Chapter 1452: Welcome home!
In a narrow workshop.
Xiao Ai looked at the humble surroundings. She was standing next to Lu Zhou and Ling. Xiao Ai seemed to have a premonition of what was about to happen, so she looked at Lu Zhou pitifully and blinked.
“Master, why does Xiao Ai come here?”
Lu Zhou ignored the helpless light reflected in those eyes as he replied casually, “Convenience.”
Solve two troubles at once.
Han Ming stared at the robot next to Lu Zhou for a while. He touched his chin and suddenly seemed to have thought of something. He said, “This… Isn’t it the one lost from the museum?”
Lu Zhou raised his eyebrows slightly.
Han Ming reduced the curiosity in his mind and coughed lightly.
“Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mean to inquire about the origins, I just wanted to ask… Does the mechanical code need to be changed?”
“Mechanical code?”
Han Ming nodded and said, “Well, it is equivalent to the ident.i.ty code of a robot. The mechanical code of each device is unique. It is registered with the relevant department and will follow the life of the robot until the equipment is returned to the factory for destruction. However, there are exceptions to everything. Some of the robots are destroyed through informal means, and the mechanical codes will usually not be written off. Instead, the codes will be retained in another form.”
Lu Zhou thought for a while and said, “That means a fake number?”
“Kind of.” Han Ming shrugged his shoulders and continued, “After all, the trouble is not just the appearance. Most of its mechanical codes are wanted by the authorities. If it appears in public places, it will probably trigger an alarm… By the way, you came in a taxi, right?”
“Yeah.”
Han Ming was finally relieved.
“Good. If you took a bus or light rail, the police would have come for you.”
Xiao Ai: “How is that possible…(* ̄〈 ̄)?”
Ignoring Xiao Ai, Lu Zhou began to think with a look of surprise on his face.
Is the efficiency of handling cases that high?
“Then change it… By the way, how much is it?”
“I happen to have the ident.i.ty code of a robot that was sc.r.a.pped in 2120. It was registered in the second-hand robot market in the Dongcheng District. The source is absolutely safe and reliable.” With a bright smile on his face, Han Ming gave a quick quote, “5,000 credits.”
After hearing this number, Lu Zhou’s eyebrows twitched.
“This stuff is really not cheap.”
“After all, it is filed in the official system.” Han Ming said naturally, “If you want to buy an unfiled number, 10 credits is enough, provided you want this guy to live in the dark.”
“No need, the 5,000 credits one will do.”
For the average person, 5,000 credits was already a month’s salary. A little more money was even enough to buy a low-end robot.
But for Lu Zhou, this amount of money was nothing to worry about.
He still had a prepaid compensation from Pan Asia Airlines on his account. Although he had no idea how much one million credit points was worth, it should last him a while.
“Master, this guy is suspicious, Xiao Ai doesn’t want to go with him. _:( ́□`」∠):_”
“Your robot is really troublesome. How many plug-ins did you put in the memory? Don’t you think it’s annoying?” Han Ming nodded to the girl wearing a mask next to him and said impatiently, “You got this.”
“Okay, Master.”
The little girl politely nodded to Han Ming, then looked at Xiao Ai.
“Please follow me, it will be done soon.”
Although Xiao Ai was reluctant, she still followed the girl pitifully under the pressure of Lu Zhou’s eyes.
Han Ming then cast his gaze on the robot covered with a plastic sheet standing next to Lu Zhou. A hint of curiosity appeared in his eyes.
“This is the thing you said… that can’t be seen?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you take off the raincoat?”
Lu Zhou nodded. He then turned to look at the “Private-1” intelligent soldier standing motionlessly behind him.
“Ling, take off the raincoat.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Han Ming looked at the s.h.i.+ny lacquered black metal armor and the murderous scarlet pupils. He was completely stupefied, and he stood there dumbfounded.
Seeing how Han Ming couldn’t say a word, Lu Zhou coughed slightly and spoke.
“Is this model… okay?”
For some reason, he gulped and burst into excitement.
“This is…”
Lu Zhou: “Yeah?”
Han Ming’s shoulders trembled with excitement as his eyes beamed at Lu Zhou.
“This is amazing!”
Lu Zhou: “…”
…
The job was faster than expected.
Lu Zhou thought it would take at least a whole day. He didn’t expect it to be done in less than half a day.
The equipment used was a horizontal 3D printer, which was shaped a bit like a CT machine in a 21st-century hospital.
Layers of grid-shaped light covered the lacquer-black metal surface. The realistic skin material was continuously filled onto the grid, and the spray guns on both sides were like two brushes, transforming the high-end skin material layer by layer.
“The skeleton of this robot is bigger than any type I’ve seen… Where did you get this thing?”
Lu Zhou looked at Ling lying in the 3D printer as he replied casually, “I bought it.”
“… Well, if you don’t want to tell me, forget it.” Han Ming sighed, guessing that Lu Zhou wouldn’t tell him. He said, “I really can’t do anything about those glowing eyes. I can only try to modify them into a rough outline of human eyes, do you think that’s okay?”
Lu Zhou: “As long as it doesn’t scare others.”
“Don’t worry about this,” Han Ming said with a smile. “This era is much more tolerant than you think. I have seen even weirder robots… But this involves the privacy of customers, so I can’t disclose any information.”
After some work, the “Private-1” intelligent soldier who looked like a Terminator was finally transformed into a human-like appearance.
However, the skeleton of this intelligent soldier, which was designed with reference to the Calans, was slightly larger than humans.
“If you need to change the accessories in the future, please remember to contact me. Anyway, you won’t go to a regular store for maintenance, right?” As if looking at a piece of art, Han Ming admired the masterpiece he completed. Then, he looked at Lu Zhou and said, “I can give you a discount, I’m actually quite interested in this stuff.”
“Let’s talk about the future later.”
Xiao Ai was leaning towards him with a pitiful face. Lu Zhou nodded slightly to thank the girl who was responsible for Xiao Ai’s modification. He then looked at Han Ming.
“See you around.”
Han Ming said with a smile, “Take care.”
…
Including the money for buying the mechanical code, the modification of the two bionics cost Lu Zhou 50,000 credits. A newly-built mid-range household robot was around the same price.
After leaving Han Ming’s studio, Lu Zhou called a car at the exit of the alley and went straight back to the apartment building.
After the three people got on the elevator, Xiao Ai, who was unhappy the whole way, finally whispered, “Why dye Xiao Ai’s hair black? Õ_Õ”
After hearing this stupid question, Lu Zhou answered naturally, “Because it looks low-key.”
“B-but pink is better! And, that woman, modified my facial parameters! Those are all designed by Xiao Ai using data collected! _:( ́□`” ∠):_”
Lu Zhou rolled his eyes and ranted.
“Enough, I don’t think there is anything good about your appearance before! You look more natural after the change.”
“Huh? Is it better now? (•̀∀•́)”
After staring at it carefully for a while, Lu Zhou nodded.
“Well, it’s okay.”
Xiao Ai: “So it seems necessary to update the database! (๑•̀ᄇ•́)و✧”
Lu Zhou: “…?”
The elevator finally reached the 100th floor.
After the two stupid robots came out of the elevator, Lu Zhou walked in the direction of his house.
However, when he had just turned a corner, his whole person froze.
He saw a group of well-dressed people in front of his house.
He recognized the leader of the group…
Just when Lu Zhou noticed the man, the man had obviously also noticed him.
“Long time no see, Academician Lu, although we only met two days ago!”
With a bright smile on the face of Director Li Guangya, he reached his right hand out from a long distance away and greeted him enthusiastically.
Lu Zhou reached out his right hand and shook his hand. He was confused by the situation. He was about to ask what was going on when Li Guangya spoke solemnly.
“Just yesterday afternoon, the investigation team we set up completed the final evidence collection procedure and submitted relevant evidence to the arbitration court.
“Based on the ruling of the Pan-Asian Cooperation Supreme Court and the advisory opinions of the expert team, we have reason to believe that you are Academician Lu from a hundred years ago.
“I’m really sorry! We all thought that you were unfortunately killed in the exploration of the future of mankind!”
Lu Zhou looked at Chairman Li Guangya with a muddled expression. He then said calmly, “That’s fine… Any normal person would think the same.”
Strictly speaking, only three days had pa.s.sed since he returned to Earth from Mars.
Being able to complete the investigation and evidence collection process so quickly had already exceeded his expectations.
After all, from the information he checked on the Internet before, it took someone a whole year to investigate and collect evidence to restore his citizens.h.i.+p.
Isn’t this the chairman…? Does he have this much free time?
Lu Zhou didn’t know why he suddenly remembered an old friend.
That man also happened to have the surname Li.
And always asked him for favors.
“Thank you very much for understanding our difficulties. For the sake of social stability and order, we must make rigorous judgments in order to give the public a positive answer.”
The lights of the interview drone flickered, recording this historic moment with its lens.
Li Guangya announced in a solemn tone, “I would like to speak to you on behalf of all the member states and citizens of the Pan-Asian Cooperation.
“Welcome home! Academician Lu!”