196: Chapter 195 Seventy-two Hours Before the Final Client Arrives

Day 1: Acceptance Standard Changes and party b's Stress Response

Iron Abacus's official notice arrived at the Cradle at 3:00 AM—a classic move for a party a to dump modification requests just as party b is about to clock out.

The notice body had only three sentences, but the attachment was 700 pages long:

[Technical verification team will arrive in 72 hours.]

[Acceptance standards updated (see attachment).]

[If there are more than three non-conformities, the resource restriction order will be immediately reinstated and additional penalties applied.]

When Zhou Zhe was woken up by an emergency call, the taste of last night's yangchun noodle still lingered in his mouth. He clicked on the attachment, and the first page banished his sleepiness:

[New Standard Clause 1.3: The Poetics of Emotion power generation unit must undergo basic efficiency testing in a 'complete emotional vacuum environment'.]

"Emotional vacuum?" His voice was hoarse in the team channel. "That's like asking a bowl of yangchun noodle to stay chewy in a vacuum—the noodles would freeze-dry and shatter!"

Chu Yunshen was already analyzing other clauses: "Clause 4.7: Must provide a 'mathematical essence proof' of the technical principles; metaphorical or literary descriptions are not allowed. This directly invalidates our yangchun noodle report."

Zhao Yan stared at the security clauses: "Clause 9.2: During verification, all defense systems of the Cradle must be downgraded to 'observation mode' and security taken over by The Council's guard team. This is a demand for us to disarm."

Lin Shen silently looked at the full document. The 700 pages were filled with requirements so harsh they were absurd: every part of the power generation unit needed a 100,000-hour life test report (even though this technology was only two months old); energy output fluctuation could not exceed 0.001% (when stars themselves had 0.01% fluctuation); it even required the emotional data collection source to have 'ethical purity certification'—but where is there any purity in human emotions?

"It is deliberately setting obstacles." Stardust's projection flashed with irritable light. "These standards can't even be met by The Council's own projects. Iron Abacus just wants an excuse to cut us off."

"But we can't refuse." Lin Shen closed the document. "There are only 72 hours left of the thirty-day buffer period. Admitting defeat now is equivalent to working for nothing."

At the morning meeting, everyone had dark circles under their eyes.

β-2 was the first to propose a breakthrough idea: "The standards are harsh, but there are logical loopholes. For example, 'emotional vacuum environment'—the attachment doesn't define what a 'complete emotional vacuum' is. According to the 'Interstellar Technical Terminology Dictionary', the entry explains it as: 'a theoretical state that cannot be achieved in reality'. If we follow the dictionary definition, this standard itself cannot be executed."

Zhou Zhe's eyes lit up: "In other words, we can prepare based on the 'theoretical maximum approximation'—use the strongest emotional filtering device, but keep the necessary minimum emotional base, then claim 'this is the limit achievable by current technology'."

Chu Yunshen followed up: "The same goes for the mathematical proof. We can't produce a 'pure mathematical essence', but we can produce a 'mathematical model based on Poem Markings', and then cite the 'Special Regulations on Cultural Technology Assessment' passed by The Council three years ago—that regulation allows art-related technology to use non-pure mathematical expressions."

Zhao Yan was responsible for security clauses: "Downgrading the defense system is fine, but the 'Basic Law of Civil Self-Defense' stipulates that external armed takeover requires the consent of more than two-thirds of the local parliament. We can urgently convene a 'Cradle Temporary Referendum'—it will take at least 48 hours to complete the process, dragging it out until the verification ends."

Lin Shen nodded: "Prepare separately. Zhou Zhe will focus on breaking the technical standards, Director Chu will be responsible for the legal clause game, and Zhao Yan will handle the process delay. Stardust—"

He looked at the starlight figure: "You contact The Poet and ask what Iron Abacus really wants privately. Making things this difficult, there must be a price."

Stardust grinned: "Understood. Going to probe the old miser's underwear color now."

Day 2: The Poet's Secret Letter and the Potato's Last Stand

The news Stardust brought back came through an encrypted poem—The Poet was clearly also avoiding prying eyes.

The poem had only four lines and required reverse deconstruction of the tonal patterns to read the real information:

[On the surface, it wants you to be compliant]

[In reality, it wants to see if you will kneel]

[Give it a step down]

[The cost is how much electricity a poem can generate]

"Translated, it means:" Stardust swayed its starlight body, "Iron Abacus doesn't care about the technology itself; it cares about whether you can keep standing in front of it. If you kneel, it will crush you; if you stand and hand it a step, it might just walk down it."

"What is the step?"

"A demonstration of 'exceeding the target'." Stardust pulled up the hidden data given by The Poet, "The standard requires power generation efficiency of 0.3 standard energy units per unit of emotional input. But in Iron Abacus's private database, the actual efficiency of the latest energy project in its hometown, the 'Eternal Vault', is only 0.28. If we can achieve 0.35—"

"It will have to admit our technology is advanced for the sake of its face?" Zhou Zhe frowned, "But 0.35... with the current array, the limit is 0.33."

"Then add some more ingredients." Stardust floated toward the laboratory, "Use my starlight crystals as a catalyst. That stuff can amplify emotional fluctuations, but I will be withered for three days after using it—remember to count it as a work injury."

On the other side, the Potato Guild was holding an emergency representative meeting.

Agenda: Whether to agree to temporary resumption of work during acceptance.

Potato Chief sat in the chair (a special high-footed tray), roots tapping a wooden gavel (a popsicle made of frozen nutrient solution): [Voting begins. Those who agree to resume work, raise your leaves.]

A few leaves were raised sparsely.

[Those who do not agree, raise your roots.]

Whoosh—a dense forest of roots.

[Those who abstain... photosynthesize on the spot.]

A few young potatoes began to silently photosynthesize.

Potato Chief sighed (exhaling a string of frustrated bubbles from the consciousness channel): [I know everyone doesn't want to work overtime. But Director Lin said that if the acceptance fails, the Cradle's energy supply will be cut off, the five-star hot spring might stop water, and the nutrient solution supply will also be reduced.]

An old potato tremblingly raised its roots: [Then... is there extra pay?]

[Triple nutrient solution, everyone gets an extra seven days of vacation after the acceptance, and—] Potato Chief paused, [Director Lin promised to build us a permanent 'Potato Culture Museum' to showcase our contributions to energy history.]

The potatoes were stirred up.

A culture museum! This meant their deeds would be permanently recorded, and future potatoes would be able to see them!

[But it's not enough.] Another radical potato waved its roots, [We also want 'emotional danger allowance'! Who knows if Iron Abacus will suddenly release some Ancient Sages pressure? What if we get scared and wither?]

[And 'appearance damage compensation'!] An appearance-conscious potato shouted, [Overtime will cause leaves to lose luster and roots to split!]

The negotiation lasted six hours.

The final agreement reached was twenty pages thick, with core clauses including:

Triple nutrient solution paid immediately during acceptance, settled every four hours.

The Culture Museum must be designed with the participation of the Potato Guild, and a "Potato Rest Station" must be set up in the museum.

Emotional danger allowance calculated at an additional 5% nutrient solution per hour.

Appearance damage compensation: After the acceptance, all potatoes will enjoy free "root care" and "leaf polishing" services.

The most important one: In the future, all major decisions involving potato labor must be voted on and passed by the Guild Representative Assembly.

The moment the agreement was signed (using roots dipped in nutrient solution to make fingerprints), the cafeteria delivered the first batch of overtime benefits: specially prepared high-energy nutrient solution, with a little capsaicin added to refresh—this was requested by the potatoes themselves, "to stay awake and prevent being corrupted by the comfortable atmosphere."

The power grid re-entered full-load debugging state. This time, the potatoes were full of energy.

Day 3: Final Debugging and Unexpected Visitor

The last 24 hours of the acceptance countdown.

The Poetics of Emotion power generation array underwent its seventh overall joint debugging. Stardust contributed a fist-sized lump of starlight crystals, and after it was integrated into the central converter, the halo of the entire array changed from light gold to a flowing rainbow color.

β-2 monitored the test data: "Current efficiency: 0.348, approaching the 0.35 threshold. But stability is insufficient—if the emotional input source fluctuates slightly, the efficiency will fall back to 0.33."

"What is the emotional input source?" Zhou Zhe asked.

"Currently using a recording of Engineer Zhou's father's coughing, mixed with the daily noise of the cafeteria." β-2 pulled up the waveform, "Although these emotional bases are real, the intensity is not enough."

"Change it." Lin Shen suddenly said, "Use clips from the Silent Graveyard broadcast—the emotional aggregate's speech, mixed with the cannon light show and the blooming of potato flowers."

"That contains despair, hope, absurdity, pride... it's too complex, it might cause encoding overload."

"It needs to be complex." Lin Shen looked at the array, "Iron Abacus wants to see if we can handle 'impure' things. Then show it the most impure thing."

New data loaded. The array vibrated violently for a few seconds, the halo colors changed crazily, and finally stabilized into a deep, constantly rotating nebula color. The output reading jumped, and finally settled: 0.352.

"Success!" A low cheer went through the laboratory.

But the cheering didn't last long. At 4:00 PM, an undeclared spaceship jump signal was detected on the outskirts of the Cradle.

A pure white, small ship shaped like a feather docked silently at the docking port.

The visitor was not Iron Abacus.

It was an Ancient Sages from the Tranquil Garden—the existence that had tasted spiciness for the first time in 30,000 years.

Its form was more abstract than The Poet: a cluster of transparent flowers constantly growing and withering, with a vague human silhouette in the center. No guards, no honor guard, just like an old neighbor passing by for a visit.

Lin Shen led the team to welcome it at the docking bay. The flower silhouette swayed slightly, emitting a thought wave with the scent of plants:

"Heard you are preparing to deal with Iron Abacus. I'm here to take a look."

Without pleasantries, it walked directly toward the Poetics of Emotion power station.

In front of the array, it stood still for a full minute. The surface of the flowers reflected the rainbow halo.

"Generating electricity with poems... blooming with despair..." Its voice was like the wind blowing through the flowers, "Iron Abacus won't like it. It hates all 'uneconomical beauty'."

Zhou Zhe asked cautiously: "Then do you think..."

"I think it's beautiful." The flowers gently bloomed a new transparent little flower, "So I came to give you... some fertilizer."

It stretched out a hand made of light, and its fingertips lightly touched the core of the array. In an instant, fine, vein-like golden patterns appeared on the surface of all power generation units.

"This is the 'Life Resonance Imprint'." It withdrew its hand, "It can make emotional fluctuations more vivid, more... chewy. The efficiency should be able to increase by about 0.005."

β-2 immediately detected: "Confirmed. Current efficiency: 0.357. Stability increased by 12%."

Lin Shen bowed solemnly: "Thank you for your help."

"Not helping you." The flower silhouette turned slightly toward the cafeteria, "Helping that marinated egg... and all the lives behind it who are still willing to be cried out by spiciness."

It paused:

"When Iron Abacus comes, I will be present. As a 'technical observer'."

"It won't dare to be too presumptuous in front of me—because 30,000 years ago, it owed me a big favor."

After speaking, the flower silhouette dissipated like mist.

Leaving behind a room full of fragrance, and those slowly pulsing golden veins on the array.

The eve of acceptance.

Everything was ready. The power generation array efficiency was stable at 0.357, the legal clause game was completed, the security takeover process was successfully dragged into a voting deadlock, the potatoes were full and in combat readiness, and even Great Strength in the cafeteria had prepared a special version of "The Awakened Series 2.0"—this time it was a super-sized marinated egg with adjustable spiciness, codenamed "party a Buster".

Zhou Zhe checked the demonstration process one last time. From the yangchun noodle philosophy explanation, to the live demonstration of Poem Markings encoding, to the remote blessing from the emotional aggregate (the aggregate said it would perform "reciting while generating electricity"), and finally the limit challenge of the test items personally specified by Iron Abacus.

There was a contingency plan for every step, and a patch for every loophole.

He walked to the observation window. Outside, the Cradle's simulated night sky was as quiet as ever, but in the distance, the faint light of The Council fleet gathering could already be seen—when Iron Abacus travels, the formation is not small.

Ashes' communication came in at this moment.

He had returned from the Executive Court, just finished quarantine, and his voice still had a hint of exhaustion:

"Iron Abacus's guard captain is an old acquaintance of mine. Privately revealed: Iron Abacus brought the 'Ultimate Audit Protocol' this time. Once triggered, it will automatically scan all data in the Cradle, not even sparing the potatoes' chat history."

"Is there any way to block it?"

"Yes, but it comes at a price." Ashes said, "The Executive Court's 'Conceptual Firewall' can be rented temporarily, which can block the audit protocol for twelve hours. The rent is... the three-year data sharing rights of our pilot project."

Lin Shen frowned: "Three years of data is equivalent to handing over all our non-standard defense tactics to the Executive Court."

"But it can protect your privacy and trump cards." Ashes paused, "If Iron Abacus gets the negotiation records of the potato strike, it might decide that you have 'chaotic civilization management' and slap on a heavier label."

A brief silence.

"Rent it." Lin Shen said, "Trump cards can be accumulated again, but we cannot lose this time."

"Understood. The firewall will be activated in an hour."

Before the communication ended, Ashes added:

"Also, I brought you a gift."

"What?"

"The energy audit report of the Eternal Vault—the internal unpublished version." Ashes smiled rarely, "If Iron Abacus gives you a hard time about high energy consumption, you can ask it why the 'gold coin polishing energy consumption' in its hometown accounts for 42% of the total energy consumption."

Zhou Zhe also smiled: "This gift is good. A classic tactic of party b—'Your butt isn't clean either'."

It was late at night.

Zhou Zhe went to the cafeteria for a bowl of yangchun noodle. Great Strength sat opposite, wiping sweat:

"Tomorrow, are those old immortals really coming?"

"Yeah."

"Then this noodle... I have to put more heart into it." Great Strength said seriously, "I don't know if the immortals can taste it, but the person making the noodle must use their heart. If the heart is there, the taste won't be bad."

Zhou Zhe looked at his reflection in the noodle soup.

He suddenly felt that what he had to face tomorrow was not some universe-level party a.

Just a group of... old guys who lived a bit too long and forgot many things.

And all they had to do was serve a bowl of heartfelt noodles.

And then ask:

"Would you like to try it?"

—Acceptance countdown: six hours.—