Chapter 3: 003 The Adjudicator

“Good evening, Lord Xie.” A low voice sounded. Though it said ‘Good evening,’ the voice was utterly devoid of emotion.

The Gray Wolf bowed its head slightly. At its neck, a Light Brain hidden beneath the thick fur lit up, and a voice emerged: “Good evening, Adjudicator.”

Despite an imperceptible electronic crackle, the voice sounded like clashing ice shards—cold, sharp, rational.

The man before him nodded and continued, “How is your recovery?”

Xie Gewen knew the Adjudicator wasn’t asking about his physical injuries, but his mental state. He replied, “After the injury, the sense of Rampage persisted, but after being healed by the Medical Device, my condition has remained stable.”

The man made a non-committal sound, though both were aware that Medical Devices didn’t have the power to calm a Beastman.

“Since you are recovering well, it might be advisable to stay and observe the situation further,” the man proposed.

His implication was…

Xie Gewen’s beast eyes fixed on the man. “Does Your Excellency believe the new Executor requires supervision?”

The man nodded, stating directly, “Ming Ruan’s behavior is inconsistent. Maintain discretion when interacting with him.”

As the Adjudicator, the overall head of the 12 Sanatorium Zones, he naturally knew the background of each Executor better than Xie Gewen—including Ming Ruan’s.

Xie Gewen lowered his eyes. “Understood.”

A man and a wolf stood face to face, falling into silence.

Xie Gewen gradually grew puzzled. Then the man suddenly asked, “Was the food good?”

Xie Gewen: “…?”

Before he could answer, the man reached up again to adjust his cap brim, nodded at him, and simply turned and left.

As the Adjudicator turned, Xie Gewen vaguely glimpsed what seemed like a bit of fluff poking out from under the man’s usually immaculate Military Cap.

Just as Xie Gewen was focusing his eyes to look closer, the door he’d shut behind him suddenly swung open.

Ming Ruan, half-asleep, had woken to the alarm he’d set on his Light Brain. Muddling out of bed, he planned to check on the Gray Wolf’s condition, as scheduled.

But after searching the Living Room, he didn’t find a single strand of wolf fur.

Ming Ruan immediately snapped awake and rushed out to look.

Only when he saw the Gray Wolf standing safely by the door did he breathe a sigh of relief.

“What’s wrong, Baby? Why did you suddenly come outside?” Ming Ruan walked over, casually reaching out to pat the Gray Wolf’s head.

Xie Gewen stepped back, avoiding him.

Ming Ruan’s hand met empty air, only the night wind flowing through his fingers.

He finally realized: ever since he’d finished brushing the Gray Wolf, he hadn’t managed to touch the fluffy fur even once.

Turning his head, he saw the Gray Wolf, ignoring him, walk back inside on its own and return to its spot.

Why did it feel distant again after just one nap?

Ming Ruan remained in this slightly dejected, dazed state until he fell asleep.

Neither he nor the Gray Wolf noticed that later, in the deep of the night, a massive silhouette crouched outside Ming Ruan’s window. A pair of golden beast eyes stared through the glass, watching Ming Ruan for a very long time.

Early morning.

The camera automatically switched on when the Light Brain detected the Executor was dressed and ready.

【Why are there still so many people here?】

【Don’t tell me you guys are starting to like Ming Ruan?】

【?? What bull is that commenter spouting?】

【I have to keep an eye on Ming Ruan. Who knows what stunt he’ll pull next?】

【Look up at the live room name, people. We’re all just here to supervise.】

The Ming Ruan being supervised had long forgotten last night’s dejection. He was giving himself a motivational speech: I successfully got through my first day as Executor! Good job, me!

Ming Ruan felt this job was great. Aside from the boss being a bit cold and seemingly not fond of small animals, everything else about it was perfect. He decided he’d work hard to finish the remaining 29 days of his probationary period, get officially hired, and just retire here!

Today’s first task was… sending the Gray Wolf back to the Outdoor Zone.

A12 Sanatorium Zone was broadly divided into two types of areas: the residence where the Executor lived, and the Outdoor Zone. The Outdoor Zone was a region specifically simulated for the animals’ convenience, featuring various terrains and climates.

Ming Ruan had reasoned it out. Perhaps the Gray Wolf simply wasn’t suited to living in a human dwelling. Maybe it had wanted to leave in the middle of the night but hadn’t for various reasons.

You can’t force a melon off its vine.

Ming Ruan called for the Flying Sedan via his Light Brain and walked out of the bedroom.

The Gray Wolf was sitting upright by the window, looking outside. Hearing Ming Ruan’s movements, it turned its head.

Its entire coat was neat and smooth, without a single hair out of place. Sitting by the window, glancing back over its shoulder, Ming Ruan somehow perceived an air of refined, restrained grace emanating from it.

“Morning, Baby! Come on.” Ming Ruan waved at him.

After just a day together, Xie Gewen was almost getting used to this form of address.

He stood up, shook out his fur, and deliberately walked to Ming Ruan’s side, tilting his head to look at him: Forest Patrol?

Forest Patrol was one of the Executor’s duties.

Its nature was akin to a walk-through, ensuring awareness of the Beastmen’s conditions and needs in each zone.

“So good, so good.” Ming Ruan didn’t try to pet the Gray Wolf again, just led him out the main door to the Flying Sedan.

While opening the door of the Flying Sedan for the Gray Wolf, he asked, “Is it okay if I drop you off at the Forest Zone? Can you find your way home?”

Home?

Was he… letting him go?

Xie Gewen, who was stepping onto the Flying Sedan, stopped and slowly pulled his paw back.

The live room viewers also understood.

【Unbelievable, he’s willing to let him go? Not going to try and hook him?】

【He just couldn’t stand the Beastman’s beast form anymore, that’s normal.】

【Well, at least he has some self-awareness. I thought he was going to cling onto him forever. Can’t you see the Council Speaker doesn’t even want to be around him?】

【On his second day, he’s finally done something satisfying.】

Amid everyone’s expectations.

Xie Gewen stopped moving.

As if he suddenly couldn’t understand human speech, he sat very properly on the ground, simply looking at Ming Ruan.

Ming Ruan had already gotten into the Flying Sedan. He waited a while, realized the Gray Wolf hadn’t followed, climbed back out, and saw him sitting still. Puzzled, he asked, “What’s wrong, Baby?”

Xie Gewen suddenly felt the Adjudicator’s words last night had merit.

Ming Ruan’s behavior was strange.

Using odd terms of endearment for him while doing things that moved him, and even trying to make some inappropriate, overly intimate gestures.

Yet now, suddenly, insisting he leave.

Xie Gewen felt this behavior was somewhat familiar but couldn’t quite place it for a moment.

When the Council Speaker couldn’t figure something out, that something became very important.

Xie Gewen grew more cautious, and simultaneously more resolute: he would stay and supervise Ming Ruan!

Ming Ruan pondered but couldn’t grasp the Gray Wolf’s meaning.

But using simpler logic, when a cat at a pet store doesn’t want a bath, or a dog doesn’t want to be caged, they get that same immovable, mountain-like posture.

“You don’t want to go back?” Ming Ruan probed. “Want to go back to the forest? Or… do you want to keep living here with me?”

Apologies, but what did ‘keep living here with me’ mean?

That sounded extremely…

The Gray Wolf’s brow furrowed deeply. It shot Ming Ruan a glance, then simply stood up and walked back towards the house.

【??? I can’t figure this out.】

【What the hell, Xie Gewen, you—】

【Ah? Why isn’t the Council Speaker leaving?】

【Xie Gewen, you didn’t just get won over that easily, did you?】

Ming Ruan’s eyes instantly sparkled, and a huge smile bloomed on his face. His curved eyes looked like they would burst with happy stars.

He knew it! He was blessed by the fluffballs! No little or big fluffball could escape!

He hopped and skipped after the Gray Wolf back into the house, sidling up to his ear with a chuckle. “Thank you, Baby! From today on, you’re my first good friend here!”

Hey, small animals are just like little kids; you have to gently praise and coax them.

And wasn’t the Gray Wolf his first friend in the Interstellar world?

Xie Gewen stared fixedly at a tree outside the window, carefully studying it.

Good friend, how childish.

He lowered his eyes, involuntarily remembering the merciless scolding and condemnation of Ming Ruan he’d seen on StarNet.

…Did he really not have a single friend before?

Ming Ruan was unaware of the shift in Xie Gewen’s perception of him.

He went to the kitchen, sliced a large chunk of raw meat into a continuous, unbroken strip, then cracked two raw eggs and mixed them in.

Since the plan to send the Gray Wolf back to the forest was off, the freed-up morning time was enough for them to have a proper breakfast!

He’d just let the Gray Wolf make do for this morning; at lunch, during Forest Patrol, he’d let him hunt!

After breakfast, according to the Executor tips on his Light Brain, today also included a Forest Patrol task.

He wondered if he’d meet any new fluffy friends.

Just as he was thinking this, a message popped up on Ming Ruan’s Light Brain.

[A-Class Group 12 Sanatorium Zone convening a temporary meeting. All Executors, please prepare. The meeting will begin in five minutes. Meeting start countdown: 4:59:58]

What, a group meeting!

The sudden addition of a group meeting meant Ming Ruan’s prepared egg-mixed meat strips didn’t have time for plating. He took the whole basin out directly, placed it on the coffee table with a thud, startling the Gray Wolf into turning its head.

“Baby, eat first! I have a meeting!”

Ming Ruan pattered over to the Gray Wolf, crouched down to look him in the eyes, finished speaking, and dashed back into the bedroom without even waiting for the wolf’s reaction.

He hurriedly straightened his appearance just as the meeting countdown chimed zero.

The next moment, several identical blue figures with no distinct features appeared around Ming Ruan. Each one had [A[Number] District Executor] displayed above its head.

Counting them carefully, exactly eleven people.

Ming Ruan felt the lively chatting atmosphere of these eleven people noticeably pause when he appeared, and they all turned toward him.

“A12 District Executor has arrived,” someone said with a laugh.

“I’ve heard of him, the young master of the Ming family. Haha, never thought the young master would have to come out and work,” another chimed in.

Someone else asked with feigned concern, “I heard you saved Lord Xie on your first day—a great feat! How is it, getting along with him?”

When he finished, the others all suddenly burst out laughing.

Ming Ruan felt the atmosphere was a little strange, but on closer inspection, it also seemed very harmonious.

He even found himself distracted for a moment, wondering: was the Gray Wolf’s name ‘Xie’ something? Or was it just ‘Lord Xie’?

Before he could figure it out, another blue figure appeared among the group.

Ming Ruan saw only three words above its head: [Adjudicator]

Everyone’s laughter stopped abruptly. One by one, they placed a hand over their chest and bowed. “Good day, Adjudicator.”

Ming Ruan hurriedly mimicked the gesture, also saying, “Good day, Adjudicator.”

A barely audible, low chuckle drifted through the air.

And Ming Ruan actually heard it.

“This temporary meeting is convened…”

Hearing the Adjudicator begin official business, Ming Ruan breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his hand.

He glanced at his left hand.

Ming Ruan was horrified!

Had he just, maybe, used his left hand to touch the right side of his chest?!

How could this happen!

Ming Ruan awkwardly scraped the floor for a while before barely managing to focus his attention back on the meeting.

The reason for the meeting was that during a morning sweep of the A7 Sanatorium Zone, it was discovered that an animal supposed to belong to A7 could suddenly no longer be tracked within the area.

Preliminary calculations classified it as a Cross-District Incident.

Ming Ruan didn’t know the inner logic of the Sanatorium Zones’ divisions. He only understood it like pet store sections: cats on one side, dogs on the other.

If a little animal wandered into another area, that really was an urgent matter.

“…Because the missing individual was not wearing a Light Brain, all Executors need to strengthen their patrols. That is all. Dismissed.”

As the Adjudicator finished speaking, amid everyone’s ritual farewells, he suddenly walked with clear direction towards Ming Ruan.

In an instant, Ming Ruan could actually feel the gazes landing on him from those featureless blue virtual figures.

The Adjudicator’s blue form strode forward with perfectly measured steps, finally stopping right in front of Ming Ruan.

“A12 District’s new Executor,” he singled out.