Chapter 320 - 282: You Can Use His Terminal as a Family Member
Chapter 320: Chapter 282: You Can Use His Terminal as a Family Member
’Something about Cook’s older brother?’
Gu Ning’s interest was piqued. She lowered her camera.
Seeing the young female’s earnest expression, Vine’s lips twitched slightly. He paused for a moment, then said, "Kaper joined my squad around this time last year. Before that, he was a squad leader in the Third Military District, with a rank similar to mine. He violated military discipline and was stripped of his position."
"Not long after, he left the Third Military District and became a mercenary. During the Zone 19 encirclement operation against the Mutant Species last year, he and his small team killed a King Seed at a critical moment. Admiral Andrew saw his potential and recruited him, assigning him to me as my second-in-command."
Vine spoke slowly so Gu Ning could understand. "His individual skills are outstanding, but he has a foul temper and a difficult personality." He was even worse than that Leo fellow, and greedy to boot. After killing the King Seed, he refused to hand over its core, claiming it was his rightful reward and calling the military brass a bunch of useless cowards.
He had been completely against letting someone like that join his squad.
"At the time, Kaper had just been dismissed by the Third Military District. He didn’t want to rejoin the military or serve under anyone. The first thing he did was demand Admiral Andrew’s position. He was incredibly arrogant. I still don’t know what the Admiral did to make him agree."
Gu Ning listened quietly, sketching an image of Kaper in her mind: hot-tempered, a powerful fighter, and someone who refused to admit defeat—
An evil husky "BIU"-ed into existence.
’...Wait, no.’
Gu Ning quickly banished the image of Leo from her mind. ’How could Cook’s brother be like him?’
But with a personality like Kaper’s joining Vine’s squad, there was bound to be trouble.
"Wolf Team Leader, you must have had a real headache dealing with Kaper," Gu Ning said.
Vine paused for a moment before understanding what she meant. "At first, we were all prejudiced against him. But after he joined the army, his performance was surprisingly proper. Whether in training or daily life, he followed all the rules, never made a mistake, and never provoked anyone."
He didn’t even react when other Beastmen provoked him.
But their prejudice wasn’t just because of their first impression of him. The deeper reason was his dismissal from the Third Military District and the revocation of his military status.
To have his military status revoked meant he must have committed a very serious offense.
But no one knew what Kaper had actually done. Vine had even asked Admiral Andrew but received no answer.
Gu Ning said, "He was a... good soldier."
Vine nodded. "He was an excellent soldier and leader."
Gu Ning pulled up the sleeve of her left arm, revealing Kaper’s terminal on her wrist.
"How did he... leave?" Gu Ning asked.
Vine said, "A few months ago, we were on a mission in the Death Swamp. We were trapped there for several days. Something went wrong on our way back, and he got separated from our squad. Afterward, this was all we found."
Vine pointed to the battered terminal on her left wrist.
"Only the terminal, does that mean..." Gu Ning searched for the right words. "Does that mean he’s not... dead?"
Vine’s lips moved slightly, a hesitant look on his face, but he spoke the words anyway. "Along with the terminal... was his left forearm."
Gu Ning froze, her heart feeling as if it had taken a heavy blow.
Vine continued, "The life Detection Device he was carrying had stopped. We confirmed he was dead."
He stated the conclusion calmly.
The No Man’s Land is the most dangerous place on the entire Beast Alliance Continent, and the Death Swamp is a hundred times more so.
It’s not just home to the nests of various Mutant Species and unnamed monsters; it’s also the territory of the Heavenly Beast Clan from Sky Watch Point.
At the time, they had run into a group of the Heavenly Beast Clan and a conflict had broken out, causing the squad to be scattered.
Gu Ning’s thoughts were a tangled mess. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Kaper... how old was he?"
Vine said, "You don’t know?"
Realizing Gu Ning probably hadn’t used Kaper’s terminal much, he pointed to it and said, "After Kaper died, I requested permission to unlock his terminal. Until it’s officially deactivated, you can use it as his family member."
This was the real reason he had sought her out today.
He had done a lot of thinking over the past two days. If Gu Ning didn’t accept him, then he currently had no reason to follow her to Zone 5. Besides, he still had to be punished for this matter. If she didn’t give her approval, Admiral Andrew would never let him go on a mission to Zone 5.
He had been a rule-abiding Beastman his entire life. The only time he’d ever slipped up was because of Gu Ning.
He wouldn’t continue down the wrong path.
But given Gu Ning’s situation, he couldn’t rest easy letting her go to Zone 5 just like this.
"Family?" Gu Ning said. "Can I?"
She had never met Kaper and had no connection to him. According to the laws of the Beast Alliance, she couldn’t become the family of a deceased Beastman.
"Don’t you want Cook anymore?" Vine retorted.
Gu Ning started, turning to look back at Cook.
As if sensing her gaze, Cook rolled over and nudged up against her, sending a shower of snow off the edge.
Vine grabbed the scruff of Cook’s neck to keep him from knocking Gu Ning over. "Cook, sit," he commanded.
Cook let out a yelp and lay down beside Gu Ning, wagging his tail and looking up at her like a puppy.
Gu Ning patted the little pup’s head and ruffled his ears, then turned to ask Vine, "Wolf Team Leader, what are you trying to say?"
’How could I ever abandon Cook?’
Vine said, "In your situation, bringing two Mixed Breeds with you, you’ll run into a lot of trouble in Zone 5, even with the Admiral’s help."
Gu Ning nodded. "I understand."
She had already made all sorts of preparations for this.
They were both registered under her household now. She had money and a job, so settling them in wouldn’t be a problem.
Besides, Barto was so clever and resourceful, she probably wouldn’t have to worry much about him. And Cook could integrate with another Wolf Pack; if he went berserk, the pack could restrain him.
"It’s not as simple as you think." Vine’s tone was serious. "The situation in Zone 5 is complicated. If you want to keep Cook by your side, you’ll need a better justification."
The situation in Zone 5 was as volatile as a battlefield. He didn’t believe Alex and the others could protect her properly.
Furthermore, given her identity, she needed to adhere to the laws of the Beast Alliance all the more, so that those laws could protect her.
Gu Ning said, "A better justification? I have one."
’Is there any better protection for Cook than being registered to my household?’
"Thank you, Wolf Team Leader." ’He probably doesn’t know about this,’ she thought, ’but I’m still grateful for his concern.’
Hearing her thanks, Vine frowned. "Just having him registered under your household isn’t enough. Cook’s regression is too severe. Either you leave him with me and don’t take him to Zone 5, or you find a more legitimate way to keep him."
Gu Ning looked at him in surprise. ’When did the Wolf Team Leader find out?’
’Of course. He’s one of Admiral Andrew’s most capable officers. The Admiral probably wouldn’t hide certain things from him.’
Gu Ning lowered her head in silence, her fingers tracing the cracks on Kaper’s terminal screen, her thoughts in turmoil.
Seeing Gu Ning’s gesture, Cook moved his head closer and nudged her.
Gu Ning held Kaper’s terminal out in front of the little pup.
Cook tilted his head, not understanding what she meant. He just licked her cold hand.
Seeing this, Gu Ning lowered her hand.
She had been wearing Kaper’s terminal this whole time, but Cook had never shown any particular reaction to it.
’In his current state,’ she thought, ’Cook probably doesn’t truly understand that his brother is dead and never coming back.’
"I know you want him to go with Alex’s Wolf Pack." Vine watched her interact with Cook for a moment before speaking. "But once you enter Zone 5, every wolf and dog will be dragged into the conflict. Alex is the biggest target."
He watched Gu Ning’s face, his gaze persuasive. "Leaving Cook in my care for the time being is the best solution."