After several tries, Dan Heng discovered just how cruel this " meow" sound effect could be: on the surface, it simply replaced attack sounds with meows, but when striking a person, it made it seem like the one being hit was the one meowing.
With his extensive combat experience, Dan Heng quickly mastered controlling the intensity of his attacks to produce different variations of meows.
At this moment, Pei Guang offered a mischievous suggestion: "When you face that enemy of yours, just keep poking them with your spear—hit them on the butt, chest, head, wherever you can. Then record it all. Once you've got the footage, use it to threaten them."
Curious, Dan Heng asked, "How would I threaten them?"
Pei Guang smirked. "Simple. Say, 'You wouldn't want anyone to see you making such a fool of yourself, right?' Trust me, they'll back off after that."
Dan Heng furrowed his brow. "What if they don't care and don't retreat?"
Pei Guang's grin widened. "Then post it online and let them suffer a social death. If they've got some big, famous title, throw that in the mix. I'll even program my Star Destroyer to hack into nearby electronic devices and broadcast the footage everywhere. Let's see which is worse—actual death or social death."
Dan Heng seriously considered Pei Guang's suggestion. He imagined the scenario where someone pulled that stunt on him and figured he'd probably go live out his days in isolation on some remote, uninhabited planet.
Pei Guang's idea seemed effective. In a normal pursuit, it might not create a significant impact, but now that his enemy was a Stellaron Hunter? Even if it didn't work on Blade, it could still be a solid deterrent against the other Hunters.
A master hacker like Silver Wolf? Dan Heng had no doubt that if she dared challenge Pei Guang, she'd either end up like Sampo, used as target practice, or be swayed by Pei Guang's dangerously charming plans. His ideas were just too tempting.
Dan Heng nodded thoughtfully. "It might work… but for that guy, this still might not be enough."
Pei Guang shrugged. "That's why, as Trailblazers, we've got to think outside the box."
March 7th, unable to hold back her laughter, chimed in, "That's not exactly what 'thinking outside the box' means!"
Pei Guang winked. "As long as it scares you, that's good enough."
March 7th hugged herself playfully. "It's scary! You're so evil, always coming up with such diabolical ideas."
Pei Guang puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course!"
Dan Heng observed Pei Guang's tactics and found them distasteful yet undeniably effective. After living as long as he had, concerns over pride or shame had long faded. The key was practicality and ensuring that his companions weren't burdened.
For Dan Heng, the Astral Express and its crew were important. They were his safe haven, and while Pei Guang's behavior was far from serious, his burning passion made even Dan Heng feel a sense of camaraderie.
However, he also thought about his relentless pursuer. Would social disgrace even bother someone like Blade?
Pei Guang noticed Dan Heng's hesitation. "Oh, really? Even this wouldn't stop him? In that case, I've got a trump card. Come on, let's head back to the hotel. I'll add a new skill to you and your puppet."
Dan Heng nodded. "Understood. Let's head back. 'He' should be waking up soon, right?"
Pei Guang glanced at his device. "Almost. Give him about three more minutes, and he'll be awake. I've marked his location, so once he enters an area we've already explored, we can warp there immediately and loot him for coins."
Stelle added, "I hope he drops some effects that both you and March can use next time!"
Pei Guang grinned confidently. "Oh, and when a sword effect drops, none of you better try to take it from me!"
March 7th laughed. "I wouldn't dare. Whatever you want, it's all yours~"
The trio continued chatting and laughing as they made their way back to the hotel. Not long after they left, Sampo slowly came to. That familiar feeling of mental fog lifted as he took a deep breath.
"Ah… hey, folks, did anything fun—pfft!"
Sambog looked at the scene he had just been through, realizing he had been meowing this entire time. Amused, he smiled and said, "Looks like I gave them a lot of entertainment. I wonder what's next?"
"Huh? What did you say? Some of the regulars want to capture me and loot my corpse?"
"???"
Indeed, after Sampo dropped loot for the third time, some familiar faces in the tavern were already eager to catch him and try their luck. It didn't matter if they got nothing—but what if they did?
Sampo's smile faded as a look of realization settled in. He was becoming a prime source of amusement, and the stakes were only getting higher. He decided it might be time to lay low for a bit.
"Seriously, you know you won't get anything, and yet you still want to try?"
"Well, come on, then! Catch me if you can!"
Still, he couldn't help but wonder aloud, "But what is this 'skill' Pei Guang was talking about?"
After watching the playback of events, Sampo understood what had happened. As for the fact that his own rear end could now "meow," he felt a sense of pride.
There was only one thought in his mind: Who else could manage this? Who could get poked and produce a meow like him? No one but Sampo! Even if others wanted to meow, they wouldn't have the chance!
For true pranksters, fun wasn't just in the process—it was in the results. And if the fun was something unique, the joy was limitless.
As Sampo embraced his newfound fame, the group returned to the hotel.