Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 221: The Owl Matchmaker

Nancy pulled out her phone, opened her notes app, and asked with a straight face, "Alright, let's start with your profile. Do you have any specific requirements for a future partner?"

The Scops Owl puffed out his fluffy chest, his voice sounding a few notches brighter. "I own an entire bamboo grove! My dating manifesto is—"

"I've got bamboo shoots for days, I've got the market on mice cornered, and I'm just missing you to spend the seasons gnawing through life together!"

Nancy nearly choked with laughter but fought to maintain her composure.

The owl tilted his head thoughtfully and added a bit shyly, "No other requirements, really. As long as she's a lady."

Nancy nodded while typing. "Got it. Basic info and requirements recorded. I'll keep an eye out for you and arrange a blind date!"

The tufts on the owl's head—those cat-like ears—sprang up in pure joy. He even did a little happy dance with his talons, the entire bird radiating blissful anticipation.

Meanwhile, an officer equipped with gear used tweezers to pick up the tiny syringe from the ground, sealing it into an evidence bag. The suspicious tall man and the poisoner, Raine, were led away in separate police cruisers.

Catching the culprits was just the beginning; uncovering the truth was the real challenge.

The following morning, Nancy went to the Townsville General Headquarters to assist with the official statement. Raine was currently in the interrogation room. Nancy watched the proceedings from behind the one-way glass.

Simon looked grim, his voice deep and steady. "Raine, why did you poison the village well?"

Red marks from the rope were still visible on Raine's neck. He huddled in the interrogation chair, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and self-pity as he began his rambling confession.

"I—I just couldn't take it anymore. We used to be fine being poor together. Planting a bit of corn and potatoes was enough to eat, it was easy... But ever since those people from the agricultural research base came to help, they've been forcing us to grow economic crops. The whole village is busy from dawn till dusk! I don't want to work that hard!"

He grew more agitated, gesturing wildly with his hands.

"The villagers made money, sure. Building new houses, buying new cars. Watching them count their cash made my skin crawl."

Raine paused for breath, his eyes darting away.

"I just thought... if I threw some medicine in the well, I'd kill off their crops. They use that water for irrigation; once the medicine hits, those fancy plants won't survive."

"Then everyone would be poor together again..."

He suddenly shrank back, crying out, "But that guy told me it was just a laxative! He said people would just have the runs for a few days... I really didn't know it would kill anyone!"

Simon's gaze was like a torch. He leaned forward, pressing harder. "Who exactly is this tall guy? How did you meet? What's his real name?"

Raine cringed at the barrage of questions, his eyes glazed with memory. "He... he told me to just call him Bill. I don't know his real name. We've known each other for about two months."

As he spoke, a hint of nostalgia actually crept into his tone. "Bill was a great guy! He always bought me drinks, helped me out when I was short on cash... he was my friend!"

But then, Raine's voice dropped. "But he was always asking about village business. Like which crops had the best yields, what new techniques the base technicians were teaching... he was especially interested in the rare varieties they were growing there."

Raine's speech slowed. Only now did it occur to him that Bill's generosity might have been calculated from the very start.

Nancy had a feeling that Bill, the one who provided the toxin, likely had the agricultural research base as his primary target. However, she could leave the deep-dive investigation to Simon.

She was still thinking about the female Red-crowned crane at the Wildlife Rescue Station. As she prepared to leave, she ran into someone at the corner of the hallway.

It was Jack.

Today, Jack was in a sharp, dark suit, his glasses polished to a mirror shine, exuding an air of elite professionalism. Standing next to him was a steady-looking middle-aged man in a standard executive black jacket, clearly someone of high status. Captain Simmons was accompanying them.

As soon as Captain Simmons saw Nancy, he introduced her with a smile. "Sergeant West, this is our specially appointed consultant, Nancy."

He then turned to Nancy, his tone formal. "Nancy, this is Commissioner Wally West from the Southeast General Bureau."

Wally offered a warm smile and extended his hand. "So you're Nancy! One of the Townsville Police Twin Stars. I've heard a lot about you! Where is your brother?"

Nancy responded with professional modesty. "Simon is currently interrogating a suspect."

Just then, a commotion broke out at the station entrance. A group of people entered solemnly, carrying a massive red silk banner with a grand sense of ceremony.