A Sudden Change in the Simulated Universe!

"Oh my god, I bet you have no idea what I just saw!"

"Quiet, quick! I'm going to film it and send it to Captain Arlan. So this is what Peppy's really like!"

"I can't believe it, that Cat Cake is... riding Peppy!"

In the Master Control Zone, a little yellow dog raced down the path with a blue-and-white Cat Cake on his back, instantly drawing the attention of the researchers around them.

It wasn't Peppy racing along that surprised them, but the Cat Cake riding on his back.

After all, in their lifetimes, they might have seen pigs fly, seen a starship cannon used to shoot mosquitoes, and even seen the Luofu's great ships wage war against the Abominations of Abundance, but this was their first time seeing one of Ms. Ruan Mei's creations riding Peppy.

Things people had never seen before were often more captivating.

After all, this was just too entertaining.

At the same time, they couldn't help marveling at the intelligence of Ms. Ruan Mei's creation. To make Peppy his mount, the little fellow presumably had considerable ability.

"If only Captain Arlan were here. His jaw would probably drop if he saw this."

"It's fine. I've already filmed it and sent it to him. He should have watched it at least ten times by now."

Meow! (Good people don't block the way. Anyone who does isn't human.)

The yellow figure sped along like a ghost, weaving through narrow passages until he reached the end of the Master Control Zone.

The next moment, the two little figures, one cake and one dog, came to a sudden stop at the compartment door.

Hiss—

As the door opened, the two little figures darted into the Simulated Universe compartment in a flash, before the researchers there could react.

"They seem to have gone into the Simulated Universe. Should we notify Station Master Asta?"

"Has research fried your brain? Isn't Station Master Asta in there right now?"

Sure enough, Asta was standing in front of the Simulated Universe, with March 7th, Stelle, and the Herta Puppet beside her.

The moment the compartment door opened, they all looked toward it.

The Simulated Universe would soon enter its testing phase. During this period, no unrelated personnel would normally enter unless something unexpected happened.

The door opening so suddenly took Asta by surprise.

When she saw clearly that the intruders weren't people, but a cake and a dog, two big question marks instantly popped up over her head.

"Peppy? And that creation? How did they follow us here?"

March 7th was the first to cry out. Resting her head on her fingers, she came up with a mischievous idea.

A smile gradually spread across her face:

"Ms. Herta, Ms. Ruan Mei's creation counts as a living being too. He can be taken inside as well..."

"Right?"

March 7th blinked at the Herta Puppet, her eyes sparkling. She might as well have had the words "pretty please" written across her face.

Just thinking about how Stelle did nothing but rummage through trash cans or swing her baseball bat around fighting and killing, March 7th knew it would be terribly boring inside the Simulated Universe.

If she had a little thing to play with at a time like this, that would be—

Perfect!

So squishable! Love squishing him!

Unfortunately, Herta only heard one part of what March 7th said: "Ms. Ruan Mei's creation counts as a living being too." Her mind wasn't on the rest at all.

A thoughtful look flashed in the puppet's eyes. It was nothing like the puppet's usual mechanical gaze; Ms. Herta herself was watching.

She was thinking!

The puppet nodded gently, then shook her head. It was unclear whether she was acknowledging the correctness of what was before her or speculating about what she saw.

But Lin Feng had no time to worry about that anymore.

Likewise, he hadn't listened to what March 7th said either.

Because right now, he was scared half to death!

He could be taken into the Simulated Universe too?

March 7th had offered to take him in?

None of that mattered anymore!

His beady eyes rested on the Herta Puppet's face. His body had long since begun to tremble, and even the cake tail behind him was shaking. This clearly wasn't nervousness.

It was fear!

He couldn't have been more familiar with that look in the Herta Puppet's eyes.

She'd had that look when she said she wanted to study him.

She'd had the same look when she said she wanted to make him into slices.

And she'd had that look when she said she wanted to cut him open, slice him up, and study him piece by piece!

He had thought of many ways to deal with Herta and divert attention from the question of why he was here.

Roll on the floor and let out a meow~

Rub her leg with his soft tail and let out a meow~

Roll over, rub her leg with his tail, then give her an innocent, pitiful look—as best he could, though it was still difficult—and finally let out a meow~

But—

There was no need anymore!

The Herta Puppet—no! Ms. Herta!

She was already thinking!

Lin Feng didn't dare look into the Herta Puppet's eyes again. He feared that the next second, she would walk straight over, crouch down, and say in an utterly flat tone, as though talking about something utterly insignificant:

"A very good subject for slicing and studying."

He didn't dare gamble, nor was he in any position to gamble.

It was like letting your mind wander in class, your head down as you scrolled through short videos on your phone, only for the homeroom teacher to spot you through the window.

In that moment, your heart clenched tight.

Your whole body went rigid.

Neither admitting it nor denying it would do.

You had already begun imagining countless things your homeroom teacher might do to you upon walking in.

That was exactly how Lin Feng felt now.

Made into slices?

Or be—made into slices?

Ding—

The heavy system sound tore a hole through the tense atmosphere.

The Simulated Universe's calibration was complete. The sound just now had been the completion notification.

The Herta Puppet paused for a moment, then finally looked away from Lin Feng and back at Stelle and March 7th.

Phew—

Phew—

Lin Feng's heart, which had nearly stopped, began pounding...

His Cat Cake body looked as though it hadn't collapsed, but it had long since slipped out of his control.

He still hadn't recovered from his earlier fright!

The Herta Puppet... doesn't seem to be doing anything else?

I—I'm all right!

That Simulated Universe notification saved this cake's life!

Lin Feng's pounding heart began to settle a little. Herta hadn't said anything more or taken him away to slice him up, which at least proved he was safe for now.

But once Stelle and March 7th entered the Simulated Universe, he had no way of knowing whether Herta would turn her attention back to the matter.

Looks like I have to enter this Simulated Universe.

To avoid the possibility of being sliced up later, he had to enter the Simulated Universe.

Never mind what would happen after he came out. If he didn't go in now, he wouldn't even have a chance to regret it once he was sliced up.

As for what would happen after he came out—

He would worry about that later. First, he had to solve the predicament in front of him.

With a little luck, he might be able to see Stelle once he went inside.

With even better luck, he might be able to absorb the disorderly data stream on her and even solve his current problem.

"You two may go in once you're ready," the Herta Puppet said, her voice somewhat cold.

It was the puppet's voice. Ms. Herta's consciousness had already left the puppet.

March 7th and Stelle exchanged a look, then turned back toward the Cat Cake behind them, a hint of regret in their eyes.

But March 7th understood that if they couldn't take him in, they wouldn't.

"I'll go in with you, but let me make one thing clear: don't you hold me back."

"Got it, March 7th. Let's hurry inside."

A light flashed, instantly swallowing their figures and leaving them gone.

The Herta Puppet's empty eyes flickered slightly nearby. As if following a preset command, she began the familiar process of starting the Simulated Universe.

"Woof!"

A bark rang out, and two more figures rushed over.

Whoosh—

The familiar white light appeared again, instantly swallowing the two figures.

Peppy's second bark was cut off before he could make a sound.

The cake and dog successfully entered the Simulated Universe.

But the Herta Puppet clearly hadn't noticed the cake and dog disappear. All she saw were two figures flashing past.

She remained focused on the Simulated Universe's various test readings on the holographic screen.

But moments after the latter two entered, piercing alarms rang out through the Simulated Universe room, and a giant red exclamation mark flashed repeatedly on the holographic screen.

Only then did the puppet realize something was wrong and immediately contacted Ms. Herta herself.

[Warning, sudden change in the Simulated Universe!]