Reboot: Mechanic

With the immediate danger temporarily averted, Shi Tian allowed himself a moment of respite within the confines of the dimly lit cave. 

His wounds were tended to, his suit was on the mend, and his concealed presence offered a sanctuary of sorts in this unforgiving world.

The eerie stillness of the cave, punctuated only by the faint dripping of water from the rocky ceiling, reminded Shi Tian of the fragility of life in this post-apocalyptic realm. 

Survival was a constant battle, and complacency could lead to one's downfall.

His thoughts drifted to the encounter with Theobold's elite soldiers. It had been a baptism by fire, a stark reminder of the ruthlessness that permeated this world. Even though he had emerged victorious, the cost had been high, and he had come perilously close to death.

As he leaned against the cave wall, Shi Tian's mind raced with possibilities and uncertainties. 

'The IC was correct that framing the White Syndicate was a large gamble. If I messed up slightly, then it would be disastrous.' Shi Tian thought to himself, self-reflecting the points that the integrated chip had warned him.

The White Syndicate's wrath was surely not to be taken lightly, and his audacious move to frame them would not go unanswered. He knew that he needed a plan, a strategy to stay one step ahead of his pursuers.

However, that kind of problem should be kept aside now. 

"I'm going to sleep now," Shi Tian yawned softly and stretched slightly, much to his regret. Despite bandaging the wounds, making sudden movements would also pain him dearly.

Having learned his lesson, Shi Tian attempted to lean somewhat awkwardly on the cave wall, making sure to avoid all the wounds. He then gradually closed his eyes, hoping to fall asleep.

All the adrenaline rush from earlier had now subsided, replaced with a low energy and low stamina Shi Tian. 

He didn't even dare to send a text message to Mary regarding his situation, given the soldiers tracking him down might attempt to trace for any electronic signal. 

As Shi Tian settled into an uneasy slumber within the confines of the cave, the dim light from his suit's power indicator cast a faint glow in the otherwise pitch-black chamber. 

The wounds on his body throbbed with pain, a constant reminder of the perilous world he inhabited. Every slight movement sent jolts of discomfort, forcing him to remain still as he sought rest.

Despite the physical discomfort and the looming threats, exhaustion eventually claimed him. It was a deep and dreamless sleep, one that offered a temporary respite from the harsh realities of this post-apocalyptic landscape.

As Shi Tian slept, the cave's natural silence enveloped him like a protective shroud. It was a silence that whispered countless stories and untold mysteries, a silence that concealed both danger and opportunity.

Outside the cave, the world continued to turn, oblivious to the lone figure seeking refuge within its rocky embrace. 

"Do you think Nathan will be safe?" Vanessa asked as she was somewhat worried for his safety in the Iron Sentinel.

Mary was silent, seemingly unable to answer her question. 

The truth was that even she did not know if Shi Tian could come up on top of those elite soldiers. 

As much as she had called him weak, she couldn't fathom the confidence and his decision to be the vanguard. 

"Hey, don't just stay silent and say something." Vanessa clicked her tongue and hissed coldly. 

"If Nathan really can't deal damage to them and get captured, then we won't fare off much better either." She added, warning her of the consequence of failure. 

To be fair, Vanessa was more concerned about whether or not Shi Tian would be captured by the soldiers. 

After all, if Shi Tian was caught, then it became clear that they had learned the truth and might be silenced to keep the matter suppressed.

At that time, she could simply forget about doing business with the drones. Her life would be in danger as well. 

"You don't seem concerned for Nathan's safety at all, Vanessa." Mary suddenly spoke, calling her out. 

"What do you mean?"

"You seem more concerned about us being exposed to Commander Theobold." 

Vanessa shrugged her shoulders, not planning on denying it. Just because she was more concerned about their identity and safety, that doesn't mean she doesn't care for Shi Tian. 

She could care about both, albeit a minimal difference between the two. 

"And don't act like a saint, Mary." Vanessa rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you were equally doubtful when you kept asking Nathan to rethink his decision to be a vanguard." 

"Doubtful, yes. But I'm not going to worry about the consequences of failure once I decide to let him be the vanguard." Mary crossed her arms and said coolly. 

"Nathan is a mechanic, and despite the limited weaponry, he can definitely utilize them greatly. Instead of worrying, I'm more concerned about how much he could succeed." She added, letting Vanessa know that she was different from her.

"How much could he succeed?" Vanessa raised an eyebrow, seemingly dumbfounded by the confidence Mary had in Shi Tian.

Sure, she had witnessed Shi Tian's ability back at the Horology Restaurant. 

But other than deflecting some of Kralos Tal's attack, she didn't see anything amazing, much less a powerful strike coming from him.

Mary smirked coldly when she noticed how confused Vanessa was. Indeed, it would be surprising if Vanessa had placed a lot of trust in Shi Tian. 

"Vanessa, do you know what Nathan was like before he became affiliated with Optic Mech?" Mary turned to her and asked. 

Pondering for a moment, Vanessa answered, "Isn't he just your everyday mechanic?" 

Vanessa didn't have much of an impression of him when they first met. In fact, she found him extremely hateful when she recalled how heartless he was and tried to leave her for death instead of helping her.

Meanwhile, Mary shook her head in response and revealed, "That's what everyone thinks now that his name was pasted with the modified Claymore Mines. But before that, Nathan was a nobody and had entered Gearits City illegally."