324 Really Divine Ears (2/2)

Dog Butcher grinned as his eyes twinkled with greed. ”More or less guessed it. Seven years ago, when I was employed to kill Tobey, the 'divine dog' of spaceports, I had already guessed it. But rest assured, I don't just serve only one client, and I have never ever revealed who my employers are.”

”Then you better pray that the military doesn't catch you first. Nowadays, interrogation techniques are becoming even more innovative.”

”Ha, catch me? Are you talking about that bunch of trash? That bunch of trash isn't even able to catch my tail!”

Dog Butcher's self-confident tone somewhat pacified the other side. Thinking about it, Dog Butcher was reliable indeed. People in Muzhou really hated Dog Butcher, yet even after so many years, he had never been caught.

Dog Butcher also had the ability to back up his confidence. Even when he failed an assignment, he rarely left traces for people to find. The only time he had ever suffered defeat was probably 30 years ago, when he had been dealing with what Muzhou people called a king of dogs that only appeared once every 100 years. Although he had ultimately shot dead that king of dogs, he was also bitten by it. Even now, the scar on his arm had not faded, and the police had a record of his DNA. Dog Butcher had not gone for an operation to remove the scar and instead kept it as a reminder.

”Match the price and I will act when I have the opportunity. If you choose not to, I will leave immediately. Staying here isn't safe. There are people from the base looking for me right now. That little thing runs really fast and is rather vigilant. This sort of unexpected speed and vigilance might not even lose out to Muzhou's dog kings. We can't determine the price according to previous calculations.”

When he mentioned this, Dog Butcher felt a little depressed deep down. He had fired three shots. The first two shots had missed because his estimations had been wrong, but for the third shot, he had already adjusted. He did not understand. According to reason, that shot should have hit, but seeing the dog full of energy and continuing to chase and seeing that dogs speed, it seemed like that shot had missed too.

Had his marksmanship deteriorated?

Dog Butcher was very displeased.

He had clearly already spent sufficient time adapting to the geography and climate here. Today, his operation might have failed because he hadn't completely adapted to the conditions on planet Wai. On top of that, that dog's reactions had far exceeded his expectations, causing him to have errors in judgment.

Next time... Next time, when he fired, he would surely not miss.

As he set his resolve, Dog Butcher's tone became cold. ”What's your decision? I'm only waiting 10 seconds!” He didn't wait for the other party to reply and started counting down. ”10! 9! 8...”

When the countdown reached two seconds, the other party finally agreed. ”You said it. Don't let the dog board a transport and leave!” the other side exhorted.

”Don't worry. You people have to believe in my professional ability. When it comes to slaughtering dogs, I'm a professional. I have even slain Muzhou's king of dogs.” Dog Butcher laughed. In the short term, Wai base would not be able to sort out all their chinks. He would still be able to find opportunities to act in this period.

Having negotiated the deal, Dog Butcher told the other side to wait for good news.

After ending the call, Dog Butcher's lips had barely curled upward, thinking about the large potential payout he would get, when he suddenly froze as he felt a shiver throughout his body.

Having spent many years on this path dithering between life and death while tangling with the police and military countless times, Dog Butcher had trained a sharp sixth sense. In that instant, he felt as if he'd been locked onto by an ice-cold gun barrel laced full of killing intent. He suddenly felt an immense pressure, making Dog Butcher's entire body shudder.

Who is there!

Since when has there something here?

Man?

Or beast?

...

Wai base.

Huo Yi had just shut his eyes and prepared to sleep when he received an urgent call from the southeast garrison region.

”Commander. Report! Fang Zhao dragged someone out from the primeval forest!”

Huo Yi's eyebrows arched upward.

The word dragged was subtle.

”Alive or dead?” Huo Yi asked. If the person was dead, Fang Zhao might be in a little trouble.

”The target is still breathing.”

”That is good. Don't let him die. You, personally escort him back here! Now!”

”Yes!”

After ending the call, Huo Yi received a photograph and image of the assassin.

Ah, one look and it could be seen that someone had used the method of dragging him like a sack of rice across the forest floor full of rocks and dirt. His body was full of wounds and bruises and his face was bloodied.

When Huo Yi got to see the Southeast garrison troops and Fang Zhao who entered the base together, Huo Yi jokingly said to Fang Zhao, ”Impressive! That 'Divine Ears' nickname is not in vain! However, I never expected that you would bring him in alive.”

Fang Zhao raised an eyebrow. ”I'm a law-abiding citizen.”

Huo Yi: ”...Hehe.”

Fang Zhao wasn't bothered whether Huo Yi believed him or not. He continued, ”This person is called Dog Butcher, and he is an experienced hand. I reckon he has business dealings with some people in the film entertainment complex. I suggest handing him over to Muzhou's side. This person was involved in the murder of Muzhou meritorious service dogs, at least two of them.”

Handing him over to Muzhou would let Fang Zhao feel more reassured than leaving him to Wai base.

Huo Yi stroked his stubbled chin, and his eyes were full of admiration. Nodding, he said, ”All right, I also had this in mind.”

Following normal procedure, this Dog Butcher person might not necessarily die. Perhaps he might be rescued during the process of transporting him from place to place. There was a higher possibility he would be silenced.

But if he was handed over to Muzhou authorities, his fate would probably be, firstly, a life where it would be better to die. Then, a death where he wouldn't even leave behind a corpse to be buried.

From Huo Yi's point of view, he could use this opportunity to do a favor to Muzhou and perhaps get another batch of dogs. This would be a rather worthwhile transaction. Meanwhile, Dog Butcher's outcome would also satisfy Fang Zhao. Beneficial three ways!

Having gotten Huo Yi's promise, Fang Zhao did not stick around. He left Huo Yi's office, returning to check on Curly Hair's condition.

Now, only Huo Yi and his aide were left in his office.

”Commander, Fang Zhao looks just like an artistic person, but I can't help feel that he is rather dangerous. I have a conjecture, if... I'm just saying if the person caught was not Dog Butcher, would Fang Zhao have dragged him in alive?” The aide had some doubts in his voice when he said this. In any case, the aide did not believe Fang Zhao's claim that he was ”a law-abiding citizen.”

Huo Yi replied meaningfully, ”Sometimes, we shouldn't chase too much for answers or think too much. If you overthink, it is easy to become aged. Take a look at this old face of mine. It is because I think too much!”

How could Huo Yi not know what his aide was talking about?

Thinking about it, since Fang Zhao had this sort of frightening tracking ability and the ability to capture Dog Butcher, a wanted criminal that Muzhou had been after for so many years, why hadn't Fang Zhao pursued him right from the start? Maybe he'd been worried about the dog, but from a different angle, had Fang Zhao had... a motive in giving the assassin some time to leave the base? In the area nearby, the best place to avoid inspection from the internal military departments was the primeval forest.

Inside the primeval forest, what happened was not restricted. Even if Fang Zhao had pursued the target and even killed Dog Butcher inside the primeval forest, as long as he denied it, who could determine what he had done?

Making someone disappear in the primeval forest near Wai base was really too simple.

Having seen Fang Zhao's military service records on planet Baiji and having seen some confidential files, Huo Yi was just like his aide. He didn't believe the b*llshit Fang Zhao had spouted about being ”a law-abiding citizen”!

An artistic person?

Cough!

A g*ddamn f*cking artistic person!

What sort of artistic person would fight monsters as if he were chopping up vegetables?

What sort of artistic person would head to a completely unfamiliar primeval forest at night to apprehend a suspect and drag him out like a gunny sack?

Do you think that just by draping on the skin of an artistic person, I will not know how dangerous this little fella is?

However, there were times when it was good to act ignorant. After all, the circumstances weren't bad.

Huo Yi's lips curled into a grin. He indicated for his aide to leave the room and stretched, moving some of his stiff bones and picking up his communications device to contact an old friend at Muzhou's Police Dog Academy.

Perhaps he might not be able to retain Curly Hair, but he could use this as an opportunity to get even more dogs.