TCPUAAV Chapter 91

 

 

When Ruan Shiqing and his group arrived in Sikkim, it was still morning. After settling into their hotel suite and putting away their luggage, they found they had plenty of time, so they decided to take a nap.

 

By the time they woke up in the afternoon, they were well-rested and refreshed. Only then did Ruan Shiqing take the cubs out to shop for supplies.

 

Since they had traveled light and brought almost nothing with them, they needed to buy everything anew.

 

After asking the front desk for directions to a major shopping mall, Ruan Shiqing took the cubs on the hotel’s sightseeing vehicle.

 

The sightseeing car had a retro design and moved at a leisurely pace, perfect for taking in the surrounding scenery.

 

Since they were the only passengers, the cubs had no reservations. They relaxed by the windows, their eyes wide with curiosity as they admired the sights.

 

Unlike B3024, Sikkim had a real sun.

 

The orange-red sunset hung low in the western sky, its afterglow staining the vast expanse of clouds in vibrant hues. In the still-bright, pale blue sky, a faint crescent moon and scattered dark stars were already visible.

 

On both sides of the road, towering skyscrapers stood tall, their neon signs flickering to life as holographic advertisements played on massive screens.

 

The city was dazzling, bustling with life.

 

Eventually, the sightseeing car arrived at Julian Avenue, the heart of Sikkim’s commercial district.

 

Here, skyscrapers stretched endlessly toward the sky, and the streets were a complex, interwoven network of walkways and sky bridges—layers upon layers of steel pathways connected the massive buildings, forming a three-dimensional maze.

 

After taking a moment to take in the view, Ruan Shiqing led the cubs through the mall’s main entrance.

 

The mall was meticulously organized, with each section clearly designated for different products. Following the guidance of the service robot, Ruan Shiqing went straight to the clothing section to buy new outfits for the cubs.

 

He originally planned to browse casually, but he hadn’t expected the clothing area to be so massive—it was larger than the entire inner city of B3024. With so many brands and styles to choose from, it was overwhelming.

 

By the time they finished shopping for clothes, more than three hours had passed.

 

The smart shopping cart that followed them was stuffed full of purchases.

 

Meanwhile, the exhausted cubs had all collapsed into the small transport carts provided by the mall.

 

The little dragon cub sprawled out on his back, belly up, still in shock. “This is more exhausting than fighting.”

 

Ruan Jiao, sitting cross-legged in the cart, wiggled his tentacles and nodded emphatically. “Tiring!”

 

The little fox didn’t even have the energy to speak—her ears drooped, and her fluffy tails lay motionless.

 

Only the little mermaid was still full of enthusiasm. His eyes sparkled as he gazed at the beautifully decorated stores around them, clearly captivated. When the other cubs grumbled about being too tired to continue shopping, his expression showed a hint of regret.

 

There were just too many beautiful clothes and accessories here—he hadn’t even seen half of them!

 

Ruan Shiqing, carrying Snowball in his arms and with 09 at his side, glanced at the thoroughly exhausted cubs. He ruffled the little mermaid’s hair and said, “Let’s get some food first. We’ll have plenty of time to explore later.”

 

The little mermaid nodded obediently. Satisfied, he caught up to the smart shopping cart and happily began checking through his loot.

 

Ruan Shiqing, meanwhile, chose a restaurant within the mall for their meal.

 

Unlike B3024, Sikkim had an incredibly diverse food culture. Restaurants of every kind lined the streets, ranging from affordable eateries to high-end dining establishments. Whether one preferred artificial ingredients or the finest fresh produce, there were endless options to choose from.

 

Since this was a rare vacation, Ruan Shiqing didn’t hesitate to spend generously. He selected a restaurant with an elegant atmosphere and a fantastic view.

 

Located on a high floor, the restaurant’s wall facing the street was made entirely of one-way glass, allowing diners to overlook the vast commercial district below.

 

From their seats, they could even see the distant spaceport.

 

By now, the port had lit up, and the numerous aircraft coming and going illuminated the sky like a sea of fireflies.

 

As they admired the scenery and waited for their food, quiet conversation drifted over from the booth next to them.

 

“The military port is open again. That must be the latest batch of conscripts shipping out.”

 

“I bet it won’t be long before another round of recruitment starts.”

 

The voices weren’t loud, but with Ruan Shiqing’s keen hearing, he caught every word.

 

He turned to glance at the brightly lit port, where the massive tarmac was occupied by several transport ships. Their hatches were wide open as neatly organized columns of soldiers boarded in an orderly fashion.

 

—According to the latest reports, the Empire had officially declared war on Sijialan.

 

Emperor Siyan had demanded that Sijialan hand over Governor Haman, ordering him to be brought back to Sikkim for trial.

 

Governor Haman also happened to be the leader of the merfolk.

 

Sijialan was the heart of the merfolk’s domain, and their discontent with the new emperor had long been brewing. Now, faced with such a blatant challenge, they had no intention of yielding. Reports indicated that Sijialan had already allied with over a dozen planets in the Melchers District, forming an Anti-Imperial Coalition to resist the Empire’s advances.

 

Although full-scale combat had yet to break out, both sides were rapidly mobilizing for war.

 

The Empire had already issued two emergency conscription orders, and even the capital planet, Sikkim, wasn’t exempt. Military ports were operating non-stop, transferring troops and weaponry to the Sijialan frontlines.

 

No one knew who would emerge victorious from this war.

 

But regardless of the outcome, it wasn’t something an ordinary person like him could influence.

 

Ruan Shiqing withdrew his gaze and called the cubs to eat.

 

Yet, Rong Heng continued to stare at the glowing lights of the port for a long time.

 

According to the latest intel from Lucien, Siyan had successfully won over the heads of the Four Great Conglomerates.

 

The results of their human-mechanical augmentation experiments were evidently promising enough that the conglomerate leaders could no longer suppress their greed and ambition, finally reaching an agreement with Siyan.

 

With the backing of the Four Conglomerates, the Empire now had a significant advantage in the war.

 

Yet, Rong Heng had a nagging feeling that this conflict wouldn’t be resolved so easily.

 

*

 

Once they finished their meal and rested for a bit, the group headed downstairs, planning to take a leisurely stroll before returning to the hotel.

 

But as soon as they stepped onto the street, they were met with the sight of multiple squads of robotic soldiers marching in perfect unison. Pedestrians hurriedly stepped aside to make way.

 

09 froze slightly as he watched the mechanical troops pass by.

 

Their design was eerily similar to his own—standing at about 1.2 meters tall, their bodies were coated in silver-white plating. Miniature ion cannons were installed on their backs, shoulders, arms, and legs. Their eye displays were curved black screens, where two tiny red light dots flickered intermittently.

 

His gaze followed the departing robotic soldiers, an inexplicable sense of familiarity lingering in his mind.

 

He felt like he had seen them somewhere before.

 

The red light on his own display screen flickered repeatedly as 09 absentmindedly patted his storage unit, puzzled.

 

Where had he seen them before?

 

Faint, fragmented memories flickered through his mind.

 

—”The Angus and its entire crew perished, but they held the line at Brennir and did not fail their mission.”

 

—”A robotic soldier, of all things, disobeyed orders and assumed command.”

 

—”Decommission and destroy it.”

 

—…

 

The scattered memories flickered and vanished in an instant.

 

09 stood there in a daze, his hand still absentmindedly tapping his storage unit.

 

Were these just remnants of old data fragments that hadn’t been completely erased?

 

“09? 09?”

 

Ruan Shiqing called 09’s name twice before the little golden robot finally snapped out of his daze. He glanced at the robotic soldiers marching into the distance, and Ruan Shiqing chuckled.

 

“They’re the same model as you.”

 

If 09 had never been salvaged and modified, he probably would have looked just like them.

 

09 nodded but, for some reason, didn’t feel particularly happy about that thought.

 

The red indicator light on his display flickered, and he mumbled, “I still prefer the design you gave me, sir.”

 

Through Ruan Shiqing’s continuous modifications, his appearance had changed drastically from the original model. Unless someone was an expert in robotics, they wouldn’t even associate him with those standard-issue combat droids.

 

Glancing down at his own gleaming golden exterior, 09 pushed aside the fragmented, chaotic memories that lingered in his system. His screen lit up with a cheerful expression once more.

 

He was far luckier than those robotic soldiers.

 

Seeing him in good spirits again, Ruan Shiqing smiled and pointed toward a nearby mechanical repair and maintenance shop.

 

“That shop offers oil baths for robots. Want to give it a try?”

 

Oil bath!!!

 

The little golden robot immediately forgot all his earlier worries. He stretched his neck forward to get a better look, his voice brimming with excitement. “I—I want to try it!”

 

Back on B3024, resources were limited. While Ruan Shiqing had always taken care of his maintenance, applying lubricant and doing regular upkeep, an oil bath was an entirely different experience!

 

The thought of being completely immersed in lubricating oil, every inch of his body refreshed and polished, was exhilarating.

 

Most importantly—he would be shinier than ever!

 

The little robot was already eager to try.

 

Seeing him so excited, Ruan Shiqing didn’t hesitate. He led him straight into the shop without looking anywhere else.

 

As soon as they stepped inside, 09 wasted no time and politely addressed the shopkeeper:

 

“Hello, I would like to get an oil bath.”

 

He tried his best to sound composed, but his voice still carried a hint of uncontrollable excitement.

 

The shop owner raised an eyebrow at the particularly lively golden robot before glancing at Ruan Shiqing for confirmation.

 

Ruan Shiqing nodded. “Give him the best oil bath you have.”

 

With that, he tapped his neural terminal against the payment scanner, ready to complete the transaction.

 

High-end oil baths weren’t cheap, and most people would never splurge on such an expensive service for a household robot. Clearly, this was a big spender.

 

Grinning widely, the shopkeeper personally led 09 to the back of the shop, where the oil bath would take place.

 

As the little robot disappeared into the maintenance area, the shopkeeper casually remarked, “Your robot seems much smarter than the usual models. Must’ve cost a fortune—better take good care of him.”

 

Hearing this, Ruan Shiqing thought about the multi-talented, endlessly curious little robot and simply smiled without responding.

 

The shop had a waiting lounge, so he took the cubs there while they waited.

 

As he casually browsed the news, the shop’s doorbell chimed, signaling another customer’s arrival.

 

“Is my land cruiser done with its maintenance?”

 

A flash of striking red hair entered his peripheral vision.

 

Ruan Shiqing looked up—only to realize that it was the same hotel guest who had shared the elevator with them earlier.

 

The red-haired man seemed to recognize them as well, but he didn’t approach. Instead, he simply gave a polite nod in acknowledgment.

 

A few moments later, a technician drove out a freshly serviced land cruiser, handing it over to the red-haired man. Without lingering, he climbed in and drove off.

 

 

 

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With these “fragments memories” of 09, we get yet another suspicious notch for our mysterious merchant who has disappeared since he gave Ruan Ruan rocks for Heli lol!

 

Thanks for reading!

For every three ko-fis, I will upload a bonus chapter~