Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 128: A Deadly Integrity

Pfft—!

"Cough! Cough, cough..."

Before the officer could even finish his sentence, the members of the task force who were mid-meal burst into a fit of laughter. Grains of rice nearly flew out of their nostrils.

Everyone understood immediately.

Finn had been pecked so mercilessly by the hen battalion that he was suffering from a lifelong psychological trauma. Even the sight of a chicken head triggered an instinctive "confess everything" reflex.

Based on Finn’s testimony, Nancy and the others finally learned the truth behind Professor Korbin’s death.

The tomb-robbing gang had been tracking the Professor for a long time. They had discovered key Western Han seal script symbols inside an underwater shipwreck tomb and were convinced that decoding them was the secret to opening a hidden chamber filled with even greater treasures.

However, the thugs couldn't make heads or tails of the ancient script. After making discreet inquiries, they discovered that Professor Korbin was the preeminent authority in the field, having published several definitive research papers on the subject.

They decided to kidnap the Professor to force him into being their "translator."

They stalked him for days, waiting for him to be alone. On the night of the crime, Professor Korbin had gone to the riverbank to clear his head following a heated argument with his grandson, finally giving them the opening they needed.

They abducted him, alternating between bribery and brutal threats. But how could a man of such integrity and rectitude ever align himself with thieves?

Facing their threats, Professor Korbin chose death over dishonor, refusing to reveal even a fraction of his academic secrets. When the robbers realized he wouldn't break and feared their operation would be exposed, they murdered him.

To obscure the true location of the downstream shipwreck tomb, they intentionally transported his body upstream and dumped it on the bank, staging it to look like the old man had accidentally slipped and drowned.

Silence fell over the conference room as the full truth was unveiled. A heavy atmosphere—a mix of fury, regret, and profound respect—filled the air.

Nancy had received a message from Errol yesterday; the video of their dance crew's competition performance had been successfully recorded. She looked out the window at the starlit sky, truly hoping that Professor Korbin’s spirit could see his grandson’s shining moment.

According to standard police procedure, the remains of a homicide victim must undergo all necessary forensic examinations before being released to the family for burial. Professor Korbin’s body was currently at the forensic center’s mortuary. Once all evidence was submitted to the prosecution and verified, the family could begin the handover process—a cycle that usually took weeks, or even months.

Nancy had been worried that Errol wouldn't be able to handle the blow, wondering if he was too young to manage his grandfather’s funeral arrangements alone. However, Errol told her that his teammates from the dance crew were supporting him fully, helping him manage everything like a real family. The older teachers in the group were looking after him with parental care.

Hearing this gave Nancy some peace of mind.

After the meeting concluded, Nancy let out a yawn and walked out of the room, with Simon following a few steps behind. Jack, who had exited first, stood in the hallway with a dark expression, blocking Nancy’s path.

His voice was laced with a chilling frost. "Don't get your hopes up too high. The animal promotion system Captain Simmons mentioned is just a project prototype."

He let out a cold laugh, his tone dripping with malice. "It has to clear so many hurdles—the Finance Department, the Department of Agriculture... do you really think it’s that easy? A cross-departmental special project like that won't be approved for at least three to five years! By then, who knows if that pathetic zoo of yours will even exist. Don't go celebrating a hollow victory."

Nancy stopped. Instead of getting angry, she flashed him a radiant, brilliant smile.

"You're right. Who can say for sure what the future holds?" Her tone was airy, but every word felt like a chisel hitting Jack’s pride. "But at the very least, my little helpers are getting a very real cash bonus right now. And at the very least, my brother didn't just get his official transfer—he earned a medal on his own merit."

She intentionally drew out the words "at the very least," her eyes curving into crescents. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she let out a soft "ah" and delivered a final, lethal blow in her most harmless voice.

"Oh, and as for the future... the name people will be calling out might not be yours anymore."

The moment the words left Nancy’s mouth, it was as if the heavens themselves were moving to support her.

A professional woman in a sharp suit, wearing a badge from the National Police Headquarters, walked toward them with a smile. Her eyes locked precisely on Nancy and Simon.

"Nancy, Simon, sorry to interrupt. I'm a reporter from the National Headquarters. The way you two teamed up to solve a major tomb robbery and homicide in under forty-eight hours is an outstanding achievement! I happened to be in Townsville on business, and the moment I heard Sam mention this case, I rushed over."

The reporter added with a smile, "The higher-ups want to feature this case as a model for a nationwide commendation. Would you two be available for a brief interview later? Siblings solving crimes with both wisdom and courage—it’s a wonderful story!"