Planet of Sand and Oasis of Iron

Chapter 128 127. After making sufficient preparations, I discovered that the target was also fully prepared? (Three more)
The motorcycle tires rolled, and the sand they rolled over emitted a beautiful blue glow, as if what was passing over was not sand, but some kind of stressed algae.

Seifer rode a motorcycle across the desert. Behind him, Shengnai hugged him obediently. The full-face helmet made her head look big and her body small.

"I'm going to go directly to a certain mercenary's mobile base later."

"Well, it's dangerous, right?"

"Maybe. Charging directly into someone else's mobile base is equivalent to invading their territory. Getting shot is just bad luck."

He sighed that this car was really easy to drive, not caring at all that Tien scolded him for stealing the car over the comms: "So remember to go back, to avoid being injured by stray bullets."

"Hmm... I'd better follow you, right? Provoking trouble in a mercenary ceasefire zone might be considered a provocation by the company maintaining order."

Shengnai is quite familiar with the company's operating rules - the problem is that Sefer really doesn't need medical staff to accompany him.

Even if this body is destroyed, I can just replace it with another one.

"If Seifer is too harsh, I can still save him. Within the company's sphere of influence, as long as no one is killed, we can actually solve the problem with money."

That's really convenient.

Cypher nodded slightly. "Then, while I'm at it, you must not be seen or involved in a conflict. If I find you in danger, I will immediately use lethal force, okay?"

"Hmm...you've protected me so well, doesn't that mean the resurrection function is just a decoration?"

"Just think of me as willful."

Behind Seifer, Shengnai tightened his arms around him a little, and he lay down completely, but unfortunately, his body had no feeling, he could only observe the behavior.

The motorcycle quickly arrived at the parking area. After Cypher put it into the hangar, he immediately rushed to the mobile base of the independent mercenary "Tu Hook".

——How did you find the base? It's simple, just ask directly.

Ask the craftswoman 'Dust'; she's been working in the parking lot and knows all about these things.

She naturally remembered this rather special client, Seifer, very clearly, and since her life depended on Seifer, how could she not help him!

Quickly passing through the densely packed outposts of various sizes, Seifer ran to an outpost the size of a cannon cart, just like completing a patrol mission in an RPG.

After tidying up his words a bit, he politely pressed the call button.

After a moment's wait, a deep male voice came from inside: "Who is this?"

"Hello, independent mercenary Red Crossbow, you are also an independent mercenary. Independent mercenaries who cause trouble for me deserve to be killed."

A sentence should include a polite greeting, self-introduction, using identity recognition to build closer relationships, and expressing your immediate goals.

There was silence on the other side.

Although he had already made corresponding contingency plans, he never expected the Red Crossbow to arrive so quickly. The task he carefully selected would take at least a whole day to complete.

"If you don't answer, I will regard your actions as a provocation to the mercenaries. Next, I will send personnel to guard all entrances to the parking area."

"From that moment on, all crew members of the 'Hook of Slaughter' will be regrettably hunted down whenever they leave the parking area. The same applies to your mobile base."

Just as Seifer finished speaking about his long-term and short-term ideas and was about to leave, the door of the mobile base suddenly opened.

"Please come to the cab, Miss Red Arrow."

Isn't that very polite?

Seifer glanced around and confirmed that Shengnai was nowhere to be found. He immediately got into the car, ignoring the strange looks from the busy passengers inside, and went straight to the driver's seat.

As soon as you enter, what catches your eye is the messy cab that has become personalized due to long-term work and life, and long-term use.

Unlike his own vehicle's core frame, all workstations here were placed below the main control, allowing the top controller to visually detect any slacking off. Contrary to his name, 'Tu Gou' himself didn't look like a combat type, and his vehicle didn't seem built to accommodate a mecha, suggesting he was merely a solo mercenary.

They haven't obtained a special license yet - in fact, these people are the mainstream mercenaries in this world.

Special machines that can carry out missions are very expensive, and they have to undergo inhumane surgery to get them. The higher the level of surgery, the higher the price. Unless they are really desperate, most mercenaries don't want to take the initiative to undergo surgery.

So, when Cypher, an independent mercenary who was said to be able to fight two enemies alone while driving an old-fashioned machine, appeared before him, he made a very correct choice.

That is to show your sincerity.

As soon as Sefer walked in, he saw the room filled with all kinds of collected wines and beverages. On the table in the middle, there were two bottles of unknown wine.

"Please consider this as an apology and let me explain."

"Okay, but what kind of wine is this?"

"This bottle is worth at least several thousand. It's a top-quality item even for mercenaries... Are you satisfied?"

To be honest, Sefer doesn't know much about wine, neither in his previous life nor now, but as long as this thing is really valuable when it is sold, it's fine.

The independent mercenary system disdains to recycle these things, and only the recycling merchants will make bids.

Neither of them wanted to mention the fact that their three men had lost their lives. Tu Gou then said calmly, "The commission to snipe you came from a notorious company."

"The company's name is [Waste Treatment Plant]. Using such a rubbish name essentially means that transforming independent mercenaries is 'waste'."

Cypher nodded at the table. "There are people like this who specialize in hunting down mercenaries?"

"There's a world of all kinds of people here, and the power dynamics are complex. Besides, these types of companies are actually backed by larger corporations—someone has to do the dirty work that's inconvenient to do publicly."

"That's how valuable these rags are."

Mercenaries, pirates, and organizations that hunt independent mercenaries can be said to be hunting "people." But why would they attack me in such a place?
"Red Crossbow, you have no idea of your own worth. Your heroic performance in Edge Node City has spread among the mercenaries."

"They always boast about their rising stars, which led to your... yes, your personal reputation, becoming a hot topic among mercenaries in various cities."

"Most importantly, haven't you noticed—it can leave the machine freely, without any visible signs of external modification. This is arguably the most advanced modified product. How many companies trying to jump into the market would pay for this?"

Don’t those three companies care?

As if he knew what Cypher was going to ask, Gouji grinned and said, "The company is only responsible for selling the finished product, unless you pay them to protect you."

"A high-value target like you, leaving your most skilled mecha and running to a node city like this to do menial work, will undoubtedly give those guys an opportunity to strike."

Seifer raised his hand to interrupt. "I know the whole story. So why did you take this job?"

Tu Gou hesitated for a moment and replied, "Because it's a lot of money, very, very much."

"And it's not just money, it's also an opportunity—the opportunity to let me spend money to complete the paid transformation stage. High-end goods like you are in great demand."

He spread out his hands. "Okay, that's all. If this answer satisfies you, as compensation... I can give you some money."

Cypher crossed his arms and thought for a moment.

"Let's put the money aside for now. I'm more interested in that company. Would you be interested in telling me more about it?"

Seeing Cypher like this, Butcher Hook swallowed carefully.

There is no need to think about what this serious, well-mannered transformed mercenary will do after obtaining the information.

　So, maybe just asking for votes or something like that?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)