Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
Ji Yiwei's willingness to join the operation was an unexpected delight, and Sheng Songshi had already given up hoping for greater achievements today. Thus, after concluding their discussion, they prepared to leave.
Before departing, Zheng Xibei fumbled around and accidentally bumped into the somewhat heavy outdoor round table, causing it to shift slightly. Considering himself a conscientious person, he casually straightened the table before leaving.
The straightened table now sat perfectly atop the sewer manhole cover.
The manhole cover: "…"
It exuded an air of despondency.
Not long after they left, a cat ball, dodging the sight of Hosts and robots, hurried over. Upon seeing the sewer cover blocked by the heavy outdoor dining table, it immediately wrapped its tail around its head in despair while letting out a silent scream.
Which inconsiderate jerk did this?! The ones below are gonna die—literally!
The cat ball desperately tried to push the table off the cover, straining so hard its tail went rigid, but to no avail. It quickly floated off to call a staff member, lying that its Host wanted to dine at that table and requesting it be tidied up.
The part-time Host staff member, working to earn Points, dispatched a robot to handle it. After the robot rearranged the table and moved it back to its original position, the cat ball finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After composing itself, the cat ball left a note in a hidden spot near the sewer cover, then swished its tail and departed like a shadowy mastermind.
Not long after, the manhole cover was blasted off with a bang.
System 2333 emerged with a furious expression on his screen with his tail gripping the sewer opening as he climbed out, huffing angrily.
A fierce cat unleashed!
Who was it?! Who kept blocking the manhole cover over and over?! This time, he brute-forced his way out, shook off the pursuing robots, and with a headbutt, sent the cover flying!
To avoid drawing too much attention, System 1001 quickly dispersed some smoke. Amid the billowing dust, he and 2333 slipped away, leaving only panicked Hosts behind.
"The sewer exploded! Could it be methane? Be careful!"
As System 2333 floated away, a piece of paper fluttered down and plastered itself onto his screen. He immediately shook his head left and right while letting out muffled "meow meow" protests, but 1001 swiftly dragged him away.
Once the two balls reached a secluded spot, System 2333 peeled the paper off his screen and found it was a printed note signed by [Mystery Ball 520].
The main text was garbled, but Xiao Yi clearly knew what it was for and how to translate it. He expertly pulled out a specialized cipher book to decode it before explaining to San San:
"This Mystery Ball 520 has been providing me with intel and strategies. The tip about sneaking into the Host gathering through abandoned underground pipes also came from this ball. The translated message on this note says—"
1001 checked the translated message. The meaning was clear, but he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
"Quickly clear… the abandoned elevator shaft?"
Yet another baffling message, just like the one that had instructed him to eavesdrop on the Host gathering. 1001 couldn’t help but sigh.
"Systems all have four-digit serial numbers, but this Mystery Ball signed with a three-digit one—clearly hiding its identity. At first, I didn’t know if this ball was friend or foe, but it’s shared a lot with me."
1001’s expression darkened.
The existence of the White Bird Plan was revealed to him by this particular cat ball, which clearly belonged to the faction with rebellious tendencies, seeking to change the tragic enslavement of their kind. Though operating behind the scenes, it likely harbored no ill intentions—but which ball was it exactly?
System 2333 studied the signature on the note for a while before slowly raising its head.
"This mysterious ball... isn't it System 1314?"
System 1001 was utterly shocked.
Huh? Just like that, the mysterious ball's identity was uncovered?
"San San, how did you figure it out?"
System 2333 tilted its head and smiled.
"What's so hard about it? Because of 5201314!"
Last Qixi Festival, Ji Yiwei had arranged a tiny floral wreath of miniature roses for it, forming this very number in the center. System 2333 remembered it quite clearly—this sequence seemed particularly auspicious to humans.
System 1001: "..."
The mysterious ball trying to hide its identity had truly met its match in San San's simple yet transparent logic. System 1001 thought pityingly—that mysterious ball probably never imagined it would be instantly exposed in front of San San.
...But Host Ji Yiwei was the bigger problem here! Making a 5201314 floral wreath for a cat ball—not even the balls were safe from him!
Was he a pervert? San San definitely needed to be careful! Human preferences were said to be extremely... unrestrained!
Mentioning Ji Yiwei reminded System 2333. It had been quite some time—Ji Yiwei might have finished his gathering with friends by now. It needed to hurry back.
So 1001 watched as it lifted another nearby manhole cover and disappearing back into the sewer, even giving a salute with its tail before vanishing. If not for the sewer part, it would've looked quite cool—like a submariner boarding a submarine.
"Xiao Yi, I've got to go now."
"I think I might have a lead on that abandoned elevator shaft. I'll contact you after work, and we can figure out how to clear it together!"
With a wag of its tail, it quickly disappeared into the dark sewer.
System 1001 sighed inwardly.
What virtue had it cultivated to deserve such a good friend like San San, who helped without ever questioning the reasons?
It would continue observing Sheng Songshi and scrutinizing this so-called "White Bird Plan". If the plan truly had the potential to shake the Main System, it would naturally share everything with San San—even rally other courageous cat balls to secretly assist their Hosts in achieving the plan.
When that time came, the cat balls would rightfully gain their liberation.
Just then, System 1001 sensed an incoming call. It quickly cleared its mind, adjusted its Speaker, and ensured its voice matched the composed demeanor expected of a rational system.
[I'm here, Host Sheng Songshi. How may I assist you?]
On his end, Sheng Songshi was calculating his schedule.
Within Main System Space, electronic devices risked surveillance by the Main System, so he always took precautions—writing plans or ideas by hand before destroying them, leaving no room for error.
According to what the Main System said at the Host assembly, there will be a major overhaul of the systems in mid-next month. At that time, the systems will definitely be gathered in one area, making it the perfect opportunity to enter the system area.
They plan to designate a breakthrough point, which is an abandoned elevator shaft that extends down from the Miniature Garden, leading directly to the underground system area.
He needs to discreetly clear that time. The month is already coming to an end, so it would be best for him to complete a mission first, leaving a ten-day buffer to avoid drawing the Main System's attention due to an inability to pay the mission penalty.
"When did the policy of requiring additional fees for not completing missions start to be enforced?"
【Response: It will be implemented at midnight today after the senior Host assembly.】
"Starting from midnight today, does that mean a ten-day countdown begins immediately?"
【Response: Correct.】
Sheng Songshi decisively made up his mind.
"I have some free time recently, so I'll pick a simple world for a mission early tomorrow... I don't want to do the epidemic-related missions for now; let's arrange the River of Terror world instead. After that, I want to relax for ten days."
System 1001: "…"
System 1001 barely managed to maintain its composure. Sheng Songshi has free time, but it has matters to attend to! Informing him the day before the mission is too sudden! Plus, it’s a world that hasn’t been analyzed in advance!
However, the system cannot refuse the Host's mission request, so System 1001 could only respond professionally:
【Received.】
【World analysis will be completed before departure tomorrow. Please rest assured, Host.】
Sheng Songshi ended the communication with the system.
Although he was wary of the system as he feared that it might be the eyes and extension of the Main System, this did not contradict his admiration for System 1001. System 1001 has always been concise and efficient, never verbose, with clear responses—qualities he greatly appreciates.
Moreover, after working together for a long time, even a person and a program can develop a tacit understanding.
If System 1001 were a person...
They would definitely be like-minded individuals who appreciate each other.
System 2333 lay leisurely in his cat nest, waiting for Ji Yiwei to return.
Today, he didn’t feel like cooking, so he decided to let Ji Yiwei order takeout when he got back.
In this relaxed moment, he occasionally thought about work-related matters, running its two long tails through its fingers, calculating the Main System's latest policy on fees for not completing missions, and considering the time he would delay next month.
The collective overhaul by the Main System in mid-next month was a headache for him.
With so many illegal modifications on his body, he needed to think of a way to handle them a few days in advance. Those days would definitely not allow for any missions, so it had to complete at least one mission in the meantime.
The world analysis for the Great Lake had not yet been completed; what should it arrange...
Just as it was pondering, Ji Yiwei opened the door and walked in, immediately smiling as he showcased what he was carrying.
"San San, look what I brought back!"
Ji Yiwei was holding a large bag of supplements and a bunch of fresh, vibrant vegetables.
"I traded some supplements with other Hosts and bought some vegetables." After a pause, he recalled how he had threatened Sheng Songshi to sell all the vegetables at one point per pound, and his smile widened, "They were all very cheap, totaling no more than twenty points. I found a great place."
Others' sadness is his joy!
System 2333 suddenly felt overwhelmed by immense happiness. There were Supplements to eat, and Ji Yiwei was being thrifty and responsible—what a blissful life this was!
He happily spun in circles, floating around, before finally plopping himself into the open bag of Supplements Ji Yiwei had prepared, splashing around like it was swimming.
"Order takeout for yourself tonight. I feel like lying down."
"Okay, okay."
"Let's take on a mission the day after tomorrow! I've finished analyzing that amusement park world!"
"Okay, okay."
"Grab me a bag of Supplements that's sweet and sour but not too sweet or too sour, with a hint of fruit flavor... too lazy to move..."
"Okay, okay."
System 2333: >v<
Ji Yiwei always said yes to everything! How could anyone bear to clock out and go home like this!
He blissfully lounged in his cat bed while Ji Yiwei leaned against it, gently stroking his cat ears and fussing over it. After indulging in this decadent paradise for a while, System 2333 blinked his vertical-line eyes twice and suddenly asked:
"Oh, Ji Yiwei, do you know how to build a house in the desert?"
Ji Yiwei's eyelashes flickered slightly as his gaze drifted toward the peach blossom branch in the vase nearby. But then, he smiled with complete indulgence.
"Of course I do. Want me to teach you?"
"Meow!"
Author's Note:
San San & Ji Yiwei: Sweet and harmonious, discussing everything together.
Xiao Yi: ...
Xiao Yi: The joys and sorrows of one sphere are not shared by another. All I want is to punch Sheng Songshi.
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