:
“Go ahead and give it a try. This will be your first piece after you return from your studies.

"It doesn't matter if there are flaws. Ms. Bella will guide you and help you correct the problems."

Guidance...Julian was suddenly moved.

He first said a lot of words about how he was ordinary and his skills were just passable, then he walked among the scattered parts, observing and thinking.

When he picked up the pliers, Bella came over and nodded slightly:

"There's a small flaw in the way your hands are positioned."

She was quick to point out the problem and correct Julian's past wrong habits.

In the subsequent assembly, Bella gave similar instructions from time to time, and her instructions either made Julian suddenly realize, or made him strangely discover that many things that he originally found difficult suddenly became simple.

While teaching, Bella seemed to radiate an indescribable light. She was no longer the girl next door. Every word she said gave Julian a feeling of absolute confidence.

People who are confident and have the ability to support that confidence are always charming and make people admire them unconsciously.

Gradually, Julian looked at Bella with the same eyes as a student looking at his most respected teacher, and his words and actions began to imitate her.

This is truly a top-notch craftsman!
Top craftsmen that ordinary people can never get in touch with!
In this way, Julian completed his assembly and made a machine for cutting metal more accurately.

He couldn't believe that this was his own work, it was the kind that had to be purchased from a factory related to the Steam Church.

The look he gave Bella was even more admiring.

Janna praised the machine sincerely for a while, then took Julian home to change clothes and met Bella at a restaurant near the botanical garden.

The three of them were in a harmonious atmosphere and had a pleasant conversation.

"Excuse me, I'm going to the bathroom." Janna stood up and put down her napkin.

After watching his sister's back disappear into the hallway leading to the bathroom, Julian retracted his gaze and saw Bella pick up the red wine, take a sip, and said with a friendly but condescending smile:
"You do have a certain talent in the field of mechanics."

"No, compared to you, this can't be called a talent." Julian responded embarrassedly and with a little inferiority.

Bella put down the wine glass and shook her head:

“I’m serious.

"Are you interested in being my apprentice?"

"Apprentice?" Julian was stunned.

Bella nodded slightly and said:
"Yes, like the apprentices in ancient times, they will learn from me, grow with my help, and after they become masters, they will serve me for free for a period of time."

This... Such a young top craftsman would also recruit apprentices? Why would she value me? Julian was surprised, happy and confused:

"Can I?"

"I told you that you do have some talent." Bella, who looks like a girl next door, was quite dignified when talking about this matter.

"Can an ordinary person like me reach your level?" Julian asked anxiously.

"I can only say that there is great hope. It depends on you." Bella said carefully, "If everything goes well, you will be close to my level within half a year. But if you can't reach it yet, you will serve me for free for a year and a half."

Julian's head was buzzing, and he felt as if the pie falling from the sky was too big and made him a little dizzy.

At this time, Janna came out from the corridor where the bathroom was.

Julian immediately lowered his voice:

"Can I think about it for a few days?"

It's not that he didn't want this opportunity, but he was skeptical about Ms. Bella's true intentions:
How could such a good thing happen to me?

Is this a new type of scam? Is Ms. Bella related to those islanders?
"Okay." Bella didn't push.

After a pleasant dinner, Julian returned to the rented house on Pasteur Street and asked his sister casually:

"Chelia, who exactly is Ms. Bella, and why is she a top craftsman at such a young age?"

"Is she really a great technical expert?" Janna asked in surprise.

When Julian responded in the affirmative, she recalled:

"Ms. Bella often goes to the Old Pigeon Cage Theater to watch performances. She is a believer of the 'God of Steam and Machinery' and seems to have a close relationship with the monks of Deep Valley Monastery. Her title of technical expert should be certified by the Church of Steam. I can help you find out if it is true."

Julian's doubts gradually dissipated when he heard that Ms. Bella was a believer in the True God and had a close relationship with the monks of the Steam Church Monastery.

Such a person should not be a liar!

But we still need to find a clergyman from the Steam Church to confirm her identity...

Julian slowly became more confident:
If I could learn Ms. Bella's skills, even if it's only 80% of her level, I could become a technical director that all the factories in Trier would be vying to hire, and I might even have the hope of opening my own factory in the future!

After chatting with his sister until almost the early morning, Julian lay down on the bed, tossing and turning, too excited to sleep.

All that came to his mind was Ms. Bella, who was focused, serious, knowledgeable, skilled, and the kind of person that made people look up to and admire her unconsciously.

…………

South of the plant area, inside the newly built factory.

Bella looked at Janna, who was dressed as a witch and walked out of the mirror, and said tremblingly:

"Ma'am, I have said as you instructed."

In her mind, this is the god of death that brings destruction and despair.

She watched helplessly as many of her companions died one after another, coughing up blood all over the floor.

Janna nodded expressionlessly.
“He will agree to your proposal.

"In the next two years, you will be responsible for taking him to big cities such as Suchit, guiding him to learn occult knowledge, and helping him digest potions until he is promoted to an 'appraiser'.

“I will ask the clergy of the Steam Church in the corresponding area to help Julian believe that you have God’s gift and are trustworthy.

"Two years later, if nothing goes wrong with Julian and everything goes as expected, you will be free. Yes, but there is a prerequisite, which is that you convert to a righteous god and complete the corresponding prayers."

Without waiting for Bella to respond, Janna took out a palm-sized puppet that seemed to be soaked in dark blood from her "traveler's bag" and said with a faint smile:
"If you try to escape or do something bad to Julian, I can use it to find you easily. Don't worry, I won't kill you. I will just send you back to the Future."

After hearing the last half of the sentence, Bella's face turned pale, as if she recalled something she didn't want to remember.

That's worse than a nightmare!
She said hurriedly and humbly:

"Ma'am, I will complete the task you give me with all my heart!"

…………

A week later, in the apartment that Franca and Janna had originally rented, which had not yet expired.

Julian sat down across the table.

He looked at his sister, hesitated and said:

"Chelia, I have something I want to discuss with you."

"What's the matter?" Janna looked confused.

Julian considered and said:

"Ms. Bella wants me to be her apprentice, the ancient kind of apprentice."

"Is there such a good thing? If you can learn some real skills from her, you can become a top technical expert in the future!" Janna was surprised for her brother and her eyes were full of anticipation.

"But, but Ms. Bella is going to work as a technical director in a factory run by the Steam Monastery in Suchit City. If I become her apprentice, I have to go with her and stay there for at least two years." Julian said embarrassedly.

"It's only two years. You're still young. Once you have real skills, you'll have plenty of opportunities to make a lot of money in Trier!" Jenna encouraged her brother.

"Then you..." Julian suddenly fell silent.

"I still have to study drama for another year, and then play a supporting role in the old pigeon cage for another year. This is what we agreed to when I was an actor's apprentice. Have you forgotten?" Janna comforted and persuaded her brother, "In the next two years, my life will be very regular, and there will be no need for help."

Julian hummed, and suddenly took out a handful of banknotes and coins from his pocket:

"Chelia, take these. Focus on learning drama performance in the next two years and don't worry about making money."

Janna looked at her brother for a few seconds, then smiled and accepted the cash:
"When you come back, I may have become a famous actor."

"Then I am an excellent technical expert." Julian suddenly remembered his bold words when he was a child, and he and his sister smiled at each other.

He seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden.

After Julian left, Franca came out of the master bedroom and said happily:

"That's great, no need for hypnosis!"

"Actually, there is no big difference. When I made the decision to hypnotize Julian, it was as if this thing had already happened." Janna laughed at herself.

Franka comforted:

"Anyway, this matter has been initially resolved.

"Next, what we need to do is to consolidate the followers of the Sick Cult, spread the faith secretly, and come up with convincing enough arguments to add you in.

"Also, help Anthony prepare for the promotion ceremony and find the traces of the 'Society of the End of All Things' and Zaratul."

Janna said "hmm" and sighed sincerely:
“A rare free time.”

Just like that, with Lumian and the others being relatively safe and not encountering any disasters, time flew by and several months passed in the blink of an eye.

(End of this chapter)