Xiao wrote down the materials list and sent it to Feng Jun.
"My God, you want BOK composite colloid, Far-4 solvent, and twelve sets of microelectronic components. Do you know how much these things cost?"
"I have money."
Feng Jun was speechless, remembering that Xiao was different from him, a civil servant with a fixed salary. Xiao had made an unknown amount of money from mechanical orders and was a standard wealthy man.
An hour later, Feng Jun delivered three suitcases to Xiao's workshop.
The suitcases had black linings. The first suitcase contained three ten-centimeter-long transparent tubes filled with milky white viscous liquid, which was the BOK composite colloid. The second suitcase contained small bottles of light blue liquid, the Far-4 solvent.
These two materials were new materials that could only be synthesized in a laboratory and were very precious. Just these few small bottles cost 120,000 BP coins.
The third suitcase contained twelve sets of microelectronic components, each set only the size of two or three fingernails, very thin, with electronic circuits visible under a microscope, usually used in precision instruments, costing a total of 60,000 BP coins.
With the materials in hand, Xiao began to work behind closed doors.
First, he used a plastic board to carve out a human face mold, opening holes for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Then he used a steel needle to pierce twelve points on the mold, distributed in different positions.
Xiao turned on the computer, connected the microelectronic components with a special reading device, reset and synchronized all the microelectronic components to share the same program, scanned his own facial features, and then collected thousands of facial images into the database, capturing the differences in human faces, and began programming. This work lasted for two or three hours, and a simple simulation program was created.
He took out the BOK colloid and Far-4 solvent, brought out unopened chemical instruments from the warehouse, such as test tubes, conduits, and various instruments, and after some work, he mixed the two incompatible materials through a complex chemical process, forming a new composite material through a mainly ionization reaction. The new material was neither milky white nor light blue but flesh-colored.
This new material combined the characteristics of BOK colloid and Far-4 solvent and had good conductivity, forming the basic material for the intelligent simulated optical mask, utilizing knowledge from [Basic Biochemistry].
Xiao carefully placed the microelectronic components on the twelve marked points of the mold, gently poured the new material solution, performed several processes, and then sealed the mold, waiting for the solidification reaction.
Watching the clock, as soon as the time was up, Xiao immediately opened the mold. A thin mask, as thin as a cicada's wing, lay quietly in the mold. At this point, the manufacturing process was almost complete. Xiao finished the last few steps quickly, and the mask was successfully made.
He pressed the positions of the electronic components with his hand, feeling a slight hardness, but overall the texture was very smooth. The mask's surface was coated with a liquid crystal layer, and pressing it with a finger would create a colorful halo around the pressure point, similar to the changes on a liquid crystal screen.
[You have created the [Intelligent Simulated Optical Mask], you have gained 5000 experience points!]
[Intelligent Simulated Optical Mask: Face equipment, can change facial features at any time, disguise identity, very low energy consumption, charge for five minutes, lasts for ten hours.]
This mask cost nearly 200,000 to make.
Xiao picked up the mask, put it on his face, feeling cool and breathable, and went to the mirror. He pressed the electronic component on his cheek with his finger, and the facial features in the mirror suddenly changed, becoming the face of a stranger. Xiao pressed it a few more times, and the facial features changed again, each time becoming a completely different face.
This was not an ordinary human skin mask but a versatile mask that could change appearance at any time, a stealth artifact!
The electronic components input the simulated human image program, located at the key parts that determine facial features, randomly combining images from the built-in database. The mask's coating acted like a screen, fitting the contours of the face, making it completely three-dimensional and very realistic. By pressing the switch, the appearance could be randomly simulated.
The intelligent simulated optical mask, abbreviated as the simulated mask, had four functions: first, simulation, randomly changing facial features according to Xiao's set program, ensuring the appearance remained within human range, without worrying about bizarre looks.
Second, memory, capable of storing three facial features, which could be replaced.
Third, reset, allowing the stored facial features to be restored at any time, without worrying about losing the original disguise after simulation.
Fourth, scan simulation, quickly scanning a human target's face through a hidden detector in the mask, achieving 70-80% similarity, a stealth skill.
Xiao played with it for a while, then took off the intelligent simulated optical mask and went to the headquarters to visit Gu Hui.
"You made a disguise mask?" Gu Hui asked.
Han Xiao chuckled and put on the mask.
He had been cautious and had already memorized the first appearance, an ordinary young face, without revealing the mask's ability to change facial features at will in front of Gu Hui.
This was Xiao Han's hidden ace.
Gu Hui gave the mask a couple of curious glances. At first, he thought it was just an ordinary human-skin disguise—Bureau 13 could make those too. But none of theirs looked this real. Xiao Han's mask was so lifelike, so light, it seemed almost effortless to carry.
"Interested in handing over the blueprint to the Bureau?" Gu Hui asked casually.
Xiao Han chuckled. "Blueprint? It's just a human-skin mask. Don't you guys make these yourselves?"
Gu Hui thought about it and nodded, dropping the subject. Xiao Han quietly exhaled in relief.
He'd pulled it off.
Quickly, Xiao Han shifted the topic. "So… can I join the operation in person?"
Gu Hui hesitated, then nodded. "The higher-ups have spoken with Hai Xia. Their Military Intelligence Division agreed to cooperate. This time, you'll move with your squad."
Dark Raven Valley Base sat on Hai Xia's border. How could they allow others to sleep soundly beside their bed? Xiao Han had guessed Hai Xia wouldn't refuse.
Knowing he'd be part of the mission, Xiao Han suppressed the surge of excitement. "When do we leave?"
"No rush. Mobilizing troops takes time, and the General Staff still needs to finalize a strategy with Hai Xia. At least half a month before departure."
Half a month—plenty of time to finish every upgrade.
…
Back in his workshop, Xiao Han scribbled down his priorities for the next two weeks:
First, expand his trump-card blueprints.
Second, buy a vehicle for squad operations. As logistics support, he needed a proper supply truck.
Third, reinforce Zhang Wei's Warfighter Armor.
"A big project… one step at a time."
He shook his head.
First, his own combat strength. Survival was everything. Defense came first.
Then ranged firepower—his two Wild Eagles barely cut it; an upgrade was overdue.
Melee weapons? He preferred distance, but close-quarters was inevitable. The Light Power Arm needed a serious overhaul.
Mobility in harsh terrain? The Cloud Swallow Glider had been gathering dust for ages—time to put it to use.
And siege capability—when surrounded or stirring chaos in a team fight, he needed something devastating. 'Art' sounded perfect.
Explosions are art.
Ideas flowed fast. Xiao Han jotted down a materials list and sent Feng Jun to fetch supplies. The batch cost three hundred thousand—painfully expensive.
Feng Jun was growing numb. Babysitting Xiao Han was turning into a full-time job. Orders from above were clear: protect him at all costs. Dealing with Xiao Han was exhausting, but the higher-ups knew it and bumped his pay as consolation. What could he say? For twenty-five grand a month and full benefits, he'd endure.
"Maybe this is what they mean by: the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility."
Feng Jun tilted his head at a forty-five-degree angle, sighing at the ceiling.