Mech Specialist

That evening, the group gathered around a campfire and set up a makeshift grill. Yuqing tended the fire, Dolly went hunting in the forest, and Xilaier, Shen Que, and Ajiasi hurried to dig the crystal cores out of the Mine Rats.

"So many crystal cores?" Yuqing stared curiously at the little mountain of cores. With this many, wouldn't they be rich?

"These low-level crystal cores aren't worth much, and they don't do much for mental power either. They're generally only useful as mech fuel." Seeing Yuqing's money-grubbing expression, Shen Que smiled. "We might need to use mechs later. Gathering fuel in advance will save us money."

"Yeah, Aili, it might look like a lot of crystal cores, but they really won't last long. A mech will burn through them in no time."

"So that's how it is."

"I caught a few pheasants. They'll have to do for tonight." Dolly was carrying several birds.

"Wow, Dolly, you're amazing!" Yuqing looked at the pheasants.

"Great, roast chicken tonight!" Xilaier's eyes lit up, and he put down the tool he'd been using to extract crystal cores.

The five sat around the campfire, looking at the chickens roasting golden and crisp on the rack as they ate dinner and chatted.

"What's the plan for tomorrow?" Yuqing tore off a piece of chicken skin and popped it into her mouth. Chewing, she asked, "How much valuable stuff is in the warehouse? I don't know much about it, but I can help out. I can carry things and whatever else."

"I went in and had a look around this afternoon." The moment Dolly started talking about mechs, her eyes lit up. Her whole demeanor changed, as though she were glowing. "There are three intact MX-7 Mining Mechs in the big warehouse behind the repair station, and two more that have been half dismantled. The hardware inside is all high quality, and none of the core components are broken. They're just a little rusty. Polish them up, and they'll work just fine."

She grew more animated as she spoke, drawing a diagram on the ground with her finger. "There's also a whole warehouse of spare parts: hydraulic rods, conductive plates, power lines... everything. They're a little old, but still usable."

Yuqing listened wide-eyed, her face full of admiration. "Dolly, you're amazing!"

Xilaier gnawed on a drumstick and mumbled, "With that kind of talent, Dolly, why didn't you major in mechs?"

Shen Que pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation and secretly elbowed Xilaier...

"There's nothing I can't talk about." She tore off a piece of chicken and chewed slowly, her tone calm. "Tuition for the mech major is astronomical. I live in the slums, my father was injured and can't work, and I can't get a loan. The individual combat major doesn't require one. Not only is tuition free, there's also a monthly allowance, and it's quite generous."

"All right, what are those looks for?" Dolly smiled. "You don't need to feel sorry for me. My monthly allowance now is more than my father earned working from dawn to dusk. I'm glad I differentiated into a sentinel. My family's living conditions have improved a lot, and my younger brothers and sisters can stay in school."

She paused and looked down at the chicken in her hand, a faint smile on her lips. "I'm already very satisfied."

Yuqing looked at her, her heart aching and softening. She suddenly reached out, tore off the biggest drumstick in front of her, and put it on Dolly's plate. "Eat more."

Xilaier caught on too and hurriedly offered her his drumstick. "Right, right! Eat more! We're counting on you for the mechs from now on. You're our precious treasure!"

Ajiasi sat at the very edge of the group, his head lowered as he ate the chicken in his hand. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly picked up the biggest, crispiest drumstick on his plate and tossed it to Dolly across the campfire. "...Build up your strength."

"There's prize money in the ranking matches, and the crystal cores from exotic beasts can be sold to other players. The parts we collect along the way can be traded for money too... There are plenty of ways to fleece this game." Dolly was very proud, so he couldn't offer her money directly, but... he had information about making money that she didn't. The rewards to be fleeced from the game were nothing much to a sentinel, but they were a huge sum for Dolly's family.

"Damn, how did I not think of that?" Xilaier slapped his forehead. "Tomorrow we're picking up all the junk here! It can all be recycled anyway!"

"Heh heh heh." Yuqing grinned wickedly and exchanged a look with Xilaier, who wore the same wicked grin. "Starting tomorrow, we'll fleece this game bald."

A chill ran down Ajiasi's back.

Early the next morning, as dawn was just breaking, all five got up together.

Xilaier emerged with his blond hair a mess, yawning as he carried a large cloth sack over his shoulder. He grumbled, "This is the first time in my life I've gotten up this early to pick up junk..."

Despite his words, his steps were anything but slow as he headed straight for the warehouse.

The repair station's big warehouse stood at the far end of the mining town. Its iron doors were so rusty they were almost welded shut. Ajiasi split the lock with a single slash and pushed the doors open with a clang.

Dust rushed into their faces, making them cough.

When the dust settled and they got a clear look inside the warehouse, everyone drew a sharp breath.

"Holy crap... This is incredible."

Xilaier's eyes widened at the warehouse packed with parts and equipment, and his jaw dropped.

Rows of shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with screws, gears, hydraulic rods, and conductive plates of every size, along with box after box of unopened power lines. Three intact mining mechs were piled in a corner, along with several that had been half dismantled, their parts scattered across the floor. Farther inside was a small machine tool. Though covered in dust, it looked like it could still be used.

"We're rich... We're really rich..." Yuqing murmured, staring wide-eyed, her money-grubbing nature on full display. "How much is all this worth?"

"Don't get excited yet." Shen Que pushed up his glasses, quickly surveyed the warehouse, and assigned everyone their tasks. "Dolly, you assess what's valuable and what isn't. Xilaier and I will carry the heavy stuff. Yuqing, you trade things in for money directly through the game store. Ajiasi, you stand guard. Exotic beasts could come rushing out at any moment. Let's finish quickly. Efficiency comes first."

"Got it!"

The five immediately got to work.

Dolly led the way like a professional inspector, running her fingers along the shelves and calling things out nonstop:

"This box of silver-based conductive plates is new and valuable. Take it all."

"This pile of ordinary screws isn't worth anything. Trade it in directly."

"These hydraulic rods are original factory parts, ninety percent new. Take them."

"This box of gears is too outdated. Nobody wants them. Trade them in."

Yuqing followed behind with a little notebook. Once she'd finished taking notes, she opened the game store and listed the worthless scrap metal and old parts in bulk to trade them in.

Her fingers flew across the panel, and as she watched the number in her account climb, her grin nearly reached her ears.

"It went up again! Again!" She excitedly poked Shen Que's arm. "Shen Que, look! It's already over three thousand!"

"Mm, impressive." Shen Que smiled and nodded.

Ajiasi looked at the warehouse, which had almost been emptied out. His usually expressionless face showed a crack...