DSMC Chapter 93.2

Yan Jiyun stepped out into the hallway and noticed another office next door, but it didn’t have a nameplate.

Just then, someone from HR returned. Yan Jiyun asked her, “Is the HR manager not in the office?”

The HR staff replied, “There’s a recruitment fair recently. He took some colleagues on a business trip.”

Yan Jiyun asked, “Why isn’t there a nameplate on his office?”

The HR staff smiled. “Director He said we’re going to replace the door signs. The manager told us to take his down first and use his to test the new sign’s effect.”

After getting the information he wanted, Yan Jiyun turned and went to the restroom on the second floor.

Dr. Zhou was indeed not simple. His information was layered with restrictions.

Entry to the HR office was relatively casual, but the HR manager’s office was not somewhere one could enter freely.

Yan Jiyun waited until there were no other sounds in the second-floor corridor before quietly slipping into the manager’s office. Fortunately, the office door lock was rather old. He easily pried it open with a folding knife.

Luckily, the HR manager used a desktop computer, which was easy to turn on. The password wasn’t written on a calendar, but he noticed a photo frame of a little girl on the desk, probably the HR manager’s daughter. He flipped it over and saw a date. After entering it, he successfully unlocked the computer.

The HR manager’s desktop was much cleaner. The HR system was right there on the desktop, and once again the account logged in automatically.

This time Yan Jiyun operated much faster than before.

[Search: Zhou Yiqun.]

He waited two seconds, and finally Dr. Zhou’s information appeared!

He noticed a point worth recording: Dr. Zhou and Dr. Peng had graduated from the same university, and Dr. Zhou had been one cohort below Dr. Peng.

However, Dr. Peng wasn’t the focus. It was Dr. Zhou’s research projects. He could understand each word individually, but when combined, they became hard to comprehend. Yan Jiyun grabbed paper and a pen to jot them down and ponder carefully.

“Research on technology for sharing consciousness and experiences between humans and animals”.

“Research on human–animal consciousness exchange projects”.

“Research on the exchange of human souls and animal souls”.

All of them were extremely ideological research topics.

Dr. Zhou had already obtained a PhD. He was very young and very bold, with ideas that were excessively ahead of their time. No, it’s beyond godlike. He had taken research all the way to the realm of souls.

Do humans really have souls after death?

Yan Jiyun felt he could discuss this question with Dr. Zhou. After he died, he had turned into a cat. Was it that his soul had exchanged with an animal, or had his consciousness been projected into an animal’s body?

He was also very interested in Dr. Zhou’s projects.

However, what exactly was he researching now in the zoo?

Human–animal consciousness exchange… had he succeeded?

If he had succeeded, wouldn’t that mean the animals in the zoo all had issues?

If the research had not succeeded, then everything was still only at the research stage.

Was it that Dr. Peng had discovered something and wanted to sabotage his research, or was he simply trying to steal Dr. Zhou’s research project?

Those who conduct research are not necessarily bad people, and those who destroy research are not necessarily good people.

For a moment, Yan Jiyun couldn’t tell who was good and who was bad.

But at least he now knew the direction of Dr. Zhou’s experiments. He was researching human–animal consciousness exchange. The zoo indeed provided the best possible experimental setting. There were hundreds of species of animals here, and each one was a high-quality specimen, offering uniquely advantageous experimental conditions and subjects.

One question remained: what was the reason?

Yan Jiyun quickly skimmed through Dr. Zhou’s personal information and memorized it.

Then he prepared to clean up and leave.

But getting out of here wasn’t simple. People were walking back and forth outside. This was the second floor. Although he could climb down the pipes, it was broad daylight. People weren’t blind; anyone would see him. So the window was not an option.

Suddenly, two HR staffs stood chatting on the balcony outside the office, holding coffee right in front of the HR manager’s door.

The rich smell of coffee drifted through the crack into Yan Jiyun’s nose. He overheard the NPCs’ conversation.

“Why was Dr. Zhou suddenly removed from his position? Do you know?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Dr. Peng reported him for conducting illegal experiments in the zoo and even found concrete evidence.”

“I remember Dr. Zhou was invited back by the Director. He’s always been quite mysterious and never interacted with us.”

“Isn’t it normal that he doesn’t interact with you? He’s a doctor, not some underling. But I did hear that the Director had a stroke some time ago. That’s why Vice Director He dared to deal with him so openly.”

“You mean Vice Director He wants to replace the Director?”

“Exactly. Otherwise, Dr. Zhou had been here for three years without issue. But as soon as the Director had an accident, he was suddenly removed. Right now, Vice Director He is only acting director. Sooner or later, the words ‘acting’ and ‘vice’ will be dropped.”

Yan Jiyun hadn’t expected to gain this information as well.

So the Director had suffered a stroke and was hospitalized, and the Vice Director couldn’t wait to take his position, striking first before he returned.

A stroke was no small matter. The Director might never return to the zoo.

After the HR staffs finished their coffee and left the corridor to return to work, Yan Jiyun quietly twisted the doorknob and left as if nothing had happened.

Only after going downstairs did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Right after finishing with Dr. Zhou’s information, Yan Jiyun saw the system update the player popularity rankings again. Excluding the three players who had died last night, Yan Jiyun was now at the bottom.

Being last place shouldn’t be a problem, right?

He and the other players weren’t even taking the same route. The other players advanced through popularity rankings and animal-related tasks, while he was taking on tasks related to “humans.”

Actually, problems could also be discovered from the animals’ perspective—keepers and doctors would reveal information. As for how the system arranged things, that was unclear.

Right now, Yan Jiyun only wanted to know how to uncover Dr. Zhou’s experimental purpose.

Known information so far:

1. A blood test report.
2. Dr. Zhou’s personal information.
3. The Director had a stroke; the Vice Director was striving to take over.

Why was Vice Director He so eager to rise to power?

Right. Where were the offices of the Director and Vice Director He?

There were three buildings in the management area, spaced some distance apart, with many plants between them.

So far, Yan Jiyun knew about the first and third buildings. The first was the office area, the third was the staff dormitory area. The second building should be the executive office area.

Just as he was about to head toward the seemingly hidden second building, the walkie-talkie in his pocket crackled. This time it wasn’t the sweet secretary voice, but a rough male voice.

“Supervisor Jiang, get to the gorilla zone quickly! Tata is in trouble. It’s been sleeping since morning and won’t wake up!”

Yan Jiyun pressed the talk button. “Has a doctor gone over?”

No matter what he asked, the other party didn’t respond again.

Yan Jiyun: “……”

At that moment, the system popped up a task notification.

[Side Mission: Treat the Gorilla Tata.]

Alright. It’s a mission.

No wonder nothing was explained clearly. He had to go in person.

Yan Jiyun walked to the management office and saw a supervisor-exclusive vehicle parked at the entrance. His mood instantly improved!

No more battery-powered scooter that ran out of charge anytime, and no more bicycle whose chain could fall off at any moment.

Promotion and a raise did have their benefits.

Yan Jiyun hopped onto the large electric vehicle and drove off.

He knew where the gorilla zone was. He had been there last night.

On the way, he saw many tourists holding merchandise of the white tiger and Xixi.

There was no surprise that the white tiger player ranked first. It could jump through hoops now, and as a rare species, tourists loved it.

As for Xixi crushing a crowd of players, that was unexpected.

He even overheard tourists saying they had to go hear Xixi curse.

Yan Jiyun: “……”

Who did Xixi learn those swear words from? That kid had disappeared last night. Could it be that he spent the whole night learning curses? Was it from that myna player? Yesterday when he ran into him, he had complained about being chased by a parrot and mentioned that, as a talking species, the parrot especially loved swearing.

Fine. After dealing with the gorilla, he would find time to educate Xixi.

Yan Jiyun arrived at the gorilla zone. Tata had already been moved indoors, surrounded by an intern veterinarian and two keepers.

Yan Jiyun asked the intern, “What’s the situation? Is it dangerous?”

The intern was a baby-faced young man, probably just graduated, inexperienced. His face was scrunched up in worry. “Its pulse is getting weaker. I’ve performed emergency measures, but I don’t know what caused it.”

Yan Jiyun knew the intern couldn’t handle it. “Who was responsible for Tata’s physical exam before?”

The intern replied, “Dr. Zhou. But this morning Dr. Peng handed Tata over to me, and I can’t find Dr. Zhou.”

Yan Jiyun scolded sternly, “How can this be handled so carelessly? Go find Dr. Zhou immediately!”

The intern was startled. “But I don’t know where Dr. Zhou is!”

When internal conflicts escalate, all sorts of internal problems emerge.

The gorilla had originally been under Dr. Zhou’s care but was now under Dr. Peng. It was both reasonable and unreasonable.

Workplace infighting was truly unacceptable. How could a patient suddenly switch doctors?

Dr. Zhou had a prior record of experimenting on animals. The fact that he hadn’t been completely dismissed was probably because Vice Director He still had to consider the Director’s face.

Not allowing him to continue handling large animals did seem somewhat justifiable.

But Dr. Peng had just been promoted and was likely busy with various engagements, having no time to manage things.

Yan Jiyun could only look for Dr. Zhou.

Dr. Zhou had left during the supervisor meeting. Who knew where he had gone.

But first, he needed to investigate the cause of Tata’s sudden illness.

The intern continued examining the gorilla. “Supervisor Jiang, its breathing is becoming rapid. It needs immediate emergency treatment. I can’t do it! Only Dr. Zhou can!”

Great. This was forcing his hand.

“Send it to the emergency center first. I’ll find Dr. Zhou immediately.”

The two subordinates and the intern quickly carried the gorilla away.

At that moment, the system interface displayed a prompt. Not mission details this time, but a warning.

[Mission  Hint: Gorilla Tata is currently in a weakened state. Please find a suitable doctor within 10 minutes to treat it, or it will affect the storyline progression.]

[Mission Countdown: 9m 55s]

It was the first time he had heard a system hint. Yan Jiyun watched worriedly as they loaded the gorilla into the zoo’s emergency vehicle.

Tata was one of the six large animals from whom blood samples had been drawn. It had been fine last night, so how did it suddenly fall ill?

He had a bad premonition.

But first, find Dr. Zhou.

At that moment, a broadcast announcement about a missing child sounded nearby. Yan Jiyun immediately jumped onto the supervisor vehicle and sped toward the broadcasting room.

Three minutes later, he burst into the broadcasting room, shoved aside the NPC sitting at the microphone, and shouted into it:

“Dr. Zhou Yiqun, please go to the treatment center immediately! Dr. Zhou Yiqun, upon hearing this announcement, please proceed to the treatment center at once! Dr. Zhou Yiqun, please—ga!”

The NPC yanked out the microphone plug!

The NPC shouted angrily, “What are you doing?”

Yan Jiyun snapped back even more fiercely, “If something happens to the animal, are you going to take responsibility?”

The NPC hadn’t expected someone fiercer than himself and was momentarily speechless. “……”

Yan Jiyun shoved him aside again and shouted three more times into the microphone before rushing toward the animal emergency center.

Using the broadcast would lead to two possible outcomes, but he had to do it. As the system hint said, if this side mission wasn’t handled properly, it would affect subsequent storyline development.

He drove to the medical treatment center.

At the entrance, he saw Dr. Zhou arriving in time.

Dr. Zhou merely smiled at him, swinging the white coat in his hand. “Jiang You, your supervisor position may end here.”

Yan Jiyun said nothing. Right now, everything felt hazy and unreal.

[Mission Countdown: 3m 55s]

Time ticked away. Yan Jiyun wasn’t allowed inside and could only wait outside the emergency room.

Of course, he was waiting for a result, a result that might affect the storyline.

And then it came. It seemed accidental, yet also logical.

The moment the countdown ended, the system popped up without even waiting 0.0001 seconds. Yan Jiyun could almost see its excitement!

[Player failed to successfully treat the gorilla. The side quest “Treat the Gorilla Tata” has failed. The player will face character demotion punishment.]

Yan Jiyun: “……”

So this was what they’d been waiting for.

Even an Easy-level instance couldn’t be underestimated. There was even a demotion penalty, something he hadn’t considered before!

Before Yan Jiyun could check the details of his punishment, he heard a group of people approaching. He quickly slipped into one of the treatment rooms to hide.

Soon after, Dr. Zhou was escorted out, his hands covered in blood. He didn’t argue or defend himself at all.

Perhaps he knew there was no need to speak, and no point in speaking.

“Zhou Yiqun, you are suspected of harming zoo animals and conducting illegal experiments. The evidence is conclusive. Please cooperate with the regulatory authorities’ investigation.”

Yan Jiyun: “……” He finally understood Dr. Zhou’s smile just now.

The gorilla’s death had been a trap set for Dr. Zhou.