Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 44 Another Deal
The sensor field of Experiment 1, like a calm and silent observer, transmitted the breathtaking scenes on the rooftop of the biotechnology building back to Chen Yu's main control terminal in the desert workshop in real time in high definition and with a large amount of data annotation.

He watched as Sasha resolutely shattered the reinforced glass, her petite figure plummeting from the edge of the high-rise with an almost tragically beautiful resolve.

He witnessed how Experiment 1 efficiently executed the pre-set "loss reduction" protocol, swiftly hijacking a security drone patrolling nearby airspace, precisely adjusting its flight path, and landing beneath Sasha at the last second.

"Pfft-"

A dull thud was transmitted through the audio sensor. The drone's outer shell snapped and flew off instantly under the immense pressure, its body severely deformed, but it did indeed provide cushioning.

Sasha didn't crash directly onto the hard ground, but instead slammed heavily onto the twisted wreckage of the drone, thus avoiding an immediate death.

However, the impact of falling from a height of dozens of stories was still terrifying, and the vital signs readings transmitted by the sensors plummeted instantly: multiple bone fractures, internal bleeding, and severe concussion of the nervous system...

Subsequently, the rescue operation of Mann's team was faithfully recorded: Rebecca charged ahead like an angry female leopard, clearing the way with powerful firepower; how Mann carefully carried the dying Sasha out of the rubble; how Falco nervously performed temporary hemostasis and immobilization; and how Pila kept watch on the rear while cursing and swearing.

Throughout the process, Experiment 1 maintained a safe distance, silently hovering in the shadows, like a ghostly war correspondent, recording everything and occasionally releasing weak electronic interference to disrupt biotechnology tracking signals that might point to Mann's team.

Chen Yu watched all of this calmly, the scarlet optical lens like two bottomless ancient wells, without the slightest ripple.

Sasha's act of choosing to end his own life to protect his teammates did not stir even the slightest ripple in his mind, which had witnessed countless more brutal and grander sacrifices in the Warhammer world.

It's simply a standard loss-cutting procedure after a mission failure, a rational choice that can be quantified in a desperate situation.

He could even calmly analyze the impact coefficients of Sasha's fall angle and the mass of the cushioning material on his probability of survival.

His mindset has long been profoundly reshaped by the doctrines of the Cult of Mechanics and the survival rules of the Warhammer universe.

From a clueless transmigrator, he climbed step by step to a position just one step away from becoming a sage of the Mechanic Church. He has seen and done far more than the moral bottom line of ordinary people.

To turn former classmates into servo skulls to "preserve their knowledge and serve the will of the all-powerful god"; to order orbital bombardment of loyal troops still fighting the enemy for strategic victory or to eliminate the risk of contamination...

He wouldn't have much of a psychological barrier to making these choices when necessary.

Emotional fluctuations are considered an inefficient form of systemic disturbance and need to be managed and suppressed by strict logical protocols.

Of course, this does not mean that he has completely degenerated into a cold-blooded killing machine or a fanatical religious fanatic.

Having retained his memories from before his time travel, he deeply understands the simple truth of "being kind to others and being kind to oneself."

Provided that the costs are controllable and his core objectives are not jeopardized, he does not mind showing a certain degree of "benevolence" or providing "help".

This flexibility and pragmatism were key to his ability to not only survive after his mentor and classmates were purged on charges of heresy, but also to transfer to the Mind Control Legion and continue his advancement.

Absolute ruthlessness and occasional "warmth" are his optimal survival strategies in different situations.

Therefore, when Mann's team rushed back to the desert workshop with the critically injured Sasha, and Mann pleaded with Chen Yu for help with a hint of despair, Chen Yu's response was neither a warm promise nor a cold rejection.

He first had the servo skull perform a more detailed scan of Sasha to confirm the severity of her injuries—with the medical technology of this world, even if she survived, she would most likely be paralyzed and dependent on a life support system. The only solution would be to perform a full-body cybernetic augmentation, but this would not only be extremely expensive but also require a specialized, customized plan and long-term meticulous maintenance.

Otherwise, if one simply cobbles together a cheap, secondhand prosthetic body, the probability of developing cyberpsychosis is almost 100%.

"Her biological tissue damage rate exceeds 65%, with multiple ruptures in her nervous system and a comminuted fracture of her spine." Chen Yu's synthesized voice stated the facts calmly, revealing no emotion. "Conventional medical methods are no longer effective. To achieve complete repair, a large-scale biological structure replacement and nerve re-weaving surgery is required. This will consume my reserves of specific active biomass, precision nano-repair units, and a considerable amount of energy."

Mann's heart sank, but he sensed a glimmer of hope in Chen Yu's tone, rather than a complete verdict. He immediately said excitedly, "Boss, whatever the cost! As long as we have it, just name your price!"

Chen Yu's optical lens turned towards Mann, and the scarlet light seemed to flicker slightly.

“I don’t need your money, or those scattered ‘scrap’ materials.” He paused, as if retrieving a blueprint. “I need resources, large quantities of systematic building materials.”

High-strength concrete, structural steel beams, composite armor plates, large-scale environmental control systems, main power cables...

That's enough to clean, reinforce, and initially renovate the main structure of the 'mini Beidou' base we're standing on.

He pulled up a detailed list of supplies and projected it in front of Mann: "Bring these things here. In exchange, I will repair Sasha and restore her to a state even better than before she was injured. It's fair."

Mann gasped as he looked at the long, expensive list.

This is by no means a small amount; it is almost equivalent to the construction materials for a small military outpost.

But looking at Sasha, who was barely breathing on the medical bed, and then at Chen Yu's unwavering attitude, he nodded heavily: "Deal! We'll find a way to get these things!"

“Very good.” Chen Yu said no more and gestured for them to place Sasha on a specially made medical bed in the workshop.

Mechanical tentacles began to connect to Sasha's body, injecting life-sustaining nutrients and stabilizers to temporarily keep her alive.

For Chen Yu, this was a worthwhile deal.

The resources and time spent treating Sasha were far less than the value of the building materials on the list.

Moreover, Sasha's hacking skills, once repaired, may be even more useful to him in the future.

At the same time, this further bound the Mann team together, making them more reliant on their own technology.

As for Sasha's personal tragedy and emotional trauma? That's outside his calculations. He provides physical repairs; psychological issues are "software malfunctions" that the user needs to fix themselves.

His attention quickly shifted from this minor incident to a grander plan—to completely transform the underground base and create a laboratory that truly met the standards of a mechanical priest, a place where he could conduct in-depth research with peace of mind.

This rudimentary garage workshop on the surface could no longer meet his next needs.

(End of this chapter)