Chapter 114: Putting the Devil Back in the Cage

"We tried hard not to think about it, but this terrible conjecture kept spinning in our minds. Later, we couldn't help but want to verify it."

"So, we designed an experiment."

"We first infected gnomes with Neisseria meningitidis, and then asked Professor Selica to use the Soul Seed spell on the gnomes to make them coexist with Neisseria meningitidis."

"After the spell took effect, we used a Soul Seed on the gnomes again, ordering the organisms infected with Neisseria meningitidis not to leave a certain test area."

"Subsequently, we extracted the mutated Neisseria meningitidis from the gnome's cerebrospinal fluid and injected it into another gnome."

"If our conjecture was correct, then this newly infected gnome would also be unable to leave that test area."

"The result... we succeeded." A kind of terrified pallor appeared on Omid's thin face, as if he could still recall the intense fear when he got this result at that time.

"No matter how we lured it with food, that newly infected gnome could not leave that area. And after we forcibly dragged it out of the area, its meningitis symptoms worsened rapidly, and it soon died."

"Later, we used several gnomes, several doxies, and even ordinary white mice for experiments, and the results were all the same."

"We indeed mastered a method that can control animal behavior through microorganisms."

"This result was so incredible and so terrible that we didn't dare to continue the experiment. We immediately destroyed all the organisms, reagents, and samples used, sealed that laboratory, and regularly sprayed disinfectant to disinfect it."

"In fact, we didn't need to be so nervous, because those Neisseria meningitidis could still be killed by conventional means, such as antibiotics. Their transmission ability was also very weak, and even if they infected the human body, they would likely be killed by the immune system in the first instance, and the possibility of causing large-scale infection was almost zero."

"But fear made us make disinfection treatments for level-1 infectious diseases. Even after the experiment ended, we each self-isolated for more than two weeks to ensure we weren't infected."

"What made us so afraid was not its pathogenicity, but that possible 'consciousness'."

"We all had a terrible premonition at the time that we had let the devil out of the cage."

After listening, Murphy didn't know what to say either.

On one hand, with Joachim's village in front of him, he was also worried that he would really create a super-contagious Soul Seed virus, dragging the world into a zombie frenzy.

On the other hand, he also admired the research spirit and ability of these two, who actually found a method to prepare this germ, and they also made relatively perfect responses. Plus, letting them study the Soul Seed was his own order, so there was nothing much to criticize about their behavior.

"Forget it, this method, better not use it if you don't have to," Murphy finally said.

The real risk might not be that great, but one is always afraid of the 'what if'. What if those germs mutated? What if they suddenly became a super-contagious disease?

No! A Resident Evil is absolutely not allowed.

Or should I change the unlucky name of Umbrella later?

Why does it feel like I've been getting closer to this aspect recently?

It couldn't be that because I gave it this name, the world line converged, right?

However, after he finished speaking, he saw that the two mad scientists opposite him didn't look relieved at all.

The two looked at each other again and exchanged glances. Funes coughed and said: "Actually... this kind of germ might not only be used as a confidentiality measure."

"In fact, by adjusting the content of the Soul Seed, we can make the germs play various roles."

"It can affect the human body to a certain extent. This influence is not necessarily negative. We can choose some germs that don't have too much negative toxicity, actively implant them into the body, and use them as a body optimization tool, or even a bio-mechanical machine."

"They are plastic. We can even achieve the purpose of supplementing, repairing, and even enhancing human body functions through the blending of multiple germs."

"For example, if we can modify some neurophilic germs, perhaps we can more actively regulate our brains, making us less prone to fatigue, or improving memory, concentration, etc."

"In our vision, this kind of germ—I gave them a name, called Aggregating Energy Bacteria—we can actively make the Aggregating Energy Bacteria stimulate some brain regions or brain structures, so that we can continuously enter a state of extraordinary comprehension, maintaining the most efficient thinking ability 24 hours a day..."

"Alright." Murphy quickly stopped the two.

You two are really going all out on Resident Evil, aren't you?

"Bacteria and viruses mutate too fast. With our current capabilities, this might be a field we cannot control. We cannot conduct research in this area for the time being. I don't want to wake up and find the world full of zombies! Understand?"

This devil must be put back into the cage.

"Okay, okay." The two mad scientists were a bit disappointed, but Murphy was the boss, so naturally, whatever he said went.

After thinking about it, Murphy felt it was still not safe enough. "Research on the Soul Seed is temporarily stopped. In the future, your attention should be shifted to the influence of conventional spells like Legilimency and Obliviation on the mind and brain."

Perhaps I should also cast an Obliviation Charm on Selica to make her forget about the Soul Seed.

This spell is really a bit scary. It's best if I'm the only one in the world who knows it.

But the good news is, he can finally recruit wizards!

Diagon Alley, Watcher Wizard Security Shop.

The owner of this security shop in Diagon Alley was a male wizard in his fifties or sixties, named Branco Lloyd. He had lost his right hand and was wearing the black-blue wizard robe uniform that Murphy had specially designed and made for the Watchers, with one sleeve swinging empty.

He was originally training new employees in the training ground, but now he hurried over, used his sleeve to wipe a chair in the shop for Murphy, and then let Murphy sit down. "Boss, why are you here?"

Branco had a face full of gray-white beard, and a warm, even somewhat ingratiating smile appeared on his slack-muscled face, making people feel as if he wasn't the owner of a security shop, but something like a tailor.

But Murphy wouldn't underestimate him because of this. Branco was a retired Auror, a figure from the same era as Moody, and his right hand had been blown off by a Dark Wizard using Black Magic.

When recruiting him, Murphy had personally fought with him. Don't look at the fact that he only had his left hand left and was old, his fighting style was still very sharp, and several times he used silent spells quietly, almost making Murphy lose.

"It's like this, I have a project that needs some well-trained wizards to participate. We have ten wizards in our shop who often practice the Enlarging and Shrinking Charms, right?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 115 =====