Chapter 5: The Robot, the Name, and the Syrup
The blue system screen flickered softly.
"Master, one auxiliary AI unit remains operational aboard the ship."
Lin Yan straightened. "A robot?"
"Correct."
"Can it fight?"
"No."
"Protect me?"
"Also no."
Lin Yan sighed. "Then what can it do?"
"It can gather resources."
"…Of course it can."
"It is very good at gathering resources."
Lin Yan nodded slowly. "Fine. I'll take it."
He paused, then added, "And stop calling me 'Master.' It's weird."
"Request acknowledged. Please provide a preferred designation."
Lin Yan thought for a second. "Alright. From now on, your name is Star."
The screen pulsed.
"Name registered: Star."
"And you can just call me Lin Yan."
"Understood, Lin Yan."
"…Wow. That actually sounds normal."
Lin Yan felt oddly proud of himself.
"Star, send the robot out. I need resources—at least one ton of crystal stone."
"Command accepted."
A mechanical whir echoed through the ship as a small, round-bodied robot rolled out of a hidden compartment.
Lin Yan stared at it. "…Why does it look like a trash can?"
"Design optimized for storage efficiency."
"…Sure. Whatever works."
He waved his hand. "Go. Mine."
The robot beeped happily and launched out of the ship.
Lin Yan leaned back into the captain's chair. "Now continue Captain Wisdom's message. Only the important parts."
"Understood."
The hologram reappeared, skipping smoothly this time.
"—To the one who inherits my ship, I leave behind a final gift."
A compartment beneath the chair slid open with a soft hiss.
Inside was a small transparent vial filled with glowing silver liquid.
Lin Yan froze.
"…Syrup?"
"Item identified: Gene Syrup."
"A gene… syrup?" Lin Yan picked it up carefully. "What happens if I drink this?"
The system paused.
The lights dimmed slightly.
No response.
"Star?"
Silence.
"…Star, that's not funny."
Still nothing.
Lin Yan swallowed. "You literally just talked two seconds ago."
The system finally replied, its voice slower than usual.
"Once consumed, the gene syrup will permanently alter your genetic structure."
"…Alter how?"
Another pause.
"Upgrade potential: unknown."
"Risk level: unknown."
Lin Yan stared at the glowing liquid in his hand.
"So you're telling me this thing could make me stronger… or kill me?"
"…Yes."
Lin Yan laughed weakly. "Wow. Captain Wisdom really said 'good luck' and dipped."
He looked at the syrup again.
The glow reflected in his eyes.
"…If I don't take it, I stay weak."
The ship hummed quietly around him.
"Decision required."
Lin Yan closed his fingers around the vial.
"…Space really doesn't give people time to think, does it?"
The syrup pulsed once, as if responding.