From then on, every Beastman living in the city was issued an "ID card." Any Beastman from other cities or tribes who wanted to enter the city also had to apply for a specific "ID card."
The inner layer of the ID card was a thin sheet of iron.
This iron sheet was made to a strictly controlled, standard size. The mold used to press it also had a delicate, raised pattern, making it difficult for anyone with ulterior motives to replicate.
The outer layer consisted of two sheets of paper. One side listed the Beastman’s basic information, such as their na, race, and ho Royal City. On the other side were the two large words "ID Card," with her special red seal stamped in the bottom-right corner.
Literacy was not yet common in the Beastman World, so most were illiterate. They had no idea what was written on their "ID Cards," which also eliminated the possibility of them creating forgeries.
As for the few clever Beastn who already knew how to read, An Jin wasn’t worried at all. The red seal was of her own special design and included so small, intricate details in its pattern.
...
After the "ID Card" policy was fully implented, most Beastn got their cards, half out of confusion and half just following the crowd. However, a small group of Beastn hiding in the shadows grew restless.
They gathered in a courtyard house.
Most of them wore drab, blue-gray cloaks that concealed the majority of their bodies, revealing only half a face and a pair of pale hands.
"That female is really clever, to have thought of such a thod..." One of them, a hunched figure, spoke first, his voice weathered and old.
"What are we going to do?" The others were clearly on edge, their voices growing sharper and more anxious with each speaker. "There are only seven days left... Only seven days until the ID card verification period ends! If we don’t have ID cards, the Beastn conducting the checks will throw us right out of the city..."
"If the mission fails..."
The image of that sinister, perverted madman surfaced in their minds. Their bodies trembled involuntarily, and a cold sweat broke out all over them.
But they were rely his slaves, unable to resist, only obey. If the mission failed, the slave seals on their bodies would detonate, taking their bodies with them.
The old voice spoke again, placatingly, "Don’t panic. We’ve bribed five Beastn from other cities. They’re willing to trade identities with us."
"But there are over thirty of us and only five spots. How is that enough?"
"Which is why I will now select the five strongest Beastn from among you." The Old Beastman lifted a pair of sinister, old, murky eyes and swept his gaze over the crowd. He had an effortless air of authority that scared the dozens of Beastn below into silence.
His low, slow voice suddenly turned sharp. "We must capture that female!"
His walking stick, worn smooth to a patina from constant handling, slamd against the marble floor again and again. Each strike was like a blow to the heart of every Beastman present, heavier than the last. "That female who possesses a beast form is the Master’s most coveted mate. She will certainly bear the Master’s strongest offspring."
"Rember! If this mission fails, we will all die!"
The word "die" was like a pot of water boiling over. The Beastn began to swing their fists at each other wildly, each one desperate to claim a spot for themselves rather than entrust their safety to so other unreliable Beastman.
The selection was thus forced to rely on the most direct thod: a brawl.
In the end, five powerful High-Rank Beastn were chosen.
The strongest was a Wolf Beast. He had single-handedly taken down over thirty other Beastn, yet had barely suffered any injuries himself—a feat bordering on miraculous.
As the last of the sunset’s glow faded, a tall, well-built man stood against the slanted rays. His supermodel-like physique was outlined in brilliant gold: broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs. His exposed skin was a sensual honey color, radiating an overwhelming, carnal virility.
He pulled off his cloak, revealing fluffy, soft, silvery-white hair and a handso face with deep-set, resolute eyes. The sharp line of his jaw was taut, and a Wolf Tooth Necklace rested against his sensual collarbones.
Unlike the other Beastn, he had no bestial features—his most prominent ears and tail were gone. Only a faint, almost imperceptible aura identified him as a Wolf Beastman.
"Huh? You’re new. Why haven’t I seen you before?" The Old Beastman hadn’t quite processed what had happened.
He turned his head and asked the question instinctively.
His hunched body straightened unconsciously. As the worldly and knowledgeable Old Beastman saw the silver mark on the silver-haired man’s forehead, his murky eyes widened in terror.
"No, no—you! You’re a—"
He trembled and backed away, his walking stick shaking in his hand.
Before he could finish his sentence, the young man before him gave a slight smile. Then, the Old Beastman’s vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
The wooden walking stick clattered as it rolled to the wall.
The remaining four conscious Beastn were also quickly taken down by Ling Hong.
"So that was your plan," he said, dusting off his hands, his thin lips curling into a cold sneer.
After a look around, he turned and grabbed a tough, long rope from a corner. He tightly bound the thirty-odd assorted Beastn together, then brought them back to the Stone Castle he had been away from for many days.
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