Chapter 41: Baby Rats

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Baby Rats

"Pack up the remaining Rat King Meat as well."

Lin Ji looked at the massive headless corpse on the ground and instructed Tang Ling beside him.

"Although the meat is a bit tough, it contains high energy. Keep it as emergency rations."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ling immediately nodded excitedly.

She was like a diligent little squirrel, swiftly beginning to cut up the Rat King’s corpse.

Apart from this Level 3 Elite Monster, there were also many corpses of Level 2 Mutated Water Rats lying in the corridor from their earlier journey.

Tang Ling didn’t mind the filth, picking out the intact parts and stuffing them all into the Spatial Pouch Lin Ji had given her.

Although the two Expansion Pouches had considerable capacity, they couldn’t hold everything from this abundant harvest, and they were soon filled to the brim.

Seeing Tang Ling’s flushed little face from excitement, Lin Ji nodded with satisfaction.

In this team, Tang Ling’s extreme enthusiasm for resources and her exceptional execution skills made her a rare and valuable assistant.

"Alright, that’s enough."

Lin Ji glanced at the time; the Dead Silence Fog was still closing in.

"This place isn’t safe. Prepare to retreat."

Just as the women were about to head back the way they came, Bai Taotao, who had been silent all along, suddenly tugged at Lin Ji’s sleeve.

Her big eyes timidly looked toward a shadowy corner not far away.

"Captain Brother..."

Bai Taotao’s voice was soft but carried a hint of certainty.

"There... seems to be something there."

"I sense a very faint but very familiar presence."

Lin Ji was slightly taken aback.

He instinctively activated the Eye of Insight and glanced at the life detector.

No response.

That shadowy area was empty, not even a ghostly shadow.

But Lin Ji didn’t immediately dismiss Bai Taotao.

This little girl’s E-grade talent, Affinity, though useless in combat, gave her an intuition for sensing animals that surpassed any instrument.

"Lead the way. Let’s go take a look."

Lin Ji said solemnly.

The group passed through the engine room and arrived at a derelict warehouse in the corner.

It was unusually tidy, with hardly any dust.

At the deepest part of the warehouse, a pile of miscellaneous items was stacked.

Bai Taotao carefully walked over and brushed aside a layer of grayish-black fur covering the top.

It was the Rat King’s fur!

Lin Ji’s pupils contracted.

No wonder the detector showed no reaction.

This cunning Rat King had actually used its own fur, which had Concealment properties, to build a nest that completely blocked all perception!

The moment the fur was brushed aside, three tiny creatures were exposed to everyone’s sight.

They were three baby rats, their eyes still closed.

They huddled together, emitting faint squeaks.

Seeing these bald, even furless rodents.

Su Qingyue and Shen Manyun instinctively took a few steps back, their faces filled with revulsion.

But Bai Taotao’s eyes sparkled like stars.

This usually delicate and fragile little girl now showed a completely different side.

Without hesitation, she reached out and carefully cradled the three little rats in her arms.

"They’re so cute..."

Bai Taotao nuzzled the little rats with her cheek, her face brimming with affection.

Tang Ling also curiously leaned in.

"Huh? Their tails..."

Tang Ling was surprised to discover that although the three little rats hadn’t grown fur yet, their tails already displayed a metallic sheen.

Exactly like the rat king Lin Ji had slain!

"Why are there only three?"

Tang Ling was puzzled. "Don’t rats usually have litters of over a dozen?"

Standing at a distance, Shen Manyun adjusted her glasses and, suppressing her discomfort, explained:

"In this world filled with radiation and mutation, the more powerful a species, the lower its reproductive capacity tends to be."

"The fact that these three survived means they inherited the best genes from their mother."

Lin Ji also approached and carefully examined them with his Eye of Insight.

[LV0·Shadow Rat Pup (Mutant)]

[Potential Rating: A-grade]

[Talent Omen: Concealment, Armor Piercing, Extreme Speed.]

Lin Ji’s heart stirred slightly.

A-grade potential!

This was an exceptionally rare and high-quality pet.

If nurtured properly, these three little ones would undoubtedly become perfect scouts and assassins.

Lin Ji glanced at Bai Taotao, who was utterly enamored with them.

Although this girl’s combat ability was practically zero at the moment, as long as her Affinity Talent evolved, she would undoubtedly become a top-tier Beast Tamer in the future.

"Let’s take them back and raise them for now."

Lin Ji said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Bai Taotao was so excited she nearly jumped.

"Thank you, Captain Brother! I’ll take good care of them!"

With this unexpected gain secured, Lin Ji wasted no more time.

"Let’s go, back to the boat."

"Delays invite trouble. After all, this is a derelict cargo ship—who knows if there are other monsters lurking."

Upon hearing this, the women immediately followed Lin Ji’s lead and quickly retreated.

Soon, the group returned safely to the Catamaran Sailboat without further incident.

On the deck, the sea wind remained bitingly cold.

The rescued girl still lay unconscious in a corner.

She was completely naked, her body covered in bruises and whip marks, with several wounds so deep they exposed bone.

Clearly, she had endured inhuman torture at the hands of those five beasts.

Looking at her pitiful state, Lin Ji—though a normal man and inevitably experiencing some physiological reaction—felt more of a cold, detached scrutiny.

In this post-apocalyptic world, compassion was the cheapest commodity.

But his team was currently short on manpower. If she could be saved, she would at least serve as labor.

"Teacher Shen."

Lin Ji turned to Shen Manyun.

"Treat her injuries."

Shen Manyun nodded immediately and was about to step forward when Lin Ji added:

"Be careful. Don’t touch the wounds directly."

"This woman was abused like this by those scum. She might be carrying some disease—syphilis or anything is possible."

Hearing this, Shen Manyun paused mid-step, her face instantly turning pale.

She gave Lin Ji a grateful look.

Remembering how this man had domineeringly held her by the waist in the cabin earlier, and now he was reminding her with such thoughtfulness.

Shen Manyun’s heartbeat quickened involuntarily, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

"I understand... I’ll be careful with protection."

After arranging for Shen Manyun, Lin Ji turned his gaze to the other women who had been watching the commotion.

"Don’t just stand around."

"Su Qingyue, Gu Yihan, go sort and categorize the supplies we just brought back."

"Bai Taotao, go settle those little mice and make sure they don’t run around."

Swept by Lin Ji’s cold gaze, the women immediately obediently went to work.

The deck instantly became busy.

Lin Ji walked over to Tang Ling and patted her shoulder.

"Get ready."

Lin Ji looked at the sailboat before him, which, despite modifications, still appeared somewhat crude, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"We’re going to upgrade to an LV3 Vessel!"

Hearing this, Tang Ling was so excited she nearly threw the wrench in her hand.

"Finally upgrading!"

She immediately sprang into action, pulling out the materials required for the upgrade one by one from her pouch and neatly arranging them in the center of the deck.

Five Steam Cores radiating high temperatures.

Dozens of heavy High-Density Alloy Steel Plates.

And a large amount of high-quality wood already prepared in advance.

Lin Ji took a deep breath and summoned the System Panel.

He unfolded the precious Nautical Chart, his gaze firmly fixed on the upgrade button.

"Upgrade!"