"I tried contacting doctors I could trust," Chen Lin said quietly."But Entropy's reach runs deeper than I ever imagined. I couldn't risk exposing him."
The oil lamp flickered between them, throwing shifting shadows across his hollowed face.
"I had no choice. I hide Silas Moore in a location absolutely secure—somewhere defined not by maps, but by scent coordinates only I could recognize. I marked the place using a highly concealed compound fragrance signature. Something invisible to anyone else."
His eyes darkened.
"I thought it was foolproof."
A pause.
"Until I saw your livestream."
He lifted a finger and pointed at Er'gou's neon-pink bandana.
The words printed across it glowed mockingly:
"The Flashiest Pup on the Internet."
Chen Lin's jaw twitched.
"…And that."
Lin Wan swallowed.
Chen Lin continued, voice steady but edged with frustration.
"The tie around his neck that morning? I put it there during the chaos. It carried residual traces of my custom tracking scent."
He exhaled slowly.
"But after the transformation, his olfactory system was clearly affected. Either the disguise agent altered his perception, or the side effects temporarily disabled his ability to identify that specific compound marker."
His gaze shifted to Er'gou.
"In short… he didn't stay put."
Er'gou flicked his ears irritably.
Chen Lin's lips tightened.
"Instead, he followed a different trail. A stronger one. A louder one."
Lin Wan froze.
A memory surfaced.
A horrifying realization.
"…Kitchen trash," she muttered.
For a week straight, she'd left food waste bags near her door.
Er'gou turned his head sharply away.
Humiliation radiated from every strand of fur.
Chen Lin pretended not to notice.
"I used the notebook to warn you."
"'Celebration fireworks.' 'Bloodline scent.' 'Trackers.'"
"They weren't riddles. They were alerts."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Entropy is hunting him again."
"And once they detect anomalies in Shen Mo's disappearance pattern… they'll inevitably trace connections."
His eyes locked onto Lin Wan.
"Including you."
Silence pressed down heavily.
"The Old Harbor, Warehouse No. 7…" Chen Lin gestured around them."This place used to be one of my scent-safehouses."
"Rust and fish rot are the dominant odor layers here. Persistent. Overpowering. Perfect for masking foreign traces—residual markers, human scent signatures, even the compound fragrances I used to guide you."
Lin Wan's skin crawled.
"So today at the resort…"
Chen Lin nodded.
"The assistant director with glasses? Very likely an outer surveillance node."
"And the attackers tonight…"
His expression hardened.
"Field operatives."
"Their objective has never changed."
He looked at Er'gou.
"Silas Moore."
Lin Wan's mind spun.
A missing superstar.
A weaponized sense of smell.
A shadow organization.
Abduction.
Experimental agents.
Transformation.
It sounded insane—
Yet standing here, beside a husky with human eyes, it felt terrifyingly real.
Lin Wan clenched her fists.
"So why show up now?"
"To take him away?"
Chen Lin shook his head.
"No."
"Entropy's search net is tightening."
"If I move alone with him, we become an obvious target."
"Easier to eliminate. Easier to capture."
He straightened.
"I've found leads. Possible data on reversal protocols. But I need time."
"And more importantly…"
His gaze fell on Lin Wan again.
"I need him hidden in plain sight."
"You," he said bluntly, "are currently the best camouflage Silas Moore has."
Lin Wan's breath hitched.
"You're his legal owner."
"A public-facing pet content creator."
"Documented identity. Predictable social footprint."
"In Entropy's eyes, you're noise."
"But noise is exactly what shields him."
Lin Wan's eyes narrowed.
"You call nearly getting run off the road 'shielding'?"
Chen Lin didn't flinch.
"Tonight was my miscalculation."
"I underestimated their readiness to escalate."
"But that attack confirms something critical."
"They're close."
"Very close."
His tone sharpened.
"Miss Lin, your fates are now intertwined."
"Protecting him means protecting yourself."
"I need you to continue your livestreams. Your routines. Your visibility."
"Carefully."
"I'll remain in the shadows."
"Providing intel."
"Intervention when necessary."
He glanced at Er'gou.
"Like diverting part of the pursuit chain tonight so you could reach this place alive."
Lin Wan fell silent.
The logic was cruel.
But undeniable.
Chen Lin turned to Er'gou.
"And you, 'Your Highness'…"
Er'gou's eyes flashed coldly.
"You must adapt faster."
"Learn this body."
"Refine control."
"And most importantly…"
Chen Lin's voice lowered.
"Reclaim precision over your sense of smell."
"Not as a dog."
"As Silas Moore."
"That ability may be our only weapon before a full reversal becomes possible."
The room went still.
Er'gou stared at Chen Lin for a long time.
The oil lamp flame reflected in his icy blue eyes.
Thought.
Calculation.
Reluctance.
Then—
He nodded.
Barely.
But decisively.
Chen Lin exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders.
From inside his jacket, he produced a small sealed metal tube and slid it across the table.
"Scent-Barrier Gel."
"A minimal application around the muzzle disrupts most targeted olfactory tracking attempts."
"It won't blind his nose."
"But it will scramble pursuit signatures."
"Use sparingly. The materials are… difficult."
Next, an old disposable phone.
"Contact device."
"My number's stored."
"Only call in emergencies."
"I'll reach you when needed."
Lin Wan frowned.
"How?"
Chen Lin's lips curved faintly.
"The usual place."
She blinked. "What usual place?"
Chen Lin pointed at Er'gou.
"He knows."
Er'gou's ears twitched.
No denial.
Instructions delivered, Chen Lin rose.
"This location won't remain safe for long."
"Entropy will follow today's trail eventually."
"Rest."
"Leave before dawn."
"Trust nothing."
He walked to the doorway, then paused.
Turned back.
His gaze fixed on Er'gou—heavy with guilt, resolve, and something fierce.
"Your Highness…"
His voice was rough.
"Stay alive."
"We will bring you back."
With that, he pulled down his cap and disappeared into the darkness.
The echoes of his footsteps faded.
Leaving Lin Wan alone…
With a husky…
And a war she never asked to fight.