Zhou Tianming walked ahead with Natarle following closely behind.
White Rabbit 1, who hadn't received payment, put down its QR code and trotted after them on its padded feet.
The two were currently in the warehouse area at the rear section of the Black Tortoise.
"This is just the warehouse, nothing special to see. Let me take you upstairs," Zhou Tianming said, pointing upward.
Natarle instead surveyed their surroundings, studying the area before looking up at the ceiling with a frown. "Your warehouse is unusually tall - about 25 meters? That's quite high for a small ship. It must take up significant space from the upper decks."
She scanned the area again: "Though the length and width are standard. Are you planning to store specially-sized equipment here?"
Zhou Tianming mentally applauded.
As expected of Natarle Badgiruel - so perceptive.
"Correct," he nodded. "I intend to build some special equipment here to protect the spaceship."
Natarle nodded in return, her eyes falling on the cranes and mechanical arms fixed to the walls. When she noticed similar equipment hanging from the ceiling, her expression turned surprised.
"Equipment around 20 meters tall? That's massive."
Impressive!
But no matter how intelligent you are, you'd never guess something like a Gundam.
To be honest, humanoid weapons defy common sense.
They reached the end of the warehouse where a massive steel door stood.
"What's behind this?"
"The ejection rail. Some equipment will be placed in front too."
"So the Black Tortoise is an MA Carrier?"
"Something like that."
As they spoke, the two took an elevator to the middle deck of the Black Tortoise.
When the doors opened, Zhou Tianming didn't exit, merely gesturing: "This entire area contains facilities and equipment, normally managed by White Rabbit's duplicates."
White Rabbit 1 stepped out of the elevator as he spoke.
Natarle looked down the corridor to see several identical white rabbits passing by.
"Personal interest?"
"They're mascots." Zhou Tianming raised a finger seriously. "Every legendary spaceship needs a mascot."
Natarle looked bewildered. "Is... is that so?"
"Absolutely!"
The elevator ascended again to the upper deck containing living quarters and the bridge.
After showing Natarle around - study, bedroom, appliances, entertainment systems all fully equipped - she asked:
"You're really planning to rely entirely on AI for operations?"
"No choice," Zhou Tianming sighed. "I don't like having unfamiliar people aboard. This is my private domain - having strangers around feels uncomfortable."
"Unfamiliar people..." Natarle murmured softly, blushing slightly as she glanced at Zhou Tianming's handsome face.
Continuing down the corridor, they soon reached the bridge.
The moment they entered, Natarle's eyes widened in shock: "What is this?"
Zhou Tianming looked proudly at the bridge's omnidirectional display showing the outside scenery. "Well? Beautiful, isn't it?"
"But..." Natarle hesitated before asking, "What's the point? A single person can't possibly process that much information."
This was the same objection Li Chuang and Master Craftsman Long Ye had raised initially, but Zhou Tianming had forcibly pushed it through in the end.
He couldn't very well say, "You can't, but I can."
That would get him beaten to death.
Walking forward, the captain's seat stood at the center, surrounded by CIC, radar, weapons, and pilot stations arranged in a circle.
As she approached the captain's chair, Natarle secretly eyed the seat with envy, her hand unconsciously stroking the armrest.
Zhou Tianming noticed—this was a rare sight for someone like Ms. Badgiruel.
"You mentioned testing to White Rabbit earlier. What exactly are you planning to test?" Natarle suddenly asked while surveying the surroundings.
Zhou Tianming's face fell, frustration creeping in. "Actually... I've never even flown the Black Tortoise since it was completed."
"Hmm?" Natarle glanced around and nodded. "It does look brand new. Why not?"
"I can't get a license! Those people won't even let me take the test!"
He gritted his teeth. "Not just that—they won't let me test for trade permits or weapons permits either."
Natarle gave him a look and nodded. "That sounds reasonable."
A faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"So I was planning to take this chance to finally take it for a spin, but then..."
His resentful glare stabbed at Natarle, and she stiffened, murmuring, "Sorry."
A second later, confusion crossed her face. "Wait, why can't you fly it just because I'm here?"
"You'd let me pilot it?"
In his experience, Badgiruel was a stickler for rules. And considering safety, no sane person would let an 11-year-old fly a spaceship.
Yet Natarle's face flushed with excitement.
Zhou Tianming grinned, matching her enthusiasm.
"White Rabbit! Resume the test plan—Black Tortoise, launch!"
[Understood. Plan resumed. Plotting course.]
Pushing off the ground, he soared through the air and landed perfectly in the pilot's seat, gripping the control wheel.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Natarle sitting at the radar operator's station and blinked.
"What are you doing there?"
"Huh?" Natarle froze, then quickly stood up, disappointment flashing across her face. "I-I can just stand if—"
"Don't be ridiculous." Zhou Tianming jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "That's your seat, Captain Badgiruel."
She trembled, staring at him in disbelief. "W-what did you say?!"
"You want to be captain, don't you? Even if it's just temporary—interested?"
"But... don't you want this seat?"
"Captain's boring compared to pilot! Come on, Captain Badgiruel, I can't wait!"
Eyes shining, Natarle practically leaped into the captain's chair in three strides.
Taking a deep breath, her tone shifted to something distinctly military. "Initiate launch sequence! Full system self-check, engine ignition!"
White Rabbit's voice echoed from the speakers.
[All systems nominal. Engine thrust increasing—1%, 2%, 3%...]
Zhou Tianming lightly pressed the accelerator while slowly pushing the throttle forward. The Black Tortoise trembled slightly as a faint sensation of acceleration pressed against their backs.
On the screen directly ahead, a Space Chart appeared, displaying a planned route marked with dotted lines.
"Black Tortoise, setting sail!"
Blue cylindrical flames erupted from the rear thrusters of the Black Tortoise as its speed gradually increased. In mere moments, it shot forward, leaving only a speck of starlight behind.
As the ship's velocity continued to rise, the eyes of the two on the Bridge sparkled with excitement.
[Reaching designated starting point. Beginning countdown.]
"Badgiruel, hold on tight! I'm going into Overdrive!"
Natarle tensed up, gripping the armrests tightly with both hands.
Zhou Tianming shouted as he pushed the throttle to the limit and stomped on the accelerator.
"White Rabbit, activate [Yin-Yang]!"
[Understood!]
The External Armor used for camouflage on the Black Tortoise's back instantly detached, revealing a Taiji symbol on the curved hull.
Tiny arcs of electricity crackled along the edges of the Yin-Yang Pisces as they separated from the ship and began floating, then slowly rotating.
As they spun, purple lightning erupted from the Pisces, surging like galloping steeds across the ship's surface.
Within moments, the Black Tortoise, now wreathed in violet lightning, accelerated sharply once more.
Inside the ship, on the Bridge—
In just a few breaths, the Black Tortoise's speed had already surpassed four digits and was still climbing rapidly.
Natarle watched the rapidly increasing numbers on the screen before her in astonishment, her fingers swiftly tapping the holographic keyboard to pull up simplified data on [Yin-Yang].
"So it uses magnetic fields to achieve electromagnetic acceleration on itself..."
Covering her mouth in shock, she murmured, "At this speed, even specialized high-speed small crafts wouldn't be able to catch up."
"How about it? My [Yin-Yang] design isn't bad, right?"
Zhou Tianming's voice carried a hint of pride.
[Straight-line test completed. Initiating turning test.]
The tens of thousands of kilometers marked on the Space Chart for the straight-line test had been traversed in what felt like an instant.
Licking his lips, Zhou Tianming had no time to chat with Natarle, his gaze fixed intently ahead.
"Hold on tight!"
"Wait—!"
The Black Tortoise plunged headfirst into a debris field composed of scrap metal and small asteroids.
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