Jiang Ling returned to her seat expressionlessly, tapping her fingers on the table. "Shall we talk about your club? First of all, this is the first time I've heard of this kind of small-scale group organization. So no matter how good your talk sounds today, I'll have to spend a few days thinking about it."
"Of course, that's as it should be!" Ruan Danxin nodded. "I should have told you last time about the cult's reorganization and name change. It's now called the 'Endless Galaxy Houhui Grand Society,' and the main deity worshipped is the great god Hou Tu Houhui. There are currently about 2.2 million registered members. The main activity areas are the mothership's front shield, functional areas, and living areas in the simulated gravity sections 2, 3, and 5, as well as the zero-gravity compartment. The headquarters is managed by three priests, five elders, two high priestesses, one party organization liaison, and several official priestesses." She then took out another card and used her psychic power to place it next to Jiang Ling's hand. "This is my society's identification token. The contact address is on it. When you've made up your mind, find me there. I'm always here."
Jiang Ling picked up the card and found it somewhat similar to the one Lin Yi had given her. So, in front of everyone, she put the two cards together for comparison. Lin Yi's card, under the light, displayed a holographic projection of her upper body, her ID code, her contact number, and a string of unknown numbers, while Ruan Danxin's card only displayed the club's logo, address, and code.
"Oh, I didn't expect you have a lover too? When did you start dating? You even left your contribution card with you, so you must be very close, right?" Bai Wu said with a smile as if he had met a like-minded person.
"Contribution card?" Jiang Ling asked, "Isn't this an identity token?"
"Oh, is that what he said?"
"She said it could be used as an identification token."
Bai Wu pulled out another card and waved it in front of her as if to show off. "The Contribution Card is equivalent to the old Citizen ID card, but it can only be used in the place of issuance. Contribution points and Citizen Points cannot be directly converted, so Contribution Cards are generally the only cards used on the mothership."
"So that's how it is. I thought ID cards were eliminated!"
"That won't happen, otherwise you wouldn't be able to enroll so easily. We have been keeping such important information properly, but we don't know when it will be useful. In the past, the motherships were close to each other and could exchange some data, but now their signals are too weak and the cost of communication is too high." The robot interrupted.
"So the network you are using now is a local area network?"
"That's about right. But we still communicate periodically. It's just to let everyone know we're safe. After all, we're so far away that we won't be able to get any support or help others if something happens."
"Wait, wait, so Lin Yi left her bank card with me?" Jiang Ling realized it belatedly.
"Yes!" Bai Wu leaned closer to Jiang Ling and asked in a voice only loud enough for the two of them to hear, "Xiao Jiang, Xiao Jiang, tell me quickly, what kind of person is Lin Yi? Why haven't I heard you mention her before? Let me tell you, when Shen Zi gave me her card, she was still..."
"Xiaobai, stop making trouble!" Ruan Danxin pulled Bai Wu back, and then apologized to Jiang Ling with a red face.
Seeing that the two were still as close as sisters as before, Jiang Ling said that she had eaten her fill of dog food. She said to Ruan Danxin: "Xiao Ruan, you should have graduated a long time ago! Why do you still stay in school?"
"It's all because of this stupid dog!" Ruan Danxin's face showed a trace of embarrassment, but she still let Bai Wu ride on her head and touch her randomly. "You know, I've always wanted to get her a normal identity, but I still haven't been able to get her a regular identity. It's strange, there are always reports online about cases of awakened aliens obtaining citizenship, but why is it never her turn?"
"It's just a trick." "Lao Ning" complained before Jiang Ling.
"I wouldn't go so far as to deceive you." Jiang Ling glanced at the robot, "But don't underestimate human pride. Humans have always been ashamed to associate with aliens, even if they are no different from ordinary people."
"Tsk, that's just arrogance, right?"
"It could also be some form of class oppression. Experts have previously held special research sessions to discuss this..."
"Stop, let's not talk about this heavy topic anymore."
Jiang Ling suggested changing the subject, and the other three aliens unanimously agreed. For a moment, no new voices rang out. They all lowered their heads in silence, occasionally glancing up at the others, only to glance away when their eyes met. It was like that with old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time. No matter how much preparation was made for the parting, no matter how many words were hidden, in the end, they would only be met with joyful glances and unceasing smiles.
Until the bell for the first class of the afternoon rang outside.
"Ah, I haven't had lunch yet! I have to rush to class!" Jiang Ling woke up from her memories and shouted.
"I have nothing else to do today," the robot said thoughtfully.
"Neither do I. I didn't expect you to be so punctual." Ruan Danxin looked at Bai Wu. "As for her, it's considered participating in club activities."
"Jiang Ling, you can skip class. Anyway, all the class points in the lower grades have been deducted." Ruan Danxin pushed a plate of granular pre-meal snacks in front of her.
"Hmm? Then what about my studies? What about my knowledge of modern society?"
"No, none of that." Ruan Danxin grabbed a handful of snacks and ate them while saying, "You've already learned everything you need to learn. The society on the mothership doesn't require you to truly integrate into it. You might even say it's better for you to maintain a bystander mentality. We are hibernators, participants in the Spark Project. You're no longer living for yourself." She paused. "And if it really doesn't work out, you can always play games. Or go to the escort battleship and try it out. You have the authority to do so. You also have the same carefree mentality as me, willing to just muddle through."
"Old Ning" continued her words: "Indeed, the organization positions you as a 'reserve force' and doesn't need you to manage the mothership. Enjoy this era! This revival is just for you to get together with your friends and perform some official duties. I have a small backlog of work here - cutting-edge technology. How about it, are you interested?"
"Don't go!" Ruan Danxin warned again, "That technology has only been around for less than 300 years, it's very immature, and many have already sacrificed their lives for it. Old Ning, stop fooling people at the Countermeasures Agency. If you keep going like this, you're going to waste all your resources!"
"That's because they are useless and their skills are inferior to others. We can't blame others. She can do it. We have studied and calculated it many times." The robot stated emotionlessly.
"So what is it?"
"Keep it a secret!" they both said in unison.
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