This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 333 - 180: Mechanic Jesaya [Mechanic Knight Core]_2

Chapter 333: Chapter 180: Mechanic Jesaya [Mechanic Knight Core]_2

"If it were worthless, you wouldn’t have agreed to meet me." The bald man was bold, "I know the origin of this item. Decades ago, when I was still young, I had seen Lord Star King..."

Li Ming could clearly see that both Ulrich and the Mechanical Transformation were markedly reactive upon hearing that name.

Star King... the name was quite dominant. Li Ming listened quietly.

"So, it’s an old man from the Land of Stars after all." Ulrich, unembarrassed by his little trick being exposed, instead marveled, "Then you should know that this metal face mask could not possibly have originated from the Red River Starfall."

Since he was facing away from Li Ming, it was hard to see the bald man’s expression; he remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Doesn’t the Collector always not inquire about the origins, but just make an offer?"

"Yes, yes..." Ulrich apologized, "Sorry, just curious."

"So, how about one million Star Coins?"

"One million?" The bald man’s voice was filled with disbelief, "This is the metal face mask worn by the Star King, and it’s only one million Star Coins?"

"Correct, so it’s still worth one million. You see, this metal face mask has been corroded badly; the original material’s trait is completely gone." Ulrich explained, paused, then said helplessly,

"This isn’t an artwork, if he were still alive, the price might be much higher."

The Mechanical Transformation furrowed his brows slightly, his pupils spinning and constricting, indifferently said, "Five million, I’ll take it."

Ulrich laughed "Heh", and the bald man did not respond, seemingly waiting for Ulrich’s counteroffer.

Only when it was clear that Ulrich was indeed not interested did he grit his teeth, "Five million then, five million..."

After confirming the transfer of the Star Coins, the bald man turned around; he indeed looked old. Seeing the two, his expression seemed a bit startled, then he hastily left.

Ulrich then said, "Tsk, five million, although it was worn by Lord Star King, aside from that, it seems not valuable."

The Mechanical Transformation indifferently said, his voice like metallic magnetic plates resonating, "Things of Lord Star King cannot be measured in money."

"That man was probably also a member of ’Star Ring’ once; now he has fallen to the point of selling Star King’s personal belongings."

Ulrich casually said, "People need to live; keeping this thing is of no use."

"Ulrich..." The Mechanical Transformation stared at him coldly.

Huo Tan came forward just in time, "Sir, Lord Azure Dragon has arrived."

Ulrich nodded, then introduced, "Azure Dragon, this is Jesaya, an A-grade Mechanical Transformation and also a Great Mechanic."

Li Ming was slightly surprised, then nodded, "Lord Jesaya."

Jesaya, holding the metal face mask, appeared nostalgic and simply responded with a faint "Hmm", not even looking at him.

Ulrich then said, "Jesaya, this is Azure Dragon, a mechanic... a Great Mechanic."

Jesaya paused briefly, put down the metal face mask, and his gaze fell on Li Ming, then carried somewhat evaluative tone, "A Great Mechanic?"

Clearly, he was skeptical but did not object.

His blue pupils contracted continuously, capturing and analyzing copious data.

Moments later, his expression turned more solemn, slightly taken aback that his electronic eye could not see through the Mimic Mask being worn by the man; it was not a simple Mimic Mask.

Li Ming also felt a strong probing sensation, but his Mimic Mask had been upgraded a few days ago with a Mother Ore, now covering his upper body and granting new abilities.

[Mimicry—Adjustable upper body data and gains "Phantom" ability.]

This ability could mimic a virtual body to confuse enemies, and when used in Materialization, it made his disguise less detectable.

Yet Jesaya remained dubious; Great Mechanics were uncommon.

Especially those from the nearby Star Clusters; he knew most of them and hadn’t heard of any new Great Mechanics arriving in the Land of Stars.

Moreover, this person did not seem to possess the distinguished trait of a Great Mechanic, and more crucially, Ulrich’s attitude toward him seemed less like a collaborator and more like a subordinate?

"Jesaya, where is that thing?" Ulrich then said, "I don’t know where you got it from, but I can’t tell anything. Could you let this Great Mechanic Azure Dragon have a look?"

Li Ming’s eyebrows slightly raised; no wonder they came to him—it turned out they were losing face and wanted him to win it back.

Was he really a great mechanic?

Jesaya could feel Ulrich’s confidence as he sized up Li Ming again.

"Since you’re so confident, try it then," Jesaya said, flipping his arm around and pulling out a triangular metallic object composed of intricate mechanical structures from behind.

"If you can figure it out, this thing will no longer belong to you," Ulrich added,

Li Ming’s heart stirred, and he smiled, "The two of you actually have such a wager; I must really be in luck, gaining a precious item just by glancing at it."

Ulrich’s expression changed subtly, Jesaya seemed slightly surprised, then immediately said, "Indeed, if you can truly discern the origins of this thing, it’s yours."

Ulrich maintained his composure reluctantly, "Though I traded something for it, I’ll give it to you if you can figure it out."

There must have been a wager between the two; his item had been acquired by Jesaya, but he couldn’t recognize Jesaya’s item.

Li Ming had a rough idea, but how could he resist seizing an opportunity to benefit?

Ulrich, too, couldn’t simply ask for it outright since he was a Class A life form and cared about face.

He keenly controlled Ulrich’s mentality; this collector wasn’t a fool. He wouldn’t really treat him as a mere tool, as that would backfire.

Rather, through subtle oppression and occasional benefits, both sides pulled each other along, making him work for him.

In other words, as long as he didn’t touch his bottom line, Ulrich could only hold back.

The moment Jesaya passed the triangular metallic block, Li Ming’s heart moved —

[Mechanical Knight Core—Consumable: Internal upgrade module of a mechanical transformation body.

Control Conditions: One million metal energy

Control Effect—Career Enhancement: Enhances related professions of the knight class.]

Mechanical Knight? Career enhancement?

Li Ming was quite astonished; it was indeed a fine item.

"Hmm... this is..." Li Ming examined it thoroughly from top to bottom, seemingly indecisive.

Jesaya smiled confidently, with the vastness of the universe, even a great mechanic had specializations.

He was more proficient in mechanical body transformations; this item, too, was something he had acquired by chance and took a long time to understand its function.

Without relevant knowledge, a great mechanic would not be able to identify its function at a glance.

"This seems to be something used on a mechanical transformation body?" Li Ming said, looking up uncertainly as if verifying.

Jesaya’s expression stiffened, his mechanical pupils racing.

"Ha..." Ulrich, seeing the change in Jesaya’s expression, felt assured, but then remembered, even if Li Ming figured it out, the item would not belong to him, and his expression sank again.

"And then..." Jesaya’s face expressionless, "That’s not enough."

"I can only tell it’s some kind of module, a part of high-grade mechanical transformations, used for enhancement?" Li Ming said helplessly, "I’m not very proficient in mechanical transformations, I can only see this much."

Not very proficient? Jesaya’s face changed, he himself was a mechanical transformation body and had taken a long time to figure out its rough function.

This guy figured it out at a glance?

"This item is yours," Jesaya said gravely, neither insisting on a detailed explanation nor wanting to lose face by demanding the name.

At the same time, a great curiosity arose towards the person before him.

The term ’great mechanic’ is generic, with varying extents of proficiency; if this person was truly a great mechanic, his level must not be low, so how had he fallen into Ulrich’s hands?