Reboot: Mechanic

As Shi Tian carried the boxes to his mini workbench, Vanessa followed closely behind.

"You're really a Mechanic?" She asked repeatedly, clearly unable to fathom him being a mechanic. 

It wasn't that she was underestimating his abilities to be a mechanic, but it was the fact that a mechanic was an expensive path. 

And with her clear understanding of his current wealth, Shi Tian was nowhere close to being eligible to be able to afford to be a mechanic. 

"Why can't I be a Mechanic?" Placing the box down on the workbench, Shi Tian turned to her and asked calmly. 

And he continued, "The path might be expensive, but that would only be a struggle for those who can't utilize the opportunity for a smooth path." 

"I'm not trying to look down or judge you at all, Nathan. I'm just saying that it's going to be a difficult path and it takes forever to attain any great achievement." Vanessa advised. 

She wasn't trying to be rude, but merely concerned about Shi Tian's future. 

Thus, Shi Tian's tone was subtly softened a bit as he headed back to the living room to pick up more boxes. "I know you are coming out of a goodwill, but please let me be. I know my circumstances more than anyone else."

Sighing softly, Vanessa no longer bothered to convince him otherwise. 

His stubbornness was similar to hers, in which once she decided on something, it would be next to impossible to change. 

"So be it," Vanessa said, shrugging her shoulders. "Do you need some funding or blueprints? I could probably give you a few." She added. 

Pausing for a brief moment, Shi Tian looked at her with a funny expression. 

"If you're trying to repay me for the miscalculated incident on your part, then forget it. I knew the risk long ago, so there's no need to repay me." He replied coolly. 

The incident in the Horology Restaurant might be somewhat out of their control, but it wasn't that they never expected such an incident to happen. 

After all, they were targeted, so the incident would have occurred anyway. It was just a matter of when it will happen. 

Meanwhile, Vanessa laughed heartily, shaking her head. 

"You really are a strange one, Nathan. I'm not trying to repay you, I'm just offering some help since I have resources that might be useful to you." She said, acting completely innocent. She refused to acknowledge her mindset being known by Shi Tian. 

Shi Tian shrugged, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm used to doing things on my own. Besides, part of the joy in being a Mechanic is the challenge and learning from your own mistakes."

Vanessa's expression remained deadpan, not giving him a chance to tease her. 

Instead, she changed the topic and commented on his behavior. 

"You're quite the independent soul, aren't you?" She asked, realizing that his life was pretty bland after some pondering. 

Ever since she had interacted with him, there was barely anyone interacting with him. Aside from Mary, and Gerald who seemingly came to his assistance because of Mary, she had not once seen Shi Tian talking or doing anything exciting. 

He would always be alone in the workbench, working alone. 

Though there was occasionally a time that she would communicate with him, it was always her initiating it and never Shi Tian.

"I'm starting to understand why you chose the Mechanic path. Mechanics are always alone, studying and working their time away." She muttered. 

Shi Tian remained expressionless. 

"Being alone is not all that bad. At the very least, I don't have a weakness that most people have." He commented. 

"Weakness? What kind of weakness are you talking about?" She enquired, seemingly curious. 

Alas, Shi Tian no longer had the mood to communicate with her. He suddenly walked up to her, causing her to retreat a few steps back, a bit nervous by his action. 

"The weakness is–" He said, pausing his words and staring deep into her eyes. 

"Is what?" Staring at him right back, Vanessa raised an eyebrow, clearly wanting him to finish his sentence.

"Is to get out of my way." Shi Tian completed the sentence and closed the door right in front of her. 

From outside, Vanessa even heard Shi Tian locking the door, causing her to be infuriated with his action.

"What the heck?" She shouted in disbelief. "You are really a bastard!" She added, stomping her feet on the floor before going back to her room, completely agitated. 

"There really needs to be a soundproof wall installed." Shi Tian muttered, not a bit concerned with the outrage of Vanessa. 

He was purposely halting their relationship from getting closer. As of now, they could at best be called acquaintances that had fought alongside. 

That was the limit Shi Tian was willing to go. After all, if they were truly to become close, then the enemies would surely attempt to harm either one to affect the other person.

That was the weakness that Shi Tian would never allow himself to have that most people have. 

'I should ask Mary or Commander Theobold to find a safe house for Vanessa to live in. It's better to have her away from me now.' Shi Tian thought to himself. 

While Shi Tian was having such thoughts, Vanessa, on the other hand, seemed frustrated in her room.

"Just what is wrong with this Nathan bastard?" Vanessa hissed coldly, rolling around in the bed. 

"With his intelligence, can't he see I'm trying to repay him for sticking by me against Kralos Tal. Why does he refuse it and always act so irritatingly whenever I have some goodwill toward him?" She ranted, clearly confused by Shi Tian's action. 

Anyone– and she meant anyone would practically stick their tongue out like a good dog if she was ever to lend a hand to assist them. 

The number of people who wanted to get into her good grace can't even be counted because it was just too many to count.

"Ugh, he's so irritating." Vanessa spread her arms out and glanced at her Cellos device that had just made a beeping sound. 

Her expression changed when she read the text message.