Chapter 38: The Language Barrier, Solved!
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Now I finally understand what Raven 12345 meant when she said she was ‘too busy to deal with the trifles of earth’." said Hao Ren after disconnecting from the call. "Her daily job is way too crazy, it’s exactly like a scene taken out of a blockbuster movie."
"Does she hold grudges?" Vivian, who also saw the space battle, got a little scared of Raven. Although she had no idea about space wars and mathematical rates weapons, she couldn’t help but feel that Raven 12345 is the kind of boss you wouldn’t want to cross. "Are you sure that you have never offended her before?"
"Well there are times where I called her the white haired succuba silently inside my head. Does that count?" asked Hao Ren after contemplating for a while.
"..." Vivian was speechless.
While Hao Ren was still chatting with Vivian, his MDT suddenly flashed and a message came in directly into his head: "The interpretation program had been sent to you."
Hao Ren switched on the MDT and found the interpretation program quickly. In fact, he didn’t have to search for it. He just simply gave a command in his mind and the MDT carried out the intended function, bringing up the interpretation program immediately. As he was reading the program manual, Hao Ren licked his lips subconsciously, saying, "The heck! Another high-end product. If I had had this product back then, I wouldn’t have to retake the CET-4 three times…"
"How is it?" Lily scratched her head while looking at the MDT with much interest. "Does it explain how to use the program?"
Hao Ren pointed at the holographic image. It was clearly stated here:
The script for the usage of the Universal Adaptive Interpretation app.
• Accessibility clearance level: F
• Accessible to basic level agents or equivalent positions
• Connects directly to user’s mind upon activation
• Simultaneous interpretation inside the mind. Users will not experience lapses in the interpretation process and supports language auxiliary function at the same time
• Able to take charge of part of user’s language ability and enabling users to engage in barrier-free communication in different languages.
Though the above script contained multiple terminology, Hao Ren was able to grasp the general operation of the program just by picking out the few words that he understood from the script. He had to admit that the program was pretty amazing. It was similar to the MDT as both linked directly with the user’s mind. As a matter of fact, all of the auxiliary programs in the MDT could do the same. At first he thought the interpretation app was just a text translation program with voice recognition (It can’t be helped, the last he checked, that’s the best earth’s technology has to offer isn’t it?), but he never expected it to be able to link with and work in his mind with any language. There was even a "language auxiliary function" which could actually take charge of some parts of the user’s language ability?
Hao Ren thought at this rate, he could pretend to be a local and actually pull off a flawless London accent.
"By the way, we can give it a go now!" Hao Ren suggested as he noticed a side note stating that there’s a built-in language library encompassing the languages of the worlds under the jurisdiction of the empire. Even aboriginal languages and those long-lost from uncivilized worlds were included in it. He was curious and wanted to test it immediately. He activated the program immediately and confirmed in his mind that the mental port was ready. He then turned to Vivian and said, "You can speak to me in Anglo-Saxon English now, let’s see if it works. According to the user’s guide, any spoken language on earth can be translated."
Vivian blinked and said, "Is it really so amazing?"
"Let’s give it a go!" said Hao Ren excitedly. "Go ahead."
Vivian paused for a moment and said, "I spoked to you in Old English just now, and you replied in Old English as well."
Hao Ren was stunned while looking at the MDT. A few moments later, he talked to himself, "Well it really worked. I don’t feel the lapse with the process of interpretation. It even imitates your accent."
Lily sat on one side with her arms wrapped around her knees, watching them. She could no longer hide her curiosity and smiled as she walked towards Hao Ren. "Landlord, landlord, can I give it a try please?"
But as soon as Lily takes the MDT over from Hao Ren’s hands, the interpretation program stopped.
"Even though this device is a low accessibility clearance model, there are still rules to follow!" Read the line of words appearing on the MDT. "You do not meet the functional module’s accessibility clearance level, identification failed. Proceeding with this session is against the law. If you really wish to continue, feel free purchase the lock-free downgraded civil model in the City of Shadows."
Lily stared at it and asked, "Why then can I access the music player without any problem?"
"It’s a lock-free function. According to the regulation, you can freely access it." Another line of words appeared. "However, please respect the original setting of this devise. Its main function is to execute tasks, not to play music! You can insult the traditional looks of this device but don’t you dare insult the speakers. It’s a serious provocation to this device to play in your mind the Little Apple in a loop using the sixteen channel mode!
Hao Ren looked quizzically at her. Embarrassed, Lily returned the MDT to him. "I was just bored. The other day you left it on the coffee table before going off to prepare lunch for Bats. So I took it and used it for a short while."
Hao Ren quietly took the MDT back and kept it away. However, he couldn’t bear the disappointment on Lily’s face. Therefore, he tried to divert her attention. "How about this, Vivian and I have tested the function just now. You can give it a go I you want. Just simply pick any foreign language or dialect. Let’s see if it can be translated as well."
The idea brightened her up. After Hao Ren was ready, she cleared her throat and said tentatively, "Woof?"
Hao Ren, "..."
Vivian, "..."
MDT, "..."
"Erm… this device isn’t pre-loaded with the corresponding glossary," a line of words appeared again on the MDT.
"However, according the scenario analysis and the condition your body is in, could what you’ve just said be ‘food’?"
Lily hugged her knees and pout, "It was just guessing around, that doesn’t count. It’s not funny at all. I want to go down to get some something to eat."
After Lily left the room, Vivian turned to Hao Ren and smirked, "You see, she won’t usually admit that she is just a big doggie but once she opens that mouth of hers, she exposes her true identity."
"You can’t say that," Hao Ren stuck up a tiny bit for the stupid werewolf of a sister who had always cheered him up. "I told her to speak in some foreign language. Probably barking is a foreign language to werewolves… at the very least it could be a dialect."
Hao Ren was amazed by the new function of the MDT. He felt that he could be an expert in any language in no time without any problem. Had he not been lazy, he would have probably disguise himself as the top student in every college of linguistics with the help of this device. However, little did he know that that function was actually the most basic function in the most basic equipment in the Space Administration and it’s considered outdated. The language barrier was a common problem faced by basic level officers as they inspect each and every space. They were different from the Xi Ling disciples in that they couldn’t directly access all the knowledge via the mental network. The ordinary basic level officers (which also includes agents, ‘hallowed scions, ‘bishops’ and the likes) usually rely on a variety of equipment to solve the difficulties they faced in their tasks. Now the Space Administration was in the process of improving this situation. The solution was to directly integrate some of the functions in the MDT into the Bioenhancement and Reconfiguration Program. The first project was to install the interpretation program directly into the brain which enable these agents to communicate with any race in any language without any barrier and without the help of any device. It was a pity that Hao Ren didn’t join at the right time. He had to get back into that ‘coffin’ for the second time after the next two days.
Let’s not talk about the things that are yet to come. Hao Ren and Vivian went into the room. What were you thinking?! They were just trying to discover the other functions of the MDT. Hao Ren realized at that moment how unreliable Raven 12345 was. That White Haired Succuba didn’t even know the inner workings of a basic equipment of the Space Administration. It’s euphemistic to call her a tech illiterate. Hao Ren wondered if the woman was actually only an exception in the Space Administration. Anyway, in order to avoid similar problems in the future, Hao Ren must find out if there were any other problems with this equipment in his hands. My, oh, my, did he found another one! It was an app called "The Encyclopedia of Antenatal Care for 37 Races" was preinstalled in the Date Repository in the "Weaponry" folder.
This was literally Hao Ren’s expression: O_o!!
"Can the five-digit crazy Goddess still carry out her duties reliably? Imagine one day I am on the brink of death on the battlefield, requesting for backup and all I’ve got is two prams descending from the sky? And for whom I wonder…"
Chapter 39: Stranger
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After nearly an hour, Hao Ren finally sussed it out. There were no major problems with the MDT but somehow, it was marred with glitches. A tech noob himself, Hao Ren was nonetheless quick to notice the anomaly. There were many functions which he could not make head or tail of. Plus, information about them was just next to nothing. He had tried his luck with the MDT’s AI but, the AI knew no better than him; after all, the AI would not question Raven 12345’s order.
The problem was, the programs ordered by Raven 12345 were not native to the MDT. Every MDT distributed at the grassroots level went through a process of initialization first. So by right, every MDT should have came out identical right out of the box. However, local management was given the discretion to install locale-specific programs. Such examples were the localized biological encyclopedia, localized interstellar navigation map, antenatal care guide for female agents and the like. The central information vault of the Xi Ling Empire was a master record of everything—no matter how bizarre or small, one could find it there. Due to this, there was an endless list of programs which could be downloaded into the MDT. Clearly, this was the source of the problem. Raven 12345, Hao Ren’s regional chief was one fry short of a happy meal and technologically speaking, she was a dummy. However, she had given orders to download a hell of a lot of programs and had also meddled with the MDT before it was passed on to Hao Ren.
Hao Ren and Vivian were staring at a huge PT-385 Encyclopedia of the Universe in the MDT— a compilation of 2,000 volumes to be exact. They were flabbergasted. Deletion of anything from the MDT required access of higher authorization.
"I suggest you make do with it." The holographic message read. "All functions of the MDT are intact and working fine. You only have to control your compulsion and ignore the spams. And a replacement will be no better as Raven 12345 would certainly toy with the replacement unit again before you get your hands on it. A check with the local network message board has confirmed such incidents and complaints related to this MDT issue have gone through the roof. She’s one hell of a woman."
"Alright, I give up. As long as you get me what I want, I’ll just turn a blind eye to all the nonsense. Ignorance is bliss, right?"
"Dear user, don’t worry. You will be in good hands with me. I am as powerful as you can imagine." The AI was narcissistic.
Hao Ren would someday come to the realization that ignoring it was the best decision he had ever made.
"Let’s go downstairs and grab some bites." Hao Ren tucked the MDT into his pocket before checking out the antique clock standing at the corner. "Lily’s been gone for an hour, is she lost?"
"The hotel serves breakfast, and that big dog’s a gourmand. She must be gorging on the food as we speak. She’s a loser," Vivian quipped.
Hao Ren shrugged without a word and led Vivian out of the room. They entered a restaurant at the first floor of the hotel.
England was a slow-paced country where people lived a laid-back lifestyle. Typical English folk would start their day at nine in the morning and have their first meal of the day. Such a lifestyle was alien to Hao Ren. Plus, he was still plagued by jet lag. There were a few guests at the breakfast buffet section. There was no mistaking that Lily was sitting right there, alone at her table in the middle of the restaurant. Vivian was spot-on about Lily being a gourmand. Lily was seen cleaning up plate after plate of food and there was no sign of her slowing down.
Hao Ren blinked. "It seems the rumor that spices aren’t available in England isn’t true at all considering how much food Lily has gobbled up."
Vivian looked on with disdain. "She’s just an omnivore."
Holding a plate in his hand, Hao Ren proceeded to the long buffet line. He ambled around and noticed that not all English food was unpalatable. At least, he had no difficulty in filling his plate with ‘edible’ items from the choices available. He then lumbered over to Lily and sat next to her, inquiring curiously, "Are you done yet?"
"Ermm, yup!" Lily tried to speak with her mouth full. "The salad isn’t bad, same goes for the fruits. But I’m not really fond of the BBQ meat. They don’t taste like the ones back home..."
Hao Ren stared into her eyes and muttered, "As a werewolf, don’t you feel ashamed of your choice of food?"
It seemed like Lily did not get the message. She exclaimed, "They don’t sell ribs over here!"
Hao Ren felt they were not really on the same wavelength.
He turned over to Vivian and was confounded. "Now, that’s like a pot calling the kettle black."
Vivian almost overfilled her plate and it looked like a small hill. As if it began raining after a long drought, she could not care less about table manners and etiquette. She just wanted to fulfill her long-deprived desire or rather appetite, after living on a budget for so long.
"I’ve never had a life like this!" The vampire girl babbled with her mouth full. "I’d like to enjoy as much as I can while it lasts!"
Hao Ren was relieved at the fact that the English started their day late and also, there were only a handful of waitresses on duty at that time. Otherwise, the scene of the two gobblers trying to out-eat each other would have been too embarrassing to be witnessed.
As they were going at it, a man holding a plate in his hand approached. Hao Ren heard him utter in a soft voice, "Is this seat taken?"
Hao Ren looked up; the stranger was slender, he had short hair and he wore a white top with black pants. He was not particularly handsome by any standard but exuded an air of trustworthiness and aptness in him. The man had an unmistakably oriental face which Hao Ren could almost tell was Chinese.
"Please have a seat, it’s not taken." Hao Ren invited the man to take the vacant seat across the table. He was a little puzzled though; most tables in the restaurant were empty at that time. Why did this stranger choose to sit with them? He heightened his guard and sized the man up carefully.
He was mindful of his so-called covert mission and became alert.
Vivian had also come to notice the presence of the man. As she became self-conscious, she slowed down her pace. Her mannerisms switched to Duchess-of-Cambridge mode—elegant and graceful, save for the oil stain on the corner of her mouth.
"It’s kind of rare to see someone from my home country here." The man was cordial and friendly despite his appearance implying otherwise. "Are you here for holiday?"
"Home country?" Hao Ren did not expect to be so damn right. The translation program had prevented him from recognizing the man’s accent outright until the man divulged his origin. "Oh, you’re from China too?"
"Yup, I’m a native Chinese but I spend most my time globe-trotting." The tall man guffawed. "I’m happy to see my fellow countrymen here. If it’s not too much trouble, do you mind if I join you guys?"
"Not at all!" Hao Ren waved his hands.
"That’s great!" The man nodded and unexpectedly uttered, "Are you searching for a place called Yorkford?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
10 Power
stone 
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