Reboot: Mechanic

The leader's frustration was palpable as he contemplated the failure of their mission and the humiliating encounter with the mysterious attacker. 

His hand moved to his bleeding eye, a constant reminder of the price they had paid for underestimating their adversary.

With a heavy heart, he knew he had to report this incident to Commander Theobold, their superior. 

It was a bitter pill to swallow, admitting defeat and the possibility that they had stumbled upon a confrontation between the targets they were tracking and the infamous White Syndicate.

As he communicated with their command center, relaying the events that had unfolded, he could sense the disappointment and anger in Commander Theobold's voice. 

Others might not know on the surface, but he knew very well that Theobold was known for his impatience and intolerance for failure, and this failure would surely not sit well with him.

"So your group of soldiers suffered heavy casualties and you didn't even manage to apprehend the attacker, Mike?" Theobold's voice resounded through the communication device on his hand. 

The leader, Mike, didn't dare to sugarcoat the situation. 

He described in detail how their formation had been disrupted and incapacitated, including the fact that their enemies had managed to escape. 

He also mentioned the warning from the White Syndicate, which added a layer of complexity to the mission.

"Are you sure that the attacker belonged to the infamous White Syndicate?" Theobold asked in a deep tone.

"No, sir. The attacker proclaimed itself to be from the White Syndicate, but the information is not confirmed." Mike, clutching tightly at his bleeding eyes, responded. 

He was sweating profusely at the same time, realizing what kind of fate he would receive once he returned to the camp for his incompetence.

Such a disastrous failure and having his soldiers wounded and dead without even knowing the identity of the attacker. That was enough to have his military rank stripped or even kicked out of the military. 

Just when Mike thought he might receive more scolding, Theobold asked him an important question.

"Then do you think the attacker was one of the people that I told you to track?" Theobold enquired, seemingly trying to hear Mike's opinion.

The people naturally referred to Shi Tian, Mary, and Vanessa, which was also their primary goal of this mission until it was interrupted by the unknown attacker.

And despite the nervousness of Mike, he confidently replied, "No sir, I do not believe the attacker to be one of them. We had checked their information previously, and all of the attacker's moves and actions do not correlate with any of them. Plus, we were cautious all along and made sure they had no way of detecting us when the drone detection range was 800 meters." 

In the command center, Theobold absorbed the information and he had his suspicions, but also understood Mike's perspective. 

Indeed, with their current skills, they couldn't achieve such a feat and defeat one of his elite platoon so easily and effortlessly. 

"The White Syndicate… could they also be involved in this incident and wanted a piece of the dense area with strange energy as well?" Theobold murmured softly, unsure of the White Syndicate's goal.

Information had hinted at their subtle appearance in Gearits City previously but had also vanished like the wind. Hence, Theobold was somewhat positive that there were indeed people lurking in Gearits City who belonged to the group.

And with how unruly and bold the White Syndicate group was, Mike's report made sense. It could be said that he was truly unlucky to have his elite soldiers encounter a member of the mysterious White Syndicate. 

"Since the soldiers are injured, have them return. I don't want to risk having others notice my scheme." 

In the end, Theobold's orders were crystal clear, and didn't blame much on Mike. They were to regroup, provide medical care to the wounded, and return to their base immediately. The mission had gone awry, and their primary objective had not been achieved.

As the communication ended, Mike couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. 

He knew that their failure would have consequences even though Theobold didn't blame him directly, and the White Syndicate's warning loomed over them like a dark cloud. 

They had stirred a hornet's nest, and the repercussions were uncertain.

Meanwhile, Shi Tian, despite his injuries, had managed to slip away from the scene. 

His actions had left a lasting impression on Theobold's elite soldiers, and the name of the White Syndicate was now associated with danger and unpredictability.

It was the perfect opportunity to frame someone else for the crimes they did not commit. 

Though Shi Tian was sure that the White Syndicate wouldn't mind adding another infamous act to their name. 

As he moved through the shadows, Shi Tian couldn't help but smile to himself. 

He had sent a clear message, not only to the soldiers but to anyone who might be watching. The White Syndicate was not to be trifled with, and they would defend their interests with ruthless determination.

With his injuries demanding attention, Shi Tian knew he needed a safe place to regroup and recover. The encounter had been intense, but it was far from over. The game had just begun, and the stakes were higher than ever.

'I recall there's a small cave when inspecting the area with the drone. The cave should be clear since we cleaned out the monster inhabiting it.' Shi Tian thought to himself, increasing the efficiency of the boosters' suit to make some twists and turns. 

He was not going to regroup with Mary and Vanessa right away because it might attract the soldier's attention. And he also wasn't going to run in a straight line and allow the soldiers to trace him easily.

As powerless and the clown moment of the elite soldiers from earlier, Shi Tian wouldn't dare to underestimate them again. His one underestimation had nearly turned him into a firing dummy filled with bullet holes wound. 

"It's really not easy surviving in this world." Shi Tian muttered softly, feeling weary.