Chapter 297: Unethical Experiments and the Sea Beast Menace

Listening to Yenir’s interrogation.

The tied-up researchers shuddered all over and had no choice but to gingerly start explaining:

“No, it’s not like that…”

“It’s not an embryo from a baby!”

“They all come from artificial wombs! They aren’t human! We’re legitimate!”

Perhaps aware that their research skirted ethical boundaries, in these end times they saw nothing wrong with what they were doing.

Especially for researchers—in every genetic project before the apocalypse, countless people engaged in this work, just never publicly.

Listening to the researchers’ defenses, Ming Luo and the others grew pale with anger.

After all, even the steeliest minds couldn’t help but feel revulsion after a closer look at the images.

Within that hefty bundle of documents, there were probably no fewer than a thousand types of deformed monstrosities!

Some had fish-like gills on their faces, eyes set on the sides of their heads like a bizarre blend of goldfish and humans, or holes atop their heads mimicking whale breathing…

Ordinary people would likely faint at the mere sight of these abominations.

It was just… too disgusting!

No wonder this research was kept secret—such studies had utterly breached moral boundaries!

Why on earth would the Military engage in this sort of work!?

Everything here reminded them of the organ factories in the Zombie Realm! No—it was even more brutal!

Sensing the incomprehension and even a hint of disgust from Ming Luo and the others, the lead researcher, clearly unconvinced, instinctively retorted:

“So what if we study these!”

“We’re in the apocalypse! As long as we can unlock the source of the sea beast’s power and figure out how to merge it, we can create formidable Awakeners!”

“And we aren’t experimenting on survivors! Everything was done according to regulations!”

After years of research, they no longer cared what exactly they were doing. As long as there were results, any cost was acceptable.

In the ensuing silence, Yenir said little more.

Unlike Ming Luo and the others, who struggled to accept the situation, he remained relatively composed.

The Military indeed had numerous research projects, including various biological modification techniques. In fact, nations spared no expense in boosting their armaments in the face of the apocalypse.

When survival of the species was at stake, some moral lines were bound to be crossed.

He could understand why the Military pursued this research.

Since the outbreak, the ocean had become a forbidden zone. Even though Third-Stage Awakeneds could occasionally traverse the coastline, they only operated near the shore.

Venture deep into the ocean, and even Peak Third-Stage individuals would inexplicably perish.

Classified archives captured military satellite images of terrifyingly massive sea beasts. The largest among them stretched up to ten thousand meters, rivaling an island in size!

The ocean was an enigma. No one knew what monsters lurked in its depths, but everyone was certain that their numbers far exceeded the mutants on land.

Moreover, unlike mutants and zombies that couldn’t reproduce, sea beasts could propagate naturally!

These creatures, seemingly on the brink of death, somehow retained a perverse life force while multiplying endlessly! Had most of them not dwelled in the ocean’s heart, humanity would have been extinct long ago.

Thus, nations were eager to uncover the source of the sea beast’s power and find ways to counter these creatures.

Now wasn’t the time to quibble over the Military’s research.

After suppressing the chill in his heart, Yenir asked again:

“What happened in the battle four days ago?”

“Don’t try to lie to me! The Spirit Energy Monitoring Device recorded everything!”

“What else did you modify? Did you ‘release’ any modified subjects?”

Elementary deduction.

After learning what was being researched, Yenir instantly considered one possibility.

In his previous life, hadn’t there been sea beast attacks? Could it be that a modified subject escaped from the Research Institute? If these altered sea beasts had intelligence, they might exact revenge by launching a horde of monsters at the East Sea!

It was a plausible guess—the most logical one!

Seeing Yenir’s relentless questioning, the lead researcher froze, clearly reluctant to address it.

His eyes darted away as he shook his head in panic:

“No!”

“It was a record error…”

“Swish!”

In one swift motion, Yenir drew the Elemental Blade and aimed its icy edge at the researcher’s brow. The cold blade sent a shock through his entire body.

“I don’t have time for your nonsense!”

“Either die or talk!”

His voice was as cold as ice.

Noticing the astonished looks on everyone’s faces, he was nearly certain that something was wrong at the Research Institute!

Yet he couldn’t fathom why the three Committee members found nothing amiss.

He understood why the East Sea had overlooked previous anomalies and why they were so nonchalant about the alarms.

The East Sea had always harbored sea beasts—after all, it was the Research Institute that had created them! So they were accustomed to it!

Swallowing hard.

Sensing Yenir’s genuine lethal intent, the threatened researcher’s heart filled with bitter indignation.

He also knew that if he remained silent, Yenir would soon uncover the records himself.

“You shouldn’t have known about these…”

“Fine, I’ll tell you!”

“Four days ago, a modified subject did escape. During testing, we accidentally let it slip…”

“But nothing will happen!”

“Once that thing left our equipment, it would naturally die within two days at most! It was still just a juvenile!”

“And it wasn’t aggressive!”

Yenir’s brow furrowed at the answer—he was clearly dissatisfied.

“Not aggressive!?”

“Then what about the three missing Third-Stages? Don’t tell me they drowned trying to recapture that juvenile!”

Yenir’s persistent questioning struck a nerve; the questioned researcher’s eyes flashed with something eerie.

After a moment, as if resigned, he began to speak in a strangely peculiar tone:

“I told you—you weren’t supposed to know.”

“Those three didn’t die—they were just locked up. They saw things they weren’t meant to see.”

“That modified subject used…”

“Yenir!!”

“You’ve gone too far!!”

“Boom!!”

In an instant, a sharp sonic blast roared through the air.

Faster than sound.

Fang Teng, accompanied by a horde of Third-Stages, was now charging wildly.

At the same moment, a cold system alert echoed in Yenir’s mind.

“Beep. Special task triggered.”

“Class A Sea Beast Attack: The Matriarch.”

“The first wave of sea beasts is expected to reach nearshore areas in four hours. Please evacuate East Sea survivors.”

“This mission’s success will be evaluated based on the number of survivors.”

“Tip: Slaying the matriarch can effectively delay the sea beasts’ advance.”

“Mission rewards:…”