The old dog's voice was incredibly rough, a single utterance making the surrounding birds erupt in flapping wings, instantly injecting a lively chaos into the forest.

Ziye waved from a distance. "Old Dog, I'm here to freeload a meal!"

The old dog laughed heartily. "Plenty to go around." He glanced at An Junlie, his eyes showing surprise. "And who is this?"

Ziye quickly introduced him. "A new resident, an alien."

A flash of sharp intensity crossed the old dog's eyes, immediately receding back into the simple, rustic look of an ordinary man. He clapped a massive hand onto An Junlie's shoulder. "Dog brother, you've got a decent build."

He was larger and slightly taller than An Junlie, and the force of the clap nearly sent An Junlie stumbling to the ground.

—What terrifying palm strength was this!

An Junlie managed to absorb the blow and, playing along appropriately, nodded. "Hello, Brother Dog."

"No need for formalities, no need for formalities," the old dog nodded approvingly, then turned to Ziye. "How did he get here?" Unlike others reliant on machinery, he was a man who believed in biology, even more so than biologists. Through long dealings with living things, he could tell at a glance that An Junlie was a genuine human.

Ziye explained, "He fell. We'll talk about that later; I’m starving, got anything to eat?"

The old dog shook his head with a sigh. "Fine, eat first, then talk."

Ziye showed no restraint. She trotted into the wooden structure, heading straight for the dining area with practiced ease. Little Sprout trailed behind her, bouncing and jumping off the old dog’s head, occasionally sending out minute electromagnetic pulses to tap the Dobermans, setting them into a chaotic chase.

The meal the old dog prepared was the most normal An Junlie had seen since arriving on Silver Talisman. The only exception was the massive platter of meat at the center, which was somewhat alarming. That single piece of meat weighed at least ten jin! The rest of the spread—two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, one fish, and one soup—was steaming hot, releasing a rich aroma.

Ziye acted as if she were back home. She grabbed a plate, picked up a carving knife, and sat down at the table with bold authority, tucking in. Large chunks of meat were quickly sliced into pieces, deposited onto her plate, and devoured.

Using a knife felt perfectly normal to An Junlie. What was strange was the plate; it was clearly designed for a dog. Seeing him stare, the old dog laughed and explained, "I eat alone, but I have about a dozen dogs, and it’s too much trouble to buy two different sets of dishes, so I just got a few sets of dog plates. Humans can use them too."

Ziye cut a piece of meat with a satisfying crunch-snap and placed it on her own plate, then cut it into smaller strips. Without looking up, she said, "Don't mind him, just eat what you have." After a moment, she added, "He's just easily surprised."

The old dog laughed heartily. "She’s right, don't be polite. Eat fast or it’ll be gone."

Ziye grinned, popped a piece of meat into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed, praising it. "This VioletTiger is delicious this time; the meat is so fresh and tender."

"Haha, eat more if it’s good." The bearded man sliced a large chunk of meat and placed it on Ziye's plate before cutting a piece for himself, tearing into it with his hands. "Hunted it just yesterday; it’s fresh. I kept plenty left over; take some with you when you go."

"Haha, I couldn't possibly impose," Ziye said with a radiant smile, "but I won't refuse. Do you still have the tiger gall? I want the gall."

The bearded man paused, glancing at An Junlie. "Give it to him?"

Ziye nodded.

An Junlie felt a wave of confusion. Why would Ziye ask someone for a tiger gall for him? To cook with? A tiger gall was certainly valuable, but it seemed unnecessary for mere daily sustenance.

Just then, Little Sprout burrowed near him, so he used brainwaves to ask the sprout.

Little Sprout quietly informed him, "The $\gamma$ baseline in VioletStar stimulates human brainwaves and causes headaches. At the end of every year, an even more terrifying $\zeta$ baseline is emitted, which can easily cause cancer or psychosis. The VioletTiger is one of the oldest animals on Silver Talisman, naturally absorbing the $\zeta$ baseline, which perfectly counteracts the $\gamma$ baseline. New arrivals should definitely consume a VioletTiger gall to protect their physical health. Furthermore, the gall can enhance brainwaves and mental power, which is highly beneficial for piloting mechs and starships in zero-G environments."

Hearing this, An Junlie couldn't help but look up at Ziye.

Ziye had come here for his sake—something he hadn't anticipated at all. For someone she’d known only two or three days, her concern was truly rare.

The old dog clapped An Junlie on the shoulder and roared with laughter. "I was planning to save it and sell it at a high price to the next batch of aliens, or maybe trick one into being an assistant or something. Since you need it, I'll give it to you now!"

Ziye immediately beamed. "Old Dog, you are too kind!" The VioletTiger was not an animal easily captured. Because their aura matched the natural light of Silver Talisman, they were arguably the fiercest creatures on the planet. Capturing one and getting away unharmed was akin to asking an ordinary mechanic to independently fabricate a mech—a difficulty level on par with that. It was easy to imagine how long the old dog had lain in wait, how much time he’d spent closing the distance, and how much effort he’d invested to successfully catch one.

The old dog waved his hand dismissively. "Don't flatter me like that. It rains here every day; my machinery is practically rusting. You’ll have to give it a look later."

"Deal," Ziye agreed instantly. She paused, then added, "The alien arrived at night, so we couldn't detect the landing site in time—a waste. That pervert is working on particle resurrection; maybe he can find some clues. Next month is coming up fast; we need to prepare well, or it’ll be another year lost."

The old dog fell silent for a moment, his expression growing heavy. "Indeed. I don't understand the technical aspects, so I can’t help. In a few days, Red Hair, Big Beard, and I are going to the hotel to test the missiles. For freedom, we’ll risk it all!"

Ziye hadn't shared these details with An Junlie, but after careful thought, he understood the implication. They intended to find the trajectory of his descent and leave Silver Talisman. For An Junlie, this was cause for immense joy. If they found a route, he could leave too!

If this were some forgotten, desolate place, he might have fallen into despair, but having met them today—be it Red Hair, the Pervert, or even this seemingly most ordinary Old Dog, whose strength felt unfathomable—he felt hope. If they could work together, escaping this prisoner planet should be much easier.

So, he joined the conversation. "I can help. Even though my mech was out of power, I was conscious when I landed; I can sketch the general route."

Ziye shot him a sideways glance. "What do you mean, general? If you don't have precise data, don't bother showing it to me."

Rarely seeing her so serious, An Junlie nodded quickly. "Understood."

Ziye set down her knife and rested her chin on her hand. "Honestly, I want to go to the Silver Talisman Hotel and play with those cannon shells too. How awesome would that be! Anyone who dares bully me, I’ll blast them to pieces!"