Chapter 174: 178. Chapter 178: Too much of a coincidence, a chill runs down the spine

178. Chapter 178: Too much of a coincidence, a chill runs down the spine.

Squeak—

The three rainforest fairies, hungry for nearly half a month, lay limp in the self-isolating non-metal cage.

Since being captured by the Wizard Legion, they have never received even a drop of water or food, and have remained starving.

If it weren't for the strong vitality of supernatural beings, they would have already died of hunger and thirst.

How could they still be clinging to life?

No matter how weak they were, upon seeing Lin Ke, the three rainforest fairies bared their teeth and squeaked, unsure whether it was a threat or fear.

Lin Ke observed this behavior and couldn't help but feel suspicious.

According to the records, the fairy realm is a supernatural world with a maximum level of five.

Fairies are a typical intelligent species, possessing their own language, script, culture, and civilization.

No matter how hungry or how poor their condition, they should not appear so wretched, so beast-like.

Could these three rainforest fairies also be infected with the plague, developing toward mutation?

Thinking this, Lin Ke immediately raised the monitoring and alert level.

Upon detecting any abnormality, immediately initiate the disinfection procedure.

Originally, he wanted to dissect a normal rainforest fairy for comparison, to study how the mutation preserves and enhances the fairy's innate abilities.

Now he must adjust his plan, adding investigation of the plague and mutation itself, in addition to studying the enhancement mechanism.

After careful consideration, Lin Ke made a decision.

He first separated the two rainforest fairies, placing them in isolation.

One was given normal rations, the other kept starving, and he comprehensively recorded their changes.

The third rainforest fairy was taken by him to the dissection room, prepared for study.

Those not of our kind must have different hearts.

Lin Ke told himself that, then fully engaged the Brain Seal Technique, entering a state of extreme rationality.

In an instant, the rainforest fairy, twisted and struggling on the dissection table, was no longer a sentient being in Lin Ke's eyes, but merely experimental material.

Extreme rationality is cold-hearted and ruthless.

A round ball was stuffed into the rainforest fairy's mouth, letting it make little sound.

Holding the dissection knife, Lin Ke ignored the fear, pleading, and other complex emotions in the rainforest fairy's eyes, and steadily cut.

The bloody, cruel, inhumane dissection began with loud wails, then gradually softened, until the wailing ceased, and the dissection continued to progress.

Several cameras hovering around the dissection table recorded the entire process without omission.

Including the rainforest fairy's sobs and struggles.

Even though he wore gloves, his hands were actually clean, yet it gave the impression that Lin Ke's hands were stained with blood.

"As expected, it is already mutating."

When dissecting the rainforest fairy's liver-like organ, Lin Ke discovered the first sign of mutation.

It was very subtle; if not observed carefully, it would be overlooked.

Lin Ke has sharp eyes, his focus is extremely concentrated, and his memory is superb, so he noticed it immediately.

For an ordinary person, one would likely need to rely on equipment to enlarge the image and compare carefully to avoid missing it.

The liver and the eye share a certain connection.

Lin Ke paused the dissection of other organs, changed knives, and began studying the rainforest fairy's eyes.

He wanted to see whether one could tell from appearance if a fairy was infected with the plague.

Rather than having to wait for the plague to develop, mutation to begin, or a fine dissection to be performed before being able to tell.

After thorough investigation and comparison, Lin Ke discovered a detail.

The eyes of the mutated individual appear no different from those of a rainforest fairy at the initial stage of mutation.

However, its optic nerve shows obvious changes, with nerve fibers more developed.

In terms of visual signal transmission speed and efficiency, there is a significant improvement.

Even in the initial stage of mutation, the rainforest fairy's optic nerve fibers have actually undergone changes.

However, the degree of change is very small and can be neglected.

Lin Ke marked this point as important, then continued observing both eyes.

The mutant's pupil has three very distinct points arranged in a spiral, resembling the shape of a Sharingan.

Meanwhile, the pupil of a rainforest fairy at the initial stage of mutation, upon close inspection, reveals three tiny dots.

Perhaps, one could tell from the pupil whether a rainforest fairy, or indeed any fairy of any clan, is infected with the plague.

What?

There are other methods with higher feasibility and accuracy.

For example, biochemical testing.

Lin Ke certainly knows this, and will also explore in that direction.

For now, he is still dissecting; they haven't reached that stage yet.

After finishing the eye dissection, Lin Ke changed knives, turned back, and continued dissecting the internal organs.

As the dissection progressed, more and more signs of mutation were discovered.

Moreover, these signs of mutation show a trend of gradually deepening.

It seems that even death does not affect the development of mutation.

No, there is an influence!

Death merely does not hinder the development of mutation, and may even subtly accelerate the mutation process.

Upon discovering this, Lin Ke immediately increased the restraint strength and raised the security level of the dissection room.

To counter a mutation that is extremely unlikely but must be guarded against.

Inside the seed, Fu Lan Duo, who was constructing various laboratories according to Lin Ke's needs, received orders and stood ready to activate the Kailan Battle Armor at any moment.

This is one of the tiny improvements from upgrading the "Spellcasting Talent" to "Witchcraft Specialization".

Fu Lan Duo can activate Lin Ke's innate witchcraft with his permission!

As a spirit, Fu Lan Duo does not need to eat, drink, defecate, urinate, or sleep.

Capable of maintaining a high state of alertness year-round without rest.

Therefore, no matter how deeply Lin Ke sleeps or how focused he is on his research, he need not overly worry about being ambushed and unable to respond in time.

Fu Lan Duo will activate the Kailan Battle Armor for him and, via their special link, quickly awaken Lin Ke.

Free of worries, Lin Ke continued to advance the dissection progress.

He hoped to finish the dissection and obtain crucial evidence before the rainforest fairy's mutation ended.

Fu Lan Duo simply stopped what she was doing, obtained permission, and, through Lin Ke's perspective, began to observe the dissection.

The somewhat bloody scene would not make Fu Lan Duo feel terrified or disgusted.

On the contrary, she watched it with great relish.

In the knowledge the master shared with her, he repeatedly mentioned dissection, research, and experimentation.

Recently, while building various laboratories and producing experimental facilities and equipment, Fu Lan Duo has taken a keen interest in them.

Is this dissection?

Fu Lan Duo rested her chin on her hands, blankly thinking, then focused intently on watching.

Thus, a long period of time passed.

Suddenly, Fu Lan Duo let out an exclamation.

She had just discovered an abnormal trace that seemed familiar.

After careful thought, she realized it was information left behind by the primordial source of the shattered world that had evolved into the "seed," and she hurriedly shouted, "Master, master, I have found something."

Saying this, Fu Lan Duo shared that information about the primordial source of the shattered world with Lin Ke. After receiving it, Lin Ke held the dissection knife with his right hand hovering over the rainforest fairy's brainstem, motionless for a long time.

Even wearing a mask and goggles, one could see his face turn extremely solemn.

In the brainstem of the mutating rainforest fairy, there actually appeared an abnormal change highly resembling certain traits of the Insect Child Deity.

The Insect Child Deity, lying on the primordial source of the shattered world and "sucking blood," is deeply bound to it.

While it understands the source, the source also understands everything about it.

Including many parts of its body, which gradually developed abnormal traits over a thousand plus years of struggling to survive.

Lin Ke knows of the existence of the Insect Child Deity.

In the cultivation secret realm, he felt the moment when his rights over the "seed" shifted from mere usage to full ownership.

All information of the "seed," including all data of the primordial source of the shattered world before its evolution, has been received by Lin Ke.

However, afterwards he had been busy studying and had no time to examine them carefully, so Lin Ke entrusted these materials to Fu Lan Duo for sorting.

Therefore, Lin Ke did not notice this detail right away.

After Fu Lan Duo's reminder, Lin Ke immediately took this discovery to heart.

"Could this be a coincidence?"

Lin Ke muttered to himself, doubt arising in his heart.

It is truly too coincidental, coincidental to the point of seeming deliberately arranged.

Temporarily suppressing his doubts about something, Lin Ke focused his attention and pondered why this situation had arisen.

If one were to say what similarities exist between the Insect Child Deity and the mutating rainforest fairy, it would be that their life forms, sources of life force, and uses of life force have all undergone major and extremely crucial changes.

The Insect Child Deity, after the natural life of the host insect is exhausted, forcibly extends its life by drawing world source energy and converting it into life force.

Lin Ke conjectures that the mutating rainforest fairy draws life potential to promote the mutation.

After the mutation, the life force presents as a pathological vigor.

Their common point is that their life forms have undergone tremendous change.

Lin Ke retrieved the brainstem dissection results of the mutant corpse from his mind and compared them with the mutating rainforest fairy and the Insect Child Deity.

He found that the abnormal changes in the brainstem of the mutant corpse were greater and closer to the traits of the Insect Child Deity than those of the mutating rainforest fairy.

If there is one similarity, perhaps many more can be found.

Lin Ke put down the dissection knife and paused the dissection.

Instead, he took out the prepared mutant dissection report and, together with Fu Lan Duo, compared all the abnormal traces of the mutant corpse with the Insect Child Deity.

Sure enough, more and more similarities were found.

Moreover, these similarities share a trait: they are all located in the central nervous system!

After setting down the dissection report, Lin Ke praised Fu Lan Duo for her renewed merit, then continued dissecting the brain of the mutating rainforest fairy.

Another hour or so passed.

The dissection was completed.

Lin Ke changed out of his protective suit, took a shower in the attached bathroom of the changing room, put on fresh underwear, and then donned the "Defender 3202" suit.

Using these mundane daily matters, he alleviated the boredom of maintaining the Brain Seal Technique for long periods.

Arriving at the living/working area, Lin Ke began to write the dissection report of the mutating rainforest fairy.

Likewise, no matter how big or small, he let no dissection finding slip by.

However, regarding the various similarities and comparisons between the mutating rainforest fairy, the mutant corpse, and the Insect Child Deity, Lin Ke did not mention a single word.

These findings, for the time being, can only serve as a secret kept in his heart.

Unless reporting to Paro Sorcerer himself under secrecy, Lin Ke will not tell anyone.

Including Mo Fei Lao Tou.

It's not that I don't trust Mo Fei Lao Tou.

But once a secret is told to a second person, it's no longer a secret; it's information.

Information is bound to circulate.

More and more people will come to know it.

Mo Fei Lao Tou is likely a follower of Cao Cao; Lin Ke had just thought of him, and he showed up.

"Little guy, you're busy again till now, don't wear yourself out."

Mo Fei Lao Tou shouted at Lin Ke, who was busy writing the autopsy report.

He then commanded the intelligent puppets to send the six mutant corpses of different sprite clans, and six living sprite captives, into the cold storage and isolation detention room.

After doing that, Mo Fei Lao Tou plopped down beside Lin Ke and asked curiously:

"How did you set the alert level of the cold storage and isolation detention room so high? Caution is good, but these sprites, whether dead or alive, have no fighting capability left; there's no need to be this cautious, right?"

Lin Ke stopped writing, looked up at Mo Fei Lao Tou, and said seriously: "The three rainforest sprites sent earlier have already begun to mutate. Moreover, death accelerates mutation! I'm worried something might go wrong."

"Hmm..."

Mo Fei Lao Tou's face instantly turned grave: "Are you sure? Headquarters has repeatedly tested, and all the living specimens sent to the rear base are normal, with no mutation. Even the mutant corpses have been specially treated, so they won't cause infection."

Lin Ke said: "I don't know about the others, but at least those three rainforest sprites sent to us have already begun to mutate."

Mo Fei Lao Tou pondered, then said: "This matter is no small thing; we must produce solid evidence before we can report upward, otherwise..."

He didn't continue that sentence.

But Lin Ke already understood Mo Fei Lao Tou's meaning.

Headquarters had conducted tests there, confirmed the issue, and then sent supplies to several institutions at the rear base.

Other institutions were fine, but the Pharmacy Department pointed out, saying, "Your work made a mistake, nearly causing a sprite plague leak, resulting in huge losses."

Given the Pharmacy Department's current reputation, failing to produce solid evidence will stir up big trouble.

Even if solid evidence is produced, it will still offend people.

Lin Ke does not intend to get involved in this matter.

He only handles research; when to report, how to report, and to whom to report are the responsibilities of Mo Fei Lao Tou, the head of the Pharmacy Department.

Thinking so, Lin Ke manipulated the smart brain for a while and hastily produced a detailed comparative report.

He listed all the mutation traces of the rainforest sprites during mutation and those of the mutant corpses, comparing them one by one.

It includes text, pictures, videos, and some blood and tissue fluid test results.

The evidence can be described as very thorough.

He uploaded the comparative report from the smart brain to the public smart brain for Mo Fei Lao Tou to read.

Despite being a senior second-level mage who often claims not to like research, Mo Fei Lao Tou's knowledge reserves and academic cultivation are certainly not lacking.

A mage who doesn't understand research—can he still be called a mage?

Mo Fei Lao Tou carefully read Lin Ke's hastily made comparative report several times, his expression growing graver with each read.

Especially Lin Ke's emphasis on how mutation preserves and enhances the rainforest sprites' innate abilities, and his brief mention that the suspected life-form changes might be related to the enhancement mechanism.

These two points were information Mo Fei Lao Tou had not previously known.

Perhaps others studying the sprite plague and mutation have also discovered these points, but Mo Fei Lao Tou simply hasn't seen their research reports.

"You keep researching; if you need anything, just let me know. The Pharmacy Department's work can stay on hold for now—focus on this first."

Mo Fei Lao Tou quickly made a decision, deciding to fully support Lin Ke's work.

R&D and brewing potions?

We'll talk about that later.

Anyway, the frontline medical department's scumbags are eager to do it; worst case, we just give it to them.

I might as well not call it the Pharmacy Department anymore; calling it the Biological Research Department wouldn't be bad!

The title of Biological Research Department head isn't bad either.

Hmm!