8: Chapter 8 SS-Rank Talent: Gengjin Blade Bone

Shen Hongyuan walked to the corner of the practice room and lifted a heavy blackout cloth.

Beneath it was a humanoid robot.

One meter eighty-five, a standard adult male physique.

Its entire body was covered in dark silver high-density alloy armor, with precise hydraulic structures at the joints.

There were no facial features, only a smooth sensor panel.

"The latest heavy combat robot developed by the Federal Research Center, codenamed 'robot'."

Shen Hongyuan patted its shoulder, the metal collision emitting a dull thud.

"Constructed entirely from high-density alloy, its True Mass is 2.4 tons.

Its reaction speed benchmarks against a B-Rank Awakened, and its defensive strength can withstand a full-force collision from a Tier 3 beast."

Shen Qingci's eyes curved into crescents.

"Wow! Thanks, Dad! Did you get this through internal channels again?"

"Your dad has sold his life to the military region for twenty years; isn't this just a matter of a single phone call?"

Shen Hongyuan said it nonchalantly.

But inside, he was bleeding.

Eight million Federal Credits—half a year's profit from the Scrap Yard had been dumped into it.

However, he had compared the parameters and tested a few moves; overall, it was worth it.

His daughter was going to the Abyss Entrance for training, a place where even Tier 3 Awakened had perished.

With the robot as a sparring partner and bodyguard, he could feel a bit more at ease.

"I'm happy for you that you made it onto the Imperial Capital's Rising Star Rankings."

Shen Hongyuan rarely showed such tenderness, and his tone carried unconcealable pride.

Shen Qingci looked at the robot, then at her dad, and suddenly tilted her head.

"Are you really just happy for me?"

Shen Hongyuan was stunned.

"Isn't it because you want to save face?"

Shen Qingci crossed her arms and stared at him suspiciously.

"Last time on the video call, your mouth was stretched almost to your ears; you must have been showing off to your old comrades again, right?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Shen Hongyuan straightened his face and said solemnly.

"Is your dad such a superficial person? Your achievements were earned by your own hard work; what does that have to do with me?"

He absolutely could not let his daughter know about the bet with Old Wang.

He quickly changed the subject and patted the robot's armor.

"Come, come, let me introduce this to you; your Uncle Wang would have to wait in line just to get one..."

Before he could finish, Shen Qingci kicked the robot's calf.

"Hum—"

The sensor panel lit up with red light, and the entire robot immediately entered combat mode.

Shen Hongyuan: "..."

"At least let me finish explaining the operating instructions!"

Shen Qingci had already assumed a stance, her right hand loosely clenched.

A layer of silver-white metallic luster shone between her finger bones.

SS-Rank Talent [Geng Metal Blade Bone] began to activate!

Her bones themselves were the sharpest weapons.

"How could operating instructions be faster than just having a fight!"

With a smirk, she lunged toward the robot.

Shen Hongyuan sat back in his chair helplessly and picked up his walnuts again.

This daughter of his, she was good in every way.

It's just that she lacked femininity.

Whether she'll be able to get married in the future is truly up for debate.

Immediately, dull thuds of metal colliding echoed in the practice room.

The floor was even vibrating slightly.

...

At the same time.

Su Ming was in a pretty good mood.

Scarface Li said to start work tomorrow, so he went back to rest today.

He didn't plan on returning to school for the next few days.

Anyway, he had already been expelled from Class 2 of the third year by Homeroom Teacher Wang Jianguo; the Federal Law guaranteed his eligibility for the college entrance exam, but not his attendance rate.

He was happy to have the peace and quiet.

Su Ming walked along the small path on the perimeter of the Scrap Yard toward the suburban market; he hadn't eaten breakfast when he left, so it was the perfect time for brunch.

Jiang City was a D-Rank satellite city, right up against the wilderness border.

The advantage was low prices, and the disadvantage was that beasts would occasionally break through the defenses and charge in. Su Ming had been transmigrated for three years, so he was used to it.

And precisely because prices were cheap, he had managed to barely survive until now on his 800-credit relief funds.

As he walked, he smelled a charred fragrance.

Following the scent, he saw a long line forming at a roadside stall ahead.

As a descendant of the dragon, he had zero resistance to joining a long queue.

Regardless of what they were selling, just line up!

After over ten minutes, he finally squeezed to the front and saw that it was a shirtless big man tossing a large iron wok!

"Swift-Leg Fried Rice."

The rice in the wok flew, wrapped in flames, while the egg bits and diced meat traced arcs in the air before landing steadily back inside.

That aroma could hook the soul of the entire street.

A handwritten sign stood on the stall, crooked and wobbly:

[Notice to Diners—If the city management comes, I will run. If I run, you run with me. If you can't keep up, stay where you are, and I'll deliver it to you in five minutes. Running with me will be more exciting!]

Su Ming smiled knowingly; this big brother was quite humorous.

It felt like he came here seeking excitement?

Just wondering, if I grabbed you and wouldn't let you run, would that be even more exciting!

"Big brother, one serving of egg fried rice."

"Five credits a serving. Two more for ham."

Su Ming hesitated for half a second.

Add it!

Just treat it as a reward for himself.

Anyway, starting tomorrow, he could get free meals at the Scrap Yard.

After scanning the code to pay seven credits, the big man raised his hand, lit the stove, and started stir-frying.

The spatula flipped with vigor, full of wok hei.

Eggs wrapped around rice grains, flying up and down in the flames, making Su Ming swallow his saliva.

Just then.

"Woo—woo—"

A shrill siren sounded from far to near, approaching rapidly.

Su Ming turned his head to look and saw a city management enforcement vehicle turning the corner at the end of the street, the blue and red lights on the roof flashing alternately.

The loudspeaker was looping a recording: "Illegal occupation of the street for business, evacuate immediately."

The crowd in the line behind instantly scattered like birds and beasts.

Su Ming was stunned.

How did the city management actually come?

He subconsciously looked at the big man, thinking it was over; his seven-credit fried rice wasn't in his hands yet.

As it turned out, the big man wasn't panicked at all.

He even tossed the last spatula of rice with a beautiful flick of the wok.

Only then did he unhurriedly lift his head, glance at the approaching enforcement vehicle, and then turn to grin at Su Ming.

"Brother, wait for me here for five minutes."

His tone was as calm as if he were saying the weather was nice today.

After speaking, he turned off the fire and tossed the wok into the cart.

Without even untying his apron, he hopped onto the tricycle next to him and pedaled away.

Su Ming looked closely.

Good heavens, it was actually pedal-powered! Not an energy vehicle!

Pure human power!

Before he could be surprised, he saw the big man's two thick legs pedaling wildly as if they had motors installed.

The tricycle "clattered" as it bumped wildly along the small path, and in the blink of an eye, it had dashed fifty meters away.

The city management's energy enforcement vehicle had just accelerated to catch up, but the big man made a sharp turn and dove into a narrow alley nearby.

The alley was just wide enough for the tricycle; the enforcement vehicle couldn't get in at all.

In the blink of an eye, the figure was gone.

Su Ming stood there, mouth slightly agape, looking at the empty street and the traces of the stove still steaming on the ground.

Only now did he finally understand.

Why this stall was called "Swift-Leg · Intense Fire Fried Rice."

That guy's talent was Swift-Leg!

Su Ming looked at the alley entrance with resentment.

One minute, two minutes... the time stopped exactly at the fifth minute.

Accompanied by the sound of chain friction, the shirtless big man pedaled the tricycle back from the narrow alley.

The tricycle made a beautiful fishtail emergency stop, the rear wheels leaving a gray-white brake mark on the ground.

The big man hopped off the vehicle steadily and lifted the lid of an iron insulated box in the cargo bed.

He pulled out a steaming portion of egg fried rice and handed it over along with a pair of disposable chopsticks.

"Brother, I said five minutes, and it's five minutes. Exciting, right?"

The big man grinned, revealing a mouthful of large white teeth, and wiped the sweat off his face with his apron.

Su Ming took the lunch box and looked down; the rice grains were golden, the egg bits were even, the diced ham was cut neatly, and the heat, carrying the wok hei, rushed into his face.

He couldn't help but laugh.

"Exciting enough."

Su Ming leaned against a utility pole by the road, tore open the chopsticks, and shoveled the rice into his mouth.

Delicious.

The seven credits were well spent.

As he ate, he watched the big man nimbly set up the stove and light the fire again.

Before long, scattered diners emerged from all directions, as if they were long accustomed to this routine.

Su Ming gazed at the bustling roadside stall in front of him.

Interesting.

Everyone was living in their own way.

Su Ming shoveled the last bite of rice into his mouth, tossed the lunch box into the trash can nearby, and gave the big man a thumbs up.

The big man nodded at him while tossing the wok, smiling honestly.

Su Ming turned and continued walking toward the low-rent housing.

There was an important matter.

He had to try...