Chapter 168: Chapter 156: Now He’s Yours, Feel Free to Use Him
Cyril came to a halt before Andrew, about to report the latest on the Mutant Species, but Andrew raised a hand to cut him off. "Take a team, follow this little one, and help her with a rescue."
Cyril shot a surprised glance at Gu Ning, who was standing beside Andrew, but quickly composed himself. "Yes, General."
He didn’t ask questions. "I’ll need a few minutes to reassign my men."
Andrew nodded. "Go ahead."
Cyril strode to the side and began reassigning personnel over the static-filled comms.
Every soldier in the army was currently engaged in combat, and the communication and defense systems were heavily jammed. Pulling together an extra team would not be easy.
What’s more, they had just received news that King Seeds had appeared at the north and south walls. He had rushed over to ask the General for the next phase of the battle plan, not expecting Andrew to assign him a task like this.
’A rescue? Who are we rescuing?’
While assembling his team, Cyril glanced over at the little Mixed Breed.
The little Mixed Breed who was supposed to be staying quietly in his quarters was here, and Philinos himself had brought her.
’Didn’t Alex assign a small wolf pack to guard it?’
Cyril recalled how, just over ten minutes ago, Philinos had reported finding 1366, yet he had returned covered in injuries, bringing this little Mixed Breed with him.
’Could this have been Andrew’s order?’
Andrew wouldn’t try to poach someone from Alex at a critical time like this, not when it meant putting the one he treasured like the apple of his eye in danger.
’Something must have happened on the ground,’ he mused.
Meanwhile, while Cyril was away gathering his team, Gu Ning began her own preparations.
She turned her back to them, facing the direction of the outer wall.
A cold, dense fog reduced visibility to less than two meters. She could no longer see the Mutant Species, and at some point, their cries and the sounds of battle had gradually died down.
Gu Ning pulled off the shawl draped over her head and took a deep breath of the damp, cold air, exhaling a cloud of white mist. She used the shawl to wipe the moisture from her face, then folded it and wrapped it around her neck like a scarf to cover the lower half of her face before tying up her disheveled hair.
Then, she shrugged off Andrew’s overcoat and unfastened the zipline harness from her waist. She used its cord to strap the gun to her leg, then stretched her stiff, aching limbs to warm herself up.
Once she felt limber enough, she turned around to find Andrew staring at her.
Gu Ning paused for a moment, then walked over, holding the overcoat. She handed it to Andrew and thanked him in a low voice. "Thank you... sir."
Andrew hesitated before taking the coat. "You’ll need to communicate with Cyril. Can you do that, little one?"
Gu Ning understood what he meant and nodded.
"Do you have a name, little one?" Andrew asked.
Gu Ning glanced up at him. ’Andrew must know my name, considering I’m living in Cyril’s quarters. Based on my encounters with Cyril and Alex’s predicament at the worksite, I’ve probably been investigated.’
’He’s asking for my name because he knows Cook isn’t my real identity.’
Andrew waited patiently for her reply.
After a few seconds of deliberation, Gu Ning said softly, "Gu Ning."
Andrew hummed in question, looking down at her. "Tell me again?"
As he spoke, he bent down, leaning in to bring his ear closer to her face.
Gu Ning instinctively flinched away, but when she saw he was only trying to hear better, she repeated her name.
Andrew straightened up, a smile on his face. "Alright. I’ve got it."
"General, we’re ready," Cyril reported as he approached.
Andrew said to Gu Ning, "Go with him, little one. He’s all yours for now. Don’t hesitate to make use of him."
"..." Cyril looked at Gu Ning. "Little Commander, what do you need from me?"
Andrew gave Gu Ning an encouraging look.
Cyril knew Gu Ning couldn’t speak, but he’d heard she could write. "You can..."
"To the gate," Gu Ning said succinctly. As Cyril stared, stunned, she added, "I’ll lead the way."
"..."
Even the normally unflappable Cyril couldn’t hide his shock. He whipped his head around to look at Andrew.
Andrew gave him a meaningful look.
Several thoughts flashed through Cyril’s mind, and he instantly understood the source of the previous strangeness surrounding Alex and this "little Mixed Breed."
It took him only a moment to compose himself. He smiled at Gu Ning. "Very well."
The word was barely out of his mouth when a violent gust of wind swept over them, and a massive dark shadow shot past overhead.
Andrew and his men stood firm, but Gu Ning was nearly knocked off her feet.
Andrew reached out to steady her, his large hand gripping her arm.
Gu Ning looked up. Faint blue ripples of light spread across the sky above them—the defense system was still active.
In the next instant, a high, piercing shriek echoed from high above, threatening to shatter her eardrums.
An explosive roar followed, and several dark shadows plummeted toward their location. The Beastman soldiers around Gu Ning methodically launched a defensive volley, and the sounds of battle once again filled her ears.
The fierce winds scattered the fog, revealing a massive gap that had been blasted open in front of them.
The Mutant Species had broken through the defense system. After circling low over the breach for a moment, they scattered, attacking the Beastman soldiers while simultaneously searching for something.
Gu Ning’s gaze shifted, and she saw a familiar black wolf silhouette break through the swarm of Mutant Species.
’Alex!’
Gu Ning’s pupils contracted. She broke into a run.
After just a few steps, her path was blocked by the long, gaping chasm that had been blasted open.
Gu Ning stood at the edge of the chasm, staring across at the giant black wolf on the other side.
Alex seized a Mutant Species in his jaws and flung it aside. He backed up two steps, preparing to leap across the chasm, which was over ten meters wide.
Just then, a long, shrill cry pierced the air, and a ghostly, blue-glowing phantom appeared in their sights.
The King Seed had arrived.
The blue phantom shot toward a specific target below.
Andrew calmly directed the counterattack. He watched Alex pacing on the other side of the chasm and thought, ’Alex, let’s see what you’ll do.’
Alex stared at the approaching blue phantom for a second. Then, he gave the little female across the chasm a look filled with deep reluctance and longing. He threw his head back and let out a long howl, then bit open a small vial tied to his paw and crushed it.
A thick, potent female scent instantly diffused into the air.
The scattered Mutant Species all snapped their heads in the same direction. Even the Beastmen were drawn by the scent, sniffing the air in shock as they tried to locate its source.
Alex rolled on the ground, thoroughly dousing himself in the scent.
The blue phantom froze in midair, then veered toward Alex.
"Alex!"
Seeing the black wolf standing across the chasm looking at her, Gu Ning couldn’t stop herself from screaming his name.
Her voice echoed across the high, empty wall, only to be drowned out by the roar of cannons and gunfire.
The fog began to congeal again, blurring Alex’s figure.
"Alex!" Gu Ning cried out again, her eyes and nose stinging with the threat of tears.
Ice crystals formed on her eyelashes. It was as if her voice itself had frozen in the air, unable to reach Alex.
Cyril swept her up from behind and quickly carried her away from the dangerous ledge.
’The King Seed was obviously after her. If they couldn’t corner and kill it here, the other two King Seeds would get the signal. Then, things would become far more complicated.’
’Because there really *is* a female here. Not a disguised Mimic Mixed Species—a real one!’
Cyril caught the female scent on the air, and his expression tightened as he glanced toward Alex’s position.
