If you were made a mascot, you would become a legend in the police force.

Li Tuantuan stared at the semi-transparent panel in front of him, which only he could see, and his heart clenched more painfully than when steel bars were stuck in his back.

[Host: Li Tuantuan (Gungun)]

[Status: Unofficial Police Force Member (Deputy Division Chief Level)]

Merit Points: 250

"More than 20,000! I worked so hard catching drug dealers and cracking down on the Rat King, and saved up all that money over the years!" Li Tuantuan wailed inwardly, and a tear actually squeezed out of the corner of her eye.

The system's mechanical voice sounded: [Host's emotional fluctuations detected. Host is reminded that in order to repair the fatal spinal injury and clear the corpse poison, the system has overdrawn all merit points for emergency reconstruction. Currently, the host's bodily functions have returned to normal, and the wound healing speed has increased by 500%.]

"Get lost! That's my wife's dowry! You heartless system, it costs over 20,000 to fix it? Why don't you just rob me!" Li Tuantuan was so angry that she wanted to slap the bed, but as soon as she moved her arm, a burning pain came from her back.

He then realized that he was still wounded.

Lin Wan was carefully peeling a Fuji apple. Seeing Li Tuantuan's eyes darting around and his indignant expression, she quickly held the peeled apple to his mouth.

"Gun Gun, don't move around. The doctor said your wound hasn't healed yet. Here, have a bite of apple."

Looking at the apple, Li Tuantuan felt even more aggrieved. How many thieves would he have to catch to get that piece of apple back? He opened his mouth, took a big bite, and chewed the apple as if it were a system.

It was sweet, but it couldn't fill the void in his heart.

"Team Leader Lin, Director Chen and the city leaders are waiting outside. They want to come in and see that Gun Gun is awake," Zhao Gang said softly as he opened the door.

Lin Wan nodded and helped Li Tuantuan lean against the pillow.

A large group of people in white shirts and uniforms rushed in. Director Chen, who was leading the group, had red eyes and immediately grabbed Li Tuantuan's hand.

"Well done, little guy! You've done a great job this time; the whole town will remember you!"

Li Tuantuan rolled her eyes, thinking to herself: What's the use of remembering me? Can't you give me something practical? Like making up for those 20,000 merit points?

Director Chen continued, "The city has decided to award you a Special Merit! Furthermore, your food allowance will be doubled starting today; just tell Old Ma what you want to eat. Also, the province has allocated special funds to build you a dormitory with a heated swimming pool!"

Hearing that "the food allowance will be doubled," Li Tuantuan's mood improved slightly. Although she lost her system merit points, her real-world treatment had improved.

"Mmm!" Li Tuantuan gave a perfunctory reply, while also having to put on a simple, honest smile, which was torture for this old hand.

After those people finally left, the ward finally became quiet.

Li Tuantuan felt an intense itch on his back; it was the wound healing. He struggled to turn his head to check his wound.

Lin Wan brought a mirror and held it up to him. Li Tuantuan looked at it and immediately wanted to die on the spot.

The beautiful black and white fur that used to be on the middle of his back was completely gone, replaced by a patch of tender pink flesh. The surrounding fur was shaved into a mess, like a lawn that had been chewed by a dog.

Most importantly, because that patch of hair hasn't grown yet, he now looks like a "patchy panda".

"This is so ugly! How am I supposed to live my life now? How am I supposed to pick up pretty girls?" Li Tuantuan complained inwardly, so angry that she threw away the remaining half of the apple.

The coal ball flew over and landed on the bedside table. It stared at Li Tuantuan's back for a long time before suddenly letting out a shrill laugh.

"Hey! Baldy! Boss, you've gone bald, and you've gotten stronger too!"

"Get lost! Stop watching so many anime, or I'll confiscate your phone!" Li Tuantuan waved her paw at the coal ball.

Jin Dou peeked out from under the covers and touched Li Tuantuan's paw pads with her little paws, as if to comfort him.

Li Tuantuan sighed and resigned herself to her fate. Being poor is one thing, but at least she survived.

He looked at the system panel again and noticed a new line of text: [System version 2.0 is now officially stable. System Quest: Domination of All Beasts (Branch Quest in progress).]

Main Quest: Recruit your second official team member.

[Target suggestion: Gold Bean (SSR-level Treasure-Hunting Mouse)]

[Quest Reward: Spiritual Energy Guidance (Beginner), 1000 Merit Points.]

Li Tuantuan stared at Jin Dou, her eyes lighting up. This little guy might be a bit timid, but he's really good at finding things. And since the system gave her a task, she definitely had to do it.

Although 1000 merit points isn't much, it's enough to get him out of that awkward "250" number.

"Jin Dou, do you want to live a life of luxury with your big brother from now on?" Li Tuantuan muttered to herself.

As if sensing something, Jin Dou raised her head and looked at him innocently with her sapphire-like eyes.

Over the next few days, Li Tuantuan was exceptionally cooperative. She didn't dodge when taking medicine or make a fuss when getting injections. Apart from occasionally trying to charm the nurses, she spent most of her time studying the system's "Domination of All Beasts" feature.

He discovered that this ability allowed him to establish a deep spiritual connection with the animals he had adopted. He could not only understand their speech, but also sense their emotions and even share their field of vision within a certain range.

If we collect all the gold beans, finding spirit stones will be as easy as strolling through our own backyard.

Just as Li Tuantuan was figuring out how to trick Jin Dou, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the ward.

"Why can't we come in? We're from the provincial research team. This rat is a mutant species; we must take it back for research!"

An arrogant male voice drifted into the room.

Li Tuantuan's ears twitched, and her eyes instantly turned cold.

You want to mess with my underlings?

He glanced at Jin Dou, who was happily munching on nuts, and then at the doorway.

"Coal Ball, go see which stray dog ​​is barking outside." Li Tuantuan gestured towards the windowsill.

The coal ball flapped its wings and flew away, returning shortly afterward.

"Gah! Boss, it's someone in a white coat, he brought several people with him, carrying nets and cages, saying they're going to grab Jin Dou and slice him up!"

Li Tuantuan sneered. His back was still aching, and he was just looking for someone to vent his anger on.

He glanced at Lin Wan. Lin Wan had already stood up, her face grim, and was about to open the door and go out to argue.

"Lin Wan, stop wasting your breath on them, watch me," Li Tuantuan shouted in her heart.

Although Lin Wan couldn't hear it, she could tell from Li Tuantuan's expression that the fat man was up to no good.

Li Tuantuan struggled to get off the bed. Although his back was still twitching as he walked, he still managed to reach the door.

He yanked the door shut.

Outside the door, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who looked to be in his forties, was gesturing and pointing at Zhao Gang.

"I'm telling you, this is science! This mouse has immense research value. If it delays the research progress on the revival of spiritual energy, can you afford to take responsibility?"

The man was speaking enthusiastically when he suddenly felt a huge shadow loom over him.

He turned around and saw a giant panda with bandages wrapped around its back and bald patches staring coldly at him.

Li Tuantuan didn't call out or try to act cute. He simply opened his mouth, revealing two rows of teeth capable of biting through steel bars, and then let out a loud, apple-scented burp right in the man's face.