Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
The cold, mechanical voice of the Main System echoed through the pipes.
Two cat balls didn't dare to breathe loudly while pressing tightly against the pipe walls and covering themselves with weeds.
Inside the Main System's chamber, a large spider-like robot scuttled in on eight legs. The row of eight eyes along its body flashed red, silently signaling mission failure to the Main System without words.
Still couldn't catch that little mouse...
The Main System's rings rotated as it coldly dismissed the robot.
[Continue searching. Leave no corner unchecked.]
As the robot crawled away, System 1001 was still pondering the Main System's words when System 2333 suddenly grabbed him and dragged him away in a hurry.
Above the translucent drainage outlet, the Main System abruptly leaned closer.
Its metallic face elongated as its eyes flowed like mercury along the sewer cracks downward, then the tips curled up to peer around.
No anomalies detected.
The Main System slowly retracted the eyes that had dripped down.
Most pipes connected to this area had long been blocked by the Main System with clever disguises to appear normal, making them hard to identify—precisely because it considered that small cat balls might squeeze through.
Although it could track the cat balls' locations and these cat-eared little slaves couldn't escape its surveillance, it still preferred to be extra cautious.
...It feels like discovering the final boss's lair right at the start of the game.
System 2333 thought to himself.
Too bad the cat ball heroes aren't wearing sacred armor now, nor do they hold holy swords or have fairy blessings. All they can do is place a ward on the map for future reference.
He led System 1001 away from the wide pipe and floating into another one, while making sure to patch the hole the robot had made that caused their fall. He also stored the destroyed robot in his body's small storage compartment.
The rushed pipe patch job obviously wouldn't look perfectly realistic, but that was fine—he'd come back later to weather it properly and fool the boss.
"San San, so this is what the Infinite Space emblem means. The Main System really treats us as slaves to exploit, and it's desperate to accumulate massive Points—likely to upgrade its System Level."
System 1001's screen dimmed slightly, like a human darkening their expression.
No one would be happy being seen as Point-earning slaves. They, the cat ball systems, were just such unlucky souls, and the Hosts seemed to be in the same boat. But while the Main System gave Hosts the "retirement" exit, it offered no such path for systems.
"What a shame we couldn't see inside the room. We might have gotten more information..."
Hearing System 1001's words, System 2333 suddenly raised his tail, eager to speak.
"San San?"
"I saw inside the room! The Main System is surrounded by screens—all monitoring us. There's also a huge screen, probably showing the Points it's accumulated. The number was enormous."
Faced with the golden opportunity to investigate the boss's assets, System 2333 naturally seized and cherished it! While the Main System was issuing orders to the robot, he'd quietly extended one ear upward.
Now, he'd fully grasped the boss's financial situation.
Truly worthy of being the boss! So shady! So very shady!
System 1001 was already somewhat numb to San San's boldness. But when he saw System 2333 take out video recordings and audio evidence, his numbness reached new heights.
"I didn't just see it—I recorded everything!" System 2333 declared proudly. "This is all evidence that needs to be preserved... Xiao Yi, tell me, do we have a labor union or arbitration bureau? I want our capitalist overlord to know the might of its worker grandpas!"
System 1001 covered his face with his tail.
He was beginning to think that bowing to San San once every morning wasn't reverent enough—maybe twice would be more appropriate! What kind of leader-crushing kitten was this?!
Another rustling sound approached—robots were searching again, and from the noise, they were coming from both ends of the pipe.
System 2333 quickly stowed his triumphant expression. He wasn't in a hurry to run, though, because he happened to know there was an exit hatch right above them!
He pushed upward with all his might, but the lid wouldn't budge, leaving him mewling in frustration. System 1001 came over to help, but even their combined efforts couldn't open it, leaving both furballs mewling helplessly.
With no other choice, they had to pick the side with fewer robots and steel themselves for a desperate breakout.
Aboveground, Ji Yiwei sat facing Sheng Songshi and Zheng Xibei.
Zhou Yuechu had stayed behind to avoid drawing too much attention, waiting to relay the discussion afterward.
The three formed a two-against-one dynamic, with Zheng Xibei's chair leg resting squarely on a manhole cover.
Sheng Songshi quickly organized his thoughts. He now understood that Ji Yiwei had been swayed that day—his exaggerated performance at the Host gathering must have been to lull the Main System into complacency.
Before the conversation could begin, however, Ji Yiwei suddenly frowned and, to Sheng Songshi's astonishment, kicked Zheng Xibei over.
Sheng Songshi, completely baffled by Ji Yiwei's actions: "..."
Zheng Xibei, knocked to the ground along with his chair for no apparent reason: "..."
Zheng Xibei lay there dazed for a long moment before daring to get up. Fearfully, he wondered if this was Ji Yiwei's way of establishing dominance—er, in the conversation?
But after knocking him over, Ji Yiwei took no further action. Instead, he stared at the manhole cover in deep thought before finally looking away. After this bizarre interlude, he seemed to return to normal as he glanced at Sheng Songshi with a faint smirk.
Understanding the cue, Sheng Songshi produced a music box-shaped mechanical device.
"This is Yue Luo's creation—a scrambler," he said as a hint of nostalgia flashed in his eyes. "Yue Luo loved making little gadgets like this. He was the inventor of our group."
Ji Yiwei remained silent.
Once he confirmed it was safe, Sheng Songshi spoke almost eagerly.
"Mr. Ji, if I understand correctly, by initiating this meeting, you're indicating your willingness to join us in opposing the Main System?"
But Ji Yiwei still refused to follow his lead, preferring to steer the conversation himself. He countered with a question of his own.
"Why do you want to enter the [Great Lake]?"
Sheng Songshi hesitated slightly—this touched on the core of their plan. But the temptation of having Ji Yiwei join them was too great, and he believed Ji Yiwei's hatred for the Main System was genuine. So he decided to lay all his cards on the table.
After all, no one could tolerate being forcibly cuckolded.
Sheng Songshi took a moment to organize his thoughts.
"Mr. Ji, now that you know the truth about the Infinite Space, you should also understand just how terrifyingly colossal the Main System we're up against is."
"It possesses an extraordinary level of control over the Infinite Space. Overthrowing it is nearly impossible—even destroying its main body might be futile, because it still has countless Small Worlds to flee into."
He interlaced his fingers with a grave expression on his face.
"However, ever since the White Bird Plan was established, we have been searching for a way to overthrow the Main System."
"We believe weakening the Main System must be approached from two angles: first, destroying its main body, and second, eliminating as many Mission Worlds under its control as possible."
The unentered Mission World, the Great Lake, currently held by Ji Yiwei and System 2333, as well as the previous Restricted Zone 306, are actually...
"Border Worlds," Ji Yiwei interjected abruptly.
The specificity of the term left Sheng Songshi utterly stunned. A horrifying suspicion dawned on him—that Ji Yiwei might have...
Known all this long ago.
"H-How did you..." Sheng Songshi struggled to keep his voice steady. "How did you know about this?"
Ji Yiwei didn’t answer, merely smiling faintly.
"A lucky coincidence, but this is indeed the only feasible method to destroy a Main System."
Below them, in the pipes, Systems 2333 and 1001 scurried past in panic once more.
Spotting the familiar manhole cover, System 2333 burst into tears. He had slipped in and out of this spot countless times before—it led to a small, low-traffic restaurant where his comings and goings usually went unnoticed. So why was it suddenly impossible now?
He mewled pitifully, trying to pry it open with his ears, scratching at it with his tail, and even attempting to push it up with his head—all to no avail. With no other choice, he fled in frustration.
Above ground, Zheng Xibei was also reeling in shock while pressing down on the sewer cover with a chair leg. Before he could fully process his astonishment, he noticed Ji Yiwei’s right eyelid twitch—and his own followed suit. Sure enough, the next second, he was kicked to the ground again.
Zheng Xibei, now sprawled on the floor alongside the chair: "..."
He was on the verge of a breakdown. Did Ji Yiwei have some kind of grudge against him? They were in the middle of serious discussions—why keep kicking him?!
But this time, Ji Yiwei’s actions grew even more bizarre. Knocking him down wasn’t enough—he stood up and approached. Sheng Songshi, quick on his feet, kicked Zheng Xibei aside just in time to see Ji Yiwei pry open the sewer cover with his bare hands!
What—what was he doing?!
The pursuing robots, detecting human voices, immediately hid. Seizing the opportunity, Systems 2333 and 1001 managed to shake off their pursuers and escape.
Ji Yiwei examined the manhole cover in his hand, lost in thought, as if unwilling to give up. He tossed it aside and leaned halfway into the sewer to peer inside. Zheng Xibei, lying motionless beside the cover, was consumed by the urge to push him in—but didn’t dare.
Ji Yiwei seemed to know a lot, but he also seemed genuinely unhinged! What kind of sudden obsession was this with sewer covers?!
Returning empty-handed, Ji Yiwei sat back down, but Zheng Xibei no longer dared to join him. Instead, he stood meekly by the manhole cover like a timid wife, while Sheng Songshi also silently rose to his feet. The two of them stood together, while Ji Yiwei lounged like a lord.
Sheng Songshi tried his best to remain calm as he continued speaking.
"Precisely because of this, we want to enter the [Great Lake]. Merely completing a Mission World isn’t enough to sever it. After full completion, we still need to find the connection point and cut off the Main System’s link to that world, ensuring it loses control over it completely."
Bit by bit, they would weaken the Main System’s dominion.
Ji Yiwei’s expression remained unreadable.
"And what about the Main System itself? Assassination?"
Sheng Songshi shook his head soberly.
"We don’t even know if the Main System that appears outside is its true form. Assassination isn’t feasible. I suspect the Main System’s true body is on the system side of the space. We’ve already found a passage that allows us to enter the system activity zone, which is off-limits to Hosts. It’s nearly undetectable by the Main System or any other systems."
That place must be a labyrinth of data lines and server rooms, filled with countless cold systems charging in fixed positions, perhaps even patrolling robots. They would have to proceed with extreme caution, ensuring not to alert a single system, or all their efforts would be in vain.
A Host’s abilities are completely sealed within the Main System Space, leaving only some superior physical attributes. This operation was inherently high-risk. Sheng Songshi had originally planned to handle it himself once everything was arranged, bringing Zheng Xibei at most. But if Ji Yiwei was willing to join them, their chances of success would increase significantly.
Though wary of Ji Yiwei’s unpredictability, the fact that Ji Yiwei had nearly hunted him to death multiple times even with his abilities sealed proved his extraordinary prowess.
Sheng Songshi had shown ample sincerity, revealing almost everything he could. If Ji Yiwei agreed, he could immediately join their White Bird Plan and participate in the operation.
Then, Sheng Songshi suddenly remembered Zhou Yuechu’s advice—given when she wasn’t present—and paused before adding deliberately, almost awkwardly,
"Perhaps you might even get to see…"
"System 2333 after work hours."
The addition was forced and obvious, but Ji Yiwei’s expression instantly brightened.
"There’s such a good thing? Why didn’t you say so earlier?"
Password accepted!
Author’s Note:
Sheng Songshi—gradually learning how to input the password.
Zheng Xibei—please move your chair leg and let the cat ball come up!
Translator:
I don't know who should I pity more—Zheng Xibei, who don't know why was he being kicked twice by Ji Yiwei or System 2333 and 1001 ┐( ˘_˘)┌
But Ji Yiwei System 2333 detection is so accurate brooo w(°ｏ°)w
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