"What the hell... what the hell is this?"
Nolan, who had been lying peacefully on his bed, sat up abruptly after scrolling through the dizzying array of salvage results. He frowned and carefully reread the labels on every item, then fell into brooding silence.
Several minutes passed.
Nolan sighed and muttered to himself. "Ah. I knew it."
Out of the entire second salvage, only one item held real value: an unopened small refractor field generator.
This was high-tech equipment that only officers in the Imperial Guard had the opportunity to wear. It projected a protective energy field around the user, dispersing and resisting las-fire, plasma, or incoming bullets.
In other words, Nolan wouldn't need to worry about most projectile damage anymore. He could happily charge in with his chainsword and saw through enemies without fear.
That was the good news.
But he had to curse the rest.
Everything else was ammunition, clothing, and food supplies completely unsuitable for human consumption. Corpse starch. Ambull meat. Questionable protein bars.
Logically, according to the salvage system's pricing, it was perfectly reasonable. But after the first salvage brought him an ancient Man of Iron, the incredible surprise and soaring expectations made this haul feel disappointing by comparison.
Nolan sat cross-legged on his bed, staring at nothing for a while.
Then his fingers moved. He extracted the refractor field generator.
A thick metal piece the size of his palm materialized in his hand. It was designed as a decorative chestplate that could be worn over clothing. The surface bore the engraved symbol of the Imperium of Man: the double-headed Aquila. Several line-shaped patterns surrounded the eagle.
Nolan squinted as he studied it carefully. Eventually, he discovered the so-called line patterns were actually activation touch points. Following them in sequence from top to bottom would instantly deploy the refractor field.
Satisfied with his examination, Nolan tossed the generator onto his bedside table. He flopped heavily onto his pillow. The powerful kinetic energy plus his enhanced weight made the entire bed frame emit an uncomfortable groan.
He closed his eyes, planning to sleep.
But no matter how he shifted position, sleep wouldn't come.
Finally, Nolan gritted his teeth and opened the simulator's salvage page again.
"I want to win big with a small investment! I want power armor!" he muttered to himself, almost pleading with the interface. "I can't even wear it, but I'd just put it there and look at it, okay? If that doesn't work... I wouldn't mind mortal force-feedback power armor either..."
Still muttering, Nolan selected ten more salvage attempts.
[Countdown to salvage completion: 9 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds]
He stared at the countdown slowly ticking down. Then, having completely calmed himself, Nolan closed the simulator.
Sleep came easily after that.
After all, dreams had everything.
At nine o'clock the next morning, the first thing Nolan did upon waking was check the salvage results.
But he found there was still about an hour before completion.
So he decided to forget about it temporarily. After washing up, he headed directly to the basement. He wanted to see whether his iron friend was adapting to life in this new universe.
However, the moment he set foot in the basement, Nolan froze.
The scene before him was completely alien.
The basement of the past had been limited by Nolan's poor craftsmanship and inadequate materials. He'd only managed to support key structural points with steel plates and wooden beams. There had been no real design or proper repair work.
But now, the entire basement had been transformed.
Smooth steel plates without any visible welding marks covered the walls and floor. Even the hole they'd excavated yesterday had been carefully redesigned and reinforced. A simple metal ladder extended up from below, its rungs perfectly spaced and uniform.
Nolan took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. Then he approached the hole cautiously and looked down.
The interior had also become a passage lined entirely with metal plating. The work was impossibly clean, as if manufactured rather than assembled.
"How did it do this?" Nolan frowned, muttering to himself.
He hesitated for a moment, then began climbing down the metal ladder.
About fifteen meters underground, Nolan's eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness. When he finally reached the bottom and turned around, he discovered something that made his jaw drop.
A cavern with a radius of at least 500 square meters had taken shape. The ceiling was supported by elegant metal arches. The floor was perfectly level. Multiple passages branched off in different directions.
"Good morning, Nolan."
Before the shocked Nolan could react, the two-meter-tall Man of Iron emerged from one of the underground passages, carrying a pile of brand-new steel plates. Faint blue light glowed in its optical sensors.
Nolan stood with his eyes wide, momentarily speechless. Finally, he pointed at the building materials. "Friend, where did you get all this metal from?"
"I ordered it from a construction company in your name. More materials are currently in transit." UR-025's mechanical voice was matter-of-fact. "These materials were delivered by transport workers according to standard contract. They unloaded the shipment beneath a bridge several kilometers from here. There is an abandoned underground passage entrance at that location. I have been studying a species called 'ants' and moving materials in gradually using similar principles."
"I remember there's not much money in my bank account." Nolan stared at UR-025 as it set down the materials. "What did you use to pay for this? My credit card?"
"Nolan, Terra's financial systems and economic principles are remarkably fragile and simplistic. They are riddled with exploitable vulnerabilities."
The Man of Iron slowly straightened and turned its metal head. The blue light in its optical sensors focused on Nolan with what might have been pride.
"It required only seconds to obtain unclaimed funds from the Internet in amounts beyond Terran human calculation. The acquisition was completely legal and compliant with all local regulations."
The Man of Iron paused, tilting its head slightly.
"Nolan, do you require additional funds? I can transfer money directly to your bank account. If you fear that large sums would trigger investigation by other humans, Terra's stock market has also been analyzed. Would you like to become a new billionaire among Terran humans?"
Millionaire Nolan couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
The sudden temptation of limitless wealth threatened to overwhelm his rational thought. His breathing quickened. His heart raced. For a moment, the possibilities danced before his eyes.
Then he forcibly regained control. He waved his hand at UR-025 emphatically.
"Not right now! I don't want to become famous so soon!" His voice was slightly strangled. "Thank you for your kindness! If I need it, I'll definitely ask for your help. But I need to calm down now. 025, you go ahead with your work!"
Before the words finished leaving his mouth, Nolan scrambled up the metal ladder. His movements were as agile as if he'd installed rocket thrusters on his backside.
The Man of Iron watched Nolan's rapidly disappearing figure. Blue light pulsed in its optical sensors. When it spoke, the mechanical voice carried unmistakable confusion.
"They are merely unclaimed resources, easily obtained. Why did Nolan react so intensely? Is it because he values discretion and freedom, as I do?"
The Man of Iron shook its metal head, a gesture that somehow conveyed a sigh.
"But... if there is not even a temple on Terra, how can it be worthy of the Omnissiah's presence?"
UR-025 stood in contemplative silence for a long moment. Then it picked up the steel plates again and returned to work.
If Nolan wouldn't accept wealth openly, then UR-025 would simply build him a base worthy of his importance. That much, at least, was within acceptable parameters.
And perhaps, given time, Nolan would come to understand the true scale of what an ancient Man of Iron could offer.