The antidote containing mycelium from before had already been used up. Ordinary antidotes should be useless against Mutant toxins; otherwise, Team Leader Wu wouldn't have been so desperate as to seek him out.

Xu Huo's main purpose for returning this time was also to hand over the King Fungus sample to the Special Defense Department, so he said, "I collected a type of fungus that can counteract toxins, but I'm not sure if it can be cultivated in Zone 014."

Team Leader Wu was overjoyed and quickly said, "Good, good! We must try it regardless of whether it's useful or not. I'll notify someone to come pick you up right away. You're in Ting City, right? Don't wander around, and don't trust people easily. Neither Nie Xuan nor I are there right now. It's unsafe everywhere, so don't hand over the thing carelessly."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Huo picked out Liu Jia's message and replied to her: if she found Professor Han, she could come find him, as he could remove the Mutant toxin.

Professor Han had been scratched by a Mutant on the Preliminary Trial Train. After returning, he was sealed off for treatment. The specific situation wasn't clear, but he was a relatively early sample of someone scratched by a Mutant. The most likely possibility was that he was being treated as an experimental sample. If Professor Han was lucky and the Mutant toxin didn't act up too quickly, he might be able to hold on for a while.

Of course, it was also possible that the Special Affairs Department at that time already had a treatment method for Mutant toxins, though not a cure, but a delay. Additionally, the game had just started, and everyone obtained the lowest-grade antidotes. In Decibel Town, Gu Yu and the others were simply lucky, having happened upon the potion left behind by Master Nise.

But there were subtle differences here. The Mutant toxin in Decibel Town had been researched by Master Nise, so it might have been specifically targeted. Others were not necessarily the same. Even if one obtained D or C-grade antidotes, they might not work against multiple types of Mutant toxins.

Xu Huo climbed through the window into Yuan Yao's newly rented apartment. After turning on the light, he took out several test tubes. Without anything else, he scooped some soil from a flowerpot into them, then cut open his palm to release the King Fungus.

The King Fungus could detoxify, but the mycelium that crawled out of the human body had no roots and could not automatically divide.

He had no choice but to cut off several sections of mycelium from the wound and place them in a glass container along with the Nüwa Stone.

He went to wash up and made himself something to eat. Yuan Yao had stockpiled quite a bit of food. By the time he finished cooking and came out of the kitchen, the mycelium in the glass container had already connected to the Nüwa Stone. Thin filaments resembling roots and stems grew from the point of attachment, making it look alive.

He took out two pieces and placed them separately into a test tube with soil and another with nutritional supplement. By the time Xu Huo finished eating, the one placed in the soil had died, while the other was still alive.

He transferred all the remaining mycelium into the test tube with nutritional supplement, then placed them in a constant-temperature aluminum case, setting it aside to wait for the Special Defense Department personnel to pick it up.

Unexpectedly, he had to wait another half hour before the Special Defense Department people arrived.

Leading the team was the female team leader Jiang Qiao, whom Xu Huo had met during the negotiations in Capital City. She also brought along the Special Defense Department player from Ting City, Sima Xiao Er.

The group looked travel-worn and weary, clearly having rushed over from elsewhere. The team members they brought were all fully armed, with their protective face shields already worn.

"Being this cautious?" Xu Huo opened the door to let them in.

"We can't afford not to be cautious." Jiang Qiao greeted him before saying, "More and more players are entering the game now, and the potions they bring back are all sorts of bizarre. Ten days ago, a player team suffered losses from a poison gas bomb."

Xu Huo expressed understanding and pointed to the case beside the sofa. "The stuff is over there. Take it, but be careful. This type of fungus cannot survive in ordinary soil. Nutritional fluid or other potions might work."

Jiang Qiao carefully opened the aluminum case to inspect it. "Five test tubes, five fungi. Confirmed receipt."

"Brother Xu." Sima Xiao Er no longer sported a head of red hair; it was cut short and dyed black, giving him a bit of a civil servant look.

"You didn't follow Nie Xuan?" Xu Huo took a can of beer from the fridge, opened it, and drank. "Get one yourself if you want."

Sima Xiao Er declined his offer, saying, "I'd just be adding to the trouble if I went. The players going there are all very powerful."

As he spoke, he looked at Xu Huo with hopeful anticipation. "Brother Xu, will you go?"

Xu Huo waved his hand. "I need to rest for a few days."

Having not slept properly for a whole week, he couldn't take it either.

Jiang Qiao closed the aluminum case, carefully holding it in her hand. To ensure absolute safety, she also used protective gear and an item on the aluminum case, then locked it to her wrist with another item.

"Due to the urgency of the situation, it's inconvenient for us to stay long." She said to Xu Huo, "We came urgently this time and didn't bring any supplies. Mr. Xu, if you have any requests, you can bring them up with Team Leader Wu. As long as the Special Defense Department can manage it, we will definitely do our utmost."

"There's no need to be so polite." Xu Huo said.

"It's only proper." Jiang Qiao's expression was solemn, completely lacking the casualness from when she followed the negotiations last time. "If the fungus Mr. Xu brought back can detoxify, it would be equivalent to saving the entire Zone 014."

"I know Mr. Xu doesn't want to be disturbed, but you must need someone to run errands and handle matters while you're back resting." She added, "Sima Xiao Er was arranged by Team Leader Wu. He knows the Special Defense Department's emergency contact methods. If Team Leader Wu's phone can't be reached, he'll find a way."

Before Xu Huo could say anything, Sima Xiao Er said, "Brother Xu, the restaurants outside aren't open lately. I can help with buying groceries and cooking."

Players need to eat too.

Xu Huo didn't refuse the Special Defense Department's goodwill. After seeing Jiang Qiao off, he said to Sima Xiao Er, "Don't call me tomorrow. No need for tonight either. Find any room to sleep in."

Sima Xiao Er nodded. "I'll sleep in the living room."

Xu Huo left him to it and returned to his own room, closing the door and falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

While he was sleeping, Jiang Qiao had already taken a military aircraft overnight and arrived in Capital City.

Xu Huo had already told her the basic usage method of the King Fungus. She relayed it verbatim to the expert team. Although it could directly detoxify people, the quantity of King Fungus was too small and needed large-scale cultivation. It would be best if it could be made into an independent potion to benefit more people.

At the same time, several important figures from the Special Defense Department also arrived at the research base.

Minister Fan, Team Leader Song, Team Leader Wu, and the recently joined Team Leader Chang and Team Leader Lü.

The first few were old acquaintances. Team Leader Chang was someone the country had just brought in; he was a player himself. Team Leader Lü was a middle-aged woman with a kind face.

Given the current situation, these people also had players accompanying them to the research base.

"Minister, I heard a player obtained a universal potion that can treat Mutant toxins. Is it true?" Team Leader Song asked immediately upon arrival.

"Your news is really fast." Team Leader Wu said with a dark expression, his eyes sweeping over him and the Dai Wenqian following behind him.

"Should such a major matter concerning the nation's lifeline still be kept under wraps?" Team Leader Song said, "Old Wu, your awareness is insufficient."

Team Leader Wu wanted to go up and slap his mouth.

"You'd better say less," Jiang Qiao also wasn't too pleased. "This time, it's all thanks to Team Leader Wu. If not for him, you'd have to watch your players die one by one."