Phoenix 2, The Next Plan

Over the next several days, Shen Fei stayed in the laboratory with Connors, constantly researching genetic scissors.

That was right—genetic scissors.

After Shen Fei brought them into the laboratory, he discovered that the accuracy of the existing genetic scissors was far too low.

But even though Osborn's stock price had plummeted, it was still a leader in biotechnology.

If even its gene-editing technology was so weak, then gene editing in this world was still in its infancy.

Shen Fei suspected that the problems with the Lizard Serum and Green Goblin Serum partly stemmed from this.

Over the past few days, Shen Fei had searched through all kinds of bacteria for enzymes capable of rapidly integrating into genomes.

"Boss, I found something in Staphylococcus Aureus..."

Connors suddenly called out urgently. Shen Fei walked over to the microscope and nodded. "This is the pair of scissors we need."

"What virus did you use for your previous experiments?"

"Adenovirus."

"Start experiments with lab mice!"

"Use the portion of the Lizard Serum that affects Self-healing Ability and recreate your experiment."

"Then conduct the research directly on the lab mice!"

Shen Fei continuously operated the computer while the Mechanical Arm worked over a lab mouse.

Through the microscope, he watched a virus implanted with the genes of the 'Overlapping Shear Enzyme' and the Lizard Serum enter the mouse's body.

Very soon.

Connors stared in amazement at the genetically edited lab mouse. Its fur suddenly began falling out, and patches of scales grew over its body.

"This... is incredible." Connors looked at the targeted mutation.

He had researched this for years and still needed vast amounts of experimental data to prove how to produce beneficial mutations with the greatest probability.

Yet Shen Fei had already done it.

"Boss, how did you discover this?"

"I spent the past few days going through the evolutionary histories and various studies of every kind of bacterium."

"If you want to perform gene editing, you have to find organisms that mutate extremely easily..."

As Shen Fei observed the Staphylococcus Aureus, he explained at the same time.

Connors froze. Was this what a genius was like?

Such wildly imaginative ideas.

"Begin. Bring in the Phoenix test subject, and have the company recruit volunteers..."

Shen Fei looked at the extracted nuclease, which he had temporarily named the 'Overlapping Shear Enzyme.' This would be a new starting point for his gene editing.

Logan was brought in, followed by one assistant after another entering the laboratory.

Since the experiment had only just begun, Logan was still conscious. "That woman wants to kill you. What exactly did you do?"

"The Phoenix test subject is in position."

Shen Fei glanced at Logan and ignored the woman he mentioned.

There was no need to guess. It was Jessica.

Of the four relatively useful test subjects, Shen Fei had confined them all in Vibranium cages. As for Logan, who could extend Adamantium Claws, his hands had to be locked back into Vibranium handcuffs after every experiment.

If Logan completely lost control, he would be even more likely to escape than Jessica.

"Talk to me. As long as you don't turn me into one of those green monsters, I'm willing to cooperate with your experiments. How about it?"

"You must have talked about something in the cell. There are five hundred miniature surveillance devices installed there."

"Every move you made was within my sight..."

Shen Fei stopped paying attention to Logan and had someone collect various bodily fluids from him. "Connors, give me some of your blood."

He needed to observe both of their gene sequences at once—where the genetic insertion points were and how to fuse their genes together as efficiently as possible.

Under Connors's godlike gaze, Shen Fei rapidly browsed through the entire genome.

The genomes on the two screens had originally been red, but Shen Fei continuously simulated and separated them.

He rearranged and recombined the four purines within them, eventually forming a new gene sequence in the center of the screen.

Shen Fei wiped away the cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Compare the genes and see whether they resemble the components extracted when Logan nearly underwent Lizard Transformation..."

Very soon, Connors nodded wildly with delight. "Boss, the similarity is 99.87%.

"But the genetic model you constructed is more exquisite and more stable! It doesn't have the original external effects."

"Test it on the lab mice first. Then use Logan for the experiment. Once the volunteers arrive, begin human trials!"

Connors watched expectantly as the dark green scales covering the Lizard Mouse's body began to fall away, replaced by white fur.

"Boss..."

"Conduct a Self-healing Ability test and see how much it has declined. I extracted part of the Self-Healing Factor, enough to cause the Lizard cells to undergo apoptosis..."

Shen Fei looked at Connors. "Do you want to undergo the experiment yourself?"

"Yes. I never want to be a Lizard again!"

Connors's eyes suddenly flashed with vertical pupils. "What's wrong with being a Lizard?"

At that moment, Connors's voice became somewhat heavy, and green began spreading across his neck again.

"Get out of my body!" Connors growled. His life was comfortable now, and his once-impoverished family was secure.

He no longer needed to take such desperate risks.

"Then let's begin. The human trial is only for safety's sake."

The reagents in Shen Fei's hands continuously shifted as he shook them. Various solutions changed in his hands until, at last, a bottle of dazzling green reagent appeared.

"Begin."

Shen Fei handed the reagent to Connors. Connors took a deep breath, picked up a syringe, and injected it into his triceps.

Not long afterward.

Scales began erupting from Connors's body, while green spread up his neck.

Connors looked at himself as he suddenly transformed into a Lizard, then stared at Shen Fei in shock. "Boss... did it fail?"

His voice trembled as the green spread over Connors's head, and a huge lizard head immediately appeared.

"Wait. The Self-Healing Factor is causing the Lizard cells inside you to undergo apoptosis!"

"Damn... human!" The lizard head suddenly revealed an expression of extreme pain. The scales on Connors's body began falling away, and his head returned to a primate form.

Connors panted heavily as he collapsed to the floor, but his face was filled with ecstatic joy.

Because he could feel that the Lizard had finally disappeared.

"Get up. Phoenix 2 is considered a success, though it isn't what I wanted."

Shen Fei sounded somewhat disappointed. This solved Phoenix 1's issue of cellular collapse, but it also weakened its Self-healing Ability.

Connors hurriedly climbed back to his feet and looked at his still-existing left arm.

"Now you can be considered a Super Hero too. But be careful how many times you use your Self-healing Ability."

"Otherwise, you may very well turn back into a Lizard!"

Shen Fei discovered that the Lizard Serum's healing originated from Lizard cells. If he could not find a proper balance that allowed the Lizard Serum and Self-Healing Factor to coexist—

while counteracting the Lizard Serum's mutation at the same time—

then the result would be Phoenix 2. It eliminated the side effects of both, but also reduced both of their healing effects.

"Boss, you must be someone sent by God to save me."

"Don't get sentimental. Bring over some Extraordinary Spiders. Next, I'll be responsible for researching the Extraordinary Spiders, while you replicate my experiment."

"Turn the Lizard Serum into Green Goblin Serum. You know Green Goblin Serum better than I do."

"You should master it quickly."

"Yes, Boss!"