Chapter 186: Chairman Abner, Huo An’s Origins

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Chairman Abner, Huo An’s Origins

As the key reserve for SSS-level Beastmen undergoing their Evolutionary Stage, the Tianyao Star Protection Zone reported even the slightest disturbance directly to the Federation.

The water source had been poisoned with a novel toxin, causing Evolutionary Beastmen to fall into comas. Coupled with the fact that it involved a Beastman from Blue Star, this compounding of critical factors forced the Federation to treat the matter with extreme importance.

"Has the Animal Research Institute developed an antidote yet?" Chairman Abner asked.

The Federation had established a dedicated Beastman Management Department. From birth until death, all registered Beastmen were centrally managed and enjoyed superior welfare and benefits. Chairman Abner, second only to the Federation President and the two Vice Presidents, concurrently served as the Minister of the Beastman Management Department. Huo An reported directly to him.

"It takes time to analyze a novel toxin and develop an antidote," Huo An replied over the video call. "We can’t rush it."

Even though Huo An was anxious himself, he couldn’t make unreasonable demands and expect those experts and professors to conjure an antidote out of thin air.

"How is Xuan Jiao doing?" Chairman Abner asked. Compared to ordinary animals that had fallen into comas from the poison, he naturally cared more about the Iron-eating Beast. This directly concerned the amicable relations between the Federation and Blue Star.

"He is not in any life-threatening danger for now." Huo An hesitated for a moment as he answered. Remembering Lan Zhuo’s previous request, he felt he should still report it to Chairman Abner. "I previously reported to you about the Silver Moon Wolf’s mutation and the pill Liang He formulated. This time, when Xuan Jiao was poisoned, Liang He also fed him a pill."

Perhaps because its primary purpose was to break down the toxin, the Iron-eating Beast did not undergo a mutation like the Silver Moon Wolf did.

"Oh? What were the examination results?" Chairman Abner raised an eyebrow in surprise and curiosity. If Huo An was bringing this up, it meant the results were likely quite unexpected.

"Unlike the Antidote, which only catalyzed the toxin, Liang He’s pill was able to alleviate the poisoning symptoms. There are even signs of detoxification," Huo An explained. He hadn’t believed it himself when he first saw Xu Yi’s report, not until he went to conduct another examination on the second night.

Less than twenty-four hours had passed, and the Iron-eating Beast’s physical condition had already improved to a certain degree. Even if the Animal Research Institute couldn’t develop an antidote, he believed the Iron-eating Beast would successfully detoxify and wake up from its coma before long.

"Such a thing actually happened?" Chairman Abner mused.

This wasn’t the first time he had heard about Liang He, but he had never heard that she was so outstanding in pharmaceutical research. Oh, perhaps applying Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine counted as well?

"Lan Zhuo wants to obtain a pill from Liang He for research purposes," Huo An continued. "I haven’t mentioned it to her yet, so I don’t know her thoughts on the matter."

Compared to his initial demand for Liang He to hand over the formula, Lan Zhuo’s current request didn’t seem like an unreasonable demand; in fact, it sounded somewhat justifiable. However, since it concerned Liang He, Huo An still needed to discuss it with Chairman Abner first.

"We still need to respect Liang He’s wishes on this matter," Chairman Abner said. "Past records show that she is not a selfish person. If she is unwilling, she must have her reasons."

Chairman Abner had never met Liang He, but to reach his position, figuring out people’s minds was a basic skill. Given Liang He’s uniqueness to Evolutionary Beastmen, it wasn’t surprising that he paid special attention to her.

"Understood. I will discuss this matter with Liang He. If she refuses, I will inform Lan Zhuo and tell him to drop any similar notions." Huo An entirely agreed with Chairman Abner’s decision. "In addition, Yin Qi, the Divine Son of the Silver Wing Temple, will be arriving at the protection zone soon."

As a power that stood in a tripartite balance with the Empire and the Royal Court, the Silver Wing Temple held massive influence over its believers. Therefore, Yin Qi’s arrival was enough to warrant the Federation’s full attention. If something were to happen to him within the Federation’s jurisdiction, it would be a huge disaster.

"The Temple has already communicated with me in advance regarding Yin Qi’s situation," Chairman Abner noted. "Even if Liang He is unable to help, the Temple will not have any complaints."

It was Yin Qi’s own Evolutionary Stage that had presented anomalies, and they were the ones asking Liang He to take a look. If the Temple tried to cause trouble just because he couldn’t be cured, Chairman Abner certainly wouldn’t indulge them. Besides, although Beastmen from the Temple, the Empire, and the Royal Court could voluntarily register themselves, they were not actually under the Federation’s jurisdiction. Helping was a favor; not helping was perfectly normal.

"That’s good. I was just afraid that Xuan Jiao’s condition was already making Liang He worry, and adding Yin Qi to the mix..." It wasn’t that Huo An was being selfish; he was purely concerned about Liang He’s well-being.

"You’re becoming quite the caring person nowadays," Chairman Abner suddenly teased.

His comment caught Huo An off guard. He subconsciously tightened his grip on his pen, his eyes darting around without ever meeting Chairman Abner’s gaze.

Chairman Abner was one of the few people who knew about Huo An’s background. He still remembered the first time he met Huo An—the young man was numb, cold, and seemingly indifferent to everything.

"Your parents are very worried about you, and they care about you a lot," Chairman Abner said gently.

Huo An and Hoder were uncle and nephew. Huo An’s parents were Hoder’s grandparents. Huo An was their youngest son; above him, he had two older brothers and one older sister.

"When you were just born, you were swapped by the maternity matron hired by the Huo family, which led to your displacement and immense suffering. They have always harbored deep guilt over this."

Especially when they finally brought Huo An home and saw him looking like a shadow of a human being, it was hard to imagine what he had been through. A child who should have grown up cherished and pampered had been tortured beyond recognition. Huo An’s parents wanted to make amends with all their might, but they simply couldn’t erase the scars in his heart. It wasn’t until he volunteered to join the Federation Army, and later became the director of the protection zone, that he slowly regained a sense of humanity.

"As for the fake son who replaced you back then, the Huo family recognized that it wasn’t his fault and returned him to the maternity matron. However, since she had committed a grave crime and was judged by the Federal Court, no one was left to care for the child."

The Huo family was fair and objective. Although the fake son had taken Huo An’s place, he was just a baby at the time and knew nothing, so they didn’t pursue the matter against him. But the maternity matron’s actions were heinous, especially since they caused Huo An to suffer so much. Naturally, the Huo family wasn’t going to let her off easily.

"I don’t care about these things," Huo An said flatly.

At the mention of his miserable past, Huo An’s mood visibly soured. After giving Chairman Abner a brief, dismissive response, he used work as an excuse and ended the video call.

Seeing his avoidant attitude, Chairman Abner remembered his good friend’s plea and could only sigh deeply. "This child is just too stubborn."

Chairman Abner shook his head slightly. Recalling the pill Huo An had just mentioned, he felt that perhaps he should communicate with Blue Star.

"Liang He’s pill, the application of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and the person who managed to analyze the toxin’s composition before we did..."

Blue Star was truly full of talents and hidden treasures, constantly giving him new surprises!

Chairman Abner stroked his prickly stubble, pondering how to poach some talent from Blue Star.

BEEP—

"Chairman Abner requesting connection with the Blue Star Minister of Foreign Affairs. Please reply as soon as possible."