He then threw all six unassigned stats into his Intelligence, making it one hundred.
His mind instantly became much clearer, and he felt more at ease controlling all the machinery. Intelligence affected many different areas of a Mechanic, including production speed, production quality, and the damage bonuses when using Mechanic weapons. For example, when a Mechanic used a pistol that normally dealt twenty damage points, the pistol would deal more damage due to the Mechanic’s damage bonus. As such, even though other classes of players could still use Mechanic weapons, the damage would be lower.
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[Mechanic (Novice)] has reached the maximum level. To advance, learn 20 blueprints.
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This randomized requirement for advancing class is quite simple.
Han Xiao was delighted, and he counted the blueprints that he had learned so far. He was only short of eight.
He did not want to produce useless blueprints through random fusions. I should make full use of the EXP I have. Anyway, all the EXP is stored in the Interface, so there is no rush to advance my class.
…
At Fabian Company’s Morning Wind City branch, the man in charge, Antonio, was smoking a cigar. He was built like a mountain, filling the entire space on the sofa. He exhaled a puff out and looked Han Xiao, who was sitting at the sofa across, up and down to size him up.
Han Xiao was wearing a black jacket, and his Facial Simulator simulated an ordinary unemployed, middle-age male who looked rather unassuming. This was the face that he had prepared for his new identity.
Han Xiao took out a shopping list for supplies and said slowly, “I want all the items on this list.”
Antonio took the list and looked over it. “The total cost will be $100,000. After the twenty percent discount from your Black Gold Card, it will cost $80,000.”
“Also, I want to buy an entry pass for The Dark Net’s Blood Pact Society”
“$20,000.” Antonio’s eyes narrowed.
The Dark Net was the hub of all intelligence related to the underworld. It was fully controlled by the Dark Net Organization, a neutral faction that strictly followed the principles of not getting involved in conflicts and developing peacefully. Many factions were business partners with the Dark Net Organization. They provided people from the underworld many kinds of services, including, but not limited to, smuggled firearms, package transfers, safehouses, hired assassins, mercenaries, and intelligence.
The Blood Pact Society was the organization for hired assassins under the Dark Net Organization. Using the entry pass, Han Xiao could become a contracted assassin under the organization and enjoy all the services provided by the Dark Net. This meant that Han Xiao could unlock his relationship with the Dark Net just from using the pass.
Although Blood Pact Society was a lousy name, it had another world-famous name.
The Assassin Union!
Of course, one could also call it the assassin social club, which instantly degraded its class.
A player had to go through a series of complicated quests to join the Dark Net Organization. However, time was of the essence for Han Xiao, so he would rather used extra money to buy the pass instead of spending a few dozen days fulfilling the entry requirement. Although $20,000 was a big sum of money to ‘real’ players, it was considered peanuts to him.
“Who says money can’t buy happiness?” Han Xiao muttered. When he was still a ‘real’ player, he had needed to be stingy and calculative about every single purchase. He had never felt the pleasure of having so much money to spend before this.
The mechanical supplies were soon transported to the private workshop that Antonio arranged for him. Han Xiao went on to repair all the equipment that was damaged during the fight against Pan Kuang.
The mechanical parts left were meant for the new machinery.
I will be moving alone without any team support. Thus, my fighting style should focus more on minimizing danger. Sniping better suits me temporarily. I need to develop more powerful snipers and new types of bullets. Also, I will need some explosives, booby-traps, and anti-vehicle weapons. Lastly, I will probably need machinery that enables me to engage in close-quarter fights, such as tiny and covert weapons that can deal maximum damage…
Han Xiao contemplated for a while before he drew out his Interface to start his talent fusion. He decided to start with new bullets.
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Do you wish to proceed with talent fusion?
(Lv. 3 Basic Weaponry + Lv. 3 Basic Material Science + Lv.2 Basic Dynamics Principle)
This fusion will cost you 15,000 EXP!
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Fusion Success!
Congratulations, you have discovered [Spindle-Shaped Penetration Bullet]!
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Do you wish to proceed with talent fusion?
(Lv. 3 Basic Weaponry + Lv. 3 Basic Material Science + Lv.1 Basic Biology)
This fusion will cost you 15,000 EXP!
_____________________
Fusion Success!
Congratulations, you have discovered [Hayme Bullet]!
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Do you wish to proceed with talent fusion?
(Lv. 3 Basic Weaponry + Lv. 3 Basic Material Science + Lv. 2 Basic Optics)
This fusion will cost you 15,000 EXP!
_____________________
Fusion Success!
Congratulations, you have discovered [Flash Bullet]!
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I still have over 20,000 EXP left, and my sniping capability is not yet up to standard. Let’s continue.
Han Xiao pondered for a moment before he decided to raise the core skill [Snipe] to Lv.5, which increased his accuracy and sniping range.
He had stolen the sniper rifle named Red-Falcon from the Hesla army logistics team. The rifle was black and only a gray-grade weapon. It had mediocre quality. He soon started upgrading the weapon.
Han Xiao focused on increasing the power of the sniper rifle during this series of upgrades. The damage was increased to 92 ~ 103; the rate of fire was two rounds per second; the range was 600 meters. But with [Machinery Affinity] and [Sniping], his range could reach up to 750 meters, which was sufficient for his use.
Han Xiao was still left with tens of thousands of EXP, but he decided to hold onto it first. He started the production of the three bullets that he had previously discovered
…
Soon, batches of new bullets were produced.
Fabian Company’s private workshop was primarily adapted for making firearms and ammunition, which saved Han Xiao a fair bit of time for the whole production. This also reminded Han Xiao of something.
Should I make some robot assistants to help me with the production of mechanical parts?
He already had the blueprint for smart chips and other necessary parts for the robot. All he needed to do was upgrade his [Basic Programming] before he could produce a simple robot rover that could act as his assistant. However, since he did not have a fixed base for now, it was not appropriate for him to produce the robots yet.
Antonio’s footsteps were heard. Soon, he entered the workshop. He placed an intricately designed dark gold coin onto the table and said, “This is your membership pass.”
Han Xiao was delighted.
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You have unlocked a new Camp Reputation!
Blood Pact Society: Cold (0/300) – [Reserve-level Assassin]
Chapter 90 - First Assignment
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Hotel Victoria was a 43-floor-tall luxurious hotel, and it had branches in every major city of the Six Nations. It was owned by the Dark Net Organization, and it only permitted members of the organization to stay. The hotel would use the excuse of ‘no available rooms’ to d
eny normal people from staying in the place. While it acted as a safehouse for the members, it was also the transaction hall for people from different camps. No fighting was allowed in this place, and anyone who broke the rule would receive endless assassinations.
After obtaining the pass, Han Xiao went to Hotel Victoria. It had a classic interior, with various types of aged dark-brown wooden furniture, which had a beautiful luster. A sense of serenity was overflowing in every corner of the hotel.
Han Xiao came forward to the front desk before revealing his Blood Pact Society coin. Then he was brought to the 23rd floor by a servant.
23rd to 25th floors belonged to the Blood Pact Society. The 23rd floor was the resting and transaction areas for all the assassins—they would get employed or paid here. The floor also had numerous entertainment facilities such as a bar, café, and restaurants.
After he handed his dark golden coin to the receptionist on the 23rd floor, another server wearing a white glove came to receive Han Xiao. They sat down at a semi-private table in the corner. The server took out a notebook with black leather covers and started recording the personal information of this new member.
“What will your code name be?”
Han Xiao thought for a moment, and he decided to use an enchanting name, which might help his Universal Reputation in some ways.
“Apostle-level Observer No. 9527 from the Crimson Dynasty stationed in Couton Group.”
The server was stupefied.
Assassins usually had minimalist names like ‘Silver Fox’, ‘Devil Snake’, or ‘Ghost’, the kind that was more appreciated in the age when reduced attention spans were the norm. Such a ‘unique’ name would really intrigue employers, but it way too long.
The server coughed. “Can you shorten the name?”
What? I’ve only ever heard of others complaining about short names. I didn’t know people would dislike name for being too long.
Han Xiao pondered for a while before he came up with another name. “Black.”
The server was briefly rendered speechless.
“Your name is too short now. A single-world code name is permissible, but code names that are just colors have long been taken by other assassins. All the names like ‘Red’, ‘Blue’, ‘Orange’, and so on were mostly names of the honored assassins of the previous generation who have passed away. The organization will not allow someone else to reuse their code names.”
Han Xiao smacked his lips in irritation. It seemed him to him that naming was a troublesome affair anywhere he went. He then came up with the final name. “Mr. Black.”
“Mr. Black… Alright.”
This name was much more ordinary. The server quickly recorded it.
“You are now a Reserve-level assassin with a blank resume. You can only rise to Scorpion-level upon the completion of your first assignment. Employers will usually pick from our whole list of assassins. If someone chooses you, we will contact you. Until then, you can take up assignments that are open to everybody on the market or assassinate wanted personnel.
“Of course, you can also accept private jobs. We do not have any hard requirements for our assassins, but we will take five percent of the reward as our commission. If you have any questions in the future, you can always call up our reception at Hotel Victoria.
“Sounds reasonable.” Han Xiao nodded his head.
There were two reasons for him joining the Blood Pact Society. First, he wanted to take on all the wanted personnel that warranted high bounties, and these missions would trigger high-reward quests. Secondly, he could earn some Universal Reputation by becoming one of the top ten ranked assassins on the Dark Net.
There were only three months till the open beta. He needed to accumulate a large base of resources using the remaining time he had.
“All of these are ‘wanted’ assignments.”
The servant took out a tablet and opened a page on the Dark Net before passing it to Han Xiao.
Han Xiao instantly saw the most popular personnel on the list—himself.
“Zero. Five Million Dollars Reward. Dead or Alive. Location: West Capital, Stardragon. All the best.”
If he had returned to the West Capital, his movements would have been heavily restrained. Fortunately, he had escaped early. Han Xiao sniggered. It would take a long time for the Germinal Organization to realize their efforts were all in vain.
He was the most popular target on the wanted list as the Germinal Organization had spent a lot of effort in chasing him down and hunting him recently, but he was not the most wanted. Some of the accumulated prices had even reached tens of millions—they were mostly impossible assignments such as stealing top-secret intelligence from a certain country. Based on the security and defense around Division 13’s underground database, this mission’s success rate could go as low as 0.001%, with the probability of death being 99.999%. This assignment only looked good on the list; no one would really attempt to do it.
Han Xiao scanned further down the list. He soon settled on a wanted assignment.
“Take down the Rose Militant, a group of mercenaries active in the Somar Desert, in the Southern Land.”
The Southern Land was where Hesla was located, and it was also called the South Continent. It had a vast land area and tropical climate. The other continents were the North Continent, West Continent, and the Andrea Continent, which located in the middle of the other three.
Han Xiao picked this mission due its close proximity. Just as he was about to accept the assignment, the server suddenly jolted and said, “Mr. Black, you have a new personal assignment.”
Han Xiao was pleasantly surprised. He received an assignment within five minutes of uploading his particulars onto the net.
“This organization’s business is really thriving,” Han Xiao remarked sincerely.
The server was puzzled himself. “Such happenings are actually quite rare.”
“The employer hopes to speak with you personally.” The server looked at the screen and continued. “Take a seat first. He will arrive in about ten minutes.”
Han Xiao complied.
Ten minutes later, a middle-aged man walked in hastily. He had a head full of white hair, which made him look much older than his real age, and his expression was one of exasperation. He walked into the hall and looked left and right before he came forward to Han Xiao. “I am Cheng Shan Shui.”
Before an assignment was officially accepted, the employer would not divulge the target’s real name. Assassins could only ask for other basic information. “What will the bounty for this assignment be? And tell me more about the target’s protection and location.”
“12 to 20 body guards. The location is right in this city. The remuneration will be $10,000.”
“Only $10,000?” Han Xiao frowned slightly.
That price was insufficient to employ an assassin.
Cheng Shan Shui nodded anxiously. He had immediately been turned down by other assassins when they heard the price. He lacked enough money to pay for the usual price, so he had decided to try his luck on new assassins like Han Xiao.
“I will take it,” Han Xiao agreed.
Cheng Shan Shui cheered inwardly. He took out a stack of documents and passed them to Han Xiao. “Yue You Zu, located right in Morning Wing City.”
Yue You Zu was a mafioso in Hesla who was always accompanied by 12 to 16 bodyguards that were made up of retired army reconnaissance soldiers. Recently, he had expanded his influence into the territory of Morning Wind City, which belonged to the local mafia head, Cheng Shan Shui. He could not guard against Yue You Zu’s invasion, and so his mafia gang had disbanded. He was now left all alone and wanted to hire assassin to avenge him.
Han Xiao signed the contract after he finished reading the information.
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You have triggered an E-level Quest [Assassination Assignment (Cheng Shan Shui).
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Han Xiao already knew the quest requirement. He went on to look at the reward of the quest, and it was not much, only 5,000 EXP.
“I’m leaving.” Han Xiao stood up and prepared to leave.
Cheng Shan Shui quickly stopped Han Xiao from going and asked, “How long will you need to finish this job?”
Han Xiao paused. He looked out the window and saw that it just reached noon. “I’m guessing you haven’t had lunch, right?”
Cheng Shan Shui was startled, not understanding what Han Xiao was trying to say.
Han Xiao turned his head and gave him an aloof look. “He will be gone by the time you finish your lunch.”
Cheng Shan Shui’s heart skipped a beat.
Based on his impression, assassins would normally do some pre-assignment preparations, such as reconnaissance and escape route planning.
Was this Mr. Black really that powerful, or was he just being arrogant?
Chapter 91 - Scorpion-level Assassin
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“We meet again, Mr. Cheng.”
Cheng Shan Shui was anxiously waiting for the result of his assignment when he heard a voice. He raised his head and saw that it was the man, code-named Lawson, who had previously turned down his assignment. He was a Scorpion-level assassin.
“Oh. It’s you. How are you doing?”
“I have some free time for now. I can take your assignment,” Lawson said coolly.
Cheng Shan Shui’s eyes glimmered for a moment before they became gloomy again. “I’m sorry. My assignment has already been accepted by someone else.”
Cheng Shan Shui gave a bitter smile.
The Blood Pact Society’s rule dictated that once a contract had been established, no one could alter it.
Lawson was slightly disappointed upon hearing his words.
He had come all the way from Red Maple to visit a friend in Hesla, and he was taking the opportunity to travel around Hesla, so he had no intention of doing any assignment on this trip. When Cheng Shan Shui approached him with his assignment, he had given an outright rejection because the reward for the mission was too low.
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