New York, Holy City Hospital.
Many patients with special illnesses had been admitted, and for a time the place was overcrowded.
In the underground base, Elena and Li Hua stared at the patient data displayed on the computer screens, unable to make sense of it.
"What on earth is going on?" Elena couldn't help but speak up. "According to the instrument readings, these patients should all be infected with the Bugster Virus.
But it's completely different from before. It seems they're all infected with the same type of virus, and the number of infected people is extremely large.
Although the symptoms they show are much milder compared to previous patients,
the key problem is that we can't isolate the Bugster Virus at all. Do we really have to wait until the virus inside these patients erupts until a Bugster entity is born—before we can perform surgery and eliminate it?"
Li Hua's expression was grim as he shook his head. "There are too many people infected. Just among those who came to the Hospital for testing, we've already confirmed nearly a hundred patients. Judging from this situation, the actual number of infected people must be even higher. We can't possibly wait for the virus inside their bodies to erupt.
By then, we'd be completely overwhelmed.
I suspect this Bugster Virus incident is the work of that guy called Genm.
The current situation is somewhat similar to what happened before at the Stark Industries Expo, when Genm spread the Virus."
"Then what should we do? We can't isolate the Virus, and we can't perform excision surgery either!" Elena asked anxiously.
"All we can do is wait and see whether Mr. Dan can find the cause of this situation, and then figure out a solution," Li Hua said in a low voice, gripping the game cartridge.
"Li Hua, Elena." Dan connected to the communication channel.
"Dan, have you found the reason? Why can't we isolate the Bugster Virus from these patients?" Elena's eyes lit up.
Dan nodded. "After strict and meticulous comparative analysis, the virus infecting these patients is indeed exactly the same type of Bugster Virus.
The reason we can't separate it from the patients' bodies is that, compared to normal Bugster Viruses, its strength is extremely weak."
"So that's why the symptoms are also very mild?" Li Hua said thoughtfully.
"It's just like how modern medicine can't completely eliminate every single pathogenic cell, bacterium, or virus."
"Exactly. Unless we use methods like those for treating cancer—indiscriminately destroying everything, including normal cells and tissues.
But that's obviously not feasible. The Bugster Virus has already dispersed throughout the patients' bodies, spreading into various tissues and cells," Dan agreed.
"Is there really no other way to deal with this situation?" Elena asked angrily, slamming her fist on the table.
"There is, of course, a way," Dan said with an inscrutable smile.
"What way?" Li Hua and Elena asked in unison.
"All the patients are infected with the same Virus, which means it originates from the same game.
So what's actually more important is to clear the game that gave birth to this Virus.
As long as we can clear that game, all the Viruses produced by it will naturally dissipate."
"What game? How are we supposed to clear it?" Elena's eyes shone with excitement.
"Dragon Knight Hunter Z," Dan said, tapping the screen. The game's cover animation appeared on the screen in front of Li Hua and Elena.
"But there are far too many patients infected with the virus," Li Hua said with some confusion. "If we want to clear this game, we at least need to find the target to defeat, right?"
"To find the boss—the demonic dragon—of Dragon Knight Hunter, we do indeed need to start from the viruses infecting these patients.
But clearing the game and defeating the dragon doesn't necessarily require that," Dan said meaningfully.
"What do you mean? Can't you just explain it clearly in one go?" Elena pouted.
"Think of it this way," Dan said after a moment of thought. "The behavior logic of the Virus inside these patients is a bit like worker bees going out to gather food.
The reason it hasn't grown stronger or further eroded the hosts is because everything it collects has to be sent back to the hive."
"So in other words," Li Hua said gravely, "if we don't completely clear the Dragon Knight Hunter game, then even if we find a way to remove the Virus from patients,
it'll only be a temporary solution. There will still be an endless stream of new patients getting infected."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's find the game boss and defeat it immediately.
Dan, you should be able to locate the game boss, right?" Elena stood up and proposed decisively.
Dan nodded slightly. "Based on the Virus in the patients, it is indeed possible to trace it back to the main body."
Then his tone shifted as he issued a serious warning: "However, although the Virus from this game hasn't aggressively eroded the patients,the number of infected people is huge. As a result, the final boss born from this game will definitely be far stronger than anything we've faced before.
We absolutely must not let our guard down.
It would be better to wait until Gwen finishes handling her own matters, and then the three of you can go clear it together."
"What exactly is Gwen busy with?" Li Hua frowned and asked.
Elena shook her head. "It should be related to one of her classmates.
She seems to be planning to seek help from a detective."
Genm Corporation, CEO's Office.
Dan gently rotated the Dragon Knight Hunter game gashat in his hand and spoke softly, almost to himself:
"The development of the Bugster entities and the Game Rider System should be accelerated. The game levels need to be raised.
Genm and Parado can also approach Dr. Otto. Since this Dr. Otto is so obsessed with the Bugster Virus, we might as well give him a chance to explore its mysteries."
Jessica's Detective Agency.
"Jessica, we've got a client," Luke Cage said, nudging Jessica, who was lying back in her chair, after seeing Gwen walk into the office.
Jessica jolted awake and rubbed her eyes. "Hello, how can I help you?
Gwen Stacy?!"
"You know her?" Luke Cage asked in surprise.
Jessica nodded. Gwen was a well-known figure at school—excellent grades, a good family background, outstanding performance, and the student council president.
Of course Jessica recognized her.
"Campbell… no.
I should call you Jones now," Gwen said with a smile and a nod.
Jessica's expression turned complicated. "I dropped out a long time ago. We're not classmates anymore.
You're here to hire a detective? What's the matter?"
Gwen sighed. "I'd like you to investigate a classmate named Basel."
As she spoke, she handed over the documents she had brought.
After flipping through the materials, Jessica looked puzzled. "He just looks like an ordinary student who's often bullied. Why would you need a detective to investigate a high schooler?"
Gwen smiled slightly, then explained seriously, "This classmate has changed a lot recently. It's not just that his personality has become irritable and aggressive—his physical abilities have also increased dramatically in a very short time.
They even seem to exceed normal human limits. Once, he lifted the basketball team's school bully—who used to bully him—with one hand.
I think the changes happening to him are very unusual. You should know that he used to be one of the worst in the class in physical education. He'd be gasping for breath just after running 400 meters."
Hearing this, Jessica's expression grew serious. The ability to instantly grant extraordinary power to a frail person immediately made her think of Gaia Memories.
If Gaia Memories were truly involved, then this situation had to be handled with extreme caution.
"Understood. We'll definitely uncover what's going on behind the scenes. You can wait for my news," Jessica said, nodding to Luke.
Gwen smiled and nodded in return. Recently, many people had been infected with the Virus, and she didn't have the time to investigate further herself, which was why she turned to Jessica the detective.
She chose Jessica specifically because she knew Jessica possessed powerful superhuman abilities, capable of dealing with unexpected situations.
Moreover, Jessica would show some restraint toward Basel and keep things under control as much as possible.
If Basel really was using a Gaia Memory and went on to cause further destruction or disturbances, the police would certainly move in directly, possibly even involving special departments.
After that, things would become very difficult to control.
(End of Chapter)