Chapter 537: Chapter 536: The Carefree Life of a Salted Fish (Part 2)

“Is this the observatory Elder Brother exchanged for?”

Even Tilia couldn’t help but make a remark upon seeing the grand hall before her.

“Don’t you think this is a bit too dirty?”

“That’s why I asked for your help.”

Facing Tilia’s comment, Fang Zheng didn’t have much to refute. Indeed, as Tilia said, everything here was dirty and disordered. Moreover, after an initial inspection, Fang Zheng discovered that the backup power source was nearly depleted and the wiring was aging; it was clear that the place needed a major overhaul.

“I see…”

After learning about the observatory’s current state, the guide girl showed a somewhat disappointed expression.

“Does this mean the observatory can’t open for business for the time being?”

“It seems that’s the only option right now.”

Watching the Cursed Children in maid outfits clean and deal with clutter, Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders. Hearing his answer, the guide girl looked up at him.

“Excuse me… customer?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“About what you just mentioned regarding the change of ownership of this observatory, I sent a query request to the terminal, but there was no relevant information…”

“Because the main system has lost connection. I will reconnect a new one for you to use here.”

If there had been people here, Fang Zheng wouldn’t have taken such action. But now, since the observatory was obviously abandoned, he decided to take over directly… after all, it seemed like fate.

“Understood.”

Clearly, the guide girl lacked the capability to recognize. She simply nodded her head and then spoke again.

“Then, customer, I have another request…”

“What request?”

“I believed there was a malfunction in myself and conducted a self-check, but the self-check program didn’t find any issues. I believe this is because there’s a BUG in the self-check program, which could very likely affect my work. Therefore, please send a professional to assist me with maintenance and repair…”

As she spoke, the guide girl pointed towards the jack behind her mechanical ear.

“…Behind my voice receiver, there is a jack with a memory card inside, where all my memories and programs are stored. If possible, could you also help troubleshoot the program errors and carry out repairs… Well, it’s almost nine o’clock, and I will enter sleep mode now. I apologize, customer…”

While she spoke, Fang Zheng saw the guide girl move to a chair nearby and sit down, then close her eyes. Soon, the band that had been glowing with radiance behind her gradually lost its color and, before he knew it, it seemed as if the guide girl had fallen asleep… Or rather, had she fallen asleep as if dead?

Nevermind, it was all the same.

“What an odd robot.”

Having witnessed the scene before her, Tilia couldn’t help but comment, and Fang Zheng too nodded. Then, reaching out to the back of the guide girl’s ear, he felt a slot similar to a mobile phone’s SD card slot. Pressing lightly on it, a memory card slid out and fell into Fang Zheng’s hand.

“128EB… This truly is a world of advanced technology.”

Looking at the capacity label on the memory card in his hand, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but sigh. The memory card felt no different from the SIM cards in his own world, but the capacity… was worlds apart.

And this body also needed parts and energy replaced.

The guide girl had given Fang Zheng a list of issues in bits and pieces, including problems she thought were in her program, missing maintenance in her internal joints, decreased cooling functions, and issues with body parts and balance… However, for the moment, Fang Zheng was out of options, as he could only roam within the confines of this observatory and therefore couldn’t possibly venture elsewhere to gather materials and parts.

But maybe with the technology from Heavenly Dao Palace… Although not exactly an impossible feat, compatibility would be an issue. It’s like trying to fit a quantum CPU into a motherboard from the ’90s; whether it would even fit was questionable, let alone whether it would boot up.

Well… I’ll see how things go first.

“I’ll go take a look around elsewhere then, leaving this place to you.”

After sorting things out, Fang Zheng clapped his hands, leaving the troublesome matters to Tilia, and took off once more–he had two other shops to “inspect.”

Next up was… Franca Workshop…

A workshop that could bring prosperity to a city through its inventions and manufacturing? He wondered what technological rank that place actually was.

With that thought in mind, Fang Zheng reached the commercial district and, before long, he found the Franca Workshop.

However, contrary to what Fang Zheng had imagined, the workshop, from the outside, seemed quite ordinary and not particularly advanced, indistinguishable from a standard building. And it was small and low, only two stories tall. Although it didn’t look decrepit, there was nothing remarkable about it. The only thing outside the workshop was a sign.

“I really wonder what this workshop is capable of; I have to take a good look.”

But Fang Zheng wouldn’t overlook this little workshop simply because of its appearance. The reason was simple: among the three “function buildings” he had exchanged so far, this workshop was the most expensive, costing Fang Zheng a total of 3000 Furniture Coins. In contrast, the Hanabishi Planetarium only cost him 50 Furniture Coins, and even the Kitanatei hot spring was just 1500 Furniture Coins.

Of course, Fang Zheng already knew why the Hanabishi Planetarium was so cheap.

With such a high cost, the workshop must have some extraordinary features. He wouldn’t underestimate it based on its appearance–the thought of being figuratively slapped in the face sounded exhilarating, but actually being on the receiving end was far from pleasant.

Thinking this, Fang Zheng straightened his clothes and walked to the door, reaching out to knock. Soon, a middle-aged man’s voice came from inside.

“Come in!”

Just from the voice, he sounded like a reliable person.

Reassured, Fang Zheng then pushed the door open and entered the workshop.

But no sooner had he stepped inside than he regretted it.

He had imagined that a workshop with an antique exterior would at least have a somewhat high-tech and modern interior. However, to Fang Zheng’s surprise, the entire interior also appeared very “antique”: there was a large iron anvil in the main hall, with a desk and bookshelf tucked in a corner. Only an object resembling some sort of energy furnace gave a slight sense of technology.

This couldn’t possibly be steampunk technology. But that said, where was the middle-aged man who had spoken just now?

As Fang Zheng pondered this question, he saw a dog approach him, glance at him, and then speak up.

“Hello, guest, please wait a moment; Nanoka will be right with you.”

As it spoke, the dog dashed up the stairs, and soon enough, Fang Zheng heard a voice from above.

“Get up, Nanoka, we have a guest! The sun’s already shining on your behind!”

“Ugh… just a bit longer, Stalker, I spent all of last night working on a puzzle, just wait…”

“…”

Listening to the faint sounds coming from upstairs, Fang Zheng sighed.

It turned out that the voice he had heard wasn’t from a middle-aged man but from a middle-aged male dog…

“Thump thump thump…”

It wasn’t long before Fang Zheng saw a girl with a red ponytail, wearing a white uniform, running downstairs in a hurry, carrying a large hammer in her hand.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, guest. What can I do for you?”

“No, it’s just that…”

Seeing the young girl in front of him, who looked to be about in her teens, Fang Zheng didn’t quite know what to say. Should he admit he was just taking a look?

However, upon seeing the dog following behind the girl, an idea suddenly struck him.

“This may…”

“Ah, my name is Nanoka Franca.”

Upon Fang Zheng’s inquiry, the girl flashed an energetic smile and introduced herself.

“Just call me Nanoka.”

“So, Nanoka, that dog behind you… is it a robot?”

“Of course!”

At this, Nanoka nodded vigorously.

“Stalker is quite amazing…”

Excellent!

Having received this answer, Fang Zheng nodded.

“In that case, Miss Nanoka, I was wondering if I could ask you to help me maintain a robot?”

“…Eh?”