Chapter 69: Forcing the Palace

’A boon of fortune?’

’A boost to my cultivation?’

’I can’t believe the system actually gave me a reward!’

Yang Qi was overjoyed.

But this reward required a formal contract to be completed.

’A Spirit Binder... a Guardian Beast...’

’To truly command one, I need to form a contract with a Spirit Beast.’

And Yang Qi hadn’t yet acquired the Spirit Contract Technique.

...

"So? Are you happy with this gift?" Captain Li asked with a grin, interrupting Yang Qi’s thoughts.

Yang Qi snapped out of his reverie, a joyful smile spreading across his face. "I’m more than satisfied. Thank you, Captain Li, and thank you for the precinct’s recognition. Xiaojiu will be thrilled to hear about this."

At the mention of Xiaojiu, Captain Li glanced around, searching for the familiar black shadow.

"Where is Xiaojiu? I don’t see our little hero."

"Oh, him? He’s probably run off to play somewhere," Yang Qi replied. His eyes landed on Bai Wan, who was lying quietly on a mat in the corner. An idea sparked, and he seized the opportunity to make an introduction. "Captain Li, this is my new partner, Bai Wan. He’s incredibly smart and a natural at tracking and searching."

As soon as Bai Wan heard Yang Qi mention his name, his ears perked up. He stood, looked toward Yang Qi, and began wagging his tail with vigorous joy. His eyes were bright, radiating an alert intelligence.

"Haha."

Watching the spirited Bai Wan, Captain Li couldn’t help but laugh. "Advisor Yang, are you trying to pitch me your pet?"

"How can you call it a pitch?"

Yang Qi replied nonchalantly, "I’m just trying to make our ’work’ go smoother, aren’t I? Bai Wan really is outstanding."

’Xiaojiu received the ’Honorary Police Cat’ title,’ he mused, ’and the system notified me about a boon of fortune that helps with cultivation.’

’If Bai Wan could also get the ’Honorary Police Dog’ title, would it trigger a similar effect?’

’Even if the boost is small, every little bit helps!’

"Alright."

Captain Li laughed heartily. "If the need arises, I’ll speak with the relevant departments and give Bai Wan a chance to show his stuff. But I’m curious, Advisor Yang. How does your dog compare to the active-duty police dogs in our precinct?"

"Bai Wan is stronger, of course!"

Yang Qi said without hesitation, his tone firm.

After being awakened by the Spirit Awakening Technique, fed a long-term diet of Spirit Rice, and occasionally getting a piece of a Strengthening Pill, Bai Wan’s intelligence, physical condition, perception, and loyalty all far exceeded those of an ordinary dog. Even a police dog, strictly selected and rigorously trained, couldn’t compare to his fundamental attributes.

Even if Yang Qi’s own training methods weren’t exactly "by the book," Bai Wan’s extraordinary foundation more than made up for it.

"Really?"

The young officer sitting to Captain Li’s right couldn’t help but look skeptical.

’Police dogs are one in ten thousand, trained with enormous effort and resources. How could a pet dog, no matter how smart, possibly compare?’

"We’ll see if it’s true when the time comes," Yang Qi said with a confident smile, not bothering to argue.

"I believe in Xiao Yang."

Mei Ying chimed in, smiling. "Xiao Yang managed to tame a wild tiger like Great King and get it to open its mouth and cooperate. A dog raised by him like Bai Wan is bound to be special."

"Speaking of which."

The other officer chimed in excitedly, "The video of Advisor Yang pulling that tiger’s tooth! I just watched it on the way here! It was incredible!"

He gave Yang Qi a thumbs-up. "A modern-day Druid! You really live up to the name!"

"Quite a few of our colleagues at the zoo actually call Xiao Yang ’the Druid’," Mei Ying added with a laugh.

"Ah, they’re just joking around," Yang Qi said, waving his hand dismissively.

"There you go again, being humble."

Captain Li pointed at Yang Qi and laughed. "We’ve all seen your skills, Advisor Yang. ’Druid’—the name fits you perfectly! Ha ha..."

Mei Ying and the two officers laughed along, filling the living room with a cheerful and friendly atmosphere.

...

「Meanwhile」 In the director’s office at the zoo’s main administrative building, the atmosphere was completely different—tense, even.

Cheng Xiaoou glared at Tong Xiaoyue, who was seated across from her. "Tong Xiaoyue!" she said, practically grinding her teeth. "You’re like a ghost that won’t go away! I left the Provincial Capital and transferred all the way out here, and you still refuse to let up?"

"Let me correct you."

Tong Xiaoyue, despite her small frame, sat bolt upright with a serious expression. "I’m not here for you today. I’m here for Yang Qi."

With that, she turned her gaze to Huang Zhongmu, who sat behind the desk.

"Director Huang, have you had a chance to consider my proposal?"

"What’s there to even consider?" Cheng Xiaoou cut in, her voice filled with the fierce urgency of someone protecting her own. "Yang Qi is an employee of our zoo! He’s a talent we discovered and cultivated! There’s no way he’s leaving with you!"

"Hmph, I wouldn’t be so sure about that."

Zhou Jing, who stood beside Tong Xiaoyue, couldn’t resist muttering with a smug look on her young face, "Our Provincial Garden can offer him official staff status. He’d have to be a fool to stay."

"You..."

Cheng Xiaoou froze. She couldn’t very well snap at a junior like Zhou Jing, so she kept her glare fixed on Tong Xiaoyue and said resentfully, "Our zoo... We’re about to sort out his employment status, too!"

"How soon is ’about to’?"

Tong Xiaoyue pressed, her smile never wavering, her gaze calm yet full of pressure. "A month? Six months? A year? Director Huang, the Provincial Garden is fast-tracking this. The paperwork can be finished in no time. Besides, I’m confident that when it comes to our platform, resources, and career prospects, Yang Qi will know how to weigh his options."

"You..."

Cheng Xiaoou was so incensed by the other woman’s casual yet relentless pressure that her hands began to tremble.

Huang Zhongmu felt a headache coming on.

Tong Xiaoyue was the vice director of the Provincial Capital Red Star Zoo, a professor at the Agricultural University, the deputy director of the Wildlife Rescue Center, an industry expert...

The two had worked together in the past. Tong Xiaoyue was highly capable and also notoriously "persistent" and "unwilling to stop until she achieved her goal."

The Provincial Garden had set its sights on Yang Qi, offering him official staff status.

And while Donghua intended to make Yang Qi a permanent employee as well, the process and available positions required time and coordination.

"...Alright, alright."

Huang Zhongmu took a deep breath and raised a hand, cutting through the palpable tension between the two women. "You two are old classmates. It’s rare for you to see each other. Don’t start arguing the moment you meet."

He looked at Tong Xiaoyue, his expression turning serious. "Xiaoyue, we’re old friends. I’m glad you see Yang Qi’s potential."

"Yang Qi is an outstanding employee here. We already have plans to address his employment status, it just takes time to go through the proper channels..."

"I see."

Tong Xiaoyue’s smile remained fixed. She nodded slightly, her tone as placid as ever. "I understand, then. Director Huang, since your zoo is still in the ’planning’ and ’processing’ stage, I’ll just go and see Yang Qi myself in a bit. I’ll tell him about the offer from the Provincial Garden and, while I’m at it, congratulate him in advance on securing his official position."

"You..."

Hearing this, Cheng Xiaoou was so furious she almost slammed her hand on the table. This was a blatant power play, a move to force their hand and snatch their talent!

Huang Zhongmu’s eyelid twitched, and his headache intensified.

Tong Xiaoyue’s words were polite, but her meaning couldn’t have been clearer.

’You’re slow, so we’ll be fast. You’re uncertain, so we’ll be decisive.’

’When the talent chooses us, you can’t say we didn’t play fair.’

’Transferring a permanent employee is complicated.’

’Transferring a contract worker, however, is very simple.’

’This move was, in a word, checkmate!’