Chapter Seven: The Arrival of the Transformers

Around eleven o’clock that night, Wood rode out of the gates on his electric scooter, which rattled everywhere except for the bell, under the security guards’ odd stares. He headed straight for the wasteland to the west. There wasn’t even a streetlamp near that wasteland, and after eleven, apart from the sound of insects, it was utterly silent.

After a difficult wait until midnight, Wood opened the Interdimensional Trade System. The mechanical voice of Little Dingdong chimed, “Silicon-based lifeform: Engineering Robot Q3 type, quantity: 24; receive?”

“Silicon-based lifeform: Combat-type Transformer, quantity: 2; receive?”

“Silicon-based lifeform: Base Vehicle, quantity: 1; receive?”

“Receive!” At Wood’s command, a blinding white light shone from his laptop, and he watched as his energy points plummeted. Only then did he realize how much energy it took to transmit objects of such enormous size.

Next, the empty lot was crowded with robots as tall as three-story buildings.

“Engineering Robot Q3 type reporting to the master.”

“Combat-type Transformer: Fearless One and Fearless Two reporting to the master!”

“Base Vehicle has arrived at the designated location!”

Wood didn’t dare let them linger there. If anyone saw them, it would be a disaster. “You all know your destinations, right? Move out immediately!”

“Yes, master.”

“Receiving signal... Confirming destination... Calculating distance... Initiating... Spatial phase transfer.” After a flurry of mechanical sounds, only one robot remained.

“Hm! Why didn’t you leave?” Wood asked.

“Reporting, master. Fearless One’s main duty is to protect your safety! Fearless Two is to guard the base!”

“Well... fine, you’ll stay with me!” Wood said. “Can you transform?”

“Yes, master. Fearless One is capable of three transformations: sports car, spacecraft, and submarine!”

Wood snapped his fingers. “Don’t stand there so tall, transform into a sports car!”

“Yes, master!” After a series of clanking sounds, a red Chevrolet sports car appeared before Wood, the door opening automatically. “Master, please get in!”

Wood climbed inside, only to find there was no steering wheel, no brake at his feet, not even a gear stick at hand. He couldn’t help but laugh wryly. “This is a bit too high-tech. How am I supposed to drive it?”

As soon as he finished speaking, an iron face appeared on the electronic dashboard ahead, none other than Fearless One. “No need for you to drive, master. Fearless One can determine the route according to your brainwaves.”

“Wow! Truly advanced technology,” Wood exclaimed. “But you’d better manifest a steering wheel, brake, and gear stick. Otherwise, if someone sees, how will I explain it?”

“Yes, master.” The electronic dashboard flickered, and a round steering wheel extended out, with the brake and gear stick appearing as well.

At that moment, Wood’s wrist vibrated—a communication request from Nanshan. “How is it, brother? Are you satisfied with this combat Transformer?” Nanshan’s voice asked.

Wood laughed. “Products from the Silicon-based Plane are bound to be good stuff!”

Nanshan patted his chest. “Wood, you can trust me. From now on, all these robots will only listen to you. Even I can’t command them! Besides, I’ve sent you a little gift—it’s with Number One.”

“A little gift? Number One, what is it?” asked Wood.

He heard two beeps in the car, and a small box appeared before him. “Mechanical Bees, Information Collection Analyzers. Functions: eavesdropping, surveillance, information gathering and analysis; reconnaissance-type robots, quantity: 50.”

“Oh! This doesn’t seem very useful to me,” Wood thought, but not wanting to offend Nanshan, he thanked him and put it away. Nanshan continued, “Receiving those robots must’ve consumed a lot of energy from your system. I’ll send you two high-grade energy crystals as well.” The item trading bar flashed, and this time, without waiting for Little Dingdong’s prompt, Wood directly commanded, “Receive!”

He thought to himself, “Nanshan is really considerate. Somehow, I feel indebted to him.” Then he realized his debts didn’t end there. At the beginning, Gu Feng had gifted him a storage bracelet and two mid-grade energy crystals; Baldy had given him a safe T-virus evolution solution with a hundred gold bars, and so far, he hadn’t given anything in return.

Thinking of this, Wood glanced at the Mechanical Bees in his hand and contacted Baldy via Little Dingdong. “Silicon-based lifeform, Mechanical Bee, Information Collection Analyzer. Functions: eavesdropping, surveillance, information gathering and analysis. Do you have any use for these?”

“Absolutely, how could they not be useful! These are great—Silicon-based products are extraordinary!” Baldy laughed.

Wood teased, “Big brother Baldy, you’re not planning anything shady with these, are you?”

Baldy froze, then realized the implication. “Hey! You’re the one with shady hobbies! Do you know the greatest advantage of this thing?”

Wood shook his head. Baldy said proudly, “Let me tell you, the Agent of Sci-fi Plane Star Four also has one of these. Its greatest advantage is that it can silently approach the site of a battle between experts and collect their combat data—fighting habits, endurance, hidden skills, and so on. It can even gather special cells from top fighters for research. With this, I can analyze the experts of this plane and quickly boost my own combat power!”

Wood stuck out his tongue. “There are no so-called experts on Earth, so these are basically useless to me. Perfect as a favor to others.” With that, he transferred the Mechanical Bees over.

Baldy said, “I don’t need all of them. Send me thirty, keep the rest for yourself.”

After receiving the Mechanical Bees, Baldy asked, “Wood, is there anything you need?”

Wood waved his hand. “This is my gift to you, big brother! You and Gu Feng have both helped me, how could I ask for anything in return!”

Baldy laughed, “Those things weren’t worth much, but you still care so much!”

Wood replied sincerely, “Maybe they were small things to you, but they were a huge help to me. Please, big brother Baldy, just accept it—don’t say anything more.”

“Alright!” Baldy didn’t stand on ceremony. “I’ll accept them. Gu Feng was right about you!”

What Wood didn’t know was that with this generous act, he was finally accepted by Baldy and Gu Feng, truly becoming part of their circle, which would bring him enormous benefits in his future career as an interdimensional agent.

After trading with Baldy, Wood got out of the car, intending to load his electric scooter into Number One’s trunk. To his astonishment, Number One simply emitted a soft red beam and sucked the scooter into the car, leaving Wood dumbfounded. He couldn’t help but marvel at the sophistication of silicon-based technology.

Back at the villa complex, Wood once again attracted the security guards’ odd looks: he’d left riding a battered electric scooter, and returned in a stylish sports car—no wonder they were surprised. Even funnier, there was an old electric scooter inside the fancy sports car. The security guards were left speechless, thinking, “Rich people really are stingy—can’t even bear to throw away an old scooter when they have a car like that. Amazing.”

Leaving the security guards to their silent complaints, Wood returned home and was about to lie down to sleep when Little Dingdong reminded him, “Ah Mu, your friend Gu Feng from the Fantasy Plane requests a call. Connect?”

“Connect!” Wood wondered what business could come so late.

As the video connected, Gu Feng appeared with a mischievous grin. “Come on, Wood, confess—what good stuff did you bribe Baldy with? He just told me he wants to help you with an interdimensional mission as soon as possible, so you can get reward points and upgrade your system.”

“Oh?” Wood was puzzled.

Gu Feng continued, “You probably don’t know—when your system upgrades to level C, you’ll truly be considered an interdimensional agent. After that, not only can you sell and trade items, but you’ll also be able to exchange for skills and bloodlines in the ‘Interdimensional Shop,’ which will greatly enhance your abilities and give you a fighting chance to survive.”

“Skills? Bloodlines?” Wood was instantly excited. “Brother Gu, what sort of skills and bloodlines? Tell me!”

“Don’t change the subject!” Gu Feng barked. “What did you give Baldy? Show me!”

Wood quickly produced the Mechanical Bees. “Just these—Silicon-based lifeforms: Mechanical Bees, Information Collection Analyzers. Functions: eavesdropping, surveillance, information gathering and analysis; quantity: twenty.”

“Ah, just those! Baldy really has no taste. My Fantasy Plane has similar magical beasts, and he never asked me for any. If I’d known, I’d have sent him a few! I thought you gave him something impressive, but these technological gadgets never interested me,” Gu Feng grumbled.

He added, “Wood, get ready. Baldy’s a man of action. He said he’d help you with an interdimensional mission soon. Even though you have our protection, the stronger you are, the better your chances of survival!”

“What?!” Wood was alarmed. “Are these missions life-threatening? Can I refuse?”

“There’s no refusing!” Seeing Wood’s worried expression, Gu Feng grinned wickedly. “You think you can say no to Baldy? Not every mission is dangerous, but considering his love of combat, most missions he picks are risky. Hahaha, you’re on your own!”

…Wood was speechless…

Gu Feng then reminded him, “Prepare a month’s worth of food. The spatial ring I gave you is truly airtight—food stored inside won’t spoil. If the mission is to a deserted planet and you have no food, you’ll starve to death! Also, you should start training your body to maximize the effects of the T-virus evolution solution. I’ll give you a month; by then, Baldy will give you a G-virus evolution solution, which will boost your physical abilities dramatically. But remember, physical strength isn’t the same as real power. If you want to survive, you’d better start training hard…”