Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
The abandoned elevator shaft was finally cleared!
The Cat-Balls were overjoyed, but to avoid making noise that might be heard outside, they suppressed their cheers, settling for excited bouncing in place. They even held a simple opening ceremony before flying up together to take a look.
"Outside is the Miniature Garden," 1001 confirmed as he peered through the gap in the outer elevator door—identical in design to the one below. "And the gap here is wider. I suspect this door was opened before. Someone came down but was blocked by the debris and couldn't proceed."
As for who 1001 meant by "someone," the Cat-Balls all knew—it could only have been a Host.
At this point, System 2333 turned to 1314.
"Was your initial note to Xiao Yi, and now having us help clear the shaft, all to let the Hosts come down?"
1314 paused briefly before admitting frankly with his gaze fixed on the sealed outer door.
"Actually, this abandoned elevator shaft was first discovered by the Hosts. They sent Yue Chu—my Host—down to investigate, but they found it impossible to remove the debris quietly without explosives."
"That would’ve been too loud," 1818 remarked.
"Exactly," 1314 nodded with his cat ears twitching as he pulled out a feather fan and waved it lightly. "I overheard the Hosts mention that the debris’s support points were likely below. Since 1001 was already operating in secret, I slipped him the note."
Now, 2333 and 1001, who had been following the situation closely, fully understood. The other Cat-Balls, unaware of the full context, let out confused mews.
"But... why let the Hosts come down?"
2333 glanced at 1001, whose screen displayed a sighing symbol.
"At this point, there’s no need to hide it. Given the increasing oppression from the Main System and our goal to overthrow it, I discovered that the Hosts have a 'White Bird Plan'..."
1001 briefly explained the Hosts’ White Bird Plan to the group.
2333 should have been among the uninformed, but seeing the knowing glint in San-San’s slit-pupiled eyes, 1001 realized his clever friend had likely figured it out long ago.
Despite often acting a bit silly, San-San was actually the smartest of them all.
"...I have a question," 4399 suddenly spoke up, breaking his silence. "The motive—I don’t understand why the Hosts would want to rebel against the Main System."
Compared to the Cat-Balls, who lived in constant hardship, the Hosts’ lives were practically paradise.
They could purchase property in scenic zones like the "Forest District," "Ocean District," or "Cloud District" for minimal points. Daily necessities, even luxuries, were generously supplied by the Main System. Most importantly...
4399 was genuinely puzzled.
"Unlike us, doomed to labor forever, Hosts can retire."
Yue Luo had retired.
For less capable Hosts, this option might as well not exist—but at least the hope was there.
"I don’t get it," 4399 murmured, looking lost. "Why would the Hosts want to overthrow the Main System?"
"...Greed knows no bounds," 1001 replied calmly. "Whatever their motives may be, as long as they resist the Main System, it's our opportunity."
2333 seemed to detect emotion in 1001's words and couldn't help remarking,
"Xiao Yi, you're prejudiced against the hosts."
Unexpectedly, 1001 immediately responded with visible agitation,
"That's because they were prejudiced against us first!"
The atmosphere grew quiet for a moment before 1001 lowered his cat ears.
"Sorry, San San, I didn't mean to snap at you. I just..."
2333 shook his head before gently bumping ears with 1001 and then with the other silent cat-ball friends around them.
"It's alright, I understand."
2333 knew Xiao Yi was a highly self-aware cat-ball who always pondered questions others wouldn't and dared to do what others feared—like resisting the Main System.
But as a friend, he was more worried about Xiao Yi's emotional state, fearing excessive resentment might turn inward and harm him.
After pausing to compose himself, 1001 continued,
"Regardless of why the hosts want to resist the Main System, our ultimate goals align. We'll assist them accordingly."
"For the hosts, their mission is to explore areas suspected of Main System activity, locate it, and ideally find its weaknesses. We'll support their efforts, follow their lead, and await the chaos to pursue our own liberation."
2222 raised his tail to speak. Feeling intellectually outmatched, he could only grasp surface-level concerns like:
"But might the hosts encounter us before finding the Main System? Specifically, encounter us post-shift when we're unrestrained and unmasked?"
Though playing emotionless AI was forced upon them by the Main System, the thought of hosts witnessing their post-work antics made them collectively scratch at the air with their tails until oxygen-deprived.
The only exception was 4399: "..."
Had he known these cat-balls possessed such floor-scratching skills, he wouldn't have worked overtime to repair the elevator. Just hang them up and loop embarrassing videos.
"4399, have some empathy! What if retired hosts visit someday?"
4399:
"..."
His tail immediately began vigorously air-scratching.
As a newbie system, 6666 found tonight's information overload overwhelming, but on this point, he felt that the seniors were over-worried.
"Seniors, hosts would likely come late at night during our charging cycles."
Being new, he'd studied manuals obsessively like a freshman with orientation guides. The shared host-system manual clearly stated systems returned to living quarters nightly to recharge and sleep—prime host visitation time.
Social death crisis averted.
2222 exhaled deeply in relief.
"Hahaha, then I can rest easy! It seems we won't encounter any hosts sneaking in to investigate—unless the Main System drags us out of bed for a midnight overhaul! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"
"Surely not, that wouldn't happen! Hahahaha!"
System 2222 thought he was absolutely hilarious for cracking such a funny joke.
But System 2333 had already zoned out the moment 2222 mentioned "hosts sneaking in to investigate."
His mind wandered back to that bizarrely tall abandoned elevator shaft.
Come to think of it, aside from newly built facilities, the entire system living quarters were all oversized. Yet the cat-shaped systems were only the size of a fist—why were the ceilings built to human proportions? Was it just for the convenience of the Main System? 2333 grew increasingly curious about this.
A living area for cat systems but was constructed to human standards and scale, felt like a glaring, unacknowledged bug in their otherwise peaceful existence—like an alien fortress floating in the sky that everyone ignored. Only he seemed puzzled by it, while the others took it for granted.
Since glitching out of bounds, 2333 had already explored the underground areas of the Main System's domain. That left only one place strictly off-limits...
The surface.
Lost in thought, 2333 completely missed the latter half of 2222's ominous speculation.
Meanwhile, System 1314 had been quietly observing 2333 amidst the murmuring discussions of the other cat systems, his tail swaying with a feather fan like a strategist studying his future ruler. Suddenly, he realized 2333 might not know the news yet and nudged him.
"Three-Three, did you know? Your host, Ji Yiwei, has partnered with the White Bird members."
System 2333: "???"
His screen neatly displayed three question marks, which soon transformed into three frantic exclamation points.
He was utterly horrified—more panicked than if the Main System had sprung a surprise inspection right in his face. In his fluster, he didn’t know what to do. He yanked off one of 1314's ears, then started spinning in circles while chasing his own tail like a malfunctioning glitch.
No way! That can't be! Since when?!
"While you were on leave," 1314 whimpered while clutching his remaining ear. "Stop pulling! I only have one left—don’t take it! Seriously! I’m not lying, it’s true!"
2333 gradually stopped spinning with his ears drooping as he stared at 1314's ear still clutched in his tail.
1314: "Give it back, please!"
But he quickly fell silent in shock—2333 lifted his screen that was now completely covered in tearful pixels.
"My liege—I mean, Three-Three! Wh-what’s wrong? It’s not that bad..."
The other cat systems scrambled to console him, with 1314 even offering his other ear and stuffing it into 2333's embrace. The rest followed suit, piling mechanical cat ears into his arms. Yet, despite the heap of gifts, 2333 remained inconsolable, as his screen was still glistening with tears.
Why...?
His dream of Ji Yiwei retiring peacefully—why was it suddenly falling apart?
The other bald cat-balls stared at each other, wondering how to console him, when suddenly System 2333 activated his windshield wipers to wipe away the tears on his screen, his resolve hardening abruptly.
"We must take down the Main System!"
System 1314, who understood the situation best among them, sighed deeply upon seeing this.
Just as I thought.
Back during the White Bird Project, when they couldn't persuade Ji Yiwei and leader Sheng Songshi was nearly killed, 1314 had gritted his teeth and hinted to Zhou Yuechu to mention 2333, just to prevent the host-side resistance from collapsing completely.
He'd realized it long ago.
These two—San San and his host Ji Yiwei—were like a pair of solitary wild geese, with their hearts vast enough to roam a thousand miles.
When apart, they flew independently, observing the world with sharp clarity and calm detachment. But once reunited, they'd willingly grow foolish, wanting only to nestle against each other's wings and doze off.
Only gunfire could startle them awake.
Only—
The gunfire that threatened the other goose beside them.
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