CH 89

Translate by Hua

After closing the door of the treatment room and walking away for a while, Ji Mingjiang remembered that he had forgotten to ask Greni why he spoke interstellar common language. But it’s not that important. Anyway, if the experiences the other party said are all true, then the reason why he can listen and speak the interstellar language is obvious. It’s nothing more than being forced to learn it, or he was driven by the desire to live.

Therefore, this question only briefly appeared in Ji Mingjiang’s mind for a moment before he threw it aside. He turned to look at Clarice and asked another question that was more important and more critical than whether he could speak.

“How credible do you think Greni’s words are?”

Two footsteps of different weights overlapped and formed a unique rhythm that sounded in the corridor. The voice-controlled lights turned on and off according to the footsteps and voices of the two people advancing.

“If you just look at his facial expressions, eyes, and the logic in his words, the credibility should be very high.”

Thinking of Greni’s fear and hatred when he described his experience, the joy that he had escaped, and… a strange emotion flashed in Leiden’s eyes.

He glanced at Ji Mingjiang.

And… when Greni finally looked at Ji Mingjiang, there was trust and dependence in his eyes, and some emotions made him(Clarice) feel sour when he talked about it.

What’s going on? Although it makes him appear more sincere and his words more credible, it’s a bit too much, isn’t it?!

He wasn’t a professional psychiatrist. After ruling out “Stockholm syndrome,” “drawbridge mentality,” and other psychological terms he knew little about, Leighton thoughtfully said, “Maybe we should get him to see a psychiatrist afterward.”

If it is confirmed that he has no problem, then he will solve the problem that the Federation has caused them and then throw out the mermaid that seems to have some abnormal feelings for Ji Mingjiang.

Just kidding, Ji Mingjiang is not yet an adult; how could he be exposed to some messy people and emotions so early?

The “guardian,” who thought he had figured out his position before, thought so.

Hearing these words from Clarice, he didn’t know whether he was talking to himself or asking for his opinion. Ji Mingjiang froze for a moment before quickly responding and nodding in agreement.

“You’re right. No matter what, we still need to provide him with some psychological counseling. That way, it will be easier to ask questions or help him return to a normal life.”

No.

Leiden walked beside Ji Mingjiang expressionlessly, retorting silently in his heart.

It feels like what you and I are talking about is completely different.

However, he quickly calmed down his personal emotions, schooled his expression, and continued: “Although that’s true, I’ll still ask the people from the Federation to summarize the situation during this period of time and send it to me as soon as possible, and I’ll also pay attention to the Empire’s territory. However, there’s no core plan that Greni knows about. We still can’t formulate targeted measures, so you and Kiro should pay more attention when you go out recently.”

“I know.” Ji Mingjiang listened, but he didn’t worry too much. “I definitely won’t have any problems myself. Tomorrow I’ll apply to see if I can get Kiro transferred to a foster room with me. I won’t let anything happen to him. Don’t worry about it.”

“…” Leiden was strangely silent. He looked at the slender figure, who had walked forward because of his slowed pace, and felt a little pain in his forehead.

“Confidence is a good thing, but I don’t mean to tell you to only pay attention to Kiro’s safety but also to take care of yourself.” He finally sighed and said it helplessly.

According to Greni, the Federation suddenly started researching a potion that can convert between mermaid form and human form, so they probably came up with this idea because they knew about Ji Mingjiang’s existence. And since they still don’t know that Greni is actually the only successful experimental subject, this experiment can be said to have been failing…

“The Federation will most likely list you, the only mermaid who can freely change forms, as a key capture target.”

At this time, Ji Mingjiang had already noticed the sudden disappearance of footsteps around him, but before he could turn around, Leiden strode after him and calmly analyzed: “They definitely knew that Kiro could change his form, but they had never really seen him. Besides, his surname is Clarice, and he’s an official member of the royal family. The Federation will definitely hesitate about targeting him.”

“So, the one in danger is you.”

“Their main target is me.”

Two voices sounded at the same time. Ji Mingjiang’s tone was relaxed and cheerful. Even though Clarice’s face was serious and cold when he said this, his eyes were still surprisingly bright under the light and darkness.

“Don’t worry, if they do come after me, then they can be dealt with here and save us the effort of going around to gather information.”

Patting Clarice on the shoulder, Ji Mingjiang said with a smile.

***

On Sunday, Ji Mingjiang took a rare day off and didn’t go to the Mermaid Center to continue tormenting the little mermaids who complained every day.

“How do you feel today?”

Early in the morning, after eating breakfast and exercising, Ji Mingjiang opened the door of the treatment room, looked at Greni lying on the bed, and asked.

“It’s much better.”

The curtains in the treatment room were drawn to both sides, and the warm sunlight shone through the bright windows onto Greni’s treatment bed, dancing among his golden hair.

Greni stared at Ji Mingjiang unblinkingly, watching him put an easy-to-digest breakfast on his bedside table, then pulled a stool and sat beside the bed. After being in a daze for a moment, he spoke slowly.

Although both of them knew that this was just small talk.

Greni’s upper body, which should have recovered, was almost healed as early as the first day. However, Lin Feng said that the fish tail, which could not be treated without the original medicine, was not very significantly better than it had been a week ago.

Ji Mingjiang’s eyes passed over his still limp tail, and the expression on his face didn’t change at all. He turned his head to look at Greni and said, “Lin Feng, the doctor who came to check your physical condition recently, you should remember what he said on the first day. Your tail can still support you and let you float in the water.”

Greni nodded.

Seeing that he didn’t hesitate for a second, Ji Mingjiang paused and cut off more than half of what he originally planned to say before continuing: “The only mermaids in the palace are me and Kiro, but we won’t be staying here every day. So, I want to ask you if you want to come with us to the mermaid center.”

Considering that it’s not convenient to equip Greni with a light brain that can communicate with the outside world, Ji Mingjiang specially prepared a paper version of the Mermaid Center introduction.

He took out this thick piece of hard paper from the space button and handed it over. While Greni was flipping through it, he assisted in explaining: “Kiro and I are currently working at the Mermaid Center, and there are some very young mermaids there. You’ll have some to talk to if you go there, so it won’t be too boring.”

“I have no problem.”

Greni has not been idle during this week’s recuperation time. He can already speak the interstellar common language, so now that he has the opportunity, of course he has also taken the initiative to learn the written form of the interstellar common language.

But what made him say this was not because he saw such a convincing introduction on the paper, but because…

“I trust your arrangement; when will I go there?”

After briefly flipping through it a few times, he put the paper aside, looked at Ji Mingjiang, and asked directly, “Is there anything I can help with after I go to the Mermaid Center?”

Ji Mingjiang raised his eyebrows and didn’t answer him immediately.

Greni looked directly into Ji Mingjiang’s eyes. After the initial panic of that day faded away, his perseverance and courage showed in his eyes. After all, he survived the day-to-day experiments, snatched the starship from the auction site, and escaped the Federation all by himself.

Although he wholeheartedly trusted this mermaid who was targeted by the Federation, Greni was not dazzled by this sudden sense of trust. The sunlight was slanting through his lashes and scattering in those still-clear eyes.

“In terms of my status, staying honestly in the palace would be the best option for you guys, not to mention that going to the mermaid center in my physical condition would only cause trouble for others. Since that’s the case, I’m sure there must be a purpose you want to accomplish behind this decision you and His Majesty Clarice made. You can tell me, and I’ll cooperate.”

After hearing what he said, Ji Mingjiang was silent for two or three seconds before showing a helpless smile under Greni’s uneasy gaze, pretending to be calm.

In Greni’s widened eyes, Ji Mingjiang saw his gradually growing figure. Then he stretched out his hand and rubbed Greni’s blond hair several times.

Well, although the feel is not as good as those little fish cubs, it’s not bad.

He (Greni) doesn’t seem to be that old, and he does look better with a bit of expression.

After retracting his hand calmly, Ji Mingjiang said: “There is indeed a plan related to this decision, but that’s about it, and it doesn’t require you to cooperate with anything.”

In the past two days, people from Clarice’s side have sent a lot of news, one after another. Leaving aside the ones from the Federation for the time being, they have indeed discovered a lot of secret activities on the Empire’s side.

“Someone has been secretly searching for clues related to you recently.” In fact, the word search is not appropriate, Ji Mingjiang thought when recalling the report he saw in the study.

After all, the search sounded like they were taking people back alive, but as far as they knew, those people didn’t look like they were trying to keep him alive.

But there’s no need to tell Greni about this. It’s of no use anyway; it’ll just increase worries.

After gathering his thoughts, Ji Mingjiang continued: “They haven’t found you yet, but we don’t want to wait any longer.”

“So after I arrange for you to go to the Mermaid Center, I will also broadcast live. Then I only need to let you show up in the live broadcast room. You don’t have to worry about the rest.”

After saying this, Ji Mingjiang suddenly thought of something and quickly added, “Don’t worry, you are in the same room as other mermaids. I won’t leave you alone to fend for yourself.”

Greni nodded in surprise. Even though it was just as he thought that they were using him as bait, compared with what he expected, this situation can be said to be much better.

“I understand.” He nodded, and then when Ji Mingjiang made a move to get up and leave, he asked hesitantly, “But, is it okay to let other mermaids be with me?”

After all, according to the other party’s description, those little guys are not yet adults. Let alone self-protection and attack, it will be a stroke of luck if they don’t cause trouble when the time comes.

“It doesn’t matter; just trust me like you said before.”

Ji Mingjiang turned his head, and the sunlight, cut and blocked by the leaves outside the window, happened to fall diagonally at the end of his eye, jumping slightly with the swaying branches and leaves.

He couldn’t help but feel a little prickly between the blinks of his eyelashes, and he half-squinted his eyes, saying in a pleasant tone that Greni didn’t quite understand, “I’ll protect you all, and if anyone dares to come, just let them.”