Due to deal restructure text to speech player is currently unavailable. Will find a solution soon.

Chapter 213: 213

For the next few days, Chen Chen never stepped out of the Spire Experimental Base .

Chen Chen had entrusted the management of the Eco Science City to Cheng Cao . Although Cheng Cao was unfamiliar with overseeing a city, everything should be fine since he had the help of Little X .

Meanwhile, Chen Chen remained in the laboratory and continued studying the Progenitor virus with Hannibal and the others .

The problem was that the Progenitor virus was not perfected . Although it was able to prompt evolution, the success rate for doing so was extremely low while the fatality rate was disproportionately high . Its nature was unstable as well .

They intended to improve the Progenitor virus and reprogram it into a virus that was more stable and carried stronger evolutionary abilities .

The cast of Resident Evil had paved the foundation for this path they were taking .

The Umbrella Corporation had spent decades researching the Progenitor virus before finally finding the most resolute path – by merging the Progenitor virus with partial genetics of leeches, they created a brand new virus .

As an ancient annelid species, leeches possessed superior environmental tolerance and adaptability . Since the transcriptase of the two was homologous, the genetics of leeches could be used to enhance the environmental adaptability of the Progenitor virus, which also improved its stability .

With the help of the research data from the Hive, there was no need for Chen Chen’s side to conduct further experimentation . They only had to use the devices from Resident Evil and apply the technique that had already been developed to fuse the two genes .

At the present, inside the level-4 biosafety laboratory, dozens of research members enclosed in protective suits made their laps around the laboratory, occupied with their tasks .

“Now conducting the fourth attempt…”

The projector placed in the center of the laboratory projected the image on the microinjector .

Inside the translucent petri dish space, a fixed straw could be seen latching onto a fist-sized bubble . The bubble took on a translucent form and a thin layer of membrane could be seen on its outside . It enclosed several tiny and oddly shaped substances on its inside .

As the straw prodded into the bubble and began its slow advance, the shape of a transparent needle could be observed on the screen .

As the two began to close in with each other, the head of the needle could be seen gently poking through the membrane layer, entering the bubble .

Finally, several drops of blue substance were injected into the bubble .

Chen Chen silently observed the ongoing operation on the display . Despite the sheer magnitude of the substances on the display, they were all smaller than the tip of a needle in reality .

For instance, the bubble shown on the display was the zygote of a leech which was only a few microns in diameter . The ISCI injection needle which appeared even smaller measured only 0 . 1 microns in diameter .

With this infection implantation and the addition of various chemicals, the newly born leeches now had the characteristics of the Progenitor virus .

This was a class of heterophonic chimeric substance .

After undergoing several intricate processes which include reproduction, the virus would then be extracted from the leech .

After several failed attempts, the Progenitor virus had finally properly fused with the genes of the leech, producing a new virus substance . The experiment had succeeded at last .

“It has been extracted . The virus which has been genetically restructured is displaying unique characteristics…”

Inside the laboratory, Hannibal extracted a test tube from the low-speed centrifuge . He poured the contents of the centrifuge-separated liquid into another test tube .

A liquid substance glowing blue appeared before their very eyes .

“Don’t be too optimistic just yet, let’s see the results first . ”

Li Lei reminded .

“Alright . ” Hannibal went to an operating bench on the side and drew 0 . 1ml of the liquid in the test tube, which he proceeded to inject inside an SPF grade mouse in a cage .

“Squeak!”

The little mouse squeaked in pain .

Sadly, not a soul present felt sorry for it . After injecting the virus, Hannibal put the mouse back in its cage and repeated the same sequence with the mice in other cages, injecting them one by one .

Hannibal separated the experiment animals into several groups, each group having been injected with varying dosages .

After the process was completed, Hannibal checked the time . “The time now is 2230 . Based on the research details, the effects should be visible in three hours . ”

An assistant on the side quickly pointed to an experimental recorder to record the process of these mice being injected with the virus .

In the beginning, the mice injected with the virus appeared perfectly fine, displaying zero symptoms whatsoever .

As time passed, around half an hour later, the mice began to show signs of being agitated . They began to crawl around in their cages, appearing as if they were being threatened by some natural predator .

At the one hour mark, all of the mice in each of the cages began squeaking away loudly . The ones that had been injected with larger doses appeared to be experiencing more intense pangs of pain .

At the two hour mark, the mice that had received larger doses took a complete turn from their usual docile temperament and began bashing against the cages . The cages trembled ceaselessly but the mice themselves seemed to display no signs of being in pain .

At the two and a half hour mark, all of the mice were displaying extreme aggression . They continuously bashed against the cages in their attempt to break out of it .

As the bashing went on, their movements began to grow slower and slower until they soon curled up into a ball . It was hard to determine if they were dead or had just merely passed out .

At the three hour mark, the mice had awoken and returned to their usual state .

“They have survived the virus . They haven’t died or become zombies but have become carriers of the virus . ”

Li Lei sharply drew in a breath of cold air upon noting this . “Doesn’t this make them the same as the asymptomatic patients, able to spread the virus wherever they go?”

“That’s right, that’s what’s threatening about the virus . ”

Chen Chen looked at the mice and mused . “The body of a mouse already contains many bacteria and viruses in the first place . This ended up contributing to a heightened amount of natural resistance in them that even rivals that of bats . It’s not surprising that they become a source of virus infection…

“But this doesn’t mean that they can be used as representative for the data . We’ll still have to observe other animals first . ”

Chen Chen suddenly thought of the hounds infected with the virus in the movie so he added . “If I’m not mistaken, the virus should have different effects on species such as dogs and cats . ”

“Will we begin the animal experiments tomorrow?” Hannibal asked .

Chen Chen stayed silent for a while before declaring, “Alright, we’ll begin the related animal experiments tomorrow . How many species do we have in the SPF breeding room currently?”

“We have Kunming mice, SD rats, New Zealand white rabbits, macaques, and chimpanzees . Five species in total,” the assistant in charge of rearing the animals spoke up .

“We shall conduct tests on the three latter species tomorrow . ”

Chen Chen made a nodding gesture to affirm his decision . With that, he left the Spire laboratory .

After going through the complicated disinfection process required for leaving the laboratory, Cheng Chao who had been notified of the recent development was already waiting outside . “Boss, returning to the research center today?”

Chen Chen waved his hand . “I’m not leaving, but I need you to run some errands for me . I remember the Walvis Bay Police Department has set up an office and a prison in Eco Science City . I need you to go to the department chief and get him to give me five serious offender prisoners . ”

“Serious offenders?”

“Yes . Kill, rape, whatever works . ”

Chen Chen nodded . “After that, I’ll have the Black Knights work together with you to bring the five of them back here . One more thing, I need the candidates to be physically healthy . ”

“I got it . I’ll see to it now . ”

Cheng Cao nodded then turned around and left .

The reasoning for so quickly jumping into human experimentations was that Chen Chen understood that the T-virus was intended for humans . Although animals may be able to carry the virus, the intended host for the virus had always been humans .

It was merely an accident that the dogs were zombified after being infected with the virus . In truth, the same principle could be applied to all animals .

It was only after Cheng Cao had left when Chen Chen finally returned to his room in the Spire Experimental Base . He immediately felt a wave of drowsiness collapsing on him upon lying down on the bed as sleep took him quickly .