Although the System immediately clarified the situation once it realized what was happening, its momentary hesitation only served to paint the scene with even more tragic colors in Lan’s eyes.
"I am sorry. I should not have made such presumptuous conjectures," the female voice in their minds said, her mirth replaced by a soft, sorrowful tone.
Mu Ran felt a bit embarrassed after hearing the System’s relay of the conversation.
*Even if the person involved was shocked, there’s really no need for such a solemn apology...*
The System flicked its ears, sensing that the sadness in Lan’s voice carried a different meaning.
Shaking off the mood, Lan proactively asked about the System’s future plans. "Perhaps I can be of assistance to you."
Her translucent fingertips tapped a nearby flower, and in an instant, a ghostly blue light illuminated the dark cave.
The System shook its head. "No need. As for our plans... they aren't quite clear yet."
***
However, what neither of them expected was that by noon on the third day, they felt that familiar sensation of time-space stagnation.
*Eh?*
Though they didn't know why, it was a good thing regardless, so they happily continued with their experiment.
However...
[System: ...I’ve observed something. There are no fewer than twenty people watching us on-site.]
[Mu Ran: !!!]
*Wait a minute, what happened in just two short days?!*
***
It all traced back to the "tool-person" Star Lord they had completely forgotten: Yi Meng.
After Yi Meng had spent a full day waiting expectantly on her own island, the news she received was that her beloved "stray kitty" was going to continue wandering.
"!! On what grounds?!"
Yi Meng was practically ready to start throwing punches and kicks at the white squirrel delivering the message.
With such a massive upheaval occurring within Central Island, the white squirrel naturally had little patience to explain things to Yi Meng. It simply dropped a formal line: "Highest command. We ask for your understanding."
"Connect me to the damn Highest Customer Service!! Give me an explanation, you bastard!!"
The white squirrel’s inorganic, pitch-black eyes remained motionless. "Apologies. Material compensation will be delivered within three days."
The blood rushed to Yi Meng’s head, but after fuming for a long while, she actually calmed down.
"Fine. You're all finished."
Leaving behind those words, Yi Meng pulled the masked Yue Sheng along and returned to the main hall in a fit of rage.
"Sheng-jie, we still have the recorded footage of the process, right?"
Yue Sheng’s usually gentle face was like frozen frost. "We do. What does the Little Highness intend to do?"
"Expose everything!" Yi Meng sneered. "If they don't give me a reasonable explanation, I’ll flip this pathetic little island upside down!"
An hour later, a post titled *[Regarding the Fact That the Soul Bearer I Just Got My Hands On Was Snatched Away by Officials for No Reason]* occupied the top spot on the forum’s trending list.
The video evidence was ample, the customer service’s attitude was atrocious, and the victim was a well-known, high-level figure.
The Star Lords were in an uproar, flocking to help the "Big Boss" blast the forums. Several of Yi Meng’s close friends also joined the fray, marching directly to the gates of Central Island’s headquarters alongside her.
"What... what do we do?" A certain high-level manager couldn't stop wiping his sweat, his eyes constantly darting toward the Sword Immortal sitting in the corner. "Internal affairs haven't been purged yet... this is truly..."
The Sword Immortal spoke languidly, "Don't look at me. I’ve already given my opinion."
"Would it be too sudden to just confess everything... the priority right now is to appease the anger of the Star Lords..."
"That Star Lord’s footage deliberately edited out your appearance, Lord Sword Immortal. This proves she likely holds respect for you. If you could step forward to soothe them, perhaps..."
The Sword Immortal toyed with the long sword at his waist, not even lifting his head. "That is not within the scope of our original agreement. Besides, if I really were to step forward..."
"I would simply confess everything to their faces."
The others were startled and quickly abandoned that idea.
*Even though he’s been part of our management for a long time, a Soul Bearer isn't human at heart—he hasn't learned the necessary flexibility! His head is full of nothing but such simple thoughts!* some cursed inwardly.
However, high-level Star Lords not only possessed extraordinary talent but also came from very extraordinary backgrounds. Central Island eventually couldn't withstand the pressure. In a move of concession, they allowed Yi Meng and her friends, who were blockading the entrance, to come inside. Then, under the watchful eye of the Sword Immortal, they confessed everything.
Yi Meng: !
She hadn't expected that the "kitty" she’d kidnapped had agreed to her request with such a mindset, nor had she imagined his past experiences were so fraught with hardship...
*Damn it, I’m getting angrier and angrier at Central Island!!*
The friends who came with her also had darkened expressions.
As high-level Star Lords, they naturally cherished their own Soul Bearers. When they saw the cases of contaminated Soul Bearers that Central Island cautiously displayed, their hearts twisted with pain.
Even though these weren't their own "children," seeing those familiar faces and those shocking injuries... it was still so damn infuriating!!
The high-level managers watched in horror as the temperature in the Star Lords' eyes dropped lower and lower...
*You... you people really didn't know about these things...?*
They had assumed these high-level Star Lords were just like them—aware of the truth but choosing to turn a blind eye. But they had underestimated the degree of social withdrawal these "shut-ins" possessed...
So, this move of theirs...?
They looked despairingly at the Sword Immortal, only to receive a cold, emotionless glance in return.
Yi Meng gave a skin-deep smile. "It seems that after I return, I’ll need to have a good discussion with my elder brother about our family’s future cooperation with your esteemed island."
Friend 1: "Oh? You’re waiting until you get back? I’ve already placed the instant-comm call."
Friend 2: "It seems my father can cross one name off his list of targets for support."
...
Under the collective pressure, Central Island finally couldn't stall any longer. They immediately began a large-scale investigation into any suspicious Star Lords.
Yi Meng and her friends volunteered (or perhaps they simply didn't trust Central Island) to form a small squad, leading their own highly-trained Soul Bearers to begin a door-to-door investigation.
The Sword Immortal attached a wisp of his spiritual sense to their masks. Should they encounter a non-compliant Star Lord with eerie strength, he would answer the call and level the entire island.
Simultaneously, the customer service staff worked overtime to soothe the agitated forums, revealing the truth to everyone once the situation had stabilized.
This massive upheaval took only about two days.
The high-level managers felt as if they were waking from a dream.
*What happened... why does it feel like this entire process was put on fast-forward?*
They had thought that even if the truth came out, they would follow their habit of stalling, slowly sipping tea and bickering, only resolving it gradually when things became truly unmanageable.
*What went wrong... which part of the process became abnormal...?*
Meanwhile, the forum, having learned the truth, became even more fervent in its admiration for the Wanderer.
[Waaaah, he’s so good...]
[This is amazing... after going through something like that, he still holds such kindness toward ordinary people... I’m really curious what legend our baby comes from.]
[Several of the 'parents' in my house have been in a terrible mood after seeing those suffering Soul Bearer kin... but they hope to thank the Wanderer in person.]
[I’m trying to empathize with the Big Boss being stood up... but I’m still so jealous! At least she had him for half a day! QAQ She even touched the fox!]
Even when cold water was thrown on them saying an invitation was impossible, their enthusiasm didn't wane.
[Even if we can't invite him, we can still watch, right! Can Central Island stop me from 'remote-sniffing' my cub?!]
[...Eh? Oh yeah, originally because of the invitation conditions, there was only one Star Lord per time-space... so?]
[Does that mean we can gather together to suck the cat!!!]
[Action follows thought, I’m going first!!]
This was the origin of the "twenty people watching" that the System had sensed.
Of course, the two of them were completely unaware of the twists and turns behind it.
[Mu Ran: What do we do! We aren't going to have to stall again, are we... should I just make a run for it later?]
[System: ...Let’s just deal with it as it comes.]
Seeing the man he had saved about to attack him in a panic again, Mu Ran resignedly stood his ground.
*Wait... I was saved by him, why should I attack him?*
The man’s mind suddenly cleared. Looking at the slightly lowered eyelashes of the youth before him, the stone in his hand suddenly felt like a hot coal.
"I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Oh, I’m really an idiot, I was scared out of my wits."
He hurriedly threw the stone away and bowed in apology to the strange-looking youth.
*Even if he’s some kind of fantasy creature, he saved me and I still acted like an ungrateful wretch. What kind of white-eyed wolf am I!*
Not knowing where the previous malice had come from or why it had vanished, the man could only blame himself for being momentarily paralyzed by fear and unable to distinguish good from bad.
"Thank you! Don't mind what I just did... oh, I’m regretting it so much right now!"
Mu Ran: *Eh?*
"It’s okay..."
As if to compensate, the man spoke with great enthusiasm: "Are—are you an elf? Uh, human technology is very advanced and fun now. As an apology and a thank-you gift, how about I give you a phone?"
Mu Ran was startled by this sudden wave of passion and could only recite his lines a bit blankly: "Not an elf. A Wanderer... Thank you, but no."
[Mu Ran: Holy crap, what’s going on... I was all prepared to be cursed at and hit!]
The crowd watching from the shadows: *Dammit! I was all prepared to jump out and protect the kitty!*
Regardless of what others thought, the man continued: "You don't want it... that’s such a pity! Uh... let me see, oh, I still have my business card!"
He pulled a card from his jacket pocket and carefully handed it to the youth.
"Look, if you ever want to come down the mountain, just call this number... whatever you need, I’ll do my best to help you!"
Mu Ran took it, feeling overwhelmed by the favor. "...Thank you very much."
"Remember, call me!"
"The outside world is fun! If you want to come out and play, contact your big brother!"
The man looked back every three steps as he urged him, finally leaving with great reluctance.
...
Mu Ran stared blankly at the card in his hand, almost forgetting to help the System pull out the arrow.
It was the System’s low growl that snapped him back to reality. Only then did he run to the grey wolf’s side as if waking from a dream, gently removing the arrow.
Time-space stagnated; the experiment had ended successfully.
The gazes from the shadows had become so fervent that the System’s tail puffed up slightly, yet no one stepped forward.
The human and the wolf looked at each other, seeing the exact same confusion reflected in each other's eyes.
*What on earth is going on!!*
***
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