Chapter 1565: Reality
This player was one of the people who had come with Jiang Qiao to pick him up.
The implication was clear: if Xu Huo hadn't hoarded such a large amount of Detox Fungus, how could he have contaminated the entire isolation room? Although those liquids were all highly toxic, a single test would reveal that they were nothing but the "corpses" of Detox Fungus!
Team Leader Lü and Jiang Qiao, who were present, had somewhat unpleasant expressions, but they didn't stop the player from speaking.
"Why don't you state your terms."
Although the other party's attitude was calm, his expression didn't change much, and he didn't show any contempt or disdain for Xu Huo's suspected attempt to raise the stakes, his words still caused the air in the room to freeze.
Speaking in this official, businesslike manner with an implied condescending negotiating posture meant that the Special Defense Department didn't intend to maintain a friendly, consultative relationship with Xu Huo on this matter.
This wasn't hard to understand. The premise of mutual benefit was that both sides had equal leverage. But now, the only one who could stop this disaster was Xu Huo. Although the Special Defense Department had made big promises, in reality, they couldn't produce anything of equivalent value to trade, nor did they have the time and patience for tactful communication. So they had to jump straight to the final stage.
Xu Huo turned to look at that player, without any anger at having his "thoughts exposed" or being questioned. Instead, he said, "So the Detox Fungus I had stored up was all used to save myself."
The other party never expected him to answer like that. This somewhat shameless and rogue-like response left them momentarily unable to find a rebuttal, especially since they indeed had no direct evidence that Xu Huo had monopolized a significant amount of Detox Fungus.
The room fell silent.
No matter what attitude the Special Defense Department took, it couldn't change the fact that the breakthrough point lay with Xu Huo.
"I suffered some serious injuries in Zone 017 and need to rest." After saying this, Xu Huo prepared to leave the Isolation Hospital.
The player who had spoken seemed to want to step forward and stop him, but Jiang Qiao suddenly reached out and grabbed him. Unlike Team Leader Lü's mature composure, her attitude toward him could be described as harsh. She said in a displeased tone, "Why don't you take over Team Leader Lü's position and run the Isolation Hospital?"
The man turned back to look at the few people staring at him with cold faces and ultimately compromised.
Team Leader Lü and Jiang Qiao saw Xu Huo off, even proactively asking if he needed to borrow a Space Teleportation Device.
"Protecting the lives of the people and keeping them from being violated by game powers is the Special Defense Department's responsibility. And this isn't something one person can bear alone. We all trust your character. Don't put too much psychological burden on yourself. Do your best and leave the rest to fate." Team Leader Lü said to Xu Huo with a smile.
Xu Huo stared at her for a second. "Is a family member of yours infected?"
Team Leader Lü struggled to maintain her expression, seemingly unable to even open her mouth.
"It's Team Leader Lü's daughter," Jiang Qiao said from the side. "Her only surviving daughter."
Aside from her mother, who had died of illness, Team Leader Lü's father, husband, eldest son, only sister, and niece had all already sacrificed themselves.
"This time, the order for using the medicine was determined by the severity of the infections. Team Leader Lü's daughter isn't on the treatment list."
Team Leader Lü couldn't say anything more. From a mother's standpoint, she wished Xu Huo could save her daughter, even if it was only her daughter. But from the standpoint of a Special Defense Department team leader, she couldn't privately divert the medicine or make a private deal with Xu Huo to exchange for it. Caught in this dilemma, she could only remain silent, unable even to beg for help.
"Team Leader Lü has a good relationship with Team Leader Wu, doesn't she? For Team Leader Wu's sake, I can help you with this favor," Xu Huo offered proactively. "Don't feel troubled. You have your priority order, and I have mine."
Team Leader Lü's eyes reddened, and her voice had a barely perceptible tremor. "But to completely save one person would require at least three doses of the medicine..."
And three doses could allow three patients to live a little longer.
"You're mistaken about one thing. I'm not giving you the medicine for you to decide. You can only choose whether or not to send the person here." Xu Huo told the helicopter pilot to take him to the airport.
Team Leader Lü remained standing there motionless. Jiang Qiao quickly said, "I'll arrange a fighter jet to take you immediately!"
Xu Huo arrived back in Jing City just in time for an early lunch.
The Special Defense Department hadn't gone so insane as to control his family. Everything at home was still the same.
Knowing he was back, Father Xu was very happy. Ms. Yu suggested going out to buy some good groceries and also picking up Tongtong.
The environment in Jing City had improved a lot now. The safe zone designated by the Special Defense Department had expanded to outside the residential area. A new market had been built nearby. Residents could go out shopping on their own, and the neighborhood children had dedicated teachers for lessons. Tongtong was attending a tutoring class not far from the residential area.
Ms. Yu, in a rare act of kindness, let Tongtong end his tutoring early. But when the kid found out his brother was back, he loudly demanded over the phone that Xu Huo come pick him up, even threatening that he wouldn't come home if Xu Huo didn't come. Ms. Yu's sunny face immediately turned cloudy.
"I'll go pick him up. It's only a few steps away anyway," Xu Huo said.
Ms. Yu couldn't very well object, but she said into the phone, "Just you wait until you get back!"
Xu Huo walked out of the residential area, turned down the street, and arrived at the tutoring place. As soon as he reached the door, Tongtong, who had already gathered his friends, immediately announced loudly, "My brother's here! See? My brother is a really powerful player!"
The kids let out a chorus of "Wow!" Most of them lived nearby because their families had members holding important positions in the government. There were also some player family members, though relatively fewer. Some kids had heard Xu Huo's name from their parents, and combined with Xu Tong's constant boasting, they were very curious and admiring of Xu Huo.
Patting Tongtong's head, Xu Huo distributed the candy he had bought to the children who crowded around. He nodded to the tutor and then led the kid home.
All the way, Tongtong excitedly pestered him with questions, even beating around the bush to ask if ordinary people could use items. Then he put on a serious face and said, "I've thought about it carefully. It'll be many years before I can become a player, but I need items right now. Anyway, I'm definitely going to be a player in the future, so it's perfectly reasonable for me to use items in advance."
"Aren't you afraid your mom will hit you?" Xu Huo saw through his little scheme.
"A real man isn't afraid of anything!" Tongtong said with a straight face. "I just want to exercise my rights in advance!"
"Where did you learn that phrase?" Xu Huo chuckled. "Regular items are useless to you. But I do have a way to keep your butt from hurting."
Tongtong looked at him with a thirst for knowledge.
"Wear two pairs of pants," Xu Huo said, patting him on the head.
"You tricked me with that last time!" Tongtong accused. "My mom found out and pulled my pants down to spank me!"
Xu Huo smiled and said nothing. Tongtong muttered something about "never trusting you again" and "a man has to rely on himself" before suddenly switching the topic to something completely different. "A classmate of mine said a lot of people have been getting sick and dying lately, and you're the only one who can save them. Is that true?"
Today was a very happy and fortunate day. Mom had been hospitalized for a few days, and I was really unable to eat or sleep peacefully before. Fortunately, the evening test results came back good, and I suddenly felt like I had come back to life. The world is still beautiful! (ｖ＾＿＾)ｖ Happy! Hehehe!