"You joined a mercenary squad? You want a weapon component for a mechanical exoskeleton?"
Song Pinxuan asked in surprise after Tang Li explained her purpose.
However, he understood after a moment's thought.
On the way to Jiang City, he had personally witnessed Tang Li single-handedly eliminate nearly two hundred people. Her combat power was extremely formidable.
Coupled with her powerful mental strength, and with the assistance of a mechanical exoskeleton, Tang Li was practically invincible.
Now that the weapon ban had been lifted, and she had heard about mercenary squads, it was only natural for her to want to join.
"Have you thought this through? Executing mercenary missions is very dangerous!"
Song Pinxuan reminded her with a frown.
Tang Li nodded upon hearing his words.
She said, "Constant ease isn't good either. Danger is how one improves their strength."
Song Pinxuan, recalling the situation in his precognitive dream over the next 30 years, nodded in agreement, "That's true."
But then, thinking of Tang Li hanging upside down by a furnace in his dream, he felt a bit uneasy.
Although, with Tang Li's current strength, it was unlikely she would end up like in the dream.
Yet, this was a precognitive dream, and the research results from his dream had already manifested in the real world, making it hard for Song Pinxuan not to worry.
After a moment of thought, he said to Tang Li, "Although you've joined a mercenary squad, you're not officially a soldier yet. There are some weapons I can't just give you without proper procedure."
As Song Pinxuan spoke, he rummaged through the laboratory and pulled out something that looked like a firearm, handing it to Tang Li.
He said, "This is a brain-controlled submachine gun, which can be mounted on your arm. Now that you're a mercenary, using it is within regulations."
Guided by Song Pinxuan, Tang Li connected the brain-controlled submachine gun to the reserved interface on her arm and indeed found that she could control it with her thoughts.
As long as she willed it, the submachine gun could fire instantly, just like her own arm, without needing to pull the trigger.
Song Pinxuan then took out something similar to a belt but thicker, and handed it to Tang Li.
He said, "This is a brain-controlled utility belt. It can store magazines, carry grenades, and more. It also has two mechanical arms that can automatically change magazines for you and also throw grenades.
"However, I don't have bullets, spare magazines, or grenades here. You can try controlling it first, and then test its functions at the mercenary guild's shooting range."
Guided by Song Pinxuan, Tang Li connected this brain-controlled utility belt to the reserved interface at her waist and discovered that she could also control the two mechanical arms on it with her thoughts.
These two mechanical arms were very simple, connected by a few metal rods. At the very front were two clamp-like devices, not quite "hands."
They were also very short, only able to operate in front of her chest and abdomen, and behind her waist, unable to reach further.
However, these two simple mechanical arms could perfectly perform actions like changing magazines and throwing grenades, and they were very flexible and powerful.
Tang Li was also very satisfied with these two mechanical arms.
She looked up at Song Pinxuan with confusion and asked, "Didn't you say you were only giving me one extra component? This brain-controlled utility belt should be the second component, right?"
Song Pinxuan blurted out, "Consider it a gift from me."
After all, he was in charge of his own laboratory now; he could give things to whomever he pleased.
"A gift for me?"
Tang Li looked at Song Pinxuan suspiciously and asked, "Why are you suddenly giving me things?"
Song Pinxuan heard this, rubbed his nose, and felt a bit puzzled himself.
After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, "Perhaps I'm just too happy about setting up my own independent laboratory."
Tang Li couldn't help but smile and shake her head at his words.
"I don't accept favors without reason. I can't just take things from you for nothing."
Song Pinxuan pondered for a moment and then said, "How about this? If you continue to help me with experiments, I'll provide you with the latest weapon components for the mechanical exoskeleton.
"My main research direction now is military mechanical exoskeletons and combat mechs.
"You're the person with the strongest mental power, and you've become a mercenary. If you participate in experiments, you can use these weapons under the guise of testing their performance.
"This way, you'll be safer when carrying out mercenary missions."
Tang Li found this suggestion agreeable and nodded in agreement.
Neither of them realized that Song Pinxuan's last sentence contained a hint of his concern for Tang Li.
"By the way, you mentioned combat mechs just now, what are those?"
Tang Li had never heard of combat mechs in her four years in the apocalypse.
Puzzled, she directly asked.