Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 569: Not your system.

Sunshine nodded, her throat feeling a bit tight. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Truly." He had no idea what a great favor he had done her. She had a feeling that her grandfather’s account would not have been revealed if not for him. Even if it was, the council probably wasn’t planning on giving her the full inheritance.

But now, she had a powerful backer that was strong enough to lean on the council and make sure she got what belonged to her rightfully!

Suddenly, she liked the King, very much.

The King didn’t pull away. He looked at her as if he’d reunited with an old friend, ignoring the stunned silence of his servants. "You really have his eyes."

Sunshine nodded, agreeing to words that nobody had ever said to her. "He used to say so too." She lied. "Maybe from time to time, I will visit and tell you stories about him."

"I would like that." The king nodded. "I would also like to know if he ever talked about me. I was his greatest friend in all the galaxies. He used to bring me that foul tasting beer from your world." The king sighed. "Talking about him makes me miss him even more. I am starting to long for the good old days."

Sunshine filed the information about the beer away.

"Did he by any chance tell you about where he got his coconut beans?" He leaned closer. "Not the usual ones, the ones he sold me were different. I still have a picture."

Finally, Vaelor stepped forward, still hiccupping rhythmically. "Your highness," he stuttered, "everyone is waiting... the games... you have to officiate."

The King waved a dismissive hand. "The games are not new they can wait a moment," he smiled at Sunshine. "When you walked in here, I almost sent you away because you two seemed off. But now that I know you are a Raine, I will let you do the task. Vaelor will take you there." He stood to leave and paused. "I hope to see you around, young Raine." He turned and walked away.

Vaelor told them that he would be back soon, he followed the king out of the door.

The moment the heavy doors clicked shut, Sunshine turned on Vortan. "Okay, explain," she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous simmer. "I’ve been a licensed Repairman for over a year. Why am I just now hearing about a ’fat account’ with my grandfather’s name on it?"

Vortan didn’t look up from his boots. "Bureaucracy, Sunshine. There are procedures. Vault managers have to coordinate with Inter-Galactic Finance. Lawyers have to be assigned before the inheritance is passed on. It’s a process."

"A process?" Sunshine scoffed, crossing her arms. "Or were you guys just waiting for the clock to run out so the Council could claim it? I know how it works back home. Banks love it when people die without a will or relatives; they practically throw a party while they pocket your life savings."

Vortan actually looked offended. He stood up straighter, his voice stiff. "The Repairman Vault is not some predatory Earth bank. We don’t ’claim’ the wealth of the fallen repairmen. The Vault holds every credit, every jewel, and every deed until the next Repairman in that bloodline_ if chosen by the council_ comes to claim it."

"Exactly!" Sunshine poked a finger at his chest. "I was chosen. I should have been told on day one. I have been killing myself by working long hours to support my people."

Vortan let out a sharp, dry laugh. "Sunshine, nobody chose you. You put on your grandfather’s old bracelet and the system activated unintentionally. You’re a glitch in the paperwork, not really an official recruit. The council sits and chooses the next repairman; the repairman doesn’t choose his successor."

Nine, who had been blissfully sucking on a bright green spirulina drink, froze with the straw still in his mouth. He blinked, looking between them. "Wait... back up. Did you just say Sunshine has a system?"

Sunshine looked at him, confused. "Yeah? Why? You don’t?"

Nine slowly shook his head, looking like he’d just been told Sunshine had a third arm. "No, Sunshine. Normal Repairmen don’t have systems. Those are reserved for High-Level elites. You’re... well, you’re low-level. Moderate at best on a good day."

Sunshine felt a chill that had nothing to do with the ocean water outside. "I thought everyone had one."

"The system belongs to Maximus Raine," Vortan interrupted, his voice softening but remaining firm. "There must have been a mistake, or they forgot to take the system back after your grandpa died. We did our research and found out that Maximus gave that bracelet to your mother, she never wore it, and it ended up on your wrist. Maybe he lied about taking it back or there was a mistake in the records because it was written off as retrieved! No one knows how this happened!"

Sunshine sank into a bench made of soft, spongy sea-moss. She felt small_ felt like she was wearing her grandfather’s oversized coat. "I am a good repairman." She finally declared. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Vortan nodded. "That you are, we cannot argue about that."

"You know what Earth has become, Vortan," she said quietly, her eyes fixed on the transparent floor. "People are starving. The air is toxic. I need every resource I can get to save lives. If there’s money in that Vault, it’s not for me. It’s for them."

Vortan exhaled a long, heavy sigh. "We are repairmen, Sunshine. We fix machines. We fix structures. We do not get involved in the politics or the fates of dying planets. That is the code." He paused, looking at her slumped shoulders. "But... I am sorry. For whatever you’re going through back there."

Sunshine closed her eyes. A lump formed in her throat, thick and painful. "I lost good people recently," she whispered. "People whom I urged to go to a dangerous place to retrieve something vital to our survival. I carry guilt and a big burden. I have to support their families. I won’t surrender the system."

The room went silent.

Nine stopped playing with his straw, the bubbles in his drink the only sound in the room. Even his usual jokes seemed to have died in his throat.

The silence was broken by the clicking of boots. Vaelor had returned, "The King is occupied," he announced stiffly. "You are to be moved to Princess Lita’s quarters to do the repairs. Follow me."

They stood up and followed, but the magic of the city was gone for Sunshine. As they walked through the glowing tunnels, the sight of a massive shadow-whale gliding past didn’t make her smile. The tray of enticing, glowing snacks offered by a passing servant remained untouched. She just watched her own feet move across the glass.

They reached the royal wing, where the doors were draped in shimmering silk that looked like flowing water. The Princess’s servants bowed low, ushering them into a room that smelled of jasmine and salt.

Princess Lita was standing by a balcony overlooking the stadium, her long hair trailing down her back like a mixed colored waterfall. She turned to greet them, but Sunshine’s eyes remained dull, her mind still back on her dead people. It was absent of scheming and fearful for the future.

If the council had not chosen her, then did it choose Cassius in her last life?