I followed Haicao Tuan to a small house.
He was making a phone call on his cellphone.
I know what a cellphone is; there are lots of fun things in it, and it can even conjure up delicious food.
But I’m not sure if it actually tastes good.
Hopefully, it won’t be as tough to chew as a robot.
Not long after, a weirdo in a white robe and a beaked mask came running over.
“Sorry, sorry, Captain Lu, I didn’t expect you to arrive so soon. Here’s the key, and the related documents.”
He took out an Ancient Bronze Key from the box on his back, along with a thick stack of white papers. Only after handing them over did he notice me standing behind Lu Xiu.
“And this is?”
“Sui. Sui of Taisui.”
“That’s not it! It’s Sui from ‘safe and sound all year’!”
I retorted unhappily, but Lu Xiu was unmoved and just started reading the documents.
I’m so mad, I want to chew you up from head to toe!
“What’s the difference anyway…”
The beaked mask muttered, and after handing over the documents, his task was done. He hurried off with his box, disappearing around the corner.
A few minutes later, Lu Xiu finished reading, swung the key, and headed for the front door.
“Follow me.”
He was talking to me.
When he opened the door, the air inside was stuffy and heavy, as if a layer of gauze filtered every breath.
I don’t like this place, though I can’t say why.
“I want to go back.”
“Then I’ll trigger the restrainer.”
“Then I’m not going back.”
Better to stay here than have my head blown up.
“Almost forgot, what’s your ability? Since you’re my partner, I need to know.”
“Eating. Sui is really good at eating.”
Lu Xiu stopped in his tracks, his voice muffled: “Is eating your only talent?”
“Um… My tongue is really long.”
I even stuck out my tongue from my big mouth to show him.
His eyelid twitched. “You’d better be serious.”
Now I was dissatisfied: “I am serious! You ask, I answer. Obviously you’re the one who can’t communicate— not like a normal person at all.”
Lu Xiu was amused by my words.
“Interesting. This is the first time I’ve been called abnormal by something that isn’t human.”
“You’re the one who’s not human! Your whole family isn’t human!”
He didn’t argue, just continued deeper inside.
After passing through the entrance hall, the path inside grew odd. It wasn’t normal rooms anymore, but a circular space covered in white patterns— everything was round.
“Serial number: GD-023421. Universal Round Aberration. Its ability seems to be assimilating everything around into circles. Aberration-level, not a major threat overall.” He stated clearly.
“Now you handle it. I’ll guide you.”
“Eh?” I didn’t want to move. “Why don’t you do it?”
“Who’s the captain, you or me? If I did everything, what would I need you for?”
“Fine.”
For the sake of my food and my life, I could only put my head down and get to work.
“Listen, don’t touch anything round, and especially don’t eat anything.”
“Tch.”
My face darkened.
He saw right through me.
Wandering and stopping all over the round room, I didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary.
“Go look for the aberration’s core. Every aberration has a core— find it, and you can destroy or contain it.”
He stood at the doorway giving instructions.
“What’s the core? Can you eat it?”
“If you mention food once more during this mission, you’re not getting dinner today.”
My eyes went wide— what a vicious curse!
“The core is where the energy fluctuation is strongest, the most unusual, the most distinctive… Tch, why am I teaching you such basic knowledge.”
Strongest? Most unusual… most distinctive…
I still didn’t quite get it, but… I think it should be the tastiest thing.
Gurgle—
I swallowed, itching to find the core.
Eat it, eat it.
If I eat it secretly, he won’t know.
Hehehe.
I stopped messing around and began searching in earnest for the thing that most aroused my appetite.
Round vase… Not tasty.
Round…
Huh?
My gaze landed on an inconspicuous silver coin on the floor.
It gave off a strange sour smell, completely different from everything else around— definitely the most distinctive thing in the whole room.
Could this be the so-called core?
I snuck a glance at Lu Xiu and saw he was looking at me. Startled, I quickly looked away.
No good, he’ll catch me like this. I need to distract him.
My gaze wandered and finally settled on a pile of vases in the corner.
A brilliant plan formed in my mind.
I pretended to be searching, then walked over to the vases with my back to him, secretly lifted my clothes to reveal the big mouth on my belly, and got ready to use my tongue to “accidentally” roll a vase, drawing his attention so I could fish in troubled waters.
Just as I was gloating over my cleverness, the restrainer suddenly buzzed— a surge of electricity shot through me, covering my whole body.
I got zapped again.
“Don’t try anything funny. Don’t think I don’t know,” Lu Xiu’s voice came from the door.
I licked my now-numb tongue, swaying my head as I plopped onto the floor.
So numb.
My once-ready tongue was now useless, drooping and twitching a little in my belly.
I really hate this guy.
Can’t eat, can’t do anything.
This isn’t the freedom I wanted.
They just brought me from one cage to another.
Changed my warden from a robot to Haicao Tuan.
“Listen, Sui.” After his warning, Lu Xiu’s voice sounded again. “I don’t care what you’re thinking. The most important thing during a mission is that everything revolves around me.”
“You do exactly what I say. Any action that doesn’t meet my requirements is a violation. If it’s serious, I’ll kill you on the spot— no mercy.”
“I got it.”
I got up off the floor, stuffed my big tongue back into my mouth, and obediently walked over to the coin. Pointing at it, I looked at Lu Xiu. “Here’s a coin. I think it’s really… really weird.”
Almost said tasty…
“A coin?”
“Mhm.”
I nodded, forming a circle with my thumb and forefinger. “About this big.”
He frowned, unconsciously stroking his stubbly chin, deep in thought.
“Don’t touch it ye—”
“Huh?” I met his gaze, and then saw his eyes shift from mine to my palm, where a small silver coin glinted in the sunlight.
He covered his face.
“So, should I put it back?”
Not wanting to get shocked again, I’d already thought of a way to make it up to him.
Hope he’ll accept it.
“I feel like our partnership is about to end.”
As soon as Lu Xiu finished speaking, the whole world suddenly plunged into darkness, as if someone had snuffed out the sun outside. With a click, the whole stage fell silent.
“Eh?”