"Aside from those three special parts with the Fission Beast Tendon you’ve already purchased, just the modifications you need on my side will cost a total of 22,000 points. It’s not very cost-effective."
"So all in all, your equipment’s total cost comes to 43,000 points. I think you might as well spend 15,000 points to buy a complete set of Third Level Exoskeleton. Third Level Exoskeletons already have a 1,000-kilowatt performance limit, and I only need to make small-scale modifications, costing at most another 5,000 points, to upgrade your equipment to 1,100 kilowatts."
"Some of the Fission Beast Tendons can still be used, and the final performance will be a little stronger. Right now, your capabilities are mediocre in the town, and these second-hand parts are almost impossible to sell. Doing it the way I suggested, you can still sell off your current setup, which is much easier than selling the parts individually."
"This way, financially, at least 16,000 points can be saved. Even if you’re good at stock trading and making money, there’s no need, right?"
Ren Zhong lowered his voice and said slowly, "Lin Wang’s presence is seriously hindering my development. But I don’t have time to play their game slowly. Before long, I’m going to kill Lin Wang’s entire team. I need to hide my abilities in front of them first, to lower their guard."
Ju Qingmeng paused for a moment.
She didn’t question Ren Zhong’s decision, only said in a low voice, "Hmm, thank you. I’m with you. Helping you is helping myself."
After speaking, she tightly gripped Ren Zhong’s hand, her face slightly flushed.
Ren Zhong knew she was thinking in another direction again.
But he didn’t explain further, just silently withdrew his hand, "Hmm. I won’t say thank you then."
Ju Qingmeng: "Neither will I."
In a sense, Ju Qingmeng’s guess might also be correct.
The entire day, Ju Qingmeng took sick leave, didn’t appear at the counter or the manager’s office, and stayed in the small laboratory the whole time.
She spent four hours completing the entire design, then set aside parts related to Biological Metal Bearings, Fission Beast Tendon, and Aiman Beast Armor Alloy while modifying other relevant areas.
After ten o’clock at night, Ren Zhong rode back to the parking lot, stealthily opened the enclosed garage, opened the Qingfeng Heavy Truck, stuffed the three kinds of parts into his backpack, then rode back to the Military Weapon Store.
At one-thirty in the morning, an exhausted Ju Qingmeng finally exhaled deeply, "It’s done."
As she spoke, she went to stand up but staggered, nearly falling.
Ren Zhong supported her from behind, placing her onto the folding bed, "You quickly go to sleep. I have to go. Oh, I’m taking the Sharptooth Heavy Sniper that’s consigned in the store to use, I’ll return it before morning."
"Hmm. Stay safe. The store’s main gate key is on the workbench."
With gear that outwardly appeared as a Second Level Exoskeleton but was actually ridiculously modified to surpass Third Level’s peak performance, Ren Zhong rode out of the Military Weapon Store on a motorcycle.
Tonight, stationed at the north gate of Starfire Town, the guard on duty was none other than Guard Captain Ma Xiaoling herself.
Given Ma Xiaoling’s rank, the Night Watchman affair wasn’t her concern.
But Ren Zhong made a deal with her privately.
Ren Zhong said to her, "If you lend me your Floating Motorboat tonight, drive away the other Guard members, and guard the north gate alone, while also concealing my movements, I will tell you what your father and I are plotting. Your father wants to protect you, keeping you out of it. But I think, as the town’s Guard Captain, you should have some right to know."
Ma Xiaoling agreed to Ren Zhong’s deal without hesitation.
At 1:45 AM, Ren Zhong arrived at the north gate of Starfire Town.
Ma Xiaoling stood there, arms crossed, leaning against the door frame.
Her Floating Motorboat was parked beside her.
Ren Zhong approached, and Ma Xiaoling tossed him a coin-like remote patch key.
She raised an eyebrow playfully, "Take it."
Ren Zhong accepted the key, "Thank you."
"Don’t thank me, I expect our deal to be fulfilled."
"Tomorrow night at ten, see you there."
Ren Zhong mounted the motorboat, exchanged a glance with her, nodded mutually in silent understanding, and left.
Watching the Floating Motorboat disappear from sight, Ma Xiaoling mused, unsure of his actions for the night, but knowing something significant would happen in Starfire Town by tomorrow.
At 2:07 AM, Ren Zhong reached the abandoned mine pit.
He found a solid rock formation outside the mine, gently parked the motorboat on it.
Then he clutched the crate filled with heavy goods to his chest, activated the medium engine on his back, floated up like an eagle, and dove down the slope of the mine towards the lower area.