I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 1

- Oliver -

Oliver straightened his suit, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Time to buy some mechs."

As he passed through the grand hall entrance, Oliver was greeted with the breathtaking sight of the hotel's convention center. It was almost impossible to believe that all of this was on the seventieth floor if not for the enormous glass panes showcasing the city sprawling below. The sheer scale and opulence made it feel as though he had stepped into another world suspended high above the ground.

Oliver walked slowly through the entrance, his senses overwhelmed by the spectacle before him. Throughout the vast hall, dozens of stands housed mechs and vendors. Curious visitors stopped at each display to snap photos and learn about the mechs, while affluent magnates engaged in conversation with the sellers. The air vibrated with a palpable electricity, mingling with the animated murmur of the crowd. Giant screens projected cinematic images of the mechs.

Reaching the first booth, Oliver stood motionless for a moment, his eyes wide as they reflected the mech towering before him. The machine seemed almost alive; the intense sheen of its metallic armor captured and refracted the hall's shimmering lights. Its cockpit was slightly open, revealing the sophisticated cabin within.

"Unicorn-S1 - First Generation. Created for colony defense, now accessible for any population expansion mission," read a pristine plaque beside the mech.

Next to the mech stood two androids that Oliver could only describe as the epitome of beauty. They appeared designed to captivate, enticing every passerby to take a second look at the magnificent machine. Their synthetic grace and alluring presence added an otherworldly charm to the display.

The saleswoman approached Oliver with a confident stride, her mechanical eyes gleaming with a rehearsed enthusiasm as she gestured grandly toward the towering steel giant beside her.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Unicorn-S1. The pinnacle of military engineering!" Her voice echoed across the stand, seizing the attention of everyone nearby. "This is not just a mech. It's a mobile fortress. Observe the armor composed of reinforced titanium-ceramic alloy, engineered to withstand high-caliber explosions and even assaults from Red Ork forces. Nothing penetrates this hull."

She took several broad steps around the mech's massive leg, her gaze sweeping over the captivated audience. "Take note of the limb articulation," she continued. "Developed with dynamic hydraulic movement technology, it grants unprecedented agility for a colossus of this magnitude. It can dodge tactical missiles and counterattacks before the enemy realizes what's happening!"

A prideful glint crossed her face as she pointed to the weapon mounted on the mech's right arm. "Behold the HX-9 Vulcan assault machine gun. Capable of firing two thousand projectiles per minute. And if you require something a bit more… devastating, the precision missile launcher is just above, equipped with AI-assisted targeting."

Turning to the crowd, her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, as if sharing a closely guarded secret. "And do you know what truly makes the Unicorn-S1 unique? The Z Crystal Core. It keeps this giant operational for weeks on the battlefield without needing a single refuel. That's right, weeks!"

She stepped closer, her synthetic eyes scanning the onlookers' expressions of awe. "Imagine the power. Imagine the supremacy on the battlefield. This isn't just a mech. It's guaranteed victory for your mission."

A dramatic pause ensued. Then, with a sharp smile, she concluded, "So, who will be the one to conquer new planets with the Unicorn-S1?"

For a moment, Oliver found himself entertained by the flashy presentation. The sales pitch was impressive, designed to dazzle and entice. Yet, he knew enough to recognize it for what it was: a typical salesman talk. ‘First generation,’ he mused silently. ‘It might as well be a relic. The Unicorn-S1 had to be over thirty years old by now. Even if it was newly manufactured, the schematics were outdated and likely inferior to the newer generations.’

Still, Oliver drew closer to the machine, curious about its price. A hologram floated beside the mech, displaying its price.

| 250,000 Credits with a minimum purchase of 10 Unicorn-S1 units.

"What the hell?" Oliver muttered under his breath, shocked by the price. ‘That would be at least 2.5 million credits,’ he calculated.

Despite being an older model, he noticed buyers continuously approaching and negotiating with the androids. Additionally, countless people stopped to snap photos. The mech seemed to command attention regardless of its outdated status.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

For a brief moment, Oliver considered using his [Insight] ability to gather more information, but taking such a foolish risk during a mission was out of the question.

He weaved and elbowed his way through the crowd, eager to see the mech up close. There was a frenzy in the air, a mix of admiration and desire.

As he wandered through different areas, Oliver observed that mechs were commonly used primarily for defense, whether against Ork attacks or for internal security. He walked among numerous booths, watching diverse presentations and examining different mechs.

Until one, in particular, caught his eye. In a corner of the floor stood a booth much smaller than the others, with only one vendor who definitely didn't appear to be an android.

The man was dressed like an ordinary person, wearing blue jeans, a white button-up shirt, and an orange cap. There was an air of authenticity about him amidst the polished facades surrounding them.

Slowly, Oliver approached the vendor to learn a bit more, especially curious about why such a booth was so empty.

Noticing Oliver's approach, the vendor flashed a wide smile. "Hello! Welcome," he greeted warmly. "My name is Hector, and I'm the founder of Atlas." The vendor extended his hand to Oliver.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Cassius Blackstone." Oliver gave the founder a firm handshake. "I was looking at your mech. It seems quite different."

He observed that it was shorter than the others, but it featured a more advanced suspension system. Although fewer weapons were equipped, the arms were heavily reinforced to withstand significant impact.

Hector, who already seemed pleased, grew even more excited. His eyes shone with genuine enthusiasm as he ran his hand over the mech's leg, as if caressing a work of art.

"Cassius, this is the Atlas-M, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it's going to redefine asteroid mining!" His voice resonated with passion. "This mech is my masterpiece, resulting from years of hard work and sleepless nights."

He slapped the machine's knee, the sound echoing like a war drum. "It's built with reinforced joints. We've used a patented titanium-carbon alloy that can withstand the weight of dense rocks like those on Vesta without yielding a millimeter. And even with all that resilience, the mobility is unmatched. Need to turn in a tight tunnel? No problem!"

Walking over to the mech's left arm, he made a broad, almost theatrical gesture. "And the arms… Ah, these arms are what keep me up at night with excitement! Designed with a high-power hydraulic system, they can lift the equivalent of three standard ore loads in a single move. There's nothing on the market that even comes close!"

He paused dramatically, turning to face Oliver, his eyes sparkling with pride. "Now, you might be wondering: 'What about weapons?' We've set aside all that unnecessary weight. No cannons, no missiles, no military frills. Just the right tools for the job: thermal fusion drills and precision explosives. Perfect for breaking and melting rocks without destroying the ore."

Oliver listened intently, intrigued by the man's genuine passion and the mech's unique focus. Unlike the flashy combat models dominating the rest of the convention floor, this machine was built for function over form.

"You know what this means, right? Less weight. More efficiency. More profit." Hector snapped his fingers and stepped back, allowing Oliver to get a closer look at the machine.

As Oliver examined the mech's exterior, Hector pressed a button on the back of the Atlas-M, causing the cockpit to open with a smooth hiss. "You have to see this," he said eagerly. "We've rebuilt the entire operating system from scratch to provide unparalleled support for mining missions."

Oliver understood much of what Hector was explaining. Quickly, the two delved into a technical conversation, with Oliver probing deeper into the mech's functionalities and practical applications. He wanted to grasp how it operated and could be utilized effectively, or at least pretend he wanted to know.

"Hector, nice work," Oliver said in genuine admiration. "This is one of the best machines I've ever seen in this market." Though he wasn't entirely sure, Hector's information seemed solid, and the passion behind his words was undeniable.

"Thank you very much." Hector bowed his head slightly, clearly appreciative of the compliment.

"How much does it cost, and how many would I need for a mission?" Oliver inquired, aiming to gain the vendor's trust and perhaps extract more information about upcoming events.

"We currently have only three units produced," Hector admitted, scratching his head. "Unfortunately, our investment wasn't enough to produce more. For now, we're manufacturing on demand. It depends on the size of the asteroid or mine you plan to explore, but I'd recommend between three to five machines."

"Great." Oliver responded, feigning contemplation as if calculating the logistics. Glancing at the side of the Atlas-M, he spotted the price: 100,000 credits per unit. His eyes widened slightly. He had painstakingly saved 70,000 credits, so 300,000 to 500,000 credits was well beyond his means. Yet he knew that, in this industry, the price was remarkably reasonable.

"I'll need to discuss this with my investors, but I like the product." Oliver shook Hector's hand again, feeling the dampness of the man's palm.

"Ah—Mr. Cassius," Hector began, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "How about we continue our conversation during the auction?"

"Auction?" Oliver raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it's taking place in a few hours," Hector explained.

"I don't believe I have the credentials for that event," Oliver said with a casual shrug.

"N-no need to worry. I can arrange that for you." The vendor smiled confidently.

‘Jackpot!’

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