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墨書 Inktalez
Lin Yuan certainly wouldn't buy all five large boxes of potions just to show off. In fact, after careful consideration, he ultimately only took the two hundred and forty specially made shotgun shells. They were indeed expensive, but sufficient for his needs.
Without further haggling, the transaction was completed smoothly, and Lin Yuan felt a sense of relief settle in his heart.
"That's settled then, Troll Captain. I'll help assemble Thomas's floating armor and Bison's Gravity Giant Shield, and then we'll be square!" Lin Yuan said calmly. He wasn't a fool; he sensed that Troll Captain, Old Nyx, and that Cucumber had some hidden agenda. It was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface. However, he didn't want to owe them any favors or get entangled with them. At least until they were open and honest about their intentions, he wouldn't consider it.
At all times, he needed to keep enough cards up his sleeve. This was something he had to do in this unfamiliar world. Although he valued combat, he was also gradually building himself a series of escape routes that could save his life in critical moments.
For instance, the Dark Magic Core he had hidden in his possession, the Five Modification Points he had accumulated again, even the Invisible Reputation and the One Hundred Points of Merit—these were all cards he kept concealed from others.
Troll Captain seemed momentarily stunned, likely not expecting Lin Yuan to maintain such restraint and vigilance in every move.
"Hey! I like your style! Don't worry; we're all good people here. You take Thomas and Bison to the Scrap Recycling Area. This is a great opportunity! It's rare to have a potential Mechanical Assembler helping out with assembly—don't miss it! Make sure to squeeze everything you can out of him! Bring all this year's reserve funds with you! Hahaha!" Troll Captain laughed lewdly as if he had struck gold.
Lin Yuan felt disdain in his heart but didn't take it to heart. He didn't think his assembly skills were anything worth boasting about. Lord J and the others could barely be considered friends; thus, as long as conditions allowed, he would certainly do his best to help them modify their equipment.
After Lin Yuan, Lord J, Thomas, Bison, Fat Three, and the others left for quite some time, Troll Captain suddenly blurted out without any context: "What do you think?"
"Quite cunning! Also ruthless! Most importantly, decisive! And not lacking in courage!" Old Nyx replied slowly.
"But still far from enough! And completely lacking team spirit! So self-righteous! Troll, I actually have high hopes for those few guys you brought along. Though they are naive, their hearts are pure—unlike that one who is so scheming!" Yd Cucumber surprisingly dropped his lewd demeanor and spoke seriously.
"That makes sense!" The troll nodded thoughtfully. It was unclear whether he agreed with Old Nyx's assessment or Yd Cucumber's. After a long pause, he murmured to himself: "The old ghost's judgment is that Mechanical Assembly is a talent. Even if we don't recruit him soon enough, other big teams will."
"Talent? Hmph! Can he compare to Old Benny?" Yd Cucumber scoffed dismissively.
"Of course not compared to Old Benny! But I bet when Old Benny was at level F6, he wasn't nearly as strange as this guy is now. If it were you at level F6, would you dare take down an E1 level Shadow Stalker without a scratch? You must understand how unbelievable that is! Moreover, without any warning at all, he ruined my entire plan! If it weren't for him using a public code to call for help, I could have stolen half of the RZ Crystal Mine from that site and framed those Cat's Eye bastards for it! Damn it! My reputation as a master thief was almost ruined by him!" The troll cursed angrily.
"Not only that; I also had to act like a coward while being toyed with by those Kangaroo clowns. But thankfully, I played a little trick so that guy had no choice but to come out as the rat everyone wanted to catch. He probably didn't expect that I would be the one reporting him to G-715 Sub-base. If not for this, if we let him accumulate enough buffer time over six months, I'm afraid Kangaroo and those crows would be wiped out completely! By then attracting those killers from G-715 Sub-base would be disastrous—it might even expose our schemes behind the scenes."
If Lin Yuan were to hear this conversation, he would likely be so furious that he might spit blood. Little did he know that his judgment was indeed accurate; there was a mysterious connection between the Troll Captain, Old Nyx, yd Cucumber, and even the Stocking Captain, as if they were the masterminds behind everything.
"I still can't understand it. Even if that old ghost of Stocking admires him, there’s no need to give him two pieces of Blue Light Equipment at once, especially with treasures like the Hurricane Hammer included! If it weren't for Stocking's reputation, I would have just taken them by force!"
After a moment of silence, yd Cucumber suddenly complained.
"Hmph! It doesn't matter if you're envious; these are all Stocking's assets. Besides, what would you do with them? Do you want to attract those damned bastards? Stop whining. If we can't win him over, it's still good to maintain a good relationship. Old Benny is currently being hunted by those Punishers and is in a precarious situation. We need a powerful Mechanical Assembler, even if he is far from qualified!" Old Nyx said solemnly.
"And don’t you find it strange? The only things Stocking gave away were two heavily damaged Blue Light Weapons, yet they were successfully repaired in his hands. That requires at least five Dark Magic Cores! So where did he get those Dark Magic Cores? Stocking isn’t that generous!" Troll Captain said thoughtfully.
"Could it be—does he have other Dark Magic Cores?" yd Cucumber suddenly asked in surprise, his tone tinged with greed.
"Cucumber, I warn you not to entertain any ill thoughts. This kid is valued by Stocking; the potential of a Mechanical Assembler far outweighs a few low-grade Dark Magic Cores. Besides, he might not even have any in stock. Are Dark Magic Cores that easy to come by? Let's leave it at that; from now on, we won't get involved anymore. If those Punishers catch wind of some Mutated Red Spider Silk trail because of us, it won't be worth the loss! You all wouldn’t want to change identities and continue fleeing, would you?" Troll Captain sighed deeply and ended this convoluted conversation.
...
Meanwhile, in the garbage recycling area, Lin Yuan was left dumbfounded. In his memory, Troll Captain had always been extremely stingy; back in Mechanical City, he couldn't even afford to hire a remote supporter and had to spend 150,000 Mechanical Coins just to buy himself as a laborer.
But this time was truly bizarre! Lord J actually pulled out ten million Mechanical Coins without batting an eye. That was ten million Mechanical Coins—an E1 level Mercenary would need to work hard for at least twenty years to earn that much. When did Troll Captain become so generous? And where did he get so many Mechanical Coins? Did he really think so highly of him? Wasn't he afraid Lin Yuan would mess things up?
Lin Yuan felt skeptical. In fact, he believed that Lord J, Thomas, Bison, and Fat Three were probably just as shocked and suspicious—of course, they doubted Lin Yuan's assembly skills. With that many Mechanical Coins, they could comfortably go to a proper assembly shop and use high-end Parts to repair their equipment. In their own words: Was it worth it? Was it reliable? Was it trustworthy? Would they get ripped off?
Lin Yuan felt helpless but didn’t bother explaining to them. These fools thought new was always better? That expensive was always better? While that was often true, in Lin Yuan's hands, those ten million Mechanical Coins could elevate Lord J, Thomas, Bison, and Fat Three's capabilities by an entire level from head to toe. And this was considering Lin Yuan wasn't putting much effort into it and was pressed for time; otherwise, those ten million Mechanical Coins could create value worth fifty million!
This was how Lin Yuan viewed himself—not an exaggeration but rather humble. Level 10 assembly skills weren’t something to joke about; after all, being a Mechanical Assembler seemed quite profitable!
Lord J remained calm throughout but harbored doubts about Troll Captain's judgment.
“Papaya, this ten million Mechanical Coins is entirely yours to allocate for purchasing various Parts. However, I want five million for myself, Bison gets three million, Thomas one hundred fifty thousand, and Fat Three fifty thousand. Do you think you can manage this in ten hours?”
Lord J's distribution was met with no objections from Thomas, Bison, or Fat Three. This has always been the resource allocation strategy of the Troll Squad. The Troll Captain never needed anything, so all the benefits went to Big Head, and it was precisely because of this nurturing approach that Lord J became so formidable. This is also why Lord J turned down offers from other better Mercenary Groups and remained in the Troll Mercenary Team.
“There shouldn’t be any problem. I’ve already designed the specific modification plans. Lord J, what you need is an additional Energy Engine of quality e+, along with an r-a8 type Energy Conversion Generator Matrix and an Energy Shield. Hmm, about two hundred fifty thousand Mechanical Coins should be enough. Bison, you also need an e+ Energy Engine and an r-a8 type Energy Conversion Generator Matrix. Additionally, you’ll need a heavy shield with thirty-five times gravity, plus a floating thrust and solid-liquid rebound System. That should cost around three hundred forty thousand Mechanical Coins. As for you, Thomas, your Exoskeleton Armor is too outdated. I will reassemble a new set of Exoskeleton Armor for you, which will also include an e+ Energy Engine, an r-a8 type Energy Conversion Generator, and an Energy Shield. Regarding your so-called floating System, I believe modifying it into a gliding jump assist System would be more beneficial for your role as a Brute Assault Specialist. The total cost will be around three hundred fifteen thousand Mechanical Coins. The remaining funds will allow me to assemble a set of composite alloy Blade Wing Tiger armor for Fat Three. That should just about cover everything. Do you have any other opinions or suggestions? If not, please follow me.”
Lin Yuan confidently laid out this extensive modification plan in a rapid-fire manner, leaving Lord J, Thomas, Bison, and Fat Three utterly speechless, as if they had been struck by lightning!
What kind of cosmic joke is this? Is it not some cosmic April Fool's prank?
“Hey! Wait a minute, Papaya! Even the usually proud Lord J was flustered now. He called out to Lin Yuan with disbelief and asked, “Papaya, are you sure you're not feverish or possessed by a ghost? Look at this number!”
Lin Yuan chuckled helplessly and sighed before responding seriously, “Lord J, I admit that when it comes to playing the game of Swift Evasion, I can't even match one-tenth of your skill. However, when it comes to Mechanical Assembly, you wouldn't stand a chance against me even if there were a hundred of you. Do I need to repeat that?”
“Uh, but this doesn’t make sense. We only have ten million Mechanical Coins, yet you're asking to assemble three e+ Energy Engines, three r-a8 type Energy Conversion Generators, and three Energy Shields. I'm starting to doubt whether I heard you correctly. You should know that even a second-hand e+ Energy Engine is worth at least ten million!”
“That’s why the Troll Captain says opportunities must be seized; they won’t come again. Believe it or not! Anyway, I only have ten hours. After that, I’ll be leaving the Sub-base for a mission.” With a slight smile, Lin Yuan explained. In reality, these modifications were child's play for him; whether it was the Energy Engine, the Energy Conversion Generator, or the Energy Shield, he was extremely familiar with them. The only unfamiliar aspects were the modifications for Thomas Exoskeleton Armor and the heavy shield for Bison, but those wouldn’t pose any problems either.
“But! But! Isn’t this a bit too exaggerated? Papaya, we know your assembly skills are high, but that list you just mentioned would require at least fifty million—no, no, at least eighty million in total!” said a grinning Bison.
“Subsidize you? Get lost! There are only ten million in total; all the parts will come from here. Enough talk; let’s get to work!”
“Just ten? Come on now, bragging isn’t good behavior.” Even Thomas stared wide-eyed in disbelief; no matter how they looked at it, they couldn’t believe that Lin Yuan had such miraculous abilities.
“Ten is more than enough for me!” Without further explanation, he led the somewhat dazed group toward the massive pile of discarded parts.
Having visited this place once before and gathered plenty of information gave him confidence. Coupled with his keen eye for detail, he didn’t need much time at all. He quickly scanned through the pile and effortlessly picked up a large number of parts to toss back to his companions while warning them not to drop even one piece; otherwise, they would face the consequences!
Even the mighty Lord J, at this moment, had transformed into a backpacker, following Lin Yuan as he embarked on this crazy shopping spree, truly a sight to behold.
However, this time they did not encounter any discerning individuals like Old Nyx or the Troll Captain, so Lin Yuan's shopping behavior was immediately dismissed as foolish and ridiculous.
But Lin Yuan didn’t care. After a frenzied shopping session, he returned to the Troll Squad's Tank and began to swiftly disassemble and reassemble it. In just seven hours, the entire assembly plan was completed ahead of schedule. At this moment, Lord J, Thomas, and Bison were genuinely impressed and overjoyed because this modification had increased their average combat power by at least 0%. Even someone as skilled as Lord J benefited greatly; with even a slight advantage, his capabilities could expand several times over. It was easy to imagine how crucial this miraculous assembly was for them.
What was even more critical was that without Lin Yuan, even if they had five million Mechanical Coins, they would never achieve such results.
"Alright! That's it. All good things must come to an end. Until we meet again!" Lin Yuan said calmly. He believed that this assembly had repaid all debts of gratitude, and now he was finally ready to embark on a new adventure for freedom.
"Wait a minute, Papaya," Lord J suddenly called out. "I just asked the Troll Captain for leave; it's for the fifteenth. I think that's enough time for you to complete the Mercenary evaluation tasks."
"Exactly! And we can finally show our true strength this time. Let those Kangaroo bastards see what a real Heavy Shield Warrior looks like!" Bison shouted excitedly. The series of equipment modifications Lin Yuan had given him had finally turned him into a proper Heavy Shield Defender, no longer getting knocked down by opponents with just one hit.
"Yes! Papaya, before we could only wish to help you, but now it's different. I bet with your assembly work, the Troll Mercenary Team will soon easily reach e-Class standards. In that case, those Kangaroo guys are nothing! We can take them down easily!" Thomas added with ambition.
Lin Yuan listened helplessly and could only smile wryly as he shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm not as weak as you think. I'll face this matter head-on; you can rest assured that it won't be long before we meet again."
With that, Lin Yuan left on his own. The upcoming battle was no longer about survival; he regarded it as a breakthrough battle that didn’t require anyone else's assistance. Perhaps the opportunity for him to break through to f7 level lay within.
Back in Mousetrap Three's Tank, Lin Yuan tidied up but decided against driving the Tank there since its old hover tank capabilities would only make it a target. Instead, he preferred another approach.
Next, Lin Yuan went to the Trading Platform and exchanged all his Merit Points and Invisible Reputation for three Modification Points. With that, he now had eight Modification Points in hand—this rare resource could not only quickly change the quality of his Mechanical Body but also rapidly restore Health Points for use at critical moments.
In addition to that, Lin Yuan purchased ten thousand units of Standard Energy Blocks in one go because he was now an energy tycoon. His Main Mechanical Body alone had three Energy Engines; combined with his Second Form, that made four Energy Engines in total, allowing him to store up to forty thousand standard units of energy.
But those forty thousand units might not be enough, as Lin Yuan had two Energy Shields that required energy support. Even the Ion Laser Sword from Sour Thorn was secretly carried by him, so he needed to ensure a sufficient energy supply.
Fortunately, in this Mechanical City, the F1-level Standard Energy was as common as power on Earth in the 21st century. Every day, there was a free quota of 10,000 units, which had basically provided Lin Yuan with enough energy over the past three months.
With everything prepared, Lin Yuan strode confidently toward one of the entrances of the G-715 Sub-base.
Without needing to measure, he knew that at this moment, every move he made was under the watchful eyes of those with ulterior motives, waiting for him to step out of the Sub-base.
However, Lin Yuan did not hesitate for a moment. He maintained a steady pace as he advanced. When the outer wall of the G-715 Sub-base came into view, a figure finally blocked his path. It was a Mechanical Life form entirely in dark purple tones, exuding an air of mystery. At first glance, it was clear that its level was exceptionally high—at least E5—and it was a genuine Swift Hunter.
Unlike Lord J's spider-like form, this Swift Hunter resembled a Mantis—specifically, an upright Mantis—looking both elegant and capable. It had four Mechanical Arms and a pair of Z-shaped elastic Mechanical Legs. The weapons it wielded were two extremely unique Double-Headed Daggers, evoking images of a sudden flurry of attacks during Swift Evasion.
"You have quite the nerve; it seems you must have some backing. However, in my view, this is utterly foolish. Knowing you are bound to die yet still insisting on proceeding is reckless. Eight million Mechanical Coins and assistance in completing your assessment task—how does that sound? I can guarantee your safety!"
"Thank you for your kindness. In fact, if it were another time and place, I might consider it. But right now, I won't entertain any conditions! This is my trial!" Lin Yuan replied politely.
The Mechanical Warrior seemed unfazed by his response and sighed. "I knew it would be like this. Well then, as a true warrior of Mechanical City, I won't bully the weak or personally snatch from you. However, if you die, I would be more than willing to avenge you. So good luck; I hope when we meet again, you are still alive. By the way, I admire your courage and hope you succeed in your trial!"
Lin Yuan smiled slightly; those who adhered to their principles always left a good impression, even if they were robbers.
"Haha! I actually hope you get the chance to avenge me because I will pay you handsomely!" (To be continued.)
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