Wasteland Hideout: Upgrading from the Sewers

Chapter 222: About the Mechanical Pioneers Association, this is a living father of energy-absorbing beasts!

Looking at the terrifying value of 91% (fanatical loyalty) trust level on Hans's information panel, and the glaring words 【Extreme Fear, Extreme Awe】 following his mental state, even Yu Yuan felt it was somewhat surreal.

He hadn't expected his previous intimidation of Hans to have such a significant effect.

This was also a spontaneous idea he had after noticing the change in Hans's attitude back at the Blood Lab.

It seems the situation is pretty good now.

Hans's talent was indeed as Yu Yuan had guessed earlier, named 【Tracking Expert】, with effects that enhanced insight, memory, perception, and environmental adaptability.

However, the Doctor's talent pleasantly surprised Yu Yuan. It was named 【Biological Research Prodigy】, with the effect of increasing efficiency by 40% during research tasks, and having a 5% chance of a sudden flash of inspiration.

That Rare-tier white lab coat and Rare-tier gold-rimmed glasses were practically tailor-made for the Doctor. Moreover, the Doctor's talent perfectly complemented the 【Spiritual Creature Laboratory】 and the yet-to-be-built 【Genetic Modification Laboratory】.

Perfect!

It's simply too perfect!

Afterwards, Yu Yuan put Hans back into the Loser's Cube, rode Mie Mie to the northern city outskirts, then released Hans and returned his equipment and clothes to him."Sir, I'll head back now!" Hans said, putting on his gear and seeking confirmation from Yu Yuan.

"Go back! I hope you won't disappoint me!"

Seeing Yu Yuan's ambiguous, half-smiling expression, Hans subconsciously shuddered all over and immediately said, "S-sir, rest assured, Hans wouldn't dare to be disloyal, I swear to follow you to the death."

Yu Yuan remained silent. Only after several seconds did he let out a soft chuckle.

"I hope so too. After all, some opportunities only come once. And finding you would be as easy as turning over my hand for me, wouldn't you say?"

"Alright, hurry up and go! Think carefully about the details of dealing with Victor on your way back, understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

Hans said with a sigh of relief, then didn't dare to linger, immediately running off towards the direction of the Wasteland Wilderness.

Watching Hans's figure gradually recede into the distance, Yu Yuan admitted this move was somewhat risky, but what if it succeeded?

Besides, he also needed to confirm the duration of the 【Willpower Breakdown】 skill's effect.

Anyway, he had already obtained all the intelligence about the Burning Fortress that he could get. Whether this Hans was killed or released didn't matter.

Might as well give it a try.

If successful, then the Burning Fortress would be an untapped treasure trove for him.

"According to Hans's intelligence, the most valuable resources of the Burning Fortress are the oil refinery, the crude oil mine, and those two Giant Eagles."

Yu Yuan opened the virtual map, which displayed a hand-drawn map of the Burning Fortress headquarters provided by Hans.

"According to Hans, Victor seems to possess a Rare Artifact. Previously, it was because Victor sensed the appearance of a Rare Artifact at the motel that he sent Hualuo and Hans to search for it."

"Including the Flame Wolf hide used to make the Flame Priest's robe, that was also obtained after Victor led a team to exterminate them."

"I hope Hans can find out clear information about that Rare Artifact after he returns!"

As for the Mechanical Vanguard Society, Yu Yuan also obtained detailed intelligence from Shiva.

The continent where Green Forest City is located is called the Naxi Continent. The continent adjacent to it is called the Terra Continent.

This Mechanical Vanguard Society is a military organization on the Terra Continent that possesses special mechanical technology. Their organization has a strict hierarchy and employs tough methods.

Over three-fifths of the cities on the Terra Continent have already been captured by them. The remaining cities are occupied by an alliance of multiple factions formed to resist them.

After more than a dozen confrontations, the Mechanical Vanguard Society hasn't made significant progress.

Thus, the Elder Council of the Mechanical Vanguard Society turned their gaze towards the Naxi Continent.

They dispatched multiple Executors as an advance force to enter the Naxi Continent, supporting local factions to grow and develop, using them as peripheral forces of the Mechanical Vanguard Society to plunder resources.

Blackfire is one of these Executors, and the Thug Prison is one of the local factions he supports.

Green Forest City is the city Blackfire has his eyes on. Originally, according to Blackfire's plan, they should have quickly occupied the eastern city district, then gradually encroached upon the other districts. Unexpectedly, right from the start in the eastern city district, they bit off more than they could chew.

The existence of the Aurora Animal Assistance Association far exceeded Blackfire's expectations.

Those mutated creatures and the weaponry and equipment inside Johnck Zoo immediately made Blackfire realize something was wrong.

This was simply not technology and power an ordinary thug faction could possess.

That's why he urgently transferred two mechanical reformers, Shiva and Gus, from headquarters to assist.

Blackfire also intensified his investigation into the origins of the Aurora Animal Assistance Association. Just two days ago, he finally found a lead.

"The cult?"

Yu Yuan silently repeated this name in his mind.

He knew about the Orthodox Church. The 《The Covenant》 he once obtained was a book from the Orthodox Church. This cult should be a similar organization.

"Mona hasn't sent any messages for several days! I wonder how she's doing."

Yu Yuan raised his right hand. The mechanical bracer on his wrist transformed into silvery liquid, coalescing in his palm.

This was the reward he received for killing Shiva and completing the Bronze 【Slaughter Card】 mission.

Rare Treasure: 【Mechanical Weapon Protocol】

Function: ① Can apply a mechanical protocol to a weapon, transforming it into a Mechanical Armament. Can fuse with an Energy Core to grant the Mechanical Armament special effects; ② The Mechanical Armament can undergo form changes.

(Friendly Reminder: Please note, Mechanical Armament transformation is unique. Choose carefully.)

Unlike Hans, Yu Yuan never even considered letting Shiva live. Not only because he was a Bronze-level life form—letting a tiger return to the mountains posed too great a threat.

More importantly, according to Shiva's description, the first step in undergoing mechanical reform was having a control chip implanted in the brain.

This chip was not only the core control center for operating their mechanical prosthetics but also a crucial means for the organization to monitor them.

Under normal circumstances, the chip automatically transmitted the relevant data and information of the mechanical reformers back to headquarters every hour. If they leaked organizational intelligence, it would also trigger a self-destruct mode.

Therefore, even if Yu Yuan wanted to turn him, the conditions weren't there.

He could only be eliminated.

Yu Yuan was also glad that after putting Shiva into the Loser's Cube, he directly entered the Wasteland Battle Royale.

The Loser's Cube had isolation effects, and the Wasteland Battle Royale wasn't even in the same world.

Otherwise, his information might have been transmitted back to headquarters by the chip.

This also filled Yu Yuan with wariness towards the Mechanical Vanguard Society.

"In the future, when facing the Mechanical Vanguard Society, if you can act, absolutely don't talk. If you can snipe from a distance, absolutely don't engage in close-quarters combat."

Yu Yuan quickly defined his approach towards the Mechanical Vanguard Society.

Thinking of this, Yu Yuan also developed a preference for the item to be turned into a Mechanical Armament.

By the time he returned to the shelter, it was already 12 AM. He glanced at the still-charging 【Thunder's Secret Contract】.

This Legendary-tier weapon was truly a major energy consumer. In just one day, it had consumed nearly 300 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

And the lightning pattern on the flintlock pistol's grip had only barely reached about one-third.

That is to say, fully charging this Legendary-tier weapon once would consume at least 900 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Six Swiftstriders running non-stop for three and a half days would barely be enough to feed it once.

Yu Yuan subconsciously shook his head and let out a deep sigh.

This wasn't bringing back a weapon.

This was bringing back a freaking energy-sucking beast of a daddy!

For a moment, Yu Yuan wasn't sure whether he had gained or lost on this deal!