For the next few days, Chen Chen never stepped out of the Spire Experimental Base.

Chen Chen had entrusted the management of the Eco Science City to Cheng Cao. Although Cheng Cao was unfamiliar with overseeing a city, everything should be fine since he had the help of Little X.

Meanwhile, Chen Chen remained in the laboratory and continued studying the Progenitor virus with Hannibal and the others.

The problem was that the Progenitor virus was not perfected. Although it was able to prompt evolution, the success rate for doing so was extremely low while the fatality rate was disproportionately high. Its nature was unstable as well.

They intended to improve the Progenitor virus and reprogram it into a virus that was more stable and carried stronger evolutionary abilities.

The cast of Resident Evil had paved the foundation for this path they were taking.

The Umbrella Corporation had spent decades researching the Progenitor virus before finally finding the most resolute path – by merging the Progenitor virus with partial genetics of leeches, they created a brand new virus.

As an ancient annelid species, leeches possessed superior environmental tolerance and adaptability. Since the transcriptase of the two was h.o.m.ologous, the genetics of leeches could be used to enhance the environmental adaptability of the Progenitor virus, which also improved its stability.

With the help of the research data from the Hive, there was no need for Chen Chen's side to conduct further experimentation. They only had to use the devices from Resident Evil and apply the technique that had already been developed to fuse the two genes.

At the present, inside the level-4 biosafety laboratory, dozens of research members enclosed in protective suits made their laps around the laboratory, occupied with their tasks.

“Now conducting the fourth attempt…”

The projector placed in the center of the laboratory projected the image on the microinjector.

Inside the translucent petri dish s.p.a.ce, a fixed straw could be seen latching onto a fist-sized bubble. The bubble took on a translucent form and a thin layer of membrane could be seen on its outside. It enclosed several tiny and oddly shaped substances on its inside.

As the straw prodded into the bubble and began its slow advance, the shape of a transparent needle could be observed on the screen.

As the two began to close in with each other, the head of the needle could be seen gently poking through the membrane layer, entering the bubble.

Finally, several drops of blue substance were injected into the bubble.

Chen Chen silently observed the ongoing operation on the display. Despite the sheer magnitude of the substances on the display, they were all smaller than the tip of a needle in reality.

For instance, the bubble shown on the display was the zygote of a leech which was only a few microns in diameter. The ISCI injection needle which appeared even smaller measured only 0.1 microns in diameter.

With this infection implantation and the addition of various chemicals, the newly born leeches now had the characteristics of the Progenitor virus.

This was a cla.s.s of heterophonic chimeric substance.

After undergoing several intricate processes which include reproduction, the virus would then be extracted from the leech.

After several failed attempts, the Progenitor virus had finally properly fused with the genes of the leech, producing a new virus substance. The experiment had succeeded at last.

“It has been extracted. The virus which has been genetically restructured is displaying unique characteristics…”

Inside the laboratory, Hannibal extracted a test tube from the low-speed centrifuge. He poured the contents of the centrifuge-separated liquid into another test tube.

A liquid substance glowing blue appeared before their very eyes.

“Don't be too optimistic just yet, let's see the results first.”

Li Lei reminded.

“Alright.” Hannibal went to an operating bench on the side and drew 0.1ml of the liquid in the test tube, which he proceeded to inject inside an SPF grade mouse in a cage.

“Squeak!”

The little mouse squeaked in pain.

Sadly, not a soul present felt sorry for it. After injecting the virus, Hannibal put the mouse back in its cage and repeated the same sequence with the mice in other cages, injecting them one by one.

Hannibal separated the experiment animals into several groups, each group having been injected with varying dosages.

After the process was completed, Hannibal checked the time. “The time now is 2230. Based on the research details, the effects should be visible in three hours.”

An a.s.sistant on the side quickly pointed to an experimental recorder to record the process of these mice being injected with the virus.

In the beginning, the mice injected with the virus appeared perfectly fine, displaying zero symptoms whatsoever.

As time pa.s.sed, around half an hour later, the mice began to show signs of being agitated. They began to crawl around in their cages, appearing as if they were being threatened by some natural predator.

At the one hour mark, all of the mice in each of the cages began squeaking away loudly. The ones that had been injected with larger doses appeared to be experiencing more intense pangs of pain.

At the two hour mark, the mice that had received larger doses took a complete turn from their usual docile temperament and began bas.h.i.+ng against the cages. The cages trembled ceaselessly but the mice themselves seemed to display no signs of being in pain.

At the two and a half hour mark, all of the mice were displaying extreme aggression. They continuously bashed against the cages in their attempt to break out of it.

As the bas.h.i.+ng went on, their movements began to grow slower and slower until they soon curled up into a ball. It was hard to determine if they were dead or had just merely pa.s.sed out.

At the three hour mark, the mice had awoken and returned to their usual state.

“They have survived the virus. They haven't died or become zombies but have become carriers of the virus.”

Li Lei sharply drew in a breath of cold air upon noting this. “Doesn't this make them the same as the asymptomatic patients, able to spread the virus wherever they go?”

“That's right, that's what's threatening about the virus.”

Chen Chen looked at the mice and mused. “The body of a mouse already contains many bacteria and viruses in the first place. This ended up contributing to a heightened amount of natural resistance in them that even rivals that of bats. It's not surprising that they become a source of virus infection…

“But this doesn't mean that they can be used as representative for the data. We'll still have to observe other animals first.”

Chen Chen suddenly thought of the hounds infected with the virus in the movie so he added. “If I'm not mistaken, the virus should have different effects on species such as dogs and cats.”

“Will we begin the animal experiments tomorrow?” Hannibal asked.

Chen Chen stayed silent for a while before declaring, “Alright, we'll begin the related animal experiments tomorrow. How many species do we have in the SPF breeding room currently?”

“We have Kunming mice, SD rats, New Zealand white rabbits, macaques, and chimpanzees. Five species in total,” the a.s.sistant in charge of rearing the animals spoke up.

“We shall conduct tests on the three latter species tomorrow.”

Chen Chen made a nodding gesture to affirm his decision. With that, he left the Spire laboratory.

After going through the complicated disinfection process required for leaving the laboratory, Cheng Chao who had been notified of the recent development was already waiting outside. “Boss, returning to the research center today?”

Chen Chen waved his hand. “I'm not leaving, but I need you to run some errands for me. I remember the Walvis Bay Police Department has set up an office and a prison in Eco Science City. I need you to go to the department chief and get him to give me five serious offender prisoners.”

“Serious offenders?”

“Yes. Kill, rape, whatever works.”

Chen Chen nodded. “After that, I'll have the Black Knights work together with you to bring the five of them back here. One more thing, I need the candidates to be physically healthy.”

“I got it. I'll see to it now.”

Cheng Cao nodded then turned around and left.

The reasoning for so quickly jumping into human experimentations was that Chen Chen understood that the T-virus was intended for humans. Although animals may be able to carry the virus, the intended host for the virus had always been humans.

It was merely an accident that the dogs were zombified after being infected with the virus. In truth, the same principle could be applied to all animals.

It was only after Cheng Cao had left when Chen Chen finally returned to his room in the Spire Experimental Base. He immediately felt a wave of drowsiness collapsing on him upon lying down on the bed as sleep took him quickly.