Chapter 261 - 235: How Come You Can’t Do It?
Chapter 261: Chapter 235: How Come You Can’t Do It?
Gu Ning: "Saliva."
Barto: "Who spat on you?"
’Is this really the time to be talking about this?’
Giving up, she rolled up her sleeves. She grabbed Barto’s face with her left hand and, with her right, stuck a finger into his mouth. Fighting back a wave of revulsion, she swirled it around.
Barto: "..."
He grabbed her hand. "That’s not how you do it!"
Gu Ning asked helplessly, "Then how do you do it?"
Barto was about to explain when Vine walked up to the car door and knocked on the window.
Vine’s timing was impeccable. Barto reacted like a beast whose territory had just been invaded, instinctively baring his fangs at the Beastman outside.
"It’s Vine." Gu Ning turned and fumbled for the button to unlock the doors.
Vine quickly pulled open the rear door, slid inside, and shut it behind him. He looked up to find two heads from the driver’s seat staring back at him. "..."
"He’s a Mixed Breed. His glandular scent is useless," Vine said slowly, his eyes on Gu Ning. "Come over here. I’ll help you."
Gu Ning’s gaze returned to Barto’s face, a silent question in her eyes.
The hand Barto had on the small of her back clenched into a fist. A moment later, he gripped her by the waist, lifted her off his lap, opened the car door, and left.
"SLAM!"
The door slammed practically in her face. Gu Ning turned to look at Vine.
’What was that all about, little fox?’
’Cook could do it, so why can’t you?’
’Cook’s a Mixed Breed too, and he helped me hide my scent for ages without anyone finding out.’
Gu Ning was utterly baffled by Barto’s behavior, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Vine was still waiting.
"Cook can do it." Gu Ning was one step away from clasping her hands and begging Vine. "Captain, it’s fine, Cook can help me."
Vine glanced at the approaching inspectors outside. He pulled Gu Ning into the back seat and felt her body tense up slightly. "They’re too devolved," he explained patiently. "Their glandular scents have weakened as well. Besides, what you need right now is the scent of a wolf pack."
"’They aren’t one of us,’ Vine added."
Gu Ning: "They?"
"’They might target you.’ Vine’s gaze shifted to the inspectors outside. ’We brought a Mimic Mixed Species. It’s you now. And you,’ he said, turning back to her, ’are a devolved member of my squad.’"
Gu Ning followed his gaze.
Vine took Gu Ning’s hand and removed her terminal. He replaced it with another one. "Your name is Kaper now, understand?"
Gu Ning was shocked. "Wait, isn’t that... Cook?"
Vine said, "His death hasn’t been officially reported yet, and his terminal hasn’t been deactivated. You can use his identity."
With that, he handed Gu Ning a pass. "This is Kaper’s pass."
Back in Zone 19, Admiral Andrew had anticipated a situation like this. They just hadn’t expected to need the plan so soon.
Gu Ning touched her own face, then pointed toward the Beastman inspectors outside.
Vine understood her unspoken question. He took out a muzzle. "Cook had one, and now you have one. Try to act a little more ferocious in a bit."
Gu Ning’s gaze dropped to the muzzle in his hand. ’...’ ’Isn’t that... the kind of muzzle they make for dogs? The husky I used to watch for a friend wore one just like it.’
"Alright, that’s everything you need to know." Vine lowered his head, asking for her consent. "May I help you now?"
Gu Ning’s eyes swept across his cold, stern face. Resigned to her fate, she closed them.
"This is just part of the mission."
Gu Ning heard Vine speak. The next second, he was pulling her onto his lap.
She sat ramrod straight, her hands clutching the collar of her shirt. Her eyes were squeezed shut, not wanting to see Vine’s face while he did... this.
’She really didn’t understand. If it was just a matter of saliva, why did it have to be... like this? Did the scent evaporate the moment the spit left their mouths?’
’Even him turning into a wolf would be better than this...’
’Next time, she would definitely make him turn into his beast form beforehand.’
As Gu Ning’s mind raced with chaotic thoughts, she felt Vine draw near.
His body temperature was high, and the arm wrapped around her waist felt like a stone baked in a fire—hard and scorching hot.
He didn’t hesitate like Barto had.
The moment Gu Ning felt his hot breath on her cheek, a wet, rough texture—even hotter than his arm—scraped across her skin.
’...’ ’Just end it all.’
The car was exceptionally quiet with the windows rolled up, making every other sound stand out. With her eyes closed, Gu Ning’s other senses were even more magnified.
The sound of Vine licking her skin... His breathing, which he was trying his best to control, growing heavier and heavier.
Gu Ning kept her lips pressed tight, her posture bolt upright. Vine didn’t press any closer, simply using one arm to keep her steady so she wouldn’t topple over. It was just as he’d said—like he was simply carrying out a mission.