Working in a Zoo with Beast Taming System

Chapter 306: Chapter 186: It’s Too Scary Outside

"The rear compartment door was damaged and warped in the collision, and the lock on the reinforced cage inside came loose. The two White Tigers were spooked and took the opportunity to escape."

’So that’s what happened...’

’It was just an escape caused by a traffic accident. Not a deliberate act, and definitely not the work of that ’animal killer’.’

A weight lifted from Yang Qi’s heart.

"What about the other White Tiger? Any news?" Yang Qi asked.

"We’re tracking it now. According to the latest sightings and surveillance footage, it ran west, toward the urban-rural fringe. That area is near some hills, so the terrain is complex, which will make the search difficult. But at least it’s far from any densely populated areas."

Shen Ruiping’s tone was grave. "We’ve already deployed a large number of officers and drones, and we’ve notified the relevant local departments to help with containment and evacuating the public. Let’s just hope it doesn’t wander into a residential area."

"Let’s hope it’s smart enough," Yang Qi replied.

They exchanged a few more words before hanging up.

Before long, the sound of an approaching vehicle came from outside the park.

Soon, a medium-sized box truck marked with the words "Binjiang Zoo" drove up, followed by another of the Zoo’s work vehicles.

A man in his fifties with salt-and-pepper hair, dressed in a zoo management uniform, got out of the work vehicle and stopped at the edge of the small grove.

He first glanced reverently at the White Tiger lying in the grove. Then, facing Yang Qi’s direction, he wiped the sweat from his brow and called out, his voice not too loud, not too soft.

"Advisor Yang, hello! I’m Minister Wang, from the Binjiang Zoo’s Animal Management Department. Thank you for getting the tiger under control. The transport truck is here. How would you like to proceed?"

"Hello, Minister Wang. I’m Yang Qi, from Donghua."

Yang Qi replied politely, "Could you please open the rear doors of the transport truck and face it toward the grove? Then have everyone back away. Get as far back as you can, and please be quiet."

"Yes, of course. Whatever you say."

Not daring to delay, Minister Wang immediately directed the driver to back the transport truck into position and open the rear doors.

He then led all the staff in a hasty retreat, stopping several dozen meters away to watch nervously.

"Let’s go. Time to get you home," Yang Qi said, patting the White Tiger’s head.

The White Tiger let out a low growl. Though it was wary of the strange metal box, it obediently rose to its feet under Yang Qi’s soothing guidance and walked out of the grove, staying close by his side.

In the distance.

The crowd of police officers, firefighters, and the citizens and media reporters who were held back even farther away all held their breath, watching the scene unfold in disbelief.

A young man was leading a massive, adult Bengal White Tiger toward the transport truck as casually as if he were walking his own large dog.

Not only did the White Tiger show no sign of aggression, it actually seemed... reliant on him?

It was an incredibly powerful image!

In the silence.

The man and the tiger entered the rear compartment, one after the other.

Minister Wang’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. A mixture of astonishment and concern, he couldn’t help but inch closer to the truck and call out softly.

"Ad... Advisor Yang... A-Aren’t you coming out?"

"It’s fine. I’ll stay with him. I can keep him calm on the way and make sure he doesn’t get spooked again."

Yang Qi replied from inside the truck, his voice calm. "Don’t shut the doors completely; leave a crack for ventilation. Oh, and Minister Wang? Could you bring my cat, please?"

"Huh? Your cat?"

Minister Wang froze, still processing the request, when a black figure shot out from the edge of the grove like a phantom. It was Xiaojiu.

The cat let out a "MEOW," then padded elegantly over to Minister Wang and glanced up at him. With a light spring, it leaped nimbly through the truck’s open passenger-side window. It found a comfortable spot on the dashboard beneath the windshield wipers, settled down with an air of composure, and began to leisurely lick its paw.

Minister Wang and the nearby driver were both completely stunned.

’This cat is way too calm, isn’t it?’

’And how did it know to get into the truck?’

Minister Wang was a man of the world, however, and he quickly realized this was probably no ordinary cat.

He shook his head as if to clear it, then said to the other staff members, "You all take the work vehicle back. I’ll go with Advisor Yang."

With that, he pulled open the passenger door and carefully sat down, making sure to keep his distance from the unnervingly composed black cat. Then he spoke to the driver.

"Drive. And make it a smooth ride."

The driver swallowed hard, nodded, and started the engine.

...

The transport truck pulled away smoothly. With a police escort at the front and rear, it departed the chaotic city block and headed toward the Binjiang Zoo.

Inside the cargo bay, the White Tiger leaned against Yang Qi. Its massive body swayed gently with the motion of the truck, and it gradually relaxed, even letting out a soft rumble.

The truck hadn’t gone far before Yang Qi’s phone rang again. It was Shen Ruiping.

"Hello, Captain Shen?"

"Advisor Yang, is everything all right on your end?" Shen Ruiping’s voice came through, his background noisy.

"Everything’s great. The tiger is calm, and we’re on our way to the Zoo now," Yang Qi answered.

"That’s good."

Shen Ruiping continued, "So, here’s the thing, Advisor Yang. I’m next to your car. I was going to drive it, but Bai Wan is standing guard inside and won’t let me anywhere near the driver’s seat. The moment I touch the door handle, he starts growling at me. He’s pretty fierce about it."

Hearing this, Yang Qi couldn’t help but laugh.

’Bai Wan is just faithfully carrying out my ’watch the car’ order.’

"Captain Shen, hang on a second. I’ll have a word with Bai Wan."

As he spoke, Yang Qi switched to a video call, pointed the camera at his own face, and called out, "Bai Wan, look here."