29: Chapter 29 Soul Blade Gets Scolded

Northwest Weapons Experimental Base.

A military jeep sped over, kicking up a trail of dust!

Chu Ge, Li Gang, and several others were recording Soul Blade's combat data.

"Little Chu, Division Commander Wang is here!"

Academician Chen ran over, panting for breath.

"Um, well, I saw that his expression doesn't look too good. What did you guys do to him this time?"

"Nothing much. We just wiped out an air squadron earlier. Besides, the Air Force isn't under his jurisdiction."

Li Gang replied.

...

"Chu Ge, where's Chu Ge? Get out here!"

From afar, Wang Yi's deep, soldierly voice carried over.

"Guard, let Division Commander Wang in!"

Chu Ge was very calm.

Wang Yi entered and looked at Chu Ge. Two minutes later, a wide grin suddenly broke across his dark, weathered face.

"I say, Little Chu, how about making one of these awesome iron lumps for our army too?"

"What 'iron lump'? You think this is one of your crappy tanks!"

Li Gang muttered from the side. Soul Blade was now the Research Institute's precious darling; he wouldn't allow anyone to disparage it.

"My mistake! My mistake! You have to save one of these awesome Iron Men for our army!"

"I don't have the final say on that, Division Commander Wang. You'll have to ask your direct superiors. We're only responsible for research. How it's used and who gets it is up to the military big shots!"

Chu Ge was telling the truth.

"In that case, alright then!"

Wang Yi's eyes darted around, who knows what he was plotting.

"It's perfect that you're here, Division Commander Wang. Now I won't have to go and invite you!"

"There are a few more tests that need the cooperation of the armored units!"

Chu Ge said seriously.

"No problem! The 115th Armored Division is willing to cooperate unconditionally with the base's experiments!"

"Good. Here's the plan: first, deploy ten of the latest tanks to the weapons testing range in the north."

"Then prepare two tanks that are about to be decommissioned and bring them over as well."

"No problem! Should I go and get ready then?"

"Okay, thank you!"

"Why so polite? We'll be family soon anyway!"

"Huh???"

...

Wang Yi agreed readily and turned to leave quickly.

Leaving everyone behind in a state of confusion.

On his way out, Wang Yi pulled out a military phone and hurriedly dialed a number.

Huaxia Group Army A Headquarters,

Commander Leng was writing something in a small notebook on his desk when the phone beside him rang.

"Hello, this is Leng Feng."

"Commander, it's me, Wang Yi!"

"Wang Yi? Why are you calling me instead of focusing on the exercise? And how is it going? Let me tell you, if you don't do well, I'll riddle you with bullets when you get back!"

"Go ahead and riddle me with bullets right now!"

Wang Yi stood his ground! He then briefly informed the Commander of the battle situation over the past two days!

"Commander, put the matter of shooting me aside for now. We need to hurry and grab the people and equipment. Quickly, we must act fast, or we won't even get a sip of the leftovers!"

"I get it. You brat, I've never seen someone so excited after losing a battle!"

"Finish the remaining tasks at the experimental base by cooperating with Academician Chu first. I'll deal with you when you get back!"

Commander Leng hung up after finishing.

"One against ten thousand?"

"My goodness, the world is about to change!!!"

He looked at his small notebook, tracing over Chu Ge's name several times before solemnly adding the name 'Soul Blade'.

Then, he beamed with joy...

Back at the base.

After making the arrangements as Chu Ge had instructed, Division Commander Wang turned around and came back.

The attraction here was so strong that even if he were offered the position of Army Commander, he wouldn't leave.

Chu Ge picked up the microphone.

"Soul Blade, head to the northern weapons testing range."

Tens of seconds later, the ground surveillance and aerial drones pre-arranged at the testing range captured Soul Blade's imposing figure.

"This speed... is it teleportation?"

Division Commander Wang clicked his tongue in amazement from the side.

"Division Commander Wang, are the tanks there yet?"

"Still have to wait a bit. You think everyone is like your Iron Man, flying all over the place?"

"..."

Several ten-minute intervals later, Chu Ge picked up the microphone again and started lecturing the Soul Blade on camera.

"Soul Blade, what on earth was that performance in the air battle just now?"

The other side only had 26 planes, yet you dawdled for ten minutes before settling it.

"And another thing, I told you to crush the opponent cleanly, but you were there darting left and right, acting like you were riding the clouds."

"What, were you striking poses? Do I need to get you a female mecha so you can spread your feathers and find a mate?"

"..."

Chu Ge rambled on and lectured for ten minutes.

Not until Soul Blade's huge, domineering iron head was lowered almost to its chest did Chu Ge reluctantly stop.

From the looks of it, he wasn't done venting yet!

Division Commander Wang Yi, Academician Chen, and the others were now looking at Chu Ge as if he were a monster, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit a billiard ball.

"Wait, Academician Chu, are you saying it can understand those words?"

"It can still recognize basic emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Otherwise, it would be too dull, wouldn't it?"

Chu Ge grinned. Indeed, when Soul Blade was first built, its development in the direction of artificial intelligence had been scaled back.

Chu Ge had kept a trick up his sleeve; otherwise, facing an expressionless humanoid mecha every day would be too boring.

Since it had the appearance of a Transformer, even if it couldn't have that much "drama" inside, simple communication was still necessary.

"Just treat it as someone straightforward. It doesn't understand anything too complex, but basic things are fine! Just don't beat around the bush like some people!"

After saying this, Chu Ge gave Division Commander Wang Yi a meaningful look.

"Hey, hey, Academician Chu, I haven't offended you, have I? I've been beaten black and blue by you these past two days."

Division Commander Wang Yi hurriedly waved his hands.

"Alright, Soul Blade, now we'll start testing your armor strength. You've been solo for ten thousand years; it's time to show off your skills. Please put some effort into it!"

"So you're saying that playing with us before was just like playing house?" Wang Yi felt a bit unsteady.

"Division Commander Wang, what about those ten tanks?"

"Oh, Academician Chu can just command them directly. They're numbered 410 to 419."

"Alright!"

"Tank formation, follow my command. The shells to be fired are live armor-piercing rounds. Aim at the mecha warrior in front of you. Do you hear me?"

"Vehicle 410, understood!"

"Vehicle 411, understood!"

"Good!"

"First test: 125mm single-shot armor-piercing round. Vehicle 410, prepare... fire!"

On the screen, ten Type 11A2 tanks were lined up in a row.

With a "boom," the muzzle flash of main battle tank number 410 flashed and vanished.

The black smoke cleared from Soul Blade's chest; it remained as steady as Mount Tai.

Chu Ge checked the monitoring data; there was no change.

"Second test: 125mm volley of armor-piercing rounds. All tanks, aim at the previous point of impact. In ten seconds, fire at will!"

"Boom, boom, boom!"

After a round of volley fire, Chu Ge stared intently at the data on the screen.

The smoke cleared! The data on the screen had changed. Note: Armor value has dropped from 100% to 98%. Please deploy reserve armor.

Chu Ge hurriedly grabbed the microphone.

"Soul Blade, do you want to be sent back to the furnace? I told you to focus. Did you fall asleep?"

"Report! My apologies, Academician Chu. I thought I could block it!"

"'You thought'? What use is what you thought! Do you have any idea how much effort, money, and worry it takes to replace that piece of armor?"