Chapter 445 - Goals - Blue (1/2)

My goal for today was to make 500 bullets each for the ones we would always use. It didn't necessarily mean that we would reload all of them in one go but keeping a few projectiles ready for the actual thing was also good because our stock of lead ingots was steadily increasing.

It was mainly because of our scavengers securing lead scrap and from the operation to clear the vehicles strewn about the roads.

Being able to cast a lot of projectiles needed a steady supply of lead scrap. It could come from any source and the wheel weights taken from the vehicles that were already unusable was one of them. Aside from those, I already had a hook-up from several ranges, boating scrapyards, junk shops, transfer stations, and etc. from before this shit started. Having a scanner of sorts helped with sorting them out from the usable ones to the unusable ones.

”Hey...” Rin approached me with a disgruntled expression.

”Yeah?” I replied.

”I need a tip.”

”Just the tip?” I chuckled then I saw Ibarra losing composure for a moment.

'I just found your weakness boi~' I laughed inwardly.

”I'm gonna hit you, please don't joke with me right now.” Rin replied.

”Yes, master… I do apologize...” I started to dogeza.

”Hngh~ please just tell me how you do it! I'm starting to have headaches!” Rin exclaimed.

”Just do it!” I said as I did the infamous pose from Shia.

”Oh! I think I did one like Sky did!” Cynthia exclaimed.

”WHAT?!” Rin almost broke her neck as she violently turned around.

”Ummm… I think so, see?” Cynthia pointed at one bullet sitting snugly on the soft towel.

”It does look better than the ones we've made so far.” Ibarra added.

I stood up and looked at it closely and it was just as Cynthia declared. However, when Rin asked her to make another one, she didn't succeed. Consistency on each and every action was the key to doing it and it would be a difficult feat to achieve the sweet spot for more than several hundred pours.

”Try and remember the sensation when you did it. If it feels off, remember that sensation as well. You'd eventually get the feel for it the more you continue with pouring them. That's what I did in my case and I managed to make high-quality projectiles. That's the tip I could give you three but I don't know if it would work in your cases as well. But yeah, Cynthia, great work.” I smiled.

”Thank you!” Cynthia returned a bright smile.

I turned to Rin and she started to jot down each and every information she could jot down and it was a funny sight. I used to be the same way but sometimes, instinctually doing it could work as well.

”Hmm, we still got a lot of hours left so continue doing your thing but don't get upset if I chuck them back. Remember, we're going for quality, if it reached the standard one, fine, if it didn't, we'll make it so, okay? After that, we'll start powder-coating them.” I explained.

”What's powder-coating again?” Ibarra asked.

”Coating bullets in powder is essentially… coating them in powder…” I replied.

”...” Ibarra was speechless.

”Well, you'll see the whole process later. The end result is the one I've shown you earlier.” I chuckled.

”Yes, sir...” Ibarra continued to practice pouring.

Time continued to pass and I eventually reached my personal goal of reaching 500 bullets of 9mm. I set them aside for cleaning later and then I pulled out a different sized mold for casting out .45 ACPs. It was essentially the same process for each type of bullet but there were some added intricacies when casting rifle projectiles. However, I continued to cast pistol projectiles until I reach my personal goal.

'I could've gotten several achievements already...' I chuckled inwardly.

Rin and Ibarra finally lucked out on making perfect ones and they celebrated with Cynthia. However, she made sure to record everything that they did so she could try and recreate the same situation when she achieved to make the perfect one.

”I'll get it consistent soon...” Rin said with enthusiasm.

The two beside her just gave a faint smile because of how motivated Rin became when she managed to succeed with one.

”I-Ibarra, can you get us some water from Auntie Sharon's house? I'm k-kinda parched.” Rin asked him.

”Hmm? Okay, I'll ask for some.” Ibarra complied as he removed his gloves.

As soon as he left, Rin approached me, holding out the perfect bullet she made.

”Yeah?” I looked back at her.

”Anything you want to say?” Rin said with a different tone.

”It's perfect, yep.” I replied.

”Hngh~ nevermind...” Rin walked back dejectedly to Cynthia who was shooting a confused expression towards me.