Three days had passed since me getting Teacher (B-Rank), and I had to admit, the System’s sense of humor had actually provided me with something more valuable than I’d initially realized. The 4 initial teaching skills given to me had integrated smoothly with my existing capabilities, creating synergies I hadn’t anticipated.
Patience (Lv. 4) was the first, and its effects were immediately noticeable. The calm clarity it provided helped me maintain focus even when dealing with complex problems or frustrating situations. Combined with my existing leadership skills, it made me 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 me present information more effectively.
Knowledge Delivery (Lv. 6) was perhaps the most immediately practical. Making complex concepts understandable and memorable 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 seemed limited at first glance, but it actually enhanced my ability to assess situations and measure progress toward goals. Creating effective assessments required understanding what truly mattered versus what merely 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 meant I could better guide others through teaching me what they knew, maximizing the knowledge transfer in each session.
Which brought me to my recent acquisitions from Sienna. During these 3, I’d used Enhanced Copy to learn some of her more specialized inverted demolition skills, though the timing had been less than ideal. I had already used Scan on her and with me having access to her private domain, I don’t need to constantly ask for permission.
Structural Destabilization (Lv. 2) gave me 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 me 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 me 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 me advanced medical procedures had resulted in acquiring several high-level skills at their full potency.
Advanced Trauma Care (Lv. 9) was probably the most immediately lifesaving ability I’d gained. Master-level proficiency in stabilizing life-threatening injuries under extreme conditions, capable of managing compound fractures, organ trauma, and critical bleeding using improvised or minimal tools. The skill provided near-surgical precision even under extreme duress.
Emergency Diagnostics (Lv. 7) allowed me to quickly identify internal injuries, infections, and medical 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 time in acute situations. It wasn’t quite miraculous healing, but it was close enough to feel like magic.
These medical skills, combined with my existing Rapid Field Surgery skill, meant I could now handle medical emergencies with the competency of a battlefield surgeon. The knowledge felt natural, integrated seamlessly with my understanding of human physiology and emergency response protocols.
I’d also spent time over the past three days working on improving some 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 meant 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 some solo practice sessions. The ability to deliver compelling arguments and emotionally charged statements that shifted opinions and encouraged compliance was showing noticeable improvement, 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 equipment 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 medical emergency response to structural engineering to advanced digital infiltration. The synergies between different skill sets were becoming more apparent as well—medical knowledge enhanced my understanding of biological systems, which complemented my hacking abilities when it came to understanding networks and information flow.
But more importantly, I was learning to use my abilities more strategically. The teaching skills had given me 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 me 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 message. I glanced at the screen, expecting it to be one of the girls asking about dinner plans, or maybe Anthony with some update about political developments.
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.
I stared at the notification for a moment, trying to process why he would be contacting me now. Was it because of Geneva meeting? He did tell me that I would understand his point of view after it.
I considered ignoring the message entirely. Whatever Mark wanted, it probably wasn’t something 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 me over democracy.
But curiosity got the better of me. After everything that had happened in Geneva, after the international endorsement and the media 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 came next.
Or maybe he was calling because he wanted something from me now that I’d achieved a level of success he couldn’t ignore.
I unlocked the phone and opened the message, 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 immediate concerns.
The message was brief, which was typical for him. Mark had always preferred direct communication, though whether that stemmed 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 meaning, but it was frustratingly vague. "We need to talk" could mean anything from a request for assistance to an attempt at reconciliation to some 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 message and move on. Mark represented a distraction from more important matters, and I had plenty of productive ways to spend my time. Enhanced Copy would be available again tomorrow, I had medical skills to absorb, and there were always political developments 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 someone who wanted information about me. Maybe he’d heard something through his own network of contacts that he thought I should know about. Maybe he was in some 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 message. 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 advancement.
And now Mark was trying to pull me back into whatever web of complications he’d managed to create for himself.
"You’ve gotta be kidding me," I muttered to the empty study, already knowing that I wouldn’t be able to just ignore this completely.