Chapter Summaries

Han Xiao expanded his workshop and earned money and experience by selling folding battle blades while stockpiling high-combustion ammunition. The Research and Development Department demanded his blade blueprint under the pretense of inspecting it, but Han Xiao refused, and Old Man Gao became furious on his behalf.

• Han Xiao persuaded Li Yalin to promote his work, then arranged for the Thirteenth Bureau to build him a larger workshop with a basement.
• Li Yalin brought Han Xiao a flood of orders, and he sold dozens of folding battle blades, maxed out [Basic Mechanical Affinity], and began stockpiling high-combustion bullets.
• Han Xiao visited Old Man Gao and discussed his prosthetic and his work with the Thirteenth Bureau.
• Feng Jun told Han Xiao that the Research and Development Department wanted his folding battle blade blueprint for an inspection, though it intended to claim the design as its own.
• Han Xiao refused to hand over the blueprint, and Old Man Gao learned of the demand and angrily condemned the Research and Development Department.

Li Yalin and Lambert worried about the Research and Development Department targeting Han Xiao, while Di Susu provoked Li Yalin and drew Lin Yao’s admiration. The department moved ahead with plans to copy Han Xiao’s folding battle blade, and its head asked Luo Xuan if he could reconstruct the blueprints.

• Li Yalin, Lin Yao, and Lambert discussed how to help Han Xiao after the Research and Development Department tried to obtain his blueprints, and Lambert suggested they wait.
• Di Susu visited Li Yalin’s team to taunt them about Han Xiao’s troubles and mock his absence.
• Li Yalin grew jealous when Lin Yao admired Di Susu, then threw him across the room while Lambert called for an orthopedic specialist.
• The Research and Development Department sought to buy folding battle blades and split over whether to pressure Han Xiao for his blueprints or preserve him as an ally.
• Krat sold his folding battle blade to the department for thirty thousand, and the department head asked Luo Xuan whether he could work out the blueprints.

Han Xiao learned that the Research and Development Department had copied his Folding War Blade blueprint and begun production, costing him orders. He planned to use the dispute to demand advanced knowledge, while Luo Xuan believed Han Xiao would stay silent.

• Luo Xuan agreed to reverse-engineer the Folding War Blade in hopes of joining the Research and Development Department.
• Han Xiao produced a batch of Folding War Blades using a stamping machine and improved the blueprint to level 2.
• Li Yalin told Han Xiao that agents were canceling their orders because the Research and Development Department had copied the blueprint and announced mass production.
• Han Xiao learned from Feng Jun that Krat and Luo Xuan were involved, then decided to use the department's actions to seek compensation and advanced knowledge.
• The Research and Development Department's secretary told Luo Xuan he would be transferred, promoted, and given higher clearance, and assured him Han Xiao would not cause trouble.

Han Xiao sold a batch of Folding War Blades and their blueprint to arms dealer Matthews, then set events in motion against the Research and Development Department. The department chief learned that he was being accused of reselling arms.

• Han Xiao made a hundred Folding War Blades and brought them to Matthews, an arms dealer backed by the Farian Group.
• Han Xiao sold Matthews the blades for five thousand each and the blueprint for one million, then received a Farian Group VIP card.
• Han Xiao planned to use the sale to put pressure on the Research and Development Department and relied on Old Man Gao to help.
• The Research and Development chief boasted to the Intelligence Department head that Han Xiao had backed down and suggested taking him into custody.
• The bureau chief told the Research and Development chief that the Folding War Blade report had been approved, then accused him of abusing his authority to resell arms.

The higher-ups backed Han Xiao after he framed the Research and Development Department, forcing its head to take responsibility and offering mediation to restore their cooperation. At the mediation meeting, Han Xiao discovered that Old Man Gao had influence over the Thirteenth Bureau and was asked how he wanted to settle the dispute.

• The higher-ups approved the accusation against the Research and Development Department head, who was suspended without pay and placed on probation.
• Rumors about the department head spread through the Thirteenth Bureau, while Luo Xuan lost his promised clearance increase and was relegated to ordinary research work.
• Feng Jun told Han Xiao that the higher-ups wanted to mediate, and Han Xiao recognized the meeting as a chance to demand compensation for the Folding War Blade blueprints.
• Feng Jun led Han Xiao to the director's office, where Gu Hui introduced himself as an executive director of the Stardragon Homeland Strategic Defense Bureau.
• Old Man Gao revealed that he could influence the Thirteenth Bureau's decisions and asked Han Xiao how he wanted to resolve the matter.

Han Xiao negotiated with the Thirteenth Bureau to prevent future blueprint disputes and gained permission to view Stardragon's Mechanic advanced knowledge. He reached the secured mainframe and began searching its contents, with only an hour to access them.

• Han Xiao demanded that the Thirteenth Bureau avoid future blueprint disputes, and Gu Hui accepted his condition.
• Han Xiao asked to view the Mechanic Class's advanced knowledge, and Old Man Gao agreed despite the department head's objections.
• Gu Hui limited Han Xiao's access to one hour, while Han Xiao privately planned to learn the knowledge quickly with potential points.
• Gu Hui escorted Han Xiao through the heavily guarded corridor to Stardragon's mainframe and unlocked access to the advanced knowledge.
• Han Xiao searched the mainframe and saw several advancement options for Esper and Pugilist Classes.

Han Xiao learned Advanced Material Synthesis and advanced into the Mechanic Apprentice class, choosing the manufacturing-focused Mechanic path. His advancement awakened Magnetic energy and granted new talents, skills, and a blueprint, leaving him newly empowered and with further class knowledge to pursue.

• Han Xiao learned Advanced Material Synthesis, completing his level 20 advancement mission and unlocking the advanced Armament branch.
• Han Xiao chose the Mechanic path over Gunner and Mechanical Pugilist, then advanced to Mechanic Apprentice Lv1.
• Han Xiao's body changed as his energy attribute became Magnetic, and he gained the Geometric Thinking talent, Energy Refinement Method, Intermediate Mechanical Affinity, Sliding Continuous Fire, and the Taibo Alloy blueprint.
• Han Xiao checked his updated attributes and skills, seeing that he had reached Grade E superhuman status and had 16 Potential Points.

Han Xiao completed his first advancement, spent experience improving his skills, and began training his new energy method. After returning to the Secret Operations Department, he met the newly discharged squad captain, Zhang Wei, who warned that he would judge Han Xiao's abilities for himself.

• Han Xiao advanced as a Mechanic, gained new skills and magnetic energy, and canceled his Civilian class.
• Han Xiao raised Agent and Basic Shooting to level ten, then saved the remaining experience for training and future needs.
• Han Xiao told Feng Jun to spread the word that he would no longer sell anything to Krat.
• Han Xiao trained Energy Refinement Method and prepared to sell High Combustion Ammunition, but Li Yalin summoned him to meet the captain.
• Han Xiao met the recovered captain, Zhang Wei, who said he distrusted Han Xiao's blank record and might remove him from the squad if his abilities fell short.

Han Xiao joined Zhang Wei’s team as they rushed to rescue Ma Qingyang’s squad, which had been ambushed by the Germinal Organization. The team reached the desert and opened fire on the pursuers, beginning the rescue operation.

• Lin Yao announced an emergency mission after Ma Qingyang’s squad was ambushed at a Germinal base, and Zhang Wei ordered Han Xiao to observe and assist.
• Han Xiao gave Li Yalin four magazines of high-incendiary bullets before the team departed, and Lin Yao monitored the agents’ cameras and communications.
• The team landed in the Gobi desert, where Han Xiao recognized Zhang Wei’s Warrior Armor prototype and considered, then dismissed, trying to derive its blueprint.
• Lin Yao directed the team to intercept the pursuers near a hill, and Zhang Wei led them there with a twelve-person field squad.
• Zhang Wei ordered the team to open fire on the Germinal Organization’s armored vehicles as they pursued Ma Qingyang’s squad, forcing the leading vehicles to swerve.

Han Xiao led the retreating team as they fought off Hila and Germinal's pursuit, using special incendiary ammunition to disable the helicopter and escape by aircraft. Hila survived and reported that she had found Zero's whereabouts.

• Zhang Wei and Lambert attacked Germinal's convoy, but Hila's mental assault incapacitated several field operatives and forced the team to retreat.
• Han Xiao took command and identified Hila as Germinal's combat executive, while Li Yalin engaged her in close combat.
• Li Yalin broke Hila's guard with the Light Power Arm, and Lambert wounded Hila with a sniper shot before Zhang Wei carried Li Yalin back to Ma Qingyang's vehicle.
• When Germinal's helicopter attacked the fleeing vehicle, Lambert used Han Xiao's high-incendiary ammunition to set it ablaze, and Li Yalin's shots ignited the pursuing SUVs.
• Lambert damaged the helicopter's rotor, allowing Ma Qingyang to drive into the aircraft's rear hold and escape with the team.
• Hila watched the aircraft disappear and told the leader over communications that she had found Zero's whereabouts.

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.