HLM – Chapter 35 Napoleon

The summer sun blazed over the small town. It was just after ten o’clock in the morning, but the temperature was already climbing rapidly. Even though Wang Bo wore only a white short-sleeved T-shirt, sweat was pouring off him. Meanwhile, back home in the northern hemisphere, his parents were still bundled up in padded jackets, warming themselves by the fire.

The streets were nearly empty. The town was small, and after wandering around for a bit, Wang Bo caught sight of a familiar figure. From the golden, shining ponytail and the graceful, swaying silhouette, he immediately recognized her—it was Eva.

The beautiful teacher was holding a little boy with her left hand and a little girl with her right. The three of them walked along the shadow of a building. She seemed to be saying something, but the children gave no response.

Wang Bo had just wanted to tell Bowen to stop the motorcycle so he could say hello, but before he could even open his mouth, Bowen had already hit the brakes. He turned around, his expression mischievous, and pointed at Eva. “Wang, I bet that one’s a hottie!”

“And then?” Wang Bo’s eyes narrowed. Brothers are like limbs; women are like clothes. Anyone who fantasizes about my woman, I’ll sever his limbs!

“Then… don’t you want to touch her butt? Look how perky and full it is—it must feel amazing to the touch! Cowboys are all about brotherhood, so I’ll give you the first shot. Want to go for it?” Bowen still hadn’t noticed the murderous glint in Wang Bo’s eyes.

Surprisingly, Wang Bo didn’t get angry. He replied calmly, “I’m not going. But if you dare to try, just wait. If she screams, we won’t be able to escape even on motorcycles.”

“Who said anything about running?” Bowen, now wearing his dark sunglasses, let go of his cane and grinned lecherously. “Didn’t you ask why I wear sunglasses and carry a cane? Well, let me tell you another reason—I’ve been waiting for an opportunity just like this!”

“You going or not? I’ll pretend to be blind, and you help me walk over. One hand holds the cane, and the other… reaches forward. You’ll be free to touch as much as you like,” Bowen said with the voice of someone who had done this before.

Wang Bo shook his head. “Forget it. Let’s not stoop so low. That’s disgusting and extremely disrespectful to women.”

Bowen shrugged. “Just a joke to spice up life a bit. Why not?”

Wang Bo’s lips curled into an enigmatic smile. “A joke? Fine. Then you go ahead. I promise, the moment you do, I’ll spice up your life too.”

Though Bowen was a bit of a brute, he wasn’t stupid. When he saw Wang Bo pull out a gleaming gold police badge and hang it from his chest, he instantly realized—if he tried anything, he’d definitely be cast as the villain. So, defeated, he sat quietly.

The rusty motorcycle roared past. Eva quickly pulled the two kids to the side of the road. Wang Bo jumped off the bike, smiling brightly. “Hi, Eva! What a coincidence, meeting you again. I must say, you look beautiful today.”

It wasn’t just flattery. Eva really did look stunning today. Probably due to the heat, she wore a blue, short summer dress embroidered with red roses, adding a touch of allure and maturity to her look.

The dress featured a V-neck, revealing her graceful collarbones. It was high-waisted and cinched with a matching belt, emphasizing her slim waist. The A-line skirt perfectly highlighted her silk-stockinged legs and round, curvy hips.

“Hello, Wang,” Eva said after recognizing him. She glanced at the motorcycle in astonishment. “My goodness, that thing is terrifying! I thought a monster was chasing us—right, kids?”

Obviously, she was joking to amuse the children. They looked about ten years old, but neither responded. Their expressions didn’t change at all, as if living in their own world—cold and pitiful.

Wang Bo thought about showing them the parrot general to cheer them up, but the bird’s first words were a crude curse involving someone’s mom. Startled, Wang Bo quickly forced the parrot to shut its beak. He seriously regretted ever teaching it foul language—it had picked it up and now couldn’t unlearn it.

Eva asked what he was doing in the town, and Wang Bo replied, “We’re here to buy some furniture—mainly a bed, a sofa, and a table. Also, I was hoping to find a good dog. I want one to guard my place. You know, I’m living in a castle now. It’s too empty and wide.”

Bowen’s unannounced visit had been a warning. If it hadn’t been for the sand table tipping over, Wang Bo wouldn’t even have known someone had entered. That kind of risk was unacceptable. If those three drug dealers he offended decided to sneak in while he was sleeping one night, what would he do?

Eva first pointed him to a furniture shop, then added, “You want a dog? You’d need a large one to guard a castle, but unfortunately, big dogs aren’t allowed in this town. The best you’ll find are medium-sized ones—like huskies, border collies, or bulldogs.”

“That’s a shame,” Wang Bo said helplessly.

Bowen chimed in enthusiastically, “A husky’s good too! Looks just like a fierce, starving wolf. I love them. Let’s get a husky!”

Wang Bo gave him a firm look. “No way. There can only be one idiot in the castle—either you or the husky. Choose.”

“Sh*t, then I’ll be the one!—Wait, what do you mean?” Bowen finally realized the insult.

Wang Bo shoved him aside. Eva giggled, watching the two of them bicker, then said, “Actually, I just thought of something. There is one extra-large dog I know of. Not sure if you’d be interested?”

“What kind of dog?” Wang Bo asked. This was the first time he’d heard of “extra-large” dogs.

“Napoleon,” Eva said.

“What? That French emperor? He reincarnated in New Zealand and became a dog?” Wang Bo was stunned.

“Napoleon? She’s probably talking about a Mastiff, a real tough guy,” Bowen explained. “It’s a British-bred variant from a bunch of sissy nobles, but they’re ferocious four-legged warriors!”

Now it clicked for Wang Bo. He didn’t know much about this breed, but based on Bowen’s explanation—and the fact that it had “mastiff” in the name—it was clearly a powerful, fierce dog. Exactly what he needed.

Eva gave him an address. It was a local dog shelter that rescued stray dogs. She told him to check if the mastiff was still there and consider adopting it.

After buying the furniture, they roared off toward the suburbs on their battered motorcycle, leaving behind a thick trail of black smoke that twisted and twirled through the air.

Bowen actually knew a lot about dogs. After all, Texas had more ferocious dog owners than anywhere else in the world. He said that many Texans raised mastiffs, and they were truly impressive.

The Mastiff is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. Even 4,000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians considered them treasures. In ancient times, these dogs were used in war, guarding fortresses, or fighting animals in arenas.

In the wild, mastiffs preferred to move in packs. When they gathered in numbers, even wolves would avoid them. In Northern Europe, bear hunters and wolf trackers often used Caucasian Shepherds, Spanish Mastiffs, or these Mastiffs as companions.

They could grow huge—up to a meter tall at the shoulder, and weighing over 100 kilograms. In fact, current records for the heaviest dog were still held by this breed.

Despite their enormous size and fearsome looks, mastiffs were loyal, calm, and incredibly intelligent—far superior to the notorious trio of sled dog “idiots” or the so-called “demolition kings.” They were extremely friendly to people, especially fond of playing with children. In America, they were often regarded as family members—deeply affectionate family dogs.