Otaku Translation: Honey Badger's Streaming Life C131

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.

Everyone from Otaku Translation

Chapter 131: The Hostage’s Pet

By the riverbank, a group of police officers huddled around a map, their voices low and urgent. They had caught Damuge mid-route, proving the captain’s fears correct—those poachers hadn’t waited for dawn. Instead, they were trying to escape under cover of darkness.

Wang Ping did a quick headcount. Three officers in bulletproof vests surrounded the captain, murmuring over the map. Beyond them, a dozen SWAT members stood guard, their eyes scanning the area for threats. Meanwhile, Damuge sat cuffed, far from the water's edge, near the tree line. Two officers kept watch while someone tended to his bleeding wound with basic first aid. Nearby, another officer held a voice recorder, asking questions about what had happened.

From the conversation, Wang Ping gathered that this team had been dispatched to track down Gu Lang’s last known location. But catching Damuge several kilometers away from the intended spot meant their plans had to change. At the very least, until they found Gu Lang, every inch between the crime scene and the GPS coordinates would now fall under their search radius.

Wang Ping wanted to tell them that Gu Lang was currently perched on a tree just two kilometers east—and that Damuge’s accomplices were already dead, meaning there was no hostage situation to worry about. But alas, being a honey badger didn’t exactly give him much authority here. No one paid attention to him anyway.

Even so, Wang Ping stayed put, sitting obediently on a rock by the riverbank, his furry face looking unusually well-behaved. He wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to behave himself—it wasn’t like anyone was watching closely.

Despite his outward calm, Wang Ping couldn’t shake his nervousness. What he didn’t realize was that among the officers, someone else shared his anxiety—and then some.

“Heh, Boss, do you want some water?”

The SWAT officer who’d recognized Wang Ping earlier crept closer, holding out a canteen. His movements were slow and careful, as if worried any sudden gesture might spook the little creature into running off. Behind him, a young woman in plain clothes but wearing a bulletproof vest curiously glanced over, intrigued by the interaction.

Wang Ping scratched his chin awkwardly, half-intending to decline. But somehow, drawn in by the man’s warm smile, he instinctively reached out with his tiny paw. The water was lukewarm and soothing as it slid down his throat, warming his insides. Unable to resist, Wang Ping took a few more sips before handing the canteen back, wiping his mouth with the back of his paw.

“Wow, this little guy is so cute…” The female officer finally gave in to her curiosity and stepped closer. “So, how do you know him? And why do you call him ‘Boss’?”

“I’m not just acquainted—I’m a fan!” the young officer replied proudly, launching into an enthusiastic recounting of Wang Ping’s exploits. Of course, the part where Wang Ping had teamed up with a leopard to hold Gu Lang hostage in Tanzania was conveniently glossed over, recast instead as a humorous misunderstanding between a streamer and his loyal pet.

As the policewoman listened with feigned interest, her gaze kept flickering toward Wang Ping’s small head. Sensing her distraction, Wang Ping shook his head inwardly. Sigh… This poor guy’s focus is all over the place. No wonder he’s single.

Still, it struck Wang Ping as odd that these officers watched livestreams and even claimed to be fans. It made the whole situation feel less serious than it should have been.

Meanwhile, Damuge’s interrogation was dragging on. The man remained stubbornly silent, refusing to answer questions or lead them anywhere. Wang Ping suspected he feared revealing too much—if the police arrived too early, his remaining accomplice might still be alive and could expose something incriminating.

Thinking back to the floating corpse he’d seen drifting down the river earlier, Wang Ping became distracted. That’s when a hand suddenly landed on top of his head.

“What the hell!”

Startled, Wang Ping nearly lashed out with his claws before realizing at the last second that attacking a police officer wouldn’t end well. Instead, he forced himself to pat the hand gently rather than swatting it away.

“Giggles…” The sound of the female officer’s laughter echoed softly by the riverside.

“What are you doing?! You can’t just touch him like that!” The SWAT officer looked horrified, his eyes wide with panic. “What if you scare him off?”

“Oh relax, will you? Look, he didn’t run.” The woman rolled her eyes dismissively before turning to Wang Ping with a grin. “Do you want me to hold you, little buddy?”

Swallowing nervously, Wang Ping glanced at the handgun strapped to her side before nodding meekly.

“Wow, he understands me!” she exclaimed in surprise.

“I told you—he’s super smart!” the SWAT officer muttered, clearly annoyed that she hadn’t believed him earlier.

“What are you two whispering about over there?” A male voice interrupted sharply, causing both officers to snap to attention.

“Reporting, Captain Liu! We were… uh, guarding the hostage’s pet,” the female officer stammered, recalling the explanation she’d heard moments ago.

“The hostage’s what?”

The crowd parted as a burly man with a buzz cut approached, earpiece in place. Spotting Wang Ping sitting on a rock beside the female officer, he frowned. Under his intense gaze, Wang Ping shifted uncomfortably and stood up instinctively.

“Isn’t this the thing we found in the stolen goods? Is it still alive?” Buzz-Cut Liu asked bluntly.

“You’re the one who came out of stolen goods!” Wang Ping thought indignantly, immediately disliking the captain. Huffing, he plopped back down onto the rock.

“It’s not like that, Captain! Let me explain…” The SWAT officer hurried forward, recounting Wang Ping’s backstory and connection to Gu Lang—the outdoor streamer whose life was now intertwined with theirs.

“So, Gu Lang might be nearby?” Captain Liu turned to the interrogator, only to receive a shake of the head.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ping tugged lightly at the female officer’s pant leg.

“What is it? Do you want a hug?” She smiled down at him.

When everyone’s attention turned to him, Wang Ping raised a claw and pointed eastward, toward the tree where Gu Lang was hiding.

“What does that mean?” Captain Liu turned to the SWAT officer for clarification.

“Well…” The young man squatted down, addressing Wang Ping earnestly. “Are you saying your owner is in that direction? If yes, nod.”

Having worked extensively with police dogs, the officer seemed adept at communicating with animals. Unlike certain streamers (cough Gu Lang cough) who always managed to irritate Wang Ping during interactions, this guy got straight to the point.

Hmph. Though Wang Ping bristled slightly at the term “owner,” arguing semantics didn’t seem appropriate in such a tense situation. Reluctantly, he gave a small nod.

Excited by the response, the SWAT officer stood up and looked at Captain Liu. “Captain, look!”

“This… this isn’t enough evidence,” Liu said skeptically. “He’s not a trained police dog. For all we know, he might just be pointing toward food.”

“How could that be? Boss isn’t—oh wait…” The officer paused, remembering Wang Ping’s notorious appetite.

Ultimately, duty came first. Even if they trusted Wang Ping, risking Gu Lang’s safety based solely on a honey badger’s directions wasn’t feasible.

“We’ll proceed as planned. Time is critical! Keep an eye on the river and the trees. Remember, Damuge has at least two accomplices. Ensure the hostage’s safety above all else!” Captain Liu barked out orders.

Wang Ping understood. As much as he appreciated their faith in him, no police captain worth his salt would gamble everything on an untrained animal. Besides, the direction was right; Gu Lang could afford to wait a little longer.

Just as he thought this, Wang Ping felt himself lifted gently into the air. The female officer had scooped him up and joined the moving formation. Ahead, Damuge shuffled along, flanked by heavily armed officers.

As they marched, the enthusiastic SWAT officer shot a glance at Captain Liu before leaning in to whisper to the woman. “Hey, let me hold him for a bit?”

“Get back to your post!” She glared at him, picking up her pace. Her fingers absently pinched Wang Ping’s cheeks as she walked.

“Ow…”

Wang Ping bared his teeth in irritation. Here he was—a grown man trapped in a honey badger’s body—and now he was being treated like some sort of adorable plush toy. Mortified, he shot her a mental glare.

“Hands off, lady. If I weren’t respecting the fact that you’re a cop, I’d have clocked you already. Believe me.”

Please vote for this novel at

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/honey-badgers-streaming-life/

If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.

Tier 1: 10 Advance chapters

Access fee $3.00 Monthly