Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 73: Chapter 64: The Rise of a New Power

’Creak,’ the armored vehicle came to a stop.

Aunt Xiang led the way, looking annoyed, with Iron Hide following dejectedly behind. Gao Gong lazily brought up the rear.

The two guards at the gate saw Gao Gong, their eyes lighting up as they enthusiastically saluted.

”Salute to you, Tribe Consultant.”

”Tribe Consultant?”

”During the ’Cable Sacrifice Festival,’ the Great Elder personally appointed you to this position. You have the right to participate in all major and minor affairs of the tribe, with a status second only to the Great Elder.”

”Below the Little Woman? Given her height, what position would that be?”

Gao Gong waved his hand casually, ”Alright, carry on with your work.”

”Yes, Advisor!”

As Gao Gong walked along, everyone’s attitude had changed, becoming more respectful. Previously, it was a respect for a lifesaver; now it was a reverence for a strong figure.

In just four days since Gao Gong left, the recycling station had transformed. Outside were some open-air rudimentary processing devices, while inside the abandoned building were more advanced mechanical equipment. Everyone was busy, and you could even vaguely see the outline of a production line.

”Not bad.”

Gao Gong arrived at a warehouse, and the tribal guard in charge of security quickly saluted.

Inside the warehouse, a former member of the Mechanician Squad was checking the equipment.

”How’s it going?”

Upon seeing Gao Gong, the member was momentarily stunned but managed to calmly report.

”During the few days you were away, we purchased nearly 280,000 Mechanical Coins worth of materials. The detailed list includes advanced alloys...”

Gao Gong waved his hand, ”Forget about the materials. I want to know the exact number of equipment.”

Before leaving, Gao Gong had given Huang Wen three blueprints via the Little Woman: [Central Nervous System Direct Control Circle], [Open Virtual Projection], and [Manual Nerve Disruptor], urging him to expedite the production in preparation for the upcoming Beast Tide.

The member promptly reported, ”So far, we’ve produced 146 ’Central Nervous System Direct Control Circles,’ 77 ’Portable Virtual Projections,’ and 65 ’Manual Nerve Disruptors.’”

Gao Gong raised an eyebrow, ”That many?”

”The technical content of these pieces of equipment is not high; the key lies in the creator’s imaginative and outlandish thinking.”

”Ordinary equipment infused with genius concepts.”

The member looked at Gao Gong with fervent eyes, apparently admiring inventions more than raw power.

It’s all the wisdom of those silly players!

”Faster than I expected,” Gao Gong stroked his chin. ”In that case, let’s have a meeting and consolidate our thoughts.”

Soon, in a ready meeting hall, a group of people walked in.

”Beastly Advisor, you’re back! Did you bring me any gifts?”

The Little Woman bounced in first.

”Want a Radiation Beast whip taller than you?”

Seeing the two about to start squabbling again, Professor Han cleared his throat, ”Meeting time, everyone be serious.”

Gao Gong placed a hand on the Little Woman’s head, letting her wave her tiny arms around, while smiling and nodding at the others as they entered.

Small as it is, it has all necessary organs.

Logistics Department Director, former Mechanician Squad Leader, Huang Wen.

Combat Department Director, former Fire Grass Squad Leader, Daisila.

Hunting Department Director, a senior hunter named Old Qian.

Scientific Consultant, Professor Han.

Cable Tribe Great Elder, Huang Yuanli.

Once everyone was seated, Gao Gong looked at Daisila, ”How’s the new prosthetic body feeling?”

Daisila flexed her three mechanical arms, somewhat dissatisfied, ”Not very useful, only seventy percent as powerful as before, and I have to adapt to a new combat mode.”

”Maybe if Advisor Gao had time to perform a prosthetic surgery on me, it would feel a lot better.”

Daisila abruptly shifted the topic.

”No problem, I can design a surgery plan for you,” Gao Gong responded with a smile. ”It’s just a blueprint. I remember plenty of close-combat designs—not short of this one for you.”

On the screen, Huang Wen snorted, ”Having something to use is already good. Based on my calculations, when you were attacked, the death rate was as high as 86%. You should be thankful you’re still alive.”

The three mechanical arms were his design.

Daisila raised her eyebrows, retorting, ”Compared to you, I’m indeed very fortunate.”

Old Qian stared at Huang Wen for a long while before curiously asking, ”Kid, are you AI?”

Huang Wen’s face turned black, and he said nothing more.

Gao Gong tapped on the table, refocusing everyone’s attention.

”I’m here mainly to let everyone get acquainted and report on their work progress.”

”With the big battle approaching, everyone is busy, so let’s not waste time on banter.”

”Who would like to go first?”

”I’ll go first,” Daisila spoke up. ”So far, we’ve formed three combat groups, each with ten people, training in an old-led-new style. The team consists of former squad members of mine, along with some tribal warriors and some well-reputed Mechanical Hunters we’ve recruited.”

”Can the hunters outside be trusted?” Professor Han asked with a frown.

”They might have had their own thoughts before, but after seeing Mr. Gao’s performance, they won’t have any ideas anymore.”

Daisila understood the thoughts of her peers well, because she also had her own ideas.

But after Gao Gong’s overwhelming display, those thoughts immediately vanished.

Outsiders probably can’t comprehend the prestige of a super strong figure within the Mechanical Hunter profession.

”Don’t mind if others have their own thoughts. It’s normal. Those without any ideas wouldn’t have survived until now.”

Gao Gong glanced at the list.

Three combat teams, thirty people, half of them were his own people, half were unfamiliar faces.

This ratio seemed to be something that could be expanded.

”Recruit two more armed teams under my name, whether they are melee or ranged, main or support, it’s up to you.”

”But there’s only one requirement, they must be potential recruits, the kind with potential for mechanical transformation.”

Daisila’s eyes flashed with a hint of excitement, ”I understand!”

Gao Gong signaled to Huang Wen, and Huang Wen thought for a moment and said:

”I’ll mainly introduce our current equipment reserves.”

”So far, we have 7 unmanned combat drones, 46 remotely controlled firearms, 76 melee mechanical weapons, 5 automatic cannons, 54 shells, and 530,000 bullets. Currently, our production capacity is mainly focused on the new equipment you assigned to me.”

”Is there still a lack of equipment for the armed teams?” Gao Gong suddenly asked.

Daisila shook her head, ”The military supply warehouse had a frenzied sale, weapons are practically given away, everyone has at least two spare firearms, we’re not short of weapons and bullets for now.”

Gao Gong looked at Old Qian, who was a bit stunned and mumbled a few words, saying:

”Um, the big insects you wanted us to find, we’ve caught more than fifty.”

”So many?” The little woman exclaimed in surprise.

”Actually, there are more of these by the river, we caught them quickly with that strange equipment you gave us. Give us a few more days, I can get another hundred,” Old Qian said with some pride.

”Just arrange one or two people to be guides, and the rest can take a day or two off. I have other arrangements for you,” Gao Gong shook his head.

Old Qian opened his mouth, wanting to ask what use they can be when they’re exhausted from catching a few insects, but thought better of it and closed his mouth obediently.

Gao Gong bypassed the little woman and addressed Professor Han directly: ”’The Tightening Rings’ are all handed over to you now. In the short term, I need you to control the number of Mechanical Bio-Beasts to reach a hundred, preferably unit by small tribe.”

”That’s a bit difficult, it’s too dangerous outside now,” Professor Han thought for a moment and said.

”No worries, I’ll go with you then. What you need to do is the beast taming.”

Professor Han took a deep breath, ”I’ll do my best.”

Gao Gong looked at Huang Wen again: ”Design a set of tactics centered around these three types of new equipment.”

”Alright,” Huang Wen glanced at the little woman, ”but I need the cooperation of the Beast Tamer. I’ve never worked with them before, I don’t know their ability parameters.”

”Our tribe’s people will help!” The little woman, having finally gotten a word in, shouted loudly.

”Oh, and have Aunt Xiang bring more apprentices to teach some old weapon-making skills; these old weapons can be quite effective at certain moments.”

”Professor Han and Old Qian should come by again in the evening.”

”Don’t install prosthetic bodies for some of the disabled warriors of the Cable Tribe just yet, I have other plans for them.”

”Expand the defensive line as much as possible around the recycling center. Ignore what the Security Corps thinks. If they want to cause trouble, let them find me.”

”The Beast Tide will attack sooner or later, and the only ones we can rely on are ourselves!”

As a former civilization leader managing an organization of only three hundred members, Gao Gong handled it effortlessly.

His efficiency was so high that even Huang Wen and Daisila, the two captains, were amazed, then breathed a sigh of relief.

Who said Gao Gong was just a Lone Wolf; this is very professional.

After the meeting concluded, everyone went their separate ways.

Gao Gong also needed to get busy extracting glands from Desert Worms, then making ’ointment.’

The task to make ’skin’ for three hundred people was indeed no small feat.

However, when everyone else left the meeting room, Gao Gong noticed the little woman still lingering, curious: ”What’s your situation?”

”You don’t trust me, you only trust Professor Han,” the little woman puffed her cheeks: ”I’m the Great Elder of the tribe!”

”Over thirty and still acting cute.”

Gao Gong shook his head: ”Of course you’re important, your mind communication is a divine artifact for battlefield command.”

”If I’m the first combat power of this team, then you are the number one mechanical beast controller; all tactical arrangements rely on your assistance.”

Huang Yuanli grinned widely, finally satisfied.

”Alright, just kidding. Am I that petty? It contacted me.”

”It?” Gao Gong turned his head and immediately understood; it was that mass of ’brain.’

”It asked me to send you something.”

”Something?”

Huang Yuanli opened her mouth wide in a playful manner, and then a tentacle squirmed out of her mouth.

To be honest, the scene was quite bizarre.