Chapter 79

Chapter 79

"What information?"

Sha Ni Lu emerged from the gym, a towel draped over his shoulder, his hair damp with sweat, and asked casually.

Zhong Shijin: "The Chairman had me collect the data from the S-Gate laboratory for the research division to translate. We now have the results."

A Jin eagerly pressed: "What did they translate?"

"The lab's objective," Zhong Shijin explained. "These sapient creatures seem to have discovered that sentinels must rely on guides to maintain psychic stability. So, they've been attempting to cultivate high-level guides with the intention of dominating all S-class sentinels."

A Jin shoved his hands into his pockets and mumbled, "That doesn't sound entirely impossible."

Sentinels and guides are inherently drawn to each other, especially those of matching ranks. Protecting their guide and obeying their guide's commands is a sentinel's instinct, an irresistible force akin to a law of nature.

"Seven years ago, the S-Gate's appearance wasn't accidental; it was deliberate. All sentinels and guides who entered the gate back then were captured by the lab monsters and turned into experimental subjects. Among them, Tu Nuo from the Tuyue Guild was the sole guide, so the experimental specimen's genetic template was modeled after him."

Zhong Shijin shared the documents with them.

The records contained remarkably detailed experimental reports. The sentinels captured seven years ago, including the guide Tu Nuo, had long since perished as experimental subjects. Little Snowball, cultivated based on Tu Nuo’s template, might therefore retain some of Tu Nuo’s memories.

Yet, the sapient creatures remained unsatisfied. They sought to develop an induction agent to further optimize the test subject rabbit’s psychic regulation abilities, prompting them to reopen the S-Gate, hoping to capture more sentinels and guides for experimentation.

They simply hadn't anticipated encountering Tansapa's destructive force this time.

"Ha…" Sha Ni Lu rubbed his temples at the sight of the reports. "So, Little Tangyuan is a cultivated test subject?" In a sense, Little Snowball wasn't human—it was a product of the lab.

Roland closed the bedroom door and emerged, his expression impassive, only his eyes shifting slightly. "That's not Little Snowball’s fault."

"Of course not!" A Jin blurted out anxiously.

His gaze flickered uneasily toward Chairman Chen Wang. After all, among them, the Chairman was the most emotionally reserved, and he hadn't yet spoken.

The report detailed over two hundred deceased sentinels—some seasoned veterans, some fresh recruits, ranging from A-class to C-class. Yet, none of the Tansapa members present seemed particularly affected. For sentinels like them, injury or death was commonplace. Especially when entering the gates, where opportunity and risk coexisted—sometimes, what they brought back from a single trip could secure their prosperity for the rest of their lives.

Having chosen to enter the gates, they naturally accepted the potential dangers and risks within.

Their sole concern was Little Snowball.

Zhong Shijin: "There aren't many experimental records concerning Little Snowball. Some rare symbols couldn't be translated. The research division speculates that Little Snowball’s guide abilities are too unstable for proper evaluation."

"I never considered Little Tangyuan a guide anyway. Even if it's just B-class, it doesn't matter," Sha Ni Lu said lazily.

Zhong Shijin couldn't help but glance at him.

Sha Ni Lu, who had always clamored for an S-class guide, had actually changed his tune.

Sha Ni Lu propped his legs on the coffee table and looked at Chairman Chen Wang, waiting to hear what he would say.

Chairman Chen Wang’s posture was relaxed, his expression faintly amused. "Why are you all looking at me?"

Zhong Shijin took a deep breath and carefully asked, "Do you have anything to say?"

"Oh…" Chairman Chen Wang narrowed his eyes, recalling the image of Little Snowball lying in the experimental chamber, wearing a breathing mask. Just imagining what a test subject rabbit must have endured made him furious. "I do regret one thing—I should’ve melted the S-Gate even more thoroughly."

…

Chairman Chen Wang possessed countless trophies. Zhong Shijin handed the vault access codes to A Jin and tasked him with finding the little snowflakes. As a wind-type ability user, A Jin was swift. In less than two days, he made a round trip to Snowbird City and completed the mission.

He returned to the hotel, dusty and exhausted, and quietly placed a pile of little snowflakes beside the sleeping Little Snowball.

That afternoon, Luo Ci drowsily shook his head and slowly opened his eyes, immediately noticing the beautiful little snowflakes surrounding him.

He let out a delighted chirp. Perhaps due to his Arctic Hare lineage, he was naturally drawn to snow—and these crystalline flowers truly resembled little snowflakes.

He couldn't resist hugging one, then lifting his front paws to touch another. There was one particularly beautiful one, larger than the rest. Little Snowball’s ear tips perked up as his dual paws struggled to lift the snowflake and cradle it in his arms.

Still half-asleep, Luo Ci thought he was dreaming. He hugged it tightly, his eyelids drooping as he dozed off again.

A Jin’s heart melted at the sight of Little Snowball’s adorable actions. He couldn’t help but pull out his comm device and snap a photo, uploading it to social media.

#Little Snowball Cradling a Snowflake#

Among Tansapa’s members, aside from the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, most were quite active on social media—especially A Jin, who frequently posted updates. He had millions of followers.

The new post quickly garnered likes and shares.

The warm afternoon light spilled over the curtains as a fluffy Little Snowball curled up on what looked like an incredibly soft cushion, his tail tucked in. The gentle glow was enough to heal and melt hearts.

[Little Snowball is so adorable—it feels like he’d melt if held in the palm of your hand.]

[Brother A Jin, please post more pictures of Little Snowball! (hug)]

[Does Little Snowball not grow? It’s been months, and he’s still so tiny. Protecting the eternally small Little Snowball!]

[Little Snowball’s mouth curls up when he sleeps—my heart's melting!]

[What’s our Little Snowball holding in his fluffy paws?]

[New wallpaper get!]

A Jin grinned smugly as he scrolled through the comments, where people were clamoring to hold Little Snowball.

Hmph. They’d never get to. Only he could hold Little Snowball.

Most people simply found Little Snowball cute and wanted to cuddle or pinch him. But a few sentinels recognized that what surrounded him weren’t decorative snowflakes—they were A-Gate crystals.

Some members of the sentinel combat squad under A Jin’s command started murmuring in the comments.

[There are so many A-Gate crystals here—probably more than what’s appeared in auction houses over the past decade.]

[Did none of you notice? The one Little Snowball is holding…]

[Based on size, luminescence, and color, I’ve never seen anything like it. Must be from the S-Gate.]

[What?! The S-Gate?!]

After the S-Gate was conquered, even most media outlets hadn’t seen its S-Gate core. No one expected it to be revealed like this. Within half an hour, the photo was reposted countless times, instantly spreading like wildfire.

Even expert analysts stepped forward to authenticate it. Based on the luminescence, dimensions, and other factors compared to A-Gate crystals, they confirmed it was indeed from the S-Gate.

Many guilds assumed Chairman Chen Wang had displayed it because he intended to sell it. Countless people immediately contacted Zhong Shijin.

After figuring out what had happened, Zhong Shijin scolded A Jin for causing trouble and needlessly adding to his workload. Then, he curtly replied to all inquiries:

Not for sale. It’s already Little Snowball’s toy.

When experts came forward to explain that these seemingly decorative snowflakes, part of the Chairman's collection, were worth astronomical sums combined, onlookers were green with envy.

Previously, it was just A Jin occasionally posting photos of Little Snowball. Chen Wang was more low-key, but he had always topped the S-class sentinel rankings, attracting countless followers. The fact that he was willing to gift the S-class crystal flower to Little Snowball clearly showed his fondness for the little fluffball. Turns out... it wasn’t just A Jin who held Little Snowball in the palm of his hand—the entire Tansapa did the same.

Suddenly, discussions about Little Snowball flooded everywhere. Some gushed over its cuteness, others burned with jealousy, and a few even recognized the pendant around its neck as this year’s closing lot S-class defensive gear from the coastal auction—the Dawnlight Core.

[I’m tired of saying the word "envy."]

[My eyes are red. Little Snowball is still so small—it probably doesn’t even understand the value of these things.]

[So what if it doesn’t understand? It already owns them.]

[Tansapa never bids on defensive gear. They’ve always focused on offensive items—this is the first time they’ve gone for an S-class defensive piece.]

[Let’s be real, it’s all for Little Snowball. I’m so jealous! It gets to be pampered by A Jin, eating, drinking, and exploring carefree. Even Chen Wang, who usually ignores everyone, has been won over. And that’s the only S-class crystal flower—talk about power privilege.]

[Little Snowball’s value skyrocketed overnight.]

Luo Ci was oblivious to the outside buzz. He didn’t have a virtual terminal and rarely went out. Even when A Jin took him out, A Jin would arrange private bookings in advance—after all, Little Snowball was so tiny that a crowded space could be dangerous.

At the hotel, Little Snowball had the most freedom in the afternoons, often playing in the lobby with the meerkat and grizzly bear. Luo Ci thought the grizzly bear’s temperament was nothing like its owner’s. President Ao Qi seemed mature and steady, while the grizzly, despite its intimidating size, was gentle and slow-moving, letting Luo Ci and the meerkat climb all over its head without complaint.

The hotel was teeming with Spirits, with occasional appearances from a viper and a snowy owl. The snowy owl was highly alert, but when Little Snowball perked up and gently stroked its wings with tiny white paws, even the wary owl couldn’t resist the guide's comforting aura. It gradually relaxed its feathers, becoming docile enough to give Little Snowball aerial rides around the lobby.

The hotel staff had grown accustomed to these Spirits playing around, though they remained curious about Little Snowball, who was adored by all the others. After all, the rest were carnivores—yet this tiny puffball showed no fear.

Of course Luo Ci wasn’t scared. He was an S-class-raised cub—his courage was immense. Perched on the snowy owl’s back, he played with the meerkat, the two of them nuzzling against him. Their slightly scratchy fur tickled him, making his fluffy little ears twitch.

Then, several tall sentinels approached.

"Eh?"

At first, Luo Ci paid no attention—until he noticed their intense stares and odd expressions. Having stayed at the hotel for nearly half a month, he was familiar with most faces, but these were unfamiliar faces.

"What’s this? Some runt Arctic Hare?"

"Is this someone’s Spirit? Hahaha."

"Seems like a worthless Spirit to me."

"Looks fun to bully."

Luo Ci’s ears shot up in alarm, his fur puffing out defensively. These sentinels set his fur on edge.

Most guild sentinels wore their guild insignias on their uniforms, but these men had none. And though their words were mocking, their faces remained strangely expressionless.

As they closed in, the Spirits—including the snowy owl—bristled, muscles coiled to strike. But their owners’ orders barred them from unleashing powers inside the hotel, rendering them helpless spectators.

They could only watch as one of the sentinels reached for Little Snowball.

In an instant, a bolt of lightning tore through the air, blasting the sentinel’s arm clean off. Sha Ni Lu flung away the magazine covering his face and rose from the far sofa, digging at his ear in annoyance.

"Where’d these flies come from? They’re disturbing my beauty sleep."