A Conversation with Zhao Minghui

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

In the end, Wu Ming spoke first. "With such a terrifying method of transmission, I don't think it can be contained. Everyone is destined to be infected. There will be no exceptions."

"Therefore, prevention before the fact is no longer viable. Humanity can only take the path of 'herd immunity.'"

So-called herd immunity meant taking no protective measures and allowing everyone to become infected and endure it, so that their bodies would naturally develop antibodies.

"...Perhaps you're right."

Shen Xinglan sighed softly and revealed a top-secret piece of information. "For the past few days, all the Epidemic Prevention Departments around the world have been busy with one thing: developing a vaccine. Unfortunately, they failed."

"RR grows far too quickly. Even a tiny trace entering the human body will expand rapidly in an extremely short time. There's simply no time for antibodies to develop."

"In fact, today, the World Epidemic Prevention Department has already abandoned this approach. More than a billion people have been infected now, and even if a vaccine were developed, there would be no need to administer it."

"However, Huaxia hasn't given up on the research. Instead, it plans to follow the containment measures from the previous outbreak, reducing contact to slow the spread of RR and buy time for vaccine research."

"But if RR is truly as terrifying as you say, then this measure will only be futile. Herd immunity would be the better choice."

Hearing this, Wu Ming finally understood. So the reason they had not announced any method of resisting the RR Virus these past few days was because they had been busy researching a vaccine?

He could not help shaking his head. They had completely chosen the wrong direction.

Then he secretly wondered whether this had also been the reason why, in the original novel, the RR Virus had infected the entire world in just three months and killed two billion people.

All he could say was that the RR Virus was absurdly overpowered. To present-day Earth, it was a complete dimensional strike.

"Wait, could this RR itself be the creation of an extraterrestrial civilization?"

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind. "Both outbreaks began in America. Maybe the source of RR was excavated from some ancient civilization's ruins, then accidentally leaked."

"No, maybe it isn't a virus at all. It could be some sort of genetic serum from an extraterrestrial civilization. Earthlings are simply too weak to withstand genetic modification, which is why the mortality rate is so high."

For example, Wu Ming's current physical fitness was merely at the level of an Advanced Martial Arts School Student, yet he could already ignore the effects of RR without relying on antibodies.

Yet if his strength were placed in certain nations of the universe, he would not even qualify as an Apprentice.

If any extraterrestrial nation produced an RR Virus that could not even kill Apprentices, it would be utterly laughable and humiliating.

From that perspective, it seemed even more likely that the true nature of the RR Virus was a genetic serum.

Of course, this was only speculation for now, and America would not possibly reveal the truth about RR to the public.

But that did not stop Wu Ming from considering it from this angle. If RR's purpose was merely to promote Gene Evolution... then he could use the information provided in the original novel to find the correct way to deal with it.

"Mom, I have a theory now, but I need some time to verify it. Wait for me a moment."

After saying that, Wu Ming directly hung up. Then he closed his eyes and carefully sensed the RR Virus within his body through the talent granted by the Virus Controller.

While searching for a hotel, he had already hooked up a bag of glucose solution. He now had 10 points of energy to spend, so he did not need to worry about running out and could experiment freely.

With a thought, Wu Ming directly released his suppression of the virus. He watched as the RR Viruses became active, merging into the chromosomes deep within his cells and attempting to alter his genes.

Or rather... optimize them.

"Sure enough, RR's alterations are all moving in a better direction rather than being completely random."

Genetic changes could be either beneficial or harmful.

If the alterations were random, they would be more likely to cause harmful genetic mutations. Yet under RR's influence, his genes showed no signs of malignant mutation whatsoever. Every change was beneficial.

Seeing this, Wu Ming became even more certain of his theory. The true nature of the RR Virus really was a genetic optimization serum!

"Since RR's essence is genetic optimization, then I can consider countermeasures from the perspective of Gene Evolution."

This discovery invigorated him. He hurriedly recalled the contents of the original novel and picked out every piece of information related to Gene Evolution.

A moment later, when Wu Ming opened his eyes again, there was a hint of certainty in them.

He rearranged and compared the information he had gleaned from the original novel in his mind, finally piecing together a complete picture.

After organizing his words, Wu Ming picked up his phone and called his mother.

"Mom, I understand RR's true nature now."

Unexpectedly, an unfamiliar voice came from the other end. "I am Zhao Minghui from the Supervision Office. I am taking over this call now."

"Don't worry, your mother is fine. She can hear our conversation as well. I have only temporarily intercepted the communication to avoid trouble. If you don't believe me, I can release it right now."

There was a beep, and Shen Xinglan's voice came through the receiver again the next second.

"A-Ming, it's me." Shen Xinglan said, "I have verified Zhao Minghui's identity. It's real. Also, the state has been monitoring the calls between you and me these past few days."

"The fact that he took the initiative to speak with you this time also proves that the state places great importance on your theories. Whatever you've discovered, just tell him."

"I won't speak anymore. You two talk."

Another beep sounded, and Zhao Minghui's voice reappeared. "Wu Ming, I'm very glad to finally speak with you. Actually, I've been observing you for a long time."

"Your earlier theories about RR have already earned the trust of those above. The state now attaches great importance to your opinions, so after that call just now, orders came down for me to contact you directly."

"I understand." Wu Ming nodded lightly. "Then I won't waste time. I'll tell you some of my theories about RR. Whether you believe them or not, you can verify them yourselves afterward."

"Alright, please go ahead."

"First, regarding RR's true nature. Based on my observations, I conclude that it is not a virus in the conventional sense, but a substance capable of assisting Gene Evolution."

"..." Zhao Minghui fell silent for a moment, his voice turning low. "Gene Evolution?"

"That's right."

"How did you discover it?"

"After surviving the infection, I awakened some kind of special talent that allows me to sense certain behaviors of the RR Virus." Wu Ming gave a simple explanation, omitting the cheat ability and calling it a kind of sensory talent.

"A special talent?" Zhao Minghui sounded somewhat puzzled.

"You can understand it as an ability gained after Gene Evolution, similar to the mutants in movies."

Wu Ming said calmly, "I don't know whether anyone else has experienced something similar. It's possible that I'm the only person in the world to awaken this ability. That isn't the important point right now."

Zhao Minghui stopped dwelling on it. "Understood. Please continue."

"According to my observations, after entering the human body, the RR Virus merges into every cell and alters—or rather, optimizes—the genes within."

"The reason I use that term is because I observed that every gene affected by the RR Virus underwent beneficial alterations. There was not a single harmful mutation."

"In other words, as long as someone survives this optimization, their genes will undergo a fundamental transformation. Its outward manifestation is a comprehensive leap in physical fitness."

"I believe you should have already observed this phenomenon, right?"

"Yes." Zhao Minghui's voice was somewhat grave. "Based on the cases we have collected, every survivor's physical fitness has indeed improved dramatically."

"Even those who had previously been utterly weak could easily bench-press two to three hundred kilograms after surviving. Some who had already been physically strong could even handle more than four hundred kilograms."

"That is the result of the RR Virus's modifications." Wu Ming's voice remained calm. "All survivors have broken through their original limits at the genetic level. I imagine it is not only their strength that has increased; their running speed and neural responses should be the same."

"These changes are not something an ordinary virus could accomplish. They are more like the genetic optimization serums found in science fiction novels."

After a pause, he continued, "Considering that both outbreaks began in America, I even suspect that the results of some genetic experiment there might have accidentally leaked, just like in the movies."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Minghui remained silent for several seconds before saying, "Some matters involve classified information, so I cannot tell you anything right now. But I can confirm one of your theories."

"That is, the RR Virus is indeed related to a research project in America. This outbreak was also caused by a laboratory leak over there."