Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
Before the scanning beam could actually land on System 2333, its screen had already lit up. At first, it seemed confused about what was happening, but when it looked up and saw the Main System, its vertical-line eyes blinked twice.
"Hello, boss! You're working so hard!"
Main System: "...Call me Main System."
System 2333: "Got it, boss!"
System 2333's tone was full of exaggerated sincerity as it praised, "The boss handles countless affairs every day and still comes to check on us at night... Such dedication! No wonder you're the boss!"
Though it was clearly brown-nosing, the Main System couldn't shake the feeling that there was sarcasm in its words. But what angered the Main System most was... this was actually System 2333's real body.
Hadn't System 2333 gone out wandering? Was it really being this obedient?
The Main System's rings abruptly retracted as its metal head leaned closer to System 2333. "2333, do you really think I can't deal with you without reason?"
Despite being in such close confrontation with the Main System, System 2333 blinked fearlessly. "Can you? Aren't you the most rule-abiding boss around?"
It was right. Without catching it breaking any rules, the Main System couldn't arbitrarily punish it.
Doing so would mean the rules could be broken, which would be very detrimental to the Main System's control over the cat-ball systems. So even though it was a troublemaker and unpopular, unless absolutely necessary, the Main System wouldn't easily take action against it.
The other cat-ball systems that had already entered sleep mode were now waking up one by one, their vertical-line eyes watching the sudden appearance of the Main System talking to 2333.
The Main System's two rings rotated irregularly for a moment as it weighed its options before the metal head finally moved away. "Don't let me catch you breaking any rules, System 2333," it threatened.
System 2333's cat ears were slightly flattened back, not in fear but in disgust.
Don't get so close to me, ugh, so annoying!
But in this confrontation, System 2333 wouldn't show any weakness. Its vertical-line eyes curved into a smile. "As long as the boss follows the rules, we cat-balls naturally will too."
The Main System left as it had come, surrounded by numerous machines. System 2333 stared at the retreating robots, somewhat lost in thought. The two cat-ball systems on either side, seeing its dazed expression, grew very concerned.
Has Three-Three been scared stiff...?
"Three-Three," the left cat-ball suggested, "I'll treat you to a crispy watermelon flavored supplement tomorrow! Cheer up!"
Hearing this, the right cat-ball immediately protested, "Nonsense! It should be sandy watermelon flavored to calm Three-Three's nerves!"
The two balls started fighting again while awake, only stopping halfway when they noticed Three-Three's screen had gone dark as if asleep. The charging room returned to silence.
The inspector double-checked the number of cat-balls before turning to leave the charging room, the dim lights casting shadows—
But System 2333's screen lit up like a light bulb.
The brave 2333 had actually slipped out right behind the Main System's back. Wasting over an hour of its time was really annoying.
Just as the Main System had some understanding of his troublemaking abilities, System 2333 also knew the Main System well.
In fact, he was one of the spherical cat systems in the Infinite Space who understood the true nature of the Main System best. Even 1234 couldn't compare to him. During those three years of slacking off, System 2333 had accumulated extensive experience in outwitting the Main System.
He had anticipated that the Main System might conduct a surprise inspection and had prepared accordingly, taking the field personally. Moreover, he believed the Main System wouldn't return tonight.
System 2333 saw no reason to waste this night, as he might need to rest tomorrow to ensure he'd be energetic for the mission with Ji Yiwei the day after. If he wanted to get things done, tonight was his only chance.
Surrounded by robots, the Main System floated down the corridor.
The limited space caused its majestic rings to contract slightly as it moved. At one point, the advancing Main System suddenly halted, turned back, and remained motionless for over ten seconds.
—Yet ultimately, it turned away and left.
In this silent battle of wits with the Main System, 2333 had won.
With practiced ease, System 2333 slipped behind a trash bin on the underground sixth floor.
Finding no robots or surveillance in sight, he eagerly tried to squeeze into the gap behind the bin—only to accidentally knock it over, startling himself into a panicked leap.
After a moment's hesitation, 2333 cautiously floated back and peeked inside the bin.
To his surprise, it was completely empty—no wonder it had tipped over so easily without sufficient weight.
This puzzled him greatly. Aside from supplement packaging, spherical cat systems hardly produced any waste, not even shedding a single hair, making them the most low-maintenance pets. Given this, the trash on the sixth underground level should only be cleared once a week. Why was it empty ahead of schedule?
Left with no choice, 2333 began scouring the floor for garbage to weigh the bin down, making it easier to squeeze behind. But after searching everywhere, he found the entire level had been cleared out—a truly baffling situation for a spherical cat.
"Burp!"
In the charging room, the sleeping System 1414 let out a dreamy hiccup.
With trembling caution, System 2333 finally managed to wedge himself into the gap.
This space behind the trash bin was a weak point in the map that 2333 had discovered by accident.
Located on the underground sixth floor, it allowed him to clip out of the Main System's vast spatial map with some special maneuvers.
Wind howled around him as 2333 found himself in what felt like a leaky sack, surrounded by pitch-black nothingness.
Having clipped out of the map before, his bug-finding skills rivaled only his talent for infuriating the Main System. Wrapping his tail around himself, he waited calmly in the darkness, quickly adapting to the environment.
Here, completely beyond the Main System's surveillance, System 2333 relaxed, arching his tail in a stretch before orienting himself in the darkness and charging forward.
Destination—Restricted Zone 306!
Belly pressed against the scorching sandy ground, System 2333 now beheld an endless wilderness stretching before him.
Vultures circled in the sky, yet couldn't breach the boundaries of this map.
Restricted Zone 306 was a fragmented microcosm, lacking complete nations—only this isolated zone existed.
In System 2333's central field of vision stood a small pile of smoking ruins—remnants of a violent explosion.
Amidst the debris, a peach blossom tree had already shed its flowers.
Ji Yiwei hadn't destroyed this tree. He'd preserved it like a sweet memory. Though the blossoms in Zone 306 withered with the seasons, System 2333 would never forget the emotion of rediscovering this peach tree.
Ji Yiwei truly cherished their shared memories.
In the distance, incomplete experimental subjects moved about, while emitting low growls.
These were specimens System 2333 had painstakingly lured from the ruins during its last visit.
Currently unable to detect flesh, they merely wandered and howled, showing little interest in mechanical cat-spheres... and couldn't bite through them either. (Don't ask about the unfortunate incident during failed monster-luring attempts.)
The delicate cat-sphere System 2333 burst into tears. Now it realized how incredible Ji Yiwei was—fighting such horrors daily to earn points for their livelihood.
This was true love!
More severely damaged specimens crawled along the ground—noisy, but otherwise harmless.
At high noon, the desert sun scorched the earth.
System 2333 noticed some specimens literally dripping oil from the heat.
Melting under the sun!
Suddenly aware of its overheating underside, the sphere launched upward like a skipping stone across the sands while yowling piteously.
Hot hot hot!
Regret flooded its circuits—why had it chosen black paintjob?!
Exhausted but determined, System 2333 flew to the ruins. After regurgitating construction materials into a pile, it erected a notice board displaying blueprints co-designed with Ji Yiwei.
Even crafty rabbits need multiple burrows—this cat-sphere needs backups!
Construction time!
Though alone here, proper procedures mattered. The sphere dramatically signed the permits with flourish (being the sole authority in this world).
Nearby, incomplete specimens gathered curiously around the notice board, creating an oddly whimsical scene.
Under the fifty-degree heat, a black cat-sphere tirelessly dug foundations beside material stockpiles. Eventually overheating, it retreated to shade and collapsed.
Warning: critical temperature reached. Continued labor would trigger system shutdown.
System 2333, the cat, lay sprawled in this tiny patch of shade, with his vacant gaze.
After a long pause, he took out a fresh raw egg and cracked it on his own head. Amid the sizzling sound of the frying egg, he stared at the small pit he had painstakingly dug and sank into despair.
Help! Could he really build his own house by himself?
No way! After finally securing a little world of his own, of course he had to build his own house!
Think of a way... think of a way... work, work... employees, employees...
Ding!
The silhouettes of some robots flashed through his mind, and System 2333 had a sudden stroke of inspiration.
Excited, he casually tossed the egg he had just fried on his head into the system shop.
He had an idea! If there was any role in the infinite space with the most workers available for labor, it had to be the Boss!
The Boss had so many robots!
The Boss usually exploited them and hoarded points—wouldn’t it be fair if he secretly borrowed a few of the Boss’s robots to do some work? Totally fair, right?
With the labor issue solved, System 2333 happily decided to grab his little shovel and dig into the Boss’s resources.
Suddenly, he remembered that he had just casually thrown the fried egg into the shop and hurriedly searched for it.
That wasn’t something he should be selling!
But...
It was gone.
The egg he had fried on his head had disappeared.
Author's Note:
Ji Yiwei: Munch munch.
The egg fried on San San’s head—tasty.
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