Chapter 720: Chapter 574: Curiosity (Second Update)
“Sister, I’m hungry, can we eat now?”
Mina handed the basket she was holding to her taller, younger brother, which contained some not very good-looking fruits.
“Hooray, time to eat.”
The delighted children grabbed the basket and ran back.
It suddenly occurred to Mina, her expression changed, and she quickly turned to look at Su Mo and Rose.
“Oh no, I forgot to ask. Mr. Su Mo, Miss Rose, have you had your meal?”
“Uh, it should probably count as no, but we’re not very hungry either.”
For a moment, Su Mo did not know whether to say he had eaten or not.
“I’ll go get you some fruits. I’m sorry, because we are too poor, we can’t afford insects, so we cannot host you properly.”
As Mina spoke, she couldn’t help but bow her head. In her eyes, not being able to offer high-nutrient insects to important guests was an extremely discourteous act.
A normal family, even if they cannot prepare fresh insects, would still have some preserved ones.
But her family’s situation was a bit special.
“No need, no need, fruits are great, what’s the need for insects.”
Su Mo explained very awkwardly, fearful that Mina might take it the wrong way and actually procure some insects.
He actually had little appetite today, largely thanks to those insects.
Additionally, Su Mo also harbored some doubts in his mind, having so many children without being poor would indeed be a miracle.
Of course, critique aside, Su Mo would not foolishly voice it.
“Really? Then shall I go get some fruits for you?”
“No need, we have some here.”
Su Mo hurriedly handed the paper bag in his hands for Mina to see.
Mina poked her head over, took a look inside the paper bag at the fruits, and then quickly nodded her head.
At that moment, a coughing sound came through.
Following that, an elderly man with white hair and a feeble gait came out of the house.
“Mina, you are back?”
“Oh, we have guests at home.”
The elderly man also noticed Su Mo and Rose.
Mina quickly introduced them, “Grandpa, these are my friends I met in the Federation, their names are Su Mo and Rose. I owe them my rescue.”
“So these are my granddaughter’s saviors, I am truly grateful. However, it’s embarrassing to say, our home is too poor and we have nothing proper to offer.”
Mina’s grandfather spoke apologetically.
“No need, we don’t need anything, just resting here for a bit will do.”
Su Mo politely replied.
Just then, the deep voice of the Fake Creator “Devourer” suddenly echoed in Su Mo’s mind.
“Who said we don’t need anything?”
Su Mo’s expression stiffened, nearly bewildered by the Devourer.
Having regained his senses, he spoke to the Fake Creator “Devourer” in his mind, “Stop it, there’s nothing we need here in such poverty.”
“There’s something inside the house that’s very useful to me, fetch it for me,” said the Fake Owner · Devourer curtly.
Mr. Su Mo frowned slightly as he communicated with the Fake Owner and Devourer, “Are you sure? Don’t cause any misunderstandings.”
“I am not mistaken. The damaged advanced crystal energy power core device from the V-generation machine contains a grade V energy crystal which can charge me. Such an advanced item must be from an advanced civilization; they couldn’t have afforded it. They must have found it, and if they found it nearby, then the Titan Ruins might actually exist. Moreover, energy crystals are categorized into grades I through VI, corresponding to different civilizations’ energy needs. The energy crystals we found previously in the crater and on the Imprisoned Fortress were only grades I to III, not even a glimpse of grade IV, so I must obtain this one,” responded the Fake Owner · Devourer, certain and adamant.
“I’m a bit curious. How much charge did you achieve after absorbing energy from the Imprisoned Planet Fortress last time?”
“Why so little? If you absorb this grade IV crystal, wouldn’t you be able to get a lot of energy?”
Mr. Su Mo also felt a headache coming on; this was too draining to sustain.
“Dreaming would only add about five percent,” he grumbled.
“How much energy do you need in the end?”
“Never mind that. You just help me collect them, and I’ll make sure you benefit too,” replied the Devourer.
Mr. Su Mo was somewhat speechless, but he didn’t complain. After all, charging this creature was of the utmost importance since the higher its charge, the safer he would relatively be.
“I understand. Be patient; I’ll figure something out.”
Just then, Rose’s calling voice awakened him.
“Sorry, I was just thinking.”
Mr. Su Mo came to his senses and quickly apologized to Rose.
“No worries. Mina and her grandfather have invited us to sit inside with them,” Rose told Mr. Su Mo.
Mr. Su Mo immediately agreed, as it was just what he wanted.
“Great, let’s go inside,” said Mina excitedly, leading Mr. Su Mo and Rose towards the large wooden house ahead.
Mina’s family’s house was made of wood. Although not very sturdy, it was quite large.
Upon entering the wooden house, they first came to the crowded living room. Crowded not in the sense that the room was small but because there were so many people.
Children were seen holding and gnawing on fruits.
And in the living room, there was a pile of all sorts of mechanical debris.
Mr. Su Mo immediately spotted the item specifically requested by the Fake Owner · Devourer – it was a blackened machine, its surface covered with spiderweb cracks and a large hole on the left side that pierced through it. Looking inside, it appeared hollow and decayed. It gave off the impression of a thoroughly rotten lump, fit only for the furnace—certainly no sign of anything valuable.
Mr. Su Mo chose not to mention this item immediately, opting to ignore it and wait for the right moment to bring it up.
This way, it would not arouse suspicion.
At that moment, Mr. Su Mo turned his attention to the children, displaying a bitter smile.
He quickly counted, not including Mina, there were a total of thirteen children here.
“Mina, are these all your brothers and sisters? Your family has quite a lot of siblings!” Rose asked, surprised. She remembered that typically, families usually had only one or two children, and three would be the maximum.
“Yes, but that’s not all. There are sixteen of us in total. I have an older sister, but she’s married now. My brother works on another Mother Ship and isn’t here,” Mina replied, nodding.
Mr. Su Mo’s eyelids twitched as he heard this; he realized he had underestimated their numbers.
He had thought fourteen would be the maximum, but it turned out there were sixteen.
At that moment, a few children ran over and looked up at Mina, saying, Read complete version only at noveⅼfire.net
“Sister, I’ve finished eating, but I’m still hungry.”