Players, Please Board the Train

"Wormhole flower?" Xu Huo paused.

"Didn't expect that, did you?" Dr. Deng said with a smug air. "I haven't been completely idle either."

"Method?" Xu Huo reminded.

"The wormhole flower can indicate the overall evolution level of a district's space. The higher the evolution, the larger the red portion of the flower stalk. Its red and purple proportions shift based on changes in the surrounding external space. Most people treat it as a barometer for spatial evolution, but its true function goes far beyond that."

Dr. Deng continued, "Its red and purple parts can react with any evolution potion, then feed the results back in the form of color changes."

"If you drop ordinary evolution agent on either the red or purple parts, uneven colored spots will appear after a period of time. But the Perfect Evolution Agent doesn't do that. The potion turns the purple into red—not through pigment diffusion, but through a genuine growth transformation!"

He grew excited as he spoke. "Do you know what this means?!"

Xu Huo listened to him. "The wormhole flower doesn't alter its growth rate based on localized spatial conditions. Even in a sealed, specialized environment, it's hard to change its habits. Its ability to accurately reflect a space's evolution level suggests it has a special connection to the evolution of a spacetime continuum—a connection Stellar Pharmaceuticals hasn't been able to explain to this day."

"But the Perfect Potion can alter it with ease! This indicates that Dr. Wu very likely found the substance that affects the wormhole flower, incorporated it into his potion, and that's how he created the Perfect Potion!"

"Doesn't that mean the wormhole flower and the Perfect Potion share the same components?" Xu Huo asked with remarkable calm. "If that's the case, it should be possible to research the Perfect Potion starting from the wormhole flower."

As for the substance that affects the wormhole flower, he didn't believe the game had been completely clueless about it all this time.

This old codger was spinning tales again.

"Wormhole flowers are plentiful, but the Perfect Potion has more than one component. The slightest variation in the formula yields drastically different results. If it were really that easy, wouldn't the whole world be flooded with Perfect Potions by now?" Dr. Deng shot back immediately.

"You could look at it from the opposite angle," Xu Huo said with a gentle smile, speaking slowly. "If Dr. Wu was originally an expert from Stellar Pharmaceutical Research Group, then the game might have actually developed the Perfect Potion long ago. But to control the players, they hid it. As for Dr. Wu, perhaps he, being a purely dedicated scholar, couldn't stand by and watch the game toy with human lives, so he deliberately spread the Perfect Potion."

"From this perspective, it also explains why Dr. Wu distributed the Perfect Potion across different districts while Stellar Group made no headway. Did they really not get their hands on a single vial?"

Dr. Deng froze, the smile vanishing from his face. After a long silence, he said, "Of course I've considered that possibility."

"But the odds are slim." He added, "I've seen core members of the Game Government end up committing suicide after being affected by degeneration... quite a few of them."

"If it were just about controlling players, they wouldn't have to sacrifice their own people."

"For players, the game holds unilateral hegemony."

Standing at the foot of the mountain, trying to touch the clouds at the summit was naturally impossible—far too distant, and no amount of wishing would yield results. However, regarding Dr. Deng's claim, Xu Huo believed that as long as it didn't touch upon the game's core origins, was there anything those people in the Game Government wouldn't sacrifice?

That was far better than news leaking out and countless players laying siege to the Game Government over the Perfect Potion.

But this was merely speculation.

Back to the main topic.

"What about the potions after this?" Xu Huo tapped the paper. "It ends at P3."

Dr. Deng's expression turned sour. "Do you think I've actually seen a P4 potion?"

"Hard to say." Xu Huo said. "Even if you've never gotten your hands on the Perfect Potion, you should have at least seen its effect on the wormhole flower, otherwise you couldn't be so certain."

"Nor can I rule out that you're just messing with me."

Dr. Deng thumped his chest with a fist. "I'm absolutely not lying this time."

Xu Huo's demeanor softened. "From now on, we're partners. No need to be so formal."

Dr. Deng extended his hand and shook his. "Can I get out of this little dark room today?"

"No." Xu Huo refused him gently. "Hold on for a few more days."

Dr. Deng could only accept it.

Xu Huo left with the documents. When he reached the entrance of the annex, he suddenly turned back. Dr. Deng was still standing where he'd left him, and upon meeting his gaze, hastily pulled up a smile.

Xu Huo smiled and nodded in return, then left.

But the moment he turned around, the smile vanished from his face.

Over the past two days, the food and water Mr. Dong had brought him had both been tampered with, but the ordinary truth-extraction potion had no effect. Mr. Dong had confirmed that he wasn't wearing any extra items, which meant he had developed a natural tolerance.

This kind of practice wasn't uncommon in the game. If there were potions like truth serum and lying serum, there were certainly potions that counteracted their effects. A pharmacology expert who had once worked at Stellar Pharmaceuticals would most likely have undergone related modifications or training upon entering the company.

He'd have to find an item to test that out later.

After returning the documents to the study, Xu Huo ordered wormhole flowers and a few items from other cities through an online platform. While waiting for delivery, he made another trip to the old city district.

On the way, he ran into some Black Epaulets. One of them recognized Xu Huo and deliberately stopped him for questioning.

"I've sponsored a few orphans and came to check on them." Xu Huo cooperatively explained.

"Don't you know the Welfare Home children have already been relocated?" The man wasn't about to let him off easily. "Coming out during a special period like this—you wouldn't happen to have other motives, would you?"

Several Black Epaulets surrounded him. Xu Huo asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"We suspect you're connected to the Rong Xin confidentiality theft case and this attack incident. We're now placing you under legal detention!"

With that, they moved to seize him.

Xu Huo's brow sank. Just as he was about to raise his hand, a man who looked like a captain walked over from a distance. "What's going on here?"

The Black Epaulet who had been doing the questioning stated his suspicions. The captain, however, asked with a grim expression, "Do you have any evidence linking him to either incident?"

How could that Black Epaulet possibly produce evidence? He emphasized, "That person went into his Rose Castle!"

"That doesn't prove they're connected." The captain barked. "Did you memorize the Enforcement Department manual for nothing? Since when do we Black Epaulets operate on baseless conjecture and guesswork like the White Epaulets?"

"Today you can pin an attack on him with nothing but an ambiguous piece of evidence—tomorrow, someone might do the same to you."

The Black Epaulet said nothing, but his expression was clearly defiant as he shot Xu Huo a venomous glare.

Xu Huo knew he was staring at the badge on his clothes that symbolized his identity.

"There's a reason the Black Epaulets defeated the White Epaulets to become the main force of the Enforcement Department." He said with a smile. "I've settled down in District 011 in good faith. The money I bring back goes toward purchasing supplies and doing charity work—that's also contributing to the prosperity of District 011. For District 011, isn't it better to have more players like me?"