Chapter 1

Max Riley woke up from excruciating pain. His vision was blurry, and he heard the doctor say, "This husky's going into heat a lot. We recommend neutering soon. It's better for its health."

Max struggled wildly and tried to yell, but all that came out of his mouth was "woof."

Turned out, he'd transmigrated from an ordinary office worker into a husky that was about to be neutered.

Worse, the one who'd taken him in was Claire Sullivan, an officer on the city police Criminal Investigation Team. Right now, she was frowning and nodding, clearly agreeing with the doctor.

Just as Max was about to break down, a robotic voice rang in his head: [K9 System binding successful. Host, you must complete case-solving missions to unlock rewards and stay alive; otherwise, the neutering countdown will start.]

So began his mission to keep his manhood. He solved weird cases as a dog and unexpectedly got tangled up with the pretty cop who adopted him.

*****

At the vet's office, Max lay sprawled on the icy exam table, unable to move, his paws secured with soft ropes. He'd found himself trapped in the body of this unlucky husky.

Claire stood right beside him in a white tee and jeans, her long hair pulled up in a high ponytail. As a backbone of the Criminal Investigation Team, she was a seasoned officer.

"Let's have it your way, Doctor. The sooner, the better," her voice was clear and decisive, sending shivers down Max's spine.

Max shook all over, his tail thrashing wildly as he whimpered. He wanted to yell, "I don't want to be neutered," and tell Claire he was actually human, but all that came out were frantic, high-pitched barks.

He thought back to his previous life. He'd been an ordinary office worker, crammed into the subway every day, working late. The only thing that cheered him up was spotting the stray dogs on his way home from work.

Then, out of nowhere, a car accident ended his human life for good. Next thing he knew, he'd woken up as a pet dog, staring down the most humiliating future imaginable.

The vet grabbed the syringe, the clear liquid catching the light as she brought it closer to the back of his neck. Max shut his eyes tight in despair, thinking it was the end of his happy life.

When the needle was about to touch his skin, a cold, robotic voice suddenly blasted through his mind. [Your health and dignity are at risk. K9 System activated.]

[Host: Max (Husky form)]

[Current status: Healthy. Neutering countdown starts in 24 hours.]

[Initial quest: Help catch a thief. Reward: temporary olfactory enhancement. Neutering countdown extended by 72 hours.]

[Hint: The thief is near the vet clinic, carrying a black backpack with stolen goods inside.]

Max's eyes snapped open, shock giving way to wild excitement. A system meant he was saved.

He stopped struggling and instead gave Claire his most pathetic look, ears drooping and eyes full of pleading. If he wanted to finish this mission, he had to get out of this place first.

Claire felt a little soft-hearted. She frowned and said to the vet, "How about we wait a bit? He looks terrified. I'll take him home and wait for a few days to let him settle in. Then I'll bring him back next time."

The vet paused and nodded. "Alright, but try not to put it off too long. Frequent heat cycles aren't good for him."

Claire undid the soft ropes and bent down to pick Max up. The moment she lifted him, Max went stiff. Her natural scent, fresh and clean with a hint of gardenia, drifted into his nose. It wasn't perfume but her unique smell.

He sneaked a glance at Claire's flawless side profile, and his heart skipped a beat. In his previous life, he'd never been this close to such a stunning and capable woman. Who knew turning into a dog would come with unexpected "benefits" like this?

Carrying Max out of the vet clinic, Claire gently ruffled his head and murmured, "Don't be scared. It's a quick procedure. After that, you won't have to go through all this trouble anymore."

Max howled in his heart. Getting neutered was the real nightmare. He swore to himself that he'd clear the system's mission ASAP, not only to save his manhood, but also to make this cop give up on neutering him for good.

Then, Max's nose twitched, and the system's robotic voice buzzed in his mind again. [Target scent detected. 150 feet away. Black backpack. Loot: two phones and a wallet.]

Max instantly perked up, squirming to get out of Claire's arms. Claire looked surprised, thinking he wanted to walk, so she let him down gently.

The moment his paws touched the ground, Max shot off toward the direction the system indicated. He moved fast, his fur rippling in the sunlight, turning heads all along the street.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Claire shouted, startled, and hurried after him. She had no clue why her new husky was suddenly so fired up.