"It's like being completely powerless. Humans, come on, show some backbone..." Meng Lang couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Their weaknesses are obvious and easy to exploit. They might even be sold off, yet they adorably help pay the electric bill...

Here I was thinking of brainwashing Zero, but now it seems I should be more cautious about not being brainwashed myself...

Clearing his complicated thoughts, Meng Lang refocused on the present.

After all, creating a buzz was just the first step; the real goal was "localized dog restrictions"...

Checking the information Zero had gathered, it appeared that Mountain City, at the storm's center, had already fired the first shot for city-wide dog capture.

Several surrounding developed areas were starting to emulate the approach, addressing issues of banned dog ownership and stray dog overpopulation.

Now, if you open Douyin, videos of dog-catching are virtually everywhere.

The time is ripe...

...

"Could this be the handiwork of that one..."

In Jinghai Town, Ning Shisan, wearing a black security uniform and smoking a cigarette, looked at the news on his phone with an unusually odd expression.

All around him were numerous iron cages, inside which dozens of wild dogs were barking incessantly.

Just days ago, he received the task of joining a dog-catching company, only for overwhelming publicity to follow, making anyone naturally suspicious.

Yet, thinking it over, it seemed unlikely.

Using high-tech against a bunch of people is one thing, but against a pack of dogs... seems utterly baffling.

What's the grudge?

"Tsk~" "Elder Cat, more tasks came in; let's go!"

At that moment, a van pulled up in front of the somewhat crude warehouse, and a middle-aged man with a slightly sleazy appearance rolled down the window, calling out to Ning Shisan.

"Coming!"

Ning Shisan stomped out his cigarette and quickly climbed into the slightly rundown van's passenger seat.

"Our task today is the town's elementary school and several main roads to the south. We have to do another round at night...

Damn, either there's no work for a week or two, or all the work piles up at once. What the hell is this!

The town has given us a tight schedule and heavy workload. We won't be getting any rest these days.

For you to just get here at this time, what a stroke of bad luck."

The middle-aged man's nickname was Dark Skin, a "veteran" at this dog-catching company.

Compared to the private dog-catching groups in the gray area, this company, named Jinghai Dog Catching Team, was somewhat more legitimate, being an outsourced team under the city sanitation department...

In general, it was the police department's dog-catching squads that handled unlicensed dog-keeping, illegal dog outings, and such.

Of course, some situations are outsourced, like in small towns such as Jinghai Town.

A mysterious person placed him in this company a few days ago, with no explanation as usual.

The difference from last time was they inexplicably took several vials of his blood, claiming it was for employee health checks.

Putting aside why someone without basic benefits was now getting health checks, our seasoned comrade, Black Cat, had become a glorious professional dog catcher...

"It's alright. There have been too many news reports about rogue dogs biting people recently. The whole country is doing crackdowns. It's probably a temporary hot trend; it won't last long." Ning Shisan grinned.

"Exactly, fixing the problem at the source. But the commotion this time is really big. I heard they even invited a dog-catching team from out of town to help. I've never seen such an operation my whole life.

Well! A nationwide dog-catching campaign, how novel..."

When Dark Skin, after chatting a bit, seemed to be struggling to stay awake and yawned, Ning Shisan handed him a cigar.

"Wow! Good smoke!" Accepting the cigar, Dark Skin gave his new "colleague" a once-over.

"I say, Elder Cat, you don't look like someone from the countryside. What brings you to this line of work, so dirty and tiring?"

"Couldn't make a living back home, and a job's a job wherever you go!"

"Really? On the run from debt? I thought so, hehe. Frankly, I'm in it because I enjoy it. How about we cook one up tonight?"

Dark Skin chuckled knowingly, then smiled slyly.

"Sure, I'll bring good liquor tonight." Ning Shisan laughed.

Thanks to his job, he's encountered all sorts, so mingling with Dark Skin was just par for the course.

While making small talk with Dark Skin, he glanced over the task list for the past few days.

Experimental Elementary School, Qinghe Community, Old District Streets...

His gaze swept over the names but abruptly halted.

Jinghai Welfare Institute!

As expected, the dog-catching was just a smokescreen; the real target was still here!

"Brother Dark Skin, catching stray dogs at the community school makes sense, but even the welfare institute?" Ning Shisan feigned curiosity.

"Why not? The area around Jinghai Welfare Institute has the most strays.

Maybe it's because the old dean likes to take in strays; all the wild dogs in town seem to flock there."

"Oh? Brother Dark Skin, you know the welfare institute's dean?" Ning Shisan feigned surprise.

"Ahem! Not exactly know, just saw her a few times while wandering nearby, got somewhat acquainted.

I see them as poor souls, all orphans and widows. We thieves have our code. I don't go around there anymore after all."

Dark Skin spoke righteously, but Ning Shisan discerned, from his somewhat evasive gaze, that there was more to it.

Hmm! Looks like I'll need to bring an extra bottle or two tonight...

"Cough! Cough, cough, cough!"

"Elder Cat, what's up? You seem fit as a fiddle; why do you cough a lot?"

"Cough! Nothing, just caught a cold lately."

Calmly putting the handkerchief back into his pocket, a flash of red briefly appeared.

With a somewhat desolate look at the passing scenery outside, savoring the sweet bloody taste in his mouth, Ning Shisan couldn't help thinking of Xiao Yue.

If I'm gone, that girl will surely be heartbroken.

I really want to see her stand up again.

But it's a pity...

...

At sunset, with a satisfying haul, Dark Skin beamed, claiming he'd treat the new colleague to an unforgettable hotpot feast, heading straight to the warehouse's backyard.

However, before the somewhat tired Ning Shisan could sit and rest for long, Dark Skin's cursing came from the back.

"Damn it, daring to steal a dog from me! Let me find out who you are, and I'll make you into bar snacks!"

When the bewildered Ning Shisan reached the backyard, he found one of the cages holding dogs had become empty.

"What happened?"

"Some bastard stole that plump dog, which I caught with much effort yesterday, and I had my eyes on it for a long time!" Dark Skin cursed.

"A dog thief?"

Ning Shisan was puzzled, examining the undamaged cage lock.

These dog cages used simple hook locks, where a turning iron hook latched onto a lock catch, making them easy to open but not theft-proof.

But to steal just one from so many dogs and leave, it seemed like a case of someone leaving empty-handed after reaching a treasure trove.

Could it be someone with a gourmet palate like Dark Skin?

With 3,000 stray dogs, and I just take this one?

"Brother Dark Skin, isn't there surveillance in the storeroom? Watching it should reveal what happened, right?"

Ning Shisan pointed to the surveillance camera above as a reminder.

"Oh yeah! We just installed it not long ago, and I totally forgot!" Dark Skin slapped his forehead and rushed to review the footage.

However, when they pulled up footage recorded after their departure, they were instantly dumbfounded.

No figures appeared in the surroundings; only the yellow stray dog in the cage, upon hearing the van's departure, extended a paw.

Whether by sheer luck or adeptness, with a few scrapes, the paw that slipped through the cage actually managed to unhook the lock.

No further explanation was needed for what followed.

It was akin to breaking out, gliding gracefully like a dragon escaping its chains.

"Whoa! This dog is possessed, it's definitely a pro!" Dark Skin gaped at the scene.

The world has its share of intelligent dogs capable of escaping cages, albeit rare.

So, despite the amazement, Dark Skin could only curse his luck, grumbling about finding a new target for his culinary pursuits.

However, as Ning Shisan observed the yellow stray's adept movements, he couldn't shake off the feeling that the dog's gaze at the camera just before leaving...

Carried a hint of disdain?

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