The Traitor

They arrived at the Brain, but were stopped at the entrance.

The ones blocking them was a massive wall, looking like a Great Wall, but it wasn't made of bricks. Instead, it was constructed from a giant net.

[Blood-Brain Barrier: This refers to the barrier between plasma and brain cells formed by the walls of brain capillaries and glial cells, as well as the barrier between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid formed by the choroid plexus. These barriers prevent certain substances (mostly harmful) from entering brain tissue from the blood.]

At intervals along the net-like Great Wall, there were watchtowers manned by guards.

The guards wore olive-green uniforms and carried spears, staring intently at anything attempting to enter the Brain.

Tang Yuan looked up, squinting.

[Glial Cells: Also known as neuroglia, these are cells found throughout the central nervous system, excluding neurons. They are approximately ten times more numerous than neurons in the central nervous system. They serve to support and nourish neurons, and also have the function of absorbing and regulating certain active substances.]

Through the transparent net-like Great Wall, Tang Yuan saw many library-like buildings situated there, connected to each other by another type of tree-like structure.

Inside those libraries lived many people dressed in green, appearing to be researchers or scholars.

"Who goes there? This is a vital area of the Brain. No cells are permitted to visit," a guard on the watchtower barked.

Tang Yuan stroked his chin. This was going to be difficult. He had almost forgotten about the Blood-Brain Barrier; most hydrophilic and large-molecule substances couldn't pass.

Material exchange here also relied on carrier proteins. Under normal circumstances, he absolutely couldn't get in.

"What should we do? Should we try to force our way through?" Qi Zhi asked, then charged towards the net-like Great Wall. She was immediately stopped by the large net and bounced back.

Wang Tianyi looked at Qi Zhi. "You're too big, you definitely can't get through, and besides—"

The guards on the watchtower had already noticed their intentions and aimed their spears at them.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! We just wanted to see how sturdy this wall is!" Wang Tianyi said with a grin.

"Neutrophils, Macrophages, B Cells, and Killer T Cells, this is no place for you. If you don't want to die, leave immediately."

"Looks like we have to retreat," Qi Xiu said, turning to leave, but Qi Zhi pulled him back.

"Look at him, he hasn't moved yet," Qi Zhi pointed at Tang Yuan.

Tang Yuan stood there, as if waiting for something.

"He hasn't given up, so there must be a way."

Tang Yuan indeed hadn't given up. He waved his hands towards the inside, signaling for someone to come over.

After all, the cells had been anthropomorphized, so this kind of action should be possible.

Someone inside had already noticed Tang Yuan. He walked out of one of the libraries and approached the net-like wall.

"Buddy, what's up?" the scholar asked, tilting his head. He was puzzled; normally, no one came here. Their libraries were connected to almost all the neural information networks, so as long as they were in the Brain, they could know everything.

"Do you know this world is in grave danger?" Tang Yuan asked.

The scholar nodded. He knew the situation all too well, but since he wasn't on the front lines, he couldn't personally experience the brutality.

As long as those viruses and bacteria didn't invade the Brain, there was still room for maneuver.

"The invading viruses are extremely powerful and mutate very quickly. Soon, we won't be able to distinguish them."

"Yes, you're right. But all we can do is continuously analyze new virus types and quickly formulate countermeasures."

"That's too passive," Tang Yuan sighed. "We need to anticipate their next moves if we hope to win this war, and I've got some ideas."

"We welcome people with ideas, but I'm sorry, you still can't come in."

"I'm not trying to get in," Tang Yuan replied. "If I had enough data, I could figure out what this disease is. So, I hope you can help me."

"Help with what?"

"I want you to show me all the memories related to this disease."

"I'm sorry, you don't have the authorization to see that," the scholar refused outright and was about to turn back.

"Wait, don't be so quick to leave," Qi Zhi said from the side, smiling leisurely. "We're all fighting for world peace. Since he has a way to confirm this disease, why not try it first?"

Qi Zhi spoke in a gentle, mature female tone, which immediately reminded Tang Yuan of those late-night radio hosts speaking with such captivating voices.

"But this isn't according to regulations," the scholar stammered, mainly because the woman opposite him was too assertive, making it difficult for him to refuse directly.

"Just say you wanted to see it yourself, bring it over, and read it through the net-like Great Wall. It's all the same. Regulations are rigid, and they were created for talent," Tang Yuan interjected. The scholar was wavering, which meant there was hope.

"But..." He still wasn't completely convinced. Even with Qi Zhi's constant persuasion, it was no use.

"Please, just this once. Showing you everything might be too much, so just bring whatever you can carry. As long as it's from the recent period."

"Okay," the scholar replied readily.

Qi Zhi had intended to try persuading him further, but she was surprised he agreed so readily.

However, she didn't know that where she couldn't see, Tang Yuan secretly held the Blue Virus's hat and dangled it at the scholar.

"If you don't show me, I'll find something else that can get in and try it myself?"

The scholar's face changed instantly. "You... you wouldn't..."

"Oh? You want to see if I would?" As he spoke, Tang Yuan extended his hand holding the blue hat towards the net-like structure. "Look at this size, it can get in very easily."

This man, with a smile on his lips and a gentle gaze, still made the scholar's entire body feel numb. He believed that this gentle man was capable of anything.

Even if he was a Neutrophil in this world, if he wanted to release viruses, he wouldn't care about anything.

[At the critical moment, gentle negotiation is also a way to make the other party comply.]

[Note: Gentle negotiation combined with appropriate threats is extremely effective.]

The scholar went back to get the materials and returned shortly after. He sat directly on the ground, looking at Tang Yuan outside the net-like city wall.

"Read it."

"...Gender: Female; Volunteer No. 001."

"Statement: I am voluntarily here as an experimental subject and will voluntarily bear all consequences regardless of any circumstances that may arise."

"In the early stages after being injected with the virus, I started coughing and sneezing. This should be an inflammation-like reaction produced by the body when stimulated. They told me not to worry at all, and that as long as I got through this period, I would become the first Evolver."

"But it seems the situation is getting worse and worse. However, I haven't given up hope and have been persevering, not losing my mind. I will definitely... be the one to... change history..."

The scholar looked up and shrugged. "This is all the relevant information we have. It's a medical record or diary from 'our' memories."