V2/Chapter 10: No, buddy
The next morning, the Fifth Science Department.
Su stood at the gate with a subtle expression on his face, seemingly waiting for something.
From time to time, he would lower his head and check his phone - there was a message sent by Ai Yue a few hours ago, which roughly meant that he wanted to visit the Fifth Science Department today.
Su couldn't help but recall the conversation with Ai Yue last night. The other party was indeed full of curiosity about the Fifth Science Department and had said that he would visit in the future, but he didn't expect it to come so suddenly.
'I don't know how the teacher will react. I hope the two of them won't start arguing.'
Before he could think about it, a roar came from afar. Su raised his head and looked forward, and soon saw a car driving towards this side.
When the car stopped beside Su, Ai Yue's face also popped out of the car: "Thank you for your hard work. I'm sorry to bother you waiting outside, Su."
"It's just a small matter, Dr. Ai Yue." Su nodded with a smile, looking at Ai Yue who got out of the car, "Then, I'll take you to see my teacher, Minister Spasi."
"Okay." Ai Yue nodded, then turned to look at Hua who was driving, "Hua, come find me after you park the car."
Hua, who is now temporarily responsible for protecting Ai Yue's safety, nodded and slowly drove towards the parking lot.
The Fifth Science Department is composed of two parts. The ground part is a hospital that is specially used to treat patients infected with Honkai disease, while the underground part is its scientific research center. Basically, all of Fire Moth's medical technology projects are concentrated here.
"Curing Honkai Disease" is the core topic of this base. It can be said that 80% of the scientific research projects of the Fifth Science Department are now centered around Honkai Disease.
Under Su's leadership, Ai Yue quickly arrived at Spasi's office and met the "stubborn and stinky old man" as Mobius called him.
Perhaps influenced by Mobius, Ai Yue always thought that Spasi was a sloppy, short, bad-tempered, stubborn old man with a long beard. But in fact, he was an elegant old gentleman. Judging from his figure and appearance, it can be seen that when he was young, Spasi was a handsome guy who was popular among thousands of girls.
"Dr. Ai Yue, nice to meet you." Spasi extended his right hand and smiled gently. "We are still analyzing the formula you sent me last time. It is truly a genius idea."
"The situation was urgent, so I used some rough means. I hope Minister Spasi doesn't mind." Ai Yue glanced at the other party's left hand wearing a white glove, and then stretched out his hand to shake the other party's. "This time, I came mainly to see the progress of your department's research on the 'Honkai Disease Serum'. I am very interested in this technology."
"Of course, after all, your current authority is high enough." Spasi smiled, and there was no special emotion on the surface. "Then please follow me."
The three of them quickly came to the research room next door, opened the computer with Spasi's permission, and retrieved the information about the Honkai disease serum.
"To be honest, there has been no substantial progress in the research on artificially synthesizing Honkai disease serum since the beginning of the research." Spasi said with a somewhat helpless expression, "Today's Honkai disease serum is essentially the antibodies naturally produced by Honkai disease patients, but even separating it from the patient's body is already the limit of what we can do."
"We...can't even analyze the composition and structure of the Honkai disease antibody."
Ai Yue did not say anything, but just quietly browsed through various reports and data about the Honkai disease serum.
The vast majority of reports are about failures - failure to analyze components, failure to simulate the environment for antibody production, failure to study inhibitors, and failure to remove the affected part...
Failure, failure, failure, failure!
In the war against Honkai disease, the Fifth Science Department was losing ground. From the text of these reports, Ai Yue could even feel the despair deep in the hearts of the scholars.
They haven't even fully understood the pathology of this disease, so how can they overcome it?
"To make one dose of Honkai disease serum, we need to extract antibodies from the bodies of a thousand patients."
Ai Yue read out the conclusions of the few successful reports, which were the reports on the production of the serum, and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "In other words, if the Honkai disease breaks out in the world, the best result for us is that only one thousandth of the population will be left?"
Neither Spasi nor Su said anything, because they knew very well that even the best result would not be one thousandth.
"But I have roughly understood it." Ai Yue loosened his left hand that had been supporting the computer case, and an imperceptible black color retracted into his sleeve. "Minister Spasi, does the Fifth Science Department have the Honkai Disease Serum now?"
"Of course, but apart from the part used for experimental research, the rest are kept in strict custody for emergency use." Spasi said, "A bottle of Honkai Serum can save a vital person at a critical moment. For the Fire Moth, this can be regarded as a strategic material. Without the permission of the upper level, it is impossible to use it rashly."
"Then take the part that you can decide." Ai Yue could naturally take out the so-called permission order, but he didn't think it was necessary. "I want all the Honkai energy serum used for research by your Fifth Academy."
"Dr. Ai Yue, isn't this a bit..." Seeing that the atmosphere between the two people suddenly became tense, Su couldn't help but step forward to act as a peacemaker, "Why don't you explain your needs first, and then we can see if there is any other solution?"
"From the current perspective, it is obviously difficult for the Fifth Science Department to complete a series of scientific research projects such as artificial synthesis of Honkai antibodies, cost reduction, and mass production in a short period of time," Ai Yue said calmly, "So, this project will be taken over by me now."
Now even Su didn't know what to say.
'Do you want to listen to what you are saying?'
The entire Fifth Science Department has more than 200 doctoral experts in the medical field. They have been conducting research on Honkai energy antibodies at least five years ago, but to date they have only been able to extract antibodies from patients' bodies.
According to this process, from artificial synthesis to cost reduction and finally mass production, even with the most optimistic estimates, it will take at least ten to fifteen years.
However, Ai Yue's attitude is as if he can get the Honkai antibody today and produce results tomorrow.
Even Su, who respected Ai Yue, didn't know what to say at this moment.
However, at this time, Spasi spoke.
"Okay," Spasi said, "but I have conditions."
Su turned around and looked at his teacher in astonishment, but Spasi was staring at Ai Yue at this moment.
Ai Yue nodded: "Tell me about it?"
"I can give you all the experimental antibodies that the Fifth Science Department currently has, a total of 100 doses of Honkai disease serum." Spasi said, "But if you fail to conduct any effective research until you have used up these antibodies, then you will have to join the Fifth Science Department and devote all your energy to researching antibodies."
Spasi paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Dr. Ai Yue, I am not looking down on you, but you need to understand how precious the Honkai Serum is. It is not a value that can be measured by money, but a living life! If you don't have enough awareness, can you really shoulder this responsibility?"
"I came here just to take responsibility. In the end, you should even thank me." Ai Yue nodded calmly, "I agree to the conditions. If you don't have any other requests, just go and get the serum."
Ai Yue did not say "What if I produce results?" because he knew very well that once he produced corresponding results, the entire Fifth Science Department would be his subordinates.
This time, Spasi didn't say anything else, but just left the laboratory. Su looked at Ai Yue with an expression that seemed to want to say something but hesitated. In the end, he just asked Ai Yue to wait here and then chased after him out.
He passed Hua in the corridor, and then chased after Spasi: "Teacher, I don't quite understand why you do this?"
In Su's eyes, Spasi has always been a calm and professional scholar. There is no reason for him to agree to Ai Yue's somewhat rude request on such an important matter, and he should not use the method of "betting".
In his opinion, what Spasi did was to use the Honkai Serum as bait to lure Ai Yue into the Fifth Science Department.
After all, he really couldn't imagine how Ai Yue could use the serum of one hundred people to make a breakthrough that the entire Fifth Academy of Sciences had spent several times more materials but failed to achieve.
"It seems that you think I am playing tricks, right?" Spasi laughed. "Indeed, even I cannot deny that I do have such thoughts."
Su said nothing, for he heard another emotion in Spasi's tone.
It was as if he was beginning to feel useless.
"But do you know how Mobius evaluated Ai Yue?" Spasi said slowly. He didn't know if it was Su's illusion, but he felt that his teacher seemed a little shorter. "She said that Ai Yue is a person who can create miracles."
Su knew very well that Spasi was the person who hated the word "miracle" the most. He once told him that there were neither miracles nor magic in the world. There were only countless people whose lives were taken away by Honkai disease, and the doctors who continued to move forward on their corpses.
"Maybe I'm really old." Spasi laughed twice, but it seemed like he was crying. "I'm actually starting to hope that there will be some miracle in the world."
Thirty minutes later, Spasi and Su returned to the laboratory and solemnly placed a palm-sized box in Ai Yue's hand.
Inside the box, there was a container that was two circles smaller than the eye drops bottle, filled with light blue liquid.
It looked light, but when Spasi held it, it felt like he was carrying a huge rock.
"Honestly, my mind tells me this is impossible." Spasi handed the box to Ai Yue and said with a complicated expression, "But I sincerely hope that I will never see you in the Fifth Institute again."
"That's impossible." Ai Yue put away the box and smiled, "I have to come back to guide your work."
After saying this, he turned and left the laboratory, and finally waved his hand: "See you later."
That relaxed and cheerful tone was as casual as if he had made an appointment with friends to continue hanging out tomorrow.
Then the next day, Ai Yue really came again.
When Su received the news and ran back to the office of the underground research institute from the ward, he saw Ai Yue sitting on the sofa, reading a book.
"Why are you here again?" Su was a little puzzled. "Could it be that you have encountered some difficulties?"
"That's not the case." Ai Yue pointed to the box on the table, "It's just that it's used up."
"Used up?" Seeing the box on the table that Spasi had handed to Ai Yue yesterday, Su's mind buzzed, "A hundred doses of antibodies, all used up?"
That's the total amount of research for the entire Fifth Science Department for a month! Even many projects can't get the Honkai Disease Antibody, and they can only do simulation experiments. Such a precious thing was actually used up by Ai Yue in just one day?
"How could you possibly use so many? What are you thinking?" Ai Yue gave him a strange look. "Forget it, I didn't express it accurately. I should say that the rest are not needed."
Anything left?
Su heaved a sigh of relief, and hurriedly went to the box to take a look, then frowned: "This...isn't it needed now?"
Su thought that there would be only a little bit of the antibody that Ai Yue brought back left, but he didn't expect that there was still a lot of light blue liquid in the container, which was completely beyond his expectations.
"About twenty servings, your research is quite useful, and it saves a lot." Ai Yue stood up, "By the way, where's Spasi?"
"Teacher, he is still in the intensive care unit. When he heard that you were coming, he asked me to come and receive you first. He will be here soon." Su then noticed that Ai Yue was carrying a box. "What is this?"
"Oh, a little test work." Ai Yue shook the box nonchalantly, "That's great, there's no need for him to come over, let's go find him."
Although Su was a little confused, he did not ask too many questions and soon brought Ai Yue to the hospital part on the ground, where he found Spasi who was still checking on the patients in the intensive care unit.
"Su? Why did you bring Dr. Ai Yue here?" Spasi, wearing protective clothing, frowned as he looked at Ai Yue who came in wearing only a white coat. "Dr. Ai Yue, you'd better pay more attention to protection."
"It's okay. This little bit of Honkai radiation is nothing." Ai Yue, who was in close contact with the Fusion Warrior (referring to being covered in the face by Mobius's self-explosion), waved his hand indifferently, "Is this patient serious?"
The wards for treating patients with Honkai disease are specially designed, and each bed has a protective cover to prevent the Honkai energy radiation from endangering more people.
He noticed that the patient had a Honkai energy absorption device around his neck and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows - although those people above were greedy, at least they were still doing something.
"The patient suddenly deteriorated an hour ago and fell into a deep coma. In this case, all the equipment and inhibitors are useless." Spasi sighed, with deep helplessness in his tone. "It is estimated that within twelve hours, she will... Hey, what are you doing?"
Ai Yue swiftly opened the protective cover on the bed, and then opened the box in his hand. Only then did Su discover that it was filled with light blue medicine.
Amid Spasi's subconscious attempt to stop him, Ai Yue grabbed a medicine without hesitation and injected it into the patient's neck smoothly.
Three minutes later, the instruments used to monitor the patient's physical data began to change.
Five minutes later, the patient opened her eyes.
Ten minutes later, the patient who had been sentenced to death was able to walk with the help of Ai Yue.
Spasi and Su remained motionless during the process, as if they were under some kind of petrification curse.
It was not until Ai Yue helped the patient out of the room that the master and apprentice looked at each other and uttered the same syllables.
"ah?"
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