Built by Haian

"One point one million!" "Are you for real, godfather? You aren't messing with me?" After Ji Jue repeated the figure, the entire venue erupted. Even the most aloof and biased media outlets couldn't contain themselves and screamed out loud. Faces flushed crimson in euphoric roars. Naturally, mixed within the noise were the furious curses of competitors and the wrathful bellows of Shang Tongwen. Yet no one cared anymore. One point one million? What a deal! An unbelievable steal! If you dropped 1.1 million on an ordinary pickup truck just to haul freight, the boys might laugh behind your back at your awful spending habits. But if you dropped 1.1 million to bring home an armored off-road beast that was genuinely bulletproof and could be radically modified to pack heavy firepower, the boys would be weeping tears of envy... Fuck, why didn't you bring me along?! Forget civilian use; with just a few minor tweaks, this thing could enter military procurement bidding! The Warhorse—the most common vehicle of its kind currently serving in the Mid-Continent—cost more than 4.4 million per unit in bulk purchases, and that didn't include a single spare part or accessory. Here, for that price, you could haul four barebones models back home! So, big brother, are you sure as hell not my long-lost godfather? At this moment, in the wilderness outside city limits, countless scrappers squatting on rooftops holding antennas to catch a signal were bawling their eyes out. Some were even preparing to fill their tanks and race straight toward Yacheng. "Please don't rush, friends. We will release the order hotlines and links shortly." In the near-boiling workshop, Ji Jue raised both hands and gently pressed them down. Once the deafening noise receded slightly, he delivered his final announcement: "To give back for everyone's longstanding support, and to thank our families in the livestream and on site, we're also offering an upgraded Golden Collector's Enhanced Edition—the Signature Edition Radish, starting at a base price of 1.15 million! "Configuration-wise, there isn't much difference. Well, other than an exclusive Haian signature in the paint. Besides that, as a token of our gratitude, we'll also throw in an eighty-one-piece maintenance and care kit. "Beyond screwdrivers, wrenches, spare parts, specialized wash towels, water sprayers, and similar tools... well, it also includes a little gadget to help customers handle field repairs. "For instance..." He paused, glancing behind him. "A specialized power-assist system to aid buyers in hauling freight and pushing disabled vehicles—the 'Chili'!" The moment the words left his mouth, three workers clad in Haian uniforms walked out from backstage. Every single one was a spindly matchstick Ji Jue had handpicked from the factory floor—scrawny, frail, and utterly devoid of muscle. Right now, their movements were sluggish, crawling toward the front of the stage like turtles. At the same time, they displayed the crimson metal skeletons strapped along their spines, branching down their limbs, and enveloping their entire bodies! The whirring hum of engines and the grating friction of gears rang out distinctly. Driven by continuous power, the three men moved forward like stiff wooden puppets, one step after another, stepping down from the stage and marching right through the center aisle. Finally, under the watchful gaze of the entire audience, they gathered around the Radish parked outside the perimeter. Bending at the waist, they applied force in unison. The whine of machinery peaked instantly as hydraulic rods extended. In a flash, the metallic frames along their spines, waists, and legs locked solid, bracing the massive weight. A Radish weighing over three net tons was actually hoisted into the air by three scrawny workers working together. Right before everyone's eyes, they slowly hauled it back onto the stage. The moment they released their grip and the vehicle touched down, the crowd erupted into a tidal wave of cheers. The three workers raised their hands; their palms showed neither pressure marks nor grease stains. Then, right in front of the crowd, they toggled the accidental-touch safety and engaged the single-touch quick release. The crimson exoskeleton systems stood upright on their own like metal sentries. Free of camouflage or pretense, they laid their mechanical anatomy bare. Beneath the spotlights, they gleamed brightly. The gleam illuminated eyes that had once been lost in the dark, instantly blurring the vision of countless scrappers with welling tears. They had been wrong. All wrong. This wasn't a godfather! This was their real, flesh-and-blood father! In that instant, to countless scrappers and nomads, Ji Jue was a savior descended from the heavens, and Haian was the only true answer! Now, all everyone wanted was to spam '1' in the chat, gently asking their big brother: Is it really free? It's getting cold—do you need an extra layer of clothes? Below the stage, reporters and press members stretched their arms high, barely able to contain their impatience. Ji Jue pointed at one at random. The reporter immediately stood up with a microphone and asked, "Mr. Ji, does the debut of the heavy-duty off-road Radish and this exoskeleton signal that Haian Auto Works is re-entering the military-industrial sector? "Do you intend to compete directly against other enterprises on the same battlefield?" "Huh?" Ji Jue looked bewildered, completely baffled. "What on earth are you talking about?! We're making field transport vehicles and maintenance tools!" "But that exoskeleton..." "Please take note: our design is a power-feedback assistive system built to help heavy laborers haul heavy materials. It is not an exoskeleton in the conventional sense." Ji Jue corrected solemnly, "Our products are strictly forbidden from being used in conflicts or military domains! Haian Auto Works has always been a private enterprise dedicated to civilian livelihood. Serving society has always been our greatest wish and purpose..." Bullshit! Absolute, utter dog shit! At that moment, in the conference room of Echo Tech-Industry, aside from Shang Tongwen's ragged, furious breathing, the room was dead silent. Not an exoskeleton? Who the fuck are you trying to fool?! This was nothing more than an unholy patchwork cobbled together from a dozen exoskeleton blueprints pulled straight out of the Military Department's database, with the specifications slashed so badly that even its mother wouldn't recognize it—a stripped-down, budget monkey-model! Its agility and mobility had been dialed down to the absolute bare minimum, stripped of the original wind-like swiftness. Then, keeping the structural frame intact, all the power was routed into a few fixed mechanical lifting motions... No matter how much he spun it, one fact remained unchanged: this damn thing was an exoskeleton! Just like that armored off-road vehicle disguised as a pickup truck, no matter how barebones an exoskeleton was, it was still an exoskeleton! This was an outright repackaging of military tech for civilian use—reincarnated beyond recognition on the outside, yet structurally identical to its core! And it was blatantly ripped off from Echo Tech-Industry's designs! "Say something! What are you all standing around for?!" He snapped his eyes toward the attendees. "Can't we sue them?!" "...Uh, well, you see..." An engineer hesitated. "Generally speaking, there are really only four or five structural frameworks for exoskeletons. Minor details differ, but fundamentally they're mostly identical. Patent law won't support claims based purely on fundamental structural similarities." Besides, even if they could pursue it, they couldn't afford to sue! If such a lawsuit succeeded, almost every enterprise in the Federation would find itself in jeopardy. Over the years, everyone copied one another back and forth, generating countless 'micro-innovations' through mutual plagiarism. If you sued someone today, they could turn right around and nail you tomorrow! Were they clean of knockoffs? Had they never borrowed from competitors? Worst of all, to sue for copyright infringement and patent theft, you had to first admit that they had copied you... With Ji Jue's budget configuration cobbled into an unrecognizable mess, forget Echo Tech-Industry—even if lawyers from Universal Heavy Industries showed up, they'd curse in disgust: *What kind of garbage is this? Don't associate your junk with us!* Even if infringement were proven, the humiliation would fall entirely on themselves—if someone tried to copy you and ended up with such an ungodly contraption, didn't that mean your original design had serious issues? Furthermore, Ji Jue wasn't even selling it directly. From start to finish, it was presented as a gift bundled with the Haian Signature Edition. It was just like those mobile games where buying a useless avatar frame and trinket rewarded you with a handful of coins that just happened to be used for gacha pulls... He had minimized risk to the utmost degree, walking right along the legal boundary from the very start! Meanwhile, on the livestream feed, Ji Jue had already begun explaining the design philosophy of the 'Chili' and the potential extended models slated for the future. While his competitors looked on in stunned disbelief, he transitioned into the stage everyone was most familiar with: painting grandiose visions. A total of three configurations: small, medium, and large. Beyond the medium load-assist system included as a gift, a large load-assist system with enhanced flexibility—designed specifically for moving massive heavy equipment and cargo—was currently undergoing testing. It was far bulkier and more formidable than the medium variant, completely encasing the user. It supported multi-unit synchronized operations, purpose-built for industrial production, effectively eliminating the hazards frontline workers faced when handling massive machinery and heavy loads. As for the small variant, it completely dispensed with phlogiston, running entirely on battery power and an electric auxiliary motor. It was even more stripped-down than the medium model; having shed all load-bearing and heavy-lifting capabilities, it achieved what could only be called modest flexibility. And the live demonstration for this model was handed over to... Yan Jian in his wheelchair! Under everyone's gaze, Yan Jian—his limbs fractured and still encased in plaster casts—was carried onto the stage. With assistance, simple clasps were fastened to his feet, and an ultralight exoskeleton weighing under ten kilograms settled onto his frame. Once the simple assembly was complete, the power switched on. Straps tightened, and artificial muscle bundles enclosed his limbs from the outside, bracing him as he stood up from the wheelchair once again. Right before the eyes of the entire world! In that instant of solemn silence, soft gasps of realization rippled through the hall. "This is what I truly wanted to share with everyone at this launch event," Ji Jue said softly. "Unlike the medium and large assist systems, this model adopts an independent design and philosophy, catering to an entirely different application scenario and user base. "As you have surely realized by now, its purpose is to serve as a prosthetic." Using the prosthetic leg he had once crafted for Xiao An as a baseline, he had fleshed out the transmission spine, added a power drive system, and designed modular arms that could be optionally configured. Driven by pure force-feedback, as long as a person could exert the slightest movement, they could function as normal. Even bedridden, frail patients or amputees missing limbs could closely approximate the mobility of able-bodied individuals. Even if it required recharging, even if there remained countless inconveniences, it still allowed them to briefly step away from the sickbed or wheelchair, bathing in the sunlight alongside everyone else. Walking freely. "The debut of a new model and product must undergo market testing and real-world use to better remedy flaws and serve users. Therefore, this auxiliary power prosthesis will not be sold in the near term," Ji Jue stated slowly. "To assist more people with mobility impairments and bring aid to those in need, we will partner with the Church of Chongguang, the Yacheng Veterans Club, and the Haizhou Disabled Persons Mutual Aid Association to open application channels. Starting today, we are opening testing slots. "We estimate three thousand spots. All friends participating in the trial will unconditionally receive a replacement for the finalized production version once three months of testing conclude and manufacturing begins. Moving forward, maintenance and on-site repairs will remain completely free of charge. "As long as Haian stands, no—as long as I am still here, regardless of any corporate restructuring or changes in ownership, I promise this will never change." He paused, glancing at Yan Jian, who was awkwardly stepping forward. With a warm smile, he offered the cue card in his hand. "As for the official retail price, I'd like to invite Haian Auto Works' most vital team member and engineer, as well as its very first tester, my friend Yan Jian, to announce it to you all." Amid the silence, only the faint hum of electric motors purred. Supported by the assistive prosthesis, Yan Jian took a slightly halting step forward. Feeling the gaze of every camera and every eye in the room, his lips trembled. Overcome with sudden nervousness, he stared at the cue card in silence for a long moment before letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Seven thousand three hundred yuan," he announced bluntly. "That was our original projected price. After all, batteries aren't cheap, and machining isn't easy. There are plenty more reasons, but none of them truly matter. "Having once been a fully capable person who was suddenly reduced to a wheelchair, unable even to eat or use the toilet without help, I truly experienced the agony of physical limitation and helplessness. "As everyone can see, it isn't as miraculous or flawless as you might imagine. There's still a mountain of problems and obstacles to overcome. Yet I believe that in the future, every issue can be solved step by step through technology. "Except for one thing we cannot solve: its users might not be as fortunate as me to have a chance at recovery. Many may never walk like an able-bodied person again for the rest of their lives... "And so, regarding the price, its designer and creator, Mr. Ji Jue, reached an understanding with me. "It could be cheaper. Even cheaper. The cheaper, the better!" Yan Jian drew a deep breath, suppressing the trembling excitement in his chest as he fought to keep his voice steady. "Therefore, before coming on stage, we reached a final decision during our last discussion: we resolved to carry this forward as a genuine charitable endeavor. "Our thanks go to the Queshi Group for supplying parts at cost, and to the Church of Chongguang for donating designated charitable funds. "Finally, I thank Mr. Ji Jue for granting me the honor of announcing this decision—" With that, Yan Jian raised his hand and tore away the final cover sheet from the cue card, displaying it before the cameras and all who bore witness: "—Its final determined retail price is five thousand one hundred yuan!" Amid countless stunned and thunderstruck gazes, Yan Jian's face flushed crimson as he babbled incoherently, "Thank you, everyone. Thank you for your support. I hope it can meet all the friends who need it as soon as possible. "And I hope that moving forward, Haian Auto will always walk by your side... "Thank you! Thank you all! Thank you, thank you!" By the end, he could no longer hold back his tears, his voice breaking into choked sobs. Perhaps it was the lingering ache of fractured bones, perhaps the agonizing torment of waiting and suffering through those dark years, or perhaps the sheer joy of finally seeing a fresh start, finally creating lasting value once more... There were far too many reasons to cry. So much so that amid the thunderous applause and deafening cheers, he broke down completely. Lowering his head, he awkwardly raised a hand to wipe his tears, turning to leave. Yet before he could turn around, a hand caught his shoulder. "Stand tall, Engineer Yan. It isn't time for your exit just yet." Ji Jue patted his shoulder and held him close. Raising his hand once more into the unstoppable storm of cheers and applause, he waved. He waved toward the crowd before them, and toward the wider world beyond. Proud and triumphant, he showcased everything he had brought into being. At that very moment, far away in Midtown. Inside the director's reception lounge at the Federation Security Bureau, that radiant smile beamed from the television screen. The curling steam rising from a cup of tea blurred Lyu Yingyue's features. On the sofa, a robust, white-haired elder gazed quietly at the broadcast. After a long silence, he let out a soft, admiring sigh. "In the prime of his youth, fierce and dazzling. A truly brilliant young talent." He paused, turning his eyes toward Lyu Yingyue across from him. "In the words of Embers... he would be considered a flawless piece of jade, wouldn't he?"