Chapter 69: I Am Not A Merman (VI)

Previous Chapter ◊ Table of Content ◊ Next Chapter

Chapter 69: I Am Not A Merman (VI)

After that public appearance and interview, Flame and Wave’s popularity skyrocketed, and they quickly became beloved mascots around the world. Qin Yuan had prepared for this well in advance. More than two months earlier, he had already begun developing entire product lines modeled after the two dolphins—computers, games, clothing, household goods, toys, accessories, picture books, and more—sparking a worldwide dolphin craze.

Qin Yuan allocated 25% of all profits to a care fund for the two dolphins. Combined with donations pouring in from around the world, Flame and Wave became the richest animals on the planet within half a year. The internet even created an enormous “harem” for them, filled with men and women of every age group as well as their pets. They practically had wives and concubines everywhere, while Qin Yuan sat securely at the very top of the harem.

Qin Yuan accepted his title of “Empress” remarkably calmly. His assistant did, however, once overhear him muttering under his breath, “The Empress should have the harem to himself. How dare all these ‘pretty little consorts’ come compete for favor…”

Qin Yuan’s aggressive promotion of Flame and Wave was not merely about making money. His primary goal was protecting them. Ordinary people simply adored the dolphins, but scientists were fascinated by the changes caused by their mutations. And once certain researchers became obsessed with something, ethical boundaries could become meaningless. The more famous the dolphins became, the harder it would be for anyone to secretly exploit or harm them.

Public sentiment and public scrutiny could become their first line of defense.

Unfortunately, events often developed in unexpected directions. Sometimes people upheld their moral boundaries only because they had not yet encountered an incentive tempting enough to make them cross them.

A year later, the research team led by Dr. Cui made an astonishing discovery. Hormones and cellular tissues taken from the dolphins could integrate with those of most organisms and induce beneficial mutations. Most incredible of all, they could increase fertility.

For humanity, which was facing a reproductive crisis, the discovery was nothing short of extraordinary.

“I refuse!” A cold light flashed through Qin Yuan’s eyes as he rejected the proposal without hesitation.

Only moments earlier, the government-appointed research director had proposed a breeding program: they wanted Flame to crossbreed with other species in an attempt to expand the dolphin population and provide sufficient material for further research.

Have Flame crossbreed with other species? Qin Yuan found the mere thought unbearable.

“This concerns humanity’s future. Strictly speaking, we wouldn’t need your approval. But since you are their legal rights-holder, the higher authorities have decided to give you one year to consider it. During that year, we can first let Flame spend time with several different species and see whether any attachments develop.” The research director’s tone was equally uncompromising.

Qin Yuan’s face darkened. His icy stare made the research director’s eyelid twitch.

Only after a long moment did Qin Yuan reply heavily, “I understand.”

Qin Yuan understood perfectly well that even without humanity’s fertility crisis, preserving the dolphin species might eventually require extraordinary intervention. He didn’t care what happened with other creatures.

But when it came to Flame, he simply could not accept it.

Qin Yuan went to the waters where Flame lived and stared at the tranquil surface. His mood had sunk to its lowest point, with a simmering anger beneath it that he had nowhere to release.

“Bobo~~” Shang Ke popped out of the water and happily swam over to Qin Yuan, cheerfully greeting him.

Qin Yuan crouched down and gazed at him solemnly, deep worry hidden in his eyes.

What’s wrong? Sensing his low spirits, Shang Ke immediately pushed his head closer, inviting Qin Yuan to pet him. Come on, give me a rub. You’ll feel better afterward.

Warmth entered Qin Yuan’s heart as he gently stroked Flame’s back. How was he supposed to explain this? He knew better than anyone how intelligent Flame was. Aside from lacking a human body, his intelligence was practically no different from a person’s.

After carefully considering his words, Qin Yuan asked, “Flame, you’re an adult now. Is there anyone you particularly like?”

Of course. You!

Shang Ke slapped a pectoral flipper firmly onto the top of Qin Yuan’s foot.

Qin Yuan continued, “Dolphins are nearly extinct now. If you and Wave are going to reproduce, I’m afraid you may have no choice but to mate with another species. As long as there’s an animal you like, I can find one for you.”

The more Shang Ke listened, the more wrong this sounded. Who said anything about reproducing? And mating with another species? Whoever likes that kind of hardcore interspecies business can do it themselves, because I certainly won’t! Besides, he was gay. Did Qin Yuan know what gay meant? G-A-Y in English, and ♂ in dolphin language!

Shang Ke glared at him, pulled his head away from Qin Yuan’s hand, and stopped smiling entirely. Somehow, he even managed to make his eyes look furious.

Seeing Flame’s face tighten, Qin Yuan knew he was angry and tried to soothe him. “Don’t be angry. I was only asking.”

Shang Ke did not believe it was merely a casual question. Although Qin Yuan never explained directly, Shang Ke later pieced together fragments of information from other people’s conversations. Then, several days later, multiple aquatic mammals were delivered to the waters where he and Wave lived, including a beluga whale, a beaked whale, and a dugong.

Now Shang Ke understood.

The humans were genuinely selecting prospective mates for him!

Has technology really advanced this far? Dolphins can actually reproduce with females of completely different species?

Shang Ke stared dumbfounded at the hulking creatures swimming past him.

Wave remained close to Shang Ke and curiously examined the newcomers, completely unaware that these creatures might also be considered candidates for his future “consorts.”

Shang Ke knew humanity was facing a reproductive crisis, and he knew the dolphins’ mutated genes might be capable of solving it. From humanity’s perspective, their reasoning was understandable.

From a dolphin’s perspective, however, it was painfully sad.

But circumstances like this were unavoidable in any world. Whoever possessed power ultimately determined the rules.

He had entered this world prepared to sacrifice himself. He could face death calmly and would not even object to becoming research material for humanity.

But making him mate with another species?

Absolutely not!

“Do you think Flame will like any of them?” one researcher asked his colleague while watching the activity underwater.

“Dolphins are very enthusiastic about free love. As long as they like someone, they’re willing to mate even across species.”

Who the fuck started that rumor?! Shang Ke was so furious that he shot out of the water and sprayed both researchers directly in the face.

The two idiots actually smiled and said, “Looks like he’s happy.”

What kind of eyesight do you people have?! Does this look happy to you?! ψ(╰_╯)

Shang Ke began seriously considering the possibility of arranging an accidental death. At worst, he could simply abandon the Additional Mission. If he remained here much longer, sooner or later his chastity would be in danger.

The only thing making him reluctant to leave was Qin Yuan.

If he were the mating partner, Shang Ke honestly wouldn’t mind crossing the species barrier once.

News that Flame was “choosing consorts” quickly reached the internet as well. Everyone became wildly excited and enthusiastically debated which species he would ultimately choose as his mate.

Which species?! Just how extreme do you all think dolphins’ tastes are? Does no one see anything wrong with this?!

Only Qin Yuan understood that Flame was unwilling, but for the moment, even he had not found a solution.

After some time passed, Flame predictably showed no sexual interest whatsoever in any of the prospective “consorts.” The research director then decided to conduct an artificial insemination experiment without informing Qin Yuan, ordering several researchers to carry it out in secret.

Shang Ke was brought into a large tank in the research laboratory.

A dugong was brought in with him.

Dugongs had often been mistaken for “mermaids.”

Shang Ke suddenly wondered, Could my Additional Mission actually have something to do with this thing?

Staring at the pale, plump, adorably vacant-looking dugong, Shang Ke could not begin to imagine what sort of creature a dolphin and dugong would supposedly produce together.

This was clearly not the time to contemplate that question. Several researchers had already approached him, and one of them was holding a syringe.

What is that thing? Unless you explain yourselves, don’t even think about sticking it into me!

Shang Ke began struggling, letting out furious cries.

The researchers looked reluctant, but they still moved forward to restrain him and injected the contents of the syringe into his body.

Watching his dignity teeter on the verge of destruction at human hands, Shang Ke screamed inwardly, Qin Yuan! Your Flame is about to be violated by these people! You bastard, hurry over here and rescue me!

No sooner had he finished complaining than Qin Yuan’s tall figure appeared in the laboratory doorway, perfectly answering his call.

Furious, Qin Yuan strode over and seized the research director by the collar. “Who gave you permission to touch him?!”

“Calm down. We’re only conducting an experiment. It won’t hurt him.” The research director had clearly never been grabbed by the collar before, and his expression darkened.

“Without my permission, no one is allowed to touch him.” Qin Yuan shoved the research director away and quickly went to Shang Ke’s side.

Shang Ke rubbed against his palm, only to notice that his body temperature was rising, as though he had been placed in a hot spring.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m taking you away right now,” Qin Yuan soothed softly.

“Qin Yuan, modern reproductive technology is already extremely mature. There’s really no need for you to interfere,” the research director argued. “This experiment won’t cause Flame any physical harm.”

Qin Yuan’s expression remained icy. He completely ignored him.

To everyone else, if an action caused no physical injury, then it apparently did not count as harm. But Flame possessed thought and intelligence of his own. How could this treatment not be humiliating to him? Why were they unwilling to give him more time? His species had survived for two hundred years after the plague, which meant there had to be some method by which dolphins had continued reproducing.

If the researchers kept chasing immediate results this recklessly, they might ultimately gain nothing at all.

Ignoring the research director’s attempts to stop him, Qin Yuan insisted on bringing Flame back to his private aquarium.

Shang Ke’s consciousness was already growing hazy, and he had no idea what the researchers had injected into him. It definitely was not an aphrodisiac—he felt no sexual desire whatsoever. Instead, unbearable heat spread throughout his body, as though his blood itself were beginning to boil.

Qin Yuan gave him another injection and reassured him, “You’ll be all right soon. Don’t be afraid, Flame. I’m staying right here with you.”

In the pool, Qin Yuan held Shang Ke with one arm while gently stroking his body with the other.

Waves of heat and cold alternated through Shang Ke’s body. Listening to Qin Yuan’s gentle voice, he gradually became drowsy.

Suddenly, Qin Yuan felt a scorching heat beneath his hand and instinctively pulled back. When he looked at Flame again, the dolphin truly resembled a ball of fire. His originally gray-blue skin was gradually turning crimson, and the water around him had begun to boil, bubbling violently.

“Flame!” Qin Yuan stared at the transformation in alarm.

Shang Ke cried out in pain and curled tightly in on himself. White mist continuously rose from his body, then condensed into fine threads that wrapped around him layer after layer.

The water grew hotter and hotter until Qin Yuan could no longer approach. He could only watch helplessly as Flame disappeared beneath layer upon layer of silvery threads.

After an unknown amount of time, the water finally stopped boiling and the mist gradually dispersed.

What appeared before Qin Yuan was an enormous, oval-shaped white cocoon…

Previous Chapter ◊ Table of Content ◊ Next Chapter