"Why are you standing there? Do I have to put it on for you myself?"
Seeing Dongfang Qiqing still frozen in confusion, Lin Yi simply took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger.
"Zhuixing, explain how it works."
"Oh… Dongfang… hmm… I'll just call you Sister Qiqing."
Zhuixing nodded.
"Sister Qiqing, this ring is called the Mirage Ring."
"It imitates the Vidyadhara art of Cloud Chant Illusory Projection. During its creation we mixed in powdered wings of a True Chrysalis insect."
"The entire process was wrapped in high-density memory substance, which slowly seeped into the structure."
"Of course, there's also a bit of genius technology mixed in."
"As for its function—simple."
"It hides your form and allows you to change appearance."
"Right now only Harmony tuning or Memory surveillance can reliably detect it. Path followers of Mystery or Erudition might notice something eventually, but there are no confirmed cases yet."
She tilted her head.
"…Come to think of it, that's not that impressive."
"It still needs improvement, teacher."
"Using your words — insufficient firepower anxiety."
Lin Yi sighed.
"That has nothing to do with firepower anxiety."
Zhuixing clapped her hands.
"The method is easy. Repeat after me."
"Ruyi, ruyi, follow my will—manifest quickly!"
Bonk.
Lin Yi flicked her forehead.
"Ow! You'll knock me stupid!"
"Stop pretending. Your body can take a neutron-star sword without leaving a mark."
"Explain properly."
"And who taught you that line?"
Zhuixing pulled out her phone and played a recording.
"Come on Zhuixing, repeat after me — 'Ruyi, ruyi, follow my will—manifest quickly…'"
Lin Yi sucked in a breath.
She kept evidence.
"Alright, enough messing around. Teach her properly."
"The merchant ship is about to enter visual range."
"And you'll get the computer you asked for."
"You can't take that back!"
"I'm already planning to mass-produce celestial computers and anti-star weapons when we return to Space City."
"One unit won't matter."
"Approved, yay!"
"Approved approved yay!"
Watching the two of them bicker like nested dolls, Dongfang Qiqing couldn't help smiling.
Geniuses had always seemed distant to her—like people from another world.
She had been nervous these past few days. Rumors said geniuses were arrogant, eccentric, and difficult.
But seeing them behave so casually—
like ordinary people—
the unease in her heart faded.
So geniuses could be human too.
Behind her back, Zhuixing blinked at Lin Yi.
How did I do?
Lin Yi gave her a subtle approving look.
They had long reached a silent agreement.
Finding someone willing to handle the work wasn't easy.
They absolutely couldn't let her escape.
Joking aside, Zhuixing still explained the ring properly.
Using the Mirage Ring was simple.
Just think of the form you want.
Your body would change accordingly.
It sounded powerful, but in truth it was just a small toy.
Its biggest advantage was portability.
The real value came from combining it with other tools.
Human minds couldn't remain perfectly rational forever. Mistakes happened.
Proper equipment combinations produced 1 + 1 > 2 results.
For example—
Zhuixing wore the ring on her middle finger. Two thin silver chains ran across the back of her hand to a bracelet on her wrist.
That bracelet was the supporting weapon system.
Lin Yi wore his ring on his thumb like an archery ring. For him it functioned as an auxiliary computational unit.
Meanwhile Qiqing experimented.
One moment she turned into a Wubbaboo.
Next moment a Diting.
Then something oddly misshapen.
Lin Yi winced.
He was about to activate his omniscient lenses and connect to the Laplace Demon system for a clearer view—
before remembering that system had already been destroyed.
Actually…
Aha destroyed it.
"Alright, stop playing."
"You'll have plenty of time later."
"For now, transform into a survivor of a pirate attack."
He handed her a bracelet.
"This is a support unit and life-support device."
Qiqing blinked.
"Um… what does a 'pirate attack survivor' look like?"
Her eyes were painfully sincere.
She truly had no idea.
"That's why the bracelet helps."
"It will automatically adjust the details."
"You just need to imagine it."
"The system handles the rest."
The bracelet given to Qiqing was larger than theirs because it also included defensive functions.
The Rainbowlight Ship disappeared into phase space.
In its place appeared a heavily damaged warship.
Its hull looked torn by battle.
Several fresh corpses lay scattered across the deck.
They weren't recently killed.
They were artificially grown bodies—mindless clones designed to remain permanently half-dead and decayed without rotting.
Meanwhile, aboard the approaching merchant vessel—
"Captain, we've received a distress signal."
"They claim they were attacked by space pirates."
"Their position is directly ahead of us."
"Should we avoid them?"
"Avoid them?"
The captain snorted.
"Hell no."
"Bring us closer."
The captain was none other than Boothill.
He had crossed paths with Lin Yi before.
Now he was both a Galaxy Ranger and a member of the Interstellar Squadron.
Lin Yi had previously given him a bullet pendant with the same function as the Mirage Ring.
At the moment, Boothill was disguised as the merchant ship's captain.
The ship was transporting construction materials.
The only problem was his modified sensory beacon—it made his strange speech habits hard to hide.
Boothill had also received a tip from a certain kind informant.
Apparently Oswaldo would soon meet Vantara Keen.
Infiltrating the Construction Logistics Department was the best chance to find that bastard.
Who provided the information?
Very hard to guess.
Boothill didn't approach because he was curious.
He had recognized the damaged ship.
"Damn it," he muttered.
"This genius couldn't even bother changing props."
"Same wrecked ship as last time."
"Well… lucky coincidence."
"Let's go share a drink."
One crew member hesitated.
"But… the ship looks completely destroyed."
"It doesn't look like anyone's alive."
"Captain, maybe we shouldn't waste time—"
"Relax."
"You stay here."
"I'll check it myself."
"No need for everyone to risk it."
Boothill stepped alone onto the wrecked ship.
Then he grinned.
"Damn it, I knew you weren't dead."
"A genius doesn't die that easily."
"And certainly not like that."
He raised a bottle.
"Since we've met again…"
"How about a drink?"
Lin Yi blinked.
"Boothill? Why are you here?"
Boothill tipped his hat.
"Boothill?"
"No."
"Right now I'm Patty, Transport Group Leader of the Construction Logistics Department."
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