Chapter 182: Animal Research Institute vs Hello Poison

Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Animal Research Institute vs Hello Poison

The sanctuary launched an investigation into the poisoned water source while simultaneously cooperating with the Animal Research Institute to develop an antidote.

However, the inability to analyze the toxin’s composition brought the development process to a grinding halt, leaving them at an impasse.

"Director, everyone has been up for two consecutive nights. They really can’t hold on much longer."

With the stakes so high, not a single person at the Animal Research Institute had a moment of rest. The director had just finished a seminar with the higher-ups and immediately hurried to the laboratory to check on their progress. To his surprise, he found most of the staff lying directly on the floor of the outer corridor, fast asleep in their clothes.

"This is nonsense! Although it’s already spring, the weather is still chilly. How can you let them sleep on the floor? What if they catch a cold?"

Sky Shining Star and Capital Star weren’t too far apart. While Sky Shining Star was still deep in winter, Capital Star had already stepped into spring.

The drowsy researchers, initially thinking the director was about to scold them for slacking off, felt a sudden wave of warmth in their hearts upon realizing he was merely worried about their health. The comfort made their two days of relentless, around-the-clock work feel worthwhile.

"Go tidy up the temporary living quarters assigned to me and the other executives here at the Institute. Add a few folding beds and let them take turns resting properly."

Leaders like the director frequently had to attend meetings. When discussions ran late into the night, they had no choice but to sleep at the Institute, which was why they were specially allocated temporary rooms. After all, they were getting older. If their sleep quality couldn’t be guaranteed and they ended up collapsing from exhaustion, who would be left to take charge of the Institute?

"Is... is that appropriate?"

Hearing the director offer up his own dormitory for the researchers, his assistant hesitated, mainly out of fear that the other leaders might object.

"What’s inappropriate about it? The Institute is a collective. We always say this is your second home, and since it’s a home, where is the logic in making your own family sleep on the cold floor?"

The director had never believed that flaunting special privileges was the right way to elevate one’s status. If one truly wanted to be respected, it had to be earned through genuine skill. The development of the antidote was currently making zero progress, and there was no telling how much longer it would take. If they kept working themselves to the bone like this until they all collapsed, that would be the real catastrophic mistake!

"Understood, I’ll have someone prepare the rooms immediately."

"Yes, and while you’re at it, tell the cafeteria to whip up some hot meals for everyone, along with that... what’s it called... cola ginger soup? I heard it’s great for dispelling the cold."

Liang He had boiled the soup once during the Snow Festival. The director couldn’t recall who had told him about it, but he had made a mental note of it ever since.

"The cafeteria staff will have to work a bit harder these days too. It would be best if they could provide hot food twenty-four hours a day so these kids can fill their stomachs whenever they need to."

They were working so hard, pulling all-nighters; the Institute’s logistical support absolutely had to keep up, otherwise it would be a real letdown.

The director’s words moved everyone deeply. After getting some proper rest and a full meal, they threw themselves back into their research without a single complaint, working as tirelessly as before.

It wasn’t until the early hours of the fourth day after the incident that the team of researchers finally managed to successfully analyze the toxin. Just as the director was about to share the good news with Xu Yi, the other man proactively reached out to him.

"Xu Yi, are you saying that Liang He asked a friend from Blue Star for help, and they’ve already analyzed the toxin’s composition?" the director asked over his light brain.

When he first received the call, the director had assumed Xu Yi was checking in to push for progress. He never imagined that the first person to crack the toxin would actually be Liang He’s friend.

"Not only that, but her friend also figured out the exact chemical ratio of the toxin and sent it to Liang He," Xu Yi replied. "I’m forwarding you a copy right now. You can proceed directly to the next step of the work."

When it came to analyzing toxins, identifying the individual components was only half the battle; knowing their exact ratios was far more crucial. Only with that information could they move forward with developing the antidote.

The director had originally thought that his Institute’s kids—blessed with sufficient talent and incredible work ethics—would be the fastest to crack it. Now it seemed there was always someone better out there, a higher mountain beyond the highest peak.

"Alright, send it over. I’ll have them start developing the antidote right away."

Given the urgency of the situation, even though the director was dying of curiosity about this mysterious friend’s identity, the antidote took absolute precedence. Everything else had to take a backseat. After all, Xu Yi wasn’t going anywhere; he could always press for the details later when they had the time.

"Director, did Xu Yi’s team also manage to analyze the toxin’s composition?" Minister Yiding, having caught the gist of the conversation, looked at the director in disbelief. The sanctuary’s equipment was definitely nowhere near as precise and comprehensive as the Institute’s. He couldn’t believe they had beaten them to the punch.

"Was it that kid Lan Zhuo who figured it out?"

Since Xu Yi’s main focus was medical treatment rather than pure research, Minister Yiding’s first thought naturally went to Lan Zhuo. Lan Zhuo was the very first person to hold a position in both the Medical Department and the R&D Department simultaneously. He was exceptionally gifted, so if he was the one behind it, Minister Yiding wouldn’t be surprised at all.

"No, it was Liang He’s friend from Blue Star."

"Huh?"

Seeing Minister Yiding’s jaw practically hit the floor, the director cast a mild glance at him.

"You heard me right. It wasn’t Xu Yi, and it wasn’t Lan Zhuo. It was one of the Blue Star people."

It was someone they had never even heard of before today. Logically speaking, once a talent like this was discovered, the Animal Research Institute would normally do everything in their power to recruit them. However, since the other party hadn’t let slip even a hint of their identity, they likely had absolutely no interest in joining.

"Director, we absolutely cannot let a genius like this slip through our fingers!" Minister Yiding said, his voice rising in excitement. Although he was primarily in charge of the Medical Department, bringing a genius into the R&D Department would still be a huge win. As a fellow member of the Institute, he would share in the glory!

"Do you think I don’t know that? Is this really the time to be discussing recruitment?" The director was so exasperated he almost laughed. Fortunately, the toxin analysis and ratio report that Xu Yi had sent to his light brain finished downloading, shifting his attention.

"Strange. This doesn’t look like it was analyzed using the Federation’s professional equipment."

The data output from the Federation’s specialized instruments always followed a fixed format and included specific hidden metadata. However, the files Xu Yi sent over were clearly not generated by Federation-manufactured machines.

"Could it be equipment independently developed by Blue Star?" Minister Yiding frowned in confusion. If there was a technological gap in their instruments, they would probably have to make a personal trip to Blue Star later. Even though they were extremely confident in Federation-made equipment, what if Blue Star’s technology was simply better? They needed to humbly seek guidance and, ideally, bring a set back with them.

"Let’s put that aside for now. Have the team verify this data. Once it’s confirmed to be accurate, we’ll start developing the antidote."

Having the final results made reverse-engineering the solution significantly easier.

When the clear and concise toxin ratio chart was distributed, it sparked quite a bit of heated discussion. But as the researchers reverse-engineered the data and verified it step by step, their skepticism quickly transformed into deep admiration and intense curiosity about the person who had managed to map out the toxin so perfectly.

"This person is incredible! It’s accurate down to the smallest fraction!"

"There was even a trace element that we completely failed to detect, yet they managed to analyze it!"

"Director, where did this god-level expert come from? Once this whole ordeal is over, you absolutely have to invite them to give us a lecture!"

They were all young minds deeply passionate about scientific research. Whenever they encountered someone highly skilled, they couldn’t help but want to learn from them in order to improve themselves. The director smiled and nodded, deeply satisfied with the strong academic atmosphere and camaraderie within his Institute.

"Don’t worry! Once this matter is resolved, I will personally go and extend an invitation to them!"