Chapter 113: Can it Be Ridden?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Upon observing these red dots, Tang Rui swiftly opted to engage the locking mechanism.

Though the mechanical dog didn’t possess the same robust reconnaissance and scanning abilities as a drone, its optical systems and image recognition capabilities were still commendable.

Dadadada…

Simultaneously, soldiers on the battlefield rose to their feet and opened fire on the mechanical dog.

Swish!

With quick reflexes, Tang Rui maneuvered the mechanical dog, deftly dodging the incoming barrage of bullets.

At the very same moment,

The Gatling machine gun mounted on the back platform also came to life.

Tang Rui refrained from personally controlling the Gatling’s gunfire.

Every shot was precisely administered by the fire control system.

His responsibility was solely the mechanical dog’s movement, avoiding incoming fire.

Leap.

Change course.

Brake abruptly.

The mechanical dog’s agility left the soldiers on the battlefield awestruck.

Moving targets were always challenging to hit.

Especially one as nimble as this mechanical dog.

In reality, even if Tang Rui had chosen not to steer the mechanical dog to evade, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

Regular rifle bullets simply couldn’t penetrate the mechanical dog’s external armor.

But they could potentially damage the Gatling machine gun mounted on its platform.

As the mechanical dog unleashed its firepower,

The soldiers on the battlefield were compelled to keep their heads down.

Several of them, slower in seeking cover, ended up bearing the brunt of brightly colored paintballs, creating a visually striking spectacle.

Boom!

A thunderous gunshot rang out.

A high-caliber anti-materiel sniper rifle.

Just from the sound alone, it was clear that a sniper had taken the shot.

However, fortune wasn’t on their side.

Their shot missed.

Tang Rui swiftly took control of the mechanical dog, directing it toward one side of the battlefield.

Previously, his approach had been a direct frontal assault.

Now, his strategy involved leveraging the mechanical dog’s agility to flank and neutralize the sniper.

Dadadada…

Soldiers on the battlefield attempted to intercept his progress.

Yet, the moment they revealed themselves, they became immediate targets for the Gatling gun.

Exposing themselves for even a second would result in a hail of bullets.

However, they couldn’t remain prone either.

Once the mechanical dog broke through their defensive line, everyone on the battlefield would become a target.

Boom!

At that very moment, the sniper took another shot.

This time, they struck the rear portion of the mechanical dog’s mounting platform. While they hit their mark, it didn’t inflict significant damage on the mechanical dog.

Just as Tang Rui was on the verge of confronting the sniper by commanding the mechanical dog, an unexpected explosion erupted beneath the mechanical dog.

A landmine.

Tang Rui promptly halted the mechanical dog’s movement.

The exercise had come to an end.

The lower section of the mechanical dog was now adorned with a colorful array of paint splatters.

Returning to the training ground,

Captain Sun wasted no time in seeking out Tang Rui.

“Can this thing be ridden?” he inquired, his expression brimming with anticipation as he gazed at Tang Rui.

Ridden? Why would anyone want to ride it?

“In theory, it’s possible, but the design intent of this device isn’t for riding. You witnessed its exceptional breakthrough capabilities just now. Using it as a mount would be quite wasteful, don’t you think?” Tang Rui queried, puzzled by the notion.

“No, no, no, that’s not what I meant. 1 noticed that the mounting platform on top seems to be detachable. Could we use it for long-distance travel or transporting supplies and then attach weapons to it when we engage in combat?” Captain Sun hastily clarified.

“Transporting supplies or cargo is certainly feasible. As long as the items are securely fastened to it, there should be no issues,” Tang Rui confirmed.

“Fantastic, this could significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of our mountain troops, especially in mountainous terrain,” Captain Sun, a member of the mountain troops himself, immediately recognized the potential advantages.

When Tang Rui heard this suggestion, he pondered for a moment. In theory, the mechanical dog could carry a person, but the challenge lay in how to control it. It didn’t have wheels that could be steered with a simple steering wheel; its movement required balance adjustments, especially when traversing slopes. Additionally, any cargo would need to be firmly secured to prevent balance issues.

“Carrying a person isn’t currently feasible, but transporting cargo should be viable. As long as the supplies are tightly secured to it, there should be no problems,” Tang Rui affirmed.

“Being able to transport cargo is excellent; it would make marching much more efficient,” Captain Sun nodded in agreement.

With the assault capability test concluded, it was time for other testing scenarios, such as follow mode and reconnaissance mode. These functions didn’t necessitate Tang Rui’s direct control; the mechanical dog’s internal Al assistance system could autonomously handle them.

Back in the car, Tang Rui displayed the mechanical dog’s test results on the large screen, occasionally glancing at it. For the rest of the time, he engaged with his phone.

In a chat group with his high school classmates, someone suggested a reunion. Tang Rui briefly perused the messages but refrained from responding. Even if there were a gathering, he had no intention of attending; it held little interest for him.

The testing of the mechanical dog persisted for an entire day, with Tang Rui even having lunch at the training base.

In the evening, Tang Rui brought the mechanical dog back home. Captain Sun had initially wanted to test its nighttime combat capabilities, but Tang Rui declined.

It wasn’t necessary.

He would first upload the daytime test results and assess the response. If they decided to limit its performance, he could always reduce its capabilities. However, if they disallowed exports altogether, that would pose a problem. He would need to figure out a way to innovate for the Middle Easterners.

Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

Upon returning home, before they could even sit down for dinner, Li Shuyao asked if he wanted to visit her family for the Lunar New Year.

“I’ll definitely go, but can you tell me what your parents like? I want to bring a gift,” Tang Rui said, feeling a touch anxious about the prospect of meeting her parents.

“Gifts and such are no problem. I’ll handle it,” Li Shuyao smiled.

“Alright, you’ll have to help me out then,” Tang Rui agreed. Sooner or later, they would meet her parents, so getting it over with would be better.

“Don’t worry, my parents won’t bite,” she reassured him.

“By the way, can you take leave during the Lunar New Year and combine it with the holiday?” she asked.

“I can, is there something you have in mind?” Tang Rui inquired.

“Nothing specific, but our New Year here is quite cold. My Sal Prince yacht, which 1 told you about earlier, has just arrived. I was thinking we could go to Hainan for the holiday and have some fun at sea.”

“Sure, I’ll take leave for the Lunar New Year.”

When Li Shuyao mentioned going out to sea, Tang Rui readily agreed.

After dinner, they went to the gym for a serious workout, solely for the purpose of staying in shape.

At this time, Captain Sun and the soldiers who had participated in the daytime test were diligently composing reports. Captain Sun, in particular, seemed to have extolled the mechanical dog to the skies in his report. According to his account, once the army deployed these mechanical dogs, they would become invincible.

If Tang Rui knew how exaggerated Captain Sun’s report was, he would probably be rendered speechless..