Sitting on the sofa, Zhou Yi thought of the television that kept repeating "Journey to the West."
If it hadn't broken down, at least there would have been TV dramas to watch.
Zhou Yi mentioned this to Red Kestrel, asking if long-term exposure to the Dead Light would cause electrotechnical life to become this way.
"Long-term exposure to the radiation of the Dead Sea's Dead Light indeed causes various anomalies," the drone answered. "However, the situation you described seems more like it awakened amidst serious damage or was influenced by a drastic environmental change, therefore unable to complete the awakening process. Such electrotechnical beings are called unenlightened bodies, and while not rare, they typically cannot communicate."
"If they could evolve and self-correct over time in a stable and suitable environment, they might have the chance to fully complete the transformation into a Wisdom Body."
Zhou Yi immediately realized, "Are you saying, if it was found early, taking it to Recursive City could save it?"
"Yes, Recursive City has a sound infrastructure, including rescue teams and repair and maintenance centers."
Zhou Yi sighed, "If I had met you earlier, it might still be alright now..."
And I could have been watching television.
Suddenly, Red Kestrel spoke up, "Are you cultivating this farmland here just to satisfy your own appetite?"
"From my perspective, you don't seem to have this sort of survival necessity. Though I lack precise surveying abilities, I can still observe that your body's strength is remarkable. No matter whether in the Dead Sea or on land, you are able to efficiently absorb free Death Light Energy."
"Physiologically speaking, you should have no need for so-called conventional food."
"In other words, you are something that looks like a human, but you're more like a unique Guangna Species lifeform that lies somewhere between flesh and electrotechnical."
Red Kestrel said, "Therefore, I cannot understand why you have such a special desire for natural food, which has an extremely low conversion rate."
"Are you really human?"
Previously, the drone seemed to Zhou Yi like a feelingless workaholic who didn't make small talk and only discussed business, not personal matters.
His relationship with Red Kestrel was limited to business partners.
This was the first time the drone showed an interest in getting to know Zhou Yi personally.
Zhou Yi pondered for a while before speaking, "Do you know why I came ashore?"
"You said it was for a stable and secure living environment."
Zhou Yi continued his train of thought, "I'm not sure about the evolutionary path of electrotechnical life, but based on my experience, flesh and blood life is inherently fragile. Yet because of this fragility, it's always a race against time. Scrambling to find food, a place to live, a mate, and accumulating the resources necessary for survival."
"From there stems a variety of desires; physiological needs, wealth, power, the need for respect, self-actualization... Desire accelerates progress."
"Coming ashore was to fulfill my own desires."
"I want to indulge in all kinds of delicacies, I seek interesting partners, I will build a wealthy and powerful city here, I want to improve how people live in this era... I want it all!" Zhou Yi clenched his fist.
These intense desires made him feel distinctly alive.
Zhou Yi pinched his fingers, "Ultimately, I want to transform the Dead Sea. To prevent it from influencing and changing me one-sidedly, I must learn to harness it."
Red Kestrel assessed.
"You have a body shaped like a human, so I cannot judge exactly what kind of life you are," the drone said. "But you definitely possess the human-like arrogance and delusions."
Zhou Yi spread his hands, "Then let's put it another way. The Dead Sea possesses nearly infinite energy. What I ultimately want to do is to develop and utilize it in various ways and transform this extreme environment."
"That way, both the Guangna Species and humans can benefit from it. Of course, I definitely aim to take the lion's share."
"Transforming and utilizing the Dead Sea isn't an overnight task. How the Dead Sea formed, its exact composition, how many species are within it... These preliminary questions each need an answer. That's why I've come to more stable land, to build a solid base on land, to observe and experiment with the Dead Sea over the long term, and then to move forward step by step."
"So there's the Wasteland Development Company."
"Does that sound more normal to you now?"
The drone's camera emitted a rapid flash of red light, as if it were contemplating.
It said, "Can I take it to mean that you want to conquer the Dead Sea?"
"You could say that."
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The Red Kestrel didn't change its opinion: "Indeed, it's a grand plan, and almost an impossible task. But I understand your intent, and though my individual power is small, I will do my utmost to accompany you."
Zhou Yi clasped his hands in thanks: "I appreciate your support."
Actually, he had another reason he hadn't mentioned.
Although he didn't know precisely how the prehistoric human civilization had been destroyed, from the current situation and outcome, it was clear that it couldn't be disconnected from the Dead Sea, this special phenomenon that covered the world.
As the only surviving prehistoric human, Zhou Yi had harbored such a strong desire since the day he awoke.
In the past era, humanity had fallen and been annihilated.
In this era, he wanted to regain honor and kick their asses!
Starting with the Dead Sea!
After nightfall, Zhou Yi prepared to lead the team to sea again to fish and obtain Light Seeds.
Because the Red Kestrel had indicated that its body was somewhat outdated and needed to be upgraded to some extent in order to maintain the area's field of view and information coverage.
This time he planned to go to a more distant area.
Zhou Yi was still getting ready when Gong Zheng came over, leaning on a crutch.
"Chairman, the merchant Cui Mao has come to Mao Valley Town, and he hopes to meet with you and trade with our company."
Zhou Yi asked him, "Do you know this person?"
Gong Zheng shook his head: "Merchants' routes pass through many cities and markets, buying and selling along the way, and this can last from a few months to several years. Our place here is the last stop on the east side, Mao Valley Town's profits are slim, and merchants who have come once never come again."
"Chairman, this Cui Mao brings valuable goods."
He said, "First, he has a copy of the 'Dead Sea Atlas'. Although it's the Basic Version, this book is revised and supplemented once every year, its records and descriptions becoming more accurate."
"The other is a bag-like hood that can be worn to prevent the inhalation of toxins."
"With a hood, Ajin and I could enter the outskirts of the Mushroom Forest, where there are many good things, including edible mushrooms, tools left by the hunting groups that died inside, as well as a lot of feces—the clawed pigs like to excrete their waste there. They nibble on some mushrooms, which can help them pass their waste."
Zhou Yi was taken aback.
So the mushrooms could also relieve constipation, and the clawed pigs actually used the Mushroom Forest as a public toilet.
The merchant's books were indeed an important source of information for understanding the surface cities and their populations.
What bothered Zhou Yi was that although Bird's Eye View was a divine skill, allowing him to directly target the psychological price of the opponent, using the remote control was quite noticeable.
Suddenly Red Kestrel's voice came into his mind.
"If it's inconvenient, I can directly communicate with you through consciousness signals."
Zhou Yi's frown immediately eased.
He had done the same before with the samurai crabs, and since he had fed a significant amount of energy into the Red Kestrel, it seemed that the frequency synchronization between them was also successful.
This made things much easier.
Soon, the merchant Cui Mao was brought over.
But the Red Kestrel immediately cautioned.
"He's not an ordinary person; he's an enhancer."
Zhou Yi's gaze sharpened.
This merchant seemed to be no simple character.