Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 217: The Rodent Funeral

Professor Grace pushed up her glasses, staring at the incredible scene before her with genuine wonder. "Miss Nancy, your level of coordination and communication with animals is truly astounding! You actually managed to direct these little guys as a construction crew."

Nancy felt a bit embarrassed by the high praise. She waved a hand and smiled. "I didn't do much, really." The little ones are naturally smart. If you work with their instincts instead of against them, things become much easier."

She leaned down and patted a marmot's round head through her gloves, her voice tinged with pride.

"These furry little detectives even provide the police with key leads sometimes!"

As Professor Grace listened, her eyes sparkled with increasing intensity. Her mind was racing: Isn't this exactly the kind of talent our agricultural base has been dreaming of?

A special consultant who could precisely understand animal behavior and coordinate their cooperation!

She immediately thought of the chronic headaches at the base: the clever birds that always managed to steal the most precious seeds and ripening berries; the constant fear that hanging bird nets might injure the wildlife or block the crops' sunlight; the worry that spraying biological agents might accidentally harm the bees and other vital pollinators...

If they had an "Animal Communicator" like Nancy to mediate, many of these ecological conflicts would vanish overnight!

However, Professor Grace glanced in the direction in which Simon had disappeared, and her reason prevailed. Nancy was clearly in the middle of a vital police mission; now was not the time to dangle an olive branch. She suppressed her excitement and tucked the plan away for later.

"We truly owe you a lot," Professor Grace said sincerely, handing Nancy her professional business card while offering a warm smile to the "Marmot Construction Crew" on the ground.

"You are all welcome at the base anytime. There will always be a feast waiting for you here."

She instructed her assistants to bring out fresh fruit and specialized fodder for the marmots. Simultaneously, she carefully selected a large "gift pack" of the base's latest produce—vibrant vegetables, luscious fruits, and high-quality seeds—and presented it to Nancy. The produce was perfectly uniform and glowing with health; it was clearly top-tier quality.

As Nancy accepted the gift, a thought crossed her mind: If the animals at the Loren Zoo could eat this kind of green, healthy, and nutritionally balanced 'custom fodder' every day, it would be amazing! Their coats would be glossier, their constitutions stronger, and even the pickiest eaters would regain their appetites.

She began calculating her budget, hoping that once the zoo's finances improved, she could talk to Professor Grace about a procurement channel. Quality this high certainly wouldn't be cheap.

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing crane cry echoed through the sky!

Nancy's heart tightened. The bag of fresh produce in her hand instantly lost its charm. She stood up abruptly. Does the Red-crowned crane have a lead on the poisoner in Bricksfield Village?

"Professor Grace, something urgent has come up! I have to go!" She bid a hurried farewell and snapped her fingers at the marmots. The clever little guys immediately lined up and followed her.

Professor Grace tried to lift the heavy bag of produce. "Wait! Don't forget your things!"

But Nancy was already running off like the wind. Carrying heavy bags would only slow down the investigation. Professor Grace offered a helpless smile.

Nancy waved back as she ran. "Leave them with you! I'll be back for them!"

She sprinted to the research base gates just as the male crane glided to a halt, the wind from his wings swirling around her. He relayed the urgent message:

"Boss, a major discovery! According to the village rats, the poisoner once captured a nest of mice and forcibly fed them an unknown toxin!"

Nancy followed the crane back to Bricksfield Village and located the rodent witnesses.

Near a mound of dirt, she saw two rats using their paws to dig a small pit. They were burying three dead mice. Inside the pit, they had placed "offerings": fragments of rice crackers, sugar cubes, and a half-eaten milk candy.

In front of the grave sat two bottle caps filled with water. The two rats each took a sip from the caps and then sprinkled the remaining water over the burial site.

"Rest in peace! We will definitely report this and catch that mouse-killer!"

Seeing this, Nancy felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

Master Crow, perched on a branch, let out a loud caw as Nancy arrived. "Our animal translator is here!"

When the two rats saw Nancy, they immediately rushed over, wailing and crying for justice.

"I want to report a crime! The one who put out the poison lives in the house under the biggest banyan tree in the village!"

Nancy's pupils shrank. The target was locked.