After sending Edward off, Bai Luan stayed in Belobog for a while longer, doing some interesting things.
For example, he collected a copy of every wanted poster from the train crew, or he went to help Serval, who was questioning her life after learning so much new knowledge.
To alleviate Serval's depressed mood, Bai Luan put together a few songs and gave them to the Mechanical Zealots.
The specific manifestation… now, no matter where you go, you might suddenly hear someone neurotically exclaim:
"You said you don't want to be here!"
"Jump! Into the dye vat!"
"So, turn around and walk into the mountains!"
And a series of other lyrics, often with several equally hyped-up friends gathered around.
Their fingers twitched strangely, and their heads swayed from side to side.
Completely immersed in their own world, they were so high they didn't know what was what.
Okay, the above is an extreme case; it's actually not common.
Bai Luan also took the opportunity to conduct a more in-depth study of the automatons on Belobog, further refining the collected data and summarizing it into a source code.
I've got the source code, by my own power, haha.
Bai Luan copied this source code and gave it to Clara, believing it would be useful for the awakening of Belobog's automatons.
After the engine of creation was repaired, it began its true essential work—transforming the landscape of Jarilo, creating more plains suitable for human habitation.
Of course, the engine of creation's functions are far more than that; it's also excellent for clearing fracture creatures.
The fracture creatures would be walking along, minding their own business, when suddenly they'd be enveloped by a shadow.
Looking up again, they'd see the enormous body of the engine of creation and a fist as big as a mountain peak descending.
fracture creatures: Folks, who understands the feeling of salvation the moment the engine of creation appears?
Then they'd be disintegrated by a single punch from the engine of creation.
On that day… the fracture creatures once again remembered… the fear of being dominated by the engine of creation.
Of course, the engine of creation couldn't be used frequently to clear small monsters, otherwise, the maintenance costs and energy consumption alone would be enough to drain Belobog dry.
Bai Luan only repaired it once and didn't provide after-sales service.
Belobog's scientists were working day and night to overcome technical challenges.
the engine of creation was also continuously improving the environment around Belobog.
Jarilo was slowly getting better.
Hmm, that's good.
The train crew resolved the crisis, and he gave them more tangible hope.
It was time to leave.
A dimension door appeared behind Bai Luan.
Bai Luan opened the dimension door and took one last look at Jarilo's snowy landscape.
How long would it be until they realized he had left?
"Never mind, it's not a permanent farewell anyway, so I won't say goodbye to you all."
With the door opening and closing, Bai Luan returned to Herta Space Station.
The journey to Jarilo concluded here.
Bai Luan stretched lazily.
This trip had truly been fruitful; he gained another life-saving method and also acquired source code that could be used for Beta Star.
He'd find a time to deliver it to them later.
Herta was still with Ruan Mei, researching The Swarm and discussing how to replicate it, so she wouldn't be back for a while.
Yes, this time she really wouldn't be back for a short period; he had already asked Herta herself.
Moreover, from the information Herta shared, they had also picked up Tingyun on their way back from retrieving The Swarm and were currently trying to revive her.
This meant that even though Bai Luan had stayed on Jarilo for so long, he still had a rather long vacation.
Bai Luan exhaled contentedly.
It had been a long time since he felt so relaxed.
He decided to spend a day at his own pace.
The first thing Bai Luan did after he had free time was to go fix his pocket watch.
He had been clamoring to fix it a long time ago, but he was too busy, which caused him to keep putting it off until now.
Now that he could finally steal some leisure time, he decided to fix it first.
Although many parts were blown away due to that explosion, no matter how difficult it was, it was still just a pocket watch with a relatively complex structure.
Bai Luan fixed it in half an hour.
Then… this pocket watch evolved.
『Curio: Revived Pocket Watch』
『Revive, my beloved watch, on the basis of the original seven seconds of stopped time, it can now rewind time by thirteen seconds.』
Bai Luan looked at the heaven-defying item he had casually crafted and muttered a complaint.
"Is the frequency of getting gold items a bit too high lately?"
『I told you a long time ago, the better the craftsmanship, the better the Curio's effect』
『As one of only eighty-odd geniuses in the entire universe, can you not have some basic understanding of your own craftsmanship?』
"It's alright."
『(￢_￢)』
"By the way, what state will I be in during the time rewind?"
『Everything around you will rewind as if the playback button was pressed, and you previously had me write a patch for you, so you won't be affected by the time rewind effect』
"So, if used properly, it can be considered that I stopped time for twenty seconds?"
『You can see it that way, but everything you do during the time rewind is not very meaningful』
『Assuming you attack someone during the time rewind, the damage you inflict will also heal during the rewind process』
"Even if I can't use time rewind to eliminate enemies, I can use this pocket watch to avoid many fatal attacks."
Although he couldn't attack others during the time rewind, he could find the enemy's rewind position in advance.
This would greatly expand his operational space.
He could place bombs at their landing spot in advance, or put a knife to their neck and cut them down once the time rewind ended.
In the eyes of those being rewound, wouldn't he be a prophet + teleporter?
I declare a new Curio mechanism monster has appeared.
Bai Luan contentedly put away the evolved pocket watch.
For the rest of the time, Bai Luan chatted with Inspiration Shroom for a while.
Inspiration Shroom was supervising Xiu every day, waiting for the day Beta Star opened for interstellar travel.
On that day, it would buy a ticket, go to Beta Star, and then pile a giant mushroom snowman on Beta Star.
Although Bai Luan could directly send Inspiration Shroom through the dimension door, Inspiration Shroom said it wanted to experience the feeling of travel.
Since Inspiration Shroom wanted to experience it, he would let it be, but Bai Luan wasn't at ease with Inspiration Shroom traveling alone, nor did he plan to have Xiu travel so far to pick up Inspiration Shroom.
So, he planned to go to Beta Star with Inspiration Shroom himself when the time came, as he was going to Beta Star to deliver the source code anyway.
After talking with Inspiration Shroom, Bai Luan found a good spot on the Space Station, unfolded a lounge chair, lay down on it, and opened his phone.
Bai Luan first lurked in the detective group that was investigating Yi Mu's true identity for a while.
Under Bai Luan's "wise" leadership, this group had reached a dead end; the latest clue directly contradicted the initial clue, but the latest clue was built upon the initial clue.
In this state of the left brain refuting the right brain, the investigation into Yi Mu had also fallen into a stalemate.
It didn't matter; the atmosphere in the group had long since changed; except for a small number of Staff with firm convictions, most Staff treated this group as a gossip group for slacking off and chatting.
How authoritative was this slacking-off group?
So authoritative that Bai Luan found Asta's alt account in the group.
It could be said that everyone in the entire Herta Space Station, except Herta herself, was basically here.
After an unknown amount of time, Bai Luan stretched contentedly in the lounge chair and put down his phone.
He looked at the starry sky outside the Space Station.
Soon, Peppy would put on the spacesuit Asta custom-made for it and take a spacewalk; should he go float outside the Space Station for a while too?
If he could confirm that floating aimlessly in space wouldn't kill him and that he could return at any time, then floating in the starry sky would be quite comfortable.
Just as Bai Luan's eyes were somewhat unfocused, his phone vibrated twice, pulling his attention back.
Silver Wolf: You should have received that game festival invitation, right?
Silver Wolf: Planning to go?
Bai Luan scratched his head; she hadn't contacted him for a long time since he deleted her game data because of the Space Station incident.
Had her anger subsided?
Bai Luan: Did the game data come back?
Silver Wolf: [Eye roll]
Silver Wolf: You're bringing up old wounds.
Silver Wolf: Elio said it was compensation for my loss, telling me to find you at this time.
Silver Wolf: I will get what I want.
Bai Luan: Oh.
Bai Luan: What game festival?
Silver Wolf: You don't know?
Silver Wolf: titanfall 2 won an award.
Silver Wolf: How long has it been since you logged into that account?
Silver Wolf: You said you were developing a new game; you weren't lying to me, were you?
Bai Luan: Uh-huh, I'm working on it, I'm working on it.
Bai Luan casually gave a perfunctory reply, then logged into his BL account.
Sure enough, he saw an email.
Bai Luan quickly scanned it; it was about how great titanfall 2 was, how it promoted friendly communication between organic and inorganic life forms, blah blah blah, and that it was decided to award titanfall 2 the Game of the Year award.
Bai Luan was initially unenthusiastic until he discovered there was a prize after winning the award.
The prize was a miniature supercomputer with extremely powerful computing capabilities.
It was sponsored by a mysterious guest, and the mysterious guest's requirement was that he had to be present to claim the prize.
With such a high frequency of getting gold items lately, if he went there to get that computer, then crafted a miniature simulated universe, wouldn't a Curio-sized simulated universe be amazing?