Reboot: Mechanic

Vanessa was slightly astonished that Shi Tian was able to guess her true intention, but only slightly. 

She knew he was a clever man from the start with how greedy and money-driven he was. 

Thus, it wouldn't be difficult for him to guess her true intention when she had given so much benefit to Tracy, someone she had just met today.

"Do you find me devious or scary?" Vanessa no longer had any playful attitude and held a solemn expression on her face. It could be said that her playful and childish behavior was her disguise to deceive others, concealing her real personality.

Meanwhile, Shi Tian was calm and collected, not a bit surprised by her sudden serious face.

If Vanessa was truly a spoiled brat or even childish, then she would have long succumbed to her death from her journey from Chronosworth City to Gearits City.

"What you did was very reasonable, so why would I find you devious or scary?" Shi Tian responded back with a question of his own.

"Well, I'm going to use Tracy as a guinea pig, and I won't even feel sad if she died on our behalf," Vanessa explained, leaning forward and wondering what was on his mind.

"You don't need to test me, Vanessa." Shi Tian said with an expressionless face. 

"You have paid her 150 Eons as a tip in disguise, so naturally, she should work for her worth. There are no such things as free lunches in this world. You will always only receive what you pay for and what you work hard for." He added. 

With that explained, Vanessa no longer bothered asking him further. She merely waited for Tracy to return with the premium menu, which could not be obtained through the restaurant's QR code scan. 

"Sorry for the wait, but here's the premium menu." Tracy smiled briefly, handing over a golden booklet. The golden booklet had an exquisite design, and it showed that the booklet was taken with great care.

"Here's a button that you can use to call for me when you decide on the menu," Tracy then said, leaving to let them have time to choose the dishes. 

Once she left the 2nd floor, Vanessa smirked coldly. "Look at what money can do. Although 150 Eons might seem like a lot of money, it was necessary." "What kind of food do you want to eat?" She then asked, seemingly enthusiastic about the many options that she could now pick for herself. She even started humming in joy. 

Seeing that her serious face was so quick to disappear, Shi Tian was speechless. 

'What a confusing person.' He thought to himself, his eyes focusing on the entrance and noting the people entering and leaving. 

As Vanessa and Shi Tian engaged in their conversation on the 2nd-floor balcony, the exterior of the Horology Restaurant was undergoing a subtle transformation. 

The previously empty surroundings now harbored an unseen audience, figures concealed within the depths of the shadows.

On a high rooftop situated opposite the Horology Restaurant, two individuals maintained their vigilant stance, overlooking the establishment.

"Notify the Head Security that we've detected the arrival of unidentified individuals. Although these individuals differ from our previous adversaries, their objectives are unmistakable," one of them instructed his partner, his voice steady and resolute in the face of uncertainty.

Given their years of experience in security defense, their instinct was quite high when it came to suspicious individuals. 

And these individuals were the ones that had been walking back and forth at the Horology Restaurant, with no intention of entering. It seemed as if they were trying to inspect the interior from the outside without trying to alert anyone. 

His partner received the command and quickly reported back to Trevor, who simply told them to stay put and keep watch of the situation, reporting to him whenever there was a new development. 

"The Head Security is spying on someone else that seemed to be connected with one of the Five Families. So we are to be careful and remain discreet, Code T32." His partner relayed the news. 

Code T32 was merely their nickname or alias, and they would always only ever address their partner with their assigned code name. It was a way to prevent any leaks or opportunities for the enemies to know who they are. 

The only exception to this was Trevor, who clearly did not have a code name and was referred to as Head Security. 

Code T32 was unfazed by the command and kept his surveillance on the suspicious individuals. 

Time slowly passed by, and Code T32 recognized more unfamiliar individuals gathering around the Horology Restaurant. It was as if they were surrounding the restaurant and preparing for war. 

And naturally, once it got to this point, the people that were walking in the streets and the people inside the restaurant would realize something big was going on.

"Why does it feel like they are trying to attack the Horology Restaurant?" 

"I don't know, but we should leave the vicinity soon. Who knows if we would be dragged into some messy situation?" 

The ordinary people who had initially intended to enjoy a meal or grab some takeout from the restaurant swiftly found themselves perturbed by the unfolding events. 

The abrupt change in the atmosphere compelled them to abandon their plans hastily, their faces etched with a mixture of confusion and concern.

Amidst the uncertainty, a common understanding emerged: it was wiser not to indulge one's curiosity. The bystanders grasped the notion that probing into the mysterious turn of events would likely result in swift and dire consequences.

The age-old adage held true: a person driven by curiosity was often destined to a quicker demise than those who chose to keep their distance from enigmatic matters. Those who recognized their place refrained from prying into enigmas, content to remain blissfully unaware.

In this intricate dance of survival, ignorance was a shield against the dangerous truths that often lurked beneath the surface. Choosing to embrace naivety and steering clear of probing questions was the most pragmatic path to ensure one's own safety.

As the Horology Restaurant's ambiance shifted from inviting to secluded and possibly perilous, the patrons within its walls experienced a growing unease. 

Amid their shared apprehension, a sense of entrapment settled in. 

While some patrons contemplated departing, their efforts were thwarted by unseen barriers, leaving them confined within the establishment's boundaries.

"It seems like you severely underestimate yourself, Vanessa. The enemies are quite determined this time regardless of the commotion." Shi Tian said, watching the patrons reluctantly return to their table despite paying their bills already.