Chapter 6
“Yes!”
4586 chirped, successfully distracted by the new topic. “According to the cub feeding schedule, Number-Two, Number-Four, and Number-Seven need another meal at midnight.”
“But since Number-Two and Number-Four aren’t here tonight, only Number-Seven’s portion needs to be prepared. That’s something the nursery robots can handle on their own.”
“Which means Su Su’s workday is officially over!”
Su Ci nodded, but 4586 wasn’t done. “At the end of each day, caretakers are required to write growth logs for the cubs. This is a very important task and an essential performance metric, so Su Su must take it seriously!”
It continued, “However, according to Chapter 2, Article 3 of the Caretaker’s Handbook, on the first day of employment, caretakers are in an adjustment phase and are exempt from writing logs. The formal work phase starts on the second day.”
“So Su Su can head to the dormitory and rest now.”
Growth logs? Su Ci couldn’t help but wonder what those were as a question mark practically appeared above his head.
“The caretaker dormitory is on the third floor, with three rooms in total. Since Su Su is currently the only caretaker at the facility, you can pick whichever room you like,” 4586 explained as it led Su Ci to Room 301 and stopped.
Su Ci stepped inside and gave the room a once-over.
The caretaker’s room was larger than the cubs’ single-room layouts. Unlike the cubs’ quarters, Room 301 was divided into a bedroom, a workspace, a living area, an open kitchen with a dining space, and a private bathroom.
However, the kitchen lacked a proper stove and only had a small household food processor.
Apart from that, the room had only a few cups, a metal tray, and a matching spoon. The wall-mounted cabinets were almost entirely empty.
Of course, the most noticeable difference from the cubs’ rooms was the windows.
Su Ci pulled back the curtains, revealing a window set into the wall that couldn’t be opened. Through the glass, he could see the courtyard behind the nursery—a barren expanse of metallic flooring.
As for the sky…
He looked up.
A blood-red moon hung ominously in the heavens, casting an eerie crimson glow over the land. Its light had a sinister, oppressive quality that could weigh on anyone who stared too long.
Su Ci’s lips pressed into a tight line as he gazed at the blood moon.
Memories of the cracked, barren earth he’d seen from the ship came flooding back—the desolate ravines crisscrossing the land, shrouded in red mist, forming a grim tableau of emptiness and death. He could almost hear the earth’s mournful wails again.
His grip on the curtain tightened, and an intimidating aura began to rise from his slender frame.
“Su Su?”
The gentle voice of 4586 broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. Su Ci’s expression softened as he collected himself.
He inhaled deeply, then drew the curtain shut with a swish. Turning away from the window, he left Room 301 and, following 4586’s lead, checked out the other two rooms.
All three rooms had similar layouts, with minor differences. Some contained remnants left behind by previous caretakers, while the windows varied in orientation and number.
After careful consideration, Su Ci chose Room 303, located at the end of the hallway. It had an extra window compared to the others.
“Su Su, come over and register your information!” 4586 called cheerfully.
After following 4586’s guidance to confirm his registration via the electronic screen on the door, Room 303 officially became Su Ci’s dormitory.
From now on, no one would be able to enter without his permission.
“You’ve worked hard today! Please remember to be in the kitchen by 5:00 a.m. tomorrow to help me prepare breakfast for the cubs at 6:00 a.m.,” 4586 chirped, full of energy.
“A hearty and nutritious breakfast is essential to replenish the energy used during the night for growth and to kickstart a lively day. It’s a very important mealtime, so don’t be late, Su Su!”
The robot hovered at the doorway, its cheerful voice brimming with enthusiasm. “Well then, have sweet dreams tonight! Goodnight~”
With that, it zipped out of Su Ci’s room and floated toward the elevator.
Su Ci watched it leave, then glanced at the empty hallway before turning back into his room, letting the metal door close behind him.
As for 4586’s instructions about tomorrow morning? Well, if he happened to wake up early, lending a hand wouldn’t hurt.
Su Ci settled onto the sofa in the living room.
Now that he finally had time to himself, he didn’t rush to sort through the flood of information he had gathered since waking up. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the spatial button, retrieving the box of nutritional powder he had been looking forward to trying.
With a soft click, the box opened.
But when Su Ci saw the contents, the faint sparkle of excitement in his eyes dimmed.
Inside the box were neatly arranged transparent plastic tubes, each filled with a fine white powder. The label on the packaging read: Instant Nutritional Powder. Below it, smaller text detailed the preparation instructions.
Looking at the powdered contents, Su Ci couldn’t help but recall the meat jelly the cubs had eaten earlier. A wave of reluctance welled up in him.
Still, he wasn’t one to shy away from new foods.
Following the instructions, Su Ci poured one tube of powder into a clean glass, added hot water, and stirred. The white powder quickly dissolved, turning a faint pink hue and releasing a sweet fruity aroma.
Grumble.
His stomach growled audibly.
Hurriedly stirring the mixture until it was smooth, Su Ci found himself holding a glass of slightly thick, pale pink liquid with a strong fruity scent.
So this is nutritional liquid?
Su Ci hesitated for a moment before cautiously taking a sip.
The taste was sweet, with a slightly slippery texture and tiny granules that gave it an unexpectedly pleasant mouthfeel. To his surprise, it wasn’t bad at all.
However, one glass was far from enough to sate his hunger. Su Ci grabbed another tube and prepared it in the same way, only to discover—this one was a different flavor!
The second drink was a grassy green color, exuding a light herbal fragrance. It tasted cool and refreshing, a stark contrast to the first.
Feeling like he’d stumbled upon a treasure trove, Su Ci eagerly emptied the entire box onto the table. Upon inspection, he found that the 21 tubes in the box came in seven different flavors.
His beautiful eyes curved into pleased crescents as he surveyed his discovery, the tension lingering in his gaze easing considerably.
Without hesitation, Su Ci tried the remaining five flavors.
Each flavor offered a novel experience, and by the time he finished all seven drinks, his once ravenous stomach finally felt a little more settled—though still far from full.
Looking at the remaining 14 tubes, Su Ci pulled out one labeled “Berry Jam Flavor” and began preparing it again.
Do humans in this era really sustain themselves on this stuff?
Su Ci couldn’t help but recall what Shi Yijiang had mentioned earlier—this box of 21 tubes was supposed to last him for seven days. Yet, in just one meal, he’d already consumed nearly half of it…
If I don’t come up with a solution, I might face a food crisis very soon.
Su Ci downed his eighth glass in a single gulp, then stared at the remaining tubes, debating whether to make a ninth.
At that moment, Su Ci’s peripheral vision caught a faint glimmer. Turning his head, he saw it was the spatial button.
He remembered Shi Yijiang remarking on how wealthy he must be for owning such an item. So inside…
Taking the button in hand, Su Ci sent his mental energy into it, revealing a 10x10x10-meter cubic space within his perception.
The space was neither too small nor overly large, packed haphazardly with items in a chaotic mess that, oddly enough, suited his habits perfectly.
The uniform and backpack he’d tossed in earlier were easy to locate, but what really caught his eye was the relatively organized corner containing…
Cans?
Once again, a foreign term rose in his mind to explain what he was seeing. Curiosity piqued, Su Ci retrieved two cans from an open box and inspected the packaging.
Beef Flavor.
Quickly, he pulled the ring tab on one can. A rich, savory aroma wafted out, and he couldn’t resist taking a deep breath of it.
Yes, this was indeed the scent of braised beef!
Eagerly, he picked out a piece and popped it into his mouth. As he savored the familiar yet slightly novel spicy flavor, a hint of satisfaction gleamed in his eyes.
Now this—this is food for humans!
The first can of beef disappeared in no time.
While it wasn’t as delectable as freshly cooked beef, compared to the meat jelly he’d tasted earlier or the nutritional liquid that was more akin to a drink, this canned beef was practically a delicacy.
By the time he finished the third can, Su Ci reluctantly stopped himself.
Despite drinking eight servings of nutritional liquid and devouring three generous cans of beef, he was barely a third full—a result of his current diminished physical state and correspondingly reduced appetite.
Nonetheless, glancing at the limited stock of canned food left in the spatial button, Su Ci suppressed his cravings and exercised restraint.
Leaning back on the sofa, he stared at the ceiling’s motion-sensing light for a while before raising his hand, letting it catch the light.
He was certain—this was his body.
But it was so much weaker than before. And the strangest thing was this new trainee caretaker identity, coupled with the intermittent bursts of unfamiliar knowledge surfacing in his mind…
Could something be wrong with my memory?
Turning his hand over, Su Ci summoned a crystalline orb that glowed with a faint golden light. The orb hovered slightly above his palm, radiating a subtle energy.
He studied the crystal for a moment before flipping his hand again, causing it to vanish.
It had indeed been 100,000 years since his last slumber… A pensive look crossed Su Ci’s face.
What could have happened in those 100,000 years for the earth to end up in such a state? And what are those blood-red mists all about?
With a thought, Su Ci summoned the Caretaker’s Handbook from the spatial button.
The hefty manual floated into the air, flipping open to the first page and presenting its text to him.
On the title page, the first two paragraphs read:
*”Prison Star: The most secretive location in the universe, home to the galaxy’s most ruthless and dangerous interstellar criminals.
Note: The planet is subject to dozens of extreme weather phenomena, with the atmosphere permeated by microscopic blood-red particles that form an omnipresent crimson mist. Within the mist, disorientation is highly likely. Avoid entering mist-affected areas unless absolutely necessary.”*
Interstellar…
Su Ci’s gaze darkened slightly as he processed the word.
His voice echoed faintly in the empty hallway, but there was no response.
Su Ci’s sharp gaze swept across the corridor. The stark metallic walls gleamed under the steady lights, and not a soul was in sight.
For a moment, he stood there quietly, as if waiting for something—or someone.
Then, with a slight sigh, he muttered to himself, “Not here, huh?”
Retracting his head, Su Ci closed the door behind him and turned back into the room. His dark eyes reflected the soft glow of the lights as they dimmed slightly in his presence.
He sat back down on the sofa, fingers lightly tapping the armrest as he pondered.
This so-called Prison Star… It wasn’t like this before.
From the work manual and the scattered memories in his mind, Su Ci could piece together fragments of the current world. It seemed that the lives occupying this star today regarded it as a barren wasteland meant only for criminals and their descendants—a desolate outpost in the galaxy.
But he knew better.
This was a land that had once flourished with vibrant life, where vast plains stretched endlessly, and forests teemed with countless creatures. Rivers flowed freely, their clear waters glinting under a bright, azure sky.
And now, it was all gone.
The red mist, the fractured ground, the ever-present sense of despair…
Something—or someone—had stripped the star of its vitality.
Su Ci leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling as the dim light cast soft shadows over his face. A faint golden light flickered in the depths of his black pupils, barely perceptible, like a long-buried ember waiting to ignite.
Who would do this?
And more importantly—why?
A chill ran through the air, though Su Ci remained unaffected.
Suddenly, he chuckled softly, the sound low and almost self-deprecating.
“Well, it seems I’ll have to find out.”
For now, the eight young lives in the nursery—the so-called “little monsters”—were his best clue. If their existence was intertwined with the star’s current state, they might hold answers to what happened during the ten thousand years he was asleep.
Rising from the sofa, Su Ci walked to the small work desk in the corner of the room. His slender fingers hovered over the surface as he retrieved a simple writing tablet from the desk drawer.
Taking a seat, he flipped the tablet on, and its surface lit up with a faint bluish glow.
It was time to prepare for tomorrow.
Thank you for ze chapter!!