CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 31: CONFIRMED SYMPTOMS

Xiao Lin entered the room, turned on the computer, and accessed a top-secret system. The screen switched to a stern-looking website, with seven large, blue-glowing words appearing in the center: Please verify your fingerprint!

Xiao Lin gently placed his finger in the fingerprint verification box on the screen. After a beep from the computer speaker, a message appeared: Verification successful!

Subsequently, the website opened. It was a very simple page, but the name displayed in Chinese was unmistakably: Dragon Soul Special Forces Confidential Database!

Very little information about Dragon Soul is circulated externally. Ordinary citizens are generally unaware of this special forces unit’s existence. In the minds of the public, Huaxia has only three special forces: the Red Eagle of the army, the Sharp Sword of the navy, and the Flying Wing of the air force.

However, within these three special forces, the place most officers aspire to join is the Dragon Soul unit Xiao Lin just accessed. Only those ranked major or above know about this unit.

Xiao Lin used his credentials to log into his account and connected to the Ministry of Health’s internal website, where there should be some information about the HTC4 mutant virus.

A few minutes later, Xiao Lin felt a bit disappointed. The materials were still the old ones from a few years ago regarding HTC4, with very little information about the mutant virus. It merely mentioned a document about the appearance of the mutant virus in Jingliang Province, but there were no reports about this mutant virus.

"Could it be that they haven’t even researched the confirmed symptoms yet?" Xiao Lin felt a bit worried. Last night, while reviewing the materials, he naturally went through the list of experts transferred to Jingliang Province. Each was a renowned expert or professor, some even affiliated with the Tri-Service General Hospital. About seventy percent of them had participated in the HTC4 research back then.

Xiao Lin looked at the report on the mutant virus and was stunned to find out that the mutant virus was discovered on August 21st. A group of ten experts was organized and sent to Jingliang Province the very next day, followed by doctors from all over the country being dispatched to participate in research and rescue work.

Today is September 3rd, twelve days later, and there is still no news of this mutant virus. Xiao Lin’s heart grew heavier.

After thinking about it, Xiao Lin believed that with the strength of these experts and professors, they would have identified the confirmed symptoms within twelve days of clinical observation. He pondered for a moment and took out his phone to dial a number.

"I am the Military Doctor, connect me to the internal line of the Tri-Service General Hospital! I need to speak to Dean Su!" Xiao Lin said in a deep voice.

In Dragon Soul, Xiao Lin’s codename is Military Doctor.

"Military Doctor, is that you?" The voice on the other end sounded somewhat excited, but it quickly returned to a formal tone: "Please state your codename password!"

Xiao Lin quickly recited a few numbers. After confirmation from the other side, a response came through: "Alright, please hold on!"

Dean Su of the Tri-Service General Hospital is also the dean of the Huaxia National Medical College, a highly respected figure in both the medical and military fields.

After a short while, a deep and resonant voice came through Xiao Lin’s phone: "Haha, Xiao Lin, when did you find time to call me?"

"Dean Su, I would like a copy of the latest information on the HTC4 mutant virus currently in Jingliang Province!" Xiao Lin got straight to the point.

"Where are you now? You should be able to access this information!" Dean Su was a bit surprised.

"I just checked. Our Dragon Soul’s confidential database only contains HTC4 virus information from four years ago. As for the recent outbreak of the mutant virus in Jingliang Province, no data has been uploaded!" Xiao Lin’s voice was very steady and showed no trace of flattery, despite talking to the dean of the Tri-Service General Hospital.

"Alright, hold on. I’ll help you check!" Dean Su, aware of the HTC4 mutant virus incident, knew that the Tri-Service General Hospital had dispatched several senior experts to participate in research and rescue work. However, Dean Su also had his own research projects, so he was only aware of the situation but needed to rely on the submitted reports to track the progress of the mutant virus.

Xiao Lin waited patiently. Ten minutes later, Dean Su called back.

"Xiao Lin, I’ve sent the data to Dragon Soul!"

"Alright, thanks!" Xiao Lin, not prone to pleasantries, hung up the phone directly.

On the other end, Dean Su, hearing the beeping sound of a disconnected call, couldn’t help but shake his head and smile wryly. This kid, not even giving me face, just hung up abruptly.

When Xiao Lin logged back into Dragon Soul’s confidential database, the THC4 mutant virus data had already been updated. Xiao Lin opened it and examined it carefully.

The clinical diagnosis symptoms for the HTC4 mutant virus are: alternating hot and cold sensations every half hour, cold hands and feet, general weakness, sunken eyes, coughing, fever, etc. These are the clinical manifestations of the first stage of the mutant virus.

As for the second stage or subsequent symptoms, the information is still blank. It seems that the carriers of the mutant virus currently in Jingliang Province have not yet shown symptoms of the second or third stages, or perhaps this is simply the incubation period of the HTC4 mutant virus.

No conclusion has been reached for the treatment of the first stage. The expert team likely tried using the specific drug developed four years ago to treat patients, but it seems to have had no effect.

The transmission method of this mutant virus is droplet transmission, facilitated by droplets released during a patient’s cough, sneeze, or speech. The virus attaches to the droplets, becoming suspended in the air for a short time and short distance. The next host becomes infected when they breathe, open their mouth, or accidentally touch their eye surface, causing the virus to adhere.

Xiao Lin felt somewhat relieved that this mutant virus was only transmitted through droplets and hadn’t escalated to airborne transmission.

Xiao Lin turned off the computer. From the living room, he heard the sound of Tong Tong coughing, which startled Xiao Lin. He thought for a moment, as Tong Tong wasn’t coughing earlier at the school clinic, so why was he coughing now after coming here?

He searched the room for a mask, quickly put it on, and walked briskly to the living room. At that moment, the weak Tong Tong was standing next to a pot of spherical cactus. Seeing Xiao Lin come out, Tong Tong hurriedly asked, "Dr. Xiao, what exactly is wrong with me?" Xiao Lin had been inside for nearly an hour, and Tong Tong became anxious. After saying this, Tong Tong coughed two or three more times at the cactus pot.

Wearing the mask, Xiao Lin wasn’t afraid of getting infected. He stepped forward, helped Tong Tong to sit on the sofa, and said, "Tong Tong, mentally prepare yourself. I suspect you might be infected with the HTC4 mutant virus!"

"Dr. Xiao, I don’t want to die, please save me!" Although Xiao Lin had previously warned Tong Tong, upon hearing that he might be infected with the HTC4 mutant virus, Tong Tong still broke down.