38: Tempered blade

"I need weapons, but they cannot be weapons."

Within the virtual space of the Interstellar Exchange, Chen Feng issued a vague command to the system. The astronomical advance payment in his account was like a sleeping giant, ready to erupt with world-shattering power at any moment.

The system's light screen refreshed rapidly, finally locking onto a special category of goods—'Dual-Use Materials (High-Risk Zone Limited)'.

"High-intensity mining laser, model 'Skull Crusher', capable of instantly vaporizing granite ten meters thick."

"Automated geological exploration drone, model 'Swarm', can carry high-precision drill bits and miniature seismic bombs."

"Exoskeleton load-bearing equipment, model 'Titan's Grip', civilian-grade power armor."

A cold arc curved at the corner of Chen Feng's mouth.

"Very good," he whispered. "Now match them with the corresponding modification blueprints, encrypted with maximum authority."

"Confirm purchase."

"Ship them in batches to multiple locations, disguised as 'Mining Equipment Upgrade Kits' and 'Geological Sample Collectors'."

A vast amount of interstellar credit points flowed out like water, transforming into crates of seemingly ordinary 'mining equipment'. Through the exchange's logistics network, they were delivered stealthily to several abandoned supply points around Mining Area No. 7.

Deep within a secret warehouse, when Lao Mo was brought there and saw the 'new mining tools' shimmering with a metallic luster, his cloudy eyes instantly lit up.

"Bro... Brother Feng, this is..." Lao Mo's hands trembled as he caressed the cold casing of a Skull Crusher laser, his gaze as if he were touching a peerless treasure.

"These are your toys." Chen Feng handed him a data chip. "And they are also our future."

Lao Mo tremblingly took the chip and inserted it into his personal terminal. As those modification blueprints—far beyond the cognition of this era—and those genius concepts that turned 'mining tools' into 'killing machines' unfolded before his eyes, the old technician who had been silent his whole life felt his knees go weak and he suddenly knelt on the ground.

"Brother Feng!" He looked up, old tears streaming down his face. "My life, Lao Mo's life, and this broken craft that no one looks up to, from this day on, they are yours!"

"I don't want your life." Chen Feng helped him up. "I want you to turn this scrap metal into a blade that can tear open a path of survival for all of us."

"Yes!"

That night, under Lao Mo's summons, a secret team consisting of a dozen of the top technical miners was established in the deepest part of the warehouse.

Day and night, they worked to quench the silent mining tools into roaring weapons.

Three days later, the first modified 'Core Sampler' lay quietly on the workbench. Beneath its rugged industrial exterior, a lethal electromagnetic acceleration coil was hidden.

It now had a new name—the Gauss Rifle.

Meanwhile, Bachm's fury had reached its boiling point.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" he roared in his office, slamming a report onto the floor. "It's been a week! You can't even find out which rat hole those medicines crawled out of!"

The informant standing before him trembled violently.

"Man... Manager, it's not that we aren't trying..." the informant said with a shaking voice. "The Mine Slaves in the entire mining area are like they've been possessed! They only listen to that Number 734! Our people can't get in at all; whatever we ask, they just say they don't know!"

"Their spirits are high, and their work efficiency is three times higher than before, but all the extra output is handed over to Number 734 to exchange for points! That place... it's practically become an independent kingdom!"

"An independent kingdom?" Bachm laughed in anger, the fat on his face trembling. "What a fine independent kingdom! It seems I've been too merciful, letting these bugs forget who the master here is!"

He stood up abruptly.

"Reno!"

"Present." Reno stepped out from the shadows outside the door.

"Follow me!" Bachm grinned savagely. "I want to see if his bones are harder, or if my torture devices are harder! Today, I will crush his so-called 'kingdom' inch by inch in front of everyone!"

At the mining area square, a piercing alarm drove all the Mine Slaves to gather there.

Bachm stood with his hands behind his back like a fat beast patrolling his territory, with Reno and a squad of fully armed Guards standing behind him.

"Grab those ringleaders for me!" Bachm ordered.

Several Guards rushed into the crowd like wolves and tigers, dragging out the small leaders who had been responsible for distributing the medicine and forcing them to kneel on the ground.

"Speak!" Bachm walked up to them, lifting one man's chin with the tip of his boot, and asked slowly, "Where did the medicine come from? And where is your 'Brother Feng' hiding now?"

"Pah!" The man spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm onto Bachm's boot.

Bachm's face instantly turned livid.

"Beat him! Beat him until he talks!"

The sound of energy whips lashing, heavy blows, and suppressed groans mixed together.

Chen Feng blended into the crowd, watching all of this coldly.

His followers sought his help with their eyes, silently questioning and urging him.

Stepping out would mean admitting he was the leader, and all secret plans would be completely exposed.

Not stepping out would mean the prestige he had painstakingly built with the 'divine medicine' and points would be destroyed under the energy whips.

It was a dead end.

Just as Bachm was admiring the torture and enjoying the crowd's fear, Chen Feng calmly raised his wrist.

He didn't rush out; he simply pressed a virtual button on his personal terminal.

"Beep—Beep—Beep—Warning! Warning! Ultra-high energy mineral reaction detected at Exploration Point 7, Area B entrance! Energy level... exceeds threshold! Repeat, exceeds threshold!"

A sharp, piercing alarm instantly resounded throughout the entire mining area!

Bachm's movements suddenly froze.

Ultra-high energy mineral reaction?!

In a ten-thousandth of a second, his attention shifted from the torture before him to the staggering treasure that could help him rise to the top in one step!

Greed instantly overwhelmed anger.

He glared fiercely at the kneeling Mine Slaves, then scanned the silent, trembling crowd.

"Consider yourselves lucky!" He spat, waving his hand. "Fall out! Follow me to Area B! Fast!"

He led most of the Guards away, rushing toward Area B like a gust of wind, as if the treasure would fly away if he were a second late.

In the square, only Reno, a few Guards, and a mess remained.

Reno watched Bachm's comical and greedy retreating figure, then glanced at Number 734 in the crowd, who had regained his composure at some point, looking as if none of this had anything to do with him.

He was no fool.

Once is a coincidence; twice... is a plan.

This Number 734 was like a ghostly chess player, manipulating everyone in the palm of his hand, including himself and that Bachm, who thought he was the master.

In Reno's eyes, confusion, suspicion, anger, and a hint of... awe that even he hadn't noticed, intertwined and reached a peak.

He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to untie the injured Mine Slaves.

He realized that observation and surveillance would never allow him to see through this man.

He had to talk to him personally.

Reno did not return to the Guard Team camp; instead, he set off alone and in silence toward the dormitory area where Chen Feng was located.