Chapter 409: Graceful Scaling
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The job of the inspection team was just to detect and report threats. The follow-up actions didn’t concern Fang Zhao and the others. Whale Island Region still had their internal police department and relevant personnel to handle the next step of the investigations. Fang Zhao learnt from Inspection Team Captain Zhao Chao about the culprit being apprehended only the next afternoon. The cylinder that had been found by Curly Hair was separated into two compartments. One part was deodorizer while the other was filled with a substance that could be used to manufacture explosives.
This had been expected to deceive dog noses and portable sensor apparatuses. The idea to hide it in an unexpected place like a dog toilet was even better. After all, there was a saying that the most dangerous place was the safest. Who would expect that something would be hidden in a toilet for service dogs? When the time was right, the designated personnel could have retrieved it to manufacture an explosive.
During planning, the perpetrators probably never imagined that a dog would still be able to sniff it out with such a packaging.
However, from the information received, it could be deduced that this object had been placed there beforehand as there was no way it would have passed the many layers of high-level security checks in the airport during this period. It could be confirmed that there were both domestic and foreign conspirators. Two foreigners had been apprehended. No one knew how many others were hiding within the island and avoiding capture.
“Everyone must be cautious these few days. Search and sweep the areas meticulously. Do not overlook a single suspicious thing!” Captain Zhao Chao had gathered the team members for a meeting. Those that were on duty would also get to see the recorded logs/minutes of these meeting.
After exhorting once again, Zhao Chao got Fang Zhao to stay behind to have a word with him.
“Fang Zhao, you have worked hard in bringing Curly Hair all over to many areas.”
Curly Hair receiving a merit had come as a huge surprise to Zhao Chao, but at the same time, he could now see why Curly Hair was recommended here despite being a pet. This dog was really capable! Indeed, he deserved to be known as the dog that had caused Muzhou’s sheep herding competitions to change their rules!
Regardless of whether he joined the anti-smuggling bureaus of various large spaceports or special combat departments, this sort of dog would be extremely welcomed!
Being with Fang Zhao was a waste of its talent!
Furthermore, it had been a shepherd dog before and wouldn’t be that staunch. What a pity!
Fang Zhao’s ears were really good, but having good hearing didn’t mean that he could do everything. He still had to rely on the dog. However, Zhao Chao also knew those who had recommended Curly Hair and Fang Zhao surely had sights on Curly Hair long ago. However, it was impossible to make Fang Zhao part with Curly Hair.
Now, he could only assign Fang Zhao more tasks. It couldn’t be helped. His dog was just too impressive. The capable ones did the most work.
“Under the current circumstances, the security equipment at the airport can’t possibly be moved to every single building. There are many places that aren’t convenient to search or have limitations. Curly Hair’s nose is really sensitive. I will need you to bring him around to more places on behalf of the team. Of course, if you have any additional requests, I will try my best to help satisfy them.”
“Captain,” Fang Zhao said.
“What?”
“Can we increase our rations?”
“… Increase!” Special times called for special measures. With gritted teeth, Zhao Chao went over the team’s vets and approved additional food for both dog and human.
After, Zhao Chao was still a little uneasy and reminded Fang Zhao, “I know that you can really eat; however, your dog might not necessarily be the same as you. If you ever find that he is unwell, make sure you send him to our vets right away.”
“Understood.” Fang Zhao nodded.
“Also, watch him carefully and don’t let him eat everything he wishes to. Not all food that we eat can be fed to dogs. Even in small amounts, some things are harmful to dogs.”
“Got it. I will watch him carefully,” Fang Zhao replied.
“It’s all good if you know.” Zhao Chao recalled that Fang Zhao had kept this dog for quite a long time already. He probably already understood all the fundamentals of keeping a dog. Seeing that Fang Zhao already seemed aware of all the information, Zhao Chao felt more relieved. In addition, people who could enter Whale Island Region weren’t bumpkins. They wouldn’t litter or toss random things around. There wouldn’t be that much that Curly Hair could eat indiscriminately.
Thus, Zhao Chao relaxed.
The specially approved additional food arrived quickly, and Fang Zhao gave his own share to Curly Hair. He could go to the dining hall when he got hungry.
With the increase in food, Curly Hair’s mood improved, and he no longer stared at the bowls of other dogs.
Instructions from the top were to give Fang Zhao additional assignments. Before Fang Zhao even accepted, Zhao Chao had already transferred seven men over. Among them, five were similar in age to Fang Zhao, and the other two were somewhat older. Zhao Chao had his own considerations when deciding on such arrangements. Fang Zhao didn’t have too many qualifications, but leading young team members was alright. However, he wouldn’t be able to lead a more experienced and older team. Zhao Chao had also transferred in the two older members because he was worried that the youngsters in the team lacked experience and might not know how to react in tough situations.
On the second day of the Whale Island Conference, at around 3 PM, Fang Zhao was working overtime leading the squad to patrol buildings when they received a group notification from Zhao Chao. “Suspicious person spotted at the southeast corner! Currently headed in the direction of block fifteen!”
The area Fang Zhao was situated at was in Whale Island’s southeast region.
The Inspection Team members that received the message hurriedly headed over.
The “suspicious person” Zhao Chao mentioned was able infiltrate Whale Island, avoid monitors and Whale Island guards, and successfully evade capture. In short, he had some ability. What Zhao Chao meant in his messages was for the Inspection Team personnel on duty in the southeast region to head over to assist the Whale Island Guard in capturing the suspect.
Fang Zhao’s small squad wasn’t the closest, but they were within range. They had already completed their patrol of the few blocks without finding anything out of the ordinary, so they headed in the direction where Zhao Chao had said.
After running for a short while, Fang Zhao’s squad came to a fence that had been temporarily set up for the conference period. Taking a straight path to where the suspicious character was spotted wasn’t considered far but going around the fence would take up quite some time.
One of the older squad members pointed towards the left decisively. “Let’s go around this way—”
He hadn’t finished his sentence when he saw that Fang Zhao had already climbed over to the other side. In the blink of an eye, Fang Zhao had scaled the five meter tall perimeter fence and was already on the other side.
Two young squad members behind Fang Zhao also started to follow and climb, but they slid down when they tried.
Other squad members who were following behind and about to climb: “…”
“Is there equipment? This sort of defensive perimeter fence is really difficult to climb!” One of the squad members that had slid down exclaimed. If he hadn’t tried it for himself, he would really have thought that it would be a breeze to scale this sort of fence! His fingers had nearly snapped!
“The design of the fence and the paint used makes it really difficult to climb.”
Even a temporary fence like this couldn’t be so easily scaled. It was still alright with equipment, but trying to climb it barehanded was really too difficult. Perhaps a few older squad members would be able to succeed after trying it a few times, but nobody could guarantee being able to climb over the fence so smoothly like Fang Zhao.
Those transferred to Fang Zhao’s squad were slightly younger. They could still train dogs and their individual abilities were considered above average. The two older members had more experience but were slightly weaker in individual ability. Furthermore, even if they could climb, they also couldn’t be like Fang Zhao and leave their dogs behind to operate individually.
Having already gotten to the other side, Fang Zhao told his squad members, “I will head over. You guys go around and catch up!”
One of the older squad members replied, “Understood! You head on first. I will help you bring your dog—”
He hadn’t finished speaking when the squad members discovered that Curly Hair had already tunneled his way through a narrow crack at the bottom of the fence. Curly Hair was already standing beside Fang Zhao.
The other squad members: “…”
Who designed this perimeter fence?! Why is there a crack at the bottom?!
Only a small dog like Curly Hair could manage to squeeze through that narrow crack. It was really too difficult for the other squad members. Even if they were small enough to squeeze through, they couldn’t leave their dogs behind. In this small squad, all of them had medium or large-sized dogs!
Now wasn’t the time to be rueful. They still had to go catch a suspect. Because they could neither scale the fence nor squeeze through the crack, the squad members could only quickly make their way around. At least this was still more efficient then trying to force their way through the fence.
But how had Fang Zhao scaled the fence so skillfully? Wasn’t he a youngster who mainly dabbled in art?