Chapter 575: Xu Huo Is Back
The international situation was gradually becoming tense, and things weren't much better inside the Special Defense Department. Especially as players gained more and more say, several team leaders in the department were working hard to win players over.
The core members were still those originally employed by government units, while others were recruited from players who voluntarily joined the Special Defense Department.
However, the breakdown in relations between Team Leader Wu and Team Leader Song had reached a point where they wouldn't even bother with superficial courtesy. This wasn't just about competing for players. Team Leader Wu was known in the department as a good-natured person, but his cold attitude toward Team Leader Song came entirely from being secretly disadvantaged twice.
Team Leader Wu was well-liked and had many capable subordinates, especially someone like Nie Xuan, who often brought significant gains after entering an instance. Coupled with resolving the Flower City abnormal space incident, he held considerable sway in the department.
Unexpectedly, Team Leader Song had set a trap for him, sending his people on dangerous missions, resulting in substantial losses.
In Team Leader Wu's view, if the preliminary intelligence hadn't been inaccurate, they wouldn't have lost so many players—players who would have achieved great things in the future. And since Team Leader Song was in charge of intelligence gathering, Wu suspected he had done it deliberately.
Team Leader Song naturally wouldn't admit it, but his targeting of Team Leader Wu was too obvious. Even Jiang Qiao, who usually maintained a neutral stance, couldn't stand it and gave him no good looks either.
Whether Team Leader Song had interfered was one thing, but the truth was he wanted to grab any good stuff for his own team's players. Afraid that other team leaders might get the advantage, he had rushed over hastily.
He didn't catch Jiang Qiao's implication, only thinking that someone from the Player Association had connected with Team Leader Wu. Instead, Dai Wenqian said, "Xu Huo is back?"
Xu Huo was considered a notable figure in the eyes of the Special Defense Department. However, after his last departure, there had been no news of him for two months, leading some to speculate that he had died in an instance.
"Is he really back alive?" Team Leader Song asked skeptically.
"Not only is he back, but he's also brought hope," Jiang Qiao said to Minister Fan. "He's already a D-rank player and can stay in other game zones. That's probably why he didn't return earlier. I guess he came back to Zone 014 as soon as he got this fungus, specifically to bring it back."
"According to him, this fungus can neutralize A-rank pollutants and S-rank toxins. In the dimensional rifts, the threat levels of pollutants, bacteria, and toxins range from low to high as E, D, C, B, A, S, and super S. If we can cultivate it on a large scale, our country could take a big lead in pharmaceuticals."
At the very least, they wouldn't have to be constrained by the game.
This news shocked everyone present because, according to the game's ranking system, the strongest toxin currently in Zone 014 was only C-rank.
"Is it really that powerful?" Team Leader Song said. "Could he be trying to take credit, using something that can't be verified in a short time to fool the Special Defense Department?"
Team Leader Wu sneered, "If you have something like that, you can bring it out to fool us too."
Team Leader Song wanted to say more, but at that moment, several researchers walked out with ecstatic expressions and said to Minister Fan, "It really works! And the effect is amazing! Just a segment of the mycelium can kill the alien toxin!"
Minister Fan was overjoyed. "Can it be cultivated?"
"Cultivation probably won't be easy," the researcher said. "This fungus isn't very active and can't survive without a nutrient supplement. If kept in nutrient solution, it should last about a month."
Jiang Qiao had already mentioned earlier that Xu Huo had only given a few live specimens, which was far from enough for mass production.
"We need to find a way to make it grow," Minister Fan said. "The latest batch of potions has been stored. Take them all for testing and see which potion makes this fungus grow fastest."
The researcher immediately sent someone to fetch the potions and then returned to the lab.
Coming out of the lab, Minister Fan smiled broadly and patted Team Leader Wu on the shoulder. "This time, it's all thanks to you. Take good care of Xu Huo. Give him whatever he wants as much as possible."
"What players want is nothing more than good items and good potions," Team Leader Wu said.
"No problem. Give him whatever he asks for," Minister Fan said generously. Then he sighed again, "It's such a pity that someone like him refuses to join the Special Defense Department."
"Minister, why don't you personally invite him? Maybe he'll give you the face," Team Leader Song suggested.
Whether Minister Fan had that kind of face was unclear, but Team Leader Song's intentions were certainly malicious.
Xu Huo had already clearly refused the Special Defense Department before and had nearly clashed with them. What good would it do even if Minister Fan went?
"Making things worse benefits no one," Jiang Qiao said. "Do you think a player like Xu Huo would stay in Zone 014? It's already good enough that he brings good things back."
"Team Leader Song, stop giving bad advice. If we had followed your suggestion last time and directly attacked, do you think we'd have this fungus today?"
"Can I single-handedly influence the Special Defense Department's decisions?" Team Leader Song retorted.
Seeing that an argument was about to break out, Team Leader Chang quickly mediated. "Regardless, at least the situation is good now. Since he doesn't want to be constrained, maintaining the current state is fine."
"This kind of player isn't bad either," Team Leader Lu said with a smile. "He probably won't take out personal grudges on others."
Xu Huo's relationship with the Special Defense Department was far from pleasant. After that fiasco in Jing City last time, if he hadn't used his space item to escape, who knows what would have happened afterward.
"We should all change our attitude," Team Leader Lu continued. "Now that the Player Association has been established, don't think about how to control players. Think about how to win them over."
"Since some players have obtained universal antidotes like this fungus, don't you think other players might have also gotten high-level items? And what are these players' attitudes toward the Special Defense Department and the government now?"
Most people had no goodwill. First, there was distrust of the Special Defense Department, which had used tough measures to intimidate players before. Second, players themselves had grown stronger and didn't want to work for the Special Defense Department. Some even felt an excitement that their roles might soon be reversed.
It wasn't just the Special Defense Department that was building up strength. Players scattered everywhere were also watching from the shadows.
*
Xu Huo slept until the morning of the third day before waking up refreshed. When he pulled open the door, he saw Sima Xiao'er squatting at the entrance, dozing off. He kicked him. "Go sleep somewhere else."
Sima Xiao'er immediately stood up when he saw him. "Brother Xu, I was really worried something was wrong with you!"
"I'm perfectly fine," Xu Huo said without ceremony. "Go find some food."
Sima Xiao'er didn't hesitate and immediately went to run the errand. Xu Huo stretched his body and then received a call from an unknown number. When the call connected, the other party said with a smile, "Xu Huo, long time no see. Do you still remember this old friend?"
Pausing his action of drinking water, Xu Huo said flatly, "If you think you have too many players on your side, I can spare some time to help you dispose of a batch."
"You didn't learn your lesson in Flower City last time, Dai Wenqian. You still dare to call me?"
(Chapter End)