Zhang Xiaoqiang's disappearance had caused the transfer of the island's population to be neglected by the management of the hot spring base. They believed that there were nearly two thousand tons of food on the island, and the lake was also rich in natural resources. It was not a problem to feed tens of thousands of people. Also, the new settlement was located in the mountains, so it was very troublesome to transport the people, especially the oil. Therefore, they simply stopped caring about it and let the people on the island find their own way of living.
Because of this, the small town on the island that could only accommodate a few thousand people couldn't find enough buildings. They could only weld iron sheets and steel frames into large iron houses. When the rain came, these iron houses became castles on the beach.
After suffering in the cold for a long time, many people couldn't bear it anymore and became swollen corpses on the roadside. Looking at these corpses, Zhang Xiaotian deeply blamed himself, but he couldn't let everyone squeeze into the houses. Now that all the rooms were full, whether it was people or supplies, they were all packed into the houses. It was already the limit, and if there were more, something bad would happen. Therefore, he could only watch helplessly.
"I don't know when the rain will stop. The dried chili on the island is running out. If there's no chili soup, I'm afraid the number of people who will die will increase tenfold …"
A soldier standing beside Zhang Xiaotian sighed as he looked at the gloomy sky. The sky was like a celestial river that had split open, and countless water droplets were dripping down, hitting the soldier's face. The cold water flowed along the collar of his raincoat and into his neck, quickly taking away his body temperature, making his heart feel cold. However, the soldier didn't avoid it and continued to look at the curtain of rain in the sky. Compared to the civilians who struggled in the cold and wet day and night, they were much stronger …
"Let's do it. Carry these corpses to the lakeside and let the other brothers increase the patrol. If they see any corpses, drag them to the lakeside and deal with them. Don't be lazy, if it causes a plague, at least a few thousand people will die …"
Zhang Xiaotian looked at the swollen corpses on the ground and said helplessly. He had seen many deaths, but when he saw that these people didn't die from hunger or zombies, but instead died in the cold, he couldn't help but sympathize with them.
The ten soldiers spread out and moved the corpses onto the stretchers in groups of two. They carried the corpses to the lakeside. One of the soldiers muttered in dissatisfaction, "Isn't that doctor's laboratory very big?
There are only a dozen people living in a place that can accommodate two hundred people. There's heating and electricity inside. Why don't you let those people in? Even if they only stay for a few hours a day, there won't be so many deaths … "
"Shut up, this is none of your business. If you still want to wear this skin, then don't say anything, don't ask anything …"
Zhang Xiaotian's reprimand made the soldiers shut their mouths. They all knew that if it weren't for their skins, perhaps there would be a place for them in the shacks by the roadside, waiting to rot and freeze to death.
The soldiers carried the corpses to the lakeside, and Zhang Xiaotian followed behind. Suddenly, he turned around and looked at the big house at the highest point of the island. The big house occupied an area of several hundred square meters. It had blue walls, a white roof, and tall windows. Soft light shone from the windows, making the rain seem even more beautiful. That was the doctor's laboratory, and it was also one of the most important forbidden areas on the island.
The doctor didn't care about the lives of the people on the island. He stared at the microscope on the test bench without blinking. Beside him, more than a dozen young women in white coats were busy shuttling through various test tubes and reagents. The doctor's new wife, Elena, had a serious expression on her face as she closed the custom-made white suitcase in front of her. In that short moment, her assistant saw the flashing mark on ten glass test tubes: JS.2.
"Phew …"
The doctor moved away from the microscope and let out a long sigh. He turned around and sat in the office chair behind him, tapping on the notebook on the table. When he finally stopped, a cup of steaming hot coffee was placed beside his hand. He looked up and saw Elena looking at him with a bright smile. "I added three times the sugar. Drink it while it's hot …"
Elena was speaking in French, but the doctor could actually understand her. He nodded and raised the coffee to his mouth. Before he could take a sip, he remembered his results and turned to ask his wife, "Go and tell them to provide me with ten people who are infected with the virus. If there are no criminals, volunteers are fine too. No matter what method they use, I must see them tomorrow …"
Elena's expression changed, and she hesitantly asked the doctor:
"Can, can this work?
What you're doing is against morality. It's a crime against humanity … "
"Hahaha …"
The doctor laughed sinisterly like a hen laying eggs. He stopped laughing and blew on the hot steam from the coffee. After a mouthful of sweet coffee, the doctor said to Elena, "Go outside and take a look. Don't think that I don't know that the heavy rain outside is killing dozens of people every day. Zhang Xiaotian asked me to open the laboratory and let those civilians who are about to freeze to death come over to take a breather.
Do you know why I refused?
It's not that I'm cold-hearted, but I want to speed up the research process. I can't waste any time. I don't know how many more people will die. I don't have the power to save the whole world, so I can only use my wisdom to bring a glimmer of hope to this world.
What you said is all bullshit. Don't you know how much impact that thing will have on us once it succeeds?
How many people will have a chance to live because of what we're researching?
As long as it succeeds, it's not a pity no matter how much we lose. Besides, it can make ordinary people stronger, and it can also make us the legends of this world … "
The doctor was very excited. As he danced, the coffee in his hand dyed his white coat brown, but he didn't care. His expression was even crazier, leaving Elena speechless.
"Hmph, even if I, Shen Li, don't have the title of a doctor, don't have the best equipment, and don't even have enough research materials, I can still create something that will shock the whole world …"
Shen Li went further and further. He seemed to have gone crazy, making Elena worry. Suddenly, she thought of something and walked up to the doctor. She whispered in his ear, "If it really succeeds, I don't think we can hand it over … at least not now …"
"Why?"
The doctor looked at Elena in a daze. Elena turned around and asked the female assistants to rest and prepare a late lunch. She then stared into the doctor's eyes and said word by word, "This is the result of your research. Why do you want to hand it over for free?
I think that JS still has the potential to be improved. This time, it's the second generation, and the success rate is only 20%. When we have the ability to come up with the third generation, or even the fourth generation, we will hand over the second generation. We will keep the rest in our hands and wait for the highest price … "
As the doctor listened to Elena's explanation, he grabbed a handful of candy and casually threw one into his mouth. Crunching sounds came from the doctor's mouth. The doctor seemed to be thinking as he ate the candy.
"Now that a year has passed since the outbreak of the virus, I believe that there will be a new order being established in the world. The number of virus research laboratories will not be small, but there won't be many that can achieve the results we have. In other words, those laboratories have just started.
Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that the results we have are the world's most advanced research results. When the time comes and the most powerful government or faction emerges, that will be the time for us to make a comeback. I believe that with our results, we will definitely become the world's most valuable scientists. At that time … "
The doctor silently listened to Elena's emotional explanation. He poured the remaining half of the coffee in the cup into his mouth. It was hard to tell whether he was moved or not, which made Elena feel a little uneasy.
"You want me to do this, does this count as betrayal?
They provide us with the best houses, the best supplies, and even evolved zombies. What can others provide us? "
The doctor was very disdainful. To him, a high quality of life and other luxuries were all nonsense. Only a high standard of evolved zombies was what he pursued.
"No, we didn't betray you. We are just using the best results to exchange for what we need. Don't you feel aggrieved?
What does this laboratory have? What doesn't it have? The conditions are so simple that it makes people's hair stand on end. You taking out the type 2 JS is enough to live up to what they have provided. If you take out the purified JS to exchange, not only will we receive better protection, we will also have the best laboratory for you to lead. The most outstanding scientists will be your assistants. Isn't that better than this group of women who haven't even heard of a cradle or a high-speed centrifuge? "
The doctor looked at the flushed and emotional Elena and smiled …