I really don't want to date a girl addicted to the internet!

……

On the other side, somewhere in the underground world on the third level of the corridor.

Despite Cheng Fei's best efforts to persuade her, Shen Xi still refused his suggestion to move directly to the 36th floor (although it was very likely due to Ye Shuang's problem).

Of course, the aloof girl also had objections to him moving away, so the issue had to be put on hold for the time being.

"According to the online description, there should be an important energy node ahead." Shen Xi opened her hand-drawn map to check it, her little face serious.

"I see." Cheng Fei looked at her soft, round cheeks and then at the map in her hand with great interest.

"There are out-of-control machines inside, and many players who came to challenge them all got wiped out." The girl continued looking at the map.

"If it's so dangerous, why go there?" The boy continued to stare at her small face.

"You have to destroy these energy nodes before you can enter the core of the great portal. Cheng Feiyu doesn't even know that?" The girl looked up, suspicious.

"It seems so? These kinds of things are usually handled by large guilds, I don't know much about them." The boy said seriously.

The aloof girl stared at him, then suddenly shut her mouth and said nothing.

"What's wrong with Teacher Shen?" the boy asked, puzzled.

"What was the meaning behind Cheng Feiyu's disgusting look from just now?" The girl asked, her expression turning repulsive.

"I just think it's really cute to see the little cutie over there studying the little piece of paper she drew with her tiny hands," the boy said casually.

"A small piece of paper?" The girl was taken aback. She looked down at her hand-drawn map, her brows furrowing as she stared at the boy. Because her two eyes were squinting at different degrees, they appeared to be different sizes.

"Isn't that right?" the boy said confidently.

The girl pinched her brow and sighed, then gritted her teeth and gave him a sharp kick with her small foot. "Hopeless!"

After saying that, she left him behind and walked forward.

Nagasaki Asuna, who had gone to a higher vantage point to scout the situation under Ye Shuang's protection, returned just then. "Um, there are a lot of out-of-control machines up ahead, but it looks like they're fighting?"

"Let's go take a look." Shen Xi quickened her pace without hesitation.

The others quickly followed.

Soon, they arrived at a high vantage point that offered a good view of the situation.

Not far away, a bright cluster of buildings appeared on the ground, with dense pipelines inside, like a metal nest, probably the so-called energy node.

Outside the energy node, a fierce battle is underway.

A large number of small, out-of-control machines poured out of the energy node and rushed towards a group of players who seemed to be attacking. The weapons of both sides intertwined to form a flashing net of fire.

"Teacher Shen, someone got there before us," Cheng Fei said in a low voice.

"I can see it." Shen Xi said indifferently.

"They seem to be a mixed, ragtag army," the boy observed.

Those players were clearly fighting independently, and judging from their equipment, they seemed to be a large guild leading a group of individual players.

"Go help," Shen Xi said without hesitation.

"Teacher Shen, don't worry." The boy pulled her back.

"What tricks does Cheng Feiyu have up his sleeve now?" The girl turned around.

"There's no need to help. If they can beat us, it's pointless for us to help." The boy rubbed his chin.

"What if we can't win?" the girl wondered.

"If you can't beat them, it's best to wipe them out completely, then we can move in again. That way we can also take their equipment. Mediation is more profitable, you know?" the boy patiently persuaded.

"Hey, Cheng Fei is really despicable, isn't he?" Nagasaki Asuna joined the conversation from the side.

"Nana?" The boy glanced at her.

"I'm sorry, Nana, I take it back." The sweet girl immediately covered her mouth.

Shen Xi glanced at the two of them with disdain, then nodded tentatively, "Okay, I'll do as you say."

"I knew Teacher Shen wasn't a good person either." The boy nodded in satisfaction.

As expected, I was glared at.

As the group from the Corridor Research Department watched, the battle in the distance intensified.

A female player wielding a giant scythe charged into the midst of a horde of out-of-control machines, swinging it wildly with exaggerated movements, slicing through the machines in her path.

"What a powerful scythe girl." Cheng Fei exclaimed as he watched this scene.

Shen Xi sneered, "If you like it, you can go and see for yourself. Besides, her outfit happens to fit some people's aesthetic."

"Teacher Shen, I didn't pay any attention to my appearance at all. You're being too deliberate!" the boy exclaimed in surprise.

The female player wielding the giant scythe is a young girl with outstanding looks. She has huge purple curly twin tails, and her equipment is different from that of ordinary players. She wears a gothic-style black dress and exudes an indescribable gloomy aura.

"I remember Cheng Fei saying that the stronger the equipment, the better it looks. Does that mean she's really that strong?" Nagasaki Asuna tapped her chin with her fingertip.

"That's true, although I don't know why. Could you please explain, Teacher Shen?" The boy looked to the other side.

"I've said it before, the so-called advanced equipment in the corridor is all made of special materials and has a specially designed appearance. Of course, it's different from those mass-produced standard equipment," Shen Xi said coldly and impatiently.

"Who on earth was so bored as to design these devices?" the boy asked curiously.

"..." The girl subtly turned her face away.

"Teacher Shen, are you asleep?" the boy asked, peeking out.

The girl grew even more impatient, glaring at him. "Since it's stored in the corridor, it's obviously mostly designed by the Celestial Queen. Can't you even guess that?"

"I see. I apologize for my intrusion." The young man bowed respectfully.

As the three discussed this, Ye Shuang was also watching the female player wielding a giant scythe on the battlefield. The obedient girl blinked and hesitated, "Why do I feel like she's very fast?"

"That's true." Cheng Fei also observed carefully and found that the player's movement was obviously accelerating.

Just like... there are also agility-based extraordinary abilities.

He thought about it and decided not to redeem the scanner immediately.

Once the scan is complete, the system will definitely add a task objective, urging him to approach the other party.

Although the system really wanted him to be unfaithful, considering various issues, it decided to nip it in the bud.

Shen Xi suddenly stared at him, her gaze sharpening. "Trash, what are you thinking about now?"

"What are you thinking?" the boy asked, puzzled.

"I'm warning you, if you dare to approach any girl with a bit of ability and looks and try to steal her abilities, I'll be truly disappointed," the girl said coldly.

"Teacher Shen, I already told you I didn't steal any abilities!" the boy said, looking wronged.

"Heh, I hope so," the girl said noncommittally.

While the two sides were locked in fierce combat on the battlefield, and the Corridor Research Department was observing from the sidelines, no one noticed the humanoid shadow approaching silently in mid-air, leaving behind a trail of dim particle streams.

At a certain moment, Nagasaki Asuna's eyes flickered, and she was the first to notice something amiss. "Eh, that's... a phantom?"

A void being covered in dark equipment fragments descended from the sky and landed in the center of the battlefield, causing everyone who noticed this scene to look surprised.

"Great, they're doomed now." Cheng Fei clapped his hands.

“No, that’s not right.” Shen Xi narrowed her eyes.

After landing, the Shadow did not launch a massacre against the players as the boy had expected.

Because the out-of-control machinery attacked it first.

A thin, bright beam of light was splashed onto the shadow, treating it no differently than any other player.

The shadow vanished from its spot, leaving only a blur as it lunged at the nearest out-of-control machine.

"The Shadow is attacking the out-of-control machinery?" Nagasaki Asuna covered her mouth.

“Miss Nagasaki, but it didn’t spare the players either!” Miriam finally managed to seize the opportunity to speak.

As she said, that void is launching indiscriminate attacks on both sides of the battlefield.

912. Nagasaki Asuna understood more.

After the appearance of the Shadow, the battlefield outside the energy node suddenly descended into a three-way melee.

The female player wielding a giant scythe chose to fight the Shadow. The two clashed at high speed, the giant scythe and the Shadow's ever-changing weapons clashing so fast that the details were impossible to see.

Seeing this, the other players began to retreat, and the out-of-control machines also contracted their lines after the enemy retreated. Thus, the female player and the Shadow became the main characters on the battlefield, creating a situation where neither side could gain the upper hand.

Cheng Fei clicked his tongue as he watched this scene, "What a strong scythe girl, they're actually evenly matched."

"Is Cheng Feiyu unwilling to accept that there are players just as strong as him?" Shen Xi sneered.

"Teacher Shen, what are you saying?" the boy asked in surprise. "She only fought to a draw with Youying, so I'm obviously much stronger, thank you."

"In that case, it seems like we won't have a chance to gain any advantage, unless we forcibly kill everyone?" Nagasaki Asuna tilted her head.

"That would easily make people resent me, so let's forget about it." The boy said without hesitation.

"Ha, Cheng Feiyu, cunning yet cowardly." Shen Xi said with disdain.

This situation lasted for a while, ending with the Shadow retreating in the stalemate. After the powerful enemy disappeared, the surviving players seemed to give up the fight and slowly retreated.

Small, out-of-control machines crawled out of the darkness, dragging away the remaining resources on the battlefield, and the once bustling energy nodes fell silent in the blink of an eye.

"What a pity." Cheng Fei shook his head, glancing at the aloof girl beside him. "Teacher Shen, since that's the case, shall we leave? Or do you want to be a warmonger?"

Shen Xi paused for a second, then ordered with displeasure, "Let's retreat for today."

……

The Corridor Research Department returned via the same route, marking the end of the online event.

The Slit Dimension, the cockpit of the Miriam.

Only Cheng Fei, Shen Xi, and Nagasaki Asuna remained, sitting at the map table.

Shen Xi originally wanted to call Cheng Fei to the meeting alone, but the boy said he could just go to her bed to have the meeting. Since they had already had a regular meeting this week, this was naturally refused. In protest, the boy called Nagasaki Asuna as well.

"Isena, continue gathering information about the Shadow online." Shen Xi said expressionlessly.

The young girl in the white sailor uniform beside him immediately saluted, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"And while you're at it, help me find out the identity of the scythe girl." Cheng Fei said calmly.

"Governor, who is the Scythe Girl?" Isena asked, her face full of confusion.

"She's a player from the corridor who wields a giant scythe. She's very strong and fast. Her twin ponytails look like two drills, and she gives off a somewhat gloomy vibe..." The boy roughly described the female player's appearance.

“Received, searching based on these features.” Isena nodded.

"Trash, so you really are interested in that girl?" Shen Xi narrowed her eyes and stared at the boy.

"Teacher Shen, I'm just curious if she has some kind of special ability. Aren't you curious too?" Cheng Fei shrugged.

He has been pondering a question for a long time: how many people with extraordinary abilities are there in this world?

So far, apart from Shen Xi, Nagasaki Asuna, Lin Xuanqi, and Ye Shuang who have already been confirmed, this is the first time we have encountered a suspected target.

Shen Xi turned her face away without saying a word, which was probably taken as tacit agreement.

As usual, Nagasaki Asuna stood beside them, resting her chin on her hands and watching them with a smile.

A moment later, Isena projected the information the two had requested onto their faces.

"So it really will indiscriminately attack players and out-of-control machines..." Shen Xi pinched her chin and stared at the information on Youying, then casually glanced at Cheng Fei's side, "Isena, show me what he wants too."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The innocent-looking girl fell to her feet, and new content appeared before Shen Xi.

"Little Yi, please let me see it too~" Nagasaki Asuna smiled and stretched out her hand.

“Yes, Inspector.”

Isena did as she was told.

"Oh, so she's a very famous player online, named Elise, and her character has a beauty mark under her eye that's quite cute?" Nagasaki Asuna exclaimed as she looked at the information.