Getting to Work

"Well then... thank you all for your patronage. I hope we can have another equally pleasant collaboration next time!"

Watching the players' dazed, numb expressions and the surrounding wreckage, Lee Stein smiled, bowed, and exited the stage. Amidst the roar of countless players calling him a "profiteer," he carried a large backpack full of cash and left Osir Tower with two security guards in tow.

Compared to the journey there, Lee Stein was significantly more vigilant on the way back. After all, he was holding over five million in cash, and when facing these unconstrained players, he didn't want to pin his hopes on their sense of morality.

(The initial funds provided by the game were given in cash, so players generally held bills in hundred-dollar denominations.)

He reached the bank and deposited the money successfully; the trip was smooth and uneventful.

Perhaps it was because the notion that functional NPCs in traditional virtual online games were invincible was too deeply ingrained, or perhaps they simply hadn't reacted yet. Lee Stein couldn't be bothered to ponder it; at the very least, the players hadn't laid a hand on him, which was the best possible outcome.

He had a clear assessment of his current strength: his combat skills were decent, but blocking bullets was absolutely impossible. These players generally possessed firearms. If it were only three or four people, it wouldn't be an issue, but if they were to swarm him and open fire, he would undoubtedly die.

"Thank you both very much for your assistance. This is your payment, and this extra stack is for your manager. Please convey my sincere gratitude to him."

After depositing the money and finally relaxing his tense nerves, Lee Stein smiled and pulled out three stacks of dollars to hand to the two security guards behind him.

These two guards had been borrowed from the property manager of Osir Tower. The native inhabitants were subject to certain legal constraints, and the two Lee Stein had specifically chosen were clean-living men with family ties. Unless pushed to the brink, they wouldn't choose to take risks, so their character was at least somewhat guaranteed.

"Thank you, Mr. Lee Stein!"

The two guards possessed a military bearing; they took the generous payment without much change in expression, simply nodding before turning to leave.

Lee Stein caught a taxi, having the driver circle around Queens a few times before heading back to his home.

Closing the door and lying on the bed, he finally felt completely relaxed. The exhaustion and emptiness that followed the excessive excitement began to set in.

Today's events were indeed quite risky. The five million-plus dollars had practically swept the players' funds clean. Such a large sum of money would make anyone envious wherever it went. Although the journey had been peaceful, thinking back on it now, he still felt a lingering fear.

Of course, there was more of a sense of wanting more.

"It's a pity these players' initial funds have been fleeced almost dry; otherwise, I'd really like to do it again."

Thinking of the feeling of counting money until his hands went numb and the atmosphere that was even more fanatical and frenzied than a casino, Lee Stein smacked his lips.

It's no wonder the developers of those pay-to-win games have such deep schemes. Items that would have sold for at most a million were marked up fivefold using a few common tactics—this was even more stimulating than gambling.

Five million-plus dollars, converted to Chinese currency, was over thirty million yuan, and the cost incurred was practically negligible—it was pure profit.

"No wonder those big guilds in my past life would spend money like crazy just to get an entrepreneur template. Making money off players is just too simple."

Recalling the long string of zeros in his bank account balance, Lee Stein couldn't help but sigh aloud.

With this money, his subsequent plans would be much easier to execute.

The remaining balance for the Transformer was only a little over ten thousand dollars, not even a fraction of this sum. The remaining five million could be invested, and by leveraging the Iron Man plot, that money could likely double several times over.

With his emotions highly volatile and the fatigue of excitement setting in, Lee Stein drifted into a deep sleep before he knew it.

However, the next morning, his long-cultivated, precise biological clock woke him up early.

Today was Monday, but in order to finish the Transformer before the Lizard appeared, he had already taken three days off from school.

After washing up, Lee Stein hurried to the garage. Before long, Max, who had also taken time off from his company, arrived.

"Lee, good morning. I brought you breakfast."

Max was all smiles, carrying several steamed buns in his hand. Lee Stein really didn't know where he had bought them in a place like New York; at least in all the time he had been here, he had never seen anyone selling this kind of Chinese breakfast.

"Thank you so much. I was just hesitating whether to go out and buy a terrible-tasting burger."

Lee Stein smiled as he took the buns and said, "Did something good happen lately? You look much more energetic today than before."

"Heh~"

Max gave a sheepish laugh, touching his hair in embarrassment.

If there was a change, it was just that he had taken a shower before leaving today, so his perpetually greasy hair wasn't as oily as usual. What had truly changed the most was his mental state.

This was all thanks to Lee Stein. Ever since he had argued with his supervisor last time, although the supervisor's attitude had worsened, after Max brought up human rights laws, his work hours and holidays were no longer easily stripped away.

Having recovered from long-term pressure, his mental outlook was naturally different, and he wasn't as exhausted as before, when he would collapse into bed the moment he got home, too lazy to even take care of his own appearance.

"Alright, we need to get to work, Max!"

Wolfing down the buns in a few bites, Lee Stein took a sip of water and said, "I've received some bad news recently. We must finish Bumblebee within these three days."

"No problem. I drew up the new circuit diagrams overnight."

Max nodded to show he understood and then began to busy himself.

"Max, check the wiring in the legs. There's no response after connecting the power; I must have knocked a wire loose just now!"

"Got it!"

"Give me a hand, pass me those small motors, and the gears and finger joints."

"No problem, sir!"

"..."

The two had a clear division of labor: Lee Stein was responsible for the assembly and calibration of mechanical parts, while Max was in charge of the circuit layout. Both were making steady progress. Under their tireless efforts, the prototype of a robot was gradually taking shape. If it weren't for a few parts that hadn't arrived yet, it would likely be nearly finished in two days.