*Chapter 30: Silver Wolf: Kafka, Save Me ! He's Cheating !*

"W-What happened here?"

Silver Wolf's black short jacket was crumpled, the tear in her camisole top even larger, revealing a small patch of glistening, fair skin on her lower abdomen. Her ponytail was somewhat disheveled, a few strands of silver hair stuck to her flushed cheeks and neck. The game console usually clipped to her white belt was also askew.

The black short fishnet stocking on her left leg was even more damaged, practically reduced to a few strips of fabric hanging there. The knife sheathed on her right leg was also out of place. Her entire being radiated a sense of disarray, having just endured a struggle and humiliation, a stark contrast to her usual arrogant demeanor.

Herta's small face showed a flicker of barely concealed astonishment and incredulous confusion.
What the hell? Silver Wolf beaten down? And that puddle on the ground... is...
Are you kidding me? ! This is MY Simulated Universe !
This person... how did she...?
No, wait... who exactly tuned Silver Wolf like this? !

"What happened?" Herta asked, seemingly trying to maintain her usual haughty posture, but her slightly furrowed brow and the almost imperceptible rapid blinking of her eyelashes betrayed her inner turmoil. She even subconsciously took half a step back before abruptly stopping, as if to cover up that momentary lapse.
Actually, puppets don't need to blink, but faced with such a shocking reality, even Herta couldn't help but be greatly surprised.

In the instant Herta blinked, she noticed the white-haired young man standing next to Stelle vanish into thin air. Because of this, Herta shifted her attention away from the scene on the floor and back to Stelle.

"Never mind that for now. More importantly, how are you? The Simulated Universe went through such a huge mess, you weren't swept into some strange data stream, were you?"
Her gaze quickly scanned Stelle's entire body, confirming that aside from looking a bit disheveled, she seemed unharmed. Her slender fingers tapped the air, bringing up a system interface only she could see, and began rapidly checking the Simulated Universe's core logs.
Good. The complete collapse of the Simulated Universe that she worried about didn't happen.
Errors in the Simulated Universe were common, but a situation where you couldn't even get in had never occurred before.
Herta's fear was the Simulated Universe becoming completely unusable, requiring a complete rebuild just to test again.

"Ah? Me?" Stelle pointed at herself, her voice still a bit dazed. "I'm fine ! Perfectly healthy ! See, arms and legs are all here, parts complete, core running stable, mental state... um, probably okay too."

A faint, somewhat strange, sweet and metallic smell permeated the air, mixed with the scent of the girl's sweat, creating an indescribably awkward atmosphere. Stelle pinched her nose, her eyes darting away, trying hard to pretend she didn't smell anything.

Watching Stelle's strenuous effort to prove she was okay, Herta's lips seemed to curve upwards almost imperceptibly, but quickly returned to neutrality.
"Good, as long as you're not dead."
"Really? That's good. Who was that person standing next to you just now?"
Although it was only for an instant, Herta had definitely seen another person.
She never believed she made mistakes like misseeing, mishearing, or misjudging. What she saw, she saw. What you think is an illusion might be the beginning of a major event.
Research can have accidents, but absolutely cannot have incidents caused by negligence.

"Oh, him? My friend. Saw the Simulated Universe having issues and came straight over to help. Once things were resolved, he chose to leave," Stelle explained, her eyes darting sideways, glancing at Jiang Liang (who was likely invisible again).
This was the answer Jiang Liang had telepathically fed her when Herta asked.

When things go well, you have stats; when things go badly, you have mechanics. For solo play, you have damage output; for team fights, you have crowd control. For growth, you have resources; for frontline, you have armor. For movement, you have mobility; for protection, you have healing. For range, you have poke; for melee, you have true damage. For crits, you have buffs; for last hitting, you have execution. For jungling, you have rhythm; for coordination, you have synergy. For ambushes, you have opportunity; for passive, you have resurrection. Adaptive offense and defense, no skill cooldowns, good results in competitions, effective in shows, failure doesn't exist, victory comes with taunts, even counter-trolling earns points…

Such a good substitute player... if she didn't protect him, where would she find a second one if he ran off?
Would she have to crawl on the ground shouting, "Jiang Liang-chan ! Jiang Liang-chan ! Jiang Liang-chan ! Jiang Liang-chan !"?
What?
This is just borrowed power. You have to return it after enjoying it.
Then can't I just keep borrowing and keep enjoying?
Right, just say it like that.

Jiang Liang felt just saying it openly was fine.
Although the trashy, useless, worse-than-a-random-passerby system from Cimao said you couldn't actively expose the substitute relationship, it didn't say you couldn't expose their existence.
He didn't jump out shouting, "Hey ! I came out to substitute ! Hit me ! I went back in again, can't do anything about it, haha !"
As long as he didn't act so obnoxiously, the system couldn't do anything to him.
Taking a step back, even if someone guessed in the future that there really was a mysterious big hand scanning a code to log in, if it wasn't actively exposed, the system couldn't intervene. As for what to do with those who realized…

You know, this isn't a female-oriented channel.
After sending the anti-smurfing QR code, the healthy Itachi-kicking Gai is invincible. Just use Amaterasu on anyone with malicious intent.
So, being seen simply meant resorting to the classic "I have a friend..." excuse.
This is an excuse everyone uses at some point, indispensable.

"Oh? Your friend sounds quite capable," Herta remarked. Of course, she saw through Stelle's lie. The flimsy explanation and flustered eyes couldn't deceive this genius.
But whatever. Now isn't the time to pursue this. She wasn't interested in others' private affairs. Dealing with the main issue was more important.
Besides, the Simulated Universe really did seem to have become a place anyone could just waltz into, just short of installing a revolving door.

"Since you're fine, let's continue. Now it's time for this person's problem." Her gaze finally shifted to Silver Wolf, still on the ground. She made a disgusted clicking sound, deliberately avoiding the puddle on the floor, her purple eyes flashing with disdain and curiosity.

"What's this now? Since when did the Simulated Universe add this kind of performance art?"
She cleared her throat, her voice sharper and faster than usual, attempting to mask her own unease with deliberate condescension and impatience.
Even a genius accustomed to all sorts of bizarre events couldn't help but pause at this moment, a rare look of confusion appearing on her exquisite, doll-like face.
She stopped a few steps away from the wretched scene.

Okay... although puppets don't need to deep breathe, she should calm down first, return to her usual state, and think.
Silver Wolf, this brat, actually got reduced to this state? Kneeling and begging for mercy? And... incontinence?
Wait... why does that liquid look... sticky?
Herta fell silent, looking at the scene before her.
It'd be strange if anyone could calm down looking at this.
Even a breakdown shouldn't lead to this... complete loss of physiological control...
What methods were used?

"Hey, Silver Wolf."
After a long pause, Herta finally spoke, her voice crisp, carrying her unique condescending tone.
"I thought I'd encounter some anomaly worth recording, but instead, I see this ugly display of a defeated loser. Tell me, Silver Wolf, aren't you supposed to be a top hacker who treats the universe like a game? Why are you sprawled here like a broken program now, getting your data everywhere? This state seriously lowers the average standard for intruders. How did you manage to be this stupid? Why not just join the Society of Geniuses' Idiots?"
Herta still chose a more aggressive opening.

Otherwise, what could she say to Silver Wolf?

"Prisoner sis, you can get up now. Your sentence is over. You're free from the nine gates of prison?"

Her gaze swept over Silver Wolf's face, smeared with tears and sweat, her petite body trembling violently from shame and fear, curves exposed, especially the fishnet stocking torn and hanging loosely on her thigh, and the equally loose shorts.

"Hmph. Stellaron Hunter? More like Trash Hunter."

Hearing Herta's voice, Silver Wolf's body stiffened abruptly. She initially wanted to lift her head and retort, but then something occurred to her. She furtively glanced around, and upon noticing that Jiang Liang with the sword was gone, an obvious expression of joy appeared on her face.

Great !
That person left !
Doesn't that mean... the sky is clear, the rain has stopped again?
Then, Herta, why the hell are you acting so arrogant? !
You dare talk to me like that? How many lives do you have? !

"Ha ! I wondered who it was," Silver Wolf's voice was hoarse from crying but maintained its usual tone, even deliberately raising it a bit. "Turns out it's #83 ! What's wrong? Your Simulated Universe firewall is made of paper mache? Collapses after I poke it a few times, and you still have the nerve to come question me?"

"So, it was you who came in and caused the mess in my Simulated Universe. Quite tough-mouthed, aren't you? But my system logs recorded it clearly, the timing matches too. Besides you trouble-making Stellaron Hunters, who else would pull these kinds of petty tricks in my Simulated Universe?"

Silver Wolf snapped her head up, the movement so large it made her still-sore muscles spasm, almost losing control of her expression again. She bit the soft flesh inside her lower lip, trying to use the pain to suppress the surging shame and grievance, forcing a mocking smile. Though tear tracks remained at the corners of her eyes, combined with her still-swollen face, it looked somewhat like a fierce bluff.

"Ha ! I say, Herta, your broken universe malfunctions every other day ! Servers made of potatoes, constantly lagging, disconnecting, reporting errors... and you blame me?"
Silver Wolf struggled to sit up straight. Although the burning pain in her rear made her posture somewhat twisted, she couldn't lose her imposing manner.

"I think it's your own crappy code ! The underlying architecture is like a sieve, full of holes everywhere ! Any random script kiddie could stroll in for a tour, and you still have the nerve to blame others?"
As she spoke, she quickly glanced at Stelle beside her, her expression complex – a mixture of humiliation and an inexplicable fear. Then she forced herself to look away, meeting Herta's exquisite but cold puppet face again.
On one hand, she hated this person who had made her lose face completely. On the other hand, she vaguely felt the anomaly in the Simulated Universe was related to the person who just appeared, maybe even the previous blocking of her Aether Editing was related to him.
So, she was a bit afraid Stelle would call that person back.

"What anomaly data? What logic error? Who knows if some Voidranger had a brain fart, or one of your researchers' hands slipped and made an error?"

"Your Simulated Universe is like a low-quality RPG anyway, full of options triggering weird events everywhere ! I just took a few random steps, who knew it would collapse on its own? I think you should properly check the quality of your code ! Stop pushing responsibility onto others !"

Silver Wolf seemed oblivious to Herta's increasingly cold gaze. Finally, Silver Wolf stood up directly, glaring at Herta, continuing in her trademark, somewhat cynical, mocking tone, "Why aren't you tapping away at code in your safe room? Came running to this kind of place? Afraid your precious Simulated Universe would be 'played broken' by me? Tsk. Can't even handle this much? I thought your skills were supposed to be amazing."

She deliberately emphasized the words "played broken," looking provokingly at Herta.

"Sounds like your evaluation of this place isn't very high. So, in the opinion of a genius hacker like you, who can 'come and go as you please,' the previous chaos that nearly crashed the entire simulation system should have nothing to do with an uninvited visitor like yourself, correct?" Herta retorted coolly.

Silver Wolf jerked her head up again, her cheeks still flushed from shame and anger, but her eyes maintained the rebellious spirit of a Stellaron Hunter.
She stuck her neck out, trying to cover her inner panic with a sharp tone.

"Hmph ! Of course ! I was just passing by, incidentally visiting this masterpiece that you Genius Society members are so proud of. Who knew it was so fragile itself, almost falling apart with a slight touch? And you blame me for that? I think you should invest more of the funds spent on building strange puppets for yourself into system maintenance, that would be more practical !"

Damn it ! Why did she have to catch me at this moment, and in such a sorry state? !

Even arguing back feels like I'm just being stubborn now…

But let it be known, she's not being stubborn ! Don't say it !

"Wait... but that's not how it was on my end," Stelle, who had been silently watching the show with a subtle smile, suddenly made a move. She unhurriedly took out her phone, fingers swiping rapidly across the screen.
Then, a familiar, smug voice, accompanied by crisp slapping sounds, was deliberately amplified, echoing throughout the entire simulated space.

"Oh right, although I'm leaving, I have something to say to Herta. Tell her, for me, Silver Wolf, this entire Simulated Universe is just a slightly larger sandbox game. Firewall full of holes, I can come and go as I please. Tell her not to be so narcissistic, spending all her budget on self-portraits."

"Fine, I'm leaving ! Remember to tell Herta, that old hag. Her Simulated Universe is trash ! Easily messed up like this by me ! Too bad I couldn't graffiti her self-portrait. Maybe next time I'll doodle on her puppet instead !"

Pfft !

The air filled with joyous laughter.

Stelle finally couldn't hold it back and let out an inappropriate chuckle, but quickly covered her mouth with her hand, trying hard to look serious. However, her bright golden eyes were full of unconcealable mirth.

Silver Wolf's face couldn't get any redder; even the base of her neck was dyed pink. A few crystalline beads of sweat slid down her flushed cheeks, dripping onto the somewhat dirty floor, mixing with the previous unidentified puddle. Her voice became sharp and trembling from shame and urgency, losing all trace of her usual cool composure.

"That bastard actually recorded it ! I'll definitely hack your account ! Wipe all your game saves !"

"That wasn't you?" Herta asked flatly.

"Fine ! It was me ! So what? ! The... the Simulated Universe crashing just now... it was my doing !" Silver Wolf blurted out, practically admitting defeat.
I suck !

She slowly lifted her head, her face alternating between red and white. A few soaked silver strands stuck to her forehead and cheeks, exposing her current wretched state. Her pale gray eyes, usually hidden behind screens, were now filled with shame, indignation, and a hint of panic after being exposed. But she still forced herself to bite her lower lip, trying to squeeze out a mocking smile.

Damn it ! This person is definitely doing this on purpose ! And this Herta... seeing me like this... It's infuriating ! When I recover, I'll definitely hack into her system and change her puppets into the ugliest models !

"Hmph. Petty tricks," Herta commented coolly, turning to Silver Wolf. "Invading my territory and causing such chaos... Tell me, what data did you intend to steal this time? Or were you just bored?"

"Never mind, no need to say it. Did you think I chatted for so long just to figure out if you caused this?"

Herta's lips curled upwards, a hint of a smile appearing on her usually icy face. "Although I don't know why you talked so much to me instead of choosing to leave... I traced your data from the backdoor you left behind. Game account... this is what you care about most, right?"

Even if Herta confiscated all of Silver Wolf's credits, assets, and belongings, she would probably just click her tongue and go back to her games.
Even if she sent her to prison, directly to the IPC, she would likely just treat it as another game.
But game accounts were different. This was what Silver Wolf valued most.

Did Herta think she didn't want to run?
Aether Editing simply wouldn't activate !
Can't pull open a portal either ! What could she do? The logout button was disabled !

Silver Wolf gritted her teeth, watching Herta project a screen in front of her and ban all her game accounts.

However, she wasn't entirely without backup plans.
She quietly glanced at the top right corner. In the message box located there, she was frantically typing.

[Silver Wolf: Kafka, save me ! ]
[Silver Wolf: He's cheating ! ]