Reboot: Mechanic

The night wore on, with Gearits City's lights casting a serene glow over the landscape. 

As the events of the day faded into memory, Shi Tian and Vanessa found solace in their much-needed rest. 

By the time morning arrived, there was light filtered through the curtains, and Shi Tian gradually became aware of his surroundings. The softness of the bed beneath him and the warmth of the covers provided a stark contrast to the days in the wilderness. 

With a stretch and a yawn, Shi Tian pushed himself to sit up on the bed. He glanced around the room briefly, before getting ready to walk out of the room.

As he opened the door, Shi Tian was astonished by the wide-awake Vanessa, who somehow had an apron attached to her. 

What made it horrifying was the fact that she was gently placing dishes on the table, almost as if she had just finished cooking it. 

Shi Tian's nervousness was palpable as he took in the sight of the beautifully prepared dishes on the table. He could hardly believe his eyes. The aroma wafting through the air was tempting, and his stomach couldn't help but growl in response.

His disbelief prompted him to ask Vanessa whether she had ordered takeout, thinking that cooking might be beyond her capabilities, given her exhaustion from the previous day.

  "Did you go out and order takeout?" He asked, his eyes inspecting the aromatic dishes.

However, Vanessa's eye-roll made it clear that his assumption was far from accurate.

I don't cook because I can't, but rather because it is unnecessary and time-consuming. Vanessa clarified, assuring him that she was capable of preparing meals. 

Her explanation left Shi Tian slightly embarrassed by his assumption. 

'It seemed that Vanessa was more than capable of cooking; she simply hadn't done so due to time constraints and the circumstances we were in.' Shi Tian thought to himself, finding her in a new light.

Feeling a mixture of curiosity and surprise, Shi Tian cleared his throat and said, "I'm sorry for assuming that. It's just that... the food looks really good."

As Vanessa had already set the table, Shi Tian took a seat and looked at her appreciatively. 

"Thank you for this. It's a pleasant surprise." He added.

At first, Vanessa truly wanted to smack him for doubting her ability this much, but then halted herself. 

Going from a different perspective, Shi Tian's doubtful behavior was equivalent to complimenting her. 

After all, it meant that her cooking skills were amazing– to the point that even Shi Tian failed to discern whether the food was homemade or takeout.

"Hmph, consider this as thanks for the battle yesterday," Vanessa snorted and took her seat. 

As the two had sat down to enjoy the meal that Vanessa had prepared, the atmosphere in the room seemed to shift. 

The tense air from the previous day's events was replaced by a sense of camaraderie, even if it was just over a simple breakfast.

The dishes were indeed delicious, and Shi Tian couldn't help but savor each bite. 

Vanessa's culinary skills were a pleasant surprise, and he found himself appreciating her efforts even more. The flavors were rich and comforting, a contrast to the chaos they had faced yesterday. 

There was no longer any disturbance or possibility of a Tomahawk randomly flying toward their table. Even if Kralos Tal was a capable man, Shi Tian doubted he was enough to contest against the Crimson Mage. 

After all, Kralos Tal retreated swiftly once he sensed military people arriving, but the Crimson Mage was a different story. The military would run away from her at first sight, a clear definitive of the Crimson Mage's power and influence. 

As for why he came to such a conclusion? 

It was the fact that Theobold was so quick to retreat last night. 

Theobold might have excused himself for the reason that he needed to head back to the crime scene, but the truth should be that Theobold does not want to encounter the Crimson Mage. 

A few minutes later, as they continuously ate their food, conversation flowed more easily. 

They discussed the battle, analyzing the tactics they had used and the strategies they could employ in the future. The initial awkwardness that had lingered between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by a shared sense of purpose.

"Right, when do you think Commander Theobold would call for us?" Shi Tian suddenly asked, grabbing another bite from the plate.

"Probably in a few days or so. The monster wave might be rampaging hard, but it's still not close enough to reach District A. Hence, Commander Theobold would definitely not rush to suppress them." Vanessa said, expressing her thoughts on it.

Theobold might be eager to protect the civilians, but haste makes waste. Thus, Theobold wouldn't be foolish enough to make another move, especially when some of his soldiers had suffered casualties already.

Nodding his head, Shi Tian agreed with her thought process. If he was in Theobold's position, then he would wait and strategize first before making any moves. 

"Hmm, I guess we still have more time to prepare." He said calmly, resuming his meal.

After they finished eating, Shi Tian leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. 

He looked at Vanessa with a small smile. "I must say, your cooking skills are truly impressive. It was a waste of money to keep ordering takeout in the Horology Restaurant when you could cook so well."

Vanessa gave a subtle smirk in response. "Of course, my cooking skills are top-notch. You should know that it's not just about surviving battles out in the wilderness. Knowing your way around cooking can be equally valuable."

Shi Tian nodded his head. 

Cooking was truly a necessary skill in the wilderness. Just recalling the past when he forcefully ate an Armored Rat meat made him depressed. 

"Alright, since you ate your fill, then go do the dishes. I'm going to return to my room for some business, so unless there's something important. Don't bother me." Vanessa stood up and warned.