Chapter 310: Spreading Consciousness
After the medical team and expert team from Jing City arrived at the hospital, they conducted a thorough examination of Xu Huo, confirming that there were no major physical issues. The reason he hadn't woken up yet might be side effects from the evolution. Given this situation, the medical team didn't dare use medication casually, as it could not only interrupt the evolution process but also potentially cause death.
"It's best to draw blood for testing first." Professor Lan, white-haired but full of energy, offered his opinion and added, "We brought the only two brain evolution boosters we have. Let's wait for the blood test results before deciding whether to use them."
His words displeased Team Leader Song. "These are the only two evolution boosters we have. Five players from the Special Defense Department with the same evolution direction are all applying for the boosters, and their success rates are over seventy percent. Does Xu Huo have such a high rate? We don't even know if he can survive."
"Don't talk to me about that," Professor Lan said, burying his head in the documents in front of him without looking up. "My orders are to determine whether Xu Huo can use the boosters. If he can, I'll give them to him. Other matters are not within my consideration."
"There's one thing I've already reported," Team Leader Wu interjected at this point. "Xu Huo's friends won't allow the hospital staff to draw blood, so..."
Before he could finish, Professor Lan interrupted, "How you get the blood is your problem. I still have experiments to do. I'm leaving first."
With that, he indeed took his documents and left, leaving the several Special Defense Department heads exchanging awkward glances. Team Leader Liao said with slight embarrassment, "This old professor has quite a temper."
Team Leader Song glanced at him. "The state protects its talents. No matter how big his temper, it's not for us to comment on. You all should figure out how to draw the blood."
Mentioning this made Team Leader Wu sigh involuntarily. Now, besides Yan Jiayu, two more people had joined. The three of them stood like door gods blocking Xu Huo's hospital room, ready to attack at the slightest disagreement. With Xu Huo present, they couldn't take forceful measures either.
"Although I don't want those two boosters to be used on Xu Huo, Old Wu, you're too soft. A few players can push you around like this." Team Leader Song said with a hint of sarcasm. "You need to show the authority you have in the Special Defense Department."
Team Leader Wu's face lengthened. "Do you know how many players are gathered outside the hospital?"
If Xu Huo were just an insignificant ordinary person, taking down Yan Jiayu and the others would naturally be no problem. But the trouble was that Xu Huo had previously made a scene advocating for evolvers. That incident hadn't blown over yet, and internet memory wasn't that short. If any commotion happened at the hospital, intentionally or not, those players could cause chaos!
This wasn't like before. When a small group of troublemakers threatened the state and ordinary people's safety, everyone would naturally support the state and spare no effort to crack down on them. But now, an increasing number of players were watching the state's attitude, which also concerned their interests and safety. Not to mention civilian players, the Special Defense Department itself had many players. In the previous outer zone player invasion incident, how many vanguard players had died? Others had shed blood and lost their lives—didn't they want to fight for fair treatment?
"Conflict won't solve any problems," Team Leader Wu looked at him. "When you go out, you also bring players with you. When you say these things, don't you feel a chill down your spine?"
Team Leader Song's expression changed slightly, but he still insisted, "They are challenging the state's authority. This kind of behavior absolutely cannot be tolerated. Otherwise, if one causes trouble today, two have objections tomorrow, and three make demands the day after, won't the state fall into chaos? We do need to rely on players now, but we can't let them run wild, nor can we let them have the illusion that they are above ordinary people!"
Team Leader Wu looked somewhat weary. "Things are different now."
If they couldn't do a good job in the initial stage when the number of players was surging, this contradiction would only become more intense in the future. When force could no longer threaten players' lives, a completely uncontrollable situation would emerge.
So what was important now wasn't making players comply with laws or moral standards, but making them trust the state and join in. Only when the vanguard player team grew stronger could order be maintained for the long term.
"I'll go check on the others." Team Leader Wu stood up and left the meeting room.
Of the Special Defense Department members who entered the fog zone together, only sixteen returned. The rest disappeared with the fog zone—whether trapped inside or using tickets to go to other instances was unknown.
Among those who came out alive, four were still in a coma. The medical team had tried various methods but couldn't wake them. Their situation was different from Xu Huo's—their brainwaves were normal, and their condition was closer to deep sleep.
"These people have very little chance of waking up," Professor Lan said to the doctors beside him. "Unless they can be brought out by others like the rest in a short time, they will eventually weaken and die."
There were also experts from the expert group present. "They won't last until the day they weaken and die. In less than a month, they'll be teleported into the station... How is Xu Huo doing?"
"Professor Tang is conducting psychological intervention," a doctor said.
Team Leader Wu, who was present, was stunned. "He can receive psychological counseling while in a coma?"
"Judging by the activity level of his brainwaves, it's not impossible," Professor Lan said. "We see him as sleeping, but he might be trying to save himself. Let's go take a look together."
Xu Huo had been moved to a fully enclosed ward. Tang Guangbo sat by the bed talking to him. The instruments showed that Xu Huo did have reactions to external speech, though they weren't obvious in the overly active brainwave patterns.
"Has the situation improved?" Professor Lan asked.
Tang Guangbo turned around and said with a smile, "I think there's no need to worry at all. He can respond to my words, which means his consciousness is clear. As for why he can't wake up, it might be because his physical condition can't keep up with the evolution."
Professor Lan looked at the doctor beside him, who immediately said, "We injected him with purified evolution booster ten minutes ago. It had no effect."
Professor Lan frowned. "This isn't normal. Based on the timing of his evolution, such a large dose of evolution booster should at least put some burden on the body. There shouldn't be no reaction at all... His situation is different from other evolvers."
As soon as he finished speaking, the breathing rhythm of the several doctors present immediately changed.
Yan Jiayu quickly walked to the bedside, kicked Tang Guangbo's chair away, and swept her gaze over the retreating crowd. She said solemnly, "I've said it many times—no drawing blood."
The others in the ward were helpless. It was Professor Lan who said, "Since he's conscious, let's try the medication first. Bring the booster over."
Team Leader Song, who was just walking in, was about to object when he suddenly saw the hand of the person on the bed twitch out from under the blanket. "He's awake?"
Everyone turned around just in time to see Xu Huo's hand lift and strike his own abdomen. Just as others thought he was about to wake up, Yan Jiayu suddenly lunged forward, hoisted him up, kicked the bed away, and ran toward the door. The moment she jumped aside, the wall next to her was smashed through, and a large truck forcefully burst in!