In the lower works compartment of the Primordial-grade Warship, mountains of raw materials were piled high. Fei Chong Ling

Ducat crouched before a machine tool, busy at work. He connected a small super-brain provided by Fuya Ming to the machine tool’s control circuits, and then linked a small engine unit manufactured by Fiako to the machine tool’s power lines. After roughly two hours of diligent labor, he finally restored the machine tool to normal operation. The technical specifications of machine tools produced by the Earth Federation differed greatly from the super-brains, engines, and units from the Yafik Kingdom; even the programming languages for the super-brains were vastly different. To accomplish this task in just two hours demonstrated that Ducat’s mastery of mechanical and electronic technology had reached the level of a grandmaster.

Bolu Bolu lay drunkenly in a corner of the work compartment, clutching a massive bubble-wine bottle nearly two feet tall. He struggled to open his eyes, gazing dully at the busy Ducat. But the alcohol seemed to have completely conquered his nerves; even the sweat dripping from him carried a strong scent of liquor. The little fellow mumbled a few incoherent words, finally succumbing to the alcohol's assault. After draining the last drop of bubble wine into his belly, he slumped into a heavy, unconscious sleep.

Ducat, who had been intently working, abruptly froze the moment he heard Bolu Bolu’s faint snore.

He stood up and strode over to Bolu Bolu’s side.

“Hey, wake up!” Ducat nudged the little creature’s head.

Bolu Bolu lay limp on the soft chair, unmoving. His two short paws clutched the wine bottle tightly, a long string of drool hanging from his mouth.

“Excellent!” Ducat smiled with satisfaction. He reached out and tapped the back of Bolu Bolu’s skull, not heavily, but firmly. This tap was enough to keep Bolu Bolu unconscious for a full day and night, yet it wouldn't cause him any physical harm. Watching the little creature whose snoring had now ceased entirely, Ducat shook his head, placed his right palm gently over the creature’s chest, and carefully injected a thick stream of green light into his body.

“This will make your awakening a bit more comfortable,” Ducat muttered. “Such a small smuggler? Life must not be easy for you lot!”

The temperature in the work compartment was somewhat low. The life support systems manufactured by the Yafik people seemed somewhat inadequate on the Primordial-grade ship. Ducat looked at Bolu Bolu’s tiny form, sighed softly, and took off his own thick, wide robe, tossing it haphazardly over the little creature.

Ducat turned and walked toward the open space in the center of the work compartment. He failed to notice that Bolu Bolu, having just been struck, was cautiously opening his eyes.

“Eh, he’s a good guy. But… Starlight Silver is still cuter. Lord Xie Chengu ordered me to keep an eye on him, so that’s what I have to do! Ha, good guy? Pfft, what’s a good guy worth?”

Bolu Bolu narrowed his small eyes, carefully scrutinizing Ducat’s every move. This was a peculiar innate ability of the Bolu Bolu clan. Besides the main brain they used for general bodily functions, their hearts could handle about seventy percent of the work normally done by the cerebral brain. Furthermore, their other internal organs could, when necessary, awaken hidden genetic capabilities, taking over about forty percent of the brain’s function in emergencies.

Consequently, although the Bolu Bolu clan was physically frail and lacked formidable strength, for all these years, they had survived purely through smuggling without ever being betrayed by alcohol, knockout drugs, or other substances. Others might have grown a few extra cautious; this clan had grown several extra brains.

Ducat stood in the empty space at the center of the work compartment. He slowly placed both hands over his Dantian.

Nine spheres of red light slowly rose from behind him. Ducat had fully activated all his extraordinary abilities. Countless fine silver streams of light shot out from his head, swiftly establishing communication with all the formed machinery and components within the work compartment, including the apparatuses manufactured by the Yafik people.

Ducat’s ten fingers rose and fell with the delicacy of a concert pianist. As his fingers trembled subtly, all the surrounding machinery and components floated up like downy feathers caught in a gale. Countless silver lights flickered across these metal objects, and dazzling silver lightning engulfed the entire work compartment.

“Gu Xie Chen, this is the ability I gained after my second fusion,” Ducat said in a low voice. “Electronic life, hehehe. Electronic life that is no different from human life!”

With a deep shout, all the machine tools, production lines, engineering mechs, robotic arms, super-brains, and countless components in the work compartment simultaneously disassembled into their smallest constituent parts. A cold, emotionless red electronic light flickered in Ducat’s eyes. Streams of piercing silver light erupted from his brow, shooting into the flying components. A chilling, biting wind swept through the surrounding void. Thick green mist spontaneously generated, enveloping the rapidly spinning components.

Klang, klang. With a thunderous noise, in the blink of an eye, all the production lines, machine tools, and other machinery were reassembled. The production lines, the machine tools, the engineering mechs, and the robotic arms were now completely different from the dead, lifeless lumps of metal they had been moments before. Lustrous silver light coursed over their surfaces, and an aura of vigorous vitality continuously spread from within their bodies.

All the machinery roared in unison, and hundreds of synthesized voices sounded simultaneously: “We thank you for granting us life, Great Father. Great—”

Ducat spread his hands flat, smiling gently, gazing affectionately at these machines that now possessed independent thought and life.

“My children, begin work now. I need to awaken more of your companions. Your task now is to restore this warship to its former glory. Can you do it?”

An engineering mech stepped forward, the colossal machine ten meters high with dozens of long mechanical arms, speaking with utmost deference: “Great Father, give us twenty-four standard Earth hours, and we can restore this warship to its peak condition, perhaps even making it stronger! Before your magnificent power, nothing is impossible!”

Ducat nodded firmly, smiling: “Then, begin your work, my children!”

Without the need for human control, all the machinery began to operate frantically, doing so in the most efficient and energy-saving manner possible.

Heavy transport vehicles carrying raw materials continuously fed refined materials from the cargo bay into the input hoppers of the production lines. Accompanied by the deep roar of machinery, brand-new components sprayed out from the various branch production units of the lines. Robotic arms precisely grasped these components and rapidly assembled them.

The engineering mechs marched in perfect synchronicity toward every section of the warship. They transported the necessary components with an efficiency unattainable by humans, installing them into every part of the Primordial-grade Warship with the fastest, smoothest speed: the warship’s main control super-brain, fire control super-brain, damage control super-brain, radar systems, information conduits, energy conduits, life support piping, and even the sewage lines in the living quarters.

The production lines ceaselessly churned out required parts, which the engineering mechs ferried back and forth like flying shuttles, installing them exactly where they belonged.

Ducat continuously activated his abilities. More mechanical lifeforms and large apparatuses, imbued with his essence, roared to life and began working. Gradually, these living machines permeated the entire Primordial-grade Warship, repairing the damaged vessel with terrifying efficiency. The working efficiency of every single mech surpassed that of a hundred—perhaps even a thousand—humans equipped with mechanical assistants.

As the number of mechanical lives awakened by Ducat grew, the repair speed of the warship increased faster and faster. And every time a subsystem compartment was repaired, Ducat rushed over to grant life to every electronic mechanism within that section, turning them into ‘children’ under his control.

One hundred thousand! When the Primordial-grade Warship was finally restored to pristine condition, Ducat commanded one hundred thousand children throughout the vessel!

The warship’s fire control super-brain, damage control super-brain, radar subsystem control super-brains, the control super-brains for all sub-compartments, and even the sub-control super-brains for the life support modules—all fell under Ducat’s command.

One hundred thousand—this was the current limit of living mechanical entities Ducat could control.

Standing in the newly restored Command Bridge, Ducat looked with helplessness at the massive, newly forged main control super-brain below the deck. The main control super-brain manufactured by the Yafik people was a behemoth currently beyond his control. Its sheer size and computational speed were too astonishing; Ducat’s current abilities were insufficient to make it one of his children.

“What a pity! But give me a little more time, let me train on Mars a bit longer. When I can command millions of mechanical children, when I can control the warship’s main control super-brain-level mechanical lifeforms, Mother, you, Lily, and I will all have our—”

Two silver rays flickered uncertainly in Ducat’s eyes. He murmured low, “Gu Xie Chen, Penghua, will you be my friends?”

He spread both hands flat, and silver electrical light flashed wildly across his body.

The Primordial-grade Warship shuddered faintly; it was a warship that had gained life.

“If you are not my friends, then at the very least, I can escape from here with Lily. The entire warship is under my control; here, you are no match for me!”

Staring quietly through the viewport at the thick layer of rock above, Ducat gave a low order: “Engine unit activation. Test the warship’s power status.”

A deep, powerful voice echoed in the Command Bridge: “As you command, Great Father. Engine unit, initiate!”

Boom. The warship trembled slightly, and slowly, slowly, it began to slide backward along the deep trench carved by the impact.

Ducat smiled—a confident smile.

He possessed a confidence he had never felt before!

In the work compartment, Bolu Bolu closed his eyes.

“What terrifying power. This ability is worth at least a thousand tons of Starlight Silver! Oh my heavens, he can give life to machinery!”

“Star Alliance Electronic Control Act, Article One: The development of mechanical products possessing self-awareness is strictly prohibited. Oh, heavens, I am a law-abiding citizen of the Star Alliance. I need to report this fellow!”

“Hmph, the Star Alliance? Go to hell! The great, lovely Mr. Xie Chengu promised me Starlight Silver—what has the Star Alliance ever given me?”

“For the sake of Starlight Silver, Mr. Law-Abiding Bolu Bolu has no choice but to trample on the Star Alliance laws. Damn it!”

“Actually, I am innocent.”