52: Chapter 52 Improved Probes

In the manufacturing area of the Deep Rock Workshop, Lin Qiming was lost in thought while staring at the components spread across his workbench. The previous exploration of the pipes had yielded great rewards, but it had also exposed the limitations of his current reconnaissance tools—the probe's signal filtering and analysis capabilities were somewhat inadequate when facing the complex 'triple-polluted' environment of Zone B-9.

"Hephaestus, pull up the full signal spectrum recorded at the pipe junction last time. Specifically, focus on the frequency characteristics of the Necron green light, the Ancient One blue light, and those 'impurities' (Warp residue and Imperial pollution)."

[Data retrieval complete. Spectral analysis indicates: The three primary signal sources (Ancient One, Necron, and mixed pollution) overlap and modulate each other in specific frequency bands, leading to poor results with traditional filtering methods. Recommendation: Adopt a dynamic adaptive filtering algorithm combined with your newly acquired [Information State Perception] ability to construct a 'proactive identification-selective enhancement' composite detection module.]

"In other words, I can't just rely on hardware filtering; I have to let the probe 'learn' to distinguish which signals we want and which are noise or even dangerous?" Lin Qiming understood the concept. "Using Information State Perception as a guide to make the probe's scanning beam more targeted."

[Correct. This requires 'coupling' your perception ability into the probe's receiving circuit in some form. Risk: This may place a slight burden on your mental strength, and if the coupling process is unstable, it could lead to probe damage or distorted perception feedback.]

"Let's give it a try. For materials, I'll use the scraps left over from the last pipe exploration, plus that small processor core I scavenged from the junk pile—it's old, but it'll do." Lin Qiming got straight to work, rolling up his sleeves.

The manufacturing process lasted most of the day. He first dismantled the original improved probe, keeping its sturdy outer shell and basic sensor array. Then, he carefully soldered the palm-sized processor core onto the new motherboard, writing and flashing the dynamic filtering algorithm firmware provided by Hephaestus. Now came the most critical step: he needed to engrave his [Information State Perception] onto the probe's receiving end in the form of a 'guiding mark'.

He closed his eyes, concentrated, and activated [Information State Perception]. The world in his 'eyes' turned into blurred information-state outlines. He 'looked' toward the probe parts on the workbench, striving to perceive the flow of information-state within its internal circuits, then attempted to guide an extremely faint 'mark' of his own perception—like signing a name on an 'information blueprint' of the receiving circuit with an invisible pen.

This process was exceptionally taxing on his mind and required extremely high precision. Sweat dripped from his forehead as Lin Qiming focused entirely. He could feel his mental strength like a trickling stream, being slowly absorbed by the probe. A few times, the mark nearly collapsed, but he forced it to stabilize using the 'feel' for creations granted by his [Mechanical Affinity].

Finally, when his mental strength was nearly half depleted, he felt that 'mark' successfully anchor onto the probe's core receiving unit. A subtle connection was established—he didn't even need to hold the probe to vaguely perceive what it was 'seeing'.

[Coupling successful!] Hephaestus reported. ['Information-State Guided Adaptive Probe' manufacturing complete. Performance estimation: 50% increase in sensitivity to Ancient One characteristic signals, 30% increase in identification rate for Necron energy characteristics, and the ability to preliminarily filter out most low-frequency mixed pollution interference. During active scanning, you can intuitively perceive the 'information-state intensity' and 'pollution type tendency' of signal sources through the faint mental link.]

Lin Qiming picked up the probe, which was now a bit thicker than before and featured several fine energy circuits on its surface, and nodded with satisfaction. "Let's call it the 'Abyss Gazer-Type I'. Now, it's time to head to the edge of Zone B-9 and test its mettle."

He didn't act recklessly; his goal was merely the outermost, relatively safe area of Zone B-9 to conduct a quick 'scouting' and survey the signal environment.

Using the patrol patterns he had previously mastered, he successfully evaded the eyes and ears of the Iron Tooth Gang and arrived at the perimeter of the iconic rusted barbed wire of Zone B-9. The atmosphere here was markedly different: the air was heavier, carrying a faint scent of metallic rust and... a certain sickly-sweet smell of decay. More Imperial-issue waste debris was scattered on the ground, along with some unrecognizable, twisted metal fragments.

He activated the 'Abyss Gazer'. The probe emitted a low hum, and its indicator lights flashed in a complex multi-colored pattern. Simultaneously, through that mental link, Lin Qiming 'felt' a chaotic information-state landscape—

The area ahead was like an information swamp. A massive amount of faint, cluttered, and meaningless signals (Imperial pollution residue) acted as background noise. Amidst them, sparse, bright blue specks of light (ancient one fragment signals) were scattered. But more striking were several wandering 'streams' of cold green (Necron energy residue) and a few clusters of constantly shifting colors that emitted an unsettling 'viscous' sensation (Warp pollution nodes).

"It really is a hodgepodge," Lin Qiming complained internally. "The information-state environment in this place is filthier and more chaotic than a public restroom in the Hive Bottom."

He moved carefully along the perimeter, recording the distribution and intensity of different signal sources. Suddenly, the 'Abyss Gazer' vibrated violently, pointing toward a spot behind a collapsed concrete bunker to his front-right. A strong sense of warning came through the mental link—there was a high-intensity composite signal source there, a mix of Ancient One blue light, Necron green light, and heavy, foul colors! Furthermore, the signal was moving slowly!

"Is there a living creature?" Lin Qiming immediately lowered his body, using the cover to observe. A moment later, a twisted figure stumbled out from behind the bunker.

The thing vaguely resembled a human, but its limbs were extremely uncoordinated. Its skin was a sickly grayish-green, covered in overgrown calluses and oozing sores. Its eyes were cloudy, and its mouth emitted meaningless rasping sounds as it dragged a rusted entrenching tool. Even more bizarre was the information-state pollution swirling around it—invisible to the naked eye but clearly 'felt' through the 'Abyss Gazer'—it was that very composite signal!

"A Mutant affected by both radiation and Warp residue? Or the descendant of a victim of some pollution from the 'prometheus' incident?" Lin Qiming judged quickly. The thing's combat capability was unknown, but it was clearly abnormal.

The Mutant seemed to sense something; it stopped in its tracks, its cloudy eyes turning toward Lin Qiming's direction as its throat let out a threatening low growl.

"I've been spotted." Lin Qiming didn't panic. He put away the 'Abyss Gazer', drew a fine dagger, and simultaneously reached his left hand toward the crossbow at his waist. "Just as well, I'll test my skills as a D-rank lower-tier and see how tough the 'local specialties' of this hellhole really are."

Battle was imminent. This was no longer facing human gang members, but the most common 'surprise' in the Warhammer universe—a twisted creation reshaped by the collaboration of Chaos and radiation.

[Manufacturing Successful: 'Abyss Gazer-Type I' Adaptive Probe (Fine)!]

[Effect: Greatly improved identification rate for Ancient One/Necron signals, ability to perceive information-state pollution types, and intuitive warnings provided by a faint mental link.]

[Manufacturing proficiency increased! [Basic Manufacturing] Lv3 (55% → 62%)!]

[First attempt at Information State-Material State coupling, [Information State Perception] Lv0 (0% → 15%)! Mental strength consumption is significant.]

[Encountered Zone B-9 perimeter Mutant (Radiation + Warp pollution composite type), combat is about to begin!]

[System Evaluation: Congratulations, your reconnaissance equipment has been upgraded from a 'radio' to a 'radio with a hazardous gas detector.' Now you can not only hear the voices in the abyss but also smell which ones carry the scent of sulfur. As for this 'local specialty' in front of you... I suggest you don't let it touch you; who knows if the pus on its body will give your equipment a skin disease.]