The big guy asked, "Do you think they might be mistaken?"
"Who knows?" replied the one-eyed boss lazily, one foot propped up on the chair's armrest, eyes closed in bliss as he savored a puff of his cigar. "This is good stuff, completely natural, and after the master's touch, it's not something you can buy at any old store for a few hundred credits."
"Boss, something's not right," chimed the skinny advisor at the boss's side, his eyes darting nervously.
"How so?" The one-eyed boss remained reclined.
"Boss, it's been six days since we heard from our inside man. It doesn't look good. And we've been waiting here for so long; they should've arrived by now if everything was normal."
"Hmm," the boss nodded approvingly. "You have a point. So, what do you suggest? Should we refund the deposit?"
The advisor smirked, "Boss, don't worry about that. That guy wouldn't dare leak this information. He's even more scared of this getting out than we are. If it does, his reputation will be ruined. We've already pocketed the money, so there's no need to return it!"
The boss chuckled and patted the advisor's shoulder. "Well said, my boy! That's some sharp thinking. So, now it's not our problem anymore, right?"
The big guy interjected anxiously, "Boss, going back empty-handed won't sit well with the boys. They'll start complaining again!"
The boss rubbed his chin, pondering. "You're right; returning empty-handed would affect morale. We need to prepare ourselves in case things turn sour." Just then, a lackey rushed in, panting with excitement. "Boss, there's a big opportunity ahead, a fat lamb waiting to be slaughtered!"
The boss grinned triumphantly, "Looks like luck is finally on our side. Let the boys know we're getting ready!"
Meanwhile, Matthew and his companions sat in the room. Charlie glanced at the door, wearing a worried expression. "What now? Are they going to keep us confined here? Why else would they post guards? We're not prisoners, are we?"
Number 6 tried to reassure them, "Don't worry, Charlie. They have some suspicions about us. Until they're sure, they won't take any chances."
Matthew, uninterested in their conversation, conserved his energy, keeping alert in this unfamiliar environment. He couldn't help but wonder why everyone he encountered seemed so fragile. Didn't they realize the importance of physical strength? It was baffling!
As for the guards stationed outside, they were two senior mech pilots following the boss's orders diligently. They considered it unnecessary to assign such high-level pilots to watch over three kids, but they obeyed nonetheless.
Suddenly, their communication devices crackled with commands. Both guards paled, exchanging a glance. One of them opened the door and addressed the trio solemnly, "Please refrain from leaving this room. Your safety cannot be guaranteed otherwise."
Number 6 asked anxiously, "What's going on? Why the urgency?"
The other guard hesitated before replying, "Space pirates have attacked us. It seems to be the Dragonbone Pirates."
"Dragonbone Pirates?!" Charlie and Number 6 gasped in unison, their faces draining of color.
The guards expected this reaction. One of them declared, "We're going into battle. Please rest assured, we'll do everything we can to defend you!" His last words carried a sense of resolve, implying they would fight to the death if necessary.
"We're leaving! Stay safe!" With that, the guards hurried away, leaving the trio alone in the room.
"Dragonbone Pirates? How is that possible?" Number 6 muttered in disbelief, his face etched with despair. Charlie, too, was overwhelmed, her mind in turmoil. Only Matthew remained calm and composed, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"We need mechs. Do you know where we can find them?" Matthew asked casually.
Number 6 felt a mix of admiration and bewilderment towards this enigmatic figure. "In the lowest level warehouse, there should be some spare mechs kept for emergencies. Usually, they're there in case a mech pilot's unit gets damaged beyond repair temporarily. A convoy like theirs with multiple mech pilots should have a few spares."
"How do we get to the warehouse?" Matthew inquired, ignoring their alarmed expressions.
The guards had locked the warehouse door with a password, but there was no time to find someone to ask for it. Matthew took a deep breath, his body tensing as if preparing for battle. His muscles coiled like a spring, ready to unleash all his power.
With a sudden shout, Matthew unleashed a powerful punch, striking the warehouse door dead center. The force of the blow reverberated through the room, echoing like thunder, as the door shuddered under the impact.