Chapter 1301: The Monkey's Scent

"Director, among the visitors sent by Hui-6 Agricultural Department are two honeybee cultivation research specialists. They want to enter the apiaries within your territory to conduct on-site testing of various data on the evolution of the bee-aphid flies."

The potatoes planted at Center No. 9 are growing splendidly. Various Hui City bases have sent people to visit and study, with the time set for this morning. Since Xia Qing needs to continue executing the Evolution Forest patrol mission, she has Deputy Director of Center No. 9 Yue Haiying handle the reception.

In terms of position, these people all outrank Xia Qing, Yue Haiying, and Yan Yue, so when they proposed investigating Territory No. 3, Yan Yue had no way to refuse directly and could only request instructions from Xia Qing, who was out on a mission.

Xia Qing, who was lying on the helicopter providing overwatch for Guagua with a sniper rifle, asked calmly, "Have they already been to Territory No. 1 and Territory No. 2?"

Among the personnel Hui-6 sent to study potato cultivation are beekeeping specialists. They might be after the Green Light bees that the Green Dragon Squad exchanged with Hui-6, or they might be after her and Territory No. 3. Xia Qing needs to clarify this point first.

Yan Yue replied, "I submitted applications to Territory No. 1 and Territory No. 2 on their behalf, and entry permits have been granted. They are planning to head over now."

The beekeeping greenhouses in those two territories are more than enough for sampling and testing. The fact that they still proposed entering her territory means their target is likely the latter.

Xia Qing replied calmly, "Territory No. 3 entry is not permitted."

"Copy that."

Guagua used its claws to grab the sample bag and flew back inside the helicopter. Xia Qing took out the feces, soil, and water samples collected by the Broken-Waist Wolf and had Seeing Xin Yu conduct testing. She called Chen Cheng, who was guarding Territory No. 3, to explain the situation and then issued an order: "If anyone dares to force their way in, beat them out directly."

Zhang San, who overheard this sentence through the real-time surveillance, reminded her coldly, "What does the Territory Law say about that?"

Xia Qing immediately corrected herself, "Anyone who dares to force their way in gets warned first. If they don't heed the warning, then beat them out."

"Understood! Don't worry, Sister Qing. If anyone dares to trespass into Territory No. 3, I'll warn them first, then take action, and then make them compensate for the territory's losses." Chen Cheng responded firmly. With the Lord's authorization, he was the acting proxy of Territory No. 3. Anyone who dared to trespass into the territory was asking for death.

Losses? Anyone who came in polluted Territory No. 3's soil and trampled its grass flat—of course they had to compensate!

After Xia Qing hung up the phone, Seeing Xin Yu, who was testing the samples, said softly, "It looks like the people from Hui-6 are after you."

Xia Qing responded, "If I were in the territory, letting them in for a look around wouldn't be a big deal. But if I'm not here, the Boss and Wolf Lao Er will get very nervous, and accidents might happen."

If the people who entered had some kind of potion sprayed on them, or behaved abnormally inside Territory No. 3, the Boss and Wolf Lao Er, whose brain-evolution levels aren't very high, could easily fall victim. Once the two of them got angry and attacked the intruders, Dajiang and Chen Cheng simply couldn't hold them back.

Seeing Xin Yu nodded, "Should I send Xiaoyu to patrol the airspace above Territory No. 3?"

The trained bird of Territory No. 8, the white-bellied sea eagle Xiaoyu, didn't come along on this mission.

"No need. Just have Tang Huai stall them."

Xia Qing lowered her head and sent Tang Huai a message. She quickly received his reply: Don't worry, Sister Qing. Before you get back, they won't leave Territory No. 2.

After Xia Qing replied "Thanks," she put away her phone.

Beard Feng chuckled, "Sister Qing picked the right person. Tang Huai's ability to wrangle and stall is first-rate—perfect for this kind of mission."

Watching Huo Zhun smacked his lips, beginning to miss the days when Tang Huai and Beard Feng argued in the Lord's channel while he listened to the show from Territory No. 7.

After reviewing the test report, Zhang San spoke up, "This rhino's condition has improved. It doesn't need any more medication."

"Copy that." After Xia Qing called the Broken-Waist Wolf by phone, she headed to the next patient's location.

The task squad circled over the Evolution Forest in northern, western, and southern Hui-3, rechecking the physical conditions of the large beasts infected with the evolved anaerobic bacteria discovered yesterday. By the time they returned to the territory, it was already 4 p. m.

The visitor vehicles had already returned to the safe zone, but the next morning, the two Hui-6 specialists called again, applying to enter the Territory No. 3 apiaries to obtain first-hand testing data.

Their reasoning was very solid: the Territory No. 3 apiaries were where the evolved bee-aphid flies were first discovered.

This time Xia Qing didn't refuse. "Thank you for your trouble. Would 2:30 p. m. work?"

"Yes, of course. Sorry to trouble you, Director Xia." The Hui-6 beekeeping specialists were extremely modest and respectful in their attitude.

After hanging up the phone, Xia Qing asked over the walkie-talkie, "Third Brother, are you there?"

After a two-minute pause, Zhang San came online weakly, "Speak."

Xia Qing informed him about the Hui-6 base specialists, then asked, "Do the researchers in your territory want to come along too?"

Bundle them together—saves trouble.

"Sure." Zhang San replied lazily, "I'll have them go over this afternoon. Yin Jie from Territory No. 1, Tang Huai from Territory No. 2, are you there?"

Tang Huai and Yin Jie came online immediately.

Zhang San explained that the Territory No. 7 researchers were going to conduct a symbiotic study on honeybees and bee-aphid flies, and applied for the researchers' permission to enter these two territories. "Just two or three people. Barring any emergencies, they'll go once every three days for the next half month, with each entry lasting no more than half an hour."

Tang Huai and Yin Jie agreed immediately. Compared to the Hui-6 specialists, they naturally trusted the Territory No. 7 researchers more.

With strangers coming, Xia Qing naturally had to make preparations. She had Wolf Lao Er return to Mount No. 55 for two days, then instructed Sheep Boss to keep an eye on Little Yellow Ox, and Does Daigua to watch Does Ergua. She herself made thorough preparations to handle this afternoon's group of people.

At 2:25 p. m., two cars stopped at the south gate of Territory No. 3. The Territory No. 7 and Hui-6 specialists had arrived at the same time.

At 2:30 p. m., Xia Qing opened the south gate right on time.

Zhang Song, supported by a special-ops team member, was the first to step out of the car and greeted Xia Qing enthusiastically, "Sister Qing, I'm back!"

Zhang Song didn't fall, but Zhang Han, who got out of the car behind him, got his feet tangled by Zhang Song's shout of "Sister Qing" and fell awkwardly against the side of the car.

Xia Qing...

The Broken-Waist Wolf, lying on Mount No. 49 and watching this scene, opened its mouth and yawned.

Zhang Song introduced with a smile, "Sister Qing, this is my project team member Zhang Han. He does insect research."

Zhang Han raised a hand to adjust the protective mask on his head, pretended nothing had happened just now, and greeted Xia Qing, "Sis... ter Qing, sorry to trouble you."

Xia Qing nodded and looked at the two people getting out of the other car. Before they could speak, Tang Huai cheerfully came over, "Sister Qing, these are Professor Zhang and Professor Wang from Hui-6 who specialize in insect research. Not only do they have solid theoretical knowledge, they also have very rich practical experience. I studied with them yesterday and benefited a lot. Can I go in with them?"

Hearing Tang Huai's words, half of Professor Zhang's face behind the protective mask showed a pained expression, while Professor Wang wore a smile, looking perfectly mild.

The pained one isn't necessarily truly pained, and the mild one isn't necessarily truly mild. The seemingly innocent Zhang Han certainly isn't truly innocent either. Xia Qing nodded expressionlessly, stepped aside from the gate, and made an inviting gesture.

After entering the territory, Professor Wang lifted his nose and sniffed, "Director Xia's place—why does it smell like a monkey?"