The mascot of the wishing shop is a cat.

Chapter 21 A critical moment

"This tool I have can disguise a person as an inanimate object, but the person cannot make any big movements or speak, and the larger the size, the harder it is to disguise. If touched, it will definitely be discovered. However, this will make the alien race regard us as harmless objects."

Lin Xiyue took out a card with a black, illusory cloak drawn on it, and three words written at the top: "Disguise Card".

[Props Card: Disguise Card]

It can disguise a person, animal, or object it touches as another object. Note that this is only a disguise; any significant movement or sound will render it ineffective. Furthermore, because it's merely a disguise, it's easily detected when touched.

Consumption depends on the size and duration of the disguise. CD 24 hours.

"We'll figure out a way to lure your mother here, and then we'll use this prop to disguise it as an object so she can see what's really inside. Otherwise, she'll never believe what we're saying; people tend to believe what they see, even if it's not necessarily real."

"Wow! That's amazing! How do we do it?"

Upon first hearing about this magical thing, Bai Li's eyes lit up; she seemed even more like a child now than when she first encountered it.

“Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll say I’m going out first, and then your mother will offer to see us off. Once we’re out and the door is closed, that alien can no longer monitor us. We’ll then lie and say that you want to play a game with her, like whoever moves first and speaks first. Then we can let her see that alien.”

"Is this okay?"

Bai Li was very worried; the plan was too hasty and sounded unreliable.

"Mi~"

"Definitely not. (?_?)"

Fu Gui scoffed at this.

"Then what do you suggest we do?!"

Lin Xiyue, in a somewhat reckless manner, pushed the problem onto Fugui.

[Does the world really need cats to save it? (〃′o`)]

During this time, the system also made sarcastic remarks.

! ! ! !

"Meow...meow."

"If you ask me, just hypnotize her after she comes out, and then she can see it directly. Your plan has too many flaws, and there are likely too many variables."

Wow! Cats are so concise in their communication!

"boom--"

"Ouch, that hurts! o(╥﹏╥)o"

Lin Xiyue, who was talking nonsense and focusing on the wrong things, got a big rip-off from Fugui.

“Well, I think Cat is right. My mom will definitely play this kind of game with me outside the house. It’s so embarrassing.”

Bai Li also agreed with Fu Gui's statement.

"Meow~"

"Have a vision."

"Okay, okay, I'll do as you say. Let's get ready."

Touching the large bump on her head, Lin Xiyue made a final decision to use the wealthy Plan B.

……

"Has the cat finished eating? What's wrong? Is Kobayashi leaving?"

When Feng Yan finished washing the dishes and came out, she saw that Lin Xiyue had already packed up, and the cat was in the cat carrier with only its head sticking out, looking like it was about to leave. She quickly asked.

"Yes, Aunt Feng. I've bothered you all afternoon, so it's time for you to go home. Thank you for your hospitality, Aunt Feng. Lili, you must listen to your parents in the future and don't run away from home again."

Lin Xiyue smiled and said goodbye to Feng Yan, then patted Bai Li's head and gave her some words of advice.

"Oh, okay? Then let me see you off."

Feng Yan immediately and enthusiastically planned to see Lin Xiyue off.

Outside.

"Aunt Feng, thank you."

After seeing Bai Li close the door, Lin Xiyue thanked Feng Yan while reaching into the cat carrier and grasping a card. Then, a wisp of smoke drifted out of the carrier and precisely entered Feng Yan's body; soon, Feng Yan's eyes became somewhat vacant.

"You can't move or speak for a while. But you can clearly remember what you saw until I tell you 'It's safe,' then you will fully regain your mobility."

After Lin Xiyue finished stating all her requirements, Feng Yan was completely dumbfounded.

Then Lin Xiyue took another card—a disguise card—and reached for Feng Yan's hand, disguising her as a huge, unopened package.

"Okay, now we'll pretend to be deliverymen and take your mom inside. (^_^?)☆"

Lin Xiyue clapped her hands, looking as if she had accomplished something great, and winked at Bai Li.

"Okay! ヽ(￣▽￣)?"

Bai Li was also very excited, after all, this was just too exciting.

"Meow~"

"Hurry up, it'll be even more troublesome if we get caught."

Lin Xiyue hurriedly disguised herself by putting on a hat to cover her face and then dressed as a delivery person before following Bai Li and carrying Feng Yan inside.

……

The three people and one cat disguised themselves and returned to the room, where they disguised themselves as several delivery boxes of different sizes.

When they looked up again, they saw that the aliens had come out of the toilet.

As it moved along the ceiling, bright red blood dripped everywhere. After noticing someone enter, it glanced at them casually and, finding no threat, ignored everything else and slid down from the ceiling in front of everyone.

It resembled a giant, dripping snot; after the enormous eyeball at its base touched the floor, the entire tumor rapidly contracted and expanded. In less than five minutes, the drooping mass transformed into a replica of Feng Yan's long-dead biological daughter, with countless blood vessels connected to her back—this was a mimicry.

Seeing this scene, Feng Yan, who was being disguised, would probably have screamed long ago if she hadn't been hypnotized and forced to remain silent and still. Even so, her face turned extremely pale.

This was the first time Bai Li had seen this alien race so clearly; she had only sensed something was wrong before. If Lin Xiyue hadn't hugged her and covered her mouth, she probably would have screamed too.

"呲呲-"

A corrosive sound rang out, and the mimicking saliva dripped onto the ground. Immediately, two black spots were corroded on the ground, even emitting smoke.

"Cough cough, we're almost out of food. Should we eat this family instead?"

Some awkward-sounding sounds came from that mimicking mouth.

"I'd better not. The checks have been too strict these past few days. I need to stay in hiding for a while longer to be safe."

While talking to himself, Mimic naturally went to the closet in the room and found a set of clothes to put on.

If you ignore the countless blood vessels on its back, and the enormous, disgusting body connected to those blood vessels that moves along the ceiling, it would actually be a cute little girl.

[Ding-dong—]

[System notification: You have a new task. Please check it. (How about that? My new notification sound isn't scary, is it? (?o ? o?))]

Lin Xiyue, who was watching all this in shock, suddenly received a system notification. After looking at the text in parentheses in the system message, she reluctantly opened the taskbar.

[Mission: To protect the peace and safety of the city, please eliminate this aberration and report it. (Remember to keep evidence to claim the bounty; everyone needs to eat, it's not shameful. |w?)]

Rewards: Experience +50, Gacha Value +200

Friendly reminder: Please trust your teammates. ( 'w' )?

[How about it! Isn't my newly redesigned task interface awesome?! Doesn't it get your blood pumping? (?o ? o?)]

Lin Xiyue looked at the new system interface again and again, but still couldn't help but speak to the system.

Why don't you watch less cartoons? I'm probably joking about me protecting the city.

[I don't care, I like it. Just tell me if you'll accept or not.]

catch!

After accepting the task, Lin Xiyue's gaze fell on the last friendly reminder.

After gazing at the friendly reminder for a while, another person quietly asked Fugui, who was yawning.

"Baby, are you guys going to solve it?"

"Meow~"

"Of course."

"Is there any danger? If so, let's call the police to report it."

Lin Xiyue was still somewhat worried.

"mum--"

"Not at all, don't worry. After you show her the truth, I'll go and take care of this."

Fu Gui seemed to find the alien race extremely disgusting; it was just too filthy.

In just a short while, less than ten minutes, a large pool of dark red liquid appeared on the entire living room floor.

Fugui jumped out of his disguise with a look of disgust and did parkour on sofas, stools, cabinets, and other places that were not yet splattered with dark red liquid.

"Meow--"

There was no translation this time; it seems Fugui turned off the translator.

The meow also attracted the attention of the alien creature. Its mimicking eyes, along with the large and small eyes of its original form, all turned to look at Fugui.

"mum!"

Fu Gui cried out again, then jumped up, dodging a vein that the alien creature had secretly extended from the ceiling to attack him.

"Bah-"

A viscous sound rang out, and the vein that Fugui had been standing in was slapped onto the table by his tail. The vein burst instantly upon touching the table, and the viscous liquid inside spilled all over the floor.

"Meow!"

The sudden burst of stench, even worse than if the toilet had been blown open, almost made Fugui vomit. The smell then filled the room.

Lin Xiyue and Bai Li, who were hiding behind the sofa, almost vomited; it smelled terrible. While Fugui and the alien were fighting, they secretly moved Feng Yan to the window and opened it a crack.

"Aww!!—"

The alien creature on the ceiling let out a agonizing howl, then burst into tears. The cry sounded like a baby's, but several piercing cries overlapped, making one wonder how many throats it actually had.

"You're asking for it! (╰_╯)"

The mimicry seemed utterly enraged. It casually broke off a leg from the stool next to it, held it in its hand, and charged towards Fugui.

"mum!"

Fu Gui clearly didn't want to encounter this alien race again. He dodged the attacks of the mimic while simultaneously avoiding the sneak attacks of the real creature, and even had to endure the unbearable stench and piercing cries. No matter how you looked at it, Fu Gui felt he was at a disadvantage.

All I can say is, this is awful. How can this world contain something so malicious and devoid of any redeeming qualities? Ugh... I must wear a gas mask next time. o(╥﹏╥)o, I hope Fugui is alright!

Lin Xiyue watched from the side, unable to accept it and unable to understand it, and even felt nauseous.

"Roar!--"

"Meow!—"

After fighting for half an hour, neither the alien's mimicry nor its true form could do anything to Fugui, and Fugui, unable to bear the filth and ugliness, could do nothing to the alien either, so they were deadlocked.

"Click——"

Suddenly, the door opened.

"Honey, Lili, I'm home! Today I brought you some braised dishes from your favorite shop!"

A male voice entered the room before anyone else, his voice filled with joy and satisfaction.

"Oops!"

"father!"

Upon hearing the sound, Lin Xiyue knew something was wrong. Instinctively, she pushed Bai Li towards the door and pulled Feng Yan along, running towards the door herself.

"What--"

"Run!!!!"

Lin Xiyue shouted from behind. She knew that ordinary people who were discovered would be targeted first, especially in a stalemate.

Bai Li was pushed by Lin Xiyue and ran out of the room first. She bumped into her father and then grabbed him and ran without looking back. Her father dropped the braised food he was holding when they bumped into each other and ran after them, looking completely bewildered.

"What?! What happened?!"

"Dad will tell you later, run! It's dangerous now!"

"Okay! Listen to you."

Bai Li's father decisively picked her up and ran downstairs without asking any questions.

"It's safe."

Lin Xiyue realized that she couldn't run anymore while dragging Feng Yan, so she quickly released Feng Yan from the hypnosis.

After the hypnosis was lifted, Feng Yan, who had been watching the whole thing, quickly ran downstairs.

None of the four dared to turn around, because the nauseating stench and the terrifying sounds of the fighting made them too afraid to look back.

……

"boom!--"

As soon as I got downstairs, I heard a loud bang, followed by the sound of shattering debris falling to the ground.

Lin Xiyue looked up and saw that the alien body that had been attached to the ceiling had been kicked down by some dark, indistinct thing. The mimic that was attached to it had already fallen down and exploded right where the grass had been, splattering chunks of flesh and sticky, dark red liquid everywhere. The whole neighborhood smelled terrible.

"Meow~"

With a single meow, Fugui leaped out of the broken window. Lin Xiyue was about to catch it when she heard it dash towards the fountain in the neighborhood, leaving behind a single sentence in the air.

"Meow~"

"Quickly call that guy named Lingyan to clean up this mess, it stinks!"

"Pfft! (?＞?＜?)?"

After seeing Fugui rushing to the fountain and frantically washing its paws and tail, Lin Xiyue smiled and sent a message to Lingyan.

"Um, Kobayashi, what's going on?"

With the help of her husband and Bai Li, Feng Yan found Lin Xiyue and asked her what had happened.

“Aunt Feng, here’s what happened. Your family has been targeted by an alien race, but your daughter noticed the problem and ran into me. After she told me about it, I felt something was wrong, so I came to check, and that’s how it happened. But the good news is that this alien race only hypnotized you to hide their identity; they didn’t infect you.”

Lin Xiyue patiently explained to them.

"What! That's terrifying!"

"Lili! Thank you so much, my darling!"

Feng Yan was terrified and kept sighing while holding Bai Li.

"Miss Lin, hello. My name is Bai Weili, and I am Bai Li's father."

Bai Li's father was the first to calm down and started talking to Lin Xiyue.

"Hello, Mr. Bai."

"I remember this kind of thing is usually handled by law enforcement officers. Are you a law enforcement officer?"

"No, but I do have connections with them. Don't worry, I've already messaged them. They'll be here in ten minutes to handle the aftermath and will ask you some questions. Just tell them the truth."

Lin Xiyue explained the follow-up to Bai Weili in detail. Before she could finish speaking, Ling Yan's loud voice rang out.

"Young Master Lin!! We're here!!!"

……