Chapter 501 - 242: King of the Sky, Mobilize

Chapter 501: Chapter 242: King of the Sky, Mobilize

"That area has very little surveillance, and the terrain is complex. The missing children have ordinary backgrounds. They’re all local residents from harmonious families with no debt disputes or other abnormalities."

"The commonality... The only commonality we’ve found so far is that the parents of four of the children reported that their kids had recently become very interested in birds. They’d been talking at home about wanting to get a pet bird, but they hadn’t gotten around to buying one yet."

"We suspect the two birds may have exploited the children’s curiosity. I’ve brought digital copies of all the detailed files."

’Exploiting the children’s curiosity about birds?’

’Well-trained birds, precise targeting, luring them to surveillance blind spots...’

This was clearly a meticulously planned crime that used animals as accomplices!

Moreover, the culprits clearly had a thorough understanding of the terrain in the West Mountain District, the surveillance layout, and child psychology.

"Alright."

After listening, Yang Qi reiterated,

"Captain Chen, I can only provide assistance from my area of expertise: tracking and identifying those two birds, and trying to communicate with them or use them to find their Beast Tamer."

"I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to find the children or solve the case."

"Furthermore, I require absolute autonomy in my actions. When it comes to tracking and making contact with animals, everyone must follow my lead completely."

"No problem!"

Chen Jifeng agreed without hesitation. "Don’t worry, Advisor Yang. We will cooperate fully and ensure your safety. When do you think you can set out?"

"I’ll make some arrangements. I’ll set out tomorrow morning, drive there myself, and I should arrive in Yuanzhou around noon."

After a pause, Yang Qi added, "Also, I’ll be bringing two animal partners to assist me. We’ll need to coordinate with the relevant departments in Yuanzhou, so I’ll have to trouble you to facilitate that, Captain Chen."

"Of course!"

Chen Jifeng thanked him repeatedly.

After hanging up, Yang Qi put away his phone and turned to his Guardian Beasts, who were looking at him curiously. "I have to go to Yuanzhou tomorrow," he said. "Xiaojiu, you’re coming with me."

"MEOW~"

[Okay.]

Xiaojiu flicked its tail.

"WOOF!"

Bai Wan barked.

[Master, don’t you need us to come along?]

"WOOF! WOOF!"

Leopard barked along.

[Yeah, yeah, we’re really capable too!]

Hu Zi didn’t bark, just stared at Yang Qi.

"The situation is different this time. You three won’t be much help, so just stay home and keep Grandma company."

Yang Qi patted each dog’s head in turn.

’The birds are in the sky. A dog’s sense of smell, no matter how good, will have a hard time tracking them.’

’Xiaojiu is light enough to run across rooftops.’

’Of course, the best assistant for this job is naturally the Beaked Eagle, Qi Zai.’

’When it comes to dealing with birds, especially specially trained ones, Qi Zai is the real expert!’

...

Immediately, acting in his capacity as the director of the Xianlai Wild Animal World, Yang Qi made an urgent call to the Yuanzhou City Forestry and Public Security departments to arrange the necessary permits and documentation to bring the Beaked Eagle, Qi Zai, into Yuanzhou.

With Chen Jifeng facilitating the communication, the Yuanzhou City Bureau quickly replied, expressing their welcome and gratitude, and the Forestry Bureau confirmed the arrangements.

Chen Jifeng also informed Yang Qi that upon arrival, he should go directly to the Municipal Criminal Investigation Division. The head of the special task force, Deputy Director Yao Zhenwei, who was in charge of criminal investigations, would meet with him personally.

With his official business settled, Yang Qi drove back to his old home.

He reached out mentally to the Beaked Eagle, Qi Zai, telling it to follow him from the sky.

「Back at his old home.」

He had Qi Zai rest on the mountain behind the village.

Yang Qi went inside and explained the situation about the missing children in Yuanzhou to his grandmother, using the excuse, "The police need my help finding some lost kids. They want to see if my methods can find any clues through animals."

Although his grandmother was worried, she immediately expressed her support upon hearing it was to save children, only reminding him again and again to be careful.

"Grandma, it’s not convenient for me to bring Bai Wan, Hu Zi, and Leopard with me this time. I’ll have them stay here and keep you company," Yang Qi said finally.

The three dogs were very intelligent; leaving them behind would not only protect his grandmother but also keep her from getting too lonely.

"Alright, alright. With them here to keep me company, it’ll be much livelier," his grandmother said with a smile, stroking Bai Wan, who had nuzzled up to her.

Bai Wan seemed to understand and affectionately rubbed against his grandmother’s hand.

Yang Qi also left Liu Fu behind to secretly watch over the house.

The little one was small but very clever. Having it around was like having an invisible sentinel.

...

「Early the next morning, before dawn.」

Yang Qi got in his car with Xiaojiu and drove out of the village toward the highway entrance.

He mentally contacted Qi Zai, telling it to follow.

Before long, a clear cry echoed from high above.

In his rearview mirror, a huge black shadow shot out like an arrow from the vast mountain silhouettes, quickly catching up to the speeding car. It then pulled up in a graceful arc, settling in to follow at a leisurely pace several hundred meters above the SUV, its massive wings casting a faint shadow in the morning light.

「Around noon, Yang Qi drove into Yuanzhou City.」

Following his GPS, he arrived at the Yuanzhou City Public Security Bureau.

The bureau’s compound was solemn and dignified.

Yang Qi registered at the gatehouse, giving his name and purpose for the visit.

The guard had clearly been notified. After verifying his information, he immediately let him through and directed him to a designated parking spot.

Yang Qi had just parked and gotten out of the car with Xiaojiu when he saw Captain Chen emerge from the Criminal Investigation Division’s office building, walking quickly toward him with two officers.

"Advisor Yang, thank you for coming all this way!"

Captain Chen stepped forward to shake his hand. He looked more worn-out than he had sounded on the phone, with deep-set eyes, but there was a hopeful glint in them.

The two young officers behind him, a man and a woman, curiously sized up Yang Qi and the black cat on his shoulder.

"Advisor Yang, let me take you to the cafeteria for a bite to eat first..." Captain Chen said.

"That won’t be necessary, Captain Chen."

Yang Qi shook his hand and politely declined. "I ate at a service stop on the way. The situation is urgent. Let’s get started right away."