Chapter 1 Maiseb Star, Cornerstone Conglomerate

Han Xiao had worked here for more than twenty days, and his reputation had spread among the group's senior engineers. Now, the entire group knew that a highly skilled mechanic had joined them, completing more than ten times the workload of a normal senior engineer in less than a month.

Because the boss behind the scenes had spoken up, the group's executives no longer bothered with the secrecy of the blueprints and boldly reused "Barn", further increasing his task indicators, allowing Han Xiao to master more Eternal Light component blueprints during this time.

The [Engineer] mission had been completed, and the [Skilled Technician] specialty had been obtained. The effect was a slight increase in the attributes of the manufactured mechanical equipment, ranging from 8% to 14%, the manufacturing speed increased by 22%, and the cost reduced by 6%. Accumulating little by little, it was a good ability within the normal range of specialties.

With the specialty in hand, Han Xiao had only one goal left in staying at the Cornerstone Conglomerate, and that was to steal...呸, learn the Eternal Light fortress-level blueprints.

Thanks to the group's heavy use of him, Han Xiao learned quite a lot of component blueprints. As for the blueprints in the hands of other senior engineers, he used virtual technology to invade the auxiliary intelligence of these Grade B mechanics, obtaining the vision of their communicators, mechanical assistants, and the like, and monitored them in all directions. When these senior engineers looked at the blueprints, Phillip would capture the monitoring screen and copy the blueprint data.

For some blueprints that he couldn't spy on, Han Xiao visited other senior engineers, and by simply touching the blueprints for a short while, he could generate skills through the panel, making the Eternal Light blueprints more complete.

Unfortunately, due to race sublimation, the Observation Mark talent that used to steal information was gone. Otherwise, stealing blueprints would be even easier. Han Xiao quite missed the Void Snooping Divine Skill back then.

In more than half a month, Han Xiao had collected seventy-seven eighty-eights of the Eternal Light component blueprints, leaving only the most core technical blueprints, all of which were closely guarded by the group's core engineers, and there was no chance to access them at all. Han Xiao had been thinking about how to get his hands on the core component blueprints.

During this time, the experience points spent by the players in the faction store to learn knowledge had also been credited to his account, and his experience reserves had increased by a large margin again.

In the workshop, Han Xiao was completing his work for the day while looking at the panel attributes and calculating the experience points.

"The current accumulation of experience points is probably enough to level up to around level 238 or 239, and only one step away from the level 240 threshold. In another three or four days, it will definitely be stable..."

Han Xiao was secretly excited. Grade Super-A was like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Even in the entire Star Field, they were well-deserved big shots, and even universe-level civilizations had to take them seriously.

Once successful, he would obtain the top-level seat in the Star Field, and the Black Star Mercenary Group would be promoted to a true Grade Super-A force because of him.

It could be said that one person attained the Dao, and even his dogs and chickens would ascend to heaven.

After fantasizing for a while, Han Xiao looked at the time. It was already lunch break, so he stopped working, retracted all the manufacturing assistants, and prepared to go eat.

Just as he walked out of the workshop, Han Xiao noticed Luke standing outside the door.

"Barn, I have something to discuss with you." Luke stopped Han Xiao.

"What is it? Do you want to have lunch with me?" Han Xiao stopped and looked curiously at this gentlemanly old man.

Luke smiled and shook his head. "I would be happy to have a break with you, but I'm looking for you for other matters. The real person in charge of the group wants to see you."

The real person in charge?

Han Xiao raised his eyebrows. "Alright, lead the way."

Luke gestured with his hand, leading Han Xiao all the way into the group's core business area.

After walking for about ten minutes, the two arrived at the top floor of a high-rise building and entered a spacious office.

There was a person sitting in a chair in the room, with the back of the chair facing the door. At first glance, Han Xiao could only see the back of his head.

This familiar domineering president style... Han Xiao's eyes twitched, and he resisted the urge to complain.

Luke retreated and closed the door, leaving only Han Xiao and the so-called real person in charge of the group in the room.

At this moment, this person, with his back to Han Xiao, began to speak.

"Barn, that's not your real name, is it."

As he spoke, this person turned around to face Han Xiao.

Seeing the other person's appearance clearly, Han Xiao was slightly stunned, and then he suddenly understood.

It was actually Sedum... This made sense. As the master of Maiseb Star, Sedum controlled many industries, and it was not too surprising that the Cornerstone Conglomerate belonged to him.

In his previous life, players only knew that working at the Cornerstone Conglomerate would reward them with specialties. As long as they were mechanics, they could come and do this mission. However, with the players' strength at that time, they would not be involved in the core level. In the players' eyes, the Cornerstone Conglomerate was just an insignificant side quest and did not show any clues worth digging into. Therefore, the players did not know that the owner behind the scenes of this shipyard was Sedum... But it was not difficult to guess.

So, the Eternal Light blueprints belong to Sedum. He suddenly came to me. I wonder what's the matter. Could it be that he has seen through my identity?

Han Xiao's mind raced.

He wasn't afraid, though. Although the other party was also a Grade A+ mechanic, he was not his opponent. It was just that he wanted to steal the Eternal Light blueprints. If his identity was exposed, he would probably have to resort to blatant robbery... Han Xiao didn't like making enemies, and P.Y. (slang for transactional relationships) was his favorite posture.

Seeing that Han Xiao didn't speak, Sedum showed a smile that said, "I've already seen through you", and said in a faint tone.

"I've been observing you for a while. In fact, you've been hiding your strength. You're not a Grade B+ mechanic, but a Calamity Grade, right."

Without waiting for Han Xiao to respond, Sedum sat still, supporting his chin with his hands folded, and continued to speak with interest as he sized up Han Xiao:

"A Calamity Grade mechanic lurking in my industry, willing to be an ordinary engineer working here, makes me have to suspect your true intentions. After my observation, you seem to be very interested in the Eternal Light blueprints. Am I right?"

Hearing this, Han Xiao breathed a sigh of relief instead.

Thank goodness, this guy only saw through my Grade A strength and didn't know my true identity. He only thought I was an ordinary Calamity Grade mechanic.

Seeing Sedum's confident appearance, Han Xiao could guess that Sedum thought he had him figured out.

Indeed, Sedum was at the Grade A+ level and had an entire planet as his base. This was his home turf, and ordinary Calamity Grades were indeed not his opponents.

Understanding Sedum's confidence, Han Xiao calmed down and did not expose Sedum's misunderstanding. He took the opportunity to disguise himself as an ordinary Calamity Grade, pretending to be wary.

"What do you want to do?"

Seeing this, Sedum smiled with satisfaction. He just wanted to see "Barn" get nervous.

"I don't know where you got the information about the Eternal Light from, and I don't know which force you belong to, but don't worry, I didn't call you here today to settle accounts, but to make you an invitation."

"Invitation?"

Han Xiao raised his eyebrows.

Sedum stood up and smiled lightly. "Be my subordinate. I guarantee that this will be the wisest decision you'll ever make."

"You want to recruit me?" Han Xiao's tone was strange.

That's too hasty, right? You don't even know my background.

Did you determine that I can't cause you any trouble?

Little brother, you're a bit arrogant, aren't you? Even someone as excellent as me isn't as swollen as you!

"I have many industries and many troops, but I lack capable assistants, and you have the qualifications. We will be a strong alliance." Sedum's tone was unhurried.

Han Xiao shook his head helplessly. "I'm not interested in..."

At this moment, Sedum waved his hand, interrupting Han Xiao, and said with a light smile, "If you are willing to become my subordinate, let alone the Eternal Light, you can learn all the blueprints that I know."

"Well, I have to consider it..." Han Xiao's eyes moved, and he immediately changed his tune. As a faction leader, he naturally couldn't be a Calamity Grade's subordinate, but scamming him out of a blueprint seemed quite tempting.

After all, what Barn does has nothing to do with my Black Star... cough cough, that's still the idea.

Han Xiao rolled his eyes and suddenly asked, "Are you forcing me? If I don't join you, will you use force against me?"

Sedum shook his head and chuckled.

"Don't worry, I don't like making enemies. If I targeted every strong person who visited Maiseb Star, I wouldn't have been able to survive for so long. You can reject me. I won't drive you away, and I won't even force you to reveal your true face. You can continue to stay at the Cornerstone Conglomerate under the identity of 'Barn'. There's no need for me to refuse a Grade A mechanic from working in my industry... But I will keep an eye on you and won't let you get involved in any major projects."

Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. "You're quite generous."

"People with small minds can hardly achieve anything. I've been running Maiseb Star for almost one hundred and thirty years. What situations haven't I seen? Hmm?"

Sedum had a calm expression, exuding an air of superiority.

Han Xiao pondered for a while and still shook his head.

He was a quasi-Super-A Grade faction leader. It would be too degrading to become a Calamity Grade's subordinate for a blueprint.

Although he had disguised himself, if he accidentally revealed his true identity one day, it would become a black history that would be difficult to wash away. It would damage his tall image in the players' minds, which would not be conducive to consolidating the faction's sense of belonging and cultivating the leek field. In short, it would be a loss.

The Eternal Light blueprints were indeed good, but they hadn't reached the point where he had to obtain them at all costs.

Besides, did you think that I wouldn't be able to get the blueprints if I didn't join your command?

Keep dreaming!

Seeing Han Xiao refuse, Sedum narrowed his eyes.

"Hehe, I know you have the arrogance of a Calamity Grade, but I am worth following. Do you think... ordinary people can get the Glory Federation's flagship blueprints?"

Hearing this, Han Xiao's heart skipped a beat.

Indeed, the Eternal Light blueprints were priceless. Even he couldn't buy them. How did Sedum get these blueprints? Was this guy's path so wild?

Sedum put his hands behind his back and stared at Han Xiao faintly. "You may think that as a Calamity Grade Super, there is no need to join another Calamity Grade's command, so you rejected me... But what if I said that I represent not only myself, but there is a Grade Super-A standing behind me?"

"Hmm?" Han Xiao was stunned.

After thinking about it carefully, Maiseb Star had been operating for so long. In addition to Sedum's outstanding strength, there should be some unknown reasons. He might indeed be a secret cadre of a certain Grade Super-A.

But there were only four Grade Super-As in the Shattered Star Ring. Who was this guy's backer?

Overlord? Possibly, but the probability was slightly smaller, after all, Sedum wasn't a musclehead.

The Sorcerer? Not very likely either, for the same reason...

Star Pupil? Forget about that otaku who was focused on managing his own small territory. The possibility was not high.

Could it be Dragon Emperor?

Hey, don't joke around. Ames is my backer. Could it be that the Dragon Emperor's temple would be flooded?

Seeing Han Xiao's puzzled expression, Sedum shook his head and smiled.

"I think you must have heard of his name."

Sedum had a proud look on his face, exuding a sense of superiority.

"Do you know... the Machinery Country?"

Han Xiao's heart sank, and he was greatly surprised. He almost had the urge to turn around and leave.

Mannison of the Machinery Country?

I don't know him, I've never heard of him, goodbye!