episode_0050

A week truly flew by like an arrow.

Yuna successfully completed her academy lecture, based on the systematic educational materials and practical simulation modules she received from Nix.

[Jinwoo! Thank you so much. Thanks to your help, the lecture finished very well. See you soon.]

It was rewarding to have given her various advice every night through hologram calls and to have been her practice partner for the presentation, and a proud smile unconsciously formed on my lips.

In the morning, I received theoretical training from Nix on engagement rules and various regulations, and in the afternoon, I learned martial arts and practical dagger combat in the training room.

“Not bad. Your movements are definitely much better than before.”

Whenever she corrected my dagger combat stance, Nix’s body would press tightly against my back.

Every time, I couldn’t help but feel tense from the soft yet firm touch, but she didn’t even bat an eyelid.

Perhaps it was because she was extremely focused on training, or… she might have been trying hard to act nonchalant.

Since that day, she seemed to be trying hard not to show any private feelings towards me.

“You’ve memorized all the theoretical training content, right? I earnestly hope you’ve memorized it all.”

“Of course. I told you I memorized it all?”

“You talk very smoothly, I must say…”

Nix glanced at me and mumbled as if she couldn’t believe it.

“By the way, is your mech’s modification almost done? Scarlet said it’s almost in its final stages.”

“Looks like the two of you have gotten quite close? Have you started exchanging personal contacts?”

“I have to stay here for a while, and there’s no harm in women getting close to each other, is there?”

She, I, and Scarlet.

We had become people who ate together every day, and that fellow Dutch quickly became close with Kaien’s soldiers and spent most of his time with them.

“Well then, good work today.”

When I lightly nodded my head in greeting first, Nix nodded once without a word and then turned around.

As I was walking down the street towards the accommodation for a while, an urgent message came from Scarlet.

[Jinwoo! Where are you right now! Come to the workshop quickly! Your Asura, it’s finally complete!]

At her excited cheer, a deep smile unconsciously spread across my lips.

“Really? Okay, I’ll go right now!”

I immediately turned my steps that were heading towards the accommodation and went straight to Scarlet’s workshop.

As I opened the workshop door and entered, Scarlet greeted me with a very excited face.

Behind her, the majestic figure of the new Asura was visible.

“You’re here? How is it? Isn’t it awesome?!”

“I’ve seen glimpses of it coming and going, but… seeing it completed like this really feels new and exciting.”

“The leg parts, booster, and generator I asked for! I can’t believe you actually got them. Tell me honestly. Who exactly is that acquaintance of yours?”

“Haha… Anyway, I spent a lot of money to get them this time too.”

The immense reward I received from Gideon had virtually bottomed out with this Asura modification.

But I had no regrets.

[Raptor High-Mobility Reinforced Leg Frame (Grade A+)] [Effects] Ground mobility speed and jumping ability increased by 20%. When ‘Kinetic Flow’ is activated, lower body responsiveness and stability increase by 15%. Minor increase in leg durability, improved energy conductivity. [Penalty/Requirements] Physical defense slightly lower compared to heavy-duty frames of the same grade. Caution: Frame fatigue accumulates during instantaneous high-load maneuvers. [Price: 480,000 CR]

[Impulse Agile Auxiliary Burst Thruster (Grade A)] [Effects] Instantaneous evasion and dash acceleration increased by 15%. During ‘Kinetic Flow’, energy consumption further reduced by 5% for leg-specific maneuvers. Improved delicate posture control and enhanced ground grip. [Penalty/Requirements] Limited propulsion when used alone, requires optimized energy distribution with main thruster. Potential for temporary output reduction during overload. [Price: 350,000 CR]

[Chronos Field High-Density Energy Generator (Grade S-)] [Effects] Mech’s maximum energy capacity increased by 30%. Energy supply stability and reactor’s instantaneous maximum output improved by 20%. Maintains energy efficiency and system stability in high-load situations. [Penalty/Requirements] Relatively large and heavy, requiring internal space redesign during mech design. Periodic core stabilization and maintenance recommended. High heat generation. [Price: 750,000 CR]

I nodded in satisfaction, looking at the purchase history displayed on the system window.

Among some of the top-tier parts Scarlet initially wanted, there were still some that hadn’t been unlocked because the conditions weren’t met.

However, true to her reputation as an omnipotent genius engineer, she didn’t show any signs of confusion and immediately stated that she had considered second and third alternatives, then reconfigured Asura with the optimal parts I could purchase from the store.

“Scarlet, perhaps… can I move the mech for a moment? I just want to do a basic system check and get used to the new feel.”

“Of course! I just cleared out the test area in the back, so go ahead and give it a quick spin.”

Scarlet pointed to the wide, enclosed test area behind the workshop with a confident smile.

Without hesitation, I climbed into the cockpit of the newly born Asura.

The hatch closed, and the familiar system startup sound was heard, but from the moment I gripped the controls, a completely different, transcendent sensation vividly spread throughout my entire body.

As I gently pushed the throttle lever, Asura moved as if it had read my thoughts; its movement, kicking off the ground, was incredibly smooth, yet the power contained within it was explosive.

Although it was a short test lasting only a few minutes, I could feel with every single cell in my body that Asura had become incomparably more powerful and agile than before.

“Haa… With this level of performance, I might even be able to take on a whole group of those guys if they gang up on me.”

As I put Asura back on the lift and exited the cockpit, Scarlet greeted me with an utterly satisfied expression, arms crossed.

“How is it? Isn’t it amazing?! It’s a masterpiece by Scarlet-nim!”

“Truly, you are undoubtedly the best, Scarlet.”

I opened my personal terminal and checked my balance. It was a miserable amount.

‘Is it finally time to replenish my depleted credits?’

*****

On the bridge of the gigantic pirate ship Crimson Tide, Admiral Belzero Karmail.

In her private office, she was gazing at a holographic screen displaying the power distribution map of the star system, chin resting in one hand.

“Admiral-nim.”

The door quietly opened, and an aide, appearing like a shadow, respectfully bowed.

“Urgent report from the Warphound Squad. The old Jervgbear that blocked our path recently at Titan’s Tomb… its last signal has been detected.”

One of Belzero’s eyebrows slightly raised as if intrigued.

She asked softly, without taking her eyes off the screen.

“Hoo, and? Where was it holed up?”

“The location is… Terminus Station, Admiral-nim.”

“Terminus Station, you say… What kind of place is it?”

The aide immediately displayed the prepared data on one side of the holographic screen and reported.

“According to the confirmed data, it is an independent autonomous zone within that star system, commonly known as a sanctuary for free mercenaries.”

The aide continued his explanation in a calm and precise tone.

“It is an absolute neutral zone where corporate or federal government control is almost non-existent, and a place where mercenaries of unknown backgrounds, information brokers, and arms traffickers gather.”

“What is its combat capability?”

“It possesses a considerable level of its own defense system, and the average combat power of the mercenaries stationed there is also not negligible, so it is understood that even most small to medium-sized corporate factions dare not meddle with it.”

“A mercenary den, you say…”

Belzero smiled faintly as if satisfied, and slowly caressed the holographic screen with her long fingernail.

The aide cautiously took another step closer and lowered his voice even further.

“Admiral-nim, there is something additional to report. It’s regarding the unidentified dark red custom mech that appeared at the Nova Seed heist recently, as reported by Captain Black Fang.”

“Continue.”

“As a result of comprehensive analysis of fragmentary combat data secured by the Warphound side and various circumstantial evidences, the pilot of that mech is none other than the pilot of this Jervgbear. In other words, we have concluded that it is highly probable to be the target we are tracking.”

Belzero’s gaze suddenly flashed, turning sharp.

“It has been confirmed that the mech’s main armaments included a pile bunker and a high-output particle accelerator rifle capable of penetrating enemy mech armor from a distance.”

“A pile bunker… and a particle accelerator rifle…”

Belzero slowly licked her lips with her red tongue, as if she had found a delicious prey.

“Did you acquire the data recording that combat scene?”

“Of course, Admiral-nim.”

As the aide briefly operated his terminal, a fierce combat scene vividly unfolded on Belzero’s massive holographic screen.

Belzero watched the video in silence for a while, then finally nodded faintly as if satisfied.

The aide cautiously inquired about the next course of action.

“Shall we immediately prepare the fleet and dispatch reconnaissance and force-display units to Terminus Station?”

But Belzero slowly shook her head.

“No, now is not the time.”

Belzero idly waved her hand.

She tapped with her finger the old and shabby figure of the Jervgbear, recorded at Titan’s Tomb in the past, that was displayed on the holographic screen.

‘How could an old Jervgbear smash an Aegis… I still can’t believe it even after seeing it with my own eyes. And where on earth did he use that precious Atlas V Graviton Damper he got his hands on?’

There had been no news of a Graviton Damper appearing in any black market auction.

‘Could it be that he implanted it into that junk Jervgbear and modified it into that dark red mech?’

An intriguing smile appeared on Belzero’s lips.

“Aide.”

“Yes, Admiral-nim.”

“I will have to move myself. I will head to that place called Terminus Station alone.”

The aide’s expression instantly froze like stone.

He looked at Belzero for a moment in breathless silence, without saying a word.

He dared not object to the Admiral-nim’s decision, but his eyes clearly showed deep concern and a desperate intent to somehow stop her.

After a few seconds of heavy silence, the aide finally spoke with difficulty.

“Admiral-nim… please, please reconsider. It is far too dangerous for you to move personally.”

“Dangerous, you say… it’s been a truly long time since I’ve heard that word. On the contrary, it might be a suitable stimulus to alleviate my boredom.”

“Although the fact that your face is not widely known might be advantageous for covert operations, acting alone without any escort is an extremely perilous gamble.”

Despite the aide’s earnest counsel, Belzero’s dark eyes did not waver in the slightest.

“Must you… Admiral-nim, take such a risk yourself?”

“Yes. I must confirm it.”