Chapter 91
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Chapter 91: Urgent Situation
“Eek! Hiss!”
Strange screams mingled with violent attacks, swiftly causing cracks to form in one corner of the incubator.
Zhou Zhuo stood at the forefront of the research team, his demeanor calm as he observed the monster he had created on the verge of breaking free from its confinement. He issued the command with composure:
“Destroy it.”
The assistant beside him pressed buttons on the control panel, and four dark nozzles emerged at the four corners above the rectangular incubator.
Fiery flames erupted, engulfing the entire chamber’s interior.
Everything—the incubator, the wood shavings favored by the small white mouse, and the small white mouse itself—was reduced to ash in an instant.
Zhou Zhuo sighed as he gazed at the laboratory bench, now reduced to ashes and blackened remnants. He turned to his assistant and asked,
“How is the image data collection?”
“It’s complete; all four cameras recorded everything.”
“What about the genetic data?”
“We managed to preserve a small blood sample.”
“Good. The terrifying dangers of the mycelium are now undeniable. From this moment on, everyone must focus on researching harmless solutions to the mycelium crisis.”
At eight in the morning, a stack of production records lay before Ji Yongxing. Some were neatly organized, while others were tattered, a testament to the challenges faced in obtaining them.
At that moment, the researchers in charge were examining daily samples brought in from various production lines, though it was unclear exactly what they were comparing.
Zhuang Mian, tasked with submitting the records, glanced at the young, bespectacled leader. Her lips twitched slightly.
How should she describe it?
There was an eerie sensation, as if Hope City had somehow become her own home.
In that instant, she felt as though a divine presence was watching over her from above.
She felt enveloped in a warm, radiant light.
It was a feeling both terrifying and comforting.
On one hand, she was awed by the existence of a deity and the insignificance of humanity; on the other, she felt a secret thrill at being among the chosen few under such scrutiny.
Clearing her throat, she straightened her posture and reported her findings clearly and concisely to Ji Yongxing.
To her surprise, he remained even calmer than she was. Even the observant Zhuang Mian failed to detect the subtle shifts in the young man’s expression.
It was only after she finished her report that a noticeable change appeared on Ji Yongxing’s face.
“Are you saying that those… members of the outer city gangs are consuming the target nutritional paste?”
Ji Yongxing immediately rose from his seat, pacing back and forth like a teacher deep in thought.
In that moment, countless possible futures flashed through his mind, and the feelings of urgency and despair that had haunted him months ago resurfaced.
Just as he was about to contact his mentor, he noticed that the communicator had received a three-minute video titled “Biological Experiment” five minutes earlier.
Below the video were calculations from top researchers, led by Zhou Zhuo, estimating the time frame in which the nutritional paste could cause significant harm to humans.
The small white mouse had been administered approximately eighty percent of the mycelium content from a full nutritional paste.
Under the assumption that the nutritional paste contains equal levels of problematic mycelium, an adult human needs to consume three tubes of the nutritional paste each day.
After comprehensive calculations, even for individuals with strong willpower, the assimilation time would not exceed five days, and for the average person, it would be around three days.
Ji Yongxing quickly approached the table where the samples were placed, widening his eyes to observe closely.
With the nutritional paste as the focal point, he managed to identify the targets containing mycelium using his ability, 【Streamlining】.
The production date on the packaging made his heart race—four days ago.
“…That gang took the portion of nutritional paste produced four days ago, and then that batch was delivered as rations to another gang…”
Ji Yongxing felt cold sweat breaking out all over his body.
For the average resident of Hope City, it was quite common to have some nutritional paste stored at home.
However, people generally wouldn’t stock too much of it; this substance was akin to a staple food, neither tasty nor possessing any collectible value, and its shelf life was just average.
Moreover, due to its wet and slimy characteristics, it was difficult to like.
Based on current data, Ji Yongxing could confirm that for most residents of the outer city, the ingested mycelium was insufficient to cause severe consequences.
But he never expected his deductions to be so wrong—
If there was another group in the outer city likely eating sporadically, blindly engaging in unpredictable activities daily, and having no food reserves, then this group was—
The street rats!
At that moment, Ji Yongxing wished he could find a secluded corner to give himself a couple of hard slaps.
He seemed to understand a saying his teacher had shared long ago:
“Uncontrollable variables are often the easiest elements to influence experimental results.”
With no time to regret his misjudgment, Ji Yongxing quickly called for Zhuang Mian:
“What’s going on with that gang? Who’s in charge?”
Zhuang Mian, who still didn’t have the complete picture, smiled and said,
“Who else could it be but that kid?”
“We need to find him.”
“Right now?”
“Right now!”
At that moment, it had been five hours since the superpowered individual "Holy Shield" had reported this urgent incident to higher authorities.
The contingency plan for Hope City’s incident number 0097 had been finalized.
Half of the defense team in the inner city began to climb the walls and take over the four gates of the inner city.
Their regular meals mainly consisted of standard cockroach nutritional paste, with absolutely no intake of extraordinary beast products, making them completely trustworthy.
Accompanying them were ten superhero teams.
At that moment, Wang Xiao stood in the middle of the group, with Fresnel jokingly holding Obscure’s shoulders ahead and the Puppet Master whispering with Beacon behind.
The five of them were assigned to the southern wall of the inner city, watching the rare sunrise on the horizon.
“What a coincidence, our team’s first battle was on the southern wall, except last time it was in the outer city.”
Hearing Fresnel’s invigorating voice, everyone nodded.
Sharing glorious tales in such a critical moment indeed stirred their spirits, especially since it was an operation that earned their team recognition.
Wang Xiao’s inclusion significantly filled the weakness in the Twenty-Five Superhero Team’s abilities, solidifying the team’s overall strength.
After the last battle, although the team didn’t earn a real collective medal, they received a formal commendation from headquarters.
This acknowledgment helped everyone, who were somewhat unfamiliar with each other, to bond quickly. It was also during that time that Obscure started to frequently share the history of Hope City with Wang Xiao.
