Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
The robots in the secret warehouse were indeed of better quality than those outside, as their shells gleamed as if well-maintained.
The three cat-eared balls excitedly patted each other's tails, with System 2333 floating forward first while contemplating where to start devouring.
The storage space of the cat-eared balls was unique—once an item was swallowed, it would lose all connection with the outside world, which was why System 2333 wasn’t worried about being tracked.
Items processed through the warehouse could then be selected for the system mall, and once added, they could even be brought into mission worlds for hosts to purchase.
Not even the Main System’s mall could do that.
System 2333 began strategizing. 1818, being a veteran system, had hoarded a lot of goods, leaving limited warehouse space. 6666, however, was a novice with an enormous storage capacity, making him the main force for transporting the robots this time.
Of the robots they took back, System 2333 planned to allocate some to 4399.
To avoid the hassle of moving them later, 1818 would swallow that portion directly, while he and 6666 would handle the rest they intended to keep… perfect!
With the plan settled, it was time for inspection. As long as the robots had no major flaws, they would take them all.
System 2333 placed cat-ear jammers on one of the robots and fully charged it with a battery. The robot’s screen flickered to life as it slowly booted up.
Yes! It worked!
The three cat-eared balls were still bouncing around in excitement when suddenly, System 2333 sensed something wrong.
The robot sluggishly turned its screen, scanning each of them one by one. When its gaze landed on System 2333, the screen abruptly flashed red!
[Target.]
[Target identified.]
In Wen Xu’s programming, virus-infected robots were set to attack the highest authority. After scanning its surroundings, the robot had detected the one who could unconditionally command it—the highest authority of all.
The Main System.
Icons began overlapping chaotically on the robot’s screen while locking onto the small black cat-eared ball in its field of vision.
[Target locked. Entering attack mode.]
System 2333: “!!!”
He leaped three feet in the air and immediately stumbled into a frantic escape. 1818 and 6666 initially ran with him, but they soon realized the robot seemed to be targeting only 2333.
Hesitating, they stopped to the side and silently watched as the robot zoomed past them in pursuit of the black cat-eared ball.
Fortunately, since Wen Xu hadn’t yet managed to recruit combat robots, the one currently in berserk attack mode… was a vacuum cleaner robot.
System 2333 stared blankly at his two friends standing safely out of range—why wasn’t the robot chasing them at all?!
The moment he paused, the robot caught up, raising its modified vacuum nozzle arm and mercilessly swinging it down at him!
“Senior 33!”
6666 panicked, but cat-eared balls had no attack functions—he couldn’t help. 1818 remained much calmer, though his heart still clenched as he grabbed 6666’s tail.
If things got really bad, he could always use 6666 as a makeshift meteor hammer.
Then they could only watch helplessly as the robot chasing System 2333—
Switched to vacuum mode.
And sucked away one of System 2333's little ears.
System 2333: "???"
Meow meow meow! Give it back!
Just as he was about to bravely charge forward to reclaim his ear, the robot suddenly raised another vacuum nozzle, scaring him into covering his remaining ear and fleeing in panic.
System 6666 watched as the robot and System 2333 zoomed past—"whoosh" here and "zoom" there—before shaking his head vigorously, his screen displaying a resolute expression.
"Senior Three-Three! Don't worry! I'll take it down!"
He charged!
A few seconds later, the robot was still wildly thrashing about, while System 6666 floated back to System 2333 with his now-bald head.
"Sorry, Senior Three-Three."
"I failed."
System 2333 patted his head—useless, but the thought counted.
System 1818 had been watching closely from the sidelines, looking for an opening. With Systems 2333 and 6666 hiding behind him, the robot—now having devoured three little ears—noticed them. Its screen flashed red as it charged toward System 1818.
System 1818 turned pale with fright, even pulling out his wallet in hopes of buying his way out of trouble, but the robot mercilessly took two of his ears anyway.
System 1818: "..."
Perfect.
Now only one ear remained among the three balls.
Still unsatisfied, the robot convulsed unnaturally as its frenzy escalated. Judging by its stance, it wasn’t just after ears—it would ruthlessly eliminate anything standing between it and System 2333!
Back in Wen Xu's home, most of the lights were off.
He had gone out, leaving his artificial idiot still working—and still being an idiot.
[Comparing...]
[Conclusion: Robot (head only)]
[Conclusion: Matches stored objects in warehouse (partial)]
After a full round of fleeing, System 2333—clutching his last remaining ear—had calmed down from his initial terror of the "ear killer."
After some thought, he removed his final ear and called the other two balls over for a discussion.
He planned to set a trap with this ear.
Hiding behind a crowd of other robots, the activated machine was fiercely bulldozing through obstacles with its screen displaying only a flashing red lock-on marker.
Its ultimate goal was to use its deadliest weapon against the black cat-eared ball—sucking it into its built-in trash compartment.
Finally pushing aside a dozen robots in its path, the vacuum bot scanned its surroundings and suddenly spotted a small triangular object lying in the middle of the floor.
—The target's ear.
Its wheels spun as the robot madly dashed forward.
A crackle of electricity surged through the air—System 2333 held his breath, then unleashed a bolt of lightning!
"Thunderbolt!"
The robot convulsed a few times before collapsing heavily to the ground, finally defeated.
In front of the smoking wreck, the three cat-eared balls rummaged through the vacuum bot's dustbin, searching for their lost ears.
While the other two were reattaching theirs, System 2333 floated up to the robot as his slit-like eyes blinked twice in contemplation.
Something felt off about this robot... No, actually, all these robots seemed wrong.
He directly pried open the robot's skull and plugged in the decryption device. 1818 and 6666, having just finished installing their ears, wanted to come closer, but 2333 was uncharacteristically serious and stern as he told them to stay back.
"Keep your distance! These robots might be compromised!"
His tail flicked across the transparent panel as strings of code flashed across his screen. Suddenly, 2333's tail froze mid-motion—he'd discovered these robots carried some kind of network-transmissible virus.
Raising his screen, the cold silhouettes of robots in the darkness sent a chill through his circuits.
A contagious virus developed by hosts...
Just who was the target here?
"Old Eight, Little Six," he said calmly. "You two leave the warehouse first. I'll follow after packing up all these robots."
These machines were clearly viral test subjects—they couldn't be left here!
2333's storage space was insufficient, so he struggled to spit out the giant cat ears first before asking his friends to hold them. While 6666 was busy swallowing the enormous feline accessories,c1818 could smell something ominous in the air.
"Three-Three, if those robots are compromised, you shouldn't interact with them too much."
Seeing 2333 shake his head vigorously, 1818 suddenly understood. He tried to step forward, but 2333 increased the distance between them.
"Three-Three!"
"I'll head to 4399 right after. It's not a big deal," his screen displayed a smiling emoji to reassure 1818. "Please hurry and tell 4399 to clear a space and prepare containment measures. Because I'm not entirely sure..."
"Whether this virus can infect us cat-balls."
"...This is the place," Wen Xu said while leading Ji Yiwei up the steps with careful deference.
This was the storage area of the host living quarters, where dim streetlights occasionally illuminated heavy-duty transport robots standing motionless in the night.
Ji Yiwei's peripheral vision took in the surroundings as he ascended the steps, with Zhou Yuechu following alongside.
This was actually Zhou Yuechu's first time seeing Wen Xu's robotic research results. Her conscience had previously prevented her from involvement, which was why Sheng Songshi had been the White Bird Project's liaison with Wen Xu.
Now her heart pounded with anxiety—what if Wen Xu hadn't properly hidden those virus-testing robots and Ji Yiwei discovered them?
With Ji Yiwei's sharp intelligence and his particular concern for System 2333, he would absolutely explode on the spot and launch them into outer space to drown.
Wen Xu was also sweating bullets, but the die was cast—he was like a duck forced onto the perch, with no control over the situation now except to pray.
Surely Ji Yiwei wouldn't find his hidden compartment...
The warehouse stood filled with rows of robots. Just as Wen Xu was about to begin his introduction to distract Ji Yiwei, he froze in horror because the moment Ji Yiwei entered, after a brief survey of the warehouse, he immediately started systematically feeling along the walls from the entrance with practiced movements.
Wen Xu despaired.
Ji Yiwei was truly a demon—he hadn't believed a single word and had immediately assumed there would be hidden compartments. If nothing turned up here, he'd probably go search Wen Xu's home next.
The hidden door was quickly discovered. Ji Yiwei looked at the popped-up password keypad with a faint smile with his gaze fixed on Wen Xu.
With heavy steps, Wen Xu approached and opened it—only for Ji Yiwei to shove the door wide open.
Wen Xu felt dazed, as if he could already hear the Black and White Impermanence spirits laughing at him and saying, "Welcome, brother."
Suddenly, Zhou Yuechu's voice rang out, slightly trembling but mostly relieved.
"Mr. Ji, there's nothing inside," she said before glancing at Wen Xu. Both of them looked shaken. "Maybe nothing was put in yet?"
"Y-yes! Nothing was put in yet! Nothing at all..."
Wen Xu's frantic explanation trailed off as he met Ji Yiwei's amused, knowing gaze, his voice fading into silence.
The three cat-balls had plenty stuffed inside them, especially System 2333, who slipped out through the small door they had opened earlier, one after another.
1818 rushed ahead, burying all his worries deep inside and focused only on moving faster—as fast as possible.
4399! You must have a way to save Miracle Kitten, right?!
As they sped along, System 2333 glanced back.
Under the dim glow of the streetlights, figures were entering the warehouse—among them, one was an unmistakable silhouette.
Ji Yiwei?
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