Proto Unit Four and Proto Unit Five

Long Fei had been back at the factory for over a month. After signing the contract with the Mika'ang Nation, Skywing Arms Manufacturing Company and the Skywing Mercenary Group entered a period of tremendous growth and expansion.

Of the three abandoned asteroid mining factories, two had been converted within a month.

Skywing Arms Manufacturing Company's production lines had expanded by more than double, and several new employees had been recruited.

The mercenary group's new base had also begun operations.

Inside the special workshop of the first factory, armor for the Gundams was being manufactured.

In his previous life, the armor used by Gundams had been called Gundanium Alloy, also known as Titanium Moon Alloy. However, no such alloy existed in this world.

Although it did not exist, as the old saying went, necessity bred change, and change led to solutions. By combining several non-Earth mineral metals and refining them, they had synthesized a new alloy. Its performance was just as good as the Gundanium Alloy described in the data, and in some respects even better, such as greater toughness and defensive capability.

Long Fei named this newly developed alloy Gundanium Alloy as well.

The Proto Gundam had originally been designated RX-78-2. Long Fei was now preparing to develop the RX-78-4 and RX-78-5, along with their equipment.

These two Gundams were derivative models of the Proto Gundam. Long Fei directly named the Gundam MS units under development Proto Unit Four and Proto Unit Five.

Long Fei's naming left many employees puzzled. The earliest-developed Proto Gundam could be called Unit One, but where had Units Two and Three gone? Why skip directly to developing Units Four and Five?

Long Fei gave everyone an explanation.

"Mainly because when I designed Units Two and Three, they overlapped heavily with Proto Unit One in many aspects. There was simply no need to develop them. Units Four and Five, however, not only have newly designed equipment, but are far more powerful than Proto Unit One in every aspect of their performance."

Long Fei stood in the special workshop, watching mechanical arms manufacture Units Four and Five.

"Old Fei, watching over your masterpieces?" Li Xiucheng came to Long Fei's side.

"Finished the commissioned work?"

"All done. We came back to rest and recuperate."

"How was the Proto Gundam I gave you?"

"It's an excellent MS. I never expected you, old friend, to make external equipment for the Proto Gundam as well."

"That was not only to make things easier for you on the battlefield, but also because I hoped it would improve your survival rate."

Li Jiaming also arrived at the scene and handed a data tablet to Long Fei.

After Long Fei read through it, he said, "Commander-in-Chief, as for the matters you handle from now on, as long as you make no mistakes and remain loyal, I will not interfere."

"Yes, Boss."

"There is one more matter, Commander-in-Chief. Select two outstanding and loyal MS pilots."

Li Jiaming understood his boss's meaning. "Boss, I'll arrange it immediately." After saluting, Li Jiaming left the scene.

"Old Fei, I heard these two Gundams under development don't have Core Fighters. Why did you remove a technology that can improve an MS pilot's chances of survival?"

"If we retained the Core Fighters, the performance of Units Four and Five would be about the same as the Proto Gundam. I had no choice but to remove them. However, in order to improve the pilots' survival rate, I also designed escape pods."

"Just as they say, you can't have both fish and bear's paw."

Long Fei's phone rang at that moment. He took it out and saw that Sakchi was contacting him.

"President Sakchi, what can I do for you?"

"It's like this, Boss. Several countries have taken an interest in the Flank Frigate you developed and want to purchase them from you in large quantities."

"Tell them the Flank Frigate is not for sale for the time being."

"Understood, Boss. There is another matter I need to report. A company called Long's Arms Corporation recently contacted us and wants to buy our company at a high price."

"Tell them we are not selling. Not even one percent of the shares is for sale."

Sakchi then reported to Long Fei on Skywing Arms Manufacturing Company's current situation. Since the GM Mobile Suit production line had been expanded, quite a few factions and organizations had been scrambling to buy them.

After setting aside the eight GM Mobile Suits sold to the Mika'ang Nation each month, and with the new factory now in operation, they could produce forty GM Mobile Suits per month.

The GM Mobile Suit's battlefield performance over the past year had earned high praise from many factions and organizations.

When the Mika'ang Nation deployed a small number of GM Mobile Suits in battle several months ago, they performed exceptionally well during clashes with hostile nations in disputed border territories, causing the enemy forces considerable losses.

In fact, the Mika'ang Nation had begun purchasing small quantities of GM Mobile Suits much earlier. When conflicts between nations broke out several months ago, they deployed the GM Mobile Suits and gained numerous tactical advantages with only a small number of them. That was why, more than a month ago, the Mika'ang Nation offered Skywing Arms Manufacturing Company a series of favorable terms in order to obtain more GM Mobile Suits and secure greater advantages on future battlefields.

Quite a few arms magazines had also published special features on the GM Mobile Suit. Some articles stated that the emergence of the GM Mobile Suit might reduce fighter aircraft from the primary battlefield weapon to a supporting one.

This drew the attention of many factions, including numerous nations, to the GM Mobile Suit.

In terms of manufacturing cost, a complete GM Mobile Suit cost thirty million universal credits.

Its original selling price had been forty-five million, but after the GM Mobile Suit demonstrated its outstanding performance on the battlefield, its price was driven sky-high. It was said that black-market prices had reached two hundred million universal credits.

At first, Sakchi raised the original selling price to sixty million. Yet the moment the forty GM Mobile Suits were listed online, they were sold out within a second.

Sakchi had been dumbfounded when he learned of this. After reporting the other matters to his boss, he discussed whether they should change their sales strategy for the GM Mobile Suit.

"How do you want to change the sales strategy?"

"Boss, here is my suggestion. We hold an online auction for one day. When the bidding ends, if there are fifty GM Mobile Suits available, the fifty highest bidders will get them."

"That's a good suggestion. Do as you said."

After Long Fei hung up, Li Xiucheng, standing beside him, said half-jokingly, "Old Fei, your GM Mobile Suits are worth so much now, with everyone fighting to buy them at high prices. You should thank the brothers in our mercenary group for building their reputation. When the New Year comes, remember to give us a bigger bonus."

"Sure."

Li Xiucheng nearly choked. He had only been half-joking, yet his old friend had taken it seriously.

"Actually, I also want to give the employees as many bonuses as possible. Now that we're making this much money, there's no harm in sharing some of it."

Factory Director Simmons ran into the special workshop just then and reported to Long Fei, "Boss, the War God Armor Battle Suit you designed has been completed."

"Good. I'll go take a look now."