Andrew's com buzzed again, and the others looked at him in anticipation as he listened.

As Andrew listened, his eyes suddenly opened in surprise, and he began to nod solemnly. After he was done, he sighed and looked at everyone.

" First of all, they have asked to find out what we can about the Mecha, we might need to ask Shadow Strike "

" Shadow Strike, but we don't have any information on him, we are better off investigating the Mecha, than that guy, plus I thought it was the Logistics Unit to handle that, why do we have to do their work now? " Someone said

" The second news is that the identity of Shadowstrike has been discovered, his name is Derek Carter, a high schooler ", Andrew added.

Everyone fell silent.

___________________________________

Derek, who was in the mecha, stood in the carnage of the bottle listening to the system messages.

[ Ding, you have killed an A-Rank Broodmother Scarab. You've earned:

-3 Million Experience Points

-3 million System Credits.

A- Rank Dark Carapace Armour.

[ Current System Credits: 4 million + Credits achieved ]

[ You have unlocked Title: Local Tycoon: All system purchases will receive a discount]

[ You have levelled up to 23]

[ All attributes increased by 10. You've obtained 5 attribute points.]

[Side Mission Completed: Urban Sweep - Zone 4c]

[ You've received Reward: +1200 Credits | +S rank Item(Mecha Combat Drone Unit Cards) | +2 Skill XP]

[ Your Skill Adaptive Combat has levelled up X2 ]

[ You have acquired the skill Battle Body]

[A huge amount of Mana Stone was detected present. Do you wish to spend 10,000 Credits to collect them? ]

Derek spent a long time in the cockpit, reading through the notifications and sorting through the rewards of killing thousands of Monsters.

Apart from the massive amounts of Mana and Health Potions and other minor weapons that had dropped from D and above-ranked monsters, those below the D-Rank were all dropping useless items.

" Mana Stone, what's that? "

The system didn't hesitate. Its tone, as always, struck the perfect balance between omnipotent guidance and smug AI sass.

[ Ding! Mana Stone: A glowy rock that screams "Eat me for power!" at normal humans. ]

Description: Naturally occurring crystallised energy found in D-Rank and higher monsters. Can be used by non-system users as a catalyst for awakening latent potential or boosting physical and mental attributes.

Side Effects: Sudden bursts of confidence, mysterious glowing tattoos, and an unhealthy urge to fight things ten times your size.

Note: You, Derek Carter, didn't receive a Mana Stone tutorial earlier because you're built differently. System users don't need mana stones—you metabolise raw monster essence like a protein shake, which is EXP.

But… now that you're building a base and need meatshields—er, allies—they'll need a boost. Start hoarding these rocks like a dragon with tax issues.

Derek stared at the crystalline shards scattered across the charred battlefield, their faint purple glow casting eerie shadows over the collapsed buildings and bug guts. He reached down, picked one up, and watched it pulse in his palm like a sleeping heart.

"…So you're saying I've been throwing away super-soldier juice this whole time."

[ No, Mana Stones]

"…Mana Stones, huh?"

Derek leaned forward in his cockpit seat, fingers tapping the console thoughtfully.

[ Ding! System Suggestion: Instead of wasting 10,000 Credits like a lazy overlord, consider unlocking a skill that lets you do the job better. You now qualify for: A-Rank Skill – Collection (Advanced Auto-Loot Subtype). ]

[ Skill Cost: 50,000 Credits ]

[ Skill Effect: Allows the user to vacuum lootable materials from up to a 1km radius, including rare drop materials, energy cores, and mana stones. Also, organises them into neat little system tabs so your inventory doesn't look like a hoarder's basement. ]

Do you wish to purchase? Y/N ]

Derek blinked. "Wait—you're telling me I've been picking stuff up with my hands like a caveman while this was an option?"

[ Affirmative. Welcome to Efficiency 101, finally. ]

"…Buy it."

[ A-Rank Skill – Collection acquired. ]

[ +2 Skill XP | Bonus Trait Unlocked: Vacuum Field (Rare) ]

[ Loot Acquisition Range increased by 25%. ]

[ Commencing sweep... ]

Outside the cockpit, a low hum pulsed through the air as a faint, translucent ripple radiated out from the Mecha. Mana stones—hundreds of them—began to tremble where they lay in the cracked earth and rubble.

Then they launched, zipping through the air like guided bullets, sucked into glowing hexagonal ports on the Mecha's back and shuttled into a holding compartment. Derek watched as the numbers ticked upward.

[ Mana Stones Collected: 417 ]

[ Quality: Majority – Standard Grade | Minority – Refined and High-Grade ]

Derek grinned as he slumped back again, arms folded, satisfied.

"Now that's more like it. Eat your heart out, Loot Goblins."

He glanced at the growing stash in his inventory.

"…Guess it's time to build my army and my base." Derek sighed with a natural expression.

" I have no idea of how to build an army, who am I kidding?"

"And maybe a badass front gate. With turrets. And maybe a talking door AI."

The Mecha's systems pinged again, awaiting his next move.

[ New Side Mission Available: Foundation of the Future ]

Objective: Use Mana Stones to awaken and recruit 5 allies.

Bonus Rewards: +10,000 Credits | +1 Random Skill | System Feature Unlock – Recruitment Tree ]

Derek smirked.

"Let's make Paleview City weird again."

Meanwhile, back in the Genesis Squad temporary camp, the silence following Andrew's announcement thickened.

A high schooler. Derek Carter. Shadowstrike.

"…You're joking," one agent finally said. "A teenager in a suit took out that hydra threat like it was a Saturday morning side quest?"

Andrew shook his head. "Not joking. There's footage. He took off his helmet at the College Base. The higher-ups are calling him a 'strategic variable.'"

A younger soldier gulped. "What do we do about him?"

Just then, another voice cut in, from all the comms of the twenty people.

"You observe him. Do not engage. Do not interfere. And whatever you do… don't piss him off."

The line went dead.

Andrew turned to the rest of the room. "Change of mission parameters. We're not just investigating anymore. We're recruiting."

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