Chapter 6 Sand Table Observation
Fang Ye focused his thoughts, exploring the features of the system.
He quickly learned that the ultimate goal of this Planet Zoo system was for him to build a fantasy animal zoo!
There were many intermediate goals, such as collecting a variety of animals, constructing different enclosures, and so on.
With each goal achieved, he could obtain a certain amount of funding as a reward!
However, this funding was in the form of Virtual Coin, only usable for constructing the zoo and not withdrawable as cash.
Raising the zoo's popularity would allow him to spend popularity value on a lottery to obtain various wondrous items.
The current popularity value of the zoo was 43.
"Should it start counting from today, with one visit from a tourist equating to 1 popularity value? But that's wrong, there weren't that many visitors today. Could it be related to the quality of the visit experience?"
Fang Ye guessed.
He then revealed a helpless look.
It takes 1,000 popularity value to enter a lottery draw!
Can this system take microtransactions, can I just spend a few hundred on it?
Miniature sandbox interface!
With a silent invocation, a phantom miniature sandbox emerged from the air before him, reminiscent of the high-tech projections from science fiction movies.
From the external appearance, it was a miniature of Linhai Zoo, with various enclosures scattered around, including the security booth at the entrance, the macaque's artificial mountain, the small pond next to the staff dormitory—all replicated down to the smallest detail.
As he willed it, he could freely adjust the perspective of this sandbox, zooming in and out.
Fang Ye became excited and located the tiger enclosure, zooming in, and in some more!
Jiaojiao was tucked up with both paws, squinting her eyes, seemingly taking a little nap.
Surprisingly, she looked somewhat cute.
Fang Ye, like a child with a new toy, began excitedly observing every corner of the zoo with this unique perspective.
When his view shifted to the macaque area, he was suddenly startled.
Two monkeys were fighting, the others scattered around, their eyes wide open, paws waving excitedly, and their mouths chattering as if they were cheering and egging the fighters on!
A macaque with white eyebrows took up a higher position on a rock on the artificial mountain, rooted on all fours, looming with its head low, baring its sharp fangs in anger, with an aggressive expression. Below, a macaque with particularly black claws also stood its ground, glaring fiercely.
I want to see things clearer!
The thought emerged, and Fang Ye knew what to do, feeling like inspiration had struck: "Immersive Perspective!"
Contrary to the godly overhead view, this perspective was as though a camera had been set up beside the animals, capable of close 360-degree observation.
Suddenly, his consciousness was cast into the sandbox like a transparent ghost.
Coming to his senses, he heard the shrill, noisy "squeaking" sounds. The two macaques were facing off less than a meter in front of him, startling Fang Ye.
He stepped back a bit to watch from where the other macaques stood.
A small macaque clung to its mother's back, its wrinkled little head sticking out, one finger in its mouth, suckling from time to time, watching with great interest.
"Squeak!"
Black Claws hooked its front paw onto the edge of the rock, its body readying to surge upward, apparently ready to launch another attack, while White Brow hopped irritably back, unleashed a sharp, annoyed squeal much like humans cursing, and then leaped back into position to fight.
Black Claws quickly retracted into its body and then, looking dissatisfied, tilted its head back, complaining loudly with a disapproving screech.
The two monkeys retreated and advanced against each other, back and forth, their eyes nearly bulging out as they argued fiercely, yet not actually coming to blows after a long while.
Fang Ye initially had some concerns, but after watching for a while, he began to laugh, as a classic scene unexpectedly popped into his head.
Just like dancing the tango, moving step by step with a jump every three steps, then a turn every two steps...
The intelligence of monkeys is quite high, and they are the animals closest to humans!
Therefore, some phenomena of human society can be observed within the monkey community, such as the social hierarchy.
In a group of monkeys, there is a Monkey King.
The Monkey King is not necessarily the strongest in terms of brute force; it could be the oldest, supported by the female monkeys, thereby gaining the respect of the others. Or the mother's family may have a revered status in the monkey community, and a young male monkey could rise to power through his mother's influence.
In wild monkey groups, only the strong prevail. The age-based and heir-based hierarchies appear only in stable community relationships under artificial captivity.
The Monkey King has the highest authority, sitting on the tallest branches to display status, and other monkeys must offer the best food to the king. The king can mate with any female monkey at will.
The Monkey King is also domineering. If another male monkey wants to get intimate with a female, the Monkey King will fiercely chase him away with force and authority.
Some classmates may wonder, in a large group with hundreds of monkeys, does only the Monkey King get to mate? Wouldn't his body be drained out?
Actually, that's not the case. The Monkey King only selects the female monkeys he fancies and monopolizes them long-term, not being so strict with the others.
That's a digression, though.
White Brow and Black Claws were confronting each other, most likely over a dispute about mating rights.
Squeak!
Skreek!
Hey, you monkey, what are you lifting your groin for? That's my wife! Be careful or I'll wallop you!
You're mating every day, isn't that enough? I want to mate too!
No way, I'm the Monkey King, what I say goes!
I don't accept this! Let's fight it out!
Ha! I'll show you what I'm made of!
The two monkeys argued for a long while but eventually did not come to blows. Black Claws, probably intimidated by White Brow's long-standing oppressive dominance, hesitated after another threat from White Brow and swiftly leaped down from the rockery, scampering off to a corner to contain himself, while White Brow, with his spirits high, climactically shouted at the surrounding monkeys to assert his dominance.
As if to say: Everyone stand up! Now tell me, am I awesome or what? Awesome! Or! Not!
In fact, internal fights within a monkey group generally look like this: actual fighting is rare, while threats and bluffs are more frequent—just for show.
If someone wanted to challenge the Monkey King for his position, they wouldn't just charge in recklessly; instead, they'd spend time playing with sand and stones, presenting themselves as harmless good citizens with no interest in the throne.
They'd wait for the Monkey King to let his guard down, say, during an intense mating session, then leap into action with a kick to knock him off balance, followed by punching, biting, pulling fur, and pummeling, fighting as if they were mortal enemies.
It's not impossible to challenge the Monkey King with outstanding strength alone, but it might provoke a coalition of male monkeys and result in being beaten to death.
The cunning and various subtleties in monkeys' behaviors are not a bit less than that of humans.
Chitter Chatter!
A young macaque, seeing that the fight was over, gnawed on its fingertip and scratched its face and armpits with its hind foot, looking dazed and confused.
Fang Ye, observing its innocently adorable eyes, couldn't help but smile warmly and reached out a ghostly hand to stroke its head.
Afterward, with a thought, his consciousness returned to his body.
The scuffle between the monkeys had almost made him forget that he had launched the sandbox to build the zoo.