Chapter 39: The Start of the Firm's Industry
Lin Miao planned to first try investing in a few small projects; there were some submissions from players that seemed quite reliable.
Semtine C4, according to Jianxue Wuming's synthesis formula: 40.9% PETN, 41.2% RDX, with the remainder being adhesives, plasticizers, antioxidants, and dyes.
As for making detonators with mercury fulminate, that's even simpler. Put silver into nitric acid at about 68%, and after the reaction is complete, add ethanol not less than 92%, pouring it steadily, handle with care, wait for the crystals to emerge, wash them carefully, dry them, and that's it. (Shh—kids, do not play with dangerous items...)
Find someone to order a batch of chemical instruments, and you can import raw materials in small quantities batch by batch. Synthesizing these items isn't really difficult, as long as you have high school chemistry knowledge. The problem is you'll get a visit from Uncle Hatters while sourcing materials.
Never underestimate the ears and eyes of the Uncles. Often, they're not unaware; they just find the XP system of the Q group members quite strange.
Moreover, Night City lacks everything except the black market. Not to mention buying raw materials, it's not impossible to get finished products either. It's said that Dogtown even sells missiles; as long as you have the money, they have whatever you need.
As for the local Uncle Hatters, the efficiency of the NCPD here can only be described as pathetic, and they don't manage outside the city.
MT-1 Exoskeleton
Ordered 100 prosthetic motors from Gloria, prioritizing the main motors in the industrial prosthetic arms and thighs. Industrial prosthetics generally have higher output than residential ones. Get some hydraulic oil, pistons, and hydraulic hoses from Adcardo. The main skeleton is stainless steel; they have small machine tools there, so making this isn't a big problem. Stainless steel tubes I'll handle myself.
The basic prosthetic power comes from electricity, converting chemical energy of body fluids into electricity through some kind of biological solution. Only a very few high-end prosthetics, like gorilla arms, use small hydraulic drives, with separate battery packs. Hydraulic drives are too bulky to be suitable for prosthetics, but they're fine for exoskeletons. If they're big, they're big. Make it and see.
...
"Damn, why are you calling me again? It's only been a few days. You didn't stir up something again, did you? Bro, chill out, do you know someone already came asking about you this morning?"
When he received Lin Miao's call, the Old Captain was startled, thinking Lin Miao might have robbed some gang again and was looking to fence it with him.
"Someone came to ask about me?"
Really unexpected yet not surprising news...
"Who?"
"You've caused such a mess on the Tiger Claw gang's turf, don't you know what you've done? They've come looking for you!"
The grievance in Reyes' words sounded like that of a wronged little wife.
"Wasn't this matter over?"
Lin Miao remembered asking about it yesterday; the Tiger Claw gang hadn't been conducting a massive search for him and Lucy. Why was the Old Captain suddenly bringing it up?
"How would I know you not only trashed the Tiger Claw's place but also killed an elite hacker from Huang Ban's special operations unit!"
Huh? Who?
An elite hacker from Huang Ban's special operations unit?
I killed them?
What!
He thought it was just some ordinary-faced Tiger Claw hacker.
Lin Miao had to take this matter seriously now.
"Huang Ban's people came to you?"
"No, it wasn't Huang Ban people who came; if it was them, I wouldn't be chatting with you so leisurely." Reyes sighed. "It was Military Technology folks. They heard Huang Ban's hacker died at your hands and that you came by my place, so they wanted to see if I had any valuable information or news. You know, this is Sixth Street Gang turf, the two groups wear the same pants, and them knowing you came to me means Military Technology knows too."
"Then what are you afraid of? I thought Huang Ban was coming for you." Lin Miao rolled his eyes. In Night City alone, Huang Ban loses hundreds of employees a year, and most of the special operations agents die. If everyone had to trace every death, they'd never get their work done.
Especially in cases like this, potentially done by a mercenary group, chasing accountability makes no sense. The orders come from Military Science, and the two have always been at odds.
Military Science itself might be wondering, did we ever hire someone to kill that Huang Ban hacker?
"I'm afraid you'll stir something up again and cause big trouble."
Reyes lamented. Sure, he'd made money, but the trouble brought by the other party wasn't small either.
"Tell me, what's the reason for coming to me today?"
"Minor stuff, minor stuff." Lin Miao chuckled. "Just to buy some stuff from you."
"Weapons?"
"No, I'm just aware of your many contacts and wanted to buy a chemical reactor and lab equipment, a 200KW generator, and some raw materials..."
Reyes was silent for a moment before saying,
"Getting stuff isn't a problem; in Santo Domingo, they're always tearing down and repairing, plenty of second-hand equipment and materials from factories, reasonably priced. But you need to tell me clearly what you're doing."
"Just making some ammo and explosives for dealing with Night Wanderer and Chaotic Blade Association." As if worried Reyes wouldn't agree, Lin Miao repeatedly emphasized, "For personal use, for personal use. I promise not to let them into the city until there's a legal channel, alright?"
"That's all?"
"Also, I might need to get two five-axis CNC machines."
If you're really going to mass-produce simple exoskeletons, you can't possibly let players hand-craft the parts. Standards and precision would be hard to meet.