Soon after, the Chengjiang set sail again.
Nie Yun sat in the captain's chair of the main control room, his legs propped up on the control panel in front of him. He looked contentedly at his new staff bustling around.
A group of "Xiao Hai" robots, with their adorable heads and pink dresses, were busy at various clerical positions: steering the ship, operating the radar, and checking various measuring instruments. They were busy but orderly.
Meanwhile, the "Xiao Lang" robots, dressed as fishermen, were diligently moving supplies, securing ropes, and cleaning the deck, working tirelessly.
Male and female pairs, work seamlessly!
Xiao Lang: "..." (I'm actually very tired!)
Nie Yun took a sip from the tea that one of the "Xiao Hai" robots had brought him and remarked, "Now this feels like being a captain!"
While controlling the ship's course with the help of the robotic sailors, Nie Yun also experimented with his new skills, trying to write more convenient automated programs for the robot sailors.
"Hmm, the output power is a bit too low. It would be better if it were stronger. Let's make this adjustment and see!"
"Creak crack!" The "Xiao Hai" that had just served him tea suddenly began to shake violently, its limbs flailing. Eventually, it emitted a hiss and billowed black smoke before collapsing.
"Uh…" Nie Yun looked awkwardly at his assistant.
"Sorry, sorry! A mistake, a mistake!"
The obviously short-circuited assistant "Xiao Hai" had a silver wave pass over its surface before its internal systems were restored. It glared at the negligent captain and resumed its quiet "secretary" (or rather, "experiment") duties.
"Creak crack~" "Hmm, how did it fail again? This approach doesn't work!"
"Creak crack~" "Perhaps I need to add a segment of xx code?"
"Creak crack~" "I don't believe it! One more try…"
Time passed as Nie Yun experimented with his new skills amidst the resentful glances of the "Xiao Hai" robot. By the time darkness had completely fallen, Nie Yun brought the Chengjiang back to his secret base.
The base had undergone significant changes. Aside from a channel cleared to a width of over thirty meters, which was continuously being deepened and widened, a makeshift dock was constructed beside the Sea Wolf using cleared rocks and other materials.
Though simple, the dock was impeccably constructed due to the cosmic-level processing ability of the mechanical bugs. The dock was perfectly level, and various materials collected from the sea floor were placed on it.
In addition, the base had been camouflaged.
The sky above the Sea Wolf was now covered by dense trees, extending along the cliffs on both sides to the exit. This concealed the omnipresent satellite surveillance above.
This camouflage net was made from materials gathered from the island's forest by the mechanical bugs.
In the near future, this net would cover the only entrance as well. Unless someone personally checked, even if someone came within tens of meters, they wouldn't be able to detect anything unusual here.
"A secret base must be absolutely confidential!" This was Nie Yun's primary goal in establishing the base: to hide himself and ensure safety!
After docking the Chengjiang beside the Sea Wolf, Nie Yun ordered all the mechanical bugs, who had been strengthening the Sea Wolf and working on the base, to stop their tasks and join the previous mechanical bugs in devouring the Chengjiang and its supplies.
With the fuel purchased by Chu Xiaoxiao, the energy issue was temporarily resolved. Once the sets of power generation equipment were replicated, it would no longer be a problem.
Under Nie Yun's orders, all the mechanical bugs worked at full power, beginning another round of explosive population growth.
From a distance, the Chengjiang appeared coated in a layer of silver, shimmering under the moonlight.
This ship, originally bought to distract and provide abundant raw materials, had been doomed to be devoured from the moment it was acquired.
Nie Yun stood at the bow of the Sea Wolf, watching the countless mechanical bugs swarming and devouring the Chengjiang. A complex mix of emotions surged within him.
Once upon a time, Nie Yun had piloted the old Sea Wolf beneath these huge ships, admiring them with envy as if they dominated the world.
Now, the thousand-ton cargo ships, once so imposing in his eyes, could only be consumed by him. Soon, ten-thousand-ton ships, and even hundred-thousand-ton giants, would become his food. What comes next?
Nie Yun looked at his hands and for the first time had a realization of his own power.
Beneath the silver surface surged a force beyond nature— the power of technology!
And also—my power!
Ambition was like a spark, igniting a blazing fire in the depths of his heart.
He looked up at the boundless sea and the starry sky.
What would it take to be the greatest fisherman? As he pondered this, Nie Yun's eyes grew brighter.
Let this ocean be ruled by me!
As far as the eye can see, it is all my fishing ground!