Chapter 108: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Chapter 108: Chapter 108: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

After inspecting the light brown fur and the cucumber inside the sealed bag, Chen Zheng confirmed, "This is wolf fur. The cucumber also has the wolf’s scent on it. It’s the same one that left its scent under the grapevines over half a month ago."

Hu Zifeng felt the situation was quite serious. "This wolf is extremely cunning. Why don’t we report this to Brother Luo and have him send a Level 7 or higher Olfactory Evolutionary or an Evolutionary dog to track it?"

Chen Zheng, a Level 5 Olfactory Evolver, was unable to determine where this wolf came from or where it went.

Xiaqing also noticed something: Hu Zifeng suggested reporting to Brother Luo, not Captain Yang Jin. ’Could it be that Yang Jin isn’t at Hui San Base right now?’

She shook her head. "This wolf is probably a friend of Sheep Leader. It means no harm, so let’s not bother Brother Luo for now, and there’s no need to send for more people. I’m going to the agricultural trade fair, so I’ll have to trouble you to help protect the territory. If the wolf shows up again, as long as it doesn’t attack, don’t start a conflict with it."

Huh?

Hu Zifeng and Chen Zheng, who prided themselves on being mature and prudent, had their mouths agape, wide enough to fit a white egret’s egg.

’Sheep Leader isn’t just friends with pigs, he’s friendly with wolves too?’

’Is he an Evolutionary Sheep, or an Evolutionary Wolf in sheep’s clothing?’

If Xiaqing could hear their thoughts, she would surely tell them: Sheep Leader was, of course, a sheep. He was a sheep standing at the very pinnacle of the Blue Star Pyramid, a sheep heralding a new era for the Evolutionary Sheep of Blue Star.

Xiaqing added another instruction, "I won’t be back tonight, so Sheep Leader might throw a tantrum. If he acts up, just call me and put me on speaker for him."

When it was time to gather, Xiaqing shouldered her heavy backpack, clipped on her large machete, and pinned on the standard Evolved People badge she hadn’t worn in five months. She left her handgun hidden at home. Since she wasn’t a team member, she couldn’t carry a firearm into the Safe Zone.

Before leaving, Xiaqing said goodbye to Sheep Leader. "Leader, I’m heading out. You be good and watch the house. I’ll definitely bring you back something tasty tomorrow."

"Meeeeh!"

Since getting her private training ground, Xiaqing often left the territory to "get tasty things," so Sheep Leader was very receptive to this phrase, his bleat filled with excitement.

"Yes, I’ll definitely bring you back something tasty. I’ll be gone a little longer than usual this time. I won’t be back until tomorrow evening." Xiaqing pointed toward the sun’s path to explain to Sheep Leader, "When this shiny ball moves from here to here, you go home and sleep. Then when the sun moves from here to here again, I’ll be back."

Sheep Leader squinted, making it impossible to tell if he understood.

"BEEP, BEEP."

A car horn sounded; Zhong Tao and Zheng Kui had arrived. Xiaqing, carrying her things, reached the Third Territory’s stop sign. She saw that the vehicle waiting there wasn’t the light truck that had brought the Lords to their territories, but a military truck with its cargo bed tightly covered by a green canvas tarp. The truck was escorted by two armored vehicles, one in front and one in back, to protect the Lords’ safety.

A fully-armed Tan Junjie and Zhong Tao jumped out of the vehicle. Tan Junjie wore his usual serious expression. "Lord Xiaqing of Land No. 3, welcome to the Hui San Base agricultural product trade conference. Please get on board."

After speaking, Zhong Tao winked at Xiaqing and walked ahead to lead the way.

Wearing her Protective Mask, Xiaqing followed Zhong Tao into the empty cargo bed. She chose a spot right in the middle, against the front of the bed, and sat down, hugging her large backpack.

A moment later, Xiaqing heard Tan Junjie invite the representative from Land No. 1 onto the truck in the same manner. The representative from Land No. 1 was surprisingly Wei Chengdong. He walked straight over to Xiaqing and sat down beside her, explaining in a low voice, "I haven’t been back to the Safe Zone in months. I’m just taking this opportunity to go back and check things out."

Sitting next to Wei Chengdong, Xiaqing instantly relaxed a great deal.

Next, the representative from Land No. 2 got on. As soon as the handsome-looking man opened his mouth, Xiaqing knew who he was.

"Wei Chengdong? What are you doing here instead of sticking by Luo Pei’s side?"

Towards the Tang Family, Wei Chengdong, like Hu Zifeng, showed no courtesy. "Do I need to report what I’m doing to you?"

Tang Huai glared at Wei Chengdong, then his gaze swept over the green badge Xiaqing was wearing. "Land No. 3, Xiaqing?"

Xiaqing nodded slightly.

"I’m Tang Huai."

"I could tell," Xiaqing responded.

Seeing Xiaqing’s lukewarm reaction, Tang Huai huffed, chose a long bench fixed to the east side of the truck bed, and sat down to organize his backpack. The truck drove east for a while, picking up Zhao Ze, Qi Fu, Shi Du, Assistant Little Liu from Land No. 9, and Ji Li, the "deliveryman" from Territory Land No. 7, one after another. As each person boarded, Xiaqing recognized them. She already knew Zhao Ze, Qi Fu, Shi Du, and Ji Li, and she recognized the others as soon as they opened their mouths.

The group of familiar strangers identified each other by voice, and the distance between them instantly closed. Xiaqing first asked about Qi Fu’s arm, which was no longer in a sling, and then fell silent.

Shi Du, sitting next to Xiaqing, was just about to start a conversation with her when Assistant Little Liu, who was sitting diagonally opposite them in a snow-white Protective Suit, suddenly spoke up. His voice was gentle yet firm and impossible to refuse. "Mr. Little Hour, could I trouble you to switch seats with me? I’m a bit timid, and I’d feel much safer sitting next to Miss Xia."

Assistant Little Liu looked refined and pale, with a pair of black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He had the appearance of a research worker with no ability to protect himself, so Shi Du had no choice but to get up and switch seats with him.

Qi Fu and Zhao Ze stifled their laughter. Kuang Qingwei, who had small eyes and a square face, chuckled and patted the seat next to him. "Little Hour, come sit here! It’s going to get crowded soon. Let’s sit together and watch each other’s backs so our things don’t get stolen."

’Who wants to watch your backs?’ Tang Huai, sitting next to Zhao Ze, snorted. He turned to cozy up to Ji Li from Land No. 7. "Hey brother, want some fried Green Light golden cicadas? They’re delicious."

Golden cicadas are harvested just after they’ve shed their exoskeletons, before their new shells have had time to darken and harden. At this stage, the cicadas are at their most tender and clean.

Ji Li’s expression and voice were both stiff. "Land No. 7 does not trade with Land No. 2."

Xiaqing was speechless.

Tang Huai’s smile didn’t waver. "It’s not a trade. It’s free."

"Thank you." Upon hearing it was free, Ji Li speared one with a toothpick and popped it into his mouth.

’He just ate something from a stranger like that? He’s Zhang San’s deliveryman, all right.’

Seeing Ji Li eat one, Tang Huai was delighted. He held out the food container of fried cicadas with both hands to Assistant Little Liu. "Assistant Liu, would you like one too?"

"Thank you." Assistant Little Liu pushed his black-rimmed glasses up his nose, speared a cicada with a toothpick to observe it closely, and then sniffed it. "A golden cicada that has just emerged from the ground and molted has a protein content of 58.58% and a fat content of 10.23%. It also contains phosphorus, calcium, and zinc, making it a rare high-protein, low-fat delicacy. These were fried in high-quality pure peanut oil, the oil temperature was perfectly controlled, and the cicadas are fried just right. The dried chili, ginger, and garlic added after cooking are all Green Light grade. Mr. Tang is generous with his ingredients, and his culinary skills are excellent."

"Assistant Liu is truly an expert, you’re right on all counts. We’ve only ever communicated on the Lord channel before. Since this is our first time meeting, everyone please try a specialty from our Land No. 2." After speaking, Tang Huai offered the fried cicadas to Xiaqing. "Miss Xia?"