Chapter 42: The Mutant Crocodile Part 1

June 2nd.

A little past seven in the morning, Ah Yuan arrived at Territory 32 with Little Yu.

Ruan Ming looked at Ah Yuan, unsure how much he actually knew about today’s plans. She filled the water container destined for Ye Jianggui, reminded him to be careful, and he was off, riding away on his bicycle with a ring-ring-ring.

Little Yu loved coming to Ruan Ming’s house. She loved playing with Little Calico, loved drinking the sweet water, and loved how gently Ruan Ming treated her. The moment she entered, she wrapped herself around Little Calico, a silent smile blooming on her face.

Ruan Ming took Little Yu’s small water bottle to fill it up. The two of them sat on the doorstep, eating flatbread for breakfast as they watched the morning sun rise over the horizon.

After breakfast, they went to work on the vegetable garden fence. Today was the final day, and they also cleaned up the leftover weeds in the corners.

When she’d sprayed the Soil Conditioner the other day, she had covered this entire area as well. Once it passed inspection, she could plant directly here without needing to bring in new soil.

She’d decided to build her vegetable garden here. Whenever she had leftover water, she’d use it to irrigate this patch.

Busy, busy, busy. Soon it was evening.

Shen Qiuling arrived around six o’clock.

Ruan Ming had asked Shangguan Yu, “What about Little Yu?” She wasn’t comfortable leaving Little Yu at home alone, especially with that menacing Liao Chun next door in Territory 31.

Shangguan Yu told her to bring Little Yu along.

So the three of them exited through the back door and walked along the base of the mountain towards the Observation Deck.

By the time they arrived, the sun had set—the perfect time for action.

Little Yu was taken by Shangguan Yu’s driver and hidden inside a mini-truck parked in the woods behind the Observation Deck.

“Two people were temporarily reassigned. It’s just us today,” Shangguan Yu stated, showing no negativity over the reduced numbers.

She had changed into a form-fitting protective suit that outlined her voluptuous figure with crisp definition. The suit was high-toughness, highly elastic, and designed for ease of movement.

But what surprised Ruan Ming was the enormous bow she had strapped to her back.

“Sister Yu, what is the bow for?” she asked.

Shangguan Yu took out two pencil-eraser-sized silicon chips. “These are biochips. They’re packed with a vast array of biomolecular probes. Once inside a biological entity, they can analyze and manipulate its DNA.”

After a moment to process this, Ruan Ming asked, “So you’re going to shoot this chip into the crocodile to control it?”

“Exactly. You’re clever.”

Ruan Ming blushed. This was the first time she’d heard of such a thing. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why not load the chip onto a bullet and shoot it? Wouldn’t a bow be harder to use than a gun?”

Shangguan Yu said regretfully, “That would require a gene gun. We have no way of getting our hands on one, so we have to make do with the bow for now.”

“Can all Beast Taming Espers control animals using this chip?”

“Absolutely not. These biochips are designed specifically for Shen Qiuling’s signal. Only she can operate them.” Shangguan Yu shook her head.

She was twenty-eight, and Shen Qiuling wasn’t yet forty. She couldn’t bring herself to call her “Auntie”; she only used that term when speaking to Ruan Ming.

Seeing Ruan Ming’s puzzled expression, she patiently explained, “The biochip works by capturing an Esper’s signal through highly sensitive integrated sensors. The chip I have captures Sister Shen’s signal, so only she can use it.”

Ruan Ming finally understood the mechanics. “The person who created this is amazing.”

As Shangguan Yu fitted the chip onto the tip of an arrow, she said, “The person who can analyze an Esper’s signal and design a chip to capture it is indeed no simple person.”

“Who is it?”

Shangguan Yu just smiled, not revealing the name. She glanced at the sky, steering the conversation back on track. “The crocodile’s scales are armored and tough. I have to hit its eye, or wait until it opens its mouth and shoot into its throat to embed the chip. Only then can we control it. If I miss, tonight’s effort is wasted.”

“I’ve only got two chances.” Her hand gripping the longbow tightened.

Ruan Ming couldn’t help but feel nervous, but she still reassured her, “It’s okay if we miss. We can try again next time.”

Shangguan Yu looked at her, her eyes curving into a smile. She said “okay,” then turned to Shen Qiuling. “Sister Shen, I’m heading over. If it works, you’ll receive the signal.”

Shen Qiuling nodded, her expression grave.

Taking her great bow, Shangguan Yu took a deep breath. Then she leaped towards the riverbank, her arms suddenly extending. Her fingers accurately caught a protruding rock on the cliff face, and she swung along the steep wall, heading towards the deeper part of Lethe Marsh.

Watching her disappear into the distance, Ruan Ming’s heart filled with envy.

She wondered if her own strength ability had reached B-Rank yet. When would she ever be as composed and in control as Shangguan Yu?

The sky gradually darkened.

Unless someone was a vision-type Esper, they wouldn’t be able to see what was happening over such a distance from here.

This was precisely why Shangguan Yu and Ye Fengwan had decided to act around dusk. It was suitable for concealment and used the darkness as a cover.

As minutes ticked by, there was no movement from the marsh, and Shangguan Yu still hadn’t returned.

No one knew what was happening over there, but for the people on the Observation Deck, every second felt agonizingly long.

Everyone was worried. Worried about Shangguan Yu’s safety, that she might not have successfully shot the crocodile’s eye, and worried that if the crocodile did come, they might not be able to subdue it.

Ruan Ming concentrated with all her might, pricking up her ears to listen.

Below the Observation Deck, the crocodiles were becoming increasingly agitated.

What she never expected was that instead of hearing signs of Shangguan Yu, she heard the sound of a vehicle approaching on the main road in the distance.

The vehicle stopped at the fork where the main road branched towards the Observation Deck. The conversation inside the car drifted into Ruan Ming’s ears.

“Boss, it’s been a while since we checked the swamp. I wonder how that group of crocodiles is doing.”

Wei Heng’s deep voice followed: “What’s there to see? The guardrail is so high, they can’t get up.”

Rong Xiaomi’s voice joined in: “Let’s not go, let’s not go. Last time we went, I was disgusted for days. It’s already seven o’clock, let’s just hurry back, eat, and change shift.”

“Ach, just a quick peek. It’s only a few minutes’ drive over there.”

Ruan Ming’s heart instantly leaped into her throat. She was about to warn Ah Chong and Shen Qiuling when she saw Shen Qiuling standing frozen, staring fixedly in the direction Shangguan Yu had disappeared.

Sweat beaded on her face. Her eyes were flickering rapidly, as if receiving some critical information.

That meant Shangguan Yu had succeeded!

Ruan Ming’s mind buzzed. Her heart was on fire with anxiety.

If the Patrol Team came in now, they would undoubtedly run into a critical scene. All of today’s effort would be wasted! It could even trigger unpredictable consequences.

Just at this critical moment, a series of beeping sounds from a walkie-talkie came from the fork in the road.

“Patrol Team, Patrol Team. Large unidentified mutant beast possibly spotted near wilds of Territory 20. Request immediate backup.” An urgent voice crackled through the walkie-talkie.

Liu Guang cursed, “Forget looking at crocodiles, forget dinner! Dammit, trouble always picks the worst time. They sure know how to pick their moments…”

Wei Heng’s voice responded to the walkie-talkie: “Patrol Team copies. En route immediately.”

With the sound of the engine revving, the Patrol Team’s vehicle moved further and further away.

Ruan Ming’s taut body finally relaxed. Beneath her mask, her forehead was soaked with sweat.

She suddenly remembered the voice on the walkie-talkie just now; it sounded like Little Wu, Ye Fengwan’s assistant. Was there really a large mutant beast near Territory 20, or did Ye Fengwan deliberately lure the Patrol Team away?

Either way, it had worked.

She quickly refocused, her eyes locked on the direction deep within the marsh.

Before long, the surface of the swamp suddenly became eerily quiet. A palpable tension spread silently through the air.

After about five minutes, the previously churning swamp surface seemed to be split in two by a sharp axe. The chaotic mass of crocodiles scattered in panic to both sides, like boiling water hit with a rock, instantly clearing a channel.

At the far end of that channel, a colossal grey figure slowly emerged.

It was a gigantic Mutant Crocodile, immensely built and covered in thick, heavy grey scales.

With every step, the swamp mud splattered in all directions.

Along both sides of the channel, the mutant crocodiles either bowed their heads in submission or watched the center warily, not daring to make the slightest transgression.

As the target lumbered closer to the Observation Deck, the very air seemed to solidify. The tension was almost suffocating.

Ah Chong was supposed to place a long ramp between the guardrail and the marsh for the target to climb up. But now, he was so intimidated by the massive crocodile’s aura that his face was pale. His legs trembled as he struggled to move the ramp toward the guardrail.

Seeing this, Ruan Ming gritted her teeth and stepped forward. “Let me do it.”

She took the telescopic steel ramp from Ah Chong’s back, swiftly approached the guardrail, raised it, and extended it. Originally only two meters long, the ramp slid out to seven or eight meters. One end was placed on the guardrail, the other slotted into a catch midway down the riverbank.

The steel ramp, reinforced with other materials, was extremely sturdy. The length had been precisely calculated beforehand.

Coming up the ramp onto the Observation Deck, a large cage made of a special material stood directly in its path.

According to the plan, the crocodile, under Shen Qiuling’s command, would climb up the ramp and enter the iron cage.