PCJ – Chapter 617 Super Soldier

“Incredible, truly incredible. Dr. Zhang, you mentioned earlier that you recorded the entire process of the formation of the cystic structure in detail. Could you show it to us?” asked Kobayashi Shigefumi from Japan.

Zhang Jiaohua replied, “Of course. Our lab has publicly available footage displayed in the exhibition room. You can search by each developmental stage.”

“Isn’t there full footage?” Kobayashi asked again.

Zhang Jiaohua smiled. “Would you make your research public while it’s still underway?”

Kobayashi looked awkward. “But enhanced collaboration would surely accelerate the development of this technology, which is of great importance to humanity’s future.”

“Then why bother protecting intellectual property?” Zhang replied disdainfully.

“Was that cystic structure naturally formed, or was it artificially created?” asked Yorks.

“We couldn’t create it artificially. It formed naturally, growing alongside the embryo,” Zhang said, shaking his head.

When they arrived at the taming chamber, Yorks asked to go inside and have a look.

Zhang Jiaohua refused on the spot. “These white mice are no longer the same as ordinary lab mice. They’re aggressive. We haven’t yet identified the cause of this behavioral change. Entering might lead to unforeseen incidents.”

Yorks believed Zhang was making excuses to hide key parts of the experiment and was displeased. “Dr. Zhang, we’ve come all this way not just for sightseeing. We need a deeper understanding of the experiment.”

Zhang nodded. “If you insist, I won’t stop you. But before that, I’d like to show you an experiment.”

He signaled to a lab assistant, who brought in a few ordinary lab mice and released them into the taming room via the feeding channel.

The regular mice entered the room, looking around the unfamiliar environment. Unaware, they were soon surrounded by a group of genetically modified mice that appeared identical in appearance.

These mice didn’t attack at first. Instead, they formed a circle, leaving a path open for one mouse with a distinctive bean-sized patch of mixed fur to step forward.

The ordinary mice sniffed at the newcomer, even letting out squeaks in greeting.

But suddenly, the patched mouse raised a paw and swatted one of the ordinary mice across the room. The unfortunate mouse flew through the circle of genetically modified ones, hit the wall, and collapsed to the floor, unconscious. A sample mouse rushed forward and bit down hard on its neck.

“Oh my God!” Yorks exclaimed.

The patched mouse then shrieked sharply at the observers through the glass, baring its sharp teeth as if issuing a warning.

Then the rest of the sample mice swarmed the remaining ordinary ones. Chaos erupted. Shrill squeaks filled the room before everything fell silent. When the genetically modified mice dispersed, all that remained were bloodstains — the ordinary mice had been eaten.

“They’re aggressive?” Yorks asked in shock.

“Yes. We don’t know why they’ve developed this trait. Compared to normal lab mice, these are highly aggressive and will attack any living creature that enters their space. While this method of in vitro embryo cultivation is successful, it has fundamentally altered behavioral traits. We suspect previously dormant genes were activated, reviving some primal instincts from ancient rodent species,” Zhang explained.

“That’s possible. Genetic traits come from two sources — nuclear DNA and maternal influence. This cultivation method removes maternal influence, potentially activating normally suppressed genes,” Yorks nodded.

“Do you still want to go inside? If you sign a waiver assuming full liability for any potential accidents, I won’t object,” Zhang asked.

At that, no one responded. The mice clearly weren’t to be trifled with. Entering their domain could be dangerous and wouldn’t yield much more information.

“Could we take the undeveloped embryos for research?” Yorks asked.

Zhang shook his head. “Due to uncertain factors, no experimental material may leave this building. If you wish to conduct research, you may stay here and participate, but no materials may be removed. This is a safety precaution. Many aspects of this experiment are still unknown, including potential risks to society. We can’t afford reckless risks.”

Though no one insisted on entering the taming room again, several visitors applied to join the gene-engineered in vitro embryo research program.

“I hope the Chinese researchers will provide complete experimental data,” Yorks said, deciding to stay.

Zhang smiled. “We already have.”

“No, these are your previous failed attempts and two successful ones. But the reagents used seem similar. You mention adding an ‘active substance’ — what exactly is it? Why hide such a crucial detail?” Yorks challenged.

“Sorry, but we don’t yet know what this ‘active substance’ is. Chemically, it’s identical to water, but with a different molecular activity. It’s quite peculiar. We discovered it by chance. Use of it is tightly controlled and restricted to lab operations only,” Zhang explained.

“Dr. Zhang, isn’t this substance the true breakthrough of the experiment? If you apply this to human embryos, couldn’t you create super soldiers?” Yorks immediately realized the military potential.

“What would be the point? Breeding a bunch of killing machines? The process is completely uncontrollable. No one can guarantee the resulting being is the same species. In terms of both ethics and safety, it’s highly uncertain. Do you really think these mice could withstand modern weaponry? What value would such ‘super soldiers’ have?” Zhang shook his head with a wry smile.

Zhang wasn’t an ordinary person. While regular people might fantasize about powerful spiritual beasts, to him these mice were nothing compared to true spiritual beasts — let alone compared to cultivators. Cultivators, refined over generations, were far superior. Yet even cultivation had declined due to the loss of spiritual energy. How could this artificial method possibly produce real super soldiers?

But Yorks didn’t buy Zhang’s reasoning. In his heart, he believed that if he could obtain enough of that active substance, he might indeed be able to produce an army of super soldiers.

Kobayashi Shigefumi from Japan asked, “Dr. Zhang, if we need to use this substance in the lab, can you provide it? How would that work?”

Zhang thought for a moment. “It’s rare, and our lab doesn’t have much in reserve. If you’re conducting repeat experiments, we can provide some — but only under our supervision, and the usage must remain within strict limits.”

Zhang hadn’t expected so much trouble — had he known, he wouldn’t have used spiritual spring water in the experiments.

Kobayashi gratefully replied, “Thank you. I’ll follow all lab protocols strictly. But I’d like to test this method on other species’ embryos to demonstrate the repeatability of the cultivation method.”

Due to the sensitivity of the experiment, the lab’s security was strict. Though the guards wore standard uniforms, they weren’t ordinary security personnel.

Still, Zhang knew that even these guards couldn’t stop determined individuals from coveting the lab’s results.

Zhang was the last to leave the lab that night. The experiments were nearly done. Once repeat trials concluded, his role would be finished. Then it was time to plan his next steps. No matter how brilliant this chapter had been, it was merely a stepping stone — the realization of his family’s dream. Now it was time for him to pursue the path of cultivation.

“Have all the lab staff left?” a taller guard asked, watching Zhang’s departing figure.

The shorter one nodded. “All gone. Sigh, who knows how long we’ll be stuck here?”

“I don’t get it. If the lab is so important, why are foreigners allowed to conduct experiments inside? Isn’t that giving away all our secrets? What are we even guarding then?”

“Right? I don’t get it either. But I heard this lab has some extremely rare experimental material. Maybe they’re afraid someone will steal it.”

“Do you think those foreigners would try to sneak it out?”

“Very possible. We’d better stay alert tonight.”

Late at night, the campus was quiet. The lab exterior was still and peaceful.

The landscaping around the lab was dense and lush. Tall trees shaded the area behind the lab, blending into the dark night.

Suddenly, a figure dressed in black darted out from the shadows. He moved quickly and silently, hugging the building wall and completely hiding in the dark — invisible unless lit by a flashlight.

He climbed swiftly up a drainage pipe toward a lab window.

The guards hadn’t noticed a thing, still chatting quietly.

In moments, the intruder reached a window and gently pulled it open — surprisingly, it slid open easily.

Creak—

The window made a faint but sharp screeching noise.

“There’s a sound!” The guards finally reacted and ran toward the building.

As the intruder climbed through the window, a black shadow suddenly leapt from within and slammed into him like a truck.

“Ahhh!” the man screamed, flung violently backward.

Clutching the window frame, he dragged it down with him as he fell. The glass shattered and rained down.

He crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, completely motionless.

Soon, beams from multiple flashlights converged on the lab.

A group of security personnel surrounded the building.

“Secure him immediately. We need to find out how this window got opened. How did he know exactly where to go? There must be an inside accomplice.”

“First priority is to confirm his identity.”

“You two — how many times have we told you? No chatting while on duty. The intruder was already upstairs, and you didn’t notice. Can you afford the consequences if something went wrong?”

“Captain, it’s strange. This guy seems to have been hit with great force. It’s like he was pushed out.”

“You mean there’s more than one person?”

“No. But Captain, look — these wounds… they look like claw marks. His clothes are shredded. This wasn’t done by a human, more like an animal.”

“Could it be a cat? I’ve seen a black cat around the lab recently.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen it too — several times.”

“These do look like cat scratches… but how could a cat have that much force?”

“There are fierce cats… but how would one show up here?”