Eventually 7RU-MC returned from the noble party. Kaden observed this through Nervin. The robot seemed entirely happy about how things were progressing. Yet, it then stopped in by Nervin.

"Please, be careful", 7RU-MC said. "During the party one of the young masters came to demand things from me. You know the usual kids that have not been raised properly." There was slight pause. "I slapped him in the face. There was quite a bit of the usual 'you dare' and swearing to get his uncle punish me."

Kaden was cursing back at his hideout, but didn't do anything else.

"I think that meeting was arranged so the other nobles can use it as an excuse to make their own moves", 7RU-MC continued as if there were no problems. "I'm very experienced regarding this matter. Its nothing I can't handle. "

"Remain discreet, Nervin!" Kaden communicated to his slave. "If it comes to it, betray the malfunctioning machine, if it means your survival."

7RU-MC's problems were its problems.

"As for your meeting with the Northwind family. That was easy to arrange. They are indeed looking for more employees no matter the background", 7RU-MC continued. "Come with me the next evening. They will want to ask you some questions and so on."

Questions shouldn't be a problem. Kaden had already questioned Nervin enough to know deeper details of his background. The original story about Nervin wanting to go higher than be a criminal was still perfectly acceptable. Kaden had merely smoothed out the story.

Perhaps given time, Nervin might have tried such path himself anyway, even if he had not been enslaved. There was basically no extra risk involved by telling something that was roughly the truth.

Kaden only cursed a bit more about the robot and its ability to draw in all kinds of problems. That was a risk. Turning his head around a bit, Kaden watched the robot put together one of its unusual dresses. The dress indeed seemed to have some familiar things about it, but nothing that would directly point to phoenixes or Kaden himself.

Also, from Nervin's point of view, the fake robot at Corand was also making another dress, a bit different, but roughly the same style.

"Even if that fake one is weaker, there is clearly direct connection between it and the real one", Kaden made some observations. "If I were to arrange other one's destruction at some point, I must disrupt that connection. That link seems to be very different than my communications with Nervin."

That meant it would require some investigating before he could even begin to work a true plan against 7RU-MC. There was a chance it would never be required, but the robot was completely unpredictable and clearly had a far too many screws loose.

Kaden did not like working with it.

"The sooner I separate myself from it, the better", Kaden told himself. "Once its ridiculous clothes are done, my end of the deal is complete."

Kaden still repeatedly told himself it was worth it.

While waiting for Nervin's appointment with the Northwinds, Kaden prepared some useful things for his weaker slaves. It was time to quietly move them into Corand where they could support Nervin when needed. Kaden expected there would absolutely be that 'need' at some point.

In fact, that became even more apperent the next day when Nervin was following 7RU-MC for the said meeting.

"You dare strike at my nephew, Fundun!" Someone suddenly shouted.

Kaden watched through Nervin as a lavishly dressed man with some extra men appeared in front of 7RU-MC. The man was at Condensation stage. He felt to be on the stronger side. Behind them there was a smug looking kid.

"A mere merchant dares insult the noble families!" The man continued ranting. "I will kill you for this insult and purge your entire bloodline. Kneel and submit to your punishment."

Ridiculous.

Thats what Kaden thought as he observed the situation unfold.

"That accursed machine had to cause problems", Kaden cursed and then communicated to Nervin. "Stand back make it known that you are not interested getting involved. They migh leave you alone. As I told before, betray the machine if you need to ensure your survival!"

Knowing what he knew of 7RU-MC, he wasn't absolutely certain there would be need to worry. It had survived even more ridiculous situations, if its stories were true.

As far as Kaden could tell, there was this uncle of the stupid kid and among the group there was one more at Condensation stage. Otherwise the attackers were at Formation stage.

At this time, Kaden noted the robot who had until then been crafting its clothes suddenly stop doing so. Something about it changed and soon after, through Nervin, Kaden watched the one at Corand suddenly become more ... lively.

"It can switch between the bodies?" Kande wondered. "That doesn't make sense. Even if it can switch the location of its consciousness, the body would lack behind. Which one of these bodies is stronger? Where did it get the other one? Even if it found another 'empty' body for itself from the remnant, it should take twice the resources to maintain both."

Which one was the stronger body? Kaden was not able to tell. The machine was extremely good at hiding its true nature and clearly also obfuscate any readings others could sense about it.

Kaden continued watching the situation.

"Its too late to regret!" The stupid kid shouted with a smug voice.

7RU-MC used some kind of movement ability to move near instantly at the kid. Those at Condensation stage attempted to retaliate, but the robot twisted its body in an unnatural way along the movement and avoided them.

Instead the robot stopped by the kid who was now in shock by the sudden event.

"Perhaps a stronger slap is needed", 7RU-MC said.

*SLAP*

7RU-MC slapped the kid who flew away with his teeth and blood spewing out of his mount. The kid basically somehow spun around along the arc he flew. Kaden assumed he would live and some healing would be able to perhaps repair face and all the teeth.

"You dare!" The uncle shouted.

Luckily most of the attackers didn't really mind Nervin who stood aside doing nothing and clearly showing it.

There was one thing Kaden was very happy about. He could watch the robot fight. While it had still been mad inside its remnant, it had been rather straightforward and predictable. After it had regained its senses and left the remnant, while still clearly insane, it had become very unpredictable, but also seemingly precise.

It was a risk. Just like with Ciner, Kaden wanted to exceed their power and get the ability to get rid of them if needed.

Unfortunately, at the time, 7RU-MC far exceeded Kaden's power. At the rate it was progressing, it would advance to match a True Magus very soon.

Its fighting style was near incomprehensible. Kaden attributed this to its body that was a machine and able to do movements that human body simply could not do... at least not with some very specific mana types. It was hard to say what kind of alterations it had made to its body or rather bodies. It might even be using some odd mana seeing how it moved.

It was near impossible to land a hit on the robot. It would twist and bend its body to precisely avoid everything and similarly strike past defenses of its enemies. It was not firing its gun that Kaden knew it had. It did not need to do so. Also such a thing would reveal its true nature very quickly so Kaden didn't see it as anything strange.

At any rate, Kaden was certain that he would have a serious fight in his hands against the robot, if it ever came to that. Any life based attacks wouldn't work. Fire could work since he knew heat caused problems to these machines made by the ancients. Another would be electricity, but Kaden was not able to use that mana or at the very least it would be a very difficult mix of wind mana. Even then there was no telling, if the robot had mitigated its natural deficiencies somehow.

"No, if I were to ever fight it, I must be prepared for more direct fight than try some tricks", Kaden thought to himself.

While the robot's opponents were able to put up a fight, it was mostly because there were several of them and even weaker ones to support the two at Condensation stage.

It was over relatively quickly anyway.

The kid was bleeding on the ground, unconcious. As for the actually dangerous people, the kid's uncle and his people, their condition was far worse. Unlike the kid who could perhaps be healed, complete recovery of the rest would be questionable anytime soon.

Still, why was the robot sparing everyone? Kaden would have killed everyone. No one would think it strange after they had started the attack. Was the robot trying to maintain some level of respect to maintain whatever politics it was playing with? Possibly.

Then again, if they were already at the point of attacking, whatever the reason was, the relations would not be good. Yet, perhaps with no actual deaths, things could be amended. Perhaps to give rest of the nobles better view of what the 'Lady Fundun' was doing. Nobles liked respect, but if it was about respect, to arrange the stupid kid to be attacked by the robot had very little to do with respect. It was internal politics most likely. Basically a game the nobles played with each other. Whatever the case, everything was in 7RU-MC's control, it seemed.

Having seen the robot act, all this gave Kaden even greater feeling of extreme precision of 7RU-MC's actions. Each and every move was calculated and its effects predicted. How far? Kaden could not say.

"I need to maintain positive relationship with it until I far exceed its power", Kaden decided. "Even then, it might have predicted my growth and ensured I won't need to attack it."

Kaden watched 7RU-MC loot the unconscious bodies after which it seemed to switch again. The one working with the clothes at Kaden's lair became more lively once more and acted as if nothing ever happened.

The one at Nervin's side acted in very similar way, as if nothing ever happened and only asked Nervin to follow.

It was merely a minor interruption. Everything progressed as normal. Regardless, Kaden was annoyed he had to deal with 7RU-MC's exceptional ability to attract pointless trouble. The sooner he got Nervin working for the Northwind family and build enough trust. At that point, Kaden hoped to not run into 7RU-MC again. If it also was done with him, after getting a good look at his feathers, it would not come looking for him.

"Yes, this part will soon be over", Kaden thought to himself and again glanced at the robot adding more and more parts to its so called dress.

Nervin followed 7RU-MC at one of the more discreet buildings near the Corand residence of Northwinds. Clearly the more discreet deals were better handled just out of sight.

7RU-MC knocked on the door. A shady looking man, yet clothed with higher quality clothes that were fit for those working for the nobles, opened the door. The man was at least roughly similar power level to the robot, but Kaden expected the man to be actually significantly weaker considering the fighting style.

"This is the potential new recruit?" The man asked.

"Indeed", 7RU-MC replied. "I assume you can take it from here. I'm merely happy to complete a favor to someone with this."

The man nodded and 7RU-MC simply walked away.

"If it wasn't clear, do everything to gain trust and power", Kaden communicated to Nervin.

"Come in", the man motioned at Nervin.