Star Hunter.

Chapter 303 How did this kid end up here?

Chapter 303 How did this kid end up here?

Xi Kai didn't answer Xi Lin's question. He only said these things to show sincerity and because of Xi Lin's new position in Black Viper. These were things that the previous leaders of Black Viper already knew. Xi Kai didn't feel much pressure saying these things, but if they went any further, he wouldn't allow it. This was a secret of their Yuan family.

Seeing that Xi Kai didn't want to answer, Xi Lin changed the subject and asked, "Then do you know where your ancestors came from? What is your hometown?"

Xi Kai remained silent, seemingly unwilling to say anything more. However, Xi Lin guessed that Xi Kai himself probably didn't know either. If he did know, he would have already thought of other methods instead of continuing to develop in the direction of creating primitive robots.

"Alright, then tell me, what do you want from me?" Xilin asked.

Xi Kai finally spoke, "Since the five original robots created by our ancestors, no original robots have appeared in the Xi family. No matter how much effort the younger generation has made, even destroying two original robots, they still have not achieved the desired result. No matter how similar they are, they are not the original robots in our hearts."

According to the last records left by their predecessors, the two original robots that were taken out for research had a complex in their brains. This is why their pseudo-brain circuits are different from other robots and are more human-like. No, it should be said that apart from a mechanical shell, they are just like humans, possessing independent and autonomous divergent thinking and developing their own unique characteristics.

We also know that the brain complex is crucial, but its molecular formula is unknown. Sacrificing those two robots did not yield precise information about this complex, and the records left behind are extremely limited.

Xilin hadn't noticed the special nature of the material used to construct Sigma's brain; it seems the key to the original robot lies in figuring out that unknown complex.

"Isn't there any other way? To replace the physical object?"

"We've searched for many materials to replace that complex. Almost the entire Xi family has been looking for the most suitable complex material for generations to the present day. But no matter how good it looks, it's not the original state we envisioned. Having seen the real original state robot, these are just defective products with a fancy shell."

After thinking for a moment, to better explain the difference to Xilin, Xikai gave an example: "These robots may look expressive and emotional, but they aren't. It's like when you first teach it to draw a straight line, it learns, but when you continue teaching it to draw other patterns, it draws them, but not in the way you imagined. It can't learn other lines either. Even if it can draw a beautiful picture with a straight line, it can only draw straight lines, not curves. That's all."

With a flick of his finger, Xi Kai created a light screen in front of him. He raised only one finger and drew a straight line on the screen, then drew a circle next to it.

"This is the learning method we humans use to develop this robot?" Xi Kai raised his finger and drew a circle-like pattern next to him. Why is it not a circle? Because this circle is made up of straight lines, unlike the smooth lines of the previous circle.

"As our family's research into the Primal State deepened, the so-called upgrade of the 'Primal State' project robot looks like this now."

Xi Kai moved his hand. The "circle" on the screen, composed of straight lines with distinct angles, slowly became smoother. The reason it became smoother was not because the lines gained curvature, but because there were more straight lines making up the circle, which made the angles appear much less sharp.

But one fact remains undeniable: it is not composed of curved lines.

It's like rigid thinking in humans. This is highly taboo in academia, and a student with rigid thinking is considered a failure of education. That's why there are so many strange questions during the interviews at the affiliated high school. In addition to looking at the student's character and personality, they also look at their way of thinking. People with different ways of thinking sometimes see different patterns in the same picture.

Students with rigid thinking will not be accepted by the affiliated high schools.

Research lies in innovation and flexibility. The wonder of thinking lies in its divergent nature.

A fixed mindset can only make someone a good soldier or an obedient student, not a ruler or a thinker. This is what the researchers at Xijia Robotics are dissatisfied with.

"So, whenever we produce a new batch of robots, it's like teaching a newborn with a blank mind. If you first teach it to draw a straight line, it will keep using straight lines. If you teach it to draw a circle, it will keep drawing circles. But when you teach them something new later, they will use the lines they learned from their first impression to depict the later patterns."

Robots capable of learning multiple basic lines tend to resemble purely mechanical bodies, humanoid computers, while those capable of expressing emotions can only be drawn using single lines. The complex, however, combines the advantages of both, allowing the individual to learn new drawing techniques while simultaneously expressing independent thought and emotions.

Xilin nodded, deeply agreeing. However…

Xilin suddenly thought of Xiying, the robot he had created. This robot incorporated the advantages of liquid-core brain technology, but with some modifications. The final substance used was also the reason for Xiying's success. Xiying was actually more of a combination of the two, as Xikai had described, but since it had only recently been created, it hadn't yet learned many human emotions and expressions. He wondered how they were doing now.

Seeing Xilin staring intently at the screen, Xi Kai didn't disturb him. He was thirsty after talking so much, so he beckoned with his finger, and the robot beside him brought over a cup of tea to soothe his throat. Xi Kai sipped his tea while waiting for Xilin's next reaction. If what Black Viper and the others said was true, and Xilin's involvement would make the "Original State" project take a step forward, even if it was just a small step, it would still be a significant advancement. After all, for so many years, the descendants of the Xi family had been merely continuing the experimental plans of their ancestors without much improvement. To outsiders, the robot, which seemed perfect day by day, was nothing more than a defective product to Xi Kai, yielding minimal progress.

The gray cat tilted its head, listening with a bewildered expression. Perhaps, as a cyborg, it couldn't comprehend the concepts of "single" and "combined" that Xi Kai spoke of. But one thing it understood: these people simply didn't possess the technology of their ancestors! Without their ancestors' technology, they might truly not know how to get there! Not knowing how to return to the Star Alliance meant they would be stuck in this damned empire forever! Damn it!

  

The gray cat glared at Xi Kai and asked in a rather unfriendly tone:

"Doesn't that mean there are two other robots like that besides Sigma?"

"Pfft—cough cough cough cough cough cough"

Xi Kai, who was drinking tea, choked and coughed so hard his lungs felt like they were going to come out. Some tea even dripped from his nose, but Xi Kai didn't bother to wipe it away. He stared intently at the gray cat and asked:

"Who did you just say?! Who did you just call me?!"

"I just asked if there were two more robots like that!"

Xilin wanted to laugh as soon as he heard the gray cat's answer. He looked away from the screen and flicked the gray cat's ear.

Xi Kai wiped the water off his face with his sleeve, took a deep breath, his expression serious yet unable to contain his excitement, his voice trembling slightly.

"You... know Sigma?"

The gray cat stopped talking. It knew it had let something slip. It glanced at Xilin, and seeing that Xilin didn't seem angry, it wagged its tail, closed its eyes, and pretended to be asleep.

Xi Kai is now certain that Xilin and Gray Cat know about Sigma, one of the five original robots from back then. This information definitely wasn't obtained by Xilin from Black Viper, because apart from each successive heir of the Xi family, no one else could possibly know it. Even other members of the Xi family wouldn't know; such information is considered a secret. The five original robots have always been a secret of the Xi family. Many people hold a skeptical attitude towards the fact that each successive heir of the Xi family is responsible for creating original robots. After all, in their minds, a robot is a robot; it can't have independent, divergent thinking and develop a personality like a human. They follow programs and final instructions; how could they be independent entities? Therefore, everyone tells the Xi family members that they are only completing the "original" project, and doesn't acknowledge the existence of original robots.

Produce a primitive robot to prove it? Xi Kai felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He hadn't been able to produce one for hundreds of years.

There was absolutely no information about the original robots left in the Black Viper's network system, and if Xilin had infiltrated his private network, Xikai would definitely have been aware of it. It's impossible for anyone else to know, not even a few special robots.

"Sigma...where is it?" For the first time, the usually steady Xikai's hands trembled with nervousness, a tremor he had never experienced even when completing each batch of experimental robots.

Xilin shook his head. "We can't find it. Like you said, the technology your ancestors possessed is something I also want to know."

Xilin stood up and said, "Think about it carefully. We should be more honest with each other about some things. Secrets will remain secrets forever and will never see the light of day again. You can't expect others to solve the mystery while demanding that the secret be kept. I have a mission, and I hope that after I complete it, we can have a better and more sincere conversation."

Xi Lin was completely unprepared for Xi Kai to reveal those secrets of the Xi family so readily. Xi Kai certainly needed time to consider his sincerity. Since Xi Lin had already waited so long, he didn't mind waiting a little longer. Only after Xi Kai had thought things through and explained what happened back then could Xi Lin make a more informed decision. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time for both sides.

"Just leave like this? Aren't you going to ask any more questions?" Gray Cat was somewhat unwilling. He had originally thought he could get more useful information from this, but he didn't expect to get so little out of it.

"Give him some time, and he'll reveal more then."

The gray cat crumpled its paws, "I wonder how Sigma would react if he heard that his brothers had been ruined."

Xilin patted the gray cat, who was squinting and thinking about some mischievous idea. "Something big must have happened back then. Sigma said that his master brought a lot of people with him, but based on the information we have, that's not the case."

Xilin returned to the spacecraft with the gray cat and piloted it away from the space fortress.

Xi Kai watched the aircraft fly away, standing silently in front of the huge display screen for a long time. Then, he took out a necklace, pressed a button on it, and the necklace projected an image. It was an image of the five Primal Robots. These five Primal Robots were the most precious treasure of the Xi family. The most precious thing left behind by the original owner of the Yuan family was this necklace, which recorded some fragments of the lives of these five Primal Robots after they came into being.

Looking at one of the robots, Xi Kai reached out and touched the robot that was waving its arms and spinning around in the video. After all, it was just a recording, and Xi Kai's finger went through the image, moving with the robot that was running around being chased by the other two robots.

"Sigma... The reason why Xilin left now is not only to give Xikai some time to consider, but also because his communicator already had many messages and incoming messages. However, he was listening to Xikai talking and didn't pay attention to them."

These were all messages from Yuan Xingming and his group, especially from Peter. There were several missed calls and messages, as well as several location and frequency bands. It was probably the Firehawk royal family wanting to express their gratitude to Xilin, since without Xilin's timely creation of the anti-zebra virus drug, the Firehawk Queen's life would have been in danger.

After contacting Peter, it turned out to be exactly as Xilin had predicted. However, Peter heard that Xilin was already on his way. Peter said that he would definitely thank Xilin properly when Xilin returned to the Imperial Capital Star Region, and also congratulated Xilin on being able to enter the Royal Academy of Sciences as a student, which made many people envious. Xilin was already a celebrity at the affiliated school; everyone knew that the affiliated school had produced a guy who was appointed an honorary scholar by the Royal Academy of Sciences before even graduating.

"Xilin, you don't know, some of the guys around me who just eat and poop and don't accomplish anything, got green with envy after hearing about your glorious deeds. One time, one of them got drunk and saw your picture at the top of the honor roll at the third-grade school. He said something like, 'So what if you're an academic? What's with the attitude? If you ran into interstellar raiders or something, you'd only get shot if you weren't protected by the military!' When Gaga found out, he beat that guy to a pulp. That guy was purely jealous of you. He's good in one way—he always gets excellent grades in physical fitness tests—but he fails most other tests, especially academic ones. Seriously, who said academics are weaklings? He's just never seen you. If you were here, I could knock that guy out with one punch!"

Listening to Bill babbling on and on in a string of profanities about what was going on at the affiliated school, Xilin just listened with a smile. It was a good thing he had this assignment, otherwise he'd be driven crazy at school. Those people at the affiliated school, especially the rich kids in the third year, were incredibly difficult to deal with when they really went crazy.

"Xilin, how many guards are you taking this time?" After finishing talking about the affiliated school, Peter asked with some concern. He knew that Xilin never liked to bring guards.

"Just me and Huru."

"Oh... I see. Did you encounter any interstellar raiders? Imperial patrols can't possibly be everywhere."

"No, I haven't encountered any interstellar raiders in the Lansa Empire yet. What, are you afraid that kid might actually do it?"

"Hey, that guy's a jinx." Otherwise, Gaga wouldn't have beaten him into a pig's head on the spot. "Ahem, anyway, be careful, and if anything happens, remember to run away first."

"Don't worry, of course I know that."

After chatting for a while, Xilin ended the call.

"Interstellar robbers," the gray cat swished its tail, reminiscing.

Xilin glanced at the gray cat, who was lost in its own thoughts, and shook his head. This cat had been sleeping too much lately and its claws were itching again.

To Gray Cat's disappointment, they didn't see a single interstellar robber until they entered the 23rd Star Region!

After entering the 23rd Starfield, there are more patrol forces, and the security situation will improve significantly. Needless to say, the chances of encountering interstellar bandits are extremely low. What kind of fool would choose to rob in an area with a large number of patrol forces?

Xilin's arrival went unnoticed. Since it wasn't a travel ship, transport vessel, or noble fleet, those from outside the region had to travel along official routes and pass through monitoring points to enter the region. If someone were discovered entering the 23rd Star Region from elsewhere without paying a toll or passing through monitoring, they would be criminally charged. The 23rd Military Region's troops would then surround and intercept them. Military interceptions usually don't care much about your life or death; artillery fire is indiscriminate, and if they accidentally blast your spacecraft to smithereens, you're just unlucky.

Xilin did not use any special privileges this time, and followed the normal procedures by using the monitoring stations set up on the official flight routes.

After flying to the monitoring station's monitoring area, accept the request to make a call, and then enter your identity information as prompted by the system.

Monitoring sites.

"Oh, you're pretty free, aren't you? You have time to come here." A person sitting in a chair in the senior office of the monitoring station looked at the person who walked in and teased.

"I've been so damn tired lately. I was leading a bunch of new recruits around and got a short break, so I came here to relax."

The visitor sat down on the office sofa without any ceremony, picked up the food on the table and started eating. He skillfully entered the storage cabinet password, took out two bottles of wine, tossed one to the person opposite him, and then began to eat and drink leisurely with his legs crossed.

As the two were talking, the communicator of the person sitting in front of the worktable rang.

"Boss, we've spotted a rather strange aircraft."

As they spoke, the video footage, detection information, and driver's identity information were transmitted over. The person at the desk didn't try to hide it from the person on the sofa and simply put the video footage there to watch together.

Upon seeing the identity information displayed, the person sitting on the sofa jumped up. "Holy crap, what's this kid doing here?!"

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