Chapter 1 Mechanical Modification

Kala kala—

The sound of mechanical assembly echoed within the private workshop. Flickering mechanical force, like agile blue tentacles, manipulated mechanical arms to forge a new Overlord mech.

Han Xiao was completely focused, watching the details of the mech become more perfect in his hands step by step.

The last piece of outer armor snapped into place on the Overlord's chest. The control panel suddenly dinged, and a notification popped up.

[You have crafted a Golden Quality equipment (Cosmic Treasure)]

"Hoo..."

Han Xiao's tense expression relaxed as he slowly exhaled.

This was the second Golden Quality Overlord mech. Even with the successful experience from the last time, as well as the bonus from [Divine Item] and [Cosmic Treasure Manufacturer], he had tried five times before finally succeeding. However, it was fewer failures than the first time.

Han Xiao planned to give this new Overlord mech to Hela. Although it was a Mechanic-exclusive equipment and Hela couldn't enjoy the bonuses, Han Xiao only needed its directional teleportation function to provide Hela with security.

Moreover, two weren't enough. Han Xiao still had to build several spare sets of Overlord for himself, and maybe even prepare a set for Ames. The workload was secondary; the main issue was the huge expense.

An Overlord was equivalent to the cost of a fleet. If it didn't reach Golden Quality, it was undoubtedly a loss. He couldn't guarantee that he could create a Cosmic Treasure-level Overlord every time, which would inevitably waste several times the Enas. Even though the Black Star Army was wealthy enough to afford it, this expenditure still made him feel the pinch.

"Sigh, as a Mechanic, my money-making skills can't fall behind." Han Xiao sighed.

He glanced at the attribute panel. Because it was the second time crafting an Overlord, the [Divine Item] didn't provide new divine mutation points or unlock a new layer of bonuses, but it did provide a stat reallocation effect.

Because it was the same blueprint, the efficiency of this reallocation was somewhat reduced, from the initial 200 points to 160 points. Unfortunately, he didn't reallocate to Luck, so his hope for a free ticket was dashed. However, he did reallocate to Charm, which was not bad. Anyway, he had always been shameless... cough, didn't rely on his face.

He saved the 160 free attribute points. Han Xiao put the second Overlord set into a special mech maintenance box and had a mechanical guard send it to Hela along with the box.

It was worth mentioning that this special mech maintenance box was also an orange equipment that could nourish the mech. Leaving it for a long time would increase one of the mech's basic attributes. As a Peak Super-A Grade Mechanic, everything Han Xiao wore and used now was high-quality.

After taking care of everything, Han Xiao rubbed his eyes and stretched. He wasn't idle at the base. These days, in addition to handling daily affairs, he had been in the workshop repairing Apostle Weapons and creating Cosmic Treasures, working hard for many days.

"Relax a little, go watch people play cards."

Han Xiao tapped his lower back and was about to open the door and go out when his communicator suddenly rang, showing that it was a call from a high-ranking official of the Crimson Dynasty.

"The Dynasty is finally willing to call. Is this finally finalizing the plan to deal with me?"

Han Xiao's eyes flashed, and he answered the call. A remote projection of a high-ranking official appeared in front of him. This was the person in charge of contacting Super-A Grades all year round, and he was quite familiar with Han Xiao.

"Your Excellency Black Star," the Dynasty official nodded in greeting, "Long time no see."

"Hello," Han Xiao nodded, pretending not to know and asking, "What can I do for you?"

"Well, I know you like to be direct, so I won't waste your time. The Dynasty's upper echelons are preparing to release a plan related to you and want to ask for your opinion and discuss it."

"What plan?"

"The Dynasty intends to temporarily make the purchase rights for the Evolution Totem public, no longer limited to allied subscriptions, but freely sold throughout the universe. Because the Evolution Cube is the energy source, in your hands, the Dynasty wants to know your attitude." The Dynasty official smiled.

Han Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and a surge of ecstasy welled up.

Although he had guessed this possibility, he was still very excited at the moment of confirmation.

All along, the Crimson Dynasty had controlled the sales channels of the Evolution Totem, not allowing it to be put on the free market, only selling it to allied civilizations. This was Han Xiao's agreement with the Dynasty. If the sales restrictions were lifted, then every civilization in the universe would become a customer, bringing immeasurable huge profits.

Moreover, this wasn't a one-time deal. The Evolution Totem could only run for twenty years. After consuming all the energy, it had to be recharged with the Evolution Cube, just like refueling. Therefore, the subsequent maintenance costs were a continuous and huge income, completely a treasure-filled super-profitable business opportunity.

The Crimson Dynasty was holding onto the public purchase rights in order to control this revenue, which was to obtain the energy source Evolution Cube from Han Xiao. They were unwilling to let a non-direct ally control such an important strategic treasure. Therefore, the two sides had been arguing about this issue, and their relationship had developed some cracks.

Now, the Dynasty was willing to open up the purchase channels for the Evolution Totem, which was finally making a concession, actively easing the relationship between the two sides. The reason for this was undoubtedly the influence of Black Star's ascension to godhood. They were willing to temporarily hand over huge profits to Han Xiao.

Although excited, Han Xiao still caught a key word: "Temporarily open? How long specifically?"

The Dynasty official shook his head, "I don't know about that. The higher-ups probably haven't set an end date either."

In other words, if he did something bad, it could end at any time, right...

Han Xiao understood in his heart that the Dynasty's move was both to win him over and a means of indirect control. When he got used to the huge income, or the expanded army couldn't do without the cash flow brought by this business, the Dynasty would have a new channel to control him. He understood this. After all, it was a universe-level civilization. Never think of making them bow down to you completely. That was completely impossible. It was good enough that they were willing to make concessions and respect and value you.

"Alright, I have no objection. When will it be open?" Han Xiao agreed.

"The time hasn't been set yet. It will probably take half a year to a year to prepare for the official implementation. However, the preliminary announcement of this policy will be released to the universe within three days to half a month, so we need to quickly discuss a profit distribution plan." The Dynasty official replied.

Because the previous plan was mainly aimed at the Dynasty and allied forces, there were many discounts. For sales to the entire universe, both Han Xiao and the Dynasty wanted to substantially increase prices to earn money from outsiders, so they had to re-formulate a distribution plan.

"I see... then I'll have my business team contact you and strive to negotiate a suitable result as soon as possible," Han Xiao thought for a moment and said.

The Sprout Financial Group affiliated with the army had a group of commercial negotiation experts, which could come in handy in this matter. Interpis, as a senior executive of the financial group, was good at this.

Because he controlled the Evolution Cube, the bulk of the profits was definitely on his side. However, the Dynasty also had to get a share of the money. After all, they had helped bear the pressure for so long, and it couldn't be treated as if nothing had happened. Moreover, he would need the Crimson Dynasty to provide assistance in logistics, transportation, and raw materials in the future. After all, the entire universe market was too big. Relying solely on the current Black Star Army was not enough to cover the business scope of the entire universe.

The two discussed for a while before Han Xiao hung up the call. He was in a great mood at the thought that the army was about to gain a continuous and profitable channel for making money.

Suddenly, an old idea popped into his mind. Han Xiao's eyes flashed, and a playful and meaningful sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth:

"When the Crimson Dynasty announces this policy, I can take a trip to the Endless Financial Group... Hmph, just because they've withdrawn their commercial suppression of me now doesn't mean that the past never happened. There's no such thing."

...

Emerald Star Cluster, Beast Ancestor's stronghold, combat training ground.

Bang!

Fingers bent like a leopard's paw, the fist entwined with a faint black aura of channel, fiercely struck the abdomen of a body. The skin and muscles of the struck area rippled under the huge force, and a shock wave of air burst out. A burly figure was sent flying by this blow, like a cannonball, heavily crashing into the wall of the training ground, making a loud noise and spreading smoke and dust.

Sneak retracted his fist, and the faint black aura with poison dissipated. He said lightly, "No more fighting. Let's end here today."

Then, without looking at the loyal party cadre who had asked to spar but was easily defeated by him, he put on the windbreaker he had thrown aside and walked out of the training ground.

Normally, Sneak would be too lazy to respond to other people's challenges, but he had been in a bad mood recently and wanted to vent by fighting.

The thought that everyone was confined by the Mysterious Lord and not allowed to leave this stronghold made Sneak sigh endlessly.

"Di Di."

At this moment, the communicator rang. Sneak took a look, but it was a call from his respected big sister, Jody.

As soon as the call connected, Jody started yelling, her tone dissatisfied, "I invited you to leave the Beast Ancestor organization, and you said you'd wait and see. I agreed. But so much time has passed, and you haven't taken your brothers and sisters away? What's wrong with you, little bro?"

Sneak looked helpless and said in a low voice, "Big sister, it's not that I don't want to leave, it's just that some accidents have happened."

"What accidents?" Jody frowned.

"It's His Excellency the Mysterious Lord..." Sneak thought of the magic brand used for surveillance on his body and suddenly paused. After some psychological struggle, he gritted his teeth and decided to tell the truth, "He said he wanted to take over the Beast Ancestor's troops and make us all work for him. Now, no one can leave the Beast Ancestor's stronghold, and I'm trapped here too."

Jody was furious and disappointed, "I wanted you to leave earlier, but you, you coward, didn't listen. Now look at you, really useless! Trash! Disgrace to me!"

She cursed, and Sneak nodded obsequiously, unable to refute or retort.

The hatred of the rebel faction people for Gultan basically stemmed from the tragic experience of their biological mothers, so they were more humane than the other two factions. There was real brother-sister affection between some people. Sneak and Jody grew up together and had been afraid of this big sister since childhood. There was still a lingering childhood shadow.

After Jody scolded for a while, seeing Sneak's dejected look, she couldn't bear it and asked, "If you're unwilling to work for the Mysterious Lord all the time, then find a chance to escape in the future."

Sneak shook his head and sighed, "The Mysterious Lord said that unauthorized escape is considered betrayal. He left magic brands on us. Even if we dare to escape privately, how can we escape the pursuit of a Super-A Grade?"

Jody had a warm heart for the brothers and sisters she recognized and couldn't bear to see Sneak forced to pledge allegiance to the Mysterious Lord. After struggling for a while, she suddenly said:

"Let me ask you, are you willing to join the Black Star Army?"

"Of course I'm willing, it's just that there's no chance now," Sneak sighed.

Hearing this, Jody gritted her teeth and said decisively, "Don't worry, I'll find a way to ask the Army Commander for help!"

Then, without waiting for Sneak to answer, she hung up the call in a hurry.

Sneak held the buzzing communicator in his hand, looking helpless.

"Ask Black Star for help? How is that possible..."

He sighed, not expecting anything at all.

Think about it, these people were subordinates of the Beast Ancestor and only had a verbal intention of joining them. They weren't people of the Black Star Army. How could Black Star offend another Peak Super-A Grade for a few Disaster Grades?

...

The Beast Ancestor's former palace had become the Mysterious Lord's foothold.

Gultan's huge throne had been put into an alchemy storage bottle by the Mysterious Lord and collected as a trophy. His own throne replaced Gultan's seat.

At this moment, the Mysterious Lord was sitting on the throne, flipping through the Beast Ancestor's cadre files, with Bylam beside him, answering questions at any time.

At this moment, the Mysterious Lord's communicator rang. He glanced at it, and his expression suddenly became serious.

This expression of facing a formidable enemy made Bylam stunned and secretly guessed whose call would make the Mysterious Lord's expression change so drastically.

At this time, the Mysterious Lord waved his hand and said coldly, "You can go out first."

Hearing this, although Bylam was curious, he could only excuse himself and leave. Although he considered himself the Mysterious Lord's new confidant, he did not dare to overstep his bounds.

With only himself in the room, the Mysterious Lord answered the call with a solemn expression.

"Black Star, what do you want from me?"

As soon as the words fell, Han Xiao's hearty laughter came from the communicator.

"Hahaha, Mysterious Lord, you seem a little nervous."

"You're thinking too much."

The Mysterious Lord's mind raced. Although he wanted to befriend Black Star, he couldn't help feeling guilty when he received the other party's initiative to communicate at this moment.

Han Xiao smiled, "Although we had a conflict once on the Chaos Secret Energy issue, the matter has been resolved. There is no grudges between us. You're right. Speaking of which, I helped you a big favor."

"What favor?"

"Still need to ask? It must be the Beast Ancestor. Didn't you want to give Gultan trouble when you reminded me at the beginning? He and you are both Black Market Protectors, and there must be some conflicts of interest. I helped you solve him, so that you can seize his market. Isn't that a big favor to you?"

"Indeed, you indirectly helped me." The Mysterious Lord did not deny it.

"Since I helped you with a favor, I happen to need you to help me with a favor too." Han Xiao blinked, and his smile was meaningful, "I heard that you are taking over the Beast Ancestor's troops. Don't worry, I'm not interested in those crooked melons and cracked dates who see me as an enemy. If you want to take them, go ahead... but, there seem to be some good talents inside who want to abandon the dark and turn to the light and join me. You shouldn't stop these people, right?"

The Mysterious Lord's eyes changed slightly, and he was a little reluctant to part with these Disaster Grade cadres.

Moreover, if he opened this mouth, then there would always be some cadres who would use joining Black Star as an excuse. Then, would he release them or not? In this way, the harvest of his takeover of the Beast Ancestor's army would be greatly reduced at once, and many Disaster Grade talents would inevitably be lost.

However, since Black Star had called, he knew that he was detaining people. If he didn't agree, he was afraid of offending Black Star. Moreover, Black Star must be very tough recently. Maybe it would intensify the conflict. He also wanted to befriend him and was unwilling to lose big for small things.

Although the Mysterious Lord felt sorry in his heart, he did not hesitate at this time. He was unwilling to offend the Black Star, who was in the limelight, for some Disaster Grade cadres. He said in a deep voice, "Okay, as long as someone wants to join you, I will release them."

"That's great~" Han Xiao truly laughed at this time.

The two suppressed their inner emotions and chatted for a while as if they were good brothers before hanging up the phone.

As soon as he put down the communicator, the Mysterious Lord's face collapsed and looked unsightly. He summoned Bylam and ordered:

"Bring Sneak and his group here."

Bylam was a little puzzled, but he did as he was told.

Soon, Sneak and a group of rebel faction cadres gathered in the palace, staring at the Mysterious Lord on the throne with complicated, helpless, and unhappy eyes.

The Mysterious Lord was expressionless and slowly asked, "Which of you want to join the Black Star Army?"

There was a slight commotion in the crowd. Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what the Mysterious Lord was doing.

Could it be that this was a test, wanting to kill the chicken to warn the monkey and completely dispel our thoughts of joining others?

Everyone became vigilant and felt that they had guessed the truth, and immediately expressed their loyalty.

"How is that possible? We voluntarily accept the protection of Your Excellency the Mysterious Lord."

"Everyone here is brothers, and they speak nicely. I like it here very much. How could I join others?"

Seeing this scene, the Mysterious Lord only felt a pain in the ass.

If he were dealing with other people, he could use this method to prevaricate, saying that no one wanted to join him. However, the Mysterious Lord did not intend to play tricks to perfunctorily Black Star and was very depressed.

The situation at this time can be simply summarized as...

Everyone: Daddy Mysterious Lord, we really don't want to join Black Star.

Mysterious Lord: No, you want to, hurry up and recognize your father.

Taking a deep breath, the Mysterious Lord calmed down and suddenly released his aura, and said in a deep voice: "Stop talking nonsense, I won't stop anyone who wants to join Black Star. I'm not kidding you. If you want to leave, get out of here."

The people who were expressing their loyalty felt a strong pressure and found that the Mysterious Lord did not seem to be testing them and were stunned.

What's going on? Weren't we banned from leaving a while ago? Why are we suddenly released?

Is the Mysterious Lord so fickle?

Bylam's expression changed. He thought of the call just now. Thinking about it now, the call must have been from Black Star.

He actually made the Mysterious Lord compromise in a few words. The Mysterious Lord was so afraid of Black Star...

Bylam was secretly shocked.

In the crowd, Sneak suddenly thought of his call with Jody two hours ago and suddenly took a breath of cold air.

"There's no mistake, it must be Black Star's doing. Otherwise, there's no way to explain it..."

He found that the Mysterious Lord's expression was not good, and he must be unwilling to make this decision.

Sneak secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and a storm surged in his heart.

In his opinion, Jody had just joined the army and could not have a say. Then, Black Star did not hesitate to offend the Mysterious Lord, probably out of his emphasis on them.

Although he didn't know if his guess was correct, Sneak couldn't help feeling moved in his heart, with a sense of impulsiveness that a warrior dies for his confidant.

"...It seems that Jody was right. Black Star is indeed a person worthy of joining."

...

Because it was a private transaction, the departure of Sneak and others did not cause any waves.

However, seven or eight days later, a policy suddenly released by the Crimson Dynasty ignited the enthusiasm of the entire universe and stunned countless people.

The content of the policy was very simple. The Dynasty decided to open the purchase rights of the Evolution Totem to the entire universe in one year!

The three great civilizations had been fighting over the Evolution Totem for more than a day or two. As soon as this statement was released, it stirred up a thousand waves and caused a great uproar, and countless civilizations were excited and crazy.

Oh my god, the Dynasty has finally figured it out!

The whole universe knew that the Crimson Dynasty would not make such a decision out of thin air. It must be inseparable from recent events.

As everyone knew, the only universe-level event that had happened recently was Black Star's ascension to godhood!

Even ordinary people could understand the causal relationship between the two events.

—The Dynasty suddenly opened up the purchase rights of the Evolution Totem, which was shocked by Black Star's record. Therefore, they compromised with Black Star, took the initiative to concede, and allowed Black Star, who owned the Evolution Cube, to control the Evolution Totem business!

A universe-level civilization, especially a boss with a stubborn style like the Crimson Dynasty, actually made concessions to a Super-A Grade!

How many years had it been since such a scene had been seen! ?

After figuring this out, countless interstellar citizens and civilization forces were shocked beyond words.

On the other side, the Light and the Federation were not surprised but happy.

Black Star established his prestige, thus moving the Crimson Dynasty to open the Evolution Totem. It seems that it was worth it for us to lose a few Super-A Grades for this.

We took the wrong path!

If we had known this, we shouldn't have put pressure on the Dynasty and Black Star. If we had sent a bunch of people to Black Star earlier and let him play a god-level performance, wouldn't the plan to plot the Evolution Totem have succeeded long ago?!

The Dynasty's policy set off a frenzy of public opinion throughout the universe. Han Xiao's record was already hot, but at this moment, it skyrocketed again. His personal prestige soared to a shocking level. Before the heat of this matter subsided, he alone overwhelmed the brilliance of all other Super-A Grades.

While the outside world was full of rumors, the Endless Financial Group's branch in the Shattered Star Ring quietly welcomed an uninvited guest.