Later Visit

Sy spent the next ten hours supervising the assembly of the Straggler S1-2A. He did not missed the chance to instill within the girls the need to be cautious around the giant equipments. After all, the assembly line was the location of the most dangerous tools - one mistake and it could cause a fatal or irreparable damage. In the real world, if one was accidentally grazed by an assembly arm, it might cost them their dear life.

Time was not on his side. He had matters to attend to in the real world. As soon as the flight module was mounted on the Straggler - delivered and assembled by the aviator bots - Sy asked Nasena to enter the cockpit right after he assessed the mech with his Molecular Data Imaging Simulator. There were some errors in the Straggler S1-2A's frame, but it was still functional for a test drive.

The dark-gold haired girl was more suitable in test piloting the new variant, as she was more capable of answering questions than Jinae and Vii.

While Nasena motioned for a hover platform, Sy and the other two stared at the silhouette of the new Straggler. The mech's figure was even more pronounced and refined than before with its joints' armor curving at an angle that characterized human physique. These slanting parts provided additional protection capable of redirecting the trajectory of material projectiles. Thanks to the Gamma Welding, the overall weight of the mech compared to its former version was chipped away by a few tons, effectively removing excessive materials and giving the mech more freedom to move.

The Straggler S1-2A's image was completed by a pair of wings folded on its back. Once they were activated, the mech would most likely appear like a mythical winged figure of old.

After reveling in the breathtaking image for a moment, Sy saw Nasena enter the cockpit and he started asking questions.

"How do you feel about it?"

The dark-gold haired girl climbed up inside the unfinished cockpit before sitting down on the pilot chair. After a moment of contemplation, she stated with her otherworldly voice, "I feel slightly uncomfortable."

"What?" Sy hastily asked with a perplexed look.

It took a second for Nasena to answer.

"I can't see the particles around me, but I can still breath."

The Pioneer scratched his head realizing that the girl could see the elements in the vicinity with her enhanced eyes. She was refering to the gases visible in her sight back in the real world which were not present in Steel Arena. He looked at the other two girls beside him, and knew that they would most likely answer him in the fewest of word leaving him puzzled instead of receiving the information he needed. Nasena was the best candidate for the job, but she was still a bit confusing.

Nonetheless, he wasn't trying to test the complete Straggler S1-2A but a partially completed one. The Neuro-link could be activated and its motors were functioning. The test drive was only meant to examine the flight module for any flaw that jeopardize its performance.

The flight module's boosters were not yet integrated in the current design. Unlike the game where one can purchase materials and receive them in an instance, the real world was more complicated. Without the desired resources at hand, one can't design something without carefully thinking of the available supply. So, he decided not to finish the flight component - only its anti-gravity emitters. He will choose the type of boosters once he got a look at the accessible exotic gases.

"I mean the cockpit. How do you feel about it?" Sy amended.

Nasena smiled inside the cockpit while inspecting every angle. She then answered, "It still feels nice even if it's not complete like the brown mechs."

Sy awkwardly chuckled. The girl was talking about the Straggler S1-2s made out of brown titanium. He sighed knowing that he won't be able to finish the black mech within this session. Some of the utility components were not yet installed while the cockpit lacked the statistics flux computers, sensors, scanners and other essential panels. It needed him to perform the finishing touches.

After considering for some time, he instructed Nasena to move the mech to the center of the facility where no important objects would be put out of place once the anti-gravity emitters were activated.

As soon as Nasena heard him, she expertly navigated the available mechanisms, activating the Neuro-link in the end. Her golden eyes flared for a moment, and the Straggler S1-2A came to life as a pair of orange lights shone beneath the slit of its helmet like a divine being awakening from its eternal slumber.

Once it moved, Sy's jaw slackened while watching the mech make its way toward the center. In every step, its arms swung and its hips swayed portraying each actions that he memorized from Nasena's characteristics while walking. That observation alone made him realize that the variant was way more flexible than its predecessor.

When the mech reached its destination, Sy shook away his stupor and gave the dark-gold haired girl her next move.

Within a few seconds of extreme anticipation, the skeletal wings suddenly spread out accompanied by a mechanical whir. The contour of the Straggler S1-2A was seemingly perfected in that instance.

Then, particles of light enveloped it as the machine of war started to easily levitate in the air bringing along with it dusts and tiny debris which were laying dormantly on the floor until now.

Sy was observing all of this attentively using the Molecular Data Imaging Simulator.

After a few minutes staring at the floating collosal machine without any undesirable commotion, a soft smile appeared on his face. The flight module would not falter in any way catastrophic.

He then concluded the test drive and told Nasena to place the Straggler S1-2A on the corner beside one of its archetype. Finishing the variant would be scheduled for another day.

Now, however, they needed to make a few trips around the city while there was daylight. Some shops were only open before 10 PM and it was already past 6. There were items he needed to buy and a personal visit to someone important.

He let the girls marvel at the workshop for one last time before they logged out from Steel Arena.

As soon as he opened his eyes in the gaming pod he was occupying, he waited for the protective cover to slid open before he jumped out and assisted the three girls from their pods. He wanted to ask them some questions but knew that they would only give him simple and unsatisfying answers.

His gauntlet beeped prompting his attention on the new message appearing in its in-built screen. It was from Mina. There was a momentary look of self pity on his face while reading the Fanick's update.

'It seems I won't be having any sleep tonight.'

With that, he motioned the girls to follow him. When they marched for a few meters, they circled a corner and Tiff's counter appeared.

This time, the blonde was wearing grey pajamas, and was evidently going to spend the night in the gaming center. When they approached near her location, she looked up from her tablet and excitedly asked the three girls, "So, how's your first experience in Steel Arena?"

"Good."

"It's nice."

"..."

Tiff's eyebrow slightly rose from its usual angle due to the trio's passive responses. They did not even exhibited any emotional expressions.

"Uh... They don't socialize much." Sy reluctantly explained.

"Hmm..." Tiff pressed her lower lip with an index finger, pondering for a moment. "Why don't you bring them here often? They'll learn to talk more if they socialize with children their own age. I can also ask Brian to show them around."

"I'll think about it." Sy said. He added, "But for now, why don't you join us for dinner? I told you I'll take you out last time."

Tiff shifted her gaze somewhere else, her cheek flushed. Upon regaining her composure she gave the man a sheepish look, "I'm already in my sleeping garment..."

"Well, I'll just order a take-out. Watch the girls for me." Sy hurriedly went out of the premise, dubious to the frown that appeared on the face of the blonde. He headed straight to the place where he ate some good meat; Real Deal.

When he entered the establishment, he noticed that there were more people than usual forming an orderly line. He caught the conversation of a group to his left, occupying a table, and realized that they were not from Logria.

The first ship in a week had finally arrived in the desert planet.

He looked around and gathered that most of them were journalists from all over the Union. They were here to inquire about the current state of Logria after the unlawful occupation from the AO Guild.

Well, he was not here to snoop around so he joined one of the dozen lines dotted by several people.

Come to think of it, Eran was a reliable informant and knew a lot of things more than anyone he met in the Union. He needed to message the scion as the person he needed to visit later was the scion's sister, Emma.