The Creature Keeper - chapter 29

The fingertip belonging to a human woman was warm and soft, the cool ointment melting into the surface of the skin. Although it eased the numbness of the wound, it brought another strange sensation.

It was odd, unprecedented.

The Mermaid was forced to endure Tang Rou’s deliberate touch. Her expression shifted from initial bewilderment to restraint and trembling, as if she was struggling to bear it.

“What’s wrong? Does it hurt?” Tang Rou noticed the slight avoidance and asked with concern.

Beneath the pale golden hair, the translucent ear fins twitched, and the pale skin faintly flushed with a hint of red. The Mermaid bit her lip, remaining silent, appearing especially… alluring.

So even the skin of cold-blooded creatures could blush.

“What’s wrong with you?”

The Mermaid averted her gaze, refusing to answer.

Even she herself didn’t know what was happening.

Tang Rou paused briefly, then continued her actions.

She was very quiet, never making a sound from beginning to end. Her delicate features were shrouded in shadow, casting her outline into mysterious obscurity.

Her body suddenly trembled at one moment, dodging Tang Rou’s touch. Tang Rou looked down and realized it was her waist.

Do Mermaids have ticklish spots too?

A few strands of seaweed-like long hair lingered between Tang Rou’s fingers. She playfully hooked them, then let go. “It’s done. Rest for a while.”

The Mermaid turned her back to Tang Rou, facing the wall, lost in thought. Her two clear, graceful shoulder blades resembled butterfly wings poised for flight.

From behind, she looked dazed.

Tang Rou packed up the medical kit, took off the disposable Rubber Gloves, and tossed them onto the sofa.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before the signal finally returned.

Aselan’s call came through again, her tone tinged with gritted-teeth frustration. “They just said they made a mistake and mixed you up with someone else.”

“What?”

The Rescue Team explained it was a data error. They had mistaken another already rescued woman for Tang Rou, so even after Aselan repeatedly asked, they never confirmed the identity information, nor did they send extra personnel to search for Tang Rou, who was missing in Sector S.

Mixed up?

Tang Rou felt something was off.

Caution was always the tone at the Babel Tower Base. The work they did was so dangerous that even a slight mistake could cost lives. Would anyone really mix up such obvious identity information?

“Rou, are you still in Sector S?”

“Yes, I’m in the Office.”

Aselan took a deep breath. “Damn, Sector S has been sealed off from the outside by the Base. Now you can’t get in or out… Is your Office safe? Is the defense door still intact?”

Tang Rou calmed the strange feeling in her heart, forcing herself to stay composed. “The first door is broken, the other two aren’t locked, but their defense rating is low.”

Aselan didn’t want to put too much psychological pressure on Tang Rou. “Find something to block the door, try not to make any noise, stay inside the Office and don’t go out. Wait for rescue.”

That was all they could do.

“When will Sector S have power again?”

The room was too dark, and it was a bit cold at night.

Aselan hesitated. “It’s hard to say. The entire Babel Tower’s power supply system is having issues…”

To conserve battery, Tang Rou and Aselan spoke briefly before preparing to hang up. Before that, Tang Rou said, “I have an injured Mermaid here.”

“Mermaid?” The voice on the other end rose in surprise.

“Mm.” She glanced at the battery level. “I’ll tell you the details when we meet. For now, report that this Experimental Subject is seriously injured.”

Tang Rou mainly wanted to see how important the Mermaid Experimental Subject was to Babel Tower.

If it was important, then upon hearing she was critically injured, the Base would surely send more personnel to treat her. That way, Tang Rou would have a better chance of being rescued sooner.
However, since then, the signal had once again disappeared.

In the silent darkness, there was still no word from the Rescue Team.

From time to time, sounds came from outside the door-some creature passing by, dragging something, or the crisp noise of stepping on glass and metal, and the non-human footsteps of hard limbs landing on the floor.

Every sound made the darkness seem even more terrifying.

The once-familiar Office had suddenly become fraught with danger. Tang Rou dared not make a sound; she lay on the desk, her hands supporting her forehead, strands of hair falling to cover her face, looking oppressed.

She was very tired, but did not dare to sleep, forcing herself to stay awake.

Yet she could not control her will from gradually growing hazy.

A clear, low voice suddenly sounded, “What is your name?”

In the darkness, only the Mermaid’s eyes glimmered with a faint light.

Tang Rou released her hands and lifted her head. “Rou, my name is Rou-gentle Rou.”

“Rou…” The Mermaid repeated softly, “So that is your name.”

“And you? Do you have a number?” She became a little more alert, letting go and looking toward the beautiful tail of the Mermaid.

In truth, she could see nothing at all; Tang Rou was human, her night vision weak, while the Mermaid could see her clearly.

“No.”

“No number?” Her delicate brows rose, as if surprised.

And there was a hint of… pity.

He hummed in response.

How could there be an Experimental Subject in Sector S without a number?

Tang Rou fell silent in thought. The Mermaid, still waiting for her answer, received none, and frowned slightly. After a moment, he propped himself up and slowly moved.

Tang Rou heard the sound. “What’s wrong?”

The other said nothing, moving to her side, stretching out his slender arm to rest on her leg, looking up at her from below.

In the darkness, only the sound of their breathing could be heard.

“Are you afraid to be alone?” Tang Rou softened her voice.

The Mermaid did not speak, his delicate face pressed against his arm, lost in thought. His silence was taken by Tang Rou as acquiescence, so she did not resist-after all, this Mermaid was badly injured.

A Mermaid without a number, often wounded, and every time she saw him, his tail was locked by a chain, pierced through roughly.

Tang Rou guessed that, being treated so brutally, he was probably not a cherished Experimental Subject. As far as she knew, noble species were always cared for by specialists, except during Division Experiments, and were protected from any harm. Tang Rou really couldn’t imagine that, if he were a valuable Experimental Subject, why would he be chained again and again in such a crude manner?

That method was far too primitive, and far too savage.

Could it be that he was really just food for the Special Grade Creature in the giant tank?

By the faint glimmer, she saw the wounded Mermaid with his eyes closed, quietly resting his head on her knee. His hair, long deprived of water, had dried, soft and smooth, draping over his pale shoulders.

Clearly a male body with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his arms showed slender, distinct muscles, yet he gave off a gentle, serene beauty.

Mermaids truly were wondrous beings.

She couldn’t help but reach out and touch that silky hair. The Mermaid’s lashes trembled imperceptibly as she asked, “Do you need me to put you in water?”

He did not open his eyes, but shook his head.

The transparent fish fins at his ears peeked out from his hair, their edges glowing with a deep, tranquil blue.