Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 29: Chapter 23: Desert Skin

”Look, this is what I’ve achieved these days!”

The next day, in the black market shop, Little Finger proudly presented the finished products.

There were three types of products. The first was a pale implantable bionic skin, the second was a glass jar containing ointment similar to skincare cream, and the third was a needle filled with transparent medicinal liquid.

These three types are different qualities of ’Desert Skin’, and their methods of use are also different. The first type requires implanting bionic skin, the second requires applying to form a cellular immune coating, and the third is a direct injection with a needle.

The effects of the three are also different.

Gao Gong first picked up the somewhat coarse bionic skin, and the system automatically displayed the attributes.

Desert Skin (Whiteboard): A one-piece artificial skin with the ability to protect the body’s moisture and obstruct electronic signal transmission, Endurance +2, Agility +2

Applied state: Moisture-rich, Endurance recovery each minute increased by 5%

”This thing is a bit ugly,” Gao Gong touched it with his hand, as if touching a ’chameleon’s skin, the surface full of grainy existence.

”Having something to use is already not bad,” Little Finger pouted, ”Those people would love to replace all their organs with implantable weapons, so why care about looks? Anyway, with the virtual experience machine, you can play however you want inside.”

”Virtual experience machine, huh, an antique I haven’t played with for years,” Gao Gong said nostalgically. Although players in the games can’t do some inappropriate things, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the virtual experience machine is a special channel.

Back in the day, becoming Mr. G, developing a super virtual machine with realism reaching 99.99%, that feeling...

Ahem, a hero does not mention past glories.

Gao Gong then picked up the ’hand cream’, this thing is much better than artificial skin, at least there’s no need to peel the skin before using it.

Desert Skin (Fine): By applying ointment, forming a cell immune coating (needs continuous absorption for eight hours at least) Endurance +3, Agility +2

Applied state: Moisture-rich, Endurance recovery each minute increased by 7%, able to slightly resist radiation.

”This one will definitely sell the best.”

This ointment can be used long-term or applied temporarily (only blocks electronic signals), and it doesn’t need to be applied all over the body, just a few key spots are enough.

As long as you’re not hiding a gun under your crotch or a mine in your behind, this thing is sufficient to shield most radiation beasts’ perception.

”Of course,” Little Finger was also pleased with it, saying, ”I’ve adjusted the formula, reduced the cost, one desert worm’s gland can be used to make two bottles of ointment, then dilute a bit with water to make four bottles, once it enters the Black Market, dilute it again to make ten bottles from one.”

Gao Gong took a sip of air, gave a thumbs up, and said, ”High, really high, truly worthy of being the number one black market doctor in Automobile City, not a single part of your heart is red!”

”Of course.”

Speaking of black-heartedness, Little Finger looked proud and continued, ”The last type is aimed at the high-end market, to attract high-level talents, with no side effects, no adverse symptoms, and won’t cause mechanical rejection.”

Gao Gong picked up the last needle, this type of injector was the least, there were only two.

Desert Skin (Outstanding): Subcutaneous implant needle

Excellent biochemical preparation, completely shields electronic signals, makes the skin change with the environment like a tropical lizard, Endurance +5, Agility +3, Armor +10

Additional State 1: Skin breathing—Blood activity decreases, Endurance recovery increases by 15% per second

Additional State 2: Immune to bleeding state

Additional State 3: Cold blood, reduces own infrared radiation, lowers the probability of being detected by enemies

This time, Gao Gong was genuinely surprised. As they say, the master leads the way, cultivation depends on the individual, players can produce the same blueprint but the quality of the equipment varies.

’The highest level a Level 3 Blueprint can reach is ’Outstanding’, this guy’s Prosthetic Doctor level must be over ten.’

Seeing Gao Gong’s astonished expression, Little Finger’s vanity was immediately satisfied, but after some thought, he decided to be honest.

”This thing is just an exhibition piece, with nearly thirty desert worms, I only managed to make two subcutaneous implant needles in total. To be honest, I was in a groove at that time, I actually don’t know how it happened.”

”When this thing officially goes on sale, make sure not to let the cat out of the bag.”

”Since it’s a sample, one will do,” Gao Gong unceremoniously took one and inserted it into his shoulder before Little Finger could react.

As the implant needle was injected, Gao Gong clearly felt a kind of ’mutation’ arising on the skin surface, as if applying a layer of chili oil on the skin first, then a layer of sunscreen. Suddenly, the hot and cold sensations surged up all at once.

Gao Gong furrowed his brow and endured.

The skin surface first turned red, then returned to normal, then went pale, then returned again, repeating several times.

Then the skin started to produce mutations, some parts turned into a blue snowflake screen under the electronic screen’s light, while others turned into a metallic silver-white under the reflection of the metal workbench’s light.

If you’re not paying attention, you wouldn’t even realize there’s a person in front of you.

And as soon as Gao Gong’s thoughts moved, all the colors on the skin disappeared immediately, along with some calluses and scars, seeming to improve the skin tone better than before.

In this state, if anyone says Gao Gong isn’t a pretty boy, they’re in for it with him.

Gao Gong’s eyes sparkled, and he praised, ”Very impressive effect! I’m very satisfied!”

”You, you brat!!”

Watching as Gao Gong became handsome again, Little Finger was full of regret, and then his eyes were fixated on the last remaining implant needle.

He also really wanted to give himself a shot.

But this is the last piece for the exhibition, if he used it, whether or not it makes him handsome is uncertain, but Sister Rose would definitely finish him off first.

”Alright, let’s discuss the issue of profit sharing next.”

The friendly atmosphere changed abruptly, and the two immediately became confrontational.

”Bullshit! A seventy-thirty split, do you know who developed this ’skin’? Without me, would you even be able to make this money?”

”Nonsense, all businesses have distributors taking the lion’s share. Without our network, do you believe that by tomorrow, the ’skin’ would be confiscated by the Security Corps and devoured by various forces until there’s nothing left.”

”Is money important to you? What’s important is influence, connections, and your future say in the desert economy. This small amount of money is nothing, don’t be so stingy.”

”Crap, is this small money? Once the skin is promoted, the revenue from ten surgeries I perform wouldn’t compare to its daily sales. Aren’t you Sister Rose’s lover? How do you dare to take a woman’s money?”

”What lover, obviously it’s being a kept little gigolo, isn’t it natural for a rich lady to spend money on a lover? Do you think I don’t put in effort at night? This is all hard-earned money!”

”You’re shameless!”

”You’re despicable!”

In terms of lack of integrity, the two were evenly matched and skilled adversaries.

Fortunately, neither had the intention to completely fall out with each other. Gao Gong knew the other could easily leave him behind to work solo at any time, while Little Finger worried that Gao Gong would use his kidney to blow wind on his pillow side at night.

Eventually, the two reached an agreement: after subtracting costs, they would split the net profits sixty-forty, with Little Finger representing the distributor taking the bigger share, while Gao Gong took four-tenths.

According to the agreement, Gao Gong would be responsible for hunting Desert Worms in the future, as the raw materials needed to remain confidential, and Little Finger’s people didn’t have trustworthy Mechanical Hunters.

In Gao Gong’s four-tenths profit share, twenty percent of the income couldn’t be directly converted into Mechanical Coins but only into various materials, according to Little Finger’s claim that extracting too much cash would affect their money laundering operations.

After signing the agreement, Gao Gong realized how much profit there was in this business, considering even just the lowest-grade implanted skin had a pure profit of 2000 Mechanical Coins, while ’hand cream’ reached 4000 Mechanical Coins.

No matter how expensive it was, this batch of ’skin’ had already been completely reserved, and pre-orders extended into the third batch.

Those looking to make riches in the desert are the most aware of how much their lives are worth.

With this thing, it can be said that as long as one avoids actively hunting or being particularly unlucky to encounter a Beast Tide, they basically don’t need to worry about threats from beasts.

Even advanced blueprints rarely achieve this effect.

This was a desert necessity.

Calculating, just this batch of skin alone allowed Gao Gong to net profit thirty thousand Mechanical Coins.

This was way faster than robbery.

After the verbal fencing, both felt somewhat tired. Little Finger collapsed on the sofa and suddenly said, ”You know, Sister Rose is coming back soon.”

”Oh? When?”

”In the next few days.”

Since the Rose Petrol Bar was shut down, Gao Gong knew that someone was targeting Black Rose.

It wasn’t about a single bar but rather the underground network that Black Rose controlled, spanning over a dozen Oases.

Black Rose’s recent absence was to deal with this matter.

From Little Finger’s current tone, it seemed like the issue had been resolved.

Gao Gong curiously asked, ”Who was it that made a move against you?”

If Gao Gong was still the little watchdog he used to be, Little Finger probably wouldn’t discuss such matters with him.

But now, Gao Gong had brought forth two types of ’surgical plans’, with one being capable of dominating the market hard.

Little Finger decided to slightly change his attitude.

”Across the Iron Sand Desert, there are only a handful of people who could be called tycoons. Naturally, someone who’s interested in our kind of underground intelligence network is another embittered peer.”

Peer, Intelligence, Tycoon

A thought flashed through Gao Gong’s mind, ”That news tycoon Wang Tian?”

”That newspaper seller, yeah.”

”So it’s him,” Gao Gong murmured to himself.

Besides having been the Chief Steward of a factory, Wang Daheng’s Radiation Daily was the best-selling read in the desert.

The newspaper was packed with lots of useful content and was a must-read for Mechanical Hunters.

But why at this juncture did this guy suddenly take an interest in the underground network?

If it was merely normal business expansion, it would be alright; when soldiers come, they are blocked; when water arrives, it is contained; Sister Rose doesn’t lack skills.

But—

Gao Gong suddenly considered another possibility. What if this wasn’t just a commercial war but was serving a true ’war’?

He recalled an old saying.

Intelligence is the lifeblood of war.