Yu Zhizhi lay on the sofa, her rabbit ears twitching slightly.
She sat up.
The broadcast continued, "This periodās live entertainment program is [Battle Royale]. Any residents who wish to watch, please turn on your projectors."
"Additionally, last periodās popular contestant, [Number 091], has escaped from Paradise. We advise all residents to avoid going out at night. If you have any information, please contact the Guard Team immediately..."
āBattle Royale?ā
āThe name alone makes it sound like a very bloody game.ā
Yu Zhizhi was home alone. She didnāt dare watch...
āThis seems to be a regular event in Paradise.ā
She recalled what the young man from the Guard Team, Luther, had told her about Paradise. This area was indeed full of danger.
āBut...ā
āI usually stay in the cabin. When Luther isnāt here, I donāt go running around.ā
āMost importantly, Iāve already found the target for my fourth mission, the Mermaid! Heās in the bathroom right nowāā
She had more time for this mission than for the previous three.
To complete the mission, the most important thing was the Mermaidās differentiation.
An undifferentiated Mermaid remains in its initial state and is incapable of mating.
"Two more days..."
Yu Zhizhi counted.
The Elk Host from the Lost Tower had said he would notify her as soon as the Holy Medicine, which could induce the Mermaidās differentiation, arrived.
Just as she was still thinking about how to complete the main mission, the doorbell rang.
Yu Zhizhi saw familiar faces on the monitor.
They were members of the Guard Team.
She opened the door.
A young male in uniform immediately bowed. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, good morning. Luther asked me to bring a physician."
Behind the young man stood a young physician.
He smiled faintly. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, I am a physician from Paradise. Iāve come today specifically to perform eye surgery on the Mermaid."
"Please come in." Yu Zhizhi stepped aside.
A cold wind blew in, a stark contrast to the temperature inside the house.
It was the young Guard Team memberās first visit. He was a little reserved, standing just inside the doorway and not daring to venture further in.
The physician followed the Mermaidās scent to the bathroom.
"Are these the prosthetic eyes?"
He spotted a jewelry box on the counter above the washbasin, which held a pair of "prosthetic eyes." He opened it, revealing deep blue "eyes" of excellent quality.
Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly.
Just then, a notification chimed in her mindā
[System: Ding! The host has triggered a side quest!]
[System: Upon completion, you will receive a "Disguised Identity" item. It allows you to disguise yourself as a female of another clan for a limited time.]
[System: Host, do you wish to accept this side quest?]
āDisguise myself as a female from another clan?ā
āThat could be useful in an emergency...ā
āWill there be a penalty if the side quest fails?ā
To be on the safe side, Yu Zhizhi asked in her mind.
[System: Failure will result in a deduction of 100 Points.]
āThatās not so bad...ā
āAlthough losing 100 Points would really sting, itās a price I can afford to pay for failure.ā
So, she responded in her mindā
āI accept!ā
āEarning a Rare item that canāt even be bought in the store is a great deal!ā
Besides, Yu Zhizhi was very interested just from hearing the description of "Disguised Identity."
[System: Ding! Congratulations, Host, for activating the side quest "Mermaidās Eye"! Find the Mermaidās stolen eyes and successfully install them to complete the quest. Reward: one "Disguised Identity (7-Day)" item!]
āMermaidās Eye!ā
āSo this item is related to the Mermaidāā
Yu Zhizhi was a little surprised, but this suited her just fine.
If she could, she would be more than happy to help the Mermaid get his real eyes back.
Inside the bathroom.
The physician was cleaning the deep blue prosthetic eyes.
The Mermaid, chained in the bathtub, had a tail covered in a layer of white Frost. His body was tense, and he was clenching his teeth so hard they felt like they would break.
"I... donāt want... fake eyes!"
The physician gave him a cold look. "This appearance of yours will frighten the noble Rabbit Clan Lady. And here, you have no right to refuse."
The Mermaid trembled all over.
The thought of his body being "defiled" by the prosthetic eyes made his tail tremble uncontrollably.
Rage burned madly in his chestā
āIf I could just get my strength back, the first thing Iād do is slaughter everyone in Paradise!ā
"Um..."
At the doorway, Yu Zhizhi said softly, "Maybe we should just skip it for today."
The physician paused, stunned. He turned around. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, installing the prosthetic eyes only takes ten minutes. It will be very quick."
"He doesnāt seem to like it."
In the tub, the white Frost that had been forming on the Mermaidās body gradually stopped spreading.
The physician thought he had misheard.
"Huh?"
Heād seen so many noble females, yet not a single one had ever shown pity for the male pets they kept.
"If heās going to be like this, he might accidentally rip off the gauze..."
"It might scare you."
The thought of the empty sockets where his eyes had been gouged out was terrifying enough.
"Besides," the physician said earnestly, "his mutilated body is completely unworthy of serving you."
"Itās all right~"
Yu Zhizhi smiled faintly. "I donāt mind."
She never minded that this Mermaid had no eyes.
The young Guard Team member listening at the doorway felt inexplicably moved.
The physician didnāt understand. This Rabbit Clan Lady was an S-Class female!
Imperial S-Class females were universally adored, typically making them flamboyant and domineering. This was especially true in the Moon Rising Empire, where the number of S-Class females was far lower than in the other two great Empires, making them exceptionally precious!
The physician packed up his tools, placed the prosthetic eyes back in their box, and said with a smile, "I understand. Please call for me anytime you need me, Ms. Zhi Zhi."
The words of a noble female were a command.
No male living in this land could defy it.
The Guard Team member and the physician left together.
The cabin fell quiet once more.
Yu Zhizhi put the box with the prosthetic eyes back on the shelf.
She couldnāt help but glance at the Mermaid in the tubā
His tail was still covered in a snowy white. The Frost that had just formed coated the side of his face and jaw, spreading all the way to his shoulder.
The Mermaid pressed his lips together tightly, his body tensed.
āThis little female.ā
āShe actually didnāt force me.ā
āThen again, maybe itās just an act.ā
Yu Zhizhi couldnāt resist moving closer. She bent over and gently wiped the "Frost" from the Mermaidās cheek with a damp towel.
Her movements were very gentle, as if treating the most precious pearl.
This close, Yu Zhizhi could smell the scent of the ocean on him. He just kept his head turned toward the wall, making even the mole on the tip of his nose less noticeable.
In the water.
He clenched his fists.
He felt the little femaleās impossibly gentle touch.
The overwhelming revulsion the physician had caused began to fade, and the white Frost on his body receded bit by bit.
Yu Zhizhi stared blankly at this scene.
She didnāt know what this layer of Frost was.
She just had a feeling that it might be making him uncomfortable.
There seemed to be a little left on his other cheek. She couldnāt help but lean closer, but her knee slipped, and she tumbled right into the tub.
SPLASH!ā
Yu Zhizhiās face plunged into the water, and she sputtered as she choked on it.
She panicked, and as she struggled, she heard the rattling of chains.
The Mermaid in front of her pulled her up.
She found herself draped over his chest. Trembling, she lifted her head until their noses were almost touching.
He smelled the alluring jasmine fragrance on the little female. It was as if the water had amplified it, making it damp, sweet, and cloying as it landed on the tip of his nose, a phantom touch that teased his senses...