With the formal integration, Yalong Bay also made its intelligence public.

It is a military-grade submarine base that can provide the most professional logistical support for submarine-type electromechanical life. Most crucially, it's free.

The entering submarines only need to provide Light Seeds, which will allow the repair and maintenance operations within the cave to keep running.

The greater the damage, the more Light Seeds are required.

It said, "At first, I absorbed all energy expenditures myself."

"But as more and more damaged submarines came for repairs, the consumption became enormous. Relying solely on my collection of external energy, I could no longer keep up with the repair consumption, and it continuously eroded my body."

"So later I adjusted to opening up my body internally. The damaged ones could observe the trajectory of energy movement inside me, and they would understand that the entire repair process required their input of Light Seeds. This is also an attempt at external communication for me."

Zhou Yi understood.

Yalong Bay had transformed into a coin-operated self-service repair base, where the amount of Light Seeds you input depended on the severity of the problem.

It was open to all submarines, and maintenance work was both its function and a way for it to improve itself. Through diagnosing and repairing submarine after submarine, it too could gain a wealth of informational feedback, which was tangible and readable.

Zhou Yi requested to enter the cave to have a look.

Yalong Bay simply said, "Please do not affect the repair processes."

"Don't worry, I won't."

Zhou Yi, accompanied by Red Kestrel, made his way along the pier to the underwater cave area.

First, he entered the one on the far right.

This time, finally, he was not repelled.

The inner walls of the cave were illuminated by Yalong Bay, suddenly becoming clear.

In the middle was the misty Dead Sea and waterways, with accessible corridors on both sides, extending deep. The grey cement walls of the tunnels were damp and cold, the ceiling had many crisscrossing pipes, as well as some retractable rusty iron ladders.

It looked like an air-raid shelter from the wartime.

As Zhou Yi walked further inside, he saw a large metal device parked at the very back.

It spread out to both sides like melting iron, merging into one with the reinforced concrete.

To Zhou Yi, Yalong seemed like a metal structure used to seal the tunnel.

However, through the lens of Alert, Zhou Yi could still clearly see that this deformed electromechanical life emanated red light, indicating its body strength was a genuine B-level or even higher.

The Death Light it emitted covered the entire cave, spreading in all directions.

"Indeed, it's a Half-Enlightened Body."

Red Kestrel, hovering to one side, said, "The Recursive City database only has two cases similar to it; this has been named 'Coupling Half-Enlightened Body', which is extremely rare."

"A Coupling Half-Enlightened Body forms a de facto symbiotic structure with another living entity in the outside world. If one of them changes, it can affect the other to undergo a similar change, as well as transfer energy from one body to the other."

What Zhou Yi cared about was, "Are there any risks?"

"It can be viewed as an external Guangna Organ of Yalong Bay, which itself has degenerated to functional structure and possesses no autonomous control or cognitive abilities."

That was reassuring.

Zhou Yi placed his hand on Yalong's surface, feeling a coarse and tight texture through his skin.

Its surface had accumulated a thick layer of Light Soot Sand.

Zhou Yi asked Red Kestrel, "Is this the result of natural absorption?"

"Yes."

The drone advisor said, "Electromechanical life that frequents the Dead Sea all face similar issues. Light Soot Sand has a certain affinity for Death Light, and while electromechanical life absorb Death Light for energy conversion, they also adhere some Light Soot Sand to their exteriors."

"It's a natural protective layer, reducing direct radiation of Death Light to various life forms. Species like Sheng Snake would intentionally create an external layer of Light Soot to better protect themselves."

"But an overly thick Light Soot layer can obstruct the operation of Light Imprint Structures, leading to short-circuiting or excessive transmission losses for electromechanical life. Typically, ship-like electromechanical life in the Dead Sea would regularly clean their hulls; I have never seen such a severe Light Soot blockage before."

After obtaining Yalong Bay's permission, Zhou Yi decided to clean it a bit.

He summoned the Sheng Snakes, issuing the command.

These gluttonous snake-like creatures crawled all over, scraping the thick Light Soot from the submarine's surface. As a large amount of black sand rustled off, the Half-Enlightened electromechanical life underneath appeared a little more slender.

Even so, its form remained highly distorted, with none of the streamlined or teardrop shapes of a submarine, nor any visible text or imagery on its surface.

On the other hand, Yalong Bay's reaction was intense.

"This is a peculiar and brand new experience."

"The buoyancy and operation of my body have become much lighter and faster, if I move now, my speed should be much faster than before!"

"Thank you for the cleaning! This is the first time I've received external maintenance."

Glad to be of help.

Zhou Yi input energy into Yalong.

The energy did indeed enter the strange submarine bit by bit, but no matter what he said, there was no response.

This result was also expected.

Zhou Yi just thought, since he was already here, trying wouldn't cause any loss.

So he turned around and left, heading towards the Sea God located in the Second Cave.

The interior structures of the caves were all the same, the difference being that a genuine submarine was suspended inside.

It was shaped like an elongated water droplet, with a cross-shaped tail fin.

Red Kestrel measured, the "Sea God" was 66.4 meters long and 6.2 meters wide, estimated to be able to accommodate 20-30 people.

Apart from some superficial scratches, its exterior had no obvious cracks or damage.

One geometric line of white light after another lit up on the tunnel wall, each of these lines connecting with the Sea God; they would flash every ten seconds like some sort of specific breathing light.

Yalong Bay explained, "The problem lies within its internal structure; all the repairs that could be done here have been completed, but it still has not shown any signs of self-consciousness revival or awakening movements, which is somewhat similar to the situation with the Yalong."

Zhou Yi immediately checked with Red Kestrel, "Are there any normal electromechanical lives that have degenerated into Half-Enlightened Bodies due to severe injuries?"

"Yes."

The drone said, "Although the structure of electromechanical life is different from flesh and blood life, it also requires a carrier that meets basic conditions. If the carrier's damage exceeds the threshold and it's not repaired in time, it will lead to the life losing its stable state, resulting in irreversible control loss and disorder; a Half-Enlightened Body is such a result."

Had the Sea God turned into a vegetative ship?

Zhou Yi tried infusing energy.

It worked.

But he also could not communicate.

Any information sent was like a stone sinking into the sea.

He could only go back and let Jacob give it a try.

...

Zhou Yi arrived at the last cave's exterior.

This time he was extra careful and cautious, as the electromechanical life inside was intact, merely undergoing repairs and maintenance.

Zhou Yi courteously said at the tunnel entrance, "Hello, I am the chairman of the Wasteland Development Company."

"This Yalong Bay Submarine Base belongs to our company's staff, and I would like to conduct a follow-up investigation to further improve and upgrade our processes... May I ask if you're still satisfied with the services here?"

A loud and rough voice came from inside, "Satisfied, definitely satisfied. So there is an organization behind this place... You aren't planning to bait us with free services only to suddenly start charging for the Light Seed, are you?"

Zhou Yi's smile stiffened.

This indeed was something he had considered.

Zhou Yi said, "Our company's position on Yalong Bay is as a non-profit project; other than the Light Seeds needed for specific repairs like now, there are no other plans for charges."

"So kindhearted? Sounds a bit fake," the other party was skeptical.

"Yalong Bay maintains and repairs the electromechanical lives of external submarines, which also allows for some growth; that's one point. The second is to attract more electromechanical lives to experience and give feedback, to better promote our Wasteland Development Company."

It wasn't that Zhou Yi didn't want to make a profit, but the actual situation didn't allow it.

Yalong Bay Base itself refused commercial operation; it was a beacon attracting various submarines to come. Just having various submarines arrive outside of Jade City would bring many invisible benefits.

They would serve as a deterrence to the various forces around the Dead Sea; the submarines could also spread the company's name and gather intelligence on the different areas of the Dead Sea, which would be convenient for hiring them later on.

"Then I'll just have to believe that. I guess you aren't lying, or else you wouldn't be able to get in here."

The voice inside spoke, "This... Chairman, St. Petersburg is thoroughly grateful for the many years of care, and I will never forget the help provided to my friends from St. Petersburg. Come in and talk, my loudspeaker isn't very good, it hasn't been changed for a long time, mainly because there hasn't been much use for it."

Zhou Yi then proceeded inside with Red Kestrel.

Under the tunnel illumination, the submarine inside was cigar-shaped, similar in length to the Sea God but somewhat more robust and wider. Its surface sported a meticulously assembled metal structure, and white steam was emerging from the open bridge on top.

It too was entwined and connected by numerous white lights to the inner wall, with welding-like flashes occasionally lighting up the vessel's surface.

"St. Petersburg conveys its sincere gratitude to you."

The electromechanical submarine spoke through the damaged loudspeaker.

"I have a small suggestion; there are too few berths here, the two berths next to us are perpetually occupied by those two guys, leaving only one berth open to others. I was lucky this time to find this place first. I've had quite a tough time fighting for a berth before, me and a few others have fought over it several times."

"The berth situation is too pressing; you should develop a couple more, to prevent them from being insufficient."

Zhou Yi said, "I will look into the situation first."

He inquired with Yalong Bay.

"Expansion requires a massive energy supply and to temporarily cease all other functions while in full status to build; it will need to consume 300% of the body's energy."

This was not a problem, as he could recharge it with the Light Blocker.

Zhou Yi somewhat relaxed.

"Mr. St. Petersburg."

"Don't call me 'mister,' we are friends, and friends should call each other by name. Zhou Yi, speak frankly."

The other party introduced himself, "Me, St. Petersburg, a B-class electromechanical life, proficient in infiltration and long-distance sniping of enemies, profession is mercenary, currently employed by the Sea Lord 'Lord Dominator'. Previously, due to sustaining severe injuries after intense frontline battles, I am currently in a healing state. My service period is this winter, so, for now, I am still in the recuperating phase of work processes."

B-class mercenary.

Zhou Yi was intrigued, "How much would it cost to hire you?"

The other party was discontented, "Don't talk to me about price. Zhou, you and this place, Yalong Bay, are friends to St. Petersburg. If a friend encounters difficulties, St. Petersburg will help resolve them. Friendship is all about mutual aid."

Such high-mindedness, brother.

Zhou Yi reflected internally.

He hadn't expected to uncover such a battle-ready ally in this way.

Yalong Bay's network value was beginning to reveal itself.