Chapter 205: Letting a Yangtze Alligator Persuade Its Companion to Return

Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Letting a Yangtze Alligator Persuade Its Companion to Return

Renee Jennings stated calmly, "The good news is that Phoenix, who’s been harassing you all, has moved out of the Alligator Pavilion. You won’t have to live with it anymore."

"Oh." Lucy’s reaction was indifferent, unlike the other Chinese alligators. "How is that good news?"

Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow. "You don’t think that’s good news?"

Lucy replied, "But I’m not afraid of Phoenix’s harassment."

"Then why did you run away?"

"I heard from Fiona that the outside world is amazing, and that there are lots of female alligators prettier than Phoenix."

"Oh," Renee Jennings said coolly. "And do you find it amazing now?"

Lucy: "..."

She was silent for a few seconds, then let out a long sigh. "Never mind, just take me back."

Renee Jennings: "Then come out."

Lucy slowly crawled out from a pile of aluminum products.

The nearby police officers and firefighters were wide-eyed with shock, scarcely able to believe what they were seeing.

They had just been running around, sweating buckets and working themselves to the bone to no avail. Yet this young woman, who looked to be about twenty, had managed to coax the alligator out with just a few words!

A zoo staffer immediately handed Renee Jennings a zip tie.

After Lucy was loaded onto the truck, Renee Jennings turned to Director Quincy. "There’s another Chinese alligator by a small river."

’Still, the "Nowhere to Run" item map only shows this one alligator. There are still three more that haven’t been found.’

’That means the other two are more than twenty kilometers away, beyond the item’s range.’

"Then let’s hurry over there!" Director Quincy’s face lit up with excitement.

Renee Jennings didn’t know how to give directions to the location, so she said to the van’s driver, "I’ll drive."

"Of course, Consultant Jennings." The driver replied respectfully.

The police and firefighters were extremely curious about Renee’s abilities and wanted to ask how she did it. But seeing the serious look on her face as she walked to the van, they knew better than to disturb her.

Director Quincy formally thanked them, then turned and hurried into the van.

The driver and Assistant Lowe took the back row, Sawyer sat in the front passenger seat, while Faye Wyatt and Director Quincy sat in the two captain’s chairs in the middle.

Renee Jennings followed the coordinates from the system item, driving for twenty-three minutes before slowly pulling over.

She killed the engine and stepped out onto soft grass. A crescent moon hung in the sky. Her steps faltered for a moment, then the corners of her lips curved into a smile.

’How lucky.’

’She’d been worrying about the other two alligators, and just as she stopped the van, their locations popped up on the item map.’

Renee Jennings walked to the riverbank and saw that the alligator was still some distance away.

She scanned the area with her flashlight and frowned slightly. "The alligator is in the river."

"Should we call the firefighters for help?" Director Quincy suggested.

Renee Jennings crouched by the riverbank and shook her head. "I wouldn’t recommend it. They’ll just scare it."

Director Quincy pressed her lips together, her expression worried.

Faye Wyatt couldn’t think of a good solution either. They couldn’t possibly have Renee swim into the river.

Besides, a Chinese alligator is much stronger in the water. It would be terrible if it accidentally hurt Renee.

While everyone was racking their brains, Renee’s eyes suddenly lit up. She snapped her slender fingers. "I’ve got a plan."

She stood up and walked toward the small animal transport truck, the others following curiously.

Director Quincy’s eyes were fixed on her, her heart filled with hope.

Renee Jennings had a zoo employee open the rear doors of the truck.

The alligators inside were bored and had started making an alligator pyramid. When they heard the doors open, their heads all swiveled in unison to look.

Renee Jennings: "..."

The five alligators had split into two groups, and one poor gator just couldn’t manage to climb onto another’s back.

’Renee was curious how they were communicating. Weren’t their mouths tied shut?’

’But you can say a lot with just your eyes.’

For instance, one alligator was looking at her with bright eyes, as if to say: ’Wanna play?’

Another’s gaze was disdainful and provocative: ’What are you looking at? Never seen a good-looking gator before?’

’If she wasn’t mistaken, that had to be Fiona, the one she’d had a run-in with before.’

She raised an eyebrow, pointed at the alligator, and crooked a finger. "Fiona Young. Get over here."

’What the hell?’

Fiona was completely baffled.

’Who’s Fiona Young?’

Renee Jennings said, "Fiona Young, I’m talking to you. What are you gaping for? Get over here."

Fiona tentatively moved a claw.

Renee Jennings: "Don’t just twitch your claws, come here. I need you for something."

Hearing this, Fiona shook Connie off her back and scrabbled over.

Renee snipped the zip tie around her mouth with a pair of scissors. "Fiona Young, I need a favor."

"What did you call me?! I’m not a ’young’ one!" Fiona roared indignantly. "And I’m definitely not some fluffy thing!"

"You’ve misunderstood," Renee explained. "It’s ’Young’ from Yangtze Alligator, not a young, baa-ing sheep."

Fiona blinked. "Oh, so it’s *that* kind of Young."

’That’s acceptable, I guess. It sounds kinda nice.’

"That’s right," Renee said, smiling warmly at her. "Now come on down. There’s something I need your help with."

A zoo employee helped lift Fiona out of the truck, then closed the rear doors again.

"Alright, two-legger, what do you need my help with?" Fiona was very curious.

Renee crouched in front of her and said with a smile, "One of your friends is in the river. Can you go in and help me persuade them to come ashore and go back to the zoo?"

Fiona’s eyes bulged. She stared at Renee for a few seconds before snapping, "No way! I’m not doing it!"

Renee wasn’t surprised by her refusal.

She asked calmly, "Are you unwilling, or are you just afraid you can’t persuade them?"

"Are you kidding me?!" Fiona said haughtily. "How could I not be able to persuade them? Two-legger, don’t you know I was the one who convinced them to break out in the first place?"

"I know," Renee said, smiling sweetly at her. "I just thought you were the smartest of all the alligators, which is why I asked for your help. But if you’re not willing, then never mind."

She started to stand up, but a second later she heard Fiona’s urgent voice. "Wait!"

"What is it?" Renee looked down at her.

There was a hint of hope in Fiona’s eyes. "Do you really think I’m the smartest?"

"Isn’t it obvious?" Renee raised an eyebrow. "Why else wouldn’t I ask one of the other alligators?"

"Because you know I’m smart?"

"Exactly!"

Fiona couldn’t help but let out a few snickers, then tried to look calm. "Alright then. Seeing as you have such good taste, I’ll help you out this one time."

Renee’s lips curled into a smile. "Thank you, Fiona Young."

"Hmph." Fiona swished her tail. "A ’thank you’ is useless. You should praise how smart I am in front of the other gators."

Renee Jennings nodded. "No problem."

Everyone stood by the riverbank, watching as Fiona scrabbled her way slowly into the water.

Director Quincy frowned, a deep sense of worry creeping over her.

’Is it really going to work? Sending an alligator to persuade its friend to come back?’

’She was very worried Fiona would just escape again herself.’