A few days later.
The Biological Specimen Academy.
Old and frail. That was Reilo's first impression of the old man beneath the olive tree in the setting sun, stirring his coffee with a spoon.
His expression was desolate. He felt as though a lifetime had passed, and memories began to well up in his mind.
After a long while.
The old man seemed to come back to himself. He rose unsteadily and folded his chair. Only when he turned did he notice the man who had been standing beside him for some time.
"It's you."
He put the chair down again and smiled faintly, panting a little.
"Mentor."
Reilo bowed respectfully, drawing the attention of several young children playing ball by the roadside. They giggled.
Engineering scholars hurried along the road in the distance. Towering eight-legged spider-like vehicles carried immense loads, striding over low buildings toward the Air Port several hundred meters away.
"I've troubled you again over Shatuo's affairs."
Gubo leaned against the olive tree and looked up at the figure silhouetted against the sunset. He smiled as he spoke.
"Mentor, how much time do you... have left?"
Reilo could no longer pay attention to anything else.
At a glance, he could tell that Gubo's Energy Magnetic Field was constantly collapsing. As his life force dwindled, the energy within him kept leaking away. Jiahei lay listlessly in his arms, too weak even to open his eyes. Gubo was in the final stage of a scholar's life.
"A couple of days, I suppose."
Gubo's words made Reilo's heart skip a beat. He stared blankly at his mentor, not knowing what to say.
The old man, by contrast, was carefree. "I should have gone decades ago. I only clung to life and dragged things out until now because I couldn't let