Chapter 145: The Mission

David left the Armored Trooper Association carrying two metal cases: one contained his space-grade exoskeleton armor, and the other held the specialized sniper rifle, "Godolphin’s Wrath." The rifle came equipped with ten first-grade bullets as a complimentary gift.

Knowing David’s temperament, Furness did not offer to carry the cases for him. The two boarded a hovercar and departed from the Association.

Meanwhile, Extraordinary Daryl was instructing his two disciples, Arlo and Jeffrey. Yesterday’s defeat had clearly taken a toll on them. While they had tasted failure before, losing to a minor high school student was a crushing blow to their self-perception as geniuses. Daryl did not coddle them; he simply guided their training, knowing they had to overcome these psychological setbacks on their own.

"Hobson, what is it?" Daryl asked with a faint smile as he accepted a call from Supervisor Hobson. He assumed David had encountered some trouble, as he had personally instructed Hobson to add "Godolphin’s Wrath" to David’s purchase list, ensuring it would appear regardless of whether David chose a spear or a warhammer as his primary weapon.

"Lord Daryl, David passed the sniper trooper assessment with a perfect score and has purchased 'Godolphin’s Wrath'!" Hobson reported cautiously.

Extraordinary Alvin was momentarily stunned. While "Godolphin’s Wrath" was a prized piece in his extensive collection, he felt no regret over its departure. He had originally acquired the rifle with the intention of eventually finding it a worthy owner. Over the years, many snipers had passed through the Association, but none had been truly deserving of such a weapon.

David had earned the rifle through his own merit, and Alvin was not petty enough to be angered by that. What surprised him most was the perfect score, which indicated that David possessed immense potential for sniping.

"If 'Godolphin’s Wrath' has found a master like David, then it will not be left to gather dust," Alvin remarked in a deep, resonant voice.

Arlo and Jeffrey, having overheard their master, exchanged glances and resumed their training with even greater intensity.

***

"Furness, what is so special about this 'Godolphin’s Wrath'?" David asked, casting a curious glance at the metal case in the back. Having spent 20 million credits on it, he was eager to know why it was so highly regarded.

"Godolphin’s Wrath was the final masterpiece of the legendary gunsmith Godolphin. Through a perfect material ratio, it utilizes a significant amount of second-grade metals and rare minerals. The secret to that composition died with him," Furness explained with a smile. "Based on the records, Godolphin poured his entire life's wealth and mineral collection into this single rifle. It is said to be capable of firing second-grade ammunition consistently, with the capacity to handle up to third-grade rounds. It is the pinnacle of specialized sniper rifles."

David lacked deep knowledge of weapon manufacturing, but he understood the mechanics of specialized sniper rifles. Typically, firing second-grade ammunition with a standard rifle would shorten its lifespan significantly. These rifles required specialized ammunition that used trace amounts of Krypton crystal powder mixed with active fusion agents to generate massive kinetic force. Higher-grade rounds required more explosive power, which increased the wear and tear on the barrel as the rounds fired at extreme speeds. The fact that "Godolphin’s Wrath" could handle second-grade ammunition suggested its barrel was crafted from at least second-grade material.

"So, I got a good deal?" David asked, his heart lifting.

"David, you’re just incredibly lucky," Furness replied with a laugh. "If this were put up for auction, it could easily fetch 100 million credits."

Upon hearing this, David’s slight regret over spending half his savings vanished instantly. Just then, the indicator light on Furness’s hovercar flickered. He switched the vehicle to autopilot and checked his identity bracelet.

"David, I was planning to show you around today, but a mission has just come in. I have to attend to it, so I’ll have to drop you off," Furness said apologetically.

"Furness, what kind of mission is it?" David asked, his curiosity piqued. He knew the Association had a task-assignment system, but he was unfamiliar with how the government handled theirs.

"With your combat ability, you’ll likely be involved in these soon, so I don't mind telling you," Furness said after a moment of thought. He checked the time and continued, "This is a government mission, primarily from the Legal Department. When a trooper breaks the law in the city and local police cannot handle them, the mission is delegated to government-affiliated troopers like us."

"Is Naan City so unsafe that troopers are breaking the law?" David asked, genuinely puzzled. He had been struck by the omnipresence of the 'Eyes of War'—the surveillance network that kept the entire city under constant watch.

"David, every city has its dark side," Furness explained with a sigh. "Beneath Naan City lies a massive, tangled network of tunnels. The city's criminal underworld operates there, and it’s where many illegal residents hide."

"Are you talking about the drainage network? Why isn't it managed?"

"It dates back to the founding of Naan City. The city is built atop a massive Krypton crystal deposit, the fastest-producing site on the entire planet of Pangea. Countless tunnels were dug to mine the crystals, and illegal mining operations have only added more. It’s an impossible web to track. You cannot use energy weapons inside the mines, and because powerful organizations are involved—and because the four major factions need a training ground for their young troopers—the network has been allowed to persist."

David understood. It wasn't that the area couldn't be managed; it was that various factions had vested interests there. Plus, it provided a controlled environment for young troopers to sharpen their skills before being sent to the front lines against the insectoids.

"Furness, could I come along to see it?" David asked.

Furness hesitated, but considering David’s combat prowess, he realized it wouldn't be a problem. David was a master of the spear and possessed his own exoskeleton; as long as he wasn't swarmed, he would be perfectly safe. "Alright, David. Go back, gear up with your exoskeleton and weapons, and we’ll go together!"