Chapter Thirty: The Ambition to Create Dragons and the Hidden Secrets of the Real World

He had never bought these things before and was unfamiliar with the market, but before coming here he had specifically looked it up. Even the cheapest white mice on the market cost at least several dozen yuan, while the most expensive, the top-tier Spotted Mouse, could fetch over ten thousand. Naturally, Fang Zhuowei’s best choice was the Spotted Mouse—expensive, yes, but worth every penny.

“Our cheapest ones are a bit over fifty, and the most expensive go for more than two thousand. There are five different grades in total,” the round-faced girl said with a cheerful smile. “We can definitely meet your needs at any price point.”

“Over two thousand? Do you have any Spotted Mice here?” Fang Zhuowei asked tentatively. Among all white mice, the Spotted Mouse was the highest in quality—both genetically and behaviorally, they were the closest mammals to humans. Since this concerned himself, he naturally wanted the best.

“Spotted Mice? We do have them, but each one goes for no less than ten thousand. Are you sure you want one?” The round-faced girl was somewhat surprised. Spotted Mice were the aristocrats of white mice—extremely expensive and difficult to care for. Aside from certain laboratories, few individuals ever bought them.

Anyone who kept Spotted Mice at home was almost always wealthy or of high social standing. The price alone was prohibitive, and they were far more delicate than ordinary white mice, not to mention their monthly food expenses.

In short, the Spotted Mouse was a pet for the rich. But this man in front of her—while his clothes weren’t cheap street bargains, he didn’t exactly look like someone with deep pockets, either.

The round-faced girl discreetly sized Fang Zhuowei up several times from head to toe.

“You really have them here?” Fang Zhuowei was surprised. He’d only asked on a whim and hadn’t expected they’d actually have any for sale.

“We do,” the girl replied with a smile and a nod.

“I’ll take one then,” Fang Zhuowei decided after a brief consideration.

He only needed a small amount of Spotted Mouse cells; a single one should suffice.

“I can’t give you one right now. Spotted Mice are too valuable to keep here. I don’t have any, but my brother does. You can place an order in advance, and I’ll have my brother deliver it,” the girl said quickly, pursing her lips.

“How long would that take?” Fang Zhuowei raised an eyebrow.

“It won’t take long—at most a day.”

“That’s acceptable, then. I’ll reserve one.” After a moment’s thought, Fang Zhuowei nodded.

Spotted Mice were the aristocrats of their kind. Although they were available online at somewhat lower prices, delivery took far too long, and most importantly, he couldn’t guarantee the quality of the mouse that would arrive. What if it died en route?

While a dead one could still just about be used, it wouldn’t compare to a healthy specimen.

“That… placing an order requires a two-thousand yuan deposit…” the girl said softly.

“That’s no problem.” Fang Zhuowei nodded and transferred the money.

“Could you leave your contact information? If you don’t have time, we can deliver it to your door.”

Seeing Fang Zhuowei pay the deposit without hesitation or haggling, the girl’s enthusiasm grew. Two thousand wasn’t a fortune, but it said something about the man in front of her. Her instincts told her he was someone used to acting low-key but was actually wealthy.

Handsome and well-off—the round-faced girl’s opinion of Fang Zhuowei shot up.

Of course, Fang Zhuowei had no idea about her thoughts. After paying the deposit and leaving his contact information and address, he prepared to leave.

“What’s that lizard called?” On his way out, a rather ugly creature in a glass case caught his eye.

“That’s a Green Iguana—four hundred yuan. Although it doesn’t look very pretty, it’s one of the most docile and timid animals in the world, and currently the most common pet lizard on the market,” the girl explained fluently. Clearly, she was well-versed in her field.

“Green Iguanas are diurnal, arboreal lizards. They’re omnivores, eating crickets and mealworms when they’re young, but as adults, they transition to a primarily plant-based diet—grasses and fruits are their favorites. Among all lizard species, they’re considered one of the easiest to keep. If you like it, you could buy one.”

“I’ll take one,” Fang Zhuowei said after inspecting the Green Iguana closely.

Gazing at this lizard, he suddenly had a bold idea. They say lizards most resemble dragons; he wondered whether he could use the iguana’s cells and genes to evolve a mythical dragon.

After buying the iguana, Fang Zhuowei picked up several other species of lizards, spending nearly two thousand more in total.

“Sir, would you like to sign up for our store membership? I can give you several cages for free. I’ve tested them myself—they’re good quality. If you bought them separately, each would be at least twenty yuan,” the girl offered, now treating Fang Zhuowei as a valuable client.

“Sure,” Fang Zhuowei replied without hesitation. If you can get something for free, why not?

After completing the membership, the round-faced girl quickly fetched several wooden cages about half a meter in size and helped Fang Zhuowei place the lizards inside.

…

Anping Town was surrounded on three sides by mountains. As far as the eye could see were barren, jagged peaks, bizarre rocks, and an endless, undulating range averaging more than two thousand meters in height. The terrain was so precipitous that it had always been a place easy to defend and hard to attack.

Apart from these three sides, the remaining side of Anping Town faced Anping River.

Anping River was several hundred meters wide. The only way into town was to cross the river.

From a distance, the river appeared a vast expanse of white waves, like boiling salt piled with snow. In the sunlight, the rippling surface shimmered like bands of golden snakes.

At this moment, a steamboat was slowly making its way across the river. The roar of its engine echoed between the cliffs, stirring surging waves and sending sprays of water crashing forward.

On the deck stood several figures.

At the front was a man in a white casual suit and oversized white sunglasses. He was tall and well-built, his features sharply defined and deeply set, as if sculpted from marble by a Greek artisan. Although his face was mostly hidden, there was no doubt he was strikingly handsome.

Beside the young man stood a burly giant, well over two meters tall with bulging muscles, and another figure—a child of perhaps eight or nine, with a stubborn cowlick.

“Hey, King Kong, who’s the contact in Anping Town again?” The man in the casual suit rubbed his brow and looked at the strongman beside him.

“It’s a woman, I think her name is Zhang Ya. Codename: Phantom.” The giant’s voice was deep and gruff.