Virtual Idol in the Beast World: Five Clans Fight Over Me

Several Beastman figures entered the room, stopping the dogs’ continued brawl.

Seeing the newcomers, the dogs immediately backed down, obediently retreating to the side and standing in line.

The two canids tearing at each other were also separated by another, slightly larger gray wolf.

Suddenly, the room was packed to the brim with three massive canids.

The gray wolf growled low, breaking up the fight. The large dog whimpered reluctantly a couple of times and retreated into the hallway.

Seth quickly calmed down. He licked his bloody mouth, walked over to Gu Ning, and gently nudged the stunned girl with his enormous wolf head.

Gu Ning hadn’t been scared by the Dog Clan members or Leo’s gun, but Seth’s transformation into a giant wolf had given her a serious fright.

’Did Seth turn into... turn into a Mutant Species?’

’But this doesn’t look like a Mutant Species.’

Ignoring the wolf’s enormous size, its form was sleek, its silver-gray fur was glossy and smooth, and its eyes were bright and full of spirit. It was a beautiful little... giant wolf.

Seth tried to comfort her, sticking out his tongue to give Gu Ning a lick, but Kloer blocked him, hoisting Gu Ning up from the sofa. "Little Gu Ning, did you get hit?"

Gu Ning shook her head repeatedly. Her hand was just still a little numb from the gun’s recoil.

Seth bared his teeth at Kloer and forcefully shoved him aside with his head.

"What are you doing? I’m just checking if Little Gu Ning is hurt." Kloer patted Seth’s head. "Hurry up and change back. Shifting into your full beast form at a critical time like this, you’d better be careful you don’t mutate."

Seth’s tail swished. He stood protectively in front of Gu Ning, not letting anyone near.

’He wasn’t changing back until Alex returned.’

’Never mind that he’d botched the task his boss had given him. With this pack of dogs here looking for trouble, he had to be on guard in case those damn mutts attacked again.’

"That wolf in the cafeteria started it."

"That’s right! He hit us first."

"Look, we still have the wounds on our faces to prove it!"

The Wolf Clan Beastman maintaining order had a cold expression. He whipped out a pair of military handcuffs and, with a sharp *CLICK!*, slapped them on their wrists, ignoring their bullshit completely.

"Captain, Captain, say something!"

Leo was staring at a spot inside the room, still savoring the scent he had caught on the little Mixed Breed just moments before.

’How could a Mixed Breed have... that kind of scent?’

Leo sniffed the air, which was filled with all sorts of odors, but the scent from before was nowhere to be found.

’Was I hallucinating?’

Cyril walked over and cuffed him.

Leo snapped out of it, his gaze shifting to Cyril. "...Why are you always around?"

He had run into him just moments ago. Cyril had seen his men causing trouble in the cafeteria and told him to keep them on a tighter leash.

And now here he was, arresting him.

"Don’t you have anything better to do, Mister Aide-de-camp?"

"I’m not, but you’re making me even busier," Cyril said.

Leo licked his bloodied lip and raised his cuffed hands. "Just me?"

Cyril glanced into the room. "Don’t worry. Everyone who was fighting is getting a pair."

"You three, with us."

Two Beastmen in military uniforms walked up to Gu Ning and her companions.

Kloer’s gaze swept over them. When he saw Cyril and the squad of wolf-clan soldiers by the door, he thought, ’This is bad.’

’Now we’ve really made trouble for Alex.’

Seeing the room full of Beastmen, Gu Ning also felt a little uneasy.

Seth gave her a reassuring nudge. ’The Dog Team started it. I’m not afraid, even if the boss tears me a new one.’

"That one goes too," the uniformed Beastman said, pointing to the little Mixed Breed hidden behind Seth. He tried to step forward, but Seth immediately blocked him, baring his teeth.

Kloer placed a hand on the Beastman’s shoulder, stopping him. "We’ll bring her."

The Beastman frowned slightly and looked back at Cyril, who gave him a small nod.

The two uniformed Beastmen said nothing more. After deftly cuffing Kloer, they turned and left.

"Let’s go." Kloer looked down at his handcuffs, then said to Gu Ning with a helpless sigh, "Can’t stay here anymore."

Gu Ning’s gaze swept over the devastated room. ’The once neat and tidy place was completely trashed. I wonder what Alex will do when he comes back and sees this...’

’He’ll be furious, won’t he?’

Gu Ning stood up in silence, adjusted her crooked work cap, straightened her clothes, and stuck close to Seth as she followed him out of the room.

Cyril was still standing by the half-collapsed wall. As Gu Ning passed the tall, slender aide-de-camp, she glimpsed the gleaming gold insignia on his chest and couldn’t help but glance up at him.

’From his voice and the insignia, she recognized him as the Beastman who had gotten her and Alex out of a jam last night. What did Alex call him? Aide-de-camp?’

’Is that a really high rank?’

As if sensing her gaze, the aide-de-camp looked down at her. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

His light-colored eyes gave him a distant, cold look, unlike the frenzied ferocity of the other Beastmen. The moment their eyes met, Gu Ning immediately lowered her head.

Seeing the little Mixed Breed sticking close to the young wolf’s side and obediently following along, a thoughtful expression flickered in Cyril’s eyes.

...

「Base Conference Room, Interrogation Booth」

Gu Ning sat hunched on the edge of the sofa, waiting anxiously.

Beside her, Kloer was slumped back in his chair, already fast asleep.

Seth crouched beside her, his huge form half-shielding her. He guarded her without pause, his eyes fixed on a certain detestable dog sitting not far away.

Leo was sprawled brazenly in his chair, hands cuffed behind his back. From the moment they’d been brought in, his gaze had been fixed unwaveringly on Gu Ning.

Gu Ning felt extremely uncomfortable under the dog’s stare. After glaring back several times to no effect—his eyes remained glued to her—she gave up the pointless struggle.

"Hey."

Leo spoke. "Little thing, what’s your name?"

Gu Ning shifted, leaning further into the sofa, ignoring him.

"Mad at me?" Leo asked. "You’re the one who shot me, and I’m not even mad."

Seth bared his teeth at him with a low growl.

"What are you growling at?" Leo said coldly. "Later, you’ll be the first one I kill."

Hearing Leo’s threat, Gu Ning felt for the teapot on the low cabinet beside her and hurled it at him.

Leo dodged to the side, and the teapot smashed to pieces on the floor.

"You looking to die too?" Leo jutted his chin at her, his tone a taunt. "If you’ve got the guts, stop throwing things and come over here and fight."

Gu Ning stared at him for a moment, then rose to her feet.

Just as Leo braced himself, thinking she was actually going to attack, the little Mixed Breed walked over and slapped Kloer awake.

Kloer’s eyes fluttered open. Seeing the little Mixed Breed standing before him, he asked drowsily, "What’s up?"

Gu Ning pointed at Leo, then shoved a note into Kloer’s hand. It read: *He said he’s going to kill us. Beat him up.*

After reading the note, Kloer chuckled, closing his eyes again. "He wouldn’t dare. That dog’s all talk."

Gu Ning slapped Kloer’s cheeks, a bit harder this time, trying to sober him up.

Kloer grabbed her hand and sighed. "Alright, alright, stop hitting me. You’re a real handful. You go hit him, I’ll be your lookout."

He stood up, stretched his back, and cracked his knuckles. Then, he slung an arm around Gu Ning and walked her over to Leo.

Seth followed right behind them, baring his fangs at Leo.

Kloer pointed to a fresh bruise on Leo’s face—one he’d put there himself. "Hit him right here," he instructed Gu Ning. "That way, he won’t have any proof that you’re the one who did it."

"And here," Kloer added, pointing to Leo’s still-bleeding gunshot wound. "Poke this with your little finger."

Leo: "..."

Gu Ning was still a little afraid of him. He was, after all, a huge Beastman staring daggers at her.

But with a bear-like wall of muscle on one side and a giant wolf on the other, she felt her confidence surge.

’While that aide-de-camp guy isn’t here, I should get some payback. We’re already enemies, after all.’

Gu Ning rolled up her sleeves and took a deep, steadying breath.

Alex pushed open the door to the booth just in time to see Gu Ning winding up and swinging her fist straight at Leo’s face.

"..."