Gao Gong drove at full speed, passing a gas station along the way and filling up with energy extractant.
The gas station did more than refuel vehicles. It also offered prosthetic modification, high-grade batteries, weapon purchases, vehicle repairs, and preliminary processing of energy ore.
There were two kinds of gas stations. One was directly operated by the factory, while the other was independently franchised. The condition for joining the franchise was owning a mine in the Iron Sand Desert and signing a sales contract with the factory. Simply put, you had to have a mine at home.
"Your vehicle is fully refueled. We welcome you back."
A robot spoke to Gao Gong in a warm, radiant voice.
Through the rearview mirror, Gao Gong stared at the fleet of 'Titan-III' vehicles entering the gas station behind him.
The Titan-III was a gigantic armored vehicle. Its rear seats held three rows of 280mm multiple-barrel rocket launchers, while four single-barrel beast-hunting cannons covered the southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest. There were also two rows of vehicle-mounted machine guns at the front and rear. With such overwhelming firepower, it was practically a superweapon.
"Buying energy plates?" Gao Gong handed over his 'meal card' and asked casually.
An armored combat vehicle of this tonnage could not be pulled by an ordinary engine. It should be equipped with energy plates.
An energy plate the size of a keyboard could match an entire tank of energy extractant, while consuming only one-tenth as much energy as ordinary extractant.
"Yes, sir. They just came from the front line."
The robot swiped the 'meal card' across a slot in its arm, and the payment was deducted automatically.
"The front line? They started fighting already? Judging by this, the battle isn't going well."
Gao Gong narrowed his eyes. He could clearly see that the armor on all six 'Titan-III' vehicles was covered in bite marks. Some of the steel plates had even been torn open.
Perhaps noticing Gao Gong's gaze, one of the cyborgs on the vehicles raised its middle finger at him.
"Heh. They can't deal with the radiation beasts, but they sure have plenty of energy for sneering at their fellow professionals. The Security Corps is getting more and more impressive."
The Security Corps was a unit directly subordinate to the factory. In the past, it had been responsible for escorting convoys and transporting mineral resources from the desert, while also providing bounty hunters with mission rewards and prosthetic modifications. As the factory gradually established a firm foothold in the area, however, it had slowly transformed into an armed faction.
The past few large-scale beast-clearing operations had all been led by the Security Corps, with mechanical hunters taking over the transportation of the prey and protection of the convoys.
It was simply a case of fortune changing hands.
But this isn't bad news for me.
Once the Security Corps failed, the factory would inevitably recruit large numbers of mechanical hunters for hunting operations again, just as it had in the past.
That would take care of the various prosthetic equipment he needed for his own modifications.
Gao Gong returned the middle finger, stepped on the accelerator, and sped away.
After driving back to the secret base, Gao Gong first went out and dumped the day's spoils at his old friend's gun shop. He did not see Aunt Xiang, though; only Fatty Xiang was minding the shop.
He tossed Fatty Xiang a nutrition bar, then hurried back to the base.
He had painstakingly saved up a whole week's worth of experience points. Now it was time to spend them properly.
[You invested 2,000 experience points. Prosthetic Doctor increased to Lv2. Intelligence +1. Surgery success rate +3%] [You invested 4,000 experience points. Prosthetic Doctor increased to Lv3. Surgery success rate +3%] [You invested 6,000 experience points. Prosthetic Doctor increased to Lv4. Surgery success rate +2%. Additional status: Composure] Composure: When performing prosthetic modification surgery, you can complete difficult surgical techniques with a steady mindset. There is a certain chance of increasing the prosthetic's performance. [You raised Electronic Neurology to Lv3] [You raised Human Biology to Lv2] [You raised Human Applied Mechanics to Lv2] [You raised Industrial Materials Science to Lv2]
Gao Gong exhaled, feeling sweat soak through his back.
Ever since becoming an NPC, leveling up was no longer simply leveling up. It converted experience into knowledge, images, and theories, pouring them directly into his brain.
The brain's capacity for processing information was limited. Having so much information forced into him all at once nearly choked him to death.
"Looks like I won't be sleeping tonight."
He rubbed his bulging temples, swollen from the rush of blood to his brain, and opened the synthesis panel once more.
The classic-style mechanical hunter had extremely high requirements for close combat. As it happened, he remembered several human modification blueprints that players had called "minor god-tier gear."
Electronic Neurology Lv3 + Human Biology Lv2
[Fusion successful, you researched a Tier 2 neural blueprint [Tactile Nerve Flow Accelerator]]
Human Applied Mechanics Lv2 + Industrial Materials Science Lv2
[Fusion successful, you researched a Tier 2 mechanical blueprint [Electromagnetic Exciter]]
Human Applied Mechanics Lv2 + Industrial Materials Science Lv2 + Mechanical Modification Lv3
[Fusion successful, you researched a Tier 2 mechanical blueprint [Microcomputer Knuckle Duster]]
Electronic Neurology Lv3 + Human Biology Lv2 + Human Applied Mechanics Lv2 + Mechanical Modification Lv3
[Fusion successful, you researched a Tier 3 skin blueprint [Desert Skin]]
Gao Gong looked at his empty experience bar and gave a wry smile. Sure enough, no matter how much experience he earned, it was never enough to spend.
He had not felt this way in his previous life. Oh, right—his previous life had been funded by a whole group of wealthy female tycoons and bigshots. Anything that could be solved with money did not require him to spend much experience.
This made Gao Gong start missing those idiotic players. Once they came online, his identity as an NPC would become useful.
The biggest difference between the player template and the NPC template was that NPCs could open factions.
But even idiotic players would not fawn over just any nobody. Before that, he still had to build up his reputation.
Since he could not sleep anyway, Gao Gong simply found a high place, lay down, and looked at the stars. The atmosphere of this planet was filled with nuclear dust. Forget the stars—even the moon was invisible. Gao Gong could only rely on his memories to recall them one by one.
That is Arcturus, a desert planet.
This is Little Wolf Star, a late-stage star. It still has several billion years before it collapses, though.
This is a diffuse nebula. Ships from civilizations below Level Five face a risk of disappearing if they fly into it. Level Five and above? Civilizations at Level Five and above don't use spaceships.
Right, there seems to be an asteroid belt around the outer edge of the extraterrestrial colony. If I remember correctly, it's rich in mineral deposits. What a pity I left in such a hurry back then and had no time to mine it.
Gao Gong counted the stars in his memories one after another. He stayed awake until the latter half of the night, when the swelling in his nerves finally eased a little. He drifted into a dazed sleep, and when he woke again, it was already eight in the morning.
The Iron Sand Desert was perpetually murky and scorching. Electronic products left out for too long would inexplicably malfunction, so the residents here had naturally mastered the art of determining their biological clocks.
He carried a bucket of purified water out of the metal shack and washed himself briefly. The water sources in the desert were mildly corrosive and could not be used.
If the front line really has erupted into war, the factory will probably reopen its military supply warehouse. Then at least three of the four blueprints I developed should be manufacturable.
Gao Gong's spirits lifted. He immediately jumped into his off-road vehicle, slammed down on the accelerator, and sped toward a military supply warehouse in the northwest corner of Automobile City.
Rose Gasoline Bar, private room.
Black Rose crossed her long legs in black stockings. Between her slender fingers was a special 'Night Fragrance' synthetic cigarette. It could directly regulate dopamine secretion and create the flavor most suited to the customer. Each one sold for a hundred mechanical coins.
Thick smoke poured from her bright red lips, creating an indescribably languid air.
Sitting opposite her was an old-fashioned purebred robot dressed in a clown suit.
There were two types of purebred robots. The first was someone like Gao Gong, whose original body was human but who had undergone successive human modifications until the modification rate reached 100 percent, transforming from a human into a mechanical life-form.
The second type was mechanical in form from the very beginning. After undergoing laboratory modification, an AI was calibrated within the mechanical body. These were old-fashioned robots.
In fact, even in Nightless City, there were not many old-fashioned robots of this kind left. Most of the city's population consisted of androids injected directly with AI templates.
Only in some old places with strict confidentiality, such as factories and military corps, could old-fashioned robots like this still be found.
"This batch of goods will still be delivered to the old place. Send someone to receive it. This time, though, I want ten points."
Little Finger frowned. "There are so many people to pay off at every level. Where's the room to increase it?"
"The old men are investigating strictly. What can I do?"
Black Rose pressed down her beautiful palm, signaling Little Finger to be quiet, then said, "Fine. But increase the volume of the next shipment by thirty percent."
The old-fashioned robot fell silent for a moment, seemingly using big-data calculations to determine the probability of success for the smuggling operation. After a moment, it said, "Fine."
Once the negotiations ended, the atmosphere immediately relaxed. Little Finger chuckled and brought over four glasses of liquor.
"Come, come, come. I mixed these especially for you: beer that tastes like gasoline, and gasoline that tastes like beer. Have a try and see what difference you can find."
The old-fashioned robot said nothing and directly downed the two glasses of gasoline liquor.
"I still have things to do. I'm leaving first."
"Don't you want me to find a girl to keep you company?"
"Uh—" Little Finger's expression froze. Sister Rose, this is a bit ridiculous. You actually want to pimp for a robot? How did you even think of that?
Unexpectedly, the old-fashioned robot slowly turned its head and said, "You mean the physiological state called 'pleasure,' produced when humans stimulate the nervous system through the operation of their reproductive organs and secrete hormones?"
"Although I'm busy, I can spare an hour."
"You take him there. Remember, get the best android girl," Black Rose said without changing expression.
Little Finger rose with a conflicted expression. After hesitating, he could not help asking, "An hour? Are you really that capable?"
"Yes. I have the latest model of reproductive organs installed."
"Do you have any special requirements?"
"Special requirements? Wait a moment while I search the database."
After a moment, Little Finger returned and complained, "Don't take on such dangerous smuggling jobs next time. We could just traffic military supplies and sell them to the poor wretches in the desert. Wouldn't that be fine? Why get involved in those lunatics' enterprise?"
"Because they pay enough." Black Rose stood and walked out, with Little Finger following close behind, chattering nonstop.
"Who would've thought robots could embezzle, too? I always thought Old Hong was a normal person."
"Mm."
"Where are we going now?"
"Back to the garage."
"The garage! Are you taking me street racing? Are we going on a date? Can I put my arms around your little waist?" Little Finger's spirits soared as he fired off three questions in a row.
Black Rose shot him a sidelong glance. "Have you forgotten something?"
"Something? What?" Little Finger scratched his head, completely puzzled.
"You still haven't retrieved your operating table."
Before you continue