C16 Technical Talent

Gu Xian was still groggy from sleep, his mind weighed down by a jumble of knowledge. "Why would I lie to you guys?"

"Come on, let's go check it out!" Vian exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

So, the group made their way into the mecha elevator, ascending rapidly within the massive ten-meter-tall lift.

Jia led them to his workstation, where they located the neglected laser cutter.

Fear had dissipated among them. Gu Xian hadn't even donned his suit. If danger loomed, he'd be the first in trouble, with no chance of escape.

"Shall we give it a go?" Vian prodded.

"Let's do it," Jia responded, brimming with eagerness. As the second person to handle the laser cutter, he was filled with a sense of destiny, as if the future was blossoming in his hands.

With everyone watching in anticipation, the intense white light flared to life once more.

This time, Jia didn't shut it down immediately.

If Gu Xian was right, and his modifications had nearly doubled the Molin's power, then the emergence of such light made perfect sense.

The Molin's power had indeed doubled under overload conditions.

As the laser cutter's beam neared the steel wall, the searing white light made contact with the metal, and the ten-centimeter-thick barrier was effortlessly ripped open, as if it were mere paper.

Jia sliced off a standard-sized piece of steel and lowered it with the forceps-shaped clamp. Clutching the Molin in his hands, his elation was unmistakable, his communicator crackling with his irrepressible laughter, "It's true, haha, it's really true!"

A wave of sound swept through the crowd.

Communicators and ears alike were filled with a cacophony of gasps, giggles, and guffaws.

"No way, this is insane!"

"Lord have mercy, this needs a patent!"

"That's freaking incredible."

"Heroes emerge from youth. I knew Gu Xian was special from the start!"

No one wanted to be confined in their engineering mechas any longer; they yearned for a more personal connection with those who had witnessed the marvel.

One by one, they parked their mechas to the side and climbed out.

Gu Xian found himself at the center of the throng, as people approached, laughing and offering him hearty embraces.

Chen clapped Gu Xian on the shoulder, his grin as wide as a proud father's.

Vian called out, raising his hand for attention, "Quiet down, everyone! Just hear me out!"

The crowd fell silent.

"Starting today, Gu Xian is our site's mecha maintenance designer. Are we all in agreement?"

A wave of noise surged in response.

"Agreed, we have to agree!"

"Vian, have you no shame? With Gu Xian's talent, why would you want him as just a maintenance designer?"

"His skills are so exceptional, even Deep Blue Corporation would be clamoring to have him!"

"A technician is a hot commodity. Vian, you sly old fox, you're up to something!"

The group was both ribbing and heaping praise on Gu Xian.

"Gu Xian is incredible!"

"Gu, with your expertise, why stick to being an engineering mecha pilot?"

"Exactly. Such a low-tech job doesn't need someone like you. It's a waste of talent."

"Hey Gu, I've got a daughter, a real beauty. Interested in dating? If so, I'll have her divorce right now! Or maybe you're into affairs?"

"Knock it off, don't corrupt the kid."

Laughter erupted among them, their joy beyond words.

For a warrior, a fine weapon is a source of great happiness, something to be cherished even in sleep. For an engineering mechanic, the Molin, an external attachment, is that weapon.

The Molin was underpowered, frustrating the straightforward old-timers with its sluggish cutting.

The steel tower had become a looming nightmare, its completion seemingly out of reach.

Gu Xian's modified Molin, however, sparked a glimmer of hope for victory.

Their admiration and joy were genuine.

For the first time, this towering iron structure, over 180 meters tall, echoed with jubilant laughter.

"Big news—I'm in high spirits today, so work is on pause! With the new Molin, we can afford to take a day. Groups A and B, you're off! Ludwig, stock up on food. Jia, you handle the supplies. We're throwing an open-air barbecue right here!"

Cheers threatened to shake the very foundation.

"Three cheers for Vian! Hip hip for Gu Xian!"

The men were nearly delirious with laughter.

"Old Jia, count me in for setting up the barbecue stand!"

"Ludwig, I'm with you for the shopping run."

"I've got the beer and drinks covered!"

"Ice cubes, I need a ton of ice cubes! Bring it on!"

"Let's grab some fireworks. I want to light up the sky at 183 meters!"

Their laughter filled the air, a testament to the simple joys of these men.

Arm in arm, they quickly sorted out who was doing what.

Some tidied the site, others bought ingredients, and a few even prepared for the high winds.

Each face beamed with genuine joy, whether from Group A or B, and impromptu raps were a must at every greeting.

Even Old Chen wore an honest smile.

Being the elder, the others preferred he didn't exert himself, so he remained by Gu Xian's side.

Vian approached Gu Xian, his initial fear now turned to admiration. The more he observed the young man, the more he grew fond of him, to the point where the wanted poster George had shown him seemed like a farce.

How could such a hardworking, intelligent, and quietly efficient kid be the killer Vian had heard about? How could he be responsible for destroying 875 mechas in a year and be fifth on the Federal Most Wanted List?

It had to be rumors, nothing more!

Vian gave Gu Xian a hearty slap on the shoulder. "You've been a huge help, you know. You wouldn't believe how often these old-timers have griped to me about the mechas' lack of power. By the way, what did you think of my earlier proposal?"

Gu Xian inquired, "Which proposal?"

Vian, caught off guard, replied, "Come on, don't play around. Didn't you hear me? I'm asking you to join us as a mecha maintenance designer."

Gu Xian couldn't help but smile.

He had heard Vian loud and clear but had played coy when Vian hadn't sought his opinion, preferring to give him a little jolt. Now that Vian was sincerely asking, any awkwardness instantly dissolved.

Their goals aligned; they both wanted the project wrapped up swiftly so Gu Xian could honor Old Charlie's last wish. He readily accepted.

"Absolutely, I'm on board. Though, I've only ever heard of mecha maintenance. Mecha maintenance designer is a new one to me."

"Hey, it was just an offhand comment. To me, their roles seem pretty similar. And look at you, managing to modify the Molten Light like that is impressive. I'd say you're quite the mecha maintenance and design specialist," Vian said with a wave of his hand, clearly pleased by Gu Xian's acquiescence.

Gu Xian bit back his response, thinking that if the kid heard such a comparison—lumping together maintenance, modification, and design—he'd likely blow a gasket.

"As long as you get my drift, we're good."

"Got it."

"Great. So, can you modify the other mechas as well?"

"Yes, I can."

"How long will that take?"

"Hmm, about a day. Let's give them another day off tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me," Vian agreed without hesitation.

"Do I need to keep working after that?"

"Not at all, you're now considered technical talent. What if something happened to you? I'd be upset, sure, but these old-timers would be devastated. Just look at Old Chen—he's as protective as an eagle with its young."

Old Chen gave an embarrassed chuckle, and Gu Xian joined in with a smile.

"Hey! That's the spirit. You're young, you should smile more. No need to be so stern all the time," Vian chided. "From now on, you don't need to work the regular shifts. Once you're done with the Brilliant Sun, you can lend a hand with maintenance when it's needed. Other than that, do whatever you like. If you're planning to go out, just let me know and take a leave."

"What about my pay?"

"As a skilled technician, your salary is obviously going to be different. Once the project is complete and the client has paid in full, we'll settle up. How does 150,000 sound?"

Gu Xian was quite pleased with the number.

"And about the Explorer you damaged, can you fix it yourself?" Vian inquired.

"I'd like to give it a shot." Gu Xian had absorbed a wealth of theoretical knowledge from the little ghost and was eager for some hands-on experience.

The Explorer, an older model of mech, was perfect for practice, and it was a model he knew well. He was itching to get started.

"Good. The repair costs are substantial, so how about this: I'll get the parts, and we'll call the compensation you owed me even. Deal?"

"What about the 120,000?" Gu Xian asked.

"Right, consider it done. Just get that Pioneer up and running again."

"It's a deal." Gu Xian agreed with a cheerful nod.

He hadn't anticipated that a simple modification to the Pioneer would bring such significant benefits and changes.

"You mentioned that the Pioneer's energy exchange system is stable, right? No chance of explosions or anything?" Vian inquired, "Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting your expertise, but this is critical. I need to be sure. Be honest with me; regardless of the answer, our agreement stands."

Thinking of the little ghost and the Eon Empire's mecha technology, Gu Xian was brimming with confidence. "Rest assured, it's absolutely reliable, even more so than its previous system."

"That's reassuring to hear." Vian's smile was genuinely pleased.

Suddenly, Chen gave Gu Xian a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Turning to see what prompted it, they saw a message from Chen Zhuya: I've informed Chen Zhuya about this. She wants to come by and help out. Would that be alright with you?

Gu Xian read the concern in Chen's eyes and understood it wasn't intentional.

Gu Xian's work on the Pioneer might intersect with Chen Zhuya's mecha designs. Her eagerness to have a look was understandable.

He smiled, shaking his head, "No problem at all. She's welcome to join us."

Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

"The ingredients are here!" A voice boomed from a distance as a Pioneer, carrying a container measuring 5.69 meters in length and 2.13 meters in width, trundled onto the steel rooftop.

A chorus of cheers erupted from the group.

"Is the grill set up?"

"All ready to go!"

"And the drinks?"

"Let's get grilling!" Vian got to his feet, rolling up his sleeves. "Today, you're all in for a taste of authentic Earth-style grilled chicken wings!"

Watching the scene unfold, the frost in Gu Xian's eyes began to thaw imperceptibly.

It seemed, indeed, that everyone was quite alright.