196: Chapter 196 Wheat Ears

The situation was exactly as Li Ming had expected.

After the two Cadets presented their new processing method and demonstrated it in public, the workers felt not joy, but a deep sense of worry.

After all, their new factory director was watching from the side, and one could tell from his inscrutable expression that he was up to no good.

"Why doesn't everyone look very happy..."

"Hey, it's nothing, it's fine. Moke, you did a great job; we really hadn't thought of this process before." Short Jack forced a smile. "Now, let us take you all to see the other workshops..."

Glack led everyone toward the other workshops, leaving a few workers behind to sigh.

"These ignorant little brats!..." A burly worker slammed the table hard, then sat back down helplessly. "Maybe sooner or later, machines really will replace all of us."

"But at least not today." Paul shook his head. "Alright, brothers, for tomorrow's meal money... let's get back to work."

The workshop resumed its operations, but this time the atmosphere seemed a bit more oppressive.

No one had the energy to think about anything else anymore.

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"A6, what do you think?"

"Response: Unable to comprehend."

"Why?"

"Response: Same world, same humans, yet why is the gap so immense?"

"I don't know either. Maybe it's just greed."

The two of them followed behind, communicating in low voices.

"Hey, who's that little girl next to him? When did she appear?" A female Cadet with an orange low ponytail looked back.

"I don't know. Didn't he fall behind just now?" a female Cadet with short brown hair replied. "He couldn't have just kidnapped her on the way back, could he?"

"I'm not sure..."

"Sigh, Jane." The short-brown-haired Cadet thought for a moment. "Should we tell Mark? Doesn't he do information gathering?"

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"Oh, come on, you're siblings anyway, just give it a try!"

"Well... alright then..." Jane took her glasses out of the case. "Let's get this straight, Mina, I don't think he actually has a problem, although... well, he is a bit strange."

"There's no harm in trying." Mina stood with her hands on her hips.

"Sigh..."

The two of them looked back again; Li Ming and A6 were watching the core processing stage of the body wash.

"Adding so many ingredients..." A6 fell into thought.

"Is this right? This seems different from the production methods in my memory..." Li Ming muttered softly. "It couldn't be some peculiar otherworldly alchemy, could it..."

He looked at the strange runes on the processing equipment; they were currently glowing blue, appearing as if they were flowing.

...Well, it really was a peculiar otherworldly alchemy, which was quite an eye-opener for Li Ming.

Shaking his head, Li Ming took A6 and continued forward with the group.

In comparison, the production method for soap seemed much more physical, which finally made Li Ming feel a bit more comfortable.

As for the production steps for those plastic products, Li Ming wasn't in that field, and he couldn't understand those things that truly required professional knowledge.

"Li, how does it feel?... By the way, who is this?"

Glack looked at A6 with a puzzled expression.

"This is my... well, my sister, adopted."

"So cute. What's her name?"

"A6, Sir. Just call me A6." A6 observed the man.

"What a strange name, just like... a robot."

"Mm-hmm, you know how it is. Chizuru people always like to have some strange names, and that's how it turned out," Li Ming said.

Glack looked at her twitching tail and nodded in agreement.

"Hello, A'Abens, third-year student at the academy. Nice to meet you."

"By the way, Glack, if I remember correctly, our academy's affiliated school seems to allow relatives of Cadets to attend, right?"

"Ah, yes, that's right." Glack nodded.

"A6, I'll arrange it for you later. It's time for you to go to school too."

"I don't want to..."

"Eh?"

A6's dull red eyes shifted for a rare moment, and then she said, "The family's intention is for me to act as your guard. If I go to school, who will protect your safety?"

Li Ming was stunned for a moment and looked at Glack.

Glack rubbed his chin and then held out his hands to him.

---Handle your family matters yourself.

Following Glack at the back of the line, Li Ming held A6's left hand and reorganized his words. "But you can't just not go to school. We have Alert and Anshan at home, so you don't need to worry too much about my safety."

Hearing this, A6 squeezed his hand. "Do you mean you don't need me anymore?"

"Huh?"

Li Ming was a bit at a loss; this kid has definitely been influenced by bad habits!

He turned back to look at her; for some reason, her expressionless little face carried a hint of feeling wronged.

"...Fine, fine then. If you don't want to go to school, then don't go." Li Ming shook his head and hit the surrender button, dropping the subject.

The corners of A6's mouth curled up slightly, then quickly vanished.

She would still have to go to school, probably.

It's just that she wouldn't be able to stay home and play games every day anymore.

"Li, are you sure you're not a descendant of some xia people family? You even have a guard?"

"She's just a normal sister; she just wants to stay home and play games." Li Ming rolled his eyes.

"Ah?... Well, the allure of games is indeed great, there's no denying that."

On the other side.

"Ah, is that him?" A young male Cadet with orange hair observed Li Ming from a distance. "Alright then, Jane. Since it's your request... I'll go and test him out."

"Then I'll leave it to you, Mark," Jane said. "...It's best not to make things too difficult for him; after all, we are classmates."

"Don't worry, Jane. I know what I'm doing; I won't make him uncomfortable." Mark patted his sister's cheek. "But remember, do less of this kind of thing in the future, as it really does damage classmate relationships."

"I understand."

"As long as you understand, Jane."

Mark squinted his eyes at Li Ming, or rather, at the little one with milky-white hair that Li Ming was leading.

She had noticed him. She was very dangerous.

What exactly was this Li Ming's background? What was his goal? Was his motive really that simple?

Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Mark shook his head, averted his gaze, and focused his attention on the current practical exercise.

Next, everyone was going to participate in the assembly line work; he hoped no major problems would occur.

That fellow Glack should know what he's doing, otherwise he wouldn't be standing so close. Maybe he really does have some value?

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