Lord of Entertainment C12 Gerald Orlando

I returned to the square, setting up my equipment once more among the other performers. This time, I decided to sing something less controversial, and soon, passersby began to stop and listen. Among them, a well-dressed dwarf caught my eye, his interest in my performance evident.

As I finished my song, the dwarf approached me, his eyes fixed on my electric guitar. "Young man, your instrument is truly an innovation. Do you mind if I take a closer look at it?"

I nodded without much hesitation. There was no real point in keeping the technology a secret - any skilled mechanic or dwarf would likely figure it out with a glance. I handed over the guitar, curious to hear his assessment.

The dwarf took the instrument, handling it with surprising ease despite its size relative to him. He stroked his beard thoughtfully as he examined it, his eyes gleaming with professional interest.

"Fascinating," he muttered, turning the guitar over in his hands. "You've managed to harness elemental resonance in a most unique way. The strings... they're not just metal, are they? There's a trace of thunderstone alloy here, allowing for the amplification of vibrations."

He ran his fingers along the body of the guitar. "And this... is this petrified whisperwood? Brilliant choice. It naturally amplifies magical resonances."

The dwarf's eyes widened as he noticed the pickup. "Now this... this is truly innovative. You've created a mana-electric converter. It's transforming the magical vibrations of the strings into a form of energy similar to lightning magic."

He peered closer at the wiring. "Copper wrought with moonsilver... perfect for conducting both magical and electric energies. And these runes etched along the pathways... they're directing and shaping the flow of energy, aren't they?"

He handed the guitar back to me, his expression a mix of admiration and curiosity. "I must ask, where did you learn to craft something like this? It's unlike anything I've seen before, and I've been in the business of magical mechanics for over many years."

As I took the guitar back, I found myself momentarily speechless. The dwarf's analysis had been far more thorough and insightful than I'd anticipated. My initial assumption that "any dwarf could see how it works with a glance" had been an underestimation - this dwarf's understanding went beyond mere observation into true comprehension.

Gathering my thoughts, I answered the dwarf's question about my learning process. "Well, I've been learning by myself this entire time. And I'm just using my imagination to create something like this."

The dwarf's eyes lit up with interest. "You're self-taught? Surprising, but not too much. Many great inventors were also self-taught." He stroked his beard thoughtfully before adding, "But what is truly surprising is your ability to imagine. Magnus Clarkson once said, 'No matter how little a person knows of mechanics, if one has imagination, they can create anything.' I didn't believe such words before, but now..."

The mention of Magnus Clarkson again piqued my interest. It seemed this inventor's influence ran deep in this world's technological development.

The dwarf looked at me appraisingly, his eyes twinkling with an idea. "Say, do you want to come to my company?" He quickly added, "Not only will you earn, but you can also learn from me directly. What do you think?"

I felt a jolt of excitement mixed with apprehension. This was an unexpected opportunity - a chance to earn money, gain knowledge, and potentially advance my goals in Saint Angeles. But it also meant closer scrutiny, which could be risky given my true nature and the limits of my technical knowledge.

"Umm... What company?" I asked, looking at the dwarf who seemed to be quite important.

The dwarf's eyes widened in surprise before he smacked his forehead with a chuckle. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself properly." He straightened up, his bearing suddenly more formal. "My name is Gerald Orlando. I am the CEO of the Orlando Mechanics Corporation."

I nodded, accepting his outstretched hand for a firm handshake. "Nice to meet you, Gerald Orlando. My name is Arthur Whitlock."

At the mention of my name, Gerald stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Whitlock? Are you from the Whitlock family?"

A jolt of panic shot through me. I hadn't considered that the name on my false identity might belong to a prominent family. Quickly, I shook my head. "No, no. My family name is just coincidentally the same."

Gerald seemed to accept this explanation, nodding sagely. "Oh, I see, I see... It's not rare for someone to have the same last name as others..."

I breathed an internal sigh of relief, grateful that he didn't press the issue further.

"So, the Orlando Mechanics Corporation," I said, steering the conversation back to safer ground. "What kind of work does your company specialize in?"

Gerald's eyes lit up at the question. "We're at the forefront of magical-mechanical innovation. Our company develops everything from enhanced mining equipment to arcane communication devices. Your electric guitar," he gestured to the instrument in my hands, "would fit right in with our cutting-edge projects."

I nodded, processing the information. "I see... Your company must be quite big, huh?"

Gerald nodded, then seemed to realize something. His bushy eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Wait a minute, why does it feel like you're interviewing me? I'm offering you a chance to be in my company, and yet you're asking so many questions." He chuckled, a mix of amusement and pride in his voice. "Don't you know we're second only to the Lupo family when it comes to mechanical engineering corporations?"

I laughed wryly, realizing I might have overstepped. "Haha, I apologize, Mr. Orlando," I said, quickly adding, "But I can't help it. You see, I'm new here in Saint Angeles. So I really don't know that much about the local businesses."

Gerald's expression softened with understanding. "Oh, you're new here? I see, I see."

Before he could continue, another dwarf, also well-dressed but with a sour expression, shouted from a distance. "Big bro, what are you waiting for? We've got a meeting, and you're wasting your time with a brat!"

I looked over to see a dwarf who bore a striking resemblance to Gerald, though his demeanor was markedly less friendly. It wasn't hard to deduce that this was Gerald's brother.

Gerald turned to the newcomer, not minding the curious glances from passersby. "Shut your mouth! I've just accidentally scouted a talent here and you're ruining it!" He then turned back to me, his tone apologetic. "I'm sorry for my brother. He's always like that."

I chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "I understand..."

Gerald, now seemingly in a hurry, reached into his wallet and pulled out a business card. "Listen, if you're interested in my company, and also in my guidance on mechanical and crafting knowledge, just contact me. My details are on that card."

I looked at the card thoughtfully, nodding as I took it. "You got it."

Gerald gave me a parting smile before jogging back to his impatient brother. "You just couldn't wait, could you?" I heard him shout as they walked away.

As their bickering faded into the bustling noise of the square, I stood there, the weight of the business card heavy in my hand. The encounter had been brief but packed with potential implications for my future in Saint Angeles.

I looked down at the card, its surface gleaming with intricately etched runes. The Orlando Mechanics Corporation - second only to the Lupo family in the field of mechanical engineering.

As I pocketed the card, my mind was already racing with possibilities and potential pitfalls. I knew I needed to do more research - about the Orlando corporation, about the Lupo family, and especially about the Whitlock name I had adopted.