Chapter 488

Simon had clearly lost again.

Shermaine successfully advanced to the top-fifty tournament and emerged from the inner arena. Just like last time, Joshua waited for her at the entrance.

When Shermaine saw him, she stepped closer and sniffed at his scent. “Are you showered?”

“Yeah,” Joshua nodded.

“Any injuries?”

Joshua took her hand in his and shook his head. “Come on, let’s go check out those mecha fighter jets they gave you.”

They headed to the freezer storage on the third deck, where fresh ingredients and fruits were kept. Behind the food supplies, there was a hidden panel.

When the panel slid open, it revealed two mecha fighter jets, each standing about six and a half feet tall and covered with black tarps.

Shermaine walked over and yanked off the covers, exposing two battle-worn mecha fighter jets that looked like they’d barely survived the scrapyard.

“Well, they’re definitely beat to hell.” She stepped onto an automated lift platform and circled around both fighter jets for several minutes, examining every angle. Finally, she descended back down. “I need to take a look inside. Want to come with me?”

Joshua nodded and turned to his men. “You guys can head back.”

“Yes, boss.”

Joshua’s long strides carried him up the ladder, with Shermaine controlling the lift mechanism. They stopped at the access hatch leading into the mecha’s body, where the core systems housed the true essence of the fighter jet.

The interior was surprisingly spacious and intricate. Shermaine began examining the complex systems while her Orthish device synced with their network, allowing her to study the data in detail.

As she monitored the systems, she discovered a video file–battle footage automatically saved by the fighter jet’s black box before its defeat. She opened it.

The recording showed multiple S-level mecha fighter jets surrounding a single silver craft that gleamed brilliantly in the light. Whoever had designed this machine had clearly drawn inspiration from the White Tiger, one of the four celestial guardians from Wallington mythology.

This mecha fighter jet had to be the Apocalypse. Shermaine found herself wondering if, a thousand years ago, the Kingdom of Xyperia and Earth might have been one unified world before somehow splitting apart.

That would certainly explain why everything the royal family created–including their cursing skills–bore traces of Wallington culture.

“It’s beautiful,” Shermaine murmured.

Joshua’s eyebrow arched. That mecha belonged to the royal family, and since he was their descendant, it was rightfully his–stolen by Judy.

The recording quickly dissolved into static as the silver fighter jet fired a blast directly at the camera. Within seconds, the pilot controlling the mecha failed to react in time and was blown to pieces.

Watching the Apocalypse fighter jet gave Shermaine exactly the inspiration she needed for upgrading these two wrecked machines.

After downloading the mecha’s data and specifications into her Orthish device, they left the scene.

After returning to their room, Shermaine handed off Gracie’s bath time duties to Joshua.

“Here’s Gracie’s little rubber duck for the tub,” she said, placing the yellow toy in his hands.

“And here are her pajamas.” Shermaine leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Gracie’s forehead. “Daddy’s going to give you your bath tonight, sweetie. Mommy has some work to catch up on.”

Gracie giggled at Shermaine’s kiss, her face lighting up with pure joy. She really was the happiest little baby.

Shermaine disappeared into the study to work on her design sketches while Joshua faced his first solo bath duty.

He filled the small tub with warm water, testing the temperature with his elbow–his movements uncertain but careful as he gently lowered Gracie into the water.

The moment she touched the warm water, Gracie’s face scrunched up, and she let out a wail. Joshua must have positioned her wrong.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he whispered softly, cradling her tiny head in his palm as he adjusted her position.

After a few moments of gentle coaxing, Gracie settled down and stopped crying.

By the time Joshua finished giving Gracie her bath, he was soaked from head to toe. But practice makes perfect–he was getting better at taking care of her with each passing day.

After the bath came the evening feeding. When Damien walked in from outside, he found Joshua’s bottle-feeding technique had become remarkably smooth and practiced.

He had to admit, he was getting a little jealous–Gracie was just too adorable, and he wouldn’t mind holding her himself.

“Boss,” Damien said, “Bronx’s been trying to reach us nonstop since the tournament ended. It won’t be long before they figure out something’s off and pull the plug on our deal.”

“Doesn’t matter. The money’s already in Eagle Assassins‘ account, isn’t it?” Joshua smiled.

Joshua was right. Bronx couldn’t touch them now, and as for Simon–he wouldn’t live to see the end of this.

“Smart thinking, boss.”

“Don’t bother me with reports unless it’s urgent.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You can go.”

After feeding Gracie and playing with her for a while, Joshua watched the baby yawn and drift off to sleep. He finished his own evening routine, and by the time he emerged from the bathroom, it was nearly eleven o’clock.

Shermaine was still holed up in the study with no signs of coming out. Joshua pushed open the door. “Sheary, ready for a shower?”

Shermaine replied, “In a bit.”

Joshua walked over to where Shermaine sat with a stylus in hand, tapping and sketching across the blue screen in front of her. The structural diagram completely absorbed her attention. “Planning to pull an all-nighter?” he asked.

“Maybe just a little one.”

Joshua’s response was firm and immediate. “Absolutely not.” He pinched Shermaine’s cheek gently. “You get another half hour, then it’s shower time and straight to bed.”

Shermaine did listen and went to sleep early. However, she was back up at five in the morning, diving straight back into her structural diagrams. After three days of this relentless dedication–barely eating or sleeping–she had nearly completed the entire project.

Shermaine presented her structural diagrams to Joshua with obvious pride. “Mr. York, doesn’t my design look way better than what your ancestor came up with?”

Poor Joshua, who had barely gotten any quality time with her after their long-awaited reunion, found himself once again relegated to second place as his attention was drawn to Shermaine’s design work.

The White Tiger served as the inspiration for the ancestor’s Apocalypse design, but Shermaine’s exceptional learning skills enabled her to take the inspiration and make it her own.

Her diagrams featured mecha designs inspired by the Phoenix and Dragon, and even through the screen, you could feel the intimidating presence and commanding aura these two machines would project.

“Beautiful,” Joshua acknowledged.

Shermaine held out her palm expectantly and moved closer. “The equipment parts Shirley gave us aren’t nearly enough. We’ll need to buy more online, which means it’s time for you to open that wallet, Mr. York.”

After all, asking for money from her husband was perfectly reasonable.