CHAPTER 287: CHAPTER 287: AGREEING TO ASSIST

Tilian Planet Fragment.

Lin Yi shook hands with the machine man.

"Hello, I’m Gailz. Come on, I’ll show you some interesting things."

After speaking, the man led the way ahead.

Gailz was an obviously mechanical man; he had no mouth, his eyes were a long, glowing green line, and he had no skin, his entire body was metal.

But his voice sounded full of emotion.

Lin Yi followed the robot to the testing ground, where four prototype mechas and a group of engineers were waiting.

"These are prototypes, made with titanium alloy instead of pure Timelim Metal, so these mechas are heavier, with lower durability and strength.

But this is just the first version. Do you want to take a test drive?" Gailz reported.

Lin Yi waved his hand, and Louis and three other engineers appeared in the room.

"Let them go ahead."

"Do you need an operation tutorial?" Gailz asked while sizing up the four men.

They too were staring at the mechanical man in front of them.

"Of course!"

After fifteen minutes of tedious explanation, Louis took the lead and climbed into their mecha.

These machines were different from each other.

Some had wheels or tracks, while others had legs.

The most primitive one had no arms at all, replaced instead by two weapons, while the most complex one had four arms.

Their height also varied from three to five meters.

The engines of the mechas roared to life.

The shortest one, equipped with tank tracks, was the first to move.

The driver was Louis, who slowly increased speed and then began performing more complex maneuvers.

Next was the mecha with four arms, but its movements were clumsy and restricted.

Soon, all the mechas were moving, with the wheeled mecha and the humanoid mecha with four arms performing the best.

But the pilots had to exit the cockpits after just two minutes.

They were exhausted, and the operation interface of the mecha simply stopped working.

"It seems that even Second Level mechas are too difficult for humans to control..." Gailz murmured.

He then began questioning the pilots.

The results showed that the mecha without limbs was the easiest to use, with younger pilots finding it easier to control.

Gailz’s questions confirmed a theory—that the lower the level of the mecha, the easier it was to pilot.

He suggested Lin Yi test his people to determine who had the potential to become a mecha pilot.

Then these new pilots could be trained to gradually increase their time inside the mecha.

After testing the mechas, they started testing the power armor.

Four half-mechanical people in enormous armor suits arrived at the testing ground, these were modified "Slaughterer" armors.

The modified "Slaughterer" armors became larger, with all internal components hidden, making them look a bit like diving suits.

Their reactors were now quiet, and unlike earlier models, no steam vented from the pipes, with the new system reducing water consumption by ninety percent.

The power armor design had been completely changed, and now looked... smoother and more aesthetically pleasing.

The half-mechanical people moved smoothly and naturally wearing them.

Upon Gailz’s command, they began sparring each other to demonstrate the "diving suit’s" capabilities.

The half-mechanical warriors moved with extreme agility, significantly enhancing the wearer’s physical attributes.

Lin Yi asked Gailz, "Is this made with Timelim Metal?"

"No, it’s also made of steel, but it’s more complex to manufacture."

"Hmm... If it were made of Timelim Metal, would it be more powerful?"

"Absolutely!"

"Is this the final version?"

"No."

The robot Gailz shook his head.

"The life-support systems are not yet complete, and there are still some... issues, with some accidents having occurred.

We need more time. But everything should be finished within days.

The Archbishop also asked me to tell you he has an important matter he wishes to discuss with you.

...He’s locked himself in the lab for the time being, and won’t come out soon. May I ask you to assist on his behalf?"

"Assist? Go ahead."

Lin Yi and he went to a conference room on the same floor.

Gailz got straight to the point.

"I won’t beat around the bush. An ambassador from Rust City brought troubling news, please take a look at this."

Gailz said, handing Lin Yi a computer with some photos and videos on it.

The images showed an extremely massive wall surrounded by a large group of enemies, along with battle scenes, terrifying mechanical monsters, and more war.

"Though you agreed to provide us with military assistance, I suspect the Archbishop... will not ask for your help.

He is convinced our army can handle the situation on its own, but... I’m worried that by the time our troops arrive, the fortress will already be in ruins..."

"So you want me to help you hold out until your troops arrive?"

Lin Yi asked, his eyes still fixed on the tablet.

The battles in these photos and videos were alarming, making the Battle of Brussels look like child’s play...

"Yes... If you refuse, I can understand, but... you yourself have said, our world not falling is in your best interest.

I can guarantee that if you help, you will be richly rewarded!"

"Is this fortress very important? But I’ll help! I need a map, a route, and evidence that I’m reinforcement."

"Really? I’ve prepared everything you need, please hold on a moment."

Gailz ran to a pile of metal boxes that looked like filing cabinets and found a device similar to the one Zack owned.

He also took out a large map made of synthetic paper, a type of paper that will never tear or burn.

Lin Yi thought that if you used this paper to cover a house, it might survive a nuclear explosion.

Gailz handed everything to Lin Yi.

"I’ve marked everything, including outposts and bases, where to replenish supplies, we will provide anything you need."

"Alright then..." Lin Yi was about to set off when he remembered something important.

"I will leave someone here to act as my contact. He needs an office and... I’ll need a sort of assistant, arrange all of that."

"Alright, anything else?"

"I need to visit... the company owned by the half-mechanical people who brought me here; I had promised to cooperate with them."

"You mean Sharan’s company?"

"Yes, is he in?"

"As far as I know, he should be in the city."

"Then while I’m talking with Sharan, arrange a place for my person to stay and work."

Ten minutes later.

Lin Yi arrived at the headquarters of the trading company, located within a large complex.

The company’s main business is storing and repairing mechas, disassembling and reconfiguring mutants.

Sharan had already received the news that Lin Yi was coming, so he welcomed him at the door.

"I thought you wouldn’t visit us again."

Seeing the guest, Sharan hurriedly walked a few steps forward, shook Lin Yi’s hand, and breathed a sigh of relief.

A few days ago, he had heard that Lin Yi had formed an alliance with the leaders, and even the entire planet.

He thought he no longer qualified to cooperate with the other party.

Didn’t expect this man to be so faithful.

"Before we get down to business, how about a tour? I believe you will like it."

"Sure, I’d love to see what you’re doing here." Lin Yi said while carefully examining the heavily armored security mechas of Sharan.

These mechas are four meters tall, equipped with powerful weapons, and recently painted with shiny black paint.

Each mecha is equipped with a deadly eight-meter long spear, with a sword slung on its shoulder, and built-in laser rifles.

"Let’s go then, I won’t disappoint you."

Sharan said, leading Lin Yi towards the nearest gigantic multi-layer garage.

It has one floor above ground and two below used for parking regular vehicles.

Lin Yi saw various types of vehicles there, but most were double-decker trucks used for transporting goods and passengers.

He saw a giant mechanical arm completely disassemble a truck, replace the damaged parts, and reassemble it.

The whole process took only about fifteen minutes.

After visiting the garage, Lin Yi came to the mecha hangar.

Sharan said that his company buys mechas in bulk from the fortress and modifies them according to needs.

They focus on high-mobility light and medium mechas, but also have some heavy mechas that guard bases and escort caravans through particularly dangerous areas.

Lin Yi walked into Sharan’s office and asked, "Why don’t you have aircraft?"

"You mean... you have aircraft?! How can this be? The sky is completely unsafe!"

"I don’t have much time, let’s get straight to the point. I want to know, how do you handle power cores? I mean those empty power cores."

"We mix them into the fuel to improve fuel efficiency, why do you ask this?"

"Well, what if I told you I can recharge power cores?" Lin Yi asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Sharan laughed.

"You really love joking..."

But... when he saw Lin Yi’s serious expression, he slowly stopped laughing.

"But this is impossible! No, it’s not, possible!"

"Hahaha! I don’t believe anything is ’impossible’!" Lin Yi replied with a laugh.

In his hand appeared two grape-sized spheres, one blue and one green.

"I wonder if you use cores like these."

"Those are power cores? But why are they blue and green?! What are you..."

Sharan took the two cores and placed them one by one into a triangular device.

"How can they have such powerful energy?! What do you want in exchange for them?! Name a price!"

"Hahaha! That’s right, I want... hmm, all kinds of things, but I have a lot to offer too.

First, I want you to provide me with empty power cores, I’ll recharge them, you sell them, and we split the profits fifty-fifty.

Second, I want to buy a powerful energy cannon.

As far as I know, energy cannons are not very popular here, right?"

"Of course, they are unpopular! Firing such things is like throwing money away. But... if you can really recharge power cores...

That would be a whole different thing!

Do you... have any other good things?"