Embers Ad Infinitum

Green Olive District, Antana Street, a shop converted from a dilapidated warehouse.

Gnawa, wearing a long cloak, followed Jiang Baimian and others in.

The place is filled with electronic components in various ways, as cluttered as the ruins of a bombed city.

The boss, a Red River native, was sitting behind a tattered desk, using different tools to repair the walkie-talkie.

Feeling the shadow coming over him, he looked up at the door, and his eyes quickly fell on Bai Chen's face.

"What parts do you want this time?" The boss with a yellowish beard asked, "You haven't been here for two years, right?"

"More than that." Bai Chen responded simply, and then went straight to the topic, "Are there any robots that are broken or can't be repaired?"

The boss’s eyes lit up:

"You found an expert in this field and want to make a fortune by repairing robots?"

Robots that are completely broken and cannot be repaired can only be dismantled into electronic components and sold. Those in better condition can be sold for one or two thousand Orei. If the damage is serious, even two or three hundred Orei may not be recycled, and they will most likely be sold. It is quite cheap to sell scrap iron and scrap steel.

As for the repaired combat robot, it is a priceless product within the entire "Prime City" sphere of influence. It is much more expensive than the military exoskeleton device purchased by the "Old Adjustment Team".

This kind of companion that is absolutely reliable, powerful and immune to many influences is the "dream lover" of all ruin hunters. Anyone who can get it will want one, and the more the better.

Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong did not interrupt and handed the stage to Bai Chen, who was most familiar with this place.

Bai Chen calmly replied:

"So be it.

"A gentleman is buying broken robots and wants to develop a new model by disassembling and studying their parts. His bid is higher than most people on the market. I want to try my luck with you."

"Which powerful person?" The boss put down the walkie-talkie and tools in his hands.

If you are not a member of a major force, even if you come up with a new model of combat robot, you will not be able to mass-produce it and make a profit.

If you want to build one by yourself by saving various electronic components, you may not be able to get it together in two or three years.

"I don't care which powerful person he is, I only care about the price he offers." Bai Chen's expression did not change at all.

The boss stood up and muttered something:

“This reminds me of an old-world saying: An arms dealer who does not sell weapons to hostile forces is not a good arms dealer.

"On Antana Street, I have seen several people killed by their own customers. I hope you are not the next one."

He picked up the greasy cloth, wiped his greasy hands, and walked towards the door leading to the rear area.

This is a front store and back warehouse layout.

Jiang Baimian and others followed closely.

Compared with the chaos outside, the warehouse is unexpectedly neat, with different electronic components and different old-world appliances placed in different places.

At a glance, Long Yuehong saw two robot bodies.

One of their bodies is almost in pieces, with many missing parts, and one has a hole in the chest. The rest are still intact, but the metal skeleton appears slender, and the whole body is quite "slim".

“You are quite lucky.” The boss pointed at the two robot bodies and said, “Recently, a ruin hunter came back from the Bloody Wasteland and packed them up and sold them to me.

"One is a robot that specializes in repairing power grids. It can be transformed into an all-purpose robot. Well, I mean all-powerful in the field of repair..."

"Can humans be repaired?" Shang Jianyao asked curiously.

The boss thought carefully:

"it should be OK.

"A robot holding a wrench, 1.9 meters tall, and made of iron can't beat an ordinary human being?"

"At least five." Shang Jianyao helped calculate.

"Furthermore, its main module does not limit its use of submachine guns, assault rifles, and grenade guns. As long as it can be repaired, it will still be a very popular companion." As a businessman, the boss praised it before saying, "It is now The problem is that the damage is so severe that too many parts need to be replaced or repaired, including the main chip."

Isn't this just waste... Jiang Baimian muttered in his heart.

The boss turned to introduce another machine:

"This is a maid-type robot with a high degree of artificial intelligence but no attack module. It is said that before the destruction of the old world, they were covered with a layer of artificial skin when they left the factory. Their appearance looked very close to us humans.

"The damage to this body is not bad, but the main chip was blown away..."

The boss's voice gradually became softer, as if saying this was a bit difficult for his own conscience.

For a robot, the main chip is the component with the highest technological content, the most irreplaceable, and the hardest to repair.

After a pause, the boss became confident:

"Anyway, you are selling it to others for research. These two models can broaden his horizons and enrich his knowledge base."

"That makes sense." Shang Jianyao clapped his hands.

Bai Chen nodded:

"Make a price."

The boss smiled:

"That repair robot costs 1,500 Ore. It is very popular, and many of its electronic components can be used on other robots.

"That maid-type robot has 800 Orees. Really, it's very cheap. Even if it is dismantled into electronic components and sold, I can get back at least 700 Orees. If I have good luck, I might be able to reach a thousand."

After touching the "wallet" which was not thick, Jiang Baimian muttered:

"The level of artificial intelligence is very high..."

She looked at the cloaked Gnawa and whispered.

Gennava nodded slowly.

Although that maid-type robot has no function, it is only missing the main chip. When the time comes, install the spare chip that carries the "Source Brain" clone, repair the surrounding wiring, and modify the battery compartment. Tried to activate.

Bai Chen, who understood the team leader's hint and saw Gnawa's actions, began to bargain.

In the end, the "Old Tune Team" bought the maid robot for 720 Ore.

While Jiang Baimian handed the banknotes to Bai Chen, he muttered silently to himself:

"It's time to apply for new funding..."

The exploration of the ruins of Wasteland No. 13 can be reported to the top, which shows that the previous funds have been effectively spent.

The only thing Jiang Baimian had to consider was how to inform the company about the secret laboratory without involving Gnawa.

…………

In the Red Giant Wolf District, in the apartment rented by the "Old Adjustment Team".

Shang Jianyao solemnly pressed the start switch.

Then, he took two steps back and stood side by side with Jiang Baimian and others, staring at the silver-gray maid robot.

The maid robot's eyes quickly glowed red, and after a flash, it moved its head left and right.

"This..." A soft female voice came out of its mouth.

Jiang Baimian wanted to congratulate him, but in the end he chose to smile.

The maid robot's speech speed suddenly increased:

"Why are there no weapon modules?

"Many useful modules are missing...

"Only sweeping, mopping, cooking, washing dishes, cleaning windows..."

Whether it was an illusion or not, Long Yuehong always felt that the "Source Brain" clone in front of her was much more humanized than in the laboratory, and even showed signs of emotional collapse.

He guessed there were two reasons for this:

First, the "Source Brain" clone has completely separated from the main body and is no longer under control, and the corresponding core modules have gradually developed in a human-like direction. Second, this maid-type robot can carry artificial intelligence quite well.

Jiang Baimian, who had already prepared the draft, took a breath, took a step forward, and said with a smile:

"This is a stopgap measure."

When the red light in the maid robot's eyes turned to herself, she explained sincerely:

"As you know, it is very, very difficult to get good combat robots in the original city. It may not be possible in one or two years, or even three or four years.

"For such a long time, even if we are willing to abide by our commitments and actively perform our obligations, we cannot avoid the possibility of accidents.

"You also know what our mission is. If we die one day in the ruins before we can find a suitable machine for you, wouldn't you be completely finished?"

"Bah, bah, bah, a child's words are unbridled, and the strong wind will blow them away!" The honest Shang Jianyao looked disgusted.

Jiang Baimian glared at him and saw that the maid robot had "calmed down" and smiled again:

"So, we quickly found you a body that can carry that chip, and then you can upgrade it however you want. You don't have to rely on others anymore. The only way to rely on yourself is to rely on yourself.

"Look, we have also prepared an extra grenade launcher for you. Gnawa has already studied it. You can add it with a little modification."

The red light in the maid robot's eyes flashed, and it stretched out its silver-gray metal palm:

“What you said does make sense.

"Thank you for keeping your word."

Several members of the "Old Tune Team" quietly breathed a sigh of relief, including Gnawa.

Jiang Baimian then stretched out his left hand and shook it.

The maid robot retracted its metal palm and said happily:

“I will tell Gennava now how to clear the remaining information.

"By the way, from now on, please call me 'Alpha'. This will be the starting point of everything."

PS: This time Yuewen held a salon in Hainan and also held a writer training class. I followed their lectures for a year and finally couldn’t escape. I had to lecture for three hours today. It was miserable, and then I had to give lectures at night. There is a live broadcast event organized by China Literature and Video Accounts, so put on a smile, take a chapter off, and there will be no updates tonight.