"Is something the matter, Lady Victoria?" Oliver asked, seeing the unusual frown on her face.
"I just received a warning from an anonymous individual that our scanner has missed an ambush that is about to raid us in a week," she answered.
Oliver grimaced. "No need to worry, my lady. I personally concluded the last scan. I assure you that there is nothing to worry about. It must be someone playing a prank on us."
He hit his fist on the table. "Please allow me to search for the prankster. I shall personally discipline him for daring to waste your time!"
Victoria shook her head slowly. "The problem is that the message came from the upper channels. Even the most notorious hackers will not be able to break the security. Whether we like it or not, we must treat this threat as if it came from the Emperor himself!"
"But doing so would place an unnecessary load on our generator! Just recently we did a scan, and there was no threat in sight."
"Then do a deep scan. Scan the entire surface of Triton, including every structure and uneven terrain, as well as the cosmos around us," she spoke with authority.
Oliver gritted his teeth, then bowed and exited the room.
'Fuck! I lost my cool there, I must look like a dumbass! I swear, if this turns out to really be some kind of prank, I am going to skin the culprit alive!'
Back at the examination room.
The place was eerily quiet, with Michael standing next to a broken sphere and Ava frozen in place, unsure how to proceed from now on.
"Um… would you force me to pay for the broken sphere?" he asked, scratching the back of his head innocently. He wasn't exactly swimming in credits.
"Of course not!" Ava snapped out of her daze. "To be able to break the sphere on your first day means that you are at least a Middle Apprentice. Only geniuses and people with influential backgrounds can achieve such results!"
She took a step forward and clung to his arm with a wide smile on her face.
"You are permitted to select a technique up to the Rare rank!"
'It will be easier if she thinks I am an influential legacy.' Michael thought, flashing her another smile.
"A-Anyway, please follow me to where we keep the techniques!" Ava rushed him in an attempt to hide her flushed face.
Opening the reinforced door, they quickly entered.
"You may take your time. Naturally, if you have any kind of questions, don't hesitate to ask." Ava winked at him.
"Since we are alone now, I am all yours~"
'He is a hottie and probably a legacy. I can only benefit from being friendly with him. Hell, if I am charming enough, I could even try to get his attention!'
"Thank you." Michael nodded in appreciation, beginning to scan the techniques without a second thought.
'He must not be into my type,' Ava thought bitterly, looking at her flat chest.
Naturally, Michael didn't have a clue about the woman's inner thoughts, being too busy capitalizing on the little time he had.
'Now if my memory serves me right…'
"I will take this one." It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for.
"Um…" Ava hesitated, seeing what he had picked.
"I recommend you pick another technique, since this one isn't advised for veterans, much less newbies."
"I am fine," he stated, putting the cybernetic in his neural link.
Ava sighed in displeasure. "Well, just keep in mind even if you insert the chip, it would take a long time for your brain to comprehend the technique. The standard is one month—"
[New technique comprehended: Berserker]
[Rank: Rare]
[Level: 1]
[Description: For every point of Mind you allow to be infused with madness, you will gain one in Strength, Agility, and Stamina. Current limit: 500 Mind points.]
"Done." Michael interrupted Ava, taking out the chip that now lacked its neon light.
"HUH?!" Ava gasped, seeing the used-up chip.
"There is no way you learned it that fast!"
"Are you sure?" Michael smiled, activating the skill. His brown eyes immediately turned crimson.
[Berserker activated]
Name: Michael
Soul Realm: Middle Apprentice
Cybernetics: Indomitable System, Berserker
• Strength: 515 (15)
• Agility: 510 (10)
• Stamina: 510 (10)
• Spirit: 2 000
• Mind: 500 (1 000)
'Such overpowered ability, I feel like I can pick up a car without trouble now.'
Ava's mind went blank for a moment.
'He comprehended the technique basically in an instant! What kind of monster is he?! I must lead him to the higher-ups!'
"Would you please come with me? I believe with your talents you should personally be trained by the higher-ups." She began to sweat uncomfortably.
Seeing her cute reaction, Michael chuckled.
"I appreciate the gesture, but I doubt that they would have time to deal with me."
Ava gulped. If she were to fail to bring him to the higher-ups, she could face expulsion. "Can I ask what you are talking about?"
He patted the woman on the head. "You will see what I am talking about in a second."
Right at the same time, Oliver froze in place. Staring at the blue hologram depicting the whole Triton.
"I received your message. What is the emergency?" Victoria entered the room in a flash, only to witness all of the personnel staring at the hologram in shock.
"Gods…" Her eyes widened seeing thousands of red dots all over the surface.
'How did so many aliens come into the moon without any of the bases being alerted?!' She cried inwardly.
"L-Lady Victoria…" Oliver stuttered, his face pale as a sheet. "What are we supposed to do?"
Cursing bitterly, she ordered, "Announce code black! Call arms to every soldier in the base regardless of their experience level! Contact all bases in Triton. We are to obliterate the hiding aliens before they open portals allowing more of their kind to enter!"
"We obey!" Awakened by her quick command, all of the personnel sprang into action.
Instantly all of the lights in the base began to flash red, followed by a loud siren.
"This means code black! We are under attack!" Ava realized, feeling goosebumps all over her body.
'Victoria works just as fast as I remember,' Michael chuckled, beginning to walk towards the place where the soldiers were set to gather.
"Well, we are called to arms. We must not keep them waiting."