Chapter 384 - 346: Pre-selected Mate
Chapter 384: Chapter 346: Pre-selected Mate
On the way here, she had heard a great deal about Zone 5, learning a lot both online and offline. To get into Zone 5, she currently had three options:
First, she could continue using Kaper’s identity and disguise herself as a Mixed Breed.
Considering the situation in Zone 5, the Mixed Breed plan was the worst possible choice, so she dismissed it immediately.
Second, she could use her identity as a journalist, take the special permit Captain Meira had given her, and bring Barto and the others into Zone 5 without any obstacles.
However, the situation in Zone 5 was unique. Plus, their team had long been targeted by Beastmen with ill intentions. Whether they could truly enter unhindered was something she still needed to discuss with Alex and the others.
She set the second option aside for now.
As for the third option, that was to enter Zone 5 directly with the identity of a female. Captain Meira had helped her update her personal information, likely using some special authority to forge a completely new identity for her.
Now, her personal information no longer listed her as a Wolf Clan Mixed Breed, but as a female of the Bird Clan.
Thinking of this, Gu Ning opened her personal information to look at it again.
The page popped up. Her previously sparse information profile, which could be taken in at a glance, had now become dense and complex.
Her name and age hadn’t changed, and her Mutant Value was gone, but a lot of specific information had been added.
From her birthplace and guardian to the schools she attended growing up, her academic transcripts, travel history, and hospital visit records—it was even more detailed than Kaper’s personal information file that she had seen.
Gu Ning skimmed past the life records that were unfamiliar and irrelevant to her, her gaze stopping on the "Family" section.
She was now an adult female with her own household registration. The registered address was in Zone 9, which meant she had a house in Zone 9.
Fortunately, it was easier for females to buy houses than males, with fewer restrictions. Even if she already owned a house, she could buy another, and relocating to a different zone only required submitting an application.
Right now, the Family section listed her name as the head of the household, along with a few other familiar names. The first one was Kaper.
Next to Kaper’s name was a black-and-white portrait. The male Beastman in the photo was exceptionally handsome, with neat, short hair. A scar ran diagonally across his right cheek to the bridge of his proud nose. It wasn’t ugly; in fact, it made him seem more approachable. Paired with the slight curl of his lips, he looked a bit rebellious, but his eyes were steady, softening his smile into something gentle. He looked like the cheerful, witty, and generous boy next door.
Gu Ning couldn’t help but recall her first meeting with Cook. They were probably brothers; there was a slight resemblance in their expressions.
Gu Ning’s eyes shifted, and she saw the note next to Kaper’s name: Spouse, and—
Deceased.
It was as if that single word drained the color and warmth from the Beastman’s smile in the photo.
Gu Ning’s fingertips paused for a moment before she scrolled down. The second name was Cook, noted as "Spouse’s Surviving Kin."
’Looks like Admiral Andrew has already arranged everything. Captain Meira probably knows him and got some of my information from him. Andrew must have helped out; otherwise, the personal information Captain Meira updated for me wouldn’t include Kaper and the others’ names. Meira is only a captain, with less authority than Andrew. On this matter, Andrew must have put in a lot of effort.’
Gu Ning continued scrolling down and saw Barto’s and Alex’s names next.
Barto’s new name was Gu Li. His profile picture was the one she had taken for him back in Zone 19. He looked handsome, beautiful, and proud.
Gu Ning thought of how Barto had posed for the photo and the corners of her mouth curled up.
’Smug little fox.’
She looked at the note next to the little fox Gu Li’s name: Prospective Spouse.
’Prospective... spouse? What does that mean?’
’When I submitted the application for the little fox, I never said he was my spouse.’
It wasn’t just him; "Prospective Spouse" was also written next to Alex’s name.
Puzzled, Gu Ning tapped on "Prospective Spouse" next to Gu Li’s name. An information window popped up. It noted, "Spouse application not submitted." Below that were three options: "Accept Spouse Application," "Make Official Family Member," and "Remove from Household."
Because he hadn’t submitted a spouse application, the "Accept" option was unselectable.
The other two options were available.
’I thought the application I submitted to Admiral Andrew would be approved directly. Do I still need to do something? Is it because my personal information used to list me as a Mixed Breed?’
Gu Ning considered it. It had only been a month or two since she submitted the application to Admiral Andrew. Household registration matters were troublesome and complex, likely requiring numerous reviews. Plus, they had to help her, Barto, and the others avoid having their identities exposed. It was normal for it to take some time.
With that thought, Gu Ning didn’t hesitate and chose to make Gu Li an official family member.
After she selected the option, Gu Li’s information entered a review phase.
Gu Ning scrolled up and opened Cook’s information. His didn’t require any further action. Perhaps because Kaper had been one of Andrew’s subordinates, the process was simpler. Plus, since he was already... deceased, the procedure wasn’t as complicated as for a living person. As a result, Cook, who had been under his household, was automatically transferred to hers, becoming her family member.
Just as the Wolf Team and Admiral Andrew had said, she had inherited everything of Kaper’s, including Cook.
In Cook’s information section, there was also an option to remove him from her household. However, the wording was gentler than for Barto’s options, advising her to contact the Military Department if she wanted to remove Cook, and they would help her handle the matter.
Kaper’s status was protecting Cook.
Gu Ning felt a sense of relief. ’No matter what, this world’s treatment of Mixed Breeds isn’t entirely terrible,’ she thought. ’There’s still a compassionate side to it.’
After closing Cook’s information page, Gu Ning opened Alex’s. It was almost identical to Barto’s. Because he hadn’t submitted a spouse application, Alex was also in the "Prospective Spouse" stage.
Gu Ning looked at the three options. ’Is there a big difference between a spouse and a family member? If I accept his spouse application, won’t he become my family member anyway?’
’Or, I could just directly approve Alex as a family member.’
Gu Ning’s finger paused over the "family member" option. She thought for a few seconds, then curled her finger back.
’Perhaps the review process and subsequent household registration issues are different for the two options. I’d better ask Alex about it later.’
After mulling over the three plans, Gu Ning went back to handling her work on Paw-Press.
From now on, her work for Paw-Press and her job as a journalist would likely be inseparable. She needed to start planning to show her face.
Gu Ning entered the Paw-Press backend, intending to contact Idelos. But the moment she did, her terminal acted as if the system had crashed. It was spammed with pop-ups, making it almost impossible to use.
Gu Ning blinked, her eyes dazzled by the flashing screens, and sat up in her sickbed to see what was going on.
After ten or so seconds, the pop-ups slowed down, and Gu Ning could finally see whose windows they were.
They were chat windows from Reya, the Paw-Press customer service representative.
The message in each pop-up was different. Some she could understand, while others were like garbled code that couldn’t be translated. But they had all been sent several days ago.
Reya:
[Mr. Gu Demiao Ning, are you all right?]
[Mr. Gu Demiao Ning, do you require assistance?]
[...female...*f%&...help?]
[.....detecting*^i&c...contact lost...]
[*&.n#-.....urgent.....]
[Urgent! Urgent! Urgent!]
[Initiating...#&*l...plan...#’;^——rescue...]