"Gamer, into Inventor"

Alya was the first to speak, her usual confidence tempered with a hint of sincerity. "Luka, we're sorry. We didn't mean to be so, against you when you were just helping" she began, her eyes meeting his with an expression of genuine remorse. "I mean, we didn't mean to doubt you… it's just that we didn't realize how much you cared, you've been helping more than anyone's expected."

Marinette added, her voice soft but earnest, "Luka. You've done a lot more than we've given you credit for. You've shown your kindness and bravery even before, we should've known better."

Luka leaned back in his chair, considering their words. His previous interactions with Alya and Marinette hadn't been to pleasant, but this apology felt different. It felt like an opening.

He offered them a calm smile, though inside, he felt the faintest stir of amusement. "I understand. I know it must've been hard to trust someone you weren't sure about. But I forgive you both. After all, we all make mistakes. I know how important, safety is, and I'm just glad you guys understood."

Alya looked relieved, her smile returning in full force. "Thanks, Luka. We really appreciate it."

"Yeah," Marinette chimed in, clearly eager to move past any tension. "You've been such a big help. We're lucky to have you on our side."

Luka nodded once more, the satisfaction of gaining their trust filling him. But just as the conversation seemed to wind down, a sudden noise caught his attention. The faint sound of something mechanical whirring outside the lunchroom door reached his ears. He looked up, his eyes scanning the room, and then he saw it.

Luka nodded once more, the satisfaction of gaining their trust filling him. But just as the conversation seemed to wind down, a sudden noise caught his attention. The faint sound of something mechanical whirring outside the lunchroom door reached his ears. He looked up, his eyes scanning the room, and then he saw it.

Max Kante, the elusive tech prodigy, stood in the hallway. Floating just beside him was a small, hovering robot, whizzing around in the air with precision.

The little bot seemed to be running some kind of diagnostic on the hallway, taking measurements and collecting data with a kind of efficiency that only Max could achieve.

My interest was piqued immediately. Max was brilliant—there was no question about that. But I also recognized he was always more into gaming than tech. Although tech wasn't the strongest in this world if I played this carefully, Max could become a powerful tool for my ambitions.

Luka excused himself from the table, giving a polite smile to Alya and Marinette as he stood up. "Thank you both again, enjoy your lunch."

Without waiting for a response, he made his way toward Max, who was still absorbed in his work with the floating robot. Luka approached slowly, giving Max time to notice him, and when the tech prodigy finally looked up, Luka greeted him with a friendly, disarming smile.

" You're Max, right?" Luka began, his voice casual but full of the right amount of respect. "I've seen some of your projects around, and I have to say—I'm really impressed. That little robot you've got there? It's remarkable. The way it adapts to its surroundings... It's unlike anything I've seen before."

Max's face remained neutral, but Luka could see the slightest shift in his eyes. It was subtle, but it was there—Max liked being acknowledged. And I ``was about to feed that need with just the right amount of admiration.

"You're working on things no one else could dream of, Max," Luka continued, stepping closer as if to speak more confidentially. "I've always been a big fan of the mind behind things like this. The way you think outside the box, how you're always pushing the limits of what's possible… I have to say, it's rare to find someone with your caliber of intellect. You don't just follow trends—you create them."

Max shifted a bit uncomfortably, Luka saw the faintest blush of pride on his face, and he knew he had him hooked. Max was a genius, yes—but like most brilliant minds, he craved recognition. Luka was giving him that in spades.

Luka paused for a moment, letting the compliment sink in before I added " People around here don't even realize how lucky they are to have someone like you here. You've got this potential to change the world, Max. You just need the right opportunity to show it." 

Max's eyes flicked toward the robot, hovering just beside him, its lights blinking in quiet synchronization with Max's thoughts. For a moment, he said nothing, as if testing whether I'd simply wait for him to speak. Then, finally, Max spoke.

"I've been working on something that could potentially revolutionize the way we interact with technology," he began, his voice steady but with a spark of excitement hidden beneath the surface. "Not just robots, but entire systems—something that could work seamlessly with every piece of tech around us. A universal AI interface, one that adapts to its user's needs automatically. But it's not just about the tech; it's about the experience. I want to make it alive in a way. Like how you said before, how my robot adapts to its environment—that's just the start."

Luka's mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. This wasn't just an idea. Max wasn't talking about a simple invention or gadget. He was talking about a system that could think. A system that could interact with humans in ways technology never had before. It was exactly the kind of breakthrough that would place Max at the center of everything. Luka could practically see it in his mind—Max, the quiet tech genius, finally getting the recognition he deserved for creating something that could change the world.

"You want to build an intelligent system—one that learns and adapts, like your robot, but on a much bigger scale?" I asked, his voice tinged with admiration. This wasn't just impressive. This was monumental.

Max nodded slowly. "Exactly. It would work with anything, anywhere—computers, smartphones, even household appliances. It would become smarter with every interaction. But to do that, I'd need a lot of money to make it accessible on a large scale."

A frown came on Max's face for a short while and he turned to his robot typing in a few things. Finally, Max broke the silence. "But if you had something in mind for now? I mean, while I work on this bigger project—something more tangible. Something that could show off my work, or at least give me something smaller to prove I can do it."

Luka's lips curled into a smile. It was a reasonable request, and one Luka had been expecting. Of course, Max wouldn't want to wait around for too long before showing what he was capable of. But Luka wasn't about to suggest just any project. He had something in mind, something that would serve his own interests as well.

"Well, I do have a project I've been thinking about for a while," Luka said, his voice casual but with a hint of mischief. "It's not quite as groundbreaking as what you've been working on, but it's still an interesting challenge. It's a voice-activated flute rotator."

Max raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. "A flute rotator?"

"Yeah," Luka nodded, as though the idea was simple and straightforward. "It's essentially a device that helps a musician rotate their flute without having to use their hands, kind of like a mechanical assistant. It can adjust the angle while you're playing, giving the player more freedom with their hands. I was thinking it could be especially helpful for musicians who are playing complex pieces, play single handed, or need to multitask."

Max's eyes narrowed, clearly processing the concept. But Luka could see the flicker of interest in his gaze. The challenge was there—Max's eyes gleamed with the prospect of building something functional, something with immediate use.

"That doesn't sound like something revolutionary, though," Max said slowly, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "I mean, it's a simple task. You're just rotating a flute... why would I make that?"

Luka leaned in slightly into his ear, as though sharing a secret. 

Max's face shifted, a mix of intrigue and suspicion. "So, you want a tiny, wearable device that can rotate the flute, but you want it to be powerful enough to respond instantly to voice commands?" He raised his brow, clearly sensing something wasn't entirely on the surface. "And you want me to build this?"

Luka smirked, sensing that Max was beginning to understand the full weight of the project. "Exactly. But there's more to it than just the design. I want it to be discreet, functional, and intuitive. The challenge is creating something that works seamlessly, doesn't interfere with the music, and, well... does what no one would expect a small, wearable device to do."

Max's fingers hovered over his laptop's keyboard, his eyes distant as he ran through the logistics in his mind. Luka knew Max wasn't just hearing the idea. He was already formulating a plan, calculating how the mechanics of it could work. But Luka wasn't done. He had one more push to make sure Max would bite, to ensure he would want to make this for Luka.

Luka leaned back, his smile growing more assured. "If you could make something like this work, it would be huge. Think about it. You'd be the one who redefines what it means to integrate gadgets into the world of music. People would notice your genius. They'd talk about you. And who knows? If you pull this off, maybe the bigger project of yours will be easier to fund, too."

Max finally looked up at Luka, his gaze focused and intense. Luka had given him the right kind of challenge—the kind that would satisfy his need for recognition while allowing him to flex his technical abilities. Max was smart, but now he was driven.

"A wrist-sized flute rotator," Max repeated, his voice thoughtful. "That's an interesting idea. A bit impractical at first glance, but... I can see it. It'd need a lot of fine-tuning, but it's doable."

Luka could sense the shift. Max was already starting to work through the problem, not just seeing the challenge, but embracing it. He was hooked.

"I'm glad you see it," Luka said smoothly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Once it works, we'll have something nobody's seen before. And then, the bigger things can happen. You'll see. I have no doubt you're the one who can pull it off."

Max finally nodded, his lips curling into the smallest of smiles. "Alright. I'll take it on. But you'll have to be patient. It's going to take some time to get it right."

Luka grinned. "Take all the time you need. Just remember—I'm counting on you."

As Max turned back to his laptop, already starting to sketch out the design, My mind raced with the possibilities. Of course this wasn't just about creating a simple flute rotator. It was about setting the stage for something far bigger while also having Max working for him without even realizing it. 

Max was now officially in the game. And Luka had just set the stage for his next big move.