Chapter 88 Antibodies
No one can afford that result.
In the conference room, the report is still going on.
"...Last time, we discovered that this substance that causes human mutations can be transmitted through blood contact, drinking water, and food. However, through compiling the data reported from various places during this period, we have made new discoveries."
"Some of the new conclusions drawn from this data summary are consistent with those from the previous one, but we've also discovered through experimental research that, when faced with ordinary zombies, the chance of transformation into a zombie through respiratory infection is only 5%. When faced with other transmission routes, even the most dangerous blood-borne transmission, those who have already developed other abilities will almost never transform back into a zombie after being attacked by a zombie..."
"We reasonably speculate that the extra DNA in the mutants and zombies may be the key to their different mutations. The mutant's different DNA may contain antibodies that can resist transformation into zombies... We will conduct further research on this issue..."
After saying that, the old professor put down the manuscript in his hand, looked straight ahead, and continued in a heavy tone.
"But the prerequisites for these studies are only facing ordinary zombies. If we encounter high concentrations of infectious substances, no one knows what will happen!"
"Even though the comrades who were conducting crystal core cutting research at the research institute took the safest possible precautions, they have been infected and completely transformed into zombies. The experimental site has been completely sealed off. Therefore, for the safety of all mankind, please inform the general public not to cut or destroy crystal cores privately!"
No one can afford that result.
…
After the institute finished its report, the old professor disappeared from the big screen. Next, the rescue teams in various regions began to report on their work, and new instructions were issued to each region.
This large-scale evening meeting involving hundreds of districts lasted until 11 p.m.
After the meeting, the secretary who had been waiting outside heard a pause in the noise in the meeting room and pushed the door open before walking in.
In the conference room, five leaders had just finished a meeting and were drinking tea.
Seeing the secretary come in, the leader sitting in the middle put down his teacup and asked with concern, "Are they here yet?"
"Yes," the secretary replied. "Captain Liu Xi, who's in charge of the rescue, arrived at the destination half an hour ago and reported on the situation on Binhe Avenue. The area around the train stop has been brought under control, but there are still casualties among the rescue team and passengers. Captain Liu is directing his team to cordon off and clear the surrounding area and has requested support from higher-ups to clear the area as quickly as possible."
Another leader who was listening nearby looked at the map on the work table and asked, "I remember that everyone over there has been evacuated, and all that's left are empty houses?"
Another person sitting at the edge replied, "Yes, some of my men were responsible for the evacuation before the rainstorm. The two streets closest to the river were basically evacuated!"
"Then I think we can send more people this time to clear out the area in one go and directly establish another resettlement site. It's closer to the city, so it'll be more convenient for accommodating citizens fleeing the city."
"But we're short on manpower now, aren't we?"
A leader pondered.
There are currently three resettlement sites in their city N. One resettlement site was previously used to accommodate residents trapped by flooding. It is located in the new campus of the Medical University in the suburbs that has not yet been built. They are now in the second resettlement site, near the district government office building in the new development zone of N city.
The district government was newly established for development, so the nearby residential areas were naturally newly built. Furthermore, due to the economic downturn of the past two years, few houses have been sold, and the purchase and occupancy rates of several nearby communities are low.
Although these vacant houses are still unfinished, they are obviously the most suitable places to accommodate the rescued citizens.
The third resettlement site is near Jingming Mountain, a famous 5A-level scenic spot in City N. The terrain there is high and the permanent population is small. In addition to hotels, there are many B&Bs in the nearby villages. The mountain pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it a good location.
However, because the resettlement sites are scattered, each area must retain sufficient rescue forces for safety. In addition, a lot of people have recently been transferred from the rescue team in City N to City A and City B, so there are really not many rescue forces in City N now.
The five of them gathered around the map, frowning as they considered the number of rescue teams needed for each area. After a brief discussion, they finally settled on the number of people and the plan.
"Send another two hundred people over there, and ask if there are any citizens willing to come with us to 'open up the wasteland'. If there are, they can come along!"
"Also, among those who want to go, we will first count the indigenous people there. If they are willing to return, their original houses will be allocated to them, and the remaining ownerless houses will be counted and distributed later."
"Once that side is cleared, the people in the three resettlement sites will gradually move over there, freeing up enough manpower..."
…
Riverside Boulevard.
At one o'clock in the morning, thanks to the joint efforts of the rescue team and the passengers on the train, the blood-soaked streets finally returned to their original appearance.
Because of the commotion just now, the zombies that were hiding in the dark nearby were even attracted out, making the process of the rescue team members entering the community and cleaning up smoother.
In just a few hours, the four communities closest to the bus stop were all designated as controllable safe areas.
After seeing the rescue team rearrange people to guard the new intersection, the passengers who had gone down to help clear the zombies and were sweating got back on the bus.
Many people on this trip weren't sure if they could return that day, so they brought food and water. Furthermore, when they'd just gone down to clear the zombies, with the rescue team turning a blind eye, they'd also dug up quite a few crystal cores. While everyone didn't have much, it was enough to buy a bottle of water and a bucket of instant noodles.
The charming smell of food gradually wafted into the carriage, and the aroma drifted out from the open door, making the rescue team members who were resting and eating compressed biscuits outside couldn't help swallowing their saliva.
…
In the front carriage, Huang Liping coaxed her grandson to sleep and returned to the driver's cab.
"How's it going out there? Is everyone in the car? When are we leaving?"
Jiang Weimin turned his eyes away from the surveillance screen and said, "Everyone should be in the car. Let's wait a little longer. Once everyone finishes eating, we'll leave in half an hour!"
They originally thought that they could go back and forth on the same day so as not to delay the train operation between cities A and B the next day. Although the time here is a little longer than expected, it is not too late to go back now.
Jiang Weimin set the departure time. The next moment, the screen inside the train and the station signs at the three locations flashed, and the new itinerary appeared.
The screen changes were silent, but many people, both inside and outside the car, were staring at the screen. Seeing this, the discussion suddenly increased.
Some passengers who were still under the bus heard the discussion and hurriedly got on the bus.
After listening to the report from his team members, Liu Xi hurried to the bus stop and looked at the time written on it.
The rescue team members were also resting nearby, looking at the car curiously. It was the first time they had seen the car, and they all wanted to know if it was really as magical as the rumors said.
Fortunately, the curious people didn’t have to wait for long before the train started moving.
A long silver dragon slowly floated up from the ground, drew a silver line in the night sky, and disappeared into the horizon.
Liu Xi withdrew his gaze from a distance and looked at the team members who had already eaten and drunk their fill. "Except for those guarding the intersection, the rest of the team should find a place to rest first! We'll get up tomorrow morning to change shifts!"
…
The train sped through the air and reappeared over City B an hour later. People guarding near the station saw it and immediately reported it to their superiors.
"You're back? What happened?"
In the duty room of the rescue team near the station, the young leader on duty jumped up from his chair the moment he heard the report, put on his hat, picked up his weapon and rushed out.
While he was rushing to the train station, many people in City B who were terrified for their families also received the news that their family members who had gone to City N had returned safely, and they cried with joy.
Some people saw the train from the window before they received the message, put on their coats and ran out.
Suddenly, nearly a hundred people, usually deserted at night, were rushing toward the train station. Seeing each other, they began to ask about the situation.
"Have they landed yet?"
"What's the situation over there? Have you found anyone?"
"I don't know. It wasn't mentioned in the text message."
"Then go take a look first."
…
On the way back, everyone in the car was silent.
On the way there, the passengers filled up most of the carriage, but on the way back, there were not even enough people to fill up half of the carriage.
Some of the people I had met before had their entire families stay in City N, while others were sitting alone by the window, their eyes reddening...
Jiang Qian felt the silence and her heart became heavier and heavier.
The train landed slowly and there were already people waiting on the platform.
The bright lights from the station platform illuminated the surface of the carriage, making the red and black blood stains more obvious.
Everyone who saw it was nervous. Without waiting for the vehicle to land, they stretched their necks to try to look inside through the windows, but the good privacy of the windows blocked all vision, and the worry and anxiety in the hearts of everyone waiting were spreading.
"Why is there so much blood?"
"Did you encounter any zombies?"
…
As the train landed, the crowd swarmed towards the door. Before the doors were fully opened, some people were shouting the names of their loved ones inside the carriage.
Some people heard the shouts, gathered their belongings, and hurried off. Some, from inside the train, saw their loved ones outside, their eyes filled with anticipation, and thinking of the other person who would remain forever on the land of N City, felt unsure how to face them and hesitated.
Jiang Qian and the other two, along with those who were planning to continue on the bus to City A, remained on the bus until everyone had gotten off. But a moment later, no one could ignore the heart-wrenching cries from the platform.
Soon after, a dull cry was heard from another corner of the carriage, like a farewell, or an outpouring of the pain of the apocalypse...
…
Half an hour later, the people on the platform gradually left, but the crying was engraved in Jiang Qian's heart.
There were only five people left in the carriage. Jiang Dong looked at the other two passengers, turned around and asked quietly, "Do you want to lie down and get some sleep? I'll keep watch."
【Author’s words】
Post it first, maybe do some minor revisions later.
The next chapter will be updated the day after tomorrow, and it should be a long chapter.
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