Space station 40: Silver Wolf: Am I about to be tamed??

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To ensure Su Qing would show up tomorrow, Silver Wolf decided to provoke him further.

Silver Wolf: In our offline meeting, don't be afraid to reveal yourself just because of your appearance, okay?~

Silver Wolf:(Emoji with "Fishy" text, mocking tone)

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Su Qing leaned back and glanced at his reflection in the nearby mirror.

Su Qing: No worries, people usually say I'm quite handsome.

[Firefly: Indeed, you might make me swoon from sheer handsomeness.]

[Stelle: By the way, is Firefly starting to speak oddly too?]

[March 7th: @Stelle You're the one corrupting her! Always hanging out with weird internet friends, how could she not pick up strange habits?!]

[Stelle: Eh? Me? (Hands on hips)(Mysteriously proud)]

After reading Su Qing's message:

Silver Wolf: ?? Ha ha, now it's time for fantasy hour!

Silver Wolf: Do you think I'll believe that?

Su Qing: Whether you believe it or not, it remains true.

Silver Wolf: Laughing. If you were a hunk, then I'd magically transform into a 36D beauty.

A few seconds passed.

Silver Wolf found it odd there was no reply yet.

Then, he saw Su Qing send a message: 36D? Better hope you really mean it.

[Stelle: Amused.]

[Qingque: Amused.]

[Firefly: @Silver Wolf, better hope you really mean it.]

[Kafka: @Silver Wolf, better hope you really mean it.]

[Himeko: (Laughs) Based on future outcomes, Silver Wolf wasn't just then, but definitely won't be anytime soon.]

[Silver Wolf: Superficial. Who cares about body types?]

[Kafka: The key point is, Su Qing isn't into lolicons.]

[Silver Wolf: Hmph! Unlike you guys, all obsessed with Su Qing. To me, it doesn't really matter.]

[Firefly: Feels like this might be foreshadowing. Anyway, noting it down...]

***

The next day.

Ten minutes before the agreed time, Silver Wolf arrived at the destination.

Her hairstyle featured slightly curled hair tied back in a single ponytail, secured by a blue-black ribbon shaped like a bow.

Today, she wore a long-sleeved hoodie with sleeves that extended beyond her hands, giving off a trendy vibe.

The loose hem of the oversized hoodie nearly covered the edges of her shorts, accentuating her slender and fair legs even more.

On her legs, she sported blue leg bands, paired with athletic-style boots.

Near a streetlight, Silver Wolf stood with her hands in the hoodie's pockets, chewing gum and blowing a bubble.

Pop! The bubble burst.

Instead of heading straight to the meeting spot, Silver Wolf observed from a distance first.

However, as her gaze scanned the area, she couldn't find anyone resembling the description.

This one too handsome, that one too young, another too old, this one's gender mismatched, and that one's with friends...

[March 7th: First, eliminate the correct answer!]

Silver Wolf realized then that amidst her provocations yesterday, she had forgotten to inquire about specific clothing or appearance details.

With a delicate motion, revealing just a hint of glimmering fingertips beneath her long sleeves, she gently swiped through the air, summoning an electronic display.

Silver Wolf sent a message: I'm here, where are you?

Su Qing replied: Me too.

Silver Wolf glanced towards their agreed meeting spot, but as they read the response...

Huh? No way?!

Is that him? Really this handsome???

Su Qing looked around, and their eyes met briefly. Silver Wolf instinctively took a step back, hiding behind a streetlight.

[Kafka: Laughing, what a reaction like a naive schoolgirl. Already panicking?]

[Stelle: Beauty-obsessed little Silver Wolf!]

[Firefly: Let's be understanding; our Silver Wolf is just a gaming homebody. Seeing someone as dashing as Su Qing naturally makes them a bit shy.]

[Himeko: (Laughs)]

[Silver Wolf: It's not panic or shyness, just surprise, okay?]

Behind the streetlight, Silver Wolf typed: ???

Silver Wolf: That was your reply? You're truly this handsome??

Su Qing: Yes, it was me.

Su Qing: People often say honesty is one of my greatest virtues.

Su Qing: But what about your 36D? I don't seem to see it anywhere.

From behind the streetlight, Silver Wolf couldn't help blushing.

Everyone exaggerates online, right?

Why did you have to take it seriously?!

...However, since they were already there, it wouldn't do to back down immediately.

Silver Wolf composed themselves slightly, zipped up their jacket, and pulled on the hood.

As Silver Wolf emerged from behind the streetlight, their gazes met once again.

The confrontation began.

On the roadside stood a police-deployed robotic guard, patrolling on its tracked wheels with a baton in hand. It was not an intelligent machine and lacked advanced technology.

However, it was connected to the network.

Naturally, this made it the preferred target for their first round of skirmish.

Silver Wolf summoned multiple screens and keyboards, swiftly operating them with both hands.

The robotic guard's eyes started flashing intermittently between red and green lights. Its head would creak leftward one moment, then grind rightward the next, exclaiming, "Over here, villain... No wait, over there, criminal!"

Waving its baton, the robot's tracks continually veered side-to-side:

"Yes, this way... No, that way... Right, yes, over here, here, here, just here..."

Observing the robotic guard gradually approaching her amidst its erratic turns, Silver Wolf gritted her teeth. Her gaze swept sideways before rapidly inputting commands on the keyboard to her left.

With that, beep!!!

A passing unmanned cargo truck sounded its horn and abruptly charged, slamming into the robotic guard!

An unmanned cargo truck blared its horn and suddenly swerved, sending the robotic guard flying!

The machine spun through the air, propelled dozens of meters away before crashing to the ground with a small explosion. Exposed wiring sparked audibly.

Having completed its task, the large truck executed a sharp turn, returning to the road as if nothing had happened, and continued on its way.

[Stelle: ?!? No! The robotic guard!!]

[Seele: Robotic Guard: Seriously, my luck couldn't be any worse.]

[Sparkle: Hee-hee, look on the bright side—it might have reincarnated into another world and become some kind of robot king now!]

[Seele: Why do I feel lost again... not understanding what you guys are talking about...]

Witnessing this scene,

instead of seeking shelter, nearby pedestrians began scanning their surroundings, curious to find out which skilled combatants were clashing once more.

One spectator even applauded appreciatively at the truck's swift "reincarnation package."

[Qingque: Wow, why such reactions?]

[March 7th: Ha-ha, probably because people in Punklorde have grown used to these occurrences.]

With that round of confrontation concluded, Silver Wolf set her sights on the nearby building's floodlights and laser sensors next.

The spotlight could emit intense beams, making its target the center of attention.

As for the laser probes, they were part of the city's security system, requiring high-level authorization to actually fire. However, just emitting infrared aiming signals was enough to intimidate...

With this thought, Silver Wolf rapidly tapped on her keyboard, swiftly hacking into both systems.

But as soon as they began moving, Su Qing joined the contest once again.

Her reflexes were indeed lightning-fast!

Silver Wolf, intensely focused, continued manipulating the spotlight and probe.

However, after a brief moment, something caught her peripheral vision that seemed off...

On the massive screen of a nearby mall, instead of advertisements, her image appeared!

Not only crystal clear, it displayed Silver Wolf wearing a hoodie while typing away.

Below, there was even a scrolling caption: WANTED - This individual is a major fugitive from Punklorde! If you have any leads, please contact the police immediately...

Distracted by the screen, Silver Wolf momentarily lost focus.

In the very next second! All the surrounding spotlights and lasers aligned simultaneously, directly shining upon her!

Silver Wolf froze completely, slowly lifting her head.

On the enormous and vivid mall screen, her mirrored self also raised their head, mirroring her astonished expression.

At that instant,

The wanted notice on the mall screen, the intense spotlight, and lasers targeting her figure—all combined to make Silver Wolf the most conspicuous presence on this street!

[Seele: ? Hahahaha! Absolutely crushed!!]

[Firefly: Even though we're used to being pursued by our company...]

[Kafka: @Silver Wolf, but losing all three rounds is quite a defeat.]

[Himeko (laughing): First online, now offline—will there be any chance for you to win next time?]

[Silver Wolf: ? Still, one victory—or even several—doesn't mean much!]

[March 7th: Hey, Silver Wolf, hurry up and run! Someone might take it seriously and come after you soon!]

Realizing that every passerby's gaze was fixed on her, Silver Wolf hastily pulled down her hat to conceal her face.

With her head lowered, hands hovering over the keyboard, she reluctantly typed out:

Silver Wolf: ...I concede, admitting my loss.

Su Qing: [Emoji of patting someone's head]

Immediately following, all spotlights and lasers returned to their original positions, and the large screens resumed broadcasting advertisements as usual.

[Stelle: Those moves were swift and thrilling.]

[Bronya: Indeed, the best part was Silver Wolf's expression when she saw herself on the big screen!]

[Sushang: Hackers can accomplish so much!]

[Qingque: These two are truly engaged in a battle of skills. As long as they're connected to the network, it becomes their stage.]

***

Regardless, the duo decided to change locations first.

They arrived at a quiet street.

With hands in her pockets, Silver Wolf wore a sullen expression. "...Your ability, it's Ether Editing too, right?"

[Stelle: That face—classic defeated little Silver Wolf!]

[Firefly: Same category of Stands, huh? Despite using similar techniques, she got utterly annihilated—the most crushing defeat indeed.]

Su Qing nodded initially, then began examining Silver Wolf closely.

His gaze briefly lingered near Silver Wolf's head and chest before politely diverting away.

"May I ask, somewhat presumptuously," Su Qing started, "how... old are you?"

Silver Wolf instantly flared up, "You jerk!! Don't go too far!!!"

[Himeko: (Unable to suppress laughter)]

[Himeko: Apologies, I take back my earlier comment. This is the ultimate humiliation.]

[Qingque: As everyone knows, our Quantum Department is just like this, right?]

[Seele & Fu Xuan: Don't speak for me!!]

[Stelle: Ha! Even Qingque sent a smiley face—is that acceptance of reality?]

[Qingque: How should I put it? Initially, I still harbored some hope...]

[Qingque: Seeing Grand Diviner Su, I glimpsed my own future, and all hope instantly shattered.]

[Fu Xuan: ? Qingque!]

Su Qing apologized for judging age based on appearance, while Silver Wolf finally managed to compose herself.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she stepped forward with a mischievous grin curling her lips. "Well, no harm done. After all, there's nothing like a bit of conflict to forge new acquaintances. Since it's our first meeting, let's shake hands."

Su Qing extended his hand. "Sure."

The moment their hands touched, a crackling flash of electricity sparked?

"Yikes...!"

Silver Wolf gasped sharply, clutching her right hand and stumbling backward. "When did you set this trap?! How?!"

[Sparkle: LOL.]

[Stelle: LOL.]

[Seele: Seriously? Getting zapped just from shaking hands? Never would've guessed that one.]

[Herta: When others shake hands, they feel a romantic electric spark. But leave it to Silver Wolf to get pranked and actually electrocuted.]

[Herta: And here we thought only elementary schoolers pulled such stunts.]

[Firefly: Silver Wolf's moves truly stand out, don't they?]

[Himeko: Honestly, even Firefly and Kafka might not have experienced that romantic 'electric' feeling during a handshake.]

[Kafka: ...Heh.]

[Firefly: @Himeko, protest! I've shaken hands with Su Qing before!]

[Himeko: Protest denied.]

[Himeko: That handshake happened after a crisis; there was no hint of romance involved.]

[Firefly: Gulp... gulp...(sunk on the spot)]

[Stelle: Instant takedown of Firefly!]

[Stelle: Witnessing Sister Himeko's prowess! Truly effortless and composed—do you guys have such skills too?]

[Sushang: By the way, I have a question—who exactly is fighting whom now? It feels like complete chaos.]

[Bronya: @Sushang, based on my observation, Silver Wolf currently has the highest aggro and is most likely to be targeted by focused attacks.]

[Bronya: However, if any opportunity arises for backstabbing, they probably won't hesitate against each other either.]

[Sushang: Ah, I see. So complicated...]

In the end, just as Silver Wolf had predicted, their conflict led to acquaintance.

Considering themselves online friends meeting offline, they decided to find a restaurant for a meal together.

The place they chose was the same one where Su Qing had ordered takeout for Silver Wolf earlier.

Punklorde indeed suffered from rampant light pollution.

Even during daylight hours, this restaurant's large signboard flashed brightly with vivid red lights, seemingly determined not to go unnoticed.

It made sense though.

With nearly all surrounding establishments adopting similar flashy styles, unless its signage stood out more, pedestrians might easily overlook it amidst the sea of neon colors.

Entering the restaurant,

Su Qing appeared to be in quite a good mood.

However, beside him, Silver Wolf seemed increasingly glum.

[Seele: After getting annihilated so many times in such a short span, it's no wonder she can't stay cheerful.]

[Stelle: Seems like everyone enjoys watching Silver Wolf stumble, huh?]

The two ordered their meals separately.

Once the food arrived,

Silver Wolf's lips curved into a smile again. As her right hand scooped rice with a spoon and brought it to her mouth, her left hand discreetly tapped under the table...

Suddenly, Silver Wolf's slightly subdued expression burst back to life. "Too spicy, too spicy! Water!! Waiter! Do you have ice water?!?"

Su Qing's reaction: (laughing)

He continued leisurely enjoying his meal.

Meanwhile, Silver Wolf clutched the glass of ice water served by the waiter, gulping it down while casting a resentful glance at Su Qing.

Just moments ago, Silver Wolf attempted to manipulate reality coordinates, intending to shift the chili powder from the seasoning onto Su Qing's side.

However, unexpectedly, the pepper ended up on the very spoon she was lifting to her mouth!

Caught off guard, Silver Wolf inadvertently swallowed a large mouthful, leaving her throat unbearably fiery.

[Sparkle: Silver Wolf's current expression is priceless!]

[Seele: Ha ha, never learning your lesson! By the way, @Silver Wolf, could you take a break? Your misfortunes are happening so fast; I'm getting tired from laughing...]

[Himeko: Speaking of resilience, Silver Wolf certainly persists, always trying.]

[Herta: @Silver Wolf, if you don't tempt fate, you won't meet your demise. If you don't show off, you won't get countered. Such simple truths; why can't you grasp them?]

[Kafka: Anyone keeping count of Silver Wolf's failures?]

[Firefly: Might not be a good idea—it seems there are too many to keep track.]

[Stelle: hahahahahahaha!?]

[Stelle: Whenever Firefly confronts Silver Wolf, the results are always outstanding.]

[Fu Xuan: Perhaps it's because Silver Wolf has faced so much failure, making her an easy target...]

[Silver Wolf: Go ahead and laugh now, but enjoy it while it lasts.]

[Silver Wolf: Once I turn the tables, you won't have the chance to laugh anymore.]

[Herta: Did you know? Your stubbornness could qualify as a Curio within the Simulated Universe.]

[Qingque: Joyful curiosity indeed! I really wonder what expression Silver Wolf is wearing beneath those sunglasses right now.]

[Sparkle: Silver Wolf:?]

[Qingque: hahahahahaha...]

Regardless, Silver Wolf displayed a strong desire for knowledge in the realm of hacking.

After consecutive failures,

though unwilling, she clutched her ice water and couldn't resist asking, "How exactly... did you become this strong? Oh, naturally, if it involves any secrets, feel free to not answer."

"It's fine, I can share," Su Qing replied seriously.

Su Qing put down his chopsticks, looking solemn as he said, "The answer is friendship."

Silver Wolf immediately displayed an expression that asked, "Are you taking me for a fool?"

"... You're just spouting nonsense, aren't you? And what a bland reason," Silver Wolf replied.

Su Qing raised his voice emphatically, "The answer is friendship!!!"

Choking on her ice water, Silver Wolf exclaimed, "Don't think emphasizing your tone will suddenly make it inspiring!"

Su Qing shrugged, his tone returning to calmness. "But didn't it ignite a bit of inspiration within you?"

"... Indeed, it did," Silver Wolf conceded.

[Sparkle: Joyful.]

[Herta: Humorous.]

Words alone carry no proof.

So, Su Qing lifted his hand and summoned a virtual keyboard. "Actually, I can slow down my movements and demonstrate it for you."

"Hm... Hm? Wait, are you serious?" Silver Wolf's attention instantly sharpened.

As a prodigy in this field, she had always relied on self-discovery. Having a hacker of Su Qing's caliber personally demonstrate techniques was undoubtedly a rare opportunity.

"Of course, watch closely."

Su Qing deliberately slowed down his finger movements, tapping gently a few times.

The keyboard serves merely as a medium, its purpose being to send messages to Ether Elements, instructing them on what you desire.

As Su Qing inputted commands, in the following second, a pair of chopsticks disappeared from the chopstick holder and materialized in his hands.

"Uh..." The sleeves of Silver Wolf's hoodie were quite long; her hands held the ice water through them, momentarily forgetting to take a sip.

Instinctively, she said, "Again... Please, can you do it one more time?"

This demonstration seemed to open up a new world for Silver Wolf.

Manipulating Ether Elements to edit reality, she pondered, was something she could also achieve.

However, there was no way she could execute it with such fluidity as Su Qing displayed.

When Silver Wolf controlled Ether, it felt like moving a heavy stone. She had to exert considerable effort and time just to obtain the desired effect.

In contrast, Su Qing exhibited unparalleled affinity with the elements. It wasn't merely about obedience; the Ether information actively anticipated and eagerly rushed to fulfill his commands.

[Sparkle: I get it now.]

[Sparkle: Silver Wolf: Straining all your might, manually dragging the stone to its destination. And the stone might even complain, saying, 'I'm perfectly fine here—why must you move me?!']

[Sparkle: Su Qing: Just provide coordinates, and the stone grows legs itself, swiftly running over without hesitation, fearing disappointment if not quick enough.]

[Bronya: Ha ha, true to form, Sparkle paints a vivid picture!]

[Seele: Fun! Now I understand too.]

[Firefly: Wow, Su Qing is amazing!]

[Qingque: No wonder Silver Wolf couldn't defeat him; the efficiency difference is stark.]

Silver Wolf now comprehended why Su Qing's character stats were so impressive and her reactions incredibly swift.

As Su Qing executed another maneuver, Silver Wolf truly grasped the gap between them.

Her body trembled slightly, hands tightening around the water cup, feeling a surge of...

Excitement!!!

The more formidable Su Qing proved to be, the greater her sense of irresistible exhilaration grew!

[Stelle: Wow, Silver Wolf embodies the true spirit of a gamer.]

[Stelle: Instead of fear, encountering a powerful opponent ignites excitement.]

[Himeko: (elegantly sipping coffee) Well, there's certainly nothing wrong with that mindset.]

[Silver Wolf: I understand now.]

[Kafka: @Silver Wolf, you've come to realize it too?]

[Silver Wolf: Initially, I thought this would be an easy match. But now, I see it's actually quite challenging. There might indeed be a slight gap between me and Su Qing. However, precisely because of such adversity, my eventual comeback and victory will feel even more glorious, won't it?]

[Stelle: ?? Just a slight gap.]

[Himeko: ...If you truly manage to win in the end, your point holds merit. However, I remain skeptical.]

[Himeko: Nonetheless, time will tell.]

[Firefly: @Black Swan, do you think Silver Wolf will ultimately triumph?]

[Black Swan: Whether she wins or not, I cannot say.]

[Black Swan: (laughs) But in the next episode, it seems like Silver Wolf might get a bit of discipline from Su Qing...]

[Silver Wolf: What did you say?!]

[Silver Wolf: ...]

[Silver Wolf: Hmph, never mind. No matter what you say, these are just minor obstacles to my ultimate victory.]

[Firefly: So persistent!]

[Firefly: I wonder what expression she has right now?]

[Sparkle: Let me check~]

[Sparkle: ?→???, Eh!]

[Qingque: Ah? This is Silver Wolf's reaction upon learning about being disciplined by Su Qing... Unexpected.]

[Kafka: (silent) (steps back two paces)]

[Firefly: (shocked by teammate's response)]

[Silver Wolf: @Kafka @Firefly, don't believe that! She randomly added that expression!!]

[Seele: Ha ha ha.]

[Stelle: Wow, can you really play around like this?]

[Sparkle: @Stelle, yes, it's called a callback—a technique used in performances.]

[Stelle: Got it, learned something new!]

[March 7th: @Stelle, you're already... well, you know what, stop picking up bad habits from internet friends!]