Chapter 74: I Am Not A Merman (XI)

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Chapter 74: I Am Not A Merman (XI)

Shang Ke discovered that the little merfolk grew extremely slowly. In two months, ordinary babies would already have grown noticeably larger, yet the merfolk were still almost the same size as when they were born. The pink color of their tails had faded into a pale gray-blue, and their skin was no longer translucent. They could swim in shallow water for dozens of minutes, but once they entered deeper water, they would involuntarily sink and could not surface no matter how hard they struggled.

Besides Shang Ke, their unofficial keeper, three researchers were responsible for caring for the two little merfolk. Because the babies were still so young, they normally underwent only routine examinations and observation, without being subjected to live experiments.

Shang Ke was pleased with this arrangement. At the very least, before they developed the ability to make their own choices, no one should casually decide their futures for them.

Shang Ke stood in the water, supporting one little merfolk as he carefully fed him. The baby lay in his palm, tiny tail swishing back and forth while his round eyes looked everywhere, seemingly curious about everything around him.

The other little merfolk, already full, lay in the shallow pool and stared unblinkingly at Shang Ke and his younger brother.

The two little ones had been named Yu Miao and Yu Ge, names Shang Ke chose in Qin Yuan’s name. The others did not pay much attention to them, however, and usually referred to the babies only by their identification numbers.

After coaxing the little merfolk to sleep, Shang Ke handed things over to the researchers and left.

As he walked out of the laboratory, he happened to run into the research director. Shang Ke greeted him with a smile, but the man merely gave him a cold nod.

Shang Ke did not particularly like the research director. It was not only because the man was at odds with Qin Yuan, but also because of his disregard for animal life. Without Qin Yuan’s supervision, his research methods would never have remained as restrained as they were now.

Even so, Shang Ke had underestimated just how ruthless he could be.

The next day, when Shang Ke arrived at the laboratory on schedule, he discovered that one of the merfolk was missing from the nursery tank. Following the researchers’ excited discussion, he found little Miaomiao in another tank.

At first sight, Shang Ke could hardly believe his eyes. The little merfolk’s appearance had changed drastically. His face was twisted and deformed, a pale-blue shell had grown across his back, his tiny hands had become pincers, and his once-smooth fish tail was now segmented. He looked like a… lobster!

“What happened to him?!” Shang Ke demanded furiously.

One researcher answered, “Last night, the director performed a frequency-resonance test using the little merfolk and a lobster. This was the result.”

Everyone looked at the little merfolk with a mixture of astonishment, instinctive rejection, and fear of the unknown.

A frequency-resonance test! The little merfolk carried dolphin genes, which meant there was a chance they had inherited the dolphins’ assimilation ability and could transform into other organisms. But at such a young age, they should not have been capable of initiating a transformation on their own.

The research director’s experiment had forcibly induced that transformation ahead of time.

The little merfolk in the tank seemed to sense Shang Ke’s presence. He slowly unfolded his curled body and swam toward him with his deformed back hunched, letting out faint cries. Humans could not hear them, but Shang Ke could hear every sound clearly.

He was in pain and was seeking comfort from someone familiar.

The little merfolk had once been so adorable, yet now he had been transformed into this distorted, deformed appearance. The sight was heartbreaking.

Shang Ke felt his heart clench as uncontrollable fury surged through him.

At that moment, the research director’s excited voice came from nearby. “Incredible! This life-form is practically the pinnacle of reproduction. It can adapt to almost any environment!”

Adapt, my ass!

Shang Ke could no longer tolerate it. He strode forward and slammed a fist into the research director’s old face, sending him flying.

Everyone around them stared in shock, having never expected Shang Ke to actually hit someone. By the time they reacted, the research director was already on the floor, groaning repeatedly in pain.

Shang Ke did not even look at him. He turned and lifted the little merfolk out of the tank.

“How dare you!” Supported by the others, the research director staggered upright and pointed at Shang Ke with a twisted expression. “Put the merfolk down, then get out! Get out of my laboratory!”

Shang Ke completely ignored his shouting and carried the little merfolk out of the small laboratory.

“What are you standing around for? Get him out of here!” the research director roared.

One person quietly reminded him, “Director, he’s President Qin’s man.”

“I don’t care whose man he is!” the research director shouted furiously. “Either way, he is never welcome in my laboratory again!”

Several people hesitantly approached Shang Ke. “Haiyan, maybe you should leave for today. Once the director calms down, President Qin can talk to him.”

“I can leave, but I’m taking both little merfolk with me.” Shang Ke placed Miaomiao into a nearby tank and gently stroked his deformed body with a finger. Miaomiao rubbed against him, visibly relaxing.

“You know that’s impossible,” one researcher said helplessly.

“Why are you wasting so much time talking to him?” the research director shouted again. “Get him out! A mere keeper dares act arrogant in front of me just because he climbed into Qin Yuan’s bed?”

Shang Ke did not turn around. A cold light flashed through his lowered eyes.

“If you don’t want to embarrass yourself any further, know your place and disappear from my sight. Otherwise, don’t blame me for getting rough.” The research director had never liked Qin Yuan to begin with, so naturally he had little patience for anyone associated with him. And Shang Ke had just punched him in front of everyone.

“I already told you. I can leave, but I am taking the little merfolk with me,” Shang Ke said, enunciating every word.

“Who do you think you are?” the research director cursed, pointing at him. “The merfolk are important national resources. You won’t take so much as a strand of hair from here.”

“What are you doing?” Just as the confrontation reached a stalemate, Qin Yuan strode into the room. Seeing Shang Ke surrounded by people, his gaze instantly turned icy.

Everyone instinctively stepped back and made way for him.

Qin Yuan walked to Shang Ke’s side and first checked him over before giving him a questioning look.

Shang Ke held the deformed little merfolk up for him to see and said coldly, “The research director’s wonderful handiwork.”

Surprise flashed across Qin Yuan’s face when he saw the little merfolk’s condition.

The research director hurriedly explained, “This experiment is extremely valuable. Merfolk genes possess an extraordinary ability to adapt. Depending on the environment, they can…”

He abruptly stopped mid-sentence. A realization had struck him: this part of the merfolk genome came from dolphins. In other words, the species that truly possessed this ability was not the merfolk at all.

It was the dolphins!

The research director’s expression shifted between shock and uncertainty as experimental data rapidly flashed through his mind.

Qin Yuan frowned at him for a long moment before saying, “Cancel every experiment scheduled for today. Everyone gets the day off. Come back tomorrow.”

They had expected the research director to object, but he remained completely absorbed in his own thoughts and did not react at all.

Seeing this, everyone dispersed. The research director eventually left with them as well, still distracted and behaving strangely.

Once everyone had gone, Shang Ke told Qin Yuan, “We can’t let him hurt the little merfolk again.”

“He was specially appointed by the authorities. I can’t remove him immediately,” Qin Yuan reassured him. “Don’t worry. I’ll submit a request to have a new research director appointed.”

Shang Ke lowered his head and looked at the little merfolk in his hands. “Until then, I’m taking them out of this place.”

Qin Yuan considered it for a moment, then nodded. “Then put them with Wave for now. I’ll set aside a shallow-water area for them so they won’t be hurt by the other aquatic creatures.”

That afternoon, Shang Ke moved both little merfolk into Wave’s living area.

The unfamiliar environment made the two little merfolk curious but nervous. They clung to Shang Ke and did not dare stray far from him.

“Wave, these are your juniors. You’re not allowed to bully them,” Shang Ke instructed seriously.

Wave nodded repeatedly while examining the two delicate little creatures in front of him. The merfolk did not seem afraid of him either and timidly reached out to touch his snout.

Wave sneezed, immediately frightening the little merfolk into hiding behind Shang Ke. A moment later, they could not resist peeking out again.

Shang Ke found the sight amusing and encouraged them to get along with one another.

To prevent any accidents, Shang Ke simply transformed back into a dolphin and guarded them day and night, while also trying to guide Miaomiao back toward his original form.

Shang Ke had expected the research director to come cause trouble, but several peaceful days passed without incident. By the time Miaomiao had finally recovered most of his original appearance, news came from the institute that several new research projects were being established. The projects were completely confidential, directly authorized by the highest leadership, and known only to a handful of designated researchers. Unless the research director gave permission, even Qin Yuan had no authority to inquire about them.

Shang Ke had a vague sense that something was wrong, but he had no idea what might happen. All he could do was become even more vigilant in protecting the little merfolk.

What he never expected was that this time, the one truly in danger was not the little merfolk.

It was him—the dolphin.

Once the little merfolk had fallen asleep, Shang Ke avoided the surveillance cameras, transformed into human form, and went ashore to find Qin Yuan for dinner, temporarily leaving Wave responsible for protecting the babies.

He had no idea that his entire transformation had been captured by another camera.

Ever since the resonance experiment, the research director had realized that the evolution of dolphin genes was far more extraordinary than he had previously imagined. They could not only increase reproductive ability, but also trigger genetic recombination, allowing the organism to transform into different forms suited to its environment.

That led him to another question: had Flame already developed a mature assimilation ability? And if so, what form could he transform into?

To investigate further, the research director secretly installed several hidden cameras underwater. One day later, they captured footage that left him almost delirious with excitement.

In the shimmering water, white mist and silvery threads gradually appeared around Flame’s body, fluttering like ribbons before wrapping around him layer by layer and forming a white cocoon.

Dozens of seconds later, the white cocoon dissolved into mist. When the haze cleared, a naked young man appeared in the water. He turned his head slightly, revealing a beautiful, delicate profile to the hidden camera.

It was unmistakably the keeper who had joined the laboratory later—

Haiyan.

“It was him?” The research director was stunned at first, then uncontrollable excitement and ecstasy spread across his face.

Discovering a new species was nothing extraordinary.

But discovering a life-form capable of changing the course of human evolution was something else entirely!

At that moment, the two little merfolk ceased to matter to him at all. As long as he could thoroughly study Flame, he would become the greatest scientist in the history of human evolution.

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