Only up close could one grasp the sheer enormity of the tiger.
Chloe stepped up to the cage, unable to resist sizing herself up against the feline predator.
...it was ludicrous.
She could easily beat ten average-sized tigers, but Chloe reckoned this beast could eat ten of her in one mouthful.
Thankfully, while the tiger was incredulous in its size, its temperament was relatively sedate.
Hesitant, Chloe reached to place her hand on the cage.
The tiger's green eyes shifted, and with a body full of lash wounds, it struggled to move its head towards her, studying the fingers on the cage. Eventually, it extended its rough, barbed tongue to give them a lick.
It didn't bite -- so far so good.
It didn't seem as ferocious as it appeared.
Surveying the tiger's injuries, Chloe, without a backward glance, extended her hand behind her.
Immediately, a tube of ointment landed gently in her hand.
Taking it naturally, Chloe opened the tube and began to apply the ointment to the tiger's wounds.
The lashing must have been a horrible ordeal, and Chloe could vouch for that. After all, the skill with which the instructor had wielded his whip had been nothing short of masterful -- it felt like it could strip nearly half of one’s life away.
Throughout the ordeal, the tiger didn’t make any significant movements and was incredibly compliant.
By the time the application of the ointment was completed, Chloe withdrew her hand only for the tiger to forlornly lap again at the back of her hand.
It seemed to be careful to lighten its force as otherwise, judging by the barbs on its tongue, it could have easily scraped off a layer of her flesh.
After examining the tiger for a while, Chloe finally voiced her suspicions:
"This tiger is too big. It doesn't seem naturally formed -- more like it must have been injected with a compound."
It sounded like something the Viper Group would do.
Chloe had inspected the tiger’s body and determined that aside from whipping injuries, there were no other signs of abuse. This discovery set her at ease.
As for the other beasts…
Chloe looked around and realized they were all as enormous as this tiger.
But she wasn’t sure if it was a side effect of the drug, these beasts seemed much more listless than the tiger, each of them resembling autistic children, burying their heads in their paws motionlessly.
Turning to Anderson, Chloe asked, "What are the chances that we could just blow this place up?"
Anderson replied, "Given the flammable nature of the forest, if Miss Chloe is considering an explosion, I would recommend…"
"Okay, never mind," Chloe interrupted, "I was just joking."
Looking surprised, Anderson gave a faint smile.
As they chatted casually, suddenly there was a flurry of noises from outside.
Chloe promptly hid behind a crate, pulling Anderson with her.
Soon enough, someone entered.
It was the Beast Tamer again but this time accompanied by another man.
"Sir, it's not that I'm incompetent, it's just that the tiger is extremely stubborn and won't obey!"
"You must understand, under my guidance, so many beasts have become obedient. Surely, that’s a testament to my abilities. If it weren't for this insanely vicious tiger, I wouldn't be...still unable to tame it."
As the voices drew closer, another deep voice suddenly echoed:
"So are you saying it's my fault for administering too much medication to the tiger, causing your disheveled state?" asked Chloe.
The Beast Tamer was panic-stricken: "No, no! I certainly did not mean that!"
Chloe scoffed quietly, calling him an idiot under her breath. She continued to observe her surroundings through the small crack in the box.
Due to the tight space, Chloe couldn't see clearly. She chose to expand her awareness outwards.
Now she could see clearly.
It was a man shrouded entirely in a black robe with a deep, husky voice, his entire demeanor screamed of secretiveness and discomfort.
Chloe didn't like this type of person.
She receded half a step, quietly listening in on their conversation.
"How long has it been since I bestowed it upon you?" asked the Black Robed Man.
The Beast Tamer responded in a trembling voice: "Three... three months."
The Black Robed Man let out a derisive chuckle: "Three months and yet it's not tame. It seems your reputation isn't as you make it."
"No... No! It was just an accident! My lord, give me another chance. Not three months... just a week. I will definitely have this tiger tamed in just a week."
Upon hearing this, the Black Robed Man seemed somewhat intrigued: "A week?"
The Beast Tamer nodded eagerly: "Yes...yes!"
"And what if you fail?"
After a moment of silence, the Beast Tamer finally gritted his teeth and responded: "If I fail, I... I will take my own life as an apology."
Upon hearing this, the Black Robed Man laughed in satisfaction: "Good."
He shifted his gaze from the Beast Tamer to the tiger in the cage.
The tame, docile demeanor the tiger exhibited earlier was gone. Now, it was wild and unruly again.
Its eyes were filled with malice.
Then came the earth-shaking roar of the tiger.
Chloe involuntarily covered her ears, retreating further into the box.
She found the roar deafening even inside a box. Wasn't anyone else finding it unbearable?
Clearly, they weren't. The Black Robed Man didn't seem affected. Rather, he looked mildly entertained as he continued to rave about the volatile tiger in the cage.
"I hope you do your job properly as this is currently our most successful test subject."
"Even before the injection, it was already the king of its pack."
"Of all our experimental subjects, only this one has shown the best adaptability."
There was a hint of flirtatiousness in the Black Robed Man's voice that made Chloe slightly nauseous.
Chloe decided it was time to regroup with Qin Huaibei and trade information.
Their mission here was reconnaissance, not going head-on with the Viper Group.
Just as she was about to leave, hurried footsteps announced:
"Report! Bodies of our guards have been found outside! And... and their clothes are stripped off!"
Chloe: "..."
She found the report rather distasteful.
Seems like getting away is top priority now, but they need to find the right opening...
While she was pondering, the Black Robed Man's voice echoed not far away.
"Oh really? Then the timing is perfect."
"I heard that the little ones from The No.1 Military Academy are here with the humans' army."
"Is the Young Miss of the blood-relatives also among them?"
The soldier, quivering, replied, "Yes, yes!"
"Nothing could be better," drawled the Black Robed Man, "We captured her once before, about a decade ago. The effects of the drug we injected into her have yet to fade, making her an excellent subject for our experiments."
"We spared her life back then, waiting for this very day."
No sooner than the words were out, Chloe's pupils constricted sharply.
