The Puppeteer of Academy City

On the other hand, after sending away the two girls Shiranui Tong and Yuan Shanyao, Ling Xingye's room returned to calm again.

After tidying up briefly, Ling Xingye opened the low table for eating and playing cards, releasing the folding mechanism stored inside it, turning it into a workbench that occupies almost all the remaining space in the room.

Then he manipulated the sprite to lie on it, and dragged out a combination toolbox from under the bed.

"There are still three hours before lunch." He looked at the wall clock on the wall. "There is enough time, because yesterday's battle was not intense, so there is no need to replace additional parts."

Ling Xingye picked up a loose-leaf book and drew on it with a pen.

This is a routine maintenance record. In this academy city, researchers and engineers have long been accustomed to paperless operations. All the forms and recorded data can be operated on a tablet computer. up.

But Ling Xingye was born in a circus in a relatively backward area after all. The circus in the Lingjiaban era was quite old-fashioned. Not to mention tablet computers, there was no paper office, and there was no LCD TV!

When they wanted to watch their own recorded programs, they used curtains and projectors.

Therefore, Ling Xingye, who has lived there for nearly ten years, cannot be expected to easily abandon the habits he has formed.

What's more, the status and data of sprites are also confidential - after all, they are important combat weapons related to one's own life, and Ling Xingye does not want the relevant data and information to be stolen by the enemy.

Therefore, Ling Xingye is not at ease with all devices that can be connected to the Internet.

He prefers to use the most primitive paper and pen record method.

As for this method is not convenient for sorting and summarizing data?

For Ling Xingye who has already built a memory palace, this is not a problem. In some ways, his brain is a computer.

"The outer armor... is visually intact and does not need to be replaced." Ling Xingye checked the paper while talking to himself, "But judging from the recent battles, the current strength of the armor is getting worse and worse... What a loss I spent so much money on armor upgrades..."

At present, the layer of "armor" covering the sprite's body is already the most cutting-edge material that Ling Xingye can obtain. Except for the "charged defensive armor" which is still in the experimental stage, this is almost the toughest physical defense layer in the world at present!

If they wanted to strengthen their defenses, they could only thicken their armor, but in doing so, the sprite's flexibility would inevitably be affected.

And... in the face of super-standard attacks such as the super-railgun, the only flash, and the dragon king's sigh, no matter how thick the armor is, it is meaningless.

"So... how do their enemies fight?" Ling Xingye couldn't help thinking, "The girls are really better than each other now!"

While feeling emotional, but the movements of his hands were not slow at all, Ling Xingye skillfully removed the armor of the sprites, checked and wiped them one by one, then lubricated all the spherical links of the sprites, and finally reinstalled the armor and inspected it. The integrity of the connecting wire.

A complete set of operations has formed a complete process. Ling Xingye has done it countless times, and there is no need for extra thinking at all. All inspections are generally completed in a smooth manner.

"Next..." Ling Xingye looked at the entries recorded in the loose-leaf book, "The special silk thread needs to be replenished. The last few battles have been too intense, the operation is too rough, and even the flying blade has become a consumable..."

The boy recalled his savings again, and couldn't help feeling sad.

After all, it is a laboratory-level customized product. Even if he pays the "internal friendly price", it is still a price that makes people feel sad.

Therefore, although he often goes to street performances to make money, Ling Xingye still struggles with the brink of a financial deficit every month, and a considerable reason is to maintain the sprites.

To be honest, Ling Xingye is a strong ability user of level 3, and can be regarded as an "advanced ability user" in terms of level. If he cooperates with some institutions to do research, it is easy to earn extra pocket money.

But Ling Xingye did not choose this way to make money. It's not that he rejects being studied - in fact, Ling Xingye has indeed signed a cooperation agreement with a research institute, and Tufanghu is another research subject of that institute.

It's just that Ling Xingye's personal information has been specially protected by the school because he entered the Changdian School of Computer Science and Technology, and it is forbidden to cooperate with institutions outside the school for research without permission.

Moreover, Ling Xingye had to run out to fight from time to time. To be honest, there was no time to cooperate with experimental research.

So, now that research institute has become a supplier for Ling Xingye to customize high-tech equipment and change clothes for sprites.

"In addition to the research institute," Ling Xingye looked at the mobile phone on the desk, "you can also get some in the black market..."

Ling Xingye, who is short of money, is very moved, because he can "free order" when buying things in the black market.

There are several types of "black markets" in Academy City, and the one Ling Xingye is familiar with is the lowest level—the existence of what is known as the "underground convenience market".

That is to say, it was run by the gang of unscrupulous teenagers from the armed incompetent group. Most of the initial "commodities" were stolen goods or contraband smuggled in from outside...

There are also occasional "weapons" for sale.

Because the level is the lowest, this black market is also the most accessible channel for external spies, and it is specially used by them to obtain those "not so advanced" technologies of Academy City.

Whoever let this city lead the outside world for more than 20 years, even if it is "outdated" technology, put it in the outside world is a genuine "high technology" or even "black technology".

Where there is demand, there will be a market, so gradually, many products with technical content appeared in this underground convenience market.

The "flying blade" needed by Ling Xingye, as well as the "coagulated silk thread" in the form of canned spray, are also considered "not so important" technologies due to the limitations of their uses. So it can be found on the black market.

More importantly, he can buy the equipment he wants at a lower price...even lower than the cost price!

Because Ling Xingye is still the nominal "leader" of the group of armed incompetents, the big boss behind this "black market"...

Even though Ling Xingye has always refused to admit this identity, but without knowing why, the position of "boss" seems to have become an established fact. The members have all become Ling Xingye's younger brothers—they still have their own gangs, spheres of influence, territories of activity, and the conflicts between them have not changed. It's just that Ling Xingye is regarded as a role similar to "Zhou Tianzi" or "Wulin leader" in the Spring and Autumn Period.

And it is still very prestigious, the kind that will indeed respond to all orders.

Ling Xingye didn't bother to pay attention to those guys at all, so he let them go for a long time.

However, from time to time, they will be asked to help with collecting intelligence and preparing for the battlefield. It's quite convenient to find such a bunch of cheap guys delivered to your door, so Ling Xingye now acquiesces in the current state.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with it...except for being blacklisted by the disciplinary committee.

In addition, last night, Bai Yinyao came to the door to request cooperation, and the roll call needed the help of Ling Xingye's "power" in Academy City.

Ling Xingye knew for himself, where did he have any power? He has always been alone in battle, and his only comrades-in-arms are puppets and monsters.

Except for Hitomi Shiranui, there is no second person in the entire Academy City who can be counted as "one of my own".

At this time, when "power" is mentioned, the only thing that comes to mind is the armed group of incapable people.

Even if it's just to collect information—Ling Xingye feels that he can't get rid of his "boss" position.

"Well, that's all for collecting information," Ling Xingye grabbed the phone, "At least I will pay for the things I buy...Although it's only the lowest price, I definitely won't get too close to those guys."

He dialed Qifan's number, and it seemed that he was in contact with this guy last time, so his number was at the top of the communication record.