"You mean Shirley...?"

In the Star Alliance, Mecha Pilots have always been a respected profession, not just because of the popular Star Alliance Tournament but also due to the Pollution Zones.

Before the mech tournaments were established, the main activity for Mech Warriors was in the Pollution Zones.

The areas where humans can safely reside are called Peace Zones, while the Pollution Zones are uninhabited areas that the Star Alliance has yet to purify. In those areas, there are mutated plants and animals, chaotic magnetic fields that defy scientific explanation, and viruses that can breach human defenses. However, these zones also possess superior material resources.

Mech materials resonate with mental power; most high-grade materials come from the Pollution Zones.

Merchants generally purchase the materials circulating in the market from the  Mecha Pilots active in the Pollution Zones before being sold at exorbitant prices on the star web market. Aside from this route, Mecha Pilots can enter the Pollution Zones to explore and collect the materials they need themselves.

Pollution Zones are scattered throughout the Star Alliance, with almost every star system containing them.

Near the Sirius, there are three Pollution Zones. Merlin ventured into the Banute Pollution Zone in the southern hemisphere of the uninhabited region near the Sirius - a Level II Pollution Zone.

To keep the Peace Zones separate from the Pollution Zones, the areas surrounding the latter are uninhabited. Accessing a Pollution Zone requires traveling to a specific jump point, located in Sirius's A sector.

As Merlin approached the Banutea area, he could see the nearby base from afar, with Mecha Pilots hurriedly coming and going.

The outposts outside the Pollution Zones provide temporary rest areas for Mecha Pilots, complete with mech shops offering temporary mechs and repair services.

"Renting a mech? B-class?" The mech shop owner, engrossed in a mech tournament broadcast, quickly responded upon hearing Merlin's voice: "B-class mech rental is 100 star coins per hour, 2000 star coins per day. You're responsible for repair costs if damaged, with a 4000 star coin deposit refundable upon settlement."

Merlin: "I'll take a B-class for two days' rental."

Finally, a customer. The owner lazily lifted his head. "Over there, pick one yourself."

Most mech shops outside the Pollution Zones offer B-class mechs, while A-class mechs are the store's main models and are rarely available for rental.

After browsing around, Merlin eventually chose a B-class mech with suitable performance and weaponry - a lightsaber for close combat and a magnetic cannon.

"Mecha Pilot license."

Merlin retrieves an early-registered junior Mecha Pilot electronic certificate from his photon computer.

The shop owner glanced at Merlin and briefly caught sight of his right hand before quickly averting his gaze. He casually mentioned, "Heading to the Banute Pollution Zone? It's best not to venture too deep these days. Staying on the perimeter should suffice."

Merlin, puzzled, took the keys to the B-class mecha.

"The pollution threshold in Banute has been fluctuating recently. The Pollution Zone Management has been here recording conditions; it's mostly not quite right," the owner advised kindly. "The perimeter should be safe. Don't stay long, and it's best to team up temporarily with other mecha pilots if you're going in."

On the outskirts of the Banute Pollution Zone, the wind carried excessive moisture, and the damp environment allowed a peculiar moss to spread across the ruins, filling the air with the smell of decay.

Merlin was adjusting the mech's internal operating parameters. The cockpit's neural tendrils connected to his limbs, briefly pausing when touching his mechanical right arm before the viewscreen displayed 'Synchronization Complete' in blue text.

His surroundings became clearer, with the cockpit displaying the fluctuating pollution range.

He raised his left hand and the B-class mech was the same motion.

After getting used to the B-class mecha's response speed, Merlin entered the Pollution Zone with a clear goal: to find ore materials suitable for forging basic mecha parts.

The most suitable in the Banute Pollution Zone was a type of metal ore known as Greenwall Ore, carrying a certain psychic empathy and classified as A-grade material but scarce in quantity.

The most suitable material in the Banute Pollution Zone was a metal ore called Greenwall Ore, an A-grade material imbued with a degree of spiritual resonance but scarce in quantity.

The deeper he went, the more intense the green hue became, with vines overrunning abandoned structures and nearby plants mutating into grotesque, thickened forms.

After half a day, Merlin advanced about 3 kilometers and discovered the first Greenwall Ore deposit beneath the vines.

This ore, a product of pollution from underground to the surface, emerged from underground to the surface as exposed veins. Merlin mined a portion of the Greenwall Ore, but the site showed signs of previous excavation, with part of the ground dug up, necessitating delving deeper underground.

Merlin only took the surface Greenwall Ore and proceeded another kilometer into the interior.

This time, it took him four hours to find another ore deposit.

After storing the mined Greenwall Ore in the mecha's temporary storage space, Merlin looked at the ground.

This time, the surface didn't seem to be dug up by human excavation but appeared to be penetrated by long, narrow objects, leaving clear holes wrapped with rotten soil.

His viewscreen indicated the surrounding pollution level had spiked to 1240, exceeding the average recorded in the Star-web database.

In the outskirts of the Banute Pollution Zone, the average pollution level is 700, while the deepest area reaches up to 2000, classifying it as a Level II Pollution Zone.

Now, Merlin finds himself 12 kilometers away from the previously recorded pollution areas, and the pollution value continues to skyrocket, surpassing the usual fluctuation range. 

This abnormal fluctuation in pollution levels is not normal, suggesting the possible existence of an anomalous core pollution source.

If such a pollution source exists, it greatly increases the likelihood of encountering special Crystals.

While Greenwall Ore serves as a basic material for forging mecha parts, special Crystals are the core material for the most crucial weapons of a mecha. These crystals, when used as weapon cores, imbue the weapons with corresponding biological properties, granting them maximum strength and effectiveness.

The market mainly circulates B-grade special crystals, like the thunderbird psy-crystal used as the core energy source for the magnetic cannon in the mecha Merlin rented.

Merlin hesitates slightly as he looks towards the distant forest covered in mutated plants.

As a Level II Pollution Zone, widespread fluctuations in the Banute threshold could only be caused by a higher-level pollution source... possibly a mutated pollution source.

--

At the temporary outpost of the Banute Pollution Zone, members of the Pollution Zone Management Bureau are gathered in a conference room, with a virtual screen displaying real-time pollution level monitoring within the zone. Currently, the radar shows several flashing red dots, accompanied by a warning system indicating 'Excessive Pollution, Situation Unknown'.

The middle-aged man at the head of the room says, "We've confirmed an unknown anomaly within the Pollution Zone. I've sent the coordinates to all of you, so I'll leave the rest to your capable hands."

Aside from the Management Bureau personnel, several well-dressed individuals, the leaders of mech clubs near the Banute Pollution Zone, are also present. With limited manpower, the Bureau seeks aid from mech league teams during such emergencies.

After confirming the coordinates of the unknown anomaly in the Pollution Zone, Pearl steps out but is suddenly stopped by someone.

The person is a lean man with prominent cheekbones wearing a cunning, ill-intentioned expression. Upon seeing Pearl, he addresses her with a hint of disdain, "The Management Bureau even notified your club?"

Pearl raises her eyes slightly. "Assisting in resolving Pollution Zone issues is our responsibility."

"Does your club currently have any Mech pilots available for missions?" The man chuckles. "Oh, that's right, I forgot your mechs were damaged. You're using temporary mechs, aren't you?"

Pearl smiles. "No need for DE to concern themselves. Instead of worrying about us, you should focus your efforts on the mech tournaments. If I recall correctly, your league ranking is still behind ours?"

"Pearl Robinson, you can only hold on for so long. Don't get in our way," the lean man sneers. "In a place like the Pollution Zone, if something happens to your team, I doubt rescue will even arrive in time. Don't you lack a repairman now?"

Pearl ignores him and turns to leave the conference room, leaving the man grinding his teeth behind her.

She takes a detour to the temporary rest area, where Corey waited for her for a long: "Nicholas and Edward's mechs haven't been repaired, so they'll have to use the backup mechs. Grover and Kristin are on vacation and won't be able to make it back in time. We only have two people available for the mission, which is a bit risky."

Pearl: "It's fine, I've notified someone else. She should be there by now."

Corey: "Who?"

"Who else could it be?" Pearl said offhandedly.

"You mean Shirley...?"

"Would she even be interested?"

"An unknown anomaly has appeared deep within the Pollution Zone. The most likely scenario is the core pollution source has evolved, which means it could carry special Crystals," Pearl says as she sends a message. "Shirley's weapon core crystal is damaged. If I tell her there's a chance to find an S-class special Crystal here, do you think she'll be interested?"