Chapter 1 The Importance of Choice

Han Xiao didn't plan to become a vagrant. After defecting from the Germinal Organization, he no longer enjoyed free resources. The Mechanic class was extremely expensive; many devices, materials, and parts were worth a fortune. Funds and resources were a major hurdle. Although the wilderness was free, resources were scarce and unstable, making growth too slow.

Moreover, he was weak and needed the protection of a powerful force before he could grow stronger. If the Germinal Organization locked onto his location in the wild, they would have no qualms about attacking, maybe even throwing a heat-seeking missile array for a carpet bombing, leaving him no chance to escape.

The Germinal Organization hadn't used this method to deal with him before because Han Xiao was within the Star Dragon Federation's territory, and missiles would be intercepted. Exposing the organization's other bases in Star Dragon wouldn't be worth it. Another reason was that the leader didn't resort to any means to deal with him; it wasn't worth it.

Han Xiao chose to join the Six Nations because, most importantly, besides the Germinal Organization, only the Six Nations possessed advanced knowledge.

For his advancement mission, joining the Six Nations faction was imperative.

The pressing matter at hand was choosing a place to stay in West Capital. From the moment Han Xiao decided to come to West Capital, he had a target in mind.

It was a hidden storyline point that he had learned about from other people's information in his previous life. He hadn't personally obtained this opportunity, but now, without competition, Han Xiao could seize the initiative.

...

Before him was a repair shop, its storefront open like an auto repair shop. The shop had no name; the sign was a wrench, merely letting passersby know it was a mechanical repair shop.

Not that there would necessarily be passersby. The repair shop was hidden in an inconspicuous alley. Walls lined both sides, and the alley entrance was about two hundred meters from the shop. Without walking in, one would think it was a dead end.

"This opportunity didn't belong to me in my previous life. I can't miss it this time."

Han Xiao's eyes flickered slightly.

Although this repair shop looked unremarkable, it concealed a very precious opportunity for the early stages of the Mechanic class, and it was unique.

In front of the repair shop was a chessboard. Two white-haired old men were sitting across from each other, playing chess, one tall and one short. The short old man had a stubbled face and a wild, uninhibited head of Mediterranean shoulder-length hair, looking like an artist.

The other, tall old man had neatly combed gray-white short hair, meticulous and upright like a green pine, concentrating on the chessboard. The most conspicuous thing was his empty left sleeve; he was disabled.

The two old men glanced at Han Xiao and continued playing chess, their expressions serious and earnest, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Han Xiao swept his eyes over the scene, slightly surprised. Impressive, they were playing *weiqi* (Go), black and white intertwined, the situation intense. The tall old man was creating a big dragon, while the short old man was trying to encircle and intercept him, but his strength was insufficient. The two sides moved their pieces like gazelles hanging their horns, their moves fierce and full of killing intent, extremely dangerous!

Looking closer, oh, it was Gomoku (five in a row)! What a waste of their expressions!

"Do you need something repaired?" a pleasant female voice sounded.

A woman hurriedly walked out of the repair shop, instantly making Han Xiao's eyes light up.

Her skin was fair, with a healthy rosy glow. She was about 1.65 meters tall and not stunningly beautiful, but the type that grew on you. Her eyebrows were gentle, her smile amiable, like the big sister next door. Around twenty-four or five years old, she was at a woman's most beautiful age. A towel was draped over her fair, slender neck, and a black hairpin held up her hair. She wore a simple black elastic vest and denim shorts, revealing straight, fair legs. The glistening sweat on her forehead reflected slightly in the sunlight. She held a wrench in her hand, indicating she had been working.

In appreciating women, young perverts look at the face and chest, experienced guys look at the legs and waist, and old drivers mainly look at the temperament. Of course, there are also a group of Teddy-like anomalies, indiscriminate eaters who don't discriminate between men and women.

"Excuse me, are you hiring apprentices?"

The woman's eyes instantly lit up, giving Han Xiao a chill. To describe this look elegantly, it was like a person who had been hungry for three days seeing a table full of delicacies, a person who had been trekking through the desert for ten days seeing an oasis. To describe it more vulgarly, it was like a puppy seeing poop, a baby seeing its *nainai* (grandma - first tone).

"Come in and sit down quickly, don't catch a cold."

The woman hurriedly grabbed Han Xiao's arm and pulled him into the shop, as if afraid he would run away.

Looking up at the scorching midday sun, Han Xiao squinted and said, "Does 'catching a cold' mean heatstroke in your dialect?"

The repair shop's architectural style was mainly white, yellow, and black, and it was divided into two floors.

The first floor was the workshop. Several load-bearing pillars divided the space, creating three work areas with several lathe workbenches and complete mechanical tools, grinding wheels, cutters, drills, welding guns, and so on. The workbenches were scratched, showing their age. Several multi-layer iron racks were placed against the walls, piled with many mechanical parts and metal, similar to a hardware store.

Further inside, a black metal openwork staircase led to the second floor, presumably the living quarters.

"My name is Lü Qian, and I'm the owner of this repair shop. You can call me Sister Qian."

Lü Qian said generously.

"Sister Qian." Han Xiao didn't care about the address and said, "I want to be an apprentice here. I don't know what the requirements are."

"Tell me about your situation." Lü Qian smiled kindly. Her first impression of Han Xiao was good. She quite liked Han Xiao's eyes, the decadent dead fish eyes, looking like a decadent youth who was just waiting to eat, drink, and die with no ambition. His wage requirements would definitely not be high.

"Han Xiao, twenty-one years old. I'm from out of town. I know some superficial mechanical skills. You can also call me Technician Han."

Technician Han? Lü Qian thought the title was a bit strange.

"From out of town, you're not a student at West Capital Academy?"

The universal knowledge obtained from Aquamarine included basic training knowledge for espers. West Capital Academy was the official academy of Star Dragon, and its students were selected geniuses from all over the country. They were systematically taught the esper knowledge of the martial arts, mechanic, and psychic systems. Excellent graduates even directly took important positions in the government; it was the country's talent reserve.

However, only one in ten thousand people could become an esper. Even with a complete training course, the proportion was still very low.

"I've only learned a little superficial mechanical theory." Han Xiao was a humble, low-key person who kept the Eight Honors and Eight Shames in mind.

"What a pity..." Lü Qian felt a little regret, then realized that this was a bit disrespectful and hurriedly explained, "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

"It's okay."

"I have to test you. Although I need an assistant, I won't hire you if your skills aren't up to par..."

Reasonable and logical, Han Xiao naturally had no objections.

Lü Qian took out a faulty appliance, preparing to have Han Xiao repair it. Just then, the short old man playing chess outside suddenly spoke up: "Young man, why do you want to apply for an apprenticeship?"

Lü Qian looked puzzled. Grandpa's question was really strange. Of course, it was to find a job.

Han Xiao turned back and looked at Lü Qian's grandfather, Old Man Lü, and said, "I just want to find a job."

Old Man Lü grunted noncommittally, pushed the chessboard away, got up, and walked over.

"I'm the owner of this shop. Only if you pass my test will I allow you to stay."

The tall old man who was about to connect five white pieces sighed and said, "Hey, you're cheating again."

"I have serious business to do." Old Man Lü's face didn't turn red, and he wasn't out of breath.

"Shameless." The tall old man looked helpless. Unable to play chess, he had no choice but to follow.