Free Web NovelChapter 198: Chapter 184: The Two "Little Dogs" Made a Choice
A chorus of wolf howls rose and fell around Gu Ning, making her head ring.
’Good. At least they’re just arguing, not fighting.’
Barto rolled his eyes at the pack of wolves. ’As expected of wolves raised by Alex. If it were any other pack leader, they would have torn down half the building by now.’
"AWOOOO!" Hearing the wolves arguing, Cook naturally sided with Seth and the others, barking furiously at Vine’s pack and sending snow flying as he pawed at the ground.
Seth, worried Cook would impulsively start a fight, nudged him back with his tail.
The more Seth pushed, the more vigorously Cook barked.
Seeing Cook rush to the front line, Gu Ning pressed her lips together and glanced at Vine.
Vine’s sharp gaze caught the little Mixed Breed peeking at him. "What are you looking at? They’re your responsibility. All they know how to do is run their mouths."
Gu Ning was once again speechless. Although Vine was probably just saying it out of anger, she had to admit she was partially responsible for teaching them that.
A low growl rumbled, and Alex put a stop to the packs’ argument. The other wolves fell silent.
Gu Ning looked at Alex.
The two met each other’s gaze for a moment. Alex turned and started walking, then glanced back at her after a couple of steps.
Gu Ning hesitated for a second, then stepped into the snow, following the footprints Alex had made.
Alex led the way at a slow pace. His thick, wide wolf paws pressed down on the soft snow, packing it to make it easier for Gu Ning to walk.
Seth and Cook frolicked in the snow, weaving around them. Barto walked slowly behind Gu Ning, a slight smile playing on his lips as he gazed at her back, lost in thought.
They had no physical contact, yet something invisible connected them all.
The pack leader’s steady presence seemed to form an invisible force field. The anxiety and urgency that usually plagued Gu Ning and her two companions dissipated. Here, in this open space filled with the scents and gazes of other Beastmen, they felt a rare sense of peace and tranquility.
The slight rift between them also melted away, like snow in the spring sun, dissolving unconsciously in the warmth that rose in each of their hearts.
"Looks like the two little pups have made their choice." Cyril appeared beside Vine at some point. "Wolf Team, aren’t you going to try and win them over?"
Vine withdrew his gaze and turned his head. "Win them over for what? I’m helping a team member look after his family, not recruiting soldiers."
Besides, Cook’s devolution was so advanced it was plain to see. There was no need for him to get into a pissing match with Alex over it and provoke Cook and... that mysterious little one.
Cyril raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. "How magnanimous of you, Wolf Team."
Vine said, "Also, she’s not from the Dog Clan, is she?"
Cyril said, "Who does the Wolf Team mean?"
Vine turned to the side. "You know everything. Stop playing dumb with me. Who is she, really? A relative Alex brought back from Zone 5?"
"I’m not too sure myself," Cyril said. "Why don’t you ask the Admiral, Wolf Team?"
Vine didn’t press him further and turned to enter the building.
...
"Have you two stared enough?" Barto propped an elbow on the table, speaking irritably to the person and dog pressed against the window. "Should I just invite him inside? And if you’re not done playing outside, then stay out there until you are."
Gu Ning watched Alex’s black, wolven silhouette disappear from view. She patted the pup’s head and comforted him, "I’ll take you out to play again tomorrow." With that, she walked over to Barto and sat down, writing on a piece of paper: *If Alex stays in his beast form like this, will it affect his degeneration value?*
’She’d heard that Beastmen couldn’t just transform into their beast forms at will. Everything had a price. Their beast forms granted them greater strength, but every transformation carried the risk of devolution.’
After reading what she wrote, Barto snorted. "You have the energy to worry about him? You’ve already got your hands full with me and Cook."
Gu Ning lowered her head and scribbled furiously—
Barto said, "...Don’t worry. He knows what he’s doing."
Gu Ning wrote: *Sorry, I refused the Blue Gold Inhibitor Vine offered. I’ll figure something out for you guys.*
Barto glanced at Cook, who was playing with a ball nearby. "Why are you apologizing to me? It’s my fault. I should have thought of Cook. We should have at least taken one for him."
"But it’s no big deal. Just a measly Inhibitor..."
Under Gu Ning’s gaze, the tough-talking, soft-hearted little fox trailed off.
They shared a look for a moment, then their hands on the table moved, clasping each other’s tightly.
"I’m heading out."
After a moment, Barto gave Gu Ning’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
Gu Ning looked at him, confused.
Barto said, "Don’t you need to film a video? I’ll go get you some good stuff for it."
Gu Ning immediately wrote on the paper: *Don’t go alone.*
"I know, I know." Barto shouldered his backpack. "I’ll take a few dogs... I mean, two wolves with me. I’ll be back before dark."
Gu Ning nodded, relieved.
While Barto was out, Gu Ning opened the search engine on her terminal and looked up: Beast Alliance Laws.
It was public information, so it popped up as soon as she searched.
Gu Ning took out a notebook and began to carefully study the Beast Alliance’s laws, especially those concerning females.
