Chapter 381 - 343: As Long as I’m Here, I Can Protect You
Chapter 381: Chapter 343: As Long as I’m Here, I Can Protect You
Gu Ning took off her terminal and handed it to Meira.
Menela took both her terminal and Gu Ning’s and tinkered with them for a moment. Then, she sat down beside her and put the terminal back on for her. "I’ve already transferred the wristband’s operating system to your terminal. Here, give it a try."
Following Meira’s instructions, Gu Ning opened the operating system and selected "Activate" from the options.
The wristband trembled slightly. Then, the Silver Armor integrated within it flowed out like liquid, gradually covering her palm before spreading up her arm.
Gu Ning was a little traumatized by this layer of Silver Armor. The cool sensation made her slightly uncomfortable, and she moved to turn the wristband off.
"Don’t move."
Menela’s voice was soft, but it was a clear command. She grasped Gu Ning’s wrist. The pressure was neither light nor heavy, but it carried the imposing weight of a superior, and Gu Ning instantly froze.
"You’ve currently activated sleep mode. The Silver Armor will cover the nearest patch of your skin," Menela said. "Because this Silver Armor is incomplete—less than a fifth of the whole—it will flow freely across your body in sleep mode. This ensures it’s always ready for you to operate."
As she spoke, the layer of Silver Armor had already flowed up to Gu Ning’s upper arm and shoulder.
Menela took Gu Ning’s left index finger and pressed it onto the wristband, guiding her hand as she taught her how to use it. "This is how you control its flow..."
"This is defense mode. It can predict an opponent’s attack and defend against it."
After speaking, Menela flipped her wrist, and a short dagger appeared in her hand. She thrust it toward Gu Ning’s chest. The Silver Armor, which had been on Gu Ning’s arm, instantly moved to her chest.
Before Gu Ning could react, there was a soft "CLINK!" as the tip of the dagger was blocked by the Silver Armor.
"See?" Marshal Mei tugged at her collar and poked her again with the dagger. "Isn’t it great?"
Gu Ning grabbed Menela’s wrist and leaned back to dodge the blade.
Menela tossed the dagger in her hand. "What, scared of this?"
Gu Ning: "...It hurts a little." It felt like a needle pricking her skin—a sharp, stinging pain.
Menela paused. "I almost forgot. This thing bonds very closely with the skin. It can stop a bullet, but it can’t nullify the pain from the impact. Those perverts who made it intentionally left that feature in."
Gu Ning rubbed her chest. ’The technology in this world is so hard to figure out,’ she thought. ’Some places don’t even have hot water or internet, yet the weapons are bizarrely powerful. It seems their tech tree developed differently from my old world.’
"I was holding back. I didn’t actually stab you." Seeing the little one clutching her chest defensively, Marshal Mei twirled the dagger in her hand and deftly sheathed it at her waist. "Does it still hurt? Let me see."
Gu Ning waved her hands frantically.
Marshal Mei pushed her hands down and straightened her collar. "Do you know how to fight?"
Gu Ning thought for a moment, then nodded.
Marshal Mei: "Know how to use weapons?"
Gu Ning thought again, then nodded.
’I can use a pistol, so that counts as knowing how to use a weapon, right? As for things like knives and clubs, you just pick them up and go for it.’
Seeing her nod again and again, Menela looked her up and down, squeezing her shoulder and arm. "You still need to practice," she said.
’This small frame doesn’t look like it belongs to a fighter,’ she thought. ’But if she says she can, I’ll take her word for it. It wouldn’t be right to discourage her while she’s sick. I’ll figure out what’s suitable to teach her later.’
"Meira," Gu Ning asked, "Are they... your enemies?"
Menela: "Who are you talking about?"
Gu Ning pointed at the Silver Armor that had returned to her wrist.
Menela said, "Yes and no."
Gu Ning looked at her, confused.
Menela chose her words carefully. "The Beastmen from Sky Watch Point originally shared a common origin with us. It’s just that many things have happened in recent years that caused a split. Currently, Sky Watch Point and the Beast Alliance maintain a state of mutual non-interference, leaving each other in peace."
After saying this, she watched Gu Ning’s expression.
’Mother said there’s an eighty percent chance the little one is a female from Sky Watch Point’s side, which is basically an acknowledgment of her Heavenly Beast Clan identity. Later on, regardless of whether she’s from the Heavenly Beast Clan or not, one thing we can be one hundred percent certain of is that she is definitely not a Beast Alliance female. Based on that, my job is to help the little one put down roots here.’
’The little one is probably worried about something, asking a question like that.’
"They..." Gu Ning took out a pen and paper and wrote: *Do they capture other females too?*
She trusted Teacher Windsor, and she also trusted this female who wanted to be her mother, so she wanted to learn more about matters concerning females from Meira.
"Sky Watch Point has even fewer females than the Beast Alliance," Menela said. "You were running around in the wild, so they thought you were a feral Beast Female. Naturally, they wanted to take you back with them."
"A feral Beast Female?" Hearing this term, Gu Ning pursed her lips and wrote: *Are there feral females here?*
"Of course there are." Menela caught the little one’s small expression of relief and was secretly amused. She continued to lead her on. "Although we established the Beast Alliance, there are still many clans that are unwilling to join, and quite a few that don’t even speak our language. But since you’ve already entered the Beast Alliance’s territory and even hold a position in the Military Department, you’re considered one of ours now."
"I imagine those males around you have probably told you all this."
Gu Ning nodded. Barto had told her, but hearing it from Meira’s lips made her feel more at ease.
"Since you’re a feral Beast Female, I won’t press you about your origins. Feral Beastmen generally don’t have personal information on record," Menela said. "But there are some things you need to be clear about."
As she got to the main point, Menela’s expression and tone turned much more serious, as if she were in an important meeting.
Gu Ning couldn’t help but sit up straighter, perking up her ears to listen.
"I can see you want to live here in the Beast Alliance, right?" Menela asked.
Gu Ning nodded firmly.
After confirming this, Menela continued, "Then from now on, you’re one of the Beast Alliance’s people. But there’s a prerequisite: your identity needs to be officially established."
"Beastmen born here in the Beast Alliance, whether male or female, all have birth certificates. Everything is recorded in their personal information, from small details like their genes being entered into the gene bank, to larger ones like their clan affiliation, the schools they attended, every exam they’ve ever taken, their hospital visit records, travel history, and so on. For females, the records are even more detailed."
Gu Ning’s hands, resting on her knees, slowly tightened.
Menela: "Just having a nominal position in the Military Department and getting someone to create a fake personal profile for you won’t be much help. There are all sorts of conflicts and divisions between the various Beastman clans, large and small. These males are naturally dominated by their genes. They are inherently combative, love to mark territory, and will fight to curry favor with females. The moment their blood runs hot, their humanity is overwhelmed by their bestial nature. As an outsider, if you don’t have the protection of an official identity or the ability to defend yourself, you’ll become nothing more than a piece of meat for them to fight over. Understand?"
Gu Ning clenched her fists. "I understand."
She had understood since the very first day she transmigrated here.
"But don’t worry too much. I just wanted you to understand the situation." Seeing the little one with her head down, looking tense, Menela softened her tone. "As long as I’m here, I can protect you."
Gu Ning looked up at Meira.
Menela said, "You don’t call me ’mother,’ but I already consider you my daughter."