With the help of the workbench's robotic arms, Xu Fan wrapped the entire mech in red cloth, then loaded it onto the truck.
Out of absolute responsibility to his customer, he did not want anyone to see the mech before it reached its destination.
A few minutes later.
Xu Fan drove the rented heavy truck out through the warehouse gates.
In a flash, it disappeared into the night.
Yunlai Mountain, Zhonghai City.
Cloud Summit Manor stood halfway up the mountainside.
This was the private estate of Wang Tianhao, a well-known entrepreneur in Zhonghai.
It was also the venue for the family patriarch's seventieth birthday celebration.
After its driver's identity was verified, a legally modified heavy truck drove through the manor gates.
Pavilions and towers, cascading waterfalls and flowing springs-the manor had them all.
After the truck stopped, Xu Fan saw some captive-bred peacocks and ostriches fleeing in panic.
Xu Fan placed the mech in the open space in front of the manor's villa, keeping it tightly covered with red cloth.
After working for a day and two nights, he had finally completed the job.
He needed to go home, silence his phone, and get a good night's sleep.
The Zhonghai Wang Family held a distinguished position.
Besides the family patriarch Wang Baoguo, a Mount Tai and North Star of the scientific community, both his sons were renowned figures in the business world.
Early the next morning.
The entire manor began bustling with activity.
Luxury cars, including Rolls-Royces and Maybachs, drove into Cloud Summit Manor one after another.
Business tycoons from Zhonghai City arrived in droves to offer their birthday wishes.
With the birthday luncheon yet to begin, many guests with children explored the manor.
They all noticed an enormous object wrapped in red cloth standing in the open space in front of the villa.
Assuming it was a birthday gift arranged by one of the patriarch's sons, no one dared touch it.
As noon approached.
Three military vehicles drove into the manor and parked in the open space.
The soldiers in the front and rear vehicles got out first, all fully armed, guarding the surroundings with vigilant expressions.
An elderly man in a Zhongshan suit followed, stepping out of the bulletproof vehicle in the middle.
"What are those two sons of mine doing? I told them to keep everything simple. This... sigh!"
The old man frowned and walked toward the villa with steady steps.
"Haha, Elder Wang, you're this late to your own milestone birthday celebration? Did you lose track of time doing research again?"
"Huh?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Elder Wang's clouded eyes suddenly lit up.
"Elder Hua, what made an old fellow like you abandon your post and come running over?"
A white-haired old man emerged from the villa, wearing a Zhongshan suit identical to Elder Wang's.
The two old men had clearly known each other for years and immediately fell into conversation.
A plump middle-aged man followed behind them.
Some of the surrounding guests recognized Elder Hua and immediately grew solemn with respect.
Both Elder Wang and Elder Hua were Mount Tais and North Stars of the contemporary scientific community.
They deserved their heartfelt respect.
They were the true pillars holding up the Zhonghai Military Industry Research Base!
Both had made major scientific breakthroughs in the Xia Nation's field of mechanical intelligence.
Treasures of the nation!
Elder Wang and Elder Hua entered the villa's banquet hall side by side.
Guests already filled the seats all around.
Yet neither old man's thoughts were on the birthday banquet at all.
"Elder Wang, I actually came to discuss something with you in person. We need to speed up our development of exoskeleton armor."
"What happened, Elder Hua? Have you heard something?"
"I received word last night that the Northern Theater Command is also developing exoskeleton armor. They've already entered the testing phase!"
"That fast? How were the functionality and strength test results?"
"Extremely strong!"
Elder Wang immediately frowned.
They were still in the first phase of development.
Their research results would directly determine the priorities for subsequent resource support and the allocation of funding.
If the Northern Theater Command took the lead, where would he put this old face of his?
Just then, a somewhat petite girl who looked about eighteen walked briskly toward Elder Wang.
"Grandpa, the birthday banquet is about to start. Everyone's here except Second Uncle and Yixue."
The girl smiled sweetly, then mysteriously produced a gift box.
"This is my present for you, Grandpa!"
Elder Wang accepted the gift box with a beaming smile, his gaze full of affection as he looked at Wang Ning.
"This is an exoskeleton armor model bought from Eagle Sauce's military," Wang Ning said, raising her chin with a rather proud expression.
At the words "exoskeleton armor," a sharp gleam flashed through both old men's eyes.
Back when the Xia Nation was developing nuclear submarines, they had used a nuclear submarine model obtained from Eagle Sauce's military for verification.
It was no exaggeration to say that the seemingly unremarkable model had played a significant role back then.
By the same reasoning, perhaps this exoskeleton armor model could give them some inspiration as well.
Elder Wang unwrapped Wang Ning's gift.
It was exquisitely made, every joint and structural component ingeniously designed.
Elder Hua also recognized its exceptional quality at a glance.
"Sure enough, this model must have been made with reference to actual equipment from Eagle Sauce's military."
"Hahaha, Ning, you really have given your grandpa a wonderful present!"
Elder Wang laughed heartily and gently pinched Wang Ning's nose.
"Grandpa, I'm happy as long as you like it."
Hearing her grandfather's praise, Wang Ning looked even prouder.
She took out her phone, snapped two pictures of the model, and posted them to her Moments.
Still feeling that was not enough, she forwarded them to Wang Yixue.
"Beep-"
Just as she was about to enter, her phone sounded.
Wang Yixue took out her phone and saw that the message was actually from Wang Ning, her eldest uncle's daughter.
Wang Ning was only two months younger than her and had competed with her over everything since childhood.
Whether it was school exams, piano competitions, or even the clothes they wore, she had to compare them.
It was just that Wang Ning had never won.
Reading the message on her phone, Wang Yixue smiled helplessly.
Her younger cousin was still the same as ever, not changed in the slightest.
She had sent a message showing off just how pleased their grandfather was with her gift.
She even had to compete over birthday presents.
Wang Yixue did not mind and brushed it off with a smile.
What worried her now was whether the fifty-centimeter mech model she had commissioned from Master Xu had arrived at the manor.
Neither her messages nor her calls to Master Xu had received a response.
The Rolls-Royce drove into the manor.
Wang Tianhao and his daughter Wang Yixue finally arrived before the birthday banquet began.
"Dad, may your blessings flow endlessly like the waters of the Eastern Sea, and may your life endure like the ageless pines of the Southern Mountain!"
Wang Tianhao presented the two-hundred-year-old Changbai Mountain ginseng he had bought at auction for fifty million.
"What use do I have for this? Just like your older brother, all you know is how to waste money!"
Although Elder Wang sounded displeased, he was not actually angry.
After all, this was his second son's expression of filial devotion.
"Oh? Little Yixue, it hasn't been that long since I last saw you, and you've already grown into a graceful young lady from a fine family, just like Ning."
Apart from his scientific research, Elder Wang cared most about his two granddaughters.
A smile appeared on his face when he saw Wang Yixue.
Beside them, Wang Tianhao said with a smile,
"Dad, you still think she's a little brat drinking milk!"
"Haha..."
The relatives and guests around them all burst into laughter.
The atmosphere was harmonious, with hosts and guests alike enjoying themselves.
"Yixue, you prepared a present for Grandpa too, didn't you? Stop being so mysterious. Hurry and bring it out!"
Just then, a voice rang out.
Wang Ning poked her head out from the crowd and asked with a smile.
There was, however, something of a competitive edge to her tone.
Elder Wang's eyes lit up, and he also pressed her.
"Yixue, your dad said you prepared a wonderful present for Grandpa. Where is it?"