Chapter 176: Chapter 143: Able to Advance, Able to Defend
Yang Qi had considered the various ways Pang Yunrui might repay him for saving his life.
Perhaps he would be like Chen Hao, using his connections to send a rare and legally acquired "living gift," like the Beaked Eagle.
Or maybe he would gift him a large villa under the guise of a "long-term loan" or a "one-dollar lease."
He might even offer long-term financial support in the name of caring for his grandmother.
But he had never imagined the man would directly offer him the position of "Zoo Director."
The director of a private zoo.
For anyone else, this might mean a leap in status, wealth, and social standing—an enviable position.
But for Yang Qi, who possessed the "Beast Taming Cultivation System"...
...the title of "Zoo Director" corresponded to "Beast Taming Sect Leader"!
’What does this mean?’
It meant that if he accepted and became the head of a zoo, the system would very likely dispense a corresponding, generous promotion reward based on his new "identity"!
At the Donghua Wildlife Park, no matter how great his contributions, how outstanding his abilities, or how strong his connections, he couldn’t even dream of becoming the director without accumulating at least ten years of seniority by following the proper channels.
It was a place that ran on rules and seniority.
And now, Pang Yunrui was allowing him to bypass that long waiting period and ascend to the position of "Sect Leader" in a single step!
’I have to admit.’
Pang Yunrui’s "gift" had, by a stroke of luck, landed right in his sweet spot. It was far more "valuable" than any form of gratitude Yang Qi himself could have imagined.
Money, power, women.
None of these held much appeal for the current Yang Qi.
He was more focused on the identities associated with his system and the cultivation resources that came with them.
And the identity of "Beast Taming Sect Leader" was undoubtedly the most significant one he could attain at his current stage!
However, amidst his excitement, a question arose in Yang Qi’s mind.
’Why would Pang Yunrui suddenly decide to open a zoo, and why would he specifically ask an "outsider" like me to be the director?’
Pushing down the chaotic thoughts, Yang Qi didn’t immediately show his delight or accept the offer. Instead, he appeared even calmer.
"Senior, thank you for thinking so highly of me."
"But to be honest, I majored in computer science in college and have been working as a keeper at the Donghua Zoo ever since I graduated. I have no management experience, nor do I have any connections in the industry."
"Opening a zoo is no small matter. Why would you think of asking me to be the director?"
Pang Yunrui seemed to have anticipated this question and answered without hesitation, "Because of your animal taming abilities, of course!"
As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes burning with intensity. "Junior, in your opinion, what’s the most important thing for a zoo? The beautiful enclosures? The advanced equipment? Or the wealth of educational activities?"
Before Yang Qi could answer, he answered his own question. "It’s the animals!"
"To be precise, it’s animals that are unique, appealing, memorable, and capable of creating a sensation!"
"Think about it. What if a zoo had monkeys that could not only imitate people but also hold little brooms and ’clean up’ in a convincing way?"
"Foxes that aren’t just beautiful, but can also ride skateboards and perform in a designated area."
"Tigers that aren’t just majestic, but can also be guided to perform difficult yet safe interactive tricks, even ’dancing’ to music... What would happen to a zoo like that?"
WHAP!
Pang Yunrui slapped his thigh forcefully, his voice filled with excitement. "It would be a sensation! A nationwide sensation! It could even become famous internationally!"
"At that point, would we have to worry about a lack of visitors? A lack of traffic? A lack of attention?"
"We’d make a killing from ticket sales alone, and the value of related merchandise, collaborative projects, and the brand itself would be immeasurable!"
He stared at Yang Qi with shining eyes and continued, "And the ability to make animals display this kind of extraordinary intelligence, skill, and interactivity—looking at the entire country, I dare say that only you, Junior, can do it!"
"Others might be able to train animals to do some basic tricks, but they could never achieve the miraculous effect you have, where it’s as if you can ’communicate telepathically’ with them and unlock their potential!"
He paused, his tone becoming more pragmatic. "As for management experience? That’s not important! We can hire a seasoned professional with extensive zoo management experience to be the vice director, responsible for daily operations, logistics, HR, finance, and all those specific matters."
"Acquiring animals? The necessary connections and channels? Money can solve those problems, and the Dazhuang Group’s network isn’t just for show."
"But your ’core technology’ in animal taming is the one thing money can’t buy! That is the core competitive advantage and biggest selling point of our future zoo!"
Yang Qi was left speechless.
Pang Yunrui’s words were blunt and even a bit mercenary, but while the phrasing was coarse, the logic was sound. He had indeed pointed out a potential direction for the future of zoos.
Ultimate animal behavior exhibitions and interactive experiences.
Moreover, it was clear that this wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment idea from Pang Yunrui. He had put some initial thought and planning into it, placing Yang Qi’s abilities at the very core and considering solutions for all the supporting issues.
Seeing Yang Qi fall silent in contemplation, seemingly weighing his options, Pang Yunrui decided to add more fuel to the fire, his tone growing even more sincere.
"Actually, at first, I also considered asking you to be the vice director in charge of animal training and technical development."
"But then I thought about it again. With your abilities and the disruptive effects you could create in the future, what if the director we hired was too conservative in their thinking? Or what if they restricted your potential for the sake of stability? Wouldn’t that be penny-wise and pound-foolish?"
"Rather than risk potential conflicts and internal friction down the line, it’s better to get it right from the start. We’ll make you the director directly, and you’ll have full authority over all animal-related matters at this zoo."
