The Creature Keeper - Chapter 13

Ten years ago, Tang Rou lost all her family in a shipwreck.

She had no family, only Aselan, who grew up with her in the welfare institute, and these Experimental Subjects who trusted her absolutely.

She couldn’t explain everything she had done, but she truly loved them-with a love akin to that for family.

The young man looked at the Feeder, so sad he could hardly breathe, his chest pierced by countless sharp thorns of pain, far surpassing any previous splitting attack he had endured.

“Rou…”

He stammered her name, using the last of his strength to crawl toward her, dragging his broken limbs.

“…Amazing.”

Behind the screen, the observing engineer exclaimed in awe, marveling at the wonders of the Creator.

His healing speed surpassed any previous attack, his tenacious vitality was astonishing, but what shocked them even more was that he actually had emotions.

How could this be? Cold-blooded creatures-how could they possess feelings?

The scene before them carried a strange yet heartwarming beauty, like a touch of warmth in the coldest war. Through the glass, they watched the young man who had almost been declared dead miraculously awaken under gentle care, shedding his previous ferocious and terrifying demeanor to reveal unparalleled tenderness.

But the glass reflected his image.

Disheveled, dirty, broken.

He approached joyfully, but upon seeing his own reflection, was struck by deep inferiority-he looked ugly now, his body battered, hair muddy, covered in small wounds, surrounded by the remnants of his severed limbs and thick blood.

He remembered the delicate and beautiful Sea Rabbit boy the Feeder liked, and his eyes filled with self-doubt and timidity.

Number 17 lowered his head, just about to get closer but then shrank back, awkwardly covering his face with his hand.

Tang Rou felt even sadder.

“A-17 Experimental Subject’s extensive wounds have already healed, and the new tentacles seem to show controllable contraction.”

“Controllable??”

“He seems able to retract his tentacles.”

Another astonishing discovery.

Below, the Feeder continued to call softly, “Alphino, don’t be afraid, put your hand down, come to me.”

The Feeder’s call was, to him, the supreme divine voice. He was her most loyal believer, forever unconditionally submitting to her summons.

The young man, who had displayed terrifying abilities and danger under the barrage of deadly weapons, now showed a subtle pain, his tentacles trembling, revealing a hint of grievance.

Under the gentle call of the woman’s voice, the dying young man slowly let go of his hand, revealing a beautiful, delicate face, his eyes carrying a trace of longing.

His movements were slow, and the female Feeder was patient, soothing him gently through the transparent glass, like comforting a frightened young beast, “It’s okay now, everything’s fine, come to me.”

The octopus-like figure appeared especially pale amid the chaos, like jade tainted by mud, his bones long and upright, covered with elegant muscles. He moved toward the woman behind the glass, carefully pressing his relatively intact tentacles against the glass, as if trying to touch her.

All he could do was trace her outline, gazing at her with sticky, deep affection.

He looked so pitiful.

A stark contrast to the hellish scene behind him, like an abstract painting.

“He’s like a domesticated pet dog.”

No one knew who said it.

“How could a cold-blooded creature possibly be domesticated? They don’t have emotions… do they?” Faced with the facts before their eyes, the words sounded less and less convincing.
Professor Xu pulled up the Feeder’s file, his gaze deep as he looked at her name.

“Tang Rou was previously the best Feeder in Zone A. She already had one case that advanced to Sector S, the advanced organism you know-the Blue-bottle Mutant Jellyfish.”

The one before him now was the second, a work even more perfect than that Jellyfish.

At this moment, everyone was immersed in the joy of the experiment’s success. This time, the results far exceeded their previous expectations: the Experimental Subject’s rank kept rising, reaching double S+ level.

Unprecedented-everyone was as excited as if they had witnessed a miracle.

Outside the quarantine zone, Aselan saw the test data flash on the QLED screen and was thrilled, even planning to drag Tang Rou to the newly opened bar for drinks tonight to celebrate.

Amid these excited cheers, Professor Xu stared at the figure below for a long time.

A strange glimmer surfaced in his eyes.

His cold voice sounded out of place in the vast Observation Room. “Remove the isolation barrier.”

“What?”

The researchers thought they had misheard.

Until the corners of the middle-aged man’s mouth slowly widened, revealing a bizarre smile.

“Remove the protection panel, redirect the weapons, attack her.”

He pointed at the Feeder.

…

Tang Rou did not want to cry in front of her Experimental Subject.

But her heart ached unbearably.

Number 17 was covered in wounds, blood and shredded tissue splattered across his expressionless face-like a fallen angel with broken wings, cast into a filthy, muddy abyss.

In such heavy pain, the young man’s deep green eyes were still filled with joy and happiness.

“Rou…”

Could he follow her now?

Could he go find her?

He raised his hand, gazing ruefully at his muddy palm, awkwardly wiping it clean on his waist and abdomen before carefully pressing it against the glass panel.

Would she dislike his filthiness?

He was a little uneasy.

“With you…” he wanted her to keep her promise, “Alive, go with you.”

Tang Rou wiped away her tears and smiled, “You’ll be able to come out very soon. Congratulations, you’ve advanced.”

A rare hint of embarrassment appeared on his cold, handsome face. He hung his head, leaning close to the glass.

“Call my… name.”

The Little Octopus wanted to hear the Feeder say that name again, the tips of his tentacles drooping like a shy little girl.

Tang Rou couldn’t help but laugh, and called him, “Alphino.”

“Mm…” he replied softly, his dark lashes trembling, barely able to suppress his joy.

Yet the cold-bloodedness of those in power far exceeded her imagination.

Upon seeing the further potential for evolution, they cruelly aimed their weapons at the defenseless, fragile human.

In an instant, the glass was removed. Number 17 froze in shock for a moment as he sensed the danger. His tentacle and the human’s soft palm touched, instinctively grasping it.

In the next second, his pitch-black pupils contracted sharply.

He swept the Feeder into his embrace, shielding her with his most vulnerable human upper body, desperately protecting her in his arms, not letting a sliver show.

Cold, pale blue blood splattered onto Tang Rou’s face. She stared in a daze, not understanding what had happened.

Why was Number 17 out? Why were there so many explosions?

The deafening roar pounded her ears. The half-human youth who held her trembled in agony, curling his body tighter to shield her.

His tentacles replaced his hands, covering Tang Rou’s ears to block out the terrifying sounds of destruction.

“Seventeen… Alphino?”

The young man held her, in pain, furious and shocked.

They hurt her!