Chapter 77 Issuing Permits for the Fire

The afterglow of the setting sun gilded the towering walls of the Dawn Base with a dark gold hue, and the flow of people and vehicles entering and leaving the gate was continuous yet orderly.

As Ruan Ning and his two companions approached with the raging fire, the previously normal noise level instantly dropped several degrees, and countless eyes focused on them.

After all, a giant dog with a shoulder height exceeding the chest of an average person, golden fur that, though covered in dust, could not conceal its majesty, sharp and intelligent eyes, and the occasional sparks that flew with its breath, was simply too eye-catching.

Especially its quiet yet powerful presence beside Ruan Ning, with its docile posture, added to its mystique and intimidating aura.

The guards at the gate visibly tensed up, immediately raising their guns. The man who appeared to be the captain stepped forward and shouted sternly, "Halt! This is... a mutated beast?! Whose is it? Is it on file?"

The surrounding crowd began to whisper among themselves:

"My goodness, what a huge dog! Is it a Golden Retriever?"

"It looks terrifying. What if it suddenly breathes fire?"

"Were they tamed, following behind those women?"

"How is that possible? Mutant beasts are wild and untamable..."

Zhou Min and Lin Yan instinctively moved closer to Ruan Ning. The fire seemed to sense the tense atmosphere and the weapons pointed at it; a low warning growl escaped its throat, and its surface temperature subtly rose.

Ruan Ning raised her hand and gently placed it on the top of Da Huo's head, transmitting a soothing spiritual energy. Da Huo immediately calmed down, but still warily scanned the guards.

“My partner,” Ruan Ning’s voice was clear and calm, cutting through the noise, “is here to register your mutated pet and get its identification ring.”

The guard captain was skeptical, but still strictly enforced the regulations: "According to regulations, unregistered and uncontrolled mutated beasts are not allowed to enter. Please follow me to the registration desk. We need to verify the situation and conduct basic tests. If they cannot be controlled or are highly dangerous, they still cannot enter, or they will need to be sent to a specific breeding area."

“Okay.” Ruan Ning nodded, indicating that Zhou Min and Lin Yan should return to their residence in the inner city first.

The two looked at Da Huo and Ruan Ning with some concern, and then left.

The registration office is a simple prefabricated building located inside the entrance.

The person in charge of registration was a middle-aged man surnamed Wang who wore glasses and had a somewhat scholarly appearance. There were two fully armed soldiers beside him. When he saw Da Huo follow Ruan Ning in, the registrar, Wang, adjusted his glasses, a look of surprise and professional scrutiny flashing in his eyes.

"Please show your ID card." Registrar Wang took Ruan Ning's card, swiped it on the device, and looked at the information. "Ruan Ning, water-type ability user... Hmm. Please provide details about the origin, species, mutation direction, rank, your relationship with it, and how you control it."

Ruan Ning answered briefly: "Golden Retriever, fire-type mutant, tier three. Encountered during a search outside, we formed a partnership through communication. We communicate and bind each other through a mental link." She omitted specific details about the battle and the contract.

"Third tier?!" Registrar Wang and the soldier next to him both gasped in shock.

Most of the mutated pets currently registered at the base are Tier 1, with a few Tier 2 pets already considered valuable combat power, and Tier 3... well, they're fire-type with strong offensive capabilities! How strong must the owner's strength and control be?

“We need to verify its controllability.” Registrar Wang composed himself and said according to procedure, “Please have it complete a few simple commands and remain stable under simulated stimuli.”

Ruan Ning conveyed the message of "cooperation" to the fire through a spiritual connection.

"sit down."

Da Huo glanced at Wang, the registrar, and reluctantly sat down, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

"Spin around."

The fire flicked its tail and obediently circled around once, but its eyes looked at the person as if they were an idiot.

"Attack prohibited." The soldier took out a remote control, pressed a button, and a small machine next to him suddenly emitted a piercing noise and flashing red light—this was a test of the response to sudden stimuli.

The big fire's ears perked up, its body tensed, and sparks appeared in its mouth, but it first looked at Ruan Ning.

Ruan Ning gently shook her head, conveying the "quiet" command again. Da Huo stared at the noisy machine for two seconds, exhaled a small puff of hot white smoke from its nostrils, and then turned its head away again. It even lay down, covering one of its ears with a front paw, looking like it really hated dogs.

The registrar and the soldier exchanged bewildered glances. This level of control... it was simply incredible. Intelligent, stable, and completely guided by its master's will.

“Good…very good.” Registrar Wang wiped his sweat and began operating quickly on the terminal. “Next, we need to collect its biometric information, mainly hair and a small blood sample, for making a unique identification ring and for registration. At the same time, you need to sign a liability agreement, guaranteeing that you will strictly control it within the base, prevent it from attacking others, and be responsible for compensating for any damage caused.”

"Can."

The collection process went smoothly. Although Da Huo was a little impatient with the blood draw, he completed it after being reassured by Ruan Ning.

Soon, a specially made dark silver metal ring, about two fingers wide, was taken out.

Registrar Wang explained, "This is a special alloy that is heat-resistant and has a certain strength. It has a built-in microchip that records its basic information: number, type, mutation attributes, rank, owner information, etc. It needs to be worn on the left forelimb and cannot be removed without special tools. Sensors throughout the base can read the information, which also serves as its legal 'identity card' within the base."

Ruan Ning took the bracelet and squatted down. Da Huo sniffed it curiously. Ruan Ning touched its left front leg, and it obediently lifted it up.

The bracelet automatically adjusted to the right size and clicked softly, securing itself firmly to the upper part of its furry leg.

Da Huo raised its paw, brought it close to its eyes to look at the shiny new "ornament," then shook its paw as if to get used to it, before looking up at Ruan Ning.

"Alright, from now on, you're a dog with 'registration' at the base." Ruan Ning patted its head, conveying a hint of approval through the link.

Registrar Wang handed over a paper certificate and an electronic agreement: "Registration complete. Please be sure to follow the regulations. Also, given its rank and nature, it is recommended to avoid areas with extremely dense crowds or where flammable materials are stored. If it shows any signs of instability, please contact the Public Security Bureau immediately."

Ruan Ning nodded and put away the voucher.

As she led Da Huo out of the registration office and officially stepped into the base's inner streets, the dark silver metal ring on Da Huo's left forelimb reflected slightly in the setting sun.

The surrounding gazes remained filled with curiosity, awe, or vigilance, but with this "identity card," it was no longer a threat that needed to be kept out, but a "special partner" recognized by the base and belonging to Ruan Ning.

Da Huo seemed to understand the significance of the ring. It walked beside Ruan Ning with its head held high and its chest out, its steps steady. Occasionally, it would glance at the new toy on its paw, its tail swaying gently, and its dark red eyes revealed a subtle air of "I am a licensed dog".

Ruan Ning looked at the familiar street ahead, then glanced at her companion beside her, who was burning yet barely connected to human society by a metal ring.

Partner +1, Legal Identity +1.

The days to come look like they're going to be quite lively.

Back in the apartment, the moment I closed the door, it seemed as if all the noise from the outside world was shut out.

The fire went straight to the living room and wandered around the room, as if familiarizing itself with its territory.

Ruan Ning took a blanket from her spatial storage and laid it in a corner of the living room. Da Huo walked over and lay down comfortably, purring contentedly. The metal ring on its left foreleg gleamed slightly with the movement.

Ruan Ning didn't rest immediately. She first activated her water-based abilities, condensing several large water spheres and controlling them like invisible rags to quickly wipe and clean the tables, chairs, and floor, removing the dust brought back from outside.

Then I carefully rinsed my hands and face with clean water, and only then did I feel like I had truly returned to my own safe space.

After a quick cleaning, she took out two roasted chickens from her spatial storage, neatly wrapped in greaseproof paper and still looking like they'd just come out of the oven. The rich aroma of spices and roasted meat instantly filled the air, a smell that would make anyone who had been eating dry rations for days drool.

She placed the two roasted chickens on the floor in front of the fire. The fire suddenly raised its head, its nose twitching violently, its dark red eyes wide open, its tail thrashing wildly at the ground, and drool almost dripping from its mouth, but it still looked at Ruan Ning with restraint, waiting for permission.

"Eat up," Ruan Ning said.

With permission, Da Huo immediately buried his head in the food, eating quickly and hurriedly, yet strangely without making much noise, only making pleasant gurgling sounds in his throat, chewing even the bones and swallowing them, truly "without lifting his head."

For it, this was clearly a far more delicious treat than mutated beast jerky and crystal cores.