Chapter 55.2

 

Mu Ling asked, “Is the cleaning cart parked at the 15th-floor elevator the one used to clean this room?”

 

The receptionist didn’t know and quickly called the night-shift housekeeping staff through the intercom.

 

A housekeeping lady arrived shortly, looking uncertain. “I left that cart on the 15th floor just now. Our night shift routine is to place cleaning carts on each floor before sunrise to prepare for the morning shift. I don’t know which floor that cart was from—they all look the same.”

 

Mu Ling nodded, then turned to the other guests gathering nearby. “Excuse me, did Director Qiao bring any animals with him?”

 

Everyone shook their heads. “No, he came alone, without any staff.”

 

“Weren’t there three staff member slots available?” Mu Ling asked.

 

A young man replied, “Maybe the small zoo is short-staffed and couldn’t spare more people.”

 

The receptionist, now visibly anxious, stammered, “D-Director Mu, are there really mutant beasts here?”

 

Mu Ling looked at her now-calm fox and shook her head. “There shouldn’t be any.”

 

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“However…” 

 

Mu Ling’s next words made their hearts race again.

 

“There may have been rebels here.”

 

At six in the morning, Director Zhou of the Four Bays Forest Bureau received a call. Though initially drowsy, he bolted upright in bed upon hearing the word “rebels.”

 

At seven, unable to sleep anyway, Mu Ling fed her fox some beast feed and carried it to breakfast. Since the hotel was reserved by the Forest Bureau, bringing an animal to the restaurant wasn’t an issue—all guests were zoo personnel who didn’t mind animals.

 

The breakfast hall was relatively empty. 

Mu Ling didn’t see Director Chen or Director Harry, who had also only gone to bed around 4 AM and were likely still sleeping. Mu Ling had just settled into a corner seat when she noticed a group arriving by elevator. Their leader, a man over fifty with graying hair, approached under the guidance of a receptionist.

 

“Director Mu, I’m Director Zhou of the Siwan Star Four Bays Forest Bureau.”

 

Mu Ling quickly stood and shook his hand. “Director Zhou, pleased to meet you.”

 

Director Zhou glanced at the drowsy white fox visible in Mu Ling’s bag. He sat across from her while his colleagues took seats at a nearby table.

 

Mu Ling smiled, “I hadn’t expected you so early.”

 

Director Zhou waved tiredly. “With such a serious matter, I’m already late. Tell me, is Director Qiao from Qizhou Zoo really a rebel?”

 

Mu Ling replied, “I can’t be entirely certain, but the probability is very high. When we first arrived at the hotel, Lingren showed no reaction. But after housekeeping left a cleaning cart on our floor, it suddenly responded. If there were mutant beasts present, it would have reacted immediately. What triggered it was a scent on that cart.”

 

“After tracking the scent, it led us to Director Qiao’s former room on the 12th floor and let out a distressed cry. Director Zhou, you may not know this, but Lingren previously served on Xuangu Star. Its former owner remains in a coma from rebel-inflicted injuries, and Lingren itself retired due to rebel encounters. It knows their scent.”

 

Director Zhou frowned. “Isn’t it hasty to suspect Director Qiao based on this alone?”

 

Mu Ling continued, “Director Qiao withdrew from the conference precisely when Lingren caught a Mutant beast aboard the starship. Isn’t that timing suspicious?”

 

Director Zhou remained silent, but his expression suggested he still found the evidence insufficient.

 

Mu Ling added, “Our Bi Ke Zoo was a last-minute addition to this conference. You only learned about us two days ago, correct?”

 

Director Zhou nodded. “Yes, your Director Wang personally requested your inclusion.”

 

“So our presence was unexpected. No one could have anticipated we’d bring a war beast, especially Lingren. Yet immediately after Lingren captured a mutant beast, exposing our presence, Director Qiao departed. His scent triggered a strong reaction from Lingren. Consider this—had he stayed, wouldn’t Lingren have identified him?”

 

Mu Ling paused before adding, “I now suspect there were rebels aboard that starship as well.”

 

Director Zhou’s attention sharpened. “Explain.”

 

“After disembarking, Lingren kept staring at two lions from Fu’ai Zoo. Initially, I feared they might be infected, but it merely observed them. Later, I realized it wasn’t detecting mutant beast energy but rather a rebel’s scent. However, this rebel probably wasn’t one it was familiar with, so it wasn’t certain and didn’t act rashly.”

 

“As for Director Qiao, I strongly suspect he’s a rebel Lingren knows well. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have fled upon learning of its presence. Director Zhou, I can’t provide absolute proof since animals can’t speak, but anything involving rebels warrants serious attention. If rebels have indeed infiltrated both the conference and the starship route from Shenwang Star to Four Bays Star, your planet may be their next target. I recommend immediate military investigation.”

 

Director Zhou studied Mu Ling intently before standing and extending his hand. “Thank you, Director Mu.”

 

After shaking hands, he added, “I’ll report this immediately, though we may need your further assistance.”

 

Mu Ling nodded, knowing that as the one who raised the rebel theory, she would likely be consulted by local military forces.

 

After Director Zhou’s departure, Mu Ling finished breakfast. Around ten, Manager Harry knocked on her door, inviting her to Monty Zoo to witness the matchmaking between Roumei and Xiaoduo.

 

Thinking her own animals might need similar experiences someday, Mu Ling agreed, viewing it as a learning opportunity. Manager Chen stayed behind for meetings with other zoo colleagues.

 

Though Mu Ling brought Fas along, thinking they could help Harry’s team push cages, their help wasn’t needed—Fu’ai Zoo had sent six staff members beyond their three allotted positions, sparing no expense for their lions’ safety.

 

During loading into the Monty Zoo transport vehicle, Mu Ling noticed both lions appeared listless. She observed Lingren watching them intently but maintaining its distance.

 

Monty Zoo, a historic institution covering 2,000 acres, divided its space equally between caged exhibits, wild animal areas, and recreational facilities. Mu Ling’s admiration showed plainly as they approached.

 

Manager Harry noticed her expression and smiled. “Our Fu’ai Zoo is similar in scale. You’re welcome to visit when you return to Shenwang Star.”

 

“I’d love to!” Mu Ling replied enthusiastically.

 

They entered through the back gate, avoiding tourist crowds, and wound their way to the lion enclosure. Monty Zoo’s operations director, Director Ge, greeted them warmly.

 

“Ah, Manager Harry, long time no see!”

 

Manager Harry politely shook hands with him. “Director Ge, it’s been a while.”

 

When Mu Ling got out from behind, Director Ge immediately lit up with delight. “Isn’t this… isn’t this Director Mu from Bi Ke Zoo?”

 

Manager Harry instantly became less interesting as Director Ge hurried forward to shake hands with Mu Ling.

 

Mu Ling smiled broadly. “Hello, hello.”

 

Director Ge admiringly said, “We all saw last night’s trending topic. Oh, this must be Lingren! Good, good, beautiful! Both beautiful and capable! Did you bring Lingren for matchmaking too? Don’t worry, our fox enclosure has Red Heart foxes. Though they’re not as high-ranked or talented as your Lingren and aren’t war beasts, they’re quite handsome – we have an especially brave little prince. Your Lingren would definitely like him!”

 

Mu Ling: “…”

 

Lingren’s heart currently only had room for dogs, not foxes. Mu Ling quickly declined, “Thank you for your kind offer, Director Ge, but Lingren is also a little prince.”

 

Director Ge: “…”

 

Director Ge recovered smoothly. “Haha, no matter, no matter! We have many other female fox breeds too. Since you’re here, you must meet them! Let the children develop naturally – as parents, we shouldn’t stand in the way of love!”

 

Director Ge was clearly a very socially aggressive person. With an attitude suggesting he wouldn’t rest until he secured Lingren’s S-grade genes, he tried to persuade Mu Ling, seemingly ready to kidnap Lingren to the female fox group for an eight-cub litter.

 

Manager Harry quickly came to Mu Ling’s rescue. “Lingren has a damage value of 83.”

 

Director Ge: “…”

 

Director Ge stiffened visibly, took two careful steps back, and laughed awkwardly. “Impressive! Catching mutant beasts with such a high damage value—amazing!”

 

Manager Harry patted Director Ge’s shoulder. “Alright, let’s look at our Roumei and Xiaoduo first.”

 

He forcibly led Director Ge away to see the lions.

 

Mu Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief. She lowered her head to kiss the white fox’s forehead, whispering, “It’s mainly because our Lingren is too handsome. Who wouldn’t be dazzled? Even Director Ge got charmed.”

 

The white fox didn’t understand what Mu Ling was saying; it just lifted its head and affectionately nudged Mu Ling’s nose with its nose tip.

 

Mu Ling smiled and kissed it again.

 

Just then, one of Director Ge’s staff received an urgent call. “Director Ge, the vet station says to contact Ji Xiang’s owner immediately. Ji Xiang might…”

 

Director Ge’s expression fell. “Wasn’t Ji Xiang past the danger period?”

 

The staff member shook his head. “Nurse Wang says the damage value increased this morning. They think it’s just a matter of days…”

 

Director Ge quickly arranged for Manager Li to oversee the lion matchmaking and excused himself. After he left, Manager Harry asked about Ji Xiang.

 

Manager Li explained sadly, “A leopard, an A-grade retired war beast. It’s been with us for a year and a half. Its condition has been pretty bad lately.” His attention turned to the lions, and he frowned. “Manager Harry, has this one vomited?”

 

They noticed white vomit in the cage and around one lioness’s mouth.

 

Manager Harry’s face darkened. “Xiaoduo?”