Rion leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing as he carefully scanned the details of the bounty. His true identity was on the line, and somehow, the reward for his capture had increased since the last time he checked. He scratched his head absentmindedly, pondering over the implications.
"Well, that's not a good sign," he muttered to himself. The number had gone up, which could only mean one thing—someone was closing in. And if his suspicions were right, that someone was likely the same government agency he'd narrowly escaped not too long ago.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that this was their doing. They had confiscated his tech, probably disassembled the weapons he had left behind, and had surely realized that his gear was leagues ahead of the usual black-market merchandise.
It obviously didn't take long for them to piece together that whoever created such weapons had some serious skills. And if they were as smart as he gave them credit for, they'd figure out that the creator and the runaway cultivator they were hunting were one and the same.
Now that he gave it more thought, he realized that completing the commissions he had for Li He and Rosa, and the new ones Rosa had secured, posed a hidden risk of exposing his identity.
Still, a bigger part of him remained oddly unbothered. He had kept his movements unpredictable, never staying in one place long enough to leave a trail. His aliases, too, were carefully crafted, and his work in the underground was varied and never tied back to a singular pattern.
Sure, the increase in the bounty was alarming, but it was also a message. They weren't just looking to kill him. No, this was a recruitment effort disguised as a hunt. They were more interested in his skillset than they were in his head.
An interesting opportunity, if he played his cards right.
The notion of working with government agencies wasn't entirely unappealing if he could swing it right. Such a collaboration could mean access to rare resources, cutting-edge knowledge, and the kind of protection that came from being on the inside—it was tempting.
However, the premise was that he commanded enough strength and clout to negotiate an advantageous agreement.
He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the table, lost in thought. His primary focus for now was to maintain his anonymity for as long as possible and expand his network within the Legion, while building his reputation in order to increase his bargaining power.
This meant taking on more high-profile jobs and bounties while showcasing his unique skills. He also needed to increase his strength as quickly as possible.
The more he was seen as a valuable asset by the big players of the underground market, the more leverage he would have when the time came to negotiate with the government.
Oh well....
Closing the bounties tab, he opened the 'Jobs' section. At the top of the page was his mercenary alias and his current level in bold letters. Right below it was the assignment interface with an already accepted job.
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Escort Mission - Tempest Grove Expedition
Estimated Level: Operative
Initiated Date: 1/1/128
Client: Normos Family
Location: Tempest Grove, Adli
Reward: 30,000 kila (subject to increase based on individual contribution)
Number of Participants: 10/10
Description: Escort a party into the Tempest Grove for an archeological investigation. Participants are expected to endure rigorous challenges, including unpredictable weather patterns, hostile wildlife, and the ever-present threat of rival factions seeking to claim the archaeological treasures for themselves.
Deployment: 12 days
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Rion leaned back in his chair, mulling over the details. The Tempest Grove was one of the many anomalous zones in this world, known for its extreme temperatures, treacherous terrain, and dangerous wildlife. It wasn't a place one ventured lightly, which made the confidentiality of the mission all the more intriguing. What could the client possibly be searching for in such a desolate place?
Despite the potential dangers, the mission was too good an opportunity to pass up. Based on his very expensive findings, the Normos Family was a deep-rooted family conglomerate that had existed since before the Uprising. Their influence reached every aspect of Avalor, including the military, politics, economics, and even the underworld mafias.
Successfully completing this mission would not only earn him a substantial reward but could also open the doors to rare materials, restricted knowledge and technology. In addition, if he could impress the Normos Family, it would be a significant step towards his goal of gaining powerful backers and influence to negotiate with the government.
He scrolled through his notes on the Normos Family, tapping his chin thoughtfully. They were not the kind of people who would venture into the grove on a whim. Whatever they were looking for, it had to be significant. Perhaps an ancient relic lost to time, buried beneath centuries of debris and growth.
His thoughts turned to the preparations he had already made. As soon as he had accepted the assignment, he had begun gathering the necessary equipment. Weather-resistant gear, survival kits, and medical supplies were all ready and waiting.
His electromagnetic rifle and handguns had been modified for increased reliability and power, and he had begun work on a range of other gadgets and tools to ensure he was prepared for any situation.
But there were still some arrangements he had to do in these remaining 12 days. While he had most of the essentials, there were still a few specialized items he needed to procure.
He made a mental checklist: additional rations, specialized climbing equipment, and a few extra gene solutions for his attribute enhancing techniques, just in case their stay was prolonged. He also wanted to gather as much intel as possible about the Tempest Grove and any recent activities in the area.
He logged off the Mercenary Legion page, stood up and stretched, shaking off the tension that had built up in his muscles. The day was still young, and there was always something to tinker with.
First, he headed to his workshop and sat at the workbench. He retrieved his rifle parts, carefully laying them out. He then began the meticulous process of cleaning and checking each component, recalibrating the magnetic coils and other maintenance procedures.
Simke was supposed to be a formidable opponent, but he had lacked wariness. It was a mistake that had cost him his life. As the person that ultimately utilized that weakness, Rion couldn't afford to do the same.
With his rifle fully reassembled and cleaned, Rion placed it back in its case and locked it securely.
Moving to a corner of the room, his hands moved deftly over an almost-finished construct lying amidst scattered parts and protruding wires. This was his latest project, the Sentinel Mark-1: a utility robot designed for combat and other related purposes. It had a rugged, utilitarian appearance, its frame constructed from durable scrap metals and repurposed alloys from discarded machinery he had scavenged from junkyards to keep costs low.
Despite its pieced-together look, the exterior had high durability and resilience, capable of withstanding substantial impacts and harsh conditions. Designing the armor scheme for the bot took a lot of time, but with his skills and knowledge, he had layered the armor plates in a way that minimized the gaps.
He had carefully chosen and welded each piece, ensuring the bot could endure the rigors of combat and extreme environments. The chassis, reinforced with layers of salvaged armored plating, provided a solid defense against both physical strikes and small arms fire, without compromising its operational integrity.
The most striking feature of the battle bot was its two-sectioned mechanical arms. Each arm was segmented into multiple joints, allowing for a wide range of motion and flexibility. Where the fingers should have been, there were cylindrical openings—these were barrel mounts, designed to house small-caliber machine guns.
These mounts allowed the Sentinel to deliver a devastating barrage of bullets which were fed to it by the inlaid robust magazine compartments, making it a formidable opponent in combat scenarios.
For mobility, it was equipped with tank-like tracks, scavenged from decommissioned RC tanks. These tracks featured a lightweight metal core with rubberized elements to provide a balance between durability and agility. While they lacked the full robustness of a true tank, the design allowed the vehicle to glide over rough terrain with surprising ease, handling obstacles like rocky ground and muddy paths with moderate success.
The core of the Sentinel's operations was managed by a basic integrated circuit that served as its brain, coordinating its various functions and systems. It wasn't sophisticated by any means—he hadn't yet amassed the resources to develop a more advanced AI. However, it was sufficient for the tasks he had in mind.
The optical sensors mounted on its head were a pair of compact cameras salvaged from an old surveillance system. They were not state-of-the-art by any means but could provide a clear, if somewhat grainy, view of the Sentinel's surroundings which he could view on the touch screen remote he made to control the bot.
More than half of the internal space of the Sentinel housed a combustion engine. The engine, a repurposed high-efficiency combustion unit from a scrapped industrial generator, provided the necessary power to drive its mechanical functions.
It operated on a medium-density fuel that was the standard fuel in a lot of vehicles and was readily available in the back market. This ensured that it could remain operational without relying on specialized or high-cost energy sources. However, the engine's integration into the Sentinel's frame had not been without problems.
Cooling was a persistent issue. While he had installed insulated tubing to distribute fuel and coolant, the system was inefficient, struggling to keep up with the engine's heat output. The compact design left little room for proper ventilation, causing heat to build up quickly during extended use.
Rion knew there was room for improvement in every aspect of the Sentinel Mark-1. This was why he had taken great pains to design the Sentinel in a modular fashion, so he could easily replace or upgrade parts as he acquired better resources. This way, he could keep improving the battle bot and adapt it to fit his growing strength and wealth.
Most importantly, the Sentinel Mark-1 featured a self-destruct option. He couldn't stress enough the importance of this feature, especially considering the dangerous environments and potentially hostile encounters the mission could entail. The self-destruct mechanism was coded to trigger a large explosion, ensuring that the bot—and any sensitive data or equipment it carried—would be obliterated if it fell into the wrong hands.
Or, he could just control it into an enemy outpost and watch the fireworks display with popcorn in his hands.
Ah.... There's nothing comparable to self destructing robots to tickles a man's fancy....
He resumed work on it, refining the Sentinel's design and ensuring that every component was meticulously crafted. The delicate task of soldering wires and microchips required his full attention, each connection needing to be precise to prevent short circuits or power failures in the field.
With the added effect of his Resonance ability, he worked with practiced efficiency, his hands moving with the confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times before.
After a few hours, Rion stood back to admire his work. The bot was coming together nicely, its rugged form almost complete. He still needed to fine-tune its programming and test its various systems, but he felt confident that it would be ready in time for the mission.
Nice and tight... Just the way I like—wait, no, not like that.
He checked the time on a nearby clock and realized that he had been at it longer than he thought.
With the immediate work on the Sentinel finished for now, he washed up and headed to the marketplace. The streets were crowded with vendors and buyers, the air filled with the sounds of haggling and lively conversations. He moved through the throngs of people as he made his way to the base of an information broker who could hopefully provide valuable intel on Tempest Grove.
A few minutes later, Rion found himself at the base of a small shop tucked away in a corner of the marketplace. The sign overhead read, Arlo's Inquiries—If We Don't Know, You Definitely Don't Need to Know.