C17 The Tail Snake Structure

Early the next morning, Gu Xian was roused by his internal biological clock.

He rose and headed to the mech zone, ready to work on the Molten Light's modifications.

The day before, a group had partied from afternoon till midnight, drinking and skewering, boasting and bantering. Gu Xian recalled someone peeing off the side of the iron tower, only to have the wind blow it back at them.

They were all old friends, most familiar with Vian. As Aelley's elite mechanists, even those who didn't know each other personally were aware of each other's reputations. The mood was electric, and even Old Chen ended up staggering drunk.

As the hero of the hour, Gu Xian was treated just like Vian.

Right from the start, people were challenging him to drink.

Gu Xian's tolerance was low; in truth, he'd never even had a drink before. His instructor had warned that alcohol dulled the senses, and precision was vital for an assassin. Drinkers, he said, tended to die young.

Unable to refuse outright, he sipped a single beer before ducking under a table.

The crowd was baffled at first but then erupted into roaring laughter.

Thanks to his restraint, he avoided ending up plastered like the rest of them.

Old Chen, normally the epitome of self-control, was still sprawled out in bed, snoring away.

Modifying the Molten Light was both Vian's request and Gu Xian's own desire.

With the upgrade complete, their work efficiency soared, speeding up progress. Gu Xian was drawing ever closer to fulfilling Old Charlie's dying wish.

Closer to starting a new chapter in life, farther from the nightmarish childhood of carnage and bloodshed.

Gu Xian was desperate for this new beginning.

He longed to be just another regular guy, like Old Chen and the rest, even if it meant losing his tongue.

He maneuvered the auxiliary robot, beginning the retrofit of the new Molten Light C-2.

His countless repetitions of the task in training camp had honed his skills to perfection. Each of his movements was executed with flawless precision, no motion wasted.

Suddenly, applause broke out nearby, snapping him out of his deep concentration.

Gu Xian looked up to see Chen Zhuya clapping.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly when she had arrived.

Initially, Gu Xian had no intention of engaging with Chen Zhuya, but she preempted him with a question, "Is this a technology you invented?"

In his mind, Gu Xian wanted to clarify that it wasn't his invention at all, but rather a black hole design that Imp had shared with him. But then he thought better of it—was this really the kind of information he could disclose?

With a firm nod, he claimed, "It was my idea."

Chen Zhuya beckoned to him with a wave. "Impressive! I never pegged you for such a talent!"

Gu Xian had no desire to entertain her. He hadn't forgotten Chen Zhuya's previous antics—how she had tried to lure him to a meal as a distraction, squandering his time and hindering his progress on Old Charlie's last wish. A devious woman indeed.

Yet Chen Zhuya was persistent. Out of respect for Old Chen, Gu Xian reluctantly stepped away from the machine.

"What is it?"

"I've got a few questions for you," Chen Zhuya said, her enthusiasm undiminished by his evident disinterest. She was invigorated by the technical discussion.

Gu Xian responded to her inquiries with a lack of enthusiasm.

Chen Zhuya's insight was piercing; she seemed to understand the intricacies of the Shining-C2's design, focusing her questions on the energy exchange structure.

"You've nearly altered the O-shaped structure. No, 'altered' isn't quite right—it's a complete revolution, a different type of energy exchange structure, isn't it?" Chen Zhuya examined the Shining's interior with a keen eye, her admiration growing as her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Yes," Gu Xian replied, his tone flat in contrast to her fervor. "I've named it the Ouroboros structure."

"Ouroboros," Chen Zhuya echoed, her admiration prompting applause. "What a fitting name, very evocative."

She probed further, "Since this is your brainchild, I assume it hasn't been tested or patented yet, correct?"

"What are you getting at?" Gu Xian's guard went up.

He wasn't sure what Chen Zhuya's intentions were with her line of questioning, but he sensed the significance of the matter, and he was clearly out of his depth.

"Don't get the wrong idea. Grandpa sent me to assist you, so I have no intention of causing you trouble. Besides, it's merely an energy structure—not something worth exploiting, even for a genius designer like me," Chen Zhuya said with a hint of pride.

Gu Xian was momentarily taken aback.

He had initially thought that Chen had let something slip by accident, but it turned out Chen had been trying to help him.

A wave of warmth flooded his heart.

Was Chen reluctant to tell him because he was considering his pride?

Chen had made the right call. Gu Xian was clueless about such matters.

Success in this world wasn't just about skill; those who manipulated the rules were the most vile yet formidable.

The rules of the outside world were what Gu Xian understood least after leaving the training camp.

"Regardless, if this energy exchange system hasn't been patented yet, you should really get on that immediately. Of course, if you trust me, I can file the application for you right now through Deep Blue Corporation's channels," Chen Zhuya said with candor.

Gu Xian consented.

She then produced a communicator resembling an earring, quickly operated it, and the gemstone embedded within began to glow.

With a flick of her wrist, a certificate made of light materialized before Gu Xian.

"There, it's all set."

Gu Xian glanced at it, recognizing his name and photo, but the rest was beyond his comprehension.

"You'll also need your genetic code, but it's your call if you want to register it."

Gu Xian shook his head firmly.

His instincts as an assassin made him averse to leaving any trace behind, like the time he had refused Chen Zhuya's request to record him.

"It's your choice," Chen Zhuya said with a dismissive pout, misinterpreting his reluctance as distrust. "Your technique could revolutionize the understanding on B-183 star and might even catch the Siron Empire Academy of Sciences' eye, but who knows? There might be someone more advanced than you in other star systems. After all, this energy exchange system seems to be limited to use with Molten Light C-2, unless I'm mistaken."

Gu Xian didn't correct her and simply nodded.

With a bit of time, he could adapt the ouroboros structure for other applications.

"If that's the case, there's something you need to watch out for," Chen Zhuya continued. "The Brilliant C-2 is Phoenix Corporation's flagship product, a popular model among the masses. It's only been on the market for two years, yet it's already a leading laser cutter with an excellent cost-performance ratio."

"If word gets out about your modified Brilliant, it would deal a major blow to Phoenix Corporation and could even trigger a market collapse. They might sue you to recoup their losses."

"Sue me?"

"Yes, for infringement," Chen Zhuya said, curling her lip. "You did make those modifications on the Brilliant C-2, after all. I'm no legal expert, but I've seen similar situations."

"And the outcome?"

"The outcome?"

"The one you witnessed."

"Well, that guy had connections. He got so furious he took down the company. But in your case, the best-case scenario might be ending up with a mountain of debt and being forced to hand over the technology to them, especially since you filed for it."

Chen Zhuya seemed almost pleased with herself.

"So, if it doesn't get out, there's no problem," Gu Xian said, disliking the picture she was painting.

"Are you kidding me? Uncle Vian told me you're planning to modify all these Brilliant C-2s. They're all leased, so when they go back, how could it not be noticed?"

"What do I do, then?"

"My advice? Reach out to Phoenix Corporation first. Sell them the technology or propose a partnership. That way, you avoid any trouble," Chen Zhuya suggested.

Gu Xian hesitated.

Thinking he still didn't trust her, Chen Zhuya added, "Don't think too poorly of me. I know I didn't make the best first impression, but that's because I've been through a lot of similar ordeals. You're aware of my standing in Deep Blue Corporation. The kind of capital Deep Blue wields? They can offer something that lasts a lifetime.

"People have targeted me before, trying to coerce me, and when that failed, they tried to get to me through my grandfather. Luckily, he was still quite the fighter, and things didn't escalate. I've been on guard ever since.

"Of course, now I realize you're not one of their stooges. Our misunderstanding is cleared up, and there's no bad blood between us. You can trust me now, right?"

"I didn't mean that," Gu Xian clarified. "I'm not familiar with Phoenix Corporation, and this stuff is beyond me."

"Leave that to me," Chen Zhuya said with a smile. Then she probed, "You trust me to handle it, right?"

"If I didn't trust you, I'd still trust Old Chen," Gu Xian replied.

"Tsk." Chen Zhuya scoffed in mock disdain, but the fondness she had for Old Chen was evident, and Gu Xian could tell it made her happy.

The initial misunderstanding had vanished. Gu Xian had proven himself capable, technically skilled, and fond of Old Chen. There was no reason for her not to take a liking to the kid.

Leaning in, she inquired, "Where did you graduate from?"

"School?" Gu Xian pondered. Could the training camp count as a school?

It probably could, since both places taught skills. The training camp taught him to kill, schools taught all sorts of other things. Same difference.

He shook his head. "Our school was nameless."

"It must be some top-secret elite institution," Chen Zhuya mused, her eyes alight with curiosity. "You seem quite adept with mecha modifications, aren't you?"

"I manage," Gu Xian admitted, feeling his face heat up as he remembered the little brat's description of these skills as 'kindergarten level.' He quickly added, "I only know a bit, really."

"Really?" Chen Zhuya's skepticism was apparent.

"I've just landed a major project, and it actually involves you. You seem quite capable. How about coming to help me out?"

"What project? How am I involved?"

"It's the Aegis you saw before. The design got rejected, and the designer was so mad he went three days without eating," Chen Zhuya chuckled, but upon catching Gu Xian's odd look, her face fell. "Anyway, the project's mine now. What do you say? Will you help me design the Aegis?"

Design a mecha?

Gu Xian knew his skills weren't up to that challenge.

He shook his head.

"That's too bad," Chen Zhuya said, genuinely disappointed. "Well, when I get the design right, will you at least help me test it?"

Testing it out? That's just piloting a mecha, right? I happen to excel at that.

Gu Xian gave a nod of agreement.

Chen Zhuya's smile carried a hint of mischief.

Securing a pro like Gu Xian for a test run was no small feat. Any issues he encountered during the test would surely spark inspiration, essentially contributing to her mecha design.

She was feeling quite upbeat. "I'll reach out to Phoenix Corporation for you in a bit. They mentioned wanting to take you out for a meal, didn't they? What do you say we do that this time?"

A meal?

That's just a time sink, keeping me from tweaking the Brilliant Melody. Here comes trouble again!

Gu Xian firmly declined, "I expect you to watch your language. If you keep up these underhanded tactics, I won't hesitate to inform Old Chen."

Chen Zhuya was taken aback.

Underhanded tactics?

What on earth did I just say?