Unlike Saber from Fate who was "born with the knowledge," and limited by her model, unable to directly download operational skills for various vehicles like the communication-enhanced 9S, 2B, as an intelligent mechanical being, could still learn all kinds of mechanical operation skills in an extremely short time.
Just looking through the instruction manual and flipping through the operation guide was enough.
Just like Jarvis controlling mechanical arms to assemble and disassemble Tony Stark armor, after mastering the operation process through "external input," 2B could immediately elevate her skills to a "meticulous" level, completely eliminating the need to accumulate experience through constant practice like humans do.
"Alright, it seems my help isn't needed after all."
After witnessing 2B abilities firsthand, Happy couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
Leaving with a "Have fun," Happy perceptively left the yacht and returned to report to Stark.
"Shall we set off then?"
"Let's go, let's go~! Oh~~!"
Turning his attention back, keeping up with little Kanna adorably enthusiastic cheer, Shi Xiaolei also raised his fist.
Starting the engine again, 2B controlled the steering wheel with incredible smoothness, piloting the yacht away from the dock and toward the open sea.
"Xiaolei, Xiaolei, so many birds~~!"
"Ah Ruaaa~! Hehehe, hehehehe~~~!"
"Oh, that cloud looks so funny, like a steamed bun~."
"Yoho, hello there~!"
Excited by the seagulls following alongside the boat, letting out trembling notes while shouting into the sea breeze, laughing happily at the sight of clouds in the sky, always politely greeting other small boats seen from a distance.
All along this sea journey, the little girl was bouncing around without a moment rest, happily frolicking like an energetic little Husky.
The weather was good, with no worries about troublesome waves.
At the little girl request, 2B drove the yacht to the "outer" sea about seven or eight miles offshore from the southern part of Long Island.
While controlling the direction, 2B constantly monitored the images on the sonar.
Though not a professional fishing boat, as one of Stark personal collections, this vessel was equipped with many highly professional instruments.
For example, this sonar used for detecting schools of fish performed better than those on regular fishing boats.
"I've found a school of fish."
"Really? Then let's stop."
"Okay."
Activating the autopilot feature that Stark had personally installed on the boat to ensure the yacht wouldn't drift away with the current, 2B left the helm and joined Shi Xiaolei and Kanna on the rear deck near the water surface.
Taking out the fishing gear they had brought, Shi Xiaolei taught Kanna while baiting the hook.
"Look, like this, push it in, then following the curve of the hook, bend it a little..."
Compared to artificial lures made of plastic or wood, Shi Xiaolei preferred using real bait.
Whether it would work well or not remained to be seen, but little Kanna was already unconsciously drooling at the sight of these lively shrimp.
"Xiaolei, Xiaolei."
Unable to resist any longer, Kanna stretched out her little hand, grabbed a lively jumbo shrimp, and looked at Shi Xiaolei with her sparkling big eyes.
"Can I eat one? It looks so delicious..."
"No, you can't."
Pinching the little girl nose with mixed feelings, Shi Xiaolei struggled immensely to suppress the urge to agree.
"You can't eat them raw, it will give you a stomachache. If you want to eat shrimp, I'll cook some for you later. Creamy shrimp balls? Or eggplant with shrimp? Which flavor do you prefer?"
"I want the creamy one~."
"Good, I'll make it for you in a bit."
As he spoke, the bait was ready.
Shi Xiaolei put the fishing rod into the little girl's hands and gently pushed her back.
"Go on, let Sylvia teach you how to cast the line, I still need to bait a couple more."
"Mm~."
Remembering that there was fishing in "NieR: Automata" Shi Xiaolei naturally assumed that 2B would know how to cast a fishing line.
But the result...
"Huh?"
Looking up at Kanna, then at 2B with her apologetic face, Shi Xiaolei was surprised.
"You don't know how?"
"No."
2B nodded sheepishly.
"I only know how to fish with a Pod, I've never used a fishing rod."
Having not played the game for too long, Shi Xiaolei only remembered the special fishing method in the game after 2B reminder—there were no fishing rods or bait.
The intelligent robots would always designate an area of water and send their Pods to catch fish.
That's right, when retrieving the line, one could clearly see that what hung beneath the Pod was not a fishhook, but a clamp.
"Alright then, give me a moment."
After baiting the other two rods, he stood up and brought the duo to the ship rail.
While explaining the key points, Shi Xiaolei personally demonstrated for them several times.
This wasn't river fishing or rock fishing, so there was no need to pursue casting distance.
As long as the bait could enter the water without the fishing line getting tangled, it was fine.
"Did you learn it?"
"Mm-hmm~."
Finding it quite simple, little Kanna nodded vigorously.
"I learned it."
"Good, let me see you try once."
"Mm."
Imitating the movements she had just learned from Shi Xiaolei, Kanna first swung the fishing rod backward, then forcefully swung it forward.
Focusing only on using strength and forgetting how powerful she actually was, this cast sent the bait flying nearly a hundred meters...
"..."
"Xiaolei, Xiaolei, is this right?"
The little girl turned her face, asking excitedly.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Shi Xiaolei smiled bitterly and nodded.
"That's right, but next time you can use a little less strength, okay?"
"Mm, I got it~."
Although there were some small incidents, as time passed, the atmosphere on the boat gradually returned to peacefulness.
The little girl had pretty good luck, catching a small fish about every fifteen minutes.
Seeing how happy and excited she was, and watching the warm interactions between 2B and the little girl, Shi Xiaolei felt completely at peace inside.
'Ah, I almost forgot the main task.'
After some time had passed, Shi Xiaolei suddenly remembered that there was another important matter for today's sea trip.
"Sylvia, please keep Kanna company for a while, I need to go inside."
Putting down the fishing rod, Shi Xiaolei stood up and gave 2B a meaningful look.
Having already heard from Shi Xiaolei last night about his other purpose for today sea trip, 2B returned an "I understand" smile and nodded.
"Okay."
Entering the cabin, making sure he wouldn't be observed by satellites above, Shi Xiaolei sat down on the sofa and immersed his consciousness into his sea of awareness.
"Exchange for one blind box."
There was no display interface, but he could feel the check-in points decreasing.
As the value dropped to only 10 points remaining, a golden box appeared in Shi Xiaolei sea of awareness.
Taking a deep breath, Shi Xiaolei silently gave the command.
'Open it.'
"Hmm?"
Unlike the first time he opened a box when he could see a blood-colored orb of light floating in front of him, and unlike the second and third times when a "summoning" array about one meter in diameter appeared before him, the only change was an additional mysterious connection within his sea of awareness.
Suppressing the anxiety in his heart, Shi Xiaolei closed his eyes and calmed his mind, carefully examining the reward from this box opening.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes in surprise and delight, involuntarily blurting out a crude exclamation.
"Holy crap, it's actually the Ark?! No way~!"
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist?you can read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)