Since Planet Maixibo is not a colony planet, but an industrial neutral planet with a population agglomeration effect, there are only five cities on the surface: one main city and four satellite cities. Han Xiao landed in the largest main city.
From high above, the cities of Planet Maixibo's have a strong industrial feel, dominated by massive spaceship factories. In some places, large spaceships are even assembled in the open air, and their rudimentary skeletons can be seen directly from the sky. This planet has no real residential buildings, only dormitories and recreational facilities for mechanics and workers, as well as various hotels for interstellar travelers.
In the center of the city stands a conch-shaped mechanical floating city, the headquarters of "Giant Soldier Constructor" Sedim. The city is spiral-shaped, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. At the base of the floating city hang sixteen sentinel-type mechanical giants, each 240 meters tall, which are in a dormant state but will automatically activate to attack intruders if attacked. They are very powerful in combat.
The three branches of the Mechanic Class Department each have their own specializations. Sedim is clearly Grade A mechanic of the Armed Engineering Department, specializing in creating powerful mechanical behemoths, while Han Xiao, a virtual mechanic, is good at transforming other people's machines into his own shape, allowing other mechanics to feel a love as vast as the grasslands.
The Planet Maixibo has eight surface ports. Following ground instructions, the spaceship landed at the Number Three surface port and entered the hangar. After completing the simple formalities, Han Xiao led Hila and the other two, who were disguised, out of the spaceport and mingled with the crowd leaving the port into the city.
Whoosh--
A bustling atmosphere swept over them, with crowds thronging the streets. Everywhere they looked, there were creatures of various races: the diminutive Nilan, the towering stone giants, and even some arthropods—all interstellar citizens from different star clusters. Some were hawking their wares, while others discussed where to go for some fun, their conversations facilitated by a universal interstellar translator.
The air was thick with the sounds of people, a bustling and vibrant scene of interstellar society.
"It's so lively here! They're all neutral planets, so why is Dragon Calm so deserted?" Aurora looked around curiously.
"Because Dragon Calm lacks distinctive industries and is unfriendly to foreign conglomerates."
Han Xiao shook his head and smiled. Areas with Beyond Grade A expert in charge are always very popular. Dragon Calm's poor management is entirely due to strategic problems. Ames simply doesn't want to develop properly.
Furthermore, in terms of the nature of the land, Planet Maixibo's is a purely industrial planet, while Dragon Calm is Ames's home, and the two have different management models and levels of openness.
Sedim is capable of being a local tycoon. He is also a mechanic with technical expertise and is good at attracting investment, so it would be easy for him to make a territory thrive.
call--
Just then, the sound of energy jets streaked across the sky. The group looked up and saw a squadron of mechanical guards flying overhead. This was Sedim's armed force for maintaining order, and also his own mechanical army.
"Opening a neutral planet can be quite profitable. Hmm, although my Black Star Army is affiliated with a higher-level power, creating a neutral industrial planet seems like a good idea. It would allow me to concentrate my resources on recruiting newbies... Well, I'll have to wait until the Secret War is over before making any decisions..."
Han Xiao stroked his chin, deep in thought, considering the legion's business expansion.
Black Star's identity was quite well-known in the Shattered Star Ring. Fortunately, he had disguised himself, so no one recognized him along the way. The group switched to ground-based hovercraft and arrived at a shipyard in the central area of the main city.
The shipyard was enormous and magnificent. Han Xiao and his companions stopped outside the gate and looked up at the floating, virtual, colorful sign that read "Summit Keystone Group" in the interstellar common language.
This is one of the shipyards with the best reputation among Planet Maixibo.
"This is the place." Han Xiao nodded, turned on his communicator, and saw a job posting from the Summit Keystone Group on the screen.
These large shipyards recruit mechanics on a long-term basis, with the minimum entry requirements being either a Grade C rank or a mechanical technician certificate issued by a star-level civilization—similar to the minimum educational requirements of a company.
Han Xiao doesn't have a mechanical technician's certificate. That's something only research-oriented and life-oriented superhumans need. It's essentially for the convenience of researchers and technicians who don't like fighting. He doesn't need to take such an exam, and with his rank, he doesn't need to take any exams to get the certificate.
Superhumans possess extraordinary power. Some use this power to commit violence—such as space pirates, mercenaries, and bounty hunters—while others use their abilities for production. Superhumans of all five elements are also a significant source of productivity and labor in interstellar society.
Among them Mechanic Class and Mage Class are the most sought-after, and some special ability users are also in good demand. Psychic practitioners are suitable for positions such as psychological adjustment and exploration and reconnaissance. Only martial artists have a very worrying employment prospect because martial artists are best at manual labor, which robots can also do, and at a much cheaper price - after all, which foreman would hire a martial artist to move bricks?
The group entered the shipyard. There were many customers in the reception hall, all there to order spaceships. They were using the self-service screens in the hall to browse the spaceship models they wanted and place their orders.
Han Xiao found an unoccupied self-service screen, pressed the manual service button, and the next moment, the screen switched to a beautiful female Cosmic Human receptionist.
"Hello, dear customer, welcome to the services offered by Summit Keystone Group. How can I help you?"
"I'm here to apply for a job as a mechanic," Han Xiao stated his purpose. His disguise was very effective; he wouldn't be recognized.
"Okay, please follow the reception robot; someone will be there to interview you."
A palm-sized white spherical robot flew over, dressed in a miniature receptionist outfit, looking quite adorable. It gave a proper bow and then led the way.
Leaving the reception hall and passing through the surrounding factory area, Han Xiao entered a large workshop. He immediately saw many junior mechanics working on lathes, assembling parts.
At this moment, a well-dressed, white-haired old man with a small braid tied at the back of his head came up to greet them. He had a smile on his face and looked quite kind.
"Hello, I am Luke, a senior mechanical Engineer at Summit Keystone Group."
"Your name is Luke?!" Han Xiao couldn't help but stare at him, his eyes looking rather strange.
"Uh... is something wrong?" The white-haired old man looked puzzled and asked tentatively, "Do you know me?"
"It's nothing," Han Xiao coughed lightly, "It's just that I have a friend with the same name as you."
"Haha, translators mostly transliterate names. The universe is so big, it's normal to have the same name twice." Luke chuckled twice, then asked, "May I ask your name?"
Oh right, I also need to make up a pseudonym...
Han Xiao, a mischievous glint in his eye, coughed and chuckled, "Just call me Barn."
Luke felt there was something strange about Han Xiao's smile that made him a little scared, and he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
On Planet Maixibo's, many Mechanic Class space pirates or mercenaries have become shipwrights. Could this guy named Barn also be a former space pirate?
Keton, then steered the conversation back on track, saying in a deep voice, "Our Summit Keystone Group constantly recruiting mechanics. You should have already seen the requirements. May I ask which testing method you prefer? Will you be demonstrating your mechanical technician certificate, or testing your skill level?"
"Let's test the rank."
Luke nodded, raised his hand and released a burst of Mechanical Force, grabbing the reception robot in his hand. The energy fluctuations he displayed in that instant were clearly at the Grade B.
He glanced at Han Xiao discreetly, and seeing that Han Xiao's expression did not change, he nodded secretly. He pressed a few buttons on the reception robot, and a probe popped out from the robot's head. This was a device used to test the energy level.
"You know how to use this, right? Just release a burst of Mechanical Force onto the probe," Luke said.
Han Xiao exhaled, carefully mobilizing the Mechanical Force within his body, afraid of releasing too much and revealing his Grade A rank.
A burst of Mechanical Force shot from his fingertip and struck the probe. Luke glanced at the test results, his expression suddenly changed, and his tone became enthusiastic.
"You're a B+ level mechanic?!"
"It still seems a bit too high..." Han Xiao sighed helplessly.
B+ level is basically the highest level of talent that a shipyard can recruit. Grade A superhumans are not common. Although Calamity Grade are very common in Secret War, in daily interstellar life, Grade A superhumans are rarely seen and would never apply for a job at an ordinary shipyard.
"Any further testing required?"
"No need, no need. We will directly offer you the position and salary of Engineer, which is the treatment you deserve at your level."
Luke was very enthusiastic. In the group, Grade B was a prerequisite for becoming Engineer, and one still needed to accumulate merits, while B+ could directly become Engineer.
"Please wait a moment, I will have a senior executive speak with you directly."
After saying that, he turned to report the situation to his superiors and then enthusiastically led Han Xiao on a tour of the shipyard's various areas.
Before long, several senior managers from the Summit Keystone Group arrived and sincerely discussed the compensation issue. Han Xiao was mainly there for his expertise, and the two parties quickly signed a two-year work contract, which included a clause that certain drawings could not be disclosed.
--Of course, Han Xiao did not intend to abide by the contract. He signed the contract under the identity of "Barn" and planned to leave once he had the expertise. Even if his true identity was exposed one day, given his status in interstellar space, how could a mere shipyard dare to hold him accountable for breach of contract? He was truly a villain.
Moreover, he had no intention of harming anyone else's interests—what more could you want from someone like me, a peak-level Calamity Grade being, working for you?
With the contract signed, Luke smiled and shook hands with Han Xiao.
"Summit Keystone Group warmly welcomes you to join us and wishes us a pleasant cooperation."
Han Xiao nodded. "What projects will I be responsible for?"
"Yes, that's right. The group recently received a high-level order from a major client. They provided the blueprints and need us to mass-produce a relatively rare type of warship. Our production line can't manufacture some of the highly technical ship components. The blueprints for these components are extremely complex; only Grade B mechanic can learn and manufacture them. So we've mobilized many Engineer, but the progress isn't ideal..."
"I understand. My job is to build some components, right?" Han Xiao nodded.
"Yes, I'll arrange your accommodation first, and then I'll give you the blueprints for some of the components. You should have five days of free time to study the blueprints, and then you can use the group's factory to start manufacturing. Each Engineer has a performance target, and since you're new to the project, the deadline might be a bit tight," Luke explained.
"It won't take five days. Just give me the blueprints, and I can learn it in a second..." Han Xiao shook his head and chuckled to himself. Moreover, with his Calamity Grade manufacturing capabilities, mass-producing spaceship parts would be a piece of cake.
At this moment, the panel finally reacted, and a task popped up.
[[Engineer]]
[Task Summary: The first rule of the Mechanic's work is: A Mechanic's career is incomplete if they don't use other people's resources to practice on!]
[Task Requirements: Utilize the resources of the Summit Keystone Group to develop 1500 products (any type, but must be business assigned by the group). Current progress: 0/1500]
[Reward: 6.5 million experience points, Specialty Bonus - [Skilled Technician]]
"The mission has finally been triggered." Han Xiao.
Although the name of this specialty is a bit lame, the effect is still quite good. Specialties that enhance the main profession are always very cost-effective.
He currently has a total of 12 mechanical specializations: [Energy Modification], [Mechanical Analysis Comprehension], [Virtual Technology Specialization], [Mechanical Theory Summary], [Ordnance Mass Production Insights], [Versatile Weapon Application], [Super Electromagnetic Induction], [Basic Mechanical Sense], [Assembly Line Production Expert], [Advanced Mecha Pilot], [Mechanical Truth Mastery], and [Mechanical Force Sublimation - Apostle Body]. Most of these were obtained through job advancement from his main profession.
The combined effect of various mechanical specialties is quite considerable, and little by little, it adds up to a significant increase.
For the rest of the day, Luke accompanied Han Xiao to explore the shipyard area. By evening, his accommodations were finally arranged. He stayed in a high-class dormitory within the group, Hila and the other two, who had been acting as his bodyguards, also moved in with him.
After tidying up the room, Aurora couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, do you have some other purpose in staying here to work?"
"Oh?" Han Xiao asked curiously.
"You actually wanted to steal trade secrets, to steal the blueprints here, didn't you?" Aurora said excitedly, with an expression that said, "I knew it."
"You're overthinking it. I don't need to do something so low-level." Han Xiao's lips twitched. "If you want any blueprints, just buy them. I'm not poor."
"Black Star, are we really going to stay here for two years?" Fording suddenly asked.
"Of course not, what are you thinking?" Han Xiao said helplessly.
Fording sighed. "We've followed you around for the past three months, saying it was to experience different lives and see more things, but I really can't see how this has helped you break through to Beyond Grade A."
Han Xiao had no choice but to make an excuse, "I've been fighting for seven years and haven't made any progress. Perhaps relaxing will give me different insights."
Fording said helplessly, "In short, you need to be aware that your time is really running out. If you really can't break through, you need to make plans as soon as possible. Whether it's asking the Dragon Emperor for help or escaping the Shattered Star Ring, you need to have a plan."
You're talking like I'm about to die. If only you were Lagi...
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Luke walked in carrying a thick stack of blueprints. He placed them on the table, chatted casually for a few minutes, and then turned and left.
These are the blueprints for three components. To prevent the technology of the entire spacecraft from being leaked, each Engineer received blueprints for a different component and was responsible for the production of a different stage.
Han Xiao quickly scanned the blueprints in a few dozen seconds, and the panel recognized the blueprints of the three components, generating skills for them, thus gaining complete mastery.
"These three components are quite technologically advanced... Ordinary spaceships don't need these three components; only super-large spaceships require them..."
Han Xiao suddenly froze.
It seems that only spacecraft using cluster-class technology utilize these three components...
Connecting these factors... could it be that the order received by the Summit Keystone Group is to build a star cluster-class flagship? Like the Amethyst Civilization Star Diamond-Class Flagship?!
That's a manufacturing process that even star cluster-level civilizations keep secret!
Han Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't an armed mechanic and had always lacked blueprints for large machinery. He only had a satellite fortress to his name. If he could obtain the blueprints for a star cluster-class flagship, it would be a significant unexpected gain.