Evan didn’t wait long before Shawn called back.

  “Headquarters is very interested,” Shawn said. “But for pricing, they’ll need to inspect the corpse in person.”

  Evan replied with deliberate impatience. “Give me a baseline. If your people come all the way here and offer something too low, it’ll just be a wasted trip.”

  FangBro chimed in loudly beside him, playing along, “Boss Su, that’s not cool. We came to you first—why’re you asking other buyers?”

  Shawn let out a helpless laugh. He could tell they were acting, but after a moment of thought, he still answered honestly:

  “Headquarters is offering around twenty million.”

  “Tell them not to bother coming if it’s under thirty,” Evan said bluntly. “A beast this size? I could sell it by the pound at a street market and make more.”

  “…I’ll check with them again,” Shawn said. “Oh, and one more thing—headquarters wants to know if you’re willing to sell the extract. We can offer a very—”

  “I already absorbed it,” Evan cut in.

  “Understood. I’ll get back to you soon. And by the way, thanks to your help, I’ve been transferred to Dongli as a regional manager. If you ever visit Dongli, don’t forget to look me up.”

  “Dongli? Sure. I’ll come.”

  Not long after hanging up, Shawn sent a message asking for their exact location.

  Evan knew then that the deal was sealed. He sent the coordinates.

  Shawn replied:

  “Our nearest field team will head over immediately. Please wait a moment.”

  While waiting for EvolutionTech’s people, FangBro restarted his livestream, circling the mutated crocodile’s corpse with dramatic commentary and exaggerated praise for his own “heroic deeds.”

  He had started streaming before the battle, but the stream had cut off midway, so viewers had missed the entire second half. They were desperate for updates.

  Now he was giving them the results.

  Evan, meanwhile, debated whether to absorb the extract now. After a moment, he decided against it. The EvolutionTech team could arrive at any time—it was safer to wait until he was back on the boat.

  More than an hour later, EvolutionTech arrived.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  A dozen people came, all extremely respectful. After examining the corpse, they reported back to headquarters.

  The team leader returned with an apologetic smile.

  “Sir, the damage to this beast is… extensive. Inside and out, everything is corroded by toxins. We detected over ten different poisons. Headquarters hopes you might be willing to adjust the price…”

  But Evan held firm at thirty million.

  After a brief negotiation, they agreed to pay.

  Evan knew the truth—

  The corpse wasn’t worth three million, let alone thirty.

  But for research?

  Curiosity alone could turn trash into treasure.

  Once the money arrived, Evan and FangBro returned to the boat.

  They split the thirty million. FangBro pocketed eighteen million and couldn’t stop grinning.

  In just two days with Evan, his income had skyrocketed. Especially today—he had earned over a hundred million.

  Before this, he wouldn’t have dared dream of such numbers. He’d have to stream for years to make that much.

  For the first time, FangBro felt he had truly found his destined benefactor.

  Back on the boat, Evan ordered the crew to continue forward. With the mutated crocodile gone, Crocodile Bay was no longer a threat.

  “FangBro, guard the door. I’m going to absorb the extract.”

  “Leave it to me,” FangBro said, thumping his chest.

  He added, “Big bro, just be mentally prepared. I heard extracts from Vahn River beasts smell terrible.”

  Evan waved it off. “Please. Some people drink the extract of maggo— of coprophages just to evolve. Compared to that, this is nothing.”

  At those words, FangBro’s expression stiffened slightly. Evan didn’t notice.

  He locked the door, sat on the bed, and took out the mutated crocodile’s extract.

  It had been half a month since he absorbed the Undying Salamander extract—a very fast pace.

  He took a deep breath and swallowed the entire tube.

  It was salty, bitter, and foul—like drinking seawater mixed with rot.

  It tasted exactly like Rovan street food.

  Absolutely disgusting.

  He had heard that some extracts tasted good, but he had yet to encounter one.

  He lay down and waited.

  About a minute later, his entire body tensed. A violent surge of heat flooded his limbs and bones. His body swelled rapidly, struggling to contain the power.

  Evan knew his physical foundation was exceptional—among Chrysalis?tier evolvers, he was top?tier. A normal Tier?2 S?rank extract shouldn’t trouble him.

  The Undying Salamander extract had been smooth and effortless.

  But this time, he felt real pressure.

  The mutated crocodile extract was simply too special.

  As a mutation, its strength far exceeded ordinary Tier?2 S?rank beasts. Its extract quality was terrifyingly high.

  S?rank was the highest category humans used—

  But not the true limit.

  Just like a perfect test score didn’t mean the student had reached their limit.

  Some extracts were monsters even within S?rank.

  Soon, Evan swelled into a giant ball of flesh, unable to even sit up.

  But every cell in his body was being strengthened. His genes were rewriting themselves.

  He checked his condition—the pressure was intense, but still within tolerance.

  And his Regenerator Core was working overtime, reducing the swelling and helping his body absorb the energy.

  “Almost there…”

  His body stopped expanding. He was still round like a balloon, but the worst was over.

  Now it was just a matter of time.

  One hour.

  Two hours.

  This was the longest extract absorption he had ever experienced.

  Three hours later, his body had shrunk significantly, though he still looked chubby.

  Then—

  His consciousness slipped into a blank white space.

  Evan’s spirit sharpened.

  Skill selection.

  He had succeeded.

  But this time, floating before him was only a single cluster of orange mist.

  Evan blinked.

  Even ordinary Vahn River crocodiles offered three or four possible skills.

  Why did this mutated crocodile only have one?

  Was this… the price of mutation?

  A normal crocodile offers choices.

  A mutated one offers none.

  This isn’t simplification.

  This is coercion.

  A single path.

  A single power.

  A single destiny.

  Mutation never asks for permission—

  it only asks one question:

  Can you survive what it gives you?

  Tell me your guess:

  What kind of monster?level skill do you think Evan is about to obtain?