94: Anti-zombie virus serum

Early this morning, at the Red Alert Base Research Center.

The morning light faintly appeared, casting a layer of pale gold over the base's towering alloy walls. Jiang Xin stood in the command room on the top floor of the Research Center. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the outline of the base gradually became clear in the mist, full of order and a sense of power.

Today, No. 1 gave him a huge surprise. The Research Center would open up the research data for the anti-zombie virus serum and provide the setup for a complete production line (requires research by a promoted Biologist; after research is completed, the complete production line can be purchased with funds).

No. 1 explained the promotion of Engineers (1 hero badge). He intended to start the research on the anti-zombie virus serum and promote all Engineers to hero units.

"Messenger, notify all standby Engineers to gather at the Research Center's main conference room immediately." Jiang Xin's voice was calm and powerful, transmitting through the communicator across the entire research area.

"Understood." The messenger replied crisply.

In less than a quarter of an hour, over a dozen men and women dressed in the standard Red Alert Engineer uniforms filed into the spacious and bright main conference room. Most of them were in their thirties, their faces bearing the focus and rigor typical of technical personnel, while their eyes revealed absolute obedience to Jiang Xin and a hint of confusion due to being urgently summoned. These Engineers had passed the initial modification of the enhancement serum; their physical fitness and mental strength had reached the evolutionary threshold, though not in the direction of combat.

Jiang Xin's gaze slowly swept over these technological cornerstones of the base; their wisdom was the engine of Red Alert's development. He nodded slightly and got straight to the point: "Everyone, you have worked hard these days. I have gathered you all today, firstly, to promote you to hero units."

The Engineers immediately straightened their backs, their expressions solemn, their eyes focused on Jiang Xin, waiting for what was next.

Jiang Xin first explained in detail the changes in abilities when Engineers are promoted to hero units.

Jiang Xin's voice rang out in the conference room, clear and without ripples, "The Engineer sequence promotion to hero units is in the direction of 'Knowledge Sublimation.' This promotion does not grant any special combat abilities, only a small amount of physical enhancement. The core improvements are:"

"First, the intelligence level will receive a significant leap; thinking speed, information processing ability, and logical deduction ability will be raised to the current peak level of humanity."

"Second, after selecting a professional field, you will receive an infusion of deep, cutting-edge theoretical knowledge and practical experience in that field, becoming a well-deserved top expert in that area."

"Third, you will possess the basic application ability of cross-disciplinary knowledge, assisting in solving complex system problems."

Listening to Jiang Xin's description, the Engineers' breathing involuntarily quickened slightly. Intelligence leap! Domain expert! Wasn't this the ultimate evolution that they, as technical personnel, dreamed of? Although they couldn't fly or burrow like combat heroes, the power of this knowledge was equally significant for the development of the base! A fiery light ignited in everyone's eyes.

Jiang Xin took in the changes in the Engineers' expressions, nodded with satisfaction, and dropped the real bombshell: "Very good. There is one more thing; I have decided to immediately start the research project for the 'Anti-Zombie Virus Serum'!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of suppressed gasps instantly filled the conference room! Anti-Zombie Virus Serum! This was simply the "Holy Grail" of the apocalypse!

"Commander," an Engineer with a bald head and thick glasses excitedly adjusted his frames, his voice trembling slightly, "Is... is this really feasible? As far as I know, all the major bases across the country are researching it, but the progress..."

"It is feasible!" Jiang Xin interrupted his doubts decisively, his gaze as sharp as a hawk, "The Red Alert Research Center database has unlocked the relevant research path. Its key raw material is exactly the resource we have in the greatest quantity—zombie crystal core!"

He paced to the huge holographic screen and tapped it lightly. The screen immediately displayed complex molecular structures and energy flow charts: "The essence energy contained within the crystal core, after being extracted and purified in a specific way, has properties highly homologous to the core components used to manufacture hero enhancement serums, and is even more 'gentle' and 'universal.' As a layman, I won't go into the details of the extraction method; you can extract them from the Research Center's database after you go back."

"Yes, Commander." The image on the holographic screen switched, displaying concise formulas and data, "Based on the optimization of existing extraction technology models, the initial estimate is: consuming 1 ordinary zombie crystal core (white), through energy refinement and biological adaptation technology, one can successfully manufacture 100 doses of serum with effective dosage and stable anti-viral efficacy."

"100 doses!" This time, even the most composed Engineer couldn't help but exclaim. This conversion rate far exceeded everyone's imagination! This meant that as long as the supply of crystal cores was sufficient, theoretically, the Red Alert Base could rapidly achieve mass production of the serum!

Jiang Xin turned around, facing the Engineers who were somewhat dazed by the huge surprise, his voice carrying unquestionable determination and a trace of deep warmth: "This research has the highest priority! I want you to turn the serum from theory into reality as quickly as possible! This is not for the data in the laboratory, but for every one of our soldiers fighting and bleeding on the front lines!"

He walked to the window, looking at the phalanx of soldiers training in the morning below, those young and determined faces. "Every Red Alert Soldier is the most precious asset of my base! I will never allow them to lose their precious lives while fighting zombies simply because of an accidental scratch or a splash of infected blood!" His voice was resonant and powerful, carrying a near-paranoid sense of protectiveness, "In the future, every soldier squad going on a mission must be equipped with a sufficient amount of anti-zombie virus serum! This is an order! It is also my commitment to their lives!"

The conference room was silent, save for the slightly heavy breathing of the Engineers due to their excitement. Jiang Xin's cherishing of the soldiers deeply moved them. This was not just a scientific research task, but a heavy responsibility to protect the lives of their comrades-in-arms!

"Now, let the promotions begin!" Jiang Xin said no more, his gaze sweeping over every Engineer present, finally landing on the earliest born Engineer, Hu Jingming, who had been stationed at the Research Center since it was built and had the deepest involvement in the biological field, "Dr. Hu, you have always been the leader of the base's biological research; promotion direction: Biologist!"

"Yes! Commander!" Hu Jingming's cheeks flushed with excitement as he straightened his chest.

"No. 1, promote Engineer Hu Jingming to hero unit (Biologist), consume 1 hero badge!"

"Command confirmed, consuming 1 hero badge, promotion started." A soft light instantly enveloped Hu Jingming; he closed his eyes, his face revealing a focused expression of being immersed in an ocean of knowledge.

Jiang Xin did not pause for a second, his fingers pointing rapidly at the others:

"You, structural mechanics and large-scale architectural planning, promotion: Architect!"

"You, responsible for base energy and mechanical systems, promotion: Engineering Expert!"

"You, formerly having unique insights into crop improvement and efficient planting, promotion: Agronomist!"

"You, quite knowledgeable about core communications and electronic technology, promotion: Electronic Information Expert!"

"And you, the maintenance of the base network and core algorithms is handed to you, promotion: Computer Science Expert!"

"You, have deep research into intelligent logic and automation, promotion: Artificial Intelligence Expert!"

...

Jiang Xin's voice was like the most precise instruction, lighting up the path to the pinnacle of knowledge for every Engineer. Soft and sacred promotion lights flickered and extinguished one after another in the main conference room. Every time the light shone, it represented the birth of a top expert!

A total of over a dozen precious hero badges were consumed. When the last ray of light dissipated, the atmosphere in the conference room had completely changed. The dozen or so experts who had just completed their promotion had eyes that became deeper and wiser, and their bodies seemed to be surrounded by an invisible aura of knowledge. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with a longing for new knowledge and surging passion for the great cause about to unfold.

"Dr. Hu," Jiang Xin looked at the Biologist who had promoted first and whose temperament was now completely different, "You will be the general person in charge of the Anti-Zombie Virus Serum project! Other domain experts, cooperate fully! If you need any resources, apply directly to Officer Jiang; the priority is the highest!"

"Understood, Commander!" Hu Jingming's voice was filled with unprecedented confidence and strength. He pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, which seemed to appear even wiser, his eyes flashing with a sharp light of overcoming difficulties, "We will definitely live up to the trust, and at the fastest speed, deliver the serum to every soldier's hands!"

Jiang Xin looked at this "Scientific Research Assault Team" composed of top brains before him and nodded with satisfaction. Another value of the crystal core had been completely illuminated; the key to the future was already in his hands. The life protection for the soldiers had added another indestructible line of defense.