Chapter 363 - 325: I Would Have Fled With Her Long Ago
Chapter 363: Chapter 325: I Would Have Fled With Her Long Ago
"There’s no price the Military Department and the Beast Alliance can’t afford. Are you too scared to take the job, or do you just not want to?"
Philinos said.
’If this Leopard refuses the job, it’s an admission he’s after Gu Ning and wants to demand an even higher price.’
’But if he accepts, then his business with Gu Ning is settled.’
’Otherwise, even if he were to let this Leopard go, the Admiral wouldn’t let him off the hook.’
’This guy has been targeting Gu Ning ever since Zone 19.’
He recalled overhearing a communication between Admiral Andrew and the Beast Alliance’s Investigation Department. The Admiral had mentioned that the department hired a mercenary to deal with a group of reckless young lions, which was how they finally got them under control.
’And if he was guessing correctly, that mercenary was the very Leopard standing before him now.’
Mercenaries were different from the regular soldiers of the Military Department. They often operated in gray areas, and just about anything they did could potentially violate the laws of the Beast Alliance.
A look of annoyance flashed in Wanai’s eyes as he listened to Philinos.
"I pick my own jobs," Wanai said. "You don’t have the right to order me around. Got it?"
"So that’s a no, then," Philinos stated.
"You’re too clever for your own good," Wanai said, recognizing Philinos’s attempts to probe him. "Sometimes, showing off how smart you are is just asking to get yourself killed."
Philinos said no more to the Leopard. He stayed by Gu Ning’s side, constantly monitoring her temperature. After filling a bucket with snow and setting it beside her, he began changing her snow packs every twenty minutes.
Wanai leaned against a dim corner of the shipping container, practically invisible.
As the sky darkened, Gu Ning’s temperature finally began to drop.
But before Philinos could even breathe a sigh of relief, Gu Ning’s fever returned half an hour later. Her breathing grew shallow, and her coughing worsened.
Listening to the young female’s coughs, Philinos clenched the wet snow pack in his hand. He couldn’t hesitate any longer; he refused to wait.
He got up and left the shipping container.
He returned ten minutes later, a chill clinging to him. Under Wanai’s scrutinizing gaze, he picked up Gu Ning’s dried clothes and began to change her.
The movement roused Gu Ning slightly. She groggily opened her eyes. "Bird Team..."
Philinos blocked the occasional glance from behind him as he pulled the top over Gu Ning’s head. "I’m taking you to a hospital."
Gu Ning looked down at her undershirt, which was on backward. "...Bird Team, I can dress myself."
"...Alright."
Philinos’s expression remained neutral, but his ears burned slightly. He pushed the rest of the clothes into her arms, then stood up, shielding her from view like a solid wall.
Coughing, Gu Ning changed her clothes. She felt incredibly weak. Once dressed, she used the wall to pull herself to her feet and glanced around. "Alex and the others... are they here?"
Philinos turned back to her. "We can’t wait for them. We’re going to the hospital now."
His words sounded hazy to Gu Ning. She wanted to ask more, but as soon as she opened her mouth, an intense tickle in her throat sent her into a fit of violent coughing.
Philinos had no time for anything else. He snatched the old blanket from the floor, wrapped it around her, and scooped her into one arm, his other hand gripping a knife.
’Both Gu Ning’s condition and the situation outside were worse than he had imagined.’
He had just picked up the knife when Wanai strode out of the darkness. "Give her to me."
Philinos’s eyes glinted. He turned, his face cold as he stared at the mercenary.
Wanai said, "Being too clever makes you do stupid things. They’re after you, not me. Who do you think is better suited to lead them away?"
"You know damn well why your team didn’t arrive on schedule. It’s not just the Heavenly Beast Clan holding them up," Wanai sneered. "The Military Department doesn’t dare let her be seen. They’re so cautious, so scared of everything. Aren’t they just afraid that exposing her would tarnish your reputation and pull you down from your high horse?"
"What would you know?" Philinos had no desire to argue. Cradling Gu Ning, he strode toward the door.
Wanai blocked the doorway. "Either hand her over, or go out by yourself. Don’t drag her and me down with you."
Philinos shot back coldly, "With that little courage, you might as well go dig a hole and hide in it like a rat."
Wanai scoffed. "If she hadn’t insisted on saving you, I would’ve taken her and run long ago. Do you think she’d still be here suffering with you?"
Philinos’s gaze lifted. He drew his knife and pressed it to Wanai’s throat. "Then you’re closer to death than you think."
Wanai raised his gun, pressing the muzzle against Philinos’s chest. "Don’t flatter yourself."
A murderous tension filled the small shipping container. Philinos slowly applied more pressure with his wrist, while Wanai’s finger tightened on the trigger—
Gu Ning’s hand closed over the muzzle of the gun.
"Don’t fight... COUGH, COUGH!" She couldn’t understand the words they were exchanging, but she could tell Wanai was trying to stop them from leaving.
Gu Ning looked at the grim-faced Leopard before her. "Wanai," she said, "Can you... help us?"
’I can’t let them fight, not now. Philinos is still hurt. He’ll be at a disadvantage.’
’Philinos had said they were waiting for Alex’s team, but they were nowhere in sight. She worried that his concern for her was making him reckless, that he might just charge out there no matter the cost.’
The moment he heard her speak his name, Wanai lowered his gun.
"Wait here."
He gave Gu Ning a long, deep look. Before she could say another word, he went back to the fire, extinguished it, and began efficiently packing his things.
Philinos watched his movements discreetly. When Wanai was nearly finished packing, he averted his gaze to the young woman in his arms and surreptitiously slipped his terminal into her pocket.
"COUGH, COUGH... Bird Team, is it safe outside now?" Gu Ning asked, a hint of anxiety in her voice.
"It’s safe. Don’t worry," Philinos said, his tone earnest as he gently patted her back.
"Once you’re out, head straight south," Wanai said, walking over and grabbing the handle of the metal door. He looked at Philinos. "Stay off the roads and railways. Avoid any buildings you see; they have people waiting to ambush you there. In fifty kilometers, there’s a train transfer station. It has a medical clinic."
Philinos listened intently. "Thanks."
Seeing his attitude change so abruptly, Wanai felt a flicker of suspicion. "I’m not doing this for free," he said. "I’ll be coming to collect my payment."
Philinos replied, "If you’ve got the guts, go ask the Military Department. Use my name. You’ll get every cent you’re owed."
Wanai paused for a second, then pulled the metal door open.
A blast of cold wind rushed in, and Gu Ning instinctively pulled her head into her shoulders.
Philinos set her down and adjusted her clothes. "It’s cold out. You can’t be in the wind."
Gu Ning pulled her hands into the long sleeves of the old coat and clasped them together. "It’s fine, I’m not cold."
"Move it," Wanai urged with a frown, seeing them still standing there talking.
Philinos glanced at him. Wanai froze, a sudden understanding dawning on him.
’This bird...’
’...is just too damn clever.’
"Alex and his team are waiting for us. We’ll see them soon." Philinos’s hand hovered over Gu Ning’s hair, as if wanting to pat her head, but it settled on her shoulder instead. He carefully tucked the blanket around her, making sure she was completely covered.
Gu Ning swayed on her feet in the snow, her head swimming as she nodded. ’As long as those two can get along for now,’ she thought, ’it’s one more layer of security for us all.’
Wanai, now in his beast form, trotted up to them with a backpack clenched in his teeth.
Philinos said to him, "Remember, the Military Department and the Beast Alliance are both watching you. Go where you need to go."
The Leopard bared its fangs, then dropped the backpack and lay down on the ground.
Philinos picked up the backpack and helped Gu Ning put it on. He then lifted her onto the Leopard’s back. Taking out a long rope he had found nearby, he tied her to the Leopard with a quick-release knot to keep her from falling off if she lost her grip.
"Alright, let’s go."
Philinos tugged on the rope, checking that it was secure, before hopping onto Wanai’s back himself, wrapping his arms around Gu Ning.
Gu Ning felt a wave of relief wash over her when she realized he had climbed on as well.
Wanai glanced back at the two riders on his back, then bolted forward.
After they had covered several hundred meters, Gu Ning suddenly felt the warmth behind her vanish. She twisted around to find nothing but empty space.