Pricing the Magic Air Conditioners was something Karien had already firmly decided on.

Since he positioned them as luxury items, the price of 100 gold coins per unit had to remain fixed.

He was willing to let a unit go unsold initially rather than lower the price.

What he needed was to firmly implant one idea in the public’s mind: Magic Air Conditioners = 100 Gold Coins.

After a week of media coverage and public discourse, people started to mention the price whenever they talked about the air conditioners.

Over time, they gradually accepted the price of the product.

Then, when Karien offered a limited-time half-price discount, it encouraged them to make a purchase immediately.

After all, a magic device originally worth 100 gold coins was now only 50—who wouldn’t snatch up the deal?

By exploiting people’s natural desire to get something for less, Karien successfully sold the first batch of air conditioners.

As it stood, without accounting for the initial investment, the cost to make one magic air conditioner was around 15 gold coins.

Even if he sold them for 50 gold coins each, Karien was still making a profit of 35 gold coins per unit.

Given that the product was groundbreaking, Karien had every right to set a high price.

As long as the market was not yet balanced, he could continue to earn high profits.

Of course, he didn’t plan to maintain the half-price offer for long.

During non-promotional periods, the price would revert to the original 100 gold coins.

This might reduce sales, but it would reinforce the product’s value and help Karien gradually establish his brand.

After the limited-time half-price sale ended, more and more people came to the Mechanical Home to browse.

However, they were not coming to buy—they were more interested in asking when the next promotion would be and if there would be another half-price sale.

Achi and the other employees weren’t sure about the details either. They could only answer that the next event wouldn’t happen for at least another week, and it might not even be a half-price discount.

After receiving this information, the customers left, eagerly anticipating the next promotion.

As the day drew to a close, Achi was the last to leave the Mechanical Home shop after a long day’s work.

Just as he was about to head home and had turned around to close the door, he suddenly spotted a figure standing at the far end of the alley.

Squinting, he recognized the figure as the owner of the carriage company he used to work for.

Perhaps because of the years of pressure he had endured under this person, Achi instinctively felt uneasy at the sight of him.

But then he remembered that he was now a follower of the Church of the Mechanical God and couldn't afford to embarrass the deity or Mr. Sixteen. So, he took a deep breath and walked toward the figure.

"Well, Achi, finished for the day?"

The man who spoke was a tall middle-aged figure, dressed in a dark gray, broad-shouldered single-breasted suit. He wore a top hat and carried a cane, exuding a gentlemanly aura.

Suppressing the urge to lower his head, Achi asked, "Mr. Band, is there something you need?"

Touching his slightly curled mustache, Band circled Achi with a smile. "Not bad, Achi. You look much more respectable than before."

His gaze still ahead, Achi repeated, "Is there something you need, Mr. Band?"

Stopping in front of Achi, Band finally stated his purpose. "So, you’re working at the Mechanical Home now? How’s the pay?"

Hearing this, Achi furrowed his brow. "Thank you for asking, Mr. Band. Thanks to you, the pay is better than before. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way."

With that, Achi started to walk forward.

But Band blocked his path with his cane, smiling with narrowed eyes. "Hold on, we’ve known each other for five years. It’s only been a month or two since we last saw each other, and you’re acting so distant?"

Achi didn’t answer, his head slightly lowered as he controlled his expression. Inside, he cursed. We were never that close. You never even looked me in the eye during the five years I worked for you.

Seeing Achi’s response, Band smiled even more smugly. He continued, "Help me get 10 magic air conditioners. I’ll reward you generously."

Achi finally understood Band’s intentions.

But even when asking for a favor, the vampire still had the arrogance of someone accustomed to exploiting others.

However, Achi was no longer the same person he had been a month ago. He lifted his head and replied, "No problem."

Band’s smile grew wider at Achi’s quick answer. He patted Achi on the head and said, "That’s more like it. If you do as I say, the reward will be... much better than what you have now..."

Before he could finish, Achi interrupted him coldly.

"100 gold coins per air conditioner. That’s 1,000 gold coins for 10. Would you prefer to pay in gold coins or elemental currency?"

The smile on Band’s face instantly froze. He put his hand on Achi’s shoulder and continued, "I meant, I want you to steal 10 from the store. I can give you 100 silver coins as a reward!"

In Band’s mind, 100 silver coins was an enormous sum for someone like Achi, a lowly worker.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

But instead of getting angry, Achi laughed coldly. "Sorry, I’m not like you. I don’t steal."

With that, Achi ignored him and walked away.

Band’s face immediately darkened. He turned and shouted at Achi’s back, "Don’t think that just because you’re selling a few magic devices now, you’ve turned your life around. Don’t forget who you used to be.

"A slave lower than pigs and dogs. If I hadn’t given you a meal, you wouldn’t be alive right now."

Achi trembled slightly at the words. He stopped, lowered his head, and clenched his fists.

His once slumped posture became even more hunched.

Seeing Achi’s reaction, Band’s smile grew colder. He stepped closer, leaning in with his cane and saying, "By the way, your current boss probably doesn’t know anything about your past, does he?

"If I tell him about your history, do you think he’ll keep you around?"

Achi remained silent, for he had never told Mr. Sixteen or anyone else at the Mechanical Home about his past.

After all, it was a shameful history, and Achi feared that revealing it might disqualify him from being a follower of the Mechanical God.

The more Achi lowered his head, the more pleased Band became.

He circled in front of Achi and poked his chest with his cane, saying, "Even if you’ve been freed from slavery, the mark of a slave here will never disappear.

"People like you don’t deserve a decent life.

"I’ll say it one last time: Get me 10 magic air conditioners, or maybe I’ll reward you with a few silver coins if I’m in a good mood.

"Otherwise, your boss will soon know everything about you."

Achi’s hands tightened into fists, his skinny arms bulging with veins.

He lowered his head, gritting his teeth, his body trembling.

"Make your decision quickly. Don’t keep me waiting!"

Band jabbed his cane twice hard into Achi’s chest as he spoke.

At that moment, Achi suddenly swung his right hand and forcefully knocked the cane out of Band’s hand.

Looking up, his face twisted in fury, he spat, "Get lost! Go to hell!"

He had promised to fight for equality for everyone.

Achi still remembered the first time he met Mr. Sixteen and the ideals he outlined for the Church of the Mechanical God:

"Create more efficient machines to liberate human labor, increase productivity, generate wealth, and achieve equality for all!"

The earlier points were difficult for Achi to understand.

But the last part—equality for all—stuck in his mind.

He wasn’t sure if the Church could truly achieve equality, nor did he know if it would ever accept someone like him, a former slave, as a real person.

But one thing Achi knew for sure: Mr. Sixteen had saved him.

From the look in his eyes, it was clear that Mr. Sixteen had never looked down on Achi, even when he was just a carriage driver. In fact, he had even paid to rescue Achi, a stranger, solely to spread his faith.

Since joining the Church of the Mechanical God, Achi’s rewards had been far greater than before, and more importantly, he had gained the dignity of being treated as a human.

No matter what happened, he could never betray Mr. Sixteen!

With eyes blazing with fury, Achi glared at Band, no longer the timid man he once was.

He had made up his mind. When he returned, he would immediately confess everything about his past to the Mechanical God.

Even if the deity decided that a former slave like him was unworthy to be a follower and cursed him, Achi would have no regrets.

Band was momentarily stunned by Achi’s reaction. He couldn’t believe the once-timid slave dared to defy him like this, and even more so, he never expected Achi wouldn’t be afraid of his past being revealed to his current employer.

After a brief shock, Band’s anger flared. He grabbed Achi by the collar and shouted, "What do you think you’re doing, talking to me like that? You want to die, huh?"

As he spoke, Band’s right hand closed around Achi’s throat, and using his height advantage, he lifted Achi’s frail body off the ground.

"Do you believe I could kill a slave like you right here, and the police wouldn’t do a thing?"

Achi struggled desperately, his weak hands grabbing Band’s large one, trying to break free.

Just as Band was about to tighten his grip, Achi heard the snap of fingers.

The next second, a massive water sphere smashed into Band’s face.

The impact knocked Band sideways, sending him crashing to the ground.

Achi broke free from Band’s grasp and stumbled to his feet, clutching his throat and coughing violently.

Turning his head, Achi saw Mr. Sixteen, draped in a loose black robe and wearing a white gear mask, calmly walking toward them.

With a gloved right hand, Mr. Sixteen raised several more lightning orbs and hurled them at the soaked Band.

Band was immediately shocked and convulsed on the ground, writhing uncontrollably.

Mr. Sixteen walked a few steps closer, glancing down at Band on the floor before looking at Achi.

"Achi, you…" Achi began to speak, but Mr. Sixteen raised a hand, signaling him to remain silent.

In fact, Mr. Sixteen had been here for a while. He had seen Band standing here, waiting, and noticed that his behavior was suspicious.

So Mr. Sixteen had hidden in a nearby corner, hoping to see what the man with the top hat and mustache was up to.

He had also overheard the entire conversation between Achi and Band.

As for Achi, Mr. Sixteen didn’t have particularly high expectations.

However, it was because of Achi that he had come up with the idea of the Church of the Mechanical God, and Achi was his first follower.

So, Mr. Sixteen felt a sense of care for him.

Of course, if Achi had agreed to Band’s offer, Mr. Sixteen would have quickly adjusted how he treated him.

Fortunately, the once-timid Achi had made a clear choice in the end.

"The Church of the Mechanical God doesn’t distinguish between slaves or nobility," Mr. Sixteen said, throwing two more lightning orbs at Band. Then, he turned to Achi and said,

"We focus solely on technological advancement, increasing wealth, and equality of status. Anyone who contributes to the development of the Church will receive the Mechanical God’s favor, and Achi, you’re no exception. You’ve done well these past few days."

Achi stared at Mr. Sixteen, his eyes growing misty.

This was the first time in his life that someone had acknowledged him.

"Go home and rest. You have more tasks ahead of you," Mr. Sixteen said, waving his hand to signal Achi to leave.

Achi bowed deeply, pressing his hand to his forehead in respect.

"May the God’s blessing be with you!"

With that, Achi left.

By the time he had walked away, Band had stopped rolling on the ground.

Mr. Sixteen had used a level-one spell, and while the combination of water and electricity had increased the damage, it wasn’t enough to seriously harm Band—just a temporary, painful shock.

Looking down at Band, Mr. Sixteen spoke in a low, ominous voice,

"You wanted the magic air conditioners?"

"No, no, no, I didn’t!"

Band, whose hair was standing on end from the shocks, quickly waved his hands and scooted back a couple of steps, trying to defend himself.

"I was just passing by!"

Although he was a carriage company owner, Band only managed public carriages in a small part of the Southern District of the capital. He wasn’t a rich man—at most, a mid-tier figure—and didn’t have any magical abilities.

So, facing a Magic Sorcerer, even a level-one one, he had no means to fight back.

Although Mr. Sixteen wasn’t a true Magic Sorcerer, his enchanted gloves gave him the power of a level-one sorcerer.

Mr. Sixteen stepped forward, grabbed Band by the collar, and yanked him to his feet, his voice cold,

"I don’t care if you wanted to steal them yourself or if someone else sent you. Just remember this: Don’t mess with the Church of the Mechanical God!"

With that, Mr. Sixteen released Band and straightened his clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles as he slipped a small pebble into the chest pocket of Band’s coat.

The pebble had already been marked by Mr. Sixteen.

"Now, get out of here."

Once his point was made, Mr. Sixteen didn’t waste another word.

Band, not daring to stay any longer, fled quickly.

As he watched Band run off, Mr. Sixteen fell into deep thought.

He knew that making such a big splash in the capital would bring him vast wealth, but it would also invite a lot of trouble.

Dealing with someone like Band was easy enough.

What worried him was whether Band had been sent by someone with greater influence.

Of course, Mr. Sixteen had no proof—this was just a feeling.

The challenges he would face going forward would only grow more complex, not just from petty nobles and merchants but from large families and even high-ranking Magic Sorcerers.

After all, the appearance of magical devices would severely disrupt the status of the Magic Sorcerers.

But Mr. Sixteen had already prepared for this path.

He needed an industrial system and a market for his magical technology to continue advancing.

And to avoid being targeted, he had designed a special robe and mask to conceal his identity.

After all, safety came first.

Sigh… a life of toil, asking for trouble, he thought, stepping into a shadowy alley.

As his body entered the darkness, he vanished from sight.