Working in a Zoo with Beast Taming System

Shao Wei and Sun Zhenghong froze simultaneously. They subconsciously followed Yang Qi's finger, staring wide-eyed in that direction.

Their eyes fell upon an ordinary, natural-wood flower stand. On it sat two pots of devil's ivy, their leaves and stems trailing down in a lush, verdant display.

The crossbar of the flower stand was completely empty.

"Liu Fu, make an appearance. Say hello to our two captains," Yang Qi said softly, facing the stand.

Shao Wei and Sun Zhenghong held their breath, staring without blinking.

The next moment, something stunning happened.

Right on that seemingly empty crossbar, in the shadows cast by the devil's ivy leaves, the air seemed to shimmer and distort, like ripples on the surface of water.

Then, an outline...

A slender body, a triangular head, a coiled tail, and bulging eyes that could swivel independently.

As if crystallizing out of thin air, it slowly became distinct and real!

A chameleon, roughly thirty centimeters long, materialized "out of thin air" on the crossbar, its coloration a perfect blend of the devil's ivy leaves behind it and the wooden beam beneath it!

If it hadn't actively revealed itself and begun to slowly change color—from the green and brown that matched its background to a more striking, metallic dark gold—Shao Wei and Sun Zhenghong would have sworn they hadn't seen a single living thing there a moment ago!

Hsss—

Liu Fu tilted its head up slightly. Its protruding eyes swiveled nimbly, glancing at Shao Wei and then Sun Zhenghong before it let out a soft, rhythmic hiss that sounded like a greeting.

The living room fell silent.

Shao Wei and Sun Zhenghong stood with their mouths agape and their eyes wide, their faces a mixture of shock, disbelief, and bewilderment.

It wasn't that they had never seen a chameleon before; the Zoo had them, and some people kept them as private pets.

But this was the first time they had ever seen a chameleon capable of near-perfect invisibility, one that could so rapidly and deliberately control its coloration, and even possessed an ineffable 'spark' of intelligence.

'How could this be an ordinary chameleon?'

It was more like biomimetic armor from a sci-fi movie, or a mythical beast of legend capable of turning invisible.

A good seven or eight seconds passed before Shao Wei finally managed to draw a breath. "This… This is just…" he stammered in awe.

"Incredible!"

Sun Zhenghong snapped out of it, rubbing his eyes hard to make sure he wasn't mistaken. He then looked at Yang Qi, his gaze filled with utter disbelief. "Advisor Yang, this… this Liu Fu of yours, how did you train it? That mimicry ability is just… unreal."

"He's just naturally gifted."

Yang Qi smiled, offering no detailed explanation of Liu Fu's origins. "I just provide him with a good environment and food," he replied casually. "His mimicry isn't limited to color. He can even imitate texture and sheen."

"When he's perfectly still, it's hard to spot him even if you're right up close, unless you're looking very carefully. And he's very intelligent; he can understand simple commands."

Saying this, he walked over to the flower stand and held out his finger.

Liu Fu immediately scrambled onto it and coiled around Yang Qi's forearm, his skin shifting to match the color of his sleeve.

Shao Wei watched Liu Fu, now practically "semi-invisible" on Yang Qi's arm, the excitement in his eyes growing. "Excellent. This is fantastic. With Liu Fu's help, our chances of success for the operation will increase by at least thirty percent! No, fifty percent!"

He turned to Yang Qi and said solemnly, "Advisor Yang, thank you so much. And thank you, Liu Fu! Once we have everything set up and the time is right, I'll contact you immediately. When that happens, we'll need you to bring Liu Fu to the site personally to direct him and relay communications."

"No problem."

Yang Qi nodded in agreement.

Shao Wei then hammered out some general principles and contact methods with Yang Qi. They discussed communication during the operation—although Liu Fu couldn't turn electronic devices like a camera invisible, a button-sized one would have a negligible effect—as well as potential risks and contingency plans.

With the details settled, Shao Wei departed, filled with anticipation.

After seeing the two men out, Yang Qi returned to the living room. He looked down at Liu Fu, coiled around his arm. The chameleon's skin had shifted back to a vibrant emerald, making him look like an exquisite jade carving. Yang Qi gently stroked his cool, smooth head.

"Liu Fu, you get to wear a 'police hat' now, too," Yang Qi chuckled.

'First there were police cats, dogs, and birds… and now, a police lizard!'

Liu Fu lifted his head, his protruding eyes swiveling as he let out another hiss.

[As long as Master is happy.]

Heh.

Yang Qi patted his head again.

...

「The next day, at the crack of dawn.」

Yang Qi went downstairs and prepared food for his furry children. While they ate, he went out to the backyard to dismantle the "Demon Extermination Array" and tally his rewards. It came to just under two hundred contribution points.

'The mosquitoes are getting scarcer.'

He went back inside, grabbed some food for the road, and called his furry children to head outside.

He opened the car door, and Xiaojiu leaped nimbly into the passenger seat, curling up on her designated soft cushion.

Bai Wan, Leopard, and Hu Zi climbed into the back seat and lay down obediently.

Liu Fu remained camouflaged on Yang Qi's backpack strap, resembling a unique ornament.

"Alright, let's go. Time to go see Grandma."

Yang Qi started the car, driving out of the staff dormitory area and through the Zoo's main gate, merging into the sparse morning traffic.

Leaving the city behind.

The car entered the highway bound for Ningshan County.

On this autumn morning, the highway was clear, the view wide and open.

Golden sunlight pierced through the thin mist, spilling across the pavement.

His Guardian Beasts were all quiet. Xiaojiu was dozing, the three dogs gazed out the window at the passing scenery, and Liu Fu was completely merged with his surroundings.

Yang Qi felt relaxed, savoring this rare journey and the joyful anticipation of heading home.