Wang Shunli knew that his father wasn't happy in the Heavenly Kingdom.

Working at the Fourth Engine Factory, maintaining the family's sustenance wasn't a problem.

It's just that over there, they emphasize risk avoidance, and they don't do things that aren't profitable.

Even though father Wang Anquan was a senior engineer, he couldn't do what he wanted, being obstructed at every step.

He was often unhappy because the mechas he wanted to build were risky and he couldn't find a way to profit.

At home, Wang Anquan said more than once, "This can't be done, that isn't allowed. We only build vehicles. Does this world need so many vehicles?"

"If one day, people no longer need vehicles, and there are better, cheaper means of transport, what would the engine factory do then?"

These words sounded like the complaints of a discontented technician.

But it didn't take several years.

Wasteland Development Company appeared suddenly and first launched affordable gliders, further developing stable commercial airships.

The four major engine factories of the Heavenly Kingdom suffered immediate blows, with orders dropping significantly, and despite making concessions to maintain sales, profits were evidently declining.

One day, after returning home, father suddenly said, "Everyone, focus on me, I have an announcement."

"I'm resigning to join the Wasteland Development Company."

"The pay is higher there than at the engine factory, with a five-day work week, and they offer free healthcare and education for employees' children. Wang Shunli can directly enroll in Mushroom Forest Primary School."

"They also developed brand new human-shaped armor, which is exactly what I want to do. At Wasteland Company, there are no profit requirements; they just need to create advanced, innovative things not available elsewhere."

Mother understood immediately: "You want to go there to build mechas, right?"

"You could say that."

Father replied frankly, "But it is indeed difficult at the engine factory... I don't want to go to the Outer Space Development Group, where I'd have to regularly travel to Mars, unable to return home for months, it's meaningless, and still just building vehicles."

"The company wants me, so I'm preparing to go over. We'll all report next month, and our home will be in the affiliated community of Jade City, a B-grade building with everything inside."

Mother, ladling mushroom soup for everyone, looked puzzled: "But Wasteland Company is difficult to get into, it's not that I don't believe you... you're not good at networking and social relationships, and we're far from the Heavenly Kingdom, how can you be sure of getting a job there?"

Wang Anquan sat down broadly: "Wife, do you know the Wasteland Information platform? They've opened some professional sections where various professionals discuss matters. Someone was talking about the Mecha Master Competition, and I joined in to discuss technical issues."

"It turned out the person I was chatting with was enthusiastic, found out I was an engine engineer, and asked if I was interested in switching to their company. I said okay, thinking it was just talk, but the next day, the person contacted me through the electric cat."

Father happily drank a couple of sips of mushroom soup, saying: "Turns out he's a senior engineer at Wasteland Development Company's Sub-Dragon Bay Laboratory, Yuke, and also a Silver Seal Alchemist, a Water Octopus."

"Yuke had high praise for my mecha structure and design."

"Li Mo, the head of the lab, conducted a remote interview with me through the mechanical platform and was very impressed, inviting me to join as an armored engineer, specializing in designing the company's armor equipment."

Saying this, he looked at his son Wang Shunli: "That head looks like he's seven or eight years old, it's so absurd... Such a young kid, but already heading a department, and the Sub-Dragon Bay Laboratory has a budget of tens of thousands of Light Seeds."

"Shunli, study hard, maybe you can achieve something too! They select talent based on ability, not age, race, or background!"

Wang Shunli was a bit confused.

Though he knew the Wasteland Development Company operated unconventionally, somewhat eccentric, he didn't expect such a young kid to be trusted to lead as chairman.

Wang Shunli couldn't help but think, maybe I can give it a try too.

But after enrolling at Mushroom Forest Primary School, he slowly understood that Li Mo of the Sub-Dragon Bay Laboratory wasn't actually a kid; it was just that, for some reason, his physical development stopped at childhood.

After joining the Wasteland Development Company.

Father visibly became more spirited, his enthusiasm high every day, even if sometimes he came home physically tired, he was mentally satisfied.

He would endlessly talk about various technologies at the company, enjoying his work process, praising the Light Amber Exoskeleton's ingenuity, the delicacy of the Light Soot Muscle Suit's touch and conduction, the usefulness of the Life Maintenance System... his whole being was radiant.

The thing that made Wang Anquan happiest was getting his application approved.

The laboratory allowed him to lease a Wasteland Armor, modify it, and participate in the latest S17 Mecha Master Competition.

...

Upon saying this, Wang Shunli paused briefly.

"At that time, I thought it was just about participating with my dad... I didn't think we could go far, even though the company's Wasteland Armor was indeed technologically strong. But it was primarily a functional device for traversing the Dead Sea, survey, and gathering, not a combat apparatus."

"But my dad said, participating is to win, and we must win."

The chairman nodded repeatedly as he listened: "Well said, competition is about winning."

Wang Shunli scratched his head.

It seemed that the chairman and his father were alike.

He was more similar to his mother, who cultivated mushrooms, realistic and seeking stability, while his father was more idealistic and free-spirited.

The early stages of the Mecha Master Competition were not smooth.

As a contestant and operator, his father controlled the Wasteland Armor in four matches, winning one and losing three. Winning was like constipation, losing was like diarrhea; it was an ugly sight.

"The draws in the master competition are all random; it's possible to encounter a strong opponent right away, depending on luck."

Wang Shunli said, "But by the last match, if we can't win, our points won't be enough to advance. So father activated two modules."

"The first is [Sealing Fist], like I mentioned before. This design can make the Wasteland Armor's punches lethal, but the prerequisite is to continuously hit the opponent. This is the hardest part."

"So the second module, [Neural Synchronization], complements this."

"Neural Synchronization is a special technical method father explored in armor development after joining the company. Because the armor couldn't win against Mechanical Life in the Light Imprint Domain, new techniques were needed."

"Father discovered that flying threads were an excellent supplement. Connecting them with the Stone Molt Reactor not only reduced the burden but also increased synchronization with the Wasteland Armor, greatly enhancing accuracy and sensitivity."

"But that wasn't enough. So father also explored a deep modification method, applying for the use of consciousness nerve connections with the flying threads, then connecting with the operator to form an internal consciousness nerve network for the Wasteland Armor."

"Through this method, the operator using the Wasteland Armor could operate as if using their own body."

Upon hearing this, the chairman pulled down his mask, showing a hint of seriousness on his face: "Consciousness nerve... flying threads are a medium for Firewood Mound, a natural material storage for consciousness... truly a genius idea."

Hearing such a high evaluation of his father, Wang Shunli felt a bit proud.

Wang Anquan may not have been a reliable father or a very good husband, but he was undeniably a brilliant engineer, a fact Wang Shunli firmly believed.

He assisted his father to ensure his talent and gifts weren't buried.

He also gave his entire scholarship upon graduation to his father to serve as funds for the Mecha Master Competition. Playing with mechas was inherently costly; registration wasn't cheap, and travel expenses, lodging... every process required money.

Wang Shunli spoke as he ate fried chicken: "Once the Wasteland Armor completes the man-machine connection with consciousness nerves, the operator enters a mysterious state, able to anticipate the opponent's moves at close range, and feel as though the world slows down, everyone in slow motion."

"Father named it [Jade Eye], like the eyes of Jade City, able to perceive every move of the enemy."

"With these two special technologies, father controlled the Wasteland Armor to move as lightly as a butterfly and strike as precisely as a bee, enabling him to continuously and precisely hit the enemy, blocking their movements and abilities."

"Then we gradually turned the tide, starting a winning streak."

"With practical experience continuously accumulating, father became more adept at operating the armor."

The chairman suddenly asked, "Does using this ability have any side effects? Does it affect the operator?"

"No... I mean, yes, a little."

Wang Shunli thought for a moment: "The operator can't keep the [Jade Eye] activated for long. Duration varies by person; those with higher concentration can maintain it longer."

"Like father's concentration is quite high, able to maintain it for around 40 minutes. I can only manage half of that, with a limit of 21 minutes."

"Also, the better the physical condition, the more effective its use. Father has consumed the Transformation Fruit, increasing his physical strength to that of an enhancer, something I haven't achieved yet."

The entire Mecha Master Competition was hardest at the beginning matches.

As he gradually adapted to arena combat, father fought more courageously, going full force afterward, almost dominating each match.

The only challenge and trouble faced was a Mechanical Life that had activated the [Enemy of Ten Thousand] mode, which changed rapidly with a fierce and aggressive combat style.

However, it was ultimately suppressed and knocked down by father using [Jade Eye] and Iron Armor Steel Fist.

The championship was taken with an absolute advantage.

But since it was the C-class group, it didn't garner much attention; the biggest heat and focus of the master competition remained in the top-level A group and the second-tier B group.

The chairman said after hearing this: "I heard that your father actually woke up."

"Yes... he's just pretending to be unconscious to avoid my mom's nagging."

"Then take me to see him."

"Okay, chairman."

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