Chapter 112: A Minor Mishap in the Experiment

If the mobile phone were a nonexistent object, existing only in imagination, then to create and study it from scratch would require an immense amount of time and overcoming countless obstacles. However, if a ready-made phone were placed before you, dismantling and analyzing it would be far easier.

Now, Ashford’s task was to analyze the genes of Alice, who had become a bioweapon, along with the virus inside her body that had already stabilized and was functioning. In the film, Ashford was the creator of the T-virus, so he was well acquainted with it.

Ma Jun, on the other hand, possessed more advanced cloning and genetic technology. Using Alice’s blood, he cloned a new Alice within just twenty-four hours, accelerating her growth to the age of eighteen. This little test subject was put on display, then subjected to research, and the project advanced rapidly.

Yet, in a certain sense, after merging with the T-virus, Alice had transcended human life, becoming a new species—one even more advanced than the avatars. Therefore, conducting gene fusion experiments proved to be quite difficult.

But Ma Jun had to try. He could not simply clone thousands of Alices to serve him blindly. Despite their identical appearances, these clones would not obey his commands.

Ma Jun’s bioweapons were developed through a combination of genetic engineering and bioelectronics. Strictly speaking, what he cultivated were not living beings but bio-robotic entities. Of course, these technical challenges had already been overcome; otherwise, there would not be so many successful bioweapons.

The current difficulty lay in the new gene fusion research, which required rediscovering a stable structure through continuous trials and experiments. Even relying on advanced ultra-microchip computers for computational reasoning, this process would consume considerable time. After deducing a stable structure, clinical trials were necessary to observe the effects.

Nonetheless, the path was clear.

The new experimental subject—another Alice under Umbrella Corporation’s control—would take some time to appear. Meanwhile, Ma Jun did not need to personally oversee the base operations.

Therefore, during this period, Ma Jun took Qian Bo and Qian Xuduo with him to collect resources outside. As expected, the bioterror outbreak was spreading rapidly across the United States.

With the loss of control and no prior preparation, the population plummeted, and the government agencies and profit-driven organizations collapsed one after another. Amid the chaos, Ma Jun’s hundred-man team cut through everything like a storm. They had no intention of saving the world or abiding by any rules, stealing resources wherever they went.

With a top-tier Qiankun Ring and ultra-fast transportation, resources were continuously transported to the base. Occasionally, at Qian Xuduo’s urging, Ma Jun accompanied him to some cities still untouched by the virus for leisure.

One day, while competing with Qian Er and Qian San in hunting zombies, a sudden call came through the communicator.

“Boss, you need to return immediately. The cloned Alice is having problems!” Old Qian reported anxiously.

Ma Jun hurried back to the base and entered the laboratory. One hundred fully armed bioweapons were stationed around a fully reinforced steel chamber. Ashford and some researchers were frowning at the data displayed on a computer.

“Boss, the clone has acquired the original’s memories!” Qian Yaoduo reported in a low voice, pointing at the screen. “Her physical data is undergoing drastic changes!”

It was extraordinarily rare for a clone to inherit the original’s memories. By all rights, it should have been impossible.

“Fortunately, the clone’s strength isn’t very powerful yet. We can control her,” Qian Moduo said. “But this will slow down the research progress.”

“I’ll go in and take a look,” Ma Jun said after a moment of silence.

Qian Moduo and the others made no objection, trusting Ma Jun’s abilities.

Ma Jun changed his appearance and entered the steel chamber. The door closed behind him. Inside, the cloned Alice, dressed in white, paced around anxiously. Her agitation was evident.

“Alice?” Ma Jun called softly.

“Jack?” Alice’s face showed disbelief, then joy. “You survived? That’s wonderful—you’re still alive!”

“It’s great to see you again,” Ma Jun said happily. “I thought I was going to die back then, but actually, I just passed out. When I woke up, I was floating downstream outside Raccoon City.”

Alice rushed forward, hugging Ma Jun tightly, then suddenly pushed him away and stared at him intently. “Where is this place? Where are we? Why are you here? Were you also captured by Umbrella?”

Ma Jun racked his brain and explained carefully, finally calming the clone before leaving the chamber.

After restoring his usual appearance, Qian Moduo and the others gathered around. “Boss, how is she?”

“She’s still in recovery. Some memories haven’t returned yet. I barely managed to get her to cooperate temporarily for research. But once she fully becomes Alice, she probably won’t cooperate anymore. Alice is difficult, especially as an enhanced bioweapon,” Ma Jun said. “Fortunately, this clone’s strength is still limited. Once she gains superpowers, we won’t be able to control her by force—psychic-like abilities are something we’ve never encountered or learned to defend against.”

“Luckily, I approached Alice under another identity and established a friendly contact. Next time we meet, we can at least get a blood sample. But relying on blood for research will take longer. For safety, we have no choice.”

Ma Jun shrugged and lit a cigar.

“So, boss, what do we do with this clone?” Qian Yaoduo asked.

“Destroy her after the research is complete,” Ma Jun said calmly, blinking and exhaling smoke.

“Yes, sir,” Qian Yaoduo replied without objection.

Ma Jun glanced at Ashford, whose expression was complicated. Smiling, he approached him. “Doctor, our research has two stages. The primary goal is to create a perfect bioweapon fused with the virus. The secondary goal is to develop a virus serum without side effects, so that ordinary people can become superhumans with just one dose. Imagine the future—your daughter becoming a superhero! You’ll work hard for that, won’t you?”

“Of course,” Ashford forced a smile.

Having resolved the matter and given the chief scientist a light scolding, Ma Jun left the lab.

As he headed to his room, he instructed Qian Yaoduo, who accompanied him, “Find some death row inmates for the second phase of experiments as clinical test subjects. Make sure there are no accidents when we take the serum. Regardless of success or failure, dispose of those inmates after the experiment.”

“I understand! I’ll have Fourth Brother handle it soon!”