"Phew..." The professor drew the last period on the document, put it aside, and stretched. "It's only this late today?"

"What do you mean 'it's only this late'?" Yu Yue looked at the Doctor with a hint of helplessness. "It's almost seven o'clock already."

“It’s much faster than before!” The doctor stood up and stretched. “Yuzuki, what’s for dinner tonight? I don’t want to eat at the cafeteria. I just found out through PRTS that Hibiscus is on duty in the medical department this afternoon.”

"Based on the intelligence I gathered a few days ago when she was my assistant, she's probably in the cafeteria right now."

"So what if Little Hibiscus is in the cafeteria?" Yu Yue looked at the professor with some doubt. "Wouldn't it be fine if we just didn't go to Hibiscus's window?"

"No, no." The doctor quickly shook his head. "Just two days ago, when Furong told me that she would be helping out in the cafeteria, I rashly agreed to let Furong try the nutritional meals without checking the details first."

"Hmm..." Yu Yue looked at the Doctor and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Doctor, you wouldn't be so careless, would you? You should know the power of the Hibiscus Nutritional Meal, right?"

"Probably because I was out of my mind at the time..." The doctor tapped his head, "I agreed without thinking, and by the time I realized it, it was too late."

"So I absolutely can't go to the cafeteria now, otherwise I'll just have to face Furong's pitiful expression~"

"That was really an accident." Yuuki shook her head helplessly, then looked towards the door. "But don't worry, your savior has arrived~"

"Savior?" The Doctor turned to look at the door and saw another Yuzuki carrying a takeout box walk in and greet him.

"..." The Doctor watched silently as the other Yuzuki placed the takeout box in front of him, then looked at Yuzuki with some surprise, "You're really thoughtful~"

“Anyway, I cook for a group of people when I cook,” Yuzuki smiled, “It’s just one more person.”

"Hehe~" The professor opened the takeout box, picked up her chopsticks, and was about to fill her mouth when she looked at Yuuki, who was just smiling at her. "Yuuki, aren't you going to eat?"

“Oh, it’s alright.” Yuzuki pointed to another Yuzuki who had just come in. “I’ve already eaten, so it’s fine.”

"...Wow, that's a really convenient clone." The Doctor watched the clone disappear like flowing water. "Seriously, won't Yuuki cause herself problems doing this?"

"And don't tell me you secretly went to the medical department to work overtime this afternoon."

“You guessed right, but…” Yuzuki spread her hands, looking somewhat helpless, “I was spotted by Gavial as soon as I got to the door and kicked out.”

"Aren't you going to cause yourself problems now?" The Doctor looked at Yuuki with some embarrassment. "Also, I have to say that Gavial did a great job."

“You can’t create problems by doing it yourself,” Yuzuki smiled. “It’s just this bad, a small problem, a small problem. You’ll get used to it.”

The professor looked at Yuuki and thought silently, "I don't think this is a problem that can be solved simply by getting used to it."

------------

"I'm so full," the professor said, rubbing his stomach. "No new work today either?"

"Do you need to rest?" Yuuki asked the professor. "You've worked hard today, professor."

"Yeah, Yuuki must have had a tough time too~" The professor slumped onto the table. "Although I have a feeling that Yuuki's hard work was mostly self-inflicted~"

"What are you saying?" Yu Yue gently tapped the professor's head. "But I haven't been working overtime, have I?"

"Oh, right, it's always around this time?" The Doctor seemed to suddenly remember something and jumped up from the table. "Yuzuki, you don't have any plans for tonight, do you?"

After thinking for a moment, Xi Yue shook her head: "There are no arrangements. What's wrong?"

"Hehe, since you don't have any, come out with me tonight~" The doctor stood up and walked over, pulling Yuzuki up from the sofa.

"Then I'll follow the doctor's arrangements."

——————Rhodes Island Corridor——————

"Doctor, where does this passage lead?" Yuuki asked curiously, looking at the end of the passage. "It seems like there's hardly anyone here."

“Of course!” The Doctor held Yuuki’s hand and explained, “Because at the end of this passage, there are no major buildings on Rhodes Island, so there are naturally not many people.”

"I see." Yuuki nodded, but was still somewhat curious. "So, where is the Doctor taking me?"

"Actually, I discovered this place by chance." The Doctor pulled Yuuki along. "I was just doing a routine check of Rhodes Island's facilities."

“Routine inspection?” Yuuki suddenly frowned and looked at the Doctor. “Doctor, if I remember correctly, this kind of work should be handled by specialized engineering operatives.”

"Since I had already finished my work, I was too busy to sit still, so I just took a look around," the doctor explained casually. "That's how I found this passage."

"And after that, out of curiosity, I came to the end of this passage~" The doctor was leading Yuzuki to a door. "Here, I found this door that wasn't marked, and at that time, strange laughter was coming from inside the door."

Xi Yue could tell that she probably just wanted to whet his appetite with a ghost story tone, although she already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was behind the door.

However, Yuuki was quite sensible and did not move, only smiling as she cooperated with the professor's actions.

"And then, with a slightly scared feeling..." The Doctor reached for the doorknob, then yanked it open. "Welcome, Yuuki, to the Rhodes Island Strolling Club!"

The room was decorated very cozyly, and it looked like a great place to slack off. However, it seemed that the room was currently empty.

"Sigh, is there no one here today?" The professor's enthusiastic introduction was interrupted, and he looked at the empty room with some confusion.

The doctor scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. "Strange, is everyone so well-behaved today? Is there no one here?"

“No, you’re wrong, Doctor.” Yuuki glanced around the room and looked at the sofa. “There’s still a child here.”

"There's someone here?" The doctor looked at the sofa, finding the empty space rather strange. Then, as if remembering something, he smiled and spoke.

Good evening, Lion Scorpion.

Now, after a while, a little girl with purple hair appeared in front of the two of them. Her appearance was not abrupt; she must have been there all along, but the doctor had simply overlooked her.

"Why are you hiding whenever you see me?" The Doctor stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the Manticore. "I thought no one was around~"

"Because, because of the noise the Doctor made when he opened the door just now," the Manticore said weakly, looking at the Doctor. "I thought Instructor Dobermann was looking for someone again, so..."

"Oh, I see." The Doctor nodded knowingly. After all, this place was called the "wandering department," but it was actually a place where operators could slack off. Dobermann certainly didn't want such a place to exist.

"As long as you're not afraid of me, that's fine." The Doctor looked at the Lion Scorpion, but seeing that the Lion Scorpion was staring at Yuuyue, he asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

But at this moment, the Lion Scorpion did not respond to the Doctor's question. Instead, he looked at Yuuzuki, who was following behind the Doctor with a smile on her face, with a hint of wariness in his eyes.

"Just now, you could see me?"

Chapter 201: Touching the Earth with Both Feet

Looking at the somewhat wary Lion Scorpion in his eyes, Xi Yue smiled and shook her head: "No, I didn't see you just now. I just felt that something was strange there."

Upon hearing this, the doctor looked at Yuuki with some confusion. Yuuki's appearance just now did not seem like she couldn't see the Manticore.

"Really?" Lion Scorpion looked into Yu Yue's eyes, and finally nodded hesitantly. "Hello, my name is Lion Scorpion, nice to meet you."

“Hello, Miss Lion Scorpion.” Yuuki raised her hand and waved to Lion Scorpion. “Nice to meet you. My name is Yuuki. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

"Mm." The Lion Scorpion nodded, then took a deep breath and pointed behind him, "Well, welcome Miss Yuzuki to the Strolling Club."

"Oh, that sounds good." Yuuki smiled at Lion Scorpion, then followed up on Lion Scorpion's words and asked, "So, what is this 'Wandering Club' for?"

After receiving Yuuki's response, Lionscorpion visibly breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "This is where everyone on Rhodes Island rests, and it's also a gathering place for operators who like to stroll around Rhodes Island during their free time."

"Because everyone on Rhodes Island does fun things while working, and we wander around Rhodes Island during our free time and then come back here to share our experiences."

"To be honest, it's basically a place to slack off," the professor said, spreading his hands and exposing the argument. "They call it 'off-duty time,' but it's really just a place to slack off during work hours."

"Hmm..." The Manticore looked away awkwardly after the Doctor exposed him like that. "Well, there are still some people who are quite serious, right?"

“Little Lionscorpion…” The Doctor stepped forward and placed his hands on the Lionscorpion’s shoulders. “Look me in the eyes and tell me, this afternoon, for example, did Ethan or Kroos come by?”

"Ugh!" The Manticore lowered its head shyly under the Doctor's gaze, and its face flushed slightly after hearing the Doctor's question. "Well, Kroos didn't come, but Ethan did... and he stayed for a long time."

"I knew it~" The doctor shook his head helplessly. "I've caught him so many times, he just won't learn his lesson."

Although Ethan's attitude in admitting his mistakes was quite good each time, it was clear that it was of little use. He was the type who actively admitted his mistakes but was utterly unrepentant.

"Shall I do it?" Yuuki said leisurely, standing behind the Doctor. "While I might not be able to help Miss Klose, I think I can say a few words about Ethan."

"Hmm, does Miss Yuuki know Ethan?" The Doctor turned around and looked at Yuuki with some doubt. "I've never heard Ethan mention you before."

“Well, I guess you could say we know each other.” Yuuki nodded to the professor. “But I think Ethan only knows me, but doesn’t really know me, and that should be enough.”

"If they won't listen to my advice, I can call Patriot and ask him to say a few words. I think the doctor should be able to help."

"...That's quite a crude solution." The Doctor watched as Yuuki wiped away cold sweat. "Just bring Patriot over here. Ethan should behave himself for a while, right?"

"But isn't that a bit too cruel?"

"I'd really rather not go that far~" Yuuki smiled. "Of course, if the Doctor really can't stand it anymore, it's not out of the question~"

"Hmm, I can consider it~" The doctor thought for a moment and nodded, a mischievous grin on his face. "Hmm, using this as negotiating material, hehe, it'll definitely be very useful~"

"Hmm, Doctor..." Manticore nudged the Doctor, "There's a very thick black aura surrounding the Doctor..."

"Ahem." The doctor coughed lightly. "Don't worry, I definitely wasn't thinking anything bad just now."

'Were you thinking about something terrible just now?' The Manticore looked at the Doctor and thought to itself.

"Hmm, are you planning to use Ethan's invisibility for something?" Yuuki asked the Doctor. "But if this is on Rhodes Island, I hope it's not a prank on Kal'tsit."

"Alright, alright~" Ignoring the two's suspicious looks, the Doctor clapped his hands and walked aside. "Hehe, Yuuki, I've come for revenge~"

"Revenge?" Xi Yue tilted her head, looking at the Doctor with some confusion. "What do you want to avenge... Oh, I see."

The professor pulled a box from under the table; its surface had black and white checkered patterns. He then unfolded the box and took out the chess pieces inside.

"So much time has passed, and you still remember your grudge?" Xi Yue looked at the professor. "What kind of gentleman is this? Revenge is never too late."

"Hehe, I've got nothing better to do anyway~" The professor stared at Yuuki, "I've been practicing hard for a while now~"

“If the Doctor wants to,” Yuzuki smiled, “like you said, we’re just killing time anyway.”

--------------

"Looking at the Doctor lying on the sofa, vomiting, I think the Doctor is about to die..."

"I didn't want to either," the doctor replied weakly, lying on the sofa. "That method was practically inhuman, Yuuki, couldn't you have gone easy on me?"

"Dr. You yourself told me not to hold back, right?" Yu Yue smiled. "Alright, I don't stand a chance against you in this kind of game anyway."

"I don't believe it!" The doctor jumped up from the sofa. "I must have overlooked something. I'm going to get my revenge!"

"Then I look forward to the day when the Doctor can do it." Yuzuki smiled, stood up, tidied up the chessboard on the table, and put it back in its original place.

"Alright, it's already this late, time to go back to sleep." Xi Yue patted the doctor's head, then looked at the Lion Scorpion, "Miss Lion Scorpion, remember to get some rest too."

"Mm-hmm." The Lion Scorpion nodded. "Miss Yuuki and the Doctor should also get some rest early."

"Mm." Xi Yue nodded and then walked to the light switch, turning off the light as Lion Scorpion finished packing and walked out.

After a while, they soon reached the fork in the passage. The manticore pointed to the other passage and said, "Well, I'm going this way. Goodbye to the other one."

"Oh, right, and also, it was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Yuzuki. You're also welcome to join the Strolling Club anytime. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye~" Yuzuki waved her hand, then continued to lead the Doctor towards his room.

The professor glanced back at the fork in the road, then turned to look at Yuuki, muttering softly, "That child shouldn't be behind there anymore, right?"

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