C18 Yeh Ranyi's Arrival

Gu Xian had garnered the respect of his peers for his adept modification of the Molten Glory. The engineers at 33 Bay Road couldn't stop singing his praises after they started using the new laser cutter.

Yet, his daily life remained largely unchanged.

His work focus had shifted. Having spent an entire day retrofitting the Molten Glory-C2, he dedicated all his time to meticulously dissecting the Pioneers.

He had piloted countless mechs before, but this was his first time delving so deeply into the anatomy of one.

In the meantime, the little rascal had been filling Gu Xian's head with a mishmash of mecha knowledge from their world.

Time flowed unhurriedly as Gu Xian immersed himself in the dissection of the mech.

Gu Xian lived each day to the fullest, nearly forgetting the Phoenix Corporation's existence.

A month later, Chen Zhuya turned up at 33 Bay Road, apologizing for being preoccupied with "Aegis" to the point of almost neglecting his affair. Luckily, she had reached out to Phoenix Corporation, and they had agreed to send someone over to negotiate that very day.

Gu Xian was indifferent to the news, but the prospect of earning a substantial amount of money from selling the patent piqued his interest.

Wouldn't it be better to get the money for a ship ticket to Siron Planet now and find the person Old Charlie was searching for?

He waited with a mix of excitement and anxiety for Phoenix Corporation's representative, but the first to arrive wasn't from Phoenix Corporation—it was George.

George had come to see Vian, and after a brief stay in Vian's office, Ludwig came looking for Gu Xian.

Before Gu Xian could grasp the situation, George had already sought him out in person.

Following the previous altercation, the investigation team was well aware of Gu Xian's capabilities. Despite their bravado, none were eager to confront him, much like this time.

George had braced himself to approach Gu Xian, his legs still shaky from the memory of their last encounter.

"Good to see you, Captain," Gu Xian greeted George with no hint of disdain, maintaining a courteous demeanor.

"Why have you come?" Chen Zhuya, acquainted with George, spoke with a familiarity that Gu Xian's polite inquiry lacked.

"I'm in a bind here. I need a favor from Comrade Gu Xian, so I had no choice but to come." George gave a wry smile and gazed at Gu Xian, full of hope that he might offer some constructive advice.

"Why don't you start by telling us what's going on?" Chen Zhuya stepped in to ease the tension for Gu Xian.

Without any reservation, George launched into his woes. "Are you aware that Yeh Ranyi is coming to Planet B-183?"

"Yes, I'm aware. What about it?" Chen Zhuya inquired, clearly well-acquainted with the individual in question.

"Who is Yeh Ranyi?" Gu Xian asked.

"You don't know? She's a hotshot celebrity in the Siron Galaxy," Chen Zhuya said, taken aback.

"I have no idea," Gu Xian admitted, shaking his head.

"She's been in a slew of films and TV series. Have you never seen 'God of the Fifth Dimension'?"

Again, Gu Xian shook his head.

"You really need to get out more," Chen Zhuya said, her tone a mix of sympathy and jest.

"Can I just finish my story?" George interjected, his voice tinged with the desperation of someone seeking help.

"Please, continue," Chen Zhuya said, her tone commanding as though she were the hostess of the gathering.

"It's one thing for her to visit Planet B-183, but she's also planning to come to Aelley."

"Aha!" Chen Zhuya's realization was instant. "That's going to stretch our security resources thin."

"You're telling me," George said, his eyes pleading as he looked at Gu Xian. It was clear he was hoping for Gu Xian's assistance.

Gu Xian was no fool; he caught on to George's implication but was reluctant to wade into the fray. "She's a big star. What could possibly happen?"

"Impossible? With her popularity comes danger. There are plenty of people who adore her, and even more who might wish her harm," Chen Zhuya remarked with a dismissive twist of her lips.

"A big star..."

"Since when does being a celebrity mean you're free of enemies? Even if she doesn't have personal foes, there's always professional rivalry. And it's not just outsiders who might want her gone; there could be those within her own company who'd prefer her out of the picture."

Gu Xian fell silent, unable to fathom why people would forsake a peaceful life in favor of wishing death upon another.

Although he had taken many lives, he was acutely aware of the unpleasantness of killing. He didn't relish the act; he would never kill unless absolutely necessary.

"Not only that, but I've heard a Federation fugitive has slipped into B-183," George said, his voice tinged with anxiety. He hastened to add, "Comrade Gu Xian, I'm not referring to you."

Gu Xian was indifferent. He never paid mind to the opinions of others. With so many people in the world, if one were to concern themselves with every comment, even at a pace of one second per remark, a lifetime wouldn't suffice.

To him, the world was simple: there were targets and non-targets, the living and the dead.

"The identity of the infiltrator is unknown, but their presence in B-183 is certain," George continued. "Intelligence suggests they're after Yeh Ranyi."

"These Federation fugitives must come at a steep price, right?" Chen Zhuya said, eyeing Gu Xian. Their acquaintance allowed her to tease him without reservation.

George watched, sweating bullets, worried that Gu Xian might unleash violence in response.

"I wouldn't know. I've never taken on such a job," Gu Xian replied, shaking his head.

"Then why—" Chen Zhuya started to ask but caught herself mid-sentence.

George got the implication. If you're not on a mission, why all the killing?

He chuckled to himself, realizing he'd spoken out of turn and was now scared of the consequences.

He coughed to regain his composure. "Regardless, the B-183 Security Department will soon be directing resources towards Aelley, but we're still short on experts. I doubt I could handle that fugitive myself. Comrade Gu Xian, I'm here on behalf of the Security Department to invite you to serve as an honorary officer for this mission. How does that sound to you?"

Chen Zhuya was taken aback. It was one thing for George to extend the invitation, but quite another for the Security Department to endorse it. Clearly, Gu Xian held a high standing within Aelley's Security Department.

Without hesitation, Gu Xian shook his head.

Chen Zhuya was taken aback, casting a sidelong glance at him.

This man was a true warrior, rejecting the offer without hesitation, from the Security Department no less.

"May I ask why?" George was clearly taken aback as well.

He had anticipated Gu Xian's refusal on a personal basis, which is why he had gone through the trouble of getting the director's approval for the Security Department's endorsement. Yet, he was still turned down, leaving him somewhat bewildered.

"I'm short on time," Gu Xian paused before explaining.

"Short on time?"

"Yes, I have a lot on my plate," Gu Xian elaborated. "I need to study daily, dissect mechs, and make money to help Old Charlie achieve his dream. My schedule is packed."

Chen Zhuya's thoughts drifted to her own intense days working on "Aegis," stirring a wave of empathy. She defended Gu Xian, "Exactly. You all think about stars and celebrities, but what do you know of our struggles as scientific researchers? We work around the clock—four hours for sleep, one hour for meals and bathroom breaks. The remaining nineteen hours? All devoted to our projects. It's exhausting, you know?"

The rotational and orbital speed of B-183 was quite reminiscent of Ancient Earth, both operating on a 24-hour cycle.

"Fine." George rose, his mind elsewhere, and walked out, deep in thought.

Chen Zhuya felt no pity for him. She seemed to harbor some bias against Yeh Ranyi, her previous remarks laced with biting irony. Yet now, she dropped the subject, swiftly changing tack, "When will you help me test Aegis?"

"You've finished the design?" Gu Xian was genuinely surprised, regarding Chen Zhuya with a serious expression.

His recent lessons from the 'little ghost,' coupled with his hands-on experience dismantling mechs, had given him a real sense of the challenge involved in designing one.

Even an older model like the Pioneer-12 was complex, to say nothing of a new one.

Chen Zhuya dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand, "It's a piece of cake. For a genius designer like me, it's trivial. So, when will you test Aegis for me?"

"I'll find time eventually," Gu Xian hesitated, "Don't we have a meeting with Phoenix Corporation today?"

"I'm not asking you to go today, but you've got to make it quick," Chen Zhuya said with a chuckle. "You do your thing; I'm off to have a word with Old Chen."

Gu Xian nodded, his attention returning to the Explorer-12 he was engrossed in.

He still hadn't managed to repair the Explorer-12 after getting the new parts.

Vian often grumbled to himself, questioning whether Gu Xian actually knew how to fix the mech at all.

But he never dared to ask outright.

Gu Xian had his reasons for not having fixed it yet. The kid had seen the Explorer and knew that it was the only mech Gu Xian had, hardly qualifying as a combat mech. He had no choice but to use it as it was, often dissecting its workings during teaching sessions.

After all, he wasn't from this time, nor from this civilization.

His insights were precise and unique, often clashing with the current mech systems.

Benefiting from these diverse ideas, the Explorer under the kid's care changed daily, offering new surprises every time Gu Xian attended a session.

To say the least, the Explorer, as handled by the kid, looked like the original only in appearance; its internal structure was completely transformed.

Gu Xian, influenced by the kid, was no longer just repairing the Explorer; he was reinventing it.

This time, it wasn't a simple tweak like modifying an energy exchange structure; he used every usable part from the warehouse.

It was clear that if he were to face George and the others with this revamped Explorer, they'd stand no chance, and the battle would be over in a flash.

After a long stretch of work, as darkness fell, the team from Phoenix Corporation arrived.

By the time Gu Xian got the message and hurried over, Chen Zhuya was already there waiting for him.

Clearly, her visit wasn't just to check in on Chen; she was there to support Gu Xian.

He appreciated her efforts deeply, keeping a silent note of gratitude in his heart.

The two individuals seated across from Chen Zhuya wore black suits with a blue bird stitched on the chest—a symbol Gu Xian recognized.

Upon seeing Gu Xian, they quickly stood and bowed in welcome. "You must be Mr. Gu. Please, take a seat."