Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Did Kloer Discover Something?

Kloer’s hand stopped just as it was about to touch the little Mixed Breed’s mask.

He thought for a moment, then took a picture of him and sent it to Alex:

[Boss, have you seen what he looks like?]

Alex, who was inspecting the defense systems, saw Kloer’s message, opened it, and quickly typed a reply:

[If you want to get along with him normally before we go back to Zone 5, don’t be curious about his appearance.]

Kloer, upon receiving the message: ?

’What does he mean by get along normally?’

[Is he really ugly?] he asked Alex.

[Worse than that,] Alex replied.

Seeing Alex’s reply, Kloer thought, ’It can’t be that bad, can it? Could he be uglier than a Mutant Species?’

The guy didn’t seem to have much mental degradation, so his appearance should be more humanoid.

He was a Dwarf hybrid, not some atavistic Mixed Breed.

Besides, even atavistic Mixed Breeds weren’t necessarily terrifyingly ugly; they just looked more bestial.

A Beastman doesn’t discriminate against another Beastman; that’s what he had been taught since he was a child.

But it depended on the situation. If the other Beastman was polite, he’d be polite back. If they were looking for a scolding or a beating, then he wouldn’t be so courteous.

He looked at the little Mixed Breed, curled up asleep like a kitten, and asked again: [Boss, what clan is he from, anyway?]

He could smell several different scents on the little Mixed Breed. Although his personal file said Dog Clan, he didn’t act much like one.

Zone 19 was the most chaotic region. Many Beastmen disguised their identities, and he knew there were things that could mask one’s scent.

The little Mixed Breed had probably disguised himself too.

Alex’s message arrived: [Don’t be curious. Take my advice.]

This only made Kloer more curious.

’If Alex is saying that, it must mean the little Mixed Breed isn’t from the Dog Clan.’

He can’t see his face, he can’t know his clan... why all the mystery...

Could it be...

Kloer had a sudden flash of inspiration! He sent a message to Alex: [Could he be the illegitimate offspring of some clan leader, abandoned out here? And you were sent to protect him?]

Alex: "..."

[Lay off the TV dramas.]

Beastmen didn’t even have a concept of "illegitimate." That was a term made up by all those ridiculous TV shows.

At first, Kloer had just been curious about his appearance, but now he felt there was something unusual about this little Mixed Breed.

Ever since he’d met the little Mixed Breed, the guy had been stable, intelligent, and mild-tempered. He even knew how to disguise himself. Even if his guess was wrong, the guy probably had an extraordinary background.

Kloer stared at the little Mixed Breed’s black mask, his fingers itching. He really wanted to pull it off and see.

He rubbed his hands together and reached out a few times, but then he remembered Alex’s advice and stopped himself.

The guy had a good personality, but he was still very vigilant. If Kloer woke him up, he might lash out and attack.

He probably didn’t like people seeing his face either. Otherwise, he wouldn’t wear a mask and goggles every day, not even taking them off in the office.

Kloer felt he should respect the little Mixed Breed. He couldn’t just pry into his privacy because he was a Mixed Breed.

Mixed Breeds were easily stressed out. It was best not to ruin the peaceful atmosphere they had established.

With that thought, Kloer suppressed his curiosity, stood up, and went back to the sofa area.

*

In the afternoon, Gu Ning went up the high wall.

She was hanging on the outer wall, concentrating on her work, when Kloer slid over to her side and handed her a bottle of water.

Gu Ning took the water and put it in the satchel at her waist. She tried not to drink much water on the wall to avoid having to run to the restroom.

Kloer then handed her a dried fish, flashing her a smile.

Gu Ning: "...?"

’Is it my imagination? Why does Kloer’s smile seem a little... fawning?’

’And why is he handing me a dried fish?’

Kloer said, "Don’t you like it?"

Gu Ning took the dried fish and silently stuffed it into her satchel.

Whether she liked it or not, she wasn’t hungry right now, but she accepted Kloer’s strange gesture of goodwill anyway.

Seeing her take the fish, Kloer pulled out another one and offered it to her. "I’m from the Bear Clan."

With that, he took off his work helmet.

Gu Ning was puzzled by his action when a pair of round, brown beast ears popped up on top of his head.

’...’ What was he trying to say?

Kloer tipped his chin at her. "A friendly Beastman greeting. I tell you my clan, you tell me yours."

Kloer was still very curious about his identity.

Gu Ning looked at the dried fish in his hand, then at his proactive, friendly, and somewhat goofy smile.

’Why is he suddenly asking about my clan? I’m using Cook’s identity, which is on record every time I clock in for work. There’s no way Kloer doesn’t know, right?’

At that thought, alarm bells immediately went off in Gu Ning’s head.

’Has Kloer discovered something?’

She then remembered seeing Kloer watching the video she had posted as a female at noon...

’Showing my face really is a risk. He’s picked up on something even though I was wearing a mask.’

’No, I have to stay as far away from Kloer as possible from now on.’ 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Gu Ning turned her face away and pushed her feet against the wall, about to slide off.

"You’re not from the Dog Clan, are you?" Kloer tapped her wrist with the dried fish. "I’ve smelled the scent of the Cat Clan on you for two days straight, and the Tiger Clan’s too. Are you from the Tiger Clan?"

’No way. How could a member of the Tiger Clan be as cautious as him?’

Kloer still thought he was more like a cat.

Gu Ning paused. ’Is that the reason?’

After a moment’s thought, she took the dried fish he offered, waved it in front of him, and then stuffed it into her satchel.

Kloer’s eyes lit up. "Cat Clan?" ’Did I actually guess right? No wonder his behavior is so cat-like.’

Gu Ning neither confirmed nor denied it.

Kloer could guess whatever clan he wanted. Right now, she could be from any Beastman clan.

She was just getting by here; her identity was whatever she made it.

"Got a lot of free time?"

Alex’s voice came from the side.

Kloer quickly put his work helmet back on and said with a serious face, "Boss, I was just checking his work."

Gu Ning shot him a glance.

Alex: "Fooling around during work hours, not wearing your helmet—three days’ performance pay deducted."

Kloer: "..."

Gu Ning quickly buried her head in her work, showing she wasn’t slacking off, lest she get dragged down with him.

At six in the evening, Gu Ning got off work and headed home.

She’d gotten off relatively early today; most of the other Beastmen were still working overtime.

But it was getting dark earlier and earlier now, and the sky was already half-dark at this hour.

Gu Ning didn’t linger outside. She wasn’t short on anything, and Barto could get her whatever she needed.

Thinking about the millions in her account, Gu Ning was in a great mood.

She was practically a rich little lady now. With five million, half of which she could withdraw, she should have enough money to buy some better Inhibitors for Cook.

A figure followed Gu Ning, keeping a certain distance.

Kloer saw the little Mixed Breed skipping along, looking to be in a great mood. He raised an eyebrow, filmed a short video of him, and sent it to Alex:

[No idea what’s made him this happy.]

’Could it be that he’s so happy because I catered to his tastes and gave him dried fish today?’

’This little Mixed Breed is pretty easy to please,’ Kloer thought. ’Tomorrow, I’ll bring some more dried fish to get on his good side. Then I’ll be able to find out more about him.’

Kloer himself didn’t know why he was suddenly so curious about a little Mixed Breed. Maybe it was because they’d be spending a lot of time together in the future?

After sending the message to Alex, Kloer looked up.

"?" ’Where did the little Mixed Breed go?’