Ironclad: How can hand-crafted knight belts not be considered genius?

"If you're that interested, how about we set up a special defense section for you, and you become the head of that section?"

The Black Tower doll crossed its arms over its chest and spoke in a somewhat joking manner.

Jiang Ning scratched his cheek.

"Defense Section...Captain?"

Jiang Ning was not fooled by this seemingly cool and impressive title. To put it bluntly, what is the head of the defense department? Isn't he just a security captain?

Trying to trick him into working? Even a dog wouldn't do that!

But seeing the Black Tower doll's intrigued expression, Jiang Ning tentatively spoke up:

"Um...that sounds pretty good. What's the compensation like? Is there a salary?"

The black tower doll pondered for a moment, then spoke.

"Are you satisfied with a reason not to throw you into space and turn you into space debris for now?"

Jiang Ning's body trembled, and his hair stood on end.

"Let's do it! The head of the defense department will certainly live up to Ms. Black Tower's expectations!"

After saying this, Jiang Ning even gave a standard military salute to show his loyalty.

"Then it's settled."

The Black Tower Doll didn't give Jiang Ning a chance to back out. It pulled out a purplish-black crystal card from behind its back and tossed it to Jiang Ning.

"This is the access card for the Black Tower Space Station. With it, you can move freely throughout the entire Black Tower Space Station."

Oh. Except for my office; nobody can get in there without my permission.

Jiang Ning played with the purplish-black access card with gold foil patterns in his hand, examining it closely.

It must be said that Ms. Black Tower has a truly remarkable sense of taste.

Even a simple access card is designed with such exquisite detail.

"Alright, I've given you everything. I'll be going now."

"You actually took this genius so much time... You should feel honored."

Jiang Ning dared not refute, quickly stood at attention, and watched the Black Tower doll walk out of the laboratory.

After confirming that the Black Tower puppet had left, Jiang Ning patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Finally, we've sent this giant Buddha statue away..."

Jiang Ning pulled the "steaming" [doll] energy bottle from his pocket and fell into deep thought.

"To gain the appreciation of a genius like Black Tower... I really don't know if this is good luck or bad luck..."

As Jiang Ning toyed with the purplish-black energy bottle in his hand, a massive amount of information surged through his mind.

Currently, it seems that Estád and Alan have not been spotted on the Black Tower space station.

Considering the current state of the space station just revealed by the Black Tower Doll, the [Star Core] has only just been contained.

In other words, the current timeline seems to be far before the main storyline began.

"Hmm...that's good, this gives me plenty of time to develop new equipment."

Jiang Ning took out the remaining nine blank energy bottles one by one from his pocket and arranged them on the table.

Thinking this, Jiang Ning opened the system panel in his mind and brought up the familiar [Creative Riders] technology tree page.

[Tron] Tech Achievements - [Energy Bottle Grand Slam!]: After becoming familiar with the basic usage of energy bottles, you urgently need to collect more energy bottles!

Achievement Quest Requirement: Craft a brand new 1/10 scale Energy Bottle.

"Let's put everything else aside for now and get the task at hand done first."

Hmm... This is a good opportunity to familiarize myself with the structure and layout of the Black Tower space station.

Jiang Ning put away the empty energy bottle on the table, got up and walked out of the laboratory where he had been for nearly a week.

Stepping out of the heavy alloy door, Jiang Ning took a deep breath of the outside air.

Ah——~

It's so wonderful to have fresh air without chemical gases and reagent fumes!

Jiang Ning took out a grayish-white energy bottle from his pocket, held it in his hand, and twisted the cap to play with it.

It must be said that the real thing and the toy are completely incomparable; at least in terms of feel, the real thing is much heavier.

"I need to try and get the best combination... Let me think about what I should collect..."

Jiang Ning gazed at the various strange and wonderful plants and fell into deep thought.

Energy bottles related to plants in my memory...

[Rose] and [Helicopter] are a pair.

Okay, now the goal is clear.

Jiang Ning looked up at the room enclosed by transparent glass at the corner.

Speaking of which, isn't this the plant cultivation room?

I happened to be there collecting materials and also taking a break.

Jiang Ning wandered among all kinds of exotic flowers and plants, his eyes quickly scanning each one.

"Ah—! No!"

…When will this search ever end?

Jiang Ning scratched his head impatiently.

A singing sunflower, a pea that spits at passersby, a mushroom that shrinks away when it sees people...

He had seen all sorts of bizarre plants, but he couldn't find the ordinary rose he wanted.

"Speaking of which, doesn't this huge plant cultivation room have a single manager?"

Jiang Ning plopped down on the ground, looked around the empty plant cultivation room, and scratched his head helplessly.

Just then, I suddenly heard a "whoosh whoosh whoosh" gliding sound.

An electronic voice rang in Jiang Ning's ears.

"Hello—I am Assistant Instructor Number 1 from the Black Tower Space Station. How can I help you?"

Jiang Ning looked back and saw a pure white UFO-shaped hovering robot floating in the air, with a lifelike image on its black display screen—□_□?

"You should have told me there was a robot assistant..."

Jiang Ning pushed off with both feet and sprang to his feet.

Jiang Ning spoke up and stated his request. After a few seconds of the circle @ appearing on the black display screen of Assistant 1, it began to lead the way for Jiang Ning.

A few minutes later, Jiang Ning looked at the brand-new magenta [rose] energy bottle in his hand and smiled.

He raised his hand and gently patted Assistant No. 1 on the head.

"Thanks a lot, bro, that was a huge help!"

"(^O^) I'm glad to help you."

Jiang Ning rested his chin on his hand and circled around Assistant No. 1.

Robot... robot!

"Brother, don't turn around, don't move, I have something urgent to do, I'll be right there."

Jiang Ning took out an empty energy bottle from his pocket again, twisted off the cap, and aimed it at Assistant No. 1.

A moment later, a silver-gray [robot] energy bottle also appeared in his hand.

Looking at the achievement quest progress of [3/10] displayed on the system panel in his mind, Jiang Ning's gaze toward Assistant No. 1 became even more intense.

"Bro, can you provide navigation to other places?"

Assistant No. 1 responded upon hearing this.

"Of course, this is my job as a mentor's assistant."

Upon receiving a reply, Jiang Ning's lips curled into a smile.

"What else is there to say? Lead the way! Um...seriously, why have you been facing away from me the whole time, bro?"

"Because you just told me not to turn around."

Assistant 1 replied in a serious voice.

"...You're...quite obedient?"

.........

Around two system hours later, Jiang Ning, led by Assistant No. 1, toured almost the entire Black Tower Space Station.

With a guide leading the way and the highest-level access card, Jiang Ning moved freely throughout the Black Tower Space Station, like a dragon soaring through the water.

Jiang Ning returned to his laboratory and arranged the ten brand-new energy bottles he had collected in a row, admiring them as if they were works of art.

"Hehe, mission accomplished!"

In his mind, Jiang Ning opened the system panel.

The latest achievement is already shining brightly, quietly waiting for Jiang Ning to claim the reward.

[TronRider] Technological Achievements - [Energy Bottle Grand Slam!] (Completed)

Congratulations, host, you have received the following rewards: Knight Technology Points*3, White Metal Plate*1.

Special item Pandora's Box unlock progress [1/6]