"You're just going to leave something like this sitting on the Luofu docks for days? Don't you value the lives of the Xianzhou people at all?"
Recalling the oppressive aura emanating from that massive machine, March 7th bristled with anger.
That thing is practically a Pathstrider, she thought, and it's a clear danger to ordinary Xianzhou citizens!
Yet the IPC was trying to conceal it, storing such a dangerous item in plain sight. This is outrageous!
March 7th planted her hands on her hips, glaring at Scott and his team, demanding an explanation.
Whoosh—
As her words rang out, the Cloud Knights—who had been momentarily stunned by the sudden event—snapped to attention. They leveled their weapons at Scott and the IPC personnel.
The incident had happened in the blink of an eye. If not for Lumina's swift intervention, Lingsha might have suffered significant shock and injury.
"N-n-n... this has nothing to do with us! We had no idea this would happen! It was perfectly safe before..." Scott stammered, his face betraying rare panic as he frantically waved his hands in denial. "You must have accidentally triggered the cargo's defense protocols!"
"In this society, organic and inorganic life are equal and have the right to self-defense!"
Scott countered logically and systematically, even citing the Version T0 Answer that organic and inorganic life are equal, shifting all blame onto Lingsha.
"Are you saying that Miss Lingsha merely touched the machine and triggered its self-defense system?"
As the smoke cleared, Lumina reappeared in her original form, supporting the unharmed Lingsha. Her tone remained remarkably gentle as she questioned Scott.
"I genuinely didn't know this thing... What the—?!" Hearing the gentle voice, Scott didn't react immediately. He instinctively turned toward the sound, ready to offer an explanation.
But when the white-clad figure entered his field of vision, every explanation he had prepared vanished.
What's the difference between this and running into a company director while on vacation?!
As a Lone Wolf constantly climbing the corporate ladder, Scott naturally recognized Lumina.
So, when Scott saw Lumina supporting Lingsha as they appeared before him, he knew this machine assault incident was likely doomed.
And with it, he and all the other IPC employees involved were probably doomed too.
After all, given Lady Lumina's status, if she were angered and demanded an explanation from the company, they would undoubtedly skip any investigation and instead send all those involved as scapegoats to appease her...
"I genuinely don't know why it suddenly started moving... I... I swear to the Amber Lord!" Though he had already guessed his future fate, Scott still attempted a feeble defense.
But his protest sounded utterly weak and unconvincing.
"If you want to explain, you can do so properly at the Sky-Faring Commission," Yanqing said. Regardless of the underlying reasons, such a dangerous object remaining in the Luofu's port was unacceptable.
After addressing Scott, Yanqing turned his gaze to the Foxian woman beside him and said, "Sister Xikui, would you mind escorting these IPC guests to the Sky-Faring Commission with a few Cloud Knights?"
"I understand. Please, Mr. Scott, and all employees of the IPC," Xikui, the Foxian woman, nodded, gesturing toward Scott and the company staff.
"Ah... Lady Lumina, I truly had no idea this device would suddenly activate..." Scott sighed in resignation, earnestly explaining himself to Lumina before leaving under the escort of several Cloud Knights, looking somewhat defeated.
"Um... La... Lady Lumina, your... hand..." After Xikui and the Cloud Knights had escorted Scott and his party away, a soft, shy voice, reminiscent of a young woman nestling in her boyfriend's arms, carried clearly through the air.
Hearing the voice, the others remembered the current situation and quickly turned their heads.
They saw Lumina and Lingsha pressed closely together, their bodies only a few centimeters apart. Lumina wore a gentle smile, her hand resting on Lingsha's waist, as if drawing her closer into her embrace.
Lingsha's face flushed crimson as she leaned against Lumina's embrace, her movements stiffened by the aura radiating from Lumina's body. The intoxicating scent—more alluring than anything she'd ever encountered—permeated the air around her, gradually blurring her focus...
"Ah, my apologies, Miss Lingsha," Lumina murmured, slowly withdrawing her hand from Lingsha's waist. A trace of remorse flickered across her flawless face as she apologized, attributing her action to impulsive concern for Lingsha's safety.
But that wasn't the truth...
Lumina hadn't reached out to save Lingsha. After all, she was merely a dilapidated machine; how could she possibly be harmed in Lumina's presence?
So, why had Lumina placed her hand on Lingsha's waist? Was it to take advantage of the situation, to indulge some perverse impulse?
Neither of those reasons was correct.
Lumina had placed her hand on Lingsha's waist simply to examine her for signs of an incurable condition similar to Feixiao's "Moon Rage" syndrome.
If such a condition existed, Lumina could cure it while she was at it.
There were no ulterior motives; after all, as fellow girls, Lumina had everything she could possibly want. She certainly had no intention of taking advantage of Lingsha.
"I... I'm fine," Lingsha stammered, a faint sense of emptiness washing over her as Lumina's small hand slowly withdrew from her waist.
It felt like being held in her mother's arms, then suddenly being put down, left to watch her mother walk away—that same poignant ache.
"Hey, don't let your imagination run wild! Sister Lumina just wanted to help you," March 7th couldn't resist interjecting, seeing Lingsha's flushed cheeks and dreamy gaze.
Ever since Lingsha had first appeared, staring intently at Sister Lumina, March 7th had mentally pegged her as a "bad guy." But that was just a first impression, and she knew better than to judge someone solely on that.
Now, having observed Lingsha's every move, March 7th realized her initial assessment had been correct.
This girl definitely wants Sister Lumina to be her mother! she thought with unwavering certainty.