Dave, who had been sipping water, was startled by Ryan's sudden shout. He choked, coughing violently as water went down the wrong pipe. Ryan quickly stepped forward and patted him on the back. It took a while for Dave to recover.
He raised his head and looked at Ryan, his face still slightly red from choking. "A problem that a great scientist like me can't solve—how do you expect a little guy like you to figure it out?"
Seeing the disbelief on Ryan's face, Crazy Dave continued, "My enemy is Dr. Zombie Bruce, a zombie with an exceptionally high IQ. He has developed many strange zombies and is highly skilled in electronics. He even created a robot bigger than a house. Due to a failed evil experiment, Dr. Bruce managed to absorb the intelligence of numerous scientists."
"The most important thing," Dave lowered his voice, "is that he can extract knowledge from those who turned into zombies. At first, I thought he was just an expert in zombie research, so I built several robots as assistants. But every time, those robots ended up becoming his minions."
Dave shook his head as if recalling something unpleasant. "Although I'm not as skilled as him in software, I've made some discoveries. His programs contain elements from multiple famous experts, all of whom died in zombie attacks. So I suspect that zombies don't just eat brains—they absorb knowledge for Dr. Bruce."
Dave's expression turned grim, but then he brightened up. "Just when I was about to despair, I started researching these plants—something no one had studied before. I discovered that Dr. Bruce lacks effective means to counter them. Even though he can absorb knowledge in an unnatural way, he can't learn new things through normal means. That's why he's desperate to attack me. Only I, the great Dave, understand how these plants work against zombies. If he can devour my brain, he'll finally know how to fight them."
Crazy Dave then stared at Ryan with his large, mismatched eyes, silently questioning how a mere child could possibly have the strength to fight against such a formidable enemy. Dave had spent years making breakthroughs in this field, and Ryan was just a kid.
But Ryan met his gaze confidently and said, "If you trust me, take me to your underground lab. I'll show you the solution to your problem."
Seeing the determination in Ryan's eyes, Dave hesitated, then shook his head and led him down to the basement. (This time, Ryan made sure not to sit on the sofa.)
At the basement's main computer, Ryan accessed a piece of knowledge he had traded from the world of the Ice Age.
A golden light shimmered, and a USB flash drive appeared in his hand.
He inserted it into the computer, and with the help of artificial intelligence, a three-dimensional projection appeared—displaying a difference engine, an energy tower, and a robot from the Ice Age world. Various data points were marked all around them.
Dave pushed Ryan aside and leaned forward, his eyes widening. "This… this is technology from another civilization! Completely mechanical programming, allowing these robots to log data, mine resources, manage greenhouses, and even care for patients."
More excited by the second, he continued, "Even more impressive is the reliability of these machines! They function using early 20th-century-level materials and craftsmanship—yet they can work in -150°C environments!"
Dave's hands trembled as he pointed at the projection. "And this… what drives this enormous machine? It's steam power! Ancient steam technology!"
He suddenly turned to Ryan, eyes shining with realization. "I get it now! This robot doesn't rely on any electronic components. No matter how advanced Dr. Bruce is, he has no way to hack into a system made entirely of gears and perforated steel!"
"As long as the steam energy tower provides power and the difference engine is programmed properly… I can start producing these robots. With them, my army of plants will become even more effective! I might finally live to see the day when zombies are wiped out!"
Dave then squatted down to meet Ryan's gaze. "This technology is invaluable to me. You and I are both businessmen, so let's be straightforward. Name your price—I'm very interested in this."
Ryan thought for a moment. "I'm just a kid. I don't really know what a fair trade would be."
Dave grinned. "Since you trust me, I'll make sure this deal is perfect for you."
Even though they now had a way to create a new type of robot, they still needed to fortify the area against zombies. With magic aiding them, it still took hours of hard work until the sun began to set.
As they finished their preparations, Ryan suddenly asked, "Aren't there supposed to be other people in this village? Why didn't they help?"
Dave sighed. "There were people in the town I originally lived in, but once I realized that the zombies were specifically targeting me, I moved to this abandoned place. That was three years ago."
Back at Dave's house, Ryan went to freshen up while Dave prepared the trade items.
By the time Ryan returned, Dave was already sitting on the sofa, waiting.
"I'll give you ten types of plants, three of which you can choose as advanced versions." He paused before adding with an awkward smile, "And to sweeten the deal, I'll also throw in a small greenhouse farm as your plant cultivation base. Once the robots are up and running, they'll take care of it for you."
Ryan's lips curled into a satisfied smile. With a greenhouse farm, he could cultivate an endless supply of plants.
Seeing Ryan's reaction, Dave relaxed and continued, "I'll also give you a farmhouse and the house you own now. Once the robots are built, I'll have them cleaned and maintained for you."
After saying this, Dave reached behind him and pulled out a small pouch, handing it to Ryan.
Ryan extended his hand to take it but nearly dropped it on his foot—he had misjudged its weight. Opening it, he found rough, chestnut-sized gold ingots. They weighed several kilograms in total. If he took them back, they could be exchanged for around 1,000 Galleons.
Ryan smirked. The goblins at Gringotts really have a monopoly—Galleons are supposed to be an alloy currency, yet they exchange them for pure gold at a hefty markup.
Besides gold, there was also a notebook inside the pouch.
"I figured you have a complete human society on your side," Dave said, rubbing his hands. "You might need gold more than I do, so I'm giving you everything I've collected. This notebook also contains some of my insights on plant cultivation—it should be useful."
Ryan carefully picked out the plants he wanted and then bid farewell to Dave. As he stepped outside, he made the choice to return to the Tim Hortans Grocery
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