core/tools: show images instead of describing them

New `view_image` reads a local picture (JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, sniffed from its
bytes) and hands it to the model as an image part, with an optional `detail`
level — `low` measured 3.4x cheaper on a 1200x900 picture. `read_file` now
points at it instead of returning decode noise.

`fetch_local` returns an image response as the picture itself, and MCP image
content blocks become image parts instead of `[image: ...]` placeholders, so a
screenshot server finally reaches the model.

tests/test_runtime/mcp_fake_server.py

@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import os
 import sys
 
 _FAKE_INSTRUCTIONS = os.environ.get("PLYNGENT_MCP_FAKE_INSTRUCTIONS", "")
+# A real 1x1 PNG (base64), what an image-carrying tool result looks like.
+_PNG_BASE64 = "iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAYAAAAfFcSJAAAADUlEQVR42mP8z8BQDwAEhQGAhKmMIQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg=="
 
 
 def respond(request_id: int, result: object) -> None:
@@ -61,6 +63,11 @@ def main() -> None:
                             "description": "Sleeps past any client timeout.",
                             "inputSchema": {"type": "object", "properties": {}},
                         },
+                        {
+                            "name": "shot",
+                            "description": "Returns a picture beside its text.",
+                            "inputSchema": {"type": "object", "properties": {}},
+                        },
                     ]
                 },
             )
@@ -75,6 +82,17 @@ def main() -> None:
                         "isError": False,
                     },
                 )
+            elif name == "shot":
+                respond(
+                    int(request_id),
+                    {
+                        "content": [
+                            {"type": "text", "text": "shot.png"},
+                            {"type": "image", "data": _PNG_BASE64, "mimeType": "image/png"},
+                        ],
+                        "isError": False,
+                    },
+                )
             elif name == "fail":
                 respond(
                     int(request_id),

tests/test_runtime/test_mcp_client.py

@@ -34,13 +34,28 @@ async def test_connection_handshake_lists_and_calls_tools() -> None:
         assert connection.connected
         assert connection.error is None
         assert connection.instructions is None
-        assert [tool.name for tool in connection.tools] == ["echo", "fail", "slow"]
+        assert [tool.name for tool in connection.tools] == ["echo", "fail", "slow", "shot"]
         echo = connection.tools[0]
         assert echo.description == "Echo the given text back."
         assert echo.input_schema["type"] == "object"
 
         result = await connection.call_tool("echo", {"text": "hello"})
-        assert result == "echo: hello"
+        assert result.text == "echo: hello"
+        assert result.images == []
+    finally:
+        await connection.aclose()
+
+
+async def test_an_image_content_block_becomes_an_image_part() -> None:
+    """A server that returns pixels gets them to the model, not a placeholder."""
+    connection = McpServerConnection("fake", _server_config())
+    await connection.start()
+    try:
+        output = await connection.call_tool("shot", {})
+
+        assert output.text == "shot.png"
+        assert len(output.images) == 1
+        assert output.images[0].image_url.url.startswith("data:image/png;base64,")
     finally:
         await connection.aclose()
 
@@ -64,7 +79,7 @@ async def test_tool_error_returns_error_text() -> None:
     await connection.start()
     try:
         result = await connection.call_tool("fail", {})
-        assert result == "error: boom"
+        assert result.text == "error: boom"
     finally:
         await connection.aclose()
 
@@ -122,9 +137,9 @@ async def test_manager_start_status_and_call() -> None:
     manager = McpManager(McpConfig(servers={"fake": _server_config()}, disable=[]))
     await manager.ensure_started()
     try:
-        assert [(name, status, count) for name, status, count in manager.statuses()] == [("fake", "connected", 3)]
+        assert [(name, status, count) for name, status, count in manager.statuses()] == [("fake", "connected", 4)]
         assert manager.instructions() == []
-        assert await manager.call("fake", "echo", {"text": "hi"}) == "echo: hi"
+        assert (await manager.call("fake", "echo", {"text": "hi"})).text == "echo: hi"
     finally:
         await manager.aclose()
     assert manager.statuses() == [("fake", "not started", 0)]
@@ -157,5 +172,5 @@ async def test_manager_disable_and_restart() -> None:
 
     await manager.restart(McpConfig(servers={"fake": _server_config()}, disable=[]))
     await manager.ensure_started()
-    assert manager.statuses() == [("fake", "connected", 3)]
+    assert manager.statuses() == [("fake", "connected", 4)]
     await manager.aclose()