Asel

Wang Yanfei took the plate, found a seat by the window, and started eating.

"I didn't expect you to be so retro." A slightly teasing voice suddenly sounded from the side.

Wang Yanfei looked up and saw a man in a dark blue robe standing opposite him, holding a plate and smiling just right. The man had neat short hair, a bit of sparseness between his eyebrows, but his eyes were emitting blue light.

"Asel." Wang Yanfei recognized him at a glance. This senior member of the church was often talked about. His combat power can be ranked in the top three in the entire church, which can be said to be unfathomable.

Asel sat down without hesitation, put the plate heavily on the table, and smiled: "Don't be nervous, just chat casually. You see, there are many people here, and I just don't bother to find another seat."

Wang Yanfei didn't say anything, but just ate silently, but his eyes didn't leave Asel's face. His intuition told him that this person was not someone who would talk to anyone casually.

"That arm," Asel remarked, nodding toward Wang Yanfei's right side. "Model E-29-3. A relic from twenty years ago, practically an antique. It's been well-maintained, though I'd bet the resistors are on their last legs."

Wang Yanfei paused briefly before responding, his tone neutral. "Any recommendations?"

Asel raised an eyebrow, his expression momentarily shifting to mild surprise. "The latest Taicang C-19 or Thunder Dragon 15-Pro models aren't bad. But they're civilian-grade—boring, really. Now, I happen to have a military-grade piece. Runs directly on your bio-energy, no external power required. Convenient, don't you think?"

Wang Yanfei stayed silent, his gaze dropping back to his plate. He knew better than to expect a free lunch.

"Of course," Asel continued, his eyes never leaving Wang Yanfei. "It's just a suggestion. Nothing fancy, just more efficient. If it's not your thing, forget I said anything."

The atmosphere grew quiet, save for the hum of distant conversations. Finishing his meal, Wang Yanfei pushed his tray aside and finally spoke. "What do you want?"

Asel chuckled softly, leaning forward. "Knew you were sharp."

Lowering his voice, he added, "Nothing serious. I just find you... intriguing. In places like this, sharp minds are a rarity. I thought a chat with someone like you might be worthwhile."

Wang Yanfei offered no reply.

Shrugging, Asel stood, his objective seemingly achieved. "Well then, let's leave it at that for now. Hopefully, we'll cross paths again. Oh, and one more thing—opportunities often knock sooner than you'd expect." He clapped Wang Yanfei on the shoulder before walking away, leaving him alone at the table.

Watching Asel's retreating figure, Wang Yanfei furrowed his brow ever so slightly. This was no ordinary man—a "smart one," no doubt. And riddles? Wang Yanfei loathed them.

-------------------

Back in his dormitory, Wang Yanfei had barely settled into his chair when a knock came at the door. He opened it to find Goldwater standing there.

"Someone wants to see you. Come with me," Goldwater stated bluntly. Seeing no movement, he repeated himself. "Someone wants to see you. Come."

Raising an eyebrow, Wang Yanfei sensed there would be no explanations. He followed Goldwater into the dimly lit corridors of the base. Their footsteps echoed as they navigated the maze-like halls, the walls faintly illuminated by flickering light strips.

They stopped before an unassuming wall. Goldwater pressed his hand against it, revealing a hidden door. He knocked lightly and announced, "He's here."

A familiar voice called out from inside. "Let him in."

Stepping into the room, Wang Yanfei noted its stark simplicity—a striking contrast to the rest of the sect's grandeur. It resembled a meeting lounge more than anything. Asel lounged on a sofa, a small silver case on the table before him.

"Wang Yanfei, at last, we can talk properly." Asel looked up, his ever-present smile warm yet insincere. His glowing blue eyes only added to the unsettling aura.

"What do you want?" Wang Yanfei asked, his voice flat.

"Take a seat," Asel gestured to the sofa beside him, then casually opened the silver case. "I've prepared something for you."

Wang Yanfei approached cautiously, his gaze falling on the case's contents—a brand-new prosthetic arm. Sleek and polished, its design was leagues ahead of his current one.

"What's this?" Wang Yanfei asked, his tone unreadable.

"A gift," Asel replied, leaning back. "Military-grade. The Goldensteel Type-16. Built for combat—reinforced alloy frame, shock-resistant, radiation-proof, adaptable to extreme environments. It enhances physical strength by up to 300% and supports weapon attachments. It's even been modified for psionic energy input, functioning independently when power runs low."

Wang Yanfei studied the prosthetic briefly, fully aware that such "gifts" never came without strings attached.

"Why give this to me?" he asked directly.

"Because you're worth it," Asel said with a grin. "Your potential is rare in this sect. I just want to ensure good resources go to the right people. Consider it an investment."

Wang Yanfei's eyes narrowed. "And the cost?"

Asel's expression didn't change. He calmly closed the case and replied, "No rush. Try it out first. If it suits you, we'll talk terms later."

Goldwater entered the room, seemingly prepared for what came next. Without another word, Wang Yanfei allowed the new prosthetic to be attached to his shoulder.

The moment it connected, he felt an unprecedented fluidity. Moving his new arm, Wang Yanfei marveled at its responsiveness—it felt as natural as his own limb, if not better.

"How does it feel?" Asel asked, his smile deepening.

"Impressive," Wang Yanfei admitted, though his voice betrayed little emotion.

[Author said: You can comment here about some of the settings you like, or the characters you want to be included, and I will choose a few to add to the story.]