For every mechanical hunter, having multiple hideouts is essential. Besides his residence in Gasoline Town, Gabe Steele had his own secret base—a metal scrap recycling station on the outskirts of the city, known to very few.
At the edge of the recycling station, in a shed made of steel bars, Gabe was tinkering with his "borrowed" operating table. Unlike ordinary surgical tables, this one was rugged, with four mechanical arms equipped with saws, pliers, electric drills, and angle grinders, all stained with traces of blood. Cyborg doctors primarily work on prosthetic modifications, so the table also served as a high-precision lathe.
Amidst the "zizizizi" and sparks, Gabe, wearing goggles, controlled the mechanical arms to perform brainwashing surgery. With a welding torch in hand, he welded something onto the back of an artificial soldier's head.
"Memory bank data is being deleted, 56%…79%…100%."
"Brainwashing complete."
"Quadruped robot template being injected."
"Please select the appropriate template from the following three quadruped creatures: Tibetan Mastiff, Teddy Bear, or Husky."
"Teddy Bear, no, Husky."
After adjusting the drive templates for the neck, limbs, and legs, Gabe applied connection electrodes to his temples. A fingertip-sized control chip was embedded in the center of the electrodes.
"Shake your head."
The artificial soldier's head turned slowly, left, then right, its servo motors speeding up, as if on drugs. It was indeed a Husky template.
"Stop, stop, stop. Adjust yourself first."
Understanding, the metal head adjusted its angle and posture, the quadrupedal simulation becoming increasingly realistic, like a real dog.
[First quadruped robot completed, experience +200]
Name: Human-headed Dog
Category: Quadruped
Quality: Blank+
Weight: 18kg
Speed: 23km/h
Control System: Low-level military chip (soldier version)
Power: Energy ore digester (black market version)
Attack Module: None
Additional Module: Biological Mode
Notes: Aside from the head, this thing doesn't have much technical content.
Gabe patted the "dog head," and the artificial dog obediently leaped off the table, running around like a real dog.
Following the same pattern, four "huskies" soon roamed the recycling station, looking like they were wrecking a house. The combination of human heads and dog bodies created a natural uncanny valley effect.
The electronic brain served as the CPU, the operating table provided brainwashing and program implantation, the battery was a miner's version from a flea market, and the remaining components were scrap metal.
Even so, a robot that could understand human speech was rare.
Only the factory's directly affiliated troops were authorized to operate mechanical hounds.
Soon, Gabe also built the robotic ant. Compared to an ant, it resembled the four-wheel-drive vehicles he'd played with as a child.
[First robotic ant completed, experience +50]
Name: Robotic Ant
Category: Sensor Robot
Quality: Blank
Weapon System: Low-level Explosive Device
Note: Driven by servos, this robot mimics an ant's appearance and movements, but without the added intelligence of the artificial soldiers' heads, it would be nothing more than a mechanical toy.
The electronic chips, photodiodes, and ultra-small motors used in the robotic ant were scavenged city waste, making them cheap. Gabe built thirty robotic ants.
"I'm almost ready," Gabe muttered to himself, "one last thing."
The flea market was located north of Auto City, on the outskirts. In its easternmost corner stood the Old Friend Gun Shop.
Unlike ordinary shops, this one sold homemade firearms and melee weapons like hammers, shovels, swords, and electromagnetic steel claws.
Pushing aside the worn curtain, a hoarse voice called out.
"Handsome young man, what you want this time wasn't easy to get."
Behind the counter, a hunchbacked old lady turned, smiling like a chrysanthemum. "Fortunately, Aunt Hazel has some tricks, or I couldn't have done it."
Gabe sat down casually. "Aunt Hazel, where's the thing?"
"Okay, okay, Dumbo! Bring it over!"
Soon, the back door opened, and a giant man at least two meters tall came in with a box.
"Dumbo, be careful!" Aunt Hazel kicked him. The strong man laughed, scratched his head, and asked, "Mom, is there anything to eat?"
"Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating. You'll eat us out of house and home!"
Gabe smiled and tossed over a nutritional paste. "Dumbo, with your size, you could be a mechanical hunter."
Dumbo's eyes lit up, quickly grabbing the paste and stuffing it into his mouth, mumbling, "Mom won't let me. I listen to Mom."
Dumbo was Aunt Hazel's son. They relied on each other. Dumbo was originally an abandoned child from the desert. It's said he was extremely obese at birth and nearly cooked and eaten. Aunt Hazel bought him.
Besides his size and strength, he's mildly mentally retarded. Customers often tricked him into being cannon fodder.
"Come on, customer, try your custom-made knife."
Aunt Hazel quickly interrupted and nudged Dumbo through the back door. Gabe, unfazed, opened the box to reveal a long, crimson blade.
The blade was heavy, with a longer handle than typical Japanese swords, resembling a Miao Dao. The handle's end and tip were threaded for grip, with serrations at the tip for a deadly look.
"According to your request, the blade is tungsten iron, cutting alloy steel. Reinforced blade and handle. I even gave you a wax layer for free. What do you think?"
Gabe smiled, measuring it with his hand. It weighed over ten pounds, like a chainsaw.
With a light swing, a corner of the weapon platform was sliced off, as easy as cutting a cucumber.
Aunt Hazel narrowed her eyes. Only the oldest mechanical hunters chose cold weapons. Today's hunters had stronger firepower and advanced equipment, but fewer results. She hadn't heard of high-level beast hunts in a long time.
A bunch of cowards!
"What is the name of this knife?"
"Red Unicorn!"
Name: Red Unicorn
Category: Metal Knife
Quality: Excellent - (Customized template)
Weight: 13.4kg
Basic Attributes: DPS: 70.5, Attack Power: 47, Attack Speed: 1.5 attacks/second, Attack Range: 1.8 meters
Additional Attributes: Armor Cutting (+10.9% Armor Breaking Damage), Edge Breaking (+8.7% Critical Damage)
Plug-in Column: None
Remarks: This is indeed a deadly weapon, but are you sure you want to use it against a mechanical biochemical beast?
"Thank you for your patronage. A total of 831 mechanical coins. Cash or card."
Gabe was shocked: "Aunt Hazel, an assault rifle is less than 80, and you charge 800 for a cold weapon? You're cheating a regular customer!"
Aunt Hazel rolled her eyes. "There are cheaper ones. Spears made of steel bars, used by scavengers. Want one for 10 coins?"
"You're too expensive."
"Nonsense, without the 200 deposit, I wouldn't even open the shop. Who uses cold weapons now? How many idiots back then had a good ending?"
"How about 300?"
"Bull! In Auto City, who else can cast knives? Only Aunt Hazel's hands are still steady. In a few years, I won't be able to make them, even if you want one."
"But think, Aunt Hazel, if I use this knife to kill a high-danger radioactive beast, wouldn't that be free publicity? It might trigger a cold weapon hunting craze."
"Ha, ha, let's talk after you survive."
They exchanged sharp words, finally settling on six hundred. Aunt Hazel wouldn't go lower. She said the effort she put into this knife was worth at least six hundred.
"Swipe the card!"
Gabe reluctantly handed over a card, like a cafeteria meal card. It was a meal card from the factory. In the Iron Sand Desert, the factory's economy pervaded every aspect.
In one fell swoop, even the original owner's savings were depleted. Without more gains, he'd have to eat dirt.
Unless he sold his body to a rich woman for cheap living expenses.
Aunt Hazel swiped the card with an old POS machine, her smile like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"Better to swipe the card. Those bumpkins don't have this treasure. Must have been given by your little lover."
Gabe raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Aunt Hazel continued, "Those bumpkins are cunning. I have to be extra careful counting money. People today aren't like they used to be. People's hearts have turned."
Gabe came to this desert to pan for gold at fifteen. He knew this man. He packed the Red Unicorn, thought for a while, and spoke again.
"Aunt Hazel, you're planning on letting Dumbo inherit your shop, right? But with his brains, are you sure he can keep it after you die?"
Aunt Hazel narrowed her eyes and burst into curses: "Why should I care about you, a bastard? Get out! You want my son to be cannon fodder again! Rotten heart and lungs! Get out!"
Gabe shrugged, shouldered his knife box, walked to the door, then turned and said meaningfully: "Aunt Hazel, time doesn't stand still."
"Get out!" Aunt Hazel threw something at him. "You're taking my trash with you! Get out now!"
Gabe caught the dark shadow and looked down. It was a bottle of knife oil.
After Gabe left, Aunt Hazel panted heavily, thoughts unclear.
"Mom, I think what Gabe said makes sense. I'm sure I'll be scammed after you leave." A voice of grievance sounded from behind the door.
"Shut up!" Aunt Hazel shouted, looking like a tigress protecting her cub.
(End of this chapter)