Chapter 956: Biochemical Weapon
He was obsessed with Dr. Wu, claiming he wanted to create an evolution agent different from those distributed by the game system. In the process, he moved through three laboratories, all of which ended with his dismissal.
Half a year later, Luo Changren found another path—he obtained the remains of a common ancestor from W37 Base Station and conducted targeted racial gene optimization. After facing opposition from the entire base station, he fled to other districts. He returned a year later, publicly announcing that he had successfully developed an evolution agent suitable for the rapid evolution of everyone in W37 Base Station.
Doubtful: Whether there really is a gene evolution agent specifically for W37 Base City has yet to be confirmed. According to post-incident investigations, the outbreak in 06 Base City happened to occur after A1 Laboratory hired Luo Changren. Multiple laboratories believe that Luo Changren's claim of modifying evolutionary genes for a specific race is impossible to achieve.
The first page ended here, and the second page was missing. After searching through the entire document, only one report that seemed to be a conclusion was found:
The SE virus has been confirmed to be highly contagious and causes irreversible aftereffects. These aftereffects will be passed down to the offspring of those infected.
Putting down the report, Xu Huo quickly browsed through other related materials on the SE virus. They were largely consistent with what Teacher Ai had said—once the SE virus began to spread, its toxicity would gradually decrease until it reached a minimal level of parasitism.
However, regarding the genetic inheritance aspect, many laboratories remained skeptical. But they lacked samples, and for those still alive, a virus that had gradually lost its potency was not worth investing so much effort into studying.
In the end, A1 Laboratory was sanctioned. Almost all experimental results were safely destroyed, even the building was burned down, and most of the researchers were sent to prison.
Of course, since Xiong Qing could come to W37 to work as a security guard, it was unlikely that the other researchers were actually in prison.
This was very interesting.
The destruction of A1 Laboratory samples included W11 and W37. Based on the current situation, the original samples of the SE virus had certainly not been destroyed. These two base cities were likely aware of this. Storing the samples wasn't for researching a vaccine—that left only one purpose: killing.
But in Xu Huo's view, saying "killing" was too euphemistic.
He pulled out the materials related to Dr. Wu and Luo Changren, then went to the next warehouse. After collecting the usable items, he found the sealed laboratory that Xiong Qing had mentioned.
There were indeed antidotes in the laboratory, but unfortunately, they weren't for the original SE virus. Instead, they were for the SE3 variant, which had been weakened twice.
He knew those two hadn't told the truth.
"Beep!" Shangguan Xi's second call came in.
"Talk," Xu Huo answered the phone.
"Do you have a map of W37?" Shangguan Xi asked with slight confusion. "Those two have been circling a place called Bird Tower several times now."
Xu Huo thought for a moment. "The area around Bird Tower is an old neighborhood—the main street before W37 was expanded. Bird Tower and three other buildings on the same block are all scheduled for demolition and reconstruction. How do you know they're targeting Bird Tower?"
"As expected of Brother Xu, you know the building layout of W37 like the back of your hand." Shangguan Xi flattered him first before getting to the point. "At first, I wasn't sure either. After splitting up with Pan Qiao, we found several players on Bird Tower. They don't look like Enforcement Team members. Because of the R1 Laboratory incident, the outside is in chaos, but these guys haven't moved an inch. They're strong players. I suspect Teacher Ai doesn't dare go near because of them."
Not everything Teacher Ai and Xiong Qing said was false. At least they genuinely sympathized with those infected by the virus. Making up the story about antidotes in R1 Laboratory was to divert him—they wouldn't leave W37.
Whatever their goal at Bird Tower was, it was clearly important to the base government as well. A non-player and a gray player who had long since stagnated—breaking through the defense line was almost impossible. Judging by their attitude, they were probably stubborn enough to try anyway.
"If they get caught, first confirm their location," Xu Huo said.
"Those players are pretty strong. If they want to kill them, I won't be able to stop them." Shangguan Xi paused. "Are they closely related to the side mission?"
"They're the key to clearing it." Xu Huo didn't explain further. "Don't lose track of them under any circumstances."
After cutting the communication, he found the virus freezer in R1 and casually picked out two A-level and three B-level virus samples, storing them in his luggage compartment. Just as he was about to look for mutant plant samples, a shout came from an unknown corner:
"Your companions have been captured! We know you don't have any biochemical weapons! Leave the laboratory now, and W37 will let bygones be bygones!"
This was clearly transmitted through a prop, and it could be heard clearly from almost any position in the laboratory. Because it was so clear, he could also hear the speaker gritting their teeth as they said it.
The base government had surrounded several laboratories and blocked off nearby streets for investigation. After the first round of searches found no trace of any foreign players, they knew they had been tricked. The biochemical weapon attack was likely a feint.
Just as they were about to expand the search scope, the people from Qingniao Television Station were caught—only one player who had been used to buy time!
The temporary command center hadn't received any reports of attacks elsewhere. At this point, even a fool could guess that the person had taken advantage of the chaos to enter the laboratory.
The one who issued the warning might not even be a very strong player. He might not even have a biochemical weapon at all. He had fooled the base government with just a single lie, and everyone was gnashing their teeth in hatred!
The key issue now was that they couldn't launch a forceful attack—the biochemical weapons in R1 Laboratory were real!
Of course, by the time they proposed the exchange conditions, some players had already sneaked into the laboratory.
Xu Huo knew someone had entered. He instead picked up a basket of A and B-level virus agents and went to the main control room.
The surveillance system in the laboratory had already been taken over by the base government. He didn't bother trying to restart it. Instead, he picked up the broadcast microphone and smashed two virus agents against it.
The crisp sound traveled through the internal line to every corner of the laboratory. Xu Huo put on the clown costume and said with a laugh, "Everyone, what you just heard was the sound of two A-level virus agents breaking. In the next few minutes, I'll smash nearly a hundred virus agents at my side, depending on my mood. The door to the main control room isn't locked. You're all welcome to come and witness."
After speaking, he threw out two more.
The player who had entered the laboratory was led by the baseball cap guy. He shouted into his loudspeaker prop, "You're dead, kid!"
"Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!"
In response came a series of sounds of glass test tubes hitting the ground, accompanied by a sharp automatic alarm!
"Biochemical weapon leak! Preliminary risk assessment level: A!"
"Biochemical weapon leak! Preliminary risk assessment level: A!"
"Biochemical weapon leak! Preliminary risk assessment level... upgraded to Super A-level! All experiment personnel, evacuate immediately!"
(Chapter End)