Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 732: Chapter 257: Helmet Mod?

”No way, taking it apart again!?”

When the player ’Brain Watering’, who had the triple identities of Cyber Monk, Sticker Expert, and Turing Priest, saw the Research Association’s notice, he felt like he was struck by lightning, looking utterly hopeless.

In contrast, the real ’Brainstorming’ girl, ’Sleepy Mianmian’, jumped up excitedly upon seeing the news!

”Great, I can finally fix my brain! I want to have short hair, I want a Mohawk!!”

The notice was straightforward—all enterprise members of the Research Association (followed by a long list of enterprise names) unanimously agreed, after a vote, to abolish the Brain-Machine Plan and choose the virtual helmet route.

And all the ’artificial data’ that had been modified would undergo a ’secondary transformation’ at fixed locations in every Mechanical City; that means removing the brain-machine and then using bionic technology to repair the back of the head.

”Great monk, I finally don’t have to worry about brain leaking,” ’Sleepy Mianmian’ cheered joyfully. There was a noticeable dent in her bob haircut, which was the size of a fist brain-machine hole!

But ’Brain Watering’ was disheartened.

The player’s XP is free, and he, ’Brain Watering’, was a die-hard brain-machine fan.

He opened a small ’sticker group’ he had created, and sure enough, the group was already in an uproar.

’Damn it, changing the technology route, doesn’t that mean my brain-machine membrane was bought for nothing!?’

’...Bro upstairs, is that really the point?’

’Of course, it’s key! This is a bulletproof membrane from the Flower Monk ’Watering’, and it cost me tens of thousands of Mechanical Coins.’

’Speaking of, if we take the brain-machine off, doesn’t that mean all our previous transformation rates were wasted?’

’Wasted is wasted, haven’t you wasted enough?’

’Yeah, you’re right.’

Behind every applicable prosthetic body, there are multiple rather unreliable prosthetic body implants, which can be dismantled, but the ’transformation rate’ would not return to its original state because of that.

In fact, players frequently changed prosthetic bodies due to PVP needs, level-ups, team requirements, and monster farming needs, causing the transformation rate of the same part to continually stack.

The human body has eight systems, each with a transformation rate cap of 100%, meaning within level 90, before Ascension, human players have a total of 800% transformation space.

But in reality, in terms of transformation rate, players’ utilization is very low, with a 30%-40% transformation success rate considered top-tier players’ standard.

And some players who revamped blindly had transformation success rates in the single digits.

So the topic of ’transformation rate’ passed quickly.

Players mainly discussed why they needed to change the ’technology route.’

’Ahhh, I finally made up my mind to make my ’Wisdom Type-Three Brain Machine’ the core and go the ’intelligent weapons’ route. If the brain-machine is removed, what about my newly bought equipment?’ Divine Wood

’Just keep using it.’

’Use my ass, I’m not a Neural Editor, low consciousness, without a brain-machine, how can I operate so many ’intelligent weapons’!’

’I’m not changing, not even if it kills me, at worst, I’ll switch alliances. My brain-machine is a little gem I got from farming, with four weapon connection slots.’

’Damn, Luck God, eat my sword!’ Deathly Bad RNG

’I don’t care, my brand’s ’brain-machine’ attributes are notoriously weak. I’m queuing up now, guys.’ Splatbug

In fact, if not for looks-focused players, many players would opt for brain-machine installations for a simple reason: it’s generally Tier 1 Fine-grade equipment, and it’s upgradable.

Free equipment, how wonderful is that!

Now, NPC wants to recall the equipment, and immediately players became displeased.

’@Brain Watering, Brother Watering, can the brain-machine membrane be refunded?’

’...’ Brain Watering.

’Can a type of natural rubber material disposable safety tool be washed and reused?’ another player sneered.

’Hehehe.’

’Why not? That’s how I use my cup, eco-friendly.’

Soon, the conversation was rapidly veering off into R-rated territory.

’Brain Watering’ wryly closed the group chat, and beside him, ’Mianmian’ curiously asked:

”Monk, what level is your brain-machine? I noticed these days all the money for repairing the membrane went into upgrading the brain-machine level.”

’Brain Watering’ held up two fingers, expressionless:

”Tier 2, five connection slots, I even installed a custom-level ’control chip’ for it.”

’Mianmian’ looked at him sympathetically, ”Monk, maybe you should change alliances.”

’Brain Watering’ exhaled deeply, just feeling that fate was unpredictable.

’Mianmian’ was influenced by him and joined the Research Association from miles away because of the chance to select brain-machine models.

Now, however, he was seriously considering whether to betray his alliance.

Switching alliances would mean all previous reputation and points would go down the drain.

While ’Brain Watering’ was caught in this dilemma, a ’ding ding’ sound chimed—it was a fellow enthusiast from their brain-machine circle @ing him. They had discussed how to upgrade their brain-machines.

’Brother Watering, don’t rush, the situation may still be salvageable!’

’What’s up, dude!’ ’Brain Watering’s’ spirit lifted.

The other party didn’t say a word, simply forwarded a post—

’Shocking, the virtual helmet’s universal compatibility!’

What?

”Just like it was advertised when we first entered the game, ’Cyber Realm’ is a 100% realistic game where NPCs have advanced intelligence, and every alliance influence rises and falls, with players playing a pivotal role in between.”

”Although the last part is nonsense, the competition among alliance influences in the game is truly intense. Make one misstep, and the company is gone, the players who joined the influence not only drop levels like crazy, but their initial investments are essentially flushed away.”

”The above belong to celestial calamities, but besides celestial calamities, there are also human factors!”

”The human factors are some brain-dead high-level NPC suddenly announcing a new technological plan, and then the old equipment cannot be updated, can’t be repaired, and even needs to be remade.”

”Players who walk the alliance route must have deeply experienced this.”

Sure enough, below the post, there was a series of tragic experiences from alliance players.

Then, the poster changed the tone, posting a bunch of pictures showing long and dense queues.

”Are these queues for buying roast duck?”

”A famous internet shop?”

”Everyone, these are the current situations below the Research Association in Mechanical City, all these NPCs are queuing to dismantle brain-machines, including some of our Research Association brothers and sisters.”

”But everyone, don’t panic, don’t be afraid. I know everyone must be having a headache about what to do with the brain-machines they’ve invested so much in, even considering whether to bail out with a bucket. I can only tell you, friends, don’t ever do that, you’ll take a big loss if you do!”

The poster then shared a blueprint, depicting a piece of equipment resembling a ’motorcycle helmet,’ along with attributes, which were low, Tier 1 Whiteboard, the kind current players wouldn’t use.

”This is the virtual helmet I got my hands on, disappointing isn’t it? It’s mass-produced, and indeed low-level mass-produced goods, but that’s not the point, the point is—”

The poster turned the ’helmet’ around, revealing over a dozen various ports at the back of the helmet, different in models, peculiar in style.

”That’s right, folks, this thing can connect to brain-machines! Not just the above dozen styles, you can even actively request them to change styles during ’helmet replacement,’ linking with the brain-machine.”

Players were touched, as touched as Apple being compatible with Android apps, a MOD master adding a new modifier to a game.

”Damn, does this mean I don’t need to change my brain-machine?”

”You can choose not to if you don’t want to,” replied the owner of the post.

”Wow! 666!”

”Touched, finally an NPC influence that doesn’t scam people!”

”They even offer a warranty, brought to tears, folks.”

Quite a few players also raised objections.

”Doesn’t this operation equal taking off your pants to fart?”

”Its wide range of use is because of its low-level, Whiteboard equipment, would you use it?”

”Since they’ve already abolished the brain-machine route, why bother with this operation?”

”Could it be that it really has our players’ interests at heart? No way! Absolutely impossible!!”

But no matter what, ’Brain Watering’ was relieved, since he was planning in the game to ’be a Cyber Monk, worshiping the Gatling Bodhisattva.’

When he has money, he also plans to build a ’Buddha’ style super mecha, spreading benevolence through force.

Changing the brain-machine was absolutely not an option!

”Seeing this, everybody must be relieved. However, according to my personal experience as the post owner, the queue length has already reached outside the Mechanical City. Just waiting alone takes 5-6 hours, sometimes even a day, and god knows if this situation is an alliance benefit or a game bug, so those players who want to change, better hurry up!!”

Once again, the poster changed the tone.

”Therefore, my humble self offers a line-standing service, 5,000 Mechanical Coins within 10,000 names, 50,000 Mechanical Coins within 500 names, 200,000 Mechanical Coins, or prosthetic bodies, equipment, blueprints of equivalent value, immediate surgery.”

”Of course, if bros have well-filled wallets, I have, hehe, special channels to get virtual helmets with particularly good attributes. Message me privately if interested.”

”Damn, a scalper!”

”Scalper, go to hell!!!”

”Rebellious, there are even ticket touts in the game.”

”This sneaky way of talking is so familiar, it’s you, cunning merchant Baozi!”

’Brain Watering’ was taken aback, only then noticing that the poster had canceled anonymity, it was indeed the legendary cunning merchant, ’I Love Eating Buns.’

”Oh my tofu, Buddha bless you to the 18th level of hell!”

’Brain Watering’ cursed under his breath as he anonymously posted, while opening Baozi’s private chat.

”Brother Baozi, give me the best spot, urgent need!”

...

”Heh heh heh—”

In a VIP room of the Research Association, Baozi’s fingers were flying while displaying his trademark sly smile.

”I’m gonna be rich, this time really gonna be rich!”

The leader on the side couldn’t help but express disdain:

”Baozi, can you not show that villain’s smile, making us look like bad guys.”

”Men without bad, no love from money,” Baozi casually replied, ”By the way, where’s Sister Ji?”

”Sister Ji went outside to check out handsome guys.”

”Oh.”