Since flights to Beta Star had only recently opened, there was actually only Bai Luan and an Inspiration Shroom going.
The entire spaceship appeared very empty.
Although the only occupants on the spaceship, besides the Staff, were Bai Luan and the Inspiration Shroom, the journey was not boring.
The Inspiration Shroom, having been at the Space Station for so long and interacting with the Staff for extended periods, had maximized its social skills and was soon chatting with the Staff.
When the Staff needed to attend to duties, the Inspiration Shroom would fly back to Bai Luan's side and gaze at the starry sky through the spaceship's window.
Every now and then, it would sing a few lines of a song, its voice ethereal, making anything it sang sound beautiful.
Sometimes the Inspiration Shroom would suddenly turn its head to look at Bai Luan, and Bai Luan would know that the Inspiration Shroom was about to make those strange noises.
The Inspiration Shroom would say the first half, and Bai Luan would complete the second half, a kind of tacit agreement game.
After completing it, Bai Luan and the Inspiration Shroom would look at each other and burst into laughter.
This might seem a bit odd to the Staff, but for the Inspiration Shroom and Bai Luan, it was just an ordinary part of their daily lives.
They were so comfortable with each other that they could act so strangely in front of others.
Although the Staff couldn't fully understand, they could still feel the pleasant atmosphere.
"Approaching Beta Star. This is a newly born planet dominated by sentient automatons. The surface environment may not yet be suitable for organic life forms, so organic passengers, please prepare the necessary protective measures..."
Soon, the spaceship landed on Beta Star, and Bai Luan, carrying the Inspiration Shroom, disembarked.
Before the spaceship departed, the Inspiration Shroom turned back and bid farewell to the Staff on board.
"Bye-bye, Shroom~"
Bai Luan saw a hint of reluctance in the eyes of the Staff; it seemed the Inspiration Shroom's charisma was still too strong.
After the spaceship left, Bai Luan observed the spaceship docking point constructed on Beta Star.
How should he put it... it was built exceptionally well, completely devoid of the feeling of a newly constructed platform in a poor area; instead, it was very complete.
It seemed this was the inherent efficiency and stable quality of sentient automatons.
As long as you gave them materials, they could disregard many factors and build something incredible for you.
He believed that one day, this place would be bustling with people.
Bai Luan went through security.
From the look of profound confusion in the security automaton's eyes as it regarded the Inspiration Shroom, Bai Luan felt that 343 had adjusted the 'kindling' data quite well.
After exiting the station, Bai Luan saw Xiu, who was waving at him.
The Inspiration Shroom saw Xiu and immediately flew over, then circled around Xiu.
Bai Luan planned to deliver the source code to 343 first, so he asked Xiu to take the Inspiration Shroom to tour Beta Star, and he would follow shortly.
Thus, Bai Luan and the Inspiration Shroom temporarily went their separate ways.
Soon, Bai Luan found 343 based on the coordinates provided by Xiu.
It was clearly in an extremely busy state, surrounded by countless visible, continuously flowing data light bands.
Presumably, its internal communication network was undergoing a silent information storm.
343 detected Bai Luan's arrival.
"I will discuss the specific implementation plan with everyone later."
It decisively terminated most communication streams and, with a wave of its hand, retracted all floating data projections.
It turned to Bai Luan, its data processing core emitting a faint hum, almost like a sigh of relief, revealing a hint of human-like fatigue.
343, with a touch of self-deprecating humor, spoke:
"Finally found a legitimate reason to rest for a moment."
Bai Luan smiled at the remark.
"It seems I should visit more often, to create more 'forced rest' excuses for you."
"Using the same excuse too many times will make it ineffective."
343's gaze fell on the data storage device he had taken out, and it asked curiously:
"What is this?"
"I went to a planet called Jarilo-VI, and they experienced a situation similar to yours."
Bai Luan handed the storage device to 343.
"Based on their data, I've summarized new source code. You can refer to this source code to adjust the 'kindling' and ensure that the automatons born are not too uniform."
343 took the storage device Bai Luan handed over and pondered for a moment.
Then, with a hint of teasing, it said:
"I sometimes wonder—do robots have a higher chance of awakening as automatons when they are near you?"
"Uh..."
It probably had something to do with the 'Curio Forger' ability.
But the automaton awakening on Jarilo-VI really had nothing to do with him.
"I think it's a coincidence."
"Haha."
343 let out a burst of laughter, the sound clearly conveying the meaning of "I reserve my judgment."
"However, we really need this source code.
The current 'kindling' as a foundational template has indeed exposed some issues.
Although individual personalities already show differentiation, talent tendencies are too concentrated."
"Oh? Mainly concentrated in what aspects?"
"Housekeeping services."
"Uh..."
Bai Luan couldn't help but complain.
"Truly... a virtuous allocation of talent points."
"Every newborn automaton is naturally proficient in all household chores; this is obviously due to my predecessor being a domestic robot."
343's tone carried a hint of helplessness.
"I hope the source code you brought can unlock more... 'talent possibilities' for us."
It carefully put away the storage device.
"How is Beta Star doing recently?"
Bai Luan changed the subject.
"Currently, our first city is almost completely rebuilt.
We plan to transform the entire planet's ecological environment over the next few centuries until it becomes suitable for inorganic life."
"What will this planet eventually look like?"
"Our vision is complete metallization."
Alright, alright, Cybertron in the Honkai: Star Rail World, is that it?
"Have you considered adding transformation modules to yourselves to turn into trucks or airplanes?"
"No, why do you ask all of a sudden?"
"Just remembered some interesting things, so I asked."
Bai Luan casually brushed it off.
"In fact, our eagerness to open intergalactic flights is also related to the reconstruction plan."
343 explained.
"Many existing resources on Beta Star are useless to us inorganic life forms.
We hope to sell these 'useless' resources through interstellar trade to acquire the building materials and energy we urgently need, accelerating the planet's reconstruction."
"Have you found suitable trade partners?"
"Mister Screwllum has expressed willingness to assist and has helped us initially connect with some trade channels."
"It's Screwllum..."
Bai Luan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then I'm relieved."
The credibility and ability of that Genius Society member were beyond any doubt.
"Since the routes are open, have you considered developing some... unique tourism projects?"
Bai Luan suddenly suggested.
"Unique tourism projects? What exactly do you mean?"
"On Beta Star, there should still be a large number of relics from the old civilization era scattered around, right?"
"Indeed. When humans evacuated in the past, many areas were inaccessible due to excessive radiation or other dangers, and a large amount of materials and ruins were sealed away.
Now, after long years, the danger in those areas has significantly decreased.
It's just that we are currently stretched too thin and lack the time for systematic excavation."
"If that's the case, why not use this as a selling point and create an 'Interstellar Gold Rush' tourism project?"
A glint flashed in Bai Luan's eyes.
"You mean..."
"Let those curious and adventurous organic life forms—of course, they'd need to be well-protected—pay to come to these areas and perform preliminary exploration and cleanup for you.
They gain the joy of unearthing treasures and potential rewards, while you reap the benefits, both clearing the site and acquiring funds, and even possibly recovering some valuable items they excavate."
"Have them work for us and still pay us?"
343's data processing core seemed to briefly lag due to the paradoxical nature of this concept.
"Will anyone really be willing to come?"
"Of course they will."
Bai Luan said with certainty, smiling.
Who could refuse a real-life treasure hunt?
"You have to believe that humans can never resist the immense temptation of finding 'treasures' among ruins and relics.
You can even set up official recycling stations to buy back specific valuable items they find at a premium.
They gain excitement and potential wealth, and you gain funds, labor, and accelerated planetary reconstruction—it's an undeniable win-win."
This suggestion left 343 stunned.
"All this can be gained by simply opening up some 'junk sites' that you are temporarily unable to attend to."
He added finally, a cunning smile of insight into human nature on his face.
"Why not?"
"Don't tell me..."
343 was clearly swayed by Bai Luan's words.
"No, really."
"Right? The legacy of the pre-civilization should always serve some purpose."