Chapter 2
“Hello, Caretaker Su! I am Nanny Robot No. 4586. From now on, we’ll be colleagues. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
The nanny robot hovered beside Su Ci, its tone cheerful, and its electronic eyes blinking animatedly.
This robot had a rounded head and body, with its metallic shell painted in bright colors adorned with cute little yellow flowers.
“Can I call you Su Su?” it asked, sounding overly familiar.
Su Ci studied the robot, finding it rather novel.
It resembled a puppet but was far more flexible and intelligent, almost as if it had thoughts of its own.
At the moment, they were already outside the administration building.
To quickly reach the cub-rearing facility, Su Ci followed 4586’s directions to a raised circular platform in front of the building. Once he and the robot stepped onto it, a holographic panel appeared before him.
A beam of light scanned his face.
[Beep—Identity Verified]
[Welcome, Apprentice Caretaker Su Ci. Please select your destination.]
A simplified map of Base Twenty-Four appeared on the virtual screen, showing locations like the Administration Office, Logistics Department, Medical Purification Center, Operations Division, and more.
Though the script was unfamiliar, Su Ci found he could read it.
With 4586 urging him on, his gaze settled on the cub-rearing facility.
This building was positioned at the base’s center but surrounded by a vast cleared area, both protected and isolated.
Su Ci tapped to select it.
[Selection Confirmed]
[Commencing Transport]
The platform beneath him lit up with a white glow, enveloping Su Ci completely. When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on the platform at the cub-rearing facility’s entrance.
[Transport Complete]
[This transport deducted 1 point. Remaining points: 99.]
Su Ci glanced down at the platform. Its function was similar to a teleportation array, though its operational principles seemed different.
As he pondered this, 4586’s voice rang out, “It’s almost dinnertime, Su Su! We need to hurry and prepare dinner for the babies!”
“If we’re late, the babies will get upset!” 4586 warned.
Dinner?
Su Ci’s eyes lit up. Without needing further prompting, he followed the robot briskly toward the facility’s main building.
The cub-rearing facility had a large courtyard in front of it, surrounded by tall, thick metallic walls that were at least two or three stories high.
The pathways and courtyard floor were not bare earth but covered in smooth metallic panels made of a special material. Under the streetlights, they gleamed faintly.
As they walked, 4586 chattered along, “The babies are upstairs. For now, we’re heading to the kitchen. Today, the supply station’s delivery arrived, so we can prepare a hearty meal for them!”
Hearty?
“Sounds great!” Su Ci replied enthusiastically.
They bypassed the front lobby of the first floor and quickly entered the kitchen. However, the kitchen was nothing like Su Ci had imagined.
There were no stoves. The room was sleek and orderly but exuded a cold, metallic aesthetic.
Beep-beep—
Su Ci’s communicator suddenly chimed.
[Nanny Robot No. 4586 is transmitting the file: ‘Cub Rearing Facility Baby Meal Recipes.’ Would you like to accept it now?]
4586 floated to a corner of the kitchen. “Su Su, the babies’ favorite flavors, along with the daily required calories and nutrients, have all been sent to you!”
As it spoke, a panel in the corner automatically lit up. The nanny robot raised its hand, and from its hollow fingers, a data cable extended and connected to the panel.
Moments later, a door opened in the wall, releasing a gust of chilly air from within.
Su Ci glanced back at his communicator and selected [Accept].
Meal recipes? He found himself genuinely curious.
As soon as Su Ci tapped to accept, a document opened automatically, displaying on his screen:
[Cub Rearing Facility Baby Meal Recipes]
[Number Two]
Preferred taste: Meat
Required calories per meal: …
Required nutrients per meal: …
Meal frequency: Four meals per day
Meal times: 6:00, 12:00, 18:00, 24:00
[Number Three]
Preferred taste: Meat
Required calories per meal: …
Required nutrients per meal: …
Meal frequency: Three meals per day
Meal times: 6:00, 12:00, 18:00
[Number Four]
Preferred taste: …
…
Su Ci blinked in confusion. The meal plans didn’t resemble anything he recalled about human dietary guidelines.
And why did the list only include Numbers Two through Eight? Where was Number One?
His perplexity deepened when he saw what 4586 retrieved from the cold storage.
Stacked rectangular boxes were being carried out of the storage and placed near a machine in the corner of the kitchen.
The nanny robot opened one of the boxes, revealing a gel-like solid substance that exuded a meaty aroma.
This is meat?
Su Ci watched as 4586 emptied several boxes of the gel-like substance into the machine—four boxes in total—before stopping to press buttons on the machine’s control panel.
“This is for Number Two’s dinner. When supplies are ample, we can increase the caloric content by 10% over the base recipe,” 4586 explained while tapping at the panel.
So… this was what it meant by “hearty”?
Something felt off, but as the enticing aroma of cooking meat filled the air, Su Ci couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anticipation. He was genuinely hungry after having slept for so long.
Hissss—
Steam hissed as the cooking machine’s side compartment opened, revealing a steaming, mountain-like pile of food that resembled a giant heap of meat.
4586 continued to add ingredients into the machine and adjusted the settings before darting over to place Number Two’s food onto a nearby table, covering the plate with a lid.
The rich aroma of meat wafted through the air, making Su Ci’s stomach growl audibly.
While 4586’s back was turned, Su Ci lifted the lid slightly and grabbed a small spoon nearby. He scooped out a bit of the food and popped it into his mouth.
The morsel was hot and chewy but lacked the rich flavor he had anticipated. The taste was mild, barely resembling meat, and left him feeling underwhelmed.
Disappointing.
Just as Su Ci was about to ponder the oddity of this “meat,” he suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere. He turned his head toward the kitchen door.
The door was open, revealing an empty corridor beyond. The hallway was silent, devoid of any activity.
And then—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The calm was shattered by loud crashing sounds from outside, followed by shrill cries and wails from children. Mixed within were the faint roars of tigers and lions.
“Oh no! Oh no!”
The nanny robot hastily dropped the food it was handling, its voice frantic. “The babies are causing trouble again! We need to hurry, or 4583 will be in danger!”
With that, 4586 dashed out the door.
Su Ci glanced back at the food tray, hesitated for a moment, and then set the spoon down, quickly following after the robot.
They quickly arrived on the second floor, but before they could reach the dining hall—
Bang!
The metallic wall of the dining hall caved in with a deafening crash. A figure smashed through the wall, only to collide with another section of the cub-rearing facility’s structure before sliding down to the floor.
Su Ci looked over. The figure sprawled on the ground had the form of a human child, about seven or eight years old, but with a pair of animal ears perched atop their head and a furry tail swishing behind them.
Roar—
The child got up, glaring at the hole in the wall as they let out a lion-like roar. The sound was youthful but carried an undeniable air of menace.
A demonic beast? Su Ci observed the child with interest as they stood.
The child’s amber eyes blazed with wild aggression. They glanced briefly at Su Ci before snarling at the hole in the wall and growling, “Number Two! Do you have a death wish?!”
Dropping to all fours, the child leaped with astounding agility through the hole in the wall. Sounds of a renewed fight erupted from the other side, accompanied by high-pitched squeals from 4586.
“Number Four! Stop fighting! Stop fighting!”
The hole was too small for 4586 to fit through, so it hurriedly flew around to enter through the doorway instead.
Su Ci remained where he was, peering through the hole to get a better view of the chaos inside.
The room, originally the dining hall, was furnished with child-sized tables and chairs. Now, it was a wreck. Furniture lay overturned or smashed, leaving the space in complete disarray.
Two children with animal ears and tails were wrestling on the ground, trading blows and throwing each other into the walls, leaving visible dents in the metal.
Apart from the fighters, two or three other children stood nearby, watching with glee. They clapped, cheered, and shrieked in excitement, their voices echoing through the room.
In a corner, another small figure sat alone, engrossed in a toy, entirely uninterested in the commotion around them.
Not far from this solitary child was a pile of broken parts scattered in the corner. A little girl with slightly longer hair and a skirt was awkwardly holding the head of a nanny robot, trying to reattach it to the robot’s mangled body.
No matter how hard she tried, the head refused to fit back into place.
“Sweetie, please put me down, or you might get hurt… Zzzzz… How about I sing a song for you? Zzzzz…”
The robot’s cheerful electronic voice, now distorted and crackling with static, seemed pitiable.
This poor robot was likely 4583, the one 4586 had mentioned as being in danger. Unfortunately, it appeared they had arrived too late to save it.
But 4586 paid no mind to its disassembled colleague. It flew straight toward the two wrestling children, its voice urgent.
“Number Two! Number Four! Stop fighting! Stop fighting! Sweet babies shouldn’t fight. Please, calm down and stop!”
However, the two cubs paid no heed to 4586’s pleas. The more it shouted, the fiercer they fought, and the cheering children became even louder, their excitement reaching new heights.
The scene before him was utter chaos, the kind of noise that would drive any sane person to leave immediately.
After only a short while, Su Ci felt his ears begin to ache.
Frowning at the raucous scene, already in a sour mood, Su Ci’s frustration grew. His delicate brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and gradually, a glimmer of icy golden light emerged in his gentle black eyes.
The moment the golden light appeared, the two cubs locked in their heated brawl suddenly froze.
Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, their eyes shut, and they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Hmm? Why did they stop fighting?
With the combatants down, the cheering children fell silent, their faces shifting from excitement to confusion. 4586, too, stopped its frantic attempts to mediate.
The dining hall became quiet.
Su Ci’s tightly knit brows relaxed, and with the world finally peaceful again, the golden hue in his eyes faded. He slowly stepped back from the hole in the wall. Just as he was about to enter the dining hall, hurried footsteps echoed from behind him.
Turning his head, Su Ci saw a group of people in dark red uniforms armed with firearms approaching. Leading the group was a woman.
When she saw him, her eyes brightened, and she quickly approached.
“You must be the new caretaker, Su Ci?” She flashed her ID card. “I’m Xun Xiaoyu from the Operations Division. We received an alert. Did the cubs go berserk again?”
Su Ci looked at her, then at the wary team members cautiously approaching the hole in the wall. He nodded calmly.
“Where are they now? What’s the situation?” Xun Xiaoyu asked, glancing at the hole in the wall. The quiet inside made her suspect the cubs had already left.
But the unnaturally beautiful young caretaker in front of her extended a finger and pointed into the hole.
Puzzled, Xun Xiaoyu leaned over to look.
Inside, Numbers Two and Four lay crumpled on the floor, stacked on top of each other. Three other cubs surrounded them, some standing, some squatting, curiously examining the unconscious pair. One poked Number Four’s forehead, while another placed a foot near Number Two’s nose.
Neither of the downed cubs moved.
As for the remaining two cubs, one was still engrossed in their toy, while the other was fiddling with the disassembled nanny robot.
All seven cubs were present and accounted for.
Xun Xiaoyu pulled back, bewildered, and gestured to her team. They swiftly entered the dining hall to inspect the unconscious cubs.
“They’re just knocked out, no life-threatening injuries!” one of them called out.
Xun Xiaoyu turned to Su Ci, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. “Did you tranquilize them?”
Was his aim that accurate?
Su Ci shook his head and replied honestly, “I was just standing here watching.”
