While waiting for the parts to arrive for the Dodge Ram Van, Hunter didn't stay idle.
Completing a full overhaul in a single day, by himself, was a massive challenge.
So, he started prepping.
He stripped out all the rear passenger seats and stacked them in the corner of the warehouse.
Next, he dismantled the engine bay.
Using several jacks, he lifted the van and removed all four worn-out tires, readying the hubs for fresh rubber.
Charlie's efficiency was better than Hunter expected.
Within two hours, delivery trucks began arriving with the requested parts.
Hunter knew that this van—despite the effort—probably wouldn't even be used in the final heist. In the movie, Steve figures out their plan, forcing them to pivot.
But money was money.
He followed Charlie's specifications to the letter.
He didn't know why "Modification" wasn't a separate skill but was instead bundled into Mechanics, but he wasn't complaining.
From afternoon to evening, the warehouse transformed from a quiet space into a hive of activity.
As the sun set and the warehouse lights flickered on, the constant chime of [Mechanics EXP +1]kept him motivated.
Charlie returned at 7:00 PM.
The warehouse was a mess of oil, gasoline, and scattered parts.
But as a veteran driver, Charlie saw through the chaos.
The progress was incredibly fast.
His initial worry—that this young Asian kid might be all talk—vanished as he watched Hunter work with surgical precision and speed.
"Hey, Hunter. Not bad," Charlie commented, genuinely impressed.
The original 400hp engine was gone.
In its place sat a refurbished 6.0L Twin-Turbo engine that Hunter had sourced. It pushed out 450-460kW—roughly 600 horsepower.
To handle the extra weight, all four tires had been replaced with heavy-duty load-bearing rubber.
Hunter was currently welding two aluminum alloy support pillars to the chassis floor. It added minimal weight but drastically increased structural integrity for the payload.
Charlie watched and listened as Hunter explained the changes.
"My parents died early," Hunter said casually while welding. "I didn't finish high school, had to work to eat."
"Luckily, I have a knack for fixing and modding things."
"It pays the bills."
Hunter knew Charlie was vetting him.
A master thief like Charlie valued reliability and a clean background above all else. Hunter's "orphan mechanic" backstory was perfect—simple, no strings attached.
Charlie smiled, clearly pleased.
Thieves liked "clean" contractors. No family to leverage, no police record to trigger alarms.
By 10:00 PM, the heavy mechanical work was mostly done.
Just as Hunter was preparing to install the server racks and battery array, Charlie stopped him.
"Take a break. Eat something."
Hunter guessed Charlie was stalling for someone else to arrive.
Since he was hungry anyway, he agreed.
He had just finished a burger when the roar of a motorcycle echoed outside.
VROOOM—CRASH!
"ARGH!"
A sickening thud against the wall was followed immediately by a scream of pain.
Charlie's face changed, and he ran outside.
Curious, Hunter followed.
Outside, a dorky-looking young white man was pinned under a Honda RC51.
The bike had scraped against the warehouse wall, leaving a streak of paint. Clearly, the rider had lost control and crashed.
"Lyle, I told you. You're not meant for bikes," Charlie said with a laugh.
He teased the young man first, then helped lift the heavy motorcycle off him.
Hunter had held onto a sliver of doubt regarding Charlie's identity.
But seeing this guy?
The last 1% of doubt vanished.
Lyle. The computer genius. The Napster.
In The Italian Job, Lyle was the hacker who manipulated Los Angeles' traffic control system, creating the massive gridlock that allowed the team to steal the gold without firing a single shot.
Without Lyle, the heist was impossible. He was arguably the MVP of the operation.
"Right! How could I forget about computers?" Hunter thought, suppressing a grin.
Confirming Charlie was Charlie Croker was great.
But seeing Lyle was even better because it reminded Hunter of a crucial skill tree he had neglected.
Hacking / Computer Science.
Hunter's gaze shifted to the bike.
A Honda RC51. A high-performance V-twin sportbike released a few years ago. 999cc, 131 horsepower. A beast on the track and the street.
A stock model cost over $10,000.
Lyle's bike was clearly a customized flagship model. Judging by the paint and aftermarket parts, it was easily a $20,000 machine.
Hackers really do make bank, Hunter mused.
His desire to unlock a computer-related skill burned hotter than ever.
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