Chapter 14: We Are Professionals

“It’s like this,” Zhang Boyan explained. “It’s locked inside a cage in one of the biology laboratories in the experimental building. Due to some special circumstances, I’m requesting that you first secure it and prevent it from escaping or harming anyone. It’s an important experimental specimen of the university, so please do not injure or kill it. We will decide how to proceed after our biological experts have examined it.”

His words only deepened the police officers’ confusion. “If it’s already locked in a cage, why do you need us?” one asked.

“What kind of fierce beast is it? Some large dog from the lab?” another questioned.

“And we’re not even allowed to injure or kill it?”

Captain Lei Yiming responded, “Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll take a few men upstairs to have a look while the others evacuate the students, keeping them away from this area.”

Zhang Boyan nodded. “Exactly. I’ll take you all there.”

The police cordoned off the area to keep the students at a distance. Zhang Boyan, He Xingzhou, Wu Rui, and Jiang Chan led the officers to the lab.

Despite the reassurance, the officers remained baffled. The whole situation felt inexplicable. Captain Lei Yiming walked at the front, gripping his pistol tightly. Soon, they reached the laboratory door.

Inside, it was silent. He Xingzhou said quietly, “It’s right inside. Please don’t harm it—just keep it under control.”

The police, curious, peered at the cage covered with a black cloth. They wondered why such a big fuss was necessary if the creature was already locked up.

“Everyone, prepare yourselves mentally. This monster is rather ugly and goes berserk when it sees people. Try not to get agitated,” Jiang Chan whispered.

“Don’t worry, young lady. We’re professionals. Even if it’s a tiger in there, it won’t scare us,” Lei Yiming said casually.

The team looked calm enough. After all, it was just a beast locked in a cage—how threatening could it be?

At that moment, Wu Rui lifted the black cloth with a long pole. A creature appeared before them: its back bristling with bony spikes, its body covered in black scales about half a meter tall, eyes glowing a fierce blood-red, jagged teeth and sharp claws bared.

The creature, known as Black Snapper II, seemed enraged by the sight of so many people. It let out a hoarse roar, smashing the iron bars of its cage and clawing at the bars. One iron rod was already severely bent.

“Ah! What is that?” The officers jumped, hands instinctively moving toward their guns.

Their faces were pale with fear. Who would have thought a monster was locked inside the cage?

Even Captain Lei Yiming froze, nearly pulling his trigger.

The monster’s appearance cast a deep psychological shadow over them. While they wouldn’t be afraid seeing it in a game or movie, encountering such a creature in reality triggered primal terror.

Several officers’ hairs stood on end, goosebumps covering their skin.

“How can such a thing exist?” Lei Yiming exclaimed in horror. “What exactly is that?”

“What kind of beast? Is there really something like this in the world?” Each man felt the deadly threat emanating from Black Snapper II.

They had no doubt that if this creature were released, it would pounce and tear them apart.

“This is hard to explain for now,” Zhang Boyan said gravely. “It’s a mutated organism. As you can see, it’s extremely powerful. I fear this iron cage won’t hold it long, which is why I asked you to secure it first and ensure it doesn’t harm anyone!”

Lei Yiming nodded. “I agree. Zhang Hua, get someone to weld a sturdier cage—one that could hold several Siberian tigers!”

“Also, check where the forestry bureau team is. They have more experience dealing with wild beasts.”

Wu Rui replaced the black cloth over the cage. “Don’t let it see anyone. It gets agitated when it sees people.”

“Professor Zhang, how do you plan to deal with this… this mutated monster?” Lei Yiming asked.

Zhang Boyan replied, “The exact handling will depend on the biological experts’ evaluation. Comrade, this is a very important specimen. I doubt you or the forestry bureau have the authority to deal with it. We will report to higher authorities after the assessment.”

Lei Yiming agreed silently. He had no clue how to handle such a creature. Normally, wildlife matters were handled by the forestry bureau.

But this was a mutant monster. He even wondered if the university was conducting some kind of biochemical experiment.

This matter was beyond his jurisdiction. For now, all he could do was secure the creature in a larger, more robust cage and prevent it from breaking free.

Soon, forestry bureau personnel arrived. Unsurprisingly, they were shocked upon seeing Black Snapper II.

“Is this monster a fish? Or a black snapper? This… this…” The forestry officers were dumbfounded, their understanding of nature challenged.

“Let’s secure it first!” The forestry officers and police cooperated, enclosing the creature in a newly welded, more solid cage. They also assigned specialists equipped with tranquilizer guns to stand guard in case of emergency.

At this moment, Principal Liu Yuan arrived with several university officials.

Seeing Black Snapper II already sedated inside the cage, Liu Yuan exclaimed, “How did this thing come about? Who’s responsible?”

“I am,” He Xingzhou stepped forward.

“Young man, how could you engage in such dangerous activities on campus…” Liu Yuan was about to scold him when Dong Chen interjected, “Principal, this matter cannot be judged hastily.”

“What He Xingzhou did might be far more significant than we imagined!”

“Significant?” Liu Yuan felt his head ache. If the outside world learned that a student at their university had created a biochemical monster, the public and international scrutiny could engulf the school.

“I hope your findings are correct,” Liu Yuan said, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

Just then, Song Jinghong, dean of the College of Biology and an academician of the Academy of Sciences, arrived with assistants.

“Principal, what’s going on? The police have sealed off the area!” Song Jinghong asked.

“There’s a mutated organism on campus. See for yourself, and prepare yourself mentally,” Liu Yuan said, pointing to the cage. Black Snapper II was already sedated, so the black cloth was removed.

“This is…” Song Jinghong’s voice trembled as he saw Black Snapper II. “The monster—it’s real! It has appeared alive!”

Everyone was puzzled by his reaction. Did he know it?

“Professor Song, you recognize it?” Captain Lei Yiming asked curiously.

“No,” Song Jinghong’s eyes remained fixed on Black Snapper II. His tone was incredulous. “But someone recently saw it. It’s fish-like yet bears mammalian traits.”

“I’ve seen a blurry photo—taken by a marine research organization in the deep sea. Some say it’s a previously undiscovered marine creature; others claim the photo was fabricated.”

“I thought it was a fake until today, when I actually saw the real thing.”

“How did it come to be?”

“A student cultivated it,” Liu Yuan answered.

“What? Cultivated? By a student?” Song Jinghong’s disbelief deepened.