Back home, Shi Xiaolei called 2B, who was watching cartoons with Kanna, into his room and proactively recounted what had happened on the way home.
Although Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D. were helping with the aftermath, a double-layered cleanup should ensure no loose ends.
But it's always better to be safe than sorry.
What if some thick-headed soldier had made a record before they took action?
There was still a tiny possibility of the military coming to their door. So, giving 2B a heads-up and getting their stories straight was really necessary.
Also, the car being totaled needed to be reported.
With Shi Xiaolei's current savings, a car worth twenty or thirty thousand US dollars wasn't really a big deal. But then again... having money didn't mean his financial outlook would immediately change. At heart, he was still that thrifty commoner, so 'completely wrecking a newly bought car' was, in Shi Xiaolei's eyes, still quite serious.
It was so serious that he felt a little guilty, like a child who had accidentally broken an appliance and was afraid of being scolded by their parents.
Fortunately, 2B was an intelligent android with a very gentle personality, not a fierce and shrewish old hag.
"Locke, are you hurt?" Ignoring the car, 2B's eyes were full of worry, and she instinctively reached out her small hand, wanting to check if Shi Xiaolei had any injuries.
"No, no, I'm fine. Shh~!" Fearing Kanna might hear, Shi Xiaolei quickly raised a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.
He looked back and saw the little girl still sitting steadily on the sofa, giggling at the TV screen, not seeming to have heard anything. Shi Xiaolei then breathed a sigh of relief, turned back, and continued, "Don't worry, I was wearing my armor at the time, the kind that covered me from head to toe. Don't let its strength fool you; at most, it just felt a bit muffled when it hit me. It really wasn't that serious."
"Really?"
"Really. If I were truly hurt, why would I pretend to be fine?" As he spoke, Shi Xiaolei raised a hand and patted his chest, smiling, "See, I'm perfectly fine."
"That's good, that's good…" Lowering her gaze nervously, 2B let out a huge sigh of relief.
But then, on second thought, 2B felt a bit of dissatisfaction.
Raising her head again, 2B looked at Shi Xiaolei with a determined expression: "Locke, next time there's a fight, take me with you, okay?"
"Uh."
Knowing that 2B was a powerful and helpful combatant, Shi Xiaolei honestly didn't really want her to join the fight.
Not wanting to expose her was one aspect. Another was that Shi Xiaolei already regarded her as family.
Whether she was a dragon or an intelligent android, those weren't important. In Shi Xiaolei's eyes, Kanna and 2B were, first and foremost, 'female members of the family.' And as the head of the household and the only adult male, Shi Xiaolei felt that he had to provide a safe haven for them. Things like combat, unless absolutely necessary, should never involve them.
"Well, Sylvia…" Shi Xiaolei scratched his head and gave an awkward smile.
"Locke." Unlike her usual demeanor, 2B's attitude was very firm at this moment. To persuade Shi Xiaolei, she even said, "I am a member of YoRHa, designation 2B, and the 'B' stands for Battle. Combat is my calling, and it is the meaning of my existence."
A force came from her hand, and her eyes held a resolute determination. Looking at 2B, who stood gracefully before him, Shi Xiaolei fell silent.
After a long pause, he could only sigh and nod with a wry smile: "Alright, next time something happens, I'll definitely call you."
"Mhm."
"Having said that, agreeing is one thing, but you can't act recklessly." Still a bit worried,
Shi Xiaolei couldn't help but add another reminder: "You can only join the battle if you are sure you won't get hurt. You know, I don't have repair technology, and it's impossible for me to manufacture a new body for you."
In the game "NieR: Automata," 2B could also heal her injuries and restore her health by using items.
However, the healing items she used were a bit special—they weren't pills or potions made from herbs, but crystals formed by nanomachines. Only this kind of 'medicine' could heal injuries on an intelligent android. Or, to put it more directly, that process shouldn't really be called 'healing'; 'repairing' would be a more accurate term.
Although she appeared in full condition, as a companion summoned by Shi Xiaolei, 2B did not possess system permissions. This meant she couldn't purchase recovery items by spending money like Shi Xiaolei could.
As for Shi Xiaolei… the reason he could purchase various potions from the Diablo II system was because he had drawn and integrated the Barbarian bloodline, raising his bond with the Diablo II world by one level. By analogy, if he wanted to purchase items from the system that could heal 2B's injuries in the same way, Shi Xiaolei would first have to draw the 'intelligent android' template and integrate it into himself.
Not to mention whether he would have the chance to draw it in the future, even if he did, Shi Xiaolei might not use it—coming from two completely different games, the conflicts in their settings were simply too great, and integrating both bloodlines at the same time might lead to problems. He only had one body and, for now, only one life… Although he now lived in the United States, Shi Xiaolei had never thought of using his life to test the theory that 'Westerners are scarce.'
The nanomachines copied within 2B could, at best, only treat 'external injuries.' Without sufficient healing potions as a reserve, sending her into high-intensity combat? To be honest, it really wasn't a good idea.
"…I will be careful."
"Just being careful isn't enough." Shaking his head, Shi Xiaolei reiterated: "You absolutely must avoid such situations. Sylvia, listen carefully, you are my family, no longer just a combat machine, understand? There are no combat missions here that must be completed even at the cost of your life, so no matter what situation you encounter, your safety must be your priority. Understand?"
"But…"
"In my heart, nothing is more important than the safety of my family's lives." Placing his hands on 2B's shoulders and looking into her eyes, Shi Xiaolei said with utmost seriousness: "Listen, if you still consider me the head of the family, you must remember this. Now, nod and promise me, okay?"
"…" Meeting Shi Xiaolei's gaze, 2B felt a warmth flowing in her chest, as if her energy supply unit was overloaded.
She unconsciously pursed her lips, and a hint of inexplicable emotion appeared in her eyes. Under Shi Xiaolei's gaze, 2B finally nodded vigorously: "Mhm, I understand."
"That's more like it~."