Chapter 20: A Run-in with the Hooligans of the Animal Kingdom

The black serval keenly detected the bloodstains on the ground and approached Xu Ying with an elegant and dignified gait.

Xu Ying quickly spoke up, "Great hero, is your apprentice a sand cat?"

"It was here, but it seems to have been taken by bad people."

The black serval was very surprised to hear Xu Ying communicating with it. [Human, you can actually understand what I am saying?]

Xu Ying nodded. "I am the director of the 032 Rescue Station, and I can communicate with small animals. I am not a bad person; you can try to trust me."

As she spoke, Xu Ying shielded the little fennec foxes behind her, keeping a nervous eye on the serval’s movements, fearing it might attack at any moment.

Fox San-san, however, poked her head out from behind Xu Ying to look at the serval, her eyes turning into stars. [Wow, he is so handsome! Like a black knight!]

Xu Ying helplessly slapped her forehead and used her finger to push San-san’s little head back; the little girl was acting infatuated again.

Seeing Xu Ying’s defensive posture, the serval stopped and proactively raised its tail, with the tip slightly curved downward—a signal of friendliness among cats.

[I believe you. Judging by the chaotic footprints on the ground, it was two adult men who took my apprentice; one was tall, and the other was short.]

[My apprentice is a little sand cat that just turned one year old. It was learning to hunt and catch thieves with me. The day before yesterday, it said it was going out on patrol and never came back. I tracked its scent all the way here.]

The little fennec foxes became excited upon hearing the serval's words.

Fox Xiao-wu tilted her head, her watery eyes full of confusion. [Could it be that you are the legendary "Black Cat Sheriff" of the desert that Mother told us about in her stories?]

[Don’t worry, big sister, he is a good cat! He protects the weak animals in the desert and helps us catch the villains who steal food and occupy our burrows.]

Fox Er-niu waved his little paws in excitement, as if meeting an idol.

Great, they were allies after all!

Hearing the term "Black Cat Sheriff," Xu Ying felt it was an incredibly apt description.

The black serval before her was calm yet imposing, and its analysis of the villains matched what Chen Su had said—it was effectively a little police officer of the animal kingdom!

"I am currently looking for the two villains who took your apprentice!"

Xu Ying carefully asked the serval, "Does your little apprentice have any distinctive features?"

[There is a tuft of white fur on its head. Have you found any clues?]

"We plan to ask the desert’s most well-informed little gerbils, though I don’t know if they will cooperate."

"However—" Xu Ying’s tone shifted, a cunning glint appearing in her apricot-shaped eyes, "now that you have joined us, I am confident!"

The black serval tilted its head, very cooperative: [What do you need me to do?]

Xu Ying whispered her plot: "First, we do this... then we do that..."

*

Xu Ying brought the fox cubs to a part of the desert two kilometers away from the rescue station.

The black serval explained that this area had more vegetation and abundant water resources, so many animals frequented it. Posting a "missing cat" notice here would allow more animal friends to help.

"We will pair up in groups of two, forming three teams, to ask around for news about the sand cat."

"By the way, weren't you looking for your mother? You can ask along the way if any small animals have seen her."

[Okay!]

The little fennec foxes were full of energy and split up to carry out the mission. Xu Ying paired up with the youngest, Fox Xiao-wu.

[Brother Lizard, have you seen a sand cat with a tuft of white fur on its head, or two men—one tall and one short?]

[Uncle Owl, my friend was kidnapped by bad people...]

...

Little Xiao-wu was small and obedient, and she spoke in such a sweet, childish voice that the elder animals passing by could not bear to refuse such a helpful little treasure.

They all enthusiastically promised to help Xiao-wu look for traces of the sand cat.

Xu Ying had originally intended to ensure the safety of the most innocent of the five, but she found herself being carried through the mission by Xiao-wu.

She stood to the side, acting merely as a bodyguard.

There were simply too many small animals in the desert. Currently, Xu Ying had only unlocked the ability to speak Fox, Cat, and Bear. Listening to other animals was like listening to a dialect; she could only catch a few words and guess the general meaning.

She couldn't help but ask the system: "Sensen, besides completing system tasks, is there any other way to exchange for animal language skills?"

[Host, you can use points to exchange for an "All-Language Animal Communication Experience Card." One point can be exchanged for one hour of experience time.]

[You gain one point for every time you help a small animal. You currently have 4 points.]

Xu Ying felt this exchange function was quite user-friendly. There was a vast variety of animals in the desert, and she had no idea how long it would take to unlock all the languages—some animals might not even be encountered more than once a year.

Having this all-language experience card would be much more convenient.

Xu Ying: "Okay, let’s exchange for one hour of experience time!"

[Ding, the all-language communication skill has been activated for the host. The one-hour countdown has begun.]

With both the human and the foxes able to communicate, the amount of information they could exchange increased significantly, and the efficiency of posting the missing cat and missing mother notices accelerated.

Just then, Fox Si-bao, who was paired with the second-oldest, came running over at a speed that looked like she was about to fly.

She shouted for help as she ran.

[Big sister, it’s bad, it’s bad! Er-niu is being surrounded and bullied by gerbils!]

"Quick, take me there!"

Finally, they had found the informant gerbils. Xu Ying sprinted across the desert after Fox Si-bao and soon spotted Fox Er-niu.

The six small gerbils were smaller than Er-niu, but their attitude was extremely arrogant.

[This is the territory of our Gerbil Family. You are posting missing cat notices here and disturbing our rest!]

Their fur was grayish-yellow, looking exactly like the troublemaking punks one might encounter in school.

The lead gerbil pointed his claw, acting high and mighty: [Tell us, how are you going to compensate us?]

Xu Ying found the scene both funny and infuriating; it turned out there were even punks in the animal kingdom collecting protection money!

Fox Er-niu was surrounded by the six arrogant gerbils, but he was not intimidated at all: [The desert belongs to the country and to everyone; it’s not up to you.]

[And aren't you nocturnal anyway? How does this disturb your rest?]

The lead gerbil crossed his arms: [You dare to talk back? Brothers, let him taste our fists!]

"Hold it!"

Xu Ying bent down and shielded Fox Er-niu with one hand.

[Human!]

[Holy crap! A female giant!]

The previously arrogant gerbil leader saw a creature ten times his size and scrambled away with the other five, head over heels in fear.

However, a huge black serval leapt out from the bushes, directly blocking their path.