After dinner, Xiaoyu Di sat before the three energy stones, discussing how to activate the Hope's propulsion system with the supercomputer Xiaohui. I listened for a while, but couldn't grasp what they were saying, so I drifted off to sleep while holding Taotzi.

When I woke up the next morning, both of them were still engrossed in their research. I couldn't bear to see Xiaoyu Di worn out, so I said to the girl and the computer, "Take a break. If you can't figure it out, forget it. We don't need to use it right away anyway. Just find me a large ant to ride home on."

"No way, Big Brother. I have to figure this out. How could the power system of those mechanical ants compare to the might of the energy stones? Wait for me a few days, okay? You've waited for me for several hundred years; a few more days shouldn't matter to you, right?"

I realized she had a point. Though I was anxious to return and check on Zhao Fen and Zhao Fang, I decided to stay.

Who knew that one week would slip by in this waiting? We tried powering up the system several times, but there was absolutely no flow output from the energy stone reactor; the propulsion system wouldn't engage at all.

Xiaoyu Di hadn't slept for days and nights. I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn't listen. Thankfully, her body was made of metal; if she were flesh and blood, she would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago. I truly couldn't bear it, so I joined their effort, trying my utmost to help them find a solution.

However, my knowledge was far too limited, and I had serious trouble communicating with them. Luckily, I possess an earnest desire to learn and am not ashamed to ask questions. After half a month of hard work, I managed to straighten out the core concepts. After another month of intensive refinement, I finally understood the entire propulsion system's principles.

"Xiaoyu Di, look here. Although this section of the circuit is ingeniously designed and appears perfectly logical, its instantaneous resistance to strong impact and overall stability are lacking. I suggest we revert to the more stable, older style of circuitry."

"Alright, Big Brother, we'll try it your way. Xiaohui, issue the production command to the robots. Once manufactured, have them install the new circuit board directly onto the ship."

That morning, we tried the system again. Under the collective gaze and eager anticipation of everyone present, the energy stone reactor finally delivered! There was a flow output displayed on the screen!

Xiaoyu Di's genuine emotion spilled out as she hugged me happily. "Big Brother, you are amazing! Xiaoyu Di admires you so much. I studied and researched for nearly four hundred years, yet I achieved less than you did in just over a month. Father was absolutely right to send you to look after me."

Sigh. Even I couldn't explain why my mind was suddenly so effective. I could memorize what Xiaohui said after hearing it once and apply it with ease. I could tell I had truly changed. Recalling how arduously I struggled back in high school, yet now handling high technology so effortlessly—it was a truly unique feeling.

"Officers, let's depart!" I announced spiritedly to Taotzi.

Xiaoyu Di suddenly looked a little worried. "Big Brother, you really don't mind that I'm a robot? You don't feel awkward being around a piece of metal, do you?"

I scratched the back of my head. It was a very realistic question, but I had genuinely forgotten to consider it. "Xiaoyu Di, now that you mention it, I had forgotten. Do you think I would?"

Xiaoyu Di beamed. "I knew you wouldn't, Big Brother! Xiaohui, how are all the power systems running? Are we ready to go?"

Xiaohui's voice, soft but laced with excitement, replied, "Everything is prepared, awaiting instructions from Miss and Big Brother."

"Depart!"

A massive opening suddenly split open on the screen, tearing the base's sky open to the left and right. The Hope spacecraft shot upwards without the passengers feeling any sensation. Looking back at the screen, the massive gash slowly closed, concealed once more beneath the endless yellow sands.

The robots at the base had been organized. To reduce unnecessary production, I had already used the management system to divide all the mechanical ant robots into three shifts. This immediately lowered the overall production volume by one-third. All other superfluous production was halted, with all efforts redirected to fully expanding the resource stockpile, mining, and smelting materials required for constructing the submersible. Once I obtained the submarine construction schematics, that would be the time to assert our might upon the seas!

In the very center of the ship's control room, the three life stones emitted a dazzling tri-color light. Three different colored mists streamed rapidly from the energy stones, converging and flowing into the power reactor.

I suddenly considered a rather serious issue. "Xiaoyu Di, if we fly this massive ship, will someone discover us?"

Xiaoyu Di looked utterly innocent. "I don't know. I am completely unaware of the current situation on Earth. However, based on the parameters of the Earth Federation, the cloaking capability of my refurbished ship is excellent. If your technology isn't excessively advanced, there shouldn't be a problem."

Traveler A in the desert: "Look quickly! What a huge plate!"

Traveler B in the desert: "My God! That’s a UFO!"

Traveler C in the desert: "I thought the newspapers were all lies—I can't believe they actually exist!"

"Miss and Big Brother, please input the destination coordinates," Xiaohui prompted us.

"Where are we going, Big Brother?" Xiaoyu Di asked me.

"To the small town. I need to find a few people!" I replied.

"Please input the specific coordinates, Big Brother, otherwise Xiaohui cannot identify the location. Although my database contains a holographic map of Earth, the place names from a million years in the future differ drastically from the present, so I cannot determine the town's location."

A headache started forming. How could I know the coordinates? East longitude? I couldn't remember. North latitude? I couldn't recall that either.

The girl, the computer, the cat, and I flew around aimlessly for a long time. I estimated that the Earth had been completely toured by us. Fortunately, the Hope was incredibly fast. Finally, I located the position of the Capital City by following the Great Wall. Alright, we'll go to the Capital first. I'll buy a map and figure out the exact coordinates then.

I didn't dare bring this massive machine over the Capital. Xiaohui used a newly modified escape pod to transport us to an uninhabited area in the outskirts of the city. She remained airborne with the Hope. Xiaoyu Di had already authorized her to access all signals from Earth; she needed to thoroughly understand the current level of civilization and communication methods.

It took every ounce of my strength to lead Xiaoyu Di to the main road, and then another monumental effort just to flag down a vehicle heading into the city. Xiaoyu Di, however, didn't care about such trivialities; her only curiosity was focused on the strangely shaped plants on Earth.

I first took Xiaoyu Di to the library, but even after checking the most detailed maps, we couldn't find the precise coordinates of the small town. When dealing with geography, being slightly off can lead you miles away; this couldn't be taken lightly.

After leaving the library, I decided to go home first to see Mom and Dad. Feeling the few bills left in my pocket, I bought some fruit and took Xiaoyu Di upstairs with me.

"Zhao Qian? Why are you back so suddenly? You didn't call ahead, you scared your mother! Who is this? Aren't you going to introduce her to Mom?" Mom was surprised to see me, but her astonishment grew when she saw Xiaoyu Di.

"Mom, this is my newly adopted sister, her name is Xiaoyu Di."

Xiaoyu Di followed the instructions I gave her beforehand: "Auntie, Big Brother and I came back specifically to visit you."

"Oh, come in, come in! Xiaoyu Di, what a strange name, you don't even have a surname? Auntie will just call you Xiaoyu, okay?"

Mom's enthusiasm was treating Xiaoyu Di like a prospective daughter-in-law, ignoring me completely. It seemed her understanding of the difference between a little sister and a girlfriend was rather blurred.

Xiaoyu Di was intensely curious about everything she saw and everyone she met today. I had strictly warned her never to mention anything about a million years in the future or that she was a metal person. Consequently, she could only pepper people with questions about the things she found curious.

Mom looked on with constant surprise, shooting questioning glances my way. She must have been silently complaining about why I found such a childish girl as a girlfriend. Ignoring Mom's astonished expression, I retreated to the room to call Zhu Da.

"Commander Zhu, help me find a military map, the more detailed the better! And be quick!"

Zhu Da's voice came over the phone: "Commander Zhao! You're back in the Capital? You need a military map? What are you planning? You're not thinking of staging a revolt, are you?"

"Revolt my foot! Hurry up and find it for me! I need the specific coordinates of the small town where I was working. Quickly, saving people is like fighting a fire! Otherwise, I'll face court-martial."

"Okay, okay, okay. Hold on. I'll ask my neighbor's third uncle's second great-uncle's sister's aunt's cousin's grandfather. He's quite an officer in our Republic's military!"

Zhu Da has wide connections, so I always ask him to handle things for me. This guy runs a bookstore but spends his days loafing around; food and drink are never absent from his life. He seemed to have gained even more weight the last time I saw him.

I returned to the living room to find Xiaoyu Di sitting in front of the television, looking strangely at the news playing. Mom, however, was nowhere in sight.

"Xiaoyu Di, where's Mom?"

Xiaoyu Di didn't look up. "Auntie went to buy groceries, Big Brother. What is 'groceries'? And there are so many things on here I can't understand."

I managed a wry smile at Xiaoyu Di. "Don't worry, take your time. You'll get used to it."

Xiaoyu Di pointed to the small communicator on the table. "Xiaohui just told me she detected several hidden dangers on the ship. She also needs to make major modifications to the vessel based on Earth's current conditions. I've already notified her to return to base. After all, I want to have some fun here with Big Brother. I told her to come pick us up in a month."

Wait, did that mean my search for the military map was pointless? Just then, the phone rang. It was probably Zhu Da calling back.

"Commander Zhao, my neighbor's third uncle's second great-uncle's sister's aunt's cousin's father's colleague's brother says military maps are classified national secrets and aren't shared easily. Your clearance level is too low; he's afraid to violate military law."

I said to Zhu Da, "Never mind. I don't need it for now anyway. I'll just take a car myself."

"Wait, I haven't finished! My neighbor's third uncle's second great-uncle's sister's aunt's cousin's father's colleague's brother also mentioned that three helicopters heading to that small town urgently need a porter. If you don't mind, he's willing to introduce you to the job; you can hitch a ride. Don't thank me; just treat me to dinner when you get back."

Haha, heaven is helping me! This is perfect; I didn't want to go with Xiaoyu Di anyway—what if Zhao Fen misunderstood? But now I need to figure out a way to keep her at home so I can sneak off to the town to find Zhao Fen, Zhao Fang, and Fang Yanmeng.