Chapter 51 Chapter 51 The Fourth Wish
As Chen Mu had said, several more protests followed. These had never happened before at Base 59, and they caused widespread panic, with small-scale clashes often breaking out in the streets.
Inside a residence on the seventh floor, the door was shut and dark. Three people gathered. One of them, wearing a black coat and a mask, said, "A water purification station is being built on the second floor. Bring a group of people there and destroy it. The base will be in chaos."
The man nodded, and the man in the black coat said to another person, "You should go to the Ministry of Government Affairs and block the door. Bring more people with you to attract their attention."
Another person agreed and added, "They were clamoring for money and medicine..."
"You deal with it for now. I'll pay you a little upfront," the man in the black coat said. "Recruit more people. It would be best if we could expand the situation."
The man thought that he couldn't afford to pay people, and now he couldn't recruit many people, and the situation was even worse. He lowered his voice and said, "The protest has been going on for half a month, and the leader hasn't responded. How long will we continue?"
"Don't worry about it. We will inform you when the time comes." The man in the black coat waved his hand, signaling them to stand up and walk out immediately. At this moment, the lights suddenly came on.
"Don't turn on the light!" the man in the black coat shouted. Seeing the two men staring at each other, he suddenly realized what was happening and turned to run out the window. The two men were still stunned, thinking for a moment before following. By then, the man in the black coat had already jumped out, but in the blink of an eye, he let out a scream. The door was opened, and a group of fully armed guards rushed in. The two men immediately knelt and begged for mercy. A moment later, the man in the black coat, with a bruised face, was thrown in front of them.
…
The Minister of Biology hurriedly put on his coat. He had just received news that his nephew was arrested by the guards. In order to prevent his nephew from saying anything he shouldn't say, he had to meet the leader immediately.
The car was ready. Without waiting for his men to help drive, the head of the Biology Department opened the door himself, bent down and got in, then said to the driver, "Go to the chief's residence, quickly!"
The driver started the car and sped off through the darkness. The Biology Department Director closed his eyes, lost in thought. Six months had passed since the leader's return, meaning his ridiculous reforms had already been going on for six months. Initially, the Director had dismissed it as a whim, another playful attempt at self-improvement. When the leader first took office, he often resorted to such practices, only to quickly abandon them due to various obstacles. But this time, despite the same difficulties, the leader had surprisingly persevered for six months, and some of his measures were beginning to take effect, which gave the Director a slight sense of crisis.
It seems that more drastic measures are needed... After the Minister of Biology pondered for a long time, the car stopped and he opened his eyes, only to find that he was not outside the leader's residence.
"What's going on? Where are we?" The head of the biology department looked at the driver angrily. "What are you doing, you idiot?!"
The driver raised his head, turned around, took off his hat, and said with a smile, "Minister, our boss specially invited you to have a chat."
Only then did the Minister of Biology realize that the driver had a completely unfamiliar face.
The house before them was quite ordinary. Under the driver's intimidation, the Minister of Biology entered. Inside, it was just an ordinary residence. After walking through the corridor, they stopped in front of a door. The driver knocked on the door, and a familiar voice called out from inside. When the door opened, the Minister of Biology saw the young man who often accompanied the leader, sitting in a chair.
The Minister of Biology immediately understood a lot of things. He turned around and was about to leave, but the door was blocked by the driver.
"What do you mean?!"
System 05 said, "Minister, since you're here, why not have a chat?"
The head of the biology department turned around and said arrogantly, "You have no right to talk to me."
System 05 smiled. The driver at the door pulled out a gun and pointed it at the back of the Minister of Biology. System 05 raised his chin, pointed at the chair in front of him, and said, "This is the leader's order. Please sit down, Minister. Let's talk about Zhou Nuo."
Zhou Nuo is the minister's nephew.
The head of the biology department sat down and said, "This matter has nothing to do with me. What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Besides Zhou Nuo, two other individuals from the Seventh Floor were also captured. They had previously been in charge of the Seventh Floor's underground transactions," System 05 said. "A month ago, Zhou Nuo and you met, and you spoke late into the night. Two days later, a large sum of money appeared in Zhou Nuo's account, and a batch of medicine was delivered to his home. Zhou Nuo used this money and medicine to recruit people and organize demonstrations, destroying multiple buildings, factories, and infrastructure, causing significant damage to the base."
The head of the biology department's face turned pale. It was obvious that the leader had all the evidence.
"I want to see him!"
"He's not in a position to see anyone right now."
"What on earth do you want to do?!"
Compared to his excitement, System 05 was remarkably calm. Up to this point, he hadn't even changed his posture. His tone was calm and steady as he spoke, "I want to know something, something only you know."
"…What do you want to know?"
"What's the current status of the Biology Department's anti-STDE-C-2 drug development?"
"The Levo 6 is under development..."
Before he could finish his words, System 05 suddenly pulled out a gun and fired a shot at his feet. The bullet shell bounced up and grazed his face. The head of the Biology Department looked at him in horror. After a while, he burst into anger: "Are you crazy?!"
"It will be dawn soon, and I don't have time to listen to your lies." System 05 retracted the gun, his tone still calm: "If you can't give me a real answer, it means you are worthless, understand."
The Biology Minister's pupils narrowed slightly, the tension still lingering as he took a serious look at the young man for the first time. Ever since the Chief had brought him up, everyone had assumed he was just a figurehead, a figure the Chief had given his mistress to watch over at all times. Later, when he became the Minister of Internal Affairs, everyone assumed he was just a whisperer, a figurehead for the Chief. Many people, including the Biology Minister, ignored him.
This shot broke the Biology Department's mental defenses. He withdrew his gaze, his gaze falling to the ground. System 05 asked again, "What is the current status of the Biology Department's anti-STDE-C-2 drug development?"
"The Levo VI has been successfully developed, and the Levo VII is under development."
"What about the aftereffects of Levo VI?"
"I'm not sure, but it's probably quite serious. Some experimental subjects died from complications shortly after taking the drug."
"You experiment on living people?"
"They're volunteers and have signed contracts," the Biology Department Director said. "Experiments on living people are most effective. If we don't do this, our progress will be slower than at other bases."
System 05 didn't continue to debate the topic with him: "What's the progress of the other bases?"
"I only know that the First Base has already launched the Levo VIII, which is the most advanced. The Second Base has already launched the Levo VII, but its effectiveness is questionable." The Minister of Biology added, "The First Base has 50,000 people. Every year, a large number of people from other bases and wanderers join, but the population remains at 50,000. Where do you think they went?"
System 05 frowned slightly. These medicines were not shared... He learned from Chen Mu that there were trade exchanges between bases. The 59th Base used to export a large amount of industrial products and import daily necessities and food. Now, due to various reasons, the export quota is getting lower and lower, and the trade deficit is increasing, which brings great pressure to the base's finances.
The First Base mainly exports medicines and weapons.
"Does Levo Type 8 have any side effects?"
The Minister of Biology said, "Of course. Although I haven't used it, the basic principle is always the same. You either die from the STDE-C-2 virus or die from the side effects of the drug. But taking some medicine will make you feel better. Do people in this world have any other choice?"
"How many years do you think humans can survive with medicine?"
The Minister of Biology was silent for a long time and said, "I don't want to discuss this issue."
"You've probably considered this, too," System 05 said. "Everyone knows the world is deteriorating, and one day, even medicine won't be able to save humanity. But as the head of the Biology Department, you should have a clearer answer than they do."
"If you can live, live. If you can't, die. Of course, you should enjoy life while you're still alive." The Minister of Biology raised his head again: "Three years. Humans only have three years."
System 05's gaze shifted slightly.
[Average STDE-C-2 concentration within the base: 5%]
[Average STDE-C-2 concentration outside the base: 91%]
Average antibody level: 24%
Average threshold: 95
In half a year, the external virus concentration rose from 87% to 91%, and the average threshold value rose from 93 to 95. The effect of Levo Type IV was minimal, and people were trying their best to buy the limited number of Levo Type V.
The Minister of Biology is too optimistic. In fact, the end of the world will come sooner.
In two years at most, the average threshold will reach 99 or 100.
System 05 calmly asked, "What if humans could survive?"
The Minister of Biology sneered, "Impossible! From a hundred years ago until now, many people have been trying to find a way to cure the virus, but viruses evolve faster than humans can develop them. Ordinary people, ignorant of the situation, only fantasize about a technological breakthrough someday, creating a drug that can cure the virus. But I'm telling you, that path is blocked. Darkness has descended, and humanity has no future."
System 05 thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Minister, to tell you the truth, I originally wanted to kill you tonight."
The head of the biology department's face suddenly changed and he was dumbfounded.
"Then I'll say that the truth was revealed and you committed suicide out of fear of punishment." System 05's fingers circled the muzzle of the gun. "You're already dead, so it doesn't matter what I say. However, after today's conversation, I think I can give you a chance."
The head of the biology department looked at him in surprise and suspicion.
"Your life is in your hands now."
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