She needed to stabilize the Luo Xia Alliance first, because everyone in the Luo Xia Alliance now could be a hidden danger.
If she were to disband the Luo Xia Alliance now, the widespread panic might instead cause greater chaos, or even lead to a large-scale exodus of people, accelerating the spread of the virus.
She needed to remain in the Luo Xia Alliance to ensure internal stability, while secretly contacting Firefly to discuss shelter arrangements.
Mei Xue Ji gathered her trusted subordinates and quickly issued orders:
“Immediately notify everyone to halt all research and development of potions, and focus entirely on developing detection agents and antidotes. All Mutants who have used potions are to be concentrated and quarantined to prevent further spread of the virus. At the same time, strengthen internal monitoring to strictly guard against any abnormal movements.”
Since she planned to evacuate and seek refuge with Firefly, the potions that could turn ordinary people into Mutants were now useless to her.
“Wan Youyu, Hu Banshan, the destruction of Dream City is inevitable. I hope you two don’t go too crazy.”
Mei Xue Ji gazed into the distance, towards the territories of the Brothers Alliance and the Giant Tiger Alliance.
The next day, representatives from the Three Overlord Powers gathered in Dream City.
They brought the Three Overlord Powers’ demands for Dream City:
1. Immediately cease all research, production, and use of Mutant potions.
2. Kill all members who became Mutants through potions.
3. Destroy all research materials and unused Mutant potions.
Upon receiving the notification, Wan Youyu was all smiles, nodding repeatedly and patting his chest, guaranteeing strict compliance. However, he secretly thought to himself, “Only a fool would do that.”
After receiving the notification, Hu Banshan, like Wan Youyu, outwardly agreed but secretly sneered and quietly accelerated the research and development of potions.
Both of them knew that the Three Overlord Powers currently dared not attack Dream City and could only make empty threats.
They understood that if Dream City’s strength were fully integrated, while not as strong as the Three Overlord Powers, it would be sufficient for self-preservation.
Especially now that Dream City was a hotbed for the virus, if the Three Overlord Powers dared to attack, they would face an endless viral backlash, potentially even triggering a larger-scale disaster.
Upon receiving the news, Mei Xue Ji stated that she would do her best to comply. She didn't care much, but she wouldn't immediately execute the orders.
The Three Giants of Dream City understood that the Three Overlord Powers dared not attack Dream City and were merely bluffing.
How could the Three Overlord Powers not know the thoughts of the Three Giants? They had a tacit understanding.
However, did the Three Overlord Powers truly not dare to attack Dream City?
They sent messages to the Three Giants merely as a facade, to make the outside world believe they had reservations.
However, in reality, the Three Overlord Powers had already formulated a plan to ‘nuke’ Dream City;
If an antidote could not be developed within two months, they would directly launch nuclear weapons to completely destroy Dream City before the virus fully erupted, eliminating future troubles.
This was also the Three Overlord Powers’ biggest and most secret trump card—they all possessed nuclear weapons.
But the Three Giants were unaware of this secret.
The reason why the Three Overlord Powers had not directly ‘nuked’ Dream City yet was:
Firstly, nuclear weapons were their biggest trump card; once used, they would be gone, and they lacked the ability to recreate them.
Secondly, the slaughter caused by ‘nuking’ Dream City would be too immense, involving millions of lives. They were unwilling to cause such a massive slaughter unless absolutely necessary.
Thirdly, they still held a glimmer of hope that Dream City could develop an antidote within two months, avoiding the destructive consequences of nuclear weapons.
But even with these three concerns, the Three Overlord Powers had already privately made the worst-case preparations.
They knew that once the virus in Dream City spiraled out of control, the entire H City, and even more distant regions, would fall into an irreversible predicament.
Therefore, they had no choice but to make this difficult decision.
Undercurrents surged throughout H City; various forces appeared calm on the surface, but were secretly vying for power, with intelligence and schemes intertwining into an invisible net.
In the evening, Firefly received a visitor—it was Mei Xue Ji.
In Firefly’s temporary reception room at the construction site, Zuo Feng looked at Mei Xue Ji before him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He hadn't expected that this woman, who wielded such influence in Dream City, would come to visit alone at this time.
Mei Xue Ji looked at Zuo Feng, her expression serious, and got straight to the point: “Left Leader Zuo, I know Firefly’s true strength far surpasses what is visible. I have come today hoping to seek shelter.”
Mei Xue Ji’s attitude was extremely serious this time, not even referring to herself as “your humble servant.”
Zuo Feng frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, “Shelter? Chief Ji, are you referring to shelter for yourself personally, or for the entire Luo Xia Alliance?”
Mei Xue Ji gave a bitter smile: “Left Leader Zuo, given the current situation, even if I were to ask you to shelter the entire Luo Xia Alliance, I imagine you would find it difficult to agree. I am here only on behalf of myself. This disaster is unavoidable; I can only strive for a glimmer of hope for my own survival.”
Zuo Feng narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Mei Xue Ji. Although neither of them explicitly stated the dangers of the new symbiotic virus, they both understood it perfectly. What surprised Zuo Feng was how resolute this woman was, directly abandoning the entire Luo Xia Alliance simply to preserve herself.
Zuo Feng could confirm that Dream City was beyond saving.
Today, Professor Yan delivered another piece of bad news to Zuo Feng.
Those who became Mutants through potions could be called pathogens.
These pathogens, once the virus erupted, regardless of their strength, would transform into a new species of zombie even more powerful than the Six Vertical Bar Level Mutant zombies.
As for secondary infectees, their strength after eruption was unknown, but they would undoubtedly be more dangerous than ordinary zombies. At that time, Dream City would become a paradise for zombies.
Zuo Feng was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: “Chief Ji, I can consider your request, but you must tell me how many Mutants your Three Giants have created using potions.”
Zuo Feng did not see Mei Xue Ji’s abandonment of the Luo Xia Alliance as inappropriate; instead, he thought her choice was extremely wise.
The destruction of Dream City was inevitable; being buried with it was meaningless.
Moreover, in a situation where virus carriers could not be detected, the only thing Mei Xue Ji could do was protect herself.
Mei Xue Ji took a deep breath, a hint of terror flashing in her eyes: “I don’t know the exact number, but I can confirm that it’s definitely no less than five thousand, and that number is still growing. My scouts report that Wan Youyu is now increasing the research and use of potions, and Hu Banshan also seems to be secretly accelerating potion research, but he hasn’t continued to deploy them.”
After hearing this, Zuo Feng’s expression grew even more solemn.
The existence of five thousand pathogens was enough to plunge the entire Dream City into despair, not to mention the growing number.
The actions of Wan Youyu and Hu Banshan were simply adding fuel to the fire.
No wonder Mei Xue Ji chose to abandon the Luo Xia Alliance without hesitation; it was simply beyond saving.
Because the Wild Wolf Gang’s first batch of 1,000 pathogens was estimated to fully erupt in at most three months. At that time, with 1,000 new type of zombies, each more powerful than a Six Vertical Bar Level Mutant zombie, running rampant, Dream City would have no one or any force that could resist them.
Of course, Zuo Feng was not yet aware of the Three Overlord Powers’ plan to ‘nuke’ Dream City.