Lucas stepped forward, volunteering to accompany Mr. Norman to the slums.
"Are you sure about this, Lucas?" I inquired, my concern evident in my voice.
He hesitated for a moment before responding, "Well, not entirely, but it seems like we have no other options left. Nolan is occupied with NS Scorpion, and you're still recovering."
I pondered his words, realizing their truth, but I couldn't bear to send him unarmed. Perhaps he should take some weapons from NS Scorpion, and I could have Rex accompany them for added protection.
"Well, if you're planning to go, then take some weapons from NS Scorpion with you and let Rex accompany you. Do you want the Aquarius? If you do, I can give it to you," I offered to Lucas.
Lucas considered my offer before responding, "As for the Aquarius, I'm not sure if I can handle it properly, so you can keep it. I'll take something else with me. And having Rex accompany us sounds like a good plan. His keen sense of smell could be quite useful."
Before proceeding, I had one more important question. "Before that, do you know how to use a gun?" I asked Lucas.
Lucas admitted, "To be honest, no. I was planning to discuss firearms with Mr. Norman. So, Mr. Norman, could we postpone our departure for a day or two? That way, I can learn how to effectively handle a gun."
"Hmm... Well, I guess a day or two won't make much difference, but remember not to take too long. Finding the people you're looking for is essentially a race against time," Mr. Norman advised Lucas.
"Thank you, Mr. Norman. And Nolan, do you know of a place where I can practice without disturbing anyone?" Lucas inquired.
Nolan nodded, leading the way. "Yes, there's a spot where we won't bother anyone. Follow me."
Turning my attention to Rex, I had a heartfelt conversation with my loyal companion. "Rex, buddy, I need you to accompany Mr. Norman and Lucas to the slums. Can you do that for me, buddy?"
*Woof Woof*
Rex responded with an affirmative bark, a gesture that warmed my heart. I gave him a small smile and expressed my gratitude. "Thank you, Rex. I know I can always count on you."
Turning to Mr. Norman, I spoke with a touch of regret in my voice. "I'm sorry, Mr. Norman, that I can't accompany you to the slums," I told him apologetically.
He waved off my apology with a nonchalant air. "Don't worry about it, kid. As I mentioned before, the fact that you've survived this long with those wounds is a miracle in itself. So, take it easy, get accustomed to your new leg, and familiarize yourself with that new Aquarius gadget Nolan gave you," he said, shrugging.
I couldn't help but smile again and express my gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Norman. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have the support of kind-hearted people like you, Nolan, and David."
Mr. Norman, however, gave me a somewhat peculiar look and posed an intriguing question. "How can you say something like that with a straight face?"
…..
It's been a few days since Nolan gave me Aquarius, and a lot has happened in that time. First and foremost, I managed to regain my ability to walk without the need for crutches, and I returned them to David. He also taught me how to properly maintain my Neo.
But that's not the end of it. I've also acquired proficiency in using the Hyper Blade and the Shield, in addition to mastering the workings of Aquarius. Using Aquarius felt a bit peculiar at first because, instead of the hefty bullets I'm accustomed to, it shoots a powerful laser. Despite being somewhat lighter than the weapons I'm familiar with, it packs a punch – it can effortlessly pierce through a metal sheet.
As for the Hyper Blade and the Shield, it's been a bit of a challenge to adapt since I'm naturally right-handed, and my Neo arm is on the left. However, with time and practice, I managed to find a way to make it work. My preferred strategy now involves equipping Aquarius on my right arm, while my left arm houses either the Hyper Blade or the Shield, depending on the situation.
As for the others, Nolan has been diligently working on NS Scorpion. Lucas and Mr. Norman, accompanied by Rex, have been venturing into the slums for the past few days in search of valuable information. Unfortunately, they haven't found anything useful so far.
Today, they embarked on another trip to the slums. Meanwhile, I found myself in the kitchen of the Scorpion Syndicate's old base, preparing a meal. Lost in thought, I was startled as the kitchen door swung open, revealing Mr. Norman, Nolan, and Lucas, all with Rex in tow.
"Hello, everyone. How did your mission go?" I inquired, eager to hear their report.
"Actually, we were planning to discuss that with you. Are you available right now?" Mr. Norman inquired.
"Of course, I'm free. What's going on?" I asked with curiosity.
Mr. Norman proceeded to share the information. "In two days, there's a plan to transport several slaves to a small island known as Mirage Island. According to my source, some of these slaves are drifters who recently arrived in this world. There's a good possibility that a few of them might be individuals who arrived here alongside you," he explained.
"I see. So what's your plan?" I questioned Mr. Norman.
"Well, it's a simple plan, although it might be a bit risky. I intend to ambush them. Most of them are just lowlifes trying to scrape by, so it shouldn't be too challenging to incapacitate them, especially with our array of advanced weaponry," Mr. Norman explained his strategy.
Slightly concerned, I probed further, "Are you certain about this plan? And how many people do we have on our side?"
"Hmm... You, Lucas, Rex, and Nolan can provide support from a distance," Mr. Norman stated with a serious expression.
I raised an eyebrow and asked Mr. Norman, puzzled, "Is that it?"
He responded matter-of-factly, "Yes, that's the plan."
I was taken aback. "Are you kidding me? Is it just the three of us and a dog? How many people are we up against?" My shock was palpable as I tried to grasp the gravity of the situation.
"Ehh... according to my source, there are about fifty or sixty people," Mr. Norman mentioned casually, as if it were of no concern.
My eyes widened with disbelief. "Are you serious? You want us to take on fifty to sixty people on our own?" I couldn't hide my shock at Mr. Norman's revelation.
With a weary expression, he continued, "You know, if someone else had suggested this, I would have explored alternative options. But Lucas and the others told me about how you single-handedly faced around fifty people on Cannibal's Island Mermaid Veil, all with just one hand and a single leg. Why can't you do it again? This time, you have the Neo enhancements to your advantage."
"That was a one-time thing, and back then, I had an arsenal of assault rifles and even a few grenades at my disposal. It was pitch dark, and I caught them completely off guard. Everything seemed to work in my favor, unlike the situation we're facing now," I countered his assertion.
Mr. Norman raised an eyebrow, countering with a sly grin, "Well, what's preventing you from stocking up on assault rifles and grenades this time? We've got the Omni Replicator Forge at our disposal, capable of replicating as many weapons as we need. And unlike last time, Lucas and Nolan will be right there to back you up."
*Sigh*
I sighed and said, "You see, the difference is that last time, it was just me. I didn't have to worry about anyone else but myself. Plus, Rex can handle himself just fine"
"Well, as I mentioned, Nolan will be stationed at a distance, providing sniper support. It'll be just you, Lucas, and Rex up close, and from what I've observed over the past few days, Lucas and Rex seem more than capable of handling themselves," the stubborn old man reiterated.
I let out a frustrated sigh, feeling like I was stuck in a loop. "Damn it, fine, do whatever you want. I don't care anymore," I reluctantly conceded.
A triumphant grin spread across Mr. Norman's face as if he had just won a hard-fought battle. "Glad we could come to an understanding," he responded.
*Sigh*
Then, Nolan let out a sigh and spoke up, "That's enough, Grandpa. Lay off Frankie." Turning to me, he asked, "Frankie, would you like me to add an automatic or burst mode to Aquarius?"
I couldn't hide my surprise, my eyes widening in shock as I responded, "Wait, you can do something like that?"
Nolan offered a brief explanation, saying, "Yes, I can, but it'll consume more water."
Understanding the trade-off, I nodded and said, "I see. That's fine. Please go ahead and make that modification. I'll carry something else along with Aquarius."
"Alright, I'll make that modification later. By the way, something smells really good," Nolan remarked, his mouth watering slightly.
Mr. Norman, his interest piqued, chimed in, "Yes, I was curious about that too. What are you cooking?"
Lucas, for some inexplicable reason, interjected with a somewhat cryptic comment, "Both of you, I know it smells tempting, but appearances can be deceiving sometimes."
Puzzled by Lucas's remark, I decided to address the question at hand. "What are you talking about, Lucas? Anyway, Mr. Norman and Nolan, I've made some pizza. Would you like some?"
"Oh, pizza! That used to be my favorite back on Earth. Nolan, you have to try this, it's delicious!" Mr. Norman eagerly grabbed a slice and encouraged Nolan to do the same.
Nolan couldn't resist the temptation and took a slice for himself. They both took a bite and then, unexpectedly, they both collapsed, unconscious.