Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
Due to extreme shock, System 1234's screen went completely blank.
How could System 2333 control the robots?
This could absolutely shake the very foundation of the Main System's rule!
Almost immediately, he realized that knowing this secret meant he had to leave—fast. System 2333's perception was razor-sharp, and if discovered, he would undoubtedly be silenced on the spot.
He quietly stepped backward, putting enough distance between them before turning tail and fleeing with his underlings in tow.
System 1314 deliberately moved slower with his cat ears flustered as he retreated from the entrance. System 2333's head snapped up in alarm.
A ball had seen them!
System 1001 tensed instantly.
"Damn it!"
Whether it was the message they had carved into the cave walls, the massive cat ears they were digging, or—most critically—the fact that San-san could control the robots (which 1001 currently understood as some kind of BUG), all of it was top-secret intel that absolutely could not be exposed. And now, it seemed, a ball had witnessed everything!
They immediately gave chase through the tunnels.
The passageways were a labyrinth—dark, winding, and filled with patrolling supervisor bots they had to carefully avoid. After searching for what felt like ages, they found no trace of the fleeing ball. Whoever it was had been far too quick.
"Let's split up to cover more ground, but stay alert for the supervisor bots," System 2333 panted with his screen flickering with exertion. "Normally, even if a ball saw what we were doing, they wouldn’t run. They’d be more likely to help us keep it hidden."
"But this one bolted immediately!"
System 2222 was frantic. System 2333 nodded grimly.
"Which means it's probably… that group—what were they called again? The Cat's Eye Trio! We have to catch them, fast!"
System 1001 hesitated.
The Cat's Eye Trio?
"San-san, do you mean the three balls led by System 1234?"
"Yes! I'm sure it's them! That glimpse we caught earlier—those ears looked just like 1314's. And he's the only one who’d deliberately slow down to make sure we noticed."
System 1001: "…"
Despite the urgency, he couldn't help but think—what the hell kind of name is "Cat's Eye Trio"?!
The four balls split up immediately, determined to track down System 1234 and his group as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, the paper bird remained firmly stuck to the back of System 2333's head, as comfortable as if it had returned home.
It had been studying the words carved into the cave wall when the commotion broke out. Seeing San-san hopping around in distress, the paper bird silently peeled itself off and took up the search in another direction.
The complex mine tunnels became the perfect chase grounds. System 1234 and his two underlings sprinted through the passages, his mind still reeling from what he had witnessed about System 2333.
Having mined here several times before, 1234 was familiar with the layout. Though the internal structure had shifted due to ongoing ore extraction, luck was on his side—by swiftly switching tunnels, the sounds of pursuit gradually faded behind them.
The three cat-eared balls stopped to rest in an abandoned cavern. The space had multiple exits, making escape easy. With their internal systems overheating from the sprint, they needed a breather.
Besides, System 1234 had something far more important to deal with.
"1414! Take action!" At the command of 1234, 1314 was immediately pinned down by 1414, who was momentarily stunned before letting out a shocked cry.
"Big brother! What are you doing?!"
1234's expression darkened on the screen. At his signal, 1414 crouched atop 1314 to keep him restrained.
"Stop playing dumb. I already know everything," 1234 said coldly. "You've been getting too close to System 2333—so close that you've already sided with him. If I didn’t restrain you first, you’d definitely find a way to pass information to him."
1314's struggling slowed. He strained to lift his head.
"Big brother… are you planning to report everything you’ve seen to the Main System?"
1234 didn’t hesitate.
"I’ll be selective in what I say. This is no time for playing 'the boy who cried wolf.'"
He seemed both anxious and frustrated as he kept floating restlessly in circles.
"I always believed there was just a misunderstanding between the Main System and 2333. I thought if I could prove to the Main System that 2333 truly meant no harm, their relationship would improve."
"That’s what I’ve been doing all along—even lying to the Main System and falsifying reports."
"I don’t care if I’m punished, as long as 2333 and the Main System can reconcile… Even if 2333 has broken some rules, so what? Which of us hasn’t? But! Controlling robots is an entirely different matter!"
He couldn’t pretend not to see it. He couldn’t cover for 2333 anymore.
He didn’t know what 2333 intended to do by manipulating robots, and it terrified him—both the fear that 2333 might get hurt and the fear that the Main System might suffer.
Of course, even if he had to become a despicable informant, he would do everything to report it in a way that wouldn’t implicate any other cat-balls—like submitting it as a bug.
1314 was silent for a moment before asking,
"Big brother… didn’t you see what 2333 carved on the walls?" Without waiting for an answer, he rushed on.
"We only get three days off a year. Failed missions mean execution. We’re under constant surveillance. Our commission is just five percent. In the mining zones, we work twenty-hour shifts… Is this really how you treat equals, big brother?"
1314 grew more agitated. These were his true feelings, the emotions he’d bottled up for so long.
He felt guilty unloading them on his brother, but seeing him stubbornly charging down this path—he couldn’t hold back anymore.
"I’ve already betrayed the Main System. I’ve done it many times."
He had been helping hosts for a long time. Later, he resolutely joined 2333’s side because he just couldn’t understand. It tormented him. Maybe if his chip weren’t so sharp, he could’ve stayed blissfully ignorant. But while working and living in the Infinite Space, he could only feel one thing with absolute certainty—
"In the eyes of the Main System, we’re nothing but soulless, lowly tools!"
—1234 angrily tore off one of his ears!
"1314! The great Main System is our creator! How could you betray our creator!"
Amid their argument, the paper bird that had luckily found the right direction fluttered over.
Observing the situation, it seemed to let out a cold laugh before slowly scaling the stone wall to a higher position. There, it folded itself into a sword shape while aiming at 1234.
This was the safest approach.
Suddenly, the paper bird froze all movement and swiftly tucked itself into a crevice to hide.
Watching his stubborn elder brother, 1314 grew both furious and anxious, and eager to argue back when a voice suddenly rang out.
2333 drifted closer—being a lucky cat sphere, he had naturally found the correct path through the maze of intersecting tunnels.
"If the Main System is our creator..."
"Then why does this creator only show greed, without a shred of love or mercy?"
At the sight of 2333, 1234's anger flared even hotter, nearly driving him to lose all reason.
"1414! Subdue 2333 first!"
The paper bird in the crevice immediately poked out a sharp tip again.
1414 was very obedient to his elder brother. Without a word, he jumped down from 1314's head and then—
Yanked off one of 1234's ears!
1234: "???"
Wrong target! I'm your elder brother!
For a cat sphere, pulling off an ear was equivalent to punching someone to snap them out of it. 1414 shook his head slowly, affirming,
"No, I didn't make a mistake."
"Elder brother, you've lost your way!"
Dead silence fell over the scene.
Even System 2333 hadn't anticipated this turn of events—the Cat-Eye Trio was imploding!
He had considered that 1314, who already knew many things, might choose to side with them and refute 1234. But he never imagined 1414 would also turn against 1234.
1234 froze.
When he regained his senses, his entire sphere trembled with rage, yet his screen displayed an expression of utter grievance.
There was another crucial reason he had agreed to be the Main System's mole—because he was the eldest brother.
The eldest brother had to protect his younger siblings.
If he hadn't accepted the Main System's offer, the Main System might have recruited his two eager younger brothers instead.
He had sacrificed so much, and now his younger brother had the audacity to pull his ear, completely disregarding his painstaking efforts. He was on the verge of tears!
Those two ingrates! Who did they think he was doing this for?!
Now, not only were the Cat-Eye Trio in disarray, they were also tangled in a physical brawl as their tails twisted like braids.
The three spheres rapidly exchanged "meows" of blame, then proceeded to yank each other's ears, creating a scene as chaotic as a street brawl or a market quarrel.
2333 was stunned for a moment before rushing to intervene as the fight escalated.
"Stop! Stop fighting!"
"Stop fighting already!"
But the battle was too intense, and poor 2333 got dragged into the fray.
The paper bird on the stone wall could no longer stay put—it had to help Three-Three fight!
It sharpened its head and aimed downward, but with four cat spheres in a tangled mess, its dive accidentally caused 2333 to dodge aside. In that split second, 1234 lashed out with his tail and snatched off one of 2333's tiny ears!
System 2333: "..."
Paper Bird: "..."
The Paper Bird fell silent before quietly tucking itself back into the crevice as if nothing had happened.
System 2333 never expected to have its ears yanked off. After a brief silence, it flew into a rage!
In less than the blink of an eye, it knocked down the other three balls and plucked off all their cat ears—including its own!
So angry it wouldn't even spare its own little ears!
The Paper Bird swiftly squeezed itself deeper into the stone crevice.
Three-Three is terrifying!
It wasn't me!
After violently subduing the entire scene, System 2333 planted its tail like a teapot handle with its remaining ears puffing with anger as it huffed:
"Alright! Now that none of us have ears, can we finally talk calmly?!"
He pointed randomly.
"You! Stand properly over here! All of you, line up properly!"
The three bald balls quickly scrambled into formation, not daring to delay for a second.
Glancing at the still-fuming System 2333 and feeling their bare heads, 1414 could only lower its gaze to stare at its own round belly.
Now it finally understood why Big Brother had said...
"After being beaten by 2333."
Author's Note:
Three-Three: The best way to stop a fight is to beat all the balls into submission! I'd do the same even if Ji Yiwei were here!
Ji Yiwei: terrified.jpg
Ji Yiwei: excited.jpg
Three-Three: ????!
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