108: Rabbit King

A few days later, GUPA Base, inside the Special Observation Zone.

Lu Jianchuan held a few slices of fresh apple and lettuce leaves, squatting in front of the ecological tank prepared for the new "resident." Inside, the environment simulated warm sandy ground and a shallow water area; the tortoise that had been mistakenly released into the sea was staying quietly within.

Surprisingly, in just a few days, its body size seemed to have grown a size larger than when it was first discovered, and the luster of its shell was even more mellow. Even more striking were its eyes; they were no longer the somewhat dull eyes of an ordinary reptile, but revealed a clear, almost thinking radiance.

Lu Jianchuan handed a slice of apple to it. The tortoise didn't hesitate or test it like ordinary turtles; instead, it immediately extended a forelimb, flexibly and accurately took the apple slice, and began to eat unhurriedly, its movements carrying a strange composure.

"It seems to have a good appetite, and..." Beside him, Chen Xing held a recording board, his tone carrying a researcher's excitement, "Its learning ability and reaction speed far exceed normal levels."

Chen Xing tried extending a finger, slowly drawing a circle in front of the tortoise. The tortoise's head turned with his finger, its gaze focused. Then, Chen Xing pointed to the shallow water area in another corner of the ecological tank and said softly, "Go over there."

To their surprise, after finishing the apple in its mouth, the tortoise actually turned around and crawled toward the shallow water area with steady steps.

"See that?" Chen Xing said to Lu Jianchuan, "It seems to understand some simple commands. We speculate that once it was rescued from the sea and the threat to its life was removed, the intense drive of the evo factor vanished.

But the activated evolutionary process hasn't completely stopped. With sufficient energy supply and no clear environmental pressure, its evolutionary path seems to have... shifted."

He pointed to the stable but active energy readings on the detector: "It didn't continue to strengthen its physical structure to adapt to the ocean; instead, it seems to be directing energy toward its nervous System. This is a very rare 'intelligence-oriented' evolution that occurs naturally in a safe environment."

Lu Jianchuan looked at the tortoise with its lively eyes, sighing at the unpredictability of the path of evolution, when familiar, steady footsteps came from behind.

It was Golden Bone. Even more surprisingly, he was followed by that white Rabbit King, who was still being carried by four strong guard rabbits, its ruby-like eyes calmly gazing at Lu Jianchuan.

"silver skeleton," Golden Bone got straight to the point, his tone as flat as ever, "Regarding its disposal, the higher-ups have made a decision."

Lu Jianchuan's heart stirred as he looked at the Rabbit King, wondering what the final outcome would be.

Golden Bone continued, "The superiors believe that for individuals confirmed to possess high intelligence and a willingness to communicate, attempting to establish a coexistence relationship serves long-term interests, provided it's controllable. But this requires practice—an 'example'."

He stepped aside and gestured toward the Rabbit King: "It chose you."

Lu Jianchuan was stunned, subconsciously repeating, "Chose me?"

"Yes." Answering him was the Rabbit King's clear intent. It leaped lightly from the guard rabbit's back and walked up to Lu Jianchuan. "I expressed my desire for coexistence to your superiors. That 'New Federation,' which only knows plunder and internal strife, is not my ideal home. When they asked me with whom I was willing to establish an initial relationship of coexistence and trust, I chose you."

Lu Jianchuan looked at this intelligent creature before him, who had once fought him to the death but now approached of its own accord, filled with doubt: "Why me?"

The Rabbit King's intent carried a strange calm, even a trace of imperceptible admiration: "Because of your honesty."

It paused, its red eyes looking directly at Lu Jianchuan: "You once told me without concealment that you wanted to kill me for the sake of your compatriots. But in the end, you didn't, because of your discipline, or... other considerations. This contradiction precisely illustrates your essence—you have clear principles and bottom lines, and you express them straightforwardly without using hypocritical promises to numb or deceive me."

"In my experience, whether among humans or evolved beings, such honest individuals are extremely rare. Rather than trying to guess the thoughts of those with complex minds who might plot behind my back, it's better to walk with someone like you who lays their position out in the open. For me, this is a simpler and safer choice."

Lu Jianchuan fell silent for a moment, digesting these words. He hadn't expected that his honesty, which had carried murderous intent at the time, would instead become the foundation of the other's trust.

"I understand." He finally nodded, looking at the Rabbit King and then at Golden Bone. "Alright."

Lu Jianchuan and the Rabbit King looked at each other, the air seemingly frozen. One was a human warrior not good with words, and the other was an intelligent creature that had just emerged from a hostile relationship; the sudden "coexistence" relationship left both in an awkward silence, not knowing what to do.

After a long while, Lu Jianchuan finally spoke dryly: "Do you... want to go see something?"

The Rabbit King sat on its haunches before him, its white fur particularly striking under the base's lights. The intent it sent back also carried a hint of being lost: "I don't know."

The atmosphere fell back into an awkward silence.

"Hey! Senior silver skeleton! And... uh, Mr. Rabbit King? The superiors mentioned you to me!" A vibrant voice broke the silence. Wang Yu popped out from somewhere, looking at this strange pair with curiosity. "What are you two doing here? The atmosphere feels so heavy."

Lu Jianchuan sighed and told the truth: "We are having a very awkward standoff here." Wang Yu blinked: "What's wrong?" Lu Jianchuan pointed at the Rabbit King: "Mainly, I don't know what to take it to learn about, or what to do."

Wang Yu rubbed his chin and thought: "Hmm... that is indeed a problem. It seems like besides the base, we can't just take it to places with many ordinary people, after all..."

His words weren't even finished when Lu Jianchuan suddenly bent down and picked up the sitting Rabbit King. The Rabbit King's body stiffened slightly, but it didn't struggle.

"Don't bring your four guards," Lu Jianchuan said to the Rabbit King in his arms, his tone returning to its usual decisiveness. "In that case, let's go out and take a look. Your evolved appearance isn't much different from an ordinary white rabbit. If I just hold you, it shouldn't attract attention. Bringing those four conspicuous subordinates would be more trouble."

The Rabbit King was silent in his arms for a moment, its red eyes flickering, before finally sending an intent: "...Alright. In any case, my life is indeed tied to your hands now." It then issued a command to the four guard rabbits, telling them to return to the designated containment area.

"Let's go," Lu Jianchuan adjusted his hold on the Rabbit King to make it more comfortable, then said to Wang Yu, "Since you've run into us, come along. We'll take it to see... the human world."

Wang Yu immediately got excited: "Great! I know a nearby ecological park open to the public. The environment is good, and there aren't too many people. It should be suitable!"

And so, Lu Jianchuan, dressed in casual clothes and holding a seemingly docile white rabbit, with the enthusiastic youth Wang Yu following beside him, the three—or rather, the two humans and one rabbit—left GUPA Base and blended into the bustling yet ordinary city streets outside.