"Something you feel is right internally..."
Lu Yuan looked back at the Stormwind Gang's log.
There are no secrets that can be kept forever. Cheng Yun had likely already learned some information from the caravans, knowing that a Celestial company named Cangyuan had come to this Desert and protected Red Iron Town from the Stormwind Gang.
If Cheng Yun was truly as "overly upright" as Hart recorded, then he definitely wouldn't get along with the City Lord.
Support everything the enemy opposes – this is a potential ally.
"Cheng Yun's specific address is also recorded in this log. If I have Caoyuan and Ye Xing go directly to him after landing, can we get protection?"
Doing this was a risk.
But it was better than going to the smugglers.
Lu Yuan didn't rush to make a decision and first called Town Chief Shen Hai.
The Town Chief knew of a person named Cheng Yun, but only knew that he was an entrepreneur in Oasis City, would spend heavily to hire mercenaries to protect his caravan, and had a very tough attitude towards Raiders.
Cheng Yun had different opinions from Ke'er on urban development strategy, but it hadn't reached the point of openly opposing him.
Lu Yuan later published the contents of the Stormwind Gang's log in the internal company group chat to solicit opinions from the employees.
Salty Fish: "Definitely choose Cheng Yun. Once cooperation is reached, the other party can provide more convenience; in comparison, the resources a smuggler can provide are very limited, probably just a hiding place."
Victory Male God: "But this Cheng Yun has a big business. To protect himself, there's also a high chance he won't help us. A smuggler will do things as long as they get paid, right?"
Black Smoke: "You think getting paid to do things is an advantage? If the City Lord pays more, won't he just sell you out in turn?"
Victory Male God: "Oh, right..."
Black Smoke: "..."
Jubian: "Black Smoke is right. Smugglers have no motive for long-term cooperation and won't take risks to work for us. Cheng Yun is different. If this guy really has big ambitions, he won't be easily bought off."
See You on the Rooftop After School: "'If'... so there's still a risk, right?"
Jubian: "Come on, what doesn't have risks? It's the apocalypse now, even taking a walk outside has risks."
Ye Xing: "Jubian is right, I, who walk outside every day, can testify. Where's AI Bro? Come out and give some advice."
Butler: "Insufficient intelligence, unable to perform deep thinking. It is precisely at this time that the significance of human emotional decision-making can be highlighted!"
Ye Xing: "What use are you..."
Caoyuan: "Alright, let's go find Cheng Yun. Cooperating with a smuggler doesn't fit Cangyuan's identity!"
Caoyuan's words resonated widely.
Cooperatating with a smuggler and asking for protection, let alone the success rate, was simply too demeaning!
If this got out later, it would definitely be a corporate stain!
"Okay, then we choose Cheng Yun."
Lu Yuan made the final decision, ending the discussion.
A new Engineer profession mission was subsequently released.
Repair the previously salvaged hummingbird scout plane!
This was no challenge for the current Engineer players. They put on their "Worker Ant" exoskeletons and quickly dismantled the plane, separating the few undamaged parts that could still be used, as well as the metal frames and skin that could be repaired to like-new condition with simple reshaping.
About 40% of the fuselage had more severe structural damage. It could be repaired, but it wasn't cost-effective, so it was better to make replacement parts.
The metal and engineering plastic parts could be made directly using the production line. More advanced electronic equipment and composite materials could be produced with a single click using a 3D printer.
Although time was tight, the Engineers, led by Black Smoke, decided to challenge themselves.
They chose to use the Mechanical Hive production line instead of a 3D printer to make the hummingbird scout plane's high-performance jet engine.
This was much harder than it sounded. The engine's thousands of internal blades were single-crystal iron-nickel alloy, each with hundreds of tiny air channels for cooling. They were not only durable but also very intricate.
Although the blade manufacturing process was basically the same as in the early 21st century and could be roughly researched online, being able to achieve this was enough to show that the players had completely mastered the 23rd-century production line in their hands!
This was a milestone in Cangyuan's industrial development history! It marked a further step away from relying on 3D printers and the ability to mass-produce high-tech mechanical equipment.
............
Late at night four days later, the scout plane was repaired.
Most players stopped their current tasks to see off the two special forces members who were about to embark on their mission.
Lu Yuan led Ye Xing and Caoyuan into the warehouse where the power armor was stored.
"You'll wear power armor for this operation. There are extra batteries in your backpacks. At low power, the maximum endurance is 200 hours. In combat, it can last for over 6 hours."
"Also, some accessories from the last confiscation have been installed. Let Jubian introduce the specifics."
"Yes, sir!"
Jubian led the onlookers to the power armor.
"This loadout is the stealth set. First, the helmet has a heartbeat detector that can identify human heartbeats within 50 meters. An extra camera has been added to the back of the head, which can display the view behind you in a small window on the visor, giving you a full field of vision."
"There is an ultrasonic radar on the chest and back, which can detect terrain in some blind spots."
"The weapons are the Madman automatic rifle, silenced pistol, and dagger, a plasma cutter for breaching obstacles, and ONC explosives for emergency self-destruction."
"The leg joints have added cushioning and lubrication, and there are also cushioning pads on the soles of the feet. Normal walking will not make noise. Be careful not to jump high when moving stealthily. I know you might not be able to resist!"
"We know, we know!" Ye Xing rubbed his hands together. "The equipment is luxurious. Speaking of which, the way you introduce the equipment is very much like that person in the 007 movies, who was it..."
Guo Li Cheng: "Wen Xi! To Your Doom 3000!"
Mi Mang De Da Chui: "Pfft! It does!"
Black Smoke: "That's From Beijing with Love, it should be Dr. Q..."
"...The difference is I can fight better than Dr. Q." Jubian pushed up glasses that weren't there. "But don't get too happy too soon. You won't have sleeping pods during the operation, you can only go offline by falling unconscious. You won't recover health during this time, you won't be woken up by movement nearby, and you definitely won't level up."
"Be careful not to get raped, oh." Wo Yao Chi Dan Ta smiled wickedly.
"Hiss..." Ye Xing's anus tightened.
Guo Li Cheng: "It's okay, he's super brave."
"Ahem..."
Jubian cleared his throat and continued, "We will try our best to ensure wireless communication using drone base stations, but we still need to limit the frequency and duration of communication to avoid being detected by Apollo. Ye Xing, you'd better not live stream during the mission. Change to posting video recordings."
"No problem! Don't worry, I know what's more important!"
Ye Xing patted his chest.
In fact, when he first logged into Xing Hai, what he valued most was the live streaming popularity this game brought.
But now, no one could stop Cangyuan's Chief Investigator from completing a rare mission.