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

"A Mimic Mixed Species..."

Alex listened to Lanuo’s speculation, thought for a moment, and asked, "Is it possible for a Mimic Mixed Species to have independent thought?"

"Impossible," Lanuo answered without hesitation. "They are emotionless creatures. The genetic chain of a Mimic Mixed Species is flawed from birth; the traits just don’t manifest until they reach a certain age."

Alex didn’t reply.

Lanuo started walking out, closing the door behind him. "I know we have different specializations, but you’ve had formal training too. How can you even question this?"

’Even the dumbest Beastman wouldn’t think a Mimic Mixed Species had its own thoughts. They’re the most dangerous kind of Mixed Breed.’

"Wait." Lanuo glanced at the gene analysis report Alex had sent. "Did you already know you were dealing with a Mimic Mixed Species?"

Alex spoke up. "It was just a guess."

Lanuo said, "If a Mimic Mixed Species managed to fool you, that means it must have killed quite a few Beastmen to be able to imitate them so flawlessly."

"You should be careful. Your position makes it easy to make enemies."

"Just run the test first."

Alex paused, then added, "Don’t hand it off to anyone else. Test it yourself, and don’t upload it to the system."

Lanuo stopped in his tracks. "You didn’t also accept the Military Department’s mission to collect Mimic Mixed Species, did you?"

Alex said, "Just do as I say."

Lanuo found him a bit strange. Even if Alex had accepted this mission from the Military Department, there was no need to be so secretive about it. It wasn’t exactly a classified task.

Just then, Alex asked him another question. "Besides a Mimic Mixed Species, under what circumstances would there be no genetic data in the gene bank?"

"Well, it can’t be a Dwarf hybrid. The mutation value in this data is low. Forget Zone 19; with these numbers, they could even get by in the Inner District of Zone 5."

This was the point that made Lanuo the most suspicious.

"The lack of data in the gene bank already rules out the possibility of it being a Dwarf hybrid," Lanuo said. "I’ll run a direct comparison against the genetic sequence of a Mimic Mixed Species. You should probably isolate yourself from this Mixed Breed for the time being."

...

After finishing breakfast, Gu Ning went with Kloer to look at the house.

She didn’t plan on having Kloer help her move. That would have to wait until Barto and the others were out.

’My bedroom is full of props for shooting videos. It would be a disaster if Kloer saw them.’

’He’s seen my videos, after all.’

Heavy snow was falling outside, covering the ground in a thick layer that crunched underfoot.

Gu Ning followed Kloer across the road outside the construction site and arrived at the building where her rented apartment was.

"See? It’s really close, right?" Kloer led Gu Ning upstairs. They didn’t take the elevator, as the apartment was just on the second floor.

Kloer used a key to open the door.

Gu Ning went inside and saw that the apartment was neat and clean. It had some basic furniture, and the layout wasn’t much different from her current place.

She walked to the window and looked out. From here, she could see the main gate of the construction site. It was indeed very close.

"Not bad, huh?" Kloer said, crossing his arms and smiling at her. "Our boss went to a lot of trouble to rent this place."

"I still say you’d be better off living with us. Our places have private bathrooms. This one only has a communal one, which is so inconvenient."

Gu Ning took out a pen and paper and wrote: *Where is Alex?*

Kloer replied, "He should still be in his office right now."

Gu Ning returned to the office building.

She stood outside the closed office door, raised her hand, and knocked.

"Come in."

Hearing Alex’s voice from inside, Gu Ning pushed the door open and entered.

"You didn’t go move?" Alex asked when he saw it was her, flipping over the documents on his desk to hide them.

Gu Ning walked up to him and handed him a note she had written in advance.

*I’ll wait for Cook to get out before I move.*

*Alex, thank you for bailing me out of the police station last night. I’ll pay you back for the bail.*

After Alex finished reading the two notes, Gu Ning handed him another one:

*Can you do me another favor?*

Alex saw that she was holding several more notes, ready to give them to him. He said, "You want me to help bail Cook out?"

Gu Ning nodded eagerly and handed him a note: *And my fox friend, too? Please?*

She handed him another: *I’ll pay you back for their bail too.* 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

And another: *And for your rent money.*

Watching her continuously hand over the stack of pre-written notes, Alex couldn’t help but smile. If Lanuo were sitting here, he would be even more baffled than Alex was.

’If Gu Ning really is a Mimic Mixed Species, then she must be the most powerful one to ever exist.’

’Her imitation is simply flawless.’

’An emotionless creature, yet she can appear so lively and full of feeling. It’s making me doubt my own judgment.’

Between the two possibilities—Dwarf hybrid and Mimic Mixed Species—he was more inclined to believe Gu Ning was just a Dwarf hybrid, and that his initial assessment had been a mistake.

But all the evidence he now held pointed in a vague direction, one he didn’t dare to confirm.

This conclusion was simply baffling, beyond anything he had ever known.

*Can you?* Gu Ning handed over another note, interrupting Alex’s thoughts.

"I’ve already bailed them out," Alex said. "They have prior records, so the earliest they can be released is tomorrow. Don’t worry, they won’t be mistreated inside, and they’ll be fed."

Hearing this, Gu Ning felt a wave of relief.

Alex folded his hands on the desk and looked at Gu Ning. "May I ask you a few more questions?"

Gu Ning hesitated before nodding.

’Alex has helped me so much. As long as it doesn’t cross my personal line for safety, I can answer.’

"Which zone were you born in?"

Gu Ning opened her mouth to reply, but she truly couldn’t answer that.

Alex’s tone was gentle. "Can you speak?"

Gu Ning still couldn’t answer. This question crossed her safety line, so she simply shook her head.

Alex asked, "Do you remember your Beast Mother?"

Gu Ning fell silent.

’She definitely couldn’t lie about this.’

Seeing that she couldn’t answer a single question, Alex didn’t press further.

’She’s very resistant to questions about her identity. A Dwarf hybrid with no criminal record would have no reason to be this defensive.’

’Her behavior now points in two directions, with the possibility of her being a Mimic Mixed Species being the most likely.’

’But I still want to trust my gut and go with the less likely option.’

"Come on."

Alex stood up, offered her his seat, and took out the textbook Gu Ning usually studied from. "If you’re not moving, then it’s time to study."

Gu Ning scratched her head and sat down in the large chair.

Alex pushed the chair closer to the desk, then stood behind her, gently sniffing the scent on her.

Beneath the pungent scent of male glands, he caught the faint, sweet fragrance he had smelled when he first met Gu Ning.

The fragrance seeped into his senses, making him gradually ignore the unpleasant smell of a Dog Clan member in heat.

’Under what circumstances would a male Mixed Breed mark another Mixed Breed with his heat scent?’

The answer was, as ever, both vague and clear.

...

...

"All correct."

Alex put down the textbook and praised Gu Ning. "Your handwriting has improved a lot, too. You’re a fast learner."

Hearing his praise, the tension in Gu Ning’s back eased a little.

’For some reason, she felt under a lot of pressure while studying today.’

’Alex was watching her more intensely than before. She felt like she was taking an important exam with the proctor hovering right over her, so she didn’t dare to relax for a second.’

"Take a break. I’ve asked Kloer to get you some lunch," Alex said.

Gu Ning felt as if she’d been granted a pardon. She asked Alex for the restroom key and left.

The moment she left the office, a message from Lanuo popped up on Alex’s terminal:

[The test results are in. I sent them to you. See for yourself.]