Chapter 146: Chapter 136: Wondering How We Got Out?
"Attack, attack!"
Barto was teaching Gu Ning how to play the video game.
Gu Ning wasn’t used to the controls yet and fumbled with the buttons.
This was the fifth day since she had returned to live with Cook and the others. On Alex’s advice, she hadn’t gone outside, instead holing up with Barto and Cook every day.
The commotion outside grew louder each day. The sound of explosions echoed intermittently, making the house tremble slightly. Even without stepping outside, she could feel a tense, oppressive atmosphere hanging in the air.
Through the window, she could see more and more armed Beastmen patrolling the area. Occasionally, she would even spot a Mutant Species on their street, but it would quickly be dealt with by the Beastman soldiers on guard.
Cook had also grown increasingly restless, pacing anxiously around the house. Most of the time, he only calmed down when curled up in her arms. Even Barto started sleeping pressed tightly against her at night.
Every morning when she woke up, she’d find a fox curled up in her arms and Cook the puppy clinging to her back.
Gu Ning knew the proximity of the Mutant Species was affecting them.
Today, it was finally much quieter outside. The snow had stopped, and the sky was bright—it was a beautiful day. Cook was resting his head on her lap, feigning sleep, while she played games with Barto to distract him.
His distortion value was now almost the same as Cook’s. Although his mind hadn’t regressed much, she could see he was also very agitated. Sometimes he would run around the room with the game console or go scratch at the walls, only calming down when he was near her.
Seeing his condition, she knew she couldn’t reveal her identity to him yet for fear of agitating him further. She would have to patiently stay with him and Cook through this difficult period.
She was finally beginning to understand why winter was so hard on the Beastmen of Zone 19, especially the Mixed Breeds.
It wasn’t just about the temperature and lack of supplies; it was also about the changes and suffering brought on by the Mutant Species.
"Little Boss." Seth knocked on the door.
Gu Ning put down the game console and went to open the door for him.
For the past few days, Seth, Jite, and the other young wolves had been coming over to eat with them every day. Barto had been resistant for the first two days, but after realizing his own condition was worsening, he had let the wolves in.
This winter was particularly hard for Barto, yet it was also the easiest he’d ever had.
The comfort Gu Ning provided him surpassed the suffering caused by his rising distortion value.
The young wolves entered boisterously with their food. As Seth laid out a placemat, he shared some good news with Gu Ning.
"In three days at most, the military will have all the Mutant Species cleaned up. They’re pretty much in the final stages now. It’s happening much faster than we expected."
Gu Ning was happy to hear that and asked about Alex.
Jite said, "The boss is over at the West Wall. He probably can’t come over until the Mutant Species situation is resolved. Do you want to see him?"
Gu Ning shook her head. ’It’s best if I don’t cause any trouble at a time like this.’
"All right."
’If she went to see the boss, he’d probably be really happy,’ Jite thought. ’His whole aura changes whenever he’s with the little Mixed Breed.’
With that thought, Jite’s gaze fell back to the Detection Device in his hand. He glanced at Barto and Cook, then closed his palm and slipped the device into his pocket.
In the last four days, their distortion values had dropped by about 2%. Considering that Mutant Species had already been introduced into Zone 19, this was relatively stable.
Alex had also prepared extra Inhibitors for them, just in case.
At first, Jite thought Gu Ning would get one too, but her distortion value hadn’t budged at all.
It remained constant at 25%.
It was so stable it was bizarre. It wasn’t normal at all.
"We’re already preparing for the return trip," Jite said, dividing a portion of roasted chicken between Gu Ning and Cook. "Barring any major surprises, we’ll set off for Zone 5 in three days."
Gu Ning was a little surprised. ’So soon?’
She had thought they would have to wait at least another half a month or so.
Barto sat behind Gu Ning, holding his bowl. Hearing their conversation, he absentmindedly stuffed food into his mouth, his gaze drifting out the window.
’Three days...’
’Only three days left.’
Thinking about her imminent departure, Gu Ning took a few photos of Jite and the others as mementos.
She had taken a lot of pictures while cooped up at home these past few days. She had even secretly placed her camera orb outside the window, controlling it to capture the scenes outside. She only filmed the immediate vicinity, though, not daring to send it too far for fear it might malfunction or be spotted by the Beastman soldiers and shot down or confiscated.
"Little Boss, you like taking pictures?" Seth asked, noticing Gu Ning circling them to take photos before she had even finished her meal. He held up a chicken leg and struck a pose for her.
Gu Ning nodded and snapped another picture of him. ’When I get the chance, I want to photograph the young wolves in their beast forms,’ she thought.
These would not only be future material for her work but also held great sentimental value.
Seth chuckled. "I’ve rarely seen a Mixed Breed who enjoys fiddling with terminals."
Jite’s interest was piqued. He moved closer to Gu Ning. "Can I see the pictures you took?"
Gu Ning generously showed him the photos she had just taken.
After looking at them, Jite was surprised. "These are really good, very professional. Send me a copy when we have a network connection again."
Seth chimed in, "Me too, me too!"
Gu Ning nodded, indicating it wouldn’t be a problem.
After lunch, just as the young wolves left, Gu Ning was still organizing her photos when she saw Barto put on his jacket and sling on his small backpack, looking like he was about to go out.
Gu Ning closed her terminal and wrote, Are you going out?
Barto replied, "Just heading to the shop."
Gu Ning was a little worried. She wrote: Have Seth and the others go with you.
Barto said, "Don’t worry. I’m just grabbing something. I’ll be back in a bit."
＊
Barto drove his small snowmobile, avoiding the main roads. He weaved through the alleyways between tightly packed buildings, bypassing patrolling Beastman soldiers and wandering Mutant Species.
After a series of twists and turns, he arrived at the black market.
The once-bustling streets of the black market were now empty and quiet, with most of the shops closed.
Barto hopped off the snowmobile. Gun in hand, he moved nimbly and quickly down a narrow alley, arriving in front of his own shop.
He cautiously scanned the area around his shop. Once he confirmed it was safe, he entered through a small, round metal door in the wall, just big enough for him to squeeze through.
His winter fur had grown thicker, and his regression had made his body slightly larger. He even got stuck for a moment.
Once inside, Barto ran straight to the counter and ducked underneath it. He fumbled around on the dusty floor for a moment before opening a hidden compartment and taking out a small black box.
Just as he was about to open the box to see what was inside, a faint sound reached his ears.
Barto’s ears twitched. He immediately put the box back in the hidden compartment. Then, he huddled into a corner, gripping the submachine gun slung across his chest as he scanned the shop.
A soft clinking sound came from above.
Barto looked up. Two half-man, half-bird figures were hanging upside down from the ceiling beams. The chandelier chimed as their wings brushed against it.
The color drained from Barto’s face when he saw them.
Seeing that Barto had spotted them, the two Bird Clan Orcs released their claws and dropped to the floor.
"We finally cornered you, you black-hearted red fox," said the Bird Clan Orc on the right.
Barto raised his gun at them, his voice a mixture of shock and suspicion. "How are you..."
"How are we out, you mean?" The Bird Clan Orc on the left sneered and lunged at Barto.
Barto fired immediately and scrambled for the hole in the wall.
The other bird-like figure swooped in, slamming him to the ground. A sharp bone spur on its wing shattered his gun and pressed against his throat. "Running? If you don’t give the boss his goods, you can wait for him to tear you limb from limb."
