“As for these mechas that require pilot operation, they were completely phased out decades ago, replaced by more advanced prosthetic technology.”

Dongdong asked puzzledly, “Little prosthetics can replace such big things? In a real fight, mechas still seem more formidable, right?”

Dorne patiently explained, “In terms of absolute power, mechas are indeed very strong, but they also have huge drawbacks.”

“To accomplish precise work with a mecha, ordinary mechanical operation isn’t sufficient. Human central nerves must be connected to the operating system for neural synchronization between pilot and mecha.”

“This method is effective, but it also poses a huge issue—the burden caused by synchronization is too heavy.”

“Under neural control, pilots aren’t ‘operating’ mechas; they are fused with them. You can think of it as an external, oversized prosthetic.”

“People who can endure this way of piloting might be one in tens of millions.”

“Looking across the Iron Blood Alliance’s history, there have only been over thirty qualified pilots, most of whose lifespans didn’t exceed 30 years due to the burden of synchronizing with mechas over long periods.”

“Later, iron-blooded engineers started using fully automated technology to replace manual control, alongside the emergence of prosthetic technology, and piloting mechas without any surprise were eliminated by history.”

After hearing Dorne’s words, Sun Min and the others sighed deeply.

Those who choose the prosthetic enhancement path often do so out of pursuit of safety and a love for machinery.

Who hasn’t daydreamed about piloting a giant robot to fight monsters as a child?

Anyway, they all had such dreams.

Mecha piloting technology once emerged and was then eliminated due to real-world problems; it’s inevitably regrettable.

Dongdong looked up at the mecha, excitedly saying, “I’ll go and have a try; maybe it can still move.”

Dorne bluntly refused, “No, no, absolutely not.”

Dongdong complained, “Don’t be so stingy. You’ve already said that mechas are outdated, so surely you don’t regard them highly. Let me try it, and it won’t be a loss.”

Dorne still shook his head, “Sorry, it’s against the rules. Whether there’s anything valuable here, you can’t arbitrarily touch them.”

“Moreover, for your personal safety, attempting to pilot a mecha shouldn’t be done. The burden on the body is too great; you definitely can’t handle it.”

Su Mo thought: No, she can definitely handle it. She even piloted a mecha larger than “Dangerous Wanderer” in the game and flattened your Iron Blood base…

Being rejected by Dorne, Dongdong could only grumble in dissatisfaction and continue working sullenly.

Time passed slowly…

Suddenly, everyone felt the ceiling slightly tremble, as if numerous creatures were running above.

Sun Min raised his head, “Is there a herd of beasts passing?”

Dongdong said, “Do you want to contact the injured and watch out for him being eaten?”

Sun Min said helplessly, “I’ve tried; this is underground and deep, and signals can’t get out.”

Dorne reassured, “Don’t worry. He has a signal transmitter on him. The logistical team should have received him, so he’ll be fine.”

The trembling of the ceiling soon disappeared, indicating the running beast herd had moved away.

Everyone continued working.

Dorne sat down in front of the terminal computer, looked at the time, and seemed a bit worried, “We’ve been delayed too long. Progress is behind schedule…”

Sun Min, worried about payment issues, quickly asked, “What should we do?”

Dorne thought for a moment and turned to say, “Director Su, this floor’s work is almost finished. Why don’t you take Dongdong to the next floor for pre-decryption work? We’ll catch up with you after finishing here. We won’t make it if progress isn’t sped up.”

Su Mo had been wondering how to make an excuse to separate from the group to go down and get weapons.

Unexpectedly, Dorne took the initiative to create an opportunity for him.

This heaven-sent chance, Su Mo couldn’t refuse, “Alright, Dongdong, let’s go down.”

Dongdong sat before a computer, weakly pounding his back, “Boss, you go ahead; my prosthetic overheated before, and my back is sore. I want to sit for a while.”

Su Mo knew the TL730 structure thoroughly, and there was nothing below that needed Dongdong’s help, so he said, “Alright, you rest; I’ll go check it out first.”

He ran toward the passage leading to the lower level.

Dongdong sat on the chair to rest, occasionally glancing toward the distant mecha, grumbling with pouted lips, “Ugh… my hands are itchy… I really want to try piloting it once…”

Just then, the computer in front of her suddenly lit up.

Nearby Sun Min looked over, “Hey, don’t mess around.”

Dongdong dissatisfiedly said, “I didn’t touch it; it lit up on its own!”

Sun Min shouted to Dorne, “Dorne, a computer over here lit up by itself. Can you come and check it?”

Dorne briefly responded without turning his head, “Oh, leave it for now; don’t touch it. I’ll come look later.”

In the distance, Su Mo ran into the passageway, disappearing from everyone’s sight.

As Dongdong rested, she suddenly noticed the computer screen not only lit up; the mouse was moving by itself.

The cursor clicked on a software button; the green light next to the screen turned red.

“Bang.”

The passage to the lower level, a thick metal door dropped down, trapping Su Mo inside.

Sun Min was shocked and sternly reprimanded Dongdong, “Didn’t I tell you not to mess around!”

Dongdong furious, “I didn’t do anything! Don’t wrong me!”

Sun Min roared, “Then how did the door close?”

Dongdong shouted back even louder, “How would I know from the Civilized Border?!”

She rushed to the metal door, pounding on it forcefully, “Boss, are you okay?!”

Su Mo’s voice came through barely from behind the door, “What’s going on?”

Dongdong replied anxiously, “I don’t know; the door suddenly closed!”

Sun Min frowned, calming down to think it over carefully.

Though Dongdong had a rash temper, she’d never sabotaged her teammates, so it didn’t seem like she caused this.

The Lei Ming mercenaries and herself strictly followed the rules, never tampered with anything.

The only person who could operate the door was…

Sun Min stared at the person sitting in front of the terminal computer.

“Dorne?”

Dorne turned his head to face everyone, his previously friendly smile vanished, replaced by an unprecedented eeriness.

He quickly put on a prepared gas mask and reached into his jacket.

“Civilized Border!!!” Dongdong cursed furiously while charging at Dorne.

Dorne threw a smoke bomb at the spot.

“Boom—”

The exploded smoke rapidly filled the closed space, causing everyone to cough incessantly.

“Cough, cough, cough!” Dongdong swung a baseball bat attempting to disperse the smoke, jumping like crazy, “I knew it… I knew it! Ahhhhhh! Should have hit this bastard with a bat ages ago!”

“Cough, cough… gather…” Sun Min, teary-eyed, shouted, “Everyone gather towards me! Don’t get separated!”

The Lei Ming mercenaries and Dongdong responded to the call, clinging tightly around Sun Min.

Sun Min yelled between coughs, “Dorne! What are you doing?!”

Within the smoke, Dorne’s sinister voice reverberated, “Hehehe… let’s see who’s still looking down on me.”

Sun Min angrily shouted, “You *bleep* idiot, what the hell are you talking about?!”

Dorne said, “When I mentioned being a prosthetic absolute rejecter, your sighs, I heard them loud and clear. Still want to argue?”

Sun Min was so angry his vision darkened, “We felt sorry for you, not looking down on you. Surely you wouldn’t harm us over this?!”

Dorne coldly chuckled, “To you, this is trivial, isn’t it? Just like my scumbag colleagues think—you worthless thing, why shouldn’t we laugh at you?”

“An absolute rejecter of prosthetics, no wealth, no power, no status, won’t get promoted even in death, stuck at grassroots level for life. These are the people to mock… You also think so, right?!”

Sun Min patiently said, “Dorne, listen to me explain…”

Dongdong yelled angrily interrupted him, “Explain my ass; this dumb dog is already snarling at us, what’s left to explain? Dorne, listen; you’re just a big idiot!”

“Trash, scumbag, loser, coward, parentless big idiot! You better not let me catch you, or I’ll twist your head off and use it as a baseball bat!!!”

Dorne’s merciless laugh came, “You won’t have that chance. Did you expect Iron Blood’s reinforcements to come save you?”

“Hehehe, sorry to disappoint you. You won’t wait for reinforcements because all 34 Iron Blood expedition teams dispatched today are under attack, and even all the troops in Lindong Mountain Range won’t rescue them.”

“You few are like dogs waiting to die here!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep