A Pleasant Partnership

The Electronic Synthesized Voice spoke slowly, while bizarre recorded scenes appeared one after another in the Holographic Projection ahead.

"Th-then what?"

Chen Fan asked with a stunned expression, "What does that have to do with the backup plan you mentioned?"

After losing the high-power communications device carried by the rescue robot, the communications unit equipped on this unit was insufficient to initiate cross-universe communication.

The Intelligent Terminal explained, but the Research Ship possessed an exceptionally comprehensive high-power communications system...

Hearing this, Chen Fan finally understood the purpose behind the Intelligent Terminal's long-winded explanation.

His expression turned somewhat strange as he asked, "You mean... you want me to help you find the missing Research Ship?"

Yes.

Light flickered across the Intelligent Terminal's surface. Once contact is established, the Human Federation will provide you with appropriate rewards and compensation based on the actual circumstances...

"Stop right there!"

Chen Fan cut it off directly. "Putting rewards and compensation aside for now, do you really think I'm capable of helping you find a missing advanced-civilization starship?"

The Intelligent Terminal fell silent for a moment before saying stiffly, ...This unit believes you are.

"No, I'm not."

Chen Fan refuted it without hesitation.

No, you are!

"..."

He could see it clearly now. This thing was one enormous headache!

It wanted an ordinary flesh-and-blood human like him to find a higher-civilization starship that had gone missing for unknown reasons. Was that the kind of mission a Carbon-Based Lifeform could come up with?

Oh, wait... the other party really was not a Carbon-Based Lifeform. At most, it counted as half a Silicon-Based Lifeform.

With that thought, Chen Fan became even more resolute.

He clapped his hands and reached for the half of a Mechanical Arm lying on the ground.

Perhaps because it had been made from some advanced alloy, the Mechanical Arm was not especially heavy—though Chen Fan still had to strain to lift it from the floor and carry it to the open window.

Wait! What are you doing?!

Seeing that it was about to be thrown out the window, the Intelligent Terminal clearly panicked. Bro! Bro, we can talk this out!!

This unit is the Human Federation's latest universal Intelligent Terminal model. This unit can be of great help to you!!

Those words struck a chord with Chen Fan.

Stranded in such a bizarre alien world, he truly did need a capable assistant.

He yanked the Mechanical Arm hanging in midair back into the room and asked seriously, "What functions do you have?"

Let this unit think...

Chen Fan's mouth twitched. He pushed the Mechanical Arm out the window again. "Are you screwing with me?"

Hey, hey, hey! Let's talk this out!

Dragged back into the room once more, the Intelligent Terminal said in near collapse, This unit really is not screwing with you.

You do not have the necessary permissions. You can use almost none of the functions this unit is equipped with.

Seeing Chen Fan's expression begin to change again, the Intelligent Terminal hurriedly added:

But do not worry. This unit possesses powerful basic computational capabilities, enough to help you solve most problems.

Chen Fan remained skeptical of the Intelligent Terminal's claim.

It was not that he doubted the technology of an advanced civilization, but that he doubted this Intelligent Terminal's "character."

That said, Chen Fan still carried the Mechanical Arm back into the room from the window.

After thinking for a moment, he asked gravely, "Can you help me return to my original world?"

"Or rather, can the Human Federation you described accomplish that?"

"If you can, I can do my best to help you find that Research Ship."

The Intelligent Terminal: ?!!

W-wait... you are not a native of this world?

The cyan-blue light flashed rapidly, and the Electronic Synthesized Voice brimmed with shock. You are an Illegal Transmigrator?

"An Illegal Transmigrator?" Chen Fan frowned instinctively. "There's a legal and illegal distinction for this?"

Within Human Federation territory, in order to avoid the various negative effects caused by transmigration, transmigration required Human Federation approval.

Any transmigration that had not been reported would be regarded by the Human Federation as illegal transmigration, with different measures taken depending on the specific circumstances.

Chen Fan could not help muttering, "The Human Federation even regulates this..."

More accurately, illegal transmigration is fully regulated by the Dangerous Technology Administration, the department this unit belongs to.

The Intelligent Terminal corrected him. Kid, you are lucky.

Chen Fan's mouth twitched violently.

"...Fuck."

More than ten minutes later.

This unit has already understood the situation.

The Electronic Synthesized Voice echoed through the room. Although there are no detailed coordinates, rest assured, the Dangerous Technology Administration is professional in this field.

Theoretically speaking, you can definitely return to your original world.

Hearing that, Chen Fan let out a long breath.

That was probably the best news he had received all day.

This unit has conducted a comprehensive search of its database. At present, there are two methods of contacting the Dangerous Technology Administration.

"Tell me!"

Having learned that there was hope of being rescued, Chen Fan's whole demeanor became much more positive.

First, as this unit stated earlier, find the missing Research Ship. Using the high-power communications equipment aboard it, this unit can reestablish contact with the Administration. If luck is on our side, you may even be able to take the Research Ship directly back to the Administration.

"..." Chen Fan fell silent for a while before stating his position. "How about you tell me about the second option instead?"

The second one is simpler.

We simply wait for the Administration to notice the anomaly and come looking for us.

At that, a smile immediately appeared on Chen Fan's face.

It was not that he disliked taking the initiative, but being passive was more cost-effective!

The exact timing is uncertain. Considering that several transmissions have encountered accidents, this unit cannot guarantee that the Administration will restart its transmission plan anytime soon.

But rest assured, since the Research Ship met with trouble in this universe, the Human Federation certainly will not abandon the rescue plan.

At best, a few months. At worst... probably several years, or even decades.

The smile on Chen Fan's face slowly faded. "...That long?!"

Months? Years? Decades?!

If nothing unexpected happened, he should only have one month left!

Thinking of how he would be sent off in a month to serve as a god's "living sacrifice," Chen Fan shook his head repeatedly and rejected this plan.

That is not considered slow.

The Intelligent Terminal explained, conducting a comprehensive investigation of an entirely unfamiliar universe with a complex structure involves an enormous workload.

Only the Human Federation can complete such complicated work in such a short period of time.

Chen Fan's expression turned solemn. "I think the first option is more reliable after all."

"Serving the Human Federation is my honor."

"Just tell me. What do I need to do?"

The Intelligent Terminal's voice paused. ...???

After several seconds of silence, the Electronic Synthesized Voice sounded again:

This unit is currently offline and has almost no ability to act independently.

To facilitate the following operations, this unit will grant you visitor privileges.

As soon as it finished speaking, the cyan-blue beam swept toward Chen Fan, who stood blankly to one side.

After a brief wait, as the beam slowly faded, a glove-shaped object with a silvery-white metallic sheen automatically detached from the Mechanical Arm's hand before him:

Visitor identity successfully bound. Current visitor: Carbon-Based Intelligent Lifeform, Chen Fan.

Chen Fan, pleasant cooperation.