Gao Gong drove at high speed, passing by a gas station and filling up on energy extraction liquid.
The gas station not only offered refueling but also provided prosthetic modifications, advanced batteries, weapon purchases, vehicle repairs, and primary processing of energy ores.
There are two kinds of gas stations, one is factory-owned, and the other is independently franchised. The condition for franchising is having a mine in the Iron Sand Desert and signing a sales contract with the factory; in simple terms, one must have a mine at home.
"Your vehicle is fully refueled, we look forward to your next visit."
A robot cheerfully spoke to Gao Gong.
Through the rearview mirror, Gao Gong stared at the 'Titan-III' convoy entering the gas station from behind.
The Titan-III is a colossal armored vehicle, equipped with three rows of 280mm multi-barrel rocket launchers on the rear seat, single-barrel beast-hunting cannons facing in all four directions, and rows of vehicle-mounted machine guns at the front and rear, creating a formidable firepower like a super weapon.
"Buying energy boards?" Gao Gong handed over the 'dining card,' asking casually.
Such a heavy armored combat vehicle could not be propelled by an ordinary engine; it should be equipped with energy boards.
One energy board, the size of a keyboard, is equivalent to a tank full of energy extraction liquid and consumes only one-tenth of the energy of regular extraction liquid.
"Yes, sir, it just came from the front line."
The robot swiped the 'dining card' within a groove on its arm, automatically deducting the amount.
"The front line, has battle started so soon? It seems the situation isn't good."
Gao Gong squinted his eyes. He could clearly see a lot of bite marks on the armor surface of these six 'Titan-III' vehicles; some steel plates were even torn open.
Noticing Gao Gong's gaze, a prosthetic transformer on the vehicle gave Gao Gong the middle finger.
"Heh, can't handle radiation beasts but have plenty of energy to scorn colleagues, the Security Corps are getting more competent."
The Security Corps are factory-affiliated troops, previously responsible for escorting convoys and transporting desert ore resources, as well as providing mission rewards and prosthetic modifications for bounty hunters. As the factory established itself locally, they gradually shifted toward an armed group.
In recent years, large-scale beast extermination operations were led by the Security Corps, and mechanical hunters were responsible for transporting prey and protecting the convoy.
You could say the cycle of fortune had turned.
'But that's not a bad thing for me.'
If the Security Corps were to fail, the factory would undoubtedly, as in the past, summon a large number of mechanical hunters for hunting operations again.
All the prosthetic equipment I need for modifications would be within reach.
Returning the middle finger, Gao Gong floored the gas pedal and drove away.
After driving back to the secret base, Gao Gong went out for a moment, dropping off today's finds at the Old Friend Gun Shop, but Aunt Xiang wasn't there, only Fat Xiang watching the shop alone.
Throwing Fat Xiang a tube of nutrition paste, he hurried back to the base.
After saving up experience value for a whole week, he intended to make good use of it.
[You invest 2000 experience points; the prosthetic doctor is upgraded to level 2, Intelligence +1, Surgery Success Rate +3%]
[You invest 4000 experience points; the prosthetic doctor is upgraded to level 3, Surgery Success Rate +3%]
[You invest 6000 experience points; the prosthetic doctor is upgraded to level 4, Surgery Success Rate +2%, Additional State: Calm]
Calm: During prosthetic modification surgery, you can maintain a stable mindset, completing high-difficulty surgical techniques, and have a certain chance of enhancing prosthetic performance.
[You upgraded [Electronic Neurology] to level 3]
[You upgraded [Human Biology] to Level 2]
[You upgraded [Human Body Mechanics] to level 2]
[You upgraded [Industrial Materials Science] to level 2]
Gao Gong exhaled, feeling his back drenched in sweat.
Since becoming an NPC, leveling up was not just leveling up anymore; it involved converting experience into knowledge, images, and theories, directly poured into his brain.
The capacity for information processing in the brain is limited. With so much information in one go, it almost choked him.
"Looks like I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Massaging the sides of his temples which were throbbing from brain congestion, Gao Gong opened the synthesis panel once more.
The Classical Stream Mechanical Hunter has extremely high requirements for close combat, and coincidentally, he remembered several close-combat body modification blueprints referred to as 'Little Divine Armor' by players.
level 3 [Electronic Neurology] + level 2 [Human Biology]
[Fusion successful, you have researched a Level 2 Neural Blueprint [Tactile Nerve Flow Enhancer]]
level 2 [Human Body Mechanics] + level 2 [Industrial Materials Science]
[Fusion successful, you have researched a Level 2 Mechanical Blueprint [Electromagnetic Exciter]]
level 2 [Human Body Mechanics] + level 2 [Industrial Materials Science] + level 3 [Mechanical Transformation]
[Fusion successful, you have researched a Level 2 Mechanical Blueprint [Microcomputer Tiger]]
level 3 [Electronic Neurology] + level 2 [Human Biology] + level 2 [Human Body Mechanics] + level 3 [Mechanical Transformation]
[Fusion successful, you have researched a Level 3 Skin Blueprint [Desert Skin]]
Gazing at the empty experience bar, Gao Gong let out a wry smile, indeed, no matter how much experience one earns, it's never enough.
In his previous life, he never felt this way, oh, but in his previous life, he had a team of rich lady patrons paying for him, issues solvable with money never really cost him experience.
This made Gao Gong start missing that group of idiot players. Once they log on, my NPC identity will finally be useful.
The biggest difference between a player template and an NPC template is that an NPC can initiate a faction.
But even idiot players don't just cozy up to any random bystander, so it's still necessary to build up reputation first.
Since he couldn't sleep anyway, Gao Gong simply found a highland to lie down and gaze at the stars. The atmosphere of this planet was filled with nuclear dust, so not to mention the stars, even the moon was invisible. Gao Gong could only rely on his memory to count them one by one.
'That's Arcturus, a desert planet.'
'This is Little Wolf Star, a late-stage fixed star, but it has billions of years before it collapses.'
'This is a diffuse nebula. Any spaceship below a Level 5 civilization that enters risks going missing. Level 5 and above? Well, civilizations above Level 5 don't fly spaceships.'
'Oh, right, there seems to be a meteorite belt on the outskirts of the Extraterrestrial Colony, rich in minerals. Unfortunately, I left in such a rush back then, I didn't have time to collect anything; what a shame.'
Gao Gong counted the stars from his memory one by one, enduring until the middle of the night, when the swollen nerves finally eased a little, and he fell into a drowsy sleep. When he woke up again, it was already eight in the morning.
The Iron Sand Desert was perpetually dim and scorching. Some electronics would inexplicably fail after a while, so the residents here naturally mastered the art of setting their biological clocks.
He pulled out a barrel of pure water from a metal shed and gave himself a simple wash—the water in the desert was mildly corrosive and couldn't be used.
'If war really breaks out on the front lines, it means the factory might reopen the Military Supply Warehouse. Then at least three of the four blueprints I developed can be made.'
Gao Gong felt invigorated and immediately jumped into an off-road vehicle, stepped on the accelerator, and sped towards a Military Supply Warehouse in the northwest corner of Automobile City.
Rose Petrol Bar, in a private room
Black Rose crossed her long legs wrapped in black silk, holding a 'Night Fragrance' brand special synthetic cigarette between her slender fingers. This type of cigarette could directly regulate dopamine secretion, creating a flavor most suited to the customer, priced at one hundred Mechanical Coins each.
Thick smoke exhaled from her bright red lips, imparting an indescribable laziness.
Facing her sat an old-fashioned pure mechanical man dressed in a Joker costume.
Pure mechanical men can be divided into two types. The first is like Gao Gong—humans whose bodies have been transformed step by step until their human body transformation rate has reached 100%, turning them from human to mechanical life forms.
The second type has a mechanical body in human form, developed in a lab with AI debugged onto the mechanical body, like that old-fashioned mechanical man over there.
In fact, even in Nightless City, there aren't many of this kind of old-fashioned mechanical men anymore. The city is more populated with bionic men that have AI templates directly injected.
They only exist in some highly confidential old places, like factories, like legions, where such old-fashioned mechanical men still exist.
"Transport this batch to the usual spot, have someone come to pick it up, but this time, I want a 10% cut," she said.
Little Finger frowned and said, "There are so many loops to grease, where's the room for an increase?"
"The old guys are tightening checks, what can I do?"
Black Rose pressed her beautiful palm down, indicating for Little Finger to be quiet, and then said, "Alright, but the quantity of the next batch will need to be increased by 30%."
The old-fashioned mechanical man was silent for a moment, seemingly calculating the success rate of smuggling with big data, and after a moment, replied, "Okay."
Once negotiations ended, the atmosphere immediately lightened. Little Finger chuckled and brought over four glasses of alcohol.
"Come on, come on, this is something I specially mixed for you—gasoline-flavored beer and beer-flavored gasoline. Try it and see if there's a difference."
The old-fashioned mechanical man didn't waste words, downing two cups of gasoline-flavored alcohol at once.
"I have things to do, so I'll take my leave now."
"Don't you need me to get someone to keep you company?"
"Uh—" Little Finger's face stiffened, thinking, Sister Rose, isn't this a bit over the top? Trying to pimp out companions for a robot, you sure have some imagination.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the old-fashioned mechanical man slowly turned its head and asked, "Are you referring to the human physiological state of 'pleasure' caused by the operation of reproductive organs stimulating the neural system and secreting hormones?"
"Although I am busy, I can spare an hour."
"Take someone with you, and remember to get the best bionic companion possible," Black Rose replied without changing her expression.
Little Finger rose to his feet, his expression conflicted, hesitated, and couldn't help but ask, "For an hour, can you really handle that?"
"Yes, I have the latest model of reproductive organs installed."
"Do you have any special requests?"
"Special requests, wait a moment, I'll search the database."
After a while, Little Finger came back, complaining, "Next time, let's not take part in such dangerous smuggling. Can't we just sell military equipment to those poor souls in the desert? Why get involved in those madmen's business?"
"Because they pay enough," Black Rose stood up and walked out, with Little Finger incessantly chattering as he followed closely behind.
"But who would have thought, even robots would embezzle. I always thought that Old Hong was a normal person."
"Mm."
"Where are we headed now?"
"Back to the garage."
"Garage! Are you taking me for a car race? Are we going on a date? Can I hold your waist?" Little Finger perked up, flinging three questions in quick succession.
Black Rose gave him a sideways glance, "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"Forgetting something, what?" Little Finger scratched his head.
"You still haven't retrieved your surgical table."