Using the ship's schematics—
Combined with the limited internal surveillance Chen Lin managed to hack—
Silas Moore reconstructed the probable route of P-07.
It hadn't left the ship.
Not yet.
The cruise was still mid-voyage.
The next port—
Two days away.
Which meant—
P-07 was still onboard.
Hidden.
Somewhere deeper.
Somewhere safer.
Two locations stood out:
The isolated chamber near the engine room (extra security locks)The backup isolation room beside the medical center
Chen Lin folded his arms.
"They're waiting."
"For either the next port…"
"Or a specific handoff window."
"Levi Wynn doesn't take unnecessary risks."
"Too many eyes on this ship."
Old Wu nodded.
"We need exact location and timing."
"Tracking scent alone isn't enough."
"Ventilation will distort everything."
Silas agreed.
He needed proximity.
Or—
He needed to force the target to move.
And then—
An opportunity appeared.
Unexpected.
Announcement
The cruise broadcast echoed across the ship:
"To enhance guest experience…"
"A GRAND PET CARNIVAL will be held tomorrow afternoon!"
Events include:
Pet Fashion ShowObstacle RelayTalent PerformancesTreasure Hunt Challenge
"Generous rewards await!"
"All guests are encouraged to participate!"
Silas's ears twitched.
His gaze sharpened.
Lin Wan lowered the flyer slowly.
"…This might actually work."
The Idea
"We let Ironfang and the others join."
Lin Wan's eyes lit up.
"More access."
"More movement."
"And maybe…"
"A little controlled chaos."
Silas stared at the flyer.
Then—
He tapped two events:
Obstacle RelayTreasure Hunt
Then—
He looked at the squad.
Ironfang. Flash. Boulder. Lingbi.
Four dogs—
Instantly straightened.
Eyes blazing.
Mission mode.
"You want them to compete?"
Chen Lin raised a brow.
"Isn't that too obvious?"
Silas shook his head.
Then drew in the air: (tap to nose)
High-profile—
But controlled.
And more importantly—
A perfect cover.
For reconnaissance.
Chen Lin exhaled slowly.
"…We do it."
Operation Cover: "Dog Squad"
The team registered under:
"Arctic Research Foundation – Working Dog Unit"
Professional.
Legitimate.
And just suspicious enough—
To be believable.
The objective:
Use the event—
To:
Expand movement rangeApproach restricted zones indirectlyRefine scent tracking of the nano-markerEmergency Training Begins
Inside the suite—
Chaos.
Because now—
The problem wasn't combat.
It was acting normal.
Obstacle Relay – Problem #1: Ironfang
Mission:
Walk across a balance beam.
Requirement:
Look cautious Slightly nervous NOT elite-level precision
Ironfang attempt #1:
Walked across like a trained commando.
Perfect balance.
Zero hesitation.
Silas:
low growl
Rejected.
Attempt #2:
Overacted.
Shaking.
Wobbling.
Almost fell off—
Because he was trying not to laugh.
Lin Wan: "…Why do I feel like he's trolling us?"
Problem #2: Flash
Fastest unit.
Mission:
Slow down Act playful Stay controlled
Flash:
Exploded off the line—
Like a missile.
Then froze mid-run—
After catching Silas's death stare.
Returned.
Laid down.
Started scratching carpet angrily.
"This is oppression."
Problem #3: Boulder
Task:
Be stable.
Reliable.
Sounds easy.
Except—
He kept trying to:
Protect IronfangBlock FlashTank imaginary threats
Ruining formation.
Old Wu snapped:
"You're not escorting a VIP—you're in a GAME!"
Problem #4: Lingbi
Treasure Hunt specialist.
The best nose on the team.
Too good.
Problem:
He finds targets instantly.
Which—
Is NOT allowed.
Silas's instruction:
Pretend to searchMake mistakes
Be "cute"
Lingbi:
???
Why find—
And then not find?
After multiple snacks—
And long, patient "teaching"—
Lingbi finally understood:
Acting = delayed reward
Terrifying realization:
He learned performance strategy.
Final Problem: Silas Himself
Leader.
Commander.
Now—
He had to downgrade.
No advanced signals.
No silent command chains.
Only:
Basic gesturesSimple voice cuesPublic-safe commands
For Silas Moore—
This wasn't training.
This was humiliation.
But—
Necessary.
Result
The training was a mess.
But—
Progress was real.
By the end—
The Dog Squad looked like:
Disciplined Professional Slightly entertaining
Instead of:
Tactical strike unit Covert combat squad Nightmare-level coordination
Which—
Was exactly the point.
Silas stood at the center.
Watching his team.
Calm.
Measured.
The game board had changed.
Tomorrow—
They wouldn't be infiltrators.
They would be—
Performers.
And under the spotlight—
They would hunt.
Because sometimes—
The best way to get closer to your target—
Is to let it think—
You're harmless.
The carnival—
Was about to begin.