Stas shook his head and chuckled lightly, "La la la, didn't hear it, didn't hear it. The contract, the contract, quickly, quickly."

Ziye turned off her optical computer and spun around to leave, delivering a commanding statement dripping with (overbearing presence): "I'm not selling anymore!"

Stas hastily caught her arm. "Hey, how can you go back on your word?"

Ziye glanced sideways at him. "One hundred eighty thousand each. Not a single unit less!"

She was genuinely annoyed with this bastard. The Integration Department was flush with cash, and this was public expenditure for buying robots—what was he haggling with her about?

Stas decisively produced the money to smooth things over. "Fine, fine, fine. You give me two for free, and the rest are at two hundred thousand each. Hand over the contract."

Ziye's expression shifted instantly from cloudy to sunny. "Deal."

Stas was delighted. "The brothers' benefits are finally settled. Can you get a sample robot over here? We need it for the signing ceremony."

"That's a given." Stas grinned slyly. "Doing the right thing is about leaving proof, and broadcasting it widely so everyone knows how good the Integration Department is. It wasn't easy for the brothers to leave their legions, to leave their galaxies, and come to Galun. It's a rare opportunity to put them on interstellar television so their family and friends back home can see they are doing well. Isn't that a wonderful thing?"

Ziye stared at him with wide eyes for a long moment, her mouth agape. "Oh my, I didn't realize you were so incredibly kind-hearted."

Stas leaned his face closer to hers. "Are you moved by me?"

Ziye pushed his face away. "Get lost."

However, since the contract required it, she knew she absolutely had to get something from the suicidal pervert.

Any deal the Integration Department made could end up on interstellar television. If she could seize the opportunity to promote the Sprout Group's robots, it would certainly be a massive benefit.

Thinking this, she initiated a call to the pervert’s hyper-com. "Hello, great biologist."

On the line, the pervert was performing surgery on a mutated long-eared rabbit. The rabbit was covered in blood, and the surgical tools in his hands were also slick with gore. Looking at the maniacal smile plastered on his face, he resembled a murderer gleefully carving out a heart.

What was that saying? The little white rabbit is pure white, Its two long ears stand up straight. First the artery is cut, then the vein, Unmoving, so utterly sweet.

Ziye couldn't help but give a sharp shudder. Was this pervert really alright?

She suddenly felt profoundly insecure living next door to him!

"Little Stinky, are you preparing to donate some tissue fluid or maybe an organ to me?" The pervert offered a smile he thought was very affable, which nearly made Ziye tremble again.

Why hadn't she noticed how terrifying he was before?

Ziye rubbed her chest; her courage was diminishing. This wouldn't do.

Of course, she still needed to discuss business.

She cleared her throat. "Do you have the H-series prototype? Send it to me via express delivery; I'll send you the address."

The pervert pushed up the reading glasses perched on his nose with his blood-stained fingers. "High-end custom or selected external batch?"

Ziye smiled sweetly. "Just give me what you have first."

—At some unknown point, she too had learned to pull off a Stas-style wicked grin.

The pervert guessed, "Taking it to sell?"

Ziye let out a chuckle. "Will I get a bonus if I sell them?"

The pervert generously declared, "Deal. For every one you sell, I'll send you a bottle of Black Rose Jam!"

Ziye cheered. "Oh yeah! I'm recording this as evidence, wait for me! Also, send over two units each of our best-selling W-series and G-series. I need them here by tomorrow morning!"

The pervert readily agreed.

Fearing he might forget, Ziye hyper-commed Big Head and ordered him to make sure it happened.

Then she told Stas, "Done. They’ll arrive tomorrow."

Stas smiled. "Good. Now, let's go buy some clothes. I’ve called Colin over to be your consultant."

Ziye looked confused. "Buy what clothes?"

Stas narrowed his eyes, looking her up and down with a critical gaze. "Who told you to wear a school uniform? That must be changed."

When this topic came up, Ziye grew indignant. "If you hadn't kidnapped me, would I be in this situation?"

Stas took her hand. "So now we're going to buy you something new, consider it an apology."

It had to be said, although the Galun space station was a bit quiet, it lacked nothing. All sorts of designer and high-end brands were available.

When the two arrived at the department store, Colin Gail drove up in a mag-lev vehicle and met them.

The three stood together: Stas on the right, Ziye in the middle, and Colin Gail on the left, trailing half a step behind the other two. As they walked into the mall, the shops on the left featured business casual wear, while the shops on the right were dedicated to the cute, girly series.

Ziye hadn't even formed an opinion when Stas pointed toward the business casual section. "This one."

Colin Gail scratched his head, his face flushing slightly. "I—I think the one on the right looks nicer."

Ziye looked at Colin Gail in surprise. She never expected that this big man would harbor such spring-like sentiments. It was unexpected, truly unexpected.

Even Stas glanced at him twice.

Colin Gail’s bronze-colored face instantly turned beet red. He snapped a salute. "I think girls look good in this. My wife back home always wears things like this."

He was pointing directly at a display mannequin wearing a yellow and red-dotted floral mini-skirt!

Ziye twitched the corner of her eye, about to say it was inappropriate, but Stas spoke first. "Not bad. Let's go look inside."

Once inside, Stas handed her a size-fits-all item. "Go on, try it."

Ziye shrugged, pursed her lips, and resignedly entered the fitting room.

Her body was slightly smaller than the standard fit, but thankfully, the garment had stretch lacing, making it flexible. Her slightly smaller frame meant it was barely acceptable. She was wearing light-colored ankle boots, which added a bit of height, making her look less like a goblin (dwarf) when she stepped out in front of the two large men.

—More like a high-tier goblin.

Stas and Colin Gail exchanged a look. Stas shook his head. "Too casual."

Just as Ziye was about to head back into the fitting room, Stas grabbed her and ripped off the tag. "Just wear this one. It's much better than your school uniform!"

Needless to say, Colin Gail ended up being the one to swipe his card for payment.

Ziye silently drew circles in her mind. This was the first time she had gone shopping with two grown men, and they were soldiers! This was the first time she had accepted clothes from men, and it was from Colin Gail!

Ahhhhh—a herd of a thousand violent beasts stampeded through her mind.

She used to hate Stas the most; she thought he was detestable.

After being kidnapped by Colin Gail, her hatred for him surpassed even Stas, making him the most detestable person, period.

She rubbed her chest. It was public funds anyway; she would just treat it as a gift from the Integration Department.

After browsing for a lap, Ziye tried on countless outfits and finally found the perfect attire for the signing ceremony the next day.

The cut was very simple, exuding an elegant and tranquil temperament, yet it did not lack solemnity.

Ziye looked at the two men, breathed a deep sigh, and thought, Finally, the trying-on session is over!

-RS

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