Chapter 328 - 290: Kapeder Is Your Spouse
Chapter 328: Chapter 290: Kapeder Is Your Spouse
Zone 19, West Defense Wall.
Before the break of dawn, several high-level Beastman administrators walked into the conference building, braving the heavy snow and frigid wind with faces etched in weary numbness.
This was supposed to be their season of rest. But ever since that person took over Zone 19, meetings were held either at the crack of dawn or late at night. The rest of the time, they had to supervise Zone 19’s construction projects and write reports. Forget rest; they’d be grateful just to get a full night’s sleep.
Cyril appeared silently among the group of administrators with their messy bedheads. He stopped in the middle of the hall, brushing the snow from his shoulders and hair before tidying his uniform.
Compared to the haggard and irritable administrators, the neat and alert Cyril stood out from the flock.
A Beastman muttered a couple of curses under his breath. "What’s he putting on an act for? With so much to do every day, he still has the energy to dress like that. Anyone who didn’t know better would think there was a female around."
"He’s the General’s adjutant," another voice said. "Of course he has to look presentable, so he doesn’t bring shame to the General."
"Presentable, my ass," a Beastman scoffed. "I heard someone brought a female to Zone 19."
The voice was deliberately kept low, but the news still caused an uproar in the hall.
"A female? Did you hear that right?"
"Who would dare bring a female to a shithole like Zone 19? Are they insane? It’s explicitly forbidden by the higher-ups."
"A prohibition won’t stop some people’s selfish desires. It’s not like there isn’t precedent."
"But this is Zone 19, the lowest of the Lower Districts. I’ve never heard of such a thing."
If the First and Second Military Zones hadn’t put in a massive effort to clear out the Mutant Species several times over the past two years, Zone 19 would have fallen and become a nest for them.
Given the environment, the Beastmen were skeptical about the news. However, everyone attending the meeting held a high-ranking position. For someone to dare bring it up here meant the story had at least a fifty percent chance of being true.
Besides, the Military Department must have known about it. Otherwise, how would the rumor have spread?
Although Andrew’s management was strict, the Military Department wasn’t a monolithic entity. Furthermore, the First and Second Military Zones and Zone 19’s upper management had a long-standing feud, with spies on all sides.
"Where did you get this information?" The Beastmen crowded around, eager to hear more about this female from the one who broke the news.
They wanted both to get some dirt on the Military Department and to meet this female. This was a female in Zone 19! The thought was even more exciting than visiting a female in the Upper Middle District.
Cyril, who had been standing in the middle of the crowd, was instantly isolated.
"I just heard it through the grapevine," the male Beastman who broke the news said, glancing in Cyril’s direction.
Cyril seemed not to notice the subtle, appraising glances directed his way. He continued to adjust his clothes in a slow, deliberate manner, not at all in a hurry to enter the conference room. Instead, he was counting down the time in his head.
At the mention of a female, the listless Beastmen instantly perked up, their eyes shining as they chattered endlessly. They temporarily cast the meeting aside. After all, they’d had more than enough of these meetings—it was just reports, reports, and more reports every day.
They had arrived early anyway, so it didn’t matter if they went in right on time.
Someone secretly brought a female to Zone 19. This was big news. If it got out, the Beastman who brought her would be finished. Even if his household registration was under the female’s name, it would be canceled, and his career would be over.
The person with such means and audacity was definitely no ordinary Beastman.
It might even be *that person*.
As high-level administrators of Zone 19, they were exceptionally sensitive to such matters and thought of Andrew with little hesitation.
At this thought, various expressions crossed their faces, but most prevalent was a sense of gloating and the malicious glee of having a fatal piece of leverage against a certain lion.
"No wonder he’s putting so much effort into construction this year. It’s like he wants to turn all of Zone 19 upside down."
"And snatching management authority from our hands to give it all to his Military Department. So this is the reason."
"Exactly. I heard there’s something wrong with his genes, that he lost his right to be a female’s spouse long ago."
As they spoke of this, the Beastmen’s voices dropped lower, and their glances became more furtive, as if they were discussing a dangerous secret.
"Is he trying to redevelop Zone 19 to please that female?"
"Hard to say. That female might just be looking for some novelty. This place is crawling with Mutant Species, and the air is thick with mutation viruses. Even if she wanted to come, the Beast Alliance would never allow it."
"That smiling lion probably used some trick to lure her here..."
"..."
"Five-thirty. Online public meeting with Military Department headquarters." Cyril glanced at his wrist, stated this flatly, and then strode toward the conference room, leaving the Beastmen in stunned silence.
’What did that damned cat say?’
’Headquarters? Online? A public meeting?’
The Zone 19 administrators stood frozen for several seconds. Then, in unison, they looked down at their clothes, touched their unwashed faces and messy hair, and bolted for the exit—
That damned Cyril! Why hadn’t he told them in advance it was such an important meeting!
And the Supreme Marshal of the Military Department was notoriously strict about a Beastman’s dress and decorum!
The meeting was in less than ten minutes, and they all lived in the Central District!
Cyril entered the conference room with a light step. It was empty, but the light in the inner office was on.
He walked up and knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Cyril pushed the door open and spoke to the Beastman standing in front of a potted plant that had been plucked nearly bald. "General, it’s almost time for the online meeting."
Andrew raised a hand to silence him, then tapped his terminal. "My little reporter is calling."
Cyril’s expression faltered for a moment before he smiled. "Calling you so early in the morning, she must have something important to discuss."
"Nothing important. She said she just wanted to say hello," Andrew replied as he accepted the little reporter’s call.
Cyril impassively set down a file he was holding and turned to leave.
Andrew stopped him. "Take out the financial report for the Defense Wall that the district chief submitted a few days ago. Put it with the one you prepared. We’ll need them later."
"Yes, sir."
Cyril returned to his desk and began flipping through a thick stack of documents.
"General, good... good morning."
A soft, slightly hoarse voice came from Andrew’s terminal, instantly adding a touch of warmth to the cold office.
"Good morning, little reporter," Andrew replied with a smile. "Is the signal over there clear enough to hear me?"
"Mhm." Gu Ning glanced at the little golden retriever who kept staring at her, then scooted closer to the car door and lowered her voice. "Go ahead, I’m listening."
Andrew said, "Have you made up your mind? About transferring Kaper’s household registration to your name."
Cyril’s hands paused as he was flipping through the files. He looked up at Andrew in surprise, then quickly lowered his head and continued his work as if nothing had happened.
"I’ve made up my mind," Gu Ning affirmed her decision. "What... procedures are required?"
Andrew was silent for a moment. "To achieve your goal, Kaper must be your spouse," he said. "He sacrificed himself. He can’t be removed from his own household registration as easily as a living person."