Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 177: The First Pot Of Gold

Nancy counted the digits in the text message over and over again, her lips curving upward uncontrollably. She was finally no longer the miserable zoo director who had to dig through every pocket and worry about bankruptcy every single day.

And this was only the beginning.

That same morning, the 300,000 reward for assisting with the relocation project and the 500,000 bounty for the capture of the wanted fugitive, Felix, alongside Simon, were deposited into her account in succession. Nancy's personal savings instantly surpassed the one-million mark.

This didn't even include the operational fund donated by Mandolin's father, which still had a balance of over one million. In less than two months, she had turned her life around from a state of dire financial straits to becoming a confident zoo director and police consultant with ample funds at her disposal.

She had to thank these furry partners for their cooperation and support!

Excited, Nancy dove headfirst into her soft blankets and rolled around several times, unable to stop laughing. The tabby cat, who was currently patrolling its territory, was startled by the commotion. It leaped through the window with a whoosh, tail held high and alert as it scanned the room.

Seeing that Nancy was perfectly fine and just acting a bit manic, the cat breathed a sigh of relief. Resuming its usual haughty demeanor, it hopped onto the windowsill and shot her a disdainful look.

"Tsk. I thought you had a sudden terminal seizure. You scared me to death."

Nancy giggled and scooped the cat into her arms, burying her face into its furry belly for a deep sniff. "I finally have a private nest egg! I can finally provide a safety net for our zoo!"

She rubbed the cat's belly, her eyes sparkling as she envisioned the future. "We'll slowly revitalize the zoo, upgrade the infirmary, and replace everything with the most advanced equipment..."

"Then we'll make the veterinary team bigger and stronger, open our own pet hospital, build our own research lab... eventually, the entire zoo will become a state-designated animal cooperation center..."

The more she spoke, the more excited she became, as if she could already see a bright and brilliant future. She couldn't help but let out a silly chuckle.

The cat, smothered by her embrace and unsettled by her obsessive smile, finally reached its limit. It raised a soft paw and pressed it gently against Nancy's face.

"Wake up, two-legged beast. Your drool is about to drip onto my noble fur!"

Nancy hugged the cat tight, grabbing its soft paw to nuzzle and sniff, her excitement impossible to hide. "Commander Song from the Townsville General Bureau just called! He said the gold medals for the animals are ready! I'm planning to hold a formal award ceremony on the Zoo Open Day!"

Her eyes were shining with intensity. "There will be tourists all over the park then; everyone will come to watch. We want the whole world to witness this sacred moment—to see the incredible furry heroes of our zoo!"

Hearing Open Day and lots of people, the cat's ears twitched involuntarily. Its golden eyes shimmered, yet it turned its head away, pretending to be indifferent.

"Hmph. Just a little medal, what's the big deal? And you insist on a ceremony... humans just love these troublesome and flamboyant displays."

Despite the verbal disdain, the tip of its tail curled upward and began to wag in tiny, rhythmic arcs. "I don't care at all about being seen winning an award by so many people."

Nancy suppressed a laugh and pressed her hands together in a mock prayer. "But such a grand occasion cannot proceed without our greatest hero! Would the Great King please do me the honor of attending the ceremony?"

The cat tilted its head back, its tail curling elegantly. It put on an air of having no choice.

"Hmph. Since you've invited me so sincerely..."

"Then I shall mercifully agree." It paused, suddenly tilting its head with a gaze full of innocence and curiosity. "But... what exactly is this Zoo Open Day you speak of?"

In the next second, its eyes widened as if it had realized something incredible. It stood its tail straight up with excitement. "Does it mean you're letting all the animals out of their cages so we can all go shopping in the streets together?!"

Nancy was moved to laughter by its fantastical logic and quickly waved her hand. "Of course not! If I really let everyone out, I'd be worried about them getting hit by cars."

She explained patiently, "It's because the little animals in our park have recovered so well—they're energetic and adorable. So we're picking a few days to invite tourists in for a visit. We want everyone to see how lively and healthy they are, and to properly promote the rise of our zoo!"

Nancy added, "And we'll be inviting star guests to attract tourists."

The cat asked curiously, "Who are the guests?"

Nancy's eyes lit up. She held up her phone like a prize, showing a brilliant photo of herself with the members of the national swimming team. "The national swimming legends who have just returned home with glory, of course!"