On the surface of the man-made lake, as the alligator gar pulled the black strange fish out of the water, the onlookers were amazed.
"Damn, I've really seen it all. What kind of fish can grow this big?"
"I knew there was no such thing as a water monster in the world, so it was just such a strange fish."
"A seven or eight-meter-long fish, calling it a water monster is not an exaggeration. If a person fell into the water, they might not be able to beat it."
"Isn't that nonsense? Such a big fish could smash your head with one flick of its tail."
"What species is this thing? Are there any freshwater fish this big?"
"Even a catfish wouldn't grow this big, would it?"
"Could it be the invasive species alligator gar that was reported before?"
"Possible, but unlikely. Look, its mouth isn't like an alligator gar's mouth."
...
At this moment, not only were the people present filled with doubts, but netizens were also everywhere looking for someone to explain.
At this very moment, the alligator gar had already walked to the shore, carrying the giant black strange fish in its mouth.
After it pushed the monster onto the shore, Yang Lin immediately went to the strange fish.
After a round of inspection, he opened his mouth and explained:
"I'm sure you all want to know what this thing is."
"I will now explain to you that this big guy's scientific name is Arapaima, and it is not a native fish of our country. It is an invasive species."
"This one in front of you is an adult Arapaima, which is why it's so big. It was probably released into this lake by someone."
After hearing Yang Lin's explanation, everyone suddenly felt enlightened.
"Learned something new. I didn't know there was such a fish."
"I have megaphobia. Looking at such a big fish makes my head spin."
"It's probably those people with too much kindness who released it. Why do they dare to release anything?"
"It's grown so big, I wonder how the meat tastes. Would it be good as grilled fish?"
"Wow, you're clearly not a local, right? Such good ingredients, how can you grill it? It must be steamed."
"Soup, of course, it's soup! Add some ginger and cooking wine to marinate it."
"Sashimi! It must be sashimi. Such a gift from heaven, it shouldn't be processed in any way to preserve its original flavor."
"Let's see what the park director says. Hearing you all talk, I'm already craving it."
"This fish must be at least a few hundred pounds. What size pot would we need?"
...
The crowd, who were originally discussing the water monster, was inexplicably stimulated by the sight of the giant fish and their appetites were aroused.
The tourists even started discussing how to eat this giant creature.
Hearing this, Yang Lin on the side was somewhat speechless.
However, upon closer thought, the tourists' suggestions were also quite reasonable. It would be a waste to let such a big guy rot without eating it.
Thinking of this, he suddenly had a sudden idea:
"Are there any professional chefs among our tourists? I've already caught the water monster. The rest is up to you."
Upon hearing Yang Lin's words, the tourists present understood what he meant.
Immediately, some tourists stepped forward voluntarily.
"I'm a Cantonese chef, the kind with a chef's certificate."
"I'm a Shandong chef. My restaurant is nearby, and I can provide a large pot."
"I can provide ingredients and a gas stove."
"I'm the one who guts fish at the market. Let me chop this fish."
"Can I bring my own bowls and chopsticks?"
...
As more and more tourists voluntarily stepped forward, the atmosphere at the scene quickly became lively again.
Before long, large pots were set up in the open space next to the man-made lake.
And the tourist chefs were responsible for the cooking.
Soon, grilled fish, boiled fish, and fish soup were freshly prepared, and the aroma could be smelled throughout the zoo.
The tourists who could only watch the live broadcast on the internet were instantly so hungry they cried.
"Damn, what happened to catching a water monster? How did it turn into a fish banquet?"
"I'm really speechless. A good adventure turned into a food festival."
"If this were anywhere else, it would take days to film and be divided into dozens of episodes. But the park director just sent his little subordinate down to catch the water monster."
"I thought it was quite scary at first, but now I find it infuriating. Damn, I'm not there to taste it."
"As expected of a neighbor to a province known for its food. No matter what kind of water monster it is, once it's caught, it becomes food."
"Are there any more water monsters? Bring on another one, I haven't had enough of this one!"
"These tourists have really struck gold. Not only did they witness the capture of a water monster, but they also got a free meal. The fifty-dollar ticket has more than paid for itself, returning five hundred."
...
At this moment, the online audience wished they could jump through the screen.
And just as everyone's faces were filled with smiles, Yang Lin's face showed a hint of strangeness.
Just as he finished dealing with the Arapaima, he suddenly received a task prompt in his mind.
"Ding! A temporary mission has been triggered. A channel connecting to an unknown body of water has appeared in the man-made lake within the zoo. Pollutants are suspected to be flowing in through the channel, which may affect the park's ecosystem if not dealt with promptly."
"The host is required to investigate the source of the pollution and eliminate it completely within three days."
"Mission completion rewards: 5 talent points, one random talent treasure chest."
With this mission prompt, Yang Lin finally understood where the Arapaima came from.
He had originally thought that this big guy had been living in the man-made lake all along. Now it seemed it had run in through that channel.
Coupled with the sudden appearance of domestic waste in the lake recently, everything became clear.
"No, I need to figure this out quickly, or who knows what else will run into the man-made lake."
Thinking of this, Yang Lin lost his mood.
After the park finally closed and the tourists had left, he once again asked Li Xiaopang, the alligator gar, to dive into the lake.
Following the traces left behind, he quickly found the cave where the Arapaima had used to hide.
As expected, a strong undercurrent surged out from inside as he approached the cave.
And mixed within this undercurrent were some leaves and other debris.
"It seems this is the channel. I just don't know where it leads to."
Seeing everything in front of him through the shared screen, Yang Lin immediately ordered Li Xiaopang to enter the cave.
After a while, it entered a winding waterway.
After swimming for an unknown distance, the narrow waterway turned into a vast underground river.
It was clear that this underground river connected the man-made lake in the zoo to that unknown body of water.