"Miss Asta, you were looking for me?"
Fu Zhu, March 7th, and Xing found Asta in the command room, directing the Security Department personnel in cleaning up the aftermath.
Although the Anti-Matter Legion's greatest threat, the Doomsday Beast, had been dealt with by Fu Zhu and the others, quite a few Voidrangers were still roaming various parts of Herta Space Station.
Seeing the three arrive, Asta paused her directing, picked up a cup of coffee beside her, and moistened her somewhat dry throat.
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Asta, like March 7th and the others do."
Asta first corrected Fu Zhu's way of addressing her, then stared intently at him, looking somewhat troubled.
"Um, Fu Zhu, why did you ask the delivery robot for so much cutlery? Of course, if it's difficult to explain, you don't have to say. It's just that, because of the Anti-Matter Legion invasion, many things can't be ordered online right now, and the cutlery can't be replenished, so... um... could you maybe request a little less?"
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind."
Fu Zhu felt a bit embarrassed too. If he were asking Asta for a reward, that would be one thing, but specifically targeting the space station's cutlery supply felt somewhat unseemly.
Asta breathed a sigh of relief upon getting Fu Zhu's assurance, then pointed with a gentle smile at the Godfall Sword blade still clutched in his hand.
"Fu Zhu, if you're lacking a weapon, the space station has many spares. Would you like to grab a spare one first? Although this sword blade is a Curio, it must be inconvenient to hold, right?"
Fu Zhu glanced down at the Godfall Sword blade and declined the offer with a shake of his head and a smile.
"It's fine, I'll use this for now. It feels quite comfortable to use, actually. However, there are some other things I do need."
Asta's eyes lit up upon hearing this. She was just worrying about how to repay Fu Zhu's kindness!
"Just name it! As long as the space station has it, feel free to take it. If it's something the space station doesn't have, I'll place an online order right away! Though it might take some time to arrive."
Fu Zhu carefully considered what he currently lacked.
"Wood, stone, iron ingots, a large body of water. Do you have those?"
"Huh?"
Not just Asta, but even March 7th and Xing were dumbfounded by Fu Zhu's request.
They had expected Fu Zhu to ask for rare or valuable items, but instead, he requested such commonplace things.
As luck would have it, Asta lacked nothing but these. If Fu Zhu had wanted gems, Credits, or even a Star Cruiser, she could have agreed immediately.
But wood, stone, and iron ingots? The space station genuinely didn't have them!
After all, although Herta Space Station was built by Ms. Herta to seal the Stellaron, it served more as a place for her subordinate researchers to conduct academic studies. Furthermore, the materials used in the station's construction were mostly various alloys. So, these natural materials were truly absent from the station!
"Apologies, Fu Zhu, we really don't have those things on the space station... However, seeing as you asked for so many disposable wooden chopsticks earlier, is it related to this? In that case, the station does have quite a few wooden stairs and handrails, and some researchers keep plants... do you need those? As for water, we certainly have that. Water resources are essential for the station, not to mention we also have a swimming pool for the researchers to relax."
Fu Zhu shook his head with some regret. Based on how the system converted materials earlier, the conversion seemed based first on the item's essence and then its form.
Those stairs and handrails would probably convert into wooden stairs and fences, not the Planks and Logs he needed.
However, Asta's mention of potted plants and the swimming pool gave him an idea. Perhaps those potted plants could be converted into Saplings?
"Then, Asta, could you please ask those researchers? I need some tree-like potted plants."
"Okay, no problem."
Asta immediately took out her phone and broadcast Fu Zhu's request via group chat, then flashed Fu Zhu a cheerful V-sign.
"Done! Someone should bring them over soon."
"Great."
Before long, several researchers arrived one after another, carrying their potted plants to Fu Zhu. After glancing at the plants they brought, Fu Zhu shook his head in disappointment.
Apart from one person who was growing a cactus, which was somewhat useful, the others were all growing flowers, which couldn't be converted into Saplings at all.
Seeing Fu Zhu looking disappointed, March 7th quickly consoled him, "Fu Zhu, don't worry! If the station doesn't have it, we can just collect them on another planet when the Express travels to the next stop."
Fu Zhu sighed softly, thinking that was likely the only option.
Still, even if he couldn't develop his capabilities right now, it wasn't a major issue. There was no immediate danger to his life, anyway.
Just as Fu Zhu was planning to check out the swimming pool, a petite young girl came running over, pushing a handcart. On the handcart was a potted plant growing a sapling.
"Lead Researcher! See if my Money Tree meets Mr. Fu Zhu's requirements!"
The little girl peeked out from behind the potted plant, which was taller than her, and nodded smilingly at Fu Zhu.
"Hello, I'm Wen Shiling, a researcher here at Herta Space Station."
Fu Zhu and the others nodded politely in return, then examined the Money Tree before them.
Xing looked it up and down. Apart from being small, this Money Tree perfectly fit the description of a 'tree'. So, she asked Fu Zhu, "Bro, what do you think?"
Fu Zhu glanced left and right, then reached out towards the Money Tree.
"Excuse me."
Gripping the trunk, Fu Zhu suddenly exerted force and pulled the entire Money Tree straight out of the soil.
This drew gasps of surprise from March 7th and the others watching nearby.
[Money Tree]
[Current Conversion Option: Various Saplings]
Fu Zhu's eyes instantly lit up. Finally found you!
"Yes, this is exactly what I need!"
Hearing Fu Zhu say this, Wen Shiling smiled happily and turned to Asta to claim credit. "Lead Researcher!"
Asta smiled and nodded, tapping away on her phone for a few moments.
"Okay, your bonus has been sent. Good work."
"Hehe, happy to be of service to the Lead Researcher!"
After receiving her bonus, Wen Shiling was about to leave with her handcart but was stopped by Fu Zhu reaching out.
"Excuse me, Miss Wen, could I have this soil?"
"Of course, it's worthless anyway."
Fu Zhu plunged his other hand directly into the pot, scooped up a large handful of soil, and mentally commanded 'convert'.
A square dirt block, barely the size of his palm, materialized in his hand.
Wen Shiling and the others stared wide-eyed, astonished as the handful of loose soil suddenly took solid form in Fu Zhu's hand.
"Fu Zhu, how did you do that?" March 7th pointed at the dirt block in Fu Zhu's hand, her eyes sparkling as if she had seen something fun.
Fu Zhu gave a cool smile and casually tossed the dirt block onto the empty ground beside his feet.
"Just a little trick. Next, I'll show you something even more interesting."