The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　"How much does it cost?"

　Chen Lingxu looked at his girlfriend beside him, but all he got in return was a helpless rub.

　"Don't think about it. This thing..."

　It would take billions of credits to buy it. Even if one person could buy it, there would be all sorts of subsequent maintenance costs, crew fees, energy costs, ammunition costs, port fees…”

　"Master, please stop chanting. I know I was wrong."

　Chen Lingxu, an unemployed bum who needs his girlfriend to support him even for a single energy cell, was already getting frustrated just hearing about all these miscellaneous expenses. Even if he were sold to a black market mine and mined for hundreds of years, he might not earn that much.

　"Judging from the markings, this cruiser is a command ship. The logo on it is Atam Industries, a long-established company in the Federation. There should be at least three destroyers escorting it."

　"Three destroyers would require at least thirty escort ships..."

　As Precys finished speaking, the little bubble had already passed through the cruiser's cover as if it had crossed a mountain, and the two of them saw the fleet that was 'densely packed' around it.

　"What are these people from big companies doing here? Doing business?"

　Chen Lingxu looked at Priscilla, who grabbed his hand and returned the same puzzled expression.

　"I do not know."

　"Well, but we probably won't get involved with them, right?"

　They were just there to refuel the spaceship; what business these big shots did was none of their concern.

　"Definitely. Alright, let's log in, Ah Xu."

　That's the advantage of shuttles. Although they are small, they are flexible and can land and take off at will when they encounter a planet, unlike these giant starships, where the cost of landing on a planet's surface and then taking off is a huge sum of money.

　"Small bubbles are still superior."

　Chen Lingxu patted the cockpit and focused on adjusting the spaceship's landing position to avoid colliding with the numerous shuttles that flew all over the planet, like summer insects.

　The market is located in a plain area with a river. The entire site is paved with metal and surrounded by vast grasslands. The air is rich in oxygen and free of toxic gases, so you can move around without a helmet. However, due to the lack of rainfall, the environment is somewhat dry.

　This grassland planet was likely chosen as a colony for the Imperial Federation, which is why it temporarily served as a trading place for pioneering teams before the construction of cities and the relocation of population.

　"Should we buy energy first, or go find the honeypot? Do they sell jump energy batteries over there?"

　"I do not know."

　If you don’t know, just use mugwort.

　Chen Lingxu looked at the building not far away, which was a market, but compared to the Flounder Space Station, it was incredibly shabby.

　"Huh? That must be the honey pot over there."

　As they were walking, Precys suddenly tugged at his arm.

　Looking up, on the other side of the market, there were several lonely little houses that looked like mushrooms, and hardly anyone went there.

　"Does Xiao Pu know him?"

　“My teacher has a friend who’s a linguist. He’s a linguist, and the languages ​​of these civilizations that are on friendly terms with the Federation are our basic textbooks. So I know what their architecture looks like.”

　Precys shared his thoughts.

　"Perfect! We can test how far our empathy can last. Ah Xu, go check out the honeypot first, and I'll go to the market to see if they sell any jump energy batteries. Then we'll use empathy to connect, and then we can meet up again, okay?"

　"Of course. But is it alright for Little Pu to be alone?"

　"Don't worry. Although this place seems unreliable and conflicts often break out, there's no shortage of people who like to be heroes in this kind of market. If something happens, they'll be the ones to draw the fire. I'll take good care of myself."

　Precys pulled a small, silver-white energy pistol from his waist and waved it around.

　"Don't worry. Besides... if I'm in danger, Ah Xu will come to save me, right?"

　"Of course, no matter what obstacles I encounter along the way, I will get to your side."

　"Then it's settled."

　Precys floated toward the market on his hoverboard, while Chen Lingxu headed toward the Honey Pot's stronghold along the spaceship port.

　"Ok?"

　But while chatting with Precys using empathy and walking, Chen Lingxu suddenly discovered... no, several strange ships.

　"New paint...you can see the old dark red paint...and this old model...rotary machine gun?"

　This combination looks more and more familiar...

　"Hey robot friend, what are you looking at?"

　Chen Lingxu was engrossed in watching when a soft female voice came from behind him asking a question.

　"I'm looking at this ship. Is it yours?"

　Turning around, Chen Lingxu had to look down again to see the little penguin with one of its round cheeks puffed out in slight dissatisfaction with his earlier behavior...?

　It wasn't a real penguin, but rather the girl's attire: a wide-sleeved gray-black coat with white accents, over which she wore a knitted sweater with a bellyband, along with an adorably cute face, short, fluffy black hair like feathers, shapely legs in black stockings that didn't appear short or thick despite her height, and cute shoes that looked like they would creak as she walked. All of this made her look like a baby penguin.

　"you're so beautiful."

　"Huh? Is this a pickup line?"

　Looking at the tall robot before her and listening to his words, her anger vanished instantly, replaced by immense joy, as if he...

　The positive feedback made her very happy.

　"No, it's just that I have to give a truthful evaluation of you, my beauty, because of my rating system."

　"Hehe, you're really good with words."

　The girl touched her head shyly, which made her look even more adorable and endearing. Then, she stood on tiptoe and curiously looked over.

　"Is this your program logic? Did your designers add this behavior setting for you? How long have you been around?"

　"No, those are all answers from my power furnace. I haven't even been around for a full year since I was born."

　"Oh! Then I knew I wasn't mistaken! You must be a mechanical life form!"

　"Hmm? How is it different from a robot?"

　"Of course there's a difference!"

　She grabbed the robot's arm and enthusiastically explained to him the difference between ordinary robots and real mechanical life.

　"I've heard that there was once a civilization in our galaxy composed of mechanical life forms, and that they could completely transform a planet into a mechanical planet. But even with the Federation scientists working day and night, they could only barely create some simple intelligent machines, which do not have the ability to reproduce on their own. They are completely unable to break away from the Federation and form an independent civilization."

　"That's it."

　"By the way, what's your name? Did your designer give you a name? Do you know the meaning of your name?"

　Another barrage of questions followed. The young girl in front of him seemed to be so friendly with Chen Lingxu that she didn't seem to care that they had only just met. Such an overly familiar person... Chen Lingxu was finding it hard to handle.

　Chapter Eighteen: Uncle Long and Little Yu

　“I already have a name. You can call me Ruins… that’s how it’s written in the Federation’s script. I chose this name myself, it represents… the return of all things to nothingness, the end of the universe. My designer, my master, my companion, acknowledge this name of mine.”

　"Ooh!"

　Hearing his story, the young girl in front of him became even more excited, seemingly not caring at all whether the meaning of his name was too childish, and not even surprised by his talk of being a designer and partner.

　So... are you trying to get him to come over from Precythia?

　"Hello, Xu."

　Seemingly noticing the strange change in his gaze, or realizing she was being too eager, the penguin girl took a step back and then introduced herself to him.

　"I am an interstellar explorer. You can call me a prophet."

　"This sounds like a fake name. I've already revealed my real name, and you're just trying to fool me with a nickname? If that's the case, I can't be friends with you anymore."

　Although he spoke with righteous indignation, Chen Lingxu was also using a false name to deceive people, so no one had the right to criticize anyone else.

　"Hmm... well... if you're not used to it, you can call me Prophet."

　"Isn't that the same thing? Besides, it looks like it was made up on the spot."

　The terms "prophet" and "Prophet" are simply two different ways of referring to the same word.

　"How are they the same... I didn't even care that your name is so cringeworthy, the end of the universe, the return of all things to nothingness, the destroyer of the world... yet you're criticizing my name. Isn't your name even more outrageous than mine?!"

　The little penguin in front of him stood with its hands on its hips, quickly debating the issue of names with him.

　"That makes sense. Then I'll call you Xiao Yu."

　"Why not Trump? Or Trump?"

　"Hmm... of course it's because I like calling you that, I think it suits you well, you're so beautiful and lovely."

　Of course, it's because both of those titles are already taken. But I still won't say that to the girl.

　"Hmph, fine, then you may call me that. Now, let me answer your question."

　She looked at the shuttle over there, pointed at it, and then pointed to the market over there.

　"This is a space pirate ship."

　"Pirates... I can tell, but how did they end up here..."

　"Pirates, you know. They always need to find a place to spend the money they make, but in this place, don't worry about where the money came from."

　"Hmm...they won't cause trouble, will they?"

　"No, they are business people now, and causing trouble will lower their reputation score."

　Hearing her words, Chen Lingxu felt slightly relieved. But the little penguin suddenly revealed a mischievous smile, even though that mischievous smile only made her look cuter.

　"But I didn't say that apart from pirates, no one else on this planet will come to cause trouble."

　"what?"

　Before Chen Lingxu could even ask, Precys's distress signal came from the other side of the sympathetic connection.

　"what's the situation?"

　Turning my head, I saw that one of the market's roofs had been blown open with a loud bang, sending metal fragments flying everywhere. Who knows how many lucky players might have won the prize.

　"They're rebels."

　Just as Chen Lingxu was about to rush over, the penguin girl beside him continued to explain.

　"Xiao Yu, don't say things like you're the leader of some kind of rebel army."

　"Of course not. I'm a legitimate Federation-authorized interstellar explorer. I wouldn't do something as pointless as being a rebel. If you want to find your designer, let's go together. But you have to protect me, okay?"

　The little penguin girl in front of me is a smart child. There's no doubt about that; a little deduction from her previous questions is enough to understand...

　This leads to the conclusion that Chen Lingxu did not come here alone.

　"Okay, but you have to explain it to me on the way."

　"No problem. Let's set off! The Ruins of Guixu!"

　Penguin Girl jumped up with a thud and was lifted up by Chen Lingxu, who carried her under his arms and onto his shoulder, running towards the market.

　“I’ve already said, my name is Xu. Not Gui Xu.”

　"Then what should I call you? Shall I call you Ah Xu?"

　"You can also call me Uncle Long. Okay, tell me about those rebels."

　"Okay, little one-year-old A-Xu, I'll tell you a good story."

　During his escape, Chen Lingxu figured out the whole story.

　As the Imperial Federation expands, it naturally leads to the loss of interests for some, which in turn triggers rebellions. Such events are common in the interstellar era; after all, the universe is so vast that once you acquire some resources, you can simply disappear as long as you're far enough away.

　Those rebels were an xenophobic faction operating under the banner of racial cleansing and purifying human genes, frequently opposing the Imperial Federation. Naturally, they weren't overlooked during this New Star Sector exploration. The Atam Industries fleet stationed outside the planet, ostensibly to establish a primary colony, was actually there to hunt down these rebels.

　Now that chaos has broken out on the ground, the two sides have also begun exchanging fire in space above them, and a damaged starship might fall down at any moment.

　"All my fellow human beings, please give up resistance and be your hostages. We will not do anything to you."

　Listening to the broadcast, Precys, standing in the crowd, rolled his eyes speechlessly.

　These racially fastidious guys don't have a good reputation in the Imperial Federation, but for now, it's best for them to just behave themselves.

　"Are not you afraid?"

　A woman nearby noticed her calm expression and couldn't help but ask her something out of curiosity.

　"Huh? Aren't you afraid either?"

　Priscilla, crouching on the ground, looked at her. This girl was about her age and had gotten to her side during the earlier crowd; her expression was similar to hers, both very composed. But why was she outside because her beloved machine was there?