The Beauty System hugged Tan You’s finger. "Host... promise."
"Okay, I promise," Tan You said, tapping the little puppy on the head. She knew the little thing was terrified. "I promise you’ll be perfectly safe as long as you stay with me. If you go running off on your own, then I can’t guarantee anything."
The Beauty System wagged its tail frantically. "No, no, no! I’ll never go out! I’m going to stick with Host forever!"
’My Host is the ultimate protector! Knowing there’s another system in this world, how could I possibly wander off? I’m just a squishy little system. If another one targeted me, I’d be a total sitting duck.’
With Tan You’s strike successful, Shen Mo immediately felt the repercussions. She had just stepped out of the restroom and was about to speak to Lu Mofeng when her head suddenly buzzed. "System under attack. Deducting 20 Luck Points..."
"Revoking Host’s Snow Skin Jade Flesh."
"Host’s Luck Points have fallen below 10. Please replenish them as soon as possible."
Shen Mo stumbled back into the restroom with a THUD. Rushing to the mirror, she saw that her skin had become dull and sallow. She even had closed comedones and dark circles under her eyes.
She had always been proud of her fair, warm-toned skin and rarely wore makeup. But now, without any, the flaws on her skin were magnified, standing out in stark clarity.
Shen Mo slammed her fist on the sink. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. "Are you alright?"
"I’m fine," Shen Mo called out. "I’ll just wash my face and be right out."
She quickly applied some makeup using the simple cosmetics from her purse, all while screaming internally, ’It’s never failed before, so why is there a problem today? Could it be because of Zhu Sha?’
’System, what’s so special about this Zhu Sha? Don’t tell me... she’s a Host too?’
"System has determined that Zhu Sha is... a Host. Host should not rashly approach this dangerous individual." The system’s electronic voice stuttered for a moment. Of course it coveted Zhu Sha’s Luck Points, but it had to be alive to use them.
’I only got away because I was fast. If I hadn’t made that painful sacrifice, she probably would have crushed my entire system.’
’A Host, huh? A Plunder System can plunder anything, can’t it?’ Shen Mo wasn’t concerned; in fact, she was raring to go. Ever since binding with the Plunder System, she had been invincible, never once suffering a setback.
"Theoretically, that is correct," the Plunder System stated robotically. "But she... is very strong."
’That’s only when she’s conscious. What if she were unconscious...?’ Shen Mo thought as she capped her lipstick. ’Regardless, she can’t be allowed to live. One system in this world is enough.’
’Are her Luck Points... high?’
The Plunder System paused. "Very high."
Shen Mo’s eyes gleamed with determination. ’All the more reason not to let her get away. Her Luck Points must become mine.’
The Plunder System replied, "If that is Host’s wish, the system will help you achieve it. Host’s Luck Points are below 10. Please recharge as soon as possible."
Listening to the sounds outside the restroom door, Shen Mo thought of Lu Mofeng and suddenly smiled. ’Don’t absorb Lu Mofeng’s luck. Absorb... absorb the luck of his secretary... Chen Yuan.’
Meanwhile, the Beauty System was discussing the mysterious other system with Tan You. "Host, all systems have to be bound to a Host. Who do you think sent that one?"
Tan You didn’t even hesitate. "Shen Mo. I can’t think of anyone else."
"And when you factor in Lu Mofeng’s life story, who else could it be but Shen Mo?"
The Beauty System blinked. "I don’t understand."
Tan You said, "Although I only managed to intercept a few of the Plunder System’s core programs just now, its operating mechanism is already very clear. It functions purely by plundering other people’s Luck Points. By the way, do all you systems operate like that...?"
"Of course not! I’m a good system!" The little puppy leaped up, feeling deeply slandered. "Only bad systems plunder other people’s luck to operate! Good systems run on Energy Points!"
Tan You raised a slight eyebrow and tucked this sliver of doubt away in her mind. "Alright, so it’s a bad system. Before Lu Mofeng turned twenty, his life was pretty standard—just another unremarkable rich second-generation heir."
"But after he got together with Shen Mo, the Lu family went bankrupt and their son became withdrawn. Lu Mofeng himself was in a car accident that he barely survived. As for Shen Mo, she couldn’t have cared less after giving birth. She just dumped the child on Lu Mofeng and left the country."
"I’m guessing that by that point, Shen Mo had already taken most of Lu Mofeng’s luck. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so unlucky later, struggling for years before things finally started to improve."
"And after plundering enough Luck Points, the Plunder System is no longer limited to stealing luck only from those close to the host. As long as it sets an anchor point, it should be able to plunder from anyone, just like what we encountered a moment ago."
The Beauty System sat up straight, looking serious. "That seems to make sense. But what I don’t get is, why did Shen Mo come back for Lu Mofeng? She’s rich and beautiful now, so why go after him again?"
Tan You said, "Who knows? Don’t try to understand a psycho’s logic. You’ll only confuse yourself."
The Beauty System said listlessly, "But it’s still weird. After everything Shen Mo did, how can Lu Mofeng just forgive and forget and get back together with her?"
Tan You replied, "I guess that Plunder System, like you, has some items for bewitching people."
The Beauty System was not happy. "Host, I don’t bewitch people! I’m a good system!"
"Yes, a good system," Tan You said, shaking her head with a laugh. "Any other questions? By the way, is there a ’Plunder System’ category among you systems? It doesn’t exactly sound like a legitimate name."
The Beauty System thought for a moment. "I remember there’s a type of system, a really powerful one. They’re called Scavengers."
Tan You was a little surprised. "Scavengers?"
"Yup," the Beauty System said, fidgeting with its little paws. "They go to smaller worlds to eliminate rogue, knockoff systems. Scavenger Hosts are all super, super powerful!"
Tan You smiled. ’I really learned a lot today. To think there were even Scavengers among the systems. Why wasn’t I assigned one of those?’ But as she looked at the little puppy wagging its tail in front of her, she pushed that trace of regret away.
’She still preferred the sight of this little puppy.’
"You think this Plunder System is a knockoff?" Tan You stopped asking about Scavengers and turned back to the Plunder System.
"I think it’s a knockoff," the Beauty System said. Although it was a newbie, it knew the basics. "The System Corporation has all kinds of systems, and we all rely on Energy Points to operate."
"But knockoff systems are different... I didn’t realize it at first, but now I’m sure this Plunder System is a knockoff."
The little puppy would never admit it had just been scared out of its wits. It was *the* Beauty System, the most excellent of them all! Did it not have a reputation to uphold?