The bus swerved slightly.
The driver tried to stay calm, but the sweat on his forehead betrayed him.
"How long until the next stop?" a voice broke the silence first.
"About five more minutes," someone replied.
Silence returned to the bus.
"Can Firefang Dog smell you? Maybe it can figure out where that thing is," Qiao Sang suddenly said in the quiet.
Before the female student could respond, the broad-faced man standing beside her sneered: "Even if there really is a wild Ghost-type supernatural creature on this bus, are you sure you want to find it while the bus is moving? What if you anger it and something happens—can you take responsibility?"
"Yeah, wait until the next stop to deal with it."
"This needs the inspection department. Let's not make things worse."
"Right, what's the inspection department number? I'll call."
"I think it's 669."
"…That's the control department."
The people on the bus started chattering back and forth.
"It's not a Ghost-type," Qiao Sang said.
"How do you know it isn't?" someone asked.
"You said there was movement, and now you say it isn't—you're messing with us," the broad-faced man shouted.
Qiao Sang looked him directly in the eye and smiled: "Sir, I think you've been picking on me from the start."
The man's eyes widened. "I'm only 24!"
"Sir, your voice is a bit loud," Qiao Sang said, pretending to adjust her ear.
The broad-faced man glared at her, expression ferocious. If not for the Firefang Dog in front of her, he might have acted out right then.
"Why isn't it a Ghost-type?" the female student asked.
"The lady's pet is a Magnet Rat. If there were a Ghost-type around, its tail would be sparking like lightning. But right now, it's hanging straight down," Qiao Sang explained, pointing to the pet on the woman's shoulder.
The girl blinked, recalling that it seemed true.
Magnet Rats respond to unusual magnetic fields. Ghost-types have unique magnetic signatures that can stimulate a Magnet Rat's brain, causing its tail to spark.
But that's textbook knowledge—she never imagined it could be applied in real life so quickly…
"Right, my Magnet Rat does that," the woman next to her nodded, realizing.
Hearing that, the girl no longer hesitated. "You can smell me."
Qiao Sang nodded to Firefang Dog.
Obediently, it leaned toward the girl, sniffing carefully.
Qiao Sang noticed the broad-faced man's facial muscles tense immediately.
Firefang Dog sniffed, then sniffed the air a few more times before barking at the man.
"Barking at me, you little mutt!" the man snarled.
"Ya!"
Firefang Dog's fur bristled, claws tensed, and sharp teeth bared—clearly angered by the man.
The man flinched but held his ground.
He glanced at the girl holding Firefang Dog, wanting her to control it—but she stared at him coldly, expressionless. Her gaze was somehow even scarier than Firefang Dog…
Qiao Sang remained calm, gently stroking Firefang Dog's back, trying to keep it from losing control.
She couldn't attack first—the Alliance explicitly forbids Beast Tamers from using pets to assault ordinary citizens, and even if attacking were allowed, it couldn't be done so openly with a bus full of people.
This man was suspicious. Earlier, Firefang Dog reacted strongest to him. Firefang Dog also smelled the same scent on him and the girl.
But something appearing and disappearing on someone else like that couldn't have been him.
If someone was doing tricks on a bus, it would usually be for money or for… other reasons.
But Firefang Dog didn't sense anything immediately, and the girl hadn't noticed. It wasn't for other reasons—it had to be about money.
"Did you lose anything?" Qiao Sang asked the girl.
The girl blinked, then checked her bag and pockets. Two seconds later:
"Damn it, my phone's gone!"
Just as Qiao Sang suspected.
Others on the bus also began checking their belongings.
"My phone's missing too!"
"My wallet's gone!"
"And the necklace I bought my girlfriend!"
"My height insoles!!!"
"My pet's Sashaguo!!"
A third of the passengers discovered items missing.
Qiao Sang noticed the missing items all belonged to people seated around the center of the bus.
She looked at the broad-faced man, confirming her suspicion.
Seeing Qiao Sang glance at him, his face darkened. He clenched his teeth. "My phone's gone too!"
Qiao Sang: "…"
"Ouch… my pet and I are inseparable…"
At that moment, a loud ringtone came from the broad-faced man.
He: "…"
Everyone's eyes turned toward him.
Embarrassed, the man laughed awkwardly: "Oh… it's still with me. I just didn't find it earlier."
Qiao Sang asked, "You're a Beast Tamer, right?"
The man's face darkened, unsure how to answer.
"Yes, he is. And he's wearing his Tamer badge!" the girl said excitedly, realizing the man's abnormality.
All registered Beast Tamers are issued badges. F-level Tamers have a white background, the Alliance emblem, and an F mark.
Some like to wear them, some don't. Low-level Tamers usually don't wear them.
This man had a gray E-level badge on his chest.
That meant he had at least two intermediate-level pets.
"Mind showing us your pet?" Qiao Sang asked kindly.
The man wanted to refuse, but the bus full of eyes were now on him.
"Show us your pet!"
"Yeah, what are you afraid of?"
"Weren't you acting so arrogant just now? Speak!"
"Is it a pet you're ashamed of?"
His face grew redder, features tightening further, sweat sticking his gray vest to his skin.
At that moment:
"Yonglin Station. Passengers for this stop, please prepare your belongings and exit from the rear door."
The electronic announcement rang.
The bus doors opened.
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