Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 187 - 155 Python_1

Chapter 187: Chapter 155 Python_1

Feng Yi left Yang City by plane to Hai City, with the destination being the Research and Protection Bureau’s Hai City branch.

That was the designated report location for the python hunting team, where he needed to check in within the specified time.

Feng Yi was among the earlier batch to arrive. Other selected participants were busy with their affairs, especially the researchers, who were swamped with projects that demanded attention day and night. For the Florida python hunting event, they even had to work extra to prepare, unlike Feng Yi who currently had a bit more leisure time.

After verifying his identity at the Hai City branch of the Research and Protection Bureau, he signed in and received his identity badge before heading to the training facility.

The training location was far from the city center, already outside the urban area. The place was quite large, since it was, after all, meant for practical training and definitely housed some dangerous creatures.

Like alligators.

Like venomous snakes and giant pythons.

During this season, the average temperature in Hai City had been below ten degrees Celsius in the past week, much lower than in Yang City, and snakes in the wild had already entered a state of hibernation.

However, at the training facility here, training during this season took place indoors where the temperature was nearly constant.

While Feng Yi was processing his accommodation, he saw several warning signs. Different areas were marked differently, such as the area he was about to enter, indicated by a snake symbol on the sign.

These warning signs were to tell people coming here not to be overly curious, not to wander around randomly, and that certain areas were off-limits unless invited, and unauthorized personnel were prohibited from entering dangerous zones!

Feng Yi wasn’t that curious; the various smells inside had already informed him of too much, some of which were quite unpleasant, making him sneeze several times.

The auntie handling his accommodation saw this and spoke with concern, telling Feng Yi where the pharmacy and clinic were located.

"Generally, here in this facility, common minor injuries and illnesses can be addressed at the clinic, but if it’s..."

The auntie processing the accommodation glanced at Feng Yi’s identity badge, which showed his training area classification as [Reptilia]. She understood that he was part of the group participating in the Florida python hunting event.

"If you are bitten, a non-venomous minor wound can be treated at the clinic. For venomous snake bites or large python bites, oh, and add alligators to that list, injuries caused by these kinds of animals... well, over there is an ambulance on standby," the auntie said, pointing in a certain direction.

Feng Yi looked in the direction she pointed.

In the distance was a large parking lot designated for ambulances. Parked there was an intimidating lineup of ambulances.

"So many?" Feng Yi was surprised. It looked rather exaggerated.

The auntie handing the paperwork to Feng Yi gave him a meaningful look and calmly said, "You have to appreciate the spirit of exploration among research personnel."

The word "exploration" was emphasized.

Feng Yi fell silent.

Indeed, researchers often act beyond reason in pursuit of satisfying their curiosity.

Feng Yi thought back to the snake-infested resort, recalling the expert invited to catch the snakes, covered in bite marks.

After finishing the paperwork and not in a rush, Feng Yi took a detour to the parking lot to have a look on his way to the dormitory.

The ambulances were donated by various organizations or private companies, each marked with the logos or text of the donors.

Standing next to the promotional sign, Feng Yi learned that these ambulances did not always stay here; some would accompany teams out on expeditions, and their equipment and facilities were not like the regular ambulances, but specialized and allocated by the Research and Protection Bureau’s administrative office.

For example, if a team was headed to Hai City or nearby areas to search for venomous snakes, the accompanying ambulance would definitely be stocked with anti-venom serum and related medication.

However, not every city had this setup. In more challenging locations, even if there was a Research and Protection Bureau’s training facility, they might not have as many ambulances or manage to keep up.

Feng Yi glanced over and then went to find his dormitory.

He was assigned a four-person suite, with each person having a single bedroom that included a study area.

The place was not big but fully equipped.

At a glance, the common area of the living room and kitchen didn’t have a lot of items, and it was not apparent that several people had already moved in, but Feng Yi could tell from the scent that the other three had arrived. Two had come recently, and one had been living there for a longer period of time.

After settling into his bed and resting, Feng Yi sent a message to Steve, saying he had arrived at the training facility.

Steve was also a member of this team, but he wasn’t at the training facility. Instead, he was already preparing in Florida.

Soon, Steve video-called him.

It was 12 noon on Feng Yi’s side, which meant it was midnight in Florida, so there was a time difference. Feng Yi had thought Steve in far-off Florida would be asleep at this time, but he was still up.

Steve looked quite spirited.

"You’ve arrived at the training facility? I just got back too. I went with them to catch American alligators. A research team here periodically investigates the population and living conditions of swamp alligators. It’s straightforward – capture, pull onto the boat, record data, tag them, and release them back. The ones we caught today weren’t too big, and there was a slightly larger one we didn’t catch, but it was only about three meters."

"’Only’ three meters?" Feng Yi didn’t quite know what to say.

Alligators certainly don’t have the elongated shape of a snake.

At the same three meters, an alligator looks much more imposing compared to a snake, as visually striking as the difference between a rope and a brick.

However, Steve didn’t think he misspoke. Although most of the alligators in the swamp measured around one or two meters, but...

"The research center has an even bigger one named ’Crocodile Boss,’ almost five meters long. You’ll get to see it when you come over. This short-snouted crocodile was rescued from a python by a retired researcher from the center and has been cared for there for many years. It’s usually left to roam free and doesn’t go far. Recently, due to the python-hunting activity and the increased traffic, the center had to put up nets to enclose it. I took a lot of photos today!"

In the midst of speaking, Steve’s expression gradually became one of infatuation, "It’s truly captivating!"

Feng Yi: "..."

It was hard to imagine how such a ferocious prehistoric beast could so completely bewitch Steve and others that they couldn’t get enough of it.

But then, someone who calls a cold-blooded killer python "my precious" isn’t exactly ordinary, either.

You get used to it.

Speaking of crocodiles gets Steve excited as he shares his experiences from the swamp with Feng Yi.

In Florida, there are American alligators and Cuban crocodiles.

Over there, when they say "crocodile," they’re referring to the American alligator. "Short-snouted crocodile" refers to the Cuban crocodile.

That’s not normally how they’re referred to domestically.

There are two types of short-snouted crocodiles, one being the Cuban crocodile Steve saw in Florida, and the other is the Yangtze alligator, a class-one protected species in China.

In China, most people only know of two types of crocodiles, the Yangtze alligator and all other crocodiles.

While Steve recounted his "Adventures with the Short-snouted Crocodile (Cuban Crocodile)," in less than half an hour, Feng Yi heard dozens of exaggerated adjectives.

After the story, Steve sighed again, "Compared to the buff short-snouted crocodiles near the visitor center that look like armored vehicles, these almost wild ones are so skinny they’re heart-wrenching!"

Why skinny?

Because there’s less food!

Why is there less food?

Because the pythons took it!

During the climate anomaly, a large portion of Florida’s American alligators and short-snouted crocodiles froze to death. During that same period, their old rivals in the swamp, the pythons, didn’t have it easy either.

After the climate anomaly was over, before the crocodiles could make a comeback, the pythons rose up first, stealing their food, taking over their territory, eating their young!

That’s why people say the crocodiles in Florida’s great swamp are nearly starving to death.

Driven to it by the pythons.

In Florida, crocodiles and their nests are protected, whereas pythons like the Burmese python are considered invasive pest species.

The great swamp’s python population, after undergoing hybridization and genetic mutations due to a climate anomaly, produced even stronger offspring, posing an even greater ecological threat, and were categorized as a "disaster."

Before the climate anomaly, it was perfectly legal to hunt pythons in Florida. But now, with conservation laws in play and the Fish and Wildlife Service watching over, python hunting requires capture alive as much as possible.

"There are a lot of pythons around here now. I saw quite a few today, but they weren’t very big, and it wasn’t convenient to catch them," Steve remarked. And with a shift in conversation, he added, "Your training is about to start soon, involving some theory, key points to pay attention to, and then you can get some additional training on your weak spots at the training base. It serves as an observation period, too. If you’re not suitable during this period, you’ll be advised to withdraw. It’s mainly preliminary stuff, not much to it, and it won’t take many days to train."

Feng Yi listened to him, waiting for what he would say next. There had to be more than just stories about crocodiles for Steve to make a video call.

Indeed, Feng Yi soon heard Steve mention:

"There’s also the matter of teaming up. Feng Yi, how about we team up? My goal this time is to find large pythons, so I’ll be going deep into the swamp to search. What are your thoughts?"

Steve knew from the Nan Chong scientific expedition that Feng Yi could find snakes faster than some veterans, and after learning about Feng Yi’s experience catching pythons at the resort, he became intrigued.

After some thought, Feng Yi realized the team would definitely not allow him to act alone. Choosing a teammate would mean finding someone familiar, capable, and with some local knowledge. If everyone had the same goal, forming a team would work.

Feng Yi’s goal was also large pythons, since they offered more points and money. There was no need to compete for smaller pythons with others.

"Sure. Oh, I heard that there’s going to be a live broadcast of the python hunting event?" Feng Yi asked.

"I know about the live broadcast, but that’s not our concern—the camera crew can’t keep up with our pace!" said Steve with pride.

It wasn’t just talk—those carrying cameras really couldn’t keep up with his snake-hunting pace, and drone footage had its limits, something Steve didn’t mind.

After discussing and finalizing how to fill out the team application, Steve was satisfied, eagerly anticipating the python-hunting event in January.

This was different from the Nan Chong scientific study. The study emphasized the process as much as the results, teaching participants along the way.

But this python hunt was all about results.

Events focused on results have different requirements.

Before ending the call, Steve was still boasting, "For targets like giant pythons, a person can handle a python over four meters by himself. Our fighting power can be rated as ’1 Python.’ Others, who can’t even catch a python between two people and have a personal combat effectiveness of less than 0.5 Python, are just trash!"

Staring at the phone screen after the call ended, Feng Yi zoned out.

My fighting power is only 1 Python?