Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 149: A Slap To The Face

"Is Gabriel completely fired up because of that bastard Jake?!"

"Argh, he’s going so hard right from the start! I’m so nervous! Can he keep this up until the end?!"

The 400-meter freestyle is a middle-to-long distance event, requiring four laps in a standard 50-meter pool—eight lengths in total. It isn't just a test of endurance; it requires the athlete to pace themselves perfectly while being ready to unleash a massive burst of speed in the final sprint. It is a top-tier challenge of both physical stamina and technique.

Every spectator had their heart in their throat, terrified that Gabriel’s thunderous start was just a flash in the pan and that he would be overtaken once his energy flagged.

However, to everyone’s utter shock—

Gabriel was in the lead at the first 50-meter turn! He was still leading at the 100-meter mark! Even after passing the 200-meter midpoint, he didn't slow down. Instead, he maintained an incredibly efficient rhythm, further widening his lead!

Even the commentators were stunned, completely unprepared for Gabriel—who had been in a slump all year—to suddenly awaken and leave the rest of the field in his wake. One commentator's voice cracked with excitement. "Gabriel! The veteran is showing them how it's done!"

"And look at Jake, who talked so much trash before the race... he’s been left behind by Gabriel by two full body lengths! He’s nowhere near him!"

By the time the race ended, Gabriel had secured first place without any suspense. His performance was in a league of its own, crushing the second-place finisher by nearly two body lengths to take the gold with absolute dominance.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring lane, Jake’s mental state had completely collapsed halfway through the race due to Gabriel’s overwhelming speed. He watched Gabriel’s figure pull further and further away, and his stroke became so erratic from the shock that he ended up finishing a dismal eighth—dead last.

He had perfectly "fulfilled" his own arrogant pre-race boast that "the names in first and eighth place shouldn't be mentioned together."

The Dracovian netizens watching the stream went wild, the live chat exploding into a sea of celebration.

"Holy crap! Gabriel is first! Jake is eighth! This slap in the face feels so good my scalp is tingling!"

"A miracle! The veteran returns to the stage and immediately reaches god-tier status!"

"Who was it that needed to retire? Oh right~ the guy in eighth place~"

"Hahaha, Jake literally dug his own grave and jumped in. His face must be swollen from that beating!"

"Breaking news! Jake has officially lost it! He’s causing a scene and demanding an investigation, claiming Gabriel is on performance enhancers!"

"Here we go, the classic routine: the foreigner loses his mind and cries foul!"

Nancy scrolled through the news of Jake’s tantrum at the venue, a knowing smile playing on her lips. This was only the beginning; the rest of the competitions were likely to make these foreign athletes question the very nature of reality.

The moment Gabriel stood on the podium and the national anthem began to play, the red flag of Dracovia soared high above the arena. Inside the RV, the air was filled with a chorus of squeaks, hisses, and barks!

The dignified Tabby actually rolled around on the rug in excitement. The Squirrel Bros tossed their pinecones into the air, and Snowball the weasel spun in circles until he became a white whirlwind. Even the snakes in the tanks twisted themselves into happy knots! Snowtooth lifted his head high, his tongue flicking rapidly.

See that?! See that?! That’s my precious student, trained by me! Isn't he handsome? Isn't he strong?!

Star was deeply infected by the festive atmosphere. He was thoroughly enjoying being with so many animal companions, barking happily and wagging his tail like a blur. Nancy grabbed Star and planted a massive kiss on his furry head—then another, and another...

As Nancy was lost in her "dog-cuddling" frenzy, she suddenly felt her collar being gripped by a long, slender hand.

Barry pulled Nancy back with a cold expression. "Control yourself. Stop harassing my dog."

Nancy finally snapped out of it, giving a sheepish laugh. "Sorry! I got carried away!" She leaned toward Barry, her eyes sparkling as she shared her joy. "Gabriel won! I’m getting a three-hundred-thousand-dollar bonus! Do you have any idea how huge that is?!"

Barry looked at her money-grubbing expression. "Is that all it takes? You’re this happy over three hundred thousand?"

"Hmph! A tycoon like you couldn't possibly understand my joy!" Nancy wagged a finger playfully, her eyes curving into crescents. "And let me tell you, that isn't the only three hundred thousand I’m making tonight!!"

Barry’s gaze swept over her brilliantly bright eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched in a nearly imperceptible curve. His tone, however, remained characteristically detached. "If you’re this excited now, I’m afraid you’ll pass out when you get that ten-million-dollar medical bonus. I’ll have to perform CPR on the spot."

Nancy immediately took the opening, leaning in closer and blinking with a cheeky grin. "Well, if you want to wire me that ten million early, I wouldn't mind at all!"