Apocalypse: Last Traveler-Chapter 375 - 354: Good Gou

After climbing the mountain, Luo Ping and the team transferred all these supplies to their vehicle, and then handed the buckets and shoulder poles to Lu Xi’an.

As for the rattan box, Shu temporarily held onto it. He said he wanted to study it carefully to see if he could figure out how it was made and perhaps make another one.

Even if he couldn’t make it as sturdy, he could make something similar, and if it broke, he could repair or remake it without any problem.

Lu Xi’an thought the main challenge was figuring out how to make it, and making the finished rattan box sturdy again might actually be a bit easier.

The one in their hands was also coated with resin after being made to increase its durability and prevent insects.

As long as Shu could figure out the structure of the box, the rest would be fine. It would just require finding a suitable tree, extracting some tree sap and resin, applying it, and processing it.

Lu Xi’an handed the rattan box to Shu for careful study. When he had time, he would join in the fun and discuss it with Shu.

The box looked difficult at first glance, but its structure wasn’t actually that complicated. With careful research, even if they couldn’t create an exact replica, they could make a scaled-down version without any problem.

Lu Xi’an thought that if it worked out, he would make a smaller rattan box himself. If there was a need for foot exploration, he and Yao Wei could each carry one, allowing them to take more supplies.

As a result, when he joined in, Yao Wei and Luo Ping also joined in.

Once Luo Ping joined, Chai Xin, Liu Hua, and Tang Er also joined in the fun.

The group gathered around the rattan box and studied it for quite a while. Some felt they understood, yet others seemed unsure. Anyway, they endlessly debated the details, each having their own perspective—you say it should be this way, I say it should be that way.

But lacking the appropriate materials to make the box, they could only engage in theoretical discussions.

At this point, both Luo Ping and Lu Xi’an lost their authority, and instead, Shu’s viewpoint seemed to gain more support.

After all, he was an old farmer who survived in the old world, with rich experience in many things, and he played a significant guiding role in the current construction of the 923 Base.

So in some matters, his authority was actually greater than Luo Ping’s.

Lu Xi’an felt this was good. These people from the base didn’t blindly worship strength. Even Shu, the weakest among them, could become a leading figure due to his specific expertise.

This is the healthy organizational form of a group.

During the discussion, Yao Wei suddenly suggested, "Why not let Gou have a look?"

Everyone suddenly froze and turned their gaze towards Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei.

Lu Xi’an slapped his forehead, "Right, how could I forget about Gou?"

So Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei went into the RV, opened the door, and others could see from the vehicle.

Luo Ping and the others crowded at the doorway to look inside.

Chai Xin got in as well, sitting in the co-pilot seat.

Lu Xi’an brought the rattan box up too and asked Gou, "Gou, can you check this rattan box and analyze its structure and materials?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gou’s electronic synthesized voice responded through the RV’s speakers, "The scan function requires detaching from the RV to be enabled."

Lu Xi’an said, "Then come out first, and after checking, report back in the RV. Hmm... Gou, can’t you connect to the computer? If you can analyze it into an image, just help directly draw it into a blueprint, okay?"

Gou replied, "Instruction received. Mechanical Dog 02 will try to complete the analysis through the scanning and computing system, and use computer software to create the blueprint. Please start the computer and wait a moment."

Lu Xi’an immediately jumped to the rear of the RV, opened the laptop, and connected the data cable to the RV.

Gou also emerged from the front console of the RV, transforming into dog form, and began the scanning work.

Everyone looked seriously at Gou and the rattan box.

Meanwhile, Luo Ping looked at Gou and then at Lu Xi’an, suddenly saying, "Bro, Gou is protesting. He’s saying his name is Mechanical Dog 02."

Lu Xi’an said, "Really?"

Luo Ping said, "Definitely, I can tell. There’s emotion in Gou’s voice."

Shu was very skeptical, "How can you tell emotion from a machine’s voice?"

Luo Ping rolled his eyes at Shu disdainfully, "You don’t get it. Shu, your observational skills aren’t sharp enough to notice. I can tell, Gou definitely has emotions."

Shu, a bit bewildered, asked Chai Xin, "Did you notice anything?"

Chai Xin shook his head, saying, "I didn’t catch it either, maybe I’m slow too."

Shu then asked Liu Hua and Tang Er, "Did you two notice anything?"

Liu Hua and Tang Er hesitated, but after exchanging a glance, they both shook their heads.

Shu looked at Luo Ping, "See, see."

Luo Ping rolled his eyes again, not bothering with Shu, and said to Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei, "Anyway, I really heard it. Bro, Sis, you decide for yourselves."

Lu Xi’an thought for a moment and said, "Alright then, we’ll follow Luo Ping’s suggestion. Gou... uh, Mechanical Dog 02 is one of us, too, and we certainly need to consider Mechanical Dog 02’s feelings."

After saying this, he addressed Gou, "Is that okay, Mechanical Dog 02?"

Gou seemed to have finished scanning the rattan box, silently returned to the console, transformed back into a box shape, blending into the RV, and then the electronic synthesized voice was once again heard from the RV’s speakers:

"Please continue to call this mechanical unit Gou. Mechanical Dog 02 is the mechanical unit’s self-designation, and using that name is difficult for the mechanical unit to adapt to."

Luo Ping: "..."

Lu Xi’an: "..."

Everyone immediately burst into laughter, unexpectedly finding this side of the mechanical dog quite amusing.

So Lu Xi’an said, "Alright, Gou, continue. Can you provide a drawing?"

Gou replied, "Scanning complete, requires time for analysis and software drawing, please wait."

Seeing that there might be a chance, Lu Xi’an and the others waited patiently. After a while, Gou finally spoke: "Drawing complete, please check on the computer."

Lu Xi’an and the others immediately went to the back of the garage to take a look. The computer screen showed the drawing software already open, with a dismantled blueprint of the rattan box, along with instructions for making, assembling, and materials analysis, all clear at a glance.

Looking at the blueprints on the computer, Lu Xi’an felt like he was looking at assembly diagrams of a Lego-like toy from a past life, where every picture and step was crystal clear.

Unfortunately, Gou could only provide blueprints, not materials.

But that was enough; later, they could find materials according to the blueprints. As long as all the materials were collected, making the box according to the blueprint would pose no problem at all.

"Good, good! This is great!"

Luo Ping was full of praise, saying while taking out a notebook, "To think it could be done to such an extent! Good dog! Really a good dog!"

After taking out the notebook, he pulled out a pen and started writing and drawing on it.

He alternated between sketching and glancing up at the laptop screen, clearly taking notes.

Shu, standing next to Luo Ping, glanced over and then scoffed: "Why are you even bothering? Who are you drawing this for?"

Luo Ping said, "It’s fine, I’ll draw first, take it back, and someone will understand it.

"After all, we’ve seen the original, this will just help us recall some inspiration and memory."

Shu said, "You really have no idea how bad your drawings are, do you? Forget it, give it to me, I’ll draw it."

Luo Ping looked at Shu, not very trusting: "You? Can you even do it?"

"At least better than you."

Shu said, snatching the notebook away. Luo Ping didn’t argue and even handed the pen to Shu.

Shu "swish swish" sketched, and everyone gathered around to watch, then Luo Ping gave a disdainful look: "You’re not that much better, just wasted my paper."

Shu buzzed, "Not as wasteful as you." With that, he returned the notebook to Luo Ping and stopped drawing.

Suddenly, Lu Xi’an remembered something, retrieved an item, and plugged it in for power.

"What is that?"

Seeing this, everyone was curious, and Luo Ping asked the question.

"A camera. It’s from that big ship on East Island, we had forgotten about it till now."

Lu Xi’an answered.

Luo Ping’s eyes widened: "So, big brother, are you going to give this camera to us?"

They had seen cameras in TV and movie videos. Although this one looked different from those in the videos, now that Lu Xi’an had named it, they could understand.

As for Shu, no need to mention.

This old guy even acts as a video explanation guide at the base; whenever others don’t understand something in the video, they can ask Shu.

Lu Xi’an smiled: "You’re dreaming! I just thought, since you guys are drawing, we can also take photos with the camera.

"Once it’s charged, we can take a few group photos."

Everyone cheered in agreement.

Lu Xi’an took the pen and notebook back from Luo Ping and said, "As for this, I’ll draw it myself."

Everyone made way for Lu Xi’an to sit down and copy the blueprints from the laptop one by one.

Not daring to disturb Lu Xi’an, they all watched silently.

Yao Wei watched Lu Xi’an’s focused look, blinking and thinking how good he looked like this.

She wondered if Lu Xi’an could draw her? What would it look like if he drew her?

Yao Wei suddenly started daydreaming while watching.

When Lu Xi’an finished drawing, Luo Ping took the notebook and couldn’t help but praise again.

Listening to Luo Ping’s praises, Lu Xi’an inexplicably recalled his previous comment "good dog."

By now, the waterproof camera’s battery had been sufficiently charged. Lu Xi’an unplugged it, took the camera outside the vehicle, and said: "Let’s go, time for photos."

Everyone immediately followed outside, hesitating, watching Lu Xi’an fiddle with the camera, not knowing what to do.

After all, they had never taken a picture before.