Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
As everyone knows, the system possesses scanning capabilities—their ability to analyze and detect is extraordinarily powerful. If they really put their minds to it, not even the slightest abnormality could escape their perception.
This was evident in the mission worlds, where the highly capable Cat-Balls thrived like fish in water—or more aptly, like cats with fish.
The three people in the elevator were all veteran Hosts, so naturally, they harbored no illusions about possibly slipping past undetected. Climbing up now would be too late and would only create noise. The consequences of being discovered by the system weighed heavily on their hearts, sinking like stones.
Zhou Yuechu could feel her heart pounding wildly.
The worst-case scenario would be the system detecting them, immediately sounding the alarm, and reporting them to the Main System.
Judging by how the Main System erased retired Hosts and controlled the entire Infinite Space, it was clear just how vast and ruthless that mechanical entity truly was.
The black Cat-Ball drifted closer and closer before finally stopping before the gap in the elevator shaft’s outer door.
It then peeked inside.
Meow~
"Oh dear," it said in an exaggerated tone. "Such a tiny elevator shaft—there’s no way three ghosts could fit in here. Guess I was overthinking it. Let’s head back."
These words were meant both for the Hosts inside the elevator and for Cat-Ball 5555 in the distance.
True to its word, it turned around and floated back the way it came.
5555, the tearful Cat-Ball, had been waiting for 2333 to say exactly that. Hearing it was like receiving a pardon. Yet, no matter how scared he had been earlier, he had never considered abandoning 2333 and fleeing. Seeing the other wobble back, he quickly looped tails with it, ready to leave together.
2333 cast a subtle glance toward the abandoned elevator shaft and deliberately asked,
"Little Five, your performance metrics this month… no issues, right?"
5555 immediately burst into tears.
"Shouldn’t be any major problems. Just in case, 1818 hooked me up with some side gigs. I plan to take the special route—paying the Main System in points to scrape by."
2333 was utterly stunned.
What kind of indentured servitude is this?!
The three in the elevator were equally stunned.
What kind of indentured servitude is this?!
The two Cat-Balls soon floated away, and before long, the curfew announcement echoed through the system’s living quarters.
The trio in the elevator finally exhaled in relief—though it was obvious the black Cat-Ball had deliberately let them off, given how it had outright stated there were "three ghosts" inside.
Zhou Yuechu’s heart stirred. Recalling the grueling days she and her brother had spent working to pay off their mortgage, she turned to Sheng Songshi.
"Brother Sheng, don’t you think the relationship between the Main System and the Cat-Balls… is kind of like that between a boss and wage slaves?"
Her implication was clear: wage slaves rarely liked their bosses, let alone remained fiercely loyal to them.
And with these Cat-Balls talking about "indentured servitude" and "performance metrics," Zhou Yuechu felt an intense kinship, as if she’d been transported back to her pre-Infinite Space days—trapped under a mortgage but was too afraid to quit.
Wasn’t the Main System’s primary method of placating and deceiving Hosts also making housing in the Main System’s space dirt cheap?
"I can’t help but feel the Cat-Balls might not have it so good—constantly working for the Main System and probably without even Labor Law protections," Zhou Yuechu said tactfully. "So… could we try to win them over?"
Sheng Songshi frowned slightly.
He admitted that he was somewhat shaken in his heart.
The relationship between the Main System and the cat systems wasn't something that couldn't be exploited, but his caution prevented him from giving an immediate response.
After such a fright tonight, there was no way they could continue their investigation. Sheng Songshi went up first, and Zhou Yuechu watched his retreating figure.
"Yuechu-jie," Wen Xu suddenly spoke up beside her. "It's difficult for Sheng Songshi to fully understand the struggles of ordinary workers. I knew that from the start."
"Before and after entering the Infinite Space, Sheng Songshi has always played the role of a leader—especially before coming here."
"His original world was one of high technology but low quality of life. His family ran a corporate monopoly, a financial conglomerate. After graduation, he inherited the business and became a leader outright. It's not like he'd say something as ignorant as 'Why not eat meat if you're hungry?' but there's still a gap. I call this gap..."
Zhou Yuechu blurted out.
"Class!"
It was like being back in a political science lecture!
Wen Xu choked slightly. Though he had been thinking the same thing, hearing the term spoken aloud gave him a strong sense of absurdity.
"...Right, the one we learned in political class."
Only after affirming it did he notice that Zhou Yuechu's eyes weren't dimmed at all—instead, they shone with a bright, determined light.
"But political class also taught us to unite all forces that can be united and mobilize all positive factors that can be mobilized."
Even though she had left the White Bird Project, she had no reason to be disheartened, nor should she simply give up on Sheng Songshi and his faction.
The Infinite Space gathered hosts from countless worlds, each with different upbringings that shaped their thoughts and ideals.
Sheng Songshi was confined by his own ingrained beliefs, but Zhou Yuechu wouldn't abandon the effort to win him over.
"I'll make good use of this elevator shaft and carefully record the cat-balls' discussions. There's actually a wealth of information here—information that can be used to persuade Sheng Songshi."
As she spoke passionately, she seemed to envision the future Main System space turning into a world of red. Midway through, she suddenly realized Wen Xu had been silent for a long time.
"...Wen Xu?"
Only when she called his name did he hurriedly look up, his voice muffled.
"Yuechu-jie, you said that the Host of 1234..."
He suddenly couldn't continue and closed his eyes.
"Yuechu-jie, let's go up first. Since Ji Yiwei wants to see my work, I need to prepare in advance. I have hundreds of robots in my warehouse, some of which were developed for virus testing—those need to be hidden first..."
Outside the elevator shaft, curfew had long since passed. After escorting System 5555 back, System 2333 doubled back, pressing his mechanical cat ears tightly against the outer door to eavesdrop.
The hosts' conversation was scrambled with interference, but with effort, he could still catch fragmented words.
"Hundreds of robots... hide them..."
System 2333: "!!!"
Where are they hidden?!
Let him see!
In the cat-eared house next to the free market, System 4399 was filled with solemnity.
Floating in the circular testing field, he gave a slight nod to the outside. System 2222 activated the power supply, and System 4399 pressed the remote control with his tail.
He manipulated the robot to perform a series of complex maneuvers—somersaults, stilt-walking, splitting watermelons on the beach, and more.
The onlooking Balls 2222 and 1001 enthusiastically wagged their tails in applause.
However, 4399 wasn't satisfied. With the humility and high standards of a researcher, his screen displayed a permanently furrowed brow as he eventually shook his head at the other cat balls.
"My apologies. My expertise lies in reprogramming robots to operate beyond their original functions and execute commands."
"But there's a fatal flaw—all the robots I've modified were broken and decommissioned units that were under the Main System's control."
1001 understood his meaning, his screen mirroring the frown.
"Can't we seize control from the Main System?"
4399 shook his head.
"Forcibly taking control would definitely be detected."
As for subtle, undetectable takeover—that wasn't his specialty. His skill was simply writing programs. Yet he had witnessed someone successfully transfer robot control before, though... only during friendly technical competitions between them.
4399's gaze softened as it fell upon the small glass sphere containing the smiling miniature figure.
2222 immediately started teasing.
"Meow meow, looks like someone's missing their former host again... Ouch!"
4399 jumped up to hit him.
"You're no better! Just imagine—your host retires, who's going to meme around with you then?"
2222: "..."
Instantly transformed into a weeping cat emoji.
"Wuwuwu, kind 4399." He attempted to massage 4399's shoulders with his tail, only to realize 4399 had no shoulders. So, he settled for massaging his ears instead, but he got swatted by the tail again but still persisted undeterred. "Teach me how to make these little spheres. When Zheng Xibei retires, I'll put one on my desk, offer incense and bow to it during holidays..."
The other two balls: "..."
This didn't seem like the proper way to remember a host...
Despite the absurdity, 4399 still taught 2222 how to make the spheres. Not being part of the regular cat ball group, he wasn't fully aware of 1001's situation and asked if he wanted to learn too.
1001 slowly shook his head.
Seeing 2222's concerned look, his screen displayed two curved eye symbols.
"It's fine."
And it truly was fine. What he sought had never been improving relations with his host.
Watching 4399 and 2222 playfully crafting spheres, and thinking of 33 who was diverting the Main System's attention for them, his thoughts extended further to the countless cat balls still sleeping in the charging room.
1001 reflected that what he truly desired had never been better relations with any host.
If one day they truly overthrew the Main System, and the cat balls became independent from their hosts—that would be his real aspiration:
Genuine freedom.
"By the way," 4399 said after teaching the steps and tossing the materials to the struggling 2222 who couldn't grasp the technique despite frantic tail-to-head motions, "why didn't 33 come this time?"
1001 sighed and explained how System 2333 was currently diverting the Main System's attention.
"He's really mastered drawing aggro," remarked 4399.
Having worked with 2333 for so long, he knew this was something 33 could accomplish—and had chosen to do. He would respect and cherish that decision.
"I just wanted to say I'll be extremely busy during this period. If you happen to see Sansan, please ask him to help collect some robot-related parts and materials for me. Safety first—just gather whatever amount is possible without pushing too hard."
He handed a list of recently needed components to 1001, whose gaze lingered on the final item that surprisingly read: [Several robots].
Just how much faith did he have in Sansan's collecting abilities?
"About this item..."
4399 shook his head.
"I'm just honoring my agreement with Sansan by listing everything we might need. Sansan once said that unlisted items will never be collected, so it's better to write them down—just in case?"
[After all, I'm the Miracle Kitten!]
4399 recalled how Sansan had once proudly perched on his head while declaring this.
He mentally swatted away the illusory System 2333 that seemed to be squatting on his head with an imaginary tail.
So please! Work your magic, Miracle Kitten Sansan!
Author's Note:
Miracle Kitten Sansan: Roger that! Off to snatch some robots right away!
Wen Xu: ???
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