Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 328: The New Specialist 2

The trajectories of their lives had completely diverged at this moment, heading in entirely opposite directions.

Nancy’s eyes lit up as she reviewed the specialist contract.

Her base salary had jumped to twenty thousand a month, and she was now eligible for specialist-level retirement benefits. More importantly, her clearance was now significantly higher than it had been as a mere animal language consultant. Not only could she mobilize local and precinct police forces, but she could also interface directly with the State Department.

She signed her name with a quick flourish. Simon immediately snapped to attention and saluted her. "Congratulations, Nancy. I guess you can officially order me around now."

Nancy gave him a playful wink. "Then my first order is that you’re buying lunch this week!"

Simon couldn't help but laugh. "Sure thing."

Captain Simmons watched the pair with a sense of pride and relief. "Nancy," he added with a smile, "the official animal unit project has been approved as well. There’s a national grant to cover the team’s expenses, and a veterinary team will be stationed at the zoo permanently. All salaries will be paid by the state."

"That’s amazing!" Nancy cheered along with the animals. The squirrel brothers were so excited their tails started spinning like little windmills.

Sam walked over carrying a pile of specialized gear. "These are the custom police items we had approved for our little detectives," he said, showing them off.

The haul included mini-communicators designed specifically for animals, as well as lightweight collars integrated with GPS and SOS functions. They had thought of everything.

Nancy was over the moon. Being backed by the government felt incredible.

Captain Simmons’ expression turned serious then, his voice dropping an octave. "Upgraded gear and titles come with heavier responsibilities. The danger level of your future assignments will increase along with your clearance. You need to be ready. You could be facing major inter-provincial cases or even crimes of national significance."

Nancy and Simon shared a look and straightened their backs. Even the animals in her arms seemed to stiffen in focus.

"Understood! We’ll get the job done. We won't let the country down!"

Once the paperwork was finished, Nancy headed out of the precinct with Simon and the animals.

Looking at Simon’s tall, powerful frame and thinking back to the Captain’s warning, Nancy couldn't help but ask, "Simon, the Captain said things are going to get more dangerous, and my physical strength is honestly a joke. I want to learn some self-defense. kickboxing or grappling, anything. If you teach me, I’ll probably just slack off because we're siblings, and I'd be too embarrassed to try in front of a stranger. Do you know a solid coach or a gym you can recommend?"

Simon’s expression shifted, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "You really want to learn?"

"Yeah!" Nancy patted her slender arms. "I don't expect to be knocking anyone out, but I want to learn a few practical moves. Just something to give me a chance to block a hit and give me an opening to run away!"

"Actually," Simon said, his gaze drifting to the side as he instinctively rubbed his nose. "Sam recommended Officer Perry from the State Department to me. He’s three years older than you, and his grappling is coach-level."

Simon was usually a master of disguise on missions, but he was terrible at hiding things from his sister.

He sounded a bit stiff as he continued. "Perry’s father runs a training base. If you’re interested, we could go see him this afternoon and check out the facility."

As they reached the precinct entrance, Leon was leaning lazily against the car door waiting to take the animals back to the zoo. He immediately perked up when he overheard them.

Perry? Who? State Department? Three years older?

Where were they going to check out with Nancy?

Leon was suddenly on high alert.

Simon told his sister, "I’ll send you Perry’s WhatsApp. He said he can come pick you up in a bit."

He felt a bit reluctant saying it, but when he looked up and saw Barry’s flashy Maybach still parked at the curb, he gritted his teeth and sent the contact info anyway.

Nancy was stunned by how fast Simon was moving. "Wait, already? That’s fast."

Simon looked back with a face of pure, righteous conviction. "If you want to learn, you have to strike while the iron is hot. It’s good for you to spend more time with driven, successful young men. Those wealthy heirs are nothing but playboys. They aren't reliable."

Hearing this, Leon immediately rushed over with a perfectly sincere smile. "Simon, that’s a pretty broad generalization. As they say, a man who loves his wife finds success. Real wealth is usually low-key and very loyal!"

Simon narrowed his eyes and gave him a sharp, scrutinizing look. "...Wait, I remember you. Your last name is Goodman, isn't it?"

"A coincidence! Total coincidence!" Leon waved his hands frantically, his face instantly twisting into an expression of deep sorrow.

He let out a heavy sigh. "Ugh, it’s just my luck. Other people named Goodman are billionaires living in mansions and driving supercars. Me? I'm just a guy with the same name, working for a living!"