Chapter 43: The Meeting

The first time David used the T3 Sniper Assist Device for practice, it seemed that the process of calculating and analyzing the trajectory was almost like common knowledge to him. The result he computed in five seconds was nearly identical to the correct outcome produced by a medium server.

The green line fired from the T3 Sniper Assist Device traveled across nearly three hundred meters, striking precisely at the white spot beneath the head of the stationary Spiked Pincer Bug.

The real difficulty lay in seizing that fleeting opportunity—perfectly synchronizing the calculated trajectory with the moment the Spiked Pincer Bug revealed its fatal weakness.

Five seconds was a little too long. Though he correctly worked out the trajectory needed to kill the bug, the time he spent would have allowed a real sniper soldier to fire two or three shots already.

Still, David felt no impatience. Instead, a smile of delight appeared on his face. He realized that the virtual world truly could train his analytical and computational abilities. He was confident that with more practice here, he could reach the sniper's twenty-percent proficiency level in calculation and analysis.

Of course, this only trained his ability to compute and analyze trajectories. It was still far removed from actual sniping, as it didn’t account for the influence of a real sniper rifle or the immense recoil after firing.

At that moment, his identity bracelet emitted a chime.

In this virtual world, his identity bracelet was synchronized with its real-world counterpart. Glancing at it, he saw that it was time for his evening session of the Eighteen Forms martial practice—he had spent most of the day in the virtual world.

“No wonder minors aren’t allowed in the virtual world; perhaps it’s also to prevent them from becoming addicted,” David murmured to himself as he removed the virtual helmet.

Though he wasn’t playing games, he truly had become engrossed; otherwise, he wouldn’t have forgotten even to eat.

He reset his schedule on the identity bracelet, limiting his time in the virtual world and reserving time for his other training.

At noon on January 5th, David finished his practice early. In the cloakroom, he found a large, hooded coat that covered his build and concealed his face.

Before heading out, though he knew those who wished him harm had ceased their activities, he still sent Shadow Attendant to scout the area. Only after confirming there was nothing amiss did he open the door and step outside.

This time, he didn’t take an aircar but hailed a public hovercar to the drink shop.

He got off a street away from the shop and continued on foot.

Beside the drink shop was a barbecue restaurant. David entered and chose a seat separated from the drink shop by only a wall.

Glancing at the menu on the display screen, he noted that the meat here was remarkably cheap—clearly all synthetic meat.

Though called meat, synthetic meat only mimicked the basic taste; in reality, it was made from various edible ingredients combined with meat flavoring essence.

Yet, after grilling, synthetic meat was nearly indistinguishable from real meat, and its price was a fraction of the real thing—making it the first choice for ordinary people.

With the modest wealth of his body's previous owner, David would never have come to such a place. But now, he felt no such sense of superiority. After all, in his previous life, he’d eaten enough gutter oil and skewers whose true ingredients were questionable; eating synthetic meat was nothing to him.

He ordered two synthetic beef steaks from the screen, spending only twenty credit points.

After about five minutes, the server brought over two golden-brown grilled synthetic steaks, along with a complimentary synthetic drink.

Checking the time, he saw there were still a few minutes until one o’clock. He picked up a steak skewered on a metal stick and lowered his head to eat slowly.

With his hood and the steak masking his face, he drew no attention in the barbecue restaurant—there were other customers dressed similarly.

Many customers came here to avoid being noticed by others, especially those who wanted to enjoy the food without affecting their image.

The taste of the synthetic steak wasn’t bad. Though David knew it wasn't real meat, he still ate with relish. After eating only homegrown food for so long—all fortified meats, far more expensive but always the same—he had grown tired of even the best flavors.

He hadn’t forgotten his purpose for coming today. Shadow Attendant slipped through the glass wall above his head out onto the street.

Then, on the windowsill, Shadow Attendant picked up the mimicry monitor David had left there—a tiny device no larger than a button, blending seamlessly into the sill.

Weighing just over forty grams, the monitor was easily lifted by Shadow Attendant, who could handle up to a hundred grams.

Shadow Attendant wrapped the monitor in its hand, causing it to vanish completely from sight.

No one around noticed this—who would pay attention to a tiny object that suddenly appeared and disappeared on a windowsill?

Carrying the mimicry monitor, Shadow Attendant entered the drink shop next door through the main door.

The drink shop was evidently a notch above the barbecue place—private booths, green plants everywhere, bringing a touch of vitality and tranquility to the otherwise sterile environment.

Shadow Attendant hovered near the ceiling, waiting patiently for the target to arrive.

On the other side of the wall, David focused most of his attention through Shadow Attendant, mechanically eating his synthetic steak.

He didn’t have to wait long. One minute before one o’clock, David saw Jeremy, the trainer from his memories, through Shadow Attendant’s perspective.

Jeremy was tall and powerfully built—his imposing presence was unmistakable, even in loose clothing.

He must have been a regular; as soon as he entered, a staff member led him to a quiet seat.

This booth was three-sided, enclosed by partitions and a wall, with the fourth side largely screened by lush greenery—very secluded.

Seeing Jeremy seated, Shadow Attendant flew overhead and gently placed the mimicry monitor directly above the booth, perfectly positioned to observe below.

David then withdrew most of his attention, continuing to eat while manipulating his identity bracelet.

He adjusted the monitor’s recording angle and range so it would only capture sound from the booth below, filtering out the shop’s music and other background noise.

With the help of the mimicry monitor, he no longer needed to control Shadow Attendant constantly; he could just follow the conversation next door through his identity bracelet.

He had just finished setting it up when, right at one o’clock, an inconspicuous hovercar stopped in front of the drink shop. Two stern-faced bodyguards stepped out first, scanning the surroundings before one of them leaned into the car.

Then, Mr. Ster, looking like a middle-aged man, exited the hovercar. Today he was dressed modestly, wearing a standard travel suit.

Despite his efforts to restrain his presence, he still stood out starkly from the street’s ordinary atmosphere.

“You stay outside,” he ordered in a low voice, then entered the shop alone.

David watched the two bodyguards; from the way they moved, he could sense the power in their bodies—they were likely both warriors.

He shifted his gaze elsewhere—he knew powerful warriors could sometimes sense being watched, and these two were unimportant.

He routed the monitor’s video feed to his contact lens receiver, with sound transmitted through bone conduction—a popular way to watch videos or listen to music without disturbing others, while enjoying the best audiovisual experience.

“Sit down, I ordered your favorite Amer fruit juice for you,” Jeremy said, sitting without rising, gesturing to the empty seat opposite with a smile.

David’s eyes narrowed. Jeremy’s status was clearly unusual. After all, Mr. Ster was considered someone of high standing in Pellan City, yet this gym trainer spoke to him as an equal.

Moreover, the familiarity between them was unmistakable—they even knew each other’s preferences.