Chapter 32: The Fat Geese!
The sunlight danced on the clear water, reflecting a thousand rippling points of light.
A comment floated across the live stream: [But are there even any fish in water this clear?]
Su Wudeng laughed. “That’s a good question. Let’s find out.”
She walked slowly along the babbling stream, keeping the camera steady. The audience watched nervously, terrified of missing a single detail. The sheer immersion provided by the holographic stream was unparalleled—it honestly felt like they were wading through the creek, hunting for fish themselves!
Suddenly, a flash of silver darted through the water.
The chat exploded.
[Wait, what was that?!]
[Was that a fish?! It had to be a fish!]
[Oh my god, there are actually fish in there!]
[Catch it! Let’s see it!]
Su Wudeng had spotted the silver flash too. Without bothering to respond to the chat, she quickly activated her mechanical pet. This time, she hadn’t forgotten to bring the Osside-900.
The moment it was activated, the metallic sphere transformed into a sleek, flexible mechanical octopus and dove straight into the water.
The audience held their breath. One second, the silver fish was swimming happily; the next, it was firmly clamped within the unyielding grip of the mechanical tentacles.
“Got one!” Su Wudeng cheered.
Osside moved with blinding speed, snatching several more fish from the fleeing school.
Su Wudeng zoomed the camera in on the catch. “This species is called the ‘Silver Scale Flash.’ Their meat is exceptionally delicious.” To prevent any misunderstandings, she quickly added, “They are purely biological; they haven’t awakened any intelligence, so they are not classified as pets. They are completely edible!”
She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Have any of you ever had fresh grilled fish? Since we caught so many today, why don’t we have a little picnic and roast them up?”
The netizens were instantly hyped. [Grilled fish?! Manager, you know how to cook too?!]
[Cooking over an open fire? I’ve only ever seen primitive survival techniques like this in holomovies!]
[Manager, are you serious?! (Drooling.jpg)]
[No, wait! It’s definitely going to smell amazing, but we can’t eat it! Don’t torture us!]
Su Wudeng smiled wickedly. They were already on her pirate ship; there was no getting off now. They were going to contribute their Hope Points, whether they liked it or not!
She gave Osside another command. The mechanical octopus instantly reconfigured itself into a high-end, self-igniting barbecue grill.
Su Wudeng sighed in appreciation. Say what you will about the Peace Corporation’s prices, their tech is incredibly convenient!
She expertly gutted and cleaned the fish, quickly skewering them and securing them over the grill. The temperature control was flawless. Within minutes, a mouthwatering sizzle filled the air, followed by an intoxicating aroma.
Pulling out a jar of specialized outdoor basting sauce she had ordered previously, she carefully brushed the marinade over the cooking meat. Under the high heat, the silver skin slowly crisped into a beautiful, golden brown.
The rich, savory fragrance hit her nose, and Su Wudeng took a deep breath, feeling her very soul tremble.
That’s the smell!
She zoomed the camera in on the grill. “Do you see that, everyone? The natural oils in the skin are starting to bubble. Can you smell the aroma?”
Wisps of white steam rose across the camera lens, carrying the mouthwatering scent of roasting fish directly to the viewers’ holographic sensory receptors.
“The best way to eat this fish is when it’s grilled until the skin is perfectly golden and crispy, but the meat inside remains incredibly tender,” Su Wudeng narrated smoothly. “Just a few more minutes, and it’ll be ready to taste.”
The netizens were completely intoxicated. The camera angle made it feel as though the fish was roasting right in front of them, and they were all sitting around the fire, waiting for a bite.
Suddenly, a soft crackle popped from the grill as beautiful, appetizing cracks formed across the crispy skin.
Su Wudeng’s eyes lit up. “It’s done!”
She carefully pulled a skewer off the grill. The aroma was absolute perfection. Gently, she pinched off a small piece of meat. The golden skin flaked with a satisfying crunch, revealing snow-white, steaming fish underneath.
She popped it into her mouth, her eyes fluttering shut in pure satisfaction.
“Mmm~ The meat is so incredibly tender and juicy, and the skin has the perfect crunch. The sauce brings it all together… it is absolute perfection!”
The audience watching the live broadcast completely lost their minds.
[Just watching you eat is making me drool! My stomach is literally growling!]
[Why does it look so incredibly delicious?! And the smell! I can’t take it anymore!]
[What kind of black magic virtual tech is she using?! I can literally smell and taste it, but I can’t eat it! This is torture!]
[I can’t take this! I need to eat that right now! I’ll pay whatever you want! Manager, please ship one to me!]
[Manager Su, you are a sadist! I’m sitting here drinking synthetic nutrient paste trying to trick my brain!]
The chat was completely overrun by a tidal wave of comments screaming [HUNGRY!]
But Su Wudeng was far too busy enjoying her meal to care about the suffering netizens.
The rich aroma of the grilled fish drifted on the gentle breeze, spreading far down the riverbank and deep into the woods. At the edge of the tree line, a tiny squirrel poked its head out. Its little nose twitched violently as it stared toward the campfire, looking completely intoxicated by the smell. It looked as if it were drunk.
Su Wudeng finished the entire first fish before she finally glanced at the chat.
“Ship it to you? No way. By the time it clears interstellar transit, it would be dry and ruined. This has to be eaten fresh.”
She smirked at the camera. “Are you guys really that hungry? If you are, just drink some more nutrient solution! I’m pretty sure I saw a ‘Grilled Fish’ flavor at the supermarket once.”
Beside her, Amber was absolutely inhaling her portion. The Husky finished her fish in record time, licked her chops, and immediately lunged toward the grill for seconds.
“Whoa, wait a minute, Amber!” Su Wudeng scolded, grabbing the dog’s collar. “That one isn’t done yet! You’re going to burn your mouth!”
But Amber didn’t care. With lightning speed, she snatched the sizzling fish right off the grill and swallowed it in a single gulp.
It’s so good, Master! the Husky whined happily, licking her lips. I’ve never tasted anything this delicious! So fragrant!
Watching the dog wolf down a second helping, the audience grew even more resentful.
[I am officially jealous of a dog. I want to be a dog. Have I lost my mind, chat?]
[Damn it! I actually went and bought the grilled fish nutrient paste… it tastes like salty garbage!]
[Don’t even mention it. I just chugged ten cans and my stomach is still screaming!]
The next batch of fish finished cooking, and Su Wudeng eagerly dug in again.
This was completely different from the grilled fish she used to eat in her past life. The fish from this pristine, unpolluted stream were exceptionally plump and rich. Even without heavy seasoning, the natural umami was explosive. She used to think nutrient paste was an acceptable, convenient meal, but her agricultural soul was currently screaming that this was true food!
After devouring three whole fish, Su Wudeng finally felt full. She let out a contented sigh.
So good!
Wiping her hands, she glanced at the chat.
[Hey! Manager, is there something coming down the riverbank?]
[Yeah, look over there! What is that? It’s so white!]
Su Wudeng blinked. “Something is coming?”
She looked up, the camera panning automatically to follow her gaze. A flock of stark white figures was charging down the riverbank at an alarming speed.
As they closed the distance, their forms came into sharp focus.
It was a flock of massive white geese!
Their snow-white feathers gleamed beautifully under the sunlight. Their bodies were incredibly plump and robust—especially their massive, waddling behinds. Their bright pink webbed feet slapped aggressively against the dirt, their wings fully extended as they charged with terrifying momentum!
“Holy crap!” Su Wudeng gasped, stumbling backward. “Where did these geese come from?! And… I think they’re coming straight for me!”
The Great White Goose. A species infamous for its psychopathic aggression.
Vicious and utterly fearless! There was nothing on God’s green earth a goose wouldn’t bite. They would terrorize innocent pedestrians, attack moving vehicles, and even pick fights with tigers just for looking at them funny. In Su Wudeng’s memory, only the absolute most battle-hardened grandmothers from rural farming villages possessed the martial prowess required to grab a charging goose by the neck!
She frantically slapped Amber’s shoulder. “Stop eating! The geese are coming!”
Amber was busy licking fish grease off her paws, but at the word ‘geese’, she bolted upright.
What?! Geese?!
A sudden realization hit the Husky. Oh no! They’re here to steal our food! The grilled fish smells too good; it attracted the feathered demons!
Su Wudeng stared at her dog. “Wait, seriously? They’re launching a full-scale assault just for a bite of fish?!”
Watching the flock rapidly close the distance, Amber let out a furious growl.
Master, step back! I’ll handle this! Those bastards bit my butt the last time I ran into them! And now they want to steal my fish?! Old grudges and new insults… today, I take my revenge!
Before Su Wudeng could stop her, Amber dug her claws into the dirt and launched herself directly at the flock.
It was a one-versus-five showdown. The live stream chat instantly lost its mind.
[Let’s go, Amber! Show those overgrown pigeons who’s boss!]
[Wait, aren’t geese just domestic farm birds? They can’t possibly fight an Elite-tier Husky, right?]
[Yeah, but there’s five of them! Amber is outnumbered! Is this safe?]
[Quantity doesn’t matter when you have Elite-tier quality! Amber is going to destroy them!]
However, the very second Amber charged into the fray, the chat fell dead silent.
The lead goose moved with terrifying, viper-like precision, its beak snapping forward to instantly lock onto Amber’s hindquarters. Without a moment of hesitation, the goose bit down and began violently twisting its neck.
It was a critical strike!
Amber let out a high-pitched yelp of agony. Seeing their leader draw first blood, the other four geese immediately swarmed the dog.
“Amber, no!” Su Wudeng screamed. “Fall back! Osside, engage!”
The mechanical pet instantly transformed back into its combat form and hurled itself into the melee.
But these seemingly clumsy, waddling birds were shockingly agile. They twisted their fat bodies out of the way of the mechanical tentacles, using their serrated beaks to strike precisely at Osside’s joints.
Clang! Ping!
The beaks struck the reinforced metal chassis. The lead goose let out a sharp honk of pain. Realizing the metal octopus was too tough to bite, the flock immediately coordinated, surrounding Osside and attacking from all angles to pin it down.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Amber scrambled back to Su Wudeng, tufts of husky fur drifting through the air behind her.
Su Wudeng immediately grabbed her dog, frantically checking her rear end. “Why are you so impulsive?! Why did you charge them head-on?!”
“Let me ask you this,” Su Wudeng scolded. “Did you win the last time you fought them?”
Amber covered her face with her paws, whimpering pitifully. No… I lost last time too… that’s why they bit my butt!
The Husky buried her face in Su Wudeng’s chest, crying crocodile tears. Master, you have to avenge me!
Su Wudeng let out an exasperated laugh. “You lost last time, and you still thought it was a good idea to charge them solo?! Stop whining, let me see how bad it is.”
She inspected the bite mark. The goose had clamped down hard—the skin was bright red and irritated. Thankfully, the skin hadn’t been broken. Honestly, neither side had probably been using their full strength; it was more of an aggressive scuffle than a battle to the death.
Realizing her injury wasn’t serious, Amber’s bravado returned. She glared at the five geese currently wrestling the mechanical octopus and started barking furiously from the safety of Su Wudeng’s arms.
Hit the one on the left! Stop dodging, punch it in the beak! If you’re so tough, hit them back!
It took the live stream chat a few moments to process the utter humiliation they had just witnessed.
[Geese… geese are terrifying…]
[Amber, what the hell is wrong with you?! You’re an Elite-tier wolf-dog and you just got bullied by a duck?!]
[No, seriously, does anyone else think those geese have insanely high combat stats?!]
[I was literally drooling over how fat their butts were five minutes ago. Now I’m genuinely terrified!]
[You have every right to be scared! Those birds are agile, coordinated, and aggressive! They’re the Mike Tysons of the avian world!]
Osside was barely managing to hold the five geese at a stalemate, acting as an iron wall to block their path.
But the geese weren’t stupid. Especially the leader.
Realizing the metal opponent was too durable to defeat, the lead goose’s eyes locked onto the real prize: the unattended grilled fish sitting on the grass behind the robot!
The lead goose let out a battle cry, flapping its massive wings and charging directly at Osside. Just as the mechanical tentacles lashed out to intercept, the goose executed a flawless feint, nimbly sidestepping the strike, ducking under the robot’s guard, and sprinting straight for the food.
“Holy crap!” Su Wudeng gasped.
The goose snatched a grilled fish off the grass with terrifying speed and swallowed it whole. It let out a satisfied honk. Delicious!
Seeing the success of their leader, the other four geese immediately executed the same maneuver. Ducking and weaving past the bewildered robot, they swarmed the remaining fish, devouring the entire picnic in seconds.
[They really just wanted the fish!]
[They smelled the barbecue and launched a tactical strike!]
The moment Osside had moved to intercept the flock, the fish had been left completely unguarded.
Su Wudeng was utterly dumbfounded. “They orchestrated a military assault… for a snack?! Are you kidding me?!”
The live chat was crying with laughter. [Hahaha! They literally went to war for a piece of fish!]
[Honestly? I respect it. If I had the chance, I’d fight those geese for a bite of that fish too!]
[The Geese: “We shed blood for this meal. What have you done?”]
[I can’t breathe, these birds are absolute legends!]
[Manager, forget the Husky! I want a combat goose! Catch one for me!]
Seeing the flood of requests for a pet goose, Su Wudeng sighed helplessly. “I think you all just saw their combat stats. My combat-grade mechanical pet could barely hold them to a draw. I physically cannot catch one for you. This is undeniably the most lethal flock of waterfowl in the galaxy.”
Fortunately, the geese had zero actual malice toward Su Wudeng. Their only objective had been the food.
Having swallowed the final piece of fish, the lead goose turned to look at Su Wudeng.
Amber immediately bared her teeth, stepping in front of her master to protect her.
The goose shot the dog a look of absolute disdain, then turned its attention back to Su Wudeng.
Honk! Honk! You grill a good fish, human. Sister Goose does not eat for free!
With a little shimmy, the massive bird popped two large, pristine white eggs out from under its tail feathers. They landed gently on the soft grass.
Honk! Honk! Payment! If you make more of this delicious food, you can come trade with Sister Goose anytime!
The netizens completely lost their minds. [I am dead! The goose actually paid for its meal!]
[It knows the law of equivalent exchange!]
[That’s my battle goose! We don’t accept charity!]
[Manager, if you want a pet goose, you’re gonna have to earn it! Better start practicing your grilling!]
[The pressure is on the Manager!]
With their bellies full, the flock of geese flapped their wings and casually waddled back down to the stream. They took a few elegant sips of water, then fell into a perfect single-file line and paddled peacefully downstream.
They looked incredibly majestic and utterly unbothered.
Su Wudeng stood frozen in disbelief, staring at the two massive goose eggs sitting in the grass. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“So… I just traded an entire barbecue for two eggs? And I don’t even know if these are fertilized. What am I supposed to do, incubate them? Am I running a pet shop or a maternity ward?!”
Still, she carefully collected the eggs and placed them in her backpack. Osside efficiently cleaned up the campsite.
Su Wudeng let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Thank god she had stayed out of the fight. If a flock of geese was willing to go to war over the smell of her cooking, what other, far more terrifying apex predators might be drawn by the scent?
Thankfully, the food was gone. She quickly packed up her gear and hurried away from the crime scene, Amber trotting closely at her heels.
Note to self, she thought. The smell of grilled fish is way too overpowered in the wild.
Deep within the heart of the forest.
A pack of golden blurs tore through the dense underbrush.
It was a pack of wild Golden Retrievers. Their luxurious, golden coats rippled like spun silk as they sprinted through the sun-dappled woods.
Suddenly, the lead Retriever slammed on the brakes. Its dark nose twitched violently in the air.
A faint, but intoxicatingly savory aroma drifted on the wind.
The dog’s eyes widened in pure bliss. The rest of the pack skidded to a halt behind their leader, their noses pointing to the sky as they inhaled the heavenly scent.
Woof! What is that smell?! It’s incredible! Woof! Woof! It’s coming from over there! Let’s go!
The pack of Golden Retrievers immediately altered their course, sprinting wildly toward the source of the aroma.
By the time Su Wudeng retreated to the safety of the wooden cabin, the live chat was still recovering from the sheer terror of the goose attack.
[Manager, the secret realm you’re exploring is way too dangerous!]
[If even the ducks are built like tanks, what else is out there?!]
[But honestly, Manager, is Amber really cut out to be your bodyguard? She got folded by a bird. Just send her to me, I’ll train her for you. Here’s my shipping address!]
The other netizens immediately jumped on the comment: [I can hear your abacus clicking from three star systems away! Nice try!]
[In your dreams! If anyone is getting Amber, it’s me!]
Su Wudeng chuckled as she applied a soothing salve to Amber’s bruised rear end. “Nice try, guys, but no way. Amber wasn’t really trying.”
Though, applying the medicine did remind her of Professor Yang’s diagnosis. Amber’s developmental defects were severe. The legendary spiritual plants required to fully heal her would be incredibly difficult to track down.
A new comment popped up.
[Manager, what’s the plan now? You stepped outside and immediately got mugged by poultry. Are you still going to try and find a new pet?]
[Yeah, we’re still waiting for a new species reveal! Figure something out!]
Su Wudeng wasn’t worried. She smiled confidently. “Don’t panic. I came prepared.”
She reached into her backpack and pulled out a sleek, metallic device, holding it up for the camera. “Behold, the latest model Aerial Reconnaissance Drone from the Peace Corporation! Why wander blindly through a dangerous forest when you can let technology do the walking?”
She didn’t need to risk her life bushwhacking through the wilderness. She could just launch the drone, map the entire sector, and pinpoint any injured or abandoned pets before moving out.
[Manager Su with the big brain plays!]
[Work smarter, not harder! I love it!]
[Hurry up and launch it! I want to see a panoramic view of this place!]
[Launch it! Launch it!]
Su Wudeng glanced at her System interface. Her Hope Points had already surged past 50,000.
Seeing the audience’s eager anticipation, she grinned. “Alright, let’s give the people what they want!”
She activated the drone. Though it looked relatively simple, it was packed with state-of-the-art military reconnaissance tech. It boasted an extreme-range visual sensor array and real-time 3D holographic mapping capabilities.
Pulling up her virtual interface, she tapped a few commands into the air, finalizing the pre-flight checks.
“All systems green! Let’s take a look at the big picture.”
With a flick of her wrist, the drone shot into the sky like a bullet.
As the drone rapidly gained altitude, the video feed on the stream shifted dramatically. The ground fell away, and the dense canopy of the trees rapidly shrank until the entire forest was laid bare before them.
It was an endless ocean of emerald green.
The dense canopy stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling a massive, textured velvet carpet. The sunlight struck the leaves, refracting into millions of tiny, glittering points of light, bathing the entire forest in a soft, golden haze.
In the distance, the jagged peaks of a massive mountain range pierced the horizon, their summits capped with pristine white snow, forming a breathtaking contrast against the lush green valleys below. Ribbons of mist clung to the mountain passes, adding an aura of ancient mystery to the landscape. A massive, winding river cut through the heart of the forest like a vein of liquid silver. The small stream by Su Wudeng’s cabin was merely one of its countless tributaries.
The sheer, overwhelming majesty of the untamed wilderness struck the audience like a physical blow.
[Oh my god… this is staggering. The forest is so massive, and it’s completely alive!]
[This has to be an S-Tier Secret Realm, right?!]
[Definitely a top-tier realm! The ecological preservation is flawless!]
[I have never seen anything like this in my life. I have goosebumps.]
[Manager, thank you so much for showing us this. I could cry right now.]
[I have the sudden urge to quit my miserable corporate job and just run away into those woods.]
Su Wudeng skillfully piloted the drone. If the audience wanted to see the scenery, she was going to give them a cinematic masterpiece.
The drone executed sweeping dives and slow, majestic hovers. One moment, the camera plunged into a deep, sun-dappled ravine carpeted in vibrant wildflowers; the next, it skimmed across the surface of a misty, glass-like lake.
Viewers using holographic projectors felt the immersion down to their bones.
[I feel like I’m actually flying over the forest!]
[It’s so incredibly real. I swear I can smell the pine needles and feel the wind on my face. Is this what heaven looks like?]
[Manager Su, can we trade lives for just two days? Please?]
[I’m so jealous I can’t even express it.]
Even Su Wudeng was awestruck. She hadn’t realized just how impossibly vast this forest was. There was an entire world here waiting to be explored!
As she pushed the drone higher, a thin line of deep, endless blue appeared at the absolute edge of the horizon.
Is that… the ocean? she wondered.
But she quickly brought the drone back down. She hadn’t even scratched the surface of the forest yet; there was no way she was ready to tackle the ocean.
“Alright, tour’s over,” Su Wudeng announced playfully. “It’s time to get down to business. Let’s start scanning the canopy for any pets in need of rescue.”
She commanded the drone to slowly descend. The blurry green carpet resolved into individual, highly detailed treetops. As the drone sank below the canopy line, the forest floor came alive with movement.
A nimble gray squirrel leaped effortlessly between two massive oak branches, its fluffy tail acting as a rudder. A snow-white rabbit poked its head out of a briar patch, its long ears swiveling nervously as it scanned for predators.
[Awww! They’re so cute!]
[BUNNY! I want a bunny!]
[Manager, catch the squirrel!]
Su Wudeng ignored the requests. The squirrels and rabbits were perfectly healthy and thriving in their natural habitat. She had no intention of disturbing them.
Suddenly, the drone’s interface flashed a bright red warning:
[HIGH-SPEED BIOLOGICAL TARGETS DETECTED AHEAD.]
“High-speed targets?” Su Wudeng muttered. “What kind of pet is that fast?”
Her curiosity piqued, she manually pushed the drone’s throttle forward, racing toward the coordinates.
Seconds later, a flash of blinding, brilliant gold filled the camera feed.
“Whoa! It’s a pack of Golden Retrievers!” Su Wudeng gasped in delight.
The pack was sprinting through the dense forest with incredible coordination. The sunlight filtered through the canopy, striking their luxurious, flowing coats and making them shine like liquid gold.
The live stream chat went dead silent for a second before erupting into absolute chaos.
[Holy shit! They are gorgeous!]
[Who can possibly resist a Golden Retriever?!]
[The gentle giants! Look at them go!]
[That stride! That coordination! Those are top-tier hunting dogs!]
Su Wudeng was instantly in love.
Suddenly, the massive Golden Retriever leading the pack slammed on the brakes. As if linked by a hive mind, the rest of the pack skidded to a halt in perfect unison, holding their formation flawlessly.
The Alpha slowly raised its head, its gaze locking dead onto the hovering drone.
The camera automatically zoomed in. A pair of intelligent, soulful amber eyes filled the holographic screens of millions of viewers.
The sunlight seemed to favor this specific dog. In the ultra-high-definition feed, every single strand of fur was rendered in perfect clarity. The coat wasn’t a flat, singular color; it was a complex, breathtaking tapestry of deep golds, rich ambers, and soft creams, shimmering like spun silk.
Staring at the screen, Su Wudeng had only one thought.
God, I want to bury my face in that fur.
