"What is this?" General Hale asked, pointing at Ruby's waist.
Ever since Ruby returned from the White House, she had gone straight into her room at the youth training camp. She seemed like a different person, not immediately going to look for something she liked to eat. At first, General Hale thought it was just the restlessness of an adolescent girl, until she saw Ruby take a folding hunting knife, a large-caliber pistol, and a silent folding hand crossbow for assassinations from her carry-on case and hang them at her waist. All three items had exquisite brass decorations and embossed patterns, giving them a strong steampunk aesthetic. However, that was merely a façade meant to conceal the technology they contained.
The hunting knife was forged with advanced Martian metallurgy. Its shaft also contained a miniature motor that could automatically snap the blade open in the blink of an eye. The large-caliber pistol's grip had a recoil-dampening system and could continuously fire specialized .50 explosive rounds. As for the silent folding crossbow, it could be used for mid-range assassinations, but it could also fire high-strength carbon-fiber composite cables connected to motors for three-dimensional maneuvering, allowing its user to cross obstacles or even make rapid descents from high altitudes.
There was also an outfit in the case, but it was not meant for covert operations. It was a black evening gown.
"These are gifts, Mom," Ruby answered with a smile. She knew how to use these things. They were exactly what she needed for her upcoming assignment. Salomon had once given her a hunting knife and a pistol, and after becoming familiar with those weapons, she had quickly mastered the specialized equipment made specifically for her. She fastened the weapons to the custom combat belt around her waist. "I think I should