It seemed he had misunderstood something.

"Mentor! That Raven kid's pulled off another wild stunt! You've got to see this!"
Professor Wang rushed into Professor Yang's office.
Professor Yang was holding a Purple Clay Teapot filled with wolfberries, his face beaming as he studied various data. The sudden shout nearly made him jump, startling him so badly he blurted out a curse in his native tongue:
"You little rascal! Trying to give me a heart attack?"
He patted his chest, then glanced at the new data.
"Huh? What the hell is this?"
He stared at the figures for a long moment, growing increasingly agitated. His breathing quickened, and even his hands trembled as he adjusted his glasses.
"Mentor, calm down!" Professor Wang hurried over, patting his back. "I don't know what that kid did either. But the power output suddenly increased by 150%, and the speed jumped from almost zero to Mach 1 in less than a second..."
Professor Yang composed himself and asked in his normal voice, "What type of mech is he using? A dedicated air combat model? Or a transformable one?"
"He didn't reveal it, but I suspect it's the Black Fortress Conglomerate's ground-air dual-use model."
"Black Fortress? Is he one of them? Why would he participate in our tests?"
"He was under orders to keep it secret. I deduced it from various clues."
Professor Wang then outlined the details he had uncovered. Professor Yang nodded in agreement and added:
"Your reasoning is sound. This kid is likely a low-level employee there, trying to make some extra money while avoiding detection. He created a fake identity and acted like a naive 'Little Milk Cat' to prevent exposure..."
"The Engine was probably also unearthed by Black Fortress and installed in their toy. They must not have realized how powerful the 'Terror Turtle' is; otherwise, they would have dragged it back for analysis long ago. But didn't the kid claim that the power enhancement was an accidental discovery?"
"Exactly. He said he stumbled upon it during routine maintenance. He didn't understand what happened, but suddenly felt the mech gain a surge of power."
"This kid's luck is incredible. Even a random accident managed to activate the 'Terror Turtle's' 'Devour' function."
As Professor Yang spoke, he glanced at the data continuously streaming across the screen, his face breaking into a delighted smile.
"These data are invaluable. This kid's worth alone surpasses that of all the other testers combined. With him, our entire project can continue to advance, allowing the Terror Turtle to grow into a true behemoth!"
"Hmm, but I'm worried what will happen if Black Fortress finds out..."
"So what if they do? Don't their toys run on our Engine? Without our authorization, they'd likely be acquired by those monster breeders tomorrow. They don't have the research capabilities themselves. By withholding this prototype and not reporting it, aren't they just planning to extort us later?"
"That's not what I mean. I'm just worried about those ruthless bastards..."
"True... They're all heartless monsters themselves. If that kid falls into their hands, he'll suffer a horrible fate. Let me think..."
Professor Yang fell into deep thought, then pulled a document from a drawer. After scribbling a few lines on it, he handed it to Professor Wang.
"Take this to Lao Zheng and have him sign it. Tell him it's a special authorization from me. Explain the situation clearly and handle it as a special case."
"This... a special researcher appointment? Perfect! With this, Black Fortress won't dare harass him. I'll handle it immediately."
Xiao Bai was digging in the Mecha Graveyard when he suddenly received a notification from the Tavern . He glanced at it.
"Huh? What's this?"
The message from Professor Wang included a QR code and a warning:
If Black Fortress gives you trouble, show them this.
"Black Fortress? Why would they bother me? I haven't trashed them online in ages."
Xiao Bai was puzzled, unsure how this involved him.
He scanned the QR code with his smartphone and discovered it was a Temporary Researcher's Certificate .
The name and other details were classified, with only the code name "Raven" visible. It instructed anyone with questions to contact the Prometheus Society for further information.
"What's going on here? It feels like Professor Wang has misunderstood something."
Xiao Bai was no stranger to Black Fortress. It was a massive conglomerate with diverse operations, including mecha manufacturing, real estate, electronics, luxury fashion, and entertainment.
What it was most famous for, however, was its notoriously aggressive legal department. Rumor had it that anyone who dared to criticize them online would receive a lawyer's letter the very next day.
A netizen had come up with a joke: if you're trapped inside "Paradise" and can't get out, find a stick and write what Black Fortress did on the ground. The next day, their legal team will storm in and drag you to court.
Jokes aside, Xiao Bai couldn't figure out how he'd managed to offend such a corporate behemoth. Could it be because this Dynamic Perception System was "pirated"? But it was a two-year-old model—did they really need to send a lawyer's letter for that?
"Even if I don't know what's going on, I need to keep this QR code safe. The Prometheus Society holds a unique position, revered by all sectors of society. Clinging to such a powerful patron would be immensely beneficial—it would make things much easier for me."
With that, Xiao Bai resumed digging.
After ending his conversation with Professor Wang earlier, he had wandered around the surface base, inspecting the charred ghoul remains and noting down the ones that weren't too badly damaged.
He then activated the newly installed propulsion system, which lifted him into the air. Throttle wide open, he raced back to the graveyard at full speed.
Running here had felt like a long journey, but flying got him there in no time.
After landing, Xiao Bai conducted another scan and located a massive underground maintenance base station.
This one is even stronger than the one I destroyed earlier, equipped with ten 'Spiders'. It's just been neglected and temporarily broken.
After digging it up, I can repair it with the mechanical arm on its back. Then I'll use it to fix the 'Ghouls', and use the 'Ghouls' to excavate the collapsed base and thoroughly scour the unexplored areas.
Otherwise, knowing there are still so many resources left unclaimed, I wouldn't be able to sleep.
Once everything's done, I can bring the 'Ghouls' back to the graveyard to dig graves for my 'Good Buddy'.
The plan sounds good, but this large base station is a bit tricky to dig up...
It's buried quite deep, with only a few pipes allowing the 'Spiders' to enter and exit. The structure is also somewhat complex, requiring careful excavation to avoid damaging it. And I don't have the right tools, so I'll have to rely on my own hard work.
"The Machine Spirit isn't pleased! Back on the construction site, I only ever laid out lines and measured with a tape. I've never had to dig earthwork..."

Chapter end