Chapter 589: Are You Not Convinced?

"Alright, Mr. Zhang, research on the liquefied gas zombie is urgent, and as for Qiu Hui's side…"

Fu Weijun, unwilling to give up, decided to fight for it.

"Then we'll have to burden Dr. Xie. Also, if the three newcomers from the Survivor Alliance are cleared, they can join the research."

Zhang Su pointed at Xie Yanshan.

"Huge thanks, Dr. Xie!"

Fu Weijun grew frantic, cursing. "So we can't study that black crystal? And I'm not even allowed to participate in the research with the new recruits? This is just… unbearable! You wanna curse? Then take a look at this!"

Saying this, Zhang Su reached into his waist pouch, grabbed a handful, and pulled out several white wax pills.

All five stared at the pills in Zhang Su's palm, their eyes filled with confusion.

"What are these?" Fu Weijun unconsciously echoed Zhang Su's words, his face brimming with curiosity.

"Heh…" Zhang Su smiled mysteriously. "These are drugs developed by a survivor group in the development zone. When ingested, they dramatically boost combat power. I was planning to have you all study their composition—but unfortunately, you won't be able to participate."

Liu Tianji and Ke Zhiyu exchanged glances after hearing Zhang Su's words, their expressions turning peculiar. They silently thought: Brother Su's moves seem insignificant on the surface, but they're razor-targeted—he's a master at pinning down weaknesses.

True to form, upon hearing this, Fu Weijun nearly jumped out of his skin, like a man constipated for ten days.

"That face is ugly. Are you Bufu?"

Zhang Su spun the white wax pills in his palm, like an old man playing health balls, and asked with a half-smile.

Pretending to grant leave, yet holding all the power. "Fine…"

After stewing for a long while, Fu Weijun finally spat out one word.

Duan Wuhu quickly added: "What's there to Bufu? Ten days off, eat, drink, have fun—Wei Jun, you should be thanking Mr. Zhang, you know that?"

"No need for thanks!"

Zhang Su waved his hand. "Dr. Fu, every single thing you've done for the camp I've remembered—it's all irreplaceable merit. Later, I'll have someone compile your deeds into a record. If our camp survives, your achievements will be written in bold ink! But you must bear the punishment for your mistakes. Why do you think you only need to rest a few days before returning to duty? Such a grave error deserves far harsher punishment—if only five or six people here knew about it, you'd be lucky to survive without shedding a layer of skin! Your contributions are indeed substantial, but do you think the other six hundred people in the camp should find out about your reckless behavior? Feeding people drugs like this—wouldn't they go berserk? I can balance your merits and faults, but others won't tolerate it. You understand what I mean, right?"

Fu Weijun listened solemnly as Zhang Su spoke, his emotions turbulent. Whether he'd live or die, shed skin or not—he'd never cared about fame or fortune since stepping into scientific research. Yet now, for the first time, he felt a flicker of desire…

"I understand. I deeply recognize my mistake. Gentlemen, my recklessness has troubled you—I beg your forgiveness for my impulsiveness. Give me a chance to correct myself. Don't let this incident spread further. Please."

Fu Weijun apologized with utmost sincerity. He knew the power of gossip—if six or seven hundred people learned what happened today, he'd have no chance of survival unless the King of Hell himself protected him!

But would the King of Hell protect him?

Was he worth such protection? No answer came.

"I'll use these ten days to calm my mind and reflect deeply. I have one request: let Duan Laoshi stay in the lab. Whatever he sees or hears, he can tell me—I won't be so bored."

This time, Fu Weijun spoke openly, revealing his true motive without reservation.

"This punishment targets you alone—it has nothing to do with Duan. I won't drag his name into your mistakes! Don't get comfortable yet. After your ten-day vacation, you'll enter a one-month observation period. If everything's fine, then this"—

Zhang Su patted the spot where the ziplock bag rested, then added: "Don't worry—I won't let anyone outside this room know about this thalamus. Neither will you. If any related rumors surface, I'll hold you responsible!"

"No way, no way…"

"Don't worry—I absolutely won't say a word!"

"Then let's stick to one story: say it's the effect of the zombie-blockage liquid. Otherwise we'll have to invent a whole basket of lies!" "Alright, that's what we tell outsiders!"

Zhang Su made the final call, unifying everyone's external cover story.

"Ten days, plus a month—that's forty days total. Fine. If I can really stand up again, forty days won't matter. Also… I… I volunteer to be a test subject for that, if needed."

Fu Weijun pointed at Zhang Su's palm—he was desperate to know what the pill did.

"No, no, no…"

Xie Yanshan quickly interrupted, forcing a nervous laugh. "No need for humans—we can use animals. Wei Jun, don't talk nonsense."

At this point, he still wanted to test on humans—Xie Yanshan was nearly at his limit. He didn't want to lose such a capable colleague.

Zhang Su was equally speechless. This guy's drive was too intense—but he couldn't be left unchecked, or he'd cause chaos. "Then…"

Fu Weijun glanced around the room—it wasn't the main lab, but he still looked at it with deep longing. He murmured: "Mr. Zhang, I'll be going then. Dr. Xie, you'll have to bear the burden for a while."

"No problem, no problem, Wei Jun. Rest well, get your mind right. Ten days—just a blink."

Xie Yanshan waved goodbye, clearly reluctant.

"Alright, Duan, escort Dr. Fu down. Oh, and you two head straight to Village One. Wait for dinner—hot pot. Get involved with the group, change your routine. If anyone asks why Dr. Fu left the lab, say he got injured and needs rest. Go."

Zhang Su waved them off.

"Got it. Don't worry, Brother Zhang, I'll handle it. Hey, here—take this."

Duan Wuhu pushed Fu Weijun out the door, noticed the painkiller bag still on the wheelchair, pulled it out, and returned it to Zhang Su. Many pills had been opened—clearly already consumed by people who didn't need them.

Aowu. Aowu.

In the corridor, the zombie lying face-down sensed nearby blood and emitted low moans, writhing its body in a grotesque manner.

Fu Weijun looked at the zombie with a complex expression, sneered, and knew it was used to test Qiu Hui's work—he'd never get to see it himself. What a waste! "Dr. Xie, have you ever seen a thalamus like this before?"

After the two descended the stairs, Zhang Su took out the ziplock bag again and asked Xie Yanshan.

"Never!" Xie Yanshan shook his head firmly. "I've never seen a thalamus with this color. All others are grayish-blue, varying slightly in shade, but always within that range. We assumed it was individual variation—but this one is clearly different!"

"Uh… Brother Su, can I take a look?"

Liu Tianji reached out with a strange expression.

"Go ahead." Zhang Su tossed it to Liu Tianji, then asked: "Could it be that the liquefied gas zombie's mutation caused this unique thalamus? But that doesn't make sense—the petrified-skin zombies' thalami showed no difference, right?"

"Hmm… I didn't handle many petrified-skin zombies, so I'm not sure. But according to records, there were no abnormalities."

"Then can we infer that the petrified-skin zombie's mutation level is lower than the liquefied gas zombie's, hence the thalamus didn't change?"

In terms of threat level, the liquefied gas zombie was clearly more than one level above the petrified-skin zombie!

Xie Yanshan sighed deeply. "Mr. Zhang, if you're building a theory, your deduction is perfectly reasonable. But… without verification, it's not solid."

Any theory can be wildly imagined—but those are merely "hypotheses." They require proof.

(End of Chapter)