Otaku Translation: Honey Badger's Streaming Life C55

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To the west of Karatu, about five kilometers outside the city, there was a cluster of buildings covering an area of approximately three square kilometers. The perimeter was lined with tall mulberry trees and encircled by barbed wire, forbidding civilians from approaching casually. This was the military camp of Karatu.

Of course, it wasn’t a particularly significant military installation. Soldiers were stationed here mainly because large protected areas surrounded the region, but the garrison only amounted to a single battalion in size.

The helicopter descended onto an open field on the northern side of the camp. Ground crew and soldiers who had been alerted beforehand rushed out to meet it. Some attended to the maintenance of the helicopter, while others carried stretchers, hurrying toward the two "meatballs" that had been laboriously unloaded from the aircraft.

Shortly after, Adit, whose legs had gone limp from exhaustion, was yanked out of the cabin like a chicken by a soldier wearing sunglasses.

The fate of his two companions had undoubtedly left a deep psychological impact on the young man. Especially when he overheard the escorting soldiers discussing the gruesome deaths of the other two comrades still waiting in the forest for the troops to handle. Waves of panic and the urge to urinate kept assaulting the fragile and sensitive nerves of the young man.

As he watched the two swollen figures being carried off to emergency treatment after fainting again, Adit himself was taken separately to a detention room on the western side of the camp. A series of interrogations awaited him.

Not long after, a whistle blew through the camp. A squad of soldiers gathered their gear and boarded a military pickup truck. They drove out of the camp along Highway 144, heading north toward Mount Ngorongoro.

Meanwhile, to the north, a battered, off-road vehicle with three open sides was bumping its way along the rugged dirt road skirting the edge of the volcano, heading west toward the turnoff of Highway 144.

The reason it was with three open sides was that neither Zhang Jianming nor Colonel could bear the stench emanating from someone’s car. All the windows that could be opened were wide open to ventilate and dissipate the smell.

However, for some unknown reason, the foul odor in Gu Lang's car just wouldn't go away. Even with all the windows down and no windshield glass, that faint yet persistent stink still invaded their nostrils.

When Davis joined Colonel after their rendezvous and climbed into this "stinky car," his face turned green. He looked at Gu Lang with a mixture of admiration and disdain. To be able to turn a car into such a state and endure this smell simultaneously—words like "talent" fell short.

The soldier driving the car wore a stern expression, tightly pursing his lips and donning thick goggles. He gripped the steering wheel firmly without uttering a word. If one observed closely, they would notice he was holding his breath, only allowing himself small breaths when absolutely necessary.

Colonel in the passenger seat simply covered his nose with his hand, showing no intention of conversing with the two in the backseat.

Perhaps only Gu Lang could chatter incessantly with Zhang Jianming under these conditions.

During the two days of feverish unconsciousness, Wang Ping had first poured willow leaf juice into his mouth, followed by quite a bit of beef stew that had congealed into lumps. Coupled with several days without brushing teeth and bathing, his body odor had become even more pungent than the car's. Having grown accustomed to the smell, he was now the most relaxed among them.

Feeling the olfactory assault every time the man spoke, Zhang Jianming swore that if it weren't for their shared nationality, he would have slapped him senseless.

This guy really had no sense! Can't you see I'm about to suffocate holding my breath!

Gu Lang was panicking inside!

Especially after Zhang Jianming’s mediation, the bald guy, named "Colonel," still refused his request to call home. This made Gu Lang even more anxious.

Damn it! I helped you discover the poachers' trail and led them on a wild goose chase for so long. Couldn’t you at least show some courtesy? Maybe give me a commendation banner or something?

"Brother Zhang, where are we going?" Gu Lang asked uneasily.

Considering their shared nationality, Zhang Jianming couldn’t show too much disdain and patiently explained, "We’re heading to Karatu first. The rescue team I organized in Dar es Salaam is waiting there. But you might have to go to the military camp nearby and wait for the investigation results."

"They won’t lock me up directly, will they? Are you leaving once we get there?" Gu Lang persisted, asking Zhang Jianming for the nth time. He reached out his hands restlessly, trying to grab Zhang Jianming’s palm.

"No, I’ll arrange the rescue team and then come to the camp to find you. I won’t leave until the matter is thoroughly investigated. Helping compatriots solve such issues is part of my duty." Zhang Jianming smiled as he subtly avoided the dirty paw.

"Ho ho, Brother Zhang, you're such a good person!" Gu Lang said with a fawning, simple-minded expression.

Zhang Jianming rolled his eyes, his face full of bitter smiles.

No one noticed that beneath the rear bumper of the off-road vehicle, a black-and-white tail occasionally peeked out, quickly retreating after a moment.

Wang Ping clung desperately to the inner side of the bumper with all four limbs, fearing that a pothole would toss him off. At the same time, he had to retract his tail periodically to avoid detection.

Having transformed into an animal not long ago, Wang Ping was still unaccustomed to using his tail and often forgot it existed.

Deep in the forest far behind the off-road vehicle, a series of roars suddenly echoed, startling a flock of birds into flight.

Rosette ran tirelessly along the scent Wang Ping had left in the forest, roaring as she went. Unfortunately, she chased all the way to the security team’s outpost without finding Wang Ping. Neither Wang Ping nor Gu Lang was anywhere to be seen.

Here, because a certain badger had hidden on the rear bumper, leaving the ground behind, and the exhaust fumes of the off-road vehicle masked his scent, Rosette could no longer detect Wang Ping's trail.

"Roar!"

The unwilling leopard roared again, retracing the previous scent. For some time afterward, the forest would intermittently echo with the roars of fierce beasts, lingering for a long while.

After detouring for nearly 13 kilometers, the off-road vehicle finally turned west onto Highway 144. Wang Ping, who had nearly shaken his brains out clinging to the rear bumper, finally had a chance to catch his breath.

Not long after getting on Highway 144, the pickup truck sent from the camp to meet them converged with Colonel and his group. Afterward, the military vehicle led the way, escorting the off-road vehicle into the camp.

The sight of houses and checkpoints along the way brought tears to Gu Lang’s eyes.

It wasn’t easy! Finally, I’m back alive in human society!

After several hours on the road, it was almost evening. Back in China, night had already fallen, and prime-time TV dramas had begun.

Zhang Jianming had reported the outcome back to the embassy when he found Gu Lang at noon. His grandmother and parents back home finally breathed a sigh of relief, temporarily returning home to await news of Gu Lang.

Unlike those who returned by plane, Gu Lang was treated relatively well. Even though his freedom was restricted, he wasn’t handcuffed continuously.

Presumably, it was still due to Zhang Jianming’s influence, coupled with being Chinese and having a sensitive identity. Therefore, upon arriving at the camp, instead of being sent to a cell, Gu Lang was assigned a temporary dormitory. There were guards stationed at the door. If not for the restriction on leaving freely, he would have been treated like an officer here.

As for the battered off-road vehicle, it was parked far away at the edge of the camp. That smell was so potent that even the military dogs avoided it.

The sun gradually set in the west, slowly fading its last rays. The aroma of food wafted from the camp kitchen as soldiers waited in the dining hall for dinner. The entire camp was eerily quiet.

Wang Ping jumped from the bumper to the underside of the car, cautiously peeking out to observe the surroundings.

Not a hotel? Where on earth did Gu Lang end up this time?

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