Akashi dragged out a machine from some remote corner of the workshop. It was somewhat larger than the one Su Luo had seen at Valkyrie's place before. The design was similar, but also slightly different. This one... looked rather rough, and its exterior was nowhere near as refined as Valkyrie's.
"Commander, lie down inside, nya!"
Akashi pointed toward the machine and called out to Su Luo.
Su Luo did as she said.
"Akashi, this machine is somewhat like the one in the infirmary..."
"They look a little alike, right? Valkyrie and I made this machine together. It was the initial prototype, originally intended to examine the health of our companions in the port. The one in the infirmary was modified specifically for the Commander, nya."
As Akashi spoke, she operated the machine. Su Luo lay there watching her movements. Clearly, this machine was much more complicated to operate than the one Valkyrie had used before.
"The infirmary was originally unnecessary, nya. It was only set up after the Commander returned to the port. After all, other than the Commander, no one in the port gets sick, nya. The machine in the infirmary was only recently modified and brought over by Miss Valkyrie. This prototype has far too many excess functions, so it would be wasted if it were only used to treat illnesses, nya."
The examination quickly ended. Akashi gestured for Su Luo to sit up, then entered a small room beside them. She returned with several small tools, motioned for Su Luo to extend his hand, and Su Luo recognized what she was holding. He knew she wanted to draw some blood.
Akashi skillfully drew Su Luo's blood. Once she was done, she handed the Commander an alcohol swab and indicated for him to press it against the needle mark. After preserving the blood sample, she spoke to Su Luo.
"If the Commander had come to me earlier, I really might not have had any way to help. But the timing of your visit is perfect. Princess Lala's arrival has unlocked a new tech tree for the port. Biological genetic technology is among it!"
Su Luo nodded as he listened to Akashi's explanation.
"Speaking of Lala, Akashi, where is she now? I haven't seen her for the past couple of days. Nana and Momo have been wandering around the little forest beside the port quite often, though. One plays with the little animals, while the other plants Deviluke Star vegetation everywhere. Hmm... most of those plants are pretty bizarre-looking, though."
Akashi pointed at a door within the workshop and explained to Su Luo.
"Princess Lala has been conducting research in the laboratory these past few days. Princess Nana or Princess Momo has been bringing her all three meals, nya."
Akashi looked at the tightly shut door to Lala's laboratory and tilted her head.
"Princess Lala said she had another inspiration and wanted to make a new Super Game Maker..."
"Wait, are you saying Lala wants to make a new Super Game Maker? Like the malfunctioning Super Game Maker that brought them to the port?"
Akashi nodded, then shook her head.
"Don't worry, Commander. The game maker Princess Lala is making this time won't travel between worlds. It's just a simple virtual reality game console."
"Even so, it needs strict precautions! I don't doubt Lala's research abilities. But Lala's inventions... I can't be sure about them!"
"The consensus among the ship girls in the port who have used Lala's inventions is that every one of Lala's inventions definitely has some side effects! As the person who repaired the Super Game Maker Lala made before, you should know that, right?"
Akashi fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Commander, I understand, nya. Once Princess Lala's new invention is finished, I'll inspect it properly!"
"Is the examination over?"
"That's right, nya. The Commander can leave for now. Once there are results, I'll bring them to the Commander, nya!"
Su Luo nodded and turned to glance at the cat-head clock hanging on the workshop wall.
"It's already past one in the afternoon. Has Lala eaten lunch?"
Akashi blinked, looked at the clock, and a trace of confusion appeared on her face.
"Ugh... is it already this late? Princess Momo was supposed to bring lunch for Princess Lala today, but Princess Momo hasn't come yet. Was she delayed by something, nya?"
As Akashi spoke, she rubbed her stomach. Whenever Nana and Momo brought food for Lala, they would bring a portion for her as well, so she had gotten used to it. Since Momo had not come today, she had not noticed.
"You haven't eaten either?"
Su Luo watched Akashi rub her stomach. She obviously had not eaten. He turned to look at Lala's laboratory, and knowing that Lala had probably not eaten either, he made up his mind. He walked to the laboratory door and knocked.
A moment later, the laboratory opened. Lala, wearing a white lab coat just like Akashi's, opened the door. Well... compared to Akashi's, Lala's lab coat looked a little tighter.
"Ah! Commander!!"
"It's me, Lala. Akashi said you haven't had lunch yet. That won't do. Come on, let's go to the cafeteria..."
Before Su Luo could finish, Lala grabbed him and pulled him into her laboratory.
Akashi tilted her head, recalling what the Commander had just said. Considering that Lala's inventions were indeed somewhat dangerous, and that the laboratory filled with Lala's inventions should be even more dangerous, Akashi followed them inside.
"Ta-da!"
Lala released Su Luo's hand, picked up a strange-looking machine from the side, and held it out before him as though presenting a treasure.
"Commander, look! This is my new invention, the Super Game Maker II!"
Su Luo looked at the machine before him, which was identical to the Super Game Maker Akashi had repaired before. He silently took a step back, stared at Lala expressionlessly, and asked,
"What... is different from the first generation?"
"Ah! Why are you backing away, Commander? Don't worry, they only look alike! There definitely won't be any problems this time! I already tested it!"
Seeing that Su Luo still looked somewhat doubtful, Lala puffed out her cheeks and called out.
"Pei Kai!"
"Lady Lala!"
The hat on Lala's head answered. It was Lala's self-made transformation robot, and all of Lala's clothes were transformed by it. Given the nature of Lala's inventions, Su Luo took a careful look at the transformation robot. When he saw the cat-head emblem on it, he nodded. Mm, an Akashi-modified version. Expensive, but safe and trustworthy!
"Show the Commander the recording of my earlier test!"
"Yes, Lady Lala!"
As Pei Kai finished speaking, a projection screen unfolded before Su Luo. It played the entire process of Lala personally testing her new invention earlier. Seeing that Lala had indeed learned from her previous experience and made a relatively thorough game maker this time, Su Luo reluctantly put his mind at ease.
Seeing Su Luo's expression relax, Lala gave a soft huff and handed him the machine she had been holding.
"Commander, you're reassured now, right? There definitely won't be any problems this time!"
Su Luo examined the machine in his hands and compared it carefully. He found that it truly had no differences from the first-generation Super Game Maker. However, with the video Pei Kai had just played, Su Luo felt much more reassured about the game maker in his hands! After all, Lala had already verified it.
"So, Lala, did you pull me in here just to show me your new invention?"
"Well, not exactly. Commander, I want you to help me test the game content!"
Su Luo thought about it. He really had nothing to do that afternoon, and the work he needed to handle as Commander had temporarily been "usurped" by Shibai together with the flagships of the other factions!
"I can, but you haven't eaten yet, Lala. We can try it after lunch."
"It's fine, it's fine. Momo just sent me a message on Juus. She said she was delayed for special reasons today, but she'll be here soon!"
As she spoke, Lala looked at Akashi standing behind Su Luo.
"Akashi, you should try it too! Momo brought food for you today as well, and she said that to make up for her mistake, she specially brought Akashi some extra tasty food!"
Su Luo looked at the anticipation in Lala's eyes, then exchanged a glance with Akashi. Seeing that Akashi did not mind, he finally nodded. Mainly because with Akashi present, even if something went wrong, it could be dealt with promptly. She might be a greedy merchant, but her research abilities were beyond doubt!
Following Lala's instructions, they activated the machine and set themselves and Akashi as the game players. Lala pulled over two reclining chairs, and Su Luo and Akashi lay down as instructed, putting on the designated helmets.
Then Lala pressed the switch on the game maker. At the same time, Momo entered the laboratory carrying lunch for Lala and Akashi.
The next instant.
Su Luo and Akashi vanished from the reclining chairs, and the game maker between them, whose switch Lala had just pressed, disappeared along with them.
Lala's expression instantly turned confused.
"Ah!!! I clearly designed a virtual reality game! It was only supposed to send their consciousnesses into the game!!!"
Momo looked at Lala's troubled expression, then at the reclining chairs where Su Luo and Akashi had disappeared, and sighed.
It seemed that the plan she had already revised would need to be revised again! Before strengthening the Commander's physique, she first had to find him!
("I'm so stupid, really!"
Su Luo raised his lifeless eyes and continued.
"I only knew that most of Lala's inventions had side effects and would cause all sorts of trouble, but I never expected that even after confirming the invention had no side effects, Lala could still take the wrong machine and keep causing trouble!"
"I'm so stupid! Really!")
Before you continue