Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!
Chapter 574 Fungal Experiment

Chapter 574: Chapter 574 Fungal Experiment

The antitoxin containing mycelium had been used up, and ordinary antidotes probably had no effect on alien poison, otherwise Chief Wu wouldn’t have sought help from him in such a panic.

Xu Huo’s main purpose for coming back this time was also to hand over the King Fungus sample to the Special Defense Department, so he said, "I’ve collected a type of fungus that can counteract poison, but I’m not sure if it can be cultivated in Zone 014."

Chief Wu was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Good, good, we have to try it no matter what. I’ll inform someone to pick you up right away. You’re in Ting City, right? Don’t wander around, and don’t trust people lightly. Nie Xuan and I are both away, and it’s not safe anywhere now. Don’t hand over the stuff to just anyone."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Huo picked out Liu Jia’s message and replied to her, saying if she found Professor Han, she could look for him, and he could cure the alien poison.

Professor Han had been injured by an alien on the initial screening train and was quarantined for treatment after returning. The details were unclear, but he was one of the early samples injured by an alien; the most likely scenario was that he was being used as a research sample. If Professor Han was lucky and the alien poison didn’t act too fast, maybe he could survive a bit longer.

Of course, it was also possible that the agency at that time already had a method to treat the alien poison; it was not a cure but a delay. Furthermore, the game had just started, and all the antitoxins given to the players were of the lowest rank. In Fenbei Town, Gu Yu and others were also just lucky to have stumbled upon the potion left by Master Niese.

But there were subtle differences, as the alien poison in Fenbei Town had been studied by Master Niese and might be effectively treated, while others were not certain. Even if one obtained D or Rank-C antidotes, they couldn’t target multiple types of alien poison.

Xu Huo entered Yuan Yao’s newly rented house by climbing through the window, turned on the light, and took out several test tubes. He lacked nothing else, took some soil from a flower pot, poured it into them, and then released the King Fungus from a cut on his palm.

The King Fungus could detoxify, but the mycelium emerging from the human body lacked roots and could not divide on its own.

He had no choice but to cut a few sections of mycelium from the wound and place them in a glass box along with the Nüwa Stone.

He went to wash up and make himself something to eat. Yuan Yao had stored plenty of food. After preparing the food and coming out of the kitchen, the mycelium in the glass box had already connected to the Nüwa Stone, and fibrous roots like filamentous strands were growing from the junction, making it appear alive.

He took out two strands and placed them separately in the test tubes with soil and in the test tubes with a nutrient potion. By the time Xu Huo finished eating, the strand in the soil was dead, but the other was still alive.

He transferred the remaining mycelium strands to the test tubes with the nutrient potion, then packed them in a thermostatic aluminum box and set it aside to wait for someone from the Special Defense Department to collect them.

To his surprise, the Special Defense Department’s people took another half hour to arrive.

The team leader was Chief Jiang Qiao, whom Xu Huo had met during the negotiations in Jing City, and she was accompanied by Sima Xiao’er, a player from the Ting City Special Defense Department.

The group appeared weary from travel, obviously having come from another location. The team members were also fully armed, even wearing their gas masks.

"Being so cautious?" Xu Huo opened the door and called them in.

"We can’t be too careful," Jiang Qiao replied after greeting him. "More and more players are entering the game, and the antidotes they bring back are wildly varied. Ten days ago, a player group was hit by a poison gas bomb."

Xu Huo expressed his understanding and pointed to the box by the sofa, "The stuff is there, take it. But be careful, this fungus can’t survive in ordinary soil; it might work with nutrient solutions or other potions."

Jiang Qiao opened the aluminum box carefully to check, "Five test tubes, five fungi, confirmed received."

"Brother Xu," Sima Xiao’er no longer sported red hair, having cut and dyed it black, which gave him the look of a civil servant.

"Didn’t you go with Nie Xuan?" Xu Huo took a beer from the fridge, popped it open, and began to drink. "Help yourself if you want one."

Sima Xiao’er declined his offer and said, "I’d rather not add to the chaos. Those who go there are all formidable players."

He looked at Xu Huo with hopeful eyes, "Brother Xu, will you go?"

Xu Huo waved his hand, "I need to rest for a few days."

After a week without proper sleep, he couldn’t take it anymore.

Jiang Qiao closed the aluminum case, holding it carefully in her hands. To ensure absolute safety, she used protective gear and devices on the case and then locked it onto her own wrist with another device.

"Due to the urgent nature of the situation, we can’t stay long," she said to Xu Huo. "We didn’t bring supplies this time due to the urgency. Mr. Xu, if you have any requests, you can bring them up with Chief Wu. The Special Defense Department will do everything possible to accommodate."

"There’s no need to be so courteous," replied Xu Huo.

"It’s only right," Jiang Qiao said with a solemn expression, completely different from her casual demeanor during the previous negotiations. "If the fungus Mr. Xu brought back can detoxify, it would be equivalent to saving the entire Zone 014."

"I know you don’t want to be disturbed, Mr. Xu, but you will certainly need someone to help you with errands while you rest," she added. "Sima Xiao’er has been arranged by Chief Wu. He knows the emergency contact methods for the Special Defense Department. If you can’t get through to Chief Wu on the phone, he will find a way."

Before Xu Huo could say anything, Sima Xiao’er chimed in, "Brother Xu, the restaurants outside have all closed recently. I could help with grocery shopping and cooking."

Players need to eat too.

Xu Huo did not refuse the Special Defense Department’s kindness. After seeing off Jiang Qiao, he told Sima Xiao’er, "Don’t call me tomorrow. You don’t need to bother tonight, just find a room to sleep in."

Sima Xiao’er nodded, "I’ll sleep in the living room."

Xu Huo ignored him, went back to his own room, closed the door, and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

By the time he fell asleep, Jiang Qiao had already taken a night flight to Jing City.

Xu Huo had already explained the basic use of the King Fungus to her. She reported it verbatim to the expert team. Although it could directly detoxify people, the quantity of King Fungus was too limited. It needed to be cultured in large quantities, and ideally, it would be made into an independent potion so that more people could benefit from it.

Meanwhile, several key figures from the Special Defense Department had also arrived at the research base.

Minister Fan, Chief Song, Chief Wu, as well as the recently added Director Chang and Director Lü.

Most of them were old acquaintances, with Director Chang recently allowed into the team by the national authorities. He was also a player. Director Lü was a middle-aged woman with a friendly face.

With the situation being different now, players accompanied these people to the research base.

"Minister, I heard that a player has obtained a Panacea that can cure the Alien toxin. Is it true?" Chief Song asked right away.

"You sure are well informed," Chief Wu replied with a dark expression as his gaze swept over Song and Dai Wenqian, who was following behind him.

"Do we really need to keep such a matter of national crisis a secret?" Chief Song said. "Old Wu, your awareness is lacking."

Chief Wu wanted to slap him across the face.

"Maybe you should speak less," Jiang Qiao was not too pleased either. "We have Chief Wu to thank this time. If it weren’t for him, you would have to watch your players die one by one."