Chapter 86: Cheap Goods Are Not Worth Buying
Chapter 86: Cheap Goods Are Not Worth Buying
Ten selected Artificial Humans stood before Lei Yaotian in a neat line.
They were picked from the first batch of three hundred Artificial Humans and were comparatively smarter than the others. That’s why Wangcai selected them and assigned them as fort Commanders.
Lei Yaotian walked past them, inspecting with Wangcai and Monica following. He finally stopped facing them. He placed his hands behind his back and spoke loudly, “I will be leaving soon to build a base on another planet. You will stay here to lead soldiers in defending every inch of this land. As fort Commanders, do you have confidence?”
“Whoosh~~”
“Reporting Commander, we have confidence!” The ten Artificial Human staff officers answered in unison.
Lei Yaotian nodded, then said to them, “Deputy Officer Wangcai left behind a random name generator. After I’m gone, your soldiers can use that machine to choose names they like. Record them, no more using identification numbers.”
After hearing Lei Yaotian’s words, the expressions of the ten staff officers visibly became much richer.
“Are you serious, Commander?” One staff officer asked, looking utterly disbelieving.
“What? Would I lie to you?” Lei Yaotian felt annoyed as he looked at the Artificial Human who spoke. He thought to himself, “Haven’t I ever lied to them? Why is there such disbelief?”
Lei Yaotian completely misunderstood. It wasn’t due to distrust of him, but the Artificial Humans couldn’t believe that, as manufactured Cannon Fodder, they could actually have names.
Since their creation day, they had only ever had identification numbers, no other form of address.
Though manufactured, Artificial Humans did possess basic intelligence. So during any free time, they processed various thoughts.
However, when Rogue created them, he injected a Loyalty Drug into their Genes to ensure they wouldn’t rebel. Therefore, even if some of their thoughts were negative, they couldn’t act against these constraints.
Now, Lei Yaotian was giving them all names. This was something they had never dared imagine. His words made the Artificial Humans feel valued and respected. It felt like a dream—so they couldn’t believe it.
“Could products like us, intended only as expendable Cannon Fodder, truly possess names like other smart beings?” This thought echoed within each Artificial Human who heard Lei Yaotian.
“You,” Lei Yaotian pointed at the questioning Artificial Human, “will be the highest-ranking officer on this Asteroid from now on.”
“What?” That Artificial Human hadn’t processed it yet.
“The other nine Artificial Humans are Commanders of the individual forts. You are the overall commander of this Planet. You’ll need to report to me on this Planet’s status henceforth. You must commit to learning.”
Lei Yaotian selected him because he thought this one seemed bolder compared to the other nine. Besides, after he left, this Asteroid indeed needed a capable military leader to govern.
The Artificial Human couldn’t grasp that he’d been appointed as the highest Commander. He became visibly overwhelmed with emotion.
“As the highest Commander, I shall personally bestow a name upon you.”
“Wow~~~”
Instantly, the other nine Artificial Humans were excited too. Being given a name by the Master personally felt like the highest honor to them.
“Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, Leon Lai, Jacky Cheung…” What name would be fitting? Lei Yaotian racked his brain, recalling famous names. He scrutinized the Artificial Human’s features and his eyes lit up.
“Your name henceforth shall be… Tom Cruise!”
Yes! This Artificial Human showed prominent features: golden long hair, a high-bridged nose, and blue eyes. Even the melancholic expression bore an eighty percent resemblance to that famous Hollywood star. So, Lei Yaotian assigned this handsome Artificial Human such a name.
Click!
After Lei Yaotian named him, he didn’t know that a mental constraint in the handsome Artificial Human’s brain had shattered.
Tom calmed his excited state and gave Lei Yaotian a solemn military salute.
“Commander, I pledge to dedicate myself to learning and strive to become a capable Commander worthy of you.”
Lei Yaotian didn’t notice anything unusual in the way this Artificial Human spoke.
But Wangcai, the Intelligent Butler beside him, detected the difference in this Artificial Human.
Confidence and dignity.
Indeed, upon receiving a name, Wangcai observed radiating confidence and pride from the Artificial Human. He even felt Tom’s intelligence rapidly improving.
Wangcai smiled and approached Tom, speaking in a hushed tone, “I left behind some Cosmic Warfare video footage within the central fortress. Use that for study. Also, I’ll arrange long-distance video sessions to teach you texts and provide structured lessons. Do not disappoint the Commander. From here on, you are his unyielding wall of defense.”
Smack!
Tom stood sharply at attention and saluted.
“Rest assured. I will dedicate every effort.” Tom kept his voice equally low.
“His intelligence truly increased significantly,” Wangcai pondered silently. Yet, he decided against informing Lei Yaotian immediately; instead aiming to guide these Artificial Humans to eventually surprise the Master himself.
“After we depart, identify soldiers displaying intelligence. Guide those personnel. This Planet lies in your hands.”
Tom gave a resolute nod.
“Wangcai, what is taking so long over there?” Lei Yaotian called out impatiently, seeing Wangcai talking quietly with Tom without understanding their exchange.
“Alright, back when possible. Tend to organizing your soldiers. Protect this Planet to your utmost. Once we arrive there, I’ll contact you to relay the next steps.”
After these quick words, Wangcai returned swiftly to Lei Yaotian’s side.
“Nothing particular. Merely emphasizing vigilance over those Sweet Potato Fields. Our future growth relies entirely on agriculture moving forward. Any harm comes to those crops, our strategy crumbles.” Wangcai fabricated a simple excuse.
Lei Yaotian didn’t press further as twenty thousand Artificial Human Soldiers had already boarded the Transport Spaceship. Nearby, Engineering Robots were also steadily filing inside.
Materials procured from Bruce couldn’t be transported presently. Given its compact capacity, this Transport Spaceship simply couldn’t handle such immense cargo—especially loaded with twenty thousand soldiers plus thousands of Engineering Robots.
Lei Yaotian purchased this vessel purely for saving Credit Points—selecting only the lowest tier Transport Spaceship. He had avoided buying larger military-grade Warship transports.
Lifting his head, Lei Yaotian saw the silvery spacecraft gleaming brightly against the backdrop. He waved once and declared, “Departure!” directing his stride toward the ship’s entrance.
“We entrust everything now.”
Wangcai reminded them one final time before turning.
“Rest assured, Deputy Officer!” Tom answered resolutely as his gaze met Wangcai’s.
Hiss~~ Clank~~ Clang!
The spaceship door sealed shut. Moments later, it ascended skyward. Its journey commenced smoothly toward the distant Planet below.
Tom Cruise watched the craft fade before shifting focus toward his nine counterparts.
“You all proceed to select suitable names—your Master’s generous gift bestowed freely.”
Tom then walked solo toward the central fortress. His goal: locate videos regarding Cosmic Warfare left by Wangcai for intensive study.
…
…
“Based on our current velocity, arriving tomorrow remains probable.” Wangcai reported as they entered the cockpit. Lei Yaotian settled into the captain’s seat while he stood facing him.
Through the cockpit’s panoramic windows, expansive yet lonely Starry Sky filled their vision directly and clearly.
“How could a Planet appearing so near demand such extended migration?” Lei Yaotian couldn’t stop staring outside—simply captivated spectacularly by this cosmic view.
“This Transport Spaceship lacks substantial output capabilities hence remains extremely slow.” Wangcai followed his reply by approaching the deputy officer’s station situated below-left relative to the command chair and began manipulating instrument panels there.
“Hence, distance calculations strongly suggest requiring near eighteen hours to achieve arrival permanently.”
“I regret settling financially—should’ve obtained swift military Warship transport originally.” As the Transport Spaceship glided through deep emptiness, Lei Yaotian uttered aloud, “This starkly proves cheap goods predictably fail—utterly worthless entirely.”
Experiencing this incident reinforced Lei Yaotian’s determination: buy exclusively top-tier produce henceforth; disregard bargain trash permanently.
“Depart peacefully knowing Artificial Humans pilot admirably. True relaxation calls me onward currently. My mind lingers strangely fogged somewhat; lingering aftereffects perplex regretfully it seems.” Lei Yaotian pushed himself upward firmly. After rising, he lifted his hands onto temple region providing gentle massage pressure was applied carefully.
“Young Master, unwell sensations persist presently?!” Wangcai asked worriedly upon hearing “aftereffects”.
“Inconsistent observations remain solid. Yet particular sensations sharpen magically daily. Occasionally sensing impossible visuals puzzles greatly. Consistent head swelling arrives concurrently during these hallucinatory episodes becoming incredibly disorienting dizzyingly.” Monica instantly stepped forward stabilising Lei Yaotian whose body had begun swaying slightly suddenly. She permitted him leaning bodily entirely against her physical form supportively.
“Ungh! Odd really—expect imminent unexpected disruptions direly…” Lei Yaotian perceptibly paled dramatically mid-sentence. Sweat beads appeared prominently atop his forehead instantly when announcing sensation.
“Decrease altitude immediately 300 meters! Command priority!” His hallucinations materialized once more. Yet distinctively, this display appeared drastically clearer unlike previous faint iterations. Lei Yaotian saw clearly: a diminutive asteroid drifting silently straight colliding forcefully their vessel! No detectable substance existed upon this rock escaping their investigative wave frequencies sufficiently.
Even while dubbed hallucination experience absolutely flashed distinctly tangible resemblance. Convinced thoroughly it felt genuine entire substance absolute. Therefore adhering towards trusting cautious warnings even skeptically—his voice roared commanding directions forward urgently.
“Right frontal quadrant reports tiny unidentified asteroid approaching fast!” Announced one pilot Artificial Human escalating immediately simultaneously.
“Therefore—should not buy cheap goods ever…!” Lei Yaotian tasted bitter taste within his mouth promptly.