"Have we... met somewhere before?"
"That is quite an archaic pick-up line."
"Uh..."
Tang Ping was suddenly overcome with embarrassment. To be honest, he didn't even know what he was saying; the question had simply slipped out in a moment of heat.
"We have indeed met, just a few days ago."
"Eh?"
"Have you forgotten? That day, you knocked on my door and suddenly confessed your love to me. You intended to do... certain things, but upon discovering this body is made of machinery, your interest vanished instantly, and you left."
As she spoke, Monica shed the body-con skirt at her waist, revealing her true form beneath.
It was a thin layer of bionic skin; through it, one could faintly discern the metal skeleton and circuitry within. Of the organs a normal woman should possess, she had none.
"Later, you gave me a lipstick, five facial masks, and two sets of human lingerie. I cannot fathom what you were thinking, trying to make a robot wear makeup. Humans truly are strange creatures."
"..."
"Until two nights ago, you came to my room and happened to be seen by Lady Tanosi. In a fit of rage, she sent you flying with a single punch. After you hit the wall and lost consciousness, Lady Tanosi took you away."
"So that's how it was...!"
Fragments of memory surfaced one by one, and the missing pieces of the puzzle finally fell back into place. Tang Ping felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.
*Right, how could I have forgotten!*
*I fell for Monica a few days ago, but for certain reasons, we couldn't be together. I gave her some gifts and then got caught red-handed by Lady Tanosi. Although I have no memory of what happened afterward, it aligns perfectly with what Monica said.*
*No wonder my head hurts, and no wonder her face and the horns on her head looked so familiar—it's because I used to have a crush on her!*
Tang Ping rubbed his head; a trace of pain still lingered there. The deeper he tried to dig into his memories, the sharper the pain became. Although there were still parts that felt slightly "off," the foundation was solid. Monica's words matched his own recollections.
Surely, this was the truth!
"Let's not dwell on the past. Now that we are both partners serving Lady Tanosi, let us get along peacefully, Lord Tang Ping."
"Not at all, the pleasure is mine. I look forward to working with you."
"Then, let us eat first. You must be hungry."
Monica led Tang Ping out of the dock and into an adjacent room. As expected, the metal plates on the wall were doors that required special clearance to open.
When the door slid back, a spacious white room was revealed, furnished with sofas and even a billiard table. Monica summoned a robot carrying a metal tray, which held a drink and a steaming meal.
"This is coconut juice gathered from a nearby island and curry rice. Humans should find it to their liking. Please, enjoy."
"Okay.... then, let's eat."
Tang Ping picked up a spoon, scooped up a mouthful of curry and rice, and put it in his mouth.
*Mmm~*
Though the meat tasted a bit strange, it was actually quite delicious!
Seeing Tang Ping eating with such gusto, Monica spoke a single sentence: "Does it taste good? It's made of human flesh."
"!"
Tang Ping froze on the spot. His face turned pale, and the hand holding the spoon began to tremble uncontrollably.
*Clang!*
The stainless steel spoon hit the floor. Ignoring everything else, Tang Ping shoved his fingers into his mouth and began to gag himself, desperately trying to throw up everything he had just swallowed.
Just then....
"Just kidding! The ingredients for this dish consist of sea birds and wild vegetables from the nearby islands. They were tested beforehand and are completely natural and non-toxic; safe for human consumption."
"If you don't believe me, I have a video here of the sea bird being caught and the entire cooking process. Please, look."
Monica pulled a tablet from her storage space and played a video of a sea bird being prepared into a meal. Tang Ping looked closely; it was indeed a local species of seagull he occasionally saw flying past the window. The timestamp on the file was from just an hour ago.
"This is what is known as a GCP-style joke. How was it? Did you feel 'surprised'?"
"....."
Tang Ping rolled his eyes, turned around, and finished his meal in silence. As for Monica.... Tang Ping decided to ignore her for the time being.
***
Three days later, just as dawn broke, Tang Ping's eyes snapped open the moment the alarm rang.
He jumped out of bed eagerly, washed up in the bathroom, grabbed a quick breakfast downstairs, and ran toward the dock.
After two or three days of adjustment, the governing team of the Tanosi Ranch Republic was finally beginning to take shape. The predicament of having more military officers than civil officials was over. Tang Ping, as an Intern Administrator, would support the nation's internal affairs alongside the Assistant Official, Monica.
Today was Tang Ping's first official day on the job. He had heard that Monica had prepared a gift for him. Even if it was likely something practical like a uniform, Tang Ping was still looking forward to it. Having lived a shut-in NEET life in a tiny rented room for so long, it had been ages since he had received a gift from anyone.
Tang Ping ran at a light pace, his cheeks slightly flushed. He was breathing a bit hard, and his heart was thumping, but his pace didn't slacken.
He felt something was wrong with himself. Was it because he used to have a crush on her? Tang Ping didn't know. Having never had a girlfriend or been liked by the opposite sex, he had no way to suppress these emotions.
It was a strange feeling, like being a student who leaves home early just to "accidentally" bump into a certain girl at the school gate. He wanted to see her face and hear her voice, even if she wasn't human, and even if she would never look at him with the eyes of a lover.
Sometimes Tang Ping would dream. He dreamed that Monica's hair color had changed and that her body felt warm to the touch. She would gaze at him with watery eyes full of attachment and admiration. She would hold him tightly, blushing, and say: *I love you so much.*
And then, he would wake up.
Sometimes Tang Ping felt he was going crazy—becoming infatuated with a robot. Humans truly were hopeless creatures. Aside from a bitter smile, there was nothing he could do.
Tang Ping passed through the main gates and finally saw the figure he had been longing for. She was still wearing the form-fitting black suit, sitting upright at the desk near the wall. Her fingers were still; she looked like a large, elaborate doll.
"Good morning, Monica!"
Tang Ping greeted her, trying to act nonchalant. He forced his gaze to stay fixed on the flickering screens, but the slight curve of his lips betrayed his heart.
"Good morning, Lord Tang Ping! A new day has begun. Let us work hard together."
The dragon-horned humanoid puppet spoke those positive words in a perfectly calm, level tone.
---
"I have corrected all the typos in these documents. Please ensure this does not happen again."
"The content of the Nation-Building Proposal was somewhat chaotic. I have reorganized the format and key points, and re-evaluated the feasibility. This is the new version of the proposal; please finish reading it within one hour. I will then summon the cadres for a meeting to confirm our next concrete direction."
"Additionally, recruiting citizens and developing living environments is still too far off for us. Our current priority is a more fundamental issue—survival."
"This is a map of the entire island and a nautical chart of the surrounding waters. The first page contains the raw image files."
"Pages two and three are the topographical and biological distribution maps. The data source consists of photographs and samples collected by the Magic Wolf Clan. I will deploy more drones in the future to categorize this data with greater precision."
"Pages four through six contain internal structural diagrams of our current facilities, including a hotel, a large-scale retail store, and the underground dock. As for the supplies within, I have dispatched drones to complete an overnight inventory. The specific data will be uploaded to the network; you can view it directly on your phone."
"From page seven to the final page is the base expansion plan, which will be the focus of our upcoming meeting. Currently, priority is given to infrastructure such as road paving, factory assembly, and pier construction. The goal is smooth logistics and self-sufficient industrial capacity."
"That is all. Are there any questions?"
Monica pushed a tablet and a stack of documents—thick enough to rival an English dictionary—in front of Tang Ping.
"Uh... no."
Tang Ping was somewhat stunned, yet he still reached out and took the items.
Over the past few days, Monica had consistently used this manner of speech to discuss official business with him. Even though he had prepared himself mentally, Tang Ping still felt his head spin when faced with such high-frequency, high-intensity information bombardment.
*It seems I'll need a long adjustment period...* Tang Ping thought silently. Even his romantic feelings for Monica had been somewhat diluted by the sheer volume of work.
***
Though it was taxing, Tang Ping managed to keep up with Monica's working pace, which surprised even himself. Normally, the stress caused by this level of intensity would have far exceeded any company he had worked for in the past.
Yet, he didn't feel much of an urge to run away. Why?
Tang Ping came to a peculiar conclusion: he was happy. There were none of the complex interpersonal relationships found in a traditional workplace. He didn't need to read people's expressions or worry about their opinions; he only had to do his job well.
As the fiancé of the goddess who controlled this country, the phrase "below one, above ten thousand" probably described his current situation perfectly. Everyone he met would bow respectfully, and even the stern Monica would not criticize him arbitrarily, only correcting his professional errors.
Perhaps this was the taste of power. Tang Ping, who was naturally introverted, could now not only look the Magic Wolf Clan and Monica in the eye while speaking but also spoke noticeably louder and even with a hint of firmness in his tone.
***
At lunchtime, Tang Ping left the dock and went to the hotel restaurant to eat. Monica had originally suggested he dine in the lounge attached to the dock, where a robot would deliver his meals as before.
But Tang Ping refused. While that was convenient, he didn't want his life to be so cramped. He was human; he needed to walk, to bask in the sunlight, and to see the blue sky and green trees. This was how a human should live—not confined within narrow concrete walls like a tool. Tang Ping never wanted to return to those days of living without human dignity.
In the empty restaurant, Tang Ping was the sole diner. A blonde man in a waiter's uniform was volubly describing today's menu.
"Lord Tang Ping, today's lunch is a specialty grilled meat bento. The main course is premium A5 Wagyu beef, seasoned with locally sourced sea salt and lightly seared over a charcoal flame."
"The frost-like fat will melt the instant it touches your tongue, releasing a rich and elegant fatty aroma."
"The side dishes are potato salad, fresh crisp broccoli, and eggs from free-range chickens."
"The potatoes are wild varieties naturally grown in the island's mountainous regions, featuring a firm texture and a unique hazelnut fragrance. They were steamed and gently mashed to retain some chunks, then lightly seasoned with extra virgin olive oil to bring out their purest sweetness."
"The broccoli, harvested this morning, provides a crisp texture and rich vitamins. It is paired with eggs from chickens that roam freely in the woods; the yolks are a deep orange with a thick, smooth consistency."
"The brown rice base is also a top-tier ingredient, with distinct grains and a satisfying chew. As you eat, it releases a subtle fragrance of rice, providing the most solid foundation for this hearty meal."
"The soup is a miso soup with plump, sweet oysters caught just this morning."
"For dessert, we have a pineapple jelly made from seaweed extract—sweet, refreshing, and perfect for cleansing the palate."
After a long five minutes, the blonde man finally finished introducing all the dishes.
The menu had been planned by Tang Ping and assigned to the other to prepare. There were two purposes: first, to reduce the consumption of TOSTTO supplies by incorporating wild natural ingredients into the meal plan; and second, to test the robot's cooking abilities.
From the look of it, the results were more brilliant than expected. The dish appealed to sight, smell, and taste—it looked no different from something prepared by a five-star chef.
He took a bite... *Mmm~ Delicious~*
"Mm, good work," Tang Ping nodded as a sign of respect.
"In that case, please enjoy your meal!" The blonde man placed his right hand over his chest, bowed slightly, and then turned to leave.
Watching the man's retreating figure, his information surfaced in Tang Ping's mind.
He was an auxiliary robot under Monica named Reao. His full name was Real-time Trace X-advisor, or RTX for short. Although he currently took the form of a gentleman in a suit with blonde hair and purple eyes, he was actually one of the drones that worked in the dock.
As for why he had taken this form, one would have to look back two days. At that time, Tanosi had come to the dock for an inspection. Seeing a large swarm of drones cutting into a ship's hull, she had frowned and remarked casually: "What an uninteresting sight."
By the next day, Monica had created two humanoid robots and placed the cores of two types of drones into them—namely, the robots Greed and Reao. The former was an industrial machine responsible for engineering tasks, while the latter was a smart butler responsible for looking after the master's daily life.
Monica had not turned all the drones into humanoids, as that would decrease efficiency and waste materials. These two robots were created for one purpose only: to be pleasing to Tanosi's eyes.
Greed stayed in the underground dock; if Tanosi appeared, he would immediately approach her to report on the work progress. Reao, on the other hand, stayed in the restaurant to cook for everyone.
Although Tang Ping felt Monica's approach was a bit sycophantic, the truth was that he didn't mind it at all. At the very least, these two robots added a touch of humanity to the otherwise oppressive space.
Furthermore, Tang Ping no longer had to cook for himself. Preparing meals for twenty or thirty people was, after all, very exhausting.
***
On his way back to the dock, Tang Ping unexpectedly spotted a group of people in the distance and stepped forward to greet them.
"Hey, Breakes! Where are you all heading?"
"!!!"
Hearing Tang Ping's shout, the Magic Wolf Clan members, who had been laughing and chatting just a moment ago, instantly froze in their tracks. They turned their gazes toward the leader of this mission, Breakes, seeking a way out of this predicament.
Breakes was also feeling immense pressure. He hissed under his breath, "What are you afraid of! There are no living things in this shipment. Don't panic! Everyone, act natural!"
The Magic Wolf Clan members nodded frantically, like chickens pecking at grain. By then, Tang Ping had reached them. He looked at the massive wooden crates carried by the four Magic Wolves and asked curiously, "What's in those?"
"Lord Consort, forgive my presumption, but I cannot tell you what is inside. These are supplies designated for transport by Lady Monica. I can only reveal this much; I hope you understand."
Breakes adopted a firm stance right from the start, even using Monica's name as a shield. This caused Tang Ping to frown involuntarily, his curiosity about the contents of the crates only deepening.
"You..."
"Tang Ping! What are you doing here? Why haven't you returned yet?"
A voice from behind shattered the suffocating atmosphere. The Magic Wolf members let out a collective sigh of relief. *Thank goodness! Reinforcements have arrived!*
Breakes, however, watched the lady's face with a complex expression. *Indeed... she looks exactly the same...*
Monica walked up to Tang Ping. Glancing at the stationary Magic Wolves and the two men on the verge of an argument, she immediately deduced what had happened.
"These are supplies gathered from Novice City. Many of the components and rare metals inside will be of great help for our upcoming satellite launch project."
Monica took Tang Ping by the arm and led him to the Magic Wolf closest to them. She patted the wolf's back, and the creature immediately crouched on the ground, not daring to move an inch. With just one slender arm, Monica pried open the heavy wooden lid.
Tang Ping leaned in to look. The crate was filled with various digital products: smartphones, fitness trackers, cameras, monitors, and even several of the latest graphics cards. Once Tang Ping had seen the "truth," Monica closed the lid.
"You may go now."
She waved her hand, signaling for the Magic Wolf group to leave quickly.
"Yes! Then we shall take our leave."
After stealing a deep, lingering look at Monica, Breakes led his team away in a hurry, refusing to stay a second longer. He knew exactly what was hidden in those crates—underneath those digital products were twelve black "fire-sticks." He had no intention of letting Tang Ping see such flame-spewing weapons.
"That was close! We almost blew our cover," Brock said with relief once they were far enough away.
"Exactly. Thank goodness Lady Monica helped us, otherwise he might have checked every single crate."
Burna also looked like she had just survived a disaster. After all, the Magic Wolf Clan were not good at lying; it was too easy for others to see through them.
"When we get back, we must tell the others to watch Lord Tang Ping's movements and make sure to avoid him... Lord Breakes, why do you look so gloomy?"
One of the Magic Wolves asked, wondering if he had eaten something bad.
"Isn't it obvious? It must be because of Lady Monica! Look, she and Lady Qinglan look exactly the same. The Patriarch said before that Lady Qinglan's position was replaced by someone else. It seems that's exactly what happened..."
Another Magic Wolf chimed in immediately.
Unfortunately, the topic was cut short by Breakes. "Have you all said enough?!"
"....."
Seeing Breakes explode in anger, the group lost interest in gossiping and fell into a silent hush. Breakes looked at the awkward atmosphere and sighed inwardly.
"My father is waiting for us. Let's move!"
As for other matters, there was nothing he could do. Some people are simply not meant to be together; even decades of unwavering devotion cannot change the cold, hard facts of reality.
He could only hope that she was doing well.