Stellaron Hunter Tag-Along (Patreon)

Chapter 5: The Boy and the Merchant

"Svarog, I've recently had some insights into mechanics. I feel like I can help you fix your power module," Chu Mu regained his lively and playful demeanor, smiling at Svarog as he made the suggestion.

"Based on calculations, the probability of you successfully fixing it is 0.01%. The probability of you breaking it further is 300%," Svarog calmly provided the calculation results.

"How can it exceed that much? I don't accept it. The highest probability of me breaking it is 99.99%!" Chu Mu protested.

"Usually, when you repair one module, you end up burning two other modules," Svarog gave the reason.

This made Chu Mu feel somewhat embarrassed because he had indeed burnt Svarog's language module in the process.

Back then, while trying to repair Svarog's power module, he ended up burning the language module and the engine module.

Fortunately, the engine didn't explode; otherwise, the lower district would have experienced a small nuclear explosion, worsening the already impoverished ecological environment.

Chu Mu was about to say something to ease the awkwardness when Svarog suddenly said, "Calculation results: open permission for Chu Mu to proceed with repairs."

"Huh?" Chu Mu was surprised and patted Svarog's head. "Uh-oh, the logic chip is burnt too. This time, it wasn't my doing!"

Svarog looked silently at Chu Mu, and the red glow in its eyes was incredibly gentle.

"Chu Mu, you should trust the results of the calculation."

"I was just joking. I know my own skills. I don't know anything about mechanical electronics. How could I actually fix it? Aren't you afraid that I'll break it? If you're not afraid, then I shouldn't be either." Chu Mu quickly shook his head, refusing Svarog's suggestion.

The two chatted for a while, with Chu Mu doing most of the talking and Svarog doing the listening.

Chu Mu also complained about Oleg, emphasizing what had happened at noon today. But in the end, he said, "Uncle Oleg is a good person. I know I shouldn't blame him. I don't know who to blame, whether it's my bad luck or this world. Haha, maybe the world is the one at fault."

"The world needs transformation," Svarog's mechanical voice sounded.

"Perhaps, but can a little brat and an immobile giant robot sitting in a garbage dump transform the world? Svarog, I don't have the ability to change the world, and neither do we. If I have any ability at all, it's the ability to be beaten up by the world," Chu Mu sighed with self-deprecation.

What Chu Mu didn't know was that all these scenes were recorded in Svarog's memory, the kind that couldn't be deleted, even the highest level!

Years later, when Chu Mu mentioned this, he would cover his face in pain. Svarog, to think you would be daring enough to collect my dark history!

And now, completely unaware of this, Chu Mu made a silly face at Svarog:

"I'm leaving, Svarog. See you in a week."

"You're not allowed to die," a trace of seriousness could be heard in Svarog's mechanical tone.

"Hehe, understood, Officer! I promise not to die next week!" Chu Mu saluted and disappeared at the fork in the road.

The red glow in Svarog's eyes gradually dimmed, but it didn't extinguish completely. Instead, it started counting.

"One, two, four..."

According to the agreement with the boy, within 68,400 counts, he would appear again.

This time, there would be no more accidents.

After bidding farewell to Svarog, Chu Mu began his work in the garbage dump according to the plan he had formulated. He divided his actions into two stages: in the first stage, he would observe and mark useful scrap without digging it up. In the second stage, he would directly go to the location of the scrap and start digging. This approach significantly improved his efficiency, and he collected a substantial amount of scrap in the afternoon.

As he was leaving the garbage dump, a frivolous voice called out to him, "Hey there, young man! You've made quite a fortune! How about considering selling these items to me? Old Sampo will definitely offer you a fair and reasonable price. It will save you the trouble of carrying the items to town and selling them there, saving you a lot of effort, right?"

Chu Mu thought the proposition made sense and turned to look at the person speaking. It was a blue-haired young man whose hairstyle didn't quite match the mainstream aesthetic of the lower district; it was rather elegant.

The young man's face was filled with enthusiasm, and he seemed to realize that Chu Mu was staring at his hair. He proudly brushed his bangs to the side and said with a smile, "Bro, what do you think? Do you want to sell the goods to me?"

"Weigh them," Chu Mu nodded.

"Alright, I appreciate your straightforwardness, old bro!" Sampo quickly took the woven bag from Chu Mu's hand.

"Why do I feel like I'm getting older in your mouth? From young man to bro, and now to old bro?" Chu Mu couldn't help but comment.

He was still just a child! Although he might have a slightly mature mindset.

"You're joking. In my eyes, age is just a number; it doesn't measure a person's maturity. It's the mentality that matters the most! When I look at you, old bro, I can see the flow of time and the long river of years!" Sampo exaggeratedly complimented as he weighed the scrap.

This amused Chu Mu, "You're quite an interesting person."

"I'm not joking. Old Sampo has seen countless people. With just one look, I can tell that you're no ordinary person. Given time, you will surely achieve greatness! Is it still possible for Old Sampo to curry favor with you?" Sampo flattered.

To Chu Mu, these merchants seemed to have the most eloquent mouths in the world. They could say anything.

However, he was not swayed at all because he knew his own circumstances very well.

Forget about the future, it was even a question whether he would live past the age of seven.

Thinking about this, the smile on Chu Mu's face gradually faded.

"Weighing is done," Sampo signaled Chu Mu to check the weight scale. "It's a total of eight catties. I'll give you eight Shields, which is a fair price since you would get the same amount if you sold it in town. You seem to know what you're doing."

"Okay," Chu Mu nodded, seemingly unaffected, and calmly walked over to the scale. Then, in a swift motion, he bent down and quickly retrieved a magnetic stone from under the weighing platform!

"What is this?" Chu Mu sneered.

Sampo's forehead immediately broke out in cold sweat as he hastily said, "I underestimated you, sir. I thought I could take advantage of you, but I didn't expect you to be knowledgeable about this! Now, it's me who underestimated the situation."

Saying that, he took out ten big coins from his pocket, trying to please Chu Mu, "Your goods were supposed to be nine catties, and I shouldn't have been greedy for that one catty. As compensation, I'll make up for it with an extra coin. I'll take all ten Shields! I swear there won't be any deception this time!"

"I only want what I deserve." Chu Mu took nine coins from Sampo's hand, calmly stating, "I'll still do business with you in the future, but don't think about profiting from me."

"I won't dare, I won't dare! Absolutely not!" Sampo nodded frantically, "Hey, let me tell you, sir, you're truly someone capable of great things. Your perspective, tsk tsk, it's even more remarkable than our guardians. You're the rightful successor to the next guardian!"

Sampo's words were both astonishing and relentless.