Thought It Over, Mecha Master

Clang!

The tall, thin police officer on the other side of the car immediately looked at the gene particle between Fu Junlin's brows.

Seeing that he was a Subspecies with only one gene particle, he immediately understood. There was no need to ask anything. He directly pinned Fu Junlin against the hood.

Shi Hongyu had also gotten out of the car by then, glaring angrily at the two men, but she did not dare attack them.

Otherwise, she might be fine, but it could have a tremendous impact on Fu Junlin.

Unable to resist, Fu Junlin could only let himself be firmly pressed against the scorching hood.

The burning pain on his face was far less painful than the humiliation.

Fu Junlin pressed his lips tightly together.

The fat police officer also came over and holstered his gun, then began searching Fu Junlin.

Though it was supposedly a search, his movements were extremely rough, groping and hitting him at the same time. Fu Junlin could only grit his teeth.

Soon, he pulled a student ID from Fu Junlin's pocket.

[Final Blade Federation · Flying Cloud Vine School · Subspecies Class Three · Fu Junlin.]

After reading those key details, the fat police officer immediately frowned deeply.

He had not expected this kid to attend a prestigious school. It would be troublesome if they just arrested him and messed with him casually.

He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his angry Intent.

The thin police officer beside him was about to handcuff Fu Junlin.

The fat police officer blocked him with a hand and gave a slight shake of his head.

The thin officer froze, then saw the student ID the fat officer handed him.

He immediately put away the handcuffs.

Fu Junlin could not see any of this, but Shi Hongyu naturally saw it all.

Yet Shi Hongyu clenched her fists tightly, helpless to do anything.

She was filled with fury, yet powerless to change the entire world.

Resistance without Intent often only made things worse.

"Get up!"

The thin police officer viciously jabbed Fu Junlin in the kidney.

The fat officer slipped the student ID into Fu Junlin's breast pocket and said with a cold sneer,

"Heed Intent next time."

Then the fat and thin officers strolled leisurely back toward the patrol car. Before getting in, they gave Fu Junlin one more venomous look.

Heed Intent next time?

Intent what? Intent not to glance at a police officer? Or Intent in his next life, so he would not be reborn as a Subspecies!?

He had merely been sitting in the passenger seat. He had done nothing at all.

Crack, crack, crack, crack!

Fu Junlin's fists exploded with sharp cracks, and even his arms trembled slightly.

This time, Big Black was not controlling him.

But soon after.

Fu Junlin's trembling fists slowly loosened. He straightened his clothes and hair, shrugged at Shi Hongyu as if nothing had happened, then opened the door and sat back in the passenger seat without a care.

Shi Hongyu felt an inexplicable pang in her heart. With a long sigh, she started the car and drove toward the Red Carpet District.

Perhaps sensing Fu Junlin's low mood, Big Black did not come out to mock him.

As a highly civilized being, he was not stupid. Fu Junlin did not need to explain much for him to understand.

So this was probably the status of Subspecies in this world.

"I'm sorry. If I'd known, I wouldn't have given you a ride."

Shi Hongyu said with an apologetic Intent.

"I get pinned down even more often when I walk around. Compared to being pressed against a filthy wall, the hood is a little better..."

Fu Junlin gave a self-mocking smile, found a comfortable position, and looked out the window.

"School starts in three days, and then you'll need to choose an elective specialization. Have you decided on a secondary profession?"

Shi Hongyu changed the subject at the right time.

"Mecha Master!"

Fu Junlin answered without hesitation, as if he had long since decided.

"War Banner Master, Mecha Master... Hmph, if I'm not mistaken, you're doing this for the money."

Shi Hongyu pursed her lips in a smile and said reproachfully.

Fu Junlin smiled awkwardly.

Though every profession was connected to daily life, blade and sword enchanters, mages, and fighters were more geared toward combat.

War Banner Masters and Mecha Masters, however, had avenues of development in daily life in addition to combat.

Mecha Masters could bring enormous convenience to people's work and lives. The widespread application of Mech Matrix systems and robots had changed this era even more.

Like this car! It was the work of an advanced Mecha Master.

The medical system also had a great need for War Banner Master talent. The Small Battle Banners and Battle Flag Crystal Blocks they produced were useful in many situations.

Only a few hundred years had passed since the arrival of the post-apocalyptic era.

There were still countless things humanity could only feel its way through in the darkness.

Red Carpet District, Foxtail Grass Shanty Passage No. 13.

This was Fu Junlin's home.

Seen from the side, these houses looked like the cells of a beehive, each cell a home.

After climbing more than a dozen flights of ladders to reach one of those cells, one could open the door and enter a home of less than nineteen square meters.

It was home to Fu Junlin, his younger brother, and their mother.

This sports car was exceptionally conspicuous parked in the shantytown. The Subspecies punks along the street whistled at Shi Hongyu's fair skin through the windows.

Shi Hongyu seemed accustomed to it and ignored them.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"I also substitute-teach Mecha Master classes. If you have any questions, you can call me."

Shi Hongyu reminded him.

"Got it. Here, take this."

As he spoke, Fu Junlin handed her two cube-sized Battle Flag Crystal Blocks, with a Flicker of silver-white energy shimmering over them.

"Hm?"

Shi Hongyu froze.

"They're Slow Healing Battle Flag Crystal Blocks. I work part-time at the factory, and I made these myself. They can't cure your infection, but they can ease the pain. My Slow Healing is different from everyone else's."

As he spoke, Fu Junlin smugly raised a thumb at himself.

Shi Hongyu immediately burst into laughter and gave Fu Junlin a deep look.

She was not short on money, and naturally did not lack Battle Flag Crystal Blocks. She could afford even higher-grade ones.

Still, she nodded and carefully put them away.

No matter which of the five major professions one pursued, there were countless schools and skills.

For example, the two basic healing arts available to a War Banner Master at Fu Junlin's current level were each different.

Instant Healing and Slow Healing.

Slow Healing was white light. Each wave healed more strongly than the last. Though injuries healed slowly, the wounded area gained increased resilience after healing.

With damage of the same intensity, it would be impossible to seriously injure that spot again.

Instant Healing was dark green. Each wave was weaker than the last. It could repair tissue in an instant, restore combat ability, and reduce pain, but the injured area gained no additional defense.

Each had its own advantages and drawbacks. Enhancement arts for speed, strength, spirit, and more also came in many varieties, all of which War Banner Masters had to master.

An outstanding War Banner Master could greatly increase a team's combat strength.

At higher levels, the division of labor would become even more detailed and varied.

"I'm leaving. May you be immune to infection."

Shi Hongyu smiled and softly offered Fu Junlin a blessing, then sped away with a press of the accelerator.

But Fu Junlin did not go home.

Tightening the Battle Banner Belt around his waist, he headed toward the War Banner Factory.

The War Banner Factory was a place that manufactured portable war banner equipment.

Its mainstream products were Battle Flag Crystal Blocks and Small Battle Banners.

After entering the factory, Fu Junlin took out his Group C work badge and went straight into the changing room through the back door.

He changed clothes and entered the workshop.

He worked on production line C6.

"Junlin! Out of school?"

A balding middle-aged man looked up at Fu Junlin, greeted him, and continued working.

On the very slow conveyor belt, the balding man picked up a Battle Flag Crystal Block and placed it into a mechanical arm. Then he pressed his palm against the arm and controlled white energy as it flowed into the crystal block.

This process required extreme care. Otherwise, if the charge failed, not only might the Battle Flag Crystal Block be damaged, but it would also waste the energy in his body.

This job of theirs was nothing more than trading energy for money.

The crystal block was completed shortly afterward. A light sheen of sweat had appeared on the man's forehead as he placed it on another fast-moving conveyor belt to be sent to the next inspection stage.

"Yeah, Uncle Wen. How many have you made today?"

Fu Junlin walked to his place on the assembly line, stretched his body a little, and asked with casual Intent.

"Seventeen."

Uncle Wen clapped his hands, took a sip of tea from beside him, and leaned back against the tall stool behind him to rest for a moment.

"Not bad."

As he spoke, Fu Junlin deftly picked up a Battle Flag Crystal Block, infused it, assembled and disassembled it, then sent it off in one smooth motion.

"Ah, how could I compare with you young people? You're a Level-One Master, yet you can work on the C6 line, where everyone is Entry-Level Two or Level-Two Elite.

You're definitely a top student. You've got such a bright future.

Just look at that useless Intent of ours. All he knows is how to play all day. He's complete trash!

After praising Fu Junlin a few times, Uncle Wen thought of his disappointing son and cursed him resentfully.