117: Chapter 117: Little one, do you want to bring Black Panther home?

Zhou Mo walked closer, looking thoughtfully at the intimate interaction between Xiao Budian and Black Panther.

Black Panther looked up at him vigilantly, but relaxed under Xiao Budian's soothing.

"Uncle Zhou!" Xiao Budian called out sweetly, "Black Panther is so good, it even helps me find things!"

Zhou Mo crouched down and tentatively reached out his hand.

Black Panther hesitated for a moment, and only with Xiao Budian's encouragement did it allow Zhou Mo to pat its head.

"It's truly rare," Zhou Mo sighed, "Black Panther is about to retire, and we were just worrying about how to settle it."

He looked at Xiao Budian, his eyes suddenly lighting up, "Xiao Budian, do you want to take Black Panther home?"

Xiao Budian's eyes instantly went round, and her small mouth formed an "O" shape: "Re-really? Can I?"

"Black Panther is already eight years old, reaching retirement age."

Zhou Mo explained, his tone softening, "We've been considering whether to let it stay at the base for its retirement or give it to a retired comrade. But now it seems..."

He looked meaningfully at how Black Panther was clinging to Xiao Budian, "It seems to have chosen its own master."

Xiao Budian immediately turned around and looked at Su Han with expectant eyes: "Great-grandfather! Can we take Xiao Hei home? Please~"

Su Han kept a straight face, but a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes: "Raising a dog is no joke. And Black Panther isn't an ordinary dog; it's a heroic soldier, just like us!"

"It has old injuries and needs care. Can you do it?"

"I'll take good care of it!" Xiao Budian hurriedly promised, "I'll walk it every day, brush its fur, share my snacks with it... and take it to the doctor!"

"Wu~" Black Panther seemed to understand, gently rubbing its head against Xiao Budian's leg, then turning to Su Han with a pleading look in its eyes.

Su Han raised an eyebrow: "Seems this dog has become a spirit."

Zhou Mo said with a smile: "Chief Instructor, Black Panther has earned three Third-Class Merits. Although its sense of smell and hearing aren't what they used to be, it's definitely fine for guarding the house. Besides..."

He lowered his voice, "It's getting old; staying at the base would be lonely."

"...Go write an application," Su Han finally relented. "Specify how you'll care for it and how you'll be responsible if something goes wrong."

"Yay! Great-grandfather is the best!" Xiao Budian cheered and lunged toward Su Han, but Black Panther beat her to it—this usually aloof military dog actually walked up to Su Han's feet, gently rubbed against his leg, and wagged its tail like a propeller.

"Heh, it certainly knows how to curry favor," Su Han snorted softly, but his hand had already instinctively patted Black Panther's head.

Zhou Mo smiled and took out his walkie-talkie: "I'll have logistics prepare Black Panther's retirement procedures and files right away."

He crouched down and said seriously to Xiao Budian: "Black Panther is a Meritorious Dog. You must promise me to take good care of it."

Xiao Budian immediately stood up straight and saluted like a little soldier: "Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

Black Panther also cooperated with a "Woof," making everyone laugh.

Zhou Mo said: "The Dog Trainer's side is already preparing Black Panther's daily supplies, diet, and medicine. It'll be ready in half an hour."

"Black Panther has old injuries and needs long-term medication."

"Additionally, the base will cover all its future living and medical expenses."

Su Han nodded.

"Black Panther! Come!"

A loud command came from a distance.

After barking twice at Xiao Budian, Black Panther dashed out like an arrow from a bow, its agile figure leaping and moving across the obstacle course, every movement as precise as a textbook.

"Good boy!" The Dog Trainer, Wang Lei, crouched down, and Black Panther landed steadily in front of him, chest out and head high, its eyes sharp as knives.

Wang Lei rubbed Black Panther's head and took a piece of special jerky from his pocket: "This is your reward."

Black Panther didn't eat it immediately; instead, it looked around vigilantly, its ears twitching slightly—

This was a habit formed over years of service, maintaining high alertness even in safe areas.

Wang Lei looked down at Black Panther, his old partner of five years, who had earned three merits during border drug-enforcement operations. The last time, it was shot through the left hind leg by a drug dealer's bullet to save him.

Although the wound had healed, Black Panther's explosive power was no longer what it used to be.

"Wu..." Black Panther seemed to sense the trainer's emotional change and gently rubbed its head against his hand.

Wang Lei took a deep breath, pulled a red ribbon from his pocket, and carefully tied it around Black Panther's neck: "I'll make you look handsome today."

The ribbon was embroidered with "Meritorious Dog" in three golden characters, shining in the morning light.

Half an hour later.

The members of the War Eagle Squad walked over in formation, each holding something—Monkey was carrying a bag full of toys, Big Bear was holding a special dog bed, and Zhou Mo was carrying a medical kit.

"Reporting to Chief Instructor!" Zhou Mo stood at attention and saluted, "Black Panther's daily supplies and medicine are ready."

Xiao Budian cheered and ran over to look through them curiously: "Wow! Xiao Hei has so many things!"

Wang Lei walked over slowly leading Black Panther, followed by a dozen Dog Trainers and their military dogs.

With the big red ribbon around its neck, Black Panther's pace was steady and its gaze remained sharp; there was no sign that this was a veteran about to retire.

"Halt!" At Wang Lei's command, all the military dogs sat down in unison.

Black Panther walked straight to Su Han, chest out and head high, with a hint of expectation in its eyes.

"Black Panther," Su Han crouched down to look it in the eye, "From today on, you're going home with Xiao Budian."

Black Panther turned to look at Xiao Budian, its tail wagging slightly.

Xiao Budian couldn't wait to lunge forward and hug Black Panther's neck: "Xiao Hei! We'll be family from now on!"

Black Panther lowered its head obediently, letting Xiao Budian pet it, but its gaze occasionally drifted toward Wang Lei.

Wang Lei's eyes were already red.

He crouched down and groomed Black Panther's fur one last time: "Old partner, be good from now on and protect your little master well."

Black Panther seemed to understand something and suddenly lunged toward Wang Lei, placing its front paws on his shoulders, just as it had done countless times during training.

"Wu..." It let out a low whimper, constantly rubbing its head against Wang Lei's face.

Everyone present fell silent.

The other military dogs seemed to sense the atmosphere of parting and let out low whines one after another.

Wang Lei hugged Black Panther tightly, his voice choked: "Remember, you will always be the best soldier!"

He pulled a faded rubber ball from his pocket—Black Panther's favorite toy—and pressed it into Xiao Budian's hand: "It loves playing with this most. Give it to him when it misses me."

Xiao Budian nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Uncle, I'll take good care of Xiao Hei!"

Zhou Mo stepped forward and solemnly saluted Wang Lei: "Thank you for the contributions you and Black Panther have made to the military."

Wang Lei returned the salute, then took a deep breath, unclipped Black Panther's leash, and handed it to Xiao Budian: "Go."

Black Panther stood still, its gaze shifting between Wang Lei and Xiao Budian.

"Black Panther, go!" Wang Lei suddenly commanded sternly, pointing at Xiao Budian.

Black Panther ran to Xiao Budian's side as a reflex, but its eyes were still fixed on Wang Lei.

Wang Lei turned and strode away without looking back.

The other Dog Trainers also led their military dogs away in formation.

"Woof woof!" Black Panther suddenly barked twice, its front paws restlessly pawing at the ground.

Xiao Budian crouched down to hug it: "Be good, Xiao Hei. We'll come back to visit Uncle often."

Black Panther quieted down, but its eyes still followed Wang Lei's receding back.