Collapse Iron: I just transmigrated! You want me to save the Black Tower?!

“No.” Lai Gushi’s voice remained calm. “I’m just saying that it’s right for you to care, but you shouldn’t care.”

"Your identity dictates that you will have to make choices."

Chapter 153 The Screw King's Power

Jiang Jiu looked at Lai Gushi for a while and then said "Oh".

"nonsense."

Lai Gushi was not annoyed.

He calmly explained his junior's problem: "It's right to care, it's precisely this care that defines you, but excessive care will only restrict you."

"Few geniuses care about the cost because they believe that the achievement brought about by the cost is worthwhile, and whether it is worthwhile is never determined by the cost."

Jiang Jiu rested his chin on his hand and commented, "This sounds like something Kaffa would say to me."

Lai Gushi nodded slightly.

"You're sober now."

Jiang Jiu was silent for a moment, then shrugged: "Okay."

He stood up, stretched his body slightly, and looked at Lai Gushi.

"We drank tea, we drank wine, we chatted... although none of the things I initially wanted to do came to fruition."

He paused, then chuckled softly.

"I'm leaving now, senior. I hope that when we meet again, it won't be when you've caused some major disaster that I'll have to deal with."

Lai Gushi said helplessly, "According to you, you wouldn't come to me unless it's something really important, would you?"

Jiang Jiu scoffed.

"It's really troublesome, isn't it?"

......

After skillfully completing a restart, Jiang Jiu browsed the system shop while pondering which timeline to visit next.

If the Destroyer Star God was born after the Second Prosperity, or at the end of the Second Prosperity and the beginning of the Second Imperial War, then the earliest opportunity for Zandal to create the Iron Tomb could be during the Imperial War.

The Second Imperial War lasted only about ten Amber Ages.

Why are you wasting so much time talking to Laigushi? Aren't you enemies?

"Not counting."

Jiang Jiu calculated the timeline and said perfunctorily, "What Zandal did did cause me a lot of trouble, but he is not a pure villain."

"Although it may be an exaggeration, the reason why the universe has not been destroyed can truly be said to be because of its conscience; it really has that ability."

So why are you wasting your breath arguing with him? What does it matter to you whether or not intellectual boundaries are broken?

"..."

Jiang Jiu remained silent for two seconds, then said speechlessly.

"Do you still want Naonpharos?"

【......?】

"Hmm...then you build one?"

Jiang Jiu shook his head: "System, time point, end of the Second Imperial War, location... never mind, I'm not going to look for Zandal or the Imperial Scepter. Those coordinates are practically welded to my brain. Locate Screwstar, I need to see Screwgoom."

"Selection successful. Location: Screw Star... Teleportation is about to begin. Please prepare, host."

"Have a pleasant journey, host."

"...I hope so."

The scene before them shifted, and the next moment, the scene solidified, and they were surrounded by several omnics.

"......Um?"

As expected of an AI, its reaction time is incredibly fast.

He looked at Screws Gum, who was walking gracefully towards him from not far away, and nodded slightly: "Long time no see, Your Majesty King Screws."

Screw Gum paused slightly, stopping in front of Jiang Jiu. After observing for a brief two seconds, he gracefully raised his hand, signaling the surrounding androids to put down their weapons and retreat in an orderly fashion.

Although the omnics didn't quite understand, they still obeyed orders.

"Logic: The visitor is known to possess the ability to easily breach our core defense perimeter, and has not triggered any pre-set destructive counterattack protocols, indicating that their behavior pattern is neither intrusion nor hostility. Question: Your Excellency, what brings you to such a formal and sudden visit?"

Screw Gum's voice was gentle, but his scrutinizing gaze gave Jiang Jiu a sense of wariness.

Is Screw Gumm on guard?

But is it necessary?

Jiang Jiu's strength is undeniable; he's already inside their Screw Star, so doing whatever he wants is incredibly easy.

Doing nothing is the greatest gesture of goodwill.

Before Jiang Jiu could speak, Screw Gumu spoke again.

"Furthermore, based on my core memory bank comparison, we seem to be... complete strangers."

He calmly gazed at Jiang Jiu, abandoning his previous scrutinizing posture and remaining only with pure observation and curiosity.

"The phrase 'long time no see' seems to presuppose that we share a past, which I find perplexing."

"It's a bit complicated to explain."

Jiang Jiu shrugged and decided to answer with the most direct answer: "I come from a point in time that is the future for you. At that point in time, we not only met, but also cooperated on some... well, things. Overall, our relationship was okay."

He paused, then added, "Of course, that's the future you. The present you naturally doesn't know me."

Screw Gum was silent for two seconds.

"Logic: Accept the hypothesis of a time traveler or intervener across timelines as the current explanatory framework. Although this hypothesis has not been verified, it does not contradict existing observational data."

"As a member of the Genius Club, I am willing to believe in your abilities and the future you speak of."

Jiang Jiu blinked.

Cool, no wonder he's a genius, it's so easy to communicate with him.

Before he could even finish his prepared persuasive words to Screws, the other party calmly accepted the assumption that he was from the future.

Then things will be much easier.

"My name is Jiang Jiu. Actually, I came to you this time to ask you for a favor, or rather, this problem is closely related to intelligent machines and all inorganic life forms."

Screw Gum hesitated for two seconds.

"Question: Jiang Jiu, are you aware that at this time, the relationship between organic life and intelligent life is... very bad."

Jiang Jiu was slightly taken aback: "...Hmm?"

Screw Gum assumed Jiang Jiu's reaction meant he didn't know, so he explained, "Reminder: The Second Imperial War has just ended, and most organic life forms believe that the existence of intelligent life forms is questionable. Currently, the relationship between the two sides... is very bad."

Jiang Jiu blinked.

"Ah...so you're saying that even with such a terrible relationship between organic and inorganic life...you're still willing to believe what I, an organic being, am saying to you is true?"

That's a very good mindset.

The two sides were almost at each other's throats. If it were Jiang Jiu in this situation, he would probably think that this was an undercover agent sent by the other side.

Screw Gum shook his head: "You have no reason to deceive me, nor does any genius."

Jiang Jiu was delighted.

It feels pretty good to be unconditionally believed like that?

"Speaking of which, Screwgun, are you a member of the Genius Club now? Logically speaking, the company wouldn't be foolish enough to make an enemy of a genius, would they?"

......

(Bonus chapter)

Chapter 154 The Amber King's Glance

ScrewGumm paused for two seconds, then shook his head.

“Unfortunately,” Screws’ voice remained calm, “I received an invitation from the Genius Club yesterday, but this has not brought any chance to ease the tension between the two sides.”

Genius Club #76, Screw Gum.

"Yesterday? So that means the club's number just reached 76?"

Jiang Jiu's attention clearly wandered: "Then am I number 77 this time? Next time I see Hei Ta, I'll have to make her call me senior."

After all, they've already shouted it out so many times, so it wouldn't be a loss for Black Tower to shout it out once more, right?

Speak of the devil, and he appears. Jiang Jiu, familiar with the place, grabbed the invitation that had appeared out of nowhere, opened it, and burned it.

"The Black Tower is...?"

“A future genius, no problem. I’ll handle the company matters.”

Jiang Jiu acted immediately, turning around, taking two steps, and then returning.

"Oh right... Actually, there's no response yet. Another possibility is that the news of you becoming a member of the Genius Club hasn't spread yet, and the company probably won't make an enemy of a genius..."

Screw Gum nodded slightly: "I hope so."

Jiang Jiu waved his hand: "Don't worry, I'll go and add a bet for them!"

Watching Jiang Jiu's figure disappear before his eyes, Screw Gum pondered what he meant by "adding a code," and in the end, he came to only one conclusion.

In any case, it wouldn't be difficult for him to get away unscathed.

......

Following the interstellar navigation to the headquarters of the Interstellar Peace Company, Jiang Jiu leisurely hacked into their security system and even left a provocative, or rather, friendly, letter.

"I heard the company's security protocol is very high? I tried to crack it, and it seems a bit disappointing compared to what I expected, but it's still a bit more troublesome than the Immortal Ship~"

"A friendly visit, with a little bit of chaos as a gift, please bear with me~"