Along the border road, a large and a small canine-shaped creature were chasing the sun. The larger one looked innocent and unusually excited, happily panting as it ran, while the petite figure carried a large package and seemed a bit out of breath, presenting a somewhat comical sight. These two running Therianthropes were none other than Raymond De Redwood and his new family member — adopted daughter BamBam. However, spectators might be inclined to make a confusing judgment due to preconceived stereotypes, so it is essential here to restore the reputation of Mr. Raymond De Redwood, who was tirelessly dragging the luggage. Yes, that petite mini-canine creature is none other than our Mr. Raymond De Redwood. In the past, when she was a little beggar, BamBam never imagined she would have the chance to be adopted by such a kind-hearted person. What's even more surprising is that the beast form of her towering adoptive father is almost the same size as a Chihuahua!

"In the vastness of the world, wonders abound," BamBam thought to herself, "after all, small things are also adorable~"

Their destination was Frostlands. Ever since Raymond De Redwood discovered the secret of the Radiant Church and took away the crown used as an energy reservoir for the magic array, he had become the number one target for assassination by the goddess of radiant, Viola. For safety reasons, they couldn't stay in the Autumn Breeze Borderlands any longer. Raymond De Redwood informed BamBam that they would be going to stay with his friend in Frostlands for a while. Perhaps they would buy a house and settle down in the cold land. Raymond De Redwood was determined to go through the adoption process for her and was preparing to find a good school for her. Thinking about all this, BamBam felt an unprecedented happiness.

During this time, she witnessed too many magical events that ordinary people might never imagine in their entire lives. Those magical events involving magic, cults, rituals, and puppets seemed to have been abandoned far away in the barren Autumn Breeze Borderlands, along with the never-ending hunger and nightmares. She also gained a petite guardian, the person she called 'papa'. After indulging in Raymond De Redwood's handcrafted 'Heartwarming Dad's All-Meat Feast,' BamBam had a bit of indigestion. So, she suggested going for a digestive jog under the setting sun with this new dad.

Therianthropes of the canine kind have a natural love for running. The more BamBam ran, the happier she became, losing herself in the joy of the moment. Her tongue wagged playfully outside her mouth as she forgot about the gradually fatiguing Raymond De Redwood trailing behind.

"Hooowwwwl!!!" Raymond De Redwood let out a woeful howl to signal a stop, causing BamBam to make an abrupt halt. Inertia made her feel top-heavy, and her furry dog face skidded across the sandy ground for several meters. This sent the new dad into a panic, and he exclaimed frantically, "My darling daughter, are you okay?!!"

BamBam remained silent for a moment, still processing the situation. It was the jingling sound of the gemstones in Raymond De Redwood's pouch that suddenly brought her to full attention. The young Bernese Mountain Dog Therianthrope widened her eyes and said, "Dad, are you alright? Was that a dog howl you just made? I've never heard a canine Therianthrope make such a sound before."

Raymond De Redwood blushed at his daughter's puzzled inquiry. He was always open with his family, and with no one around, he finally mustered the courage to reveal a secret he had concealed for over thirty years. He spoke earnestly, "My dear, I'm not just a highly skilled, um, thief. Of course, Daddy promises that I won't steal anymore, and we'll have a stable life from now on. I will also work hard to improve my cooking skills and make delicious dishes that my precious daughter loves, and also..."

"Papa, I know all that," she quickly interrupted Raymond De Redwood's meandering narrative. This period of bonding had made BamBam keenly aware of his tendency to be verbose and tangential, so she swiftly brought him back to the point.

"Alright, alright," he chuckled, acknowledging her prompt. "What I meant to say is, I'm not just a former thief; I'm also a... a wolf."

BamBam, who had become adept at navigating her adoptive father's winding conversations, immediately grasped the significance of this revelation. "Oh, a wolf," she repeated, her eyes widening. "So, you're a genuine member of the wolf tribe. Your old tribe, it was all wolves, right? And you're probably one of the last remaining wolf tribes on this continent."

Raymond De Redwood nonchalantly shrugged. "Yeah, that's about right. We were a pure wolf tribe, and as far as I know, we might be the last of our kind on this vast land."

BamBam, however, seemed partly petrified, frozen in the middle of the road. Raymond De Redwood understood that this young girl needed time to digest this significant revelation. He also knew that in most regions of this kingdom, tales of the wise and ancient wolf tribe were treated with mystery and awe. Yet, for Raymond De Redwood, who grew up in the desert heartland of the Jalapeño tribe where everyone was a wolf, being a wolf was just a common, natural part of life. Little did he know that this identity, once commonplace, had become so rare and taboo after leaving his homeland.

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For young BamBam, who was previously oblivious to the existence of wolf tribes, her small world had just expanded immensely! It turned out to be nothing like the tales she had heard. Wolf tribes weren't mysterious or awe-inspiring creatures; instead, they were adorable little beings resembling Chihuahuas but with a fierce cuteness! And so, armed with her peculiar misconceptions about wolf tribes planted by Raymond De Redwood, she influenced a circle of people, including Coral and Belga. But that's a story for another time.

For now, they continued their journey cheerfully, the newfound admiration for her dad being a wolf adding an extra layer of joy. BamBam's large tail wagged even more exuberantly. "Seriously! Miniature wolf tribes are super cool, right? My dad used to be the king of thieves, you know!" BamBam thought proudly.

In the far-off frostlands, the Megatron family wasn't as joyous. The four of them sat in silence, partaking in a lunch that felt like an agonizing ordeal. Every day, every minute, every second leading up to the announcement of Coral's results felt like torture. Even though they had made a pact not to fret over Coral's exam outcomes, each Therianthrope in the household suppressed their anxiety and worries to varying degrees. The uncertainty hung over them like a colossal rock perched on a mountaintop, ready to crash down and shatter their roof at any moment. Hence, Megatron coped with anxiety by indulging in food, Belga by burying himself in hearty eating, and Whitney by losing her appetite and abstaining from food.

However, there was one exception, the carefree and overly confident young Therianthrope, Coral. "Is there a pup in the world more perfect and intelligent than Coa? Nope! ♪(^∇^*)!" Coral thought smugly. In high spirits, he opened wide, savoring a baked baby potato slathered in cheese sauce, followed by a hearty sip of pumpkin-chestnut soup. His plump little mouth, glazed with the richness of the feast, could even delightfully uncork a bottle of Moscato to accompany the cold chicken jelly.

At that moment, the mistress of the table, Whitney, finally erupted like a long-suppressed volcano. Her already sensitive nerves could no longer endure the slightest provocation. She angrily roared at the remaining three individuals in the house, "I've had enough! Each and every one of you knows how to provoke my anger! Not a single person can satisfy my willing! Dad just knows how to feast! The elder son, too, only knows how to feast! The younger son as well, only knows how to feast! Not a single person is doing anything worthwhile! All you know is eating! Why don't you all just go live in the pigsty! I've truly had enough! After dinner, all of you get out! I'm really losing my mind, it's just unbearable!"

The remaining three looked at each other, not daring to utter a word. At this moment, Coral suddenly perceived something. He scratched his head and timidly spoke, "Um... actually, Mom, today was the day our exam results were released. They came out in the morning, and we were supposed to queue up at the city's education bureau archives to check them."

"What?!!! Why didn't you say it earlier?!!! Hurry, go check! I can't stand another day of this cursed uncertainty!" Whitney's tone escalated once again, almost roaring. She felt a surge of blood, heightened anger. On such an important day, her foolish son was just happily eating, leaving her alone in anxiety. It was unforgivable! She then pointed at the terrified remaining two and said, "You! And you! Both of you go! After checking, come back immediately and report to me! I won't go; my capacity to endure is not that great to begin with. In case... well, forget it, there's no 'in case'! Just go and come back quickly after checking!"

An hour later, the three Therianthropes, looking like they had just been struck by lightning, burst into Whitney's kitchen, exchanging wide-eyed glances. No one dared to speak first, all staring at Whitney with her utensil in hand. She waved a spatula, almost ready to use it like a shovel on the gentlemen in her house.

"And the results?! Speak up!" Whitney demanded, brandishing the spatula.

Megatron cautiously approached his dear wife, offering a conciliatory smile. "Um... how should I put it? In terms of scores and rankings, it's really good, quite impressive. As for the outcome, well, at least it's close to home, so that's something positive..."

The remaining two young lads chimed in, smiling and nodding, "Yes, exactly! My dad is absolutely right, at least it's close to home!"

"Which university?" Whitney asked, her face expressionless, an icy veneer settling over her features.

"Greenpeace Technology University," Belga replied meekly, discreetly positioning himself to shield his brother Coral, who seemed a bit shifty.

"Such a good university?! That's wonderful!" Whitney's countenance transformed instantly. The burdens of the past few days melted away, and she began swirling around and waving her spatula in the air, humming a cheerful tune. The sudden rush of joy almost brought tears to her eyes. "This is fantastic! I might even have two extra servings myself for dinner tonight! Wait a minute..." Whitney, the typically astute Border Collie Therianthrope, caught on, "What do you mean, 'at least it's close to home'? What majors did you guys choose?"

Coral looked at his mother, who seemed ready to erupt like a volcano, and cautiously spoke, 'Because... we were too late to check our scores and choose majors. Um, we got assigned to the program of 'Ancient Totems and Runes.' (Nervous laughter) Hahaha, but Mom, listen to me... Ahhhhh!!! Help!!! My mom is insane!!!'

After many years, Coral once again experienced the sensation of getting a good scolding from his mother for being too 'clever'. Nevertheless, wasn't he at least going to a good university? And so, Coral's entanglement with magic was just beginning.