Everyone's guess had been correct. After using Locke's Mechanical Battle Saber once, the captain had become intensely envious of it.
Only he knew how terrifyingly valuable this Mechanical Battle Saber truly was!
Even ordinary Star-level equipment was worth less than this Mechanical Battle Saber.
Now that they had returned to the main spacecraft, how could he think about anything else? After asking around and finding out which dormitory Su Ming was staying in, he immediately headed straight there.
As soon as he reached the front of Su Ming's dormitory, the captain froze.
He saw that a large group of soldiers had already crowded around Su Ming's door.
"Little Master Su Ming, after you finish modifying this firearm, please modify mine too. I'm willing to pay 300 merit points!"
"Master Su Ming, I've been waiting for a long time. Please modify mine. I'll pay 400 merit points!"
The soldiers at the door stretched their necks and crowded toward the entrance as they called out.
The captain was secretly shocked by the sight. He hurried to the dormitory entrance and looked inside.
He then saw a young man standing before the workbench, intently examining the mechanical components in his hands.
His fingers never stopped moving for even a moment. He assembled the mechanical components in his hands with astonishing speed, as if he did not need to think at all.
A hint of absorption showed in the young man's eyes. He was completely unaffected by the many soldiers outside the door, his gaze fixed on the workbench before him.
It seemed that nothing around him could interrupt his concentration.
Seeing this, a strange look flashed through the captain's eyes.
While this young man was assembling the parts... his Brain Domain Level was actually so active, as though he were constantly exercising his brain.
A trace of envy appeared in the captain's eyes at the sight.
This was a Brain Domain Level cultivation method unique to mechanics. Other Brain Domain Developers could not practice it even if they wanted to.
Moreover, the young man before him appeared far more focused than other mechanics. In this state, his Brain Domain Level cultivation would be much more efficient!
Just then, the surrounding soldiers suddenly erupted in a burst of exclamations. The captain immediately turned his gaze toward the firearm in the young man's hands.
Several Star-level mechanical components had been installed onto what had originally been a Planet-level firearm.
This had raised the firearm's energy level to an extraordinarily terrifying degree.
It seemed that this young man had used this Planet-level plus Star-level assembly method to make a weapon capable of unleashing Star-level combat power while still being usable by Planet-level soldiers.
A trace of praise flashed through the captain's eyes. He then squeezed into the crowd and said with a smile, "Master Su Ming, could you repair and modify my firearm? I'm willing to pay 500 merit points!"
Hearing the captain's words, Su Ming raised his head and gave him a strange look. He then shook his head and said, "Get in line!"
The captain froze, then saw the soldiers behind him looking at him while suppressing their laughter.
His face immediately flushed with embarrassment. He then obediently ran to the back of the soldiers and joined the line.
Su Ming stretched lazily before looking at the soldiers lined up outside his dormitory.
He had already seen this scene several hours ago.
Less than half an hour after he and Warren had moved in, large numbers of soldiers had come admiring his reputation and lined up to have their mechanical equipment repaired.
But... Su Ming smiled bitterly. Even after he had frantically repaired equipment for several hours, why did the line still show no sign of shrinking? If anything, it seemed to be gradually growing...
Even Su Ming felt a trace of fatigue after repairing equipment at high intensity for several hours straight.
Since moving in, he had repaired and modified a total of twelve pieces of equipment, spending a full eight hours on them.
He had to admit, the Starlight Points brought by Planet-level machinery were truly substantial!
Calculating at 100 Starlight Points per piece of Planet-level equipment, those twelve pieces had earned him a full 1,200 Starlight Points.
If they had been Surface-level equipment, he probably could have worked for two whole days without earning so many Starlight Points.
Leaving Planet Nop had indeed been the right choice.
Aside from Starlight Points, Su Ming had also earned a large amount of merit.
Nearly everyone who came to Su Ming to modify mechanical components paid between 200 and 400 merit points on average.
Those twelve pieces of equipment had earned Su Ming roughly 3,000 merit points in total.
From this perspective, earning enough merit to purchase mecha knowledge and blueprints was not actually that difficult. If he continued doing this for a few weeks, he should be able to accumulate the 150,000 merit points needed to purchase the [Humanoid E-Class Advanced Close Combat Mecha] he favored.
Su Ming turned around and looked at the soldiers still waiting outside. He pulled Warren to the front and then said, "This is my companion, Warren. His mechanical skills are also excellent. If any of you can't wait, you can have him do the repairs!"
Hearing Su Ming's words, everyone immediately turned their gazes toward the inconspicuous Warren.
This was the first time Warren had been watched by so many people. He became somewhat nervous and could only stand beside Su Ming, giving a foolish, awkward laugh.
"Since Little Master Su Ming recommended him, there definitely won't be a problem. Little Master Warren, please repair this Mechanical Battle Blade for me. I'm willing to pay 200 merit points!"
After hearing Su Ming's words, someone from the back of the line stepped forward and spoke with a broad smile.
Among those who came to Su Ming to repair their mechanical weapons, some wanted to modify their weapons and make them even more powerful.
Those people would honestly wait for an opening in Su Ming's schedule.
But others only wanted to repair their damaged mechanical weapons so they could use them. They had no particular desire to increase their combat power.
The problem was that they had to wait in line to find the mechanic called Harry, while Su Ming worked much faster than Harry. Lining up here with Su Ming was therefore quicker.
Now that Su Ming had brought Warren forward, everyone remembered that there were two mechanics who had joined Temporary Army No. 32 this time.
This skinny, inconspicuous young man was also a mechanic!
Warren knew that his skills were nowhere near as refined as Su Ming's. At this moment, he was already quite satisfied that someone was willing to ask him to repair a weapon. As for the number of merit points they paid, Warren did not dare hope for too much.
When he heard that someone was willing to pay 200 points to have him do the repairs, Warren's face immediately lit up with delight. He nodded repeatedly, took the person's Mechanical Battle Blade, and went to the workbench to repair it.
Su Ming could not help but smile lightly when he saw Warren's expression.
This boy Warren could be considered his apprentice mechanic. It was just that, because of his impoverished background, Warren had never had much confidence in himself.
What he did not know was that... the status of mechanics in interstellar society was far higher than that of other people!
Almost every Gene Warrior whose weapon was damaged had to find a mechanic to repair it.
A Surface-level mechanic was naturally nothing special. They could be found everywhere.
But once a mechanic reached the Planet level, their status began to rise sharply.
Warren mainly lacked confidence at the moment.
Once he entered the normal commission-taking mode in the future, Warren would soon experience just how popular Planet-level mechanics were among the soldiers.
Before you continue