Gathering Intelligence

Little Rascal turned around and ran without a word.

A chubby hand reached out and lifted him into the air.

"Let go of me!"

"Help! Someone's bullying a child!"

Little Rascal screamed with all his might.

Unfortunately, there was hardly anyone around. The occasional passerby assumed the two were just playing around.

Even if something really happened, hardly anyone at Blizzard Base would bother meddling.

Little Rascal struggled with all his strength, but he couldn't break free.

Then he saw the fat man's face move closer.

As the man opened his eyes and lifted the corners of his mouth, that simple change in expression transformed his previously honest, kindly appearance into something rather sinister.

The fat man opened his mouth, looking as if he really intended to eat someone. Little Rascal was so frightened that he was about to cry.

"Hey, isn't it shameful for a grown man like you to bully a child?"

A voice suddenly rang out.

Then a fist slammed into the fat man's face.

The fat on the man's face rippled in circles. With a cry of pain, he released Little Rascal and stumbled into a nearby trash bin.

Just as Little Rascal was about to fall, someone caught him and gently set him down.

Little Rascal looked up and saw an exceptionally handsome face, somewhat like the fox spirit from folk tales.

A man's face.

"You... you wait!" The fat man, who had appeared from who knew where, scrambled to his feet and hurried away.

"Are you all right, little one?"

White Fox Face crouched down and smoothed the wrinkles from Little Rascal's clothes.

Little Rascal shook his head and smiled. "I'm fine. Thank you, big brother."

White Fox Face nodded. "Little one, could you help me with something?"

Little Rascal blinked and said innocently,