If someone told you.
That a human-made, mecha-shaped military robot possessed autonomous judgment and consciousness.
You'd probably think it was the ramblings of a mentally ill layman, even if they were just a beginner military enthusiast.
But, reality is often more absurd than the delirious mutterings of the mentally ill.
That mecha, which had been tilting its head thoughtfully, started to move again as Major General Gude Yef's words, "A draw, I don't think so," fell.
To everyone's astonishment.
The mecha bent down, scooped up a handful of snow, and then compacted it forcefully.
As they say, brute force works wonders.
Under the intense pressure of the mecha's mechanized hands, comparable to a reinforced hydraulic press, the snow on the surface of the permafrost was squeezed into irregularly shaped "snowballs" as large as human heads and as hard as steel.
Whoosh!
The mecha, holding a snowball in one hand, tentatively threw the object at the military drones circling in the air, which were constantly harassing it.
Unsurprisingly.
It missed.
But.
After a flicker of green indicator lights within the mecha's eye sockets, it seemed to have made a decision.
At the same time.
The data transmitted during the mecha's actions of rolling snowballs and throwing them was clearly visible on the screens of the main control computer.
The hydraulic pressure values required to roll the snowballs to a suitable size...
The parabolic trajectory caused by air temperature, humidity, and wind speed when thrown...
The evasion delay, deviation angle, and reaction speed of the military drones...
Hundreds of various data points were deduced in mere seconds.
Then.
In full view of everyone.
A snowball fight between machines officially began.
After completing all data judgment and calculations, the mecha.
Its arms transformed into gyroscopes spinning a hundred times faster.
It roamed the snowy ground.
Its rapidly spinning arms continuously rolled the snow on the permafrost into snowball-like projectiles comparable to cannonballs.
In just a few minutes.
Thousands of "snowball" bombs shot into the sky.
No one doubted.
Even without path calculations for the "snowball" bombs, such a dense, torrential rain of "missiles" could form an impenetrable anti-air defense network.
The result was, without a doubt.
Under the mecha's fierce assault.
All three drones were hit, falling one after another, lying on the permafrost where all the snow had been stripped away, crackling with electrical sparks.
Thus.
More than a dozen top military robots from various countries, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, were all scrapped without exception.
The entire army, wiped out!
"Mission, complete!"
"Power consumption 13%... Hull damage 9.7%... Awaiting orders!"
Silence.
Everyone's eyeballs were about to pop out.
This mecha from Great Xia, which was the least favored and even classified as a "toy," was so unbelievably powerful?
Cough... Cough cough!
Major General Gude Yef was still the first to speak.
Having snapped out of his shock first, Major General Gude Yef picked up his teacup from the table, unscrewed the lid, intending to moisten his throat, which had become dry from being too startled.
He downed the teacup completely, but not a single drop of water came out.
Major General Gude Yef, trying to suppress his overwhelming excitement and emotions, seemed to have forgotten that he had already drunk the tea twice before when he was shocked by the mecha.
"I am quite satisfied with the data of this military robot in mecha form from Great Xia."
"However, its endurance is too poor. In just over half an hour of operation, the power consumption reached 13%... With a full energy reserve, the maximum endurance time is only about four and a half hours."
"Such a short endurance time is insufficient to support battlefield insertion needs... We need to find the seller from Great Xia to see if the endurance can be extended, or if external transport equipment for high-speed insertion can be provided."
"Captain Tuo Jinisi, you did an excellent job with this procurement... Don't stand so far from me, I'm not a man-eating Siberian tiger. Come here, help me get a cup of hot water... By the way, report to my office tomorrow. I need an assistant!"
Fetching tea and water.
This was the work of a personal assistant.
Major General Gude Yef's intimate request for Tuo Jinisi to fetch water for him and his arrangement for him to work in his office clearly indicated that he intended to cultivate him as a trusted confidant and a favored individual.
This already caused envy and jealousy among the procurement officers.
But, what made them even more envious was yet to come.
"There's no need to consider it further. This batch of military robots will be procured from this mecha from Great Xia."
"Great Xia truly operates with such low-key methods, classifying such an incredibly powerful weapon as a 'toy'."
"By the way, the procurement matters will be entirely handled by you, Tuo Jinisi... You are allowed 1% of the total procurement price as operating expenses... When you complete this task beautifully, I will submit an application to the military headquarters to promote you to Colonel!"
Hiss!
Everyone gasped.
The red glow in their eyes was enough to melt the snow in the far eastern regions of the Bear Country.
Being fully in charge of procurement meant treating Tuo Jinisi as a trusted confidant.
1% operating expenses... For military purchases often in the billions or tens of billions, 1% of operating expenses would amount to tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of US dollars. If Tuo Jinisi didn't intend to use this operating expense, then this money could be legitimately and legally incorporated into his own pocket.
A direct promotion from Captain to Colonel... This wasn't just three steps up; it was six steps up.
This kid Tuo Jinisi had truly struck an unprecedented stroke of luck.
Fame, fortune, and career, all three were secured!
Major General Gude Yef paid no attention to the envy of his other officers. He took the teacup, refilled by Tuo Jinisi, with one hand, and placed the other on the shoulder of this procurement officer, whom he had never thought highly of... as if they were close friends of different generations.
"By the way, Tuo Jinisi, contact the seller as soon as possible, but maintain secrecy."
"Great Xia's provision of such an incredible weapon in such a low-key manner must have special considerations. Do not disrupt their intentions."
"The more of this batch of military equipment we can procure, the better. We will purchase as much as Great Xia can produce."
"I will secretly inform the ambassador of Great Xia to the Bear Country, both to express our gratitude and to subtly inquire if they can reveal any information."
"Once the procurement plan is finalized, form a written report and submit it as soon as possible... You submit it, I approve it, the Ministry of Finance allocates funds, and this batch of military equipment will be issued to the army in the shortest possible time!"
Tuo Jinisi, with a heart about to leap out of his throat, was almost in tears.
This procurement mission had completely changed the trajectory of his life.
"Yes."
"Your Excellency."
"I'll get right on it!"
Tuo Jinisi looked at his subordinate, who had brought him so many surprises, with a smiling face and shook his head dismissively.
"No need to rush."
"Come, I have a bottle of vodka I've been saving for years. Let's finish it first."
"Also, in informal situations, there's no need to be so reserved. I'm more than ten years older than you, so calling me 'old brother' wouldn't be taking advantage of you!"