Chapter 20: Crimson and Emerald

Chapter 20: Red and Green

Follow that path all the way down.

They arrived at a relatively lower area.

Luo Le looked up at the wall, estimating its height in his mind.

Next to the wall were a few stacked large stones, easily facilitating a climb over.

He strolled over, used them as a stepping stool, vaulted the wall with a graceful leap, and landed perfectly on the other side.

He stood up and brushed off imaginary dust from his clothes.

Did they think he couldn't manage without their help?

"Hey? Brother Le?!"

Wind City?

Luo Le lifted his gaze to find three individuals trailing behind him.

He straightened up and frowned at the person before him. "Why are you here?"

Wind City gestured towards the people behind him.

"I heard there was an exit, so I thought I'd come out for a stroll. What about you, Brother Le?"

Looking at the person scratching his head with an awkward smile, Luo Le was about to offer an explanation when he noticed the three As behind Wind City tilting their heads towards him.

"Wind City, who's this? You don't even introduce us."

"Holy, Wind City! You actually know such a handsome omega!"

Their gazes were blatant, filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

Luo Le slightly knitted his brows. He disliked being looked at in such a manner.

Wind City caught the expression and quickly turned to caution them, "Don't say anything inappropriate."

He then turned back to Luo Le and asked, "Brother Le, where are you going?"

Luo Le slightly turned his body. "Just taking a stroll."

"A stroll, huh? Brother Le, I'll accompany you then."

Luo Le glanced at the three people behind him and shook his head. "No need."

He was going to buy a mecha. Given Wind City's temperament, he would likely insist on paying.

Wind City stepped forward, eager to be of service.

"Of course, of course. Planet Five isn't very safe, and if we run into any veterans, we can cover for each other."

Fixing his gaze on Wind City, Luo Le spoke earnestly, "I said it's not necessary."

Seeing the hurt in Wind City's eyes and the expressions of his three friends in his peripheral vision, Luo Le wondered if he had been too blunt and disrespectful.

Just as he was about to say something to ease the tension, he saw Wind City looking at him casually with a smile on his lips.

"Well then, if Brother Le needs me, I'll be there right away. Oh, wait, no – it's better if you don't have any reason to look for me," he said.

"Alright then, Brother Le, we're off." With those words, Wind City gently nudged the other three to move backward.

Luo Le waved at them as they left.

Once they were gone, Luo Le walked in the opposite direction.

There was an armor shop nearby, and it wasn't affiliated with the Du family.

It took him about ten minutes to arrive. The shop door was open, but there were only a few customers inside.

As soon as Luo Le entered, a teenager, around fifteen or sixteen years old, approached him with a warm smile.

"Welcome! Hello, may I ask what kind of armor configuration you're interested in? I can certainly give you a rundown."

Luo Le glanced around, noticing that most of the mechas were Grade D.

"I'm looking for a top-of-the-line C-class mecha with a palladium shell, and it needs to have the latest processor and motherboard."

"We do have one, on the second floor. Please follow me."

The second floor was filled with Grade B and C mechas.

After circulating around, Luo Le found out that the C-class mechas had shells or chips dating back over a decade.

This didn't meet his expectations.

"Is this all the C-class mechas you have?"

The young attendant immediately sensed Luo Le's dissatisfaction, as if he would ask for directions to the nearest mecha store any moment.

It was his first day on trial, and the manager had mentioned that if he failed to make a sale, there would be no need for him to come back tomorrow.

Back home, he had an ailing older brother who urgently needed money, and being young, he had struggled to find this job.

Moreover, the shop was situated near a military district and somewhat distant from the city center, resulting in barely any customers visiting throughout the day.

When a potential customer finally showed up, the others wouldn't dare compete for their attention.

How could he let this opportunity slip?

But none of these items had caught his eye...

Suddenly, the teenager remembered something that needed verification.

"Certainly, please take a seat here for a moment. I'll go verify it."

Luo Le nodded and sat down.

The young man went downstairs, found the manager, and inquired, "Manager, didn't we have a top-of-the-line C-class armor in storage? The one we acquired from the military zone previously?"

The manager scrolled through the holographic screen, found the entry, then looked at him with a frown.

"There is indeed one. Hmm, did the customer not find any of those on the second floor to their liking?"

The youth let out a dry chuckle. "As you're well aware, Manager, the items on the second floor are all from years past. The garment worn by that customer may bear no recognizable label, but it exudes an unmistakable air of luxury. Naturally, such finery would be beneath their notice."

The shop manager, studying the mecha's specifications, issued a stern warning.

"The mech is still operational, albeit with some issues despite its top-notch configuration. After repairs, it tends to exert an unusually high toll on the pilot's mental energy. This point must be emphasized; otherwise, neither of us can afford to bear the consequences if something goes wrong."

The youth nodded, acknowledging that those options were already deemed unsatisfactory; thus, leaving them with no choice but to take their chances.

The manager threw him a key. "Here's the warehouse key. You take him to have a look."

The youth smiled brightly, turning to ascend the stairs.

Observing the young man's retreating figure, the shopkeeper shook his head, convinced that the youth had misjudged.

The guest was wearing clothing without any discernible brand; how could he possibly afford anything? He likely just came to browse.

Yet, perhaps it's for the best to teach him a lesson.

The moment the young man returned, he immediately took Luo Le to the storage room.

Despite being called a storage room, it was merely a small chamber housing this single mech. It felt like entering a private booth. Luo Le stepped in and saw the mech's specifications written on the glass. He examined them and realized that the mech's parameters were on the verge of reaching an A-class level. Looking up, he noticed that the mech sported a combination of red and green. For some reason, it appeared strangely sophisticated. "Are you sure this is a C-class mech?" He cast a skeptical glance at the young man beside him. The youth nodded solemnly and explained, "Yes, although its specs are high, it's indeed a C-class mech. It's been inspected by four or five different institutions." "But there's one thing I need to mention upfront. This mech consumes a lot of mental power. I suggest you consider that before purchasing it." Luo Le lowered his gaze in thought. "It consumes a lot of mental power, huh? Was it designed that way or is there a problem with the programming?" The young man smiled awkwardly. "To be honest, I'm new here and not too knowledgeable about this. But apart from that, it has no issues and fully meets your requirements."

Luo Le lifted his gaze to the mech, his dark irises reflecting its image deeply.

As he gazed, Luo Le felt a poignant disorientation stirring within him.

"The mech was acquired from a military zone, but the repair technician was exceptionally skilled. It's been restored flawlessly and even underwent some enhancements."

"A military zone?," Luo Le inquired.

The youth lowered his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "Yes, but don't worry. We've taken care of it, and we used the finest paint for the finish."

Luo Le reached out, his hand resting on the glass wall, the mech's reflection shimmering in his eyes.

Observing this, the young man approached and offered, "Would you like to take it for a test drive?"

Luo Le nodded in agreement.