Chapter 226: It Is Gold Powder, Ailessa Sprinkled Gold Powder

“Are there as many enemies as there are stars…?”

After reading the final terminal log.

Xu Xi closed it.

The dim screen clearly reflected his features.

His eyes lowered, his voice faint: “Actually, the reverse of this statement is also true.”

“All the stars in the sky are enemies.”

Xu Xi looked up, his eyes seemingly piercing through the world screen of his power helmet, further penetrating the steel and concrete, directly gazing at the dark, cold starry sky.

About the origin of the rebellion of the intelligent machines, about the truth hidden behind it.

Xu Xi had always suspected.

Its true face was the malice of the starry sky.

In the past, Xu Xi struggled to survive in the wasteland, so naturally, he didn’t need to consider these things.

But times have changed. It won’t be long before Xu Xi grows strong enough to leave the planet controlled by the Federation and truly step into the depths of space.

At that time.

The enemies will no longer be the rebelling intelligent machines.

But other civilizations in the universe, even the masterminds behind the rebellion of the intelligent machines.

“Let’s go, Ailei, it’s time to go back and prepare dinner.”

“Yes, Master.”

Ailei noticed Xu Xi’s mood was off, but she didn’t understand why. Thus, the loyal mechanical servant handed Xu Xi some food.

Not instant cubes, but a soft, sweet dessert.

“…Ailei.”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Where did you get this dessert from?”

“I created a dedicated logistics robot for you.”

Ailei’s voice was calm as she introduced her latest invention to Xu Xi—a logistics intelligent machine that combined warmth, cooling, baking, stir-frying, stewing, and grilling.

It could shrink and expand.

In critical moments, it could also serve as Xu Xi’s physical shield.

Xu Xi stared at the fully expanded logistics machine, falling into a long silence.

His mechanical maid.

Seemed to have once again used her talents in a strange place.

“Does Master not like it?”

“…I, I like it very much.”

Hearing Xu Xi’s praise, the mechanical servant’s face lit up with a happy smile.

…………

[Your visit to the underground base of the virtual network company left you with many thoughts. You learned the final fate of the Federation’s humans and gained a wealth of virtual network technology.]

[You are not particularly interested in the virtual world.]

[In your view, every simulation is far more real than so-called virtual games.]

[But adhering to the principle of collecting technology, you still salvaged some virtual equipment and performed Mechanical Resonance on them, gaining an understanding of the principles behind the virtual network.]

[At night, Ailei prepared dinner for you. Thanks to her improved cooking skills, the meal was quite lavish.]

[When Ailei lifted the lid, a faint golden light shimmered.]

[It was gold powder. Ailei had sprinkled gold powder on it.]

At the dinner table that night.

Facing a table full of golden, glittering dishes, Xu Xi was filled with confusion.

He carefully asked, “Ailei, why… did you think of doing this?”

Ailei blinked in confusion.

“To match your cooking style.”

Ailei’s voice was so sincere and pure that Xu Xi fell silent, feeling like he had shot himself in the foot.

……

[The loyal mechanical servant persists in learning, and you are pleased, even though this learning occasionally leads to mistakes.]

[You instructed Ailei not to sprinkle gold powder on dishes in the future.]

[Ailei earnestly took your advice to heart.]

[After dinner, you discussed future action plans with Ailei, informing the loyal servant in advance that you might face other civilizations as enemies in the future.]

[“Please rest assured, I will clear all obstacles for you.”]

[Ailei said this.]

[Her expression was serious, dressed in a gray-blue maid outfit, pouring tea for you while speaking in a calm tone.]

[You smiled, expressing your happiness at hearing this response, but you were more concerned about Ailei’s safety, telling her not to take it too seriously.]

[The girl took your words to heart, promising not to act recklessly.]

……

[Time flows like water, gentle and silent.]

[You halted all offensive actions, fully immersing yourself in Mechanical Resonance, digesting and absorbing the gains from the Southern Main Base City.]

[Ding—]

[Mechanical Soul’s Joy, you successfully communicated with the soul of the electromagnetic railgun, establishing a close bond.]

[Ailei is slightly displeased.]

[Through diligent resonance, you successfully obtained the design blueprint of the electromagnetic railgun and multiple types of ammunition designs.]

[Ding—]

[Mechanical Soul’s Joy, you successfully communicated with the soul of the large laser array, establishing a friendly bond.]

[Ailei is now displeased.]

[Your persistent resonance moved the laser array, granting you blueprints for both ground-based and starship-mounted laser arrays.]

[Ding—]

[Mechanical Soul’s Super Joy, your relentless research into anti-gravity airships awakened the dormant machine soul.]

[Ailei is super displeased.]

[Good deeds bring good rewards. Your Mechanical Force earned you high-precision airship blueprints, whose dense formations could pose a threat to cosmic starships.]

[Ding, ding, ding, ding—]

[You became engrossed in technological progress, greedily absorbing various knowledge. When you finished your work, Ailei brought you a plate of instant cubes.]

[Her silver-blue eyes were calm, just staring at you.]

“Ailei, could you cook a meal for me? It’s been too long since I’ve tasted your cooking, and I really miss it.”

“Yes, Ailei is happy to serve you!”

[You averted an invisible crisis.]

[Hearing your words, the mechanical servant felt needed, so she happily prepared a meal for you.]

[To this day, Ailei’s cooking skills have improved, but even the all-powerful super AI sometimes feels puzzled.]

[Why is it that the dishes you make always have that magical golden glow?]

[Ailei is confused and repeatedly analyzes your dishes.]

……

[Simulation Year 12, you are 31, Ailei has been with you for 10 years.]

[Two years have passed since the war at the Southern Main Base City. Your face has hardly changed, still exuding youthful vitality.]

[Over these two years, you have been diligently developing technology, slowly attacking Federation cities.]

[But now.]

[You have fully mastered the new technology and used it to produce more powerful intelligent machine troops. Seeing the mechanical tide spread across the land, you feel it’s time for a full-scale assault.]

[Not just isolated attacks, but a comprehensive unleashing of the Calamity of Intelligent Machines.]

[Let your intelligent machines conquer every inch of Federation land.]

[You are well aware of the scale of this campaign. Under Ailei’s protection, you command from the rear in the south, remotely overseeing and directing the intelligent machine army’s advance.]

[Ding—]

[Mechanical Soul’s Joy, your commands are transmitted through the signal network to all intelligent machine units. They are filled with vigor, their damage increased by 200%.]

“It’s a pity, my Mechanical Force’s range is limited and can’t cover the entire planet.”

“Otherwise, with the amplification of Mechanical Force, our intelligent machines’ damage could double again.”