Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Hanging Street is still bustling, and ’I Love Eating Buns’ sits behind the counter, running the shop while cheerfully surfing the forums.

You know what they say, it’s not about finding the best product, it’s about comparing products.

Almost no player can resist this 100% virtual world; on one hand, they enjoy their ’second life’, and on the other, the ’game’s’ difficulty makes them cry out.

Aside from a few players who start with perfect opening hands, this hardship covers nearly all professions and birth points.

’Brothers, save me! I’m just a security guard and have to do 24/7 shifts. If I slack off for a moment, I get a yellow card warning, three times and I’m expelled!’

’Isn’t it good to be expelled? Just change jobs.’

’Good, my ass! Normal people get kicked out when expelled, I get humanely destroyed, straight sent to the incinerator,’ Justice’s Security Manager.

’Do you think you’re worse off than me? You guys at least get food. Us street dwellers can’t get a full meal; the only thing I’ve eaten from yesterday to today is a half-eaten piece of Nutrition Paste.’ Little Ye.

’Where did you sleep last night?’ Red Water Beast.

’Garbage pile on Street 4, it’s safe there.’

’What a coincidence.’

’Brother, are you here too?’

’No, I’m at the garbage pile on Street 3, feel free to come visit my place.’

’The living still struggle, the dead have passed the third day, @Sister Ji, Sister Ji, where did you reincarnate?’

’Yeah, Sister Ji, how many levels did you gain with the system’s experience package?’

’...’ Sister Ji.

’I’m going to screw over the entire planning team’s family!!’

’Even if you’re reincarnating, go somewhere far, dammit, I’m still stuck at this wretched Red Dream Club!!’

’Huh? You’re still there? Still in that hehehe profession?’

’No, this time they transferred me to a Bionic Man with a Bartender template, comes with bartending skills.’

’Isn’t that pretty good?’

’Good, my ass! Do you know how my predecessor died? Service wasn’t good enough, got taken apart like a blind box, want to see her head? It’s right next to me.’

[Image][Image][Image]

’Whoa, that’s horrifying.’

’Uh——’

’Look for a chance to escape, Sister Ji.’

’I’d love to, but I don’t even know where the door is.’

’Is this game some cyber Sekiro? So difficult, and there’s a three-day penalty period, damn the planners’ families!’

’That’s why it’s better to live miserably than die well.’

’Why are you still playing this game of pure suffering? I quit ages ago,’ said the person filled with righteous indignation.

’The game’s full of traps, worse than 2077, still playing it, are you into self-torture?’

’Only an idiot would keep playing.’

Someone couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up.

’Everyone, ignore this nonsense. This guy got injected by an npc on the rooftop last night, was comatose and sold to a black market human organ workshop, logged off on the spot, now he’s in a rage. Let’s just bear with it for now.’

’Injection, you mean that kind of injection?’

’Speaking of which, anyone got tricked by virtual ads into signing contracts? If so, type a 1.’

’+1’

’+2’

’+3’

’+4’

’+5’

...

I Love Eating Buns looked happily at the forum full of miserable folks, doesn’t that comparison make you feel blessed?

The trio’s doing quite well; due to his quick wit, capable of observing and understanding, he’s now a temporary employee at the ’Neural House’, while I am a Big Muscle Dominator delivering for the mob, striving to gain enough street reputation to become an outstanding member of a community group.

As for Brother Umbrella, he’s rather elusive, rumored to have taken on a special task but won’t say what it is.

”Why is it you, where’s your boss?” an old customer walked over.

I Love Eating Buns perked up.

”The boss is busy, if there’s anything you want to modify, just let me know. I’ll first introduce you to our store’s new prosthetic bodies…”

Baozi also has his own goals; he quickly realized that this game isn’t merely about leveling up, the power boost from prosthetic modifications and implants is ridiculous.

Moreover, he heard that the Prosthetic Doctor profession is particularly respected in the Outer City District. Just saying his boss is Mr. G makes those ferocious gang members change their attitude 180 degrees, even showing some flattery.

This must be a hidden profession!

Thus, Baozi’s goal is to become the first Prosthetic Doctor among the players.

”When can I learn the craft?”

Looking at the tightly closed transformation room door, Baozi mumbled.

Inside the transformation room, Gao Gong was modifying the Reproductive Soldier Body.

Ever since connecting with the Welfare Gang, especially during its continuous expansion, Gao Gong’s speed of acquiring blueprints had rapidly increased several times over.

[Heavy Cannon Transformation], [Electronic Mechanical Runaway], [Ballistic Generation], [Neon Rocket], [Titanium Gold Plating]

The latter three—[Ballistic Generation] was a legacy of the Welfare Gang’s annihilation of the Machine Gang. The other two blueprints were benefits from subjugating several small gangs, one of which was voluntarily offered by a minor gang leader.

Every ambitious gang tries to cultivate its own Prosthetic Doctor, but not every gang succeeds.

And these internal materials became Gao Gong’s bounty.

Currently, Gao Gong’s transformation room was littered with scattered bullets and shell casings, on the ’shells,’ the company mark of ’Mas Sharpness’ could be faintly seen.

Apart from the Black Market, Gao Gong had his own channels as well.

At this moment, Gao Gong was coating the ’Reproductive Soldier Body.’

It was a secret concoction of metallic tuning liquid, and after successful coating, it added 500 points of armor.

The armor transformed from the Reproductive Soldier Body gradually turned black with the coating, and dozens of bullet holes appeared at various vital parts, with a slight bulge at the back—this was the transformed rocket launch module, powered by Biological Electricity.

[You have modified the Reproductive Soldier Body, implanted Titanium Gold Plating, Armor +500, Sports System Transformation Rate +1%, Mechanical Energy +1000]

[You have modified the Reproductive Soldier Body, implanted rocket launch module, body weight +30kg, Sports System Transformation Rate +1%, Mechanical Energy +1000]

[You have modified the Reproductive Soldier Body, implanted ’Ballistic Adjustment System,’ added shooting module, Sports System Transformation Rate +1%, Mechanical Energy +500]

[You have modified the Reproductive Soldier Body, acquired skill ’Electronic Mechanical Cleavage,’ Biological Energy +1000]

Electronic Mechanical Cleavage (Mechanical Transformation): The enhanced Mechanical System can fully release the organism’s Bioelectricity, capable of causing devastating damage to electronic systems.

The transformed Reproductive Soldier Body had a Nanomaterial Armor feel, and as Gao Gong’s thoughts moved, the seemingly heavy mecha directly flipped into the skin, resembling the sensation even more.

However, this was not a ’Nanotechnology Implantation,’ but a ’Bionic Implantation.’

Gao Gong moved his body a bit, clearly feeling heavier.

’Will speed slow down? The power structure needs adjusting.’

As his foot moved, cracks continuously appeared on the ground.

’Can the Devil’s Jet Hole be further connected with the Reproductive Soldier Body, using the excess energy from the reactor to reduce some of this weight?’

’The weapon system needs adjustment as well; the ’Rocket Launcher’ and ’Steel Gun Banner’ are in conflict.’

As the depth of transformation increased, more things became entangled, requiring not only knowledge but also various transformation experiences.

The holographic phone rang at this time.

’Right, I need to set up an Artificial Intelligence, the requirement isn’t high, just able to answer the phone.’

Upon pressing the connect button, Leaky’s figure appeared, dressed in a long robe, with an anxious expression.

”Master, why are you still in the shop!?”

”If I’m not in the shop, where should I be?”

”Today is the Dragon Head’s 40th birthday, you should attend!”

”Oh, forgot,” Gao Gong said without lifting his head, ”I’ll send a gift later, just forget about going, I’m very busy.”

”Master,” Leaky looked around, gritting his teeth, ”Recently, there have been some bad rumors within the gang, saying that the Dragon Head can’t control his Second Marshal. You know how much the Dragon Head cares about face; your presence could smooth things over.”

”Social anxiety, not going.”

Gao Gong flicked his finger, shutting off the other’s holographic projection.

...

In a grand, ancient-style tavern, the Electronic Lion changed colors as it danced, surrounded by hundreds of tables with various social figures. 3D tattoos flew everywhere—Child-Giving Guanyin, Martial God, Dragon and Tiger, Immortal Peach, Giant Python, Centipede—they glared at each other, like a feast of mythical creatures.

The grandeur was not only due to the Dragon Head’s 40th birthday but also to celebrate the Welfare Gang’s successful occupation of 10 districts.

A large gang owning 10 districts was a considerable achievement even in the Outer City District, practically shedding the status of an emerging gang.

Going further would mean solidifying territory, expanding networks, pulling in various forces, and liaising with members of various councils.

If all went well, the Welfare Gang could apply for a ’Peacekeeper License’ from the council and establish its own security company.

Indeed, in Nightless City, 90% of security companies have converted from gangs, and only 10% are subsidiaries of military contractors.

After Gao Gong ended the holographic call, Leaky wiped his sweat, feeling that he might really cause big trouble this time.

”When will our White Paper Fan Master arrive? The Dragon Head sent me to remind you,” Double Flower Red Staff Bodhisattva Man approached from afar.

”I’m afraid he won’t make it.”

”Seems like the Master doesn’t consider us his own,” Bodhisattva Man sneered, ”you explain it to the Dragon Head yourself.”

Leaky’s eye twitched as he took a deep breath, finding the Dragon Head Gao Jin amidst the toasting and drinking crowd.

”When will the Master arrive? I still need to introduce him to a few seniors,” Gao Jin said with a smile.

”Yes, Little Gao, my back isn’t doing too well; your White Paper Fan needs to give it a good look.”

The speaker was an elder from the Sub-human Continent, standing a full ten feet tall with a waist measuring ten spans around—a standard mighty general by ancient standards, but his belly didn’t hold muscles; it housed an old-generation mecha engine.

The elder closely resembled the imperial soldiers Gao Gong had seen, except the soldiers on the spaceship were logistical models, while he was a combat model.

Leaky braced himself, ”Dragon Head, the Master has urgent matters and won’t be able to come.”

The scene instantly fell silent.