Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 185: Chapter 164: Alliance Characters

Although the electromagnetic cannon is a standardized weapon of a Level 2 Civilization, there is a high probability of it being discovered in the technology tree of a Level 1 Civilization.

Its technological prerequisites are not high.

Additionally, because the electromagnetic cannonball is solid, its Attack Range is limited, and its power isn’t particularly outstanding. It is generally used as anti-aircraft equipment and anti-armor weaponry.

It belongs to a standard niche weapon category.

Many weapons of a Level 1 Civilization are abandoned when they reach a Level 2 Civilization.

However, the electromagnetic cannon only began to shine after the civilization advanced.

The reason is simple: in Level 2 Civilization, various Energy Defense Systems start to become widespread.

The biggest advantage of the electromagnetic cannon is its ability to pierce through Energy Defense Systems.

The biggest difference between a Level 2 Civilization electromagnetic cannon and that of a Level 1 Civilization is that not only does the cannon barrel have electromagnetic acceleration devices, but the cannonball itself also has electromagnetic effects.

Therefore, it generally has two transformations. One is secondary acceleration, which can instantly soar from 10 times the speed of sound to 30 times, tearing through the enemy’s defense network with sheer speed. The other is like what is happening now.

The electromagnetic cannonball is deeply embedded in the fuselage, and in the next moment, a large amount of electromagnetic force is ejected from the cannonball.

[Your Level 8 Flying Device has taken 3200 damage, resulting in ’Electromagnetic Chaos’]

In front of Gao Gong, at least a quarter of the virtual screens suddenly disappeared.

The second ability of the electromagnetic cannon is to cause a mass failure of electronic components.

It is due to this feature that it evolved from a niche interest in Level 2 Civilization to standard military equipment.

’The Flying Device is under attack, do you want to retaliate?’

”Open the hatch.”

As the door opened, Gao Gong lightly leapt out, three pairs of wings pierced from the sides of his spine, the Reproductive Soldier Body automatically covering the wings, transforming these biological wings completely into steel wings. Some flying blueprints in Gao Gong’s mind, such as [Arthropod Sports System], [Winged Dragon Claws], [Heat Dissipation Patterns], etc., automatically transformed, finally elevating his speed from ’gliding’ to ’flying’, surpassing most helicopters of a Level 1 Civilization.

With a gentle flash, the wings disappeared into the sky.

”Hurry, hurry, fire another cannon!”

Two elderly men with old model mechanical arms were busy loading an electromagnetic cannonball into the ’cannon barrel’. The Level 2 electromagnetic cannon barrel was semi-open, with visible electromagnetic rifling inside, resembling a lightweight fighter jet with its middle hollowed out, showing evident signs of damage.

If undamaged, such a Level 2 electromagnetic cannon could actually chain fire.

”Huh, why is there no power? Is there a short circuit? Huang Wen, what’s going on?”

”Boss, you’re back.”

Huang Wen’s electronic voice emanated from the speakers of the drone.

The two old men turned to see a birdman with six mechanical wings standing atop the cannon barrel, tilting his head as he gazed at them.

Soon, the alarm was lifted, and all managers of Base No. 1 understood that their superior had returned.

Among the new managers, Gao Gong recognized only a few familiar faces like Sunx Hong and Huang Wen. The rest were mainly experts and management talents poached by Director Du from the ’Equipment Research Institute’.

At this moment, these new managers looked slightly uneasy at Gao Gong because it was their first meeting and they did not know what kind of personality he had or whether he was easy to get along with.

Not far away, a group of Imperial synthetic workers were whispering, casting curious glances at Gao Gong.

Seated at the head, Gao Gong flipped through the documents in silence.

This demeanor made the middle management even more nervous, causing the atmosphere to nearly become stagnant.

In fact, Gao Gong was merely checking the Alliance Panel.

[Level 1 Large Building - Radiation Power Plant construction complete, Alliance Experience +200,000]

[Level 1 Large Building - Vehicle Repair Plant construction complete, Alliance Experience +200,000]

[Level 1 Large Building - Light Weapon Factory construction complete, Alliance Experience +200,000]

[Level 1 Large Building - Primary Prosthetic Factory construction complete, Alliance Experience +300,000]

[Level 1 Large Building - Drone Production Plant construction complete, Alliance Experience +200,000]

[Level 1 Large Building - Nutrition Paste Production Plant construction complete, Alliance Experience +200,000]

...

[Large Oil Pipeline under construction, Alliance Experience +1000/hour]

[Large Power Grid under construction, Alliance Experience +1000/hour]

[Large Pure Water Channel under construction, Alliance Experience +1000/hour]

...

Just the mechanical system production at Base No. 1 alone brought nearly three million Alliance Experience to Gao Gong, and this experience is rapidly increasing.

Director Du’s efficiency is truly incredible. If this pace continues, it’s possible I could max out the secondary role of ’Factory Worker’ before leaving the desert.

Gao Gong glanced at the ’Alliance Characters’ option and spoke: ”C-53145, D 31134, E 12453, Vice Director Zhao, Sunx Hong, and Huang Wen stay. Everyone else can leave.”

These six people were all ’Alliance Characters’ in the Alliance Panel.

Soon enough, the temporary meeting room became empty.

’Alliance Characters’ are different from High-level Characters; ’Alliance Characters’ possess a certain degree of irreplaceability.

Right now, these six people have all reached the threshold of ’Alliance Characters’.

C-53145: Representative of Synthetic Worker in the Imperial Era, a Master in the Domain of Control Systems, capable of slightly improving the efficiency of Machine Systems.

D 31134: Representative of Synthetic Worker in the Imperial Era, a Master in the Domain of Engine Systems, capable of slightly improving the performance of Mass-Produced Exoskeletons.

E 12453: Representative of Synthetic Worker in the Imperial Era, a Master in the Domain of Weapon Systems, capable of improving the performance of ’Large Weapons’.

These three old workers appear somewhat different, but give the feeling of being carved from the same mold, sitting in their chairs with straight backs, like three pieces of old granite.

The one who just fired the cannon was Old E among the three.

Gao Gong then looked at Vice Director Zhao, who appeared much more slick, and upon seeing Gao Gong’s gaze, quickly put on a flattering smile.

In fact, this Vice Director Zhao is actually the superior of Director Du. When Director Du went to dig people from his original unit, this person recommended himself and came over.

Incidentally, the one Director Du truly wanted to dig was the Dean of the Equipment Research Institute, who is a true technical expert.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t be recruited.

’Another Zhao with the same surname, Little Zhao died, and an old one came.’

Gao Gong murmured to himself, but he also understood that if this Vice Director Zhao didn’t meet the standards, with Director Du’s style of not recognizing familial ties, there’s no way he would have been accepted.

The System Panel proved everything.

Zhao Tong: Vice Director of the Equipment Research Institute, proficient in the production processes of most weaponry and equipment, slightly improving production efficiency.

Simply put, this person is a logistics talent.

His arrival gave Gao Gong an additional 150,000 points of Alliance Experience.

Gao Gong proactively asked: ”Dean Zhao, I heard you previously worked at the Equipment Research Institute, responsible for weapons research?”

Zhao Tong quickly flattered: ”Boss, just call me Old Zhao, I am old friends with Director Du.”

”Does the Factory System still handle weapons research, how come I’ve never heard of it?”

Zhao Tong sighed and said: ”Actually, what we call research should truly be called archaeology.”

After the other’s explanation, Gao Gong understood that the ’research’ of the Equipment Research Institute is not actually the development and research of new weapons, but the ’Equipment Archeology Research’ of the Civilization Era.

The entire Equipment Research Institute is actually a Level 1 outsourcing project of the Mother City.

The Mother City’s outsourcing projects are divided into five levels, Level 5 is the highest, also known as Planet-level tasks, where future global corporate wars will compete for a project called the ’Electronic Brain Plan’.

As for Level 1, it is the lowest, a task that big companies generally don’t bother to do, and gets passed around until it falls to the factory.

According to Zhao Tong’s original words.

Their department has no benefits, no future, and no authority, being a standard three-no department. If it weren’t so, he wouldn’t have abandoned his dignity to work for a former subordinate.

Gao Gong felt a stir in his heart and looked at Huang Wen, or rather, the robot controlled by Huang Wen.

”How about you, weren’t you a Mechanic at the Factory too? Do any of your colleagues have thoughts of jumping ship, you could totally introduce them over.”

”No, Mechanics are hot property in the eyes of large enterprises and Military Contractors; they certainly wouldn’t come here.” Huang Wen flatly refused.

Gao Gong pursed his lips.

Don’t underestimate a young man’s poverty, beware of him seeking a Rich Lady.

”Then what’s the purpose of this ’Equipment Archeology Research’?”

Vice Director Zhao pondered for a while, uncertainly saying: ”According to the Dean, some large-scale scientific projects from the Civilization Era, if unearthed, might enhance the technological level of the Mechanical Era.”

But from his tone, it sounds like even he doesn’t believe this.

Considering the Mechanical Era’s rapid technological advancement compared to the Civilization Era, it has progressed hundreds of years’ worth in merely decades.

Gao Gong thought for a while, then looked at Sunx Hong, ”I heard you were attacked by Ancient Robots?”

Sunx Hong nodded, ”While passing through the Ancient Battlefield, we were surrounded by a group of low-level robots, we defeated them and discovered their hideout. That old-style Electromagnetic Cannon is one of the spoils.”

”Are there other spoils?”

”Only this one is usable, the rest are standard garbage,” E 12453 suddenly interjected.

”Is that so? Then prepare, Sunx Hong,” Gao Gong thought and said: ”In one hour, we’ll go inspect the Ancient Battlefield.”

”We’re going too,” C and D said simultaneously.

Gao Gong gave the two of them a meaningful look and nodded: ”Alright, let’s go together then.”

Among the six people present, Vice Director Zhao, Sunx Hong, and Huang Wen are in the ’Joined’ status.

Only the names of these three old guys still have ’Pending’ at the end.

To put it simply, these three have the standard working mentality - they muddle along if they can, if they can’t, they’ll leave.

Once these three leave, the hundreds of Imperial Workers who were painstakingly dug up will undoubtedly scatter like birds.

This won’t do.

The previous emperor’s entrepreneurship was half-done before being imitated by others.

The empire’s great enterprise still needs us to carry on.