21st July, Year 714 A.G.

Leon woke up very early.

After brushing and taking his bath, he arranged his clothes into a big luggage bag while packing his weapons in order inside his backpack.

After that, Leon went straight to his workshop where he faced his big construct- the Doom Rover v0.1.

He had no intention of leaving the big robot in Leviathan Quay.

For the past few days after making the decision to return to his shelter and attempt his second Trial, one of his main dilemmas has been the logistics required to carry the massive 10-meter tall humanoid robot on a journey.

In the end, he decided to make it small and compact for travel.

Leon brought his work chair closer to the massive robot and sat down, then his grayish white ADE flared as he went to work.

Miniaturization!

Since becoming an E Rank Mechanist, Leon already utilized all his abilities, getting used to them and mastering them in the process.

Just like his other construct-related abilities like Construct and Deconstruct, Miniaturization has never been an instantaneous process unless he was returning an already miniaturized gadget back to its normal state.

The process of miniaturization took between a few seconds to a few dozen seconds, and even minutes depending on the size, weight, and grade of the gadget being miniaturized.

For example, it's faster to miniaturize F rank gadgets than E Rank gadgets, the same rule applied for a Rifle compared to a compact pistol.

The end product of Miniaturization depended on how much ADE he was willing to spend on it and how much time he took to miniaturize the gadget.

This also decided how long the gadget would last in the miniaturized state.

When he first unlocked the ability, Leon already theorized that with enough ADE, he could theoretically make a truck become palm size.

With enough practice over the past few weeks, Leon already mastered the ability and confirmed all his conjectures and theories.

30 minutes later, with his forehead covered in sweat, he finally stopped and looked at the result of his efforts.

The towering 10-feet tall robot was now barely a foot tall- it looked like an imp compared to its previous imposing size.

Leon didn't spend 30 minutes just to make it this small though, he put more effort into making sure that this miniaturization would last at least 12 hours.

He expected to spend that long on the road since train service to Larton Town was not yet available to shorten his journey since the disaster of July 11th.

Satisfied with the end product, he finally picked up the robot and stuffed it into a wire basket that he constructed at the front of the Karaki CT-3X superbike.

After that, he carefully placed his luggage back in the back carrier that he also recently constructed for the superbike, then he strapped his leather backpack on and held his helmet on one hand.

Leon didn't leave immediately.

Instead, he exhaled as he observed the caravan warehouse.

Compared to his shelter, it was a small workshop but this was where he created some of his best and most iconic constructs as an E Rank Mechanist.

'I'll miss you buddy'. He thought with a smile, then he looked at his smart wrist watch, noting that the time was now [07:11am]

"Davis, open the caravan door".

DING!

The A.I connected to the electronic system that Leon already put in place as with a slight metallic creaking sound, the door of the caravan started rising up.

And then Leon froze as he saw 2 people standing just outside the door.

Wearing her familiar brown military uniform, Sergeant Tyla folded her hands as she pouted her lips while glaring at him.

As for Daren, he wore casual combat shorts and a shirt as he nonchalantly placed his hands in his pockets and looked at Leon in a slightly teasing and accusing manner.

Subjected to their stare, Leon was confused as he stammered. "W-what?"

"What are we doing here? Really?" Tyla fumed. "You really wanted to leave without saying a proper goodbye?"

'Huh?' Leon was confused. 'What is a proper goodbye? Haven't I told you guys that I'll be leaving before?'

Despite his thoughts, he wisely choose not to voice them out, his gut instincts told him that the outcome won't be favorable.

He stared at Daren for support but his buddy conveniently betrayed him.

Leon grimaced but in the end, he apologized and officially told them goodbye.

The moment he was done, a clearly emotional Tyla approached him and hugged him tightly one final time. She didn't want to let him go.

As for Daren, he simply glared at him. "You better not fail. Heck, what am I even saying? You're not allowed to fail". He warned.

"The next time we meet, I'll be E Rank so you better be D Rank".

Leon chuckled. "Put some trust on a brother".

Only after that did Leon wear his black gloves and helmet before climbing on top the Karaki CT-3X superbike.

He waved them goodbye one final time, then he drove out.

Leon navigated through the city to the Western Gate. After presenting his identification documents, he was allowed to leave the city.

VROOM!

He revved the superbike before accelerating into the distance.

After about 3 weeks in Leviathan Quay, he finally left the smallest of the 3 cities of the Geneforge Clans.

It was only 3 weeks but Leon felt like he spent years in the city.

…

Megabase 023.

Inside an office of the Megabase with 8 different computer screens on the wall, different footages from CCTV cameras were being projected.

The footages showed a man dressed in black attire driving a sleek-looking superbike out of the city.

Huddled in a corner of this office, a beautiful Geneform with silver hair averted her eyes from the footage, clearly avoiding it as she idly ate from a box of popcorn.

In the end, she couldn't avoid the temptation. She looked.

When she looked and saw that familiar physique even with the helmet on, she tsked in displeasure. "I hope I never see you again bastard".

Despite her words, she watched him through the CCTV cameras until he passed the inspection at the Western Gate before leaving the city.

Only after he left did she exhale.

Staring at the footage as the bike disappeared in the distance, Captain Ariande felt an unfamiliar sense of loss as she slumped on the sofa in her office.

She looked at the ceiling above in a daze.

'What type of feeling is this?' She grimaced.

In the end, she picked up her smartphone and forced a smile. "This is all because of laziness," she snorted. "I need to start working!"

"An idle mind really is the devil's workshop".

"Yes!" She stood up and nodded vigorously. "I need to go to work, f*ck him!"

She suddenly felt invigorated and full of energy.

…

Hours later of driving West, Leon finally arrived in Larton Town.

He decided to take a rest in the popular Geneform town to replenish, and that was when he heard a familiar voice.

"Brother, it's you right?" The voice became even more enthusiastic in recognition. "Brother, it's you! You're traveling again, do you want lab meat?"

Leon blinked. 'It's him!' He was surprised. 'How did I meet him again?'

It was the same meat seller that he met during his journey to Larton Town weeks ago in the train station, Leon never expected to meet this same guy in the streets of this popular town.

The last time, he was broke and couldn't really afford the man's food but this time his financial situation was on an entirely different level.

Leon didn't avoid the man, he sauntered towards him.

He grinned. "Brother, give me 50 slices".

He was flaunting his money.

The last time, the 10 pounds that he had to pay for 10 slices of the meat left his heart aching but now 50 pounds to him felt like nothing.

Hearing his demand, the Larton Town local immediately flashed a big smile. "Ok brother".

He cut 50 neat slices of the laboratory-treated meat and packaged them.

Leon thoroughly enjoyed the meat delicacy as he feasted on them, supplementing the meat with a bottle of chilled beverage.

Only after that did he continue his journey.

After that he no longer stopped on the way, the only other time when he stopped was when the Doom Rover v0.1 robot's miniaturization started waning and he had to miniaturize the robot again.

The journey was straightforward and for some reason, maybe due to his experience compared to before, Leon managed to evade all the Neon Beast assaults on the road without being forced to fight.

He passed Rothenburg and then Wurzburg, and in less than 2 hours after miniaturizing the robot again, he arrived in the Wastes.

Leon entered Community G.

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