Professor Song compared Qian Wei’s readings before and after the synthetic plasma.
"Your heart rate has increased to forty-six beats per minute, and your temperature is still rising slowly. How much weaker is the hunger?"
"It has not disappeared, but I no longer feel as if every heartbeat in the room is calling me," Qian Wei replied. "The system restored one percentage point of energy and resumed regulating the mutation."
Professor Song studied the nearly full packet. "You consumed one mouthful, but the system absorbed only eight percent of the compatible compounds. That is extremely inefficient."
Qian Wei gave her a tired look. "I apologize for my mysterious future system failing to meet your scientific expectations."
"I am criticizing the compound, not the system. If we identify what it accepted and remove everything unnecessary, we may be able to create a more concentrated energy source."
"What do you think it absorbed?"
"I will not know until we compare several substances."
A clear container emerged from the hidden storage wall.
Professor Song handed it to Qian Wei. "This solution contains concentrated glucose and amino acids. It should help us determine whether the system is responding to ordinary cellular energy."
The liquid looked far less alarming than the synthetic plasma.
Qian Wei drank a small amount.
[Compatible energy compound detected.]
[Absorption efficiency: Two percent.]
[System Energy restored: 0.2 percentage points.]
She repeated the result.
Professor Song frowned. "The response is much weaker, which means calories alone are not enough."
The next container held a dark-green liquid.
Qian Wei stared at it. "What did you put inside that bottle?"
"It is a plant-based cellular-energy concentrate."
"It looks like water collected from a swamp."
"The color has no effect on its nutritional value."
"That is easy for you to say because you are not the person expected to drink it."
Professor Song folded her arms. "We leave for Donghai soon, and I would prefer to identify a safe energy source before your mutation becomes unstable aboard the aircraft."
Qian Wei pinched her nose and swallowed.
The concentrate tasted worse than it looked.
She waited for the system.
Nothing happened.
"It did not respond at all."
Professor Song took the container back with a disappointed expression. "Then plant-derived cellular energy is either incompatible or too difficult for the system to process."
She sent the concentrate away as though it had personally failed her.
They tested several other substances.
A protein solution produced a weak response, while a mineral concentrate did nothing. An artificial blood substitute restored a small amount of energy but increased Qian Wei’s hunger without stabilizing it quickly enough.
The worst substance was a compressed military ration dissolved in water.
Qian Wei took one mouthful and immediately pushed it away. "Soldiers are expected to drink this voluntarily?"
"It is designed to keep someone alive during an emergency, not provide an enjoyable meal."
"I would reconsider whether remaining alive was worth the effort."
Lin Mei, who had watched the testing without comment, finally spoke. "You will be wearing a military uniform within the hour, Major General. You may want to avoid insulting the emergency rations before meeting the officers who rely on them."
"I respect the soldiers. I am questioning the person who created this flavor."
The corner of Lin Mei’s mouth lifted.
By the end of the testing, the system’s energy had risen to four percent. Qian Wei’s hunger had almost completely faded, although the numerous concentrated solutions left her feeling strangely exhausted.
She sat on the edge of the platform while Professor Song reviewed the results.
"The strongest responses came from compounds connected to oxygen transfer and cellular repair," the professor said. "The system does not appear to consume energy in the same way an ordinary machine would."
Qian Wei rubbed her stomach. "Could you explain what it consumes without using a sentence that requires a scientific degree?"
Professor Song glanced at her. "Living cells store chemical energy. Your system may be converting certain biological compounds into the energy it needs."
"So, it eats food."
"Possibly, but ordinary food is too diluted and requires digestion before your body can use it. The synthetic plasma was created to keep severely injured soldiers alive when normal blood circulation becomes inadequate. It contains concentrated proteins and artificial oxygen carriers that become available immediately."
Professor Song enlarged the plasma composition.
"The system may recognize this mixture as a concentrated survival resource."
Qian Wei thought of the hunger that had driven her toward Zhang Ren.
"System, why does the mutation crave blood?"
[Blood contains concentrated biological energy compatible with Host mutation and Zombie System.]
The response sounded less mechanical than before.
Qian Wei frowned. "You could have explained that when the hunger first appeared instead of forcing me to guess."
[Available information was incomplete before scientific testing.]
That was a surprisingly reasonable answer.
Professor Song noticed her expression. "What did the system tell you?"
"It confirmed that blood contains the same type of biological energy required by the mutation and the system."
Professor Song’s eyes widened. "Ask whether animal blood would be compatible."
Qian Wei passed along the question.
[Animal blood is compatible, although absorption efficiency varies by species and condition.]
Relief passed through her.
She would never willingly drink human blood, but animal blood could provide an emergency alternative without harming anyone.
Then Qian Wei realized what she was celebrating.
"I cannot believe I am relieved by the possibility of drinking animal blood."
"It is better than attacking your partner."
"That standard is low enough to lie on the floor."
Professor Song ignored the complaint. "Ask whether laboratory-created blood would work."
[Compatibility depends on composition.]
Qian Wei repeated the answer.
Professor Song smiled. "Then we can develop a synthetic compound capable of feeding both the mutation and the system without requiring biological blood."
"Could you also make it look and taste like something else?"
"Our priority will be safety and absorption efficiency."
"That sounds like a polite refusal."
"It means I will consider appearance after confirming the liquid will not kill you."
Qian Wei could not argue with that order of priorities. "How long will you need to produce a preliminary version?"
"Several days. The first formula will require repeated analysis because we do not know which proteins and oxygen carriers provide the strongest response."
"We leave for Donghai in less than an hour."
Professor Song placed four packets of synthetic plasma inside a silver medical case. "These will have to support the system until we return. Drink small amounts when the energy falls or the hunger becomes difficult to control."
Qian Wei accepted the case with visible reluctance.
"If anyone asks, I am carrying advanced medical supplies."
"That is exactly what they are."
"They still look like bags of blood."
"The case is opaque. No one will see them unless you open it."
Qian Wei stored the medical case in one inventory slot. The action caused Professor Song to move closer.
"The entire case disappeared. Is the inventory a physical space, a dimensional pocket or converted information?"
"I do not know, and we do not have time to begin another investigation."
Professor Song looked disappointed.
Ding!
[Energy-source research initiated.]
[External scientific assistance detected.]
[Cooperative Development Function unlocked.]
Qian Wei straightened so quickly that her lingering dizziness almost returned.
"What did you just unlock?"
Professor Song looked around. "Did the system give you another message?"
"It unlocked something called Cooperative Development after recognizing your assistance."
The professor abandoned the plasma results and moved closer. "Ask what the function allows us to do."
Qian Wei opened the new interface.
[Cooperative Development allows approved external specialists to contribute to System-related research.]
[Research results may generate formulas, upgrades and shared mission rewards.]
[First eligible specialist detected: Professor Song Rui.]
Qian Wei looked at the scientist.
"The system considers you eligible to become an approved research specialist. If I authorize you, your work could help develop formulas and unlock upgrades."
Professor Song’s excitement returned in full force. "Authorize me immediately."
"You should at least pretend to consider whether there are risks."
"I have spent my life researching biological adaptation, and humanity will face extinction in three months. What risk could make me refuse?"
Qian Wei read the remaining warning.
[Approved specialists may receive limited awareness of System notifications connected to assigned research.]
[Approval requires mutual consent.]
She raised her eyes. "The function might allow you to perceive some system information directly. Once connected, you may not be able to forget what you learn."
Professor Song did not hesitate.
"Then tell your system that I consent."