ARIWLBBC Chapter 54

“Planet NGC7331 has strong gravity,” the man said calmly. “Due to this gravity, a large amount of gas accumulates around the planet, forming an atmosphere nearly ten thousand kilometers thick.

When the spaceship enters this atmosphere, a plasma sheath will form around it, making communication with the outside impossible. As the spaceship passes through the blackout zone, the outer shell will reach two thousand degrees Celsius, potentially causing the spaceship’s frame to deform.”

Hearing about deformation, high temperatures, and the inability to communicate with the outside, the ginger cat’s fur stood on end. It meowed anxiously and burrowed into Bo Ge’s arms.

“Therefore, as we approach the blackout zone, we need to fully deploy the spaceship’s thermal insulation layer. The insulation layer contains materials that can dissipate plasma, reducing the plasma sheath,” the man continued, operating the spaceship’s control panel calmly and skillfully. “In a moment, the spaceship’s signal may completely disappear, and there might be turbulence. Please remain calm.”

Everyone silently huddled together, like a group of penguins keeping warm.

“The Lie family is truly amazing,” Amber whispered in admiration. “They even know how to pilot a spaceship. Is there anything they can’t do?”

The ginger cat didn’t dare to look at Amber, instead whispering softly in Bo Ge’s arms, “There are things he can’t do that I can.”

“What?” Bo Ge asked curiously, looking down.

“Of course, it’s…”

The ginger cat curled its paw pads under its round face, tilted its fluffy little head, and its big round eyes sparkled with stars. “Being cute～”

Aww!

Bo Ge picked up the ginger cat, squeezing its paw pads and taking in deep breaths of its cuteness.

Even after passing through the blackout zone, Gugu was still lost in the cat’s adorableness, unable to extricate himself.

“See, see that?” The ginger cat’s belly was being nuzzled by Gugu, its paws curling as it smiled happily with a hint of fatigue. “Being cute is also a skill. It allows humans to pet me for free and lets them pass through the blackout zone without even realizing it.”

“Hmph.” Fange Zongji rubbed his nose dismissively, though his eyes kept glancing at the ginger cat’s swaying tail.

This cat is really seductive, even has white gloves, and those paws opening and closing—if that’s not being seductive, what is!

Through the control screen, the man silently observed the reflected image on the screen.

The boy was holding the ginger cat, nuzzling its belly, his face almost buried in the soft white fur, squeezing its paws with a look of total immersion.

So small… must not be satisfying enough to cuddle. Bigger ones are better, can even be used as cat blankets.

“Hey! Leopard!” Amber exclaimed, “You’re about to overshoot the safety zone!”

Amber’s voice brought everyone’s attention back to the screen. They saw the man swiftly switch to landing mode, adjusting the spaceship’s speed and direction, his fingers flying over the controls in a blur, leaving everyone watching in awe.

After a burst of intense maneuvers, the spaceship settled smoothly into the safety zone despite a brief jolt.

Lie Beishuang turned around to see everyone huddled together from the jolt, with the ginger cat accidentally placing a paw on Amber’s chest, staring blankly with a trickle of fresh blood from its nose.

“Are you trying to show off your high-level operations?” Fange Zongji snorted disdainfully, gently placing Gugu, who was tightly holding onto the mech exoskeleton, down.

Before the jolt, Gugu had already grasped the fixed chair in front of him, but Fange Zongji quickly enveloped Gugu with the mech exoskeleton, also tossing the ginger cat into Amber’s arms.

That move was quite something.

Bo Ge looked up, glanced at the ginger cat who was trying to wipe away its nosebleed, then looked at Fange Zongji with a complicated expression.

“Don’t look at me like I’m some hero,” Fange Zongji coughed twice, “I promised the clan leader I’d take care of you.”

“And,” Fange Zongji leaned in to Gugu’s ear, whispering, “Don’t get too close to the beastmen; they’ll fall in love with you, and that’s trouble.”

“Little Orange won’t,” Bo Ge whispered back, pointing to the ginger cat who was blissfully admiring its own paws.

“Beastmen can’t resist human temptation, except for a few heartless ones.” Fange Zongji sighed, looking at the ginger cat.

【Congratulations, players, for completing the second phase “Landing.” Now, please proceed to the final phase “Survey.”

In this phase, players must:

1. Collect soil samples from the following three coordinates on NGC7331.
2. Locate and sample water resources on NGC7331.
3. Perform ore collection at the designated locations.
4. Control the surface lander and surveyor to scan indigenous lifeforms on NGC7331, target 0/5.】

Four tasks, the easiest being the water sampling, while the other three were more complex.

“Captain, I request to complete the first task!” The ginger cat raised its paw.

“Okay.” Bo Ge found the soil sampler and handed it to the ginger cat.

“I’ll take the second one.” Lie Beishuang extended his hand towards Gugu.

Everyone looked at the man in surprise.

The guy who was showing off his skills just now chose the easiest task? Why?

“I’ll handle the third task.” Fange Zongji manipulated the mech exoskeleton, trying to flex his muscles, “Collecting ore from four points is no problem at all.”

“Alright.” Bo Ge handed the sampler to Fange Zongji, “The breathing fluid is in the protective box, make sure to take it.”

“Then I’ll take the last task.” Amber grabbed the controller and casually pinched Gugu’s cheek.

The four split up, Bo Ge sat in the control room, watching the four of them leave the spaceship and quickly head to their assigned tasks.

Planet NGC7331 was remarkably similar to Earth. Through the team’s perspectives, Bo Ge saw some plants that, although somewhat different from those in his memory, still had familiar traces.

It was like watching movies directed by the same person or reading works by the same author. Even if the content and themes differ, you can always sense a familiar and comforting melody running through them.

Gugu stared at the projection and saw Lie Beishuang find Fange Zongji. They talked for a while and even played rock-paper-scissors. Afterward, it seemed that Fange Zongji lost something to Lie Beishuang, becoming so angry that his face twisted, and he eventually left doing somersaults in the mech exoskeleton.

Time flew by, and Gugu could only watch enviously from the control room. Lie Beishuang had the easiest task and completed it the fastest. While the ginger cat was still collecting soil from the first coordinate, the man had already brought back a box of water samples to the spaceship.

After quickly submitting his task, Lie Beishuang came to the control room. Gugu instinctively covered his mouth and leaned back.

He had heard that felines held grudges. Since he had bitten Lie Beishuang, would the man want to bite back?

Lie Beishuang approached Gugu step by step. Gugu nervously covered his mouth and leaned back. Then, he saw Lie Beishuang pull out two breathing liquids from behind his back.

“Huh?” Gugu widened his eyes.

“Do you want to go out?” The big cat waved the two breathing liquids in front of Gugu, who followed the movement with his head.

The big cat leaned in and pointed to the side of his face, making his meaning clear.

Gugu hesitated, biting his lips.

“No one will see here.” The big cat leaned down and whispered temptingly, “Just one time.”

To be able to go outside.

Gugu quickly stood on tiptoe and kissed the designated spot. At that moment, the big cat suddenly turned his head, and his lips met Gugu’s accurately.

Gugu was about to protest, but Lie Beishuang pressed the breathing liquid to Gugu’s nose and mouth. To avoid wasting it, Gugu grasped the big cat’s hand, adjusted his breathing, and quickly inhaled the breathing liquid.

“Cough, cough.” Inhaling too quickly, Gugu almost choked.

Lie Beishuang bent down, calming the boy’s breathing. With a twist of the button on his sleeve, he transformed into a large leopard right before Gugu’s eyes, lying steadily in front of him.

This leopard exuded an aura of “Come ride me” from head to toe.

Ride the leopard! Ride the big leopard!

Gugu excitedly licked his lips, touched the panther’s already grown fur, and, gathering his courage, carefully lifted his leg to sit on the big panther’s back.

The black panther slowly rose, and Bo Ge instinctively lay flat, gripping the panther tightly with his legs and wrapping his arms around the big cat’s neck.

Bo Ge had never ridden a living creature before. The small, frail horses and molting camels at tourist spots looked so pitiful that Bo Ge felt too heavy and was embarrassed to mount them.

But riding the big cat brought no such psychological burden to Gugu.

Firstly, the big cat was large and strong, easily capable of carrying five of him. Secondly, the big cat volunteered for this; after eating so much of Gugu’s food, it willingly offered itself as a ride. Gugu would be losing out if he didn’t take advantage.

The big cat stepped steadily out of the spaceship. As soon as they reached the outside area, Bo Ge felt suddenly heavier, likely due to the gravity, but the big cat showed no reaction. The big cat quickly weaved through the bushes, and Bo Ge, clinging to its back, felt like he might fall off at any moment. He kept trying to figure out how to get the big cat to slow down.

“Whoa?” Gugu tentatively called out.

The big cat maintained its speed.

No, that wasn’t right. The big cat was a cat, not a horse.

“Meow (slow) meow (down) meow (a bit)!” Bo Ge tried meowing.

The big cat paused but didn’t slow down.

That wasn’t right either. Cats don’t meow like that.

Gugu took a deep breath, inhaling a mouthful of panther fur. After spitting it out and recalling how the big cat meowed, Gugu finally let out a proper “giaogiao.”

The big cat slowed down.

Gugu’s eyes widened in shock. Did that actually work?!

“I understand human speech,” the big cat said, turning its head to look at the boy. “If you want to say something, just say it.”

“Oh.” Gugu was dumbfounded. “Can you slow down a bit? I’m about to fall off.”

“Move forward a little and grip tighter.” The big cat shook its body, guiding Gugu on how to ride correctly.

Following the advice, Bo Ge slid his legs forward and tried to grip the big cat more tightly. However, the big cat was too large, its back too wide, and its fur too slippery. Bo Ge struggled to hold on steadily despite his efforts.

“Grab onto the fur with the skin underneath,” the big cat continued to patiently instruct. “It will give you a better grip.”

“But I might hurt you,” Bo Ge hesitated.

“It doesn’t hurt me, and it lets me feel your position accurately,” the big cat reassured him. “Don’t worry about me.”

¹TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading ❤️”

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  TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading ❤️”