Coveted After Becoming a Monster [Quick Transmigration] 11

Chapter 11:

Life on the deserted island didn’t last long. One day, she woke up in a daze to the sound of a noisy crowd, a group of people respectfully and excitedly calling out, “Professor Ji.”

Having eaten too much strange fish the night before, Li An couldn’t wake up quickly. She felt herself being lifted by Ji Yulin and carefully placed in a pocket. Smelling the familiar scent, she fell into a deep sleep once again.

When she woke up again, she was on the rescue ship.

The little octopus rolled over in the pocket of the white lab coat and lazily stretched her tentacles. Hearing someone talking to Ji Yulin, she didn’t rush to get her attention. She curled up comfortably and listened to the conversation outside.

It turned out they hadn’t drifted too far, only about fifty kilometers from their original position. In the later stages, Ji Yulin and the little octopus had drawn the attention of the dark monster, allowing a few people to escape. After reaching the surface, they had seen Ji Yulin’s retreating figure. Once ashore, they reported the matter, and subsequently, the Thirteenth District dispatched a large number of people to search in all directions.

One of the people currently surrounding Ji Yulin was a survivor of that mission, a woman named Yu Huan.

Yu Huan’s voice was filled with gratitude. She hadn’t seen Ji Yulin abandon others to escape and thought that Ji Yulin had risked her life to attract the monster’s attention to save them. So, after confirming that she was uninjured, she had volunteered to join the rescue mission. Now, she was the one explaining the most to Ji Yulin.

She added, “Before we found you, we had already searched more than ten islands. We only found a few broken suitcases in the nearest direction.”

So there were suitcases that washed up in other places too?

The last trace of doubt in Li An’s heart dissipated.

Soon, another voice spoke up. Perhaps this person held a higher status, because after they interrupted, everyone else fell silent.

“Professor Ji, you must have suffered a great deal drifting at sea. I have already had a room prepared for you, with the clothes you usually wear. You can go and rest now. Someone will bring you food shortly.”

“Also, both the Thirteenth District and the Research Institute are very concerned about your situation. They have been sending inquiries every hour. They received the news of your rescue just a few minutes ago. If you are well-rested…”

Before he could finish his unspoken words, Ji Yulin spoke, “I understand. I’ll report my safety to them after I get back to my room.”

The man let out a sigh of relief and smiled, adding, “Everyone is very concerned about you.”

The Thirteenth District was the closest safe zone to the coastline and was often harassed by sea beasts, so this mission was primarily organized and led by them.

The Research Institute itself held an extremely high status. Even an ordinary researcher was equivalent to a leader in a safe zone, let alone Ji Yulin.

Her disappearance had caused a huge shock.

“By the way, the Research Institute sent a document. It seems they urgently need your help…”

She was just rescued, and they’re already putting her to work?

This guy’s act didn’t last long at all.

The little octopus rolled over, couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, and cursed the others in her heart for treating Ji Yulin like a tool.

But Ji Yulin didn’t hesitate for a second and immediately replied, “Where is it? Take me there.”

She couldn’t wait even a moment.

The people around her showed no surprise, even looking as if this was to be expected.

But just as Ji Yulin took a step, she seemed to remember something and suddenly stopped.

“Professor Ji?” a questioning and urging voice sounded.

Ji Yulin didn’t answer. Instead, she took the little octopus out of her pocket.

The creature, who was pretending to be asleep, didn’t have time to react. She squeezed her eyes shut, only feeling the scorching sunlight outside the pocket before being placed in her familiar jar.

“Help me take her back to the room,” Ji Yulin said, handing the jar to Yu Huan, then added with emphasis, “Put her on the bed.”

Then she seemed to think better of it and added, “Let her stay wherever she wants.”

Before Yu Huan could answer, Ji Yulin instructed again, “Prepare some fresh water for me…”

At this point, she paused, turned to the person beside her, and asked, “What’s the highest tier of mutated beast meat stored on the ship?”

Li An’s ears perked up. On the deserted island, Ji Yulin had already explained to her that mutated plants and animals were roughly divided into nine tiers by humans. Tier one was the weakest, and the strange fish and seagull they had encountered belonged to this category. Although they had undergone some mutation, their strength was average, and even ordinary humans could handle them.

The higher the tier, the more severe the mutation. For example, the dark mass, which was so mutated that it was impossible to tell what animal it had come from. The little octopus had Ji Yulin give a rough estimate, and she thought it was probably around tier seven.

When Li An heard this, she felt a pang of fear. If a tier seven could be so powerful, what about a tier nine?

Fortunately, Ji Yulin had reassured her, saying that tier nine was more like humanity’s speculation about the strongest possible mutated beast.

In actual history, there had only been one instance of a mutated beast approaching tier eight. That one time, it had directly destroyed humanity’s last city stronghold, bringing the old era to a complete end and plunging humanity into its darkest period, until the establishment of the Research Institute…

But none of that had anything to do with Li An. She only remembered one day when she and Ji Yulin had luckily hunted a tier-two strange fish. Its meat was more tender and softer than a tier-one beast’s. Although it had made the little octopus sleep for a long time, it had also completely healed her tentacle.

At this thought, Li An moved closer to the glass wall. Her still-closed eyes didn’t see Ji Yulin’s gaze fall upon her. It was only for a very brief moment, a smile flashing by before she returned to her serious and cold demeanor.

At the same time, the leader of the Thirteenth District replied, “The ship only has some tier-three beast meat in storage. I’ll have someone steam it right away and send it to the professor’s room.”

His tone changed, tinged with a bit of guilt, “The conditions on the ship are too poor. The base has already prepared a banquet. After we land, we’ll hold a proper reception for Professor Ji to calm her nerves.”

At these words, the people around them showed obvious envy.

Yes, humans could also consume mutated beast meat to increase their strength, but it wasn’t as easy as it was for the little octopus. At most, they could only absorb twenty percent of the energy from the beast meat; the rest was wasted. And the changes were only ordinary improvements like stronger physique and faster speed.

However, it was said that high-tier beast meat could bring about more special changes in humans.

But this was irrelevant to ordinary people. They could only buy nutrient solutions made by the Research Institute using special methods to extract the energy from low-tier beasts to a large extent.

And the price of these nutrient solutions was extremely high. An ordinary family working desperately for a month could only afford one bottle of tier-one nutrient solution. Only by luckily joining the army of the Thirteenth Safe Zone could they consume a tier-one nutrient solution daily or exchange military merits for higher-tier ones.

Because of this, the price of mutated beast meat remained high. The higher the tier, the more expensive it was. Even if they could only absorb twenty percent, ordinary people would still choose to sell it. Only the rich and powerful would choose to treat it as a delicacy and waste it freely.

But Ji Yulin’s expression didn’t change a bit. Her tone remained the same as she said, “No need to steam it. Just send it directly to my room.”

Everyone was stunned. Before they could understand what Ji Yulin was planning, she lowered her eyes to the octopus in the jar, her voice softening slightly, “Cut it into strips the size of a little finger, otherwise it won’t be convenient for it to eat.”

Only then did everyone understand the reason why this notoriously workaholic researcher had suddenly stopped and said so much.

It was for this very inconspicuous and cute octopus in the jar?

The atmosphere fell into a momentary dead silence. Fortunately, the leader’s mind worked fast. He quickly said, “Rest assured, Professor. I will make sure they take good care of your pet.”

He secretly guessed that Li An was a little pet Ji Yulin had raised on the island to relieve her boredom. After all, time on a deserted island was hard to endure. Without a companion, a normal person couldn’t have lasted that long. So he instantly understood Li An’s importance to Ji Yulin.

Regardless of whether Ji Yulin would find it boring later, the just-rescued Ji Yulin would definitely care a lot about her only companion on the deserted island.

The leader of the Thirteenth District thought he had figured it out, but Ji Yulin lifted her eyelids, gave him a faint glance, and retorted, “Not a pet.”

The leader was stunned. Before he could get an explanation, he saw Ji Yulin turn and walk away, leaving behind an even more bewildered crowd.

The sea breeze was still blowing. The ship cut through the waves, creating a silvery-white wake as it headed straight for the distant land. The sound of footsteps and conversation mingled.

“What do you think Professor Ji meant just now?” a lowered voice asked curiously.

The glass jar was held steady in her hands. The little octopus inside was still pretending to be asleep, but her thoughts had drifted far away.

Did Ji Yulin say she wasn’t her pet…

Although she had been unable to accept it before, now she felt an unusual annoyance.

If it wasn’t a relationship between a pet and its owner, then what was it?

A short, chubby tentacle trembled and unconsciously curled into eight balls. She felt inexplicably listless.

“She’s willing to feed it a tier-three beast, but she won’t admit it’s her pet…”

Yu Huan pressed her lips together, her gaze falling on the glass jar in her hands. Her tone was heavy, “I don’t know, but it’s clear that Professor Ji values this mutated octopus very much.”

“Nonsense, who can’t see that?” another person retorted, then said, “But what is this octopus? It’s only the size of a palm, probably not even tier one, yet it can eat tier-three beast meat.”

The jealousy in her tone was undisguised, which was not surprising. In this world, a little more strength meant a little more guarantee of survival. So she was extremely dissatisfied with Li An eating tier-three beast meat.

Why wasn’t it them, who had been searching so hard for Ji Yulin?

This Professor Ji was too stingy. No wonder everyone said she was harsh and indifferent.

Seeing her companion’s expression, Yu Huan quickly tugged her arm and said in a low voice, “What are you thinking? Professor Ji is from the Research Institute. She must have her reasons for doing this.”

Her companion’s eyes widened, and she immediately snapped, “What reason? Tier-three beast meat is so precious. How can she just give it to an octopus?”

Her words were very sharp. Li An lifted her eyelids slightly, lumping this person together with the mutated seagull from before. They were both very annoying.

Yu Huan couldn’t persuade her and could only say, “Don’t say that.”

She looked around cautiously and added, “Have you forgotten why Professor Ji came here this time?”

Her companion was stunned. Yu Huan answered her own question, “I heard that she encountered difficulties with her current experiment and came here specifically to collect mutated beast samples.”

She added, “They say Professor Ji’s research this time is crucial. If it succeeds, we might truly be able to fight back against the mutated beasts.”

Her companion finally remembered this and said with a dawning realization, “That’s right. You mean…”

“Yes, I think this beast is the sample Professor Ji has been searching for.”

Her companion was half-convinced, half-doubtful, “This little thing?”

They weren’t even afraid of Li An understanding them. Low-tier mutated beasts only had animal instincts and couldn’t understand human language.

But Li An was different. Hearing them say this, the little octopus curled up even tighter, her heart slowly growing cold.

Was she Ji Yulin’s experimental subject?

Was all the previous consideration because of this?

Although there were many loopholes, the overwhelming frustration made it impossible for the octopus to calm down. A tentacle slapped the glass wall hard, but no one paid any attention.

Whether she was pretending to be asleep or awake, in their eyes, she was just a weak and useless octopus. Nothing she did was worth their attention.

The conversation continued. Seeing her companion’s disbelief, Yu Huan said again, “I was on the same ship as Professor Ji before. She personally went into the sea to catch this little octopus. If it wasn’t an important experimental subject, why would she do that?”

“I see,” her companion’s anger instantly dissipated. She looked at the little octopus with a hint of schadenfreude and said, “Then you’d better eat a few more good bites, so you don’t break down during the torture and affect Professor Ji’s experiment.”

Remembering her experience in the sea that day, the little octopus’s heart sank completely.

As they spoke, the two had already reached their destination.

The room door was opened. But instead of following Ji Yulin’s instructions and placing the little octopus on the bed, they lined up the tier-three beast meat, fresh water, and the glass jar on the table.

How could an experimental subject eat on Professor Ji’s bed?

The two’s disdainful attitude was obvious. They left without caring whether the little octopus ate or not. With a click of the door, the little octopus opened her eyes.

The room was spacious and luxurious. Even the windows had been opened in advance. It was clear that even with the limited conditions at sea, they had done their best to please Ji Yulin. It made sense. Ji Yulin was a genius at the Research Institute. If it weren’t for this incident, they wouldn’t even have been able to get close to her, let alone talk to her like this.

A tentacle slapped the glass wall again, whether out of anger or something else. Her sapphire eyes dimmed, and a strange emotion surged. She no longer had any hesitation about her previous decision.

She didn’t know what she was feeling sorry for. Ji Yulin didn’t need it. She was now a high and mighty genius researcher. No matter how the people around her gossiped and schemed behind her back, they still had to turn around and flatter her.

And she was just an experimental subject that she had worked so hard to protect.

A strange anger rose in Li An. After climbing out of the jar, she threw herself onto the table.

What could a little octopus like her change?

Not resist when Ji Yulin cut her into pieces, so she could conduct her experiment with ease?

Or hold on a little longer so she could do it a few more times?

And she had been so concerned about how to change Ji Yulin’s tragic end.

Leave, I must leave.

Li An turned her head to the side. The tier-three beast meat had been processed into suitable strips.

Since she was leaving, of course she had to improve her abilities before she left. Since eating that tier-two strange fish, she had faintly sensed some kind of change, as if she were just one step away from a breakthrough, but she was stuck there. She had a hunch that if she absorbed and digested this tier-three beast, she should be able to break through.

At this thought, Li An no longer dawdled. A tentacle grabbed a thin strip of meat. In less than ten minutes, only an empty plate was left. Then, the little octopus’s head drooped, and she fell into a deep sleep.

————

By the time Li An struggled awake from her daze, the lights in the room were on.

Li An jolted in fright, the entire octopus waking up. Then she heard the sound of splashing water. She turned her head and saw light squeezing through the crack of the bathroom door, along with a hazy mist.

Had Ji Yulin already returned?

This sleep had lasted longer than Li An had expected. She had thought it would be like the previous times, where she would wake up in an hour or two, but she had slept until night.

She couldn’t delay any longer.

With no time to feel the changes after her breakthrough, the little octopus took one last look at the bathroom door. Without even taking her glass jar, she slid down the leg of the table. All eight tentacles worked hard, and in an instant, she was at the window.

Looking down at the dark and turbulent sea, she felt no excitement of impending freedom. The tentacles clinging to the window sill gripped tightly, and an inexplicable fear of the unknown arose.

The little octopus silently took a deep breath. Without daring to turn back, she decided to climb down.

Yes, climb down.

Li An was no fool. The window sill was a good ten stories above the sea. If she jumped, the soft sea would become as hard as concrete. She’d be a fool not to be smashed to pieces.

But just then, a voice suddenly sounded from behind her.

“Where are you going?”