Chapter 143: Chapter 131: Harem Infighting, Alpaca Edition

’Supreme Elder?’

’For the system to give such a title, it must be a retired director, an old expert, or a highly respected senior from the zoo. Definitely someone old.’

But Yang Qi’s gaze quickly swept over the scene.

Cheng Yao was young, in the prime of her life. The keepers and staff were all young or middle-aged adults, and the few tourists were young people as well.

Where was the person who fit the description of a "Supreme Elder"? 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Though curious, Yang Qi didn’t let it show on his face.

"Yang Qi, you’re here,"

Cheng Yao greeted him. "Things were a bit chaotic just now. A few of the female alpacas ganged up on the male, ’Da Bing,’ again. We just managed to lure them away before you arrived. The staff took ’Da Bing’ to the quarantine area to calm him down."

"The female alpacas ganged up on the male?"

Hearing this, Yang Qi temporarily suppressed his questions about the "Supreme Elder" and put on a fitting expression of surprise.

He looked at the keeper with a worried expression and asked, based on his knowledge of alpaca behavior, "Did the male bully a cria? Or was it a fight over food and territory?"

"No."

The keeper shook his head, his face a mask of confusion and bewilderment. "We don’t have any young alpacas in the enclosure right now. This group of females was just brought in from another zoo at the beginning of the year. None of them are even pregnant, so where would a cria come from?"

"And it’s even less likely to be about food or territory. Our enclosure is more than big enough, and we provide plenty of hay and feed on a regular schedule every day. They never have to compete for it."

A staff member nearby who knew a bit more about alpacas added, "Brother Qi, alpacas have a classic hierarchical society. In a small herd, there’s usually only one strongest male who acts as the leader, and he’s also the only adult male."

"The females generally won’t attack the male leader unless one of two things happens. First, if the male bullies or harms a cria that isn’t his own. Second, if the male tries to force a female to mate, her mother or close ’sisters’ in the herd will team up to fight him off. But neither of those situations apply here."

"Brother Qi."

Another, younger staff member chimed in, a hopeful look on his face. "Cheng Yao asked you to come because she was hoping you could ’communicate’ with the females. Ask them why they keep ganging up on ’Da Bing.’ It’s been several days now. If this keeps up, ’Da Bing’ won’t be able to take it, physically or mentally. And the females are wearing themselves out, too."

"Huh? You can... you can find out just by asking them?"

The male tourist who had been watching the commotion overheard this. He looked at Yang Qi with a strange expression.

’Communicate with alpacas?’

"Of course!"

The younger staff member gave a thumbs-up. "Brother Qi is our zoo’s officially recognized ’Druid’! When it comes to communicating with animals, he’s top-notch!"

Yang Qi smiled humbly and was about to say something when—

"Ah! It’s you!"

A female tourist suddenly exclaimed, pointing at Yang Qi with wide eyes. "Aren’t you that keeper who pulled a ’tooth’ from the Northeast Tiger, ’Great King,’ with his bare hands? A Druid, yes, that’s what they’re all calling you online—a real-life Druid!"

"There’s more, there’s more!"

Her friend, who had been quiet until now, also let out a shriek. She quickly realized her outburst and covered her mouth, but her eyes were fixed on Yang Qi, sparkling with excitement.

"More what?"

The male tourist frowned, a little annoyed by the two girls’ dramatic exclamations.

The girl who had been covering her mouth lowered her hand and spoke rapidly to her friend, but loud enough for everyone around to hear.

"The Provincial Capital Red Star Zoo! The brown bear escape a few days ago! It was a huge deal, it was trending everywhere!"

"In the videos that were circulating online, it was this handsome guy who... with his bare hands... uh, no, I mean, without any weapons, calmed down a rampaging brown bear! He even saved a tourist who was about to get hurt. You couldn’t see his face clearly in the video, but I recognize his build and his profile!"

"What? You’re the ’Magical Beast Tamer’ from the internet? The one who subdued the brown bear?"

The first female tourist’s eyes widened even more. As she spoke, she quickly pulled out her phone, her fingers flying across the screen as she searched for the news.

"...?!"

This time, the male tourist was completely silent. He just looked Yang Qi up and down, the suspicion in his eyes replaced by shock.

"Heh heh."

Cheng Yao chuckled from the side, a hint of pride in her expression. She looked at Yang Qi and said, "Well, Yang Druid, it’s your show now. This is the fourth time in three days that the female alpacas have ganged up on the male."

"The fourth time?" Yang Qi raised an eyebrow.

"That’s right."

The keeper said with a worried frown, "As soon as they gather in that rest area and ’Da Bing’ gets close, those female alpacas act like they’ve planned it. They suddenly swarm him, kicking, biting, and ramming him with their bodies. They... they don’t hold back at all. ’Da Bing’ is a bit older, so he can’t handle it."

"Alright, I’ll give it a try."

Yang Qi nodded, no longer declining.

Although the system hadn’t triggered a mission, the "Supreme Elder is present" notification was still active.

Regardless of whether this "Supreme Elder" was a person or something else, the situation at hand was clearly an opportunity to ’perform’.

Without further delay, under the expectant gazes of Cheng Yao and the staff, and the curious eyes of the tourists, he unlatched the small gate of the barrier and stepped onto the open, grassy field.

His objective was clear.

Yang Qi walked straight toward the nearest pair of female alpacas, who were lying on the grass leisurely chewing their cud, looking quite calm.

Both alpacas were a common white color, fluffy and seemingly docile.

Noticing this strange yet pleasant-smelling Two-legged Beast approaching, the two females merely lifted their heads. They glanced at him with their large, round eyes—framed by long lashes that made them look a bit dopy—their gazes calm.