Early the next morning, as the pale blue star rose once more from behind the high prison walls, Lin Jie removed his gloves, welding mask, and other auxiliary tools. He wiped the sweat from his brow and let out a long, relieved sigh.On the table before him lay two freshly finished mechanical devices.The first was an oversized "bracelet," nearly 50 to 60 centimeters in diameter. It was gold-colored, not fully enclosed but designed in segments—allowing it to open and close. The ends featured specialized connection mechanisms, and in the center of the bracelet, a component resembling a storage unit was visible.This was the energy shield's transceiver. Once affixed to the mech's arm and connected to the internal energy circuits via a dedicated port, it could deploy and retract the shield at will.[Fake·R Charge Energy Shield]
[Type: Heavy Energy Shield]
[Rank: E]
[Modes: 2]
[Energy Output: 860~1020]
[Minimum Equipment Requirement: Class-E Field Mech]
[Note: Combating piracy is everyone's responsibility.]
Lin Jie: …He was not one to be easily ruffled, but this earnest yet provocative note still made his head throb. He twitched his lips, then reached for the second device.It was a pair of gauntlets that covered the forearms, crafted entirely from alloy. As a mechanic's work glove, it prioritized flexibility with a stepped design—from the forearm to the fingertips, it was divided into 20 layers, each made of overlapping alloy plates (like the roof tiles of ancient Earth buildings, where the front edge of one plate overlapped the back edge of the next).This design split the glove into multiple sections, increasing its manufacturing complexity and requiring more armor (adding to its overall weight). However, it also granted exceptional flexibility: beyond disassembling and maintaining large components, it could handle delicate, precision tasks.On the outer side of each forearm, a simple mechanical skeleton extended backward, connecting to a disk-shaped device. This was the glove's power unit. When worn, it would rest like a backpack on the mechanic's back, supplying energy to the gauntlets and activating their micro-engines—unlocking strength far beyond that of an ordinary human.
[Mechanic's Glove]
[Type: Mechanical Glove / Auxiliary Tool]
[Rank: E-]
[Modes: 1]
[Energy Output: 70]
[Equipment Requirement: Possess a fully functional arm]
[Note: When a mechanic has seen a blueprint with perfect material ratios, all other materials feel like compromises. Normal people would refuse to settle… but you're not normal.]
"I have every reason to suspect you're insulting me. And I have proof," Lin Jie muttered, thoroughly exasperated.The note was short, but every word felt like a jab.So what if I compromised? Do you think a senior mechanic like me doesn't have OCD? Do you think I wanted to settle? What else was I supposed to do?This dump is filled with nothing but junk—where am I supposed to find proper materials?Lin Jie twitched his mouth, then pretended not to see the note. He picked up both devices and walked out of the workshop. A few petty, mean-spirited notes were trivial compared to the godlike ability to read data with a single touch—he could tolerate this.Tomorrow would be the second Flag Capture Battle. After days of nonstop, high-intensity work, he needed to rest while he could.Ninth Prison, Zone HAs mentioned earlier, Karl Star Nation's politicians had arrested countless powerful figures like Simon—driven by their desire for political achievements and other complex motives. Later, they realized these prisoners brought not just glory, but also immense pressure. Left with no other choice, they dumped all these "hot potatoes" into the Ninth Prison.Across the planet's 20 zones, nearly every zone had one or two such "tycoons." The ruler of Zone H was Horst—Simon's lifelong enemy, full name Horst Landen.Their feud was a blood feud, dating back even before the founding of Karl Star Nation. Back then, civilization and order had not yet taken root in the nearby star systems; life on many planets remained confined to indigenous civilizations. Light-years around were lawless wastelands, swarming with space pirates and assassins.At that time, the Landen and Lille families had not yet emerged into the open—they were mere space bandits, plundering and looting. They fought over spoils and clashed constantly; nearly every core family member had the blood of the other family on their hands.Later, powerful civilizations launched a crackdown on criminal forces. Countless small families and factions were wiped out, but the Landen and Lille families went into hiding. After the star system was "cleansed," they rode the rise of Karl Star Nation, using the wealth amassed from piracy to start legitimate businesses—pulling off a dramatic transformation.But even with legal identities, their hatred lingered. In secret and in public, the two families never stopped sabotaging each other. Simon's imprisonment had even been fueled by the Landen family's scheming. And now, in prison—with the Flag Capture Battles—they still refused to leave each other in peace, finding new ways to harass one another.At that moment, in Horst's luxurious cell (no less grand than Simon's), he sat with his subordinates Li Zhe and David, discussing urgent matters."Curly Hair—Simon's Pilot—was already more skilled. Now he has a mechanic too. The threat to us is growing," Horst said, turning to Li Zhe and David. "Do either of you have a plan?""I'm sorry, Boss," David replied, his voice dejected. Even the tentacle on his head drooped, like a deflated balloon.He and Li Zhe had also obtained a heavy energy rifle. For days, David had tried to modify it with brute force, but no matter what he did, he could not replicate the power of the rifle Curly Hair had wielded that day."Dammit! If it weren't for that energy rifle, Curly Hair would be dead by now!" Li Zhe gritted his teeth.Being shot through his mech's armor had left him shaken—and consumed by hatred for Curly Hair and Lin Jie. But that hatred was all he had. Curly Hair was already more skilled than him, and with a mechanic like Lin Jie by his side, Li Zhe stood no chance of defeating Curly Hair and the Mammoth in the match."So neither of you has a solution…" Horst glanced at his two subordinates. When he saw Li Zhe and David bow their heads, he suddenly smiled. "But I do."A solution? Li Zhe looked up sharply, his eyes alight with hope."If we can't beat them in the match… why not shift our focus to what happens outside the match?" Horst's smile turned cold and dangerous.A cunning glint flashed in Li Zhe's eyes. "Boss, are you saying…""Simple. Tomorrow, when we reach the arena, someone will contact you," Horst chuckled, then laid out the entire plan he had crafted with Jenna. Li Zhe's eyes sparkled more and more as he listened.Early the next morning, the teams with the remaining 10 mechs boarded the transport ship to the new battlefield—Lin Jie included. But as soon as he stepped off the ship, the staff had a "surprise" waiting for him.