Chapter 133: A Word of Caution

The next morning, David awoke in the cockpit of the Titan S600, where he and his friends had spent the night. The space in the cockpit was ample enough for him to practice his eighteen-form combat technique. By the time he finished his routine, his friends were already up.

"David, we're heading back. You should get things packed up today to prepare for your trip to Naan City. We won't keep you any longer!" Jim said with a smile.

"It’s too extravagant—even the guest rooms use Cromwell linens. David, are you some illegitimate heir to the Titan Consortium? They even gave you a ship like this!" Myron said, his eyes showing dark circles.

Clearly, he hadn't slept well, though it wasn't due to the lack of comfort in the Cromwell beds, but rather because he had stayed up far too late.

A private swimming pool—such a configuration was considered the height of luxury even on Rock Planet, let alone on a spaceship. Water was scarce on Rock Planet. Due to fears that large-scale extraction of moisture from the air would worsen the already harsh environment, laws strictly prohibited obtaining water through condensation or similar methods. All water was extracted from underground sources by the government, but Rock Planet’s groundwater was filled with impurities and unfit for use. It only became available to residents after being processed through purification plants. Unless it was a public facility, owning a private swimming pool was nearly impossible on Rock Planet. At the very least, the prominent families in Perrin City wouldn't dare attempt such a thing; it took significant capital to operate above the law.

"You should tell that to my father!" David shot a look at Myron.

"I’m just saying. Wait for me in Naan City; I’ll be there in a month at most, and we’ll go to that concert together!" Myron said with a grin.

After seeing his friends off, David didn't idle. He returned to his residence, planning to depart by noon. He had an appointment that morning with General Manager Lucien of Lixin Security, asking him to bring a team to dismantle the medium-sized server so he could transport it to Naan City. The server was essential for his sniper training, so it had to come with him.

When David returned home just after seven, General Manager Lucien was already waiting at the door with ten staff members. They dismantled the server and loaded it onto the ship. Lucien even left David with the service contact number for the Naan City branch, ensuring that David could have the server reinstalled once he arrived.

Next, David headed to the Government Judicial Department. It was his first time visiting.

He was met with the usual attention; after the recent publicity, there wasn't a soul in Perrin City who didn't recognize him. By the time he reached the door to Hans's office, every staff member he passed nodded and greeted him respectfully.

"David, take a seat!" Hans was on a call, but seeing David walk in, he gestured toward a chair.

David sat down, and a young man in a police uniform soon arrived to bring him water.

"David, you’ve been independent since you were a child, but I never expected you to reach this point so quickly!" Hans finished his call, stepped out from behind his desk, and sat in the chair next to David, looking at him with a smile.

"Father!" David started to say something, but he didn't know how to begin. There were many things he couldn't explain.

"Honestly, I always hoped you would be an ordinary person, living a safe and quiet life. That’s why I didn't provide you with many resources. But your persistence changed my mind—you should walk the path you desire," Hans said softly.

In truth, if Hans had wished, he could have provided David with the same training conditions as Myron, including multiple bottles of enhancement serum before the college entrance exams to boost his scores for the Armored Warrior track. But he hadn't wanted his child to lose a stable life after becoming an Armored Warrior as he had. It was David’s insistence on applying to Naan University that finally led Hans to purchase that first bottle of serum. Following that, David’s subsequent achievements moved Hans to use his personal connections to bring in Galen to mentor him. Perhaps it was this very hesitation of Hans that meant David hadn't used any enhancement serums until he became an Armored Warrior, making him a rare "natural-born" talent among them.

"You’ve become an Armored Warrior and possess a talent for sniping. I am very proud. I earned this Medal of National Merit because of my own sniping talent years ago. I have nothing else to give you, but as you head to Naan City, I’d like to give you some materials I’ve compiled," Hans said with a satisfied smile. He took a chip from his pocket and pressed it into David’s hand.

"Keep this safe. It contains combat footage from every battle I’ve participated in, including my post-battle summaries," Hans added, seeing the confusion in David’s eyes.

David gripped the chip, feeling its weight. This was a legacy—the most important legacy of Hans’s life. In Hans’s eyes, this was perhaps more precious than the title of National Hero.

"Father!" For the first time, David felt at a loss for words; the depth of his father's love moved him deeply.

"I’ve arranged an apartment for you in Naan City. Given the housing prices there, I could only manage a suite on the twentieth floor," Hans said, patting David on the shoulder.

"Father, that’s more than enough. You really didn't need to do that; I have my own money," David said quietly.

"I know you have your own path. Even if you don't say it, I can guess some things. The Fountain of Youth is not easily obtained; five vials are enough to drive anyone mad. If you ever need help, you must tell me. My body may be failing, but my connections remain," Hans said, his voice grave.

"Father, there really isn't any trouble!" David insisted stubbornly. From Trainer Jeremy to Officer Kush, David had seen the terrifying nature of that organization; even in a small city like Perrin, they could legally send powerful figures at will. As for the Fountain of Youth, seeing Hans's ruddy complexion now made David feel that everything had been worth it.

"Very well, let’s not talk about that for now," Hans said with a resigned shake of his head. He continued, "When you go to your Uncle Galen, you’ll need to consider your choices carefully."

"Father, what choices do I have with Uncle Galen?" David asked, puzzled.

"Uncle Galen has his own faction. You can choose to join it and become one of his people, or wait until you graduate from university to choose your future direction. You’ve grown too fast—so fast that even Galen didn't anticipate it. He originally intended to discuss this with you once you reached Naan City and became an Armored Warrior. He wants to take you on as his disciple. He told me this last time he left, but his situation is unique; you must at least be an Armored Warrior to become his student. If you choose to become his disciple, you will automatically become part of his faction, sharing in its honor and its burdens." Hans did not try to sway him; he did not want his own opinions to influence David.

David’s learning speed had shocked Galen. He had actually wanted to take David on as a student during his last visit, fearing that if he let such a talent slip away, other factions would immediately intervene. However, he had been busy and needed to return to handle his affairs, and given his requirement that any disciple must be an Armored Warrior, the matter was delayed.

"Father, I will think it over carefully," David nodded.

He didn't make a decision immediately. Galen had been a great benefactor and his first true instructor in combat techniques. David was inclined to become his disciple, but he needed to understand the specific implications, as it would define his future.

"Being an Armored Warrior is not the end; there is a path to even greater strength. You must never slacken in your training just because you’ve reached this stage!" Hans cautioned.

"What is beyond an Armored Warrior?" David’s eyes lit up as he asked.

"You will know naturally once you reach the peak of the Armored Warrior rank!" Hans clearly didn't want to elaborate, fearing David might become overly ambitious. Among all of Hans’s comrades, only Galen had truly reached that next realm. The others, while some had attained high positions, could not match Galen in personal strength.