บท 143: Collective cancerization
Laboratory number 2, located next to Professor Connors's office building, was where Peter was working late tonight.
The commotion caused by the lizard was quite loud, but mainly because the adjacent building was drilled through. This building only experienced some shaking and wasn't significantly affected.
Compared to what happened to Peter, the deceased didn't transform into lizardmen; they merely exhibited some symptoms like scales and what appeared to be vertical pupils, which actually turned out to be blindness.
More notably, their bodies had developed large tumors.
What happened?
Professor Connors quickly arrived at the scene and made a guess.
"...Tumors proliferate rapidly. The lizard serum accelerates cell division but shouldn't directly cause cancer.
This seems more like the laboratory staff already had cancer and then inhaled something akin to the lizard serum.
As for why I say 'akin,' I think I don't need to elaborate."
The lizard serum turned Peter into a monster, but he didn't die or immediately develop cancer.
In terms of completeness, the serum used in Laboratory 2 was far less advanced, even less than 10% of Professor Connors's progress.
So how did cancerization occur?
"All the deceased had tumors in their respiratory systems—I believe the carcinogen entered through the respiratory tract.
I know the professor from Laboratory 2; his research focuses on inhalable medications, not injectable ones like mine."
In other words, this could be a laboratory safety accident—if that's the case, it's relatively easy to verify.
George remained noncommittal but soon received a phone call with information to support this view.
"...The hospital has retrieved the medical records. This laboratory had a total of 8 students, including both master's and doctoral students. Three are in the hospital diagnosed with cancer. The remaining four continued working late today, one was resting, and then this happened.
Professor, do you think this is related to the research?"
Connors hesitated, "...I think so, but the equipment here has been slightly moved due to tonight's commotion. I can't say if there's a connection. Look at this."
Connors pointed to the drug analyzer, "This is a drug analyzer sponsored by the Osborn Group, which includes a small disperse device.
This is a device designed to disperse drugs into the atmosphere for widespread spraying—just a concept. Clearly, Laboratory 2 received more projects and sponsorships than I imagined."
The analyzer had been significantly displaced from its original position. Connors took out a bottle of ammonia and inserted it.
Up close, it had a faint foul odor—it was leaking.
"This is a serious accusation, so I won't say it directly—but I heard their work intensity was very high, with countless animal experiments over the past few months, none of which succeeded.
DNA serums themselves stimulate cells, not to mention they may have inhaled multiple versions of the serum, causing cross-effects.
After months, developing cancer is inevitable.
And today—just today, the experiment achieved a breakthrough, and they planned to conduct another animal experiment."
In the glass enclosure, the dead mice had clearly transformed into lizards, with bloodstains on the glass, indicating they had been frantically hitting it.
These drugs spread and were inhaled by the four, causing the cancerous cells to spread, forming malignant tumors that compressed internal organs and nerves, leading to immediate death.
The lizard serum they injected didn't save their lives.
Connors, Leo, and George looked at the scene, falling into silence.
Four promising graduate students and a few children recovering in the hospital...
Many details were lost with the deceased, not to mention the real lizardman that appeared tonight, confusing the situation.
The surveillance did show people from the Osborn Group visiting tonight, but what does that prove?
The Osborn Group sponsored the experiment and demanded quick results; late-night work in the laboratory is quite normal.
Even laboratory accidents—safety regulations are strict, but accidents can still happen, which is an unexpected yet logical occurrence.
There doesn't need to be a supervillain involved, just someone who happened to make a breakthrough.
George broke the silence first, "What kind of person is the laboratory head?"
Connors opened his mouth but didn't answer directly, "You'll find out soon."
Soon, the police found the laboratory head—an academician of the American Academy of Sciences, with considerable influence in the field. Most of the results were related to the Osborn Group.
When the police found him, he vehemently denied all speculations about laboratory issues and insisted that it had nothing to do with him and that he would consult a lawyer.
A troublesome high-ranking elite—George had dealt with such people before.
George, with a headache, instructed the police to seal off the scene and then stepped aside with the other two.
The three had confirmed that the incident was definitely related to the laboratory head, but it was difficult to assign blame. They could only try to restore the scene and file a public prosecution.
In the end, the three didn't speak but were all thinking about one thing—
What is the Osborn Group's stance?
They hadn't appeared many times, but in the whole incident, they were almost a backdrop—were they deliberate or accidental?
The worst part of this situation is that the media will likely shift focus to the lizard and Professor Connors's research lab.
George wants the truth.
"We must restore the scene," George said. "I need expert assistance."
Leo replied, "You already have an expert."
"Peter? Are you sure he can handle it?"
Leo nodded, "He's already turned himself into a lizardman, isn't that professional enough? We'll also provide the necessary technical and data support."
"Then let's stop for today—" George pinched his brow, feeling a headache.
"And... Leo," George looked at Leo, "This cooperation was impressive—but next time, don't be so reckless."
Leo felt the same way.
In the cyberpunk world, he operates in the shadows.
In the Marvel world, he chooses to be a legal citizen in the open, where sudden issues may arise at any time.
Dr. Connors returned to the lab to find it in disarray, feeling helpless.
"Ugh, Peter, he's a very smart kid, but... smart and insecure kids can easily go to extremes."
Leo picked up a laptop from the ruins, brushed off the dust, and began transferring some data:
"His insecurity caused harm, luckly, I've retained the biological data from his transformation—Professor, our progress will be rapid.
Making synthetic blood is feasible; take a look at this."
The biological model data after a full injection of lizard serum was more comprehensive and highly referential, almost revealing all the changes from injecting the serum, transforming into a lizardman, and reverting to human form.
Moreover, cells like bone cells, red blood cells, and nerve cells, which cannot be further divided, also have great potential for artificial cultivation!
Blood is just the easiest starting point.
Connors was overjoyed by this great gift, grabbing the computer to admire the data.
Leo looked at the messy lab with little sentiment—after all, there's still a large piece of land over at Hammond's.
The newly rebuilt lab will be safer and more private.
However, this incident will certainly bring negative impact to the company, and biological technology shouldn't affect the development of information technology.
It's time to separate the two companies.
And it's also necessary to find some allies.
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