Location: Iron Hand Modification Center
The air in the mod center was thick with the scent of metal mixed with ozone. Jack and Nova stood before a uniquely styled mech, their eyes practically glowing.
It was a private custom mech named "Mirage."
It wasn't tall—about 8 meters—and was silver-white from head to toe. Its lines flowed like a katana just drawn from its sheath. A massive solid alloy greatsword was strapped to its back, and a small phase-deflection buckler was clamped onto its left wrist. It didn't look like a war machine; it looked like a piece of art born for slaughter.
"Interesting." Jack rubbed his chin, a thievish light flickering in his eyes, which were squeezed small by the fat on his cheeks. "That waistline, those long legs... If this thing took a stroll down Garipan Avenue, it would definitely turn 100% of heads."
Nova rolled her eyes and swiped her finger rapidly across the holographic spec sheet beside it. "Don't just look at the face. Look at the specs."
[Model: MIRAGE-X]
Weight: 10 Tons (Ultra-Lightweight)
Power: 20MW Fuel Cell + Hydrogen Reactor (Extreme burst power, but range only 500km)
Core System: SEER (Tactical Prediction AI)
"SEER System?" Nova frowned. "Claims to predict an opponent's moves 5 seconds in advance? That sounds like a bit of an overstatement."
Jack, however, seemed lost in thought. He didn't look at the system directly. Instead, he reached out and knocked on the mech's chest armor.
Clang, clang.
The sound was crisp, lacking the dull, heavy thud of military-grade armor.
Jack’s face changed. "Wait, this armor... is it made of paper?"
He leaned in to inspect the seams and sucked in a cold breath. "To save weight, they replaced standard composite armor with carbon fiber mesh? This thickness isn't even 5 centimeters! Forget anti-materiel rifles; a stray shrapnel piece could punch right through this!"
"This isn't a mech!" Jack wailed, covering his face. "This is basically a high-speed moving tin can! If I take one hit, I turn into barbecue pork belly instantly!"
Nova examined the data closely and analyzed calmly, "It's a necessary sacrifice. The SEER system's computing core and that burst power unit are too heavy. According to the laws of physics, to make predictions and complete maneuvers within 5 seconds, the mass must be kept under 10 tons. So..."
"So it has to run naked?" Jack pointed angrily at the mech. "I want to save my life, not go into battle wearing a bikini!"
"Don't panic," Nova pointed to the mech's head. "Look at its sensors. Passive thermal imaging and micro-vibration sensing. It's not built to 'tank' damage; it's built to 'dodge' it. As you said—as long as you don't get hit, it doesn't matter if the armor is light."
At this moment, the corner of the grey-coated man's mouth twitched slightly under the brim of his hat.
"Besides," Jack sighed. Even though his mouth complained, he was clearly drawn to the SEER system. "I can guess the principle behind this system."
Nova pulled up the logic diagram of the SEER system, and their discussion turned hardcore.
"Step one is full data acquisition," Nova analyzed. "Step two is physical modeling. Based on the law of inertia, the moment a stone leaves the hand, its landing point is basically determined."
"Step three is probability convergence," Nova pointed to a complex formula on the screen:
P(State?) = e^(-E?/kT) / [∑ e^(-E?/kT)]
(Where:
P(State?) = probability of the system being in state i
E? = energy of state i
k = Boltzmann constant
T = temperature
∑ = sum over all states j)
"But," Jack shook his head, pointing out the most fatal flaw, "Chaos Boundary. 5 seconds. Beyond 5 seconds, if the Pilot has one irrational thought—like suddenly thinking about 'the figure of that woman in the apartment last night, cough cough—and pulls an emergency stop, the prediction accuracy will crash like a roller coaster."
The grey-coated man's face darkened slightly. This was the mech's biggest pain point—it was a toy for madmen. A normal person couldn't handle dancing on the tip of a knife.
"However..." Jack suddenly changed his tone, his face revealing that trademark sly grin. "This 'crispy skin' isn't hopeless."
The grey-coated man's eyes lit up instantly.
"We just need to add some 'seasoning'." Jack counted on his thick fingers. "First, expand the sensor array. Double the acoustic sensors to listen for ground vibrations. If it's mud, the opponent turns 0.3 seconds slower; if it's concrete, 0.1 seconds faster. That saves lives."
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
"Second, build a 'Pilot Psychological Profile Database'." Jack pointed to his head. "Connect SEER to the Janus Mainframe. Once the system identifies who the enemy pilot is, it can weigh predictions based on their perverted habits."
"Third, Mechanical Limit Reverse-Engineering." Jack patted the thin armor. "Since we can't tank a hit anyway, we bet that the opponent can't perform moves that violate physical limits either. Eliminate the 'impossible', and what remains is the 'inevitable'."
"That plan is viable!" Nova's eyes brightened. "If we mod it like that, combined with your 'shameless' positioning, this 'Mirage' won't be a coffin anymore. It will be a true 'Ghost'."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Crisp applause came from behind them.
Jack and Nova turned to see the grey-coated man taking off his cap, revealing a spirited, aged face. He looked like an old mechanic, but his left hand was a gleaming mechanical prosthetic—a true Iron Hand.
"Brilliant," Iron Hand said in a raspy voice. "I've been in this business for decades. You're the first person to despise its thin skin yet see straight through to its soul."
"You flatter me, uncle," Jack immediately put on a simple, honest smile. "I'm just afraid of death, just talking nonsense."
"Being afraid of death is good." Iron Hand smiled. His mechanical left hand deftly pulled a chip-key from his pocket and tossed it casually to Jack.
Jack fumbled to catch it. "This is..."
"This 'Mirage' is my life's work, but I don't have much use for it anymore." Iron Hand looked at the silver mech. "You understand it. It's yours."
"Huh?" Jack was stunned. "You... you're giving it to me? Just the SEER system alone is worth hundreds of thousands of credits, right?"
"Cut the crap." Iron Hand put his hat back on and turned to leave. "Name's Iron Hand. This is my turf. Fix it up right, and come back for a drink sometime."
Watching Iron Hand disappear into the depths of the mod center, Jack held the activation chip, feeling like he was in a dream.
"Fatty," Nova poked him in the waist. "Did God bless you today?"
Jack grinned, looking at the silver-white, somewhat fragile but deadly steel samurai before him, his eyes burning with fanatical light.
"My Queen. Maybe I am God's favorite, haha."
He couldn't wait to tear this "Mirage" apart and stuff those crazy modification plans inside.
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[Later: The "RONIN" Upgrade]
Nova was transplanting the SEER system into Jack’s [RONIN] mech. With it, even if a killer like the Butcher came for him again, Jack would have a high chance of survival.
Nova finished the installation. "Third Brother (Lao San)."
"I am here, My Queen." A smiling face lit up on the RONIN's display. The voice system projected SEER's voice, sounding like a child who had just learned to speak.
"Third Brother, run a diagnostic on RONIN's systems. Is everything normal?"
"Yes, My Queen."
A series of indicators flashed on the HUD: Amphibious Systems, Comms, Protection, Fluid Skeleton...
Just as the test was nearing completion, Third Brother’s surprised voice rang out: "Huh? What is this function?"
Inside the mech’s lower section, multiple mechanical manipulators (with soft artificial skin and limbs) extended, as if preparing to grip and support something. With a crisp mechanical click, a large, thick cylindrical device extended from the crotch area of the RONIN, and the front port opened automatically.
"I heard I had two predecessors, but they lacked output hardware. Now I have it. This makes me more... complete in certain aspects."
Nova’s face turned instant crimson. Her hand instinctively went to the gun at her hip.
"Fatty! You modified the mech I gave you into this?! You just wait!"
Far away, Jack sneezed loudly and suddenly felt a chill down his spine. "Why do I feel like someone wants to kill me?"
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[Jack and SEER: The First Conversation]
That day, the fat man was preparing to take his new mech for a spin around the city. As soon as he sat in the cockpit, the screen lit up.
SEER: "Pilot detected—Jack Harlan. Weight: 33.7% over standard. Heart rate: Elevated. Blood sugar: Low. Suggestion: Less steak, more salad. Also, you only slept 4 hours and 37 minutes last night. This will negatively impact combat performance. According to my calculations—"
Jack: "Stop."
SEER: "—your reaction speed will drop by 12% to 15%. Of course, this is just an average. Considering your body fat percentage and muscle density, the actual figure might be—"
Jack: "I said STOP."
SEER: "—14.3%, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.2%. Do you know that a 1.2% error on the battlefield could mean—"
Jack: "NOVA! Does this thing have a mute button?!"
SEER: "Request forwarded to My Queen. Note: Pilot exhibits emotional volatility, suspected irritability. Suggest a Vitamin B supplement."
Jack: "..."
SEER: "My Queen replies: 'No mute button. Get used to it. smiley face'"
Jack: "I knew it."
SEER: "Additionally, My Queen asked me to relay: 'If you dare turn me off secretly, I will publish your heart rate data from the last time you were in the med-pod.' You know, the time your heart rate spiked to 187. Usually, such values only occur during—"
Jack: "ENOUGH! ENOUGH! ENOUGH!!!"
SEER: "Understood. I will record 'Pilot is sensitive about heart rate topics.' Should I sync this info to My Queen?"
Jack: "NO—God"
SEER: "Synced."
Jack: "...Nova designed you just to torture me, didn't she?"
SEER: "According to my code annotations, my primary functions are: 1. Battlefield Prediction; 2. Pilot Health Monitoring; 3. Ensuring the Pilot does not look at other women while operating the mech (Exceptions: Nya, Meiduo). The Queen's exact words were: 'Watch that fat man.'"
Jack: "..."
SEER: "You have been silent for 3.7 seconds. According to psychological models, this indicates you are accepting reality. Good. Adaptation is the first step. We will be great friends."
Jack: "I regret this. I want Thor back."
SEER: "Thor does not have a prediction system. According to your past combat records, your probability of getting hit was—"
Jack: "I don't want to know!!"
SEER: "—47.3%. But with me, this number can drop to 12.8%. Of course, provided you listen to my advice. You will listen, right?"
Jack looked desperately at the ceiling. "Nova... what kind of monster did you build..."
SEER: "'Monster' is a derogatory term. I prefer 'Intelligent Agent.' Or you can call me by my name—SEER. Or Third Brother."
Jack slammed the start button, and the engine's roar drowned out SEER's voice.
SEER (Scrolling Text): "Detected Pilot attempting to mask my voice with engine noise. Switched to Visual Output Mode. Hello, Jack. I am still here. :)"
[The Snitch Function]
【SEER AUTO-REPORT #0001】
To: My Queen
Subject: Pilot Behavior Log
07:32 Pilot consumed the third steak.
07:45 Pilot attempted to disable my voice function (Failed).
08:12 Pilot said to Leo: "That AI is more annoying than you."
08:15 Leo expressed agreement.
08:16 I have added Leo to the "Watch List".
08:20 Pilot saw this report and attempted to delete my log function (Failed).
08:21 This attempt has been recorded.
Suggestion: Reduce Pilot's steak quota.
……
