Chapter 414: A trash collector paired with scrap couldn't be more fitting

Tsk, still not working.

As the metal cooled yet again, Zhang Jie found its strength still inadequate.

This was already the best metal he could find, but due to lacking the two metallic elements 'aluminum' and 'titanium', the metal's strength was unqualified.

Xiao Jiu directly used her petite Ruthless Iron Hand, giving a 'hey ya' as she bent the metal into a folding screen.

Human, not good.

I know, I know....

Zhang Jie wore a helpless expression; despite being a genius, he momentarily had no recourse—even a clever woman can't cook without rice.

Zhang Jie had never seen a true genius; he didn't know that a true genius never lacks solutions, and at this moment a true genius might already be pondering how to create elements.

Compared to ordinary folks, he might indeed be considered a gifted, intelligent little genius, but actually Zhang Jie's sort cannot compare to a true genius; he's just a mediocre person.

Hmm......

Xiao Jiu, what do you say we should do next?

The human female's notes are missing many sections; it's unknown whether she originally left them out or they were lost through damage.

In short, the shipbuilding progress is stuck, stuck fast.

Xiao Jiu wiped a nonexistent sweat bead from her head, glanced at Zhang Jie, the petite loli wearing a helpless look.

Human, I'm merely a Ship Girl who only knows how to eat cake.

Are the things you're asking about too advanced for me?

Zhang Jie glanced at Xiao Jiu holding a big iron hammer; the image of her just coolly swinging the hammer to strike metal flashed in his mind, making his mouth twitch.

This Ship Girl.... is she maybe a bit too strong?

Ah, let me think of another solution.

You still haven't found a perfect solution, after all you're not a true genius; the best you can think of is to build a detector for these elements, using time's accumulation to continually extract them from various scrap.

This is a long process; after that, you started showing up more and more often on the Wasteland, with Xiao Jiu's little tail tagging along, and your trash-picking speed sped up considerably.

Age 16: less than two years left until the human female's promised eighteenth birthday, yet your airship construction progress remains low, inevitably making you a bit anxious.

History is strikingly similar; last time the human female was equally eager to build an airship, also over two years, but she ultimately failed as well.

Although you don't know how the human female is doing now, you know you need to strive to fulfill this wish.

You've become even more neglectful of sleep and meals; several trips to Feitu City to sell goods were made by Xiao Jiu in your place; before, when you found she'd secretly bought a few extra cakes, you'd joke about it, but lately you've also stopped caring, leaving Xiao Jiu feeling a bit down.

She wanted to urge you not to overwork yourself; actually, lying back and taking it easy in this little place would be fine, but she ultimately feels embarrassed to say such a defeatist thing to you, who's striving forward.

After all.... she's just a scrap Ship Girl who can't deploy her hull; if she had the capability, she could totally bring you away directly, but she doesn't......

Xiao Jiu feels worthless; she believes this situation is entirely because she's junk, she feels she can't help you at all, she feels like a junk Ship Girl who only knows how to eat cake and sleep.

As a poor little thing who's already been abandoned once, Xiao Jiu clearly knows that to steadily maintain a relationship, she must demonstrate more value.

If a person has no worth, their eventual fate is to be abandoned; she's already experienced this firsthand, and this fear of abandonment will continually drive her to demonstrate her value.

Xiao Jiu has sunk into an emo state again; seeing her low spirits, you only feel as clueless as Louis XVI.

What's up, Xiao Jiu?

Xiao Jiu wearily glanced at Zhang Jie, said nothing, but forced herself to perk up and work hard.

?

A question mark appeared above Zhang Jie's head; he was utterly perplexed, unable to understand what was wrong with Xiao Jiu.

So he reached out and ruffled Xiao Jiu's head; she closed her eyes, letting him pet her, but when she opened her eyes she still looked downcast.

Xiao Jiu, if something's wrong, tell me.

Xiao Jiu lifted her head to glance at Zhang Jie, suddenly recalling that a few years ago she was about his height.

Just like their height, their status has also shifted.

Formerly she just wanted to loaf around, not worrying about anyone abandoning her; her daily chores were just loafing and peeping at Zhang Jie; those carefree days were wonderful.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jiu didn't know why, but she let out a 'wa' and burst into tears.

Zhang Jie:?

Zhang Jie:!

Seeing Xiao Jiu tear up, the big oaf Zhang Jie finally realized, rushing forward to comfort this little guy.

Could it be that you've been too busy lately, thus neglecting her?

Zhang Jie full of doubt, kept stroking Xiao Jiu's head; after a while, Xiao Jiu suddenly choked out a sentence.

Sorry.... human....

I am... I am a scrap Ship Girl who can't deploy her hull....

Zhang Jie: huh?

What does 'deploy hull' mean? What's scrap? Huh?

Zhang Jie's face showed 'dazed', his mental process froze, and he stopped responding.

It's fine, I'm a professional trash collector, specializing in scrap.

Words of comfort that weren't really comfort spilled from Zhang Jie's mouth, his mouth reacting faster than his mind.

(Sniffle)..... really?

Cough.....

Of course it's true, you forgot I'm best at turning trash into treasure.

Looking at Xiao Jiu with tear-filled eyes, his dazed mind gradually cleared, and he suddenly recalled the scene when the human female had made him cry: she would gently kneel, wipe away his tears with her fingers, then softly console him.

Missing the human female, Zhang Jie sighed, crouched down, imitated her manner, and used his thumb to wipe the tears from Xiao Jiu's eye corner.

In my veteran junk dealer's place, there has never been absolute junk.

No matter what junk you are, in my Zhang Jie's place, you are all good stuff.

A junk dealer with junk is the most fitting, isn't it?

Wuu wuu wuu.... humans....

Xiao Jiu leapt and clung to Zhang Jie's neck; at this moment, she finally fully trusted Zhang Jie.

Thus, the future Da Yun truck Xiao Jiu finally recognized her lifelong destination.