Chapter 574: Fungal Experiment
The detoxifier containing fungal threads that had been prepared earlier was already used up. Ordinary detoxifiers should be useless against xenomorph venom, otherwise Team Leader Wu wouldn't have come to him in desperation.
Xu Huo's main purpose in returning this time was to hand over the King Fungus sample to the Special Defense Department, so he said, "I've collected a type of fungus that can suppress toxins, though I'm not sure if it can be cultivated in Zone 014."
Team Leader Wu was overjoyed and quickly said, "Good, good, we have to try regardless of whether it works. I'll notify someone to pick you up right away. You're in Ting City, right? Don't wander off, and don't trust anyone easily. Neither Nie Xuan nor I are there, and it's dangerous everywhere now. Don't hand over the items lightly."
Xu Huo hung up the phone, picked out Liu Jia's message, and replied to her. If she found Professor Han, she could come to him, and he could remove the xenomorph venom.
Professor Han had been scratched by a xenomorph on the initial examination train. After returning, he was placed in quarantine for treatment. The specifics were unclear, but he was one of the earlier samples of xenomorph injuries. The most likely scenario was that he was being used as an experimental subject. If Professor Han was lucky enough that the xenomorph venom hadn't taken effect too quickly, he might be able to hold out for a while.
Of course, it was also possible that the Special Affairs Bureau at the time already had a treatment method for xenomorph venom, though not a cure, but a delay. Additionally, the game had just started, and all the detoxifiers players received were the lowest grade. In Decibel Town, Gu Yu and the others were merely lucky to have stumbled upon the potions left by Master Nisse.
But there were subtle differences here. The xenomorph venom in Decibel Town had been studied by Master Nisse, so the treatment might be targeted. Others were not necessarily the same. Even if one obtained D or C-grade detoxifiers, they couldn't target multiple types of xenomorph venom.
Xu Huo climbed through the window into Yuan Yao's newly rented apartment. After turning on the light, he took out a few test tubes. He had nothing else, so he scooped some soil from a flowerpot into them, then cut his palm to release the King Fungus.
The King Fungus could detoxify, but the fungal threads crawling out of the human body had no roots and couldn't automatically split.
He had to cut several sections of fungal threads from the wound and place them together with the Nuwa Stone in a glass box.
He went to wash up and prepared some food for himself. Yuan Yao had stocked up on quite a bit of supplies. After cooking and coming out of the kitchen, the fungal threads in the glass box had already connected to the Nuwa Stone. At the connection points, thin strands resembling roots had grown out, making it look alive.
He took out two threads and placed them separately into a test tube with soil and a test tube with nutrient solution. After Xu Huo finished eating, the one placed in the soil had already died, while the other was still alive.
He transferred all the remaining fungal threads into nutrient solution test tubes, then packed them in a constant-temperature aluminum box and set it aside for the Special Defense Department to pick up.
Unexpectedly, it took another half hour for the Special Defense Department personnel to arrive.
Leading the team was the female team leader Jiang Qiao, whom Xu Huo had met during the negotiations in Jing City. She also brought along Sima Xiao'er, a player from the Ting City Special Defense Department.
The group was travel-worn, clearly having rushed from elsewhere. The team members they brought were all fully armed, wearing gas masks.
"Being this cautious?" Xu Huo opened the door and called them in.
"Can't afford not to be." Jiang Qiao greeted him before saying, "More and more players are entering the game now, and the potions they bring back are all kinds of strange. Ten days ago, a player team suffered from a poison gas bomb."
Xu Huo understood and pointed to the box by the sofa. "The stuff is over there. Take it, but be careful. This fungus can't survive in ordinary soil. Nutrient solution or other potions might work."
Jiang Qiao carefully opened the aluminum box to inspect. "Five test tubes, five fungi. Confirmed received."
"Brother Xu." Sima Xiao'er no longer had his red hair; he had cut it short and dyed it black, looking somewhat like a civil servant.
"You didn't go with Nie Xuan?" Xu Huo grabbed a can of beer from the fridge, opened it, and took a drink. "Help yourself if you want one."
Sima Xiao'er declined the offer and said, "I won't go and cause trouble. The people going there are all very powerful players."
He then looked at Xu Huo with hopeful eyes. "Brother Xu, are you going?"
Xu Huo waved his hand. "I need to rest for a few days."
Having not slept well for an entire week, he couldn't handle it either.
Jiang Qiao closed the aluminum box, carefully holding it in her hand. To ensure nothing went wrong, she applied protective gear and items to the box, then locked it to her wrist with an item.
"Given the circumstances, we can't stay long." She said to Xu Huo, "This came up urgently, and we didn't bring any supplies. Mr. Xu can make any requests to Team Leader Wu. As long as the Special Defense Department can do it, we will go all out."
"No need to be so polite," Xu Huo said.
"It's only right." Jiang Qiao's expression was solemn, completely unlike her casual attitude during the previous negotiations. "If the fungus Mr. Xu brought back can detoxify, it would be like saving the entire Zone 014."
"I know Mr. Xu doesn't want to be disturbed, but since you're back to rest, you'll definitely need someone to run errands and handle things." She added, "Sima Xiao'er was arranged by Team Leader Wu. He knows the Special Defense Department's emergency contact methods. If Team Leader Wu's phone can't get through, he'll find a way."
Before Xu Huo could say anything, Sima Xiao'er said, "Brother Xu, most restaurants outside are closed now. I can help buy groceries and cook."
Players also need to eat.
Xu Huo didn't refuse the Special Defense Department's goodwill. After seeing Jiang Qiao off, he said to Sima Xiao'er, "Don't call me tomorrow. And not tonight either. Just find any room to sleep in."
Sima Xiao'er nodded. "I'll sleep in the living room."
Xu Huo ignored him, went back to his room, closed the door, and crashed into sleep.
While he was sleeping, Jiang Qiao had already taken a fighter jet overnight and arrived in Jing City.
Xu Huo had already explained the basic usage of the King Fungus to her. She relayed it verbatim to the expert team. Although it could be used directly to detoxify people, the King Fungus was too scarce and needed large-scale cultivation. Ideally, it should be made into an independent potion to benefit more people.
At the same time, several important figures from the Special Defense Department arrived at the research base.
Minister Fan, Team Leader Song, Team Leader Wu, and the recently joined Team Leader Chang and Team Leader Lu.
The first few were old acquaintances. Team Leader Chang had just been brought in by the state; he was also a player himself. Team Leader Lu was a kindly-looking middle-aged woman.
Given the current situation, these people also had players accompanying them to the research base.
"Minister, I heard a player obtained a universal potion that can treat xenomorph venom. Is that true?" Team Leader Song asked immediately upon arrival.
"Your information network is really fast." Team Leader Wu's face darkened, his gaze sweeping over him and Dai Wenqian standing behind him.
"Should matters concerning the nation's lifeline be kept under wraps?" Team Leader Song said. "Old Wu, your awareness isn't up to par."
Team Leader Wu wanted to go up and slap him across the mouth.
"You should say a few less words," Jiang Qiao said, also displeased. "This time, we have Team Leader Wu to thank. If not for him, you'd be watching your players die one by one."
(Chapter End)