The Legendary Mechanic, page 54
His cautiousness during the exploration helped him avoid many more difficult barriers. The footsteps of the pilgrims were secretly hinting the player in the correct direction. If he had ignored the hint and walked in the opposite direction, he would have been surrounded and attacked by a bunch of test subjects and Desert Necro-worms.
If he feared the monster and moved to the left side, he would have missed discovering the blood serum.
And if he had moved to the right side while using a torch, he would have triggered the battle with Subject 002 at the first gate. The small passageway would not have allowed him to evade and move forward properly. He was highly likely to have retreated.
Lastly, if he had continued exploring greedily after getting the blood serum, he would have suffered the same consequences as the first scenario.
The reward was really a pleasant surprise; Han Xiao could not wait to research it. After submitting the assignment, he got up and was about to leave. However, the person in-charge suddenly said, “Mir. Black. May I ask you to stay in the Morning Wing City for two days? An important guest wants to meet with you.”
“Important guest?” Han Xiao was puzzled.
“An emissary from the Rothschild family, the client for the Rose Militant assignment. He hopes to meet up with you.”
Could it be to do with Felonia? Han Xiao’s eyes flashed before he said, “Please inform him that I will be glad to meet up with him.”
The person in-charge was delighted. “Alright then.”
Han Xiao left Hotel Victoria and went back to Antonio’s base. He immediately entered his temporary workshop and took out the Felonia serum and the gene-blending Potion.
The Felonia serum had a yellow fluorescence. It was sealed nicely and thus did not go bad after so many years.
The gene-blending potion was as dense as mercury, and it had little shiny star-like sparkles that made it glitter.
To use or not to use? That was the question.
The Felonia serum was a secret game item that he had never seen before this. The gene-blending potion would greatly reduce the risk of using it, so it was rather safe.
After Han Xiao calculated his chance of success, he decided to roll the dice. With the help of the gene-blending potion, even if the serum failed, he would not become like the muscular and ugly-looking test subjects.
He took out a syringe and a catheter. He then poked the syringe into the vein on his arm, injecting the gene-blending potion first.
A cool and refreshing sensation was carried by his blood circulation and distributed throughout his body. He felt as if he had just taken a refreshing bite of ice-cream in the blazing summer heat. His mind was simultaneously calmed. The gene-blending potion was not harmful to the body, and if it was not activated by a biochemical, its effect would gradually disappear.
Han Xiao took a deep breadth before he started injecting the blood serum. The fluorescent serum passed through the catheter and entered his bloodstream.
The feeling of his body swelling was instantly felt!
“Hiss…” Han Xiao gritted his teeth. He was spasming due to the overwhelming pain he felt throughout his entire body. He felt as if the interior of his body had been blown up into a paste—bones smashed into ashes, blood vessels broken apart, and muscles melted. The insufferable pain hit his brain without a stop, and he almost fainted!
‘Real’ players had only needed to rely on progress bars for using in-game items and making machinery. Therefore, the maximum pain they could feel was limited.
But Han Xiao had to experience the pain in reality!
Of course, being able to experience the reality was more advantageous to him. He had already gained a lot of benefits from it. True pain was just the required cost of the deal.
After some unknown amount of time, the overwhelming pain gradually subsided. Han Xiao’s eyes were filled with blood vessels, and he exhaled a heavy heap of murky air. He felt his nerves had suffered a horrifying torture.
He took a look at his body and was glad to find that it did not change. He did not become a muscular monster. It was still the same old handsome-looking body.
He did not have the energy to read his interface during the process, but now that it was over, he realized that it was flooded with lines and lines of information.
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You used a Felonia Blood Serum (Incomplete).
Mutation Progress: 12%.
Mutation succeeded! (Failure rate was reduced by Gene-blending Potion)
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You used a Felonia Blood Serum (Incomplete).
Mutation Progress: 46%; Mutation succeeded!
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You used a Felonia Blood Serum (Incomplete).
Mutation Progress: 73%; Mutation succeeded!
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You used a Felonia Blood Serum (Incomplete).
Mutation Progress: 100%.
Mutation Completed! Compatibility: Good
You gained 3 Strength and 5 Endurance!
You gained the ability [Basic Strengthen Life]!
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Han Xiao was dumbfounded. He glanced at his stat board with a look of disbelief as the new ability [Basic Strengthen Life] appeared.
I possess a Molding ability! Han Xiao was utterly shocked.
There was a special type of ability called a Molding ability. As far as he knew, he had not heard about any ‘real’ player obtaining this type of ability as it belonged exclusively to NPCs and Bosses, and it had very powerful effects. It was even rare for NPCs to have it.
Just by looking at its effects, one would immediately realize how powerful this type of ability was. [Basic Strengthen Life] would turn Endurance into extra Health Points with a conversion ratio of 1 to 15. This meant that with the 60 Endurance Points that Han Xiao had right now, he instantly gained 990 more Health Points to reach more than 2000 Health Points, almost doubling his existing HP.
Furthermore, the effect of this ability would increase as his Endurance increased further, providing him even more HP.
Han Xiao was only LV 30, and his HP had broken the 2,000 mark. The LV 38 Pugilist Pan Kuang did not even have as much HP as him.
If a ‘real’ player used the Felonia serum, they would probably only gain stat points, without the Molding ability.
This ability, my magnetic armor, and all the future mechanical armors will together make my tank ability so powerful that my enemies will vomit from trying to kill me.
Han Xiao was pleasantly surprised; he was very satisfied with the new ability as it gave him additional insurance.
He had benefited greatly from this quest.
From quest rewards, rewards from killing the enemies, and rewards from producing machinery during his free time, he had accumulated over 700,000 EXP on his interface!
He then counted the number of blueprints he had—19—just one more away from finishing the job advancement quest. Han Xiao contemplated for a moment and decided to produce some equipment that would boost his movement speed.
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Do you wish to proceed with talent fusion?
(Lv. 4 Basic Electromagnetism + Lv. 4 Basic Energy Theory + Lv. 4 Basic Mechanical Engineering + Lv. 2 Basic Bio-engineering)
This fusion will cost you 20,000 EXP!
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The range of blueprints he would get from this fusion was quite large. Han Xiao was uncertain whether he would get the equipment he wanted or not. He prepared himself to fuse three times, and if he did not succeed after three attempts, he would try to invent it by himself.
On his third try, Han Xiao obtained the blueprint for the item that he needed—the Skating Shoes.
Han Xiao scratched his head. He had saved the time needed to invent the shoes by himself by successfully obtaining the desired blueprint on the third try, but one of the two other blueprints was a totally useless blueprint. He was not sure whether he should consider himself lucky or unlucky.
The Skating Shoes, also known as the Electromagnetic Hover-boots, could be worn by an individual or armed on a small robot, and they could greatly enhance movement speed without hindering evading capability.
The other two blueprints were named Swarm and Heart, respectively.
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You have completed your Job Advancement Quest.
Job advancement successful!
You gained a new job [Mechanic (Trainee)]
+50 Energy, +1 DEX, +4 INT; +1 END, + 3 Unassign Stats, +1 Talent Point
You learned [Meticulous Repairs]!
You learned [Medium Enhancement]!
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Repair and Enhancement, the two core skills of a Mechanic, had finally evolved.
Mechanic (Trainee) was the third stage of a Mechanic’s job, but the EXP required to reach Lv.1 was not much since the job had a maximum level of 15.
Han Xiao gained three stat points at once.
His total level was at 34, and as usual, he threw all the stat points gained into Intelligence.
Han Xiao still had some leftover EXP. He thought for a moment before he decided to upgrade [Continuous Gliding Shots]. This skill had helped him numerous times, and Mechanics lacked battle skills, so every single active skill was important to them. Additionally, he was not in a rush to upgrade [Overload] as its Lv.1 effect was powerful enough for now.
[Continuous Gliding Shots] was raised to Lv.4, and its effect was strengthened. However, at the same time, it would consume 8 Energy. Han Xiao now had close to 900 Energy, more than enough to spend on this skill.
He had once again spent all his EXP.
He had spent a large sum of EXP in exchange for an improvement in his fighting capability. His character’s bare Energy Rank exceeded the 500 mark, and when he coordinated with his machinery, it would reach up to 700. He could now beat Pan Kuang easily if they were to fight again without the help of Norsa’s Character Summoning Card.
Chapter 105. Rothschild |
With a huge sum of money in his wallet, Han Xiao could spend extravagantly. He purchased a new batch of mechanical parts from Fabian Company.
In one day, using the skills from his job advancement, Han Xiao upgraded all his equipment and made blueprints for new items.
The Electromagnetic Hover-boots looked like a pair of metal boots. The heels and soles had a special device that could utilize the electromagnetic field to reduce surface friction. The power for which was generated by the high-energy battery inside the boots. The user could glide and coast on any type of surface, as if ice-skating, at an extremely high speed that was comparable to that of a car. The battery could supply enough energy for the boots to run at maximum power output for twenty minutes.
Han Xiao then painted the boots in silver and black stripes, and they looked stylish. Also, he conveniently added breathable knitting, a spongy cushion, and leather exterior for the boots. The boots were now comfortable for every day wear. One did not need to change into them only during battles.
Soon, the Rothschilds’ representative visited him.
In Hotel Victoria, Alphonsus was seated in the VIP lounge. He rested his hands on his knees while he waited for his guest to arrive.
As the door opened and Han Xiao walked in, Alphonsus got up and held out his hand elegantly as he said with a deep and magnetic voice, “I am Alphonsus from the Rothschild Family. I want to discuss some matters with you.”
Han Xiao went on to shake his hand. He felt Alphonsus’ thumb pressing firmly on the area between his thumb and index finger while he steadily shook for a moment. It was the type of handshake that was habitual for a person of authority, mostly used to exert dominance over the other person. This kind of handshake was easy to recognize for Han Xiao as his grandfather used to do it.
The principle was rather simple: just like how perverts would lightly scratch a girl’s hand when they shook her hand, a person of different status, job, or identity would have different habits. Handshakes would differ greatly depending on the people executing and receiving it, such as a subordinate seeking a favor from his boss, a male trying to seduce a lady, a person meeting a stranger, or two people of high-status fighting against each other.
Alphonsus was clearly not just a simple envoy. Han Xiao could already guess at the Rothschild Family’s purpose for meeting him.
As both were seated, Alphonsus said, “The assignment for Rose Militant has been on the list for nearly three years, and many assassins failed miserably. You, Mr. Black, actually completed it alone, much to my surprise.”
“You flatter me. This was just a standard operation, nothing to praise.”
Yet, your tone does not sound at all humble, Alphonsus quietly thought.
The two made some small talk before Han Xiao cut straight to the point. “Our relationship is only limited to that between a client and an assassin. Since the assignment is completed, we have no need for any further association. You clearly came to visit me for something else.”
“You are right. I am here to ask you some questions.” Alphonsus nodded. His body suddenly leaned forward, creating a hint of tension. He stared right at Han Xiao and said solemnly, “Did you visit an abandoned base in the Somar Desert?”
Alphonsus continuously observed Han Xiao’s expression and eyes whilst he spoke. He would immediately know that Han Xiao was lying if he showed any hint of hesitation. The Rothschild Family knew about the research project from the experiment diary taken from the base, and they highly valued it. If they could obtain the Felonia serum, they might be able to produce unique items from it.
Much to his surprise, Han Xiao actually took out a tube of yellow-fluorescent blood serum and place directly on the table.
“Name your price,” he said nonchalantly.
Alphonsus was startled—he did not expect Han Xiao to be so frank.
“This item is useless to me. Since you want it, you can pay to buy it.”
Alphonsus glanced at the serum. He did not worry that Han Xiao was lying to him—those who dared to scam the Rothschild Family had all died.
“How much do you want?”
“It depends on your sincerity.” Han Xiao grinned and looked unfathomable.
This attitude gave Alphonsus a headache. He had been hoping that Han Xiao did not know the value of the blood serum, but based on his behavior, it was unlikely. He hesitated for a long while before he made an honest offer, but it was not a high price considering the item’s rarity.
“One million.”
Every negotiator would always start low. Since they were all civilized gentleman, there was no such thing as killing and robbing; therefore, Alphonsus was ready to spend a fortune on it.
Han Xiao stared at Alphonsus for a moment before he slowly moved his lips. “This price… you didn’t show any sincerity at all.”
Alphonsus was just about to prepare his negotiation speech.
“I accept.”
“This blood serum has been kept for a few dozen years, and I don’t even know if it still works. So, the value is greatly reduced, I…”
“Hold on. You agree with this price‽” Alphonsus looked shocked.
Han Xiao pushed the blood serum toward Alphonsus and smiled. “This is for making a friend.”
Alphonsus started to take a liking for Han Xiao as he had originally planned to spend a fortune on this.
He tucked away the serum and recollected himself. “The funds will be transferred to your account as soon as possible. Also, you will gain the friendship with Rothschild and myself personally.”
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You unlocked a new camp reputation!
Reputation with the Rothschild Family increased by 1,800 points
The Rothschild Family: Friendly (1,800/3,000)
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Han Xiao smiled lightly; earning reputation points with the Rothschild Family by giving up some money was a very good deal for him. He could always earn money from other places, but the opportunity to unlock a new camp would be fleeting.
Some family conglomerates and corporations existed since the Old Age. After the baptism of war, some families died out while some became even more deep-rooted, for their influence could reach every aspect of their country, including the military, politics, economics, and mafias. Rothschild was one of such families, and Han Xiao knew that he could reap many benefits. To players, this was a support-type camp. They could buy rare items and services from such camps.
The Rothschilds were one of the Dark Net Organization’s allies, and he could use their backing in the organization, which would yield him more advantages.
Without the gene-blending potion, the Felonia serum would not yield him benefits. So, he would rather sell it for some profits. Anyway, he held onto one last tube of the serum.
With another million dollars in his account, his current stash reached six million dollars. They might just be digits in his account, but to put them in context, LV 30 players in Version 1.0 were considered wealthy if they had more than twenty thousand dollars. Anything above a million dollar would be considered astronomical; only major guilds had that kind of money.
After the deal, the atmosphere became more harmonious.
“What exactly is Felonia?” Han Xiao was curious.
He was puzzled by the fact that a simple serum like this was eyed by so many different factions.
Alphonsus was in a happy mood, so he explained, “There was a country in the Somar Desert that was entangled in the wars of the Old Age. They initiated a large-scale research project called the Felonia Project. The name was taken from a legendary tale of the country, and the project involved building many military bases to conduct research in a dozen different branches of technological development. The serum was one of their research directions. ”
“It turned out to be this. I really thought there was some sort of magical ruins.” Han Xiao finally understood the whole thing.
Alphonsus chuckled. “There is no magic in this world. You thought too much.”
