Chapter 351 - 313: There Are Enough Annoying People Around Her
Chapter 351: Chapter 313: There Are Enough Annoying People Around Her
After Barto sat down, the train began to move slowly.
As the train pulled out of the station and sped forward, the last of Gu Ning’s worries and anxieties were left behind.
The scenery flew past the window as Gu Ning, her eyes full of wonder, took pictures with her camera.
"Want to take a picture of me?" Alex asked, his arm wrapped around her. "I don’t think we’ve taken a photo together yet."
Gu Ning smiled and whispered in reply, "Okay."
She turned the camera around, aiming the lens at herself and Alex.
Alex rested his chin on her shoulder, his cheek pressing against hers.
A little bashful, Gu Ning pressed the shutter. After snapping a few shots, she looked down to check the photos.
In the photos, Alex’s face was handsome and his expression was gentle. As for her... she was too bundled up. Forget her expression, you couldn’t even see what her face looked like.
"One more," Alex said, taking off Gu Ning’s glasses. The instant she looked up in surprise, he kissed her lips through her mask.
Gu Ning’s eyes widened slightly. While she was still in a daze, he took her camera and pressed the shutter.
"Okay, okay, no more pictures," Gu Ning said, her face flushing crimson as she frantically pointed the camera somewhere else.
Alex’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes filled with gentle affection as he watched Gu Ning.
Leighton and Barto sat with their arms crossed, staring at the pair with stern faces.
"Tsk," Leighton sighed. "I really feel like cuffing someone."
"Talk is cheap," Barto said, closing his eyes. Out of sight, out of mind.
Leighton said, "Sooner or later, I’m cuffing all of you. Don’t forget, you’ve all got priors with me."
Barto snorted. "You’re not a cop in Zone 19 anymore."
At that, Barto thought of something. He opened his eyes and turned his head. "You’re not going to be a cop in Zone 5, are you?"
Just as Leighton was about to answer, CLICK! Gu Ning turned and snapped a photo of the grumbling little fox and the big ram.
Leighton sat up a little straighter, adjusted his collar, and put on a more serious expression.
Gu Ning pressed her lips together and took another photo of him.
Leighton held out his hands toward her, beaming. "We haven’t taken a photo together either. Come on, let’s get one."
Gu Ning turned away.
’I really don’t want a picture with a cop...’
Leighton sighed. He felt a bit stung by Gu Ning’s wariness and distance, and couldn’t help but complain to Alex. "I mean, look at you. Why the hell did you bring her to a place like Zone 19? And if you had to bring her, you could’ve at least protected her properly. Letting her hang out with a Mixed Breed is one thing, but to let her land in the police station?"
Gu Ning, Alex, and Barto all turned to look at him, their expressions a mix of emotions.
Barto shot back, "What’s that supposed to mean? What’s it to you if she hangs out with a Mixed Breed?"
Leighton said, "What do you think? In any other zone, a single one of the things you two pulled would be enough to land you in jail for years."
"Especially you," Leighton said, looking at Alex, who was acting like it had nothing to do with him, his eyes practically glued to his little rabbit. "Don’t think you’re in the clear just because you’re going back to Zone 5. You took such a small female down to the Lower District. Even if I don’t cause trouble for you, plenty of other people will."
Gu Ning and Alex exchanged a look, sharing a silent understanding and saying nothing.
’I’m not a female from the Upper District at all. I haven’t told anyone but Barto, but he did say that there are females outside the Beast Alliance Continent. There are other groups out there.’
’Someone as smart as Alex has probably guessed that I’m an outsider, a female from another world.’
’Leighton’s words made me realize that even if I were a female from the Upper District, just being in the Lower District would cause a lot of trouble for Alex. It would be even worse for him if people knew I was a shunned "outsider."’
’So, until I can get my bearings in Zone 5, it’s better to be mistaken for a female from the Upper District than to let anyone know I’m from the outside.’
’That’s probably why Alex isn’t explaining anything either.’
"If he can’t even handle this little bit of trouble, does he deserve to be by Xiao Ning’s side?" Barto said.
Leighton said, "You’re not getting what I’m trying to say..."
"I don’t care what you’re trying to say. Keep your schemes to yourself," Barto said. "This is our business. You don’t need to stick your nose in it."
’She has enough annoying people around her already. She doesn’t need one more.’
Leighton looked at the little fox, then at the other two, and let out an exasperated laugh.
’So I’m the one sitting in the middle, getting in the way of their happy little family, is that it?’
"Well then, I’m making it my business," Leighton said, crossing his arms and facing the little fox. "You’d better watch yourself. Don’t think that just because you’re out of Zone 19..."
"Officer Leighton," Gu Ning cut in, afraid he and Barto were about to start arguing right there. She was also worried Leighton’s words would provoke Barto, who had only just started to calm down.
"What, are you going to tell me to mind my own business too?" Leighton retorted. "I’m still a cop even after leaving Zone 19. I won’t let a single lawbreaker off the hook."
Gu Ning changed the subject. "Are you by yourself? Where are Mingxi and the others?"
Leighton replied, "Mingxi? He said he’s too ashamed to face you. He’s in another car with the other little lions."
Gu Ning was speechless. Unpleasant memories flooded her mind. She scratched her cheek and kept her mouth shut, hoping to prevent Leighton from saying anything that would make things even more awkward.
Just then, Alex spoke up. "Officer Leighton, no one here is breaking the law. But once you get to Zone 5, you won’t have the spare time to meddle in other people’s affairs. You’ll have plenty of work waiting for you."
Barto said, "So you really are going to be a cop in Zone 5. I have no idea what’s going on in that head of yours."
’In a place like Zone 5, it would be better to join the Security Department than the police force.’
Gu Ning was also surprised to hear this. She lowered her voice and asked Leighton, "Officer Leighton, did Admiral Andrew arrange for you to go to Zone 5?"
Leighton raised an eyebrow. "Who told you that?"
Barto rolled his eyes. "Isn’t it obvious? We’re not idiots."
Leighton smiled. "Not exactly his arrangement. My superior told me I got a promotion, and it just so happened the Military Department had a contingent heading to Zone 5, so I’m just tagging along."
"A promotion to Zone 5?" Barto shot him a sympathetic look. "Did you piss off your superior?"
"Probably," Leighton said, turning his head to look at Gu Ning. "In my line of work, you make a lot of enemies. But I worked my tail off as a Beast Police officer in Zone 19 for ten years. I earned this promotion."
Gu Ning gave him a thumbs-up. "Good luck."
’Even though I have my reservations about Leighton, I know he’s a good officer.’
’I’ve started to get a picture of what Zone 5 is like. I heard the Wolf Pack struggles there are intense, the police department is basically for show, and it’s almost impossible to get any work done. Leighton must know this better than I do. It’s not going to be as easy as being a cop in Zone 19, a place he was at least familiar with. He’s really choosing to face the challenge head-on.’
After taking photos for a little while longer, Gu Ning couldn’t fight off her drowsiness and fell asleep in Alex’s arms.
The train sped smoothly across a snow-covered wasteland.
Inside the car, the low hum of Beastmen conversing mingled with the occasional sounds of videos and music, punctuated by bouts of shouting and cursing.
She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep, but in her drowsy state, Gu Ning heard loud snoring.
She cracked open her eyes and followed the sound. The source of the snores was the officer sitting right beside her.
"..."
"Awake?" Alex’s voice came from above her. "Are you hungry? Want something to eat?"
He took a thermos from his bag, unscrewed the lid, and held it to Gu Ning’s lips.
Gu Ning cupped the thermos and took a couple of sips before getting off his lap.
She needed to use the restroom.
"Need the restroom?"
The moment Alex spoke, Barto’s eyes snapped open. He stood up from his seat and offered a hand to Gu Ning. "Come on, I’ll take you to the restroom."
As he spoke, he slapped the thunderously snoring big ram.
Leighton’s body twitched. He rubbed his face and blearily opened his eyes. "What’s wrong?"
Gu Ning silently stepped over his long legs, which were blocking the way, took Barto’s hand, and followed him toward the restroom.
Leighton pulled in his legs, stood up, and stretched. "Going to the restroom? I’ll go too."
Not long after they got up and left, two figures from the same car ducked their heads and followed.
The aisle was packed with Beastmen. Barto practically had to shield Gu Ning as they moved forward. Leighton followed behind, pushing through the crowd. "Make way, make way... Don’t sleep in the aisle! Isn’t there plenty of room over there? Watch out, or you’ll get stepped on."