Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 967: Chapter 73: Primitive Ore

After Director Du delivered the 500,000 Credit Points, the financial strain of the Cybertron Corps was greatly relieved. For the next few days, members of the Legion could be seen actively participating all over the Black Market and even at auctions.

Indeed, the Black Market located on the frontier between two civilizations was a wild place, offering anything imaginable for sale.

Even including something like a ’Primitive Ore’!

Name: Primitive Ore

Level: Tier 4

Attributes: 100/100 (Planet Energy Points)

Note: A super ore that can only be mined from the Star Core of a Resource Planet.

It truly is a super ore. The energy contained in a single Primitive Ore is equivalent to the annual power generation of ten industrial planets.

Gao Gong auctioned three pieces in total, spending 300,000 Credit Points.

Each piece of ore can provide a ’Star Destroyer’ with five Star-Destroying level attacks.

This means that now, the Star Destroyer can launch a total of fifteen times.

This greatly improved the security of Gao Gong’s camp.

At least in the Robert Star System, where no Ascension Civilization has emerged yet, Gao Gong need not fear a dimensional strike from others.

Only he could use the Star-Destroying Cannon to reduce others dimensionally, not the other way around.

The remaining massive purchase of 200,000 also alarmed the owner of the Black Market, the mysterious Collector.

”Where does Your Excellency get so much money?” The Collector examined his opponent suspiciously through a Holographic Projection.

The Purple Giant Star is not someone who particularly cares for his subordinates; apart from the Star Destroyer, he wouldn’t offer much support.

Gao Gong offered a mysterious smile and did not answer.

He could hardly admit that the Rich Lady was supporting him, could he?

”So, is Your Excellency not interested in my proposal?”

”I’m deeply grateful for the Collector’s kindness, but I always feel that a person should rely on themselves!” Gao Gong replied with conviction.

A few days ago, the Collector had contacted him and proposed a surprising deal.

That was to transfer the No. 10 satellite originally belonging to the Xie Family to Gao Gong’s Cybertron Corps and negotiate a new security contract under the terms made with the Xie Family.

In doing so, the Cybertron Corps would replace the Xie Family as the security force for the Black Market and become the Collector’s contractor.

Gao Gong reviewed the contract offered by the Collector; it was an extremely lucrative deal, sufficient to help the Cybertron Corps through its initial difficulties.

However, Gao Gong did not hesitate to refuse.

Firstly, he didn’t want to be controlled by others, especially not by the mysterious and unpredictable Collector.

Secondly, staying here would definitely draw the attention of the Xie Family’s backer, the Xiejia Clan’s Financial Group in the Mirta Federation.

This is a more troublesome civilization influence than the Xie Family, rumored to be one of the technical developers behind Mirta Federation’s ’Mecha Tide’.

Even if he could escape their clutches, the cost would likely be unimaginable and would most likely bind him closely to the Collector.

And that might be exactly what the Collector wanted.

Once again refusing did not change the Collector’s expression; this Pai Daxing continued to smile, as if seeing SpongeBob’s expression.

”Well then, how about another form of cooperation?”

”Another form?” Gao Gong asked.

”Based on the information I have, the Galen Republic lost the Long-horned Whale Alpha, a Resource Planet, which enraged the upper echelons. However, due to the prolonged military race with the Mirta Federation, this civilization has no interest in dispatching a new Civilization Fleet for an expedition, so it might issue a development order at the ’Planet Governor’ level in the name of civilization; whoever captures the Long-horned Whale Alpha will become the Governor of the Galen Republic’s acknowledged frontier, taking control of this vassal planet.”

”Coincidentally, I have some connections in the Galen Republic; I can help you operate and become one of the members on that list.”

”One of them?” Gao Gong frowned. He certainly wouldn’t think he was the only option, and the reason for his frown was another—

”So, this list is already completed?”

”Yes.”

This became a bit troublesome, as offending a major enterprise of a Level 3 Civilization one moment and forcefully occupying a vassal planet marked by the Civilization Influence the next, would make him a persona non grata on two fronts.

This was based on the premise that Gao Gong could successfully defeat the Walter Clan and take control of the entire planet.

Time waits for no one.

”General, do you think this intelligence could lead to our cooperation?”

Gao Gong gave the other party a deep look and calmly said, ”I refuse.”

...

In the Golden Hall, the Collector frowned as he looked at the dimmed Crystal Ball.

”You show far more effort in wooing the other party than others, is it because of that Star Destroyer?”

The Collector No. 19 looked curiously at the other, leaping up to land on the other’s lap.

”Perhaps the Star Destroyer’s firepower is worth your efforts, but you should also understand that once the Star Destroyer is exposed, every civilization influence will covet it, far more than those Walter Clones.”

”They will definitely discover this Cybertron General’s background.” The Collector said with a smile.

”Do you still need to take action yourself? The Purple Giant Star has already left this Star System, and the Cyber Test Field has been withdrawn; they should understand what that means.”

”Heh heh.”

”You seem unwilling to tell me the truth?” ’Little Collector’ persisted.

”It’s not that I’m unwilling; it’s just that the truth itself is shrouded in mist, even I may not see it clearly.”

The Collector’s tentacle turned, conjuring a vast electronicized plant root. This root, vast enough to block the sky and the sun, was originally a Species Spore on the No. 10 satellite.

”The power displayed by the other side is vaguely familiar to me. It’s a pity that they were so discreet, leaving no cellular residue. But, as a Collector, one must take the risk of collecting counterfeits to make some true investments.”

The Collector’s eyes gleamed with an indescribable radiance, akin to a beast facing its prey.

...

”Many, many years ago, during a period when the Civilization Council had not yet been established, there existed a ’Dark Jungle Law’ prevalent in interstellar society at that time. According to this law, every civilization played the role of both prey and hunter. It was an era of wild growth, where even Advanced Civilizations were vulnerable unless they ascended to Level 9.”

”And then?” the Dark Girl asked curiously.

”Then, the Civilization Council was established, and the ’Dark Jungle Law’ was replaced by the more sophisticated ’Technology Tree Law,’ heralding the arrival of the civilization’s evolution era.”

”What are you implying?”

”I mean, if you encounter a helpful old geezer in interstellar society, don’t assume it’s your golden finger. Those old-timers who’ve lived through the Dark Jungle years have deeply ingrained thought patterns. It’s best to steer clear of them as far as possible.”

Gao Gong stood on the Star Destroyer’s deck, watching it incrementally transition into Superluminal Mode, and once more seriously declared:

”One must always rely on themselves!”

And a Rich Lady.