Reboot: Mechanic

"Sigh, our stocks are running low thanks to those bastards destroying the restaurant." Robert Cook muttered in frustration. 

When he checked up on the scene of the restaurant after the military had left, he was disheartened and pained to see the ruins from the battle. 

Kralos Tal, Vanessa, Shi Tian, and Gerald had truly caused him quite the headache, given that the storage room they used to store food and other items were thoroughly thrashed. 

It was no longer usable, with most of them being crushed in the process. 

Hence, Robert Cook was now sulkingly coming to the warehouse, not only to stock up on their supplies but to count their losses as well

'If it wasn't for the boss's decision to allow them to do as they pleased, then we wouldn't have been in such deep muddy water. Why did he agree to the proposal?' Robert Cook cursed silently, walking toward a few crates and marking them down on his small tablet.

While Robert Cook was counting on the stocks, Shi Tian and Vanessa were hidden a few meters away from him.

"We wait for him to move a bit more forward and then we'll strike," Shi Tian whispered to Vanessa. 

Vanessa nodded, her eyes fixed on their target. They watched as Robert Cook continued to swipe on his small tablet, seemingly unaware of their presence.

As they calmly waited for Robert Cook to walk closer, Vanessa was already itching to thrash Robert Cook. 

They waited for a brief moment, ensuring that Robert Cook was engrossed in his task before making their move. 

When the timing was right, they surged forward, closing the remaining distance in mere seconds.

Before Robert Cook even had a chance to react, Vanessa's fist collided with his jaw with impressive force. He stumbled back, shock and pain registering on his face. 

However, that was merely the start as Shi Tian swiftly followed up, his fist striking Robert Cook's abdomen.

Caught off guard by the sudden ambush, Robert Cook collapsed on the ground, gasping for oxygen.

A few seconds later, Vanessa stepped forward, her anger fueling her actions as she grabbed Robert Cook by the collar, hoisting him up.

"Remember us?" Vanessa hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. "You thought you could screw us over and get away with it?"

Robert Cook held a dazed look, his voice choked, feigning innocence. "I-I'm sorry, I don't know who you are…" 

"You don't know?" Vanessa's grip tightened, her knuckles turning white. 

"You don't know us but somehow knew how to rat the two of us and even attempted to overrule the judgment of Commander Theobold. Do I look like a fool to you?" She added, raising her tone purposely and asked. 

Just in case Cyrus and his soldiers were still kept in the dark, Vanessa wanted to ensure that they knew who and why they were beating up Robert Cook.

And sure enough, Cyrus' expression changed slightly when he heard Vanessa's claim. 

At first, he planned on stopping her from assaulting a civilian. After all, they are the Flameheart Vanguard, vowed to serve the citizens wholeheartedly regardless of how others viewed them as naive or retarded. 

Hence, he wasn't going to let Vanessa do as she pleased, but halted himself when he listened further on the reasonings. 

"This Robert Cook actually tried to overrule Commander Theobold's judgment and get him in trouble?" Cyrus raised an eyebrow and muttered. 

He wasn't the only one confused. His soldiers were equally stunned by the revelation. 

Though it didn't take long for Cyrus to finally understand why Vanessa told them to conceal their presence. She wanted them to not interfere with her actions, given that Robert Cook was someone that had gone against their commander.

Alas, she had seemingly underestimated their determination as Cyrus was ready to reveal himself and protect Robert Cook. they were military people and wouldn't allow such action to take place in front of them.

"Let's go–"

Before Cyrus could finish his command, he noticed Shi Tian stopping Vanessa.

"Loosen your grip first. We can't have Robert Cook choked to death. We are law-abiding people." Shi Tian gently said, giving her an eye look. 

Vanessa recognized it was a signal that they had calculated wrongly and that Cyrus and his soldiers were about to intervene. 

Since everything was based on their deduction, they had made many preparations such as what if Cyrus was still going to follow his principles and stop them, then they would change to another plan.

Nodding her head, Vanessa lossend her grip lightly, allowing Robert Cook to breathe properly.

Once Robert Cook was able to breathe and remain conscious, Shi Tian'' voice cut through the tension, his tone cold and calculated. "We're not here to beat you senseless, Robert. We're here for answers."

Coughing slightly while still being hoisted in the air, Robert Cook asked dumbfoundedly, "Answers? What answers are you talking about?"

Vanessa's expression softened slightly, but her anger remained palpable. "Who hired Kralos Tal to attack us? And why?"

Robert Cook hesitated for a moment, a complicated expression appeared on his face briefly. "I-I don't know. I'm just a bystander and nothing else.

Vanessa's expression darkened further at his feigning innocent behavior. She had naturally noticed his temporary complicated gaze, which meant that he knew something.

"You either tell me the truth or we can send you to Commander Theobold and let him question you instead. A military prison must be fun, right?" Vanessa sneered coldly and threatened.

"I-I really don't know much. Even if you kill me, I still don't know many details." Robert Cook wiggled his body and shouted, sweat started dripping down from his forehead.

"Then tell me what you know and you better be honest." Shi Tian interrupted and asked. 

Robert Cook still wanted to struggle and stall for time, but when he noticed that despite shouting so loudly, not a single person had arrived. He knew his life was hanging on the thread. 

His gaze dropped, and he finally relented. "I only know it was a man named Lyndon Sinclair. He hired Kralos Tal to eliminate you both. He said he had his reasons, but he didn't tell me what they were. And this was information revealed to me by my boss, who is the owner of the Horology Restaurant."