Chapter 43: THE QUEEN DESTROYER

VIVIAN

Arin asked confused. "What’s that on your lip? Why is it red?" she was concerned. "Is that blood?"

Vivian touched her lips. "I bit my lip." she said abruptly.

They stepped out of the mall, she had a bright smile on her face. She felt ridiculously happy. Her Lotus had gained four new petals. Though she didn’t blame the stranger, he was a good kisser. And she didn’t lose anything kissing him.

Well... hopefully she gained a lot.

Arin was walking beside her while Robot 99 followed behind them, carrying several shopping bags.

Arin glanced over her shoulder. "The male you were running from already left."

Vivian immediately frowned. "I wasn’t running."

"You were."

"I was walking quickly."

"You ran into the bathroom."

"I needed the bathroom."

"You disappeared the moment you saw him."

"I had a very urgent bladder problem."

Arin stared at her. Vivian looked straight ahead.

Arin narrowed her eyes. "Isn’t he your sugar beast?"

Vivian’s smile disappeared. She pretended she hadn’t heard anything.

Arin followed her. "My Lady?" No response.

"Vivian?"

She kept silent.

"I am sure he is your sugar beast? You call him.Aston."

Vivian suddenly pointed ahead. "Look! A billboard!"

Arin sighed. Vivian is definitely hiding something.

Vivian hurried toward the street.

Above the buildings, a massive holographic screen floated in the air. It stretched across the side of a skyscraper, displaying the latest news in bright, moving letters.

BREAKING NEWS!

The image changed.

Emelianna Astronova appeared on the screen, looking furious and heartbroken.

A news reporter’s voice echoed throughout the street.

"Earlier today, a suspected Zerg infiltrated the Astronova Mansion. Five maids were killed during the attack, and the creature nearly harmed the Astronova family’s Saintess, Elena Astronova."

Vivian stopped walking. Her mouth fell open.

What?

The screen showed images of the damaged mansion and several frightened maids being escorted away.

Vivian immediately touched her hair. "Beeny?"

"Hmm?"

The tiny voice came from inside her hair. "Did you kill five maids and almost hurt Elena?"

There was a long silence.

Then Beeny sounded offended. "Never!"

Vivian blinked.

"Only the maid whose body I entered died. And I never meant to kill her. It was a mistake."

She paused. "That is Haxia beast-human propaganda. They can turn white to black.and black to white."

Vivian’s expression became serious.

Beeny’s voice grew quieter. "They always tell lies about us so everyone will keep hating the Zerg."

Vivian listened.

"Haxia was always ours. But your people chased us away. Now they paint us as the bad guys."

Vivian looked back at the holographic screen.

The news continued. Emelianna appeared again.

This time, she was demanding compensation.

"The government must take responsibility for failing to protect a female of the Astronova family. I demand one hundred billion high spirit stones, 10 Hover Grav ships and 50 Hover cars as compensation."

Vivian’s eyes widened.

One hundred billion?! And Cars!! She is so greedy!!

This woman really knows how to ask for money.

Before Vivian could comment, the news changed again.

A colorful advertisement appeared.

A small insect-like creature was shown struggling after a woman sprayed a strange liquid around her house.

The advertisement announced:

NEW ZERG REPELLENT!

"Spray around your home and weaken dangerous Zerg creatures! Make them easier to capture!"

Vivian glanced at her hair. "Beeny? Can that hurt you?"

The little Queen Bee sighed. "That cannot make me weak."

Vivian raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Unless it’s meant for Zergs who cannot take human form."

She sounded completely unimpressed.

Vivian nodded slowly. Interesting.

She continued walking.

A few moments later, she spotted something that immediately caught her attention.

A large sign read: ROBOT MALL

Vivian looked at Robot 99.

The poor robot was struggling behind them. His arms were completely covered with shopping bags.

His little face displayed:

[SYSTEM WARNING: LOAD EXCEEDING RECOMMENDED CAPACITY.]

Vivian stopped. "Arin."

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Let’s go buy another robot."

Arin’s eyes widened. "What?"

"A new robot for chores."

Vivian pointed at Robot 99. "Look at him. He’s carrying too much."

Robot 99 stopped.

His face displayed: [I AM FINE.]

He immediately dropped three bags: [I AM NOT FINE.]

Vivian nodded sympathetically. "So cute."

Arin looked at Robot 99, then at Vivian. "Are you sure?"

"Of course."

Vivian walked toward the robot mall.

The moment the attending robot inside spotted her through the glass doors, it froze.

Its mechanical eyes flickered.

Then...CLICK.

The bright green OPEN sign suddenly changed to:

CLOSED FOR THE DAY.

Vivian stopped. She stared at it. Then looked at the communicator’s time. "Isn’t it too early to close?"

The robot inside remained perfectly still. Vivian slowly turned around. "Fine."

She walked to another robot shop.

As soon as she entered...The robots scattered.

One ran behind a counter. Another disappeared into a storage room.

The last remaining robot hurried toward the door and switched the sign.

CLOSED.

Vivian stared at him.

The robot smiled awkwardly. "We are closed for the day."

Vivian nodded. "Okay."

She walked out. Arin was standing outside.

Vivian glanced at her. "You didn’t come in?"

Arin smiled innocently. "No."

"Why?"

"I was waiting for you here. My legs are hurting. So I am waiting outside."

Vivian narrowed her eyes. Something was definitely wrong.

She entered a third robot mall with Robot 99.

This time, no robot approached her.

Instead, an Orc worker cautiously walked toward her.

Vivian smiled. "Hello. I’d like one cleaning robot and one security robot."

The Orc worker opened his mouth.

Before he could answer...BEEP!

A hologram suddenly appeared on the wall.

Vivian’s face appeared on it.

Underneath her picture were huge red letters.

VIVIAN VALEN: THE ROBOT DESTROYER. DESTROYED 98 ROBOTS. BANNED FROM PURCHASING ROBOTS. The hall went extremely silent like a graveyard.

Vivian stared at the hologram. The Orc worker stared at Vivian with an awkward smile.

Robot 99 stared at Vivian with a pitiful emoji.

Vivian slowly lowered her hand. Her face turned red.

"Oh."

Robot 99’s face displayed: [SORRY.]

"I should have reminded you," 99 said.

Vivian ran out holding 99 hands. She met Arin outside, she wore a sweet smile.

Vivian looked between them. "Why didn’t either of you tell me?"

Arin folded her arms. "My Lady, it isn’t my fault that you destroyed ninety-eight robots."

Vivian looked offended. "Maybe they were malfunctioning!"

"You destroyed them with your bare hands."

"You attacked them!"

"You chased one down three floors because it wouldn’t move out of your way."

Vivian blinked.

"You called the company afterward and demanded compensation because the robot ’mopped with an attitude.’"

Vivian’s lips twitched. "Really?."

"You then claimed the floor was too slippery, said the robot caused you to fall, and demanded they replace it."

99 said: That was Mean!

"You destroyed it with a baseball bat.

Arin "Should I continue?"

Vivian slowly looked away.

"You have destroyed ninety-eight robots, Vivian."

"...Ninety-seven."

"Ninety-eight."

"The last one was technically self-defense. You were about to attack it and it fought back first with a mop."

"The other one, You said it was charging and it looked aggressive."

Vivian looked away. Please, that person is not me. It’s the Bitchy Vivian!!

Arin covered her face. "It’s exactly because of things like this that you’re banned."

Vivian sighed. "Fine. Let’s go."

They stepped outside.

After walking for a while, Vivian suddenly stopped.

A sweet fragrance drifted through the air. She turned toward a flower bed beside the walkway.

Beautiful purple flowers swayed gently in the breeze.

Vivian’s eyes lit up.

"Ooh..."

She walked over and bent down.

She picked one carefully. It was an orchid, its delicate petals releasing a soft, sweet fragrance.

Vivian brought it close to her nose.

"It smells so good."

Then.. She heard a whimpering sound.

Vivian froze. She heard it again.

Umm... mmm....moo..woo...

Her eyes moved toward the bushes. "What’s that?"

She followed the sound.

Behind the flower bed was a small corner hidden beneath a tree.

Another soft cry came from there.

Vivian slowly walked closer.

Then she saw it. A tiny puppy was curled up beneath the tree.

Its fluffy ears twitched as it looked up at her with watery eyes.

Vivian’s eyes widened.

A huge smile spread across her face. "It’s a Husky dog!!"