Since Country A has no gun restrictions, incidents involving firearms are not uncommon.
But none have ever escalated to this scale before.
First, the attacker targeted defenseless young children—an act so heinous that even in a country where gun violence is frequent, it crossed a line and deeply challenged the public's tolerance.
Second, the perpetrator was heavily armed and had even scouted the school's security measures in advance. It was as if they waltzed in unimpeded, moving from classroom to classroom as though the school were a shooting range. Among all the classrooms, only the one where the teacher brought a mechanical dog had zero casualties.
Some classrooms were left in pools of blood, with grieving parents weeping in anguish.
Others, though chaotic, remained unharmed. Parents who rushed to the scene upon hearing the news clung to their unharmed children, laughing and crying in relief.
The reason those children emerged unscathed? Their teacher had brought a D3 mechanical dog from Huaxia to class.
How could the parents who lost their children not feel heartbroken and regretful?
Especially since mechanical dogs had recently gained popularity. Some families could have easily afforded one but chose not to for various reasons.
Now, with tragedy striking, regret was too late.
"Penny was well-liked by the kids at school. She often brought toys for them, and this mechanical dog seemed to be a birthday gift she received recently. Because of its cool, sleek design, the children adored it, so she frequently brought it to school for them to play with."
A parent being interviewed spoke through tears—tears of gratitude:
"My daughter mentioned it to me before. At the time, I just thought the mechanical dog looked impressive and that the kids loved it. I never imagined it could protect them. I’m so grateful to Teacher Penny and that mechanical dog. I heard she’s still in the hospital—I hope she recovers."
But Penny wasn’t entirely unharmed. The D3 mechanical dog wasn’t advanced enough to predict danger before it happened, like something out of Stellar Wars.
If it were, Gu Shuyue would have already won this year’s top technology award.
That said, even without reaching that level of sophistication, she had already bagged several awards since the mechanical dog’s release.
The reason the D3 intervened was due to a feature shared with the D4 and D5 models: it could monitor the wearer’s vital signs through a wristband. If it detected abnormalities, it had the authority to call emergency services.
Security functions were also part of the design, but during development, Sheng Quan and her team held lengthy discussions.
Ultimately, they decided against giving the mechanical dogs attack permissions. Machines, no matter how reliable, could malfunction.
If they couldn’t guarantee 100% control, it was better not to include it.
So, the D3 didn’t actually attack the gunman—it used its heavy frame to pin him down without causing harm, preventing further violence.
Three conditions triggered this response:
1. Penny was attacked, and her vitals plummeted.
2. She issued an emergency alert.
3. The armed assailant continued firing.
Only when all three conditions were met did the mechanical dog—whose judgment was still inferior to a real dog’s—leap into action, blocking a fatal shot, subduing the attacker, and then calling for help.
Honestly, the development team never expected it to be put to the test so soon.
"I thought it’d take at least six months," Sheng Quan remarked during a video call with Gu Shuyue and the others.
The young researchers were already media darlings, but after this incident, they’d likely be swarmed wherever they went.
"Though, when we programmed it, we didn’t expect it to sell overseas so quickly."
And to so many foreign buyers.
Now, it had even played a protective role in a violent attack.
What should have been a positive development took a bizarre turn.
Gu Shuyue rubbed her temples as she read the latest headlines. "That sociopath is actually suing us, claiming our mechanical dog injured him. The audacity."
"Some people are even supporting him, using this to boycott Stellar Wars. What kind of nonsense is this?"
Sheng Quan remained unshaken. "They’re the ones whose interests our mechanical dogs threatened."
"Relax, this case is too high-profile. The opposition might seem loud, but far more people are on our side."
The backlash would only fuel demand, amplifying the hype.
Since the incident, Sheng Quan’s private line had been ringing nonstop.
And those who had her number? None were pushovers.
As the saying goes: Every family has children to protect.
Even if those young parents couldn’t afford the expensive mechanical hounds, who said parents over fifty weren’t parents anymore?
—In a private hospital room in Country A, a couple in their fifties, who appeared much younger than their age due to meticulous upkeep, walked in.
A blonde girl lay on the bed, still asleep, a breathing mask covering her face. Beside her, a massive black mechanical hound was sprawled on the floor. Hearing the movement, it lifted its head and glanced over. Recognizing its owner’s parents, it stood up, nuzzled against them affectionately, and wagged its mechanical tail—adorned with a pink bow.
"Good dog."
The parents’ eyes softened at the sight of the mechanical hound, especially when they noticed the bullet dents marring its body. Even though it was just a machine, the damage looked horrifying.
If it hadn’t shielded their daughter in time, that bullet would have struck her instead.
Though they knew it wasn’t alive, they still reached out to pat its head.
Responding to their touch, the hound nuzzled each of them before gracefully trotting back to its owner’s bedside on its agile mechanical limbs and settling down again.
—As if standing guard.
The sight brought the parents some comfort. They turned to the nurse in the room and asked, "How many times has Penny woken up?"
The nurse quickly replied, "Twice last night, but she drifted back to sleep each time without fully regaining consciousness. It’s normal. She’ll gradually recover as time passes."
Penny’s mother sat by the bed, tenderly stroking her daughter’s pale cheek. "As long as she recovers, that’s all that matters. As long as she can live well."
Her father gazed at his daughter with heartache before comforting his wife, "Don’t be upset. Penny survived because you gave her Bella. If it weren’t for Bella…"
That despicable attacker had aimed at the teacher first. After incapacitating the adult, they would’ve turned their gun on the children without restraint.
"Back then, when you wanted to give Bella to her, I thought it was unnecessary. Now, I’m glad you didn’t listen to me."
Hearing its name, the mechanical hound on the floor gave a gentle wag of its tail.
Bella was a common pet name in Country A, but now, it had become synonymous with heroism across headlines.
The couple waited quietly until their daughter finally stirred awake. However, the young girl was still deeply traumatized, her eyes darting around in panic the moment she regained consciousness.
"Bella… Bella…"
At her call, Bella immediately rose and pressed her head against her owner’s shoulder in reassurance. Seeing Bella, the girl on the hospital bed gradually calmed down.
This was clearly post-traumatic stress disorder.
Witnessing their daughter’s fragile state, the parents’ hearts ached even more. Their only solace was that Penny relied heavily on Bella, and the mechanical hound could stay by her side 24/7, providing constant comfort.
They stayed with their daughter patiently until she fell asleep again before stepping out of the room.
"Have you reached Sheng? What did she say?" the wife asked her husband.
She was, of course, referring to Sheng Quan.
"Sheng understands Penny’s situation is special. She agreed to send a team to Country A to repair Bella," the husband replied, his expression dark. "As for the backlash in the news, she isn’t too concerned. The D-series is just as popular in other countries."
"Is Sheng giving up on the Country A market?" The wife frowned, glancing back at the closed hospital door.
Her husband’s face was equally grim. "It’s unclear, but Starview isn’t short on clients. The production speed for mechanical hounds is already too slow—there’s been a supply shortage for a while now. Even if they abandon Country A, it wouldn’t affect them."
"That can’t happen. Penny needs Bella. Her future children will need mechanical hounds too. And so will we. Who can guarantee something like this won’t happen again?"
The wife was furious, especially standing outside her injured daughter’s room. "Bella protected our daughter, and now she’s being vilified for it. Whether this is a business rivalry or not, I won’t tolerate it."
She held out her hand, and an assistant promptly handed her a list. "These are the media outlets leading the charge against mechanical hounds."
Her husband scanned the names with equal anger before forcing a cold, mirthless smile.
"Don’t worry, dear. You handle the courtroom. Leave these matters to me."
"We’ll make sure Starview can thrive in Country A without interference."
—China.
While Country A was in an uproar over mechanical hounds, Sheng Quan, the company’s owner, remained utterly unperturbed as she watered a small plant she kept.
"They really don’t stop to think—parents who can gift their daughter a birthday present worth hundreds of thousands aren’t ordinary people."
Especially since mechanical hounds weren’t fixed assets, nor did they generate profit or serve any practical purpose. The D3’s slogan had made it clear from the start: it was purely an entertainment pet.
The fact that Teacher Penny could receive such a birthday gift not only proved her parents were wealthy but also showed how much they loved her.
And parents like Penny’s were far from rare.
Though this world’s version of Country A differed somewhat from Sheng Quan’s previous life’s understanding of it, one thing remained the same—in Country A, money paved the way for everything.
The primary users of entertainment mechanical dogs were precisely these affluent individuals.
They wouldn’t be swayed by public opinion.
Even if the forces opposing mechanical dogs had the backing of Country A’s government, when these wealthy parents—concerned for their children’s safety or their own—united, no opposition stood a chance.
The previously withheld classroom surveillance footage was swiftly released.
Media outlets that had been vocal in their condemnation suddenly fell silent.
Protests still filled the streets, but this time, the chants had shifted to “Support mechanical dogs protecting civilians!”
“If my child’s classroom had a mechanical dog, he wouldn’t have died!”
“My mother was killed in a shooting three years ago—just because she crossed paths with a drunkard. If she’d had a mechanical dog with her, she could’ve survived!”
“The footage makes it clear—that scumbad wasn’t harmed! The mechanical dog just restrained him to stop him from hurting others!”
“Bella saved its owner and the children! It’s a hero!!!”
The clash between supporters and opponents in Country A raged fiercely, with both sides locked in a heated battle. Meanwhile, the company at the center of the storm, Kanxing, remained comfortably distant in Huaxia, showing no intention of getting involved.
If there were a soundtrack to this, Country A would be a warzone, with both sides firing shots, while Huaxia basked in peaceful sunshine, sipping tea.
Though no similar incidents had occurred in other countries, the uproar was too significant to ignore, and international media rushed to cover it.
As a result, orders for mechanical dogs skyrocketed once again.
Netizens worldwide joined the discussion:
【Mechanical dog bodyguards? So cool!】
【Why didn’t Kanxing emphasize the protective features earlier? If they’d marketed that, I would’ve ordered one immediately. Now, they’re completely sold out!】
【Kanxing’s official response clarified that mechanical dogs don’t normally have autonomous defense capabilities. The reason it tackled the attacker was because it detected its owner’s declining vital signs.】
【That’s awesome! It monitors vitals? So if someone collapses, it can call an ambulance?】
【There’s already a case in Country K—a blind elderly man living alone had a medical emergency, and his guide mechanical dog called for help.】
【I’m sold! But why no fur??? Fake fur wouldn’t be hard to add!】
【One question—can guide dogs speak human language? If it just barks, how would emergency services understand?】
【Even if they don’t, emergency services would still respond to silent calls. Plus, I think guide dogs can send distress signals via text.】
Someone chimed in with an explanation: 【All D-series mechanical dogs let you choose language settings—some use human speech, others use dog sounds. Interestingly, according to official data, only 30% of buyers opt for human speech; the other 70% prefer the classic “woof.”】
【Even more perfect! The only downside is the lack of fur!! Why won’t the company just add fur?!】
【The price is a bit steep, though. Imagine how safe you’d feel with a massive mechanical dog by your side everywhere.】
【The cost is understandable—Kanxing is the only company in the world with this tech, and it’s based in Huaxia.】
【D1 series price chart (Image 1) (Image 2)】
The international netizens paused—then exploded with replies.
【$15,000??? Is that in Huaxia currency???】
【Checked the exchange rate—wow, $15,000 for a mechanical guide dog? That’s insanely cheap! Why isn’t this on the official site?!】
【I was wondering why there’s D2 to D5 but no D1. Turns out it’s here! And the specs aren’t bad at all—$15,000 is a steal!!!】
The poster who shared the images finally clarified: 【The D1 series is exclusively for Huaxia citizens with official blind disability certification. It’s a special welfare benefit from Kanxing.】
【!!!! This isn’t just a benefit—it’s practically a giveaway!!!】
【How easy is it to get Huaxia citizenship? I’d switch my mom’s nationality in a heartbeat!!】
【Why is Kanxing playing favorites?! All customers should get the same treatment!】
【I remember a Chinese classmate once told me that Chinese people are extremely, extremely, extremely patriotic. It might not be obvious in daily life, but whenever a major disaster strikes, they come together in remarkable unity. Maybe that’s part of the reason.】
【I remember! When floods hit China, Sheng Quan, the boss of Starview, even went to the scene to help. She paused filming for Interstellar War to join relief efforts, and that’s where the mechanical dogs made their first appearance.】
【So, is it easy to get Chinese citizenship? Is it too late for me to move there now?!】
One netizen did some research and replied: 【Forget it. Chinese citizenship is notoriously hard to obtain—it’s one of the most difficult in the world. Plus, they don’t recognize dual citizenship.】
This sparked another round of lamentations.
But soon, they rallied: 【Actually, it’s fine. Not everyone needs a guide dog anyway. Given China’s circumstances, it’s understandable that Starview favors its own people.】
Another netizen delivered a crushing blow: 【The Interstellar War merch discounts aren’t just for the mechanical dogs—almost 70% of the products have special deals for Chinese buyers. Here’s a comparison of the prices they pay versus what we pay (Pic 1) (Pic 2).】
The freshly comforted netizens: 【……】
When Interstellar War merchandise dropped, fans worldwide went into a frenzy. Anyone lucky enough to snag a full set and flaunt it online could skyrocket to the day’s top 10 trending list.
Yes, the prices were steep, but the quality was undeniable.
Forget the ultra-rare mechanical dogs—even the tiny desktop helper bots, designed to fetch pens, paper, or tissues, had people camping online to grab one.
Don’t ask why they’d buy a robot to hand them things already within arm’s reach.
This is love!
Understand? It’s all about love!
Those little bots were functionally redundant, but thanks to the global Interstellar War fanbase, they became a smash hit.
Sure, knockoffs popped up, but fans insisted on the pricey, hard-to-get official merch over cheap imitations.
First, the knockoffs couldn’t compete on quality. Second—love!
And while they fought tooth and nail for scraps, Chinese fans not only got first dibs but also discounts!
Rumors said the discounts came from promotions at filming locations in China.
But guess where those promotions were held? China.
So, bottom line: only Chinese fans could score those deals.
Cue the outrage.
【This is unfair!!! I protest!!】
【Oh yeah? Protest by not buying then.】
【……I’ll still buy it.】
【Then what’s the protest for? China not allowing dual citizenship? Dream on—they’ll never change that, no matter how much you whine.】
【I protest why the promotions aren’t in OUR country!】
【Because Interstellar War wasn’t filmed here.】
【……Maybe we should just fantasize about Sheng Quan switching nationalities. She might move here—she didn’t grow up in China, so it shouldn’t be too hard for her, right?】
Netizens worldwide clearly share one trait: their conversations always veer off-topic.
Now, they’re debating which country Sheng Quan would move to if she ever changed citizenship.
Honestly, everything Sheng Quan does is aspirational—whether it’s The Cultivators, Interstellar War, buying Starlight Manor, hosting galas, or funding research.
This twenty-something woman is a master of spectacle and attention.
Fans let their imaginations run wild:
【Definitely Country A—she owns a manor there!】
【Country K, no question. The mechanical dog production line is there.】
【By that logic, Country O wins—it’s gorgeous, a perfect vacation spot.】
【Someone get Sheng Quan to Country G to promote XXX!! Rumor has it she’s the reason Jiang Zhen blew up!】
Amid the lively debate, one netizen abruptly interjected:
【Give it up. Sheng Quan isn’t switching nationalities.】
Others weren’t pleased. If you’re not joining the fun, don’t ruin it: 【You’re not Sheng Quan. How would you know?】
【Do you guys even read the news? Sheng Quan just bought the most famous—and expensive—luxury penthouse in Shanghai’s prime district. The place spans dozens of acres. Here, let me drop the price tag and some pics.】
Netizens after seeing the price: 【……】
【COOL!!!!!!!!】
【9999999】
【What does 9999999 mean?】
【Learned it from my Chinese coworker—it means “next-level awesome.”】
【Should we change the subject?】
【Good idea. How about we discuss visiting China for an Interstellar War promo and snagging that discount?】
The news had already spread internationally, and naturally, domestic headlines were quick to pick it up.
The buzz was so overwhelming that it even overshadowed the ongoing feud between two factions in Country A, skyrocketing straight to the top of the day's trending list.
【Sheng Quan Purchases New Estate】
【Value: 2.5 Billion】
