"The invasion of the rats is no different from bringing organisms from outside into the room. These foreign and undomesticated organisms are a threat to the condition within. The absence of predators allows for breeding, which produced some bacteria. These unbridled germs are a danger to the local species. When a certain species thin out, it will be listed as endangered, which in turn destabilizes our king's position," 63 explained.
"I see. So how do we solve this?" Chalk blurted out without thinking.
63 gave Chalk a strange look. "You know, you're really weird. You're here to solve it, aren't you? Why do you seem to be at such a loss? I'm so worried. Do you know why you've been conferred the title of Horseman?"
"Aye, why's that so?" Chalk asked curiously.
"Because the king's youngest son is in your country. He wants to treat you well so that your messenger will let your crew know to do the same for his son," 63 answered.
"Our messenger?"
"Why are you so out of it? Look there!"
A bird was perched outside the window.
"Apodidae. That's your messenger. I heard it could even bring a tree branch back to your country. When they get tired, they would place the branch on the sea and rest on it. When they get hungry, they would hunt for fishes. It can make two return trips in a year to convey messages. It's seen how our king treated you so it will go back and relay that. Understand?"
"Yeah. Then that platypus professor... is he very smart?"
"You'll find out tomorrow night. I should go back now. I'll come over every six hours. Tell me where you want to go and who you want to talk to. Goodnight, my giant panda," 63 finished before leaping away.
63 squeezed through the gap under the door and disappeared before Chalk's eyes.
After some thought, Chalk removed the shield badge from his chest and buried it somewhere around his enclosure.
He lied down on the bamboo stack and mumbled, "How do we prevent the rats?"
Before he knew it, however, he had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Some time later, knocks sounded again, startling Chalk.
The door opened slowly and two monkeys came in, one standing on top of the other.
The monkey on top had just pulled a human hairclip from the keyhole.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Jinjin and he's Sisi. We're the golden snub-nosed monkeys and we're here to help you," one greeted.
"Help me?" Chalk asked, puzzled.
"Less talking. Follow us."
At a loss, Chalk had no choice but to obey.
Before they exited the exhibition hall, one monkey grabbed a bamboo and stuck it under the door to prevent it from moving.
"Where are we going?" Chalk questioned.
"To give your family a call. But don't tell anyone here, okay? Making calls is our secret method of communication. No spreading," Jinjin explained.
Sisi raised a finger up to his mouth. "Security, hide."
Jinjin pushed Chalk, with much effort, to a wall corner before shrinking into another. He whispered, "Hide all your white fur!"
Chalk looked down at his black paws. He used one to cover his stomach and the other to hide his head.
Sisi chose to climb up the lamp post.
The security made his round and walked past Chalk, flashing his torchlight around. The light almost, just almost, exposed Chalk's location.
The security walked further away and Chalk heaved a sigh of relief.
Sisi came down and patted Chalk on the shoulder. "Alright, let's go. We'll have to be quick since it's already past 3 am and we've got to get you back before dawn. It should be about 1 am over there so that's perfect timing."
They reached the outside of a small room and Sisi leaped onto the windowsill while Jinjin pushed Chalk close along the wall corners.
Sisi noted urgently, "Oh no, it's locked today! That's strange. What's going on? What do we do?"
"Smash it, smash it," Jinjin suggested.
Sisi jumped down in frustration and picked a large stone from nearby, handing it to Chalk. "You're stronger. Smash it. Jinjin, go to the roof and inform us if you see anybody."
With one hand, Chalk threw the stone at the window.
Thud! Cracks appeared on the glass.
Sisi leaped up again and tried forcing the glass open.
Understanding his intention, Chalk stood up and threw an effortless punch at the cracked window.
Sisi smiled and reached his hand in for the lock.
After opening the window and entering, he threw a mobile microphone out. "Take it."
Shortly after, Sisi shouted nervously, "Is it coming yet?
"Let's switch places," Jinjin said before jumping off the roof.
Just then, rings sounded through the microphone.
"Is that you guys?"
"Who are you?" Chalk asked.
"Chalk, it's me."
Chalk recognized his teacher's voice. That middle-aged panda.
"Teacher!"
"Are you okay. Are they good to you?"
"Yes, I'm doing well, but how do we solve the rat problem?"
Laughter erupted from the other side. "Don't worry about it, Chalk. Just act like a panda and return home after a few years."
"But the rats?"
"Listen to me, it's nothing. Such rodent invasions will be settled by humans. We're only using that as an excuse."
"But why?"
"We read it in the humans' newspapers, that's all. It's nothing."
"But why start this in the first place?" Chalk was confused.
"In the beginning, our animals had no position when being sent over to different parts of the world. They would always tell us that they are getting bullied. As a result, we started bullying their animals when they came over as well. This whole bullying affair became a vicious cycle. We then read about the invasion and used it to dissolve the hostility."
"I don't understand, Teacher," Chalk replied.
"Basically, we made the invasion a known issue and had the animals from our side pretend to be respectable experts in this field. There won't be any real discussions, of course, but identifying our animals as experts will prevent them from getting mistreated."
"Wait, I get it. The rat invasion is a fake out for them to treat me well. To make me an important figure... like now."
"Similarly, they're bringing a koala over and we will take good care of it. As for the plan, just keep up the show. Your only job is to act like a panda and return safely after some time. This should've been Fatty's job, but the humans got it wrong. Sorry, Chalk."
"It's that simple?" Chalk asked.
"Yeah, it's that simple. Ask Jinjin and Sisi if you're not sure about anything. Alright, I'm out of time, security will come soon. Goodbye."
The line disconnected and Chalk stood rooted to the ground.
"Are you done? We have to leave soon," Sisi informed him.
Chalk nodded and put the mobile back into its original position.
The monkeys then brought Chalk back to his room.
"We're 42. Look for us if you need anything," Jinjin offered kindly before closing the door. A crisp sound followed after, indicating that the gate was locked.
Chalk grabbed a bamboo and took a bite.
I'll have to behave more like a panda.
A week later.
Chalk sprawled lazily on the bamboo stack.
63 entered and asked, "Professor Platypus asked if you have any strategies to discuss. The king's also waiting for your good news. It's been a week after all."
Chalk waved the frog away dismissively. "Soon, soon. I'm still organizing my thoughts."
"I thought that you were intelligent, but alas, you're no different from the previous one!" 63 exclaimed impatiently.