Deus Ex Machina

Chapter 5

Driving rules are not that strict in the Avaran Kingdom, students from the age of 12 above could get their driver's license as long as they could safely drive around the Kingdom, and also paying a hefty amount of money.

Machina didn't have a driver's license but it was fine as he was going to drive outside the Avaran Kingdom where there is a lot of space.

Their trip didn't take that long, Machina and Charlotte arrived at Junk City in a few minutes, the ride was much faster with Charlotte's car, but Machina didn't rive in Charlotte's car, only stopped outside the Junk City.

Driving the car inside is nothing but dirtying it, Machina got down from the car and looked around, nothing had changed from the Junk City except that there was now an owned sign just near the entrance of the Junk City.

Junk City was enclosed with a fence that extended up 5 meters high, also some filth was lying around just outside and inside the fence.

"Are you going to come?" Machina turned towards Charlotte.

"Yes, I miss Granny May and Grandpa Jack, it has been a while since I met them" Charlotte replied with a smile, she had gone her last year and met Granny May and Grandpa Jack, these two elderly people treated her like she was their own granddaughter, but it got kind of out of hand when they started talking about having relationships at a young age.

Charlotte's brain exploded at that time from shyness and her imagination running wild, from that on, she didn't go that much to Junk City since they thought Charlotte couldn't handle the bad air of the Junk City.

Machina took out a clean mask and gave it to Charlotte, entering into Junk City was dangerous without a mask. Unless you are used to it, then people who enter will simply throw up the moment they enter.

Charlotte nodded and wore the mask, they then both entered the Junk City, Charlotte looked around and Junk City was filthy as ever, Charlotte sighed and continued walking forward, it didn't take long for her to notice a big ship not too far away.

"That's the mothership you made!?" Charlotte exclaimed from surprise, even though it was not as big as her family spaceship this one was made by Machina alone, and it also has a different design, it did not follow the mainstream design of most ships which was designed after a flying ship which was made 200 years ago and was still used until today.

"Yeah, I have already done some finishing touches, I'll tour you inside later" Machina nodded looking at the mothership proudly, it was his creation, something that he treated like his child at its creation.

In his past life, he won't dare to dream of creating a battlesuit, much less a Spaceship this big, Machina was very thankful he was living in this world where every man's romance exist.

Charlotte nodded, expecting what she will see later, it was a student made spaceship and a new one at that, though, it looked as if it was made from scraps which it is, she knew just a little refurbishing, and it's enough for the ship to become the revolutionary one.

Charlotte and Mark then proceeded inside and they arrived at Granny May and Grandpa Jack's house, "Granny, Grandpa! I'm back! Charlotte is here too!" Machina yelled.

A few moments later, the door of the house opened and came out Granny May and her cat, while Grandpa Jack came from the Garage his clothes stained with oil, "Welcome back Machina, and nice to see you again Charlotte" Granny May greeted both of them and came in front of Charlotte and held both of her hands.

"Oh, Machina glad you are back, come with me for a second, I have something to talk to you about" Granpa Jack called out Machina, in which who nodded and followed after him, he gave Charlotte a nod telling her to take care of granny may for now.

"Yes Granny May, how are you doing?" Charlotte gave a kind smile as she looked at Granny May, she had never met her Grandparents from her family since they died very early, she had only seen their pictures and some of their saved videos.

"Let's go inside and talk there, I want to hear what happened in your school today, can you spare this old lady some time?" Granny May gave a kind smile to Charlotte.

"Of course Granny May, we can talk as much as we can" Charlotte nodded, Granny May then happily pulled Charlotte inside the house.

"..."

"So you brought the lass eh? how far have you two gone?" Grandpa Jack teased.

"Haha, nothing Grandpa, we are just friends" Machina waved his hand in denial, someone like Charlotte is out of his league.

"Now don't say that, if you both loved each other, you won't be saying something like that" Grandpa Jack chuckled, "When I was your own age, I was already pursuing your Grandma relentlessly despite our difference in standing, all it takes is al little determination young man"

Machina smiled, Grandpa Jack had already told this story many times, but Machina did not put it to heart, he didn't really have time to care about girls now and decided to focus his time on creating more mech and taking care of Grandpa Jack and Granny May, they were both the most precious people for him right now.

And he didn't want to lose them, seeing Machina just smiling like usual, Grandpa Jack just sighed and gave it up, Machina was very mature for his age, he was already bearing the responsibility of taking care of the old couples despite both of them saying they didn't need to but Machina just cared about them so they can't really do anything.

"Well, anyway, I have news for you,"

"Is it someone who bought the Junk City?" Machina asked immediately.

"Oh, you have heard of it?"

"Yes, a classmate of mine told me"

Machina nodded, 'So it was really true he thought.

"Well, don't think that deep, I and Grandma have a gift for you"

"A gift? You don't have to Grandpa!" Machina immediately reacted, the old couple has already given a lot to him, even though he didn't know what that gift is, he still refused immediately, and it also warmth his heart.

"Heh, don't be in such a hurry to reject me, not like I will let you refuse to not take it though" Grandpa Jack chuckled then turned to the table behind him, "You know Machina, you are part of the family now, Grandma and I treated you like our own precious grandson and as your grandparents even not by blood, we feel like we should help you in reaching your dreams, our time has long passed and we cannot chase our dreams, even for no reason, we want to help you achieve your dreams and reach things we never had" Grandpa Jack spoke as he picked up an envelope on the table carefully caressing it.

He then turned to Machina with a smile on his face, "Your happiness is our happiness, your dream is our dream, don't reject us because this is how we can only help you" Grandpa Jack handed the envelope to Machina and looked at him for a while before patting him on the shoulder.

Machina looked at the envelope in his hands then at Grandpa Jack, his eyes turned red as he stopped himself from crying but emotion got over him and he gave Grandpa Jack a hug, "Thank you, thank you" Grandpa Jack smiled as he patted Machina.

After a while, Machina finally calmed down,  he felt embarrassed, as someone who was old inside he actually cried but thinking about it, it was his first time crying ever since he came into this world, it was really refreshing to do that sometimes, Machina sighed in relief then opened the envelope in front of him.

Inside there was a folded paper with a golden stamp which came from the Avaran Royal Family, there are also other stamps from different Kingdoms, Machina raised a brow, this paper seemed very important, he looked at Grandpa Jack who only nodded at him.

Machina took a deep breath and opened the paper, the first thing Machina saw when he opened the paper was 3 different stamps with different colors, Machina immediately recognized these 3 stamps, these were the stamps of the 3 great empires.

Machina could not help but look at Grandpa Jack in shock, to be able to have stamps of an empire is very hard, now there were 3 stamps? Machina was already shocked so he immediately looked at why these stamps were needed for just this paper.

[Junk City Land Official Ownership]

[Owner- Deus Machina]

[Territory- Junk City]

[Size of Territory- 700 km²]

Machina saw the contents of the paper and could not help but get shocked, the land of Junk City was now on his name, which meant he was now the owner of the whole Junk City! he was not just any mayor or the governor of the land, he was the landlord, it means he owned the huge vast land of Junk City.

What shocked him, even more, was the size of the territory, the total land of Junk City was only 300 km², but on the deed, it was 700 km²! Machina then looked at Grandpa Jack, "Grandpa... This..." Machina was speechless, he didn't know what to say at all.

"That's a gift from me and Grandma, You can now focus on everything you want, I also don't mind if you turn this place into an empire hehe" Grandpa Jack chuckled as he said the last.

Machina smiled, "Of course, I will turn it into an empire so you and Grandma don't have to worry about anything" Machina teased back.

"Haha, that is great then, let's go, Granny is already waiting for us" Grandpa Jack laughed as he entered back the house, Machina also followed with the deeds in his hand.

Inside, Granny May was sitting on her rocking chair with the black cat on her lap and beside her, Charlotte was sitting, they seemed to just have finished talking with each other since Charlotte was very quiet with a blush on her face.

"Hmm? What happened? are you sick Charlotte?" Machina asked as he looked at her, "N-no, I'm fine, I just felt a little hot, anyway, what happened?" Charlotte shook her head and immediately looked at Machina with a new expression.

"Yup, here look at it" Machina showed the deed to Charlotte, he was not worried about anything since Charlotte was his closest friend and someone who he trusted, there are only a few people who can earn his trust in this world and in the past.

Machina was confident with his character judging and how to choose his friends, he still remembers that on his past life, his friends were the ones who helped him when he was in trouble, they were like brothers and sisters who always had each other backs.

"Granny Thank you for the gift, I can never repay you two for it" Machina hugged Granny May with love.

"I'm glad you liked it" Granny May smiled as she also hugged Machina.

"Wow!" Charlotte exclaimed from awe as she saw the deed, Junk City was a neutral place, it was a place that every kingdom dropped their Junks, which earned its name the Junk City, it doesn't have any history other than being the Junk City for 5 years.

"So are you going to stop the other places to stop throwing their Junk in this place?" she could not help but ask.

"No, Junks are resources too, well, not everything but everything has its own uses, I already have a plan in my mind" Machina said with determination.

'I will always support you' Charlotte looked at Machina's determined face and could not help but keep falling for him, she knew Machina doesn't know her feelings despite her advances but she knew he was focusing on his goals, the reason why she fell for him.