Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1739: Teaser of Hell’s Gate: Part-1

Jonathan stared at the number without saying anything.

25,000 Aevum…

Even for someone of his rank, that wasn’t an amount anyone spent lightly.

He subconsciously glanced toward Young Aether, secretly hoping his friend might volunteer to cover at least part of the expense.

Unfortunately…

Young Aether completely misunderstood the look.

He stepped forward with an expression so sincere that even the mechanic paused to listen.

“…Don’t you think that’s a little expensive, sir?”

The old mechanic immediately shook his head.

“Quite the opposite. That’s already the discounted price.”

Young Aether blinked.

“…Seriously?”

“I’m waiving my labour fees entirely. You’re only paying for the materials.”

Young Aether’s shoulders immediately slumped.

“…Dear Lord…”

He rubbed his forehead before letting out a long sigh.

“If only I had that kind of money…”

His disappointment was completely genuine.

After all, according to everything he knew, his Origin Card was fake.

As far as he was concerned…

He didn’t own a single Aevum.

The only thing he had seen on his card was a giant zero.

Since there was obviously only one wealthy person standing nearby, Young Aether casually reached over and gave Jonathan a light pat on the shoulder.

“Then you pay for it.”

Jonathan stared at him.

“…What?”

Young Aether returned an innocent look without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

“You brought me here.”

Jonathan continued staring.

Young Aether remained equally confused.

The two simply looked at each other in silence.

Inside Jonathan’s mind, however, an entirely different conversation was taking place.

‘You little bastard… You’ve got more than 80,000 Aevum sitting in your card! Can’t you spend your own money instead of making your friend go bankrupt?’

Naturally…

None of those thoughts escaped his mouth.

A few seconds later, Jonathan slowly exhaled.

Perhaps…

Young Aether wasn’t refusing to pay.

Maybe this was simply his own awkward way of saying that Jonathan should take responsibility for bringing him into this world. After all, Jonathan had insisted on proving the truth, arranged the illegal commission, and asked the mechanic to build the mech-suit in the first place.

From that perspective…

Paying the bill himself wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

Jonathan clicked his tongue in resignation.

“…Tsk. Fine. I’ll pay.”

Young Aether immediately smiled.

“See? I knew you were reliable.”

Jonathan’s eyelid twitched.

The old mechanic couldn’t help chuckling before storing the quotation away.

“Since this commission is under Commander Jonathan Vale’s authorisation, there’s no need for an advance payment or a Divine Contract.”

Jonathan forced a smile that looked far more painful than it should have.

“…Thank you.”

Young Aether, meanwhile, remained completely unconcerned about the financial disaster his friend had just accepted.

Instead, the only thing occupying his mind was something far more important.

“So…”

He looked toward the mechanic.

“When will it be finished?”

The old mechanic considered the question before answering honestly.

“Approximately one week.”

Young Aether nodded.

“That long?”

“I’m afraid so.”

The mechanic enlarged the structural blueprint once more before pointing toward several highlighted components.

“I’ll have to redesign multiple sections from scratch. Your neuromuscular response is far beyond what conventional mech-suits were engineered to accommodate. Several actuator assemblies need to be reinforced, the joint architecture requires modification, and I’ll have to source specialised response modules capable of surviving your movement speed. Those aren’t parts I can simply take off a shelf.”

He closed the blueprint and looked directly at Young Aether.

“If I rush this process, the mech-suit will become your greatest weakness instead of your greatest weapon.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“So give me one week. When you return…”

“I’ll have a machine worthy of its pilot.”

“Oh? That’s perfect.”

Young Aether’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Just one week.

In only seven days, he would finally be able to wear a real mech-suit and fly through the sky just like the armoured superheroes he used to watch back on Earth.

The OG… Man!

A grin slowly spread across his face.

Then another thought suddenly crossed his mind.

“What about the weapons… and the design of the suit?”

Neither Jonathan nor the mechanic had mentioned those yet.

Jonathan answered first.

“The weapons are handled by a completely different department. After your mech-suit is completed, we’ll head there to select and register your equipment.”

He then looked toward the grumpy mechanic.

“As for the design…”

The mechanic nodded before opening another holographic catalogue. Five life-sized mech-suit projections materialised in front of them, each standing nearly three meters tall while slowly rotating to showcase every angle. Although their core structures were nearly identical, the armour plating and colour schemes differed according to their assigned divisions.

“Due to military regulations,” the mechanic explained, “every combat frame must match one of the Empire’s five official Division designs except for the Alpha Division. Each one carries its own insignia, colour scheme, and identification markings to prevent friendly-fire incidents during large-scale operations.”

Young Aether carefully studied each hologram.

He had already seen similar suits throughout the city.

Still…

He couldn’t help frowning.

It wasn’t that he wanted some flashy custom-made suit that screamed… main character.

In fact…

He preferred the exact opposite.

Blending into a crowd was often far safer than standing out.

For his plan, that’s the most suitable thing!

However…

A question naturally came to mind.

“So… can these designs be changed later?”

“…”

“…”

Jonathan slowly looked at him.

The grumpy mechanic did the same.

Both of them wore identical frowns.

Young Aether immediately realised how suspicious that question probably sounded.

“Haha…”

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“I mean… what if I need to visit that otaku from another Division someday? It’d be kind of awkward walking around wearing the wrong Division’s colours, right? That’s all I meant.”

Jonathan blinked.

“…Oh.”

He nodded thoughtfully.

“Actually… that does make sense.”

The mechanic, however, immediately shook his head.

“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

He enlarged the holographic blueprint of one of the suits.

“The exterior armour isn’t simply decorative. Every Division’s identification pattern is permanently integrated into the armour’s authentication system.”

He dismissed the holograms with a wave of his hand.

“In short… Your mech-suit’s identity cannot be changed.”

Young Aether let out a defeated sigh.

“…Then red it is.”

Jonathan laughed quietly.

After confirming that everything regarding the mech-suit had been finalised, Young Aether glanced around the workshop once more.

“By the way…”

He looked toward the mechanic.

“Do you happen to sell AI-supported devices here?”

The mechanic raised an eyebrow.

“Of course.”

He casually pointed toward another section of the workshop.

“We manufacture quite a few peripheral devices compatible with AI assistants, especially the RIN operating platform. Smart Contact lenses, neural earbuds, holographic projectors, portable drives, synchronisation gloves, drone controllers, environmental scanners… We have most civilian-grade equipment.”

“What exactly are you looking for?”

Young Aether immediately listed everything RIN had previously recommended, along with several other gadgets that had caught his interest throughout the day.

Jonathan quietly listened without interrupting.

None of the requests surprised him.

After all, he had already noticed the metallic ring on Young Aether’s finger earlier. It closely resembled the standard AI synchronisation ring used throughout the Empire, so hearing him ask for compatible peripherals wasn’t unusual.

If anything…

Jonathan was more surprised that Young Aether hadn’t already purchased those devices before today.

After selecting everything he needed, Young Aether completed the purchase using the money he stol-ahem granted by his AI.

Several neatly packed boxes containing the requested equipment were placed inside a carrying bag, along with a few additional gadgets he had impulsively bought simply because they looked interesting.

With everything finally settled, the two men thanked the mechanic before leaving the workshop.

The cool night breeze greeted them the moment the massive alloy doors slid open behind them.

Night had completely fallen over the city.

Young Aether tightened his grip on the heavy bag of newly purchased equipment as they walked toward Jonathan’s vehicle.

The moment they approached, the sleek car recognised its owner.

Click.

The doors unlocked automatically.

A second later, all two doors silently swung open on their own.

Young Aether couldn’t help smiling.

“Man…”

He lazily stretched his aching arms before climbing inside.

“Today was one hell of a day.”

He had barely finished speaking when a sharp electronic alarm suddenly echoed throughout the vehicle.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Bright crimson warning lights illuminated the dashboard as dozens of holographic alerts erupted across the windshield.

[EMERGENCY ALERT]

[Hell’s Gate Detected!]

[Nearby Commanders Are Ordered to Respond Immediately!]

Young Aether’s relaxed expression instantly disappeared.

He looked toward Jonathan.

Jonathan looked back at him.

Neither of them needed to say a word.

Both understood the situation immediately.

Jonathan threw himself into the driver’s seat while the vehicle automatically sealed its doors.

“RIN.”

His calm voice had completely changed.

There was no trace of casualness left.

“Plot the fastest route to Detected Hell’s Gate.”

A soft feminine voice answered without delay.

[Fastest route calculated. Auto-Driving Mode Engaged!]

The vehicle’s steering wheel retracted into the dashboard as the autonomous driving system assumed complete control.

Without another second of delay…

SSSNNNNNNN!!!~

The car accelerated violently.

“Dispatch Aura No.2 to the location as well” Jonathan muttered in a serious tone.

****

The soft hum of the engine gradually faded as the vehicle slowed to a smooth stop beneath the towering skyscraper.

Sssssssnnnnnn…

Young Aether looked through the windshield, and the first thing that caught his attention was the enormous crimson portal suspended high above the rooftop. Its surface continuously rippled like liquid fire while violent streams of scarlet energy spiralled around its edges, causing the surrounding air to distort as though space itself had been torn open.

Every few seconds, flashes of crimson lightning crackled across the portal’s surface before vanishing into the night sky.

Below it, absolute chaos unfolded.

Emergency evacuation sirens echoed throughout the district as civilians rushed out of the building under the guidance of police officers and emergency responders. Several squads of soldiers had already established multiple security perimeters around the entire block.

The surrounding buildings had also begun evacuating.

Traffic had already been rerouted several streets away, allowing military vehicles and emergency transports unrestricted access to the area.

Despite the danger, countless civilians remained outside the restricted zone.

Many stood behind the barricades, livestreaming the crimson portal hanging above the skyline.

Jonathan glanced toward Young Aether.

“You brought the visor, right?”

Young Aether nodded before rummaging through the shopping bag he had been carrying ever since leaving the workshop.

Meanwhile, Jonathan opened the dashboard compartment and removed a pair of sleek transparent glasses.

The moment he placed them over his eyes, their transparent lenses shimmered with soft blue light.

Then…

A translucent liquid-like membrane spread outward from the frame, flowing smoothly across his face like disturbed water. Gentle ripples raced over its surface before hardening into a smooth mask that completely concealed every facial feature.

Within seconds, Jonathan’s appearance had transformed into a featureless whitish-brown silhouette that made identifying him virtually impossible.

Young Aether watched the transformation with genuine fascination.

“…That’s cool.”

After searching through the bag for several more seconds, he finally found the compact earpiece he had purchased earlier.

He secured it behind his right ear before lightly tapping its outer surface several times.

Beep.

A thin black holographic screen immediately projected outward from the earpiece, extending across the front of his face like a transparent visor. Within moments, the projection darkened into an opaque display, completely hiding his identity while still allowing him to see everything outside with perfect clarity.

Young Aether experimentally turned his head from side to side.

“…Neat.”

A moment later, another question crossed his mind.

“…Why are we hiding our faces anyway?”

He genuinely couldn’t understand.

Back on Earth, heroes proudly revealed themselves after saving people in countless movies and television shows. If these people were risking their lives to protect humanity, wouldn’t showing their identities earn them respect instead of hiding behind masks?

Jonathan smiled faintly as he opened the driver’s door.

“It isn’t about pride.”

He stepped out before continuing.

“It’s about survival.”

Young Aether quietly followed him.

Jonathan looked toward the growing crowd gathered behind the police barricades.

“Today’s world isn’t what it used to be. The moment your face appears during an operation, someone records it. Within minutes, social media spreads your identity across the entire Empire.”

He paused briefly before closing the car door.

“That doesn’t only endanger you.”

“It endangers your family.”

“Your friends.”

“Anyone connected to you.”

Young Aether slowly nodded.

Jonathan continued walking.

“Officially, only a handful of senior government officials know my identity. Even the Rescue Division members who recently worked alongside me signed Divine Contracts prohibiting them from revealing anything they learned.”

He looked back over his shoulder.

“It’s basic self-protection.”

“…Got it.”

Young Aether nodded seriously.

Jonathan walked toward the rear of the vehicle before opening the hatchback.

Inside rested a sleek black equipment case secured within a magnetic locking frame.

He swiped his military ID across the biometric scanner.

Beep.

Compressed air escaped with a soft hiss as the case slowly unfolded, revealing rows of neatly organised weapons illuminated by internal blue lights.

Without hesitation, Jonathan reached for the largest weapon positioned at the centre.

It resembled a shotgun, although its barrel contained no visible chamber for conventional ammunition. Blue energy conduits extended along its matte black frame while microscopic circuits glowed faintly beneath its polished surface.

Jonathan instinctively ran his fingers across the weapon before lifting it from its compartment.

Almost immediately…

He felt someone staring.

Turning his head, he found Young Aether frozen in place.

His eyes sparkled so brightly that Jonathan almost laughed.

The expression perfectly resembled a child discovering his dream toy inside a store.

Jonathan sighed helplessly.

“You can’t use weapons like these without wearing a mech-suit.”

Young Aether’s shoulders immediately slumped.

“…Huh?”

He puffed out his cheeks in obvious dissatisfaction.

“Then why do you get one?”

Jonathan couldn’t resist grinning.

“My mech-suit will arrive within a few minutes.”

He casually pulled back the weapon’s fore-end.

Chk.

Although no ammunition was loaded inside, he deliberately performed the motion anyway.

Entirely because he knew it looked cool.

Young Aether narrowed his eyes.

“…Tsk. Show-off.”

Jonathan laughed.

“I knew you’d say that.”

Reaching back into the equipment case, he removed a much smaller sidearm before tossing it toward Young Aether.

“You can use this instead.”

Young Aether caught it instinctively.

Its overall structure closely resembled the handgun he had once replicated back in his world.

His curiosity immediately replaced his disappointment.

Jonathan closed the equipment case before locking the hatchback once again.

The two of them walked toward the military barricade surrounding the skyscraper.

Dozens of soldiers stood guard around the perimeter, each wearing red striped black mech-suits decorated that identified their Division. Their weapons remained aimed toward the rooftop while portable defence drones hovered silently above them, constantly scanning the surrounding airspace.

Jonathan presented his military identification.

The squad leader immediately straightened.

“Commander!”

Every nearby soldier saluted simultaneously before stepping aside to clear the path.

Jonathan returned a brief nod before continuing forward.

Young Aether quietly followed behind without drawing unnecessary attention.

As they approached the building entrance, Jonathan slowed his pace slightly before speaking in a voice only Young Aether could hear.

“Remember something. Don’t start unnecessary conversations.”

Young Aether nodded.

“And no matter what happens…”

Jonathan looked straight ahead.

“…don’t trust anyone too easily.”

Young Aether blinked.

“…Not even soldiers?”

Jonathan’s answer came without hesitation.

“Especially soldiers.”

His eyes remained fixed on the people surrounding them.

“Every person here is hidden behind armour and masks.”

“You don’t know who they really are.”

“You don’t know what they want.”

“And you certainly don’t know what kind of monster might be hiding behind that helmet.”

Young Aether silently tightened his grip around the handgun.

“…Understood.”

They stepped onto the circular elevator platform embedded in the centre of the lobby.

The transparent crystal beneath their feet immediately lit up with concentric blue rings as anti-gravity emitters activated beneath the floor.

Without the slightest vibration, the platform ascended rapidly through the open shaft, carrying them silently toward the rooftop where the Hell’s Gate continued to pulse ominously against the night sky.