Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Totsuka hadn't expected to offend the little mermaid at their first meeting, especially since he had hoped to bond with her.

Had he known she would hatch, he would have brought a gift in advance. Now, he didn’t even have anything to apologize with.

Following the butler’s suggestion, he tried luring her with delicacies, but the little mermaid didn’t even glance back at the scent.

Watching her cling to Helunen’s wrist, nuzzling and rubbing against him, Totsuka was burning with envy.

But he didn’t dare show it.

Helunen had many matters to attend to—discussing border military affairs with Totsuka while simultaneously handling other tasks on his holoscreen.

Growing tired of lying in his palm, Luo Ci tilted her head up, curled her tail, and tugged at Helunen’s sleeve, grunting as she climbed her way up.

Once nestled in Helunen’s arms, she sneaked a look at the messages on the holoscreen.

Hmm… still unfamiliar words.

The little mermaid squirmed left and right, wrinkling Helunen’s neatly pressed clothes, but he remained unfazed, unmoving as stone.

Totsuka, sitting across from them, stifled a laugh. The Marshal was indeed lenient with the little mermaid.

Official business was quickly concluded, and Totsuka turned to personal matters. “Sir, should the little mermaid be taken to the hospital for a physical examination?”

Helunen glanced at the time and stood. “I’ve scheduled a consultation with Yivain this afternoon.”

An ordinary hospital likely couldn’t examine the little mermaid properly.

“Today?” Totsuka shamelessly followed. “I happen to have nothing scheduled today. Mind if I join you?”

Luo Ci loved being near Helunen, especially after eating her fill. Nuzzling her face against his chest, her tail drooping and swaying lightly, she gradually grew drowsy, her head bobbing drowsily.

She felt Helunen rise from the sofa, lifting her from his chest and cradling her in his palm.

Instead of returning her to the mermaid pool, Helunen carried her outside.

Still half-asleep, Luo Ci rubbed her eyes and let out a soft, sleepy murmur. “Bwuh?”

What’s happening?

Helunen lowered his head, meeting the little mermaid’s clearly puzzled gaze. “Taking you for a checkup.”

A hover vehicle was already waiting at the entrance.

Helunen had worried the little mermaid might be nervous about venturing out for the first time, but she seemed enchanted by everything she saw.

The moment she boarded the car, Luo Ci clung to his shoulder, peering eagerly about. The towering buildings were all unique—some like metallic jungles rooted to the ground, others floating in the sky like islands, stacked in orderly rows.

Their residence occupied an entire floating island.

A massive circular structure in the sky was impossible to miss, resembling a perpetually open eye surveying the world below.

Holding Miluba in her arms, the little mermaid marveled at the sights outside, her tiny tail wagging excitedly, the fin veil occasionally brushing against Helunen’s chin.

…

It tickled.

Helunen tried focusing on his work on the holoscreen but found himself distracted.

Half an hour later, the hover vehicle stopped at the entrance of the Genetic Research Institute.

Yivain, one of the institute’s directors, had his own dedicated research facility. To welcome the little mermaid, he had the place cleared in advance.

“Ah, our little darling has finally arrived!” Yivain spotted the little mermaid cradled in Helunen’s palm from afar, his eyes lighting up as he strode forward. “Come, come, let me see! Let me see!”

Though his tone was over-the-top enthusiastic, Yivain handled the little mermaid with utmost care, his lips trembling with enthusiasm. “She’s so beautiful! Look at those plump little cheeks—I just want to pinch them! Ah, no, no, better not leave marks.”

“Her face is divine—I bet even the finest sculptor couldn’t craft such perfection! And this—is this her fin veil? I’d wager she dances through water like a wisp of mist! Imagine it—the first rays of dawn spilling over the sea, the little mermaid seated on foam, combing through her veil like morning mist… It would be a living work of art! My heavens, I’ve never seen such a breathtaking creature! Never!”

Totsuka nodded beside him. The way cultured folks praised fish was truly something else.

He, too, thought the little mermaid was adorable—both beautiful and sweet—but as a plain-spoken man, he lacked the vocabulary for such embellishments.

Luo Ci tilted her head. “Ya?”

She tilted her head in bewilderment at the man before her, who was speaking rapidly with barely contained excitement, his words incomprehensible.

The tiny sound caught Yivain’s attention, and he clasped his hands to his cheeks, looking starry-eyed. “Oh! Our little darling’s voice is so sweet—like warm honey! My heart is melting! Say something else, won’t you?”

Totsuka held his breath, equally eager.

Helunen interjected calmly, “Checkup first.”

Yivain swallowed his flood of admiration, deferred to Helunen’s command. “Of course, of course. Follow me this way.”

The institute housed countless species, and the moment they stepped inside, rows of ecological tanks lined the walls.

Under the glow of blue lights, the glass tanks shimmered with a high-tech sheen.

Each tank was a meticulously crafted biome simulation—forests, lakes, oceans, deserts—housing exotic specimens from across the galaxy.

Most of these beings had been displaced by war, some even losing the ability to survive in the wild. They had been rescued and placed in these habitats.

Luo Ci craned her neck, looking about curiously. The creatures here were so unusual!

In the desert tank, a lizard-like creature sported bovine horns. In the forest tank, a starfish-like creature had branches sprouting from its back. In the ocean tank, something resembling free-floating neural clusters turned out to be blooming flowers.

Normally, the creatures avoided the corridor-facing side of the tanks. The bright lights and constant human activity made them wary, preferring the inner sections.

But today, as they passed, the creatures seemed mesmerized, pressing against the glass as if drawn by something.

Yivain murmured, puzzled, “How odd.”

Luo Ci assumed the creatures were always this friendly, her gaze darting eagerly from one tank to another.

Helunen’s eyes never left the little mermaid. Clearly, she was alight with curiosity about the outside world.

No matter. Once she grew older, she’d have plenty of time to explore it.

A dozen researchers waited in the lab, their faces alight with excitement at the sight of the little mermaid.

Helunen frowned. “Why so many people?”

“This is already a carefully selected group,” Yivain said helplessly, spreading his hands. “Thousands in our institute are eager to meet her.”

The little mermaid was gently placed on the examination table.

Her pink, fluffy hair cascaded down both sides of her cheeks, and even her eyelashes were a delicate shade of pink. Her features were doll-like in their perfection, and under the overhead light, her skin glowed like porcelain. This merbaby instantly captured everyone's attention.

Mermaids could be this adorable?

The staff sneaked glances at the little mermaid while preparing for the examination.

Luo Ci, seeing the pristine white room and the various instruments inside, guessed she must be in a place similar to a hospital.

Was this a physical check-up? Or would they draw blood?

She felt a twinge of unease. Miluba seemed to sense her emotions, sliding down from her head to nuzzle her cheek.

"Don't be afraid." Luo Ci felt a familiar hand gently stroke her hair. Helunen said firmly, "Nothing will happen."

Yivain also approached to reassure her, "That's right, it's just a basic check-up. No blood draw, no tissue extraction—I promise there won't be any issues."

The examination was conducted by tiny, precision surgical robots, each extremely expensive. Normally used for delicate surgeries, they were now assigned to the little mermaid's routine check-up.

Operated remotely by the staff, Luo Ci only needed to lie still on the examination table while the dozen or so robots swiftly collected her basic vital signs.

Though still a little nervous, Luo Ci found comfort with Helunen by her side.

Perhaps it was the belief that Helunen wouldn’t harm her—nor let anyone else harm her—that made her automatically reach out to him.

When Helunen approached, she curled her tiny tail around his fingertips, as if his presence alone brought her comfort.

"...Little one."

Luo Ci faintly heard Helunen rumble deeply, seemingly addressing her.

"She's so well-behaved," a staff member couldn’t help but remark as the examination went smoother than expected. "Last time we examined an alligator snapping turtle, it flipped over and crushed hundreds of our micro-robots."

A few days ago, upon hearing they’d be examining a mermaid, they had been so anxious they lost their appetites. After all, mermaids were legendarily fierce—everyone in the galaxy knew how terrifying they could be. They had prepared for tens of thousands of robots to be destroyed, even preparing for the lab to be completely wrecked.

Totsuka chatted with the researchers, tsking sympathetically. "You guys have it rough."

A researcher whispered, "Absolutely. Our institute’s budget is painfully tight."

But as researchers, weren’t they all obsessed with rare species? The chance to examine the little mermaid had been hotly competed for among them.

Yet, seeing the merbaby in person—so adorable and so cooperative—was a wonderful surprise.

Luo Ci obediently followed instructions, raising her arms or rolling over as directed. However, her small arms lacked the strength to fully support herself on the hard examination table. After a brief struggle, she collapsed back down with a soft *plop*, her tiny tongue sticking out as she panted tiredly.

Too cute. The way the little mermaid rolled over was utterly endearing. A researcher couldn’t resist reaching out to mess up her hair.

Feeling her hair mussed, Luo Ci pouted slightly. But when she turned her head, she met Helunen’s gaze.

Her ear tips flushed cherry-red, and she slowly turned her tail away, hiding her face.

Helunen: ?

Once her back was turned, Luo Ci fussed as she tried to smooth her messy hair.

To ensure the most accurate assessment of her health, the robots conducted three rounds of examinations.

An hour passed in a flash, and the results were quickly displayed on the imaging screen.

Yivain scanned through the report and sighed in relief. "All routine indicators are normal—no hidden illnesses, organ functions healthy, growth and skeletal development progressing normally."

Hearing the series of normal readings, everyone relaxed.

Normal was good.

"Hmm?"

Luo Ci had fallen asleep halfway through the examination. When it was finally over, she rubbed her eyes and immediately looked around for Helunen. Still groggy, she forgot her tiny tail was still tightly coiled around his fingers—meaning he had been right beside her all along.

Helunen watched the little head turning searchingly, feeling a strange feeling.

It was as if a corner of his heart had suddenly given way, never to be restored.

The softening of a heart begins with an initial, unexpected softness.

When the little mermaid finally noticed him, he gently crooked a finger and brushed it against her soft cheek.

The merbaby flicked her tail and reached up her arms, clearly asking to be held—her dependence on him unmistakable.

Totsuka & Yivain: "..."

Green with envy. They wanted to be that close to the little mermaid too.

The institute’s temperature was low, and Luo Ci wasn’t used to it. But Helunen’s palm was warm, and she nestled comfortably against it, as if snuggling up to a heater.

Her tail tip flicked against Helunen’s fingers, and her big eyes filled with curiosity. "Hmm?"

Is it all over?

Her gentle voice, like a feather dipped in cotton candy, brushed against everyone’s hearts. The listeners couldn’t help but twitch their ears—even her voice was this sweet?

"Mn." Helunen lightly tapped her nose. "It’s over. You did great."

Yivain, green with envy, coughed. "Aside from needing nutritional supplements, there aren’t any issues. But nutrition is crucial during infancy. Though she’s small, her appetite isn’t—just make sure to feed her little but often. Don’t give her too much at once."

He hesitated before adding, "Otherwise, she’ll sink like a stone."

Helunen raised a question. "But she only wants cooked food. She’s not interested in raw fish."

"How could you give her raw fish?!" Yivain looked horrified, his voice rising: "Mermaids live for the chase! They’re natural predators—almost all marine life is on their menu!"

"Fresh fish oil nourishes their hair and scales. Eating live prey is essential." Yivain said mournfully, "No wonder she’s so tiny. If I were raising her, she’d have filled out long ago."

Helunen considered this.

As the two exchanged mermaid care advice, Luo Ci, unable to understand, grew sleepier by the minute. Yet her chubby arms still clung tightly to Helunen’s fingers, her little head bobbing against his hand like a sleepy baby bird.

Helunen cut in, "Send me the research once you’ve compiled it. I’ll take her back first."

"Fine." Yivain wanted to keep the little mermaid longer, but with Helunen’s insistence, he had no choice. Reluctantly, he added, "My application should be approved soon. Bring her around more often—let her get familiar with the place."

Previously, they had agreed Yivain would take custody of the little mermaid.

Helunen paused mid-step but didn’t turn back. "We’ll see."

Once outside the institute, Totsuka bid farewell, saying he had work. Helunen carried the little mermaid onto the hover vehicle.

Nestled in his hand, the merbaby hugged her fish tail, her pale little belly rising and falling with each breath. Occasionally, a soft, sleepy murmur slipped out.

Without the little mermaid's antics, it was unexpectedly quiet.

Upon returning to the mansion, the butler approached: "Sir, please go to the study. I'll take the little mermaid to the mermaid pool."

Helunen had just raised his wrist when the drowsy little mermaid fluttered her eyes open. Sensing a familiar presence, her soft little face nuzzled and sniffed before she drifted right back to sleep.

Helunen changed his mind. "No matter."

He suddenly realized.

Perhaps the little mermaid wasn't lacking territorial awareness—she had simply included him in her territory.