Post-Match Bonus
The crowd did not stay in the pollution area of Keze Floating Island for too long. With a symbolic cough from Shen Xingtang, everyone understood the subtle implication. As soon as the interview was over, KID packed up and rushed to catch the flight. They left so quickly that some media personnel were stuck outside the venue and couldn't find anyone.
The Mecha Alliance also improved the data sunk on the Star Network after the elimination match. This Mecha pilot, once protected at multiple levels due to being a minor, has now completely appeared in the public eye.
This interview with KID also spread on the Star Network. Sink's response to the retirement issue explained the reasons for retiring. Many well-known solo professional Mecha pilots on the Star Network reposted the video from the official interview. Instead of reducing the previous popularity on the Star Network, this interview made many solo Mecha fans unable to resist and focused their attention on this young Mecha pilot again.
[I've been watching KID's previous matches during these days, and I've also seen the footage from the maintenance area.]
[Sigh, I've exported the footage of the Qiu Jin Black Hole and watched it many times.]
[I didn't know Sink would do maintenance before. How young is he? What can't he do?]
Previously, they only focused on Sink's achievements in solo battles. But now, with the revelation of this mysterious solo king, fans suddenly realized how little they knew about him. Questions arose, like what Sink did before participating in solo battles, how he developed the maintenance skills showcased with KID last season, and when he entered KID's team and achieved such efficient coordination with KID as a Mecha pilot.
This is no longer just a matter of solo battles and attacking medic types but spans both solo and team battle realms. With the efficient cooperation in the Forest Pursuit Battle, KID directly entered the field of view of many Mecha bases. Discussions about them have rivaled the current best-performing Gale Base in the elimination matches.
[You guys haven't seen the videos of netizens exposing virtual battlefield attacks on medic types. Sink may have more than one way to attack medic types!]
[KID's weapon arsenal seems to be richer.]
[Although their performance in the elimination matches has both highlights and embarrassing points to be criticized, they are really working hard!]
Sink's attack on medic types, Lucy's enhanced cannon, and KID's coordination with two long-range attacks, Yan's counter-damage shield, and Empty Shock Blade... Netizens found that although KID might be poor, compared to the chaos of the past, their overall strength has almost improved significantly. Two years ago, KID was a Mecha base on the verge of dissolution, but now, they persevered through poverty, relying on the profits from their online store to support the base. In situations that others didn't pay attention to, they have already reached this level.
After watching these, netizens suddenly understood KID's looting behavior during the elimination matches.
[Ah, climbing up as a weak team is really not easy.]
[When did their online store update?!]
[Just next to the official blog, the prices are a bit lower than the market, and there are high-precision parts from time to time!]
Netizens were scraping information about KID from the entire Star Network, while major Mecha bases were focusing on the teamwork of KID.
The footage of the Forest Pursuit Battle had been studied by countless Mecha teams. The Gale team had thoroughly researched KID, but other bases' understanding of KID was still relatively one-sided, relying on the coordination between their Mechas to study KID's means.
"Are you saying that the command in the forest battle was from Chenlin?" YDS Mecha pilot paused after hearing the judgment of their captain, Ke Lin. "Lu Xi and You Su are also possible. When we met KID and Sink in Qiu Jin, Chenlin didn't participate in the competition."
Moreover, Sink and KID have only cooperated for a short time. According to the efficient cooperation in the Forest Pursuit Battle, mainly focusing on Lucy and Trace as the core points for various breakthroughs, at that cooperation speed, if it were Chenlin's command, how did he manage to jump multiple levels?
Ke Lin: "Many people will have the same thoughts as you. Captain Huo can't command when he leaves, judging from the core level, the possibility of command between Chenlin and You Su is greater."
He paused after saying that. "But don't forget, we first knew that Chenlin was in the Tianyu Star pollution zone, and later in Qiu Jin. His commanding ability is excellent, and he is strong in on-the-spot combat. He didn't participate in the competition when we met KID in Qiu Jin."
Others may think that Sink, as a solo, cannot command immediately after joining team battles. Other Mecha teams may not be clear about these, but they have experienced several pollution zones with KID.
Chenlin's overall view is excellent not only in solo combat but also when applied to command. Applying such a perspective to command is undoubtedly a huge threat.
"Tactics are one thing." Hu Luobu, hearing his Mecha pilots discussing, walked over and said, "What's difficult to judge is this person, Sink, and how many line-ups KID will present with him as the core?"
Tactical command—knowing tactical command, a Mecha team can take advantage of on-site tactics to gain an advantage.
And KID has two tactical commands, which indeed pose a problem for teams with multiple commands.
And this is just one of the problems. Originally, some people still naively thought that a solo entering team battles would have a long adaptation period. Even if there is a threat, as long as it focuses on Sink, it can solve KID's problem.
But now, Sink's efficient coordination with KID has not become a breakthrough point for KID. Instead, it has single-handedly driven changes in KID's lineup.
Moreover, Sink is a solo, proficient in swords and guns, but in this elimination match, he took out a Binding Lock, and his flexibility is comparable to stealth Mechas.
If Sink was an attack medic Mecha pilot who had previously left the virtual battlefield, then the problem would be significant.
They couldn't figure out how many weapons Sink mastered, not to mention he is also a maintenance Mecha pilot. YDS Mecha pilot: "...Does Sink know a lot of weapons? Can KID's resource reserves keep up with changing weapons?"
Hu Luobu sighed: "If Sink is placed in a well-funded base like Gale, the threat would be too great."
"Not only that." Ke Lin brought up the data of the other KID members, "The changes in KID's other Mecha pilots are too obvious."
For example, Huo Yan, who rarely controlled, took out long-range control weapons, relieving the weakness of KID's front-line control.
The obscure control Mecha pilot Lucy became the core targeted by many Mecha teams. Ji Qingfeng and Lin Yao's unique cooperation and resistance ability... even many coaching staff of Mecha teams think that Trace, the uncontrollable artillery mecha, is now completely adapted in KID's team.
Comparing the current combat styles of these Mecha pilots with their previous styles, it can be seen that these Mecha pilots have undergone qualitative changes, some progressing, and some becoming sharper.
Ke Lin thought of Yuan, the weapon designer he had been wary of for a long time, "This time KID's weapons, except for Huo Yan, are not much different from the previous season."
"KID still has something hidden."
The upcoming promotion matches will not be easy.
....
The discussions on the Star Network became more and more intense. When Shen Xingtang had time to pay attention to the comments on the Star Network, he saw netizens discussing the topic of "KID being frugal with new team uniforms to supplement combat resources." Due to this topic, KID's chief sponsor even specially sent over a few more sets of clothes.
Boss Zhou even emphasized to Shen Xingtang that if they need money, just ask Jian Heng.
Jiang Simiao: "What's going on!? At most, it's one size larger. Is it several sizes larger? Will it last until next year? Chenlin has grown 2cm taller than last year!"
Shen Xingtang saw a picture in the discussion topic with Chenlin wearing You Su's jacket, and he frowned slightly: "Bring it up in the meeting. People who don't know might think we KID are so poor that we can't even afford clothes."
Last year, after the matches in Fiyalge and Qiu Jin, there were indeed investors who approached KID, but Shen Xingtang, who had experienced the turmoil of KID's management and sponsors running away, was very cautious in handling sponsorship issues.
Before KID agreed, people came like big uncles. For example, the combat suit manufacturer approached KID, asking KID's Mecha pilots to wear their suits for the matches. The combat suits they provided were not even comparable to Jian Heng's company, and the quality was very ordinary.
KID does lack money, but Shen Xingtang will not disregard the safety of Mecha pilots.
After rejecting that time, there was a lot more blackening of KID in the industry, including some former sponsors who ran away.
Shen Xingtang didn't have time to pay attention to so many discussions on the Star Network, not to mention some probing. This new format, probably due to the outstanding performance in the elimination match, combined with KID adding Sink as a general, many investors who were originally watching the situation actually came to find KID.
"I heard that Boss Zhou also added a lot of money for sponsorship?" Jiang Simiao said.
"Yeah, this time, Sink used the A-grade Binding Lock and Energy Cannon made by their company. Also, because of Sink, they recently got a lot of orders for medic Mecha-type weapons, saying they will provide us with the maintenance Mecha's expenses whenever we need it."
Shen Xingtang sighed: "Boss Zhou is a good person, but our current problem is that making S-grade weapons requires a lot of funds. Boss Zhou provides us with opportunities, but we can't ask people for money for everything, right? Money relationships can be settled, but personal favors are hard to repay."
"Let's talk about sponsorships after we perform well in the rankings." Shen Xingtang continued: "The bonus for the elimination match has also come down. When the online store sells the materials, our capital flow will not be tight."
They had quite a harvest on Keze Floating Island this time, and the challenging consumption period from Koria was considered over.
At this moment, Gu Xiaotian came out of the maintenance room, "Tang Jie, you came at the right time. All the materials in our online store have been sold out."
"So fast?" Shen Xingtang was a bit surprised. The materials on Keze Floating Island were generally basic, and they should sell relatively slowly.
Gu Xiaotian said, "I don't know either. We got a lot of new customers as soon as we opened the store. Xiao Zhang and I organized so many materials, and they all sold out."
Seeing this, Shen Xingtang thanked Gu Xiaotian for his hard work.
KID's Mecha pilots were in training, and after Chenlin returned and checked his body with no issues, he went to the maintenance room.
Since the prize money for the elimination match had come down and a lot of materials were sold, Shen Xingtang finally had some spare funds to distribute some project bonuses to everyone. The whole KID team was very pleased, and Ji Qingfeng and Lin Yao immediately went online to check discounted materials.
When Chenlin held the bonus he just received, about to say he didn't need it, Shen Xingtang sent another red envelope.
....
In the Gale Base, the tactical research meeting for all teams in the elimination match has just concluded.
Zhang Ge was carrying hot tea and heading to the office. Just around the corner, he noticed that the interns in the base were running over, saying that KID's online store had distributed bonuses.
On the computer information was the transfer information sent by Shen Xingtang, and it was explicitly marked with the word "bonus."
"Still remember to distribute bonuses; Shen Xingtang still has a bit of conscience." Zhang Ge looked at the bonus, equivalent to almost two months' salary, feeling deeply emotional while bearing dark circles under his eyes. "And she distributed so much."
The intern said, "I asked Xiao Tian, the customer service at their place. The others got less than you. Zhang Ge, your position in Boss Shen's heart is definitely not low."
Zhang Ge: "..."
"Really?"
The intern nodded.
After hearing this, Zhang Ge's mood became more complicated. When he lowered his head, he saw a soft article push on the computer screen:
#Review of the Things That Happened to KID Over the Years
#Behind the Plundering of Pollution Zones—How Much Effort Did KID Put in to Operate
Zhang Ge: "..."
Indeed, this bonus has a significant weight.