With that, Derek Su snorted and forced his trembling gaze away from the haunted house.
A sly smile curled at Stella's lips.
She remembered watching horror movies with Derek Su before. He was obviously scared, yet always put on a brave front. If he reacted that strongly to a movie, then inside a real haunted house, he would definitely be terrified. When that happened, Derek Su would surely run to her for protection and hide in her arms. She could comfort her Master and use the moment to grow closer to him.
Perfect.
Everything was going according to plan.
"Master."
Imperial Scale spoke again.
She pointed at a row of claw machines nearby. Her usually cold eyes were now sparkling.
Derek Su turned to look and saw that the machines were filled with pig plushies of all colors and shapes.
Thinking about Imperial Scale's room, he immediately understood.
She wanted the pig plushies.
Purple Lightning, who had been silent, tugged lightly at Derek Su's hand. She didn't say anything, but her eager gaze was fixed on a display window nearby. Derek Su glanced over and his face turned green.
That display was full of creepy crawlies. Cobras, scorpions, palm-sized spiders, and more.
"Master, they're so cute. I want to keep one."
Purple Lightning leaned against the display case, pointing at a python as thick as an adult's arm, her face full of fascination.
Derek Su: "…"
Goosebumps instantly covered his skin.
He had been bitten by a snake as a child, so he had always been deeply afraid of them. A python that big made his scalp tingle just by looking at it.
"Out of everything, you had to like snakes…" Derek Su muttered.
Purple Lightning turned around, her eyes brimming with tears: QAQ
"Buy it!" Derek Su waved his hand.
Then he added, "But not now. We'll get it when we leave. There's nowhere to keep it right now."
He was thinking that if they stayed on Magic Sea Resort Island for three or four days, he would have to see Purple Lightning holding a python the whole time.
Just imagining it made his spine go cold.
Purple Lightning noticed Derek Su's discomfort with reptiles. She lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers.
"Actually… I don't think it's that cute anymore. Cats and dogs are cuter. Let's forget it."
Derek Su let out a quiet sigh of relief. Purple Lightning really was considerate.
That thought had barely formed when Stella's excited voice rang out.
"Wow! This one's super cute, and it's cool to the touch. Master, feel it."
Derek Su suddenly felt a chill on the back of his hand, and a bad feeling rose in his chest. He turned around and saw Stella holding a golden ball python. The snake lifted its head, staring straight at him with unblinking golden eyes.
Derek Su: "!!!"
"Master, isn't it cute? Hehe." Stella raised the python higher.
Bringing it even closer.
As a Mecha Girl, lifting such a large snake was effortless for her.
"Aaaah!"
Derek Su immediately ducked behind Imperial Scale for cover.
At least Imperial Scale was better than the other two. She liked pink pig plushies, so she probably had no interest in things like snakes.
But that thought didn't last long.
He soon saw that Imperial Scale had somehow picked up a palm-sized black scorpion from the shop.
Derek Su and Imperial Scale locked eyes in silence.
Imperial Scale pressed her lips together, her gaze fixed on the scorpion, her eyes shining. She lightly teased its stinger with her finger, but the scorpion showed no aggression at all. It lay obediently on the back of her hand, as if resting in the presence of a natural predator.
Nothing needed to be said.
Derek Su understood. She really wanted it.
Snakes, scorpions…
As the club owner, he could not just indulge every whim of his Mecha Girls.
If he gave in to everything, he would only suffer for it later.
"Ahem, let me say something."
He stepped out from behind Imperial Scale with a serious expression.
"You can keep a reptile, but only one. I think the corn snake Purple Lightning liked earlier is a good choice. It's not aggressive and won't hurt anyone. Let's go with that. Stella, put the golden ball python back. It's practically trying to swallow your head. And Imperial Scale, that's a Black Armored Scorpion. Its venom can kill a water buffalo. Do you want it poisoning Sphinx when we get back? Put it back. Both of you."
Under Derek Su's persistent urging,
Imperial Scale and Stella reluctantly returned the scorpion and python to the display. The robot attendant quickly took them away.
"Then, Master, let's go with the corn snake." Stella said pitifully. "If Purple Lightning raises it, it's basically ours too."
She secretly gestured to Purple Lightning behind her back, then turned to Imperial Scale.
"Pretty Big Thunder, what do you think?"
"Pretty Big Thunder?"
Imperial Scale froze for a moment before realizing Stella was calling her.
She looked at Derek Su and nodded.
"The corn snake is fine."
Everyone agreed. Lingwind, Blazing Wind, and Absolute Shadow had no objections, so the matter was settled.
Tunbao patted Purple Lightning on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Cheer up, Purple Lightning. You're just raising it for everyone. It has nothing to do with Boss Su, so accept it."
As he spoke, Absolute Shadow had already gone to pay and arranged with the shop to pick it up when they left the island.
Purple Lightning lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eye.
Everyone was so kind.
It felt like she was wrapped in warmth.
A soft, sweet smile appeared on her face.
"Mm."
...
Derek Su had no idea that buying a corn snake had stirred so many thoughts among the Mecha Girls.
Before long, he followed the directions and arrived at the AI Driving Exhibition Hall.
The hall was located right beneath the towering structure at the center of the island.
And there, he saw a familiar figure.
Purple Lightning's former master.
And now one of his rivals.
Eight-Armed Qin.