Chapter 27
Yan Ping’s fingers lightly tapped the desk, producing a crisp tap-tap-tap. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “For now, don’t disturb him.”
“Keep following up on the spider silk issue yourself.”
The silk of the giant spider retained vitality, but it would dissipate entirely within one to two hours after leaving the host. While its contamination level was relatively high and posed some risks, it couldn’t cause much trouble at this stage.
After all, nearly ten hours had passed since the sudden blood rain in the morning. Yet, the nursery remained calm, with no alarm triggered. This indicated that the cubs were in good condition.
“Keep an eye on Su Ci. Report any anomalies to me immediately.”
As for the entity that had intentionally interfered during the giant spider’s attack, nearly costing Luo Shengfei his life, Yan Ping would find a way to identify it.
The fact that the perpetrator could appear in the logistics building undetected and retreat without a trace—whether it was another monster or a cub from the nursery—posed a significant risk to Base 24.
Guan Zhishu asked, “What about the report?”
Yan Ping shook his head. “Leave it. I’ll first submit a report regarding monsters actively invading buildings. That’s likely to become the primary focus of the base and the Star Alliance leadership.”
This issue directly affected the survival of the guards on Prison Star and the planning of its future development. It needed to be reported immediately. Yan Ping anticipated being occupied with this for some time.
“Understood,” Guan Zhishu responded with a nod. Then she recalled something and added, “Bases 25 and 26 just sent short messages, asking if we need support.”
Yan Ping nodded. “I’ve received the same message.”
However, given that Base 24 had suffered minimal losses and no fatalities, they didn’t need assistance from allied bases.
Yan Ping sighed. “For Base 26 to offer support, despite being within the blood rain’s reach themselves, is highly commendable.”
“They seem to have suffered significant losses this time…”
The thought of soldiers dying in monster attacks weighed heavily on both of them, even though those fallen were from a different base.
*
Operations Headquarters, Director’s Office
“Base 24 really doesn’t need any support?” A middle-aged man on the other end of a communicator seemed surprised to receive confirmation.
“Yes, Base 24 got lucky this time. The damages are minimal, and the wounded have all been properly cared for. Thank you for Base 26’s concern…”
Liu Guanyao exchanged a few more polite words and expressed his gratitude repeatedly before ending the call.
The surprise and disbelief from the other end of the line brought a deep sense of relief to Liu Guanyao.
For once, Base 24 hadn’t dragged everyone else down!
In the past, whenever monsters invaded, Base 24 would often have to rely on allied support. While understandable under the circumstances, it was never a good look. Now, for the first time, they were in a position to offer support to others instead.
Though the other two bases affected by the blood rain declined their assistance, this didn’t dampen Liu Guanyao’s rare feeling of satisfaction.
Buoyed by this, Liu Guanyao initiated a video call to Yan Ping, the captain of Operations Team One and the leader of all four action teams at Base 24.
“Director Liu,” Yan Ping’s image appeared on the screen.
“Ah, Yan Ping,” Liu Guanyao greeted him warmly, his tone full of praise. “Your team performed exceptionally well this time! Keep up the good work!”
Yan Ping remained calm in the face of the compliments.
He was well aware that Base 24’s minimal casualties this time were largely due to the giant spider retreating hastily during their encounter.
At the time, he hadn’t thought much about it. But upon reviewing the situation, it became apparent that the spider’s behavior was more like that of a creature under threat than one focused on hunting.
Yan Ping had fought the giant spider numerous times and knew his team’s capabilities well. They simply didn’t have the firepower to intimidate such a formidable predator, especially during its feeding frenzy.
Clearly, something else had happened before they arrived—something they were still unaware of.
Yan Ping’s mind once again flashed to the image of the youth’s handsome, refined face, followed by the somber, frail-looking boy.
Could it really be because of him?
Yan Ping couldn’t be certain. From a rational perspective, it seemed more plausible that the giant spider provoked the hidden entity that had been mentally manipulating Luo Shengfei.
If the two monsters clashed before the operations team arrived and the giant spider lost, its retreat made sense. However, there was another question:
What caused a monster powerful enough to defeat the giant spider to leave?
A tangle of questions clouded Yan Ping’s thoughts, but he maintained a calm demeanor. Without concrete evidence, he was reluctant to involve Su Ci and Number One in these speculations.
Noticing his serious expression, Liu Guanyao quickly adjusted his tone and cleared his throat.
“Still, we need to remain vigilant. Make sure your action team stays sharp and ready for anything.”
He added in a grave tone, “If the monsters continue to invade buildings, the next extreme weather event will bring an intense battle.”
Finally, he offered in a quieter voice, “If you need anything, let me know. I’ll do my best to secure it for you.”
Hearing this commitment, Yan Ping felt a slight sense of relief. “Understood, Director Liu.”
*
The various sectors of Base 24 were turbulent with activity, but the nursery remained unusually tranquil that night.
Due to the extreme weather, the cubs were having their dinner in their rooms. With Number Six, Seven, and Eight still asleep, only the meals for Number Three and Five needed to be prepared.
In the corridor, 4586 lifted a food container with its mechanical arm. “Su Su, this is for Number Three’s dinner.”
Su Ci didn’t take it but instead picked up the container labeled for Number Five from the cart.
“I’ll deliver Number Five’s.”
“Oh, okay then.”
Without any objections, 4586 hovered off toward Number Three’s room while Su Ci entered the room shared by Numbers Four and Five.
With Number Four still in the medical purification center, only Number Five was inside.
From morning till now, the little girl had been quietly drawing at her desk, seemingly untouched by the outside world. Even as Su Ci entered, she didn’t lift her head, her small hand holding a crayon as she filled the paper.
Su Ci walked over and glanced at her work.
It was difficult to discern what she was drawing. The entire page was covered in pink, with chaotic black and purple lines randomly scattered across it. The result was a rather eerie composition.
He stood silently by her side, observing without interrupting. After a while, the girl seemed to grow tired and finally set her crayon down.
That was when Number Five noticed Su Ci’s presence.
She turned her head to look at him, her already wide eyes growing even larger, filled with a mixture of grievance and fury. The expression made her look remarkably like her brother—both were feisty little lion cubs.
“Where’s my brother?”
She glared at Su Ci, her tone stern and accusatory, “You didn’t go find my brother!”
As she spoke, her small hands thumped the table rhythmically. Despite her childish voice, there was an undercurrent of a lion’s roar that carried an odd intimidation for someone so young.
Unfortunately, the person in front of her was Su Ci.
With a light flick of his fingers, Su Ci effortlessly dissipated the mental pressure emanating from the little girl. Then, he moved her drawing aside and placed the food container he carried onto her desk.
The little girl, sitting in her chair, blinked in confusion when she noticed Su Ci’s complete indifference.
That wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
She scrutinized him for a moment, then cautiously commanded, “You, sit down!”
Su Ci paused briefly, turning to her with a raised eyebrow. “You, eat.”
At his words, the girl froze. Unlike how Number Eight completely lost autonomy when she controlled him, her own body began moving against her will.
Her small hands lifted the lid of the container, setting it aside. Her right hand grabbed the small spoon stuck in the food.
The indignation and grievance in her eyes gave way to fear and unease. Her pupils darted towards Su Ci in desperation, yet her body obeyed his command completely.
The spoon scooped up a piece of gelatinous meat and brought it to her lips. Her mouth opened on its own, consuming the warm morsel.
Though the food was warm and comforting, Number Five felt a chill seep into her bones—a fear she had never experienced before.
The caretaker… had controlled her using her own powers!
Number Five finally understood.
The seemingly frail and weak caretaker standing before her possessed abilities similar to hers—but far more powerful. That was why he had ignored her orders and hadn’t gone to fetch her brother.
Her rosy, chubby cheeks turned a deathly pale. Despite eating, her expression was as if she were enduring a cruel punishment.
Her body mechanically consumed the food, but her mind rebelled against it. She gagged and coughed with each bite, as though her throat resisted the invasion.
Even when she choked and coughed uncontrollably, her body resumed eating as soon as she calmed down.
No matter how hard she tried to regain control of herself, it was futile. For the first time, Number Five truly understood the pain others felt when she manipulated them.
No, it wasn’t the same.
Others lost consciousness when she controlled them, but she could acutely feel the torment of the separation between her mind and body. The pain was doubled for her.
This caretaker was terrifying!
Still just a child and unused to such humiliation, tears began welling up in her wide eyes. Soon, fat droplets rolled down her cheeks and fell onto the table with soft splats.
The girl whimpered pitifully as her small hands continued to scoop up the meat jelly, feeding herself bite after bite.
“Bad man… sob, sob…”
She cried as she ate, the sight enough to stir sympathy in anyone watching.
But Su Ci remained unmoved. He waited until she had nearly finished the meat jelly before giving a slight nod of approval.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Su Ci said.
As his voice fell, Number Five finally stopped mechanically scooping the meat jelly. The force controlling her dissipated, and she scrambled off the chair, using both hands and feet, darting behind the bed to hide. Only her small head peeked out, her tear-streaked face a mix of vigilance and embarrassment as she glared at Su Ci.
“You… you’re bad!” Her voice was thick with a nasally sob.
Su Ci shrugged nonchalantly, calmly collecting the utensils and placing the lid back on the container. His gentle actions were simple and unthreatening, but after what had just happened, he appeared in her eyes like a demon cloaked in a veil of gentleness.
The more unassuming he acted, the more terrified she felt.
Then, in his clear, mild voice, the caretaker spoke, “Don’t use your abilities recklessly. It’s not good for you.”
Number Five shuddered but quickly clenched her little fists.
“Hmph!”
She wiped her tears and bared her teeth at Su Ci in defiance. As she did, a pair of fur-covered ears, matching the color of her hair, popped up from her head. Now, she looked even more like a fierce little cub, albeit still adorably small.
Su Ci studied her intently before asking, “Was it you who controlled Luo Shengfei in the logistics department today?”
At his question, a fleeting look of confusion crossed Number Five’s face. But then, she refocused her glare on Su Ci, her attention shifting to the small red flower hair clip pinned near his temple.
“The flower! Give it back!” she demanded, pointing at him fiercely.
When Su Ci’s eyes narrowed slightly in response, her small hands immediately withdrew in fear, though her stubborn expression—eerily similar to Number Eight’s—remained.
Except for A-Yan, none of the children in the nursery seemed obedient or gentle… oh, perhaps Number Three. Though, without closer interaction, it was hard to say.
After a brief moment, Su Ci sighed and removed the plastic hair clip from his hair, placing it lightly on her little table.
Number Five’s gaze lingered on his actions, a trace of struggle flashing in her eyes. Finally, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.
It was the one Su Ci had given her yesterday, still faintly scented with pear blossoms.
Her reluctance was evident—she truly cherished the handkerchief. But in the end, clutching it tightly, she took a few tentative steps out from behind the bed and hurled it at Su Ci.
“Take it back!”
The handkerchief fluttered midair before gently landing on the floor.
After throwing it, she stuck her tongue out at him and darted back behind the bed, clutching the plastic flower clip in her hand as though to fortify her position. Her resolute retreat signaled the immediate end of their brief truce, as if their fragile friendship had capsized without warning.
Su Ci, unperturbed, bent down to pick up the fallen handkerchief. He tucked it back into his spatial button without a word.
“Get some proper rest.”
With that, he grabbed the food container and left the room.
As the door closed and Su Ci departed, Number Five, still peeking from behind the bed, let out a sigh of relief. Yet, her expression soon twisted with renewed grievance as her lips trembled.
Looking down at the plastic hair clip in her hands, once her most treasured possession, she found it had somehow lost its charm. Her eyes began to water again.
She really loved that fragrant handkerchief. It was the closest thing she’d ever had to a real flower, and she hadn’t even gotten to share it with her brother…
Her lips quivered further at the thought.
The little girl rubbed at her eyes and sat at the edge of the bed. Eventually, she couldn’t hold back any longer, wrapping her arms around her knees and burying her face in them. Her small shoulders shook as she began to sob.
“Brother… 4583… sob, sob…”
The muffled cries echoed in the dim, enclosed room, as if the darkness had swallowed everything else, leaving her utterly alone.
Outside in the corridor, Su Ci placed the food container onto a cart. He turned back and glanced at the door to Number Five’s room. After a moment’s hesitation, he withdrew his gaze indifferently.
Number 4586 was still in Number Three’s room.
Leaning against the wall, the young man stood waiting, his posture idle and listless. After a while, he glanced at Number Five’s door again and sighed softly. Raising his hand, he activated the communicator’s light screen and opened the contact list.
Thank you for the chapter!!!