Recaps

After Han Xiao’s High Combustion Bullets rescued a squad, their battlefield success made them a hit with Thirteenth Bureau agents and the Bureau itself. As Han Xiao’s production and profits surged, Luo Xuan secretly tried to reverse-engineer the ammunition and triggered it while opening a bullet.

• Zhang Wei welcomed Han Xiao to the squad, and Han Xiao offered to maintain Zhang Wei’s Warrior Armor.
• Han Xiao explained the High Combustion Bullets, sold Ma Qingyang two hundred rounds, and demonstrated their power to Thirteenth Bureau agents.
• Agents and the Thirteenth Bureau placed large orders, and Han Xiao sold out his stock, earned two hundred thousand Aquamarine Dollars, and began mass production.
• Li Yalin refused to sell bullets to Krat because Han Xiao had blacklisted him, and Krat regretted having offended Han Xiao.
• Luo Xuan secretly tried to dismantle a High Combustion Bullet to copy its blueprint, but it ignited as he opened it.

After Luo Xuan’s unauthorized attempt to study High Combustion Ammunition ended in a fire and his demotion to Logistics, Han Xiao inspected Zhang Wei’s crude Warrior Armor and prepared to upgrade his own gear. As Germinal agents began searching for Han Xiao in West Capital, the organization’s leader ordered an investigation and assigned the assassin Nosa to pursue him if they found a lead.

• Luo Xuan’s experiment with a High Combustion round caused a fire, and Gu Hui sent him back to the Logistics Department, where he was assigned to work under a team.
• Han Xiao examined Zhang Wei’s Warrior Armor, judged its design crude, made quick repairs, and returned it without beginning a major modification.
• Han Xiao considered the risks of giving Stardragon intelligence about Germinal bases beyond its borders and decided he would need to accompany any cross-border operation.
• Feng Jun warned Han Xiao that Germinal spies in West Capital were searching for him, so Han Xiao requested two Mad Eagle Pistols and raised Basic Refinement to level 5 to prepare new equipment.
• The Germinal leader connected Han Xiao’s Light Power Arm to Stardragon’s attacks on three branch bases and ordered unfamiliar recruits and wanderers to investigate his whereabouts.
• The Germinal leader ordered Nosa, an executive and assassin, to pursue Han Xiao if the investigation uncovered a lead.

Han Xiao strengthened his weapons, raised his level and combat power, and discovered that the closed beta had begun. He unlocked NPC functions and the player forum, then decided to seek contact with the players as Frenzied Sword entered Galaxy on Planet Aquamarine.

• Han Xiao made a green-quality Folding Taibo War Blade, received two Wild Eagle pistols from Feng Jun, and prepared to carry them for protection.
• Han Xiao spent 180,000 experience to gain three levels, invested his free attribute points in intelligence, and reached character level 24 with a combat power rating of 160 ona.
• Han Xiao learned that the closed beta would last twelve in-game days and realized that game time could pass independently of real time when players were absent.
• Han Xiao unlocked NPC functions and the player forum, but could only browse the empty forum as a guest because no player was linked to his account.
• Han Xiao resolved to meet the players, while Frenzied Sword began his game on Planet Aquamarine at Big Horn Mountain Settlement.

Frenzied Sword entered the realistic world of Galaxy and learned that new players in Big Horn Mountain Settlement had to earn money through work before they could afford training or exploration. After players discovered that the nearby beasts were far too dangerous to hunt, Long Sky approached Frenzied Sword with an observation about the settlement’s expensive maps.

• Frenzied Sword arrived in Big Horn Mountain Settlement, inspected his beginner character, and heard village chief Sandrew explain the settlement’s jobs, services, and survival needs.
• Chop into Eighteen Pieces led veteran guild members into the mountains to hunt, but they returned after being killed by powerful beasts and suffering the game’s death penalties.
• The players abandoned monster hunting and took low-paying errands around the settlement to earn money and experience.
• Long Sky, accompanied by Frenzied Sword Fried Rice and Jiang Yuluo, asked Frenzied Sword whether he had noticed that market maps cost three thousand Aquamarine Dollars despite the small beginner quest rewards.

Frenzied Sword joined Long Sky, Jiang Yuluo, and Frenzied Sword Fried Rice in buying a map and traveling to Stardragon’s capital, where they unlocked the faction. After separating from the others, Frenzied Sword encountered the masked Han Xiao, whose detection profile marked him as extremely lethal.

• Long Sky invited Frenzied Sword to join his team with Jiang Yuluo and Frenzied Sword Fried Rice, and Frenzied Sword agreed.
• The four pooled their money to buy a map, learned about Planet Aquamarine’s factions, and chose to travel to Stardragon’s capital.
• After three days on the train, the group reached West Capital, passed inspection, and received temporary Stardragon ID cards.
• Frenzied Sword chose to go alone while Long Sky, Jiang Yuluo, and Frenzied Sword Fried Rice left together.
• Frenzied Sword used detection on the masked Han Xiao and saw that he was marked as extremely lethal.

Han Xiao tested his ability to issue quests and adjust player affinity by approaching Frenzied Sword in West Capital. He confirmed that players could serve as quest-taking helpers, but his first experiment ended with Frenzied Sword’s relationship turning cold.

• Han Xiao recognized Frenzied Sword and the other closed beta players at the West Capital checkpoint, then approached Frenzied Sword to test his NPC functions.
• Han Xiao discovered that his panel let him issue quests with experience rewards limited by his level, grade, faction influence, and legend.
• Han Xiao issued Frenzied Sword a simple bread quest with a one-dollar reward, and Frenzied Sword handed over all seven portions he carried.
• Han Xiao confirmed that he could adjust a player's affinity and lowered Frenzied Sword's affinity by five points.
• Frenzied Sword received a notification that Han Xiao's affinity had fallen and that their relationship was cold.

Han Xiao tested his personal shop by selling equipment and skills to Frenzied Sword, who switched from Pugilist to Mechanic to learn from him. After giving Frenzied Sword the repair shop’s address, Han Xiao reflected that he may have redirected a future top player onto a difficult early-game path.

• Han Xiao opened his personal shop to Frenzied Sword and listed weapons, equipment, and Mechanic skills at steep prices and with purchase requirements.
• Frenzied Sword admired the shop’s offerings but learned that he could not study Mechanic skills without changing class.
• Frenzied Sword chose to become a Mechanic and bought Basic Weaponry, giving Han Xiao experience and Aquamarine Dollars as tuition.
• Han Xiao adjusted Frenzied Sword’s favorability and gave him the repair shop’s address before leaving.
• Frenzied Sword decided to keep Han Xiao’s location secret, while Han Xiao recalled Frenzied Sword’s future as a top Pugilist and wondered whether he had misled him.

Han Xiao discovered that the Gods Guild had received a B-rank mission to investigate Zero and realized Germinal was directing players toward him. The Gods Guild planned to search Stardragon and recruit other players’ help, while Han Xiao decided to target a Germinal base.

• Long Sky, Jiang Yuluo, and Frenzied Sword Fried Rice joined the Stardragon Army, while Han Xiao gave Frenzied Sword bizarre, high-reward missions to test the mission system and build his future customer base.
• Han Xiao read a forum post announcing the B-rank mission [Investigate Zero] and recognized the Gods Guild as the poster.
• Han Xiao recalled the Gods Guild’s past ties to Germinal and concluded that the organization was determined to find him, prompting him to choose a Germinal base as his next target.
• Jupiter and the Gods Guild discussed how to investigate Zero, whose only known location was Stardragon, and decided to continue the search into the open beta.
• Jupiter proposed posting Zero’s appearance and offering a bounty for useful leads, and the wealthy Temple Club-backed guild agreed to seek help from other players.

Han Xiao triggered an emergency mission and survived an assassination attempt by Germinal Organization killer Nosa Kono, whose illusions failed against him. After killing Nosa, Han Xiao completed the mission and received a Character Summon Card, while Frenzied Sword emerged from the illusion to find the battle over.

• Han Xiao received an emergency mission to survive an approaching assassin and left the repair shop armed, with Frenzied Sword following him.
• Nosa Kono trapped Han Xiao in an illusion and fired at his forehead, but Han Xiao resisted the illusion and dodged the bullet with Sliding Shot.
• Han Xiao counterattacked with his Wild Eagles, wounded Nosa, and blocked his escape with a sea of flames.
• Nosa tried to use his illusion ability again, but Han Xiao resisted it and shot him in the neck before finishing him with high-combustion bullets.
• Han Xiao killed Nosa, completed the emergency mission, and gained a Character Summon Card; Frenzied Sword then broke free of the illusion and found the fight over.

Han Xiao killed the Germinal Organization assassin Nosa Kono and realized a spy in West Capital might be carrying news of his location out of the city. He tracked the spy to an abandoned church, but learned that Lugaon had disappeared around noon, leaving Han Xiao racing to figure out which checkpoint he would use.

• Feng Jun arrived with field agents and learned that Han Xiao had killed Nosa Kono, while Han Xiao kept the Character Summon Card he earned as a reward.
• Han Xiao warned Feng Jun that Germinal might know his location, then left to intercept the West Capital spy before he could escape with the information.
• Han Xiao summoned Li Yalin and the others to the Eighth District, stole a car, and knocked out a traffic officer who tried to stop him.
• Han Xiao reached an abandoned church and questioned a wanderer, who identified the missing spy as Lugaon, known as No Tongue.
• Han Xiao learned that Lugaon had disappeared around noon and considered which of West Capital's three checkpoints he might have taken.

Han Xiao and the Thirteenth Bureau agents hunted Lugaon, a Germinal informant trying to flee West Capital with information about Zero. They caught him at a checkpoint, where Han Xiao killed him before he could take poison, and Han Xiao decided to put his plan into action sooner.

• Han Xiao deduced that Lugaon might escape through one of West Capital's three checkpoints and recruited Li Yalin, Zhang Wei, and Lambert to search for him.
• Han Xiao and Li Yalin raced to the southern checkpoint, where they used Li Yalin's identification to get inside and had the surveillance program screen Lugaon's portrait.
• Lugaon joined the crowd at the checkpoint, unaware that Han Xiao's group was searching for him, and soldiers sealed the city on orders from above.
• Soldiers identified and arrested Lugaon, and Han Xiao arrived with Li Yalin to confront him.
• Lugaon prepared to bite his poison capsule, so Han Xiao shot and killed him, then said he would have to put his plan into action sooner.

The Gods Guild learned that Zero was in West Capital, while Germinal’s leader ordered a major force to hunt him down. Han Xiao persuaded Gu Hui to let him join future operations using a disguise device and set his sights on destroying Dark Crow Valley Base.

• Jupiter learned that the Gods Guild’s quest had pinpointed Zero’s location to West Capital and planned to search for him after the open beta began.
• Germinal’s leader blamed Zero for Nosa and Lugaon’s deaths and ordered Wind Eye to locate him, with two hundred Night Owls and five executives ready to kill him.
• Frenzied Sword’s closed beta ended, and Han Xiao noted that the game’s update countdown did not match the passage of time in reality.
• Han Xiao told Gu Hui that Germinal could now narrow his location to West Capital and proposed openly opposing the organization and joining operations personally.
• Han Xiao privately told Gu Hui he could make a convenient appearance-changing device, and Gu Hui agreed to let him join operations once it was ready.
• Han Xiao chose Dark Crow Valley Base as his next target, hoping to weaken Germinal and limit future players joining its faction.

Han Xiao prepared to upgrade his equipment for a possible expedition across the Hesla border and learned a range of mechanical knowledge from Old Man Lü. He fused several knowledge types to create the Intelligent Simulation Optical Mask, leaving him ready to improve his disguise and combat gear.

• Han Xiao met with Gu Hui about contacting Hesla Military Intelligence, then returned to the repair shop after Feng Jun complained about his secret encounter with an assassin.
• Han Xiao decided to prepare a disguise mask, better combat equipment, and a vehicle for the likely expedition, while also planning upgrades for Zhang Wei's Warrior Armor.
• Han Xiao borrowed seven mechanical knowledge books from Old Man Lü, who thanked him for keeping Lü Qian out of danger during the assassination attempt.
• Han Xiao spent twenty potential points learning and improving mechanical knowledge, gained Basic Programming and Energy-Electromagnetic Enhancement, and practiced the Energy Refinement Method.
• Han Xiao spent 20,000 experience fusing four knowledge types and successfully developed the Intelligent Simulation Optical Mask blueprint.

Han Xiao crafted and tested the Intelligent Simulation Optical Mask, then secured permission to join a joint operation with Hesla. With at least half a month before departure, he planned a series of combat and logistics upgrades for his squad.

• Han Xiao used costly materials and microelectronic components to craft the Intelligent Simulation Optical Mask, which could simulate, store, reset, and scan facial appearances.
• Han Xiao demonstrated a stored disguise to Gu Hui while concealing the mask's full capabilities, and Gu Hui agreed to let him join the operation with his squad.
• Gu Hui told Han Xiao that the operation with Hesla would take at least half a month to prepare.
• Han Xiao listed his priorities for the waiting period, including stockpiling blueprints, acquiring a logistics vehicle, upgrading Zhang Wei's Warrior Armor, and improving his own combat gear.
• Han Xiao sent Feng Jun to collect 300,000 worth of materials for his planned modifications.

Han Xiao enhanced two Wild Eagles, chose Sniping as his advanced shooting skill, and built a modified glider and oscillation-equipped power arm. He then began a costly knowledge fusion to develop a signature mechanic weapon, hoping to get the blueprint on his first try.

• Han Xiao enhanced two Wild Eagles to green quality and spent experience raising Precision Shooting to Lv3.
• Han Xiao chose Sniping over Close-Quarters Gun-Kata and Recoil-Controlled Suppressive Fire.
• Han Xiao manufactured a Cloud Swallow Glider and added folding technology from the Folding War Blade.
• Han Xiao fused knowledge to develop the Pneumatic Oscillator, then installed it in a modified Light Power Arm.
• Han Xiao started a 70,000-experience knowledge fusion for a mechanic weapon and hoped to obtain its blueprint on the first attempt.

Han Xiao spent three days crafting an incomplete Magnetically Controlled Metal Extension Armor, a powerful new defensive tool. After testing it and learning to control it, he concealed it in a small box and considered his combat capabilities nearly complete.

• Han Xiao fused his knowledge and developed the Magnetically Controlled Metal Extension Armor blueprint, then spent three days making it.
• After emerging from his workshop, Han Xiao fell asleep while Li Yalin complained about delayed orders and reminded him of an upcoming mission to Hesla.
• Han Xiao woke the next morning, ate Lü Qian's breakfast, and returned to his workshop to examine the armor.
• Han Xiao used magnetic energy to form the metal flakes into armor and tested its durability with the Folding Taibo War Blade.
• Han Xiao practiced controlling the armor, stored it in a concealed box, and decided that only art remained to complete his combat preparations.

Han Xiao upgraded his equipment and acquired a military heavy truck, which he converted into a mobile workshop and outfitted for rough travel. He named the finished vehicle Big Black.

• Han Xiao fitted sixty delayed blasts with miniature propellers and decided his personal equipment was ready.
• Han Xiao exchanged 150 Thirteenth Bureau contribution points for a heavy-duty truck, and Feng Jun delivered it to the repair shop.
• Because the truck could not fit inside the repair shop, Old Man Lü lent Han Xiao a garage nearby.
• Han Xiao inspected the truck, then reinforced its chassis and bumper, turned its cargo box into a workshop, and added nitrous bottles, spare tires, and a radar antenna.
• Han Xiao finished modifying the truck and named it Big Black.

Han Xiao modified Zhang Wei’s Warrior Armor and prepared his team’s heavy truck for the joint operation against the Dark Raven Valley base. The squad arrived at the eastern checkpoint, where the other teams and staff officer Qi Baijia were waiting.

• Han Xiao showed his teammates the heavy truck, named it Big Black, and agreed to modify Zhang Wei’s Warrior Armor for 360,000.
• Han Xiao developed a Low-Level Intelligent Chip and a K600 Model Powered Endoskeleton, then finished modifying the Warrior Armor before departure.
• Li Yalin drove Big Black to the eastern checkpoint while Han Xiao slept in the cargo compartment.
• At the checkpoint, Ma Qingyang, Di Susu, and staff officer Qi Baijia waited for Zhang Wei’s squad to arrive.
• Han Xiao’s modified military heavy truck rumbled into view, and the waiting agents recognized that the squad had arrived.

Han Xiao joined the Secret Operations squads aboard a military train and learned they were headed to investigate the Germinal base in Dark Raven Valley. As Qi Baijia briefed the team, Han Xiao spotted an approaching beast attack, and the train lurched as agents screamed.

• Zhang Wei, Ma Qingyang, Li Yalin, Di Susu, and the others boarded a military train with Big Black and forty field agents.
• Han Xiao woke in the cargo compartment, joined the others, and traded greetings with Di Susu and Ma Qingyang.
• Qi Baijia briefed the squads on their mission to investigate Dark Raven Valley through the wanderer settlement of Crow Forest.
• Qi Baijia identified Pan Kuang, Ji Jie, and Dormon as key figures at the base and said Hesla agents would join the operation.
• Han Xiao shouted that beasts were attacking, and the train jolted as field agents screamed.

A Black Earth Worm attacked the train, but the agents drove it away with High Combustion Bullets and continued their journey. Han Xiao spent the remaining trip training and making machinery before the train reached a border station in Hesla.

• A Black Earth Worm wrapped around the train carriage and swallowed several field agents while their bullets failed to penetrate its shell.
• Li Yalin and Di Susu damaged the worm with their energy-infused blades, and Di Susu identified its fear of fire.
• Zhang Wei and the agents fired High Combustion Bullets, forcing the worm to release the carriage and burrow underground.
• The agents recovered and began cleaning up the damaged carriage, while Han Xiao brushed off their gratitude.
• Han Xiao practiced the Energy Refinement Method and manufactured machinery during the three-day journey, which ended at a border station in Hesla.

Han Xiao and the Stardragon agents arrived in Hesla to join a military operation against the Germinal Organization’s Dark Raven Valley base. After learning the mission offered multiple faction objectives, Han Xiao was suddenly attacked by a red-haired woman.

• Ye Fan met Qi Baijia and the Stardragon team at a military station and escorted them to register for the operation.
• Colonel Kelt approved the team’s deployment, while the Stardragon agents discussed the Heslans’ hostility and their countries’ past war.
• Han Xiao discovered that the Dark Crow Valley Operation was a faction mission with reconnaissance, combat, assassination, and sabotage objectives.
• A red-haired woman approached Han Xiao outside the lounge, asked if he was from Stardragon, and stabbed at his neck with a dagger.

Han Xiao faced down Hesla agent Wenna’s attempt to intimidate him, then led his team to the temporary base in Big Black. The journey ended with his teammates sick from his reckless driving, while Lambert warned him not to drive again.

• Wenna introduced herself as a Military Intelligence Department agent and tested Han Xiao with a dagger, but he drew his pistol faster and made her back down.
• Wenna told Ye Fan that Han Xiao seemed dangerous, while Han Xiao kept the confrontation from his team and Qi Baijia approved of his restraint.
• Kelt was satisfied that the Stardragon agents had avoided a fight, and both countries’ teams departed for Hesla’s secret base.
• When Zhang Wei ordered Han Xiao to catch up with the Hesla convoy, Han Xiao drove Big Black at such speed that his teammates and Lambert vomited after they arrived.
• Han Xiao praised Lambert for seeming unaffected, but Lambert vomited and warned Han Xiao that he would jump out if Han Xiao drove again.

The Thirteenth Bureau infiltrated Crow Forest Town to find intelligence while Wenna’s Hesla team searched the forest for Germinal sentries. Han Xiao identified a Germinal spy in town and built a small arthropod detector, as Wenna closed in on a sentry near Dark Crow Valley Base.

• The teams split up, with Di Susu leading the Thirteenth Bureau into Crow Forest Town and Wenna taking the Hesla agents to search for sentries.
• Han Xiao advised Di Susu to act naturally, then directed her team to a casino where they found Germinal’s bald spy.
• Han Xiao left Lin Yao to monitor the operation and used knowledge fusion to develop a Small Arthropod Detector (Spider).
• Magnu tracked a lone man through the forest, and Wenna’s team located a Germinal sentry hidden in a tree.
• After checking for other threats, Wenna silently approached the sentry and launched herself at him.

Wenna’s team raided a sentry post, and Ye Fan hacked its network to steal base intelligence before the enemy deleted most of it. The Dark Raven Valley base revealed that the breach had hit a decoy network, and Ji Jie and Pan Kuang prepared for a possible Hesla invasion.

• Ye Fan approved Wenna’s plan to raid the sentry post despite the risk of exposing Thirteenth Bureau operatives in Crow Forest Town.
• Wenna and her team broke into the post, subdued its three occupants, and forced the officer Roman to open a safe containing a laptop.
• Ye Fan hacked the laptop’s network and backed up 28% of the base’s data before the enemy deleted the files.
• Ji Jie learned that the breach had stolen decoy intelligence and said Hesla might invade in the coming days.
• Ji Jie advised Pan Kuang to seek permission to evacuate the base, and Pan Kuang told him to call if he needed help fighting.

Han Xiao suspected that the intelligence on Dark Crow Valley Base was doctored and secretly went to investigate it himself. After using mechanical spider detectors to locate hidden sentries, he began eliminating them from a distance with Lambert's heavy sniper rifle.

• Lin Yao told Han Xiao that the Thirteenth Bureau had captured peripheral members and found Dark Crow Valley Base, while Ye Fan reported that Hesla agents had obtained detailed intelligence and captured Roman.
• Han Xiao warned that the intelligence might be false, but Wenna dismissed his suspicion and defended the results of her team’s operation.
• After examining Roman, Han Xiao concluded that the base’s low-ranking officers had been given false information and that its visible sentries were bait.
• Han Xiao left the base at night without telling his teammates and traveled to Dark Crow Valley Base with his sniper rifle and mechanical equipment.
• Han Xiao sent out four mechanical spider detectors, mapped the hidden sentries, and shot one of them in the head from hundreds of meters away.