It started with a single tank.
Kai walked into the newly cleared north quadrant — a 40-acre grid once filled with merged corn. Now, nothing but smooth soil, humming softly.
"Begin MergeAquaculture layout."
"Confirming," MergeCore responded. "Would you like initial design: freshwater, saltwater, or hybrid?"
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"All of them."
[MERGE: Base Soil + Waterbed Simulation Layer + BioFiltration Field + Tier 6 Merge Infrastructure]
= Tier 4 MergeAquaculture Zone]
Traits:
Auto-regulating water temperature
Species-specific pH balancing
Merge-compatible tanks with adaptive sizing
Anti-disease circulation system
Nutrient feedback loop to crops
Giant vats emerged from the ground—seamless pools of silver-lined liquid, already filtering and oxygenating themselves. Pipes slithered out like veins, connecting to storage tanks, runoff recycling tunnels, and fish feed processors.
"Select species?"
"Start with Tilapia, Catfish, Salmon. Merge in rounds of 1000."
"Confirmed. Acquiring base stock."
Minutes later, trucks rolled in.
Kai didn't wait. The fish went directly into the MergeTanks.
[MERGE: 1000 Tilapia = Tier 2 MergeTilapia]
Growth Rate: +48%
Flesh Density: +32%
Omega Fatty Acid Levels: +55%
Anti-Parasitic Trait: Enabled
[MERGE: 1000 Catfish = Tier 2 MergeCatfish]
Bottom-feeder Efficiency: +68%
Meat Yield: +44%
Fillet Texture Rating: A++
Bone Softening Gene Activated
[MERGE: 1000 Salmon = Tier 2 MergeSalmon]
Protein Value: +62%
Natural Red Pigment: Enhanced
Muscle Fiber Alignment: Perfect
Mercury Absorption Resistance: 100%
Kai stood on the edge of the tanks and watched the fish swim. They didn't act like normal fish. They moved in formations—schooling like soldiers, responding to light cues and water patterns like they understood the system.
"Push full expansion," he said.
"Fresh and salt. Get shrimp, trout, bluegill, sturgeon. Merge every line. I want MergeCaviar by end of month."
"Confirmed."
Across the world, the seafood market didn't even know what was coming.
Not yet.
But Kai would change it forever—just like he had with meat, milk, eggs, and greens.
The ocean was no longer untouchable.
It was mergeable.
Profit Summary
MergeTilapia (Bulk Contracts): +$1,600,000
MergeCatfish (Southern Restaurant Chains): +$1,200,000
MergeSalmon (Pre-Orders, Luxury Tiers): +$2,000,000
MergeWaste Water Fertilizer Output: +$450,000
Expenses:
MergeAquaculture Construction: –$4,100,000
Fish Stock: –$900,000
Merge Operations: –$650,000
Net Profit: $1,600,000
Kai's Total Net Worth: $808,743,000