TCPUAAV Chapter 12

 

“In all likelihood, the ones who ambushed me at Baghdad are the same ones working with the Zerg infiltrators,” Rong Heng remarked, his gaze hard and filled with killing intent. “A fleet of 162 heavy destroyers, fully equipped with cloaking shields and high-precision signal jamming systems—clearly prepared. They must have obtained our jump coordinates from some source to set up such an ambush at the transition point.”

 

“A destroyer fleet?!” Dares was shocked. “But the official report from Sikkim mentioned nothing about that. They claimed, based on the battlefield remnants, it was likely the work of interstellar pirates.”

 

Interstellar pirates, notorious for ambushing at jump points, were known for their brutal methods: cutting off signals and then unleashing devastating firepower. The evidence from the scene indeed matched their usual modus operandi.

 

Thus, Sikkim had conveniently pointed the blame at pirates, and the public hadn’t questioned it.

 

However, the Fourth Army stationed in Yanji had repeatedly raised objections, though they lacked sufficient evidence. Their protests had been dismissed several times by the Empire’s Security Bureau.

 

Dares and his comrades were among those who never believed that mere pirates could decimate the Hermes fleet.

 

The Hermes was one of Yanji’s five main fleets, led by Admiral Asman, the most capable among the five commanders. Adding to this, the fleet had been transporting none other than the Empire’s Crown Prince.

 

Even if every pirate faction in the galaxy had joined forces, they would not have been able to overpower the Hermes.

 

But the involvement of a fleet of heavy destroyers made everything clear.

 

“The Security Bureau deliberately concealed this critical detail,” Dares seethed with anger. “I’ll file another appeal to demand a reinvestigation. A fleet of heavy destroyers isn’t something an ordinary person can mobilize! This is clearly a premeditated political assassination!”

 

Rong Heng let out a mirthless chuckle, his anger subdued but still sharp. “Dares, after all these years, you’re still as naive as ever. File an appeal a hundred times if you like—you’ll still be dismissed.”

 

“That’s unfair!” Dares retorted, his frustration boiling over. “You’re alive! We have evidence now. They have no grounds to reject our claims. And we can’t let Asman’s death go in vain! Dying in battle is one thing, but falling victim to pirates? It’s a mockery of his legacy!”

 

“I saw the news a few days ago,” Rong Heng said casually. “The Sikkim Daily is already paving the way for the Regent’s ascension.”

 

Dares frowned deeply. “That’s a parliamentary proposal. Those spineless politicians are eager to pledge allegiance to the Regent, convinced you perished at Baghdad and the royal lineage has ended. But the Regent has refused three times and insists on deploying the royal guard to search for your whereabouts in the Baghdad District.”

 

He saw no fault in the Regent’s actions. As the Prince’s father, the Regent might be the only one besides them truly concerned for Rong Heng’s life.

 

Rong Heng, however, did not share the same sentiment.

 

Shaking his head at Dares’s naive assumptions, Rong Heng ignored his incessant chatter and issued an order: “Do not disclose that I’m alive. Send someone trustworthy to these coordinates—I have plans.”

 

With that, he transmitted the location of B3024 to Dares.

 

Dares glanced at it and couldn’t help but blurt out, “B3024? A junk planet? There are barely any people there! What are you doing in such a place?”

 

Rong Heng, thoroughly irritated, ordered Noah to disconnect the call.

 

Alone again, he spent some time reviewing the latest news from the Sikkim Daily, then prepared to log off.

 

Before exiting, a thought struck him. “Noah, from now on, you’ll take over managing this device,” he instructed, hesitating slightly, as if considering how to phrase his next words. “Its owner… seems to lack common sense in many areas and might need some guidance.”

 

“As you wish, Your Highness,” Noah responded smoothly before adding, with just a hint of curiosity, “But if I may, this level of concern is unusual for you. May I ask what your relationship with the owner is?”

 

Merely a fleeting acquaintance, hardly even a friend.

 

Rong Heng thought to himself.

 

But he couldn’t be bothered to explain and dismissed the question with an indifferent, “You don’t need to know.”

 

It was nothing more than a passing connection. Once his contacts arrived to extract him, he would leave.

 

Their paths would not cross again.

 

*

 

Ruan Shiqing woke up to find it was already noon the next day.

 

The warm sunlight streamed through the window, spreading fragmented shadows across the bed. Rubbing his throbbing temples, he sat up, momentarily confused—hadn’t he slept in the living room last night? When did he return to his room? His foggy mind struggled to piece things together but failed, so he dismissed the bothersome question and walked barefoot to the living room.

 

The little mermaid was already awake, basking in the sunlight by the window. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he turned around cheerfully to greet Ruan Shiqing. “Ah!”

 

The little puppy, sprawled on the windowsill, also sat up lazily upon seeing him.

 

Ruan Shiqing patted each of them on the head in greeting. “Have you eaten breakfast?”

 

The little mermaid pointed to an empty tube of nutritional supplements on the windowsill. They had already eaten.

 

“Good boy,” Ruan Shiqing praised before heading off to freshen up.

 

Once Ruan Shiqing left, the little mermaid immediately shifted to a spot far from Rong Heng, his blue eyes glaring and his ear fins flaring in vigilance. Rong Heng merely cast him a lazy glance before flopping back down, indifferent to the wary reaction of the artificial mermaid. Still, the little mermaid remained huddled in the farthest corner, his posture cautious.

 

After washing up and having a quick lunch, Ruan Shiqing prepared for his first day of work. Today was the grand opening of his new store. He went downstairs, opened the front door, hung up the “Open for Business” sign, and began organizing his tools and materials—items he had purchased alongside the furniture for the shop.

 

During the days spent settling into his new home, Ruan Shiqing had used his spare time to thoroughly study the books sent by the mysterious benefactor. He now had a general understanding of this world’s technological level. It was time to put his newfound knowledge to the test.

 

His first experimental subject: the small robot designated 09.

 

After some online research and comparisons, Ruan Shiqing identified 09’s model—a fifth-generation PL-3 technical robot produced by the Naxi Company. It boasted superior performance compared to the IV-series Alex life-assistance robot he had seen before. Designed for military use, these robots specialized in technical assistance. They came equipped with comprehensive language systems and extensive knowledge of various electronic and mechanical structures within the Empire.

 

Although 09 was clearly a discarded and severely damaged retired model, Ruan Shiqing still held high hopes for it. He carefully took the dilapidated robot off the storage rack and placed it solemnly on the workbench. Donning his electronic goggles, he began disassembling it.

 

First went the incomplete limbs, followed by the head housing its processing chip.

 

09, still powered on, finally spoke up as its head was all that remained. “S-Sir, are you planning to dismantle me?”

 

Though trying to maintain his composure, a slight tremor betrayed the robot’s voice. “While I may seem outdated, I’m fluent in 281 languages. Beyond interstellar common language, I can teach you others you might need.”

 

The little robot desperately tried to sell itself, only to scan its empty storage and realize that all its functional modules, aside from the language system, had been damaged. Its display flickered red as it added dejectedly, “I’m also quite skilled at housekeeping.”

 

That was a lie, as it had no housekeeping modules. However, if its master replaced its body, it could learn anew, the little robot thought forlornly.

 

“Your body is too damaged to maintain basic functions,” Ruan Shiqing stated matter-of-factly.

 

“…”

 

Unable to refute the truth, 09 resigned itself to its fate.

 

So today is the end of my existence, the robot mused. While robots lack a true understanding of life and death, 09 felt a pang of fear and reluctance—a simulation of emotions learned from its extensive data.

 

“If you dismantle me, could you bury the remnants of my body beneath the vines near the door?” it asked.

 

Ruan Shiqing raised an eyebrow at the unusual request.

 

“Those vines are called Fallen Stars,” 09 explained. “Their flowers are unassuming, but their golden fruits fall like stars into the soil in autumn. The flower’s meaning is eternal tranquility.”

 

“You can do that yourself,” Ruan Shiqing replied before shutting off the robot, carefully removing its core components, and crafting a new body with the PL-3 design as a base. Using advanced titanium alloy and semi-finished parts, Ruan Shiqing meticulously rebuilt the robot over the next several hours.

 

When the reconstruction was complete, he reinstalled 09’s core and powered it on. Streams of data scrolled across its display as the little robot exclaimed with incredulous joy, “I’m alive?!”

 

“Robots don’t die,” Ruan Shiqing reminded him. “Try moving.”

 

Tentatively, 09 moved its new limbs. The joints were still stiff and unpolished, but the new body—a humanoid form, gleaming gold titanium, standing about 1.2 meters tall—was functional. Elated, the robot muttered, “A nice oil bath would make this perfect.”

 

This was every robot’s favorite activity.

 

But it didn’t matter if there was no oil bath, it was lucky to be alive.

 

 

 

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Hehehehehe “We’re just acquaintances, we’ll never meet again after this” hehehehehe

 

Also, 09 is so cute! Everyone is adorable!

 

Thanks for reading!