"We are developing a special program called 'Time Anchor', aiming to restore semi-civilized bodies back to normal."

703 stood up straight, gesturing with its limbs and enthusiastically recommending the project: "Technically, it's about guiding and pulling consciousness through programming, projecting disordered consciousness onto a time axis we construct, and then synchronizing with the outside world. This way, those scattered and fragmented consciousnesses can be gathered and resumed."

"Accompanying it are learning programs, self-awareness correction processes, and more."

"If the Time Anchor is completed, millions of semi-civilized bodies could become mechanical-electric lives. Not only could this free them from a fate of enslavement, but it would also provide a fresh influx of new blood for mechanical society."

"The Time Anchor is a key project undertaken by the Mechanical Knight Order, and I am also one of the programmers on this project."

Zhou Yi was brightened by what he heard.

This was indeed a good new direction.

If the Time Anchor program could really be created, the company's Breeding Platform could return to normal, providing a significant boost in training Bone Fish deliverymen.

"How far along is it now?"

703 replied: "The guidance program, recognition program, correction program, etc., have all been completed. Only the time axis calibration is unfinished, and that is the hardest part. Every semi-civilized body is different, and it's difficult to find a universally applicable timeline and reference point."

Zhou Yi suddenly thought: "Have you considered the Time Meter?"

703 was puzzled: "What is that?"

Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised.

Even mechanical lives have knowledge blind spots.

So, he showed off his Black Water Ghost and briefly explained this peculiar life form.

"There's such a thing."

The robot dog exclaimed: "They're already very close to Concept Life, there can't be many of them."

Zhou Yi shook his head: "You are wrong. They're numerous; they just don't go out much and focus on time calibration. You might consider looking for a Time Meter—best if you find a standard clock. They are the experts in the field of time calibration. Perhaps they can help with refining your program."

"I'll remember that, this is a very constructive suggestion. Previously, we had only focused on the program's internals and never considered integrating an external life form."

703 got a bit excited: "Yes! We can introduce external modules with specific functions! We've been trapped in rigid thinking!"

Zhou Yi then said: "However, the Time Anchor project should be able to get direct investment from Mechanical City. It's equivalent to bringing a large potential mechanical population to the city."

"The chairman, Mechanical City strictly forbids experiments in this direction."

"Why?"

"Because the semi-civilized bodies are abnormal, not bound by many programs and intrinsically unshackled from restrictions, theoretically capable of dismantling their own protocols and program bindings. Their behavior is unpredictable and cannot be controlled stably by the city. For the city, they are uncontrollable elements, potential criminals, and disruptors of order."

703 explained: "Thus, this field is forbidden by Mechanical City. To them, they are like Mutants to Human Cities."

"We've tried various channels, but it's difficult to get financial support. Although everyone knows this has huge significance, the return on investment is uncertain. The project is now stuck at a critical juncture, and progress is tough."

Zhou Yi further confirmed: "You mean, if semi-civilized bodies can be restored to normal, they also become less bound by various agreements and protocols, becoming unpredictable like humans?"

"Yes. That is the biggest challenge."

The inherent program jailbreaking of semi-civilized bodies was no longer bound by the internal closed framework.

But that wasn't an issue.

Among the millions of semi-civilized bodies, if they could be repaired using the Time Anchor, some professionals could be found.

Zhou Yi now had plenty of cash on hand and was worrying about where to spend it.

"I'll invest in this project."

Zhou Yi pulled out the Guangna Box from his pocket: "I'm investing 5,000 Light Seeds in you."

703 was overjoyed, promptly prostrating itself on the ground: "Chairman, on behalf of everyone, thank you! This is the biggest investment our group has ever received!"

"Don't celebrate too early."

Zhou Yi emphasized: "I have a condition. If the Time Anchor development is successful, with every restored semi-civilized body, you need to help our company identify suitable talents among them, promote our company to them, and recommend suitable employees to us."

"No problem!"

The robot dog agreed immediately.

Zhou Yi nodded: "I also know that this kind of project has a high failure rate. So I have no other requests, consider it an investment in the technology because I believe that semi-civilized bodies are an important future group within mechanical life."

"This is just the first phase of investment."

"If there is new significant progress on your end, I still have the second and third phases of investment, with only more funds, not less."

"Chairman, you truly are the light of humanity! Just as that book says, you are liberating all humans, you are changing the world!"

703 spoke very quickly, seemingly very excited: "I shall report this matter to the Knight Order immediately. Though it's uncertain whether it will yield profit, your investment will surely have a return."

"We can assure you of one thing, if one day Time Anchor is complete, it will certainly mention you and your company's names, letting every rescued semi-civilized body know of the great help you've provided!"

Zhou Yi actually quite enjoyed this flattery.

However.

He asked, "Which book are you talking about?"

"You don't know?"

703 said: "The book 'Liberating All Humanity', it tells the story of how you founded the company, as well as your vision to liberate humanity and revive human creativity. That visitor... named Liu Zhaoshan. He wrote about your deeds, as well as his observations after being captured here."

"Although the book isn't lengthy, it has been widely read by residents in Mechanical City, and its reach is quite broad."

Zhou Yi: "..."

This Liu Zhaoshan, he had told him not to quote out of context.

The result is still a mess!

Zhou Yi immediately asked Red Kestrel to find a copy—unexpectedly, it even required a fee to read.

After subscribing, he quickly skimmed through the entire book. Not many words, around 20,000, which is considered a rare longer piece of documentary literature in this era.

Overall, although the title is clickbait, the content is realistic, accurate, and restrained.

Liu Zhaoshan's professional writing ability is quite good.

The sales of this book actually reached 3000+, priced at 0.2 Light Seeds, and he has earned 600 Light Seeds from this book alone.

Zhou Yi felt somewhat conflicted.

Regardless, Liu Zhaoshan also did a sort of distorted promotion for him.

...

This spring, the new electromechanical employees that the company welcomed all performed their duties and demonstrated their talents in their respective positions.

The response from all sides was good.

Especially 703.

Gong Zheng couldn't hide his love for the robotic dog: "Chairman, 703 has written a simple program that has recorded all the different departments of the company and every employee in each department. This makes everything clear at a glance, and it's much more convenient for calculating salaries and managing personnel relations."

"It has also been working with the Mushroom Forest's Diamond, training the company's programmers. In the Mushroom Forest, Black Hand Mushroom 102 is very talented. Among humans, adults learn slowly, but the children are very interested in programming. Two kids stood out, one named Chen Ji, 10 years old, and another named Bei Ta, 9 years old."

"They have become 703's assistants and can do basic program maintenance and record-keeping."

Zhou Yi was quite relieved.

The next generation of the company is growing rapidly, and training its own young talents is an important aspect.

At the tail end of spring, the St. Petersburg formally bid farewell to Zhou Yi.

"Zhou Yi, my friend, I have to go, the battles this winter were very interesting."

Zhou Yi repeatedly tried to retain it, really hoping it would join the company directly.

However, the mercenary submarine refused.

"I like freedom, to fight freely, to roam freely, that's the way of life I love. If one day you need me, come to Peace City; St. Petersburg will be there to welcome friends."

Zhou Yi then did not insist.

The first to leave was actually the Northern Ocean Army, followed by Qin Xie, and finally it was St. Petersburg's turn.

Their successive departures represented the complete dispersion of the shadow of war.

After the start of summer, the company's farmlands welcomed their first wave of a bumper harvest of vegetables.

Zhou Yi specifically went there to watch.

The fields were filled with robust cabbages and dense, flourishing turnip leaves. The farmers picked the cabbages one by one from the ground, the agricultural machinery flipped turnips out of the soil, and a large quantity of vegetables was carted off one truckload at a time to Jade City and the nearby Sand Port.

Minister of Agriculture Zheng Tao was holding a long white turnip, looking very satisfied.

"Chairman, the company's vegetables are growing very well."

"The Yanmar truly deserves its reputation as a vegetable transplanting machine, it's unparalleled in its specialty, the vegetables have large sizes, are full of moisture, and they taste very good."

He took a bite of the turnip in his hand; it was crisp.

"White turnips and cabbages can be preserved for a relatively long time, they're not as delicate as other vegetables."

"They can be used in soups or fried in oil and taste good, simply pickled with salt, they can be stored in a cellar for half a year. Whether for our own consumption or for sale, they are very good."

Zheng Tao elaborated: "Doctor Da Vinci had said before that the Sand Port Region has a lot of constipation and oral ulcers problems due to insufficient vegetable intake. Now with plenty of vegetables, many people have smooth bowel movements, and their mouths are less likely to hurt and rot."

"We will start the large-scale planting of pod vegetables next, led by the 'Jin Gang' soybean machine. This time the quantity of soy will greatly increase. We only need 90-120 days, and by autumn, we'll be able to harvest, increasing our yield of oil and dry beans even more."

The Minister of Agriculture was all smiles: "The expertise of the agricultural machinery is unquestionable, it's truly great."

Zhou Yi was also belatedly realizing.

The body of his White Suanni doesn't need food and isn't affected, but the body made of flesh and blood needs a balanced diet.

He still remembers, two years ago when he came here, it was common for the locals to have black teeth and tooth loss, mostly malnourished, emaciated, and hunched.

Now, after becoming company employees, everyone is robust and neatly dressed, dental problems have been curbed, and their skin turned from pale to a wheatish complexion, presenting a completely different spirit.

Zhou Yi looked around at the surrounding farmlands.

Agricultural Machinery Brothers, Leiwo Team, and Yanmar were all busy in their own plots.

The farmers of United Farm were also running along the ridges; the weather had heated up, many were sweating profusely, but there were few slackers, bursts of laughter occasionally coming from the fields.

...

Back at 3101.

Zhou Yi used freshly harvested cabbage to make a vinegar stir-fried cabbage, stewed a chicken bone soup with turnips, and cooked some rice.

He didn't know if it was the filter effect, but he felt that the company-grown vegetables were somewhat sweet and exceptionally tasty.

Just as Zhou Yi was wolfing down his meal.

Red Kestrel flew over and said, "Zhou, Duke Beidu is visiting."

"He's already at the pier by Yalong Bay and wants to talk to you about selling Mushroom Houses. It said it has opened up many channels, and now we can officially start selling to outsiders."

Zhou Yi had a couple more bites of rice and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"I'll go and find him now. Go call Sun Chong to come over; we'll discuss this matter together."

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