Chapter 847: Contributing to the Prosperity of Zone 011
"Wormhole Flower?" Xu Huo paused.
"Surprising, isn't it?" Dr. Deng said with some pride. "I haven't been completely without progress either."
"The method?" Xu Huo prompted.
"Wormhole flowers can display the overall evolutionary level of a zone's space. The higher the evolution, the larger the proportion of red on the flower's plant. Its red and purple changes are based on external spatial variations. Most people regard it as a barometer of spatial evolution, but its actual uses go far beyond that."
Dr. Deng continued, "Its red and purple parts can react with any evolutionary agent and then provide feedback in the form of color."
"Ordinary evolution agents, whether dripped onto the red or purple parts, will produce unevenly colored spots after a period of time, but Perfect Evolution Potion does not. The potion turns purple into red—not through pigment diffusion, but through a normal growth change!"
He spoke with excitement, "Do you know what this means!"
Xu Huo listened as he spoke, "Wormhole flowers do not change their growth state due to changes in local spatial conditions. Even when placed in a sealed or special environment, it's difficult to alter their habits. They can accurately display the evolutionary level of a space, indicating a special connection with the evolution of a time-space. Stellar Pharmaceuticals still hasn't reached a conclusion on this connection."
"But the Perfect Potion can easily change it. This suggests that Dr. Wu likely found the substance that affects wormhole flowers and incorporated it into the potion, thus creating the Perfect Potion!"
"Doesn't this mean wormhole flowers and the Perfect Potion share the same components?" Xu Huo was surprisingly calm. "If so, one should be able to study the Perfect Potion starting from wormhole flowers."
As for the substance affecting wormhole flowers, he didn't believe the game had no leads by now.
This old man was spouting nonsense again.
"Wormhole flowers are abundant, but the Perfect Potion has more than one component. Even a slight deviation yields vastly different results. If it were that easy, wouldn't the world be flooded with Perfect Potion by now?" Dr. Deng immediately said.
"You can think of it the other way around," Xu Huo said with a smile, speaking slowly. "If Dr. Wu was originally an expert from the Stellar Pharmaceuticals Research Group, the game might have already developed the Perfect Potion long ago. But to control the players, they hid the Perfect Potion. As for Dr. Wu, perhaps as a pure scholar, he couldn't stand the game toying with human lives, so he deliberately spread the Perfect Potion."
"From this perspective, it can also explain why Dr. Wu distributed the Perfect Potion across different zones while Stellar Group has made no progress. Have they really not obtained a single dose?"
Dr. Deng paused, his smile vanishing. After a long silence, he said, "Of course, I've considered that possibility too."
"But the likelihood is very small." He added, "I've seen core members of the Game Government who were ultimately affected by Degeneration and committed suicide... quite a few, actually."
"Just to control the players, they wouldn't have to sacrifice their own people."
"For the players, the game holds unilateral hegemony."
Standing at the foot of the mountain, trying to touch the clouds at the peak was naturally impossible—very distant, and thinking about it would yield no results. However, regarding Dr. Deng's statement, Xu Huo believed that as long as it didn't involve the game's origin, what couldn't those people in the Game Government sacrifice?
It was still better than the news leaking out and countless players besieging the Game Government for the Perfect Potion.
But this was just speculation.
Back to the main topic.
"What about the later potions?" Xu Huo tapped the paper. "It ends here at P3."
Dr. Deng's expression turned unpleasant. "Do you think I've seen the P4 potion?"
"Hard to say." Xu Huo said, "Even if you've never obtained the Perfect Potion, you should have seen its effect on wormhole flowers, otherwise you couldn't be so certain."
"It's also possible you're messing with me."
Dr. Deng pounded his chest with one hand. "I am absolutely not lying this time."
Xu Huo's attitude softened. "From now on, we are partners. No need to be so formal."
Dr. Deng extended his hand and shook his. "Can I get out of the small dark room today?"
"No." Xu Huo gently refused him. "Hold on for a few more days."
Dr. Deng had no choice but to accept.
Xu Huo took the materials and left. At the entrance of the guesthouse, he suddenly turned around. Dr. Deng was still standing there, quickly forcing a smile when their eyes met.
Xu Huo smiled and nodded in return, then left.
But as soon as he turned around, the smile vanished from his face.
Over the past two days, the food and water Mr. Dong had sent him were tampered with, but the ordinary truth-telling agents had no effect. Mr. Dong confirmed that he wasn't wearing any extra items, indicating that he himself had developed drug resistance.
This kind of operation was not uncommon in the game. With agents like truth serum and lie-detection serum, there were certainly agents to counteract their effects. As a pharmacology expert who had worked at Stellar Pharmaceuticals, he had likely undergone related modifications or training upon employment.
He would find an item to test later.
After putting the materials back in the study, Xu Huo ordered wormhole flowers and a few items through an online platform from other cities. While waiting for delivery, he went to the old city district again.
On the way, he encountered Black Epaulets, some of whom recognized Xu Huo and deliberately stopped him for questioning.
"I sponsored a few orphans and came to check on them." Xu Huo cooperated and explained.
"Don't you know the children from the welfare home have been relocated?" The other party wasn't willing to let him off easily. "Coming out during a special period—you wouldn't have other motives, would you!"
Several Black Epaulets surrounded him. Xu Huo said, "What do you want?"
"We suspect you are connected to the Rongxin Group confidential theft case and this attack. We are now legally detaining you!"
As he spoke, they moved to apprehend him.
Xu Huo's brow furrowed. Just as he was about to raise his hand, a man who looked like a team leader approached from a distance. "What's going on?"
The questioning Black Epaulet stated his suspicions, but the team leader asked with a dark expression, "Do you have any evidence for these two incidents?"
How could that Black Epaulet produce evidence? He emphasized, "That person entered his Rose Castle!"
"That doesn't prove they are connected." The team leader scolded, "Did you memorize the Enforcement Department manual in vain? When have we Black Epaulets ever acted like the White Epaulets, relying entirely on assumptions and conjectures?"
"Today, you can pin the attack on him based on a vague piece of evidence. Tomorrow, couldn't someone do the same to you?"
The Black Epaulet didn't speak, but his expression was clearly unconvinced. He glared hatefully at Xu Huo.
Xu Huo knew he was looking at the badge on his clothes that symbolized his identity.
"There's a reason Black Epaulets defeated White Epaulets to become the main force of the Enforcement Department." He said with a smile, "I sincerely settled down in Zone 011. The money I bring back can be used to purchase supplies and do charity work. It's also contributing to the prosperity of Zone 011. For Zone 011, isn't having more players like me a good thing?"
(Chapter End)