Reboot: Mechanic

Shi Tian and Isaac Aaronax continued to spend the next few minutes laughing until their stomach nearly burst. 

"Haa, an old bone like me laughing continuously is really killing me," Isaac Aaronax composed himself and stopped laughing. Though it was clear that he was still on the verge of trying to laugh, and was only suppressing his emotion.

The same couldn't be said for Shi Tian since he had managed to return to his calm composure with ease. Thanks to his passive ability, as long as he wanted to remain calm, the passive ability would work like a charm and be in effect faster.

Of course, he could still attempt to suppress the effect from taking place, but no matter what, the passive ability would come to be to ensure his emotion never waver. It was only a matter of time for that to occur. 

"Anyway, you want me to venture into the New Region in disguise, right?" Shi Tian asked for confirmation. Although he was positive that was the condition Isaac Aaronax was looking for, it wouldn't hurt to confirm the matter.

He had learned to stop making inferences on things he noticed, given that it could either be true or false. It was best to not be overconfident into thinking he was omnipotent. 

"Not really in disguise, Nathan. It's more of having you as the frontline and covering for someone else when you venture to the New Region." Isaac Aaroanx corrected. 

"So a decoy." 

"Precisely so, a decoy is more of the correct terminology. As you should know by now, my identity isn't ordinary and so is Mary. We'll be under heavy scrutiny once we make a move, so having you as the decoy would make things easier." 

Shi Tian nodded his head. He could understand the intention of Isaac Aaronax now that he made it extremely clear.

Since he was a foreigner with practically no information regarding him, then the enemies that were watching Isaac Aaronax and Mary's movement would be even more cautious. 

In fact, they would be extra vigilant and spend more resources to investigate him instead. Thus, allowing an opening for both Isaac Aaronax and Mary to do what they wanted to with that crack. 

However, there was only one flaw in this plan. And it was the fact that he was too weak to be acting as a decoy.

He could falsify his identity and behavior, but there was one thing he couldn't falsify no matter how hard he tried, and that was acting strong. In front of experienced people like Isaac Aaronax that had a high perception, his amateur fighting ability is easily detected. 

"No wonder why you're willing to take me in as an apprentice and teach me," Shi Tian chuckled softly. 

The current him does not even qualify to be a decoy. Hence, Isaac Aaronax needed to exert some effort into teaching him the bare minimum for survival.

After all, being a decoy means having the enemies' focus directed mainly at him. Without some survival skills and abilities, the decoy would be destroyed in a matter of seconds, resulting in their plan to foil. 

"Well, you didn't have to feel that bad, Nathan. I admit that I was testing you when I first brought you to the formation room to test your skills and origins. After all, one must be vigilant in this chaotic world, right?" Isaac Aaronax said, hoping that he would understand his action.

And of course, Shi Tian naturally understood the concept. Though understanding and accepting it were two different matters.

"I wish to have some resources to become a proper Mechanic, and at the same time, I wish to learn the movement technique that you and Mary both practiced." Shi Tian stated his condition. 

Isaac Aaronax nodded his head. "Very well, it's only proper that you would want something in return. The task I have for you isn't simple after all." 

Even without Shi Tian stating such a condition, he was already planning on giving him such resources and a movement technique for him to practice. 

"I'm willing to give you a movement technique that isn't a bit inferior to the ones that Mary and I practiced. And before you think I'm being stingy, the movement technique that the two of us practiced isn't something simple. You're a clever man, so you should understand it." 

"And about the resources?" 

"Rest assured, since I have already taken you as an apprentice regardless if it was official or not, I was going to give you them anyway." 

Shi Tian didn't bother to say anything else and merely nodded his head. As for trusting whether he would honor his words or not, Shi Tian doubted Isaac Aaronax would be going back against his words. 

After all, the two of them currently require each other, and this is merely a deal with mutual benefits.

Shi Tian would act as a decoy to let them perform actions behind the scenes whereas he would obtain resources to improve his strength. 

Sometime later, the two of them exited the training facility and returned to his personal workshop.

"Do you know about the basic mechanical principles, Nathan?" Isaac Aaronax asked. 

Shi Tian nodded his head.

"There are a total of four basic mechanical principles that every mechanical problem could approach." He answered calmly. 

"Then what are the four basic mechanical principles, Nathan? And explain how those four are utilized for the mechanical right arm you're currently equipped with." Isaac Aaronax then asked, continuously testing Shi Tian's knowledge of mechanics. 

He wasn't trying to make things difficult for him and was merely trying to grasp where he needed to begin to start teaching. 

Shi Tian also understood what Isaac Aaronax was trying to achieve with these questions. 

Thus, he could only take a deep breath and ready himself to answer the questions to the best of his ability. 

'Why did it feel like I'm back to school and that Master Isaac is the professor haunting me?' Shi Tian tilted his head and wondered silently.