Chapter 318 - 281: And I Can’t Just Kill All the Beastmen Around Her
Chapter 318: Chapter 281: And I Can’t Just Kill All the Beastmen Around Her
"He knows perfectly well what’s going on," Barto said calmly.
As far as he was concerned, this was simply a case of Vine failing to court Gu Ning. There was nothing more to it. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding, but that was only because Vine had already developed feelings for her. If Gu Ning explained things to him face-to-face, it would be the same as drawing a line between them, so of course he was avoiding her.
’In that respect, he wasn’t as clever as Alex. His personality wasn’t suited for scheming like Alex was, so all he could do was give Gu Ning the cold shoulder.’
Whether Xiao Ning wanted to explain things because she cared about Vine or not, she was bound to face plenty of similar situations in the future. How she handled them was what mattered most, and he wanted to see how she would resolve this.
He knew Xiao Ning used to always want to hide, afraid of Beastmen and preferring the company of small-sized Mixed Breeds like him. But if she wanted to truly integrate into Beastman Society, she would have to learn to deal with them eventually.
’He wanted her to be a little more callous, but this was just who she was. And it was this part of her that gave rise to his own foolish fantasies, making him want to risk everything for her.’
’What could he do...? It’s not like he could just kill all the Beastmen around her.’
Gu Ning didn’t notice the change in Barto’s eyes. "To be honest," she said, stuffing food into her mouth, "I’m pretty scared of Wolf Team. I don’t want to talk to him, but... this is really important. To him."
She could let the little things slide, but she absolutely couldn’t be ambiguous about something this big.
Wolf Team had protected and cared for her this entire trip, and he was an upright, good wolf. She had to make things clear with him.
Seeing Gu Ning eat with such gusto, Barto’s lips twitched into a smile. The hostility in his heart began to fade, and for once, he actually put in a good word for Vine. "What’s there to be afraid of? A guy with his personality couldn’t do anything bad. He’s way easier to deal with than Alex."
"Alex is a good wolf, too," Gu Ning said.
Barto sighed under his breath. "Fine, fine, fine. He’s the best, all right?"
Hearing the little fox’s jealous words, Gu Ning smiled and stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth. "You’re good, too."
.
After they finished eating, Gu Ning had Barto go get Vine.
Her terminal still had no signal, and she couldn’t contact anyone. She’d heard from Barto that Alex had gone out to get the network running, but there was no telling when it would be back online. She had promised Idelos she would send him the video footage within a couple of days, and she was already past the deadline.
"She’s asking for you."
Barto opened the door and spoke to the wolf who had been standing guard just outside.
Gu Ning caught a glimpse of Vine’s silhouette at the door. "Wolf Team, you didn’t leave?" she asked, surprised.
"...Yeah."
After a long moment, Vine finally turned to face her.
Gu Ning: "...Have you eaten?"
Vine glanced at the considerable amount of food still left on the table. "I’ve eaten."
When in a combat-ready state, they only ate easily digestible, quick-prep foods like compressed biscuits and energy bars.
"Oh, okay. Well..." Despite her brave words to Barto just moments before, Gu Ning suddenly found herself at a loss for words now that she was actually facing Wolf Team.
Barto scoffed.
"Come." Vine held out a hand to Gu Ning.
Gu Ning stared at Vine’s hand, not understanding what he meant.
Vine: "I’ll take you out for some fresh air."
.
Gu Ning got dressed in her outdoor gear and left the room she’d been cooped up in for two days, taking Cook with her.
The moment she stepped out, she was hit by a thick, pungent odor like disinfectant. Mixed in with it was a scent similar to the Beast Smell Agent Barto had given her before.
’Vine and the others must have sprayed something to mask her scent. The entire corridor was saturated with the smell.’
The smell made Cook sneeze several times in a row.
Gu Ning pulled out the handkerchief Barto had pressed into her hand before they left and gave it to Cook, telling him to wipe his nose.
Cook’s eyes and nose were red. Gu Ning stood on her tiptoes and gently wiped his nose for him, her heart aching for him.
’Even she found the smell unpleasant; she could only imagine how it must be for a Beastman, whose sense of smell was many times more sensitive.’
At this thought, Gu Ning’s gaze inevitably fell upon the bandaged arm of Vine, who was walking ahead of them.
’The terrifying memory of that night she and Philinos were hunted by Beastmen was still vivid. Had Admiral Andrew’s enemies found them again?’
Noticing she wasn’t keeping up, Vine stopped and turned to look back at her.
Gu Ning snapped out of her daze and quickly pulled Cook along to catch up.
The three of them stepped into the elevator, and Vine pressed the button for the seventh floor.
The strong disinfectant smell was also in the elevator, and Cook couldn’t stop sneezing.
He stood behind Gu Ning, turning his head away whenever he sneezed, sending a spray of saliva and snot all over Vine.
Gu Ning looked up at Vine and pressed her lips together.
Vine, his expression blank, said to Cook, "Cover your nose."
Cook let out another huge sneeze right in his face.
"..."
"DING—"
The moment the elevator doors opened, Cook shot out impatiently and started rolling around in the thick snow.