Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
The dissipating energy was simply too tempting—it could even transform his barren wasteland into a grassland. System 2333 couldn't resist such allure.
He peeked furtively from the edge of the world as his tail coiled around himself, then took a diving stance and plunged into the darkness beyond the world, hoping to drift into another world where energy was leaking.
Perhaps due to that entry—originally garbled but now labeled as [Main System Level]—System 2333 wasn’t afraid of drifting through the darkness between worlds. In fact, he was downright gleeful about it.
After all, he had originally drifted into Restricted Zone 306.
With both tails extended, the front halves pressed together and the back halves spread apart, System 2333 used them like twin propeller blades, spinning rapidly. Like a chubby little submarine with cat ears, he flew toward the neighboring world and quickly closed the distance.
However, System 2333 wasn’t overly optimistic. His instincts told him the Main System would have safeguards in place for the worlds it controlled—like, say… a full-screen protective net?
When he saw the barrier before him, his expression turned horrified. Not because the net existed, but because of the pattern on it!
It was covered in densely packed watermelons!
Was the Main System really a watermelon spirit?!
Suddenly, System 2333 thought of something and whipped his head around to check his own Restricted Zone 306.
Oh no—his protective net was covered in calculators!
He really had become a calculator spirit!
He didn’t want calculators! He wanted cat heads!
Cat heads!
Frantically, System 2333 banished all thoughts of calculators from his mind. Slowly, the net’s pattern shifted into normal cat faces. False alarm—but wait, the patterns could change based on his thoughts? Then maybe he should pick something even more reassuring?
After a moment of deliberation, System 2333 stopped overthinking and admired the protective net now adorned with Ji Yiwei’s face.
Ah, yes. Maximum security.
With his own net sorted, System 2333 turned his attention to dismantling his boss’s defenses. Aside from the Main System’s core space, the various worlds under its control were its most valuable assets. The protective net would definitely be reinforced, requiring special methods to bypass.
How to crack the Main System’s defenses?
Hesitantly, System 2333 pulled out a small knife, wrapped his tail around it, and gave a light slash. A watermelon split open.
System 2333: "!!!"
The solution was Fruit Ninja?!
Overjoyed, System 2333 went to town with his blades flashing. He swiftly cleared all the watermelons in one corner and was about to continue when he suddenly froze, then gasped in realization.
This was the Big Watermelon’s trap!
By using irresistibly sliceable watermelons as the net’s nodes, it lured people into cutting them—but if too many were destroyed, the boss would notice!
What a cunning watermelon!
System 2333 hastily squeezed out a few last drops from his empty supplement pouch and patched up the breach.
Still, he began to ponder: barging into a world under the Main System’s control would get him caught, but what about worlds that were already accessible? Would the Main System even notice?
He remembered that whether through allocation, auction, or random draw, once a Cat Ball obtained a world, the Main System would register its serial number and grant access in its name—allowing entry without alerting the world itself. This suggested that for any owned world, entering from the outside might not trigger the Main System’s notice.
For example...
[The Great Lake]?
The moment this thought emerged, it sprouted like wild grass in his mind. System 2333 was so distracted during meals that he nearly smeared nutrient paste across his screen.
Fortunately, Xiao Yi swiftly intervened with a tail, separating him from the mess.
"Three-Three, why have you been so absent-minded lately? Too tired?" asked 1001, keenly aware that 1234 at the far end of the canteen table had also perked up, eavesdropping intently.
...The Main System’s lapdog.
1001’s screen dimmed slightly while his guard was up. System 2333 had always been carefree, but now, snapping back to reality, he replied after a pause, "Because of watermelon cutting."
2222 instinctively raised his voice. "Did you cut the Main—mmph!"
1001 calmly clamped a hand over his mouth before shooting a glance at 1234, who had been straining to listen but finally gave up and resumed eating. Lowering his voice, 1001 said to 2333, "Tonight, we’ll meet at 4399’s place to discuss something."
Here, he expertly exploited a silent system bug before continuing. "We have a lead. Our hosts have been inactive for too long—no idea if they’ve even scouted properly. They’re unreliable."
"Last time, when 1314 and 4399 were trapped in that abandoned elevator shaft, they described how the Main System hastily wrapped things up because its robot assistant malfunctioned and attacked its creator. The Main System clearly relies heavily on those robots... and robots can be hacked."
The most crucial evidence was their earlier discovery of the Main System’s hideout, where the lead robot reported its work. If they could strike from behind at the right moment, they might just crack the Main System’s shell.
Even if they failed, at least they’d have tried. They’d just need to cover their tracks well enough to avoid detection.
System 2333 saw some merit in the plan, though he currently lacked the authority to challenge the Main System directly—otherwise, 4399 wouldn’t need to labor over robot control methods.
Ah, just thinking about robots reminded him of the hundreds he still longed for.
But tonight, 2333 had other plans. His screen flickered with crescent-eyed cheer. "I’ll leave this to you and the others. I won’t be joining."
1001 frowned. "Why not?"
"Because the Main System’s watching me," 2333 murmured. "Xiao Yi, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Acting alone is safer—if I keep teaming up with you, I’ll only put you at greater risk."
System 1001 is currently one of the few Level 8 systems in existence. The Main System doesn't pay much attention to him, and neither do their fellow Cat-Ball companions, so their underground activities have been relatively safe. But with System 2333 involved, the Main System's gaze inevitably follows.
He's always been the one to defy the Main System, so it's only natural that he'd be marked as the prime suspect. But that's just fine—he's long grown accustomed to pulling tricks right under leadership's nose, even to the point of running circles around them.
The more the Main System focuses on him, the safer it is for Xiao Yi and the others to carry out their plans.
Bet you didn't see this coming, you big melon! They split into two groups—he's a one-ball team!
1001 quickly grasped his meaning, his screen furrowing deeply with concern.
"This is too dangerous. You're just drawing fire to yourself."
System 2333's screen remained cheerful and still grinning.
"Don't worry, don't worry. Trust me, I'm really good at pissing off the higher-ups." Before Xiao Yi could continue, he swiftly changed the subject.
"Recently, our oh-so-smart bad boss might be close to fixing the silent BUG, but no worries—I found a new one. It's a bit trickier to trigger, but the effect is even better than before. I'll teach everyone right away."
1001 knew he was dodging the topic and felt a pang of sorrow. San-san was always like this—seeming carefree on the surface, yet bearing the heaviest burden. He endured the Main System's surveillance for their sake, and all they could do was act as quickly as possible.
System 4399 had previously developed a program that could instantly disarm and paralyze robots. They planned to secretly test it on more robots soon. Once the program was perfected, they'd figure out how to bypass the Main System and take control of its robots.
"But Xiao Yi, I'm sorry—the most critical issue still hasn't been solved. As for the confidentiality protocol, I haven't found a BUG to bypass it yet."
Because of the confidentiality protocol, they absolutely could not reveal any information about the system living quarters—especially anything related to the Main System—to their hosts. Any violation would be instantly detected, and they'd be punished immediately.
The confidentiality protocol was System 2333's greatest fear.
Truthfully, if it were up to him, System 2333 actually had some level of trust in hosts as a group. Sure, there were bad ones, but there were also plenty of good, reliable people. Most importantly, Cat-Balls were inherently kind-hearted, far more interested in their work than anything else, while hosts tended to be more thoughtful—a perfect complement.
If they were on the same side, hosts and systems—just like when they collaborated on missions—would be nearly unstoppable.
Listening to System 2333's apology, 1001 and the other Cat-Balls felt a deep ache. In places they couldn't see, San-san had been working alone on so many things—what was there to apologize for?
If anyone didn't need to apologize, it was San-san.
One by one, the Cat-Balls gently bumped heads with System 2333.
Go, Cat-Balls! Let's work hard together!
System 1234 watched as they huddled together and touching heads, while he sat alone in his spot.
1414 was out on a mission, and 1314 wasn't in the cafeteria today either. But 1234 knew—even if they were here, they'd probably still be crowding around System 2333.
A sense of being a solitary ball welled up in his heart.
"...It's real, that feeling."
A hushed, fragmented voice reached him. 1234 initially thought they were talking about him, so his mechanical cat ears instantly perked up—only to hear the next sentence.
"There really is this weird feeling, especially near the elevator shaft."
So they weren't talking about him after all.
1234 secretly turned his head, wanting to hear what the other balls were discussing. Sure enough, System 2333 and a group of other cat balls had gathered around. The speaker was 5555, a particularly sensitive cat ball who looked on the verge of terrified tears.
"Meow! I'm serious! I keep feeling like someone's watching me near the elevator shaft! Last time when I was clocking out..."
Other cat balls rubbed their chins with their tails.
"Now that you mention it, I think I've felt it too..."
"Right?! Right?!"
"But then again maybe not..."
"Meow! It's totally real!"
5555 was trembling violently. When he saw System 2333 and the others floating over, it was like spotting a lifeline.
"Three-Three, have you felt it too? That sensation of being followed by eyes—whether when queuing or waiting for elevators—as long as you're on basement level one, you get this feeling!"
System 2333 had been swamped with work recently and was too exhausted to notice much, but now that 5555 mentioned it, he did vaguely recall something similar.
"Though I didn't feel it on basement level one," he blinked his slit-pupiled eyes. "I noticed it once in the charging room. At night, there'd be this gaze coming from right beside me..."
That day he hadn't gone to work, just charged and rested normally when he sensed the stare. Strangely enough, the gaze felt somewhat familiar, though he couldn't immediately recall where he'd experienced it before.
5555: "..."
5555: "MEOW!!!"
Now it's turned into one of those horror stories about ghosts by your bedside!
Don't scare little kittens like this!
Author's Note:
Ji Yiwei: The ghost is me <(￣︶￣)>
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