Lars slumped at his workstation like a plant drained of water, his soul seemingly having floated away from his seven orifices, leaving behind only an empty shell named 'Research Staff'.
He had received yet another invitation for a new training assessment.
Reason told him he should refuse; after all, the trauma from the last assessment had not fully healed, and the imprint of knowledge still subtly ached in his brain.
But this time, the allure of the assessment reward was too sweet, like a sugar-coated cannonball, precisely striking the most fragile part of his heart:
Those who passed would not only receive a promotion but also get to choose a unique item, gaining priority research rights.
This meant he would have the chance to touch those creations imbued with the mysteries of the universe. Even a glimpse would be enough to save him a decade of struggle on his academic path.
What's more, it was 'self-selection'—no longer having to face those bizarre, absurd, and often frustrating oddities.
The opportunity for advancement beckoned, while the leisure time right before him, like a mirage in the desert, was about to vanish.
After a full ten minutes of internal struggle, Lars ultimately couldn't resist the bait named 'future' and, with trembling fingers, clicked [Confirm Participation].
Although there was still some time until the assessment, he could already feel the exhaustion of being overwhelmed by knowledge.
Let's watch some videos instead.
Lars opened his phone and saw that Yi Mu had updated again.
Has the Station Master started something new again?
If you bring that up, I'm all ears.
Lars instantly perked up from his workstation like a vigilant marmot. He cautiously glanced around, confirming no leaders were patrolling with their death stares, then quickly put on his headphones and reverently clicked on the video.
A ethereal and beautiful piano melody flowed out.
In the video, a mech girl stood in the Space Station's observation module, with a slowly rotating, magnificent nebula outside the window.
She danced with incredible grace, her toes lightly tapping on the metal floor. Each spin was precise and fluid, and the cold mechanical joints displayed astonishing flexibility and poetic beauty.
Starlight gilded her with a silver edge, like a solitary, noble swan dancing alone in the deep reaches of the universe.
The dance video wasn't long and soon came to an end. The mech girl in the shot looked towards the camera, bowed slightly, elegantly and perfectly concluding the video.
Hmm... watching this video, I feel like my Staff research uniform has been replaced with a formal dress, and my thermos cup with a stemmed glass.
Elegant, truly too elegant.
Was this a serious version of Yi Mu this time?
I really hit the jackpot.
Lars was still savoring the feeling the previous video had given him when the video's progress bar finished, and the next video automatically played.
Oh?
There's a 2P?
Lars's attention returned to the video. The mech girl in the video still maintained her pose from the end of the previous video.
Then... a powerful BGM suddenly blared, and the mech girl abruptly pulled two liquor bottles from behind her, flashing a joyful smile at the camera.
"Ura~"
She then began to dance to the music's rhythm, holding the bottles in both hands while executing the knee-destroying, high-difficulty moves of Russian tap dance, perfectly synchronizing with the background music.
Coupled with camera cuts and close-ups, the entire video conveyed a sense of abandoning one's brain and dancing wildly with abandon.
At the same time, the contrast between the mech girl's swan-like elegance in the previous video and her adorable, clumsy nature revealed in this one added a touch of comedy to the video.
As expected of the Station Master... his prank ideas are as consistent as ever.
Lars had undergone rigorous professional training; no matter how funny it was, he wouldn't laugh.
His shoulders trembled slightly, and he barely managed not to burst out laughing.
Unfortunately, his female superior, who had appeared behind him at some point, arms crossed, on patrol, couldn't hold back a slight "pfft."
Hearing the movement, Lars spun around and saw his superior looking at him with a half-smile, while his phone was still playing the lively dance of 882.
At this moment, the joyful music from his headphones underscored an immeasurable sorrow.
This was the most desperate way to die.
Getting caught slacking off—this was a different kind of sad story...
"I recommend skipping directly to 2P. Don't ask why; trust me, I'm your brother from another mother and father!"
"Upstairs, stop spouting nonsense! You must watch 1P first, then 2P, to truly appreciate the Station Master's carefully designed soul-turning point! That is the complete art!"
"Who's going to kick those two Masked Fools upstairs out? There are too many Masked Fools refreshing here lately!"
"Alright, alright, 1P is responsible for luring me in, and 2P is responsible for blowing me away, right? Yi Mu, you seemingly honest person, you're playing mind games with me."
"Setting aside the prank factor, just talking about the sentient machine life form in the video, my assessment is that it's simply too perfect.
Armor that balances practicality with human aesthetics, a slender physique, full of the designer's clever touches, radiating a sense of design beauty... It's too beautiful; I could stare at it all day."
"When I hear someone say there's no perfect woman, I say: No. (Shares this video)"
"Does anyone know what 'Sukablyat' means? Why can't the Synesthesia Beacon tell me what it means?"
"It probably doesn't mean anything; it's probably just a tune Yi Mu was humming."
"So he hummed a whole song? He's quite the hummer then."
After the video was released, Stelle quickly found him.
She looked at Bai Luan with a hint of resentment, as if she had been betrayed.
How could you record a video without me?
Bai Luan noticed this trace of resentment. As compensation, he had 882 introduce the Interstellar Prospectors activity to Stelle.
Stelle initially wasn't interested until she heard that the activity primarily involved digging for treasures in trash piles.
She instantly switched to her combat face.
Stelle then, with intense focus, learned every detail of the activity.
It seemed she was planning to team up with March 7th and Dan Heng to visit Beta Star later.
Stelle joined the tour guide team.
Since Stelle was here, why not bring Inspiration Shroom into the mix... then take 882 to see the Space Station's wondrous creatures and meet other life forms, letting 882 experience what it's like to be a pet.
Perhaps this could unlock Beta Star's demand for pets?
Although the ideal was rich, reality was not so smooth. Just as Bai Luan had brought 882 to Inspiration Shroom, his phone received a message: Herta was already on her way back and would soon arrive at the Space Station.
So, he had to leave the tour guide team for now. Before leaving, Bai Luan handed the tour guide task to Stelle, asking her to continue showing 882 around the Space Station.
"Uncle, you can trust me!"
Stelle patted her chest, making a solemn vow.
"You can rest easy!"
Bai Luan couldn't help but retort upon hearing her words:
"Why does that sound like you're sending me off to my demise?"
Stelle blinked her innocent and clear eyes, replying as a matter of course:
"Uncle, I am indeed sending you off."
"..."
He really couldn't refute that at all.
Never mind, picking up Herta was more important.
Herta's spaceship soon arrived at the Space Station's platform and landed.
The hatch opened, and a familiar figure emerged from inside the spaceship.
Bai Luan waved at Herta, who had just exited the cabin. Herta also saw Bai Luan and slowly walked towards him.
"Ms. Herta, welcome back. How was your collaboration talk with the company this time?"
"Nothing to say."
Herta showed little interest in the topic, killing the conversation with a single sentence.
She skipped the uninteresting topic, looked at Bai Luan, and asked with a smile:
"Did you miss me?"
"..."
Bai Luan scratched his cheek.
"Yes."
[T/N]
Starting from next week;
1 Bonus Chapter for every 100 "weekly" Power Stone