Genetic Potion

"Bzzz..."

The drone slowly advanced, steadily closing in on the man and woman appearing in the camera's view—the first humans from the Other World Li Yang had ever seen.

"They're no different from people on Earth. At least, not on the surface."

As Li Yang watched the Other World humans reveal astonishment at the approaching drone, he wondered how they had appeared in this zombie-infested city while judging their appearance at the same time.

Although the two were filthy, he could still roughly make out their yellowish skin, much like that of Asians. Aside from that, he didn't know whether it was an individual difference or the general standard, but both of them looked exceptionally upright and well-built. It was the innate impression created by their bone structure.

While pondering this, Li Yang activated the drone's communication function and controlled it to hover in the air five meters away from the two.

As a customized drone, this machine possessed extremely clear communication capabilities. Once the function was activated, sounds picked up by the drone and sounds received by the remote controller could both be transmitted with the clarity of a telephone call.

Although the humans of this world looked Asian and even wrote the simplified Chinese characters he was familiar with, the same characters did not necessarily have the pronunciation he knew.

But no matter what, humans living in the Apocalyptic World were bound to yearn desperately for a way out. As long as he could make sounds, wouldn't the other side failing to understand him make it even easier to pretend to be a savior?

Although he was about to try learning a foreign language, under the force of such powerful motivation, as long as he...

"What era is this? Who still uses this kind of antique?"

"Don't make such a fuss. I heard the person in power at Base City Number One still uses an iron pot to cook food with low pollution levels. Powerful Evolvers even use the most primitive knives and swords to attack. What's so strange about that? Take back your rude words. Any adventurer out there is an existence worthy of our respect."

One voice was astonished, while the other was cautious. Their words traveled through the drone's microphone to the remote controller. Li Yang, holding the controller, silently watched the Other World man and woman gazing at the drone with different expressions and quietly abandoned his plan to play the mysterious savior.

"Hello. May I ask if there's anything we can help you with?"

Before the drone's camera, the tall, broad-boned man wore a humble smile that didn't match his build. After the man reminded her, the woman beside him, who looked to be a full one hundred and seventy centimeters tall, shrank her head and timidly hid behind him.

Through the high-precision imaging equipment, every movement the two made appeared clearly before Li Yang, who was holding the remote controller beside the back door of the Gold Shop.

They're speaking Mandarin.

Is Chinese really the universal language of the multiverse?

Li Yang watched the man and woman—two humans from another world—clearly displayed in the video. His gaze lingered on the humility on the man's face and the woman behind him, who was visibly shrinking back in fear.

These were survivors living at the bottom of the surviving human society in this world.

Li Yang quickly formed a preliminary judgment. Otherwise, why would they adopt such an attitude when faced with something?

But that doesn't rule out this being a disguise put on by cunning survivors.

A trace of wariness clouded Li Yang's heart. He looked at the man and woman on the screen as his mind raced.

Under circumstances like these,

what kind of question would be appropriate?

Or rather, what should he say...

"Why are you here?"

Li Yang thought of the zombies roaming all over the city and decided to use that as his starting point.

To ordinary people, the zombies filling the city were undoubtedly a threat. For them to appear so relaxed on the rooftop of a building, unless...

As he pondered, Li Yang also recalled the information contained in the conversation that had come through the controller when communication had first been activated.

Base City Number One, the person in power, food with low pollution levels...

Powerful Evolvers using knives and swords as primitive means of attack...

Evolvers? Could this Apocalyptic World have a group of humans with unique powers?

There are Base Cities. That proves the remaining survivors have rebuilt an organization. And with people in power, does that mean there's a stable government?

Food with low pollution levels... Has this world been polluted, leaving no clean food at all?

Li Yang's mind frantically guessed at the possible circumstances, while the voice transmitted from the drone reached the first exchange with the two Other World humans they had met.

"Under the various measures implemented by the Base City, this city's pollution index has already been reduced to a very low level. Now is the perfect time to come collect all kinds of equipment and resources. Everyone is happy to come gather supplies at a time like this and earn some income. Surely you didn't come to this city for the same reason?"

As soon as Li Yang finished speaking, the woman glanced at the man. A sudden spark appeared in his eyes, and he smiled as he spoke to the drone. "My friend, if you don't mind, why don't we meet and chat? We can see what each of us has gained in this city. Perhaps before taking everything back to the Base City to exchange for resource points, we could trade goods directly and complete a deal ahead of time. I think that might be more worthwhile than exchanging them for resource points after returning."

"Oh? What do you have to trade?"

Li Yang watched the man's expression in the video and listened to his voice. He frowned, then thought for a moment before immediately turning around to put away the equipment beside him. He quickly carried the armor back into a room in a residence on the outskirts of Heyang. After returning, the man's voice followed at once through the remote controller.

"We only just arrived here. We didn't find many other good things, but there is one item you might be interested in collecting."

The man's eyes shifted. He then gestured to the woman beside him. She knowingly took a sealed box filled with ice from the large backpack on her back. Inside the sealed box lay two dark-blue potions.

Li Yang frowned, adjusted the drone's camera, and zoomed in on the potion in the woman's hand. He took two high-definition photographs in succession, then drew the camera back and looked at the two smiling people.

"That's right. These are the Body Correction Potion and Nerve Reaction Potion Number Three, made fifteen years ago before the Calamity Virus outbreak, when resources were abundant and production methods were fully developed. You should know that potions from fifteen years ago were nothing like those of the resource-starved present. The effects of these two potions are at least five times stronger than those of today's basic potions, and their medicinal power is gentler as well. Even if you have no use for them, they would still make excellent collectibles for reminiscing about the past."

The smile on the man's face grew radiant. Pointing at the two potions, which looked like test tubes filled with beverages, he emphasized, "This version of the Body Correction Potion can correct and cure ninety-nine percent of the defects and minor ailments in the human body. After using it, almost every imperfection will practically cease to exist."

"As for Nerve Reaction Potion Number Three, it can increase a person's reaction speed by thirty percent!"