Isn't that name a bit...

"Let's see what we can catch this time."
The moment Xiao Bai closed the Simulation Program, he took control of the 'Anchor' and cast his line.
While waiting for a bite, he contacted the same second-hand weapons dealer again, preparing to order nine more Precision Rifles.
After all his hard work climbing the rankings, combined with download rewards, he had managed to scrape together just over 2,000 Contribution points, but it still wasn't quite enough. He had no choice but to haggle aggressively.
"I'm a student. Can you lower the price? 1,500 for the whole pack."
"Listen, buddy, I don't play Virtual Battlefield , but the name 'Raven Big Shot' is legendary. You need to come up with a better pitch."
"Alright... I'm a student. Just give it to me for free."
"......Sigh... 1,500 it is. Consider it a blessing in disguise—thanks to you, my stock prices have actually gone up a bit. Let's just call it a friendly deal."
The dealer reluctantly agreed, then added:
"Big Shot, you're planning to f orm a team, right? If you need any other logistics support, remember to consider me. My gear might be second-hand, but the quality and reputation are undeniable. I've always focused on value for money, and many teams already source their supplies from me."
"Hmm? Did the Silent Hunters come looking for you?"
"Ah, that's the military's elite unit, right? Are you trying to compete with them? I've got connections too. After all, I've been in this business long enough to have plenty of friends."
Xiao Bai didn't take the man's boasting seriously. He replied casually, "I'll consider it," and ended the conversation.
He glanced at the Fish Float again, but there was still no reaction. Shrugging it off, he turned back to fiddling with his High-Frequency Saber.
The saber would mature tomorrow, perfectly replacing his lost close-quarters weapon.
"The timing should be just right. Surely I won't go an entire day without a bite?"
And so, a day later...
"Damn, this defense is trash. How can this even be considered an air force?"
Xiao Bai stared at the "Searching" display, feeling the engine and reactor temperatures skyrocket.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't that no fish had taken the bait in the past 24 hours. But every bite had been either a hazard level 7 Leviathan or a hazard level 6 Megalodon, making him too afraid to "reel in" any of them.
"Where are all the little white strips in this pond? Even a catfish or tilapia would do!"
Just as he was grumbling, the Fish Float suddenly moved. Xiao Bai hurriedly checked, only to find a residential villa district with two habitable-class beneficial rules.
If he anchored the past, he'd shatter the place completely, and the people living there would naturally cease to exist.
"Never mind, never mind. Rich people can stick to streetlights. No need to waste my energy."
Xiao Bai still chose 'No' and continued fishing.
Just then, he received a notification from the warehouse: the graphics card he'd ordered had arrived.
But Xiao Bai couldn't retrieve it immediately. He'd just finished unpacking the items he'd bought for Little Milk Cat an hour earlier. After "shaking" the Space Vortex to settle it, he'd have to wait another two hours before he could open it again.
This "Letterbox" had a cooldown period, but the manual hadn't mentioned it. Xiao Bai only discovered this when he tried to retrieve his purchase.
He wondered whether it was the Spirit Energy Civilization's oversight for failing to include such crucial information in the manual, or if he himself wasn't being sufficiently idealistic, thus encountering limitations in its use.
Fortunately, the delay wasn't a big deal. The graphics card wasn't urgent; it was just a matter of personal philosophy. Besides, the precision rifle he'd ordered earlier had already arrived. He'd disassembled its components and reassembled them into a brand-new weapon—
Gauss's Skull Range-Extended Electromagnetic Rifle: The latest generation of precision rifle developed b y the Prometheus Society based on Paradise Technology. It features faster initial velocity, more stable ballistics, and the ability to recharge to enhance range and penetration. However, due to limitations in Mecha Energy, it failed technical verification.
The small text whispered:
"Isn't this name... a bit disrespectful to our predecessors?"
Xiao Bai chose this seemingly plain and unassuming option from the three choices primarily because it was "homegrown," evoking a sense of familiarity.
Moreover, it boasted the fastest projectile speed and the most frugal ammunition consumption, requiring only standard rounds.
It was also the most aligned with the definition of a "precision rifle." The other two options, a bio-type and an intelligent-type, felt somewhat off-track...
In any case, since the "master wants it all," he'd just tackle them one by one.
The compl eted Range-Extended Electromagnetic Rifle exuded a strong science fiction vibe. Its barrel consisted of two slender, silver-white magnetic rails, giving it a forked sword-like appearance. Surprisingly, it was even lighter than the standard Precision Rifle.
When activated in its energy-boosted range extension mode, pale blue indicator lights would gradually illuminate along the magnetic rails from back to fro nt. When all lights were lit, the rifle achieved maximum range, initial velocity, and penetration. Theoretically, it could pierce through all current armor types on the market and maintain impressive accuracy even against low-power electromagnetic shields.
From every angle, it seemed like an exceptional weapon. So why hadn't it passed technical validation?
Perplexed, Xiao Bai sought out Professor Wang for clarification.
The other person quickly replied:
"Huh? You mean that gun that blew the Ancestral Master's head off? Did you see that on the news?"
"Yeah, but the news didn't explain why. It only said the project was canceled."
"Well... the reasons aren 't really a secret. First, it consumed too much energy, putting a heavy strain on the mecha. Second, maintenance was a nightmare, which would have made logistics curse. Finally, it had the common problem of all precision rifles: it was difficult to master.
"We recruited ten test subjects, including some skilled operators. During stationary tests, accuracy was good. But when moving, even the best only managed to hit the target about half the time, and in more complex environments, it got even worse...
"Considering its energy consumption and production costs, it was clearly unacceptable. So, naturally, the project was canceled."
"So a new weapon just disappears like that? That's really a shame..."
"It's quite normal. In this era of rapid te chnological advancement, failure is the norm. That's why projects like 'Terror Turtle,' which show signs of success, are so precious. I just checked—it's already been disassembled. Otherwise, I would have offered to let you play with it after you're free."
"Haha, thank you for your kindness, Professor Wang."
Xiao Bai chuckled, ending the casual conversation.
He definitely couldn't reveal that he was already using the equipment and finding it quite user-friendly.
"New equipment is convenient, but explaining its origin is impossible. Lost Legacy items are manageable, but this completely nonexistent Exclusive Prototype Equipment... there's no way to justify it."
He couldn't even imagine how many pieces he'd be torn into if the Panel was exposed. It was a good thing it was a Mecha; people wouldn't feel any moral qualms about dismantling it.
"If I want to earn Contribution through Combination Refurbishment, I need to find something less new, something with a plausible backstory."
As Xiao Bai spoke, there was a new development from the "Anchor" side.
"Hmm? A Little White Strip arrived?"

Chapter end