Chapter 145 Hai Xia

Two days later, Hai Xia, Morning Wind City.

This was a coastal border city with excellent docks and harbors, processing a massive amount of transoceanic cruise ships every day. It was prosperous and developed, with towering skyscrapers.

Hai Xia was primarily focused on its navy, with many coastal cities, and its naval power was vaguely the strongest among the six nations. The four landmasses of Aquamarine Star were separated by oceans. As the old saying went, whoever controlled the rebounds… uh, sorry, wrong script. Let's start again.

—Whoever controlled the sea controlled a great advantage.

There were abundant energy resources at the bottom of the sea: oil, natural gas. Energy extraction was the economic focus of Hai Xia.

Han Xiao remembered that Hai Xia secretly had a military plan called "Major Crisis Fourth Response Plan," which involved manufacturing many kilometer-long ark motherships. If the nation suffered a cataclysm, such as a nuclear holocaust, they could preserve the seed of civilization and migrate the population onto the arks, becoming a floating nation on the sea.

Well… although this plan ultimately became someone else's wedding dress, the pessimistic spirit of fearing national extinction and harboring a sense of crisis was worth learning. As the saying goes, "Born in sorrow, die in ease," meaning that it's better to be constantly vigilant than to seek comfort and complacency.

Something seemed off… eh, never mind.

At this moment, Han Xiao, having changed his appearance, was staying at the Farian Group's stronghold in Morning Wind City. Thanks to the black gold card he obtained from Matthews, he received VIP treatment and had a temporary place to stay.

With more than three months until the public beta, free action could generate the greatest benefits. He had access to Farian's resource channels, and with plenty of savings, he could buy parts to manufacture machinery to grind experience. He no longer needed other people's orders; he could completely produce and sell on his own.

Old Man Lu's hidden plot would only be triggered some time after the public beta began. He had already established a good relationship in advance, so there was no rush now.

Han Xiao jotted down the key development points for this final period before the public beta on a piece of paper.

One, trigger those rewarding quests and obtain some rare skills and talents to enhance his strength.

Two, obtain a stable supply channel for materials, and grind experience by manufacturing machinery while doing quests.

Four, carry out a series of disruptive actions against Germination.

Five, increase the reward amount for his own published quests, preparing for the public beta.

"That's roughly it."

Han Xiao put down his pen and pondered. He remembered many large quests, so the first point wasn't a problem. Supplying materials was also simple; he possessed Farian Group's black gold VIP card, allowing him to purchase their resources.

Disrupting Germination was to complete the Grade A quest. He already had initial ideas. To maximize his intelligence advantage, he had to set his sights on all the forces that were enemies of Germination.

Regarding increasing the reward amount, Han Xiao's goal was Legend Points. The experience reward amount for publishing quests was divided into the maximum amount per quest and the total daily amount. Legend Points could simultaneously increase both, and the total daily amount increased exponentially, making it the most cost-effective.

Brother Xiao's Legend Points were currently zero, but it didn't matter. Bread would come, and so would geoduck.

Legend Points could be obtained through three channels. The first was to complete high-level, rare quests and obtain a high contribution rating. Usually, only the main quests of a planet rewarded Legend Points. His own Grade A quest, [Seeds Sleep in the Dust], belonged to the planet's main quest line.

Each planet (not limited to beginner planets) had one or more main storylines. For example, in Version 1.0, Aquamarine Star had two overt main storylines and one hidden main storyline. The war between the Six Nations and Germination was one of the overt main storylines. The other overt main storyline would appear around the early to mid-stages of the public beta. As for the final hidden main storyline, it was entirely up to luck.

This method of obtaining Legend Points was time-consuming and difficult, making it impossible to achieve in the short term.

The second method was very random, involving performing some well-known deeds, related to faction relationships, and dependent on the specific event. It varied from person to person, and no one had ever statistically determined a detailed algorithm, making it unreliable.

What Han Xiao had his eye on was the third method, which was also the easiest way to obtain Legend Points—reaching the top of certain leaderboards.

Some factions established certain recognized leaderboards. If you reached the top of the leaderboard, you could obtain Legend Points, but this was unstable. Once a newbie squeezed you out of your position, the Legend Points would change hands. This method was the source of Legend Points for most players. Legend Points could accelerate the accumulation of goodwill with certain factions, allowing you to obtain purchase discounts and were also a prerequisite for triggering certain rare quests.

"Tap, tap, tap…" Han Xiao tapped his fingers on the table, pondering and scratching his nose in the process.

However, before taking action, he would first deal with the burdens (experience points) on his body.

Looking at the panel, he had accumulated a total of 720,000 experience points. He directly invested them into leveling up, raising his level to 30, and further enhancing his attributes.

[Mechanic Apprentice] had reached max level. The attribute increase at the last level was even greater, and this time was no exception. Leveling up from Lv9 to Lv10 gave him 90 points of Stamina.

He threw all six free attribute points into Intelligence, just reaching the 100 mark.

A trace of clarity rose in his mind, and he felt that his mastery of machinery had become easier. Intelligence affected all aspects of a Mechanic: manufacturing speed, product quality, and the power bonus when using machinery. For example, a handgun with an attack power of 20 would have its attack power amplified in the hands of a Mechanic. Therefore, although other classes could use equipment manufactured by the Mechanic class, the effect was not as good as for a Mechanic themselves.

[Mechanic Apprentice reached max level. Job Advancement requirement: Learn twenty blueprints.]

"This time, the random Job Advancement requirement is quite simple."

Han Xiao was overjoyed. He counted and realized that he now knew twelve blueprints, only eight short.

He didn't want to fuse useless blueprints at random, and wanted to make good use of every point of experience. Anyway, the experience was stored in the panel, so there was no difference even if he advanced jobs a little later.

…

In the Farian Group's office in Morning Wind City, the person in charge, Antonov, had a cigar in his mouth. His fat body, like a brown bear, filled the sofa completely. He blew out a puff of smoke, staring at Han Xiao on the opposite sofa with eyes that looked the same whether they were open or closed, sizing him up.

At this time, Han Xiao was wearing a black trench coat, and the simulation mask simulated the appearance of a middle-aged, salty, unemployed man, ordinary and unremarkable. This was the face he planned to use to form a new identity.

Han Xiao pulled out a material list from his arms and said slowly, "I want the things on this."

Reaching out to take it and taking a look, Antonov said, "A total of 100,000, with an 80% discount for the black gold card, that's 80,000."

"I also want a credential from the Blood Contract Association, affiliated with the Dark Net organization."

Antonov's eyes narrowed. "200,000."

The Dark Net was the information transfer station of the underworld. The Dark Net organization was the force controlling it from behind, neutral, not fighting, not bickering, developing quietly, and implementing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Many forces and factions were partners of the Dark Net organization, providing various services to personnel in the underworld, including but not limited to: arms purchases, material deliveries, safe houses, intelligence sales, bounty hunters, mercenary soldiers, body disposal, and so on.

The Blood Contract Association was a killer-for-hire organization operated by the Dark Net organization. Obtaining credentials would allow you to become a contract killer, enjoying the various services mentioned above. For Han Xiao, obtaining credentials was equivalent to opening up faction relations.

The official name of the Blood Contract Association was a bit lame, but its other name was very famous.

Killer League!

Of course, if you wanted, you could also call it the Killer Social Club, and the coolness would instantly drop.

If players wanted to join the Dark Net organization, they had to go through a series of complex and tedious fetch quests. Time was precious to him. Instead of wasting dozens of days, it was better to directly use money to buy a credential. 200,000 was a huge sum for players, but it was nothing to him.

"It's really nice to have money." Han Xiao said with emotion. When he was a player, he had to carefully calculate and plan for half a day just to buy a material, unlike now, where he could experience the joy of spending money freely.

Antonov arranged a private workshop for him, and the parts and materials were quickly delivered. Han Xiao repaired the durability of the equipment he had lost in the battle with Pan Kuang.

The rest was materials for manufacturing new machinery.

"Since I'm acting alone, with no teammates to support me, then my combat mode during this period should be as far away from danger as possible. The sniper style is temporarily suitable for me. I need to develop stronger sniper rifles and more new bullets. Hmm… explosive bullets, traps, and anti-vehicle weapons are also needed. Finally, I need some machinery to deal with close combat, such as some small, concealed, high-damage weapons…"

Han Xiao thought for a while, summoned the panel, and began to fuse knowledge, deciding to start with new bullets first.

[Do you want to perform Knowledge Fusion (Basic Weaponry Lv3, Basic Materials Encyclopedia Lv3, Basic Mechanics Principles Lv2)? This fusion will consume 15,000 experience points!]

[Fusion successful, you have developed the [Spindle Penetration Bullet]!]

[Do you want to perform Knowledge Fusion (Basic Weaponry Lv3, Basic Materials Encyclopedia Lv3, Basic Biochemistry Lv1)? This fusion will consume 15,000 experience points!]

[Fusion successful, you have developed the [Heim Bullet]!]

[Do you want to perform Knowledge Fusion (Basic Weaponry Lv3, Basic Materials Encyclopedia Lv3, Basic Optics Lv2)? This fusion will consume 15,000 experience points!]

[Fusion successful, you have developed the [Light-Shaking Bullet]!]

"I've really become a munitions expert now." Han Xiao scratched his hair.

There were still more than 200,000 experience points left, not enough for the sniper style to take shape. He had to take it one step at a time.

Han Xiao thought for a while and first upgraded the core skill Snipe to Lv5, further enhancing the accuracy and range of vital points.

The sniper rifle he had swiped from the Hai Xia logistics unit was called Red Falcon, a name that didn't match its black appearance. Its quality was Gray, and its attributes were very average. He immediately started to strengthen and assemble it.

This time, the enhancement was biased towards power. The Red Falcon's attack power reached 92~103, the rate of fire was one shot every two seconds, and the range was only 600 meters, but under the effect of Mechanical Affinity and Sniper skills, it could be amplified to about 750 meters, which was enough.

With tens of thousands of experience points remaining, Han Xiao didn't use them and instead began to manufacture three new types of ammunition.

…

Batches of new bullets were produced.

The Farian Group's lathe equipment was specifically used for manufacturing munitions, which could save more time. This also reminded Han Xiao.

"Should I make some mechanical assistants to help me make parts?"

He now possessed intelligent chip blueprints and more technology. As long as he raised the level of [Basic Programming], he could manufacture simple assistant-type Rangers, but he didn't have a fixed stronghold yet, so it wasn't the time to make robots.

Footsteps sounded, and Antonov walked into the workshop, placing a uniquely shaped dark gold coin on the table and saying in a deep voice, "Your credential."

Han Xiao was slightly amused. The phrasing sounded like, "Here's your Extra."

[You have unlocked a new faction reputation!]

[Blood Contract Association: Indifferent (0/300) – [Trainee Killer]]