Working in a Zoo with Beast Taming System

Chapter 315: Chapter 189: Battle of Wits and Courage (Part 2)

’He also needs to observe police movements, assess the risk, and maybe even plan his next move?’

At this thought, Yang Qi opened his eyes and gazed out the window at the Binjiang city skyline.

"Li Jiahao" had three targets left. Judging by the pattern, time was running out.

’Would he take a huge risk? While the police are mounting a full-scale manhunt, would he instead sneak near the next target and use the chaos to carry out the assassination?’

The thought sent a chill down Yang Qi’s spine.

He immediately found Tang Yuan and voiced his concerns.

"Advisor Yang, are you suggesting that ’Li Jiahao’ might do the exact opposite of what we expect and actively approach the target we’re protecting?" asked Zhang Cheng, Captain of the Gem District Criminal Investigation Division, who had just arrived to report to Tang Yuan. His brow was tightly furrowed.

"It’s not impossible."

Yang Qi analyzed, "For someone like ’Li Jiahao,’ who is skilled at hiding and using his environment, the most dangerous place can sometimes be the safest."

"The police’s protection is focused on the target and their residence, so there are bound to be gaps in the surveillance of the surrounding area."

"If ’Li Jiahao’ can blend into the environment like a chameleon, he could lie in wait at some point along the target’s daily route—for example, in the flowerbeds below an office building, the ventilation ducts of a frequently visited restaurant, or even the green belts of a residential complex. From there, he could wait for the right moment to launch a long-range attack with ’Phantom.’ His chances of success wouldn’t be low, and it would be easier for him to escape again."

The hearts of Tang Yuan and Zhang Cheng sank. They felt the gravity of the situation.

If the killer was truly that crazed and confident, their current protection plan had a massive flaw.

"Strengthen dynamic surveillance of the areas around all remaining targets!"

Tang Yuan quickly ordered, "Increase patrol frequency, especially in green belts and hidden corners. Also, notify the targets and their families to minimize unnecessary outings and to vary their daily routes and schedules."

"Yes, sir!"

Just as they were about to move,

a member of the special task force came over to report.

While investigating a large flower and bird market in the west of the city, a vendor reported something. About two days ago, a man wearing a mask and a hat came to buy some live crickets and mealworms, as well as a small pack of self-heating pads.

The man’s behavior was a bit strange. He didn’t look at the popular ornamental birds or pet cats and dogs. Instead, he stared only at the reptile section, paid in cash, and left in a hurry.

"He really was looking for supplies!"

Zhang Cheng’s spirits lifted. "That flower and bird market is a shady place with all sorts of people. It’s indeed a good spot to hide and get resources."

"Zhang Cheng, immediately dispatch more personnel. Get plainclothes officers stationed at the flower and bird market."

Tang Yuan ordered decisively, "Covertly search all possible hiding spots inside and around the market. Especially those shops with piled-up clutter, basements, or attics!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

However, an entire afternoon of investigation only confirmed that the man who bought the insects was likely "Li Jiahao." They didn’t find his specific hiding place.

The market was too large, its layout complex, and the flow of people too great. The search was extremely difficult.

...

「Early evening.」

Accompanied by Zhang Cheng, Yang Qi arrived at the perimeter of the west-side flower and bird market with Xiaojiu and Bai Wan.

The two men didn’t enter the market itself, but instead walked slowly along the streets surrounding it.

Bai Wan carefully sniffed the air and the ground.

Meanwhile, Xiaojiu was perched on Yang Qi’s shoulder, its gaze sweeping over the windows, rooftops, and vents of the surrounding buildings.

From inside the market came the chirping of birds, the barking of dogs, and the clamor of human voices. The air was a complex mix of odors: animal droppings, feed, wood, paint, and more.

After walking about halfway around, as they passed a corner in the market’s back alley where discarded wooden crates and plastic baskets were piled up, Bai Wan suddenly stopped. Its nose twitched vigorously, and a suppressed growl rumbled in its throat as it stared warily at a spot behind a half-man-high pile of old furniture deep in the corner.

"Found something?"

Zhang Cheng immediately signaled the plainclothes officers behind him to be on alert.

Yang Qi motioned for Bai Wan to stay calm and slowly stepped forward himself.

He didn’t look directly at the pile of furniture. Instead, he first observed the ground.

On the damp concrete, there were some messy footprints, but most were blurred.

Near the base of the wall, in a slightly drier spot, Yang Qi saw several faint marks that were different from shoe prints. They looked like impressions left by the adhesive-like pads on the claws of some small animal. The tracks were very new, and the nearby dust showed signs of being slightly disturbed.

He immediately crouched down and sniffed the air carefully.

Beneath the market’s heavy background odor, an extremely faint, almost-masked sweet, metallic odor wafted out from behind the old furniture like a silken thread.

"’Li Jiahao’ or ’Phantom’ was likely here for a short time. Not long."

Yang Qi stood up and said to Zhang Cheng in a low voice, "The scent is very faint. He either passed through, or this is a very well-hidden temporary observation post or passage."

"Xiaojiu!"

Yang Qi patted Xiaojiu.

The black cat leaped nimbly from his shoulder, approaching the old furniture as silently as a shadow.

Instead of diving straight in, Xiaojiu first circled halfway around the pile of furniture, using its whiskers and ears to sense the airflow and sounds from behind the gaps.

Suddenly, it stopped behind a shabby, overturned sofa. It let out a low, warning HISS toward a narrow gap between the bottom of the sofa and the ground.

Yang Qi and Zhang Cheng immediately moved closer.

Zhang Cheng shone his flashlight into the gap. The beam revealed what looked like drag marks inside, as well as an empty plastic box that had once held mealworms, carelessly discarded.

"’Li Jiahao’ might have used this abandoned furniture and the market’s complex structure to build a temporary ’maze’ for quick movement and hiding."