Future Pet Shop

Chapter 208: Going to Africa

’That’s not right.’ The legend on the side of the interface also displayed the quantities of each pet type. A "1" was written after the green dot representing "Purchased Pets," a "2" after the yellow dot representing "Sold Pets," and another "1" after the orange dot representing "Mutant Animals."

This clearly meant the pet radar had already found a trace of the Mutant Animal, it just wasn’t showing up on the map. ’Oh, I think I get it now. The map is only showing the small city of Yunzhong City right now, so this Mutant Animal must be outside its borders,’ Shen Yibin guessed.

’I’ll try zooming out, then.’ Shen Yibin immediately began to adjust the map’s scale, zooming out to the province where Yunzhong City was located. However, there was still no sign of a flashing orange dot.

’So it’s not even in the province? Looks like I’ll have to take another long trip in a few days. A long journey would be one thing, but I really hope it isn’t in some place with harsh conditions, like a desert, the Gobi, a snowy plateau, or even deep in the ocean. I’m not in any shape to go to places only professional explorers can handle.’

Shen Yibin prayed silently as he continued to adjust the scale, zooming out to cover the entire Southwest region of China. Still, he couldn’t find the orange dot.

’Still nothing? Don’t tell me this animal is in another country.’ Shen Yibin started to worry. If he had to go abroad, things would get complicated. ’And if, by some rotten luck, it’s a protected species over there, how am I supposed to get it back to China?’ Shen Yibin’s brow furrowed.

He quickly adjusted the scale again, zooming out to show all of China. But the orange dot didn’t appear on the map of China, nor in any of the surrounding countries.

’A moment ago, I was thinking I could use Sakai Kaori’s connections if it was in Japan. It looks like that’s not going to happen. Okay, let’s check the rest of Asia.’

’Still nothing?’ The map was now zoomed out to show all of Asia, yet there was still no trace of the orange dot. ’I don’t believe this.’ Shen Yibin lost his patience and cranked the scale to its maximum setting. The entire Earth appeared on the screen.

’If it’s still not here, then I’m completely out of options. If the animal is on Earth, I can still figure something out. But if it’s an alien, well, then I can only give up.’

Thankfully, while the Future Pet Shop app didn’t have much integrity, it at least had a little. When the entire globe appeared on the tiny phone screen, Shen Yibin finally saw the orange dot. It was just that he couldn’t be happy with its location at all.

’Damn it, it’s in Africa!’ Shen Yibin was on the verge of tears. There, on the left side of the map over the continent of Africa, an orange dot was blinking incessantly.

"Uh, Sylvie, do you have any connections in Africa?" Shen Yibin managed to look up, pinning his hopes on the princess of Sokovia. With his own abilities alone, there was probably no way he could find this mutant pet on the African continent.

"Hm? You’re going to Africa? Which country, specifically? Some African nations have very good relations with Sokovia, while others don’t. It depends on where exactly you need to go," Sylvie asked, puzzled. "Why the sudden trip to Africa?"

"The damn delivery company sent my pet to Africa. They made the same mistake as before, only this time it’s far more outrageous." It was the only explanation Shen Yibin could give Sylvie. He adjusted the map to the dot’s location and zoomed in. "As for the specific country... let me see. It’s in Central Africa... Congo."

"Congo?" Sylvie frowned, thinking for a moment. "Congo and my country haven’t had many official dealings, but I know their vice president, Patrice Kabila. He came to Sokovia for my father’s coronation back when he was the foreign minister."

"That’s great." ’There’s always a way out,’ Shen Yibin thought, breathing a sigh of relief. ’If Sylvie hadn’t happened to meet Hah’Er at the Sichuan Giant Panda Base and been drawn here, I really don’t know what I would have done.’ "So, are you still in contact with him now?"

"We run into each other occasionally at public functions and have exchanged a few words. Also, my mother holds a position in an animal welfare organization, and that agency has extensive connections in Africa." ’Some people really are in a different league,’ Shen Yibin thought. ’Sylvie just casually reeled off a list of incredibly influential connections.’ "What exactly are you planning to do?"

"I plan to go to Congo and bring the pet back, just like when we went to pick up Egg. But since this involves a foreign country, I’m afraid it won’t be as easy, right?" Shen Yibin said with a frown. Although he had traveled to some neighboring countries before, this time he was going to Africa.

"That shouldn’t be a major problem. I’ll go with you. I’ll contact Kabila before we leave for Congo. I’m sure he’ll help us out." Sylvie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Even though she got to see Hah’Er every day and could go dancing with Egg after work, it had become a bit monotonous over time. The thought of participating in a new adventure in Africa was thrilling.

"All right, then. I’ll look up plane tickets and start getting ready. We can go together after the Dragon Boat Festival. By the way, will Alfred be okay with you going?" Sun Qian and Sakai Kaori would probably be leaving after the festival, and once they were gone, it would be a good time for him and Sylvie to set off.

"My internship isn’t over yet, anyway. This trip to Africa still counts as working for you, doesn’t it?" Sylvie shrugged. "If he’s worried, he can just come with us. He’s better at handling these sorts of things than I am."

"Okay, then. Let’s both start getting ready." Shen Yibin stood up, ready to leave. ’But if I go to Africa, won’t Hah’Er be left home alone? I don’t feel good about that at all. Leaving everything else aside, his picky appetite alone isn’t something just anyone can handle.’

’Should I take Hah’Er with me? But that would just cause more problems. First, could Hah’Er handle the long flight? Also, would he be able to adapt to the climate in Africa?’

’Finally, even if all that could be solved, would the country even allow me to take Hah’Er abroad? Other countries have to pay an annual rental fee of one million US dollars just to lease a panda.’

Shen Yibin’s headache returned as he thought about all this. ’How am I going to solve all these problems?’