41: The moment of departure, the reward of the lucky one.

Bridge.

A massive holographic star chart hung quietly in mid-air. Countless stars, like scattered diamonds, shimmered with a cold light in the profound darkness.

Gu Pingsheng stood before the star chart, his finger lightly tracing the newly generated golden route.

It was a path leading into the unknown.

Its endpoint was that legendary mythic grade relic.

"Route locked."

Gu Nian's voice came from the console behind him, carrying a trace of barely perceptible fatigue, but more so, excitement.

"Auto-cruise mode activated."

"Estimated travel time: 72 hours."

"Good."

Gu Pingsheng withdrew his hand, gazing at the slowly shifting starscape outside the window.

Three days.

These three days were enough for them to rest properly and digest their previous gains.

"You should go rest too."

He turned and said to Gu Nian.

"You've worked hard these past few days."

Gu Nian adjusted her glasses, a faint smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

"It's my honor to serve the Captain."

She tidied the files on the desk and left the bridge in her high heels.

In the vast command room, only Gu Pingsheng remained.

Along with the low, rhythmic rumble of the engines.

Gu Pingsheng stretched, his joints emitting crisp cracking sounds.

His taut nerves finally relaxed.

Since it was auto-cruise, it meant he, the captain, was temporarily off duty.

"Time to check on my little lucky star."

A slight smile touched his lips as he strode out of the bridge.

...

Lele's exclusive playroom.

This was originally an ordinary guest cabin, but under Gu Pingsheng's special approval, it had been transformed into a small world brimming with childlike fun and fantasy.

Pink carpet covered the entire floor, soft and springy underfoot, like walking on clouds.

The corners were piled high with all sorts of plush toys—a giant teddy bear, adorably clumsy penguins, and a few rabbits modified by Su Ruan with mechanical prosthetic eyes.

The air was filled with a sweet milky fragrance mixed with the savory aroma of potato chips.

When Gu Pingsheng pushed the door open, he saw Lele sprawled unceremoniously on the carpet.

She was wearing a one-piece dinosaur pajama suit, the green hood flopped behind her head, revealing two clean little feet that were idly swinging in the air.

A huge pile of snacks was spread out before her.

Potato chips, jelly, chocolate, and several bottles of brightly colored drinks.

*Crunch, crunch.*

The little girl was grabbing a handful of potato chips, cheeks puffed out like a little hamster, eating with great relish.

Hearing the door open, she looked up alertly.

Seeing it was Gu Pingsheng, her big eyes instantly lit up like two black grapes.

"Captain Brother!"

She called out indistinctly, trying to get up, but her movements seemed adorably clumsy due to being overly full.

Gu Pingsheng walked over and sat down beside her.

Casually, he took a chip from the bag in her arms and popped it into his mouth.

Tomato flavored.

Quite crispy.

"Eat less junk food."

He reached out and pinched Lele's plump cheek. The texture was excellent—soft, glutinous, and bouncy, like pinching a freshly baked marshmallow.

"Be careful of turning into a little piggy. The spaceship might get overloaded and throw you overboard."

"Mmm..."

Lele swallowed the chips in her mouth with effort, puffing out her cheeks and looking at him with a wronged expression.

"Captain Brother is a bully~"

"Lele won't get fat! Lele has a metabolism that doesn't gain weight!"

She protested while protectively gathering the remaining snacks closer to her chest.

"And... and this is a reward!"

"Reward?"

Gu Pingsheng raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he pinched her nose again.

"A reward for sneaking snacks?"

"It's not!"

Lele got flustered, threw the chip bag aside, crawled onto Gu Pingsheng's lap barefoot, grabbed his collar with both small hands, and said with a serious face.

"It's the reward for finding the treasure!"

"That bottle! Lele found it!"

"Sister Gu Nian said that bottle is super, super valuable! Can buy lots and lots of good food!"

Looking at her eager, 'praise me' expression, Gu Pingsheng couldn't help but laugh.

Indeed.

If not for this girl's 'Luckiest' constitution, that message bottle would have probably been missed as space junk.

That was a mythic grade coordinate.

"Alright, alright, you found it."

Gu Pingsheng naturally wrapped an arm around her slender waist to prevent her from falling.

Through the dinosaur pajamas, he could feel the softness and warmth of the little girl's body.

"So tell me, what reward do you want?"

"If your brother has it, it's yours."

Lele tilted her head in thought.

Her big eyes rolled twice, a flash of cunning glinting within.

"Really, anything?"

"Of course."

Gu Pingsheng nodded.

"Then..."

Lele suddenly mysteriously fished something out from the pile of plush toys behind her.

It was a dirty-looking, rust-stained iron box.

About the size of a palm, with a crank handle on it. It looked like an old-fashioned toy.

"I found this when I was cleaning the warehouse!"

Lele presented the iron box to Gu Pingsheng like a treasure.

"I feel like it's calling me... but it's broken, won't turn."

"Captain Brother, can you fix it?"

Gu Pingsheng took the iron box.

It felt heavy in his hand. The surface was covered in a thick layer of rust, so much that the original color was indiscernible.

[Rusty Gashapon Machine (Gray · Damaged)]

[Description: A discarded toy dug up from who-knows-which garbage heap. The gears inside are rusted solid. Besides selling for scrap metal, it seems to have no value.]

Gu Pingsheng's mouth twitched.

This girl's luck... was truly unpredictable.

Just moments ago, it was a mythic grade coordinate, and now she picks up trash?

However, since Lele brought it back, there must be a reason.

"Fix it?"

Gu Pingsheng looked into Lele's big, expectant eyes.

"Simple."

He thought to himself.

"System, Hand of God, activate."

"Ding! Detectable item for enhancement: Rusty Gashapon Machine."

"Repairing... Repair successful!"

"Enhancing... Enhancement successful!"

"Critical hit... Critical hit successful!"

"Congratulations on obtaining: [Destiny Gashapon Machine (purple · Special)]!"

A flash of purple light.

The iron box in Gu Pingsheng's hand instantly underwent a dramatic transformation.

The original rust flaked away, revealing an exquisite metal casing beneath.

It was a deep purple, with starlight-like glimmers flowing across its surface.

The crank handle turned into pure gold, inlaid with a small ruby.

The originally sealed outlet now had a transparent glass cover. Inside was empty, holding nothing.

[Destiny Gashapon Machine (purple · Special)]

[Description: A mysterious machine connected to the river of fate. Can be used once per day to randomly obtain various strange props, buffs, or... pranks.]

[Note: High probability of positive effects, but extremely low probability of negative effects (e.g., turn into a catgirl for one hour, speech automatically includes meows, etc.).]

[Current remaining uses: 1/1]

Gu Pingsheng looked at the attributes and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

Interesting.

Wasn't this just a blind box?

And one with a touch of mischievous humor at that.

"Wow! It turned pretty!"

Lele exclaimed, her eyes full of stars.

She reached out a finger and cautiously poked the golden crank handle.

"Captain Brother is so amazing! You really fixed it!"

"Of course."

Gu Pingsheng placed the gashapon machine on the carpet.

"Come on, try your luck."

"Let's see what good stuff our little 'Luckiest' can pull."

Lele excitedly rubbed her hands together.

She knelt on the carpet, took a deep breath as if performing a sacred ritual.

Then, she extended her small hand and grasped the crank handle.

Gave it a firm turn.

*Click, click.*

The crisp sound of gears turning echoed in the quiet room.

The gashapon machine emitted a low hum inside. purple light began to flow and converge.

A few seconds later.

*Ding!*

A light sound.

A pink capsule rolled out from the outlet.

Lele eagerly picked up the capsule.

"What is it? What is it?"

She forcefully pried the capsule open.

A blue card fell out.

The card's material was special, feeling as smooth as silk. It depicted a masked jester grinning mischievously.

[Truth or Dare Card (Blue · Consumable)]

[Description: A game card full of fun (mischievous fun). Upon use, can designate any target for a game of Truth or Dare.]

[Rule: The loser must unconditionally obey one command from the winner.]

[Duration: 24 hours.]

Looking at the card's attributes, Gu Pingsheng's eyelid twitched.

This thing...

Why did it feel a bit... improper?

"Truth or Dare?"

Lele held the card, tilting her head as she read the words on it.

Although she didn't fully understand the game's specific rules, the jester's mischievous grin seemed interesting to her.

"Captain Brother, what kind of game is this?"

She looked up, asking with an innocent face.

Gu Pingsheng coughed, masking the smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Ahem... it's a game... to deepen bonds."

"Deepen bonds?"

Lele nodded, half-understanding.

Then, as if suddenly thinking of something, her eyes curved into crescents.

Holding the card, she leaned close to Gu Pingsheng. A sly smile appeared on her delicate, jade-like little face.

"Then... Captain Brother, shall we play this game tonight?"

"Whoever loses has to strip... uh, has to accept punishment!"

She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, mimicking the tone Liu Ruyan and the others usually used, and blinked at Gu Pingsheng.

Though the movements were somewhat clumsy, that contrast between innocence and a hint of coquettishness was like a feather lightly tickling the tip of Gu Pingsheng's heart.

Gu Pingsheng looked at her.

Who taught this girl all this nonsense?

But...

Since a benefit was delivered to his doorstep, what reason was there to refuse?

He reached out and gently tapped Lele's nose.

"Alright."

"But, no crying if you lose."

"I won't!"

Lele puffed out her little chest confidently.

"Lele has the best luck! I'll definitely beat Brother!"

...

Outside the spaceship.

The massive engine nozzles spewed dazzling blue exhaust flames.

The silver-rank destroyer, like a waking behemoth, slowly adjusted its posture, departing from its original course.

It sped at full throttle towards the flashing orange marker on the star chart.

And in that distant, unknown direction.

Deep within a nebula of utter stillness.

In the darkness.

A pair of massive, star-burning eyes slowly opened.

That gaze pierced through billions of light-years, coldly observing this tiny, approaching spaceship.

As if watching a moth flying into the flame.