Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 1029 - 708: Trouble 2
"That is the 'Brilliant Star,' the representative team of the Golden Federation."
Elorin quietly introduced to Bai E, clearly recognizing the other side, "The leader is said to be a young prince of the Golden Federation with extraordinary Spiritual Talent. Judging by the Spiritual Energy fluctuations of that Mecha, he has likely perfectly integrated some kind of Spiritual Energy amplification system with the Mecha. Their people are usually arrogant, tactics elegant and lethal, adept at using Spiritual Energy and precise coordination to establish an advantage. They are extremely vigilant opponents, especially in team battles or competitions involving Spiritual Energy rules."
As if to confirm Elorin's words, the golden Mecha seemed to sense the gaze of Bai E and his group. The observatory on the Mecha's head slightly turned to "glance" in their direction before returning to normal and continuing its training.
But the feeling of being "seen" remained clearly in the perception of Bai E and the others.
This was the mark of a strong presence.
In another training area simulating a lava environment, the situation was completely different.
Several Mechas with wild paint jobs, rugged structures, and a clear emphasis on explosiveness and close combat capability roared with violent engine noises, engaging in straightforward charges, collisions, and power contests.
One notably large, heavily armored, crimson Mecha equipped with giant ramming horns and thermal battle axes was taking on two other seemingly formidable Mechas, pushing them back step by step with wide and open movements filled with a primitive aesthetic of violence.
"'Blood Fury Battle Group,' a team from the Flame Republic."
Elorin continued, his tone carrying a hint of gravity, "The leader is known as the 'War Dog' Berserker. Their style is attack, attack, and then attack. It seems reckless, but their combat experience is extremely rich, and their willpower frighteningly resilient. The one who fought two at once just now is probably their main vanguard. When facing them, you must be wary of their aggressive start and psychological pressure. If you fall into their rhythm, it will be very troublesome."
At this moment, another team entered through the entrance of the public training area.
They were few in number, wearing uniformly styled but somewhat plain dark combat uniforms, moving with almost no extraneous noise, their eyes sharp and calm.
After quickly scanning the field, they headed directly to an area simulating a complex ruins environment.
Their Mechas didn't look flashy either, preferring high mobility and stealth, with sleek body lines and paint that seemed to absorb light and resist detection.
"People from the Shadow Kingdom, the 'Ghost Walkers.'
Elorin's voice dropped lower, carrying obvious apprehension, "They rarely appear in public events. It seems they are also conducting adaptation training. Information on them is scarce, but it's certain they are absolute masters of reconnaissance, infiltration, ambush, and special environment combat. In any non-direct arena match, they are the most unstable factor and the most dangerous hunters."
Besides these, Bai E also noticed some other intriguing presences:
A team of Mechas clearly equipped with various odd and even somewhat cobbled-together experimental equipment, suspected to be the 'Divine Chosen of All Machines' from the World Forging Collective; a team composed of a few pilots with calm demeanors and meticulous tactical actions, seemingly molded from military templates, likely from the Steel Alliance or the Deep Space Alliance; and some independent or small country teams that, despite not having a prominent background, included individual pilots with exceptionally sharp auras, clearly battle-hardened.
"Did you see them, sir?"
Catherine, standing next to Bai E, spoke softly, "This basically matches the information we've gathered. The 'Sons of the Empire' team has exceptional individual strength and team quality, with each having unique skills. Among those independent teams, there are also quite a few formidable figures. Indeed, this place is a gathering of the strong."
Bai E nodded slightly.
He didn't feel surprised or tense; instead, there was a sense of "this is as it should be."
No one weak could make it here.
And this was precisely the stage he wanted.
As they were observing and whispering, a slightly frivolous yet not off-putting voice sounded from nearby: "Oh? Unfamiliar faces, and... scholar Elorin? It seems we have new friends who just arrived?"
Everyone turned to see a young man dressed smartly with a shrewd smile like a merchant, accompanied by a few equally well-dressed individuals whose aura leaned more towards technical or logistical roles.
A badge composed of a star and a balance was pinned on his chest.
"Let me introduce myself; I'm the leader of the 'Fist of Wealth' from the Trade Star Domain Alliance. Friends call me 'Money Eye.'"
The young man smiled warmly, his gaze quickly sweeping over Bai E and his group, pausing especially on Bai E, perhaps recognizing him as the "mysterious powerhouse from the Edge Star Domain" recently circulated in some small circles.
"Are you interested in the strong here? Perhaps we can exchange some information... that we both need? After all, the tournament is not just about battles; it's also a platform for exchange and cooperation, isn't it?"
Catherine stepped forward half a step, ready to respond, but scholar Elorin gently pressed her shoulder, politely but distantly nodding to the young man who called himself "Money Eye": "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Money Eye. However, we are newcomers and need time to adapt. Once we are settled, there might be opportunities for cooperation."
"Money Eye" didn't insist, shrugged, and kept smiling: "Of course, of course. You're always welcome. Then, I won't interrupt your familiarization with the environment."
With that, he led his team to another area, but before leaving, he gave Bai E a deep look.
"People from the Trade Star Domain Alliance are adept at using rules and various means to enhance themselves, and their intelligence network is very developed," Elorin explained only after the others had left, "It's fine to make contact, but caution is needed, as there's always a commercial calculation behind their actions."
At this moment, a portable communicator on Elorin's wrist vibrated urgently.
He glanced at it, and his expression changed slightly.
"Mr. Bai E, my assistant at our station responsible for communication with the competition committee says there's an urgent issue that requires my immediate attention. It seems... there's a problem with the inspection of our competition Mechas."
Bai E frowned lightly, inspection of the Mechas?
This process was mandatory for all teams upon arrival, with a technical team designated by the Star Alliance conducting basic safety checks, performance parameter records, and confirmation of equipment meeting the tournament's basic specifications.
"Let's go and see," Bai E said, a vague premonition arising in his heart.
This kind of technical issue seemed reminiscent of something he'd encountered not long ago.
The group quickly returned to their station in the International Pavilion's seventh zone. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
As soon as they entered the hall temporarily serving as a tactical discussion room, they saw Elorin's assistant and a middle-aged man with a serious expression in a Star Alliance technical officer's uniform waiting there.
Standing nearby were Gong Yan, Kuang Xin, and others, their expressions somewhat grim.
"Scholar Elorin, Mr. Bai E," the Star Alliance technical officer nodded slightly upon seeing them but spoke in an official tone, "I am a representative from the Star Alliance Competition Committee's Technical Audit Department, responsible for the basic review of the competition Mechas in this tournament. We have encountered some technical standard issues with the main competition Mechas your side submitted for review."
He opened the data pad in his hand, pulling up several inspection reports: "According to the latest 'Universal Technical Specifications for Mobility Warrior Competition Safety and Fairness (17th Revision)' by the Star Alliance, all competition Mechas must have an energy core output stability, Spiritual Power Circuit compatibility, and basic structural material stress tolerance coefficient reaching Milky Way universal standard level three or above. Additionally, to ensure fairness, certain 'non-public custom technologies' or 'special modifications' that could affect competition balance need extra safety assessments and functional limitations."
"However, on the Mechas provided by your side, we encountered some issues..."
