Chapter 501 - The Zoog"s Anatomy
The half a month flew by quickly. Summer was reaching its end. After much commotion, the 100000 Zoogs completed their training at Mo Bei. The most difficult thing for them was sign language, it was a new system of language designed specifically for the Zoogs by language experts all over the world. The Zoog"s front paws were like claws but they were ambidextrous. They could use their paws dexterously to perform multiple actions, this gave plenty of room for the sign language experts to come up with the system. This sign language was learnable by humans as well, in fact members all over the world were attending cla.s.ses alongside the Zoogs, so that they could fulfil the role of translators in the future.
However, this training was extremely exhausting for the Zoogs. These signs lacked rhythm and had no grace at all. Clearly they were designed by a race who commonly communicated with their mouths. They knew nothing about sign language but decided to teach these masters at sign language a new language system… This was like the cats teaching people how to sing. However, to ensure the continued supply of chicken thighs, the Zoogs studied hard. Furthermore, Phecda promised that the 2000 Zoogs who mastered the language the best would be promoted to Official Translators. They would be a.s.signed a sub unit of 50 Zoogs. Basically they would be the team leaders. The sound of it was prestigious.
"That is not an official, it just carries the term in its name!" Lucky hurried to correct. "I am the only official here, do not get that mixed up." However, Lucky still could not stop the wheels of history from rolling forward and crushing his fatty body. At the oath-taking rally after they completed their training, the fat Zoogs had a new perspective regarding Lucky, their vice leader. At the rally, there were leaders of the Spell Department, Elder Tong as well as leader of the Zoog Department, Han Mingwei, they did not need other humans to carry them or feed them food. From then on, Lucky"s special treatment disappeared.
Han Mingwei was a man in his 40s. He was an experienced agent in managerial post and information collection. This Zoog army was undeniably a huge power but how to manipulate them, that was on Han Mingwei"s shoulders. Lucky, as the vice leader, Phecda did not have much hope for him. Mascot, friendship amba.s.sador, that were Lucky"s roles. However, Lucky still had his unique position because he was the only Zoog who could communicate with Gu Jun and Wu Siyu directly. He knew what was most important.
"If you can find the cultists, then great, if not, it doesn"t matter…" Lucky grumbled to his kin. "But abnormal creatures, flying ones, underground ones, swimming ones, dead ones, live ones, find as many as you can. The bigger the better. Or else… we"ll be in serious danger…."
Initially the fat Zoogs did not believe him. They thought Lucky was just trying to scare them. Lucky wanted to continue to fool them like how he did before. It was not until a month later when several fat Zoogs were invited by Gu Jun to join him inside a lab that they realized how wrong they were. The nightmare man wore a white coat, gloves and mask. He had items like a ruler and scale. He weighed, pinched, touched and measured them. He even cruelly cut off a patch of fur on their back… "I want to find out how many bones a Zoog has." Gu Jun explained. "I am drawing the Zoog anatomy." He showed them his half-finished product. On the paper, there was a monster formed from a pile of white bones, it had no skin and flesh!
"How many… bones we Zoogs have, what does that have to do with you?" A studious Zoog asked. Gu Jun began an impromptu cla.s.s. He lectured them about autopsy science, there were systematic anatomy and regional anatomy, which one would they be interested to learn more about? The Zoogs quickly waved their hands no. They had no interest in anatomy! They had never had any interest in that…
When they left the scary lab that day, their legs were shaking. The horrible picture of the bony Zoog refused to leave their minds. When they returned to base, they instantly shared the news with all their friends as if the more Zoogs were drawn into this abyss, the safer they"d be. The other Zoogs did the same thing so the news spread quickly and every Zoog knew about it. This time Lucky was not lying to them. If they did not find any abnormal creatures soon, they"d be the one on the autopsy table.
"No way?" A fat Zoog said, "As long as we are alive, the Nightmare Man will have no reason to dissect us…"
"Dumb Zoog! Do you think you can live if the nightmare man wants you to die? Choking on chicken bones, scared by cats… death is the nightmare man"s weapon! I"m still so young, am I going to die here and have my bones toyed by the nightmare man?"
"Don"t make it sound so scary, you"re making me nervous!"
"At least, if you die, you"ll know why…"
So their only solution was to find abnormal creatures for Gu Jun to dissect. But that was more dangerous than locating cultists. Abnormal creatures knew how to hide and had a more sensitive nose than human beings.
A pall of sadness spread among the Zoogs. A rumour even spread that the humans gave them so many chicken thighs because they wanted to fatten them up before they were cut open. They were so scared. Therefore, when Yu Chi and Feng Peiqian appeared to request 30000 Zoogs to join them at Mysterium World, the Zoogs volunteered actively. This was their Noah"s Ark. This surprised Han Mingwei, 90 percent of the Zoogs wanted to go to the Mysterium World.
This was because the Zoog Department had done a quick survey when the Zoogs first arrived at Earth. How many of them wanted to go to the Mysterium World? Since Mysterium World had no channels that led to Dreamlands, hence no chance of returning, even though Mysterium provided better privileges, none of the Zoogs wanted to go. So what changed? From the latest survey, the reason was… they wanted to stay away from Gu Jun.
In the end, 30000 Zoogs followed Yu Chi"s team and crossed the Gate of In-between. 60000 plus Zoogs were spread all over the world and started their search for abnormal creatures and cultists. They worked hard because the knife was dangling over their necks.
During the oath-taking rally in August, 100000 Zoogs gathered at the pavilion. They tapped their round bellies at the same time, it was quite a scene but in early September, there were only 1000 Zoogs left at Mo Bei.. They were the unfortunate ones who had to stick around Gu Jun but the Zoog closest to the Nightmare Man was still Lucky.