Chapter 81

"Using the Dittany-promoting factor to amplify specific T-cells is fast, and the antibody magnetic bead separation step also takes very little time. However, we need to prepare the materials; it will take about a day to prepare enough specific T-cells."

"A day?"

Murphy was somewhat pleasantly surprised. If it only took a day, perhaps Selica could truly be saved.

As the final barrier of human immunity and a super-immune arsenal with infinite countermeasures, once the human immune system initiates specific immunity, there is basically no enemy it cannot defeat.

Originally, he thought Selica had already been infected, and if it dragged on for a few days, she might be gone, which is why he had given Alex a heads-up beforehand so he could be mentally prepared.

But now it seemed she might still be saved.

Since he had already decided to go to the village to obtain the Soul Seed, he should save Selica if he could.

This type of T-cell immune enhancement therapy requires first collecting the subject's immune cells, so a large tube of blood was drawn from Murphy.

This blood then had to be separated via centrifugation to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells, then activated through antigen induction and magnetic bead sorting to activate the T-cells, before finally entering the clonal amplification phase.

Murphy did not need to participate in these steps. He left the White Medicine R&D Center and used a special channel provided by the security team to call the Hazard Mitigation Group to request some equipment. Since much of it was prohibited for private possession, it cost Murphy a significant sum of money.

But Murphy didn't care about that at all; he hadn't even finished spending the cash he had looted from Isaac.

Two days later, Caerphilly Town.

Murphy took out a map to look at it, then looked up at the forest in front of him, "This is the place."

Following the clues left on Selica's paper crane, the two found the stone pillars at the edge of the woods. After activating them with magic in order, it was as if their field of vision suddenly widened; several trees moved aside on their own, revealing a small path only wide enough for one person to pass.

"Remember, just wait here. Do not go inside under any circumstances; I need you to provide support from the outside. If anything happens, I will contact you via a message paper crane, and you just follow my instructions then. Do you understand?"

Murphy gave his final instructions to Alex.

"Understood. Boss, you must be careful yourself." Alex said as he handed a suitcase to Murphy.

The latter took the Undetectable Extension Charm case, opened it, first took out an M40 gas mask and put it on, then took out an A-level protective suit, wrapped himself up tightly, and then took out a tactical belt and strapped it on. On it were four wands, a flail, a tactical dagger, a Glock, and an MP5K submachine gun.

After checking all the equipment, Murphy walked straight into the forest under the stunned gaze of Alex.

The trees kept parting in front of him and closing behind him. After walking for more than ten minutes, Murphy arrived in front of a stone wall.

"Hmm?"

Selica hadn't mentioned a stone wall.

He was just about to blast a hole in it with a Blasting Curse, but after thinking about it, he took another step forward, reached out with his protective-gloved hand, and it actually sank directly into the wall.

"So that's how it is."

This wall was similar to the one at Platform 9 and 3/4; it was a hidden passage.

He stepped inside, walked through a dark passage, and then stepped out, arriving in front of a small bridge.

A small river circling the village flowed under the bridge. On the other side of the bridge were several brick and stone buildings with thatched roofs. The white paint on the walls had almost completely peeled off, revealing the damaged red bricks inside, looking very ancient.

It was now November, the autumn wind was biting, the sky was exceptionally high and vast, and visibility was excellent.

Murphy could clearly see the orchards and livestock sheds surrounded by low fences in the village. Further away, some farmland was scattered under dense birch and beech trees, and several people dressed as farmers were driving livestock in the fields, seemingly farming.

The entire village was planted with beech trees, covered everywhere with red and yellow fallen leaves, appearing quiet and peaceful in the sunlight.

This place has a nice view.

"Woof! Woof!" A few barks pulled Murphy's attention back.

Turning his head, he saw a black-brown Welsh Terrier barking wildly at him from the steps of a small cabin not far away.

Murphy glanced at it and didn't pay it any mind. Just as he was considering how to find Selica, he suddenly felt something was wrong and looked at the dog again.

The dog was extremely thin, and its black and gray fur was matted with something, clumped together as if it had just crawled out of a trash heap.

However, what caught Murphy's attention was not this. He carefully examined the dog's right face and indeed discovered a dark, blob-like thing hanging on its face, swinging back and forth with its barking movements.

On that black thing, there was a rope-like tether connected into the dog's sunken right eye socket.

"..."

Sure enough, that damn thing was an eye.

An eye that had long since dried up.

Looking at the dog again, several places on its body and face were clearly already rotting, the fur falling off, but it was covered in filth—whether mud or something else—which made it not very obvious.

This dog was probably already dead.

Murphy thought for a moment and pulled out an old wand, "Avada Kedavra!"

"Bang!" The dog was hit by the curse, sent flying, and slammed into the door of the small cabin.

However, after a while, the dog actually stood up shakily again. Except for a hole in its chest where it had been hit by the curse, the Killing Curse, which everyone in the wizarding world feared, seemed to have no effect on it at all.

It was indeed already dead.

It could still move after death; what was this? A zombie dog? An undead dog?

However, he still saw something different. In the dog's chest where it had been pierced, some blue, translucent things seemed to be exposed.

This... could it be?

Murphy was just about to cast Incendio to see how this zombie dog's fire resistance was, but the door of the small cabin suddenly opened.

A hunchbacked old lady wrapped in a scarf walked out. Seeing Murphy's appearance, she was clearly stunned for a moment, but still walked down the steps slowly. Behind her followed a young man who kicked the dog, and the latter stopped barking.

"You must be a new guest." The old lady had a kind appearance. She held a notebook, "Outsiders don't often come to this village; you need to register before entering."

"Register?"

Murphy glanced at the white bone exposed on the old lady's left arm and shook his head, "No need, I'm here to find someone. I'll leave as soon as I find them."

"No! There is a Black Death outside! You cannot enter the village without registering!" The young man glared at Murphy fiercely, "What if you bring the plague in! Also, what are you wearing? Take it off! Show your face!"

Murphy looked at the fist-sized hole next to the neck under the latter's collar and rolled his eyes.

Take off the protective suit?

And wait to be sprayed in the face with your vomit?

Do you think I haven't played Resident Evil?

Do you know I am the boss of Umbrella!

Who knows more about zombies than me!

However, he also felt some curiosity in his heart.

These guys were clearly already dead, but how were they still talking here and worrying about the plague?

Whether zombies or undead, didn't they all lack consciousness?

"Are you responsible for registration here all the time?" Murphy asked, "Have you seen a girl named Selica?"

(End of chapter)