"If you need my help later, I'll be in touch. Then I'll take my leave first." After saying this, Qingyi waved her hand and then left without looking back. On the way back, she kept thinking about what Wise had said.
"The feeling of being cared for? Hmph, is it like how Zhu Yuan was unwilling to let me sacrifice myself temporarily before?" She said this verbally, but Wise's figure appeared in her mind. To think I was taught a lesson by this junior...
...
Inside the video store. After Wise returned home, Belle, Aurelia, and Odette immediately came forward.
"Brother, you're back! I see the Proxy Net hasn't been eradicated by you all yet. How did it go?"
"Come on, how could it be eradicated so quickly?" Wise gave Belle a speechless look and then told her what had happened today. As for the sisters on the side, they had already gone to prepare dinner.
"Is that so? Good! No matter what, it's very necessary to have some connections in the Public Security Bureau. So, whether it's Qingyi or Zhu Yuan, brother, you must win one of them over. Or maybe both?" Belle tapped her lips with her index finger, looking like she was seriously considering it.
However, just then, Wise suddenly stepped forward and brought his face close. "Mmm! Mmph... what are you doing all of a sudden?" After subconsciously licking her lips, Belle looked at Wise with a blush. Although she herself hadn't reacted, her body had long since adapted.
"You don't have to worry about that. As an ordinary and simple citizen of New Eridu, all I can do now is wait for Qingyi's contact."
"Eh? Oh, right. Then I'll leave it to you, brother."
Just then, Odette's voice suddenly came from the kitchen. "Master, and big sister Belle, dinner is ready. You can come and eat now."
"Okay~ we're coming." Speaking of which, since the sisters had taken over the housework, it seemed it had been a while since Wise had cooked himself.
...
Ever since they investigated the suspect vehicle together, he hadn't received any contact from Qingyi. When Wise sent a message to ask about the situation, she just said it was still under investigation.
Just then, there was a knock on the shop door. It was quite a coincidence. Just as he was thinking of her, a familiar voice sounded.
"[If you have a problem, find the Public Security Bureau] peer-to-peer community service. This is Officer Qingyi." Mhm, her tone seems very normal this time. Is she not using auto-cruise mode? Thinking this, Wise opened the door.
"Nice to meet you! I am Officer Qingyi. May I ask what is the specific request for your scheduled community service with the Public Security Bureau?"
Déjà vu. It was the familiar human-machine speech again. But why was her tone so normal when she knocked on the door? Wise looked at the friendly smile on Qingyi's face and suddenly had an idea.
"Senior Qingyi, congratulations on your appointment as the Chief of Public Security!"
"Oh? Excellent. Then my first order is: to stop all community service—hm? Oh, it's Wise. Mmm, I think I just had a very nice dream." Qingyi's eyelids drooped slightly, looking as if she were disappointed by the cruel reality. Was her obsession with stopping community service really that deep?
Wise didn't mention his teasing just now and instead asked about Qingyi's physical condition with concern. "Qingyi, you look very tired. Are you okay?"
"Ah, I just haven't shut down for too long. A bit of redundant data. It's fine. I've been staking out the suspicious vehicle we identified last time and finally caught evidence of it entering and exiting the Cratilus Hollow. I've already applied to the bureau for manpower and [bots]. Once the approval comes through, I can go find Teddy. So Wise doesn't have to worry anymore." Qingyi said this and even winked at Wise to cheer him up.
Then, at this moment, there was another knock on the door. "Excuse me for disturbing you. I think I saw an officer coming this way just now? Ah, you must be Officer Qingyi. My little Hely has really caused you a lot of trouble."
The man in front of them must be Hely's father. He thanked them while taking out a brand new Bangboo and stuffing it into Qingyi's hands.
"What are you doing?" Qingyi looked at the man in front of her with a dazed expression, a guess forming in her mind. Hely's father's next words also confirmed her guess. The man was embarrassed to trouble the Public Security Bureau for this matter. He thought that since the old Bangboo was lost, it was lost. It was an old model anyway. So he simply bought a new one and wanted Qingyi to present it as the found Teddy and return it to Hely.
Wise, on the side, couldn't help but interject after hearing all this. "Is this really okay? Your daughter should cherish Teddy very much." (Just like how children in the countryside treat the dogs they've raised since they were puppies as friends and family, but their parents treat them as meat or goods, slaughtering and selling them at will.)
"That's right, please believe—" Qingyi also agreed with Wise's words, but halfway through, she suddenly changed her tune. "Mmm, wait a minute... I understand. If this is your wish..." Qingyi said and took the brand new Bangboo from the man's hand.
Although Wise was puzzled by Qingyi's rapid change of heart, he still chose to trust her. Hely's father, seeing this, left with a relieved mind.
"He left quite decisively. But I think Teddy can still be saved?" Wise looked at Qingyi on the side. The latter nodded.
"He is just a father who is worried about his daughter. As for the details of the investigation, there is no need to argue too much with him. And I just received a communication. This [Teddy 2.0] might be of great help. So I'll just handle it this way for now."
Hearing Qingyi say this, Belle on the side was suddenly curious and immediately asked, "So? Did something happen?"
"Mhm, the approval didn't come through. I miscalculated. A Bangboo can't be classified as a person..." Qingyi sighed. And it wasn't just that. Because it couldn't be reported as a missing person case, it could only be handled as a theft case. So, she couldn't apply for [bots] and additional manpower. This would inevitably delay the Hollow rescue, and by then, Teddy would likely be in a bad way.
"But we can't just replace Teddy, right? That's too cruel."
"Mhm, Wise is right. I have no intention of abandoning Teddy either. It's just that bringing him back intact is not very realistic." When Qingyi said this, a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she held up a fair index finger, then stated her idea. "You all shouldn't forget that the biggest advantage of an intelligent machine lies in its [replaceability]. If a hand is broken, just attach a new one. If the body is completely damaged, just buy a new one. As long as the core memory chip can be retrieved—"
Qingyi didn't say any more, but the siblings understood her meaning.
-------
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