After injecting the gene agent, a quarter of an hour later, Ashley’s body experienced the high fever brought on by rejection symptoms, but it quickly subsided.
She pressed her palm against a thumbtack on the table and felt a layer of hard resistance during the exertion.
“How does it compare to a bulletproof plate?” Ashley asked, looking at Xixi.
“It’s not as strong… Lotus Jade’s main function is to resist cold weapons, piercing-type extraordinary powers, and toxins,” Xixi explained. “Firearms are outdated products with little effect on extraordinaries.”
Extraordinaries who took beast medicine long-term not only had extremely fast speeds that made it hard for gun muzzles to track them, but also formed massive protective connective tissues around their blood vessels, muscles, and organs.
Even if shot, they wouldn’t suffer severe bleeding, their mobility reduced by no more than 10%, and their adrenaline secretion levels were extremely high, leaving them with almost no pain during battle.
As for tech users, the bullets hadn’t even fully penetrated the skin before being blocked by locally hardened biological tissue.
“Hmm…”
Ashley had only used her family secret medicine’s spirit points to strengthen her body once, but after learning it was extracted from human brains, she never used it again—it just felt too off-putting.
Besides, transforming her soft, tender loli body into a hard, tough non-human structure? No thanks.
Seeming to read her mind, Xixi added:
“Evolution is gradual, building step by step on what’s already there. The King Insect Node must have an upgraded version of ‘Lotus Jade.’ Don’t always think you can have it all—invincible defense, chopping vegetables like a hot knife through butter, and still keeping the loli usability.”
“Uh…”
Called out by her little cousin, Ashley pouted embarrassedly.
“If you decide to abandon your human body, tell me first,” Xixi said with a charming smile. “Let me have my fun first—don’t waste it.”
“Hey!”
Ashley immediately shrank back. She wasn’t ready to hand it over that quickly.
–
After collecting the research results, Ashley headed to the back alley to inspect the Venerable King Knights.
They filled two large warehouses completely. At a glance, they formed rows in a spectacular matrix, like terracotta warriors.
Their chitin shells were pure white, exuding an eerie beauty, like a fusion of magnolia petals and thorny sea snails.
Each Venerable King Knight cadaver was equivalent to a powerful extraordinary in combat strength—118 of them could form two full companies.
The problem was, their cockpits were too small; even a loli couldn’t squeeze in. And without a super brain machine for assisted piloting and guidance, they couldn’t perform at 100% strength.
Ashley suddenly thought of how “Black Cat’s Tail” could create rat pilots.
Even if the cat loli could only transform five people into rats at a time after regaining her tightness, five bio-mechs were still very powerful.
As for the super brain machine, Ashley only had one for research, but in a life-or-death crisis, she certainly wouldn’t worry about it—she could move Intel Crow No. 1 to the battlefield for computational support or look for similar functions in the Starlink System.
After handling things at the workshop, Ashley rushed to Whitehall Street and went with Amber to the Tribunal to process paperwork.
She transferred all the points she’d earned from the incidents in Bull Town, Rift City, and Card Court Town to Amber’s account.
Because she wasn’t direct lineage, Ashley had no channels to redeem Tribunal core tech with points, but Amber did—points were more valuable in her hands.
Though treated differently, Ashley wasn’t angry. Becoming direct lineage meant losing freedom; she’d belong entirely to the Tribunal. Strictly speaking, leaving without permission would be betrayal.
The current cooperative model was best. As long as the money was generous, she could reach consensus with the Tribunal on certain matters. Without enough money, they couldn’t make her budge.
After promotion to 4-Star Investigator, Ashley automatically left the Seventh Group. Interestingly, Roy Vaughn, who had been demoted to vice-captain, was promoted back to captain.
Roy had performed outstandingly in the Card Court Town incident. After the dock cruise ship vanished, he made the right judgment and found the ‘ghost ship’ shrouded in gray mist at the fastest speed.
Amber’s performance was only average—fighting the Wolf Girl during the Black Cat pursuit—but she was still promoted to vice-captain and 2-Star Agent.
For direct lineage, as long as strength was reached, they’d promote with any excuse.
Up and down the ranks, Roy remained calm. As a middle-aged man with two kids, once work was done, he just wanted to be with family and friends.
“Just so we’re clear, I won’t steal Tribunal tech for you,” Amber said, staring fixedly at Ashley.
“Before, you wouldn’t even work with a criminal like me. You called me ‘Captain’ pretty smoothly, though.” Ashley pursed her lips.
“That’s different! I absolutely won’t violate principles!” Amber huffed.
“And the Undying Potion…”
“That was you tricking me! You big liar!”
Though her words were strong, Amber’s expression showed faint unease.
Ashley saw through Amber’s conflict: to the Tribunal, she was an ‘outsider,’ and accepting such dubious gifts wasn’t appropriate for Amber.
“Once you have enough savings, pay me back. The Tribunal doesn’t forbid personal friendships, and besides, we’re both Teacher’s disciples.”
Ashley signed the points transfer receipt and handed it to Amber, adding:
“From today on, work hard to get stronger and ease that unease in your heart. We’ll act separately from now on, of course—per Teacher’s orders, I’ll still live at your place to help you.”
“Mm.” Amber pursed her lips, her gaze firming up.
Amber stayed with the Seventh Group, while Ashley needed to rebuild her own tactical squad and become a wandering ‘hyena.’
For combat, bringing the Bug Lolita was enough strength. Medical and transport covered by Little Doctor and Great Raven; then recruit some logistics tools and Venerable King Knight pilots.
Five pilots first transformed into rats by Black Cat’s ability, then stuffed into the teacup-sized cockpits of the Venerable King Knights, forming a Rat Agent Team.
To help Black Cat regain tightness quickly, Little Doctor designed a rehabilitation resistance band.
An inflatable plug connected to the resistance band was tied to the heel of her shoe. Each step pulled with force trying to yank the plug out.
Starting from 10g resistance bands and progressing to 50g, gradually increasing, a few days later the cat loli finally turned back into a cat successfully, hugging Little Doctor with tears in her eyes.
“Congratulations!”
Ashley pulled the string on a party popper expressionlessly beside her.
“Repent to me! You culprit!” The cat loli bared her sharp little fangs.
“You’re the one who should repent, Elisana Rosa,” Ashley said seriously. “Little White Mouse’s eye surgery was very successful. She’ll watch firsthand as the bad kids who tormented her get punished.”
“Nooo… waaah…” The cat loli panicked, eyes darting as she tried to dive under the bed.
Controlling the cat loli was easy—Wolf Girl and Little Blind Girl were her weaknesses, and now both were under Ashley’s protection.
But the cat loli only bit pretty girls; biting muscular men’s hairy legs? Instant suicide!
Ashley grabbed the little black cat by the scruff and lifted her. “How could you let the girls risk their lives in battle? I’ll have the boys shave their legs clean, put on stockings, and let you bite.”
“You’re a devil! I’d rather die!” The little black cat struggled fiercely.
No choice, Ashley recruited familiar beautiful girl fighters: Wolf Girl Martina Rosa, first-year newbie Senya Krejji, Nina Buslot with “Rose Blood Drain,” tendon-severed puppet girl Vicky Jones, and cat loli Elisana Rosa.
