Three days had passed since getting Teacher (B-Rank), and I had to admit, the System’s sense of humor had actually provided with sothing more valuable than I’d initially realized. The 4 initial teaching skills given to had integrated smoothly with my existing capabilities, creating synergies I hadn’t anticipated.
Patience (Lv. 4) was the first, and its effects were imdiately noticeable. The calm clarity it provided helped maintain focus even when dealing with complex problems or frustrating situations. Combined with my existing leadership skills, it made more effective at managing group dynamics and keeping everyone focused on objectives rather than getting bogged down in emotional reactions.
Lesson Planning (Lv. 5) had proven surprisingly versatile. The ability to structure information in clear, engaging ways that adapted to different learning styles wasn’t just useful for education. It pretty much enhanced every aspect of communication. When I explained concepts to the others, when I prepared briefings, even when I organized my own thoughts, the skill helped present information more effectively.
Knowledge Delivery (Lv. 6) was perhaps the most imdiately practical. Making complex concepts understandable and morable had applications that went far beyond a classroom setting. Political communication, strategic planning, technical explanations. Everything benefited from being able to break down complicated ideas into digestible pieces.
Testing and Evaluation Design (Lv. 4) might have seed limited at first glance, but it actually enhanced my ability to assess situations and asure progress toward goals. Creating effective assessnts required understanding what truly mattered versus what rely appeared important, a skill that translated perfectly to strategic analysis.
The teaching abilities had also made my use of Enhanced Copy and Enhanced Absorb more effective. Understanding how to structure learning experiences ant I could better guide others through teaching what they knew, maximizing the knowledge transfer in each session.
Which brought to my recent acquisitions from Sienna. During these 3, I’d used Enhanced Copy to learn so of her more specialized inverted demolition skills, though the timing had been less than ideal. I had already used Scan on her and with having access to her private domain, I don’t need to constantly ask for permission.
Structural Destabilization (Lv. 2) gave the ability to identify and weaken key load-bearing components for controlled disassembly. It was the kind of skill that could be invaluable for both construction and, if necessary, strategic sabotage.
Load Redistribution (Lv. 3) helped manipulate weight balance to make heavy materials easier to handle safely. The applications for rescue operations or construction work were obvious, but it also had potential tactical uses.
Reverse Engineering (Lv. 2) enhanced my ability to analyze and understand structures without damaging valuable components. Combined with my hacking skills, it gave a comprehensive understanding of both digital and physical systems.
Fortunately, my sessions with Alexis have been going much smoother. Using Enhanced Absorb while she taught advanced dical procedures had resulted in acquiring several high-level skills at their full potency.
Advanced Trauma Care (Lv. 9) was probably the most imdiately lifesaving ability I’d gained. Master-level proficiency in stabilizing life-threatening injuries under extre conditions, capable of managing compound fractures, organ trauma, and critical bleeding using improvised or minimal tools. The skill provided near-surgical precision even under extre duress.
Ergency Diagnostics (Lv. 7) allowed to quickly identify internal injuries, infections, and dical abnormalities through external observation, vitals, and subtle physical cues. Alexis had explained that it functioned faster and more accurately than most automated scan systems, which was both impressive and slightly terrifying.
Vital Surge (Lv. 6) was perhaps the most remarkable of the three. The ability to accelerate a patient’s recovery by stimulating cell repair and immune responses could dramatically shorten healing ti in acute situations. It wasn’t quite miraculous healing, but it was close enough to feel like magic.
These dical skills, combined with my existing Rapid Field Surgery skill, ant I could now handle dical ergencies with the competency of a battlefield surgeon. The knowledge felt natural, integrated seamlessly with my understanding of human physiology and ergency response protocols.
I’d also spent ti over the past three days working on improving so of my lower-level skills through practice and application. Three abilities had progressed from level 1 to level 2 through focused effort.
Decentralized Coordination had been the most frustrating to work with. I’d originally copied this from Sienna before my Enhanced Copy upgrade, which ant I’d acquired it at level 1 instead of the level 3 I would be getting had I coped it now. The skill increased group efficiency during takedown operations by syncing individual tasks without reliance on a central structure or unified plan. Even at level 2, I could feel how valuable it would be at higher levels, which made the missed opportunity all the more annoying.
Persuasive Speaking (Lv. 2) had improved through practice during conversations with the others and so solo practice sessions. The ability to deliver compelling argunts and emotionally charged statents that shifted opinions and encouraged compliance was showing noticeable improvent, though I was careful not to use it manipulatively on people I cared about.
Blueprint and Schematic Reading (Lv. 2) had advanced through study of technical diagrams and layout plans. What had started as basic ability to interpret equipnt and vehicle schematics was developing into genuine technical literacy. Combined with my construction and engineering knowledge, it was becoming quite comprehensive.
Overall, the past three days had been remarkably productive. I was building a skill portfolio that covered an increasingly broad range of capabilities, from dical ergency response to structural engineering to advanced digital infiltration. The synergies between different skill sets were becoming more apparent as well—dical knowledge enhanced my understanding of biological systems, which complented my hacking abilities when it ca to understanding networks and information flow.
But more importantly, I was learning to use my abilities more strategically. The teaching skills had given better insight into how to structure learning experiences, which made both Enhanced Copy and Enhanced Absorb more effective. Understanding how knowledge transferred between minds was helping optimize every skill acquisition opportunity.
I was sitting in my study, reviewing my progress and planning how to use tomorrow’s Enhanced Copy opportunity, when my phone buzzed with an incoming ssage. I glanced at the screen, expecting it to be one of the girls asking about dinner plans, or maybe Anthony with so update about political developnts.
Instead, the display showed a number I hadn’t seen in months, one that made my stomach clench with a mixture of annoyance and apprehension.
It was Mark’s.
I stared at the notification for a mont, trying to process why he would be contacting now. Was it because of Geneva eting? He did tell that I would understand his point of view after it.
I considered ignoring the ssage entirely. Whatever Mark wanted, it probably wasn’t sothing that would contribute positively to my current objectives. He’d made his position clear months ago. He thought I was chasing impossible dreams and wasting my potential on unrealistic goals. He wanted to tyranny with over democracy.
But curiosity got the better of . After everything that had happened in Geneva, after the international endorsent and the dia coverage, maybe he was reaching out because he’d realized I wasn’t just dreaming anymore. Maybe he wanted to apologize for his lack of support, or even offer to help with whatever ca next.
Or maybe he was calling because he wanted sothing from now that I’d achieved a level of success he couldn’t ignore.
I unlocked the phone and opened the ssage, though my expectations weren’t particularly high. Mark had never been the type to admit when he was wrong, and he’d never shown much interest in anything beyond his own imdiate concerns.
The ssage was brief, which was typical for him. Mark had always preferred direct communication, though whether that stemd from efficiency or an inability to express complex thoughts was debatable.
"Saw the news about Geneva. We need to talk. It’s important."
I read it twice, looking for subtext or hidden aning, but it was frustratingly vague. "We need to talk" could an anything from a request for assistance to an attempt at reconciliation to so kind of warning or threat. "It’s important" was equally uninformative. Important to whom, and in what way?
The rational part of my mind suggested that I should just delete the ssage and move on. Mark represented a distraction from more important matters, and I had plenty of productive ways to spend my ti. Enhanced Copy would be available again tomorrow, I had dical skills to absorb, and there were always political developnts to monitor.
I set the phone down on my desk and leaned back in my chair, thinking through the possibilities. Maybe he’d been approached by soone who wanted information about . Maybe he’d heard sothing through his own network of contacts that he thought I should know about. Maybe he was in so kind of trouble and thought I could help him now that I had international recognition.
Or maybe he just wanted to insert himself into whatever success I was building, the way he’d always tried to attach himself to anything that might benefit him personally.
I picked up the phone again and stared at the ssage. Three days of steady progress, of building capabilities and strengthening relationships with people who shared my vision for the future. Three days of feeling like I was finally on the right path, moving toward goals that mattered on a scale beyond personal advancent.
And now Mark was trying to pull back into whatever web of complications he’d managed to create for himself.
"You’ve gotta be kidding ," I muttered to the empty study, already knowing that I wouldn’t be able to just ignore this completely.
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