Except for Zhang Chenghu, whose arm had been dislocated and then reset, the others mostly had minor scrapes and were squatting on the ground, dejected.
Yang Qi, Chen Ze, Lao Hu, and the other security guards involved in the capture stood to one side. They were all a bit dusty and scraped up, but their spirits were high.
Huang Zhongmu’s face was ashen. He had just started asking about the situation when—
"WEE-WOO—WEE-WOO—"
The sound of police sirens grew closer, and a patrol car from the local precinct drove through the Zoo’s main gate.
On duty tonight were Wang Anjiu and his partner.
The two of them got out of the car, and their hearts skipped a beat when they saw the scene in the plaza. They quickly ran over.
"Director Huang, what’s the situation? Are there any casualties? Have any animals been hard?"
Wang Anjiu fired off a series of questions, adding, "My colleagues from the White Tower Branch are on their way."
Huang Zhongmu quickly shook Wang Anjiu’s hand. "Officer Wang, thank you for getting here so quickly. From what we can see, we have everyone under control. We’re still assessing the full situation."
He paused, then looked toward Yang Qi. "The first person to discover the situation tonight was one of our employees, Yang Qi."
SWISH!
All eyes instantly focused on Yang Qi.
Yang Qi was prepared. Under everyone’s gaze, he began to speak in a calm, unhurried manner. "I was resting in my dorm tonight when my cat, Xiaojiu, started scratching at the door nonstop. When I opened it, she bit my pant leg and started pulling outside. I thought it was strange, so I followed her."
Yang Qi pointed to Xiaojiu, who was now squatting by his feet elegantly licking her paws, and continued, "Xiaojiu led to a stray cat that often roams the Zoo, ’Hua Qi.’ Hua Qi and I are on good terms; I feed her often."
"Hua Qi was very agitated at the ti, owing in the direction of the Bird District. I felt sothing was wrong, so I went over to take a look. As it turned out, I walked right in on two people prying the lock on the back door of the aviary. They were holding tools and bags..."
"So I shouted and chased after them."
His story was half-truth, half-lie, but it was logically sound.
Yang Qi’s affinity for animals and his ability to seemingly ta them were no longer a secret at the Zoo.
The idea of a stray cat "repaying a kindness" by discovering sothing amiss and "informing" Yang Qi via Xiaojiu, while a bit fantastical, seed plausible where Yang Qi was concerned.
Sure enough, after hearing his explanation, most of the onlookers, though surprised, accepted it.
"Yang Qi’s ability is just incredible!"
"Xiaojiu and Hua Qi were the real heroes."
"Cats have sharp instincts and are naturally alert, especially strays..."
For a mont, a chorus of praise erupted.
Huang Zhongmu waved his hand grandly and declared on the spot, "Hua Qi has perford a great service. From now on, the Zoo will provide its cat food! The cafeteria can prepare so snacks for her, too."
’He’s Brother Qi, after all.’
Wang Anjiu, too, was clicking his tongue in amazent.
Then, his expression darkened, and he walked over to Zhang Chenghu, whose hands were tied behind his back.
"Zhang Chenghu!"
Wang Anjiu’s tone was both stern and satisfied. "Stealing rare and protected birds... This ti, you’re probably going away for a few years!"
He expected Zhang Chenghu to either argue or beg for rcy.
But unexpectedly, Zhang Chenghu jerked his head up, a mocking sneer on his face.
"Stealing rare birds? Officer Wang, Director Huang, which one of you saw us stealing any birds?"
He glanced around, raising his voice. "We just ca tonight because we were pissed off and wanted to cause so trouble for the Zoo. All we did was plug a few keyholes and splash a little ’sothing’ around!"
He jutted his chin toward an accomplice next to him. "Where’s the bag? Take it out and show them!"
The accomplice was being held by a security guard.
Another guard stepped forward and pulled several small spray bottles from a confiscated black bag, along with a few empty sacs that reeked of a potent, foul stench.
"Take a good look!"
Zhang Chenghu laughed. "What’s in here is bear urine we got from another place. And these spray bottles? It’s a mix of pepper water and rotten egg liquid."
"We just wanted to ss with you, spray and splash this stuff at the entrances to a few exhibits to spook the animals, make them impossible to calm down, and force you to shut down for a few days!"
"Plugging keyholes and splashing filth... at most, that’s disorderly conduct or intentional destruction of property, and the monetary value is negligible."
A cunning light glead in Zhang Chenghu’s eyes. "Is that really a major cri? Is that worth several years in prison? Officer Wang, you’re the expert on the law here."
The area fell silent.
The expressions on the faces of Huang Zhongmu, Jiang Kai, Zhao Dalong, and the others turned ugly.
Wang Anjiu’s brow furrowed. He crouched down to examine the various bottles and containers.
It was true. There were no bird-catching tools, no anesthetics, no crates for transporting birds...
There was only this disgusting stuff.
If what Zhang Chenghu said was true, then while their actions were vile, the legal charge would be worlds apart from "theft of rare and protected animals."
Watching the expressions on everyone’s faces change, Zhang Chenghu broke into a wide, provocative grin.
"What’s wrong? Disappointed?"
He tilted his head. "I just ca to blow off so steam. I never planned on stealing those beasts you treasure so much. Just wanted to give you all a little scare."
"Heh heh~"
"You can’t fra an innocent man, officer."
"Officer Wang, you’re not planning to beat a confession out of us, are you?"
"Hahaha..."
"..."
The other accomplices chid in with smug, strange laughter.
The arrogant, "what-can-you-do-about-it" expressions on their faces made Yang Qi raise an eyebrow.
’It seems the lesson I taught them last ti wasn’t harsh enough.’
Yang Qi thought to himself. ’Since they love to put on a show so much, I’ll help them add a little drama.’
Without any change in his expression, he mobilized his Magical Power and locked onto Zhang Chenghu.
Shocking God Technique—
Activate!
Zhang Chenghu, who was sneering, thinking his sche had worked, suddenly found his expression frozen solid.
The next mont, his pupils dilated wildly, as if he had just witnessed the most terrifying sight in the world. The face that had been full of defiance just a mont before instantly twisted, consud by absolute terror.
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