Working in a Zoo with Beast Taming System

Chapter 305: Chapter 186: It’s Too Scary Outside

The sudden commotion and the dense human presence startled the White Tiger, which had just been pacified.

It shot to its feet, a low growl rumbling in its throat, filled with warning and unease. Its muscles tensed, and its eyes stared fixedly at the shifting figures and blinding lights outside the woods as it assumed a clear defensive stance.

"It’s okay, it’s okay."

Yang Qi quickly soothed it, simultaneously scattering another dose of "calming powder." The tranquil scent of the powder once again enveloped the White Tiger.

"These Two-legged Beasts aren’t here to hurt you. They’re here to help, too. If you don’t like them, I’ll make them go away."

"ROAR~!"

The White Tiger let out a low growl, laced with irritation and an almost imperceptible plea.

[Let them go.]

"Okay, okay. I’ll have them back off right now."

Yang Qi continued to soothe the tiger as he turned to face the police officers waiting on high alert outside the small wood. He took a deep breath and shouted.

"Officers, I’m the Animal Expert, Yang Qi! I was invited by Director Tang Yuan of the Binjiang City Bureau to come from Donghua City and assist with a case."

"I came here with Captain Shen Ruiping and Officer Fei Gang from your bureau."

"I have the White Tiger pacified for now. I need all of you to back away immediately! Stop shining your lights on it; you’re provoking and scaring it."

He paused, then added, "Please contact the Binjiang Zoo or a qualified wildlife rescue agency immediately, and have them dispatch a professional large animal transport vehicle as soon as possible."

Outside the small wood, the officer in charge and the SWAT team members were all taken aback by the shouted message.

They held their riot shields, nervously staring into the woods at the young man standing beside the Bengal White Tiger, and at the tiger itself which, though agitated, indeed showed no intention of attacking.

The lead officer narrowed his eyes, studying the scene carefully.

The situation was just as the man inside had described. Although the White Tiger was tense, it was mostly hiding slightly behind the young man, displaying a posture of reliance or seeking protection, rather than the agitation that precedes an attack.

The name Yang Qi didn’t ring a bell, but as mainstays of the criminal investigation division, he certainly knew of Shen Ruiping and Fei Gang.

And he was certainly familiar with the name of Director Tang Yuan.

His boss’s boss’s boss!

For someone to drop Director Tang’s name in a situation like this, not to mention Shen Ruiping and Fei Gang, meant it was highly unlikely he was lying.

Most importantly, the man had indeed brought the beast under control.

The lead officer quickly weighed the pros and cons and acted decisively, raising a hand to his communicator to give the order.

"All units, listen up. Maintain alert status and begin a slow withdrawal!"

"All personnel are to withdraw from the park grounds. Re-establish the cordon on the perimeter and turn off the emergency lights."

"I repeat, all personnel fall back! Do not provoke the target!"

...

The well-trained police force immediately began an orderly withdrawal. Though they remained vigilant, the oppressive atmosphere noticeably dissipated.

During the withdrawal, the lead officer quickly pulled out his phone to report the situation to the command center and verify Yang Qi’s identity.

A moment later, his expression turned serious as he responded firmly into the phone.

"Yes, sir! Understood! We will follow Advisor Yang’s every command!"

He hung up the phone, a trace of lingering surprise still on his face.

"Boss, what’s the situation? Is that guy inside really an expert?" a young officer beside him couldn’t help but whisper.

"He’s the real deal. The Animal Expert they brought in from Donghua to help crack that big case."

The lead officer replied curtly, then immediately started calling the Binjiang Zoo to coordinate the transport vehicle and professional handlers.

...

Back in the small wood, as the police lights receded, the figures withdrew, and the noise subsided, the White Tiger’s tense nerves began to relax once more.

It let out a low rumble and lay back down on the grass, resting its massive head on its forepaws. It muttered something, as if with a sigh of relief.

[It’s so scary out there.]

Yang Qi couldn’t help but chuckle. He reached out to gently scratch behind its sensitive ears and said warmly, "Everyone’s nervous, really. You’re afraid they’ll hurt you, and they’re afraid you’ll hurt the other Two-legged Beasts out there."

"ROAR~"

The White Tiger let out an indignant low growl.

[I’ve never hurt a Two-legged Beast.]

[Back ’home,’ the Two-legged Beasts who took care of me were very nice. They gave me meat.]

"I believe you," Yang Qi said soothingly, though he thought to himself,

’A dangerous animal raised in a zoo rarely has a good outcome once it has a record of harming a person.’

’It’s only in a controlled environment like that that they can remain relatively "gentle."’

’An encounter in the wild would be an entirely different story.’

Just as he was thinking this, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang. The sound was particularly jarring in the now-quiet wood.

The White Tiger’s ears immediately perked up, and it looked at Yang Qi warily.

"It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s just a little thing making noise. Don’t be afraid."

Yang Qi quickly explained as he pulled out his phone. Seeing the caller ID was Shen Ruiping, he answered the call.

"Hello, Captain Shen."

"Advisor Yang, are you all right over there? How’s the tiger?" Shen Ruiping’s voice was filled with concern.

"I’m fine. The tiger is pacified for now, and its mood is relatively stable. The officers outside have withdrawn and are contacting someone for a transport vehicle," Yang Qi replied.

"That’s good to hear. Thank you for your hard work, Advisor Yang."

Shen Ruiping clearly breathed a sigh of relief, then explained, "I just got the latest report; we’ve figured it out. The two white tigers were being transported from a zoo in Jiangbei Province for an animal exchange with our Binjiang Zoo."

"On the stretch of road before entering the city, the road surface was slick from that thunderstorm earlier. The driver made a mistake and scraped against a small truck that was changing lanes. The transport vehicle lost its balance and overturned."