Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Suspicious Is an Understatement

Alex carefully read through Gu Ning and the others’ identity files.

He discovered that among the files, only the little female’s lacked a photo; the other two Mixed Breeds both had pictures from their cubhood.

Moreover, her file was the shortest, only a few lines longer than the personal information sheet from when he had gotten her out last time.

Her household registration, birthplace, affiliated major and minor clans, and other detailed identity information were all garbled.

After finishing Gu Ning’s file, Alex turned to those of the other two Mixed Breeds.

He skipped past the tedious life histories and criminal records, going straight to their basic information.

First was Cook’s information.

In his file photo, a seven or eight-year-old Beast cub was grinning brilliantly.

Name: Cook

Race: Wolf Clan (Dwarf hybrid)

Age: 19

Degeneration Value: 61%

Place of Growth: 12th District (North Ice Field)

Major Clan: Ice Wolf Clan (Group: 9)

Minor Clan: Alaska Group (Group: 105)

Family Group Members: (None)

Alex looked at Cook’s major and minor clans and mused for a moment. ’So, this Cook is just an ordinary Beastman from the Dog Clan.’

Alex’s gaze fell on the "Family Group Members" section. ’Empty?’

He had thought he might find information on Cook’s brother there and use it as a lead to investigate Gu Ning’s identity.

But he wasn’t surprised. Let alone Mixed Breeds, few adult Beastmen had other family members listed on their files. The clan grouping was what truly mattered.

A Beastman’s family structure wasn’t based on blood ties but on allocation by the minor clan. Genetically superior and strong male Beast cubs had the chance to live with their Beast Mother and sisters for a time. Other male cubs were assigned to an experienced adult male guardian or raised directly by the minor clan’s chief.

Beastman siblings weren’t necessarily related by blood. Aside from their Beast Mother and sisters, Beastmen cared little for blood bonds; clan affiliation was what mattered most.

The family group was just a subgroup within the minor clan. It required a guardian to look after a Beast cub, and in return, the guardian would receive certain social benefits.

Once a Beastman came of age, they were responsible for themselves, and the guardian would be removed from the family group. However, a guardian could choose to remain, but they would then be responsible for that family member.

After many Beastmen degenerated into Mixed Breeds, their guardians would disappear from their records.

The social benefits for supervising an adult Mixed Breed were far less than for looking after a Beast cub, yet Mixed Breeds caused a great deal of trouble. As a result, not many Beastmen were willing to keep a Mixed Breed relative by their side.

Alex saw that Cook was only nineteen. Judging by his Degeneration Value, he must have degenerated before reaching adulthood.

A Mixed Breed without a guardian would be immediately exiled by their clan.

A pup from a wolf pack isn’t welcome, and neither is a wolf among dogs.

Situations like Cook’s were common among Mixed Breeds.

However, many guardians continued to care for their Mixed Breed relatives even after being officially removed from their records. This was a loophole Beastmen used to avoid the joint liability associated with Mixed Breeds.

After finishing with Cook’s file, Alex flipped to the file of the fox Mixed Breed.

The photo in Barto’s file was of an even younger cub than Cook’s, perhaps four or five years old, with his chin tilted up in a smug expression.

Alex was somewhat surprised when he saw his file.

Name: Barto

Race: Fox Clan (Atavistic Mixed Breed)

Age: 25

Degeneration Value: 48%

Place of Growth: Second District (Silver Moon City)

Major Clan: Silver Fox Clan (Group: 1)

Minor Clan: Red Fox Group (Group: 1)

Family Group Members: (None)

The clan rankings didn’t usually mean much; they were just a simple organizational tool. However, the top three were always ranked by comprehensive strength.

A Beastman’s genetics was one of the key factors considered.

It was no surprise, then, that Barto had ended up in Zone 19. A degenerated Beastman from a top-three clan—and a member of the Fox Clan, no less.

The Fox Clan were proud and competitive, always striving to be the best. They couldn’t stand even a slightly low score on a school exam, let alone degenerating. In their daily lives, they would present themselves as utterly flawless.

After reviewing the files of these two Mixed Breeds, Alex was even more confused than Leighton.

’Cook must have known Gu Ning was a female. That’s why he rubbed his glandular scent on her.’

’And Barto? Does he know Gu Ning is a female?’

’And how did they meet her?’

’Regardless, they’re both very protective of Gu Ning.’

Now with a clear picture of the two Mixed Breeds accompanying the little female, Alex stacked the files neatly on the desk and said to Leighton, "Officer Leighton, thank you."

With that, he rose and strode away.

Before Leighton could even react, Alex had vanished from sight.

Leighton’s gaze swept over the files as he swiveled in his chair to look at the office door.

’Wait a minute. Something isn’t right.’

"He just left like that?" Leighton asked Little Black, who was standing beside him, his face a mask of disbelief.

Little Black glanced at the time. "It’s getting late. He’s probably got a lot to do."

Leighton lifted a foot to kick him. "And where are we?"

Little Black deftly dodged the kick and answered tentatively, "The police station?"

Leighton: "Say it with some conviction!"

Little Black straightened up and shouted, "The police station!"

Leighton muttered a few curses, grabbed his gun, and stood to give chase. But as he rose, the lingering effects of the taser shock made him stagger. He reached for the desk to steady himself, pressing right on the bite wound on his hand.

This only fueled Leighton’s rage. ’When have I ever been humiliated like this?’

Little Black quickly grabbed him. "Boss, this is Zone 19. There’s not much we can do about Upper District People like him. Besides, he paid the bail money without any fuss."

Leighton slapped him on the head a few times. "You’re a damn cop! What are you so afraid of some guy from the Upper District for?!"

Little Black covered his head. "Boss, stop hitting me! I know I was wrong. So, what are we going to do about him?"

Little Black glanced at the stack of files on the desk. "Boss, I’m getting the feeling he was just here to get information out of us."

"You think I couldn’t tell?" Leighton sat back down and grabbed the files, flipping through them.

He gave the files for the fox and the pup a cursory glance before tossing them aside, then picked up Gu Ning’s file for a closer look.

Blank photo, unknown clan affiliation...

This was beyond suspicious.

That pair of dark, glistening eyes flashed through Leighton’s mind again.

He ran a hand through his hair, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.

"This Mixed Breed," Leighton said, handing Gu Ning’s file to Little Black. He then unstrapped his terminal and gave it to him as well. "Use my clearance level and run another search."

Little Black took the terminal. "Yes, Boss."

「Half an hour later.」

Little Black handed him several documents, his face a picture of amazement.

Leighton put down his topical spray and took the papers.

The contents were almost identical to Gu Ning’s first file. The only difference was that the garbled code for her clan affiliation had changed.

Little Black asked, "Boss, could this Mixed Breed be related to some big shot from the Upper District?"

Leighton compared the files. "You’ve been watching too many dramas; it’s rotted your brain. That red-furred fox is from Group 1 of a major clan in the Second District. Information on Mixed Breeds is public. What’s there to hide?"

Little Black scratched his head. "Then what’s the deal with this one?"

Leighton furrowed his brow. This was the first time he had ever seen a situation like this.

"Find a couple of guys," Leighton ordered Little Black. "And put a tail on them."