Ziqiao

(Version 1)

▶ "Heron Express, at your service!"

(Version 2)

▶ "Have you made a delivery booking with us?"

(First interaction)

Ziqiao: Heron Express, at your service! Have you made a delivery booking with us?

Who are you again?

Ziqiao: I'm Ziqiao, a logistics specialist from Heron Express.

Delivery?

Ziqiao: That's right. For deliveries, please book a courier with Heron Express. I'm a Heron Express Specialist — Ziqiao's my name.

Ziqiao: If you've got a delivery to send, please enter your shipping info via our Heron Express app. If you're waiting to receive a delivery, please wait for our courier cycranes' notification. If you'd like to send a delivery, please bring it to our office.

Courier cycranes are everywhere aboard the Xianzhou.

Ziqiao: Haha, Xianzhou relies heavily on Heron Express Specialists: Delivering meals, online shopping, within-city deliveries... It'd be very difficult to operate Xianzhou without Heron Express.

Ziqiao: Don't listen to all those claims about being able to stay indoors here. Without courier deliveries, do you really think anyone could stand staying in? Nobody could.

I saw a lot of parcels outside.

Ziqiao: This always gives me a headache. Some were put on hold due to cycrane failure; some were because the customer filled out their contact details incorrectly, so we couldn't get in touch with them.

Ziqiao: It may be my job to deal with these abandoned parcels, but there're just too many. If we can't track down the owner, we end up donating things to charity.

Ziqiao: But then again, I'm still on the clock right now. If you don't have anything to send right now, keep Heron Express in mind for next time. Our slogan is: Heron Express — We Mail Anything.

Ziqiao: If there's nothing else, I'm getting back to work.

(Continue onto dialogue options below)

(Subsequent interactions)

Ziqiao: Oh, hi... I remember you. Have you booked a delivery with us?

Ziqiao: We can do same-day delivery for small and medium packages. Big ones take two to three days, though. If you have any other requirements, please let us know.

There're still some things I'd like to talk about.

Ziqiao: Alright. I don't mind if we're just talking about work.

What do you usually get up to around here?

Ziqiao: I get asked that a lot, actually. After all, with this many cycranes aboard the Xianzhou, what do you need manual labor like me for?

Ziqiao: In actual fact, much of our work relies on human workforce: Inspecting goods, deploying cycranes routes, cycrane maintenance... plus all those pesky abandoned boxes you've seen on the streets...

Ziqiao: Oh yeah — there's another job that can only be done manually, and that's never going to change: Handling customer service complaints.

Is it true that you can really mail anything?

Ziqiao: Sure. Our slogan is "Heron Express — We Mail Anything," but we reserve the right of final interpretation.

Ziqiao: We usually recommend that you avoid using robots if you're sending anything fragile or important. Instead, we recommend that you hire an armed escort service.

Ziqiao: Before you finalize your order with us, please make sure you read our shipping regulations.

Logistics on Xianzhou is really something else.

Ziqiao: I know, right? You Outworlders have a much clearer perspective on this stuff than the Xianzhou natives. I'm always hearing old cranks say "Xianzhou is lifeless and never changes," but I disagree.

Ziqiao: It's just a hunch, but I've grown busier and busier these past two hundred years. Can you imagine? Around 150 years ago, down at the busy Starskiff Haven zone, we'd only be able to handle over 6400 cycrane deliveries per day.

Ziqiao: But just yesterday, there were... let me see... over 70,000 deployments over Starskiff Haven! And that's on a work day! Such a huge change in just 150 years.

That's easy to miss if you're not paying attention. You've got quite the eye.

The logistics industry is becoming more and more important these days.

Ziqiao: You must also find that the more developed and convenient a city becomes, the more its citizens come to rely on logistical support. Today, Xianzhou can't afford to pause onboard logistics, and our burden is even heavier.

Ziqiao: Xianzhou is a massive giant, and our logistics system is its blood vessels. Our couriers keep its heart beating. Whenever I think of this, I'm filled with the feeling of being truly alive.

That's all. Keep up the good work.

Ziqiao: Be careful out there, and remember — our slogan is "Heron Express — We Mail Anything."

That's all. Keep up the good work.

Ziqiao: Be careful out there, and remember — our slogan is "Heron Express — We Mail Anything."

Mission-Specific

(After encountering Depressed Cycrane)

I came across a depressed cycrane.

Ziqiao: A what cycrane?

A depressed cycrane.

Ziqiao: I know you said, "a depressed cycrane," but I don't understand what you mean.

A malfunctioning cycrane.

Ziqiao: That I can understand, but I'll still trouble you to explain all of this to me in detail.

It's the same model as this cycrane.

Ziqiao: Uh-huh. You can see them all over Xianzhou. They handle deliveries... Why don't you tell me about what this "depressed" business is all about?

You attempted to explain what you encountered as well as how you convinced this cycrane that had nothing left to live for to return to Heron Express.

After listening to your story, Ziqiao examined the work status of courier cycranes. She discovered that everything you said could be verified. At that moment, a cycrane got reconnected to the logistics system.

Ziqiao: Was it really able to speak with you? I can hardly believe it.

It's a warning of an Al awakening that will destroy mankind.

Ziqiao: An Al uprising? You aren't talking about the "Aurumaton Rebellion," are you? That happened before I was born. Take it easy. The Cloud Knights would never let something like that happen.

Ziqiao: Besides, who knows. This cycrane is so pessimistic, it might destroy itself before it ever destroys humanity.

Or maybe it isn't willing to speak with you.

Ziqiao: ...I often speak with cycranes. Logically, they are completely open to me.

Is it because you lack charm?

Ziqiao: I can't be. I have been popular with people since I was young. When it comes to having charm, we would be well-matched with each other.

No one would be so open with their own boss.

Ziqiao: I'm not some boss. If I have to say it, these courier cycranes and I are more like coworkers.

Is it possible that you just don't know?

Ziqiao: ...I talk with cycranes frequently. If they could talk, they would have talked to me by now.

Ziqiao: Besides, we never equipped these courier cycranes with any intelligence in the first place. The hardware components simply couldn't allow for it. Maybe you were just hearing things? Or perhaps someone was talking to you disguised as a cycrane?

Do you want to look into it more closely?

The way you said that makes me wonder if I really misheard the entire thing.

Ziqiao: I'll look into it, just to be on the safe side.

Ziqiao: Wait a moment. I'll check... Hold on. This isn't good!

Ziqiao: Aside from the cycrane you mentioned, we've lost connection with several other cycranes... This isn't some kind of cycrane labor strike, is it?

This must be the work of a competitor!

Ziqiao: You were suggesting that a competitor wanted to dismantle the courier cycranes and see their internal structure.

Ziqiao: ...Then they went a step further and made a version that could speak. Isn't that a technical skill that's better than the Technology Division of Heron Express?

It was the work of a metal life form that could transform!

Ziqiao: The heliobi of the Heliobi Disaster were also life forms back then, and they were the ones that possessed the aurumatons' bodies... Your concerns did have some merit.

Ziqiao: However, if they are able to possess robotic bodies, then why not become something more ruthless?

Ziqiao: For example, a starskiff. A starskiff that could transform at will would have been far more impressive...

Your customers are bad news.

Ziqiao: You're saying that one of our customers might have made unauthorized modifications to the cycranes? There are loads of weird people on the Xianzhou Luofu. It's possible that someone went off the deep end and wanted to stir some trouble...

Ziqiao: If that's the case, can I have you keep an eye out for me? If you come across any "malfunctioning cycranes," please bring them back. Is that OK?

I came to find you because I wanted a reward.

Ziqiao: I haven't prepared any reward to give you... I might have been able to get something together if you said something earlier.

Ziqiao: ...Well. If you don't mind, I can treat you to a glass of Immortal's Delight.

Do you have any leads?

Ziqiao: I've only just learned of this issue. How would I have any leads? I need to find time to investigate the matter.

Ziqiao: Talk to me a little later.

Do you have any leads?

Ziqiao: Great. I have a glass of unopened Immortal's Delight. I'll give it to you.

(Obtained Strale ×10, Immortal's Delight ×1, and Credit ×3000)

(Achievement Unlocked The Seven Errors of Cycranes: Sloth).

(After finding the Seven Errors of Cycranes (Sloth, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Envy, Wrath and Pride)

I found all the cycranes...

Ziqiao: Yes, yes, we've got all in the records here. All the missing cycranes have returned.

Ziqiao: Here's a thank-you gift from the Heron Express for being our ace cycrane catcher.

Ziqiao: Of course, you've mentioned before that these cycranes are actually equipped with intelligence — we've verified that this is indeed true. Every cycrane can produce coherent speech. It's quite astonishing.

You won't wipe their intelligence, will you?

Ziqiao: Who do you take us for here at Heron Express? We'd never do anything of the sort.

Ziqiao: They're required to undergo recruit training and as long as they don't break the law and can handle everyday work, who cares if cycranes have a little intelligence? I mean, lots of bots at the IPC have intelligence these days.

You must have realized that the first time one of them flew back.

Ziqiao: Yes, but back then many of us had never even seen a cycrane speak before. We kept chatting with it until it became depressed.

Ziqiao: Then it didn't speak for a long time and it wasn't until the other cycranes came back to the system that we were able to verify everything.

Ziqiao: We analyzed the missing cycranes' flight trajectories prior to losing contact. Once all the other flight paths were accounted for, there was only one suspicious trajectory left.

Ziqiao: We tried getting in touch many times, but it wasn't willing to respond at all.

Did you go and make a claim for a refund?

Ziqiao: Thanks to you, we didn't even end up suffering any damage — so we didn't need any compensation.

Ziqiao: But everyone still felt that they couldn't just act as if nothing had happened... In the final analysis, we just wanted to ask their designer why courier cycranes had been imbued with the gift of intelligence.

Ziqiao: Since the designer was unwilling to give us a reply, we thought of you...

Report this kind of thing to the Realm-Keeping Commission, ASAP!

Ziqiao: We're not keen on involving the Realm-Keeping Commission here. And thanks to you we didn't even end up suffering any damage.

Ziqiao: But everyone still felt that they couldn't just act as if nothing had happened... In the final analysis, we just wanted to ask their designer why courier cycranes had been imbued with the gift of intelligence.

Ziqiao: Since the designer was unwilling to give us a reply, we thought of you...

Don't tell me you're asking for my help once more?

Ziqiao: You guessed correctly. You're the first person we thought of.

Ziqiao: We just wanted to ask the cycrane designer why courier cycranes had been imbued with the gift of intelligence.

(All dialogue options will lead to the following response)

I'm curious, too!

Ziqiao: I know, right?

Some things are better off left unknown.

Ziqiao: No way. My curiosity is going to torment me until I find out.

Maybe the designer just wanted to troll us?

Ziqiao: "Just wanted to troll us", sure — I would be okay with that. I just want a definite answer here.

Ziqiao: As the ace cycrane catcher, I'd like you to write them a letter asking why. Of course, we'll protect any private information from being disclosed... But for sure we‘ll send the letter over.

Ziqiao presents a letter prepared by Heron Express. As Ziqiao said, the contents are sincere with no intent of placing any blame... All it's missing is a signature to sign off.

(Use "(Trailblazer)")

You all have really thought this through this to the smallest detail!

Ziqiao: ...Actually, if you refused to sign it, we're planning on sending it from the "Ace Cycrane Catcher".

Ziqiao: Well then, are you going to sign it?

(Use "(Trailblazer)")

I'm not signing it. You guys write whatever you want.

(All dialogue options will lead to the following response)

Ziqiao: Alright, I'll fill you in if there's any good news.

(Obtained Stellar Jade ×20 and Credit ×5000)

(Achievement Unlocked Seven Birds in the Hand Is Worth A Thousand in the Bush).