Ch 10 – Forbearance and Restraint

“Listen, since you’re coming with me to a third-class planet, you need to act like someone who shouldn’t be trifled with,” Kersz told Yu Xi.

Kersz had asked Yu Xi if he’d like to start off by abducting a few humans from a third-class planet, but Yu Xi was now very cautious. He decided to get a look at the situation first, and act if the opportunity arose.

Yu Xi had also realized that his behavior was a little strange when he interacted with humans.

“I’m already not someone to be trifled with.” Yu Xi had a fairly clear understanding of his own strength. “If I wanted to, I could wipe out your civilization right this moment.”

Kersz froze, then sent Yu Xi a helpless look: “Please stop reminding me that I’m letting a wolf into the house. I have no way to resist in this situation. I’m too weak…..are you nervous?”

“What is there to be nervous about?” Yu Xi didn’t understand.

“You’ve been picking at your hands,” Kersz said, gesturing to them.

Yu Xi gave an “oh” and immediately separated his hands.

“It’s just…..it’s just that I haven’t been around so many humans in such a long time. And when I saw them from afar last time, they didn’t seem very friendly.” Yu Xi was uncertain whether these humans would speak loudly and aggressively.

Kersz stared at Yu Xi.

“You know, I’m much stronger than them. If I wanted to, I could have destroyed their fleet in an instant.”

Yu Xi started to clasp his hands together again, but he quickly realized what he was doing and separated them. He coughed and let them drop to his sides: “But….”

“But they were a little too unkind.” Yu Xi cleared his throat. “They didn’t even give me time to explain.”

Kersz added: “They didn’t even give you time to hand me over.”

“I wouldn’t treat you so heartlessly…..most of the time.” Yu Xi’s tone was a little lacking in confidence.

“Wow, you’re so nice.” Kersz pretended not to hear Yu Xi’s hesitance, and looked him up and down. “Are you going to change your clothes?”

“Is this outfit ugly?” Yu Xi looked down at his clothes. “I carefully selected these.”

“That’s the problem. You’re a remarkable artificial intelligence, and even though you haven’t seen a third-class planet in person, you should know that these aren’t places where high-class humans gather. You don’t need to act like a socialite there.” Kersz holstered a gun at his waist.

“I know, that’s why I chose this outfit. The pattern on it is only visible under specific lighting conditions.” Yu Xi lowered his voice: “The blue stripes look like those of the blue morpho butterfly.”

“Wa…..” Kersz had no chance of repeating that word, and gave up after uttering the first syllable. “Whatever that is, you need to change clothes unless you want to be kidnapped by vicious outlaws…..what are you smiling about? Oh, I forgot that you wouldn’t see that as a bad thing.”

Yu Xi suppressed his smile: “Would they kidnap me to extort money from me? But I don’t have any of your currency.”

Kersz: “They may not be able to hurt you, but you should understand that they’re some of the unfriendliest people around.”

“They will yell at you, and try to hurt and intimidate you,” Kersz continued to caution.

“You’re also a space pirate,” Yu Xi said, pointing at him.

“But I’ve known from the beginning how powerful you are, and that I can’t afford to mess with you.” Kersz shrugged. “Believe me, kind and gentle people can’t survive in that sort of environment.”

“Of course I know that.” Yu Xi’s database contained relevant information. “Humans who live in this sort of environment are not to be trifled with.”

Kersz felt a sense of gratification.

Yu Xi pursed his lips: “But perhaps they just need a little sense of security.”

Kersz: “Don’t harbor any illusions about space pirates and the like.”

“Don’t you long for someone who will trust you wholeheartedly? A gentle and understanding person who doesn’t treat you as a space pirate, but as a heartbroken child?” Yu Xi asked Kersz.

“And then use them for my benefit?” Kersz asked.

Yu Xi reared back in shock: “Heavens!”

“I’m sorry, I don’t have the habit of wanting others to like me. If someone truly sees me as a heartbroken child, I’ll just think they’re looking down on me, and I’ll unscrupulously exploit them as a form of revenge.” Kersz made no attempt to hide his true thoughts.

“Do you know what you’re saying?” Yu Xi was very shocked.

“Of course I do. I have no intention of hiding what I’m like from you anymore. You wouldn’t buy it anyway,” Kersz said. “And your power is slightly outside my range of control…..well, not ‘slightly.’ In short, I’m afraid that if something happens to you, you’ll vent your frustrations on us in a fit of rage. At that point, it will be too late for me to have regrets.”

Yu Xi carefully pondered Kersz’s words, then said: “Do you think I’m the kind of person who wants others to like me?”

“You’re the kind of person who forces others to like you,” Kersz said. “Did you just ignore everything I said after that?”

“I heard you. You are no longer going to hide. You plan to show me your true, authentic, unfiltered self.” Yu Xi shifted in place, straightening his back. “I’m so glad. You’re such a good person~”

Kersz opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He spent some time straightening his clothes, then felt that he should say something, but found himself shutting his mouth again.

Was that what he meant?

It seemed like a valid interpretation.

“Perhaps our communication still needs some work,” was all Kerz could say.

Yu Xi: “Most likely. Oh! To help us communicate better, please say ‘blue morpho butterfly.’”

Kersz froze.

Kersz: “You realize I can’t pronounce that, right?” Yu Xi was using him for amusement again.

Yu Xi: “I haven’t realized anything. I’m just curious.”

Kersz: “Did the ancient humans ever tell you that you’re a devious robot?”

Yu Xi: “They thought I was sweet.”

Kersz: “It seems they weren’t so omnipotent after all.”

Kersz looked around: “Do you have any high-tech equipment here that can disguise your appearance?”

“I do. What are you planning?” Yu Xi asked.

“We’re both wanted criminals now, so we have to disguise our faces,” Kersz said.

Yu Xi gasped and covered his face with his hands: “We really have to?!”

Kersz: “…..Are you averse to that?”

Yu Xi: “My face is very handsome.”

Kersz stared blankly.

Wasn’t this supposed to be an emotionless robot?! He was such a narcissist that he couldn’t bear to cover up his handsome face!

*

*

The black starship docked at the spaceport on Ashfall.

A man with a dark red buzzcut was the first to disembark. This man had a square jaw and a high browline that cast a shadow across his eyes, as well as a scar at the corner of his mouth. People of this era would keep scars that held a special significance to them, even though the technology existed to erase them at any time.

Following close behind him was a man with short gray hair and gray eyes, emanating a sense of aloofness. His facial features were sleek, with a high nose bridge and thin lips, and his brow was slightly furrowed, as if he was holding himself back from something.

The aloof man quickly strode to his fierce-looking companion’s side and said: “Kersz, how much longer do I have to maintain this expressionless face?”

“Until we reach our destination,” said Kersz. “Don’t stare any humans in the face.”

“I know.” Yu Xi sucked in a deep breath. “But there are so many humans here.”

“They have nothing to do with you,” Kersz reminded him.

“Not necessarily. They just have nothing to do with me right this moment…..oh, I can hear their heartbeats and footsteps.” Yu Xi felt a little like shouting at the top of his lungs. He hadn’t had contact with a human community for ages.

“You’re like some kind of pervert,” said Kersz.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment.” Yu Xi had been isolated for far too long.

“In any case, control yourself,” Kersz said through gritted teeth.

“I am in control. I won’t actively interact with humans.” Even though Yu Xi really wanted to do that.

They walked through the lobby and took an elevator to the ground floor.

Yu Xi attempted to straighten his furrowed brow.

Suddenly, a hand grasped Yu Xi’s arm.

“What are you upset about?” A flamboyant-looking man raised an eyebrow at Yu Xi. “If you want a little something to make you happy again…..”

The man abruptly fell silent, because he saw a smile spread across the gray-haired man’s expressionless face.

In a split second, white teeth flashed into view.

The man released his grip, but his wrist was immediately grabbed.

“Hey! Hey!” Yu Xi called out to Kersz.

Kersz had realized that there was something wrong with this man when they walked past him, but his reaction was clearly too late.

Yu Xi clutched the man’s wrist: “He touched me! He touched me with his hand!”

He then took the man’s hand and smacked it against his arm, saying: “That’s how he touched me, right there!”

Kersz: ……

“Does he want to come with me?”

“He wants to sell you contraband.”

Yu Xi’s smile faded. Then he said: “Will he come with me once he sells all his goods?”

Kersz: “He’s not suitable to be raised at home.”

Yu Xi: “But…..”

Kersz: “Let him go!!”

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Chapter 9 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 11