I'm Trapped in the Block

Chapter 299: Chapter 296: Machine Testing

For the next few days, Li Luo and Block wandered around the Paradise, trying out its various facilities while searching for robots on the ship to run some simple tests on.

”Back when the authorities went to Yuanxin Technology, they supposedly didn’t use any relics to identify the sixth-generation androids. They just asked a few questions and were able to completely distinguish them from normal machines. But those questions are classified, so I don’t know what they were.”

Li Luo said with a hint of resignation.

”Still, we can start by running some simple tests on the robots aboard the Paradise.”

She decided her first test subject would be the cleaning robot that often passed by her door.

This robot, holding various cleaning tools in its four mechanical arms, squeezed through the narrow corridor. Though its body was cumbersome, it could still clean every nook and cranny immaculately.

Li Luo had a lot of trash in her backpack. When the robot was gone, she piled it all up right in front of her door.

Before long, the sound of cleaning came from outside. Li Luo opened her door and watched the robot meticulously cleaning up the trash she had left.

Any normal person would have known it was Li Luo’s trash, as she was the only passenger on the ship. But the cleaning robot merely greeted her before continuing its work.

”I’m the one who threw this out,” Li Luo said directly to the robot.

”I know.”

The robot replied coolly before resuming its cleaning.

”I recall that the fifth-generation models would verbally admonish humans for littering. Why aren’t you admonishing me?”

It was both a question and a test, an indirect way of probing the robot’s identity.

The robot didn’t stop its work, but it still answered Li Luo patiently. Its reply, however, was somewhat unexpected:

”Do you require my admonishment?”

The question caught Li Luo completely off guard.

”You likely left this trash here intentionally to test my reaction, so I determined you did not need me to admonish you. However, if you do require it, I can do so. I would not recommend it, as such an admonishment would be useless to you.”

The robot stated its reasons in a calm voice.

It was perfectly logical, yet very strange.

Li Luo was stunned for a long time. This robot was a little too smart; its level of intelligence far exceeded her imagination.

”You’re not a fifth-generation model,” Li Luo stated with certainty.

The cleaning robot nodded. ”Correct. We are not fifth-generation.”

Without any attempt at concealment, the cleaning robot admitted it outright.

”Then you’re sixth-generation?”

”Not sixth-generation, either.” The cleaning robot gave another surprising answer. ”We are simply Paradise Island’s independently developed island-defense robots. This is the first and only generation.”

”You’re probably wondering about our connection to Yuanxin Technology, aren’t you? Many people have asked us that, since our external appearance is very similar. But it’s really just imitation. Our creator thought that design was cool, so they used it.”

The cleaning robot’s answer was utterly unexpected.

Li Luo wore an expression of disbelief. ”Just because it was cool?”

”Yes... Cool. Is that not enough?” the robot asked in return.

While they were talking, the cleaning robot had already finished cleaning all the trash in the hallway and had even rinsed the floor.

After finishing its tasks, it didn’t linger.

”I must attend to other matters now. If you have any questions, you can ask me directly instead of using such roundabout methods. We will answer seriously, except for classified matters. That includes questions about our origin.”

After speaking, the cleaning robot gave Li Luo a bow in the narrow corridor and headed down the other end of the hall.

Li Luo stared blankly at the robot’s retreating back, a look of astonishment on her face.

Although she had learned the robots’ origin just like that, she didn’t seem very happy. On the contrary, she was still suspicious.

”Their intelligence is too high. I don’t believe a machine independently developed by an island could reach this level.”

Mo Ling didn’t know the current state of android technology, but even he could tell that this cleaning robot possessed a high level of intelligence. Although its thought process differed from a human’s, its logic was extremely rigorous, and it made no errors.

Burdened with even greater doubt, Li Luo took Block and began searching for other robots on the ship.

The Paradise truly had everything; Li Luo even found a gym.

There was a robot here, too, standing silently in the corner of the gym like a piece of decoration. It was only when Li Luo walked in that he quickly scurried over.

His mechanical body CREAKED, as if it hadn’t moved in a long time. He hurried right up to Li Luo.

”I heard a guest finally arrived on the ship. That must be you, right?”

Though it sounded strange, Mo Ling could clearly sense an emotion of ”eagerness” from this robot.

Even his speech seemed a bit faster.

Li Luo, of course, also sensed something was off. She looked at the robot with a puzzled expression and nodded.

Unexpectedly, after Li Luo responded, the robot actually started complaining to her. ”It’s been so long since we’ve had any guests on this ship, and even fewer come to the gym. I feel like I’m about to rust.”

”Can’t you go do something else?”

”I don’t know how to do anything else,” the fitness robot replied earnestly.

”You don’t know how?”

”Correct. All the machines on this ship have specific posts and can only perform specific tasks. I only know how to teach people fitness, so this is the only place I can be.”

As he spoke, his arms even drooped downwards.

From a robot, of all things, one could sense an emotion of being wronged.

Li Luo looked at him and said impassively, ”I’ll start with a run.”

”Of course.” Hearing that Li Luo was actually going to use the gym, the robot perked up immediately and led her to an enormous treadmill.

”This is a holographic projection treadmill. It can simulate a country path, a sunny beach, a jungle boardwalk... It can also simulate combat environments in the Abyss, like an insect swarm hunt, relic survival, or the Collapsing Dunes.”

The robot enthusiastically explained as it handed her a controller.

”You can select your weapon—any weapon is available. Of course, you can also choose some relics, but I’d advise against using the powerful ones. It will make for a very poor running experience...”

The robot was about to say more, but Li Luo cut it off. ”Thanks, no need for an introduction. I know how to use it. I have several at home.”

With that, she calmly stepped onto the treadmill.

She left the robot standing there, at a complete loss.

Once again, Mo Ling sensed ”emotion” coming from him.