Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Steel is the foundation of all modern technology.

Any significant power needs a large amount of steel to ensure their infrastructure.

The wilderness outside the city is not just scattered with refugees; there are also those "oases" that, compared to the city, offer a bit more freedom and originate from Gilder.

Organizations that are unwilling to accept city governance but have some influence often break away from the city to establish their own bases.

If luck is poor, they can be wiped out by a natural disaster; if luck is good, they may even slowly evolve into something resembling a city.

Such organizations often maintain myriad connections with the existing cities.

The demand for steel is not hard to understand.

But for the demand for steel to end up on the heads of Black Street...

The steel they had was still piled up in the warehouse, not exposed, and there weren't many facilities in Black Street that utilized a lot of steel. How could the other party throw an order to such an inconspicuous force?

"The profit from the order is very substantial. If we can complete it, everyone's lives will be much better... and we'll have money too," Gilder said, staring intently at Bai E.

He could only provide basic unification and governance; the decisions on major directions needed to be made by the adults.

While establishing a steel production line might be difficult, it could be trivial for the adults. If they really could establish such a stable trade relationship, it would be a qualitative leap for Black Street.
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In his current position, that was all he could concern himself with.

"..." Bai E pondered for a moment before asking softly, "Is it a one-time deal, or ongoing?"

"If possible, they hope it's ongoing. And they will purchase without limit, with the purchase price increasing in stages according to the monthly output," Gilder replied.

That meant they couldn't use the scrap from their stockpile.

If it was a one-off sale, turning resources that could not be used for the time being into resources that could genuinely improve the living standard of Black Street was indeed a nice bonus.

But to establish a long-term trading relationship, relying solely on the steel they already had would definitely not meet the other party's needs.

Do they need to establish their own steel production line?

But Black Street's small area was not up to it... Mining, refining, and even smelting iron and steel all required a vast space and would make a considerable commotion.

Doing this near the city meant either having an immensely powerful background or being part of the city's own institutions.

So, the question comes back: why did the other party believe Black Street could provide steel?

"Adult?" Gilder asked tentatively.

"First, provide them with a batch to see," Bai E decided, squinting his eyes.

Let's see if the horse can be trotted out for a walk.

Initiating a transaction to inspect the party's components, and hence making contact with a possibly powerful external force, might not be a bad direction for development.

Moreover, establishing their own steel manufacturing plant is something that must be done.

Perhaps after gaining control of Blackwater City, these resources could naturally come their way. But is Blackwater City controlled because they wanted to acquire those resources?

No! It was because they had that strength and accumulation that Blackwater City could be governed by them.

If the other party is truly reliable, then... the small town ruins they saw last time might genuinely be brought up on the development agenda.

"Yes! Adult!" Gilder said, invigorated.

There was hope!

Worthy of the adult!

["Lucky Strike" energy +5.]

...

"Doctor, they agree to the trade."

"Really now?"

The doctor, who had found an opportunity to slip away from Black Street, slightly narrowed his eyes upon hearing the report from his subordinate.

'As expected, this settlement is not as simple as it seems on the surface.'

In this era, being able to supply steel bypassing the city sovereign authorities implies a sky-high background or, at the very least, their own absolute armed forces.

Black Street is just a front; their main force lies elsewhere!

This is how it should be!

An entity that could abduct the initial number shouldn't be so superficial.

"For the first transaction, give them a taste of sweetness," the doctor decided.

Do they really think that those so-called "warlords" independent on the wilderness are just freemen?

Many of them are still covertly supported by the city's sovereign institutions, just to deal with some matters that are improper for the city to handle openly.

He currently used the guise of a warlord he supported in Grey Iron City.

"Yes!" The expressionless adjutant responded instantly like a cold, unfeeling machine.

Glancing at the doctor's chiseled profile, the adjutant dared not say more.

Facing an unknown power rooted in Blackwater City, he didn't think it necessary to waste so much effort.

No matter how strong a force was, as long as it relied on a city, it was ultimately inferior to the city.

Having a force on par with the city, one could simply overwhelm them with a show of strength. Was it really necessary to go to such lengths just to retrieve a "Number One"?

The only explanation might lie in the doctor's special affection for "Number One".

It was the doctor's choice.

The adjutant bowed his head and hid the contemplative look in his eyes.

...

"The trade went smoothly, and it seems like the other party didn't have any special intentions," Gilder reported excitedly when he met Bai E again on the third day.

Steel was the core resource in this world, and the price offered was substantial; with the money in hand, they could purchase much of the equipment and resources needed to develop Black Street.

"Hmm..." Bai E nodded slightly.

The location of the warehouse wasn't exposed; he simply piled the steel at the edge of the Black Forest and had Black Street move it back.

The first transaction was problem-free, so it was natural to try to develop a long-term relationship.

He had resources but needed to liquidate them; a stable and trustworthy channel wasn't easy to come by.

The other party needed resources, core reserves at that; it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

"Their subsequent orders..."

"We can give them another part after a while, but after that... we'll have to wait for news."

Even with so much in hand, one couldn't make continuous deliveries.

They had traded 2,000 units of steel on the first transaction, and there were a total of 8,000 units lost from the previous drop.

They could offer another 2,000 units for the next delivery, but after that, they'd have to consider setting up a steel production facility; the remaining 4,000 units needed to be reserved for unexpected needs.

Developing a power meant considering many more aspects than when one was alone.

"Understood! My lord!"

"There's another matter. For the next few days, or even longer, I probably won't come here. The affairs of Black Street... you'll manage."

According to the instructor's words, they would need to carry out their strike mission the next day.

This was their first proactive strike against the Bug Race since they became officially commissioned Mech Pilots, and the outcome of the battle would directly determine the new Mech Pilots' value in the eyes of the Military Department's leaders, as well as his own personal plans.

If he could perform as well in battle as the instructor had said, he might be able to ask to continue fulfilling the duties of his special squad and thus follow Minister Eric's itinerary to touch upon what might be the "legacy" left by the electronic demons.

Moreover, owning the highest authority to the server mainframes, he should have a better chance than anyone else.

"Got it, my lord."

...

The gentle morning sunlight bathed the earth.

The warm sun of winter spread a soft but not blinding glow; the cooperative allied forces began to slowly move out of the military camp.

"Hum~ Hum~"

The towering Mechas landed at the end of the troop, taking large steps to follow from afar.

From the vantage point high in the Mecha, even the main battle tanks seemed like slightly larger, adorable toys.

It was also the first time Bai E truly understood the complete configuration required when a Mecha regiment was deployed—not just the Mecha itself but also something called the "Mecha Servant" configuration, where a type of armored vehicle with almost no offensive capabilities followed in its wake.

These Mecha Servants, in theory, also belonged to the Mech Armor Camp and were often manned by synthetics or natural humans with no background or expertise, who would also need to learn some Mecha repair skills to perform rapid field repairs on slightly damaged Mechas to maintain combat effectiveness.

As for the armed vehicles they drove, they carried the ammunition replenishment needed for Mechas during combat.

Although Mechas were large in stature, their actual carrying space was limited; without timely replenishment, they would quickly lose their firepower and have to resort to primitive combat blades.

Behind each combat Mecha, at least five armored vehicles were equipped to follow.

The Mecha Servants' supply vehicles, together with the Mecha itself, formed a complete combat unit.

The voice of the commanding officer inside the command vehicle transmitted through the speakers of each Mecha's cockpit, "Although this sortie's main goal is to hone your skills, our allied forces also have strategic objectives that must be met—recently, our scouts found signs of their expansion to the west of the Bug Race's hive."

The Bug Race was a kind of invasive species from outer space, their mode of invasion not limited to mere physical consumption.

Along with the smaller worker bug variants spreading Spore Colonies for a biochemical transformation of the natural environment, this was their more fundamental form of invasion of a planet.

The city's defenses against the Bug Race's hives were not only to prevent their various forms of infiltration into the city but also to stop them from expanding their influence in the natural world, thereby gaining more biomass and increasing their strength.

"The detected Bug Race species include the common Bomb Bugs, Worker Bugs, Bee Bugs, and a few Mantis Bugs, as well as visible activity of Sand Bugs. The trace of that mysterious 'Overlord' can't be ascertained; we have equal difficulty accurately detecting their underground movement, so we can't be sure how many enemies we will eventually face. The Bug Race's expansionary intentions are clear, and the protection forces sent are numerous; we may be facing a difficult battle situation. You are the last pillar of this joint force, and I hope you can perform as excellently as your instructors have said. Captain Bai, do you have any questions?"