Chapter 384

Chapter 384: Double-edged Sword

On November 20th, Speaker Arthur commenced his lecture in the conference room of the research institutes.

If Zhou Zhuo were to host such a lecture, most researchers would assume he had new findings to share across departments. But the Speaker delivering a lecture? And about extraordinary beasts?

What could he possibly discuss? Twenty close-combat techniques against extraordinary beasts? Even if such techniques existed, who would dare to learn them?

Thus, most attendees arrived with a mindset to enjoy some light-hearted entertainment at this mandatory lecture, anticipating merely some grand tales for amusement.

However, the Speaker, who seemed far removed from the realm of research, began to present his insights on extraordinary beasts and mycelium life through a PowerPoint presentation.

“…Through our battles and experiments thus far, we have confirmed that we are confronting a complete ecosystem dominated by mycelium.

“Unlike a normal ecosystem, its defining feature is that everything operates within a controllable range. Whether it’s extraordinary beasts, mutated plants, or decomposers capable of recycling dead remains, all are fundamentally governed by the same will.

“Our observation findings from the past decades align with this conclusion:

“The so-called tactical changes of extraordinary beasts are actually the mycelium’s will learning and mimicking human behavior. It is their potent mimicry ability that enables the creation of high-level extraordinary beasts, which can simulate superpowers to a certain extent…”

Lin Qingliu generously shared his comprehensive understanding, withholding only one detail: he had not yet disclosed the matters concerning aliens and spaceships to the audience. This critical information held strategic value and was reserved for pivotal moments to achieve a decisive impact.

As the lecture progressed, the researchers in the tiered conference room transitioned from initial skepticism to astonishment, then began to scribble fervently in their notebooks. Each had encountered obstacles in their research tasks, and many of the Speaker’s conclusions, if accurate, could significantly accelerate their research progress.

Confronted with such an open dissemination of knowledge, the researchers quickly revealed their eagerness to learn.

The morning swiftly passed in a flurry of words and diligent note-taking. Lin Qingliu even enhanced the functionality of some of his organs to sustain peak mental acuity for continuous content delivery.

By noon, Lin Qingliu presented his final insight—

The erosion of humanity by Mycelium Ecology primarily occurs on two fronts: the material level and the mental level.

The erosion at the material level resembles the riot that culminated in blood rain earlier in the year, spreading infection through mycelium in an attempt to assimilate humans into their fold.

The erosion at the mental level unfolds gradually through the biological field, impairing reason to gradually blur human self-awareness, leading to assimilation on a mental level.

The attendees swiftly grasped the fundamental reason why Hope City had not fallen—

The dense concentration of humans in a confined area amplified the intensity of the biological field, thwarting the second type of erosion.

The first type of erosion, however, was effectively blocked by the city defense army and Holy Shield, ultimately rendering it inert.

Their survival was akin to a delicate balance. Any disruption would inevitably lead to the collapse of Hope City.

Simultaneously, these astute elites identified two strategic counterpoints:

Since it was confirmed that mycelium was the dominant force, they could focus on researching chemical substances targeting mycelium.

As for the mental level?

By integrating the philosophies of the Deputy Director and the Speaker, they uncovered another truth— the erosion of the biological field is bidirectional.

Finally, the Speaker of the Hope Council concluded his lengthy speech. Just as everyone was preparing to return to the laboratory to apply their knowledge, Zhou Zhuo, who had been sitting beside the Speaker, suddenly spoke up:

“Commissioners responsible for weapon research and biological research, please stay. The rest may leave now.”

Dozens of researchers, ranging from young to old, gathered in the front two rows.

They each harbored their own speculations about what was to come. Perhaps it was a matter of greater secrecy? Or a task that required individual briefing?

Lin Qingliu glanced over the group below and noticed a courteous young man seated on the right side of the first row.

Ji Yongxing had swiftly recovered after receiving ample rest and nutrition, safely emerging from danger. Following a brief reunion with his parents, he returned to his work station.

The energy level advancement he gained from the battle had sharpened his mind and observational skills, and with renewed confidence, he felt prepared to unravel the mysteries of the material provided by Lin Qingliu.

At that moment, his gaze fell upon the Speaker, who was offering a warm smile. Their last encounter had been on the city wall, where one stood and the other lay; back then, the Speaker had been merely an unnamed hero.

In just a few short days, he had ascended to the pinnacle of power in Hope City… Life truly was full of wonders.

Noticing that the Speaker was also looking his way, Ji Yongxing gave a polite nod, and the small meeting officially commenced.

Observing the serious expressions around him, Lin Qingliu wasted no time.

He began to speak slowly:

“I have a critical research task for all of you.”

He switched the PowerPoint slide to display a cross-section of an arm:

“This is a rare implantation surgery, typically irreversible, but due to some severe side effects, we need to find a way to counteract them.”

A middle-aged researcher raised his hand, and the Speaker gestured for him to speak.

“Excuse me… how does this relate to our weapon department?”

“An excellent question.”

The Speaker showed no sign of annoyance, advancing to the next slide and zooming in on a specific area:

“This is a highly sensitive self-destruct device, classified under biological modification weapons. To successfully complete the surgery, we must neutralize the effects of this device.”

Hearing this, the researchers below nodded thoughtfully, gradually sinking into contemplation and silence.

“One more thing.”

Lin Qingliu opened the third set of slides, and the atmosphere seemed to lighten slightly.

“I plan to include the proposal for the soldier exoskeleton in the agenda, with auxiliary programs integrated internally to help soldiers gain an edge in close combat more swiftly.

“I will personally participate in motion capture, using my experience to enhance soldiers’ chances of survival.

“This motion module will be called…”

Arthur’s gaze shifted toward a researcher with a distracted expression:

“Twenty Tricks for Fighting Extraordinary Beasts Up Close.”