CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 36: IRON-EATING BEAST, BAMBOO SHOOT_3

It seemed to be unsure how to describe it, hesitating for a moment before answering under Du Xixi’s expectant gaze: "The Iron-eating Beasts are inherently mischievous, devouring metal without restraint upon encountering it, making them quite unpopular throughout the interstellar realm. Moreover, they have difficulty reproducing. According to data, the number of living Iron-eating Beasts, including those still in the womb, does not exceed three hundred."

"How can there be so few!" Du Xixi was so surprised that her joy was suppressed. She knew that Blue Star’s giant pandas were critically protected due to their scarcity, but their numbers had since increased. How could the interstellar count be even lower than on Blue Star!

Rob answered impartially: "In response to Miss, metal is an important resource in the interstellar realm. The Iron-eating Beast Empire doesn’t have much territory, lacks mineral resources, and often can’t fill their stomachs. Additionally, many noblewomen find the Iron-eating Beasts adorable and often keep young ones, only to kill them when they grow up... and use their fur to make clothing."

Although Rob is an emotionless Mecha, being by Chen Yin’s side, it deals with major Empire affairs and naturally has been programmed with compassionate algorithms to understand what is good and bad.

Chen Yin always told it that the strength of an empire does not depend on the rise and fall of national power but is closely related to the disposition of its citizens.

If the people are strong, the country is strong; if the people’s will persists, the country’s will persists; if the people succeed, the country succeeds.

Chen Yin could manage such a vast empire with great precision, thanks not only to the many wise talents by his side and his own considerable abilities but also because the citizens of the Blue Star Empire aspire to prosperity and strength.

It’s not that Chen Yin thinks there is anything wrong with the citizens of the Iron-eating Beast Empire, but the unfair treatment they have endured for many years has caused them to lose that heart—the heart that dares to strive and to fight back.

Du Xixi fell into silence, unsure if her current feelings were of sadness or anger. Perhaps it was a bit of both...

"Did my brother do anything?" After a long time, Du Xixi uttered these two sentences, "I remember he also liked the Iron-eating Beasts."

When he was on Blue Star, Chen Yin often went to the zoo, always praising the giant pandas in Du Xixi’s ear after returning. That kind of genuine affection made Du Xixi not believe Chen Yin would coldly overlook the Iron-eating Beasts suffering so much in the interstellar realm.

Sure enough, Rob gave a response that slightly reassured Du Xixi: "The Master sent me to deliver an alliance proposal to the Iron-eating Beast Empire, hoping the two empires could become friendly and assist each other."

"However..."

"However what!" Du Xixi’s heart, which had just felt a bit at ease, became tense again, repeatedly asking, "Did the Iron-eating Beast Empire refuse!"

"Yes." Seeing Du Xixi look annoyed, Rob continued to explain, "The Iron-eating Beasts harbor hostility towards the interstellar realm. Although they hold no malice towards our Blue Star Empire and are even grateful for this alliance proposal, they fear implicating the Blue Star Empire because of themselves and thus refused."

Du Xixi closed her eyes, feeling more sympathy for the Iron-eating Beasts, but unable to speak for a while, she leaned back wearily on the couch, clutching the quirky pillow made by 2569 tightly.

She remembered that the giant pandas on Blue Star were absolute darlings, cared for wherever they went, drinking forget-me-milk, munching on steam buns, with an endless supply of apples and bamboo, bamboo shoots...

Wait! Something flashed in Du Xixi’s mind, and she suddenly asked Rob, "If Iron-eating Beasts have other sources of food, wouldn’t it reduce the interstellar malice towards them!"

The only dissatisfaction with Iron-eating Beasts in the interstellar realm seemed to be the fear they would voraciously consume the already scarce interstellar mineral resources. Yet, the Iron-eating Beasts on Blue Star don’t eat metal! They eat bamboo and bamboo shoots!

"Perhaps." Rob vaguely responded, although it felt the interstellar malice towards Iron-eating Beasts wouldn’t easily diminish, it wouldn’t say something likely to upset Du Xixi.

Du Xixi quickly used the drawing function on the Light Computer to sketch some simple pictures of bamboo and bamboo shoots, transferring them for Rob to see: "Please help me search on CD-0329 Star for these plants."

Since CD-0329 Star was previously Blue Star, most of the plants that existed on Blue Star should be here as well, meaning there’s a high probability bamboo and bamboo shoots can be found.

Bamboo is a champion grower among plants, capable of growing 15 meters in a month if there’s sufficient rain, especially after a soaking rain when the bamboo shoots start to grow rapidly, they can grow one or two meters overnight.

If bamboo or bamboo shoots can indeed be found on CD-0329 Star, as long as there is ample water, and if the interstellar Iron-eating Beasts enjoy eating bamboo and bamboo shoots, they could use bamboo and bamboo shoots as a substitute for metal!

Rob glanced and memorized, then called over 2569, who was still cleaning, to replace itself in protecting Du Xixi, before swiftly departing to search for bamboo and bamboo shoots.