Chapter 1259 Project Dawn
Shen Henian knew he might have said something wrong, but his researcher's instincts and his fervent pursuit of truth compelled him to bite the bullet and utter the most crucial and exciting conclusion:
"However, Chairman! Please forgive my bluntness, but the 'benign mutation' virus in Miss Xiong's body, or rather, her current stable 'evolutionary state,' may very well contain the key to unlocking the human gene pool and achieving controlled evolution!"
"If we can decipher its secrets, or even just mimic a part of its mechanisms, it could grant our warriors superhuman strength, endurance, resilience, and even... natural immunity against viral infections!"
"This will be a strategic discovery that will change the fate of the entire race!"
He looked at Xiong Yuting again, his eyes filled with an almost pleading expression:
"Therefore, Chairman! On behalf of the Biological Research Center, I humbly request your approval to conduct a comprehensive, systematic, and non-invasive physical fitness test on Ms. Xiong!"
"We need to understand her muscle density, bone strength, nerve reaction speed, peak energy output, regenerative capacity limit... and so on!"
"This will not only allow us to better understand and protect her, but also provide the most valuable first-hand data for our research! This is about the future!" Shen Henian said, holding his breath and looking nervously at Gu Chengyuan.
He knew his request was audacious, involving a figure with a very special relationship with the chairman, but he could not suppress the pilgrimage-like urge to study him.
Because, as he said, this truly concerns the future of humanity, and even the end of the world!
Leaving aside human evolution, if we could develop a virus serum through the girl in front of us, how many lives could be saved on the front lines? How many survivors could be saved?
The greatest threat of viruses to humans lies in irreversible infection, not in mutation. Once the infection problem is solved, the threat of viruses will be instantly reduced to the level of a "common cold".
Just like smallpox, which the ancients feared like a tiger, every time it broke out, tens of thousands of people died.
And what happens when the smallpox vaccine is developed? Ordinary people won't even bother to look at it, and the same applies to the terrifying zombie virus we have today.
This is why Shen Henian, knowing that this request might displease the Chairman, still had to bite the bullet and make it!
This concerns the Zhou Dynasty! It concerns all of human civilization!
As Shen Henian finished his report, the only sounds left in the room were the slow, crunching sound of Xiong Yuting chewing the crystal core and the cool, icy scent of gardenias emanating from her.
serum!
This word was like a bolt of lightning, instantly cleaving through the gloom that had enveloped Gu Chengyuan due to Xiong Yuting's inhuman transformation, igniting the deepest desires and anxieties buried at the strategic level.
Zombie virus!
The most terrifying aspect of this nightmare that has shrouded the entire world has never been how many zombies it has created, nor how many mutated monsters it has spawned.
The real fatal flaw lies in its irreversible infectivity!
This means that when the military is facing it, even a minor scratch or an accidental contact with bodily fluids can mean the end of their lives.
This undoubtedly severely limited the army's tactical options, prolonged the war, and constantly eroded the most valuable human resources—experienced veterans and promising new blood.
If a viral serum becomes available, it could mean that the terrifying zombie virus will likely be found alongside the common cold...
After all, there was a time when smallpox, plague, cholera... every major epidemic left corpses strewn across the land and nine out of ten houses empty, and was seen as divine punishment that was inescapable.
But will these viruses still be active once a vaccine is available?
Some are so fragile that they need human protection and become samples that are carefully sealed in medical laboratories.
Therefore... if we can truly reverse-engineer the stable structure of the virus from Xiong Yuting's miraculous "evolutionary state," crack its infection mechanism, and develop serum or inhibitors that can reduce the probability of infection or slow down the progression of the disease...
What would that mean?
This means that frontline soldiers can fight more fearlessly and boldly; it means that logistics and construction personnel can work in a relatively safe environment; it means that every step in recapturing lost territory will no longer be accompanied by high and irreparable non-combat casualties! It means that humanity has regained the initiative in the fight against this apocalyptic catastrophe!
Once this biggest weakness—infection—is addressed, the rest will truly be a brute force of steel and caliber!
A sea of zombies? Under the cover of organized artillery formations and the onslaught of armored groups, they are nothing more than moving targets.
Mutant beasts? Even the toughest carapace will be torn apart by the barrage of heavy machine guns, cannons, and anti-materiel weapons!
Thinking of this, even with Gu Chengyuan's current composure, his heart began to pound uncontrollably. A thrill mixed with immense hope, heavy responsibility, and strategic excitement surged up his spine to the top of his head.
His hands, which were resting on his knees, tightened almost imperceptibly.
When the gaze returned to Xiong Yuting, the complex emotions within had subtly shifted.
The guilt and pity remained profound, but now, an additional layer of weighty responsibility—a responsibility concerning the survival of the entire civilization—was added.
She was not merely a person he had wronged in the past, nor simply a unique being who needed his protection and responsibility, and who had embarked on an unknown path of evolution.
She herself may have become the most precious and crucial "strategic resource" and "spark of hope" that humanity can reach in this apocalyptic war!
This realization weighed heavily on his mind, but it also made him completely determined.
"Deputy Director Shen," Gu Chengyuan said, his voice low, addressing him directly by his title.
Shen Henian suddenly raised his head, his eyes behind his glasses filled with anticipation and trepidation.
"I have approved your request," Gu Chengyuan said clearly, word by word.
"The Biological Research Center can begin to develop a comprehensive, systematic, and non-invasive physical fitness testing program for Ms. Xiong."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Henian's face instantly lit up with indescribable ecstasy, and he practically jumped up on the spot!
"Chairman Chiang Kai-shek is righteous!!"
"but!"
Before Shen Henian could even feel happy, Gu Chengyuan's tone suddenly turned stern:
"All research must be conducted without harming her, and I will supervise the entire process!"
"Every stage of the research plan must be personally approved by me!"
"The entire research process must be kept confidential!"
"Yes! Chief!"
Shen Henian nodded repeatedly in agreement to Gu Chengyuan's emphasis on the "three musts".
No way! He'd rather die than let Xiong Yuting hurt a single finger. She's humanity's hope for ending the apocalypse!
Whoever harms her is an enemy of human civilization!
Thus began the top-secret project known as 'Dawn'!
