Chapter Ch450.1   - Merpeople Labyrinth

The group arrived at the Ferris Wheel Hotel, and found Shao Qingge driving a suspension car and waiting for them in the parking lot. Lu Jiuchuan was also sitting in the car. He saw everyone and asked with concern, “Did the process of checking the genes go smoothly?”

Tang Ci nodded. “The identities of the 10 deceased have been confirmed. Zhang Shaohua on Capital Star is the real person.”

Shao Qingge sent the news to Qu Wanyue so that she could continue to follow up.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lou looked at Ye Qi and asked, “Xiao Ye, do you have an impression of your mother?”

Ye Qi shook his head. “Not at all. I lived in an orphanage before I was adopted. Why?”

Xiao Lou explained, “The bones of your mother weren’t found on the starship. You are now 19 years old and your father died 20 years ago. It is obvious that your mother was pregnant at the time and didn’t flee with your father. I don’t know if she was killed by the emperor or is secretly hiding... we have to check again.”

Ye Qi scratched his head and took off the necklace around his neck. Then he grabbed the necklace found with his father’s bones and put them together. “The necklace I’ve worn since I was a baby and my father’s necklace looks like two half moons. When they are put together, they are one round moon. Are there any clues hidden in here?”

Tang Ci took them and observed carefully for a moment before suddenly saying, “This is a smart chip. It is completely impossible to open if it is only a half circle. The half of Ye Qi’s necklace can be called the key to the smart chip carried by Ye Wenbo.”

Xiao Lou was happy. “Let’s take a look and see if there is any information on it?”

Tang Ci connected the unlocked smart chip to his computer. There was a folder in it called ‘Experimental Group Information’. He opened it and saw many familiar names.

Xiao Lou, Shao Qingge, Ye Qi...

Every case was clearly and completely recorded, including the days when the cells started to replicate, the daily development of different cells, the day when the cloned person was born, which nutrients were added, etc.

Ye Qi was stunned. “I wasn’t born when the plan restarted in 2985, right?”

Xiao Lou opened up Ye Qi’s case file. “Your mother was pregnant. Cells can be extracted from the embryo that are genetically consistent with your cells. Perhaps the clone Ye Qi was born even earlier than you.”

Ye Qi didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. “What type of children will be born in the future? Directly extract cells, clone them and raise them in the culture medium until they are five years old. Mothers don’t have to work hard to conceive, raise children and give them milk. They can directly send the child to elementary school.”

Shao Qingge said helplessly, “Then the entire social order will be in disarray. Your child can quickly be raised to the same age as you or even older than you.”

Xiao Lou looked closely at the chip. “This is full of the clones’ case files. In addition to the three of us, there are the children of the researchers involved in the project. Some even contributed their own cells. Our guess might be a bit wrong. The clones taken away from the Egret at that time by the merpeople might be more than three.”

Ye Qi lamented, “In this case, they will have more materials for experimentation...”

Yu Hanjiang told everyone, “Let’s go. We have to hurry up.”

Shao Qingge started the suspension vehicle and moved quickly through the air lanes to the fishing village by the sea.

It was dark and the fishermen had started to rest. Shao Qingge parked the car in a corner where no one could find it and used various displacement cards to return to the remote deserted island with his teammates.

There were still three hours until midnight when all the card skills were refreshed. Old Mo’s lazy sofa had a cooldown time and a restriction on the continuous effect, so they made full use of these three hours to rest.

Tents were set up on the deserted island. Xiao Lou started a fire and everyone sat around the fire, leaning against trees to sleep.

It was almost midnight when everyone woke up.

Liu Qiao asked, “By the way, where is my card pack?”

Gui Yuanzhang took out a card pack from his pocket. “It is here with me. You were unconscious when we saved you and we weren’t sure if you were the real Liu Qiao or a clone. Thus, we first took away your card pack. Chief Shao recommended to shrink you so we also used your Thumbelina card.”

Liu Qiao nodded in understanding. “That’s fine. It is good to be cautious. Then you don’t doubt me now?”

Xiao Lou looked at her with a gentle smile. “Of course. You know about the secret rooms we have experienced. How can you be fake?” He paused before saying to Gui Yuanzhang, “Senior, please return the pack to Xiao Liu when you enter the water later. She will be able to protect herself with the card pack if there is any danger in the sea.”

Yu Hanjiang suddenly said, “Leave the Daughter of the Sea and the Witch cards to me. Daughter of the Sea can turn everyone into merpeople so we can go to the deep sea to join you. The Witch card has the antidote. Chief Shao and Ye Qi’s Bug King cards have been used. In a critical moment, the witch’s antidote might be able to save lives.”

Gui Yuanzhang handed these two cards to Yu Hanjiang before returning the card pack to Liu Qiao.

It was soon midnight. Xiao Lou got up and looked at the dark sea in the distance. “The three of you, act quickly and pay attention to safety. If you encounter the patrol troops, you can use the invisibility cloaks to avoid them. If you encounter danger that can’t be solved, call me using Heart has a Tacit Exchange of Romantic Feelings and I will pull you back to the Peach Blossom Spring.”

Xiao Lou summoned Qin Guan and connected to Old Mo using Heart has a Tacit Exchange of Romantic Feelings.

Yu Hanjiang advised, “Old Mo, after finding the clone laboratory, immediately use the mark and pull us over.”

Mo Xuemin nodded cautiously. “Yes, we will complete the task.”

The trio glanced at each other before leaping into the dark water, jumping flexibly.

The green, blue and silver tails hit the water and created beautiful splashes. In the blink of an eye, the three merpeople were no longer in view. They could travel at a speed of 200 km/hr and the effective range of the team headset was only 10 kilometers. Therefore, they had to communicate with each other in their minds.

Xiao Lou told Old Mo using Heart has a Tacit Exchange of Romantic Feelings, “This plan is very risky. You must be careful. If you really can’t do it, call me directly and I will pull you back.”

Old Mo replied, “Professor Xiao, don’t worry. I have an idea in my heart.”

On the deserted island, Xiao Lou frowned as he watched the waves die down and calm return to the sea. His brow was furrowed and full of fear. Under the moonlight, his face was much paler than usual and his hands by his side were clenched into fists. He seemed very uneasy.

Yu Hanjiang stepped forward and gently wrapped an arm around his shoulder, telling him in a low voice, “Don’t worry, Senior Gui and Old Mo already know the truth. They will definitely be more careful. Our plan is risky but it is also the best solution.”

The man’s low voice made Xiao Lou feel much better. He took a deep breath and managed to squeeze out a smile. “I hope everything goes well and they don’t get trapped in the labyrinth.”

Ye Qi optimistically said, “No, they won’t. The three of them grew up in the deep sea and their actions are more flexible and lighter than our large group. In addition, Old Mo has the strongest sense of direction and the strongest ability to move through the labyrinth. As long as there are no strange mechanisms and he just has to explore the way, I believe Old Mo can find the path soon.”

This labyrinth was quite special. In the previous labyrinths they encountered, there was no one else and it didn’t seem crowded for them when walking together. Meanwhile, this merpeople palace was full of merpeople and patrolling troops. If their group entered the labyrinth then it was easy to attract the attention of the merpeople. It would only be worse for them if they were besieged at that time.

The deployment of vanguard troops might be risky but it was by far the best strategy at present.

th anniversary celebration event

Partially proofread: Paranoid Kitten