Chapter 1040: Did I Forget Something?
I don't know whether it was beaten back by the little girls of the Heavenly Dao Palace, or if the other side had some other plan, but in any case, after this disastrous attack, the Corpse Puppets never appeared again. Fang Zheng initially thought about leaving immediately after the Normandy was repaired, but when Shupard came to him, Fang Zheng helplessly found out... this big sister still wanted to go out adventuring?
"Can't you report this to the Citadel and have them send someone to deal with it?"
Fang Zheng was always puzzled by the tendency of protagonists in various sci-fi movies to charge headlong into trouble without turning back. The Chief Officer didn't have a choice; he was forced to fight alone, but if support was available, he would call for it. Why did things change with Sister Xue? Why did she insist on relying on just her small team to handle everything?
However, facing Fang Zheng's inquiry, Shupard was also quite helpless.
"I'm a Citadel Ghost, specifically responsible for investigating and handling these incidents... so... even if I report this to the Citadel, I'll still have to deal with it myself."
"You're really unlucky."
Fang Zheng looked at Shupard with a sympathetic expression. Most protagonists have a protagonist aura, but it seems this one is just pure bad luck. With her profession, even if she doesn't actively seek trouble, trouble will find her. No wonder Sister Xue didn't feel embarrassed when she asked for assistance earlier—it seems she's used to being the scapegoat.
"Forget it. I'll go with you this time."
Fang Zheng hesitated to let his little ones get involved again. Though Nobiru was jumping around excitedly, gesturing and telling others about their "thrilling scenes," such crises weren't to be taken lightly. After all, this person was the protagonist, and who knows what she might encounter. Fang Zheng thought it would be more reliable if he personally accompanied the eager protagonist aura.
"By the way, didn't the relic you were looking for blow up? What are you searching for now?"
"Actually, we're looking for a Geth..."
Being military-minded, Shupard got straight to the point with Fang Zheng, explaining it clearly. Fang Zheng was blocked by the Corpse Puppets, while Shupard's side was also having a tough time fighting their way back. Yet, along the way, Shupard actually received unexpected support from a Geth... Hmm, this was quite unbelievable for Shupard. Her debut battle as a Ghost was against the Geth, and she probably killed more Geth than Corpse Puppets in her career. Meeting and fighting each other viciously was the norm.
But now, a Geth was actually supporting her?
Shupard felt like an antelope seeing a wolf fight a leopard to protect it—absolutely perplexed, extremely complicated, speechless...
However, when something unusual happens, there's often more to it, and Shupard's "intuition" told her this Geth might be very important. Therefore, her next goal was to find this Geth and then decide what to do next.
Fortunately, there was a general area to search, so Fang Zheng didn't mind accompanying Sister Xue on this trip. So, they chatted and set things in motion.
Of course, Shupard wasn't particularly concerned about Fang Zheng going personally. Before, she wouldn't have let Fang Zheng join, but after the previous battle, Shupard realized the whole Heavenly Dao Palace seemed abnormal. They were all freaks, and this guy was probably the freak among freaks... With a big thigh to cling to, she felt more at ease.
"So, should we head out now?"
After confirming the number of people, Shupard slapped her thigh and stood up, deciding to leave immediately. However, at that moment, Fang Zheng glanced at his personal terminal and gestured.
"Wait, no rush. Let me handle something first."
"???"
Upon hearing Fang Zheng's words, Shupard was puzzled, then watched Fang Zheng stand up and open the full frequency broadcast.
"Hey, little guys, it's ten o'clock. Get to bed now! Asuna, Black Cat, Eiriri, make sure everyone else is in bed. Except for Tina, if anyone sneaks out to play, they won't be getting any food when I return! Remember to brush your teeth and wash your face before sleep. Iona, keep an eye on them... including you, go to bed!"
While speaking, Fang Zheng carefully placed the Little Fire Dragon and Little Kitten, who were clinging to his back, into a small nest nearby. The Little Fire Dragon was unwilling to give up, chirping persistently and trying to climb up again, while the Little Kitten meowed and held on to Fang Zheng's clothes.
Shupard watched as Fang Zheng tucked each little girl back into their rooms and handed the Little Fire Dragon and Little Kitten to Asuna and Kurumi... Hmm, for some reason, watching Fang Zheng made Shupard think of the dorm matron from her school days...
After an hour of effort, and making sure each little girl was obediently in bed, Fang Zheng finally relaxed. These little girls were probably stifled in the Heavenly Dao Palace, always wanting to be naughty when they were out, and even occasionally acting spoiled towards him.
The obedient ones like Yoshino only wanted a story before sleep, while the naughty ones like Little Hei dared to wear transparent pajamas to flirt and demand to sleep together... where did she buy such a thing? How could there be children's versions of such outfits? Aren't they afraid of getting arrested?
"You're really working hard..."
Watching Fang Zheng tirelessly usher the little girls to bed, even Shupard couldn't help but smile. It's strange; these little girls were showing great might earlier on the battlefield, but once they turned around, they became so mischievous and cute. This made Shupard find it even more interesting.
"It's not hard, really... These little ones are always so lively daily. Without me keeping an eye on them, who knows what trouble they'd cause."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng waved his hand.
"So it's just the five of us? Let's go."
"Five? Who's the other one?"
Upon hearing this, Shupard was puzzled. On her side, there were two people, adding herself and Fang Zheng, making four. How was there a fifth?
"Isn't it right here?"
As he spoke, Fang Zheng reached into his pocket, and Shupard saw a small white cat with a white ribbon being held by the scruff of its neck and reluctantly dragged out.
"...…..."
Having gone through so much, Shupard just focused on the little white cat without speaking... Alright, at least compared to those mighty little girls, this little white cat surely wasn't just any ordinary cat?
Fang Zheng wouldn't have decided to bring this little white cat without reason. In fact, Fang Zheng wanted to see what kind of abilities this little white cat had. It's not the same as the Little Kitten from the World of Cicada's Song that followed him; it's a Silver Rank Soul Summoning Stone!
Look at Nymph, are you a little white cat ashamed to just laze around and act cute all day? At least show me your abilities.
Once everything was ready, Shupard, along with her original crew Liana and Kaiden, plus Fang Zheng and the little white cat, briskly set out on the original route back. According to Shupard, the Geth who supported them was injured while shielding them from the Corpse Puppets. It shouldn't have escaped far. If luck was good, or bad, finding its body and bringing it back would be even better.
"Roar..."
As expected, as Shupard and Fang Zheng rounded the corner to advance towards the Geth's position, they heard a series of roaring sounds followed by several Corpse Puppets emerging from the corridors, rushing at Shupard and Fang Zheng's group.
Confronted with this scene, Fang Zheng was unperturbed, raising the little white cat in his hand and tossing it at the Corpse Puppets before them.
"Go, Little Bai Bai... um?"
After tossing the cat, Fang Zheng was suddenly puzzled.
For some reason, he just realized he seemed to have forgotten something?
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