Ominous Premonition

How many times in a lifetime did you get the chance to see the ocean?

Xingtian stopped and turned to look at the sea beside him.

He was making his way along the coastline. The unceasing waves slapped against his alloy ankles, and the salty sea breeze felt especially cold at night.

But Yu Xiao couldn't feel any of it. He was like a spectator watching from outside a screen, able to experience it only through his imagination.

All he could see was endless darkness and the few faint lights on Xingtian.

"Why did you stop?"

Bai Ying looked at Yu Xiao, who stood beside her, somewhat puzzled. He was a human figure composed of a holographic projection, identical to what she had seen during synchronization.

Because I never saw the ocean in my previous life.

Yu Xiao had wanted to say that, but he was Xingtian now—a warrior who had fought monsters in the ocean ever since the day he was activated.

"If you're tired, let me take over." Bai Ying stretched, her form-fitting combat suit perfectly accentuating the youthful, lively curves of her figure.

Ever since Xingtian had been reassembled at Xuanse Cangqiong, Bai Ying had learned about the "autopilot" function from Yu Xiao. In short, Yu Xiao could take over some simple movements for her.

"I'm fine. I just feel like the wind has changed direction."

Yu Xiao casually made up an excuse to cover himself. Still, he felt somewhat comforted by Bai Ying's concern. She really had changed.

As it happened, Yu Xiao wasn't actually controlling Xingtian right now. The high-intelligence holographic AI interaction system he'd ordered from the shop was "driving" for him.

This high-tech stuff was great!

Yu Xiao was a crooked middleman: he pocketed the benefits and left someone else to do the work.

"If I didn't have you, I'd be exhausted by now." Bai Ying clenched her fists. "Why does the Crimson Hurricane get to ride in a dragon boat while we have to walk?"

Bai Ying still remembered the smug look on Meng Changqing's face as he boarded the Auspicious Cloud Dragon Boat.

To be honest, Yu Xiao wanted to ride in the dragon boat too. It wasn't that he was worried about losing face; he simply wanted to get on board and see what it was like.

The Auspicious Cloud was the Gan Kingdom's first independently developed aerial fortress. It had originally been designed solely to transport mechs over long distances, but after numerous discussions, it had been converted into a self-sustaining assault unit.

In terms of scale alone, it was almost as large as the Xuanse Cangqiong base. Its terrifying size allowed it to transport five mechs at once!

The Gan Kingdom currently had three dragon boats of the same size. It was said that a highly classified project still under development was also based on dragon boat technology.

"Maybe our destination's closer, so the dragon boat isn't going our way?" Yu Xiao offered what seemed like a reasonable explanation.

But he knew the real reason.

Because we're going to the Silent Graveyard to scavenge, while they're going on an expedition!

The Silent Graveyard was a mech reclamation center located halfway along the Gan Kingdom's north-south coastline.

Mechs damaged for various reasons or no longer fit for battle were sent by their respective countries to their own mech graveyards, where they were dismantled and recycled.

Xingtian was lucky. As the only surviving first-generation mech, he had become a hero in many people's hearts and a symbol of humanity's indomitable spirit. That was why he had escaped dismantling after his retirement.

"Forget it... Their destination is much more dangerous. One slip, and they could lose their lives. I'm not going to begrudge them!" It was rare for Bai Ying not to dwell on such unequal treatment.

Only she knew that Xingtian's latest upgrade was being paid for with Xuanse Cangqiong's "emergency funds."

During a private conversation with General Chen, Bai Ying had learned about the tremendous pressure Xuanse Cangqiong was facing. The entire Watchman Alliance had been hit by last year's global boycott and was forced to make severe cutbacks. As a result, the Alliance's budget for this year had been slashed in half!

Xuanse Cangqiong had more mechs than most bases, but that also meant its expenses were several times higher.

So Xuanse Cangqiong had decided to open the Silent Graveyard, which it had previously managed itself, to the market and hand over its entire operation to contractors. In return, it would earn fixed rent and a percentage of each transaction.

But even after taking those measures, Xuanse Cangqiong's funds would run dry in six months. If it couldn't secure new financial support, the base would shut down for good.

Under these circumstances, sending Xingtian to the War Factory for a proper upgrade would make Xuanse Cangqiong go bankrupt the very next month!

So General Chen had found another way. He used three months' worth of funds to reserve a full set of worn third-generation mech parts from the Silent Graveyard.

It couldn't compare to a proper upgrade at the War Factory, but it would still raise Xingtian's combat power by several levels!

To describe the deal in General Chen's own words: "Rather than worry about a tomorrow that may never come, we should do whatever it takes to survive today."

That was also how he saw the war ahead.

"I thought you'd complain a bit more," Yu Xiao said. He had clearly noticed that Bai Ying was keeping something from him.

"I'm just telling it like it is!" Bai Ying pouted. "Xuanse Cangqiong is strapped for cash. The Silent Graveyard used to be run by our corps, but after it was contracted out, the agreement only gave us a bit of a discount when we bought things. We can't just take whatever we want."

"Mechs don't come cheap. If the contractors let us take things for free every day, they'd have gone bankrupt already." Yu Xiao quickly saw the logic. "Still, if we hadn't driven Chris away, maybe we could've gone to the War Factory for an upgrade."

"If we hadn't driven Chris away, you'd have been captured and taken to Omega to be dissected by now!" Bai Ying glared at Yu Xiao in annoyance.

"Wait..."

Yu Xiao stopped bantering with Bai Ying and turned once more to gaze at the endless sea.

The cold sea breeze cut across Xingtian's armor like a knife, but it still couldn't shake the giant standing on the shore.

"Is something wrong?" Bai Ying tensed, ready to control Xingtian and dodge any potential danger.

Her gaze swept across the holographic interface floating in the air. As the ripples on the radar spread outward from Xingtian, her confusion grew.

The energy radar hadn't detected any threats.

"The wind changed direction."

"Could you stop joking around like that?" Bai Ying nearly leapt out of the control seat to kick Yu Xiao.

"I'm not joking. The wind really did change direction."

"I think the wind's blown your head empty. We're at the seaside. It'd be strange if there were no wind!" Bai Ying couldn't be bothered dealing with the jittery Xingtian anymore. She disabled the autopilot and controlled Xingtian herself as they continued on their way.

Yu Xiao didn't argue with Bai Ying any further. His energy radar and night vision hadn't detected anything unusual either.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching Xingtian. The gaze was extremely faint, as if it came from the clouds and stars overhead.

To be safe, Yu Xiao immediately opened the shop.

He'd planned to wait until after upgrading at the Silent Graveyard to check for anything he might have missed, but now he had to make sure nothing happened to him on the way!

[Exchange successful. Thank you for your purchase.]

"That should make things safe enough..."