Mr. Rat of the Steam World

Chapter 99 Advanced Evolution Drives Subsequent Evolution
Lu Ran descended the stone steps to the underground territory hidden deep beneath the Morse factory.

The dim, yellow light comes from electrical wires cleverly introduced from the surface factory, which meander along the carved rock walls and connect to incandescent light bulbs hanging from the ceiling of the passageway.

Lu Ran didn't linger and headed straight for the laboratory that had been established deep within the territory.

The walls here have been more finely polished and covered with a relatively smooth layer of lime to reduce dust. Several brighter incandescent bulbs hang above the key workbench, dispelling the shadows in the corners.

The ventilation system is also more complete, with a small steam fan running continuously to remove any odors that may be generated during the experiment.

A simple but practical wooden shelf leans against the rock wall, displaying various collected experimental equipment such as beakers, test tubes, tweezers, and small hammers, some of which are specially customized miniature versions.

After all, with such a large factory behind us, ordering a lot of grain and equipment is quite convenient; it's just a matter of mentioning it to our regular suppliers.

Lu Ran's gaze immediately locked onto the most important figure in the laboratory.

The money-grubber wasn't standing at the workbench, but lying on a makeshift medical examination table pieced together from smooth wooden planks. He was now a completely different person from the withered, bald old butler Lu Ran remembered!
The research mouse that Lu Ran remembered so well, with its sparse fur almost bald, was squatting intently beside the money-grubber.

It carefully pressed its paw against a makeshift stethoscope, crafted from thin springs and metal sheets, with the tip pressed against the money-grubber's chest, listening intently.

Next to him, a younger research assistant was frantically holding up a small, polished metal plate, trying to illuminate the greedy man's face with the help of the light so that the bald man could observe his pupil reactions.

As for the remaining research mice, they were all busy with their own tasks.

The greedy creature's back was straight and relaxed, its grayish-brown fur gleaming with a healthy sheen. Its face looked radiant, as if time had reversed on it.

The bald-headed research mouse moved nimbly. It retrieved its homemade stethoscope, paused briefly at the greedy mouse's paw to feel its pulse, and then picked up a sharpened charcoal pencil from a small shelf next to it. On a wall recording board that had been smoothed with lime plaster and dried, it quickly recorded a series of crooked symbols and data that only it could understand.

Seeing that it seemed to be over inside, Lu Ran couldn't help but shout.

"miser!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, the money-grubber abruptly opened his eyes, which had been basking in pleasure, and his eyes shone with an unusually bright light under the lamp.

With a nimble flip, it leaped off the examination table, its movements swift and fluid, completely devoid of its former mature, steady, and slightly slow gait.

"My lord! You're back! The timing is perfect!"

The money-grubber's voice was filled with long-lost excitement, even carrying a hint of youthful elation, creating a wonderful contrast to its usual calm tone.

"Did you see that? Did you see that? The effect! The effect of that potion!"

It pointed to its clean, no-longer-white downy hairs around its mouth, puffed out its chest, and even did a few quick stretching movements on the spot.

"I feel like I've returned to the time shortly after I was inspired! No, even more energetic than then! All that heavy feeling from before has disappeared!"

"You're actually the first one to be tested?"

"There's no other way, it has to be someone like me, who's getting on in years, who gets to try."

Lu Ran responded helplessly, circled it twice, and carefully examined it. He stretched out his paw and gently patted the money-grubber's thickened and firm shoulder.

"But you look very good. How was your physical exam? Are you feeling any discomfort?"

The money-grubber calmed down slightly, but was still excited: "As you instructed, I've kept detailed records. Body temperature, heart rate, breathing rate..."

As it spoke, it looked at the bald research mouse next to the examination table.

The bald research mouse immediately straightened up, picked up the wall-mounted recording board, and came to Lu Ran. "Reporting to the Lord! All the data is here! Body temperature is consistently higher than normal, but the money-grubbing steward feels good! Heartbeat is strong and steady, the frequency has decreased by 8 beats per minute compared to before the injection, closer to adulthood data! Breathing is deep and smooth, lung capacity has significantly improved! Pupil sensitivity to light has increased by about 15%! And..."

It pointed with the tip of its paw at a set of complex symbols on the recording board, "The content of the most important aging factor metabolites in the blood microanalysis sample has decreased by nearly half! Squeak! That's amazing!"

The money-grubber smiled helplessly and took over the conversation, explaining more concisely and directly: "In short, all my basic vital signs are within the optimal range. I had a brief period of mild dizziness after taking it, but it completely disappeared after about ten minutes."

And now I'm bursting with energy, I always want to be active, I can't sit still at all, I feel like I have inexhaustible strength!

It rubbed its paws together somewhat shyly as it spoke.

"the most important is……"

Under Lu Ran's strange gaze, the money-grubber slowly spread out his paws.

Click!

A very faint yet unusually crisp metallic scraping sound rang out.

Beneath the greedy creature's outstretched paw pads, small, blunt claws that were originally hidden between the soft flesh and fur and were usually used for digging and climbing suddenly sprang out!

Instead of elongating, three long, narrow claws, twice their original length and gleaming with a cold, metallic light, suddenly shot out! Their edges gleamed with a chilling sharpness, as if they could easily slice through leather or even thin sheet metal.

Lu Ran stared in astonishment at the outstretched claw blade, but that wasn't all!
Just as the three sharp claw blades were launched and had not yet landed, another unexpected event occurred!

Under Lu Ran's solemn gaze, fine, pure silver scales, as if forcibly squeezed out from under the skin of the greedy man's claws and wrists, rapidly grew, spread, and covered from the roots of its thick grayish-brown fur!
The process was silent yet swift. The tiny silver scales seemed to come alive as they surged, overlapped, and interlocked, emitting a soft rustling sound, eventually forming a sharply defined, silver scale structure resembling the half-finger guard of an ancient warrior.

"What is this?" Lu Ran's voice was filled with shock as he immediately recalled the huge silver scale that had been repeatedly studied in the laboratory.

"That's right, it's the substance extracted from that giant scale."

The money-grubber nodded firmly, his eyes still filled with astonishment despite having witnessed it many times.

"The wonder of that substance is beyond imagination! It can bring about such a change with just a trace of residual power... How terrifying must the power of its original form be!"

Lu Ran circled the newly transformed money-grubber again, examining its shimmering silver scales and chilling claws up close, his heart pounding faster than ever.

He eagerly pressed, "How many doses of this medicine have been prepared? How many more can be made with the current materials?"

The bald research mouse hurriedly and respectfully replied, "My lord, the original samples we obtained are limited. We have successfully prepared five doses so far. The greedy steward has already used one. The remaining materials are estimated to... be able to make at most seven or eight more doses, unless we can obtain more samples."

Lu Ran paused slightly, somewhat regretfully: "That's too few, which means it's impossible to completely cover the rat population..."

He had originally thought that this would allow the rat population to undergo a complete evolution.

However, the system's enlightenment has ended, meaning the system acknowledges the result of this enlightenment.

After much deliberation, Lu Ran gritted his teeth.

"Give me one!"

Never mind, let advanced processes drive subsequent evolution, and we'll deal with that after we get more samples.

I want super sharp claws too!
……

(End of this chapter)