Chapter 23: Calling for More Men to Fight Again

Clap, clap, clap— “Still useless…”

I pulled back my slightly reddened palm and looked at the face I’d just smacked into a monkey’s bottom.

“Seaweed Ball… what’s wrong with you, really?”

It had taken all my effort to run back home, yet Seaweed Ball was still the same as before, stubbornly refusing to wake up.

I felt a little sad.

After all, I wasn’t used to having my ears so quiet without Seaweed Ball’s constant chattering.

I looked at him and sat back down on my sofa.

“Grrr…”

My stomach grumbled in protest, apparently unhappy with all the energy I’d used up earlier.

A bit hungry.

I rubbed my belly, thinking.

Eh?

Wait a minute.

If Lu Xiu is asleep, then doesn’t that mean…

My gaze snapped to the big white block in the kitchen.

“Gulp—”

No time to grieve over Lu Xiu’s deep sleep—right now, the most important thing was to solve my hunger!

I flipped over the sofa in one swift move and pitter-pattered over.

Thump thump—

My heart was pounding fast.

Just a bite.

Swallowing my saliva, I crept into the kitchen.

Carefully reaching out my hand to test it, I found I wasn’t shocked by electricity and felt a wave of joy.

Hahaha! This is great!

Never been this happy before.

But the moment I opened it, a familiar pulse spread out from the restrainer.

Crap!

Zzzzz—

“Uhhh—Electricity, it’s going to fry me…I collapsed to the ground, my whole body steaming. Behind me, a familiar voice rang out: “Tsk… I just looked away for a moment and you’re at it again…”

It’s Lu Xiu, he’s alive!

“I didn’t do it on purpose (speech slurred).”

My mouth was numb, I could barely talk straight.

Turning my head, I saw the fatigue on his face had only deepened, as if he’d run five hundred laps in a row—a living portrait of exhaustion.

“Seaweed Ball…”

“Something happened… but don’t worry, it’s been dealt with.”

How do you always know what I’m about to ask?

Once my tongue felt less numb, I stood up, wobbling over to the sofa.

“You scared me to death, I thought you’d died for real.”

“You just can’t wait for me to die, huh?”

“Just a tiny bit, not much.”

“…Should I be complimenting your honesty?”

“Hehe.”

Since he was fine, it seemed I wouldn’t get to eat anything from that white cabinet after all.

A little disappointed.

“Did anything happen while I was asleep?”

Though his voice was tired, judging from my messy appearance, he seemed to have guessed something.

“Yes!” I nodded at once, waving my hands in the air, “A big Seaweed Ball stretched out tons of ribbons—swish, swish, swish—wrapped up Sui, the ribbons were delicious! Then it dragged me into the water, we fought, I lost, you were useless, just sleeping on the shore, so I dragged you back home.”

“How much did you skip over just now…………”

“Anyway, it bullied me!” I declared, all self-righteous, “You have to help me fight back.”

“We’ll talk about that later…” He got up, rubbing his head as he headed for the bedroom. “Let me get some sleep first.”

I was a little puzzled, but didn’t stop him. After all, aside from eating, sleeping was the best thing in the world.

Click—

The door closed.

Left alone in the living room, I sat and stared blankly at the TV.

Seaweed Ball really did seem strange.

But if I asked, he definitely wouldn’t tell me.

Thinking and thinking, I fell asleep on the sofa.

“Sui sui…”

That voice again, that same familiar tone, gently stroking my mind, slowly tightening…

Can’t breathe…

I jolted awake to find myself upside-down on the sofa, feet in the air, head hanging down, my brain spinning.

“At…”

Unable to help it, I gagged, then stared dazedly at the ceiling. On the chandelier, a spiderweb was slowly spinning its threads, drifting from one end to the other.

I rubbed my stomach.

A bit hungry.

Splash, splash—

Clear water poured from the faucet into the sink. I stared at it for a while, brushing my teeth slowly.

Brush, brush—

The water kept flowing, spraying little droplets that splattered on my clothes, leaving behind tiny dark patches.

“Gurgle, gurgle—pppfft—”

After spitting out the water, I suddenly remembered.

Lu Xiu still hadn’t gotten up today.

I hopped down from the stool, my feet sticking to the floor with a soft plop.

Tap tap tap—

“Seaweed Ball? Seaweed Ball?”

I called outside the door, but there was no answer.

Thud, thud, thud—

I knocked my head against the door.

“Seaweed Ball?”

Still no response.

I stepped back, leaned forward, lowered my head, aimed my horn at the door panel, took two running starts, then charged at the door!

Crack—

Just as my horn was about to hit, the door opened.

Thump!

“Pwah—”

Boom, boom—

Cries of pain and the sound of bottles clattering to the ground mingled and filled the room.

I looked up at Lu Xiu, who wore a pained expression. Climbing off of him, I stood up.

“Thank goodness, Seaweed Ball, you’re okay.”

“…You almost killed me…”

He clutched his stomach, couldn’t straighten up, and only managed to stand by leaning against the table.

“I was just worried about you! I called so many times and you didn’t answer—I thought you were dead again.”

“Since when is death a state that can be triggered repeatedly…”

Hearing him joke, I finally felt completely at ease.

Then I said the thing I most wanted to say:

“Lu Xiu, I’m hungry.”

Breakfast today was still youtiao, but this time only one instead of three—because I’d crashed into Lu Xiu.

“Today there’ll be another team working with me to handle this anomaly.”

He didn’t seem to have recovered from the morning collision, one hand on his waist and stomach, the other holding his phone.

“According to the latest observation, GD-034241 is destructive and aggressive, having damaged park infrastructure like trees, slides, utility poles, and so on. Also, it seems your fight with it yesterday didn’t erase it completely, so its level is temporarily being raised.”

“So the Super Seaweed Ball is really that dangerous?!”

My eyes went wide.

Good thing I’d taken a few bites earlier, or else if it got completely destroyed, I wouldn’t have anything to eat.

“In any case, be careful.”

With that, he led me toward the park.

Morning dew still clung to the leaves, gathering and swelling, then crashing down when a ladybug landed, hitting Lu Xiu’s leather shoes with a splat, then splashing onto my bare legs, sending a chill through me.

Two people were already waiting in the park.

“Sui.”

A man and a woman—the man’s face was haggard and pale, even worse than Lu Xiu’s, while the woman looked stunning and statuesque.

“Biandu Response Division, Hound Team Three, Handler—Xiao Bailing.” The weary man spoke listlessly.

“Biandu Response Division, Hound Team Three, Leash—Liu Xue.” The woman smiled lightly, reporting her title.

“Biandu Response Division, Hound Team Nine, Handler—Lu Xiu.” Lu Xiu introduced himself, then looked at me. “This is my partner, Hound Team One.”

“Since there are two Handlers, shouldn’t we decide who’s in charge?” Liu Xue’s gaze flickered between the pretty boy and Seaweed Ball, fanning the flames.

“I’ll be the Leash.” Xiao Bailing volunteered.