BXBX NOVEL Chapter 153 - 150 Chasing the Sunshine
“Yes!” Elvan nodded affirmatively.
The migration of migratory birds was now a matter of urgency, which is why he had been in such a hurry to show up, arriving the day after they had agreed on a time.
Bi Fang didn’t respond, but instead took the stack of photos he had just been looking at and went through them again, and indeed, he discovered Elvan’s figure among them.
In the photo, Elvan was clad in brown linen garments, pretending to be a goose, leading the young White-fronted Geese in flying practice by the lake.
“You’re raising them?”
“Sort of?” Elvan’s tone was complicated, “I found the eggs of White-fronted Geese in a wetland that was about to be developed, four nests in all, but it was too late when I discovered them. The construction crew that contracted the wetland had already started work. I waited for three days, but their parents never returned…”
Bi Fang rested his chin on his hand, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, “All twenty-one eggs hatched?”
“No, only eighteen goslings were born successfully, and two of them were Barnacle Geese,” Elvan pointed out a photo full of little goslings, among them two with distinctly black heads.
“So they cannot migrate on their own?”
“Exactly, these goslings were orphaned at birth, never having migrated before. Someone must guide them!” Elvan said, his tone charged with emotion as he smoothed out the map.
“I’ve studied the migration routes of geese in detail. To ensure that they can breed and live healthily away from the cities, they must go to the wilderness, Mr. Bi, I can think of no one better suited than you!”
“I’ve watched all of Mr. Bi’s live streams, which are fantastic. As for understanding animals, Mr. Bi is an expert, and when it comes to exploration, he is the greatest explorer of the century! You are the foremost in the wilderness! Nobody understands the wild like you do!”
As Elvan spoke these words with fervor, he was in turmoil inside, unsure whether Bi Fang would agree, hoping only to touch him with his sincerity. Leading migratory birds was no easy task.
From the Arctic to Southern France, without exceptional skills, dying in the wilderness wouldn’t be surprising.
“It’s quite late now, isn’t it?” Bi Fang turned to look at the calendar on the wall, noting it was November 21st. The weather was turning cold, which was an extremely unfavorable time for migratory birds.
Yes, geese typically migrate in October, and November is later, but now it’s the end of November. That’s why I’m so anxious. I arrived in Huaxia a day earlier, but not knowing Mr. Bi’s address or contact, I couldn’t get in touch. So, Mr. Bi, we don’t have much time.”
Elvan was very anxious. If they missed this year, the geese would be left behind for an entire year!
The migratory instinct deeply ingrained in the geese’s genetics would be completely disrupted, and by then it would be too late. Without migration, these eighteen geese would end up as “dead geese” without any chance to reproduce!
They are geese, not domestic geese!
As a bird professor, Elvan couldn’t accept such an outcome. Having brought back the eggs of the White-fronted Goose, he had to take full responsibility. If he couldn’t ensure their continued breeding, he would feel guilty for a lifetime. Even Elvan had planned to lead the migration himself, risking his life if necessary, but a week earlier, when he saw the news about Bi Fang, a turning point emerged.
Bi Fang!
A man skilled in creating miracles!
If he was willing to help with the bird migration, it would surely be a success!
Bi Fang approached the table, gazing at the large map.
The red line on the map was very conspicuous, and quite convoluted. He pointed to the red line and asked, “Is this the migration route you’ve planned?” “Yes, the entire distance is just right.” As the conversation turned to this topic, Elvan became enthusiastic, excitedly pointing to the red line on the map, “We will drive all the way to the Arctic, and then start the migration of the White- fronted Geese from there.”
“Why drive? Isn’t it simpler with a small plane?” Bi Fang was puzzled.
“True, but birds will remember their place of origin, their home, which isn’t where they were born, but where they first took flight. For migratory birds, instinctively, they fly south for the winter and come back north in the spring to feed and breed.”
Bi Fang, deep in thought, pointed to the Arctic and said, “So you mean, if we use a small plane, their first takeoff spot will be altered?”
“Exactly, Mr. Bi, you’re much smarter than my students,” Elvan said excitedly, pleased that Bi Fang understood. He took out a pen, circled a spot on the Arctic, “Look here, this is Lapland; there’s a nature reserve. The geese can nest safely here without any dangers. And then look here.”
Elvan’s pen swept along the map, tracing a path to the south of France.
“This is where I found them, but it’s too dangerous now, already enveloped by the city. So I will drive from there to the Arctic, then starting from the Arctic, fly a glider, leading the flock through the North Sea, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, to the Grand Est, and then all the way back to France, right here!” The neutral pen marked another heavy dot on the map.
“Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve!”
“Between these two reserves, the White-fronted Geese will be able to reproduce successfully, and this blue line, is the path I’ve planned for them through unmanned areas. It’s quite tortuous, but it ensures their landing spots are as far from humans as possible. Once they land in a city, it becomes very dangerous.”
“What’s more amazing is that once they follow us and fly over this route, the White-fronted Geese will remember it, as if they have a built-in GPS system. If we change their migration destination, in a few years…”
Bi Fang interrupted Elvan’s speech, “The goose population will increase, and it will continue to grow, thus saving the species.”
“Exactly! Human development over the past century has completely changed the original habitat of the White-fronted Goose. We must help them reach safe places to breed without human interference! In ten years, or maybe even less, we will have saved a species!”
Elvan grabbed Bi Fang’s shoulders, his eyes brimming with passion.
My colleagues think I’m a fool, an idiot, a hopeless dreamer, but it’s only us fools who can save them! I know this plan is feasible, but it lacks someone capable of leading it. I can’t, but you can!”
“Mr. Bi’s full name is Bi Fang, which I understand is a sacred bird in Huaxia. The White-fronted Goose is also a bird, so I hope Mr. Bi could show a bit of favor and give some love to these little ones.”
“Please, Mr. Bi Fang, you must help them!”
“Only you can do this, it has to be you!”
Bi Fang stared at the map on the table, caressing the texture of the thick leather, which contained Elvan’s dedication and the future of the migratory birds.
This map would be a new hope for an entire species.
Bi Fang looked at Elvan, whose eyes pleaded like flickering candle flames.
“Is the glider ready?”
A tremendous joy descended from the heavens as Elvan jumped excitedly.
“Yes, everything is ready.”
“Then book two tickets, we’re off to France!”
Elvan, however, suddenly shook his head and pulled out two plane tickets from his backpack.
“My friend has already driven to the Arctic, and I bought these tickets long ago.
They are open tickets, let’s head straight to the Arctic!”
Bi Fang exhaled lightly, took one of the tickets from the excited Elvan, and pocketed it.
The mission has changed.
“We’re off to the Arctic!”
Mission Name: Chasing the Sunshine
Mission Location: Arctic – France
Mission Mode: Exploration
Mission Difficulty: S4
Mission Requirements: No items allowed except for essential tools and the System.
Side Mission One: Set up a live stream, with a sustained online viewership of over one hundred and fifty thousand.
Mam Mission Two: Ensure the safe migration of eighteen migratory birds.
Side Mission: Explore independently.
Minimum Reward: Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon *1, Skill Advancement
Ticket *1
Time Limit: Thirty-five days
This time, it’s a grand migration towards the sunshine!