Reborn as a Mechanist with a God-Tier System-Chapter 307: Reunion with the squad [1]
28th August, Year 714 A.G.
The next day, early in the morning, Talia and the crew arrived in Iron Reef.
Having scheduled it ahead of time, the entire crew gathered in a famous restaurant in the city called "Water Café". It was one of the most expensive restaurants in the city, but Leon managed to get free tickets for everyone.
Tyla tagged along.
Compared to Gary and Mary’s restaurant that Leon was already used to, the difference between both restaurants was like heaven and earth. Water Café was on a whole different level in terms of the aesthetics and the variety of food that were available for purchase.
The interior of the restaurant had a strong underwater-inspired design.
A glowing turquoise bar ran along the first floor, looking almost like it was made of illuminated crystal while casting a cool, ambient light across the space.
Above, the ceiling resembled a rippling water surface, giving the illusion that diners are beneath the ocean.
Soft music played in the background.
The lighting inside is soft with warm pendant lamps hanging at different heights, adding contrast to the cool blue-green tones of the expensive restaurant. Inside felt like stepping into a different world entirely.
The architecture is sleek with flowing staircases leading to upper levels with rounded balconies on multiple levels, this was a restaurant that screamed luxury and customer service above all else.
Only millionaires could dine here casually, yet here they were.
The guests were spread across the floors, creating a sense of depth and liveliness. The upper levels overlooked the main bar, almost like viewing decks in an aquarium or a luxury submarine.
Leon and his crew were in one of the upper levels, an isolated room that fit all of them, giving them the privacy that they needed for the long-awaited reunion.
For a long time after meeting up, they simply ate as they seemed to run out of words to say. No one broke the silence for a while.
Tyla stared at Talia in a scrutinizing manner, while Leon stared at his tight-knit comrades that taught him the ropes when he first awakened in this world.
Ghostwire was as taciturn as Leon remembered, but Leon felt that he was even more subdued now. As for Kain and Brick, they couldn’t stop stealing glances at him which made Leon wonder what Daren told them about him.
Talia finally broke the silence, she chuckled as she looked at Leon. "Honestly, I don’t know what to say".
"I never believed that you were dead, but still, I never expected this".
She smiled at him. "It takes a lot to shake my self-confidence, but you’re exactly that type of guy to shake my confidence. You’ve grown so much in just a few months that I simply can’t wrap my head around it".
"It feels surreal".
"Not to talk of your influence," she looked at him. "We’re still knee deep in the middle of a resources battle against the Omnicore Federation at Drift Haven where all hands are needed on deck, and yet my superior called me yesterday, telling me that I can go on an indefinite leave". 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
"He even said I should put in a few good words for him to my friend, that’s when I knew that it was likely you but I was still skeptical".
Talia shook her head in disbelief. "Before I knew it, the weak Leon I knew who was always hiding behind others for protection became a bigshot that even my superior is asking favors of".
She leaned back on her chair and sighed. "You just had to see the look on my face," she chortled. "I felt like I was dreaming. I mean, how?"
"It’s crazy".
"I’m the one that’s supposed to be a valuable agent of the Freegrid Collective, yet I can’t help but feel that my own faction is closer to you than me".
Leon shrugged. "Well, I did meet General Ren Nora yesterday".
"..."
"..."
"....."
Everyone froze as they stared at him with wide eyes.
"W-what?" Talia stammered as for the first time since knowing her, Leon saw her lose her composure completely.
"You met the General yesterday?!" She leaned back on her chair again, feeling a bit deflated. "In all my years in the Freegrid Collective, I’ve never even met him face to face once!"
Leon chuckled and shrugged again.
Unable to hold it in anymore, the restless Kain finally blurted out. "Is it true that you’re now a D Rank Ascended?"
He fidgeted. "I mean, how is that even possible???"
"It’s not theoretically possible, right? That’s too fast!"
"Is it?" Leon laughed. "It’s possible if you’re determined and crazy enough and if you’re as bold as me, recklessly challenging the Trials without fear".
The look on Brick and Ghostwire’s face finally changed as they quietly stared at him without commenting. They believed it already, but hearing him confirm that he was now a D Rank Mechanist still hit different.
They still vividly remembered the events of a few months ago.
Even as early as during the Siege of the Cargo Trailer, though Leon’s jury-rigged bombs were what ended up saving their lives, in terms of his personal combat power they still saw him as a weakling then that they needed to protect.
To know that in just a few months, he’d grown and gotten so much stronger was a bit hard for them to accept.
Afterall, they were still just F Rank Ascended!
In the end, Talia asked the question that was on everyone’s mind. "How did you do it?"
Leon didn’t hide anything as he took his time to tell them everything about his journey, from realizing the secret to Ascended growth, to challenging his first Trial, to going to Leviathan Quay, fighting against terrorists, a beast tide, and an invading Federation Army.
He told them everything, to how after becoming confident he challenged the D Rank Ascended Trial, to how he became acquaintances with General Ren Nora in the Trial and helped him survive.
"Wow..."
Listening to him, it didn’t feel like they were hearing a realistic story at all, it felt more like they were listening to a heavy fictionalized story.
It sounded more like a cinematic war movie script.
How can one man go through all of that and still remain kicking?
By the time Leon was done narrating his full story, they no longer felt like he was lucky. Instead, they felt like he more than deserved his current power.
Talia felt a bit complicated. "Are all D Rank Trials that hard? I don’t think I can ever survive something of that nature like you did".
Leon sensed her diminishing confidence immediately.
He shook his head immediately. "Mine was special, the General confirmed it that it was different from normal D Rank Trials".
"D Rank Trials are hard, but they’re not supposed to be that hard".
Leon swept his gaze across them and smiled. "So what have you all been up to in the past few months?"
Talia forced a smile. "Like Daren must have told you, we’ve been fighting a non-stop resources battle against the Omnicore Federation at the border".
"Since it’s not a straightforward siege, we attack by sabotaging each other mostly in the psionic network to disrupt each other’s activities and progress".
"I’ve been in charge of a cybersecurity squad for months, and my charge is in charge of cybersecurity. Every day, we’re defending Drift Haven’s network from cyber-attacks by opposing Federation NetRunners".
She looked at Leon, thinking of his explanation of the Ascended Counter. "Do you think I’m ready to attempt my second Ascended Trial?"
Hearing that, Brick and Ghostwire immediately looked at her and felt a bit complicated. They felt like they were being left behind.
Leon thought carefully before getting ready to answer, but in the last moment, he stopped himself as he thought of something else.
’After the change in the ChronoSystem that resulted in me unlocking another System function, I keep feeling like the System in general has upgraded’.
’I’ve not tried it yet, but can I check the Ascended Counter of people that I use the Snooping Tool on now?’
He didn’t just think it, he tried it without hesitation.
DING!
~----~
[Snoop Function activated!]
Name: Talia Venn
Faction: Freegrid Collective – Wraith Cell-9
Race: Geneform
Class: NetRunner (Neo NetRunner)
Rank: E (Adapted)
[Attributes:]
STR – 118; AGI – 127; END – 140; INT – 155; WIL – 177; ADE – 151
[Derived Stats:]
ATK – 283; DEF – 420; SPD – 254
{HP – 8,180/8,180}
{EP – 8,365/8,365}
[Traits:]
>Neural Empathy (Passive): A natural deep understanding of emotions, and at times an understanding of the thoughts that come with certain emotions.
[Racial Trait- Geneform:] Bio-Enhanced Physiology (Passive): +15% END, +10% STR, -10% INT.
[Abilities:]
>Ping Scan: Detects nearby neural devices when activated.
>Ghost Line: When activated, it grants temporary invisibility on digital sensors.
>Firewall Bypass lv. 1: Brute force low-tier cyberwall security.
>Neural Projection: enter AR (Augmented Reality) overlays and interact with digital ghosts (AR overlays are digital elements like text, graphics, or interactive 3D models that are superimposed onto the real world as seen through a device’s camera, like a smartphone or AR glasses).
>Data Lash: convert thought into concussive psionic whip (WIL-based).
>Mirror Mask (Passive): spoofs identity signatures.
>Overclock Mind (Passive): doubles mental processing for 10 secs, risk of burnout.
...
[Ascended Counter: 2000/2000]
~----~
Leon blinked.
...
[Special Appreciation to r03n, Yametekudastop, M_Mouton, Tech_priest_Lumis, Shadesworn, Robert_Luckau, and Nevarie89 for the Golden Tickets, thanks for the love and support guys, I truly appreciate it!]
