Entering the zoo and taking over as director

Back at the Zoo's entrance, a little earlier.

Except for Su Chen's group, the contestants from the other countries had all gone through the gates.

It wasn't that they were eager to enter. Mainly, Kim Xiba from Pickle Country was showing off by testing things out for everyone.

Missing that spectacle would have been a real waste, and it might even determine whether they could clear the challenge.

Seeing this, the people from Sevi Country and the others had suggested that Su Chen go take a look.

But Su Chen had refused outright.

Seriously? I'm the only expert who's cleared this place. Why would I need to watch someone else test things out?

Besides, the oddity must have already been drawn over by Kim Xiba by then. Su Chen had no desire to join the commotion.

Soon, Su Chen heard that familiar child's laughter.

He quickly took out his phone and checked the time.

Fortunately, the laughter had come at the same time as before. This rollback hadn't caused much of a butterfly effect.

Still, while the overall course of events remained unchanged, the small details had indeed been affected.

For instance, Kim Xiba's outrageous antics had scared the contestants from the other countries shitless.

Based on what had happened last time, those contestants would have received instructions from their countries to follow Kim Xiba's lead, because the blue rule was correct.

But now, without those disastrous instructions from their countries, they had chickened out instead and didn't really dare follow his example.

As a result, quite a few people had been saved by sheer coincidence.

But that also meant there were enough rabbits to go around.

Last time, because there hadn't been enough rabbits, Yamashita Kenichiro had failed to grab one and had even taken a beating from Lamb of Ugly Country. This time, he was lucky enough to get a rabbit.

And damn, the guy immediately fell back on his signature routine, pinning the rabbit down and stroking the hell out of it.

Soon, just as he'd hoped, a pair of white rabbit ears sprouted on his head.

Outside, Su Chen knew nothing of this dramatic scene. He was still watching the time on his phone, calculating the oddity's movements.

Based on what had happened before, the fleeing black-uniformed staff member should have been luring the oddity toward the right side of the Ape Area at that moment.

He also factored in the rules from the Employee Handbook.

The switch between the surface and otherworld took ten minutes.

By comparing the times when the lights in the Aquarium and the Zoo Director's Office turned on and off, he could work out how fast "it" traveled.

With that, Su Chen had calculated a window in which he could move safely.

As that time approached, he looked at the people around him.

"You all remember the rules I just explained, right?"

"We remember them all."

Everyone nodded.

"Good. I'm going into the Zoo first. Stay outside for now and wait for my message. If you accidentally enter, don't wander around. Use the rules I explained to protect yourselves and hold out until I find you."

Su Chen spoke sternly.

"No problem. Don't worry about us."

Everyone thumped their chests in assurance.

Seeing how cooperative they were, Su Chen could enter the Zoo without worrying.

It was time.

Su Chen strode through the Zoo's gates.

Strangely, however, he didn't follow the path into the Rabbit Zone.

Instead, he plunged straight into the dangerous woods, cutting directly toward the Director's Office near the exit.

This was the shortest route.

Now that "it" had been lured away, Su Chen had no reason to fear the threat lurking in the shade.

Before long, the dilapidated Director's Office came into view once again.

With his previous experience to guide him, Su Chen pushed the door open and went straight inside.

Keeping his eyes shut, he rushed to the desk and began feeling around.

All he felt beneath his hands were masses of soft fur.

He knew the oddity had done this to stop visitors from wandering in and taking the Zoo Director's Badge.

That was why it had left a pile of plush toys capable of contaminating human cognition.

Unfortunately for it, Su Chen simply refused to open his eyes.

He wouldn't make eye contact with the toys.

On top of that, his attributes had increased, bringing his mental strength to the upper limit of an ordinary human's.

He immediately suppressed the stray thoughts that touching the toys stirred up in his mind.

They couldn't cause the slightest disturbance.

His resistance to cognitive pollution was now ridiculously high.

Soon, using his memory of their locations last time, Su Chen felt his way to the badge and the white lion plush toy.

Clutching the toy and badge, he turned around and dashed toward the white lions' enclosure.

He didn't waste his time on the way, either, pinning the badge to the left side of his chest as he ran.

The instant he fastened the badge, a piercing scream rang out near the Elephant Enclosure.

Su Chen knew it had noticed.

But so what? He wasn't afraid of it anymore.

It was daytime, when its powers were at their weakest.

Besides, the Lion Enclosure was already right in front of him.

Su Chen sprinted a few more steps and crossed through the Lion Enclosure's gates.

The next moment, four dumbfounded white lions stared wide-eyed at Su Chen as he came running in, panting heavily.

"From now on... I'm the Zoo's... director. I hope... you'll all help me out."

He addressed the bewildered white lions between ragged breaths.

Fortunately, the white lions weren't too slow on the uptake. They recovered after only a brief stunned silence.

At the same time, their eyes filled with excitement and hope.

"Roar!"

Four lion roars resounded through the sky.

Then the largest and most powerful white lion at their head gave Su Chen a firm nod.

Its eyes brimmed with trust and resolve.

By then, Su Chen had caught his breath. He looked around and soon spotted a staff member.

He beckoned to him, and the blue-uniformed staff member walked over with a puzzled expression.

Why were these four white lions being so friendly toward that visitor?

For a moment, he couldn't make sense of it.

Soon, as he drew closer and saw the badge on Su Chen's chest.

He, too, was dumbstruck.

As a veteran employee, he understood the significance of that badge better than anyone.

"You... you've taken over... I..."

The employee was so excited that he couldn't get a complete sentence out.

"Yes, that's right. I've taken over as zoo director. Is there any way to gather all the employees as quickly as possible? I have instructions to issue."

Su Chen cut him off and spoke rapidly.

The man took a deep breath, trying to calm his excitement.

He knew that anyone who took over the zoo director position must have a plan.

Since the new director was urgently gathering the employees, he must have important instructions for them.

He couldn't let his excitement interfere with the director's work.

"Director, we have a work group chat. I'll notify everyone to come over first, then add you to it."

As he spoke, the man took out his phone and began typing rapidly on the screen.

Just then, Su Chen suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, and tell the staff near the Elephant Enclosure to seal it off first. It's dangerous there."

He hurriedly added the instruction.

The oddity didn't dare trouble Su Chen during the day, so it must have been venting its rage in the Elephant Enclosure.

The visitors there would surely be in danger.

Although Su Chen wasn't some bleeding heart and wouldn't feel much over the deaths of chosen ones from hostile countries.

There were still innocent visitors and security guards there.

Last time, a security guard had saved everyone, only to be thrown into the Aquarium by the enraged oddity. Su Chen still remembered that scene vividly.

Since he could save the guard this time, he had to do it.

After all, the guard was now his employee.

As for the contestants from Ugly Country and the others surviving by riding his coattails, Su Chen didn't care.

He was the zoo director now, anyway. Dealing with a few contaminated visitors would take no time at all.