Chapter 31
When Su Ci left the dormitory, it was already 9:30 a.m.
He retrieved a vacuum-sealed half-pound bag of chips from his second spatial button and opened it. Sampling a piece, he discovered it was spicy-flavored.
Not bad. It would’ve been even better with a little alcohol, but given the current circumstances, he couldn’t afford to be too picky.
Su Ci slowly ate the chips, one piece at a time, as he strolled into the elevator and headed to the activity room on the second floor.
Predictably, he was late again today. As soon as he encountered 4586, the nanny robot delivered a stern scolding.
“Su Su, you’re late again!”
The robot’s cutesy, energetic voice paired with the little yellow flower atop its head was utterly devoid of any real intimidation.
Su Ci nodded calmly, popped another chip into his mouth, and casually glanced around the activity room.
His gaze was immediately drawn to Number Three in the corner.
The visually impaired child sat quietly and alone, seemingly wrapped in his own little world, entirely undisturbed by the noise around him.
In stark contrast, nearby, two other children were engaged in a chaotic scuffle.
It seemed 4586 had only just noticed this as well.
“Number Seven, Eight, stop it! Good cubs don’t fight!”
The nanny robot appeared utterly alarmed. It quickly abandoned its reprimands toward Su Ci and zoomed into the activity room, extending its mechanical arms to forcibly separate the two brawling children.
The culprits were Number Seven and Number Eight.
Neither of them displayed significant beast-like traits. One had deer antlers, and the other had a wolf tail. Once separated, they didn’t resume fighting, a clear sign that their rationality was intact and they hadn’t entered a berserk state.
“That toy was mine first!”
Number Eight, one hand on his hip and the other pointing indignantly at Number Seven, exclaimed furiously.
The bruises and scrapes on the boy’s face had mostly healed, no longer as pitiful as they had been the previous night. However, fresh bite marks and scratches adorned his cheeks, evidence of the recent tussle.
Despite these new injuries piled atop his old ones, Number Eight seemed unfazed. His focus remained entirely on reclaiming the toy—or rather, on avenging the theft of the toy he’d set his sights on.
Based on their numbering, Number Seven should’ve been in the nursery longer than Number Eight. However, he appeared to be about five or six years old, roughly the same age as Number Five.
The silver-haired boy had bright, deer-like eyes, as dark as the night sky but tinged with a hint of blue.
He was smaller and more delicate compared to the well-built and muscular Number Eight. Standing side by side, Number Seven looked even tinier in comparison.
Yet, despite being a herbivore with deer antlers, Number Seven showed no fear when facing Number Eight.
Clutching a long, flute-like object tightly in his arms, he refused to let go even though his eye was bruised from the fight.
Hearing Number Eight’s complaint, the boy huffed indignantly and retorted, “You don’t even know how to play with it. Giving it to you would be a waste! You dumb wolf!”
Though the same age as Number Five, Number Seven spoke with a sharp, articulate tongue that far surpassed the girl’s. He displayed an air of entitlement as if stealing Number Eight’s toy was entirely justified.
His gaze, filled with open disdain, scrutinized Number Eight as if evaluating a hopelessly inferior opponent.
Number Eight’s face flushed crimson at the blatant dismissal. His bushy tail, already fluffy, puffed up dramatically.
“You don’t get to decide what I can and can’t play with!”
Angrily pointing at Number Seven, he growled, “That toy was in my hands first! According to the rules, it’s mine for the day! Give it back!”
As he spoke, Number Eight suddenly dodged out of 4586’s range. Rolling to the floor, he exploited the robot’s visual blind spot and pounced on Number Seven once more.
He moved so swiftly that Number Seven couldn’t react in time. However, even as he fell backward clutching the flute, he didn’t surrender. Instead, he kicked his legs upward, aiming straight for Number Eight’s stomach.
Unfortunately for Number Seven, Number Eight was prepared.
He blocked the deer kick with his forearm and successfully pinned Number Seven’s legs. Then, without hesitation, he extended his arm and grabbed the boy’s neck.
A flash of predatory light appeared in Number Eight’s green eyes as he opened his mouth, aiming for the vulnerable throat before him—
“Number Eight.”
The young man’s calm and warm voice rang out in the activity room. In the corner, Number Three raised his head, while Number Eight, poised to bite down, froze.
That voice…
Number Eight blinked, a strange feeling stirring in some corner of his mind.
In that moment of hesitation, the bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes dissipated. His lips had already brushed against the delicate skin of Number Seven’s neck, but his teeth didn’t sink in.
It was hard to imagine what might’ve happened had he bitten down. Would Number Seven have survived? And would tasting a peer’s blood have caused Number Eight to lose his humanity completely and become a true beast?
The scene, once fraught with danger, now seemed to pause.
Number Seven lay on the floor, his body restrained and his neck gripped tightly. Though Number Eight hadn’t bitten him, the suffocating pressure caused him immense pain.
As his vision blurred, his limbs weakened, and the reality of impending death sank in…
The hands choking him suddenly released.
Fresh air rushed into his lungs, and the dizzying haze before his eyes began to clear. That’s when he saw a bizarre sight—
The typically straightforward, brawny Number Eight had been grabbed by the collar and lifted into the air by the new, slender-looking caretaker with just one hand.
The scene was absurd, almost comical.
Number Seven couldn’t believe his eyes. He tried to focus, but the dizziness overwhelmed him, and with a roll of his eyes, he passed out.
Number Seven’s vision may have failed him, but what he saw was no illusion.
Number Eight, suspended by his collar, was equally bewildered. Just as he was about to flail in protest, that familiar voice spoke again, lazily drifting into his ears.
“Were you just kissing him?”
Su Ci glanced at the boy lying on the ground to confirm he was in no immediate danger. Then, with a faint smirk, he added, “You two must be really close.”
What?!
Number Eight froze, forgetting his struggles entirely.
His face turned red as he glared at the caretaker who had somehow appeared beside him. “How could I possibly kiss him? What are you even talking about?”
Slander! This is blatant slander!
Seeing that Number Eight’s eyes had returned to normal, Su Ci released his grip on the boy’s collar.
This little wolf… Su Ci thought, shaking his head. Despite the adjustments made yesterday to suppress part of his bloodline power, he’d nearly caused another incident today.
A-Yan is so much better—obedient and worry-free.
Meanwhile, 4586 finally snapped into action. The robot floated over to pick up the unconscious Number Seven, cradling him carefully.
The boy’s limp form rested softly in the nanny robot’s arms. His face was pale, his delicate neck bearing clear red marks from being choked. His shut eyes and fragile, pitiful appearance highlighted his naturally cute and refined features, making him seem all the more pitiable.
The flute he had clung to so tightly slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground with a clatter before rolling to a stop at Number Eight’s feet.
Number Eight, who had been gearing up to argue with Su Ci, glanced at the flute, then at Number Seven’s unconscious form. He suddenly fell silent.
4586’s electronic eye emitted a scanning beam as it assessed the boy’s condition.
“Unconscious due to asphyxiation; no immediate threat to life. Injuries include neck bruising and periocular hematoma. Treatment: K143U medical spray. Assessment complete.”
With its mechanical task complete, the robot switched back to its cheery voice. “Oh no, Number Seven has fainted! Time to treat the baby right away!”
From its robotic frame, 4586 retrieved a bottle of medical spray and began applying it to Number Seven’s neck and eyes.
Hearing the diagnosis, Number Eight visibly relaxed. However, the moment he noticed Su Ci’s gaze fixed on him, he bristled once again.
“What are you looking at? Never seen a fight before?” He bent down to pick up the flute at his feet, speaking stubbornly. “Serves him right for stealing my toy! That’s what he gets!”
Despite his tough words, his eyes kept darting toward Number Seven.
Once 4586 finished administering first aid, it left the activity room in Su Ci’s care and carried Number Seven away to settle him in his room.
As Number Seven was carried off, the tail behind Number Eight drooped noticeably. He listlessly waved the flute in his hand, suddenly feeling bored.
But with Su Ci watching from the side, he couldn’t just throw the toy away, so he kept holding it, swinging it weakly out of obligation.
Soon enough, though, he sniffed the air and paused. A delicious smell—something that seemed edible—was wafting through the room…
Now, only Number Eight and Number Three remained in the activity room.
After 4586 left with Number Seven, Number Three had already lowered his head and resumed playing with his metal ball, appearing entirely disinterested in the outside world once more.
Su Ci surveyed the room and asked, “Where are Numbers Five and Six?”
The question shifted Number Eight’s focus. He scowled and replied, “Five doesn’t want to come out and play. Six is still sleeping.”
Although activity time wasn’t mandatory, the cubs typically disliked staying in their rooms. As soon as playtime was announced, they’d rush out eagerly to enjoy the freedom.
It was rare for someone like Number Five to refuse to come out entirely.
“I mean, who doesn’t like playing outside? She just stays in her room no matter how much 4586 calls her. I even went to get her, and she yelled at me! Don’t you think that’s weird?”
Number Eight, seemingly forgetting how Su Ci had hoisted him up by his collar earlier, grumbled freely to him.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. Looking at Su Ci, he said excitedly, “It’s probably because you didn’t bring Number Four back yesterday. That’s why she’s mad!”
Admittedly, though Number Eight had a brash personality, his intuition was surprisingly sharp.
Su Ci shrugged, utterly unconcerned about the fact that he’d made the little girl cry the day before.
As Number Eight resumed sniffing around to locate the source of the enticing aroma, Su Ci glanced at the flute in his hands and asked, “Have you played with that before?”
*
Meanwhile, at Base 24’s plantation.
Wu Yunqin and her assistant were replacing the water for the hydroponically grown vegetables. Though the plantation’s operations were largely mechanized, the two were on-site to monitor the process.
As she observed the crops in the refreshed cultivation tanks, a trace of worry appeared in Wu Yunqin’s eyes.
Thanks for the chapter !!!
Wonder what Eight is smelling….?