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

"Where’s my stuff?"

Wanai leaned against a lamppost. At the sound of movement, he looked up toward the red-haired fox approaching him.

The fox stopped more than ten meters away, advancing no further. The snow on the ground was deep enough to swallow half its body.

Wanai’s gaze swept over the gear on its body. His eyes paused, and he straightened up slightly. He uncrossed his arms, letting his hand fall to the weapon at his waist and tapping it twice with his fingers.

In a dark street corner—

"He gave the signal, Mingxi. Let’s move."

"Wait a little longer." Mingxi stared intently at the two figures across the street and said in a low voice, "That’s the signal for us to get ready."

"..."

Barto took a bag of Crystal Stones from his pocket and tossed it to Wanai. "The deal’s off."

"Take your stuff and get lost. Stay away from us." As Wanai raised his hand to catch the Crystal Stones, Barto immediately pulled out a small submachine gun and aimed it at him. "If I catch you following us again, I’ll kill you."

Wanai heard a round being chambered. He held up the bag of Crystal Stones and shook it, a crisp clinking sound echoing through the quiet street. "You say the deal’s off, just like that? What about my losses?"

Barto replied, "The Crystal Stones inside are worth one and a half million. Take it or leave it."

Wanai was slightly surprised by his actions.

The bag of Crystal Stones in his hand was indeed heavier than the one he had given the fox before.

After following the fox for a while, he’d gotten a handle on his personality and how he operated.

Once he sold something, no one could ever return it, let alone get a refund.

He’d guessed the fox wouldn’t actually give him the real stuff. He never expected him to give a direct refund, especially with Crystal Stones—the very thing he needed most right now.

"This isn’t how business is done in Zone 19..."

BANG!

Before Wanai could finish his sentence, a bullet grazed past his ear and struck the lamppost behind him, sending sparks flying with a sharp, piercing sound.

Wanai didn’t move. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze on the fox growing even sharper.

"Get lost!" Barto’s voice was colder than the wind and snow. "I don’t care what you’re plotting. Stop showing your face around us, or I have plenty of ways to make sure you never leave Zone 19."

"Fine."

Wanai slowly raised his hands and backed away.

Seeing that Wanai knew what was good for him, Barto didn’t press the matter. He kept the gun trained on him while backing away step by step. After reaching the corner, he turned to leave.

A gust of wind swept by, kicking up snow. Something whistled through the air, carried on the breeze.

The ears on Barto’s head twitched. He keenly heard a faint "TSSS" sound, as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, but it was too late.

After a sudden, sharp pain in his neck, his body instantly went numb.

Barto’s expression and body froze simultaneously. He reached for his neck and pulled out a tranquilizer dart.

Seeing the tranquilizer dart in his hand, Barto’s expression changed.

’He’d been set up by this leopard!’

Barto immediately tried to call Gu Ning to tell her to grab Cook and run.

Just as he opened his terminal, he couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed into the snow.

Barto bit his tongue hard. The pain brought back a sliver of consciousness, and he dialed Gu Ning’s number with a trembling hand—

The call connected in less than two seconds, but Barto could no longer speak. His consciousness was fading. He vaguely heard a confused "Woof?" from the terminal.

’Those two idiots... Run...’

Wanai crouched in front of the fox and picked up the paw wearing the terminal.

Seeing that its terminal was still in a call, he listened for a moment. Hearing only the woofing of that Dog Clan Mixed Breed, he tapped it off.

Just then, several Beastmen came swarming over from across the street.

"This is the Special Level Mimic Mixed Species? Why does it look like a regressed Mixed Breed?"

"It probably just ate a fox. Take a picture, take a picture! We can report back to the Professor now."

"This isn’t the Mimic Mixed Species." Mingxi stopped his teammate from taking a picture and tossed him the Detection Device he was holding.

"A regressed Mixed Breed?"

His teammates crowded around to look at the results on the Detection Device, then exchanged bewildered glances.

"You’re messing with us!" one of the team members glared at Wanai.

Listening to their racket, Wanai frowned. He stood up, holding the fox by the scruff of its neck. "What’s the rush? This is the bait. You’re all so impatient. Did the Beast Alliance send you here to die?"

Mingxi put out a hand to stop a teammate who was about to step forward and argue with him. "Go on. What’s the next step of the plan?"

Wanai’s gaze fell on the red-haired fox’s still-lit terminal and its contact list.

Just then, a message happened to pop up:

[Barto, you called me. Is something wrong?]

Seeing the message, Wanai glanced again at the pack of useless lions, wondering how he could get them to see the Mimic Mixed Species.

’Right now, that little Mixed Breed is living too close to the construction site. Her entire floor is filled with people Alex sent to be near her, and there are even a few Beast Police guarding the area every day. I wonder if Alex has connections in the police department, too.’

’On top of that, the little Mixed Breed has an even more troublesome Dog Clan Mixed Breed with her. This Dog Clan Mixed Breed is already in a state of secondary mutation, so his combat power is greatly enhanced. The slightest provocation could cause him to turn into a full-blown Mutant Species.’

’If I bring this reckless pack of lions over, they’ll easily cause a commotion.’

After a moment of thought, Wanai sent a few messages to the contact Barto had just called:

[Come to the deli on the corner of West Street Second Lane and pay for me. I spent all my money on Crystal Stones and can’t cover it. I’m out of cash.]

[After I eat, I have to go back to the shop to pack up a few shipments. You can help me out so I can get home and rest early today.]

[Don’t bring Cook. His regression is too severe, and bringing him out will worsen his mutation. Let him stay at home.]

After sending the messages, Wanai waited patiently for a reply.

After ten or so seconds, a reply came back: [Okay, I’m heading over now.]

...

...

Gu Ning changed into her work clothes and went out.

For ease of movement, she didn’t wear her calf-length windbreaker. Instead, she layered up under her work clothes and tucked a pistol she’d bought from Barto into her pocket.

"I’m going to find Barto. I’ll be back soon."

"Be good. Wait for me at home."

"Awooo..." Cook wagged his tail and reluctantly nudged Gu Ning with his head.

Gu Ning hugged Cook’s big, fluffy head and gave it a reassuring rub. After calming him down, she closed the door and re-read Barto’s messages carefully as she walked out.

’When she first received Barto’s call, she had been a little confused. Barto almost never called her, probably because he knew she couldn’t speak and only ever sent her messages.’

’Besides, they had just eaten dinner not long ago. Why was he at a deli again?’

’When she saw the part about him going to the shop to pack up shipments, she figured he must have been busy running around buying Inhibitors and Crystal Stones these past few days, on top of managing the store. It made sense that he’d get hungry easily.’

’He hadn’t said anything during the call. Was he probably too embarrassed to ask her to come over and pay?’

With that thought, Gu Ning’s suspicions faded a little.

Exiting the building, Gu Ning stepped into snow that came up past her knees.

She stood in place for a moment, taking a few breaths of the cold air, then strode forward with large steps.

’If she were still at her old place, she really wouldn’t have dared to go out at night.’

’But the building she lived in now was much safer. She was on the second floor, so she didn’t have to worry about cramming into an elevator with other Beastmen. Coming and going didn’t require passing through a long, dark alley. The building opened right onto a wide street, with the construction site gate directly opposite. Bright streetlights lined both sides, and Beast Police patrolled the area from time to time, which gave her a great sense of security.’

’The deli Barto mentioned wasn’t far, either. It was one she frequented, right next to the west gate of the construction site. It was less than a ten-minute walk.’

Still, she gripped the pistol in her pocket, remaining vigilant of her surroundings.

At this hour, there were still Beastmen on the street in twos and threes. Gu Ning kept her distance from them, walking in the footprints left by those who had passed before her.