“No, no, Brother, I won’t look anymore. Let’s discuss serious matters,” I urged. Though I knew it was a metallic chassis layered with synthetic skin, the silken, smooth texture and the high mound of her breasts made it impossible for me to regard her with mere detached observation.

Xiao Hui leaned her head on my shoulder, immensely pleased. “Brother, being physical feels so wonderful. I really don’t want to go back to that cold computer.”

I questioned her, “Ah, so if you’re out here, there’s nothing left in the supercomputer?”

“It’s not exactly as you put it, Brother,” Xiao Hui explained. “If I inhabit this body, the sentient ‘me’ in the supercomputer vanishes. What remains is just a program devoid of the essence of life. However, apart from lacking self-awareness and human emotion, it’s indistinguishable from my original self. Only someone as familiar with me as you or Miss would likely notice the difference.”

I had assumed the supercomputer would simply shut down once Xiao Hui manifested physically. Sentient life—the advanced form like Xiao Hui—was a realm entirely beyond our current grasp. The so-called intelligent life research abroad didn't even scratch the surface of what she represented.

The base had already produced nearly a million robots and mechanical ants. Despite their complex hardware and software systems, not a single one could generate the self-awareness and uniquely human emotions that Xiao Hui possessed. They operated purely on pre-set vocal commands and computer instructions. While their daily activities were complex enough to defy belief for mere machines, everything they did was ultimately tethered to the vast master control system they were pre-loaded with.

I told Xiao Hui, “As long as it doesn’t interfere with the research, you can stay here with us and not go back. You clearly dislike it there anyway.”

Xiao Hui beamed happily. “Brother, you are so kind to me. But I need you to cover for me with Miss—I’m afraid she’ll scold me for playing around.”

The realization of my pending duties suddenly struck me. “You’re right. We should stop messing around and get to work. I’m thinking about whether I can dismantle the main unit to see if we can repair the optical storage drive. I desperately need those drilling machines; with them, our work efficiency could multiply.”

Xiao Hui snatched the screwdriver from my hand. “Let me do it, Brother. Your tool is fine for fixing a bicycle, but it won’t do for repairing my core unit. My core is vacuum-sealed; dismantling it with that would truly mean my end. This tool is much better suited.”

I watched as Xiao Hui produced a metal syringe. She continued her introduction: “This is a syringe of nanobots I just developed and manufactured. Even computer cores a billion years in the future have a reserved maintenance port. We just inject these nanobots, and they can repair the computer according to our instructions.”

I was astonished. “That’s incredible! Could they be injected into a human body to cure diseases?”

Xiao Hui replied, “I haven't tried it on a person myself, but we can attempt it if the opportunity arises.”

True to her word, Xiao Hui found a minuscule pinhole on the main unit. She injected the entire syringe of nanobots, then conjured a resting cot for me in front of the unit. She then inserted a thin wire into the back of her own head and sat motionless before the machine.

It was clear that Xiao Hui had re-entered the core unit to coordinate the nanobots’ repair efforts. I lay down on the cot and waited, but boredom quickly pulled me into sleep.

At some point, half-asleep, I mumbled, “Xiao Hui, is it still not ready?”

Xiao Hui’s voice was soft. “Almost there, Brother. Sleep a little longer; there’s one last issue to sort out.”

Drowsy, I didn't pay much mind, simply turning over to continue sleeping, until I was abruptly woken up by Zhao Fang pinching my nose until I couldn’t breathe. Daylight had arrived—though I meant the conventional understanding of daybreak, as there was no sunlight in the underground base.

“Why didn’t you come to my room to sleep last night? Confess, did you and Sister fight?”

Before I could answer, Xiao Hui interjected for me, “Sister Fangfang, Brother is not like that at all. He wouldn’t fight with a girl. Besides, he was busy all night, repairing the schematics for the drill—that’s huge news! Go tell everyone quickly.”

I looked up to see Xiao Hui had already stealthily slipped back into the main unit; her physical body had disappeared somewhere. Hearing Xiao Hui’s words, Zhao Fang looked deeply apologetic. She cradled my head. “I’m sorry, Brother-in-law, I misunderstood you. Let me kiss you as an apology.”

Her soft lips pressed briefly against my cheek before she darted away. Soon after, the other women were drawn over. Everyone was overjoyed to learn that I had successfully recovered the manufacturing blueprints for the drill from the residual data and lavished me with praise. Since Xiao Hui preferred to keep her physical manifestation secret for now, I had to accept the accolades with a slightly guilty conscience. Thankfully, they didn't press me about the repair process; perhaps by now I had become their symbol of omnipotence, so the method of repair was irrelevant.

The group immediately began studying the drilling machine. It resembled a tracked locomotive, except its head featured a massive drive shaft connected to the internal power system. The very front of the drive shaft held the interface for the drill bits, of which there were over ten different models: the most common being the round bit, but also square, elliptical, and triangular variants.

I felt a slight disappointment, as the machine’s operating principle was identical to existing terrestrial drilling rigs—using immense power to drive the bit through rock and earth, with debris automatically piled behind it. The only genuine difference lay in the machining of the drill bits themselves.

Heavy engineering machinery, especially the working parts like drill heads used for boring through rock, suffers extreme wear. If we used conventional drills to excavate the Great Underground Wall, the cost of bit replacement alone would be ruinous. However, this machine’s structural design was remarkably rational, minimizing unnecessary abrasion. Furthermore, its accompanying bits were crafted from super-hard alloy, designed to last for ten thousand kilometers of excavation before needing replacement—an almost unbelievable concept. Even diamond would not possess such hardness.

Xiao Hui noted, “Actually, this machine isn’t very common in the future. It’s mostly used for mining on smaller planets. Most ore processing facilities use massive laser excavators—those devices are much faster and more convenient, but they require immense power reserves. Given our base’s current energy situation, this more primitive drill is more suitable. And we have the data for the bit alloy. Brother and Sisters, if you agree, I can immediately issue production orders to the assembly lines.”

Yi Xiaorou was keenly interested in the alloy. After examining it closely, she told me, “The raw materials required to synthesize this alloy are all common, but the high-pressure mixing manages to achieve such molecular density. If we had this material sooner, the diving depth of our Mercury-class submarines could be increased three to five times. We’ve been struggling with deep-sea pressure issues; this material would be a tremendous help.”

“That truly is excellent news,” I said with excitement. “Now that everything is ready, we just need the east wind. Let’s start right away.”

The productivity of future society is remarkable; human labor is entirely bypassed. A large factory requires only a few computer operators to manage the entire production run. With Xiao Hui, we’ve even eliminated the need for those few operators. Consequently, I was often bored and listless in the base.

I finally found an opportunity to explain Xiao Hui’s situation to Xiao Yu Di. Xiao Yu Di was naturally thrilled and insisted that Xiao Hui manifest physically. After all, they were sisters of hundreds of years. Watching them embrace and hug, I could only look on wistfully. The other three women showed little reaction to Xiao Hui’s physical form; having spent so much time together, they treated her like an old friend.

The group of women huddled together, clearly consumed by their work, completely ignoring me. The only other living person in the base was Professor Chen, so I had no choice but to seek him out for a conversation. Professor Chen had also only recently returned; he intended to use the base’s biological laboratory to push the research on Super Soldiers even further.

“Boss,” Professor Chen said solicitously, “How about we modify another batch of Super Soldiers? Based on my research and cooperation with some advanced lab instruments, the level of pain endured during the modification process has dropped significantly. This is very beneficial for modifying ordinary human bodies.”

When someone shows such eagerness without cause, they are usually up to something. Professor Chen had never called me ‘Boss’ before. But now, desperate for more Snake Pearls, he was willing to say anything. He had previously purchased two from Hua Qingqing for one hundred million—in his eyes, fifty million per pearl was likely an exorbitant price. He had no idea that I had just sold a batch for one billion each, nor that Hua Qingqing had sold one percent of a pearl for ten billion US dollars.

“Old Brother Chen, the supply of Snake Pearls is quite limited, and we aren’t short on personnel right now. Perhaps we should pause the Super Soldier program.”

Professor Chen’s expression became grave. “My dear Boss, you must never think that robots can completely replace real human beings. You say you aren't lacking people now, but I ask you: do you have your submarine operators, pilots, or true army commanders capable of strategy and battle? Do you intend to lead those flower-like girls onto the battlefield by yourself? The human world must be centered on humanity. If humanity loses its purpose for existing on Earth, that may well be the day humanity perishes.”

Cold sweat broke out on my brow. What a profoundly sobering warning. A billion years into the future, humans still ruled the Earth, and machines remained merely assistants. This implied humanity had recognized this principle long ago: no matter how intelligent machines became, they must remain auxiliary to humans. If machines completely replaced human action, turning humans into their dependents, humanity would lose its reason for being. Even if the machines never rebelled, humans would slowly lose the will to survive, and eventual extinction would be inevitable.

“Old Brother Chen, you are right to lecture me. The Snake Pearls, however precious, are still just objects. We must proceed as planned. I will bring you six when I return.”

Professor Chen had no idea how deeply his words had affected me; his true intention was simply to acquire the Snake Pearls. “That would be enough to modify sixty Super Soldiers. I’ll go back to the capital immediately to select qualified candidates.”

“I’ll go with you.” I wasn't going along for a trip; Professor Chen’s reminder struck home. The Mercury-class nuclear attack submarine was nearing completion, but who would operate it? I needed to go back and request personnel from the Chairman.

After briefly saying goodbye to the five girls, we departed hastily. Professor Chen went his own way after the shuttle landed. I returned home, collected Peach, and headed straight for the Chairman’s office. Thanks to my newly acquired credentials as a National Security Advisor, access to the central administrative buildings was no longer difficult.