Lost in the Otherworld

"Pregnant?!"

Gao Yang and Qing Ling exclaimed in unison, utterly astonished.

How could a beast possibly become pregnant?

Beasts don’t even possess human reproductive organs.

Gao Yang felt a headache coming on—there were far too many questions to unravel. And with his current pitiful strength, he wasn't sure how much longer he could survive.

Qing Ling, without a moment's hesitation, asked, "Are you certain she didn’t lie to you?"

"Absolutely," Officer Huang replied firmly. "I can’t think of any reason why she’d deceive me."

"And you're sure the child is yours?"

"Uh..."

Qing Ling's question hit the core of the matter, causing Officer Huang to pause briefly before saying, "I believe I don’t have a metaphorical crown of grass on my head."

Qing Ling fell silent.

After a brief hesitation, Gao Yang spoke up, "Officer Huang, could I ask you a personal question?"

Officer Huang smiled awkwardly, "I already know what you’re about to ask. Even though my wife is a beast, our relationship has always been good. We’ve loved each other since before I awakened. Even now, we still share a bed at least once a week."

Gao Yang nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

"My wife is quite shy. Every time we’re intimate, she insists on turning off the lights and enjoys having a glass of red wine..." Officer Huang suddenly stopped, coughing lightly. "Ahem, you two are still young, so I’ll spare you the details. In any case, I’ve never been with a real human woman, so I didn’t notice anything peculiar when I was with her."

He sighed, "She’s always wanted a child, and I never used protection, thinking beasts couldn’t conceive."

"And now? What’s your plan?" Gao Yang asked.

Officer Huang pulled out a cigarette, put it to his lips, then set it down again. "To be honest, when I first heard she was pregnant, my initial reaction wasn’t shock. It was happiness."

"Happiness?" Qing Ling frowned.

"Yes, the joy of becoming a father. Even I found it hard to believe," Officer Huang said, lighting the cigarette with a sense of finality, taking a long drag. "I’ve decided to keep the child, assuming it can be safely born."

"Are you insane?" Qing Ling asked, bewildered. "She’s a beast!"

"I know..." Officer Huang gave a bitter smile. "But she’s also my wife, and she’s carrying my child."

Gao Yang said nothing. Deep down, he supported Officer Huang's decision. He had a strange feeling that the birth of this "child" might reveal more secrets of this world. Of course, it would probably drag Officer Huang into even greater danger, but some risks are worth taking.

"Do what you want, just don’t drag me into it," Qing Ling muttered.

"Don't worry, I won't." Officer Huang expressed his gratitude. Leaning against the desk, he added, "Alright, onto the next topic. The mission wasn’t completed, so I can’t tell you about the sequence list. However, as a token of thanks, I’ll answer two of your questions. Think carefully before you ask."

"How can talent levels be improved?" Qing Ling blurted out.

"What makes you think talents have levels?" Officer Huang’s eyes twinkled.

"Yeah." Gao Yang was just as curious. After all, he was the only one with a system.

"At first, I wasn’t sure either." Qing Ling lowered her head, looking at her palms:

"But my [Blade God] has leveled up twice. It’s different from slowly strengthening your body through training. It’s more like, in a single moment, energy floods your body, opening up every channel. It feels like a complete rebirth. I’ve experienced this twice with my [Blade God]."

"But your [Metal] ability hasn’t?" Officer Huang pressed.

"[Metal] has only leveled up once, and nothing since. When I first gained it, I could only control objects under one kilogram. After leveling up, I can control objects up to ten kilograms. Logically, I should be able to level it up again," Qing Ling clenched her fists. "But I don’t know what’s holding me back."

"You’ve grasped a lot on your own, very perceptive," Officer Huang said, removing his cap as he pondered. "Actually, every talent can be upgraded. Rumor has it that they can reach a maximum of level eight. Your [Blade God] is only at level three right now, so you’ve got a long way to go. Of course, my [Gun God] is only level three as well."