269: Oh, dreams.

Deep in the alley, behind a hidden pile of debris, Shen Mingyuan found Zhao Jinhua and Little Pink hiding cautiously. He deactivated his Shadow Form and returned to his everyday clothes to reduce the other party's tension.

"Alright, it's safe now." Shen Mingyuan walked over, his tone calm. "If you don't mind, how about an introduction?"

The small pink Axolotl creature immediately poked its head out from behind Zhao Jinhua's leg, the external gills on its head twitching cheerfully. Its voice was thin and high-pitched, laced with a hint of impatience: "I'm Little Pink! I'm Little Pink!"

Shen Mingyuan nodded and offered a slight smile. "Hello, Little Pink."

Zhao Jinhua patted Little Pink on the head, signaling it to stay calm, and then looked at Shen Mingyuan with a gaze full of both scrutiny and gratitude. "I am Zhao Jinhua. Just now... thank you."

"You're welcome, Mr. Zhao." Shen Mingyuan's tone was steady as he cut straight to the chase. "Now, would you two be willing to explain to me exactly what is going on? This 'Little Pink,' and the pursuit by those guys just now?"

Little Pink nodded immediately, opening its mouth to speak: "Okay, okay! Actually, it's—"

Zhao Jinhua gently pressed his hand on Little Pink's shoulder, interrupting it. He took a deep breath and said to Shen Mingyuan, "I'll tell it. This matter... it's a long story, and a bit... bizarre."

He looked into the distance, his eyes filled with the melancholy of memory. "When I was sixteen, my parents divorced, and neither of them wanted me. Back then... I was quite lonely. Later, I thought I'd get a pet, at least for companionship. I bought an Axolotl at the flower and bird market. That was... Little Pink's original form."

He looked down at Little Pink, who was snuggling against his leg, and his gaze softened. "I just kept raising it, feeding it every day, changing its water, talking to it. I don't know when it started... but it slowly became different. It grew faster than a normal Axolotl, its body shape changed, becoming more and more... like this. I still remember the first time it struggled to stand on its hind legs, using those not-yet-fully-formed little claws to pull at the edge of the fish tank. I was so startled I nearly knocked the tank over."

Little Pink seemed to understand, bashfully scratching its smooth cheek with its 'hand.'

Zhao Jinhua gave a bitter smile. "Later, it just grew larger and larger, becoming more like it is now, with distinct limbs. It could even understand me and speak a few simple words itself. Even though its appearance changed, in my heart, it's still my Little Pink."

"And then?" Shen Mingyuan asked. "How did the New Federation find you?"

Zhao Jinhua's face darkened. "About half a year ago, shortly after Little Pink had almost completely transformed into its current state. First, some strange animals started hanging around our place. Later, evolved animals like those just now—ones that can talk and possess intelligence—came to our door. They said they were from something called the 'New Federation' and that they had their eyes on Little Pink's potential and intelligence, wanting it to join."

Little Pink shook its head vigorously, its external gills flapping about. "No! I don't want to! They looked so scary, and they smelled... weird! They didn't seem like good people!"

Zhao Jinhua stroked Little Pink's head and continued, "Right, Little Pink didn't want to, and I didn't agree. I don't know exactly what that 'New Federation' is, but I felt it wasn't a good crowd. After we refused, the trouble started. Stalking, harassment, and once they even tried to take it by force... We called the police, but..." He sighed, his smile turning even more bitter. "The police came and asked what happened. What was I supposed to say? That we were being hunted by strange animals? That my pet Axolotl turned into this and was being recruited by an organization of intelligent animals? No one would believe it. I was afraid that if I said too much, Little Pink would be exposed and taken away to be studied as a monster... that would be even worse."

His voice was filled with helplessness and exhaustion. "There was no choice but to run with Little Pink. Hiding, moving from place to place, working odd jobs. It wasn't until recently that we made our way to this city. I didn't expect... they would find us again."

"I see." Shen Mingyuan nodded, his tone becoming more solemn than before. "Mr. Zhao, Little Pink, what you are facing now is no longer just ordinary harassment, but an organized threat. That Hermit Crab from earlier was just one of them. I've had some contact with this 'New Federation' organization. Their style of doing things... indeed doesn't suggest they will give up easily."

He paused for a moment, seemingly weighing his options, before looking at Zhao Jinhua. "Hiding and evading is not a long-term solution. Especially now that they have locked onto you. You need help, and Little Pink... also needs a safer place to go."

"Can I... can I trust you?" Zhao Jinhua looked at Shen Mingyuan, his voice carrying the weariness and uncertainty of a long life on the run. "That official organization... they really won't lock Little Pink up, or... perform some horrible experiments? Like the ones in the movies?"

"No! So scary! I don't want to be locked up! I don't want to be sliced open for study!" Little Pink immediately shrunk behind Zhao Jinhua, revealing only a pair of watery, large eyes as it looked at Shen Mingyuan in terror. The external gills on its head retracted in nervousness.

Shen Mingyuan looked at them, his tone exceptionally calm yet carrying an indisputable weight. "Rest assured, that won't happen. I guarantee it in my own name. If they actually dared to do such a thing—" He paused, the light from his red visor seemingly sharpening for an instant, "—I would fight my way in and rescue you. Furthermore, I have lived there for quite some time myself. I am certain that they have strict regulations and respect for intelligent, non-hostile Evolved Lifeforms. At the very least, it's much safer than being endlessly hunted by the 'New Federation' out here."

Zhao Jinhua pursed his lips tightly, his gaze moving back and forth between Shen Mingyuan's armored face and Little Pink's uneasy expression. Faint sirens and clamor seemed to drift from the distance of the alley, reminding them that this place was not safe. He closed his eyes wearily, and when he opened them again, he seemed to have made up his mind.

"Fine..." his voice was raspy. "Anyway, at this rate, our days of hiding are coming to an end; we'll be found sooner or later. I... I'll go with you."

"Good." Shen Mingyuan nodded and looked around. "Be careful not to let Little Pink be exposed. We'll take some secluded routes."

Thus, the two men and one Axolotl—more accurately, an Armored Man in Shadow Form, a tense young man, and a strange creature mostly hidden by a jacket with only an occasional flash of pink visible—left the messy alleyway and headed quietly toward the GUPA Base. Shen Mingyuan knew the city's road network like the back of his hand, specifically choosing backstreets and alleys with few cameras and pedestrians.

As they walked, Little Pink, who was being half-carried in Zhao Jinhua's arms with only its small head poking out, suddenly blinked its large eyes. It stared curiously at Shen Mingyuan's streamlined, matte black armor and spoke in its thin voice:

"Wow... you're so cool! What's your name?"

Shen Mingyuan didn't stop walking. His red visor glanced at it, and he answered with his processed, electronic-reverb voice: "Just call me 'shadow'."

"shadow... the Passing Detective!" Little Pink repeated, its tone full of undisguised admiration. "So cool! Extremely cool! So awesome! When I grow up, I want to wear armor like that too! Then I'll go around fighting criminals and helping people!"

Hearing this, Shen Mingyuan seemed to let out a soft chuckle. A slightly amused response came from beneath the armor: "Heh... is that so?"

"Of course!" Little Pink nodded emphatically, its external gills swaying along. "Once I turn into a human, I'm definitely going to put on armor and fight criminals! Hmph!"

"Turn into a human?" A hint of confusion entered Shen Mingyuan's voice. "You still want to become human?"

"Of course I do!" Little Pink answered without hesitation, its voice full of longing. "I want to become human!"

"Then... how do you plan on changing?" Shen Mingyuan asked, following its lead with a tone of casual conversation.

Little Pink immediately perked up, speaking in a serious tone as if sharing a major secret:

"As long as I stay honest and don't lie, a Fairy Godmother will come and turn me into a human very soon! Just like... just like the story of Pinocchio!

Big brother often tells me fairy tales, and that's how it works in them! When in doubt, the Fairy Godmother helps you! As long as you're an honest, good child, the Fairy Godmother will grant your wish and turn you into a human!"

Shen Mingyuan: "..."

Beneath the armor, he seemed to fall silent for a moment. The light from his red visor even appeared to freeze.

After a few seconds, he spoke slowly in an extremely subtle tone—a mix of sentiment, helplessness, and a trace of indescribable emotion:

"Uh... I-is that so? So... there really is such a thing as a Fairy Godmother. Hmm... that's a very good dream. You... will surely achieve it."

"Hahaha, right!" Little Pink laughed happily, as if it could already see itself transformed into a human, looking majestic in its armor.

Shen Mingyuan asked softly again: "Then why... do you want to become human so badly?"

Little Pink tilted its head, thought for a moment, and then began counting off on its slightly webbed fingers, one by one:

"Because humans are amazing! Humans have civilization; they've built so many tall, beautiful houses, they have so many fun things, and so much delicious food!

Candy! Cake! Ice cream! And, after becoming human, I can go wherever I want. I won't have to always hide, afraid of being seen or scaring others.

I can walk openly under the sun, go to the park, go to the amusement park, go to so many, many places to play, and make many, many friends!"