Chapter 1262: Incoming Call

In just a few short minutes, the beasts of prey in the Evolution Forests of Hui-1, Hui-3, and Hui-5 all began to howl. The human squads in the Evolution Forests immediately halted their missions, reported to base, and asked what had happened.

On the electronic screen inside the command room of Block 5, Sealed Zone 28, Hui-1, an electronic map dotted with several dozen red markers spread out.

The disaster-control assistant reported, "This was forwarded from the Hui City main base. As of 14:28, a total of twenty-eight packs of beasts of prey—including tigers, wolves, bears, leopards, hyenas, and six species of raptors—in the Evolution Forests of Hui-1, Hui-3, and Hui-5 have suddenly begun howling without having been attacked. The seismological bureau has not detected any obvious anomalies, so the main base suspects this beast disturbance was triggered by the southern wolf pack of Hui-3, and has sent you an inquiry."

"Reply to the main base: within this disaster-control zone, no one has engaged in direct conflict with the southern wolf pack. Order all disaster-control reconnaissance planes and helicopters to climb to two thousand meters, recall the drones, and have every disaster-control squad heighten its guard."

After disaster-control commander Zhang San issued the order, he lowered his head and sent Xia Qing a message, asking her to find out the cause of the beasts' disturbance in each area as quickly as possible.

After the helicopter climbed higher, the howling from the wolves on Mountain 29 and the howling of the northern Hui-3 wolf pack from the phone clearly reached Xia Qing's ears as she was on a call with Broken-Waist Wolf.

Seeing the message from her idol, Xia Qing quickly typed a reply: Based on the calls, the northern wolf pack is declaring territorial sovereignty; the southern wolf pack is expressing anger. Neither currently shows any intent to fight. I'll check on the other beast groups right away.

Why can Xia Qing hear the northern wolf pack howling? Who is she asking? Broken-Waist?

Zhang San put away his phone and ordered, "Command every squad to continue disaster-control missions, do not clash with the wolf packs, and have the helicopters maintain high-altitude operations for now."

At the best sniping spot on top of the sinkhole, Xia Qing, wearing a Bluetooth earpiece, gestured as she asked the dead-serious Broken-Waist Wolf on screen, "Broken-Waist, the Queen is howling now—does it have anything to do with the southern wolf pack?"

Broken-Waist Wolf's face remained deadly serious.

Xia Qing changed her line of questioning. "Why has the Queen started howling—to warn the other beasts, telling them not to get any ideas about your territory?"

After a few seconds of apparent thought, Broken-Waist Wolf pawed at the phone and showed Xia Qing the mountain peak to the southwest.

Xia Qing saw the handsome giant wolf standing on the peak howling even more enthusiastically than the lead wolf, and she understood at once. She immediately pulled out her printed atlas, flipped to the photo of the Western Wolf King, and showed it to Broken-Waist Wolf. "Is it because the Queen heard the Western Wolf King—that's Handsome Giant Wolf's brother—howling, so she started howling too?"

"Why is the Western Wolf King howling? Also warning other beasts not to enter their territory?"

Broken-Waist Wolf briefly showed its little snow-white fang tips, then picked up the phone pouch in its mouth and began to bounce.

Once the phone screen stopped jiggling, Xia Qing once again judged the direction from the shape of the mountain peak on screen. "Broken-Waist, what's going on with Mountain 59?"

Broken-Waist Wolf pawed at the phone, showing Xia Qing the sky.

Xia Qing understood. "The raptors in the raptor territory on the northwest edge of your territory are also patrolling their birds' territory?"

The screen filled with Broken-Waist Wolf's big nose and, below it, its little fang tips. Then this clever fellow raised one paw clad in a protective suit and earnestly wiggled its toes.

Xia Qing asked, "You want me to fly our helicopter back and have it circle over the territory, so those big birds don't invade our territory?"

Broken-Waist Wolf on screen showed four little snow-white fang tips.

Broken-Waist Wolf's request was perfectly reasonable, but Xia Qing couldn't fulfill it. She gestured politely as she explained to Broken-Waist Wolf, "Broken-Waist, you really are an evolved wolf standing at the top of the pyramid—what an excellent idea. But our helicopter is still over at Old Four's place. Five wolves in Old Four's pack have died of poisoning; the toxin has spread and killed a lot of small animals, and Third Brother is directing disaster-control operations from inside the helicopter…"

Broken-Waist Wolf closed its mouth and listened intently.

"…If you find any dead or weakened vultures, you must collect their bodies right away. Broken-Waist, what should you use to collect the bodies of the poisoned vultures?"

Broken-Waist Wolf immediately turned and twisted its body, pulled a packaging bag from its protective-suit pocket with its mouth, and carried it in front of the screen. The brown-grey evolved wolf, the deep-blue sky, and the black packaging bag flapping noisily in the wind gave Xia Qing an indescribable feeling.

Peng Jian, who was standing behind Xia Qing on defense duty, was by now thoroughly rattled by the wind.

Xia Qing took a screenshot before continuing, "Handsome Wolf Brother, you really are a clever wolf standing at the top of Blue Star's pyramid! You got it right—use the packaging bag. Use your paws to move any bodies that might be poisoned; don't use your teeth to bite them. Can Handsome Wolf Brother pass this message along to the Western Wolf Pack? Their territory is closer to Old Four's pack, so they'll be in danger too."

Broken-Waist Wolf, still holding the packaging bag in its mouth, briefly showed its little fang tips, then used its big nose to end the call.

Xia Qing was just about to put her phone away when the screen lit up again—Daigua was video-calling her.

After Xia Qing picked up, a little monkey appeared on screen, wearing a dirty little hat askew and carrying a small backpack.

"Eh?"

Xia Qing asked gently, in soft tones, the little fellow huddled in the dense foliage, "Daigua heard the wolves, bears, and big birds calling and got scared, and wants me to fly the helicopter over to pick you up?"

Mountain 62 was very close to the raptor territory, so Xia Qing could hear the raptors' screeching from Daigua's phone—indeed quite frightening for a little monkey.

Daigua bared its teeth in a grin to show Xia Qing she was right, then let out a string of sounds: "Ah-oo-ee-oh-ah-ay-oh…"

The little fellow was truly frightened, but Xia Qing truly had no way to go pick it up right now. She could only patiently explain the reason. "Daigua, something's happened in Old Four's territory—five of its companions have died of poisoning…"

Daigua closed its mouth and listened with a frightened look on its face.

After the explanation, Xia Qing asked, "Daigua, is Xiong Wang gathering the bear group members and calling you over too?"

The little monkey kept its mouth tightly shut.

"Then Daigua should find a safe place to hide. Once I've dealt with the danger over at Old Four's, I'll call you and fly the helicopter over to pick you up, okay?"

Daigua still had one of her crystal pillars there; the sooner she got it back, the sooner Xia Qing could set her mind at ease.

Huddled on a tree branch, already fully dressed, Daigua's face was still full of terror. It was only a little monkey weighing a dozen jin, one that ate small insects and melons and fruit—very low combat ability. It was scared.

Xia Qing comforted it in soft, gentle tones. "Daigua, hide well and don't go out. When I come to pick you up, I'll bring honey, sweet potatoes, and mealworms, okay?"

The little monkey's face was instantly lit up by the thought of the treats. "Ah!"

After hanging up, before Peng Jian could even open his mouth, Xia Qing immediately opened the surveillance feeds within her own territory to check on the territory and her companions.

The Western Wolf Pack and the Northern Wolf Pack were both howling—the sound would certainly carry to the Northern Zone 1 territory. Non-auditory-evolved humans might not hear it, but the animals within her territory definitely could.