The Clouded Cat. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, with a longer body.
With an appearance between a cat and a leopard, they are extremely rare. Known as the "Little Clouded Leopard," they are an endangered species.
In Nanyun, they are classified as a Class I rare and protected wild animal.
They are also listed as a Class II species on the *National Key Protected Wild Animal List*.
...
"Of course, no problem."
Yang Qi didn't hesitate, nodding in agreement. "Assisting the police and protecting animals is part of my duty."
"I'm happy to help."
As he spoke, Yang Qi reached into what looked like his pocket—but was actually his Hundred Pouches Belt—and pulled out his Zoo employee ID. He handed it to Sun Zhenghong with both hands to verify his identity.
Sun Zhenghong took the ID and examined the information, photo, and official Zoo stamp. After confirming everything was in order, he handed it back to Yang Qi with a light chuckle. "Relax."
"My name is Sun Zhenghong. We're from the economic crime division. We primarily handle financial cases, and the criminal is already in custody. We're heading to the manor to conduct a search for assets. Rescuing the Clouded Cat is just a secondary objective."
Wang Chao, who was standing nearby, quickly added, "Captain Sun is the head of the Hongshu Branch's economic crime division."
"Hello, Captain Sun."
Yang Qi took his ID back and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm just a little excited. This is my first time participating in an operation like this."
"Haha, understandable."
The surrounding police officers all chuckled good-naturedly.
'It's good for a young man to be so enthusiastic and courageous.'
"Alright, let's get in the cars," Sun Zhenghong called out.
The group, along with Black Panther and the Labrador police dog named Bai Feng, split into two police cruisers and drove out of the branch's compound, lights flashing.
Yang Qi happened to be in the back seat of the same car as Wang Chao and Black Panther.
On the way, Wang Chao couldn't resist asking Yang Qi for some advice.
"Brother Yang, honestly, how do you get animals to warm up to you so quickly?"
"When we train police dogs, it takes months, sometimes even longer, to build that kind of deep trust and rapport."
...
Although Yang Qi didn't know the specifics of police dog training, he had read quite a bit about animal behaviorism to be a better zookeeper. So, he shared some of his understanding off the cuff.
Things like staying calm, giving the animal choices, and using positive reinforcement instead of punishment.
But then, he brought out his all-purpose excuse.
"Of course, the main reason is probably that I've been like this since I was a kid. I've always been a natural with cats and dogs, I guess."
Hearing this, Wang Chao's face filled with undisguised envy. "A natural, huh... You really can't learn that."
"You're too kind, Officer Wang. I'm still learning myself," Yang Qi said humbly.
As they chatted, the police cruisers left the city, drove for a while along a winding mountain road, and finally stopped in front of the gate of a private manor in a serene location, which was already secured by the police.
The manor's interior was the height of luxury.
Yang Qi followed Sun Zhenghong into the spacious, high-ceilinged, and splendidly decorated villa lobby, where he saw three officers who had arrived earlier already conducting a search.
One of them, a female officer with neat short hair, a healthy tan, and a heart-shaped face, was carefully cradling an animal.
The animal was slightly larger than a housecat, with grayish-yellow fur covered in dark, cloud-like patches. It was letting out faint "meow" sounds and seemed a bit panicked.
"You guys are fast. Already rescued the Clouded Cat?" Wang Chao commented casually as he followed them into the lobby.
However, the moment they entered the lobby, the two police dogs at his heels, Black Panther and Bai Feng, stopped dead in their tracks. Their muscles tensed, their ears shot straight up, and a low, warning growl rumbled in their throats.
Both of them stared intently at the female officer holding the "Clouded Cat," looking as if they were facing a great enemy, their bodies taut with extreme tension.
"Black Panther, Bai Feng, what's wrong?" one of the officers asked curiously, trying to calm them.
Wang Chao was also puzzled.
Black Panther and Bai Feng were both experienced police dogs; it was rare for them to show such uncontrollable agitation.
He quickly knelt, stroking their necks and giving a quiet command.
"Quiet! Sit!"
But the two dogs only reluctantly obeyed the command to sit. Their bodies remained tense, they continued to growl lowly, and their gazes remained locked on what was in front of them.
Something clicked in Yang Qi's mind!
The others were confused, but Yang Qi could clearly sense the intense fear and warning emanating from the two police dogs.
And their target was, shockingly, the seemingly harmless "Clouded Cat" in the female officer's arms!
At that thought, Yang Qi quickened his pace, moved closer to the female officer, and carefully scrutinized the "little guy" in her arms.
Upon closer inspection, he immediately realized something was wrong!
The proportions of the "little guy's" paws, the shape of its snout, and especially the feral glint in its eyes—though it had markings similar to a Clouded Cat, the details were completely different.
'This isn't a Clouded Cat at all!'
The female officer was a little perplexed by Yang Qi's intense stare and his approach. She glanced at the police dogs barking wildly at her, then back at Yang Qi's solemn expression, and was just about to ask a question when—
"AHH!!"
Suddenly, a scream came from the direction of the villa's main entrance.
The next moment, before anyone could react.
"ROAR—"
A low, suppressed roar, filled with rage, exploded like a clap of thunder!
Along with the roar, an agile, yellow-and-black-spotted figure shot through the main entrance into the lobby like a bolt of golden lightning.
It carried with it a suffocating, musky stench and moved at a speed almost too fast for the naked eye to follow, pouncing straight for the heart-faced female officer!
"THUD!"
The female officer had no time to react. She felt a massive force slam into her, and she was viciously thrown to the ground.
The "Clouded Cat" in her arms tumbled to the side.
The agile figure was already on top of her, its gaping maw full of sharp fangs opening wide. With absolute killing intent, it lunged down to bite her neck!
This sudden turn of events happened in a flash. All the officers were frozen in place by the horrifying scene, their minds completely blank.
"STOP!!"
At that critical moment, Yang Qi summoned all his strength and let out a deafening roar.
His roar contained a ferocious, bestial aura that even he hadn't realized he possessed.
The Aura of the Bear!
The gaping maw, just about to snap shut, froze in place, stunned by his explosive shout.
The tips of its sharp fangs had almost touched the skin of the officer's throat. The cold sensation sent a chill through her, and she fainted on the spot.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
The agile figure remained frozen in its pouncing posture, like a statue.
The other officers stood rigid, dripping with cold sweat, not daring to move a muscle for fear that the slightest provocation would cause those jaws to snap shut.
"WOOF!"
"WOOF WOOF~!"
Only Black Panther and Bai Feng, driven by their professional instincts, broke free from their fear and were about to lunge forward to rescue her, growling.
"Black Panther! Bai Feng! Quiet!!"
Yang Qi's mind was surprisingly calm and clear. He immediately turned his head and barked another command at the two police dogs.
His voice, tinged with a hint of the Aura of the Bear, was even more effective on the dogs, who were also animals.
Black Panther and Bai Feng whimpered, instinctively fell silent, and paced anxiously on the spot, but they didn't dare to rush forward again.
"Captain Sun! Don't move! Officers, nobody move!"
Yang Qi quickly shouted to Sun Zhenghong, who had already drawn his baton with a grim face, and the other officers who were about to make a move.
Only then did the terrified crowd finally get a clear look at the agile figure's full appearance—
This was no oversized cat.
Its body was long and sleek, smaller than a leopard but with muscle lines rippling with explosive power. Its golden coat was covered in unique, cloud-like patches, and its tail was thick and long...
It was a fully grown clouded leopard in its prime!
And the so-called "Clouded Cat" that the officer had been holding, the little thing mewing and now scrambling to hide behind the adult... was no cat either.
It was clearly a clouded leopard cub!