Longzang

Chapter 787 Under the Shackles

As the number of papers he reads continues to accumulate, a whole new world is unfolding before Wei Yuan.

Each protein molecule is like an unopened treasure chest; no one knows what will be inside once it's opened.

Wei Yuan had forgotten the passage of time and focused solely on his work, placing necessary foundation stones in the new world, leaving enough room for upgrades between them, and then adding the necessary functional components. Thus, a primitive virus with only the most basic functions was born.

Most importantly, it survived.

Wei Yuan suddenly felt the entire space shake. Exclamations erupted in the research area as many people peeked out from their research cubicles, wondering what had happened.

Fortunately, the tremor only lasted a moment and then subsided. Many people thought it was their imagination, but seeing the heavily armed security guards still looking tense, they knew something must have happened. But the incident was only momentary, and then everything returned to normal, and the researchers returned to their posts to continue their work.

Wei Yuan merely glanced up, continuing his work as instructed, checking the new virus's indicators according to the manual. A few minutes later, the virus suddenly acquired its own name and code!

Wei Yuan was taken aback, then overjoyed. Once he finished designing the virus and submitted it for testing, the automated gene-editing equipment in the lab would produce a new batch of viruses according to the design, and then test them.

The fact that Wei Yuan's virus design had a name and a unique code meant it had passed the test, and a new virus had appeared in the world. This virus might be very weak now, but it was also a brand new life. Looking at the virus in the test, Wei Yuan felt as if he were seeing his own child.

With the success of the first step, Wei Yuan's confidence soared, and he then began to develop an advanced version to significantly enhance the virus's capabilities in certain aspects.

The second step was much easier, as many papers had already pointed the way. Wei Yuan also learned and designed simultaneously.

Umbrella Corporation's achievements in biotechnology are unparalleled. Each protein functional fragment has been designed to perfection. Designers often feel like they are building blocks, simply taking the necessary functional fragments and placing them on the corresponding interfaces. The rest of the laboratory system will automatically complete the process, producing the corresponding physical viruses or other biological particles.

However, the project Wei Yuan took on involved gene fragments that were unprecedented in their type, with many existing gene functional fragments completely incompatible, requiring a complete redesign of the underlying interfaces. Wei Yuan also needed to start learning from the most basic gene molecules, which allowed him to learn and apply his knowledge immediately.

Wei Yuan quickly designed an advanced version of the virus. This new virus significantly improved its survivability, allowing it to survive longer in dangerous environments and reproduce faster. Only a virus like this could possibly survive.

Soon, the new virus also got a name and code, but it was classified under the original virus.

With the second design a success, Wei Yuan's confidence was off the charts.

He ambitiously began designing the third, more advanced version of the virus. This virus would primarily spread through the air, using the respiratory system as its entry point into the human body. This virus already possessed highly sophisticated functional units and had been sufficiently validated over tens of thousands of years of human history.

Wei Yuan even planned subsequent versions. The first step was to expand the types of biological cells that could be invaded, starting with most human somatic cells, and the second step was to increase the ability to infect plants.

If all these steps are completed, a microparticle carrier is obtained, which can be loaded with various gene weapons or transformed into highly effective biochemical therapeutic agents, depending on what functional fragments are loaded later.

Naturally, even if Wei Yuan completed all versions, what he got was a rough and simple vessel.

The Umbrella Corporation must possess countless truly high-precision biological microparticle carriers that have survived the brutal elimination process, and these will be more efficient than traditional viruses.

Wei Yuan worked tirelessly, finally experiencing the joy of his work. He designed new viral vectors, studied research papers, and continued his research on the original, mysterious gene fragments. These fragments were completely different from viruses; Wei Yuan wasn't yet capable of building new viruses based on them. He needed to solidify his foundation in virus design before proceeding to that stage.

However, Wei Yuan, engrossed in the microscopic world, did not notice that the entire base was covered with thick leaden clouds, the sky was as dark as night, and large bolts of lightning would occasionally strike from the clouds, with the huge currents being diverted away by the lightning rods of the test base.

A fierce wind began to howl, and the unusually chilly weather, contrary to the heat of the season, sent chills down the spines of the heavily armed soldiers on guard duty. They huddled in their posts, cursing the damned weather. Almost no one was to be seen outdoors; broken branches scraped against the ground, and several light vehicles were tossed about by the wind.

Just then, the roar of engines filled the air, and a triangular aircraft flew close to the clouds before landing on the base's helipad. A strong gust of wind struck during landing, causing the aircraft to shake violently, almost slamming onto the ground. Fortunately, it was exceptionally sturdy, preventing a crash and loss of life.

The major in charge of the airport immediately braved the strong winds and led his men over. Coming here in such weather meant something urgent was going on. Moreover, the aircraft bore the markings of the security headquarters, and was usually reserved for high-ranking officials.

The Umbrella Corporation's security department may not sound like a big name, but in reality, it has bases all over the world and commands more than 100,000 armed personnel of various types, covering the army, navy, air force, and space forces. This does not even include the corresponding military researchers.

In terms of military strength alone, the Ministry of Security surpasses that of most medium-sized countries. In fact, the Ministry frequently intervenes covertly in wars among smaller nations, and has even overthrown governments by force on numerous occasions. Therefore, the president of the security headquarters is equivalent to a vice president in a major corporation, and even higher than a business unit. In terms of actual power, security, intelligence, and research and development form a three-way balance, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

The aircraft landed smoothly, and the rear hatch lowered, revealing its transport plane design. A squadron of fully armed soldiers rushed out, each tall and muscular, with muscles bulging, much thicker than a normal person, and each neck thicker than their head. After disembarking, they stood in two rows, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

A pair of black leather boots appeared before the major. Seeing the distinctive python pattern, the major immediately knew that the head of the entire security headquarters had arrived. He immediately leaned forward, his attitude extremely respectful. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew by, knocking off his military cap and revealing a shiny bald head, but he didn't bother to pick it up.

The boots stopped in front of the major and said, "Head up, stand up straight."

The major immediately snapped to attention, straightened his back, and raised his head, the muscles in his forehead bulging.

Before him stood a woman in military uniform, her hair pulled back, huge sunglasses covering half her face, and her lips, which were exposed, were painted with a fiery red lipstick.

She had a great figure, but she was also quite tall, even a head taller than the overly muscular soldiers around her.

"Go to Experiment Chamber No. 4."

"Yes, sir!" the major shouted with all his might, then jogged back and pulled up in a flash in a convertible SUV that stopped in front of the woman. The woman got in, and the accompanying soldiers boarded the following vehicles. The convoy roared toward Laboratory Building No. 4.

As they approached the entrance to Building No. 4, the woman suddenly said, "Go to the main building of the base!"

The major turned the steering wheel, and the SUV's tires screeched against the ground as it hurtled toward the massive main building of the base.

Halfway there, a terrifying bolt of lightning suddenly appeared in the sky. The bolt, as thick as a building, struck the base directly, instantly destroying multiple lightning rods! The base was plunged into darkness for a moment before the lights gradually came back on.

Heavy rain—no, it shouldn't be called rain anymore, but rather water pouring down from the sky, washing everything on the ground. Everyone was instantly soaked, and the water on the ground quickly submerged the tires.

Yet, the woman emanated a faint glow and remained completely dry. All rainwater seemed to automatically repel her.

She tapped the carriage floor lightly with her boots, staring at the main building, lost in thought. After a moment, she suddenly said, "Back to Laboratory Building No. 4."

The major didn't understand and didn't want to ask, so he just kept his head down and drove the car back to Laboratory Building No. 4.

The doors to the experimental building opened, and a gust of wind carrying rain poured in, soaking everyone inside. Several SUVs drove into the building before the doors slowly closed.

Everyone stood like statues, not daring to even breathe.

Of the three giants of Umbrella Corporation, the head of the R&D department is a tech fanatic who doesn't care about the life or death of anyone unrelated to him. The head of the intelligence department is a venomous snake, and countless people disappear at her hands every year. But the one standing before them is always the most domineering, representing the pinnacle of individual combat power.

When that superpowered person was captured, many people secretly said that if she hadn't happened to be on a business trip in the Arctic, so many people wouldn't have died, and the superpowered person could have been captured one-on-one.

At this moment, contrary to her usual behavior, she did not immediately give orders, but instead looked in the direction of the main building.

Inside the main building, in a top-level laboratory, the power had not yet been connected, and the room was dark, with only the dim red glow of the emergency lights faintly illuminating the surroundings.

A researcher suddenly tripped over something, stumbled, and fell heavily to the ground. The transparent box he was holding fell to the ground, and a test tube placed perfectly vertically in the center of the box tilted to one side. The liquid in the test tube suddenly boiled, the tube walls melted rapidly, and then the box melted as well. The pool of dark blue liquid then evaporated and disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"No!!" the researcher screamed in terror, scrambling to his feet and rushing towards the exit. But the door remained motionless, the switch failing to activate.

In the event of an accident at the base, all exits of this laboratory will be sealed off immediately, and then a three-meter-thick layer of concrete will be poured on the outside to completely enclose the laboratory.

(End of this chapter)