Green Olive District, Antana Street, a dilapidated warehouse turned into a shop.
Genava, who was wearing a long cloak, followed Jiang Baimian and the others and walked in.
The place is filled with electronic components in various ways, cluttered like a bombed city rubble.
The owner, a man from Honghe, was sitting behind a tattered desk, using different tools to repair the walkie-talkie.
Feeling the shadow looming over, he looked up at the door, and his eyes quickly fell on Bai Chen's face.
"What parts do you want this time?" the yellow-bearded boss asked, "You haven't shown up for two years, haven't you?"
"More than that." Bai Chen simply responded, then went straight to the topic, "Is there a broken robot that can't be repaired?"
The boss's eyes lit up:
"You're an expert in finding this and want to make a fortune by repairing robots?"
A robot that is completely broken and cannot be repaired can only be disassembled into electronic components for sale. If the situation is better, it can be sold for one or two thousand ore. In case of serious damage, two or three hundred ore may not be recovered. Scrap iron scrap to sell, which is quite cheap.
The repaired combat robot is a valuable product in the entire "prime city" sphere of influence, and it is much more expensive than the original "old tune group" to buy military exoskeleton devices.
This absolutely reliable and powerful companion who is immune to many influences is the "dream lover" of all relic 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 over the stage to Bai Chen, who was most familiar with the place.
Bai Chen calmly replied:
"That's it.
"There is a gentleman who is buying broken robots. He wants to develop a new model by himself by dismantling and studying their parts. His bid is higher than most people on the market. I want to try my luck with you."
"Which major force?" The boss put down the walkie-talkie and tools in his hand.
Not a member of a major force, even if a new model of combat robot is produced, it will not be able to make a profit in mass production.
If you want to assemble 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 big power it is, I only care about the price he offers." Bai Chen's expression did not change.
The boss stood up and muttered a few words:
"This reminds me of an old world saying: Arms dealers who don't sell weapons to hostile forces are not good arms dealers.
"On Antana Street, I've seen several people get killed by their customers, hope you're not the next."
He picked up the greasy cloth, wiped his greasy hands, and walked to the door leading to the rear area.
It belongs to the front store and back warehouse layout.
Jiang Baimian and others followed.
Compared with the clutter 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 nearly fragmented, with many missing parts, one has a hole in the chest, and the rest are still intact, but the metal skeleton looks slender and the whole is quite "slim".
"You are lucky." The boss pointed to the two robot bodies and said, "Recent hunters have just returned from the Scarlet Wasteland and packed them and sold them to me.
"One is a robot that specializes in repairing the power grid, and can be transformed into an all-rounder, er, I mean the all-rounder in the field of repair..."
"Can humans be repaired?" Shang Jianyao asked curiously.
The boss thought about it carefully:
"it should be OK.
"A robot with a wrench, a height of 1.9 meters and a body of iron, can't beat an ordinary human?"
"At least five." Shang Jianyao helped with the calculation.
"Moreover, its main module does not restrict its use of submachine guns, assault rifles, and grenade guns. As long as it can be repaired, it is still a very popular companion." As a businessman, the boss first praised, "It is now The problem is that the damage is so severe that there are too many parts to replace or repair, including the main chip."
Isn't this just trash... Jiang Baimian muttered in his heart.
The boss turned to introduce another body:
"This is a maid-type robot with a high level of artificial intelligence, but there is no attack module. It is said that before the destruction of the old world, they will be covered with a layer of artificial skin when they leave the factory, and their appearance looks very similar to us humans.
"The damage is okay, but the main chip was blasted away..."
The boss's voice was getting lower and lower, and it seemed that he could not pass the test of his own conscience.
For a robot, the main chip is the most technologically advanced, most irreplaceable and least repairable component.
After a pause, the boss was righteous:
"Anyway, you all sell it to others for research. These two models can broaden his horizons and enrich his knowledge base."
"Makes sense." Slap clap, Shang Jianyao applauded.
Bai Chen nodded:
"Let's make a price."
The boss smiled:
"That repair robot is fifteen hundred ore, it is very popular, and many electronic components can also be used on other robots.
"That maid-type robot is 800 ore. Really, it's very cheap. Even if I dismantle it into electronic components and sell it, I can get back at least 700 ore. If I have the blessing of old age, maybe it can reach 1,000."
Touching the "purse" that was not thick, Jiang Baimian muttered:
"The level of artificial intelligence is very high..."
She was looking at the cloaked Genava and whispering.
Genova nodded slowly.
Although the maid robot has no functions, it only lacks the main chip. When the time comes, install the spare chip carrying the "source brain" clone, repair the surrounding lines, and change the battery compartment. Try to activate it.
Hearing the team leader's hint, Bai Chen, who saw Genova's movements, began to bargain.
In the end, the "Old Tune Group" bought the maid robot for seven hundred and twenty ore.
Jiang Baimian silently muttered to himself while stuffing the banknotes into Bai Chen:
"It's time to apply for new funding..."
The matter of exploring the ruins of Wasteland No. 13 can be reported up, indicating that the previous funds have been used for practical purposes.
The only thing Jiang Baimian needs to consider is how to inform the company of the problem of the secret laboratory without involving Genava.
…
In the Red Giant Wolf District, the apartment rented by the "Old Tune Group".
Shang Jianyao solemnly pressed the start switch.
Then, he took two steps back, and stood side by side with Jiang Baimian and the others, watching the silver-gray maid robot.
A red light quickly appeared in the maid robot's eyes, and after a flash, it moved its head from side to side.
"This..." A soft female voice came out of his mouth.
Jiang Baimian wanted to say congratulations, but finally chose to smile.
The maid robot's speech speed suddenly accelerated:
"Why are there no weapon modules
"A lot of useful modules don't have...
"Only sweeping, mopping, cooking, washing dishes, cleaning windows..."
I don't know if it was an illusion, but Long Yuehong always felt that the "source brain" clone in front of him was much more humanized than in the laboratory, and there were signs of emotional collapse.
He speculates that there are two reasons for this:
One is that the "source brain" clone is completely separated from the main body and is no longer under control, and the corresponding core modules are gradually developing in the direction of humanization.
Jiang Baimian, who had already made the draft, took a breath, stepped forward, and said with a smile:
"It's a stopgap measure."
When the red light in the maid robot's eyes came to her, she sincerely explained:
"You also know that it was very, very difficult to get a good combat robot in the first city. It might not be possible for a year or two, or even three or four years.
"For such a long time, even if we are willing to abide by our commitments and actively perform them, we cannot hold back the possibility of accidents.
"You also know what our mission is. If we don't have time to find a suitable body for you, won't you be completely finished?"
"Bah bah bah, Tong Yan Wuji, the wind blows away!" The honest Shang Jianyao looked disgusted.
Jiang Baimian glared at him, saw that the maid robot had "calm down", and smiled again:
"So, let's quickly find you a body that can carry that chip, and then you can upgrade how you want. You don't have to rely on others anymore.
"Look, we have prepared an additional grenade launcher for you, which Genava has already studied, and you can install it with a little modification."
A red light flashed in the maid robot's eyes, and it stretched out its silver-gray metal palm:
"What you said really makes sense.
"Thank you for keeping your promise."
Several members of the "Old Tunes Group" were all quietly relieved, including Genova.
Jiang Baimian then stretched out his left hand and shook it.
The maid robot retracted the metal palm and said with relief:
"I'll tell Genova now how to clear the residual information.
"By the way, from now on, please call me 'Alpha', this will be the starting point of everything."