"No."
However, Dr. Jenner immediately shook his head, and this negative answer was like a bucket of cold water being poured over them.
Louis almost failed to control the expression on his face.
So it's not!
Seeing how happy you were, I thought I had some zombie bite immunity!
"This is exactly the point I want to talk to you about." The doctor pulled Louis to the microscope and brought up a comparison image of two samples.
"I also conducted cross-experiments," Dr. Jenner explained. "When your blood is mixed with a high-concentration virus sample, it still gets infected. It's just that the process is slower than that of an ordinary person's sample."
"This indicates," Jenner reached a conclusion, "that there might be some kind of natural antibody in your body. It allows you to be immune to low concentrations of the virus in the air and water to a certain extent."
"However, if you are directly bitten or deeply scratched by a Walker, with such a high concentration of the virus injected, I'm afraid your antibodies won't be able to resist it."
"But even so!" Jenner's breathing became rapid again. "This is already a miracle!"
"If we use your blood as a blueprint for research, even if we can't immediately crack the virus, we might be able to develop a serum that can delay or even block their transformation after people are bitten!"
Dr. Jenner forced himself to calm down. He squatted down and very solemnly urged Louis:
"So, Louis. Regarding your constitution, except for people you absolutely trust... you must never tell anyone else!"
"Why?" Louis looked puzzled. "Since I'm the hope for researching a serum, shouldn't everyone work even harder to protect me?"
He analyzed naively: "My blood doesn't have any special properties, and I'm only this big. Only if I keep living well can you have more blood to research more serums."
"Child..." Dr. Jenner looked at his naive statement and shook his head helplessly.
He patiently explained the cruel reality behind this: "What you're saying is the reaction of a person with normal thinking. But in today's apocalypse, how many rational, conscientious, and normal people do you think are left?"
"There are more of those lunatics driven mad by despair and fear!"
"In case someone finds out about your situation," Dr. Jenner said very seriously, fearing Louis wouldn't understand the consequences, "they won't think about any long-term future or research."
"They will only think you are some kind of 'Panacea,' a 'Holy Son,' or an 'Amulet' that can keep them alive... and then it's possible they'll drain your blood dry or even eat you!"
Hearing this, Louis cooperatively gasped, and his face suddenly turned pale.
Seeing that the child finally understood the gravity of the matter, Dr. Jenner didn't say anything more.
In fact, would even those smart people with normal thinking really protect Louis wholeheartedly?
Not necessarily.
When they know a child possesses such a heaven-defying constitution, besides protection, they would probably think more about... how to use this 'specialty' to seek greater benefits for themselves in the apocalypse.
"Then..." Louis looked up hesitantly, his blue eyes filled with unease. "Will you tell anyone else about this?"
Dr. Jenner looked at Louis's eyes, which were slightly widened from nervousness, and the seriousness on his face slowly faded, replaced by a bitter smile.
"No." He shook his head, his voice hoarse. "I will never tell anyone."
"But..." Louis was even more confused. "Didn't you say your purpose for staying here was to research a cure?"
"That was actually my wife's goal." Dr. Jenner turned around, his back to Louis.
"She was the real genius, but I'm not. The reason I stayed is perhaps only because it's the only thing I can do."
He continued: "Actually, the backup power in this place was already running low. I originally planned to wait until the power was completely exhausted in a day, and then end it with this place... with everything, painlessly."
His voice paused, and he turned around abruptly, a firm light gleaming in his eyes.
"But, not you."
"You are the hope of humanity, Louis." Dr. Jenner said slowly. "I cannot let you be buried here with me."
"Afterwards, I will tell the others about the power shortage so you can prepare early. There are still many supplies and equipment here; you can take whatever you can use."
He finally urged: "In the future, if you meet a doctor you can absolutely trust, perhaps you can tell him about this. But until then, you must protect yourself."
Louis looked up and listened silently.
Dr. Jenner's words sounded very sincere; at least, he didn't see any flaws in the other's expression.
In reality, Louis had always been on edge.
Although he had the plot as a foundation, he hadn't let his guard down 100% regarding this doctor.
In the original work, this guy was indeed someone who harbored a death wish and had sympathy for most people, even being a bit of a 'saintly' person.
But who knows if after meeting a 'Semi-immune person' like himself, he might undergo some unpredictable change?
In case this person, after knowing about his special constitution, suddenly got excited and told him some nonsense like 'for the future of humanity, I must slice you up for research'... then Louis could only, for his own future, tearfully take out this old geezer.
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not happen.
From the series of events that have happened so far, this doctor is still a trustworthy fellow.
Louis quickly weighed things in his mind.
Unlike magic, the ultimate secret that must be buried deep inside.
The matter of the antibody, perhaps he could selectively let one or two absolutely trustworthy people know.
He dared to consider this, firstly because he now possessed sufficient means of self-preservation and counter-measures, and had a basic understanding of the character of the people around him.
Secondly, because the nature of this 'antibody' made it relatively safe.
It's not like an invisibility cloak, which anyone can use if they steal it. The value of the antibody is entirely attached to Louis himself—
He must be alive for others to benefit from it and for research to be possible. This long-term benefit is enough to make any leader with normal concepts choose to protect him rather than kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Lastly, this 'antibody' is not a true miracle.
Louis vaguely remembered that in subsequent episodes, someone seemed to have researched some kind of Radioactive therapy that could achieve a similar effect of delaying the spread of the virus.
In that case, the plans related to the CDC could be attempted.
Louis quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, and after thinking for a moment, he looked up and said, "But, Doctor... I think you are the most suitable candidate at the moment."
Dr. Jenner was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and laughed, "Child, I think you overestimate my abilities."
"I don't know exactly how capable you are, Doctor," Louis said seriously, "but at least I understand your character."
"In the apocalypse, you were still willing to take the risk of opening the door for us; after learning about this, your first choice was to warn me rather than exploit me."
"Even if it's because you didn't plan on continuing to live," Louis looked directly into his eyes, "it still proves that you are at least a kind person."
"If you are the one researching the virus," he threw out his core request, "I think I can at least ensure my own safety."
At least at this stage, I can beat you, Louis muttered inwardly.
Hide out here for a while and increase my strength. Later, when I learn spells like 'Obliviate,' I won't have to worry even if you research something strange.
To be honest, if the Doctor's abilities were too strong, or if he were like those mad scientists, Louis wouldn't really want to stay.
The biggest anomaly about him isn't just the absence of the walker virus.
What he wanted was exactly this: a mediocre researcher, a complete laboratory, and a good living environment that could give him plenty of time to develop.
He continued: "But what about others? I can't be sure."
Hearing this, Dr. Jenner hesitated.
This was actually what he was most worried about. Louis was just a child without any self-preservation abilities; it would indeed be difficult for him to cope if he encountered those insane survivors.
He thought again how, after he had only said a few words of truth, the child had so trustingly entrusted his life to him, and his heart couldn't help but begin to waver again.
Seeing this, Louis immediately struck while the iron was hot: "So, the best choice is for us to stay here. This place has the most complete facilities and the safest environment. You can research properly, and I can live properly..."
"We all have a bright future..."
As he spoke, he seemed to suddenly remember something, frowned abruptly, and said with annoyance, "Ah... I seem to have forgotten the most critical power issue."
He looked at Dr. Jenner and asked tentatively, "But... if the power is insufficient, can't it be solved? I remember on our way here, there were some gas stations nearby..."
Besides, for a research institution of this level, shouldn't there be clean energy facilities like hydroelectric, solar, or wind power anyway?!
Dr. Jenner was silent for a moment.
He looked into Louis's hopeful eyes and remembered the comforting words of everyone during lunch.
After a long time, he suddenly let out a long sigh. But this time, it was no longer out of despair, but out of relief.
His gaze became firm again. "You're right."
"We've persevered through so many desperate situations before; now that we see a real future, there's even less reason to give up!"
Good heavens! Louis's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.
Did Trelawney's prophecy come true again?
"Let's go," Dr. Jenner stood up and patted Louis on the shoulder. "Go and call everyone to the main control center"
"I think I have some important things to say to everyone."