Chapter 954: A Warning
But that wasn't the main point. Setting aside the genetic issues for now, the mass death of infected individuals wasn't something that couldn't be contained. With the precedent of W06 Base City, other surviving base cities should have large reserves of antidote. The fact that the SE virus problem had never been resolved defied logic. Allowing the virus to persist in infected individuals was like leaving a time bomb ticking. A base station of that size couldn't possibly lack a single player who had found a permanent cure.
Since the SE virus weakened with each transmission cycle and over time, it was clear the developer hadn't created it solely to cut off the future of certain base cities. The additional effects it carried must have served a corresponding purpose.
It would take at least fifteen years to see results from suppressing Evolver genes. Contrary to what Teacher Ai had said, the SE virus did have a killing purpose—perhaps even its primary one.
Whether it was the old base stations or the current ones, the biggest problem was always the rapidly growing population coupled with extremely scarce resources.
"There's no targeted antidote?" Xu Huo asked after a moment of thought. "If 01 Base dared to release this virus, they must have at least a way to save themselves."
Teacher Ai curled the corner of his mouth. "There are always idiots in this world who cover their heads but leave their asses exposed."
"If there really was an antidote, so many people wouldn't have died." The square-faced man grabbed his hair. "A third of the population—how many children died in there... I don't understand. Why does W11 still have original SE samples?"
Although the square-faced man claimed to be a retired security guard from the government laboratory, he looked under fifty. Compared to Teacher Ai's anger, he showed more pity for the ordinary people of W37 Base City.
"Is the Enforcement Team chasing you because of the SE virus?" Xu Huo changed the subject.
The square-faced man looked at Teacher Ai, who explained, "Xiong Qing was once a pharmacist at 01 Base City. If the base government already knows about the SE virus spreading, they'll definitely suspect him. And with me suddenly arriving in W37, it's not strange for the government to react in any way."
"It's just that with the outbreak now, I don't know if W37 will use the antidote reserves in the laboratory."
"Can the laboratory reserves save that many people?" Xu Huo looked at the two of them. "And as you said, the entire city will be infected within forty-eight hours at most. Time might not be enough either."
"That's not necessarily true." The square-faced man, Xiong Qing, suddenly spoke up. "Before I left the laboratory, the government shut down a project related to the SE virus. I heard that project was specifically focused on an SE antidote and had made some progress. But the professor in charge died of illness, and since the SE virus's infectivity wasn't as lethal anymore, they abandoned it. If we can get the research data and the antidote, there might still be a glimmer of hope."
The two of them looked at Xu Huo in unison. Xu Huo nodded understandingly. "I'll call Gao Xiaoyan when we get out. If the antidote is really useful, W37's government will likely restart the project."
Xiong Qing and Teacher Ai exchanged a glance, hesitating as if they wanted to say something.
"What is it?" Xu Huo raised an eyebrow.
"They might not believe what you say." Teacher Ai said. "Even if Gao Xiaoyan sets aside past grievances and trusts you, restarting the project and verifying the antidote will take time. If the finished product is scarce, they might not use it on ordinary residents."
"What are you suggesting?"
"We need to get the antidote ourselves." Teacher Ai said solemnly. "Even if we can't save the people of W37 Base City, we have to stop the virus from spreading to other base cities!"
"A player's actions during the clearance process also become part of their rating criteria. If we can save the base station, the rating won't be lower than B-grade. Saving others' lives is a very positive performance in the game!"
"Isn't that why you came to find us?"
Xu Huo seemed persuaded. "Do you have a map of the laboratory?"
"You're really going?" Xiong Qing was surprised he agreed so readily. "The government laboratory is heavily guarded by players right now. It's dangerous to go."
"Consider it a good deed for the day." Xu Huo said with a meaningful tone. "Besides, I'll act within my limits."
Teacher Ai was silent for a moment before telling Xiong Qing to give Xu Huo the laboratory map. He then said, "We'll head to the city gates first. If there's a chance, we'll leave W37. If you get the antidote sample, come find us. We'll wait for you for three hours."
"If you can't get it, that's fine too. In the game world, no one is obligated to carry someone else's life."
Xu Huo nodded in agreement. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed another general building map of W37 in Xiong Qing's backpack and asked, "You're a Gray Player."
Xiong Qing covered his bag. "Yes, I can still use items. Old Ai has already had his player status suspended."
Xu Huo took the map and left. "I'll find a way to draw the Enforcement Team's attention. You two follow the plan."
As a capable player, his attitude and actions were almost too good to be true. The two people watching his back were still half-convinced, half-doubtful.
Xu Huo naturally knew they had their suspicions, but that didn't matter. He wasn't entirely trusting of them either.
Still, a trip to the government laboratory was necessary.
After leaving the jewelry store, he first went to find Shangguan Xi.
Shangguan Xi had also escaped from the Enforcement Team's encirclement. Xu Huo followed the locator to find him and was surprised to discover that he had run into Kuang Wenjun and Pan Qiao.
Since Xu Huo happened to need more hands, he cut straight to the chase. "I triggered a side mission. If you're willing to help, we can clear it together."
Kuang and Pan were both astonished. Pan Qiao blurted out, "You found the third living sample?"
"Sort of." Xu Huo didn't explain too clearly. "Are you in or not?"
"Of course I'm in!" Shangguan Xi rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Brother Xu, I knew following you was the right call. Tell me, what do you need us to do?"
Xu Huo handed the glasses to Shangguan Xi. "You two are responsible for tailing Teacher Ai and that retired security guard, Xiong Qing. Find out exactly where they're going. Report their position to me every five minutes."
"Kuang Wenjun, you're coming with me. I need to take care of something at the government laboratory."
Pan Qiao hesitated slightly. "She's not very mobile. Maybe I should go instead..."
Kuang Wenjun cut him off. "I'll go."
Three of the four agreed to the plan, so the remaining one's opinion didn't matter. Xu Huo instructed them to "make sure they don't die" before taking Kuang Wenjun with him to use "Destination Arrival" to head to the Tree Crown Pillar.
"Do you have an invisibility item?" Xu Huo asked Kuang Wenjun.
"Yes, but it only lasts for one minute." Kuang Wenjun looked up at the players guarding the Tree Crown Pillar. "Breaking through the defense line won't be easy."
"That's not hard." Xu Huo put on the Invisibility Cloak and bypassed the elevator, going straight up from the high altitude. With "Three Seconds of Life" in hand for one second, all the space restriction items arranged on the Tree Crown Pillar shut down. As he stepped onto the aerial structure, he used the lighter to set consecutive fires, igniting several shops. Taking advantage of the chaos, he brought Kuang Wenjun and broke into a television station building.
(Chapter End)