212: Chapter 213 The Boring Life of Interstellar Travel: Playing Mahjong and Dou Dizhu

Inside the bridge of the luan niao starship, the lights were dim.

To save unnecessary energy consumption, this warship, which cost as much as an asteroid to build, was currently in a state of extreme energy conservation.

Outside the window, the nebula was twisted into streaks of light.

That was the visual spectacle brought about by the Curvature Engine; after watching it for too long, one's eyes would ache as if they had just chopped a pound of onions.

"Three with one."

"Rocket!"

"Damn it, can you stop joining in the chaos, you mouse?"

Jiang Chen slammed the last card in his hand onto the table and glared irritably at Pikachu, who was using electric currents as betting chips nearby.

This life was unbearable.

You claim to be an S-rank ferocious beast, a Thunderstorm Demon Mouse, so how did you turn into a gambler who only knows how to play Fight the Landlord as soon as you got into space?

Pikachu was clearly unfazed by Jiang Chen's complaints.

It proudly patted the small mound of metal scraps, emitting a mocking "Pika Pika" sound, its little tail tracing a graceful arc in the air.

As for Hill?

That alien loli was lying in the corner, devouring a solid wood conference table.

"Crunch, snap."

While chewing on the table corner, she stared at the cards in Jiang Chen's hand with eyes as pure as water.

Judging by her posture, if Jiang Chen dared to play a pair, the next thing she would bite off would be his thigh.

"Jiang Chen, can you please control your group of 'pets'?"

Academician Chen Shuyin sat nearby, making prenatal check-up records on a tablet, her expression looking a bit unpleasant.

Her appetite was very strange lately.

Although, as a pregnant woman, she wanted something sour, that rigid AI Ikaros had actually followed Jiang Chen's orders and synthesized a bottle of "Wasteland Aged Vinegar" in the molecular cooking machine, which had been stored for three thousand years and even had a hint of earthy flavor.

"Old Chen, just bear with it."

Jiang Chen pushed a cup of green beverage bubbling with strange bubbles in front of her.

"This is the latest 'Prenatal Nutritional Supplement.' I saw in Jiang Wanqiu's records that this stuff can make the fetus's bones develop to be as strong as Vibranium."

Academician Chen Shuyin rubbed her forehead, feeling like she had truly boarded a pirate ship.

She originally thought it was high-tech poverty alleviation, but she didn't expect to be playing cosplay with this man here.

"The 'strong' you're talking about, it wouldn't happen to be like that mouse, where it'll be able to discharge electricity when it grows up, right?"

She picked up the cup and took a sip, her face scrunching up like a bun from the sourness.

"To be honest, sometimes I really suspect that you're just raising a harem in the Wasteland and bringing me along on an interstellar trip as an afterthought."

"Ahem, don't talk nonsense."

Jiang Chen quickly changed the subject.

"This is a serious investigation. We'll be there soon, and then I'll show you what true 'Interstellar Diplomacy' is."

After saying that, he slammed the last card in his hand onto the table.

"Spring!"

Pikachu was stunned.

It looked down at the cards in its hand, then looked up at Jiang Chen, tears dripping down one by one.

This mouse was actually wiping away tears because it lost at Fight the Landlord.

Watching this comical and absurd scene, the roguish smile on Jiang Chen's face finally slowly faded.

He put down his cards, stood up, and walked to the observation window.

Through the porthole, that suffocating, month-long distorted starlight finally changed at this moment.

Those elongated starlight shadows began to slowly retract.

The previously blurry cosmic background seemed to have been "stitched" back together by something.

"Beep—"

A crisp prompt sound rang out.

Ikaros had drifted to Jiang Chen's side at some unknown time, her emerald-green mechanical eyes flashing with cold data:

"Master, Curvature Engine travel is complete."

"We have arrived at the Alpha Centauri System, target planet S-778, distance: 0.03 light-years."

Jiang Chen looked outside.

In the previously pitch-black starry sky, a massive star emitting a faint purple light had now appeared.

And beside it, that resource planet that once drove the whole world crazy in the live broadcast room was floating quietly in the void.

The dim halo on the planet's surface seemed so heavy at this moment.

It was the oppressive feeling of fifty billion tons of gold.

It was also the dowry of that yandere empress.

"Finally here."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, feeling his blood accelerating and boiling.

This month of playing Fight the Landlord, chewing on tables, and drinking aged vinegar—all the absurdity and busyness were for this moment.

"Pass down the order."

Jiang Chen turned his head and gave the order to the group of subordinates behind him who were still immersed in "entertainment activities":

"Clean every single one of those unopened cannons for me!"

"Prepare to conduct—"

"Interstellar Diplomacy!"