Chapter 75: I Am Not A Merman (XII)

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Chapter 75: I Am Not A Merman (XII)

Shang Ke slowly opened his eyes, his head throbbing painfully. Only after the pain eased slightly did he realize that he was inside a huge glass tank. Several researchers stood outside, led by none other than the research director.

He immediately realized something was wrong. Before losing consciousness, he remembered swimming freely underwater when a sharp pain suddenly struck his waist, as though some thin object had been shot into him. Then everything went black. Clearly, the research director had ambushed him.

Strange. The dolphin research project had been progressing smoothly, and I’ve been as cooperative as anyone could possibly be. Was there really any need for this kind of method?

“Hehe. Flame—or perhaps I should call you ‘Haiyan’?” The research director looked Shang Ke over continuously, as though admiring a piece of art.

The moment Shang Ke heard that, he understood. The research director had already discovered his identity and intended to monopolize the discovery.

He swept his gaze around and realized this was not the original research institute. He had no idea what methods the director had used to secretly transport him out of the aquarium. After all, he was currently in dolphin form—large and extremely heavy.

“From today onward, you will be the most important experimental subject of our new research team. We certainly won’t waste a single cell in your body.” The research director stood with his hands clasped behind his back and spoke in an outwardly calm tone. “As long as you cooperate and assist us in completing our experiments, all of humanity will someday be grateful for your sacrifice and contribution.”

Could you cut the bullshit? You’re annoying me to death!

Shang Ke turned away, too lazy to acknowledge him. He was willing to face all kinds of death, but even if he had to die, it would be in a heroic and glorious way. He absolutely refused to let someone like this benefit from his death for nothing.

The research director seemed to have anticipated his refusal and ordered someone to wheel out a smaller tank. Hearing the movement, Shang Ke turned around and discovered that the two little merfolk had been captured as well. The moment they saw him, they immediately pressed themselves against the side of the tank and stared at him helplessly.

Shang Ke frowned. Did this guy take advantage of Qin Yuan being abroad and raid the entire aquarium?

“All right.” The research director patted the smaller tank and smiled. “I want to see the process of you transforming from a dolphin into a human again. Start now.”

Although he was smiling, the threat in his tone was unmistakable.

Shang Ke had no interest in displaying his naked human form in front of this group, but with the little merfolk in their hands, he appeared to have little choice.

“Not willing?” The research director pressed a button, and the water temperature in the smaller tank began to rise. The little merfolk huddled together and looked toward Shang Ke in innocent confusion.

In truth, the research director had other methods of forcing Shang Ke to transform, such as injecting him with drugs. He simply wanted to suppress Shang Ke’s defiance and make him obedient.

But Shang Ke refused to play along. With a deafening bang, the dolphin suddenly slammed his body against the glass tank. Again and again, as if he cared nothing for his own life, he struck the walls with full force. The tank trembled continuously beneath the impacts, sending waves surging through the water.

“Stop!” the research director shouted.

Shang Ke ignored him completely and continued smashing himself against the tank.

“Damn it! Inject the anesthetic!” At the director’s order, one researcher immediately tapped several controls on the console.

A drill-shaped metal device descended from above the tank and fired a laser beam toward Shang Ke.

Shang Ke moved with extraordinary agility, shooting upward and dodging the beam while releasing a piercing whistle. Humans could not hear this frequency, but it could interfere with electronic equipment. The metal device emitted several crackling, miserable noises beneath his whistle before gloriously breaking down.

Everyone outside the tank stared in astonishment. They had never imagined that a dolphin’s whistle could possess such destructive power.

The research director’s expression darkened. “Inject the anesthetic directly into the water. Let’s see how long he can hold out!”

He was determined to break this dolphin. If he could not force him into submission now, Shang Ke would never cooperate with their later experiments.

One researcher hesitated. “Director, shouldn’t we use gentler methods? Dolphins are highly emotional animals. Excessive torment could drive him to suicide.”

“Don’t treat him like an ordinary dolphin,” the research director replied coldly. “Do as I say. Starve him for a few days first, then we’ll move on to the next stage.”

The researcher had no choice but to obey.

Shang Ke sank to the bottom of the tank. He had long since accepted the possibility of becoming an experimental subject and was even willing to sacrifice himself heroically for humanity, but absolutely not in such a humiliating way.

Under the effects of the anesthetic, Shang Ke once again lost consciousness…

Qin Yuan hurried back to the country. After reviewing the surveillance footage, he could hardly believe that Flame and the little merfolk had been secretly removed despite the layers of security. There was no need to guess who had done it. No one except the research director possessed the necessary internal access.

“Dipson, you’d better pray Flame is unharmed!” For the first time, Qin Yuan genuinely felt murderous intent toward him. Merely imagining the torment Flame might be suffering made his fury impossible to suppress.

Qin Yuan had news spread that Flame had been seized by researchers for secret experimentation. On one hand, he publicly condemned their inhumane conduct and used public opinion to pressure the authorities; on the other, he devoted more personnel to tracking the research director. Qin Yuan had investigated Dipson’s background before. There were only a handful of powers he could rely on strongly enough to steal Haiyan from Qin Yuan, and one of the research facilities controlled by those backers had to be where Flame was being imprisoned.

The moment news of Flame’s disappearance became public, people around the world erupted in outrage. They were actually using Flame as an experimental subject? He had saved so many people from the raging sea. He trusted and approached humans with a childlike innocence, and this was how humanity repaid him?

Everyone had believed that once Flame was rescued from those fishermen, he would never endure such treatment again and could live happily at the aquarium. Yet in the end, he still could not escape human cruelty! This time, they had even imprisoned him openly under the banner of scientific research.

Could this so-called research not be conducted under public supervision? Performing experiments in secret clearly meant they intended to use methods too disgusting to withstand scrutiny.

Information about research director Dipson was quickly dug up by the public, including some extremely well-hidden details. What drew the greatest condemnation was his experimental methodology: he was notoriously unscrupulous, and no one knew how many animals had been tortured to death under his hands. His reputation in scientific circles was poor, but because of his technical ability and powerful backing, he had managed to insert himself into many major research projects.

The revelations horrified and enraged the public. With Flame in the hands of a man like that, would he even return alive? What research could possibly be important enough to justify sacrificing one of the only two precious dolphins left in the world?

Within only two days, protests were organized one after another across the world, demanding that Dipson return Flame safely. The dozens of people whose lives Flame had once saved were especially tireless in fighting for his rights.

The dolphins’ fanbase reached into every corner of society across the globe, from wealthy and powerful elites to ordinary street vendors and laborers. Their enormous “harem” possessed astonishing influence, and that influence genuinely began to shake certain people’s resolve.

Dipson had never expected Qin Yuan to use the power of public opinion to embarrass the state so openly, completely disregarding its official position. His research had received government approval; obstructing it could easily be interpreted as opposing the state itself.

Dipson had clearly underestimated Qin Yuan’s influence. If Qin Yuan dared to do this, then he clearly was not afraid of the authorities coming after him.

With public opinion behind him, Qin Yuan led an armed force straight into Dipson’s research institute without hesitation…

Under the combined pressure of public outrage and Qin Yuan’s actions, Dipson was ultimately abandoned by the forces backing him. But he refused to surrender Flame. A discovery capable of changing human history was right before his eyes, and the thought made his heart tremble and his blood boil.

He forcibly moved the half-conscious Flame onto an operating table, took out a coldly gleaming scalpel, and stared down at him with a sinister expression…

By the time Qin Yuan reached the laboratory, he was still one step too late. The horrific scene before him nearly shattered him.

Flame lay on the operating table with most of his skin and flesh stripped away. Nearly two-thirds of his blood had been drained, leaving his body dry and shrunken, his muscles robbed of their elasticity. He looked like the remains of a fish mauled by scavengers.

Qin Yuan froze where he stood, his mind roaring. He could not believe that this ruined body before him was his Flame—the Flame who had always been so lively and happy. Time seemed to stop at that moment, and Qin Yuan did not even dare confirm whether he was alive.

Then an astonished, joyful shout broke the silence. “Boss, he’s still breathing!”

Still breathing?

The voice seemed to come from somewhere impossibly far away. Qin Yuan gradually regained his senses, staggered over, and bent close to Flame.

He really was still breathing.

Qin Yuan’s heart seemed to start beating again. “Quick! Prepare emergency treatment immediately!”

Shang Ke had been starved for three days and had no strength left in his body. Fortunately, because of the anesthetic, he had not felt much pain while Dipson cut into him.

But once he regained consciousness and saw what he looked like, he practically wanted to gouge out his own eyes. Where was the cute dolphin?! He looked like a dried fish that had been skinned alive! Even plastic surgery probably couldn’t save this. He could only place his hopes in his extraordinary regenerative ability.

The only thing worth celebrating was that Dipson had not removed his internal organs. Otherwise, there would have been absolutely no chance of survival.

Fuck, thank goodness I’m a dolphin right now. If I were in human form, this would definitely leave me traumatized for life!

“The little merfolk were all rescued. You don’t need to worry.” Qin Yuan sat beside the tank, looking at the weakened Flame with unbearable heartache.

Warmth flickered through Shang Ke’s eyes, and he gently moved one pectoral flipper.

Qin Yuan placed one hand against the glass and rested his head beside it. In a low voice, he said, “I’m sorry, Flame.”

He lowered his eyes, hiding the faint shimmer of tears within them.

Shang Ke looked at him helplessly, knowing how much this man had worried himself sick over him. He wanted to tell him: This isn’t your fault. I’m the one who keeps courting death. In order to remain here, I’ll do my best to complete my missions and do my best to survive. Then I’ll stay with you and live this entire lifetime by your side.

Qin Yuan gazed into Flame’s clear eyes. Even covered in terrible injuries, his expression was still so warm that he was actually comforting Qin Yuan instead.

That only made Qin Yuan hurt more—and hate Dipson even more deeply.

Unfortunately, that bastard had escaped, taking with him the flesh carved from Flame’s body!

Qin Yuan would never let him go. Even if he had to turn the entire world upside down, he would find Dipson and repay every bit of suffering he had inflicted on Flame many times over.

Shang Ke had been grievously injured this time. Qin Yuan originally intended to keep the details private, but word still leaked out. The medical staff who adored Flame could hardly remain silent after seeing what had been done to him. Within two days, numerous photographs of his injuries had spread outside.

People had guessed that Flame might have been abused, but no one had imagined it would be this horrific.

For a time, the entire world erupted in fury. People used every resource available to them to hunt Dipson down, searching everywhere imaginable.

Dipson remained determined to continue his dolphin-gene research. He intended to find a secret location where he could work undisturbed, then reappear triumphantly once he had produced results and reveal them to the world.

Shang Ke, however, made a decision Dipson never anticipated.

“Make the fact that dolphin genes can increase fertility public.” Once Shang Ke’s injuries had improved enough for him to transform again, those were the first words he said to Qin Yuan in human form.

As an experimental dolphin, rather than become a pawn used by a small group of people to satisfy their private ambitions, he would rather step openly into the world’s view. Under the checks, balances, and supervision of every major power, he could become an open and honorable dolphin willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.

If the research succeeded through him, then perhaps Wave and the little merfolk might someday have a chance to gain true freedom.

The moment Shang Ke voiced this decision, the System sounded in his mind: 【Additional Mission 1 completed—find “merfolk.” Reward: ten years of additional stay time.】

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